I remember my very first “Web 2.0” event back in, *checks notes*, the hazy days of 2006. I had just left my full time editorial job at Hinge-Inquirer publications (a proud genesis employee!) and was transitioning to full time work doing blog network management and writing for b5Media and Know More Media.
Good day everyone. I have been compiling video and written tributes for my dad. Many of these were shown or read during the 9 days novena. You can leave a comment down below if you would like to write a short message which I can then add to the post. This post will continously be a work in progress as I update it with new tributes. I have also been trying to splice the video tributes from the recorded masses.
I long for days past when I could spend time at home and just read a book. I do not think I am being hampered by technology — I still read a lot on the phone, but I feel like a physical book needs to be enjoyed like an 80 proof glass of scotch. It has to be nursed.
We are one year into the pandemic lockdown and although this was purely coincidental, I celebrated staying home (as usual) with an online tasting event with Highland Park’s latest bottle that made it to the Philippines, the Triskelion. This is a limited bottle release with less than 50 bottles left for the local market.
Historically, the triskelion is a Celtic symbol that literally means “three legs” derived from Ancient Greek. Through the years, the symbol has been adopted by many modern organizations but the classic meaning has always been associated with symmetry, progress and inspiration. Highland Park’s Triskelion is named such to fondly commemorate the three master distillers involved in this project, Max MacFarlane, Gordon Motion, and John Ramsay. The three master blenders from Highland Park and Edrington (the parent company of Highland Park, Macallan and Glenrothes) represent the past and present of the company with MacFarlane having worked with the distillery for the past 44 years and has recently retired.
There was a magical time in my professional life. It was between the years of 2007 to 2011. I was in my mid 20’s (and early 30’s). I felt invincible. I was brazen enough to quit my day job to become my own boss. I remember it clearly. I was stuck in a routine 9-5 job. It was a Saturday at the office (I know right!) and I was online looking at blogs from the US. I honestly do not remember the website, but I do remember that there was “a call for bloggers” listed on it and it involved something unique and different. There were interesting names behind it. Darren Rowse of rising ProBlogger fame was there. Duncan Riley. Jeremy Wright. These were the netizens of 2006, making their way through the WWW x 2 (the wild wild west of the world wide web).
A short tribute to my dear friend, Adel Gabot, who passed away last March 25, 2020.
This afternoon, I introduced my kids to Battleship. It was a game I played as a kid in the 80’s. We didn’t have the ABS plastic set, as most kids during these times transcribed their imaginations into paper. The grid notebooks were the best for Battleship of course — but it was also easy to cheat, as we would often draw odd shapes (an Aircraft carrier shaped like an L!) to confuse our opponents.
Ballantine’s latest limited-edition release with visual artist Shawna X celebrates positivity and community spirit
To spread a splash of joy, color, and positivity around the world in these challenging times, the No. 1 Scotch whisky brand in Europe Ballantine’s has teamed up with New York-based visual artist Shawna X to release a new limited-edition bottle.
Been on the bike a lot since the pandemic. Been taking this out almost daily for about 20-40km rides. Everything is stock except for the tires which I replaced with 2x Teravail Cannonballs converted to a tubeless set up.
This bike was an upgrade of the original GSX 2.0 that came with SRAM instead of Shimano groupsets. This particular one cost P55,000, which is a steal, compared to the P45,000 counterpart (SRAM Rival).
Reposting a column written by my late father for FINEX (November 2010)
By Jose Ma J Fernandez
The prospect a more balanced and fair playing field has renewed interest in investment in new businesses or the expansion of existing enterprises. Once again, the country is attracting many of the big players and investors, whereas in the not to distant past, we were operating beneath the radar…unseen and unloved! Of course, the prospect of more jobs that will provide much needed work and opportunities is always a pleasant one.
Every so often, a Facebook page admin of a brand will make that mistake of accidentally commenting using the login credentials of their official account with the sentiments of a personal profile. As the former social media head of the Manila Bulletin many years ago, we took steps to ensure that things like this do not happen — but they do. In my time, I’ve had my fair share of blunders (luckily nothing controversial — like when someone posted about a waxing salon so readers actually thought it was a branded execution!).