Globe Brings Star Wars The Mandalorian & Grogu Experience to Cabanatuan Students, Inspiring the Next Generation of Changemakers

Globe turned the excitement of the Star Wars universe into a meaningful opportunity for students in Cabanatuan, bringing senior high school and college learners together for an exclusive screening of Star Wars: The Mandalorian & Grogu as part of its broader collaboration with Disney to inspire courage, connection, and community among Filipino youth.

Held at SM Cabanatuan, the event gave students a chance to immerse themselves in one of the world's most iconic stories while connecting with fellow young leaders, educators, and Globe employees. More than a cinematic experience, the gathering highlighted the values at the heart of both the film and Globe's youth initiatives: resilience, purpose, and the power of building communities that help people thrive.

The screening also introduced attendees to the Globe Student Program, which provides access to internships, scholarships, volunteer opportunities, AI hackathons, content creation initiatives, and other avenues that help students develop their talents and create positive impact within their schools and communities.

"We wanted to make the Mandalorian screening in Cabanatuan a celebration of what the youth love: stories, shared interests, and experiences that bring them together. Through this special event, Globe is recognizing the passions of students and creating a memorable moment that reflects how much we value them," said Raymond Mancilla, Area Business Head.

The Cabanatuan leg was one of several student-focused engagements rolled out by Globe and Disney across key cities, including Quezon City, Cagayan de Oro, and Davao, bringing thousands of young Filipinos closer to stories that champion courage, purpose, and belonging. Through these experiences, Globe continues to empower the next generation with opportunities that go beyond connectivity, equipping students with the support, platforms, and inspiration they need to pursue their ambitions, strengthen their communities, and become changemakers in their own right.

As Globe expands programs that champion learning, leadership, and digital inclusion, it remains focused on creating spaces where young Filipinos can discover their potential, find their community, and take the next step toward becoming the heroes of their own stories. To learn more about opportunities available through the Globe Student Program, visit globe.com.ph/student-program.

For more information about Globe, visit www.globe.com.ph.

Roblox Launches Roblox Kids and Roblox Select Globally to Enhance Online Safety for Young Gamers

MANILA, Philippines — Roblox has officially launched Roblox Kids and Roblox Select worldwide, introducing a new age-based account system designed to provide safer and more appropriate gaming experiences for children and teenagers. The update aligns access to games, chat features, and content with a user's age while giving parents more tools to manage their child's online activity.

The global rollout follows successful launches in Australia, Indonesia, the Netherlands, and New Zealand. Under the new system, users are automatically assigned to the appropriate account category based on their age and verification status.

Roblox Kids accounts are intended for younger users and come with the platform's strictest safety settings. Chat is disabled by default, although parents can choose to enable limited text-based communication through parental controls. Roblox Select accounts, aimed at older children and younger teens, offer access to a broader range of content and gradually unlock additional communication features while maintaining strong safety protections.

According to Dr. Anuradha Rao, a member of Roblox's Global Parent Council, the new account structure provides families with more opportunities for parental involvement and oversight while encouraging healthy technology habits and positive online interactions.

To ensure age-appropriate experiences, all games available for Roblox Kids and Roblox Select undergo additional reviews beyond Roblox's standard moderation process. Developers must verify their identities, enable two-factor authentication, and meet publishing requirements before making games accessible to younger audiences. Roblox also evaluates gameplay and reviews reports from older users to maintain platform safety standards.

Popular games available within the curated catalogs include titles such as Driving Empire, Grow a Garden, and How to Train Your Dragon in supported regions. However, games containing social hangout features, free-form drawing tools, or sensitive topics are excluded from Kids and Select accounts.

Roblox has also strengthened its communication safeguards. Users who have not completed age verification cannot access chat features, regardless of their self-declared age. Verified users are placed into the appropriate account category, with chat permissions varying based on age. Additional protections such as text filtering, chat rephrasing, and continuous monitoring remain active across the platform.

Parents who link their accounts to their children's profiles gain access to enhanced parental controls, including screen-time limits, spending controls, friend list monitoring, chat management, and game approval settings. As children mature, Roblox gradually increases their independence while still providing parents with visibility into their online activities.

With Roblox Kids and Roblox Select, Roblox continues its commitment to creating a safer digital environment while helping young users develop responsible online habits as they grow.

Globe, Ayala Foundation Strengthen Recovery Aid for Cebu Earthquake Survivors

Bogo City, Cebu - Globe continues to mobilize support for communities affected by the September 2025 earthquake, bringing together customers, employees, and partners through the #BrigadangAyala program to provide immediate relief and long-term rebuilding.

Globe and Ayala Foundation, Inc. (AFI) led the turnover of shelter kits to 25 families and 120 Go Bags to heads of households in Barangay Binabag, reinforcing efforts to restore safe living conditions and strengthen preparedness for future disasters. The initiative builds on a series of interventions following the magnitude 6.9 earthquake that affected communities across Regions VII and VIII, including earlier support extended to communities in Mati, Davao, where Globe and its partners provided shelter kits and introduced digital livelihood opportunities to help displaced families rebuild their homes and restore income sources. Globe is also preparing for the next phase of recovery efforts in Palawan.

The program was implemented in coordination with the Bogo City Local Government Unit and the Barangay Binabag Council to ensure alignment with local recovery priorities and beneficiary targeting.

The Cebu activity mobilized over 30 employee-volunteers from Globe and the Ayala Group companies. Volunteers supported distribution operations and conducted sessions on livelihood, financial literacy, and basic health services, alongside technical guidance on online safety through Globe’s Digital Thumbprint Program.

Emergency assistance was first deployed in October 2025, when food packs were delivered to affected families within four days of the earthquake. This was followed by a second round of support in December 2025, with the provision of Noche Buena packages and emergency kits. Support came from Globe Rewards, GoGIVE, and Globe Business, with #BrigadangAyala led by Ayala Foundation and Rise Against Hunger Philippines as implementing partners on the ground.

At the core of the initiative is the participation of more than 200,000 Globe customers who converted their Rewards points into aid through Group Goals in the GlobeOne app last January. Their collective contribution enabled the delivery of resources to families working to rebuild their homes and livelihoods. An earlier activation in the City of Mati was also done, wherein 80 families benefited from donated shelter kits. In a few weeks, Globe and AFI will go to El Nido, Palawan, to distribute 180 Go Bags and Shelter Kits to 25 public schools.

“We are deeply grateful for our partners who have stepped up to support the community,” said Yoly Crisanto, Globe’s Chief Sustainability and Corporate Communications Officer of Globe. “Through platforms like GlobeOne, we are also able to scale support and channel resources where they are needed most.”

The Bogo City Local Government Unit emphasized the value of sustained collaboration in helping affected communities recover. “Ayala and Globe have a strong collaboration to help the victims of the 6.9M earthquake in the City of Bogo in rebuilding communities and restoring livelihoods so that they can move forward,” said Carlo Fernando Logarta, Head, City Planning & Development Office, Bogo City LGU.

Ayala Foundation reinforced this approach, emphasizing the role of sustained, multi-sector collaboration in rebuilding efforts. “#BrigadangAyala brings together the strengths of the Ayala group and its partners who converted their Rewards points into aid to move from immediate relief to long-term recovery,” said Tony Lambino, President of Ayala Foundation. “By aligning resources and expertise, we are helping communities rebuild safer homes while strengthening their capacity to prepare for future risks.”

Globe customers can support the Ayala Foundation via the GlobeOne app. Simply tap the Rewards button and search "Ayala Foundation" to donate Rewards points.

For more information about Globe, visit www.globe.com.ph.

Just Dial ‘911’: ‘Dialect-Sensitive’ Emergency Response Now in More Areas Across PH

To ensure timely and dialect-sensitive emergency response in the regions, PLDT, through its corporate business arm, PLDT Enterprise, and ICT subsidiary, ePLDT, is boosting the government’s Unified 911 platform expansion across the country.

Following the establishment of the National Command Center in Manila and the Regional Command Center in Cebu last year, four new satellite command centers (SCCs) were recently launched in Ilocos Norte, Isabela, Iloilo, and Leyte, enabling faster emergency response to more provinces in Northern Luzon and the Visayas.

More SCCs are set to be launched in Cagayan de Oro and Maguindanao, according to Philippine National Police Chief Melencio C. Nartatez Jr., who represented Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla in the flagship launching ceremonies for the four SCCs in Leganes, Iloilo.

“When you dial 911 in Iloilo, the answer will be in Hiligaynon. If you are in Tacloban, the answer is Waray; in Ilocos, Ilocano. That is how advanced our response is, faster, understood, and felt by every Filipino who calls in distress,” Nartatez said.

Also at the event were Iloilo City Mayor Raisa S. Treñas, Leganes Mayor Vicente P. Jaen II, and New Lucena, Iloilo Mayor Carl Vincent Mondejar, Bureau of Fire Protection OIC Wilberto Rico Neil Kwan Tiu, PLDT executives led by PLDT Enterprise Head and ePLDT Chairman Blums S. Pineda and Public Engagement Group Head Roby Alampay, and Next Generation Advanced (NGA) CEO Ishka Villacisneros.

The three other SCCs--located in Batac, Cauayan, and Tacloban--joined the ceremonies held in Leganes, Iloilo, virtually to present their respective SCCs ’ capabilities and key milestones over the last couple of months.

Together, the 4 SCCs cover 20 provinces in the Ilocos, Cagayan Valley, Western Visayas, and Eastern Visayas regions with emergency hotline operators fluent in at least ten languages, including English, Tagalog, and their respective local languages.

With this system in place, callers from these regions will no longer be routed to Manila. They can speak naturally, be understood directly, and get responders dispatched faster and more accurately.

“The launch of the dialect-sensitive Unified 911 satellite command centers is a critical step toward more responsive, inclusive, and resilient emergency services,” Pineda said, underscoring PLDT Enterprise’s commitment to help ensure that reliable connectivity and secure digital solutions are in place, especially for the SCCs in the regions. “We believe that technology, combined with local language and local knowledge, can further empower our responders to act faster and serve our communities better.”

Launched in September 2025 by the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) and the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP), in partnership with PLDT, PLDT Enterprise, and ePLDT, Next Generation Advanced (NGA), and Next Generation Core Services (NGCS Inc.), the Unified 911 system integrates police, fire, medical, and rescue services into a centralized, technology-enabled platform linking national agencies with LGUs.

The Unified 911 system features multiple reporting channels and platforms, live video streaming, and centralized data reporting, hosted on ePLDT’s Pilipinas Cloud. Among others, it also features GPS-based location tracking of callers and responders as well as geo-fencing, helping enable faster and more coordinated emergency response.

PLDT’s support for the continued expansion of the Unified 911 system is aligned with the government’s broader efforts to modernize emergency response operations across the Philippines and contributes to PLDT’s mission to help the nation build resilient communities, protect lives through technology, and promote disaster risk reduction via robust digital infrastructure and capacity-building programs.

Vivo X300 FE Redefines Mobile Content Creation with ZEISS Telephoto Innovation

MANILA, PHILIPPINES — Content creation has evolved far beyond simply capturing beautiful images. In today's digital landscape, millions of photos and videos compete for attention across social media platforms, encouraging creators to find new ways to express their individuality and tell authentic stories.

As a result, many creators are moving away from bulky camera equipment and embracing smartphones that offer professional-grade photography, portability, and the freedom to create anytime and anywhere. Leading this transformation is the Vivo X300 FE, a compact flagship smartphone equipped with a powerful 50MP ZEISS Super Telephoto Camera and compatibility with the Vivo ZEISS Telephoto Extender Gen 2.

Fashion and lifestyle creator Holden Howard recently demonstrated how smartphones have become an essential part of creative expression. Rather than hiding the device behind the lens, Howard incorporated the Vivo X300 FE and ZEISS Telephoto Extender Gen 2 into a series of visually striking images, positioning the smartphone as an extension of his personal style.

"Standing out isn't just about the fit—it's about the phone you carry," Howard shared on Instagram. His content reflects a growing trend where technology becomes part of a creator's identity, blending fashion, photography, and storytelling into a seamless visual experience.

The Vivo X300 FE has also impressed Miss Universe Philippines 2025 CJ Opiaza, who highlighted the smartphone's ability to capture stunning details effortlessly. In a recent Instagram post, Opiaza noted that the device proves "great things really do come in compact packages," emphasizing how mobile photography enables spontaneous and uninterrupted content creation.

Meanwhile, content creator Alysson showcased the Vivo X300 FE in Mist Purple as both a powerful camera tool and a stylish lifestyle accessory. For creators who prioritize aesthetics alongside functionality, the smartphone offers an appealing combination of performance and design.

What unites these creators is their approach to storytelling. Modern content creation no longer revolves around scheduled photo shoots alone. It happens during travel, daily routines, conversations, and unexpected moments. Smartphones like the Vivo X300 FE empower users to capture those experiences instantly while maintaining professional-quality results.

With its advanced imaging capabilities, lightweight design, and innovative ZEISS technology, the Vivo X300 FE represents the future of mobile storytelling. As creators continue to seek tools that simplify production without compromising quality, this flagship smartphone proves that lighter gear can indeed lead to bigger stories.

The Vivo X300 FE is available at Vivo stores nationwide and through the Vivo e-store for PHP 54,999. A bundle featuring the 200mm ZEISS Telephoto Extender Gen 2 is also available for PHP 68,998.