MANILA, PHILIPPINES — Bataan is historically known as one of the provinces last conquered by the Japanese during World War II. The infamous “Death March” that claimed the lives of more than 10,000 Filipino and American soldiers also took place here. But apart from being the cradle of heroes, Bataan is also one of the remaining places considered home to the indigenous Aeta.
In Sitio Pastolan, a mountainous area in Hermosa, the local community of Aetas faces a difficult battle of their own. One of them is 45-year old Tina Santos. After marrying young and raising five children, Tina’s dream is to finish schooling. She is currently a Grade 5 student.
But when the pandemic struck, Tina feared that she might not be able to graduate. She has no gadget to use for online classes being implemented nationwide. There was also poor internet connection in their area.
“Bilang katutubong Aeta pangarap ko pong makapagtapos ng pag-aaral. Handa naman po akong pag-aralan yang online at internet na yan. Marami po kasing matatanda rin dito na gustong makatapos ng pag-aaral,” she said.
Tina’s predicament, particularly the slow internet connection, is also shared by educators in Hermosa. Hermosa Elementary School Principal Vilma Gonzales explained that although learning modules are available for students to bring home to study, online interactions with instructors are still important. “Actually kahit modular distance learning yung system of education na ginagawa po namin mas preferred po nila yung online kaya lang due to unavailability of access ng internet ay imposible po para sa kanila kaya nahihirapan ang mga magulang para tulungan ang kanilang mga anak.”
Hermosa Mayor Antonio Joseph Inton has consistently advocated for accessible education for everyone through online learning. The program ensured the same quality of education for all residents.
As teaching instruction moved to the digital space, the reliance of both educators and learners on stable internet connection increased. Thus, as part of Globe’s commitment to bring connectivity to everyone, cell towers in Bataan and nearby provinces were upgraded to carry the faster and more reliable 4G LTE network.
Now, Globe subscribers in the province have access to improved internet speeds for a better e-learning experience. Through the town’s support, members of the Aeta communities in the upland also received upgraded 4G-enabled gadgets to experience the same service as everyone else.
Now, Tina is more encouraged to pursue her dreams, “Salamat po sa 4G, mapapanuod na namin ‘yung mga kailangan naming matutunan. Kahit papaano alam na namin kung ano ‘yung pinag-aaralan sa baba sa bayan. Ngayong meron na akong gadget at malakas ang internet signal, makakapagtapos na ako ng pag-aaral.”
“Every Filipino must be free to pursue their dreams, and education is one of the most basic human rights. At Globe, we are driven by the purpose of creating a Globe of good in everything we do. These are advocacies we value and work hard towards providing for everyone as we expand and upgrade our network,” shared Joel Agustin, Globe Senior Vice President for Program Delivery, Network Technical Group.
With the growing number of Globe cell towers in the country being upgraded, customers still using 3G SIM cards are encouraged to change to the 5G-ready 4G LTE SIMs to take advantage of these improved services fully. Customers are assured that their mobile numbers will be retained when they switch to the new mobile data standard. If quarantine protocols in their respective areas allow, customers can go to the nearest Globe Store to change their SIM cards for FREE.
For more information, log on to https://www.globe.com.ph/help/mobile-internet/lte/faqs.html.
Customers are also encouraged to update their mobile devices to 4G LTE-capable ones for a better experience. Interested customers can inquire at Globe stores nationwide for affordable 5G-ready 4G/LTE capable mobile devices.
Globe strongly supports the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, particularly UN SDG No. 4 on the provision of quality education and UN SDG No. 9, highlighting the roles of infrastructure and innovation as crucial drivers of economic growth and development. The company also champions the 10 UN Global Compact principles and contributes to 10 UN Sustainable Development Goals.
