Taking a Swing at Full Time Blogging and Online Presence

It was not long ago that I happen to stumble upon the wonderful world of blogging. The initial motivation was to make money out of it, but along it came learning; that one can't d it without having something good to offer - that content was 'king.' From then on, I started to learn the ropes of what I should offer outside money making from blogs. I later toned it down to give way to content and the readership. It was a series of trial and and error. My experience gave birth to a series of blog that I am proud to author right now.

I initially started with CMAQUEST (http://cmaquest.blogspot.com) which by then was categorized as personal, and later becoming more of a "mixed bag" or a 'general' blog. Later on, I separated my personal stuff to give CMAQUEST more of an 'entertainment' niche. This is when this blog, Life on a Pencil (http://lifeonapencil.blogspot.com) came to be. Since discovering that niche blogs have more special viewership and can be a source of specific audience, I later made two other blogs which I am able to create quality content without having a hard time; on things that I am passionate about.

I later made Retro Pilipinas (http://retropilipinas.blogspot.com) which is about anything the past mostly shows and pop culture that I grew up with hoping to resonate with a number of people online. Thus, the target demographic is anyone in nostalgia who suddenly remember somethings of the past; the Throwback Thursday people. I have also been managing the Retro Pilipinas Official Facebook Page in which you can LIKE or FOLLOW for updates when you are in social media.

I also made Pinoy Movie Blogger (http://pinoymovieblogger.blogspot.com) which is all about Filipino movies, movie trailer impressions, and actual movie trailer reviews. The mindset I had when I initially conceptualize it was to help celebrate and promote the local movie industry. To also be critical about it and help it improve. With the fascination over international films, why can't we build fascination of our own here. Pinoy Movie Blogger has also been doing well in terms of viewership and its social media following, you can LIKE and FOLLOW the Pinoy Movie Blogger Official Facebook Page for news and updates.

I have also done some writing stint. I have become a contributor at Flip Geeks with an article entitled ""

Back to Square One and Domain-Less

Ahoy! It has been seven months since my last update. I have taken a break from blogging and shifted my focus on my new career in the local BPO scene. Having to travel for 2 - 3 hours back and forth to work has really drain the energy and enthusiasm to blog in me. I'f rather just sit in the couch and watch some episodes of Running Man with my brother and sister; or just play xbox 360. It is much simpler this way. I don't know if I'll be as active in blogging like I used to be. Maybe it is just a phase or what, but for now I am contented with what I have and focus more on my career and future. I have neglected my blogs meaning no funds for me which only means one thing, reverting back to domain-less blogs. CMABLOGS is now back to being lifeonapencil.blogspot.com.

For now I leave it at that...

Blog, Gaming, Career, and Other Drugs

It's been a while since I visited my blogs and actually "blogged". It has already been what almost two to three months of hiatus in my blogs, and some of those blogs really needs some updating. I really can't say if I am back or what. For now I am taking my sweet time with work and gaming.


I think I mentioned before that I am working as another BPO agent with some flashy sub-name "Game Master". Currently, we are now handling an MMOFPS which I will end at that. Well, can't really chose what genre to pick as we are all just corporate slaves here in the end. Well, I start to appreciate shooters now more than before, maybe I'll try out various FPS on Xbox 360 now.

I've finally decided to join the dark side and modify (JTAG) mg Xbox 360. I had always the options to do so, but back then I was still digging the whole online connectivity thing. Well, I grew tired of it and most of the games I purchase are lengthy single player (RPG) ones, so what's the use right. Currently I am now playing 2013's Tomb Raider from Crystal Dynamics which is really kick ass. I haven't had the chance to play the uncharted series, but seeing the videos posted online, I think the reboot of the Tomb Raider franchise is much more like Uncharted which is not a bad thing. I am also playing the Ultimate Adventure (story mode) of Naruto Shippuden Ultimate Ninja Storm 3, which is great as usual. Not to mention, I have unlocked a number of characters for multiplayer. Can't wait to play with friends once I've unlocked all the characters. Thanks to my new JTagged Xbox360, I can now play those games which I haven't had the resources to play before ;-)

I only got two days every week to continuously play Xbox 360 games, but that doesn't mean I can't play on the road. I recently purchase PSP 3000 which I play in trips to and fro to work. Yes, it is modified as well, currently enjoying Valkyria Chronicles II, Persona 4 Portable, and Duodecim Final Fantasy 012. So is there anything else a geek like me can ask for? More time to enjoy these perhaps? Every once in a while I think of romance, but then I remember what possible life I can give them and I immediately snap out of that dream. Maybe someday when I have more than enough (financially) to give myself and my parents. For now, romantic relationships are out of the picture.

I will probably share my thoughts on relationship next time. Recently had a talk with a good bud of mine about this, and i think it is worth talking about and oh boy I have a lot in mind about that issue.

Balancing Act Between Gaming and Blogging

So may things to do in so little time. I too am one of those people chanting those statement over and over again. Well, I know I am at fault here for not having the proper discipline to even manage my own time, but I can help it. Now that I am making a decent earning from my home-based writing career, I can only do one of two things work more or balance things of by playing. I decide the latter.




Not to say that blogging is not entertaining at all... it is, but if you have visited my other blogs like CMAQUEST, Pinoy Movie Blogger, and Kuwentong Bayan at Alamat you'll notice that I take blogging seriously. Serious in a way that I invest a decent amount of my time just to make a competitive post. I can't even balance work, romantic relationships and blogging in the past, but luckily I gradually learned to resolve that issue. But after I got my Xbox 360 last year, things started to go out of hand once again. Gaming tends to eat a lot of hours away making other tasks impossible to fulfill with out proper time management. Sadly I don't have such discipline in me. This is why a reader can easily notice that my last blog post was on the last week of July. I got hooked in playing various Xbox 360 games like Naruto Shippuden Ultimate Ninja Storm 2, Dead Space, Dragon Age II, Mass Effect 3 and various Xbox Live Arcade titles. In a way, I find it gaming an escape to the lonesome nature of my home-based career. This is probably why I have invested more time on it than blogging, but then again,  can't really quit blogging... not just yet. Do you have that idea in your head that you just want to share and ope to the rest of the world? That is what I have always been struggling. I have so many wonderful and creative blogging ideas that tends to be overtaken by work or gaming, but it always resurfaces. So here is attempt number "I don't know what anymore" to rid me of that creative urge. To at least keep at least 2-3 blog updates on every the blogs I own, and probably create two or three new ones in the process. I still have so many things I want to express and share online, but I am restricted with my own weakness.

Hopefully I can finally find balance amidst the chaos of my own doing.
Cheers is to another good start.

I am Back at Blogging!

Ahoy Blogosphere! Guess who's back? Well, of course it's me, who else would it be hahaha. All of my blogs went through an indefinite blog hiatus a couple of weeks (and months) ago and now I am back with a vengeance. Bringing new stuff and some old ones that you either love or hate.



What I lacked in the past is a decent system to worked with. It is hard to balance work, blogging, and gaming all at the same time, especially to those who lack the discipline to do so. The blog hiatus has also allowed me to contemplate and reflect. After the accident which I will also blog this week, it made me rethink of a couple of things. Hopefully this enlightened state will do wonders for me and hopefully will share that to the rest of the blogosphere. Expect a lot of changes in all of my blogs. Cause I am back! Hopefully better than ever!

A Future of Blogging as a Career: Concepts, Ideas and Investments

I have been thinking the past few weeks, and thinking hard I did. What will the future hold for me, what opportunities can I take that could further develop my skills as a freelance writer and worker? Then it hit me, like a brick falling from a thirty foot story building! Okay that was a bit too much but a great blogging idea came to me. What if I do more!?!



I have already tried having multiple blogs in the past and so far I can conclude that all I can manage are four blogs at the time, with the two having the luxury to get regular updates than the rest, that being http://www.cmablogs and oh http://www.cmaquest.com. Though I know I can manage more, I am a bit restricted with my freelance work and proper time management. This is the main reason why I haven't been active in the past few weeks. I was getting my act together, focusing more on being productive and avoiding distractions which can really be tough sometimes. Luckily the distractions that comes along the way are some streaming videos which I can use as a material for work related write-ups. These same distractions have also inspired me to go even the distance and try the wildest of ideas, creating more engaging, informative, and entertaining blogs. To what the themes of these blogs that I am conceptualizing are still under development, but I am sure it would be something great (I think). I may find myself in something so big that I could no longer handle it alone, a company... that doesn't sound so bad. well, like they said if you are going to dream, then dream something big but in order for that to come to full circle then you must do something about it. That my friends is what I am planning for the coming weeks.

I don't have to be a seer, to see a bright future ahead of me. I just needed to extensively learn and properly manage my time and I may probably be of to a good start.

The Inevitable Change

It has been a while since made an update here at the CMABLOGS, I am usually more active on my other main blog, CMAQUEST, but that doesn't mean that I have nothing to blog.

It's been a year now that my blogs acquired their very own domain names. After renewing both their names I guess its only time to take it up a notch by making additional features my two main blogs. The Pinoy Movie Blogger will now focus more on Filipino movies and will directly be under the CMABLOGS title. I will also incorporate other local based reviews and a possible vlog of my own which is still on the drawing board.

Other the mainstream movie reviews will be moved to CMAQUEST which will shift more into movies, video games and television reviews and upcoming news. Hopefully you will notice the change, so for CMAQUEST visitors out there, expect more and hopefully a more regular dose of CMAQUEST, like it should have been.

I also changed my old template into a new flexible one. So what can you guys think of my blog's new lay out? So where have I been this past few days? Well besides the obvious relaxing, I have also seen a couple of animated and local movies which will soon be review here. So expect more content on the coming days from CMAQUEST: An Infotainment and Magazine Blog and over here at CMABLOGS.

Twenty Four at Twenty Ten - Another Year of Chris A.

January 02, 2010 (Saturday) - a Happy New Year to everyone. I've been invisible lately in the blogging and the online scene so hopefully I will make a regular comeback anytime soon. Need to prioritize my life and career first then hopefully all will fall into place, specially I am twenty four and all... and yup, today is my twenty fourth year of existence on the third rock from the sun.

Yours truly was born on the second day of January at around 8:00 pm (time according to mom) so this 2010, I just turned 24 and what could that possible means. Hopefully this age signifies that I should get serious with my life and career (which I haven't) in order for my aspirations to come in full circle. I will not broadcast or make any resolutions because (to what I have seen through out the years) they don't usually come true so instead I'll just do them. Actions are way better than words.

A Happy and Prosperous New Year of 2010 to everyone.



My look on my twenty forth birthday. Gaining weight and looking more older.

Plans Before The Year Ends - Pile with Ideas and Concepts

November 06, 2009 (Friday) - Ahoy there fellow bloggers and readers of CMABLOGS. November is finally here and one month left to go before year ends, so I am doing some a little reflecting on the things I wanted to achieve before the year ends.

First off is a weekly web comics - an ambitious blog project...




I have one of this stories stuck into my head which is itching to come out and probably the time is just ripe to finally publish it online. The characters above are from my story "After Earth" (the working title) which I created as early on 2004. I have already set up the plot and the main protagonist and antagonist of the story in my head but the only problem is the execution. Execution in terms of how will I allocate my freetime for it (So help me God). Like any other webcomics out there, mine will be published on a weekly basis (either one or two page a week). I am still in the process of script writing and conceptualizing so this will probably be out really soon (or most probably by next year).

Another webcomics project (yup, not once but twice hahaha) would be a weekly short humor comics which is about my world and views on particular Philippine and international issues. I plan to make it a comical satire if my intellect allows it but it is going to be one of my baby blog comics project which probably be published by December this year.

And of course who wouldn't forget those piled up blog events which I haven't covered yet here at CMABLOGS. Though nobody is pressuring me about it, I think it is only fair to cover everything which happened this year before the year ends. It is probably my aspiration to finish pending tasks for me to finally take a breather.

So there you have it, some of the updates and plans which I hope will not be like the rest. Hope you can follow my new blogventures in the international and local blogosphere here at CMABLOGS. Do subscribe to get periodical updates and events that I've attended. So have a great day everyone. Chris A. logging off.

Back from a Blog Vacation - Back To Basics

October 29, 2009 (Thursday) - Ahoy there frequent visitors, followers and readers of CMAQUEST and CMABLOGS! It's been a while since my last post in both my blogs, well this is probably because I am in the path of self-discovery and to rekindle my passion for blogging (or most probably I just got lazy hahaha). Well after a month of inactivity, I am back with more eagerness to blog and more surprise under my sleeves (Uhm, wait I minute. I don't wear sleeves).



I am also planning to have my own web comics or comics blog where I will feature all my stories which are itching to be drawn and published. You see, one of my first love and hobby back in younger days was sketching and making comics (as seen in my DeviantArt Page). My first love became one of my greatest frustrations as I failed to take an art course back in college but I'm still not giving up and would still want a shot on it. Well, not maybe in a professional level like being an artist to multibillion comics companies but rather having my own domain where I can express my ideas and creations. One of my greatest fear back then (to why I never did that before) is art thief and concept theft. Art culprits who'll browse your art, comics, or concepts only to be stolen and claimed as it was their own. Imitation is the best form of flattery but theft is in a completely different level. But since I will not be able to professionally produced my own comics, to heck with the fear. I am taking the risk and will put my creations online. So bye for now and expect more updates from yours truly, Chris A. - Personal, Entertainment, Movie, Comics Blogger.

A Once in a Lifetime 999 Blog: CMABLOGS.COM - New Name for Life On A Pencil

September 09, 2009 (Wednesday) - This is a very special blog post because for some reasons. Well, this is posted on one of those once in a lifetime dates... the 9th day of the 9th month (September) of the 9th year since the millennium (2009) simply A Lucky 9.

What better way to celebrate this momentous date than to acquire a new URL name or address for my beloved personal and events coverage blog Life On A Pencil. Life On A Pencil now turns to CMABLOGS. Yep! You can now reach my blog via...



www.cmablogs.com

So why CMABLOGS.com?

If you don't know yet my very first blog dates back as early as 2007, and that is CMAQUEST which is my infotainment and magazine blog. CMAQUEST's name came from my Initials, Christopher M. Aquino and my Quest. That time I was just started blogging and it generally is a personal blog but after some personal issues I left that blog but the "call of blogging" was inevitable and so with a new found spirit I made Life On A Pencil back at 2008. This is where the real challenge began, maintaining a personal blog and an entertainment blog while I was studying back in college. We don't even have our very own computer that time, so I have to go to an Internet Cafe just to blog.

Fast-forward that to today, I am a graduate of Bachelor of Science in Computer Science with a home-based internet job and have (I guess) established myself as a good (that's one better way to put it) blogger. I have finally bought and gave CMAQUEST its own domain name and I promised myself that not long enough Life On A Pencil will soon follow. Finally the right time has come.



www.cmaquest.com

There are two reasons why I consider September 09, 2009 lucky. Well, the first one is like what I said earlier (the 9-9-9 thing), and the second is that two of my blogs can finally be easily accessed through their new (hopefully "catchy") shortened URLs of CMAQUEST.COM and CMABLOGS.

This is just one of those milestone but not necessarily mean the end.
Expect more blogging from yourstruly, C.M.A. a.k.a. Chris A..
For we've only just begun...



Hahaha sorry can't help but to play this song after that last statement. Featuring The Carpenters' "We've Only Just Begun". Makes me also recall the 1408 horror movie.

Previously on the Life of Chris A.

September 05, 2009 (Saturday) - I started blogging this at around 2:18 am which is just some updates and perspectives. Here I go again...

Yours truly, Chris A. (yeah I know you already knew my online name) have been out of the blog events scene because of financial issues well (a problem I share with the rest of the working class-type of Filipinos). Not to mention that I've also been taking my online home-based work so lightly. a conflict which usually happens to me especially when I am out of inspiration or drive in writing which also affects my blogging activities. Instead I've sidetracked my attention to least important yet entertaining ways like gaming but at the end of the day (or days after getting hook to a game), I still find myself penniless which just adds up to the stress...



I've also contemplated that we (and our loved ones) will not always be as healthy as they are everyday. Thus, it is with utmost importance to save money for future medical "spendings", which I fail to do so because of the income I earn is not enough to reach the "savings mark". I've also would want some new gadgets to improve my blogging and gaming experience but can't do so because of the lack of budget. Acknowledging these necessities and wants, I've turned these frustrations into inspirations/ drive to excel more in my online writing and seeking other employment opportunities both online and off. Hope my will and drive will not fail me again.

I am just like any other normal human being,
face with the challenges of life and career.
Though avoiding life's obstacles and conflicts with others
seems like I can't avoid the unavoidable and inevitable
specially when I am the cause of my own worries.

CMAQUEST turns DOT COM and A Pre-La Union Trip Post

August 14, 2009 (Friday) - Just recently (August 11, 2009 to be exact) I bought a domain name for my Infotainment and Magazine Blog, CMAQUEST and gave it a new easier URL address to access. You can now visit my CMAQUEST: An Infotainment and Magazine Blog at http://www.cmaquest.com. CMAQUEST is my very first blog which dates back as early June of 2007. Later, I shifted genres to entertainment blog and move my personal blog here at Life On A Pencil and the rest is history. I have to thank my good friend Jori of Jori's Entertainment Journalfor helping me out address my domain name issues. Kudos to you my fellow entertainment and pop culture blogger.



www.cmaquest.com

CMAQUEST is an infotainment and magazine blog dedicated to pop culture, movies, television, the internet, and great web finds. I will soon update it to be more aesthetically appealing and interactive to the avid subscribers, followers, readers and fellow bloggers. For now, I have my eyes set on the La Union Trip.

Yup, I will later embark on a journey to La Union starting at 1 am at the rendezvous point set by a Jonel Uy of Let's Go Sago as he celebrates his first Blogiversary via Blogger's Surfing Clinic.

Let's Go Surfing! A LetsGoSago.net Anniversary Bloggers Surfing Clinic is a two day event from August 15 to 16 of 2009 at the Bilabong Surf School and in San Juan Surf Resort in San Juan La Union. Well, yours truly was lucky enough to experience this and this will be a primer to the trip and blogger's event.



www.letsgosago.net

Expect of an aftermath coverage of the event really soon here at Life on a Pencil which is probably by either Monday or Tuesday next week. I am getting both excited and nervous for this is the first time I am going to get out of the Cavite and NCR area so goodluck to me.

Realization: Burried Under Pending Blog Updates

May 26, 2009 (Tuesday) - It's been a couple of days since I've posted an update here at Life on a Pencil (not that I don't have one) and it's because my hands are too full as of the moment to blog one. "How full?" you might ask, well I have a lot of appointments recently like sleeping, watching tv, txting, and oh watching movies on my pc.... see how busy I can get hahahaha. Seriously Ive strayed a little while off blogging because of me being a total lazy bum and procrastination. I think I gave more focus on my personal social circle (through txting) and doing my online writing tasks (my home-based work) rather than blogging. So I came to a realization that I can't juggle everything together all at the same time, there will always be one or two habits which might be given up. I can't blog and do online gaming if I keep on attending to my personal sms through my cellphone and focusing on my work. If only I have a daily schedule which is obviously hard to follow. I think I am also starting to get fat and stressed out because of my irregular sleeping habits and too much exposure on radiation because of my daily habit of using the computer. Even though I would like to take some time off on any machine that emits radiation, I think I can't. why? It is because of my online work requires me to log in to the internet for some extent of time (reaching the day's quota). And I thought before that a home-based work is not as hard as having a "real" office work.



This is why I think I need a break, some proper RnR on one of these days. Something like what one online blogger friend of mine had. I am talking about Ed's Eriuqs Spires Healthy Recreation which you can read on his post here:

Eriuqs Spires Healthy Recreation

But first I need to work for it and ensure that I am not burried in another mess like bills and responsibilities as the eldest son.

Previews of the Past "UnBlogged" Events

Ahoy Blogosphere, plurkersphere, visitors and readers.... I come in peace.

It's been a while since my last blog update and it was on moblogging (mobile blogging) and after that no news. I got hold back with my working responsibilities and addiction to the MMORPG (Massively Multiplayer Online Role Playing Game) FLYFF (Fly For Fun). I will soon blog about my experience on the first part of April which include my sister's college graduation at SMX and my Lemery Batangas Beach Trip.

I've also stumbled on a new anime livestreaming website besides the usual livestreaming websites I visit which includes Watch One Piece (http://watch-onepiece.com) and VEOH (a href="http://www.veoh.com"). This new website is Watch Anime On (http://watchanimeon.com/) where I am now following three new (or is it old series with new versions) Hajime No Ippo: New Challenger, Dragon Ball Kai, and Full Metal Alchemist: Brotherhood. If you want to see your favorite anime episodes but you are not subscribed to any cable channels then all you need is the internet and you are good to go.

So this is the updates for now and will be back to blogging by next week. Chris a. logging out. Oh, by the way you can also check my other blog at CMAQUEST: An Infotainment and Magazine Blog (http://cmaquest.blogspot.com) for movies, gadgets, and anything entertainment.