The openness of the internet has allowed a
lot of people (including us) to air our thoughts and ideas for everyone to see.
Social media sites like Facebook and Twitter and blogs have given small people
the voice in the world of the internet.
In the vast number of small people with big
voices, there are a few rare individuals whose voice are distinct and unique.
When bloggers around the web stick to writing about gadgets, fashion, food,
travel, photography and design, there are those who venture into a niche so
unique that they become an authority in that particular field of interest. One
good example of this kind of blogger is PEBA (Pinoy Expats/OFW Blog Awards)
coordinator – Pete Rahon.
Pete is one of only a handful of bloggers
who have decided to express his love and enthusiasm for a particular topic –
chocolates. According to Pete, his passion for chocolates has deep roots, which
started from his childhood which was later renewed by social bookmarking site
Pinterest.
Pete also adds that although he was already
writing for several blogs that talk about different topics from personal to
social issues, his chocolate blog is relatively new. In fact, according to
Pete, he has barely scratched the surface of the iceberg of topics that are
related to chocolate and its by-products.
When it comes to his chocolate preference,
Pete says that he used to like white and sweet chocolates, but as time passed
by, he developed a taste for the much healthier dark and bitter varieties.
For now, Pete enjoys doing reviews or
tastings of chocolate products that he finds in shops, boutiques, restaurant,
groceries or those given as balikbayan gifts. However, he said that he’s also
thinking of writing articles that talk about the history and tradition related
to chocolates in the country such as doing a review of the best tablea that are
used to make hot chocolate drink. He also would like to visit cacao plantations
and write about how they are grown and processes into the chocolate products we
buy as end consumers.
He also adds that although we are so much
exposed to brands like Cadbury, Hershey’s and other Swiss and Belgian chocolate
products that abound in Duty Free Shops and even local supermarkets, we should
always patronize products that are produced locally, especially those created
by Filipino artisan chocolatiers as these were made with devotion, passion and
creativity.
When we asked Pete if he’s planning to blog
about other type of sweets, he said that although he really has a sweet tooth and
that he’s open to possibilities, he currently plans to stay focused on blogging
about chocolate. He admits that he is still in the process of developing his
blog since even for chocolate as a topic; there are a multitude of subtopics
that one can feature and discuss.
As a final message, he reminds that
passion, commitment and creativity are essential for anyone who’s planning to
become a special niche blogger. The hard work needed to do research and
readings for one’s blog even though there are numerous other things to be done
in one’s day are important if one wants his blog to succeed. Bloggers should
also spend time to make their blog as relevant and interesting as possible to
one’s readers and one’s self.
If you’re a chocophile just like Pete, you
can visit his blog using this link.
Also, if you haven’t done this yet, please
follow us on Twitter and add us on Facebook for more features from the Filipino
Lifestyle team. Till next time!
