New Christmas app connects Aussie workers with their overseas families
Announcement posted by Bench PR 22 Dec 2014
MELBOURNE, Monday 22nd December 2014: Australia’s largest mobile development company, Outware Mobile, has developed an app for the Blas F. Ople Policy Center which enables the Filipino community around the world to connect with their families back home this Christmas.The BalikbayanBox app is part of a larger international Google Balikbayan Box campaign: http://www.google.com.ph/campaigns/balikbayan/.
Approximately 12 million people from the Philippines live and work overseas, with over 170,000 living in Australia.[1] Since 2004 the majority of Filipino migrants in Australia are here on skilled visas which now account for more than 64 per cent of all permanent visas granted.[2] The Blas F. Ople Policy Center and Training Institute is a non-profit organisation that develops programs to assist Overseas Filipino Workers and their families.
Many people from the Philippines like to send toys, photographs, non-perishable food or household items back to their families in the form of balikbayan boxes. The balikbayan box is a modern manifestation of the general Philippine practice of pasalubong, where travellers within or without the country are culturally expected to bring home gifts to family, friends and colleagues. The boxes are usually sent via container ship, which typically takes several months to arrive.
“Sending balikbayan boxes is a traditional way for the Filipino community to connect with their families and loved ones while they’re away from home. Previously, it took many months to fill and send a balikbayan box back to the Philippines. With the new app people can send photos, videos, drawings, YouTube videos, Google Plus posts, thank you letters and much more back to their families, easily and affordably,” says Danny Gorog, co-founder and director at Outware Mobile.
To find out more and watch a demonstration please visit:
● http://www.google.com.ph/campaigns/balikbayan/
● http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/global-filipino/12/18/14/why-google-launched-balikbayan-campaign-ofws
● https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nkAyduxK9f4
● https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gx3YmAGU3l4
The app can be downloaded from the Google Play Store:
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.balikbayanapp&hl=en
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About Outware Mobile
Outware Mobile specialises in producing mobile software that is intuitive, effective and engaging. We are the most experienced, awarded and passionate mobile development team in Australia. We turn good ideas into great mobile experiences by building robust partnerships with great clients and nurturing our team’s technical and creative skills.
We have produced some of Australia’s most popular apps including Grow for ANZ, AFL Live, Coles Mobile Wallet, SEEK, nib Health Insurance and many more.