The PR & Events Circuit

I nternet speeds and ping in the Philippines is experiencing a  speed  spurt. This is welcome news for the country as it tries to make a name for itself in the field of electronic sports or  E sports , which  merits faster-than-average internet speeds  to  excel in  the  emerging sport  and  is   being pushed  to be  a demonstration sport in the 2024 Paris Olympics. The increased and improved internet speeds in th e country  makes  us  not just  Esports  ready , but also measure up against  the more established and experienced  Esports  competitors globally.   Based on the Speedtest Global Index Report by leading internet testing and analysis website Ookla released April of 2018, the Philippines is now tagged as the most improved country in Southeast Asia. Internet connection in the country now clocks at a staggering  five  times faster when it comes to fixed b...

Leading Philippine telecommunication company Globe Telecom and Wattpad, the global multiplatform entertainment company for original stories, have joined hands to promote proper online behavior and responsible internet usage among the youth to keep them safe from numerous threats present in the internet—from viruses and other malicious software to cyberbullying and sexual exploitation, to name a few. Wattpad now reaches more than seven million people in the Philippines, with Millennial and GenZ users making up more than 80% of its audience.  As home to the right demographic for its #makeITsafePH cyberwellness campaign, Globe saw Wattpad as a promising platform to reach out to the sector that is most susceptible to negative aspects of the internet.   Wattpad has built a community and technology that taps into the people’s shared desire for stories and has seen continues growth in the Philippines, its second largest market. Filipinos  spend some 400 mil...

Seventy year-old Catalina Balgos of Roxas City didn’t know that she has a heart condition until she was admitted in the hospital after feeling unbearable intermittent chest pains. Balgos is the first patient partner of The Medical City (TMC) Iloilo granted with PhilHealth’s Z-Benefit Package for Coronary Artery Bypass Graft Surgery (CABG).  Her daughter Emily narrated that her mother was first diagnosed with a coronary artery disease last May when they decided to bring her to the hospital after feeling discomfort in her chest. “She started to feel chest pains last March. It became worst last June,” Emily recounted. “Every three months, she has her regular check-up. However, her heart health was disregarded. We only checked her cholesterol and blood sugar levels but we forgot her heart condition,” she added.

The Bistro Group, a collection of international and homegrown casual dining brands, has launched the Bistro Frequent Foodie (BFF) loyalty app in partnership with Globe Digital Ventures, Globe Telecom’s in-house digital enabler. The BFF app complements the BFF card and provides Bistro Group’s customers the total Bistro experience offline and online.  It allows customers to keep track of their vouchers, receive exclusive discounts and make reservations.    Globe Telecom President and CEO Ernest Cu (5th from left) and The Bistro Group President and COO Jean Paul Manuud (6th from left) show the new BFF mobile app.  Together with them are (from L-R):   Rechele Tiongson, TBG VP Operations (TGIFridays); Stephanie Kubota, RUSH Product Manager; Glenn Estrella, SVP Globe Digital Ventures; Lisa Ronquillo. TBG VP Marketing;  Amy Palisoc, TBG VP Business Development; Meanne Quiambao, Globe Business Sales Head; Jane Mancia, Globe Business Cluster Sales Head; Lui...

Get the lowdown on LOL with FREE INTERNET from Globe at Home Prepaid WiFi! It is an understatement to say that League of Legends (LOL) is popular—over time, it has grown into the symbol of mobile gaming of today’s generation. The game may be pretty daunting for a newbie but have no fear, we’ll walk you through the basics of what LOL is, and how to build a winning team. What is LOL? League of Legends is a free multi-player online (MMO) battle arena computer game available for PC. The game is set on the Summoner’s Rift, where teams have their own base that they must guard while attacking the opponent. The two teams are identified by their colors: the Blue team whose base is on the lower left and the Red team whose base is on the upper right.

This provides customers with lower latency for European content  and therefore greatly enhances their internet experience Globe Telecom has extended internet reachability further in Europe by connecting its network to Deutscher Commercial Internet Exchange (DE-CIX), the world’s largest internet exchange point (IXP) by size. This is part of the company’s efforts in improving the quality of   internet experience of its customers worldwide. The company recently peered at the DE-CIX in Germany. DE-CIX is a carrier and data center-neutral IXP operator situated in Frankfurt, with a peak traffic of over 6.4 Terabits per second, interconnecting more than 800 member networks from around the world. “This initiative will further complement existing infrastructure and enable users direct access to European content. At the same time, it functions as alternate internet gateways to the Philippines from that region as the internet is two-way,” said Gil Genio, Chief Technol...

The Medical City (TMC) Iloilo is pioneering another medical service in Western Visayas as it introduces the Non-Surgical Ablation cancer treatment. Non-Surgical Ablation is an emerging cancer treatment option that uses heat, cold or chemical agents and often performed for tumors found in soft tissues such as liver, lung, colon, and kidney among others, as well as tumors in the bones. BASED on the data of World Health Organization (WHO), cancer is among the leading causes of morbidity and mortality worldwide with approximately 14 million new cases and 8.2 million cancer related deaths in 2012. In the Philippines, cancer remains to be a national health priority noting that it is the third leading cause of morbidity and mortality in the country, according to the 2009 Philippine Health Statistics. 

Prepare for fun-filled Saturday mornings with the whole family as GMA Network brings to Filipino homes its newest talk-variety show, Sarap, ‘Di Ba?, beginning October 20 after Maynila. This program is hosted by no less than celebrity mom, actress and TV host Carmina Villarroel together with her talented twins Mavy and Cassy Legaspi. Carmina, who is recognized as one of the country’s well-loved endorsers and most admired female personalities, returns to hosting but this time, she will be joined by her children in this family-oriented program.

Globe Telecom, in partnership with 24/7 health hotline KonsultaMD, has launched Hope Bank, a safe online space for everyone to openly express their feelings and thoughts about mental health. Through Hope Bank Facebook community ( http://bit.ly/hopebank_ ), members may share messages of hope that troubled people can access for encouragement, strength and inspiration. To contribute to the platform, members may post using the hashtag #SeeYouTomorrow, both on their personal profiles and in the group. The messages may be in the form of photos, artworks, quotes, songs/lyrics, video or anything that reflects their expression of hope. Mental health issues affect people from all walks of life including well-known personalities, the latest among them is American singer and actress Selena Gomez who is reportedly seeking medical treatment after suffering from emotional breakdown.

What if the person you loved the most is also the one who will bring you the greatest pain? Beginning October 22, GMA Network brings viewers a different face of infidelity with its newest Afternoon Prime series, Asawa Ko, Karibal Ko . Highly-talented Kapuso actress Kris Bernal takes on the role of Rachel. She is beautiful, simple and dreams of having a happy family. Rachel meets Nathan, a smart businessman from a political family. Nathan marries Rachel out of pressure from his conservative family but he is unhappy and feels trapped. Deep down, he always knew he was gay, so he devised a way to fake his death. The truth is he went abroad and took their daughter with him. He undergoes sexual reassignment and facial feminization surgery in order to fully embrace the woman inside him. He left without knowing that Rachel is pregnant with their second child. Rachel, after Nathan died, went to the province where she gave birth.

Globe partners up with Viu to give Postpaid customers access to their favorite Korean and Asian content anytime, anywhere! A localized digital platform in the Philippines, Viu legally provides premium content from South Korea, Japan, Thailand, China and Hong Kong, with English and Chinese subtitles (for selected titles). From dramas and rom-coms to music and variety shows, Globe customers can now marathon their favorite Korean shows wherever and whenever they want with their Postpaid plans! With Globe Postpaid ThePLAN or ThePLAN PLUS, K-drama fans can experience the best of Viu on their mobile phones. Mobile Postpaid customers can opt to get a 30-day Viu Premium subscription for just P99 per month by texting VIU99 to 8080. With Viu Premium, they can watch the latest episodes of the best Korean dramas and variety shows as early as eight hours after the original Korean telecast, download unlimited videos, get complete access to premium content, and enjoy Full HD resolution. The...

Globe Business, the corporate information and communications technology (ICT) arm of Globe Telecom, once again gathered the country's top business and enterprise leaders for a day of insightful learning, discussion, and sharing of best practices on how leadership innovation and digital transformation can help sustain a company's competitiveness and relevance in today’s ever-changing landscape. This year’s Leadership Innovation Forum (Lead-In) with the theme “Culture Shock:  Sparking a Revolution”, is Globe Business’ way of challenging its partners and clients by harnessing culture to steer its workforce to go beyond business goals. It aspired to instill the importance of understanding, evolving, and sustaining a company culture rooted on agility and innovation.

Show some love for your favorite Korean superstars on Viu  and stream their shows with Globe At Home! The Hallyu fever continues to spread as your favorite Korean stars take over Viu! Enjoy all your favorite Korean series anytime - whether it be romcom, drama, thriller, or variety shows - on this new digital platform for Asian video content. Check out these five big stars whose shows are now available on Viu. Press play and stream the day away with Globe At Home Prepaid WiFi!

In support of Filipino talents, Globe myBusiness, the micro, small, and medium enterprise arm of Globe Telecom, has partnered with the Animation Council of the Philippines, Inc. (ACPI) to  further develop the skills of local animators and bring more of them to the global stage. From L-R:  Globe myBusiness VP for Segment Marketing Debbie Obias, Globe myBusiness Senior Advisor Derrick Heng,  ACPI President Miguel del Rosario, and ACPI Executive Director Rene Misa With a number of Filipino animators gaining recognition abroad for their work on several Hollywood blockbuster movies, the spotlight is now focused on the sector’s potential to offer world-class services. “We are happy to collaborate with ACPI to further uplift the state of the country’s animation business through the use of innovative solutions. We are confident that our cutting-edge business solutions could address the technology needs of industries and organizations like ACPI to ensure that they ...

In celebration of SM Supermalls’ 60th anniversary, a nationwide tree planting activity was held across different locations in Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao. SM City Iloilo employees together with the Department of Environment and Natural Resourses 6 (DENR 6) joined the campaign with its own tree planting activity last October 7, 2018 held at Brgy. Cag-an Anilao, Iloilo. Volunteers from the SM City Iloilo along with other SM groups - SM Markets, SM Savemore, SM Store, plus Jollibee, agency partners from the Department of Environment and Natural Resoures 6, CENRO Barotac Nuevo and the members of beneficiary people’s organization Cag-an Upland and Lowland Development Association planted around 12,000 fruit bearing tree seedlings in the 24 hectare area in the said barangay.

Globe Telecom will offer Apple’s latest products starting on October 26, 2018, including the iPhone Xs and iPhone Xs Max, the most advanced iPhones ever.  Customers will be able to pre-order iPhone Xs and iPhone Xs Max beginning October 19, 2018 at  globe.com.ph/iphonexs .

Ford Philippines is bringing its globally-recognized safe driving program Driving Skills for Life (DSFL) to Iloilo for the first time as part of its commitment to educate drivers on the benefits of smart, safe, and fuel-efficient driving.  To be held at the City Time Square on October 11, 2018, the DSFL session in Iloilo will be attended by over 200 participants comprised of private and PUV drivers, traffic enforcers. road safety advocates, and student drivers.  "The DSFL has definitely come a long way in helping promote road safety and safety driving in the Philippines, so we're definitely inspired year after year to think of ways to improve the training program and extend the reach to more Filipino drivers. We're happy to be bringing the program to Iloilo to help maintain safe roads and create a community of safe drivers and passengers here," said EJ Francisco. AVP for Communications, Ford Philippines. 

Slip into your trunks and bikinis then jump in!  Courtyard by Marriott Iloilo invites everyone to a splashing good time at the Pool Bar for a Foam Pool Party this Saturday, October 13, 2018 starting at 7:00 pm.  For the first time, Western Visayas’ first international hotel is allowing walk-in guests to dive into the pool. Purchase your tickets now for only PHP 199 net per person and expect to get wet and bubbly with a whole lot of fun.

A nostalgic, yet ironic glimpse of the disappearing past will be the highlight of the Belgian entries in this year’s featured films in Cine Europa.  Cine Europa runs from 9 to 14 October 2018 in SM City Iloilo and Cinematheque in Iloilo City, with28 movies from Austria, Belgium, Czechia, Denmark,France, Germany, Hungary, Italy, the Netherlands, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, Spain, Sweden, United Kingdom and Norway.  European Union Ambassador Franz Jessen said that this is the 7th time that Cine Europa travels to Iloilo City.

This serves as a testament to the company’s strong commitment to employee empowerment and enrichment Globe Telecom bagged the Gold Stevie Award for Employer of the Year in the field of telecommunications at the third annual Stevie Awards for Great Employers. The international award-giving body acknowledged the company’s efforts in developing innovative programs that help its about 8,000 employees expand and forge their careers. Globe senior leaders, headed by President and CEO Ernest Cu (center) and Chief Human Resource Officer Renato Jiao (center), gather as they celebrate win at third annual Stevie Awards for Great Employers   “We are truly honored to be recognized as one of the world’s best employers at the prestigious Stevie Awards. As leader of Filipino digital lifestyle, Globe is in a position to improve the lives of Filipino people and uplift the nation. To do that, we should first uplift our own people by ensuring they find purpose and meaning in the work they ...

Need to step up your streetwear game? 0917 Lifestyle has you covered! The lifestyle brand of Globe has teamed up with New Balance for its Fall collection, The Next Move. Stand out in style with the collection’s athleisure shirts, jackets, caps, and even 0917-exclusive New Balance 574 sneakers. 0917 has been making waves in the apparel scene since it was launched in 2016. Now, athletic footwear and fitness apparel brand New Balance tries out the new market of stylish techies with its partnership with the telco's popular clothing brand. The highlight of the collection is the classic New Balance 574 silhouette but with an added Globe flair. Personalized especially for those who love 0917, this sneaker's laces and colorway are exclusive to 0917 Lifestyle. It's made of core suede and mesh fabric to deliver durability and flexibility, without sacrificing comfort and style. For added support and balance, the ENCAP® cushioning and shock dispersion technology w...

Christmas came early to a thousand students of Ticud Elementary School in the district of Lapaz in Iloilo City. Employees of SM City Iloilo delivered the brand new school shoes to the students of the said school. last October 1, 2018. The 60,000 Pair of Shoes Project is a nationwide campaign initiated by SM employees all over the Philippines for the 60th year celebration of SM.

Globe Telecom joins the Department of Education (DepEd) and Metrobank Foundation in honoring the teachers and acknowledging their crucial role in developing globally-minded students and shaping the future of the nation. “We want to recognize the teachers from all over the Philippines for their hard work and dedication but we do not want this to be just lip service. Beyond business, we want to equip the teachers with 21st century learning equipment to help them in their every day teaching,” said Miguel Bermundo, Head of Globe Citizenship during the National Teachers Month and National Teachers Day press launch. Globe Citizenship Head Miguel Bermundo speaking at the National Teachers Month Press Conference. With him are (from L-R): DepEd Undersecretary for External Partnership Service Toni Umali, DepEd Undersecretary Annalyn Sevilla, DepEd Secretary Leonor Briones, and Metrobank Foundation President Aniceto Sobrepeña To this, DepEd Secretary Leonor Briones acknowledged what...