Izah Morales
INQUIRER.net

EXPRESSING oneself in this digital age comes in different forms. You have blogs and videos, for instance.

Tang Teazperiment is among those riding on the blogging and user-generated video trend, as it launched an online show that features flash mobs.

A flash mob describes a large group of people who suddenly assemble in a public place to perform an odd action for a brief period, then they disperse.

“With the new media, teens can express themselves internationally,” says Ketchup Eusebio, host of Teazperiment.

“It’s such a relief for students because they don’t need connections with any media outfit but just their laptops and the Internet,” adds Andi Manzano, co-host Teazperiment.

The term flash mob was unknown until Harper’s Magazine Senior Editor Bill Wasik published an article on March 2006. Wasik began organizing flash mobs in May 2003 in Manhattan through social media networks or via email.

Cindy Abella, brand manager of Tang Fruit Teaz, said the show is a competition open to anyone who may want to submit video clips apart from the seven participating organizations in this project.

“Teazperiment is about channeling one’s boredom into something creative,” says Abella.

Seven school organizations from the University of the Philippines, Ateneo de Manila University, Trinity College, Polytechnic University of the Philippines, San Sebastian College, La Consolacion College and Far Eastern University-FERN have already submitted video clips, which will be judged by viewers.

Under the organization category, the video with the highest number of votes from the viewers would win P50,000. On the other hand, the top three videos from individual submissions would be rewarded an Xbox game console and a Rockband game (first prize), three Asus laptops (second prize), and Nokia cellphones (third prize).

The voting period for the organization category ends in March while voting for individual submissions ends in May.

This unexpected reaction from an Iraqi journalist is now getting more hits on YouTube. Iraqi journalist Muntazer al-Zaidi from Al-Baghdadia television network threw his shoes at President George W. Bush during a press conference in Baghdad on December 14, 2008.

Reports indicated that Bush later laughed off the incident.

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.

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

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

Video taken by INQUIRER.net community evangelist Alex Villafania.

By Alex Villafania
INQUIRER.net

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

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

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

[Read the rest of this entry »]

By Alex Villafania
INQUIRER.net

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

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

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

[Read the rest of this entry »]

TV host Bianca Gonzalez talks about her blog, The Diary of a Supergirl Wannabe, which she started back in 2003 when she was in college.

Video taken by INQUIRER.net online videographer Janie Christine Octia.

IN THIS video, Lea Salonga talks about her blog on Multiply, The World According to Manang. She shares that the blog has become an outlet for her and a means to communicate with her fans.

Interview conducted by INQUIRER.net online videographer Janie Christine Octia. Video taken by INQUIRER.net reporter Relly Carpio.

Want more videos of Lea courtesy of INQUIRER.net VDO?

Check out this video of Lea talking about her role in Rodgers and Hammerstein’s “Cinderella,” which will have its world premiere in Manila this July. And this 30-second clip of Lea singing “There’s Music in You,” one of the songs in “Cinderella.”

By Alex Villafania
INQUIRER.net

AYALA-OWNED TriNoma mall in Quezon City recently conducted its first food bloggers tour, inviting Filipino bloggers to savor food choices from over 30 restaurants.

Online Videos by Veoh.com

TriNoma marketing supervisor Mench Dizon told Blog Addicts that they partnered with online service portal Yehey! to assemble the bloggers. Around 100 bloggers participated in the event.

Online Videos by Veoh.com

[Read the rest of this entry »]

APART from blog entries and photos of the Glorietta 2 blast, citizen journalists have also uploaded video clips to sites such as YouTube.

Here are two such clips from a concerned citizen that Tonyo Cruz uploaded to YouTube — thanks to Tonyo for the heads up.

Here’s the first clip.

And here’s the second clip.

[Read the rest of this entry »]