100% Filipino networking site has Kiwi roots

AUCKLAND, New Zealand—Filipinos across the globe now have their own social networking site called mooplace.com.

“It is our very own social networking site. It is a place to have fun, meet, and celebrate with fellow kababayans,” says its founder, Bob Carpenter, a retired businessman based here.

The Kiwi connection of Mooplace stems from the fact that Bob is married to a Filipina. Edith, his wife of 20 years, owns the travel agency Planet Earth Travel & Planet Cruising Ltd, and the couple is very active in Filipino community events across New Zealand. Bob considers himself a “Kiwinoy” for “Kiwi Pinoy,” the name given to Filipinos who have migrated to New Zealand.

Bob says the website, which he developed with the help of Filipino IT professionals based in New Zealand, provides the tools to allow members to build an online global community. Membership to Mooplace is free.

Bob retired four years ago as an auctioneer, and was one of the first to develop a site for online auctions in New Zealand. He had initially wanted to develop a business website but Edith had encouraged him to do work on something that will help the Filipino community.

“So this is what I have been doing instead of fishing and playing golf,” he says in jest.

The website is unmistakably Filipino, with a carabao as a motif, against a backdrop of the red, white, blue, and yellow colors of the Filipino flag.

Bob says it took him a year to develop the website. He wanted it to be different from other social networking websites for Filipinos, which he says were mainly “dating websites.”

He noted that Filipinos in New Zealand, for instance, congregate at certain events like the Sinulog festival, church gatherings, and the annual Labor Day Weekend celebration. From talking to his Filipino friends, he learned they want a site where they can upload photos of their families, and their communities and places they have been to. They also want to have links to YouTube where they can upload songs, comedy sketches, and videos of events.

Bob explains the most popular postings in the site are videos and pictures of Filipino boxing hero Manny Pacquiao and OPM (Original Pilipino Music). “It is Filipino everything,” he says.

Other current features at Mooplace include:

* A Directory where members can share their business details—address, phone numbers, and websites—to encourage members to use their services.

* An Events section where members can list their events. Bob says the calendar is easy to use, categorized into countries, with search functions and a calendar.

* A Photo section where members can upload up to 20 photos, five videos, and five songs at a time. Every month, Mooplace will hold a photo competition. Members can post entries and vote for other members' photos. The first competition will be held in December, with the theme “Family Holiday Photos.” Entries will be accepted until December 31, 2009, 12 noon NZDT.

Bob is encouraging Filipinos to contribute to the blogs section, post comments, and participate in forums.

Bob expects the section where people can create their own greeting cards will be very popular during this holiday season. Members can choose from several Christmas card designs and add their photos and email the finished card.

“It is a work in progress,” says Bob of Mooplace, as he will continue to add new features regularly, and listen to suggestions from members across the world. - INQUIRER.net, December 21, 2009