Talk ’N Text, Wattpad team up to search for best Filipino stories

MANILA, Philippines - Smart Communications (Smart), through its value prepaid brand Talk ’N Text, announces a groundbreaking partnership with Wattpad, the largest online community of readers and writers, to recognize the best homegrown Filipino stories of aspiration and success in the upcoming Wattys 2015 Philippines slated in November.

Talk ’N Text will be giving two special awards during this year’s Wattys 2015, including the “Best TNT Panalo Story” award for the Wattpad story that best depicts an aspirational and life-changing narrative, as well as the “Talk ’N Text Ka-Tropa Favorite” award for the story that garners the most number of votes via text.

“The Wattpad Filipino online community has grown tremendously over the years. In fact, we’ve seen Wattpad as the most popular site being accessed right now on Internet.org. This is why Talk ’N Text is very excited to support the Wattys 2015. We’re looking for the best and most unique life-changing stories of hope, aspiration, and success that inspire fellow Filipinos, which are at the core of our ‘Panalo Ang May Alam’ campaign with Internet.org,” said Adrian Te, Talk ’N Text brand manager.

Talk ’N Text’s “Panalo Ang May Alam” campaign aims to bring relevant information into the hands of users who need them most because, as the campaign states, those who are informed win in life.

“The Wattys are the perfect venue to showcase these winning moments and life-changing stories, which we hope would inspire others to take a step into reaching their own successes as well, with the help of Talk ’N Text and Internet.org,” Te added.

The Wattys are Wattpad’s annual program that celebrates the best Wattpad stories. This is the first time Wattpad is offering stand-alone categories for Filipino writers.

 “The Wattys recognizes the most-loved Wattpad stories from the millions shared every year. We’re excited to work with Talk ‘N Text to expand this annual program and offer two new categories for Filipinos,” said Wattpad co-founder and CEO Allen Lau. “Wattpad has become a top entertainment destination in the country, and this expanded program will encourage more people to share stories about the things they love.”

To qualify for the TNT Panalo Story Award, authors simply have to label their stories with the #Wattys2015 and #TNTPanalo tags. The winners will be judged by Wattpad and Talk ’N Text executives.

 For the Talk ’N Text Ka-Tropa Favorite award, meanwhile, a shortlist of the best stories with the #Wattys2015 tag will be pre-selected and will be up for SMS voting. Users can vote from November 2 to November 12, with the story that garnered the most number of text votes emerging as the winner.

Authors can begin tagging stories published or updated in 2015 from today until October 30 to qualify for the two special awards from Talk ’N Text, as well as the other awards for The Wattys this year.

Winners of the special awards from Talk ’N Text will receive special surprises, including the latest smartphones plus prepaid credits, among others.

 To know more about The Wattys 2015, visit https://www.wattpad.com/story/42107617-wattys-2015-filipino-open [END]