Atheista -

In my book, to be influential means, at a minimum, being able to offer a fresh take on old stuff AND getting people to appreciate the innovation. When somebody makes you see things in a new light, or creates a niche where none has existed before, or blazes a trail that has others enthusiastically following in his or her wake, that’s being influential. – Gibbs Cadiz, oldest Filipino blogger

Everything said and done, I believe that the project is a failure due to the nuances of definining ‘influential’ both from Ms Toral and the participants. If the project was called The Top Ten Most Popular Filipino Blogs of 2007, then this failure might have been avoided since what is popular is easier to define than what is influential. Had the list of influential bloggers lived up to its name, a significant contribution to the PInoy blogging community would have been achieved. But that is not the case. – Liz

Admittedly, the terms “emerging” and “influential” would rarely appear in the same sentence. Influence only comes with a degree of reputation and time-tested consistency and credibility- clearly, something that an emerging greenhorn would not have. In the context of blogging, you can’t say that Yuga did become the well-read blogger that he is overnight. He’s been around for some time and through his works online and off-line, he was able to build up his cred and make himself truly influential in the purest sense of the word.

There can be exceptions though.

1. The ones who are already big in their respective fields:

• Super Bianca Bianca Gonzales’ (yes, THAT Bianca Gonzalez) was already a well-known model and host when she ventured into blogging. It didn’t take much promotion to have her blog shoot up to the stratosphere.
• Manolo Quezon Ok, he’s one of the best young writers and history buffs that we have around. He has inspired a bunch of pundit-wannabes (including yours truly). He has a show on a news network, a column on a leading daily and has strong name recall – thanks to the former president and the twenty-peso bill.

2. The ones who fill a previously-undiscovered niche:

• About My Recovery Calling it sensational would be an understatement. Grief is a universal and significant human experience and this site has successfully united all of those who are seeking a semblance
• Friendly Atheist Hemant Mehta is a well-accomplished young man who has pushed Atheism to the mainstream. Yes, I’m also inspired by this blogging prowess and just how much influence he has.

So clearly, the idea of an influential NEW blogger is a one-in-a-million occurrence. Expecting a year-old blog to be influential is a tall order – expecting the top ten to be unanimously influential borders on insanity. Influence is a function of authority, credibility and popularity. The people who won were influential – as first year bloggers. Their influence wouldn’t have been comparable to those of the more senior bloggers, but the votes and support that their got are palpable proof to their influence – no matter how diminutive it is for the average blogger.

It is so easy to criticize. And yes, the word influential really does carry considerable weight. But at the end of the day, the people voted and those who go the most votes got the prize. That’s it. And that’s that.

Dedicated to: Janette Toral, An Apple a Day, The D Spot, CokskiBlue, Make Money Online with a 13-Year Old, Culture Shiok!, Utakgago, Kubiertos, FruityOaty, PinoyBlogero, The Dork Factor, The Anitokid Chronikos, Gibbs Cadiz and Confessions of a Hopeless Romantic.

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