My favorite quotes & the great Blog-O-Rama link love

It’s been a long time since I started with Blog-O-Rama and some people are amazed at how I’ve carried this on for so long. This would not have been possible without the support of my editor and newspaper which will always be appreciative of pioneering, if not reader-worthy projects. While most of the interviews can be found at the MB archives and in a partial list by Manuel Viloria, I’ve deemed it worthy to post some of my favorite quotes here …. in appreciation of the bloggers who showed great enthusiasm and took time to answer with grace, despite my mundane questions and persistent badgerings. More of the best coming soon:

Kwentong Tambay: There are two types of Pinoy bloggers. First, there’s the one who always writes about the fact that they have nothing to write about. You’d easily find them because they start their blogs with ” Today, I have nothing to say because nothing happened to me.” Avoid these blogs at all cost because they will make your head ache. But then there’s the really good Pinoy blogger who makes the most mundane activity sound like it was the best thing since sliced bread. These are the types of blogs to read (and imitate). The moral lesson is to always make what you write interesting.

Dominique Cimafranca: Blogging is really only the tool. The essential activity is writing. And the prerequisite to good writing is thinking.

Lauren Dado : If nobody learns to spell entire words, it will be the death of the written word.

Connie Veneracion: Blogging is writing and publishing. And both are skills that can be developed through time. But it is passion that makes a person stay on as a blogger. It is the lack of passion that makes bloggers come and go. See, a blog has to have a goal. A genuine message to put across, if you will. Goal plus motivation equals passion. Without that, there is no genuine reason for a blogger to stay on.

Bryanboy: I wouldn’t call myself a superstar if I’m not. Maybe I’m born with IT. Maybe it’s Maybelline? *wink*

Markku Seguerra : De-publishing is unacceptable. Bloggers should always write
guided by journalistic and simple human ethics. If you made
a mistake or said something wrong, apologize and correct
the information as necessary. But never take back something
you’ve already published as if it never existed.

Shari Cruz in Misteryosa: But do you know what’s the greatest thing about blogging? It’s learning. Learning to share, learning to appreciate, learning to LEARN. And in line with this, you’re learning from other people, with other people — with the idea that it’s highly possible that they’re learning something from you too.

Toe Oblena: Your life is important and its details are worthy to be recorded. If my Lolo had a blog, I would read it and cherish it. Write so that the next generation would know that you were here and you were alive at this moment in time.

Dr. Emer: For newbies, choose a focus, develop it, and blog about it. Start with Blogspot. It’s easy and free. For active bloggers: maintain high quality posts, proofread your entries before publishing, and always share something that you think can be useful to others.

Abe Olandres: I used to work for Bill Gates and the closest I got to him was an email or two. I never did really admire him that much. Steve Jobs (CEO of Apple and Pixar) is the one I look up to. He really thinks out of the box.

Gail de la Cruz Villanueva: Good design goes beyond being considered as just “bells and whistles of a blog.” I see it as your blog’s presentation of its personality to the public. Basically, it’s a visual representation of what your blog is about and what you stand for. If your purpose is to take out all graphics in order to really focus on the content and just have the “text on white background” blog design, it can still be considered good design. In that example, your purpose is to be read. If your design does exactly that, then the design is good.

The Ironwulf : a good blog mainly has a good repeat-visitor value. It’s content, whether it’s good writing, or impressive photos or combination of both draws in readers again and again. A good blogger also has that unique personality and the passion that sets his or her site stand out from the rest. It’s a pretty subjective thing really but when I visit a blog for the first time and say to myself, “Wow! Why haven’t I stumbled here before?” and put it on my bookmarks, that a good blog for me.

Marketmanila: I have learned a phenomenal amount from my readers and have personally pushed myself further food wise than I could have ever imagined. Readers not only correct my posts when I am wrong or have minor errors, but more importantly, they provide valuable new information about how a dish is prepared in their province, town or home. They introduce me to new ingredients and methods of preparing a dish. They give interesting suggestions, ask good questions and often know much more about a topic than I will ever learn… I also feel like I am becoming a part of their day…how bizarre is that???

The Man Blog : We have gotten a whopping ONE email with a boobie pic. We wouldn’t mind getting more.

Jayvee Fernandez : Honor your NDA (note: Non Disclosure Agreement). Just like journalists who are privy to certain types of information, it would be prudent to know when to keep your mouth shut about sensitive issues. Blogging can be a career, but it shouldn’t be obsessed over. If you make a mistake publishing confidential info, be humble enough to apologize and do what is proper.

Nostalgia Manila : Why is it that many kids today seem to be ashamed of things past, calling it “baduy” or “laos”? Our colorful history has sadly seen been labled as novelty and often made fun of, all because it has been misrepresented. There is nothing “baduy” about history. But most importantly, one has to know that a rich culture will never go out of style to anyone who has simple worldly standards. Many people today don’t realize that most of the things they identify as “cool”, have attributes taken from, or inspired by things of the past.I would love for the younger generation of today to learn from the site, ang get re-acquainted with a rich cultural past. It is a rich history that should be preserved and respected.

Spanky Enriquez : (A great food blog should consist of…. ) literate writing that makes your mouth water, pictures that arouse the senses, and it should be reflective of a true foodie’s quest for new tastes and sensations.

Ade Magnaye : You see, I’ve been spoiled by my readers. I got used to my blog being visited by a deluge of visitors (mostly for the search term “retard porn”. No, seriously.) and getting a load of comments in a post or two, so seeing that I don’t have a comment for that awesome entry I just posted is a big blow to my ego. Sometimes I call in sick because nobody comments on my blog.

Rico Mossesgeld : Young bloggers like me are finding out how satisfying expression with words can be. They’re also discovering that the keyboard can keep up with their fast, limited attention span minds, unlike paper and pen.

Sasha Manuel: (on blogging etiquette) Simply to treat all bloggers pros, amateurs and even lurkers with the same courtesy. For me, blogging is like an on-going conversation on topics I’ve started (my blogs) and other people’s (blogs that I visit). I warmly welcome visitors and politely extend my gratitude to the ones who’ve done the same for me.

Jun Asis: For every article I write, my goal is that the reader should come away with an idea, realization or information; some learning or appreciation of the good; that he or she becomes a more positive and improved person no matter how slight.

Wysgal : As a general rule, bloggers aren’t paid to write what they do. So you know that when they say they really love or dislike something they really mean it and aren’t being fed press releases by a public relations firm. I also like the interactivity that takes place between writer and readers in the comments page following each post.

(To be continued…. this is taking longer than I thought 😛 )