YouTube partners and Google executives at the YouTube Philippines launch: GMA Network's Howie Severino, ABS-CBN's Mark Lopez, PinoyTuner's Francis Reyes, P&G's Chad Sotelo, FILSCAP's Debbie Gaite, Google's Joanna Catalano and Gautam Anand

(SPOT.ph) Google and YouTube today launched YouTube Philippines, a localized version of the popular online video sharing service that creates a more personal and customized interface for Filipino users.

The new site offers easier access to relevant content for local netizens, including a new channel for President Benigno “NoyNoy” Aquino III (www.youtube.com/govph and www.youtube.com/rtvmalacanang), which aims to reach out to the online Filipino community here and abroad.

“Our government recognizes the significant impact of the Internet on the quality of life of its 30 million Filipino users,” Sec. Ricky Carandang of the Presidential Communications Development and Strategic Planning Office. “The Presidential Channel provides a powerful, relevant way to demonstrate good governance and transparency—the cornerstone of his administration—and its contribution to poverty alleviation and sustainable economic growth.”

On November 4, Aquino will be the first head of state from Asia to be featured in YouTube’s World View series, a live virtual interview set up where YouTube users can send questions to the President. Previous World View interviewees include US President Barack Obama, UK Prime Minister David Cameron, and Spanish Prime Minister José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero.

YouTube Philippines has also partnered with media conglomerates ABS-CBN, GMA Network Inc., and TV5, who will be uploading content from their shows to the site soon, plus music companies like VIVA Records, PinoyTuner (headed by former The Dawn vocalist Francis “Brew” Reyes), Vicor Records, and Star Records to create the lively music community YouTube has become known for.   

The venture has been labeled “the first of its kind in Asia” because the country is now the first in the region to have a localized version of the video sharing site. According to Managing Director for Google Southeast Asia Julian Persaud, Filipinos are among the most active YouTube users in the world.

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