Wednesday, September 30, 2009

Technology and the Bayanihan spirit

During the long nights and days, many Filipinos stranded in their flooded homes and streets around Metro Manila remain connected with their families and friends through the Internet, specifically, mobile technology.

And within the 12 hours when Typhoon Ondoy pounded the metropolis with the heaviest rain in 42 years, people remain connected through their mobile phones and the Internet. Many of us probably don't recall Typhoon Yoling?

Calls for help and rescue were posted around the web. Many bloggers posted contact details of rescue groups, media organizations, schools and other groups helping out. All these Filipinos were responding to the cries of help of many Filipinos, stranded, specifically, in the high-priority areas like Marikina, Pasig and Cainta.

Through sms, am sure thousands of messages crossed the Smart, Globe and Sun networks. People were asking and updating their friends and family of their status. Sending photos of flooded areas. Buzzing news media for “on the spot” reports of flooding and rescue operations.

Facebook users updated friends, family and followers of their status. Many who were stuck in traffic and in school used Facebook to inform others of their status. Users shared stories of heroism and courage.

Hundreds of Thomasians, which included my friend, Noelle el Farol, were stranded inside UST during that weekend. Being stranded didn’t really cut you off from the outside world. Micro-blogging sites like Twitter and Plurk brought out news and updates in a few words. And authorities learned of other places like Pinagbuhatan, Pasig that remained flooded days after the weekend.

There are hundreds, if not thousands of stories to share about how technology worked during these recent days. And many of these stories have been aired by ABS-CBN and GMA, and published in the online editions of major newpapers like the Inquirer. Kudos for being quick to report and bring the news in real-time!

Maybe, during times of crisis and emergencies, mobile phone companies can provide extra services like free real time news updates and even, give free airtime to prepaid subscribers?

Yes, it helped many to be connected even amidst the floods and let people we cared for know how we were doing, if we were safe or needed rescue.

Yes, it helped us identify flooded streets and avoid these streets. With our mobile phones, technology helped keep us company for hours as traffic didn't move in many streets. Many sent tweets while on the road.

Yes, it gave information on which numbers to call to volunteer our time and energy and know where to send our donations. Hundreds of volunteers responded to these calls for help and went to schools, homes and even warehouses to help pack relief goods.

But most of all, through technology, the bayanihan spirit of Filipinos worked in many amazing ways that helped saved lives.

Monday, September 28, 2009

Call for help and rescue

Here are some important contact details and numbers we can use during these times after Typhoon Ondoy and any future emergencies. Note, that I have deleted details of any politician or personalities.

1. National Disaster Coordinating Council (NDCC)
(+632-9125668, +632-9111406, +632-9115061, +632-9122665),
Help hotlines: (+65 734-2118, 734-2120),
Email: ndcchelpdesk@gmail.com

Click this link for their website.

2. Philippine Coast Guard (+632-5276136)

3. Air Force (+63908-1126976, +632-8535023)

4. Metro Manila Development Authority (136)

5. Marikina City Rescue (+632-6462436, +632-6462423, +632920-9072902)

6. Pasig Rescue Emergency Number (+632-6310099)

7. Quezon City Rescue (161)

8. San Juan City Hall Command Post (+632-4681697)

9. Bureau of Fire Protection Region III (Central Luzon) Hotline: (+63245-9634376)

10. Philippine National Red Cross (143, +632-5270000)

11. Philippine National Red Cross Rizal Chapter operations center hotline: (+632-6350922, +632-6347824)

12. ABS-CBN Typhoon Ondoy Hotline: (+632-4163641)

13. GMA Kapuso Helpline: (+632-9811950-59)

Friday, September 18, 2009

Blogger at 10

Belated Happy birthday, Blogger!

According to the Official Google Blog, when Google acquired Blogger in February of 2003, there were about 250,000 visitors per month. Today, more than 300 million!

The blogging phenomena has grown and risen beyond expectations of many internet enthusiasts and media experts. Am not a social media expert, but in the course of the story, tentatively titled, “The Business of Blogging” for the Philippine Business Magazine, I have realized many insights about this blogging phenomena!

While I knew that Blogger had been acquired by Google in 2003, I learned that Evan Williams, one of co-founders of Blogger, is now with Twitter! Really a small industry.

I shall discovered that Justine Hall is recognized by the New York Times Magazine as "the founding father of personal blogging."

The Official Google Blog says, "Blogs are a global self-publishing phenomenon that connect Internet users with dynamic, diverse points of view while also enabling comment and participation." We're proud that Blogger continues to be a force for free expression worldwide and that it is growing quickly despite its maturity. In the past two years alone, the number of people contributing to a blog has more than doubled, and every second of every day, a new blog is created on Blogger.

As part of a series of “birthday presents” to users, an application called “Blogpress” developed by InfoThinker can be used on one’s iPhone. Now, that brings blogging to more connectivity on the road. For me, with still an expensive costs of mobile connectivity, Globe Visibility and a cold Starbucks Mocha Frappe works well.

Again, happy birthday Blogger! You continue to change the way the world thinks and share life’s experiences!

Sunday, September 13, 2009

Free! Insights for Search

Search takes a whole new meaning with the launch of Google Insights for Search. Attending the media briefing held at the Ascott Hotel in Makati City, Jay Trinidad and Therese Lim, described to media how “Insights for Search” works.

Jay who is Regional Product Marketing Manager, Consumer Products, Google Asia Pacific, showed a comparative search between today’s presidentiables. He described how off-line activities help create spikes in online search. Guess who led the spikes this month?
The results showed a clear visual trend of spikes and leads of one presidentiable over another candidate.

With an expensive cost of research, a media colleague asked if “Insights for Search” was free, Jay says, “ It is free because it is what is right for the users.” That is good as many companies can’t afford the cost of research. “If people have more information, they could spend more money,” adds Jay.

While “Insights for Search” provides interesting comparative data, it is NOT stand alone data. It doesn’t show actual number of hits. This figure is rounded off in “hundreds.” Brand managers would still need other qualitative research data to analyze results from “Insights for Search.” Therese says, “It helps provides trends.”

Jay adds that “Insights for Search” is available in 40 languages and is part of Google’s commitment to its users.

Another concern raised by another colleague was “artificial search.” This could be true for presidentiables who would want their online presence rise by simply asking X amount of staff to do nothing all day but type the presidentiable’s name. That is possible but the Google team assured media that it had in place tools that would detect “artificial search.” Guess, Google could always track down these fake searches through the IP address where the query is coming from.

What I find interesting and valuable is that “Insights for Search” allows you multiple comparative searches, like search for three brands at the time. Also allows you a focused geographic search, like if you want to see trends in Luzon or Cebu.

“Insights for Search offers a glimpse into the spirit of the times,” says Jay. “What the world is searching for offers an insight into what’s interesting to people around the world.”

I shared “Insights for Search” later with my Chief, comparing queries for her brand and a competitive brand. She found the tool interesting and has also shared the tool with her client and agency team. Of course, client confidentiality prohibits me from identifying which brands we googled. But you try this tool and find out how technology works for a brand audit. And try it in Filipino!

Friday, September 4, 2009

Twitter on the court?

Shaq with 2.1 million followers is probably the biggest user of Twitter among the NBA players. Even the NBA has its own Twitter account with more than 1 million followers. But can you imagine an NBA player, sitting on the bench and sending out tweets as the game is in progress? It has been done before.

And now NBA commissioner David Stern is following the lead of the NFL and will soon issue guidelines on how professional players use social media tools inside and outside a game. NFL had recently announced its guidelines on the use of social media. It now prohibits players, coaches and football operations personnel from using social media networks like Twitter and Facebook 90 minutes before kickoff to the end of traditional media interviews after games. And NFL game officials are banned from using social media at all times. ESPN is also developing stricter guidelines.

According to a Yahoo! Sports story, Stern says, “Obviously, there is a happy medium between tweeting before the game and tweeting from our bench during the game.”

Stern says players need to stay focused on their game. “It would look unusual for a guy sitting on the bench to pick up his cell phone, and I think we can agree that he probably shouldn’t be writing e-mails. It’s not about Twitter; it’s about the line of communication. That’s what we’re focusing on.”

Yes, Twitter and other social media platforms help players connect to fans, but using these tools during games is definitely taboo! And if I was a coach, I would also restrict mobile phones in the locker rooms or on the bench. Like students inside a classroom, players need to focus and concentrate on their game. That is already tough with thousands of screaming fans.

Already, players and even coaches are on YouTube, facebook and Twitter. They all videos and profiles which keep fans updated. And they are just like you and me, fascinated on how technoloft works, in real time, 24/7.

There is always the right time and place for technology to work. And the court or the bench isn’t one of these places. You are either looking to get fired or get benched throughout the season!