From Dinuguan to Lutong Gulay, everything has Gata, and that’s how Shiela and I grew up in Bicolano families.
- For context, Shiela Marie Bertillo, Senior Editor at BitPinas, is from Legazpi, Albay, while I am from Virac, Catanduanes.
And for both of us it was our first time. Our first time we are going to Bicol not for vacation, but for work: to fulfill our obligations as journalists to record what is happening in the #CryptoPH community.
Join us, born and raised in Manila but of Oragon blood, to capture Bicolandia’s vibrant crypto community!
Day 1: La Partida, September 6, 2024
To be honest, we’re both nervous. Although it wasn’t the first time we traveled without our EIC, Michael Mislos, as we already covered events in Bataan, Cabanatuan City and Baguio City alone, we knew it was going to be a long trip.
We started traveling at 6:30 pm via Bicol Isarog transit bus, and I want to compliment your chair as it was comfortable.
It was 5:30 in the morning the next day when we arrived at the Naga City bus terminal.
Day 2: The event, September 7, 2024
You won’t believe it, but Shiela and I slept and rested since we arrived in Naga City. We mean it, a 12-hour trip was long and we also admit that we are not young anymore, masasakit na ang balakang namin.
At 6:00 pm, we headed to our main mission: to cover the first Bicol Traders Meeting 2024 at the Avenue Plaza Hotel.
We were welcomed by the genuine team at Cheerz, a Bicol-based studio that handles event registration and documentation.
Upon entering the assembly hall we were surprised that the attendees were already there. I’m not going to lie, in Manila we are used to things always being late. For example, IRL events here are usually scheduled at 7:00 pm and the show will start at 8:00 pm because attendees arrive late.
When the show started around 6:30 pm, I was delighted by Ownly CEO Ismael Jerusalem’s Bicol Crypto Community Report. We were so surprised how he told the story that way in the 2017s, that there were only 10 attendees every time there was an IRL crypto meetup. According to his presentation, Bicol’s crypto ecosystem was also expanding.
Another thing that surprised me was that the government attended and supported the event. The Camarines Sur Office of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) and the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) Region V expressed their interest in supporting blockchain technology and the web3 community.
Lastly, Bicol-based crypto organizations, by hook and by crook, did their best to survive the past market cycle.
Meanwhile, the round table is very diverse. From the wisdom of Coach Miranda, to the technicalities of Sparkpoint CEO Harvey Javier, to the deep experience of MGG COO Morris Perico, and the advice of OKX Country Manager for PH Allen San Miguel, along with the CEO’s banter from Ownly, Ismael Jerusalem, as moderator, I can say that the panel’s combination of Knowledge and Understanding is as good as the chemistry of the US basketball team.
I’m also surprised that Coach Miranda has a Bicol community. In fact, communities play a crucial role in KOLs and projects.
The attendant’s groupie was something to remember; It was a rare experience that attendees stayed until the end of the program.
But for me personally, there was something I will never forget at this Naga event: the first time I interviewed people advancing the #CryptoPH community. This was why Shiela and I were nervous, because our EIC was not with us on this trip, which meant we would be the ones doing the interview.
And yes, although we know we can, we are used to being behind the camera. That’s why it was a first experience for me, a great advance for me who is used to being alone and calm at all times.
At the end of the event we knew that our mission was accomplished. Thanks to Ismael Jerusalem, who helped us cover the event without problems.
Day 3: The Gala, September 8, 2024
We woke up late because we were still feeling the pagod. However, we want to enjoy the good things about Naga City.
The first thing we visited was the Jesse Robredo Museum, where we learned about the life and heroism of His Excellency.
Our next stop was at the Minor Basilica of Our Lady of Peñafrancia, which that day was having a side event for its upcoming festival, and I’m not going to lie, there was traffic.
We also went to SM Naga, bought some neck pillows for our trip back home and enjoyed the busy view.
Finally, we went to the public market to buy some Pasalubong and the well-known Toasted Siopao.
Day 4: Return home, September 9, 2024
Around 11am we finally returned home.
With tired bodies, we knew we had a wonderful trip in Naga City. The memories, the community, the party and the legacy,
GOD BLESS YOU ALL, NAGA!
This article is published on BitPinas: BitPinas in the heart of Bicol: The vibrant Crypto Oragons in pictures
What else is happening in Crypto Philippines and beyond?
