About the PoliTikalon Blog
“PoliTikalon”
is a portmanteau of the words, "politika" which means politics, and "tikalon”, a unique
Hiligaynon (Ilonggo) word which means a showoff
or a liar. Sad to say, the blog author thinks this characteristic is innate to most of the blabbering Pinoy politicians.
The
PoliTikalon Blog is run by JR Lopez Gonzales, a blogger and a law student from South Cotabato, Mindanao, Philippines. His Google+ profile which shares his blog links has 5.1 MILLION VIEWS as of August 2016.
A former lecturer for Saint Michael’s College of Iligan (est. 1914) and Mindanao State University – Iligan Institute of Technology (est. 1968) for almost three years, he is currently studying law. He earned his degree in Political Science from Mindanao State University – Iligan Institute of Technology (MSU-IIT) with flying colors in 2009.
He was the recipient of the Presidential Award of Outstanding Achievement in two categories: Campus Journalism and Student Leadership in 2005. He was the Editor-in-Chief of The Nexus – The Official Student Publication of MSU College of Law in Iligan City for three issues. He also represented the Mindanao State University in the televised ABS-CBN News Channel’s Square Off: The CVC Law Debates in 2011 against Far Eastern University – De La Salle University.
PoliTikalon articles in Facebook are also shared by the following groups: Mindanao State University – Marawi’s Varsitarian, Showbiz Government, AIITAFI-Cavite.org , Bagsakan FlipTop Battle League, Movement for a Livable Cebu, Araling Panlipunan ni Sir James Facebook, Philippine Government Under Scrutiny, Facebook World Wide Tambayan, Exterra by Qure it, Inc. Pest Control, and the Mindanao State University – Iligan Institute of Technology Facebook page. A news piece of his was also cited by a local radio station.
His first viral article was entitled "8 Things Younger Than Senator Juan Ponce Enrile", which he submitted in 8List.PH. The article earned 1,300 Facebook likes, 5,046 Facebook shares, 357 tweets, and 3 Pinterest shares in 10 hours.
His other viral article is the The "White Skin" Standard in Filipina Beauty, which earned more than 1,700 Facebook likes, 2,426 shares, 407 tweets, and 2,865 in 12 hours.
This blog was also featured on the following websites:
A former lecturer for Saint Michael’s College of Iligan (est. 1914) and Mindanao State University – Iligan Institute of Technology (est. 1968) for almost three years, he is currently studying law. He earned his degree in Political Science from Mindanao State University – Iligan Institute of Technology (MSU-IIT) with flying colors in 2009.
He was the recipient of the Presidential Award of Outstanding Achievement in two categories: Campus Journalism and Student Leadership in 2005. He was the Editor-in-Chief of The Nexus – The Official Student Publication of MSU College of Law in Iligan City for three issues. He also represented the Mindanao State University in the televised ABS-CBN News Channel’s Square Off: The CVC Law Debates in 2011 against Far Eastern University – De La Salle University.
Even
though the blog mostly features news, and socio-political commentaries, readers
can also expect not-so-serious items every now and then, too (Read: Funny
Facebook Wall Posts of JR Lopez Gonzales). His various compiled lists are also
in the Top 10 format which is about various topics.
The blog has a readership, averaging over 15,000 page views a month (360,000 hits overall since 2010). The blog has an established overseas following, receiving about 100,000 views from visitors in 52 countries in the past years.
 |
| One of the author's articles for CNN iReport about Philippine typhoons which hit his country. |
The
PoliTikalon Blog was mentioned and featured on the following sites: CNN iReport, Philippine Daily Inquirer, ABS-CBN News Channel, GMA News Online, Yahoo! Philippines, Rappler, US-based news website, The Global Filipino, Definitely Filipino!, Junior Chamber International, PhilBoxing.com, South Cotabato website, LurnQ.com, Empower Network website, Bloggers.com, Allvoices.com, Firstpost, IliganLocal.com, Storify.com, MLQU Law Review, Papercamp website, Rapmusic.com forum, Pinas Backers, South Cotabato News.com, Tacurong City Online, DC: Online Threat Protection, I React, therefore, Studymode, and many more.
PoliTikalon articles in Facebook are also shared by the following groups: Mindanao State University – Marawi’s Varsitarian, Showbiz Government, AIITAFI-Cavite.org , Bagsakan FlipTop Battle League, Movement for a Livable Cebu, Araling Panlipunan ni Sir James Facebook, Philippine Government Under Scrutiny, Facebook World Wide Tambayan, Exterra by Qure it, Inc. Pest Control, and the Mindanao State University – Iligan Institute of Technology Facebook page. A news piece of his was also cited by a local radio station.
His other viral article is the The "White Skin" Standard in Filipina Beauty, which earned more than 1,700 Facebook likes, 2,426 shares, 407 tweets, and 2,865 in 12 hours.
This blog was also featured on the following websites:
Meanwhile,
JR has also been quoted in the following academic papers and sites:
A
UP Diliman College of Mass Communications
thesis entitled, “Pills Be With You:
A Comparative Content Analysis of the Coverage of Reproductive Health Bill by
the PDI and PhilStar from 2008-2010” by scholars Anna Issabele C. Amores and
Janina Marie C. Capistrano in April 2012 can be found here. A term paper from an IT student in City College of Calapan in Mindoro also cited
this blog in 2010.
Facebook
groups West Philippine Sea / Scarborough
Watch, University of San Carlos’ The
Carolinian, Martial Law Symposium,
as well as Pinoy Nostalgia TV also
shared links of some articles at the PoliTikalon Blog.
Regarding
various online contests, during the 1st South
Cotabato Tambayan Blog-Writing Contest, JR bagged the 1st Place (click
here). On the
Facebook group It’s More Fun In Iligan,
he also won the logo-making contest where he also bagged the top prize. His
logo focused on the tri-people and received more than 300 Facebook likes.
 |
| JR Lopez Gonzales' winning logo design which features the harmonious tri-people of Iligan City: the Muslims, the migrant settlers, and the Lumads. |
In September 2012, he won 3rd place in the 1st City of Tacurong Feature Writing Contest, the only non-Tacurongnon to win. His entry, which focuses on his experiences and tales of Tacurong, can be accessed here.
In February 2013, his article for the West Philippine Sea International Essay Contest by US Pinoys for Good Governance was adjudged as a Top 10 winner which was participated by Filipino writers from around the world - USA, Canada, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Saipan.
In February 2013, his article for the West Philippine Sea International Essay Contest by US Pinoys for Good Governance was adjudged as a Top 10 winner which was participated by Filipino writers from around the world - USA, Canada, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Saipan.
But
perhaps the blog’s most noteworthy win is on the 5th Ramon Aboitiz
Foundation, Inc. Triennial Awards Blogging Contest where he also ranked first,
besting other bloggers from the Visayas and Mindanao. Several news outlets
featured this where JR bagged P25,000.00:
 |
| The blog author with the esteemed statesman Aquilino "Nene" Pimentel upon their one-on-one meeting in Makati in May 2013. |
JR speaks about blogging and social media to schools and other events upon invitation.You
can drop him a line at his e-mail address (jrgon_zales@yahoo.com) or at his Facebook
profile page at www.facebook.com/jr.gonzales1. You may invite him to speak at your event, by inquiring to the mobile number: 0935-133-3809.
For the latest blog updates, please like the official Facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/PolitikalonWeblogOfJrLopezGonzales.
 |
| The blog author (wearing white T-Shirt) with some of the participant of the blogging seminar last April 2015 at Mindanao State University - General Santos City. |
For the latest blog updates, please like the official Facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/PolitikalonWeblogOfJrLopezGonzales.
Dear Mr. Gonzales,
ReplyDeleteGreetings! I'm KARL R. De MESA, the consulting editor for GMA News Online's Opinion Section. Our site clocks in an approximate of 1 million hits per day.
We're very interested to re-post your blog entry titled "Filipina Beauty: The “White Skin” Standard -- Part 1 and 2 (http://politikalon.blogspot.com/2013/10/filipina-beauty-white-skin-standard_9.html)", which is quite relevant and of interest to us.
In lieu of this, we'd love to post it in our Opinion section (http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/opinion) if you'll give us permission? I hope it has only appeared on the Politikalon blog and not in any other mainstream media outlet (Rappler, Interaksyon, etc)?
We can provide a short introductory paragraph for context, a link back to the original URL of the post, credit you aptly, and provide a short, two sentence biography at the end. Kindly also provide us a profile pic we can use to accompany the post.
Also, may we re-curate the flow of the piece so that the Nancy Binay part is near the top, so it's more current? Or you may also re-edit the piece yourself if you're so inclined.
You may send me an email at karl.demesa@gmail.com or contact me at 0919-6927048. Hoping for your swift and positive response.
Thank you very much!
KARL R. De MESA
Consulting Editor
GMA News Online