The Web revolt that shook Willie Revillame’s world

SAN FRANCISCO—It started with a video clip of a six-year old boy dancing like a macho dancer on Willie Revillame’s show, an anguished look on his face, tears flowing down his cheeks.

Whoever created the YouTube clip of the crying, dancing boy named Jan Jan thought it was funny, and, from the comments, many others thought so, too. But then it spread to other sites, including Facebook. And another reaction emerged: Anger.

Then the rebellion began.

Within two weeks, the Web revolt, highlighted by the ‘Para Kay Jan Jan’ community page on Facebook, had prompted government officials to call for hearings, convinced companies to pull out ads, triggered a heated debate on how children should be treated on Philippine TV—and forced a controversial TV star to go on leave.

The ‘Para Kay Jan Jan’ campaign is not the first example of Pinoy Web activism. But it’s arguably been one of the most successful—even as it also highlights the limitations of social media as a weapon for social change.

I must confess that, at first, I was skeptical of the campaign. My idea of activism was formed in the 80s when getting involved meant marching on Liwasang Bonifacio or Mendiola to oppose the Marcos regime.

You have to face risks, including getting beaten by the riot police. I was even one of the stupid ones who stuffed crushed charcoal soaked in water in handkerchiefs that we used as improvised gas masks for teargas attacks. (I stopped doing that when someone warned me that inhaling tiny bits of charcoal was probably a bad idea.)