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Building true champs in life thru sports

The year 2021 will go down in Philippine sports history as the year of Filipino champions. In the recent Tokyo Olympics, weightlifter Hidilyn Diaz brought home the first ever gold medal for the country.

Team Pilipinas also hauled in two silver and one bronze medals – its most successful contingent in over a century. Diaz and boxers Nesthy Petecio, Carlo Paalam and Eumir Marcial showed what true Filipino champions are made of, lifting the spirit of the entire nation during a pandemic and igniting hope for what our young athletes can achieve in the future.  

This is exactly the reason why Nestlé continues to build Filipino life champions through sports. Since 1964, Nestlé nourishes the youth with nutritious energy to jump start their own journey to success through the MILO Sports Programs.

It is not surprising that Nestlé has been able to inspire more than 35 million Filipinos to grow with sports and pursue their love for basketball, volleyball, taekwondo, football, swimming, gymnastics, arnis, among others. Look no further with Bea Lucero, Caloy Yulo, Kiefer Ravena, Jamie Lim and Pauline Lopez as some of MILO’s best and most notable athletes.

But sports is not only about competing and getting a podium finish. Former athletes Dr. Micco Sollano and Atty. Madeline Mina proved that champions are not only measured by mere skill, but also by heart and character. Their humble beginnings with Nestlé and MILO Sports programs have been the foundation of their ongoing success. Today, they try to live by these values while pursuing their other passions in life

The fight continues, on and off court 
“I was in Grade School when my mom enrolled me in the MILO BEST Center program,” Dr. Sollano shared.

Founded by Coach Nic Jorge, the MILO BEST Center recognizes sports as an integral part of a child’s growth. The aspiring doctor continued to play basketball, competing in the University Athletic Association of the Philippines or UAAP as part of the champion teams of both Ateneo de Manila University and De La Salle University during his college years. 

“Sports is a great teacher. I learned about discipline and teamwork. I also gained confidence to face challenges, on and off the court,” he emphasized, adding that the whole experience taught him to never give up. A trait, he admits, helped him while pursuing his medical degree later on.

In 2020, however, Dr. Sollano had to dig deeper and flight like he had never done before. “I was the first medical frontliner to test positive for COVID-19. I knew in my heart that I needed to fight because that is how MILO nurtured me,” he said.

He made sure he won this most challenging personal battle yet. Because for Dr. Sollano, other people were counting on frontliners like him and depending on their team to win the fight against COVID.   

Champions are not built overnight

One’s champion journey is never easy. When Atty. Mina’s father enrolled her at 10 years old in MILO Club Gymnastica in Pasig, where Lucero and Yulo also trained, she had to prove to herself that she could do what kids two to four years her junior were already capable of. 

“Hindi siya basta-basta. You have to go through the process of training for a particular skill. Because in progressive trainings, especially for gymnastics, everything will get harder and more complex,” Atty. Mina explained.

She committed herself to train both at home and in the gym to improve her somersaults and stick the landing of her vault routine. And when local and international competitions came, all the hard work to be at the highest competitive level was rewarded with medals and loud cheers of “Go, Madel!” from her family and teammates. 

But after winning in four competitions, Atty. Mina felt like she wanted to give up. Her dream of becoming a champion gymnast in the Olympics remained just that – a dream.

“It was that time when I felt overfatigue and no longer improving. I had to overcome such frustration, that even though I was no longer competing as a gymnast, I could still do what I love as a member of our cheerleading teams in high school and college.”

She went on to join and win titles with her new teammates at the Pasig Catholic College Pep Squad and San Beda Cheerleading Association.   

Struggles, she stressed, are part of the whole journey. “Sometimes being a champion means taking failure in stride, allowing yourself to mourn and picking yourself up again to do better and bounce back higher,” she said. From being a gymnast to becoming a lawyer, Atty. Mina is now focusing her energy by taking part in the speedy administration of justice under the Supreme Court. It is about championing others this time around, she said.

It starts with a champion’s mindset

Nestlé has been championing the health and wellness of Filipino families for 110 years. As Nestlé adapts to the times, Arlene Tan-Bantoto, Senior Vice President and Head of Public Affairs, Sustainability and Communications, said the company has pivoted its MILO Sports program into the MILO Home Court online to continue helping kids stay active and healthy even while at home.

“A champion’s journey starts with fostering a champion’s mindset. As the Kasambuhay of Filipino families, Nestlé is excited to build the next generation of true champions while cheering them on at every stage of their journey.

It may have been five decades since Nestlé launched its first MILO Sports program but the determination, discipline and self-confidence that it has instilled in millions of Filipino youth through sports will, hopefully, prepare them to become champions in life,” Tan-Bantoto said.

NEWS

Toyota Motor Vietnam selects Synology as Data Management Partner

6:53 p.m. March 31, 2024

Toyota Motor Vietnam, one of Vietnam’s largest automobile manufacturers, has partnered with Synology to strengthen its data management infrastructure for its growing data storage and resiliency demands.

“Synology’s storage solution has increased our business resilience,” said Bui Ta Hoan, IT Division Head at Toyota Motor Vietnam. “Synology is reliable, secure, and provides future-proofing scalability for growing data needs.”

Toyota Motor Vietnam deployed Synology data management systems to securely store hundreds of terabytes of data that are generated from assembling over 10,000 vehicles per year. Together with Synology’s high availability and remote data protection features, Toyota Motor Vietnam’s IT infrastructure is more resilient than ever against disruptions.

“Synology solutions are widely adopted in the manufacturing industry for a few simple reasons,” said Jola Le, Synology Vietnam Sales Manager. “Its robustness and ease of use save our customers considerable time. We’re proud to be able to transform and help modernize Toyota Motor Vietnam’s data management and protection needs.”

To learn more about the deployment, please visit: Synology customer story – Toyota Motor Vietnam

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Kaspersky shares cybersecurity tips for a peaceful getaway during the Holy Week

5:18 p.m. March 28, 2024

As the holiday season approaches, the urge to unwind and kick back is natural. And it’s all too common for people to let their guard down completely when connecting to the Internet too– but shouldn’t.

Recently, the Philippine National Police (PNP) Anti-Cybercrime Group shared their findings on identity theft cases in the country. Between November 2023 and February 2024, they uncovered 178 cases of “hijack profile” incidents. Half of these cases, eighty-nine (89) happened just in February. These cases mirror an upward trend seen throughout 2023, where the PNP recorded almost 3,000 cyber identity theft incidents.

Identity theft occurs when a fraudster obtains personal details from a victim, enabling them to commit identity fraud or fraudulently obtain goods/services. This stolen data can be used to open new bank accounts, take over existing ones, or impersonate the victim for criminal activities.

“In 2023, we monitored 26,164,699 web threats attacks in the Philippines, which made the country 4th with the highest web threats attacks globally, and when we looked at it closely, we found out that Filipinos were facing one (1) attack per second. These numbers are a reminder of the importance of remaining vigilant at all times,” said Yeo Siang Tiong, General Manager for Southeast Asia at Kaspersky.

Web threats are browser-based attacks used by cybercriminals to spread malware. This includes common dangers like phishing and viruses, along with offline data theft.

To help Filipinos enjoy a peaceful holy week vacation, below are some of Kaspersky’s recommendations to follow:

General travel tips:

  1. Be skeptical of tantalizing offers
  2. Check to make sure your connection is secure before entering any personal information on a website
  3. Always check the address bar to make sure you are actually on the website you are supposed to be on
  4. Buy tickets and book hotel rooms either from the company directly or through a well-known ticketing or hotel site
  5. Do not participate in questionable giveaways
  6. Use strong passwords and two-factor authentication wherever possible
  7. Checking the address bar is always a good idea, but it may be insufficient; some malefactors know how to fake addresses. So always use a security solution like Kaspersky Premium that scans malicious links. 

Avail up to 20% discounts on Kaspersky’s consumer solutions like Kaspersky Premium, Plus and Standard for the whole month of March at  https://www.kasperskyph.com/.

On protecting your personal data against identity theft:

  1. Keep things to a minimum: Use social media sparingly. Don’t use your real name, never post any personal information and don’t share any personal data via social messaging services.
  2. Keep your computer up to date: Many hackers now use malware to steal your information. Keeping your computer up to date with security patches and antivirus software helps protect against existing vulnerabilities and detect new attacks.
  3. Browse safely: To limit the chance of a malware infection, don’t open unknown email attachments or browse suspicious websites.
  4. Be self-aware: Take the time to check your credit card statements for any strange charges, and contact your credit card bank provider the minute you notice that something’s awry.
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Kick off your UEFA EURO 2024 adventure and watch games live with GCash

6:06 p.m. March 15, 2024

GCash, the Philippines’ top finance app, joins forces with Alipay+ to bring an exciting opportunity for Filipino football fans to take part in this year’s UEFA EURO 2024. As the premier football tournament kicks off once again, GCash is making it possible for you to witness the action live with the launch of its new raffle promo. GCash is a partner of Alipay+, which is the exclusive Official Payment Partner of UEFA EURO 2024.

Captivating millions of fans globally each year, the UEFA EURO 2024 tournament is set to take place from 14 June to 14 July 2024 across ten iconic host cities in Germany, including Berlin, Cologne, Dortmund, Düsseldorf, Frankfurt, Gelsenkirchen, Hamburg, Leipzig, Munich, and Stuttgart.

By simply using GCash to pay, whether locally or internationally, users can earn raffle tickets and get the chance to experience the thrill of watching the UEFA EURO 2024 games live in Germany.

According to Paul Vincent Albano, General Manager for GCash International, “We are delighted to announce our partnership, together with Alipay+, the exclusive Official Payment Partner of UEFA EURO 2024, a collaboration that celebrates a shared passion and commitment to connecting with Filipino football fans. With GCash, users can unlock opportunities for more enriching experiences, and having the chance to attend the biggest sporting event of the year is just one of the ways we make this possible for our users. Through Alipay+, Filipino fans can pay at thousands of retail stores, F&B outlets and attractions across Germany and Europe, simply with GCash.”

GCash is now available internationally, through its partnership with Alipay+, ensuring seamless transactions for users even while they’re abroad. Through its Scan-To-Pay feature, users can enjoy hassle-free payments with zero service fees at millions of merchants worldwide, including restaurants, grocery stores, retail shops, and more!

The benefits of paying with GCash extends to gaining access to exclusive discounts and promos, including the opportunity to win an all-expenses-paid trip to Germany for UEFA EURO 2024. From March 1 to April 30, GCash users can earn raffle entries for every complete payment transaction made with Scan-To-Pay.

Payments made abroad earns users 10 raffle entries, while transactions within the Philippines earn one raffle entry each. The official winners’ draw will take place on May 4, 2024 with 16 lucky GCash users 2 winning tickets, giving them & their friends who love football the chance to watch the games with them!

Be part of football history and don’t miss out on the chance to witness Europe’s top nations in action this year. For more information and updates on the UEFA EURO 2024 promo, visit the GCash website or follow GCash online through @gcashofficial.

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