PLDT and Smart turn over #PlantSmart kits and copies of Ang Paglalakbay ni Tala storybook to Taguanao Elementary School, supporting the school’s “Gulayan sa Paaralan” program and its efforts to teach students about online safety.
A Teach for the Philippines volunteer leads a storytelling session featuring Ang Paglalakbay ni Tala, helping Taguanao Elementary School learners understand digital safety in a simple and engaging way.
How Taguanao students are navigating the digital world
Students at Taguanao Elementary School are learning that staying safe in the digital age is just as important as growing a garden.
Through a partnership between PLDT, Smart Communications Inc., and Teach for the Philippines (TFP), the #BeCyberSmart program recently arrived in the city to guide young learners toward mindful online behavior. The initiative brought interactive storytelling to the classroom, featuring Ang Paglalakbay ni Tala (The Adventures of Tala).
The original storybook, developed by the PLDT Group alongside Kids for Kids PH and the Positive Youth Development Network, follows a 9-year-old girl as she explores the metaverse. Through her journey, students learn about their rights and the hidden dangers of the digital world. To ensure the lessons stick, PLDT and Smart donated copies of the book for teachers to use in future curriculum.
“When children understand the world they’re growing up in—online and offline—they learn to protect themselves,” said Stephanie V. Orlino, AVP and head of stakeholder engagement at PLDT and Smart. “Being cybersmart is more than just safety—it’s about empowering kids with the confidence to explore and act wisely in today’s digital world.”
The community support extended beyond the screen and into the soil. The companies also turned over #PlantSmart kits—containing vegetable seeds, organic fertilizer, and loam soil—to support the school’s “Gulayan sa Paaralan” program. The goal is to encourage families to grow their own food and improve local nutrition.
“The plant kits will help our gulayan propagate more varieties of vegetables for our feeding program. Parents can also start their own home gardens,” shared Principal Jobert Mangmang-Salingay. “The storybooks, meanwhile, guide our learners on their rights and safety online, especially now that digital risks are becoming more common.”
These initiatives are part of a broader push to strengthen local partnerships and support quality education, aligning with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals for quality learning and community partnership.
