Bayad Center rolls out donation drive across Luzon

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Inspired by the Filipino bayanihan spirit, CIS Bayad Center, Inc. spearheaded a corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiative called “BAYADnihan, Tulong-tulong para sa Bayan”, to benefit hundreds of vulnerable individuals and families who continue to experience hardships amid on-going quarantine restrictions in this time of COVID-19.

With the said initiative, the simple act of settling bills was turned into an opportunity to help Filipinos in need as a portion of customer payments made at any Bayad Center branch or using the mobile app from March 1 to April 30, 2020 were donated to its CSR partner, One Meralco Foundation. Bayad Center employees also pledged a part of their salaries to further the cause.

Having raised the funds for the donation drive, Bayad Center and One Meralco Foundation coordinated with Cordillera farmers, whose livelihoods were also burdened by the pandemic, to buy their produce and include them in the care packages for distribution. Local government units were also contacted to assist in identifying barangays that need assistance.

To date, the “BAYADnihan, Tulong-tulong para sa Bayan” initiative has reached out to various communities in Quezon City, Manila, Marikina, Pasig, as well as the provinces of Bulacan and Batangas, distributing care packages including vegetables sourced from Cordillera farmers and other essential goods.

According to Bayad Center CEO and President Lawrence Ferrer, “Together with our stakeholders, we will carry on with our efforts to reach out to as many communities as we can. We thank our customers and all our partners, whose concerted efforts show us that in the face of threats and challenges spurred by the COVID-19 crisis, the bayanihan spirit of Filipinos will shine through.”

As the biggest and most trusted multi-channel payment platform in the Philippines, Bayad Center remains committed to servicing the Filipino paying public, and making payments convenient and accessible, especially during this time of crisis.

Get up to 50% off on Unilever Personal Care products on Shopee 9.9 Super Shopping Deals!

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Good personal hygiene involves keeping all parts of the external body clean and healthy. It is important for maintaining both physical and mental health.

Good personal hygiene is important for both health and social reasons. It entails keeping your hands, head and body clean so as to stop the spread of germs and illness. Your personal hygiene benefits your own health and impacts the lives of those around you, too.

As our world faces one of our most challenging times in history, we are called to do our part in helping prevent the further spread of infections.

We need to have personal things to use regularly. Get up to 50% off on Unilever Personal Care products on Shopee 9.9 Super Shopping Deals! 

And here are some important tips to help save lives through the practice of proper hygiene and good cleansing habits. 

Handwashing

Practicing proper hygiene through frequent handwashing with antibacterial products like Lifebuoy is one of the best defenses against the spread of viruses.

The use of Lifebuoy, with Activ Silver+ formula, can help fight bacteria and viruses through frequent handwashing and bathing. 

New Lifebuoy Total 10 Antibacterial Handwash gives you overall germ protection and fights 99.9% of bacteria and viruses**. Remember to #DoTheLifebuoy and wash hands frequently! Also available in Refill Packs.

Remember to wash hands frequently to prevent the spread of viruses

Hand Sanitize

Hand sanitizer, handrub, or hand rub, applied to the hands for the purpose of removing germs. Hand sanitizers typically come in foam, gel, or liquid form.1,3 Their use is recommended to be used always, especially when soap and water are not available for hand washing.

Lifebuoy Hand Sanitizer Six Pack 50mlx6

Lifebuoy Total 10 Hand Sanitizer kills 99.9% of germs* and is an effective way to fight bacteria and viruses and prevent its spread.

Formulated with moisturizers and Vitamin E, it helps prevent skin from being dry. This is advisable to use regularly.

Body Wash

Dove Deeply Nourishing Body Wash has revolutionary NutriumMoisture™ technology alongside mild cleansers and 1/4 moisturizing cream, that nourishes better than milk to help your skin retain its natural moisture, leaving you with soft, smooth and bouncy skin.

It creates a rich lather that replenishes your skin’s nutrients while also leaving it feeling clean and cared for. The gentle formula in this Dove body wash helps maintain your skin’s moisture barrier while delivering natural skin nourishment that goes deep into the surface layers of the skin. 

BUNDLE Dove Deeply Nourishing Body Wash 1L With 650ml Refill Set

Dove Deeply Nourishing Body Wash now comes in 650 mL refill pouches -- perfect for refilling Dove Deeply Nourishing 1000 mL pump bottles!

Dove Deeply Nourishing Body Wash is suitable for daily use.

Check out Unilever shop on Shopee! Using Unilever products is helpful and effective way to prevent further spread of viruses and give added protection against infections. 

Don't forget to download the Shopee app for free from the App Store or Google Play

GCash empowers businesses to thrive in new normal

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GCash, the undisputed leader and preferred mobile wallet in the Philippines, is empowering businesses to transition into the new normal, providing a wide variety of digital financial tools and services that enable enterprises of varying sizes to serve their customers and employees.

As the government puts prime emphasis on the development of the digital economy, GCash is leading the financial technology (fintech) industry in providing necessary digital financial tools and services to enterprises that are adapting into the new normal.

“We at GCash are ready to provide critical digital financial tools to our enterprise customers to help them migrate into the digital realm. We fully support the government’s call for aggressive innovation and the shift to new digital technologies to help the economy bounce back,” GCash President Martha Sazon said.

For instance, GCash for Business, the enterprise arm of GCash, is offering a spectrum of business solutions that allow enterprises to integrate digital finance into their everyday operations.

GCash empowers businesses to easily disburse salaries, incentives, and allowances. Enterprises may process payrolls outside the office and during the weekends, as the mobile-first GCash portal is accessible anytime, anywhere, and through any device.

As the leading innovator in the local fintech scene, GCash is also complementing and upgrading the cash management systems of its enterprise partners. GCash provides a customizable and flexible platform manager which helps businesses in timekeeping, managing expenses, and processing employees’ payrolls.

With this, companies may manage HR operations anytime, anywhere -- from payroll disbursement, to creating more awareness, and providing greater rewards for customers. Businesses may offer their customers with a loyalty rewards program through the GCash platform.

Through its innovative and future-ready platform, GCash provides businesses with an employee database that automatically records transactions. This removes the need for manual record-keeping, as merchants have access to a digital transaction log.

“GCash is providing a safe, secure, and convenient platform for merchants to leverage. By partnering with GCash, businesses can easily transition into the so-called new normal, where digital transactions will soon become the norm,” Sazon said.

Department of Finance Secretary Carlos Domiguez earlier urged businesses to aggressively innovate, shift into digital technologies, and identify emerging business opportunities to help restart the economy, which was severely affected by the pandemic.

“We heed to the call of the government to promote digital technologies, and fintech could empower businesses to thrive in the new order. By digitalizing their operations, businesses may jumpstart their operations with a wider audience as they are now not limited by location,” Sazon said.

GCash currently has over 75,000 partner merchants across the archipelago, and this is expected to rise as more online businesses pop up to cope with the economic impact of the pandemic. GCash has also partnered with over 400 billers to provide bills payment solutions to GCash users.

Globe Fintech Innovations Inc. (Mynt), which operates GCash, is part of the portfolio companies of 917Ventures, the largest corporate incubator in the Philippines wholly-owned by Globe Telecom Inc.

Interested businesses may schedule an appointment with a GCash Sales representative through https://www.gcash.com/business.

From Our House to your Own Home : Find comfort with these Pancake House classics and more delivered to your doorstep!

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MANILA, Philippines, 2 September 2020 — While times are uncertain, we never fail to replicate the feeling of home regardless of where we are or what activities we do. Whether we’re capping-off the end of the week with a socially distant mini celebration with colleagues, spending down time with our family, or setting-up virtual quiz nights or get-togethers with our closest friends – creating warm and comforting moments have become second nature to us. 

And as we welcome more of these experiences into our homes, Pancake House makes feel-good experiences even more accessible and within reach as its timeless classics, signature promotions, and new offerings are all available for delivery at your doorstep. 

Enjoy putting together your favorite comfort food with your friends and family through Make Your Own Sets. Fancy a DIY Taco? Then the Make Your Own Taco Set might be the right fit for you. For PHP 459, each set contains 5 taco shells with ingredients from taco meat, grated cheddar cheese, fresh romaine lettuce strips, and signature salsa placed in separate containers. 

Feast on signature classics with the Make Your Own House Specials Set with taco, spaghetti with meat sauce and garlic bread, Classic Pan Chicken and juice. The House Special Sets are available in bundles good for 3 and 5, starting at PHP 939. Relish in a new type of comfort with the Make Your Own Jumbo House Burger Set featuring big 1/3 lbs juicy beef patty with bacon, cheese, lettuce, pickles, cucumbers, tomato, thousand island dressing, and a toasted bun, available in bundles good for 3 and 4, starting at PHP 799. 

The Choose Any 2, an all-time favorite, value for money offering is also now available for delivery! For more variety and bang for your back, the promo also comes in choices of 3 and 4. Starting at PHP 459, choose how you want to define comfort and select among 6 different dishes: chicken tocino, 1 pc classic pan chicken & spaghetti w/ garlic bread, classic baked mac, mushroom omelet, pork tocino, and crispy chicken fillet – and top it off with a serving of juice depending on the total number of dishes you ordered. 

“While our dine-in operations have resumed, we know our customers are embracing delivery services now more than ever. As such, we’ve developed products and promotions that will help them recreate feel good experiences, from our house into their respective homes”, shares Pancake House Senior Marketing Manager Cherry Hernandez. 

Feel sense of comfort delivered right at your doorstep. Order your favorite Pancake House meals through the following channels: 

• Trunk line: 888-7900

• Website: https://delivery.pancakehouse.com.ph

• Aggregators: GrabFood, FoodPanda, LalaMove

For a list of open stores visit https://bit.ly/PancakeHouseSchedule. 

For more information, please visit facebook.com/PancakeHousePhilippines. 

Like and follow Pancake House on social media to stay up-to-date with the latest products and promos.

Tag us on our social media accounts: 

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PancakeHousePhilippines

Twitter: https://twitter.com/PancakeHousePh

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pancakehouseph/

Bridging the Cybersecurity Skills Gap Through Artificial Intelligence

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By Sandra Wheatley, Sr. Vice President, Marketing, Threat Intelligence and Influencer Communications, Fortinet 

Executive Perspectives 

Perhaps the most resource-intensive task required of security teams is the correlation and analysis of the massive volumes of data being produced by security devices and network sensors. This challenge is probably most apparent in the fact that network breaches often remain undetected for months, allowing cybercriminals to plant time-bombs, establish elaborate botnets, and slowly exfiltrate millions of records containing customer information and intellectual property. This challenge is compounded with the growing skills shortage the cybersecurity industry is facing globally, further adding to organizations’ risks. In fact, a recent Fortinet survey found that 73% of organizations had at least one intrusion or breach over the past year that can be partially attributed to a gap in cybersecurity skills.

Today’s Tools Only Begin to Close the Cybersecurity Skills Gap 

There are steps organizations can take to close the cyber skills gap. The first is to ensure that security tools don’t operate in isolation. If a security tool or sensor detects an anomalous behavior, it needs to be able to share that with other tools so that data can be correlated and compared against other data, as well as be cross-referenced against external threat intelligence feeds. This process is accelerated and suspicious activity can be detected faster when these tools are, by design, tightly integrated together. 

Of course, data also needs to be gathered from network devices, access control points, and other sensors to see the bigger picture. SIEM and SOAR solutions are designed to bridge the gap between these non-integrated solutions, helping to identify indicators of compromise and respond to identified threats. Behavioral analytics can baseline normal traffic to identify abnormal activities, such as data moving upstream out of the data center, or devices or applications probing the network looking for ways to connect to other devices or services that are not part of their usual domain of activity. 

While these solutions can help assess large volumes of data from a variety of locations, they still have their limitations. This is because today’s networks are in a state of constant flux. Dynamic cloud environments, remote offices, mobile workers, SaaS applications, DevOps projects, and shadow IT complicates the ability to monitor and process data. The network is not only constantly reconfiguring itself to optimize connectivity or support complex workflows, many of those connections – especially in hyperscale environments – are temporary, which means there isn’t enough time to baseline traffic and behavior or provide deep SIEM and SOAR analysis.

And none of this eliminates the need for having human analysts to supervise, review, manage, and respond to events detected by this collection of distributed solutions. The cybersecurity skills gap is part of the problem. There simply aren’t enough cybersecurity professionals to fill critical roles.  

Using AI to Build a Virtual Security Analyst 

Fortunately, artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) are poised to help resolve these issues. ML already supports things like behavioral analytics, the detection of zero day threats, and the detection of threats hidden inside correlated data. The advent of deep neural networks has improved the detection of threats comprised of billions of nodes with its mature AI capabilities. Fortinet’s FortiGuard Labs threat research team has been leveraging mature AI for years to not only detect threats in the wild, but also provide deep insights into its origins and threat vectors. 

As organizations are forced to operate exclusively in reactive mode, they position broad-brush security tools to close the most common avenues of known attacks. Sometimes having to wait until an attack was actively targeting their devices and systems in order to repel them, or far too often, clean up the mess after a stealthy attack was able to break into their system and get out with the data it was looking for.  

Address Your Skills Gap Challenges Now While Preparing for the Future 

The skills gap remains a growing challenge for organizations. One way organizations are tackling this is by having all employees, not just IT professionals, take cybersecurity training. It’s important for everyone to have cybersecurity awareness and understand the threat landscape to minimize risks. 

In addition to having a trained and knowledgeable workforce, AI-based security stands to play an increasingly critical role in supporting the skills required by digital innovation efforts. The smart businesses, cities, and infrastructures of tomorrow will all require AI-based security analysis and response to fend off the speed and sophistication of the threats of tomorrow.