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1500
Pre-Colonial Traces
o During this period, the ancient alphabet alibata or baybayin was used as a medium of writing or system of written communication
o Ancient Filipinos used available materials found in the environment for recording texts using said language system
o An "umalohokan" or town crier also played a role during this time -
1521
The Print Industry and Filipino Freedom
o Books, magazines, and newspapers were brought to the Philippines but were printed in the Spanish language
o La Solidaridad was one of the notable works written by Filipino Revolutionaries
o The Manila Times and Manila Bulletin were established during the American period
o Filipinos experienced, but was later liberated from media censorship (both in the Japanese period and during Martial Law)
o Local magazines and comics were published as other forms of printed media -
The European Film Import
o Carlo Naquera, a Spanish soldier, first brought short films to the Philippines
o Short films from America were also brought and shown in early theaters in Manila
o "Zarzuela" or stage theater-originated musical shows became a popular form of entertainment
o Filipino-produced films came after, starting with "Dalagang Bukid"
o Filipinos embraced Hollywood film products
o Propaganda films started during the Japanese period
o From 1950s and onwards, the Filipino film industry was able to rise -
The Broadcast Industry
o Telegraph and telephone systems were the first forms of broadcast media
o A small radio station was first established in the country during the American Colonization
o Radio was used to educate the Filipino public through the Philippine Broadcast System
o Television was introduced by an American engineer
o Broadcasting freedom was put to a halt during Marcos' regime, but was later re-established
o Broadcast industry became one of the leading sources of mainstream mass media in the country -
Local Online Media
o During this period, the Philippines became officially connected to the world of the Internet although there already was a Philippine-based precursor of the local online forum called the bulletin board system or BBS since the late 1980s
o Electronic mail communications was also introduced
o Internet cafés became available
o Filipinos have been highlighted in the online world for the country's heavy usage of social media and was named as the "social media capital of the world" -
From Globalization to Glocalization
o Filipino companies could now expand their services and operation in other countries, making the Filipino office their headquarters – this is referred to as "globalization"
o Usually multinational companies are from the Western countries
o Glocalization is introduced – it pertains to global media corporations adapting or localizing their operation and output to accommodate local circumstances and culture; is beneficial but also diminishes the chance of the local regional industry to grow -
The Local Landscape
o The current media landscape in the Philippines is still predominantly Manila-centric, with major media outlets, production studios and head offices based in Manila
o Regional versions of different types of media, as well as regional offices, have been established all throughout the country
