mongster's nest

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Cybercampaigning

Download campaign materials of Kabataan Partylist. Watch our video message for the youth. Check out the photos during our national convention. I uploaded new pictures in my photoblog.

(Thanks Ederic, Jhay, Bikoy, Shari for the ideas on how to launch our cybercampaign).

Politicians agree that election campaigning is a media war. They echo the same studies: Most people rely on TV and radio for information. Less than 2 percent of the population depend on posters and internet to monitor the news. It is then logical why many senatoriables allot more than half of their campaign expenses for TV ads.

But candidates should not ignore the power of internet. Online campaigning can actually complement traditional election tactics. This may not decisively influence the outcome of elections today but it can be an effective tool for campaigning.

According to the AC Nielsen survey, there were 7.5 million internet users in the Philippines back in 2005. Last year, the estimate was 9 million. The number is still small compared to the audience share of TV and radio but the increase of internet users every year is phenomenal. Ten years ago, who would have thought mobile phones and texting will become handy and popular today? Ten years from now, the internet may emerge as a more influential source of information than TV.

Politicians need to be informed that most of the internet users (55 percent) today are young people aged 20-29. According to the same survey, 68 percent of internet users have bachelor degrees, 63 percent live in Metro Manila and 41 percent of students who are actively surfing the web are fulltime undergraduate students.

A politician tapping the internet is a politician reaching out to an educated segment of our population residing in a vote-rich area. These people are highly respected in their communities who can influence the opinion of others.

A TV ad needs to be quick and precise in introducing the candidate since it is expensive. Campaign platforms are reduced into dull soundbytes and uninspiring election jingles. On the other hand, the internet provides affordable and even free opportunities to make a comprehensive, creative and entertaining presentation of a candidate’s election agenda. In short, it is more educational and interactive since internet users can immediately send feedback to the candidate.

For example, Prospero Pichay wants us to believe he is ‘pro-pinoy’. His TV ad is a disappointment. He may never know how many people are turned-off with his ad. But through the internet, readers can immediately give constructive criticism. Pichay can also explain in detail of his plan to lower the prices of medicines and improve the livelihood of our people. Through the internet, Pichay can boast of his ‘pro-pinoy’ programs without worrying of expensive rates.

Political strategists are correct in underscoring the fact that despite advances in technology, Philippine election campaigning is still traditional. Candidates need to reach out, talk and mingle with the most number of people. Voters have to feel of being personally involved in the election campaign. Analysts insist the internet cannot perform this task.

They may be correct but they are also wrong. Virtual can become real. It’s not just going online that matters. It’s how to synergize online campaigning with traditional election strategies that define the effectiveness of the internet.

In our national headquarters, we don’t have boxes of campaign paraphernalias. We still don’t have the resources to print election posters. We don’t have a fax machine. We don’t have newspapers and cable TV to monitor the news. But we do have a wi fi connection.

We don’t have money to reproduce and transport our partylist brochures, T-shirts and leaflets. Our problem was partly solved by asking our members and supporters to download these materials from our website and multiply account. When allies and politician friends comment that we do have posters in Antipolo, Batangas, Albay, Baguio, Ilocos, Davao and elsewhere, they find it hard to believe that these posters were not given by the national office.

We also uploaded our campaign jingle in the internet and we asked our chapters to edit the song by translating some parts in their local languages.

We have volunteer students who visit the office everyday and they use their laptop computers to campaign in the internet. We have been asking bloggers to grab our campaign designs/graphics advertisement and post them in the sidebars of their personal websites. We have motivated members who are endorsing our partylist in friendster, myspace, chatrooms and other social networking sites.

I have been receiving e-mails from many people asking for concrete ways to contribute in our campaign. Most of them learned about my candidacy through the endorsement of bloggers.

I have been attending discussion groups and school assemblies because students have been inviting me through the internet. Some are printing and disseminating our campaign materials in their communities.

I belong to a group known for its grassroots organizing capability. We cannot be accused of overemphasizing or exaggerating the potential of the internet. The bulk of our membership still relies in the tried and tested formula of campaigning directly to the people. What we are doing is maximizing the internet because it is there. Online campaigning is easy, affordable, cool, interactive and safe. Online campaigning is a necessity for candidates with little resources like us.

posted by: mongpalatino at February 21, 2007 12:14 | link | comments (7) |
media

Comments:

#1  21 February 2007 - 21:44

 

kung may pera lang ako...hmm...pero i know your group will make it. hopefully Kabataan will get three seats this May. You have my vote and "moral" (hehehe, walang financial) support. Go mong!

Anonymous

#2  22 February 2007 - 08:49

 

I was fortunate to ask how candidates are using technology or the Internet to campaign. So far the more impressive answers came from Danton Remoto, English prof from Ateneo. ;-) Thanks Mon for this info.

Anonymous

#3  26 February 2007 - 11:00

 

nakita ko kayo sa ch7, they featured your cybercampaign. ok yun, minamaximize nyo yung internet. pero sana your group can put up a tv ad pa rin. yung video niyo with angel locsin, ok na yun, edit na lang para 30 sec lang. i support your group.

Anonymous

#4  26 February 2007 - 15:05

 

Eto ang sama, dapat tong mga kabataan, inuuna munang pagyamin ang sarili-mag aral at maghanap ng tunay na trabaho. Pero kung papasok sa pulitika, Naku, maling-mali. Kapareho lang sila ng walang kabuluhang SK. HUWAG NYO NANG GAMITIN ANG KABATAAN PARA SA INYONG PERSONAL NA INTERES..MAHILIG LANG TALAGA KAYONG MAMULITIKA KAHIT ANG INYONG PROGRAMA EH PWEDE NA NAMANG GAWIN NG IBA.

Anonymous

#5  27 February 2007 - 11:01

 

Hi Mong. Sana you can post the link of your stats from AC Nielsen, para mas credible. Wish the best for your group.

Jazzy

Anonymous

#6  27 February 2007 - 11:32

 

huh! pareparehas lang kayong mga politiko, kabataan man o katandaan. iisa lang patutunguhan nyo, pangugurakot. cge nga! saan nyo kukunin ang pera nyo panggastos? e pangkape pa lng sa mga bisita nyo araw-araw kulang pa ung sweldo nyo. wag nyo sabihin na kabataan kayo, kumakalam din ang sikmura nyo at natutukso. Aktibista kuno, ngmamahal sa bayan, eh samantalang di kayo ngbabayad ng buwis. kaming mga isang kahig isang tuka na nanahimik, walang hangad kundi makakain sa maghapaon ang syang ngmamahal sa bayan at ngsasakripisyo dahil kami ang nagpapasweldo sa mga hinayupak na mga poliko. letse kayo!!!

Anonymous

#7  28 February 2007 - 07:37

 

i'm doing my share of helping you guys out. i've grabbed your video and posted it on my site. you can check it out here: http://atomicgirl.blogdrive.com/archive/474.html.

if there's anything else i can do (mostly online), just give me a buzz. :-)

Anonymous

Comments: