In a bid to optimize the potentials of social media cutting-edge technologies, the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) staged its 2nd Social Media Summit, one of its biggest events this year with more than 1,300 participants, at the AFP Theater on June 23, 2015 with the theme: ?Connect, Respond, Share: Advancing Patriotism in the Age of Internet of Things.?
The summit participants included information officers from various units of theAFP, Department of National Defense, Philippine National Police, academic Institutions, government organizations and agencies, non-government and civil-Society organizations.
Spearheaded by Media and Civil Affairs Group (MCAG) and Civil-Military Operations School (AFP CMOS) of the Civil Relations Service of the AFP, and organized by public relations agency ArdentComm, the event was aimed at helping each participant and their organization?s initiatives in information and communication management to achieve organizational and national goals.
In his keynote address, AFP chief of staff Gregorio P. Catapang Jrsaid: ?The wealth of information that social media has to offer can provide an opportunity to harness our potentials in preparing for any challenges that we may face in the future. Social media can become a powerful tool for efficient information dissemination to further improve peace and security in our land.?
The event, which was live-streamed over DWDD Katropa Radio wbsite was viewed by about 700 online users in real time from the Philippines and Asia Pacific, United States of America, and some countries in Europe and the Middle East.
A number of Wi-Fi hot spots were provided for participants? online access.
Thirty touch-screen computers of the AFP Civil Military School were used for electronic registration via Google App. ?This facilitated the paperless electronic registration of more than 1,300 participants,? said Major Edgardo Talaroc Jr, commandant of the AFP CMO School.
BGen. Joselito E. Kakilala, CRS commander, said in his welcome address: ?The importance of shaping public perception and of winning the hearts and minds of people rely on the effective use of various media because the operation spectrum has been blurred from strategic to tactical level. And as we open this year?s Social Media Summit, we will have an opportunity to orient ourselves on game-changing breakthroughs, prevailing trends, and proven practices that we could use to our advantage.?
?Under the theme, Connect. Respond. Share: Advancing Patriotism in the Age of the Internet of Things, we are faced with the challenge of utilizing this technology to rally our own people to join the side of peace, prosperity, and progress. The emergence of external threats to our sovereignty also calls for unity among our people, and as access to the Internet consistently expands, we have found our most reliable and fastest way of fanning the flame of patriotism,? GEN KAKILALA said.
The conference speakers, who are subject matter experts, delivered their presentations to enhance the skills of social media managers and build bigger network with AFP?s civilian counterparts.
The 2nd AFP Social Media Summit was made possible with the help of event partners including: Smart Communications, D-Link, Lenovo, Isentia, PAGCOR, Suzuki, Unilab, FERN-CSecurity Reform Initiative, Max?s Restaurant, Nurture Spa, IP-Converge, Top Cock, Blue Palawan, Splash House, PNP-Police Community Relations Group, Military Information Support Team ? PH Combined Special Outreach Group, Enervon Prime, CarbTrim Iced Tea Mix, and Armed Forces and Police Savings & Loan Association.
Media partners included BusinesMirror, BusinessWorld, DWDD Katropa Radio, Rappler.com, GreaterPhilippines.com, MoveOn.ph, and Newsbytes.PH.
?The 1st summit last year has been successful in terms of fueling up the increase of participants? social media initiatives for information dissemination to enhance the image and relevance of their organizations in this digital age. This 2nd Social Media Summit of the AFP has leveled up from the previous event. The turnout and reach of participants and event partners are larger than last year, including actual audience and global live streaming viewers,? said Major Michael T. Aquino, MCAG Commander.
“Among the positive feedbacks we received were all praise with regard to in-depth discussion of summit content. I believe our goal in advancing patriotism, love of country and service and enhancing social media knowledge and skills of participants have been reached and we look forward to a bigger and better summit next year.”