Congrats, Globe Telecom! Cheers to Project Wonderful!

If you're an avid reader of this blog, then you might be familiar with 'Project Wonderful', which I have mentioned time and again here and in my social media accounts. Launched in December 2013, 'Project Wonderful' is Globe Telecom's nation-building effort that aims to provide support in rebuilding communities through sustainable development.

I'm a staunch supporter and advocate of this campaign, and I'm very proud to say that Project Wonderful won this year's ARAW Values Award for the promotion and inculcation of positive values for social change and nation building.

Araw Values Awards.

The ARAW Values Awards recognize outstanding and excellent advertising and marketing messages and/or materials for Branded Communications and Advocacy/Institutional Advertising that promote the ARAW 7 Cornerstone Values, a cluster of select and well-defined values.

The biennial program is organized by the Advertising Foundation of the Philippines, the social development institution and advocacy body of the multi-sector Philippine advertising and marketing communications industry.

“We are proud of this award since it proves that through digital media, we can inspire bayanihan using a clear, provocative message:  That anyone, from an ordinary person to a known model, rockstar, sports icon – even a corporate CEO – could help rebuild the nation,” said Yoly Crisanto, SVP for Globe Corporate Communications.

Project Wonderful won in the Branded Communications – Digital category which espouses  “Love of Country and Respect for National Customs and Traditions.” It served as a consolidated platform of Globe products and services that empowered Filipinos to donate time, finances, and talent towards rebuilding the nation.

Project Wonderful.

For Project Wonderful, Globe came out with compelling, documentary-style YouTube videos which recounted the stories of Globe ambassadors Bamboo, Georgina Wilson, Liz Uy, and Chieffy Caligdong as they helped deliver 2,000 Christmas toys to kids in Ormoc, build 100 homes for Ormoc families, and distribute almost 1,000 learning kits to Iloilo schoolchildren.               

Likewise, using the hashtag #ProjectWonderful on social media and blogs, Globe spurred Filipinos from various walks of life to voice hopes and wishes for the country and ultimately, drove them to the Project Wonderful website where they got to know the many ways to donate or even volunteer.               
Project Wonderful was able to raise over P50 million in cash and kind which was used to build homes and school buildings and provide livelihood opportunities to families affected by Typhoon Haiyan.               

The campaign received 779,239 combined YouTube views, 306 million impressions from 112,588 Twitter mentions by 23,894 users on Twitter and Instagram, 136 unique blogger stories, and an average of 50,000 unique visits to www.ProjectWonderful.ph per month for the first quarter of 2014 which resulted in over 1,000 registered volunteers and supporters.

Globe Project 1 Phone | Reduce, Recover, Recycle.

I was skimming through my Facebook photos when I stumbled upon this - a not-so-stolen shot of me with my old gadgets. This was sometime in 2010, when the Nokia E63 was hip and I still had curly hair. Haha!

I still have that phone stashed somewhere around here, but I'm parting ways with it pretty soon.  I'm donating this baby - together with my other old phones - to Globe's Project 1 Phone campaign.

Throwback to 2010!

Together with global electronic waste recycling specialist TES-AMM, Globe aims to promote sustainability and create awareness on proper disposal of old and obsolete electronic items through this Project 1 Phone campaign.

Formed in 2005, TES-AMM combines state-or-the-art technology with in-depth knowledge of environment and waste management techniques to provide reuse solutions and recovery of precious metals from end-of-life electronics such as computers, cell phones, peripherals, television sets, among others. It is headquartered in Singapore with facilities in other parts of Asia, Oceania, Americas, Europe, Middle East, and Africa.

Globe is currently encouraging everyone to participate in Project 1 Phone by donating their unusable mobile phones and portable devices via donation bins available at all participating Globe Stores in various parts of the country (for the complete list, please visit the Globe Telecom website www.globe.com.ph/project1phone ).

Sample of the recycling process by TES-AMM.

All collected units and accessories shall be turned over to TES-AMM Philippines for proper recycling and recovery. No phones or accessories collected will be refurbished for resale or cannibalized for usable parts.

Old cellphones and their batteries have toxic components such as arsenic, cadmium, lead and mercury as well as plastic parts which usually have brominated flame retardant which are all toxic when released to the environment. If thrown improperly, these can pollute the environment and cause harmful effects to one’s health.

Thus, aside from ensuring that e-wastes are not unnecessarily dumped into landfills, TES-AMM also provides the facility to recover precious metals and plastics for re-manufacture, proceeds of which will go to classroom construction in Aklan where Globe is a development sponsor.

Globe Project 1 Phone | A Call for Good.

How many mobile phones have you owned in the past five years? One? Two? Maybe even five or more? Technological changes sure happen at a very rapid pace these days, especially in the field of telecommunications. Continuous popularity of social networking sites, the high demand for mobile browsing, and the availability of very affordable communications gadgets encourage more people to replace or upgrade their mobile phones almost yearly.

With this development, old gadgets often end up abandoned or worse, thrown into the trash together with drained phone batteries and broken chargers. These obsolete and unwanted electronic and electrical devices add up to millions of metric tons of e-waste disposed worldwide every year which cause toxic metals such as lead, mercury, cadmium, and beryllium to be released into the air and seep into the ground and waterways.

Through the years - some of the old phones that I have owned.

To combat the dumping of e-waste and promote stronger social and environmental practices, leading telecommunications company Globe Telecom is embarking on the biggest and most ambitious mobile recycling program in the Philippines. Dubbed as Project 1 Phone, it is designed to create awareness on proper e-waste disposal and to promote sustainability.

By donating unused, non-working, or damaged phones and tablets, mobile phone batteries, and even personal computers to the campaign, each Filipino would be able to do his share in minimizing not only the environmental impact of e-waste but also counter its harmful effects on health such as skin diseases and possible damage to vital organs and the skeletal system.

#Project1Phone.

Globe also makes it easy for its customers and other stakeholders to participate in the drive by providing donation bins in participating Globe Stores in various parts of the country (for the complete list, please visit the Globe Telecom website www.globe.com.ph/project1phone).

Schools, corporations, local government units, and other private and non-government organizations may also participate in the program by adopting recycle bins. Interested parties may email Globe at bridgecom@globe.com.ph.

All devices and accessories that Globe will gather shall be turned over to TES-AMM, a leading electronics waste recycler which will take responsibility for at end-of-life products to ensure that they are managed responsibly.

TES-AMM will, likewise, work on recovering precious metals and plastics from the recycled gadgets. Globe has committed to build at least 40 school buildings in the province of Aklan and proceeds of Project 1 Phone will be used to add to the said number since hundreds of classrooms are still needed in the area.

Globe MyBusiness and Gawad Kalinga | Building the Nation Together.

Several months ago, leading telecommunications company Globe Telecom and poverty-alleviation movement Gawad Kalinga joined hands to rehabilitate the typhoon-stricken areas in the Visayas. This time around, they come together to provide sustainable livelihood opportunities to residents of GK Villages. Not only will this initiative help the residents in making a living, but also make this underserved sector a significant partner in nation building.

“Globe continues to do its share in building a resilient Philippines with programs that move toward initiating sustainable efforts like providing livelihood opportunities. Together with our long-time partner Gawad Kalinga and their social enterprises, we are doing our best to create a wonderful world of possibilities by helping them discover and nurture their potentials,” said Martha Sazon, Sr. Vice President, Globe MyBusiness.

Globe myBusiness, which provides small and medium businesses with innovative, customizable products, services and solutions, helped leapfrog the implementation of the Gawad Kalinga Workers Association (GAWA), a program which aims to empower the underprivileged sector by helping them make a living. With GAWA, informal sector will be given a chance to earn a living either on their own or by serving the community through values formation and skills development programs. Founded in July 2013, GAWA has conducted 42 forums that produced 2,258 graduates, with more to follow.

Skilled workers of the GAWA Build Team.
Photo credit: GK GAWA.

One major accomplishment of the program was the formation of the GAWA Build Team.  These are GAWA graduates that help GK bring to completion projects that have demanding timelines or are in areas where support is much needed such as the housing projects in Zamboanga City; Tanay, Rizal; Rio Tuba, Palawan; and in different parts of Leyte.

Oscar Sibaya, GAWA graduate from Caloocan, busily sews uniforms for janitorial services.

Aside from training the GK residents, GAWA also assists in finding jobs for the graduates. A number of them are now employed as on-call housekeepers, drivers, sewers, spa/massage attendants, cable network installers, among others.

Teodoro Suaza of GAWA leads the Home Maintenance Team.

Globe actively supports social enterprises, micro-entrepreneurs, and local producers through its sustainable livelihood advocacy. By providing technology, training, and market access, the company hopes to promote inclusive growth in bottom-of-the-pyramid communities.

Gadgets, Gizmos, and more at the Philippine Digital Lifestyle Expo.

Are you excited for the long weekend? I know I am! The little man and I can't wait to go out-of-town and enjoy some quality time with the rest of the family. We both deserve some R&R after last week's super busy schedule, with his quarterly exams and all.

How about you? Where are you guys off to for the long weekend?
If by chance you'll be at SM Megamall, why don't you swing by the digital lifestyle expo hosted by Globe Telecoms? Dubbed as "Wonderful World with Globe: Philippine Digital Lifestyle Expo", this event will bring together the latest digital trends, gadgets, and applications that can enrich today’s mobile experience.

Wonderful World with Globe.

As we all know, people nowadays are more drawn into living the digital lifestyle. The increased ubiquity of smartphones, tablets and similar gadgets, the birth of innovative data plans, and the abundance of various apps are shaping the way Filipinos live, communicate and connect with each other. What they download, explore, and share online define their identity and lifestyle as digital citizens.

Constantly being connected is now a must to stay abreast and be “in the know” of the latest events and trends. Whether for working or playing wherever and whenever, downloading the latest app that supports a passion for health, worthy advocacy or anything in between, streaming music and videos, playing online or as simple as making one’s presence felt or voice heard on social media through posts, likes and shares, no doubt the digital life is being embraced by each one member of the hyper-connected generation, making deeper and lasting connections through the power of the Internet.

Through this Digital Lifestyle Expo, which is the first of its kind, netizens can see for themselves the latest gadgets, the hottest innovations, together with the products and services offered by Globe and their technology partners.

The Wonderful World with Globe: Philippine Digital Lifestyle Expo will be held on August 22 and 23, 2014, at the Mega Fashion Hall of SM Megamall, in Ortigas, Pasig City from 11am to 9pm.

The event is open to the public where they can take part and enjoy the fun booths, interactive activities and games, exciting prizes and freebies and surprise celebrity guests. All these and more are lined-up for the netizens in attendance as they embrace a wonderful digital lifestyle powered by Globe.

Globe's Nationwide 3G Connectivity | Faster, Stronger, Better!

If there's one thing that I can't live without (except for my favorite skincare products and my trusted Ventolin inhaler), it's got to be the internet. I need to be online most of the time for several reasons - my husband works overseas and we communicate with each other via phone messaging / VOIP apps; my work entails constant communication and coordination with my clients, which we usually do via email; I have social networking sites that I need to update regularly, being a blogger and all.

100% 3G!

So it's a good thing that Globe now has 100% nationwide 3G coverage. This means that my basic mobile data connection is now at 3G speed, with an even more stable and reliable connection.

And it gets even better! Starting September, Globe will begin rolling out 100% 4G HSPA+ connectivity across the country. This means all the wonderful things that I get to do now with my mobile internet, I'll be able to do it with an even faster connection. Hooray for better service! This internet junkie is happy! :)

Spotify Makes it to the Top!

And by that, I mean the top of the charts in both Apple iTunes and the Google Play Store. Among the free and paid apps, Spotify is the first and only music app to make it to the top ten!

It's no surprise, actually. Especially when you have 40 million users in 57 markets worldwide, plus a catalogue containing more than 30 million songs. I'm a huge fan of Spotify myself (it's one of the most used apps on smartphone), and most of my friends are, too (I know because we share our playlists on our Facebook pages, haha!)

KPop x Spotify! :)

Now if you're a Globe subscriber such as myself, you can enjoy streaming your favorite music for free with a GoSURF Data Plan. Aside from the premium access to all the music on Spotify, this postpaid plan also gives you access to the internet for sending e-mails, updating social networks, sharing photos or playing games. Streaming Spotify is completely free and won’t eat up a GoSURF data plan’s mobile internet allocation.

So whether you’re a social media spectator - busy checking everyone else’s status, posts, selfies, or a social media butterfly - constantly posting hilarious videos, quizzes for your friends to take, and responding to comments in a flash, GoSURF has the right data plan that fits your digital lifestyle. Stay online for as low as P10 for 10 MB of data valid for 1 day. If you want to stay online longer, you can register to GoSURF299 with 700MB of data for 30 days plus free Spotify Premium. The best part about Spotify Premium? You can listen to music without any advertisements, stream music with the highest quality audio, and download music using offline mode so you can listen to songs even without an internet connection or WiFi!

Make your world sound wonderful with GoSURF and Spotify!
Prepaid subscribers can register to GoSURF10 which gives 10MB of data and free access to Spotify for 1 day, while Postpaid subscribers can avail of GoSURF 299 with 700MB of data valid for 30 days plus free access to Spotify Premium.

Adobo Cup and the World Cup | For the love of football.

I have not been getting much sleep lately, thanks to the World Cup. It's either I sleep really, really late just so I can finish the 12 am match, or wake up really, really early so I can catch the first half of the 4 am match. Can you imagine what I have to go through for an entire month every four years? If you're a fan of the sport, I'm pretty sure you can empathize with me.

And as if the action and excitement in Brazil is not enough, here comes the Adobo Cup - a 5-side football tournament organized by Adobo Magazine. Now on its seventh year, this event brings together personalities from the advertising, media, and production industries.

Action at the Adobo Cup.

The 2014 Adobo Cup will take place at the Gatorade-Chelsea FC Blue Pitch at Circuit Makati on June 28, 2014.

Globe Telecom supports this year’s tourney as part of the company’s CSR program “Football Para Sa Bayan,” a grassroots campaign which advocates football as a tool to transform the lives of underprivileged children through by encouraging athletic excellence and providing educational opportunities.

Since its launch in 2013, the program has catered to more than 6,000 children around the country. By including the Adobo Cup in its efforts, Globe hopes to create strong awareness of the program’s cause, particularly among advertising specialists and those within the private sector.

At the helm of Globe’s Football Para Sa Bayan campaign is Chieffy Caligdong, Green Archers United left winger and vice-captain of the Philippine Azkals. Here is a video of Chieffy coming home and giving back to his hometown Iloilo.

In addition, Globe is also donating football training equipment to FutKal FC, the beneficiary of the Adobo Cup. FutKal is a non-profit organization that promotes football in the Philippines at the grassroots level. This year’s proceeds will go to FutKal’s Field of Hope initiative to help rebuild the lives of Typhoon Haiyan survivors.

Globe leads National Best Friend Day in the Philippines.

As the digital brand for the youth, Globe Telecom is bringing National Best Friend Day to the Philippines this Sunday, June 8, alongside the launch of its new offer GoUNLI20 for prepaid subscribers.

GoUNLI20 is an all-in-one prepaid promo perfect for best friends and pals to stay connected with each other at an affordable price. For only P20 a day, Globe customers can enjoy unlimited calls to Globe/TM, 15MB of surfing, and 20 texts to all networks, allowing them to keep their bonds and connections intact may it be via call, a text message, or a social media post.

Hooray for National Best Friend Day!

This June 8, Globe celebrates a day of friendship with the National Best Friend Day, where best friends visiting SM North EDSA, SM Mall of Asia, SM Baguio, SM Megamall, Ayala Fairview Terraces and Ayala Cebu can enjoy exciting activities, freebies and prizes.

Special “Best Friends” cards with Globe Prepaid SIM will be distributed to those who will be at the Globe Best Friend’s Day event on Sunday. Globe Prepaid customers can also enjoy the new GoUNLI20 for free this National Best Friend Day.

To be in the loop this National Best Friend Day, Globe invites netizens to share their wonderful moments and experiences with their BFFs on social media using the official hash tag #TheBestFriendEver.

To register to GoUNLI20, dial *143# for free or text GoUNLI20 to 8888. To know more about GoUNLI20, visit www.globe.com.ph/prepaid/gounli20.

Text2Teach to boost quality of education in Patikul, Sulu.

Classes have started for most schools in the Philippines, and beginning this school year, the Text2Teach program will be implemented in Patikul, Sulu. A third class municipality, Patikul is also one of the most remote island groups in the Philippines where student dropout rate has reached alarming proportions. This concern is one of the many that the Text2Teach program aims to address.

A collaboration between the private and public sectors composed of Globe Telecom, Ayala Foundation, Nokia, Pearson Foundation, Toshiba, the Department of Education, and the local government unit, the Text2Teach program is set to boost the quality of education in 15 elementary schools in Patikul, Sulu. The program also aims to boost teacher morale and enhance the learning environment in the classroom, with the end-goal of significantly lowering the drop-out rate and significantly increase the learning gains.

Text2Teach launching in Sulu.

Through Text2Teach, the alliance aims to address the lack of appeal of education by providing an abundant supply of teaching resources such as 360 educational video materials on English, Math, Science and Values Education downloaded via Nokia Education Delivery.

The videos which can be played in a 32" LCD TV donated by Toshiba provide a highly-effective visual aid for teachers and create an interactive, student-focused learning environment in the classroom which makes the students eager to attend school. It comes with lesson plans that are fully integrated into the basic education curriculum and created to meet local education guidelines and standards.

Photo credit: Text2Teach.

Meanwhile, Globe also provides pre-paid SIM cards, free P150 monthly load allowance for one year to each beneficiary-school to be used for helpdesk concerns, and an additional P1,000 load if there are new or updated materials to be downloaded using its network.

There are now about 1,054 Text2Teach schools nationwide with the alliance looking to increase count to 1407 schools by the end of the year.

Flash Giveaway | Win Php 2000 from Globe!

My son and my niece are certified digital natives.

#GlobeDigitalNatives

Born and welcomed into a world with tablets, laptops, and mobile phones by their bedside tables, they come from the generation that truly has the world at their fingertips. They are what we call the 'digital natives'.

Globe Telecom, one of the top data and internet service providers in the country, aims to create a healthy cyber culture for all its users. And with its next-generation network, Globe creates a wonderful digital world for our children through safe internet use.

How about you, how do you keep your kids safe while using the internet?

Answer this question on Twitter for a chance to win Php 2000 worth of Globe prepaid load, or Php 2000 off on your Globe postpaid bill!

Don't forget to include the #GlobeDigitalNatives hashtag in your tweet!
You can tweet as many answers as you can from now (May 19) until tomorrow (May 20). Winner will be announced on May 21.

Good luck everyone, and have a wonderful week ahead! :)

Globe goes global with new international SIMs!

Great news for OFW families and Filipinos traveling abroad!

As more Filipinos fly to Europe, Globe Telecom continues to find ways for them to stay connected to their homeland by introducing in Italy and the United Kingdom (UK) its newest international SIMs with affordable call, text and surfing rates.

Globe local Italy SIM.

With the Globe local Italy SIM, Filipino travelers can keep in touch with loved ones back home using local rates. For just 10 euros or Php 620, subscribers are allocated with 1GB of mobile data, along with 240 minutes of calls to all networks in Italy, valid for 30 days. Using the Globe local Italy SIM, they can also call Globe and TM subscribers in the Philippines for only seven euro cents or Php 4.50 per minute. No other mobile operator in Italy offers these affordable rates.

Globe local UK SIM.

Meanwhile, Filipinos in the UK can enjoy 10 pence or just Php 7.50 for both calls and texts to Globe and also TM users in the Philippines to all networks in the UK. Mobile data costs only £1 (one UK pound) or P75 for 10 megabytes (MB) of data to power a two-minute video stream, 10 emails with attachments and 100 posts on their social networking accounts.

The Globe International SIMs are available at the Globe booths at the departure areas of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminals 1, 2 and 3. The SIMs can also be used with an open line handset. For more information, visit ukglobetel.com and globemobile.it.

Get your bikes ready for the Globe Cordillera Challenge 5!

The race is on!

On Saturday, May 10, 800 biking enthusiasts will gear up for the Globe Cordillera Challenge, which promises to be the biggest off-road charity mountain bike ride in Northern Luzon to date. This event aims to promote the need to rebuild the forests of the Cordilleras, which have suffered from prolonged environmental destruction. Reforestation of the Cordilleras currently faces several challenges such as the lack of water efficient trees and the huge cost of buying and hauling saplings to remote areas.

Photo credit: Cordillera Conservation Trust.

In addition, the event aims to raise at least P1.8 million to complete the needed establishment of 100 seedling nurseries in the Cordillera mountain range by yearend under the Roots & Shoots program of the Cordillera Conservation Trust (CCT), event partner and beneficiary.

Charmaine Pamintuan, Globe VP for Enterprise Marketing talks about this year’s
Cordillera Challenge 5 during the weekly PIA-CAR Kapihan sa Baguio.
Together with her are Fernando Esguerra, OIC, Globe Corporate Social Responsibility (right)
and JP Alipio, Executive Director, Cordillera Conservation Trust (left)

Globe continues to call for donation for the activity either through Globe G-Cash (text DONATE AMOUNTMPINCORDI and send to 2882) or via direct deposit to the BDO Account of the Cordillera Conservation Trust, partner-beneficiary of the event (Account Name: Tignayan Para Iti Konserbasyon Ti Kordilyera; Account Number: 5180031673). A copy of the deposit slip with the name of the donor may be sent to bridgecom@globe.com.ph.

Have an Epic Labor Day Weekend at #LaBoracay!

Happy Labor Day, everyone! Hope you're all enjoying today's non-working holiday.

Now if you're heading to Boracay this weekend, you're in for a treat as Globe Telecom gears up for an epic Labor Day Weekend. Hosted by Republiq, celebrate that well-deserved break with exceptional and exhilarating parties amid the sun, sand, and surf in beautiful Boracay!

Tattoo Labor Day Weekend 2014!

The party happens at the Epic Beach Front, with spin-master Cedric Gervais taking the stage on May 3. While on May 4, Grammy-nominated producer and DJ Steve Aoki is set to bring the house down.

And while you're there, make your Labor Day weekend one for the books - share anything and everything exciting that happens right on your tablet as Tattoo makes sure you stay connected with the best-value prepaid and postpaid tablet bundles!

Upon purchase of these Tattoo products at the Globe store in Boracay, customers may receive up to 3 tickets for free, to the most happening weekend!

- Tattoo Prepaid Mobile WiFi = 1 free ticket

- Tattoo Postpaid Mobile WiFi = 2 free tickets

- Tattoo Prepaid Mobile WiFi + Skyworth S73 or Cloudpad 705W

= 2 free tickets

Free tickets can be claimed at the Tattoo Booth in Epic on May 3 and 4, from 12 noon to 12 midnight. Don't forget to present your proof of purchase! No receipts, no free tickets!

Big discounts and more at Globe's Great Gadget Sale!

Celebrate summer and have fun in the sun with a new gadget in tow! Bond with your friends, capture precious moments, and stay connected with the Globe Prepaid On-the-Go Great Gadget Sale where you can enjoy up to 90% off on phones and gadgets!

Choose from your favorite phone brands such as Samsung, Nokia, LG, Sony, Lenovo, Huawei, Alcatel, MyPhone, Cloudfone, Star Mobile, Gionee, DTC and Cherry at the Globe Prepaid On-the-Go Great Gadget Sale with irresistible offers and packages. Whatever your budget is, there's a gadget waiting for you at one of the biggest phone sales ever to hit gadget-land.

The Great Gadget Sale!

You can also trade in your old phone – whether a Cherry Mobile, iPhone, Blackberry, Huawei, HTC, LG, Nokia, Samsung, Sony Xperia, Cherry, or MyPhone, and pay your cash-out using your Globe Rewards points (100 points = Php100).

Avail of wonderful deals for gadgets including Nokia Lumia 625, LG G2 mini, Sony Xperia Z1 Compact, Lenovo A516, MyPhone Hail, Star Mobile Diamond V3, and much more. You can also enjoy a free data plan subscription for 2 months when you purchase your gadget at the event.

Keeping you connected!

"Summertime is the perfect season to get a new gadget. For the youth and the young at heart, it is the best time to be outdoors, to plan for summer getaways, and upload photos and videos to share experiences. With the Globe Prepaid On-the-Go Great Gadget Sale, getting a new phone need not be expensive. Get as much as 90% discount when you purchase your favorite phone brand by trading in your old phone and using your Globe rewards points. With Globe, enjoy the wonderful summer season with a gadget of your choice at a price that's within your easy reach," said Issa Cabreira, VP for Prepaid Business at Globe.

Head on to the TriNoma Activity Center on April 24-27, 2014 at 10am-10pm to enjoy the biggest phone deals at the Globe Prepaid On-the-Go Great Gadget Sale.

Spotify + Globe Telecom | Making Beautiful Music Together.

Spotify, the most popular music streaming service in the market to date, has made yet another milestone. It's now available in the Philippines, and it's made possible by no other than Globe Telecom.

Available to all Filipinos today, Spotify gives you:
An unbeatable music experience. Listen to whatever music you want, whenever you want, on any device. Discover, organise and share. Offering amazing audio quality of up to 320kbps and with a brand new design, playing your favorite music never looked and felt this good.

Unrivaled music access. Over 30 million songs at your fingertips and updated daily, mixing global hits with one of the most extensive OPM catalogues available. Check out music from your friends and favourite celebrities. Add in our unbeatable music discovery and organisation tools and Spotify has all your music needs covered.

Music anywhere, everywhere. Download the Spotify app and listen to any song, album or artist, on any device, for free. Shuffle play on mobile or play any song on tablet or desktop. Alternatively, upgrade to Spotify Premium for P129 per month and enjoy the ultimate music experience.

On my Spotify playlist. :)

Spotify's exclusive tie-up with Globe Telecom offers all 38 million Globe Postpaid, Globe Prepaid and Tattoo-on-the-go Prepaid subscribers free access to the app through the telco's new data plan, GoSURF. GoSURF gives customers mobile internet access complete with Spotify for as low as P10 a day. Even better, streaming music on Spotify won't touch your default data allowance across all GoSurf plans!

Postpaid subscribers, on the other hand, can choose from a variety of offerings, from GoSURF 299 with 700MB of data valid for 30 days including Spotify Premium, up to GoSURF 999 with 5GB of data plus Spotify Premium.

"Globe customers will have music to discover right at their fingertips with Spotify, and sharing music with all their friends is just but a click away," says Peter Bithos, Chief Operating Advisor at Globe.

He adds, "With its comprehensive music catalogue and features such as playlist creation, music discovery and offline mode, Spotify gives us a new and exceptional way of listening to music. Coupled with our GoSURF plan, our customers get to enjoy the best of both worlds; consumable mobile internet to do the things they love plus 30 million songs to listen to and share, all for free."

Spotify is the biggest music service of its kind globally, with over 24 million active users and over 6 million paying subscribers. For more information or to start using Spotify, visit www.spotify.com or check out the official Facebook page at www.facebook.com/spotify.

Summer Fun at the 2014 Globe Adventure!

Heading to Boracay for the Holy Week? Then be sure to check out Globe's fun summer activities while you're there!

This week, Globe Telecom will be launching the 2014 Globe Adventure on Boracay Island. This exciting and fun-filled race-like activity happens on April 17 until April 20, and will start from 11:00 AM until  9:00 PM. In this event, participants can secure stamps from finishing tasks in each of the stations around the island, with a chance to take home Globe freebies upon completion of the activities.

The Globe Store in Boracay.

Participants who complete the stamps will automatically get exclusive VIP passes to the Globe Wave Party. on April 17 and 19 at the Wave Bar. The passes include free drinks, plus a chance to win handsets from partner brands.

On top of the wonderful summer adventure, Globe subscribers are also entitled to a free multi-cab ride from Cagban Port to Budget Mart. Non-Globe subscribers can still take advantage of the free boat ride by purchasing a Globe prepaid SIM or activating a new Globe postpaid line.

Apart from a more intensified network complete with Long Term Evolution (LTE) coverage, Globe also presents the Globe Store located at D-Mall in Station 2. Opened last March 2013, the store offers live demo units of the latest and top-of-the-line gadgets and accessories, as well as superior customer service and after-sales support.

Brave the Trails with the Globe Cordillera Challenge 5.

Heads up, biking enthusiasts! Globe has something for you! In partnership with the Cordillera Conservation Trust, Globe Telecom brings you the Globe Cordillera Challenge 5 - a biking event that promises its participants a scenic but grueling 90-kilometer ride from Tublay to Kapangan in Benguet and back.

While the most picturesque among the routes prepared for the challenge since its launch in 2010, this year's trail also involves more technical climbs with total ascent of 3,390 meters and total descent of 3,404 meters. Maximum slope going up and down is 30 percent grade with about 20-25 kms of dirt road going down continuously. Lowest elevation is 522 meters above sea level while the highest elevation is 1,780 meters. 

"Bikers would be able to see some very nice rice terraces. Most people equate the rice terraces to Ifugao but we have it in Benguet as well. There's also a shallow river where they can stop and take a dip. But since it is the Cordillera Challenge, there's an extra element. It will be a bit tricky. There are also more rough roads instead of highways. We want everyone to explore and experience the Cordillera province. It's all about seeing what we have, and seeing why we have to protect all these areas," said JP Alipio, Executive Director of Cordillera Conservation Trust, partner-beneficiary of the event.

As part of Globe Telecom's journey to create a wonderful world, it is also the first time for Globe Business group to take the lead in the Cordillera Challenge 5.

Globe Corporate Social Responsibility OIC Fernando Esguerra (left) and Cordillera Conservation Trust Executive Director JP Alipio (right) encourage bikers to join the Globe Cordillera Challenge 5.

"We believe that it is high time for our corporate clients to join us in our advocacy for environmental sustainability. We want to engage them in addressing their social and environmental impact. What better way to do it than by encouraging them to be part of the Globe Cordillera Challenge which has always enjoyed enormous success in creating environmental awareness among the public," said Nikko Acosta, Head of Globe Enterprise Group.

Scheduled to take place on May 10, 2014, the event will have its first turnaround point at 20 kms from the starting line; this will be composed of purely paved roads. There will be sweeper trucks assigned in specific areas to bring bikers back to the finish line. The bike ride will start at exactly 5:00am at Tublay Municipal Hall and is expected to end there at 4:00pm.

Braving the trails.

The Globe Cordillera Challenge is not a race but a timed event designed for recreational bikers to be able to measure their performance and explore the local environment. It also showcases the ecosystem and culture of the Cordillera region and raises awareness on the need to protect and rebuild the mountains' forest areas.

Interested bikers can register at http://www.globe.i-volunteer.ph/register.
It entails a donation of P1,000 to the Cordillera Conservation Trust. The amount shall be deposited directly to the ff:
BDO Account
Account Name: Tignayan Para Iti Konserbasyon Ti Kordilyera
Account Number: 5180031673

Upon deposit, scanned copy of the deposit slip with the name of the participant shall be emailed to bridgecom@globe.com.ph. An email confirmation will be sent by Globe within 24 hours.

'Suits' star Gabriel Macht to visit Ormoc for Project Wonderful.

Oh yes, you read it right! Another Hollywood star is coming to town - to Ormoc, Leyte, to be exact.

Gabriel Macht known the world over as legendary law practitioner Harvey Specter in the provocative television drama 'Suits', is confirmed to arrive in the Philippines on 8 March 2014 to visit Ormoc in the province of Leyte.

His visit is made possible by Globe Telecom, the country’s leading telecommunications company, in fulfilling its commitment of building a wonderful and resilient Philippines through its Project Wonderful nation-building efforts by helping Typhoon Haiyan survivors in Ormoc City, Leyte.

'Suits' lead star Gabriel Macht is scheduled to arrive in Ormoc City
to raise awareness and financial aid for survivors of Typhoon Haiyan.

In partnership with the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), Globe has been granting business to beneficiaries identified by DSWD as part of its Sustainable Livelihood Program (SLP), a community-based capacity-building program that seeks to improve the socio-economic status of program participants.

“We are committed to contribute to nation-building by providing relevant entrepreneurship and livelihood opportunities among typhoon Yolanda survivors in Ormoc City so they can rise again and move forward,” said Globe President and CEO Ernest Cu. “We hope that through this project, we will be able to teach them to manage sustainable micro-enterprises that will help them move from survival to self-efficiency,” he added. 

“Project Wonderful is thankful to Mr. Gabriel Macht for coming in to support us.”

As part of its Project Wonderful program, Globe takes strides in rebuilding the nation with initiatives which will benefit schools, homes, and livelihood opportunities. Bringing global attention to its commitment to livelihood, Project Wonderful is hoping that through the support of a high- caliber actor such as Macht, more support will come in months to come.

“Witnessing the devastation of typhoon Haiyan, I felt compelled to raise awareness and financial aid to help thousands of people still struggling to get back on their feet. There is so much work still to do. I'm excited to be a part of rebuilding and I'm hoping that so many more will join the effort,” Macht shared.

Project Wonderful is a program that reinforces Globe Telecom’s commitment to subscribers, businesses, and the nation. Project Wonderful has three (3) pillars: Nation-building, which aims to build a wonderful and resilient country with programs that will rebuild homes and schools as well as provide livelihood opportunities to individuals and families in need, Culture-building, which shapes Globe to become a more customer-centric organization, fueled by a common passion to help and live a culture of service guided by its renewed mission, vision, and values, and Brand-building, which brings to life the telco’s passion and commitment to the customer as a strong challenger brand that leads the industry with innovative and relevant products and services.