I rarely write down speeches but I didn't want to fumble on this one. I had no time to type it out before the ceremony because of the perennial emergency state of my life the past month- but I have been thinking of what to say to the nominated bloggers ever since I was invited to join the ceremony back in August. I must confess that I was thrilled to be asked to do it because I am a genuine fan of blogs -save for one annoying blog or two, maybe - I like them all.
I handwrote this speech outside the hall- at the parking lot actually perched on the trunk of a Vios parked by the entrance. I finished the piece with the help of ideas from many friends via SMS - (Kat Lagman, Karen Kunawicz, Lourd de Veyra, Erwin Romulo, Zach Lucero, Ron Cruz, Randy David, Philbert Dy to be exact) and naturally came up with a better speech than I had (by myself) planned. So technically, this is their speech, too. In gratitude, I decided to type the speech down and share it with you. Cadent to the spirit of the season, even this keynote address is a work of bayanihan via SMS. How can I not share it?
-------------------------- ONE BLOGGING NATIONKeynote Speech for the 2009 Phil Blog Awardsby Ms. Gang Badoy and many others from Rock Ed Philippines via SMS.What an honor and a frustration to be given ten minutes to address, perhaps (arguably) the most eloquent group of people ever gathered in 2009. But here I am, so here I go.
I cannot discuss any other 'angle on blogging' tonight except my gratitude to bloggers. During a crisis- you have kept many of us informed, during darker times - you, blogger have inspired, during births - you spread the joy and during death - many of you have rendered those who have gone before us immortal. There is no single media phenomenon that has done all those on such a level.
Ang diin ng saad ng blogger sa sugat at balat ng Inang Bayan. Your personal thoughts, observations, factual research even urgent yet seemingly trivial emotions have contributed greatly to us who read you. Imagine how wide the understanding of the next generation will be of us who have gone before them -because of your blogs.
Mas maiintindihan nila kung saan tayo nanggaling. For me the best description of one who loves his country is someone who is interested in where we came from, where we are today - and where we want the country to go. Imagine the advantage the next generation has because they have our blogs to refer to.
Bloggers may have shook mainstream journalism out of its seeming (not apparent) complacency. It has pressured people to decide faster and smarter during emergencies because bloggers, for the most part, cover the many angles of truth. From the ground. I am aware that it is not all positive - lies, panic, confusion, anger, negativity have also stemmed from blogs. Blogs have given us headaches, I know one or two that have - but one thing is for sure - I have never encountered a blog that made me more complacent. And wow- what a gift. What a gift to the country - a country that desperately needs participation, incisive thinking, swift reason, informed suggestions and countless other values.
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Whenever the subject of press freedom comes up we always used to hear 'better an abusive press than a suppressed one.' I think bloggers took that one step further. Which is why my contention is this: there may be very few networks as powerful and as influential and as crucial as a responsible, articulate, prolific blogger.
2009 made me realize that a nation is not its government. Thank God. Blogging has relieved me with the fact that the history of the Philippines is no longer solely in the hands of the textbook writer. (Thank God) A history of a nation is really the collection of stories of individual lives. Our individual lives. Yours.
You know, during this recent crisis -one typhoon then the next - I observed that politicians will be 'press-conning A" - networks will be reporting B - and bloggers will be saying C. How lucky we are to have all those views, may we have the resources and smarts to sift through all that. If we do, then we're on our way.
Though divided in opinion I am still grateful to all who blog. Unity was never my premise for us to move and to make great a nation - but unity certainly is the goal. Not the premise -- but the goal.
In my wobbly logic I will say that a country is a shared geographic space. It is the assigned square area where people live together. But a nation - wow, a nation is different; a nation is a frame of mind, a general direction, a common rhythm that a group of people share. That's a nation.
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I like the title of this year's awards. Three words that I hope to someday re-arrange. Maybe some day we can be just ONE NATION - and we just all happen to blog.
Last thought - blogging is not the ultimate verb here tonight. I know you have caught a lot of flack in the past about the seeming non-active motion bloggers take. For those who think that blogging is a minor verb, I have something to share: One cannot blog unless one goes out there. If you never got your hands dirty or walked streets, helped out, experienced heartbreak, death, birth, victory, defeat, betrayal, pain, sweat- then really- you have nothing to blog.
I think it is because you live -- and you live well -- this is why you can blog. Someday it will be said that blogging is merely the record of 'lives well-lived.' Again, for that I am grateful.
Keep on doing what you do, living the lives that you lead. If the country is lucky, you will still continue to blog and (quoting Plato) - your storytelling will be the education of our future's heroes.
Welcome to the Philippines, One Blogging Nation.
Mabuhay tayong lahat.
One cannot blog unless one goes out there. 