Wednesday, June 27, 2012

Blogtrotting and Filipino bloggers worth following

For this third blog post and even though I have previously opened and launched but never really pursued my former blogs (guilty as charged!), I still feel like a neophyte blogger. Up to this time I feel am still bereft of what I can call inspiration.

Until while writing this, one uninvited question bugged me for a second and demanded an urgent answer. His question is: What really makes a blogger blogger?

Then this question prompted few more questions or answers, such as: Is it the technical know-how, the number of pictures to post, the stamina to create one inspiring post after another? Or is it pure passion that is needed or even faith?

For starters, anyone with an email account can register a blog and become a blogger right away. But it is not very easy to keep the label blogger attached to someone who will just leave the platform after one or two posts of photos in the beach or that one unforgettable excursion photos while sipping frap at Starbucks with friends.

To find answers to my question, I searched for some blogs that promise interesting content and tips on blogging.

I first checked Paulo Coelho's blog because his name brings to mind a very good novella he wrote, The Alchemist. I happened to read this fable a few years ago and I thought Coelho might have few writing or blogging tips for a blog starter like me.

Guess what I found? Yes Coelho did share to me something and for someone with a strong global following, I find the world-renowned book author to be gracious and honest. He even finds time to blog and credit one of his latest article to a Filipino fan who collected the prolific book author's quotations on tips about writing which he now packaged as 8 Tips on Writing. Aside from those writing tips, the lesson here is to pay courtesy to whom credit is due whoever he may be. 

After that moment of bliss, where to go now? It snapped on me that I need not go farther to look for tips from some more popular bloggers outside of my country. In the first place, the Philippines is not only rich with natural resources but its people are the most amazing find in the world - talented, resilient, God-fearing and hospitable. Many too are prolific bloggers!

Yes, there are many Filipino bloggers who are carving a name for their eclectic choices of topics and sensible insights on matters worthy to please netizens for their creativity, intelligence and even humor.  In the process I realized the deeper essence of why blogging can also be considered a discipline.

Now, here's my partial list of Filipino bloggers worth following. Of course, I don't have the means and time to scan and filter the whole wide web of all Filipino greats in blogging. But I am confident of the best three whom I believe deserve to be mentioned:

No. 3.  Mga Kathang-isip ni Kiko blog
Literature, especially in the vernacular, is sweet-sounding as it is romantic to the ears. Yes I love English language literature, especially poems. But there is something striking and appealing when you read or hear poems in your own language. I did not originally discovered this blog, and from what I gathered, the blog is being maintained by Francis Morilao, whose poems are often described as inspirational, imaginative, and smart. Read one of Morilao's post, Bakit nga ba Cinderalla? Hats off.

What I learned: Literature or Philippine lit is still in, as in something worth spending your time to blog about if you are an aspiring writer or sucker for works of fiction or poetry. Even though there are very few of them nowadays, still struggling, but at least there are those who are still trying, and making wonderful works to be read and shared with people. What is more admirable is that they are doing this labor of love at their own expense.

No. 2. Steward of the Secrets of God
Real life stories of people whose lives changed after learning of the Truth are what this collective provides readers. There are stories of former drunkards, drug addicts, prostitutes, hit men, drinking buddies with priests and believe me, they all tell their stories as it is, no faking! Their stories are real and could even be a rich mine for a study of our decaying society in general but these people stand up and never looked back to their former ways because of the new-found faith they have. Thankfully to God in the process, these people find peace of mind and hope after becoming Christians. Ever heard someone mention shouting at the background, life is sometimes stranger than fiction? Well, that is an understatement, just say miracles do happen.

What I learned: Faith stories can be inspirational even without the aid of a script doctor the way they present stories in movies or TV. For every story published in this collective, there is consistency to commend. In all, the blog reflects true to life stories that feel real and close to home. A lesson for bloggers like me is to be as honest and sincere with your  purpose and to extend that honesty to every single post to your blog.

No. 1. Bro Eli Soriano blog
Simply titled esoriano, there is so much to admire in this award-winning blog which earned the Most Educational Blogger to Follow honors from Pete Cashmore-organized Mashable.com's 2009 edition of Open Web Awards. Bro Eli is the phenomenal radio and television host of Ang Dating Daan (The Old Path) whose very popular segment, the live format Itanong mo kay Soriano is always well-attended to by people from all walks of life to listen to him speak and ask the preacher questions.

This time, Bro Eli extends his religious public meetings in the cyberspace with this blog platform. Among the most visited blog articles that Bro Eli posted include his expose of the doomsday preacher, Jose Luis De Jesus Miranda who prophesied that the world will enter Armageddon on June 30 this year. Other popular posts by this award-winning preacher is his blogs on whether it is a sin or not to masturbate and the one titled From dusk to man: a scientific proof.

Although topics are approached using the Bible, Bro Eli has mustered enough versatility to really nail different subject matters using a style and tone that are neither offending nor alienating to people who are not really into religion. Readers only need to be open-minded to pick up the gems and pearls from what the blogging preacher is discussing. Check him also via Twitter at @BroEliSoriano.

What I learned:  Your blog must be educational, well-intentioned and well-researched. Responsible blogging requires discipline, commitment and honesty.

Some honorable mentions include:
- The Culture Shack
Although a personal blog, he's got a good collection of past and present pop culture items. Here's his take of Vice Ganda's jokes.

- Charicemania.com
A dynamic fan-generated blog, admirable for how Charice Pempengco's rabid fans from the Philippines and other parts of the globe are taking part to build a very solid fan website for their idol, one product of the social media explosion.

- Robbie Off Duty
This blog by Robbie Becroft, a Filipino-Australian model/actor/photographer has proven once again that you can be presentable without spending much (did I just said presentable? to be more politically correct it is fashionable and trendy, but the face and body of Robbie is absent in my physique, so I used the term that would suit me). His tip is to learn how to mix and match and you are already fine.

- Irvin Arenas blog
A personal blog that should really take me fast time to describe, but always left me short for words to call it. He talks about his artistic, musical, cultural and photographic adventures, which am a sucker of. Best of all his compositions, well in a photographic sense, which am unsurprisingly dying to imitate! Where did he learn all these things? Am willing to be a student of his photo masterclass.

How about you? Who are you following in the blogosphere?

Ciao!

14 comments:

  1. Ako na ang nakahilera sa dalawang magagaling na bloggers, Salamat sa Blog mo sir!

    Speechless talaga ako sir! Salamat talaga.

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  2. Haha! This was a surprise you are here! Is this for real? By the way, I don't deserve being called "sir." I am still a student here, and you are older than me (in blogging of course)! Thanks for visiting!

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  3. Nice read! Bookmarking this! :) Im following Robbies blog.. and about to follow the ff links up there. thanks for sharing!!

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  4. Naks, congratulations to Francis Morilao and kudos to those who are in your list. It's not every day that I get to read a blog post sharing an admiring viewpoint for fellow bloggers ;)

    Miss N of
    http://nortehanon.com

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  5. Thanks Wander Shugah (I love your posts of your beach and travel adventures) and Nortehanon (I wonder how you can manage to do traveling and blogging? Wish I could do more like that too) for dropping by! Highly appreciated.

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  6. Congrats to Francis Morilao, @cyborj,your blog post was mentioned here. I don't know if you are a member or not yet. you are welcome to join. https://www.facebook.com/groups/filblogatw/permalink/251298078314881/

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    1. That is too much. I am very much humbled by the mere mention of my blog! Thanks for the tip Tatess!

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  7. well written article. it's not everyday we see a new blog gather quick attention.

    keep it up Cyborj!

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    1. Thanks for the encouragement Alvin! Hope to also see you continue with your blog! I thought it is promising!

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  8. congrats bro. eli soriano for earning the 1st rank. blogging the words of God. should always be on top!!!

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    1. The ranking is a personal choice. Bro Eli's blog has an undeniable power - logic-wise, thematic choices, and its commitment to the standards of socio-religious writing.

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  9. i agree Angelo. well done BLOGGING IS NOT MY NAME..To God will always be the Glory!!!

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