Press Release
SMART garners seven citations at the 2008 Quill Awards
Excellence for Hapinoy Project and Smart Schools Program website
Photo shows: (from L – R) Cheryl Lat, Manager, Human Resource Management and Development Group; Jojo Malolos, Head, Financial Services Group, Wireless Consumer Division; Ramon R. Isberto, Head, Public Affairs Group; Mark Ruiz, managing director, Microventures, Inc.; Bam Aquino, President, Microventures, Inc.; and, Bernard Santos, Senior Sales Manager for Payphones, Global Access Group.
[November 10, 2008/ MANILA] - Leading wireless services provider Smart Communications, Inc. (SMART) bagged seven awards at the 2008 Philippine Quill Awards held last November 7 by the International Association of Business Communicators (IABC)-Philippines at the Hyatt Hotel and Casino Manila.
SMART received two Awards of Excellence for its “SMART-Microventures Hapinoy Story: Changing Lives and Livelihood” under the Economic, Social and Environmental Development category; and for the “Smart Schools Program Website: Preparing the ground for user-generated content through active online participation” under the Electronic/ Digital Communications Management category.
These projects belong to 32 excellence awardees chosen by the IABC Philippines from more than 200 entries submitted this year.
Meanwhile, five Awards of Merit were also presented to SMART for the “Smart Schools Program: Doon Po Sa Amin” (Category 6: Multi-Audience Communication), “PLDT Payphone My Phone-y Valentine” (Category 7: Marketing Communication), “SmartSpeak Quarterly” (Category 19: Publications), “Time to be WebSmart: Internal Launch of the WebSmart Campaign” (Category 9: Employee/ Member Communication) and “Doon Po Sa Amin Ad Series” (Category 26: Advertising- Conventional Media).
Empowering Microentreprenuers
Winning one of the Quill Excellence Award is Hapinoy, a project of Microventures, Inc., supported by SMART that aims to increase the sales and profits of microentrepreneurs nationwide through Hapinoy-branded sari-sari stores. Through the partnership, Smart aims to enable the microfinance sector by providing its key solutions and innovative service offerings namely Smart Money, Smart Load and Pasa Load, and Smart Bro.
Because of the efficient roll-out and communication of the project, there are now a total of 1,750 beneficiaries of the Hapinoy program comprised of 20 Lead Stores and 1,630 outlets. All of these Hapinoy stores are also recognized SMART e-loading stations. April 2008 statistics also reflect that 80% of the Hapinoy microentrepreneurs are now enjoying an average increase of P3,800.00 in their monthly income.
Through its innovative business model and communication management, SMART was able to get the nod last September from the GSM Association (GSMA), the trade association of mobile operators worldwide, to provide internet connectivity and computerization to selected Hapinoy Lead Stores. The agreement is the first forged between the GSMA and a Philippine telecommunications firm under the GSM Development Fund. The partnership will benefit 15 Hapinoy Lead Stores found in various parts of Batangas, Laguna, Quezon and Metro Manila, and will help facilitate the Hapinoy store transition from manual to computerized order-taking, inventory management, among others.
Building a Community through Online Participation
Meanwhile, receiving an Excellence for Electronic/ Digital Communication Management is the Smart Schools Program website (http://www.smartschools.ph/), the official online presence of the Smart Schools Program, SMART’s flagship community service initiative in education. Since March 2006, it has been a vehicle for community members to share news and features about their schools, opinion on various topics as well as look up helpful educational resources.
Since last year, the website was able to help sustain and raise the level of partnerships through online publication of up-to-date relevant content, launch continuous online activities that encourage community participation, prepare partners for the Doon Po Sa Amin Project by providing an online venue for the creation and distribution of user-generated local content; and, at the same time, generate goodwill for the company through a stronger online CSR presence for SMART.
The Philippine Quill Awards is an annual event that honors the achievements of professional communicators by recognizing the most outstanding achievements in Communication Management, Communication Skills, and Creatives. The Quill has become the industry benchmark for world class programs and productions. It is organized by the IABC Philippines, with membership comprising more than 100 senior practitioners from PR, advertising, corporate communications, mass media, government, NGOs, and civil society. @
