It’s now two years since I’ve had my first and very own digital camera. Back in October 2006, it was only $99 and it was given to me as an early birthday gift from my Aunt Phoebe and Uncle Phil in Florida. From then on, I’ve used a total of 5 different cameras in shooting my video blogs. Now let me show you how my videos evolved technically using these different tools – this is CokskiBlue’s Camera Evideolution:

Aiptek DV5900 (October 2006 – August 2007)

This has got to be the cutest digital camera I’ve used. The cam has this small LCD display and with it folded in, the DV5900 would look like a little coin purse. Its minimum functions are bearable when you’re just the casual I-post-my-pictures-on-Friendster type of guy but the weak flash and poor video quality will make you irk once you see the results. No wonder its present market prize is now down to $39.99.

Despite the limitations, this camera witnessed the birth of CokskiBlue and I’ve used it for almost a year for many of my favorite episodes including this vlog on my very first bloggers meet-up:

After winning $100 at the Filipina Writing Project on my article The Funniest Filipina Vloggers, I used the prize with some of my funds to get me my 2nd baby – a Casio Exilim. Its sleek silver exterior made me fall in love with it instantly. Taking pictures is so-so but the “HD” quality of the video is quite good – miles better than the Aiptek.

I shot most of Season 2 with this camera including prize-winning We Love Trinoma & Buhay Coke sa Araw-araw, favorite CokskiBlue & Gibbs Cadiz Meet HappySlip and the awesome Palawan Gang series:

CONTINUE TO CAMERA EVIDEOLUTION PART 2

The year 2007 is indeed a very special time for pinoy video blogging. A lot of Filipinos has become aware of it especially with the rise of YouTube Superstar, Christine Gambito of HappySlip. I was one of those fortunate people who got inspired because of her work and discovered this wonderful art of expressing different stories and experiences through moving images crafted with awesome music. April 18, 2007 – that was the day I published my first vlog. And I could not stop ever since.

Now, here are the Top 10 Must-Watch Episodes of CokskiBlue of 2007 according to number of views (from Youtube and Revver), comments and general feedback:

10. Episode 15: Another Harry Potter

For every episode that I come up with, I usually need at least 20 images or 5 minutes of good clips to create one vlog. But it was not the case with this one. After seeing this one picture, I knew I had a hit birthday gift for my Dad’s 49th birthday.

9. Episode 22: Generations

This season opener is one of my personal favorites because it hits home right on spot. It made me remember the poems and stories I made when I was still little Cocoy. It brings out the big emo-guy in me which is very apparent in the last moments of the video.

8. Episode 6: Top Secret

The concept of this video (my most-watched work on Revver) had been one of the many ideas I’ve been imagining way back 2006. Yup. Even though stuff that I produce seem so random, I did already plan and premeditate some of it. This also came on the most perfect time. Making fun of candidates during elections is always a hit.

7. Episode 14: Ten

Now this is the episode which earned me a very special prize – a 1-year free individual membership at the Digital Filipino Club, thanks to Ms. Janette Toral. This entry to the Top 10 Emerging Influential Blogs of 2007 is one of my favorites since this project had put CokskiBlue on the map of Pinoy Blogging.

6. Episode 4: The Spidey Review

This movie review was very fun to do. It’s actually one of the episodes where I first got really good comments for discussion. It’s hard to rave and rant about a movie in less than 5 minutes. Good thing I found a way to make it decently informative.

5. Episode 1: Summer Chill, Uno

I never expected the great response I got from readers (or ehrm, viewers) when I released this Pilot Episode of CokskiBlue. I was already thrilled with the 5 comments I got from the first teaser I made but this vlog is where it all began. After viewing it for the nth time, how I wish I’d have the chance to do more travel vlogs.

4. Episode 9: Found

This episode wins as the most commented post of CokskiBlue so far. The amazing thing about this vlog is that the concept popped up in my head out of nowhere and I KNEW that I just had to do it. This was shot in one take and edited in less than an hour. This also got the most interesting comments I’ve read in this site.

3. Episode 2: Summer Chill, Dos

If I’m about to choose an episode that I’m most emotionally-attached to, then Part 2 of my Baguio vlog would be it. The thing is, I dunno why.Maybe it’s because of the Session Road music I used or all the emoness of the video towards the end. What I know for sure is that this is the one I’m most proud of, editing and “script” wise.

2. Episode 16: High School Musical

This is my most viewed YouTube video reaching almost 30,000 views, which is really no surprise because HSM fangirls will watch just about ANYTHING concerning Zac Efron or in our case, Sam Concepcion. This is the best theater vlog I’ve done so far.

1. Episode 18: Paglipas

And now, for the Most Must-Watch Episode of CokskiBlue this 2007 – Ang Alay kong Talumpati kay Malu Fernandez! It’s amazing how every post that this Malu Fernandez issue touched turned into blogging gold! Not only is it my 2nd most viewed YouTube video, it also got featured on many blogs and on the ABS-CBN News Channel show, Media In Focus! That was one of the highlights of my year so far.

So there you go! The Top 10 Must-Watch Episodes of CokskiBlue this 2007! Watch out for more episodes this 2008!

Filipinas don’t just melt our hearts because of their regal beauty and sparkling charisma; they also have these smart wit and outstanding humor that are so unique to them that we can’t help but laugh our melted hearts out. Sometimes, they could even be a lot funnier than most men; and for me, women who knows how to make a guy laugh and doesn’t care to make fun of herself every once in a while is one of the sexiest traits a Filipina could have.

Now put her in front of the camera, make her say and do a bunch of crazy hulabaloos(?) and she still pulls it off? Now that’s gold. That’s why I’m so amazed by these three wonderful Filipina vloggers that is on the top of their game when it comes to humor and vlogging. Let’s all see them in action, shall we?

1. Who doesn’t know this popular YouTube celebrity who’s basically one of the pioneers of Pinoy Vlogging? She is the beautiful Christine Gambito of HappySlip. Her videos present funny parodies of different shows and comic sketches of the life of a typical (or not) Filipino-American family. Christine got really amazing and impressive acting and video editing skills; no wonder she is one of the top Filipina newsmakers this year in the world.

2. This next Filipina is one of the most promising vloggers out there. Reading through her blog, you’ll know that she has this fun, outgoing and smart sense of humor that you can get really addicted to. After watching this first vlog, it just reaffirmed her current tagline – that “Funny is the New Sexy.” She is Kring Elenzano of FunnySexy!

3. Now bring out the drinks! ‘Cause we’re partying all night with one of the coolest (and craziest) vloggers today – Poyt Salazar of Tanggera! Watching this Filipina‘s vlogs is as exciting and unpredictable as having a drinking marathon with her. She usually has the funniest one-liners that surprises you in each of her videos. She observes the tiniest detail on her subjects and gives it a crazy twist which she is very good at. You should not miss an episode of Tanggera’s great (mis)adventures!

And those are my top picks as the funniest Filipina vloggers today. Watch out for more fun laughs and crazy antics that I’m sure they’re ready to serve in the future.

Want to start a funny vlog? While getting cash advances is not always the correct idea for all people, there are times a payday loan could be a lifesaver. Learn all about a payday loan to help you make educated choices.

Each and every one of us is a gold mine; but like any other of its kind, you have to dig out the good substance.The Gold Mine Theory – this is what stuck to me upon finishing last Saturday’s PETA Tour. This principle states that every person has this infinite potential to excel on any activity as long as they get the proper education and have the very determination to do so.

The blogging group included Arpee, Martin, Kai, Jun, Diego, Melissa, Carla, Benj, Cielo, Jeff , Joe, Coy, Chris, Faith, Karla, and Gibbs.

With this thought I just realized, I can be whoever I want to be. Just like playing a character in a play, you can be anyone if you just put your mind to it. You can be Juliet, Plato, or even Rizal if you only internalize that character – which requires not only knowledge of the material but also the passion to believe that you can be.

So just like what Mrs. Cecille Garrucho explained, anybody can do theater. And from a similar point of view of Pepe, from PETA’s “Batang Rizal”, anybody can be a hero too.

“Kung walang pinagbago ang panahon mo sa panahon ko, bakit kailangan ko pang mamatay?” A daunting question made by our young national hero. I almost teared up that moment when he left the stage leaving everybody wondering the same thing. Did he indeed die for nothing? Does our present condition reflect what he was fighting against?

Silence waved through the place as Pepe’s question kept lingering in my mind. Honestly, as I was sitting there, dumbfounded by the query, I didn’t really know the answer. And I was scared to believe that it was, in reality, all for nothing.

But as the play neared its end, I got to realize that it was not really about what he died for, but how he lived his life. And if one boy had this one great vision for our country and brought it to realization, then what stops today’s youth of achieving the same greatness? With enough will and persistence, you and I can be a hero in our own right. And with that in mind, we can be our nation’s gold mine.

“…Sino ka sa kanila, sino ka?
Kahit bata ka pa dapat alam mo na.
Piliin ang landas hangga’t maaga
Tayong kabataan ang pag-asa ng bayan
Ika’y Pilipino ‘wag kalilimutan
Talino at lakas ialay mo sa bayan.”

Photos by: Gibbs Cadiz, Arpee Lazaro

Music by: Bamboo

Special Thanks to: Philippine Educational Theater Association (PETA), PinoyCentric, and Gibbs Cadiz

The movie sucked. Yep, it did. And even with all the buzz, the songs weren’t that good either.

Until this happened.

Yeah, the movie still blows. But there’s something about High School Musical On Stage that saved Disney’s sorry excuse for a movie. This even got me to download (illegally) the whole damn soundtrack album! What has got into me? Or maybe the question is, what mojo has Stages and Trumpets Playshop conjured that’s making all this noise(LSS in my head)?

Oh, it was just pure talent then. That works.

Photos from: Click The City, Super Bong, Gibbs Cadiz, Coy, Pinoy Centric

Music from: High School Music OST

EDITED: I added my final rating for the film.

A movie review of this summer’s biggest blockbuster hit, Spiderman 3.

If this doesn’t work, just go straight to this link: YouTube