From Zero to Webmaster
Three years ago, before the age of what Oprah calls the “new 30,” I decided that I was going to learn to build a web site. This is coming from someone who used to type her term papers on mom’s extra portable typrewriter, who used to mimeograph forms, whose best buddy was a product called “Touch & Go.” Remember when xeroxed pages were dark gray and the letters white?
Of course I’ve always been, in a sense, a techie with all the latest gadgets (plus all the wires) around me. In the 1980s, I was one of the first to have a mini-component (loved that Sony FH7), an electronic typewriter (Typestar), a voice activated mini cassette recorder (Olympus), a desktop computer in a special airconditioned room with a lock (and in it, we waited for the green monitor to show that the speed (or was it memory?) had reached 16, 32, 48, all the way to 640 kb). Bought my first cell phones (a heavy Uniden bag-type and a Motorola Ultra “Slim”) and a laptop in the early 1990s. The next 15 years saw me with all things electric and electronic and it’s been such a ride discovering the newest technology.
But to create a web site? That meant HTML! I thought I’d have to go back to school to learn it. It was nothing you could buy off a store window.
What was a web site vs webhost, a site builder vs site marketing, domain name and meta tags ? Most of the site builders then required one to be online and Baguio’s phones were metered. Luckily, I found a web host that helped all idiots like me to build websites in a matter of hours without using the usual corny templates and while offline.
And what was I to write about? I decided on beautiful Baguio City.
Most of Baguio portals were, in 2004, news-based. This simply meant that “bad news” about Baguio was published on the web on a daily basis. Would that have encouraged readers to visit our beautiful little city? So I decided on a site that gave its visitors a lot of current photos and a lot of info about Baguio.
I am happy to say that GoBaguio! - Your Guide to Baguio City, Philippines rose from the ranks of “one of 2,280,000″ to the top of the 1st page. And this makes me very proud. The website has recently undergone major redesign, as I felt the pages were getting old. And like Baguio, GoBaguio!’s “landscape may change but is always reinventing itself and adapting to the changing times.”
Welcome to GoBaguio! - We Give you Baguio City Like You’ve Never Seen Before!
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Comments (from former location at Typepad)
I find your website really great and very helpful. I will visit this often. I am from California and had been visiting Baguio every year now for the last two years. I studied, lived, and worked in Baguio for about ten years and your site has given the best information so far. Great job! It seems like you ae having fun!
Posted by: Cynthia Cordero | 12/25/2006 at 02:13 AM
I shrieked, “Hey Daddy( that’s what I call my husband), come and look!” And I let him read somebody’s comment about your site. Below it is my name. He gave me a quirky smile and said, “Hey mommy, you’re now international!” Ha, ha! I am now a regular visitor of your site and had recommended it to a lot of relatives and friends. I am thoroughly enjoying it and keeping updated on what is going on with Baguio! By the way, my mom, dad and sister’s family enjoyed their stay in Atenara house last February. Your staff were extremely helpful and made them feel at home. I will definitely come and stay at your place when we have the chance to visit. Thanks Liza.
Cynthia Cordero
Hi Cynthia,
When I moved this blog from Typepad to WordPress, I copied all comments there and made them part of the articles instead of reproducing them as comments. Am glad you enjoy this site, Visit Baguio soon!
You’ve done a great job Lisa. I’ve been reading your articles for the past hour or so. There is a sense of nostalgia mixed with sadness. Sad, not that Baguio will never be the same, but that the people who took charge made a bigger mess than when they took over and that we watched helplessly as they imposed their squatter mentality in this prime city . Preservation is out of the question in the same way as our youth gives way to old age. All we can work for is to age gracefully. Sadly Baguio is growing into an ugly old creature. City officials should travel to Europe and see what aging gracefully means. Both people and places get better as they get older…like wine and antiques. In the Philippines, in general…cities and people don’t age…they get rotten.
Hi Mike,
You’re so right. What’s this their obsession with the ‘new’ when Baguio was just so perfect? How dare these people think they’ve been doing a good job? We as a people permit politicians to get kickbacks from government projects — it’s no secret in this country that the key to economic prosperity is via political office — our new rich! But it’s clear they have no love for beautiful Baguio, just by looking at their structures and policies. We have to do something!
hi lisa, yes, your site is very much appreciated, thanks.
Hi Lisa! It’s been such a long time since I visited Baguio. I think… the last time was 1993. I actually don’t have any plans of going back to Baguio since it felt like I’ve been there and done that before. But upon chancing your Go Baguio web site and reading your blog, I had this yearning to experience Baguio again. I’m now actually gathering and proding my friends for us to spend our new year holiday in Baguio. Thanks Lisa for this wonderful site!
Resty, thanks so much! I hope you realize that your comments are what fuel this blog.
Jun, New Year’s is one of the best times to enjoy Baguio. Fun but not that noisy, plus the weather should be perfect then and strawberries at their lowest price.
Thanks so much for your nice feedback, guys!
Hi ate Lisa!
Good thing I saw your piano at the atenara website. Hope I can visit there and play. Im planning to go there on November 1st and 2nd and planning to have a hearty dinner at Atenara’s..(feed me mama!).remember your place in Nevada?…i thought I lost it tho……..Keep it up,thanks for promoting our beautiful city, i miss it so much…..
I’ll promote your website and atenara here in Manila. God Bless!
Hi Danny,
See you soon!