This is why it pays to “Suit up!”
Last night, I attended the second Bloggers Food Fest at the Mall of Asia’s Taste Asia, sponsored by SM Hypermarket, San Miguel, Procter and Gamble, Magnolia, Coca-Cola, Colgate, and CliqueBooth. While Crazy Choco chocolate fountains failed to make a second appearance, it was, without a doubt, the most fun I’ve had at any local blogging event thus far.
I had an entry to the first SM Hypermarket Blogging contest, so it was important to me that I represent well, in the event that I win a prize. Taking a page from How I Met Your Mother’s Barney Stinson (played by Neil Patrick Harris), I suited up! Well, kinda: nice silk polo, black sweater vest, black slacks, and, of course, my awesome new shoes from Bradford (which brought me to a respectable 5″10!). Suiting up pays off; some bloggers paid me compliments on the look. Barney was right!
Riding Gina with me were bloggers Angel and Gurl Alien, and their respective boyfriends. Upo
n our arrival, we ran into bloggers Riz, Joni, and Marian. Jomar’s list wasn’t updated with my name, and there was no list of SM Hypermarket blogging entries, so I literally had to get in as a “friend” of Riz’s. The absence of my name on the guest list also meant GannsDeen.com wasn’t on the bloggers’ roll provided so people could go around. No hard feelings, though; it’s hard to keep track of 300++ bloggers. It’s a shame, though, because I wasn’t able to go around and make as much new friends as I would’ve liked.
Met a slew of bloggers for the first time, including Joyce, Darwin, and the men (and women) of Man-Blog (including old pals Peter [and his wife Jen], Ade Magnaye, Fritz, AlohaPenny, Helga, and, of course, Mike Villar).
Saw old blogger acquaintances Karlo, beautiful Mae, statuesque Liz, fabulous fabulous Dr. Tess (I beso-ed her on the cheek and regretted it immediately. Come on, Ganns, ano ka, feeling close? Sorry, Doc Tess), a somewhat subdued Shari, Magic Marcel, photobug Chris H, gorgeous Apples H, a bubbly teacher Julie, TinaMats, and the two coolest Moms on the planet, Tita Dine and Tita Noemi. Saw Jeff, who I have to thank for inspiring me to go to the gym. Was inspired by Kuya Jun’s positivity and graciousness, as always.
Special mention to Benj, who I thought snubbed me at first. I literally had to tap him on the back and assert myself. It turns out my favorite med student/debater/atheist didn’t recognize me with the weight I lost. (He even encouraged me on his blog! Few congratulatory remarks on my weight loss thus far have meant as much to me.) Shortly afterward, I congratulated him on his renewed fire for the fine art of debate and med school. Lately, I’ve really enjoying his blog, so do swing by and share my enthusiasm.
Extra special shout-out to Arnold Gamboa, who gave me the privilege of being the person with whom he, his wife Joyce, and his friend Jigs, decided to hang out at their first Taste Asia blog party event. Bro, it was a blast hanging out with you. Rock on for Jesus!
God remains faithful. By night’s end, I won a DVD player from SM Hypermarket for my entry to their contest. My entry was judged one of the three best blog posts. I am humbled, humbled, humbled. Thank you, judges, thank you for affirming how Hypermarket continues to help make milestones in my life major memories. I’m adding this blogger night to that list. God superbless you all! Til next event!
Link love to the some of the best bloggers on the planet who were at the event too:
Paul’s Blog
Touched by an Angel
Pinoy Food Photoblog
Laurganism
Bakla Ako, May Reklamo
Manuel Viloria
The Lonely Vampire Chronicles (live blog)
The Lonely Vampire Chronicles (retrospective)
Geeky Guide to Nearly Everything
Takbo! (sa wakas ng pagkatuliro)
Macuha.com
Utakgago
Magikel
Dax’s Site
Roaming Around with Romela
Cliquebooth
Real People / Real Style (girls)
Real People / Real Style (boys)
Pinoy Moms Network
Teacher Julie
Atheista.net
Abuggedlife.com
Justwandering.org
Jehzlau Concepts
Prudence and Madness
Refineme.org
Scrooch Chronicles
AnitoKid
Mike Villar: Rising Internet Star
TJ Cafuir
Loida de Vera
Mon’s World
The Four Eyed Journal
The Disastrous Urban Primadonna
Pinoymoneytalk.com
Pinoy Blog Machine
SM Hypermarket
Byahilo
Tainted Song
Bababa ba?
Half the World Away
Noisy Noisy Man
Chickenmafia.com
Penny for Your Thoughts
Lastleaf.org
it’s always nice seeing you in events Ganns!
hoping to see more of you and Gina (live) soon 
Nice meeting you dude! Hope to see you on the next few blogger events!
Hey, Ganns! We’re friends naman right? So we have all the right to make beso-beso
Did you try the DVD? Was that penciled marking a joke? Nice to meet you, man.
Was the penciled-in mark for real? I still LOL myself when I remember. Nice hangin out with you, Ganns. hanggang sa muli!
Congratulations! You really do remind me of my college friend! Na-miss ko tuloy siya
This post wasn’t here when I visited you earlier. Again, congratulations and by the way, I like the outfit!
Have a great weekend!
Hindi ako naniniwala na 25 pounds lang ang nawala sayo eh. :p And the hair rocks. It made you look younger. hehe.
Hey you lucky man, it was nice having you at the TMB table. Lol, territoriality. Not rly. Van Heusen!
Your entry was one of my favorites. Congrats.
MAE: I wish we spent more time together! I really wanted to talk to you and Liz more.
ADE: It will be an absolute pleasure!
PRUDENCE: I suppose. I guess I’ll always be in awe of you for too many reasons.
FRITZ: Dude, link exchange! LOL It was awesome meeting you. And no, I haven’t tried out the DVD player yet, because I wanted to show the entire package to my wife when she returned from Davao last night. (And boy, did she enjoy my package.
AILEEN: Don’t introduce me to your friend. The universe might implode! LOL Thanks for being one of the greatest blog party organizers on Earth! We owe you a debt of gratitude.
JULIE: I wish we had more time! I wanted to talk to you and Trixie more.
BENJ: Stop it! LOL No, please don’t. (And UB rocks.)
HELGA: TERRITORIALITY! HAHAHA!
TITA NOEMI: You are one of my favorites. Period!
It was a terrific night talaga. I’m so happy you got your wish.. you’ve been mouthing the wholeday about wanting to win the DVD player hehe… even Manny was so happy for you.
Hey nice meeting you, i want that dvd player!! haha and your sweater WAS nice.
Congratulations on the win kabayan!
AnitoKid at http://www.anitokid.blogspot.com
Ah, the package that need not be contained. hehehe. Link ex-ed!
ROMELA: It was a terrific night. I was so psyched to see you bring Manny!
ALOHAPENNY: It was terrific meeting you. And no, my sweater vest wasn’t nice. It was AWESOME.
ANITOKID: You deserve the kudos, kaibigan! Enjoy KL!
FRITZ: Sssssh. Let’s not talk about packages here. Hehehe. Ka-pwing!
so that argyle vest was for the blog food fest! haha
i wore my rattiest shirt and got two compliments, one being, “aktibista ka ba?” haha that’s what i get for wearing a cory tshirt with the slogan “YES YES YES ang sagot ni misis”
anyway, congratulations on that dvd ganns! much-deserved
thanks for the link too! i’m getting my own domain soon 
Hi nice meeting you at Taste Asia ii. We’ve actually met already from the Blog Parteeh and Taste Asia I, I can’t blame you really for not seeing me then because I’m quite small… vertically that is.
MARIAN: Just let me know when it’s up.
DARWIN: I’m so sorry! Tsk tsk tsk. I promise I’ll remember you next time! (I’ll RSS feed JuiceLog.com to make sure I never forget your face.)
Great to see you again [though I am late in posting and commenting because of, well, work=( ]. The vest reminded me of the 60’s.. parpang Guy and Pip, Bobot and Vi hehehe.
And God bless on the Kerygma songfest.
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[...] to Nearly Everything Takbo! (sa wakas ng pagkatuliro) Macuha.com Utakgago Magikel Dax’s Site Ganns Deen Roaming Around with Romela Cliquebooth Real People / Real Style (girls) Real People / Real Style [...]