May 31, 2018

ALASKA IRONKIDS: SA PORMA, GALAW, AT PUSO – WALANG TATALO!

IronKids is a three-in-one sport which combines, swimming, cycling, and running, which tests one’s physical and mental will. But how do you add in the fun?

While teaching children the values of hard work, determination, team work, sportsmanship, and discipline, Alaska IronKids is, first and foremost, an avenue for kids to make the most of their time and energy engaged in sports instead of whiling their time away playing video games or browsing the internet. It also allows them to mingle and make new friends while having fun.

With the excitement built up from Swim.Bike.Run in Davao City last March and Swim.Run at the Ateneo de Manila Grade School grounds the following month, both kids and parents have so much to look forward to the second half of 2018.

On Saturday, June 02, more than 350 young athletes from all over the country are expected to conquer Subic Bay in the Alaska IronKids Swim.Run at the WOW Recreation and Activity Center in Subic Bay.

Mr. Fred Uytengsu, SEI President and Alaska Milk Corporation Chairman of the Board, shared that while they enjoy the race by ‘playing’ the sport, Alaska IronKids promotes creative ways to instill sportsmanship and discipline to young athletes.

"More than encouraging healthier, active lifestyles, Alaska IronKids offers children and teens the opportunity to build confidence and learn the values of discipline, hard work, and perseverance, while making new friends and having fun!” said Uytengsu.

Clifford Pusing who is running in his last Alaska IronKids race this weekend, dreams of leveling up his game by joining the Ironman next year with the help of Coach Ani de Leon-Brown and his father Mike. Through the years, his dedication for Alaska IronKids has remained the same, win or lose.



Clifford Pusing finishing 1st in the boys 13-14 category of Alaska IronKids 2018 in Davao

“I chose to join Alaska IronKids because they gave me a chance to develop my skills and sportsmanship. Winning is everything but when I lose, I learned to accept my defeat with dignity,” he stated.
Wacky Baniqued finishing 1st in the boys 13-14 category of Alaska IronKids 2017 in Cebu

Wacky Baniqued, who has been lording it over in the event since age seven, meanwhile, wrapped up his Alaska IronKids career last year in Cebu City in top spot.

I am thankful to the organizer of Alaska IronKids. It has been so much fun experience for me. I am part of the Philippine Triathlon Team now because IronKids introduced me to the exciting world of triathlon,” Baniqued, a proud product of Alaska IronKids, expressed.

He also now serves as Alaska IronKids volunteer marshall as his way of giving back to the program. Baniqued was present during the Swim.Run at Ateneo Grade School and is expected to support the program anew in Alaska IronKids Swim.Run Subic on June 2.

Coach Ani de Leon-Brown (leftmost) and the podium finishers capping off the Alaska IronKids 2018 in Davao with a milk toast



“Alaska IronKids aims to give excitement to children and encourage a love for the outdoors and healthier lifestyles. In addition, it provides the perfect venue for families to bond and for parents to demonstrate in ‘real-time’ that being healthy can also be fun,” Uytengsu said.

A study conducted by the Department of Health (DOH) and the Food and Nutrition Research Institute (FNRI) showed that obesity has become one of the prevalent nutritional problems of Filipino children, affecting about 5 out of 100 kids. This growing health issue has prompted Alaska to reinforce its thrust in promoting proper nutrition by drinking milk and nourishing healthy lifestyle through sports and outdoor activities for the youth.

“A balanced diet and training, along with Alaska Chocolate Powdered Milk Drink, helps your child’s body to function at its optimum and recover quickly after training and race day. It has energizing nutrients namely magnesium, calcium, and potassium that keep young athletes' bodies in winning form. Para sa porma, galaw, at puso – walang tatalo!” says Ms. Blen Fernando, Marketing Director of Alaska Milk Corporation.

Happening back-to-back with IronKids is the first full distance triathlon event to be held in the country. With this year’s theme “Ironman sa Sariling Bayan”, IRONMAN PHILIPPINES PRESENTED BY ALASKA will be held on June 3, Sunday in Subic with August Benedicto as the Philippines’ lone representative. As of May 18, the total number of participants have been listed at 1,553 – 1,272 for the full distance with 281 for the 70.3. Daniel dela Cruz will be designing the medals.

After the action-filled weekend in Subic Bay, action shifts to Cebu City for the Alaska IronKids Swim. Bike. Run slated on August 4.

Help your child reach his full potential by participating in ALASKA IRONKIDS PHILIPPINES. For more information, visit www.IronKidsphil.com and www.playPH.com, and follow @AlaskaMilkPhilippines and @playPH in Facebook for live updates.



Robinsons Land Corporation hosts first Art Competition in partnership with AAP to promote Pinoy talent

Titled “Kulayan ang Ganda ng Pilipinas,” the Robinsons Land National Art Competition 2018 hosted by Summit Hotels and Resorts encourages local artists to showcase the beauty of the Philippines through art.

In support of the admirable Pinoy talent in the arts, Robinsons Land Corporation partnered with Art Association of the Philippines (AAP) to launch the Robinsons Land National Art Competition 2018, hosted by Summit Hotels and Resorts.

Titled “Kulayan ang Ganda ng Pilipinas,” the competition aims to foster awareness and appreciation for the ever-evolving Filipino art scene while also showcasing the environmental beauty of the Philippines as depicted through the eyes of an artist. It was launched last May 12, 2018 at the Momento Function Room of Summit Hotel Magnolia and submission of entries will be on June 16, 2018.

The competition was specifically created to tap members of the AAP, comprised of artists and creators — those who have long been in the field and those who are only beginning to realize their potential.


RLC and AAP executives spearhead the launch of the art competition at Summit Hotel Magnolia last May 12, 2018: (L-R) Monette R. Alvarez – AAP Treasurer, Elizabeth D. Gregorio – Go Hotels and Summit Hotels and Resorts General Manager, Lisette A. Arena – Summit Hotels and Resorts Senior Marketing Manager, Veronica L. Olan – Member of the AAP Board of Directors, Margarita Lim – AAP Secretary, Fidel M. Sarmiento – AAP President, and Cshanelle Cruz – Summit Hotels and Resorts Marketing Officer for Events and Promotions.

Interested participants must create an original piece that falls into either of the two categories: representational, or non-representational. Only those who choose to submit a piece that is representational — that is, art that contains clearly recognizable objects — must follow the main theme of the competition, “Kulayan ang Ganda ng Pilipinas.” Those who choose to submit non-representational pieces may follow any theme.

Art pieces must only be done through oil on canvas, acrylic on canvas, or watercolor only. Any other forms of media including mixed media, collages, and digitally-enhanced pieces are prohibited.

Winners will be announced on June 19, 2018 during the Awarding Event at Crowne Plaza Manila Galleria. Winning entries will also be displayed in all Summit Hotels and Resorts properties nationwide.

Complete guidelines and mechanics for the competition can be viewed at the Summit Hotels and Resorts website and official Facebook page. Submissions will be accepted until June 16, 2018 at the Gokongwei Brothers Foundation - Technical Training Center in Rosario, Pasig City.

Stay in for the summer! Get the whole family together with the Roku Powered™ TVolution

As we reach the height of this year’s scorching summer, everyone’s trying to find ways to cool down. 

Here’s an idea: How about a streaming marathon of your favorite TV series and movies? With a bowl of popcorn and some ice-cold drinks, summer binge-watching at home is definitely a great—and cheaper—bonding activity that you can enjoy over and over again!  

Nobody will ever complain of running out of things to watch at home with the Roku Powered™ TVolution—an all-in-one, plug-and-play entertainment device that streams high-definition movies and TV shows from global entertainment leaders straight to your television set. 

Powered by the country’s most powerful broadband, PLDT Home Fibr, the Roku Powered™ TVolution offers seamless, high-quality, and lag-free viewing experiences for the entire family to enjoy. With this revolutionary entertainment solution, you can choose from a wide selection of high-definition channels from the Philippines largest pay TV provider Cignal; enjoy the biggest selection of top Hollywood, Asian, and local movies and TV shows from iflix, the world’s leading entertainment service for emerging markets; critically-acclaimed Netflix originals and films (Netflix subscription required); over a billion hours of videos every single day from YouTube, the world’s largest streaming website; and over 100 free streaming channels.

Still not decided what to watch? Don’t worry—we’ve got you covered with some themes to craft a personalized watch list to suit your preferences and moods!

  • Children’s Hour
  



Keep the kids entertained for hours on end with a customized playlist of kid-friendly movies and cartoons such as Happy Feet, Inside Out, Jack the Giant Slayer, Journey to the Center of the Earth, and The Lego Movie  - all available on iflix Kids. Or simply tune in to Disney XD HD and Cartoon Network HD via Cignal for awesome non-stop kid-friendly programming!

  • Thrills and Chills


If thriller, suspense, and horror are right up your family’s alley, Cignal has you covered with channels like Thrill, FOX Crime, and FOX Action Movies. You can also curate your very own thrills-and-chills playlist with iflix by simply browsing through the categories of your choice—choose from hundreds of blockbusters, critically acclaimed films, and exclusive digital content at your leisure. And the best part of all? Nobody has to miss vital clues or unexpected jump scares while replenishing the popcorn bowl—simply hit pause and dive right back into the action when you’re ready!

  • Rom-Com Extravaganza


Everyone needs a good dose of comedy-infused romance, so get your mom, sisters, cousins, and every rom-com addict in the family for the best of Hollywood, Asian, and Pinoy romance movies and TV series on iflix. You’ll have a cornucopia of popular K-drama, Wattpad Presents, and blockbuster titles right at your fingertips to fill the heart with all the kilig you can handle.

  • Docu-all-you-want

Documentaries get the undeserved reputation of being “boring”—maybe you just haven’t seen the right ones yet. iflix offers hundreds of titles covering music icons, historical figures, athletes, celebrities, hobbies, and a wide range of relevant issues that will guarantee your entertainment and additional knowledge. Also available on Cignal are Discovery, National Geographic, Nat Geo Wild, Animal Planet, and History Channel—all offering high-quality programming for documentary fans and those who wish to be educated and entertained at the same time.

Get started on planning your Roku Powered™ TVolution streaming marathon! Visit www.pldthome.com/fibr for more information.


May 30, 2018

Understanding the Cybersecurity Threat , Landscape in Asia Pacific Securing the Modern Enterprise in a Digital World"

FY18 Microsoft Asia Pacific Cybersecurity Study entitled "Understanding the Cybersecurity Threat , Landscape in Asia Pacific Securing the Modern Enterprise in a Digital World" aims to provide business and IT decision makers with insigths on the economic cost of cybersecurity breaches in the region and identify the gaps in organizations'cybersecurity strategis, on May 29, 2018 at the Grand Hyatt in Bonifacio Global City. 

Digital transformation has dominated C-suites, boardrooms, and even governmental discussions in the last few years. Today, it is an accepted viewpoint that in the near future, every organization will be a digital one. Security is the number one focus and priority for organizations in a digital world where devices, data, and mobility converge to provide new connected experiences in work, live and play.

The case study looks at the state of cybersecurity in Asia Pacific, specifically the perils of digital transformation, economic impact of cybersecurity attacks, cybersecurity strategies, as well as recommendations from several industry experts.


Security experts discuss the economic impact of cybersecurity in the PH during Microsoft’s study launch. From L-R: Hans Bayaborda, Managing Director, Microsoft Philippines; Mary Jo Schrade, Assistant General Counsel, Microsoft Digital Crimes Unit, Microsoft Asia; Angel “Lito” S. Averia, Jr., President, Philippine Computer Emergency Response Team; Atty. Raul Cortez, Corporate, External, and Legal Affairs Lead, Microsoft Philippines.



Cybersecurity threats to cost organizations in the Philippines US$3.5 billion in economic losses

Microsoft and Frost & Sullivan Study reveals that:

  • A large-sized organization in the Philippines can possibly incur an economic loss ofUS$7.5 million, more than 200 times the average economic loss for a mid-sized organization
  • Cybersecurity attacks have led to job losses in seven in ten (72%) organizations over the last year
  • Cybersecurity concerns delay Digital Transformation plans
  • Organizations are increasingly leveraging Artificial Intelligence to enhance their cybersecurity strategy

A Frost & Sullivan study commissioned by Microsoft revealed that the potential economic loss in the Philippines due to cybersecurity incidents can hit a staggeringUS$3.5 billion. This is 1.1 percent of the Philippines’ total GDP of US$305 billion[1].

The study, titled “Understanding the Cybersecurity Threat Landscape in Asia Pacific: Securing the Modern Enterprise in a Digital World”, aims to provide business and IT decision makers with insights on the economic cost of cybersecurity breaches in the region and identify the gaps in organizations’ cybersecurity strategies. The study involved a survey of 1,300 business and IT decision makers ranging from mid-sized organizations (250 to 499 employees) to large-sized organizations (>than 500 employees). 

The study reveals that more than half of the organizations surveyed in the Philippines have either experienced a cybersecurity incident (18%) or are not sure if they had one as they have not performed proper forensics or data breach assessment (34%).

“As companies embrace the opportunities presented by cloud and mobile computing to connect with customers and optimize operations, they take on new risks,” said Hans Bayaborda, Managing Director, Microsoft Philippines. “With traditional IT boundaries disappearing the adversaries now have many new targets to attack. Companies face the risk of significant financial loss, damage to customer satisfaction and market reputation — as has been made all too clear by recent high-profile breaches.”

The True Cost of Cybersecurity Incidents – Economic, Opportunity and Job Losses
The study revealed that:

  • A large-sized organization in the Philippines can possibly incur an economic loss of US$7.5 million, more than 200 times higher than the average economic loss for a mid-sized organization (US$35,000); and
  • Cybersecurity attacks have resulted in job losses across different functions in seven in ten (72%) organizations that have experienced an incident over the last 12 months.

To calculate the cost of cybercrime, Frost & Sullivan has created an economic loss model based on macro-economic data and insights shared by the survey respondents. This model factors in three kinds of losses which could be incurred due to a cybersecurity breach:

  • Direct: Financial losses associated with a cybersecurity incident - this includes loss of productivity, fines, remediation cost, etc;
  • Indirect: The opportunity cost to the organization such as customer churn due to reputation loss; and
  • Induced: The impact of cyber breach to the broader ecosystem and economy, such as the decrease in consumer and enterprise spending.

“Although the direct losses from cybersecurity breaches are most visible, they are but just the tip of the iceberg,” said Edison Yu, Vice President and Asia Pacific Head of Enterprise for Frost & Sullivan. “There are many other hidden losses that we have to consider from both the indirect and induced perspectives, and the economic loss for organizations suffering from cybersecurity attacks can be often underestimated.”

In addition to financial losses, cybersecurity incidents are also undermining the Philippines organizations’ ability to capture future opportunities in today’s digital economy, with more than half (57%) respondents stating that their enterprise has put off digital transformation efforts due to the fear of cyber-risks.

Key Cyberthreats and Gaps in the Philippines Organizations’ Cybersecurity Strategies

Although high-profile cyberattacks, such as ransomware, have been garnering a lot of attention from enterprises, the study found that for organizations in the Philippines that have encountered cybersecurity incidents, data exfiltration and data corruption are the biggest concern as they have the highest impact with the slowest recovery time.

Besides external threats, the research also revealed key gaps in organizations’ cybersecurity approach to protect their digital estate:

  • Security an afterthought: Only 44% of organizations consider cybersecurity before the start of a digital transformation project. Majority of respondents (56%) either think about cybersecurity only after they start on the project or do not consider it at all. This limits their ability to conceptualize and deliver a “secure-by-design” project, potentially leading to insecure products going out into the market;

  • Creating a Complex Environment: Negating the popular belief that deploying a large portfolio of cybersecurity solutions will render stronger protection, the survey revealed that 17% of respondents with more than 50 cybersecurity solutions could recover from cyberattacks within an hour. In contrast, more than twice as many respondents (38%) with fewer than 10 cybersecurity solutions responded that they can recover from cyberattacks within an hour; and

  • Lacking cybersecurity strategy: While more and more organizations are considering digital transformation to gain competitive advantage, the study has shown that 46% of respondents see cybersecurity strategy only as a means to safeguard the organization against cyberattacks rather than a strategic business enabler. A mere 25% of organizations see cybersecurity strategy as a digital transformation enabler.
  
“The ever-changing threat environment is challenging, but there are ways to be more effective using the right blend of modern technology, strategy, and expertise,” added Hans. “Microsoft is empowering businesses in the Philippines to take advantage of digital transformation by enabling them to embrace the technology that’s available to them, securely through its secure platform of products and services, combined with unique intelligence and broad industry partnerships.”

In a digital world where cyberthreats are constantly evolving and attack surface is rapidly expanding, AI is becoming a potent opponent against cyberattacks as it can detect and act on threat vectors based on data insights. The study reveals that more than almost four in five (79%) organizations in the Philippines have either adopted or are looking to adopt an AI approach towards boosting cybersecurity.

AI’s ability to rapidly analyze and respond to unprecedented quantities of data is becoming indispensable in a world where cyberattacks’ frequency, scale and sophistication continue to increase.

An AI-driven cybersecurity architecture will be more intelligent and be equipped with predictive abilities to allow organizations to fix or strengthen their security posture before problems emerge. It will also grant companies with the capabilities to accomplish tasks, such as identifying cyberattacks, removal of persistent threats and fixing bugs, faster than any human could, making it an increasingly vital element of any organizations’ cybersecurity strategy.

Recommendations for securing the modern enterprise in a digital world

AI is but one of the many aspects that organizations need to incorporate or adhere to in order to maintain a robust cybersecurity posture. For a cybersecurity practice to be successful, organizations need to consider People, Process and Technology, and how each of these contributes to the overall security posture of the organization.

To help organizations better withstand and respond to cyberattacks and malware infections, here are five best practices that they can consider in improving their defense against cybersecurity threats:

  • Position cybersecurity as a digital transformation enabler: Disconnect between cybersecurity practices and digital transformation effort creates a lot of frustration for the employees. Cybersecurity is a requirement for digital transformation to guide and keep the company safe through its journey. Conversely, digital transformation presents an opportunity for cybersecurity practices to abandon aging practices to embrace new methods of addressing today’s risks;

  • Continue to invest in strengthening your security fundamentals: Over 90% of cyber incidents can be averted by maintaining the most basic best practices.  Maintaining strong passwords, conditional use of multi-factor authentication against suspicious authentications, keeping device operating systems, software and anti-malware protection up-to-date and genuine can rapidly raise the bar against cyberattacks. This should include not just tool-sets but also training and policies to support a stronger fundamental;

  • Maximize skills and tools by leveraging integrated best-of-suite tools. The best tools are useless in the hands of the amateur. Reduce the number of tools and the complexity of your security operations to allow your operators to hone their proficiency with the available tools. Prioritizing best-of-suite tools is a great way to maximize your risk coverage without the risk of introducing too many tools and complexity to the environment. This is especially true if tools within the suite are well-integrated to take advantage of their counterparts;

  • Assessment, review and continuous compliance: The organization should be in a continuous state of compliance. Assessments and reviews should be conducted regularly to test for potential gaps that may occur as the organization is rapidly transforming and address these gaps. The board should keep tab on not just compliance to industry regulations but also how the organization is progressing against security best practices; and

  • Leverage AI and automation to increase capabilities and capacity: With security capabilities in short supply, organizations need to look to automation and AI to improve the capabilities and capacity of their security operations. Current advancements in AI has shown a lot of promise, not just in raising detections that would otherwise be missed but also in reasoning over how the various data signals should be interpreted with recommended actions. Such systems have seen great success in cloud implementations where huge volumes of data can be processed rapidly. Ultimately, leveraging automation and AI can free up cybersecurity talents to focus on higher-level activities.

For more information on the study, please visit:

To better understand the cyberthreats happening globally and in Asia Pacific, please download the Microsoft Security Intelligence Report Volume 23 here: https://info.microsoft.com/ww-landing-Security-Intelligence-Report-Vol-23-Landing-Page-eBook.html





About the “Understanding the Cybersecurity Threat Landscape in Asia Pacific: Securing the Modern Enterprise in a Digital World” Study

This study involved a survey conducted with 1,300 respondents from 13 markets - Australia, China, Hong Kong, Indonesia, India, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, New Zealand, Philippines, Singapore, Taiwan and Thailand.

All respondents are business and IT decision-makers involved in shaping their organizations’ cybersecurity strategies. 44% of them being business decision-makers, including CEOs, COOs and Directors, while 56% are IT decision-makers, including CIOs, CISO and IT Directors. 29% of participants are from mid-sized organizations (250 to 499 staff); and 71% are from large-sized organizations (more than 500 staff).



About Microsoft

Microsoft (Nasdaq “MSFT” @microsoft) enables digital transformation for the era of an intelligent cloud and an intelligent edge. Its mission is to empower every person and every organization on the planet to achieve more.

Globe reiterates request to DPWH for cooperation to avoid fiber cut incidents which disrupt telco services

Telecom services in some parts of Northern Luzon, Mindanao affected by DPWH activities

Globe Telecom reiterates its earlier and continuing request to the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) for cooperation to minimize, if not totally avoid, fiber cut incidents that often lead to disruption of telecommunication services in view of two separate incidents which caused the loss of Globe mobile services and affected broadband and enterprise circuits in some parts of Northern Luzon and Mindanao last week.
On May 21, a Globe underground fiber was damaged due to DPWH soil testing at Agua Grande, Pagudpud, Ilocos Norte, thereby, impacting Globe customers in Cagayan, Apayao, Kalinga, Quirino, Nueva Vizcaya, Cauayan City, and Tuguegarao.

The following day, some parts of Basilan, Sulu, Tawi-Tawi, Zamboanga Sibugay, Pagadian, Zamboanga del Sur, Zambaoanga del Norte, and Misamis Occidental also suffered service interruption after a Globe underground fiber was hit by a backhoe during pile driving activity of DPWH at Butadon Bridge, Kapatagan, Lanao del Norte.

According to Globe General Counsel Froilan Castelo:  “The growing incidence of fiber cuts is getting to be a major concern for us and we would like to appeal to DPWH and their contractors to be extra cautious in the execution of their projects to avoid recurrence of accidental cuts and damage to our cable facilities.”

Network disruptions caused by fiber cut incidents adversely impact not only the company’s operations but could also potentially affect delivery of government services including emergency response.  Globe provides access to both 911 and 8888, the government’s emergency and complaint hotline, respectively, as well as inbound and outbound SMS accessibility for 2286 (BATO), a text hotline for the public to directly report incidents to the Philippine National Police.

Globe continues to experience hundreds of cable cuts attributed to road-construction related activities undertaken by DPWH contractors.  Some of these cable incidents have led to major network disruption that affected call, text and internet services of Globe.  These incidents have forced Globe to file criminal and civil cases against the contractors.


Even barring major network disruptions, cable cut incidents cause at the very least poor quality of service delivery to consumers as well as additional repair costs to the company.

May 29, 2018

Reef invites everyone to embrace the fun, freedom and spirit of the beach with ‘Beach Freely’

Reef, the industry leader in beach and surf footwear, is launching its new brand mantra that seeks to unite the world around the fun, freedom and spirit of the beach – Beach Freely. 

Beach Freely encourages everyone who steps into the sand or into Reef products to experience the beach in their own way – whether that’s surfing, barbecuing, swimming and enjoying other water sports – and take that fun spirit of the beach with them wherever they go. 

Local’s Perspective, the country’s first ever surfing coffee table book was launched during Reef’s Beach Freely event. Written by Michael Eijansatos from My Life on Board and published in partnership with Reef, the book covers the best surfing spots in the country and around Asia.



With its pristine white sand beaches and surfing spots hailed around the globe as some of the world’s finest, the Philippines has a vibrant beach-loving and surfing community who were there to witness the launch of the campaign at Alabang Town Center. Featuring games, music and all the other things that makes beach parties memorable, Reef invited the crowd to get into the Breach Freely spirit. 

The event also kicked off the launch of “Local’s Perspective” – the first Philippine Surf Book to be published. Created in collaboration with Reef’s long-time partner, My Life on Board, the book compiled the best surf images together with some of the finest wave chasers of our time, not only in the Philippines, but also across Asia - immortalizing those moments and telling the story of the history and culture of the locals who shaped the Asian surfing scene.

The book features images from the best surf photographers in Asia and Oceana like Giang Wardani from Batu Karas in West Java Indonesia, Bali based National Geographic photographer Tommy Schultz, Mentawai Island based surf photographer from Japan Hatsumi Ishibashi, World Longboard Championship Chaplain and photographer Andrew Carruthers from Australia and Siagrao based surf photographer Oliver Bayer.

It also highlights work from the Philippines’ own local surf photographers like Red Bull Ilume finalists and Sony World Photography National Award winner Gaps Sabuero, surf photographer from Samar Abdel Elecho, La Union based surfer and photographer Jeferson Ganuelas, Baler Based surf photographer JP Sarmiento and My Life on Board founder Mike Eijansantos. 

Mike was inspired to create this book because as he said, “Everything is digital already. So I want to create a book that immortalize the beauty of the images.”


Lovers of Reef can look forward to feeling this new, invigorated spirit in Reef’s latest products. 


Reef featured new their newest products during the launch: the Fanning Low sandals which has a built it bottle opener and ultra-soft support cushion soles, and the perforated board shorts which gives ultimate breathability and dries almost instantly after you step out of the water.




Perfect for surfers who are feeling the heat this summer, Reef’s perforated boadshorts feature light breathable polyester fabric created from woven soluble yarn and have perforated holes allow for water and air to freely pass through the fabric, speeding up the dry time and enhancing breathability. Complete with a zipper closure back pocket, key loop and non-velcro fly make this perfect for surf or other high intensity water sport. 

For the trendy beach-goer, Reef has created a slimmer, sleeker version of the ever-popular Fanning sandal. The Fanning Low has the same all-day comfort, arch support, and thirst quenching technology as the Fanning; but with slimmer straps and a lower side profile for a more youthful and fun vibe. 

Michael Eijansantos from My Life on Board talks about how the surfing community has grown in the country, given that we have some of the best beaches and surfing spots in the world. His book, Local’s Perspective, was inspired his dream to immortalize the beautiful blue waves of the Philippines and spots around Asia.


The Fanning Low has a super soft yet supportive EVA footbed, an airbag under the heel for even more support, and a rubber outsole for top of the line traction and durability – and it even has a bottle opener to ensure you are always able to quench your thirst! The new Fanning Low will be available in 6 six fun colors, right in time for one’s next beach adventure. 

The new mantra also lends itself to the Reef’s updated impact strategy to help keep beaches clean for everyone to enjoy.  Environmental and social impact has been a priority for Reef since the company’s founding in 1984 and has continued to grow throughout the years through the global Reef WeHeart program.


At the Beach Freely launch, Reef Chief Operating Officer Jane Ortega talks about how Reef continues to be a brand that always strives to create innovative products while making beach time fun and free.



Reef Marketing Supervisor Marnelli Gaerlan said that Reef aims to “…promote responsible travel by always seeing to it the [we] Reef always have the planet in mind.” She also encourages everyone to always plan beach trips with a conscience by enjoying the beauty of the ocean without leaving a trace. 

Here in the Philippines, Reef continued to promote responsible travel and environmental conservation in Free the Sea Movement 2, a fun-filled three day event and coastal clean-up in Baler done in partnership with WWF Philippines. 

Reef pledges to support efforts to preserve and restore beaches so that everyone has the opportunity to Beach Freely. 

Embrace the spirit of fun, freedom and the beach with Reef – for more updates on Beach Freely and Reef’s products and activities, follow www.facebook.com/reefphils/


ABOUT REEF®
REEF is the global brand that encourages people everywhere to Beach Freely. United by the spirit of the beach since 1984, REEF designs innovative and comfort-driven products to celebrate the freedom and fun of the beach lifestyle.

REEF® and Reef Beach Freely™ are trademarks of South Cone, Inc.

Restaurants Using Touchscreen Are At Risk Of Transfering Germs To Their Customers

More and more restaurants have started using mobile technologies to improve their service and efficiency when serving customers. Such devices could be POS systems, tablet menus, and remote card payment machines. Other mobile devices are being used to manage food preparation and safety in accordance with inspection regulations.

The problem however, lies in the way staff and customers are sharing screens while at the same time handling food. Germs and bacteria can easily transfer from one hand to another through these surfaces.



How dirty are the screens?

Scientists have found that the average cell phone is 10 times dirtier than a toilet seat and you will find some of the worst bacteria such as Streptococcus Aureus, MRSA, and E. Coli thriving on the surface of your screen. People are especially at risk when touching hands or other surfaces and then touching their own screens afterwards. This problem gets even worse when brought into the restaurant industry as well as other food and beverage handling services using new technology.

How can you prevent germs from being transferred from one person to another?


1. Stop bringing your phone to the toilet

Research has shown that bringing your phone to the toilet (although very handy if you want to pass the time) also means you are at risk of exposing your screen to E. Coli bacteria found in your stool. Even if you don’t see it, flushing your toilet sends thousands of particles into the air and lands around your toilet where you phone or tablet might be residing.

2. Clean or sanitize your hands often

After toilet visits (also in nature) don’t forget to clean or sanitize your hands. Problem is that sanitizers often dry out peoples skin and many are not comfortable using them.

3. Clean your devices often

This is something most people fail to do. Many just tend to brush off their cellphones in a piece of cloth or in their shirt. This however, will not kill the germs and bacteria hiding on your screen but only make it “look” shiny and clean again. If you are a “cleaning freak” you might bring with you an alcohol sanitizer and clean your screen every so often. The problem is that many of these germs and bacteria will only come back as soon as you touch someones hands or other dirty surfaces and then touch your phone or device again.

4. Use a self cleaning coating

Yes, you heard it right. There are actually self-cleaning coatings out there based on Nano particles, which can actively kill germs and bacteria on a cell phone or other surfaces. Particles such as Titanium Dioxide or Silver react in a special way at the Nanoscale and are able to wipe out the bacteria as soon as the coated surface is exposed to light.


For more info about how you can protect yourself from germs and bacteria visit www.gadgetsanitizer.com or www.nanofixit.com

The Advantage of a Human Resource Expert in Recruitment’s Digitized Ecosystem

In recent years, the human resource function in organizations has undergone many changes, from the recruitment processes to employee retention efforts and performance management systems. 

Most management teams have started to use technology for human resource acquisition and retention with chatbots, AI and machine learning making it easier for both the job applicant and employer to find the right match as cited by Jake Go, CEO and co-founder of pioneering recruitment firm Springboard Philippines.

Jake Go and Tristan Ong of Springboard Philippines

Bucking the Trend in Digitization

Recruitment’s screening process alone has significantly improved through technological advances such as automated systems that are starting to imitate Google’s way of tailor fitting ads using a person’s user data to learn that person’s interests and needs. Most also use systems that narrow job candidates by using specific keyword searches that allow HR managers to scan resumes in a matter of seconds. Some of these tools include Entelo and TalentBin, which both use artificial intelligence to search for and pick the best fit among the candidates online. Job portals like Jobstreet, Kalibrr, and Best jobs now provide job seekers and companies a more convenient way of interacting through digital platforms.

The advent of social media has also provided some companies a new way of screening their applicants and vice versa. According to a survey by CareerBuilder in 2017, 70% of employers screen their candidates through social media before anything else. As of 2017, LinkedIn already has 500 million users while Facebook has 2.2 billion users. With the Philippines being the world’s “social media capital of the world,” spending an average of 4 hours online according to a survey by Hootsuite this year, a company’s online presence and branding is important to attract the right applicants.

Yet even though technology has been beneficial to the recruitment process, Jake Go says, “These online job platforms are useful in the recruitment process; Springboard adds value to them by incorporating the human component.” He and his business partner Tristan Ong, COO of Springboard Philippines believe that human connection should not be lost despite the digitization of recruitment but instead evolve with it. They believe that this is what makes Springboard successful as they provide value to the people and society.


The Springboard Difference

In their recruitment process, Springboard Philippines have Human Resource Executives who conduct psychometric exams to determine level of commitment, intelligence, and cognitive ability, along with their long term suitability for the job role. This recruitment process leads to a 30-50% employment hit rate, a number of loyal clients since their first year, and a fast applicant replacement turnaround rate.

As a company, their mission is to bridge the gap between the employer and job seeker, to be the Launchpad for careers and growth in companies. Staying true to their value for human connection, they organized Wake Up Manila, a job convention with the purpose of strategically matching the right job candidates and companies.


Extending the Springboard Mission: Wake Up Manila

Happening this July 6-7 at the SMX Convention Center in Pasay City, Wake Up Manila will allow companies to “find the one” through engaging and fun interactions with job seekers to bring back that human connection amidst this digital world we live in.

Companies who decide to join Wake Up Manila are encouraged to be more engaging with the applicants and in turn, Springboard promises to be more hands-on in terms of delivering the right people to Wake Up Manila exhibitors. 

“What we promise you are quality candidates that are going to come in. We guarantee you that around 70% of the candidates who will come in are going to be interested in getting a job,” Go shared. 

This comes from their insight that most candidates, especially in mall job fairs, simply come in to try their luck – they give out their resumes and leave. 

"Springboard will train and coach the candidates to provide the exhibitors quality attendees in the event," explained Jake. The company also wants exhibitors to see Wake Up Manila as an opportunity to market their brand and company, allowing them to get even better returns in terms of their hiring needs. 

“We promise that you will be able to build your dream team, to find the right people through us,” Go said.

For companies in search of new employees, Springboard is inviting them to join this exciting job fair that gives them the chance to get closer to the people that will help their company grow even further.

For inquiries about Wake Up Manila Job Convention, email jake@springboardph.com or tristan@springboardph.com.

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