PLDT wireless unit Smart Communications is providing Filipinos all over the world front row seats to the Sinulog Festival, one of the Philippines’ biggest and most colorful celebrations, via livestreaming.
Those who cannot make it to Cebu City will still be able to participate in the annual religious festival and other events by watching the livestream, made possible by Smart’s super-charged LTE network, in partnership with PLDT HOME Fibr.
Smart recently completed network improvement initiatives on its LTE and 3G networks in Metro Cebu.
“With our improved LTE network in Cebu, Filipinos worldwide can join in the Sinulog festivities even in the comforts of their home, while enjoying a faster and better streaming experience,” Smart Public Affairs head Ramon Isberto said.
The schedule of the festival livestreams, which may be accessed at cebu.sunstar.com.ph/sinulog and on the Smart Communities Facebook page, is as follows:
Novena Masses at Basilica Minore del Sto. Niño, Jan. 11-19, with “Walk with Jesus” as opening, Jan. 11, 4 a.m; Sinulog sa Kabataan, Jan. 13-14; Festival Queen, Jan. 18; solemn procession and Mass, Jan. 20; Sinulog Grand Parade and awarding of winners at Cebu City Sports Center, Jan. 21-22; and Hubo Mass at Basilica Minore del Sto. Niño, Jan. 26.
Mobile festival guide
People who will be in Cebu to celebrate Sinulog can plan their itinerary ahead of time by downloading the Sinulog Guide app, a comprehensive resource on Cebu’s premier festival. A project by Smart, InnoPub Media, and the Cebu City government, Sinulog Guide allows users to watch the festival livestreams; and lists the schedule of processions, novena Masses, street dancing contingents, and the lineup of parties and other activities.
These activities include events co-presented by Smart, such as Life Dance and Plus63 music and arts festival. There will also be a Selfie City at Fuente Osmeña Circle, where festivalgoers can take photos and share them using the hashtags #MySinulogStory and #SmartSinulog; and a Smart Hub, which features must-see places and festival highlights, giving Sinulog guests a venue to plan their activities. They may also avail of free Wi-Fi and charging services, free LTE SIM upgrade, and book their Uber transport at the hub.
The Sinulog Guide app also lists top things to do, places to visit and dine in, and popular souvenir-shopping outlets. It also provides a list of tour guides and operators accredited by the Department of Tourism, and a directory of city establishments such as malls, consular offices, hospitals, and police stations.
Enabling festivalgoers to share their Sinulog experience like never before, Smart is also offering its Giga Surf 99 data service, which provides 1.5 GB of data plus 300 MB for video streaming, valid for seven days, for only P99. Subscribers may avail of this package by texting GIGA99 to 9999.
Sun users, on the other hand, may subscribe to Big Time Data 70, which offers 1 GB of data, unlimited text to all networks, and 30 minutes calls to Sun, also valid for 7 days, for only P70. Subscribers may text BDATA70 to 247. (PR)