PSG member to study cyber security under UK Chevening scholarship

MANILA, Philippines - The Philippines may be the “social networking capital of the world” but Filipinos’ awareness of cyber threats that could cripple the operations of the government and the private sector is very low.

Worse, the lack of cyber security strategy as well as experts who can implement it has made the country more vulnerable to cyber attacks.

These are the things that Cpt. Carlos Tingson, an Army officer assigned to the Presidential Security Group (PSG), will seek to change after obtaining his Masters Degree in Information Security in the United Kingdom.

“I am trying to help develop a national cyber security strategy. I want to raise cyber security awareness in our country,” he told The STAR in an interview last Tuesday.

Tingson is one of the eight Filipino scholars of the British Government’s Chevening Scholarship for this year. The global program helps future young leaders undertake masters degrees across disciplines in world class universities in United Kingdom.

Tingson, a member of the PSG Information Security Team, will be taking masters in information security at the Royal Holloway University in London. He hopes to use the things he will learn to make the Philippines safer from cyber attacks.

“I see myself working for our national cyber security efforts,” Tingson, who graduated from the Philippine Military Academy in 2006, said.

Tingson, who considers himself an “ethical hacker,” said he wants to contribute to national development by making sure that it is safe to do business in cyber space, which he called “the fourth domain.” The other domains being secured by the military are land, air and water.

“The Chevening scholarship will enable me to meet former scholars who are now in important positions in the public and private sectors with whom I may be able to elicit support in my advocacy for cyber security awareness,” the junior officer said.

Aside from Tingson, other Filipino scholars who were granted the Chevening scholarship for the academic year 2014-2015 are Maharlika Alonto, Armi Bayot, Evangeline Co, Albert Domingo, Anna Oposa, Junefe Payot, and Marie Tanya Recalde.

The British Embassy said the number of slots for Filipino scholars may rise next year.

“This (increase) is phenomenal because although we’ve been running Chevening for 30 years, each ambassador has to almost beg for slots. We use to get them sometimes in ones or twos,” British Ambassador Asif Ahmad told The STAR.

“We have selected a number of countries we've described as emerging powers between now and, quite long term, over 30 years. That’s our horizon,” he added.

Ahmad said the Philippines was selected because of its democratic system and sustained economic growth, among other characteristics.

The Chevening Scholarship is awarded to individuals with leadership potential and offers financial support for a master’s degree at one of the leading universities in United Kingdom. Awards are typically for a one-year master’s degree in any subject.

Scholars are expected to use their study experience to help promote growth and development of their sector, community and country. 

“Educated and able people should try and return and work to this country. Salary is not everything. It helps but it’s not everything,” Ahmad said.

“We insist that every Chevening scholar should come back to the Philippines to work. That’s the number one condition,” he added.

To be eligible for a Chevening Scholarship, an applicant should be a citizen of a Chevening-eligible country, hold a degree equivalent to at least an upper second class honors degree in the United Kingdom, have a two-year work experience, meet a minimum English language requirement, and obtain a correct visa. 

Those who are interested to apply for the scholarship may visit www.chevening .org/apply for more information.