Having witnessed progressive movements in the Philippine blogosphere, and having gone through challenges facing bloggers across the country, a few bloggers began talking about forming a bloggers’ association last year. Tonyo Cruz and I, in particular, spoke about this around middle of 2010. It was shortly after I’d arrived from an international conference where bloggers had a very powerful voice — a United Nations multi-stakeholder forum on Internet governance held in Vilnius, Lithuania last September. I told him about the European and Asian bloggers I’d met there and how their convictions ran true and deep. Tonyo remarked that Filipino bloggers were just as active, vocal and passionate about their chosen fields as those foreign bloggers were. After all, there do now exist vibrant bloggers’ communities in the country today.
The first time I met Tonyo in person was at a Hong Kong conference in November 2009. He and I were both speakers at the first BlogFest.Asia event. Juned Sonido was there as well. We all saw how organized they were in Hong Kong, and how refreshingly inclusive. Even high school and university students were actively involved and were given their own voice. There were bloggers’ groups from Thailand and Vietnam as well — and they were impressed by how Filipinos have brought blogging and social media to a high level of participation in social, economic and political issues.
Aside from what I’d learned from being part of BlogFest and other international events last year, I’ve also come to appreciate one underlying — and overarching — truth: that community is essential. This is why I believe that a national bloggers association is a move towards the right direction.
It is curious how some bloggers have been reacting negatively towards the move, especially when they are expressing fears of censorship or curtailment of free expression. Case in point: this question posted by Jonas delos Reyes, “Do you think there is a need to have a national bloggers’ association in the Philippines? Why?”, elicited some rather unexpected replies. I must admit I was caught off guard by some of the answers.
If I’m to be part of this national organization of bloggers, the one thing I would vigorously champion would be freedom of expression. If those who’re against the formation of the association are concerned about its perceived effects on their freedom as bloggers, I can speak for Tonyo Cruz and for those who support us in this move, that their concerns are not necessary. Valid, of course, but unfounded.
It is healthy, though, that discussions on this issue are very much alive. It is good, too, that some bloggers have raised some red flags, such as about a tendency of these associations to become vehicles for self-promotion by a few, or about the dangers of corruption or of dirty politicking, and other real-world concerns. Most of us have probably seen these and other organizational pitfalls before, so I’d like to presume that, should a national bloggers association be instituted, measures and safeguards would be put in place in order to avoid them.
One other salient point was raised: ‘no national organization can represent bloggers.’ I am of two minds on this score. In a way I agree, and I don’t think it should. I mean, non-aligned bloggers would be just as much a “Filipino blogger” as association members would be. In other words, the association should not be mandatory; nor should it be an exclusive club. It must always respect the individuality of bloggers, and would be in no position to impose anything upon bloggers beyond socially-accepted norms (e.g., rules against plagiarism). It must not be elitist. Rather, it should be an association that upholds, and thrives on, diversity and mutual respect. Communities, after all, are seldom homogeneous in composition.
On the other hand, I disagree that no national organization could represent bloggers, because there is, in my honest opinion, already a need for one. Janette Toral has put together a FAQ page, and she has also raised the question, “Are you in favor of a National Bloggers Association?”, as early as January this year.
My answer: Yes, because I would like there to be an entity that would be able to stand in behalf of bloggers in times of necessity. Someone raised a thoughtful analogy, that the association could be formed along the lines of the ACLU — American Civil Liberties Union. To quote their website, they are a “national organization advocating individual rights, by litigating, legislating, and educating the public on a broad array of issues affecting individuals…”.
When organized entities (corporations, the government, other organizations) need to address Filipino bloggers as a whole, with whom would they communicate? If bloggers who are minding their own business unwittingly commit some form of felony or misdemeanor, for instance, where could they turn to for expert assistance, legal advice, rapport? What body could undertake research for and in behalf of Filipino bloggers and curate this knowledge effectively and equitably, if not an association of Filipino bloggers on a nationwide scale?
What’s my personal interest in this? Well, for one, I’d like to see a subset of association members become honest-to-goodness citizen journalists, and a bloggers’ association could become fertile ground for such a development. And, I’d like to be part of an organization that could be the platform for dialogue and for action — for that to happen, it would have to be national in character. A national association of bloggers in the Philippines has the potential to become a catalyst for real political and social change.
Now, before I’m misquoted, I want to emphasize that I will not be amenable to the association ever becoming a party list. When I say “political”, I mean participatory in the political process (like blogging about politics) but from outside of government.
Tonyo is set to meet face-to-face with bloggers in Luzon, the Visayas and Mindanao, and to electronically confer with members of the OFW blogging community. He has taken it upon himself to do these consultations, for which he started planning early this year. From the beginning, it has been clear that there ought to be nationwide representation — and how that is to be achieved is very much open to further deliberation.
This is my take on the issue. What’s yours?
6 March 2011 • 6:26 pm
Hi Blogie, I’m in agreement with you and Tonyo in saying that there’s wisdom in setting up an organized effort in addressing issues that confront the blogging community.
However, I’m of the view that the association should be our own equivalent of the Electronic Frontier Foundation, instead of the ACLU, because the former has been founded to protect digital rights, conduct research about the interaction of civil liberties and technologies among others.
6 March 2011 • 7:23 pm
Ah yes, I agree, the EFF could be a good model for our association. I was able to meet with some of their key people in Europe last year — I’m sure it would be possible for us to approach them for some outside guidance. And while we’re at it, we could even approach other entities such as APC as well.
Thank you for your thoughts, Jhay!
6 March 2011 • 7:32 pm
Actually I’m convinced that association should be modeled after the EFF and serve Filipino internet users instead of just focusing on bloggers, because some of the issues mentioned in the manifesto created by Tonyo Cruz are not affecting just bloggers.
Like the EFF, the association would advocate digital rights, serving Filipino internet users, not just bloggers, in addressing the issues that confront them. And the EFF does this without needing or claiming to represent bloggers and other netizens.
6 March 2011 • 7:39 pm
You might have noticed that I’m active in advocacies involving the Internet. Tonyo as well (in even greater degree). But, there have already been concerns raised against making the association “too politicized”. Fact is, not all bloggers are concerned about the advocacies that some of us may be carrying. So, for the association to work and for it to be representative and inclusive, I don’t think it would be a good idea to ram our advocacies down anybody’s throats, so to speak.
My suggestion is for us to recognize common grounds first. When the association is finally established, that’s when we specialize — there’s nothing wrong with an organization having ‘departments’, right?
7 March 2011 • 12:57 am
Here’s my take on the issue: http://sesantos.com.ph/2011/03/07/my-take-on-the-bloggers-association/
7 March 2011 • 2:19 am
Thanks for that, Sonnie. It’s a very insightful piece.
9 March 2011 • 7:02 am
manolo once mentioned that there does exist the PCLU — dunno if it is still extant/ active, however. that said, i’m guessing what you really mean is something like the Electronic Frontier Foundation (http://www.eff.org/)? i met a few people in the congressional hearing on broadband information who were making moves to start one up in that direction (but i don’t know how far they’ve gone).
9 March 2011 • 5:25 pm
Hey, Jester! Yeah, I got a similar comment earlier about the EFF. That’s why I considered that in my follow-up article here. Thanks for your thoughts!
9 March 2011 • 11:47 pm
i can concede that the idea may have some merit. i don’t know if it’s obvious to you but there seems to be a white elephant in the room that no one wants to acknowledge. so allow me to point it out. the problem with the current push for a bloggers’ association is the credibility of those doing the pushing. these people are known as marketers and it’s quite difficult to accept that they are pushing for this for purely altruistic reasons.
because of ms. toral’s involvement, some people like myself can’t help but recall the subterfuge involved in that nonsensical influential bloggers award gimmick. in many ways, that fakery is rubbing off on this initiative.
10 March 2011 • 12:32 pm
Obviously, you don’t really care either way about the proposed association. You’re simply out on a crusade against Janette. It’s not even Janette who initiated the call for a national organization of bloggers. But, she has supported it from the start — without any move to grab positions of authority at all.
It’s unfortunate how some people hide behind anonymity to lambast people like Janette Toral, who has shown nothing but openness and the willingness to take part in worthy initiatives. Yes, she’s a marketer. Has she ever concealed that fact? Ever since I met her, she has been an indefatigable promoter of Internet-based business, not only for herself but for others. I have met few like her, a person who is honest and generous of her time and energy.
Is Janette supporting the move to create a nationwide bloggers’ association because she feels she’s going to benefit from it? I would think so! Who doesn’t? But, as far as I know her, she believes others will benefit as well and that’s why she’s backing the effort.
I doubt very much that you know Janette personally. If you did, you wouldn’t be spewing off such irresponsible comments.
10 March 2011 • 3:11 pm
fair enough. sige let’s have this association and let’s see if i’m wrong in my suspicion that some people will just use this to advance their own agenda.
if i’ll be proven wrong then good for all of us. but if i’m right, well, then too bad.
10 March 2011 • 3:24 pm
btw, thanks for clarifying ms. toral’s non-involvement. that’s the thing, you know, the proponents of this idea should clarify their involvement and intentions so that those of us who have doubts will be enlightened. btw, i apologize for pointing out the elephant but it’s really there. most people know about it but are just way too polite not to bother pointing it out.
but moving forward, it is my suggestions that the main proponents of this initiative agree to not hold any position of authority in this if ever it does push through. that’s my suggestion.
10 March 2011 • 3:30 pm
People who join the association and use it for self-advancement or for pushing their own agenda are to be expected. Nothing wrong with that unless other members object. And if it does happen, that’s not the fault of the association or a flaw in its objectives. The question is, how will the association handle such people? That’s up to the founding members to figure out.
Your suggestion that the main proponents not hold any position in the association is noted. There is some sense in it, but I have a sinking feeling it is meant maliciously, and meant to single out specific people like Janette Toral.
10 March 2011 • 3:59 pm
not at all. my suggestions simply makes sense and i’m sure you’d agree that now is the perfect time to come out with such a commitment not to hold any position. it’s for the good of the initiative.
and just so we’re on the same page, no, it’s not specifically meant for ms. toral. not at all. i’m as sincere and candid as anyone.
10 March 2011 • 2:56 pm
I agree with this but I still have my worries. I know this is beneficial for bloggers but I just do hope that the association will never regulate the freedom to write, the content of the blogs, and no fees and bureaucratic mechanisms involved.
10 March 2011 • 3:21 pm
Hi, bingkaycoy. Let me just blow off some steam ha? Here goes…
Really, it escapes me why some people would think that an association in our democratic nation would suppress free expression. Saan ba tayo nakarining ng ganyan dito sa ‘Pinas? Asosasyon ng mga doktor, ng mga manunulat, atbp. – alin sa kanila ang inakusahan nang ganito??
Freedom of expression is a basic human right, upheld by democracies and by our country most especially. In Asia, we enjoy one of the highest levels of civil liberties.
Ok, I’m good. :)
The fees and bureaucracy, unfortunately, are a package deal with organizations. It will need to collect membership fees in order to cover expenses. And “bureaucracy” need not be a negative thing, if managed properly and if checks and balances are put in place (and they should be). If you’d like to have a say in how the organization should be run, I suggest you participate actively in the disussions and in the ensuing organizational meetings (online or offline).
I hope mapanatag na ang loob mo tungkol sa pinaplanong association.
10 March 2011 • 4:10 pm
now that you mentioned it, associations for doctors and other professionals basically require membership as far as i know. i suppose that will not be the case for this proposed bloggers’ association.
now if that will be the case (membership not required of all bloggers) then i’m afraid the association might just end up like a clique or faction. it’s just a possibility not a certainty. anyway, just trying to add to the discussion in the hopes of a refinement of the proposal if not it’s outright dismissal.
11 March 2011 • 2:37 pm
I am really for it….pero sa kadami kong nabasang blog posts about their opposition because they don’t want anyone or any organization to meddle with their freedom to write or the content of their blogs, parang ako rin na-impluwensyahan na baka nga ganun ang mangyari.
Now that you explained it much further …I am really for it.
I am a victim of libel (buti na lang she deleted the post when my lawyer and I threatened her that we will sue her knowing that she does not have the money, to remove the posts or else we will pursue our charges against her) and it took me a long time to come up with a decision because I don’t know where to go for advice and support.
When I read about it, I am aware of the beneficial contributions of being a member of an association such as this. Of course, I used my mind in my decision where to take sides but the constant assertions of other bloggers who oppose this idea were too strong not to consider.
Anyway , kanus-a man tung bloggers event sa DAvao? I’m so excited to join.
11 March 2011 • 4:25 pm
Thanks for your expression of support!
(Wala pa ko ka-concentrate sa event eh… so many things happening man gud. But don’t worry, it’ll happen. Kanus-a diay ka molarga? I-msg lang ko sa Facebook ha?)
18 March 2011 • 6:29 am
Blogie, look forward seeing you soon. :) Thank you.
18 March 2011 • 10:34 pm
You too, Janette! :)
18 April 2011 • 5:30 pm
I am for a national association of bloggers, pra ma guguide rin yung mga baguhan na mga bloggers at dun s mga bloggers na limited ang knowledge about freedom of expression and rules about proper journalism, yung mga things na tinuturo sa mga journalists.