Digital Tools can give Quantum Boost in the Movement for Social Change

“The integration of new media and other technologies into people's campaigns is a necessity to improve the effectiveness of arousing, organizing and mobilizing the masses,” said Rick Bahague, national coordinator of the Computer Professionals' Union (CPU). “While the methods to change the social condition remain valid, the form of delivering our messages must take into consideration the new channels of information.”

KODAO Productions and the CPU has recently concluded a three-day workshop on new media called “AOM 2.0: Integrating Info-Activism in People's Campaigns.” It was held at the UCCP Center for Education and Development (CENDET) in Cebu City and participated by various people's organizations all over the country.

Topics discussed during the workshop ranged from the best experiences of advocacy campaigns in the Philippines, the use of new media tools such as social networking and blogging for advocacy work, to the principles of scriptwriting and filmmaking and fusing new media in advocacy video production.

Digiactive.Org, HARAKATI-ASIA and the Ibon People's Education Resource Center, and the Organization for Visual Progression co-organized AOM 2.0. Logistics and lodging were provided by CERNET Inc., CENDET-UCCP, and the Visayan Community Medical Center.

Ms. Mary Joyce, former head of the New Media Operations for the Barack Obama Campaign and a co-founder of DigiActive.Org, is one of the main resource person along with director and multi-awarded writer Boni Ilagan of Kodao Productions. Members of CPU, KODAO, and the different multi-media groups from the different regions shared unique stories and experiences on using new media in their advocacies.

The Philippine premiere of "Burma VJ", an award-winning film documentary on the human rights abuses in Burma was shown in a video night session along with the trailer of Joel Lamangan and Boni Ilagan's upcoming political film "Dukot (Desaparecidos)".

“The spread of the Information Era even into developing nations is now a significant factor we cannot ignore that is affecting the dynamics of society,” said Mr. Bahague, with regards to the rising use of new media and other alternative information and communication technologies or ICTs in the Philippines.

“Various organizations regardless of which sectors they come from can give their campaigns a quantum boost with the appropriate digital technologies,” added Mr. Bahague. “The important thing is that their campaigns continue to uphold the interests of the Filipino people as a key to success.”

Click for photos of AOM 2.0