by Penny Angeles-Tan | Dec 22, 2009 | Awards and Competitions
Guess what? I didn’t win in the Twilight contest on Fizzer.ph that I was making so much noise about for several weeks, hoping and begging for my family and friends to vote for me. Winning it really wasn’t easy. At times it felt like pulling out of quicksand would be easier than convincing people not only to sign up to Fizzer.ph but also to vote for me on the Twilight contest and give me 5 stars. People had different reasons for taking their time or not doing it at all. For some it was security or privacy issues, for others it was either a very busy social or work schedule. Which is why I am very, very thankful to all the people who did vote. Your combined votes was enabled me to reach the #2 spot in the photo contest.
Some of my friends told me they were waiting for the last minute to vote. Unfortunately, registration/login bugs prevented them from entering the site and therefore could not vote for me. I actually saw this for myself since one of my friends registered in my presence and was unable to login despite receiving the confirmation email. I guess that SNAFUs are one of the things to be expected when we wait until the last minute to do something.
With more than a 200 vote lead on me, I am not surprised that 24 year old Helga Weber went home with the Canon 450D Rebel DSLR Camera. Congratulations, Helga!
by Penny Angeles-Tan | Dec 18, 2009 | Awards and Competitions
One day and ten hours. As of this blog that is how much time is left before Fizzer declares a winner. At the moment it seems to be clear it isn’t going to be me. 
The person in front of me has right now is something like 300 votes ahead. Definitely it is because she has been working her butt off today getting her family and friends to vote for her. I have been doing the same for several days now myself.
I am thankful to those who have taken the time to vote, despite the many bugs we have encountered the last couple of days. The fact that you persevered means a lot to me. And yet, when I look at how much movement my votes got from last night to now, it seems I only got 1 star more, and it was from a detractor, not a friend. Thank you, detractor for giving me one star. In your little way, you helped, even if your goal was just to complain. Especially to the friends who absolutely hated having to sign up but for the love of me did so just to vote for me, I thank you most of all. You overcame your reservations to support me.
I’m sitting here thinking … perhaps my family and friends are just waiting until the last minute before they vote? Maybe that’s it. Certainly, the #1’s score jump could be explained by that on her end. I would rather think my family and friends and their friends are just waiting. I guess we will know for sure by tomorrow, eh, when there is movement (or lack thereof) of votes.
I’m trying really, really hard to be optimistic. But when I can’t even get my daughter to campaign for me enthusiastically with her friends for a prize that is meant for her, not me, I can’t help but be depressed. I don’t know. Maybe it is embarrassing for a 39 year old mom to join a Twilight contest.
Don’t get me wrong, my vote tally, to date is not shabby. I am currently at #2 after all. But that won’t win me the prize. To win I have to be #1.
As I’ve mentioned before, ordinarily I am not one to ask for favors. Neither do I force people to do something they don’t want to do. But now, I find myself asking, and begging, and cajoling. Friends, for love of me, if nothing else, please sign up and vote for me at http://www.fizzer.ph/competitions/twilight.html, and if possible, do give me the maximum 5 stars.
If you have already voted for me and gave me anywhere from 1 to 5 stars, I thank you from the bottom of my heart! Even the detractors that gave me 1 star … thank you so much for your attention.
I love you all and thank you for helping me. I pray you help me. I pray we win.
by Penny Angeles-Tan | Dec 16, 2009 | Ponderings
If I haven’t said this often enough let me say it again — I HATE blanket statements.
Someone I know recently said “jokingly” that “DSLRs are for douchebags“. By inference, that means anyone who owns or wants a DSLR camera IS a douchebag.
Let’s do the math:
- DSLRs are for douchebags.
- Professional photographers use DSLR cameras.
- Therefore, professional photographers are douchebags.
Does that mean that because I WANT to own a DSLR, by inference that makes ME a douchebag? Or soon to be a douchebag? I’m using a borrowed one now, does that make me a part-time douchebag?
I can’t help but wonder what kind of personal trauma he went through for him to even jokingly say that. I mean, a camera is a camera whether it is an idiot cam (aka point and click) or an SLR, right? And whatever kind of camera a person owns should not in any way affect a person’s personality, right? Also, it should not follow that only a certain personality type would purchase a particular kind of camera, right? So, why persecute a person for owning or wanting a DSLR by calling him a douchebag?
If a person is unpleasant, to begin with, owning or not owning a DSLR has nothing to do with it.
Some camera facts …
DSLR camera
In general, DSLR cameras take better pictures than point and clicks when photos are taken by the same person. It is not fair to compare outputs if a different person took a pic on one camera and someone else on another.
However, having a DSLR does not guarantee a good photo. The quality of the shot still depends on the skill of the person who took it … and at times, we get lucky and are able to capture that perfect shot. No matter how good your camera is if you do not know how to compose a shot (factoring in lighting, image framing, effect, etc.) it would not matter what kind of camera you use.
And then there’s good old photoshop.
That telephoto lens, that periscope-like flash, those filters, the hood … they don’t mean a thing. They’re just fancy attachments. Give the guy a point and click and if he can take a good picture with that then give him the DSLR and see if he can take a good pic with that, too. Given time to learn the camera, I’m sure he could.
So, seriously … are DSLRs for douchebags? Or are there just douchebags out there whether they have a camera or not? DSLR or otherwise?
by Penny Angeles-Tan | Dec 14, 2009 | Awards and Competitions
The first time I heard about Fizzer was when my daughter and I watched the blocked screening at Greenbelt 3 of New Moon, the second movie of the Twilight Saga, sponsored by Twilight Coven Philippines. And before you ask, yes, it was MUCH better than the first one by leaps and bounds.
As we entered the movie theater we were warmly greeted with smiles and invitations to an after movie party at Capone’s by a group of uber-hot, well-muscled sexy men dressed in jeans and tank tops (dressed as the local version of the clean cut La Push wolf pack) and sexy, curvaceous women dressed in tiny black dresses with plunging necklines (“dressed to vamp”, so to speak in the stereotypical “look” of the female vampire). Turns out these guys and gals were representatives of Fizzer.ph (one of the sponsors of the screening).
When I asked them what Fizzer.ph was they said, “it is a real social network”, and in response, of course I said, “oh, you mean like Facebook”. Apparently the similarity ends at the words “social network”. Fizzer is a “real” social network, they say, because:
- Fizzer.ph is a localized social network – this means that the target market are Filipinos from all over, but specifically those that reside in the Philippines
- Fizzer.ph not only connects people online but also creates opportunities for fellow Fizzer members to meet and interact (face to face) initially in Fizzer sponsored events and later in events sponsored by Fizzer members themselves
- Fizzer.ph gives really great prizes in their contests which I hear they will have every month!
Speaking of contests, they have an easy contest running right now with wonderful prizes in store for those who join.
Like with any other website, the gauge of its success is measured by its popularity. In social networking terms this can be measured by simply looking at its total membership. Fizzer.ph is a very new player and to get their numbers up and in conjunction with the season of giving, they came up with a new contest called “The New Year Blowout” which starts on December 15, 2009 and will end on Valentine’s Day, February 14, 2010.
Joining is so easy to do:
- Sign up on the website. There are 2 ways of doing that.
- If you received an invite code to join the Fizzer.ph website, such as this one: http://www.fizzer.ph/signup/8ad1435363.html (This is my daughter, Erika’s code. Please use it to help her get the numbers she needs, too.) then click or visit the link and then fill up the registration form it leads you to
- If you did not receive an invitation code you can just go straight to the homepage of Fizzer.ph and click on the word REGISTRATION found at the bottom
- Once logged in go to http://www.fizzer.ph/competitions/christmasGiveaway.html
- Click on the “join competition” button
It’s that simple. But what are the rules?
- Participants have to be Filipino and residing in the Philippines.
- The user with the highest number of confirmed invited users wins. The confirmed invite must upload at least one photo of themselves and add at least one school in their personal information for the invitee to be counted as a confirmed invite.
- Your friends must use the invitation link to register for the invites to be counted.
- Fraudulent accounts will not be tolerated. The number of confirmed registrations through your invites will be tracked by Fizzer.
- Note: Fizzer.ph reserves the right to disqualify contest participants.
The prizes they are giving away to the people who place in the top 5 make it totally worth it to invite people to sign up.
- 1st place receives a Macbook
- 2nd place receives a PS3
- 3rd place receives an HP Mini
- 4th place receives a PSP
- 5th place receives an iPod
I myself find all the prizes drool worthy and certainly worth the effort of inviting people to sign up. My daughter takes after me. She loves gadgets, too, and she would love to finally own a Macbook. How about you? Care to try for the Macbook, too?
by Penny Angeles-Tan | Dec 7, 2009 | Awards and Competitions
Growing up there is one gadget that I remember wanting more than any other. No, it’s not the phone, and it isn’t the computer either (personal computers were not commonplace until much later). The one gadget I wanted most was a camera. And not just any camera, I wanted an SLR (single-lens reflex) camera.
I love taking pictures. For me there is greater joy in being behind the camera than in being in front of it. Back in the days of analog photography I always looked forward to picking up my contact sheets/prints from the film developer and hoped fervently that I got more good shots than bad. Now that’s it’s the new millennia, SLRs have evolved into DSLRs ("D" for digital) and seeing the results of my attempts is almost instantaneous thus making me more eager than ever to own a decent camera.
This month I have the opportunity to win a Canon EOS 450D Rebel XSi Digital Camera complete with lenses, but I need your help to win this prize. I’ve joined the Twilight Saga photo contest on Fizzer.ph and the person who receives the most number of votes wins!
For my Twilight inspired photo I had the choice of going ethereal (angelic), wolfish, or vampish. I opted for ethereal. (I’ve never been a Goth girl so I fear I won’t be able to carry off the dark, menacing vamp look, hehehe.) Like I said, I went for ethereal — wind blowing through my hair, an expectant and wistful expression on my face, as if breathlessly waiting for my wolf-man to return. Yeah, you read it right; I said wolf-man, not vampire. Call me weird, but I’ve always been on Team Jacob from the time I read the books more than a year ago. I’m not denying Edward’s old world appeal, mind you, I just like my man warm and cuddly and rippling with the muscles.
For me to have any chance at winning this wonderful prize I desperately need your help, and this is how you can give it to me:
- You have to be a member of Fizzer.ph (http://www.fizzer.ph). If you are not yet a member then please do sign up. It’s free! Fizzer is a new local social networking site, so don’t worry about getting spammed or sent viruses by it. It would, perhaps be comparable to Facebook but with less features at the moment.
- Go to http://www.fizzer.ph/#competitions/twilight and vote for me by clicking on the VOTE button below my picture and name.
It’s that easy! Perhaps you would like to join the contest yourself? If you do, then you need to know that the rules for joining the contest are very strict.
- Contestants need to be a member of Fizzer.ph
- The photo entry has to be Twilight inspired, meaning it should be vampish, wolfish, or ethereal.
- The photo should be exactly 382 by 500 pixels.
- The photo should not be posted in other social networking sites.
Contest ends on 20 December 2009 at exactly 10am. I will really, really appreciate all your votes. Thank you, friends, in advance, for my Christmas gift! Hope you like my pic, too. No , the pic posted here is not the one I entered.
The person in front of me has right now is something like 300 votes ahead. Definitely it is because she has been working her butt off today getting her family and friends to vote for her. I have been doing the same for several days now myself.
dressed in jeans and tank tops (dressed as the local version of the clean cut La Push wolf pack) and sexy, curvaceous women dressed in tiny black dresses with plunging necklines (“dressed to vamp”, so to speak in the stereotypical “look” of the female vampire). Turns out these guys and gals were representatives of Fizzer.ph (one of the sponsors of the screening).
For my Twilight inspired photo I had the choice of going ethereal (angelic), wolfish, or vampish. I opted for ethereal. (I’ve never been a Goth girl so I fear I won’t be able to carry off the dark, menacing vamp look, hehehe.) Like I said, I went for ethereal — wind blowing through my hair, an expectant and wistful expression on my face, as if breathlessly waiting for my wolf-man to return. Yeah, you read it right; I said wolf-man, not vampire. Call me weird, but I’ve always been on Team Jacob from the time I read the books more than a year ago. I’m not denying Edward’s old world appeal, mind you, I just like my man warm and cuddl
y and rippling with the muscles. 
No , the pic posted here is not the one I entered.
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