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CONTACT: FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Rosario Juan (for interviews)
Twitter: @juanxi
Email: rosariojuanonline@gmail.com
Niña Terol‐Zialcita (for media coordination)
Twitter: @ninaterol
Email: nina.terol.zialcita@gmail.com
Mobile: (0917) 554 6758
MANILA’S NETIZENS JOIN GLOBAL “TWEETUP” FOR A CAUSE
IN TWESTIVAL MANILA
MANILA, Philippines – On March 24, 2011, Manila joins other cities around the world in using the power
of online influence to change lives through Twestival Manila, an offline event that brings together some
of the city’s top Twitter buzzmakers and online advocates for some real‐world changemaking.
Taking place at Le Bistro Vert, a sustainable restaurant in Makati’s central Salcedo Village, Twestival
Manila (@TwestivalMNL on Twitter)) aims to raise at least Php140,000) for JeepneED (@jeepneED), a
non‐profit organization that uses a redesigned jeepney as a mobile science and technology labs for rural
schools in the Philippines. Each mobile lab will contain 10 laptops, a 3G hub for internet connectivity, a
printer, a projector, and other basic educational materials.
According to Rosario “Ros” Juan (@juanxi), one of Twestival Manila’s main organizers, “Our initial target
may be modest—Php140,000 or, like the familiar 140‐character tweet, but multiplied many times and
converted to money and directed at a good cause.” She reveals that a reason for choosing JeepneED as
the charity of choice was “the uncanny combination of jeepneys, children, education, science, and
technology… that appealed to a lot of the ‘Twitterati’.”
“The sustainability of JeepneED’s project in terms of hardware longevity and the lasting effect of a good
education were factors that also added to JeepneED’s overall impact,” she adds. JeepneED was also
screened by Twestival Global prior to its approval as the event beneficiary, and passed the criteria
without a hitch.
What is a “Twestival”?
Twestival® (or “Twitter Festival”) is defined in its website as an event that “uses social media for social
good by connecting communities offline on a single day to highlight a great cause and have a fun event.”
The largest grassroots‐based, social media‐driven fundraising initiative to date since its inception in
2009, Twestival organizers and volunteers have raised around US$1.2 million for 137 non‐profit
organizations from around the world. All local events are organized purely by volunteers, with 100% of
all ticket sales and proceeds going directly to beneficiaries.
“Twestival was born out of the idea that if cities were able to collaborate on an international scale, but
work from a local level, it could have a spectacular impact,” the website states. To date, over 200
international cities worldwide have already participated in Twestival.
Juan adds, “Twestival [aims to demonstrate] that social media can be used for social good—that online
efforts can produce significant offline impact. Twitter is not just about playful banter, mundane
musings, and sharing YouTube links. Given the right objective, Twitter can be quite a powerful tool. And
that can be said about social media in general.”
The Philippines: 3rd in Twitter penetration in Asia
According to ComScore, Inc., a measurement service for assessing digital influence and digital
intelligence, the Philippines is the third biggest market in terms of Twitter penetration in Asia, and the
sixth worldwide, with an estimated 2.1 million Filipinos active on Twitter. However, experts argue the
figure could be higher considering this initial figure excludes those accessing Twitter from internet cafes
and mobile phones.
“We’ve had first‐hand experience in how social media has helped us in periods of great distress, such as
Ondoy,” Juan recounts. “We now know that social media can be an invaluable tool in raising awareness
about certain causes and, subsequently, mobilizing people to help.”
“What’s really amazing is that I have not even met half of the Twestival Manila team prior to the event,
but we managed to get this event together. I think that is proof enough of the value of crowdsourcing
that is directed toward one, specific, potentially life‐changing, goal,” she enthuses.
Taking online advocacies on‐the‐ground
Twestival Manila aims to debunk the myth that Twitter advocates and activists are active only online
and are unable to translate their tweets into grassroots actions with lasting impact.
By supporting JeepneED Inc., it also aims to support “community‐driven, sustainable, in‐school support
in science and technology.” The jeepneys being used for JeepneED’s projects are redesigned jeepneys
and run on used vegetable oil.
“Hopefully, through Twestival Manila 2011, we can significantly contribute to JeepneED and help cover
the expenses for their first year of operations,” Juan shares.
“Also, on the event date itself, Twestival Global will be announcing how Twestival plans to help Japan in
the wake of the recent calamities they have experienced. Efforts for Twestival Japan will be launched on
March 24.”
Aside from all these, Twestival is seen to have practical benefits to young entrepreneurs and
changemakers. According to Gen Tiu, proprietor of MiLi Philippines, a company that distributes
creatively‐designed universal chargers and power packs for Apple products, “I decided it's a good idea to
support Twestival because, overall, it's an event that benefits the community. Not just through
JeepneED, but also by providing an avenue for people to connect, reconnect, and build a common
network that would benefit industries. In turn, hopefully, this move would extend to supporting
whatever small economy there is.”
For his part, celebrity news anchor and Twestival Manila host, TJ Manotoc, shared via Twitter DM (direct
message): "I support the growth of the Pinoy Twitter community and it's great that we're getting
together for a great cause ;)"
* * *
Twestival Manila is seen to be only the first of a series of annual events in support of Twestival Global’s
objectives and for the benefit of local communities. This year’s organizers say that bigger, better things
are up ahead, and they enjoin the rest of the Philippine online community to take part in activities that
bring the energy of the digital realm onto causes and communities that need it most.
TWESTIVAL MANILA 2011 was organized with the support of the following partners:
Pepsi Ammado
Bellarocca Island Resort and Spa MiLi Philippines
asianTraveler Magazine Divoom
Le Bistro Vert
Freshman Masculine Wash Netbooster
Galileo Enrichment Learning Program Renegade Folk shoes
Naked Sun swimwear
FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION, VISIT THESE WEBSITES:
Twestival Manila: http://manila.twestival.com/
Twestival Global: http://www.twestival.com/info.html
Twestival Global video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wg2w2EMIWTM
JeepneED: http://www.jeepneed.org/
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