Paris is known to be the most romantic city in the world as per pop culture. Hollywood made sure we know of that through nearly every romantic film we stumble across. Have you seen Midnight in Paris? Before Sunrise? An American in Paris by Vicente Minnelli in 1951? Need I say more? And I don't  know why - I haven't been to Paris - but I wonder what's up with people romanticizing that the city is 'that' magical.

I guess I would only find out when I get there but not now. I mean, if I could stay in Paris for the rest of my life, trust me, I would. Unfortunately I couldn't just book a ticket and go all the way to Paris. Okay. That ain't happening just because I want to, even if I really want to.

That's not to say that I haven't tried to get a taste of Paris in any form or way here in our place. I mean, French cuisine, art exhibits, old bookstores, a walk on a cobblestone streets, even my playlist is practically screaming Paris with the Hugo Cabaret soundtrack. French fries, anyone?

But do you know the place I've been to that maybe rings a bell or comes close with Paris? Of course you don't unless you're reading this right now and you learn that in my stay at Cebu I've been to the acclaimed La Vie Parisienne. 


Well, I'm just saying I've been there. I didn't really order anything because you know I'm allergic to alcohol. Also, I was too full for a croissant which was only P25 btw and I - don't be judgy - I was saving for a trip to Bantayan Island for the next day.

Even if I was too tired to actually go anywhere that night I thought it won't hurt to experience a night life in Cebu. Like at least once in maybe a long while. I mean that's what visitors ought to do, right? And my buddies were talking about the place like it was a real deal or something. What choice do I have? A blogger never rests. And man! La Vie Parisienne lived up to the hype!

From the artificial cherry trees with leaves glowing like it's spring or Christmas or whatever and to the clinking of glasses of wine. Ceci est la bombe! They have friggin cherry trees, man! Even if it's fake who in the right mind would not feel welcome in there with those cherry friggin trees giving you a cheery vibe. Okay, bad pun!

The Lhuillers probably had a good time in Paris that their French Bakery, Deli and Wine Library were designed to make you feel like you're in Paris even if you haven't been there yet. Forgive me for not taking any French language class but I just found out La Vie Parisienne literally translates to Parisian Life. Oh, well! Now we know. Hahaha. So, there's the smell of freshly-baked croissants to fill your lungs and they also have this wine library where a pose seems mandatory.

Yeah, I kind of belonged, right!?

In case you're wondering, I haven't really gotten a chance to take photos of their baked goodies because of the long queue inside the bakery so the only thing that comes close to a bread which you can find here are my cheeks. There's also gorgeous people - ehem - like us who are living La Vie Parisienne that night over some good chat and, oh well, over wine. But like I said, I didn't drink! Not even a sip. There should be at least one adult in our group in case they all get really drunk, right?




So the night went on until I noticed some people going Linda Blair on the foreign waiter dude who adjusted what seems to be a retractable roof! Come on, a retractable roof! That's something. Okay, their eyes were mostly on the guy though. Then to another. And well, it clearly depends on their preferences but the thing is, I noticed most people in there are breaking necks by turning their heads on every direction probably in search for a hook up or maybe romance or something. While I, after my butt's intimate relationship with the chair, I wandered around a bit to take these pictures.







Anyway, while wandering off I thought maybe that's how it works! This is how Paris works. Maybe Paris was hailed as one of the most romantic cities because of the set up itself. The music, the lights, the sweet aroma of bread and wine and people looking or taking their chances at romance. Paris. It's a place ideal for lovers and people who are still searching for love, for romance. I get that people always romanticize things as something else. Can't change that. But maybe, like them, that's just the way things are. And you don't get to ask why?

I know my La Vie Parisienne experience (or actually the lack thereof) may not come close to the real Parisian experience but maybe going to these French places is one of those moments where you should just loosen your grip to reality, enjoy whatever life throws at you and just let the magic or Linda Blair take you wherever, whenever or to whomever it wants. And if that's really the case then, I might have just been 'spirited away' to Paris, which is a good thing for La Vie Parisienne.

When several issues about bloggers stormed Philippine blogosphere, even reaching the mainstream consciousness, I didn't give a damn and I didn't say a word. Not that anyone cares about what I have to say. I just thought silence was the best way to deal with issues which at that time were of great importance to others.

There's also the thought that Filipino bloggers needs one less blabbermouth who might have the balls for a TV appearance just so others would think they have a.) a sense of leadership, b.) a telegenic face, c.) a latent dirty political agenda and d.) All of the above.

A few weeks later I found myself in a situation where I couldn't answer the question "What are you?". Well I could have just kidded around and told the person "C'mon, I'm a human being just like you.". But that's not what the person meant and I knew I just can't kid around forever about what I really am in the context of what I do.

So, "What am I?". My mind answers "I am a blogger." But with issues going around involving bloggers, be it online, of national scope, within a certain blogging organization or within my circles, I can't proudly say I am one. Coulda, woulda, shoulda but I didn't. Then I told the person, "I work online.".

It sucks you know!? It sucks. Then I thought, wouldn't it be nice to wake up one day and tell people "I am a Blogger" as though it's a profession or at least something so cool and nice? A day when you know where to put yourself amidst controversies like 'Sotto's Plagiarism', 'Philippine Bloggers Association' and 'Ethical Issues concerning Bloggers'? A day where the "Big Bad Blogger" would become a tale as old as time and finally a day when you can tell people you just don't work online? And that you rock?

That day is far from becoming a reality as of now, especially with unresolved issues piled up like backlogs waiting to be published, read, shared, scrutinized and commented.

But last December, we had the chance to discuss all these with fellow bloggers each coming from Iloilo, Cebu, Manila and there's me from Davao. There were also some people from NGO's, Traditional Media and Public Relations present who shared their thoughts, views, opinions and helped us come up with a WORKING DRAFT of a Manifesto for PROFESSIONAL BLOGGERS in the Philippines.

Check it out and please share your thoughts! :-)

A Blogger Manifesto - Professional Bloggers Block 

Who knows, with this Manifesto, there will come a time where nothing can hold us back from saying " I am a Blogger.".