As artificial intelligence (AI) transforms how organizations work and cybercriminals operate, PLDT Enterprise strengthened cybersecurity awareness across different sectors through a series of knowledge-sharing engagements during Cybersecurity Awareness Month last October.
Through sessions with Coca-Cola Europacific Aboitiz Philippines (CCEAP) and the Philippine Military Academy (PMA), PLDT Enterprise is helping bring cybersecurity conversations beyond IT departments and into the everyday decisions of business leaders, employees, and institutions, reinforcing the importance of a cyber-aware workforce in building more secure, resilient, and AI-ready environments.
On October 6, PLDT Enterprise supported CCEAP’s Cybersecurity Awareness Month initiative through a Digital and Cyber Resilience briefing held at the company’s office on the 28th floor of Uptown Eastgate Tower 1. Led by Alexis C. Bernardino, Principal CXO Advisor and Field CISO at PLDT Enterprise, the session explored emerging cyber threats, executive impersonation, AI-powered attacks, and the growing importance of digital resilience.
The discussion highlighted how increasingly sophisticated tactics, including phishing, fraudulent messages, and AI-generated impersonation, can exploit human trust and create risks that extend beyond individual accounts to business operations, sensitive information, and organizational reputation.
“Cybersecurity today goes beyond protecting networks and systems. It is also about protecting people and helping them make informed decisions in an increasingly complex digital environment. As AI makes cyber threats more sophisticated and convincing, building awareness across every level of an organization becomes essential to strengthening resilience,” Bernardino said.
“As our operations become increasingly connected, we recognize that cybersecurity is a shared responsibility that extends beyond our IT teams. Equipping our people with the knowledge to recognize and respond to emerging digital threats is an important part of protecting our business and the trust placed in us. Through initiatives like this with PLDT Enterprise, we are helping make cybersecurity awareness a practical part of how our people work every day,” shared Winnie T. Rebancos, Chief Information Officer, Coca-Cola Europacific Aboitiz Philippines (CCEAP).
Extending these conversations to the education and defense sector, PLDT Enterprise also conducted a Cyber Awareness Workshop for the Philippine Military Academy in Baguio City on October 21.
The briefing addressed cybersecurity risks relevant to military and academic environments, including social engineering, deepfake impersonation, phishing, and threats involving personal accounts and digital devices. It also emphasized practical safeguards such as verifying unusual requests through trusted channels, protecting sensitive credentials, recognizing suspicious communications, and promptly reporting potential incidents.
Across both engagements, PLDT Enterprise underscored an important reality: as cyber threats evolve, technology alone cannot provide complete protection. Organizations must also foster a culture where employees and leaders feel equipped to recognize risks, question suspicious requests, and take appropriate action.
This becomes increasingly important as AI enables convincing messages, synthetic voices, and manipulated videos that can make fraudulent communications appear legitimate. By translating these emerging threats into practical, everyday scenarios, PLDT Enterprise aims to make cybersecurity knowledge more relevant and actionable for different audiences.
“Building an AI-ready workplace is not simply about adopting new technologies. It is also about ensuring that people understand the risks that come with them and know how to spot, identify, and respond. When cybersecurity awareness becomes part of an organization’s culture, businesses and institutions are better positioned to embrace innovation with greater confidence and responsibility,” Bernardino added.
PLDT Enterprise also held an online Cybersecurity Industry Practitioner session in collaboration with Institute of Data (IoD), a multinational Cybersecurity Cohort Program; which brings together learners from New Zealand, Australia, and Singapore. The engagement provided another opportunity to encourage cybersecurity awareness and knowledge sharing within an international academic community.
The international engagement further demonstrated PLDT Enterprise’s growing role as an industry voice and thought leader in advancing cybersecurity awareness beyond the Philippines. By bringing its expertise and perspectives to a learning community spanning New Zealand (University of Canterbury), Australia (University of Technology Sydney), and Singapore, PLDT Group extended its advocacy for stronger cyber resilience to a broader international audience. The session also reinforced the importance of cross-border knowledge sharing in addressing increasingly sophisticated digital threats, highlighting how industry leaders can help foster a culture of cybersecurity awareness that transcends geographical boundaries.
Rounding out its Cybersecurity Awareness Month initiatives, PLDT Enterprise extended its advocacy and expertise to the country’s Top Defense and Law Enforcement Agencies such as the Department of National Defense (DND) and it’s attached agencies like Philippine Army and also to our Philippine National Police (PNP) through a series of Digital and Cyber Resilience Workshops for their top officials and leaders. Led by Bernardino, the session focused on emerging cybersecurity threats facing our defense and response agencies, local government officials and public servants, including deepfake impersonation, social engineering, phishing, and AI-powered fraud. The discussion highlighted how cybercriminals can exploit the authority of government officials and the trust placed in public institutions, underscoring the importance of verifying suspicious requests, protecting sensitive information, and promptly reporting potential threats. Through this engagement, PLDT Enterprise reinforced the role of cybersecurity awareness in safeguarding government operations, protecting citizen data, and preserving public trust in an increasingly digital environment.
These initiatives reflect PLDT Enterprise’s broader commitment to sharing cybersecurity expertise and helping organizations navigate an increasingly interconnected digital landscape.
