Melvin Nubla, Talk ‘N Text brand manager, turns over the check to build 15 yellow boats to Dr. Anton Lim, Yellow Boat Foundation co-founder. With them are Matet Macadaan and Fidel Antonio Medel of Talk ‘N Text, as well as Yellow Boat volunteers. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines—Talk ‘N Text, the value brand of wireless services leader Smart Communications, has partnered with the Yellow Hope Foundation in uplifting the lives of fishing communities in Zamboanga City by providing 15 boats, nicknamed Project Yellow Boat, to ferry to school the children from the Layag-Layag and Lakewood communities in Barangay Talon-Talon.
Built within a mangrove forest, the community of houses on stilts is home to some 300 school kids who, with schoolbags over their heads, literally swim every day just to be able to pursue their dream of getting an education.
“The children in these communities have simple aspirations—to go to school. We want to help the children achieve their dreams of finishing school,” said Jane Basas, Talk ‘N Text group head.
Aside from the boats, Talk ‘N Text also provided 80 units of Barangay Phones to be used as shared community phones.
Formerly referred to as the Philippine Funds for Little Kids, Yellow Boat is a national movement that helps children residing in mangrove communities to get to school safe and dry. The foundation also supports these communities through provision of school supplies, medical/dental missions, scholarships, and even livelihood programs.
“Talk ‘N Text’s support would go a long way in helping everyone in the community. We are glad that Talk ‘N Text is one with us in this mission,” said Yellow Boat co-founder Anton Lim.
Talk ‘N Text has also committed to build public awareness for Yellow Boat. In a bid to gather more funds for the project and help more communities, it has tapped its subscribers to pitch in via text donations. To donate, Smart and Talk ‘N Text subscribers can text YELLOWBOAT (space) (amount of donation) and send to 4483. Available donations are P5, P10, P50, P100, P300, and P500. The amount will be deducted from their airtime load.
Smart’s prepaid brands are now the preferred mobile services of subscribers in Mindanao, according to MillwardBrown’s Q2 Brand Monitor research.
Smart, led by Talk ‘N Text, provides mobile services to nearly six of every 10 mobile phone subscribers in the predominantly prepaid Mindanao market, as of end-June 2012. Positioned as a value brand for the mass market and community segments, Talk ‘N Text has more than five million subscribers in Mindanao, accounting for a third of the market, according to the same report. (advt)