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My Geeky Self. Click Happy. Project 365.
Featured at Manila Bulletin.
First things first
I’m Rhiza Sanchez but you can call me Riz. I’m 24, I have two older brothers, a SuperMom, and a SuperDad who’s in a better place now. I have a boyfriend who’s in New York, and a black hamster named Tamtam.
I’ve been blogging since way back 6 years ago, not really knowing that my juvenile online drama will take me where I am now. Also, I recently admitted to myself, and with the blogosphere as my witness, that I’m a writer — because I love (and hate) writing, and because there are things that one has to do for a living, and for me, writing is one of them.
I graduated with a degree in Communications Research (that aspect of Mass Comm which deals with qualitative and quantitative data analysis, just in case you never heard of it) at UP Diliman. I started out my career as web copywriter in 2005 (fresh out of college) at Epacific Global Contact Center, albeit unaware that I was already doing what I later learned was Search Engine Optimization (SEO). Two years into the industry, I now work as a full-time SEO Manager at US Auto Parts (formerly MBS TEK). While I continue to explore the ever dynamic world of internet marketing and new media, I supervise and help train an in-house team of thriving web copywriters and SEO specialists.
I’m an advocate of women empowerment (but no, not really a feminist) — of women making a difference in a male-dominated industry such as the one I’m in. (More of this sentiments in my Pink SEO blog.) Incidentally, in the recent major SEO Philippines event, I went home with a recognition, and a plastic crown. I also used to write for 901am.com, a new media related blog owned by Splashpress Media.
Recently, I started to become fascinated with wedding layouts, and have been given an opportunity to work with Filipino-owned, New York-based Mypinoywedding.com. You can view my first few projects here and there. When I’m not doing SEM, or when I’m not online, you can find me listening to music, playing the guitar or keyboard, tinkering with photoshop, having coffee or shopping with girl friends, or clicking away with my Nikon D40.
I Talk, Sometimes
My first ever speaking stint happened to be at the first ever Search Engine Marketing Conference (2007) here in the Philippines were I talked about Advanced Link Building tactics. Just recently, I was also the main resource person for the SEO leg in our company’s Internet Marketing Bootcamp, which ran from January to March (2008).
Interests
Sunsets. Fluffy pillows. Chuck Taylors. Pink. Coffee. Hamsters. Road trips. Food trips. Guitar music.
Abnormalities
Obsessive compulsive. Manic depressive. Reckless driver (you don’t want me to drive your car). Impulsive shopper. Frustrated dancer and poet. Nocturnal. Coffee addict (but because I’m having a hard time sleeping at night, I prefer Decaf). Clumsy. Unathletic. Scatter brained (I misplace things all the time!).
Faith
I grew up in a Christian family, my Dad was a pastor, and my Mom, a Bible School graduate. Our church is like a second home to me. Growing up, I’ve come to believe in God as my Lord and Savior, and that there’s no other way to live this life but to live it for Him.
Others
I’m not married, but I’m in love.
♥ ♥ ♥
Aliases
Guitarchic
I’m Guitarchic here and there. I know it’s kindof inappropriate to proclaim myself such when I’m more of the keyboard-girl than the guitar-chic, youknowwhatI’msaying? I’ve been playing piano since I was 6. I started playing guitar when I was 14. At church, I play keyboards, and I teach kids how to; but I rarely play a guitar in front of a large crowd. When I’m holding a guitar, my stage is my room (or back in college, some random space in Sunken garden, under the trees.) In short, I’m no expert at guitar-playing, only, I realize just now, that maybe guitarchic’s who I am when no one’s looking. So don’t expect expert guitar tips, or guitar chords/tabs (I suck at reading tabs pfft), and the like, from this site. And don’t expect me to accept invitations to play onstage or with your band (I once got an invitation to play in a band, wouldyoubelieve?) My being a guitarchic, I insist, should be contained within the four corners of my room, and the pages of this blog.
Pink SEO
It’s Pink S-E-O, not Pink SEEYO. To the local SEO community, I’m pink. And it came about just recently, when I joined SEO Philippines‘ keyword ranking contest, and hid myself under the identity “pinkseo”. Itwas a pretigious competition, joined by the best SEM gurus in the country. I barged in carrying a banner that says, “Because SEM is not only a Man’s World” in bright pink colors, hoping that I could somehow make a difference in a world that is dominated by men. So gay, I know. Haha. I’ve always known that I have to double-time and learn more to BE more. So one morning, it just dawned on me. I thought, perhaps the best way to learn is to be out there, in the field, where the action is. Read the rest of the story there.
Read my VisualDNA™ Get your own VisualDNA™
Ok, this is getting a bit long already. More next time. :P
sorry, i can’t figure out to reply to comments in my blog :-)
as far as the logo, whenever you get a chance in the next couple of weeks is fine, i’m not in a hurry. :-) thanks and let me know about terms/price etc. thanks!
Well! You have a wonderful blog and you are obviously very talented! Nice to cross paths!
Hey Riz!!! You are a lady of many talents. It was such a pleasure meeting you. I’ll take your offer to go shopping with me when I come back to Manila. I wanna hear your tunes too. I dabbled with guitar when I was a teen but gave up coz I thought my fingers were too short. Any way, keep rockin’.
Gio
Interesting bio! Did you design this site and the banner to the left? I can’t get over how awesome it is — the pink guitar floating on a black and white grunge background. Perfect!
hi– i like your blogs and i like your designs. In fact, I am using one on my blog– and would love to know more about what you do.
hey there Miss Rhiza… I’m dying to buy an apple mac, huhu. Where did you buy yours and how much? Are they accepting installment pays? Please reply to my inquiry in my email. It will be deeply appreciated. Thank u!
Liz
i really enjoy reading ur blog and inspired by ur words of wisdom.
Hi,
i,m an avid blog reader. i came acoss your blog thru diffent links which led me to yours. interesting…
i now wonder… should i continue to read your blog… you seem like an interesting person… based on your posts… don’t get me wrong… i’m not one of them… you know… STALKERS…
i also glanced at your photos in your multiply and friendster site… and i saw nice pictures… very nice pictures… i think you are a very cheerful person which got me interested on the first place…
well… i guess thats it for now… hope to read more posts from you…
guitardude
hi i like your blog so much and i will post a link of your site in my blog
Hi Riz,
Help, I just started writing my personal blog (you inspired me to blog, honest!) and I want to insert the little smileys that you are using here. I found them on beccarydotcom but I don’t know what to do. Do I have to create an html code for it? I found smileys at mazeguydotcom they already have html codes but the smileys are too big.
Thanks! I hope to see more of your blogs here and at pinkseodotinfo.
Hi I, the smileys is actually a wordpress plugin which I uploaded in my server and activated in my dashboard. I’ve seen your blog (good job, by the way), and i see that it’s a blogspot account. I don’t think you can activate the smileys sa blogspot. I haven’t seen any counterpart of that plugin for blogspot blogs. Lipat ka nalang sa wordpress! Hehe. :)
Hey Riz! Fellow pink lover here. My hubby mentioned that he ran into you today and that you were getting married soon. If you need contacts for a wedding planner and stuff, feel free to send me a note at apples at haravata dot com. Cheers!
Hi ApplesH! :) You probably got it wrong, I’m not getting married yet, at least not anytime soon. But okay, I’ll certainly keep you in mind, if ever. :)
Rhiz!! My bad! There must have been something wrong with my ears… or my hubby’s tongue as he really did say Rhiz. But apparently it was Liz (of wellwhatever). Hay talaga - men! :) Cheers!
Haha yeaaah. That’s Liz alright. :) It’s okay. I was starting to think that someone asking me if I’m getting married MUST BE a sign. And I kinda like the thought hahaha :)
[…] Just call me Riz […]
hahaha :) riz, it’s a sign!!
interesting.. can i link you? nice site, btw!
Hi!
I am a senior student at the University of Asia and the Pacific, taking up Integrated Marketing Communications. In partial fulfillment of a requirement in our Communication Ethics class, my group is studying blog advertising and the practices involved. We need to interview professional and non-professional bloggers, companies who advertise in blogs and those that do not. I hope you can help us with this through an interview, as it would be of great value to our study.
Please tell us how you would like us to ask the questions. We can (1) send the questionnaire through e-mail, (2) call using landline, (3) conduct the interview through Yahoo messenger, or (4) meet up with you in your office or someplace else for a personal interview. The interview will only take a few minutes of your time.
We will wait for your reply. Please email me for your answer. Thank you very much for your cooperation.
Hi Riz… I’m so proud of your achievements! Keep it up and God bless you and your family always!
hi, i recently read your post about macbook. i plan on getting 1 within the next month or 2 and was curious as to know what specs you got and what model.. etc thanks so much ..
ashland nicole
Hi there. I love the Daily Dose of Twit. Your got interesting posts in here… and you just unknowing gave one pro vote to my current “should-I-buy-a-Mac” poll. Thanks. Hope I can go to the 2008 SEMC… Cheers.
Hi Riz! just saw you on tv. Congrats to your nice blog site. and u do have a nice smile too :-)
Hi there Riz! Same with Dan, I just saw you recently on tv. Nice blog anyways. Ayun nga, buti ka pa kumikita ka online. Ako hindi pa kasi ako marunong. Well, then good luck to you! ;) Take care always.
wow,,nice site,,pacheeseburger ka naman!burger burger burger!!
sikat na sikat ka na ah,,so that’s why hindi ka na nagppractice these past few days sa sbc,,hmmmm,,
hehe,,just kidding,,just proceed with your life,, XP
so ur the famous guitar chic.. hehehe napadaan lang :D.. hello po :)
Hi Riz!
This is Gelo from Campaigns PR, Inc. I came across your blog while surfing the net. Personally, I find it really interesting and informative. Great job! :)
Can I get your e-mail address? I have an invitation to an event that would be of great interest to you. Thanks!
Hi! I was searching for Christian Blogs and I found yours. Nice blog. I’m going to link your site to mine, if that’s ok..”,
im happy and glad to see you in picture, because when i saw you in MEL&JOEY, humanga na ako sa’yo.
sana ma-meet kita in person. don’t worry hindi ako masamang tao.
thank you! reply ka sa e-mail ko ha. edwardalberto@yahoo.com
wow! =) glad 2c ur pictures, great blog entries. it’s been a while. yu remember ayt? =] e-mail me at john.cunanan@vxi.com or johnbonncunanan@yahoo.com. tc.
Nice blog Tita Riz, uhmmmmm… Hope to know you more better. ;-)