Mabuhay, YouTube Philippines!
While YouTube has been available in the Philippines' native Tagalog language since 2010, we have opened a new chapter for YouTube in the Philippines with the launch of a fully localized version of the platform.
As we were launching this new Philippines homepage, we also had the launch of two official government channels from current President Benigno Aquino III at his official channel and news channel. Through his representative Secretary Ricky Carandang, President Aquino also announced his plans to have a livestreamed chat with us with our YouTube World View program on November 4, in partnership with ABS-CBN. President Aquino will be the first Head of State in Asia to participate in the program, and you can ask submit and vote on questions via Google Moderator starting October 21.
This new Philippines homepage spotlights the most relevant videos to Filipinos, as well as more content from an array of Filipino partners such as broadcasters ABS-CBN, GMA Network Inc., TV5, record labels VIVA Records/Vicor Records, Pinoy Tuner, Star Records, and production company Oak3. If you’re in the Philippines, the site will automatically detect your location and send you to the Philippines page, but anyone interested in Filipino content can get there by just selecting “The Philippines” at the bottom of the page in the Location section.
At the launch event in Manila, we also debuted a video interview from one of our favorite Filipino YouTube success stories, Charice Pempengco.
Filipinos have already been using YouTube to make a name for themselves across the globe. Rock band Journey chose Filipino singer-songwriter Arnel Pineda to be their new vocalist after seeing videos of him belting out their hits on YouTube. And of course, the immaculately choreographed prisoner dance routines for Michael Jackson’s “Thriller” and the Black Eyed Peas’ “Bebot” brought world renown to the uniformed inmates of Cebu Provincial Detention and Rehabilitation Center.
With the YouTube Partner Program also opening in the Philippines today, we hope that talented Filipino video creators like the next Charices will sign up and start turning their passions into their careers.