Microsoft celebrate it's 25th year in the Philippines.

  Microsoft commemorated its 25th year in the Philippines through an all-virtual celebration today for customers, partners and the Filipino public.

  More than five thousand guests from across the Philippines attended today’s virtual event. Inspiring messages were presented from representatives of Microsoft’s Philippines, Asia Pacific and global leadership. Key government and enterprise partners offered testimonials, and interactive breakout sessions were designed to engage and inspire Microsoft Philippines stakeholders for the next 25 years of growth and partnership in this high-growth market.

  Special messages were delivered by The Honorable Chief Justice Diosdado Peralta, Supreme Court of the Philippines and Mr. Lance Gokongwei, president of JG Summit Holdings. A special focus of the 25 th Anniversary proceedings centered on how Microsoft has supported stakeholders in countries around the world during the Covid-19 pandemic and particularly, in the Philippine market.

“Since the very start of the of the pandemic, your Microsoft Philippines team resolved to be the country’s digital first responders, supporting key government and civic functions while introducing new innovations to help Filipinos respond, recover and reimagine their reality,” - Andres Ortola, Microsoft Philippines country general manager.

  The Covid-19 pandemic has accelerated the need for progressive and innovative digital solutions across all sectors of Philippine society. Since March 2020, Microsoft launched significant initiatives to empower both the government and private sector to support and create sustainable impact across the country.

  Microsoft’s nation-building agenda for the Philippines, known as “Microsoft Para sa Bayan”, seeks to accelerate digital transformation, build coalitions for responsible innovation, and close critical digital skills gaps with increased digital literacy and improve employability for 25 million Filipinos over the next three years alone.

  Throughout the Philippines’ lockdown period, Microsoft has worked closely with the Department of Education, most recently to provide over 20 million public school children with Microsoft 365 accounts for an improved learning experience. They also continue to support the department’s efforts in training teachers to adapt to online teaching.

  The Microsoft Enabler Program was launched to foster disability inclusive workplaces across Asia Pacific, with the Philippines selected as one of this innovative program’s launch markets. People with disabilities were given the opportunity to get cloud and artificial intelligence training while employer partners received accessibility education. The program also supports inclusive hiring from non-profit organizations that help PwDs. The program is a first of its kind and was piloted in Korea, New Zealand, Philippines, Singapore, and Thailand.

  In the Philippines, the sole major Southeast Asian economy without a homegrown technology unicorn, Microsoft seeks to foster an environment that creates more proactive and engaged opportunities for Filipino digital entrepreneurs.