Bloggers dine with Microtel Inn Suites
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. 
Tags: 
Posted on
Friday, August 10th, 2007 at 12:06 pm 
Subscribe through 
August 10th, 2007 at 1:53 pm
aba at umaattend ka na pala ng ganyang event? iba na nga mga ka-tribe mo. di ka na ma-reach.
wala pa ba plan next photo-op/travel? may long weekend looming
August 10th, 2007 at 3:01 pm
i have tried microtel in tarlac na my friends who is a medrep always have a free room ok nmn.
August 10th, 2007 at 4:21 pm
did they mention how much yung inn nila sa baguio (meron dun, right?)
mabuti di mo binangit dito yung totoong dahilan bakit di ako nakapunta
August 10th, 2007 at 4:26 pm
hmmm looks like everyone’s having fun. i noticed, most of your shots are stolen-type. hehe. nahiya ka noh? i agree, blog as a marketing tool for businesses has a good potential.
August 10th, 2007 at 4:46 pm
I guess blogs can be the stepping stone in online businesses. But well, that’s a cool event.
August 10th, 2007 at 5:30 pm
camera phone lang ito? iba ka talaga! khet simpleng meeting, napapagaling mo ang pagkuha. hope to meet you soon din
August 10th, 2007 at 5:54 pm
oi sayang i wasnt there. 2 things:
may duty ako ng gabi
at grabe bagyo…
hopefully next time magtapo mga landas natin ahaha
August 10th, 2007 at 5:58 pm
uy na meet niya mga ka level niya heheh…
happy weekend!
August 10th, 2007 at 7:13 pm
i was supposed to go too, and i do a lot of travelling with work (though my company books my hotel). It would have been a good opportunity to meet and learn.
August 10th, 2007 at 8:28 pm
Hey, why not sign up for the Mrs. Fields thingie? I’m attending, and I think Eric and Ajay as well
August 11th, 2007 at 1:25 am
Hey, Ferdz. It was finally nice to meet you. I still have to write my write-up of this dinner.
August 11th, 2007 at 8:58 am
Wow. I missed this.. I hope i can attend on the next Microtel event … if theres one coming up…
August 11th, 2007 at 1:05 pm
malulupit ang mga attendees, tamng tama ang kalibre mo dito
August 11th, 2007 at 1:39 pm
wow! nice event!
August 11th, 2007 at 2:06 pm
sounds like a nice place… ;p grabe na influence ng blogs nowadays..
August 11th, 2007 at 6:00 pm
Sounds like fun.
I dunno how a blogger hook-up feels like yet. Never had the chance to do it yet. I find it realy interesting bloggers get to know more about a person than a neighbor does. hehe
August 11th, 2007 at 6:15 pm
really, a no frills hotel like tune? that’s interesting. i think they have higher rates though.
August 11th, 2007 at 9:01 pm
Ok rin ang pics ah kahit cell cam.
August 11th, 2007 at 10:33 pm
My brother, who travels extensively, stays at Microtel if available. I have stayed in one and it’s pleasant, clean and quiet. What more can a weary traveller want?
August 11th, 2007 at 11:41 pm
thats cool !keep it up ferdz
August 12th, 2007 at 10:35 am
Finally Ferdz nagkita din tayo!
August 12th, 2007 at 10:20 pm
Pre it was nice meeting you sa Microtel dinner. Next time shoot naman tayo!
August 13th, 2007 at 8:19 am
Wanted to go there too but I had still a bit of jetlag.
August 15th, 2007 at 10:18 am
wow ferdz, a-lister ka na rin.
August 15th, 2007 at 5:37 pm
wooww ayos ah… next year magpakita ka na talaga sa akin huh… lilipat na ako sau hehehe
August 16th, 2007 at 1:25 pm
wow, mga top blogger!
by the way, it would be interesting to know your views on sponsored meetups and promotions like this.
August 20th, 2007 at 10:58 pm
Seemed like a smashing evening. Sorry I couldn’t attend. I had already a commitment on that evening, but I always stay at Mictrotel in Baguio. I get a discount since my cousins own it
August 23rd, 2007 at 11:14 am
hi ironwulf,
glad you made it to the dinner that we hosted. and that you enjoyed the food.
ano camera gamit that night?
September 30th, 2007 at 2:51 am
Sayang nga, I missed this