A post published a little late. But it will never be too late for a lot of link loves and a bit of a story. 
The Top 10 Emerging Influential Blog Announcement was made over dinner at Max’s restaurant, Park Square, Makati last August 1. Actually I had second thoughts about coming because I wasn’t in the mood to be sociable and also, I thought I have clinic early morning the next day in Bulacan. That would mean I can’t stay up too late and that I have to go home to Bulacan during the night, which could be dangerous.
Fortunately, the clinic duty was rescheduled to Friday, which means I have the whole Wednesday and Thursday free. Just perfect for an all-nighter. So, off I went to Park Square.
The event started a bit late. And, of course, no blog event would be complete without some shameless plugging. One by one, bloggers had their time in the limelight to introduce themselves and their beloved blogs. No use being shy during times like these because it is inevitable. However, I found it hard to get everybody’s attention when they are busy eyeing dinner that’s being served. Everybody was probably thinking, “let’s get this over soon so we could chow”, including the blogger speaking.
After our splendid (and free) dinner of fried chicken, lumpia, rice, and caramel bar, the raffle for the 10 winners of $100 each begun. And here are the lucky ones (most of which were not present during the event):
- Maryrose
- Sofia for BiSEAN
- J Angelo Racoma
- Heneroso
- Fruityoaty
- Annamanila
- Webbyman
- Marie Casas
- Mira
- Jehzeel Laurente
There were also freebies that has been raffled off. However, I’m known to be unlucky when it comes to raffles (and men!) so I didn’t really expect to win any.
And because the night is nearing its end (reservation of function room was only until 9 pm), finally the top 10 Emerging Influential Blogs were announced.
Congratulations to:
- An Apple a Day
The Philosophical Bastard
- The D Spot
- CokskiBlue
- Make Money Online with a 13-Year Old
- Culture Shiok!
Utakgago
- Kubiertos
- FruityOaty
PinoyBlogero
- The Dork Factor
The Anitokid Chronikos
- Gibbs Cadiz
- Confessions of a Hopeless Romantic
Only four of my top 10 made it. However, I didn’t really expect that all of my candidates’ blogs are read by the blogging community who participated in this project. And yes, I voted for some non-Filipino blogs because I think these blogs may become influential to the Philippine Blogosphere, if only the Philippine blogging community will read it.
And, of course, there has been some sparks of controversies regarding the winners and how they, according to critics, do not fit the definition of an influential blog. Many had different opinions and notions about the use of “Influential Blogs” in this writing project. A lot have been complaining that most of the winners aren’t at all influential or that aren’t popular to deserve the title. Also, someone made a case about the project relying more on popularity rather than the actual influence exerted on the entire blogosphere. Some complained that information about the writing project wasn’t disseminated properly because only a small portion of the Philippine Blogosphere actually knew about it and participated, and so, the results of the top 10 didn’t really reflect that of the entire community.
Perhaps Benj is right for saying it’s hard to reconcile “emerging” with “influential”, being that to be able to exert much influence meant authority and that authority does come only after a bit more experience. But to analyze it with regards to the community of bloggers which participated in the said project, I think it’s enough to say that the winners did exert a kind of influence over those who voted. Most bloggers did vote for those they think exerted influence on them. And I think influence will always mean a measure of popularity. So, yes, it is a popularity contest relative to the group which participated in the writing project. That’s enough reason to believe that the Top 10 Emerging Influential Blogs project did serve its purpose.
Controversies are expected during and after awarding ceremonies and I do think it’s normal. I have read and heard a lot of opinions and most have proven their valid points well. What is important is that we keep the discussion as civil as possible. We are a group of rational individuals with different opinions but with utmost respect on one another person’s right to express personal thoughts. So we should act and speak like rational human beings. At least, the catfights were only limited to a few blogs.
Okay, so let’s leave that story about the Top 10 Emerging Influential Blogs Dinner and go on to the Post-Dinner events, which I think are more fun.
Some people don’t like going home early, especially from a dinner get-together. So, Kevin, Jhed, Shari, Allan, and Jake accompanied Heneroso (our financier for the night!) to have his new $100 converted to pesos and stayed at Giligan’s. Benj, Jeff, Coy, Rick, Gibbs (who wasn’t able to make it to dinner), Ederic, and Poytee were also there and we occupied on long, long table (one reason why I didn’t get to talk to the people on the other end hehe). Just had some beers and few strange-looking cocktail drinks (Jhed, remember?!).
After we got tired hanging out at Giligan’s and Benj, Jeff, Coy, Ederic, and Poytee decided to go home, we went to Starbucks 6750 to have our proper after-booze coffee drink. Allan and Jake had to go home after a while and only Jhed, Kevin, Shari, and I were left. We talked about a lot of things (of course, that includes sex), and some gossips (Who doesn’t gossip anyway?). And yes, we did stay there until around 6 a.m., when the night shift has already timed out and the new batch of barristas have timed in.
Feeling hungry (but not for pastries), we staked out Tapa King at Park Square. They didn’t open until 6:30 a.m., and so we looked like lost puppies outside the establishment’s door, waiting to be let in.
At around 7 a.m., exhaustion and lack of sleep finally got to us and we decided to go home. Now I know how Starbucks 6750 looks like when it’s deserted. Haha. 
Other bloggers who posted about the event:
Tags: top 10 emerging influential blogs, post-dinner party
I get Network Error (dns_server_failure) in most of the sites I visit. Included site is my LJ friends’ page. ARGH! At times like this, I I wish I could just subscribe my friends’ LJ in Google Reader. (It’s one of the few sites I could visit at the moment.) But I can’t because the majority of my friends set their posts to friends-only. 
I planned on taking a short nap and leave around 1:30PM. I ended up waking up by 4:30PM. 
