Treat yourself! 4 delicious ways to celebrate a job well done

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Working for several hours a day can be tiring, that’s why efficient workers use motivational “tricks” to stay upbeat no matter how busy their day gets. One the tricks is to give yourself a small “treat” for a job well done. What it does is help encourage you to finish your daily tasks.

Reward yourself for small or big wins by enjoying these delicious products from URC.

These don’t have to be expensive or elaborate. Simple and easy-to-do activities can feel satisfying and may even energize you for your next task. Here are four simple ways to reward yourself during a workday, whether you’re working in the office or from home:

Have a coffee break

Who doesn’t love sipping on coffee at work? Go to a quiet spot in the office lounge or at home and enjoy your drink without distractions. For a delightful experience, indulge in a sweet and comforting cup of Great Taste Supreme in Toffee Hazelnut Latte or Black Forest Latte!

Say hello to your friends

Catching up with a friend—even just virtually—can give you that fun and rewarding break in between your busy day. While you’re at it, enjoy a satisfying treat by munching on Cloud 9 Gold. Enjoy the mouthful of sensations offered by Cloud 9 Gold Almond Fudge, and the sweet and salty combination of Cloud 9 Gold Caramel Nut Crisp!

Take a quick walk

Taking short walks can stretch your legs and get your heart pumping. To make these walks fun and purposeful, how about using them to drop by a convenience store near your office for a snack? Try Calbee – potato chips with unique Japanese flavors like Honey Butter, Wasabi, Cheddar and Sour Cream, and Classic Salted.

Play a game

Finishing a mind-numbing task requires a brain break. So, how about spending a couple of minutes playing your favorite mobile game? Make the experience rewarding by enjoying sweet treats like Cream-O Premium, a melt-in-your-mouth, choco-coated, vanilla sandwich cookie!

Try these activities and you’ll feel more rewarded at the end of your workday. And don’t forget to partner them with premium yet affordable everyday rewards like Great Taste Supreme, Cloud 9 Gold, Calbee, Cream-O Premium, and more delightful treats from Universal Robina Corporation (URC)!

URC’s wide range of snacks can help you create delightful and rewarding experiences out of simple, everyday moments. Explore them and discover #URDelightfulChoice!

Shop your favorite URC treats at a supermarket near you or online via GoCart.

 

Public charging stations may expose Filipinos to “juice jack” attacks

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The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) in the United States recently warned consumers against using USB ports for charging in public spaces such as airports, malls, and hotels, as attackers can "juice jack" data or insert malware into one’s phone or device for theft.

While the public service announcement released on Twitter was meant for Americans, many other countries, like the Philippines, also have public establishments with free charging stations as emergency assistance to consumers. The threat of a juice jack attack exists everywhere people plug their devices into untrusted ports, like in public charging stations.

Sean Duca, Vice President and Regional Chief Security Officer for Asia Pacific & Japan at Palo Alto Network, shared, "We should always remember that nothing in the world is free. Trusting public charging kiosks with your smartphone carries a significant risk of personal information being retrieved or downloaded without your consent."

The recipe for a juice jack attack

A USB (universal serial bus) cable is the key ingredient in a juice jack attack. USB cables are designed with two wires for data transfer and power, respectively. Juice jacking happens when malicious actors embed malware into charging stations and activate data transfer through the USB cables to infect connecting devices.

The malware, now on the connected device, can then use seemingly normal notifications to trick people into giving it access. Examples include an app asking permission to access files similar to what social media platforms do or operating systems requiring users to authorize a new update. If not given focus, users could simply allow these requests without considering the risks of such a stealthy threat.

Once access is granted, the situation resorts to the classic scenario of attackers being able to crawl into the victim’s files and applications to collect sensitive information, including bank account credentials or credit card details, to steal data or money.

Resisting juice jacking

What’s the juice to countering a juice jack attack? Duca points back to the power of controlling access within one’s device. "Malware requires a user's permission, much like any other app on your phone, before it can actually infect a device. The users are the last gate to keeping malware away, so it’s really important for them to think before they click and challenge why an app would request access to your personal information."

He elaborated further that many mobile apps request access to a user's data on a device, claiming that doing so will allow users to enjoy the app to its fullest potential. With this being the norm today, users tend to grant permission without considering the risks.

"Public charging stations also carry the threat of malware infection and data theft, similar to the dangers of public Wi-Fi networks. As a mobile-savvy nation, Filipinos need to be prepared to handle this risk by questioning whether we can trust our data with another device and understanding how it can be misused from the get-go," he concluded.

 

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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.

Tim Yap, Javi Martinez, and Sam Verzosa Join the 2023 London Marathon for Smile Train

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The world’s largest cleft-focused organization, Smile Train, and its signature endurance fundraising program Team Empower, heads to London for the world’s largest annual fundraising event, the TCS London Marathon. Together with 50,000 other runners, celebrity couple Tim Yap and Javi Martinez, along with businessman and legislator, Cong. Sam Verzosa take on the challenge of the 26.2-mile course for a good cause.

Tim Yap during the 2019 BMW Berlin-Marathon

“The genuine compassion and sustained service of our Smile Train ambassadors have been an essential part of our success today. Their collective efforts have helped give patients access to the care that they deserve and have extended the organization’s reach in providing safe and quality cleft treatment. We are grateful to Tim, Javi, and Sam for furthering their advocacy and pledging their commitment to this cause,” said Southeast Asia Vice President of Smile Train Philippines, Kimmy Coseteng-Flaviano.

Maximizing fundraising potential with Team Empower

Since 1981, London Marathon events have raised over £1 billion in donations, maximizing revenues for charities worldwide. Boosting participants’ fundraising abilities, the marathon’s inspiring activities have been able to support causes from breast cancer awareness to brain research initiatives and children’s charities.

Javi Martinez during the 2021 TCS New York City Marathon 

Congressman Sam Verzosa during the 2023 Watsons Race for Wellness

Smile Train, one of the charities, strengthens its commitment to volunteerism and ensures that every child has the opportunity to lead a full and productive life. Together with 20+ other runners from other countries, Smile Train Team Empower will be represented by eventologist Tim Yap, his partner and events director, Javi Martinez, as well as Frontrow CEO and Congressman Sam Verzosa.

“For years now, I have been committed to supporting Smile Train’s cause and helping improve the lives of children with cleft. This cause is very personal to me and what drives me the most is my realized purpose and goals of helping the organization reach more patients in need of treatment. I want to finish strong and with my partner Javi by my side as well as my dear friend Sam, my confidence has greatly multiplied,” shared Yap when asked about his motivations for joining the marathon.

One of the team’s avid supporters is Miss Universe 2015 and fellow Smile Train ambassador, Pia Alonzo Wurtzbach. The beauty queen, who has been a long-standing representative of Smile Train and Team Empower in numerous fundraising events, advocated for the initiative and urged fans to support her friends in the upcoming marathon.

Pia Wurtzbach during her visit to Our Lady of Peace Hospital in 2017

“All this support is what makes Smile Train’s programs grow stronger throughout the years. Apart from comprehensive patient treatment, Smile Train also empowers medical professionals and local hospitals with all-around high-quality cleft care. Combined efforts have allowed the organization to go beyond surgery and allow children with cleft to not just live normally, but to thrive,” concluded Flaviano.

For more information on Smile Train’s projects and initiatives, you may check out Smile Train’s website at www.smiletrain.org/ and Smile Train Philippines’ Facebook page at www.facebook.com/SmileTrainPhilippines.

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About Smile Train

Smile Train empowers local medical professionals with training, funding, and resources to provide free cleft surgery and comprehensive cleft care to children globally. We advance a sustainable solution and scalable global health model for cleft treatment, drastically improving children’s lives, including their ability to eat, breathe, speak, and ultimately thrive. To learn more about how Smile Train's sustainable approach means donations have both an immediate and long-term impact, please visit smiletrain.ph. For more information about Smile Train’s work in the Philippines, please contact philippines@smiletrain.org.

Cardinal Santos Medical Center Bags the People-Centered Care Commitment Award and Platinum Seal of Accreditation

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Cardinal Santos Medical Center (CSMC), one of the Philippines’ leading hospitals, bags two international awards, adding to its growing list of accolades.

After an exhaustive re-accreditation process in November 2022 which looked into the hospital’s systems and its commitment to quality, safety and people-centered care, CSMC has been recently honored by Accreditation Canada with two awards: the Platinum seal of accreditation, which is an upgrade from the Gold accreditation level achieved by the organization in 2019, and People-Centered Care Commitment Award, being the first organization in Asia to receive the award.

Accreditation Canada is a not-for-profit organization that works to improve healthcare quality and safety in Canada and around the world, providing accreditation services to healthcare organizations. Its accreditation process includes an extensive evaluation of the organization's policies, procedures, and practices and on-site visits to assess the quality and safety of patient care.

Leveling up to Platinum status and being honored with the People-Centered Care Commitment Award is a testament to CSMC’s dedication to upholding global health standards geared to providing patient and family-centered care as well as consistency in service delivery.

“The Platinum accreditation is the culmination of the work that we have put in over the last three years since we achieved the Gold accreditation. It is a validation of our unwavering pursuit of excellent quality patient care, and a motivator for us to continue to strive for excellence in all that we do.”, Dr. Rosemarie V. Serrano, CSMC’s Chief Quality Officer proudly speaks up, as she looked back on the hospital’s ACI re-accreditation journey.

CSMC’s President & CEO, Mr. Raul C. Pagdanganan, also weighed in on the significance of the People-Centered Care Commitment Award. “At Cardinal Santos, we believe that providing exceptional care is not just about treating the illness, but about treating the whole person. We are thrilled to be recognized by Accreditation Canada with the People-Centered Care Commitment Award, as it highlights our unwavering commitment in providing care that is centered around our patients and their families.”. He further emphasized that “This award is a testament to the dedication and hard work of our staff and healthcare providers, who go above and beyond to ensure that every patient receives the best possible care. We are proud of this achievement and remain committed to delivering patient-centered care with excellence.”

Cardinal Santos Medical Center is also certified Platinum by Investors in People and certified for ISO 9001:2015 Quality Management System standards, by SOCOTEC Certification Philippines, Inc.

JobStreet shows the realities of hiring on social media in video series, urges employers to hire real talent

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JobStreet by SEEK continues its initiative to empower companies in seeking better candidates in 2023 through a series of videos in line with their latest campaign, “Hire Real Talent,” baring the realities of hiring on social media.

Social networking channels are proven to be an effective way of communication, but using them for seeking talents may be more inefficient than hirers think—and this video series depicts a witty take on real-life scenarios and challenges among employers that use social media for posting their job vacancies.

Aside from encouraging hirers to utilize legitimate job platforms in their recruitment process, JobStreet’s video series attempts to show the truth behind social media recruiting: when you hire through social media, chances are you have no idea who you're interviewing.

The first video depicts an applicant who resembles the avatar of a newly set-up social media account, illustrating anonymity, a lack of character, or a genuine identity. Likewise, the second video demonstrates the difficulty of recognizing the true applicant whose profile photo is a family portrait. Finally, in the last video, JobStreet displays an applicant with experience working somewhere fictitious, portraying a lack of professionalism and accurate information.

As users are not required to authenticate their identities or credentials on most social media sites, it is challenging to discern between legitimate and fraudulent accounts. In addition, most social media users do not present themselves professionally and have little to no work experience information, which limits the hirers’ opportunity to fully scrutinize their applicants based on their criteria.

“While social media is a convenient tool to share information, we want to let hirers know that not everyone in your following or likes is looking for jobs—and the best and most appropriate way to recruit active jobseekers is to reach out to where they are searching for opportunities, and that is through official job platforms,” said Kim Viray, JobStreet Philippines Head of Marketing.

“In today's competitive and fast-changing world, we recognize the challenges that come with the hiring process, which is why we continuously empower hirers and provide them solutions that they need on top of offering a platform with millions of quality and qualified candidates,” he added.

JobStreet aims to make hiring more convenient and efficient for employers, particularly for SMEs. Through its free job ad postings, businesses are entitled to a 30-day free job posting credit upon registration on JobStreet, giving seamless access to over 14 million registered candidates with free use of powerful candidate management tools, easy-to-use job ad writing tools, inclusion in job recommendations, accessibility on multiple channels, and many other benefits, allowing hirers to focus on selecting the best candidate.

Its beneficial features assure targeted job posting to relevant potential applicants, and it may save time by using screening tools to check and match skills and credentials with the role.

To watch the video series, visit the following links:

https://www.facebook.com/JobStreetPhilippines/videos/1139168213385418

https://www.facebook.com/JobStreetPhilippines/videos/544309744353171

https://www.facebook.com/JobStreetPhilippines/videos/232945675833072