Philippine Daily Inquirer reports:

(DSWD Sec.) Cabral asked the NBI last year to investigate the identity of the blogger after reading a blog entry entitled “Aanhin pa ang damo kung patay na ang kabayo (What good is help that comes if it is too late),” posted on ‘Blog ni Ella’ on Oct. 21, 2009.

The former social welfare secretary claimed the blog entry contained “malicious imputations against her, the Department of Social Welfare and Development, and its employees.”

“The article alluded that she and the DSWD employees are corrupt, having diverted donated goods for personal gain at the expense of the typhoon victims and downright incompetent,” the NBI said in its referral.

A few things:

- I saw the blog during its height. There’s nothing libelous about it. The blogger stood with nothing to gain — other than the unsolicited fame the blog resulted from. If there was anything Ella was about during that time, she was sincerely bothered by the fact that people were hungry and homeless and without clothes and the government doesn’t seem to care.

- Sec. Cabral has an onion skin. As the saying goes, “If you can’t stand the heat, get out of the kitchen”

- This sends a chilling effect on bloggers. Blogging — and social networks — as we now know, is the future of media. It may not be as formal as the print or even TV, but I will argue that it’s the fastest and even more accurate source of information nowadays. Just take a look, for instance, on this report from PDI. It says, “It also checked with the hosting company of the domain name www.ellaganda.com and found out that the hosting contract with “Ella Rose delos Santos” or “Ellaganda” has been terminated since December 2008″ Duh? If it was “terminated” since Dec. 2008, why has www.ellaganda.com able to post the alleged libelous blog last Oct. 2009? So who has the accurate information now?

As a blogger, I feel for her. Do you think freedom of speech can still be exercised in this country — even in a free platform such as blogging?

Bloggers, unite! Make some noise. Defend your rights.

Now, more than ever, we need to shake things up.

Now, more than ever, we need a different way of thinking, a useful way to focus and the energy to turn the game around. I hope a new ebook I’ve organized will get you started on that path. It took months, but I think you’ll find it worth the effort. (Downloadhere).

Here are more than seventy big thinkers, each sharing an idea for you to think about as we head into the new year. From bestselling author Elizabeth Gilbert to brilliant tech thinker Kevin Kelly, from publisher Tim O’Reilly to radio host Dave Ramsey, there are some important people riffing about important ideas here. The ebook includes Tom Peters, Jackie Huba and Jason Fried, along with Gina Trapani, Bill Taylor and Alan Webber.

And, also, let me just say, too, that while is really cool to download that video, in the long run it won’t help you. I know that, because I’m a man myself. I know how our minds work. The images will play in our heads and it will mess you up.

I know people are angry at Hayden Kho for this stupid thing that he did. You can show your anger by not downloading the video of this freak.

Ako Mismo… hindi i-dadownload ang sex video nila Katrina Halili at Hayden Kho.

Looks like I’m going to go back to Friendster blogs and make use of the Friendster “juice”. :D

Christine a.k.a. happyslip is popular for her humorous videos depicting mostly of her Filipino family heritage. I’m a fan, the lady is down -to-earth funny. For the first time, though, she cries on video.� Guess being home is overwhelming, eh.

She’ll be traveling across the archipelago with the Department of Tourism. I just think that this is the wittiest promotional activity that the government has done so far. Imagine millions of YouTube viewers across the globe (translation: potential tourists) watching her as she tours around the wonderful tourist destinations.

Click here to listen to the podcast.

Be a “purple cow”, part 1 (of 4)

Be a “purple cow”, part 2 (of 4): In your work place

Be a “purple cow”, part 3 (of 4): In your family

Be a “purple cow”, part 4 (of 4): In your relationship with God

- Jaen Chronicles, part 1: What I wanted to tell my dad on his birthday (but failed to, again)…

- Jaen Chronicles, part 2: Isn’t she lovely

- Jaen Chronicles, part 3: The power of vision

- Jaen Chronicles, part 4: Johann and his goat

* What is a blog?
* Why consider blogging
* Blogging tips
* Building a blog audience
* Blogging styles

For starters, here are the top 3 free blogging platforms.

WordPress
Blogger
Typepad

If you want more flexibility and total control of the look and feel of your blog, you can consider getting a web host (normally costs $10/mo.) and install WordPress (most dynamic, easiest to install and use, IMO).

Any other additional tips for our non-blogger friends?

* Steve Murrell shares a great analogy on how understanding your sinfulness affects the way you respond to God’s grace.

* I thought we should put Jesus first in our lives? Steven Furtick says, no. We should put Jesus on the center of our life instead.

* Perry Noble‘s New Spring Church launched a new website called ParentsAreClueless.com to coincide with their new series on parenting. If you are a parent, you’ll agree with me that we are clueless most of the times, don’t we?

* I’ve started a Pinoy Paypal users group. If you are a Paypal user or plan to use it in the future, join us as we try to shoot down possible problems that we can encounter.