H is for HubPages

H-aving five years of hubbing adventures,

U-nable to stop my writing conquests and goals;

B-efriending and reaching out to other hubbers at HubPages community.

P-assing the first five-year period to make a living,

A-ttentive enough and still learning to power up my skills;

G-earing my aspirations into full throttle.

E-ngaging into a lifetime commitment,

S-taying to inspire others and believe.

Note:An acrostic is a poem or other form of writing in which the first letter, syllable or word of each line, paragraph or other recurring feature in the text spells out a word or a message (Source: Wikipedia).

I signed-up, I wrote hubs, I earned payouts and accolades, too.

I. The First Year: Hubbing as an Adventure

It was nearing the end of September 2009...

I bought a mini-laptop computer from my overtime pay as a sailor-on-vacation.

I stayed at my sister's house (sleeping at the hooded second-floor terrace) in the city of Manila, Philippines in order to search for free wi-fi signal. This way, I can concentrate opening possible sites for online writing, aside from Blogger.com.

O googled the word 'hub' and....Eureka! I discovered HubPages.

With the opportunity to p[ass my idle time productively, hubbing (the word was new to me) became my pastime during my vacation.

I even encouraged my nephew to write, too, but later discovered by HP (HubPages) staff to be a minor.

I wrote my first-ever hub regarding my unforgettable experience about Kandalaksha, Russia, where the sun never sets.

I became a fan of many exciting and prolific hubbers in the community.

I was also recognized by the staff and got nominated with my hub on The Strangest Places in the USA.

Cyberbullying became my first hub to be noticed by local television networks.

My first year was all about my travels.

I was driven to live up to my moniker as travel man.

2. The Second Year: Hubbing Spree Continues...

Making Money with HubPages became my desire and goal in 2010.

My assignment as a cook in my shipping company was halted by controversial decision to oust me.

On August 2010, I decided to make a new account on HubPages, concentrating on hubs about seafaring.

Travel Man became The Sailor from time to time.

I was hurt by the decision of the company to let me go because I took side with the decision of Filipino seafarers aboard the ship I was supposed to embark and ousted my former master in the US waters due to previous complaints.

Hubpages became my refuge, my shelter, my comfort zone.

I wrote voraciously, The 30-Day Hub Marathon, during my second year, eager to reach my first threshold via Google AdSense.

I even joined the Hubbalicious Contest, publishing food hubs and more.

3. The Third Year: Advocacy, Health Series and Tropical Cooking

Year 2012 was about changes in online writing.

Google just implemented the more strict rules for monetization through the Panda program.

HubPages status suffer but catapulted back to the Top 10 due to the unfailing support of hubbers around the world.

More templates were implemented for a more specific hub categories.

Personally, I attended a Cloud Computing Seminar by Amazon.com and learned more about how affiliates help online writers earn more money.

Finally in October, 2012, I was part of the conducting team to board one of the ten LCT vessels from China to Philippines.

I became more sensitive in writing about Philippine Scenes, Life 101 and personal struggles and success, even how small or little it was.

I was actively involved in a cooperative and it reflected in my hubbing articles, as well.

Hubbie Awards was launched to give recognition to hubbers who stand out throughout their hubbing years, since 2007.

4. Year Four: Giving Back

I've been involved at my place's activities.

January 2013 was when my mother got hospitalized and tried writing more on Health-Conscious Series.

My goal in writing was concentrated on what's happening in my community.

Political hubs were also made by college students as references.

Life 101 breathes my personal sentiments.

5. Fifth Year: What Goes Around...

Year 2014 nears its end again.

I seldom write for now due to my involvement in our community. I keep myself busy documenting important events as an appointive officer.

I just can't divulge my personal adventures right now, although I am planning to make a book out of my recent experiences in public service.

Speaking of book, my first attempt to publish an eBook via Book Tango.com paved the way to invite me by the head of the alumni association of my former maritime school to be the guest speaker during the Philippine Seafarers' Day last June 25th, 2014.

My former instructors are interested to read my plight as a sailor through my eBook on seafaring as being sold by Amazon.com. ( I hope I earn this year-end.)

And I'm keeping my fingers crossed for that.

MisAdventures???

A lot. I have hubs being unpublished by HP staff. And I'm sorry for that.

The copy-and-paste scheme? It happens but I'm more careful after five years.

Conclusion

Issues on plagiarism and copyright are some of the 'hot issues' online writers should battle up front.

I became a victim of it, too.

Because of the surge on internet technology, online information are so vast that articles are usually duplicated, copied and make it as original by pseudo-writers.

Thieves abound in the industry of writing.

As for now, I will enjoy my stay on HubPages.

I will publish more personal hubs, as long as my hands continue to tap the keyboard of my desktop computer.

Oct.17,2014: Ireno A. Alcala (Copyrighted)