At a classroom in the Philippine National School for the Blind, lessons recently went beyond academics and focused on something more immediate: staying safe online.

In March, PLDT and Smart Communications, Inc., together with Adaptive Technology for Rehabilitation, Integration and Empowerment of the Visually Impaired, held a three-day cyber safety workshop for visually impaired women and girls. The activity was part of their International Women’s Month initiatives.

A total of 25 participants—17 students and 8 teachers—took part in sessions covering common online risks such as phishing, scams, impersonation, and harassment. The workshop also included practical steps on protecting personal data, managing app permissions, and basic “cyber hygiene.”

“Madali po siyang maintindihan,” said Grade 12 student Rea Mae Baclle. She said she learned how to better secure her accounts and plans to be more careful about what she shares online, including using authentication tools to prevent unauthorized access.

For Grade 9 student Yhanna Corde, the topic was personal. “Importante po na maging safe tayo kahit online,” she said, noting that risks don’t only exist offline. Having experienced online harassment herself, she said she now feels more prepared to respond. “Hindi ko na po siya i-ignore. Ire-report ko na po at ipapaalam sa mga nakatatanda.”

A sari-sari store owner from Valencia, Negros Oriental recently got a big surprise after winning a brand-new motorcycle through Smart Communications’s Ka-Partner Rewards program.

Shirley Sabanal Din, 44, has been working as a load retailer for over two decades. Winning the motorcycle wasn’t something she expected, but it turned out to be a huge help for both her family and her small business.

She said they plan to use it for everyday errands, including taking their child to school. For her, it’s more than just a prize—it’s something they can actually rely on day to day. She also thanked Smart and the Ka-Partner App for the support and benefits they’ve been providing to retailers like her.

The Ka-Partner App is designed for Smart’s load retailers, making it easier for them to manage sales. It also rewards users with points whenever they sell load, which they can exchange for things like free SMS, airtime, wallet credits, or raffle entries.

According to Ed Tinio, who leads regional customer development for Visayas at Smart, the program is meant to give back to their partner retailers. He said these retailers play a big role in helping Smart reach more customers across the country.

The Ka-Partner Rewards program has been around for more than 10 years and continues to support small retailers by offering incentives and tools that can help improve their income. It’s also part of the broader efforts of PLDT to support goals like reducing poverty and promoting better work opportunities.

Holy Week is starting to feel less like just a quiet, reflective break and more like one of the busiest travel seasons of the year for Filipinos.

More people are taking advantage of the long holiday to go on proper vacations—and not just within the country. According to Trip.com, international travel bookings for Holy Week this year jumped by about 50% compared to last year. That’s a pretty big leap, and it shows how much interest there is now in going overseas, especially to nearby Asian destinations.Still, local travel isn’t going anywhere. A lot of Filipinos are continuing to explore places within the Philippines, and that side of travel remains strong during the holiday.

COMCO Mundo League of Enterprises is marking its 10th anniversary with the launch of a new unit, SEA Wave & Spice, as part of its year-long Decada de COMCO celebration.

The new agency and studio focuses on content, digital, events, and talent work, bringing these together into one setup for brands that need to manage multiple platforms at once. The idea is simple: keep the story consistent, whether it shows up on social media, at events, or through creators.

At the top level, toughness isn’t about noise. It’s about staying steady when things start to slip.

This Women’s Month, three Filipina athletes supported by Smart Sports competing in badminton, golf, and volleyball offer a clear picture of how that toughness is formed and sustained.

For golfer Sam Bruce, badminton player Mika De Guzman, and volleyball standout Shaina Nitura, that shows up in different ways. They compete in different sports, but the mindset is similar: stay disciplined, don’t rush, and deal with what’s in front of you.

 

 

MIKA DE GUZMAN: STAYING CONSISTENT

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In badminton, matches can turn quickly. For Mika, consistency is what keeps her in control.

“A lot of people think badminton is easy,” she says. “They don’t see how demanding it really is.”

After years of competition, she’s learned to rely less on force and more on stability. When the pressure builds, she keeps it simple—focus on the next point, not the score.

 

 

SAM BRUCE: MANAGING THE LONG GAME

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Golf is slower, but the pressure lasts longer. Sam Bruce knows that one bad shot can stay with you if you let it.

She’s known for her distance, but what matters more is how she responds. “If something doesn’t go my way, it’s okay. What’s next?” she says.

Balancing competitive golf with a degree in computer science taught her how to manage time and priorities. Now, it’s about routine. Stick to it, reset, move on.

 

 

SHAINA NITURA: RESPONDING FAST

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Volleyball doesn’t give you much time to think. For Shaina Nitura, growth came from being tested early.

“I used to get targeted a lot,” she says. “So I worked on it—and proved I could handle it.”

For her, the hardest part is internal. When things go wrong, she resets quickly—then plays the next ball. That approach helped her put up record numbers in her rookie season.

 

 

WHAT THEY SHARE

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Different sports, same pattern. Discipline over flash. Control over reaction. Do the work, trust it, repeat.

Support from programs like Smart Sports and Puso Pilipinas helps, but the day-to-day is still on them.

“Supporting athletes like Sam, Mika, and Shaina is about more than winning medals,” says Jude Turcuato, FVP at Smart Communications, Inc. and Head of Smart Sports. “It’s about building an environment where Filipina athletes can train, compete, and grow with confidence.”

 

 

WHAT THEY PASS ON

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Mika keeps it simple: “You don’t have to be loud to be strong.”

Sam pushes for bigger goals: “Don’t limit yourself.”

Shaina puts it plainly: “It’s easy to quit. So don’t.”

That’s really it—no shortcuts, just showing up and doing the work, even when it’s hard.