AkoMismo.org

There’s been some buzz about this new campaign called Ako Mismo which started out as a star-studded TV ad followed by a members-only website.
Nothing wrong with it really. A lot of forums and websites require people to sign up before allowing them to enter and see what’s inside. AkoMismo is also giving away a branded dog tag for members.
This is not uncoommon. Other sites also offer free stuff when you sign up. I used to moderate a forum back in 2001 that pays members a certain amount for every post they make.
One has to admit it’s a clever online marketing gimmick. What put the campaign under scrutiny was the socio-political angle and the secrecy of the organizers behind it.
I don’t think AkoMismo.org site is really that anonymous. Here are some public information

about the site:
Domain Registrant: akomismo.org
Tribal DDBMcKinley, Taguig CityPhilippinestribalddbph@gmail.comCreated March 16, 2009
IP WhoIs: 125.5.116.82INFOCOM Technologies Inc3/F PLDT Tower I6799 Ayala Avenue, Makati City*****@vitro.epldt.net
Well, at least we know who owns the domain and the ad agency is Tribal DDB (they do digital marketing worldwide) and the server is hosted at the PLDT Vitro data center.