Telco brings digital learning to Cagayan Valley students

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December 20, 2025 | 3:33pm

MANILA, Philippines — One reason why students based in the provinces are at a great disadvantage compared to students in Metro Manila and other metro centers in the country is that they do not have enough access to technology.

Cagayan province, for one, is home to over 3.66 million, with youth aged 15 to 24 accounting for nearly one-fifth of the population.

There is widespread use of Internet, with three out of four persons aged 10 and above already online. Yet many continue to have problems accessing, more so maximizing, digital tools that are safe, responsible, and creative to allow them to experience continuous, uninterrupted learning.

As a result their learning process suffers, proceeding only at the pace dictated by their access to the digital tools that they need.

Globe Telecom Inc., one of the country's leading digital platforms, stepped into the picture and launched a series of engagements that provided students with lessons on digital citizenship, leadership, and creative expression.

Such engagements gathered over 750 students across the region, who used the opportunity to gain more knowledge.

The telco organized a three-day Digital Thumbprint Program (DTP) in partnlaunched a series of engagements that provide students with lessons on digital citizenship, leadership, and creative expression.ership with three institutions with sessions combining digital literacy modules, leadership workshops, and creative platforms designed to nurture future-ready communities in Cagayan.

"As we saw in Cagayan province, young Filipinos are already shaping their own futures with technology, leadership, and creativity," said the telco's Territory Business Head Raymond Mancilla.

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"We see the youth not just as future leaders but as leaders of today. Our role is to stand beside them as they build a better tomorrow for their communities and the nation."

250 students from Peñablanca National High School  joined DTP sessions on responsible digital citizenship.

Instead of passively waiting to learn, they shared the advanced AI tools they already use in their studies, such as Nomunity, Study Talk, Perplexity, Blackbox AI, and Scholar.ai, which are proof of their openness to innovation and their ability to find new ways to learn.

At Cagayan State University, more than 350 student leaders gathered to explore how leadership can be used in everyday actions that shape the lives of their peers and communities.

Through DTP and complementary workshops on inclusivity, responsibility, and student voice, participants were encouraged to see themselves as active drivers of change.

The program culminated in the TM Fun Music concert where over 2,500 students from the CSU Andrews and Carig campuses.

Performances by Amiel Sol, student artists, and local talents transformed the event into a celebration of creativity and community spirit.

For the 150 medical student leaders at the Medical Colleges of Northern Philippines, the DTP also served as a reminder that in healthcare, leadership is not measured only by knowledge but also by empathy, ethics, and accountability.

Student Activities Coordinator James Vidad call the program an eye-opening experience for student leader as they realized the importance of being responsible digital citizens.

"I believe that each of us gained practical knowledge on how to protect our identity online, secure our personal information, and be more critical when encountering content on social media, especially with the rise of fake news and misinformation," Vidad added.

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