First Ever Hive PH Meetup! Oo, #nagkitanakami mga Mars!

Last Saturday, we had our first ever official Hive PH meetup. It was held at Lobo Filipino Tavern in Makati. The staff went back and forth in choosing venues, setting the date for the meetup, organizing everything down to the tiniest details. It took the staff months to prepare for this gathering and I can say all the efforts were worth it.

_{Buti na lang nakapag picture pa ako ng mga souvenirs bago umalis ng bahay.}

As soon as I learned about the meetup, instantly, I thought about giving some souvenirs to the attendees. I like things like that. The first time the Tagalogtrail
team had a meetup I also prepared something for the folks that went. This time though, I was a bit nervous. It's one thing to make souvenirs for 5 pax, it's quite another to make for 20+/- people. In my heart of hearts though I really want some sort of souvenirs to giveaway for the meetup.

_{Photo courtesy of @indayclara}

So I side chatted with Adamada and told him my intentions but I requested that he not tell anyone yet. I am a homeschooling mom and I'm not sure if I'll be able to make all of those items in time. It's a good thing I'm not the only one who has the same thoughts. @jonalyn2020 pitched in with her crochet items too. (they are oh so lovely!) @juanvegetarian sent some coffee packages as well. (You guys should give it a try, my husband said it's kapeng kape ang lasa). On the day itself, @tpkidkai also brought beautiful alcohol spray with matching lamimated card saying "Thank you for joining the Hive PH meetup!" Pang binyag lang, mars? Haha. Pero thank you so much! Nakapag uwi ako ng isa. @wittyzell brought a lot of goodies from Japan japan para sa kinabukasan. (Dito ko na-encounter ang kakukitan ni Mebu) Some last minute additions to the meetup were certificates, awards, tarpauline (which @sensiblecast took so much care and effort in creating, thank you so much, man), slumbook, etc.

The event is overall a success in my book. I got to see the actual bardagulan in real life. The meetup put together in one room a lot of different personalities, some introverts, some extremely extroverted, but still everyone got to have so much fun. There was just so much positive energy all around. Althroughout the night I just jumped from one table to another and everywhere I go, there's always someone to bond with. I can feel everyone is excited to meet everybody.

_{Thank you @lhes for being the impromptu receptionist sa meetup. Pak na pak naman sa awra kasi. hahaha}

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_{@jude.villarta, @sensiblecast, @bananzell, @wittyzell, @cthings, @romeskie, @ishwoundedhealer, @cli4d, @cindee08, @dennmarc, @nmore, @arcgspy, @adamada, @maverickinvictus, @tpkidkai, @indayclara, @lhes, @akumagai, @kraaaaa, @demotry}
I myself find the slumbook really fun and interesting. We're all used to reading each others' thoughts online through each others' blogs but the slumbook somehow showed another part of each of us. It look like I was checking testpapers while collecting the slumboom sheets. Not was I only mesmerized reading their answers, I was also tallying the crowd favorite for the night. Wittyzell bagged the The Chosen One award after that night.

_{Award certificates created by @sensiblecast}

@kraaaaa , (or Kraz for short) took home the GQ award, also known as the best dressed award. Since @indayclara got there in the venue before everybody else, she received the Atat Award. The most unquestionable award of them all was the Jollibee Award which was given to @cindee08 . She just exuded the highest energy out of all the attendees leaving a trail of smiles wherever she goes. I believe everybody would agree that she indeed is the most enthusiastic of us all.

There was so much fun and activity prepared by the staff. Dito nakapag uwi ng sangkatutak si @cindee08 eh. At the beginning of the event, I was actually anxious. This is the first time Hive PH held an event. But as soon as people started arriving, the energy was just so naturally happy all over. I know I have very limited social energy but these people are really so full of life! I had so much fun with each and every one of them.

_{Laki ng ikinaganda natin dito @cindee08. Salamat sa camera ni @jude.villarta. Ang ganda rin natin dito @lhes and @indayclara Salamat sa camera ni @ybanezkim26.}

I went home to my family as soon as the meetup was over. I did not join the after-party because I have an extremely clingy daughter. As soon as she woke up the day after, she told me how much she missed me so much when I was away. (I was far not with her for only 5 hours.) I really wanted to spend more time with the gang especially since this is the first time I ever saw Adamada in person. After 5 years of friendship online, it really is a good thing to finally put a face to his name. There was also an overnight party at Tagaytay. I'm sure they had so much fun. Looking forward to see pics from that bonding.

_{Rare selfie with @adamada for sale. Usap tayo, madali ako ka-deal. May add-on pang pic ni @tpkidkai}

Looking at how the Hive PH is doing right now, I can say we have come so far together. The meetup would not have been possible if not for the efforts of our staff. They really took time away from their daily life to out together such a wonderful event. We often joke in the discord server na walang pera sa Hive PH. In a way, that is true. The people behind this team doesn't have that much Hive Power, we don't have much to offer when it comes to monetary value. But what we do have are hearts that are full of love for the community and the people within it who are always ready to lend a helping hand and welcome anyone new wishing to join this incredible family. It just goes to show how much love flows around in the Hive PH community.

_{Photo from @indayclara}

After the meetup, the discord server has never been noisier than before. I look away to do my chores and I get back to hundreds of messages to backread. I'm sure everyone in that meet up will agree with me that everyone is looking forward to our next meetup. I thinknthere are still some who are not yet over the meetup fever. There are still a lot of members that weren't able to attend, I do hope to meet them on our next Hive PH meetup.