Soda Ideas

This afternoon's Digital Filipino Club meeting was as bubbly as the soda often served at those meetings. Chikka's Hoton Elicaño got everyone excited about his company's tie-ups with overseas SMS networks. Seeing as how the Philippines is the "SMS capital of the world", with 7.3 million overseas Filipinos spread across the globe, you'll see me in line to pick up stocks at Chikka's IPO.

Speaking of overseas Filipinos, Internet marketing professional Gerry Diwa just returned to from the US to put up his own outfit here in the Philippines. This country definitely needs expertise like his; we both agree that professional Internet advertising is next to nonexistent in the Philippines. With broadband penetration on the rise, now is the time to change that.

On that note, aspiring webmasters should take a look at Michael Limueco's website development workshops. Filipino small businesses need all the help they can get to strut their stuff on the 'Net without too big a bet.

For those with a bone to pick, our host, Atty. Claro Parlade, updated the Club on his Philippine online dispute resolution project, which he expects to go pay-to-play soon. A country where nine million cases languish in lower courts could definitely use some digital justice.