Int'l firm hiring local IT experts

Trend Micro, a global leader in Internet security and virus protection systems, is training its sights on the Philippines, not on the prowl for other suspects in the now-celebrated "ILOVEYOU" virus but to recruit top-caliber personnel to man its planned worldwide technical support center.

Andrew Lai, the chief operating officer of the Japan-headquartered anti-virus giant, said there are plans within the year to double the Philippine workforce from its current complement of 140 and expand operations to provide the 24-hour backbone for various technical services that would be required by their clients around the world.

The company is now in the middle of a recruitment binge for young Filipinos with strong academic background in computers (computer science, engineering and programming) and can rise up to the challenge of acting as so-called "cybersleuths."

Lai said Filipinos have an edge over their Asian counterparts in the field of computer programming with their proficiency in the English language -- the universal language of computers -- and their knack for cracking complicated processes and codes usually installed when creating "bugs."

The ongoing probe in the "ILOVEYOU" virus case has put the Philippines on the information technology (IT) map, although in a bad light as it allegedly involves young graduates from a reputable computer school who connived to spawn the deadly bug.

Lai said the virus, which spread and wreaked havoc in over 10 million computer systems worldwide in just one day, was estimated to have caused $10 billion in damages, the most lethal ever. The bug was concealed as an e-mail message with the catchy "ILOVEYOU" heading which when opened blows off files and programs in the hardware -- from the smallest PC to network servers, even in cellular phones equipped with WAP (wireless application protocol).

Trend Micro set up a subsidiary office in the Philippines two years ago and has since taken off tremendously due to the growing demand for virus security products and services, particularly as more firms embrace the "new economy" and start logging in their businesses on the Internet.

It has since relocated to its new backbone office and training center at the IBM Plaza in Eastwood City cyberpark, where it would be spending around $4 million for facilities and equipment.

By protecting information that flows through Internet gateways, e-mail servers and file servers, Trend Micro allows companies worldwide to stop viruses and other malicious code from a central point before they even reach the desktop.

The leading anti-virus company in Asia, Trend Micro was founded by the US-educated Taiwanese Steve Chang, now considered a trailblazer and a pillar in the IT world. The company has formed alliances with major IT firms like Lucent Technologies, Cisco Systems and Compaq in its bid to dominate the global market for this type of Internet outsourcing services.