This document outlines the history and development of the internet in the Philippines from the 1980s to the present. It discusses how the earliest online services in the country were text-based BBS systems in the 1980s and 1990s, and how the first email from a Philippine internet connection was sent in 1994. It also notes that social media and online games grew rapidly in popularity in the 2000s, with the Philippines becoming known as the social network capital of the world by 2011. However, more recent reports have shown that internet speeds in the Philippines are now the slowest in the ASEAN region.

1. #20PHNet
A TIMELINE CELEBRATING 20 YEARS OF PHILIPPINE
INTERNET
BY: CZARINA GARCIA

2. 1980-1993: Before Philippine Internet
(Torral, 2009)
• According to Torral (2009), the earliest internet content was text-based.
• Between 1986 to 1994, the BBS community was formed online. BBS systems offer private
messaging and message boards, based primarily on Fidotech technology.
• Starting at 300 bits per second, the internet back then could not transfer graphics. BBS were
oriented towards files containing freely-available text information.
• Online services such as Binary Information Exchange and Compuserve offered their subscribers
licensed content and real time information such as stock prices.
• In 1989, the PH domain– the top-level domain for the Philippines– was administered by Jose
Emmanuel “Joel” Disini.
• In 1993, The E-mail company launches EMC Online which is “the first Online Content Service in the
Philippines which allows its subscribers to forge a strong and dynamic Online Community via Online
chat forums.”

3. 1994-2004: The First Decade of
Philippine Internet (Torral, 2009)
• On March 29, 1994, the first email from the first live Philippine Internet connection was at the
University of San Carlos and was addressed to STACnet,
• 1994: Internet Relay Chat (IRC) Chatrooms, Multi-User Dungeons, MMORPG’s (Massive Multiplayer
Online Role Playing Games) started to gain popularity and forged real-life communities.
• 1995: G-Spot, the first public Filipino search engine, was put up.
• 1996: Public interest (in the Philippines) towards the Internet led to the rise of Internet publications.
According to Alan Robles, 1996 was the year when “the Internet was on a definite growth curve,
everything was coming up Internet—the excitement was palpable.”
• 1996: Internet censorship started to spark interest among governments and legislators around the
world. The Philippine Senate called for a hearing on pornographic material.
• 1996: Philippine Internet banking starts. BPI Capital was the first investment bank website in the
country.

4. 1994-2004: The First Decade of
Philippine Internet (Torral, 2009)
• In 1997, Content-rich media websites went up. Newspapers such as the Manila Bulletin, Philippine
Star, Manila Times and The Philippine Daily Inquirer put Philippine news on the web.
• 1997: Yehey, the Philippine’s most prominent search engine or directory, was founded.
• 1997: ABS-CBN Interactive (a.k.a Pinoycentral) and GMA Network started producing online content.
• 1998: The first Philippine Webby Awards—later called the Philippine Web Awards– was held.
• In March 6, 1998, Dino Ignacio (creator of blog Bert is Evil) is the first Filipino to win the prestigious
Webby Award in San Francisco.
• 1998: Philippine Radio began its live Filipino radio programming on the Internet; mostly catering to
Filipinos abroad who miss radio shows back home.
• San Miguel Draft Beer goes online. This is the first full e-commerce site operating from the
Philippines.

5. 1994-2004: The First Decade of
Philippine Internet (Torral, 2009)
• In 1999, PinoyExchange.com forum– which later became one of the largest online communities in terms of
message volume, users and mind share-- started operations.
• 2000: Local music website, Mp3manila rose to prominence. While it became public through hype, it quietly
faded away due to the lack of Digital Rights Management, immature online market and piracy.
• 2001: Bert is Evil site was shut-down due to 9/11 controversy. Martitess vs. the Superfriends and Bert is Evil
are two of Dino Ignacio’s creations that put Filipino creativity on the Internet map.
• 2001: Blogs and online journals became common; furthermore, Online games (not gambling) become
available with local servers.
• 2003: Level Up! Games licenses the Oz World and Ragnarok online games. These become popular among
young players, increasing growth in Internet usage at home and in cybercafés, and promoting e-commerce
through online ordering of credits. The company is adopting the Korean model of multiplayer online gaming.
• 2004: The dispute over PLDT.com between the Philippine Long Distance Telephone Company (PLDT) and
Gerry Kaimo peaked on January 29, 2004.

6. The Philippine Internet Today
• 2010: Social networking site, Multiply, starts the transition into an online marketplace for local
online shops.
• 2011: Philippines was named social network capital of the world.
• 2011: Philippines ranks #1 in Facebook penetration.
• May 2013: Multiply shuts down.
• August 2013: According to Rappler, Philippine Internet audience growth fastest in
Southeast Asia.
• 2014: Philippine Internet Slowest in ASEAN

7. References
• Toral, Janette, Carlos Paraz, Danny Escasa, and Antonio Bucu. "Internet Timeline: 1994-2004."
Philippine Internet Review: 10 Years of Internet History (1994-2004). Makati CIty: Capex Asia, 2009.
14-24. Print.
• Poblete, Johanna. "Multiply Shuts down in May - Business Ideas - Entrepreneur Philippines." Multiply
Shuts down in May - Business Ideas - Entrepreneur Philippines. 26 Apr. 2013. Web. 3 Oct. 2014.
• Visconti, Katherine. "PH Internet Audience Growth Fastest in Southeast Asia." Rappler. 1 Aug. 2013.
Web. 3 Oct. 2014. <http://www.rappler.com/life-and-style/technology/35384-philippine-internet-audience-
growth-comscore>.
• Russell, Jon. "Asian Correspondent Asia News." Philippines Named Social Networking Capital of the
World. 15 May 2011. Web. 3 Oct. 2014. <http://asiancorrespondent.com/54475/philippines-named-the-social-
networking-capital-of-the-world-indonesia-malaysia-amongst-top-10/>.
• "Philippines Ranks #1 in Facebook Penetration." YugaTech. 15 May 2011. Web. 3 Oct. 2014.
<http://www.yugatech.com/the-internet/philippines-ranks-1-in-facebook-penetration/>.
• Chiu, Patricia. "PHL Internet Slowest in ASEAN: Report." GMA News Online. 20 Apr. 2014. Web. 3 Oct.
2014. <http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/story/357617/scitech/technology/phl-internet-slowest-in-asean-
report>.