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SM Supermalls opens Pediatric Vaccination Center in Mandaluyong

Making vaccination day fun and conducive for kids. SM Megamall and the Mandaluyong City LGU has prepared well for this day: Life-sized statues of fictional characters that most kids recognize, snacks at the corner for when they get antsy, emergency teams on high alert, and dividers so they won’t be affected by their co-vaccinees loud crying are just some of the safety modifications they are implementing to make vaccination day extra fun and conducive for kids.

When the news broke out that children with comorbidities can get vaccinated, Paul Vincent Lim immediately registered his son for vaccination. As early as 9AM, Lim and his 15-year old son were already at the SM Megamall Mega Trade Hall, waiting to get inoculated.

“The benefits outweigh the risk. The moment I knew that he was eligible for inoculation, I did not hesitate to register his name. His pedia also approved of it so we pushed through with it,” said Lim.

Lim’s son is just one of the 1.2 million children aged 12 to 17 with comorbidities in the country. And today, he got his son the ultimate protection against this dreaded disease– COVID-19 vaccines.

In cooperation with the Department of Health (DOH), the Inter-Agency Task Force and National Task Force Against. COVID, National Vaccination Operation Center (NVOC), and Mandaluyong City LGU, SM Supermalls opened the SM Megamall Pediatric Vaccination Center to Filipino children who have underlying medical conditions today, October 21.

“At SM, we remain committed to providing accessible and convenient vaccination areas to our communities and beyond. Now that the roll out of the inoculation of minors with preexisting conditions have started, we will continue to lend a helping hand to the government and give them the necessary support to boost the country’s vaccination drive,” SM Supermalls President Steven Tan said.

Around 120 individuals who belong to the A3.1 category went to the mega vaccination center to get inoculated against COVID-19. SM Megamall is part of the 17 locations and the only mall venue where Phase 2 of the program is being rolled out.

Prior to the opening, Mandaluyong City Mayor Menchie Abalos said that they’ve prepared really well to ensure the safety of the kids. “Vaccinating children can be quite challenging. We had to make some modifications in the vaccination center like putting up dividers where the kids will be getting jabbed. Also, we have prepared well for emergencies. Our team conducted a simulation yesterday to ensure that we can respond to emergency situations immediately,” Mayor Abalos noted.

The MandaVax site has currently received around 7000 registrations, and around a thousand of it are children with comorbidities. The SM Megamall Pediatric Vaccination Center will cater to Mandaluyong residents at the moment, however, Mayor Abalos mentioned that non-Mandaluyong residents who work in the city and have children with comorbidities will soon be accommodated.

The phased approach to vaccinating the A3.1 category began last October 15. DOH emphasized that the rollout of inoculation among children and minors was needed to manage their comorbidity risks.

“It’s been a while since developed countries have started administering pediatric vaccines, and we believe that it’s high time for us to start this already. We chose SM Megamall as one of our venue partners for the second phase of the A3.1 vaccination roll out because we know that they can provide vast, safe, and convenient spaces, ideal for vaccination. We are grateful to SM Supermalls and SM Megamall for opening their vaccination centers to us,” said Chief Local Health Support Division and Vaccine Cluster Head, Dra. Amelia Medina.

To date, SM Supermalls has successfully administered over 4.5M jabs to Filipinos under its multi-mall vaccination program that is aimed at curbing the spread of the COVID-19. With its long-standing commitment to ensuring the health and safety of the public, SM continues to provide not just a #SafeMalling experience to shoppers, but also a convenient and accessible venue where their communities can get vaccinated.

Parents and guardians can pre-register their children via the MandaVax site using their household code. The LGU added that those who may have questions regarding the vaccination of minors may call the following MANDAVAX hotlines: 0917-17-62632, 0917-18-62632, 0917-67-62632, 0968-609-5405, 0915-497-2946, 0919-524-5715, 8532-5001 loc 471 to 480

The DOH also stressed the following requirements and processes to be observed at the vaccination areas:

  • Informed consent of parents, as well as approval from children who will receive vaccines themselves;
  • Medical certificate from doctors indicating comorbidities of the child/minor vaccinee; and,
  • In far-flung or Geographically-Isolated and Disadvantaged Areas (GIDAS), a clearance from on-site trained physicians guided by a checklist from the Pediatric Infectious Disease Society of the Philippines is to be provided.

For more information and up-to-date news on vaccination schedules at the SM malls in your LGU, follow @smsupermalls on all social media platforms.

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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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