"People Power II" -- as the events of January 17 to 20 are now called -- was different from first "People Power" in February 1986 in three key ways.

First, "People Power I" resulted from manipulation of vote counting in the snap elections and triggered by a military faction that was forced to come out in the open after its coup plot was discovered, while "People Power II" resulted from a series of allegations of massive graft on the part of a president and triggered by perceived collusion among 11 Estrada administration-aligned senators to silence a move to present key evidence in the impeachment case.

Second, it took almost two decades for civil society to respond forcefully to allegations of massive graft and corruption, human rights violations and a number of other crimes before "People Power I" erupted; and only a little less than three years for the same society to depose a leader who was perceived to be aping the object of hate of the first revolt.

The third distinction, however, is a first in Philippine -- maybe even Asian and world -- revolutionary history: "People Power II" showed the power of the Internet and mobile communications technology -- not to mention broadcast medi

"IT will change the politician," Mr. Javier said.

The continued increase in PC and Internet penetration in the Philippines should further lead to more active use of technology in politics, said Mr. Javier, who is also the current executive director of the political party Reporma Politika led by Executive Secretary Renato de Villa.

However, he strssed the use of technology is still a man-machine affair. "And the one controlling the affair is the man, not technology," he said.

Clearly, information technology (IT) is dramatically changing the landscape of Philippine politics. Political dynamics will never be the same after Jan. 20.

Global trends show the growing use of the Internet for political ends by almost all quarters: incumbent powers, opposition groups, interest groups and even insurgents.

The Internet was also abuzz with cybercampaigns against the deposed president with the mushrooming of anti-Erap Web sites. Sites such as the "The Secret Diary of Erap Estrada" (erap.blogspot.com) used satire and humor to express angst against Mr. Estrada, while others were more straightforward, including Central", "Impeach Erap Web Site", and the "Erap Betting Site."

"That will really affect and change not only the political landscape but also the socioeconomic landscape, the way of doing things, the social interaction will change because of the Web," Mr. Javier said.

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