(If you are one of few left who have not watched the video, I suggest you watch the video first before you proceed reading. Don’t forget to have a box of tissue beside you before turning it on.)
Millions of movie viewers, especially the citizens of Star Wars fandom all over the globe are anticipating Rogue One: A Star Wars Story–the latest offering to the Star Wars franchise. The country’s #1 mobile brand, Globe, reinforces its partnership with the iconic movie franchise through a heartwarming video inspired by triumphant children.
With over 40 million views, the videos raised awareness in partnership with The Philippine General Hospital for the rehabilitation of its pediatric clinic.
It did not take long for the video to go viral since its launch on the Globe’s official Facebook page. It has so far earned over 41 million views and it is still counting. It had not gone unnoticed by top online news outlets such as CNN, Mashable, Huffington Post, and UpWorthy, among others. This video also reminds me of Courageous Catie, the 3-year-old who had juvenile myelomonocytic leukemia (JMML), a rare cancer of the blood affecting infants and toddlers. She was one courageous child.
Globe’s video tells the story of an older girl who goes around, even to school, with a Stormtrooper helmet on. This made people around her curious but at the same time accepting. One day, she enters her classroom and is surprised that all the kids in her class were wearing the same helmet, showing her their support. (This is where my eyes started to perspire when I watched the vid. Anyone cried a bucket full?) As she takes off her helmet, we see a teary-eyed girl wearing an oxygen mask under it and revealing her everyday struggle with an ailment. I also find the brother inspiring because he was almost always beside her in most of her routine. My wife showed the video to our eldest daughter, just to remind her of love that should be between siblings.
Beautifully demonstrating a child’s resilience and triumph over challenges, the video garnered praise from all over the world, especially from the Star Wars community of fans. The video has gone viral and has touched the hearts of millions of social media users. But this video has served a greater purpose that matters the most.
The greater aim of this video was to raise awareness for the company’s partnership with the Philippine General Hospital (PGH). More than just promoting the new Star Wars movie, Globe puts more meaning and community involvement into its campaign. They hope to invite generous heart to help the PGH pediatric clinic, so that children patients there will have a more equipped space ideal for their recovery.
“They say courage does not always roar. Sometimes courage is the little voice at the end of the day that says I’ll try again tomorrow. Out to make a difference, we want to pay tribute to the real heroes of today – the triumphant kids at the PGH Pediatric Ward. These heroes courageously battle through cancer every day, and we are more than proud of all of them. This inspired us to put more meaning to the Star Wars campaign by actually empowering our customers to lend a helping hand through donations right on their mobile device. Prepaid and Postpaid customers will easily be able to donate using their prepaid load or charged to their postpaid bill,” shares Issa Cabreira, Globe Senior Vice President for Consumer Mobile Business.
As part for Globe’s commitment to give back to the community, Globe representatives and ambassadors recently visited the kids at the PGH Cancer Institute bringing happiness and joy. It was a day full of surprises for them. A feast filled their hearts and stomachs. Kids with wide smiles and opened arms receive the exciting gifts Globe has for them. All these on top of the charitable financial donation Globe extended for the facility.
And for the finale of the event, though they are the villains of the movie, who would not want to see the 501st Legion dressed in full Stormtrooper gear? Now I wish I was also there!
