The art of online security

MANILA, Philippines - Trend Micro recently announced the winners of the 2014-2015 edition of their “What’s Your Story?” art competition, which called on the Filipino youth to create art to raise national awareness on online security.

In line with this campaign, the company implements annual competitions to give Filipinos an opportunity to participate and be part of Trend Micro’s vision of threat-free cyberspace.  In 2013, the pilot year of “What’s Your Story?” in the Philippines, Filipino youth uploaded their most creative videos on how they can maintain a good online reputation. One winner in the school category was Marie Pellejo with her video, “The Story of My (Online) Life.”

This year, Trend Micro called on young Filipinos from all school levels (primary, secondary, tertiary) to submit artwork under the theme, “Creating a Positive Impact in the Community through Internet Safety”. The contest was launched on the Click Right! Facebook page. Click Right! is Trend Micro’s Internet Safety for Kids and Families initiative in the Philippines. After the contest’s online launch in November, Trend Micro conducted roadshows with Greenfield and Museo Pambata where students, kids, and their families had the chance to bond, create artwork and submit their entries right after.

 “Trend Micro is committed to building a safe online environment for all netizens, and we are starting with the Filipino youth on spreading greater awareness on the significance of online security,” said Myla Pilao, marketing director at Trend Micro Philippines. “It is our shared responsibility as a company and community to protect kids and families. This is what Trend Micro has always sought to do. Through social media and our roadshows, we found great participation and support for the campaign. We were thrilled to see the many entries submitted by these kids, our leaders of tomorrow, who are now educating through art.”

Believing in Trend Micro’s mission to provide a much safer digital space for Filipino kids and families, Maricel Montero, executive director of Museo Pambata, said: “With the prevalence of Internet dangers, it is no easy task to raise awareness on online security. We are proud that Trend Micro chose our venue to carry out this creative competition which gave our kids chances to inspire, create, and raise awareness for Internet safety for themselves and their communities.”

The judges included Piaget Martelino, a local visual artist/designer and founder of The Saturday Sketching Sessions Art Group (2011) and The Mustache Creative (2013); Maricel Montero, executive director of Museo Pambata; Marty Ocaya, a youth pastor of Elevate, a nationwide campus movement that holds worship services, trainings and bible studies for high school and college students;  Monica Llamas, head of brand and communications at Bleeding Heart Rum Co., which handles Bonifacio Art Foundation Inc.’s events in Bonifacio Global City in Taguig; and  Mitchel Chang, the TrendLabs Site executive who is currently responsible for Trend Micro’s global technical support for the Philippines TrendLabs operations.