By Perfecto T. Raymundo, Jr.
QUEZON CITY — Globe Telecoms, Inc. (Globe) on Thursday (Jan. 25) launched Senior Digizen at SM North Sky Dome in North Avenue, Bago Bantay for the benefit of senior citizens in the city.
With the theme: Atin Ang Mundo (The World is Ours), participating in the event were GCash, konsultaMD, Google, SMAC, SM Cares, SM North EDSA, ideal vision Manila Hearing Aid, viu, 0917, National Commission of Senior Citizens (NCSC), United Seniors Party-List, Kroma Entertsinment among others.
SMAC or SM Advantage Card is the no. 1 rewards points card in the country for the past 20 years now.
KonsultaMD, via cellphone and Internet and through konsultaMD app, offers a 24/7 pharmacy nationwide with 20 percent senior citizen discount and 20 percent discount for PWD (Person with Disability).
It also offers mental health support and at-home lab test, as well as diagnostics and home care with partner providers in the area.
SM Cares expressed optimism that senior citizens coming out from the event will become Senior Digizens and Super Grannies.
Ernest Cu, Globe Group President and CEO, delivered a heartfelt video message to the seniors, citing that GCash provided solutions to their needs.
Liza Reyes, Globe PR and Communication Strategy Head, acknowledged the various partners of Globe, volunteers and the media for their support in the launching of the Senior Digizen.
Reyes stressed that the senior citizens will be educated on digital skills, use of Smartphone, to create an account for GCash for their financial needs.
She said that konsultaMD is also present and ready to provide the health needs of the senior citizens.
A video presentation showed how senior citizens were trained and they themselves learned how to use GCash online for more earnings.
The senior citizens shouted that they are ready to go digital.
They were also taught on the proper use of Smartphone through the so-called “Smartphone 101”.
Generation Alpha were those born from 2010 to present, Gen Z (Zoomers) were born from 1995 to 2009, among others.
Essential evolutions throughout the years such as in transportation, food, communication and entertainment which vary from one generation to another.
The apps in the Smartphone have simplified these transactions online.
The senior citizens were likewise taught on how to download and install apps online.
Steve Jobs is the Father of Digital Revolution.
“A lot of times, people don’t know what they want until you show it to them,” Jobs was quoted as saying.
United Seniors Party-List Rep. Milagros Aquino Magsaysay was also present during the launching.
It was highlighted that Gmail is one of the largest email apps in the world wherein there are two million subscribers in the Philippines.
The senior citizens were educated that through Gmail they will have the advantage of Information, communication and security where the messages were encrypted so that other people would not be able to read or access them.
They were advised that a spam is nothing but a series of email with advertisements and phishing is an email that has links which steal personal information.
Rep. Magsaysay expressed her profound gratitude to Globe for their launching of the Senior Digizen for the senior citizens of Quezon City.
She stressed that the importance of digital technology, particularly in senior citizens who are oftentimes victims of online scams, is that they are now educated on digital literacy that would help improve their progress and development.
She commended Globe and the local government of Quezon City for undertaking the program which would contribute to country’s development and nation building.
GlobeOne app wherein bills can be settled 24/7 not only for Globe bills, but other billers, loans, insurance and government fees, there is SIM Card registration, rewards points program, and promos.
In GlobeOne app, there can be up to 10 multiple accounts in one app.
Mayor Joy Belmonte, in a message read for her by Quezon City Second District Action Man Councilor Ollie Belmonte, thanked Globe for providing help and support to the senior citizens of Quezon City in making them knowledgeable of digital skills in improving their lives.
In learning sessions provided by Globe, Belmonte noted that senior citizens will have easy access on online payment of fees, business and other taxes online on GCash.
The Quezon City chief executive expressed the hope that there will be further partnership and cooperation with Globe so that more and more senior QCitizens will become Senior Digizens. NCSC Chairperson Atty. Franklin Quijano thanked Globe and SM for gathering the senior citizens today and making them acquire digital literacy.
Quijano noted that senior citizens must be aware of the laws, especially the Expanded Senior Citizen Law.
The “Baby Boomers” or 80 years old and above, Quijano said, should be digitally knowledgeable and literate.
The NCSC Chairperson stressed that by Monday (Jan. 29), there will be four million Filipino senior citizens.
