Today, exactly a year ago, PEP (Philippine Entertainment Portal) launched into cyberspace. We’re letting our hair down by counting the ways we have grown and we’re taking stock. To all you PEP addicts and newcomers alike, here’s why PEP is bigger than the sum of its parts.
When we started on February 28, 2007, we had so little.
Only five people were updating the site daily. It had an average of two breaking news per day and one gallery of photos per week. Invitation to presscons and events? Zero. Only a handful of showbiz denizens knew about this bagong
Slowly, showbizlandia and the public at large began to take notice. Presscon invitations trickled in. Aficionados of local entertainment started making www.pep.ph their daily habit—office workers and homemakers taking a breather, Pinoy immigrants abroad and Overseas Filipino Workers keeping abreast of the latest news back home.
THE LEAP. More is better.
The team of editors and staff writers, plus a growing network of contributors, began publishing 10 to 14 showbiz news items per day in the Breaking News section—certainly PEP’s strongest link.
And so, readers found more reason to check out the site several times a day. The Comments column below each breaking news report, especially about this couple’s breakup or that career break, grew longer and more intense by the hour. Give a hand to the community of self-identified “PEPsters,” who also make forays into the other sections.
PEP’s staff writers and techies also worked on beefing up the Gallery and Video sections. The target was to put out new sets of photos and videos daily.
Eventually, we brought in more new sections to satisfy the Pinoy fondness for nostalgia, discovery, and living it up. Looking Back articles reminisce about old movies or past TV shows or an actor’s past career, or recount a showbiz issue that became the talk of the town. PEP Finder would be similarly nostalgic except that it’s a rediscovery of stars long gone into other careers and now doing their own thing away from the showbiz glare. We like to think these articles contribute to the dynamic history of film and television. Knowing the current raves in the party scene through Events is an added attraction.
The Poll, which used to tackle one showbiz issue every week, now puts out three hot topics. It’s another way to tease out public opinion and the fans’ reactions, aside from the PEPsters’ feedback.
PEP’s blog town is also on the rise. In spite of their hectic schedules, more celebrity bloggers have joined. To date, PEP proudly features John “Sweet” Lapus, Candy Pangilinan, Zsa Zsa Padilla, Jolina Magdangal, and veteran journalist Ces Evangelista as the exciting writers who share their personal experiences, insights, sometimes even secrets.
THE SPRINT. Speed and accuracy become the practice.
Happily, we managed to bring you several “First Read on PEP” items and “PEP Exclusives” last year.
Remember when PEP broke the news about Dennis Trillo being the dad of Carlene Aguilar’s baby? The pregnancy of Camille Prats and Jennylyn Mercado? The controversies that surrounded Gretchen Barretto? The hush-hush on Cesar Montano and Sunshine Cruz’s split?
We’re proud, ehem, of our well-researched investigative “PEP Special Reports,” like Angel Locsin’s flight from GMA-7 to ABS-CBN and the saga involving David Bunevacz and Beverly Hills 6750.
PEP is now a very visible player in the entertainment field.
THE HEAVE. Quality becomes the goal.
We like to make every log-on session worth every PEPster’s precious time. We encapsulate anything found in the entertainment scene—the real and the reel, the glam and the glum, the good and bad news, the serious and fun stuff, the newbies and veterans, the hook-ups and breakups, and almost every aspect of the ever busy, dynamic world of showbiz.
Top Lists, which now gets updated twice a week, was introduced last year. We now have PEP’s Corner where readers could get their weekly dose of insights from the editorial team, blind items from the Peeping Toms, fun from the PEP Who, and the good deeds of our favorite celebrities via Thumbs Up.
PEP’s “Comments” section has also become an instant people meter. Celebrities themselves check it out for the feedback—and sometimes, critique—of showbiz fanatics. With the help of our diligent moderators, the comments column below each article is earning its reputation as a well of insights.
On the side, PEPsters now receive their PEP Log, the condensed version of the site, and a weekly celebrity dish for those who are busy with their work. Those who want to get flash showbiz news via their mobile phones can now subscribe thru PEP Mobile by keying in PEP ON and sending to 4627.
And it was September 2007 that PEP launched its revamped look—from its pristine white background, more colors were added to capture the colorful world of showbiz.
THE THRUST. And as we celebrate our first official year as an entertainment website—we keep the news meter always up, the fun button always blinking, and the interaction scale always working.
Negotiations with ABS-CBN are in the works so readers can all look forward to video content of their favorite Kapamilya shows.
The Entertainment Guide will double its number of daily updates and reviews. “Top Charts” will soon be launched, featuring the hottest hits in the music scene, the box-office winners in moviedom, and the most talked-about television shows.
Of course, a surprise for the PEPsters is also in the offing. Next month, you will have more reasons to get hooked and be involved. A section called PEParazzi will rock the world of showbiz aficionados.
When we started, we had so little. Now, we are making more than 1,000,000 PEPsters happy.
PEP is here to stay, and we hope you do the same. Cheers!
Ang dami niyo talagang napapasaya. At salamat dahil 24/7 ay buhay ang site. Natutulog pa ba kayo? But really, no amount of words can express how much I love PEP. Kudos!