During the recently-concluded 1st Mindanao Bloggers Summit, I was asked several times for a copy of my welcome remarks, so I thought I’d share it with everyone here.
(I would’ve posted this earlier, but I had to take a day off after the Summit — while it was exhilaratingly successful, the day after, I suddenly felt all the tension that had been building up. Still, I am very happy!)
Madayaw na timprano kamayo hurot. Maayong buntag kaninyong tanan. Magandang umaga po sa kanilang lahat. Good morning, everybody.
Whatever language it is that each of us speaks… Whatever religion or beliefs we profess… Whatever background we come from… Whatever nationality we hold… We are all here together as one. We have gathered here at this bloggers’ summit for a noble purpose, and that is to lift up our beloved Mindanao.
As bloggers, we are in possession of a potentially influential medium, and it is that ability that we can harness in order to impress upon the world that Mindanao is in fact a beautiful place. We know that ourselves. We know that we are of diverse, and yet somehow harmonious, cultures. We have in our midst different but fascinating traditions. We are all aware of the splendor and richness of Mindanao. But the rest of the world doesn’t know that. Even our fellow Filipinos in Luzon and the Visayas are blind to the reality of our island (present company excluded, of course).
Our blogs can be the agents of change. Through our collective voices, we will be able to effect certain improvements. By letting our blogs’ readers see our everyday lives, our work, our involvements, our passions — which we write about — they will be given a glimpse of the true images of Mindanao. By our blogging, the negative publicity surrounding the Philippine South might soon be overcome.
Our morning sessions will be all about Mindanao. We are indeed fortunate to have with us this morning three very influential people, who have contributed much to our island’s well-being. Hopefully, after experiencing their talks, we will have gained insights and inspirations and a more holistic perception of Mindanao, and thus pass on what we have imbibed to our readers.
In the afternoon, our resource speakers will impart to us their valuable know-how and experiences in blogging. May their hard-earned expertise rub off on all of us. By becoming better bloggers in a technical sense, it could follow that we also become better advocates of a brighter Mindanao.
I would like to believe that each of us is here because we realize and appreciate the power of this tool that we hold in our hands. As with any tool, skill is necessary, to wield it effectively and masterfully. It also requires responsibility, so that we will deserve such power. Finally, a tool must have a purpose. And that is what I hope we will either discover or affirm at this Summit.
Fellow bloggers and friends, welcome to the 1st Mindanao Bloggers Summit in Davao City. In behalf of my “co-conspirators” in The Usual Suspects, I would like to enjoin each one of you to participate with all your heart and mind. I am very happy and proud to be with all of you today.
Daghang salamat.
6:47 am on 29 Oct 2007
Congratulations Blogie! Nice speech!
10:13 am on 29 Oct 2007
[...] welcome everyone was Oliver “Blogie” Robillio of Ang Dabawenyo. I hope he’ll post Here is a copy of his speech. He also introduced the keynote speech and guest speaker Councilor Peter Laviña who gave a talk on [...]
3:31 pm on 29 Oct 2007
Nice speech. I heard you organized the event. I congratulate you for such a noble endeavour.
I heard you speak during the just concluded COREL Seminar at NCCC Cinema 2. In that speech you invited us to become a blogger. I am interested.
I need more information on how to go about becoming a blogger. I would greatly appreciate it if you could email me.
Thanks. God bless.
Vic Navales
5:07 pm on 29 Oct 2007
Thanks Janette! Coming from you, that’s a huge compliment
6:59 pm on 29 Oct 2007
[...] MBS1 opening speech [...]
9:50 pm on 29 Oct 2007
Waaa! I missed your opening speech. I came at about 10:00pm but I was sort of afraid to go inside kaya ayun, 10:40 na ako naglakasloob pumasok.
11:38 pm on 29 Oct 2007
Congrats! success tlaga ang summit… i missed ur speech umuwi kc ako sandali to get some stuff but anyway, galing ng opening speech very welcoming aheheheh! tnx din for inviting us sa Pinutos, atbp & also sa Fwendz diner… it’s an honor to be with an organizer like u…
2:14 am on 30 Oct 2007
@Mikko — So you see, walang napapala sa pagiging mahiyain.
@brYce — Thanks! You’re too kind.
7:18 pm on 31 Oct 2007
waaa! i missed this speech.. thanks for sharing it.. lalo na sa mga late tulad ko.. waaaa!
6:31 pm on 19 Aug 2008
hey, i’m not adept to blogging but i’m interested. Could anyone teach me how?
the speech is inspiring!
9:30 pm on 19 Aug 2008
@jay — Thanks very much. My advice for you is, do a lot of blog-hopping to get a feel for it. Then join bloggers’ activities — being with like-minded people will do you some good.