AKO MISMO made its official debut during the Pacquiao Hatton fight.  AKO MISMO is a cool website that urges readers to pledge one small thing that they can do to improve the nation.  In the different social networks online, there was an immediate buzz, and along with that buzz were rumors that this could possibly be the jumping off point of a political campaign.

As of this writing there has been 70,432 pledges at the AKO MISMO website.

I can understand the simple message of AKO MISMO, but I know that we are a nation of skeptics, after all the things we’ve been through as a nation, being had by almost every politician that has come our way, why wouldn’t we have a sense of skepticism?  Especially of a website that has had that air of secrecy about it since its launch.

Marketing is marketing however, and the buzz surrounding AKO MISMO is already getting traction, but they will lose a lot if they don’t realize the audience that they are catering to.  This is an audience, as I have said earlier, that will be skeptical.  And if a marketing campaign that seems socially and politically driven does not have the transparency of which is needed in this politically charged climate that we find ourselves in, then it may have gotten traction, but it shall not be effective.

Change most definitely must start from within ourselves first, and it is definitely true that we can start that change by taking small but positive steps in our own daily lives.  By pledging to do an activity, any activity, that will contribute to the progress of our nation, it provides each citizen the needed realization that power can still come from the citizenry, and not necessarily from government or the powerful alone.

But AKO MISMO plays on our hopes, on our rabid obsession with celebrities, even if not all of their endorsers are from the celebrity world, let’s face it, they are popular, and this is exactly why they were chosen.

I don’t want to do a John McCain and tell you that HOPE is but a blank promise, because I do believe that HOPE is so much more.  But if AKO MISMO is going to do us any good, then let’s wait and see for the concrete steps that will be needed to make this skeptic a believer.

But if this is indeed, just an advertising campaign, or the start of a political campaign, or just a big old grand scheme to get personal info, then they had better change trajectory quick.  Because if they do pursue such avenues, the skeptics may turn into a mob of disbelievers, and once again there will have been sown more skepticism in a nation already filled with skeptics.

I have some cynical idea though that those behind AKO MISMO may have had alterior motives, but since there have been some skepticism and negativity because of the possibitility of this being a commercialization and playing on the hopes of Filipinos, this campaign may still push forward as a viable campaign, only to prove detractors wrong, and to navigate away from the negative press that would ensue.  Whether or not if the original goal of AKO MISMO was for commercial or political means, one thing can be sure, that if it is indeed anything except what their website claims as being a mode for volunteerism, then it will be met with much pushback.

We don’t need any more commercialization of our need to move forward and progress as a nation.  We don’t need any more commercialization because as it is, we are inundated with enough of it.  Even as campaign season has not even started, we are bombarded with commercials, billboards, and so called public service ads, meant to convey to citizens and potential voters that,

“hey this isn’t advertisement, I am making this commercial just for you, this is not, and I repeat, not a political ad, now please buy this product while I get some air time, but hey, this is not a political ad, but if you do remember this ad, remember to vote for me, or buy this product, or both!”

Look, I am ready to embrace this movement or campaign, heck that dogtag seems a bit cool too.  But the skeptic and cynic in me is holding me back, and as responsible citizens, let’s just wait a minute.  If this is indeed for positive change, I’m sure a positive Philippine future also includes discerning citizens too.  And discerning citizens will always need more information.

So, okay, AKO MISMO now has this FAQ PAGE

Q: What are the future activities of Ako Mismo beyond creating awareness? Where will you take the movement?
A: We hope to engage more companies in the movement and organize and/or support socio-civic activities in pockets all over the country, guided by the information we receive online about the causes that resonate most consistently among the most number of people. And God-willing, if we are able to raise enough funds through all our activities, we will partner with established and respected socio-civic and charitable organizations that have the infrastructure to reach out to and help the most number of people nationwide. We are in the process of evaluating this now.

This is the long view, where we hope to take Ako Mismo in the future. But every worthy endeavor must start with small steps, and right now our focus is on keeping the momentum for Ako Mismo as we all proclaim—change starts with me!

And I can understand this, because even here at Filipino Voices, we have yet to formally launch our advocacy section for FV, and indeed it does take a whole lot of planning.  And so, the most fair observation is that they have indeed launched a campaign without fully preparing for its expansion.  But then again, I can remember Obama starting out the same way, and quickly developing his in depth platform on health care, foreign policy, and economic policy, etc.

Maybe AKO MISMO will indeed be a platform for a greater participation of the citizenry to take small steps towards prosperity.  I for one will reserve my full judgment and full opinion on this matter for a later date.  For now, I shall give AKO MISMO that chance it deserves, and will hold down the skeptic and cynic in me for the meantime.

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