ADVERTORIAL

My nuclear family may be very small but I have an extended family that's very tight and close-knit. I guess you could say that goes for most Filipino families including ones living abroad. I remember when I was little, back in the 80s, and we get a high amount of long distance calls from loved ones sending us their greetings. There were also snail mails and cards sent with pictures and if we're lucky, maybe even a dollar or $20!

Fast forward to the present, some almost 30 years later since those times we had to walk to the telephone company and get into a booth to make a long distance phone call, getting in touch with people you love and family who are away has become just a click or two. Kids these days will never understand having to speak with a telephone operator to ring another person's phone. With today's technology, anyone can get in touch with almost anyone instantaneously!

Such things we take for granted, but not too long ago we had a moment of truth slapped to our faces when Typhoon Yolanda (Haiyan) struck our city last year. Phone lines died when the storm came in full force and our connection to the outside world, to the people who mattered to us, were succinctly cut. For days the only means to communicate was having to catch an elusive signal with very limited power supply just to get help and inform loved ones of our current status. Que horror. I never want to live through that again!

Since I work online, when I couldn't connect to the Internet, I was frantic! Our old DSL connection took months to get repaired so when PLDT finally came to town, of course, my in-laws who run a leading travel company in Ormoc signed up for it. I was able to resume work and get on with life. After all, tragedies occur and it's very important to keep on living. We got the 10 mbps package because there was a major need to book flights and a reliable connection was absolutely necessary. Because it was also the season of sharing and giving, we lent internet connection via WiFi to people who needed to go online to contact their worried friends and family. Using Skype or Facetime was a dream with the fast PLDT connection and we were even able to watch TV shows we missed post-Yolanda. Concerned people from all over were relieved to see updates we posted on our social media sites about how we coped up and survived the catastrophe. We were able to help ourselves and help other people at the same time. Apparently, having a stronger connection to the Internet gives you stronger family relations.

Throwback from December 2013.  #TBT

One of the things I learned then is that family will always be there for you. I was able to reach out to cousins and relatives who I hardly hear from, but because they were genuinely concerned about our well-being after the typhoon, we were able to connect and re-connect through Facebook chat and iMessages. Blood is definitely thicker than water so to speak.

Meet PLDT EVP and head of HOME business Ariel Fermin (left) and and PLDT VP and head of HOME marketing Gary Dujali (right).

I wasn't surprised to learn that PLDT HOME received a tribute in this year’s Araw Awards for the success of “Project Evolution” and “Ask Diego” campaigns, which are under the PLDT HOME Telpad and PLDT HOME DSL brands, respectively. The Branded Communications: Responsible Parenting category was where these two products garnered awards under. PLDT executive vice president and head of HOME business Ariel Fermin stated, “This inspires PLDT HOME to further deliver its commitment of benefiting Filipino families and homes by keeping them at the heart of our services and innovations.”

Indeed it is quite the honor to be given this tribute because the award-giving body, the Araw Awards, is dedicated to values in advertising and marketing communications. By promoting positive values and basic ideals of the rich Filipino cultural heritage like the family unit and national pride, as well as respect for elders, relationship with God, and so on. It's nice knowing that PLDT reflects this kind of social responsibility in their multi-sector industry. You can read more about how PLDT HOME champions family values with double wins in Araw Awards by clicking HERE.



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