What is consistently good about participating in big gatherings of bloggers is that one always comes out from them feeling reinvigorated and re-inspired to go on blogging.
The Mindanao Bloggers Summit, the third edition of this annual convention of bloggers of/from Mindanao, had just concluded over the weekend in Cagayan De Oro City; and along with it came renewed blogging energy brought home by the close to a hundred new media practitioners who had participated, including myself.
The event was graced by the presence of various local and national personalities who took turns in delivering their respective messages drawn from the summit's overall theme of "Mindanao: Bag-uhon ang Panan-aw" (Changing the way people see Mindanao). Among the guests were CDO City Mayor Tinnex Jaraula, Agusan Representative Rodolfo "Ompong" Plaza, Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila (University of the City of Manila) President Atty. Adel Tamano, and U.S. Deputy Chief of Mission Ms. Leslie Bassett. U.S. Ambassador to the Philippines Kristie Kenney, a blogger herself, delivered her message for the Mindanao bloggers thru video; so did Senator Francis "Kiko" Pangilinan and former Bukidnon Representative Nereus Acosta.
The whole programme was ably emceed by Migs Hipolito.
Among the more inspiring points in the summit, at least for me, was when Atty. Tamano shared his experience in overhauling the old decrepit system that once governed the PLM university he now heads. He then went on to challenge the blogger-participants to go beyond changing the people's perception of Mindanao and strive to change Mindanao itself.
Leading movers of the blogging community in the country were also on hand to share input on areas most important to both newbie bloggers and old-timers. Google-Philippines' Aileen Apollo shared Blogging for Beginners; Janette Toral, e-Commerce guru and noted author of the blogger-must-have book Blogging from Home, lectured on Blog Advertising; and Davao blogger-nurse Lyle Santos talked about what is perhaps the most anticipated topic of the event - Making Money Online.
Also among the highlights were the presentation of updates (activities past and planned) from major blogging communities in Mindanao. Presentors were Jaime Haw Jr for the Davao Bloggers' update; Avel Manansala for the Gensan and Soccsksargen Bloggers; and Ryan Elumba for the Zamboanga Peninsula bloggers. This part was particularly interesting as every one was made to realize that bloggers do organize themselves and engage in other common activities both for purpose and pleasure, besides blogging. The bloggers of Cagayan De Oro also presented updates about their side through a report by Edu Ragpala.
For all the success that the 3rd Mindanao Bloggers Summit has achieved, one can rightfully claim that among the things that have been further underscored during the event is that blogging is fast becoming a potent tool in media; and that bloggers are a rapidly growing community that need to be reckoned with when we talk about technology growth and social transformation especially here in Mindanao.
Our hats off to the CDO Bloggers led by Chiq Montes for a successful MBS3. We sure did go home with happy memories.
Towards the end of the program, Blogie Robillo, chief initiator of the Mindanao blogging community, announced the next Summit would be hosted by the Zamboanga bloggers sometime in October next year.
Kita-kita ta sa Zambo pohon!
