YOU may have noticed that, starting today, we’ve switched to our own video platform for INQUIRER.net VDO.

Now that we’ve taken care of the infrastructure that will support our current and future services, expect INQUIRER.net VDO to go full speed ahead in the coming months. We still have some kinks to work out, but it’s been an incredible journey from videos being seen as a novelty on our site, to making it an integral part of our coverage.

So have fun. Check out our different channels, and keep coming back because we’ll be launching lots of new stuff soon.

Watch the new “Kung Fu Panda” trailer courtesy of Solar-UIP Philippines.  Hear Kiko Pangilinan sing (briefly) a song dedicated to President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.  Revel in the triumph of Team PH, which defeated South Korea to become the first world champions in Supreme Destiny. And find out who won in the Pinoy Indie Games Competition.

The funny thing is that, from the moment we started INQUIRER.net VDO, we made sure we wouldn’t just be copying TV, or trying to compete with it. We wanted to focus on the strengths of the Web, and create content that was developed with Internet users in mind. It’s guerrilla TV, and I’m confident that we can reach out to an audience that doesn’t want recycled TV content that’s just shoveled on to the Web.

Ironically, some of our competitors seem to be ending up copying us.  But that’s OK. Because at the end of the day, it’s not about who has the best equipment. It’s not about who has the most money. It’s about who has the people who are passionate about what they do — and as I’ve always said, you can’t teach passion.

We believe in what we’re doing, and we know,  just as we’ve proven year after year, no matter what happened along the way, that we’ll emerge victorious and give the best service to Filipinos everywhere.

Try copying that.

IS the YouTube clip for real? According to CNN, the military is investigating the video which shows a US Marine throwing a puppy off a cliff.

Here’s an excerpt from the CNN story.

It’s not clear where the video was shot, although the man who appears to throw the puppy and another Marine are in full combat gear with helmets.

YouTube.com had taken down the video by 12:30 p.m. ET Tuesday “due to terms of use violation,” according to a banner on the Web site.

“This is a shocking and deplorable video that is contrary to the high standards that we set for every Marine,” Marine Corps spokesman Maj. Chris Perrine said at a news conference Monday night.

“We will investigate this and take appropriate actions,” Perrine said.

He said the Marine is being kept safe in view of the anger over the alleged incident.

Here’s a copy of the clip I found.

And while we’re at it, other videos of alleged US soldiers torturing animals are on YouTube. Some of the people who have left comments claim these videos are fake and are part of the “cyber war” being waged by US enemies. I really don’t know. You be the judge.