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While some of us are working and wondering what’s going to be the next new business model or next killer application in mobile technology, other people in different parts of the world are using the mobile phone to fight injustice. Trixie Concepcion of TXTPower, the group that popularized the Hello Garci protest ringtones in the Fillipines, is one of them. I think it’s essential for m-trends.org readers to know a bit more about her and her activities (thanks to Katrin Verclas from mobileactive.org, now at N-TEN for putting me in touch). * Picture by Justin Oberman.

The Hello Garci scandal (or just Hello Garci) is a political scandal and electoral crisis in the Philippines started somewhere in June 2005. The scandal involves incumbent president Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, who allegedly rigged the 2004 national election in her favor.

Trixie explains what actually created the Hello Garci incident and craze:

“Sometime in June 2005, a lawyer from our National Bureau of Investigation released a wire-tapped conversation between Mrs. Arroyo and an election official. The conversation was about ensuring that Mrs. Arroyo win by a margin of one million votes. This is what actually sparked the political crisis besetting Mrs. Arroyo until now. In any case, someone or some group made several ringtones of the significant parts of the conversation. The ringtone then was being passed on from phone to phone but the demand for it was already high and people were asking where they can download the ringtones. Some txtpower convenors thought to use our website to host downloads of the ringtone.

At that time of course, the government was threatening to arrest/sue anyone who had in their possession wire-tapped materials. We had to consult some lawyers before we proceeded with that plan. It was good we did as it was a success. So far, no lawsuit is coming our way because so far, no one has admitted that they were the voice in the tapes.”

There are loads of articles on the Internet about Hello Garci but as a starter, you might want to check the BBC NEWS articles about the Hello Garci ringtone craze and the Philippines’ mobile politics situation:

“More than a third of Filipinos have mobile phones. In a country where many live in poverty, they are often seen as a cheap way to stay in touch. But for some the mobile is also being used as a powerful political and social tool.“

You can download the ringtones and remixes (yes!) at TXTPower. A 3gp video is now also available for download. An estimated one million Filipinos are using the Hello Garci ringtone, making it the Philippines and arguably one of the the world’s most popular ringtones.

But we’re here for an interview with Trixie herself… Don’t expect answers on geek stuff and latest mobile trends in this interview but I think it’s more interesting to know how 1st generation GSM phones are used virally to distribute a message when people have something of importance to say and share.

- Can you explain more about your work and background?
I volunteer for a scientist-activist group that is involved in people’s issues. This group involves itself on issues pertaining to environment, public utilities, food, industrialization and the promotion of a scientific culture. This group is the convenor of TXTPower, of which we are a part of.I am also an environmentalist working on marine mammal issues. We closely monitor fishing companies that they practice sustainable fishing that do not harm non-target species. As an animal-rights advocate, we campaign against marine parks and similar facilities.

- Are you more social, business or technical oriented?
Academically, my background is in the earth-sciences. In my work, I use such a background for campaigns and advocacy.

- What brought you into mobile?
Mobile communications is now a critical medium in our work in campaigns, mobilization, advocacy, and education.

- How does mobile technological progress influences your daily routine in your work?
Mobile communications has helped much in mobilizing and organizing at the shortest possible time. The exchange is information is faster, and our campaigns can be adjusted to the latest developments on the ground.

The disadvantages though, in having such a technology is that people sometimes think that organizing a campaign is just an SMS away. Not really. While mobile technology really helps in mobilizing, the initial education work must really be done face to face and in person.

- Which tools you use to publish, blog or moblog your work?
In the Philippines, only about 10% or less of the population have access to computers. Texting or SMS is still the fastest mode of communication. A good segment of the middle class though do blog. But I would think mobloggers are even a smaller group. For our work, we would email our media advisories to media outfits.

- Which applications and services do you use on your phone?
Cellphones in the Philppines are still primarily used for texting. Other applications are still not as popular since most handsets are still not 3G capable.

- Would you use your device to interact with other machines?
Yes if this service is cheap enough and if the model of my phone will allow.

- Which machine-to-machine can you think of would be handy to interact with?
ATMs, Computers, fax machines.

- Would you download mp3 tunes on your phone?
Most phones in the Phils do not support the downloading of ring tones. Even if I did my phone had that capability, I may just use it mostly for my work.

- What about Mobile TV?
That would be cool if the handset cost would not be prohibitive and if the telco’s can provide such service at a reasonable cost. The cost of telecom services is a big issue in the country.

- How do you experience the Mobile Internet?
I have not used this service on my phone. Important: I am actually a campaigner and not really a techie…

- How do you see the future of mobile?
Mobile technology can play a bigger role in the advocacy for more democracy in many poor nations, human rights, environmental protection, etc. Any technology no matter how ‘low-tech’ once embraced and USED by the broadest number of people will be the tool for genuine change. I believe that this is the best use for any mobile technology.

- What differences do you see of mobile use in USA – Europe - Asia?
The issues confronting the mobile user of the US is very much different from the issues confronting the mobile user of Asia, for instance.

In poorer parts of the planet, access to mobile technology is very much an issue. The pricing, costing and distribution of mobile services are rallying points for mobile phone users in the Philippines, for instance.

In the US and in more affluent countries, the issues with regards to mobile tech is that the technology is already there, it just needs to be used by the citizens of these countries in furthering their political advocacies.

* NOTE for the readers (from Wikipedia): “In May 2006, Amnesty International reported a growing concern over human rights violations committed under the Arroyo administration, particularly the deaths of 605 people including dozens of journalists, making the Philippines the second deadliest country for reporters, after Iraq.”