Last weekend, I was in Tagaytay City to attend MediaNation5.2, where there gathered the country’s top journalists and media decision-makers. In the words of the event’s organizer and host, pagbabago@pilipinas, MediaNation is the only forum in the Philippines where mainstream media organizations come together as one.

It’s a coincidence that I am actually part of Davao media (Edge Davao Business Weekly), but I was invited particularly as a representative of MindanaoBloggers. My task was to present to the assembly about New Media, and what it might mean to the practice of traditional media. Also, together with other Mindanao-based representatives, I was asked to provide input on how I perceive Manila-based media covers Mindanao news.

I missed Kadayawan 2008 for this conference, but I don’t regret it one bit.

MediaNation was a very eye-opening and fulfilling experience for me. ‘Eye-opening’ because I was given a glimpse of the world of mainstream media, and so the experience has allowed me to understand and appreciate its workings. And ‘fulfilling’ because the whole exercise has made me more insightful, introspective and inspired.

What’s more, a major network has invited me to start blogging for them — exciting!!

I’m excited about what’s next for MindanaoBloggers, and where I will find myself with it in the near future. I’ve been thinking of doing more events that are both blogging-related and socially-oriented, and now I’m inspired to forge ahead with those plans.