Converge teaches basic online protection to disenfranchised mothers, children

Converge lent a helping hand to the marginalized community being nurtured by the Clark Development Corporation (CDC), as the company recently taught practical skills to the group to protect themselves online coupled with a livelihood training program. 

On May 22, 2025 Converge traveled to Bamban, Tarlac to teach 30 mothers and their children — all beneficiaries of the CDC’s Pagsasarili Program — about cyber protection and provide them with opportunities to earn additional income via the Converge prepaid fiber internet, Surf2Sawa. 

“Ang programa natin ngayon araw ay para sa mga nanay bilang May pa rin — Mother’s Day month — na gusto naming turuan paano protektahan sarili nila online lalo na’t laganap ang scams via text at internet,” said Jennifer Ambanta-Realubit, Converge Community Relations Manager. 

Armin Rivera, Capacity Building Officer II of the Clark Development Corporation, elaborated that because of their socioeconomic status, these marginalized mothers can be particularly crippled by scams proliferated by insidious individuals. 

“Scams are rampant nowadays through text or emails. Ang target ng mga scams na ‘to include even the poor. The poor are especially vulnerable to them because of their desire to earn more to sustain their families. We are grateful to Converge for helping these nanays na mabuksan ang kamalayan to these scams and just say no to dubious offers of cash or opportunities rampant online,” said Rivera. 

Scam Watch Pilipinas Co-Founder and Co-Lead Convenor Jocel de Guzman taught the Pagsasarili beneficiaries of the dangers of phishing scams amid the proliferation of e-wallets and digitized transactions. He enumerated several type of scams such as job scams, investment scams, loan scams, and love scams. Moreover, he advised the mothers to always doubt and double check the veracity of the person they’re engaging with online. Especially when money or personal information is involved. 

For the livelihood training, Jericho Mamangun of Converge MSP JK2L2 taught mothers to supplement their household income via the selling of Converge fiber prepaid, should they wish to do so. 

Converge and CDC have been long-time partners, with Converge regularly conducting programs not just about cyber protection but even for community health and dental missions. As a key enabler of digitalization, Converge also supports the online education of the children of the Aeta community through the provision of connectivity and learning tablets.