Unwritten Contract to Hate and Destroy

When I started out as a blogger, a PR agency for one of the top telcos recruited me to write and share news and info about them. But they also encouraged me to write the negative stuff about the telcos biggest competitor. In exchange, they gave me perks like new smartphones or loads.

Though they just wanted me to share what I already have in mind... meaning my real experience, still the thought of getting hired because they wanted me to be vocal about my hate towards the other telco, kinda irked me to believe that many other brands have the same budget to do the same towards their competitors.

Instead of just promoting their edge and offering promos, some brands allocate resources to discredit their competitors. Regardless if what they expose is true or not, these brands are not really admirable. I don't need to explain why.

My unwritten contract with the brand ended when I got involved in an issue raised by erring bloggers whose greed tried to consume decency. This PR agency did not want their client's reputation to be tainted, so they stopped working with me without giving any notice. Needless to say, they just wanted me during my best times.

With the proliferation of news sites aimed to specifically campaign for certain individuals or groups, we could no longer distinguish if the news shared on our social media timeline is still true. When even journalists make mistakes, we start to doubt our capacity to discern a fake from the real credible ones. When even the supposedly credible ones are being accused of spreading fake news, we again could not help but feel frustrated of what is happening to our country.

But many would argue that they simply made the bitter coffee sweeter by adding milk, cream or sugar. But in reality, they opened up a coffee shop where they could add in all kinds of stuff in our coffee.

The real essence of coffee disappears when a big percentage goes to the other stuff.

Kahit gaano karaming good deeds tayong nagawa, haters would always point out what they perceive as our shortcomings. Gagawa pa sila ng thread exclusive for us. Then magtatawag ng kakampi, and kapag wala ng maibato dahil na-prove natin na mali accusations nila against us, hahalungkatin nila even our past issues. Ganyan sila ka-desperate to bring us down.

We are ready to face anybody who would dare talk dirty about us. We are not afraid to expose the many deplorable activities we've personally witnessed within the blogging community.

We have nothing to fear when we are on the side of truth. We are at peace with ourselves because we do not hide behind a masquerade of falsehood. Mas ginaganahan kaming magsulat whenever we are challenged.

Please Define "Top" Without Blinking

The number of views do not define a great blog. Most of the time, those figures came from click-bait and refurbished viral or trending content.

There's a site using ASEAN as part of its domain name (but is it any way involved with the association?) and is sharing news about "top" blog sites but are only basing the recognition based on the views or site traffic.

Mocha gets a lot of views on her page but it doesn't mean she is among the "top" bloggers.

Duterte had 16 million votes, but he is definitely not a "top" personality.

Miriam Defensor-Santiago was "tough" but she was totally not among the "top" senators on my list because of her intermittent behavior.

Satire and fake news sites get more views, comments, shares and likes compared to the more credible sites. The trolls gobble up everything and spreads them like an infectious disease.

Go figure why!

If we wanted to get more views, we could have exerted effort to do the same strategies. But why follow the mob, when we are already doing well just with our little numbers alone.

There are smarter people out there who do their homework and has a better definition of "top"

There are just so many who follow the same old formula just to get the much sought after views even if it means dumbing the masses with their junk content.

I'm not saying all of the blogs on the list are not worthy, but there are better blogs that deserve a higher ranking (including those already on the said list) not because of their views but because of their content.

I used to write for an online publication, and all their concern is to increase their numbers however and whatever strategies to employ just to get them.

Ang akala ko noon everyone is just busy promoting themselves, but when I got into media, that includes blogging, I found out that many are also busy destroying others, especially their competitors. Nakakahiya na yun pang top at senior ang pasimuno sa siraan. They will do everything to maintain their standing even if it means fabricating or exaggerating issues against others.

Dirty deeds never go unpunished. Karma is real!

We also know that the more significant stuff are boring compared to the showbiz or controversial issues. Still, we believe our readers deserve better content than just the hyped "entertainment" that's too crappy to be included among the top blogs in the country.

Blessed Are Those Who Play Fair

Ang akala ko noon everyone is just busy promoting themselves, but when I got into media, that includes blogging, I found out that many are also busy destroying others, especially their competitors. Nakakahiya na yun pang top at senior ang pasimuno sa siraan. They will do everything to maintain their standing even if it means fabricating or exaggerating issues against others.

If they are really outstanding, they don't need to bring down others just to uplift themselves.

As an example, I submitted a complaint against an online publication for practicing unfair competition by indirectly but deliberately forcing its clients to choose them instead of other online publications.

This arrogant online publication (itago na lang natin sa initials na WIM) sends emails to its clients saying they belong to the Top 100 of the Alexa ranking and they do not want to be co-media partners with other "low-ranking sites" and threatens to get out of the media partnership. It also requests its clients to give them a list of their other media partners before they would agree to accept the role of media partner.

Apparently, their ranking has gone to their heads. But we all know why they are on top.... simply because they put out refurbished content they get from trending or viral sources. They put out memes, controversial and exploit the other talked about issues that do not really contribute to the betterment of their readers. They just contribute to the dumbing of the masses. People go to their site to be entertained by trivial content that are fit for the garbage dump rather than for intellectual nourishment.

It is now up to this government agency if they will pursue the case against them or shrug it off as not among their priorities.

But what can we expect from a government that promotes violence rather than harmonious living? I may be expecting so much.

However, I believe dirty deeds never go unpunished. Karma is real! They will soon be enlightened ofvtheir wrongdoings. They just need to believe and realize that the opportunities for everone are plenty. There is no need to be greedy.