Posted on behalf of PIUS, Inc.
Updates: 21 September 2009
OneWebDay Sept. 22 fest stresses volunteerism, internet access to allThe local celebration of the global OneWebDay on Tuesday, Sept. 22 at the SM Mall of Asia highlights two
advocacies:
1) reviving the Filipino “Bayanihan Spirit” of volunteerism, and
2) Bringing computers and internet access to every home.
The annual OneWebDay celebration, the counterpart of Earth Day for the Internet, was started in 2004 by Susan Crawford, now an adviser of Pres. Obama on science and technology, to highlight the importance of the Internet in empowering the individual, enhancing social networking, and contributing to growth and development thru e-commerce and better access to information.
Hosting the local celebration is the newly-formed non-profit Philippine Internet Users’ Society (PIUS), which got the voluntary support of Event Philippines Inc., that is building its website to be the portal of all local events, while supporting advocacies as part of its corporate social responsibility (CSR).
Ms. Imee De Maiztagni of Event Philippines, said “the ONeWebDay event will feature a mini exhibit, an Online Pinoy Entrepreneurs Networking (OPEN) forum, caricature sketching, historic mass wall signing, symbolic depositing of public messages in time capsule, kick-off of various competitions for awarding next year, and a concert in the evening by popular bands like South Border, Version 4.0, and singers like Luke Mijares.”
PIUS Chief Executive Officer Michael M. Alunan also announced that “volunteer computer technicians will offer FREE computer repair and tutorials for non-internet users, while AMA Computers is sending 10 PC computers. And because the entire area will be a free WI-FI zone, courtesy of PLDT, anyone can bring their laptops and join the laptop brigade of teaching non-users how to use the internet.”
“Despite having no resources, no full-time staff, not even an office, we have been able to get a full-packed event only because of Bayanihan volunteerism and the support of various groups like Event Philippines, Sulit.com.ph, and many others,” Alunan said adding that PIUS also held a OneWebDay event last Sept. 18 at SM Baliuag in partnership with Brotherhood of Destiny and Baliwag.net.
“It is also because of this “Bayanihan volunteerism” that together we can push government and industry for policy reforms, legislative measures, financing programs integrated into tuition fees with schools and LGUS and barangays for out-of-school youth, thus bringing computers to every home,” he added.
Unable to generate sponsors due to the lack of time, Alunan appealed on food chains to extend food donations for volunteers, and for the public to participate in the whole-day event and possibly donate certain minimum amounts, in exchange for a historic OneWebDay certificate, to help defray expenses. In the spirit of transparency, we will cite everyone’s contribution in the website at www.piusonline.com, he added.
“As it aims to represent the interests of the 24 million internet users, including non-users, PIUS, being still a fragile infant organization, will keep its distance from partisan politics, initially, as it respects the varying affiliations and political preferences of its members, alliance partners, and internet users,” Alunan said citing a PIUS statement.
“And because PIUS is run like a movement on the strength of volunteerism, everybody can go ahead and contribute their share to OneWebDay,” Alunan, said citing, for instance, the support of the newly-formed I-CAFÉ Pilipinas, an umbrella organization of internet shop associations, which declared it will invite internet shops nationwide to offer FREE tutorials for an hour, or even one whole day on Sept. 22, which is actually an effective marketing strategy to generate new customers, while supporting OneWebDay.
Updates:
The PIUS Team is looking for volunteers. Please post here if you are interested to volunteer for this advocacy.
Related Events by Sulitizens:
1 Day Free PC Repair by PC Tech grouphttp://www.sulit.com.ph/index.php/view+topic/id/48/1+DAY+Free+PC+Repair%3A+September+22+%40+MOA.+Open+for+everybody.+Please+list+here+first.Grand EB for OPEN (Online Pinoy Entreps Network)http://www.sulit.com.ph/index.php/view+topic/id/6323/Grand+EB+for+OPEN+on+September+22
About OneWebDayOneWebDay (OWD) is an Earth Day for the internet. The idea behind OneWebDay is to focus attention on a key internet value, focus attention on local internet concerns (connectivity, censorship, individual skills), and create a global constituency that cares about protecting and defending the internet. So, think of OneWebDay as an environmental movement for the Internet ecosystem. It’s a platform for people to educate and activate others about issues that are important for the Internet’s future.
At the same time, we’re suffering from enormous digital divides. Lower-income and rural communities don’t have adequate connectivity. Senior citizens and minorities are often left out. Skills are inadequate, and there is a lot of fear of the Internet
OWD is an annual global celebration of Internet day every September 22. Our historic FIRST official celebration of Internet day in the Philippines is very significant. Join and be part of Internet history in our country, join and celebrate OneWebDay!
Quotes:
Craig Newmark, founder of Craigslist, said:
"OneWebDay reminds us that the net really is a democratizing medium, that everyone gets a chance to participate. If you want, you can stick your neck out and speak truth to power."Tim Berners-Lee, inventor of the World Wide Web, added:
"OneWebDay is about ‘one web’... Let’s celebrate, and let’s constantly work to make more, better, cleaner, stronger, deeper interoperability across the planet."RJ David, founder of Sulit.com.ph the largest and most popular buy & sell site in the Philippines said:
"The internet empowers an individual the rights to participate and contribute to the growing and constantly changing online society. OneWebDay helps to ensure that these fundamental rights will be available to everyone."
Philippine Internet User’s Society Inc. (PIUS) is a non-profit organization registered with the SEC, Registration # CN200910005. It has a Board of committed individuals from different professions and an alliance of many different organizations and entities.
Contact: Mr. Mike Alunan – PIUS, Chief Executive Officer at: info@piusonline.org / mikealunan@piusonline.org /
http://www.piusonline.comHow can you help the Web on OneWebDay?- If you’re a Web user, use a standards-compliant Web browser like Firefox or Opera. They’re free, faster, and more protective of your privacy. And because they conform to Web development standards, they make things easier for people who make Web sites. If you’re a Web developer, test your sites with the w3c’s Markup Validation Service.
- Edit a Wikipedia article. Teach people what you know, and in so doing, help create free universal knowledge.
- Take steps to ensure that your computer can’t be treated like a zombie. Computer viruses can steal your personal information. They can also cause major network outages on the Web, slowing things down and making sites inaccessible. Vint Cerf estimates that more than 150 million PCs have already been zombified, and are now awaiting their next order. To learn more about the threat of zombie computers, read this article.
- Help someone put a free ad or join Sulit.com.ph forum – this will be a good way of doing service for someone to experience online exposure for the first time due to Sulit.com.ph's "user-friendly functionalities".
- Join Philippine Internet Users’ Society:
- Become a member of the Philippine Internet Users’ Society (PIUS). Register at: http://www.piusonline.com. Its FREE. PIUS is advocating digital rights, from privacy to free speech to Internet access.
- As an active member you could even organize a PIUS Chapter in your area, or maybe in key cities of the Philippines. See our sites "Chapter" section for details.
- Donate a PC or a Laptop. This will be put into good use for our PIUS Inc. projects to out of school youths and senior citizens.
- Write your OneWebDay story. Talk about what the Internet means to you and why One WebDay matters at: http://www.piusonline.com
- Organize a OneWebDay event project. Host and organize any event you like, related to the Internet (let us know first your project concept). We’re very sure that you and your group have lots of ideas. This way you as a PIUS active member can participate based on the resources you have.
Also,
join and show up with your group on Internet Day-OneWebday celebration,
September 22, 2009 Mall Of Asia, from 10:00AM to 9:00PM.
And finally,
grab your very own memento of this historic event, "I Celebrate OWD Certificate" with your name and other benefits when you give a minimum donation of P100 for the Internet cause.
See you there! Thank you and Mabuhay!
The PIUS Team 
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