BEBOT GELS (FEAT. PING) MEET BIKOY

For our SP133 (Argumentation and Debate) class, we were tasked to do an interview regarding the role of communication in lobbying. The group decided to narrow down the topic into lobbying through blogging.

The interview group consists of the bebot gels–yours truly , Nash Albacea, and Jena Lariza–and Ping (formally known as Joanna Armendez).

We were very lucky to get an appointment with Victor “Bikoy” Villanueva, the first Filipino male blogger, Airah Cadiogan, and Congressman Mong Palatino, of the Kabataan Partylist.

Ms. Airah Cadiogan and Mr. Victor Villanueva

The interview was held last September 11, 2009 at the Shangri-La Plaza Mall.

We wanted to spice up the presentation of the interview to the class so we decided to do something different, i.e. we are going to be cheerleaders doing cheer dances, of course. Bring it on!

When we arrived at Shangri-La, the interviewees–Ms. Cadiogan and Mr. Villanueva–were still not there so we first taped our webcast-ish introduction. Bebot Nash was the official video person because it was her videocam and she was not feeling well at the time. After we finished doing a B-I-K-O-Y cheer (the usual letter-clap-letter chant), we were surprised–and REALLY embarrassed–to be approached by no other than Mr. Villanueva himself. Apparently, they were there early–probably even before we arrived. KMN.

Some of the relevant insights we learned from the interview are as follows:

#1: The 5 simple steps in lobbying: (1) Identify the issue, (2) Know how you will defend your issue (3) Identify the people you have to talk to, (4) Organize an activity, and (5) Follow-up. “An instance of lobbying is not enough. It has to be sustained.”

#2: Blogging is a strategic tool for lobbying. It is an effective way of encouraging the targeted audience to join the cause or advocacy. However, it must be noted that it is only a tool. It is still necessary that complementary activities are done.

#3:  Many of the youth today thinks that once they joined a group or cause via various social networking sites, they are already helping in bringing about the desired change. “It is not advisable for youth to be online activists.” A simple click on “Join the Cause” button is not enough an action to show that an individual really cares about the issue.

Ping, (Me), Ms. Airah, "Bikoy", Nash, Jena

Mr. Bikoy Villanueva, who apparently always brings a camera with him, took a group photo of us and told us that he will blog about our interview topic and place our photo along with it–isn’t that the coolest thing ever?! HAHA. Sorry. We were simply delighted to be featured in the blog–even if it is just a single blog post–of the first Filipino male blogger. I tell you, Bebot Nash and I check his blog from time to time. HAHA

To view his blog post, you may see it here.

Print Screen from the blog of Mr. Victor Villanueva

The Bebot gels and Ping did great that day, I think. Actually, it would have been a perfect day if not for the LRT rides and the traffic on our way back to Manila.

Afterwards, we went to SM Manila to watch Greenwich’s Grand Gig, where Ace Acosta‘s band, Rapid Pagongs, were one of the finalists. And John Lloyd Cruz was there to present the winner.

Don’t you just love this day?!

KUNG IKAW ANG PRESIDENTE NG PILIPINAS, ANO ANG GAGAWIN MO?

PHASE #1: PLANNING

Because the short video has to be viral in just a span of ONE WEEK, we have to think of something that is up-to-date, and appealing to our generation because the youth are really the ones who spend much time surfing the Internet and watching videos online. Of course, whatever the video is, it must be easily done/produced.

Our very first criteria–that we all very much agreed with–was NOT ELECTION-RELATED. It is just that this past month, we have all been caught up with issues on youth vote, national elections 2010, and what have you. So we decided that, as much as possible, we will stay away from ideas that will lead to that topic again.

Someone suggested doing random (hence ambushed) interviews. I suggested that we try a one-question format, where the subjects of the video will be asked only one question. The challenge then was to think of a question that would solicit a variety of opinion.

More than the ambush interviews that we will be conducting, we also want our viewers to answer our question in the comment section once we have uploaded our video. We want them to start a conversation regarding our video. And that’s how we arrived at  Kung Ikaw ang Presidente ng Pilipinas, ano ang gagawin mo? So we’re back.

PHASE #2: PRODUCTION

We divided into three groups; each must do an ambush interview of different students. To make the video get instant hits, one strategy we did was to get the contact information of those we interviewed, so they themselves can share the video to their friends.

PHASE #3: MAKING IT VIRAL

Individual promotion. We posted the video in our respective online accounts such as blogs and social networking sites. Also, we post the links every now and then in our SNS status–even in YM. To easily spread the video, we asked our contacts to watch the video and repost it. We also composed an email message that contains the link, and of course, with some teaser spiel regarding the viral video. We also have gif files to make the promotion package more appealing.

Domain. For easy viewing, we made a domain–http://kungikaw.tk –that is easier to remember so that we can even promote it face-to-face. Also, we sent out a text message about our video. Having a short domain was very handy.

Related sites. We contacted the First Time Voters Project, and other youth-vote and election-related sites if they could view our video, and repost it, if possible.

I would be a hypocrite if I say that I did not employ ad baculum or who-knows-what fallacy to promote the video. I know that we were supposed to tap our target audience–the Filipino youth voters–into watching and reacting to this video. For a video to be viral, it has to reach at least 1000+ hits in less than a week, at least that’s what it says in one or two online articles that we have read.

I saw the videos of other groups and I must say that everyone did a great job. I especially liked Fayah and Wanna be a Korean. I mean, it is not so often that I will see Ate Lou dancing (Trivia: Park Bom–the 2NE1 member Ate Lou portrayed–is her favorite 2NE1 member. Ha!). Jhe was also really bubbly and cute in their video. Her faux bangs were perfect.

Phase #4: Results (as to the promotion I did)

I accidentally sent the video to GMA news via email. I was surprised when they asked for my number and called me asking if I can send them a brief summary about the video. I did. I thought that was the end of that.

Last Tuesday, I received a call from Mariz Umali of GMA News and Public Affairs to tell me that she was in UP Manila and hopes to see me so we can talk about the video. Unfortunately, the ever-enthusiastic Angel Directo was in UP Diliman at that time. She would have been so excited. Well, she still was even she wasn’t there. At least not physically. Haha

When I met her, I was surprised to see that she was with a cameraman and there’s a microphone with the GMA7 logo on it. Good thing Camille was there with me so we were both interviewed. Talk about ambush interview! Hello karma

I think the short interview was shown on News on Q (QTV11). A clip of the interview was shown in 24 Oras (GMA 7) along with two other youth vote-related activities from UP Diliman, and UST.  Only Ate Ana and Glecy saw it. I didn’t get to see it as I was asleep by the time. HAHA

I think, the Youtube link of our viral video was shown because a video of us was taken while we were playing the it in Ate Jackie‘s laptop.

For all those who haven’t watched yet our video:

THE COMEBACK

LADY NO MORE GAGA

That was the headline piece on the newspaper that was shown in Lady Gaga’s “Paparazzi” music video after she fell off the terrace.

Since I had my straight bangs, most of my friends started calling me Lady Gaga or Lady Paula. Somehow, it  seemed like Gaga and Paula are alike terms. BUT THEY’RE NOT.

Actually, it’s not that I don’t like it. It’s pretty much okay. Before, Paula, as the dictionary of babies’ names puts it, means small. Still, I’d like to think that I was named Paula in reference to St. Paul the Apostle. Now, as said already, it’s being equated to Gaga. At least by my so-called friends. Just kidding!

When Filipinos use the word gaga, however, they unintentionally make it sound SO not likeable. Also, I’m NOT really a fan of Lady Gaga….until lately. I mean, I’ve been singing “Paparazzi” for days. That must mean something, right?

The one and only pleasant meaning of gaga that I found was from http://www.thefreedictionary.com/gaga where it was defined as an informal adjective to describe excitement. If by being called Lady Gaga, they meant gaga in its positive light, then by all means, call me gaga. Gah. It still sounds so wrong. HAHA

Now let me use gaga in a sentence. I WAS GAGA OVER THE IDEA OF DOING A COMMUNICATION BLOG. As I’ve said in my introduction entry, an academic blog is something different but I’m excited to try it. Dismally, as time progresses, I was not able to sustain my excitement and interest until I gradually became a lady no more gaga.

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If you haven’t watched yet the “Paparazzi” music video, you may watch it here. I can’t post it because embedding the video was disabled. I actually subscribe to Lady Gaga‘s official YouTube channel now. Ha!

Reminder when you watch the MTV: When people address me as Lady Gaga or Lady Paula, it is just because of my bangs, and no reason at all that is similar to what you will witness in this video.

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If you have seen the MTV, you will know that Lady Gaga was intentionally pushed off the terrace by her boyfriend when she hit him with a bottle of wine causing her to fall. People then thought that she died. Of course they were wrong because all along, she was in disguised plotting a revenge against her ex-boyfriend. When she succeeded, she revealed herself again.

So what do Lady Gaga and Little Miss Straight bangs–I–have in common (apart from the obvious full straight bangs)???

Refer to the title–The COMEBACK

Don’t worry. I’m not plotting against anyone for some revenge mission. It’s just that after 7 long weeks of being stagnant, I am once again sticking my bangs into what is happening in the world of Organizational Communication and New Social Media. And the only plan I am plotting right now is how I’m going to sustain my online presence and how I’ll be able to keep up what with my six or so missed blog posts.