[youtube http://www.youtube.com/v/qPKF4smBy4w]

Last Friday’s Manila/National leg of the Philippine Blog Awards turned out just how I’ve always wished it to be: full of gems that litter the Philippine blogosphere, waiting to be found. Some of the winners were blogs I’ve long admired, while others I’m just starting to enjoy now. All of them wonderful reads.

Gang Badoy of Rock Ed Philippines gave a beautifully inspiring piece for her keynote address, one that makes us bloggers and the rest of the online community truly proud:

2009 made me realize that a nation is not its government. Thank God. Blogging has relieved me with the fact that the history of the Philippines is no longer solely in the hands of the textbook writer. (Thank God) A history of a nation is really the collection of stories of individual lives. Our individual lives. Yours.

In the sad and uneasy days of October, amidst all the chaos and tragedy, the Philippine Blog Awards has given us just a bit to smile about.

(The “Jose & Andres as Bloggers” video was created by our friends from When In Manila. Good job guys!)