10 Ways to Enjoy the Holidays at Home

Wazzup Pilipinas!

Christmas is the most enjoyable time of the year. For one whole month, we get to eat our favorite food, see friends and family we haven’t seen all year, and give and receive presents from the people we love. One of the best parts about the holiday is that we get time off from school and work - and this means we get to do some of the coolest things!

As we have shifted to the digital age, new holiday traditions are now being created by Globe Broadband. Now Filipinos have more ways to enjoy their digital lifestyle at home with fast and reliable connections.

With loads of entertainment right your fingertips, here are the top 10 ways to have a blast at home for the holidays!

1. Binge-watch shows on Netflix

Take advantage of the holiday​break and catch up on some of the most popular titles on Netflix, online or via offline mode. Netflix produces award-winning original shows, such as the political thriller Designated Survivor, the prison comedy-drama Orange is the New Black, the sci-fi homage to ‘80s classics Stranger Things, and the period drama The Crown. In January 2017, Netflix is also releasing the TV series A Series of Unfortunate Events. Based on the internationally best-selling series of books by Lemony Snicket (aka Daniel Handler) and starring Emmy and Tony Award winner Neil Patrick Harris, A Series of Unfortunate Events recounts the tragic tale of the Baudelaire orphans -- Violet, Klaus, and Sunny – whose evil guardian Count Olaf will stop at nothing to get his hands on their inheritance.

2. Watch blockbusters on HOOQ

Those who like more variety in content can tune in to HOOQ. Together with hit international TV and movie titles, the video-on-demand service also carries a wide selection of Filipino content through its partnerships with the likes of ABS-CBN, GMA, VIVA, and Regal. Relive the classics by watching the films of Lino Brocka and Ishmael Bernal, indie favorites from Cinemalaya, and recent TV shows. Early next year, HOOQ and Globe studios, will release the first ever co-produced Subscription Video on Demand original series in Southeast Asia: On The Job, a spinoff on the award-winning Erik Matti film of the same name.

3. Get to know the up and coming ballers with NBA League Pass

Fans of the National Basketball Association (NBA) can watch live games in high-definition video, as well as exclusive content on NBA League Pass. They can even watch game replays from recent seasons, classic NBA games, special features, interviews, and documentaries!

4. Let your kids learn on YouTube Kids

Parents who are looking for educational entertainment can certainly find some of the best videos on YouTube Kids. Its content is specifically curated for kids through 4 categories – Shows, Music, Learning, and Explore. With built-in parental controls, moms and dads are assured that their kids are able to watch quality content that will help them learn new things. 

5. ​Relive your favorite Disney stories

Take the magic of Disney everywhere and even relive your favorite fairy tales using the Disney Channels Apps! From the Disney Princesses to hit shows such as Phineas and Ferb, Gravity Falls, Art Attack, and Girl Meets World, among others, the Disney Channel Apps has some of the best episodes to keep the family entertained. It even has Disney Original movies, music videos, and short clips! Younger ones will enjoy Disney Junior Asia, which has episodes of Sofia the First, Elena of Avalor, Jake and the Never Land Pirates, Mickey Mouse Clubhouse, and more! Disney XD Asia is more action-packed with content like Avengers Ultron Revolution, Star Wars Rebels, and Guardians of the Galaxy!

6. Rock out to Spotify

Music lovers get to party with their favorite tunes w​ith premium access to Spotify and its millions of playlists perfect for every occasion. Spotify Premium lets you create your own playlists, share them with friends and even download it for offline listening. The Discover feature also lets one listen to new tracks and similar songs you may like based on your recently played music.  Ever get-together will definitely have its own playlist!

7. Let out your inner diva with Sing! Karaoke by Smule

Belt out to your most favorite tunes with Sing! Karaoke by Smule. This new app changes the way you do sing-alongs because you can now take it anywhere with your smartphone. Fulfill your dreams of becoming the Philippines’ next superstar by recording a song on the app to an audience of thousands. Now you can take your shower concerts to the next level and even jam with your favorite artists that are featured on the app!

8. Conquer the world on Garena, Steam, PlayPark, and Gameclub

Gamers in the family will have the coolest time playing games online without worrying about running out of credits! Gamers can now easily get e-pins for Garena, Steam, PlayPark, or Gameclub to build bases, conquer worlds, and defeat the enemies before mom calls you for Noche Buena dinner.

9. Enjoy your favorite apps on faster speeds!

Entertainment apps are best enjoyed with fast and reliable speeds. For only 1299/month, you can get your movie marathons, karaoke sessions, and even game nights with Globe Broadband speeds of up to 10 Mbps. Customers also have the option to boost their monthly data allowance or their WiFi connection for maximum viewing pleasure.

10. The best devices for an awesome experience

Changing the way families enjoy broadband, Globe now offers customizable plans that allows customers to bundle it with a variety of devices! From Android and smart TVs to streaming devices such as Google Chromecast and Apple TV, you can pick the device that matches your home digital lifestyle.

The holidays let us have more time to enjoy and discover new things. With a reliable connection coupled with some of the most entertaining content, everyone is up for another memorable time filled with awesome flicks, cool hits and fun games all from Globe Broadband.

To know how you can get a Globe Broadband plan today, visit broadband.globe.com.ph

Globe Provides Support to Communities Affected by Typhoon Nina as Restoration Activities Continue

Wazzup Pilipinas!

As of 2 pm Tuesday, Globe Telecom is now able to provide critical telecommunication services in majority of areas heavily affected by Typhoon Nina amid accelerated efforts to restore the company’s wireless network.

According to Yoly Crisanto, Globe Senior Vice President for Corporate Communications, the company has restored 53% of service areas that were adversely impacted within the last 24 hour period.

Widespread commercial power outages and multiple fiber cuts following strong winds caused service disruptions especially in critical areas such as Legazpi, Albay and in Pili, Camarines Sur.

“Globe will continue to step up restoration efforts until we have completely restored voice, text, and data services in all typhoon-hit areas,” she emphasized.

Alongside restoration efforts, Globe is helping the victims of Typhoon Nina by providing libreng tawag and libreng charging stations in Boac, Marinduque and in Barangay Tinago, Naga City.

Hontiveros: We Didn't Need 6,000 People Dead to Implement a Public Health Policy on Drug Abuse

Wazzup Pilipinas!

Asserting that the country's drug problem has always been a public health concern, Akbayan Senator Risa Hontiveros today said that the government should have implemented a public health policy on drug abuse from the very start, instead of encouraging a climate of killing in its war on drugs.

"Our country did not need more than 6,000 people to die in order to see drug abuse as a public health issue. The government's supposed shift to a public health approach in its anti-drugs campaign should have come first in a comprehensive response. At this point, I am afraid that this is an attempt to appropriate the public health advocacy without stopping and exacting accountability for the extrajudicial killings. Malacañang is painting a picture of victory and is using the public health discourse to provide a humane face to its deadly war on drugs and evade accountability for the patent abuses," Hontiveros said.

It was reported that on Tuesday, Malacañang announced that the country’s drug problem has now become a “public health issue" after it claimed "victory" in its war on drugs. This is despite President Rodrigo Duterte’s failure to make good on his electoral promise to end the drug problem in six months.


"Add rehab centers and stir"

Hontiveros said that the Duterte government can't just use an "add rehab centers and stir" approach in its belated attempt to add a health angle to its deadly war on drugs.

"It would be mechanical and tokenistic. The government might think that by simply building a mega-drug rehabilitation center and putting all the drug addicts there, it has sufficiently addressed the health needs of the drug users. Yet, what the majority of the drug users actually need are not inpatient care but outpatient healthcare interventions," Hontiveros explained.

Hontiveros, who is Chair of the Senate Committee on Heath, said that only 9% of suspected drugs users who have surrendered under Oplan Tokhang were committed in rehabilitation facilities. The 91% who do not need institutionalized support went back to their communities. She said that the progress in modern drug rehabilitation and comprehensive out-patient healthcare programs guarantee that only those who are extremely addicted to illegal drugs are admitted to a drug rehabilitation facility.

"The government should have heeded our appeal at the outset and mobilized resources in the funding of out-patient rehabilitation programs and community drop-in centers, as well as harm reduction capacity-building sessions for local governments, health agencies and non-government organizations. Now, much harm, which could have been prevented, has been inflicted on thousands of dead, drug dependents further cut off from health services and poor people deprived of public funds used for Tokhang instead of for social and economic programs," Hontiveros said.



End the killings, best public health approach

The senator said that the best public health approach now appropriate for the situation is for the government to put a stop to the extrajudicial killings.

"Ending the killings and holding all those responsible for these atrocities must be done alongside the implementation of a public health agenda on the anti-drugs campaign. Failure to do so will fuel further speculations that the government not only condones the EJKs, but sanctions them, to the detriment of the people's health," Hontiveros concluded.