PLDT, Inc. (PLDT) and its wireless unit Smart Communications, Inc. (Smart) supported Passerelles Numériques Philippines’ (PNPh) “Dis-S-Sais” Digital Art Exhibit, marking the organization’s 16th anniversary celebration.
PNPh is a French non-governmental organization that provides digital education-to-employment pathways for underserved young individuals in the Visayas and Mindanao. PNPh promotes the skills and talents of its student-scholars while pushing for its advocacies, such as digital inclusion and women empowerment.
The Dis-S-Sais exhibit showcased digital artworks from selected PNPh students of Class 2025, featuring remarkable Filipino women who excelled in the field of Information, Communications, and Technology (ICT).
PLDT and Smart’s Assistant Vice President and head of Stakeholder Management Stephanie V. Orlino is among the inspiring women featured in this exhibit. Orlino leads the implementation of PLDT and Smart’s corporate shared value programs, which seek to empower communities through connectivity and technology.
“Over the past centuries, countless women have already made great contributions in the field of ICT. They broke the glass ceiling in this field for us so that we can continue to carve our place in this sector today,” Orlino said.
“Now, the challenge for the new generation of women is how we can use ICT to empower communities and foster inclusivity. I encourage the younger generation to use their passion and creativity to shape a more equal, inclusive, and innovative digital world for all of us and for the next generations to come,” she added.
The PLDT Group and PNPh have long worked together to promote inclusion, internet safety, and digital wellness, particularly among vulnerable groups in society such as the elderly and youth.
“We are truly grateful to PLDT and Smart for our longstanding partnership to make a difference in the lives of our students and bring positive impact to communities,” said Luchi Flores, PNPh Country Director. “We also underscore the major contribution of Ms. Orlino in promoting ICT integration in the education sector. She has initiated major ICT programs that advocated the use of ICT to improve teaching strategies of K-12 teachers that led to improving learning outcomes among students,” added Flores.
PLDT and Smart remain committed to helping the country attain the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 10: Reduced Inequalities by empowering and promoting the social, economic and political inclusion of all.