Cebu Pacific takes flight for Pride
Flight 5J 905, Cebu Pacific’s very first Pride flight, flew from Manila to Boracay on June 5, and was operated by a crew of LGBTQIA+ members and allies.
Flight 5J 905, Cebu Pacific’s very first Pride flight, flew from Manila to Boracay on June 5, and was operated by a crew of LGBTQIA+ members and allies.
Cebu Pacific kicked off its Pride Month celebration with the launch of its very first Pride flight on June 5, highlighting the airline’s unwavering commitment to diversity, inclusivity, and equity for every Juan.
The CEB Flight 5J 905, which flew from Manila to Boracay, was operated by LGBTQIA+ members and allies. The team includes Captain Bensie Tan, Captain Bettina Mercado, First Officer Lorenz Montinola, First Officer Chezka Carandang, Christopher Ian Mau, Kevin Jason Baetiong, Kimberly Naval, Niña Marudo, and Mikee Vitug.
Passengers on board were treated to Pride-themed giveaways, fun games, and an exclusive chance to win a free roundtrip domestic flight ticket, among others.
The Pride Flight is only the first installment of CEB’s lineup of events dedicated to Pride Month. Throughout June, CEB will host various training and online courses, all aimed at fostering equity and advocating for gender sensitivity in the workplace.
Japan Coast Guard (JCG) reaffirms further collaboration with PH, U.S. counterparts
On 3 June 2023, the Japan Coast Guard (JCG) together with the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) and the U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) held the trilateral working-level meeting. Embassy of Japan Charges d’affaires ad interim MATSUDA Kenichi, Director for CG International Cooperation, JCG HQ, Captain Atsushi MIURA, USCG Cutter STRATTON, Captain Brian C. Krautler, and PCG Vice Admiral Rolando Punzalan Jr. were all present during the event. JCG Commandant Admiral Shohei ISHII and Pacific Area Commander Vice Admiral Andrew J. Tiongson delivered the video message.
During the meeting, the three countries’ coast guards affirmed the importance of cooperation towards the realization of a Free and Open Indo-Pacific (FOIP). The JCG, PCG and USCG agreed on the necessity of conducting periodical exercises in order to ensure the stability and security of the Indo-Pacific region.
Furthermore, the three agencies concurred to continue trilateral efforts in human resource development, highlighting the importance of joint training. They have also agreed to closer information exchange, and confirmed further coordination for expanded cooperation in various fields.
In light of the recent MT Princess Empress oil spill, the PCG thanked cooperation of Japan and the U.S in Mindoro. In turn, the coast guards of both countries expressed their readiness to provide utmost support and willingness to cooperate in similar happenings in the future.
The JCG, PCG and USCG conducted their trilateral maritime exercises from June 5-7. The trilateral maritime exercise aims to strengthen interoperability between the JCG, PCG, and USCG through communication exercises, maneuvering drills, photo exercises, maritime law enforcement training, search and rescue (SAR), and passing exercises.
Globe At Home, Samsung partner to give Pinoys
an elevated digital home experience
Globe At Home has partnered with global technology powerhouse Samsung to provide a new level of care for customers through prioritizing innovation and customer value at home, making households smarter, better connected and future ready.
With the shared goal of enhancing the digital lives of Filipinos, Globe At Home and Samsung are kicking off their partnership with an exciting promo that aims to bring a superior home experience to its customers. With this latest offering, new and existing Globe At Home customers get a chance to make their dream of an intelligent home a reality.
For this initiative, customers get the chance to win raffle tickets by availing themselves of Globe at Home services.
With the shared vision of Globe At Home and Samsung to be the best digital partner for every Filipino family for connectivity, entertainment, and devices, together they bring an innovative approach to enriching the lives of Filipinos, taking them one step closer to a future of smart homes.
Converge CEO wins at World Entrepreneur Awards
Converge ICT Solutions Inc. CEO and co-founder Dennis Anthony Uy will be joining 44 other global business leaders in Monte Carlo, Monaco, as he represents the Philippines to vie for the world title of the prestigious EY World Entrepreneur of the Year awards this June 6-9.
The EY World Entrepreneur Of The Year is a premier global competition for entrepreneurs, founded by professional services firm Ernst & Young in 1986 to recognize the most successful and innovative entrepreneurs around the world.
The Converge CEO was hailed the Philippines’ EY Entrepreneur of the Year and Master Entrepreneur in November last year after he bested 17 other Filipino finalists for his pivotal role in bringing digital connectivity to Filipinos across the country.
BIDA program
PLDT, its wireless unit Smart Communications Inc. and the rest of the MVP Group pledged full support to the Department of the Local and Interior Government (DILG) as it officially launched the private partnership for its ‘Buhay ay Ingatan, Droga ay Ayawan’ (BIDA) program.
The MVP Group also committed to promote the overall health and wellness of Filipinos, starting with keeping a drug-free workplace. Among the MVP-led organizations present were Meralco, Maynilad, Metro Pacific Tollways Corp., NLEX Corp., and MPT South Corporation.
The BIDA Program is the DILG’s medium- to long-term program that aims to build healthy, safe, and drug-free Filipino communities by applying a whole-of-government and whole-of-nation approach, focusing on the areas of education, livelihood, health, and wellness.
To further this cause, DILG has invited the private sector for a long-term partnership and together, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) during the BIDA private partnership launch. Around 30 companies heeded the call to promote a healthy, safe, and drug-free work environment, vowing to actively participate in the BIDA Program.
Palo Alto releases new research
Palo Alto Networks, the global cybersecurity leader, recently released the Unit 42 Network Threat Trends Research Report Vol.2.
The report highlights the current trends in malware while providing a detailed analysis of the most common types of malware and their distribution methods.
According to research, 66.6 percent of total malware is delivered through portable document format (PDF) files attached to malicious emails. PDF files are commonly used in a business environment, and victims are less likely to be wary of an expected file type, versus unexpected file types like EXEs.
Other key findings from the report include Exploitation of vulnerabilities has increased by 55 percent, compared to 2021; Linux malware is on the rise, targeting cloud workload devices; an estimated 90 percent of public cloud instances run on Linux with the most common types of threats against Linux systems being botnets (47 percent), coinminers (21 percent) and backdoors (11 percent).
ChatGPT scams: Unit 42 saw a 910 percent increase in monthly registrations for domains, both benign and malicious, related to ChatGPT.
“As millions of people use ChatGPT, it’s unsurprising that we see ChatGPT-related scamsas cybercriminals take advantage of the hype around AI. But the trusty email PDF is still the most common way cybercriminals deliver malware,” said Sean Duca, VP and regional chief security officer at Palo Alto Networks. “Organizations must therefore take a holistic view of their security environment to provide comprehensive oversight of their network and ensure security best practices are followed at every level of the organization.”
Filipino pride
The Jollibee Group’s global general counsel & ethics head and compliance officer Valerie Feria Amante was named the In-House Lawyer of the Year by the 19th Annual Asian Legal Business (ALB) Southeast (SE) Asia Law Awards 2023.
Amante is the only Filipino individual awardee this year.
The ALB SE Asia Law Awards 2023, judged by an independent panel of senior and expert legal industry leaders from various sectors across the region, recognizes the exceptional performance of private practitioners and in-house counsel in SE Asia.
Amante leads a team of 19 lawyers and 10 paralegals spanning six countries: Philippines, China, Vietnam, USA, Singapore, and Ireland.
Amante has been with the Jollibee Group for over 16 years now and has led the development of the legal, ethics, and compliance functions as integral components in Jollibee Group’s growth and expansion over the years.
Downy’s new variant
Downy Garden Bloom lets one enjoy “less gusot, more lambot “ while clothes smell garden-fresh.
Technical tests show clothes washed with this concentrated fabric conditioner have fewer wrinkles as compared to those cleaned with detergent only. That means one can save both time and money.
Downy Garden Bloom is available in sari sari stores, supermarkets and on Shopee and Lazada.
Maynilad offers desludging services
West Zone concessionaire Maynilad Water Services Inc. is offering septic tank cleaning services to its residential and semi-business customers this June in select parts of Caloocan, Las Piñas, Makati, Malabon, Manila, Muntinlupa, Navotas, Parañaque, Pasay, Quezon City, Valenzuela, and Cavite Province at no extra cost.
Maynilad’s sanitation program is one of the company’s efforts to lessen pollution loading into Metro Manila’s river systems.
Customers residing in Barangays 167, 171 to 176, 178, 180, 181, 183, 185, 186 and 188 in Caloocan; Brgy. Longos in Malabon; Brgy. Bagbaguin, Lawang Bato, Mabolo, Paso de Blas and Pasolo in Valenzuela City, Brgy. Pamplona 2 and Talon Dos in Las Piñas; Brgy. Poblacion in Muntinlupa; Brgy. Marcelo Green, Moonwalk, San Antonio, San Dionisio, and San Isidro in Parañaque may avail of Maynilad’s desludging service.
Maynilad customers in Cavite Province, particularly in Brgy. 10-A, 10-B, 13, 16, 18, 19, 23, 26, 28, 29, 29-A, Dalahican, Panapaan, and San Roque in Cavite City; and Bucandala 1 to 5, and Carsadang Bago 2 in Imus City may avail of the company’s septic tank cleaning services at no extra cost. Septic tank cleaning service normally costs around P4,700 per truck.
Maynilad customers interested in availing themselves of the company’s septic tank cleaning service may call the Maynilad Hotline 1626 to determine the requirements and procedures.
No annual fee for life
New holders of Security Bank Gold Mastercard can enjoy no annual fee for life plus an exclusive welcome gift of P1,000 cash credits.
Annual fees for an annual spending of P300,000.
Welcome gifts are in the form of 17,000 rewards points which can be redeemed to P1,000 cash credits for a spend of at least P40,000 in a single or accumulated transaction within sixty (60) days upon approval of your card.
New Security Bank Gold Mastercard holders also earn never-expiring rewards points.
Applications will be accepted until July 31.
