ON SOCIAL NETWORKING

Obviously, one of the many wonders of the Internet is for us to search long lost friends, relatives, classmates etc... To some, hunting(joke-joke hehehe) old boyfriends, girlfriends, crushes or past admirers. It also connects us to our family, never met relatives and even our enemies. Wonder of wonders too when we gain new friends boundlessly across the mountains and the seas.

Taking Friendster for example, a social networking site where most Pinoys gaily post their pictures and have their acquaintances have a peep on their lives. According to Wikipedia, it has 19 billion page view per month, 90 million members and still counting. Mountain View, CA, USA may be the main office of this site but most of the members are Asians. And yes, Philippines is on top of them.

Every time I see old friends, classmates and relatives, I'm like an excited teenager who would not hesitate to let them know I'm happy to see them after a looongg time. Of which to some, its an awkward thing to do.

Many funny as well as sad stories that we can count just by joining this social networking alone. There's that jealousy when past lovers suddenly send a message to your spouse and sometimes would brew up arguments which I think is a normal reaction. Normal, I said, not to justify jealousy but for it as a natural response to the given situation. It would be hypocrite if we deny the pang when exes are concern.

There's also that joy it gives to families far from each other. Even though just with pictures, they see their love ones all happy and well. Specially to grandparents who watch their 'apos' grow through the images they see on their computer screens.

Sometimes upon signing up and you see your old friends, it will make you realize that years had pass and how powerful time is to change every one's looks. It would even make you squint and place that face you seem don't know but you're sure you've seen somewhere else. After a a long look and thought, he/she was a group mate and a very close friend in college.

Meeting NEW friends and relatives too as I've said is magical, Just like my cousins Miss Buguias and Janice. Maybe we've bump into each other many times back home in Benguet-Baguio but it took us to join Friendsters, them in Arizona and Canada and us here in Italy, before we've known we're related.

I have to include this, through Friendster, my sons received a book signed by Mr. Paul Sr. himself of the Orange County Choppers courtesy of Nikki, a mother of three from New York whom I've never met in person.

Dylan, my second child, is always thankful to all the gifts from Ninang Marjh, another found friend thru the net. We hope to meet her if we'll be lucky to visit Austria.

I could go on and write what I am thankful of with signing up to all these social networking. All I wanted to point out is its the new trend of keeping in touch and its going to stay. It may be just in a virtual world but since you're at it, cope with the technology with out losing the proper way to extend comoraderie.

You added an old friend who is actually impossible to locate because you had no idea where in the world he/she is. She/he is then ecstatic to leave your page a comment of appreciation, have the courtesy to say, "thank you", at least. Not only that its the proper thing to do but its what social networking is all about. Otherwise, what's the point? You're merely parading your photos?

As long as you've got no bad intention or ruining any body's life, its okay to say ciao, nice to see you, your family looks great and thank you. That's what I've learned (the hard way) after 3 years of joining the cyberspace craze! For the newbies, take your time, we understand hehehe....