Filipinos celebrate the Christmas season in a unique way, with many describing it as the longest and the merriest in the world. But with the COVID-19 pandemic still ongoing, this year's celebration is far different from how we used to do it during the past years.
While the transmission of COVID-19 seemingly slowed down, the entire Philippines remains under quarantine. Transportation is still limited and this is to discourage movements from Metro Manila to provinces with lower risk of local transmission and vice versa.
Christmas is a season of huge reunions among families and friends but not this year. The government, through the guidance of the Department of Health (DOH), urges the public to conduct reunions virtually.
New normal, same holiday spirit
Despite the changes, one thing remains the same: the spirit of "Paskong Pilipino" lives on. With the help of today's technology, particularly the Internet and today's connected devices like computers and smartphones, Filipinos can still celebrate the holidays regardless of the distance.
Families and friends can still reunite and cherish memories virtually by conducting the following:
Online Gift Exchange
Mobile apps and websites, such as Elfster and Secret Santa, that allow you to do a gift exchange session or a kris kringle are not an entirely new thing. What's different this time is the manner how participants will send and receive gifts.
With the help of e-commerce apps and sites like Lazada and Shopee, you can just order the gift online and send it straight to the receiver. If the gift is at hand, simply book a same-day delivery service using any of today's logistics apps like Angkas, Grab, and Lalamove,
Online Noche Buena/Potluck
Cooked something special for family members and friends? Pack it properly and have it shipped to them using a logistics app. Don't know what or how to cook? Just order food for them online using the dedicated app of a restaurant or food delivery apps like Foodpanda, Grab, and LalaFood.
Online Reunion
If you thing that online meeting and video call apps and websites like Facebook Messenger Rooms, Google Meet, Skype, Viber, and Zoom are only meant for work, you're wrong. You can use these platforms to reunite with friends and family members online while enjoying the food and checking the gifts that you sent or received.
PLDT Home keeps the spirit alive
PLDT Home has been part of "Paskong Pilipino" through the years. Using its seamless and reliable Internet connection, Filipinos can celebrate the holidays virtually through the activities that we recommended seamlessly.
Making the Holidays 2020 celebration extra special, the leading digital services provider is launching Holideals, the biggest PLDT Home Holiday Sale with lots of exclusive offers and big discounts!
Broadband Sale
New subscribers can enjoy waived installation and activation fees and no cash out when they sign up for any PLDT Home Fibr Plan.
Super Speed Deals
Meanwhile, existing PLDT Home Fibr subscribers can enjoy up to 300 Mbps of internet at a discounted price. Until February 28, 2021, PLDT Home Fibr 1699 and 1899 subscribers need only to add P 99 to their monthly subscription fees to upgrade to the next higher plan for an additional 50 Mbps. Subscribers of Fibr Plans 2099, 2299, and 2399 can just add P 149 to enjoy a speed boost of up to 100 Mbps. Customers of Fibr Plans 2899, 3099, and 3299 can likewise top up P199 to get up to 150 Mbps. And finally, subscribers of Fibr Plans 4099 and 4299 can enjoy up to 300 Mbps speeds by just adding P249 to their monthly subscription package.
Bonus Data
For families looking for a budget-friendly Internet connection, purchase a PLDT Home Wifi Prepaid device and get an extra 10GB data on top of the 10GB preloaded data. With this family-sized prepaid internet, families can enjoy a lag-free virtual reunion with their loved ones as its powered by Smart LTE, the country’s fastest mobile data network as awarded by Ookla. PLDT Home is also donating P100 to PLDT-Smart Foundation for every purchase of a PLDT Home Wifi Prepaid device. Not only do you get to enjoy a seamless internet connection, but you also get to provide a Noche Buena package to the less fortunate families.
With the ongoing pandemic, this year's "Paskong Pilipino" is expected to be more solemn and conservative compared to the past celebrations. It might have changed with technology becoming a more integral part of it. What's important is that we keep the true spirit of the season lives on, part of which is our bolstering relationship with the people we truly value. Give the gift of meaningful connection with PLDT Home’s Holideals. To learn more about the Holideal offers, visit: www.pldthome.com/whatsnew.