Module 3: The

Role of ICT in
Recent History

CANLAPAN, SHANTI LORRAINE A.

CAMERINO, LANCE CEDRIC
11 - NEWTON
1. Radio Veritas and EDSA I
(People Power Revolution)

Cardinal Tagle said that Radio Veritas’s main job is to share important
information, especially God’s message. On April 11, 1969, they opened
Radio Veritas with the help of Cardinal Antonio Samore and Cardinal
Rufino Santos.
 At first, not many people listened to it. But things changed
when Radio Veritas reported on the assassination of Senator
Ninoy Aquino in 1983, way before the government-run media
did. When Cardinal Sin asked for people’s support on Radio
Veritas, two million Filipinos from different groups joined a four-
day protest on EDSA from February 22 to 25, 1986.
2. Text Brigades
and EDSA Dos

Before Filipinos started using messaging apps like Messenger, the

Philippines was famous as the “Text Capital of the World.” In
1995, they introduced Short Message Service (SMS) as a fun idea.
But in 1998, mobile providers made it a real service, mainly for
hearing-impaired people.
People went from saying “I’ll call you” to “I’ll text you” because texting was free. But
later, phone companies began charging 1 peso per text, which was still cheaper than
calling. By 2001, about five million Filipinos owned mobile phones.

In 2001, something big happened called EDSA Dos or the Second People Power
Revolution. It started when 11 senators voted against revealing evidence of political
corruption by the former President. After that vote, people received a text message
asking them to join a rally. Thousands gathered at the EDSA Shrine, and the pressure
led to the president’s resignation on January 20, 2001.
3. Million People
March
From August 22 to 26, 2013, there were small protests in different cities
in the Philippines and worldwide. The main one was at Luneta Park,
called the “Million People March,” even though about 400,000 people
attended. These protests were against the misuse of the Priority
Development Assistance Fund (PDAF). The PDAF is meant for lawmakers
to support small community programs, like scholarships, outside the big
national projects.
The Million People March organizers and supporters used Facebook, Twitter, and
Change.org to spread the word and gather support.

Change.org is a big platform where people can start petitions for change. In the past,
you had to go around asking for signatures, but with this website, you can easily add
your support by signing petitions online. As of August 23, there were 19 petitions on
Change.org related to PDAF issues, with about 26,942 signatures supporting various
campaigns.
4. Yolanda People
Finder
Yolanda, also known as Haiyan, was one of the strongest typhoons in Philippine history. It hit
on November 8, 2013, causing a lot of damage. In Leyte and Samar, power and
communication lines were cut off, making it hard to know what was happening.
Before Yolanda, Google Philippines opened in January 2013. They chose the Philippines
because it has a growing digital economy and many people who are good with technology.
So, how did Google help Yolanda’s victims? Besides social media, Yolanda survivors used a tool
called Google Person Finder. It’s like a message board where people can share information
about themselves and look for loved ones. Just by clicking “I’m looking for someone” and
typing a name, thousands of people affected by Yolanda were able to connect with each other
and find their families and friends.
How to start an online petition?
1. To use change.org for the first time, you can sign up using your Facebook account. If you’ve used it
before, simply enter your login information.

Image source: https://www.change.org

2. Press the “Start Petition” button and pick the type of issue you’re addressing. Then, follow the four
steps.
3. Click “Save and Preview.”

You have the freedom to support any petition that resonates with you.
Take a moment to read the petition details and see if it’s something you
care about. If it is, go to the right side, where you’ll find a box to fill in.
Complete the sentence with your reason, saying “I’m signing because…”
and then click the “Sign this petition” button.