How did I learn about this?

I was browsing around Plurk through Interesting Plurkers. One of them caught my attention because,yes, you’re right. – she mentioned something about something called WordCamp. Thank goodness she knows how to embed links in plurks, which then enabled me to click and not open a new tab and open Google and type ‘WordCamp’ on the 50 or 90 or-so-size texbox in the middle. Instead, I right-clicked on the link, pressed ‘Open link in new tab’ and voila! There goes the start of something unpredicted.

The link took me here (I’ll take you there too, and I’ll make it so that it will open itself on another tab if you’re using Firefox). The site is pretty straightforward.. and needless to say attracting (in my OWN opinion). I have always preferred darker colors because.. white font and black background always appears more to my senses than the old-school black on white.

So, what is it then? WordCamp is (I quote)

WordCamp is the premier event for WordPress users and developers. WordPress is arguably the #1 blogging platform in the world today. Apart from the fact that it is feature-packed, highly customizable and flexible, WordPress is open source, and therefore has a large community dedicated to advancing its development. And so, WordCamp is the best venue for WP enthusiasts to come together and get updated on the latest.

So.. it’s like a gathering, get together, ‘gig’ for WordPress bloggers and open source enthusiasts who contribute to the WordPress development. One of it’s main objectives include broadcasting the use of WordPress to a wider audience so that.. yes.. everyone will know about it and what it can do and make the.. err.. jump like I did (I used to blog over with Blogspot/Blogger).

Aside from WordCamp is a site called Mindanao Bloggers which ‘aims to be the home‘ of bloggers based in Mindanao. Like a counterpart, yes?

And now, I must admit.. that I did not read the About section thoroughly. I thought that by completing the online registration form, I am automatically registered. Of course I am wrong.. which then brings me to…

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Why am I writing this?

Because.. registration is free of charge. They don’t require that you have Paypal or Globe Gcash for you to join. They don’t quite need you to be a blogger either. So.. since they’ re not charging you (or us) for joining, this is what they asked for in return which is pretty easy if you really have good intentions (I do, don’t look at me like that!).

I know you might be asking how they manage to organize such an event if they don’t charge members for joining. They of course, have sponsors that includes but are not limited to the following:

• i.PH : the Domain for Individuals

• Free Online Flash Games

• Wazzup Manila Philippines

• Real Estate CRM

• Real Estate Web Designers

• Orange County Real Estates

• Auto Insurance Quotes

• Lane Systems Inc.

• Red Meda

• Orange Country Business Lawyer

So, like I mentioned, in exchange for the free registration, they require that you make a post about why you want to join WordCamp in the first place. Which, then brings me to…

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Why do I want to join?

In this section of this post, I can bore you out by reciting (err, writing?) the all natural mantra about why you want to join an organization. I can go on and on about ‘I want to meet new people’ and ‘learn tips and tricks from other people’ but I won’t because I know better. Besides.. those aren’t just the reasons I want to join. I’ll be completely honest.. because.. I don’t need to sugarcoat myself.

I honestly have no idea how I can explain the real reason. All I know is that…

- the concept of uniting the WordPress community here in the Philippines to promote it’s use appealed to me more than anything (not even the blog itself).

- I’m a programmer/web developer by profession. I’m not an outward supporter of open source solutions but I do like the idea that there is always an alternative to all the proprietary riffraff that some software companies punch out. And joining WordCamp is like another step further for me.

- Well.. yes.. I actually do like to meet some new people. You know how programmers seem to be locked in that same world they’re moving around in. But these days, being a programmer should mean much, much more than knowing your way around Windows or Linux or OS X. This is.. yet again.. another step forward toward that goal.

- I’m a blogger. I blog because I want to share. I want to share because.. I don’t know.. I just got used to sharing whatever I have. It always feels better that way compared to keeping something or a piece of information to yourself. Joining WordCamp will, no doubt about it, give me more things to blabber about on my blog. It will also expose me to people better than me.. that will add even more to the stock knowledge, especially in programming.

And that’s.. just about it. I’m a sucker at endings. So I’ll leave it as it is. If you want to join, here’s the link to the online Registration form.