“European Pork: the Smart Choice” Kickoff Event in Manila

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Manila, Philippines – On March 28, the "European Pork, the Smart Choice" campaign kick-off event was held in Manila, successfully promoting high-quality European pork from Spain and Portugal to Filipino professionals. This event marked the official launch of a three-year promotional campaign, which has ushered in a new era for the export trade of European pork to the Philippines.

Left to right: Jose Primo Santos from the Spanish Embassy’s Economic and Commercial Office; Antonio Tavares from Filporc; Silvia Torices, counselor from the Spanish Embassy’s Economic and Commercial Office; Pablo Recio, Managing Director of EIBENS; Therese Yousico, Trade Officer from the delegation of the European Union to the Philippines; Precious Chua-Yu, Secretary of the Philippines Association of Meat Processors Inc. (PAMPI); Edward Bugia, Executive Chef and Restaurant Consultant; Daniel de Miguel, International Director from Interporc; Christopher Gococo, Executive Chief of Staff from the Office of the Honorary Consul of Portugal in Manila; and Sheryl Sabio, Ham Carver from Txanton.

F&B professionals, such as importers, distributors, traders, chefs, and HORECA professionals, were invited to participate in the event. The European Delegation, as well as the Embassy of Spain and Honorary Consulate of Portugal attached great importance to the campaign, with representatives attending the event and delivering welcome speeches. During the event, the campaign organizers, Interporc and Filporc, delivered a speech emphasizing the crucial role of the Filipino market in promoting European pork from Spain and Portugal. They highlighted how it distinguishes itself from other pork origins, offering unparalleled business opportunities.

"EU Pork, The Smart Choice" Experts' Roundtable (left to right): Pablo Recio, Moderator; Mr. Edward Bugia, Chef, Mimi and Bros; Ms. Sheryl Sabio, Ham Carver, Txanton; Mr. Daniel de Miguel, International Director of Interporc.

Currently, the Philippines ranks as the second-largest meat market by volume in the ASEAN region, following Vietnam, and fifth in Asia, with a projected 32% increase in the next five years. As such, the Philippines holds great significance for European pork producers, and will be a market intensively cultivated in the upcoming years.

Furthermore, the event organizer presented to the attendees the campaign entitled "European Pork, the Smart Choice". The introduction covered the campaign's objectives, key messages, main content, and potential areas for collaboration. The attendees were also informed about the successful practices of Spain and Portugal in pig farming and pork production. Further discussions were carried out among the attendees, with a focus on the unique features of European pork and various engaging topics.

In recent years, the Philippines has experienced notable socio-economic development, resulting in the increased demand for diverse meat varieties. Among these, pork has emerged as the most favored meat type, encompassing a substantial fraction of the overall meat consumption in the country. The significant market share and escalating market demand for meat have gained appreciation from global pork-exporting countries, including the European Union.

Pig farming is a significant agricultural sector in EU, with pork products being the second-largest export category.

With a legacy of thousands of years of experience in pig breeding and centuries of technological advancements, the European Union has developed its current "Farm to Fork" strategy. This approach is grounded in strict standards for safety, quality, traceability, animal welfare, and sustainability.

By tracing the entire production process and adhering to industry standards, the European Union has established itself as the epitome of high-quality pork production around the world. European Pork-superior quality and delicious taste has become the consumer's preferred choice.

The promotion campaign "EU Pork, the Smart Choice", promoted by Interporc and Filporc, the Spanish and Portuguese Associations of the Pork Sector and financed with aid of the European Union, is a set of online and offline promotional activities that will take place over three years in three Asian markets (China, Vietnam and the Philippines) to promote pork from Spain and Portugal.

Palo Alto Networks warns of travel-related scams to watch out for this Holy Week

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Holy Week is one of the peak travel seasons in the Philippines. The Civil Aviation Authority anticipates two million passengers to fly domestically to observe the holiday. With this many prospective Filipinos travelling simultaneously, there is expected to be fierce competition for travel tickets and bookings and good deals through online travel agents and apps. Meanwhile, scammers see this as an opportunity to be exploited, particularly through social engineering and phishing. Attackers target individuals and groups during this time as individuals are focused on family time and religious practice, and organizations have lesser manpower for security. In response, Palo Alto Networks, the global cybersecurity leader, shares insights and solutions to address this increasing cyber risk during Holy Week.

“We’ve seen time and time again how scammers capitalize on people’s eagerness to travel as well as their desire to travel affordably,” said Steven Scheurmann, Regional Vice President, ASEAN, at Palo Alto Networks. “The travel industry is especially attractive for scammers as it is a huge source of sensitive and personal data, including stolen usernames, emails, and passwords, as well as customer data such as identity, payment, and contact information, which means both travellers and travel companies need to be very cautious.”

According to Palo Alto Networks, some of the most common travel-related scams include:

●       The use of malicious domains and URLs that impersonate well-known brands and websites.

●       Phishing emails/SMS/WhatsApp texts to end users to trick them into either downloading malicious attachments or APK files or clicking on links that lead to malicious website pages or attachments. Threat actors use themes that invoke a sense of urgency (such as outstanding invoices) or emotional appeal to the end users with homecoming-themed emails as we approach Eid).

●       Offering a “shadow travel agency” service, they reach out to travellers through various social media platforms, providing travel-related bookings at heavily discounted prices. While travellers transfer clean money to the “shadow travel agency,” the “shadow travel agency” pays the actual service providers, such as hotels or airlines, with stolen payment information. Due to the time gap in payment processing, service providers only realize they have been defrauded when they see the disputed card transactions or chargebacks weeks or months later.

Meanwhile, organizations must implement security awareness training to improve employees’ ability to identify fraudulent emails, ensure that their organization’s data is regularly backed up as a defense against ransomware attacks initiated via phishing emails, enforce multi-factor authentication on all business-related logins as an added layer of security, and implement an end-to-end cybersecurity solution that allows for advanced URL filtering that detects unknown, newly malicious URLs quickly, identifies known samples as malware, and tracks related malware activities.

“Scammers and attacks may affect the individual traveller, major travel corporations, as well as small travel agents and operators—which means everyone needs to stay vigilant in implementing ways to avoid these threats. As Filipinos travel to celebrate Holy Week and spend time with their families, they must also remain aware and cautious of malicious actors to stay safe amid the holidays,” closed Steven.

 

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About Palo Alto Networks

Palo Alto Networks is the world’s cybersecurity leader. We innovate to outpace cyber threats so that organizations can confidently embrace technology. We provide next-gen cybersecurity to thousands of customers globally across all sectors. Our best-in-class cybersecurity platforms and services are backed by industry-leading threat intelligence and strengthened by state-of-the-art automation. Whether deploying our products to enable the Zero Trust Enterprise, responding to a security incident, or partnering to deliver better security outcomes through a world-class partner ecosystem, we’re committed to helping ensure each day is safer than the one before. It’s what makes us the cybersecurity partner of choice.

At Palo Alto Networks, we’re committed to bringing together the very best people in service of our mission, so we’re also proud to be the cybersecurity workplace of choice, recognized among Newsweek’s Most Loved Workplaces (2021), Comparably Best Companies for Diversity (2021), and HRC's Best Places for LGBTQ Equality (2022). For more information, visit www.paloaltonetworks.com.

 

COMCO Southeast Asia wins PR Consultancy of the Year in Asia-Pacific

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COMCO Southeast Asia, the global award-winning New PR and Smart Social agency of COMCO Mundo League of Enterprises, is awarded Medium PR Consultancy of the Year in Asia-Pacific by PRCA APAC (Public Relations and Communications Association Asia-Pacific) Awards 2023 for demonstrating great business and effective results as well as community leadership and innovation.

COMCO Southeast Asia is the 1st and only Philippine company to bag this recognition besting other PR and Communications agencies and consultancies in the Asia-Pacific region. COMCO SEA also received finalist citations for PR / Communications Leader of the Year Award for the Group’s Chief Executive Director, Lead Strategic Communications Counsel / Partner and Co-Founder, Mr. Ferdinand L. Bondoy; Media Relations Award for its “Meaningful Storytelling with COMCOmigos” initiative; and Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Award for COMCO SEA’s long-time client partner, Teleperformance Philippines.

The PRCA APAC Awards celebrates the best of the best PR and communications campaigns, teams, and individuals across Asia-Pacific. Critiqued by some of the biggest names from the worlds of PR, communications and journalism, PRCA APAC Awards only recognizes leading-edge PR and communications work.

The Public Relations and Communications Association Asia-Pacific (PRCA APAC) is the world’s largest professional PR body, representing over 35,000 PR professionals in 70 countries worldwide, and a global advocate for public relations excellence.

In photo are COMCO representatives (from left): Mr. Justin Harvey Llamosa, Chief of Staff to the Group Chief Executive Director and Senior Executive Initiatives and Integrated Communications Manager / Partner; Mr. Ferdinand L. Bondoy, Group Chief Executive Director and Lead Strategic Communications Counsel / Partner and Co-Founder; Ms. Joan Maslang, Corporate Services Director and Comptroller / Partner.

Last year, COMCO SEA won the highly regarded Purpose Award of the PRCA APAC Awards 2022 for its flagship initiative, “Dear Survivor: The COMCO Southeast Asia Write to Ignite Blogging Project Season 2,” which curated heartwarming and inspiring survivor stories all over the country.

“This recognition came just in time for the celebration of our 7th anniversary milestone celebration dubbed as #COMCOepic7years! It is truly an epic event as this metal demonstrates COMCO Southeast Asia’s excellence and commitment to uplifting the practice, leading the industry, and igniting social change not just in the Philippines but in Southeast Asia and the Asia-Pacific region. This also kicks off the rollout of the phase 2 of the group’s 10-year masterplan,” said Ferdinand L. Bondoy.

“This award is dedicated to our team (COMCOys), partners in the industry (COMCOmigos), and even apprentices (COMCOwans) who are part of COMCO’s craft of Meaningful Storytelling. Thank you PRCA APAC for this award. It is truly an honor to be part of this upbeat PR and Communications community in Asia-Pacific and be recognized as among the game changers in the region,” Mr. Bondoy added.

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About COMCO Southeast Asia

COMCO Southeast Asia, headquartered in the Philippines and with affiliate network presence in Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, and Thailand, is a global award-winning integrated communications agency championing the practice of the emerging global disciplines of New PR and Smart Social. With the unique brand of Meaningful Storytelling, the Agency has done groundbreaking works for more than 100 local, regional, and international brands including reputable development and humanitarian organizations. COMCO SEA has been awarded thrice as Agency of the Year 2nd Runner-up at the IABC Quill Awards; Agency of the Year – Silver Award at the ASEAN PR Excellence Awards; Finalist for Boutique PR Consultancy of the Year at Campaign Asia Pacific’s PR Awards Asia, PRCA APAC Awards, Marketing Interactive’s PR Awards Asia-Pacific, and the global CIPR Excellence Awards; and 150 metals from various local and international award-giving bodies.

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About COMCO Mundo League of Enterprises

COMCO Mundo League of Enterprises is the parent company and umbrella group for all of COMCO’s existing and upcoming ventures and initiatives, a collective of agencies and programs dedicated to advancing the communications profession and related disciplines such as digital, media, advocacy, training and education, and entrepreneurship, among others; to being a force for social change; to nurturing talent growth and workplace community culture; and to championing borderless collaboration. The COMCO Mundo League of Enterprises is comprised of COMCO Southeast Asia, COMCO Middle East and Africa, TARO AOX Digital + Integrated Communications, SEA Wave Pop Culture Studio, Camp COMCO Mentorship Program and Alumni Society, and Citizen COMCO Advocacy Program.

Bayad Bags Excellence Awards during Pag-IBIG Fund’s Chairman’s Report for 2022

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Bayad made a complete sweep after being conferred with two Excellence Awards during the Pag-IBIG Fund Chairman's Report, held on March 28, 2023 at SMX Convention Center in Pasay City.

In photo (L-R): Pag-IBIG Fund Vice President and Head of Compliance & Chief Legal Counsel – Atty. Marcial C. Pimentel Jr., Pag-IBIG Fund Deputy Chief Executive Officer for Member Services Cluster – Alexander Hilario G. Aguilar, Bayad Biller Solutions Manager for Government Accounts - Barbara V. Romero, Pag-IBIG Fund Chief Executive Officer – Marilene C. Acosta, Bayad VP & Group Head for Regional Operations and Biller Solutions – Meinard D. Cruz, Bayad Biller Solutions Account Officer Jenjane F. Villanueva, Pag-IBIG Deputy Chief Executive Officer for Support Services Cluster - Atty. Robert John S. Cosico, and Pag-IBIG Acting Deputy Chief Executive Officer for Home Lending Operations Cluster - Benjamin R. Felix, Jr.

Having served the highest contribution on Pag-IBIG Fund’s payment transactions and amount collected for 2022, Bayad was then recognized as a Top Collecting Partner for the Non-Bank Category on its fourth consecutive year.

Anchored on Pag-IBIG Fund’s continuous promotion of online payments, Bayad has been proactive in enabling its members to conveniently settle their home loan contributions not only thru Bayad Centers, and its partner network establishments such as leading supermarkets, department stores, convenient stores, pawnshops, courier services, self-service payment machine providers, banks, and financial institutions, but also through its digital partners, and its own mobile-based application - Bayad App, as well as its web platform – Bayad Online.

Bayad President and CEO, Lawrence Y. Ferrer underscored “Our drive for excellence is directed towards the belief that Filipinos deserve to be rewarded for their hard work. We share this award with fellow Filipinos who understand the deeper meaning for every payment and contribution made, which is the comfort and peace of mind, for them and their loved ones.”

”We are one with Pag-IBIG in helping our kababayans fulfill their dream of owning a home.”, added Ferrer.

For government, financial, and banking institutions that are interested to be part of Bayad’s extensive channel network, you may send an email to partnerships@bayad.com. Bayad enables partners to attain nationwide presence and provides end-to-end support services for efficient payment and collection processing.

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About Bayad

Bayad is the pioneer and trusted brand in the outsourced payment collection service in the Philippines, aggregating a multitude of billers into a robust system that is now being used by more than 100,000 physical touchpoints and leading digital and mobile platforms across the country. Formerly known as Bayad Center, it continues trailblaze the industry as it evolves from an over-the-counter payment center into a full-service fintech company, offering a whole suite of financial products & services available to both consumers and businesses.

Economic Optimism is Driving Asia’s Consumers Back In Stores

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Meet the Thrifty Indulgers, Sensory Adventurers and Present Hedonists of WGSN’s Asia Shopper Forecast 2023 

• WGSN’s annual flagship Asian study provides brands with insights into emerging consumer behaviours in the world's largest consumer market

• Asia Shopper Forecast 2023 reveals what the future Asian consumers will look like, and throw light on their purchase behaviours and patterns

• With a focus on the return of physical retail and the pursuit to retain a sense of desired lifestyles despite a global economic crisis, consumers are pursuing moments of indulgence while demanding more inclusivity and diversity – businesses will need to move fast to keep up with these ever-changing consumers 

• In 2023, APAC is set to achieve 3.5 per cent real growth while economies in the US and Europe fight to stave off recession 

SINGAPORE – WGSN, the global authority on trend forecasting, has published its annual “Asia Shopper Forecast 2023” report highlighting the Asian consumer preferences and profiles that will impact consumer decision making in 2023 and beyond.

The forecast is meant to help brands, businesses, and marketers to strategize and create meaningful experiences catered to the consumers of tomorrow. 

“As we enter 2023, the effects of a global economic crisis will manifest and always-rising consumer expectations will force businesses in the region to find new drivers of growth. Just as mobility in Asia-Pacific (APAC) returns to pre-pandemic levels, Asian shoppers will continue to prioritise travel and look to heading out In-Real-Life (IRL), while retailers will need to offer powerful counterpoints to digital fatigue. At the same time, the uptake of digital technologies that commenced during the pandemic, will continue to enable consumers to move seamlessly between online and offline channels.  We will also begin to see a growing desire among Asian consumers to make the most out of the present by finding respite in a variety of experiences despite the global economic slowdown,” said Jess Tang, Senior Consultant of APAC, WGSN.

A region with a changing consumer behavior

In the Philippines where much of the pandemic restrictions are already lifted, major mall developers are reporting that consumer traffic has reached up to 95% of pre-COVID levels in the third quarter of 2022, according to a 2023 retail property market outlook report by real estate company Colliers Philippines.

The same report saw more foreign and local retailers opening physical stores in malls due to the rising consumer traffic and anticipated increase in purchasing power. Colliers expects the food and beverage segment to account for 50% of upcoming mall retailers while fashion, accessories, beauty, and health will account for 27%.

This shows that consumers in the Philippines and in the region are now coming back to physical stores with many craving IRL, sensory, and engaging experiences. Savvier decision makers will also emerge with more conscious buying decisions and mobile will be key to reaching consumers with convenience and speed.

The key Asia shopper behavioural trends to watch for 2023 and beyond are: 

• Sensory adventurers – IRL experiences are now a key motivator for APAC consumers to head out and shop. After increased time spent online, sensory adventurers are getting out and about in 2023, seeking in-person experiences that foster creativity, excitement and tactile moments.

• Phygital (physical + digital) connectors – During the pandemic, retailers looked to shift online to connect with many first-time digital shoppers. Now as consumers are gradually venturing out, phygital connectors are still looking to the convenience of technology, and want the best of both online and offline shopping.

• Thrifty indulgers – While APAC consumers feel uncertain and anxious about their future and the economy, thrifty indulgers will spend effort on hunting for products and services that create micro moments of indulgence and bring them joy on a limited budget.

• Present hedonists – The shocks of Covid-19 and global political and economic uncertainty have given way to the emergence of ‘live for now’ values. This cohort of present hedonists is now prioritising their present wants to enjoy life to its fullest post-pandemic.

• The conversationalists – Evolving from last year’s Social explorers, the social-driven conversationalists are now deepening their relationships with brands by forging hyper-personal connections and building conversations and trust via private messaging. 

• Inclusivity advocates – The social justice movement that gathered momentum in 2020 has had a meaningful impact on consumer values. Moving ahead, the inclusivity advocates will spend more based on their social values, supporting minority-owned brands and investing in underrepresented communities.

• Mindful re-assessors – A growing cohort of younger shoppers in Asia are reassessing what post-pandemic living means and accepting there will be no return to ‘normal’. The pandemic has impacted their perspective on what is considered important in life, and mindful re-assessors are looking to change the way they live and work.

Developed using its proprietary methodology to identify the signals of change and evaluate, verify and forecast trends, WGSN works with over 440 industry experts globally to map influencers, disruptors and changemakers to deliver clear and specific action points. WGSN’s consumer sentiments are selected using WGSN’s unique STEPIC framework: examining changes in society, technology, the environment, politics, industry and creativity to identify the macro forces that will drive the emotional sentiments in the years to come.

A copy of the sample report can be found here: link

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ABOUT WGSN

WGSN is the global authority on consumer, lifestyle and product design trends, helping brands around the world create the right products at the right time for tomorrow’s consumer. 

WGSN’s trusted forecasts power outstanding product design, enabling our customers to create a better future. Our services cover consumer insights, beauty, consumer tech, fashion, food and drink, and interiors forecasting, data analytics and expert advisory.

WGSN is an Ascential company. Visit wgsn.com

ABOUT ASCENTIAL 

Ascential delivers specialist information, analytics and ecommerce optimisation platforms to the world’s leading consumer brands and their ecosystems.

Our world-class businesses improve performance and solve problems for our customers by delivering immediately actionable information combined with visionary longer-term thinking across Digital Commerce, Product Design and Marketing. We also serve customers across Retail & Financial Services.

With more than 2,000 employees across five continents, we combine local expertise with a global footprint for clients in over 120 countries. Ascential is listed on the London Stock Exchange.

Ransomware Attacks in the Philippines surge by almost 60% in 2022, New Report from Palo Alto Networks Unit 42 Finds

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The report reveals insights into the latest tactics of ransomware gangs; financial, geographical, and industry impacts based on data gathered from Unit 42 investigations.

MANILA, PHILIPPINES—Palo Alto Networks found that ransomware and extortion cases in the Philippines increased by 57.4% in 2022 with 11 reported cases across key sectors. Threat actors are utilizing more aggressive tactics to pressure organizations, with harassment being involved 20 times more often than in 2021, according to Unit 42™ incident response cases.

This harassment is typically carried out via phone calls and emails targeting a specific individual, often in the C-suite, or even customers, to pressure them into paying a ransom demand. The 2023 Unit 42 Ransomware and Extortion Report shares insights compiled based on findings from Unit 42’s incident response work from approximately 1,000 cases throughout the past 18 months.

●       The Philippines took up the 4th spot in Southeast Asia, alongside Malaysia, with 11 reported ransomware attacks and a 57.4% surge, accounting for around 12% of the attacks in the region

●       Manufacturing, Professional & Legal Services, and State & Local Governments remained the most targeted sectors in the Philippines

●       The Philippines trailed behind Thailand (28), Singapore (18), and Indonesia (14), in the list of the most attacked countries, and was ahead of Vietnam (9).

●       The total number of ransomware attacks in APAC increased by 35.4% to 302.

●       Globally, ransomware demands continued to be a pain point for organizations this past year, with payments as high as US$7 million (PHP 383M) in cases that Unit 42 observed

●       The global median demand was US$650,000 (PHP 35.5M), while the median payment was US$350,000 (PHP 18.9M), indicating that effective negotiation can drive down actual payments

Key trends from the report include:

Attackers Add Pressure with Multi Extortion

Ransomware groups have been observed layering extortion techniques for greater impact, with the goal of applying more pressure on organizations to pay the ransom. Some of these tactics include encryption, data theft, distributed denial of service (DDoS), and harassment. Data theft, which is often associated with dark web leak sites, was the most common of the extortion tactics, with 70% of groups using it by late 2022 — a 30 percentage point increase from the year prior.

Leak Sites Drip with Data

Every day, Unit 42 researchers see an average of seven new ransomware victims posted on leak sites — equating to one new victim every four hours. In fact, in 53% of Unit 42’s ransomware incidents involving negotiation, ransomware groups have threatened to leak data stolen from organizations on their leak site websites. This activity has been seen from a mix of new and legacy groups, indicating that new actors are entering the landscape to cash in as legacy groups have done. Established groups like BlackCat, LockBit, and others contributed to 57% of the leaks, with new groups trailing close behind with 43%.

Ransomware Groups Attack Society’s Most Vulnerable

There have been many notable attacks in the past year from ransomware groups, with a particular spike in attacks on schools and hospitals, demonstrating how low these actors are willing to stoop in their attacks. This includes the attacks from Vice Society, which was responsible for the data leaks from several major school systems in 2022. The group continues to be active in 2023, with nearly half of the incidents posted to their leak site impacting educational institutions.

In 2022, 30 organizations on the Forbes Global 2000 list were publicly impacted by extortion attempts. Since 2019, at least 96 of these organizations have had confidential files publicly exposed to some degree as part of attempted extortion. At least 75% of ransomware attacks fielded by Unit 42’s Incident Response team resulted from attack surface exposures.

 

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About Palo Alto Networks

Palo Alto Networks is the world’s cybersecurity leader. We innovate to outpace cyberthreats, so organizations can embrace technology with confidence. We provide next-gen cybersecurity to thousands of customers globally, across all sectors. Our best-in-class cybersecurity platforms and services are backed by industry-leading threat intelligence and strengthened by state-of-the-art automation. Whether deploying our products to enable the Zero Trust Enterprise, responding to a security incident, or partnering to deliver better security outcomes through a world-class partner ecosystem, we’re committed to helping ensure each day is safer than the one before. It’s what makes us the cybersecurity partner of choice.

At Palo Alto Networks, we’re committed to bringing together the very best people in service of our mission, so we’re also proud to be the cybersecurity workplace of choice, recognized among Newsweek’s Most Loved Workplaces (2021 and 2022), Comparably Best Companies for Diversity (2021), and HRC Best Places for LGBTQ Equality (2022). For more information, visit www.paloaltonetworks.com.

From Chalkboard to Screen: How Educators Championed Teaching Through Technology

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Know the inspiring stories of this year's Quipper Super Teachers and how their passion enabled them to achieve technology-driven education

Teacher Alcher Arpilleda of St. Paul University-Surigao with his OPPO Pad Air and OPPO Enco Buds while preparing for his hybrid classes with Quipper.

Technology helped significantly bridge the gap between quality and conducive education before and after the pandemic. It allowed students to expand their knowledge and helped educators increase their efficiency.

To celebrate this feat and in accordance with National Teacher's Month and World Teachers' Day, Quipper, one of the leading edtech and LMS platforms in the Philippines, conducted the first-ever Quipper Super Teachers awards last October 13.

Among all the teachers who submitted their entries, three Quipper Super Teachers were selected—Alcher Arpilleda of St. Paul University-Surigao, Joselle Quizon of The Refiner's Christian School, and Eliza Balaoro of Lyceum of Alcala. These teachers showcased excellent performance in utilizing technology and Quipper and upheld good relations with their students and the school's stakeholders.

Their teaching experience helped shape who they are now and withstand challenges, making them Quipper Super Teachers.

Discovering passion in teaching

The recognized Quipper Super Teachers went on a long journey before becoming successful educators. Despite their differences in upbringing, they all had the same goal: to teach and inspire. Alcher Arpilleda, a Mathematics teacher for Grade 9 and handling various subjects for Senior High School (SHS) and College, his dream started because of his mother, sister, and some relatives, who are teachers.

Aside from that, he has always been fond of Mathematics since his elementary years. He even met great Mathematics teachers who also served as his role model in teaching the subject that every student avoids. He wants his students to realize the subject's importance and make it easier for them to understand mathematical concepts.

He shared how his parents became instrumental in his decision to be a Mathematics teacher. They told him to share all his knowledge with the youth and inspire them to become successful someday. Now, he has been teaching for six years and has tirelessly made efforts to make Mathematics enjoyable for all his students.

For Eliza Balaoro, a teacher of Araling Panlipunan for Junior High School (JHS) and other general education subjects for SHS, becoming a teacher has always been her dream. Her initial plan was to teach music, but due to some circumstances, she chose to redirect her goals and teach Araling Panlipunan.

She was inspired by her Araling Panlipunan teacher, who taught her to not only learn the subject but also strive harder and do well in every challenge she encounters. From thereon, she studied hard and sought to become the best teacher she could be. As she enters her third year of teaching, she only wishes nothing but to improve her skills and continue to nurture her students.

The third Quipper Super Teacher, Joselle Quizon, has been an educator for almost six years of Sciences subject. Since she was a child, she dreamed of becoming a teacher. Everything that happened in her life led her to be the educator she is now. Despite moments when her surroundings pressured her to take other courses and venture into a new path, the world created ways to make her realize that teaching is her true calling in life.

Teacher Joselle Quizon of The Refiner's Christian School receiving her OPPO gadgets and Quipper merch as part of the prizes from Quipper Super Teachers award.

She had to come to terms with reality. For her, teaching is an everyday hardship that she needs to surpass. "Every teaching day is a challenge because it gives you the burden of asking yourself, 'Am I giving my students what they deserve?'" Quizon said.

Arpilleda, Balaoro, and Quizon began their journey differently, but they all share the same aspirations: to provide conducive and effective learning for their students. Gladly, aiming for technology-driven and innovative teaching became their tool for reaching this goal.

Technology as their teaching companion

For the new Quipper Super Teachers, being an educator is their sworn duty they need to fulfill no matter what. To do that, they had to constantly adapt to changing times and learn to use helpful tools that could elevate their teaching methods. These tools, powered mainly by technology, became their companion and lifeline.

For Arpilleda, the online platform's various features helped him improve his instruction methods and even personalize learning for all types of learners. For instance, the study guides are available offline and can be used for independent learning, allowing his students to study at their own pace.

He also uses ready-made presentations and integrates them into his lesson plan. He maximizes the QCreate Portal to create and upload his own content and activities to built-in resources and documents. The free worksheets from the platform also helped him elevate his teaching techniques, as these were used for enrichment and remediation activities.

"It was harder for me to create activities for different types of learners. However, the platform and technology helped lessen the burden of preparing learning exercises for the students," Arpilleda said.

When the recent Typhoon Odette hit the province of Surigao del Norte and other parts of Mindanao, he also used the Quipper worksheets and study guides as his tools. It helped ensure that education remains unhampered, making learning possible in a modular distance learning modality.

Meanwhile, Balaoro, just started her teaching journey at the onset of the pandemic in 2020. It was challenging for her, especially since she had to recalibrate everything she learned and apply it to online learning setup. The good thing is that edtech tools helped her to continue providing effective and innovative education for her students.

Teacher Eliza Balaoro of Lyceum of Alcala receiving her OPPO Pad Air, OPPO Enco Buds, OPPO A57, and exclusive Quipper merch.

"At first, my colleagues and I were reluctant. We had doubts that technology or even an LMS platform could provide conducive online learning for students. But we were proven wrong and were able to cater to the needs of the students. This also allowed us to provide quality education to the students amid the pandemic," Balaoro shared.

These educators believed in the power of technology and how it can serve as a tool and a catalyst of change for education. Teachers will always be there for the students, and edtech tools can never replace their capabilities. But technology is shaping contemporary education that caters to all types of learners.

"For me, technology helped shape students to become the best 21st-century learners. With these tools, they will be ready to explore the world," Balaoro added.

Navigating the future of technology-driven education

The first-ever Quipper Super Teachers' recipients hope to continue their sworn duty despite challenges. As they navigate their way to the education sector's uncertain future, edtech providers like Quipper will be there to support them so they can give effective learning.

In partnership with OPPO, the awarding ceremony was conducted to recognize outstanding, innovative, and creative teachers who utilized technology and the Quipper LMS platform as a teaching tool to provide an engaging learning environment to their students. To further support the Quipper Super Teachers, they received an OPPO Pad Air, an OPPO A57, and OPPO Enco buds. The Quipper LMS, together with the OPPO devices will continue to provide an innovative and technology-driven education that will help elevate their teaching journeys and guide more students with future-ready skills.

The Quipper Super Teachers program culminates Quipper's signature event called eQuippED, which celebrates teachers on National Teachers Month and World Teachers Day, for their passion for teaching and dedication to learning.

"Our current situation requires us, teachers, to be flexible. It measures our heart as to how far we can go with our profession and how much we are willing to sacrifice and give. This is a big responsibility. That is why feeling a bit lost is okay. However, we must have an open heart and mind to accept changes. There is no such thing as failure if we keep pushing forward," Quizon reiterated.

To learn more about Quipper Philippines and its other programs and initiatives, visit https://www.quipper.com/ph/.

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About Quipper

Quipper Philippines is a leading global education technology company with a mission to bring the best education to every corner of the world. Quipper aims to provide, improve, and distribute quality education, through technology, to create a world where every child is given an equal opportunity to learn and gain knowledge.

Secure your child’s future with the gift of education through AXA MyLifeChoice

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When it comes to securing the future of your children, one of the best gifts you can give them is a good education. This is especially true for Filipino parents who believe that being able to send their children to top schools in the country or abroad is a legacy that they can leave to help them achieve their full potential in life

But there’s no denying that costs for education continue to rise every year, especially with inflation at an all-time high. If you are wondering how much you need to save to send your child to their dream school, here are a few of the things you’ll need to consider:

Tuition fees – while some colleges offer free tuition under the Commission on Higher Education’s (CHED) Access to Quality Tertiary Education Act, many of the country’s top universities are private institutions whose tuition fees can cost PHP 100,000 or more, according to a recent report. You also need to account for inflation. According to CHED for AY 2021 - 2022, the national average rate of increase in tuition per unit is 4.74 percent, while the national average rate for other school fees is 10.61 percent per semester. For example, if a parent wants their six-year-old to study in a private university 10 years from now and their preferred university’s tuition is currently at PHP 110,000, it would then be around PHP 285,311 by the time they enroll. When compounded by the time the child reaches their 4th year in college, this would amount to PHP 379,749 per year.

Residence and Transportation – If you are sending your child to a college abroad or far from where you live, you’ll need to consider their daily transportation allowance or even renting a dorm room or condo unit near where they’ll be studying. Dorm rent for sharing with three to four other housemates can go as high as P6,500 around the university belt area.

Gadgets – In today’s digital age, students consider laptops and mobile phones as must-haves for learning. While it’s possible to get a good budget mobile phone for around PHP 10,000, laptops for online classes and other schoolwork can range from PHP 20,000 to 30,000. You’ll also need to allocate budget for your child’s Wi-Fi or data connection.

Books and School Supplies – Finally, allot around PHP 20,000 to 25,000 annually for books and supplies such as notebooks, writing materials, and special equipment that your child will need every semester, as these have also been affected by the rising prices. Take into account as well that not every field has the same amount of expenses. For example, if you’re raising a future doctor, they will take longer to finish their pre-medical course and their medical school education, while science courses may have additional laboratory expenses.

Putting all these costs together, you will easily end up with a budget of over six figures in a year – which is not a sum that can be saved quickly or easily for most. Furthermore, there are considerations that need to be factored in such as unplanned emergencies or in case you pass on. That’s why having a financial solution that protects you from life’s uncertainties is needed so you can focus on working your way to your goals such as securing your child a bright future.

One of the ways to secure your child’s education is to get a comprehensive insurance plan like MyLifeChoice for Education, AXA Philippines’ most flexible insurance and investment plan designed to ensure your child’s education until college no matter what happens. MyLifeChoice empowers customers by enabling them to customize their own plan according to their unique needs and priorities, budget, desired payment term, and protection coverage.

MyLifeChoice for Education ensures your child’s education through Bright Rider Plus, which provides guaranteed payouts in case of the insured’s untimely demise. These payouts will start immediately upon the passing of the insured and can help cover your child's education expenses until graduation. You can also personalize your protection coverage from 7x up to 25x of your basic annual premium.

MyLifeChoice also includes waiver of premium and accident coverage benefits, which means that future payments are waived in case of disablement and cash benefits will be received for injuries due to accidents, respectively. Your plan can also be further enhanced with supplementary benefits to further strengthen your protection coverage depending on your current financial needs.

Available in a 7-year payment term, MyLifeChoice for Education enables you to select from a range of professionally managed funds that are invested locally and globally to create a personalized portfolio that suits your investment profile. Your potential investment earnings can be added on top of your child’s education fund, which he or she can use for his or her future college expenses. To further support you in securing your child’s education, this policy includes a start-up bonus equivalent to 70% of your first-year basic annual premium in an AXA fund of your choice.

“Education is something you can leave behind for your child that they can keep with them forever, but inflation coupled with rising prices of goods requires careful planning from parents now more than ever. Protecting your child’s education fund is possible with the right partner, such as AXA Philippines. With the help of MyLifeChoice for Education, seeing your child march onstage with their diploma need not be a pipe dream,” said Nandy Villar, AXA Philippines Chief Customer Officer.

For more information or get a personalized quote, visit axa.com.ph/mylifechoice/education.