I’m playing with the thought of having a mini-Christian bloggers’ meet-up this Friday night. I’m not an event organizer or anything like that, so I really don’t know what I’m doing. :D Nonetheless, I have a couple of reasons why I need this to happen:

1. I need to see the faces behind those avatars. Let’s admit it, we know a lot of people online, but very few know each other personally. It can be a great time to fellowship and shake the real hands, you know what I mean.

2. LifeChurch Makati, the church we’re launching in May, said we’re willing to sponsor the coffee/drinks for this event. So, that’s free Starbucks for those who’s coming. :D To be transparent about it, not only that we’re excited to meet Christian bloggers, we also what to know if you guys can help cover the event on Sunday (March 21) as we have our 2nd preview service at Glorietta 4, Cinema 4. Details during the meet-up.

So, if you’re a:

- Christian blogger, or

- Christian twitter (wow, new English term, eh!)

and if you’re available this Friday, 7 pm, we’d like to have you for this Christian Blogger mini-meetup. That’ll be held at Starbucks Glorietta 4. Please confirm your attendance here. If I’ll have even just 4 bloggers to sign up, we’ll proceed. If you have questions, please email me at arnold[at]lifechurchmakati.com.

Thanks,

Arnold

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.

So, what are you waiting for? Ask me anything!

My goal is simple: I’d like to bring my online world and my real world together.

My youngest child is celebrating her first birthday on Saturday (Oct. 17, 2009). My wife, who’s in charge of the list, asked me who’s I’m going to bring. (She’s bringing her friends from past jobs and some college buddies). I thought, well, I have my friends from work and church going. But that’s about it.

The problem with statement is the context: you see, I’ve had these friends for years, and nothing has changed. And that’s not good. I realized that most of my interactions happen ONLINE and not off line. That makes me have 250+ Twitter friends and 500+ Facebook friends — that I almost always interact with everyday online — and about 10 people that I talk to off line (not exaggerating). Kinda pathetic, if you’ll ask me. Blame it on my job.

So, here’s what I’m thinking. I’d like to invite anyone who will be gracious enough to meet me and my family personally on Saturday at about 3 pm for my child’s birthday party. If you:

• have not met me personally yet
• … and I have been online friends for quite sometime
• have a family and a kid to bring (he’ll enjoy it!)

… I will be honored if you’ll accept my invitation to meet me and be my offline buddy, too. :)

The event is happening at the beautiful DMCI community RiverFront in Pasig. It has free WIFI (so you can tweet about the party :D ) and a swimming pool — I will be sponsoring a swim for you and your family right after the party if you like (so, bring your wet suits).

Don’t worry about bringing a gift — I would just like you to be there. I only have one room for a family (of 3, including yourself), or my wife will kill me. :D If you don’t have a family to bring, you can bring a buddy with you.

It’s going to be fun. I promise, we’ll still talk about the internet and Twitter and Facebook. :D If you’re interested in this invitation, please send me an email arnold [at] gamboa.ph or at my Twitter account: arnoldgamboa.

PS: Oh, and I’m thinking a Filipino would not assert himself. So if no body contacts me by Wednesday, I’ll contact you ;)

- an OFW allegedly posted an insensitive post on Facebook in the midst of the Ondoy tragedy. Out of anger, “she” was mugged virtually. It was just alright, I guess, if Jacqueline Bermejo is not a real person. But she is. And the issue tainted her dignity. Here’s her official statement.

- this one is on the other side of the spectrum. Mickey Arroyo, son of the president, was allegedly “caught on cam” to have been buying alcohol in the middle of the typhoon. Very insensitive they said. But he denied that that that picture was taken during that time. So, the “poor guy”, being feasted on Facebook, wants to censor the use of these social networks altogether as if we’re China or Afganistan. I’d like to see him head the censorship group and see how he accomplishes that.

- because of the tragedy, a lot has reportedly using fake “donation centers” and asking for Paypal donations. Will you believe these right away out of your genuine compassion?

The internet can either make you or break you. Be wise. Be useful.

DON’T believe everything you see on the internet. Rule no. 1.

Let’s see if this intensifies the debate. Election time is coming and we expect people to be actively involved in the discussion. And of course, take note of those controversial posts against cults and their leaders. My “Iglesia ni Cristo” post has been the most popular post in the past few weeks. I’ve got to post most on this type for extra visitor juices, eh!

Why don’t you try the plug in by posting a “Hi, this is cool!” post below?

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

Blogging — while there are different kinds, it all boils to one — it’s about me and my opinion on things.
Youtube — it’s about me and my videos.
Social networks — it’s about my profile and my how it looks when my “contacts/friends” see it.

I’ve become active at Multiply.com these days. Everyday, I check who viewed my posts. And guess what, only about 10% of my contacts do. Either I’ve become self absorbed myself as evident in my consistent tracking down of who viewed me OR everyone is self absorbed that they don’t read other people’s posts.

That’s Web 2.0, folks.

* 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?