Enter the female section of the MRT and you’ll probably see a number of passengers, eyes glued to their devices, reading. Look closer and you’ll find out they’re reading a story from Wattpad. This app, available for free on the web, Google Play, and App Store, allows users access to a wide variety of literature, from classic titles to stories written by Wattpad users across the globe, by simply signing up.
This platform, which started from its co-founder, Allen Lau’s love of reading, soon became an app with millions of users and is still growing by the day. Wattpad, based in Toronto, Canada, offers stories in over 50 languages and connects its community of readers and writers through its various communication options such as chat and comment.
A year after it was launched globally, Wattpad had 80 registered users in the Philippines and now the platform has recorded over 5 million Filipinos using the app. This makes the Philippines the 2nd largest Wattpad community in the world. From the pool of Filipino-made stories, more than 500 have been published, some of which were made into TV shows and adapted into high-grossing movies. Additionally, corporations are also turning to Wattpad to bolster campaigns and further reach a wider audience. One example is the success of Eskinol’s mini-series, Face the Day, which was also turned into a web series uploaded on YouTube with millions of views. The campaign boosted Eskinol’s sales by 14-percent, further proving Wattpad’s popularity in the country.
Wattpad ambassadors with Allen Lau, CEO and co-founder of the app
“In the Philippines, Wattpad is synonymous with entertainment,” said Allen Lau. “Wattpad stories have captured the hearts of Filipinos and have spread beyond the app. Today, many of the most popular books, movies, and primetime television shows in the Philippines are based on Wattpad stories. When entertainment reflects a variety of interests and experiences, it can spread like wildfire – we see this happen every day on and off Wattpad.”
llurvbooks (Right), author of The Bet, sharing her Wattpad journey
Allen Lau, CEO and co-founder of Wattpad, is currently in Manila this week to attend the 36th Annual Manila International Book Fair (MIBF). On Sunday, September 20 (10:00 am – 12:00 pm), Wattpad will be hosting a panel on the Main Stage at the SMX Convention Center. The panel, From Keyboard to the Big Screen will feature Allen Lau along with top Filipino Wattpad authors: SGWannaB, She’s Dating the Gangster; llurvbooks, The Bet/Just the Way You Are; Owwsic, Diary ng Hindi Malandi; Blue_maiden, I’m in Love with a DotA Player; Maxinejiji, Poser; Pajama_addict, Mistakenly Meant for You; and Beeyotch, How to Break Up with the Bad Boy.
Wattys Award
Wattpad also recently teamed up with Smart Communications, through its value prepaid brand Talk ‘N Text, to expand the annual Wattys Awards, a program that recognizes the best Wattpad stories. Two new Wattys categories have been added, namely the Best TNT Panalo Story and Talk ‘N Text Ka-Tropa Favorite; these categories are only open to Filipino users.
Deadline for entries is only until October 30, 2015. The Talk N Text Ka-Tropa Favorite category winner will be selected via SMS voting between November 2 -12, 2015. All winners will be announced later in November.