I still can’t believe it! Wifely Steps won last night at the 2007 Philippine Blog Awards under the Home and Living category. Wow! Two words capture this whole experience: disbelief and gratefulness. Now that I’ve expressed my disbelief, let me express my thanksgiving now. Thanks to the judges who believed Wifely Steps deserved to win the Home and Living blog award. Thanks to the Blogging Berks for their constant encouragement and friendship. Thanks to YOU GUYS, my Wifely Steps community, for being such a wonderful source of inspiration, for being so warm and supportive. Thanks to the Ganns for nominating my blog. And of course, thanks to H for without him, this blog would not have existed in the first place.
Was that a good acceptance speech? 😀 The winners didn’t give any speeches, but that’s what I would have said anyway. Eek! I’m still giddy. It was a really great evening. More pictures and stories after the jump.
I got an e-mail last Thursday that cocktails were to begin at 5:01 p.m., and that the awards would start at 6:07 p.m. How precise ‘no? H and I were there at 4:55 p.m. The sponsors and volunteers were still setting up. It was great to see familiar faces right away. Lori of Dessert Comes First was already there, accompanied by her husband Bindoy. H and Bindoy have worked together before, and I know Bindoy as one of our clients from work. Small world, isn’t it? Turns out that marketing, advertising and blogging weren’t the only things we had in common. We were all early birds too!
During the cocktails, I also got to meet Paul of
The Rocketboy Chronicles. I unashamedly just approached him and asked, “Hi! Are you Rocketboy?” I felt like this was an EB (eyeball). Haha! I’ve been a longtime reader of his blog so it was really great meeting him! Paul is a super nice guy. His blog was nominated for Best Entertainment blog. I also met up with
Noel and Via Perlas. The three of us attended the same university so we go way back. Noel’s blog was nominated for Best Blog Design. I also got to meet bigtime bloggers
Yuga and
Jayvee during the cocktails. How cool is that?
Home and Living Finalists (minus one): The bloggers behind Market Manila, Our Awesome Planet, Wifely Steps and dessert comes first.The awarding started an hour late. Filipino time at the Philippine Blog Awards, I suppose? We used the extra hour to chat with the other finalists.
I finally got to meet Joel of Market Manila and Anton of Our Awesome Planet. They were also my fellow Home & Living nominees. I’ve been a longtime reader of Joel’s blog so it was really wonderful to finally meet him in person! I was a little bit starstruck. 😉 Joel, Anton and Lori were all so warm, charming and friendly. It was an honor to meet these three great bloggers!
The moment of truth! When the Home and Living category came up, H was so giddy beside me. I swear, he was more excited than I was. So cute!
When the hosts announced the nominees under the Home and Living category, they forgot to mention my blog! Aaaaack! I literally froze in embarrassment. Oh well. H however, didn’t take it sitting down. He immediately shouted, “WIFELY STEPS! YOU FORGOT WIFELY STEPS!” His shout then prompted another guy in the audience to shout “WIFELY STEPS! Nakalimutan niyo!!” Hehehe. Thanks man. Oh well. I was just quiet about it but H was seething. He did have a point when he wondered if the hosts rehearsed. H is in the network business so he knows how programs like this are supposed to go. He was so frustrated for me. Mahal talaga ako ng asawa ko.
Ajay was then called up to the stage to announce the winner. I was super shocked when she said, “And the winner is… Miss Toni.” Huh?! She looked at me directly and gave me a big smile. I was still in Huh?! world. H was delirious beside me, hahaha. So I walked up to the stage, gave Ajay a big hug and did the whole photo op thing while receiving the plaque. It was so cool. I won’t deny the fact that I loved that moment.
In the middle of all the cheers, I wondered, “Uh-oh. Does this mean I have keep my home cleaner now?” Glass-cleaning wipes, shaving cream and my Star mop danced in my head.
My good friend
Batjay won Best OFW blog. Yahoo! Mabuhay ang Blogging Berks! Other familiar faces in the audience were hip and cool mamas
Girlie and Marie who were seated near us. Marie won Krispy Kreme GCs during the raffle. Yum!
Funny moment of the night: When my Mom told my sister what I had won, my sister went, “She won a clock?!” Ay naku.
It was a cool evening. After the awards, I got to talk with
Erwin and Joey of Inquirer.net. We did a short interview and chatted about blogging. They were two really nice guys! I hope to talk with them again soon!
Ta-da! The Philippine Blog Award Winners. It’s fantastic to note that two of my fellow Home and Living nominees also won.
Joel won the Blogger’s Choice Award and
Lori won the Globe Deliblog award. We were all smiles up on stage.H and I didn’t join the afterparty anymore. It had been a long day for both of us, and the truth is, I wanted to celebrate that evening with him. After all,
without him, I wouldn’t be taking any of these wifely steps. So off we went on our dinner date.
Thanks again to the Philippine Blog Awards, to the judges, my Blogkadahan, the mystery person who nominated me, all you wonderful ones who read Wifely Steps, my Mom for lending me her shoes that evening, and of course, my loving H.
One more time: Yey! 😀
P.S. And on that note, I’ll be going on a short break. See you guys after Easter!
Hi! I'm Toni Tiu,
and I've been blogging at
at Wifely Steps since 2003. This started as a blog to help newly weds adjust to married life. It has evolved into a home and parenting blog. I write about things close to my heart -- good eats, good reads, family, marriage, and the little things that make everyday happy.
BatJay, Ang Dating Hippopotamus
April 1, 2007 at 5:50 pm (17 years ago)congratulations toni. ang galing mo talaga. pag laki ko, gagayahin kita.
Cat
April 1, 2007 at 6:10 pm (17 years ago)Well- deserved!!!
And not because it’s April’s Fools Day but in my blog roll, Wifely Steps is the last blog I read because I wanna… save the best for last!
Congratulations!!!
The Ca t
April 1, 2007 at 6:36 pm (17 years ago)Weeeeeeeh, I am happy for you, Toni. Congrats.
Tessa
April 1, 2007 at 6:36 pm (17 years ago)Oh My God!!! CONGRATULATIONS, TONI!!!!!
Chateau
April 1, 2007 at 6:37 pm (17 years ago)Hey, Congrats! You deserve it! And it’s nice to finally see your photos posted 😀 I love your blog. I am truly happy you won!
lori
April 1, 2007 at 8:13 pm (17 years ago)Congratulations to my co-finalist, the winner! It was nice meeting you at the awards, Toni. Bask in the bliss. Your hubby is obviously so proud of you. Kakakilig.
sha
April 1, 2007 at 8:16 pm (17 years ago)congrats toni am here in france at the ski slope
mich
April 1, 2007 at 9:36 pm (17 years ago)congrats toni!!
noemi
April 1, 2007 at 9:56 pm (17 years ago)Congratulations. You did look stunned. Your co-finalists were all great. It must have been a tough choice for the judges.
macy
April 2, 2007 at 12:05 am (17 years ago)congratz!truly well deserved.
Connie
April 2, 2007 at 2:03 am (17 years ago)Toni, you deserved\ the award. Congratulations.
Too bad there was no chance to say hello.
Mama Bok
April 2, 2007 at 2:06 am (17 years ago)Congrats..Toni..!! came via.. Hipmomma’s blog.. 😉
Love your banner.. and was wondering if you did it yourself..?? or if there is a website you go to.. for the graphics..?? let me know.. can..?? 😉 thanks in advance.. 😉
abby
April 2, 2007 at 4:44 am (17 years ago)congratulations toni!!!
Sasha
April 2, 2007 at 5:27 am (17 years ago)I reckon I’m more embarrassed about it. (Horrified, actually, that I did that!) I am truly sorry about what happened. Yea, you’re right (and your husband, too!) we should have gone over that bit and not relied on the script.
Congratulations and well-deserved award!
missyosigirl
April 2, 2007 at 6:11 am (17 years ago)congrats toni 😀
shucks, rubbing elbows with blogging superstars, kainggit! [lalo na with bryanboy hihihihi!]
barbara
April 2, 2007 at 7:59 am (17 years ago)well done toni
congratulations! just so you know and to add to that feel good feeling you’re having right now, your blog makes me feel inspired and happy everytime i read it 
–miss b
Lette
April 3, 2007 at 10:34 pm (17 years ago)Congratulations, Toni! More power and more inspirations!
Mae
April 3, 2007 at 11:31 pm (17 years ago)Wow!!! Congratulations, Toni! Well deserved.
Wow. Wow. Wow.
I’m so happy for you.
Your smiles on every photos, shows it all. You should be proud.
Kisses,
Mae
mare
April 3, 2007 at 11:48 pm (17 years ago)good work toni!
Argie
April 4, 2007 at 12:37 am (17 years ago)Congrats!!! Where do we go to eat & celebrate
Lissa
April 4, 2007 at 12:48 am (17 years ago)Wow Toni… Congratulations!!! I’m so very happy for you. You truly deserved that awards. 😀
Shari
April 4, 2007 at 3:00 am (17 years ago)My fellow volunteers were surprised when one blog was left out. Sabi namin, “Baka yan pa manalo,” and we were right! Congratulations, hehe! 😀
JMom
April 4, 2007 at 4:39 am (17 years ago)Woohoo!!!! Congratulations, Toni! It was well deserved 😀
Meeyagirl
April 4, 2007 at 11:16 am (17 years ago)congrats again toni! i don’t think i’ll ever run out of congratulations for you 😀 *muah*
vina
April 4, 2007 at 11:43 am (17 years ago)you TOTALLY deserve it tons! congratulations! enjoy your vacation!
karina
April 4, 2007 at 1:15 pm (17 years ago)congratulations! i’m a fan of your blog. =)
Toni
April 4, 2007 at 1:40 pm (17 years ago)How cool is this?!
Thanks to everyone who left their kind words and good wishes. They warm my heart. *thump thump*
I’ll see you guys after Easter!
smarie
April 4, 2007 at 3:41 pm (17 years ago)toni, congratulations! the award was well deserved =)
cheers!
jenee
April 4, 2007 at 4:01 pm (17 years ago)CONGRATS Toni!!!!!!!!!!!!! Buti na lang nagdilang anghel ako! hehehhe
Via
April 4, 2007 at 5:09 pm (17 years ago)Super congrats!!! Wow! Extra pa kami in your blog.
Sorry we had to rush out and didn’t get to shake your hand in person, we had to run to my sister’s birthday.
Zita
April 4, 2007 at 9:23 pm (17 years ago)Toni,
Congrats!!!! I’m so proud of you. Kainggit naman I would have liked to be at the ceremony and be able to put a face to the name. Psst.. pede post ang pics ni MM? Or email mo na lang kaya. He never posts his pics kase. Was it MM who won the overall? I’m having a blonde moment.
anj
April 4, 2007 at 9:38 pm (17 years ago)wow! astig. congratulations toni. galeng galeng!
rach
April 4, 2007 at 10:02 pm (17 years ago)Congratulations Toni! It’s a well deserve award.
Sorry you couldn’t open the e-card I sent you. I’m not sure what happened but it was a card meant to express my overwhelming joy of hearing that you won. It’s a well deserved award and I’m very proud of you.
Thanks for being my inspiration to improve my blog. You’ve helped me in more ways than you know. It’s a pleasure knowing you.
Take care and have a meaningful Lenten Season.
Aggie
April 4, 2007 at 10:32 pm (17 years ago)Congratulations Toni! Super duper well-deserved!
mari
April 5, 2007 at 3:46 am (17 years ago)congrats toni!
Daphne
April 5, 2007 at 4:23 am (17 years ago)Congrats Toni, you really deserve it.
Good acceptance speech too
jey
April 5, 2007 at 7:38 am (17 years ago)congratulations, toni! you deserve it! keep on shinning!
JO
April 5, 2007 at 10:29 am (17 years ago)hi toni,
congrats! you truly deserve it!!!
lace
April 5, 2007 at 1:59 pm (17 years ago)hi! toni, i saw you finally at the blog awards and i won krispy kreme coupons ahahaha
congratulations you looked really nice that night too. ^^
Siena
April 5, 2007 at 6:59 pm (17 years ago)Hi Toni,
Wow! Congratulations! Ang galing galing!!
WE are so proud of you dear Toni…
You really deserve the award..:-D
TC!
Jerome aka Bridget Jones
April 5, 2007 at 9:55 pm (17 years ago)you are so…pageanty. hahahahaha! oh my god, toni! congratulations! (hugs, hugs, and moooore hugs)
Christianne
April 5, 2007 at 10:29 pm (17 years ago)LOL ang cute naman ni H, indignant on your behalf 😀
Congratulations again!
ajay
April 5, 2007 at 11:14 pm (17 years ago)di pa yata ako nagpost ng congrats dito….congrats again toni. you stood six feet tall that night. and having your husby next to you was the sweetest thing. more power, girl!
sexy mom
April 6, 2007 at 12:07 am (17 years ago)congratulations, Toni! you really really deserve the award! you have touched the hearts of so many!
Fireflyzephyr
April 6, 2007 at 12:33 am (17 years ago)Congratulations, Toni! Reading your blog always adds a bit of cheer to my day.
dang
April 6, 2007 at 2:00 am (17 years ago)congratulations toni! you truly deserve it! ang galing mo talaga!!
love your pics. thanks for sharing this!
congrats!!:)
lady cess
April 6, 2007 at 10:36 am (17 years ago)whoooa!!! youre… so … young!
pasensiya na ha, i cant believe thats you in the red blouse. all these time i thought toni is at least 45. uy compliment yon ha. ( hindi ko pa kasi napupuntahan ang archives mo so ive never seen a pic of you. yung sa china mo, hindi ko naman minaximize lahat). i guess it’s the way you write, so full of wisdom, like youve been there, done that. i guess it’s all about your blog’s dating to me, so homey and cozy, parang grandma’s house (that is a compliment!!, and believe me, that’s how i want people to feel when theyre in my house.). well, sabi nga nila age is a just a number.
kaya ka nga nanalo e.
you deserve that award! congrats!
one of the hosts (aileen) is a friend of mine. so alam ko nang nanalo ka even before you posted this entry.
Linnor
April 6, 2007 at 12:25 pm (17 years ago)Congrats! Big big hugs!
karol
April 6, 2007 at 1:02 pm (17 years ago)congrats! congrats!!!
jayvee f.
April 6, 2007 at 1:33 pm (17 years ago)congratulations!!
kenju
April 6, 2007 at 10:18 pm (17 years ago)Congratulations on your win. That must have been exciting for you! The photo are good to see (you are so cute!).
Michele sent me. Happy Easter!
Day
April 7, 2007 at 10:52 am (17 years ago)WOW! Congratulations Toni!
Happy Easter!
Paparazzi
April 7, 2007 at 1:26 pm (17 years ago)No DISBELIEF from me, Toni! Noon pa man believe na beleive ako. Am supposed to be a “doubting Thomas” but with that award, you more than merit and deserve it!
MORE POWER TO YOU AND MORE AWARDS TO COME. CONGRATULATIONS!
Dinna
April 9, 2007 at 5:48 am (17 years ago)Congratulations, Toni! I’m very happy for you! Well deserved!
iska
April 9, 2007 at 11:00 am (17 years ago)Wahahaha ang galing! Congrats Toni! All the while I was secretly hoping you win…
Sidney
April 9, 2007 at 7:10 pm (17 years ago)Congratulations! Well deserved!
Keep up the good work!
Sorry, I am a bit late with my congratulations but I couldn’t access your blog ?!? Too much traffic?
dexie
April 9, 2007 at 9:51 pm (17 years ago)hi Toni. Congrats on the much deserved award. i tried coming here the day I found out you won but you’re site was a no show. much have been a traffic overload :). Congrats again!!!
Pie
April 9, 2007 at 11:04 pm (17 years ago)galeng!!! congrats toni!
jojo
April 10, 2007 at 11:46 am (17 years ago)wow….i really feel sikat just knowing you and sharing domain name with you 😀 i really should meet up with you the next time i visit. papa-autograph ako!!! heehee
stef
April 11, 2007 at 9:40 pm (17 years ago)Toni, Congratulations! ‘Sens’ya na, I’m so out of the loop.
Rachel
April 12, 2007 at 5:29 pm (17 years ago)Hi Ate Toni. Congratulations! You deserved the award! Definitely! nakakatuwa naman at nanalo ka alam ko namang hindi imposibleng mangyari yon, sa dami naming taga suporta mo. hehe. Keep it up!
hermie
April 13, 2007 at 12:50 pm (17 years ago)Congratulations! It’s always fun reading your blog. You deserve to be a winner.
renin
April 13, 2007 at 3:11 pm (17 years ago)congratulations ms. toni!
you’re maintaining a nice blog… its no wonder you won…
^_^
chinita_jill
April 18, 2007 at 11:32 pm (17 years ago)congrats! (“better late than never” is how you can describe this comment ;o))
rowie
April 27, 2007 at 11:48 pm (17 years ago)Congratulations!!!
rocketboy
April 28, 2007 at 3:11 pm (17 years ago)Hi there. Congratulations for winning the award. I promised to visit your site but I couldn’t find it for a while.
Anyways, just dropping by to say hi.
Sol
May 15, 2007 at 10:22 am (17 years ago)One word to cap the experience – Surreal. I can’t belive they missed out your name & blogsite, to think you’ll be the winner. Surreal din kasi the feeling was definitely unexplainable. Surreal kasi si Chuva and the way he reacted was very Chuva. Surreal kasi you saw Bindoy – my ex-Client. Hehehe!
Congrats, Toni. I wish you continued success. Sana next year you’ll get another award and another chance to get interviewed – malay mo sa GMA na. =)
BabyPink
June 8, 2007 at 4:12 am (17 years ago)sobrang late na pero sobra talaga akong natuwa when i read this. grabe! parang feeling ko tuloy ang tagal kong nawala sa sirkulasyon. hehehe:)
congrats talaga, toni girl! ang galing mo. and, you deserve all these good things that have been coming your way. here’s wishing you more and more good things!:)
*mwahugs!*