By Marjorie Gorospe

Director Mae Paner, the person behind an inspiring interpretation of national anthem “Lupang Hinirang,” has come up with another video. This time it’s about the cha-cha.

Taking on the character “Juana,” Paner plays two characters. One is a dance instructor showing the right steps to doing a cha-cha.

The other is a character showing the steps to a different cha-cha, which is a shorter description of charter change.

Instead of showing the right moves, Juana’s alter ego describes how “cha-cha” is done.

Just like the dance, the political cha-cha follows right timing — knowing when to lie-low as public unrest emerges and when to revive the cha-cha to cover up scandals.

In an earlier interview with Paner, she mentioned about upcoming projects of the “convergence team.”

She said that “Juana Change: CHA-CHA” is actually a result of people’s reaction to the Lupang Hinirang video, which is also up on YouTube.

As the video ends, Paner delivers this statement, which is her take on the current state of the Philippines: “Ang mga taong bayan ngayon, mga tanga.. ang mga magagaling nagsipag-abroad na. Ang mga natira na lang dito iyong mga walang magawang sumasali na lang sa Wowowee, tumataya sa Lotto o naghihintay ng remittance abroad [The citizenry are becoming foolish. The smart ones have gone abroad. Those left are often seen joining Wowowee, betting on Lotto and waiting for remittances from abroad].This country deserves people like me.” She then snorts, as if saying that the country has gone to the pigs.

By Agence France-Presse

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia — Malaysia’s leading blogger, Raja Petra Kamaruddin, was Friday released from detention under controversial internal security laws after a court ruled the government had no right to hold him.

Raja Petra, a vocal government critic who had been held at a notorious detention camp since September, wept and embraced his family after being freed by the Shah Alam High Court.

“I’m realy glad it’s over. I’m really tired. The judge’s decision proves that there was no justification for my detention,” he said, calling for an end to the Internal Security Act (ISA) which allows for detention without trial.

“We have to fight all-out and get the ISA abolished,” he told reporters.

Looking haggard and dressed in a brown T-shirt and jeans, Raja Petra was garlanded by dozens of supporters outside the court before stepping into a maroon Rolls Royce provided by a supporter to ferry him home.

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I AM just wondering if there is a possibility that our legislative body can enact appropriate regulations or laws perhaps to put a stop to all bullying going around the Internet. As of now, negative blogs and comments are spreading around the net through various sites. Decent beings are disturbed and many innocent souls are put to shame. Reputations are put to risk. I learned that in some parts of the globe, Internet bullying is a criminal act. In South Korea, identities of people who post comments and the like are required to be disclosed, their contact numbers need even to be placed in the Internet for easy identification in event that someone wants to sue for libel or one infringes on privacy. In the US, teenage suicide linked to Internet bullying is becoming out of control. We do not want this to happen to our youngsters, and even to adults who cannot stand the pressure of being intimidated. I don’t know if Internet bullying is already incorporated in our Electronic Commerce Act already but if it is, well and good, let us put it into operation.

Cindy Hisona, Banga, Bayawan City via e-mail

By Alexander Villafania
INQUIRER.net

There are over 10 million blogs, podcasts, and videocasts worldwide and many of these are created to talk about a person’s ideas. Some are about like-minded groups who talk about basically anything under the sun, from technology, finance, gaming, politics, lifestyle, entertainment, among other things. What if “netizens”, at least for one day, talk about one thing only, one subject that could perpetrate one idea that may change the world?

To encourage bloggers to be part of that change, a small group of them have dedicated October 15 of every year to Blog Action Day. This year’s main theme will be on poverty, a perpetual issue that affects more than half the world’s population.

So far, there are 9,887 blogs, podcasts and webcasts joining, with an estimated 10,800,000 audiences, the website says.

Blog Action Day’s goal is to talk about one topic, particularly a global issue.

It also intends to create a venue for people to share their ideas that can be used to spur change. They will only talk of one topic every year. The group intends to show the world that the Internet is a viable platform for change.

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By Alexander Villafania
INQUIRER.net

SAN JUAN City, Manila – They start late at night, with bags of junk food and pizzas. They sit on floors covered with mattresses and small tables and put their footwear on the cold cement. Around them are paintings and sculptures from fine arts students and their mentors. It’s a scene typical of an art gala but people here are not talking just about art — they’re hoping to share in national change through their blogs.

And at the last small and intimate gathering at the My Little Art Place in San Juan City, the group of amateur and professional bloggers talks about how blogging is changing information dissemination.

The event is simply called Philippine Bloggers’ Night. Essentially, the event is a workshop on creating a blog and how individuals and other institutions are using it. Some bloggers gave insights about how they built their blogs and what they focus on. Others shared how media companies are adapting to the changes brought about by the Internet. The realization is that media is not the gatekeeper of information anymore. The power to disseminate has also been given to the ordinary individual.

Of course, being in an art place, the event also has some creative essence to it. Percussionist Paul Zialcita showed some of his instruments, such as a daiko-like drum that is actually made out of a garbage can and a drum made out of a half-filled water gallon placed on top of the opening of a hand-made baby walker. There is also a performance by “spokenword” artist Miko Pepito and recording artist Nityalila.

The event is organized by a group of bloggers calling themselves Flippyknows, whose name is a play of the word “Filipino.” Just as their tagline says, “Because the Filipino Knows,” the group focuses on encouraging Filipinos to develop their creativity and also on technology.

For this particular night, the group also partnered with Team RP, who is advocating change in the society for the sake of truth, accountability and reform.

After a successful night, both groups are hoping to continue holding such events to encourage people to get involved in social issues while enjoying creativity at its simplest.

Editor’s Note: We’re reposting this article with permission from Filipino blogger Juned Sunido. Catch him as he blogs at Baratillo @ Cubao.

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By Juned Sonido

WITHIN a span of two years a lot of things have changed. It would seem that the blogger has entered mainstream. First, blogging is slowly being recognized as an Internet medium: Another source of news, information and opinion available through the Web. Second, a lot of marketing, public relations and companies seem to be recognizing this thus the increase engagement with the bloggers through contests, events and product launches. Third, bloggers are often stereotyped or miscast as ranters or in it for the money.

There is nothing wrong with ranting via blogging and nothing wrong with making money from blogging. For me its not the end all, be all and sole reason why I blog. It is more complex than that and the blogs are not a thing one can conveniently pigeon-hole.

And sure enough a lot of opportunities are opening up to bloggers. A lot are now treated like media as they are invited to press launches and a greater number are tapped to spread the word about a certain product or bit of information. These are done via press launches and events.

The question comes up: should a blogger avoid going to press launches and events?

It is an option that the blogger might take. Then again the blogger might also take to attending press launches and events. There are reasons why the blogger opt to go. First, in order to get fresh information or news about something–product, service and bits of news. Second, it is always a nice to develop contacts and make friends. At its most brutal, it is a way of developing a network of sources and information. At its best, one gets to meet true and genuine friends. Third, press launches and events provide the blogger the means to sample a new product, try a new service or preview/review a gadget. All of these contribute or add things that we can post.

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By Anna Valmero
INQUIRER.net

THE proliferation of weblog tool and publishing platforms, such as Blogspot, Wordpress and its evolution to include multimedia content such as art sketches, photographs, music and video drove a shift in paradigm of publishing and sharing information. Everyone has power to become an author and publisher.

In the corporate space, executives use blogs to deliver opinion on the industry and information on their products and offerings. Then there’s the personal blog. For most of us, the blog has become the extension of dairies, chronicling personal events and a sentimental log of personal statements on almost anything. For some, it becomes a therapy to deal with pain or loss. Still, others try to provide entertainment by dishing out entries of a fictional, intelligent house help.

Sharing anecdotes, opinions or thoughts is inherent to us Filipinos. Given this and the blog, it is all but possible to turn the Filipino blogosphere as social catalyst for positive change. The act of blogging in itself is a form of struggle to express opinion.

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AT least two bloggers, a journalist, and one opposition politician were arrested under Malaysia’s Internal Security Act (ISA) on September 12 in what media and activists are afraid may be the start of a wider crackdown ahead of an anticipated opposition push to gain control of parliament next week, the Southeast Asian Press Alliance (SEAPA) said.

SEAPA said in a statement that Malaysia’s leading blogger Raja Petra Kamaruddin, who is also a staunch government critic on his website “Malaysia Today,” was the first to be arrested in this week’s arrests.

Journalist Tan Hoon Cheng who works Sin Chew Daily, a Chinese-language newspaper that had recently covered a controversial outburst from a ruling party member who called the ethnic Chinese community “squatters,” was also reportedly arrested, SEAPA said quoting reports from. Malaysiakini.com.

Lawmaker Teresa Kok of the Chinese-based DAP and Deputy Chief Minister in Selangor was also arrested under the ISA, SEAPA said.

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By Agence France-Presse

SINGAPORE - A US national said Tuesday he will be tried in Singapore next month for allegedly insulting two judges who had presided over cases involving an opposition leader.

Gopalan Nair, a former Singaporean lawyer who is now a US citizen, told Agence France-Presse he has not yet hired a lawyer to represent him in the trial from September 8 to 19.

“At this moment, I am representing myself,” he said.

Nair faces two charges of insulting judges on his blog. Each charge carries a jail term of up to one year, S$5,000 fine (US$3,676) or both.

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I’VE recently picked up the book “The Long Tail” by Chris Anderson. It talks about the impact of the Internet on our culture and economy and how it has created more choices (niches) for consumers. But this concept does not only apply to commerce but other aspects of society, including journalism.

This brings me Abe Olandres’ blog entry which I recently read, “Why I’m Into Open Source Consulting?”

It’s an interesting take on the state of the Philippine blogosphere, and how discussions (especially controversial ones) could spark greater discussions and some form of journalism.

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