Editor’s Note: Updated and clarified quoted statement.

The Philippines’ first Wordcamp Philippines, a boot camp for free blogging platform Wordpress, nears, according to organizers.

Led by Mindanao-based bloggers, the Wordcamp Philippines aims to bring both users and developers of the Wordpress. It also aims to bring together Filipino enthusiasts using this platform for the first time.

According to this blog, the Wordcamp Philippines is scheduled to happen on September 6, 2008 at the College of St. Benilde in Metro Manila.

Wordcamp Philippines is organized by Mindanao-based bloggers Oliver Robillo, Maria Jose, Migs Hipolito, Winston Almendras and Andrew dela Serna.

Various Wordcamps have been held in the US and other parts of the world because it has become popular platform for web publishing.

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By Lawrence Casiraya
INQUIRER.net

THERE is no escaping the Pacquiao frenzy, even on the Web. Come Sunday in Manila, INQUIRER.net will again deliver breaking news, a running account and even Twitter posts about the Pacquiao-Diaz fight.

To whet the appetites of Filipinos and other boxing fans worldwide, INQUIRER.net has also put up The Pacquiao Files, a webpage dedicated to the Filipino boxing hero. The Twitter entries will also appear on The Pacquiao Files site itself.

The site contains news and feature articles on Pacquiao leading to his upcoming bout against WBC lightweight champ Diaz. Plus of course photos and video clips of Pacquiao in action.

INQUIRER.net has been doing running accounts of the previous Pacquiao fights, including the last slugfest with Juan Manuel Marquez. In case you can’t watch TV this Sunday and you’re in front of the computer, your best bet is to go to The Pacquiao Files.

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By Alex Villafania
INQUIRER.net

A DAY after an apparent news embargo on the abduction of ABS-CBN reporter Ces Drilon, two of her crew and a professor from the Mindanao State University, the online Filipino community of bloggers and forums is already alive with exchanges about their fates. Some offered prayers and praises for her while others speculated as to the purpose of the media blackout.

Since Monday, there has been speculation regarding the alleged abduction. Forums such as PinoyExchange.com and Peyups.com have dedicated threads on the issue and have been exchanging ideas since June 9. One member of Peyups.com posted a story from the online version of The Mindanao Examiner, though some members questioned the veracity of the story, stating that they have not picked up the story from other news websites and that it could be a hoax.

It was on June 9 when ABS-CBN executives “requested” other media outfits to embargo the story until 6 a.m. of June 10, stating concerns about the safety of Drilon and her companions. This was also later criticized by some Peyups.com and Pinoyexchange.com members.

[Read the rest of this entry »]

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MIKE ABUNDO talks about his blogs, Alodia and his detractors.

Mike’s blogs include The Mike Abundo Effect, Inside Online Video and Tech Side Up.

Video taken by INQUIRER.net community evangelist Alex Villafania.

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I JUST recently discovered Manila Foodistas thanks to Tiffany Chua’s Twitter page, but I really like this food blog put up by a group of friends who are all undergrad students at UP Diliman.

Check out their blog — their latest entry is about Hannah’s Beijing adventure.

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By Agence France-Presse

SAN FRANCISCO, California–The world had real-time news about China’s massive earthquake as victims dashed out “twitter” text messages while it took place, in what was being touted Tuesday as micro-blogging outshining mainstream news.

As the earth shook with tragic consequences, people in the parts of China that felt the quake used their mobile telephones to send terse messages using the service provided by the San Francisco-based Twitter Inc.

News of the deadly catastrophe reached Twitter devotees such as blogger Robert Scoble in San Francisco even before the massive temblor, which killed more than 12,000 people in Sichuan province, was reported by news organizations and the earthquake-tracking US Geological Survey.

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By Alex Villafania
INQUIRER.net

FROM WRITING about showbiz to politics to Davao City and even the whole of Mindanao, Maria Jose has been making the virtual rounds among Mindanao’s growing blogging community. She’s also become popular among Manila’s blogging community, even representing herself during the recently held iBlog4 conference at the University of the Philippines Diliman.

Jose, known as Ria to her friends and the blogging community, holds the distinction of having such a diverse string of blogs covering politics, lifestyle, entertainment and even gaming. The young Davaoeña, who works as a staffer for Davao City councilor Louie Bonguyan, still has time to write for her various blogs and even organize events for her colleagues in the blogging community as well as her gaming group. Her blogs include Alleba Politics, Chikadora.com, Shopchicks.com, Shoppingera.net, and the DotA Blog, among others.

Surprisingly, Jose said her motivation for blogging was to combat boredom. As a student of Environmental Science at the Ateneo De Manila University in the late 1990s, she had too much time on her hands. She started writing essays and posting them in a mailing list. Some of the her friends started commenting on her essays, so she moved to posting them on her personal website. Jose credits her knowledge in web development as well as her entry into the blogging community to Andrew de la Serna, a search engine expert working in Davao City.

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By Alex Villafania
INQUIRER.net

NOW on its fourth year, the recently held iBlog blogging forum at the University of the Philippines Diliman Law Center showcased different aspects of blogging, with several bloggers serving as speakers.

Charo Nuguid, who maintains The Geekette Speaketh, gave first-time bloggers an overview of blogging, as well as resources where users can get tools that will get them into the social networking scene.

Controversial Australian blogger Brian Gorrell also made his presence felt in the event through a video blog that welcomed the participants. Gorrell emphasized the need for people to speak out their minds. However, he cautioned that while blogging can be a form of communication, bloggers will almost always receive flak from those who do not agree with certain missives. Nevertheless, Gorrell stressed that bloggers should continue with their craft.

[Read the rest of this entry »]

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By Candice Montenegro, Contributor
INQUIRER.net

ONE boredom buster I’ve shared with all my friends is Googling. It’s basically just typing in random words or names on Google and looking at the websites that the search returns. It’s actually a fun way to learn new things everyday. When you type the word “falafel,” for example, you can read the origin of the famous Middle Eastern food as well as yummy recipes that teach you how to make some.

Anyway, if you’re up for it, try typing in the word “Filipina.” Here are some of the results you’ll get — Filipina Penpals, Filipina Dating, Filipina Singles, Sexy Filipina, Pinay and Exotic Models. Yes, that’s apparently the stereotypical Filipina that is shown online.

Good thing the top-ranked site now is a blog called The Filipina Images.

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By Candice Montenegro
INQUIRER.net

WE’RE always told that the world is our classroom. Now, blogging gives a whole new meaning to that cliché and proves there really is a virtual classroom in the world (wide web).

Edublogs are blogs primarily used for educational purposes. These include blogs written by teachers (for a class or co-teachers) and those maintained by students for a particular school subject or class.

The blog is becoming a popular outlet for education-related discussions because it provides a fast and convenient way to share insights, resources and even homework. It is easy to update regularly, and feedback can come in the form of comments.

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