We need more Zamboanga (and Mindanao) bloggers

Last month, I got invited to share my insights as a blog and social media entrepreneur at the 2012 ZamPen ICT Conference (Zamboanga). The event is part of a roadshow series featuring Next Wave Cities in the country. My sincerest thanks to RITECC IX for including me in their programme.



Am happy to be back in the said area as Zamboanga City is a place I frequent in the past whenever I have roadshows in different parts of the country. It is one of the places where I launched my first book and did several talks in collaboration with the National Computer Center.

The task given to me is to share my experience in working with bloggers in Zamboanga. This made me reflect as my work relationship with bloggers in the area were not that many.

We need more political bloggers.
With the coming 2013 elections, finding political bloggers in Mindanao is not that easy. I tried this before and was not successful in recruiting ones for my advocacy then.

Apart from the election, I was looking for content and reaction as well in the past about the Mindanao power crisis, Reproductive Health Bill, Freedom of Information Bill, local ordinances and politics (such as the need for another congressional district in Davao), Mindanao's potential as an ICT destination, K12 education roll-out, among others.

Of course, you now also have the Bangsamoro State signing. Apart from the usual news reports, I was hoping to read about how local bloggers feel about it.

They can also be tapped to cover local events and write about it. For instance, it will be great if there were write-ups from bloggers about the recent 2012 ZamPen ICT Conference noting what they learned and provide feedback too.

More than the lifestyle, food, and tourism related content, bloggers can help reflect the local community pulse especially if a lot of folks are sharing their perspectives.

I believe that if more bloggers will do such, its local community (business, leaders, movers) will feel the presence of their bloggers more and the insight they provide - reflecting what's going on in their area.

We need more professional / commercial / personal bloggers
Running a blog network requires having a constant stream of new bloggers that can be tapped for campaigns. It is not easy to find bloggers from Mindanao who meet the requirements. It's either their blog is filled with only paid post or not blogging consistently enough. Am on the lookout for those having more personal post than commercial or paid ones.

I guess you need to find a balance somewhere and hope more schools in the area will encourage their students to blog - develop their writing and publishing skills.

Blog and social media talk at STI College
The next day, I also gave a blog and social media entrepreneurship talk to STI College students. STI, as of the schools where I studied in the past, will always have a special spot in my heart. Students and professionals gathered at the said event and take part in the discussion.

I am very thankful to Zamboanga Chamber of Commerce and Industry Foundation, RITECC IX, Maureen Bello, Zamboanga ICT Council, DOST-ICTO, and STI College - Zamboanga for the opportunity of visiting this city again.

Also great connecting with Yolynne Media, Jerome Locson, Grace Sojor, Louie (RU_9 - we should chat more next time!), and Mozilla Zamboanga.

Will visit Zamboanga City again soon
I made a commitment that Zamboanga City will be a definite roadshow destination for the Digital Influencers Marketing Summit and it will be great to have aspiring influencers in the area to become part of the community.