Latest news with #Cebu
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
International Pharmaceuticals, Inc. Partners with Anchanto to Power E-commerce Operations in the Philippines
CEBU CITY, Philippines, June 17, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Anchanto, the leading global B2B SaaS technology company in e-commerce and supply chain, announced its latest partnership with International Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (IPI), one of Philippines' leading manufacturer and distributor of pharmaceutical and consumer products. In an official signing ceremony held at IPI's Head Office in Cebu, the company formalized its adoption of Anchanto Order Management System (OMS) to manage and scale its growing e-commerce operations across major e-commerce marketplaces like Lazada, Shopee, TikTok, along with their upcoming online store. With a wide portfolio of essential health and wellness products, IPI has long been a household name in the Philippines. As the company strengthens its presence in the digital commerce landscape, it recognized the need for a robust and reliable solution to streamline order processing, marketplace integrations, and inventory visibility. "As IPI continues to strengthen presence in the e-commerce space, we were looking for a partner with the right blend of expertise and proven technology. Anchanto stood out with their global experience, local partnerships, and scalable solutions that align with our vision," said John Rey Villorente, VP- Brand Management Division, IPI. "This collaboration will help us improve operational efficiency, boost transaction volumes, and help bring more products to consumers across digital marketplaces. We're excited to embark on this journey with Anchanto," he added. The Anchanto OMS will enable IPI to centralize and automate order processing across multiple sales channels, while integrating seamlessly with their warehouse in Cebu. This move is expected to significantly enhance the company's ability to deliver a smooth, reliable experience to its customers while improving internal operational efficiency. Speaking on the occasion, Bely Villacruz, Country Head – Philippines at Anchanto, said: "IPI is an iconic and trusted brand in the Philippines, and we are pleased to support their e-commerce transformation. Anchanto OMS will empower their teams with real-time visibility and control over operations, helping them scale effectively while maintaining operational excellence." She added, "Our local team has worked closely with IPI to understand their challenges and ambitions. We're excited to bring in the right technology, local expertise, and support to ensure IPI's success across all digital channels." Anchanto is trusted by leading companies like SM Retail, CloudLogic, Toby's, Blade, Red Selvage International, among others. This partnership marks another milestone in Anchanto's journey of enabling transformation for enterprises in APAC and beyond. View original content: SOURCE Anchanto Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Telegraph
12-06-2025
- Telegraph
The perfect two-week holiday in the Philippines
The Philippines, an archipelago of 7,641 islands on Asia's eastern edge, may still be off the radar for many travellers (it receives a fraction of the British visitors that neighbouring Thailand does, and fewer than both Cambodia and Vietnam), but its profile is on the rise – meaning now is the time to go. It is, of course, a long way to travel (there are no direct flights, so it'll take you somewhere in the region of 18 hours), so it makes sense to allow two weeks of island-hopping to truly absorb its ever-changing diversity. An ideal trip should include stops in Cebu and Vigan, for a taste of the country's Spanish colonial legacy, as well as a visit to the islands around El Nido, for world-class beaches and coral reefs; to Bohol, to meet tiny bug-eyed tarsiers; and Banaue, to see its amphitheatre of rice-terraces. A perfect trip should also incorporate plenty of opportunities to sample the country's meaty, soy-and-vinegar infused cuisine – unlike any other in Asia – especially in Manila, where the restaurant scene explodes with contemporary options. But the real highlight? The Filipinos themselves – the friendliest, most upbeat people in Asia. The level of English is extremely high throughout the country, so cheerful conservation comes easily, and despite having been through a great deal of hardship – colonialism, Japanese occupation, Marcos's political dictatorship – they've nevertheless come out smiling… and singing a lot of karaoke. Days 1 & 2 Cebu City Conquistadors and Catholics Aim for a flight which gets you into the Philippines' second city – located on the eastern coast of Cebu Island – by early evening (Cathay Pacific 's overnight flight from London, for example, connects via Hong Kong and arrives at 6pm). The airport is set on tiny Mactan Island, so check in to nearby Crimson Resort and Spa (B&B doubles from £151) and spend the evening relaxing after your long journey. The following morning, it's time to head into the hurley-burly of Cebu City – the country's most historic city – roughly an hour's drive from the resort. A taxi will cost you between 100-300 Philippine pesos (£1.30-4), and the drive will take you across the spectacular Cebu–Cordova Link Expressway, which meanders over the sea for 5.5 miles. Start at Plaza Sugbu, where you'll find a replica of Magellan's Cross, erected in 1515 to signal Spain's arrival, outside a cavernous 16 th -century basilica that's home to a sacred doll-like relic called Santo Niño. The Spanish got serious here in 1565 and built Fort San Pedro, though its 8ft-thick coral-stone walls now enclose a frangipani tree courtyard. For lunch, migrate to The Barracks inside Carbon Market, where hawker food stalls cook-up fresh sizzling butter crab and Cebu favourite, tuslob buwa (pork liver and brains). Each dish will cost you roughly £2-4. Walk off lunch by visiting the historic houses which survived America's 1945 bombardment (intended to drive out the Japanese) – a particularly excellent example is period-furnished Casa Gorordo, which dates from 1863, where you'll find polished mahogany floors and coral glass window (plus Bo's Coffee café downstairs, where you can pick up a reviving iced latte). Next, make time for a spot of shopping at Anthill Fabric Gallery, an emporium which showcases fine Cebuano weaving, and at Alegre, where you can watch guitars being made from mango wood. Finish on a Spanish theme with tapas at Enye, watching waiters blow-torch seared tuna steaks table-side. Days 3 & 4 Southern Cebu Island A local feast Head south for an artisan foodie day. A favoured pitstop is the city of Carcar, roughly one hour and 45 minutes drive from Cebu City, famed for lechon (whole roasted pig) and chicharron (similar to pork scratchings). Mayu Restaurant is a popular place for both, where a 500g portion of the latter (for two) costs £7. An hour further south, the coastal town of Argao reveals an imposing 1780s coral-stone church, St Michael Archangel, where the belltower once doubled as a lookout for pirates. Argao is a hub for cottage industry food producers, so make time for a visit to the family Guilang factory, which has been making chocolate tablets since 1948. It's the staple of a Cebuano breakfast of sikwate (oozingly thick hot chocolate) with sticky rice coconut triangles wrapped in banana leaves and fresh mango – and will likely be the best 60p you ever spend. Also worth a stop is Jesse Magallones, which bakes the popular fiesta cake, torta, made from tuba (coconut sap) and lard, and Leonilo Sedon, which ferments suka pinakurat hot and spicy coconut vinegar, vital to Filipino cooking. Tonight, check-in at the newly opened Cebu Beach Club (B&B doubles from £173), where 36 clifftop rooms look out over the Camotes Sea toward Bohol Island. If you've time, end your day by swimming with sea-turtles off the white-sand beach below. Back to nature It's time to get active. Cross Cebu Island's rain-forested spine to a protected marine reserve, Tañon Strait, set in a sea channel facing Negros Island, then take a small boat to Moalboal for the unique experience of swimming with tens of thousands of sardines near Panagsama Beach. For a quirky lunch, try fish sutukil at Lola Tanciang's Seafood Paluto – the name ('su-tu-kil') is a portmanteau of grill, soup and ceviche, all prepared using the same piece of fish, typically grouper. After lunch, hike the spearmint-coloured Matutinao River to a swimming hole beneath the 42ft-high Kawasan Waterfall. Canyoneering is popular here, with excursions by Kawasan Dante's Peak Canyoneering costing £28 and including lunch. In far Southern Cebu Island, tours take guests to snorkel with whale-sharks, with trips from £23. Days 5 & 6 Panglao and Bohol Islands A little limestone brother Take the two-hour ferry or ' bangka ' (traditional outrigger boats) from Cebu to neighbouring Bohol, one of the Philippines most visited islands. Find somewhere to stay on tiny Panglao, an island which sits at Bohol's south-western tip and hosts the pick of the two islands' beach resorts. The most popular is the 88-room Bohol Beach Club (B&B doubles from £160), set on Dumaluan Beach's fine white sand (they also run diving and snorkelling trips to Pamilacan Island, to see coral gardens, turtles and spinner dolphins, from £80 per person), while the boutique Amarela Resort (B&B doubles from £113) is a more classic option and has a breezy sea-view restaurant serving Filipino fare. For sundowners, head to the neoclassical-looking Villa Umi, where there's a stylish bar right on the beach. Panglao's craggy karst limestone is omnipresent, from the 19 th -century Church of Our Lady of the Assumption (built from fossiliferous coral stone) to the island's subterranean swimming lagoons, natural sinkholes known as cenotes (the most popular of which is Hinagdanan cave – though opt for an early dip if you want to beat the crowds). For lunch, Bohol Bee Farm is a whimsical farm-to-plate restaurant with views to Mindanao Island. Its sharing farm platter (£37) features chops, baked tuna, ribs, garden salad, and paper-thin spring rolls, mostly made with local produce, which supports the livelihoods of more than 500 farmers and staff. Chocolate Hills and bug-eyed critters Spend a day exploring Bohol Island's eclectic sights. Its UNESCO Global Geopark status is spearheaded by the outstanding Chocolate Hills, 17,000 rounded coral hills weathered smooth like a basket of eggs, so named because the dry season (November-May) causes the vegetation to take on a brown hue. Avoid the coach-parties to the popular Carmen viewpoint by visiting before 8am. Equally iconic are tarsiers, tiny prosimian primates with trademark huge, wide eyes. The easiest place to spot them is at a tarsier sanctuary at Corella, where you'll see them dozing in the trees. Similarly strange are Bohol's remarkable 'dinosaur eggs', or Asín tibuók, oblong balls of salt made from tidal water and burnt coconut husks. Visit the Manongas family workshop to see their extraordinary processing of these salt eggs (and buy one for £11). A non-beach alternative to Panglao is Loboc River Resort (B&B doubles from £133) – 35 cottages immersed in riverside forest. For dinner, head to Tagbilaran for Bohol's most contemporary offering, Animula Tasting Room, which serves Filipino favourites such as beef asado with a twist, in an ultra-modern space. Day 7, 8 & 9 Palawan Island Hit the beach It's a 1hr 45 minute flight from Bohol to the West Philippines Sea's adventure playground, Palawan Island. Beach tourism's hub is El Nido, set among jagged limestone islands that are home to the silkiest beaches and priciest resorts. El Nido's 237,000-acre marine reserve is a mosaic of mangroves and corals; ideal for kayaking and snorkelling with superb diving. Lio Beach is a 4km stretch of white sand facing Cadlao Island, with plenty of upmarket food and hotel offerings. The 153-room Seda Lio Hotel (B&B doubles from £290) is backed by rainforest, with garden rooms by a large infinity pool. If you fancy a break from the meat-heavy traditional cuisine, Lio's upscale beach dining scene offers more health-conscious options, including Saboria, which serves lighter fusion Philippine cuisine, PLNT+HRVST (vegetarian-vegan) and Punta Playa, a breezy Mediterranean bistro. Two of El Nido's finest beaches are Duli – also the reserve's best surf spot – and Nacpan, 4km of golden sand facing a private island owned by boxing superstar Manny Pacquiao. Stick around for the night by booking into the 16-room Angkla Resort (B&B doubles from £333), which is built around a tropical courtyard, or opt for air-conditioned glamping at Nacpan Beach Glamping (doubles from £240 per person). Younger crowds might prefer the mass market beach scene around downtown El Nido, which unleashes its inner Pattaya vibe. It's worth a gawp to see the party and bar scene or get a cheap massage, and for surprisingly excellent sushi and seafood restaurants – like the earthy and inexpensive Sea Jane Resto Bar, where fish, lobster or prawns are grilled fresh, and upstairs tables overlook Bacuit Bay. Castaway Staying on a private island can be eye-wateringly expensive (even in the Philippines, where the likes of Banwa will set you back a cool £73,000 per night), but there are more affordable resorts amid the offshore limestone islands. One such option is Miniloc Island Resort (all-inclusive doubles from £733), a laid-back spot with thatched rooms (some overwater) located a 20-minute speedboat transfer from Lio Beach. It offers complementary kayaking, as well as snorkelling on a technicolour house reef which teems with tropical fish. Move over Ha Long Bay The limestone islands and pinnacles bear a passing resemblance to Vietnam's famous Ha Long Bay, albeit without the latter's armada of junk-boats. With more than one-thousand islands to explore, various companies offer boat trips which combine three or four with lunch and snorkelling. Popular routes include Snake Island (for panoramic views); Cudugnon Cave; and the 50ft-high Cathedral Cave on Pinasil Island (large enough to drive a speedboat inside); Entatula Island – which was recently cited as having one of the world's best beaches – and Paglugaban Island, for snorkelling on its effervescent coral reef. For your final night before moving on to the big city, take the opportunity to splurge at private island Pangulasian Eco-Luxury Resort (B&B doubles from £1,060), where 50 luxurious villas are immersed in rainforest and surrounded by coral reefs. Day 10 Manila Jeepneys and the world's oldest Chinatown Take the one-hour flight from El Nido to Manila, the Philippines' gloriously chaotic capital city on Luzon Island, dissected by the Pasig River. The grindingly slow road traffic is made (slightly) more bearable by the fleets of Jeepneys – colourful customised US jeeps which function as public transport, similar to tuk tuks. Much of Manila's architecture was obliterated during the Second World War, when the country was occupied by the Japanese and heavily bombed by the Americans. Nevertheless, evidence of its Spanish colonial legacy remains in the thick-walled Intramuros district, which has been largely rebuilt. The baroque Unesco-listed Church of Saint-Augustine is an original, however, having survived its blitzkrieg and now home to a fine museum of treasure from the galleon trade with Mexico (then known as New Spain). Opposite is a cosy Filipino bistro called Ristorante Delle Mitre – named after the bishops' headgear – which draws diners with its superlative chicken adobe (tender chicken marinated in soy sauce, vinegar, and garlic), the country's national dish. Head north and across the river, and you'll soon find yourself in Quiapo district, where the large market is fun to browse on foot, while the cathedral (officially called The Minor Basilica and National Shrine of Jesus Nazareno) houses the Philippines' most sacred object, the Black Nazarene statuette, which is paraded every January to crowds numbering well over a million. A short stroll westwards will bring you to Binondo, home to the world's oldest Chinatown in, where you'll find dim sum restaurants and Tao-Buddhist temples, as well as to a slither of surviving American art-deco around Escolta. It's here that you'll come upon the 1920s First Union Building, which hosts artisanal craft shops and a café, The Den, which offers excellent Filipino-bean coffees. For more war history, spend the afternoon at the American Cemetery – an hour's drive south-east, in Taguig – a sobering experience, with 16,800 marble crosses marking soldiers lost in the Second World War's Pacific theatre of war. For dinner, head to the fashionable nightlife hub of Makati, where Blackbird serves artistic pan-Asian dishes in an art-deco former American airport terminal, or to nearby Greenbelt, where Ember – the creation of the British-Filipino chef, Josh Boutwood – combines informality with fine cuisine. For drinks, head to Población district's wall-to-wall bars. Hip speakeasies include The Spirits Library, with its floor-to-ceiling bookcases of spirits, and Run Rabbit Run, a darkly lit cocktail bar. Stop by 32 nd -floor rooftop bar, Firefly Roofdeck, for magnificent night-time Manila views. End the day by checking into either The Bayleaf Hotel in the Intramuros district (B&B doubles from £97), an inexpensive four-star with excellent views of the city from its rooftop bar, or the iconic Peninsula Hotel (B&B doubles from £165) in Makati. Day 11 North Luzon Island Sand spas and fairy-tale gorges A few hours north from Manila is little-visited Inararo, where the Melanesian Aetas people manage ancestral lands which were covered in ash during Mount Pinatubo's 1991 eruption. Subsequent erosion has sculpted the most delicately beautiful fern-cloaked gorge, a fairy-tale mile-long loop which takes roughly an hour to complete on foot. A tour of th area – with a guide and driver – costs £80 with Pinatubo Mountaineiro, including lunch, a dip in geothermal hot springs at Puning, and a hot-sand spa. Day 12 Banaue Rice, and more rice A long day's drive into Luzon's north (by private car) will take you to Banaue, where the Unesco-listed rice-terraces date back 2,000 years, soaring into the Cordilleras. Check-in at Banaue town's Grand View Hotel (B&B doubles from £63) – where rooms have wonderful views of the sweeping terraces – then head out for a bite to eat at Uyami's Greenview Restaurant, the best local outlet in the area. All dishes come with rice, and – if you're lucky – occasional cultural displays by the Ifugao people. If time allows, hike into the amphitheatre of rice-terraces at small town Batad for awe-inspiring vistas. If you'd like to spend the night here instead, opt for Simon's View Inn and Restaurant (room-only doubles from £20). Day 13 Sagada The hanging coffins Two hours' drive along dramatic mountain roads leads northwest to Sagada, a remote community of the Igorot people who for millennia (until the arrival of Catholicism) buried their dead in coffins housed within – or hanging down on ropes from – cliffside caves. Seeing them is a macabre but fascinating spectacle, and one of immense cultural significance. In town, pay a visit to a superb gallery devoted to Eduardo Masferré, one of the Philippine's greatest photographers, whose works chronicle Igorot culture. Spend the night at one of Sagada's homely and simple options, including Masferré Country Inn (B&B doubles from £46) where rooms are adorned with photographs of Igorot culture, and Martha's Hearth (room-only doubles from £40). Bana's Coffee has won international awards for its roasted coffee and has a decent menu of local produce. Day 14 Vigan All things Spanish Another four hours on the road from Sagada is UNESCO-listed Vigan, where you'll find the complete colonial core of a 16 th -century Spanish city, the exquisite architecture of which is fused with Chinese and Ilocano motifs. Wander its cobbled streets, visit historic houses, and see the archbishop's palace, then – and as the sun goes down – join the promenade in Plaza's Salcedo and Burgos. For dinner, seek out Ilocano fish sauce-infused dishes such as pinakbet, at Café Uno 's corner restaurant or Café Leona. Several classical homes offer atmospheric stays: Hotel Luna (B&B doubles from £60) is built around a pretty internal patio, while Hotel Felicidad (B&B doubles from £40) has four-poster beds. Day 15 Head to Loag Airport for the hour-long flight back to Manila, and – if you've time – end your trip with a an explosion of culinary theatre at highly rated fine-dining spot Helm. How to do it When to go Perennially tropical, The Philippines has two distinct seasons – hot and dry. The drier and cooler season – when temperatures range from 25-30°C – is between December and early May. From May to October the weather is wetter, hotter and cyclone prone, though there are fewer crowds and refreshingly greener landscapes. What to book Cost effective Bamboo Travel (0207 7209285) tailor-makes trips similar to the one described. A 14-day island hopping holiday costs around £4,195 per person, including nights in Manila, Cebu, Bohol, Sagada, Banaue and El Nido, as well as international flights with Cathay Pacific, B&B accommodation, all transfers, and guided tours. Blow the budget Audley Travel (01993 838155) offers a 17-day combined Hong Kong & Luxury Tour of the Philippines from £10,375 per person (based on two travelling), featuring five-nights at the opulent Amanpulo Resort on Pamilacan Island, private transfers, flights from London via Hong Kong, and excursions. Know before you go Rather than expensive roaming, pick up an affordable local SIM card upon arrival at Manila or Cebu Airport (a 20GB allowance lasting 14 days will set you back around £8), or opt for an eSim. Taxi journeys are inexpensive using the downloadable app Grab, which functions like Uber. Most outlets accept debit cards, but it's worth carrying a small amount of cash for those few smaller ones which don't. US dollars are easiest to exchange. The whole country has patron saint fiestas throughout the year. Bohol has one every day during May. If offered, join these open house feasts to be welcomed like a long lost relative. A quick, free e-travel declaration should be completed before arrival.
Yahoo
11-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Ascendion and Philtech Inc. Launch a GCC in Cebu to Redefine Digital Operations
GCC in Cebu: Philtech Inc. together with Ascendion launch a Global Capability Center in Cebu to expand support and management functions for 285,000+ employees across 2,200+ Albertsons Companies locations. Ascendion's AI-first platform drives smarter customer service, faster engineering, and seamless HR operations. Ascendion's AVA+ accelerates software delivery; METal connects top talent to high-impact innovation programs BASKING RIDGE, N.J. and MANILA, Philippines, June 10, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Ascendion, a leader in AI-powered software engineering, today announced a groundbreaking milestone in its decade-long partnership with Philtech, Inc. Together, the companies are launching a next-generation Global Capability Center (GCC) equipped with GenAI capabilities. This GCC aligns with Philtech in continuously evolving enterprise operations and enhancing enablement, service delivery and solutions for more than 285,000 employees across 2,200+ Albertsons Companies locations. This launch also signifies a landmark initiative for the Philippines, introducing new frontiers in AI-powered software engineering, customer experience, and digital transformation. This partnership can contribute in elevating Cebu as a next-gen AI and experience hub in the Philippines. This expansion underscores Philtech's commitment and action to strategically integrating modern technologies and GenAI to achieve higher efficiencies into relevant operations. On the other hand, Ascendion's proprietary GCCAI (Global Capability Center to the Power of AI) solution can be utilized by the Cebu-based hub to drive intelligent productivity, accelerate delivery velocity, and real-time transparency across core business functions—including customer service, application development, quality engineering, operations, and HR systems. "Our vision is clear: GCCs must evolve into Generative Global Capability Centers—AI-native, value-generating hubs that drive real business impact," said Manan Mehta, Senior Vice President, Global Growth Markets at Ascendion. "With GCCAI, we're not just scaling operations, we're reinventing how AI, engineering, and talent intersect to unlock next-level innovation and operational excellence. This center will be a model for the future of global delivery and innovation. Together with Philtech Inc., we've laid the foundation for a next-gen AI-powered hub—redefining digital operations from the heart of Cebu." As part of this expansion, Ascendion prepares to operate their proprietary AI tools and technologies in relevant operations for its many partners such as: Ascendion AVA+ – An AI-first software engineering platform enhancing productivity, risk management, and time-to-market. METal – A talent orchestration platform connecting Filipino professionals to select projects in Philtech Inc. "The launch of the Cebu GCC marks a major milestone in our long-standing partnership with Ascendion," said Trung Nguyen, Philtech General Manager and Vice President, Information Technology in Albertsons Companies, "As one of our largest technology & hiring partners, Ascendion looks forward to help identify and enable relevant AI tech for operational excellence and efficiencies—delivering a seamless blend of automation and human expertise to create unparalleled business value. This is about more than just growth; it's about defining the future of AI-driven retail innovation." Traditional GCCs have long operated as cost-effective delivery hubs. But in today's AI-driven era, that model is evolving. Generative Global Capability Centers represent a new paradigm—where AI and engineering talent continuously create value, proactively solve problems, and drive enterprise innovation at scale. Ascendion and Philtech Inc. are at the forefront of this transformation, setting a new global standard for the role of GCCs in the AI age. This is a bold leap into this future—spotlighting Cebu and the Philippines as emerging global leaders in AI-driven innovation and enterprise transformation. About AscendionAscendion is a leading provider of AI-powered software engineering solutions that help businesses innovate faster, smarter, and with greater impact. We partner with over 400 Global 2000 clients across North America, APAC, and Europe to tackle complex challenges in applied AI, cloud, data, experience design, and workforce transformation. Powered by +11,000 experts and over 2,000 AI agents, a bold culture, and our proprietary Engineering to the Power of AI (EngineeringAI) approach, we deliver outcomes that build trust, unlock value, and accelerate growth. Headquartered in New Jersey, with 40+ global offices, Ascendion combines scale, agility, and ingenuity to engineer what's next. Learn more at About Philtech IncPhiltech Inc., established on April 1, 2003, is a fully owned Global Capability Center of Albertsons Companies Inc. As a premier technology center based in BGC, Philippines, Philtech delivers exceptional IT services, including application and infrastructure support, as well as software development and extensive retail operations. By managing mission-critical information and providing secure, innovative solutions, Philtech plays a pivotal role in enhancing operational efficiency and customer experiences across over 2,200 Albertsons stores in 33 U.S. states. Committed to excellence, Philtech is recognized as a great workplace with 83% (yearly average) of its employees affirming it as a great place to work. View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE Ascendion Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Daily Mail
08-06-2025
- Daily Mail
Hilarious moment confused scam centre workers have the tables turned on them by hero vigilante hackers
This is the hilarious moment a group of confused Filipino scammers got the tables turned on them as hackers took over their computers and cameras. The office full of fraudsters operates from the second floor of a sky rise building in Cebu City Park. Live CCTV footage shows YouTube scam buster 'mrwn' cleverly hacking into their computers and cameras to expose them online and deliver a dose of karma. In the video, the expert locates the telegram account of an agent and renames himself as Adam, their boss. He tries to call the agent multiple times, causing them to panic and call the floor manager over. Next, the floor manager frantically calls the boss and takes screenshots of pictures being sent by the hero hackers, while instructing the agents to abandon the call centre immediately. Some worried agents try to cover their faces in a futile bid to hide their identities. The video, which received more than three million views on YouTube, was made to encourage people not to leave themselves vulnerable to scammers and data breaches. Mrwn - whose real identity is not known - has made it his mission to investigate, troll and exposes scammers before sharing his work with the world. Mrwm says the Philippines is a popular base for a scam call centre as the labour rates are relatively low and the people have a good command of English. In this instance the call centre is running a financial investment scam calling victims The employees use a 14-page script to refer to while trying to dupe victims out of their money. They prey on people who have been struggling financially with promises of a get rich quick scheme and attempt to take money directly from their bank accounts. Reacting to the video on YouTube, one viewer commented: 'Thank you for doing this. Hope you expose more scammers.' Another wrote: 'As a Filipino, I want to say thank you for doing this.' A third added: 'Thank you man. Filipinos appreciate what you have done.'
South China Morning Post
21-05-2025
- South China Morning Post
Philippines to deploy Korean-speaking police in response to crime wave
The Philippines is setting up tourist security desks staffed by Korean-speaking police officers after a spate of crimes targeting South Korean nationals in the country. Advertisement The Presidential Anti-Organised Crime Commission (PAOCC) announced the measures on Tuesday, The Philippine Star newspaper reported. It said that the desks would be placed in police stations located in areas with significant Korean populations. Officers assigned to the desks will undergo basic Korean language training, with support from South Korean officials, according to online media outlet Brigada News. PAOCC Executive Director Gilbert Cruz said the initiative aimed to improve interactions between law enforcement and Korean-speaking visitors and residents. A Filipino policeman stands outside a police station in Quezon City, Metro Manila. Photo Reuters Police patrols will also be increased in areas with a high concentration of South Koreans. Most South Korean nationals in the Philippines live in expat-friendly cities such as Manila, Angeles and Cebu, which are also popular tourist destinations.
