Palo Alto Networks Launches the First Cybersecurity Academy Program in the Philippines with Asia Pacific College

Wazzup Pilipinas!

Palo Alto Networks (NYSE:PANW), the global cybersecurity leader, recently announced a collaboration with Asia Pacific College (APC) to launch the first Cybersecurity Academy in the Philippines. The program is designed to nurture the next generation of the cybersecurity workforce in the Philippines.

Starting from February 2020, APC will roll out new cybersecurity courses under the academy curriculum to students across all disciplines. In addition to the School of Computing and Information Technologies, students from the School of Management, School of Multimedia and Arts, and School of Engineering will also have the opportunity to enrol in cybersecurity-related courses.

The courses will provide classroom instruction, as well as technical and hands-on lab training in the newly built laboratory known as “APC Cybersecurity Sandbox, secured by Palo Alto Networks”. Students will go through courses on the cybersecurity landscape and learn how to combat threats. Upon completing the four-year course, each student will be eligible as either a Palo Alto Networks Certified Cybersecurity Associate or Certified Network Security Administrator.

Dr. Tata Medado, president, Asia Pacific College said, “The vision of APC is to develop talent who have the skills and mindset to take on any challenge in any environment – in both the local as well as international market. With the shortage of cybersecurity professionals being a global challenge, we recognize the importance of cybersecurity education as a fundamental skill that must be learned and applied in various aspects of our daily lives, early on. It is a great honor to be Palo Alto Networks pioneering Cybersecurity Academy in the Philippines, and we look forward to building on this mutually rewarding relationship for many years to come.”

“To protect our increasingly digital way of life in the Philippines, we need to ensure that there’s a sufficient pool of cybersecurity talent available. We are committed to addressing the talent shortage challenge through this academic partnership and hope that this is the beginning of many more partnerships in the near future,” said Oscar Visaya, country manager for the Philippines, Palo Alto Networks.

The course will focus on cybersecurity gateway, infrastructure configuration, and defense and countermeasures. Palo Alto Networks has forged similar academic partnerships with colleges and universities in more than 40 countries in the US, Europe, Africa, Middle East and Asia Pacific. It is dedicated to training the next generation of the security workforce. For more information, please visit the Palo Alto Networks Cybersecurity Academy page.

Smile Train Partners with Glad Philippines to Host “Glad To Give Smiles” Family Fair to Raise Awareness and for Children with Clefts

Wazzup Pilipinas!

Smile Train Area Director for Southeast Asia Kimmy Flaviano presents a plaque of appreciation to Chef Happy Ongpauco-Tiu for her support to Smile Train Philippines. 

The world’s leading cleft charity, Smile Train, and food storage and cooking solutions provider Glad Philippines recently held the Glad-To-Give Smiles Family Fair to help spread smiles to Filipinos this Christmas season.

“As part of the Glad-to-Give Smiles program, we held this family fair to help raise awareness and funds for Smile Train and babies born with clefts,” said Mr. Paulo Lao, Sales and Marketing Director for Southeast Asia of The Clorox Company, which owns Glad.

“This program is the product of our long-standing relationship with Smile Train, as well as the company’s commitment to helping more consumers, including children and their families. Glad thrives on feasts and celebrations, especially during the Holiday and what better way to reinforce this message by bringing back the smiles of children affected with cleft lip and palate so they too can have happier mealtimes this Christmas,” Lao added.

The Glad-To-Give campaign is Glad’s global corporate social responsibility platform. This year, the Glad-To-Give Smiles Family Fair was filled with fun activities, delicious food stations and a cooking demonstration prepared by Glad®'s Ambassador, Chef Happy Ongpauco-Tiu. “I am very proud to be a part of this meaningful campaign this holiday. It is an honor for me to help raise funds and awareness about Smile Train’s work in the Philippines,” said Chef Happy Ongpauco-Tiu.

The program was hosted by Ms. Suzi Abrera. Other supporters include The Medical City, Alveo Land, Beyond Yoga, Swell Sweets Cake Lab, and Ms. Natalia Santamaria Escano, who performed with Smile Train beneficiaries during the program. Proceeds from ticket sales will benefit Smile Train’s cleft programs in the Philippines.

“As we celebrate our 20th year in the Philippines, we are grateful to our partners like Glad Philippines who have been enabling us to fulfill our vision to raise awareness and create a better future for children with clefts,” said Kimmy Coseteng-Flaviano, Smile Train’s Area Director for South East Asia. “We also thank the families for giving their time for the Glad-to-Give Smiles Family Fair. With their help, we are able to raise funding for more cleft surgeries this holiday season.”

Approximately 5,000 new babies with clefts are born every year in the Philippines. Without access to proper cleft treatment, these babies often have difficulty eating, breathing, speaking, and ultimately thriving. Smile Train’s sustainable model empowers local medical professionals with training and resources to provide 100 percent-free, quality, comprehensive, and safe cleft care to children in need in their own communities.

For more information about Smile Train's global efforts and to make a donation, please visit smiletrain.org. To learn more about Smile Train’s programs in the Philippines, follow Smile Train on Twitter and Instagram @SmileTrainPh, and like us on Facebook at @SmileTrainPhilippines.

PHOTO: From left to right: Kimmy Flaviano, Chef Happy Ongpauco-Tiu, Glad Philippines Sales and Marketing Director for Southeast Asia, and Ms. Suzi Abrera.

MAPFRE Insurance Raises Capital to P900M; Takes the Lead in Non-life Insurance

Wazzup Pilipinas!

MAPFRE INSURANCE recently announced in a media launch that it has raised capital to P900 Million, having complied with the minimum net worth requirement set for 2019. Marking its 85 years in the business, the company is anchored on three main objectives: to offer non-life solutions with relevant products, to be efficient in claims service, and to better serve the Filipino people. 

MAPFRE INSURANCE, formerly MAPFRE INSULAR, recently announced in a media launch that it has raised capital to P900 million, having complied with the minimum net worth requirement set for 2019 by the Insurance Commission, according to the New Insurance Code of the Philippines (RA 10607).

Amended in 2013, the law states that a domestic life or non-life insurance company should have at least a net worth of P250M by June 30, 2013, P550M by December 31, 2016, and reached P900M by December 31, 2019.

At the helm of MAPFRE Insurance is Mr. Tirso Abad, President & CEO, who shared the company breakthrough during the said event held on November 26, 2019. “This development shows the strengthened presence of MAPFRE Insurance in the Philippines, with a significant investment that will contribute to the industry and most especially improve the lives of Filipinos,” he said.

Marking its 85 years in the business, the company is anchored on three main objectives: to offer non-life solutions with relevant products, to be efficient in claims service, and to better serve the Filipino people.

Owned by MAPFRE Sociedad Anonima Spain at 75% majority, and Insular Life at 25%, MAFPRE INSURANCE is one of the non-life insurance companies with the highest capital and solvency in the Philippines.

In 2018, it introduced digital services and innovations such as the: MAPFRE INSULAR Virtual Office, centralized policy services and claims, QR code for verifying policies, 24/7 claim reporting, and expanded payment channels. The MAPFRE Insular Virtual Office is the first digital office portal for use of non-life insurance intermediaries – where partners can access accounts for renewal, draft quotations instantly, and make online payments.

“As we leap towards the digital future, we are presented with more choices to connect with people. This is a great opportunity to be more efficient and agile to serve our client’s unique needs. Since our launch last year, we have been continuously developing our channels and we look forward to be a digital leader as well for the insurance industry,” Mr. Abad added.

MAPFRE INSURANCE offers general insurance for optimum financial protection and risk management covering fire and allied lines, motor vehicles, personal accident, casualty, liability, engineering, marine cargo, and surety. The company has developed a wide network nationwide expanding from 10 branches to 16 sales offices in NCR, Isabela, Lipa, Iloilo, Cebu, Cagayan de Oro, and Davao, among many others.

For more information about the MAPFRE INSURANCE, you may visit http://mapfre.com.ph or email info@mapfreinsular.com

IN PHOTO (L-R): Jean Israel, Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer; Maria Theressa Abrahan, Vice President and Technical Head; Hector Castello Nuñez, Senior Vice President; Mr. Tirso C. Abad, President and CEO; Mildred Rabena-Hugo, Chief Information Officer; Malou Santiago, Vice President and Operations Head; and Kimmy Sanchez-Alegarbes, Vice President and Human Resources Director