After The 2nd Mindanao Bloggers Summit in General Santos City

I can’t believe I missed four days in the blogosphere that seems that I am the only one who have not posted this much talked about bloggers’ event — 2nd Mindanao Bloggers Summit in General Santos City held last October 25 and 26, 2008. Unfortunately I got sick (sa kakiat cguro…lolz) but now obviously I’m back and I won’t miss to post this wonderful experience I had during the summit.

Yes, like any other blogging events, if you speak of fun — indeed it was but let me talk first about what I have learned during the Mindanao Bloggers Summit. The summit’s theme is “Mindanaowon, Paminawon Intawon”or in English layman’s term (IMO) — Let The Mindanao Voices Be Heard. It was a summit for a noble cause. A summit to lift up Mindanao Bloggers’ voices and above all, lift up the name of Mindanao — as The Promised Land, a wonderful place to live in, the wonderful people in Mindanao and not just being bombarded with the biases from TV News programs and other newspaper headlines talking about all sorts of crimes and war in Mindanao.

The first part of the summit which is the morning session is quite heavy and indeed mind boggling for me. As you all know, I am an entertainment blogger thinking that I have had enough with problems everyday that I no longer want to deal it in my blogging moments. Well, the morning session of the summit was quite heavy in thoughts because speakers — Pierre Galla, Walter Balane and Hector Minoza are respected journalists who shared their insights of how Mindanao is often perceived by people and later did I realized no one could speak more of the truth about Mindanao other than the Mindanaoans themselves — count me in to that. Admit it that nobody could speak more justifiably about a certain place or culture other than the people living in that place and is nurturing that culture. For Mindanao, no other could better describe the truth behind Mindanao unless us — Mindanao Bloggers — speak for it. Do you agree? Well, I think you must.

To continue, the afternoon part of the summit, I believe is intended to inspire other bloggers to continue blogging as to the many advantages it can bring to one’s life. Ria Jose, the lady behind Events by Ria, shared her inspiring business and how blogging helped her with her business. One worth noting also is the photo blogging by Bobby Timonera which I am truly amazed of his works and his transition from an activist photographer–who shoots painful memories of the past, now become a photographer who showcased how wonderful Mindanao is in his photo blog. And I should not forget Ms. Aileen Apolo, - Google Philippines Consultant, who shared her expertise too and her precious time to make it in GenSan be and be with us in the summit. There are a lot of shout outs from other bloggers too at that time and congratulations to you all for making Mindanao Bloggers Summit really meaningful as it is supposed to be.

Well, am I getting too mushy with the thoughts I shared above? I’m sorry but I couldn’t afford to miss to share that to you all. But of course, bloggers are “bongga” as usual because the night is a fun-filled fellowship party. The wonderful coctail night, the delicious Sashimi, dinner buffet, shocking Contemporary Dance, the night long dancing and the pictorials — whooah — that was exhaustingly fun!