Globe Brings Learning, Music and Inspiration to Students in Cagayan Province

Cagayan province is home to over 3.66 million people, with youth aged 15 to 24 accounting for nearly one-fifth of its population. Internet use is widespread, with three out of four residents aged 10 and above already online. Yet, many continue to face barriers in accessing and maximizing digital tools in ways that are safe, responsible, and creative.

To help bridge these gaps, Globe launched a series of engagements that gathered more than 750 students across the region, providing lessons on digital citizenship, leadership, and creative expression.

Building on this effort, Globe organized a three-day program in partnership with three institutions. The sessions combined digital literacy modules, leadership workshops, and creative platforms designed to nurture future-ready communities in Cagayan province.

Investing in the Next Generation

Globe’s programs in Cagayan province reaffirm its commitment to prepare young Filipinos for the future by strengthening their digital skills, leadership abilities, and creative platforms for self-expression.

“As we saw in Cagayan province, young Filipinos are already shaping their own futures with technology, leadership, and creativity. At Globe, we see the youth not just as future leaders but as leaders of today. Our role is to stand beside them as they build a better tomorrow for their communities and the nation,” said Raymond Mancilla, Territory Business Head.

A Generation of Innovation, Leadership, and Community

In Cagayan, Globe’s Digital Thumbprint Program (DTP) is empowering students to be not just digital natives but active changemakers. At Peñablanca National High School, 250 students joined DTP sessions on responsible digital citizenship. Instead of passively waiting to learn, they shared the advanced AI tools they already use in their studies, such as Nomunity, Study Talk, Perplexity, Blackbox AI, and Scholar.ai — proof of their openness to innovation and their ability to find new ways to learn.

At Cagayan State University, more than 350 student leaders gathered to explore how leadership can be rooted in everyday actions that shape their peers and communities. Through DTP and complementary workshops on inclusivity, responsibility, and student voice, participants were encouraged to see themselves as active drivers of change.

The program culminated in the TM Fun Music concert, which brought together over 2,500 students from the CSU Andrews and Carig campuses. Performances by Amiel Sol, student artists, and local talents transformed the event into a celebration of creativity and community spirit.

“We sincerely thank our partners at Globe for sharing their time, efforts, and resources with the students of Cagayan State University Andrews Campus. Through the Digital Thumbprint Program, we were reminded of the importance of using technology responsibly, while the concert gave us a chance to celebrate and come together as one community. These activities brought both learning and joy, leaving a lasting impact on us as more informed, connected, and inspired individuals,” said Kyle Aron Tan, CSU Student Regent and Andrews Campus Student Council President.

Beyond the Skills

For the 150 medical student leaders at the Medical Colleges of Northern Philippines, DTP offered more than lessons on digital responsibility. It became a reminder that in healthcare, leadership is not measured only by knowledge but also by empathy, ethics, and accountability. “The seminar was an eye-opening experience for all the student leaders, making them realize the importance of being responsible digital citizens in today’s fast-changing online world. I believe that each of us gained practical knowledge on how to protect our identity online, secure our personal information, and be more critical when encountering content on social media especially with the rise of fake news and misinformation,” said MSNP-ISAP Student Activities Coordinator, James Vidad.

From classrooms to concert stages and from leadership workshops to personal journeys, Globe’s work in Cagayan province highlights one truth. The brilliance of Filipino youth is the country’s greatest harvest. By nurturing their potential, Globe is helping shape a generation of leaders, creators, and changemakers who will carry the promise of a brighter future.

For more information about Globe, visit https://www.globe.com.ph/.

US NCAA Division I Coaches zero in on young talent at DreamBig Gold Tennis Camp

Manila, Philippines – Junior tennis players who joined the DreamBig Gold Series Tennis Camp at Manila Polo Club, Makati on January 11 and 12, 2020 caught the eye of U.S. NCAA Division I coaches.  

Ezequiel Gils of Rice University, Rob Raines of Cornell University and Jesse Frieder from Boston University were more than pleasantly surprised by the Philippine tennis landscape when they watched the tennis players participate in the extremely intensive tennis training camp.

Twenty young tennis players were given the rare opportunity to be trained by the Division I Tennis coaches and underwent extensive, hands-on training that gave them an insight on of how US colleges run their athletic programs.

“Talent is everywhere. I’ve seen a lot of players who can play at a really high level if they just commit to spending time on the court and practicing. I can’t believe I’ve been missing out on the Philippines in terms of tennis. It’s a place a lot of coaches are missing out on and it’s certainly a place that I’ll keep in mind as I’m recruiting,” added Cornell University Coach Rob Raines.

The coaches were impressed with the campers and their eagerness to learn, with Boston U coach, Jesse Frieder specifically praising the student-athletes for their coachability. “The players here are very coachable, which leads me to believe that if they to end up in any of our teams, we could help them reach for the sky because they’re open to learning and improving.”

The coaches were particularly impressed with several of the country’s up and coming tennis sensations including, the 16-year old son of former Olympian Bea Lucero - Sebastien Lhuillier - who participated in the camp. According to the coaches, almost all the players showed potential to play at the Division I level. 

“Physicality and fitness are so important. It’s so easy to lose to somebody when they hit the ball harder than you because they’re bigger than you are. But if you consistently beat higher-ranked players while winning 3-set matches, you prove to us that you are really tough and gritty. We want to see you in more and more matches because it makes your UTR more accurate and it makes you a tougher tennis player. We want players in our team who are tough; who are not scared of pressure and not scared of the moment.” Coach Frieder said. 

Overall, however, the coaches said it will take more than talent to compete at the world level. With resources becoming readily available, it will take proper mindset, grit, and support from the country for young players to dream big and achieve big.

“It’s more mindset than perhaps even resources. Having someone who is hungry as a child—and I mean hungry to learn— is crucial. We need somebody who wants to be better today than they were yesterday regardless of what their floor is, in terms of talent and athletic ability,” said Rice University Coach Ezequiel Gils

“People who work the hardest, who are disciplined, who go to the gym, who consistently practice buckets of serves, are generally the most confident. You gain confidence from preparation. The more confident the player — the more he or she  is likely to win,” said Coach Jesse Frieder.

“Manila has the facilities, and the weather. You can work on having good fitness. This country surely has the possibility of having a champion someday,” Rice University Coach Ezequiel Gils said.

Akshay Maliwal, Founder and CEO of DreamBig Events said DreamBig is bringing in more camps and tournaments for tennis, golf and soccer this year, to give local junior athletes the opportunity to be discovered by Division I US universities coaches who can help them reach their personal goals and the country’s dream to have Filipino players compete at the international stage.

Big boost for Junior Tennis as Elite US NCAA Division 1 coaches visit Manila at the DreamBig Gold Series Tennis Tournament and Camp in January 2020

Here’s a unique opportunity for junior tennis players to hone their skills and train under top-notch college coaches right here in Manila.

DreamBig Events will stage the “Gold Series College Exposure Tennis Camp”, a two-day tennis camp preceded by a two-day UTR tournament, at the Manila Polo Club on January 9-12, 2020. The sports events company stages tournaments and camp experiences to junior athletes so they can improve their skills and tournament performances.

Touted as the “Road to College Tennis”, the Event will give young athletes in the Philippines the all-important training and opportunity to network with world-class coaches – putting them in a good position to potentially get recruited to top U.S. University/ College tennis teams.

The event aims to provide young tennis players with play level-based competitions with an opportunity to build up their Universal Tennis Rating (UTR). The UTR is the world’s only results–based rating system in tennis that provides an accurate measurement of a player’s level – from newbie to pro to the world’s top tennis players. Armed with a UTR, tennis players get a higher chance of being recruited by top U.S. College coaches who use the rating for their rosters.

Three top collegiate coaches – Alex Wong from Brown University, Rob Raines from Cornell University in New York and Jessie Frieder from Boston University -- will run the camp. They will evaluate each player carefully, with advice and guidance for improvement in specific areas of their game while assessing their readiness to move on to the next level on their journey to possible career as a tennis professional or as a top collegiate tennis player.

Why the need to go through the US collegiate system to excel in tennis? “Because US universities are the gateway to international competition and recognition. The schools are equipped with the newest technology and uphold the highest game standards. Coaches there work extremely hard, not just on individual fitness and skill levels, but also on the athlete’s mental, psychological and competitive outlook to give them the best opportunity to maximize their talents and reach new heights,” said Akshay Maliwal, Founder and CEO of DreamBig.

“Ambitions have to start somewhere – and for many of our participants, their ambition is to study and play their sport in the US. DreamBig Events enables student-athletes to experience the life of a US collegiate that takes them to the edge of world class competition,” Maliwal added.

Previous DreamBig Gold Series Camps have produced top local athletes like Stefan Lhuiller, Nik Gatmaytan, Jerome Romualdez and Tomi Arejola, among others, who have successfully pursued their US collegiate athletic dreams

Interested participants may register now at https://dreambig.events/gold-series-tennnis-camp/

DTI and TESDA sign MOU with SkillsFuture Singapore to Reskill and Upskill Workforce

The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) and the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with SkillsFuture Singapore (SSG) to cooperate on human capital development and the reskilling and skills upgrading of workforce.

“Through this MOU, we seek to partner with the Singaporean government and training institutions to improve the preparedness of our people for the needs of industry and the demands of the global market, especially in the Fourth Industrial Revolution,” said Secretary Ramon Lopez.

Human capital and skills development is a key pillar of the Philippines’ Inclusive Innovation Industrial Strategy (i3S) and a major element of the Inclusive Filipinnovation and Entrepreneurship Roadmap.

In Singapore, SSG promotes a culture of lifelong learning and strengthens the city-state’s ecosystem of quality education and training through various skills frameworks that form part of the country’s industry transformation maps.

“Singapore’s experience in industry and workforce development exemplifies the strong coordination between and among government, industry, training and the education sector, which we aim to foster in the country as we address skills mismatch and prepare our workers for future production,” remarked Undersecretary Rafaelita Aldaba.

Among the areas of cooperation under the MOU involve human capital development knowledge-sharing, workforce capacity-building, and conducting relevant studies towards crafting a comprehensive human capital development and skills training cooperation roadmap.

The MOU was signed during the state visit of Singapore President Halimah Yacob, on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of bilateral relations between the Philippines and Singapore.