Film on Child Punishment Wins Sine Kabataan Award

Wazzup Pilipinas!

A project for a Cinematography class under the Digital Filmmaking program of the De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde (DLS-CSB) School of Design and Arts (SDA) bagged the Special Jury Prize at the Sine Kabataan short film competition.

Director Jocelyn “Len” Frago received the award for her film Koleksyong Pamalo during the 2018 Pista ng Pelikulang Pilipino (PPP) Gabi ng Pasasalamat held last August 19 at Whitespace, Don Chino Roces Ave. Ext., Makati City.

Koleksyong Pamalo tells the story of a boy who collects all the memories of his mother’s different kinds of “pamalo.”

“I wanted to present what abuse is like at a young age in a darkly comical and colorful manner where you feel sympathetic and warm at the same time,” Frago explained.

Frago said that the innocence of a child plays a big factor in how we view children. The film, which she submitted as a project for her CINEMAT subject under Sir Danton Wieneke, deals with the questions "When does a child stop being a child?" and "When does a mother stop being a mother?"

Lorys Plaza at Ardinian "Jaq" Sanque won Best Short Film for Bato Bato Pik, which is about a young teenage girl faced with an untimely pregnancy. As she and her boyfriend contemplate the consequences and the effects of this problem in their young lives, their conversation suddenly leaves the fate of their unborn child to a game of chance.

Daniel Delgado and Tiara Angelica Nicolas received the Best Director prize for Masaya Ako, which tells the story of a boy who encounters many struggles in life, like bullying, his parent's separation and trouble in school, but he still forces a smile to get by each day.

Enalyn Legaspi's Alas-Nuebe ng Tanghali brought home the Audience Choice Award. The short film is about three children who indulge in the nicest toys and tastiest food only to find out that everything turns out differently from what they are seeing.

Runner by Levi Jun Miscala got the #GlobeOfGood award for honoring the youth's representation of current social issues the young Filipino faces day-to-day. In the film, Boy, a fast runner, wants to continue his secondary education by becoming an athlete but his inauspicious boss obstructed his aspiration because he is the best drug runner.

The other Sine Kabataan finalists are Anonymous Student Vlog by Christian Babista, Bahay-bahayan by Brian Spencer Reyes and Isang Tula Para Sa Nawawala by Rod Singh. The short films were featured along with the PPP full-length film entries from August 15 to 21 in cinemas nationwide.

The Sine Kabataan films were judged by award-winning director Mikhail Red, producer Bianca Balbuena-Liew and actress Angeli Bayani.

Launched last year as one of the pet programs of then National Youth Commission Chair Ice Seguerra with the Film Development Council of the Philippines, Sine Kabataan aims to provide a youth lens on youth issues that affect the sector.

Fortinet Signs Cyber Threat Information Sharing Agreement with IBM

Wazzup Pilipinas!

Fortinet, a global leader in broad, automated, and integrated cybersecurity solutions, today announced that Fortinet and IBM Security will collaborate through the bi-directional sharing of cyber threat information.

• The goal of the agreement is to proactively combat cyber threats and threats to privacy globally through the sharing of contextual threat information generated by theFortinet FortiGuard Labs threat research team and IBM Security’s X-Force research team.

• IBM Security and Fortinet will directly collaborate through bi-directional sharing of threat intelligence using secure channels. Joint threat information sharing will deliver deep security research expertise and global threat intelligence for increased protection for the customers of each company.

• IBM Security and Fortinet global threat research teams monitor and analyze security threats from a variety of sources, providing valuable and near real-time threat intelligence. By integrating the threat intelligence feeds from each company, customers will now benefit from more thorough data being available.

Ongoing Cooperation Between Fortinet and IBM

While the agreement formalizes the cooperation between Fortinet and IBM Security in regards to threat information sharing, both organizations have already been working together in regards to comprehensive security protections.

IBM Security has been a Fortinet Fabric-Ready partner since 2017. Fortinet’s open approach extends the broad visibility, integrated threat prevention, and automated response of itsSecurity Fabric architecture through well-defined APIs to IBM for unified security management and security incident response.

In addition, Fortinet earlier this year announced collaboration with IBM on its IBM X-Force Threat Management Services. Working with IBM Security on X-Force Threat Management Services enables both organizations to further provide mutual customers with threat insight, attack detection and prevention, and an integrated defense-in-depth strategy designed to seamlessly span across an organization’s entire attack surface. 

Caleb Barlow, vice president threat intelligence, IBM Security

“By entering relationships with trusted partners like Fortinet, IBM is able to construct a clearer picture of the global threat landscape. Today, threat actors are highly skilled, organized, well-resourced and able to operate globally and swiftly. In order to defend effectively, we must operate with that same speed and develop informed, accurate counter-measures. The kind of collective defense we’ve formed with Fortinet helps IBM better protect clients and communities by equipping us with additional intelligence that enables us to respond to emerging threats more quickly, and more completely.” 

Phil Quade, chief information security officer, Fortinet

“Every organization faces evolving cyber threats, an expanding attack surface, and a growing cybersecurity skills shortage. Actionable intelligence with global visibility is important to enable these organizations to move from being reactive to proactive. You cannot protect or take action on what you cannot see, which is why threat information sharing between trusted industry partners is a vital part of helping businesses combat cyber threats globally.”

Scoot’s Refreshed Suite of Ancillary Products and Services Enhances Low-Cost Offering

Wazzup Pilipinas!

Since Scoot’s merger with Tigerair Singapore a year ago, the low-cost arm of the Singapore Airlines Group has not only expanded rapidly in terms of fleet and network, it has also invested heavily in taking on new digital innovations and developing products that better meet new travel trends, provide better value for its customers, and enhance the overall travel experience.

Scoot Insider – Member Portal

Scoot introduced its first-ever member portal, Scoot Insider, which offers member-only benefits and an improved experience on the FlyScoot website. These include a Welcome discount voucher, faster bookings, member-exclusive and first-dibs on promotions, and more!

Scoot Insiders have the ability to save key and frequently-used details for themselves and their travel companions, and these details will be pre-populated during future bookings, saving time and effort. They can also view upcoming and past trips at a glance, manage existing bookings and store credit card details for faster payments. Scoot Insiders are also subscribed to an exclusive newsletter on the latest happenings at Scoot and upcoming promotions, so they will never miss out on a good deal. For a start, Insiders will receive a 15% off Welcome Voucher upon successful registration, and a 15% off Birthday Voucher every year to celebrate their special day! Insiders with a KrisFlyer (the Singapore Airlines Group’s frequent flyer programme) account can sync both accounts and unlock the benefits of earning and using KrisFlyer miles.

Currently the Scoot Insider portal, which has approximately 230,000 members, is available in Singapore, the Philippines, Australia, India, Malaysia, Germany, Greece, Hong Kong, Korea, Indonesia, Thailand, China, Taiwan and Japan, and will be launched in Vietnam by the end of August.

Directly Earn and Redeem KrisFlyer Miles with Scoot

KrisFlyer members can now directly earn a mile for every dollar spent on fares and selected add-ons, such as baggage and meals, when booking their Scoot flights on the FlyScoot website. KrisFlyer miles can also be redeemed on Scoot fares, taxes and selected add-ons. Upon login on the FlyScoot website, KrisFlyer profiles will be pre-populated for flight bookings and users can view upcoming and past trips at a glance, manage existing bookings and store credit card details for faster payments. By end 2018, members will have the option to subscribe to the Scoot Insider newsletter for exclusive promotions, deals and news.  

• Earning Miles
  • KrisFlyer members earn one KrisFlyer mile per Singapore dollar spent on fares and selected add-ons on Scoot-only itineraries; or
  • earn up to 25% of actual mileage flown on the Scoot sector when travelling on mixed itineraries (e.g. Scoot-Singapore Airlines/SilkAir interline flights, codeshares, etc.), depending on the ticket fare class.

• Redeeming Miles
  • Members can redeem their KrisFlyer miles on fares, taxes and selected add-ons or mix their miles with cash.

This step forward in Scoot’s partnership with KrisFlyer signifies greater value for existing KrisFlyer members as they now have an additional option to redeem miles, from as low as 1,050 miles. What’s more, KrisFlyer members also get regular access to exclusive Scoot travel deals.

Automated, Faster, More Efficient Check-ins from Singapore

Since the introduction of Automatic Bag Drop (ABD) machines in July 2018, Scoot passengers departing from Singapore Changi Airport now have the option to experience end-to-end self-servicing at the airport for a faster, more streamlined check-in process for their flights. From collection of boarding passes and bag tags, to dropping off their checked luggage, customers can make use of the 24 self-service check-in kiosks (SSKs) and 8 ABD machines located at the Scoot check-in rows at Terminal 2.

More than half of Scoot’s customers now opt to use the SSKs, which allow check-in at their own convenience from 18 hours to 70 minutes before their scheduled flight departure.

Scoot Takes Care of Your e-Visa Needs

An electronic visa (e-visa) application platform has been integrated within the FlyScoot website to dynamically offer within the flight booking process, depending on customers’ nationality and booked destinations, any applicable e-visas and their costs. Customers can then apply for the e-visas on the spot, or any time after they make their booking. This saves travellers the hassle of having to identify whether they require a visa, and provides a streamlined, user-friendly option to conveniently take care of their travel requirements. Powered by online visa provider Oevisa, the service features a simple application form, fast approval typically within one to three business days, easy visa retrieval and dedicated 24-hour support on email, Live Chat, Whatsapp, WeChat, and Facebook Messenger.

Scoot’s e-visa application service has successfully processed almost 20,000 e-visas to date, most of which are for travel to Australia. It currently facilitates applications for e-visas to Australia, India, Malaysia, United States and Vietnam, and more e-visa types such as the Australian e600 Visitor Visa and other destinations will be progressively added. By end-2018, applicants will be able to choose expedited options for faster e-visa processing during their flight booking, and even apply for urgent e-visas during Web Check-in.

Current e-Visas available:

• Australia: Electronic Travel Authority (ETA) visa
• India: e-Tourist Visa, e-Business Visa & e-Medical Visa
• Malaysia: single-entry eVISA
• United States: ESTA
• Vietnam: Tourist eVisa

Scootsurance – Better Protection Tailored to Your Needs

Scoot has partnered AXA Travel Insurance to introduce Scootsurance, its new and comprehensive travel insurance that can be conveniently purchased anytime from the FlyScoot website, whether during or after flight booking. Designed to create better value and meet the needs of customers before, during and after their trip, Scootsurance aims to provide customers with hassle-free travel and peace of mind. Guests are covered via a comprehensive range of benefits – essential protection for trip interruptions and cancellations, travel delays and misconnections, medical arrangements, baggage losses, full terrorism cover, accidental death and permanent disablement, among others – as well as the following new and enhanced benefits:

• Emergency medical repatriation for travel back to one home’s country: On top of being evacuated to the nearest medical facility that can provide the treatment and care needed in the event of a medical emergency, the insured customer will also be transferred back home safely after his condition is stable.
• Hospital visitation benefit: Covers the travel and accommodation costs for a relative to visit and care for the insured customer during hospitalisation.
• Child care benefit: Covers the travel and accommodation costs for an adult to accompany the child(ren) home in the event an insured parent is hospitalised.
• Fast track claims service: Quick and hassle-free experience in the event of a claim, for claims of up to S$500 that fulfil the policy requirements.

Scootsurance is also distinguished by exclusive benefits for Scoot customers, such as inflight personal accident protection of up to S$25,000 while on Scoot flights, and reimbursement of a booking even if it was paid for with KrisFlyer miles, in the event that passengers are unable to travel.

Currently only available for guests purchasing their Scoot flights with Singapore as their first point of departure, Scootsurance will be made available progressively for departures from other countries and is targeted to complete by the first half of 2019.

Flexiroam – Seamless Inflight to Ground Connectivity

From enjoying inflight connectivity onboard selected Scoot flights, guests can now travel seamlessly across the Scoot network and stay connected without the hassle of switching out their SIM card. Guests with flight bookings made through the FlyScoot website or the Scoot mobile app can obtain a complimentary Flexiroam X Microchip[1] with 1GB of data that can be used in 64 Scoot destinations[2]. Attaching the microchip on top of the existing SIM card allows customers to switch between their existing network and Flexiroam’s and top up as needed to enjoy data in Flexiroam’s over 100 destinations. By end-2018, existing Flexiroam users will also be able to exchange Flexiroam X data for inflight Wi-Fi data sessions on selected Scoot flights operated on Boeing 787 Dreamliners, allowing them greater ease when transitioning from air to ground.