Proliferation of Online Angono Forums

Ah, yes.

Thanks to the world-wide-web, the far corners of the earth are but a stone throw away when it comes to disseminating news and tackling issues regarding our beloved town of Angono.

Provided that there is courage enough to deliver unwanted and sour truths, that each individual reporting is reasonably objective to the point of providing a somewhat unbiased opinion regarding local events, that there exist the capacity to pursue common sense beyond traditional sources of what is right or wrong, and that there exist a certain degree of accepting facts as it is, the people of Angono had shown to the world the importance of keeping in touch with family and had proven that identity is deeply connected to a shared sense of belonging.

From my perspective, the whole thing started with the creation of a government-sponsored website* in which the usual headlines involved the typical "kumustahan," who's who, and testimonials of longing for and the reminiscing of days long past in Angono.

Come election time, I find it quite fascinating that a single topic called "Ms. Au Villamayor" in that government-sponsored website garnered around 50,000 views, which was, by far, the largest number of hits on any single subject topic amongst all the Angono forum websites I have ever known; it even surpasses the number of views on all subject topics in all Angono forums combined as far as it is limited to the websites mentioned below.

Indeed, the triumph of the internet, when it comes to individuals rights, emanates from empowering the uninformed - the ignorant masses (us) - enabling the many to become informed citizens with the ability to hold governments accountable for its actions.

But what does the propragation of Angono forums imply? What does this mean? Are there consequences?

There is no simple answer to the question. But I believe one can expect new things and new beginnings where the people of Angono have greater access to diverse opinions and uncensored ideas which is, in essense, vital to our democratic principles; it also amplifies the voice of those whose voice does not reach the halls of decision-making, especially of those who are in diaspora.

And note, one must not forget that uncensored information means information not coming from the government but from independent private sources, however loaded or subjective they are. Indeed, even private forums with substantial government support implies substantial government intervention.

Why did I mention this? I must insist, again and again and again, that government-uncensored forums represent the proliferation that advancing technological democratic societies ought to have, not the opposite.

Although such forums may become the tools of status quo and propaganda in pursuit of selfish ends, this conduit can be used for the common good, if only those with good intentions and those who abide by the rule of law will not allow such actions to take place; for indeed, it only takes the indifference of those who have it in their capacity to help but do nothing for the bad to prosper.

I wish all such forums success, that is, more membership.

As of current, here are online forums devoted to the discussion of Angono and everything in it:

Active:

- Angono Rizal
http://angonorizal.suddenlaunch3.com/index.cgi

- Angono Rizal Community Board
http://angonorizal.com/

- Northern California Angono Association
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/angono/

- People of Angono (Proboard)
http://angono.proboards82.com/index.cgi

Inactive:

- Official Website of Angono (government-sponsored)*
http://www.angono.com/

- Official Website of Angono (government-sponsored)
http://www.angono.gov.ph/

- People of Angono Forum
http://www.angono.com.ph/