The  Philippine Internet Users Society (PIUS) enjoins  all  internet  users  and all computer-based businesses and establishments to support the Sept 22 ”OneWebDay,”  the  global  celebration  of  the  internet.

First in the Philippines. The OneWebDay Jam on Sept. 22  will be the  first ever celebration in the Philippines,  but  the  4th year  to be  celebrated  globally in several other countries led by the  U.S., where the New York-based OneWebDay non-profit  organization  is based. This year, about 50 countries are expected to join the  global  OneWebDay celebration.

OneWebDay was founded in 2006  by Ms. Susan Crawford, who is now an adviser of  U.S. Pres. Barack Obama on science, technology, and innovation policy at the National Economic Council.
Go  for the Next One Billion. PIUS maintains  close linkages with OneWebDay Inc.  and other  organizations, which are  supporting  the  United  Nations  Internet Governance  Forum‘s (IGF)  target of  the  next ONE  BILLION  new  Internet Users.

PIUS Chief executive Officer Michael M. Alunan said  “PIUS  supports  this advocacy,” adding that PIUS  itself has  fully  embraced it with its  slogan  “Empowering  Everyone Through Computer and Internet  Access,”  which will  be emphasized  during  the Sept. 22  OneWebDay  celebration.
And because OneWebDay  is being  organized like a movement, Alunan said commercial establishments,  malls, schools, etc.  are encouraged  to join  the OneWebDay celebration, similar to  the support  for   the Earth Day  Hour  last  April  22. Internet shops nationwide will also be encouraged  to  offer  free  tutorials  to  non-users, for an hour,  half-day or even an entire day, to support  the cause , while generating new  customers for them. 
He also  called  on “all  internet  users  and  all  Filipinos, particularly the  youth among  the  Poor,  to  email and send over their suggestions and  proposals on how the PIUS-OneWebDay advocacy can be pushed so that every internet  user  is  empowered  by the treasure trove  of  information and  ideas that the Internet can  offer.”
Big Bang celebration. Alunan said PIUS will also hold various  pocket  events  and local support activities being volunteered by various  partner advocates. These events, some of which will be held  days  before Sept. 22,  will also contribute to  the  OneWebDay event and the overall  advocacy  of  PIUS.
Various groups and individuals are also encouraged to volunteer and initiate their own OneWebDay events. They just have to coordinate and inform PIUS office by email at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it . If  they support  the PIUS advocacy,  they  may also send their  respective logos and join its  growing  list of advocates and volunteers. Even the  PIUS  website  is  being continuously  developed by  youth  groups and volunteers.
All these activities can be stringed  and consolidated together  into  one big celebration that can  simultaneously  be done  nationwide. He also  appealed on the Telecommunication  companies,  the  computer  manufacturers,  software  developers, internet schools, and every stakeholder  in the  broad ICT  sector to  step  forward contribute  their share  and  support this advocacy  by sponsoring possibly  some  of the  planned events. After  all,  their  support  will  eventually  redound to their  own  benefit   as  the mounting  advocacy  and the reforms to be  pushed  by  PIUS will  help  increase the  demand  for  broadband internet  services,  computers, accessories, software and  various  auxiliary products  and  services.

Comments (2)

David D'Angelo said:

Bill on the wrong turn I think we should still celebrate the internet and One Web Day. It is also because of the fact that Philippine Internet Users are not united and not have a voice that laws like this are being pass. I am also favoring a bill like this but the punishment should be more on websites having these pornographic contents. I do not think that the internet should be filtered. There is a so called freedom of information. Filtering is very dangerous and once it is started what will then be filtered next. Strengthen the law, give proper education to kids and parents and fight poverty. Poverty is one of the root cause of child pornography. Another cause is the prevalence of lewdness in television. Many think that sex and pornography is okey since they can see sexy girls on television as well. It is right to protect the child but I think it is wrong to filter the net.

August 27, 2009

Ed Zafra said:

Should We Celebrate? Sorry for the title of my comment but I believe Internet users in the Philippines are facing some serious negative repercussions on the possible effect of a provision in the proposed Anti-Child Pornography Act where the ISPs are mandated to filter the web. There was a news this morning about this at Inquirer.net and more details are available at Owning a Café.

August 26, 2009