December 2, 2013 (WORLDWIDE HOUSE, HONGKONG) – The recent super typhoon that struck parts of eastern Philippines teaches Filipinos a very important lesson in disaster-preparedness and most importantly, stresses the ever important need to connect with family during times of calamity.
Noting this eminent need and The Filipino Channel’s (TFC) mission to accompany overseas Filipinos (OFs) in their life journey outside the Philippines, the network recently partnered with fast-rising Android manufacturer Cloudfone to provide OFs a single, breakthrough solution to their communication and programming needs in Hong Kong. With the revolutionary TFC Load-n-Watch, TFC, through official distributor, Cloudfone, enables OFs in the country to be informed and entertained anytime and anywhere, while keeping them in touch with home.
During the launch of TFC Load and Watch recently held at the Worldwide House’s activity area in Hong Kong, ABS-CBN Global Ltd. Chief Operating Officer Raffy Lopez shared how the revolutionary service is a fulfillment of the role of broadcast television in bringing distant Filipinos close to home, a dream of his father, ABS-CBN Corporation Chairman Emeritus Eugenio Lopez Jr. “When I founded TFC almost 20 years ago in my garage, I had in mind the vision of my father to connect the Philippines – with all its laughter, tears, beauty, strength, heroism and promise – to the Filipinos all over the world. We wanted to touch each and every one of you (OFs),” Lopez said.
The answer to overseas Filipinos’ programming needs
TFC Load-n-Watch captures and shares these emotions and values via ABS-CBN programs and other Filipino content distributed by the network, now made available by the service even without internet access. To enjoy these programs from TFC Load-n-Watch, OFs can simply visit the Cloudfone store. For only HK$1,000, Filipinos can get their own Cloudfone Android-based smartphone Excite 402D device and load the best homegrown content from ABS-CBN.
Through TFC Load-n-Watch’s affordable content bundles, Pinoys can choose the way to enjoy their favorite programs through personalized viewing on their Cloudfone Excite 402d. Priced affordably at only HK$20, Filipinos in HK can enjoy their teleseryes (currently airing on TFC’s platforms worldwide) via the Dramadness bundle or classic teleseryes via Dramathon. For the price of a cup of coffee, Filipinos on-the-go can enjoy uninterrupted viewing of a total of 20 to 25 episodes of their choice teleseryes, anytime, anywhere within a 30-day period.
According to one Filipina who visited the store during the launch, “Buti nalang dinala nyo ang TFC Load-n-Watch dito sa Hong Kong kasi tulad ko, wala akong TV sa kuwarto sa bahay ng amo ko, at ang cellphone ko wala rin namang internet (TFC Load-n-Watch is good news for me because I do not have television over at my employer’s house and the phone that I use has no internet service).” She vowed to return with her friends on their next pay day to avail of TFC Load-n-Watch.
On top of the content, customers can also enjoy a 14-day free access to TFC.tv Lite, an easy, affordable plan which can be enjoyed upon registering on TFC’s official online service – TFC.tv.
With the TFC.tv Lite free 14-day access, Filipinos can enjoy TFC.tv’s current programs, including the latest news in the Philippines, online and on-demand when they avail of internet access from a service provider of their choice. TFC.tv, dubbed the digital tambayan of the global Pinoy, lets subscribers share and talk about the homegrown Kapamilya content they enjoy and love through its chat facility.
The connection with fellow Filipinos
Aside from having to enjoy the content, TFC Load-n-Watch also lets subscribers share the experience of watching their favorite shows with their kababayans as the Cloudfone Excite 402d model also includes favorite apps such as Skype, Viber, Twitter and Facebook, when enabled through WiFi or one’s own mobile internet plan. The Cloudfone Exite 402d also has a front and reverse camera for photo opportunities, including the current trend of selfies.
Cloudfone President and Owner Eric Yu said “Technology does not stop at calls and texts. Skype, Facebook, Instagram or Instant Messaging applications have changed the lives of a lot of people. For OFs, the ability to stay updated with what is happening in the Philippines is as valuable as making calls and texts to love ones. Our objective is to provide OFs with an affordable device that can deliver TFC content efficiently,” Yu ended.
The link to home
Aside from answering the programming needs of OFs in Hong Kong, TFC Load-n-Watch, also lets Filipinos in the country connect with both their friends and loved ones in Hong Kong and back in the Philippines. The Cloudfone Exite 402d’s dual sim capability lets customers use SIM cards from two different telecommunications services of their choice, to communicate with their friends in Hong Kong and their families back home.
During times such as the onslaught of Typhoon Yolanda, the need for connection is as strong as ever and TFC Load-n-Watch provides the answer. Consul General Noel Servigon recognized the two companies’ role in building this connection to home. “This is a good time for TFC and Cloudfone to open this new way of accessing information through the mobile phones. To us at the consulate, we always encourage the different business communities to promote information campaigns so that we will know what is happening in the Philippines. During the last earthquake and typhoon, it was difficult to connect to the home country. We are also thankful for all the assistance of the different business groups in Hong Kong,” Servigon added.
True to this bayanihan spirit, parts of the launch were dedicated to the survivors of Typhoon Yolanda. Collections from the mass which was held during the event, amounted to Php 18,000 and were donated to the victims of Typhoon Yolanda. Nearly a hundred “Tulong Na, Tabang Na, Tayo Na” donation shirts were also sold in less than 40 minutes at opening. To inspire Filipino community members present to witness the launch, Global singing competition TFCkat 2012 Hong Kong winner Joy Carbonell shared her winning performance while Pinays indulged in a fun, game of solving teleserye puzzles. Also in attendance at the the launch were ABS-CBN Global’s Chief Marketing Officer Jojo Ines, Regional Marketing Head for Australia and Asia-Pacific Irene Acosta, Marketing Specialist Jocelyn Divino and Vice Consul Fatima Guzman as well as members of the media and the Filipino community.
In the coming months, TFC Load-n-Watch will unveil additional offerings to make homegrown content more enjoyable and our kababayans’ journey overseas more smooth-sailing with the assurance of connection to home and family.
For more information on TFC Load-n-Watch, visit the Cloudfone Store at Shop 324, 3rd floor, Worldwide House. Connect with fellow global Kapamilyas. Visit www.facebook.com/TFCHongkong.
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