My WordCamp Philippines 2008 Experience

wordcamp bag and badge

The first ever Wordcamp in the Philippines and Southeast Asia was held at the Dela Salle – College of St. Benilde last Saturday, September 6, 2008.

Arrived at McDonalds at 7:30am, ate breakfast and went inside the campus at around 8:20 am. Met Manu Ofiaza of Auction.ph and exchanged URLs while waiting for the event to start. After a few minutes, we all stood up for the National Anthem. Then, there goes the morning sessions.

Creating WordPress Themes & CSS Power by Gail Villanueva. Gail showed us the less used templates in WordPress themes such as the Image template (image.php), and the File Not Found template (404.php). The image.php uses the built-in Image Gallery function in WordPress to display the photos (gallery style) without using a plugin. I will try to create and use these templates for my blog next week.

Developing WordPress Plugins by Markku Seguerra. Markku discussed the basics of creating WordPress plugins. There are Action hooks and Filter hooks that are being used as triggers. Our codes will only run if these hooks were called from the function. Now I already have an idea where to start. But I need more time!

WordPress as a CME/CMS by Karla Redor. Karla showed us the website of Ford Auto Car Shows, which looked so good that no one would think it was made from WordPress. She explained how Ford probably did it. A combination of good theme and right plugins equals, CMS!

After lunch, Matt Mullenweg discussed The Future of WordPress.

  1. WordPress users have significantly increased from last year.
  2. Matt showed us a bunch of tags popularly used by Filipinos. Some words were interestingly funny and made us laugh.
  3. Friendster blogs will soon be using WordPress as their blogging platform.
  4. Matt showed a demo of WordPress 2.7, to be released on Novermber 2008.

There were short games and raffles in between the afternoon sessions. Met another blogger, Kevin Paquet of PinoyTeens.net. Then, Aileen Apolo discussed how Google Analytics can help blogs in terms of advertising and SEO.

WordPress & Web Standards by Regnard Raquedan. Regnard explained how developers should be responsible coders by writing codes efficiently. Efficient codes help save server load, which means lesser power consumption and can save up on electricity bills. He also explained that some sites don’t render well in IE (Internet Explorer) and so he suggested that we should “Kill IE6!”, and I agree. Hehe.

After the launch of Cebu Pacific Blogging Challenge, I went home. I learned a lot and I was excited to code again.

Kudos to the Mindanao Bloggers for making this event possible. Big thanks to the sponsors, and of course to the speakers and volunteers who were all dedicated, from the start till the end. Hoping to attend another Wordcamp Philippines in 2009!

The New Media Coverage:
0. The Best and Most Memorable Blogger Event in the Phils by Jehzeel Laurente
1. I Got Wordcamped! by Tess Termulo
2. The First WordCamp in Southeast Asia by Adrian Jeric Peña
3. My WordCamp Experience by Master Betong
4. WordCamp Philippines by Hannah Rika Villasis
5. WordCamp Philippines 2008 by Nina Fuentes
6. Matt at WordCamp Philippines 2008 by Binary Silver
7. Matt Mullenweg Highlights from WordCamp Phils by The Bachelor Girl
8. WordCamp Philippines Report by Fear the Spork
9. WordCamp Philippines Shirt Please by Evenly Piece
10. WordCamp Philippines 2008 by Alrenz Cabasa
11. WordCamp Philippines 2008: A Success!
12. WordCamp Phils, 1st Southeast Asia WordCamp by Ana Katharina Pena
13. WordCamp Philippines 2008 Aftermath by Zero Blade
14. WordCamp Philippines 2008 by Mae Paulino
15. WordCamp Philippines 2008 by Green Bucks
16. Matt Mullenweg by Charmed Mom
17. WordCamp PH 2008 and Afterparty by Carlo Reid
18. WordCamp Philippines After-Party by The WordCamp Philippines Blog
19. WordCamp Philippines 08 by Project 365 Days
20. WordCamp 2008 Philippines by Karla Redor
21. Live Blogging from WordCamp Philippines 2008 by Spilled Lustre
22. WordCamp Philippines 2008 by Aja Lapus
23. Experiencing WordCamp Philippines 2008 by Here’s to Life!
24. WordCamp Manila Blow-by-blow by Jonel Uy
25. Just got home from WordCamp Philippines 2008 by Jayvee Fernandez
26. Bloggers’ Event: WordCamp Philippines 2008 by Ada Lajara
27. WordCamp Philippines 2008 Winners and Bloopers by Funny Sexy
28. WordCamping 2008 by Billycoy
29. Ernie Meets Matt Mullenweg by AJ Matela
30. Matt Mullenweg, Volunteers, and WordCamp Phils by Misteryosa
31. The WordCamp in Philippines by Mark Aethen Agana
32. Matt Mullenweg by Animo Hosting
33. WordCamp Manila 2008, I was there! by Sha Ang
34. On WordCamp 2008 and Meeting Mr. WordPress by Diventare.org
35. My WordCamp Philippines 2008 Experience by Regnard Raquedan
36. WordCamp Philippines Status Report by AWB Holdings
37. Live from De La Salle CSB, Marocharim is at WordCamp! by Marocharim
38. For the Love of WordPress by Kristina Ana Matanguihan
39. WordCamp Pilipinas Success by Ikabon
40. WordCamp 2008: For Healthy and Wealthy Blogging by Hitokiri Hoshi
41. WordCamp 2008 Philippines Success by Arvin’s Thoughts
42. WordCamp, Meeting Matt Mullenweg by Miss Wicked
43. Meeting Matt at WordCamp 2008 by Urriza.net
44. Finally, WordCamp Philippines 2008 by Estan
45. Toothache Vs. WordCamp Philippines by George Putong
46. Notes and Photos, WordCamp Philippines a Success by Tonyo Cruz
47. Some WordCamp Philippines Afterthoughts by Undercover
48. Live Blogging in WordCamp by Pageman
49. My WordCamp Experience by Junele Malaga Caravana
50. WordCamp Philippines A Success! by WordPress Philippines
51. Bakla Goes to WordCamp Philippines by Bakla Ako
52. My WordCamp 2008 Experience by Micaela Rodriiguez
53. WordCamp 2008 Philippines: It’s a success! by Joyceish
54. My WordCamp 2008 Experience by Fitz Villafuerte
55. A Personal Evaluation of WordCamp Philippines 2008 by Danny Arao
56. An Event Which I Failed To Attend by Dexter Panganiban
57. The WordPress WordCamp Fever by Pinoy Web Listing
58. WordCamp Philippines by Batang Yagit
59. Philippine WordCampers 2008 by Sabrina Lajara
60. WordCamp Philippines 2008 by Roanna Roro
61. On Meeting with Mr. WordPress, Web Standards and Other Stuff by Shari
62. WordCamp Philippines 2008 Highlights by Sophia Lucero
63. WordCamp Philippines 2008 by Mong Palatino
64. WordCamp Philippines 2008 by Rowjielogy
65. I was WordCamped by The Industrious Time-Waster
66. HURAH! for WordCamp Philippines by Migs Hipolito
67. WordCamp is on today at De La Salle – CSB by AIM CSB
68. WordCamp Philippines 2008 Updates by Teacher Julie
69. My WordCamp Philippines 2008 Experience by Icezorg
70. I was at WordCamp Philippines 2008 by Gail Villanueva
71. WordCamp Philippines 2008 Ramblings by Sarah Cada
72. Weekend Snapshots #6 WordCamp Philippines by Joni Ang
73. My WordCamp 2008 Experience by Paul Villacorta
74. Success! by WordCamp Philippines Blog
75. WordCamp Philippines 2008 by Tina Elaine
76. On Being a Remarkable Responsible Blogger by Scrumptious Anime Blog
77. Word-F’N-Camp! by The Deranged Writer
78. WordCamp Philippines 2008 – a success! by The Mindanao Bloggers
79. WordCamp Philippines, below expectations by Kevin Georg Paquet
80. My WordCamp Experience by The Grape Bunch
81. WordCamp Philippines 2008: Wicked! by Andrew Dela Serna
82. WordCamp Philippines 2008 Video Highlights by Buddy Gancenia
83. WordCamped by La Dolce Vita
84. The WordCamp that was by Oliver Robillo
85. WordCamp Philippines 2008: A Blast! Rein Winds

The Old Media Coverage:
1. WordPress developer previews new version in RP by Inquirer.net
2. WordPress enthusiasts meet for WordCamp by GMANews.tv
3. WordPress Developer lauds RP blogging community by Alexander Villafania

Some WordCamp Photos from WordCampers:
0. WordCamp Philippines 2008 by Jehzeel Laurente
1. WordCamp 2008 Photos by Jayvee Fernandez
2. First WordCamp in Southeast Asia by Hannah Rika Villasis
3. WordCamp Philippines 2008 by Tess Termulo
4. WordCamp Philippines by Ada Lajara
5. WordCamp 2008 by Regnard Raquedan
6. WordCamp Philippines 2008 by AJ Matela
7. WordCamp at Benilde by Normz
8. WordCamp Philippines 2008 by Micaela Rodriguez
9. WordPress Philippines 2008 by Shari
10. WordCamp Philippines by Sofimi
11. WordCamp Philippines 2008 by Andrew Dela Serna
12. WordCamp Candy by Flair Candy

30 thoughts on “My WordCamp Philippines 2008 Experience”

  1. @Regnard, every developer should. It requires discipline, dedication, and love for programming, i think. hehe

    @hitokirihoshi_kawaii, wow thanks. mabuhay! hehe

    @The Auctioneer, of course you are welcome!

    @Paul U, now that you know, every year aabangan mo na yan. hehe!

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