New kid-oriented show aims to teach kids
how to be smart, alert, strong, kind, and brave online
Be Internet Awesome’s lead characters - Sam Elora (L) and Robo-berto
Following its partnership announcement to further strengthen efforts in educating Filipino kids and families about internet safety and digital responsibility, the Philippines’ leading home broadband and digital service provider PLDT Home and Google joined forces in creating a kid-oriented video series online.
The Be Internet Awesome online series combines animation and live action — featuring Gen Alpha whiz Sam and his trusty friend Robo-berto in fun-filled yet enlightening adventures on how to be smart, alert, strong, kind, and brave online. The series is based on the values of Google’s Be Internet Awesome global program and is directed by Manny Angeles, an award-winning director and producer of kid-oriented and animated shows.
Available in both English and Filipino in the Philippines, Be Internet Awesome aims to teach children the fundamentals of leading a digital life which includes what kind of information to post on social media and how to deal with cyberbullying among others. This is part of the many efforts of Google to help keep people safe online.
“Our children are true digital natives. They grew up with the internet and everything the digital world has to offer. But as they broaden their horizons for discovery and learning, it also exposes them to risks and dangers,” said Jeremiah de la Cruz, Senior Vice President and Head of Consumer Home Group, PLDT Inc. “Through this original series, we at PLDT Home want to translate the teachings from Google’s Be Internet Awesome program into an entertaining and practical show that children can enjoy watching while learning about online safety early on.”
“PLDT Home’s partnership with Google for Be Internet Awesome aligns with our larger group-wide commitment: to strengthen customer-centricity. At PLDT, we not only find ways to simplify technology and experience for our customers, but we also strive to do business responsibly by putting their safety and well-being at the forefront of all our products and services,” said Alfredo S. Panlilio, President and CEO of PLDT Inc. And Smart Communications, Inc.
In 2021, PLDT also invested over P2 billion in cybersecurity and protection filtering. The country’s largest integrated telco has since been very active in detecting, responding, and preventing both domain and content-level access to child sexual abuse material (CSAM) within the network. PLDT’s Child Protection Platform has blocked almost 300,000 URLs linked CSAM by the end of May and prevented more than a billion attempts to access these illegal sites from November last year to May this year.
“After launching Be Internet Awesome in 2021 in the Philippines, we are glad to have found a like-minded partner in PLDT who champions the same values when it comes to protecting kids online. Through PLDT and more potential partners in the future, we hope to scale Be Internet Awesome and provide more families with a practical way of teaching digital safety and wellness to their children so they can become responsible, confident explorers of the online world,” said Bernadette Nacario, Country Director of Google Philippines.
The Be Internet Awesome online series will premiere on the PLDT Home YouTube channel on July 8, 2022.
Be Internet Awesome’s lead characters - Sam Elora and Robo-berto
(L-R): PLDT Senior Vice President and Head of Consumer Business Home Group, Jeremiah de la Cruz; Google Philippines Marketing Head, Gabby Roxas; First Vice President and Head of PLDT Home Product Management and Marketing, John Henri Yanez
Actor and TV host KC Montero and family
Actor, host, KC Montero (1st from left) and family with newscaster, Migs Bustos (3rd from right) and family; and UAAP sportscaster and DJ Riki Flo (3rd from left, front row) and family
Actress Patty Laurel-Filart and family
Sam signs the pledge wall at the Be Internet Awesome event
Madiskarte Mom and Entrepreneur, Vania Edralin (2nd from right) with family
Stratworks PR Director Mark Christian Parlade and sons
Actor, singer, and writer, Franco Laurel and daughter, Lucia
Children posing with Be Internet Awesome’s Robo-berto
Edu-preneurs and media personalities Edric and Joy Mendoza with their family
(L-R) Actor, singer and writer Franco Laurel and daughter with PLDT Assistant Vice President and Head of Marketing PR
Model and design consultant Nicole Hernandez and kids
Singer FANA during the PLDT Home x Google Be Internet Awesome launch
UAAP sportscaster and DJ, Riki Flo and family
Newscaster, Migs Bustos and family