Globe Telecom, The Pokémon Company and Niantic, Inc. Enhance The Pokémon GO Experience for Filipino Gamers

Wazzup Pilipinas!

The Pokémon Company, creators of one of the most popular entertainment properties in the world, Niantic, Inc., innovative developer and publisher of ‘real world games’, and Globe Telecom, the Philippines leading mobile brand, today have officially announced a new partnership.

“Pokémon GO fever has certainly taken over majority of Filipinos’ digital lifestyle. From walks to ‘lure parties’ the take-up on the mobile game continues to grow. We want to give our customers more reasons to enjoy the game, and the launch of new PokéStops and Gyms is just the start of our collaborative efforts,” says Globe Senior Advisor for Consumer Business, Dan Horan.

Starting October 28, Pokémon GO trainers will find that Globe retail locations and charging stations have become PokéStops and Gyms in game, with more and more PokéStops sprouting across the country. To help spread more Pokémon GO joy, Globe will be working with its partners, namely Ayala malls, Puregold, Robinsons Malls and SM Supermalls. With this, players will be able to see more of these markers on their Pokémon GO apps for more chances of catching Pokémon to expand their Pokédex.

Globe will also ensure its customers have better accessibility to the app through different mobile offers. On Globe Prepaid’s leading GoSURF50 mobile promo, customers will be able to access Pokémon GO as one of the free apps within the bundle. Globe customers can also download the free Pokémon GO promo on the Globe Switch app. Included in the partnership are distribution rights to Pokémon merchandise, including digital connectors, cool gadgets and a selection of apparel that is perfect for the holiday season.

Globe held today the first ever Pokémon festival in the Philippines during Halloween weekend. Free and open to all, guests had a wonderful time meeting Pikachu, enjoying original Pokémon screening, costume contests and many more family surprises. Pokémon GO players also took part in walks and tours around BGC, Taguig.

To get updates on Globe and its latest events and offers just visit the Globe official Facebook page at www.Facebook.com/GlobePH or @EnjoyGlobe on Twitter and Instagram.

Photo Captions

1 – Globe Telecom together with The Pokémon Company and Niantic confirmed their partnership to make the Pokémon Go experience more accessible and enjoyable to Filipinos. Leading the announcement for this exclusive partnership were Globe Chief Commercial Officer Albert De Larrazabal, Globe Senior Advisor for Consumer Business Dan Horan, Niantic Chief Executive Officer and founder John Hanke, and Susumu Fukunaga, Corporate Officer of The Pokémon Company. One of the highlights of the partnership was that Globe retail locations and charging stations have become PokéStops and Gyms in game. To help spread more Pokémon GO joy, Globe will also be working with its partners, namely Ayala malls, Puregold, Robinsons Malls and SM Supermalls.

2 – Pokémon fans trooped to the Globe ICONIC store at BGC for the first ever Pokémon Fest presented by Globe

3 – Guests had fun with Pikachu – from dance numbers to parades around the venue. Globe also held meet & greet sessions with Pikachu

4 – Niantic Chief Executive Officer and founder John Hanke join Globe Telecom during the announcement of its exclusive partnership for Pokemon Go. 

Duterte Switches On DOE Electrification Projects In ARMM

Wazzup Pilipinas!

The Duterte administration is accelerating the electrification of the provinces comprising the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) as part of its peace and development efforts in Southern Philippines.

President Rodrigo R. Duterte and Department of Energy (DOE) Secretary Alfonso G. Cusi on Saturday (October 29) led the ceremonial switch-on of electrification projects of the DOE and the National Electrification Administration (NEA) held at the ARMM Regional Government Compound in Cotabato City.

On-grid electrification projects include the DOE's Nationwide Intensification of Household Electrification (NIHE) and ER 1-94 Electrification Funded Projects and NEA's Sitio Electrification Program and Barangay Line Enhancement Program.

For Maguindanao and Lanao del Sur, a total of P371.71 million worth of electrification projects from 2015 to 2016 will benefit some 34,238 households in the two provinces. Next year, a P4.84 million electrification projects will benefit 166 households.

For Tawi-Tawi, a total of P91.62 million worth of electrification projects in 2015 to 2016 will benefit some 1,620 households. For 2017, a P18.31 million electrification project will benefit 2,263 households.

For Basilan, a total of P60.6 million worth of electrification projects in 2015 to 2016 will benefit 889 households in the province. For 2017, a P2.81 million electrification project will benefit 270 households.

And for Sulu, a total of P50.3 million worth electrification projects will benefit 2,628 households. In 2017, a P10.88 million electrification project will benefit 1,345 households.

For off-grid electrification, the DOE has initiated the Household Electrification Program (HEP) where electrification projects worth P610 million will be implemented by electric cooperatives in ARMM until 2017.

Duterte and Cusi also graced the ceremonial turn-over of 30 units of photovoltaic (PV) solar home systems to ARMM.

The DOE completed a total of 3,868 PV solar home system units in the provinces of Tawi-Tawi, Basilan and Sulu under its HEP. Next year, the DOE will deliver a total of 3,878 units of the PV solar home system in Tawi-Tawi (2,263 units), Basilan (270 units) and Sulu (1,345 units).

The DOE also donated a total of 30 units of 30Wp PV solar home system to ARMM. This was received by ARMM Governor Mujiv S. Hataman on behalf of household beneficiaries in the three provinces.

The President's last stop was the ceremonial awarding of a cheque worth P13.833 million to Maguindanao Electric Cooperative, Inc. (MAGELCO) for the implementation of the NIHE program that will benefit 3689 households within its franchise area.

Under the NIHE program, the DOE provides assistance amounting to at least P3,750 as grant subsidy to each eligible household for the cost of house-wiring and additional service drops per housing unit.

The NIHE program will be implemented by MAGELCO in the municipalities of Ampatuan, Buldon, Matanog, Barira, Datu Abdullah Sangki, Datu Odin Sinsuat, Datu Piang, North Upi, Parang, South Upi, Sultan Kudarat, Sultan Mastura, Sultan Sa Barongis, Rajah Buayan, Talayan, Guindulungan and Talitay.

The cheque was received by MAGELCO General Manager, Sultan Ashary P. Maongco.

Miss Ecuador Wins Miss Earth 2016

Wazzup Pilipinas!

The Miss Earth 2016 coronation night concluded at around 9 pm with results quite not good for the Philippines since Miss Philippines Earth, Imelda Schweighart, failed to even make it to the first cut, which was the Top 16.

Since the country is hosting the Miss Earth 2016 beauty pageant, and based from previous runs, many were expecting to see Imelda to be at least part of the top 4 finalists but many were somehow surprised that the country's candidate did not even made it to the top 16. 

However, we are sending our congratulations to our new Elemental Queens for 2016:

Miss Earth 2016: Katherine Espin Ecuador
Miss Air: Michelle Gomez Colombia
Miss Water: Stephanie De Zorzi Venezuela
Miss Fire: Bruna Zanardo Brazil

Congratulations to Miss Ecuador for winning the Miss Earth 2016 title. We hope this Earth Warrior advocates passionately the true meaning of being an ambassador for the planet.

Obviously I was a bit sad for the Philippines, but still I have to go on with my coverage as people would also need to know who will win this beauty pageant.

The sadness increased when someone said that Miss Philippines did not make it because of her "attitude" problem.