Google brings Filipinos closer to loved ones abroad

MANILA, Philippines - The hardest part about working overseas is missing family back home and missing out on happenings  birthdays, graduations, reunions  that bring family members together to create lasting memories.

Google’s “Project OFW: Malayo man, Malapit din” introduces overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) and their loved ones to Google products that allow them to share meaningful moments and build stronger bonds wherever they may be.

Unveiled recently at the TriNoma Mall, Project OFW showcased Google apps such as Gmail, Google Drive, Google Docs, Google+, Google+ Photos, Hangouts, and Google Maps, and their usefulness in the lives of Filipinos here and abroad.

Google apps empower meaningful connections by enriching the communication experience. With up to 15GB of storage across Gmail, Google Drive and Google+ Photos, families will be able to share letters, pictures, and videos with each other for free.

Hangouts promises to bring conversations to life with real-time interaction with as many as 10 users from anywhere in the globe. Google Maps helps users find their place and direction, and can guide friends and family members in planning a holiday or even a surprise visit.

Google also launched a website dedicated to overseas Filipinos (http://www.google.com/get/balikbayan/) featuring different stories shared by OFWs.

“Google recognizes the Filipinos’ strong sense of family ties and the importance of staying in touch with our loved ones,” said Ryan Morales, Google Philippines country marketing manager.

“We hosted this event to show that there are ways to bring families together despite the distance. With knowledge of the right tools, OFWs can communicate with their families better and more often at almost no cost, so they don’t miss out on things that matter even if they are miles away.”