Completing The Ten: The Emerging and Influential Blogs of 2008

For last year and much of 2008, the blogging community has been flung with allegations of irresponsible posting and unwaranted harshness. Though much of the acts that were seen as offensive by observers (i.e. those from old media) were done by anonymous cowards who are probably not even bloggers themselves, the community has absorbed considerable damages in its reputation. This is why I believe that it is in our best interest to take charge and be responsible when making choices on which particular examples we will choose to represent us a niche and as a sector.

I appeal to everyone to NOT vote for Brian Gorrell’s blog. Sure, it’s his right to fight for what he believes in and get his money back but do we really have to back something that is built on the destruction of reputations of people set to repetitive heehawing? Do we really want to be represented by such mediocrity? More power to him and I hope he gets whatever justice he deserves but he is no position to represent a community that is vibrant, responsible, credible and relevant.

I earlier mentioned Visit Sagada as my first nominee. The blog has a very specialized niche, but in the few short months that it has been in existence it has dominated that niche and emerged as the quintessential resource site for backpackers going to Sagada. We are the most relevant/among the most relevant search results for the anything related to Sagada just three months into this project. And yes, the five of us may not be exactly blog superstars, but taken as a group, we are definitely a force to reckon with (LOL).

I’m very humbled that our efforts have been appreciated by those who voted early. Thank you very much.

Here’s the rest of my ten.

2. Phildebate - Phildebate emerges as one of the most relevant, organized and user friendly sources of debate-related news in the Philippines just mere months after it was launched. The Philippines has a proud and rich debating tradition and Phildebate showcases it by being a one-stop-shop for tournament schedules, results and scores.

3. Filipino Voices - Five years from now, this blog could very well be the single-most influential blog in the Philippines. It combines writers from all backgrounds to state their take on particular issues affecting our country. I think this site is the odds-on favorite to top the vote.

4. Spread Rationality - This is a group blog that encourages readers to expand their horizons through actual thought-provoking articles and discoveries.

4. Pinoy Mountaineer - endorsed and justified here.

5. Teen Atheist - I’m continuously wowed at how passionate she is about writing about Atheism. For such a young lady, she argues and discusses her points eloquently and adequately. Teen Atheist, I took the liberty of buying you teenatheist.com. Tell me what you want to do with it. :p

6. Cecile Maris - Compared to all the personal blogs that won last year, I think Cecile: Ang Batang Palaboy manages to push the standards of this competition even higher. All her articles are well-written and despite the relative “newness” of her blog, she writes as if she’s been doing this for a very long time already. She knows what she’s doing and that’s not something that you could say for every other blogger out there.

7. Missing Carlo - Sometimes, votes are cast not only for the influential - but for those who you want to be influential for the simple reason that it exposes a side of blogging that is barely touched by current dominant niches. Missing Carlo chronicles the experiences of a big sister who is thousands of miles away from her brother diagnosed with autism. Autism is a dead issue as far as the Philippine Blogging Community is concerned but the incidence is alarmingly increasing.

8. Fritzified - Seriously, why are people forgetting about him? Fritz is probably the break out star of 2007 after whipping up one of the best looking themes we’ve seen in a while (but, he’s no longer using that now). He has made his mark as someone who could act as an elder statesman, a photography guru or the unfortunate victim to OmarItaygate. Yes people, YOU CAN VOTE FOR FRITZ.

9. Teknostik - Fire eyed boy gets a fresh coat of paint of ‘08 and re-emerges as Teknostik - a blog of a weight training junkie who likes to write short stories and tech punditry bits on the side.

10. Lakwatsero - Again, yet another upstart making waves both in terms of statistics and authority. I think this competition truly is for upstarts and those who really start out of the gates strong deserve some credit.

There you go. Again, YOU MAY STILL JOIN WHEREVER YOU ARE IN THE WORLD. Just head on to the Ten Emerging and Influential Blogs Page to learn the mechanics. You may win $100 in the raffle as well. Make sure that your favorite blogs make it!

Viewed 2930 times by 1349 viewers