Globe Powers Inaugural WTA’s Manila Open, Providing Top-Tier Connectivity to World-Class Tennis

Women’s sports are taking center stage in the Philippines as Manila hosts its first-ever Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) tournament, the Philippine Women’s Open, from January 26–31, 2026 at the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex. Powered by Globe’s internationally recognized cutting-edge 5G network and reliable connectivity, this landmark event marks a historic milestone for the country, showcasing elite, globally ranked women’s professional tennis on home soil for the very first time to ensure seamless operations and world-class coverage.

The rise of Alex Eala, who has steadily built her career competing against the world’s best, has reignited national pride and empowered young Filipinos to dream bigger in sports. Her journey demonstrates that Filipinos can excel and belong at the highest levels of any global stage. The Philippine Women’s Open builds on this momentum, offering local fans and aspiring athletes unprecedented access to world-class sporting events.

“Globe has been a constant partner in my journey, giving me the connectivity and support to compete and grow on the world stage. Seeing Globe now power the first‑ever WTA tournament in Manila makes me proud, not just as a player, but as a Filipina, because it shows how far we’ve come in bringing world‑class tennis home. This event is proof that with the right support, Filipino athletes and fans can stand shoulder to shoulder with the best in the world," said Eala.

As part of this milestone, Globe proudly reaffirms its commitment to progress, pride, and purpose by championing women’s empowerment and Filipino excellence. Globe’s 5G connectivity will power the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex, supporting flawless tournament execution and broadcast quality. Delegates and participants will also enjoy reliable connectivity throughout the tournament, enabling them to stay connected and share the excitement with the world.

“As women’s sports gain momentum globally, Globe is committed to bringing world-class platforms closer to Filipinos. From the inspiring journey of Alex Eala to hosting the Philippine Women’s Open, we support not only women’s excellence but also the empowerment of the youth, who see in Alex a role model for dreaming bigger and achieving more. By powering this historic event with our 5G network and delegate connectivity, Globe reaffirms its mission to nurture Filipino pride, inspire the next generation, and ensure that our athletes and young people alike can thrive,” said Roche Vanderberghe, Chief Marketing Officer at Globe.

To further bring the action closer to Filipinos, Globe Prepaid is supporting the event through the Go5G TURBO50, giving fans a faster and more affordable way to enjoy every match. With fast and reliable 5G connectivity, fans can stay connected, share moments, and experience the thrill of the Philippine Women’s Open, live or online.

The Philippine Women’s Open is more than a sporting event; it is a celebration of Filipino pride, women’s empowerment, and the country’s place on the global sporting stage. By supporting this historic milestone, Globe continues to inspire progress and elevate platforms that showcase Filipino potential to the world.

Fans can also celebrate Pinoy pride powered by Globe 5G by streaming the Philippine Women’s Open 2026 LIVE on the official WTA website from January 26–31, ensuring that Filipinos everywhere can witness history as it unfolds.

Globe's Truth in Action fights fake news about COVID-19 vaccines

The Philippines’ digital adoption journey has paved the way for more prevalent use of the internet, but along with its advancement is also the risk of abuse. An example of this is fake news, an issue that the country has been battling for several years.

Among the difficult topics that are prone to fake news is the ongoing vaccination efforts of the national government. Fake news triggered hesitancy among a number of Filipinos and caused confusion to many regarding available vaccines in the country.

 

Some of the most alarming false claims being circulated are:

- Microchips are inserted into those vaccinated by COVID-19, making them susceptible to 24/7 tracking

- COVID-19 vaccines contain COVID-19 virus

- COVID-19 vaccines will cause health hazards

             

These false claims are spread quickly through social media and other digital channels. Without discernment, the public can become easily scared to get vaccinated due to its supposed ill effects.

 

With its Truth In Action campaign, Globe is supporting the private sector’s INGAT ANGAT Bakuna Lahat program in an effort to educate the public on the safety of vaccines and encourage everyone to do their part in ending this pandemic.  The campaign takes a different approach, using a series of videos illustrating the erroneous claims people have shared about the vaccines. It also includes a pledge that encourages the public to become responsible digital citizens and avoid spreading malicious and fake information online.

“As a digital solutions provider, we hope to educate the public on the hazards of fake news especially at a time of the pandemic. We are calling for responsible digital citizenship among our fellow Filipinos, especially vital at this time where proper dissemination of information is crucial to achieving national recovery,” said Yoly C. Crisanto, Globe Chief Sustainability Officer and SVP for Corporate Communications.

 

In these times of uncertainty and confusion, Globe reiterates the importance of getting critical information only from credible news sources and how we as digital citizens must practice freedom of expression responsibly. Think, research, and think again before clicking and believing everything said online.

 

The Truth in Action campaign is part of Globe’s commitment to two United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.  SDG No. 9 highlights the roles of infrastructure and innovation as crucial drivers of economic growth and development.  SDG No. 17 aims to strengthen the means of implementation and revitalize global partnerships for sustainable development. Globe is committed to upholding the United Nations Global Compact principles and 10 UN SDGs.

 

To learn more about Globe’s sustainability efforts, visit https://www.globe.com.ph/about-us/sustainability.html.

5 easy steps to combat fake news while on your mobile phones

Right now, people around the globe, are stuck at home in a bid to fight the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic—glued to their mobile phones, consuming the rapid spread of news and information that has multiplied even more in the already fast-paced online platform.

With the need for credible real-time updates, the call for social media responsibility has also risen exponentially with fake news keeping pace with the spread of the virus.

With that, here are 5 easy steps to be a responsible mobile phone user by keeping the “fake news virus” at bay:

1. Don’t share posts and news stories immediately

Most headlines are crafted to give an enticing summary or lead-in to a story, but they aren’t always what they are, so it’s better to go through the entire story first. Oh, and make sure to check the date as well because some people tend to share news updates from even a few years back.

2. Read through for inconsistencies

Are you fond of reading stories actively or passively? By actively reading through articles, one could already deduce the credibility of the story. Fake news tends to include outrageous claims, biases, questionable facts and figures, and grammatical errors—one that a credible writer would seldom commit.

3. Be on the lookout for the source

We sometimes open shared articles or read news posts without checking who shared or posted these. To be sure, check the source of the story or post—it is usually located at the top or bottom of posts and images. For external links, scan through the website address located on top of the headline and verify it first before clicking—shady web addresses can lead to virus-infested websites.

4. Visit the supposed source

Does a source seem credible because of its name? Not entirely. News update templates can easily be retouched using readily available photo editing apps. To be sure, visit the official news sites or social media pages of the supposed source and verify if they did release the story. It would also be wise to check if other credible news sites released a similar story.

5. Reflect on actually posting or sharing

By the time you’ve finished verifying, and given that it is indeed a credible story from a bona fide source, you’ve probably had enough time to reflect on whether it is actually worth sharing in the first place. It would also be good to review your intentions in sharing the material.

Additional step: Download credible news apps

To get authentic news updates and stories on-the-dot, you could always download apps developed by top news sites in the country. These are readily available through the seamless Vivo app store, available in all Vivo smartphones.

And there you go! There is power in staying in and keeping abreast with updates, and a seemingly little thing such as preventing the spread of fake news can go a long way.