December 1 is #WorldAIDSDay #EndStigma #LetsEndIt

 

 



AirAsia adds more domestic flights to/from Clark Airport

Promo fares from as low as P990 for Clark to Iloilo, Tacloban and Puerto Princesa are now up for grabs via airasia.com today

 

CLARK PAMPANGA, 26 November 2017 – AirAsia is flying to brand new destinations from and to Clark Airport in Pampanga starting next year. The world's best low cost carrier for nine consecutive years will begin to fly from Clark to Palawan, Iloilo, and Tacloban starting January 26, 2018 with introductory fares now on sale from as low as P990 only.

 

AirAsia Philippines CEO Captain Dexter Comendador said, "We feel strongly about supporting the growth and development of cities outside Metro Manila by providing more options and added convenience for travellers to fly to their desired destinations without going to the main airport in Manila. AirAsia's newest flights from Clark bring brighter, bigger, and better opportunities for Northern and Central Luzon."

 

To celebrate, AirAsia is offering promo fares from as low as P990, all-in, and up for grabs now until December 10, 2017 at www.airasia.com for travel period between January 26, 2018 to January 31, 2019.

 

Clark - Puerto Princesa and Clark – Iloilo routes will operate three times a week or every Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday while Clark – Tacloban route is every Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Sunday.

 

AirAsia also flies to Davao, Kalibo, and Caticlan from Clark International Airport using Airbus 320s that can accommodate up to 180 passengers. Aside from Clark, AirAsia also offers flights to Iloilo, Tacloban, and Puerto Princesa from the airline's hub in Manila, Cebu, and Davao.

 

Keep updated with AirAsia's latest promotion and activities via twitter (@AirAsiaFilipino), Facebook (facebook.com/AirAsiaPH) and on Instagram (@AirAsiaFilipino).

 

AirAsia celebrates inaugural flight from Manila to Ho Chi Minh City

AirAsia is now flying to Ho Chi Minh City, one of the most vibrant and biggest cities in Vietnam, further strengthening the airline’s commitment as a truly Asean carrier.

AirAsia, voted the World’s Best Low Cost Carrier for nine years running, flew its maiden flight from Manila to Ho Chi Minh City today with send-off ceremonies held at NAIA (Ninoy Aquino International Airport) Terminal 3 led by AirAsia Philippines CEO Captain Dexter Comendador with His Excellency Ly Quoc Tuan, Ambassador of Viet Nam to the Philippines, as keynote speaker.

AirAsia flight Z2 294 with pilot in command Captain Dexter Comendador left Manila on time at 10:25PM with 180 passengers on board or a 100% load. AirAsia’s iconic red plane arrived at Tan Son Nhat International Airport at 1:05AM.

AirAsia Philippines CEO Dexter Comendador said, “AirAsia is a product of Asean and we are so proud to be part of this region we call home. Three days ago, we formally presented an ASEAN plane bearing ‘I love Asean’ logo or livery in one of our planes to mark the golden jubilee of Asean and to celebrate our commitment as the only carrier that services direct flights to all ten Asean countries. We do love Asean so much that today we are starting Manila - Saigon and early next year we are to fly Manila – Bali and Manila – Jakarta next.”

AirAsia has recently launched AirAsia Loves Asean, a series of initiatives focused on education, talent development and the economy to celebrate 50 years of Asean. The initiatives comprise the AirAsia Asean University Partnership, Asean Entrepreneurs Day, Asean Journalists Camp and Allstars Exchange Programme.

At the said launch, AirAsia also officially presented an “I Love Asean” aircraft livery showcasing designs inspired by textiles, architecture, art and nature from all 10 Asean nations - batik cetak from Malaysia, poom khao bin from Thailand, ulos Batak from Indonesia, tapis from the Philippines, trống đồng from Vietnam, kbach pka Chan from Cambodia, Lao phouthai from Laos, chate from Myanmar, jongsarat Brunei from Brunei, and Vanda Miss Joaquim from Singapore.

AirAsia’s Manila – Ho Chi Minh City/Saigon (IATA CODE: SGN) flights are scheduled every Tuesday, Friday, and Sunday.

Flight Schedule for Manila, Philippines (MNL) –  Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam (SGN)

Flight Number	From	To	Departure	Arrival	Frequency
Z2294	MNL	SGN	10:25PM	1:05AM	Tuesday, Friday, Sunday
Z2295	SGN	MNL	1:35AM	4:10AM	Monday, Wednesday, Saturday

 

Keep updated with AirAsia’s latest promotion and activities via twitter (@AirAsiaFilipino), Facebook (facebook.com/AirAsiaPH) and on Instagram (@AirAsiaFilipino).

 

Ilonggo Biz to Talk about Bright Future of Iloilo in Forum

In an effort to strengthen investors’ confidence and boost business climate in Iloilo City, local government officials and a multi-sectoral group will come together on Friday, November 24, for a forum named as "Diin Ka Pakadto, Iloilo?" or "Where are you going, Iloilo?" at The Mansion, General Luna Street, Iloilo City.

Organized by the Iloilo Economic Development Foundation, Inc. (ILED), the event will lay the groundwork for an investment forum which ILED has scheduled in Manila on March 15, 2018.

"We hope that this event will pave the way for a successful investor conference while creating an empowered citizenry," said ILED Chairperson Narzalina Lim.

Iloilo City Mayor Jose Espinosa III, ILED president Jocelyn Perez and Senator Franklin Drilon will give the welcome and closing remarks, respectively.

Panay Electric Company (PECO) chief communications officer Mikel Afzelius and Metro Pacific Water vice president for corporate strategy Atty. Eriberto Calubaquib will talk about their plans to improve power and water distribution in the city.

Architect Paulo Alcazeren, who designed the award-winning Iloilo River Esplanade, will talk about the redevelopment of the Provincial Capitol grounds and the extension of the river esplanade.

ILED, composed of Ilonggo representatives from the business community, recently launched the "Proud to be Ilonggo" campaign to shore up the pride of the Ilonggos to take responsibility for their own community.

The group wants Iloilo to sustain the unprecedented growth it has experienced through multi-billion investments from multinational and local corporations and the backing of massive infrastructure development by the national government.  

AirAsia Lauds Changi T4 as Model Airport of the Future

 



(From left) AirAsia Singapore CEO Logan Velaitham and AirAsia Group CEO Tony Fernandes explains AirAsia's digitalisation plans while lauding Singapore Changi Airport T4 as the model Airport of the future for LCC. 
Photo: Siow Jing En, Sin Chew Daily 

​SINGAPORE - AirAsia today announced its plan to enhance air travel experience through digitalisation, setting Singapore Changi Airport Terminal 4 (T4) as the model airport of the future for low-cost carrsiers (LCC).

 

AirAsia will use data from its operations at Changi T4, which boasts the Fast and Seamless Travel (FAST) system, as an ongoing case study on how to improve LCC airport processes through greater digitalisation, with lessons from its experience at T4 to be rolled out across AirAsia Group.

 

AirAsia made the announcement at an event held at Crowne Plaza Changi Airport today that was attended by AirAsia Group CEO Tan Sri Tony Fernandes, AirAsia Singapore CEO Logan Velaitham and Changi Airport Group (CAG) Executive Vice President of Airport Development Yam Kum Weng.

 

AirAsia Group CEO Tan Sri Tony Fernandes said, "Moving to T4 is another step in our journey to become a digital airline. We have already embarked on a series of measures to make our pre-flight, inflight and post-flight experiences better and more enjoyable for our guests, from ROKKI, our 'Amazon of the Skies' online shopping and Travel 3Sixty on-ground activities to our financial product Big Pay and our loyalty programme and virtual currency BIG Loyalty. We also plan to work with Palantir to develop a secure entry system for trusted travellers to speed up immigration at airports within Asean through collaboration with airports and government agencies, as well as improve operational, safety and commercial processes within the Group by integrating data from multiple sources using Skywise by Airbus.

 

"Now, working with CAG, we are moving on to the digitalisation of our airport experience. The improved savings and efficiencies from FAST align perfectly with our quest to maintain the lowest cost structure as well as our vision of seamless travel, which means lower fares for our guests and more traffic for Changi.

 

"This could only happen because CAG understands how LCCs work. They understand the value LCCs bring to the airport and the wider economy. More importantly, CAG treats us like partners and are always looking for a win-win solution that benefits everyone. FAST is fast and it's the future, and we couldn't be more pleased to work with a world-class airport operator like CAG who understands the power of going digital to take the airport experience to the next level."

 

AirAsia moved its Singapore operations to Changi T4 from Terminal 1 on 7 November 2017. The new state-of-the-art, fully-automated terminal incorporates FAST initiatives such as automated check-in kiosks to retrieve flight bookings and print boarding passes and bag tags, automated bag drops, immigration clearance and boarding gates, all powered by facial recognition technology.

 

In addition to the user experience and efficiencies from FAST, AirAsia will also benefit from growth incentives for new passengers and new city links provided by CAG that will allow the airline to add more flights and introduce new routes, improving connectivity with Singapore.

 

Last year, low-cost carriers (LCC) accounted for 49.6% passenger traffic in Singapore. AirAsia is the largest foreign airline group in Singapore, accounting for more than one in eight passengers, and the largest LCC in Changi T4.

 

AirAsia Singapore was established in 2004 on a virtual hub model. The airline started with 2 flights a day to Bangkok, Thailand. Today, Singapore is AirAsia's third largest hub, serving 40 flights daily and 280 flights weekly. Flights to and from Singapore are operated by four AirAsia affiliates - Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand and the Philippines - connecting a total of 15 destinations across Asean.

 

Keep up-to-date with the latest news regarding AirAsia's move to Terminal 4 on Facebook (facebook.com/AirAsia) and Twitter (twitter.com/AirAsia).

 

 

First Philippine Technology Business Incubator (TBI) Summit to be held in Cebu this November

Cebu will hold this November the First Philippine Technology Business Incubator (TBI) Summit, a national gathering of the country's technology and startup players to explore outstanding entrepreneurial and innovation issues.

 

Organized by the Innovation Council for Industry, Energy and Emerging Technology Research and Development (PCIEERD) in partnership with the University of the Philippines Cebu Campus, UP Cebu inIT, and TechTalks.ph, the inaugural TBI summit will be on November 24, 2017, at Victoria Hall, Cebu Parklane International Hotel.

 

"We look forward to seeing all Department of Science and Technology (DOST) funded incubators, other government innovation agencies, private incubators, and innovators at the First Philippine TBI Summit," said PCIEERD Executive Director Dr. Carlos Primo C. David.

 

The event is open to the public but slots are limited. It will feature two days of educational sessions, group discussions, networking, and workshops for participating incubators and other stakeholders in order to help raise their potential for generating employment and investment.  The first day will have private sessions for DOST and internal partners while the November 24 conference is open to the public. 

 

Keynote speakers will be led by DOST Secretary Fortunato Dela Pena who will speak on the topic of building ecosystems of innovations in the regions through meaningful S&T initiatives.

 

DOST Usec. Rowena Cristina Guevara will talk on the "DOST TBI Program: Generating Technopreneurs through Business Incubation" with Department of Trade and Industry Usec. Nora Terrado's keynote focusing on "The Fablab as a Strategy to Capacitate Technopreneurs in the Region".

 

Meanwhile TechnoPark Malaysia's Dr. Azra'I Shu'ib will give a talk on "Malaysia's Journey towards Building 4th Generation TBIs and their ASEAN Cooperative Scheme in Business Incubation".

 

"The First Philippine TBI Summit is really about providing incubators a platform for innovative ideas to be nurtured and developing new technology that will lead to entrepreneurial breakthroughs," added David.

 

The First Philippine TBI Summit will also feature the launching of the Higher Education Institution Readiness for Innovation and Technopreneurship (HeIRIT) program which seeks to provide a platform for fueling innovation and entrepreneurial growth.

 

"With the HeIRIT program, we hope to make the country's leading universities and academic institutions into catalysts that help the country's tech and startup ecosystem grow and develop," said HEIRIT Program Project Leader Prof. Nestor O. Raneses.

 

A Memorandum of Agreement will be signed with 20 university partners that will serve as TBI host institutions for the HeIRIT program.

 

For more information, you may visit www.techtalks.ph/tbisummit or call +63 915 481 7703. 

 

 

AirAsia Celebrates Asean’s Golden Jubilee by Giving Back to the Region




AirAsia has launched AirAsia Loves Asean, a series of initiatives focused on education, talent development and the economy to celebrate 50 years of Asean.

 

The initiatives comprise the AirAsia Asean University Partnership, Asean Entrepreneurs Day, Asean Journalists Camp and Allstars Exchange Programme.

 

Through the university partnership, AirAsia will give tertiary students from across the region the opportunity to intern in various capacities with the airline, with a chance to secure full-time employment upon graduation.

 

Asean Entrepreneurs Day will reinforce AirAsia's commitment to Asean entrepreneurs by providing them with a forum to learn from the best startups in the region and a platform to develop and market their businesses, starting with Indonesian actor, host and VJ Daniel Mananta's "Damn! I Love Indonesia" brand.

 

To encourage better reporting on Asean, AirAsia will host the Asean Journalists Camp, a workshop for journalists that will build a greater understanding of Asean's brand of regionalism, how the organisation works, social, development and integration issues as well as sustainable, community-based tourism.

 

Lastly, AirAsia Allstars will get the chance to experience working and living in other Asean countries through the Allstars Exchange Programme, which aims to foster cultural exchange at a working and personal level.

 



AirAsia loves Asean livery on AirAsia's AirbusA320 was officially presented today in celebration of ASEAN50.

 

(credit to Chuck Dreyfus) Air Asia Group CEO Tony Fernandes

 

(credit to Chuck Dreyfus) (L:) Dr. AKP Mochtan, deputy secretary general of ASEAN and (R) AirAsia Group CEO Tony Fernnandes pour champagne to formally present AirAsia's plane bearing I Love Asean livery to mark ASEAN's golden jubilee in Manila.

AirAsia Loves Asean was launched at event held at the Philippine Air Force Headquarters at Villamor Air Base in Metro Manila, the Philippines today that was attended by Asean Deputy Secretary-General Dr AKP Mochtan, Malaysian Ambassador to the Philippines Dato' Razlan Abdul Rashid, Philippine Congressman Cesar V Sarmiento, Philippine Assistant Secretary of Tourism Daniel Mercado, Philippine Assistant Secretary of Trade Abdulgani Macatoman, Indonesian Director of Aviation Security M Nasir Usman, PAF Commanding General Lt.Gen. Galileo Kintanar, well as AirAsia Group CEO Tony Fernandes and other members of the AirAsia management.

 

At the launch, AirAsia also unveiled an "I Love Asean" aircraft livery showcasing designs inspired by textiles, architecture, art and nature from all 10 Asean nations - batik cetak from Malaysia, poom khao bin from Thailand, ulos Batak from Indonesia, tapis from the Philippines, trống đồng from Vietnam, kbach pka Chan from Cambodia, Lao phouthai from Laos, chate from Myanmar, jongsarat Brunei from Brunei, and Vanished da Miss Joaquim from Singapore.

 

All AirAsia aircraft based in the region will now also feature the Asean flag, in addition to their national flags.

 

AirAsia Group CEO Tony Fernandes said, "We owe our success to Asean. As a truly Asean airline, we want to bring the people across the region closer together in line with the amazing work Asean has done over the past 50 years. AirAsia Loves Asean is just the first of many initiatives we have planned to give back to the region that, together with our continued promotion of Asean destinations through our branding and marketing efforts, will be able to help bridge communities and economies as Asean moves towards even greater integration and mutual understanding."

 

For the latest updates, please follow AirAsia on Twitter (twitter.com/AirAsia) and Facebook (facebook.com/AirAsia).

CHRISTMAS COMES EARLY TO SM HOME

Christmas has come early to SM Home. And the store has been filled with all things merry and bright since early September, giving customers great ideas on how they can bring the joy, love and beauty of Christmas to their homes.

Walking along the SM Home Bridgeway at the fifth level of SM Makati is like entering a Christmas wonderland. Giant nutcracker soldiers greet customers with their fairy tale costumes, leading them to a world of lush holiday trees, jolly Santas, delightful Christmas villages, dazzling lights, bountiful wreaths and garlands.

 There are also more than 500 Holiday ornaments to choose from, modern expressions of traditional holiday trimmings have an artisan touch that celebrate all that is creative and classic. With probably the widest assortment of décor in town, SM Home shares with us some tips of how to bring the holidays to our homes.

·         Classic Charm.  Create a cozy and casual holiday living room with classic reds and greens that never go out of style. Add shades of white to create a refreshing theme, and don’t forget a bit of sparkle for added flair. Nutcracker toy soldiers, potted poinsettias and Christmas trees, carousel and candy cane ornaments, show globes, and miniature vintage villages will help showcase a traditional holiday scene at home.

·         Contemporary Luxe. Metallic shades make an elegant and polished holiday look. Mixing silver and gold – with a touch of antique brass and champagne - into your Christmas design adds warmth to your home, but with a luxurious feel.

·         Modern Opulence. Deck your halls with rich royal colors – amethyst, sapphire, tourmaline, and citrine - to create and chic and sophisticated holiday look. Make a beautiful and bold statement with glittering Christmas balls, jester mask ornaments, and oversized finial ornaments with ribbons,

·         Pretty Whimsical. Holiday décor can also be lighthearted and whimsical. Combine pretty pastels – baby blue, creamsicle, cotton candy, and chartreuse-  with sweet dessert ornaments – gingerbread, cupcakes, ice cream, and doughnuts – for a playful spin that kids and kids at heart will definitely adore.

The latest Christmas Décor collection is available at the SM Home section at all SM Stores. Also, visit their largest Christmas Décor Display at the SM Home section in SM Makati.

1. Christmas comes early to SM Home, and walking along the Bridgeway of its SM Makati Store is like entering a Christmas wonderland. It has the largest Christmas collection with more than  500 ornaments to choose from.

Giant Nutcracker soldiers surrounded by Christmas trees greet customers at SM Makati. 

These Glittered Santa cones can be used as a table topper or as a greeting near the front door.

Metallic shades make an elegant and polished holiday look. 

Add depth by setting up these décor items in varying heights. These elements can be corralled on one side or can be sprawled along the length of a table.

A hint of gold and silver that can make your table top more glisten and festive. Use a tray to bring these non-holiday items together and keep them in one place.

Create a Luxe Vintage feel with these glittering ornaments.

Jester Masks for a regal, opulent arrangement.

Hang oversized finials over the dinner table to give a chic and sophisticated holiday look.

Use this glittered ball with its perfect combination of hues as your color guide.

 This amber-colored snowflake will make a bold and beautiful statement on your tree.

Spark curiosity among your guests with these sugary table toppers that look realistic and almost good enough to eat.

Bring the sweet side of Christmas to your home with these sugary trinkets. 

Cheery doughnut and gingerbread ornaments.

 A LED Lit Polar Bear display is a nice greeting is a nice greeting near the front door or the foyer.

AirAsia Group CEO’s “Flying High” autobiography now available on board all AirAsia flights

 

MANILA, 6 November 2017 - AirAsia Group CEO Tan Sri Tony Fernandes’ memoirs, Flying High, a look back at his journey from music man to airline man is now available on board all AirAsia flights. 

AirAsia Group CEO Tan Sri Tony Fernandes said, “Flying High is a story about the power of dreams. When I first started AirAsia with Datuk Kamarudin, everyone thought we were crazy. They said we had no business running an airline and it wouldn’t work. If we had listened to them, we would have given up before we even started and this book wouldn’t exist.

“This book is proof that dreams do come true, and I hope it will encourage others to pursue their true passion. Believe the unbelievable, dream the impossible and never take no for an answer. Even if you fail, it doesn’t matter because at least you’ve tried and you can do it again, so trust in your gut feeling, don’t listen to anyone else’s advice and go ahead - write your own incredible story.”

Flying High recounts Tan Sri Tony Fernandes’ journey from a young boy growing in Malaysia to a homesick British boarding school student with a tuck box full of dreams, all the way to his time at Warner Music and finally as AirAsia chief - with plenty of stops along memory lane in between.

Learn about what drives Tan Sri Tony Fernandes and the moments that shaped him, including a chance encounter with Virgin Group founder, Sir Richard Branson that eventually led to Fernandes’ first job out of university.

Published as Tan Sri Tony Fernandes returns as the face of the second series of Apprentice Asia, the book is an inspiring personal story of an exceptional business leader who created Asia's first budget airline and democratised air travel in Asia, building AirAsia into a multi-billion-dollar company in the process.

Retailing at P960, Flying High is available on board starting today and also through pre-book on bigdutyfree.com and on board AirAsia flights and on bigdutyfree.com. Also available is a bundled option of Flying High and Dare to Dream T-Shirt for only Php1,300.

AirAsia operates a fleet of 17 aircraft with domestic and international flights out of hubs in Manila, Cebu, and Kalibo in the Philippines.  The airline operates several flights to/from Manila, Davao, Cebu, Kalibo, Caticlan (Boracay), Tacloban, Tagbilaran (Bohol), Puerto Princesa (Palawan), Clark, and Iloilo with international flights to/from Shanghai, Taipei, Incheon (Seoul), Hong Kong, Macau, Kuala Lumpur, Kota Kinabalu, Guangzhou, Ho Chi Minh, and Singapore.

AirAsia has been awarded the World’s Best Low Cost Carrier for nine consecutive years running by Skytrax since 2009 to 2017.

UFC® announces new integrated partnership with AirAsia

UFC taps AirAsia to serve as global brand’s first-ever “Official Airline” partner

 

NEW YORK – UFC^®, the world’s premier mixed martial arts organization, today announced a new multi-territory partnership with AirAsia, Asia’s leading low-cost carrier, to serve as the global brand’s first-ever “Official Airline” sponsor. The partnership, which encompasses Asia and Australia, will begin on Saturday, November 4, during the highly-anticipated UFC^® 217: BISPING vs. ST-PIERRE, live from Madison Square Garden in New York, New York.

“This deal is an indication of how much UFC and the sport of mixed martial arts have grown in Asia and around the world,” UFC Vice President of Asia-Pacific Kevin Chang said. “AirAsia is an innovative and fast-growing brand, we thank them for the support and we’re looking forward to creating engaging branded content for fight fans and AirAsia customers to enjoy.”

“In many ways, UFC’s rapid rise as a global phenomenon parallels AirAsia's,” said Tan Sri Tony Fernandes, Group Chief Executive Officer of AirAsia. “The UFC expanded from their first event in Denver to the rest of the US and then to Asia-Pacific and the world, while AirAsia grew from a small domestic airline into Asia's largest low-cost carrier that now flies to the US. Opposite directions but chasing the same dream, and we are thrilled to team up with a brand that shares our drive and vision.”

AirAsia will begin its international activations during UFC’s historic inaugural event in mainland China at UFC FIGHT NIGHT^®: SILVA vs. GASTELUM on Saturday, November 25 at Mercedes-Benz Arena in Shanghai. As part of this collaboration, AirAsia will obtain rights to signage and branding inside UFC’s world-famous Octagon^® during the event in Shanghai and select international UFC events in 2018.

With this partnership, AirAsia will also serve as presenting sponsor of select UFC Fan Experiences throughout the region and promote a national sweepstakes campaign where two fans will win a UFC VIP Experience during an event in 2018. The airline brand will also be integrated across multiple UFC-based social and digital platforms, as well as having a presence during live-event broadcasts and on UFC.com. UFC and AirAsia will also jointly sponsor content featured on Weibo and WeChat platforms in China.

Along with integration during international UFC events, this sponsorship will also deliver exciting co-branded content to Asian fight fans via AirAsia and UFC’s media platforms. These initiatives include monthly training sessions featuring UFC athletes and members of the UFC Performance Institute’s staff.

UFC and AirAsia will also make history by selecting the first-ever UFC scholarship program recipient. As part of this program, one Asia-based athlete will be awarded an all-expenses paid scholarship that includes travel to the United States and training at the UFC Performance Institute in Las Vegas, Nevada.

For more information on AirAsia, please visit airasia.com or follow AirAsia on Facebook and YouTube (AirAsia), Twitter and Instagram (@airasia), Weibo (@亚航之家) or WeChat and Zhihu (@亚洲航空).

For more information on UFC, please visit UFC.com. Follow us on Weibo, WeChat, Youku, QQ, Facebook (UFC Asia), Twitter and Instagram (@ufc).

Country’s largest teaching institution joins the Globe PRISM program

Philippine Normal University teachers undergo digital literacy training

Globe PRISM Participants from the Philippine Normal University

Globe Telecom, in partnership with the Philippine Normal University, the largest training institution for teachers in the country, recently held the culminating activity for PRISM, a digital literacy training program designed to equip school teachers with technological expertise for effective classroom learning experience.

As a strong advocate of education and digital learning, Globe designed PRISM, a professional development program to help Filipino educators teach for 21st century learning. This is in line with Globe Telecom’s sustainability commitment to empower every Filipino with world-class learning through technology in response to United Nations Sustainable Development Goal No. 4 to “ensure inclusive and quality education for all and promote lifelong learning.”

“As we become more and more digital as a society, it is crucial for teachers to learn how to apply information and communications technology (ICT) tools in the classroom if they want to motivate their students to learn the skills needed to adapt to the digital age,” said Derrick Heng, Senior Advisor for Globe myBusiness.  “Through this program, we are enabling the teachers in discovering new and exciting ways in which they can nurture critical and creative thinking among the students” Heng added.

Dr. Ester B. Ogena, Philippine Normal University President and Derrick Heng, Senior Advisor for Globe myBusiness lead the opening of the PRISM digital learning expo at the Philippine Normal University Auditorium. 

The partnership with the Philippine Normal University has proved to be a mutually beneficial partnership in bringing world-class learning for Filipino students, with the PNU being the largest training institution of teachers, powered by the telco’s ICT expertise. “We truly appreciate and commend Globe for bringing the PRISM program to PNU. We recognize the need to transform the way we teach to meet the demands of millennial learners, and through PRISM, we’ll be able to better equip our teachers and educators,” said Dr. Ester B. Ogena, Philippine Normal University President. “We look forward to seeing more of our faculty maximize the use of technology in improving the quality of graduates and educators we produce. We hope to see a ripple-effect of having the PRISM program adopted to other campuses of the university, and to other teachers and teacher-educators throughout the country” Ogena added.

The pressing need for digital teaching skills prompted Globe early this year to reach out to 1,000 educators from all over the country. Of the number, 250 teachers came from the PNU, contributing to a total of 800 teachers who have undergone the program this year.

Through PRISM, the selected teachers underwent a three-week professional development program conducted by Globe.  It included a two-day immersive bootcamp, distance project-based learning, and personalized coaching. A key component of the program is the Edmodo interactive social learning platform that enabled distance learning for three weeks with access to multimedia resources to guide them through the learning process. This also allowed them to collaborate with learning coaches and other teachers in real time. The program concluded with a culminating activity wherein the teachers showcased various projects on technology-enabled instruction through the application and synthesis of what they learned throughout the program. Teachers who went through the program have shown 80% improvement in terms of digital literacy.

PRISM is supported by Globe myBusiness whose mission is to help transform Philippine schools and empower every Filipino with world-class learning through technology. “We want to create a better education system and impact the lives of the students in the best way that we can.  Students today are digital natives who grew up in the era of computers, mobile phones, and instant connectivity, making it necessary for teachers to be adept in the use of technology in order to guide the students properly in the use of digital information both inside and outside the classroom,” added Heng.

Teachers who undergo the PRISM Digital Literacy Program are nominated by both Globe and the Private Education Assistance Committee (PEAC). The PEAC National Secretariat processes the nominations submitted by schools nationwide while a Vetting Committee, composed of two (2) representatives from the Coordinating Council of Private Educational Associations (COCOPEA), a DepEd Regional Director, and the PEAC Executive Director, is set in place to closely vet the nominated teachers.

PRISM was earlier conducted in Metro Manila, Naga City, Cebu and Pampanga, and is on track with its objective to train 1,000 educators nationwide.