I just realized that 20 years ago last week, I published my very first blog post. While ππ‘π ππ¨π¨π« ππ«ππ―ππ₯ππ« was established in 2010, marking the start of my traveler era π, I actually created my very first blog in April 2004.
I think it was my good friend Jerwin, who introduced the concept of blogging to me, and I was sold instantly. At the time, we were taking summer classes, and I had a pretty grueling schedule: 2 PE classes (lawn tennis and running) and another 6-unit course every single day. And like most teens, at the time, π π‘ππ π π₯π¨π ππ¨ π¬ππ².
Also, it was peak summer and I wanted an excuse to hit the air-conditioned internet cafe near my boarding house. π
It was what we call now a personal blog. This blog.
Back then, I spewed words about anything β how I was feeling or thinking and what I was watching or listening to. I treated this blog as an extension of my handwritten journal. I had no idea how drastically this blog would change my life.
1. My former bosses found me through this blog and offered me a position, jumpstarting my career as a social media professional.
2. This blog inspired me to create another β a travel blog β which has basically taken over my life.
3. When I was embracing marketing full time, this blog kept me grounded to my writing roots. Without it, I probably would have stopped writing altogether. This blog also won 3 Philippine Blog Awards in just one night, something that I am still very proud of to this day.
And of course, I met the love of my life because of this blog. π Dun pa lang, ang laki na ng dapat kong ipagpasalamat.
The period of my life when I am a blogger is now longer than the period that I wasnβt. I think itβs safe to say that this has defined much of who I am today.
A lot has changed since then. But Iβm always thankful that I got to experience blogging in its purest form β simply as self-expression β back when monetization, branding, and audience building were not a consideration at all. I know thatβs rich coming from someone who currently earns a living and has built a career through blogging, but I genuinely miss those early years.
So yeah, 20 years! Blogging is now mainstream. Social media is now a thing. And summers are now HELL.
But there are moments β like right now, Iβm writing posts like this β when I still see myself as that frail teenage boy earnestly clanking on the keyboard because β well, even now, after all these years β he still has a lot to say. Some things donβt change, apparently.
I completely forgot to celebrate last week and I donβt have grand plans now. Maybe just a drink.
Or twenty.