Best Pinoy Blogs at Bloggys 2015

Bloggys 2015 (Philippine Blogging Awards) is a prestigious event in the blogging industry here in the Philippines.  It is an award-giving body that recognizes, promotes, and encourages talented and creative Filipino bloggers who are active and prolific in doing and writing their “thing”. Award categories vary from arts and entertainment, business and finance, to travel and places. Bloggys 2015 is organized by Essays.ph, the nation’s largest content outsourcing company headed by Paul Agabin, the Major Catalyst.

Nominated bloggers from different parts of the country were evaluated by a reputable panel. Among the juries who were invited for this occasion were: Donald Lim, the Chief Digital Head of ABS-CBN; Maria Ressa, Founder and CEO of Rappler; Janette Toral, Founder of DigitalFilipino.com; Abe Olandres, Country Manager of Nuffnang Philippines and Founder of Yugatech; and, many more. With them as jurors and the vast array of bloggers from the nation, this event was indeed celebrated with prestige and excitement.

Hall of Famers 2015 was announced last November 21, 2015 during the Bloggys 2015 Awards Night at SMX Convention Center, SM Aura, Taguig. Winners are as follows: Arts and Entertainment – googlygooeys.com; Beauty and Fashion – projectvanity.com; Business and Finance – tycoon.ph; Corporate and Brand – asksonnie.info; Family and Relationships – teachwithjoy.com; Fiction and Literature – michaelsshadesofblue.blogspot.com; Food and Dining – pepper.ph; Health and Fitness – pinoyfitness.com; Lifestyle and Hobbies – wheninmanila.com; Nature and Environment – avrotor.blogspot.com; New and Events – thedailypedia.com; Personal/Diary – sarwrites.blogspot.com; Photo Blog – two2travel.com; Society and Politics – raissarobles.com; Sports and Recreation – pinoymountaineer.com; Technology and Internet – back2gaming.com; and for, Travel and Places – biyaherongbarat.com.

Major awards were also given to the best of the bests. Best Blog Post Award was given to The Endocrine Witch; Best Design was awarded to Pepper.ph; People’s Champion was Controversy Extraordinary; and, the Bloggys 2015 Champion was awarded to Pepper.ph for being the overall winner of the event. Congratulations!

Brought Back Beauty (Chicken Pox at Young Adult Stage)

I was 23 years old when I suffered from severe chicken pox six months ago. Poxes had grown mostly on my face to the extent that it reached my throat, gums, tongue, tonsils, ears and nostrils. Thanks to God, it never occurred in my eyes! Half of my face was deformed due to swelling. I looked like a monster and my little sister was afraid of me. For two weeks, I endured the stressful appearance and uneasiness. It was a relief when the poxes started popping and drying.

Featured above is my transition from the time I still got scabs to the period when I was healing from skin peeling.

After all the scabs had peeled off, I consulted a dermatologist from General Santos City, Philippines. She's Dr. Teresita "Tess" Ferariz, the owner of Gwapaha Medical Spa. As she prescribed, I underwent several treatments. First, I had a facial treatment called Glycolic Facial. It was my first time that's why it was painful. Then, I had my first Skin Peeling. This is when my Doctor wiped a special liquid on my face; and there was a burning sensation. Of course, it was also excruciatingly painful but I endured it. The nurse put ice packs on my face to minimize the sting of the medicine. A little fan was also turned on, air directly hitting my face. I had two sessions for my skin peeling treatment. A week after, my old worn out facial skin peeled off (you can see on the 3rd photo). My Doctor had prescribed medicines and creams to aid the healing of my new baby-like skin.

Now, I have moved on from my nightmare. It is a new year and we should always start afresh. I am thankful for the help of Dr. Tess and the Gwapaha Medical Staff for bringing my beauty back (it is better than before!). I recommend them to you, too! :)

From Scars to Stars

I had chicken pox two weeks ago. The first week was really stressful. Every day was a challenge. Every night when you sleep, it's not the same as before. Every morning, you wake up with another pox/es on face or chests or on any parts of the body. As for me, most of it grew on my face. Thus, when I look in the mirror, I see a different me. Good thing I took Cetirizine for the itchiness and it was effective.

I struggled a lot on my first week. No one is going near me. I am isolated in my room. Loneliness, self-pity and stress were trying to succumb me. I was on the verge on giving in. But to my surprise, I wasn't. And I will never be. I carry on for the the rest of the first week; my face was different and explainably gross, I got poxes also inside my mouth: on my tonsils and gums. It added to my burden. I can't eat well; It hurts to chew and to swallow. Good thing some of my medicines are in syrup already. On the sixth day, the right side of my face got swollen. My paracetamol wasn't effective anymore. It was changed to Mefenamic acid.

After that week, the poxes started to pop one by one at a time. I spent another week to wait for the popping of my poxes and for the healing of the popped ones. Then scabbing happen. They say I was more contagious at this stage. But I feel much better now. The scabs on my face started to peel off on the ninth day. 

Scabs went off now. I can see my face a little bit better. Since most of the poxes grew on my face, it has put a toll there. It makes me sad that I have scars on my face already. And it is visible at one look. I am lifting myself now. Elevating the feeling of being low. When I look at the mirror, I still smile. Though my face is "not so okay". there's still the radiance inside me. I can feel there's a positive feeling from within. It tells me that everything will be okay. My face will be back to its formal health. Currently, I am using Contractubex to heal my facial scars. Good thing I didn't do a scar on my mentality. What's inside me is still me. Strong. Positive. Favored by Gods as I say.

I remember back in college I had a dorm mate who told me that she had beautiful skin because she prayed it to the Lord. Imagine that, the state of her skin is prayed to the Lord. I can do that too!

I have a friend who told me that my state right now is an advantage for a job interview. She told me that the chicken pox is a blessing. I recall that our God has purpose in everything that is happening to us. Every pain, setback is a blessing. It makes you prepared for the future.

Another friend told me to turn my scars into stars. We must live in positivity and look always at the bright side of things. In the near future, the scars will be just a memory of my braveness during the days of trial. My scars will fly to the night sky as stars as an epitome of courage, positivity and grace.

Thank You Lord God for giving me this trial. You know how hard it is for me. And I wont give up on it. I will do my very best to remove or lessen the visibility of my scars, I'm sorry for being stubborn. I guess I was just missing something at home. You are my Divine God. You have always been there for me from womb till now, from setbacks to rejoices. I will remain positive in You with all my heart. Starting now, I will not dwell in lowness but I will claim in Your name that every wound in my body will heal and every scar in my skin will be removed. I promise You, my God, I will held up my head till the scars go away. I love You, Lord. Thank you for the grace of healing and strength of mind and body. Amen. :)