NEWS
Advocacy group: Filipinos must be responsible digital citizens to protect themselves from cybercrime
March 18, 2022 7:51 p.m.
FILIPINO consumers must become responsible digital citizens to protect themselves from internet-based crimes, and while there are existing laws against cybercrimes, the government and the private sector must work together to educate and empower the people against falling prey to cybercriminals, an advocacy group said.
“The pandemic has pushed most of us to shift our activities online,” said lawyer Tim Abejo, co-convenor of CitizenWatch Philippines. “We now do our banking, shopping, schooling, over the internet. We order food online and do our work from home. These have their benefits, of course, but they also carry great risk.”
Abejo said that while these internet transactions result in convenience and efficiency, they also bring the danger of abuse and exploitation in many forms. “There are many who are out to take advantage of unsuspecting internet users. We have to make sure that our people arm themselves against these online predators.”
During the pandemic period, the number of cyber tips received by the Department of Justice – Office of Cybercrime tripled to 1.2 million in 2020 from just 400,000 the previous year. Most common among internet crimes are fraud, sexual abuse and exploitation, bullying, and identity theft.
Targeting the vulnerable
Abejo cited the UNICEF finding that prolonged lockdowns have made children and young people more vulnerable because these resulted in extended hours online.
“For two years now, they cannot go out to play or go to school or to meet their friends,” said Abejo.
“Instead, they are constantly online to study, play or socialize. This provides predators the opportunity to manipulate them for their own gains.”
Meanwhile, the public has also seen a rise in incidents of hacking of online bank accounts.
“Sure, there have been arrests. But these people are always one step ahead and they are bound to come up with newer, more sophisticated ways to launch cyber-attacks,” Abejo said.
The Bankers Association of the Philippines said more than P1 billion was lost last year due to cyber fraud.
“These criminals are so ingenious,” Abejo said. “They dupe people into disclosing sensitive information through innocent- or legitimate-looking emails, text messages, or even social media posts.”
He said that ransomware is becoming more prevalent in the Philippines, where malicious software – malware – gains access to a computer system, which would become inaccessible unless the user pays ransom.
Laws and public private partnerships
“To be sure, there is no dearth of laws protecting the public from cybercrimes,” Abejo said.
“The laws range from the broader Cybercrime Prevention Act to data privacy, to preventing online sexual abuse and exploitation, to those protecting the integrity of electronic transactions or strengthening financial literacy for consumers in the digital economy,” he said, citing that the real challenge is making the people aware that these laws do exist and enforcing them in this context.
Abejo proposed that, “Government should incentivize private initiatives to engage the education sector such as the Digital Thumbprint Program of digital solutions company Globe in partnership with the Department of Education that has integrated into the curriculum the training of young students to be knowledgeable in cybersecurity and responsible digital citizenship.”
“More public private engagements in digitally powered interventions can give free online access to workshop modules to arm people with the knowledge and attitude to responsibly and safely navigate the internet,” Abejo added.
A common concern
According to Abejo, empowering Filipinos to be aware of and fight online risks is a collective effort that must be undertaken by the government, the private sector, civil society, and the education sector.
“Specifically, telcos and ISPs should partner with the government to engage in an aggressive and sustained education program to raise awareness of online dangers,” Abejo said.
“Technology is good because it allows societies to be productive and innovative, and reach their potential,” he said. “We must manage the inherent risks and learn how to protect ourselves against those who think they can use the internet to advance their criminal interests.”
“As we are now in a highly digital world, we must choose leaders who can be digital transformation champions to address digital readiness gaps that can delay our recovery from the pandemic crisis,” Abejo said.
NEWS
Your SM Foodie Festival experience, made sweeter with delicious deals!
4:34 p.m. September 13, 2024
It is all about food at SM Supermalls for the entire month of September! Indulge your taste buds in delicious flavors from your favorite SM mall food establishments—made even more scrumptious with these sweet deals from SM Malls Online and SM Deals!
The most AweSM deals!
Craving that delicious char of grilled ribs or chicken? Satisfy it at Gringo-Chicken Ribs and enjoy a 15% discount on all products!
Dive into a hearty Merienda Deal at Taste of Czaczacza! For just P300, indulge in a savory Lomi Solo paired with a refreshing Blue Pea Lemonade drink!
Warm up your day and share it with a friend! Classic Savory’s promo deal promises a Buy 1 Get 1 deal on its delicious Savory Classic Lomi Soup for only P305!
SM Food Court has something special for you lined up this September! Gather your friends and family for a feast, because every group meal purchase worth P599 or more gets you a FREE 1.5L Coke—the perfect pair to a perfect meal!
Whether it’s a birthday, anniversary, or just because, you deserve to celebrate in the sweetest way! Get 15% off all products when you buy your cakes and pastries at Honeybon!
Sometimes, you want a delicious meal meant just for you, and only you! Well, Chili’s has got just the promo for you—for only P380, choose a solo-size starter, soup or salad, a solo-size entree, and a drink and enjoy! Available all day, every day until November 30, 2024!
Snacks abound all September!
Dunkin’s Famous Bundle deal gets even better—instead of P420, treat yourself, your friends, and the whole family to a delicious selection of 6 Classic Donuts and 6 Premium Donuts for only P399!
Brighten your day with a delicious and healthy serving of Pinkberry frozen yogurt! Made with real milk, real yogurt, and the freshest ingredients, any small, medium or large size purchase will get you 10% off your order!
Delicious food made for sharing until the month ends!
Treat your family to a Max’s Restaurant meal—you might just get a little thank you for your patronage! For a minimum spend of P1,000, you and your loved ones can enjoy a FREE ala carte serving of their famous Lumpiang Shanghai!
Double the fries, double the fun! Enjoy your snack time by dropping by Tokyo Tokyo from 2 PM to 5 PM to get a second order of fries for free!
Snack time with the barkada has never been this good! Visit The Beanery from 10 AM to 3 PM and for a minimum spend of P1,000, you’ll get 1 order of Potato Mojos or 1 order of Korean Chicken Pops for FREE!
Delightful drinks to quench your thirst all month long!
Perk up your afternoons with a friend and Bo’s Coffee! From Monday to Thursday, 3 PM to 6 PM, buy a Large Hot or Iced Cafe Latte, to get a Medium Hot or Iced Americano for free!
Barkada bondings get better with a delicious thirst quencher in hand! For just P299, you can get 4 cups of the refreshing Wonder Trio at Just Squeezed—perfect for sharing with your friends!
Share a sweet (and healthy!) treat with a special someone! Buy the Avo-licious Bundle at Avocadoria and get 2 refreshing, creamy and delicious Avocado Shakes for only P300!
Variety is the spice of life, and BLK 5 Cafe’s got a lot of it! Pick up any Venti drink from their selection of coffees, frappes and milk teas and enjoy 10 pesos off your order!
Drink coffee the Korean way! Get 10% off on all Grand-sized Drinks at WouldULike, the innovative South Korean coffee chain that makes each drink fresh and sealed in cans to preserve its delicious taste and temperature!
Your perfect cup just got bigger! Buy any hot drink from B&R Cafe and enjoy a free upsize from 8oz to 12oz!
Perk up with a little bit of zest! Buy any Venti Flavor at Fruity Lemon and get a FREE Fruity Lemon Petite!
Additional deals you don’t want to miss!
Eating like a King doesn’t mean breaking the bank! Enjoy delicious rice meal deals with Burger King’s King Saver Rice Meals! Choose from Mushroom Gravy Chunky Chicken Fillet, Creamy Parm Chunky Chicken Fillet, or Smoky BBQ Chunky Chicken Fillet for only P85 each—and get a free drink to boot! This deal runs until September 13, 2024 at all SM branches of Burger King, so don’t miss out!
Cafe Siklista has you covered for payday! On September 15 and September 30, choose from 22oz Iced Coffee & White Chops, 12oz Hot Coffee & Cheesecake, and Pasta & Clubhouse combos for only P180 each!
Mom’s Ube & Triple Chocolate Champorado promo is a perfect after-school reward for your bulilit! Buy 2 of any size and get 1 Small Champorado for free! Prices start at P35, and promo runs from September 20 to September 30 only!
Enjoy a complete selection of delicious Japanese favorites and get an incredible deal in return! Use your Security Bank Card when you dine at Tsurumaru Udon X Tempura on Mondays to Fridays until October 31, 2024 for 20% off on a total bill of P1,000 or more!
Celebrate your birthday by dining in at Shaka Cafe and get a FREE slice of cake of your choice! Just present proof of your birthdate and spend a minimum of P500! September celebrants, now is your time! Everyone else, don’t fret—this offer is valid until December 31, 2024!
Enjoy these tasty treats, delightful drinks and mouth-watering meals all through September with SM Supermalls’ Foodie Festival 2024! Download the SM Malls Online app and swipe to avail of these AweSM deals! For more information and to stay updated, visit www.smsupermalls.com or follow SM Supermalls on Facebook.
NEWS
SM Supermalls celebrates Donald Duck’s 90th Anniversary
6:20 p.m. September 12, 2024
SM Supermalls was the epicenter of a quackin’ celebration as it hosted an unforgettable 90th anniversary party for Donald Duck. From August 1 to 13, 2024, mall-goers were treated to an array of themed installations, photo spots, and activities that paid tribute to one of Disney’s most beloved characters.
SM Mall of Asia launched the celebration in its Main Mall Atrium, with the space adorned in bold nautical colors, setting the perfect backdrop for the festivities. Multiple photo spots and a themed retail space delivered excitement of Donald’s 90th anniversary to Filipinos. Fans could browse a wide range of merchandise from Toy Kingdom Express featuring Donald Duck and other beloved Disney characters, from plush toys to stylish apparel.
Famous for his funny antics, Donald Duck debuted in 1934 in “The Wise Little Hen” cartoon and has since become one of Mickey Mouse’s best pals. For his 90th celebration, Donald Duck was also at the launch to greet and take photos with families.
A selection of plush toys from Toy Kingdom Express inspired by beloved Disney characters sit on display at SM Mall of Asia’s Main Mall Atrium.
Alongside the launch at SM Mall of Asia, Donald Duck took his birthday celebration on the road to two other SM malls in South Luzon. At SM City Santa Rosa and SM City Dasmarinas, Donald played with families and friends who came to greet him. Both malls also opened a retail space that featured collectibles, stuffed toys, and other merchandise to commemorate Donald Duck’s 90th anniversary.
For more information and to stay updated on the best family-fun activities, visit www.smsupermalls.com or follow SM Supermalls on social media.
NEWS
Office of Civil Defense strengthens ties with Japan
8:49 p.m. September 10, 2024
Office of Civil Defense Administrator Undersecretary Ariel Nepomuceno said that there will be a continued effort to strengthen the ties with Japan on disaster risk reduction and management.
Nepomuceno said the initiative would be beneficial to the OCD following a courtesy call by officials from the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force (JGSDF) and Japan Ministry of Defense (MOD) last week at Camp Aguinaldo in Quezon City.
“We are pleased with the recent visit of the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force and Japan Ministry of Defense to OCD. Japan is one of our steadfast partners or strong allies in DRRM. We are grateful for their continued support to us. Their best practices in DRRM are invaluable and worthy of emulation,” Usec. Nepomuceno said.
During the visit, the OCD provided a briefing on various systems, mechanisms and efforts relative to the Philippine DRRM.
The discussion covered topics on Earthquake and Volcanic Eruption Monitoring and Early Warning Systems in the Philippines; Standard Operating Procedure for Earthquake and Volcanic Eruption Preparedness, Response, and Recovery; Evacuation Plans and Safe Zones for Earthquake and Volcanic Eruption in the Philippines; and the Ongoing Efforts to Improve Earthquake and Volcanic Eruption Preparedness in the Philippines.
Officers of the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force and Japan Ministry of Defense are currently in the Philippines for Japan-Philippines Humanitarian and Disaster Response Cooperation Project 2024 from September 1 to 7, 2024 at the Headquarters of Philippine Army, Fort Andres Bonifacio, Taguig City, and in Legazpi City, Albay.
Moreover, the OCD and the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) have been engaged in several capacity-building initiatives as part of the Disaster Risk Reduction and Management-Capacity Enhancement Project Phase partnership program.
Your SM Foodie Festival experience, made sweeter with delicious deals!
SM Supermalls celebrates Donald Duck’s 90th Anniversary
Office of Civil Defense strengthens ties with Japan
