Quantcast Blog Addicts: March 2007 Archives

March 2007 Archives

And the Philippine Blog Awards winners are...

March 31, 2007 9:39 PM | 3 Comments | No TrackBacks
HERE'S the list of Philippine Blog Awards winners in the major award categories:

Podcast -- Happy Slip

Photo Blog -- Senor Enrique

Fashion and Lifestyle -- Bryanboy

Sports -- Who Rides Vespa?

Business -- Reflections of a BizDriven Life

News and Media -- In side PCIJ

Sociopolotical -- Philippine Commentary Home and Living -- Wife ly Steps

Entertainment -- Retzwerk

Travel -- Ivan About Town

Tech -- Ki lat: The Cybercafe Experiments

Personal -- Mist eryosa.com And the special category awards winners are: Blogger's Choice Award winner: Market Manila

Social Media = Citizen Journalism

March 31, 2007 6:27 PM | No TrackBacks
SOCIAL Media shifts the power to produce content and develop ideas away from the established mainstream, and towards the individual. In the past, information available online on the World Wide Web was static, and this was con trolled by the few who had access to equipment, bandwidth and content. Content was highly filtered, being controlled by the newspapers, magazines, companies w ith big marketing budgets, and a few really smart people who could write copy a nd code HTML very well. Even when blogs started to surface, these were relegate d to being personal diaries and nothing more.
That bit of thought comes from J. Angelo Racoma, a professional Filipino blo gger. Reading his post brought back memories of arguments we had in my graduate class. Yes, blogs and other Internet innovations such as podcasting, have allo wed YOU to participate in what we now call "citizen journalism." That term is a ctually a misnomer because journalists are citizens too. But I digress. Social media is a broad term that describes participatory journalism. Blogs hav e indeed become one way for YOU to contribute to discussions and sometimes to j ournalism. Angelo writes, "[B]logs have grown to be popular sources of online commentary, opinion, and even journalistic reportage. Blogs are crossing over to the mainst ream. Moreover, other more media-rich content have started to become popular. V ideo sharing sites have become popular channels for grassroots moviemaking. Pod castsâaudio programs distributed over the Internetâare becoming good alternativ es to talk radio." He continues:
Social Media, therefore has changed who decides and how these decis ions are brought about. Before, editors and publishers decided the news headlin es. Before, editors and publishers decide which story goes to which section of the newspaper. Today, itâs you, the user, who has control. The most obvious advantage of social media is that users are now empowered to d etermine what the Web contains and how these are presented and shared. The Inte rnet inherits the social aspect of humanity. However, this is only one of many benefits.
For some journalists, allowing YOU to decide what makes headline story tomorrow is sacrilege. Many traditional journalists will cringe at the thought. The con cept of social media is not new. It is the very essence of journalism,which is really about YOU, the public. Blogs have allowed YOU to put in your two cents' worth of ideas. And that makes for good conversation and journalism in cyberspa ce. It adds more depth to stories. But the reality is, YOU will still need editors, publishers, and reporters to p rovide YOU the news. In turn, YOU can now use technology such as blogs to offer them different perspectives or information. With that, we will end up with bet ter, and well-digested stories. To end, here's interesting thought from a Slashdot interview with Jay Rosen of PressThink:
Sometimes the network will be the knowledge producer, the journalis t the enabler. Other times the journalist will be the producer, and the network the enabler. Pro-am journalism is not inherently better than am-pro. Amateur u sers could in some cases do it all themselves, with editors watching and giving the green light in stages. Different combinations beg to be tried. It's unwise to say in advance that we know how it will work, or that it can't.

Blog Addict of the Week: Jayme

March 30, 2007 6:33 PM | 8 Comments | No TrackBacks
jayme-palawan-018.jpgMEET our Blog Addict of the Week, Jayme of Heavensent Angel. Could you tell us something about yourself? How old are you and what ar e you currently doing? When and why did you start blogging and who got you hook ed? I am 25. I am currently trying to balance being an associate producer of a chil dren's show, a loving and devoted wife and a soon-to-be mom to our baby daughte r. I started blogging in November 2004. My co-producer Shao had just started her b log a month earlier and she encouraged me to make my own. At first, I was hesitant at the thought of writing in a blog that anyone could read. I love writing. I've been writing since I was six years old. I started wr iting on old planners my dad brought home from the office until I got my own di aries and notebooks. But everything I've written over the years were carefully guarded from prying eyes. Curiousity got the best of me though and I've been blogging ever since. What makes a blog better than a regular website? Did you try putting up your own site before you started blogging? I haven't tried putting up my own website but I've stuck to my blog because I d on't have to worry about HTML and other technical web designing stuff. My blog has also helped me to keep track of what's going on in my life. When I read my past entries, it reminds me of the good times, the bad, the lessons I learned a nd the people I've met who have made a difference in my life. But more than that, what makes blogging great is it lets you connect with peopl e you'd probably never meet otherwise. It's amazing to know that other people a million miles away share the same thoughts and experiences as you. Just goes t o show that all people share a bond that transcends differences in race, religi on, country and culture. Would you say that blogging is very addictive? How many people have you convinced to also start blogging? Absolutely addictive! I often tote a notebook around and jot down ideas for ent ries I could write in my blog, ranging from the mundane to the serious. There w ere times though that I would get so busy with work and I would neglect to upda te my blog. But I could never bring myself to shut it down completely. I always find myself returning to the computer and writing a comeback entry. Now that I'm pregnant, I hardly go out so I'm spending more time with my notebo ok and typing one entry after the other. It helps me release my anxieties and o ther thoughts constantly swimming in my head. It's like a therapeutic addiction for me. How has blogging made a difference in your life? I graduated with a Journalism degree but my career path led me to broadcasting. My writing took a back seat as I learned the rudiments of TV production and sc riptwriting. One day, I dug up an old notebook, browsed my entries and tried writing a new one. But the words won't come out! I felt like I've lost somethi ng. Blogging has made me rediscover and revive my passion for writing. Though I con tinue to work in the broadcasting industry, I find respite from the stress and craziness by retreating to my blog. It's where I'm absolutely free to write abo ut anything I want, however I want. And I intend to continue writing for as lon g as I'm strong enough to do it and the words keep coming. What blogging software do you use? What makes it better than other blog ging services? I use Blogger because it's free and it's easy. I haven't tried other blogging s ervices long enough to make a comparison. I tried opening accounts in other blo gging services but I never get past setting it up and always return to Blogger because it's simpler and more user-friendly. Plus, Blogger continuously comes u p with improvements making posting entries, uploading pictures and customizing templates a lot easier. I haven't experienced any major problems so far so I gu ess I'll be staying with Blogger for a long time. What's the most memorable experience you've had in the blogging world?< /strong> Being featured as a Blog Addict! :) If you have to pimp your blog to readers, could you tell us in 100 word s or less why they should visit your blog? Visit my web haven, you're all welcome to share in my little piece of heaven. * * * Thanks, Jayme! An d to all those whoâd like to be featured, just leave a comment and your URL so that we can check out your blog. Or e-mail joeyalarilla@gmail.com. Weâll feature a new Blog Addict every Friday, so keep visiting :) Who knows? The next Blog Addict of the Week could be you.

Find your blog carnival

March 29, 2007 6:57 PM | 2 Comments | No TrackBacks
"FIND your carnival, and get your blog." This one-liner comes from a service ca lled, er, Blog C arnival. Simply put, a blog carnival is a collection of top blog postings o n different topics. A blog called "All My Eye" als o provides this definition:
Blog Carnivals attempt to provide a weekly or monthly summary of ke y postings in a particular blogging community or topic. The source media is dif ferent (blogs versus mailing lists) but the editorial process and end results a re essentially the same: a regular digest of important scholarly or technical d iscussions. Carole Anne Meyer has described Blog Carnivals as secondary publishing reinvented.
Topics can vary. All My Eye found scholarly blog carnivals, which focused on th e science community, for instance. A blog carnival is a blog community or network with a twist. This new "approach " hopes to help you find more relevant information from the virtual haystack we call the blogosphere. But from time to time, you will still find some blogs re gurgitating second-hand information. So be careful. Blog on!

Blogging 'Heroes'

March 28, 2007 5:32 PM | 13 Comments | No TrackBacks
I LOVE "Heroes," so mu ch that we actually spoofed it in Episode 7 of hackenslash: the podcast, with more "Hero Sandwich" epis odes to come. Yeah, I know they've only recently started airing the series on Philippine TV, but, ahem, I found ways of getting my "Heroes" fix months ago, so I won't spo il the surprise for those who are just discovering this amazing series. If you don't mind spoilers, however, one of the blogs I started frequenting w hen I got hooked on "Heroes" is HeroestheSeries.com.  Another interesting blog is Heroes Revealed. Speaking of blogs, you have to check out Hiro's Blog, which is a hilarious blog ostens ibly maintained by the character Hiro Nakamura (played by Masi Oka), easily one of the fan favorites on this show. You can also visit the blog of "Heroes" director and producer Greg Beeman. Oh, and kudos to Ali Lartner Larter, who plays Niki and Jessi ca, for being named by TV Guide as one of TV's sexiest women. Now, back to getting my "Heroes" fix and pondering that cosmic question: "How d o you stop an exploding man?"

The Traveling Blogger: Episode One

March 27, 2007 2:26 AM | 21 Comments | No TrackBacks
J UST call me the wifi bandit. My blogging addiction has taken me on all kinds of adventures -- from almost mi ssing a flight because I was too busy posting at the Hong Kong airport to being kicked out of an Internet cafe by a Middle Eastern family in a quiet street in Dusseldorf, Germany. But this is the closest I have come to actually committing a crime because of m y addiction. My friend Tina lent me her new apartment during my recent trip to Singapore. A trip which only had one purpose: to stalk the beautiful Rachael Yamagata. Knowing my insane passion for the Internet and my incessant need to be online, she warned me before I left Manila, "Pammy, there's no Internet access in my apartment yet. But I promise there will be when you visit again." "Don't worry about it," I said, already hatching plans to hang out in cafes or at least Google my way to the nearest wifi hotspot. When I finally arrived at her apartment, it was a little after midnight on a Fr iday. The first thing I did was take my laptop out and check if there was a wif i connection, just in case. Instantly, I was connected. YM messages started popping up and my Gmail Notifie r kept making little noises. What's an addict to do? Click the Turn Airport Off option or stay online? Stay online, of course. I blogged, replied to a few e-mails and chatted with friends on YM. But I had a nagging thought in my head -- because I remembered an article I rea d about a teenage boy in Singapo re who was caught stealing someone else's wifi connection. He was put on pr obation for eighteen months and this is the killer part -- he will not be allow ed to access the Internet during the entire time. Eighteen months without Internet access? That seriously sounds like a death sen tence to me. The guy was the first to be punished under Singapore's Computer Misuse Act. I d idn't want to be number two. And so the debate between my Sane Logical Self and Crazed Internet-Addicted Sel f began. Sane Logical Self: This is wrong. Cut the connection and go read a book. Or something. Crazed Internet-Addicted Self: But we're online. And the connection says "d efault" and we didn't even click on anything, it just appeared. So technically, we're not guilty. If an apple fell into your lap, would you call it stealing?< /em> Sane Logical Self: Yes, if you ate it. And you are eating this apple. I mea n, using the connection. Crazed Internet-Addicted Self: But no one owns it, no one has even bothered to name the connection, it's just called "default." Sane Logical Self: Of course someone owns it. Just because someone hasn't n amed their puppy yet doesn't mean you can get it. Crazed Internet-Addicted Self: You really need better metaphors. Sane Logical Self: Whatever. This is still wrong. Crazed Internet-Addicted Self: I know it's wrong. But we're connected. Sane Logical Self: Yes, using a connection that isn't yours. Crazed Internet-Addicted Self: Shut up. This is getting old. Besides, we wo uldn't get caught. That's the point, not getting caught. Sane Logical Self: You know that the Singapore government is very efficient . And they wouldn't think twice about punishing you. Crazed Internet-Addicted Self: Yeah but I'm sure they have other wifi thiev es to worry about. I mean we've only been using it for a few minutes. Sane Logical Self: I wouldn't be surprised if they start knocking on that d oor any minute now. Crazed Internet-Addicted Self: You think? Of course not. It's in the middle of the night -- they're all sleeping. Sane Logical Self: Sigh. You are too stubborn. Crazed Internet-Addicted Self: Right back at ya. I am ashamed to admit that Crazed Internet-Addicted Self won. I did use that co nnection and about two or three others during my three-day stay. I realized how absurd the whole thing was when I found myself crouching in one corner of the guest room because the signal was the strongest there. And yes, I kept checking to see if there were Singaporean policemen outside the door. Sometimes I wonder why I'm allowed to roam the streets of this world freely. I left the apartment on Sunday night, half-expecting someone to slap handcuffs on me as I dragged my luggage out of the elevator. But no one did. The wifi bandit remains at large.

Singapore mulls regulation for new media, blogs

March 26, 2007 8:32 PM | 7 Comments | No TrackBacks
A SINGAPOREAN agency announced Monday it wa s looking into extending regulation to new media, which includes websites and b logs, Agence-France Presse reports. It says the Media Development Authority (MDA) of Singapore is currently seeking public reaction to its Media Market Conduct Code. Implemented in 2003, the Cod e regulates the print and broadcast media, including the newspapers and televis ion. But with the emergence of new media, the agency feels it is time to revisi t the Code. Excerpt:
"The media landscape has changed since 2003, and a good example is the adoption of different business models by traditional and new media players, " said Ling Pek Ling, director for media policy at MDA. "With the emergence of new media markets and the introduction of HDTV and IPTV services, it is timely for us to look at how we can update our code to meet the needs of the media industry," she said.
The story notes that the MDA is "responsible for the country's censor board." It ends:
In a country where all local broadcasting outlets are government-ow ned and newspapers are expected to be "partners" with the government, many peop le have turned to websites and blogs for alternative views of the city-state's political and social issues.

How to start a personal blog

March 25, 2007 10:43 AM | 11 Comments | No TrackBacks
YOU'VE probably asked this question many times: How personal should your blog g et? Well, I found this interesting blog that suggested several things to consider. Excerpt:
As a blogger, you may have asked yourself just how personal you wan t to get when it comes to your blog. Do you want people to know a little or a l ot about you? Do you want to disclose personal information to the readers who v isit your blog?
All of these questions are important to ask if you are a blog owner ; in determining just how personal you want to get on your blog, consider two c ritical points.
To summarize the blog's points, you should keep the following tips in mind:
  • Determine the purpose of your blog.
  • People want to know how you feel. But remember, write things that y ou think you can be comfortable enough to reveal.
  • Never insult or offend your readers.

Blog Addict of the Week: Marge Mateo

March 24, 2007 10:12 PM | 6 Comments | No TrackBacks
marge-mateo.jpgSAY hello to our Blog Addict o f the Week, Marge Mateo of Fish Tank. Could you tell us something about yourself? How old are you and what ar e you currently doing? When and why did you start blogging and who got you hook ed? I am Anne Margaux Mateo, Marge is what I want people to call me. Iâm 22 years o ld, and I am at present studying. I started blogging back in 2004 after I read my friendsâ blog. I got hooked and was thinking that this is my online portfoli o, so I wrote a lot at that time, not thinking who -- or if ever there was -- w as the audience that I have at that time. What makes a blog better than a regular website? Did you try putting up your own site before you started blogging? For me, blogging is better than websites because with websites you try to indul ge in a lot of elements that will make your site appealing. With blogs, people do not need to expect a picture book. Blogs are journals so people are OK with seeing a lot of words. I tried putting up a webpage before, and it didnât work out. Iâm impatient with creating them. Would you say that blogging is very addictive? How many people have you convinced to also start blogging? It is addictive! Once you find out there are people who read your blog, you get motivated to write, and write something that appeals to them. Though sometimes, I go through a slumpy stage -- I tend to make decorations for my blog instead :) most people I know have a blog site. The only one I havenât fully convinced to blog is my best friend. I even made our private blog site! But then sheâs not writing⦠OK sheâs busy. How has blogging made a difference in your life? Being away from my friends makes it easier for me to tell them, hey! This is wh at I've been doing here! I'm OK :) What blogging software do you use? What makes it better than other blog ging services? I'm using Blogger.com, so whatever other software they have, I am using it. I a m trying to be savvy with computer language⦠the basics maybe. I kinda lost my memory about all these during my college years when I didnât care about it muc h :) What's the most memorable experience you've had in the blogging world?< /strong> My almost back-to-back posts last February! I was having a lot of time alone, s o I tend to write three to five posts per day. Plus, it was near Valentine's Da y, so I was writing a lot on one of my favorite topics, love. Hahaha!!! If you have to pimp your blog to readers, could you tell us in 100 word s or less why they should visit your blog? I want to make it simple. If you know me, read my blog. If you donât know me, r ead my blog as well and youâll get to know me. * * * Thanks, Marge! And to all those whoâd like to be featured, just leave a comment and your URL so t hat we can check out your blog. Or e-mail joeyalarilla@gmail.com. Weâll feature a new Blog Addict every Friday, so keep visiting :) Who knows? The next Blog Addict of the Week could be you.

Malaysian gov't official says blogs shouldn't be trusted

March 23, 2007 5:13 PM | 10 Comments | No TrackBacks
SHOULD mainstream media trust blogs as sources of information? A Malaysian mini ster doesn't think so. Here's an excerpt from an Agence France-Presse wire story.
KUALA LUMPUR--A Malaysian minister has told domestic newspapers not to quote from Internet blogs or use them as sources of information, accusing the websites of spreading rumors, reports said Wednesday .
Information Minister Zainuddin Maidin said most websites were aimed at being provocative and were run by frustrated journa lists and political pundits, the Star daily reported.
"Do not quote them because you are disgraci ng yourself as you are the authority. Do not give credit to such anarchist webs ites," Zainuddin was quoted as saying.

A blog for anime lovers

March 22, 2007 5:41 PM | 2 Comments | No TrackBacks
otaku-shrine.jpgARE you an otaku? Can't g et enough of manga and anime? Then check out this nifty blog called The Otaku Shrine. Here's an excerpt from the latest blog entry< /a>:
There was a time when I totally gave up on Tsubasa Reservoir Chroni cle. While the fillers were a huge turn-off, BeeTrainâs animated rendition of T RC was a far cry from the CLAMPâs mouthwaterinly artistic manga. And I have to admit the theme song played whenever Syaoran battles someone to get Sakuraâs fe ather gets old after a while. And the flashbacks to meeting Yuuko are not at al l invigorating. So I stopped following Syaoran and Sakuraâs story for months. Two days ago, while in hot pursuit of Beckâs manga scanlations, I stumbled upon the latest chapters of TRC. I opted to read the chapter 145 which was the last update. Holy good lord my heavens! The very first page hooked me with an all o ut battle between Syaoran and Hikaru (Angelic Layer). Warning! Spoilers full sp eed ahead! Do not read if you donât like S-P-O-I-L-E-R-S! CLAMP is a freakinâ g enius for all the amazing plot twists and cliffhangers they throw at us slaveri ng fans! This is the front cover of one of the latter chaptersâ good lordâ two Syaorans!?! Spoilers Ahoy!!!

Teaching through blogs reloaded

March 21, 2007 4:44 PM | 10 Comments | No TrackBacks
I FOUND this blog called Inevitab le Karma by Martin Perez, a social studies teacher at the Philippine Science High Sc hool. A quick look at his blog will tell you he's one cool teacher. Sir Martin (as he prefers to be called) loves rock and alternative music. He reads books like "T he Lexus and the Olive Tree" and "The World is Flat" by Thomas Friedman. He was born in 1983! And did I say he loves comics? That's a long introduction to the topic on teaching through blogs. Remember I already featured a blog by an American teacher ? So I thought of finding a local one to show how Filipinos are using the s ame technology to reach out to students. In a project called Pisay meets World, Sir Martin encourages students to use Internet technology to express "What can the world expect from the Pisa y scholar in the future?" Pisay is a short for Philippine Science High School. He explains:
In March 2007, Sir Martin and his students unveiled an ambitious pr oject for the very first time -- the Pisay Meets World. It was a casca de of online student projects that answers the theme, "What can the world expec t from the Pisay scholar in the future?" Their answers ranged from satires of high school life (that showed off their ar tistic side) to short films on real issues, and to blogs that responded to real social concerns.
Here's one good example of a short film done by his students, which they posted on YouTube. One thing I found interesting from his blog is a podcast that explain s the genesis of the Pisay Meets World project. Now, who says learning social studies in high school is boring? Heh :)

hackenslash is now a blog

March 21, 2007 4:37 PM | No TrackBacks
new-hackenslash.jpgOUR hackenslash gaming site is now a blog. It's our very first site to be transformed into a blog, and it's the seventh bl og in the INQUIRER.net Blogs network. Find out why we turned it into a blog.

Philippine Blog Awards finalists revealed

March 20, 2007 7:34 PM | 1 Comment | No TrackBacks
THE FINALISTS for the Philippine Blog Awards have finally been unveiled. The complete list of finalists for the main categories can be found here. The finalists for the special awards can be found here. The Philippine Blog Awards will be held this 31st of March 2007 at Podium 4, th e RCBC Plaza Auditorium in Makati City.

Blogs and free expression

March 19, 2007 4:47 PM | 5 Comments | No TrackBacks
I RECEIVED an e-mail from a Malaysian journalist last week. It was about a stor y from Malaysiakini.com highlighting a recent warning from its Internal Security Ministry against newspapers quoting or citing "anti-government" content from blogs and online portals. Unfortunately, Malaysiakini.com's story is only available for its paying subscr ibers. But for the purpose of our discussion on blogs and free expression, I ha ve picked a few points from the article to highlight:
  • The Ministry sent a letter to newspapers reminding them of the Pri nting Presses and Publications Act of 1984. According to Section 8A(2) of the l aw, newspapers should ensure "correctness and truth of news before publishing t hem."
  • It discouraged newspapers from publishing online content from blogs and online portals that were reportedly based on speculation and unverified in formation.
  • But the article stressed that this circular from the Ministry was a "thinly veiled threat" to dissuade newspapers from citing blogs and other simi lar online sources.
  • Blogs and websites have apparently exposed alleged corruption in so me government agencies including the Internal Security Ministry.
In countries where media is "regulated," blogs have become the last bastion of free expression. Global Voices, a blog network that has touched on issues of free expression and bloggers, has demonstrated the power of blogs to give voic e to the voiceless. In China, for instance, Global Voices picked on a story of a policeman sacked for blogging.

Teaching through blogs

March 18, 2007 10:45 AM | 6 Comments | No TrackBacks
I WISH to explore another application for blogs, which is teaching. I believe t hat schools are only beginning to see the benefits of blogs as a tool for educa tion. In most cases, blogs by teachers or students are personal in nature. So I went searching for interesting blogs by teachers and found one. It's called < a href="http://coolcatteacher.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Cool Cat Teacher B log. Here's why I love this blog:
As I read about the evolution of the Web, I just feel that many of the exp erts are missing it! (Perhaps the 3D web is part of the "intelligent agent" idea, but I'm not so sure.)
Yes, I think the semantic web is important (see the W3c specs) and inherently part of the future of the web, b ut I think there is one overarching evolution happening right now under our fee t that is inexorably enmeshed with the semantic web. It is there amidst the video games and "fun things" that most educators refuse to recognize. With "Web 2.0" barely taking a "bit" part in most of today's clas srooms, the next evolution of the web, I predict, is not Web 3.0. I think it wi ll be Web 3D.
The Cool Cat Teacher Blog is essentially about "[t]eaching content with new too ls, enthusiasm, and belief that teaching is a high calling." The blog was created by Vicki Davis from Camilla, Georgia.

INQUIRER.net launches 3 more blogs

March 16, 2007 5:27 PM | 7 Comments | No TrackBacks
WE'VE added three more blogs to our growing INQUIRER.net Blogs network: Current, the Eleksyon 2007 Blog and Babe Republic. inquirercurrent.jpgCurrent is a joint blog from Philippine Daily Inquirer columnist Manuel Quezon III and Inquirer editor John Nery, which will tackle current events and the issues of the day as reported in the Inquirer print newspaper. Tired of letting the candidates do all the talking? eleksyon2007blog.jpgGo to t he Eleksyon 2007 Blog and make your voice heard. We're not content with just re ading your feedback. The Eleksyon 2007 Blog is the first official INQUIRER.net blog that will allow readers to post their own entries instead of just commenti ng on articles. Click here to find out how you can pos t your election-related blog entries. Finally, we have Babe Republic, the first INQUIRER.net blog that will complemen t our ShowbizandStyle channel. baberepublic.jpgSee these babes in a differ ent light, and maybe discover something about them you never knew before becaus e everyone was focusing on their gorgeous faces and sexy bodies. Of course, we' re not going to lie to you -- we love them for their looks, but we also want yo u to get to know them a little better. Are you a babe? Click here to find out how you can be feature d in Babe Republic. More blogs coming soon.

Blog Addict of the Week: Sajid Kamid

March 16, 2007 5:07 PM | 14 Comments | No TrackBacks
OUR Blog Addict of the Week is Sajid A. Kamid of Ctrl + Alt + Delete. sajid-kamid .jpg Could you tell us something about yourself? How old are you and what ar e you currently doing? When and why did you start blogging and who got you hook ed? I am 31 years old, a native of Cotabato City, Mindanao. A Ph.D. student at the University of Tsukuba, Japan. I will be studying here until 2010. I started blogging in August 2006, the month when I had to take my departmental entrance exam. I wasn't sure about my purpose in blogging at first. It was merely a diversion from my anticipated heavy academic endeavor. But then later on, I realized that maybe I should finally engage with the Web community more openly and with a se nse of purpose this time. I thought that maybe through blogging I could enhance my writing skills and more importantly, interact with the Web community and th ereby gain more friends and exchange ideas and opinions. Although in the electronic world, my blog readers (well, not that much for now) are after all, real people behind their computers. And that makes very special sense to me as a person. Every time I post an entry and then get comments, the y bring smiles to my face and delight to my days. Also, my knowledge and ideas get polished. Blogging also encourages me to be more sensitive and heedful so t hat I can respond to the comments accordingly, given the time available. Who got me hooked? Sometime in April 2006, I was asked by some Filipino friends here in Japan to j oin a photo blog community, which I did but I did not stay there for long. Firs t, I did not have my digicam that time and so posting photos became a big burde n for me with my camera phone. Then sadly, I think the site shut down for reaso ns I did not bother to find out. But the last comments I heard was about server problems, speed and the persistence of spams. Slowly then, I tried my luck wit h WordPress. And yes, I mean a free account on WordPress.com. Itâs a good thing that I am getting impressed day by day by the enthusiasm of the WordPress team . What makes a blog better than a regular website? Did you try putting up your own site before you started blogging? A blog is obviously more dynamic than a regular website. With the intense inter actions through inter-blog comments, the flow of communication is always alive. Much more if the blog entries are very interesting. And with this, I think a b log is more aggressive in terms of sharing ideas and knowledge. Being a not-so-financially blessed person, I once tried putting up a website us ing those old free webspace providers but eventually, I got tired of it. The pa ges you can create and manage as a free account holder are very static and the use of interactive applications is very limited if not totally forbidden. The g uestbook was still popular at the time and I felt it was boring as time passed by. Would you say that blogging is very addictive? How many people have you convinced to also start blogging? Yes, blogging is very addictive and yet, educational too. Moreover, it requires time but that depends on your time management skills. So far, I have not yet tried convincing other people to engage in blogging. But maybe one day I will consider it. How has blogging made a difference in your life? Blogging made me more cautious with regards to giving ideas and comments. As mu ch as possible, I don't want to appear like a mere website hopper hoping just t o attract visitors to my site. I got to be sensible with the topics and give co mments accordingly. This applies to real life -- you have to be within the cont ext of things. Also, blogging encouraged me to read more. Plus of course, I get to polish my writing skills. What blogging software do you use? What makes it better than other blog ging services? Right now, I am under the umbrella of WordPress.com. I haven't tried other blog services yet but so far, I am doing very well on WP. What's the most memorable experience you've had in the blogging world?< /strong> Several years ago, I had the unripe impression that blogging was just for those teens who discussed their teenage crushes and celebrity idols. But as I became familiar with it, I realized that itâs different now. Blogging has gone far be yond the teenage crazes and went onto more realistic dealings with life and its issues. You name it, the blogging world has it. So, I think the memorable expe rience I have is the beautiful realization on what's really going on in the blo gging sphere and its takes on life and community as a whole. And I should not f orget that I have acquired a bunch of friends through blogging. If you have to pimp your blog to readers, could you tell us in 100 word s or less why they should visit your blog? Well, I am a newbie in the blogosphere but I make sure that I do my best in wri ting my entries. As you can see, I will be spending about four years here in Ja pan and I have the utmost excitement to blog about my daily takes and experienc es in the Land of the Rising Sun, where a large proportion of it will be about my being a foreign student. Life here so far is getting interesting everyday an d I would be more than happy to share that to my additional future blog readers . And of course, there is always the fun and surprise side of things. This, my future new blog readers are about to learn from my entries, as they pay me a vi sit at http://skamid.wor dpress.com/ * * * Thanks, Sajid! And to all those whoâd like to be featured, just leave a comment and your URL so that we can check out your blog. Or e-mail joeyalarilla@gmail.com. Weâll feature a new Blog Addict every Friday, so keep visiting :) Who knows? The next Blog Addict of the Week could be you.

Are bloggers 'parasites?'

March 15, 2007 6:38 PM | 7 Comments | No TrackBacks
HERE'S a provoking question posed by an article on Guardian Unlimited. This question is a result of an observation Robert Niles, the editor of the Onl ine Journalism Review, which found that journalists often see bloggers "feeding " off the work of newspapers and magazines since they just serve as a "global e cho chamber." Here's an excerpt:
Are bloggers parasites? That's the question of the day in the navel -gazing world of the blogosphere. Robert Niles, the editor of the Online Journa lism Review, recently decried what he sees as a tendency by journalists to char acterise blogs as "a 'parasitic' medium" that feeds off the work of traditional newspapers and magazines. He calls the charge "a poorly informed insult of man y hard-working Web publishers who are doing fresh, informative and original wor k."
Maybe so, but Niles's protestations notwithstanding, blogs are larg ely parasitic. Yes, a handful of bloggers do original reporting, usually on hig hly specialised topics, but most simply react to the news of the day. The blogo sphere, as others have pointed out, acts as a kind of global echo chamber. An i dea gets swatted around like a ping-pong ball for a few hours until a fresh one takes its place. But is that really so bad? I used to think of blogging's reactive nature as a f law in the medium. I've changed my mind, though. I've come to believe that bein g a literary parasite is no bad thing. I'd argue, in fact, that parasitism is b logging's most distinctive and probably its most valuable feature.

Finding business ideas from blogs

March 14, 2007 3:42 PM | 8 Comments | No TrackBacks
I STUMBLED upon this blog called EntrePinoys Atbp. while browsing through PinoyBlogosphere, a blog aggre gator. First, the blog contains useful information for entrepreneur wannabes. F rom making ramen, spaghetti noodles, etc. to aroma c andles, this blog offers a lot of ideas which will keep you saying, "Why didn't I think of that?" The blog is divided into different topics from tips (for more tips check out ov er very own Money Smarts), from doing business as an SME, to franchising, etc. It has already been featured by Annalyn Jusay for the Manila Bulletin and is currently among the nomin ees in the 20 07 Philippine Blog Awards. The blog is maintained by Eu-Leh who lives in Riyadh. But his hometown indicate s he's a Filipino and was born in Las Piñas City.

Update on jailed Egyptian blogger

March 13, 2007 8:35 AM | 1 Comment | No TrackBacks
HERE'S an excerpt from the AFP wire story tha t came out in INQUIRER.net Infotech:
CAIRO--The Egyptian judge, who chairs the court that is to hear a b logger's appeal against a four-year jail sentence that drew criticism from arou nd the world, is seeking to gag 21 websites, a judicial source told AFP Sunday. The chairman of the appeals court in the second city of Alexandria, Abdel Fatta h Murad, has taken the unusual step of applying to the administrative court for an injunction to close down the websites for allegedly harming the reputation of President Hosni Mubarak, the sources said.
Good thing no Filipino blogger has been jailed for criticizing the government - - or the Roman Catholic Church for that matter. For more reactions to the plight of the Egyptian blogger Kareem Nabeel Sulaiman , check out this Global Voices Online p ost and this Western Resistance entry. Visit the Free Kareem Coal ition site to find out how this interfaith alliance of young bloggers and c ollege students is campaigning for Kareem's freedom.Interestingly enough, Karee m's blog is still online here, though you'll need a translator.

Rediscover the Philippines through blogs

March 12, 2007 1:17 PM | No TrackBacks
NUMEROUS travel blogs are out there. But an interesting blog called Philippine GPS Users mixes tech and travel blogging. Currently maintained by Earl Robles, a techie and former executive at Narra Ven tures, the blog is actually his proof of concept of a "voice navigated turn-by- turn In-Car GPS." In an e-mail, Robles said the device is "programmed into a standard din-size de vice which can be installed in cars." "I've tested the experimental prototype inside the Ayala Alabang [area] and i t's pretty accurate," he added. Here's an actual video clip of the voice guided GPS system. Thanks for sharing this project with us, Earl. I think blogging about it will h elp spread the word ;-)

More than meets the eye

March 11, 2007 6:30 PM | 2 Comments | No TrackBacks
transfor mers.jpg ARE you a Transf ormers fan? Then check out the TransFormers Philippines blog, a three-year-old site that's generating ev en more interest lately thanks to the upcoming movie. Get to know the members of TransFormers Philippines, led by founder and moderator Mark Cerbo and co-founder and events and marketing head Azrael Coladilla, and find out what online and offline activitie s they have in store as we count down to the release of the "Tranformers" movie on the Fourth of July.

Blog Fiction: Shiksa from Manila

March 10, 2007 7:28 PM | 12 Comments | No TrackBacks
A BLOG also lends itself well to fiction and other literary pieces. An interes ting example of this is Shiksa from Manila, a series of stories from Brooklyn-based Filipi na writer Sophia Romero about a fictional character/online persona named Amapol a Gold. Romero is the author of "Always Hiding," a 1998 novel whose ma in character Viola is the daughter of a wealthy Manila socialite who has fled t he Marcos regime to live as an illegal immigrant in New York City. Viola's fath er, a government official, decides to send Viola to live with her mother in New York to escape the political turmoil, unaware that his daughter plans to bring her mother back to the Philippines. I haven't read the book, but the description of Romero's first novel has certai nly piqued my curiosity. For now, I'm glad I've stumbled upon the fascinating s tories on her blog. By the way, as her blog explains, a "shiksa" is a "term use d to describe a woman who is non-Jewish. Usually meant in a pejorative way." Here's an excerpt from the latest story on Shiksa from Manila:
My name is Amapola and I am the shiksa from Manila⦠A hyphen is a small bar that looks like a minus sign. The dictionary further de scribes the hyphen as a punctuation mark used to divide or connect two words; t o describe a person who performs more than one function; to describe a unit of mixed or diverse backgrounds. To me the hyphen is all that. For something no bigger than a period, it means s o much more. It describes the life I lead: a life that straddles two worlds, th e tight rope that connects me to both, maintaining the delicate balancing act b etween the life I had before and the life I have now.
Romero also has a blog on the Parents' Blog Network of NY Metro Parents Magazin e called Mom After-Hours.

Blog to end poverty, hunger, injustice

March 9, 2007 8:51 AM | 8 Comments | No TrackBacks
WHOA. That looks like a serious topic there. But I think this is past overdue. The title is inspired by Mong Palatino who is "2 7 years old, addicted to activism, aspiring educator, son of migrant workers, p resident of kabataan partylist" and contributor to Global Voices, a global networ k of bloggers. (Now I wonder what I was doing when I was 27). In a post sometime in December 2006, he made int eresting observations about the power of blogging, albeit admitting it is still mostly seen as an "elitist activity." He picked some ideas from the Global Voi ces yearly conference, which he attended last year. His ideas remain relevant, so I'm highlighting some of them for all you bloggers out there. I hope this in spires you to blog and make a difference. Excerpt from Mong's post:
  • Encourage senior citizens to blog. These are peopl e who have a lot of stories to tell. Blogging may also help improve their menta l faculties. In Singapore, its student exchange program requires participants t o set up a blog to record their experience. Letâs emulate this practice in our student seminars and conferences.
  • Disaster blogging. Bloggers have been very reliabl e documenting huge disasters throughout the globe. Rescue teams, mainstream med ia outlets and government agencies can benefit from disaster blogs. Bloggers ca n point to areas in need of assistance, accurately assess the impact of a catas trophe from the field and record amazing stories overlooked by news reporters.< /li>
  • Blogging fuels citizen journalism. Oh my news proj ect in South Korea (âEvery citizen is a reporterâ) is a good example on how to generate news stories submitted by ordinary people. But blogs can also distort the real situation. In Zimbabwe, most of the bloggers have anti-Mugabe sentimen ts but majority of Zimbabwe citizens are supportive of the leader.
  • Print edition for blogs? Well, why not? The most p opular blogger in Taiwan has already published a book. Letâs hope Filipino blog gers can publish a book not just about jokes. In Tunisia, a prison map in the w eb was created by a blogger to show where Tunisian authorities have been jailin g political prisoners. We should create a web map to show where extra-judicial killings are rampant throughout the country.
I specially like this conclusion from Mong's post: "I think blogging must not b e separated from the movement to end poverty, hunger and injustice. We can make blogging an added weapon to make another beautiful, kinder world."

Blog Addict of the Week: ahnnabanana

March 9, 2007 8:28 AM | 9 Comments | No TrackBacks
MEET our Blog Addict of the Week, Anna a.k.a. ahnnabanana of the annafication on LiveJournal . Here's a pic -- Anna's the one in the middle. ahnnabanana .jpg Could you tell us something about yourself? How old are you and what ar e you currently doing? When and why did you start blogging and who got you hook ed? I'm 19 years old, a freshman at the University of the Philippines. I'm taking up AB English, majoring in En glish Language. I started ahnnabanana almost three years ago because my friend Kris (thecuteo nekills.livejournal.com) encouraged me to because I kept visiting her LJ an d replying to her entries with long comments. When I opened my account, I used it only as a "stalking tool," to read my friends' friends-only entries. After I took a Creative Writing workshop in New York, I started updating more often. What makes a blog better than a regular website? Did you try putting up your own site before you started blogging? My best friends and I had a website when we were in fifth grade. It was nothing high-tech; it just had pictures and profiles of ourselves. We even posted who our crushes were at the time. Just kid stuff. A blog is more real, more persona l. Would you say that blogging is very addictive? How many people have you convinced to also start blogging? YES! I've been called an update whore. When I'm inspired to write, I update dai ly. Sometimes even twice or thrice a day. I don't outright persuade people to b log, but some of my friends say they opened accounts to read my protected entri es. Every now and then, they blog too. How has blogging made a difference in your life? It's had a big influence on my choice of course for college. Through my LJ, I r ealized how much I enjoyed writing. I love it enough to spend the next four yea rs (maybe even the rest of my life) immersed in words and language. And since I 've been writing for a while now, I must admit I write for an audience. When th ey comment that they like a certain entry, I build on it. Like this thing I cal l "Fun nies." Two years ago I posted a number of short conversations I had or over heard that made me laugh. I got so many positive comments, so I always kept tra ck of stupid/funny things I hear. Over time, I began to post pictures of funny signs or names I see on trips. I also uploaded silly music videos my friends an d I make. When interesting things happen to me, I blog about it. Anyone I know can possibly showing up on my LJ. It also helps me keep in touch with friends I don't see all the time. What blogging software do you use? What makes it better than other blog ging services? I use LiveJournal. I can't really compare it to other blogging services since i t's the only one I've had. I think it's user-friendly. With the new Rich Text f eature, it's so easy to upload pictures, videos, and link. No more dealing with complex HTML commands. I particularly like the LJ-cut, which enables me to hid e parts of my writing. What's the most memorable experience you've had in the blogging world?< /strong> I've had a lot of good and bad experiences. I once wrote an observation about a group of girls from one school. Apparently, they got offended and started pass ing the link of that entry over YM. Common friends talked to me about it, like why I wrote it, that I shouldn't judge [those girls]. Another time, I reacted a bout a negative statement a Brother in my high school released about my batch. I got over 60 comments. After I posted that entry, my batch saw him as the "Bro ther who does not like our batch but pretends to." People have to understand th at Anna the Blogger and Anna in Real Life are similar but not exactly the same. Sometimes you have to know Anna in Real Life to completely understand the thin gs Anna the Blogger writes, and why she writes them. I never post to purposely berate anyone; I just write for the moment, as honestly as I can. On the other hand, I've had complete strangers add me on LiveJournal. Complete strangers come up to me in my old school or in parties saying they read my LJ. I get nagged by friends when I don't update. Oh, I became a contributor for a l ocal magazine because one of its editors reads my LJ regularly! If you have to pimp your blog to readers, could you tell us in 100 word s or less why they should visit your blog? On the menu of ahnnabanana.livejournal.com are my eccentric family, crazy frien ds, funnies, pictures (lots and lots of pictures), tributes, videos, reviews, o pinions, current events, movies, music, and reflections. They may make you laug h, cry, or cry from laughing. * * * Thanks, Anna! And to all those whoâd like to be featured, just leave a comment and your URL so that we can check out your blog. Or e-mail joeyalarilla@gmail.com. Weâll feature a new Blog Addict every Friday, so keep visiting Who knows? The next Blog Addict of the Week could be you.

Blogs and friends

March 8, 2007 10:03 AM | 7 Comments | No TrackBacks
OF LATE, Iâve met (not in the literal sense) more people through blogs. Yes, bl ogs are now part of an emerging digital lifestyle. As one friend-writer who now lives in the US puts it: âI treat it more as a sounding board for my thoughts and predilections.â (Thanks Arvin for the quote.) I've been blogging for over two years. Iâve met musicians, writers, journalists , animators, photographers, politicians, and interesting people I never imagine d meeting in a more traditional setting. Of course, Iâm also a journalist so th atâs an added bonus. Bloggers like journalists document life. Bloggers are some times called citizen journalists. Social networking services like Friendster, MySpace< /a> and Facebook, among others, have incorporated blogs. This is because people who want to connect to you also want to find out what youâre thinking. And for some people, blogging i s one way of âthinking out loudâ in cyberspace. Sometimes though expect off-the -cuff remarks from a wiseguy. So yes, if you blog, youâll end up knowing more p eople. What a neat way to make friends (sometimes enemies, too). Here are some ideas to make more friends through blogs. If you have more, post a comment or send me an e-mail at erwin[dot]oliva[at]gmail[dot]com.
  1. Post a comment. The best way to start a conversati on is to initiate one. Posting a comment on another blog will do the trick. But be courteous. And if possible, identify yourself. Point them back to your blog .
  2. Link me, link you. Remember the line from the movi e Jerry McGuire, "Help me, help you." Well, I think this same principle applies to blogging. You can increase your visibility by linking to other people. You can do this by including them in your blogroll or by simply citing them in some related postings.
  3. Connect to people. I borrowed this tip from Copyblogger's Aristotle's Top 3 tips for Effective Blogging. Like journalism and writing, you shoul d think about your readers. Less of the self. Connect to your readers. In that way, you can keep their attention a lot longer. Remember another blog is a few clicks away.
If you have more tips, shoot me an e-mail at erwin[dot]oliva[at]gmail[dot]com or post a comment.

Blog-hopping as a solution to insomnia

March 8, 2007 7:24 AM | 25 Comments | No TrackBacks
heavensentangel.jpg HERE'S an excerpt from an interesting post from Angel Jayme's b log Heavensent Angel:
For the past weeks, I've been dealing with pregnancy-induced insomn ia. Blame it on the hormones, back aches and Jamaine kicking and squirming in m y tummy. So instead of tossing and turning in bed, I've resorted to net-surfing and blog -hopping until my eyes grow weary. And these are some of the sites that have be en keeping me company through these long, sleepless nights.
So, what are the blogs that have been helping her deal with insomnia? Well, ahe m, one of them happens to be a certain blogsite called Blog Addicts. Hmm, not t oo familiar with that blog, hehe :) Here's what she said about Blog Addicts:
I often visit the Blog Addicts section at INQ7.net, now Inquirer.ne t, to see fellow Pinoy bloggers. It's great that they finally transformed it in to a site, providing a venue to unite a growing number of Pinoy blog addicts. Though Blog Addicts started just this month, it already has a number of interes ting entries. Plus, it's constantly updated so you're sure to catch something n ew everyday. Posts cover a variety of interests such as features on fellow blog addicts, blo g tips, news and current events. The site's pretty well-rounded so it's fast be coming a favorite.
The other sites she visits include INQUIRER.net, GMANews .tv, the GMANew s.tv Blog Network, Kika y Exchange, Mom Exchange< /a> and Shopcrazy. Thanks for the kind words, Jayme, and the comments you've posted here. Let me k now if you'd like to be featured as the Blog Addict of th e Week :)

Are you a Philippine Blog Awards nominee?

March 7, 2007 8:11 PM | 4 Comments | No TrackBacks
HI, I'm a blog addict.... I just love saying that now that Pam Pastor has officially joined us. Welcome Pam. Okay, the list of nominees for the main categories of t he 2007 Phili ppine Blog Awards is out. Here goes: Date and time of update: February 26, 2007, 10:46 a.m. (Manila Time) Personal Entertainment Technology Travel Socio-Political Home & Living Photo Blog Fashion & Lifestyle Podcast News & Media Business/Entrepreneur Sports & Recreation

Money Smarts is 3rd blog from INQUIRER.net Blogs network

March 7, 2007 6:30 PM | 1 Comment | No TrackBacks
moneysmarts.j pg THE GROWING INQUIRER.net Blogs network has rolled out its third blog after @play and Blog Addicts< /a> with the launch of INQUIRER.net business editor Salve Duplito's Money Smarts. Duplito describes her blog as a place "where people can talk freely about perso nal finance, business, financial independence, the economy and my personal favo rite, giving the rat race a kick on the butt." Here's an excerpt from Duplito's first blog post:
Look around when youâre malling or just eating out. There are milli onaires around us, never doubt that. Iâm talking about rich people â none of th at millionaire-at-heart blah. Iâm talking about individuals who have worked har d in their professions, and made it their business to understand money. People who want to have a full life and who donât live payday to payday. OK, so the word âmillionaireâ might be stretching it a little bit, but just for the sake of literary appeal, letâs call them your neighborhood millionaires. F or sure they arenât the Henry Sy-types -- they drive modest cars, some even liv e in rented homes (thatâll be the subject of another blog!) but their kids go t o the best schools and they donât drink Starbucks coffee everyday. According to Duplito, Friday blog entries called So What Chocnut? we will try to make sense of business stories that matter to us, while Money Myth Busters will put financial tips to the test. Stay tuned for more blogs in the INQUIRER.net Blogs network.

Check out MyJournal Philippines

March 7, 2007 2:07 PM | 9 Comments | No TrackBacks
myjournal.jpg SURE, you can find lots of free blog hosts, but MyJournal Philippines is proudly Philippine-made. Check out this free blog service, which is the brainchild of Carlo Roxas and Will Garcia, and tell us what you think. The Blog Addicts team might also review this service soon, so stay tuned :)

Hi, I'm Pam. And I'm a blog addict.

March 6, 2007 3:20 AM | 22 Comments | No TrackBacks
HI, I'm Pam Pastor. And I'm a blog addict. I had an afternoon meeting with people from a mobile phone company last week an d I made them late for dinner because they started talking to me about blogs. I even had my computer out, as if I was making a big presentation. It's almost e mbarrassing, now that I think about it. Last month, I spent eight days in Germany on assignment with a bunch of people I had never met before. I was fairly (and uncharacteristically) quiet during mo st of the trip -- except on the last night when I couldn't stop talking during dinner. One of my companions turned to me, "You barely spoke during the ent ire trip and now this. What happened?" Blogs happened. Someone asked me about the blogging phenomenon, which blogs I l iked, why people read blogs and just like the Energizer Bunny on steroids, I ke pt going on and on. And that's probably why I'm here as one of the Blog Addicts. I started blogging in 2000. My ancient computer had crashed just weeks before a nd I was heartbroken (actually, pissed is more like it) over losing so many dia ry entries, pathetic attempts at fiction and even sadder stabs at poetry. I did n't know what blogging was then, I just wanted an online depository for my writ ing. Drew Europeo told me about Blogger and that was the beginning of my love affair with blogging. It took a couple of yea rs (and Site Meter) for me to realize that people were actually reading my posts. Blogging has become a huge part of my life. I've blogged from every place you c an think of and when I couldn't (like when I'm stuck inside a plane over this o r that ocean), I write entries that I can post once I get Internet access again . Blogging is fun and therapeutic -- although sometimes I feel like I'm running my own reality show. I'm actually getting used to people approaching me in mal ls or restaurants to say they've been reading my blog. I've met a lot of great people (and a couple of crazies) that way. When I am not blogging, I am writing articles, planning issues, closing pages, giving out assignments, holding photo shoots, doing interviews, covering events and attending meetings. These things (and more) are part of my job as the chie f of correspondents for Inquirer's 2bU!, editor for Inquirer Super and reporter for Inquirer Lifestyle. I also spend a lot of time writing songs, recording and getting drunk at gigs w ith my band Mozzie. And, believe it or not, I still have enough time left over to shop, date strang e men, take lots of photos, hang out with my friends and do what I can to chang e the world. I guess this is my way of saying hello. And thank you to the very cool Joey Alarilla who invited me to join the Blog Addicts team. P.S. I promise to drunk-blog only in my personal blog.

The Pinoy.TV launches

March 6, 2007 2:06 AM | 2 Comments | No TrackBacks
I WAS having a chat several days ago with Minic Rivera over iChat video. We wer e "showing off" local junk food (Minic resides in the US) -- Chippy for him and Oishi Potato Chips for me. I won when I showed him my Burger Machine Sans Riva l. We were basically reminiscing about the good things that we Pinoys love -- a nd take for granted here in the motherland. In between snacks, Minic opened my eyes to a new project he was developing called The Pinoy.TV, which launched today.
The Pinoy.TV is a monthly online video festival based on themes tha t pertains to Filipinos and the Philippines, in general. You do not have to be a filmmaker to join. As long as you have a story to tell and share with us about the theme, then we want you. No acting is necessary. We want real videos from real stories.
The video with the highest rating at the end of the month will get the theme prize of $100 and tons of bragging rights.
There was an interesting philosophy behind the project. According to Minic, Fil ipinos who are born and raised in foreign lands don't get to really connect wit h our national heritage as Filipinos. And I'm not talking about the cheesy nati onal heroes or historical landmarks. The Pinoy.TV aims to help educate Filipino s (and our friendly neighbors) from around the world about their heritage and w hat it truly means to be Filipino. Our heritage surrounds us -- from the malls, to the food, to the bars and music, to the beautiful beaches... the list goes on. And look here. The first contest theme is already up:
"I am a Filipino." But before anything, please take note of the following dates: ⢠Entries may be submitted from March 5 to March 31, 2007. ⢠Winner will be announced on April 1, 2007. ⢠Winner will get the prize within five (5) days after the announcement. Will you be the next The Pinoy.TV< /a> idol? Sali na!

The blog is mightier than the sword

March 5, 2007 11:13 AM | 4 Comments | No TrackBacks
blog- mightier.jpg THAT'S me and the other members of the Blog Addicts team with Abe Olandres (second from right) goof ing around with plastic swords. From left to right, that's me, Erwin Oliva and Jayvee Fernandez. This was taken on March 2 after we recorded Episode 4 of hackenslash: the podcast (which e xplains the plastic swords, sort of, heh) and right before the video interview with Abe and Jayvee.

iBlog3: Now open for registration

March 5, 2007 5:52 AM | 12 Comments | No TrackBacks
GOT an e-mail from Janette Toral of Digital Filipino signaling the opening of the iBlog3 registration. For those unfamilia r with it, iBlog3 (the "3" is because it is currently on its third year) is the yearly workshop series for the Filipino blogging community. If you are a casua l or professional blogger and would like to learn, share and enjoy the company of other bloggers from around the Philippines, then iBlog is the place to be. i Blog3 is a free seminar by the way so there is really no reason why you should miss this. iBlog3 will be held at the School of Economics Auditorium, in UP Diliman from April 13 to 14. I will actually be giving a talk on professional blogging in the afternoon of t he 14th so if you are interested in learning more about how exactly blogs are u sed to generate money, then do attend my talk. Last year's iBlog was very memor able as it was a non-traditional way to meet people with similar interests (and end up scoring a date) as well as spreading and promoting your blog to other b loggers as a way of sharing the link love. See you there!

Comelec blogs (in 2010)

March 4, 2007 7:59 PM | 4 Comments | No TrackBacks
I remember writing a similar "futuristic" article about supposed automated elections in 2004. But this recent blog entry from James Jimenez, the official spokesperson of the Commission on Elections, is simp ly hilarious. He writes:
The widespread acceptance of modernized voting processes spurred a change in campaigning strategies as well. The internet was proven to be an effective campaign vector in 2007 and by 2010, podcasts have all but replaced traditional broadcast advertising. Podcasts are cheaper to produce, and persist far longer than 30-second spots on tv and radi o. Newspaper ads are taken over by on-line advertising.
Jimenez aptly titles this entry "go scratch yourself, if you can't take a joke. " Apparently, the Comelec spokesperson is on a roll:
On the second monday of may, the electronic ballot boxes were opene d; the results were available in under five minutes, broadcast live over the in ternet. Within two hours, the COMELEC proclaimed the winner of all races except the presidency and vice-presidency. Using COMELEC provided facilities, the res ults were fed into the canvassing computers of Congress where armies of account ants verify the math. Within five hours, Congress gave up trying to punch holes into the results, and the president and vice-president elect were announced. N one of the candidates (5 each for president and vice) achieved a majority, and the winning candidates each enjoyed a lead of less than three-quarters of a mil lion. More people voted on the 4th season of Philippine Idol than in the electi ons.
Jimenez's blog -- perhaps one of a handful of government-related blogs I've seen in years -- offers you a snapshot of issues hounding the agency. I've been covering the poll body since 1998, or at least every time it holds a national and local elections. Eve ry time, you'll deal with a lot of serious stuff, not to mention a lot of legal ese. So this recent blog entry is a welcome comic relief. Jimenez also maintains other blogs, one called inside the Comelec, which is actually an official a lternative website to its static official website. On serious days, he shares h is thoughts on pertinent issues of the day. I remember half-jokingly suggesting to another government official before: What if our President starts blogging? That will be an interesting read. But I digr ess. I admit that I admire government officials who blog. Peter Lavina, a city councilor in Davao C ity, is another example. They bring transparency to public service. And as I em phasized on my earlier posting on "Why I blog," it actually initiates conversat ion. Here's an interesting thought from Peter:
My blog's first year anniversary is coming fast. I am excited to pr ove to the whole world that my attempt at blogging is no fluke or fad. I am sti ll being referred in the Philippine blogosphere as perhaps the most active if n ot the only elected official blogging in the country. Quite an accolade but I really am a failure than a success. Why? Because when I started blogging I vowed to promote it as a tool for participatory governance. Well, not many followed my lead. So, I am a big failure. Anyway, this blog will turn 1 year old on March 9. For that I really feel happy . Yehey!

Blogbastic! on news media and blogs

March 4, 2007 5:56 PM | 2 Comments | No TrackBacks
THANKS to Jim Caro of Bl ogbastic! for blogging about the soft launch of the INQUIRE R.net Blogs service. Here's an excerpt from Jim's post:
In the Philippines, the Philippine Daily Inquirer rec ently had a soft launch of its blogsite with Joey Alarilla trying the waters. So hereâs one media outfit trying to test the untr ied waters of newspaper blogging in the Philippine scene. One Philippine Media institution which first tried blogging was the Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism, which has its own institutional blog. Its pool of writers also blog personally alon g with other journalists all over the country.
What I like in the move of the Inquirer.net is they are going the B BC way with their approach to media convergence. Readers will notice that they are trying to integrate video, podcast among others. As Erwin Oliva, anothe r PDI reporter, blogged, readers want to interact with t he newsâreason I think that thereâs a declining popularity of radio in the Philippines. So, I think newspaper blogging is paving the way to the wide acceptance of new media in the Philippines.
Thanks again, Jim. Just to clarify, though, it's INQUIRER.net which launched th e blogs, not the Philippine Daily Inquirer, and Erwin Oliva and I work for INQU IRER.net, not PDI :) I know, sometimes it can get confusing, heh. We're a sepa rate company from the print newspaper; Inquirer Interactive Inc. is a wholly-ow ned subsidiary and is the online arm of the Inquirer Group of Publications.

Flip Blog: atomicgirl writes about life

March 3, 2007 6:41 PM | 4 Comments | No TrackBacks
atomicgirl.jpg WHAT would happen if atomicgirl joined Pinoy Big Brother? Well, here's the latest entry from atomicgirl's blog:
Big Brother... He's Here. big brother is back. and it looks like he has not got much changes yet. althoug h the only thing i noticed is that the girl housemates are quite maarte. they w ould cry readily even if it has just been a few days only.
now i do like mickey. he's game. nel is neutral for me and i have t his strange feeling that he's gay. and as for ezekiel, he looks just fine to me . the kind of guy i'd probably stalk sometime soon. (just joking) so i've been thinking what if were part of the big brother show? well, my colle agues say that if i do, i'd probably be out of the house in no time flat. i can be quite frank, playful, and really sarcastic like you wouldn't believe a pers on can be quite capable of. and my housemates would be nominating me the first chance they get. and then people would not be voting for me. they'd be hating m e in no time flat. well, at least, it just goes to show that i'm real. and nothing's going to be f abricated. i'm not going to be nice just because you would want me to. this is me. accept it or shoo.
Thanks for posting your comments on Blog Addicts, atomicgirl. Who knows, maybe we'll see you on Pinoy Big Brother :) And good luck with your blogging projects . By the way, interested in being featured as Blog Addict of the Week? :)

Flip Blog: The SilPur Life

March 3, 2007 6:26 PM | 3 Comments | No TrackBacks
silpur-lif e.jpg THE SILPUR LIFE is an inter esting collaborative blog from janep, which, as the authors explain, is pen-aj spelled backwards. Here's the latest entry penned by, well, pen, hehe :)
Pinoy elections 2007 Pen writes on March 2nd, 2007 This page gave me something to laugh about today. Thanks to benj whose blog led me clicking to it. Moment now to touch base with the goings-on in Pinoy-land. I admit itâs difficult to be kept on the loop on current affairs of the nation. Not many of us have much time to spare to do reading [lack of Pinoy TV is a big factor for me, too lazy to read] that would bring enlightenment. My weekday morning routi ne includes a half-hour of reading the columns by de Quiros and David and the o ccasional blog on related issues. I know it feeds much more to a specific opini on, but I just donât have the stomach to see front page pictures of uninteresti ng personalities, especially poly-tick-cians (i.e., many bloodsuckers) while re ading the headlines of inquirer.net. Time for a switch to tribune.net.ph?

I am a bit upset I cannot participate in the elections. I know my vote is just an insignificant count among the myriad of others, but still, I would like to have that statistical contribution. Though I have zero faith on the canvassing system, I still like to think that theoretically, I have done m y country service.

These Pulse Asia results just suck. I am reminded, yet again, of that sinking f eeling I had the moment I first had a chance to vote for presidential elections , and seeing my seatmate write in big bold letters across the first blank line on his ballot: âE R A Pâ.
Thanks for the comments you've posted here on Blog Addicts, pen, and hope you'l l keep reading INQUIRER.net in spite of the front page pics of "poly-tick-cians " :) By the way, are you and aj interested in being featured as Blog Addicts of the Week? :)

Smile, youâre on [a] camera [phone]

March 3, 2007 5:14 PM | No TrackBacks
CITIZ EN journalism may be an overused buzzword nowadays, but that doesn't stop i t from being a reality that has a profound impact on journalists and bloggers a like. Slate published this story about the explosion of âfirst-personâ witne ssing, thanks to camera phones. As the article puts it: this innovation has all owed us to capture the âbest of things,â âthe worst of things,â and âeverything .â Like any other technology, camera phones can be abused. But its power to captur e fleeting moments is undeniable. At the same time, it is also the meanest inve ntion that can break peopleâs hearts since it can easily invade privacy. Video clips captured by today's camera phone-toting crowd have varied from the mundane to the extraordinary. Remember how the video clip of Saddam Husseinâs h anging taken by one of the witnesses using his camera phone sparked controversy worldwide? The camera phone and the power it wields reminds me of the lesson P eter Parker learns as Spider-Man: "With great power comes great responsibility. " Of late, camera phones have become wonderful tools for journalists like me. We don't have to be a rocket scientist to take videos now. All we need is a steady arm, nice timing, and a good sense of what makes a good, no, a compelling vide o. Last Friday, I met some people over at the Commission on Elections (where I'm assigned now). They wer e complaining of the military presence in their area. I asked them if they had proof. One of the witnesses brought out a digital camera and started showing me some photos. Immediately, my reporter's instinct kicked in. I took out my came ra phone and shot a video of the witness showing the photos. See the result:

Abe and Jayvee talk about Philippine Blog Awards

March 2, 2007 7:17 PM | 87 Comments | No TrackBacks
HERE'S the video interview I conducted with Abe Olandres and Jayvee Fernandez, who talk about the Philippine Blog Awards that will be held at 5 p.m. on March 31 at Podium 4, RCBC Plaza Auditorium in Makati City .

Yuga visits INQUIRER.net office

March 2, 2007 7:14 PM | 2 Comments | No TrackBacks
jv-ab e-jayvee.jpg THAT'S pro blogger Abe O landres (center), more popularly known in the blogosphere as Yuga, having c offee with INQUIRER.net editor in chief JV Rufino (right) and INQUIRER.net inte ractive media consultant and b 5media.com technology channel editor Jayvee Fernandez.

Why readers unsubscribe from blogs

March 2, 2007 7:07 PM | 3 Comments | No TrackBacks
HERE'S something that captured my attention: 34 Reasons Why Readers Unsubscribe from Your Blog. A quick look a t the list indicates two things: content and form. Good content lands you eyeba lls. But form makes content easier to read. My personal blog has gone through transformation. But I eventually decided to stick to its current form and style. It's milky-white an d it's very minimalist. I took this form from an advice of J. Angelo Racoma who also believes in KISS. I will also venture into other suggestions: content should be original and inte ractive. As pointed out, readers hate information overload. This came out as th e number one reason why they unsubscribed. Remember, people online are usually compulsive clickers. If they find posts too long, they move on. INQUIRER.net editor Nonoy Espina comments that this is exactly what news writin g is all about. ;-)

Blog Addict of the Week: Johanna Balagtas

March 2, 2007 1:25 AM | 1 Comment | No TrackBacks
SAY hello to our Blog Addict of the Week, Johanna Balagtas. johanna-balagtas-g oofy-side-of-life.jpg Could you tell us something about yourself? How old are you and what ar e you currently doing? When and why did you start blogging and who got you hook ed? Iâm 20 years old, currently a biology major trying to get throu gh physics, math and working part-time. Iâve always been interested in a lot of things and writing about them is one high for me. Iâve been blogging since March of 2005. I found out about it while I was surfing a friendâs Friendster profile, trying to distract myself from a bad break-up. And then it just flowed from there⦠I go t space on Tabulas so I c ould relieve myself of post-break-up stuff and then eventually it became a hobb y. What makes a blog better than a regular website? Did you try putting up your own site before you started blogging? I did try putting up my own site. Unfortunately, I wasnât able to finish it bec ause it was so time-consuming for me, not to mention that itâs pretty mentally exhausting figuring out codes for this and that. Obviously blogs are a lot easi er to set up so I just settled with blog accounts instead of websites. Would you say that blogging is very addictive? How many people have you convinced to also start blogging? In some sense, yes. Because you get to freely unload ide as, feelings, opinions, etc. that could otherwise eat you alive if you keep the m. You get to share your thoughts without really imposing them on anyone. And i tâs a satisfaction everytime you find people reading and leaving comments on yo ur entries. Itâs like somehow youâve contributed something to someone. At least you made them think about something for the day. How has blogging made a difference in your life? Iâve always wanted to be a writer. I just never had enough confidence to submit any of my articles to anyone. So when I started blogging and people started co mmenting on my entries, it just dawned on me that Iâm probably not a bad writer after all. Blogging helped me improve my writing style and helped me gain conf idence as well. Plus it keeps me and other bloggers out there entertained. What blogging software do you use? What makes it better than other blogging services? I use the one in my Multiply< /a> account now since itâs more user-friendly than other blogging software. And Multiply allows you to put in music, pictures, links and even events in one si te. Itâs like an all-in-one account. What's the most memorable experi ence you've had in the blogging world? Thereâs an entry in my previous blog that had the liveliest interaction among its readers. It felt so wonderful that they got really interested in what I had to say, and they were into it enough to share their own thoughts and start a mini forum about the topic. Itâs just g reat when youâre able to provoke other people into thinking and make them feel things. If you have to pimp your blog to readers, could you tell us in 100 words or less why they sh ould visit your blog? My site is not really dedicated to just one topic. You can find in there just a bout anything under the sun -- from books to sports to food to stars. Anything. Even topics some of my friends requested. The site is sort of a collection of lives. Itâs like a witness to the ups and downs and in-betweens of a number of characters that almost anyone can relate to. You just have to be human to enjoy it. * * * Thanks, Johanna! And to all those who'd like to be featured, just leave a comment and your UR L so that we can check out your blog. Or e-mail joeyalarilla@gmail.com. We'll feature a new Blog Addict every Friday, so keep visiting :) Who knows? The next Blog Addict of the Week could be you.

Hello there, my name is Jayvee

March 2, 2007 12:45 AM | 3 Comments | No TrackBacks
Hell o!HELLO. My name is Jayvee Fernandez. I'm the guy in the scary picture to the left. By profession I wear several hats , serving the Inquirer Group in several ways -- as contributing editor to Mobile Philippines and as an interacti ve media consultant for INQUIRER.net. I'm also a professional blogger and channel editor. A pro what--?! It's like being paid to write stuff. Oh wait... A writer and editor at heart (and sometimes tragic love song composer), I have embraced the call of new media, using A Bugged Life as my platform to write about the things I love doin g. In a private conversation with Abe Olandres, the "father of Filipino blogging" he categorizes me as the "Public Relations Blogger of the Philippines" as I love to make press relea ses about everything that fancies my eye. If you want to know more about me, click here. And now this. I have been invited by Joey Alarilla to co-blog with the rest of the INQUIRER.net blog add icts. I actually don't know exactly what I'm going to write about yet but I kno w it has something to do with important things. Like blogs. And how they are ch anging the world one post at a time. In between blogging, writing and editing (aren't these all the same??!) I am us ually found lost in Wo rld of Warcraft or playing with Hondo Vicente, the cutest Boston Terrier in the Philippin es. Leave a comment, save a lemming from drowning. Cheers!

Thank God for the BlackBerry

March 2, 2007 12:39 AM | 3 Comments | No TrackBacks
I'M writing this entry from my BlackBerry. Why? Power is out, and I am currentl y fighting the summer heat and the irritating mosquitoes feasting on my toes. Thanks to the power of wireless technology and the Internet, I can still post a brief entry. I remember this same scenario during Milenyo, the super typhoon that rendered M etro Manila powerless. It was back to basics. But some people who managed to fi nd power kept on blogging. Everybody can blog now, given the access to technology. It has, as my fellow b logger and editor Joey Al arilla says, become a "commodity." So how do you differentiate yourself now from millions of blogs? Content is crucial. Like a poem, it should appeal to t he senses. People want to feel, see, hear, and soon taste the stuff we write. T hey also want to react immediately. They can now say yay! or boo! through the c omments section. So please feel free to interact with us not only through words but also picture s and videos. With that, I hope our conversation becomes interesting. Imagine h ow we started as kids? We called it show and tell. By the way, I am Erwin Oliva, technology reporter for INQUIRER.net. I've been b logging for close to three years now under the name Cyberbaguioboy. Why do I blog? I want to strike a conversation with you. I want to know what you think. I believe news is no l onger about us telling you what it is. We hope to go back to the very reason we write. And that is to give voice to the voiceless. Let yourself be heard.

Why Blog Addicts is now a blog

March 2, 2007 12:33 AM | 20 Comments | No TrackBacks
YUP, your eyes aren't deceiving you. Blog Addicts is now a blog, and it's no lo nger a section in our YOU youth site but the first team blog in the INQUIRER.net Blogs network. With more blogs to come. I guess a little introduction is in order. I'm Joey Alarilla, the gaming and multimedia edito r (hey, the acronym is GAME, heh) of INQUIRER.net, and I'm a blog addict. OK, I haven't been blogging that long; it was in late 2004 when I took the blog ging plunge after being introduced to it by my UP Tinta college orgmates whom I hadn't seen in years, namely Pauline Orendain, Dean Alfar, Ni kki Alfar and Eric Evan o. That newfound passion for blogging gave birth to the Blog Addicts section in YO U, since I wanted to feature different bloggers and encourage more people to bl og. When I started Blog Addicts, I never really thought it would receive an ove rwhelming response from bloggers, but the support has been heartwarming and I f igure it's now time to make it a blog and expand its scope. Which is why Blog Addicts won't be part of YOU anymore. As you'll soon discover once you enter the blogosphere, blogging isn't just for teens and twentysometh ings. Blogging has become a passion for people of all ages, who are drawn to it for different purposes ranging from the lighthearted to the serious. Now we c an feature different bloggers, no matter how old they may be (no offense intend ed to old fogies like me, heh). And while the featured Blog Addict of the Week will still be our bread and butt er, we've expanded the scope of Blog Addicts to cover tips for bloggers, review s of different blog tools, news about the blogosphere and much, much more. You could say we'll be blogging the Filipino blogosphere. Joining me are Erwin Oli va and Jayvee Fernande z, and I'll let them introduce themselves and talk about what they plan for Blog Addicts. We're the first three members of the Blog Addicts team blog, but you might see others join our ranks soon :) So, welcome to Blog Addicts. And remember: 2007 is the Year of the Filipino Blogger!
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