Bawal ang May Hiya.

As you’ve noticed, I haven’t done a vlog in a while but do watch out for a CokskiBlue change/transition that you will be seeing in the coming weeks.

For now, watch us invade the supermarkets with this fun video – our entry to Globe’s Paramihan Challenge. We didn’t get to the finals but we still can’t get enough of it. Haha. Thanks Poyt, Al and Pia for helping out!

Hi guys, Coy here. I know, I know! I’ve been gone quite a long time now. And this is the main reason why – I just had a new baby. Yes guys, it’s a bouncing baby blog!

I’ve been planning to do this since the new year started – a blog which is focused on the craft of Video Blogging. So after a few weeks (err months) of “preparations”, I finally launched IT – VideoChops.com!

So what is VideoChops? Here’s one quick CHOP about the blog:

CLIPS ARCHIVE – So this was my original vision – to have a place online where I can stock up my unused video clips and footages and make it downloadable to everyone FOR FREE! I know I know, some of the videos are still a bit “choppy” but for video blogs and some other amateur video productions – these chops really aren’t that bad. And my slow transition to HD could only get much, much better.

HAPPENINGS – The blogging community is all about the “events” now – what’s new, what’s hip, and what’s hot. This blog will be covering not all – but the most relevant happenings in the ’sphere – maybe feature a couple of vlog personalities a month and hopefully organize a few events for vloggers as well.

OPINIONS – Tips, articles, reviews, blogger contributions, etc. VideoChops.com wants to know what you guys think about the craft and the blog is open to new styles and techniques that is specific to our different ways of video blogging. Cameras, microphones, editing softwares – we’ll take a look what works best.

PINOY VIRALS – Lastly, the site we’ll be featuring the hottest Pinoy viral videos out there – either by commercial outfits or by indie video makers. And NO. YOU WON’T SEE SCANDALS HERE. Move along, now.

So there you go! I know we won’t accomplish ALL THAT in one snap. The blog is a work in progress so feel free to drop in some comments and suggestions. And if you like the site, feel free to SUBSCRIBE and blog about it on your blogs and we’ll be happy to link to you back.

So watch and learn. Take a Slice! VideoChops has just begun.

2 Years of Video Blogging! w00t!

Summer is almost over! You wanna go to the beach like all your friends have but you can’t. Maybe because of bad weather? No money? No time? Here are cheap and alternative ways to experience the beach life in the comforts of your own home.

Check out new video blogger Doctor Dude as he launch his new blog with this awesome vlog – Life’s a Beach!

Animation – Jet Caballes, Camerawork – Howi Ramallosa, Eva “Punda” – My awesome cousin Lara Caballes
Beaches in the video: Boracay, Moal Boal (Cebu) and Baler!

Good thing I watched Primetime News on QTV Channel 11 last night or else I would’ve missed the pilot of my new favorite show – QTube! Not one. Not two. But three bloggers are featured – Peter Juan, Anton Diaz and Kring Elenzano! That’s no surprise since these guys are indeed making big waves on the internet. And I also found out that QTube’s spiels director is a blogger! Great job Glenn Ala! Cool show!

Wanna know more about QTube? Here’s what I got from their official website:

Watch TV, download music, post photos and videos, make new friends, and reconnect with old ones – there’s truly nothing you can’t do when you’re connected to the internet! Our whole lives are practically connected to – and through – the web. It’s no wonder we’re called the “Wired Generation.” And with the Philippines leading the way in Asia when it comes to photo uploading and social networking, it’s pretty safe to say that Filipinos are tech-savvy. Geek or no geek, if you can’t live without logging on to the web, then you’ll definitely love us. Q-Tube is the ultimate merging of the net and the box! With Qtube, the power of the net is now within your reach – for real, and alive, right on your TV screens!

Blogger’s Digest

It’s all about being heard loud and proud on the net. Blogger’s Digest features the hottest blogs and the personalities behind them – from celebrity bloggers, to obscure but controversial non-celebrity bloggers, and vloggers who are not afraid to speak their minds. Find them all here in Blogger’s Digest.

i-Share and i-Share Exclusive

Do you think you’ve got what it takes to be the next internet star? With i-Share, you get the chance to upload your viral videos for the whole world to see – on TV! And with i-Share Exclusive, you get exclusive sneak peeks at the next video uploads of your favorite internet sensations before they’re even uploaded!

i-Shop

i-Shop is all about the wonderful world of cyber-shopping. We zone in on the world of online trading and show you everything from the best buys online to the weirdest finds on the internet. We’ll let you in on some of the best kept secrets of online shoppers. We’ll even let our hosts check out these products in person! iShop is definitely your ultimate guide to internet shopping!

i-Love

i-Love features touching and inspiring love stories that happened via the internet. These are stories from you and by you – love stories so real they’ll make even the most skeptic cyber-surfer a true believer in l’amour.

i-Sore and i-Report

Thanks to the Internet, the world has become a smaller place. Breaking news spreads faster and no issue is left unturned. With iSore and iReport, we show you how the World Wide Web has shaped and continually shapes news, issues, and current events.

i-Travel

i-Travel is your on-air guide to online travel. Navigate your way through cyberspace to find the best destinations, the best rates, and the best travel packages. Get to see the world before you even leave your seats. With i-Travel, you get to stay updated with just one click and get in touch with Pinoys all over the world through your webcam.

Get 100% virus-free internet TV on Qtube every Thursday, 10:15 PM on Q Channel 11!

Pinoy Vloggers Get A Makeover!

From the makers of We Love Trinoma, here’s a video that will change everything – from clothes and face, to 2008 hair. Witness the transformation from geek to chic as the “vintage” Fab 5  go to Regine’s Salon at the Anson Arcade! This is Coy, Kring, Joe, Poyt and AJ exactly a year ago. Special Thanks to Juned Sonido and Karlo PinoyBlogero for the camera work! Watch out for awesome, FRESH episodes this June 2009 when CokskiBlue Season 3 premieres!

REGINE’s SALON at the new ANSON arcade beside Makati Shangrila, The newest building between LANDMARK and MAKATI SHANGRILA Hotel

REGINES SALON
2nd Floor Site “A” Building MAKATI AVENUE CORNER NORTH DRIVE
Tel numbers : 856.17.23 or 856.17.24
Cell : 0916-744.32.99 or 0922-852.05.29

You’ve seen Part 1 and Behind the Scenes of Kapuso Mo, Jessica Soho’s feature on Pinoy Video Blogging. Now here comes my part of the segment…

…after the Jump!

From YouTube to the BoobTube!

After a hiatus of more than a month, CokskiBlue is back! With. A. Vengeance.

You guys have no idea how much back[v]logs I got in my laptop. My system cannot keep up! So expect an overflow of video updates in the coming weeks. Also, I really miss b/vlogging. Just needed to recharge after the new year and the Kapuso Mo, Jessica Soho crew did boost me in the right direction. Watch this behind the scenes video and Part 1 of the show segment about Pinoy Vlogging! Part 1 after the JUMP:

Bloggers Try Vlogging for Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf!

It’s not very often one gets the chance to produce a video blog with other awesome pinoy bloggers. So when the Great Mike Cabardo asked us to do a video ON THE SPOT for a few minutes, we knew we just had to take the challenge. Brainstorming for the concept was actually pretty quick as the Magikel Marcelle came up of the idea he was pretty familiar of. Watch as Fritz, Marcelle, Benj, Jonel, Charl and CokskiBlue try to create magic with video blogging.

CREDITS

Marcelle – Magician
Benj, Charl, and Jonel – Judges
Coy – Audition FAIL and Editor
Fritz – Videographer

The Funniest Palawan Day to Date!

This has gotta be the funniest day ever. Srsly. It’s the gang’s third and last day yet there’s still a lot of LOL moments caught on video. We went to Honda Bay, specifically Snake and Pandan Island where we went snorkeling and modeling. After spoofing Marimar, Baywatch and FHM cover shots, we toured the city again for some last day shopping, food tripping and videoke!

Enjoy guys!

April 18, 2007 – That was the first day I launched my very first video blog at CokskiBlue which then resided at http://cokskiblue.blogspot.com. I still remember my very unusual layout where my blog “banner” invaded almost half of the screen. With that first look, you’d see that I was trying to do something different – not exactly good on the eyes – but different.

That first vlog spawned unexpected reactions from the first (say, 4?) viewers. Whaddayaknow. They actually liked it. And apparently, the idea – blogging using video as a medium, was relatively new to the Philippine Blogging Community, which back then I didn’t know actually existed. Of course, YouTube already had HappySlip, Komikero, TouchBlue and other great Pinoy video bloggers. But I am very grateful to have found an audience who tuned in week after week, with no high expectations of what I should be doing. They just watched. And had gone with the ride.

It was an overwhelming experience. It was the first time I’ve become very addicted going online. Thanks to Benj for his commendation and for introducing my craft to his many readers. Thank you very much Gibbs Cadiz for letting me have great opportunities and amazing experiences through theater among other things. Thank you to these first guys who took notice – Imman and Rens, who were very nice to feature me on their blogs. To my first chat and inuman pals – Shari, Kevin, LA, Jhed, Jed, Aaron, Irvin, Dan, Alan, Yna, Cars, Karla, Ron, and Jeff, thanks for giving me your warm welcomes on my first blogger night out (and YM conference). To Dyu and Lois, many thanks for the hosting, domain and the patience in regularly updating me about technical schedules and problems. To Pareng Ederic Eder and Brod. Jon Magat, salamat sa suporta sa proyekto na inilunsad ko at sa pakikinig sa ibang hinaing ko sa buhay . To Juned, Karla, and Jake – thanks for the unending support and advice. To my photo and video blogger friends – Poyt, Kring, Rick, Joe, Fritz, and AJ, you guys are among the most fun people I’ve met. Thanks to my iBlog4 partner, Aileen Apolo for adopting me to the You Got Tech family and always cheering me up on Twitter . Thank you very much Ms. Janette Toral for opening up good opportunities for me to showcase my craft. And of course, many thanks to those who enjoyed, cried, laughed, hated, got annoyed, but still watched videos on this blog. You guys are amazing!

There’s no question that now, this is one of my biggest passions. Videomaking gives me a certain sense of fulfillment. And being able to influence bloggers even just a little bit in trying it out is such a huge blessing for me. Now, I’m all pumped up for another fun and crazy year of CokskiBlue!

PS

Let me share my Manila Bulletin Blog-o-Rama interview by Ms. Annalyn Jusay last March 18, 2008 with additional exclusive answers which did not make it to print:

Philip Marco “Coy” Caballes is one of the few who have established their niche in video blogging in the country; a pioneer of this niche, in fact.

This 22-year old Computer Science student from UP Diliman has always been fascinated with writing scripts and directing plays ever since he was small and so found blogging with videos a perfect opportunity to showcase his talent.

“I’ve always pictured my life as one big movie production , divided into chapters. From the very beginning, I was already fascinated with the art of film making and storytelling. Simply put, I started blogging because I’m very fond of telling a story.” Let’s get to know more about him in the following interview:

Q. Why did you embark on a video blog and not an ordinary blog? Can you enlighten us on your videos you’re proud about?

A. Since I started blogging, I think I created AND abandoned a total of 5 blogs already. I just could not maintain and update them properly. And unlike many bloggers, it takes a lot of time and effort for me to compose a single post. I like writing but I usually became impatient on doing it resulting to numerous unfinished drafts in my blog dashboard.

I also loved the idea of doing something different. So for each blog that I came up with, I made sure I had a unique concept that I could work with. After my 21st birthday in 2006, that was the time I discovered HappySlip. YouTube was relatively new back then and I already started doing music videos and learning basic video editing tricks on my own using Microsoft Movie Maker.

After downloading and watching a bunch of videos of HappySlip and other YouTube vloggers, something hit me. This is perfect,” I thought. I can actually do this! With all the concepts and ideas I can play with, even the sky is not a limit. So on April 18, 2007, I launched my first vlog – an introduction of CokskiBlue and what it’s all about. I am very proud of that first video. I remember making my parents’ bedroom my first set ever for my first “photo shoot”.

It was complete with lights and everything. I only used pictures and voiceover for my videos but it turned out pretty good. One of my favorites is my two-parter vlog Baguio experience. After I watched it, I just knew I was meant to do this.

I’m also proud of the videos I made for my family on Mother’s Day and my Dad’s birthday. I also made one for my brother, Jet, on how we enjoy music together. It’s always fun including your loved ones in something you love to do.

Q. From your experience, what are the things one needs to know and do before going into video blogging?

A. For starters, knowledge on how to operate a video editing software will be very useful. Learn the basics first – Microsoft Movie Maker or iMovie. You don’t even need a camera to start. Practice by making a simple music video or slideshow using your personal pictures. It’s fun to learn. Especially after seeing the end product. After you edit your first video, the next ones whould be alot easier.

But remember, video editing is not exactly a requirement for video blogging. Some vloggers directly upload their videos online (in YouTube, Revver, etc.). The rawness of these unedited ones actually come out more interesting sometimes.

One more thing aspiring vloggers can do is to explore YouTube – watch your favorite videos, comment, and upload your own. It’s the best video sharing site to start on because of its volume and diversity in content.

To be honest, before I started video blogging, I didn’t know exactly what to do. Not many Filipinos vlogged back then so I didn’t know what to expect. All I had was this vision – the need to put my imagination to reality. Basically, it all boils down to passion. And everything will follow.

Q. Care to share precious tips to newbies out there on video blogging?

A. The first tip I can share to newbies is that ‘Limit the time of your video blogs. 5 and 15 are the magic numbers.’ Don’t upload vlogs that are more than 5 minutes in length and catch the viewer’s attention on the first 15 seconds of your video. You should remember that vlogs are very different from (Audio) podcasts (which may run for 30 minutes or more in an episode) because videos require a greater load of attention from your audience. Make it short but jampacked with audio-visual goodness.

Another tip is that ‘Music (or the absence of it) can make your video 10 times more watchable’. Choosing the right music is not an easy task. But if you develop that special ear for establishing the right “feel” for your video, then you’re on your way to making really amazing vlogs.

ADDITIONAL EXCLUSIVE ANSWERS

1. Please tell us the story about how and why you started to blog.

Simply put, I started blogging because I’m very fond of telling a story. I remember when I was in Grade school, I used to write mini-novels and draw ugly illustrations – featuring my classmates as the lead characters fighting monsters and “tyanaks”. By the age of 8, I wrote my first full-length script (it was “Kababalaghan sa Paaralan”, I think) and sent it to a horror TV show in a local Station (RPN 9). It could’ve been my “big break” if the show wasn’t canceled. Hehe. In high school, most of the time, I’ll take the duty of directing plays and presentations in class. I do have a wild imagination but lately, I became more into recounting and writing about interesting experiences I’ve had over the years. I started blogging around 2004 in Tabulas.com. It was a personal blog – stories about my college life as a sophomore in UP. I was from the MIRC generation, so basically, I was a chatroom addict. So when that kinda fizzled out, I needed a venue to pour out my daily ramblings. That’s part of the reason why I decided to start.

2) The highlights of your video blogging life in the past year?

My first year of video blogging had lots of cloud 9 moments. The first was winning 3rd place on Digital Filipino’s Top 10 Most Influential Emerging Blogs of 2007. Apparently, I was one of the first guys to introduce video blogging to the mainstream Philippine Blogging Community and I received really great feedback for it. Another highlight of my year was when my video on the Malu Fernandez OFW issue appeared on National TV, particularly on ABS-CBN News Channel’s Media on Focus. It was a surreal experience hearing my voice on TV. Even my parents couldn’t believe it. Of course, one of the things I really treasure the past year is the experience of meeting my long-time idol and inspiration, Christine Gambito of HappySlip. Meeting her was already an honor but being able to interview and do a video with her was a blessing I will always be grateful for.

3) Who do you look up to among the bloggers, and why?

I actually look up to Gibbs Cadiz the most. He is one of the most respectable and talented bloggers today in the community and you can see in his work that he’s really knowledgable and passionate about his niche on Theater, Arts and Literature. He just started video blogging and he had been able to share what goes on behind the theater curtains through his videos.

4) What do you think is the future of video blogging in the Philippines? Do you see it being embraced by the mainstream bloggers soon?

I do feel that there’s a bright future ahead for video blogging in the Philippines. It’s an art that’s waiting to be explored. Filipinos by nature are very creative so I can only imagine what’s in store for us on the next vlog productions. The number of mainstream bloggers trying this out is fast increasing and new pinoy vlogs are being launched in the blogosphere as we speak. I think that more bloggers will follow this fun trend. Who wouldn’t want to star in their own show or movie, right? 2008 will be an exciting year for the Philippine Vlogosphere.

5) After your video blog, what now? What do you hope to be in the future? Do you still see yourself blogging five years from now?

Five years from now? I see myself working on mainstream media – TV or Film. I just know it. Haha. As long as I have something to vlog about and as long as the world give new things to explore, I will continue video blogging. The idea of creating something beautiful out of my treasured memories and experiences never gets old for me.  And because of that passion to create, I know my work will not only tell a story but will also show who I am.

6) Your plans for your video blog.

My graduation and my vlog’s first anniversary is coming this April so something big MIGHT come up. Just expect more vlogger collaborations, more vlogging contests and of course, more fun and exciting episodes for everyone!