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 offers Libreng Tawag from 8 countries to the Philippines.

Leading telecommunications company Globe Telecom is offering Libreng Tawag services to the Philippines from eight countries in Asia, Europe, Middle East, and North America in support of overseas Filipino workers who may want to check on their families residing along the path of Typhoon Ruby.

Gil Genio, Globe Chief Operating Officer for Business and International Markets, said that the countries identified are among those with the highest number of Filipino migrants and expatriates in the world.  They include Spain, UK, Saudi Arabia, Canada, Singapore, Hong Kong, USA, and Italy.

The onslaught of Typhoon Ruby.
Photo credit: Inquirer.

“We realize how important it is for our kababayans abroad to get in touch with their families especially during calamities.  This is why we have set up free calling stations in these 8 countries where Globe is directly serving the Filipino communities there,” Genio said.                   

“In Italy, free calling services are available at the Globe Stores in Milan and Rome. For Spain, UK, Saudi Arabia, Canada, Singapore and Hong Kong, this public service started yesterday and is being offered through some of the accredited Globe retailers in those countries,” said Rizza Maniego-Eala, Globe Senior Vice President for International Business.                

“For the United States, Libreng Tawag in the west coast will be available in all branches of Seafood City through our partnership with them while Filipinos in the east coast will be served via web through the subscribed access service of Lunex, the Globe partner servicing the area,” Maniego-Eala added.                

Libreng Tawag will be available until 11:59pm EST on 08 December 2014.

Preparing for Hagupit | A Globe Telecom Public Advisory.

Typhoon Hagupit (local name 'Ruby') entered the Philippine Area of Responsibility today and has rapidly intensified into a super typhoon, with maximum sustained winds at 205 kilometers per hour (kph) near the center. Typhoon Hagupit is expected to make landfall in Eastern Samar by Saturday afternoon, and as of this writing, 18 areas have been placed under storm signals,

In this regard, Globe Telecom advises its customers in Eastern Visayas to take necessary measures in preparation for the super typhoon. The telecommunications provider urges its customers to charge their cellphones and other mobile devices, in case the weather anomaly causes extended commercial power failure. The company suggests customers may also opt to buy alternative source of energy such as power banks and rechargeable lamps with USBs.

Make your smartphone's battery last longer.

Here are some tips to conserve battery life of smartphones:
1. Log off or turn off unnecessary mobile apps or at least disable push notifications for nonessential apps.
2. Turn off unnecessary radios such as GPS, bluetooth and wifi.
3. Switch off vibrate function and utilize ring tone instead.
4. Turn off sync function.
5. Dim LCD screens and shorten screen timeout.
6. Minimize notifications and use phone only when necessary.

Customers in areas identified in the path of Typhoon Hagupit should also make sure their respective lists of contacts are in order. Contact lists should include emergency numbers such as the nearest hospital, police stations and barangay or community leaders.

Globe Senior Vice-President for Corporate Communications Yoly Crisanto said, “We are now strengthening our disaster-preparedness program in terms of added facilities, supplies, infrastructure, and manpower support so we can immediately attend to network and service concerns that may arise due to the typhoon,” she said.

Click image to enlarge.
Photo credit: Weather.com.ph

Globe regional teams are being mobilized to ensure they are well equipped to address network issues that could arise from the typhoon. Preparations include deployment of back-up supplies, power tools and infra materials, spares and back-up fuel. Crisanto added that the company's disaster-preparedness program also include employee-safety measures to be implemented in areas that will likely be affected.

Crisanto said the company is coordinating closely with government authorities, specifically the National Disaster Risk Reduction & Management Council or NDRRMC to ensure its disaster-preparedness program is aligned with both the national and local government efforts.

Inspiring success through world-class education.

In another game-changing move, Globe myBusiness launches its world-class education solutions portfolio that enables educators and students alike easy access to the latest technologies, tools, and content.  Included in this portfolio are the following:

Brightspace, an integrated learning program from Desire2Learn
Brightspace enables teachers to deliver quality instructions and create learning experiences tailor-fit to students’ individual needs, and track progress.

Educube, a school management system from Globals, Inc.
This offers easier and better control on various processes (e.g. student admission, fee billing, curriculum setting, timetabling, academic achievements, etc.) in the education institution.

eBooks from Flipside Publishing
This provides schools with relevant and updated content, and aid local publishers and independent authors meet international standards in eBook production and retailing.

These ground-breaking offers are part of Globe myBusiness' thrust of enabling success among small and medium businesses (SMB), particularly in the education sector.

Education businesses such as schools and content publishers can benefit from these technology-based offers as the products ensure cost efficiency as well as more effective and streamlined processes aligned with global standards. These include Integrated Learning Programs which enable teachers to deliver quality instructions and create learning experiences tailor-fit to students’ individual needs and objectives, and track progress and improve learning, School Management Systems which offer easier and better control on various processes (e.g. student admission, fee billing, curriculum setting, timetabling, academic achievements, etc.) in the education institution, and eBook Solutions which provide schools with relevant and updated content, and aid local publishers and independent authors meet international standards in eBook production and retailing.

Globe Education Solution Launch.

In photo showcasing another innovation from the trusted business advisor are (from left) Globe Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer for International and Business Markets Gil Genio (leftmost), Globe Senior Vice President for myBusiness Martha Sazon (center), Globals CEO & President Suhas Gopinath  (Sazon’s right), Desire2Learn President & CEO John Baker  (Sazon’s left), Flipside Publishing, Inc. President & CEO Anthony de Luna and General Manager James Pacaba, with other Globe myBusiness executives and representatives.

For more information on Globe Education Solutions, send an email to educationsolutions@globe.com.ph.

After Haiyan | A Journey to Wonderful.

When Supertyphoon Haiyan (local name Typhoon Yolanda) unleashed its fury a year ago, it left a trail of unimaginable devastation to lives and properties. One of the strongest tropical cyclones ever recorded, Haiyan left 6,300 casualties in the Philippines alone. Yet, despite the bleak scenario, hope continued to exist as public and private sectors as well as the international community joined hands to bring the country back on its feet. Globe Telecom was among the first companies to respond to the call for help.

“Globe recognizes how every little effort counts in rebuilding the nation, thus, it went out of its way to rally the employees, customers, partners, and other stakeholders to raise funds for the construction of homes and school buildings and for the creation of livelihood opportunities in areas hardly hit by the disaster. Project Wonderful was born out of this desire to aid in nation building. Ten months since it was launched, we now see the fruits of our efforts but we are not stopping until we fulfill all our commitments,” said Yoly Crisanto, Senior Vice President, Globe Corporate Communications.

Newly-constructed homes in Gawad Kalinga, New Washington, Aklan.

At present, Globe together with Gawad Kalinga, has completed a total of 162 homes in Brgy. Tambulilid, Ormoc, Leyte and Brgy. Fatima, New Washington, Aklan, as well as in Brgy. Tugas, Madridejos, Bantayan Island, Cebu via sponsorship of SingTel. An additional 28 houses are scheduled for construction in Libacao, Aklan early January for a total of 190 units. Globe is also set to give out 600 shelter kits to Libacao before yearend aside from the 940 shelter kits distributed in Madalag, Aklan earlier.

Shelter kits.

In addition, Globe also became a Development Sponsor for Aklan under the Office of the Presidential Assistant for Rehabilitation and Recovery (OPARR) where it spearheads initiatives in housing, education, livelihood, and health to help seven of the hardest hit municipalities: Libacao, Madalag, Banga, Batan, Altavas, Balete, and New Washington.

School construction site.

Globe not only provides houses for Aklan but is also working on building schools for its seven areas of concentration. With the help of Habitat for Humanity and Ayala Foundation, the company is building in two phases. The first phase involves the construction of “Noah’s Ark”-type classrooms that double as evacuation structures during calamities as they are equipped with three toilet and bath facilities each as well as a kitchen. The second phase is comprised of more than 30 regular but “built back better” classrooms to be funded from proceeds of the company’s enterprise-wide waste management program, as well as from parent-company Ayala Corporation.

To top it off, Globe also launched Project 1 Phone to educate Filipinos on the importance of proper disposal of electronic waster or e-waste and to contribute to the building of classrooms in Aklan. Under this project, everyone can support the efforts in Aklan by donating their old, non-working mobile phones for recycling at participating Globe Stores. Proceeds of the program will be used as additional funding for the schools. Cash donations of 5, 20, 50, 100, 500 denominations may also be sent directly to Habitat for Humanity by texting DONATE HABITAT and send to 4438.

Globe Telecom + NBA | Basketball as you want it.

Back in the days, the only way to be able to watch NBA games was to subscribe to cable TV. These days, you can watch the games live even while on the road, through smartphones and tablets. Thanks to technology, and the recent tie-up of Globe Telecom and the National Basketball Association! :)

Best of both worlds!

The partnership will allow both prepaid and postpaid subscribers to purchase NBA league passes to get access to live NBA games, streamed right to their mobile devices. The subscriptions will be available to Globe users via affordable packages that can be purchased piecemeal, or bundles with postpaid plans.

A day pass to the live games can be purchased for as little as PHP 10 with the GoSURF10 bundle, or opt for up to seven single day passes bundles with their plans for as low as PHP299. Postpaid subscribers get seven day passes every month for up to 24 months, depending on their postpaid subscription. Non-Globe subscribers can get in on the action as well, and purchase league passes, though a separate connection to the Internet will be required.

“We are excited to welcome Globe into the NBA family,” said Scott Levy, NBA Asia Managing Director.  “The NBA shares Globe’s commitment of enriching the lives of Filipinos and, through this new partnership, Globe will have a presence across all areas of the NBA experience and bring the game closer to our millions of fans throughout the country.”

Globe and NBA Executives come together for the groundbreaking, multi-year partnership.

For the NBA, this new partnership is another milestone in a landmark year in the Philippines, which saw the introduction of the first Jr. WNBA program in the country, the launch of the world’s first NBA Cafe, the announcement of the first NBA Store in the Philippines and, most recently, the NBA’s multiyear partnership extension with local broadcasters ABS-CBN and Solar Entertainment.

This partnership continues a two and a half year journey in which Globe has forged globally-innovative partnerships that bring breakthrough, ‘world’s firsts’ to the Philippines.  During this time, Globe has sealed partnerships with Facebook, Google, Viber, Spotify and now the NBA.  These partnerships, together with the telco’s $790M network transformation program, have made Globe the fastest growing telecommunications provider in the Philippines.

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 gears up for Samsung Galaxy Note 4!

What's on your wishlist this Christmas?
The Laneige Beauty Box? A new designer bag? Plane tickets maybe?
Or perhaps Samsung's newest baby, the Galaxy Note 4?

If you're just as excited as I am for the latest Note device, our friends at Globe Telecom are bouncing off the walls for us enthusiastic customers! They're even going the extra mile in welcoming the Galaxy Note 4 and Galaxy Gear S by opening an online portal for the eager beavers.The portal accepts registration of interest among customers purchasing the latest devices with a postpaid plan from Globe.

Register now and be one of the first proud owners of the Galaxy Note 4!

Available on the Globe website via https://samsungnote4.globe.com.ph, the registration of interest portal allows new and existing postpaid customers to choose their device color in advance and register their personal details such as name, mobile number, and e-mail address. The customer database will be used to update registered customers with postpaid plan offers and pricing details. A reference number will be provided to customers so they can track status of their application.

Yes, it comes in pink, too!

Sweet isn't it? Now here are some of the drool-worthy features of the Galaxy Note 4.
For starters, it boasts of a 5.7-inch Quad HD Super AMOLED display and is armed with a 2.7GHz quad-core processor, 3GB RAM and 32GB ROM. It sports a 16-megapixel Smart OIS main camera for shooting high-quality photos and a 3.7-megapixel front-facing camera with a wide-angle lens. Equipped with all the fun and functional features of Android 4.4 KitKat plus an Advanced S Pen, the Note 4 promises enhanced productivity and creativity.

So what are you waiting for? #SurpiseYourself or a loved one this Christmas with a Galaxy Note 4. :)

Be part of Globe's Wonderfilm!

Calling all aspiring filmmakers! Globe wants you to shoot and share your wonderful stories for a chance to win Php100,000!

Making someone smile because of a text. Sending that tuition fee payment on time thru your mobile phone. Planning your gang's next trip on group chat. Hearing your baby talk for the first time, even if you're abroad. We all have wonderful days using Globe, may it be through small acts or memorable milestones.

I'm sure you have your own wonderful Globe story, too. Why not share it to the world? Turn it into a five-minute video and you might just win Php100,000!

Click to enlarge.

If you're a college undergraduate or a film student, you can submit your entries from September 17 to October 24, 2014. Fill out an application online or download the form and send it together with your video/s. Selection of winners will be on October 28, 2014, while the announcement of winners will be on November 7, 2014.

For more information, and to view the full mechanics, visit Globe's official website.

Happy Teachers' Day!

This morning, my little man hurriedly finished his breakfast, saying that he has a project to do.

"What project? And why are you telling me that just now?" I asked, thinking that it'd be another one of those Food Pyramid-esque projects where I had to cut-out pictures of food and stuff.

"Oh, this is simple," he said, while laying out crayons and colored paper on his table. "I just need to make a card for my teacher. It's Teacher Day, Mom!"

Oh right. I almost forgot. World Teachers' Day, which actually falls on October 5th, is being celebrated today (and I reckon until tomorrow) in their school.

Happy Teachers' Day!

Here in the Philippines, National Teachers' Month kicks off in September with month-long activities to honor the teachers and their profession. The event culminates on October 4, a day before the World Teachers Day.

Globe Telecom joins the academic community with the celebration of the National Teachers’ Month, recognizing the exemplary contributions of teachers to nation-building and development. The leading telecommunications network partnered with Teach for the Philippines, a for-purpose, non-stock, non-profit organization that works to provide Filipino children with an inclusive, relevant, and excellent education.

With the partnership, Globe, through its digital brand for the youth Globe Prepaid, engaged one of its key leaders to become a guest teacher in the organization’s partner school in Mandaluyong City. Taking the role of a teacher, Globe Vice President and Head of Prepaid Business Issa Cabreira taught English to the Grade 3 students of Highway Hills Integrated School. Cabreira also shared with the students her work experiences to emphasize the value of education and to inspire the students to strive for success.

Globe VP for Business Issa Cabreira taught the importance of time to the Grade 3 students
of Highway Hills Integrated School in support of  National Teachers' Month.

Globe also launched the #GlobeWonderfulTeacher program, where 21 teachers will be selected as recipients of the “Globe Wonderful Teachers Awards”, a tribute to mentors who have shown great dedication to their craft.

All students can participate in the campaign by posting selfies on their Facebook and Twitter accounts with the hashtag #GlobeWonderfulTeacher.  Each entry should include a short description on why they consider their nominated teachers wonderful. Prepaid load credits will be awarded to the student and teacher chosen for the winning daily entry.

The National Teachers’ Month is celebrated from September 5 to October 5 by virtue of Presidential Proclamation No. 242 which recognizes the need to “celebrate the unique role and service that teachers play in guiding families, strengthening communities, and building the nation.” This year, it is anchored on the theme, "My Teacher, My Hero" to acknowledge the teachers.

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 for Social Good!

Last September 16 and 17, a two-day conference examining the impact of technology and new media on social good initiatives around the world was held here in the Philippines.

Dubbed PH+SocialGood: Manila #2030NOW, the two-day Manila leg of the New York-based initiative took place at The Mind Museum in Taguig. The said conference focused on how technology can be used to deal with climate change and the impact it leaves behind; how businesses can transform and empower women; how efforts to collapse the digital divide are helping bring the Internet to everyone; and finally, how people can help ensure that there will be no casualties when the next typhoon comes.

The event was made possible by Rappler, the country's leading social news network, together with Microsoft, and the Global Center for Journalism and Democracy. One of the major sponsors of this event was Globe Telecom, the Philippines' leading telecommunications company, which is also well-known for its “0916” and “0917” prefixes.

Globe Telecom talks about Disaster Risk Reduction during the Social Good Summit in Manila.

“Telecommunications is a vital component of DRRM (Disaster Risk Reduction and Management), thus, Globe continuously works on ways to limit the impact of any disruption in its operations especially during calamities. It has a business continuity management policy in place which prioritizes the safety of the people and ensures the delivery of products and services even during disasters," said Yoly Crisanto, Senior Vice President, Globe Corporate Communications.

While nothing can provide absolute guarantee that a severely disruptive event will no longer occur, Globe has a commitment to its stakeholders that it is ready to respond to and recover from any incident, including those not anticipated.

For instance, despite the massive damage inflicted by Super Typhoon Haiyan in Tacloban City which left the area isolated from the rest of the world, Globe network people were fast to respond to the emergency through partial restoration of communications services within two days.

The company is currently the development sponsor of Aklan, one of the 14 provinces severely hit by Super Typhoon Haiyan in November last year. Through the project “Bulig 4 Aklan,” Globe has committed to provide education, housing, health, and livelihood assistance to seven affected towns, namely: Libacao, Madalag, Banga, Batan, Altavas, Balete, New Washington.

Globe is, likewise, very active in helping communities affected by disasters not only through quick assistance such as Libreng Tawag and charging activities and relief operations but more importantly, by providing them the means to get back on their feet and live normally again.

Spotify Asia launches the best of K-Pop playlist!

Attention all music lovers - hallyu is taking Spotify by storm!

The world’s leading music streaming service today rolls out its first-ever curated Asian playlist bringing music fans the best of K-Pop.

K-Pop Daebak!

K-Pop Daebak (that's the Korean word for 'awesome') features the hottest songs from all-time favourite Korean idols, such as BigBang, 2NE1, EXO, and Girls’ Generation, upcoming rookie groups BTS, Boys Republic, Akdong Musician & Red Velvet, as well as the latest releases from Super Junior, Taemin, B1A4 and HyunA.

The playlist also includes the debut single from YG Entertainment’s newest group, WINNER, who has recently launched their album, 2014 S/S, on Spotify. WINNER’s track, Empty, has been dominating various music charts for the entire month since the album launch. The five-member boy band is YG Entertainment’s first boy group in eight years since BigBang.

K-Pop fans can now bob their heads to the latest hits and all-time favorites in the Hallyuwood sphere on the Spotify Asia page with a playlist that’s going to be updated regularly. Check out Spotify’s K-Pop Daebak playlist here.



About Spotify
Spotify is an award-winning digital music service that gives you on-demand access to over 20 million tracks. Our dream is to make all the world’s music available instantly to everyone, wherever and whenever you want it.

Spotify makes it easier than ever to discover, manage and share music with your friends, while making sure that artists get a fair deal. Spotify is now available in 56 markets globally with more than 40 million active users, and over 10 million paying subscribers.

Since its launch in Sweden in 2008, Spotify has driven more than US$1bn to rights holders. Spotify is now the second biggest source of digital music revenue for labels in Europe, and the biggest and most successful music streaming service of its kind globally.

*Number of tracks licensed globally. Catalogue size varies per market and can also change over time.

On Countering Text Scams and Spams.

A few months ago, I received this text message from an unknown number.
It read, "Your postpaid has been charged P500 for LTE use. Is this a wrong charge? Text 500 send to (2909*******) for Refund."

Just another text scam.

I knew right then and there this was a text scam - an attempt to 'extort' money through 'share-a-load transactions'. After all, I am subscribed to Globe's Unli Data Plan and there is absolutely no chance in hell (pardon the idiom) that I'd be charged extra for my supposed LTE use. Also, I'm pretty much aware that advisories from Globe do not come from 16-digit numbers such as the one above. Instead, they are labelled 'GLOBE' and appear as such on your inbox.

These text scams have become pretty rampant these days, and Globe has addressed this issue by implementing a new process where customers doing Share-A-Load transaction will be sent a validation text message.

Validation message.

Customers doing a Share-A-Load or a Share-A-Promo transaction will be asked to confirm their transactions. The step is intended to address proliferation of text scams that trick customers into doing Share-A-Load transaction without their knowledge.

The validation message reads as follows: “You are about to share PXXX load with 0916XXXXXXX. Reply YES within 5 minutes to proceed. P1/transaction. Report text scams to www.globe.com.ph/stopspam.” The validation message would come from 2652xxxxxxxxx where the last 9 digits are the transaction number. Replying to the message is free of charge. On the other hand, customers who fail to reply within 5 minutes will receive the following message: "We're sorry, but your Share-A-Load/Promo transaction has been cancelled because the response time exceeded 5 minutes. Please try again. Thanks!"

Last month, Globe reduced the amount of Share-A-Load transaction to a maximum of P150 for prepaid customers and P300 for postpaid customers to counter text scams asking for P500 Share-A-Load transactions. Text scam messages are varying everyday using spiels like rewards, loyalty, MSF discount, roaming and bill overcharge, waiver of charges, refunds, etc.

Globe urges its customers to immediately report thru http://www.globe.com.ph/stopspam and provide all the details required. Numbers that are reported as source of text scams will be immediately blocked from the network. Following the telecommunication company’s intensified efforts to combat text spams and text scams early this year, the number of reports using the website has reached over 42,000 since it was created in June 2014.

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! :)

Are you Ready for Ironman 70.3?

What's the first thing you think of when you hear the name 'Iron Man'? I bet the image of Robert Downey, Jr. clad in a battle suit would be your answer. For sports enthusiasts, however, 'Iron Man' means more than just Tony Starks' alter ego.

Ironman is an international triathlon competition that takes place in over 30 countries around the world. This event offers a unique racing opportunity to old and aspiring triathletes as it challenges them to stand out and be their best in three major endurance sports – swimming, biking, and running.

Here in the Philippines, we have the Ironman 70.3, a race series that has a shorter course. Also known as 'Half-Ironman', the race consists of a 1.9 km-swim, a 90-km bike, and a 21-km run. As with the Ironman series, it consists of a number of qualifying races at various locations worldwide, culminating in a world championship race with athletes drawn largely from top finishers in the qualifying events.

Are you ready for Ironman 70.3?

This year, Ironman 70.3 Philippines will take place in Mactan, Cebu on August 3, 2014 with about 2,500 participants from various parts of the country and abroad. And just like in the previous years, Globe Telecom is once again the official technology partner of the said event.

Globe, a strong supporter of Ironman 70.3 Philippines since it was introduced locally in 2009, will provide WiFi connectivity, laptops, Tattoo sticks, and cash support to the game to ensure that organizers, athletes, and spectators can have a wonderful digital experience which they can share with the rest of the world. 

Twelve of the participants belong to the Globe Triathlon Team which regularly competes in Ironman 70.3 Philippines since it started six years ago. Team Globe expects to better their personal best in the local premier event.

The Globe Triathlon team prepares for the sixth staging of Ironman 70.3 Philippines.

“With the continued growth of the sport, we are seeing tough competition from veterans and newbies alike. But through the support from Human Relations as well as from various groups in Globe such as the Prepaid and Postpaid teams and the International Business Group, our employee athletes pose to give a good showing as they toe the line with other multisport enthusiasts,” said Team Captain Elmer Santiago.

This year’s event promises improvements on the swim course as well as transition areas to accommodate the larger field. The slight change on the bike route presents a new challenge while the ever scorching run course will further test the athletes’ stamina.

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.