The Top 10 Emerging Influential Blogs Of 2010

.:My Top 10 Emerging Influential Blogs For 2010:.

It’s that time once again when my favourite writing project comes around. The Top 10 Emerging Influential Blogs has been an annual tradition for myself that I have kept up with, mainly because I like keeping an eye on key blogs who are making waves in the circles.

This year, this special project is made possible by: Events and Corporate Video, Budget hotel in Makati, Pinoy Party Food, Copyediting Services, PR Agency Philippines, Budget Travel Philippines, Send Gifts to the Philippines, Black Friday Deals, Roomrent - units for rent, Search Profile Index, and Corporate Events Organizer.


As an employee of Nuffnang, it’s definitely my job to keep an eye on these bloggers, and I have to say that it was rather difficult to come up with only ten blogs for me to wholeheartedly recommend, but here’s the list, for your perusal. I’m doing this in a countdown format, in terms of how I personally rank these blogs, although their order has no bearing whatsoever on the final tally for the project.

Ultimately, they are influential not because of their Alexa Ranking or their Pagerank, but simply because of their ability to penetrate the consciousness of the people who read their blogs. It doesn't matter if a billion people read your blog if nobody reading your blog agrees with you. These blogs do not just find an agreeable audience cooperating with them each step of the way, but an audience whose choices, lifestyles, even humor and way of thinking, are influenced by each of these ten very influential blogs.

Furthermore, you can check out my picks in 2008 and in 2009, if you’re so inclined.

10. Yesnomeh.com: The He Said, She Said Of Reviews

Having a sweet match-made-in-heaven couple form a tandem blog meant to review movies and other similar topics is a novel concept, and Yesnomeh manages to pull this off very well. I like the contrasting writing styles, and the amusing byplay between the two writers, and being personally acquainted with them, I can practically imagine them talking with each other as they write their entries, bickering playfully and bantering gamely with each other.

It's really hard to go wrong with this site. They know what they're talking about, and the way they play off of each other just feels so... natural. If more couples interacted like these two do, what a better world this would be!

9. Project 52 Weeks: Even More Ambitious Than A Project 365:.

I have a Project 365 in my blog that tackles topics involving magic on a daily basis, but even my daily output cannot compare to the rigors of making one short film a week. My good friend, Mica, was up to the challenge.

Mica is an amazing blogger as is, but now, she turns her attention to the world of short films in a very ambitious blog. Project 52 Weeks is full of surprises, as Mica’s directorial vision knows no boundaries and isn’t saddled by any restrictions. With 52 quality short films bound to come out of this project, you can be sure that some screenwriters will take notice of this body of work.

Mica: today a name, tomorrow a directorial legend? Let’s hope so.

8. Kikay Runner: Faster Than A Speeding Bullet

Noelle De Guzman is a TV host, a model, a brilliant woman, and well-known as the The Kikay Runner. As a lady who frequently does well in running competitions, her advice, her thoughts, and her rants and raves are worth listening to for anyone who’s remotely interested in running: or getting to know one of the most eligible bachelorettes in the blogosphere today.

I do believe that when you look at someone as stunning as Noelle, and she's telling you that running has kept her as fit as she is, then you're bound to pay attention.

7. Slumberdoll: Within The Woman Behind The Lens Lies Sheer Awesomeness

Tricia Gosingtian, better known as Slumberdoll online, is a known photographer and model who has certainly made a name for herself in the industry already. She has inspired a lot of new photographers, and has often been confused for a cosplayer with her pretty looks and amazing fashion sense.

I think this blog is influential simply because she has a rabid following wherever she goes, and when it comes to dictating trends in her wide sphere of influence, it’s hard not to listen to someone like her, as her opinions in the world of fashion and photography certainly carry a lot of weight, thanks to her very stellar resume.

6. When In Manila: The Daily Show, Except Not Daily

As a huge fan of The Daily Show on Comedy Central, Vince Golangco’s unique approach to fake news has proven to be very entertaining to watch on a regular basis on the site known as When In Manila. Admittedly, this isn’t the only content you can find in the website, but from the humor to the sheer clout Vince Golangco has achieved over time because of his efforts, this website has definitely influenced a lot of people and given online Filipinos a chance to appreciate Jon Stewart’s stylings in a more contemporary and relevant setting.

Vince Golangco's blog is funny, off-the-wall, and bound to give birth to a host of other Filipino blogs willing to follow the trend of fake news catered to a more intellectual audience online.

.5. Pakshet: Totally Unpredictable

Judd Sta. Maria is also an employee of Nuffnang, but what makes him deserve a spot in this list is not his association with me as a colleague, but the sheer strength of one of his entries on his Tumblr, Pakshet.

In one particularly entry, he traced Chuck Norris and Manny Villar having a debate with each other, and Manny Villar promptly winning when he asked Chuck Norris kung nakaligo na ba siya sa dagat ng basura. This particular comic strip gained memetic notoriety and really put Villar to the forefront in the online arena, for all the good and bad things that caused.

Furthermore, it was also in this blog where Mr. Sta. Maria first broke exclusive photos of the unfortunate car explosion that happened in Serendra last year. He was the first on the scene, and managed to catch very vivid images of this event, that resulted in him being featured on television, proving the nagging suspicion we had that whenever trouble is around, you can be sure that Judd will be around, too.

4. Crissey: Cute, Smart, Definitely Influential

She may not be on FHM’s 100 Sexiest Women, but Crissey Si has legions of fans because of her very cute and childlike demeanor, backed by a very intelligent and introspective personality that often comes to the fore at the least expected of times.

It doesn’t matter what Crissey does online: it catches on. That’s how influential this lady is, and many of her fans and friends certainly can’t help but marvel at how she constantly manages to reinvent herself at every stage. There’s no question that her blog is already influential: the only thing that remains to be found out is how much further she can broker that power online and what that would hold for her not only online, but offline as well.

3. Foodie Manila: A Fresh Spin On A Tasty Topic

Let’s face it: food blogs are a dime a dozen. Anyone who eats and likes taking pictures of their food before they eat could potentially consider themselves to already be a food blogger, and there’s nothing wrong with that, really.

However, it becomes extremely difficult for any specific food blogger to stand out with so many of them. What my colleague here at Nuffnang, Carlos Palma, has successfully done, was to take this very oft-used concept and turn it on its head by upping quality across the board.

Foodie Manila is a food blog worth checking. From mouth-watering pictures of the food, to very thoughtful, soulful, insightful writing, Carlos Palma has his audience eating out of the palm of his hand, and it’s a delight to check this blog out on a regular basis.

2. Facebuko: Wittiness, Thine Name Is Jonas Roque

This blog would’ve been my top pick if I was polled last December 31. Facebuko is a humor blog that utilizes the Facebook interface for laughs and thought-provoking commentary. It can be a parody, it can be satire, it can be straight-up comedy, but no matter what, it makes you think.

I’m a huge fan of Facebuko’s blog. I know he has gained a following almost overnight by sheer dint of the quality of his output. Many people already liken him to other popular memetic blogs that made their name over a year ago, like Good Times Manila or even Tunay Na Lalake, which only underscores how highly regarded Facebuko is as a blog that influences the psyche of those who read it.

It’s well-written, it’s funny, it’s thought-provoking, it’s unbelievably creative, and it has a massive following. What about those qualities would make you think that Facebuko is not an influential blog?

1. Good Times With Mo: The Blog That Launches 80,000 Daily Hits

It’s good to be Mo Twister. No, really.

You’re on the flagship radio program of the flagship radio station of Radio Partners. You have showbiz friends, and you get to hang out with them all the time. You’re rumoured to be dating Rhian Ramos. You’re rich, you have women throwing themselves all over you, and you don’t even have to be the one raising your own kid, since the kid lives in the States.

And now, you even have a blog that generates a whopping 80,000 hits a day.

There is no question at all that if there is only one influential person in this entire list, then it would be Mo Twister. Here is a man who has made “Forbidden Questions” popular all over the country, who has given Brian Gorell a soapbox on radio, and has had almost as many controversies on a regular basis as Kris Aquino. This is a man whose listeners hold onto every word he says.

He has exerted influence not only in terms of hard numbers, but even with a solid few who are fanatical about all things Mo Twister. This man probably gave tons of precedent by which the KBP operates now, with his straight-from-the-hip commentary, rivaled on FM radio only by his contemporary on 99.5, King DJ Logan.

That his blog was simply more of the same comes as no surprise at all. He plugs his blog on air, and you will notice that every single time his show goes on commercial break, his listeners promptly check his blog out to see what's going on between commercials. That's how hooked his listeners are, and for that, he is, in my view, the emerging influential blog of 2010.

The Influential Bloggers Night Aftermath...

.:Stunning:.

The results came in, and pretty much, only one of my ten picks made it through. I was genuinely surprised Good Times Manila and Tunay Na Lalake didn't make the cut, but I have no doubt that the other blogs that did get through certainly deserved the accolades they received last night. Here they all are...

1. Writing to Exhale
2. Patay Gutom
3. The Struggling Blogger
4. Zorlone
5. Father Blogger dot Com
6. Kelvinonian Ideas 2.0
7. Tales from the Mom Side
8. Adaphobic
9. Lakwatsero
10. Let's Go Sago!

I'd also like to say "hi" to one of the new people I met, Frustrated Sosyalera. You rawk!

My Picks For The Top 10 Emerging Influential Blogs Of 2009

.:My Picks For The Ten Emerging Influential Blogs Of 2009...:.

This is the highly anticipated writing project from Ms. Janette Toral. =P

It’s that time of the year again, where we get to see what blogs are slowly cropping up and here are some of the blogs that caught my eye thus far. When it comes to being “influential”, in spite of the necessity of a subjective interpretation of the word, few can disagree that these blogs I will mention are indeed very influential, especially in the Philippine blogosphere. Whether it’s a refreshing point of view on what people assumed to be a tired old topic, or a blog with memetic value, or a blog by someone who has always been known as influential even before she got into blogging, all of these blogs are worthy of looking at, and deserve to be given the spotlight.

Before I begin, I'd like to run down a short list of blogs I didn't even realize were in contention, but should also be worthy of consideration for all of you. The fact that I have to make a list of honorary mentions should give you the hint that indeed, this was quite a watershed of a year for emerging influential blogs.

As such, I'd like to acknowledge Let's Go Sago (To me, the most creatively-named food and travel blog ever.), Adaphobic (One of the quirkiest blogs I've ever come across, in a good way.), Animetric (Animetric has been around for years, but this new blog takes her to a whole new level, to say the least.),and Flaircandy (There are no words to express my disappointment when I published this post and realized Hannah was supposed to be eligible.), all of which I inadvertently left out of the list mainly because I assumed they've been longtime bloggers already.

In the tradition of my top 2 pick for this year, I will do this in countdown format, albeit one should take the “rankings” I give here with a grain of salt. This is merely the point of view of one person, after all.

10. Patay-Gutom – Not to be confused with the infamous “fifth type of bloggers”, which actually predates the blog itself (I should know, since I coined the term.), Patay Gutom is a food blog that has all its bases covered. This is an ensemble cast of excellent writers who know how to talk about food in a unique and refreshing way. That they are associated with a mild controversy (that is connected to them in name and in name alone) only further cements their ability to influence people.

9. The Singing Blogger - I am, without a doubt, a fan of this guy’s musical stylings. As a frustrated singer whose infamous “tough hits” continue to pollute YouTube, this guy is an excellent counterpoint to my terrible covers. If you wanna feel good about your own singing talents, check my covers out. If you want to hear good singing, check this guy’s blog out. Why nobody has decided to devote a blog to singing in the Philippines the way he has until now is beyond me. Expect copycats to spring up over time, then.

8. Wardropedia - My good friend Domz is one of the most fashionable people I know, so when I found out she was starting a fashion blog, I was more than happy with the news. This is my “dark horse pick” for this year. Maybe it doesn’t seem so influential at the moment, but give it a year, and Domz will go places with this blog. I have full confidence in it.

7. Video Chops - This is the new blog by Mr. Coy Caballes, aka Cokskiblue, and it’s a useful resource for anyone who wants to be a videoblogger. Coy is the master of reinventing himself, and is certainly someone to look out for year after year after year.

6. The Bebigerls – Controversial as these girls may be, it’s no mean feat to find yourself being a topic of many people, podcasts, and fellow blogs. Love them or hate them, the Bebigerls have certainly influenced many bloggers. The infamous “devil bloggers” have haters and defenders alike, and let’s face it: you don’t have to write in perfect English, you don’t have to be exceptionally profound, and you don’t even have to be remotely smart to become “influential”. Then again, seeing how they have parlayed their infamy into various fruitful endeavours, perhaps we are all merely underestimating what the Bebigerls truly are capable of. Will they shock us to a point of "rudiness"? Only time can tell.

5. New Media Philipiines – Carlo Ople is a guy who is in tune with the pulse of the changing times. His blog covers various topics involving the rapidly developing world of the internet and new media, and it’s safe to say that this blog, as new as it is, has influenced a lot of Philippine bloggers. Whether it’s seeing satires or parodies of his polarizing but moving post about the four (or five) types of bloggers, or the amount of thought he puts into every post, you know that this blog is indeed, “influential”

4. Good Times Manila – DJ, whoever he is, has got to be one of the funniest people you will ever find online. His fake news blog, Good Times Manila, is testament to how creative he really is, as he seems to never run out of timely topics to poke fun at, although one has to pity Marian Rivera, considering how often she’s targeted by DJ. Regardless, this is a funny site with a rabid following, and one need only look at the staggering number of comments he gets per post to understand why this blog is worthy of inclusion in this list.

3. Hearty’s Heaven - Achie Rochelle is, needless to say, made of win. With her unique spin on the food and urban travel blog, her zest for life, and the fact that she is, without a doubt, one of the prettiest faces you will ever meet, there’s very little mystery to her allure. Except maybe for one thing: despite the facade of being an “it” girl, how can someone seemingly so involved in the dealings of alta sociedad be in reality so socially aware? Well, that’s my achie!

2. Delamar – Delamar of RX 93.1 is, without a doubt, an influential person, and I don’t mean that merely on a personal level. Not only has she inspired a new generation of DJ’s (yours truly included), she has also influenced a whole generation of people to have their armpits lasered. That aside, Delle may have taken a year to catch on from when her co-host, Chico has started blogging, but there’s nothing second-rate about Delamar’s blog. When you have thousands of listeners hanging on to every word you say, and now, write, you have every right to be called “influential”.

1. Hay Men! Ang Blog Ng Mga Tunay Na Lalake – This blog pretty much encapsulates what it means to be “influential”: memetic, catchy, the father of many spinoff blogs who don’t quite capture its magic, and even making its way into daily lingo, the TNL blog just burst onto the scene without any warning, and gives us a slice of good old crude but effective Filipino humor. There’s no question that this is an easy top pick to make, when you can crack a TNL joke in a cosplay competition and get people to react in recognition.

This writing project is made possible by our SPONSORS:

This writing project will not be possible without the support of sponsors such as Absolute Traders, My Brute Cheats, Business Summaries, Fitness Advantage Club, Events and Corporate Video, Events at Work, Dominguez Marketing Communications, Red Mobile, Budget hotel in Makati, Lucio C. Tan Group of Companies, and Blog4Reviews.com.