Many thanks to Blog Network Watch. They recently featured the recent launches of Style Manila and Kikay Kits. And it’s through them I discovered Tony Hung’s interesting post on offshore blogging. While Tony commits the common (yet irritating) mistake of misspelling Filipino, he’s ultimately right:

…the New York Times asks the question — “Can Blogs Become a Source of Jobs?”

I think the answer is more nuanced if you look at blogging from a global point of view. And I think that for bloggers who are being paid in American dollars, the answer is a more convincing yes for those living in places where the standard of living is lower — and they get a higher return on their time and effort. Certainly with respect to quality — of writing, of work, of effort — my experience is that they’re *at least* on par with their North American counterparts. [emphasis from source]

The quality aspect of Tony’s post definitely applies to Filipino “pro” and “informal” bloggers. We have many advantages that put us in a unique position to take full advantage of the Philippines’ cheaper lifestyle and increasing demand for competent bloggers.

Despite its weak economy, the Philippines boasts a high literacy rate (96%) for a so-called third-world nation. Many of us are proficient in English, particularly those online. They can afford the connectivity and access to good education. This means it’s easy for Filipino bloggers to express themselves and create new information using this language. Which is definitely a skill that appeals to English-speaking employers.

This proficiency in English is the reason behind our broad knowledge of western culture, western here meaning American or even British. Since we know our English and enjoy western things, we can hold our own in discussions involving informal or serious topics. Ask us about subjects involving Optimus Prime, the current NBA champions, standards-based web design, or online monetization, and we’ll have something to add to the conversation, another trait that blogging employers look for.

Better yet, our “third-world” perspective periodically produces genuinely unique insights and content. Witness a literal example in action as Eugene regularly posts new locations on Vista Pinas. Even as we stay up-to-date with developments on the other side of the globe, we never forget who we are. While we blog in English, our voice remains distinctly Filipino. We all know that it makes no sense to disregard our own, local experiences as we create content for online consumption.

Yet all these pale in comparison with our love for communications technology. Over the past decade, Filipinos have readily adopted technologies, such as the Internet, SMS, VoIP, and of course blogging, that facilitate communication. Even with the initial (and continuing) infrastructure problems. Our culture is based on frequent social interaction, mixed with a need to keep costs low. Again, we return to the financial considerations: Filipino bloggers love blogs because it’s a free or cheap way to get their message across. They’re simply passionate about it.

The literate, knowledgeable, unique, and passionate aspects of the Filipino blogger are just some of the reasons why you should look no further for your next blog opening. That’s why we at The Bayanihan Blog Network don’t.