Kyndryl, the world’s largest IT infrastructure services provider, and Bank of the Philippine Islands (BPI), a leading provider of financial services and an industry pillar in the Philippines, commemorate the 10th anniversary of their technology infrastructure services partnership that underpins BPI’s robust IT governance framework.

Over the past decade, BPI made significant advancements across its Data Center Operations, Server and Storage Management, IT Service Desk, Security Management, and Asset Management operations, fine-tuning standard procedures and tools across its organization.

Through its partnership with Kyndryl, BPI, with its substantial network of 752 branches across the country, has grown its technical talent and is now taking advantage of advanced technology solutions to foster its ongoing digital transformation and is working to create a seamless customer experience for its clientele.

“Our continued collaboration with Kyndryl underscores our shared commitment to digital transformation, aimed at enhancing customer experience and ensuring data management and protection,” said Alex Seminiano, BPI Chief Technology Officer.

“As a testament to our dedication to digitalization and customer obsession, we at BPI continue to innovate banking products and platforms as part of our mission to help build a better Philippines – one family, one community at a time.”

Kyndryl is investing in the Philippines and is committed to continuing to enhance its local delivery capabilities to support customers in the Philippines and abroad as they accelerate their plans to modernize, digitally transform, and build operational resiliency.

As the nation continues to grow its digital competitiveness, Kyndryl in collaboration with BPI, is focused on the education, skill advancement, and experience of its local workforce to take advantage of the latest technologies in the areas of automation, cloud, artificial intelligence, and cybersecurity.

“We are deeply honored to be a strategic technology partner for BPI over the past ten years and remain fully committed to helping them continuously transform for a bright digital future,” said Wilson Go, Managing Director of Kyndryl Philippines.

“At Kyndryl, we are excited to do our part to contribute to the deep base of homegrown technical talent in the Philippines and we look forward to collaborating with BPI to build a community of skilled technical experts in new areas such as automation and cloud modernization services.” – Rappler.com

A new era for cooperative development is on the horizon with the launch of the Co-op Chamber of the Philippines on November 15 at the Marriott Manila Hotel. This event marks a dedication to the principles of cooperativism and the pursuit of sustainable growth within the nation.

Spearheaded by founder Noel D. Raboy, CEO and President of CLIMBS Life and General Insurance, the Co-op Chamber stands as a collective of cooperative leaders from various regions in the Philippines. Their mission is to empower organizations by fostering a culture of solidarity, advocacy, education, and networking within the cooperative community.

The Co-op Chamber of the Philippines’ initiatives include advocating for policies that support cooperatives, delivering educational and skill-enhancing programs, creating networking opportunities, facilitating trade missions, and providing business development support. The chamber also seeks to secure grants and donations and to represent the cooperative sector’s interests to government agencies, advocating for the integration of cooperative principles in policy-making.

The Co-op Chamber’s Board of Trustees is composed of individuals with diverse expertise and a shared dedication to elevating cooperative enterprises. The inauguration of the Co-op chamber is a call to action to address the challenges of poverty, inequality, and discrimination.

The chamber’s commitment to creating lasting change is a narrative of progress that they are eager to see told through the voices of those who witness it. – Rappler.com

MAKATI CITY, Philippines – USANA Health Sciences executive chairman of the board Kevin Guest visited the country last October 2 to advocate the company’s mission to promote worldwide healthy living.

Having operated in the country for almost 15 years, USANA has amassed resources to extend its innovations and research into various product lines for holistic wellness.

For a company specializing in multivitamins, dietary supplements, skincare and general health, USANA also gives great importance to mental well-being and physical fitness. They also offer services that will help anyone and families who need them.

During his visit, Kevin Guest affirmed this aspect of the company as part of his personal objective to reach one million families worldwide within the next five years.

He recognized that everyone deserves to make lasting and meaningful changes to their health, helping them lead more confident lives.

Being a notable mental health advocate, Kevin believes mental well-being and self-care should be permanent components of a healthy life. He said, “to truly be healthy, we have to take the mind into consideration. That’s why our mission is to spark conversations and create a safe space for individuals to share their struggles.”

Kevin and USANA aim to continue expanding their reach while embodying this holistic view of healthy living, looking to the five-year period not just as a guide but as a benchmark to surpass.

It is not easy for any company. But the strongly backed advocacies of Kevin coupled with the resources USANA has at its disposal make for an enduring force for good within the industry, whose presence will be felt for many years to come. – Rappler.com

The Lopez Museum and Library presents the six-part lecture series, “Cultural Intersections: The American Colonial Period.”

In keeping with the Lopez Museum and Library’s (LML) mission of expanding the appreciation and understanding of Philippine history and culture, the lectures will explore different aspects of Philippine society and culture during the American colonial period.

To be given by experts in the fields of history, fine arts, architecture, social history, and culture, Dr. Ambeth Ocampo, Ma. Victoria Herrera, Katherine Lacson, Karl Cheng Chua, Michael Manalo, and Kristine Santos, the series will delve into the complex dynamics that come with the encounter of two different cultures.

The series aims to provide audiences with a fuller view of Philippine history, that goes beyond the big historical events and political figures to reveal what life was like for Filipinos at the time.

Cultural Intersections: The American Colonial Period 

A six-part lecture series presented by Lopez Museum and Library 
Saturdays 
10 am to 12 noon 
Rockwell, Makati City 

29 July 
12 August 
26 August 
9 September 
16 September 
30 September 

Admission:

Adults: P400 
PWD, seniors, students, cultural workers: P320

– Rappler.com

Nonprofit organization IMPL. Project, together with media production company Project V Media, is calling for applications for its West Philippine Sea reporting workshop from July 8 to 9 in Metro Manila. 

The two-day workshop, dubbed “Panatag at Bagabag: The West Philippine Sea Reporting Workshop,” is being organized by IMPL. Project, a nonprofit organization focused on data-driven solutions for international development and stability. 

Highlighting key local issues involving the West Philippine Sea, the program includes lectures and workshops designed to equip participants with the knowledge and skills to develop quality reports on West Philippine Sea issues. 

It also aims to equip young and emerging journalists with the necessary tools to effectively navigate and report on the intricate issues surrounding the West Philippine Sea, as well as the communities impacted by them.

The workshop is open to journalism students and graduates, campus journalists, students who have research papers related to the West Philippine Sea or fisherfolk livelihood, and media professionals with up to five years of experience. 

Registration and participation in the program is free of charge. At least 60 participants will be selected from the pool of applications. Interested applicants may register here until Tuesday, July 4, at 11:59 pm. 

The event includes a plenary session that will help the participants understand the complex issues at stake in the West Philippine Sea conflict and learn the importance and impact of media coverage on WPS issues.

Workshop sessions also include Social Media Best Practices and Multimedia Reporting, Methodology on Fact-checking and Verification, In-depth or Feature Reporting, and Journalism Ethics.

After the workshop, five qualified and promising participants will also be chosen to conduct on-ground research on the fisherfolk community in Masinloc, Zambales in August. 

They will receive mentoring and financial support worth P25,000 each to develop and publish output focused on issues negatively impacting the West Philippine Sea environment and surrounding communities. The output may be in the form of an article, a multimedia report, a photo essay, a documentary, or other journalistic output.

The location of the practicum exercise will be in Masinloc, Zambales where IMPL. Project has a presence. Grantees will be introduced to the local team in Masinloc who can connect them with local fisherfolk affected by the West Philippine Sea conflict. The IMPL. Project team in Zambales will also assist the grantees in case they need help in their data-gathering, research, interviews, filming, or other reportorial requirements.

Grantees, however, are still welcome to pursue their stories in different localities and communities affected by the West Philippine Sea conflict.

Story development and data gathering will start right after selection of grantees in July. Grantees must publish their output by September 2023, either in mainstream/legacy media, school paper, community media, or online/social media. 

For inquiries, you may contact at impl.journworkshop@gmail.com. – Rappler.com

As we move on and recover from the years impacted by the pandemic, we recognize the need for governments to deliver digitalized services, enable access to information and social protection, and function in transparent, accountable, and effective ways.

The world is faced with the era of hyper-digitalization and it is imperative that we find ways to ensure that those at the fringes of society, those most vulnerable, those in far-flung and hard-to-reach areas, are able to keep up with the times. Now more than ever, we need to use the digital tools that we have at our fingertips to better the lives of the people we serve. And we need to make these digital tools inclusive and accessible to all. Digital for Development. Digital that leaves no one behind.

In the southern part of the Philippines, the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) Government, through its Ministry of the Interior and Local Government (MILG), has taken major steps in realizing its vision for a #DigitalBangsamoro — an aspiration that Interior and Local Government Minister Atty. Naguib Sinarimbo considers as a major step for the region to “bridge the current gap in development.”

The MILG forged a partnership with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) for the Localizing e-Governance for Accelerated Provision of Services (LeAPS) Program—a flagship program of the MILG, which will support the Office of the Chief Minister, all BARMM ministries, and local government units in using ICT solutions to simplify business processes, improving the quality and speed of local public services, and making these more accessible to the Bangsamoro people.

LeAPS is informed by experiential learning and insights from the Government of Bangladesh’s Access to Information (a2i) program, but adapted to the specific socio-cultural and economic context of BARMM.

Bangladesh’s a2i had similar starting challenges like BARMM’s poor connectivity and local governance in remote, rural locations. a2i has already achieved a recognized status as a leading global program that has dramatically improved citizens’ access to services and information, and expanded opportunities for community participation at the local level. It is with the inspirational example of Bangladesh that we designed the initiative here in BARMM.

Recently, MILG and UNDP jointly launched the very first strategically-located #DigitalBangsamoro Center in Piagapo – a municipality which boasts a strong record in good local governance and citizen-centric public services. This pilot digital center features an interactive call center and a web portal, which will serve as the lighthouse for the service-seekers and for the BARMM citizens to have access to e-services efficiently, reliably, and securely.

The Digital Center, which will be launched gradually across the region, is a one-stop shop where people can easily access public information or transact through the provision of various frontline services – such as passport application, birth certificate registration, labor registration, mobile banking, utility service, bus/airline ticketing, school admission application, job application, among others. This will not only bring the government closer to the communities but it will hopefully identify the gaps in the delivery of public services and build an equitable society.

While the #DigitalBangsamoro Center in Piagapo is the first in the region, it certainly will not be the last. Most recently, a second one was opened in Butig – another small municipality in Lanao del Sur. The long-term plan is to improve local service delivery for all the 116 municipal LGUs and 2 city local government units in BARMM.

The mission of LeAPS is an ambitious one. And at the core of the initiative, the goal is clear: to improve citizens’ access to services and information and to expand opportunities for community participation at the local level in the whole of the Bangsamoro so that no one is left behind. – Rappler.com

MANILA, Philippines – In the context of the current global energy crisis and net-zero targets to fight climate change, scientists, policy makers and industry are working together to explore potential solutions that no longer rely on the earth’s fast-depleting and polluting fossil fuel energy sources while ensuring energy independence to the countries. Offshore wind has emerged as one of the game changers in this global energy transition, providing scaled solutions to the governments looking to shift towards renewable energy sources while achieving energy security.

The Philippine offshore wind roadmap released in April 2022 by the Department of Energy and the World Bank Group, estimated that the Philippines has the potential to install 21GW of offshore wind power by 2040. BlueFloat Energy has been working more than 18 months on unlocking this offshore wind potential by exploring the development of floating wind. An agile and fast-growing offshore wind developer with a focus on floating wind technologies, BlueFloat Energy has announced today its market entry in the Philippines through the acquisition of the Wind Energy Service Contracts (WESCs) for four sites in the Philippines – Central Luzon, South Luzon, Northern Luzon, and Southern Mindoro.

Carlos Martin, CEO of BlueFloat Energy, said during his visit to the country announcing the company´s market entry into the Philippines: “We are thrilled to bring BlueFloat Energy’s expertise and experience in offshore wind energy to the Philippines. We believe that by tapping into the country’s vast clean energy potential, we can make a significant contribution towards reducing carbon emissions and fostering a sustainable future for generations to come.”

Offshore wind opportunity

The Philippines, known for its abundant natural resources and favorable coastal conditions, is well-positioned to harness the power of offshore wind. The country’s total technical potential for offshore wind is estimated at 178 GW in the World Bank’s offshore wind roadmap for the Philippines. Large areas around the country’s coast have technically extractable wind resources.

BlueFloat Energy plans to leverage its floating wind expertise and global experience to develop projects along the Philippine coasts.

Raymund Pascual, Country Manager of BlueFloat Energy in the Philippines, said: “We see and believe that our plan aligns well to enable the Transformative Agenda of the Philippine Development Plan 2023-2028 as it focuses on developing and protecting the capabilities of individuals and families, enables production sectors to generate more quality jobs and competitive products, and of course consequently, economic prosperity.”

BlueFloat Energy will work closely with the local communities, government entities, and other stakeholders to ensure that its projects comply with environmental regulations, respect local cultures, and provide long-term benefits for the communities in which it operates.

BlueFloat Energy’s entry into the Philippine market fits well within the company’s strategy for the Asia Pacific region, with project developments already underway in Australia (first feasibility license application submitted for Greater Gippsland area in April this year), New Zealand and Taiwan. BlueFloat Energy now looks forward to supporting the Philippine government in the deployment of the cutting-edge floating wind technology and paving the way for the energy transition.

For information about BlueFloat Energy. – Rappler.com

UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, has launched the first ever Refugee Film Festival in the Philippines, which will be featuring six films focused on the extraordinary stories of the forcibly displaced.

With the theme “Hope Away from Home,” the first Refugee Film Festival organized by UNHCR in partnership with the University of the Philippines Asian Center and the Philippine Legislators’ Committee on Population and Development (PLCPD) runs from June 20 to 22 at the UPFI Film Center at the University of the Philippines Diliman.

Opening the film festival is Quezon’s Game by Matthew Rosen, a biographical film set in 1938 that follows the story of Philippine President Manuel Quezon and several other notable figures as they set out to rescue Jewish refugees fleeing Nazi persecution. This humanitarian legacy of the Philippines opening its doors to refugees fleeing war and persecution began since the early 1920s and continues to this very day.

Other films in the Refugee Film Festival are Flee by Jonas Poher Rasmussen, Wandering: A Rohingya Story by Mélanie Carrier and Olivier Higgins, Captains of Zaatari by Ali El Arabi, A House in Pieces by Jean Claire Dy and Manuel Domes, and The Swimmers by Sally El Hosaini.

“Our hope is that the Refugee Film Festival will raise awareness among more Filipinos on the plight and rights of those forced to flee,” said UNHCR Philippines head of national office Maria Ermina Valdeavilla-Gallardo.

Multi-awarded broadcast journalist Atom Araullo also marked his fourth year as UNHCR Goodwill Ambassador during the launch and called on fellow journalists and Filipinos to support the activities planned for World Refugee Day this year.

“Thank you to UNHCR for this opportunity to continue advocating for the protection of the forcibly displaced. As Goodwill Ambassador for UNHCR Philippines, I have had the honor and privilege of documenting and sharing to the world such important and compelling stories of survival and hope. As I mark my fourth year as Goodwill Ambassador, I hope that more Filipinos will become aware of these realities and stand in solidarity with people forced to flee,” said Atom.

“We are grateful that Atom continues to lend his storytelling expertise to shine a light on the plight of refugees, asylum seekers, internally displaced, and those who are stateless and at risk of statelessness,” said Valdeavilla-Gallardo.

Atom began advocating for people forced to flee as a High-Profile Supporter in 2017 and was appointed UNHCR Goodwill Ambassador in 2019. Joining UNHCR’s field missions and protection monitoring work for internally displaced persons in Mindanao, Atom has personally witnessed the strength and resilience of the most vulnerable communities in the face of multiple crises. He has also visited Azraq refugee camp in Jordan and Kutupalong refugee camp in Bangladesh, where he contributed to the efforts of drawing attention to the Syrian and Rohingya refugee crises, respectively.

Also present during the launch were representatives of the partner agencies of the UNHCR including state counsel Alden Luna of the Department of Justice – Refugees and Stateless Persons Protection Unit, UP Asian Center dean Dr. Henelito Sevilla Jr., and executive director Romeo Dongeto of the Philippine Legislators’ Committee on Population and Development (PLCPD).

“The Refugee Film Festival serves as a good eye-opener to the current global refugee crises and the importance of fostering a climate of acceptance, compassion, and inclusion in the world. As a partner of UNHCR Philippines, we are committed to advancing the institutionalization of policies and laws that safeguard the rights of forcibly displaced and stateless people through legislation,” said Dongeto.

With the speed and scale of global forced displacement outpacing long-term solutions, there is a need to continue working together to advocate for inclusion and opportunities that will provide refugees with better chances of survival.

Kindly also access this link for further details on the film festival as well as the registration process: World Refugee Day 2023 – UNHCR Philippines. – Rappler.com

Medical education is now more accessible to students in Visayas and Mindanao as the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) approved the application for government authority to operate the Doctor of Medicine program of two new compliant state universities and colleges (SUCs) – Bohol Island State University (BISU) in Tagbilaran, Bohol and University of Science and Technology of Southern Philippines (USTP), Cagayan de Oro City.

“CHED has increased the number of HEIs offering medical programs from 8 to 17 over the past year. The expansion of medical education will facilitate the implementation of Republic Act No. 11509 or “An Act Establishing a Medical Scholarship and Return Service program for Deserving Students,” said CHED Chairman Popoy de Vera.

RA 11509 or more popularly known as the Doktor para sa Bayan Law aims to increase the number of doctors who will serve in far flung areas by establishing a medical scholarship and return service (MSRS) program for deserving students in SUCs or in partner private HEIs in regions where no SUCs offer a medical course.

“The approval to operate the Doctor of Medicine program in BISU and USTP expands the opportunities for the poor but deserving students through scholarship support under the Doktor Para sa Bayan Act. Now we can produce more doctors through our top SUCs, who will go to underserved areas and local governments in need of health personnel,” De Vera added.

As reported by the Technical Panel for Medicine Chairperson Joselito Villaruz, “Based on the Technical Evaluators (TE) and Technical Panel for Medicine’s (TPMed) assessment and verification of the applicant SUCs, BISU and USTP have already complied with all the minimum requirements to operate the Doctor of Medicine program.”

De Vera emphasized that these SUCs which were approved can accept students this coming school year and will be evaluated after two years for their Government Recognition, which will entitle them to offer the full 4-year program.

“The approval of CHED on the medical program of BISU is a very welcome development. I am very grateful to CHED, especially Chairman De Vera, Commissioner Mark Libre for the guidance and support throughout BISU’s application. I congratulate BISU officials led by President Anthony Penaso and the technical team who worked to achieve this milestone,” said 1st District of Bohol Representative Edgar Chatto.

“The opening of the medical school in BISU not only opens doors to deserving Boholano students who dream of becoming doctors but also contributes to the goal of upgrading Bohol’s health care system, complementing the modernization of our apex referral hospital – Governor Celestino Gallares Multi-Specialty Medical Complex,” he added.

Students who are interested to apply for the MSRS program should apply for admission in the following SUCs and private HEIs:

– Rappler.com

KAKAKOMPYUTER MO YAN! (KMY!) explores the Philippine internet and networking culture through new and experimental modes of expression online and offline, highlighting counternarratives from those that have been underrepresented & marginalized in its tellings.

In navigating local histories and their intertwining with emerging technologies and network cultures, themes of labor, maintenance, justice, and identity are called into question. Where are the borders of the Filipino internet drawn? How do we shape technology, and how does it shape us?

We seek submissions of projects, performances, art, and writing that explore Filipino internet culture and networking history.

Conducted under the Philippine Internet Archive of Developh, KMY! takes form through art exhibitions, (web)site-specific installations, performances, workshops, and activations. 

KMY! will launch on November 1 with the Bad Internet pavilion of the Wrong Biennale 2023 and will show physically in Metro Manila in late October or early November.

More than cursory takes on nostalgia, we are interested in personal or research-based narratives that call on underlooked parts of our local internet cultures: studies of strange Filipino Facebook groups, examinations of tech labor and the BPO industry, spirituality and devotion (from fan culture to Poong Hesus Nazareno processions conducted on Roblox), materiality and infrastructures of the internet, and more.

Submission details

Medium: Works of any form are welcome, but note we are primarily browser-based. We encourage you to think about how your works are to be preserved and presented in physical space as well, but this does not need to be a primary component.

• We have desktop performances, fake torrenting platforms, games, interactive essays, and the like lined up!
• We’re particularly interested in submissions that make use of video, sound, and the full affordances of the web. We are interested in performance, experimental, and explicitly political and/or research-based work.
• Works in English and/or any Philippine language are highly encouraged.

Timeline

• Descriptions and previews of pieces should be ready by August 2023.
• Work should be completed by September 2023.
• Digital exhibition will be launch online on November 1, 2023 until forever in kakakompyutermoyan.com, and until March 1, 2024 for the Wrong Biennale.
• Physical exhibition will be in late October/November 2023 in Metro Manila, Philippines.

Commitment

• Editors schedule online check-in calls once a month, but are happy to adapt to your preferred meeting style. We will provide technical support in “installing” your piece in the digital and physical space. We do not have the capacity to help with major technical needs for the piece itself (e.g. If you propose a game, please do not expect us to code the game for you).

Fees

• We are self-funded by Developh and offer a small honorarium of P3000/$50 for individuals or P4500/$80 for groups (paid to the whole group), upon exhibition. These fees may be adjusted depending on the result of our funding applications. 

How to submit?

Submit your work to submit@kakakompyutermoyan.com by July 1, 2023. We will respond to applicants on a rolling basis, so we encourage you to submit as soon as possible so we can provide you with support on your submission.

In your email, please include a short description of you and your work (such as links to your work or other platforms where we can learn more about you). Please describe a short proposal of your project, its concept, its content and form, and your intended angle. If you have any, you may include sketches, sample texts, references, prototypes, etc. to help us understand your work.

We accept proposals for new work or continuing work, or already-completed work.

For more details and frequently asked questions on KMY!’s call for submissions, you may visit kakakompyutermoyan.com/opencall. – Rappler.com