500th Christianity celebration goes to PLDT-Smart

Here is one big breaking news when last week when the Archdiocese of Cebu joined hands with PLDT-Smart for the coming of the Philippine celebration of 500 years of Christianity next year. The Archdiocese of Cebu, PLDT and Smart have formalized their partnership to celebrate the occasion. The celebration, spanning a period of two years, would feature a series of online and on-ground activities, mostly in Cebu, that officially recognize Cebu as the cradle of Christianity in the Philippines. Also unveiled during the partnership launch were the Panaw sa Pagtuo (Journey of Faith) Mobile Exhibit App and Gasa: 21 Historical Snippets to 2021 video series.

This was done in a video message. During the ceremony, Alfredo Panlilio, PLDT Chief Revenue Officer and Smart President and Chief Executive Officer, expressed his appreciation for being part of this important milestone that will enable the Catholic Church and tourism stakeholders with digital technologies. Panlilio said, “I am happy to see how our partners are able to pivot and integrate digital technologies into their current mode of operations with the help of innovation.”

Those present during the ceremonies held at the Archdiocesan Museum of Cebu were Cebu Archbishop Jose Palma, Assistant Vice President/Center Head for PLDT-Smart Corporate Communications Atty. Maria Jane Paredes, 500 Years of Christianity Celebration Chairman Fr. Mhar Balili, and Cebu Archdiocesan Commission for the Cultural Heritage of the Church Chairman Fr. Brian Brigoli.

Meanwhile, Archbishop Palma expressed his heartfelt gratitude for PLDT-Smart for its support to the Archdiocese. I’d like to point out that this event would have been one great big historic celebration for Cebu, unfortunately, it does seem that the global pandemic might still be with us on those historic dates, hence, the decision to bring in the PLDT-Smart technology of connectivity, which in effect can be tuned to Catholics worldwide, especially the Vatican and in Spain.

Arch. Palma pointed out, “I’d like to sincerely thank PLDT-Smart. In this age of connectivity, virtual spaces and social media enabled us to continue being in solidarity, being connected, with the desire to offer something that can lift up the spirit, that can give hope, that can tell people despite COVID-19, we have reasons to believe. I am excited. I may not be a digital native, but I am learning.”           

Cathy Yap-Yang, First Vice President and PLDT-Smart Corporate Communications Group Head, said: “I am most pleased to know PLDT-Smart is a big part of enabling tourism in the new normal. What better way to help reinvent tourism in one of the most beautiful archipelagic countries in the world- the only predominantly Roman Catholic country in Asia—than through the digital platform. We at PLDT-Smart feel blessed to have been selected to be the official partners of the Archdiocese of Cebu in mounting the celebrations of the 500 Years of Christianity in the Philippines.”

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In another piece of news, Cebu Rep. Eduardo Gullas, House appropriations committee member, said last Sunday that Congress has earmarked P4.9 billion in supplemental emergency funding to help the Department of Education (DepEd), as well as students and teachers, cope with the COVID-19 crisis.

“We’ve authorized a P4 billion lump sum to further facilitate the public school system’s shift to blended remote learning,” Gullas, an educator, said.

As Rep. Gullas said, “The new money will enable the DepEd to deploy digital technologies for online learning and harness alternative methods of instruction, including the production and delivery of self-learning modules to students.” Rep. Gullas also said Congress has also allotted another P600 million in “subsidies and allowances to qualified students of public and private elementary and secondary schools as well as higher education institutions.”

“We’ve also approved an extra P300 million in financial aid to displaced faculty and non-teaching staff of public and private elementary, secondary and tertiary schools, including part-time teachers in state universities and colleges,” he added.

Rep. Gullas also pointed that public school teachers will receive on Monday their annual World Teachers’ Day Incentive Benefit (WTDIB) of P1,000 each. Another P920 million was set for World Teachers’ Day Incentive Benefit.

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