Last night I was at the Philippine Blog Awards 2010 held at the Carlos Romulo Theater in RCBC Plaza, Makati City. It was great connecting with old blogger friends that I haven’t seen in a while. It was great bumping into Tonyo, Maro, Sonnie, Mike, Vince, Flaircandy, Pocholo, PGB, Juned, Undersecretary Manolo Quezon, Fitz, Jayvee, and a whole lot more of other bloggers.
I was pleasantly surprised to find out that the keynote speaker for the night was Undersecretary Manolo Quezon. I have a lot of trust and admiration for this guy because he took the “plunge”. He was very comfortable where he was prior to joining the “dastardly world” of politics. I honestly think that it was more of a personal sacrifice for him to join the Aquino administration. Anyway, his speech was very timely. Check out the short video I prepared below. It ends with a short excerpt from his speech.
Manolo’s speech and the Philippine Blog Awards event as a whole really made a powerful impact on me. It made me reflect about why I blog and what I’ve written in the past. I’ve been blogging for a couple of years now and I’ve been watching how the local blogging community has evolved and grown over the years. Just like any form of group there have been a lot of issues and problems. These are the things that don’t really cross your mind when you start blogging. I can still remember thinking to myself that I would change the world when I first signed up at blogger for my first foray into this thing. That idealism has changed through the years. The desire is definitely still there but it has been muddled with “real life”, “SEO”, “Google Adsense”, and a lot more.
The Philippine Blog Awards reminded me of that feeling. Seeing new faces, talking to bloggers who just started, and reminiscing with old friends made me think of that first time I started tinkering around with blogger. It has definitely been an amazing journey. This blog, New Media PH, has defined my career and has provided for me, my employees, and my family.
I think the biggest trap a blogger can fall for is to believe that the success that they’ve attained was only because of their efforts. There’s a tendency to be very egotistic because after all your blog is your platform, your mouthpiece, and your content. However if you think hard about it blogging is a very communal activity. Every share on Facebook, Retweet, e-mail, newsletter, and blog entry comment powers your blog to the next level and that’s something that can’t be done by one person alone. Bloggers are at the mercy of a lot of factors that they can’t control – from the blogging platform (WordPress, Blogger), their hosting, readers, social media, and to an extent even traditional media.
So with that thought, allow me to add something to Manolo’s talk. One of the biggest things that we could celebrate as bloggers is our dependence on others. If there is one type of person who should be thankful and grateful, it should be bloggers..
This blog changed my life for the better not because I continue to write on it but because of people who constantly support it. With all humility let me say thank you to all of my readers, partners, clients, co-bloggers, family, friends, and of course my lovely wife for always cheering me on to continue this endeavor. Thank you to my grade school and high school English teachers. Thank you to every single person who pressed “Share” and “Retweet” on my entries. Thank you to all my friends in the media who have approached me to be a resource person in their shows. Thank you to my spiritual family for holding me accountable to what I write. But most of all I would like to thank God for blessing me with the ability to do what I do. Apart from His grace, I am literally nothing.
New Media PH didn’t get the award it was nominated for and we even forfeited a raffle win for 2 tickets to Malaysia (LOL, more on that in a separate entry). However the Philippine Blog Awards was truly a huge blessing and for that we are all thankful.
Thanks Colin!
One of the reasons why I berate myself for not recording a video of Manolo’s speech was that…he hit it right on the nose. I was one of those people who had popular hobby websites back in the 90s and then blogged privately (in LJ since 2001, like a hermit). Then in the last 2 years, I started feeling like I do not own my main personal blog anymore. This month, I banned myself from attending events because I felt that my blog was starting to look like the Classified Ads of Manila Bulletin. I explained to companies that if they’re having a promo, I would rather post these on the FB fan page rather than my blog…
It’s really a struggle to keep content honest, clean and ad-free…I mean, I already have ads on the side bar, why do I have to have them on my content area, too? Manolo’s words really struck me — when he spoke of the choices bloggers have to make in this age.
BTW, I still believe that Newmedia.com.ph is the best business blog, bar none. To me, you are a winner. Those judges must have had a hard time sifting through hundreds of blogs. It’s already difficult to get into the top 5.
(P.S.: OMG, I’m chewing in that video. Hahaha!)
Haha, thanks for the kind words. One of my blogs looks like the classifieds as well (check out http://www.waukster.com).
Wah! That was how my blog started! It was a geeky hobby site, and now it has food stuff in it. Hay. I’m adding waukster.com to my reading list now.
carlo, you nailed it right. we do support each other especially if we believe in the work we do. I wanted you to win but still glad Fitz won. I have been supportive of him too. Congrats for being a finalist
Thanks Noemi! Agree with you. I’m happy for Fitz. He definitely deserved it since his content was really hardcore business and entrepreneurship.
Maybe it’s just my browser, Boss, but I can’t see the video. May I ask you post link on FB/Twitter? Please and thank you. Strawberries on top!
Ok will put on FB
nabigla ako nung nakita kong nahagip ako dito ng video. huli akong tumatalon talon na parang kangaroo from the photowall to the one taking my photo. embarrassing.hahaha
but seriously, I like the message of the Undersecretary Manolo Quezon. nahagip din ako ng mensahe. I suddenly asked myself. as a blogging who is aspiring for something more—where is the tide taking me? and is that where I want to be? scary.
whoaaa! same category pala kayo ni fitz. ^__^