Prudence and Madness

The Philippine Blog Awards, a project that started late 2006 and had its first awarding ceremony in 2007, was conceptualized to enable recognition of Filipino-owned blogs that generates quality content, reflective of the Filipino talent, in their respective niches.

And what better blog to choose to represent a growing Filipino blog community than a blog that gives you several glimpses on the minds of Filipinos?  Of a blog that can bring to the table a sole topic for discussion and yet, present so many views, all willfully and reasonably argued?  What better blog to choose than a blog that has utilized the power of words to further improve the dynamics of an ever-growing community of Filipino bloggers?  And what about the not so occasional verbose skirmishes that only proves that the blog has become an effective tool in propagating a democratic exchange in cyberspace?  A blog that has proven that it has been influential, not only in the blogosphere, but also in the “offline” world?

And for that, I’m voting the Filipino Voices for the Bloggers’ Choice Award of the 2008 Philippine Blog Awards.

Do you think Filipino Voices deserve the Bloggers’ Choice Award?  Or do you have another blog in mind?  Please, do visit the Philippine Blog Awards 2008 site and cast your vote!

The following are the sponsors of 2008 Philippine Blog Awards:

• Level Up! Games
• Nokia
• Blog Bank
• Smart Communications
• Josiah’s Catering
• Rsun Technology Store
• Yahoo
• XFM 92.3
• Buddy Gancencia Reality TV
• Ultravision Photo and Video
• Click Booth
• Aloha Board Sports
• Sheero Media Solutions
• YourPinoyBroker.com
• Belo Medical Group
• Inquirer.Net
• Toshiba
• ROAM Magazine
• PLDT
• Red Box
• Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf

Goodness!  It really did take me some time before I was able to decide which blogs to include in this list.  The problem I had in compiling the blogs was that most of the blogs I visit cannot qualify for the Top 10 anymore because their blogs started way before 2007.  I was keen on putting a vote for The Blog Rounds (TBR), a medical blog carnival started by Filipino doctors, as spearheaded by Bone MD.  But the problem is that the TBR isn’t hosted in its own blog, but rather is currently a section of Bone MD’s blog.  So I’m not sure if it would still qualify, though I’m more inclined to think that it wouldn’t.  So I’ve to review the other blogs I visit and came up with the following (listed in no particular order):

Filipino Voices.com

It is generally a blog, which is a product of the collaboration of different Filipino bloggers, that focuses on political and social issues.  And more than just a blog, I think it’s a symbol of the growing awareness involvement of more Filipinos in things happening around them and has rendered the power of the pen to further improve the dynamics of an ever-growing community of Filipino bloggers.  And the not-so-occasional verbose skirmishes in the comments’ section only demonstrates that, in this site, all sides are heard.

Bloggers’ Kapihan

Who says children nowadays are only concerned about mere appearances?  This blog is an initiative of the younger bloggers of the Philippine blogosphere that aims to bring forth for discussion important social issues both in the online and offline world.

Among Ed.org

This is a blog by Pampanga Governor Among Ed that has been recently launched through Bloggers’ Kapihan.  Among Ed, since he had the governatorial position, has inspired everyone and made us remember that, perhaps, it’ll be unfair to condemn the entire Philippine politics as a corrupted, greedy sphere as there are few like Among Ed who still strive to make the government work for the people.  And through this blog, Among Ed will remind us that there are actions undertaken to improve our lot, not merely rhetorics or plain propaganda.

visitsagada.com

Another collaborative blog, made by bloggers who have passion for all things Sagada.  I can never deny the influence of this blog, as I’ve personally perused the posts to help me plan a Sagada trip (which, unfortunately, didn’t push through though).  But for anyone who’s concocting a Sagada trip, it will be best that you read all what these bloggers can say about Sagada so as to make your trip productive and worthwhile.

Bloggers Da Who

Count on bloggers to know the latest chismis (which is inevitable, since bloggers like to network, hehe).  And I do remember that, when this site was first launched, it already garnered a lot of hits in one day!  And I’m sure, for a long time, bloggers do go back frequently to the site just so to have their daily dose of blogosphere chismis or to check if they have been Da-Whoed!

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