PEBA’s 2009 theme “Filipinos abroad: hope of the nation, gift to the world” captures an uncommon perception of our expats and OFWs – they are heroes for both the Philippines and the countries that receive them as workers or migrants.

Congratulations to the winners, and organizers for the successful awards night. I know how it feels to organize an awards event and you pulled it through. I had so much fun at the awards night, meeting Juana Change, Dinky Soliman, Risa Hontieveros, Susan Ople, and OFW bloggers. I am grateful that corporate giants like Nokia and Smart Communications supported their endeavor in so short a notice.

and here is Vince Golangco, the host of the night with his video on ” the top ten ways to know you are a Filipino / Pinoy or are from the Philippines.”

List of Winners

1. ISLA DE NEBZ (Al Khobar, SAUDI ARABIA)
http://isladenebz.blogspot.com/2009/07/peba-entry-where-my-ofw-dollars-go.html

2. PINK TARHA GIRLS (Riyadh, SAUDI ARABIA)
http://thepinktarha.blogspot.com/2009/08/ang-tunay-na-katas-ng-saudi.html

3. WITS AND SPIRITS (Bangkok, THAILAND)
http://josephilsaraspe.blogspot.com/2009/08/going-abroad-is-dream-of-almost-every.html

4. FRANCESCA IN FRANCE (Nice, FRANCE)
http://www.francescainfrance.com/2009/06/my-peba-entry-it-pays-to-be-honest.html

5. A PIECE OF CAKE (Yishun, SINGAPORE)
http://apieceofkeyk.wordpress.com/2009/06/06/ofw-bayani-ka-nga-ba

6. PALIPASAN (Doha, QATAR)
http://palipasan.blogspot.com/2009/07/silang-mga-naglakas-loob.html

7. TOP EXPRESS (Nova Scotia, CANADA)
http://topexpress.wordpress.com/2009/06/30/pangarap

8. BONI STATION (Dammam, SAUDI ARABIA)
http://bonistation.wordpress.com/2009/08/07/saludo-ako-sa-yo

9. BA BE BI BEBING (Georgia, USA)
http://babebibebing.blogspot.com/2009/07/gintong-mithiin.html

10. HULASCOOP, atbp. (Misawa, JAPAN)
http://hulascoop.blogspot.com/2009/05/hula-scoop-pag-isipang-mabuti-ang-mga.html

Special Awards:
1. Smart Blog Award – The Chook-Minders Quill, Port Wakefield, South Australia
http://chook-mindersquill.blogspot.com/2009/05/keynote.html

2. Nokia Best Blog Entry Awards – Isla de Nebz, Al Khobar Saudi Arabia
http://isladenebz.blogspot.com/2009/07/peba-entry-where-my-ofw-dollars-go.html

3. Nokia Best Photo Entry Award – Floyd Amor, Singapore

4. Blas Ople Policy Center Best Video Award – Utak ni Drake, Riyadh Saudi Arabia
http://utaknidrake.blogspot.com/2009/06/ako-at-kami-bilang-manggawang-pilipino.html

5. Friendster Award, Best Blog Theme: The Desert Dude, Dubai, United Arab Emirates
http://kunejo.blogspot.com/2009/05/i-witness.html

6. Western Union Award, Best Blog Lay-out: Kablogie, Doha, Qatar
http://www.kablogie.com/2009/09/abroad.html

7. Sen. Manny Villar Award, Most Popular Blog – Wits Expression , Dubai, United Arab Emirates
http://timeofreflection.blogspot.com/2009/06/lipad-ng-pangarap.html

Citations:

Best Blog Element: Style Shanghai, Shanghai, China
http://styleshanghai.blogspot.com/2009/08/peba-entry-and-i-thought-i-wouldnt-be.html

Best Entry in a Video Format – Poging (Ilo)cano, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
http://ambisiyosongnangangarap.blogspot.com/2009/07/kalendaryo.html

Mapagkawanggawa OFW Blogger Award -The Dungeon Lord, Koror, Palau
http://lordcm.blogspot.com/2009/05/bagong-bayaning-hi-tech.html

Best Blog by Region:

Middle East and Africa – Isla de Nebz, Al Khobar Saudi Arabia

North America and Canada- Top Express, Nova Scotia, Canada

Europe – Francesca in France, Nice,France

Asia and the Pacific – Wits and Spirits, Bangkok, Thailand

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You might also want to read Positive Mental Energy and Affirmations and my other blogs like Free Filipino Food Recipes, Shopping Finds, Pinoy Food Photo Blog and Techie Gadgets.

How about visiting my daughter’s ukay-ukay blog at ukaymanila.com?

Hope you can drop by! Thanks for visiting…Noemi Lardizabal-Dado.

Add me in Facebook by introducing yourself. My facebook is at facebook.com/noemidado

So what is her book all about?

“In Another Dress” reveals in story after story, how she went into blogging as a hedge against retirement jitters and that sure enough it turned out to be something she could do with a passion well into antiquity “as long as rheumy eyes can still squint and arthritic fingers touch type.”

In her pieces, she reminisced about lost youth, paid tribute to people important to her, philosophized about her losses, made mountains of small mounds of achievement, laughed at her spotty record as mom-wife-friend-worker, and brooded over left-over dreams and aspirations.

Anna Manila revealed that she began writing her ode-to-old stories hoping to discover the secret to being old and happy but admitted she had not found this after two and half years trying. Nevertheless, she had learned “without doubt that if I loved myself, I shouldn’t care how old I get.”

In Another Dress , whose title is a take-off from Henry Wadsworth Longfellow’s “… Age, much like youth is opportunity, though in another dress,” is divided into four sets of stories: (1) To Keep the Heart Unwrinkled; (2) Simpering, Whimpering, Blundering Youth; (3) My Spotty Mom Record and Other Middling Stories; and (4) Tales of Women in Love and in Trouble (as told to Annamanila).

This afternoon, I gave a short oral review of the book. I believe that a great personal blog or writer has at least two qualities -

1. When you write about yourself, it’s never just yourself. It can’t be. Who the hell are you anyway? Why should your life be so interesting to people? It could be interesting only up to a certain point. There’s got to be a point when you are no longer talking about yourself. Or even when you are, there are points others can relate to .

2. Educate , enlighten and entertain. Have a way to make them accessible and funny.

Now being funny in my entries is something I can’t do yet. Being a blogger is a work in progress but Annamanila has all those qualities as a blogger and writer. She started blogging at 63 and so can you. If you need a role model, Annamanila is the writer to be, the blogger that yu can be. She is a role model to emulate.

So yes, buy this book at National Book Store for 350 pesos.

This book is worth every centavo as you can easily identify yourself in some of her stories on loss, betrayal, death, youth, getting old , being a mother , love, marriage , friendship and retirement. Even my husband is very impressed with her writing. I wonder what part he read.

I don’t have plans to publish a book at the moment but I do plan to come out with an ebook because my archives are full of entries that are hard to dig into.

For my Philippine-based readers, I am giving away a copy of her book which I bought just to create buzz for my friend. Just comment below why you think you deserve a free copy.

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You might also want to read Positive Mental Energy and Affirmations and my other blogs like Free Filipino Food Recipes, Shopping Finds, Pinoy Food Photo Blog and Techie Gadgets.

How about visiting my daughter’s ukay-ukay blog at ukaymanila.com?

Hope you can drop by! Thanks for visiting…Noemi Lardizabal-Dado.

Add me in Facebook by introducing yourself. My facebook is at facebook.com/noemidado

Hear ye, you should watch this entertaining video by Vince Golangco from wheninmanila.com which was part of the 3rd Philippine Blog Awards.

Philippine Blog Awards intro “Silent Film” Jose & Andres are Bloggers

It is my third year to attend the Philippine Blog Awards. It is only this year that I am not actively involved in the organizing committee except being a judge for the Personal and Family & Living category and Presentor for two categories. Last year, I was the President of the 2nd Philippine Blog Awards. Before that , I was in charge for food and venue. This year I took a break. I applaud the current officers of the Philippine Blog Awards for the theme of “One Blogging Nation”. I know how difficult it is to organize such a huge event and solicit sponsors. Trust me, it is not easy so please give them a big round of applause.

With Ferdz Decena as Presentors for the Winners of Family & Living, Advocacy, Travel, Food

This year’s blog awards is unique because it encompasses three regions of the Philippines thus making the theme “One Blogging Nation”. The keynote speaker, Gang Badoy says it all so let me share you her speech:

What an honor and a frustration to be given ten minutes to address, perhaps (arguably) the most eloquent group of people ever gathered in 2009. But here I am, so here I go.

I cannot discuss any other ‘angle on blogging’ tonight except my gratitude to bloggers. During a crisis- you have kept many of us informed, during darker times – you, blogger have inspired, during births – you spread the joy and during death – many of you have rendered those who have gone before us immortal. There is no single phenomenon that has done all those in such a level. Ang diin ng saad ng blogger sa sugat at balat ng Inang Bayan.

Your personal thoughts, observations, factual research even urgent yet seemingly trivial emotions have contributed greatly to us who read you. Imagine how wide the understanding of the next generation will be of us who have gone before them -because of your blogs. Mas maiintindihan nila kung saan tayo nanggaling. For me the best description of one who loves his country is someone who is interested in where we came from, where we are today – and where we want the country to go. Imagine the advantage the next generation has because they have our blogs to refer to.

Bloggers may have shook mainstream journalism out of its seeming (not apparent) complacency. It has pressured people to decide faster and smarter during emergencies because bloggers, for the most part, cover the many angles of truth. From the ground. I am aware that it is not all positive – lies, panic, confusion, anger, negativity have also stemmed from blogs. Blogs have given us headaches, I know one or two that have – but one thing is for sure – I have never encountered a blog that made me more complacent. And wow- what a gift. What a gift to the country – a country that desperately needs participation, incisive thinking, swift reason, informed suggestions and countless other values.

—-

Whenever the subject of press freedom comes up we always used to hear ‘better an abusive press than a suppressed one.’ I think bloggers took that one step further. Which is why my contention is this: there may be very few networks as powerful and as influential and as crucial as a responsible, articulate, prolific blogger.

2009 made me realize that a nation is not its government. Thank God. Blogging has relieved me with the fact that the history of the Philippines is no longer solely in the hands of the textbook writer. (Thank God) A history of a nation is really the collection of stories of individual lives. Our individual lives. Yours.

You know, during this recent crisis -one typhoon then the next – I observed that politicians will be ‘press-conning A” – networks will be reporting B – and bloggers will be saying C. How lucky we are to have all those views, may we have the resources and smarts to sift through all that. If we do, then we’re on our way.

Though divided in opinion I am still grateful to all who blog. Unity was never my premise for us to move and to make great a nation – but unity certainly is the goal. Not the premise — but the goal.

In my wobbly logic I will say that a country is a shared geographic space. It is the assigned square area where people live together. But a nation – wow, a nation is different; a nation is a frame of mind, a general direction, a common rhythm that a group of people share. That’s a nation.

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I like the title of this year’s awards. Three words that I hope to someday re-arrange. Maybe some day we can be just ONE NATION – and we just all happen to blog.

Last thought – blogging is not the ultimate verb here tonight. I know you have caught a lot of flack in the past about the seeming non-active motion bloggers take. For those who think that blogging is a minor verb, I have something to share: One cannot blog unless one goes out there. If you never got your hands dirty or walked streets, helped out, experienced heartbreak, death, birth, victory, defeat, betrayal, pain, sweat- then really- you have nothing to blog. I think it is because you live and you live well — this is why you can blog. Someday it will be said that blogging is merely the record of ‘lives well-lived.’ Again, for that I am grateful.

Keep on doing what you do, living the lives that you lead. If the country is lucky, you will still continue to blog and (quoting Plato) – your storytelling will be the education of our future’s heroes.

Welcome to the Philippines, One Blogging Nation.

Mabuhay tayong lahat.

Digital Chief Aileen Apolo, Digital Elders Me and Janette Toral

It’s been three years since I started blogging from a simple family and advocacy blog that now branched out to 10 other blog niches such as Filipina Images, Pinoy Food Blog, and coming soon, Blog Watch for Election 2010 coverage. It was a surprise and honor to be recognized by Globe (a sponsor) and the Philippine Blog Awards as one of the Elders of the Globe-PBA Digital Tribe for Luzon. Sharing this recognition is Aileen Apolo, Janette Toral and Manolo Quezon, Anton Diaz (not present). What an honor to be placed alongside top-notch bloggers.

I will continue blogging as always. Many wonderful things have been happening to me since I became a blogger. Sharing the changes in my new normal after the death of a child is one way of reaching out to others. I offer hope that life can still continue on despite the pain and that pain is a wonderful teacher.

My blog’s focus is on assisting and participating in advocacy groups that may reap the benefits of blogging. My efforts will not be in vain because these groups will be able to complement their grassroots efforts in advocating social change.

Lastly, I will continue to provide social commentary where I share my opinion on politics and current affairs. It’s my hope to contribute to the country’s progress through my relevant views and opinions.

Blogging doesn’t stop with the written words. I will be able to achieve all of these goals and achieve social impact not only by writing about it in my blog but actually participating in events and activities relevant to the advocacy.

My new blog project is coming soon and hopes to be relevant to the Ondoy and Pepeng victims as well as the upcoming Election 2010.

Let us continue on doing what we do, living the lives that we lead.

Congratulations to the Winners of the 2009 Philippine Blog Awards.

Photo Credits to Arbet Bernardo and Fritz Tentativa to some of the photos.

Photo Albums

Arbet

Fritz——————————-
You might also want to read Positive Mental Energy and Affirmations and my other blogs like Free Filipino Food Recipes, Shopping Finds, Pinoy Food Photo Blog and Techie Gadgets.

How about visiting my daughter’s ukay-ukay blog at ukaymanila.com?

Hope you can drop by! Thanks for visiting…Noemi Lardizabal-Dado.

Add me in Facebook by introducing yourself. My facebook is at facebook.com/noemidado

It’s amazing at the number of footwear found floating. So much garbage. Where did these come from? No wonder the streets are flooded. The drains are clogged with so much debris.

I haven’t gone to this Malabon port since then. I hope the government cleaned up the mess.
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You might also want to read Positive Mental Energy and Affirmations and my other blogs like Free Filipino Food Recipes, Shopping Finds, Pinoy Food Photo Blog and Techie Gadgets.

How about visiting my daughter’s ukay-ukay blog at ukaymanila.com?

Hope you can drop by! Thanks for visiting…Noemi Lardizabal-Dado.

Add me in Facebook by introducing yourself. My facebook is at facebook.com/noemidado

In 2007, I drew up my top 10 list of Influential Emerging blogs. Today, 8 out of 10 continue to be influential bloggers except for two blogs that are now gone. Not a bad forecast, right? This year, I continue to support the Top 10 Emerging Influential Blogs for 2009 Writing Project. Let me just tell you that my choice of the top 10 is based on blog-hopping from fellow bloggers’ suggestion in social media, friendships and my belief that these blogs will emerge as Influential blogs not just for 2009 but in the years to come.

1. Ukay Manila

I know I am biased because the blog owner is my daughter. Disclosure now in the open, let me move on. See, in the light of the current economic situation, one should find means to diversify income and become prudent in consumer spending. Lauren hits both objectives when she launched this blog on December 2008.

I believe ukay shopping is a way of resisting the consumerist logic of today. People don’t really need a top that costs P800 or a pair of jeans that cost P3,000, but we buy them anyway. Why? Because we are all advertising targets who are led to think that filling up our wardrobes with overpriced (but mass-produced!) clothes is the only way we can feel good and go about “expressing our individuality and style”.

2. New Media Philippines

Carlo Ople struck a nerve when he classified bloggers for PR practitioners. I believe he became influential because, his name crops up when mentioned in blog conferences or round table discussions. It spurred discussion on encouraging bloggers to create quality content. Other blog topics bore fruit that contradict Carlo’s classification of bloggers.

3. Filipino Mom Blog

Founded by seven of my mom-blogger friends, this is a blog to watch for. The group’s shared vision among seven mothers…seven friends….all partners in a journey will bring Filipino mothers into the world stage. Mom bloggers are influential- to reach out to other moms to indeed rule the world by raising the next generation of good citizens for our country. Well, we already know moms are running the world, because they’re are the ones who nurture us, every child to their adulthood, our presidents, CEOs, another set of mothers and more.

4. Patay Gutom

I’ve known this food blog even before the Patay Gutom Bloggers became controversial in Carlo Ople’s entry on 4 Types of Bloggers: Value, Hobby, Journal, and Google. They are anything but patay gutom, by the way. They are influential because I feel they are inspiring bloggers to start a blog out of passion and fun! Lovely photos in their entries too.

5. Hay! Men! Ang Blog ng Tunay na Lalake

See family members laughing? The Tunay na Lalake blog is an alternative to Home entertainment.

Influential because the humor is very contagious and we can take a moment to laugh it off instead of dwelling on negativity.

6. The Struggling Blogger

I believe most of us are struggling bloggers. Even I look at myself as a work in progress. One point in our little lives as bloggers, we struggle to achieve something, no matter how small or big the goals are. When I started this blog, I felt exactly like Roy, Struggles aren’t new to me, I don’t even know why I still exist and how I survived. and slowly, I started a new life.

7. Dilis Media

Who doesn’t know Juned? Well, he’s not a newbie when it comes to blogging. But…I love the magazine blog format. That is something I have never done. I know a lot of bloggers have one or two blogs and even more. Reading diverse topics is akin to munching on dilis . As Juned aptly says One cannot survive on a single Dilis. One can but it will not be satisfactory. It will not appease the hunger and provide one with the needed energy. One needs to eat more than one. As such this blog came about.. Juned is also a brilliant writer and I want to write like him but that would make me a copycat, right? That would be taboo, too.

8. Absolute Cousins

I like family blogs and a group of cousins that chronicle their adventures (or misadventures) seem like fun. My own adventures with my cousins during my teen years would have made it to a blog post if only blogs were in existence then. I believe we should encourage more group blogs that chronicle family bonding experience.

9. Regnard Raquedan: Self-Titled

08-08-08. The date that Regnard started his blog. Yes, an auspicious day to start a blog. I have always known Regnard as a Web & Usability Consultant, very influential in web development and internet marketing and that’s about it. Finally, through his personal blog, I get to peek a bit into his personal life. Not that I want to stalk him, but it is always good to know the person behind all that techie know-how.

10. The Accidental Teacher

I love Ria’s enthusiam towards making the most out of teaching and learning.. inside and outside the four walls of the classroom. I hold a high respect for teachers as they help shape the future of our country through education.

There are tons of new blogs out there but I am limited to listing down ten blogs only. It is my hope that most of them make it to the final top 10 but even if not, I believe my top 10 will evolve as the influential blogs that make things happen.

You too can nominate your choices for Emerging Influential Blogs of 2009 and check out their official site.

Thanks to the sponsors: Absolute Traders, My Brute Cheats, and Business Summaries.

Join the Top 10 Influential Emerging Blogs for 2009 Writing Project. ——————————-
You might also want to read Positive Mental Energy and Affirmations and my other blogs like Free Filipino Food Recipes, Shopping Finds, Pinoy Food Photo Blog and Techie Gadgets.

How about visiting my daughter’s ukay-ukay blog at ukaymanila.com?

Hope you can drop by! Thanks for visiting…Noemi Lardizabal-Dado.

Add me in Facebook by introducing yourself. My facebook is at facebook.com/noemidado

I now support Ako Mismo. Let me Explain.

Ako Mismo finally gave some answers. I decided to write a new entry on this because my Ako Mismo Campaign and My Conditional Support is cluttered with too many updates.

Four new links are now up but the problem is I needed to click twice to get to these pages. From the Home Page, I had to click “skip Intro” because I was not yet a member then click “already a member?” before reaching these 4 pages.
(Update – May 8: Links are now in the main landing page)

1. Who is Behind Ako Mismo?

4. Wall of Commitment

If already a member, you need to click “already a member” to view those pages. Unsolicited Advice: Please place Who is Behind Ako Mismo? , FAQ, Wall of Commitment and Contact Page on the main landing page. (Update – May 8: Links are now in the main landing page)

I just had three basic questions:

1. Who is behind Ako Mismo?

Their FAQ says this:

Q: Who is behind the Ako Mismo campaign?
A: DDB, under its Corporate Social Responsibility arm, DDB Cares, is the spirit behind the campaign. For many years now, DDB Cares has been supporting causes it firmly believes in, using its creative and media resources to espouse positive values. From taking care of the environment, to education of children, responsible voting, protection against domestic violence and human trafficking, role of media in shaping society, religious efforts for Veritas and Caritas, and now, this advocacy for hope and empowerment. We do this, pro bono oftentimes, both for our clients and for our own advocacies.

Yup, DDB Philippines owns AkoMismo.org.

2. What will you do with the database?

Their FAQ says this:

Q: The registration for Ako Mismo requires information from those who sign up. Will the database be used for commercial or political gain?
A: No. The basic information we asked for will be used to guide us in the deployment of the dog tags to the right people. The information will also be useful as we mobilize our socio-civic activities, as it will determine where and what projects are relevant in specific areas. It is important to point out that this whole movement is one of volunteerism. And while we hope more people will sign up, or that our members will participate in future activities (the choice of which will be guided by feedback we receive about what matters to them), ultimately each individual has total freedom to decide whether he will participate or not. We are very protective about the information we receive and we have taken security precautions against people accessing the information for their use without our knowledge. We are zealous about protecting the movement from being exposed to those with political or commercial agenda.

3. Why do we have to sign up to write or view the wall? It is fishy that you have to collect our information before we can view your site properly.

We can now view the whole Ako Mismo site through their Who is Behind Ako Mismo? and an FAQ but we cannot view the wall of commitment ( Wall of Commitment is now visible). I wish they can give us a preview of the Total Pledges: 64,540 as of this writing (9:00 am of May 7).

And why are so much personal details required? Still unanswered and it still brings doubts to most bloggers. Regnard Raquedan in his Ako Mismo No Thanks says it nicely:

Look, I’m not saying that the Ako Mismo is a campaign with no credibility. Its intentions are good, in my opinion, and they have launched one of the most intriguing campaigns of the year so far. However, there are just too many obfuscated strings (links to certain personalities, market research, data mining, etc.) for me. For the average user, these may not matter, but for me, they do.

My conclusion is that their site was not properly tested or no Usability Testing was done which can give direct input on how real users use the system. It is a beta site. I feel the Ako Mismo site is still a work in progress. It is good that the owners DDB, under its Corporate Social Responsibility arm, DDB Cares, finally answered some of my concerns.

It is a commendable project for everyone. I will affirm it again.

I believe in the concept of Ako Mismo. I believe that I have no control over people, places and things yet I have control over myself. I have control on my own actions and attitude. Change starts with me. Others may start to follow suit. But first, it begins with me.

I, myself.

I don’t really need an Ako Mismo site to bring this point across, do I? I don’t need the Ako Mismo site to work out its kinks for me to believe in Ako Mismo

My blog can still deliver this message to my readers, my subscribers and my community.

Ako Mismo.

I Support Ako Mismo and I registered just now. My Ako Mismo is probably the 64,644th pledge.

I gave my conditional support two days ago because I didn’t want my personal information to be harvested . Their assurances in their FAQ make it acceptable to me. Also, it was Patrick “Pato” Gregorio a good friend of my husband who vouched for this campaign through an email sent to my sister (with a cc to Gil Chua, the CEO of DDB Philippines) . Apparently, Pato and Gil started this idea. We have known Pato for the longest time now and trust him. When I continued to raise doubts, my husband assured me “if Pato is behind this, he is trustworthy”. Even if I know him, it didn’t stop me from being critical of some kinks in the Ako Mismo website. My sister, Lorna wrote more on this. I trust Pato and if “napapahiya ako dito”, he won’t hear the end of it. Mark my word.

To protect myself, I used my prepaid phone number and an email address solely for Ako Mismo purpose , and where I can address SPAM issues.

Ako Mismo will blog about Ako Mismo to ensure it is a lifetime campaign and not just a short term solution to our country’s problems.

Ako Mismo gumawa ng paraan.

Learn from yesterday, live for today, hope for tomorrow. The important thing is not to stop questioning. Albert Einstein

Related Sites

Blogs

• Ako Mismo No Thanks by Regnard Raquedan
• AKO MISMO. A Skeptic’s View
• AKO MISMO: AN Update of Sorts: How Not to Promote An Advocacy
• “Crab Mentality”
• DDB Takes Ownership of Ako Mismo Campaign
• Taking my blog’s name back — it’s AKOMISMO
• Ako Mismo DDB Fires up the PR
• 
  Ako Mismo ang Magkokonek Da Dots

News

• Ad agency ’spirit’ behind ‘Ako Mismo’ campaign
• ‘Ako Mismo’ is ‘Anong Taya Mo’

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You might also want to read Positive Mental Energy and Affirmations and my other blogs like Free Filipino Food Recipes, Shopping Finds, Pinoy Food Photo Blog and Techie Gadgets.

How about visiting my daughter’s ukay-ukay blog at ukaymanila.com?

Hope you can drop by! Thanks for visiting…Noemi Lardizabal-Dado.

Add me in Facebook by introducing yourself. My facebook is at facebook.com/noemidado

I now support Ako Mismo. Read my updated entry on Ako Mismo.

Update on May 6

There is Who is Behind Ako Mismo? and an FAQ but it is not easily spotted in the main page unless you click two links “Skip intro” and “already a member?”. It is still silent on the use of the database they collected.

What a wonderful idea! I like it. AKO (I, me) mismo (myself or me, personally) is a very rough translation. Me, myself, and I… am doing my part in making the world a better place to live and work in.

I am not helpless. I can solve most of my problems. I have the power to solve the problems that is mine to solve. In my own little way, I contribute to the society through my children. Self-reliance begins in our homes. I hope to instill self-reliance in my children even if they have to inherit this crappy economy. That was what I wrote in my reaction to President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo State of the Nation Address (SONA 2008).

It is good to hope. It is better to hope than despair. Declaring one’s commitment in writing is the first step in making your good intentions manifest into reality. What you perceive becomes your reality. Imagine what it would be like to have millions of Filipinos — and those who advocate our Filipino causes — share their altruistic acts to all of us.

But wait… I visit the site at akomismo.org and I am faced with a log-in . I cannot view anything else except the HOME page with the links to the Privacy Page and Terms and Conditions because I have to register first. Fishy! If they were truly sincere in their AKO MISMO campaign, they won’t limit access to the site. They’d give us the freedom to frolic in their virtual playground or plaza before declaring our commitment in writing.

I am faced with all these information with so many required fields:

After going through the site, I certainly agree with the email from Jaime Garchitorena with reports from ABS-CBN, ‘Ako Mismo’ campaign questioned over privacy.

The sponsors PLDT-Smart Foundation, DDB Cares, and the Kapisanan ng mga Brodkaster ng Pilipinas (KBP) or whoever owns this patriotism campaign need to answer some bloggers’ concerns.

1. What are your future plans for the database gathered from the Ako Mismo sign ups? (Update: Read their FAQ). Here is their reply:

Q: The registration for Ako Mismo requires information from those who sign up. Will the database be used for commercial or political gain?
A: No. The basic information we asked for will be used to guide us in the deployment of the dog tags to the right people. The information will also be useful as we mobilize our socio-civic activities, as it will determine where and what projects are relevant in specific areas. It is important to point out that this whole movement is one of volunteerism. And while we hope more people will sign up, or that our members will participate in future activities (the choice of which will be guided by feedback we receive about what matters to them), ultimately each individual has total freedom to decide whether he will participate or not. We are very protective about the information we receive and we have taken security precautions against people accessing the information for their use without our knowledge. We are zealous about protecting the movement from being exposed to those with political or commercial agenda.

2. Why do we have to sign up to write or view the wall? It is fishy that you have to collect our information before we can view your site properly. (Update: We can now see the site through their Who is Behind Ako Mismo? and an FAQ and Wall of Commitment)

3. How do we opt out? When we try to use contact page, it says “Sorry, you’ll need to register or login to access this page.” (Update: Contact Page is up)

(Smart Denies Owning Patriotism Campaign Site)

“If it’s not Smart, then who owns it? No one claims the website until now,” said Jaime Garchitorena, president of Edu Pro, after he learned that Smart has denied the ownership of the website.

(Update on May 6- DDB Philippines says they are the ones behind Ako Mismo. Read more at Who is Behind Ako Mismo? and an FAQ)

As of this writing, I give my conditional support because I don’t want to type in my “personal information”. I am sure others don’t mind giving away all the information specified in the Privacy Policy but I do. I certainly don’t want to receive spam and unsolicited political campaigns or surveys. I am not alone in my observations.

(Update: I now support Ako Mismo. Read my updated entry on Ako Mismo)

Garchitorena said that though it is not yet clear what the campaign really aims to do – it could be a legitimate website or a “malicious” campaign – all he wants is to clear the structure on how personal information of users are collected, stored, and used by the people behind the campaign to protect the privacy of individuals who join the site.

Don’t get me wrong, I believe in the concept of Ako Mismo. I believe that I have no control over people, places and things yet I have control over myself. I have control on my own actions and attitude. Change starts with me. Others may start to follow suit. But first, it begins with me.

I, myself.

I don’t really need an Ako Mismo site to bring this point across, do I?

My blog can still deliver this message to my readers, my subscribers and my community.

Ako Mismo. Tayo Mismo.

A Moment of Silence or a prayer of Hope for all of you.

—-, let me be the change I want to see
To do with strength and wisdom
All that needs to be done
And become the hope that I can be.
Set me free from my fears and hesitations.
Grant me courage and humility.
Fill me with spirit to face the challenge
And start the change I want to see.
Today, I start the change I want to see.
Even if I’m not the light, I can be the spark.
In faith, service and communion
Let us start the change we want to see,
The change that begins in me

UPDATE

May 6- There is Who is Behind Ako Mismo? and an FAQ but it is not easily spotted in the main page unless you click two links “Skip intro” and “already a member?”. It is still silent on the use of the database they collected.

Related Sites

Note: This is a discussion about Bloggers and Blog Marketing and what Marketing/PR Executives can expect from bloggers.

Bloggers seated from Left to right:
Jonel, Azrael, me, Peter, Juned and Markku
while Regnard Raquedan is standing.

I thought I was just supposed to be an observer/participant of the Bloggers’ round table discussion on Blogging & Blog Marketing: Conversations that can lead to Conversions at the Internet Marketing Course specifically called Winning Internet Marketing Strategies & Tactics at the Asian Institute of Management (AIM) . The course is a three and a half-day course designed to demystify Internet Marketing for executives, consultants, and entrepreneurs. It gives participants a practical understanding of how websites, blogs, and social networks are changing the old rules of marketing. I was pretty much surprised when Regnard Raquedan told us to sit in the front and talk about blogging, blog advertising and blog events.

I believe this was my chance to state my opinion in an academic setting where I won’t be accused of being a blogging police of sorts. (Edit: Take note that this discussion is not meant to criticize bloggers) I felt that not a lot of media/advertising managers are aware on what blogging is all about. I also think that a lot of misunderstanding is caused by lack of knowledge on bloggers per se. After one and a half hours of discussion, the key points are summarized below by Regnard as follows: (The details are mine)

1. Bloggers are diverse: We come in all shapes & sizes, and different backgrounds, interests & motivations

I believe this is clear enough. There are blogs that talk of travel, food, lifestyle, business, entertainment. Each blogger has a reason for starting their own blog. (Edit Carlo Ople writes more on this at 4 Types of Bloggers: Value, Hobby, Journal, and Google where the 4 categories can overlap, and in fact some of the best bloggers have stricken a balance on how to be all 4. Juned expands the definition of blogger in form and goal.)

2. Despite the diversity, bloggers have one big thing in common: passion

Passion drives bloggers to blog regularly. Their topics interest them and it motivates them to search for unique content for their blog.

3. Bloggers follow a personal code of ethics (e.g. advertising, blogger events, etc.)

Each blogger sets their own standards. Some blogger refuse to add any sort of advertising in their blog. Others place google adsense, third party ads from the local blog ad networks and other advertising options. Others get paid to do reviews through hosted pages or pay per post opportunities. Others choose third party ads but don’t participate in pay per post or events. The choice is set by the bloggers.

4. For most bloggers, online reputation matters

Credibility is important for a blogger. I already discussed it in my entry on The Bloggers’ Credibility and Credentials in Filipino Voices. You are essentially what you write and will be judged accordingly by your readers, the blog’s community.

5. When working with bloggers, authenticity of the advocacy & commitment of the company/proponent is important (i.e. “one shot advocacy events,” hard sell to bloggers)

I shared the FilipinaImages.com advocacy to the participants and illustrated that an appealing advocacy is easily picked up by bloggers without much prodding.

6. Money is generally looked down upon as a reward/incentive

Some local companies have approached bloggers in the past to post positive reviews of their product/service for a fee. This is generally not acceptable to most bloggers as it ruins their credibility. A corporate blogger is not the same though because the blogger is paid a fixed salary and disclosure of that fact is stated in the “About Page”.

7. When working with bloggers, companies should strive to make an impression and make sure the blogger has a story to tell after the event

I shared my view that in the recent months, I am not happy with the way PR events are handled by the newcomers. I think that some PR companies are just lazy to do their own research and just invite warm bodies for the sake of buzz. Some PR events do not deliver a clear message to the bloggers. I admire this PR company, a pioneer in blog events because they do their homework. The people behind the PR company actually subscribe to our blogs and feel the pulse of the blogosphere. A close relationship with the bloggers forge friendships and social networking. They know which bloggers are relevant to their clients. They actually do research.

Lastly, PR companies should be clear on their goal for the blog event : is it Quantity (shotgun approach and invite as many bloggers for the buzz ) or Highly Niched (Maximum of 20 bloggers who are seeking content for their blog and suit the clients’ niche)

Know whom to invite: Not all bloggers can influence your target market, and not all of them can have the same level of interaction with their readers.

I believe I said more like “let’s not stress too much on the freebies in blog events or else a rise in freebie culture will take place. Tell a story so we can bring home the content”.

So yes, this is an academic discussion on the state of the blog advertising, PR events and other blog marketing practices in the recent months. It is meant to improve the blog marketing practices among the media practioners of the Philippines and a greater understanding of the bloggers in Metro Manila. I was pleased that Professor Ricky Lim personally thanked the bloggers for “sharing and helping create a vibrant blogging movement here in the Philippines. ” On behalf of AIM, he thanked us and hoped
we could come again to talk to their students.

Glad to know that our contributions added to the intellectual capital of the management community.

Do you have anything more to add?

Photos courtesy of Regnard Raquedan

Other updates

Just a disclosure. Dine Racoma and I are now affiliated as Writer for the Philippine Online Chronicles, an online newspaper project of the Vibal Foundation. A nice perk is a Media ID which makes it easier for me to identify myself when I request for an interview. Projects so far are the Bloggers Meet and Greet with BB Gandanghari and Takbong Pangarap. I hope to do more video interviews for the Filipina Online Campaign. Thanks a lot to Vibal Foundation for helping us achieve our goals.

Speaking of video interviews, Carlo Ople of New Media Philippines wrote a Blogger Feature about me where I talk about the topics in my blog.

He thinks that my blog is one example of Personal Branding. Thanks Carlo!——————————-
You might also want to read Positive Mental Energy and Affirmations and my other blogs like Free Filipino Food Recipes, Shopping Finds, Pinoy Food Photo Blog and Techie Gadgets.

How about visiting my daughter’s ukay-ukay blog at ukaymanila.com?

Hope you can drop by! Thanks for visiting…Noemi Lardizabal-Dado.

Add me in Facebook by introducing yourself. My facebook is at facebook.com/noemidado

I groaned. Not another show. I felt there are many wonderful moms out there who are so much better than me but Net 25 MOMents was persistent. They said the show is for mothers and kids that feature the different bonding moments, child-rearing styles and the many facets of motherhood. I felt like it has been ages since I have actually been a hands-on mom. I have long since enjoyed my independence from child-rearing since the girls turned 20. What could I possibly offer to the MOMents feature?

A techie mom! Great. I know that too well. It’s the first time that I am talking directly to the camera which I find weird. I am used to talking to a person. Help! The show format is such that I am the host of my segment. It turned out well despite my initial misgivings.

The amazing and coincidental thing happened. My segment appeared today and in it I showed off my favorite blog entry, College Sweethearts: Our Love Story.

And you know what? Today is March 7, our 31st anniversary as a couple.

What joy!

Note: Replay is at 10:00 PM tonight.
——————————-
You might also want to read Positive Mental Energy and Affirmations and my other blogs like Free Filipino Food Recipes, Shopping Finds, Pinoy Food Photo Blog and Techie Gadgets.

How about visiting my daughter’s ukay-ukay blog at ukaymanila.com?

Hope you can drop by! Thanks for visiting…Noemi Lardizabal-Dado.

Add me in Facebook by introducing yourself. My facebook is at facebook.com/noemidado

There are two contending schools of thought on the matter. One posits that ethical guidelines are necessary in order that blogging may be practiced responsibility. The other says that such a “code of ethics” is anathema in the freewheeling blogosphere. I believe in the latter. I once made the mistake of writing on an ethical issues in a past entry and received much flack from a prominent blogger who differed with my point of view. I am jumping ahead of my thoughts on this matter. Today, I no longer believe in establishing code of ethics. The dynamism of the blog is precisely what makes it so compelling and effective as a new medium. It would be very difficult, if not impossible, to regulate it. It is improbable that a single code would be right for all bloggers under all circumstances. There are no absolutes in the blogosphere.

I believe that:

1. Market forces are enough to keep bloggers in line. Readership is built on the strength of a blogger’s writing and one should be ready to be constantly and instantly judged by the mouse clicks of fickle readers who vote with their fingers.

2. But this doesn’t mean that bloggers should eschew the idea of a voluntary code of ethics altogether. Adherence to standards of quality and ethical principles give credibility to blogs.

What I do believe is that each blogger sets the standards for their own community of readers, their subscribers.

What standards do I try to set?

I based some of my blogging practices on Respectful Disagreement discussion

1. Transparency. You are who you appear to be. This also includes disclosure .

2. Accountability. If you screw up, say so. Bloggers should do their best to rely on accountable sources. If those sources were/are not accurate, admit it.

3. Creativity. Blogging encourages unique content that gathers together niche audiences (communities) and provides a focal point for conversation. Not all blogging, for example, is journalistic reporting about a particular topic. The quality, tone and style of the writing, in addition to the unique authorial self-expression, creates a unique form of communicating different from previous forms.

5. Disagree without being disagreeable, leaving dignity intact. Sadly, I’ve encountered a few bloggers who get so heated up and emotional that they lose their cool in the argument. I believe in always staying on the higher ground without resulting to name calling.

6. If it is incendiary, don’t post it. If you wouldn’t say it to that person over a cup of coffee, don’t post it.

Every now and then, readers point me to entries written about me in “blind item” fashion. They say Bato-bato sa langit, ang matamaan ‘wag magalit but really, do I burst an artery over it? It doesn’t mean that I don’t get hurt. At the end of the day, I don’t lose focus on my blog goals and I believe that my blog is not my identity. I can stop blogging tomorrow and I am still me.

I would also like to add the privacy issues. Please respect my privacy. Just because I write things in public does not give others the right to display my private conversations. I have a private plurk where I normally rant and it is not supposed to be bloggable. Unfortunately, a certain plurker thought it was alright to mention my private rant and criticize me for it. This is also true for emails and conversations said in confidence.

7. Skillful moderation. Handling trolls, praising intelligent (and dissenting) posts, balancing a discussion with an appropriate amount of blogger’s and reader’s comments.

Though I believe in dissenting views, I enforce a commentary policy where “I reserve the right to remove comments, words or phrases that are defamatory, abusive, incite hatred and advertise an email address or commercial services or just plain spammy. I also reserve the right to remove posts that to my opinion are off-topic, irrelevant, ad-hominem, personal attacks and or just plain rude.”

8. Forgiveness. We all make mistakes. Learn to forgive, especially if someone apologizes sincerely.

Likewise, If I had made mistakes in the past, I hope you have it in your heart to forgive me too.

Lastly, let me talk about blog events

Nowadays, bloggers are often invited to new media events and product launches. I find it great that PR companies are inviting us to their events. These new media events provide content for my niche blogs. Other bloggers don’t believe in attending new media events and we need to respect them for that and vice-versa. We all have our reasons. Aside from content, I also love meeting new friends or just bond with my blogger friends and having the time of my life. No kidding!

Let me share my thoughts on how I handle event invitations, which might not be true for all bloggers. This is what I believe in when I am invited to events.

1. When I am invited, I never ask “can I bring other bloggers?” The invitation was meant for me alone so I do not assume I can invite other bloggers. You have to understand that PR companies already wrote down a list of invitees and there is a limit. Unless indicated, I assume the invite is only for me. There are times when the PR company asks me to refer them to bloggers then that’s the only time I ask bloggers or send them a list of blogs.

2. I never give out cellphone numbers and email address without the bloggers’ permission to PR companies. I just give a list of their blog urls then they look up their contact information in their blog sites. If you are a blogger and wish to be contacted, it’s a good idea to have a contact page in your blog with your name in it. One time, I received an email addressed to “dear PinoyFoodblog.com owner” and it felt weird not to be addressed as a person. I’ve learned to add my first name at the least in my contact form.

3. Not all of us get invited to new media events. I don’t take it personally if this PR company invited me or not. In fact, I don’t accept all invites if I think it is not worth my time especially if the venue is far and held at night.

4. PR events handler should never assume that I endorse the products/person/service just because of my attendance. I am there there to cover the event and any endorsement or bias is cited in my disclosure.

5. When I am invited, I don’t announce it on plurk or twitter. If I want to have an idea on who are attending, I ask the organizers.

Though the round table does not recommend a set of values, I believe that an acceptance of a common set of values would give the blogosphere added credibility. After all, contrary to what some like to believe, the blogosphere is not a universe unto itself.

Bloggers are, like it or not, part of the world at large. They are not immune from political and societal forces. Neither are they exempt from the norms which govern ordinary human relations. Shouldn’t bloggers abide by the same high standards to which they hold others ?

To be continued- podcast to follow.

Related Blog Entries

Round Table Talk : Ethics and the blogger part 1 by Azrael
——————————-
You might also want to read Positive Mental Energy and Affirmations and my other blogs like Free Filipino Food Recipes, Shopping Finds, Pinoy Food Photo Blog and Techie Gadgets.

How about visiting my daughter’s ukay-ukay blog at ukaymanila.com?

Hope you can drop by! Thanks for visiting…Noemi Lardizabal-Dado.

Add me in Facebook by introducing yourself. My facebook is at facebook.com/noemidado