Press Release
SMART-GK Alliance Strengthened via Smart Money, Smart Buddy, Smart Bro and Smart 3G
Sign-up for GK Service Card Launched at GK1MB Rally
[July 20, 2007/ Manila] - As part of its continuing support to the Gawad Kalinga (GK) Foundation, leading wireless services provider Smart Communications, Inc. (SMART) jumpstarted registration for the new GK Service Card powered by Smart Money.
Registration for the new card commenced during the GK1MB Rally held at the Araneta Coliseum, which was literally filled to the rafters with thousands of GK volunteers and community organizers from all over the Philippines. GK1MB—“GK Isang Milyong Bayani,” is a campaign which aims to mobilize one million volunteers to support the organization’s GK777 goal – to build 700,000 houses for homeless Filipino families in 7,000 communities in seven years.
The GK service card, to be issued by Banco de Oro, features the mobile commerce services of the Smart Money platform , will function not only as an ID with stored data, but also as a cash and payment card. Complimentary Smart Buddy SIMs were issued to all those who signed up for the GK Service Card.
“The GK service card will be more than just a regular ID. Members may also use the card to send and receive money locally and even from abroad, reload their Smart prepaid cellphones, pay for purchases in Smart Money Accredited Merchants, use it as an ATM card and encash from Smart Wireless Centers and other accredited establishments nationwide,” said Perry V. Bayani, Head of Sales and Business Development for Smart.
Live Broadcast
Smart made a live broadcast of the GK1MB Rally at the Araneta Coliseum using Smart’s broadband and 3G facilities. GK communities in other parts of the country and in the United States, Canada and Australia were able to witness in real time on their PCs and Smart 3G handsets, the four-hour program that featured speeches from GK personalities led by Tony Meloto.
They were also able to enjoy entertainment numbers of actor-comedian Epi Quizon, Fil-Am singer Billy Crawford, comedian Rex Navarete and reggae band Brown Man Revival.
GK Card Contest Mechanics
GK members were encouraged to join the design contest for the GK Service Card. The winner will receive a mobile TV-enabled handset. Smart will also donate a GK home in the name of the winner.
Heroism will be the overall theme of the nationwide design contest, which is open to GK members who are at least 18 years old. Entries will be judged based on originality and overall impact (35%), creativity and general appeal (25%), and relevance to the GK theme (45%). The winning design will be unveiled in October.
GK Registration at one’s fingertips
To be part of the Gawad Kalinga via text, Smart Subscribers simply keyed in GK1MB REG <Name/City or province/Age/Gender/email address> and sent the information to 286. For example, type GK1MB REG Pat Cruz/ Batangas/28/ Male/patcruz@email.com, then send to 286. Non-Smart subscribers may send the same information to 2861.
All successful registrants will be included in GK’s text updates. They will be charged P2.50 for all keywords sent to 286 and for updates received. To stop receiving updates, they may key in GK1MB OFF and send to 286. To begin receiving updates again from GK, text GK1MB ON and send to 286 for SMART, 2861 for non-SMART subscribers.
Online registration may also be done by accessing GK’s new website hosted by Smart, www.gk1world.net.
“Smart has been partners with GK since 2003 when it first adopted a community in Baseco Compound, Tondo. Together with PLDT and PLDT-Smart Foundation, the group has adopted seven PLDT-Smart Amazing GK Villages nationwide. Smart is now harnessing its vast array of resources to provide a sophisticated ID system, online registration, web hosting, wireless Internet access, and live video streaming and broadcast. In the spirit of Gawad Kalinga’s “bayanihan”, we hope to be heroes in our way, not just by housebuilding, but also by providing consistent, relevant and innovative services to the Gawad Kalinga Foundation. Through these, GK will be able to reach out to more people not only in the Philippines, but also around the world,” said Napoleon L. Nazareno, President and CEO of Smart.
Tony Meloto, head for GK International said, “Over 300 major corporations are now partners of GK. And we thank Smart for being one of our first and steady partners. They share our vision that by year 2010, we will have 7,000 communities. There will be no more squatters in our country.” @
