The first day of 2015 fell on Thursday that's why I was inspired to do this post which was very appropriate entry for my Throwback Thursday. It was only in 2014 that I really made effort to prioritize my blog and took quantum leap of faith to publish more despite the fear. I made it part of New Year's Resolution a year ago. What started as passion and interest in Digital Marketing led me to this specialized field blogging career where I was able to express my thoughts, share my experiences and advocacy as well as make a difference one trip at a time, one of the activities I love to do the most.
Here's a look of what my first professional blogging year looked like and where my #SoleSearchingSoul journey brought me while I'm having my quarter life crisis.
Here's a look of what my first professional blogging year looked like and where my #SoleSearchingSoul journey brought me while I'm having my quarter life crisis.
JANUARY: Winter Wonderland in Seoul, South Korea
I finally ticked one of the items in my bucket list, that is to experience winter and play with real snow. Living in a tropical country for the past 25 years, visiting a country with Winter season was a dream come true for me. I published some stories about my trip and I hope you'll find it entertaining and helpful too. Related Posts: Selfie in Seoul, 5 Reasons to Love Winter (and fall inlove!) and Free Things to Experience and Try in Korea
FEBRUARY: Valentine's at the Avenue Plaza Hotel
Oh well, it's the time of the year that I realize I'm single! hahaha. For the past 3 years, I was always on duty during Valentine's Day and never had a real date on Hearts' Day but nevertheless, I still enjoyed those days because I got to attend the special concerts featuring famous singers from Manila. Just thinking out loud, maybe 2015 will be different? Let's see. :-) Ohh by the way, don't forget to Salute your Heart!!!
Oh well, it's the time of the year that I realize I'm single! hahaha. For the past 3 years, I was always on duty during Valentine's Day and never had a real date on Hearts' Day but nevertheless, I still enjoyed those days because I got to attend the special concerts featuring famous singers from Manila. Just thinking out loud, maybe 2015 will be different? Let's see. :-) Ohh by the way, don't forget to Salute your Heart!!!
MARCH: From the Sky to the Sea, Summer adventures came early for me! I had adrenaline overdose!!!
Related Post:
Paragliding in Daet, Camarines Norte
Kalesa by the Beach (Bagasgas)
Maximum Fun at Maxima Aqua Park, Samal Island
Paragliding in Daet, Camarines Norte
Kalesa by the Beach (Bagasgas)
Maximum Fun at Maxima Aqua Park, Samal Island
My travel buddies and SSEAYP batchmates faced their fears when we explored Davao City and Samal Island.
APRIL: Sole Searching Soul going beyond my comfort zone and Bicol to Make a Difference through Creative Education and Collaborating with other Key Online Influencers (PLUS: Blog feature on international magazine for Filipinos!)
As I officially welcomed summer, I was very happy that I was able to share my knowledge and experience to other people. I have my idols and mentors in this field who showered me with their support so I was able to pay it forward as well as enjoy a Bigger Better Summer! April was amazing!!!
As I officially welcomed summer, I was very happy that I was able to share my knowledge and experience to other people. I have my idols and mentors in this field who showered me with their support so I was able to pay it forward as well as enjoy a Bigger Better Summer! April was amazing!!!
 YODO. "You Only Die Once. Life is risky enough. Keep educating yourself." - Ramon Bautista, internet action star, comedian, best selling author and TV show host of National Geograhpics's #ScienceOfStupid | Global adventurer, speaker and author Leon Logothesis LIKEs Sole Searching Soul Facebook Page in 2014 yet it was sometime in 2013 when he sent me a copy of his book too with dedication! As a fan, I was really delighted when I received it most especially when his simple yet very meaningful message makes a lot of sense. "Don't Give Up" is just the right statement I need to have that renewed faith to take my Sole Searching Soul journey to the next level. I first saw Leon in his own TV show (documentary) on National Geographic's THE AMAZING ADVENTURES OF NOBODY.  |
Upon the invitation of visionary leader Mayor Tito Sarte Sarion of LGU Daet, the first class captial town of Camarines Norte and the #1 most competitive municipality in the Philippines, I gave a workshop on Digital Marketing to municipality employees, youth leaders and representatives of local businesses and organizations. This was my first official #SSSTalk and soon after, a lot followed! I found my way back to one activity I love doing --- sharing what I know to other people.
Post by Apple Allison.
MAY: Date in Daet with fellow bloggers
#DiD2014, my first tourism advocacy campaign under Sole Searching Soul, was a huge success! Not only I was able to meet and interact with fellow bloggers but I was also humbled to read their blog posts about their experience and how it helped in promoting Daet and nearby islands in Mercedes as main tourist destinations in Camarines Norte. Special thanks to all who made this campaign possible, specially to our sponsors and partners! Watch the video.
#DiD2014, my first tourism advocacy campaign under Sole Searching Soul, was a huge success! Not only I was able to meet and interact with fellow bloggers but I was also humbled to read their blog posts about their experience and how it helped in promoting Daet and nearby islands in Mercedes as main tourist destinations in Camarines Norte. Special thanks to all who made this campaign possible, specially to our sponsors and partners! Watch the video.
JUNE: Pinyasan Festival in Daet with French GK Volunteers and Speaking Engagement with Mayors of Bicol Cities and Urban Municipalities
 | Most Popular Posts: What do To in Pinyasan Festival? Mark your calendar this June 2015 and visit Daet for the 23rd Pinyasan Festival which will also include the grand Gayon Bicol Festival of Festivals. See the sexiest Island in the World  |
JULY: Singapore in Less than 24 hours... Reunion with SSEAYP batchmate and friend while in transit
AUGUST: Observing and Learning more about the ASEAN Tourism Landscape by visiting Singapore, Cambodia, Thailand and Lao PDR in one trip. I'm highly interested to know more about ASEAN Tourism so I immersed myself in an extended trip so that I can personally assess how ASEAN 2015 Integration will affect this industry I want to pursue.
 | It was also a perfect opportunity for me to take note of best practices and other relevant matters. I'm publishing more stories about this trip this year. You may also check #ASEANTourismGuide on sns. |
| I GOT CERTIFIED! Investing into education and learning is very important. I'm happy I made the right decision to invest in my professional development activities. |  |
SEPTEMBER: I conquered SMX Convention Center for the first time as one of the invited speakers for Digital Influencers Marketing Summit 2014 organized by Philippine's Pioneer in Internet Marketing, Ms.Janette Toral of Digital Filipino.com.
| |  Featured on TV Patrol Bicol - ABS-CBN News and Current Affairs Program Proud Probinsyana from Bicol goes to SMX Convention! |
OCTOBER: Launching of Visit The Philippines Year in Manila and other ASEAN tourism related events
| Read some of my FUN travel stories around the Philippines. Click here. Related Posts: Department of Tourism Gamifies It's More Fun Be a Fun Ambassador Visit The Philippines Year |  |
NOVEMBER: Speaking Engagements and Workcation in Luzon, Viasayas and Mindanao
Dream Bicol Expo by The Dream Project Philippines paved way for me to meet other Filipino Young Innovators from different backgrounds. Together with these amazing dreamers, we traveled to key destinations in Camarines Norte and Camarines Sur to meet with the community. We also conducted the Dream Bicol Bootcamp graced by Sen.Bam Aquino who gave a talk about dreaming and entrepreneurship.
| I was able to visit Ozamis City and gave Keynote speech about Food Tourism among other talks related to my travel advocacy during the 9th Culinary Congress organized by La Salle University School. After that, I was able to explore different part of Misamis Occidental and even had this fun #TuslobBuwa Cooking Challenge featuring yours truly, @msappleallison of #SoleSearchingSoul, and my fellow speaker Ferdz Decena of @happyfoodiesph @ironwulf with May Anne and El Joy who assisted us during our stay. Special thanks to Teddie of LSU, Sir Gain Paul and his staff Pretzel of the Provincial Tourism Office for coordinating our #LaagLaagsaMisOcc.   |  Daghang Salamat to the national executive officers of the Philippine Junior Marketing Association for inviting me to be one of your speakers for #JuanBigIdea #Visayas Edition. Special thanks to be the students from different parts of #Cebu and Central Visayas who were able to make it to the event despite the recent typhoon. Thank you for actively listening during my talk! ♡ #solesearchingsoul #TAAP#MakeADifferenceOneTripAtATime#itsmorefuninthephilippines #FUNAmbassador #Travel#TravelingFunTowel #Workcation |
I can definitely say that it was a sweet November! I was able to travel to different places in the Philippines while doing what I love most, that is making a difference one trip at a time! I was also able to meet new friends and enjoy the workcation concept to the fullest! I even managed to pray and visit Simala. Friends and even some brands showered me some love like Cebu Pacific Air gave me a FREE roundtrip ticket and hotel accommodation when my flight to Legazpi was overbooked. My pre-birthday celebration at Shangri la Mactan was a blast! I indulged at the luxurious resort for a night that's worth remembering especially because it makes me feel nostalgic about Avenue Plaza Hotel.
DECEMBER: From highlands to Islands, making my dreams come true and inspiring more young people to dream through Dream Culion Expo
My birth month was overflowing with blessings and wonderful surprises. I received the good news from the secretariat of ASEAN Tourism Forum 2015 that I am one of the accredited media to cover the AFT2015 in Myanmar. Even though I wasn't included in the hosted media, I am still thankful that they believe in my capacity to cover such a big event as a blogger. I am still praying for divine intervention so that I may find the means and resources to be able to travel to Nay Pyi Taw where the event will be held this January 23-29, 2014.
My birth month was overflowing with blessings and wonderful surprises. I received the good news from the secretariat of ASEAN Tourism Forum 2015 that I am one of the accredited media to cover the AFT2015 in Myanmar. Even though I wasn't included in the hosted media, I am still thankful that they believe in my capacity to cover such a big event as a blogger. I am still praying for divine intervention so that I may find the means and resources to be able to travel to Nay Pyi Taw where the event will be held this January 23-29, 2014.
As an affiliate member of Bicol Association of Travel and Tour Operators, I accompanied my BATTO friends for a weeklong familiarization tour in Sagada and Baguio where I got to experience winter-like weather in the Philippines for the first time. I still have to write my story about this trip but for the meantime, i hope you'll enjoy the videos on my Instagram.
| My short but memorable stay at Azalea Residences make me want to visit Baguio City again with my family. The rooms were spacious and the overall ambiance was nice and cozy so Azalea was a perfect choice to be our holiday haven in the city of pines. If I'm not mistaken, they will open Azalea Boracay soon! |  |
| Upon the invitation of Guido, a fellow speaker I met during the Dream Bicol Expo, I became part of Dream Culion. This specific voluntourism journey was filled with so many heartwarming memories and I also received my daily dose of miracle starting from the time I almost missed my flight due to traffic jam.  |
My sidetrip to Coron was also a testament of God's goodness and shower of blessing. I'll share more about it in a separate post but for now, let me express my deepest thank you to the local businesses who made my Coron trip a breeze. Kawayanan Grill | K Heights Inn | Seahorse Guesthouse | Coron EcoTours #CalamianesExpeditionsEcoTours
| One of my reflections during the Dream Culion Expo is that dreams make us see the #light at the end of the tunnel. It gives us #hope in times of despair and it makes us believe the impossible. Don't be afraid to dream big and dream high. It's time to unleash your biggest #dream and start working on it. Shine bright and be the star that twinkles in the sky. Keep dreaming! | If you need a resource speaker for your seminar, workshop and other related events, feel free to contact me. :-) |
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