Why do we write critiques?

One of my colleagues asked me why is it that I still want to write critical pieces against this administration? Why do I write critically when it is best to just let the situation alone and write pieces that are not critical of government.


Several of my colleagues even told me to just rest my pen and leave the governing to the rulers and let the govern speak nothing of it. 


Let me distinguish two things: critique and criticism. Critique is something which I decided to do because that is the proper thing or duty of any freedom-loving citizen to do, at his level. I read my payslips and I am being taxed more than 15,000 pesos every single month. If I am giving money to government, I have the right to tell it matter-o-factly and I have the obligation to also provide several solutions.


Criticism is different. When you give criticism, you are not doing the right thing because criticisms are non-constructive, mostly. You criticize for the sake of criticizing and sincerely, these types of pieces will not help lead to a solution. When you do commentaries, make sure that the one you are writing against, perceive your work positively.


Unfortunately, to many people, there is no distinct difference between critiques and criticisms. They are all in the same genre. Some people even perceive it as a treasonous act because instead of being of help, critics are perceived to be parasites and wieldy moralists of the highest order.


Had I want this site to be something of a money-making venture, I should have transformed my pen into a weighing scale for gold and silver. 


My colleague asked me--why do you write and incur the ire of many with your writings? He then showed me his blog, full of "press releases" and goody stuff. For me, that's not "goody" but slimy.


That's their view--bloggers should write to earn praise and supporters. If your blog receives negative comments, then, abandon it since it places the blogger in a very unflattering light. For my colleague, it is too risky and too laborous to maintain a criticique of a blog. 


I, alone, am not adverse to negative comments. I don't blow my top whenever I see negative comments in by blog's comment side. 


Negative comments are part of a blogger's daily dose of learnings. If you think you have the right to express your views, don't hesitate. Sometimes, show off, so that several smart-alecky people out there who reads your piece will realize their mistakes.


As what Alexander the Great said, there is a reward for the brave. When you blog just for others to feel good, fine. We have our own way of expressing bravery. For a simpleton like me, this is the only and proper way or venue where we can be part of the solution of the things which affect this country.When you comment and provide several solutions, you, my friend, are doing what others don't want to do. 


Again, its very easy to write or heap praise to several people but when you do see things being done improperly and you elect silence, you are doing a great disservice to the nation from which you sprang.

Are you going to kill somebody because of a blog post?

Will you kill someone for a blog post?

A few years ago, I knew of a group of Muslims who vowed to kill a best-selling author for writing a novel, which they said was "blasphemous." The formerly unknown author became a best-selling one after that. He went on and wrote some more, but the only one that people really went crazy was his first one.

Blog posts are like that--a hit today, a goner tomorrow. Many people have written many things about blogging, about online marketing, even bragged of being a 'New Media' or an Online media specialist when they have'nt even sold just one item online. They have'nt even convinced hundreds or even a handful of their friends to buy something from them. And they claim to be "experts in online marketing." Wow.

Honestly, they are all frauds. No one really knows the real impact of blogs and blog posts. I must say that those who claim to be "specialists" in New Media are the very ones who do not really know what it is.

They think of new media as something of the traditional. If you can invite two or three or five bloggers to an event, then, you're an online media specialist. Many political publicists are being defrauded by these people.

But, really, blogs are nothing but insights--and these insights I say, will only make an impact if people believe in it. If it does not get virality, it's nothing, nothing but ramblings of someone who has a lot of time in his hands.

For example, if somebody writes about a conspiracy, its interesting topic. Yet, if it does not land in the public consciousness, what is it but a product of someone's fertile imagination?

And even publicists are being fooled by "New Media specialists" who are just recruiters or people who invite other bloggers, that's it. There's nothing "new" about "New Media" or something very "special" about these "specialists."

These "specialists" are more of media relations officers than publicists. How can they be publicists when they can't even say that thousands read them every day? Their sites even suck.

I know of someone who claims that his site is the number one political commentary site in the country, when all he writes are a shitload of elephantine crap, spiced with gay lingo. Better to read something funny and creative like this site which Ellen Tordesillas praised than get pissed off by a stupid post by this site. A person who writes the way he thinks or says something crass has something terribly wrong with his brain. And those who see something different in that also has something wrong with their minds.

Going back, are you going to kill somebody just because somebody wrote something against you?

I was once victimized and tagged as a homophobic by someone who does not know me, who even spread that crap that I was not the one I said I was. Good that he is now getting the stiff end of the bargain. In this world, when a blasphemer continues blaspheming somebody, for sure, that pitiful fella will get it someway and somehow.

Yet, what I cannot understand is for someone to even wish somebody harm just because of something as simple, and as harmless as a blog post.

My good friend, Trixie was threatened by someone with harm. I don't know the exact reason but it even went to the extent of that person wishing that Trixie's daughter be killed or raped. Is that something which a sane mind would say to a fair lady as Trixie?

Good that Trixie is not the type who will engage herself with these kinds of stupid, idiotic, and brutish people. Good that Trixie maintained her cool.

I know of someone who got whacked by somebody online. His photo, together with his wife and kid was posted in a site. And the one who posted it even went to the extent of writing damning things about his online activities. Whoa, is that something to complain about?

If that person wrote something about the other's philandering activities or what-have-you, that would probably be something worth reading by the wife. But, ass-holing online? Is that something sexual?

Again, let me ask you a question---are you going to kill somebody for a blog post?

For sure, these people with infantile minds would probably do it. They are what I described the new apostates of blogging. They are the new terrorists, the new media extremists, willing to even harm other people just because someone wrote something nasty about them.

The web, to be very frank, is someone's mirror. The only rule here is the Golden one. The other, for me, is de gustibus non disputandum est (for likes and dislikes, there should be no disputing, live and let live).

Korina Sanchez demands for head of ABS-CBN rep. RG Cruz over Facebook

A true Dona Victorina. That is how I describe Korina Sanchez. And to think that I was one of a few who defends her from tragic remarks against her by some of Mar Roxas' relatives and other media colleagues.

Korina Sanchez, erstwhile fiance of Senator Mar Roxas, is again on the warpath. After Mar lost the Liberal Party nomination, Korina went on a rampage. She first engaged Inquirer columnist Conrad de Quiros, accusing him of disparaging Mar thru his daily column. Then, she trained her guns against Senator Kiko Pangilinan, practically accusing the senator of kawalang utang na loob.

I thought that that was the last of Korina’s outburst. However, today, I chanced upon Atty. Marichu Lambino’s blog, with a glaring scoop on Korina Sanchez’ letter to the ABS-CBN management, asking for RG Cruz’s head.

RG Cruz, one of the most active traditional journalist in the web and a colleague here at FilipinoVoices, is being accused by Korina of writing negative remarks against her in his Facebook account. Read the letter over at Lambino’s blog and you’ll sense how bitter and acerbic Korina is.

She virtually described RG Cruz as a relative unknown, a guy with dubious fashion taste and with a cloak and dagger personality. To my mind, Korina is entitled to comment on RG Cruz’s fashion sense. That’s her right.

But, to ask for that poor guy’s head over some personal remarks over Facebook reflects the true nature of Korina as a domineering mayordoma in that household called Kapamilya channel.

RG Cruz is entitled to his own opinions and views. For Korina to stifle his right to free expression shows you how stupid Korina is. Let me rephrase this—it shows how fake Korina is.

She demands that government respects every right of each and every citizen, when deep down inside her lurks a dictator ready to pounce on hapless journalists like RG Cruz and Conrad de Quiros. It’s downright okey if Korina just wrote a letter to RG Cruz asking him why he thinks about her that way. But, for her to use her “enormous powers and influence” and breath down on this guy just because of what he believes in, that’s too much.

I really thank God that He allowed Noynoy to snatch the Liberal Party nomination away from Mar. Kung hindi, baka naging accessory pa tayo in bringing to the palace, another Imelda Marcos.

Oh...I just forgot....Mar wants to run as vice president. For heaven's sake, Korina still has the chance of being the dona of Malakanyang!

If Korina will not reform, I'll campaign against her boyfriend, Mar. I am sorry but Korina does not deserve to set foot in Malacanang.

Mar, me pagkakataon ka pa, hindi ka pa naman kasal sa kanya eh. Patagalin ninyo pa ng five more years.

Time to write good stories

My friends, starting today, I'll start writing good stories about the Philippines. Yes, all good stories. I figured, nothing will ever come out of writing exposes anyway.

Since I started as a journalist in 1992, I've been writing investigative pieces that it's time probably, to stop. In 2000, prior to EDSA Dos, I exposed the "coup plans" which eventually happened. They were shown on TV because they were complete reports, with interviews and documents. I don't write entries here based on nothing or unverified documents or interviews that are misleading or patently wrong, no. I adhere to the tenets of journalism. I verify my info through triple sources.

Yes, there's nothing to be gained nor gleaned from investigative reports. It even puts your life in danger or puts you under the radar. One of my friends said this site is being monitored and I'm now included in the "black list". Good. Why?

Because that shows that government is trying to listen. Yeah, they ought to. Why do I write these things in the first place? Well, I have nothing to gain from all of these things. I don't have any political clients. Yes, I do have many politicians as friends, but I don't meet them regularly. I seldom go out of my house, except of course, for meetings with clients, who are NOT political personalities nor have interests in politics. I'm not even paid to write these entries. No.

I just think that for a mischievous or machievellian plan to fizzle out, exposing them at the earliest time is the best thing to do. As a citizen of this Republic, I have the duty to beat the drums, sound the trumpet and tell my fellow Filipinos, that hey, we're being scammed here and you should also raise your voice so that these fellows would stop their schemes.

Also, no one would ever really act to change our situation anyway. Even if I write investigative pieces anyway, no one cares. Yes, no one.

For example, if I write that there's a brewing plot, people would just dismiss that as "agitation propaganda" or "another conspiracy theory" even if evidence and recent events are there for everybody to see and analyze. You don't need to be an expert political scientist to figure things out. You need adequate research skills though and a full grasp of theoretical models to figure how to connect the dots though.

By the way, for those who think that this site was the originator of that term "Oplan August Moon", you're wrong. Though I wrote entries which tell of a plot, I was not the one who named that ridiculous plot, "August Moon." These plots, if ever they really implement it, are usually "un-named" and no one in his right mind would mask it with such as term as "August Moon." Why August moon when the plot reportedly would cultimate in October? Should be October moon, right?

What am I saying? I really think that government would win this time. Yes, the Arroyo regime will win. They have the advantage of terrain, of the weather, of discipline and of numbers. As I wrote in previous posts, what Arroyo wants, Arroyo gets. And nothing can stop her.

As what Bugs Bunny always say, if you can't beat them, join 'em. I have an alternative saying though---if you can't beat them, wait for a while. Evil things always come to a disastrous end.

Halili Sex Scandal, American Idol and New Eras

A writer over at FilipinoVoices wrote that there is too much attention being given by the people with this Katrina Halili-Hayden Kho scandal that other issues, like this proposed tax on books, are being glossed over. Manolo Quezon agreed and other people over the netsphere.

Probably he's right but I disagree on some points. First, this issue just shows you how pervasive the internet is becoming, from just a place for research, to a place for destroying or prepping up reputations. What this Halili sex scandal shows not just the non-sensical fascination of a people on sex and gossips, but rather a genuine concern for the effects of the New Media on a hapless victim (willing or not willing).

What public discourse just want us, observers and analysts to see, is the way they are being affected by this New channel of communication. That Filipinos care for other Filipinos. That it is not just ideas or books that we must be concerned about---we should be concerned with the personal lives of real people allegedly affected by this new medium.

What Filipinos are trying to figure out is whether to accept this change as calmly as possible, or repulse it with a New law called Cyber Law. By populating public discourse with such a scandal, we are being made to choose between embracing a New Medium, or crucify it by tagging it as an evil tool. This is the reality we are grappling about here. The despicable acts done by Dr. Hayden Kho are just superficial; yet, if we are to lift that layer off, we find that the core issue lies on the new media having an emotional connection with the people. And the numbers of people affected ranged to 22 million, not to fret nor frown upon.

It also shows how net issues have permeated the national psyche and has even dominated public discourse.

Having said that, there lies the challenge for us, writers in the netsphere. We know the medium. We know how now it has established a personal, emotional connection with our fellow Filipinos. It is now our tasks to see to it that Filipinos accept this medium as part of their lives and use it to empower the masses to change the way things are.

We are entering a New Era, where New Ideas are slowly eating old ones up and it is our responsibility to make people accept this New Era, like what Americans did in accepting Kris Allen as winner of American Idol season 8.

We must seize this New Era by the hair and take it to wherever the welfare of the People is.

Likewise, the way some gloss this scandal over, shows the communicative disjunct between those who profess to know what the masa feels with the masa. The challenge is to bridge that gap. From a stage where we are, which I described as gesellschaft, we must ascend this stage to a gemeinschaft, or what we term as a community.

As long as this gap remains wide, there is still no connection between intellectuals and the People whom they profess to serve.

Declaration of War Against FV Trolls

Just saw DJB's letter over at Filipino Voices. It's a sad day for those who enjoy reading his works and crossing swords with him. The thing is, admit it or not, FilipinoVoices is being destroyed by these trolls that masquerade as intellectuals but as hollow as coconuts. These people, whom DJB described as hiding under cloaks of anonymity, are diluting the value of the site and making it a laughing stock of the entire Filipino blogsphere. And to think that we started it as an experiment in collective blogging.

I feel that it's time for FV to evolve into what Nick envisioned that site to be some 13 months ago--a site that would feature Filipino political thinking. But, how will that happen when we are being tortured by the inane rants of an egoist, the non-sensical comments of a paid hack like Renato, and the obvious shrill writing of a certain Bong.

But, this has nothing to do with me not contributing as regularly as before. I mean, I pretty much enjoy writing in my own site and also enjoy the sensible and non sensible comments of my readers. However, I would love to whittle these trolls down to size but my senses tell me that it's useless having intellectual conversations with these people. They are out to destroy the uber version of La Solidaridad and whatever one do, these people will definitely not stop until they see FV's death.

Though I would love to fight these people, and surely I did before until they complained to Nick, what I'll do in the next couple of days is sharpen my sword and prepare myself for another round against these useless pigs. If they want to infect an intellectual H1N1 to FV, just continue doing so. But, I personally would not want these idiots to win. Because that'll mean that we allowed these devils to ran rough-shod the efforts of a few remaining nationalists.

So, instead of a sabbatical, this is fore warning to those trolls who happily hop-the-hop FilipinoVoices.....expect a stronger, naughtier and tougher Patricio Mangubat. Let the war begin!

I am now lighting my cigarette, hehehehe!!!

Deconstructing Patricio Mangubat

Teaching Philippine history for a bunch of college kids at the University of the Philippines in Manila way back in 1992 was an experience I would never forget. My class was gruelling. After spending eight hours work over at DZBB as newswriter, I log out at 7 in the morning and head straight to Padre Faura to teach at 10 in the morning. I was the youngest faculty at that time, headed by Dr. Villegas of the social science department.

I was given three classes, most of my students were freshmen. I was just given a desk where to put my stuff (mostly books), near the desk of Prof. Roland Simbulan (of the Nuclear-Free Philippines fame). A colleague of mine, Prof. Peter Badilla, was my source of strength at that time. My salary was just a bit below 2,000 pesos per month, which is okey since I supplement it with my 3,500 pesos salary over at DZBB, GMA Channel 7.

As a history teacher, I did'nt teach them about dates or make them memorize events. No. One of my students (now an Attorney), whose name is Datu Reza Sinsuat, can attest to that. What I taught them was historical and dialectical materialism. I said that in order to understand the events happening all around us, everyone should at least know the theoretical models, especially the philosophies of History. Theoretical models are based on concrete observations of reality.

Historical and dialectical materialism is one such model which is quite good in analyzing Philippine history. You get to know the dynamics of time and space in operation. I also gave them Braudel's system, Spengler's view of the relevance of historical milestones and Bauer's interpretations. Most of all, I also emphasized on the importance of oral history.

A few years later, I was able to teach at Dela Salle University in Taft Avenue Manila. The department, located at the fourth floor of the faculty building, was then headed by Dr. Tony Hila, who was then finishing his doctorate over at the UST. Dr. Hila commented that I am also good at Political Science. Well, it's not surprising since I really started as a student of Political Science, having been admitted at the university to this quota course way back in 1988. I got high marks in political science subjects and just decided to transfer to history in 1991 upon the prodding of my colleagues at the League of Filipino Students (LFS) especially (now Prof.) Rommel Banlaui and history professors, such as Dr. Zeus Salazar, Dr. Jaime Veneracion, Dr. Miranda, and Dr. Isagani Medina. It was a decision that I am not ashamed since history is more exact than political science and more engaging than the often stolid grind of reading and analyzing politics.

During my university days, I spent a lot of time working for the LFS. I was inducted into the organization as a freshman, and immediately became an officer. My LFS head then was a guy named Dom Danao, who was the very first millionaire of his batch and married a bar top notcher named Amor Datinguinoo (sister of Vinia of PCIJ, also a group mate of mine in the LFS). Amor was the head of the LFS National Propaganda Bureau where I was also a member. Other LFS members such as "Sheila", " Daniel" etal are now all working for NGO's and POs and some, like Amante Jimenez, decided to go full-time with the Party.

In 1990-1991, I was elected vice-chairman of the CSSP Student Council upon the decision of SAMASA, the dominant student political party headed by Mike Defensor. My Council Chairman was Vicente Paulo Yu (who's now a lawyer, graduated from UP College of Law). We were the first Council to implement the transfer of tambayans, from the CSSP building to the kubols outside the building. The dean then was my professor and idol, Dr. Zeus Salazar whom I created a very strong ideological bond even up to now (though my nanay nanayan back then was Dr. Miranda of the UP History department).

While studying, I worked as a researcher under Dr. Maria Serena Diokno of the Jose Diokno Foundation in New Manila and wrote as a journalist in the now defunct Diaryo Filipino. My first beat then was the Department of Justice. I also wrote for the weekly magazine of Octopus Files of Mangubat.

Though I got high marks in the masteral program in History, I decided to take the full-time Masteral program of the College of Mass Communications (CMC), majoring in Communications Research. The approach was tri-media. Why did I not pursue teaching history? Well, it's plain and simple practicality. I choose this masteral program because I want to write. I envisioned a career in journalism. And this decision I never regretted.

In 1995, I got hired by the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) as Foreign Affairs Specialist II under the Center for International Relations and Strategic Studies (CIRSS). The CIRSS is the main think-tank of the DFA. I handled the economic diplomacy unit which contributed in the research that APEC of 1995 used. I was under the administration of Dr. Aileen Baviera, who is now at the UP Asian Center. I was the one who made the position paper on China's Inclusion to the World Trade Organization (WTO), predicted the rise of regional economic setups in the Asia-Pacific region, and the eventual dissolution of weak states.

After the APEC event, I decided to again go full time as a journalist. I wrote articles for the Manila Bulletin, under Diego Cagahastian and Jun Icban, and did radio work for Radio Veritas under Mario Garcia. MG was my editorial mentor. While sir Diego was my mentor in writing news articles. I became very good as a reporter that I was given a morning program.

Eventually, I worked briefly as AVP of AMA, then left for RPN 9 when my boss allied himself with then Vice President Erap. In 1998, I helped in the campaign of Defense secretary Renato de Villa. In 1999, I met my classmates again, Mike Defensor, Miro Quimbo and Bong Bongolan. We worked together. In 2000, I met a lady named Rosebud and we exposed the alleged scam in the PNP which was then headed by my kumpadre, Ping Lacson. I became friends with lawin, then Col. Berroya and the former PNP chief Bobby Lastimoso. After EDSA dos, we parted as friends. I taught one semester over at DLSU-Dasmarinas in Mass Communications (Newswriting, Newsroom operations, etc) before I left for Singapore to work in Product Development for a Singaporean firm allied with VISA Asia-Pacific.

A year and a half ago, I came back to the Philippines and again worked for a Malaysian firm, handling product research and development. After ten months, I was head hunted by an agency to handle their Business development and marketing. I left the agency last year to pursue what I love best---journalism. Since November, I am now engaged in journalism and even formed a media organization, an online one.

Patricio Mangubat is not some figment of some guy's imagination. The reason why I don't use my real name is very, very simple----I don't want to be popular. No.

What I want to become popular is the struggle, the message that Patricio Mangubat (PM for short) wants to convey and the truth that he writes.

Pat Mangubat is just a cyber nom de guerre, a brand name so to speak, hopefully to replace the common name of Juan dela Cruz. Patricio means "country" and "mangubat" means to "go to the mountains".

It's a liberating name, the kind that has no colonial baggage to speak of. It urges everyone to fight for one's country, even at the point of death. "Mangubat", the mountain of struggle, is actually one of enlightenment. It also symbolizes the New Media, a refuge of someone like me, a thirty eight year old family man, who still wants to fight the forces that destroy the Motherland. As I wrote previously, this is my New Sierra Madre, my Olympus, the Internet.

And this struggle will continue unabated until a New Bayan emerges from the rotten ashes of traditional Philippine politics!

Ipagpatuloy ang Laban ng Sambayanang Pilipino!

Ibagsak ang Pasistang Rehimeng Arroyo!

Labanan ang Korupsyon, ang kasakiman at ang kawalang katarungan sa ating Bayan!

Itaguyod ang Pambansang Demokratikong Pamahalaan!

Mabuhay ang Lakas ng Masa!

Mabuhay ang Para sa Bayan!

Mabuhay ang mga New Patriots of the New Generation!

Mabuhay ang YOUng!

Mabuhay ang CPP-NPA-NDF!

Quote for the Week

Quote for the week:

" To those whose claims to blogging power is thru cheap piggish/street talks, blabber mouthing, slander, ad hominem attacks, shallow views masquerading as CPA minds, jealousy, corruption and deceit, know this, that you are on the wrong side of
History."------Blogger Guy, 2009

Bloggers Unite! You only have your chains to unshackle!

Calling all those Filipinos who blog.

We are faced with a threat more vicious and more deadly than those we ever faced before.

Having been hit so many times, the State is now undertaking a campaign that would paralyze this new found freedom of ours.

Like what China did to its blogging and online community, the State is thinking of shutting down the entire online community and make us toe the Palace line.

A report says that Malacanang is pissed with the Truths we have been writing against this dispensation and has ordered the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) and the Department of Transportation and Communication (DOTC) to debilitate our Internet access.

With a pending authoritarian measure right before the laps of Mrs. Arroyo, propagators of this evil regime are propounding the inclusion of blogging as another media which they want to conquer and kill.

Let us not allow these evil men to triumph.

Let us make our voices heard.

We call upon all bloggers to unite and rally behind the Cause of Freedom. Let us organize ourselves now and destroy these people before they use their iron fisted hands to strangle us to our online deaths!

What the Issue Behind Genesis?

Let me write it very plainly---the issue is a blogger reportedly sold a list containing names of fellow bloggers to a known politico. Now, that list contains names of bloggers whom this blogger did not know personally nor did he asked permission to write something good about this politico.

Simply this---this blogger in question SOLD the reputation and integrity of other bloggers just to get money. Do you understand this now? This is an issue of online graft and corruption. This only happens in mainstream media. Sadly, it is now creeping in the Pinoy blogosphere. And the reason for the post " The Genesis of Every Blogger Byte" and all other entries relating to this is very simple--cut this crap once and for all before this blogger institutionalizes this illegal and highly immoral activity.

Some would argue, what's wrong with having a living as a blogger? Nothing. If you are a member of ADSENSE, NUFFNANG, BLOGBANK, REVIEWME, you don't have to worry. There's nothing wrong, intrinsically, of what you're doing.

As what I discussed with a fellow blogger today, what's wrong is that if this guy sold you to another when you don't even know that he already sold and collected money using your name and reputation. Gets nio?

I also heard that a blogger also tried to allegedly scam his way in a popular blogger event. He reportedly made a shell company so that ad money is to be directed to this made up company instead of the organizing body. He was nearly slapped with a case but cooler heads prevailed.

Again, let me emphasize this:

1. If you want to earn money from your site, you may, for Heaven's sake! It's your life. It's your site. Do what you want with it for all I care. But, just don't use other bloggers' names for you to earn dough.

2. If you think compromising your principles is the way to go, go ahead. I'll not stop you. Who am I in the first place? It's your life. If you want to live like Joc-Joc Bolante or some other high profiled personality as a paid hack, go ahead. I'll not stop you. Think of my post as something to think about when you're probably old and withered.

Naming the UnNamed

Brian Brotarlo made a very interesting point--perhaps I'm becoming too idealistic, that the blogosphere here cannot be or probably nearly impossible to police, given the fact that the Internet is nobody's property and it's too "rascal-istic" to have a body that would police our ranks.

I agree. And what I said was "policing" was writen metaphorically. Police our own ranks, means exercising self-regulation, self-editing and self-analyzing. The "our" here and the "us" here refers to individuals who consider themselves bloggers. If you're a blogger, you'll self-regulate, you'll self-edit yourself.

Also, I have nothing against corporate bloggers. They may write whatever they want to write for as long as it is TRUTHFUL. That's my point. Like in advertising, there must be self-realization that the thing they are writing about are really the attributes or the real brand equity of the product they are carrying. Period. Now, if they are writing falsely, Rom is right, they'll eventually disappear from the face of the earth. Look at what happened to the breast-beating TheHighPriestofSmokes, for one.

For those who misread what I said, the simple appeal is SELF-POLICING.

Now, on the real issue....

Let me tell you a side story. Before I wrote this piece " The Genesis of Every Blogger Byte", I consulted a lot of friends whether I'll write about it or not. Coming from the traditional media field myself (I started working as a journalist some 14 years ago), it pains me to realize that the Pinoy blogosphere is slowly turning traditional. I mean, the only thing "new" about "New Media" is the medium.

For a young blogger like me, New Media embodies everything "new", even in practising online journalism. We all know what happened to practitioners of MSM. And some colleagues of mine is making it their personal crusade to cleanse the MSM ranks.

Before writing the post, I poured my heart out to Juned and the Jester-In-Exile. Hey, we must alert everyone that this is happening. We need to so that we caution them that we need to stamp out this conscious profit-making activity at the root before it engulfs the entire blogsophere and corrupts it. This is my take---I hate to see the blogosphere corrupted by the wrongful (even tortuous act) of just one blogger. Naming him will not do anything good. He knows what he did and he must be given the time and the chance to reform.

How many bloggers wrote posts lambasting MSM? How many bloggers wrote that the mainstream media is dirty, being influenced and outright compromised? Some bloggers even wrote that we must not believe in what MSM writes because most of their articles were paid by politicos?

Question---do we want to go to that direction? Obviously, that's foolish. The only thing going for bloggers happens to be their integrity. If, say, you exchange your integrity for a few thousands, are you saying that you are still different from those who practise journalism as a living?

Like other bloggers, I don't care if you make blogging a living. No one, especially me, would try to convince you otherwise. I am also NOT an Indie. My view that blogging is pure is mine and mine alone. My concept of blogging is as a pure expression of writing (as Marck said) or expanding the Idea, the expression of "Self". Now, if you will accept that this expression of "Self" can be a profit-making enterprise, you are free to do so. Just one request though--make the writing truthful. The problem right now is we don't have a PANA or a KBP who'll probably advise us that what we wrote was plain and simple stupid or outright lie.

I read some comments about this post over at Filipinovoices.com, and they are asking me to name names. Why would I? Will it benefit us here at the blogosphere? No.

Now, if you think that you are being alluded to, the point is simple--REFORM. Here's my suggested guidelines, if you may:

1. If you're a corporate blogger, say so. Tell your readers that you are made to blog about this and that and you are making a living out of it. Period.

2. If you're a blogger who is being paid by a politico, be forthwith about it. Tell it to the world. It's best that way so that your readers will know that what you are writing is about this politico and whether they agree or not is entirely different.

3. If you're a blogger who wants to foray into the world of online PR, again, be forthwith about it. Tell it straight in your blog. Don't go around town convincing everyone that you're influential with this and that blogger and use their names to earn money. That's the most stupid thing to do. Make online PR a "clean" industry. In a time where people are calling for change, we, in the blogosphere must spearhead the movement and try to change the ways things are being done.

The Genesis of Every Blogger Byte

I started blogging two years ago, with my maiden site http://redbluethoughts.today.com/. Like everybody else, it was a personal blog. It then blossomed into a socio-political commentary. I blog every so often; then this turned into a passion, then an obsession. The "tipping point" so to speak, was when Philippine Star columnist Carmen Pedrosa picked up one of my entries (it's about Soros) and got it published in its entirety in her column. It dawned on me that blogging is a serious activity; a tool to at least do my share in nation-building. Some other entries found their way in Philippine Daily Inquirer, Manila Bulletin and even foreign newspapers. Right now, this site is also making its rounds in coffee shops, OFW centers and of course, in that dark room called Kalayaan Hall.

Thus, New Philippine Revolution was born. NPR was my Sierra Madre, my Olympus, the apex of things I consider very important--the formation of the Filipino Nation. Thru this site, one is enabling people to empower themselves, not thru arms but through the lethal strength and power of Ideas.

Yes, NPR stands for new ideas. It stands for change and recommends new ideas to build this Nation and regain its former glory. Its ideals are being shared by a lot of Patricios; a brand name; a monopoly that is taking some root in the consciousness of regular commenters over at ANC Teleradyo. A lot of Patricios are springing in other places left and right. From the hinderlands of Ilocos to the breakwaters of Davao, people are becoming Patricios. And they are taking it seriously and raising their voices in newspapers and television shows. Credit goes to these new change agents who are creating history in their own backyards.

That prompted me, a writer named Patricio Mangubat, to expose myself in some blogger activity. Janet Toralba, that bundle of boundless energy, invited me to the 2008 MOst Influential Blog. I met Marck Rimorin (http://www.marocharimexperiment.com/) and Arbet (http://www.awbholdings.com/ ). Talking with Marck convinced me that there are still young minds out there who are concerned about what's happening to their country.

This led to my meeting Juned Sunido of baratillo.net, then Jen, then Flow, then JV Fernandez, then Markku Fernandez, then the other bloggers in this little planet called Pinoy Blogosphere. It was a delight meeting the Jester-in-Exile, a brilliant kid with a rock-solid nationalism. Talking with the Jester makes me all the more optimistic that things will become better in due time.

Jester and Marck are two wonderful young ones whose legacy online will be lasting way up to old age. I also admired the entrepreneurial nationalism of Jon Linjap, the wit of Cocoy, the sexy words of Caffeine Sparks and the in-your-face kind of blogging by Pau (a new blogger). It was also refreshing to discuss things with DJB.

I was surprised to even meet my former DZBB boss, Ding Gagelonia of http://midfield.wordpress.com/. It turned out that he was reading my pieces over here and at http://www.filipinovoices.com/ and he was unaware that his former protege was the guy behind PM. That started a relationship, a journey of partnership to rediscover life (we're not lovers, okey?). Ding is a passionate guy. Initially, I was asking myself what was Ding's personal "tipping point". I know Ding to be a MSM insider; what prompted this guy with a humongous intelligence to spend his time blogging and plurking? Why he so suddenly turned into a nationalist? Was it because he saw how dirty the system was when he worked for Erap as his Radyo Ng Bayan station manager? Was it when he saw those midnight meals, those high-stakes gambling being done in a supposed to be hallowed place called Malacanang? Or, was it because he's seeing filth turning into an institutionalized sticker under this present regime? Who knows. What's important, Ding is one sonafabitch (pardon my French) who will risk life and limb just to see a brighter and better future not only for his kids but for everybody's sake.

But, the one thing which Ding likes to share with me is his passion to make Smokes (Rom to many and blogs at http://smoketalk.blogspot.com/) appear. For Ding, Marck and Jester, seeing Rom in the flesh is a wonderful xmas gift.

So, the online revolution is reaping its fruits. People are slowly rising up. People are arming themselves with knowledge. Filipinos are proving to the world that we are not the people being described by this blogger calling himself BenigNo.

BenigNo is a poor anthithesis of Manolo Quezon III (http://www.quezon.com/) , a true-blue nationalist with royal blood running thru his veins. BenigNo promotes himself and lectures us with a poorly constructed paradigm that harms the intellect more than it nurtures new ideas. Manolo, meanwhile, analyzes using newer paradigms that cuts across a swath of smoking mirrors to reveal the hidden and naked reasons behind every historical action. As a historiographer myself, I relate to what Manolo is trying to say and find it juvenile to even give BenigNo a precious attention. Those who self-promote themselves obviously lack intelligence and self-confidence.

Having said that, I found it rather revolting to learn that some bloggers (I would not mention names here since I exercise ethics in this site) are selling themselves to the highest bidder. Yes, they are selling their very souls to corporate Public Relations practitioners (and Malacanang press operators). Worst, some blogger even sold their own colleagues to these reputation agents for reportedly a huge fee. A list supposedly exist, with the names of political and non-political bloggers and given to a politico who reportedly paid this blogger a huge sum.

Everybody who considers himself a member of the Pinoy blogosphere expected this to happen. Like any other field, there will be rotten ones who would corrupt and would offer the poisoned fruit. But, no one, expected it to happen so soon. People like Butch Dado and his lovely wife Noemi, Dang, Janet, JV and all others are trying their darnest best to keep the Pinoy Blogosphere clean as a whistle but this stupid ingrate tried to spoil everything.

YOU--YOU KNOW WHAT YOU DID--SHAME ON YOU! Shame that you sold your very soul to the highest bidder. Shame that you even sold your friends, telling politicos and marketing managers that you own them when you know in your heart that you don't own anyone. Bloggers are not commodities. We are not for sale!

To my fellow bloggers, hear my plea---MAKE THE PHILIPPINE BLOGOSPHERE CLEAN. DON'T ALLOW THIS HALLOWED PLACE OF FREE EXPRESSION BE CORRUPTED BY CORPORATE SPONSORSHIPS, POLITICAL OPERATORS AND WHAT HAVE YOU. WE MUST POLICE OUR RANKS. WE MUST STAY CLEAR OF PEOPLE WHO USE US JUST TO PROMOTE A DEFECTIVE PRODUCT, DEFEND A DIRTY POLITICIAN OR DESTROY REPUTATIONS.

BLOGGERS ARE PURE SOULS. BLOGGING IS SACRED. BLOGGING IS THE TRUEST EXPRESSION OF THE SELF. BLOGGING IS OUR "I".

THOSE WHO SOLD THEIR SOULS SHOULD EXPECT THEIR DEATHS VERY SOON. AND I MEAN SOON. (THAT'S FIGURATIVE, FOOL!)

The Blogger's Voice is Pure

I just remembered a conversation I had with Marck (The Marochim Experiment guy, great guy!). While we were having our smoking session during a lull in Janette Toral's awarding of the 2008 Influential Blogger's Night, we went into serious talk about blogging and how bloggers are becoming more and more important in shaping the information environment.

I told Marck that for me, I share Janette's view that blogging is slowly turning into a serious business. Digressing a little bit, blogging for me is a social responsibility, a serious one at that. One of my reasons why I want to remain anonymous here at the Web is I want to detach my professional life from my blogger's life. My job deals with marketing communications. I'm into PR. Yet, I don't write stuff about my client in any of my blogs simply because I consider my blog site as a hallowed place, a place where I am free to write what I want, to share what I consider to be precious and important to those whom I consider to matter most--the Filipino People

My blog is my Nirvana, my Olympus. My blog site is my new Sierra Madre.

I write politics because I can't detach myself from it. I tried to write things about my daily work, my devotion as a strat comm practitioner but I simply can't. I can't force my hand to stop typing on my Mac because I want to express what I feel about what's happening around me. Though I live a perfumed life, nonetheless, it pains me to see all my brothers and sisters wallowing in extreme poverty while Arroyo and her gang of pigs feast on what should be theirs.

The inequality I see all around me affects me the most. I just can't stop writing about these issues. Accuse me of being a political junkie, but that's reality. One comment from Mich over at FilipinoVoices says that its not only politics and problems that we need to talk about. We need to talk about other things, like cars for example. My gulay! Why would we talk about cars when all around us we see misery and poverty and injustice and plain and simple inhumanity!

We need to talk about politics and how it is being destroyed and used by unscrupulous people for their own selfish interests. I will not get tired of talking about the mismanagement of this country by these greedy bunch of pigs led by the devil infant because I believe it is the right thing to do.

The blogger's voice is the purest voice of our generation. It is the only rational voice we have in our age. It is the only one thing that keeps us sane in this extremely insane world. Hearing those voices is like listening to angels. When we talk about politics here, we do so only to expose the grievous errors that affect millions of lives. When we talk about social issues, we do so because we need to tell the world how f..ckd we are and how timely it is for us to act now rather than procrastinate and wait for 2010!

Like the trash I see going up to Mount Banahaw, I am seeing the creeping influence of PR agencies in the lives of some bloggers. Please, my colleagues, don't succumb to the honey-coated words of those who want to influence your voice. We became bloggers because we have something to say. And we do so without strings attached and without us parroting another one's voice.

We blog not for the honor nor the money. We blog because we are who we are.

Teodoro's dig at bloggers and salute to my fellow bloggers

Former UP College of Mass Communications Luis Teodoro puts it bluntly--bloggers should be responsible for whatever they write in their sites. He then encouraged mainstream journalists to write their own blogs, especially TV reporters. Teodoro said that mainstream journalists should write blogs to "set an example."

I respect Dean Teodoro. In fact, I'm one of those who already heeded his advice. I'm still an active member of the media industry. In fact, I devoted most of my 37 years of existence writing and working as a journalist. I started as a newswriter for DZBB GMA 7 and despite being a senior official of a top strategic marketing communications agency here, I still maintain a very strong relationship with my peers.

This leads us to one question--is there truth to Teodoro's assumptions that bloggers are irresponsible and therefore, not a good source of news and information?

Let me ask another question--what's the purpose of blogging in the first place?

Lastly, let me propound another question--is a blogsite a media outlet by itself or just a mere journal, a daily take on things?

On the first question, Teodoro's assumptions about some bloggers are valid. There are irresponsible bloggers out there who blog for the wrong reasons. For example, was it a good idea for Brian Gorrell to expose the dirty linen of Manila's alta sociedad just so he can collect his supposed money from a controversial socialite? Answer? No.

Using a blogsite to deride, cajole, humiliate, smear, or besmirch the reputation of someone is utterly irresponsible. If you read Gorrell's blog, it is full of "he said", "she said" ,things which most, if not all, are presumptions of certain facts, but not true facts. As readers, we can't verify all those he wrote there. Who's to say that all of those things really happened? Who edited Gorrell's blog? None.

Look at his entries. He wrote something about a person based on another person's "testimony". That's hearsay, plain and simple. There were no dates supplied nor exact location of where these incidents happened. We all know one place--Boracay. So, then? So, what?

Gorrell's blog shows you how irresponsible a blogger can be when allowed to write without an editor. Editors are gatekeepers. Why? Because one's take on things may not be reflective of reality.

Now, we go to the second question--why do we blog? What's the real reason for blogging?

Blogging started as a daily journal. By its very nature, blogging is a personal take on things. Its subjective, therefore, not fit to be a source for news. Blogs could be a very good source of opinions, of views, of expert advice. But, never a news site. Why? As I said, the very generis of blogging makes prevents it from being a good source of information.

Lastly, is a blogsite a news outlet? By the hits and pageviews it generates, yes, it could be said to be a media outlet. Since its beginnings, blogs serve one purpose--a journal which one maintains to express oneself to the world. It was never meant to be taken literally by bloggers as their license to be true journalists.

By the way, thanks to my fellow bloggers Nick, Mon Casiple, Cocoy, Janette Toral, Philippine Commentary and Manolo Quezon. They are just some of the most responsible and highly respected bloggers in our age. I appreciate your take on this blog. I never meant this site to be that way. I am humbled by your observations of this blog.

But, I need your help. Really. Give me advice on how to further improve my site. I am not really satisfied with my design. I want a simple, yet functional design. And I also would like to get advice on how to promote my site, especially to Filipinos abroad.

To my fellow bloggers, please give me your thoughts on how to improve my site. I really want to improve.

To my colleagues in the mainstream media, my site does not pretend to be a news site. No. This site aims to provoke debate, discussion based on my daily take on things. I write because I want to analyze what's happening especially the whys. I don't delve on the whats, the wheres, the whens. This is my political philology. If you agree on the things I wrote, thanks. If you don't, thanks din.

I am also very thankful that Nick provided a venue for political pundits like me to reach a wider audience. The Filipinovoices.com (www.filipinovoices.com) is the new Indios Bravos, the new La Solidaridad. I am very certain that all these things which we are doing will spillover beyond the blogsphere and eventually lead to real societal changes.

By the way, I have another blog, http://pinoyobserver.wordpress.com. Its getting bigger and higher hits by the day. Its not heavy stuff, totally different from what I write here. It has its usual political stuff (I really can't detach myself from political masturbations, sorry!), yet more on mundane things. If it reaches a thousand hits, I'll invest some money to make it as an electronic newspaper. Do help me make it happen. Thanks. Have a happy weekend.