Globe Community celebrates 1st anniversary building houses for Payatas residents

Happy faces of Globe Community members while building houses in GK Rivero-Cox Village, Payata, QC

               In celebration of Globe Telecom online community’s first anniversary, members along with company employees went out of their way to help build a real neighborhood for underprivileged communities in Payatas, Quezon City in partnership with Gawad Kalinga.

“We want a more meaningful way to celebrate the first birthday of Globe Community and at the same time support Project Wonderful, the company’s nation-building advocacy.  It is overwhelming to see that despite it being a weekend, add to that the heat and dirt, all participants were very eager to build houses and get to know our fellow kababayans in the area. This proves that our subscribers and employees are truly one with Globe in creating a wonderful world,” said Glenn Richmond Ong, Head of Digital Communications and Self-Service / Globe Community Manager.

               Globe Community was opened with the vision of empowering subscribers to help other subscribers, and for them to form genuine relationships with Globe employees. Globe Community is the first and only online telecom community in the country with over 20,000 members who come together to assist each other on general concerns about Globe products and services.

               For the special day, members and employees joined hands to help make the dreams of Payatas residents become a reality by volunteering in house building  at the Gawad Kalinga Rivero-Cox Village.

“It’s a physically demanding activity yet fun not only because we were with friends, but because it’s one concrete way for us to create a wonderful world,” said Ralf Navales, a Globe Community member.

Another member, Will Benedict said:  “I joined this activity because I believe it’s a great way to give back and help another community.”

The build proper was followed by a processing activity through an intimate discussion of its value to the community and how the participants felt during the build proper. It was capped off with lunch prepared by the GK Community residents as their way of saying “thank you”.

Globe subscribers and non-subscribers alike may join the Globe Community by signing up at http://community.globe.com.ph without any cost.

Globe boosts product portfolio with enhanced prepaid offer

Sustaining momentum of its prepaid business, Globe Telecom beefs up its product portfolio by enhancing its most availed prepaid promo GoUNLI25 with additional access to social networking and search sites for the same price.

With the new GoUNLI25, prepaid subscribers can send unlimited texts and make unlimited calls to Globe/TM, and now get free access to Facebook plus another free internet site or app of their choice still for P25 valid for 1 day.

Subscribers can choose from any of six top social and search sites such as Twitter, Instagram, Google, Yahoo, Viber or Foursquare to boost their new GoUNLI25 promo bundle, allowing them to tweet, post photos, search the Web, send stickers and emoticons, and check-in with no Wi-Fi or additional data charges needed.

To register to the new GoUNLI25, subscribers can dial *143#, select GoSakto, select New GoUnli25, choose Select your free site, and then select Subscribe Now. Prepaid subscribers can also register to the new GoUNLI25 using the GoSAKTO app now available in iOS and Android-powered devices, giving users a digital experience on mobile.

“As Globe Prepaid moves into serving the youth and their digital lifestyle, we take a leap into understanding that their social networks are now an extension of their lives,” shares Issa Cabreira, Vice President for Globe Prepaid Business. “This is the inspiration behind the new GoUNLI25, which offers unlimited calls and texts to Globe/TM and now unlimited Facebook, and additional free access to the social networking or search site of choice without the need for Wi-Fi, providing the youth with more ways to explore and to stay connected online anytime, anywhere, without hurting their pockets. With the new GoUNLI25, we help the youth and the young at heart create a wonderful digital world that they can enjoy.”

According to TNS’ Mobile Life 2013, an annual study on behaviors of mobile users from 40 countries including the Philippines which involved 500 Metro Manila respondents aged 16-60, about 45% browse the internet from 32% in 2012 while 44% are accessing their social networking sites compared to 34% a year ago.

To know more about the new GoUnli25, visit www.globe.com.ph/gounli25. 

Globe broadband services now available to local enterprises in typhoon-hit areas

With the recent normalization of Globe Telecom’s network in the Visayas region following extensive damage brought by Typhoon Yolanda, local enterprises may now avail of broadband services offered by the telecommunications provider in the region.

“We recognize the importance of communication services as a tool that could enhance business opportunities. We want to help the local economy in these typhoon-hit areas by making it our priority to restore network services that include not only voice and text services but also mobile data services, “said Globe President and CEO Ernest Cu.  He stressed that in support of the government’s rebuilding efforts, Globe has accelerated the restoration of telco services in the area to encourage local businesses to resume normal operations, provide livelihood for local residents and in turn spur the local economy.

Following the devastation wrought by typhoon Yolanda in the Visayas region, Globe Telecom recently launched Project Wonderful, which aims to provide support in rebuilding communities through sustainable development. The company’s corporate response to nation building, Project Wonderful endeavors to provide shelter to the homeless, bring education to the children, and generate livelihood opportunities for the jobless.

                For the housing sector, Globe through a P15-million donation of its mobile and home broadband brand Tattoo, will build houses in the Gawad Kalinga Rotary Village in Brgy. Tambulilid, Ormoc, Leyte for the benefit of 100 families as well as provide livelihood projects for the  residents. Repair kits for 500 homes will also be given to affected host communities in Culion, Palawan; Daanbantayan, Cebu; and Guiuan, Eastern Samar in partnership with Habitat for Humanity while another 940 shelter kits will be distributed in Malaya and Madalag, Aklan in partnership with Non-Timber Forest Products.

                For the education sector, Globe will establish 100 tent classrooms in totally damaged elementary and secondary high schools as well as distribute at least 5,000 learning kits for students and teachers in identified tent schools. Latest statistics showed that Typhoon Yolanda damaged over 1 million houses, more than 20,000 classrooms of public schools, and P17 billion worth of agricultural products in regions 4B, 6, 7, and 8.

Globe subscribers to enjoy Free Facebook until February 14

Citing strong demand for one of its biggest promos to date, Globe Telecom is extending its Free Facebook offer available to its over 36 million subscribers until February 14, 2014, allowing users to post, like, comment, chat, add friends, upload photos, and share posts without the need for Wi-Fi.

                Globe collaborated with Facebook last year to offer its postpaid, prepaid, and TM subscribers access to the leading social networking site on mobile at zero data charges, alongside first-of-its-kind mobile innovations that address fear of mobile browsing, making the telco’s Free Facebook offer a world-first.

               

Among these customer experience innovations include accessibility on feature phones and smartphones across all Facebook mobile platforms whether via the Facebook app or Facebook’s mobile site m.facebook.com.

Customers are also guaranteed of no billshock or “nakaw load” as they will be notified if they will incur data charges once a link that leads out of Facebook is clicked.

For a seamless experience, subscribers can also enjoy a one-click registration to the data plan of choice to continue browsing sites or links outside Facebook without having to leave the site. In the spirit of customization, recommended data plans consider a subscriber’s available prepaid balance and/or megabytes (MB) balance of existing data plan.

Finally, customers with not enough prepaid load can “loan” a 10MB data plan for only P10 which will be deducted on their succeeding top-up so they can fully explore content outside Facebook.

                “Due to the overwhelming response and take-up from our subscribers, we are happy to extend Globe Free Facebook until February 14 to allow more users to enjoy an innovative, seamless, and worry-free Free Facebook experience, anytime, anywhere. As the country’s leading digital brand and preferred partner of technology leaders around the world, we hope to get more Filipinos online on their mobile devices and be part of a wonderful, connected world,” said Peter Bithos, Chief Operating Advisor of Globe.

Subscribers can dial *143# and select FREE FB or text FREEFB to 8888 to download more information or access Free Facebook. Subscribers may also go tom.facebook.com/free on the phone’s web browser or open the Facebook mobile app while on the Globe network to access Free Facebook.

Globe advocates use of mobile technology in sustainable development via photo competition

Leading telecommunications company Globe Telecom gave out special awards to three young men who best captured how mobile technology is used in initiatives for sustainable development. The winners were among the participants to the Asia Society for Social Improvement and Sustainable Transformation (ASSIST) Ten Photos to Shake the World contest

First place winner of the Globe Mobile Technology for Sustainable Development award is Noel Ubaldo who received an iPad4 for his work entitled “It’s never too late for technology”.  The photo shows a group of elderly tribal members using a tablet computer. Ubaldoalso bagged ASSIST’s People’s Choice Award.

Second place went to Bryan Taguduar for his black and white piece “Taking the challenge of trend” where two fishermen in an outrigger boat hold a cellphone and a solar panel.Taguduar also won 9^th place in ASSIST for another entry.Klienne Eco’s “Light up my future”, a photo of a boy studying with the use of a tablet computer, won third.  Incidentally, the same entry was adjudged second in the ASSIST photo competition.  Taguduar and Eco received an HTC One SV and Samsung Galaxy Y mobile phones from Globe, respectively.

“We were only supposed to give one special award but we found the other two entries also very significant to our theme.  As an ICT company which advocates sustainable development, Globe believes this competition is an excellent venue to advocate the use of mobile technology in sustainable initiatives,” said YolyCrisanto, Head of Globe Corporate Communications. 

ASSIST is an international non-government organization which seeks to promote sustainable practices to address social problems in the developing world with focus on Asia and Africa. Its goal is to empower its target groups to make them resilient to social, economic and environmental challenges.

For the competition, ASSIST has chosen ten compelling photos that chronicle the journey towards sustainable development --showing poverty, climate change, global recession and other challenges, as well as the innovation and cooperation that result from them.

The photos also captured sustainable inventions, human partnerships, cooperationfor a sustainable economic development, inspirational and empowering activities/scenarios/innovations, under the overarching theme: “A showcase of Empowerment, Partnership, and Innovations for Sustainable and Inclusive Development.” The competition was open to all Filipino citizens who are at least 18 years old as of September 1, 2013. Know more about the photo contest in www.facebook.com/tenphotostoshaketheworld.

Globe secures Ayala Alabang community support for more cell sites

Homeowners at the Ayala Alabang village joined a growing number of upscale subdivisions supportive of Globe Telecom’s bid to provide tailor-fit solutions that would significantly enhance connectivity in posh villages amid growing popularity of bandwidth-intensive devices.

The telecommunications provider started to address clamor for improved mobile coverage in Ayala Alabang in 2011 by investing significant capital expenditure to install additional cell sites and improve connectivity within the village. Ayala Alabang currently houses three Globe cell sites.  

Given the size of the village, seven to eight more cell sites are needed to further enhance connectivity inside the village, said Emmanuel Estrada, Globe Head of Network Technologies Strategy.

“There are approximately 4,000 houses constructed of high grade materials and almost 30,000 residents inside the village. Households situated farther from base stations could experience poor mobile coverage as cellular signal and quality diminish with distance.  In addition,  there are  about 9,000 full-grown trees that could pose a challenge to providing deep indoor coverage for our customers in the area,” Estrada said.

He further noted that mobile data explosion amid growing access to internet connectivity, which requires more bandwidth than traditional voice and text messaging services, demands the establishment of more cell sites to ensure and deliver superior mobile data services especially indoors. In that way,  customers can access popular social networking sites such as Facebook or Twitter on their smartphones in the comfort of their homes.

To squarely address subscriber requirement for higher bandwidth capacity, Globe is ready to implement tailor-fit solutions that would boost cellular coverage that would benefit the entire AAVA community, Estrada said.

Such solutions include the use of outdoor distributed antenna system (ODAS), which makes use of a specialized lamp posts built with radio signal transmission capability, as well as the use of cell sites disguised as palm trees or other aesthetically designed cell sites to blend with the surrounding areas such as those deployed in Urdaneta Village in Makati.

Exclusive villages that have approved or shown openness in allowing the installation of cell sites within their communities include Dasmarinas, Urdaneta, Bel-Air, San Lorenzo and Forbes Park. In Dasmarinas Village in Makati, homeowners allowed the installation of ODAS in the upscale subdivision. The ODAS technology is a network of small cell sites, instead of typical macro cell sites with shared equipment connected through fiber optic links. The solution makes use of a specialized lamp posts with radio signal transmission capability deployed along sidewalks. 

Globe Telecom: nurturing the right talents, The Globe Way

Globe Telecom Vice President for Leadership and Talent Management Tina Palmario-Sioson recently was a resource speaker at a recent forum on talent development held at the Shangri-la Hotel in Makati.

To the leaders of Globe Telecom, much of the company’s encouraging performance over the past several years could be attributed to the contribution of high potential and engaged employees amid company efforts to strengthen its talent development programs.

Strongly believing that employee engagement will further drive company growth and performance in the future, the leading telecommunications company is bent on developing key talents within the organization into future leaders of the company.  “Our objective is to build a surplus of leaders so that Globe is ready for the future whether for business sustainability or for new areas that we are resolved to conquer next,” said Tina Palmario-Sioson, Globe Vice President for Leadership and Talent Management at a recent forum on talent assessment.

Globe Telecom’s talent development program is anchored on The Globe Way, which espouses the telecommunication provider’s culture, values and ideals based on the premise that “people make the difference”.

Such thrust has prompted the company to develop an integrated leadership development approach such as the iLeadGlobe. The program is selective with eligibility criteria relevant to the participants that are handpicked by the leadership team through a stringent talent review process. The series of interventions include the Executive Development Program for the next generation of senior and business leaders. This program is meant for seasoned talents who have exhibited strong performance, demonstrated the company’s leadership competencies and have the potential to become the next generation of senior leaders.

The Young Leaders program, on the other hand, is an integrated leadership initiative that aims to engage and develop the company’s key talents into future business leaders. This program aims to holistically develop leadership skills over a period of approximately four months through a series of learning interventions such as modular training sessions, real-life projects and continuous learning through coaching and mentoring. The Emerging Executives program, meanwhile, is for mid-career talents for evolving hidden gems in the organization.

                "Even with the positive performance of the company over the past several years, we believe that things will get better and better, what with the network and IT transformation that we have implemented. The company’s thrust towards customer centricity would not have been possible without all the people at Globe,” said Sioson.

In addition to its iLeadGlobe program, the telecommunications provider has partnered with the leading business schoolsand opened programs for the employees interested to develop their business competence.  The company is also assessing and honing its employees by providing them with more job based development opportunities in order to future-proof their careers.

In parallel, the company launched Careers@Globewhich addresses the needs for professional growth of the rest of employees in the organization. The principle is anchored toward a joint responsibility between employee and superior with the employee taking a more proactive stance in taking charge of charting his career. Employees are given access to tools to help them assess their skills, capabilities, strengths and development areas. These are used for better career discussion of the employee with his superior, Sioson added.

Globe donates ICT tools to UNICEF for quality maternal and child care in off-grid areas

Leading telecommunications company Globe Telecom has donated P1 million worth of prepaid load and 200 mobile phones to the United Nations International Children's Fund (UNICEF) for the provision of quality health services to mothers and their newborn children particularly those in geographically-isolated and disadvantaged areas.

               The donation will be used for the Real-time Community Health and Information Tracking System or rChits which was initially launched in 10 off-grid areas to aid in information management and treatment response efficiency.  Globe is the official telecom and ICT partner of the rChits program led by UNESCO, Australian Aid, and UP Manila National Telehealth Center.

rChits is an ICT innovation made up of three components:  Chits, an electronic medical record system for maternal care; mReports, a software installed in mobile devices which serves as a portable medical reporting system; and LGU Dashboard, a graphical web interface that allows local chief executives to make evidence-based decisions on health care delivery.

“Lack of access to health and medical services is one of the identified causes for the increase of maternal and child mortality rate especially in remote areas, often due to insufficient number of health workers and lack of transportation.  Thus, as a leader in ICT and having a mobile network that best serves the areas where rChits is being implemented, we want to utilize our strength to help address this issue,” said Fernando Esguerra, OIC, Globe Corporate Social Responsibility.

Under the Philippines millennium development goal, the country is tasked to reduce its MMR by three quarters by 2015.  Latest data revealed 221 deaths per 100,000 live births.

Most health centers still use paper-based or manual systems to record and analyze data. However, due to lack of manpower to implement the program effectively, inaccuracies, missing data, and overall output is of low quality.  This hinders the provision of quality health services including proper natal and child care.

Initially, rChits was introduced in Arakan, Aleosan, Midsayap, and President Roxas in North Cotabato;  Malungon, Sarangani;  Lebak, and Kalamansig in Sultan Kudarat;  Davao City, Puerto Princesa City, and Quezon City.

The program is being used by rural health staff consisting of community doctors such as Municipality Health Officers or MHOs, rural-based doctors, public health nurses and rural health midwives.

                Through rChits, midwives who make their rounds within their designated areas are given cellphones by Globe where recorded data are transmitted through the pre-installed mReport program to the UPMNTHC server and are then cascaded to the desktop computers of the partner health centers where Chits is installed. The data collected are summarized and analyzed by the LGU Dashboard and presented in graphs and charts to serve as the basis for local executives in the development of health-related policies and programs of communities.

The 200 mobile phone units that Globe gave to the program is equipped with the Android Operating System the same operating system that rCHITsis using.

Globe also provided P1 million worth of prepaid load to jumpstart operations for 1 year.  The amount was raised through the My Rewards My Globe Program, a loyalty program tailored for all loyal Globe mobile and broadband subscribers where they earn points for every successful reload. The points earned makes subscribers eligible to redeem Globe products and other items as well as make contributions to community development programs such as rCHITs. 

Sinulog 2014 goes digital with Globe Telecom

Turns to social media to create a wonderful festival through photos

With the advent of digital technology, Globe Telecom makes its presence felt at the Sinulog Festival in Cebu from January 16-19, 2014 by harnessing social media to showcase the vibrant and lively celebration to the rest of the world.

This year, the leading telecommunications company turns to social networking sites Instagram and Twitter to engage locals and tourists participating in one of the country’s biggest and most attended festivals with a photo submission contest.

To join the contest, Sinulog attendees should capture and upload photos taken from the Globe Neon Carnival on Instagram and Twitter with the hashtags #Wonderful2014 and #GlobeSinulog2014. The photos must tell the story of “Globe creating a wonderful world of festivals and celebrations at the Sinulog 2014”.

Five winners of Globe prepaid load cards plus 1 grand winner of P5,000 worth of prizes from Globe Telecom’s mass market brand TM will be awarded daily during the 4-day event.

Located at Block 11 Cebu IT Park, Apas in Cebu City, the Globe Neon Carnival is a village-like attraction that houses the Globe Mobility Store-on-the-Go, a one-stop shop showcasing the telco’s line-up of prepaid, postpaid and Tattoo broadband offers as well as exclusive Sinulog deals for subscribers to enjoy.

Aside from the roving Globe Store, the Globe Neon Carnival also features food carts and drinks stations, interactive game booths, and exciting prizes for lucky locals and tourists. Entertainment acts from blacklight dancers, local bands, and local and international DJs are expected to provide the fanfare at the event.

One of the highlights of the Globe Neon Carnival is the “Kaloka-like” contest, a concept that originated from a noontime show open to the public. Participants are to showcase their looks and talents to convince the crowd and the judges that they deserve to win the title. Three (3) celebrities composed of an international singer, a primetime TV queen, and a men’s magazine model will form the panel of judges.

In addition, a daily raffle will be open to subscribers who will avail of Globe Prepaid, Postpaid and Tattoo offers, with exciting prizes such as tablets, handsets, and gift certificates from partner-establishments.

“We invite both the locals and tourists attending the Sinulog Festival to ready their smartphones and take photos from the Globe Neon Carnival to be part of this year’s biggest Sinulog social media craze courtesy of Globe as we experience a brand new Globe network in Cebu. With a quick snapshot of the energy-filled festival celebration in Cebu, you can win prizes by showing to the whole world, via social media, that it’s really more fun in the Philippines,” said Globe Retail Transformation and Management Head Joe Caliro.

Open daily from 4:00PM until the wee hours of the morning the next day, the four-day event is open to the public for free but Globe subscribers will be greeted with a slew of food treats and freebies upon entry. To know more about #GlobeSinulog2014, follow @enjoyGLOBE on Twitter and like Globe Telecom on Facebook at www.facebook.com/globeph. 

Globe Telecom partners with Radio Mindanao Network for relief distribution to typhoon-affected areas

More than a week after supertyphoon Yolanda hit the Visayas region particularly Samar and Leyte, massive properties remained ravaged and countless families are still starving and left homeless. In the spirit of unity and bayanihan, government and non-government organizations are pooling resources together to extend assistance by providing food, clothing, communication and medical assistance.

In order to expedite relief goods distribution to serve the immediate needs of affected families and individuals, Globe Telecom, under its Bangon Pinoy initiative, has partnered with Radio Mindanao Network (RMN) to help and reach out to typhoon-affected kababayans in the Visayas and Mindanao region.

RMN is one of the largest radio networks in the country with almost 60 company-owned AM and FM radio stations located around the Philippines.

            With the collaboration, RMN will serve as the relief distribution partner of Globe that will send the relief goods to various locations in the affected areas of the typhoon. RMN will also handle pick-up of goods from participating Globe Stores and other drop-off stations.

Currently, Globe has distributed relief goods to over 4,730 families and provided hot meals to over 3,000 individuals.

“We are grateful to partner with Radio Mindanao Network for this meaningful endeavor. It is truly rewarding to know that there are organizations like RMN that share the same vision as ours – to help our kababayans especially in times of need. We hope that through this partnership, Globe and RMN would be able to provide assistance to typhoon survivors in a faster and more reliable way,” expressed Fernando Esguerra, OIC for Globe Corporate Social Responsibility.

“We would like to thank Globe Telecom for allowing us to extend our help to typhoon Yolanda victims by partnering with them in their relief operations and distribution. We hope that we may also inspire others to take part in helping our typhoon-affected kababayans in their own little way,” said Gene Sitjar, National Sales Director for RMN.

Bangon Pinoy is Globe Telecom’s enterprise-wide disaster response initiative that aims to have a unified system for donations, relief efforts, and corporate social responsibility programs across products and services. It is an integrated program that allows communities devastated by calamities to benefit from various efforts geared towards rebuilding and rehabilitation. It was first introduced by Globe in 2009 after typhoons Ondoy and Pepeng wreaked havoc in the country.  

Globe to aid in community reconstruction via P15M Gawad Kalinga donation; holds disaster relief caravans

Concerned citizens flock at the Globe Prepaid On The Go caravan booth in Market!Market! to give donations for typhoon victims

Globe Telecom through its Bangon Pinoy (#BangonPinoy) program has pledged P15 million to help community reconstruction activities of Gawad Kalinga (GK) in the typhoon-devastated provinces even as the company holds mobile caravans to encourage donations for disaster relief efforts.

                The amount will be used primarily to build houses in GK Rotary Village in Brgy. Tambulilid, Ormoc, Leyte for the benefit of 100 families while part of the funds will be set aside for livelihood support to the residents.

                The institutional grant for GK was pulled together by Tattoo, Globe Telecom’s mobile and home broadband brand. A significant portion of the P15 million will come from the sale profits of Tattoo Prepaid Mobile WiFi from now until yearend and the 100 % profit donation from the plans sold by Tattoo Home Broadband in November and December 2013.

In addition, Tattoo will give 5,000 units of various Tattoo Prepaid Mobile Wifi and stick devices to be disseminated to the typhoon victims.

Gilbert Simpao, Head of Globe Broadband, said: "Apart from providing reliable connectivity, Tattoo would also want to extend all our resources to assist those who are most in need. And with majority of the families in badly hit areas losing their homes, Tattoo chose to focus on rebuilding and giving back sustainable life to families starting with Brgy. Tambulilid."

At the same time, the Enterprise Group of Globe Business provided WiFi connectivity to the GK Command Center in FTI Complex in Taguig City to enable fast coordination with the organization’s various partners in different parts of the country.  GK uses the internet service to perform webcasts via Ustream and to send real time updates of their activities. With GK relief operations in full swing this week, the business ICT arm of Globe Telecom will be increasing the bandwidth to 10 MBPS.

Meanwhile, Globe rolls out its Globe Prepaid On the Go caravan to raise subscribers’ awareness on various ways to help the typhoon victims.  Through the caravans which started at Market!Market! in Taguig City and Abreeza Mall in Davao City last November 16 to 17,  Globe subscribers may donate via any of five options:

1.       With every peso loaded in the Globe Prepaid On the Go Caravan, Globe Prepaid will match it with the same amount of donation for typhoon Yolanda victims. ​

2.       Through SMS. Text RED<space>AMOUNT to 2899 (Globe).  Amount can be any of the following denominations - 5, 25, 100, 300, 500 or 1000.

3.       Donation of old phones to be given to subscribers in affected areas.

4.      Redemption of Globe Rewards points in 5, 20, 50, 100, 500, and 1,000 denominations.  Text DONATE<space>YOLANDA<amount> to 4438.  One point is equal to P1.

5.       GCash donation to Red Cross via Mobile GCash APP or by dialing *143#> GCash > Others > Donate > Amount > MPIN > Red Cross.

The Globe Prepaid On the Go caravan will also be held on November 23 and 24 at the Activity Center of The District mall in Imus, Cavite; November 30 and December 1 at the Promenade of Harbour Point in Olongapo City, Zambales; and December 14 and 15 at Marquee Mall in Angeles City, Pampanga.

Globe currently has 26 Libreng Tawag stations, 39 Libreng Charging sites, 8 Libreng Tawag and Charging booths, and three Libreng Internet facilities in Iloilo, Cebu, Leyte, Bohol, Antique, Capiz, and Pasay City. 

Over 200 Globe employee volunteers have so far provided relief packages to almost 4,500 families and hot meals to 3,000 individuals.

Details of Globe Bangon Pinoy efforts can be viewed at http://globe.com.ph/bangonpinoy.

Globe Bangon Pinoy is an integrated program that allows communities devastated by the recent calamity to benefit from relief operations, free call and text services, network restoration, and a series of community-rebuilding activities. It was first introduced by Globe in 2009 after typhoons Ondoy and Pepeng wreaked havoc in the country.  

Globe “Bangon Pinoy” provides relief ops, hot meals to thousands of families in the Visayas

Various relief activities of Globe Bangon Pinoy (clockwise):  Manapla, Negros Occidental; Antique; Capiz; and San Remigio, Cebu.

Globe Telecom employee volunteers have trooped to typhoon-devastated areas in the Visayas region to provide relief packages to almost 5,000 families and hot meals to 3,000 individuals.

Globe Bangon Pinoy relief operations were held in Panay, Bogo, Bantayan, San Remigio, and Malapascua in Cebu;  Ormoc and Tacloban, Leyte;  Poblacion, Iloilo; Roxas City, Capiz; Barbaza, Antique, Manapla, Negros Occidental, and Kalibo, Aklan.

Hot meals, on the other hand, were distributed via Red Cross Mobile Kitchen in San Dionisio and Concepcion, Iloilo and Roxas, Capiz. while 50 sacks of rice were turned over to the Iloilo provincial office.

The relief packs are composed of basic necessities such as food and bottled water even as the company is set to send donations of usable clothes and footwear, sanitation kits, and blankets.

At the same time, Globe volunteers again lent their time and efforts to the repacking operations at the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) National Resource Operations Center in Pasay City.

                Meanwhile, Globe Tattoo has put up Libreng Internet sites at the Globe Store, Ground Floor, MFT Bldg., Real St, Ormoc City; JCT Hub, Ormoc City Plaza; and Mactan International Airport in Cebu.  This is in addition to the Tattoo Libreng Internet booths already operational in Villamor Air Base, Philippine Naval Base in Cebu.

Four more Libreng Tawag and Charging centers were also set up in Iloilo namely:  Lemery Municipal Hall, Concepcion Municipal Hall, San Dionisio Municipal Hall, and San Rafael Municipal Hall.  To date, there are 36 Libreng Tawag and 58 Libreng Charging booths in Cebu, Leyte, Bohol, Iloilo, Antique, and Capiz.

Outside of the affected areas, Globe Bangon Pinoy is rallying for help across the Philippines.  One of the initiatives is the TM Republikaravan, a one-stop-shop where subscribers may know more about typhoon-related activities of TM.

Likewise, TM has started its TM Republikaravan at the Angeles City National High School in Pampanga and Golden State University in General Santos City over the weekend.  More are scheduled at the University of Southern Philippines, Davao City (Nov. 20); Mindanao State University, Iligan City (Nov. 22); Brgy. 72 Covered Court, Moriones, Tondo, Manila (Nov. 23); Commonwealth National High School, Quezon City (Nov. 29); Waltermart, Gapan, Nueva Ecity (Dec. 1);  Glorietta, Baliwag, Bulacan (Week of Dec. 2-8); and Polytechnic State College, Tagudin, Ilocos Sur (Dec. 13).

During the TM Republikaravan events, TM will match every load purchased by the subscribers for donation to the typhoon victims and will also encourage teachers and students to give anything in kind.  All Rewards points used to purchase items in TM Sari-sari Store will be donated as well.

TM Republikaravan has also organized  “Dance for a Cause,” an Inter-barkada dance competition wherein the winning group will be donating half of their cash prize for the affected families.

Bangon Pinoy is Globe Telecom’s enterprise-wide disaster response initiative that aims to have a unified system for donations, relief efforts, and corporate social responsibility programs across products and services. It is an integrated program that allows communities devastated by calamities to benefit from various efforts geared towards rebuilding and rehabilitation. It was first introduced by Globe in 2009 after typhoons Ondoy and Pepeng wreaked havoc in the country. 

For more updates visit www.globe.com.ph/BangonPinoy. Follow us on Twitter @EnjoyGlobe (#BangonPinoy) and on Facebook.com/globeph.

Two Globe Bangon Pinoy Libreng Tawag centers up in Tacloban City; Libreng Internet offered in Mactan and Villamor airbase

Globe Telecom, through its Bangon Pinoy program (#BangonPinoy), has put up two Libreng Tawag Centers in Tacloban City as well as Libreng Internet facilities in Mactan and Villamor airbase for easier communications between the typhoon victims and their kins.

                The first Libreng Tawag station was set up at Globe FOBN in Naga-Naga while the second one is being housed at the Department of Labor and Employment Office, DOLE Compound, Trece Martirez St.

For Tacloban residents who opted to leave for Cebu and Manila, Libreng Internet is also being offered by Globe at the Mactan Airbase and Villamor Airbase, respectively.

                Power and communication services were completely cut off in Tacloban City for several days after the onslaught of Typhoon Yolanda, leaving the severely-devastated area isolated from the rest of the country.

               

Globe also provided Libreng Internet via MyFi to Red Cross in San Jose, Antique to allow Red Cross to respond to online inquiries as to the whereabouts of residents in Culasi, Antique.

                Globe currently has 17 Libreng Tawag stations, 32 Libreng Charging sites, eight Libreng Tawag and Charging booths, and two Libreng Internet facilities  in Iloilo, Cebu, Leyte, Bohol, Antique, Capiz, and Pasay City.

                Meanwhile, Globe Bangon Pinoy continues to call for donations either in cash or in kind.  Relief goods such as clothes, footwear, mosquito nets, and blankets may be dropped off in all Globe Prepaid On-The-Go caravans, details of which can be viewed from http://globe.com.ph/bangonpinoy.  TM Republikaravan will also match every load credit sold in the caravans with a donation.

                For cash donations to Red Cross, it may be done via Mobile GCash APP or by dialing *143#> GCash > Others > Donate > Amount > MPIN > Red Cross. Overseas Filipino Workers who want to help may also visit any GCash Remit partner outlet in the country where they are staying to send their donation.

Globe, Smart, Sun offer free local and int’l texts to affected Visayas provinces

               To help the communities severely affected by Super Typhoon Yolanda, the country’s three mobile phone operators -- Globe Telecom, Smart Communications, and Sun Cellular are jointly offering 25 free SMS per day for five days that may be used for local and international messages.  This will be available to all their customers in the provinces of Leyte, Samar, Cebu, Aklan,  Antique, and Capiz fromNovember 13 to 17.

“This free service is open to all Globe and TM subscribers in these Visayas provinces.  This is the company’s way of giving assistance to our customers who suffered from the typhoon’s onslaught and who need to reach out to their family and friends in the country and abroad,” said Peter Bithos, Chief Operating Advisor for Globe Consumer Business Group.

"This is a time for Filipinos to come together and help our countrymen in their hour of great need.  This joint effort will help Smart, Sun Cellular and Talk 'N Text subscribers in the typhoon-struck areas to communicate with their loved ones at home and abroad,"  said Charles Lim, Executive Vice President of Smart and Chief Operating Officer of Digitel Mobile Philippines.

The three operators came to this unprecedented agreement in response to the extreme devastation caused by the super typhoon. They are also working to restore their respective services and assist emergency relief activities of the government and humanitarian agencies.

For Globe and TM customers in the affected Visayas provinces, the free service can be availed by texting BangonPinoy to 8888.

Globe Telecom: close to 50% of sites affected by typhoon now up; mobile signal up in 2 cellsites in Leyte

Restoration in Visayas accelerated; ongoing Libreng Tawag in 7 sites in Visayas

Globe Telecom said 50% of base stations adversely affected by the super typhoon have already been restored back to operations as of 9 am Monday.

                In Visayas alone, 42% of the company’s 3G enabled sites that have been adversely affected by the typhoon have been restored. Globe has also reactivated 31% of 2G-enabled sites affected by the typhoon.

Mobile connectivity in Tacloban has improved substantially with the restoration of a cellsite serving critical communication requirements of the local government units and agencies involved in disaster response and coordination efforts.  Several units of cellsite on wheels are currently being mobilized to further expand service to typhoon victims.

The temporary site in Tacloban was put up near Maharlika Highway, after initially setting it up near Hotel Alejandro in Tacloban.  Tacloban was among the hardest hit provinces of Typhoon Yolanda and the last isolated area where Globe mobile signals were fully disrupted. Another cell sites has been reactivated in Ormoc City, located in Bantiq, which is around three kilometers away from the city proper.

Globe said that restoration efforts are being accelerated in the Visayas region with the assistance of government units like the Phil. Air Force and the Phil. Navy who lent assistance in providing transport requirements for heavy network equipment that are being airlifted or shipped to critical sites including Tacloban. 

In Cebu, 81% cell sites affected have already been restored while 84% of base stations affected in Negros Occidental have been reactivated while 81% of affected cell sites in Bohol have also been returned back to operations. Other restorations of affected sites in various provinces are as follows: Antique- 54%, Capiz-10%, Iloilo- 64%, Northern Samar-42%, Negros Oriental-97%; Southern Leyte-53%; Western Samar-26%.

Restoration of affected sites including those in southern Luzon and Mindanao involved 767 base stations.

  

Libreng Tawag, Libreng Charging centers mobilized

Parallel with efforts to repair base stations, Globe also mobilized Libreng Tawag stations in 7 different sites in Iloilo, Romblon and Antique.

The company is currently facilitating Libreng Tawag stations in Tacloban and Roxas, which is expected to become operational within Monday.

In addition, 24 Libreng Charging stations in Leyte, Bohol and Antique have been set up whereby gensets serving the Globe cellsites are used to charge mobile phones to help residents in the area with no commercial power.

The company’s lanning our first wave of relief operations in Panay (Iloilo, Roxas, Antique), Northern Cebu (Malapascua, Bantayan), and Leyte (Ormoc). As we speak, our Ka-Globe in Cebu are repacking 1,000 packs of relief goods for distribution in Northern Cebu and Ormoc.

Below are locations of Libreng Tawag and Libreng Charging stations:

Libreng Tawag:

Iloilo

1. Overseas Worker Welfare Administration Office, Region VI Office, 3rd  Floor, Robinson Mall,  Mabini Street;

2. Western Visayas Cyberlink  Inc. HUB, Shoppers Avenue, Valeria Street; 

3. Globe Telecom office in JM Basa Street.

Romblon

1. Odiongan Commercial Center, Liwayway St., Odiongan

Antique

1. Old and New Capitol, San Jose;

2. Boss Radio, San Jose;

3. Lauan Municipal Hall

Libreng Charging:

Southern Leyte

1.IC Abgao,Maasin City

2. GT Mambahao Maasin

3. FOBN Maasin City

4. GT Maria Clara Maasin

5. GT Macrohon

6. GT Pob. P. Burgos

7. IC Tangkaan P. Burgos

8. GT Bunga P. Burgos 

9. GT Bontoc So. Leyte

10. IC Sogod So. Leyte

11. IC Lilo-an So. Leyte

12. GT Nahulid

Bohol

1. GT Dagohoy

2. Innove Talibon

3 GT Sagbayan

4.GT Alicia Innove

5. GT La Union Candijay

6. GT Buenavista

7. GT Rosario Inabanga

8. GT Tabajan Guindulman

9. GT Bien Unido

10. GT Alijawan Jagna

Antique

1. San Jose Capitol

2. Lauan Municipal Hall