The Lion Roars at The Archer!

I've been given an award! Neat!

Aloi, my college blockmate (and my CommII seatmate) gave me this award late last year and I never had the chance to 'roar' back. (*grin*)

This is my first online award, and I feel proud to know that my little blog is being mentioned in a popular blog, and that there is great possibility that more people will pass by to read what the Archer is ranting about, be it about my planners, my notebooks and pens, or my red Chucks. I also feel somewhat elated that this award made me come up with one of my 'realistic' New Year's resolutions for this year, which is to read 1 book (or more, hopefully) a month. Aloi, thank you so much for the award, and my apologies for not posting about it earlier.

Seamus Kearney of Shameless Words started the 'roaring awards'. He started it to “encourage and celebrate good, powerful writing on the Internet/blogosphere”. The 'Roar' is a chance to promote those extra-ordinary posts produced in the blogosphere that defy what mainstream writing upholds. In December, after only a month in existence, the Lion has been mightily roaring from 14,000 sites! Whoa!

So, what makes writing good and powerful? Seamus said to write three, but I could easily think of five! Haha! Now here's my share of three:

1. Be honest.
2. Be compassionate.
3. Be fearless.

I think the second contradicts the third, but being a writer myself, fear is something I could not entertain while I write. Fear is a negative, unhealthy emotion that can cripple any writer (or anyone, for that matter) as soon as they entertain it. And so I think being honest and compassionate makes writing humane, and fearlessness makes it realistic.

And now, here are my five awardees (drumroll please):

1. The Literary Gallery, by Inez Ponce de Leon: writer, editor, journalist, novelist, and one of my dearest friends on earth. She used to be my officemate, but now she's in Purdue studying for her PhD! Wow! Her blog is now at a standstill, while she tends to school stuff, but even then, it's still a mine of good stuff: her poems, short stories, and novels; and a diary of her Europe trips. Inez, take the 'roar' and pass it on!


2. The Journey, by Gloria Gamat. It's funny because Gloria doesn't know me personally, but I read her blog regularly and I do love it. Gloria used to stay in Los Baños, but she has moved back to her hometown in Bicol with her son, and now does pro-blogging. I admire her a lot, like I admire the powerful women of this world! You're doing great, Gloria! Somehow I'm hoping I can send you and Raine some gifts one of these days.


3. The Vegan Prince, by Mark Xander Fabillar. Again, this is funny because Mark and I do not know each other on a personal basis, we only exchanged emails twice! But then, I think Mark is truly deserving of a 'Roar'. His blog's high level of candor and pure frankness make it one of my morning's must-reads.


4. Haud ignota loquor, by Samantha Hautea who describes herself as a girl "possessed of a mind skewed at some kind of unusual angle in relation to the world at the best of times, if not outright at ninety degrees", but dear Sam, I love how you write, not to mention that a lot of people enjoy (and admire) your sketches and drawings. Here's a 'roar', Sam! Pass it around to more people who enjoys life as much as you do!


5. Notebookism, by Armard Frasco. In Notebookism, you'll find stuff related to notebooks, journals, paper, pens, inks and everything that related to them. Notebookism is very close to my heart as it is here where I read a lot about things that I love which includes, what else, notebooks, journals, and pens. Sir Armand, a 'roar' is not enough to express how I love your site!

Now visit the Shameless Lions Writing Circle and get your award. Let's have fun! Pass on some mighty good 'Roars' and let's see how the other lions roar back!