PLDT Enterprise, Smart and OLFU launch eLearning online store

Wazzup Pilipinas!?

The largest fully integrated telecommunications company in the Philippines PLDT, through its B2B arm PLDT Enterprise and wireless unit Smart Communications, has partnered with Our Lady of Fatima University (OLFU) Inc. for the launch of the OLFU Smart Online Store that aims to support the digital learning needs of its students.

OLFU is a progressive and multi-awarded educational institution: a Philippine Quality Award recipient; an Autonomous University as granted by the CHEd, and certified ISO 9001:2015. Most recently, OLFU’s proactive initiatives towards a seamless Fatima Learning Experience (FLEX) paved the way to becoming one of the first out of a few select schools to be granted the authority to conduct limited face-to-face classes—an indication of its commitment to strengthen its academic delivery through technology, improved processes and enhanced facilities.

And to boost FLEX where digital initiatives for eLearning are key, the University opened its OLFU Smart Online Store—an e-commerce platform that will provide its students and teachers access to exclusive connectivity plans and services to support their online education from home.

“Our Lady of Fatima University reiterates its commitment to our students wherein we will continue connecting with them. We will go that extra mile for our students and teachers to ensure that we can leverage all means possible to address their needs,” said OLFU’s Student Financial Services Head Vincent Kenneth Mercado.

Since the onset of the pandemic, OLFU has implemented various digital initiatives that have made transactions and classes easier for students. “Our goal is to always be flexible and agile, quick to act and adapt to the circumstances,” stated Mercado.

At the onset of the pandemic, OLFU immediately fully utilized its learning management system to be able to deliver flexible instructional modes. Students were likewise offered easier payment terms for their tuition fees.

Through the collaboration with SMART, the University was able to tailor-fit data plans suited for the needs of its teachers and students for navigating through different software. As such, OLFU and SMART offered Smart Bizload plans to students and teachers at a more affordable price without the need to go to retail stores.

OLFU President, Dr. Caroline Marian Enriquez averred, “This partnership with Smart will only further fortify the University’s intent to help our faculty become better teachers; using time more efficiently, creating modules more creatively and effectively. On the other hand, the access to Smart’s affordable products enhances the learning journey of our students by making it more rewarding because of stable digital connections and communication products at reasonable price points. And these collaborative B2C opportunities during tough times can only be viewed as educational triumphs.”

“Despite the challenges that we face, we believe that it is the right of our dear Filipino students to continue their education. And with the launch of the OLFU Smart Online store, we will enable hundreds of students and teachers alike in the member schools of the Our Lady of Fatima University system with the best products that Smart can offer to support their digital learning wherever they are - so that no learner is left behind,” said Al Panlilio, PLDT Inc. and Smart Communications President and CEO.

PLDT Enterprise has been a longstanding partner of the University in delivering digital solutions according to their requirements. Over the years, PLDT Enterprise has provided OLFU with end-to-end connectivity and data services including MPLS, trunk lines, Enterprise Broadband, iGate lines, and Smart Bizload.

“We would like to thank Our Lady of Fatima University for trusting us for the Smart Online Store project and we aim that through this partnership, we would enable them to maximize their digital capabilities,” said Jovy Hernandez, ePLDT President, and CEO; SVP and Head for PLDT and Smart Enterprise Business Groups. “We at PLDT Enterprise are committed to helping OLFU with technology services that will bolster their education efforts and at the same time improve the online learning experiences of its students nationwide.”

The group-wide push for supporting education underscores the commitment of PLDT and Smart to help the Philippines attain the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UNSDGs), particularly SDG #4: Quality Education as a foundation in improving people’s lives and obtaining sustainable development.

Jane Basas, SVP and Head of Consumer Wireless Business at Smart, said "the COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted how students learn. And Smart has responded to the disruption by rolling out innovative solutions and services that enable students to adapt to and thrive in the new normal for education. Smart continues to encourage the youth to live the Giga Life and bring a sense of purpose into their day-to-day activities so they can live smarter and help build a better world.”

For more information, please visit pldtenterprise.com

Whang Od Academy of Nas Daily is a scam

Wazzup Pilipinas!?

Online content creator Nuseir Yassin, who maintains the Facebook page Nas Daily, has taken down the online course featuring tattoo master Apo Whang-Od after her grandniece called it out for being a “scam.”

Grace Palicas—Whang Od’s grandniece and protegée—is warning people away from signing up to the course, calling the Whang Od Academy “a scam”. 

The moment Nas Daily posted about the “Tattoo Course” I knew it was impossible. How can someone teach an indigenous tattooing “course” by only visiting a village for days? Hindi lang simpleng body art ang tattoo for them. 750 pesos for what? 

The Cordillerans have already experienced enough abuse under repressive state mechanisms. Clearly, Nas Daily's attempt to capitalize Whang-od's craftsmanship obscures the Cordilleran people's quest for self-determination! 

The Cordillerans are not commodities, they are people! 

Not Nas Daily being cancelled in the Philiipines in just a matter of 1 minute. Okay then, see you tomorrow.

Nas daily, one-handedly, and inappropriately, took a piece of our culture, then sell it to us for ₱750? that has to be the worst, downgrading cultural insult I've ran into. 

We should tell this guy to leave the Filipinos alone. Was he not satisfied with Pinoy baiting, so lemme gentrify and exploit their art and culture, too? He's been milking 3rd world countries for poverty porn since day one. Is Nas Daily a scam and does it deserve our attention? Nas daily has been problematic ever since, not to mention how he supports the Philippine Government.

I mean, just the idea of the 'tattoo academy' for Php750 is already fishy and kinda disrespectful to the culture. 

I Can’t wait for Nas Daily ’s official statement. Trying my best to withhold judgement for now.

But isn’t “exploiting our culture” a bit too defamatory though? Who isn’t exploiting anything to earn money? Is it because he’s a foreigner? I really don’t know where this hate towards him is coming from.

Don't be too quick to cast your judgements. It is vital to hear  both sides so that we are able to see the whole picture, which helps us to find the root cause of the problem and discover a solution that takes the needs and feelings of everyone involved into consideration.

Even if he has reason, Filipinos should stop supporting him too much. His NasAcademy is kinda problematic. It has many issues. He will repeat this again and again.

He’s been Pinoy-baiting for far too long. The guy is literally trying to profit off deceiving an indigenous woman and our culture. He already did that to another Southeast Asian countries. Now he did it again.

I used to be one of the fans of Nas daily, but when I heard the news about him using our cultures just to make money. I came to think that unfollowing is the best solution.

"hear the other side first"

Kinumpirma ng kamag-anak ni Whang Od that she wasn't informed about this. The entire thing is a scam. There is no justifying his actions.

Sure, the government should intervene. But I strongly doubt the current one would intervene. This administration is likewise a scam. I'm doubting that the government will intervene because the tourism department of the Phillippines is also sponsoring him. 

The now-deleted online Nas Daily course appeared to have attempted to instruct subscribers in Apo Whang-Od's methods.

Social media is pop culture and Nas Daily has been exploiting it. In many countries, pop culture is not exactly the most popular because they have sports, arts, literature. In the Philippines, where even petty issues among actors will be trending, then it's not surprising at all.

Nas Daily go to hell challenge. He's the epitome of the cringey and harmful #goodvibesonly culture that people love to eat up.

Please spread this. Nas Daily has been exploiting my country’s culture for years. He even gave light and voice to a homophobic senator who wants to be a president. Foreign content creators, stop using my country’s culture for views and exploitation.

Filipinos are thirsty for global validation, of course Nas daily took advantage of that.

How do we avoid getting Pinoy baited by the next Nas Daily that comes along? 

For starters watch more regional films by regional filmmakers.

I hope the international media picks up Nas Daily / Nas Academy issue with Whang Od.

Subjugation should never be tolerated, Nas Daily is just proving that colonisation still exists and we Filipinos still don't know what to do.

Honestly, NasDaily making content in the Philippines by exploiting the people in it is not new. Irresponsible from the start.

Not only Phllipines content, Thailand and other countries content are also like this. And the way he encoraged people that they don’t need to graduate or get a diploma saying it is not that important while he graduated from Harvard is so hypocrite.

It's clearly begpacking and Filipino baiting.

Exoticism tawag dyan. Branding places with indigenous and unique cultures as "exotic"

As what’s long been clear about foreign content creators, they like to sate Filipinos’ thirst for int’l validation while getting lots of money from it. At this time, this Nas Daily goes after our indigenous culture, & we mustn’t let them exploit it. Let’s protect Whang-od.

So quick to take down the course and posts re Apo Whang Od Academy but where is your public apology, Nas Daily? 

Pnoy legacy lives on with Commemorative Stamps

Wazzup Pilipinas!?

The Philippine Postal Corporation (Post Office) unveiled the Commemorative Stamp to pay tribute to the late former President Benigno Simeon “Noynoy” Aquino III held at the iconic Manila Central Post Office Building on August 02.

This occasion also marks PNoy’s 40 days while coincidentally, was yesterday’s death anniversary of his mother, former President Corazon Aquino.

Postmaster General Norman “Mr. Postman” Fulgencio thank the family of the late President headed by Ms. Ballsy Aquino-Cruz for allowing to proceed with this special program to honor their brother. Ms. Deedee Siytangco, former spokeswoman of Pres. Corazon Aquino, was helpful in coordinating the intention of the family.

Presidential Communications Secretary Martin Andanar said that the launching of the Philippine Postal Corporation’s official “Pnoy Stamp” is to pay tribute and celebrate the legacy of public service he (Pnoy) had imparted to each one of us.

He added, It is also noteworthy tor remember how Pnoy fought for and promoted our democratic foundations of liberty, sovereignty and justice which the Duterte Administration shares and continues to uphold.

Although the Aquino sisters were not present during the launching ceremony for health reasons and the threat of the virus, they requested their cousin Mayor Len Len Oreta of Malabon City to represent the Aquino family.

”We are thankful to the Post Office for paying tribute to President Pnoy”, Malabon City Mayor LenLen Oreta said.

Ms. Ballsy Aquino-Cruz, one of the Aquino sisters sent a video message thanking the Post Office for recognizing his services and contributions to the country. The Aquino family is deeply honored for this recognition”, she said.

Postmaster General Fulgencio said that it is the mandate of the Post Office to immortalize and pay tribute to former Presidents, who in one way or another have served and contributed to the development of the country.

He added, The Postage Stamps we issue symbolize unity, respect, love of the country and concern for one another regardless of color, race or creed. When a former president passes away, we set aside politics and the whole country mourns.”