POLYTECHNIC UNIVERSITY OF THE PHILIPPINES 1

REACTION PAPER for PICSPRO SEMINAR

Polytechnic University of the Philippines

Lopez, Quezon

by
Arjan Jaevion M. Alcantara

July, 2024

TECHTALK 1
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Title: Bridging the Gap Between Academe and Industry

The first Techtalk addressed the important topic of closing the gap
between academe and industry and was hosted by Mr. Mario S. Enteria, Vice
President for Strategic Alliances at PicsPro. Mr. Enteria emphasized the need
of matching industry demands with educational results and the part that
human mindset plays in this process. His understanding of people, system
and technology provided a basis framework for closing this gap. In his
Techtalk, Mr. Mario S. Enteria stressed how important it is to cultivate a
growth mindset as well as analytical, creative, and critical thinking to match
academic requirements with those of industry. He promoted constantly
changing teaching methods and improved industry-academia cooperation,
along with possibilities for real-world experiential learning. To better educate
students for industrial difficulties and technical demands, he also
emphasized the importance of implementing cutting-edge technology and
integrating systems.

To bridge the gap between academe and industry, Mr. Enteria

emphasized the importance of the human mindset, stating that our thinking
has a significant impact on the outcomes we get. He identified between two
thinking the growth mindset, which welcomes difficulties, keep going through
difficulties and views effort as the route to mastery, and the fish mindset,
which is defined by a limited ad fixed approach. Mr. Enteria emphasized the
significance of critical and creative thinking. While creative thinking
encourages innovation and the capacity to see new solutions, critical
thinking helps people examine complicated issues and make well-informed
decisions. He also emphasized the value of analytical thinking, which enables
people to analyze data and draw insightful conclusions. When talking about
technology, Mr. Enteria emphasized the differences between the tools that
are commonly utilized in both academia and industry. Significantly, he made
mention of the System Integration Capability (SIC), highlighting the necessity
of combining diverse technologies to establish a streamlined and effective
workflow to close the technology divide. Students benefit from a more
comprehensive and current educational experience because of this
integration.

The techtalk by Mr. Mario S. Enteria offered insightful information on

closing the gap between academe and business. A strategy for overcoming
this obstacle is provided by his focus on the human mind, critical and
creative thinking, and the connection of educational processes with industry
demands. Furthermore, his emphasis on technology highlights how crucial it
is to give kids the knowledge and abilities they need to succeed in a world
that is changing quickly. Educational institutions can better equip their
graduates to fulfill market demands and make significant contributions to
their professions by using these techniques.
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TECHTALK 2

Title: Philippines Under Cyber Attack: The Country needs you

Mr. Angel Redoble, Chairman and Founding President of PicPro, led the
second Techtalk on a topical and important topic: "Philippines Under Cyber
Attack: The Country Needs You." Mr. Redoble's talk highlighted the need for
cyber warriors and citizens to take an active role in combating cybersecurity
threats in the Philippines. He covered a wide range of topics related to
cybersecurity, such as public awareness, national security, and economic
stability.

Mr. Redoble emphasized that the Philippines' cybersecurity situation is

concerning, and that the nation constantly comes under cyberattacks. He
talked about how these attacks endanger data protection, economic stability,
and national security. Cybersecurity attacks have effects for critical
infrastructure protection, business confidence, healthcare security, and
student safety. at addition, the nation's reputation abroad is at in danger, so
prompt action is required to neutralize these risks. He underlined the
necessity of raising public awareness and alertness and urged people to
uphold moral principles, engage in community service, and advocate for
causes. In addition to encouraging networking and shared responsibility
within the cybersecurity community, he emphasized the significance of being
ready for crisis response. The nation's cybersecurity efforts can be greatly
aided by the individual citizen through proactive engagement and the
promotion of an awareness culture.

Mr. Redoble emphasized the need for creating cyber warriors in

addition to cyber citizens. To become technically proficient, these people go
through rigorous training, and they actively pursue lifelong learning to
remain ahead of new dangers. Essential elements of their training include
incident response, threat analysis, and practical experience. Mr. Redoble
highlighted the value of teamwork, ethical responsibility, and cyber
defensive tactics. To lead and motivate others in the fight against
cybercrime, he also emphasized the importance of leadership in the
cybersecurity industry. The techtalk was an inspiring motivation for people to
take up the battle against cyberattacks. To strengthen national cybersecurity
and protect vital infrastructure, he emphasized the necessity of teamwork.
By becoming cyber citizens and warriors, individuals may play a critical part
in preserving the nation's digital landscape. The techtalk stressed the
 POLYTECHNIC
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developing a resilient cybersecurity system.

The call to action was an important reminder that the nation's security
depends on the active participation and collaboration of its citizens in the
ongoing fight against cybercrime. Mr. Angel Redoble's techtalk provided a
thorough and urgent overview of the cybersecurity challenges facing the
Philippines. His emphasis on the roles of cyber citizens and warriors
highlighted the need for a multifaceted approach to combat cyber threats.
By encouraging public awareness, requiring vigilance, and promoting
advanced training and ethical conduct, Mr. Redoble outlined a clear path for
individuals to contribute to national cybersecurity efforts.

TECHTALK 3

Title: Creating the Foundition for a Successful career in cybersecurity

Mr. Oscar O. Visaya, Vice Chairman of PicsPro, gave the third Techtalk,
"Creating the Foundation for a Successful Career in Cybersecurity." He talked
about the goals of PicsPro, which include increasing access to cybersecurity
education, advancing the cybersecurity industry, and advocating for a larger
cybersecurity market. He also stressed the importance of changing
cybersecurity practices to keep up with new threats and the growing need to
protect our digital lives.

Mr. Visaya emphasized the significant obstacles and enormous

potential in the cybersecurity industry. He made clear how urgent it is to
protect our digital lives in the face of growing cyberthreats. With 3.5 million
unfilled positions worldwide, the evolution of cybersecurity practices
presents individuals with tremendous opportunity to seek lucrative careers in
this industry. Mr. Visaya emphasized that individuals who are interested in
technology and security should choose a career in cybersecurity because the
field is in high demand. His presentation included the launch of the PicsPro
Cybersecurity Academy as a major feature. Mr. Visaya demonstrated the
academy's dedication to offering the best cybersecurity instruction and
training available. He gave a presentation about the outstanding outcomes
of Batch 1, which included 13 people finding work in the cybersecurity
industry, 18 scholars, and 46 recognized credentials. These results show that
the academy is successful in educating students for lucrative professions in
cybersecurity.

The significance of cybersecurity education and the bright future it

holds were emphasized in Mr. Visaya's Techtalk. PicPro is addressing the
cybersecurity talent gap in a big way by improving the profession and
 POLYTECHNIC
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The ability PHILIPPINES
the PicPro Cybersecurity
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Academy to certify and hire people is evidence of the significant influence
that transformative education programs can have. Inspiring people to think
about a career in cybersecurity, Mr. Visaya's talk emphasized the value of
protecting our digital future and the advantages of entering this important
area.

TECHTALK 4

Title: The future of cybersecurity: expanding the market for filipino

cybersecurity professionals

The average annual salary for entry-level positions was one of the
main points of interest for attendees considering a career in cybersecurity,
and Ms. Sheila Vasquez's Techtalk on "The Future of Cybersecurity:
Expanding the Market for Filipino Cybersecurity Professionals" gave a
compelling overview of the opportunities awaiting aspiring cybersecurity
professionals in the Philippines. According to Ms. Vasquez, there is a
significant need for cybersecurity specialists in a few important industries,
including government & defense, energy & utilities, healthcare, and financial
services. These industries are becoming more and more aware of how crucial
it is to have strong cybersecurity protections in place to guard against online
attacks to sensitive data and infrastructure.

The Techtalk placed a lot of emphasis on newly emerging roles in the

cybersecurity industry. The roles of Cloud Security Architect, OT and IoT
Security Expert, Cybersecurity Automation Engineer, and AI & ML Specialist
were all discussed by Ms. Vasquez. These positions are becoming more and
more crucial as businesses use modern technology and need specific
knowledge to successfully reduce cyber risks. The presentation made a
strong case for a career in cybersecurity by highlighting the increasing need
for qualified workers across a range of industries. Ms. Vasquez's observations
regarding the high pay and increasing employment prospects highlighted the
field's potential for career development.
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Ms. Vasquez emphasized how crucial it is to have the education and
skills required to succeed in employment in cybersecurity. She emphasized
the importance of lifelong learning and keeping informed of developments in
cybersecurity techniques and technologies. In her Techtalk, Ms. Sheila
Vasquez provided an outlook on the future of cybersecurity in the
Philippines. She successfully encouraged attendees to think about
cybersecurity as a realistic and fulfilling career choice by highlighting the
high wages, in-demand industries, and emerging jobs within the area. The
talk emphasized how important it is for qualified individuals to protect digital
infrastructure in a variety of sectors, emphasizing how cybersecurity is
essential to both economic stability and national security. It was advised of
aspiring cybersecurity experts to take advantage of the changing
environment and help mold a safe digital future for the Philippines.

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