Lenovo Continues Support for Outstanding Tech Visionary

Lenovo, a global leader in PC and smart device's, renews its support to the Youth by providing additional laptop grants to the University of the Philippines Genetic Researchers and Agricultural Innovators Society (UP GRAINS), a youth organization who was awarded the Outstanding Tech Visionary citation by the company at this year’s Ten Accomplished Youth Organizations (TAYO) Awards.

Anna Abola (center), Marketing Communications Manager of Lenovo Philippines, with the UP GRAINS officers.

The Outstanding Tech Visionary citation given by Lenovo at the TAYO Awards recognizes the youth organization with the most meaningful project that addresses key social issues through the innovative use of technology. Together with the award, the winning organization was also provided with Lenovo units.

Now bolstering its support to the youth organization for their community-based projects, the company is providing UP GRAINS once again devices in the form of brand new YOGA 520 and IdeaPad 320 laptops.

“As a leader in the technological industry, Lenovo injects excitement and vibrancy by driving innovation that exceeds expectations and creates meaningful impact. It suffices to say, that we are in an excellent position to help promote the benefits of technology to the public. Through our partnership with TAYO Awards Foundation, we get to know all these brilliant youth organizations, and together, we could create a huge impact in addressing the country’s concerns through technology. It is inspiring to see young people make an effort to build a better community, and it is our pleasure to contribute in this, “said Michael Ngan, Country General Manager, Lenovo Philippines.

Formed in 2014 by Bachelor of Science in Agricultural Biotechnology (BSABT) students at the University of Philippines Los Baños, UP GRAINS is a service-oriented academic organization that promotes agriculture through various activities involving agricultural biotechnology.

Their Lakbioteknolohiya project is an information and workshop series held in high schools and communities where agriculture is the main source of income. The lessons taught here are directly taken from UPLB’s curriculum which features hands-on exercises on urban farming and agricultural biotechnology experiments with the intent of improving agricultural production and maintain quality agro-environments.

“Since our inception, we have been using our personal laptops for our advocacy projects and activities and these new devices from Lenovo changed that. Now that UP GRAINS has its own set of devices, all our members can have access to laptops especially when out on the field,” said John Albert Caraan, Project Head of Lakbioteknolohiya.

The Search for Ten Accomplished Youth Organizations (TAYO) Awards is a project of the TAYO Awards Foundation, Inc., the country’s premier award-giving body that recognizes and supports the outstanding contributions of youth organizations in the country.

Lenovo has been the exclusive technology partner of the TAYO Awards since 2012.

Read More »

Technology and Philippine Educational Landscape with Microsoft and UnionBank

UnionBank empowers educators and students with tools from Microsoft...

Microsoft Education Ambassadors from UnionBank undergo training

Technology has radically changed the way Filipinos live. Across the country, work, play, and communication now relies heavily on digital technologies. The same goes to learning as more modern workplaces now demand digital skills, it is now necessary for educators to prepare their students for a more digital workplace environment.

Clarissa Segismundo, Education Programs Lead of Microsoft Philippines, explained the importance of digital tools in learning. “Engaging students remains one of the core pillars in the digital transformation of education. How they use technology is crucial in promoting collaboration, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills” said Segismundo.

But technology alone cannot develop the 21st-century skills students require. Technology is an accelerator and an equalizer, but it needs guidance and knowledge on proper usage to truly have an impact on student development. 

Through the Microsoft Education Ambassadors Program, Microsoft and UnionBank are working together to transform the Philippine educational landscape by equipping our educators and students with the right knowledge and skills. The program aims to empower schools, educators and students with 21st century skills through the proper use of technology for teaching and learning. To date, there are over 1,000 Microsoft Education Ambassadors advocating teaching with technology in various parts of the country.

“It is UnionBank’s mission and vision to stay grounded on its purpose of ‘Making a Difference’. And we hope to truly make a difference with Microsoft. It’s an exciting time as UnionBank employees open new doors of opportunities for the youth through technology,” said Henry Aguda, Senior Executive Vice President and Chief Transformation officer of UnionBank.

With extensive experience in the industry, UnionBank’s education ambassadors can share valuable insight on the demands and requirements of the modern workplace. It is the desire to impart knowledge and expertise to the country’s future workforce, that led Michaela Rubio, SVP and HR Director of UnionBank, to develop this program with Microsoft. “As Microsoft education ambassadors, UnionBank employees will serve as inspiration and valued resource persons for students and teachers. They possess the necessary expertise and skills to meet industry standards and can pass these on to the next generation,” she said.

Microsoft Education Ambassadors from Union Bank with the Education team of Microsoft Philippines

As ambassadors of education and technology, UnionBank’s MEAs will be training teachers on Microsoft tools and technologies to help improve productivity, classroom engagement, and learning outcomes.

“At Microsoft, we recognize the value of our country’s young minds in shaping our future. By equipping them with work-ready skills with the support of our industry partners like UnionBank, we are paving the way towards employability and economic progress” added Segismundo.

Read More »

Microsoft Brings Digital Transformation to the C-Suite

Microsoft is leading the discussion on digital transformation in the Philippines holding several C-level roundtable discussions on the impact and necessity of digital transformation in today’s modern business environment.

CEOs, CTOs, CFOs, CMOs, and CHROs from industries such as banking, professional services, retail, education, real estate, power & utilities, and telecommunications participated the discussions.

CIO & COO Roundtable event executives with Microsoft Leaders

“Microsoft is committed to helping leaders understand the economic implications of digital transformation in the society. Digital Transformation is emerging as a key driver of sweeping change across industries globally. More than a mere buzzword, it now has the capacity to significantly improve business revenue and create broader social good,” said Christian Lim, Chief Operating Officer of Microsoft Philippines.

The highlight of these discussions was the different perspectives and insights from organizations like Union Bank, PhilCare, and Rustan Coffee Corporation, to name a few. UnionBank executives: Edwin Bautista, Director, Chief Executive Officer, Henry Aguda, Senior Executive Vice President and Chief Transformation officer and Arvie De Vera, First Vice President, Head of Fintech Group, shared the secret to the success of their work on digitizing finance. Aiming to resolve the problem of financial inclusion, UnionBank called in futurists and tech experts to help reach out to remote communities and give them access to financial tools.

At the CEO Round Table event, Microsoft took a closer look at the economic impact of digital transformation in the Philippines. Andrea Della Mattea, Area President (APAC) for Microsoft, reported that the impact of digital products and services to the economy of SEA nations will skyrocket from 6% to a staggering 48% by 2021. This growth will result to an economic increase of more than $60 billion. But more than the rise of revenue and decrease in costs in businesses, digital transformation also has the capability of improving consumers’ lives and bringing about social good.

Microsoft gears up to host another series of C-level roundtable discussion this August, it remains focused on supporting business leaders in their journey towards shaping better opportunities for business and society through innovation.

Read More »

Microsoft: 5 Areas where AI Is Building A Better, Brighter Future For Asia

Across Asia, a hotly-debated topic amongst business leaders, government policymakers, academics and industry experts is the potential impact that Artificial Intelligence (AI) will have on society.

Understandably, some have a cautious view when it comes to AI development and sometimes painting a grim, dystopic future where large swathes of the population are rendered jobless, access to AI is not evenly distributed amongst citizens as well as privacy and civil liberties are increasingly under threat from AI’s insatiable need for data.

There is no denying that AI will present a new set of societal challenges that will need to be navigated thoughtfully and carefully and, in particular, it will be critical for all organizations to build trust in AI as to their customers and stakeholders.

However, these concerns should not overshadow the enormous potential that AI offers society.

Microsoft list Five key Areas where AI has created remarkable developments and improvements in Asia.

1.Accessibility
Asia-Pacific is currently home to 690 million people with disabilities. AI can help people with vision, hearing, cognitive, learning, and mobility disabilities perform daily tasks more independently, lead a richer, more productive life and participate more fully in society.

Seeing AI app turns the visual world into an audible experience for the low vision community.

For example, Seeing AI is a free app that leverages AI capabilities to identify a broad range of visual cues - including faces, emotions and handwriting. That data is then converted into audio descriptions for the visually-impaired. This enables the 285 million people in the world with low vision to better navigate their day, making the visual world more accessible.

 2.Agriculture
Today, Asia is the world’s most populous region with more than 4.5 billion inhabitants, approximately 60% of the global population, and this number is forecasted to grow to over 5 billion by 2030. This will put incredible strain on the region’s already-challenged food supply chains unless farmers can find new ways to keep up with demand, such as leveraging AI and analytics to greatly improve their yields.

In India, Microsoft has partnered with a non-profit organization, International Crop Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT), to develop an AI Sowing App that sends advisories to farmers on the optimal date to sow their crops, based on weather conditions, soil, and other indicators.

The solution predicts the optimal sowing period by using AI to analyze 30 years of historic climate data and calculate the adequacy of rainfall and soil moisture using real-time data and weather forecasting models. In addition, the program does not require farmers to incur capital expenditure, such as installing sensors in their fields, making this optimal for emerging markets.

Microsoft and ICRISAT - Bringing Artificial Intelligence to agriculture to boost crop yield

3. Climate Change

One of the most pressing challenges of the 21st century is the Changing Climate, and how it threatens human health, infrastructure, and natural systems. A leading cause of climate change is Carbon Emissions.

Microsoft is embracing the responsibility to operate sustainably and reduce the environmental impact of its business. One of the ways it doe this is by enlisting AI's help to manage the operations and infrastructure of our data centers. As a result, less electricity is needed to fuel data centers’ computing and cooling requirements. In fact, cloud services are 93% more energy efficient and up to 98% more carbon efficient than traditional enterprise data centers.

AI technologies are also being applied beyond the data center to improve the energy efficiency of entire buildings. In Singapore, approximately one-third of the nation’s electricity is consumed by buildings. JTC, a government agency responsible for the developing the nation’s industrial infrastructure, is taking a proactive approach to address this voracious demand for electricity by centralizing its operations on the Microsoft Cloud to monitor, analyze and optimize its buildings. Using sensor data and AI-driven analytics, JTC can now identify and rectify faults before breakdowns occur through a predictive model, resulting in a 15 percent drop in energy cost avoidance.

 JTC is modeling what it means to make buildings more energy-efficient and sustainable

4. Education

Education is one of the building blocks for creating a better future, and AI is being leveraged to enhance the education experience for students and improve outcomes in schools.

With the help of AI, more students can complete their education and graduate as employable new workers who will help grow the future economy.

In Andhra Pradesh, a state in southern India, Microsoft is partnering with the Indian government to launch a new app that predicts which students are most likely to drop out of school. Powered by machine learning, AI capabilities, and the cloud, this solution processes complex data sets that include enrollment information, student performance, gender and socio-economic demographics, school infrastructure, and teacher skills, to look for predictive patterns.


This enables administrators and educators to intervene early and target the most at-risk students with programs and counseling to prevent dropouts. The app is already being used successfully by more than 10,000 schools in Andhra Pradesh, covering more than five million students in 2017.

5. Healthcare

Lastly, AI technology has the potential to assist healthcare providers in their quest to tackle some of the most prevalent diseases we face today, as well as improve the quality of life for Asia’s growing population.

In India, Microsoft is collaborating with one of the largest health organizations in the country, Apollo Hospitals, to develop an AI-focused network aimed at tackling cardiovascular disease, which contributes to nearly one-third of deaths worldwide. In India alone, nearly three million heart attacks happen annually, and it is estimated that 30 million Indians suffer from coronary disease.

By bringing together Microsoft’s AI expertise and Apollo Hospitals’ experience and knowledge in the field of cardiology, this partnership aims to develop new machine learning models to predict patient risk for heart diseases and assists doctors with treatment plans.

Apollo Hospitals India: AI predicts heart diseases

These are just some of the amazing benefits that AI is bringing to society according to Microsoft, though it’s clear that it is still in stage of development. The story of AI is still unfolding, and future chapters will be supported by positive, impactful anecdotes. After all, with AI, we are not just amplifying human ingenuity, but the qualities that make us human: Our caring. Our curiosity. Our collective desire to create a better tomorrow.

Read More »

IP Converge Data Services, Inc. Partners with PIA for Scholarship for Underprivileged Youth

IPC (IP Converge Data Services, Inc.), a pioneer in local cloud and data center services, announces its partnership with Philippine International Aid (PIA), a U.S.-based charity providing health and educational assistance to underprivileged youth.

One of the PIA’s core initiatives is the “Off the Streets-Off to School” scholarship, a program that helps parents and teachers to keep kids in school. Administered in partnership with the Phil-Asia Assistance Foundation, the Off the Streets–Off to School program provides scholarships annually to more than 1,000 children in Metro Manila.

Together with their partners, PIA helps students go through primary education onwards to college. The student's academic progress is monitored throughout the academic year and are encouraged to correspond with their respective benefactors.

Heading the organization is Mona Lisa Yuchengco, the founder and publisher of PositivelyFilipino.com, an online magazine on the Filipino diaspora. She also serves on the board of the Women’s Media Center, a non-profit progressive women's media organization. Working with her at PIA are successful Filipino-American business executives living in the Bay Area such as Executive Director James T. Lim, the current General Manager of the Omni Hotel, Secretary Sonia T. Delen, a Senior Vice-President at Bank of America Leasing, and France M. Viana, a strategic marketing consultant who currently heads the marketing department of the San Francisco World Affairs Council.

“PIA started out as a scholarship fund to send street children to school, to take them away from the streets where they were being recruited by pimps, and to place them in schools where they belong. Since then, thousands of children have gone through the program. Many of them have graduated college and gotten jobs, and are now able to help support their families,” said Yuchengco.

Under the program, IPC will fund the school expenses of 5 students of the Eulogio Rodriguez Integrated School in Mandaluyong City. The funds provided will take care of tuition fees, books, supplies, field trip costs, uniforms, shoes, and allowances for meals and transportation.

“Supporting the Off the Streets-Off to School program was an easy decision for us because IPC is always looking for ways to use its resources and expertise to give back to the community,” said Reynaldo Huergas, President of IPC. “Everyone of us is very excited to be part of this amazing project. We know that a lot of students are forced to drop out of school because of money and hopefully with our partnership with PIA, we can help those students stay and learn so that they can have a better future.”

This is the second time that IPC has teamed up with a charity dedicated to help improve education. In 2014, they lent their cloud technology services to assist the Teachers for the Philippines in documenting and tracking the effectivity of their teaching programs.

“We are always eager to lend a helping a hand to those in need, especially when it comes to education. We firmly believe that everyone should have access to education and IPC is happy to help schools and students alike in any way we can,” added Huergas.

Read More »

Carmudi Opens 2016-2017 Scholarship Program

Online Car Classified Carmudi formally announced its third scholarship program that aims to help third and fourth year undergraduate students who are academically outstanding but economically challenged. Open to all incoming senior college students of the participating universities and colleges. Carmudi PH holds this program to uphold the company’s continuing concern for the socio-economic development of the country.

The scholarship program targets students from the fields of Economics, Business, Marketing, Communications, Media, IT, Engineering, and other relevant majors in the university. A financial aid worth of P30,000.00 per semester will be given to the grant sole recipient.

At present, Carmudi Philippines has already granted 2 scholarship program from University of the Philippines Visayas and Ilocus Sur Polytechnic University. Aljohn T. Torreta who is a son of a fisherman and a vendor was the first scholarship grantee who recently graduated as a Summa Cum Laude, while Kristine Ian De Guzman —a single mother— was chosen as the second scholarship recipient for her academic excellence.

With the Philippine automotive industry growing at breakneck speed, Carmudi Philippines supports the Filipino consumer by providing them with widest choices, best prices and authoritative reviews, all at their fingertips. Carmudi PH not only provide great service to its countrymen but also gives back to help build the nation through education of the youth.

To know more about the scholarship program, visit www.carmudi.com.ph or go directly to www.carmudi.com.ph/scholarship

Read More »

MSI-ECS Offers Improved ICT Training Courses Philippines

MSI-ECS, one of the country’s leading ICT distributors announces the availability of ICT training courses designed to enhance literacy and competency of participants on different IT-related topics such as virtualization, database, network and security, servers and storage, anti-virus and threat management.

The MSI-ECS Education Business started in 2008, initially offering VMware courses when it was awarded as the first VMware Authorized Training Center (VATC) in the country. Now, with more advanced courses for VMware and HPE and producing three VMware Certified Instructors (VCI) from its roster, it has conducted more than a hundred  IT education and certification programs to clients from industries such as telecommunications, banking and finance, BPOs, government agencies and hotels and so has certified many system administrators, engineers, and managers on different subjects, applications and technologies.

With the transfer of the company to its new headquarters in Pasig, enrollees can expect a more conducive learning environment and leveled-up courses with new training rooms that are equipped with computer workstations with the solution center or POC (Proof of Concept) on fast and reliable internet connection where they can test-run applications, and assess and evaluate various IT solutions for acquisition purposes.

Future plans include offering formal courses for IBM, Fortinet, RedHat, Trend Micro and other enterprise solutions.

For training details and inquiry, contact Louie Mae Ladio at (+632) 830-9914 or email lladio@msi-ecs.com.ph. Visit their Education webpage http://www.msi-ecs.com.ph/.

Follow them on Facebook to learn more about their products and services.

Read More »