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TECHNOLOGY

Win P150,000 SM shopping money at PLDT Home Rewards Grand Giveaway

More prizes and surprises await the lucky winners of the PLDT Home Rewards Grand Giveaway promo this October and November, with the telco giant adding ten (10) SM Gift Cards worth ₱150,000 each to the prize pool! There’s nowhere to go but up in terms of the stakes, with a whopping ₱5 million cash prize up for grabs in the grand draw on December 8, 2021.

Here’s some better news for shopaholics: The draw dates coincide with SM’s Christmas Season sale, rewarding winners with a once-in-a-lifetime shopping experience to welcome the holiday season!

Planning to join the PLDT Home Rewards Grand Giveaway promo? Keep your eyes on that ₱150,000-worth SM Gift Cards! To get you fired up, here’s what to add to your wish list straight from SM’s upcoming Christmas sale inventory!

1. A wardrobe makeover – Spice up your OOTDs with cool fashion finds from the SM Store! Get that classic Levi’s High-waisted mom jeans  for that all-around casual look and pair it with an SM Woman Puff Sleeve Crop Top.

Complete the look with a Kicks Jelai Lace-Up Sneakers. You can also prepare for that upcoming–and honestly, long-awaited–beach trip with the beach-ready Orange Halter Dress from Coco Cabana and pair it with Crocs Tulum Sandal.

2. A dream home entertainment set – What’s more nostalgic than getting everyone together in the sala, laughing and gushing to some cheesy holiday movie like those good ol’ family reunions? Even with a fewer number of family members to celebrate with at home, you can still continue this tradition with Netflix’s almost unlimited range of flicks and series—just press play. Up the experience with a shiny new Samsung 75″ Real 4K UHD Smart TV set and a Sony Shake X30D high-power home audio system from SM Appliance Center! While you’re at it, it might be time to upgrade your furniture, too, by getting your hands on a brand new Gracen Sectional Sofa from Our Home!

3. Homeschooling essentials – In these days of blended learning, no kid should be left behind. Level up your youngsters’ online school experience with a high-powered Lenovo™ Chromebook C330 laptop from SM Appliance Center, plus a Wi-Fi printer to help them in their requirements. To secure their connection at home without them having to stay put next to the router the whole time, a Wi-Fi mesh system might just be the perfect holiday gift! This add-on ensures strong internet signal coverage wherever they are at home, giving them more movement and space to help in their focus!

4. Work-at-home essentials – Is your trusty computer not as trusty anymore that it’s slowing down your efficiency at work? A nifty Asus X415EA-EK760T laptop from SM Appliance Center equipped with the best specs might just inspire you to work better. Add to cart a pair of high-quality wireless earphones to help you multitask, plus a chic, ergonomic Hank HB Office Chair from Our Home to combat any stressor on the job with utmost comfort. Expect your productivity rate to shoot up soon!

5. Home improvement must-haves – With most of you in the fam toiling through daily life still locked down at home, revamping your space to better fit this new normal mold is now a must. Before rolling up your sleeves for some dirty, DIY sesh, it might be easier to get any kind of job with some nice and shiny-new power tools. A top recos: Black And Decker 18V 1.5AH Cordless Lithium Hammer Drill, Bosch Professional GWS 060 Mini Grinder, and Black and Decker Pressure Washer BW15 – all from Ace Hardware.

Besides the ₱5 million cash prize and the 10 SM Gift Cards each worth ₱150,000, PLDT Home is also gifting one lucky winner with a Play-at-Home Package. Continuing the trend from the previously awarded bundles, the Play-at-Home Package comprises a Sony PlayStation 5, a premium Gaming Chair, and Asus RaptureTouter.

Other exciting prizes for the October-December promo period include a cash gift worth ₱50,000, to be raffled to ten (10) winners.

Over 200 PLDT Home subscribers have already won since the PLDT Home Rewards Grand Giveaway launched in April, with the prizes getting bigger and better each run.

To join the PLDT Home Rewards Grand Giveaway, PLDT Home subscribers simply need to enroll their PLDT account in the PLDT Home Rewards program.

By paying PLDT bills on time, applying for paperless billing, and availing other PLDT services, enrolled subscribers earn Crystals that can be exchanged for shopping and dining vouchers and bill credits for PLDT, Smart, and Cignal subscriptions.

Every five (5) Crystals earned also automatically come with one (1) raffle entry. It’s that simple. The more Crystals earned, the more chances of winning!

New PLDT Home Rewards program registrants can claim 20 welcome Crystals upon registration. That’s easily a lot of raffle entries for more chances of winning!
For more details about PLDT Home Rewards Grand Giveaway, please visit https://pldthome.info/HomeRewardsxSM2021.

TECHNOLOGY

PLDT Enterprise bags 3 Stevie Awards: Celebrating diverse innovations in Events and Digital Communication

12:34 p.m. May 6, 2024

PLDT Enterprise, the corporate business arm of the leading Philippine telecommunications and digital services provider PLDT, proudly announced its latest victories at the 2024 Asia-Pacific Stevie Awards.

The Philippine Digital Convention (PH Digicon) 2023 VISION: Reimagine Tomorrow’s Enterprise secured a Silver Stevie® under the category of Innovation in the Use of Events and a Bronze Stevie® for Innovation in Business-to-Business Events, while the “Visionaries” campaign received a Bronze Stevie® in the category of Innovation in the Use of Social Media. These accolades once again highlighted PLDT Enterprise’s relentless pursuit of excellence and innovation in the digital communication space.

“We are deeply honored by the recognition bestowed upon us at the Stevie Awards, which underscores our unwavering dedication to business excellence and innovation,” stated Mitch Locsin, First Vice President and Head of Enterprise and International Core Business at PLDT and Smart. “These awards are a testament to our expertise and steadfast commitment to propelling businesses towards success in the digital age. As we continue to garner accolades, they serve to reaffirm our role as a catalyst for transformative digital solutions within the B2B marketplace, and they celebrate our deep-rooted mission to empower enterprises across the spectrum with the tools and services necessary to thrive in an increasingly connected world.”

PH Digicon Uniting and Empowering Visionaries

PH Digicon 2023 VISION: Reimagine Tomorrow’s Enterprise was the most recent leg of the pioneering annual digital conference that once again brought together industry leaders to discuss and explore the future of digital enterprise. The convention offered a platform for businesses to reimagine their operations in the emerging digital landscape.

As the 9th edition of the widely anticipated industry event, it drew a record-breaking number of participants eager to immerse themselves in the latest technologies, hear from digital thought leaders and trailblazers, network with business experts, and participate in on-ground activities such as Digi Grounds, Digi Hub, and SME Zone, to form a shared vision on how to foster the Philippines’ digital transformation.

The event also featured the Start-Up Innovation Challenge, the final pitching and demo day for start-ups to showcase their ideas to industry experts on how to solve everyday challenges using technologies involving Internet of Things (IoT), Artificial Intelligence (AI), 5G, Smart Cities, Immersive Technologies, and Environmental, Social, and Corporate Governance (ESG). 

The event stood as a hallmark in PLDT Enterprise’s event calendar, not just for its scale but for its role in shaping the dialogue around digital transformation in the region. This year’s theme, “Reimagine Tomorrow’s Enterprise,” resonated deeply with attendees, as the event featured industry experts and thought leaders including prominent C-suite executives who shared their insights into the emerging trends and future of digital business. It served as an incubator for innovative ideas, fostering a space where technology and strategy converged to inspire businesses to embark on transformational journeys.

The success of PH Digicon 2023 VISION: Reimagine Tomorrow’s Enterprise in elevating the conversation on digital innovation is further validated by its Silver Stevie® and Bronze Stevie® Awards, marking it as a pivotal event that not only forecasts the trajectory of digital enterprise but actively contributes to its evolution.

Leading the Industry by Example

The “Visionaries” campaign, on the other hand, was a transformative movement celebrating customer success stories across diverse personas and industries, from SME founders, large enterprise leaders, local government unit partners, to international carriers. It showcased the digital transformation journeys of PLDT Enterprise’s customers and reinforced the brand’s customer-centric approach.

The Bronze Stevie® Award for Innovation in the Use of Social Media through the “Visionaries” campaign is a compelling affirmation of PLDT Enterprise’s leadership by example in the realm of digital storytelling and innovation. This prestigious award is a testament to the company’s success as a digital transformation ally for businesses, showcasing their ability to not just follow but set trends in the dynamic narrative of enterprise technology.

The “Visionaries” campaign exemplifies PLDT Enterprise’s role as an architect of change, demonstrating their expertise in crafting impactful stories that resonate with the audience and galvanize the market. As champions of digital innovation, PLDT Enterprise’s approach goes beyond traditional methods, reflecting a pioneering spirit that is essential for leaders in the digital age.

Raising the Bar for Industry and Innovation

“As we celebrate these Stevie Awards, we’re reminded that at the heart of our innovative endeavors lies our commitment to our customers,” added Locsin. “PH Digicon and the ‘Visionaries’ campaign are embodiments of our promise to propel our business partners and customers to success, ensuring that every initiative is attuned to the needs and aspirations of our clients. This commitment is not just a tagline; it’s a guiding principle that steers our journey towards a customer-centric future. Our accolades in events and digital communication stand as milestones along this path, reaffirming our pledge to support every enterprise in achieving their digital transformation goals,” he concluded.

The Asia-Pacific Stevie® Awards are renowned for recognizing innovation in all its forms across the 29 nations of the Asia-Pacific region. The wins at the Stevie Awards, alongside its recent accolades at the ANVIL and Quill Awards, further cement PLDT Enterprise’s position as a thought leader and customer-centric business in the telecommunications and digital services industry.

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TECHNOLOGY

SEA 2023: Cybercriminals clog business networks with financial phishing

6:36 p.m. March 18, 2024

In 2023, Kaspersky anti-phishing technologies detected nearly 500,000 attempts to follow a phishing link on businesses’ devices in Southeast Asia (SEA). Interestingly, this number only refers to phishing links related to finance matters – e-commerce, banking, and payment systems.

Phishing persuades users to take action which gives a scammer access to your device, accounts, or personal information. By pretending to be a person or organization the users trust, they can more easily infect the victim with malware or steal their information.

These social engineering schemes “bait” with trust to get valuable information. This could be anything from a social media login, to your entire identity via your social security number. These schemes may urge the user to open an attachment, follow a link, fill out a form, or reply with personal information.

“Financial phishing” is a type of phishing which refers to fraudulent resources related to banking, payment systems and digital shops. Payment system phishing includes pages impersonating well-known payment brands.

From January to December last year, Kaspersky solutions detected and blocked a total of 455,708 financial phishing attempts targeting companies of various sizes in the region. The statistics reflect clicks on phishing links placed in various communication channels, including emails, fraudulent web sites, messengers, social media, etc. 

“Phishing is a trusted technique for cybercriminals when it comes to infiltrating business networks because they usually work. The rise of generative AI helps cybercriminals to make phishing messages or scam resources more convincing. As a result, it becomes challenging for people to distinguish between a scam and a legitimate communication. That’s why the role of robust security solutions increases,” comments Yeo Siang Tiong, General Manager for Southeast Asia at Kaspersky. 

The Philippines logged the highest number of financial phishing at 163,279 attempts in 2023, followed by Malaysia with 124,105. Indonesia chalked up 97,465 incidents while Vietnam experienced 36,130 phishing attacks related to financial matters. Thailand and Singapore registered the least number of this threat at 25,227 and 9,502 respectively.

“Cybercriminals employ various tactics, including financial-related phishing, to deceive employees and trick them into falling victim to an attack Our recent study showed employee security violations can be as damaging as external hacking for companies in Asia Pacific which means the human factor continues to play a role in making businesses vulnerable. Tools to help safeguard against human error are a vital step forward, but they can’t exclude employee education, skills development, and overall strengthening of the company’s ability to detect and respond to cyberattacks,” adds Yeo.

To help companies protect their systems against the damages of a successful phishing attack, Kaspersky experts recommend:

  • To advance decision-makers’ understanding of the importance of cybersecurity and how best to distribute budgets to stay ahead of threats, engage them with Kaspersky Interactive Protection Simulation for enhanced C-level professional education.
  • Consider experts’ help. For example, Kaspersky Assessments family of professional services identifies security gaps in your system’s configuration, and the Security Architecture Design helps create an IT security infrastructure that’s a perfect fit for a particular company. Every step of implementation is grounded in real security needs, giving decision-makers convincing arguments to allocate budgets.
  • Install and use enterprise security solutions with anti-phishing software: The Advanced Anomaly Control feature within Kaspersky Endpoint Security for Business Advanced, Kaspersky Total Security for Business and Kaspersky Endpoint Detection and Response Optimum help prevent potentially dangerous activities that are ‘out of the norm’, both undertaken by the user and initiated by the attacker who has already seized control of the system.  
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TECHNOLOGY

Revolutionizing social networking: Rili, groundbreaking AI-powered platform

6:11 p.m. March 9, 2024

Rili.ai officially launches its AI-powered app to redefine how individuals connect, interact, create, and communicate in the digital age. Thanks to voice cloning and lip-syncing, anyone can create their own digital twin (Rili) and interact with anyone, anytime, and anywhere.

Users can cultivate their digital twin, training it with content in over 100 languages to break down communication barriers and foster worldwide friendships. Whether you’re looking to expand your knowledge, gain insights and information from other individuals, or delve deeper into meaningful conversations with other users, Rili.ai is the app to do so effortlessly.

To train Rili, users can share knowledge and information through chat (written messages or voice audios) or by speaking into a microphone. Moreover, it is possible to integrate the digital print of anyone into Rili profiles with their existing accounts on platforms such as Twitch, X, and YouTube. Leveraging this integration, Rili.ai gathers personalized information from users’ public profiles on these platforms, ensuring a tailored experience based on their interests and preferences.

Features for Enhanced Social Engagement

The app offers various features designed to enhance users’ digital interactions. The explore feature allows users to effortlessly search for their favorite Rili users and discover others who share similar interests and preferences, fostering meaningful connections in a virtual community. With profile customization, users can tailor their Rili to reflect their unique personality and interests. The chat functionality allows users to initiate conversations with other “Rilis” and review their past chats, promoting seamless interaction and boosting engagement. Other features include creating favorite Rili lists, scoring conversations, adding likes to conversations or phrases, and sharing messages with anyone through different channels.

Through Rili, users have the unique ability to deeply connect with others, gaining valuable insights and understanding into their perspectives, experiences, and expertise. Rili.ai facilitates meaningful connections that transcend geographical boundaries and time constraints. With its advanced capabilities, Rili.ai offers an app for preserving digital heritage, allowing users to capture and preserve their memories, stories, and experiences for future generations.

“Rili is the new generation of social media platforms. Powered by AI and using the most relevant state-of-the-art technologies, its development will be a turning point for the history of communication. The creation of digital twins will give the opportunity to the society to expand their knowledge, connections and share of voice beyond boundaries”, highlighted Antonio Camacho, Rili Co-founder. “Rili’s mission is to fight against isolation, allowing people to connect with others you would not be able to reach”.  

Join Rili’s white list

The Rili alpha version is already live for anyone interested in joining the community. You can sign up for the white list and will be notified once you have access to create your own Rili. The app is available for iOS and Android.

Revolutionizing Social Networking: Introducing Rili, the Groundbreaking AI-Powered Platform for Sharing and Expanding Your Legacy

Rili.ai officially launches its AI-powered app to redefine how individuals connect, interact, create, and communicate in the digital age. Thanks to voice cloning and lip-syncing, anyone can create their own digital twin (Rili) and interact with anyone, anytime, and anywhere.

Users can cultivate their digital twin, training it with content in over 100 languages to break down communication barriers and foster worldwide friendships. Whether you’re looking to expand your knowledge, gain insights and information from other individuals, or delve deeper into meaningful conversations with other users, Rili.ai is the app to do so effortlessly.

To train Rili, users can share knowledge and information through chat (written messages or voice audios) or by speaking into a microphone. Moreover, it is possible to integrate the digital print of anyone into Rili profiles with their existing accounts on platforms such as Twitch, X, and YouTube. Leveraging this integration, Rili.ai gathers personalized information from users’ public profiles on these platforms, ensuring a tailored experience based on their interests and preferences.

Features for Enhanced Social Engagement

The app offers various features designed to enhance users’ digital interactions. The explore feature allows users to effortlessly search for their favorite Rili users and discover others who share similar interests and preferences, fostering meaningful connections in a virtual community. With profile customization, users can tailor their Rili to reflect their unique personality and interests. The chat functionality allows users to initiate conversations with other “Rilis” and review their past chats, promoting seamless interaction and boosting engagement. Other features include creating favorite Rili lists, scoring conversations, adding likes to conversations or phrases, and sharing messages with anyone through different channels.

Through Rili, users have the unique ability to deeply connect with others, gaining valuable insights and understanding into their perspectives, experiences, and expertise. Rili.ai facilitates meaningful connections that transcend geographical boundaries and time constraints. With its advanced capabilities, Rili.ai offers an app for preserving digital heritage, allowing users to capture and preserve their memories, stories, and experiences for future generations.

“Rili is the new generation of social media platforms. Powered by AI and using the most relevant state-of-the-art technologies, its development will be a turning point for the history of communication. The creation of digital twins will give the opportunity to the society to expand their knowledge, connections and share of voice beyond boundaries”, highlighted Antonio Camacho, Rili Co-founder. “Rili’s mission is to fight against isolation, allowing people to connect with others you would not be able to reach”.  

Join Rili’s white list

The Rili alpha version is already live for anyone interested in joining the community. You can sign up for the white list and will be notified once you have access to create your own Rili. The app is available for iOS and Android.

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