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#MakeITSafePH: Globe, UNICEF, IWF highlight need for cooperation to protect children vs online abuse, sexual exploitation

February 8, 2022 5:36 p.m.

It takes a village to raise a child, but it takes even more to protect them. In a webinar marking World Safer Internet Day, Globe vowed to continue efforts to provide a platform for collaboration among key stakeholders to fight Online Sexual Abuse and Exploitation of Children (OSAEC).

The event was made open to the public via live streaming on Globe’s Bridging Communities Facebook page and was anchored on the digital solutions group’s #MakeITSafePH campaign, geared towards online safety and protection.

Together with partners from UNICEF Philippines and the SaferKidsPH Consortium, Internet Watch Foundation (IWF), CitizenWatch, and Bantay Konsyumer, Kalsada, Kuryente (BK3), Globe highlighted the importance of holistic cooperation among the public and private sectors, international and civil society organizations, and digital citizens in fighting online abuse and child sexual exploitation.

“As a digital solutions group, Globe recognizes the need for children to be safe online. We celebrate Safer Internet Day today with the intention of raising awareness and educating consumers about the continued rise of OSAEC in the Philippines, and what we can do to protect our children from further risks of online violence and exploitation,” said Yoly Crisanto, Globe Chief Sustainability Officer and SVP for Corporate Communications.

She cited how Globe has invested more than $2.7 million for content filtering systems that block websites and online imagery that promote child pornography and piracy.

“There is an urgent need to address online sexual abuse and exploitation of children, especially with the growing digital landscape,” said UNICEF Child Protection Officer Ramil Anton Villafranca.

He added, “We saw an alarming trend even before the pandemic that led to abuse which was further exacerbated by economic hardships during the pandemic.  As a community, we need to create better opportunities that will enable our children and their families, without exposing them to the risks of abuse and exploitation.”

Emma Hardy, Communications Director of the Internet Watch Foundation (IWF) presented recent data from their 2020 report that found a dramatic 77% increase in the amount of “self-generated” abuse material as more children, and more criminals, spend longer online.

According to a study by the US-based National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC), the Philippines is among the world’s top producers of content involving child sexual abuse. 

Reports of online child exploitation have also risen during the pandemic, as struggling families resorted to producing illicit content using children to earn money quickly to make ends meet.

In the panel discussion, Atty. Tim Abejo of CitizenWatch highlighted how there are already existing laws that can help protect children exposed to the dangers of OSAEC, such as Republic Act (RA) 9775 otherwise known as the Anti-Child Pornography Act of 2009, RA 10364 the Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act of 2003, RA 10175 the Cybercrime Preventions Act of 2012, and RA 7610 the Special Protection of Children Against Abuse, Exploitation and Discrimination Act, more commonly known as the “Child Abuse Law.”

However, he also pointed out that these existing laws have several overlaps that could also be interpreted as contradicting, which could make pursuing a case more difficult.

Meanwhile, Professor Louie Montemar of BK3 talked about how the negative effects of OSAEC can stay with a child even beyond the years that they were exposed to these dangerous acts, as it can severely affect a child’s mental and physical well-being. 

“Stopping OSAEC is everybody’s fight. As a staunch advocate for Internet safety, Globe has been working closely with government and key stakeholders to protect our children from sexual abuse online for several years,” said Globe Data Protection Officer Irish Salandanan-Almeida.

She added, “The only way for us to truly win this fight, is by working together across sectors and recognizing how we as individuals can play a part in preventing further cases of OSAEC in the Philippines.”

Globe strongly supports the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, particularly UN SDG No. 9 which highlights the roles of infrastructure and innovation as crucial drivers of economic growth and development, and UN SDG 17 which highlights the value of partnerships to achieving the sustainable development goals. Globe is committed to upholding the United Nations Global Compact principles and 10 UN SDGs.

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Paolo and Miguel from Ben&Ben join Toyota Motor Asia’s ‘Move Your World Beat’ Campaign, bringing Filipino Music to a regional stage

9:46 p.m. September 13, 2026

Twin brothers Paolo Benjamin and Miguel Benjamin from Filipino indie folk-pop band Ben&Ben are bringing Filipino creativity to the regional spotlight as part of Toyota Motor Asia’s Move Your World Beat, a new culture initiative developed with creative partner VIRTUE Asia.

Through the campaign, the duo joins artists from across Asia in transforming everyday Toyota vehicle sounds into original musical compositions that celebrate creativity, collaboration, and cultural expression.

The campaign brings together established and emerging artists from across Asia to collaborate, experiment, and inspire the next generation to express their cultures through contemporary sound. The initiative also serves as an ongoing platform where Toyota empowers Asia’s creators to tell stories through music while celebrating both cultural heritage and innovation.

“At its heart, Move Your World is about Toyota’s commitment to the communities in Asia – the freedom to move, and the thrill and joy of moving forward together. With Move Your World Beat, we bring that same spirit to music, a universal language that unites our communities and moves us all a little closer,” shared Jaja Ishibashi, General Manager of Toyota Motor Asia. “By supporting creators and bringing different voices together, we hope to inspire new forms of expression and show that when we move together, we can create something greater than any one of us could achieve alone.”

As the Philippine representatives, Paolo and Miguel join a regional lineup of creators which includes Malaysia’s Belle Sisoski, Pakistan’s Natasha Noorani, Singapore’s Shye, Thailand’s Valentina Ploy, and Vietnam’s 2pillz. Launched through a TikTok-led creator programme, each artist will produce an original track using the sounds of a Toyota such as subtle clicks and ambient hums to engineered tones and reimagine them through their own distinct musical style.

By transforming the functional sounds of a vehicle into creative expression, the campaign highlights the idea that movement is not only physical, but also cultural and emotional. Each composition reflects the artist’s unique musical identity while contributing to a broader body of work that celebrates Asia’s diversity through a shared creative language.

The campaign will culminate later this year with the release of a regional collective beat, bringing together the musical contributions of artists from six countries into a single collaborative work that resonates across Asia.

Beyond this year’s rollout, Move Your World Beat is intended to continue as an ongoing platform, with each participating artist’s content contributing to future collaborations that celebrate creativity, community, and cultural exchange across the region.

For more information, follow Toyota Motor Philippines on FacebookInstagram and X, and join the ToyotaPH community on Viber.

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Grab boosts ride safety for teens with ‘Grab for Family’ Feature

12:22 p.m. September 8, 2026

Grab Philippines is giving Filipino teens greater independence while helping parents stay connected to their journeys with the introduction of Grab for Family.

The feature enables teenagers aged 13–17 to book rides independently, while giving parents and guardians real-time visibility into their journeys and added safety controls throughout the trip.

The growing use of Grab Family Accounts among Filipino households points to the increasing role of shared mobility in everyday family life, with sign-ups more than doubling over the past year. Once onboarded, family members take about 70% more rides in their first month – underscoring the importance of shared access in making everyday mobility more convenient and more efficient for everyone under one roof.

With Grab for Family, parents no longer have to choose between giving their teenagers greater freedom and staying informed about their journeys. Once a teen is linked to a Family Account, parents can receive real-time trip updates, follow rides on a live map, communicate with the teen and driver, and access additional safety tools throughout the trip.

“Safety and peace of mind have always been important to how we serve families on Grab. We’re continuing to build on that by making it easier for parents to stay informed about their teens’ journeys, while giving teenagers the support and confidence to move around more independently,” said Grab Philippines Head of Mobility CJ Lacsican.

Keeping parents connected without getting in the way

At the core of Grab for Family is real-time visibility. Through Live Ride Tracking, Trip Monitoring and automated trip notifications, parents can stay informed without having to repeatedly call or message their teens during a ride.

Parents receive updates at key points of the journey, including when a driver is assigned, vehicle details are available, the passenger is picked up, the destination is reached and the trip is completed. A live map also allows parents to follow the ride as it happens.

The monitoring experience is designed to provide added visibility when a journey does not go as expected. Parents can be alerted about unexpected stops or route deviations, while the platform can also check in with the passenger through in-app prompts to help confirm that they are safe.

Built-in safeguards from pickup to drop-off

 

 

 

 

 

 

“As a Grab driver-partner and a mother myself, I understand how important it is for parents to feel assured that their children are safe whenever they use ride-hailing services,” said Lisza Buscaino-Redulla, President of the United Transportation Coalition Philippines, Inc. “Many families rely on platforms like Grab for the daily commutes of their teenage children, which is why we welcome the introduction of the Family Account as an important step toward giving parents assurance that their children get to wherever they need to be safely.”

More information on Grab for Family is available through the Grab app and official website.

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DigiPlus earns 3 honors at 22nd Philippine Quill Awards

11:10 a.m. September 6, 2026

DigiPlus Interactive Corp., the country’s leading digital entertainment provider behind BingoPlus, ArenaPlus, and GameZone, earned three Awards of Excellence at the recently concluded 22nd Philippine Quill Awards for communication initiatives spanning business growth storytelling, integrated financial and sustainability reporting, and responsible gaming advocacy.

Organized by the International Association of Business Communicators (IABC) Philippines, the Philippine Quill Awards is one of the country’s most prestigious recognition programs for business communication, honoring organizations and professionals whose work demonstrates strategic thinking, creativity, and impact.

DigiPlus received Awards of Excellence across three categories, namely Audio/Visual, Publications, and Social Media, reflecting the company’s continued commitment to purposeful and engaging communication with its stakeholders.

In the Audio/Visual category, DigiPlus’ Dating Gawi: A Celebration of Trusted and Timeless Digital Entertainment for Filipinos earned an Award of Excellence. Developed amid significant changes in the Philippine online gaming industry, the emotionally resonant short film drew on nostalgia, trust, and continuity to reassure audiences that safe, seamless, and regulated entertainment remained accessible through DigiPlus’ official platforms. Centered on the familiar invitation, “Oh ano, dating gawi?”, the campaign generated nearly 7.9 million views.

The DigiPlus 2024 Integrated Report: “Reimagining Fun, the Filipino Way,” received an Award of Excellence in the Publications category. Anchored on global reporting frameworks, the report brought together DigiPlus’ record performance, sustainability priorities, responsible gaming leadership, and climate risk assessment into a clear and engaging stakeholder narrative. Inspired by Filipino carnival classics, the report transformed corporate disclosure into a distinctly DigiPlus publication that reflects the company’s drive for innovation, Filipino identity, and commitment to responsible growth.

Another Award of Excellence recipient is DigiPlus’ entry in the Social Media category, “Ang Gaming, Dapat Fun-Fun Lang!” Responsible Gaming Campaign. The year-long social media campaign used entertaining and relatable content, including scenario skits, ambassador videos, reminders, instructional materials, and creator partnerships, to educate players and the broader public about responsible gaming and the importance of choosing regulated platforms. The campaign generated 7.3 million combined views across DigiPlus-owned and creator channels, reinforcing the company’s commitment to advancing responsible gaming in the industry.

“These recognitions affirm the important role of communication in building trust and strengthening our relationships with our stakeholders,” said DigiPlus President Ping Chen. “As DigiPlus continues to grow and evolve, we remain committed to communicating with transparency and purpose while using our platforms to promote responsible and meaningful entertainment.”

DigiPlus’ three Awards of Excellence at the 22nd Philippine Quill Awards underscore the company’s continuing efforts to use strategic communication to strengthen stakeholder engagement, champion responsible entertainment, and tell the story of its growth and transformation.

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