Uh-oh, here comes the Filipinos! The non-profit group the Diplo Foundation is helping several developing countries open embassies in the virtual world of Second Life, starting with Maldives, Macedonia and the republic of the Philippines. I dropped in on the Philippines embassy to check it out (teleport SLURL). Not much to look at for the moment, just an empty shell with a couple of Philippines flags flying. But they got plans:
Along with typical diplomatic functions (representation, cultural affairs, consular activities) the Virtual Embassies will also serve to sensitise various communities in Second Life to the development needs of small developing countries.
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Good luck to them, but I’ll believe it when I see it. You know, in other countries, they hold "ground-breaking" ceremonies when they start construction on a new building. That doesn’t happen in the Philippines. Anyone can start construction. There are lots of building projects all over Manila that have started construction. It’s completing the building that’s the rub.
Sorry, these are my people, so I got to speak truth. It doesn’t help that the Diplo website says that these embassies are supposed to open in "April/May 2007."