My votes for the Top 10 Emerging Influential Blogs 2009 project
There’s a search going on over at The Influential Blogger for the best newbie Filipino-owned blogs who’ve made made a splash in the past year. It’s called the The Top 10 Emerging Influential Blogs 2009. I am submitting my vote before the contest closing today because I’d really like some friends to win and I hope that one little vote can contribute to the vibrancy that is Philippine blogging.
I’ve observed how this contest ran and noted that being chosen an “emerging influential blog” actually translates to being popular, SEO-savvy, and being able to tirelessly campaign among your peers, while having a good marketing pitch. Nothing wrong with that. I am actually reminded of the time when I was a child and crowned the Mayflower Queen of our barrio because my relatives raised the most money, hehehe. Anyway, my choices here include sure winners, two group blogs I am active in and some silent favorites. If only the number wasn’t limited to the Top 10, I’d definitely choose more. Here it goes: 
1. Barrio Siete
2. Litratong Pinoy
3. Dear Bloggery
4. Dare to Speak Out
5. Social Media Philippines
6. Patay Gutom
7. Cebu Bloggers Society
8. Millionaire Acts
9. Pinoy Cravings
10. Sumthin Blue
Corporate blogging 101: should your company engage in it? (Blog-O-Rama)
Note: This post is adapted from my Manila Bulletin Blog-O-Rama column for April 27, 2009.
Because of the popularity of blogs these days, some companies are joining the blog mob or the blog bandwagon. There’s really nothing wrong with this. A corporate blog, after all, is another way to connect with your customers or market on another level. And a blog, if put up well, can project more warmth and candidness than a generic press releases would. It is an affordable, high-impact way to get your message across without the expense of multi-million campaigns.
On the other hand, a corporation or company should also ask itself if a blog fits their marketing goals. It is really not for everybody. Sometimes, it can make a firm vulnerable to unwanted “blog storms” or security lapses and make its stand on certain matters open to interpretation. That’s why I’d suggest that entities think long and think hard before starting a blog. Here are some suggested things to do:
What is this thing about labelling bloggers into Exhibits A, B, and C?
Gamer and blogger Carlo Ople stirred a hornet’s nest when he categorized different types of bloggers in his new blog. While his pronounced intention is to teach marketers and public relations companies on “How to Deal with New Media,” it seems Mr. Ople is now finding out the hard way about “How NOT to Write Derogatory Blog Posts about New Media.” The reaction from certain sectors who felt slighted by the use of the term “Patay Gutom Blogger” to refer to those who attend events because of the free food and freebies has been substantial that Mr. Ople was forced to take down the PGB term and apologize to those who he might have insulted.
Personally, I don’t believe in taking down what I blog about, even if it’s too easy to press DELETE in cyberspace. My conviction is to always stand by what I write. (and pataygutom.com is one blog food blog I like!) However, I don’t believe in labelling people myself, even though it’s quite tempting to categorize the numerous characters that populate the internetz. Blogging is called “citizen journalism” precisely because anyone can post his thoughts and materials in the great WWW without the stiff hierarchy and requirements of the media networks. Considering the diversity, we would certainly run out of terms to categorize people. But is that even necessary? Name-calling and criticizing is a human propensity but it should be kept by people within their groups, not in the open field where respect, decency and tolerance is called for.
DigitalFilipino.com Club networking in Luzon, Visayas, Mindanao – whew!
The past week has been very busy as I joined my first roadshow which had us flying to Davao in Mindanao, Cebu in Central Visayas and back again to Manila for DigitalFilipino.com Club’s bloggers’ networking events. Here, I witnessed first-hand “Blogger Power” and the charisma of Ms. InfluentialBlogger herself, Janette Toral, to pull in the numbers.
It was my first time to join blogger events “on a mass scale,” with the exception of the Blog Awards, and I liked it. It was great to know the faces behind the blogs, and I like the part where everyone introduces themselves. There’s bound to be an interesting story on how one got to blog, or what one has gained from it so far. It’s my first exposure to DigitalFilipino and I think am joining it soon, haha.
Our first stop was the boom city of Davao, home of the Mindanao Bloggers. Close to 100 bloggers had fun in PAGCOR-Davao’s Pantawan Hall where we ate and drank the night away, capped by a friendly tournament of Texas Hold ‘Em Poker.
At the Teatro Casino party in PAGCOR-Cebu, members of the Cebu Bloggers Society came in identical “Blogger Ko Bai!” shirts which showed their complete solidarity. Couldn’t resist buying one.
‘Mga Kwento ng Batang Kaning Lamig:’ Batjay, the second time around
SPOT THE YELLOW BOOK . Batjay (seated) with his blogger-friends Apol, Wats0n, Tito Rolly and Fisherpau. Not in photo is yours truly 
The king of the blog humorists, Nicanor David a.k.a Batjay launched his second blook recently.For the occasion, he went straight from the airport to Fully Booked in Bonifacio High Street, wearing his Spiderman shirt. There’s a long line of people clutching the yellow copies of “Mga Kwento ng Batang Kaning Lamig” and he obliges with personalized dedications, with matching cartoon drawings pa.
We asked him if he flew all the way from California for the launching, and he says not really. He foremostly wanted to see his beloved mother. Growing up, Batjay was a “batang kaning lamig” and the book’s title is driven by memories of him hanging out with his friends, highlighted by eating sessions where they would eat cold rice served by his mother, amid big steaming hot bowls of sinigang.
Anyway, Batjay’s book is so handy and funny that I don’t have it anymore. Somebody snitched it!! Here’s the full text of my article as it appeared on Manila Bulletin yesterday:
Uncle Google is l-o-v-e, and other highlights of my 2007 blogging
(Adapted from Blog-O-Rama)
In 2007, I wrote 154 blog posts and counting. This is a milestone for me, considering the time, wit and energy it entails to blog a wee bit sensibly.On the average, I made 17 posts per month and I consider blogging at a steady rate as my biggest achievement this year.
During my early years, I admit to blogging for art’s sake. Now I realize I can be more prolific when I don’t take my creativity too seriously and just let the gods of SEO take over. This has given me more returns in terms of traffic and advertising and I believe we are now saving for the Hong Kong Disneyland family vacation that blogging bought
Lest I be misunderstood, I am still into blogging for the sheer love of it…. because I will always be at home with the written word and because blogging has enabled me to gain more friends, know more people, interact with readers and network. They are definitely add-ons I can’t complain about.
…. & the rest of the bloggers speak about their blogging achievements
For the second week now, yours truly’s column in the Manila Bulletin asks Filipino bloggers their thoughts on what they consider to be their best blogging achievement(s) for 2007. It’s a feat that is certainly not measured by popularity or blog income alone but also personal fulfillment. By fulfillment, we mean intangibles like friendships made, perspectives opened, horizons widened and how blogging has polished one’s use of the English language, perhaps. I can think of a few more – blogging, because it’s time -consuming, can compel you to use your time wisely. Also, it’s undoubtedly a spark in fostering creativity. If you think of a few more ways by which blogging has inspired your world, then you’re an avid disciple. Welcome to the club! Feel free to share your voice & send me your inputs so we can publish and make this a long-running homage to your “best of blogging” thoughts and experiences.
It has been a colorful, exciting year for local blogging. I warmly thank all those who gamely participated in Blog-O-Rama and the countless more who will support our endeavors in the coming year. We wish our readers the spirit of a meaningful, merry Christmas!
Co-founding the Philippine Blog Awards, helping organize the first ever Blog Parteeh which helped show companies that blogging is a good media for marketing… I consider it a great achievement to be able to do something for the Filipino blogging community 
For me, the greatest blogging achievement for my blog is to reach out to people the wonderful world of graphic design. The fact that complete strangers come up to you and praise you for what you post/write/design is an achievement in its own right.
Noemi Dado, winner – Best Blog in the Philippine Web Awards:
My biggest blogging achievement is reaching out to people who might
need help and comfort. Not only do bereaved family members contact
me but anyone feeling grief or some sort of pain in their life. For
example, there is the heartbroken girl, or the betrayed spouse. I
feel flattered that my readers entrust their problems to me but
unfortunately, I am not a therapist. All I can give is friendly advice
and I refer them to the appropriate person or agency.
Errrrr…hooking up with my female readers? Hahaha.
I was able to connect with a lot of OFWs and my blog was turned into a book.
to have created a Filipino blogging community with pansitan.net it is taxing a lot of times to maintain the site but when I read their entries about how much they love staying at pansitan or when I find out how many people want to join the community, it gives me a sense of accomplishment. I also feel so honored that they entrust their websites to me…
I never expected Nostalgia Manila to become such a mainstream success. In just little over a year, the blog has been featured in popular magazines, newspapers, tv shows, and will soon be the main feature in an episode that will be produced and aired by a local cable show in Laguna.
Filipinos today are too concerned about moving forward and adapting to the latest technology and trends, paying no attention to archiving a colorful past. Because of Nostalgia Manila, I’ve been able to promote awareness and the importance of historical preservation. Nostalgia Manila has become an online treasure chest of fond memories enjoyed by every generation. Now that’s priceless!
For 2007, at marketmanila.com, it was definitely the satisfaction of raising over PHP200,000 in donations from readers, mostly ones I have NEVER met, to fund over 11,000 meals for malnourished public school children in Manila and Cebu. For a food blog, I think that is a nice way to say thanks all around…
Anton Diaz of Our Awesome Planet:
Touching people’s lives through Our Awesome Planet by helping them create awesome experiences for their loved ones. Inspiring people to see the awesome places in Manila…
Blog-O-Rama column 10/01/07
My Manila Bulletin column this Monday dealt with my just-concluded talk in the 14th National PR Congress. Some of the quotable quotes which you are free to agree or disagree with:
“I just happen to think that rather than shy away from each other, bloggers and PRs can exist harmoniously together: PRs can benefit from the wealth of information that competent bloggers specialize in and bloggers, in turn, can gain a thing or two from the promotional and advertising opportunities that publicists offer in behalf of their clients, something which (bloggers) are now using with services like Google AdSense anyway.”
“It is good that influential PR practitioners are opening their mind to the potentials and possibilities of new media which is what today’s traditional media will have to embrace sooner or later.”
“There is an absence of credible research on the demographic profile of bloggers in the Philipines. Yes, data is absent even if some public relations companies are already utilizing bloggers to promote their products and services.”
A blogger’s tips on keeping the creativity juices flowing
Bloggers are thinkers, that much is a fact. It takes one to contribute sensibly to the marketplace of vast information and ideas, which the internet has become. But one may ask, how does one blog day in and day out? I can’t say for sure. In these past three years, there were times when I had writing fits (this was rare) and more times when I had mental block and chose to forget about blogging because I have a thousand other things to do in my life. I guess that when you feel you said everything there is to say in the blank online canvas, things like passion, time management and creativity play a part. So how does one keep the creative juices flowing? Here’s my own twenty five cents’ worth:
List it down. I find that keeping a small notebook or inscribing something in the Notes application of your phone is handy for writing down your ideas as they come. One is not always in front of the computer and there are inopportune times like when you’re about to go to bed and your thoughts are running off. It is always best to list down thoughts as they cross your mind.
Declutter. Doing so doesn’t only mean keeping tangible stuff at bay. It also means freeing your mind from worry, hyperactivity and other worthless imaginings. Creativity can only grow in a field ripe for flowers, a thousand flowers, to bloom
Acknowledge your feelings. Creativity varies from person to person – it does not only stem from positivity but from negativity as well. We remember of course that the world’s greatest writings were penned by people suffering from extreme depression and poverty . But there’s also nothing to prevent you from writing those happy thoughts when you’re feeling inspired and all right with the world. Go ahead, share your message, coming from whatever kind of feeling it is.
It’s official: The Divatrocious returns
Coming from Manila Standard news sources itself, it’s true: The Divalicious will resume publication this Monday. An insider said: “while Malu Fernandez indeed has submitted her resignation, her resignation has not been accepted by higher management, hence we will continue publishing her column.”
It’s a free country after all. And since this is a free country, please be informed that Divatrocious and the pictures therein is a trademark of annalyn.net. You may use the the term freely under copyleft principles, or at least under Ms. Fernandez repents and realizes fully that she’s not being Divalicious (noooh! not at all) in being the mahaderang matapobre to OFWs.
Blogging since 2004 and recently married to Mr Z. I can't live without coffee....and brown sugar.
