The Hashtag Revolution #And #Other #Brouhahas

Are you practically and responsibly using this?

I guess that this generation of the youth generated a new kind of revolution. Since the advent of the social networking sites (or social media to others), the octothorpe, or the number sign, or the pound sign, or the sharp has found its new distinction in the world of sentences, messages and the revolution. It is now known as the hashtag. Until the time Twitter had its power to choose this symbol from the rest of punctuation marks presented, the "hashtag" or the octothorpe or the number sign or the pound sign or the sharp or whatever has its uses in either computer, mathematics and music.

Basically, the use of hashtag on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram is to make a trend to a particular event, thought, idea or simply a topic. If you will click it, a lot of things, opinions, news and information will be seen. The people behind those social networking sites had their mission on using the octothorpe, to disseminate information but I guess in today's people, it wasn't the proper way. If someone wanted to stand out, just put a hashtag before a word, or a phrase and it will soon trend. A lot of people nowadays wanted to be somebody and by means of being TOO opinionated in all things, the use of the octothorpe became the newest weapon to either bash or adore.

I-HASHTAG NA YAN! - This kind of phrase only started by now when there are events which wanted to be a trending topic. If you've been in a situation wherein you were embarrassed or became a superstar, putting a hashtag in it becomes a vogue. If you've seen your favorite star in a mall, or you had a very special moment with them, putting a hashtag in it becomes a talk of the town. If you're very angry and you wanted someone to be with you, putting a hashtag in it consoles you (I guess?). And lastly, if you're watching some shows on TV, products being advertised or endorsed, movies to be premiered and so much more, putting a hashtag in it means an instant promo. But for how the Million People March last August 26th became a trending topic and turned into a blow by making it possible, the hashtag in its sense has symbolically launched a so-called revolution. There's promotion but for a good cause.

HASHTAG IN THE BEGINNING OF A SENTENCE - #canyoureadthissentenceifyoucantimverysorrybecauseifiputspaceheretheessenceofhashtagwillbelost. #HowAboutThisCanYouReadThisSentenceIfYoureHavingProblemsWithReadingThisImSorry. In the syntactical discussion of a sentence, a sentence of a complete thought shall begin with a capital letter and must end with a precise punctuation mark like a period for a statement, question mark for either a question or a request, and exclamation point for high emotions. In between of a sentence, there should be a space unless otherwise some words which intended as an compound word either hyphenated or combined. Inside of a sentence might have punctuation marks like comma for enumeration and sequences, colon for inserting examples, semi-colon for breaking away two clauses and others. As far as grammar is concerned, hashtag is not used as a punctuation but for correcting semantically ill-formed sentences in some essays and paragraphs (#The computer jumped really high.). You might be really interested enough to see that the font color of your tweet or post changes every time you use the hashtag. Or just you wanted to be popular and be noticed.

IF POSSIBLE, HASHTAG IN EVERY WORD - #If #you #are #doing #this #in #your #tweet #or #in #your #post, #seriously #you #have #a #problem #with #your #sad #life. First, it is so hard to type with a hashtag that nowadays, Twitter is just like Google when you type. After touching the hashtag, lots of possible trending topic will scroll down for you. Another thing is, it is too sickening to read that kind of tweet. It doesn't look good to read and even not alright to retweet or share. The main idea of doing this is to catch attention by everyone which I guess a not so responsible act to be done. You may be using spaces in your sentence but for every word with hashtag, grammar Nazis would definitely feel bad for you.

HASHTAGGING MEANS TRENDING - As you look on your Twitter accounts, there are trending topics in which you may check in and see what's going on with the world. It could be a worldwide trend, or a Philippine trend, or a tailored trend, or just even a trend in your own neighborhood. Putting a hashtag in your tweet may start a trend to elsewhere. Assuming it may trend, it would be considered as a major highlight. But there an instances that a certain hashtag or a certain trending topic don't even bother to be considered as a trending topic. Especially to those "fans" who idolizes someone. This celebrity could have more than a million followers, therefore by putting a hashtag before a tweet phrase could become an instant topnotcher. As a Twitter user, I just don't understand how come some of the trending topics under the top 10 has nothing to do with what should be the trending topics. As much as I wanted to put some examples but a lot of users might react on this. Just go to your Twitter account and try to change your location and see the results.

MEMORABLE HASHTAGGED TRENDS - In spite of those corny trending topics about those cheap things and idols, there were also trending topics with a hashtag which might be included in the Hall of Fame. Just last year, when an essay part was added in the dreadful UPCAT, they started #RejectedUPCATEssayQuestions. Every night, when all of the Filipinos are glued in the now-classic My Husband's Lover, expected is the #MyHusbandsLoverDay and the number of the episode. When the drama series started last June, the trending topic #MyHusbandsLoverDay1 had begun and up until now. I always see as a form of a trending topic are some words to be replaced in a movie or song title. Examples would be #ReplaceMovieTitlesWithBanana or #ReplaceSongTitleWithBra. Therefore, Twitter users will do the same, Mission: Banana instead of Mission: Impossible or The Banana Games instead of The Hunger Games. It may not be funny but it works. And lastly, if you #MentionSomeoneBeautiful or #MentionSomeoneHandsome, don't expect too much that you are the one! I just don't know but those are remarkable instances a hashtag is used in a different and somehow, helpful way.

This is now known as a hashtag revolution where all opinions are now in a form of an octothorpe. We may not know the real use of it in an everyday statement but with its new form and role in the lifestyle of all, we shall put it in our tweets responsibly!

In other brouhahas:

Never shall we fail!

DLSU RETURNS TO CHAMPIONSHIP - After roughly six years of drought in the basketball championship, the De La Salle Green Archers dominated the court yesterday. I was not able to watch it live at the Mall of Asia Arena and at the lobby of the Henry Sy, Sr. Hall but I still feel the tension, the arrows and the roars of the audience in the venue. At first, it was UST Growling Tigers who became the front liner with more than 10 in advance to La Salle. In the first three quarters, if not having tied, UST led the scoring board. But it was not the final bout as DLSU stroke higher and higher until they got two-to-three-point lead against the Espana-bound university. By fourth quarter, with the three-point shots by Thomas Torres, Jeron Teng and Almond Vosotros, the Green Archers led with more than 10 points ahead of the Growling Tigers. At the end of fourth quarter, the score was tied, 65 all calling for a 5-minute overtime. Last shot was given by Almond Vosotros, making a lead score 71-69 ending the game and awarding the basketball championship back to Taft Avenue. The Most Valuable Player award was given to Jeron Teng and sweetly, he dedicated his medal to his Thomasian brother, Jeric Teng. The whole Lasallian community went crazy; the alumni, faculty members, students and administration celebrated the most coveted championship in the whole UAAP season. They never failed playing the ball because they kept their faith and shouted Animo La Salle! Congratulations!

SHINE JESUS SHINE - It is my very first time to experience this kind of contest. Our institution may not be a Catholic school but we are glad to enshrine our devotion to God by means of Shine Jesus Shine: An Interpretative Dance for Jesus. On its third installment, different sections in high school will perform an interpretative dance by their chosen Catholic praise songs. My dear section will dance a favorite Hillsong creation entitled Love You So Much and Most High, chosen of course by me. It is definitely a worth-waiting contest that our school will hold because it is not only about dancing and singing but also praising and lifting His name through music. It was said that the best way to worship is by singing His praises. Thanks to the people behind this project, lots of students are thinking the best way, steps, and routines to use not just to win but also to show how much they love Jesus through interpretative dance. Honestly, I am very excited to join and to win!

INTO CUPCAKES, CHEESECAKES, WAFFLES AND OTHERS - Near our institution is a new cupcakery/coffee shop that will soon be considered as our newest tambayan. Mrs. Pepper's Cakes & Muffins just opened recently and their cakes were all delicious and sweet. Together with my best buddy and my fashionable sister, we tried their cakes and I could say our chosen desserts were all thumbs-up! I just love the idea of some business people who swooned their chances by doing what they really wanted. This time, it's baking and a lot of people, mostly women, are paving the way of showing their glibness in baking. Just inside BF Homes, there are lots of bakeshops which you can try to. Aside from Mrs. Pepper's, there's Larcy's which was featured in Kris TV months ago (we will soon try their cupcakes and cakes), Don Limone which is known for their cheesecake, our barkada's favorite Cafe Boheme especially with its Reese's cheesecake and tacos, and so much more. Another sweet treat that I tried recently was the Famous Belgian Waffles. Right then and there, you will see the waffle cooked in front of you and with your chosen flavor that will sandwich it. I truly love the combination of chocolate and peanut butter, blueberry and cream cheese, and strawberry and cream cheese.The price is not too high so you can happily munch it even in your most stressful day. No wonder I'm gaining tons of weight because of these kinds of food, but hey! Just indulge!

THAT'S MY TOMBOY - Another first in my favorite noontime show It's Showtime comes a pageant only for lesbians. We've been too tired of seeing straight boys and girls sashaying themselves to cameras and to the public and even the gays are now being accepted to have pageants on national television. And yes, we've been to much inclined in the world of gays but not with lesbians, physically female but emotionally masculine. They started the contest last Monday and since then, it became a trending topic on Twitter and most shared photo in Facebook and Instagram. Since both of them are handsomely beautiful, they won as a tie. And day after another, the contest became very successful and worth-waiting segment of the show. Thanks for It's Showtime, it opened a lot of doors of opportunity to say that in this kind of modern time, our lives are considered gender-less. Whether you are a straight boy or a girl, and even a gay or a lesbian, if you're a kind one, you will go a long way and the respect is highly given. We are born in our own way, and That's My Tomboy!

Now to make these three brouhahas a trending topic, put a hashtag on it! But seriously, use the hashtag in a more responsible and mature way! Just like what the network is saying about using social media, think before you click!

#Toodles

photos courtesy of GMA Network (for the Green Archers), ourawesomeplanet.com (for the Larcy's Cupcakery Cafe) and Google (for the blue hashtag).