As cyber threats become more sophisticated and artificial intelligence reshapes the digital risk landscape, cybersecurity leaders, technology executives, government representatives, and business decision-makers gathered in Makati City for the inaugural I AM SECURE CXO Connect Series 1 to discuss how organizations can strengthen cyber resilience.
Held at The Executive Centre, the invitation-only forum centered on the theme “Orchestrating Cybersecurity in a Fragmented Global Landscape,” reflecting the growing view that cybersecurity is no longer just an IT concern but a business and governance priority.
Photo shows (from left:) Chito Jacinto, president of ISOG; Xialeemar Valdeavilla, CEO of XMS; and Alvin Punsalan, vice president of ISOG
Information Security Officers Group (ISOG) President Chito Jacinto said organizations need to integrate cybersecurity into executive decision-making, corporate governance, and enterprise risk management.
ISOG Vice President and Veterans Bank Chief Information Security Officer Alvin Punsalan added that while technology drives business growth and cybersecurity protects digital assets, building cyber resilience ultimately requires leadership at the highest levels of an organization.
The event also marked the launch of the I AM SECURE CXO Connect Series, an executive engagement platform aimed at fostering discussions among senior leaders facing increasingly complex cybersecurity challenges.
According to Xialeemar Valdeavilla, CEO of XMS, ISOG consultant, and I AM SECURE partner, the series was designed to encourage strategic conversations and peer-to-peer learning rather than traditional conference presentations centered on products.
“The success of executive forums is measured not by attendance, but by the quality of conversations, relationships built, and actions that follow,” Valdeavilla said.
Forum explores AI risks and cyber resilience strategies
The forum featured three executive tracks focused on leadership, strategic planning, and practical approaches to addressing today’s cyber threats.
Discussions covered AI-assisted security operations, autonomous cyber threats, digital trust, data protection, cyber resilience, critical infrastructure security, and strategies for navigating an increasingly fragmented global risk environment.
Watch the event highlights here: https://youtu.be/cDpdQ1eLV2c?si=pPYKdb5JSPQpO9m3
A notable feature of the event was the participation of academic rapporteurs from the Lyceum of the Philippines University Manila – International Tourism and Hospitality Management, who documented key discussions and insights from each executive track. Organizers said these reports will be consolidated into executive summaries and knowledge resources intended to support cybersecurity leadership and industry best practices.
The sessions were moderated by Dr. Stephen P. Cutler, Justin Pineda, and Christine Kempeneers, with keynote presentations from cybersecurity experts including Gonz Gonzales of Cloud Security Alliance Philippines, Albert Dela Cruz of PH-CERT, Carlos Tengkiat of LandBank of the Philippines, and John Paul Alarcon of De La Salle–College of Saint Benilde.
Technology companies including F5, NMI, Rapid7, Infoblox, Datadog, Forcepoint, Varonis, Exabeam, Gigamon, Menlo Security, and Abnormal AI also shared insights on securing digital transformation and strengthening enterprise cyber resilience against emerging threats.
The event concluded with the announcement that I AM SECURE CXO Connect Series 2 will be held on August 5, 2026, continuing discussions under the broader I AM SECURE 2026 theme, “Soaring High: Future Ready in the Age of Intelligent Threats.”
Organizers said the series is intended to strengthen collaboration among public and private sector leaders while advancing digital trust and cyber resilience in the Philippines.
About I AM SECURE
Established in 2018 by the Information Security Officers Group (ISOG) in partnership with XMS, I AM SECURE is a Filipino-led cybersecurity event series that convenes cybersecurity professionals, government agencies, technology providers, academic institutions, and industry stakeholders through executive forums, leadership dialogues, and knowledge-sharing initiatives focused on cyber resilience and secure digital transformation.About I AM SECURE
Established in 2018 by the Information Security Officers Group (ISOG) in partnership with XMS, I AM SECURE is a Filipino-led cybersecurity event series that brings together cybersecurity professionals, government agencies, technology providers, academic institutions, and industry stakeholders through executive forums, leadership dialogues, and knowledge-sharing initiatives focused on cyber resilience and secure digital transformation. Learn more: https://iamsecure.ph/
