2 weeks Ago
President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. on Wednesday stressed the importance of data in everyday life, as crucial as utilities like water and electricity. Marcos made the remark during the launch of the VITRO Santa Rosa Data Center, a 50-megawatt hyperscale facility designed to serve global technology leaders in cloud services and artificial intelligence.
"In today’s world, data is as critical as water and electricity. We need to strengthen further our digital infrastructure, especially for critical, private, and confidential data. We need to safeguard our digital security.
We need to secure our digital future," Marcos said in his speech. Marcos said that similar to a warehouse, the data center stores digital information, including emails, videos, business records, government files, and mobile phone apps. "It keeps everything running safely and securely, twenty-four hours seven days a week," the President said.
"As a powerful tool in the digital age, this mega-infrastructure provides essential protection for sensitive data across the public and private sectors," he added. Marcos even likened the importance of securing digital information system to having relationships. "Itong mga panahon na ito, paano natin nalalaman kapag in a relationship na ang dalawang tao? (Today, how do we know if two people are in a relationship?) Nowadays, they call it an Instagram hard launch—posting of romantic pictures (on) IG (with a) caption 'Found my Forever' or such like," Marcos said.
"Mayroon ding soft launch. I look at the social media posts of Sandro, siya ang nagturo sa akin nito (There's also the soft launch. I look at the social media posts of Sandro, he teaches me these things)," he added.
"Paano mo naman malalaman kung hiwalay na? Nag-unfollow at nag-block na kaagad. Burahan ng picture. Pero minsan, napapasilip pa rin sa archive, na nagbabaka-sakaling may naiwan pang picture.
Parang may memories," the President said. (How do you know if the couple has split? They unfollow and block each other. Their photos are deleted.
But sometimes, they might still have a look at the archive and take a chance if there might still be some photos there. It's like memories.) Marcos said the launch of this landmark ICT infrastructure is also a testament to the people-centered future his administration is building—a Philippines "where technology and human connection go hand in hand and exist seamlessly.
" Strategically connected to PLDT's expansive subsea cable network spanning Asia, the United States, and Europe, this flagship facility cements the Philippines' role as a key digital gateway to the world. The launch of VITRO Sta. Rosa, the Philippines’ first AI-ready hyperscale data center, highlighted the country's readiness to meet the growing global demand for cloud and AI infrastructure, while signaling to technology investors the vast potential of our country as a strategic hub for digital expansion.
— VDV, GMA Integrated News.
