Facebook says sorry for putting PH in ‘state of war’

FACEBOOK has placed the Philippines virtually on  ”war footing”—but the social media giant says it’s all a mistake.

“Happy Independence Day!” said Facebook in a greeting Sunday as the country celebrated its 118th Independence Day.

But the graphic message posted on the newsfeed of Filipino Facebook users had the Philippine flag shown upside-down, wrongfully signifying the country was in a state of war.

“This was unintentional, and we’re sorry,” Facebook said about the error that ignited pointed  commentaries in a still politically polarized country.

“We care deeply about the community in the Philippines and, in an attempt to connect people on Independence day, we made a mistake,” its  spokesperson said in a statement sent to the media.

The Philippines has about 52 million active Facebook users.

It was not the first time the Philippine flag was shown wrongly.

In June 2015, Filipino sprinters Eric Shawn and Kayla Richardson gained national attention not only for bagging gold at the Southeast Asian Games but also for wearing a uniform with an inverted Philippine flag.

In a meeting hosted by US President Barack Obama  and attended by President Benigno Aquino in September 2010, the Philippine flag was hoisted with the red color at the  top, prompting an embarrassed US to quickly apologize for the gaffe.

For many countries, including the US and the United Kingdom, a flag flown upside down indicates a state of distress.\ac/rga

source: technology.inquirer.net

Google salutes PHL on its Independence Day with bayanihan-themed doodle

Google on Thursday saluted the Philippines on Independence Day with a bayanihan-themed doodle, celebrating the Filipino tradition of helping each other in times of need.

Visitors to Google's Philippine homepage (www.google.com.ph) were greeted with a festive image of Filipinos helping each other carry houses and the Philippine flag.

 

"This year’s Independence Day doodle captures the bayanihan — or communal — spirit that Filipinos are known for.  A favorite subject of many Filipino artists, bayanihan is often depicted through the tradition of members of the barrio (or town) helping a neighbor move house by hoisting and carrying it on a bamboo frame," Google said.

 

It added Thursday's doodle "captures the energy and spirit that is associated with this way of life."



As in the past, clicking on the doodle will lead to a Google Search Results page for Philippine Independence Day.

The bayanihan spirit was hailed in the wake of super Typhoon Yolanda (Haiyan), when Filipinos helped each other recover from the devastation.

Google said this was the fifth Independence Day doodle to be featured on the Google.com.ph homepage.

It added that the doodle was "created with the help of Googlers from the Philippines and around the world."  — Joel Locsin/ELR, GMA News

source: gmanetwork.com