Internet and social networking sites in election campaigns: Gabriela Women’s Party in Philippines wins the 2007 elections

The recent 2007 elections in the Philippines gave the Gabriela Women\u27s Party (GWP) two seats, making it the first and only women\u27s group in the country to attain such feat in the party list group contest. This achievement of the party, which evolved from a feminist movement called Gabriela, raising the causes of women, to a political force to reckon with, is a testament to the historic development in women politics and an issue of emancipation and power for women in Asia (Alojamiento, 2007). Given the limited fund for mass forms of communication, the party made use of traditional forms of grassroots interpersonal communication as well as new communication technologies, particularly the internet and social networking sites like YouTube and Friendster, during the campaign. Through a case study approach, this study explores how the political parties used the Internet and other social networking sites during the elections and through an analysis of the GWP\u27s campaign and in-depth interviews with its leaders and spokespersons, examines how the party was successfully reaching different levels of local and overseas supporters and voters. How has the GWP positioned itself as a force in the Philippine political system and how have the recently introduced new media technologies helped in garnering international support and votes for the party