Piolo Pascual: The new WiZ kid on the block

Piolo Pascual is one of the most visible faces on TV, in movies and on billboards. Bankable is one word that comes to mind when discussing the topic that is Piolo.

"I am taping here a new soap with Claudine Barretto entitled Walang Kapalit," says Piolo. "It’s scheduled to come out February, but we are working on the soap now. I’m also doing a movie with Regine Velasquez soon. It’s my first day of taping today, so I’m excited."

One wonders whether Piolo has any other time left to do other things other than work. He is a homebody, after all. And when he is not busy taping his shows or shooting a new ad, he spends his quality time at home. It is there that he turns to his computer and plugs into the other side of the world. Piolo gets on the Internet through GlobeQuest’s Universal Access plan, which allows him access through dial-up or Wi-Fi (Wireless Fidelity) using a single log-in account. These new plans come with lower monthly fee of P2 per minute for Wi-Fi access.

GlobeQuest has embarked on an aggressive rollout of Wi-Fi service in key areas nationwide even as it established four domestic and international roaming partnerships that would allow seamless Internet connectivity to business travelers in the country and abroad.

"Our vision is to provide Wi-Fi facilities to major key establishments where people converge for business, as well as promote Wi-Fi as a strategic tool for education, local government projects, product advertisements, and foreign ventures, among others. Our commitment is to transform the Philippines into a Wi-Fi nation," says Jesus C. Romero, GlobeQuest head.

From the current figure of 275 GlobeQuest Wireless Internet Zone (WiZ) hotspots, Romero is confident that they would reach the 500 mark by year-end.

As a commitment to service quality, Romero adds, GlobeQuest sees to it that the best possible coverage will be established prior to a joint certification with the hotspot partners, leaving the establishment accessible to WiZ and ready for use by its customers, ready to sell, and ready to market. GlobeQuest has already partnered with a number of popular establishments nationwide, providing them with superior managed end-to-end solutions to ensure better flexibility, reliability and accessibility of their Wi-Fi service.

Piolo keeps abreast of everything that’s going on in the world, whether it’s keeping in touch with members of his family abroad, close friends, or if he just wants to know the latest trends around the world. "It’s on the computer that I do everything else," he adds.

Piolo says that he spends a few hours a day before going to sleep just checking his e-mail, sending out longer messages to close people, and checking on his siblings. He also updates his iTunes and uploads movies.

It was also his research on the Net and discussions with family that led him to his own water-refilling station, P-Plus.

"Our research showed that there is a need for cheap yet good, clean water," opines Piolo. "My family wants to be able to fill this need in the Pinoy’s life."

As an entrepreneur, Piolo is hands-on, and he is constantly updated on his four water stations in San Juan; Scout Torillo, Quezon City; San Antonio, Pasig; and Dasmariñas. Checking on stocks and how well the business is doing is important to Piolo and making sure that he is always GlobeQuest connected is a must.

"When I am in a rush I use my Globe Handyphone. But when I am in between takes of shows, I go to the Loop at ABS-CBN where there is Wi-Fi access," says Piolo. "The connection made through GlobeQuest is always fast, which is a good thing since there is not a lot of time between shots."

Piolo is happy that there are many hotspots all over Metro Manila nowadays. Sometimes, texting can be tedious and writing longer messages on a computer is easier. With a laptop handy, Piolo is assured that he is on top of his life.

"I feel handicapped when I’m not connected," adds Piolo. "For me it’s really a necessity. It’s an essential."

GlobeQuest has made it a point to establish WiZ hotspots where there is a need, the ABS-CBN Loop being on top of the list. It didn’t put up WiZ hotspots just anywhere, GlobeQuest made sure that all its hotspots are located in strategic areas. In a sense, these are establishments where businessmen and transient Internet users normally converge, such as airports, coffee shops, convention centers, golf clubs, resorts and restaurants, and therefore, must have significant foot traffic.