Philippine Participative Platforms
http://urdujamanaoag.com/manaoag/pages/um_reseaux.html#
Statement from website:
“Philippine Art des Reseaux” is a diagram of participative platforms where you can find the activity of Philippine artists, photographers, muscians, writers, poets and more as well as participate yourself to their website. The links on the left are more subject and discipline specific sites, while the links on the right are more mainstream or international platforms. Please email us if you would like to add a link to a website which allows people to participate in forums, upload galleries, writing contribution, etc regarding Philippine art and culture communities.
There is a progressive activity on the internet by Filipinos; they love to blog and share information with one another. Filipinos are quite enthusiastic about internet activities and even organize events and festivals for who has had the best blog of the year or who has had the best website for sharing information. Such events take place in Metro Manila like The Philippine Blog Awards.(1) There are many Filipino networks who take blogging quite seriously and consider themselves as professional bloggers. There has also been a rise in the activity of photojournalism and the advent of free platforms such as Blogger, Google, Livejournal, Multiply, Wordpress and Yahoo allows amateurs to “professionals” to be in the forefront. However, the extent of Philippine cyber activity does not conclude to just the norm of personal blogging. It extends to a revolution unfolding within what can be considered as Philippine Contemporary Culture.
Whether trying to beat the hot tropical weather in the Philippines and escaping to air-conditioned internet cafes or Filipinos in America, Europe and around the world communicating and networking, there are definitely issues at hand to be directed upon the Filipino diaspora. There are many reasons for the diaspora of Philippine people from migration or economical reasons. Phlippine American Sociologist Emily Noelle Ignacio speaks about many aspects of this cyber movement and computer mediated communications of the Philippines in her book Building Diaspora published in 2005. The advent of the internet has proven to be an important medium on a more social and political level for communication surrounding Philippine culture. She speaks about an online newsgroup project soc.culture.filipino for example who had stressed about the newsgroup’s mission to become visible and regain agency. One of the topic threads from the site states:
-new technology in the Philippines
-“what’s happening back home” information an passing on to others unable to read news. PURPOSE: Would like to discuss relevant Filipino issues in a newsgroup that would single out Filipino culture. Currently, there are several other nations that have started their newsgroups . . . I believe that there will be a consistent flow of news, especially with the state our country is in presently. This newsgroup may help other to understand what our culture is really like and not what it is rumoured to be. (soc.culture.filipino) (2)
Such participative platforms, which informs, educates and are easily accessible to the public are mediums in which Filipinos around the world are recognizing to have a better grasp on this situation for connecting and understanding with their own culture. The need comes from the desire of identity, liberty and autonomy; the internet is an avenue for this. Ignacio argues about the spheres that concern postcolonial theory and feels internet research can add to our understanding of postcoloniality (and post-modernity) in that it allows us to see the process of redefinition among self-defined members of diasporas in a decentered space. Because of this, there is the potential for more voices to be heard simultaneously. (3)
It is a critical time for the Philippines as their activity on the internet deepens. In this particular investigation I have sought to discover participative platforms that circle around artistic and cultural areas. The results show progressive activity in field of discussion forums in the spheres of education and art culture. CTRL+P founded by artists Judy Freya Sibayan and Flaudette May V. Datuin in 2006 is a Philippine contemporary art journal. There mission states its creation for easy reproduction and circulation.(4) They are also part of the Documenta Magazines Online Journal and are one of the prime examples of participative platforms, which has began to give Philippine contemporary art a voice. There is no particular deadline for essay entries to their journal, once they have collected enough material they publish immediately on the internet.
Filipiniana.net on the other hand is an example of a website with a vast amount of free educational material online readily available particularly for students. You can find links on Philippine literature from the 18th century or read about Jose Rizal, Philippine’s national hero. The editors of this site have also initiated the Wikipilinas project and contribute to its evolutive knowledge of the “Who’s Who” of prominent Philippine figures to basic Philippine cultural knowledge like the origins of the adobo - a favourite dish of the Philippines. The creation of the site is just one aspect, they also reach their audience by organizing local events that help educate the public about what they sites are about and how to contribute to the Wiki.
Uploading sites particularly for photography and images that also have discussion forums or the option to create a blog are seemingly progressive. These communities have substantially helped raise awareness for the Philippine contemporary photography and art activity in the Philippines and Filipinos around the world. There is a massive movement of Philippine Photographers in which sites like The Philippine Photo Gallery who offer free image uploading, sharing, discussion forums, tutorials and other photographic educational tools. The Digital Photographer or I-Mag Photography are also contributors in maintaining photography communities and forums.
However, other international and mainstream participative platforms are not to be forgotten or overseen. There is a plethora of activity on free platforms such as Bebo, Blogger, Deviantart, Facebook, Friendster, Flickr, Lightstalkers, Livejournal, Multiply, Myspace Yahoo, Youtube, Wordpress and more. The diagram I have created links these areas of Philippine art culture together. There are a few basic areas that I cover, in which I do not limit the research to this – links, forums, blogs, forums, writing, education, photography, art, design, upload galleries, music and video. The mapping is merely basic to briefly show the activity of participative platforms in the Philippines.
(1) The Philippine Blog Awards www.philippineblogawards.com.ph
(2) Page 21 Ignacio, Emily Noelle Building Diaspora 2005 Rutgers University Press USA
(3) Page 9 Ignacio, Emily Noelle Building Diaspora 2005 Rutgers University Press USA
(4) Ctrl+P Journal of Contemporary Art Manila www.ctrlp-artjournal.org
http://www.3dpinoy.com
The online community for the Filipino CG Artist
This site is very informative for the Computer Graphics Artists it offers some basic participative platforms and the owners updates the site with news and interviews of people working in this field.
- Jobs
- News
-Tutorials
- Participative Discussion Forums
- Image Upload Gallery
http://www.ctrlp-artjournal.org
CTRL+PDF Contemporary Art Journal
Founded in 2006 by Judy Freya Sibayan and Flaudette May V. Datuin, this journal is packed with information about the current contemporary art and culture in the Philippines and internationally. Their mission is to utilize Copy Left and for readers to distribute the journal for free to as many people as possible. Since the journal is online, they feel they can publish at anytime, so when they have collected enough substantial essays they upload the issue for ready publication. They are open to writers who want to participate to their journal.
- Call for Essays and writing
http://www.digitalphotographer.com.ph
Digital Photographer Philippines
The most cutting Philippine Photographers are participating with this publication, you can purchase the Digital Photographer Philippines magazine at bookstores or news stands in the Philippines. They offer a free discussion forum on their website where you can find many Philippine photographers sharing information about creative photography techniques, competitions, grants, etc.
- Participative Discussion Forum
http://www.filipinoart.net / http://abc.bounceme.net/gallery*
FILIPINO ART.NET
Founded by Justo D. Cascante III, this website has a lot to offer - different links and a multiple ways to participate by contributing writings, articles and images.
- Call for Essays, News Articles, Stories
- Participative Discussion Forum
- Image Upload Gallery
(*) http://abc.bounceme.net/gallery - This is a separate site, which is not currently on the reseaux, but is part of FILIPINO ART.NET.
http://www.filipinoforum.net
The Filipino Forum
The website is a pretty basic and easy to use discussion forum, some of their topics include Philippines and World Politics, World History, Filipino/Americans, Entertainment and Sports. It is a good way to start getting connected and begin to network with Philippine people.
- Participative Discussion Forum
http://www.filipiniana.net
Filipiniana.net
Their mission states “Philippine studies at your fingertips” is certainly what they offer on their site. They offer a vast online archive on Philippine History, Literature and Culture, which you can readily download and read as well as offer areas to participate in such forums, blog communities and their You Tube site. They are really innovating the internet as an education tool for students in which they also organize events in Metro Manila with Wikipilipinas.org informing how one can use their site.
- Particpative Discussion Forum
- Participative Blog Community
http://www.filphoto.com
FILPHOTO.COM
This is a basic image upload gallery open to non-commercial photographers. Filipinos have a great love for photography, forums like these really allow this aspect of the culture to develop by uploading, sharing and exchanging.
- Image Upload gallery
http://www.filipinolinks.com
Tinaklang Ginto
The owner of this site kindly says to his participants to be patient because he is a one man operation team since 1994! This site is at the heart of encouraging Philippine Art des Reseaux, there is an area of the site where you can add a Philippine related link as well as modify it.
- Add a link
http://www.fotoprism.com
FOTOPRISM.COM
This Philippine based upload Gallery is for sharing your photographers and images. They are very interested to have such a site available free for the public.
- Image Upload Gallery
http://www.imagphoto.com
I-MAG PHOTOGRAPHY – IMAGING + IMAGINATION
This publication, which can also be bought in bookstores or news stands in the Philippines also offers a website with free photography “tutorials, techniques, tips and tricks” as well offering a community forum and upload gallery.
- Participative Discussion Forum
- Image Upload Gallery
www.indigointeractive.netfirms.com
Indigo Interactive
Their mission is to help create a community for lesbian women in the Phlippines that realize gender equality through gender advocacy in the Philippines.* Their mission is layered with references from mythology and their icon for example is the labyrs, which is double bladed axe to represent both for harvest and as a weapon. They are open to many kinds of contributions and participation for their website.
- Call for Prose and Poetry
- Call for Artwork
-“Coming out/Staying” Call for Personal Stories
- Advertise your events
* http://www.indigointeractive.netfirms.com/about%20us.htm
http://korakora.org
Korakora
Artist Fatima Lasay who is a Philippine artist and writer who is interested in exploring the social and political dimensions of technologies. You can subscribe to the Korakora Discussion Group, which is dedicated to the discussion on social, cultural and political art movements in art, science and technology.* the discussion begin via email and selected discussion are then posted to the public on her site.
- Participative Email Discussions
*http://korakora.org/kuro-archives
http://www.lomo.ph
Lomo.ph
Lomography is a photography practice based on the “Lomo” camera first introduced in the 1980s since then it has hit an incredible trend in the Philippines. The Lomo.ph site is open for everyone and especially for Filipinos practicing their lomography. These little toy cameras have prove to have created a solid movement of creative photographers in the Philippines beyond the camera’s marketing strategies.
http://maarte.org
MaARTe
A webzine committed to inspiring creativity and providing tools for critical thinking within the context of art among Filipino communities around the world*, this site is a mega platform for participation. They are open to all kinds of contributions from writing to art all you have to do is email and propose, they conclude to have humorous manifesto of why you should contact them.*
- Open Participation Proposals
*http://maarte.org/?page_id=6
http://www.manikako.com
Manikako
This project is a website to promote how you can contribute to the creation of a Manikako. When you donate your old garments, buttons, yarn and other odds and ends to the organizations they have listed on their site the items are then transformed to dolls for less fortunate children.
- Donate old clothes yarn, buttons and other accessories
http://philippinephotography.blogspot.com
Philippine Photography Scene
Join and participate to this blog by becoming a member of their Yahoo community. Blogspot and Yahoo in particular, have been serving the creative activity of Philippine artists long before newly developed communities outside free server hosts. Their site is filled with the latest photography shows and a many links to other Philippine photography related sites.
- Participative Discussion Forums
- Upload Image Gallery
http://www.philippinephotoresource.com
Philippine Photo Resource
They are currently in site development and are open for proposals if you would like to be included in their project. They have many links to other Philippine photography/camera groups, rentals, stores and more.
- Open Participation Proposals
http://www.pinoybee.com
PinoyBee
“A News Democracy” is what they state - you can register to be a member of this news blog and “report a story”. The site has up to date news forecast from Filipino’s thoughts on American politics to other international world news.
- Call for News and Articles
http://www.pinoykodakeros.com
Pinoy Kodakeros
This is a website to unite and create a community of Filipino Photographers, while they have a main page of news and links, their online discussion group Is hosted by yahoo. They are interested to exchange and share ideas, tips and techniques on digital photographer.
- Participative Discussion Forums
- Upload Image Gallery
http://www.pinoyphotography.org
Pinoy Photography
This is a site promoting Philippine photography, they also offer reviews and articles on new imaging software and equipment. Some of their discussion includes macro, nature, documentary and fine art photography.
- Participative Discussion Forums
http://pilipinastreetplan.blogspot.com
Pilipinas Street Plan
This unique site powered by blogger features the street art in the Philippines. They are open for contributions and photo sharing.
- Call for Stories, Links and Photos
http://photo.net.ph
Philippine Photo Gallery
A progressive image upload gallery – the site also offers a free “Photography School” section where you can find out about history, theory and techniques from digital, black and white to underwater photography lessons.
- Upload Image Gallery
- Participative Discussion Forums
http://rangefinderfilipinas.com
Rangefinderfilipinas.com
These photographers consider themselves “The first and only online classic photography community in the Philippines”. These pinoys are not interested in lomo photography whatsoever - Lomographers beware only classical photography here.
- Participative Discussion Forums
http://sushidog.com
The Best Philippine Short Stories
This is site is a community of Philippine writers who are sharing their love for literature. The site is in the format of an e-zine in which short story contributions are published under issue numbers.
- Call for Short Stories and Essays
http://en.wikipilipinas.org
Wikipilipinas
WikiPilipinas is a free online encyclopaedia in which you can become a member and participate to the evolution of the knowledge available on the site. The site was conceptualized by the editors of Filipiniana.net in February 2007. Their contents include:
- A Who’s Who of prominent Filipinos
- A directory of schools, coorporations, government insitutions, and more
- An almanac of useful and interesting records and data on the Philippines
- A community portal for discussing and preserving the heritage of different cultural and social groups in the Philippines.*
- Wiki Participative Platform
- Participative Discussion Forums
*http://en.wikipilipinas.org/index.php?title=WikiPilipinas:About
