Timeline of Significant Events in Philippine Cyberage
The Internet boom came late for the Filipino people, but even if they initially “lagged” behind in the global pacing they made up for it in less than 10 years, becoming avid users of Internet and shortly after, wireless communications. As the Filipino culture discovered the ability to harness the uses of the Internet, they became addicted to it. Thus began the Cyberage of the Filipino.
1994
March
- The collaborative work of Computer Network Systems Corporation (ComNet), the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) and major Universities of the Philippines connected their wide area network (PhilNet/PhNet) to the United States via a leased line. The Philippines had officially entered the world of the Global Internet.
October
- Mosaic Communications, Inc. (MosCom) becomes the first commercial Internet Service Provider (ISP).
- Chuck Gardner starts Cyberbayan, a listing of Filipino sites, making it the country’s first online directory.
- US-based Ken Ilio starts Tribong Pinoy and Tanikalang Ginto, the first comprehensive site directory.
- De La Salle University becomes the first educational institution to put up a Web site.
1995
March
- The Public Telecommunications Act of the Philippines is signed into law, which among other things removed the need for value-added service (VAS) providers to secure a franchise.
June
- Globe Telecom launches G-Net Internet service. US company Sequel Concepts, Inc. sets up Infocom Technologies, Inc.
August
- Ticketworld offers online ticketing.
October
- Businessworld Internet Edition, the country’s first newspaper to go online, launches.
November
- Davao-based Web Link becomes the first cyber café in the country.
December
- Urban Bank announces plans to set up online virtual bank. MailStation Net becomes first walk-in Internet access provider
1996
January
- Global Systems Interconnect, Inc. (GSI), the first Cebu-based ISP, sets up and later launches G-Spot, the country’s first search engine.
- Subic announces plan to become a cybercity.
February
- Compuserve plans launch of Asia-Pacific service, including the Philippines.
- The Philippines joins the Internet 1996 World Exposition, an online virtual exhibit.
- Eiger Consulting & Information Systems (ECIS) sets up second Internet café in Katipunan, Quezon City.
March
- Department of Science and Technology Secretary William Padolina backs Internet freedom.
April
- PLDT buys majority stake in Infocom. Senator Orlando Mercado files resolution seeking an inquiry into Net porn.
- ABS-CBN becomes first local TV network to put up a Web site, through ABS-CBN Interactive.
May
- Bankard announces plan to offer home shopping and electronic payment transactions online via Bankard Online.
June
- Filipinas Heritage Library unveils Bibliotech Internet Café.
- AMA launches its own ISP, AMANet, Inc.
- ISPs form association, Philippine Internet Service Organization (PISO).
July
- Bayantel launches ISP, Bayan.Net.
September
- Cybernet launches Powerhouse.net, a media portal aggregating various publications similar to Time-Warner’s Pathfinder.
- Portal Inc. introduces beeper-to-email capability.
- Mecklermedia and Sequel Concepts Inc. organize highly-successful Internet World Philippines ’96 at the Shangri-la EDSA Plaza Hotel.
- Netscape a no-show at Internet World ’96 “Browser Brawl”, pitting Netscape Navigator 3.0 versus Microsoft Internet Explorer 3.0.
November
- Web Philippines, Inc. puts up online directory, Sentro, and job site, Trabaho.com.
December
- Subic unveils cybercity.
1997
February
- Internet directory and search engine Yehey launches.
- Rival directory and search engine EDSA also launches.
March
- Webscape Philippines offers the first prepaid Internet card, Internet Axess.
April
- AOL eyes Subic as base for international service center. PISO blocks PLDT’s metering plan.
May
- Urban Bank introduces its Home Virtual Banking (HVB) system to corporate and individual clients, becoming the first to offer true Internet banking services.
- EpiCNet announces cable Internet access roll-out.
- Abbygale Arenas wins Ms. Photogenic at the Ms. Universe 1997 pageant, based on online votes.
- Clark launches own Philippine Cyber City.
June
- Cyberville Online announces plan to build proprietary online Cybermall.
July
- Philnet launched SARNET (Science, Academe, and Research Network), to connect more than 2,000 schools.
- PLDT launches PhIX (Philippine Internet Exchange), which interconnects local ISPs. It allows local Internet Service Providers, with a primary connection to the global Internet, to access and exchange local Internet transactions without accessing the Global Internet.
- Bancnet becomes first ATM consortium to operate as an ISP to its member banks.
August
- Satellite communications in the country Satellite technology now links Metro Manila government stations to all regions of the country.
- The Mabuhay Philippines Satellite Corporation launched the first Philippine satellite, the Agila II
September
- IDG’s Internet Commerce Expo opens, organized by WS Expositions Group.
- PLDT and Globe Telecom plan to offer ISDN.
October
- Portal Inc. enables the Philippine Stock Exchange (PSE) to offer online, real-time stock quotes.
- Witcomm International Corp. launches WebTV.
- Team Mail, the first local free e-mail provider, is established.
November
- NTC decides against PISO on metering.
- Cyberspace, Inc. takes over Cybernet, leaving clients unable to access their e-mail accounts and hosted Web sites.
1998
January
- Congressman Leandro Verceles Jr.’s RPWeb initiative that will connect more than 12,000 government offices and schools is signed by President Fidel Ramos.
February
- Asian ISPs gather in Manila for Apricot ’98 (Asia Pacific Rim Internet Conference on Operational Technologies).
- ZakNet launches satellite Internet service.
March
- PHnet launches second Internet exchange, PhNet IX.
- WS Computer Publishing Corp. buys Fiesta Online, which operates Yehey.
- Government sets up e-commerce council.
- Pinoymail launches, offering free Web-based e-mail.
- Dino Ignacio’s Bert is Evil wins the IDG-organized, San Francisco-based Webby Awards for the Weird category.
May
- AOL begins Clark operations.
- Centennial celebration sites proliferate.
June
- PLDT moves back metering plan to April 1999.
- Philippine Internet Commerce Society (PICS) is formed.
July
- Senator Juan Flavier calls for Senate inquiry on metering.
August
- US-based international ISP Neptune8 opens local office, stirring a major flame war on ph-cyberview.
- Police raid knocks out Subic cybercity computer systems.
- Congressman Leandro Verceles Jr. proposes formation of a Department of Information Technology and Communications (DITC).
September
- Consumer advocacy group PLDTi (Philippine League of Democratic Telecommunications, Inc.) is formed, partly to combat phone metering.
October
- Cable TV operator Destiny Cable launches cable Internet service.
- William Padolina proposes new laws on e-commerce.
- Globe Telecom is first to offer VSAT.
- San Miguel Beer Online, the first local site to accept online payments, is launched.
December
- The first Philippine Webby Awards, organized by The Web Philippines magazine, plays to a mix of geeks and celebs at the Hard Rock Café.
- Magoos Pizza’s Web site, a pioneer in web-to-fax ordering technology, wins E-Commerce Site of the Year.
- Philmusic.com grabs the Web Site of the Year award.
- Yehey hosts Web site of Bb. Pilipinas pageant.