Globe boosts your favorite promos with the Free Facebook and Viber

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(L-R) Globe Vice President for Prepaid Brand and Portfolio Management Raymond Policarpio, Globe Director for TM Brand and Portfolio Management Trina Sebastian, Globe Vice President for Content Jil Go, and Globe Senior Advisor for Consumer Business Daniel Horan.

The country’s number 1 mobile brand Globe Telecom continues its drive to position the Philippines as the Digital Lifestyle Capital of the World by giving customers free access to Facebook and Viber with their favorite Globe call, text, and surf promos. 

Starting September 1, 2015, all Globe Postpaid, Prepaid, TM and Tattoo customers can enjoy free access to Facebook and Viber when subscribed to promos including GoSURF variants and other existing call and text promos such as GOUNLI, ALLNETCOMBO and TMSULITXT, among others without the need for a Wi-Fi connection.

​FULL FREE FACEBOOK EXPERIENCE​
As the only telco in the country to offer a free full Facebook experience, customers will be able to view photos, stream videos uploaded on Facebook, as well as post, like, share and make comments on the social networking site. Globe Prepaid and TM customers subscribed to their promos will automatically get free access Facebook. Postpaid customers on the other hand can opt-in by texting FREE FB ON to 8888.

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​VAST VIBER FUN
Alongside Facebook, the browsing experience is made even better with free access to Viber. Customers can enjoy sending stickers, chatting with friends and groups, and staying connected with other Viber users around the world. Those registered to a Globe text promo can get Free Viber chat, which includes sending and receiving messages, as well as stickers, doodles, and photos. Exploring public chat is also free. When registered to a call or surf promo, customers can enjoy Free Viber chat, complete with voice and video calls. Postpaid customers can instantly enjoy Free Viber call and chat for the entire promo duration.

​MOBILE DATA LEADERSHIP
Globe continued to dominate the country’s mobile data segment after posting mobile browsing and other data revenues of P9.5 billion in the first six months of the year, a 53% growth from previous year’s level at P6.2 billion. On a quarterly basis, second quarter 2015 revenues reached P5.1 billion, up 16% from previous quarter at P4.4 billion.

This achievement brought the contribution of mobile data revenues to total mobile revenues by 23% as of 1st half of 2015, coming from 16% the previous year.

With mobile data business growing at a rapid pace, data users from overall Globe mobile customer base have grown to 37% during the same period, a substantial increase from previous year’s 17%. Wireless data traffic on the Globe network has also increased by 82% year-on-year with the growing number of smartphone users and applications that leverage the internet.

To support the growing demand for bandwidth-heavy services such as broadband and data, Globe spent around P11.4 billion in capital expenditures in the first half of 2015.

For more information on Free Facebook, text FREE FB HELP or FREE FB STATUS to 8888 or visit www.globe.com.ph. 

To know more about accessing Viber for free, visit www.globe.com.ph/freeviber.

The Medical City Liver Center Launches LIGTAS

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Imelda Guzman, the mother of a liver transplant recipient, says she has a strong desire to meet and bond with families who, like them, have a loved one in need of or have undergone a liver transplant operation.

When she and daughter Marilda went to Manila for a vacation last April, they took time to visit four-year-old Aga Fulgencio who was then recovering from his liver transplant operation performed on February 17, 2015 at The Medical City (TMC). Marilda underwent the same operation in 2013 also at TMC.

“In my own way, I would like to offer our support and share our experiences with Aga’s family,” says Guzman.

Waiting for or living with liver transplant can be difficult. Thus, having support from family and friends can be very helpful. 

“The patient and his family may also benefit from joining a support group of people who understand what the patient is going through,” says Dr. Vanessa de Villa, head of TMC’s Center for Liver Disease Management and Transplantation (CLDMT).

With this in mind, CLDMT in coordination with TMC’s Center for Patient Partnership (CPP) is launching the Liver Transplant Information and Guidance Through Awareness and Support or LIGTAS support group.

LIGTAS is designed to offer support and education to liver transplant recipients, candidates, caregivers and family members. It provides a forum for sharing information and experiences and helps patients and their loved ones better understand and cope with the issues and concerns associated with liver transplant. 

The support group uses a multidisciplinary approach in providing social and wellness support and education on liver health and disease to its members. LIGTAS is facilitated by a set of professionals engaged in allied medical, administrative and support services. 

“All liver transplant candidates, recipients and their families are eligible to join LIGTAS. They just need to fill up an application form which can be secured from the CLDMT office at TMC Ortigas,” says Dr. De Villa.

Dr. De Villa, a liver transplant surgeon, has worked in some of the best transplant centers in the world and plays a lead role in the development of liver transplant in the country. Since 2011, CLDMT under her leadership has done eight liver transplant operations.

In January 2011, TMC performed the first successful pediatric liver transplant in the country with three-year-old Catherine Erica Buenaventura as patient. Erica then had a living donor, her 17-year-old uncle.

Marilda and Aga were TMC’s third and 7th liver transplant recipients respectively. 

“We have proven again that we can do successful liver transplants here at The Medical City. The expertise is here, the technology, the system and all the auxiliary services are ready. We can offer our patients in the Philippines the same world-class quality healthcare that overseas liver centers provide,” says Dr. De Villa.

Dr. De Villa is also thankful for the generous support of the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) led by its General Manager Jose Ferdinand Rojas II. The PCSO, through a formal partnership with TMC, has been very committed in giving liver transplant patients financial assistance.

Aside from the generous financial aid, Rojas also makes it a point to personally visit these patients, to talk to them and provide moral support.

“We at CLDMT and the PCSO will further strengthen our partnership as we seek to reach out to more patients in dire need of liver transplantation,” adds Dr. De Villa. 

The CLDMT is a specialty unit that offers a comprehensive array of diagnostic and therapeutic options for patients with liver diseases and liver tumors through an integrated and highly skilled multidisciplinary, patient-partnership approach. 

It is otherwise known as The Medical City Liver Center and may be reached through 9887000 local 6506.

At least 3,000 highest need PHS students in MM receive STEM equipment, materials from Caltex Fuel Your School

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Manila, Philippines – About 3,000 students from the highest-need, senior-ready public high schools in Metro Manila are now learning science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) with the help of brand new equipment received recently from the Caltex Fuel Your School (FYS) program of Chevron Philippines Inc. (CPI), marketer of high-quality brand of Caltex fuels and lubricants.

A global Chevron social investment program that was first introduced in the country this year, Caltex FYS involved motorists and the public who supported the said campaign during the donation period wherein every 4-liter fuel purchase in any of the 153 Caltex stations in Metro Manila, Rizal, and Cavite generated one peso donation to fund the projects.

Chevron aims to reach a P5M donation fund or at least P150,000 per target beneficiary school. This amount was met during the fuel-up drive and social media campaign from June 15 to July 15, 2015. This funded the 28 STEM classroom proposals that were shortlisted by program partner American Chamber Foundation as submitted by 27 of the 33 schools pre-selected by DepEd as schools most in need of support in Metro Manila. 

The delivery of the STEM teaching tools such as laboratory equipment, engineering kits, scientific calculators, laptops, tablets and multi-media projectors to the schools were received with both delight and tears by the teacher-proponents, most of whom were still having a hard time believing their wishes had come true.

Kalayaan High School in Pasay City, teacher/project proponent Reynaldo Cordova said that “[These] brand new electronics and technical apparatus will help realize the dreams of the poorest of the poor students [of Kalayaan High School] of becoming free from poverty”. In Pasay City South High School, on the other hand, teacher/project proponent Jonalyn Suzara requested 303 units of brand new scientific calculators. “I can vividly remember how my students use palengke-style calculators in computing. They were complaining, ‘Ma’am, we cannot make logarithmic computations here.’ That will not be a problem anymore with these scientific calculators,” added Suzara.

Some of the teachers got emotional upon receiving their requested STEM equipment and materials. In Carlos L. Albert High School in Quezon City where most students have limited or no access to the Internet, teachers vouched that the state-of-the-art multimedia materials from Caltex FYS will help students learn faster through interactive participation. Said a teary-eyed Cecilia Biapo, the school’s science department head, “In the past, storms and typhoons forms were discussed through ‘MP3’ or ‘Manila Paper 1, 2, 3’. Now, we have 48-inch flat screen TV! Who wouldn’t want to see animations of cyclogenesis with that?” she relayed. 

Other schools took a step closer to their specific academic visions after receiving the STEM equipment. Imelda Quiban, the STEM department head of Pitogo High School in Makati City, shared, “To craft the finest biochemistry research, our student-researchers used to rent an autoclave – or sterilizer machine in a university in Laguna for PhP5,000. But now, we have our own! Whereas we were forced to use ‘vintage’ equipment, now our autoclave is shiny and brand new. Thanks to Caltex, our school will soon be the ‘center of science research’ in Makati.” 

To help spread awareness and thus enable more people to donate and like the projects posted in the FYS website, the Caltex campaign also ran a Facebook component, prompting several of the schools to devise gimmicks and strategies to rack up votes. Caloocan National Science and Technology High School, the smallest school among the shortlisted schools in terms of student population, emerged as the victor after getting the most number of votes. Teacher/project proponent Fel Rose Ignacio despite their relatively small school population campaigned to the students through a daily “Facebook voting hour” and had the students view the instructional video she and her co-teachers created exclusively for Caltex FYS. She recalled, “We uploaded this video and shared the link to the dedicated Facebook page in which all of our students were members, then they utilized the ‘web-of-mouth’ strategy and shared with their network.”

Also in the top three based on the Facebook voting rank are Culiat High School in Quezon City and Pasay City East High School. All three schools received a new laptop each as a bonus prize in addition to the STEM materials they asked for, for the untiring but fruitful campaigning both in social media and fuel-up drive.

Motorists and the social media community played a significant role in the Caltex FYS program. Entrepreneur Mich Mori said, “I supported the campaign because I wanted to do my part in helping these kids have a bright future. Who would’ve thought that a portion of my weekly gas expense can turn into something beneficial?” Blogger Andy Nieva meanwhile relayed, “When you see, read, and like the [Caltex FYS] projects on Facebook, you somehow turn a leisure [activity] into valuable support for the beneficiary children. In this little way, I fueled up the dreams of these students to become a reality.”

According to Olivia Dagdag, the principal of Camp Gen. Emilio Aguinaldo High School in Quezon City, “I set the direction of our school and that is to achieve our Caltex FYS project. Unity is the key to success. That is why I believe the Caltex FYS program became successful not only because of our school initiative, but also with the collaboration of the motorists, the community, and the private sector.” 

Raissa Bautista, manager for CPI’s Policy, Government, and Public Affairs, explained that the company believes that “Education is the greatest equalizer. The combination of quality school equipment provided by Caltex FYS, passionate teachers, and motivated students will make education a very powerful tool for economic growth and sustainability.” 

Caltex Fuel Your School is part of CPI’s Energy for Learning Initiative which supports educational programs that create opportunities for individuals to acquire new knowledge, gain new skills, and be exposed to different ways of thinking. To find out more about the STEM projects of the beneficiary schools, go to www.CaltexFuelYourSchoolPH.com.

Jardine showcases various home protection products at ICONEX 2015

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Jardine Distribution Inc. joins one of Iloilo City’s most popular construction expos, ICONEX 2015, last June 22 to 28 at SM City Iloilo.

Supporting the continuous growth of construction industry by participating in different expos across the country, Jardine Distribution Inc. (JDI) recently joined the Iloilo Construction Expo 2015 (ICONEX) from June 22 to 28 at SM City Iloilo.

Jardine Distribution Inc. receives a certificate of participation from one of Iloilo City’s most popular construction expos, ICONEX 2015, last June 22 to 28 at SM City Iloilo.

Now on its third year, Iconex is organized by a group of local architects and engineers to showcase different construction materials that ensure better and more durable houses for Filipino homeowners. The event likewise allows people engaged in the construction industry to connect with each other, opening doors of opportunity for them.

Through the years, Iloilo has witnessed quiet yet constant changes in its structure. The physical manifestations of these changes can be seen in different building and rebuilding construction works in the city. Positioning itself as one of the major cities in Visayas, Iloilo’s construction industry is booming resulting in the city’s economic growth.

JDI’s booth at the annual ICONEX construction draws scores of people, including architects, contractors, engineers, and homeowners. 

“We will never miss this one because Iloilo City is booming and we support the city all the way!” said Peachy Tiu, Marketing Manager “We are present in different construction expos to enlighten everyone on the latest trends in home protection. We innovate and add new products from time to time to offer better ways to protect our prized investment, which is our home.” 

During the expo, JDI highlighted its total waterproofing solutions just in time for the start of the rainy season. The company offers a wide array of home protection products such as Sureseal Elastomeric Sealant, Super Thoroseal, Optimum Flex, and Waterplug.

Jardine Distribution, Inc. (JDI) is engaged in the marketing and distribution of leading agricultural products, applied construction materials, and home pest solutions. Wholly owned by Jardine Matheson Holdings Limited, JDI operates within the framework of Hong Kong-based Jardine Engineering Corporation.

JDI, which joined the expo for the first time, highlighted its total waterproofing solutions just in time for the start of the rainy season.

For more information on Jardine Home Protection Products, visit http://jardinedistribution.com/. 

PLDT through PLDT SME Nation partner with Microsoft launched Digital Campus Suite

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The nation’s leading telecommunication and multi-media service provider Philippine Long Distance Telephone Company (PLDT), through its business unit PLDT SME Nation, and partnered with Global IT giant Microsoft Philippines, had launched the "Digital Campus Suite" a new service package that will enable students, academe and even their parents access to online learning programs and to earn  Information Technology certification for critical IT skills that are now in demand in today’s digitally driven industries.

Through the Digital Campus Suite, schools and universities will have high-speed connectivity with PLDT myDSL Biz or iGate, an online access to training courses of the Microsoft IT Academy Program.

PLDT Chairman Manuel V. Pangilinan

Last Wednesday, August 26, 2015, during the Digital Campus Suite launched held at the Makati Shangri-la Hotel, PLDT Chairman Manuel V. Pangilinan shared “We at PLDT are confident that this partnership can significantly contribute to enriching the digital content of Philippine education. By enabling schools through these programs, we are helping them, both educator and student, to gain new critical skills and lean IT courses with globally competitive technology programs that have become essential in today’s digital workplace.”

Though the Digital Campus Suite, schools will have high-speed connectivity with PLDT myDSL Biz or iGate and online access to training courses of the Microsoft IT Academy Program. 

Schools will receive licenses to Microsoft Office 365 to help students and teachers interact and teach using Cloud tools and platforms.

Educators and students will have access to the digital curriculum and earn IT certifications in the Microsoft IT Academy Program for fundamental technology skills, as well as courses that enable students to become more competitive for employment.

The suite also includes laptops, tablets, and WiFi access points in campus to enhance the overall digital education experience.

PLDT SME Nation, Microsoft and COCOPEA have joined forces for a digital innovation that will help change the landscape of Philippine education. In photo, from left, are: PLDT EVP and ePLDT President and CEO Eric Alberto, PLDT Chairman Manny V. Pangilinan, COCOPEA Chair Bro. Jun Erguiza, FSC, Ed. D, Microsoft Philippines Country Manager Karrie Ilagan, PLDT President and CEO Napoleon L. Nazareno, PLDT SME Nation FVP and Head of SME Business Kat Luna-Abelarde and APAC Education Partner Director Rani Burchmore.

A study conducted by International Data Corporation (IDC) revealed that increased spending on IT cloud services will open up an estimated 14-million new jobs worldwide. The same report also noted that there was an apparent “widening ICT professional skills gap” and a “shortage of skills” in the Asia-Pacific region.

PLDT is very active in partnering with schools and learning institutions to built their technology and connectivity resources in support of the education sector’s need to improve ICT learning among the students and academe.

Kat Luna-Abelarde

PLDT FVP and head of SME Business Kat Luna-Abelarde said “This initiative fully aligns with PLDT SME Nation’s efforts to empower the future generation with an ICT-enabled education system. ICT skills are no longer just added value to employment but are now necessities in today’s business and entrepreneurial landscape.” 

“An educated population is what we need to build a progressive Philippine economy, but we can’t educate tomorrow’s leaders with tools from the past. The increasingly competitive workplace is being driven by technology and digital literacy, and the Digital Campus Suite gives educators and students access to tools that will build their capability to excel in that environment. Our partnership with PLDT SME Nation helps us create a bigger impact on all aspects of education,” said Microsoft Philippines General Manager Karrie Ilagan.

Photos: Arts & Travel Magazine