“Why Social Media Will not work in Philippine Election 2010”
Few days from now, the much-awaited nationwide event in the Republic of the Philippines will surely come to pass, just as every Filipino anticipates this momentous event to become the commencement of a better transformation. This May 10th, people will practice their suffrage to create this long-awaited change. In a while, a new president, vice president, 12 senators, 287 members of the House of Representatives along with the other 17,000 local officials will soon be elected to lead this democratic country.
Philippine Election 2010 is looked forward by every individual, especially to the people revolving around the world of Social Media and Networks. They will surely wave off the banners of current events related to this upcoming election.
Even before Election 2010 came, the Philippine Social Media took its action already. Arlene Burgos posted her article just this January 6th this year about the Boto Mo iPatrol Mo: Ako ang Simula or BMPM. You are familiar with this, right? This “booming online industry” is an “election-focused citizen journalism campaign of the ABS-CBN News and Current Affairs”, which Burgos is its new media manager. This campaign foresees citizens to partner with journalists to serve the community. Likewise, the famous jingle of GMA7 sang by the Sexbomb Dancers known as “May bilog na hugis itlog” rings to the ears of every Filipino, both young and old, related to the 2010 Election. This song aims to educate voters of the new automated method of voting.
Presently, most of the running candidates are campaigning in social media sites and networks already. If you would notice on facebook’s ad columns, various presidential candidates individually sell off themselves convincing voters to shade on their names for the upcoming 2010 Election. Fans of these candidates even post videos and photos regarding their candidates’ successful campaign in different places nationwide. Similarly, politicians invade the TV screens by now with their own chants and jingles. Presidential Candidate Manny Villar’s jingle is probably the most famous. It was even a hilarious incident when Baby James, Kris Aquino-Yap’s son, screamed Villar’s name in one of Senator Noynoy Aquino’s campaign, who is also running for the same position. This occurrence, to no surprise, is also being posted in selected media sites in the web.
A recent post of Social Media Philippines just posted an article entitled “Why Social Media Will not work in Philippine Election 2010”. Compared to America’s respond on Obama’s triumph during the US Election, Filipinos are “not that savvy in terms of net technology.” You see, there are some things people must consider first before using social media. Goals, strategies, and authenticity are some of the things tackled. Just like what it said: “PR people should consider these things listed above. You don’t just tell your clients to be in social media channels and imitate what others are doing. There’s this certain characteristic to be believable when using social media and that is being human and true.”
