BlogFest 2.0: Effecting Progress and Change through Blogs and Social Media

The next speaker really changed the real idea of what is social media in the eyes of a blogger. Opinion makers should have an idea on how to mixed up great thoughts in words or comments since we are free to express ourselves not to harm others. People engaged with social media have also the freedom to learn and to think out of the box and has the capacity to change the current situation of an object. Those are just some highlights that Manuel "Manolo" Quezon III discussed during the Blogfest SOCCSKSARGEN 2.0 with a theme, "The Emergence of Blogs and Social Media".

Social media changes the trend of what is now, compared to the past, wherein there is no Facebook or Twitter to get mingle with people, Youtube to watch missed fave shows in full color or high definition, or even reading news articles via Yahoo!, CNN, GMANews.tv and such rather than reading it in very versatile paper. Because of technology, everything is made to substitute the old practice.

According to the research presented by Quezon, Filipinos are engaged with the use of computers instead of listening to the radio for news and information, crying in front of the TV while watching telenovelas, or even reading comic books and newspapers to kill information. Because computer and internet are somewhat, addictive, we should set up new rules on how to handle our thumbs.

In politics, Social Media has a big role in promoting themselves, I mean promoting their platforms, well it is only for election time purposes, perhaps. Before, politicians spent a lot of mickey mouse money to print out their lame posters and flyers as if people notice it. But now, because of the social media era, politicians are now invading social networking sites to touch people, to have their www[dot]com websites to share their political diaries and projects. It really influences people, says the internet.

Undersecretary of Presidential Communications Development and Strategic Planning Manuel "Manolo" Quezon III during his speech about Social Media. (Photo Credit: Mr. Kyawster)

EVERYONE USES FACEBOOK. Filipinos has the world's highest Facebook penetration. It means that we tend to open the internet and directly login to our Facebook accounts. Indeed, it's true. Facebook is not for laptops and desktop computers. We can access to Facebook by using smartphones, tablets, or even SMS. That's how powerful social networking is.

FILIPINOS LOVE TO SHARE PICTURES AND VIDEOS. Don't deny it, alright. We love Project 365 or even the next Youtube Sensation. Those are some filipino traits that are widely seen online.

FILIPINOS PREFER TO READ OTHER PEOPLE'S BLOGS THAN TO WRITE THEIR OWN. Yea. Applicable to some bloggers. Even myself fond of reading other people's blogs, just to find inspiration for my new blogpost or to gain idea.

Teens are watching less TV, listening to less radio, reading less books and magazines, doing less sports, less interaction with friends, face-to-face frequently, and spending less money or traditional consumer items. Thanks to virtual connectivity technology like text messaging and the internet. - McCann, 2007

The second version of BlogFest SOCCSKSARGEN was made possible by Fat and Fab Brothers of the Philippines, Mr. Avel (www.gensantos.com) and Orman (www.gandaeversomuch.com) Manansala in cooperation with SOCCSKSARGEN Bloggers. Co-Presentors Dole Philippines, Inc., Sagittarius Mines Incorporated, Circle of Arts Productions and Smart Telecommunications were there to support the event. Not to mention the help being extended by Gold Sponsors AirPhil Express, ACLC College, the GSC Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the Local Government of General Santos City, and the Department of Trade and Industry - Region 12. Official Hotel SunCity Suites, Sarangani Highlands, Google Philippines, GMA Network and ABS-CBN were also there to make the event possible.

BlogFest SOCCSKSARGEN 2.0 is considered as the biggest gathering of bloggers in the Philippines, with almost 100 bloggers from different parts of the Philippines, including bloggers from Iligan, Davao, and as far as Iloilo, Cebu and Manila, and was attended by eleven intelligent and highly-respected speakers in the country who shared their knowledge about Emergence of Blogs and Social Media.