Thursday, June 12, 2008 Toral: Search for emerging blogs By Janette Toral Digital Filipino
THE line that separates blogs from media is fast becoming thinner everyday.
In a short span of time, the number of Filipino bloggers is increasing. But a challenge most bloggers face is sustaining such activity. This includes finding time, inspiration and gaining responsive readers who will help keep the fire burning.
Universal McCann released a Wave 3 report as of March 2008 that revealed that 2.3 million Filipino Internet users have started a blog. Around 3.3 million read blogs and 1.6 million subscribed to a blog feed (often referred to as RSS feed).
Early players have the advantage of being able to establish themselves. They are looked up to and their name comes to mind whenever blogging is mentioned.
The new ones tend to get noticed if the big ones mention or mingle with them, become controversial or expand their circles within the blogging community. Some just really come up with something magical that gets blogged or passed on.
I am always on the look out for new bloggers. Partly because I outsource to bloggers once in awhile and meeting new ones keep the options open.
They are partly still idealistic on blogging possibilities as well. It keeps my feet on the ground and I recognize that there’s so much Filipino online talent out there.
In the summer of 2007, I started the Top 10 Emerging Influential Blogs writing project.
Blogs by bloggers like Aileen Apolo (http://aileenapolo.blogspot.com), Coy Caballes (http://thisiscoy.net), Carl Ocab (http://www.carlocab.com), Juan Karlo Licudine (http://pinoyblogero.com), Gibbs Cadiz (http: gibbscadiz.blogspot.com), FruityOaty (http://fruityoaty.com), Dine Racoma (http://dine.racoma.com.ph), Apples Haravata (http://kubiertos.com/blog) and Paolo Mendoza (http://www.paolomendoza.com), among others, have been cited by participants as emerging and influential.
They have provided inspiration and insight on a variety of personal concerns, issues, joys and even sorrows. Some shared their knowledge in the field of video blogging, theater arts, making money online, cooking, raising a family and living abroad, among others,
If not for that project, I would have hardly known these bloggers who mostly are still active today. This same project is happening again and the top new blogs will be announced on Aug. 1.
If you know of a blog who is making great waves out there, I suggest you participate and recognize it at http://www.influentialblogger.net.
As of last week, those who made it to the top 10 list came from a variety of locations—in and outside of the Philippines. We are nearly halfway in the writing project but a lot can still happen in the next six weeks.
