Thank you very, very much, guys.
We all did it.
The Philippine Daily Inquirer, one of the sponsors of the Bloggys Awards, wrote in part:
“Meanwhile, investigative journalist Raissa Robles, who won the award for best blog in the society and politics category for raissarobles.com, said blogs can be agents of change in the “crossroads” that is the 2016 elections, as she sought the support of her fellow bloggers for a special project. “We have to choose wisely and we have to choose well. Freedom is very much alive in this country,” Robles said in a short speech after accepting her award.”
You can read the rest of the Inquirer post here.
Together, we will have a lot of work ahead of us in 2016. I promise you that. And that goes, too, for all my friends in Facebook and Twitter.
I will be adding video and tsismis to this post later this afternoon as soon as the videos upload on Youtube.
Thank you, Kristoffer.
Kristoffer is a finalist for his http://indiohistorian.tumblr.com/ in the category Society and Politics.
Another finalist is Mark Pere Madrona for his blog http://www.filipinoscribe.com/ in the News and Events category. Mark is a journ graduate currently taking a masters course in history.
I was thoroughly enchanted by the host of the evening, whose name I unfortunately did not catch (curiously, no program for the evening was distributed). I hope someone tweets or messages me his name. I know that his family manages Urbano Wines.
Listen to him talk a mile-a-minute in Filipino:
He told me later, when I asked him, that he took up Filipino as a language course at the university.
Probably the most inspiring blogger for me is Prof. Abe Rotor. Don’t be fooled by his cane. His mind is as numble as yours and mine. And do check out his wonderful blog at http://avrotor.blogspot.com/
Here is his acceptance speech:
My seatmates for the evening were two yuppies from Pampanga, the Manarang brothers. If you judge them only by their looks, you would say they are happy-go-lucky. But actually, they run tycoon.ph – a sleek-looking blog that you would think came out of some Makati high-rise office.
And you would be wrong.
Their company is in the heart of Pampanga.
I’m so glad that they operate outside Manila and they won a nationwide contest.
BDO chief market strategist Jonathan Ravelas is quite correct in predicting that the Philippines is about to enter its “sweet spot” – where businesses will thrive outside Manila.
We have not reached our vast potential as a nation.
Here is Roel Manarang accepting the award in behalf of typhoon.ph. Before the awards, he told me confidently he was sure they would bag it. He was right :)
I am not sure I met professionalheckler. I did shake hands with all of my co-finalists, except for one who didn’t extend his hand to me.
No, Joeam wasn’t there. Someone else came in barong for him. Said he was Wilfredo Villanueva. Because the ceremonies were still going on, I did not have a chance to talk to him.
In closing, let me share a bit of chismis.
When I got to the SMX Convention Center, there were actually two events going on – the Bloggys Awards on the right side and the Kennedy School of Government Alumni gathering occupying most of the venue. I smiled to myself when I saw how the other event seemed to have no crowd (perhaps there were already all inside). While the Bloggys event was crammed with young men and women wearing various get-ups – from long gowns to shorts to polo and jeans. You could easily tell the fashion bloggers from all the rest. They wore the highest imaginable heels and the trendiest clothes.
I noticed that the Kennedy alumni gathering was equipped with wi-fi, while the Bloggys Awards was not. Perhaps next year, a wi-fi provider could be added to the list of sponsors so that everyone can post on the Net while the awards are going on.
In any case, what entered my mind was this – the Philippines has long been governed by the best and the brightest of men. Men who studied in the best and most expensive foreign schools. Why hasn’t the country progressed despite all this foreign learning?
I would hazard this guess – it is not the learning that is the most important for a country to progress. It is the heart and the passion for the good of all Filipinos, and not just for the family. This is the missing ingredient in many of our so-called public servants whose goal is building a political dynasty instead of a country.
I see in bloggers the future of this nation. The act of blogging is essentially a lonely one. But one filled with the hope of communicating to everyone. Bloggers can divide us or draw us together as a nation. Bloggers are the troubadours of the Internet age.
BFD says
I find this interesting. If I remember right, Senator Pimentel is the author of the Anti-Dynasty Bill that is pending before the Senate.
Now, how could he justify his endorsement of Duterte who is very much from a Dynastic family reigning in Davao and his authorship of the Anti-Dynasty Bill in the Senate?
I think there is a disconnect there. What do you think?
http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/story/501994/news/nation/only-one-in-a-family-can-run-for-office-under-koko-pimentel-s-anti-dynasty-bill
moonie says
kumakapit si pimentel sa dynasty, that’s the only way he can survive. he is also prepared to choke on his words. morals, what morals? he certainly seems content with conflicted morals and loving every minute of it. pimentel needed the clout of duterte’s dynastic family, the family’s far reaching influence and immense resources, killing field included.
pimentel’s anti dynasty bill is just a piece of garbage he concocted, knowing full well it will not get a full nod, meant to make people believe he is righteous on the outside, not so on the inside. pimentel is secret lover and supporter of dynasties, the way he tries to cover up for duterte’s shortcomings and bad manners is shameful. make him appear like duterte’s tuta. all he needs now is collar, a dog on leash with duterte holding the leash.
BFD says
Well, if it is as you say, then let’s uncheck this man out of the list come election time, when it’s time for us to vote him out of office.
moonie says
totally agree!
Anton Mendoza says
dati si pimentel ay kokorok kokko lang ang alam, ngayon tumatahol na rin ng kaw kaw kaw para kay duterte.
Parekoy says
Putang Ina ka Duterte!
Isang palamurang lasing ang naglalakad sa kalye na pasuray-suray at may hawak pang gin na nilalaklak ay naglalakad sa kalye sa Davao City…
Nagsisigaw!
‘Santiago – Putang Ina ka, pinatay mo ang anak mo!’
tawanan ang ibang tambay
‘Poe – Siguro Putang Ina mo, kaya ka iniwan sa simbahan?’
binato sya ng mga supporters ni FPJ, mabuti na lang lihis
‘Binay – Putang Ina mo! Ibalik mo na ang bilyones na ninanakaw mo!’
magbabalut eh nagtaghoy ng ‘kaibigan ni Penoy!… Peeee-Noooy!’
‘Roxas – Putang Ina mo! Pati ba naman sa pagmumura eh gagayahin mo pa ang masa! Halata ka naman ang mura mo ay pang-mayaman, dapat Fuck You! Putang Ina mo!- Epal!’
palakpakan ang mga nasa daan pati na ang mga naghihintay ng jeepney
‘Digong – Putang Ina ka!’
Eh nandoon pala si Digong sa daan at kanyang mga goons dahil nangangampanya at biglang kinasa ng mga goons ni Digong ang kanilang mga baril sabay tutok sa lasing na minura si Digong…
napatigil ang lahat ng naghihintay ng jeepney at hinihintay na lang ang mga putok dahil sanay na sila sa Death Squad ni Duterte…
Pero dahil lasing eh walang takot at dinuro pa si Digong,
At sabay sabi…
‘Digong, Putang Ina ka! Sa lahat ng Putang Ina, ikaw ang iboboto ko!’
‘Mabuhay ang ating Putang Inang Presidente, ang Putang Inang si Duterte!’
Natawa na lang si Digong at sabay palakpakan ang mga goons nya!
at sabay-sabay din na nakisigaw ang mga naghihintay ng Jeepney,
Putang Ina si Duterte! Ang ating bagong Putang Inang Presidente!
Parekoy
12-04-2015
Pinay710 says
@Parekoy, hindi lang isang tagay ng martini ang nainom mo. Palagay ko isang bote na ang nainom mo kaya puro PUT……INA ang lumalabas sa iyo. Gulapay ka na ba Parekoy?
Parekoy says
May tama pero laging may natitirang lakas para kay misis.
Cheers!
;)
pelang says
here’s something i read from a reader of PDI:
Binay -Uling
Miriam – Tililing
Grace- Foundling
Duterte – Fondling
Mar – Duling
LOL to that! which someonelse answered:
Roxas – fun with Koring
Pnoy – Fun with Bading
Roxas- Fun loving
Hungkag says
Grace Sinungaling
ding says
In the vice presidential roster, Escudero garnered 28.49%, with Sen. Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr coming in second at 24.62%, and Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano in third place at 18.25%. Congresswoman Leni Robredo ranked fourth at 12.53%, with Sen. Antonio Trillanes in fifth at 7.75 % and Sen. Gregorio Honasan placing sixth at 6.11%.
In the senatorial race, re-electionists Sen. Vicente “Tito” Sotto III and Sen. Panfilo “Ping” Lacson led the survey rankings with 57.63% and 54.01% respectively, followed by Sen. Franklin Drilon (47.7.4%), Sen. Juan Miguel Zubiri (46.97%), Senator Ralph Recto (45.98%), Sen. Francis Pangilinan (43.33%), Sen. Sergio Osmena III (37.89%), Sen. Richard Gordon (37.07%), Congressman Manny Pacquiao (36.64%), Justice Secretary Leila de Lima (36.26%), Akbayan Rep. Risa Hontiveros (33.81%), Sen. Teofisto Guingona III (26.22%), actor Edu Manzano (21.38%), Mark Lapid (21.18%), and Sherwin Gatchalian (19.46%).
NHerrera says
Ding, this and your previous post on the MBC-DZRH Survey:
The political dust is still swirling quite a bit. Although the political dust will certainly not settle, these numbers are much affected of this strong swirling. the MBC-DZRH survey itself indicates the events which may have affected the numbers.
The MBC-DZRH survey was conducted on November 28, a week after Duterte confirmed that he was running, but just a couple of days before his controversial speech at the PDP-Laban proclamation, and before the Comelec’s 2nd division ruled to disqualify Poe-Llamanzares. Figures showed Duterte leading the presidential aspirants throughout the country, except in regions 1, 2, 3, 4A, 4B, 5, 6, and 8 in which Poe-Llamanzares topped the survey.
The coming events such as the SC decision on Poe DQ case, and the Comelec/ SC decision on Duterte — if they come about — will give another quantum change in the numbers.
So early days yet to make our projections. We are still five months away.
moonie says
tama, early days pa. morning pa, others are still sleeping, malayo pa and deadline. alam mo naman ang mga pinoys, saka na lang kikolos kung talagang deadline na. in the meantime, ganito, ganuon sila, paligoy-ligoy, halos walang aim. eat and be merry, sow intriga when they can. it’s fun to fool around with researchers and survey people, being pasaway, telling stories and half truths, they wont be sent to jail. no harm done. and researchers dont know they have been had.
people will only get serious during election time, at the polling booths when a ballot paper is staring them straight at the face. saka na lang sila mangangatog, heart beating fast.
Rasec3 says
On the scale of 1-10, GPL is a a perfect 10 only in the PH meter, because she is pretty much BASIC :D
duquemarino says
@Rasec3
GPL high on the PH meter? Highly acidic ba?
Just asking, he he he.
Rasec3 says
@duquemarino , GPL is perfect 10 only in PH meter, if if she is 1 on the scale of 1-10 GPL is highly acidic. that’s why she is basic,, yes BASIC- pangkaraniwan. :D