Top 10 Emerging Influential Blogs for 2012

I am fond of making lists.

From shopping list to wish list and things-to-do-list to bucket list, I just love the feeling of jotting just about anything that comes to mind and taking time to make it into sort of a challenge that I have to accomplish on a given time.

When I was in elementary, I used to be the designated "lister" (if there is such a thing) of our class adviser. Well, it's just actually a task that even a dummy can do. I just have to note on a sheet of paper or, if I am a little brave on a day, on the blackboard my anyone in our room who roam around, noisy, standing or littering while our teacher left us for we-don't-know-what-she's-doing-in-the-CR-for-half-an-hour.

When she arrives, it's the dreaded "the look" from her to every single soul listed in "the list". Now, if you want to be spared from "the look," you better have a spare peso from your baon to get a piece of pastillas or two that our teacher is selling secretly.

That was the earliest form of list that I made and after that, I basically grew up listing just about anything worth noting. The only list I try to avoid is the one with those personal credit and loans.

Now, let's talk about blogging and a list I just made for the writing project Top 10 Emerging Influential Blogs for 2012.  Below are the blogs I stumbled upon and have been my source of great reading in the past few months now:

1. www.GadgetGambit.com - Great name for a tech blog. I often get great online promos from this site along with the cool reviews about the latest devices in the market.

2. www.eccentricyethappy.blogspot.com - Who says you can't be happy when you're eccentric? Well, read this blog and find out the fun-filled journey of a quirky lady is into everyday.

3.  www.foydi.blogspot.com - The hunt for real life's treasure is what Foydi's Treasure Hunt all about.  Be amazed how even the simplest things in the world has an inspiring story to tell.

4.  www.pinabilingsuka.com - It's always a joy to read when there are moments of laughing or giggling. This blog is fun and has touch of humor in most of its entries.

5.  www.thehealthyjourney.tumblr.com - We talk and hear about health and wellness from time to time but are we really doing something to improve our ways? Well, this blog tells you how.

6.  www.yummytales.com - This blog tells that it's not only food that can be yummy. Sometimes, there are things in life that we'd like to savor again and again because of the great feeling it brings.

7.  www.musicrepubliq.com - I am a music lover and I want to be updated with the latest hits and who are the artists currently making waves in the chart. This blog keeps me in the loop.

8. www.fadandglamor.com - Want to be fashionable but your on strict budget. You'll get a tip or two on how to do it in this blog from a fashionista mom blogger-on-a-budget.

9. www.mommysmaglife.blogspot.com - A mommy dreams to have a magazine featuring about her life as a parent. Well, she's on a good start with this blog about motherhood and related topics.

10. www.maximizingmarriage.com - Who wants a happy and long-lasting relationship? Here's one site that will give you ideas and tips on how to make marriage a worth-while adventure.

This writing project will not be possible without the support of sponsors such as Tof Salcedo, Philippine data center, Philippine online shopping, Manila Standard Today, DigitalFilipino Club, Search Profile Index, and more to be added.

And so I invite my fellow bloggers, "What's in your list?"

New Year’s resolutions to be better employees

Reading, whether a book or an article online, is forever a wonderful learning journey.  It never ceases to surprise every reader with a new discovery or two in a span of just a few minutes. I was surfing the internet when I stumbled upon this on about.com:


“Julius Caesar is credited in declaring January 1 as the start of every New Year while the Babylonians are said to have made the first New Year's resolutions.  It was explained that the New Year’s resolutions go back about 4000 years, when the ancient Babylonians resolved to return any farming equipment they borrowed during the year to their rightful owners in time for the start of the New Year.”  

Just when I thought that my history professors in high school and college have it all covered, I’ll find cool stuff like these through casual reading.  That’s why in this age of e-books, online magazines and blogs, I still find time to visit bookstores and look for hidden treasures.  Thus, my New Year’s resolution for 2012 is to finish at least one book every month.  And I think I am on the right track since my “mommy” in our recent office monito/ monita granted my wish for a book that I have always wanted to buy. 

Definitely, reading will help me become a more productive employee because it makes me aware and updated of the latest happenings and issues around the world.  It’s also from books that I get good practices related to my job as a communications specialist.  My writing skills can also improve through reading because it gives me an opportunity to learn new styles and forms in expressing my ideas.

How about you, what’s your New Year’s resolution? Being one curious soul, I wanted to know what my colleagues and friends want to change in their ways for the coming year 2012 by asking them through this question that I posted on my Facebook wall:  What’s your New Year’s resolution to be a better employee?

Here are some of the notable responses that I got:

John Philip Mamaril, Proposal Engineer, “My New Years Resolution is to strive to improve myself, improve all good aspects my life"

Bennix Baygas, Network Administrator, “To be more productive, strive for excellence and work diligently as well.”

Leon Abrilla Pangilinan Jr., Information Systems Researcher: “To be always on time in accomplishing my to do list and not let stress get in the way of happiness and productivity in the workplace.”

Manette Flores-Aquino, Freelance Writer: "To observe time management and knowing which task to prioritize."

Jonha Revesencio, Social Media & Community Manager: "Be able to make time for much more essential tasks and be not easily distracted."

Ruel Natividad, English professor: "My new year’s resolution is to do less blogging and focus more on my job."

Vincent Haoson, Web Marketing Officer:  "I don't really consider it as a resolution but I plan to maximize my time I spent in office"

Grace Bondad Nicolas, Project Engineer: "Focus more in details and more time than writing"

Jerlinda Domingo, Special Educator: "Will try to further enhance my creativity to make my lessons more interesting for my kids."

Christian Melanie Lee, Blogger/ Web content writer: "To always obey my superiors.  Would love to have a better working relationship with my boss”

Judee de Leon, Bank Officer: "I will try to avoid to be involved in office intrigues and just Work hard for my my company and to all our clients"

Ronald Delima, Programmer: "Like what my boss always tell me, I will try to work smarter not harder."

Jayson Biadog, Account Executive: "I will give more value on ownership of my job and never waste time in my company as if this is my own business."

After getting those inputs from other employees, I am beginning to recognize some improvements I need to apply in my work habits in order to be more effective in my job

Reading those resolutions makes me want to make a list of things I want to accomplish in 2012. It would be helpful to keep such list so we can check next year if ever we have achieved the personal goals that we set or our resolutions just ended up as broken promises.

Hopefully, all of us will stick with whatever resolutions we will come up with whole year round because it will definitely not only benefit our respective companies but would also be personal accomplishments we can be proud of. 

This article was published in the January issue of the Philippine daily Inquirer and People Manager magazine January 2012 issue.

One Hyundai Club Life in Style

It's still a month and a half to go before we say goodbye to 2011 and yet many companies have already unwrapped some surprises in store for their customers for next year. 

A good example is Hyundai Asia Resources, Inc. (HARI).  They have announced that they will be starting the year with a blast as it holds the ultimate lifestyle event of the year come January.

One Hyundai Club Life in Style is a grand lifestyle event that celebrates the good life that all One Hyundai Club members and Hyundai customers truly deserve. Happening on the 14th of January, 2012, this event is HARI's way of thanking OHC members for their continued support and patronage throughout the years.

The event will feature the launch of the 2012 One Hyundai Club Life in Style Journal and will bring to life a taste of the various shopping, dining, beauty and wellness, travel and leisure activities and promos that the journal has in store for OHC members. Primarily intended for OHC members who will enjoy special perks and the chance to win exciting raffle prizes, the event is also open to other Hyundai car owners and guests.

One Hyundai club members and existing and potential Hyundai customers get the opportunity to experience the good life they deserve with the different activities lined-up that will surely cater to their various interests.

Log-in and register at www.ohclifeinstyle.com.ph, for more details, and like us at facebook.com/OneHyundaiClubLifeInStyle.

Don’t just live your life, live it in style.