Junior Chamber International (JCI) Philippines, the first nationally organized leadership development organization established in Asia, officially launches its #AmbagKo. Rehistro. Boto. initiative.

The campaign, which primarily targets millennials and Gen Zs, aims to encourage eligible voters to register and vote in the upcoming 2022 national elections. This voters’ education campaign seeks to address the low registration and voter turnout in past elections by educating Filipinos on the importance of registering and voting.

With Filipinos 18 to 35 years old numbering, 40 million or 37 percent of the entire electorate eligible to vote in 2022 according to the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) and Commission on Elections (COMELEC)^[1], millennial and Gen Z Filipinos play a key role in shaping the future of the Philippines. The latest COMELEC data show there are 3.48 million voter registration applications filed between January 2020 and May 15, 2021. Of these, 1.5 million are new registrants^[2], still short of the 4 million target by COMELEC.

The #AmbagKo. Rehistro. Boto. hopes to boost these numbers and encourage eligible voters, in particular millennial and Gen Z Filipinos, to step out, register and vote through fun and informative content and activities, including an exciting gamification system. Riding on the popularity of the term ambag, the #AmbagKo. Rehistro. Boto. campaign sends the message that registering and voting can be the youth’s ambag or contribution to nation-building and a better future for the Philippines. The campaign is also in line with JCI’s 2021 theme of More For Others, a reminder that we can be more while doing little things to create a lasting impact for our country.

“We believe in the strong potential of the Filipino youth in charting a new path for the country by choosing our next set of leaders. As an organization with young members ourselves, we at JCI want to use our platforms to encourage fellow Filipinos to register and vote. We hope that through this campaign, we can raise awareness and fuel the nationalistic spirit of the Filipinos as the elections draw nearer,” shared JCI National President Jude Acidre.

The campaign will run in two phases – Rehistro, from June 2021 to October 2021, and Boto, from November 2021 to April 2022. It will combine influencer engagement and digital and social media to reach more Filipinos, even onboarding Munimuni, a local indie band known for their makata pop, to write and perform the campaign’s theme song Ambag Ko, which perfectly articulates the campaign’s key objective of encouraging everyone to vote for change.

“While the campaign will mostly be done online, we at JCI will do our best to reach the Filipino youth and every eligible voter wherever they are. We are mobilizing more than 200 JCI chapters nationwide to reach more areas and more voters,” Acidre adds.

With many areas in the country still under varying quarantine levels, the campaign will provide Filipinos with engaging and informative content on the steps they need to take in order to make their ambag amid the pandemic.

Voter registration for the May 2022 elections started on September 1, 2020, and will run until September 30, 2021. Eligible voters may register from Tuesday to Saturday, 8 AM to 3 PM in COMELEC offices. The public is encouraged to accomplish their application form and set an appointment online through the COMELEC website.

The Fourth Industrial Revolution, defined by the convergence of emergent technologies that blur the lines of the physical, digital, and biological spheres, comes with its own challenges. Cyberespionage is one of them.

As the world becomes more interconnected, it is important to be aware of how different nation-state actors can utilize this connectivity to advance various geopolitical agendas. In its recently concluded ESET World 2021 web forum, security solutions firm ESET discussed how cyberespionage has been evolving through the years and targeting the African region in three distinct campaigns that occurred in the past year.

The first case involves the cybercrime group Lazarus. ESET researchers have discovered a previously undocumented Lazarus backdoor, which they have dubbed Vyveva, being used to attack a freight logistics company in South Africa.

The backdoor consists of multiple components and communicates with its C&C server via the Tor network. ESET researchers have found its installer, loader and main payload – a backdoor with a TorSocket DLL. The previously unknown attack was discovered in June 2020.

“Although Vyveva has been used since at least December 2018, its initial compromise vector is still unknown. Our telemetry data suggests targeted deployment as we found only two victim machines, both of which are servers owned by a freight logistics company located in South Africa. The backdoor features capabilities for file exfiltration, timestomping, gathering information about the victim computer and its drives, and other common backdoor functionality such as running arbitrary code specified by the malware’s operators. This indicates that the intent of the operation is most likely espionage,” ESET explained.

The backdoor, Vyveva’s main component, connects to C&C servers and executes commands issued by the threat actors. It features 23 commands, some of which are asynchronous and executed in their own threads. Most of them are ordinary commands for file and process operations or information gathering, but there is also a less common command for file timestomping. It can copy creation/write/access time metadata from a “donor” file to a destination file or use a random date in the years 2000—2004.

“We see that the Lazarus Group evolves. It will target new people and will also use new tools. Usually the transportation vertical is not a sector that the group operates widely in. In this case, we saw a shift from their normal operations,” said Jean-Ian Boutin, head of threat research, ESET Canada Recherche.

The second case, involving the group TA410 which operates by utilizing LookBack and FlowCloud backdoors, targeted a diplomatic organization in West Africa.

“We’ve seen the infections sector going from spearphishing to targeting web-facing servers. State actors will always go for the weakest links of an organization. We’ve also seen a shift of vertical, going from the utilities sector to the diplomatic sector,” Mr. Boutin said.

“And this brings us back to the overarching theme, in which defenders should focus on Tactics, Techniques, and Procedures (TTPs) so that they can better protect their organization. As we’ve seen, groups will evolve, they will change their tactics, they will change their malware, and they will change which sectors and which regions of the world they are targeting.”

In the last campaign, ESET Research has uncovered a new APT (advanced persistent threat) group, dubbed BackdoorDiplomacy, that primarily targets Ministries of Foreign Affairs in the Middle East and Africa, and less frequently, telecommunication companies.

ESET found that their attacks usually start by exploiting vulnerable internet-exposed applications on webservers in order to install a custom backdoor that ESET is calling Turian. BackdoorDiplomacy can detect removable media, most likely USB flash drives, and copy their contents to the main drive’s recycle bin. The research was exclusively previewed at the annual ESET World conference this week.

“BackdoorDiplomacy shares tactics, techniques, and procedures with other Asia-based groups. Turian likely represents a next stage evolution of Quarian, the backdoor last observed in use in 2013 against diplomatic targets in Syria and the United States,” Mr. Boutin, who worked on this investigation along with Adam Burgher, senior threat intelligence analyst at ESET, said.

Turian’s network encryption protocol is nearly identical to the network encryption protocol used by Whitebird, a backdoor operated by Calypso, another Asia-based group. Whitebird was deployed within diplomatic organizations in Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan during the same timeframe as BackdoorDiplomacy (2017-2020).

Victims of BackdoorDiplomacy have been discovered in the Ministries of Foreign Affairs of several African countries, as well as in Europe, the Middle East, and Asia. Additional targets include telecommunications companies in Africa, and at least one Middle Eastern charity. In each case, operators employed similar tactics, techniques, and procedures (TTPs), but modified the tools used, even within close geographic regions, likely to make tracking the group more difficult.

BackdoorDiplomacy is also a cross-platform group targeting both Windows and Linux systems. The group targets servers with internet-exposed ports, likely exploiting poorly enforced file-upload security or unpatched vulnerabilities – in one instance leading to a webshell, called China Chopper, used by various groups. The operators attempted to disguise their backdoor droppers and evade detection.

A subset of victims was targeted with data collection executables that were designed to look for removable media (most likely USB flash drives). The implant routinely scans for such drives and, upon detecting insertion of removable media, attempts to copy all the files on them to a password-protected archive. BackdoorDiplomacy is capable of stealing the system information of the victim, taking screenshots, and writing, moving, or deleting files.

For more technical details about BackdoorDiplomacy, read the blogpost “BackdoorDiplomacy: Upgrading from Quarian to Turian” on WeLiveSecurity. Make sure to follow ESET Research on Twitter for the latest news from ESET Research.

Two of the world’s most coveted brands, vivo and ZEISS, redefine professional photography flagship smartphones with the X60 series

• Be a mobile photography professional with the vivo X60 series, equipped with 48MP main, 13MP wide, and 13MP telephoto lenses.
• With its Optical Image Stabilization (OIS) technology and Super Night Portrait capabilities, the X60 series allows photography enthusiasts to express themselves in creative ways and in great detail.
• Sleek and fits every style, the X60 series comes in a lightweight and slim design, and in premium color options, Midnight Black and Shimmer Blue.

It’s no secret that stellar visuals have been the best way to instantly grab the attention of fellow millennials and Gen Z who are constantly bombarded with content every day. And while easier said than done, because of the sheer volume of people trying to express themselves online, it has become increasingly difficult to churn out content that stands out. Learn more about X60 5G at https://www.vivoglobal.ph/phone/vivo-X60/

That is unless you can get your hands on a device that not only packs cutting-edge tech suited for the competitive online sphere but one that sports professional-grade camera systems all while embodying your style.

One such device is the all-new vivo X60 series.

Professional-level optics co-engineered with ZEISS

The latest addition to the leading global technology company’s photography-centered X-series was co-engineered with ZEISS, a global leader in optics and opto-electronics. Having worked with several renowned professional camera brands to develop unmatched imaging systems, ZEISS has teamed up with vivo to intricately design a smartphone capable of capturing professional-level portraits and videos in just a few taps.

Besides the innovative vision of these two brands, this is all made possible by the vivo X60’s 48MP main, 13MP wide, and 13MP telephoto lenses. The already stunning output of this triple camera setup is further enhanced with Optical Image Stabilization (OIS) technology and Super Night Portrait capabilities, allowing users to take extremely still and defined photos at any time of the day.

Loaded with innovations

Developed by a consumer-oriented brand, the vivo X60 is also loaded with technology suited to help you shoot, style, create, and express with unparalleled ease. It is powered by a Qualcomm® Snapdragon™ 870 processor which, combined with 12GB+3GB of Extended RAM and an advanced 120Hz refresh + 240Hz response rate, which allows for a seamless, lag-free experience which is crucial for those who take time in crafting TikTok videos, curated Instagram stories, and the like.

As stylish as you

More than its hardware and software, the vivo X60 is also as stylish and breathtaking as its beholder, flaunting a lightweight and slim design coated in premium color options like Midnight Black and Shimmer Blue.

So what are you waiting for, get the professional-level edge to stand out with the vivo X60 series, available via Lazada, Shopee, and all vivo concept stores and kiosks nationwide. Visit https://www.vivoglobal.ph/phone/vivo-X60/ for more details.

The long wait is finally over.

Sunshine Classics will finally be back this June 20 at the exclusive YouTube channel of Sunshine Place: Senior Recreation Center. Interested viewers will get a private link to the concert upon ticket purchase. The viewing of each concerto will be available for viewing throughout the year. With one purchase and click, ticket holders will have access to the concert videos as many times as they want.

Premiering this month is the second of the five-part series entitled Singing in Sunshine, a voice and piano concerto featuring a soprano who “possesses a voice with remarkable flexibility and a truly commanding musical presence”, Stefanie Quintin – Avila. Joining her is tenor Ivan Nery, “an artist who possesses a beautiful voice that is smooth and clear and with a wide range of coloring plus unsullied musicality”, 1^st prize in the Jovita Fuentes Vocal Competition and Aliw Award nominee for best actor in a musical (Noli Me Tangere the opera) and best classical performer.  To accompany the singers, will be Mariel Ilusorio, renowned Filipina Pianist, who pursued her musical studies in the Juilliard School, Oberlin Conservatory, and the State Academy of Music and Theater Hannover, Germany.

Singing in Sunshine will feature an all-French program, with songs like Ange Adorable (Charles Gounod, from Romeo & Juliet), L’heureExquise (Reynaldo Hahn, from Chanson’s Arises), Vainement Ma Bien Aimée (Edouard Lalo, from the King of Y’s), Elle a fui la Tourterelle (Jacques Offenbach, fom Tales of Hoffmann), and La Vie en Rose (Edith Piaf) to name a few. This makes it a performance you wouldn’t want to miss.

This series is made possible through the generosity of individual sponsors, as well as 98.7 DZFE and Clark Trading Freeport Trading Resources, Inc.

Package ticket rates are available for all 5 concerts, choose 4, choose 3 or solo concert.

Tickets can be reserved through Ms. Mariel Ilusorioat (0917) 709-2255 or marielilusorio@hotmail.com.

The demand for logistics and courier services has risen significantly during the COVID-19 pandemic, especially now that many Filipinos rely on these services for their essentials and errands. These services remained operational during the pandemic, and it is imperative for them to innovate to keep their customers and rider fleet safe and secure.

In this regard, GCash, the leading mobile wallet in the Philippines, has partnered with key logistics and delivery service firms to provide safe and secure payment solutions for both their customers and riders via its GCash QR code service.

GCash on Delivery via the QR code provides customers with GCash accounts the option to scan-to-pay a rider’s QR code to settle delivery and item fees — no need to pay in cash or worry about change! Riders meanwhile will receive an SMS from GCash confirming the transaction payment. This confirmation happens in real-time, so transactions reflect immediately, and give riders and logistics firms the peace of mind that their money is secured.

“GCash’s innovations are here to help businesses find solutions and thrive even during the pandemic. The surge in adoption in digital payments by consumers, even by local governments and national agencies, are a testament on the effectiveness and efficiency of a cashless economy,” said Martha Sazon, president and CEO of GCash. “Logistics, transport, and delivery services are all classified as essential services during the pandemic. It would be very challenging to the national economy if they’re unable to operate,” she added.

The GCash QR code is a popular and convenient option for many customers, and various logistics firms have already utilized it for their businesses. These include leading companies like Angkas, Pick.A.Roo, Gogo Xpress, Entrego, and JRS Express, to name a few. Aside from generating more sales by expanding their accepted payment methods, they are keeping their consumers safe amidst the pandemic by providing a contactless way to pay.

Over 13,000 riders from various logistics services nationwide are accepting GCash QR as a payment method, and it is massively gaining adoption. The uber-popular ride-hailing app Angkas for example, has enabled its riders to accept GCash QR. Its riders are equipped with a digital QR code, where customers can simply scan-to-pay at their convenience.

Close to half the Filipino population have GCash.

“Navigating the new normal is challenging for all of us, and we in GCash, are using our industry expertise to equip our partners to thrive and take control as we enable them with our business solutions,” added Macky Limgenco II, GCash’s Distribution and CICO head.

Launched in 2017, GCash QR was the first-ever QR-based payment solution in the Philippines. It has been adopted by multiple retail establishments and malls nationwide and is even enabling MSMEs and transportation vehicles, such as tricycle drivers and sari-sari stores, to accept payments digitally. To date, there are over 1.7 million businesses and service providers that accept GCash nationwide.

To start accepting GCash QR codes for your business, visit https://www.gcash.com/business.

nanoe™ X Technology: The Added Protection You Need in the Global Pandemic

Read on to learn how to keep your family cared for and protected 24/7!

Cleanliness is one of every family’s top priorities–especially in this new normal. Aside from having clean hands, clean gadgets, and clean home, we also need to be sure that the air we breathe is clean and healthy. By maintaining a safe environment in our own spaces, we also contribute to the prevention of the novel coronavirus from spreading.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), poor air quality puts people with underlying medical conditions at a higher risk of developing severe diseases from COVID infection.^[1]Hence, we see the importance of clean air for our health and well-being, especially during the current global health crisis.

Building a COVID-Free Home with Panasonic nanoe™ X Technology

More than a year into this pandemic and the world is still trying to search for more ways to keep everyone safe from contracting the disease. Both the public and private sectors are always on the lookout for more ways to protect our families. Panasonic, a trusted brand that provides #JapanQuality products, dug even deeper to find more solutions that would cater to people in the next and better normal.

Panasonic helps you protect yourself and your family through nanoe™ X Technology, which are nano-sized atomized water particles released by Panasonic products, such as its Premium Inverter Split Type and Deluxe Inverter Split Type Air Conditioners. nanoe™ X has been certified by Texcell, a French global contract research organization, to inhibit 99.7% of the novel coronavirus in a 6.7m³ space in just 24 hours.^[2]It deodorizes foul odors, inhibits the growth of bacteria and viruses, provides moisture to the skin and hair, and is effective in eliminating dust, allergens, and pollens for a fresher, cleaner indoor environment—keeping your living space fresh and clean for you and your family.

Keeping the Family Safe and Worry-Free

In need of 24-hour superior virus protection to-go? Panasonic Portable nanoe™ X Generator helps you stay protected anywhere. Lightweight and compact, it is the perfect must-have for outdoor errands and activities such as a trip to the grocery store or when you go to the bank. Whether inside your car or in your working space at home or in the office, you can ensure that viruses and bacteria are eliminated.

The portable device is powered by the same nanoe™ X Technology in Panasonic Air Conditioners that is certified by Texcell to inhibit the novel coronavirus by 99.7% in a 6.7m³ space in just 24 hours.^[3]

Create a safer environment at home and make sure your family breathes clean air with the help of Panasonic nanoe™ X Technology. Get your Panasonic Air Conditioner with nanoe™ X and Panasonic Portable nanoe™ X Generator now and start building a COVID-free home—for fresher and cleaner days ahead.

Click here to learn more on the latest about Panasonic nanoe™ X Technology. Follow Panasonic Philippines and Panasonic Business Solutions Philippines on Facebook, and @panasonic_phon Instagram to stay updated with their latest innovations—built to help you create a safer home.

References:

^[1]https://www.euro.who.int/en/health-topics/environment-and-health/air-quality/news/news/2020/9/a-new-international-day-to-celebrate-clean-air-and-a-sustainable-recovery-from-covid-19

^[2]https://www.panasonic.com/ph/corporate/news/articles/covid-update-panasonic-air-conditioners-with-nanoe-x-confirmed-to-inhibit-the-novel-coronavirus.html

BusinessWorld Insights, Eastern Communications hold webinar on SMEs in the Now Normal

Being the backbone of the Philippine economy, micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) are vital as the country steps onto the recovery stage.

According to a statement from the United Nations in 2020, MSMEs consists of 99.5% of the business establishments and employ approximately 63% of the workforce in the Philippines; and in the past years, they contributed 40% of the country’s gross domestic product.

But since the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) affected many MSMEs, they need tools for their maintenance and recuperation. Experts sought to help MSMEs by sharing details about those resources online, during a recent session of BusinessWorld Insights, in partnership with Eastern Communications, with the theme “Ready to Thrive: SMEs in the Now Normal”.

Starting off the discussion, Senen Perlada, executive vice-president and chief operating officer of Philippine Exporters Confederation, Inc., described the now normal track for MSMEs in the country.

“There is a powerful inclination among businesses, including MSMEs, [that] want the future to look much like the recent past,” Mr. Perlada said. “But this pandemic has wreaked havoc on forecasts and pro forma plans that were made simply by extrapolating recent experience into the near and distant future.”

He continued, “Many of the assumptions, tendencies, and habits that long proved to be reliable have suddenly lost much of their relevance unexpectedly. This has been more pronounced for MSMEs.”

Mr. Perlada specified that MSMEs face major challenges such as customer acquisition, conversion, and retention; hyper-competition; supply chain issues; bureaucratic opacity; lack of finance and resources; lack of digital infrastructure; connectivity issues; and digital talent acquisition and retention.

Nevertheless, he said there are key drivers for MSMEs to rebound and grow in the now normal. These are revenge spending; information and insight on “platformification”; accelerated digital transformation; greater global connections; and new opportunities for “phygital” business models.

Mr. Perlada also recognized MSMEs’ crucial contribution to job creation and the economy. “So for MSMEs, there is an urgent imperative to adjust to the new realities now to survive and eventually thrive on to the next normal,” he said.

Electronic guides for entrepreneurs

Innovative and useful resources are available online to guide MSMEs for their survival and recovery, as shared by Butch Meily, president of the Philippine Disaster Resilience Foundation (PDRF).

“One of our most important initiatives is helping MSMEs, both in being prepared for disasters and helping them recover,” Mr. Meily said.

He first talked about PDRF’s MSME guidebook. “It’s meant to be the primary reference material for small businesses to learn how to do business continuity plan, and to make them aware why it’s important,” he said.

MSMEs can also receive online mentoring with specific problems and other information about business recovery through a one-stop, digital hub called SIKAP. Another free online resource is QBO, which is established by a partnership between public and private sectors. The idea behind QBO is to help in priming startups, said Mr. Meily.

He also mentioned the iADAPT platform at PDRF’s website, where several courses are available.

Meanwhile, MSMEs may find inspiration from the comic book, Dimatinag. This creative guide features a superhero named Tina, whose journey encompasses trials as an MSME owner during the pandemic.

“Tina, while going through her struggles with her [small business], finds a gift to help her recover and prepare for disasters. And this is a Katatagan in a Box, a mobile app that everyone can make use of and download,” Mr. Meily explained.

The app shows “how to come up with a business continuity plan, prepare your small business for a crisis, and how to recover,” he added.

Cloud-based solutions for work

Addressing the concerns in remote work such as collaboration and communication difficulties, loneliness, and unable to unplug, Diana Crizel Montes, strategic segment marketing manager of Eastern Communications, shared how cloud-based solutions help in the effectiveness and well-being of the workforce.

“[There are] cloud-based applications that can allow for smooth, secure communication and collaboration even if you’re at different places,” Ms. Montes shared.

She explained how an app helps in their video call experience and allows them to work on reports or files together.

Meanwhile, to monitor a project or design a workflow, they use a project management tool.

“Given these tools, even we don’t see each other physically, we get to work as a team productively and effectively,” Ms. Montes said.

Eastern Communications also maximizes the use of these collaboration apps by staying connected even in activities not related to work, shared Ms. Montes.

“We have participated in physical and mental wellness activities such as yoga and other social events. These activities get to give us a sense of comfort, camaraderie, fun, and entertainment,” she said.

Ms. Montes also shared that she received reports on her amount of time using collaboration tools, which give her an idea of when to take on more work or slow down.

“So what [MSMEs] can do is to access and be informed of resources like activity and collaboration tools that can be made available to you to evolve and digitalize your business,” Ms. Montes advised. “And in the process, let’s not forget our employees and team members’ well-being. [They] remain to be one of our best resources.”

Rewatch the latest BusinessWorld Insights with the topic, “Ready to thrive: SMEs in the New Normal.”