We as consumers confront endless problems when we’re forced to buy or endure “lemons” or bad service. Unfortunately, despite a bumper crop of laws that purportedly protect our consumer rights, the status quo does not favor us and we are often left to fend for ourselves in disputes with ill-mannered companies and businesses.

Good thing, a new set was has been quietly launched — bakitsira.net — which allows consumers to post their problems regarding consumer goods and services.

Perhaps Shari best described our collective and individual feelings at the end of the Bloggers’ Kapihan with Among Ed last Saturday: tiring, yes… but nevertheless jampacked with so many lessons and starpower we could handle in a day.

Among Ed’s remarks were thought-provoking and it should open the eyes of everyone about the potentials of blogging for the cause of good governance. Methinks, the quest of the Pinoy blogosphere is not to find or write the best posts at any time of the day. Among Ed was looking for the expressions of hope, the expressions of young people longing for change, and the hearty dialogue that should follow. We must sweep away all sense of selfishness and encourage everyone — especially the voiceless — to find their voice.

I would not have written about it altogether but certain reactions to efforts to introduce Jun Lozada and Among Ed Panlilio as bloggers need to be confronted head on.

At the moment, I won’t link to these bloggers and their posts (because I’m sure you know them and they know themselves). What is important for me is to say that the Pinoy blogosphere aristocracy are just behaving as expected: aristocratic and elitist. Some would cry “repression!” only when its their own voices that are being muffled or muzzled. Some would gladly lay down a virtual red carpet for their own online writing projects on Philippine issues, but would demean the efforts of others. At other times, these clowns cry for “democracy” when all they really want to say is “listen to me only” or “listen to me first”. Some are fans of a near-total absence of online accountability. As to the threat of repression, the question of the need to fight repression is set aside by insinuations that the new ones may be inviting harm all by themselves (ain’t that the same “blame the victim” outlook which they also detest in posts elsewhere).

Engr. Rodolfo Noel “Jun” Lozada yesterday joined the Bloggers Kapihan crew (Ederic, Mong, Vencer, Sarah and myself) for the launch of his online sanctuary.

Lozada’s online sanctuary is none other than his very own blog at jlozada.com. His first post is aimed at young Filipinos, titled “Message to the Youth”.

For those curious about the event, read the ABS-CBNnews.com and Inquirer.net reports.

The BK crew is wittingly assuming a role as “blog evangelists”, encouraging people to take up blogging as a means of personal and community expression.

Next week, the BK crew goes to Pampanga to witness the launch of a blog on good governance courtesy of Gov. Among Ed Panlilio.

Here are some photos taken yesterday: