LIME EL NIDO RESORT: THE NEXT FOOD DESTINATION : Celebrity Chef Series Set to Elevate the Filipino Gustatory Experience In the Island

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As summer season approaches, everyone is already preparing for their next getaway destination where sand and swim top the list. The Philippines has a number of world-class beaches that boasts of crystal clear waters and stunning sceneries.

Picturesque mountains, limestone cliffs and white sand as well as the dreamy waters teeming with aquamarine life are surely guaranteed to amaze anyone who steps into Palawan, also known as the Last Frontier of the Philippines. Lime El Nido Resort is the perfect place where one can enjoy nature’s wonders together with the comforts of a luxurious resort that offers a relaxing stay, world-class amenities and excellent service.

Chef Sau del Rosario

Synonymous to an island retreat is good food. Lime El Nido Resort aims for locals and guests alike to have a total feast of the senses with the Celebrity Chef Series which will kick off this March featuring guest Chef Sau del Rosario of Sawsaw and Cafe Fleur. Chef Sau has refined his culinary craft not only in the Philippines but also in other parts of the world. Throughout his more than 20-year experience, he has mastered the art of Filipino cuisine, putting his own distinct touches in the process.

“I am pleased to collaborate with Lime Hotel and Resorts for the Celebrity Chef Series. ‘Arkipelago: Featuring Food From Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao’, brings together the unique mix and tastes of the three major islands of the Philippines,” said Chef Sau. His menu offerings will be available from March 15 to June 30, 2023. The wonderful spread includes some of these mouthwatering delights: Kinilaw na Maya-maya, Pinoy Style Caesar Salad, Chorizo & Citrus Chicken Jus, Sous-vide Lengua Pastel, Lamb Shank Caldereta, Sisig, Crispy Pork Belly with Macadamia Kare-kare Sauce and Deconstructed Halo-halo. “I hope anyone who goes to El Nido will be pleased with the line-up I prepared as they rediscover the culinary delights that are part of our culture,” he further added.

One of the main activities at El Nido is island hopping. Visitors can enjoy the novelty of having their lunch arranged and brought at any of their stopovers. While this has been a norm for quite some time now, it still has a long way to go in terms of quality, serving and presentation. The Celebrity Chef Series aims to level up this service by going the extra mile. On top of a well-curated menu, food will be served hot and fresh, with guests being comfortable with a cozy table set-up, completing the perfect island experience.

“Lime Hotel and Resorts is known for providing fun-loving individuals an unforgettable visit across our three destinations, namely: Lime Resort Manila, Lime Resort El Nido and Lime Hotel Boracay,” said Emil Po, CEO. “We want to elevate the El Nido experience with a unique gustatory adventure showcasing the wonderful flavors of our country. Through the Celebrity Chef Series, we envision Lime El Nido as the perfect food destination in the island. We are glad to work with Chef Sau in this endeavor and look forward to the next collaborations with other chefs in the coming months,” he enthused. Lime El Nido Resort is about 15-20 minutes away from the airport and Lio Beach. 

For more information and reservations, visit www.lime.ph.

Beat the summer heat with Mang Inasal’s Extra Creamy Halo-Halo

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Summer’s here! And what better way to enjoy the season than with a deliciously char-grilled meal, paired with the milky creamy goodness of halo-halo?

Mang Inasal, the country’s Grill Expert, has recently embarked on a #SummerSarapAtMangInasal campaign that introduced a more affordable variant of its well-loved Halo-Halo. For only Php 39, customers can now order an 8-ounce add-on Halo-Halo -- either Extra Creamy Halo-Halo or Crema de Leche Halo-Halo -- to their Ihaw-Sarap Savers meal! The extra creamy treat also comes in Small and Regular servings, starting at Php 79.

“Mang Inasal welcomes summer with the Mang Inasal Halo-Halo which many enjoy for its extra creamy goodness whether as dessert or snack,” said Mang Inasal business unit head Mike V. Castro.

Want more Mang Inasal exclusives NOW? Visit www.manginasal.com for the latest updates, https://manginasaldelivery.com.ph for delivery deals, and follow Mang Inasal on social media.

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.

COMCO Marks Epic 7 Years with the Launch of TARO AOX Digital + Integrated Communications

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From a Disruptive PR Agency Start-Up to a Powerhouse Group of Communication Companies

In just seven years, COMCO Southeast Asia, from being a trailblazing and disruptive PR Agency start-up, has transformed into COMCO Mundo League of Enterprises, a global award-winning powerhouse group of communication companies and is now marking its seventh year with the official launch of TARO AOX Digital + Integrated Communications.

TARO AOX Rises

TARO AOX Digital + Integrated Communications is the newest addition to the COMCO Mundo League of Enterprises, alongside COMCO Southeast Asia (SEA), COMCO Middle East and Africa (MEA), and SEA Wave Pop Culture Studio, among others, and it specializes on digital marketing, integrated communications, and technology and digital PR. It also offers social media management, influencer marketing, content marketing, digital activation, media planning and buying, video storytelling, multimedia arts, virtual event staging, and website and platform development.

TARO AOX is already in full swing and has been servicing clients such as Samsung Mobile, Sun Life Asia Service Center Philippines, Lamoiyan Corporation’s Licealiz Anti Head Lice Shampoo, and APLGO.

COMCO Southeast Asia’s Epic 7^th Year

COMCO SEA, the PR and events company of COMCO Mundo League of Enterprises, continues to champion New PR and Smart Social and also offers services such as Events and Activation, Branding, and Special Advertising Executions. The multi-awarded agency continues to make waves in the region as it recently won inter-agency pitches and acquired accounts such as Sony Philippines, Uratex Mattress, Uratex Monoblock, Alaxan, Century Tuna, and LaLiga. COMCO SEA also continues to manage a portfolio of highly regarded brands and organizations like Jobstreet, Remy Martin, Teleperformance, AXA, European Union, Eastern Communications, ASEANA City, Philusa Corporation, Babyflo Cotton, RHEA Generics, RHEA Vitamins, World Vision, and WWF-Philippines.

COMCO Southeast Asia is also gearing up for the prestigious and much coveted PRCA APAC (Public Relation and Communications Association Asia-Pacific) Awards as it has been cited as a regional finalist for the Medium Consultancy of the Year Award; the PR / Communications Leader Award for Ferdinand L. Bondoy, the COMCO Mundo League of Enterprises Group Chief Executive Director and Lead Strategic Communications Counsel / Partner and Co-Founder; the Media Relations Award for the Agency’s Meaningful Storytelling with COMCOmigos initiative; and the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Award for COMCO’s long-time client/brand partner Teleperformance.

The Growth of the COMCO Brand in Middle East and Africa

Established in 2021, COMCO Middle East and Africa led by its Managing Director / Partner and Co-Founder, Tricia Cusi-Jimenea, has successfully brought the COMCO brand into this market and has been regarded as among the major players in the region’s PR and marketing industry.

In a span of two years, the Agency has serviced a total of 30 brands which includes Empire Entertainment, Middle East Film & Comic Con, Metacon, Central Park, Dubai London Hospital, Shop Electric Pawn, Ezra, Hyde and The Wizarding World in the Mall of Emirates, to name a few.

An Industry Leader

COMCO has a major role in the PR and Communications industry here in the Philippines, in Asia-Pacific and across the globe. COMCO Mundo’s Ferdinand L. Bondoy is currently serving as the Corporate Secretary and PR and Digital Committee Head of the International Association of Business Communications (IABC) Philippines, Regional Board Member as well as Workplace and Culture Committee Member of the Public Relations & Communications Association Asia Pacific (PRCA APAC) based in Singapore, and Online Events Head and Member of the Chartered Institute of Public Relations (CIPR) International headquartered in the United Kingdom.

“In just 7 years, we have already garnered 100 brands and 150 metals and have produced 110 graduates from our long-running and award-winning Camp COMCO Mentorship Program. We thought we’ve already done it all, but as they say, we’re just getting ready for the most exciting part. We are empowered to do more and bigger things for the industry and with my great team beside me, we are definitely up for the challenge. Our 10-year master plan is just in its second phase and there’s still a lot of bigger things in the pipeline, to be unveiled very soon,” stated Ferdinand L. Bondoy, COMCO Mundo League of Enterprises Group Chief Executive Director and Lead Strategic Communications Counsel / Partner and Co-Founder.

“As COMCO grows exponentially in its seventh year, its success also means the growth of its people, a value that inspired the company to create a benefits and compensation program upgrading for its team which includes health benefits extended to dependents, wellness allowance, leave conversion and acquired leaves for critical illness or long-term hospitalization, group insurance, retirement fund, overseas team travel, stock options, and partnership leadership opportunities, among others, which can be considered as the most comprehensive in the industry,” shared Joan Icotanim-Maslang, COMCO Mundo League of Enterprises Corporate Services Director and Comptroller / Partner.

To learn more about COMCO Southeast Asia, visit comcosea.com. Follow them on social media: facebook.com/comco.southeastasia on Facebook, linkedin.com/company/comcosea, and @comco_sea on both Instagram and Twitter.

To learn more about COMCO Mundo, go to comcomundo.com. Follow them on social media: facebook.com/COMCOmundo on Facebook, linkedin.com/company/comcomundo, and @comco_mundo on Instagram.

SM Prime helps address water scarcity in PH through water recycling in SM malls

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Water scarcity is one of the biggest issues that the world is facing today. Defined as a problem that occurs when the demand for water exceeds the available water supply, water scarcity is seen as a problem that will only get worse, especially since water use continues to increase at an unprecedented rate globally.

According to 2019 figures from UN-Water, an interagency mechanism that coordinates the efforts of United Nations (UN) entities and international organizations working on water and sanitation issues, global water demand is expected to continue increasing by 1 percent annually until 2050.

As a company with sustainability at the core of its operations, SM Prime Holdings Inc. (SM Prime) knows that there is a need for solutions that help address the degradation and depletion of the world's natural resources. In line with this, the company has been continuously working towards strengthening its commitment to a circular economy, implementing solutions that help improve efficiency when using natural resources, including water.

“We all know that fresh water is a finite resource, so it is important that we try our best to conserve it. This is why SM has been adhering to a circular framework when it comes to our resource consumption, including the way we use water in our malls,” said Engr. Liza B. Silerio, Vice President for SM Supermalls Corporate Compliance Group and SM Cares Program Director for Environment.

To improve water efficiency in its mall operations, SM employs facilities that help reduce its consumption of fresh water. Among these are sewage treatment plants that treat wastewater plumbing systems. This allows the water to be reused, helping ensure that there is enough water for the malls and the communities nearby.

All wastewater from tenants and mall restrooms are treated in the sewage treatment plants to become non-potable water. The recycled water is then used for air conditioning operations, specifically by cooling towers, as well as for flushing toilets and watering of gardens.

In 2021, SM was able to save a total of 8.7 million cubic meters of water—enough to fill 3,480 Olympic-sized swimming pools—with the help of these facilities, which are present in 72 SM malls nationwide and have been in operation since the early 2000s.

"Aside from minimizing our impact on common water resources, recycling water through these sewage treatment plants allows our malls to save big on water costs," Engr. Silerio said. "Now, imagine if we all did it. I think we can leave a significant positive impact on our country's source of fresh water."

SM Prime is committed to supporting the United Nations in achieving its Sustainable Development Goals (SDG), including “SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation” which aims to ensure the availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all.

Other initiatives of SM aimed toward this include the Trash-to-Cash Market and Plastic Waste Collection initiative, both promoting responsible disposal of plastic waste so they don't end up in seas and oceans; the AweSMSeas campaign in partnership with the USAID and PRRCI, which raises awareness of the importance of managing plastic pollution affecting the world's waters; and the International Coastal Cleanup that gathers thousands of volunteers annually.

Visit www.smprime.com/sustainability-overview to learn more about the sustainability programs of SM Prime Holdings.