PLDT, Smart, Facebook partner with Gensan LGU in pursuing content strategy, digital empowerment

PLDT and Smart, through their Better Today program, have collaborated with the Sangguniang Kabataan of General Santos (GenSan) City, holding the second run of the “Create, Communicate, Connect” workshop on content creation and digital empowerment. 

Participants came from five barangays, including Calumpang, Sinawal, Fatima, Lagao, and Baluan. The first run of the workshop took place in March 2021 where GenSan youth leaders learned about Communication Planning. 

This is part of the companies’ month-long celebration of Safer Internet Day. 

The speakers included Roy Dahildahil, Co-founder and Executive Director of #MentalHealthPH; Ali Sangalang, Creative Director of Linya-Linya; Stephen Ong from Facebook’s Digital TAYO Empowerment Program; YouTube Vlogger Joshua Pantonial; and Eli Mendoza and Alex Banawa from Smart.

Dahildahil shared their key organization pillars anchored on the ‘3S’ approach of Self-Society-System. He also shared some campaigns of #MentalHealthPH, including #UsapTayo, which is a Twitter conversation aimed to break the stigma on mental illness by creating conversations on mental health awareness in the digital space. 

Meanwhile, Sangalang shared the importance of creating content that will serve as a powerful tool in inspiring the youth to take action towards passionate and positive change. Sangalang urged the participants to create content that is authentic and rooted in their own principles and beliefs.

“Be an impact creator in this world full of content creators. Be responsible content creators. When you come up with something, have some foresight. Give it depth, Ask yourself, ‘How will this impact my community? Will this make my community better?’,” Sangalang said. 

Ong strengthened the idea of inclusivity when it comes to creating content by focusing on ways to promote campaigns, which celebrates the local culture and language. Ong also reminded the participants to use hashtags that are appropriate for campaigns to generate more engagements and traction. 

Encouraging participants to create purposeful and impactful design for digital implementations, Mendoza and Banawa also shared practical tips on graphic design, strategic scheduling of content, and multi-verification and securing social media accounts. 

Better Today is a key part of PLDT and Smart’s continuing commitment to help the Philippines contribute to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UNSDG), particularly UNSDG #3 that stands for good health and well-being, and UNSDG #16 that stands against abuse, violence, and exploitation of children. 

For collaborations and conversations on wellness, safe spaces, and changemaking in the digital space, follow @BetterTodayPH on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, YouTube.