Category: Blog Feature

Take 5 as BlogWatch turns 5

Conventional wisdom today would say that an assembly of bloggers is like cats and dogs put together in one tiny space. We are said to be too feisty and too self-centered to cooperate among ourselves. We value our personal freedoms so much that we cannot be trusted to work together in a common cause.

Such conventional wisdom has been disproven each day and week for the past 5 years and the living reminder of fruitful and important collaboration among bloggers is the continuing project called BlogWatch, which officially turns five today, Nov. 24.

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Today, Nov. 21, is Blog Action Day for justice, against impunity

In preparation for the Nov. 23 International Day to End Impunity, media groups CMFR and NUJP call for a Blog Action Day.

Over 500 days have passed since Benigno Aquino III assumed the presidency on a pro-change platform – but families of victims of extrajudicial killings have been made to wait and to wait longer for presidential action needed to spur decisive action by government.

The administration has not done anything meaningful to address the political killings that were an indelible mark on the previous administration. A few statements in speeches, yes. But compelling action, nada.

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We want a national bloggers association of the Philippines

Even as consultations and discussions are ongoing, but it seems there are bloggers who cannot wait to be part of what is turning out to be a controversial initiative.

The draft manifesto below hopes to provide a starting point towards forming an association of Filipino bloggers. Please feel free to make suggestions to improve this statement of intent.

Members of this future organization will make the final decision on the name to use, the constitution and by laws, its officers and its programs and policies. If you wish to join as a founding member, please sign up below:

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Who’s afraid of a national bloggers association?

This blogger speaks at the Visayas Blogging Summit in 2010. Photo by/from callezaragoza.com.

(Post updated. Changes in brackets. Thanks.) I have long wanted to do something: To help form a national bloggers association in the Philippines. The premises are simple: We are a growing community, with more younger Filipinos trying to start their own blogs. We have worked together in many instances. We have organized events. Some of us have made blogging a career or a profession. We have been sought in interviews. Some have been considered experts in their own fields of interests. Blogs have become media too. Government and business have gone blogging and gone digital. Just imagine what we could do together if we have an organization that would take all these forward.

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Aquino’s challenge: Filipinos on death row in China, elsewhere

Kin of overseas Filipinos on death row weep in a press conference with their group Migrante. Photo by Jo. A Santos/Bulatlat

Three Filipinos were saved from certain death after the Chinese government postponed their execution on drug trafficking charges but more needs to be done by the Philippine government.

Yes, more and much more. According to Migrante International, an alliance of overseas Filipino workers, 125 other Filipinos face the death penalty in a number of countries and many of them have not been given the attention by the Philippine government.

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Satur Ocampo, activist and netizen

Ka Satur Ocampo, the respected leftist statesman running for the Senate this year, doesn’t look and act like he’s 70 years old, which he already is. His endurance is obvious in his active leadership and participation in street protests. He’s young at heart, remaining true to the hopefulness of the ranks of young Filipinos to which he once proudly belonged.

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Happy new year, dear readers and friends!

Thank you dear readers and friends for your support last 2009. I look forward to be with you too this 2010. I look up to you for inspiration (see picture, hehe).

I also started writing for AsianCorrespondent.com last 2009 on a blog I titled Bullet Points, hoping to give the international audience my take on what’s happening in our country and the world. I was able to write 59 articles there and I am proud of each one of them.

I hope to write more in 2010 and for this, I’d love to hear your suggestions on topics and issues you wish to see here and on AsianCorrespondent.com.

Happy new year! Manigong bagong taon!

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Blogfest.asia gathers Asian bloggers

Blogfest.asia: Change and Responsibility (Photo by Charles Mok on Flickr)
Blogfest.asia: Change and Responsibility (Photo by Charles Mok on Flickr)

Scores of bloggers and social media users, joined by vendors and various organizations, gathered from Nov. 5-8 in Hong Kong’s Henry Leong Community Center for Blogfest.asia, arguably the first gathering of bloggers from across Asia.

Participants came from a good number of countries and territories: Vietnam, Taiwan, Thailand, Burma, Cambodia, Indonesia, Malaysia, Sri Lanka, Kyrgyzstan, Mongolia, China, Hong Kong, and the Philippines.

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Good news: Blogfest.Asia and AsianCorrespondent.com

blogfestI have a couple of good news to share.

First is about what is touted as a gathering of Asian bloggers, Blogfest.Asia ’09 set to be held on Nov. 5-8 in Hong Kong.

Among the speakers are fellow bloggers Blogie Robillo and Juned Sonido. They will share insights on “Peace Initiatives through Blogging” based on the experience of Mindanao bloggers as well as introduce the Philippine blogosphere to the participants.

I will also be a Blogfest.asia speaker on the topic “Bloggers and social media users in the aftermath of typhoons Ketsana and Parma”.

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‘Climate change’ and a new Philippine leadership

bad09rpToday’s Blog Action Day comes soon after the latest survey updated the nation on the horserace among the prospective candidates for president in next year’s elections.

As Filipino bloggers and the Philippine online communities (and those in many parts of the globe as well)  take on the issue of climate change, I wish to pose these questions to these same candidates and their political parties and coalitions:

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Paypal apologizes, seeks to “move forward” to help bring aid to typhoon victims

logotxtpowerSoon after turning over to the Philippine National Red Cross the last check from  TXTPower’s fundraising campaign for typhoon Ondoy’s victims, I received a call from Mr. Mario Shiliashki, general manager of PayPal Southeast Asia & India.

Mr. Shiliashki told he was “reaching out on behalf of the company” to apologize for the incident and assured the company’s respect and support for the efforts of Filipinos and our friends abroad to provide relief aid to victims of the typhoons Ondoy and Pepeng. He said that what had happened would help improve Paypal’s processes and procedures.

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Winners of the Philippine Blog Awards 2009

Grabbed from the Philippine Blog Awards website
Grabbed from the Philippine Blog Awards website

Bloggers trooped Friday night to the PETA-Phinma Theater in Quezon City for the Philippine Blog Awards 2009 which carried the theme “One Blogging Nation”.

I had the privilege of sharing the stage with Benj Espina of Atheista.net, a fellow crew member at Bloggers Kapihan, as presentors for the last four award categories. Last year, both Benj and I won awards for best personal blog and best news and media blog categories.

Here is a list of this year’s winners I was able to take note of through my Twitter posts Friday night:

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