I love blogging and I’m addicted to it. I love it not because of the money or fame it brings but because of its essence. It came to a point in my P&G career that I had to choose between a senior IT management career or a professional blogging and internet marketing career. I decided to pursue what I love and what keeps me burning inside. Let me share with you what the essence of blogging for me is and why you should blog too.
1. Our Blog is a love letter to our sons. OAP and Mrs. OAP blogs are proclamation of our love to Ahiya Aidan and Syoti Josh. The blog entries are written memories of our family life and a testament to their childhood. We want them to relive the fun when they grow up. We want them to feel how much we love them by sharing with them our hopes, dreams and aspirations despite the struggles in life. We want them to see how we reached for our dreams during this time of uncertainties.
2. I’m writing the modern history of the Philippines. I firmly believe that bloggers will shape the country’s future. I want to write the history of the Philippines based on my family’s point of view. I write from the heart because I want to capture the feeling of the moment in time in the Philippines. I’ve always wondered what Boracay would looked like in its virgin state. This fueled my passion to write about the virgin state of our beautiful and undiscovered beaches. History has never been this personal.
3. To sow good deeds. The Law of Fairness states that: What you sow is what you reap. If you sow positive good deeds, expect to receive a lot of good deeds in return. I’ve proven this law many times over. When I write something negative about somebody with malicious intent, I always get negative feedback and criticism in return. When I proclaim about the goodness of people and places, I reap a following that I never imagined would happen in my lifetime. I love to rave about places without expecting anything in return. I know that when I rave about them, I bring in a lot of business that they deserve. I also know that they will pay it forward in terms of great service for more people.
4. Ninoy Aquino is a blogger. If Ninoy was alive today, he would be one of the top political bloggers in the Philippines. Blogs are platforms for advocacy. You fuel the flames of the advocacy on each blog post you writeBlogs are infectious if used with pure intentions.. Bloggers with advocacy are the modern Ninoy Aquinos of this country. Don’t expect to build an advocacy in a few months time. How long do you think Ninoy took to flame the hearts of the Filipinos? I imagine that Ninoy had to do a lot of speeches and press releases to communicate his advocacy. As a blogger, you can now do it anytime you want to and as frequent as you want to.
5. Inspire 1 Mind, Touch 1 Heart. This is my personal mission in life. I get fulfilled every time a reader would tell me that I inspired them or I touched their heart. No amount of SEO tactics can do this. A blogger needs to talk from his heart every time. The goal of every blog post is to give the readers an “Aha!” moment or to make them cry. I would rather have a tear or an inspired thought any time instead of six-figure-adsense dollars.
6. To have fun. A blog is your ticket to blog contests and blogging parties. It is also a marketing medium to become famous in your niche. It is your own platform for debates and to share your point of view.
7. OAP is my personal art space. All bloggers are artists and blogs are their creative outlet. Each blog post is an expression of oneself. If you carefully examine it, the blog is the digital persona of the artist. Like any work of art, you can marvel at how magnificent the person is. Blogs are priceless if you do it with passion and not for monetary purposes.
8. Build personal brand. Your blog defines who you are, your values/principles, and purpose in life. If you are lost in life, expect your blog to be lost in the blogosphere as well. If you are just blogging for the money, expect your blog to look like adsense dollars by doing all the SEO tactics possible at the expense of your personal brand. If you are a leader, there is no doubt that you will be a King in your niche.
9. I write to globalize the local. I want to bring to the world’s attention the significance and essence of the Philippines– that we are not defined by our corrupt politicians and pathetic public servants. We are a nation that loves nature. We are a nation of people who are talented and can compete with the best of the best. We are Filipinos. Happy. Positive. God-loving.
10. To live forever. Julia Campbell is not dead. She is alive in her blog, just read Julia in the Philippines. If I only have 24 hours to live, one of the things that I would do is write my last blog post. I would write a blog post that would forever inspire the next generation of Filipinos. I would write a blog post that would forever express my gratitude to God, Family and all the people who influenced me along the way. This is why I try to write each of my blog posts as if it were my last.
Text and Photos by Anton Diaz. Copyright 2008.
P.S. Thanks to Migs for inspiring this post.
this is a truly awesome post! OAP has inspired so many people, including me 🙂 hope to read more great posts from OAP and mrs. OAP!
what i love about this blog, and you, anton, is that you put your thoughts out there and you own up to them. no hiding behind avatars, no aliases… the sincerity and openess that is essential in writing is often lost in blogging, and i truly appreciate how you have ushered your readers into your life by sharing with us even your most personal and most treasured moments.
“This is why I try to write each of my blog posts as if it were my last.”
…that’s why i love reading your posts bro,
lalabas at lalabas palagi ang
honesty at passion mo sa blogging.
Anton Diaz…
the awesome ultimate romantic!!!
(who managed to convince rache
to pose with a cup of FroYo on her head)
i love love your blog! i’ve been visiting your site for years already! thanks to you, i’ve visited so many places that you recommended. and i have absolutely no regrets whatsoever! 😀
i will always be a fan.. one of the grandaddy of pinoy food blogging–thats according to Spanky.. which i agree..
even if we have our differences in taste… we have the same love for food….
thanks for blogging.
add me to another 1 heart, 1 mind touched. over and over again (everytime i read your blog)
this is one of the reasons why i am a fan or oap. thank you for constantly inspiring and sharing your life experiences to bloggers and non-bloggers alike! 🙂
this is one of the reasons why i am a fan of oap. thank you for constantly inspiring and sharing your life experiences to bloggers and non-bloggers alike! 🙂
ANIMO OAP!
very well said anton…
Paul and I will forever be your fan 🙂
I very much appreciate your decision. I love your blog.
I believe in the ten points you just shared with us, Anton. The one thing that strikes me the most is, Inspire 1 Mind, Touch 1 Heart.
I love your blog, you inspire me. You even inspired me to join Happy Feet, only online yet, though.
Keep it up.. and live forever.
Kudos!
you’ve got very worthwhile reasons to blog.
keep it up, i find your posts very informative. i come to lurk at your page every so often. 😀
Aha! =)
Thanks Anton & Family!
what an inspiring entry, anton. ill remember this the next time i get blogger’s block :). off-topic: i uploaded the CISM article recently, and created a link to your blog entry on school shopping last January. any updates on the Gen Z site?
thumbs up, anton! all my support :)!
will always be a big fan of OAP 🙂
You are such an inspiration, Anton! ‘Pag nagresign ako, you’ll be one of the factors. Hahaha! Kakabilib ka talaga (Pati si Rache, nadiscover tuloy ang hidden talent niya!).
Hey Anton! I agree, Inpire 1 Mind, Touch 1 Heart!! 🙂
You’re truly an inspiration! 🙂 To me, and to everyone!! 🙂
Yehey!! 🙂
I like it when you always post something about your passion to blog. Keep inspiring Anton!
Eversince i googled your blogspot, i kept coming back to see what i will be trying next. We may not like the same thing but it doesn’t stop me from trying all your food trips and having the same adventure.
More power and please keep on blogging!
Thanks for posting this blog entry and for reminding me that a blog must have a noble purpose before it can succeed.
Keep writing! 🙂
so its not true that your a “professional blogger” ??
Thanks for blogging. Reading your blog reduces our homesickness. More power to you…
….i like to blog make commnets here in our awesome planet corner….that way no unwanted ‘invasions’ of my privacy{intellectual properties-reservations-privacies}
i like to help ASIA the world the philippines in particular sort of social awareness programs to help rationalize to help balance all ignorances including ‘mine’lol!….i felt that philippines others are deprived cheated of their own filipino talents for decades….i would like to ‘stress’ call the attention of philippines to help us uplift the standards quality aspirations lifestyles educations of all asia rest of the world filipinos in particular by….transferring all possible squatters slums gutter areas smokey mountains like dumpsites in building low costs but state of the art extremely clean neat housing projects for the extreme depressed parts of the societies{poorest}in a new but semi higher areas where they can help themselves do gardenings to help feed themselves self reliant societies….to save philippine governments in billions of pesos in annual enviromental health care costs normally wasted coz of this social ‘sleazeness’ social neglects enviromental degragations-abuses….by widening concreting your smallest town communities streets after offering twice-thrice equivalent the size of roadside lot property owners but to other remote areas that way smallest street roads have new accumulated extra ‘spaces’ good for over all nationwide traffics extra safety nets in emergency cases doesnt matter if roadsides are like broken teeth plus if philippines smallest streets-arteries will have pay toll roads with microscopic cameras in toll booths as i learned heard will save phils.governments billions of pesos annually in nationwide crime preventions{getting rid of violent criminals}while earning making billions more of pesos thru ‘pay toll roads’ which will also be used in paying the road funds expenses maintenances plus those extra road spaces will help uplift the towns quality of lives-status comfort zones with new wet-dry state of the art town markets hopefully has extra enough funds for a decent hospital nearby for local folks senior citizens in particular to enjoy breath easily about….that would be like dream town village for anyone anywhere so filipinos wake up and enjoy these possible dreams to happened sooner lol…..
i feel the same
to blog for gmmahoney i believe was talking about those people who stalk or was capable of duplicating house keys if home owners are not homes lol coz in united states some people do that coz of advanced ‘knowledge’ about any posssible intellectual properties access reason why americans remove your human rights lol so blogging like here in our awesome planet is not a bad idea if you do not like the idea of intellectual rights as an issue coz it is now in public as in no big deal anymore the only problem with that is that if some will do or replicate what was said-hear might not be a good idea for some ‘unless’ it is ‘designed’ for a particular extra ordinary ‘gifted’ filipinos who design things only for ‘natural’ social or family causes-reasons not necessarily for economic reasons but for peace of mind any gifted filipinos should feel free to do what they feel is right coz only the gifted would know what they need to help the world whatever that maybe public blogging-comments is one best way to do that lol
i do not believe for a second that the romantic adventurous very loving mrs. gmmahoney blogs to write-create her own brand because why would the gmmahoney’s couple share an e-mail space if one’s personnal branding is wish to be internationally recognized why gmmahoney do not at all joins any writing competitions contests essays acitivities simply by using their already equipped computer grammar spelling correctors lol gmmahoney{as alias}need NOT used alias if ‘branding’ honor rewards prizes sensationalism popularity o political social motives are gmmahoney’s intentions or desire.. i believe blogging here in our awesome planet of anton rache aidan joshua family was a cry a reaching out about those unnecessary unwanted people stalking.. unhappy unexciting events is more what it is from power games some u.s. politicians manpowers are doing coz intellectual properties if stolen can always ‘easily’ replace at anytime since mrs.gmmahoney is almost like a philantrophist with all the little that she has but so much that she gave & no complains but only displayed restraints & ‘patience’.. so maybe blogging is good for both spouses as well travelled well converse well knowledgeable that she is i believe a lot more ‘surprises’ a lot more unexpected wordly ‘adventures’ maybe way much more extra ordinary & ‘exciting’ events are coming to this website i wouldnt be surprised.. just analyzing her undoubtful capacities to expand from one side of the world to another & beyond lol..so let’s give her some breaks she may continue to something new maybe strange could be weird but extra ordinary special if not out of this world decades never ending adventures i-we would’nt mind waiting no matter how long how ‘unconventional’ but worth the waiting worth the longing worth the excitements lol
i believe the very loving adventurous caring fun filled mrs.gmmahoney is leaving this blog site our awesome planet of anton rache aidan joshua family soon…mrs.gmmahoney will start her never ending exciting wordly adventures extra ordinary fun filled from childhood to adulthood romance in a micro mini short love stories-novels ‘covering’ almost 4 decades 5 continents jr. high school DREAMS love affair thru her REAL LIFE high school-town mates new blog corners called FIRST LOVE:A HEALTHY WORLD PLANET PARADISE meaning a different unusual kind of new openings to a very personnal private beyond human comprehensions… A hidden extra ordinary almost far fetched make believed romances destinies capabilities in dimensions that was ‘never’ heard off ever before… if not mistaken firmed requests that gmmahoney’s ‘real life’ jr. high school first love & towns-high school mates new blog corner called FIRST LOVE:A HEALTHY WORLD PLANET PARADISE is expected to be the world’s FUTURE healthiest CONTRIBUTIONS to world’s civilization world’s educated societies philippines in particular meaning expect NO ‘censorships’ expect NO ‘pretentions’ expect human feelings emotions never been described not understood before i will bet gmmahoney will not ‘withold’ any of her fantasies experiences happenings history of unexplored past emotions or her extra ordinary ‘unknown’ past OBSESSION maybe a kind of love life that is ‘impossible’ to have but why?… maybe the love she wants but she couldnt have and why? meaning first love:a healthy world planet paradise will give us the glimpse the hidden complex reasons unexpected human destinies as to why it happens why complex why it’s existence an almost wordly impossible wordly far fethed to even materialized….give mrs gmmahoney a break a breathing spaces coz anything that extra ordinary in nature can only be achieved if ‘without’ malice meaning only of NATURAL causes nothing less lol
i blog so i can tell remind the philippines filipinos to start training their future world olympic standard athletes it is embarrassing in a way that none of filipino athletes made it to the any finals with one medal at least it hurts even more everytime websites internets talk about news about filipinas as rapes victims drug runners arrested in foreign countries or murdered without justices coz of their illegal trafficking status so painful to learned their fate in the hands of internationally widely known human abusive cultures-countries while these abusive countries ‘enjoys’ the civilized friendly loving caring welcome if not filipinos public ‘services’ so start training elementary high schools as early as now at least 3x a week early trainings will do for now athletic activities should become a daily routines in filipinos daily lives for superior outcomes later it is o.k. to be sexy & feminine but must also know how to lead in physical activties must learned excellence in sports though can be sexy very feminine at times
Nice bog you have here. I pretty much lurk the internet when I’m bored and read all I can about the organic lifestyle, but I really liked you view on things. I’ll bookmark the site and subscribe to the feed!
Hey Anton. I stumbled upon your blog because I found a link to it in Google Reader, and I think your blog’s great. Keep on writing!
Coincidences, I had one post entitled with the same and exact words.
Hello Anton,
I just came across your blog, just subscribed to it in fact.
You inspire me as a Filipino and a noobie blogger!
Way to go bro!
Thanks so much James! Salamat for the feedback 🙂