A group of Filipino Bloggers is setting up a formal organization with the induction of its officers and members on December 18.
Philippine Bloggers Network also known as PBNet (http://bloggers.net.ph/), is formed by Filipino bloggers mainly based in Manila who aim to professionalize the blogging industry by conducting seminars and fora that are designed to help bloggers in taking online publishing to professional levels.
Louis Casambre, Department of Science and Technology undersecretary and executive director of Information and Communications Technology Office (DOST-ICTO), who inducted the officers and members of PBNet, said in his keynote address as PBNet looks for a brighter year ahead, “2015 will be very special. It will be the first year of Philippine free wi-fi and hopefully TV whitespace, which have the power to bring what all of us have been enjoying for so long. With these two, next year is our chance to fix the digital divide in our country and provide Internet in unserved areas. We should all rally behind it for next yaer to make it work.”
PBNet members have been forging activities since 2013. This year, during its first general membership meeting last May 17 held at its Official Headquarters at vOffice, Bonifacio Global City, the following were elected as officers: Raffy Pedrajita (DigitalSpidey.com), president; Ian Irving Bacungan (TheRogueWriter), vice president internal; Ron Villagonzalo (Wahpinas.com), vice president external; Rafael Pekson II (MiniPhilippines), secretary; Arabelle Jimenez (ArabelleJimenez.com), treasurer; Marlon Magtira (TechTV.ph) and Azrael Coladilla (Azrael’sMerryland), directors.
Other members of the group include: GianCarlo Viterbo (GadgetPilipinas.net), Mary Anne Barbieto (BuhayKuneho.net), Edel Santiago (TheKitchenGoddess), Eli Villagonzalo (ElifestyleManila.com), Myrna Roman (MyrnaRoman.com), Enzo Luna (JuanManilaExpress.com), Ted Claudio (Wazzup.PH), and Irene Enriquez (GirlyGeek.ph).
With their own respective niche followers as online publishers, PBNet members cover travel, food, lifestyle, technology, business, and entertainment industries.
Pedrajita, Magtira and Bacungan promote blogging insights in Bloggers’ Hour radio program every Friday, 11:00AM-12:00NN at DWDD 1134kHz Katropa Radio with live streaming over http://dwdd.com.ph/ .
Villagonzalo R., Pekson, and Enriquez are advocating freelance and work at home employment and etreprenuership through a series of seminars.
Meanwhile, Luna, Colladilla, Villagonzalo R, and Pedrajita are airing their Youtube show called 4TB Live. The show is a mix of lifestyle, travel and tech, but soon it would be a CSR project of the group.
In his message during the officers’ induction, Pedrajita said, “As PBNet aims to develop and enhance the skills toward responsible blogging of its members, the organization will be gearing up to spearhead in educating Filipino bloggers on ideal manners and proper ethics in delivering digital publication.”
“Being at the forefront of providing significant and credible information, PBNet will become the premier bloggers’ organization in the country,” Pedrajita said.
Photo credit: Eli Villagonzalo, elifestylemanila.com
