One really can’t even begin to put a boundary on the reaches that the Internet has.
Classic example is Charisse Pempengco’s YouTube video that landed her coveted live performances on the Ellen Degeneres and Oprah Winfrey shows. Ask any artist in the world who is trying to break into the "international" (read: U.S. mainstream) music scene, and almost all will agree that talent alone needs a boost. In this case, Pempengco’s debute on American national TV was given a boost by YouTube’s databasing capabilities.
The same goes for Christine Gambito of the happyslip.com fame. What started out as weblogs—rather, video weblogs—eventually got the Fil-American actress so popular on the Internet that major advertisers are expanding their spend for her to write them material she can use on her website.
Even politics has found a willing audience on the Internet, as witnessed by the number of hits and circulated emailed links the Democrats’ debate videos made.
Showcasing next generation talents
With promises of global reach and talent showcase, one of the latest online devices in local cyber gateways is Colgate Fresh Confidence with Cooling Crystals’ "Baka ikaw na ang next Fresh Confidence star" talent search.
The contest website, www.colgatefreshconfidence.ph, is the sole platform for "auditioning" TV commercial model wannabes, and currently has over 100 video-entries. The idea is "American Idol" meets "YouTube"—where amateur videos are uploaded and an online voting scheme is used to pick out the winner. Only this one is closer to home, AND promises the winner a TV commercial and a P100,000 cash prize.
After May 31, 2008, the deadline for uploading of video-entries, 50 semi-finalists will be determined from the consumer votes. From that pool, the 10 finalists and the grand prize winner will be chosen by a panel of judges based on a set of criteria. An announcement of winners will then be made in June 2008.
To help those who rely on Internet cafés for surfing time, Colgate-Palmolive has a special arrangement with Netopia, one of the Philippines’ biggest Internet café chain. The collaboration states that, consumers get a free 30- or 15-minute Internet usage cards redeemable at any Netopia branch when they buy specially marked 150 ml or 100 ml Colgate Fresh Confidence with Cooling Crystals toothpaste. The bigger the toothpaste tube, the more free minutes the consumer may avail of at Netopia.
Colgate Fresh Confidence 150 ml promo pack is available in Spicy Fresh, Peppermint Ice and Applemint Fresh; 100 ml in Spicy Fresh. Other variants include Kool Menthol Fresh and Lemon Freeze. The website www.colgatefreshconfidence.ph has more information, as well as the full contest mechanics.
Truly, there is much challenge in harnessing the power of the Web, what with its undefined bounds and the ever-evolving sophistication of man’s imagination with regard to what technology can achieve. But for the purpose of determining the next Colgate Fresh Confidence star, consider that power controlled and maximized.
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