PLDT Inc. (PLDT) and Smart Communications, Inc. (Smart) powered the Grand Sinulog Festival 2025 in support of the Local Government of Cebu City and Sinulog Foundation, Inc. through ramped up network capacity, enhancing the digital experience of festival attendees.
Smart optimized nearby cell sites and deployed additional Multi-Element on Wheels (MEOW) to key areas of the parade route, ensuring stable, high-speed internet access even during peak celebration moments when thousands of users are simultaneously connected.
“Our goal is to enhance the Sinulog experience through strategic network planning in order to ramp up our capacity. By carefully aligning our network resources, we ensured that Sinulog participants, whether they are attending in person or joining remotely, could fully enjoy and celebrate the festival,” said Debbie M. Hu, FVP and Wireless Network Head at Smart.
A Multi-faceted Support for Sinulog 2025
In addition to enhancing their network, major PLDT and Smart Stores across Cebu also became vibrant festival hubs, offering exclusive promotions while transforming the stores into celebration centers with the presence of festival dancers, emphasizing the Group’s multi-faceted support for the festival.
The Basilica Minore del Sto. Niño de Cebu and various Cebu media organizations also enjoyed dedicated PLDT Fiber lines, enabling comprehensive real-time coverage of the various events lined up for the festival. These organizations also benefited from dedicated WiFi access, ensuring real-time reporting and broad digital dissemination of Sinulog’s Masses and festivities.
Across the city, PLDT and Smart also set up strategically located booths, offering free WiFi access and on-the-spot assistance to attendees to ensure seamless connectivity throughout the festival.
In addition, Smart partnered with local businesses, including restaurants and bars, to provide exclusive perks and discounts to loyal customers, as part of their ongoing commitment to enrich the festival experience and give back to subscribers.
Community Impact
Through PLDT and Smart’s support, Filipinos were able to connect to the Sinulog Festival—wherever they may be.
Jennifer Abanto, a 30-year-old teacher from Auckland, New Zealand, shared her emotional connection to the festival. “Despite being thousands of miles away, technology allowed me to feel the spirit of the Fiesta Señor. Streaming live performances, connecting with family, and witnessing the celebration in real-time made me feel intimately connected to my cultural roots,” shared Abanto.
Local businesses also reaped the benefits of enhanced connectivity. Mae Belonta, a longtime food vendor from Lapu-Lapu City, explained how digital communication transformed her festival experience.
“We’ve operated our business during Sinulog for decades, but this year’s connectivity support was exceptional. We were able to update our location in real-time, communicate with customers instantly, and even process digital payments seamlessly,” said Belonta.
PLDT and Smart brought the Sinulog Festival experience to all, on-site and online, as part of their ongoing efforts to connect Filipinos globally and contribute to the Government’s digitalization objectives.
