Let my post be direct, I want to be transparent. I am talking about the hot discussions now taking place in the internet, some in private emails, some in chat rooms, and some openly in their own blogs. I know that a lot of people are being careful, as Carl Ocab, a “child” is the subject of the discussions. Whatever the results of these discussions, whatever truth will come out of this, it is still the “child” who will be affected, in the long run. Let’s accept the fact—the doubts are in the open now, questions have been asked about blogging ethics and disclosure, and quick conclusions have been made. All that can be done now is DAMAGE CONTROL.
Let me talk in the point of view of a parent. If my son is being doubted, let alone attacked, immediately I will see RED. More so, if in my heart of hearts, I know that the accusations they are hurling my son are baseless. Oh, boy, will I prove to them that they are wrong—point by point I will throw their glaring mistakes right into their faces. I will not even practice my ever favorite mantra of patience—counting 1…2…3…...10. I have to defend my son. I will defend my son, FAST!
How? Outright confrontation. I will take confrontation in my own hands, not through other people, MY VERY OWN. I will not wait for other people to come into my son’s defense, for only I know the real situation. I will explain that they are wrong. I will even give proof. Since the subject matter is “writing”, I can give very basic proof—the English essays that my son wrote in school. Very simple, I will show to them that my son can write. They should not belittle my son. Why, is there anything wrong if me and my son have the same niche—making money online?
Let them review all my son’s articles in his blog, then interview him, not on the email, not chat, but in person. Let them eat their hearts out. Let the moment of truth be the liberating factor. Let no one hurt my son, physically, emotionally, verbally, and in the written language, let alone in the internet for the whole world to see.
Of course, I will talk with my son—I will explain to him that these things happen, especially now that he is popular. I will tell him not to be affected, to be tough. You see, it seems that the kid is somehow affected now. Poor kid, taking time out during school hours (10:30 am) to read Yuga’s post and respond/comment to him—he has suggested a meeting, face-to-face. Right move, kid! Prove them all wrong.
Prove to them that you are a child prodigy—that it is not only the Philippine blogosphere that should be proud of you. The Filipino people should be proud of you—you can be another Mikki Fudolig in the making.
Also, the school should pick up on this. I have written earlier of a parenting-schooling partnership in raising children. San Beda, that’s where the kid goes to school, through guidance counseling, can help the kid overcome the ill effects of this whole fiasco.
But, and the big BUT is, if their accusations are true, I will spare my child from further embarrassment. I will speak the truth, acknowledge the mistake. Anyway, in a month or two, maybe even weeks, this will all be forgotten. This will be buried, though cached, in internet history.
This is my piece Yuga, this is my stand. Now, I am tempted to put up a new blog, called Parenting Online by an 11-Year Old (don’t get me wrong, this is BA’s idea). Good to start the kids young.
Related Posts
- A(H1N1) flu virus--will it make us less physical and intimate with those that we love?
- Blogging 101 (a basic introduction)
- iBlog 5--the Fifth Philippine Blogging Summit
- Expo Mom 2009--What’s a Day (and Night) Like in the Life of a Mom of 7? (a winning entry)
- It's a wide wide world--the World Wide Web
- It's March--chillin' in the summer
- Solution to disappearing Wordpress comments
57 responses so far ↓
noemi // Aug 13, 2007 at 12:54 pm
I was waiting for the father to email me or even the boy. They have my calling card but apparently a “spokesperson” had to email me regarding a post.
Parenting Online with an 11 year old. haha
Alanjr // Aug 13, 2007 at 12:58 pm
yay my mom will defend me
jangelo // Aug 13, 2007 at 1:28 pm
Remember Faye Nicole San Juan?
noemi // Aug 13, 2007 at 1:51 pm
Inquirer would be the best to investigate
They have uncovered a lot even that Faye Nicole San Juan
jangelo // Aug 13, 2007 at 1:54 pm
Actually Inquirer was also misled. They published a front-page story about Faye before they discovered the whole thing was a hoax.
In the spirit of being objective (which is the position I am in now, given various “hats” I wear), I’m looking into talking to parties involved.
ba // Aug 13, 2007 at 2:09 pm
OMG. So you’re the one behind my wonderful posts
BWAHAHAHAHA
noemi // Aug 13, 2007 at 2:12 pm
@BA- galing ghost writer mo.
i was accused for writing Lauren’s entries. compare naman nila. Mas magaling sumulat si lauren . The question should be baka Lauren is my ghost writer. di ba?
Sidney // Aug 13, 2007 at 2:18 pm
Well, I amazed that some people believe a boy of 13 can write this kind of stuff. I wonder if you can even call this a clever marketing trick.
Oh, and I need to confess that the pictures on my blog or not mine but from my 3 year old son.
Jeff // Aug 13, 2007 at 3:03 pm
Wahahah. Let the bloodbath ensue!
I don’t get it why people get so riled up on who’s writing. It’s a clever marketing idea – and the father and the kid’s shtick isn’t harming anyone; I don’t see it any more than how Valleywag desperately tried to uncover the man behind the Fake Steve Jobs blog. Only, the anonymous blogger gracefully owned up, and did not ignore the issue. The Ocabs could have handled the situation more gracefully. PS either some people have too much time in their hands; or are just plain crabby, in a very Filipino way.
chateau // Aug 13, 2007 at 3:24 pm
Oh yeah, Dine, Well said! I would defend my children tooth and nail if baseless accusations were hurled at them.
So where is the father now? His poor boy is caught in the crossfire.
Eugene // Aug 13, 2007 at 3:27 pm
@Jeff, the difference between this issue and the Fake Steve Jobs one is that there’s no misrepresentation on the Jobs blog. Peopl liked the fake Steve Jobs blog because it was humorous. On the other hand, the ONLY reason why Carl Ocab’s blog is popular is because it’s supposedly a 13-year old writing about serious ways of making money online! The Ocab’s are gaining financially from this blog and I find it unethical because it’s misrepresentation. As Yuga said, it’s a “clever marketing idea” yet “sneaky.” It’s the sneakiness that makes it wrong.
I think a more apt comparison are the syndicates peddling kidnapped kids to become homeless streetchildren beggars.
Rach // Aug 13, 2007 at 4:17 pm
It seems a spark has turned into a fire and I’m following the trail. Learning more about it as I read on…
Kongkong622 // Aug 13, 2007 at 5:32 pm
Way to go Dine!! Spoken like a Mother ready to go gungho for her kids’ sake. Shouldn’t we all?
Maki // Aug 13, 2007 at 6:18 pm
I think all of us curious people want right now is an explanation. And yeah, parents should have a intiative to defend their children. I hope this will be resolved soon because it’s a 14-yr old that is at stake here.
Hey, there’s also this blog hoax about some ghostwriter making a Katie Couric blog that is fake also…hehe
myepinoy // Aug 13, 2007 at 8:19 pm
off topic: kung tooto ang mga sinasabi na “we are after the welfare of kid ocab”, why not leave him alone and be more realistic.
There are real filipino kids in the streets of manila who need your help and concern (kahit konting pagtingin). Just for today, why don’t you go out, buy pandesal or pancit and feed them. Or bring them to bantay bata or DWSD or to your homes.
These are the real kids (not the virtual one) that we must focus our attention to and our concern.
Kid ocab, oh, he is probably doing well in the comfort of his airconditioned computer room and blogging using his MacBook Pro.
And he knows exactly what he is doing.
Ria Jose // Aug 13, 2007 at 10:07 pm
I have a very stern, strict and sometimes unaffectionate mother with whom I do not have a close relationship. But in dire situations like this, when both of us are attacked, I am certain she will defend me when I cannot do so myself.
Jeff // Aug 13, 2007 at 10:19 pm
@Eugene I did not think “ethical” can be applied from a marketing man’s standpoint the same way we laymen do; it’s a sneaky idea, and one that works.
I met Carlo at the 10 Top Emerging… event; I did not sense a feeling of being forced (the way kidnapped kids are forced to beg alms) to do what he does, that is, write. On the contrary, the kids appears to enjoy the attention he is getting.
Take ghost writers – they make money in the face of another person, and neither are their identities disclosed, and I yet have to find the practice of ghost writing unethical. “Inappropriate” – there is an argument to be made from that, but not unethical as kidnapped kids made to beg for alms
Jeff // Aug 13, 2007 at 10:20 pm
EDIT: the kid, not kids. jeez. heheh
Elizar // Aug 13, 2007 at 10:26 pm
Hi, I’m trying to catch up with this new news… Carl, the young 13 money maker, is in trouble for his/his dad’s blog.
I think all pinoy bloggers are curious as to what’s going to happen next, but one thing is for sure, we support.
And tama ka ma’am, if you’re child’s in trouble, the parent , in my mom’s term, ‘ra-Rambo-hin ko sila’..
jhay // Aug 14, 2007 at 8:52 am
It’s the price of being famous at such a young age. A completely honest disclosure is a remedy here. Hopefully it will close this chapter and help people, especially the concerned bloggers to move on.
A side of me is saying it’s “The old refusing to give way to the new.” -Avlin Toffler, Future Shock
Besides, it’s their own blog unless they’re spamming you or hacking your own blog, let them be. If you can’t stand the way they blog, don’t read their posts, delete their feed from your reader.
Sure there’s that “Blogger’s Code of Ethics” but it’s not a binding contract or law or convention on all bloggers. It’s a ‘guideline’ a reminder of some sorts on how one should blog or should not.
But here’s where our dilemma starts, “Ang tama sa iyo ay mali sa tingin ng iba” this is from Joey Ayala’s song “Magkabilaan” it basically translates into “to each his own”.
Now if you’re going to impose your own view of what’s ethical or not on somone just because you view yourself as a standard or vangaurd of that particular ethics, customs or norms and you don’t approve of others’ own view of what’s ethical or not; what’s your right to do so?
And so we ask ‘who’s being unethical now?’
I know by this time I might be drawing some flak now, but I’ll go back to what SexyMom has pointed out, it’s the parental instincts that are clashing here. One set of parenting standards and practices standing against another.
But hold on, do they really need to be opposing each other?
Hello, it’s the blogosphere // Aug 14, 2007 at 9:46 am
[...] society has changed, and continues to do so. To drive home my point, I quote the comment I made on SexyMom’s say on this controversy; It’s the price of being famous at such a young age. A completely honest disclosure is a remedy [...]
Kyels // Aug 14, 2007 at 1:05 pm
Jealousy ensues; the price of being famous at such a young age. But as parents’, they ought to stand up and defend their kid.
Ang Kape Ni LaTtEX » Blog Archive » Captive Audience // Aug 14, 2007 at 1:11 pm
[...] I couldn’t write because all I wanted to do was gape at the unfolding of blog entries with regards to the Carl Ocab issue. Needless to say, the Philippine blogosphere has been a captive [...]
pearl // Aug 14, 2007 at 2:59 pm
Hi Sexy Mom! I happened to bloghopped from another blogger friend, Carlotta.
I didn’t know about this case (my gawd! nasan kaya ako nung mga panahong sumikat ito?) until I read your blog. Reaaalllyy interesting..I even tried to google and follow your links just to look into the issue.
By the way, two thumbs up for your blog articles.
Can I link you up?
Gorge Estrejan // Aug 14, 2007 at 4:29 pm
If I am not mistaken Sexy Mom, I saw you in the Ten Influential Blogs event. I also heard that your son also has a blog. Perhaps you used the blog of your son to nominate yourself, thus giving you a spot in the Top Ten. By the way, your son’s blog also won 500 USD. Indirectly, you could have used your son to win you an award and a cash prize. I am deeply puzzled by the doubts you raised on Carlo Cab. If you really think that the father is using his son, then where do you think were your actions fall?
jangelo // Aug 14, 2007 at 7:11 pm
George, how can my mother use me? I’m a more influential blogger than she is. True.
vince // Aug 14, 2007 at 7:17 pm
In fact she has 4 sons who are all bloggers. I didn’t vote for her even if she encouraged me to vote. I just thought that my vote would be ineligible since my blog is inactive. What’s so unfair about that?
ba // Aug 14, 2007 at 7:22 pm
OMG. So totoo nga, our Mom is behind all our blogs! (*sarcasmalert*)
So yeah, she should’ve made blogs for my sister-in-law, my big sister, and my two little sisters, and she should have used them (plus Vince’s blog) to vote for herself. And who knows, we could have won more moolah!
Yeah, wow, our mother was using us. Nice conclusion
Hahahaha. Gorge, that comment of yours was waaaaaaaaay off.
ba // Aug 14, 2007 at 7:51 pm
I was about to write a full-blown entry entitled, “If Your Mother is Attacked, Defend Her Fast!”
Pero wag na. Ayan na yung defense naming tatlo sa taas oh. XD
Ay teka baka tawagin tayong defensive. Oh nooooooooo
cathy // Aug 14, 2007 at 11:07 pm
Yes! Waaaaay to go kids! Defend your momma
She would do the same for you. As all normal mothers would probably do anyway. And so what kung tawagin kayong defensive? Wouldn’t that be a case of the pot calling the kettle black. Panalo.
Kongkong622 // Aug 14, 2007 at 11:09 pm
Dine, I love your sons’ sense of humor!!
noemi // Aug 14, 2007 at 11:18 pm
Bravo Racoma boys. you brightened my night just seeing how much you love your mom. way to go.
Micamyx // Aug 14, 2007 at 11:35 pm
Tita Dine deserves to be a part of the Top 10 Influential Blogs. Why? because to be honest, of all the mommy bloggers we have here today, it’s only Tita Dine and Tita Rhodora whom i can easily talk with online. I met her in person at the iBlog3 and almost everyone in the place wanted to take pictures with her. Her articles, especially when it comes to defending his son (MLM thingy -remember, BA? hehe), motherhood and being a filipina. It is the Racoma Boys’ willingness to vote for their mom.. actually kahit hindi sila bumoto makakasali at makakasali si Tita Dine dyan because definitely, she made a difference in some of the young bloggers’ lives
peace!
Dexter // Aug 15, 2007 at 1:47 am
you are right mom, If you need to defend your son under atack you have to do i right away.
” Parenting Online by an 11-Year Old (don’t get me wrong, this is BA’s idea). Good to start the kids young. ”
nice idea…
dexie // Aug 15, 2007 at 3:54 am
‘Atta boys. Get him..hehe
haze // Aug 15, 2007 at 5:42 am
Everything has been said Tita!
The girl // Aug 15, 2007 at 8:43 am
I am just wondering, when did coaching a child become bad? Assuming that Carlo’s father is really “coaching” him to earn money? What’s wrong with that? It’s between the two of them and you have no right to meddle there. If my memory serves me right, Sexymom, you have a son who is younger than Carlo. And he knows blogging! Don’t tell me that he discovered blogging alone without “coaching”. Let’s say your youngest son is indeed a “good” blogger. Then there’s a chance that by the time he is 13 years old, he can do things like Carlo. So why does it seem that you people think that it is impossible for Carlo to do that?
Blogista // Aug 15, 2007 at 8:47 am
Ay, eto na yung nbabalitaan ko na pg hindi ka nag agree sa “circle of bloggers,” titirahin ka na. Kokontakin ung buong barangay para idefend ang mga sarili nila. Haha!
Blogista // Aug 15, 2007 at 8:49 am
BTW, eto yung isa sa mga nabasasa ko tungkol jan sa “circle of bloggers” so inassume ko na magkakakilala talaga kayo.
http://boolby.blogspot.com/2007/08/my-thoughts-on-carlocab-issue.html
ba // Aug 15, 2007 at 8:53 am
The girl: Please learn how to read properly. Don’t read too much in between the lines. My Mom didn’t say anything about “coaching” being bad.
In fact, it was us boys who was coaching her when she was new to blogging. Until now, Mom perpetually annoys us by asking us for HTML and other technical stuff. (“BA paki-ayos naman yung picture oh!”)
And I still find it annoying that people don’t disclose their identities when posting comments like those. Sheesh. (does “decentfilipinomother” ring a bell? LOL)
OMG. My Mom is being attacked again.
EDIT: “Blogista” and “The girl” have the same IP address. Hmmmm.
The girl // Aug 15, 2007 at 9:21 am
“Please learn how to read properly. Don’t read too much in between the lines. My Mom didn’t say anything about “coaching” being bad.”
—-Hmm so you’re saying that what you did to Carlo was not reading between the lines? You know what, the problem with you guys is that you always WRITE the safe answer. There’s always a way to go out.
The girl // Aug 15, 2007 at 9:26 am
You said it, coaching isn’t bad. So stop being envious of what’s happening between Carlo and his dad. (You guys may not be saying it but its what you’re actions are saying). Oh I’m sorry, I’m reading between the lines again.
The girl // Aug 15, 2007 at 9:30 am
And one more thing, why do you “blogger friends” always track the IP address of those who commented on your posts? Ano kayo takot?
ba // Aug 15, 2007 at 9:33 am
The girl:
Tell me, what did we, my Mom and I, do to Carl?
Us? Envious? Puh-leaze. What actions of ours merit us that accusation? Sheesh.
Yes, you’re reading between the lines again. And it’s annoying.
So we would know who’s visiting our sites. Anong masama dun? Hindi ba yung mas takot yung ayaw magpakilala?
ba // Aug 15, 2007 at 9:46 am
If you’re referring to my relationship with the owner of this blog, we’re not just “blogger friends.” We’re family. Hahaha.
So naturally, I’d defend my mother, as how she would defend me, as this entry of hers shared..
EDIT: (since I hate double-posting) Ngayon ko lang nakita… The girl = Blogista = Gorge Estrejan. Hindi ka rin pala mahilig mang-away, ano?
The girl // Aug 15, 2007 at 11:00 am
“EDIT: (since I hate double-posting) Ngayon ko lang nakita… The girl = Blogista = Gorge Estrejan. Hindi ka rin pala mahilig mang-away, ano?”
—-Sorry wrong guess, makikipagpustahan pa ko ng 1 million pesos na hindi ako yung si George Estrejan. You can say that all day but I’m not him. I have my own identity. And i won’t be divulging it to you. Mamatay kayo sa kakahula.
The girl // Aug 15, 2007 at 11:01 am
“So we would know who’s visiting our sites. Anong masama dun? Hindi ba yung mas takot yung ayaw magpakilala?”
——Sinabi ko ba na mai masama dun? You’re reading between the lines…
The girl // Aug 15, 2007 at 12:14 pm
“The girl = Blogista = Gorge Estrejan. Hindi ka rin pala mahilig mang-away, ano?”
—- Reading between the lines again, tsk tsk tsk
The girl // Aug 15, 2007 at 12:16 pm
“Tell me, what did we, my Mom and I, do to Carl?”
——tanong mo sa nanay mo
Vince // Aug 15, 2007 at 12:16 pm
The girl: You are unbelievable, so unethical and unreasonably irrational. I wont waste my time dealing on this matter. It’s very senseless. Too bad you can’t understand the logic behind this. I pity you.
ba // Aug 15, 2007 at 1:06 pm
I’m not really a good guesser. I’m sorry. HAHAHA But can you explain to me why the three usernames (George, Blogista, The girl) have the same IP Addresses? (ay, pwede pala tatlo kayo sa isang computer, or sa isang network, or sa isang internet cafe, ano?)
Edi sorry, hindi mo sinabi yun. Sabi mo “takot” kami. (wtf?) Ikaw nga yung ayaw magpakilala diyan eh. Dali na. Para naman maniwala kami kahit papaano sa mga sinasabi mo.
I asked her.
Wala raw siyang ginawa kundi nag-usap lang sila ni Carl at nagkamustahan.
Anyways. Sinasayang mo ang online laway ko. Tsk tsk. Well, kung sarado naman kasi talaga ang isip mo, edi pababayaan ka na lang namin, diba? Masaya naman kami eh. Hindi naman kami “inggit” kina Carl, like what you have implied (and no, I’m not reading between the lines, as I have proof that you said that).
And no, hindi na aalamin kung sino ka. Hindi ka naman namin kailangan pakinggan o kilalanin eh.
Dad (Alan Racoma) // Aug 15, 2007 at 1:14 pm
Please put a closure to it. Forgive and pray for each other and move on to a more positive and meaningful activity.
A Month of Blog Scandals and Wars // Aug 15, 2007 at 11:06 pm
[...] If Your Son is Attacked, Defend Him Fast, If You Must by Dine Racoma [...]
Pinoy Big Brother (Pinoy Blogosphere Edition) : The D Spot // Aug 16, 2007 at 3:39 am
[...] (rather than me defending them this time) and made my husband advice us to stop and close the post for comments, let’s make peace. I have slept through these (as my body mechanism makes me [...]
Sexy Mom // Aug 16, 2007 at 8:20 am
I AM CLOSING COMMENTS FOR THIS POST.
PLEASE SEE MY NEW POST THAT IS RELATED TO THIS:
Pinoy Big Brother (Cyberspace Edition).
You can post your comments there.
Thank you.
PinoyBlogero.com » The Blogosphere: A Battlefield of Ideas and Opinions // Aug 20, 2007 at 5:07 pm
[...] Poignant by Benj Do I have to worry about a mafia in the Philippine blogosphere? by Jon Limjap If Your Son is Attacked, Defend Him Fast, If You Must by Dine Racoma Should 13-Year-Olds Be Mediocre Writers? by Shari The Kid Blogger Affair by Seav [...]
Sometimes, defense is not enough | House on a hill // Sep 24, 2008 at 3:06 pm
[...] wrote in her blog: Let me talk in the point of view of a parent. If my son is being doubted, let alone [...]