Cebu bloggers hold Social Media Day

THE Cebu Bloggers Society Inc. (CBSi) successfully organized their first Social Media Day in Cebu on June 30.

The event at Mactan Isla Resort and Spa coincided with Mashable’s third annual Social Media Day and CBSi’s first monthly meeting following its general assembly and election of officers in May.

Four speakers shared their expertise with the Cebu-based bloggers.

Orville Tadle, country representative for Elance and an active CBSi member, provided tips on freelancing opportunities.

Laureen Jean Mondonedo, content editor of Sun.Star Network Exchange, shared the importance of observing proper ethics online and in the field.

Max Limpag, Sun.Star Cebu business editor and InnoPub Media co-founder, highlighted the importance of writing in blogging, encouraging bloggers to “write for people and not for algorithms because social networks are networks of people, not machines.”

Fleire Castro, Third Team Media founder and current Social Media chairperson, shared tips on how bloggers can increase their online influence through social media networks.

Hosted and moderated by lawyer-blogger Ethelbert Ouano, the interactive forum provided an inputs from experienced speakers and Ouano’s legal insights.

Twenty-eight bloggers attended the event. Other groups from the social media community also joined the event, including Cebu Blog Camp, Fashion Bloggers Group, and I Luv Cebu.

“The turnout was positive and interactive, and we achieved our goal of making Social Media Day-Cebu a day of fun, learning, creating new friends, and sharing stories about blogging and social media,” said CBSi president Ruben Licera.

He also shared the year-long plans of CBSi, including opening its membership to non-bloggers through a program called Junior Bloggers—a mentorship program for budding bloggers with senior members of the organization.

“We are also looking at providing our members regular trainings, events-based opportunities for them to practice their craft, networking and linkages with possible investors, partners, and mentors, and social media responsibility activities through which bloggers can advance their individual advocacies,” Licera explained.

For more information about CBSi, visit www.cebubloggers.com.