This is my fearless forecast and also one of the reasons why my new venture after Yahoo is with a firm that offers exactly this – social media monitoring and intelligence.  Late last year, I joined Singapore-based startup ThoughtBuzz, moved back to Manila and officially started 2012 to help the company set up here in the Philippines.

We are currently looking for people who can join our analytics team as Social Media Data Analysts.  The ideal candidate is a person who has strong research background and a social media fanatic.  Here's the job description:

Social Media Data Analysts (junior, middle and senior levels)

Specific roles and responsibilities:

• Interpret clients’ social media data tracks and develop customized research reports from it.
• Provide direction and guidance in the formulation of track search parameters that correctly reflect the requirements of clients.
• Work to understand clients’ businesses and be able to provide insights and recommendations when developing their social media reports.

Suitable candidates should have:

• Relevant diploma or degree in Communication Research, Business, Marketing or related field.
• Excellent knowledge of and highly appreciates social media. 
• Excellent English written and spoken communication skills.
• Possess research and analytical skills.
• Works well independently and as part of a team.
• Well motivated, values honesty and integrity, fun to work with!
• For the junior role, fresh graduates to one year experience with relevant educational background and strong knowledge of social media may apply.
• For middle and senior roles, we are looking at above 3 years of analytic experience in research or relevant social media industry.

The social media analytics space is an interesting and exciting industry to be part of!  If you see these qualifications in you and you're interested to join a dynamic, innovative and fun company, then send me your resume.  My email address is jonas.delosreyes[at]thoughtbuzz.net.  You just may be the person we're looking for.  

I am joining the June 8 Blog Action Day to Save our Coral Reefs and Seas, and I believe every Filipino with a blog should do the same.

The Philippines as a country has been blessed with amazing natural resources such as stunning beaches, a very diverse marine life and spectacular reefs.  Unfortunately, a lot of us have taken these for granted and worse, they have been exploited and plundered by both foreign and local groups.

If the news on how poachers have destroyed an “entire ‘reef complex’—almost twice as big as Manila—off the coast of Cotabato province” when they harvested more than 21,000 pieces of black coral and in the process killing 161 endangered turtles and other marine life is not an eye-opener for you, I don’t know what will.

How long has this happening?  How come we only knew about this today?  Who’s responsible for this?  What can we do to prevent it from happening again?

I don’t know the answers to the first two questions but what I do know is that WE are ALL responsible for this and ALL of US can do something about it.  NOW.

The protection and preservation of our coral reefs and seas for future generations begins now and we all can have a part to make this happen.

June 8 has been declared Blog Action Day to Save our Coral Reefs and Seas. The least we can do is to join this collective effort and use our voices, online and offline, to spread the word about the plunder of our seas and we all can do to stop it.  You can find out more information by visiting the Save The Philippine Seas site, following it on Twitter and liking the fanpage on Facebook.

I’ve also posted the following on Yahoo! to help spread the cause…

YAHOO ANSWERS

Share your ideas on what we can do to save our seas by answering this question:

What can we do to save our coral reefs and seas?

FLICKR

Check out these photos of underwater shots in the Philippines through this Flickr gallery I created.  This gives us a glimpse of what we need to cherish, what we need to protect, what we need to be proud of.

A lot has already been said about the importance of the elections and our right to vote.  That’s why the recently launched initiative of Yahoo! Philippines to cover the upcoming 2010 Elections is aptly entitled “Purple Thumb”, because the elections is essentially of the people, by the people, and for the people.  Which means every Filipino qualified to vote should have taken the time to register or in short, we all should have a Purple Thumb.

But of course, registration is just the first step of the journey.  We need to be properly informed of all aspects of the elections, from getting to know each and every candidate to understanding how the new automated elections will take place.  We should also take the initiative to share the info we know about the elections to others, and what better way to share than through social media.  Here’s something worth sharing, a step-by-step video tutorial of the 2010 Philippine Automated Elections:

(Photo by mela sogono)

As a tribute to the Master Rapper who went home to be with his Master and Lord, I’m reposting this article here which I originally wrote for the Yahoo! Philippines Answers blog.

Today is a sad day for the Philippine music industry. The King of Pinoy Rap, Francis “Kiko” Magalona has passed away today at around 12 noon (March 6). He was 44 years old. The sad news was announced by his friend, Vic Sotto in Eat Bulaga where a moment of silence from the viewers was observed in honor of Francis.

As most of you probably know, Francis was diagnosed with AML or Acute Myelogenous Leukemia with Mixed Lineage back in August of 2008. After that, he sought treatment at Medical City Hospital in Mandaluyong and underwent chemotherapy. Francis shared the details of his ordeal and requested for prayers from everyone in his blog, A Free Mind. He is survived by his wife, Pia and their eight children: Unna, Nicolo, Francis Jr., Elmo, Arkin, Clara, and actresses Maxene and Saab.

Also known as FrancisM, Master Rapper, and The Man From Manila, Francis is credited as the first Filipino rapper to successfully crossover to the mainstream through his nationalistic hit “Mga Kababayan” (My Countrymen). And aside from being a prominent rapper and song writer, he was also a producer, actor, TV host, VJ, director and photographer.

He is without a doubt the King of Pinoy Rap and his music will always serve as a reminder to all of us that we should not be ashamed of our color but be proud because we’re Pinoy. In his words, “Dapat lang malaman nyo, bilib ako sa kulay ko, ako ay Pilipino!” The Master Rapper has now gone home to be with his Master and Lord and he will be missed by all Filipinos. Rest in peace, bro!

October 26, 2007 (Friday)

1:00-2:00pm – Lourdes Rivera, Vice President, Ultima Entrepinoy
2:00-3:00pm – Azrael Coladilla, Blogger, Toycon Organizer
4:00-5:00pm – Mylene Abiva Sazon, President/CEO, FELTA Multi-media Inc.
5:00-6:00pm – Ricky De Vera, Certified International Trainer, Pinpoint Marketing
6:00-7:00pm – Jonas de los Reyes, eCommerce Manager, Yehey!

October 27, 2007 (Saturday)

1:00-2:00pm – Mark So, CEO, Business Maker Academy
2:00-3:00pm – Lourdes Rivera, Vice President, Ultima Entrepinoy
3:00-4:00pm – Jonas de los Reyes, eCommerce Manager, Yehey!
4:00-5:00pm – Ricky De Vera, Certified International Trainer, Pinpoint Marketing
5:00-6:00pm – Azrael Coladilla, Blogger, Toycon Organizer
6:00-7:00pm – Gavin Bunker, President, INSOL Development Foundation

October 28, 2007 (Sunday)

1:00-2:00pm – Gavin Bunker, President, INSOL Development Foundation
2:00-3:00pm – Mark So, CEO, Business Maker Academy
3:00-4:00pm – Charlie Gaw, President, Acclaim Butterflies
4:00-5:00pm – Lourdes Rivera, Vice President, Ultima Entrepinoy
5:00-6:00pm – Ricky De Vera, Certified International Trainer, Pinpoint Marketing
6:00-7:00pm – Jonas de los Reyes, eCommerce Manager, Yehey!