Batangas is First Beneficiary of Smart-initiated Operation Smile App

Wazzup Pilipinas!

An Operation Smile volunteer takes a photo of a 7-month-old cleft patient using the Operation Smile app during a medical mission in Batangas City.

For the first time, Operation Smile Philippines used its patient-mapping mobile application to record and track cleft patients’ medical information in a recent medical mission conducted in Batangas City.

The Operation Smile app was conceptualized by PLDT wireless subsidiary Smart Communications to help digitize and store medical information, monitor patients’ treatment, and locate areas with high population of cleft patients to maximize efficiency of medical missions.

After screening patients and gathering their information through the app, Operation Smile performed cleft repair surgery on them at Jesus of Nazareth Hospital in Batangas City.

Norma Decipeda, 37, was thankful her 7-month-old son was among the patients treated by Operation Smile. Residents of Isla Verde, the Decipeda family had to travel by boat to get to Batangas City. She said the surgery would definitely help her son achieve a better quality of life.

Her son is one of the patients now being documented and monitored through the Operation Smile app. The app, which is available as a free download for Apple and Android devices, can be installed and used by anyone. Operation Smile encourages everyone to download the app, create an account and follow the instructions on how to upload details of a potential patient for inclusion in succeeding medical missions.

Video Coverage of Manila Masters Presscon

Wazzup Pilipinas!

Manila Masters Presscon held on May 24, 2017 at Solaire featured the owner of Mineski himself, Ronald "Rhom" Rhobins, considered as the Father of eSports in the Philippines.

Partnering with Mineski are PLDT Home Fibr and Smart, plus TV5, who will all actively play an important role in holding what can be called as the biggest DotA 2 Tournament in Asia.

We did a video coverage of the event, including the Question and Answer portion with panelists coming from the said sponsors or partners, as well as Rhom himself, so you could all just watch and listen to their exact words.

The other members of the panelists, who also spoke individually on stage, are:

John Henry Yanez, Head of Home Business Group of PLDT Fibr

Victor Carlo Endaya, VP for Brand Strategy and Communications of Smart

Lloyd Manoloto, Head of Marketing and Digital of TV5, in behalf of Chot Reyes, President of TV5

Marlon Marcelo, Mineski VP for Marketing and Events

There was a sixth guy among the panel but  we didn't get his name.


Meanwhile, Carlo Ople, VP of Digital Marketing Strategy, also spoke infront of the stage to share his previous experience in gaming and some thoughts related to the event. He did not joined the panelists.

Below are the videos we took from the event. We apologize for the shaky videos due to the absence of a stabilizer and tripod..

PLDT Home and Smart Name Clutch Gamers as PH Representatives to Manila Masters

Wazzup Pilipinas!

Dota 2 tournament happens on May 26-28 at SM MOA Arena

Leading digital services providers PLDT Home and Smart Communications, Inc. named Clutch Gamers as the official Philippine representatives to the main event of the much-awaited Manila Masters, the first Philippine international premier Dota 2 tournament to be held from May 26-28 at the SM MOA Arena.

Competing with seven of the best teams around the world, Clutch Gamers is composed of professional Dota 2 players Khim "Gabbi" Villafuerte, Armel Paul Tabios, Rafael Sicat "Rappy" Palo, Marvin "Boombacs" Rushton, and Kenneth "flysolo" Coloma. They bested over 3000 other teams from all over the Philippines in the Nationwide Qualifiers to clinch the top spot.

At stake for the grand prize winner is the $250,000 prize pool and the coveted title of being the first ever Manila Masters.

“PLDT Home and Smart are one with the local gaming community in supporting our very own Clutch Gamers to show the world that Filipinos are a force to reckon with when it comes to competitive online gaming,” PLDT FVP and Head of Home Business Oscar A. Reyes, Jr. said. “A strong and powerful connection is crucial in the world of e-sports and online gaming. As partners and supporters of the local gaming community, we are committed to giving our players access to world-class internet to enable them to level up their game and help put the Philippines in the global gaming map.”

PLDT Home Fibr, the country’s most powerful broadband, is perfect for multi-player and bandwidth-intensive games like Dota 2, because it can go as fast as 1 Gbps and enables equal upload and download speeds so gamers can definitely enjoy a seamless experience. 

On the other hand, Smart’s fastest LTE network allows gamers to follow updates on their favorite teams and stream anytime and anywhere, powered by data-packed GigaSurf offers. Smart also allows gamers to purchase steam wallet codes conveniently via the leading portal, GameX. As part of its support for Manila Masters, Smart users can get a chance to witness the historic event and win Manila Masters tickets by following Smart’s official accounts on Facebook and Twitter. Smart subscribers can also get in on the action at the arena and  livestream the event via Smart360 for an immersive experience on the go at 360.smart.com.ph.

The rise of e-sports

Last year marked many milestones for e-sports in the Philippines. Filipino players consistently rose among the ranks and put the Philippines on the global map. The country also hosted several international gaming events last year, cementing the Philippines’ niche in the region as a force to reckon with in this fast-growing industry.

“E-sports is already as massive as traditional sports,” TV5 President and CEO Chot Reyes said. “With 32 million active gamers in the Philippines, the community is a passionate voice that cannot be ignored. We will send off our Philippine team to compete in the world stage with active support and a commitment to accompany them all the way through nationwide coverage.”

Mineski Franchise Corporation CEO Ronald Robins added, “The Philippine scene already has a strong backbone, and Philippine teams and organizations are getting stronger by the day. This time we want to strengthen Southeast Asia as a whole, despite the inevitable challenges ahead. Now, with the Masters, we are going to move forward again."

 Visit the masters.gg for more details or smtickets.com for event passes.

Smart's School-in-a-Bag Brings Hope to Sarangani Children

Wazzup Pilipinas!
 

How much are you willing to sacrifice to go to school? What would be you be willing to go through?

If you are an elementary student of the B’laan tribe in Saranggani in Mindanao, there ain’t no mountain high enough nor river wide enough to get you to Niyas M. Mental IP School in C’Magguing Daan Suyam, Malapatan.

To go to school daily, these children must traverse muddy trails and slopes and cross several rivers and streams on foot, rain or shine. On a good day, a few of them are able to borrow a horse from the neighborhood and have a comfortable ride.

When they do reach school, they must share a one-classroom hut with schoolmates of all levels and ages. The earth serves as the school floor. In the absence of electricity, natural light streams through slats of bamboo.

Despite the challenges of getting to and staying in school, these children persevere.

Their ally

In this journey, the children, the school, and Department of Education now has a staunch supporter in bringing hope to school children in far-flung areas.

With the help of volunteers, Smart has found a way to bring education and technology not just to Niyas M. Mental IP School but to other secluded areas as well. The team of volunteers cross the same streams and rivers and walk the same muddy trails to bring School-in-a-Bag, a package that contains gadgets loaded with educational content, to remote schools. To allow access to the Internet, the package includes a pocket wi-fi and solar-powered set to provide the electricity.

The content includes material that enables children to read and write the alphabet, watch videos of children’s stories, sing nursery rhymes and songs, and learn to pray.

With School-in-a-Bag, the school children have more ways to learn and more ways to experience the world. More than just information and education, School-in-a-Bag brings empowers children in this distant and secluded to hope and work for a better life.

“Thank you for giving us tablets, a TV and a laptop. Because of these, we can now learn to read, recite the alphabet, watch stories, sing and pray,” they gratefully said.

With your or your organization’s help, children in remote, underserved communities can learn #LikeNeverBefore. Want to learn how you can be a School-in-a-Bag sponsor? Email technocart@smart.com.ph today.

Three Ways Smart Uses Tech and Social Media for a Better Workplace

Wazzup Pilipinas!

Can you see yourself sharing a work idea with your CEO via social media?

For some people, such a scenario is difficult to imagine, as many companies still ban the use of social media (and sometimes even phones!) in the workplace. But for employees of Smart Communications, communicating with top bosses via social media is a normal thing. In fact, Smart encourages them to use digital tools that can improve productivity and make work more fun. Here are some of the ways they do this:

1.      Facebook for work

Smart is one of the telcos in Southeast Asia to use the platform called Workplace by Facebook. This is very much like your favorite social media site, except that it connects people within companies or a group of companies. Smart employees use this to share information and ideas (even with their CEO!), ask questions, receive instant feedback from colleagues, see real-time company news, communicate with co-workers via messaging, and even host video meetings. It allows them to collaborate with people from different departments and across different levels.

But it’s not all about work. Here they can also join different interest groups. There’s one for coffee lovers, another for members of the dragon boat team, and even one for sneakerheads!

Corporate learning is made more fun via gamified sessions.

2.      Training via mobile games

Remember dozing off at your last corporate seminar? At Smart, trainings are made more fun via the Gamified Mobile Learning (mLearning) Program. Notifications are regularly sent out to inform employees about available online lessons, many of which are translated into games. They can then decide which lessons they want to take AND when they want to take these.  Some enjoy taking these courses while stuck in traffic! Some of the lessons are about telecommunication basics, Microsoft Office, and project management.

3.      Digital activities during events

Toward the end of 2015, Smart organized an event for employees called Paskong Pagsaluhan. While there were a lot of on-ground activities, employees were also encouraged to post about these on their personal social media accounts, and to join a video-making caroling contest. To promote a spirit of gratitude, they were also urged to express appreciation for colleagues on Smart’s online commendation portal.

During the event, employees were also encouraged to use the Customer Advocacy Referral App (CARA for short). Through this app, they can help family and friends determine which Smart postpaid plan best suited them, facilitate postpaid applications, and report subscriber concerns faster.

Workplace has fostered a culture of open communication and collaboration among Smart employees, from all levels and departments.

These three programs won Gold Anvils at the 52nd Anvil Awards, which is considered the Oscars of Philippine public relations. Smart took home a total of 24 Anvils, earning them the Company of the Year trophy. 

Receiving the trophies were Smart representatives led by (starting sixth from left) Chief Financial Officer Chaye Cabal-Revilla, People Group FVP Gina Ordoñez, Chief People and Culture Officer Liza Sichon, and People Group AVP Che Agsaoay.

Smart has also won international awards citing it for being a top employer.

If you’re interested to join Smart, please visit smart.com.ph/careers