14 on 14: Cebu Bloggers Society celebrates 14 years!

The Cebu Bloggers Society (CBS) was born out of the passion of celebrating the best of Cebu and finding a community to further showcase different facets of its beauty and wonder. After more than a decade of sharing stories, this community of bloggers is celebrating a momentous event this 2022 — its 14th anniversary on February 14 and it is all about appreciation and giving back.

“This is a big milestone for us because there have been many organizations in Cebu who have come and gone, and yet, we are still standing here,” CBS president Kim Charlie Cruz said. “This event would be all about appreciation to our partners, active members, and fellow bloggers from Davao and Cagayan de Oro, who, I have to mention, provided us financial help when Typhoon Odette struck. Through thick and thin, they are always there.”

Looking back on this 14-year journey, founder Mark Monta reminisced how the organization began and the challenges they encountered to make CBS what it is today.

The Growth of CBS

CBS started 14 years ago through the initiative of Mark, then a 21-year-old student, who brought together bloggers from Cebu and other areas. Initially, this online gathering – through the Yahoo Groups – produced a total of more than 100 members. This is where they found key members who helped shape the Cebuano narrative beyond what people already know.

For CBS’ first major event, Mark recalled that while many signed up for their grand meet up, only three showed up. But this did not discourage him. Less than a year later during the event of an eCommerce, social media, and Internet marketing specialist, the organization picked up speed when around 30 members of CBS finally showed up!

“This actually [got] the ball rolling,” Mark said. “From that day on, CBS [started getting] noticed online, sometimes [even] through word-of-mouth. Everyone became excited especially when we got invited by huge brands.”

CBS soon made the rounds on television and on radio through Jun Tariman of DYAB Cebu and ABS-CBN’s MagTV Na morning program. They talked about SEO, how to earn from it, the power of blogging, and how organizations like theirs help ordinary individuals influence the tourism and culture sector of Cebu. One of the first companies that teamed up with them was SM City Cebu in July 2009, to announce that internet connection was already available in the mall, and has since then been invited to numerous brand events.

They also formed special bonds with other Cebuano bloggers and blogging communities like Davao Bloggers Society, Soccsksargen Bloggers, CDO bloggers, and the Manila Bloggers Network. This helped in further expanding their reach, presence, and blogging authority.

CBS received the Visayas Bloggers’ Choice Award during the 2009 Philippines Blog Awards (Visayas) in recognition of their contribution to strengthening the tourism and culture industry of Cebu.

In 2019, CBS also opened its membership not only to bloggers, but to vloggers, Instagrammers, and social media influencers to embrace the evolving landscape. This helped CBS expand to cater to more types of digital content. “But we require them to have their own blogs within a six-month period, as some of our brands and partners still want their products and services advertised through blogs,” said Mark.

Achievements and Milestones

While 14 years is already a feat on its own, Mark highlighted two achievements and milestones that he considered CBS’ best. First, the establishment of the Best Cebu Blogs Awards (BCBA) in December 2008, which is now an annual awarding ceremony of Cebu-based Bloggers.

Mark noticed that very few bloggers from Cebu were being recognized by national award-giving bodies. Thus, he founded the only and pioneering award-giving body that recognizes the existence and value of blogs, bloggers and social media influencers or movers in Cebu’s blogosphere. It is open to CBS and other Cebu bloggers from different organizations and communities.

“I just wanted to recognize all the effort and hard work that our bloggers have been doing for these past many years,” said Mark. “I wanted to recognize these fantastic blogs, the top 10 Cebu blogs. When we started, it was purely online, then we moved to physical awarding some years later. [But because of the pandemic, we] then went back online.” This was to maintain the tradition, and continue with the celebration, even remotely.

He added, “There is a different kind of contentment when you acknowledge bloggers because I know that they truly deserve it.”

Another is the launch of the Blogger’s Social Responsibility, or BSR, a revamped form of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), in May 2010. Similar to CSR in companies, CBS’ BSR emphasizes how bloggers can contribute both online and offline. Those who participate in BSR accept invites from various marketing organizations, and also encourage marketing companies to participate in and fund BSR events and initiatives.

Some of their BSR events included donating clothes, food, and other supplies to fire victims in Mandaue City, and bringing smiles to children’s faces through games, food, and presentations at an orphanage.

COVID and Typhoon Odette

When the pandemic struck in 2020, Mark and Kim both agreed that this was one of the most disheartening moments in the organization’s life. For the first six to eight months, there were no physical events and collaborations, and some brands they worked with seemingly “vanished”, even with the continuous online communication.

“Meanwhile, some have declined because they have to recoup their business. Fortunately, there were businesses and brands that were tapping us who wanted to expand in Cebu,” recounted Kim.

CBS started bouncing back through virtual events in the last quarter of 2020, and physical events in 2021. Still, Mark and Kim frequently reminded the members to observe safety protocols if they planned on attending offline gatherings. To reinvigorate CBS after this hardship, Mark shared, “We also gave CBS a little face lift where we updated our social media pages, and many others. Majority of our brands have already tapped us, some of our members have decided to lie low, but we are constantly updating them on what’s happening.”

But just as they were enroute to recovery, Typhoon Odette ravaged parts of the Visayas region in December 2021. As part of their BSR, Mark recalled that hours before the storm hit, CBS was still able to disseminate information to its members on whom they could call for help. And in the true spirit of Bayanihan, the blogging communities from Davao and Cagayan de Oro extended financial help, to which CBS is beyond grateful for.

Moving Forward

At present, CBS has 63 active members who all hail from Cebu and membership will soon open once again.

“I envision CBS not just as a blogging organization but an institution for bloggers and aspiring media influencers. Bloggers need to hone their skills to elevate their experience, to provide factual info to our audience, and that is our own little way of helping them,” said Kim, reflecting on what the future holds for them.

He continued that the challenge now is how to sustain and make it to another 14 years. “We want to retain CBS as the premier organization and the go-to for brands and many other businesses.”

“Blogs are alive and kicking. Blogging is a beautiful thing. One of the ingredients that CBS has until now, we have the ability to embrace change. We embrace change for the betterment of our organization, long-time partner brands, and our members. For me, this is the best building block of any business,” Mark added.

Cheers to CBS’ 14th year anniversary and to another 14 years and beyond!

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