I remember reading an entry of Abe’s where he asked if we (the bloggers) are cut out for the hustle and bustle of the press when he joined Kiko Pangilinan’s caravan to Laoag. Frankly speaking, I can’t help but ask the same.

My husband and I joined a number of bloggers (Abe and his brother Ryan, Noemi with “kids” Lauren and Marielle, Ajay with her twins and her friend Nina, Chris and his wife Apples, and Eric) at the Krispy Kreme Greenhills VIP Launch Party last Tuesday night (thanks for the invite, Blooey). I’ll have to be honest and say that this isn’t the first time I’ve been to a PR event as a blogger, but this was the very first instance when I actually felt what it’s like to be “part” of the media without my father.

I’m not trying to be humble or anything, but as I commented to Abe, I felt small. And it’s not because of my height either.

When my dad first started as a photo correspondent in the Sports beat for the Philippine Daily Inquirer, I shamelessly tagged along in his assignments. I enjoyed rubbing elbows and having my picture taken with celebrities, important people, and basketball stars (although the top of my head was just a few inches above their elbows; these guys were like giants to me). I guess that’s why I wasn’t as star-struck as my husband was last Tuesday night, nor did I ogle at sexy starlets like Abe and Chris did (well, if I did, that would make me gay, wouldn’t it?). What made me a bit queasy was the thought of where I stood in the party—I certainly wasn’t a celebrity, nor did I have a press ID to prove that I was a “member of the media.”

The Krispy Kreme Greenhills crew gamely posing for my camera

Being so used to having my dad around in media functions like this, I was a bit nervous as Marc and I approached the registration table when we first got there. The sign near the entrance that said, “Private party, blah blah blah,” didn’t exactly alleviate the queasiness I was feeling. When the nice lady at the registration table asked me from which company was I from, I honestly didn’t know what to say: “uhh… Blogger?” Luckily, Blooey was there to welcome us and as it turned out, we were on the guest list.

Maybe I’m still unfamiliar with the idea that the blogosphere is now being recognized as a powerful media. But I’m really glad that companies like Krispy Kreme, Aryty, Nike Philippines, and even ad agencies such as Geisler-Maclang are starting to treat local bloggers like they do members of mainstream media. “Traditional” internet people might berate me for saying this, but I think we bloggers rule (or starting to rule) the Internet. We’ve got a leverage in viral marketing, and it’s really pleasing to see (as a blogger myself) that locally-based companies are really starting to perceive blogs as a new media that can affect their advertising programs.

Doughnuts in production

Me and Marc, happy with the two dozen doughnuts we took home

I still agree with Abe in questioning if whether or not we are cut out for this whole new press idea. Newspapers come out daily, but our blog posts don’t necessarily have to. I’ve witnessed how my dad rushed to send photos to their office in order to meet the day’s deadline right after his assignments, and how News or Sports writers come up with articles immediately after a coverage. Time is of essence in journalism—you can’t just put off writing and risk losing a “scoop.”

That’s where we bloggers have it easier. I’ve wanted to blog about the Krispy Kreme event immediately after the party, but I was too lazy (and just really tired) to do so. If I had an editor to scream at me for letting another blogger from a rival network get the scoop, well, that’s an entirely different story. But I don’t.

Maybe there will come a time when bloggers will actually be doing the same things as journalists in mainstream media. I don’t know, maybe.

It will all depend on us I guess. The question is, would you be willing to hang out at the Central Police District all day or spend most of your time at the Malacañang Palace waiting any newsworthy incidents? Would you mind squatting on the courtside floor risking your precious P100k-worth digital SLR get accidentally trampled upon by huge basketball players instead of comfortably watching the game from the bleachers? Would you be willing to be sent to a rebel camp to take a photo of the soldiers with scary guns instead of just pulling it off Google?

One can argue that all I’m referring to are the News and Sports journalists. Yeah, maybe. But Lifestyle writers don’t have it easy either. It’s not that easy coming up with original content, not to mention coming up with one in time for your deadline. If creativity blocks hit you, you can’t just say, “sorry, but I’ll be going on hiatus because I don’t feel like writing at the moment” or something like that.

It’s true that journalists do get to have their names on print and be seen by every single Joe-Schmoe who can read the paper, but there are always risks and hard work involved. If you’re willing to do that for a living (or at least for your blog or blog network), and yeah, I guess we can safely say that we’re cut out of this.

But at this time, the question remains: do you think we’re cut out for this?