Life is Crunchy!

Perhaps you have heard about it. But wasn't interested. Perhaps you've heard about earning through blogs. But those do not serve Philippines yet because of PayPal constraints. Then you heard about friends earning through their blogs, through BlogToProfit. Now, that's a different story. If you want to try it yourself, please read on.

A good number of bloggers have already enrolled in the program. You might have read or heard of some issues about the program. And perhaps questions have clouded your mind. My intention here is to provide an overview of what the program is all about, how much will you earn and how to go about it.

BlogToProfit is a newly launched program developed by an SEO company in California, USA. It's open not only to US based bloggers but to all blogging community around the globe.

BlogToProfit Philippines is the first chapter opened for non-US based bloggers. It started the post sponsorship program September of this year. Then the referral program followed a month after that.

The Programs

R eferral - Refer as many bloggers as you can. You will be paid PhP400.00 as soon as the referral completes an order. A referral guideline will be sent to you through email if you'll signify your interest.

Post Sponsorship - You will be given a set of links and its corresponding keyword or anchor text. Write a blog entry and the keywords, directed to the advertising link, should be found in the main body of your post. To qualify for this program, a blog should have at least one Page Rank (PR) and 90% of the pages should be indexed by major search engines. The price per link will vary depending on your Google page ranking.

How to go about it:

1. Fill out the form in the BlogToProfit-Philippines website. If you're residing here in the Philippines, don't bother trying BlogToProfit-US because you will still be routed back to me :D

2. Your blog will be evaluated for search engine ranking and content. Pornographic sites are not accepted. Just submit your blog sites, leave the evaluation to us.

3. Wait for a reply. If your blog qualifies, the price offered per link and the first set of links will be sent to you after the evaluation. All blogs enrolled are already part of the program. Even if your blog does not qualify yet. If so, you will be offered with the referral scheme where you can earn until your blog is ready for post sponsorship. If, after a period of time you want to bail out and cancel you membership, that would be fine. Just let me know.

4. When assigned with links to post, an excel sheet will be sent to you. As soon as the posts are completed, send the excel file back to ann@blogtoprofit.com, along with the permalinks of the posts and your contact details.

5. Payments through Western Union are sent every Wednesday at 6PM. Bank transfers are done every Thursday morning. You will be notified for your schedule of payment and the amount. Confirmation number will be given to you as soon as the fund is ready for pick up.

I hope this article clears out some questions you might be having. For further details, check on our FAQ page and the Process and Guidelines. Please feel free to comment here. If your queries require immediate attention, you may buzz at my YM at catannlau[@]yahoo.com.

I'll be looking forward to sponsoring your blog posts!

-ann laureano

As familiar landmarks and sights recede from view to be replaced by sceneries of lush greenery and breathtaking cliffs, I settled back on my seat to sleep the whole journey away. Or so I hoped.

Nothing and no one could have made me give up my grip on the bus seat’s handlebars as I held on for dear life. An exaggeration, I know. However, I felt utter chagrin as I turned to the couple on the left and found them dozing fitfully, with nary a trace of discomfort. The bus was then traversing the circuitous highway of Mangima, Bukidnon. To my frazzled nerves, it lorded over that of Mawab zigzag road and the “daang bituka” going to Subic, Zambales from Manila.

At last, the pier came into view and I know it’s only half an hour tops before I set foot on Cagayan de Oro soil once again.

STREETS

The bustling metropolis seemed like a bird on the verge of flight. Evidence is manifested in the still numerous “motorelas” competing for road supremacy against the standard jeepney of most Philippine urban hubs. Nevertheless, these motorcycle contraptions are a most wonderful means to go about the city proper for two things. First, the fare’s a peso less than a jeepney’s. (To think, I was already pleasantly surprised to note that the standard jeepney fare here is P6.50 whereas it’s P7.50 in Davao City.) Secondly, motorelas aren’t restricted to follow a certain route. Give the driver the name of your destination and you’ll surely be taken there in no time – even to your own doorstep (in my case, at least!).

More signs of an economy taking flight are: the just completed and on going construction of the Puntod-Kauswagan and the Balulang-Macasandig bridges, respectively; the under construction Laguindingan International Airport; and the much anticipated unveiling of the Ayala Center.

LANGUAGE

Where else could one trace the origin of these dialogues?

“Tsada lugar ang palabas?”
“Gikan siya og merkado, bah?
“Nagkinatawaha mi sa naghinilaka na bata.”
“Gakaulit jud ko sa akong katapad, na.”

Ah…the wonder of multidialectal Philippines! Just hours from my hometown and the average Bisaya (to my mind) is given a few interesting twists - agpas, sapon, kai, lingas – to name more. Moreover, the farther one moves away from the city proper, to Salay for example, things get even more interesting. The “gulay” becomes “utan” and “kan-on” is now “luto”.

PEOPLE

The City of Golden Friendship, it’s called. (And I wonder why…joke!) Indeed, I’ve personally experienced the Kagay-anons’ own brand of hospitality – and I found it to my liking.

Jeepney barkers not only call your attention for their jeepney’s destination, they still ask you where you’re headed to even after you’ve said no. Even mere bystanders aren’t spared from this kind of customer service. The ultimate though is this – barkers actually steering the person by the elbow towards the jeepney when the incredulous victim has already stated his unequivocal refusal to the barker’s offered ride.

That’s not all. Be a witness to CDO’s hospitality just by lounging at the weekly night café. Foreigners – Caucasians and, the more common, Koreans – abound in almost every tent. How else could these people stay and have fun if not for the charming and very accommodating company they enjoy!

Kidding aside though, typical Filipino hospitality is what can be truly experienced here in Cagayan de Oro City. People don’t hesitate to give the right directions to the hapless stranger. New officemates and board mates give way to become new friends. Indeed, one almost immediately becomes acclimatized to the city – and starts to feel like an honorary native.

BACK TO THE PRESENT

It’s been more than a month since I’ve been here. Some expectations have been met – liking the place, the people, and the street food (Try their taho and binaki!). One even exceeded beyond my imagination – whitewater rafting (I’d do it again, honest!). Though, some are still in the wings, waiting for their fulfillment. In any case, my “turbulent” journey to Cagayan de Oro City did not end when I stepped down the bus. The adventure has just started and I’M SURE I’M IN for a ride of a lifetime.

Written by Ma. Cristina Valmonte (right side, between the yellow paddle and robs), a friend whom I fondly called Kikis because I can’t call “Trixie”, her other "too girly" nickname. Reading through this article was like hearing myself describing the place I just landed… CDO… So I thought of sharing this to you. To find more write-ups about CDO, click here.

Finally eklaboo is finally up... but not really good to go yet.. just UP ^_^ It will be another blog site.. my eetsie page in eklaboo will be more personalized than this one.. The main site, eklaboo is still under construction. There are subdomains created for family and friends... just to that they will have their own corners too. If you guys would like to be hosted, I'd be glad to give you a slot. Just let me know.. oki doki..