#Google4PH champions Digiskarteng Pinay and free, fast internet
IN anticipation of Women’s Month (March), we’re going ahead with this short tribute.
In our family, we call my mom Joy Villagomez “The Gineral,” after Ginebra point guard LA Tenorio, because she simply makes every play possible. At 63, she takes care of two grandsons and navigates the digital age using YouTube (her version of Google) and Netflix ( her bingewatch app). She uses the internet for school projects, gift ideas, cooking,
on the side. Meanwhile, my motherin-law, Amalia Losorata, 74, earned the nickname Remedio Queen, because she tapped on her “remedy skills” raising nine children and a couple of grandkids back in the day.
At the recent Google for Philippines event, Google launched several
the rest of the country into digital savvy citizens, able to maximize their full potentials because they have fast, easy and free access to tools and information at the palm of their hands. Digiskarteng Pinay and Google Stations debuted at the event held at The Blue Leaf in Paranaque last Wednesday.
Digiskarteng Pinay paid tribute to the kind of patience, hard work and ingenuity every Filipina goes through on a daily basis. According to Google’s Gara Santos-Ontiveros, a Filipina’s battle is unique because unlike men in the workforce, she constantly recalibrates
field or as a housewife) and family. While the Philippines ranks No. 8 with the smallest gender gap based on World Economic Forum, what we Pinays earn remains 40 percent lower than our macho counterparts.
Ontiveros highlights the Pinay’s brand of “diskarte , which she
- tations into opportunities.” And if you are a Filipina, living in the Philippines, there are no truer words. It doesn’t matter if you are part of top- level management in giant corporations, a single mom or housewife; we Filipinas are daily miracle workers and it would be a big lift if we all capitalize on “diskarte that has gone digital.”
Beginning March, Google is using YouTube to create more women-led contents. Bianca Gonzalez’s “I Am Super Bianca” and “Team Lyca” channels will feature more empowering contents and life hacks dedicated to every dedicated Filipina. A maledominated web portal, Google is also encouraging more women to tap their inner superheroes and bless YouTube with content that can only come from ma-Digiskarteng Pinays.
If you are reading this, you were most likely raised by a point guard/doit-all kind of mom or lola as well. Just think about it: If our grandmothers and their mothers had the internet to back them up, imagine the countless former limitations-turned-opportunities this generation could have had.
Fast, free internet from Google Station, Smart Wifi
Speaking of YouTube, 85 percent of Filipinos are glued to it. Video consumption is really this country’s current play. Google successfully wired other countries in the world with fast and free internet via Google Station. In a couple of weeks, the Philippines will experience the same fast and free democratized data as Google Station
- nected Philippines.
platform will provide high quality hotspots
free and in areas
markets, malls and bus stations. These “stations” will be available in more than 50 locations including airports in Manila, Clark and Davao and in LRT 2 and MRT 3 stations by the end of the month.
According to Google’s global director for Next Billion Users Partnership Mahesh Bhalerao, “Access to information plays a great role in the everyday lives of people. It creates opportunities for individuals and businesses to learn and grow and that is why we want to bring high quality internet to more Filipinos across the country and create positive impact on their lives.”
During the launch, Google also announced Jobs on Google Search, Google my Business, Google Go and Number Coding on Google Maps that allows motorists to get to their destinations even during coding day.
Not bad for an internet-obsessed country. Not bad, indeed.
Theauthorisaformerbroadsheet entertainmentandlifestylereporter andsectioneditorforanentertainment tocorporateandmarketingPR.