You can find the writing project details over at InfluentialBlogger.net, and you may blog about your favorite blogs (for as long as those blogs started on or after April 1, 2010).

Anyway, please check the Writing Project page for details.

Now you may be wondering: Where are the new or new-ish blogs? That’s understandable if you’ve been spending most of your time visiting your “old” fave blogs, watching videos in YouTube, or hanging out in Twitter of Facebook.

It’s a good thing there are bloggers out there who will help get you started with the Top 10 Emerging Influential Blogs of 2011 Writing Project.

We’ll be updating this blog post in the coming weeks. In the meantime, check out this list:

• Sire Arevalo writes about the blogs of Jhong Medina, JayL Aquino, Leira Bhagwani Pagaspas, Ann Saturno, Carl Valenzona, Carmela Tanaquin, and Renz Alcantara.
• John Paul Vergonia blogs about Kelvin Servigon, Richart (TFTT), the Tummy Traveler, Jonel Uy, Carlo Ople, Dodge Ronquillo, and Colin Chan.
• Buboy Tapia talks about the blogs of Sinjin Pineda, Mary Angeli Bas, Dr. Narciso Tapia, and Jhong Medina.
• Ricky Louie de la Cruz blogs about the 365 Vanity Shot Project, iSwallow, Dr. Narciso Tapia, Michael Sinjin Pineda, and Mary Angeli Bas.
• Abdul Hakeem showcases LizMoney, Halojin, the Backpack Man, Opinioneyted, OFW Diamond R.
• Carl Valenzona lists Jhong Medina, Leira Bhagwani Pagaspas, JayL Aquino, Sire Arevalo, Carmela Tanaquin / Ning Buning, and Jonel Uy.
• Mark Joseph Delgado enumerates the Thriving Salesman, the Middle-Man, “Yes, It’s Us!”, and Chad Arrieta.

The Secret of Influential Blogging

There are two main things you need, if you want to become an influential blogger. And these are…

You need to CREATE content, then you have to MARKET that content.

You can create content in different forms: pure text blogging, photo blogging, audio blogging, or even video blogging.

You can market what you published by basically finding out where people are, and then showing up there. Do you want to connect with people in YouTube? Post a video in YT. Do you want to reach people in Facebook? Set-up your FB fan page and network with people.

Now that you know what those 2 things are, go out and make your mark in the world!

Do you appreciate the FREE info that you found here? Please show your support and click the LIKE button below, and we will publish more of the content that YOU want. Thanks!

In 10 arguments in favor of a Philippine bloggers association he presents the following:

1. Professionalization
2. Recognition
3. Standardization
4. Arbitration
5. Association
6. Institutionalization
7. Organization
8. Self-Regulation
9. Mobilization
10. Unified Action

From the above, it sounds like those formal entities recognized by the Professional Regulation Commission, for example.

Professionalization – “adherence to a certain set of ethical and professional standards as they go about blogging.”

Our question: Will bloggers who do not adhere to the defined set of blogging standards be penalized?

Recognition – “general public will have a bloggers’ association to look up to as regards how blogging should be done.”

Our question: How exactly should blogging be done?

Standardization – “define the professional and ethical standards of blogging and strongly encourage all bloggers (whether members or non-members of the association) to follow suit.”

Our question: Why apply the standards to non-members of the National Bloggers Association?

Arbitration – “could help resolve conflicts not only between bloggers but also with other sectors.”

Our question: Will the National Bloggers Association of the Philippines reveal who the Big Bad Blogger is?

Association – “empower its members to professionalize their ranks and raise social discourse to an even higher level.”

Our question: What will happen to relaxed, non-professional blogging?

Institutionalization – “outlive its officers and members and eventually stand on its own merit in the years to come.”

Our question: Will this mean the eventual end of personal blogging and the rise of institution blogging?

Organization – “blog-related actions are not anymore individual but collective.”

Our question: Will it still be called blogging?

Self-Regulation – “the blogosphere should NOT be regulated by the government.”

Our question: Government will not regulate organizations that grow large enough to effect organized social, economic, or political change?

Mobilization – “It is even possible for a national bloggers’ association to call on its members to write about a particular issue so that it would catch the attention of the public.”

Our question: Will good ol’ fashioned word-of-mouth (or word of mouse) become passé?

Unified Action – “forge alliances with journalist in promoting and upholding free expression, as well as in fighting any attempts by the powers-that-be to suppress media.”

Our question: Who will benefit more, bloggers or journalists?

Or perhaps you can just call it a National Online Journalists Association instead?

Tonyo Cruz mentioned in The Need for a Philippine Bloggers Association that there have been times in the past when Filipino bloggers informally got together and voiced their opinions on different issues.

I asked one blogger if there’s a need for a Philippine Bloggers Association and the response was: “Useless. Mag-basketball na lang kayo.”

Is there need for such a “formal” organization, when bloggers have already been getting together (online and offline) without belonging to some larger group?

Let’s test the web. How many Pinoy bloggers are even writing about this topic?

If this blog post easily appears in the search engine results for people searching for a National Bloggers Association of the Philippines, that will probably mean that only a few people are writing about this topic.

Yet if some PBA or NBA does get organized, I hope people don’t end up being too focused on “blogging.”

Yes, you’ve probably guessed that I prefer that my fellow Pinoys focus more on Marketing than on Blogging.

This applies even to “puro” bloggers who don’t want to have anything to do with “pro” bloggers, because even if your goal is simply self-expression, you’ll still need to involve a fair amount of marketing.

The way you write, your manner of reaching out (or not reaching out), your choice of words or topics… All these have a marketing impact on your readers and your fellow Pinoys, whether you realize it or not.

Even if you’re spreading the word about some non-profit advocacy, please focus even just a bit more on Marketing, rather than Blogging.

When you try that, you will eventually see the Economic, Social, and Political impact your website will have on your community, and also on your country.

And lastly, try searching for national online marketing and national bloggers association.

Yes, online marketers will easily see from all of this the key lesson which answers the popular question: “What kind of product should we sell online?”

It will be held on April 1 and 2, 2011 at the UP College of Law, Diliman.

For more details, please see:

http://iblogph.org/2011/01/29/call-for-speakers-and-topics-for-iblog7/

And please be sure to Register Now.

When you attend iBlog, be friendly and get to know your fellow Filipino bloggers. And if you have questions about internet marketing, blogging, online real estate marketing, or how to use the web for your business, go ahead and ask and I will share with you the location of a website where you can get an internet marketing tutorial.

Here are some of the questions we got in iBlog6:

• How do I quickly and easily add a watermark to all my photos?
• How do I resize the thousands of high resolution photos in my hard disk?
• What’s the Number 1 mistake newbies make that damages their credibility?
• How do I earn megabucks with Adsense?
• How can I make at least P50,000 monthly in passive income? (not Adsense)
• What’s the major mistake marketers make on Facebook?
• Will a webinar help my business?
• How do I attract more visitors to my blog or website?
• Should I publish static webpages, or should I have a WordPress-powered blog?
• How can we make Twitter worth our time?
• Should I publish WordPress posts or pages?
• What’s the best WordPress theme layout to maximize the SEO benefits of my blog?
• How do we create an online membership site?
• What’s the Number #1 money-making tool that practically 99% of website owners fail to add to their sites?
• …and more!

So please sign-up for iBlog 7 before the slots run out, because Malcolm Theater can only accommodate so many people. And just in case the Online Registration closes, feel free to drop by just the same.

(Please note that this is a work-in-progress list of foodie bloggers.)

According to TopBlogs.com.ph, here are the top Pinoy food blogs:

1. Shoot First, Eat Later (Leslie Cheng)
Has a restaurant index. Blog posts show restaurant address and phone number.

2. Pinoy Food Photo Blog (Noemi Dado)
Features food that their family eats in restaurants.

3. Flavours of ILOILO (?)

4. Kitchen Cow (Chrissie Mata Peria)
Provides recipes and restaurant reviews.

5. Cafe Munchkin (?)
Shares restaurant discoveries.

6. The Philippines and Beyond (Brian Ong)
Sometimes blogs about new restaurants.

7. Pinoy Food Recipes (?)
Talks about recipes and cooking tips.

8. Food Trippings (Sharlyne Ang / Karla Redor)
Recipes, restaurant reviews and more.

9. Pinoy Food Cravings (Melo Villareal)
Has a category called “Restaurant Hopping”

10. Jin Loves To Eat (Jin Perez)
Sometimes writes about restaurants and fine dining.

Top Philippine Restaurant Review Blogs

1. Shoot First, Eat Later (Leslie Cheng)
2. Dementia Foodista (Karen Ang)
3. Ang Sarap (Raymund Macaalay)
4. Pig Out Sessions (Madz Santiago)
5. True Adventures of the Pickiest Eater in the World (RichieZ)

Do you know of Filipino foodie bloggers who should be on this list? Please let us know. Thank you!

Some of you may have read it in the Sunday Inquirer Magazine, while others may have gone online and read Please Don’t GIve Blogging a Bad Name by Margaux Salcedo of the Philippine Daily Inquirer.

It makes one wonder who is The PR Firm that allegedly invites bloggers to restaurants to eat and later write rave or scathing reviews, depending on how they want to make money off the resto owners.

I mean, with an obsequious title such as “Please Don’t Give Blogging a Bad Name”, it gives the impression that some bloggers can actually make or break a restaurant.

The article of Margaux Salcedo somehow gives power to Big Bad Bloggers.

The story shows how some businesses reportedly get scared of Big Bad Bloggers.

Margaux Salcedo’s article ends with:

There’s nothing wrong with expressing one’s opinion. Just make sure it is indeed your own. There is also nothing wrong with trying to get a free meal. Just please don’t make the rest of us writers and bloggers pay for it. Certainly neither writers nor restaurateurs have the right to tell the Big Bad Blogger or The Firm to stop doing business. This is just a little request to please not give blogging a bad name. We’re watching you.

Here are some observations and questions:

1. Do you really own your own opinion? Think about it. I mean, really.

2. Can Big Good Bloggers make Big Bad Bloggers or The-PR-Firms pay for it? It works both ways.

3. We’re watching you — this gives the impression that the writer knows the identity of either the BBB or The PR Firm. And the “little” request makes one wonder if the writer is probably afraid of the BBB or The PR Firm, or both.

We’ve read various exposes in the Philippine Daily Inquirer in the past. News of onerous deals, scams, wrongdoings of politicians, extortion done by some officials or even media people, and other stories of injustice.

Now we read of just a little request to please not give blogging a bad name.

How polite. How proper.

How wimpy.

Makes me wonder if the BBB or The PR Firm is more powerful than politicians or high officials of previous administrations “featured” in “balanced news and fearless views.”

Such scary BBBs. Such frightening and untouchable PR firms.

As a result, we now see a blind-item which makes some people look at food bloggers and wonder whether this or that blogger is the “Big Bad Blogger.”

We now have businesses that look at bloggers with suspicion. Some legit food bloggers may even think twice before whipping out their DSLRs in a restaurant, now that food blogging horror stories make their way around restaurateur circles.

With just a simple titillating guessing game of an article both online and in print, the credibility of some (if not all) food bloggers have been put in question.

Now tell me, Margaux: Who is giving blogging a bad name?

If you’re a blogger and want to say something about this entry, blog about it. Trackbacks are allowed on this page.

I had to Google the definition of panoptic, and discovered that all I had to do was look at the title of Jinalene’s blog.

The title is: All About Everything You Could Possibly Imagine

The last time I looked, her blog posts focused on celebrity gossip. But even if you’re not into entertainment news, you may still wish to keep track of that blog.

Especially if you want to know how to use the internet for your business.

You see, Jinalene is interested in learning how to make money online. And she has joined at least one internet marketing seminar or online workshop.

This means she will apply those online marketing tactics in her blog.

So if you would like to be entertained and (eventually) also see different e-marketing techniques, please visit every now and then Jinalene’s blog at http://panopticjinalene.blogspot.com

Internet Marketing Clue: Build a blog that you are truly interested in. Don’t do it just for the money.

TIP: If you would like your blog featured here, one way is to join Jomar Hilario’s Online Mentoring Club

But wait! It’s not what you think…

Typically, most Make Money Online (MMO) sites give you specific tips on how to earn online. In this case, however, you’ll see how you can get on the road to increasing your internet business income in a more relaxed manner.

For example, in My Wedding Suppliers Around San Pedro Laguna, Paolo talks about his experience with his own wedding, and provides useful and relevant information that people who want to get married will want to read.

When you read that blog post, you will immediately see why it is a webpage of value. And you will quickly sense that thousands, if not hundreds of engaged couples, particularly those interested in getting married in the Philippines, will want to visit that site.

And if you can see that, then so can search engines such as Google.

Now tell me, if you were a search engine, where will you send people who are searching for wedding tips? And if you were a hairstylist or wedding photographer in San Pedro, Laguna, where will you advertise your services online?

That’s how a growing number of Pinoy netpreneurs make easy money online: by accident.

There was no hard business intention. It was not a case of: “Ah, I will write something about so-and-so and in the process earn a lot of Adsense dollars.”

Then one day, the blogger gets surprised to find out that they can monetize their site afterall. They build content, attract a lot of traffic, and get pleasantly astounded when their sites start earning money a few weeks after they place advertising spots in their blog.

Bloggers start off by writing about what interests them, and by offering useful and relevant information that others will find valuable. Afterall, are you the only person in this world who has your particular set of interests?

Clearly, there are a lot of other people who also share your interests. And they are searching the web for answers to questions and solutions to problems. That’s where you come in, as an online publisher.

Assuming you begin blogging and offer fantastic info online which attracts readers whom advertisers want to reach, what must you do to take your income to a higher level? That will be covered in the future…

In the meantime, please visit Paolo Ramos over at Phawville.com

For Filipino book bloggers and aspiring book bloggers. Let’s spread the habit of reading and blogging about books and meet our kababayan book bloggers!

Don’t you sometimes wish you would pick up a book once again and read it? I mean, how long has it been since you last read something longer than 3 pages? Something printed and not floating on your monitor?

Yet when you walk into book stores you wonder: What book should I read this time?

Well, if you’re curious about what some Filipino book lovers are flipping through nowadays, check out their book blogs:

It all began when people met in Shelfari in the Flips Flipping Pages group, which also has its blog in Multiply at http://flipsflippingpages.multiply.com/

If you’re a book addict in need of a support group, you can meet every 2nd Saturday of the month.

I also got to read Blooey Singson’s Bookmarked! blog, and enjoyed her post about Rereading the Noli Me Tangere.

It’s amazing how these folks find the time to read mountains of books.

Here are other book blogs you will enjoy visiting: Coffeespoons (Honey de Peralta), Islandhopper (Gege Cruz Sugue), Kyusireader (Peter Sandico), Maydiwayatangnawala (Michelle Ciriacruz).

I accidentally stumbled upon a partial list of Pinoys who use WordPress over at PinayAds.com, and slowly got reacquainted with my fellow Filipinos who enjoy blogging with the help of WP.

I don’t quite remember how I found my way to PinayAds.com, but it was probably based on the watermark in a photo in some Multiply site, which I found out when I checked someone’s Plurk profile page.

Found that profile page because of a lively Plurk thread which was talking about bloggers and 5 kgs of towels.

It’s strange how lots of seemingly unrelated things get mooshed into one delightful tangle that is the web.

For example, at Pinoy Entrecard, Filipino bloggers who participate in Entrecard are featured prominently. This, in turn, helps gain attention from many bloggers, who then begin referencing http://pinoyentrecards.blogspot.com

And as more bloggers from the Philippines join Entrecard, well… you can already see how this will continue to grow.

Just don’t be overly focused on traffic without first building up your content, okay?