Microtel Inn Suites presentation
It would seem that companies lately have seen a lot of potential in using blogs as a marketing tool for their businesses. And here in the Philippines, they have started tapping on some of the popular bloggers specializing on their respective niches. That said, I was a bit surprised when I received an email invitation from the Philippine’s pro-blogging guru Abe Olandres or also known as Yuga of Yugatech to attend a dinner invitation from Microtel Inn and Suites Philippines. As I don’t really attend much blogger events, I decided it would be nice to attend this one since the niche is more on blogs involved in travel and photography. I thought it would be nice to meet these other travel bloggers as well.
More on their presentation
It was a Wednesday night, while a typhoon was rummaging through the city I was still able to make it to the venue at Panciteria San Jacinto at C5 Libis an hour later from the designated time of 7pm. Fortunately when I arrived there I saw Yuga who also late so I introduced myself and we went to the function room where the presentation would be held.
Bloggers attentively listening to the speakers
When I got there the room was already full save for a few chairs left for us. We started with the food as I am already starving. It took me quite a while to hail a taxi from Megamall to go here. And fortunately the food there taste great. Especially their vegetables mixed with mushrooms.
Abe Olandres, the country’s famed pro-blogger personality
In a short while, the people from Microtel started their presentation with a few slides and explaining a bit about their company, the features of their hotel and their plans. Basically, as I understand, Microtel aims to be a “no-frills’ hotel just like the Tune Hotels in Malaysia. Their target is more on the budget to business travelers on the mid range scales. Basing from their presentation, they seem to offer a good package and value. Of course I can’t say anything about this first hand since I haven’t tried them yet. But I think they have plans for the invited ones to experience their hotels in the near future.
Celebrity bloggers hanging out after the presentation
After the presentation, I had the chance to meet some of the bloggers there which honestly I’m not really familiar with all of them unless with Yuga who seems to be quite a celebrity in our blogging community. I was also actually looking forward meeting with other travel blogggers like Enrico of Byahilo who has work that night, Nina of Justwandering, Ivan Henares who’s currently in Beijing, Ajay of Annalyn.net whose far away from the venue, Senor Enrigue who was busy I think and Melo Villareal of Lakbay Pilipinas who I texted that night but had floods around their area so he wasn’t able to come. Still I was fortunate enough to shake hands with the following nice people and celebrity bloggers at most:
- Noemi of About my Recovery
- Gail of Kutitots
- Marc Villanueva, Gails other half
- Rocker girl, Karla Redor
- Programmer extraordinaire Markku of RebelPixel
- famed Lakbayan Grade creator Eugine Villar
- Ka-tukayo Ferdinand Martinez of Shutter Box
- Jomar Hilario of Traveljournal.com.ph
Did I miss anyone there? Anyways, it’s really nice seeing the people behind their blogs. I would have wanted to take a photo of each of them but my phone battery ran out. 😀
Ferdz Decena is an award-winning travel photographer, writer and blogger. His works has found print in publications such as Singapore Airlines’s Silver Kris, Philippine Airlines’ Mabuhay, Cebu Pacific’s Smile and Seair InFlight. He has also lent his expertise to various organizations like the Oceana Philippines, Lopez Group Foundation, Save the Children and World Vision, contributing quality images for their marketing materials.
