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I was living here in Manila during Typhoon Ketsana (September 2009) and was impressed by how Facebook and Twitter quickly became the most reliable and most-used sources for information. "The evacuation center in Mandaluyong needs diapers"; "Volunteers meet at Ateneo, 6am"; "Can someone in Marikina check on Maria Navarro and family? Haven't heard from her yet. Address: …"; "I am collecting food, does anyone have a truck?"

We all know about the dangers and benefits of using social media in our personal lives and the importance of personal branding. But these outlets are equally as useful in the business world. Sites such as Facebook and Twitter are increasingly being used as marketing and publicity tools for companies. And when budgets are tight, using these sites can be a cost-effective solution to branding and marketing needs, especially for a young organization.

All job-seeking young professionals should have a strong online presence, otherwise they are going to be completely overlooked by recruiters, personal branding expert Dan Schwabel said.

While reporting on a forum held on Tuesday in New York about the 20-year anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall, I noticed something odd. I seemed to be one of the youngest people in the room. At age 32, I'm not a kid anymore, and it got me thinking. The panelists were all professional journalists who had covered the fall. And as they reminisced about their memories and impressions, I noticed they offered virtually no context for the valuable perspectives they were sharing.