I was about to win a cool gadget but I need to go (A daddy blogger’s dilemma)

Have you ever experienced watching your favorite TV program where the protagonist is about to reveal a secret that has puzzled you for months and then all of a sudden your area got hit by a black out? How about eagerly waiting for the last play of your favorite basketball team in an attempt for a winning basket then you got an important phone call that you really need to take?

‘Tis the season that moments like this happen since almost everyone has a lot of stuff to attend to during these times.

Well, I got hit with one of those moments a couple of weeks back when I attended the Bloggers Night 2011 – Brands that Clicks in Astoria Plaza in Ortigas, Pasig City where some of the well-known tech companies not only exhibited their coolest and latest products, they also raffled away a lot of “goodies” that will make any tech geek salivate.      

The presenters were Archos, ASUS, BenQ, Cooler Master, JBL, Kingston Technology, Power Color, Razer and Sandisk. Below are the products that were presented that night.

Bloggers got to try out some of these products and a few lucky ones were able to take home a gadget  because organizers raffled out at least one gadget from each of the nine presenters that participated in the event.  It was a fun-filled event where we were able to discover new stuff about the latest technology in the market today.

Just like in other events, how you’d wish your name will be called in the raffle at the later part so you have a great chance of getting a “big” prize.  Although in this event, the first surprise that was given away was an Archos tablet that really made quite a lot of ohhhs and ahhhs. 

Then, minor prizes were thrown in to hype up some other “big” stuff to be given away to lucky attendees.  I was not called when they raffled dozens of optical mouse, usb drives and other items.  Just when it was the time to pick the winners of bigger prizes, I got a text message from my wife asking me to go home already since our son Charles has been vomiting the whole evening (Later, his pedia found out that he was inflicted with gastroenteritis). 

I was a little hesitant to go out of the room since I have a gut felling that I will be called during the raffle in any given moment.  But the image of my son vomiting and calling out my name was playing in my head that made me decide and go home without waiting for the raffle draw to finish.

And just what I thought, my name was called.  Not once but TWICE.  A fellow blogger texted me to inform me about this. 

Oh well, there’s always a next time.  After all, parties come all year round.  I may not able to bring home any cool gadget that night, I got to meet and had had fun with my blogger friends. Also, I was able to comfort and take care my son who even though looked exhausted in vomiting several times that night, he still tried to smile while repeatedly asking, “Charles sick?”    

All I have to do is to tell him that he’ll get well in no time if drink his medicine and we’ll play with his toy helicopter in the morning.  He’d hug me and tap on my shoulder gently as if saying, “I’ll be okay daddy” 

Now that's my first prize!

(After a week, Charles got back his groove) 

Fim-Am Midwife is 2011 CNN Hero of the Year

Just when we thought that this December is such a forgettable month, a good news for the Pinoy will comes out like a fresh breather.

Amidst the showbiz controversies, unbelievable heavy rains and a freak plane tragedy that hugged the spotlight, 2011 will end with a sweet victory for the Philippines.  Robin Lim, an Fil-Am midwife based in Indonesia has been named as the 2011 CNN Hero of the Year today.

Image taken from news-website.info

Robin Lim, an American woman who has helped thousands of poor Indonesian women have a healthy pregnancy and birth, was named the Hero of the Year on Sunday night.

54-year old LIm was recognized for helping thousands of poor Indonesian women have a healthy pregnancy and birth. CNN described her as a community crusader who is affectionately called by people touched by her foundation as “Ibu Robin” (Mother Robin).

Born to an American soldier and a Filipino mother, Lim is a certified professional midwife affiliated with the North American Registry of Midwives and the Ikatan Bidan Indonesia.

“Eleven years ago, I witnessed it working high in the Cordillera mountains. I feel it can work the world over,” Lim said during an interview by the Philippine Daily Inquirer.

She spent her time in the Philippines by providing free natal services to relatives and friends she met in Baguio and other Cordillera provinces before she and her husband Willaim Hemerle were based in Indonesia. The couple has five children.

"Every baby's first breath on Earth could be one of peace and love. Every mother should be healthy and strong. Every birth could be safe and loving. But our world is not there yet," Lim said during "CNN Heroes: An All-Star Tribute," which took place at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles and recognized Lim and the other top 10 CNN Heroes of 2011.

The CNN Hero of the Year was chosen by the public after an 11-week vote on CNN.com. Lim will receive $250,000 for her cause. That's in addition to the $50,000 that she and the rest of the top 10 Heroes each received for making the top 10.

CNN has given this award in the last five years, with the help of entertainers and other celebrities, have honored everyday people changing the world. This year's presenters include TV and movie personalities J.R. Martinez, Chris Colfer,  Laura Dern, Mary-Louise Parker and Sofia Vergara, comedians Jerry Seinfeld and George Lopez; actors; musical artists Ice Cube and will.i.am; model Christy Turlington Burns; and former NFL quarterback Kurt Warner.

In 2009, social worker and educator Efren Peñaflorida became the first Filipino to be named CNN’s Hero of the Year in 2009.