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Hi Dear Reader!

Welcome to my new home. If you've been reading my old blog, you already know who I am. But for new readers, let me introduce myself with a little Q & A. I hope to see you back here in my succeeding posts! Happy reading. :)

Who is an2netluv?  

My real name is Romy. I am a writer. I have been writing professionally for five years, but I started writing poems when I was 10 years old. I have been blogging for eight years.

I graduated with a degree in Journalism from the University of the Philippines, with units in Creative Writing. On my senior year, I became a lifestyle contributor for a business daily. After graduating in 2008, I got a job as a senior staff writer for the leading entertainment magazine in the country. I held the position for almost three years.

I am currently a web content writer for a multi-national manufacturing company.

I am also a daughter, a sister, a giddy aunt, a girlfriend, a budding entrepreneur, and a choir girl.

Why are you called an2netluv?

When I was 13 years old, I created my first email account (which I still use to this day) named an2nette_luv. It is a word play on my second name, Antonette, and the word “love.” At that time, I happened to admire two actresses named Love: Jennifer Love Hewitt and Heart Evangelista (real name: Love Marie Ongpauco).

In 2004, I created my first blog in Tabulas, and I shortened the name to an2netluv. It is also my username on Twitter and Instagram.

This site was supposed to have a different name, but the original one I wanted was already taken so I decided to stick with an2netluv.

What is your blog about?

It’s a personal blog, but I plan to focus more on books, food, and other lifestyle topics. I have been missing my days as a magazine and lifestyle writer so I want this blog to be a venue where I can go back to my first love. I feel like my writing skills are now rusty. Hopefully, when I feel more confident, I can muster the courage to contribute to magazines again.

I know my blog site says "Bits & Bites and all things nice," but there will be days when I am not all sunshine and roses. Don't worry though, I will try my best to keep those entries to a minimum! I want this site to be positive and make readers smile. :)

When and how did you start blogging?

I started blogging in 2004, when I discovered a friend's blog. I was a sophomore in college and had time to kill between classes. It was Friendster's heyday and I was always answering surveys. I figured, my thoughts deserved another venue. I met other bloggers who eventually became friends. Tabulas was my home for eight years. When I started working, I blogged less and less. I also reached a phase when I didn't want to share my life in public. I retreated to Twitter and Instagram where my posts are private. 

Before 2012 ended, I decided to start fresh and create a new blog with more focus. I bought a domain so I will be inspired (and guilty of the annual fee) to blog more often. I also got inspired by other writers and bloggers I look up to. 

Who are they?

My journalism professor, Luis Teodoro, was the reason I shifted to Journalism. My creative writing professor, Butch Dalisay, was very approachable and encouraging. And lastly, my feature writing teacher and career mentor Sir Pete Lacaba. He was the one who told me to apply for a job in Summit and eventually became my editor in YES! Magazine. I owe most of my writing knowledge to him and YES! Editor-In-Chief  Jo-Ann Maglipon. One of the most surreal moments at work was when I was flanked by these two editors. Experience is the best teacher, and working with them taught me more than my days in the classroom did.

Out of the four I mentioned, all of them are bloggers too, except for Ms. Jo-Ann. 

The other bloggers I follow and admire are (in no particular order): Chuvaness, Daphne, Frances Sales (who also worked in Summit), Patty Laurel, Tisha Alvarez-Angluben, Christine Dychiao, and Karotitay. 

Their blogs are what I aspire my blog to be. More than the fame and other perks, I want to have a community of readers and bloggers I can connect with through my site. It's nice to know that people are reading your blog, but it will be tons better if they can relate to your entries too. 

Most of all, I just really want to write. 

That's it, pansit! Join me as I give you bits and bites of my so-called life. See ya back here in a jiffy! :)