4th Mindanao Bloggers Summit

The Zamboanga Bloggers Community is already preparing for the 4th edition of the Mindanao Bloggers Summit on October 29-31, 2010 in the Asia’s Latin City, Ciudad de Zamboanga.

The event will carry the theme – THE MINDANAO PROJECT: Weaving Voices Online. This year’s summit aims to create a venue for Mindanaoan bloggers to discuss issues affecting them and formulate strategies to help reach their common goal of creating a brighter Mindanao.

The summit will be kicked-off by a Blogging Seminar on October 29, 2010. It aims to give newbie bloggers and blogging enthusiasts some tips on how to create successful blogs.

The summit proper will be held on October 30, 2010 at Zamboanga’s finest hotel – the Garden Orchid Hotel. Top blogging personalities and guests have already confirmed their participation as speakers during the summit. Registration fee for the summit proper is P500.

Blogs and bloggers from Mindanao will be awarded on the same day during the Philippine Blog Awards – Mindanao.

Zamboanga City has many sights and things to offer to its visitors. The organizers invite participants to visit historical and beautiful spots of the city on October 31, 2010. Partnering for the city tour are the local tourism department and the Committees on Tourism and Science and Technology of the City Council.

For more information, contact Ryann Elumba at (63927) 477-1210 or Yolynne Medina at (63916) 152-4811. Email bloggerssummit2010@gmail.com or visit http://www.mindanaobloggers.com.

Alternative Media Convergence in Pinoy Blogfest_1.0

The Filipinos are one of the most internet savvy people in the world. According to a McCann Erickson study in 2008, 90% of the Filipinos read and/or have blogs, second only to the 92% of Koreans who do the same. Also in the same study, it was discovered that the Filipinos are the top “uploaders” of photos and watchers of online videos.

With this information in mind, Gadgets Magazine organized the Pinoy Blogfest_1.0, with the theme “Opportunity and Responsibility” last April 17 at the Richmonde Hotel in Ortigas Center.]

Of main concern were the practice of journalistic ethics in blogging, making money through your web presence, and blog copyrights. In particular, the keynote speech discussed the ethical and social responsibilities of the new media.

Speakers for the morning sessions were Gadgets Magazine’s Publisher and CEO Ms. Maribelle Alba, media personality Ira Panganiban, Yugatech’s Mr. Abe Olandres, and Yvonne Chua from Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism (PCIJ), who discussed optimizing the economic potentials of a personal blog, networking opportunities, and crafting a code of ethics for bloggers.

The afternoon breakout sessions, meanwhile, included topics on technology trends, photography, digital living, mobile networking and gaming, health and fitness, and food and travel.

Supporting Gadgets Magazine in this event were media partners Manila Bulletin, Business Mirror, Jam 88.3, Wave 89.1; Magic 89.9, 99.5 RT, 103. 5 Max FM, NU 107 FM, and Click the City. Event sponsors were Coca Cola, Toshiba, Canon, and TCL.

Please call telephone number (02) 332-4005 for more information or send an email to gadgetsmag.events@gmail.com.

Netizen Icons and Experts to Grace 3rd Social Networking Conference 2010

Digital Marketing think tanks, media personalities, social media experts and netizen icons will share their expertise during the 3^rd Social Networking Conference 2010 scheduled on April 22-23, 2010 at the Grand Ballroom of Hotel Intercontinental in Makati City.

The Social Networking Conference 2010, presented by Fiera de Manila, Inc., and DigitalFilipino Club is an event geared towards companies and digital marketing/advertising professionals and businessmen/entrepreneurs who are interested to use social networks for advertising/marketing their products and services. It is for dynamic and innovative companies, start-ups, and upcoming players who would like to leverage on current technologies to communicate and sell their products/services through social networks; and, gain knowledge as to how this industry is working and evolving.

Experts who will share their time and knowledge with participants include:

• Maria A. Ressa, Senior Vice-President, ABS-CBN News & Current Affairs and Managing Director, ANC
• Paul Papadimitriou, Digital Intelligence Strategist, Driving Left, Limassol and Tokyo
• Paul John M. Peña, Head - Digital Marketing, Globe Telecom, Inc.
• Juan Armando V. Rojo, Vice President, Corporate Brand and Communications, Bayan Telecommunications
• Alex Dan Tacderas, Brand Manager, Kraft Foods
• Eduardo Mapa Jr., Managing Director, Media Contacts Manila
• Rosan Cruz, Assistant Vice President of Group Public Relations, BENPRES Holdings Corporation
• Joey Alarilla, Social Media Editor, Yahoo! Southeast Asia
• Jim Ayson, Senior Product Manager, VAS & DATA Services/WCD, SMART Communications Inc.
• Janette Toral, Founder, DigitalFilipino
• Racquel Cagurangan, General Manager, PoliticalArena.com
• Nick B. Fontanilla, Ph.D., President, The Asia-Pacific Centre for Research, Inc. and President, Philippine Marketing Association (PMA)
• Leah Camilla R. Besa-Jimenez, General Manager, Proximity Philippines
• Brad Geiser, Co-Founder, Geiser Maclang Marketing Communications Inc.
• Chinie Hidalgo-Diaz, Marketing Director, Teleforce Asia Inc.

Other highlights of the two-day event include technology presentation, case study analysis, and the Social Networking Awards Ceremonies 2010 which honors Filipino excellence in social media and social network marketing and advertising.

The 3rd Social Networking Conference 2010 is sponsored by Yahoo Philippines, Globe Telecom, Inc., Eyeblaster, SMART Communications Inc., Inquirer.net, BusinessWorld, Business Mirror, Studio 23, Philstar.com, Jam 88.3, Wave 891, Magic 89.9, 99.5 RT, and 103.5 Max FM, Filbars International Subscription System Inc, and Blog4Reviews.

For registration and inquiries, please contact the Event Manager at (632) 896-0639, 896-0637, 899-6216 or e-mail at fiera@info.com.ph. Visit the website at www.fmi.com.ph or http://socialnetworkphilippines.blogspot.com.

Asia Internet Congress to be Held in the Philippines for the First Time

For the first time, local entrepreneurs who are utilizing the power of the internet will have a chance to hear from the best practitioners in the industry as the Asia Internet Congress will be held in the Philippines for the first time on March 4-5, 2010 at Crowne Plaza Galleria Manila in Quezon City

Co-presented by Powermax Consulting Group, Fireballonline.com, Philippine Daily Inquirer, Inquirer Job Market, and LloydLuna Communications, the event will carry the theme, “Internet Marketing: A Click to Business Profit”.

The Congress will feature today’s sharpest internet marketing minds like Mr. Simon Leung, Google Optimization Insider and Master AdWords Optimizer; Mr. Alvin Phang, Asia’s top Wordpress Blogging Expert; Mr. Jo Han Mok, One of the World's Top Copywriters; Mr. Jaz Lai, Singapore’s List Building Master, and a Top Multilevel Marketing Expert; Mr. Fabian Lim, CEO of AsiaInternetAcademy.com and top internet marketer who has been featured in Singapore, Indonesia, Malaysia and Japan.

Philippine experts will also grace the event, including Mr. Donald Lim, founding President of Internet and Mobile Marketing Association of the Philippines (IMMAP) and the CEO of Yehey.com; Mr. Ian Del Carmen CEO of Fireballonline.com, Internet Marketing Expert, and International Best-selling Author of “Crack the Secret of Code” and “Rags to Dot Com Riches”, Mr. Lloyd Luna, New Media Marketing Expert and a sought-after motivational speaker and author; Mr. Nix Nolledo, Chairman of Xurpas.com, myayala.com, and Havoc Digital Media; and Mr. Joel Disini, President and CEO of dotPH.

Topics include Internet Marketing Success; Best Practices in Internet Marketing; Common Blunders in Internet Marketing; Search Engine Marketing; Social Media Marketing; Email Marketing; Copyrighting; Corporate Branding in the Internet; Passive Recurring Income Through Membership Sites; PLUS Bonus Topics – Word Press and Everything You Need to Know on How to Start an Online Business.

The 1st Asia Internet Congress Philippines is sponsored by Center for Pop Music Philippines, Inc., Stars and Events, UK Derm Pharma, Holiday Inn Hotels and Resorts, Creative Voices Production, Crowne Plaza Galleria, Certified eMarketing Consultant, PinoyInternetMarketing.com, Slimmers World, One Tagaytay Place Hotel Suites, and the following media partners: Open AXCSS Solutions, Friendster.com, TipidCP.com, TipidPC.com, Inquirer.net, Philstar.com, PinoyExchange.com, Business Mirror, and The Radio Partners, Inc., (Jam 88.3, Wave 891, Magic 89.9, 99.5 RT, and 103.5 Max FM), and Entrepreneur Magazine.

For more information about the event, call Liezel Anam of Powermax Consulting Group at (632) 470-1054 to 55, 470-1267, (63926) 695-8428, or visit the event website at http://www.asiainternetcongressphils.com/

PRSP Held Two-Part Digital PR Seminar

The Public Relations Society of the Philippines (PRSP) held there Professional Development seminar focused on digital PR last September 25, 2009 and October 16, 2009 at the InterContinental Hotel Manila in Makati City.

Aptly titled, “A Whole New World of Digital PR”, the 2-part seminar aims to gather industry experts to discuss and share their insights on the various aspects of online reputation management, the online media as a part of campaigns and strategies to build brand relationships with stakeholders.

Among the list of respected speakers include:

Speaker	Topic
Mr. Jay Bautista, The Nielsen Company Philippines – Media Group Executive Director	The Philippine Digital Landscape: An Assessment
Mr. Mike Palacios, Havoc Digital General Manager	How to use Digital PR Tools Effectively
Ms. Janette Toral, founder of DigitalFilipino.com	Effective Online PR with Bloggers
Mr. Reggie Velasco, Yellow Brick Road Philippines General Manager (Yahoo!)	Digital PR the Yahoo! Way
Mr. Paulo Pangan Yehey! Corporation Digital Strategy Manager	Digital PR Techniques for Politics
Mr. Donald Patrick Lim, Yehey! Corporation Chief Executive Officer	Viral Marketing Techniques for Online Word of Mouth (WOM)
Ms. Aileen Apolo, Google Country Consultant for the Philippines	Using Google Search for Online PR
Ms. Crisela Magpayo-Cervantes, ABS-CBN Interactive Customer Marketing Head	Using Online Communities for Digital PR
Mr. Carlo Ople, Friendster Global Digital Marketing Manager	Using Social Networks for PR

Mr. Donald Patrick Lim, along with Ms. Elaine Uy, Chief Marketing Officer of Yehey! Corporation facilitated the workshop on the process of organizing a blogger event as a tool for brand relations and crisis management.

For more information about the event, contact the PRSP at telefax (632) 638-0012, 638-0010, email publicrelations.prsp@yahoo.com, prsociety.prsp@yahoo.com or visit www.prsp.ph

Experts Shared Views and Practices at 3rd Internet Mobile and Marketing Summit

Internet and mobile marketing experts from all over the world shared their insights and success stories in utilizing the power of the internet and mobile media for marketing purposes during the 3^rd Internet Mobile and Marketing Summit held last August 25 – 26, 2009 at the SMX Convention Center, Mall of Asia Complex in Pasay City.

Organized by the Internet and Mobile Marketing Association of the Philippines, the event was guided by the theme, “Digital Delivers”. The informative 2-day conference aims to assess the digital marketing scenario in the Philippines and present relevant studies and practices of marketing and ad agencies that utilizes the internet and mobile.

IMMAP President Arthur Policarpio welcomed the delegates of the event. Nestle Philippines Senior Vice President and Communication and Marketing Service Director Sandra Puno and Philippine Association of National Advertisers (PANA) President Charmaine Canillas delivered the keynote address during the first day of the event. While Unilever Philippines Chairman Fernando Fernandez and Mobile Marketing Association President and CEO Mike Wehrs gave the keynote address during the second day of the conference.

Several notable speakers graced this year’s conference including:

• Ms. Bennett Porter, Head of Marketing Emerging Markets for Yahoo! Inc.,
• Mr. Kent Wertime, Asia-Pacific Director for OgilvyOne Worldwide
• Mr. James Laffery, Ret. Vice President of Procter and Gamble Philippines
  
• Mr. Rahul Vasudev, Director of MediaCom Interaction
• Mr. Jerico Barrera, Client Service Director for Media of The Nielsen Company
• Ms. Teresita Villareal, Marketing Director for Customer Marketing Group of ABS-CBN Broadcasting, Inc.
• Mr. Masaki Iwata, Digital Solutions Producer of Dentsu Japan
• Ms. Riana Roces Trinidad, Co-Managing Partner of Proud Mama Concepts, Inc.,
• Mr. Jose Anton Diaz, owner and blogger of Our Awesome Planet.
  

The second day of the conference was highlighted by a special case presentation courtesy of the 2009 Boomerang Gold Award winners. The winners are:

• Cyber Boomerang Category: Nescafe Palistuhan by Proximity Philippines
• Mobile Boomerang Category: Quaker Oats Eat Well and Win Promo by Proximity Philippines/BBDO Guerrero
• Integrated Boomerang Category: Sandbox by: Smart Communications, Inc. and Wolfpac Mobile, Inc.
  
• Innovation Boomerang Category: Awesome Philippines Second Life Press Conference by the Philippine Department of Tourism and Media Contacts Philippines

The 3rd Internet Mobile and Marketing Summit 2009 is sponsored by OgilvyOne Worldwide, DentsuIndio, Smart Communications, Inc., Business World, Fiera de Manila, MobiThinking, Yahoo! Philippines, Friendster, Inquirer.net, Admax Network, iHub Media, Eyeblaster, Snapworx, Inc., PinoyExchange.com, Adobo Magazine, The Philippine Star, Philstar.com, IT Matters (Special section of Business World), Affle, Business Mirror, Canon, Studio 23, and The Radio Partners, Inc. (Jam 88.3, Wave 891, Magic 89.9, Killer Bee FM, 99.5 RT, and 103.5 Max FM)

For more information about the event, contact Internet and Mobile Marketing Association of the Philippines at (632) 896-0637, 896-0639 or visit the event website at http://www.interactivesummit.com.ph/.

Blogging Influence Acknowledged at iBlog5

The strong influence of bloggers in promoting brand and stirring public opinion was acknowledged during the iBlog5: 5^th Philippine Blogging Summit held last May 9, 2009 at the Malcolm Theater, University of the Philippines College of Law in Diliman, Quezon City.

Organized by the UP Internet and Society Program, this yearly event began in 2005 when blogging was still unpopular in the country. The event aims to introduce blogging and analyze the possible contributions of bloggers in stirring public opinion. Furthermore, it gives bloggers fresh ideas on how to earn from blogging.

More than 250 bloggers from all over Metro Manila, Cebu, Iloilo, Davao, and other provinces participated during the whole day summit. During the event, popular personalities from the blogging community shared vital tips and advices on the new forms of blogging. Veteran photo bloggers Mr. Fritz Tentativa and Ms. Faith Salazar of Tanggera.com gave a crash course on photography and proper photo blogging. Ms. Kring Elenzano of Flippish.com along with pop culture blogger Mr. Azrael Coladilla explained and demonstrated the concept and principles behind video blogging. Technology blogger Mr. Edwin ‘Ka Edong’ Soriano introduced a new form of blogging using mobile phones. Mr. Bern Espina of Atheista.net and Mr. Juned Sonido of Baratillo net jointly gave their views on the do’s and don’ts of blogging. SEO tutor bloggers Mr. Winston Almendras and video blogger Mr. Coy Caballes shared tips on how to promote a blog and increase its traffic. Atty. JJ Disini discussed t the legal implications of blogging.

Commission on Election – Education and Information Department (COMELEC-EID) Director Mr. James Jimenez shared the history of the COMELEC blog, bagongbotante.ph and how it helped inform the public about the importance of voter’s registration and the schedule for their respective provinces. Afterwards, Ms. Janette Toral, founder of DigitalFilipino.com gave her insights on how bloggers can make or break the candidacy of a presidentiable or anyone running for public office in the coming election.

Ms. Kristine Mandigma, Editorial Director of Philippine Online Chronicles; Mr. Mannix Pabalan, General Manager of AyosDito.ph; Mr. Lazlo Lim, Business Development Head of Yehey.com; Mr. Jayvee Fernandez, co-founder of BlogBank; Mr. Eric Ramirez, Chairman of Nuffnang Philippines, Mr. Fritz Villafuerte, owner of financial blog Ready To Be Rich; and Mr. Anton Diaz, owner of travel blog Our Awesome Planet discloses valuable tips and tricks on how to improve blog revenue.

The 5th Philippine Blogging Summit is sponsored by Smart Communications, Inc., Philippine Online Chronicles, AyosDito.ph, Jollibee , Yehey.com, 611 Connect , with the support of Alfox Comptuter Center, Philippine Realty TV, and Greatwebhost.com.ph

Web Design, Accessibility as Core of Third Mini Web Design Conference

Web designers, developers and bloggers shared innovative and practical information on web standards, web accessibility, and web usability during the Third Mini Web Design Conference held last January 22, 2009 at the Cosmopoint International Institute of Technology in Quezon City.

Organized by the Philippine Web Designers Organization, guest speakers enlightened participants about the various aspects of web design and content management. Mr. Jan Pabellon, Vice President for Business Development of IT Group, Inc. gave an overview on the use of Concrete5, a new open source content management system (CMS). Mr. Alfredo Palconit, a search engine marketing consultant, discussed the importance of search engine optimization (SEO) and web design in order to increase traffic. Mr. Regnard Kreisler Raquedan, senior lecturer at the University of the Philippines Information Technology Training Center and web and usability consultant, disclosed on how to price web design work. Mr. Remberto Esposa of the Philippine Web Accessibility Group (PWAG) showed the participants how to write good ALT text which aid persons with disabilities in surfing the Internet. Mr. JP Dela Torre of Pigmata Media Inc. gave an overview on front-end optimization and best practices to make webpages load and render faster. And Mr. Eugene Alvin Villar, a hardware engineer, introduced another CMS called Textpattern.

Aside from learning management and designs, several participants won gift items from the event sponsors.

The Third Mini Web Design Conference is sponsored by PWAG, Munchpunch, and EDSAHosting.