On March 23, 2012, Globe Telecom launched their $700 million system transformation in Davao City. This translates to better mobile services along with a better customer service experience. The entire system transformation is is anchored on the tagline “A Bigger Globe for a Bigger YOU!”
And the first roll-out for this new system is in… DAVAO CITY!
In order to test the system, 21 bloggers and members of local and national media organizations were chosen to participate in a race around Davao City. Together with the Department of Tourism and AirPhil Express, Globe Telecom showcased their amplified services in a unique adventure around Davao City.
I was chosen and grouped together with Alex Villafania of loqal.ph and Giovanni Flaviano of the People’s Forum. We were Team GCash Remit Purple and I was the team’s designated navigator. As navigator, I had to perform tasks and challenges separate from my team. Upon completion of my task, I’d inform my teammates where their next task is.
Armed with an iPhone 4S and the Globe network, I raced around Davao City along with other navigators. I had to run through Aldevinco Shopping Center to find a labeled scarf, take pictures at San Pedro Cathedral, eat durian, mangosteen, and pomelo, solve an AirPhil jigsaw puzzle, and ride a zipline. For most pit stops, we had to check in to Foursquare, explore Facebook, or send messages through Twitter. All the while, photographers and video camera crews captured the moments.
For most of the tasks, I was either second place or first. Unfortunately, I wasn’t able to conquer my fear of heights. And there are photos and video clips of me having a very embarrassing break down. Lelz! I was the only navigator to not have finished any task and I got a penalty. 🙁
But we were still lucky enough to be the third team to step on the mat together. Hooray for Alex, Giovanni, and I! Kudos to my teammates who even chartered their own boat from Samal to Waterfront Insular Hotel Davao just so we could win. 🙂
The Top Two Teams were:
Team Tattoo@Home
Leah de Castro of www.davaobase.com — Navigator
Tom Noda of Philippine Star Online
Jesse Pizarro Boga of Mindanao Times
Team Go Lang Nang Go – Blue
Glenn Ong of www.glennong.com — Navigator
Emmie Abadilla of Manila Bulletin
Jon Joaquin of Mindanao Daily Mirror
My team also won special prizes from AirPhil Express for getting the most re-tweets for a task done by Alex and Giovanni. 🙂 Plus I got another extra prize from them coz I was fastest in making the AirPhil Express puzzle. The rest of the participating teams didn’t go empty-handed coz they got consolations prizes, as well.
It was a fun experience going around Davao, uploading stuff and updating our social networks. It was testament to how reliable mobile services can definitely make a big difference in accomplishing tasks and overcoming challenges. Plus, I got to share my experiences in real time via my social networks. Yeah, I get to bug everybody more easily now. Haha!
Thank you to Globe Telecom for choosing Davao to be the first to experience the changes brought about by their system transformation! 😉