PRESS RELEASE
REFERENCE: Mei Velas (0927) 65-35-598
An initial batch of some 20 volunteer computer technicians have committed to offer free computer repair services in support for the Sept. 22 OneWebDay global celebration of the Internet, which is being organized in the Philippines by the Philippine Internet Users’ Society
April Pagaling, Executive Director of Upd8t, which is one of the partners and advocates of PIUS, announced this recently, claiming the technicians want to contribute their share as they deeply appreciate the vision and mission of PIUS, which is to “Empower Everyone thru Computer and Internet Access.”
Pagaling said that “it is ironic that there are many technicians and graduates from computer schools who do not even have their own coputers. For them, it doesn’t matter if they will not get anything for their volunteerism, but what is important is that their efforts will contribute to the overall advocacy and campaign being pushed by PIUS.”
PIUS Chief Executive Officer Michael M. Alunan said that “PIUS is seeking the support of any potential mall or commercial establishment willing to offer their premises as venue for the FREE computer repair services.
“Better still,” he added, “that these commercial establishments encourage and mobilize all the computer and Internet shops to offer similar services in support of the advocacy.” Alunan said that by doing so, these establishments effectively convert their places into OneWebDay Zones.
OneWebday will be the first ever celebration in the Philippines, but the 4th year to be celebrated globally in other countries led by the U.S., where the New York-based non-profit organization OneWebDay Inc. is based. Close to 50 countries are expected to join this year’s celebration.
PIUS, which is host and local affiliate of OneWebDay Inc., is now gaining momentum silently owing to its strong advocacy and increasing linkages with various networks here and abroad. PIUS supports the United Nations Internet Governance Forum‘s (IGF) target of the next ONE BILLION new Internet Users and has embraced it with the PIUS slogan Empowering Everyone thru Computer-Internet Access.
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 and actually generate new customers.
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 concretely to the benefit of the general public.
Meanwhile, various groups and individuals are encouraged to volunteer and initiate their own OneWebDay events in other areas and regions, particularly in the big cities where Internet access is already available. They simply have to coordinate and inform PIUS office by email at info@piusonline.org as well as register and post their logos and be included in our ever increasing alliance of partners and advocates. For details, they can check the website at www.piusonline.org
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Posted by Marie Casas on Sun, 2 Aug 2009
tags:
As released on PRLog
Reference: Mei Velas +63 (927) 65-35-598 mei@piusonline.org
The Philippine Internet Users Society (PIUS) enjoins all Internet users and all computer-based businesses and establishments to support the Sept 22 “ONE WEB DAY,” the global celebration of the internet.
The First in the Philippines
The One Web Day Jam on September 22 to be held at the Rajah Sulayman Park in Malate, Manila, will 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 One Web Day non-profit organization is based.
One Web Day 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.
The entire One Web Day network is proud to pursue the legacy Crawford, and PIUS, in particular, plans to implement her vision thru various programs and projects, says PIUS Chief Executive Officer Michael M. Alunan.
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.
Alunan said “PIUS also supports this advocacy locally. In fact the entire Sept. 22 One Web Day celebration is aimed at highlighting the advocacy that Internet Is for Everyone.“
And because OneWebDay is being organized like a movement, Alunan said commercial establishments, malls, schools, and other public places are encouraged to support the One Web Day 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 or even an entire day, to support the cause as well as to generate new customers for them.
Competitions for a Cause
There will also be pocket-event competitions, namely: the Essay Writing Contest for the Youth, Visual Art Competition, Bloggers Competition, the Cyber Shout Band Competition and the Online Pinoy Entreps Networking (OPEN) E-commerce competition, the awarding ceremonies of which will be done at the Sept. 22 One Web Day Jam celebration in Malate, Manila.
Alunan said “these competitions are aimed at creating the Big Bang celebration or generating the attention and participation of various sectors and individuals to the PIUS advocacy. They are also aimed at generating funds and sponsorships to support the various programs and projects being planned by PIUS.”
He stressed that the Telcos, computer manufacturers, software developers, internet schools, and every stakeholder in the broad ICT sector must contribute their share and support this advocacy. After all, it will eventually redound to their benefit as the mounting advocacy and the reforms PIUS will push will help increase the demand and market for broadband internet services, computers, accessories, software and various auxiliary products and services.
Sum It Up at a Summit
One of the major activities being planned is the holding by early next year of the first ever internet users summit in the Philippines. “It will highlight issues like ethics, costs, computer and internet access, cyber crimes and security problems, safety and the protection of children against violence and pornography over the internet,” Alunan added.
While there will be various issues and side-issues to be tackled, to sum it up, the Summit is all geared mainly towards pursuing the overall goals to push for the next one billion new Internet users.
One of the culminating activities of the proposed PIUS SUMMIT is a Covenant with all participants, advocates, and various political and business personalities to drumbeat the clamor and support for the proposed Magna Carta for Computer and Internet Access.
Alunan announced that PUIS is studying specific plans and programs on how the vision and mission of PIUS can be put to reality, or concretely how to make it possible to bring a computer to every Filipino home.
In the meantime, he called on all internet users and all Filipinos, particularly the youth among the Poor, to email and send over their suggestions and proposals.
By speaking out and sending your ideas, we can unite the sentiments and aspirations of every Filipino and as ONE, we can provide a BIGGER VOICE and make a BIG DIFFERENCE.
Posted by Marie Casas on Wed, 8 Jul 2009
tags:
The Philippine Internet Users Society, Inc. (PIUS) is holding its 2Blog+2Act: A Blogging Competition as one of the pocket events being organized for the forthcoming Sept. 22 OneWebDay celebration.
The competition aims to recognize the best blogs written on the topic, “How Can We Make the Internet Accessible to Everyone.” The top winning blogger will receive a plaque, a cash prize of P10,000, and other prizes in kind from potential sponsors.
Helping organize the blogging competition is Asyanna, one of the ever-increasing partners and advocates of PIUS, Asyanna, which is run by a group of budding entrepreneurs led by Mei Velas-Suarin, is an upcoming online shop of Asian products.
Ms. Velas-Suarin, who is also a blogger at Wordpress and a writer of Suite101 online magazine, emphasized the importance of the Internet in both the personal and professional spheres.
“With the internet, we have created a much smaller world. We can now blog and reach out to millions of people, which was not possible before. More importantly, the internet has made it possible for small entrepreneurs to carve their own niches. We may be small but our combined numbers can now hit millions,” she added.
Michael Alunan, Chief Executive Officer of PIUS, said the blogging competition is being organized to “encourage discourses and discussions on the role of information technology and the Internet in our society, bearing in ind the challenges that the Philippines faces today.”
He said that “blogging has become a very powerful tool in disseminating information as well as in advocacy. It also provides a very accessible and cheap venue where practically everyone can freely express or read opinions. The competition, therefore, takes advantage of this powerful medium to push for our PIUS advocacy, which is simply empowering everyone thru better computer and Internet access.”
Alunan said the blogging competition is part of the OneWebDay Celebration, which will be celebrated for the first time in the Philippines, on September 22, 2009. The OneWebDay celebration is a global simultaneous event which was founded by Susan Crawford in 2006. Crawford now advises President Obama on science, technology, and innovation policy at the National Economic Council.
Ms. Velas-Suarin said the competition is open to Filipino bloggers, who have been maintaining blogs as of January 1, 2009. For details, check with our website at www.piusonline.org.
Posted by Marie Casas on Mon, 15 Jun 2009
tags: Press Release
Every year, OneWebDay focuses on a new theme. This year’s theme is the promise of digital inclusion, and we will call attention to efforts that work to ensure that anyone who wants it has access to the Internet and the skills they need to engage in our new communications environment.
The fight for digital inclusion is now on the cutting edge in the long struggle for social and economic justice. Access to a fast, affordable, and open Internet is essential for every child in school, every entrepreneur with a new idea, and anyone who wants full access to our government and the democratic process.
Via Mitchell Kapor
Posted by Marie Casas on Sun, 31 May 2009
tags: onewebday
One Web Day is happy to have 2 distinguished leaders spearheading One Web Day’s vision of internet access for all. We warmly welcome Mitchell Kapor as Chairman of the Board and Nathaniel James as Executive Director.
Posted by Marie Casas on Sun, 31 May 2009
tags: onewebday
