'Mr. Go' is World's First Gorilla Pinch Hitter

The world's first gorilla pinch hitter is here! Mr. Go is a light-hearted, genial story with a baseball-playing gorilla and his 15-year old manager, who become superstars after playing in the Korean Baseball League.

Young circus ringmaster Wei Wei has only bat-swinging gorilla Ling Ling to depend on as her only family member and friend, her grandfather, dies in the Great Sichuan Earthquake, leaving behind an insurmountable debt. When a loan shark threatens to sell Ling Ling and the circus kids to cover the debt, Wei Wei has no choice but to allow Ling Ling to be scouted in the Korean Baseball League by the materialistic sports agent Sung.

Ling Ling, now dubbed ‘Mr. Go’, becomes an instant hit with fans and leads his team Doosan to a miraculous winning streak. No pitcher can stand up to Mr. Go’s powerful single-handed swing, and they watch helplessly as the ball flies out of the park. His popularity grows so immensely that even the fans of his opposing teams cheer for him, and single-handedly attracts worldwide media attention to the league. Wei Wei and Sung are stunned and blinded by the sudden success, and neglect to detect Ling Ling’s worsening knee injury, just as Japanese clubs are drafting ground breaking trade propositions.

Catch this heart-warming film of Wei Wei and Mr. Go and their miraculous run in the Korean Baseball League in selected SM Cinema branches starting October 16, 2013.

Watch out for screening schedules and branches at www.smcinema.com. Stay updated for the latest and hottest in the movie scene by liking e-PLUS on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram!

Ayala Foundation provides 60 PCs to 21 Globe Telecom-supported schools in Benguet

Ayala Foundation, Inc. has donated 60 refurbished desktop computers to 21 elementary schools in Benguet province housing the seedling nurseries under the Roots & Shoots program of the Cordillera Conservation Trust (CCT) which Globe Telecom is supporting.

 

: JP Alipio, Executive Director of Cordillera Conservation Trust (front, left) and Carmela David, Project Lead for Globe Telecom (front, 2^nd from left) together with principals of Roots & Shoots seedling nursery program partner schools in Benguet province

                The computers will be used to supplement environmental education of the students who are being tapped to build and maintain the nurseries.

                “Ayala Foundation is always looking for innovative education projects to support. It is such a pleasure for us to contribute in bringing technology to the children especially those in remote areas.  Hopefully, these computers will serve as an avenue for the students to explore more about their environment so they can see the value in protecting it for their future,” said Luili Heras-De Leon, President of Ayala Foundation.

                Fernando Esguerra, OIC, Globe Corporate Social Responsibility said:  “We are very grateful to Ayala Foundation for helping us with this undertaking.  We always welcome support of any kind to further our goal of educating the young on the importance of our forests and have them play an active role in rebuilding and maintaining these forests. Like our slogan for Roots & Shoots say – start with the seed and start with the young and grow forests from there.”

                Earlier, Globe provided P800,000 for the establishment of the 21 seedling nurseries hosted by public elementary schools in La Trinidad, Tuba, Kapangan, and Kayabayan.  The amount came from the funds raised during the Globe Cordillera biking challenge held last year.

                Roots & Shoots which is being implemented by CCT in partnership with the Department of Education in Benguet, aims to deliver needed seedlings in order to replenish the bald mountainsides. This is to support the enhancement of community watersheds and prevent landslides in critical areas. It also offers a possible livelihood source for the school and community with the inclusion of commercial crops such as coffee which can be inter-planted underneath the forest.

CCT provides initial materials to establish the nursery in select public schools while community stakeholders such as students, teachers, parents, and members of the barangay lend their time and effort to construct a nursery that can house about 2,000 seedlings.

The seedlings are then nurtured by the students and the teachers until they are ready to be sold and planted for forest-building.

From the recent Globe Cordillera Challenge 4, Globe was able to raise P1.2M from registrations, pledges and sponsorships to fund the establishment of additional 30 seedling nurseries again to be hosted by public elementary schools. 

“Creating the nurseries not only allowed for the expansion of the forest building practices to the youth and community but it also created on site production areas for Forest Building. The schools are now the production centers for the community’s forest building needs situated right where they are needed most,” said JP Alipio, Executive Director of CCT.

Globe Libreng Tawag continues in Zamboanga City

Leading telecommunications company Globe Telecom continues to provide Libreng Tawag service to displaced residents of Zamboanga City to ensure that they can remain in touch with their families and friends despite the ongoing clashes between the military and members of the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF). 

The facilities located in Divisoria Elementary School and Western Mindanao State University are open to all of the 23,000 affected families no matter where they are in the city. 

Divisoria Elementary Schools is one of 35 evacuation sites in the area while WMSU houses the mobile hospital where patients of Zamboanga General Hospital are temporarily relocated. Libreng Internet is also being provided to WMSU for use of the medical staff and media who are covering the development.

Globe Telecom signs mEducation MoU with DepEd, TESDA, and other telcos

The multi-sectoral  team for mEducation in the Philippines led by Joel J. Villanueva, TESDA Director Genera (left) and Mario A. Deriquito DepEd Undersecretary for External Linkages (center) together Gil B. Genio, Globe Head for Corporate Strategy and Business Development (right); Witnessing the MoU signing are:  (back, from L-R) Irene Ng, GSMA Head for Asia Pacific; and Adrian Godfrey, GSMA Director of MEducation.

Leading telecommunications company Globe Telecom throws its support to the mEducation initiative of GSM Association as it signed a joint collaboration agreement with the Department of Education (DepEd), Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) and other industry players to bring education opportunities to over six million out-of-school youth in the country.

“This is something that clearly requires the effort of everybody and we believe that this collaboration to explore and pursue mobile education programs has a great potential to impact more disadvantaged Filipino youth,” said Gil B. Genio, Head of Globe Corporate Strategy and Business Development in a speech delivered during the Memorandum of Understanding signing activity at Makati Shangri-la Hotel.

He noted that Globe, being a sustainability-oriented organization, always extend exciting learning experiences to Filipino students through education programs such as Text2Teach and Global Filipino Schools, thus, the company is highly-committed to see through the GSMA mEducation initiative to help advance education in the Philippines.

The major mEducation stakeholders are set to form a Project Management Office as well as develop a portal for out-of-school youth that would allow them to either achieve equivalency through alternative learning systems or avail of technical-vocational education training using their mobile phones. 

The planned portal will feature accredited mobile education programs which can be delivered through SMS, Voice or data services, It will serve as a one-stop shop for all the accredited programs of DepEd and TESDA and will ensure legitimacy of the offers. 

Since initial studies showed that the Philippines has a very high penetration rate of mobile devices whether it’s a basic phone or a smartphone, the programs will be tailored-fit to the requirements of the users.

The effort will also contribute to the Abot Alam program of DepEd and TESDA which aims to provide one million out-of-school youth with either opportunities for gainful employment or accreditation equivalency to alternative learning systems in 2014. “By including the mobile network operators in this project, hopefully, we can expand the program’s reach with mobile education,” said Fernando Esguerra, OIC, Globe Corporate Social Responsibility. 

Mario Deriquito,  DepEd Undersecretary for External Linkages said:  “We welcome this partnership because we know that this will contribute a lot.  Among the out-of-school youth population, there are many who live in far-flung areas.  Since a lot of them have mobile phones,  mobile technology will help us reach out to them.”

 “Second, because these young people have been out of school for several years already, they have lost the appetite for learning so we need to make it interesting for them. We cannot just invite them to come to the classroom and listen to a teacher.  We are sure that they will be more interested if we use mobile technology to deliver the lessons,” he added. 

GSMA, an organization of nearly 800 mobile operators in over 220 countries, acts as advisor for the mEducation initiative and provides support to include best practice and business model expertise to the project.

GSMA’s global mEducation project aims to accelerate the adoption of mobile education solutions, particularly mobile-enabled portable devices, such as e-Readers and tablets. It forms part of the GSMA vision of a ‘Connected Life’, a world where everything intelligently connects via mobile networks, delivering rich services to businesses and consumers in every aspect of their lives.

 “Never before has such an ambitious mEducation collaboration taken place in the Philippines, involving all three mobile network operators and two key government agencies. The Asian mEducation market is projected to reach $6.8 billion by 20172. Initiatives such as this, especially involving multi-stakeholder partnership, will drive even greater growth and help to accelerate achievement of the desired objectives for such programmes,” said Irene Ng, Head of Asia, GSMA.

GSMA expects to feature the PMO and the portal at the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona in February next year as it positions the Philippines into becoming the leader in mEducation in Asia.

Globe prepaid subscribers to enjoy a wonderful digital world with new game-changing offers.

Globe Telecom Senior Advisor for Consumer Business Peter Bithos leads the launch of the telco’s newest prepaid promos that offer all major global over-the-top (OTT) messaging services for free as part of its core call and text bundle, a first among telcos around the world. With GoUNLI30, prepaid subscribers get unlimited texts to all networks, unlimited calls to Globe & TM users, and unlimited access to instant messaging and chat applications Viber, Facebook Messenger, KakaoTalk, and major OTT players without the need for Wi-Fi or additional data charges for only P30 valid for 1 day. Subscribers who want access to pure messaging apps can register to UNLICHAT25 which offers uninterrupted use of Viber, Facebook Messenger, KakaoTalk, and major OTT players for only P25 valid for 1 day, without the need for Wi-Fi. With GoUNLI30 and UNLICHAT25, subscribers can connect with more than 1 billion users regardless of mobile networks and location around the world. To register, text GOUNLI30 or UNLICHAT25 to 8888, or dial *143# for free. 

TV, film make-up artist wins Globe Telecom’s ImaginART competition

Leo Velasco, a professional special effects make-up artist for film and television, recently won Globe Telecom’s ImaginART, a unique art competition for exhibition proposal.

Besting 55 other entries, Velasco, 25, bagged P500,000 in prize money and up to P500,000 in exhibition grant.

Simply titled “I…”, Velasco’s art proposal is an exploration on the impact of journey on self-formation. The subjects themselves are travelers, who have journeyed through many countries and are living witnesses to the disparity in cultural practices, beliefs, traditions and norms. The subjects are members of Couchsurfing.org, an online community that brings together travelers from all over the globe through the shared experience of hosting and meet-ups and encourages cross-cultural immersion.

“ImaginART is a very unique art competition and it is only fitting that a very distinct art concept is the first winner of the annual contest. We believe the finished artwork will inspire future exploration and innovation which the company encourages strongly,” said Yoly Crisanto, Globe head of Corporate Communications.

Through body painting, the artwork seeks to document the personal experiences of each traveler as it also seeks to express how these experiences shaped and changed their identity.

Pointing out that people in various cultures mark their bodies with signs of individuality, social status and cultural identity, Velasco explained he opted to use body painting as the primary method of expression of the experiences and personal changes that each traveler underwent because of its temporary nature.

“Like permanent tattoos, body painting is obviously temporary which only properly reflects the ever-changing state of one’s identity. The images which I will create and paint on their bodies will serve as juxtaposed representations of personal experiences, reflections and recollections of the traveler, “he said.

Because of the temporary nature of body painting, Velasco will be capturing the transient art in digital still photography. “I also want to capture the identity of the subject in its present state before the person undergoes yet another personal transformation,” he said.

The photos will be printed on duratrans or light boxes, which will be encased in shaped-acrylic glass capsules.  “For me, the acrylic glass capsules metaphorically represent the human body as the corporeal embodiment of identity and would also represent images of travel such as trolley, backpack, suitcase and airplane,” he said.

Velasco emphasized that the finished artwork is not merely a themed showcase, it is also a practice of discovery. “Just as each participant traveled and journeyed to define their personhood, I too will undergo the same process of transformation and transfiguration as I work on each layer of the artwork in order to present an accurate depiction of the backpackers’ experiences,” he added.

Prior to winning the art competition, Velasco has worked for major television networks in the country doing local fantasy television series and firms. Velasco, 25, took up Fine Art at the University of the Philippines.

 Velasco’s artwork will be displayed at The Globe Art Gallery starting September 17 up to April next year and will be installed by the Ayala Museum, with the artist.

                ImaginART, which was launched in May this year, generated strong support from the local art community as a total of 55 exhibition proposals were submitted as entries. Themed this year as “A Journey Through A Wonderful World”, the exhibition aims to transport the viewers into a world of boundless possibility.                        

PHOTO CAPTION: Film and television make-up artist Leo Velasco (second from right) was recently adjudged the winner of Globe Telecom’s ImaginART competition. Velasco bagged up to P 1 million in prize money and exhibition grant. In addition, his artwork will be displayed at The Globe Tower, the telecommunication company’s new corporate headquarters in Bonifacio Global City.  With him in photo are glass sculptor Ramon Orlina (second from left), who headed the panel of judges, Globe Head of Corporate Communications Yoly Crisanto (utmost right) and Ayala Museum Director Mariles Gustilo (utmost left).

Tattoo outpaces competition, leads in revenue and subscriber growth

Globe Telecom, through its broadband brand Tattoo, continues to stamp its class in Philippine broadband with its double-digit growth in revenue and subscriber base during the first half of 2013.

The broadband business of Globe maintained its upward momentum by posting a 25% increase in topline and a 15% growth in the number of its subscribers year-on-year, effectively maintaining its position as the fastest-growing broadband brand in the Philippines.

Service revenue tallied a total of P5.145 billion for the first half of 2013, a 25% growth year-on-year, up from P4.106 billion for the same period last year. Even on a quarterly basis, Tattoo likewise sustained its growth momentum in revenues, up 7% from last quarter, with P2.7 billion from April to June 2013. 

Meanwhile, over 1.8 million broadband subscribers have been recorded as of end-June this year, a 15% increment against last year’s levels, up from 1.6 million from the first semester of 2012. As of 2013’s second quarter, Globe has been servicing 2.3 million wireless postpaid subscribers, with over 368,000 wireless broadband customers.

According to company disclosures, the upsurge in broadband revenues was fueled by the “healthy demand for both wireless and wired broadband offerings” and was “mainly due to the continuous growth in subscriber base from both Tattoo-At-Home and Tattoo nomadic broadband from 1,740,951 to 1,814,011 last quarter.”

Globe Head of Consumer Broadband Business Gilbert Simpao said that “as the Philippines’ most preferred broadband, Tattoo has been trailblazing the market with innovative offerings as well as game-changing products and services as evidenced with its remarkable growth in revenue and customer base. With the Globe network vastly improving with its modernized infrastructure, we expect the Tattoo brand to be continuously embraced by more Filipinos as their broadband of choice.”

Tattoo maintained its drive for market growth with various offerings launched during the second quarter of this year and pioneered innovative products during the quarter and semester, ushered by Tattoo@Home’s free 1MBPS broadband under Landline Plan 799 with free unlimited calls to Globe and TM. The broadband business of Globe likewise kicked off the year with lower price propositions for its Tattoo 4G Flash at P995. The Tattoo 4G mobile Wi-Fi Superstick on the other hand was made available for P1,995. 

Tattoo Nomadic also strengthened its lifestyle positioning with the unveiling of Tattoo-Enjoy Card which provides new subscribers access to perks and discounts to brand partners nationwide. Moreover, Tattoo Prepaid Lifestyle sticks with surfing speed of up to 12 Mbps were marked down to P1,295 while providing more freebies, deals and discounts from participating merchants. With the escalating demand for lower-priced tablets, Tattoo Postpaid also unveiled quality Android tablets at affordable rates bundled with its plan offers. 

Tattoo is set to sustain growth momentum within the second half of the year by providing new product innovations, best-value offers, latest technologies and more exclusive perks and privileges for its loyal subscribers.

‘VIVRE LA BONNE VIE’ With THE FRENCH BAKER

Experience living the ‘good life’ with French Baker’s new Concept Store Launching

September 19, 2013

THE FOUNTAIN COURT, SM Lanang Premiere Mall (Davao City, Philippines)

Nothing short of fancy is what the latest French Baker has to offer as it opens its 51st branch—and the first in Mindanao—on September 19, 2013 in SM Lanang, Davao. 

“It’s definitely something that has never been seen before,” Johnlu Koa, Founder & CEO of The French Baker proudly exclaimed when asked of what to expect from his latest innovation. The new store’s interior design is inspired by his many trips abroad. “It may be a lounge, waiting area in an airport, a hotel lobby or even a French garden. It is many things but it’s all from my regular trips France and the rest of Europe,” says Koa. The open kitchen that French Baker has been known for is present and has expanded to a patisserie, where customers can see the assembly of their decadent pastries. 

At the SM Lanang Fountain Court where the “longest fountain” is found in the Philippines, diners can marvel at the sight of the dancing fountain show while enjoying Le The D’Apres Midi (afternoon tea) or an evening night cap. An indoor alfresco at the French Baker provides a private nook for internet surfers to connect to Free WIFI. In the day time, the million-dollar fountain’s magnificent view can best be enjoyed at The French Baker where it is situated right in front.  

Indulge and let your sweet tooth have the time of its life with French Baker’s new patisserie offerings from the Pear Tartlet, a sweet custard tart topped with slices of pears and almond frangipane cream, or the healthier Fruit tartlet with assorted fruit cubes set on top of a traditional pastry cream and set on a chocolate sweet crusted tart pastry. Who doesn’t love Pate-a-choux, more commonly known as cream puffs? The French Baker adds a touch of creativity with its flavored cream-filled Éclair and Swan-shaped puffs! Treat yourself to classic flavorites and authentic versions of the Napoleon, the decadent Concorde au Chocolat and Strawberry gateau. Let your teeth sink into Le Gateau Sans Rival’s crunchy meringue discs sandwiched with pure traditional butter cream icing and topped with toasted cashew nuts—all of which can be partnered with freshly brewed tea for an aristocratic afternoon tea.

Aside from these delightful pieces, The French Baker will also be serving mouth-watering family menus and hard-to-find all-day breakfast choices! You can never go wrong with a classic fluff pancake, evenly browned French toast or the enticing oozing of eggs benedict—especially when you can watch it being so diligently made from the open kitchen. If you’re with a group of three to four, you can opt to order the family menu comprised of the tempting chicken platter (6 pieces) or the lip-smacking fresh squid ink pasta partnered with herb rice. Roasted Spanish garlic chicken, beef burgundy and French classical chicken fricassee (stewed in white cream sauce) are definitely crowd pleasers during meal times.

Built with passion and strengthened over time, The French Baker has consistently proven to be innovative and timeless. The French Baker at SM Lanang hints of new and exciting changes that will definitely reshape many of its existing networks of stores nationwide. Now Davao denizens and visitors can enjoy a taste of France and add another category to their food choice when they visit the Malls.

(For more inquiries and further information, please contact Abegail Siega through (0922) 873-7510 or visit The French Baker website www.thefrenchbaker.com)

Globe goes Google

Globe Telecom recently started using Google business solutions and tools that empower employees of the Philippine telecommunications company to serve its customers better. The collaboration will provide Globe with flexibility to deliver more for its customers by enhancing mobility of close to 6,000 Globe employees, supportive of a 24-7 service. Joining Globe President and CEO Ernest Cu (second from right) at the launching of the collaboration are from left, Herald Uy, Chief Technology Evangelist of Singularity, Ricky Kapur, Head of Google Enterprise Asia and Henry Aguda, Globe Chief of Information Officer and  Head of Information Systems.

Globe launches biggest and most affordable 7-day call and text promos

               In a bid to strengthen its core mobile services and sustain momentum of its prepaid business, Globe Telecom unveiled its biggest and most aggressive 7-day call and text offers for prepaid subscribers who look for longer validity promos.

                For subscribers who want uninterrupted text messaging for the entire week, GoUNLITXT49 allows them to send unlimited texts to Globe and TM for only P49, the most affordable week-long unlimited text promo available in the market today. This is equivalent to just P7 per day of unlimited text messaging to the Globe and TM networks for 7 days.

                Meanwhile, subscribers who want to avail of the lowest 7-day call promo in the market today can register to GoCALL100, which gives them 500 solid minutes of calls to Globe and TM for P100, valid for 7 days. This is over 8 hours of talk time for an entire week at an affordable price of P100.

                “Only Globe gives subscribers the best and most competitive 7-day text and call promos with GoUNLITXT49 and GOCALL100. Send text messages all you want and stay connected with your calling circle longer with these offers that give you the biggest value for your money,” said KD Dizon, Head of Globe Prepaid.

To register, dial *143#, choose GoSAKTO and create the desired promo, or text GOUNLITXT49 or GOCALL100 to 8888.

As of end-June 2013, cumulative mobile subscribers were at 36.1 million. Globe prepaid subscribers stood at about 34.2 million, 14% above last year’s 30.1 million and 3% higher than previous quarter’s 33.3 million.

Tattoo launches country’s first-ever rewards program for mobile broadband

True to its game-changing role in the industry, Tattoo, the broadband brand of Globe Telecom, raises the innovation bar a notch higher by introducing the country’s first-ever rewards program for mobile broadband services, available to both new and existing prepaid subscribers.

With Tattoo +Plus Rewards, prepaid customers can earn points and freebies by using Tattoo as a means to connect to the internet. Upon activating a new prepaid account, Tattoo users will instantly receive 15 bonus rewards points, which they can immediately redeem to register to POWERSURF15, a prepaid data plan that gives them 20MB of internet data valid for 1 day.

On their seventh to twelfth month of subscription, new and existing subscribers can avail of a FREE one-day unlimited access to Facebook, Twitter, Gmail and Yahoo! Mail every week for six months when they load at least P50 between Monday and Friday via Autoload Max.  To redeem the rewards the following week, subscribers can text SOCIALWEEKLY to 8888.

Subscribers likewise accumulate rewards points when they load their Tattoo Prepaid account, where one (1) point is given for every P25 reload. They can use their points to redeem their favorite Globe services or use them to buy products from Globe partner-merchants such as Ayala Malls Cinemas, Figaro, Wendy’s, Rose Pharmacy and Bench  where 1 rewards point is equivalent to P1.

Head of Tattoo Nomadic Broadband Dong Ronquillo said, “From innovative and groundbreaking mobile broadband services, Tattoo unveils its very own customer loyalty program—the country’s first—to provide more value to our prepaid subscribers by rewarding them for their loyalty to the brand. With their continued patronage, Tattoo subscribers can look forward to accumulate bigger rewards as they continue to live without limits.”

              

Tattoo Broadband prepaid users can learn more about Tattoo +Plus Rewards and check out their redeemable rewards and freebies by visitingtattoo.globe.com.ph/rewards.

Cafe France: A Year of Good Food

Cafe France celebrates a good year of being part of Dabawenyo palates as it had its anniversary recently after opening its first branch in August last year.

The first of three branches opened in 2012 at Rizal Street, much to the anticipation of fans and newbies alike.

The Rizal Stree


t branch opened its door at 2F, Manila Bulletin Building, and welcoming Dabawenyo fans of the famous French coffee shop/restaurant.

Offering treats and favorite dishes, from pasta to pastries, Cafe France has served the Dabawenyo appetite for quality dining and desire for a comfy place to spend time in since setting foot on Davao's shores.

Cafe France has become well known in dining circles with its strict adherence in quality control, from the techniques that they use throughout their baking process for breads, to using authentic ingredients coming from the Grands Moulins de Paris (GMP).

Customers get the guarantee that each part of the Cafe France experience is complete, with quality and authenticity crossing over in each aspect of any visit to one of the three Davao branches.

Cafe France's authentic French breads begin with the processing of only the finest ingredients at its Commissary in Pasig City. Specially-trained bakers prepare the dough with loving hands, then blast frozen and delivered to all Cafe France outlets to reach customers.

Breads make use of flour imported directly from Grands Moulins de Paris in France. All other ingredients are sourced from suppliers who pass Cafe France standards for quality and conformity. All our breads are baked fresh daily and do not use preservatives.

Asie from their coffee blends, Cafe France serves meals such as the Clubhouse Sandwich, which is among their best sellers.

More than the food, Cafe France has held the distinction among restaurants of similar calibers as a service-oriented destination. Service begins the moment one steps into the door of any of their Davao branches.

Over the year of its presence in the metro, Cafe France keeps customers coming back, because of its continuous dedication to quality, service, and style, evident in the first branch it opened back in August 2012.

Cafe France offers its clients old and new with a quality of service unmatched by others. It's no surprise that customers have flocked to the restaurant's three branches over the past year. With a track record such as theirs, the restaurant is sure to become part of the Dabawenyo parlance for quality food.

***all content featured in this post is provided by Cafe France***

Globe expands worldwidest network, brings international inbound calling service to Canada

Offering a more affordable way for global Filipino families to stay in touch

Globe Telecom continues to expand its worldwidest network by extending reach of its international inbound calling offer DUO International to serve Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) and Filipino migrants in Canada as well as their contacts in the Philippines.

Canada is one of the top countries worldwide that houses the most number of overseas Filipinos with over 900,000 permanent residents and transients, making the country a viable market for the telco’s roster of international services.

DUO Canada is a subscription service that assigns a virtual Canadian landline number to a registered Globe number in the Philippines. This allows Filipinos in Canada to call their loved ones in the country through their virtual Canadian landline number.

Calls to the virtual Canadian landline number assigned to the Globe subscriber will be charged at domestic Canadian call rates, effectively lowering call costs. This allows Filipinos in Canada to contact loved ones at a much affordable rate compared to standard IDD charges to the Philippines.

With DUO Canada, OFWs no longer need extra call cards or internet connection to call loved ones in the Philippines. They can call the Philippines anytime, anywhere they are using any Canadian phone.  They can also choose which Canadian landline number will be assigned to the Globe subscriber in the Philippines. Available landline numbers are for Calgary, Durham, Edmonton, London, Montreal, Ottawa, Toronto, Vancouver, Windsor and Winnipeg.

Open to Globe Postpaid, Prepaid and TM subscribers, DUO Canada is available for P999 or CAD$25 per month of subscription. The DUO Canada number is valid for thirty (30) days.

“Almost 90% of Filipinos in Canada are permanent migrants who are unable to visit family and friends back home as frequent as those in other countries, and we are proud to be able to give them an innovative and affordable way to keep in touch with loved ones in the Philippines for less than CAD$1 a day,” said Rizza Maniego-Eala, Head for International Business Group at Globe.

To register to DUO Canada, Globe subscribers in the Philippines can text DUO CANADA 999 to 8888 or visit the website at www.globe.com.ph/duocanada and click the ‘Subscribe’ button.

Aside from Canada, DUO International is also offered in the United States, Korea, and the United Kingdom. Recently, the telco opened UK Globetel Limited, a member of the Globe group of companies, to handle the offering of various telecommunications services in the UK. Services such as voice, SMS, MMS, load top-up and mobile data will be offered by UK Globetel to Filipinos residing in and visiting the United Kingdom.

Leading the roster of UK Globetel Limited offers is the Globe Local UK SIM that serves domestic UK mobile telecommunication requirements of Filipinos in UK while providing affordable rates for calls and text messages to their families and friends in the Philippines.

Tattoo first to bring LTE technology to households

New offering expands Globe LTE footprint covering close to 1,000 sites nationwide

Globe Telecom expands its Long Term Evolution (LTE) footprint as Tattoo Home Broadband, its home broadband brand, brings the latest internet technology to households, allowing subscribers to surf the internet at ultrafast speeds within the comfort of their homes, effectively bringing the telco’s LTE coverage of close to 1,000 sites nationwide, matching the LTE coverage of competition.

With home broadband LTE, households will now have access to high-speed internet ideal for watching high-definition videos, downloading and uploading large files, seamless video and music streaming, and voice-over-internet-protocol or VOIP calling with clear quality. This LTE service is backed by the largest 4G network in the country deployed by Globe.

Head of Tattoo Home Broadband Jurist Gamban said that, “Tattoo Home Broadband once again leads the industry as the first to offer the most advanced wireless broadband technology that is LTE for the home broadband market. With this latest offering, we are able to reach more households around the country who initially did not have access to high-speed broadband. Now with the power of our largest 4G network, we can bring great value broadband services powered by the latest technologies to more people.”

Using the fastest broadband technologies, Filipino families now have access to blazing internet speeds that are easy on the pocket. Unlimited broadband bundles with free calls to Globe and TM may be availed of starting at Plan 1099 at 1 Mbps, Plan 1299 at 2 Mbps, Plan 1599 at 3 Mbps, Plan 2299 at 5 Mbps, Plan 3999 at 10 Mbps and Plan 4999 at 15 Mbps. Meanwhile, internet-only plans that connect at 3 and 5 Mbps are available at Plan 999 and 1999 respectively, both with unlimited web access.

This development comes at the heels of Tattoo’s enhanced Home Broadband bundles early this year. All bundles come with high-speed internet, free landline, and free unlimited landline to mobile (Globe and TM) calls. Touted as the “biggest deal in home broadband,” the unlimited calls feature is also available on the Tattoo Home Broadband LTE Plans.

Tattoo Home Broadband powered by Globe 4G LTE is available in key areas in Metro Manila and select cities in Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao. For more information, log on to tattoo.globe.com.ph, call (02) 730-1010, visit the nearest Globe store or get in touch with authorized Globe Sales Agents.

Text2Teach Alliance signs MoA with 13 LGUs; brings innovative learning to 300 public grade schools in Visayas

Jaime Augusto Zobel de Ayala, Chairman and CEO of Ayala Corporation (6^th from left) leads the signing of separate memorandum of agreements with 13 local governments units in the Visayas.  Together with him are (from L-R):  Fumio Otani, Managing Director, Toshiba Asia Pacific Pte. Ltd; Mei Ling Tan, Manager, Regional Sustainability, Nokia Pte Ltd.; Luli Heras-de Leon, President, Ayala Foundation, Inc.; Neri Anne Alibuyog, Superintendent, School Division, Silay City; Hon. Jose L. Montelibano, Jr., Mayor, Silay City; Rowena Lopez, Sr. Director, Ayala Foundation, Inc.; Thea Manalo,EPS II, Bureau of Elementary Education; and Fernando Esguerra, OIC, Corporate Social Responsibility, Globe Telecom

Silay City - Jaime Augusto Zobel de Ayala, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Ayala Corporation, led the signing of the formal partnership agreement between Text2Teach Alliance and 13 Local Government Units involving the commitment of P8 million LGU counterpart funding for the Text2Teach (T2T) program.

At the same time, Toshiba Corporation donated 300 32-inch TV sets worth about P4.2 million for the schools while the T2T Alliance allocated P13 million.

With the Memorandum of Agreement, T2T will be implemented in 172 schools in Visayas in addition to the existing 128 schools, bringing the program to a total of 300 public elementary schools in the region.  To date, T2T has reached 736 schools across the country.

The 13 LGUs are:  Bacolod Ciy, Silay City, Talisay City, La Carlota City, and Bago City in Negros Occidental; Bayawan City, Guihulngan City, and Bais City in Negros Oriental, Naga City and Talisay City in Cebu; the municipality of Laua-an in Antique; the municipality of Malay in Aklan; and Siquijor province.

T2T is an innovative way of teaching English, Science, Math and Values Education via mobile technology. Educational audio and video materials are provided in phones donated by Nokia equipped with the Nokia Education Delivery application which allows easy download even in far-flung areas via Globe Telecom mobile data.  Globe also created a special SIM card for the schools which only charges half of regular call and text rates.

“We’re proud to say that with all your support, we’re one year ahead of schedule in implementing the program in the Visayas.  It is only through the use of technology, and additional help from local governments, that the private sector can continue to give support.  Many of our great leaders have come from the public school system and it is our responsibility as private sector groups to also do what we can to keep in helping the Department of Education in that respect,” said Zobel as he addressed the representatives from the government and private sector during the signing and turnover ceremonies.

He added:  “It is also a pleasure for us to contribute in some small way with the use of technology. We in the whole Ayala Group are excited in working closely with you and in helping the educational system of the country for the generations that are to come, and for the leaders that are to come out.  To be able to work together to add value to our country means so much to all of us.”

              

Incidentally, Silay City and La Carlota in Negros Occidental become the second and third LGUs respectively, in the country to have all its public elementary schools connected to T2T, after Ligao City in Ilocos Norte.  Silay has 31 public elementary schools while La Carlota has 25.  Ligao has 49.

“We believe that school location should never be a barrier to better facilities and advances in teaching methods.  Quality education should be accessible to all.  The feedback from school administrators, teachers, parents and students about the T2T project are very positive.  There has been a remarkable improvement in the students’ understanding of the subject matter in English, Science and Math.  Because of this, we decided for a full-swing implementation to cover all public elementary schools in our city,” said Silay City Mayor Jose L. Montelibano, Jr. Silay is currently in the second year of project implementation, initially piloting it in 12 public elementary schools in the rural areas which have very limited access to information technology.

Montelibano added:  “Before, when you come from a public school, you are being looked down.  When we talk of better facilities we think of the private and exclusive schools.  Now, our public schools are very competitive.  Information technology is the new universal language and our students are very fluent in that.  With the initiatives of the LGUs and the assistance of the private sectors, public school students have gained self-confidence because they know they also have the knowledge and the skills that are sound and sometimes better. Indeed, information technology bridges that educational divide.”

Globe Celebrates National Teachers Month: Equipping Teachers with 21st Century Skills

Graduates of Globe Telecom’s Global Filipino Teachers Program, Armand Lagria from Bilar National High School in Bohol and Shateen Seraña from Taluksangay National High School in Zamboanga City

 As second parents to millions of children across the country and a source of guidance for them well into adulthood, our teachers play a central role in shaping the Filipino people. In celebration of National Teachers’ Month, which starts on September 5, Globe Telecom recognizes the importance of teachers in nation-building through its Global Filipino Teacher (GFT) and Global Filipino School (GFS) programs. Harnessing the power of Information and Communications Technology (ICT), Globe aims to guide teachers in bringing 21^st century learning into their classrooms.

Fernando Esguerra, OIC for Globe Telecom’s Corporate Social Responsibility program, says, “The world is changing rapidly, yet many of our teachers do not have enough resources to help them fully prepare their students for the challenges that lie ahead. Through the GFT and GFS programs, we hope to equip underserved schools across the country with the training and tools they need to deliver quality education in the 21^st century.”

Launched in 2009, the Global Filipino Teacher program trains teachers on Effective Classroom Management using ICT. Going beyond just teaching GFTs to integrate ICT in the classroom, the program also trains them to conduct problem-based learning. To date, the program has benefitted 342 schools across 12 regions nationwide, and has produced 262 proficient Global Filipino Teachers.

Shateen Serana, a GFT from Taluksangay National High School in Zamboanga City, shares, “Because of the GFT program, I won the Microsoft Search for Innovative Teachers Leadership Award, and was able to go to Hong Kong, New Zealand, Dubai, and Czech Republic. I started to motivate my colleagues to use technology and problem-based learning in teaching. The GFT program also gave me and my students confidence that we can be globally competitive.”

Globe believes it’s not enough to train teachers on ICT. To fully maximize all that they’ve learned in training, teachers need an environment that’s conducive to 21^stcentury learning. This is where the Global Filipino School Program comes in. The program seeks to provide schools with computers and laptops, as well as Internet connections.

Globe provided the pilot school, Bilar National High School in Bohol, two computer labs furnished with 25 computers in December 2012. The school also houses one proficient Global Filipino Teacher, who is tasked to train other teachers on using ICT in the classroom. The result? Community interest increased to generate more than 100 additional applications to the school, and even more impressive is that 4^th year National Secondary Achievement Test (NSAT) scores increased by 15% that year. These results stand testament to the power of ICT to engage both teachers and students in the classroom.

Land-locked and located three hours away from Tagbilaran City, Bilar is heavily reliant on its farming, bahay-kubo, and furniture-making industries. By equipping the only high school of this 4th class municipality with tech and training, Globe hopes that teachers and students alike are able to further widen their knowledge and skills, and to develop ICT innovations and new opportunities for their community.

Armand Lagria, the GFT from Bilar National High School, says, “All students can now access a modern computer laboratory for their various activities. The Internet becomes the reference for all teachers in designing and making their lessons more interactive.” Hoping that it doesn’t end there, he adds, “After the GFS program, I hope that our school will produce innovative teachers and ICT-literate students for the global arena, and that our students may learn and apply their 21st century technological skills.”

The GFT and GFS programs demonstrate that more than just being Globe Telecom’s core business, ICT is a key component in the company’s approach for achieving maximum social impact in underserved communities.