(Cagayan de Oro City, Mindanao, Philippines – October 21, 2009) – It’s all
systems go for the Cagayan de Oro Bloggers (CDO Bloggers) as they play
host to the much-awaited Mindanao Bloggers Summit 3, an annual
gathering of Mindanao-based bloggers, IT industry experts, community
leaders and new media advocates, on October 24, 2009 at Pearlmont Inn,
Limketkai Drive, Cagayan de Oro City. Roughly 300 bloggers are expected
to attend this year’s summit.

With the theme, “Mindanao: Bag-Uhon Ang Panan-aw,” (Changing The
Way People See Mindanao) the event aims to uphold the beauty and
strength of Mindanao, to highlight the diverse cultures and fascinating
tourist spots that are uniquely Mindanao and to provide a platform where
bloggers and other new media practitioners can discuss concerns related to
Mindanao – all with the help of new and emerging technologies.

“Mindanao is the home of everything fascinating or in bloggers’ lingo –
bloggable. Through the Mindanao Bloggers Summit 3, it is the hope of the
CDO Bloggers, along with our partners and generous sponsors, that we
listen to knowledgeable resource persons, meet other Mindanaoan bloggers,
share and maximize all of our skills and resources and adopt tried and
tested practices that can help us to fully promote Mindanao and for us to
become better bloggers as well,” emphasized Chiq Montes, president of
CDO Bloggers.

“Of course, we also want all of the participants to have a good time and
experience the sights and sounds of Cagayan de Oro,” Montes added.

Montes said that apart from Mindanaoan bloggers, the summit will also see
the participation of some bloggers from Luzon and Visayas.

Expected to grace the summit is United States Embassy’s new Deputy Chief
of Mission Leslie Bassett, Atty. Adel Tamano, Agusan Lone District Rep.
Rodolfo “Ompong” Plaza and Cagayan de Oro City Mayor Tinnex Jaraula.

Considered unprecedented in the Philippine blogosphere, a top ranking
United States Embassy dignitary is set to deliver the keynote address.
Bassett’s trip to CDO will be her first trip to Mindanao since assuming office
in June. She previously served as DCM in Mexico.

“We are deeply honored. We’re certain that the summit participants will be
delighted to meet her and we can’t wait for her to see our beautiful city,”
Montes said.

Other speakers during the whole-day affair include Cagayan de Oro City
Mayor Tinnex Jaraula, Agusan Lone District Rep. Rodolfo “Ompong” Plaza
and Atty. Adel Tamano.

Google’s Philippine representative Aileen Apolo, whose talk will focus on
beginners, Digital Filipino’s Janette Toral, who will discuss blog
advertising and Lyle Santos, who will talk about making money online will
also be present. Representatives of other blogger groups including those in
Davao City, General Santos City and Zamboanga will also give updates.

After the summit proper, participants have the choice of joining either the
city tour (Xavier University Museum, Cathedral, Divine Mercy Shrine, Opol
Aviary, Limketkai Mall) or the whitewater rafting adventure.

Also happening on October 24, right after the MBS 3, is the Philippine Blog
Awards – Mindanao awarding ceremonies.

CDO Bloggers, Inc., a group duly registered with the Securities and
Exchange Commission, is the lead organizer of this year’s Mindanao
Bloggers Summit 3. Previous summits took place in Davao City and
General Santos City.

The Mindanao Bloggers Summit 3 is generously supported by SMART
Telecommunications, Nokia, Syntactics, Inc., STI, Rafting Adventure
Philippines, MakatiAve.com, Majesty Sales Center, Havaianas Philippines,
OLX Philippines Free Classifieds, Clara Shoppe, ASTERISK Events and
Communications, RG & K Construction, Paguia’s Cottages, The Pacifica.com
Companies, The Site, Spruce, The City Government of Cagayan de Oro,
Office of CDO First District Rep. Rolando “Klarex” Uy, SM City Cagayan de
Oro, Ultra Craft Advertising Corporation, Magnet Advertising, Provincial
Government of Misamis Oriental and the Mindanao Bloggers community.
Media partners include Papa Ardie’s Concepz, STI, ABS CBN, MOR 91.9 and
HOT FM 106.3.

For more information about the Mindanao Bloggers Summit 3, log on to
http://www.mbscdo.com

About CDO Bloggers

CDOBloggers or Cagayan de Oro Bloggers, Inc. is a duly SEC-registered
organization that promotes Cagayan de Oro through blogging. Among the
group’s goals are to create impact in society through blogging, to help
promote Mindanao to the world as a bustling and peaceful land, to
promote Cagayan De Oro City and Kagay-anons around the world with
a sense of pride and to use blogging as a media platform.

The CDO Bloggers group is the main organizer of the Mindanao Bloggers
Summit 3 (MBS 3). For more information about MBS 3, log on to
http://www.mbscdo.com

For more information about CDO Bloggers, visit
http://www.cdobloggers.com or send email to cdobloggersinc@gmail.com

About Mindanao Bloggers

Mindanao Bloggers aims to unify the island through this exciting new
medium — the way of the blog — thereby promoting deeper
understanding of our different cultures and beliefs. Thus, it is hoped
that this community blog will help in presenting to the world at large
the true beauty of the Philippine South, as well as the marvelous
diversity of the peoples of Mindanao. For more information about
Mindanao Bloggers, visit http://www.mindanaobloggers.com

According to Ivan Macarambon, “Art is ever present in the heart and consciousness of every individual, whether that person is an art lover, an art practitioner, or just a witness. One can be an innocent bystander watching a series of premeditated actions or minor accidents that lead to the creation of an artwork. One can be ignorant of the process, content at looking at the creative result. One can even choose to look the other way. But like an untouched musical instrument that sings in sympathetic vibration to a tone sang by another instrument, one never escapes the clutches of art. A good artwork will leave even the most disinterested of viewers subconsciously singing the tone of the image in his heart until he retires for the night. That is the quality and function of art. To produce a tone essential to human existence and hurl it at the viewer with enough force as to invade his consciousness and linger there until such time the essence dissipates.”

The Exhibit will run until March 30, 2009. Here are some chosen photos of their artworks but I hope that you’ll visit the exhibit within the month and let their artworks resonate within you.

“From the moment they wake, they devote themselves to the perfection of whatever they pursue.” From the Movie The Last Samurai.

A good spiritual leader and friend told me a long time ago to control my life for the greater glory of our God. I was still in college then. The key word is control he said. I remembered our talk even after graduation. I would control my life by giving time perfecting my craft so that I would become known in the advertising industry.  I would be in control of my life as I served God in the work place.

Then I found myself walking along Ayala Avenue one morning. It was 7 AM. Other people were getting started for work. As for me, I was heading home.  I worked overnight with no sleep. Sad to say, this was frequent. I wanted so many times to tell my boss that I was not superman but I was not able to do so. I would always do what was asked of me without question saying, “You can have it first thing tomorrow.” I also missed a lot of activities in our Catholic community, Ang Lingkod ng Panginoon, including prayer meetings. Talk about being in control.

In this world, there exists a master and an apprentice, a teacher and a student, a superior and a subordinate. I also got the chance to be a Creative Director in another company working with people in different departments. I couldn’t ask for more. Finally I was on top and I even have my own room.

One late afternoon I saw my graphic artist still doing work and it was almost 6 PM. She somehow reminded me of myself years back…working hard and trying to beat the deadline. I said to her “Jing, it’s already 6PM. You can continue that tomorrow.” She smiled at me and packed her things.

“What will you gain, if you own the whole world but destroy yourself?” Mark 8:36

What shall it profit me to become known in the advertising industry but lose God in return? With this in mind, I chose to attend activities in my community again and served actively. Later on I was made action group leader with several men under me. Years passed and I found myself a unit leader with action groups under me…We were all happy praising and serving our God by christianizing our work place.

All of us are perfecting our crafts as teachers, businessmen, lawyers, engineers, doctors, and more…but there is no greater joy than to be in the service, not of our boss, our work, or money, but of our God. About being in control…I am not in control of my life anymore. God is.

God bless! =)

I haven’t finished my website yet and I’m still in the process of improving it but you can already contact me or send me an e-mail at gabs@gabsmedina.com. God bless and take care. Hear from you soon.