by Lori Baltazar
When I get into the habit of reading someone’s blog, it’s inevitable that my mind will create an image of them based upon how the blogger writes and what he/she says. It’s similar to those deejays I hear on the radio, they of the baritone, booming voices, and who, in reality, are short, squat and hirsute. At the Philippine Blog Awards held last Saturday night, I met several bloggers whose blogs I read frequently and those I’d never heard of before. As I expected, or maybe didn’t expect, many of these bloggers were planets away from what I thought they’d look like which just goes to show (me) that I shouldn’t judge a book, er… blog by its cover… er, owner.
I guess the same can be said about me. Quite a few people who read this website, said upon meeting me for the first time last Saturday, “Wow, I always thought you’d be fat and matronly looking.” I didn’t know quite how to react to that one. Even Anton of Our Awesome Planet fame echoed, “How do you stay so fit?”
Anyway. There are plenty of blow-by-blow write-ups that have already been posted on several blogs describing last Saturday evening, so I won’t get into it. I enjoyed myself immensely, save for the two hosts of the event who were chattering inanities that only they could understand. I also wish that the winners could’ve been allowed some time to deliver acceptance speeches ”“ it would’ve given the audience some grasp of who he/she is, and then it wouldn’t have felt so much like the organizers were hurrying along the awards night.
The “Delicious” part of the evening for me was winning the DELIBLOG AWARD given by Globe Broadband, honoring Mouthwatering Blogging. Thank you to Globe for recognizing this website and to everyone at the Philippine Blog Awards. This has been a remarkable experience for me, to say the least.
I actually wrote a little acceptance speech before the awards show last Saturday, just in case I won. Didn’t want to be rendered speechless after all. Since I did end up winning an award, but wasn’t allowed to say my thank you’s on stage, I delivered the speech in my parents’ house with my mom, my dad, and my Bin in attendance. This award is for all Dessert Comes First readers. I wouldn’t be here if not for you.
My little acceptance speech: Thank you so much. It’s an honor to be up here. Dessert Comes First came about from my wanting a venue to write about food but not knowing where. It was my good friend, Mari Carandang, who suggested I write a blog. Frankly, I’d never heard of the word and thought it was some kind of disease, but I went ahead and made one anyway, and look where it’s led me. It’s a surprise to be nominated and actually win this award. Thank you to the judges and everybody here at the Philippine Blog Awards. Many thanks go to OB Agustin, my tech guy who helps me out with Dessert Comes First. He’s able to harness his technological brilliance to translate what I want to say and show on the website. Thanks to my readers, fellow food lovers, and those who love dessert as much as I do. It’s a relief to know that I’m not the only one who looks at the dessert menu first before the main course. Thanks also to my little girl, Boo, who gamely poses for some of the photographs on the site. Finally, I’d like to dedicate this award to my husband, Bindoy, my rock and true light. When I first suggested trading in our old dial-up for a DSL connection, he wasn’t too convinced I needed it. But I think I can safely say now that he agrees it was worth the investment. This is for you, hon. Thanks so much everyone.
Complete list of winners and respective links to their blogs.
> 
You look great! And that bit on you delivering your acceptance speech to your audience of three is hilarious.
Congratulations again on your win! =)
Hey Lori!
Blog on! Hooray to you!!!
I immediately texted your dad after the awards expressing my great disappointment that you didn’t win Best Home and Living Blog Award. I really believe you deserve it. Then he mentioned that you in fact had just left – kaya pala, to deliver your acceptance speech!
Congratulations for the Deli Blog win. Keep on blogging!
Very very well deserved award, Lori! Congratulations to you and your little support group, including Bin and Boo. 🙂 I’m a big fan and I hope you don’t stop blogging. It would be a great loss to the blogosphere if you do. You look fabulous! 🙂
YAY FOR LORI!!! 🙂 You look very pretty in your dress. Remember when, at the first MarketManila EB, several people said they were surprised at how MM looked because they expected him to be old and fat? It’s really hard to believe someone who enjoys dessert as often as you do could stay so fit…makes the rest of us feel so insecure! 😉
So you’ve made me curious…who were the hosts? 😉
CONGRATS Lori!!!
I voted for you 🙂
Congrats! continue with your mouth-watering blogging!
Cheers! 🙂
Congratulations and more power! We are so proud of you!
A very sweet reward for the “sweet” lady of the bloggin’ world. Congratulations Lori
! You’re like Giada De Laurentiis, cooking and eating without getting fat…..it’s so unfair!!!! hehehe Anyway, keep on bloggin’ girl I love your blog and the wonderful photos you share with us!
the awards night could have been better but all in all, i think it’s a great attempt and an exciting sign of greater things to come! it was really great meeting you and pls say hi to Charley for me. Congrats on your Globe award! 😉
Hey, Lori! Albert here. Haha! Wasn’t I the one who said “matronly”? But ofcourse you are anything BUT. 🙂 So how DO you stay fit despite the fact the krispy kreme sends you all those doughnuts? Congratulations again! And thanks for emailing me the pics! 🙂
LO-RI! *shrieks*
Lori, I’m touched you mentioned me in your speech. We’ve known each other for so long, and you were always such an exciting writer to watch. As your former editor, I have bragging rights now! (well, only a little!)
Blogging was a big thing. I knew it was coming. Always did. It was only a matter of time, Lor!
We need to celebrate with more food!
Congratulations Lori!
Hope Globe changes the name of the award to something less pastrami-like next year.
congratulations! you are one of the beautiful guest! 🙂 kudos!
Congratulations, Lori! Very well deserved award. Continue sharing with us your yummy desserts. Cheers!
What more can I say? KUDOS Lori! Here’s to million more mouth-watering blogs!
yay!!!!!!
congratulations!!!! you definitely deserve to win!!!
keep on blogging and may you have many more mouthwatering, saliva-enducing, tummy grumbling articles to come.
Congrats! You deserve it!
Congratulations Lori! I was at the registration table when you arrived and I recognized you from a mile away. I have been reading your blog regularly and I am truly a fan. Me and my husband have just started out our food blog so we really look up to you for inspiration. I really really love your blog and hope I could have the same experiences youve had. Keep on blogging!
my personal blog -> http://apples-pie.com/blog
Congratulations Lori! I ‘ll give your blog a HA “High Achievement”!
Keep on blogging!
Hi Lori! Hopped from Mae’s site… Your blog is so delicious to read! Hehe!
I am hopping from one winner’s site to another. And I am so inggit I wasn’t able to participate in the said event. Hopefully, next year 🙂
Hi Lori!
Congrats to you! You deserve it.
You also have my vote for Best Dressed. 🙂
Jenn
May 5.
Can’t wait. 🙂
Jenn
Congratulations Lori! While I didn’t expect you to be fat and matronly, I did think that you might have chocolate smudges on your face and dress;)
Too bad..
“I enjoyed myself immensely, save for the two hosts of the event who were chattering inanities that only they could understand”
Its your blog but I do wish you would have been more polite, those are two people who we got at the last minute/day/hour to serve all of us as hosts. So many things happened before that night it would be better to be sensitive to the feelings of these real people before saying hurting things like this.
Jomar
Blog Awards Committees Lead
Hey Lori ! You now really deserve the ” Foodha Buddha ” title… from me, to you ! (Buddha minus the paunch , di ba ? ) The secret to keeping your figure is probably eating a ton of chocolate , that ups the ” happy chemicals ” in your brain and helps you write all these yummy T. L. ( tulo laway ) blogs !5 spoons on your award !!!
Nice meeting you Lori. I envy your body’s ability to burn off those calories. Much as I love desserts, I can’t take much due to my diabetes. Anyway, congrats!
Congratulations on winning an award. Well deserved.
My sister, who is a serious foodie, told me about your blog a few months ago… and I’ve been lurking in your blog now and again. Greattttttttt blog. 🙂
Congrats Lori.. i was so excited when i voted for you coz i know you’d be bagging an award.. so happy.. hope to read more stuff from you.. take care!
Hi lori congratulations. I am and will always be a fan of your blog. keep blogging!!
congratulations Lori!!! you soooooooo deserve it!
((hugs)) 🙂
Loripie! I’m so proud of you! Congrats on your fabulous award. And you look AMAZING!!! See how far we’ve come, huh??? Much love from Southern California…
XOXO
Kimmy
That’s my girl!
congrats, kiddo. That award was well-deserved.
Eric
Congratulations Lori! A much deserved award indeed.
My wife and I have been enduring fans of your blog, and it is fulfilling to know that you bagged hands down the accolade for a category that you have been lording over sans any official recognition for some time now.
Truth to tell, you are the heretofore inspiration for me to start my own food blog (though I haven’t really done anything yet other than claim the URL addy as my own), and after reading your “acceptance speech” I am all the more convinced I made the right choice of muse – if a foodie writer like you can excel at it while enjoying the seemingly daunting task, how much more a culinary professional with a journalism degree tucked up his belt like yours truly, right? Rest assured though that you will always be a fondly revered benchmark bar none for us aspiring food bloggers.
Again, congratulations and God bless, Lori!
P.S. It might interest you to know that my wife is the recently appointed head of marketing of Globe Broadband. Though she has been rooting for you since day one, she has been completely oblivious to the nominating and voting goings-on. She wasn’t even able to attend the awards ceremony because it coincided with our elder son’s graduation exercise. In fact, she first found out about the winners from your blog, go figure.
congratulations lori! i can only hope winning was as delicious for you as reading your blog is for us. 🙂
huwat???? This is not a blog award???? am so sorry, its my Cebuano in me reading your award….
ok. the award is merely a validation (that should have been given 2 or 3 yrs ago) of what you and your blog has provided the Pinoy blogosphere. You carved a niche out of something you love and everything just flowed so easily…
6 years ago, from that tiny office in Citibank, I already knew you had what it takes…matronly is wrong, matronic is the word..but it can never be you.
We’re so proud of you Lol! A much-deserved win for the fittest, most creative, & descriptive writer I know! I’m happy that others are recognizing your incredible writing/blogging skills. Love ya!
Congratulations Lori for winning the ‘Deli Blog’ award… you deserve it!
Keep on blogging!
What you do on this website is called sheeer passion. and all the talk about truffles in your previous post is making me hungry!=)
Hi Lori! It was really nice to have met you in person. Congratulations on the award! Here’s to the yummiest blog in town! 😀
I’m so late here! But my congratulations is heartfelt! A well-deserved win Lori! I’m so happy that you won 🙂 You look fabulous!!!
Lori, I just read the comment of the Blog Awards Committees Lead and the only right thing he wrote is that it is your blog.
Being last minute hosts as well as so many things happening before that night aren’t reasons, they are excuses. Isn’t it ironic that on the night that perfection was being honored that the organizers were way short of perfection? Excuse me but the least these ‘real people’ could have done was to do a little homework and do a job well. Criticism like Lori’s will be good for them – it will teach them to accept things they think they can do and when they do, they will do it better in the future.
As for the Blog lead, well I certainly won’t recommend him to be in the recruitment department of any company.
Congratulations Lori Pie! Great foodie, great blogger, great gal! You look so chic. Ben will be proud.
You certainly are one deserving person Lori! Congratulations!
@Lori
Congratulations!
@Lori and Pet
Next year please do volunteer in the committee so you can help out.
Thanks!
Aileen
Google Philippines Country Consultant
Aww… you didn’t win?!? I just want to let you know that I voted for you. But congrats for winning the Deli blog award. Looking forward to discovering more desserts and dessert places from your blog. =P
Hi Lori! Our heartfelt congratulations to you for winning! You go girl! (from ango, shing, jon, anna)
Hello Aileen, I just read your comment. Were you one of the organizers of the PBA? If so, let us know how we can all help out for next year’s awards show! It was a great idea to honor the talented individuals in the Pinoy blogosphere, and I really commend the organizers for supporting and honoring Pinoy talent.
Although it seems like there are some egos that are a LITTLE too sensitive over there. Please be open-minded and realize that Lori (or Pet, for that matter) were not impolite or “hurting” (as what the Blog Awards Committee Lead wrote), but simply speaking their point of view. (Isn’t that what having a blog is all about — a means to harness self-expression and creativity?) Seems like what some people need is a little taste of humbleness in order to address issues that need to be corrected for future awards shows.
Hi, Lori! Congrats on winning the Deliblog award! You are deserving of the award! May you keep posting delicious stuff on your site… 🙂
Hey, Lori! FELICITATION de Paris ! What a great news !!! and you guys look great in the last picture 🙂 Look forward to seeing more and more yummy stuffs on your blog.
Hi,
I got to go here through anton’s blog and this is nice. 🙂 Food! Glorious Food! Another blog to regularly check.
Omar
Hi Lori,
Congratulations! No doubt in my mind that your blog would win an award — informative, conversational writing and the food shots are mouthwateringly drool worthy.
Hope to see you around Rockwell soon? 🙂
Here’s to dessert loving,
Nina
Yehey! Yehey! I’m one of your fans…. actually my sister and I also love desserts very much! 🙂
I hope you continue with your blogging…. it is really very informative, exciting and delicious! 🙂
Congratulations and more power (from desserts)!!! 🙂
Congratulations! More Power!
🙂
support dot Her figure was slight her countenance beautiful though
gerard butler fan ezboard*
At the same moment he fell in a swoon and was borne out of the
Nice Site! Thanks!