NAPBAS 2011 in Malaysia

Monday, December 26, 2011

NAPBAS 2011 in Malaysia

Back in 2007, Nuffnang recognized the need to help bloggers meet other bloggers, to find talented bloggers, promote them to the world, and create opportunities for them. Four years on, the blog advertising network changed the blogosphere in a really good way. Bloggers today are budding as a vital force in trends, in changing public opinions with the power of their readers or followers, as well as the dependability of their voices, giving them an unparalleled credence in the press. With a trouble-free access to the Internet, bloggers are making everyone’s business.

NAPBAS (Nuffnang Asia-Pacific Blog Awards) was created two year ago to honor the Best of Asia-Pacific’s bloggers. The event was held in Singapore. This year’s NAPBAS was a far larger event. They invited 500 bloggers and guests from Singapore, Malaysia, Philippines, Australia, Thailand, China and Hong Kong to attend the awards ceremony and gala dinner. Fortunately, I was invited as a guest! I got to be in a room filled with people who share the same passion for blogging as I do.

I created my blog last May 2009, but only started to become active last year. I said this before and I’ll say it again: Thank you so much to my Nuffnang family for inviting me to join their pool of exclusive bloggers last September 2010, for always giving me nice projects, for inviting me to special events, for choosing me as their featured blogger for January 2011, for letting me use their site for networking and making new friends I would have otherwise never met, and for flying me all the way to Kuala Lumpur to attend NAPBAS! Seriously, I have so much to thank Nuffnang Philippines for.

Okay, enough of that. :) I know you’re excited to know what went on during the event!

The grand ballroom of Marriott Putrajaya was set up beautifully and richly furnished to accommodate this grand event.

I was assigned at the same table with Nuffnang Philippines’ Country Manager Carlos Palma, Best Lifestyle Blog winner Jenni Epperson, Best Fashion Blog finalist Camille Co, fashion blogger Laureen Uy, mom blogger Tita Noemi Dado and her husband, Tito Butch Dado, lifestyle bloggers Jane Chua, Hannah Villasis, and Kring Elenzano. If you’re wondering who’s the guy beside Laureen, that’s Erwan Heussaff! He’s one of the finalists for the Best Food Blog category.

With Hannah of Flair Candy and Kring of My Korean Boyfriend

With Jane of Between Bites and Hannah

With Nuffnang Philippines’ Talents Manager Trixie Esguerra of The Super Kitty and Most Original Blog Design finalist Helga Weber of Ditz Revolution

Philippines bagged the most number of awards!!! Wohoo, Team Philippines! Jenni Epperson won the Best Lifestyle Blog.

Nina Fuentes of Just Wandering won the Best Travel Blog.

Tessa and Anthony Go of Googly Gooeys won the Hidden Gem.

Last but definitely not the least, Geekout won the Best Geek Blog. (Photo from Laureen)

Congratulations as well to the other winners:

Best Original Blog Design - Eat Show and Tell (Australia)
Best Parenting Blog - Childhood101 (Australia)
Best Photography Blog - Photoblog (Hong Kong)
Best Entertainment Blog - Beautiful Nara (Malaysia)
Best Micro Blog - Kenny Sia (Malaysia)
Best Fashion Blog - Cheesie (Malaysia)
Best Food Blog - Lady Iron Chef (Singapore)
Most Influential Blog and Region’s Best Blog - Xiaxue (Singapore)

With Patty Laurel of Come Waste Your Time With Me and Nikki Tiu of Askmewhats

I enjoyed the food so much — from the appetizer to the dessert. Actually, I enjoy eating food in general. Haha! Name a cuisine, I have probably tried it!

There were also performances by Harith Iskander, Reshmonu, James Baum, and Viva Circus.

With my roomie, Tracy Ayson of Fashion Fangirl! I’m so glad she read my blog entry about NAPBAS and joined the contest! Congrats, girl! She even called me to tell me about the good news. We were both screaming because we were very excited! Haha :)

With Tracy, Trixie and Helga

After the awards ceremony, we were given 30 minutes to prepare for the official after-party at Zouk Club.

We saw the stunningly beautiful Petronas Twin Towers on our way to the venue.

I had so much fun drinking and dancing to hip-hop music with my fellow bloggers! The posh-looking Zouk Club was jam-packed with awesome people. I’m definitely going back with my friends! Party photos courtesy of Anthony Go and NAPBAS.