DAM NATION: Fifth Anniversary!

It's DAM NATION's fifth anniversary! Yay!

1,810 blog posts. 1 million hits. 3 hacking incidents. A handful of hate mails from fans. A quoted review at BBC Radio UK. Moments where the blog was considered "PRESS". A best entertainment blog nomination at the Philippine Blog Awards. A number of loyal and dedicated readers. THAT'S FIVE CRAZY YEARS!

True, this may not seem like a lot, but it's an achievement that's nothing to sneeze at. DAM NATION has been the most consistent thing I've done in a long time, and it's just rewarding to see the support the blog gets from readers throughout those five years - no matter what topics I post. No words to describe how good it feels that my little pet project could be enjoyed by a shockingly good number of people.

So let me make a big deal out of this, and make this post an excuse to thank everyone! Thank you to those who visited the blog religiously - and even to those who just dropped by the site once and never again. Haha. Thank you to those who took their time to post comments because that somehow made everything a little more interesting and dynamic than usual here. Thank you to the people who contributed an article or two for DAM NATION. Thank you to those who kept on challenging my ideas, to those who were continuously pulling the blog down, and of course, to the people who defended me from trolls.

I came into this blogging world not knowing what I was doing, but whatever I did to deserve such a dedicated and supportive readers, I'm thankful! Hopefully, this blog will stay on for the next couple more years! Cheers.

DAM NATION Blogversary Contest Winners!

Before anything else, I would like to thank everyone again for participating in the Blogversary Contest and also for reading and visiting the site. Now, after a long wait - and a slight delay - here are the winners of DAM NATION's First Blogversary Contest.

Here we go!

Prize: 3 American Idol/Glee Albums

Winner: Kiko Yvan!! 

Prize: $25 Amazon Gift Card

Winner: Rose Danielle Ibanez Austria

Prize: 2 Gen Ad Tickets to Justin Bieber/Bruno Mars

Winner: Gino Go

The winners will be notified by a Facebook message and have until February 6, 2011 to respond or DAM NATION will randomly choose again a new winner for that prize.

Again, thank you and congratulations to the winners!!

DAM NATION: First Blogversary!!

It's DAM NATION's first blogversary! Yay!

It was such a crazy year but who knew? More than 500 posts. 100,000 hits. 2 hacking incidents. Several bashful comments. A handful of hate mails from fans. Random praises from readers. A quoted review at BBC Radio UK. Growing number of readers. That's one year, baby! Haha.

Quite frankly, this blog has been the most consistent thing I have done in quite some time. And yes, that should tell something about me right? Haha. DAM NATION has really been such a release for me. I may not have taken this whole thing seriously yet because I always fear taking something I enjoy too seriously will make things a little stiff, but I really consider this as a noble passion. So, happy blogversary to me and, yes, to the readers of DAM NATION. May this year bring more fun blogs and insightful conversations.

Now, to show my appreciation and to celebrate as well the anniversary of DAM NATION, here's a little treat for everyone. I'll be giving away three prizes for, of course, three lucky people. No, these are just minor goodies - nothing extravagant - but it's hopefully something you guys will appreciate.

PRIZES, MECHANICS AND RULES after the jump..

PRIZES:

$25 Amazon Gift Card 

For your song, album or movie purchases in Amazon. (preferably for participants outside the Philippines) 

 3 American Idol / Glee Albums

Choose 3 albums from the following selection: For Your Entertainment by Adam Lambert, Unbroken by Katharine McPhee, Play On by Carrie Underwood, Kris Allen by Kris Allen, Back To Me by Fantasia, Live It Up by Lee DeWyze, Farmer's Daughter by Crystal Bowersox, The Other Side Of Down by David Archuleta, Glee: The Music Volume 4 or a special Just Like You album personally signed by Allison Iraheta herself.

 2 General Admission Concert Tickets 

Choose either Bruno Mars (April 8, 2011) or Justin Bieber (May 10, 2011) concert. (for Philippine participants only)

A COUPLE OF THINGS:

- Open to everyone who has a Facebook account. You don't need to have a blog to join.
- You have to choose just ONE (1) from three different prizes.
- No repetitive/double entries. I have no choice but to disqualify you! Haha.
- This will run from January 15, 2011 to January 31, 2011.
- Winners will be picked  via Random.org. One winner per prize category.
- Announcement will be made on February 8, 2011. Why? It's my Birthday. Haha. Connect?
- Change of plans: Announcement will be made on February 2, 2011.
- The winners will be notified via Facebook message. Details on how to redeem the prize will be included.
- All matters and disputes relating to this promo shall be subject to my final decision.

MECHANICS:

1. Answer the 5 questions above.
2. Subscribe to DAM NATION's Facebook page.
3. If you've already "Like" the page, just go straight to the next step. Haha.  
4. Choose just ONE (1) from three different prizes that are posted separately as images/photos on the blog's Facebook page.
5. Write your answers as a comment on that particular post/image HERE.
ex. 1. Answer 2. Answer 3. Answer 4. Answer 5. Answer
6. Note that you have to answer all questions CORRECTLY to make your entry valid for the electronic raffle via Random.org.
7. I will NOT name the people who got the correct answers - just to minimize cheaters! Haha. Come on!
8. That's it.

I hope everything is clear and that I didn't forget something. If you have questions just shoot it here :)