Pettr Joins DSWD and PAWS to Promote Responsible Pet Ownership and Animal-Assisted Therapy

Pettr, the Philippines’ first all-in-one petcare superapp under 917Ventures, partnered with the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) and the Philippine Animal Welfare Society (PAWS) to promote responsible pet ownership and raise awareness about how pets help in emotional healing and mental health.

 

Pettr joined the recent Angel Pets Advocacy, Research and Learning (ARAL) session of DSWD’s Angel Pets Project which integrates animal-assisted therapy into support services for those who have experienced abuse, neglect, or are living with psychosocial disabilities.

 

Led by DSWD Social Technology Bureau, the event brought together pet lovers, social workers, and community members to discuss proper pet training, humane treatment, and lifelong commitment, along with the therapeutic value of animals in promoting overall wellness.

 

The session also addressed the importance of pet sterilization, or kapon, in preventing overpopulation and ensuring the long-term health of companion animals.

 

During the activity, Pettr emphasized the importance of making petcare more accessible to all. Pettr aims to empower fur parents through its all-in-one platform, which allows users to book grooming appointments, consult with veterinarians, purchase pet essentials, and access other services with ease.

 

“Every pet deserves proper care, and every pet parent deserves support. We see technology as a way to make responsible pet parenting more achievable for Filipinos. By partnering with DSWD and PAWS, we want to help ensure that pets are seen not just as companions but as valued members of the community,” said Martin Luchangco, General Manager of Pettr.

 

“Together with PAWS and Pettr, we’re encouraging a culture of kindness and peaceful coexistence between humans and animals,” said Jhann Paul Cornel of DSWD. “We continue to remind communities of a simple but powerful principle: ‘If you don’t like them, don’t hurt them.’”

 

Another highlight of the event was the invitation for community members to nominate their well-socialized pets for possible inclusion in the Dr. Dog Program, PAWS’ animal-assisted therapy initiative.

 

Founded by Jill Robinson of Animals Asia, Dr. Dog deploys trained “canine consultants” to hospitals, care homes, orphanages, and schools, offering emotional comfort and companionship to those who need it most.

 

Sharon Yap of PAWS added, “Through programs like Angel Pets and Dr. Dog, we hope to inspire empathy and compassion not only for animals, but also for the people whose lives they touch.”

 

This collaboration among Pettr, DSWD, and PAWS is built on a shared goal to improve animal welfare and extend support to individuals through education, access, and purpose-driven partnerships.

 

Discover how Pettr empowers fur parents and supports a more caring pet community by following them on their socials @pettr.app on Instagram and Facebook.

 

InfiniVAN & Partners Land PDSCN in the Queen City of the South

CEBU CITY – InfiniVAN, Inc., a subsidiary of Tokyo Stock Exchange-listed IPS, Inc. (TSE: 4390) and a broadband-centric Philippine telecommunications and digital solutions provider, continues its push for a future-proof digital infrastructure for the country during the recently held Ceremonial Cable Pulling Event of the Philippine Domestic Submarine Cable Network (PDSCN) in Mactan Island, Cebu on October 14. This joint-build project commenced last July in Subic, Zambales. A similar event was held in Siargao in September when a segment of PDSCN landed there.

The said ceremony was graced by Lapu-Lapu City’s Honorable Vice Mayor Celedonio “Celsi” Sitoy accompanied by Municipal Councilors together with the executives and representatives from InfiniVAN, Eastern Telecommunications, and Globe Telecom. This event brings the project closer to the completion of the “Express Route” of the PDSCN, which is scheduled to be completed and usable by the end of this year. The rest of the PDSCN is envisioned to be operational before the end of Q2 2023, with the southernmost segment to be landed in Zamboanga.

This $150-Million joint-build project is a partnership among InfiniVAN, Globe and Eastern Communications and involves the participation of world class technology partners and vendors including Nexans, Kokusai Cable Ship Co., Ltd, Fleet Marine Cable Solutions, Inc., SJA Business Consultancy and Liaison Services, and Kyotosh. The PDSCN is expected to deliver the advantages of fiber connectivity nationwide, including some far-flung areas in the Philippines, and help realize more reliable digital connectivity to boost business and economic growth throughout the country.

According to InfiniVAN’s Chief Technology Officer, Mr. Alberto “Abet'' Espedido, “This PDSCN Project is the biggest in terms of subsea installation in the Philippines. With Cebu/Mactan having four touch points, it automatically becomes the main hub, reflective of the economic scenario in the region where Cebu, for ages, has been the hub for commerce in the Visayas and Mindanao islands. Cebu now takes center stage in digitally connecting all the islands of the country.“

Mr. Espedido also mentioned that this project could be a precursor for the eventual arrival of international submarine cable systems in Cebu. It should be noted that today, most international submarine cable systems are landed in Luzon but the realities of the connectivity business demand that there should be route diversity for network reliability and robust performance. InfiniVAN’s Chief Operating Officer, Engr. Edgardo Opulencia, added that this particular project also augurs well for the development of connectivity-driven strategic industries such as BPOs, digital content development and hyperscale data centers among others. InfiniVAN is also set to commence the build out of its fiber optic backbone infrastructure in Cebu before the end of the year.

The PDSCN's next landing is set in Boracay Island.

Know more about InfiniVAN, Inc. and go to www.infinivan.com.

Globe Virtual Hangouts Kicks Off Metaverse Platform for Exciting Gen Z “Phygital” Experiences

Globe Virtual Hangouts continues to evolve and reinvent itself to give Gen Zs and more digital fun, innovative, educational, and passion-filled experiences.

For the second half of the year, expect the launch of its metaverse platform, the first in the Philippines, with “phygital” experiences to be hosted by Globe Prepaid.

Using technology to bridge the physical and digital worlds,  Globe Virtual Hangouts metaverse promises unique interactive activities that visitors can explore. Users can create their avatar and chat and do video calls with their fellow Gen Zs inside the portal. 

Surprise celebrity guests and special prizes, among them a Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 4 Phone, also await everyone inside this new platform. 

The event will also have a 360 gallery featuring “Timplada: The Art of Ilonggo Cuisine,” an exhibition of 10 artworks inspired by Ilonggo food from the Iloilo Museum of Contemporary Art (ILOMOCA), the first art institution in the Visayas and Mindanao. The pioneering exhibit on Virtual Hangouts was first showcased in the last quarter of 2021 in collaboration with the National Commission for Culture and the Arts.

“We are excited to transform Globe Virtual Hangouts into a metaverse to keep the fire going for passion-filled Gen Zs and other prepaid customers. We want to be the bridge that will help them fulfill the things they love through experiences that they enjoy,” said Eric Tanbauco, Globe’s Vice President for Mobile Prepaid Business.

The Globe Virtual Hangouts started in 2020 so GenZs can hang out with each other, showcase their passions and see all the happenings that Globe Prepaid has in store. 

Early this year, it created the Passion Portal where Gen Z’s got to turn their passion into a profession through Globe Prepaid’s Virtual Hangouts Masterclasses. There were various pillars catering to different passions of Gen Zs, namely:

• GoJAM — An onstage talent search which brought together promising young Pinoy artists in a digital music camp to hone their talent and arm them with the know-how to succeed in the music industry.

• GoWATCH – For movie enthusiasts and those who want to be the next Antonette Jadaone or Cathy Garcia-Molina.  There was a GoWATCH Film Lab in partnership with ANIMA for those who wanted to learn or sharpen their filmmaking, story writing, and production design skills. Film Lab sessions were led by award-winning filmmakers such as Jadoone, Erik Matti, JP Habac, and Jade Castro. 

• GoHUSTLE – A six-stage GoHUSTLE Boss Up Bootcamp where participants learned from topics about creating stories, branding, marketing, finance, and having an entrepreneurial mindset. 

• GoESPORTS – Aspiring esports streamers and casters who wanted to level up their skills underwent training on the basics of content creation, self-presentation, pre-and post-game analysis, and more. 

• GoKOREAN – For K-wave fans who have a passion for fashion, Globe Prepaid Virtual Hangouts teamed up with the top fashion and design school in the country to introduce a full-blown fashion and styling curriculum offered nowhere else. 

Virtual Hangouts is best experienced on Globe’s 5G network. Be part of  Globe Virtual Hangouts of The Future launch by visiting  www.globevirtualhangouts.ph.