The title says it all. Someone (thank you!) submitted fruityoaty to the 2007 Philippine Blog Awards in the crowded Personal category. 
Whoah. Who are you?! Speak up, please because I’d like to properly return that love right back at ya which I can assure ya does not in any way take form of a French kiss or uttering these words, “You complete me.” But… you had me at hello. 
So, what is the PBA? According to the official PBA site:
“The Philippine Blog Awards aims to recognize notable Filipino-owned blogs in their respective niches… a venue to showcase notable blogs with quality content that engages readers from around the globe.”
As Shari has written, the awards are prestigious and the esteemed judges are all experts in their chosen field(s), but it does not vex me. Yes, I don’t possess enough hubris to think that I’d win. I’m so honoured that someone thought well enough of my blog to nominate it. Thrilled to Reece’s Pieces. [ EDIT March 5: \(^o^)/ Thanks Jim Caro! You rock, dude! Blogbastic! ]
Umm, yeah… speaking as a professional Quality Assurance Analyst, I can certify that “quality content” is absolutely nowhere to be found in my blog. (Jude, I’ll categorize and tag my posts someday. I pinky swear.)
Anyway, here are 6 of those 15 Philippine Blog Awards “judgerati”:
- Bryan Veloso - Creative Director at Facebook, Developer at Automattic, award-winning Blogger and internationally-known Designer Rockstar
- Connie Veneracion - Filipina Problogger and Columnist for Manila Standard Today and whose blog Pinoy Cook I’ve been stalking since last year because I’m a little bit (OK, a lot) food-obsessed, LOL. No, I’m not trying to score sucker-upper points, honestly.
- Derek Punsalan - CSS and WordPress Theme Guru
- JV Rufino - Editor-in-Chief of INQUIRER.net
- Malou Mangahas - Editor-in-Chief of GMANews.TV and Co-host of TV show Palaban
- Manuel L. Quezon III - Political Pundit and Editorial Columnist of Inquirer Newspaper
Win or lose, 
I’ve still got my Biggest Whiner award and my spot in the Snap Preview Anywhere Top 100 Sites list (out of 29, 000) in January, eh?
Now, if you really want to show your love for all things fruity and oaty, feel free to go to this page and nominate my blog for the Bloggers’ Choice Award, but you only have until this Sunday, March 4 11:59 PM! If you live in Ontario, Canada, that means Philippines is 13 hours ahead, so Vote for Pedro by Sunday, March 4 10:59 AM! While I could technically vote for myself or get one of my alternate personalities (Max the Fat Cat, Niki Sanders or Jessica Sanders) to do it, that wouldn’t be very Napoleon Dynamite of me, would it? It would also smack a tad bit of liger lameness.
Off topic (or is it?): I once got asked by a friend about why I blog. I don’t get any sex, bling or money for it, that’s for sure… Well, my answer was pretty straightforward:
- I’d like to say, “I like to write” , but I don’t, not really. The truth is, I need to stream my thoughts (before they burst out or I develop another alternate personality, LOL) in a form that won’t annoy (for example, vocal yapping) the people that I care about. My strange brain is sometimes on cryptic overdrive. I am, therefore I ramble. I ramble, therefore I am. And it sho ain’t compellin’, Miss Scarlet.
- Blogging relaxes me. I only “stream” when I’m inspired or when I’ve come up with a lame pun or metaphor that I need to share. (Bonus points to the 7 regular readers who’ve realized that I might not be writing about food or my fat cat Max. What, you want a prize?)
- My blog is a repository for stuff that my overstuffed brain can’t hold. It’s a CMS for my fuzzy brain. Did I mention the food porn?
- Blogging for me is about new conversations and connections. I’ve been exposed to a lot of interesting (and some, not so interesting) people and their blogs. If my blog happens to entertain one or a few persons, that’s a bonus. Some bloggers have asked me to exchange links with them. Although I’ll never ask others (flashbacks of stinging rejection in school playgrounds), I usually say YES to requests. To date, my linked pals are: Alistair (formerly of freshfixture.net), Alma, Ann, Cole, Evilgenius, Iva, Jim Caro, Kaitlin, Kofi, Mitsuru and Valerie. Hi guys! Yo!
Anyway, speaking of phallic awards… the Oscars show was soooo boring, donchathink? My sister bought some munchies for the occasion - Doritos’ new flavour “Tandoori Sizzler” crunchy corn chips… which certainly had more kick and zest than the Oscars. Damn, these chips are definitely bold, sizzlin’ and exotic. Spicy and aromatic! I know that many Filipinos are not overly fond of Indian food or curry flavour, but I really love the taste of these chips. Garlicky, tangy curry. Speaking of lame metaphors… some blogs are a lot like these chips - some people will either hate ‘em and others will go gaga for ‘em. Chacun a son goà»t - to each his own (taste)!
And I still don’t understand why the Oscars organizers didn’t think to get Jennifer Hudson to sing and tear da house down with her rendition of “And I’m Telling You I’m Not Going”. It would’ve livened up the dull ass Oscars.
I only found out that I was nominated 2 days ago when I was reviewing my incoming links statistics and spam. (A bucket of popcorn would have made it an even more pathetic event.) I know that neither I, my alternate personalities, my offline friends nor my family nominated my blog, so it’s got to be one of my online Pinoy readers… Who. Are. You? Where’s Waldo? And if you read my blog, please comment on this post. Thanks.
Where’s the love? Show me the love! Karma, baby. Vote for Pedro!
Adieu, 
grated fruity zest
P.S. Hello, Evil Twin! Long enough for ya?
I’d have nominated you, but someone beat me to it. Grrr! But at least someone also thinks that your blog is worthy to be nominated.
I just found out who nominated my blog -> Euri. Haha!
There’s really one main reason why I blog: to keep myself sane. I can’t even say that my brain is a CMS because everything is so disorganized.
Link love!
I hardly ask for link exchanges because I normally just link the blogs I visit often/like/love/stalk. They pollute my Firefox bookmarks until I decide to do the actual linking on my site because of confusion hehe.
Didn’t watch the Oscars because… I forgot. Yeah, such a lame-o excuse. But who cares? I do love spicy food though! Yummy! Gimme some Doritos, beybeh!
Congrats! That’s a big achievement and somebody obviously loves you!
Mmm… Doritos! Yes, your blog is food pr0n to me. XD
Well congrats either way. (= What exactly is that Doritos flavour?
WOW! Congratulations!
Congrats, fruity! You truly deserve it!
Wow!!! Someone must really be a fan of your site! Congratulations. =] (Wh00t — you’re loved.)
Yay for Doritos — I love them. =]
Well done! And well deserved. You’ve got a great blog.
That’s great that you got nominated for the awards. Really sweet of whoever did it.
Congrats on the nomination!
I tripped onto your blog and it is totally delightful. Thank you.
I wonder if it was me who nominated that. I can’t remember. I nominated too many sites to remember. *lol*
Hey Massa P, congratulations on your nomination. If I’d known about this award, I’d have VOTED FOR PEDRO! I tried to nominate you for Bloggers’ Choice Award, but it looks like someone beat me to it! Well-deserved!
Whoohoo! Tags and categories, yes! Lazy bum.
I love Doritos, especially the baked one. Team it up with French Onion dip and I’m happy!
I have to taste that flavor, though. 
I’m curious.
By the way, I’ve only really read your blog from Shari, so I’m basically a “newcomer”. But I like it.
Gotta love the food posts. 
Umm… I didn’t nominate you… but I’ll certainly take the love (minus French kiss and other stuff).
Congrats on the nomination…
One thing is for sure, it was not me. Don’t you like that? Somebody thinks your blog is worth reading and worthy to be a nominee? Cool, I should say. And yes, good luck to you!
So, are you going to treat me for a cuppa chocolate drink!?
Congratulations on being nominated. Sorry, I wasn’t able to vote for your spectacular site because it’s now march 5, 2007. Damn! Wish you all the luck in the world that you may win the category you’ve been nominated in.
Congratulations on your nomination.
For the past week, I keep on finding myself back at this blogsite. Though this is like the 2nd post I’ve read / commented on, I’m trying to make a habit of returning comments.
Yeap, this is a pretty lame comment. so yeah, congratulations again!
Holla! You know me, I always comment. But I am especially commenting today ’cause you said so. Yes, the Oscars sucked. Yes, the chips sounds delicious, but I haven’t seen them around here anywhere.
I’m still not utterly convinced that you’re NOT a 30-something year old GAY MAN masquerading as a food-crazy chick.
Really, ANTIQUES, ART, COOKING as interests and occasionally breaks into Broadway song? “Sing with me”, see?
Congrats! You know I stalk your blog.
Kisses, dahhling.
Thanks for the visit. Sure, I’ll include you in the next round of nominees.
Congratulations on the nomination! Looks like blogging is really established in the Philippines. I remember I was nominated in a local version of blog awards a couple of years ago, but I guess that no one cared because no one won the category I was in. Anyway, I think you are a great blogger in all senses so you deserve it!
The Oscars were dull but it was great to see all those actors presenting awards anyway. Diane Keaton was such a cheerleader at the end.
Hey that’s freaking awesome!!! Congrats to you!!! I actually have a question for you. Remember when you educated me on what a Bento is? Well I have an idea for one of my friends and want to know if it’s possible. Hopefully we can talk, I need your amazing Bento knowledge!! =]
Congrats! You deserve it!
Congrats, Massa P. Your blog is very quirky, entertaining & EXHAUSTING, but you know that already.
Thank you for dropping by my blog! I love fruityoaty! Your pics are so amazing and your writing amuses me.
Ligers aren’t lame. They’re magical.
Gosh!
Hehehe.
Congrats!
Maybe I should move to the Philippines lol.
Congratulations on being nominated! Good luck on actually winning as well!
Congratulations on being nominated for the Philippine Blog Awards!
That Doritos makes me crave for chips. Is that flavor spicy hot? If it is, I’ll have some please! Hehe.
Btw, I’ve added you to my blogroll. Hope you don’t mind.
That is awesome that one of your readers thought to nominate your blog for you! Doesn’t that just make you feel good, to know that someone out there really likes what you’re doing?
I haven’t watched the Oscars in years. They stopped being entertaining for me when I was in middle school, but from what I hear, it was even worse this year. Is it true Al Gore of all people talked at the Oscars?
I never watch the Oscars, mostly because they bore me to pieces. In fact, I rarely ever watch awards shows because they bore me to pieces. LOL.
Congrats on being nominated for the PBA.
Yaay! Someone nominated you.
Don’t you feel special? Good luck with that!
Hmm… Doritos. You made me hungry.
I nominated you!!
Nah, just kidding, but I would (naunahan lang ako haha). Congrats on being nominated
I guess we’ll see you then on blog awards. 
Awesome! Congratulations on being nominated.
The only exciting thing about the Oscars was George Clooney. Haha. I have so much love for that guy. ^^ Ooh… I’d love to get my hands on that Doritos chips. I love Italian and curry. And I happen to smother everything I cook with lots of garlic. Yum!
Regarding your comment on my blog, I was from nox.chibi-chan.net.
Thhaaaat’s amazing! Congratulations! Better than the Oscars even haha. x
Congrats on getting nominated!! Oooh I haven’t tried that new flavour of Doritos yet! It looks oh so yummy, haha.
Congrats on being nominated. I’ve seen that batch on quite a few sites, so good luck on that.
Hahaha, I love how you consider Niki and Jessica Sanders as alternate personalities.
Congratulations on the nomination. I am about to nominate you as well just for the heck of it.
I agree the Oscars was yawn-inducing. I don’t get why they moved the Best Supporting Categories at the end of the show unlike the previous ones where it was the first to be given out. What I looked forward to was the dancers behind the white screen. That was awesome.
Ooops… the nomination period has ended. Darn it. Well, I did vote for you, in theory. Hehe.
Drats… I missed the voting period.
I would definitely have voted for you… not just for the PBAs but for all BAs. 
Hmmm… just when I thought this blog wasn’t gonna contain any food porn… lo and behold… Doritos!! SPICY! Now I’ve got a craving for Doritos!
Tandoori flavor Doritos. Best served (I’d think) as a side for some beef yakiniku and lots and lots of large Kirin Beer, but that’s just me.
Nice blog, by the way. Congratulations on your nomination.
I missed the voting. Oh well, next time. Your blog is definitely deih… lish… cious.
YOUR EMPLOYER? This is a company run blogsite? Can he/she/it hire moi so I can go home to Manila?
I voted for you.
Ok?
T’was me.
Great blog, so it’s really no surprise you were nominated. Anyway, good luck with the nomination. Oh and I hope you don’t mind me putting up a link to your site.
I’m now totally addicted to your site. Admittedly, I’m such a sucker for food porn!