4 Billion Hearts Strong: Globe GoGIVE Transforms Everyday Data into Nationwide Impact

Globe highlighted the expanding impact of GoGIVE at the latest installment of The Blueprint by Globe, the company’s quarterly media event. Embedded in the GlobeOne app and powered by thousands of Globe Prepaid users, GoGIVE transforms everyday mobile data usage into meaningful support for communities across the country.

GoGIVE donors have generated more than 4 billion hearts through their everyday mobile data usage on the GlobeOne app. This far exceeds the 840 million heart target set for each partner organization, reflecting the strong and sustained participation of Globe Prepaid customers. These hearts are then converted into meaningful connectivity support that powers advocacies such as animal welfare, environmental conservation, digital education, women empowerment, medical assistance, disaster relief, children's rights & development, inclusion, teacher development, and child protection across the country.

 

Today, GoGIVE is translating digital participation into tangible programs on the ground. For the Philippine Animal Welfare Society (PAWS), connectivity support enables a more efficient online pet adoption process for shelter cats and dogs, access to virtual veterinary consultations, and stronger communication systems that enhance rescue operations during disasters.

 

The Philippine Eagle Foundation is using the support to strengthen education and community-based conservation efforts. Indigenous community partners can access online learning modules, participate in virtual trainings and coordination meetings, and report threats and illegal activities in real time to help protect the critically endangered Philippine eagle.

 

Through Project PEARLS, women in partner communities are gaining both practical skills and renewed confidence through online trainings in macramé, crochet, candle making, and personal development. At the same time, youth scholars are being equipped with career guidance, résumé-building tools, and leadership training that open doors to brighter futures.

Project PEARLS’ G.R.O.W. (Giving Resources and Opportunities to Women) Program in Siargao and G.R.O.W. Program in Bulacan using the Loop devices from GoGIVE! Project PEARLS had a Macramé virtual training in Siargao, and the Nanays got tips and lessons from G.R.O.W. Bulacan Nanays. These were made possible by the support from GoGIVE. (Photo courtesy of Project PEARLS) 

For World Vision Philippines, connectivity support is strengthening child protection initiatives. This includes providing reliable internet access to partner public schools in Laurel, Batangas, complemented by online safety capacity-building and improved referral management systems to ensure children are protected and supported both online and offline.

 Each partner, who reached their targeted hearts in GoGIVE, received 5 units of Globe AT HOME 5G loop.  These connectivity devices will support their operations in the office and in the field. L-R: Globe Chief Sustainability & Corporate Communications Officer Yoly Crisanto, Globe President and Chief Executive Officer Carl Cruz, World Vision Philippines Corporate Partnerships Officer Rafael Paolo C. Quimel, Project PEARLS Deputy Executive Director Monica Aclan, Philippine Eagle Foundation Fundraising and Partnerships Officer Julia Estrada, Philippine Animal Welfare Society Adoption Counselor Bing Manzano, Globe Vice President of Consumer Mobile Business Eric Tanbauco, Head of Globe Prepaid Givielle Florida, and Globe Chief Commercial Officer Darius Delgado

Beyond long-term advocacy programs, Globe Prepaid customers have also supported emergency response efforts through GoGIVE during times of calamity. In partnership with Ayala Foundation, Rise Against Hunger Philippines, Pawssion Project, and the Philippine Eagle Foundation, GoGIVE has helped mobilize timely aid for affected communities.

 

To support GoGIVE:

1. Globe Prepaid customers can tap GoGIVE on the GlobeOne app,
2. Select the advocacy to start earning hearts,
3. Support the cause automatically every time mobile data is used!

By turning everyday data usage into collective action, Globe continues to show that connectivity can serve a larger purpose. GoGIVE demonstrates how digital engagement can create measurable impact, strengthen communities, and reinforce Globe’s role as a partner in nation-building.

PHILIPPINE BOOK FESTIVAL 2026 STRENGTHENS ITS COMMITMENT TO THE GROWTH OF LOCAL PUBLISHING

THE National Book Development Board (NBDB) is all set for the 4th Philippine Book Festival (PBF)— the country’s only marketplace dedicated exclusively to all-Filipino books and published works, and a shared third place for publishers, writers, illustrators, readers, educators, and industry stakeholders. The festival runs from March 12 to 15, 2026 at the Megatrade Hall, 5th Floor, SM Megamall in Mandaluyong City.



“With the continued interest we saw in the last few years, we are encouraged by the growing appreciation for Filipino stories and content,” said NBDB Executive Director Charisse Aquino-Tugade. “The strong public response affirms that there is a meaningful demand for books that reflect our own culture, languages, and lived experiences.”

Building on that momentum, the NBDB sees PBF 2026 as an opportunity not only to expand visitor turnout and exhibitor participation but also to strengthen access to locally produced books and learning materials. In a milestone for the festival, Day 1 (March 12) will be open to the general public for the first time, welcoming all readers alongside the Department of Education (DepEd) and its book evaluators from across the country.

Four Realms, One Rainforest

PBF 2026 reimagines its four signature realms within a rainforest-inspired setting. Aral Aklat highlights books as tools for learning and discovery, featuring textbooks and teaching guides. Booktopia invites visitors to explore the breadth of Filipino fiction and nonfiction. Kid Lit nurtures early readers through interactive, child-friendly experiences. Komiks celebrates the visual richness of Filipino comics and graphic storytelling.

This year’s lineup brings together the full spectrum of Philippine literary life. National Artist for Film and Broadcast Arts Ricky Lee, National Artist for Literature Virgilio Almario, and prominent historian Ambeth Ocampo will be on hand for book signings alongside trade-book superstars Jonaxx and Ron Canimo, kidlit masters Eugene Evasco and Luis Gatmaitan, and komiks legends Manix Abrera and Pol Medina. GMA Network, together with PaperKat Books, will also launch “Encantadia Chronicles: Sang’gre” at PBF 2026.

Beyond the realms, the festival offers a range of spaces for connection: Lugar Lagdaan for book signings and reader-author meetups; Bahay Ilustrador for a look into the world of visual storytellers; Gubat ng Karunungan for workshops, talks, and masterclasses; the Fiesta Stage for major programming and performances; and Umpukan for informal community conversations.

The NBDB, in cooperation with the National Library of the Philippines, will also feature facsimiles of Jose Rizal’s Noli Me Tangere, Doctrina Christiana, and Fr. Manuel Blanco’s Flora de Filipinas—rare works that anchor the festival in the Philippines’ deep literary heritage.

A highlight of the four-day run is the 43rd National Book Awards (NBA), to be held on March 14 at the Fiesta Stage. The NBA acknowledges the works of authors, illustrators, editors, translators, and publishers whose books have helped shape the country’s literary landscape.

Into the Gubat ng Karunungan

This year’s festival takes its theme from the richness underfoot and overhead: Gubat ng Karunungan, or Rainforest of Knowledge. The key visual, crafted by returning artist and designer Joffrey “Pepot” Atienza, follows two characters, Yaz and Ye-ey, as they journey through a teeming rainforest, taking in its flora, fauna, and falls.

Drawing on his daily life at the foot of Mount Banahaw in Lucban, Quezon, Atienza wove recycled paper into the artwork as a deliberate gesture: the same trees that give us paper carry the stories we tell. “Our stories, our books, and our karunungan all start here—in the biodiversity we need to protect,” he said.



A Festival Dedicated to Philippine Literature

“The Philippine Book Festival is positioned not only as a literary event but also as a third place that connects key players in the publishing and education sectors,” Aquino-Tugade said. “By convening publishers, institutional buyers, educators, and readers in a single venue, the festival supports broader efforts to improve access to quality Philippine books and sustain the local publishing industry.”

“Let’s make the Philippines not just a nation of readers, but a global powerhouse of authors and creators,” Aquino-Tugade concluded. #

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About the National Book Development Board

The National Book Development Board (NBDB) is the Philippines’ book authority mandated to develop and strengthen the local book publishing industry. It works to expand access to quality Philippine books, promote a culture of reading, and support the growth of local publishing, while ensuring that Filipino authorship and literary production remain visible, competitive, and sustainable in both national and international contexts.Follow @nbdbphilippines (Facebook, Instagram, X, and TikTok) or visit books.gov.ph to learn more.

The Digital Advantage: Introducing the PSA E-Certificate Service Powered by PSAHelpline.ph

The Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA), in collaboration with its authorized online channel, PSAHelpline.ph, is pleased to announce the modernization of vital records access through the PSA E-Cert Service. This service represents a significant step forward in the digital transformation of public services, ensuring that authenticated copies of civil registry documents are secured and shared with maximum efficiency and security.

This initiative delivers an official, authenticated, digital copy of your civil registry document, offering a secure and immediate method for handling essential paperwork from your computer or mobile device. Designed for convenience across the Philippines, the PSA E-Cert acts as a readily available, verifiable version of documents like Birth, Marriage, and Death Certificates. It is a digitized copy of the physical PSA certificate issued by the PSA that can be quickly utilized for submission and verification with government agencies and other stakeholders nationwide. The new service provides a fully integrated end-to-end digital journey—from initial request and secure payment to digital delivery offering the ultimate standard in user convenience.

What is a PSA E-Certificate?

The PSA E-Cert is an official, authenticated, digital copy of civil registry documents such as Birth, Marriage, and Death Certificates, as well as the Certificate of No Marriage (CENOMAR) and Certificate of No Death (CENODEATH).

Think of it as the official electronic version of your PSA certificate. It offers a secure and immediate way to handle essential paperwork, bypassing the time required for physical courier delivery. Since it is designed to be digitally verified, it is perfect for quick and secure online submissions to institutions that accept digital documents.

The document contains robust digital security features, notably a QR code, which allows the stakeholder to instantly confirm its authenticity and integrity through the secure e-cert portal (e-cert.psahelpline.ph).

Who are the Stakeholders?

A stakeholder is any local office or institution, including government agencies, schools, or private companies, that officially accepts and verifies your submitted PSA E-Cert.

These entities rely on the E-Cert's digital security features (like the QR code, reference number, and authorization code.) to instantly confirm that your document is authentic and was officially issued by the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) via PSAHelpline.ph.

Common transactions where you may submit your E-Cert include:

●       School Enrollment: For schools and universities when enrolling a student.

●       Local Employment: When applying for a job within the Philippines that requires verification of a birth or marriage certificate.

●       Government Transactions: For applying for claims and benefits, or other services from various government agencies (where the digital copy is accepted).

●       Other Transactions: Including financial applications or legal services requiring proof of civil status.

The institution's acceptance of the E-Cert allows them to instantly verify your document's integrity, simplifying their process and ensuring maximum security.

Requesting the PSA E-Cert:

The PSA E-Cert service is initiated when an applicant places an order for documents such as Birth, Marriage, Death Certificates, CENOMAR, and CENODEATH on the PSAHelpline.ph website, specifically selecting the digital format.

1. Application: Visit e-cert.psahelpline.ph, select the document needed, and fill out the order form.
2. Payment: Pay through any of the payment channels integrated with the service (E-wallets, Credit/Debit, Online Banking).
3. Applicant Verification: A mandatory Identity Verification Process ensures that sensitive data only reaches the rightful owner.
4. Delivery:The requesting party receives a secure link via email to view and download their PSA certificate. 

Verification by the Stakeholder

A core benefit of the PSA E-Cert is its robust digital verification system, allowing any local office or institution (Stakeholder) to instantly confirm the authenticity of the submitted document.

The Stakeholder can verify the authenticity of the E-Cert through two options:

•  Option A (QR Scan): Simply scan the QR code on the document. It redirects to the e-cert portal to display the official PSA-issued copy for an immediate "side-by-side" comparison.

• Option B (Manual Entry): If a scanner is not available, the stakeholder (e.g., an employer, school, or a bank) can enter the Reference Number and Authorization Code found on the E-Cert cover page directly on the e-cert.psahelpline.ph website. An image of the official PSA-issued copy will be shown for "side-by-side" comparison

The PSA E-Cert portal allows the stakeholder to verify that the certificate was indeed issued by PSAHelpline.ph, ensuring the document's integrity and originality.

Cost and Pricing

Faster service at a lower price point.

Document Type / E-Certificate Rate / Door-to-Door Rate / Savings    

  

1. Birth, Marriage, Death-          ₱290                 ₱365                        ₱75
2. CENOMAR / CENODEATH-    ₱345                 ₱420                        ₱75

                  

Validity and Data Privacy

Protecting data through "Privacy by Design."

●       Availability: The digital copy is accessible in the secure portal for 60 calendar days.

●       Ownership: During this window, users can download the PDF to their personal devices for permanent storage.

●       Privacy: To comply with the Data Privacy Act, the system automatically purges the copy from the portal after 60 days to ensure no sensitive data remains exposed online longer than necessary.

 A Commitment to Modern Service

The PSA E-Cert Service is designed to enhance the accessibility and utility of civil registry documents for domestic applicants. By providing a modern, efficient, and secure digital option, the PSA and PSAHelpline.ph are committed to making the submission and verification of official records a simpler process for the public and relying parties across the Philippines.