Texting Activist Tool

Article

Texting first became popular in the Philippines during the late 1990s when Joseph Estrada was the president of the country. Cell phone users, maximizing the free texting service offered by phone companies, began sending text jokes about the incompetence of Estrada. This proved effective in undermining the credibility of the former president. Text jokes were then used as a creative form of protest against other notorious public figures, especially politicians. People continued to use texting to express their disenchantment with the policies of the government. Seven years ago, the historic uprising in Edsa Street (“People Power II”) eventually led to the downfall of Estrada. This January 2008 article explores cell phone use in the Philippines.