ALBERT PANGILINAN DELA CRUZ

I’ve been doing information security in the Philippines since before everyone started calling it "Cybersecurity" - Back then it was mostly “please make the computers stop breaking.” Three decades later, I’m still here, still trying to keep things from catching fire — metaphorically, mostly.

I studied Electronics and Communications Engineering, then somehow ended up collecting certifications in data communications, cloud, security, and privacy. I became one of the early CISSPs in the country, which basically meant there were so few of us that we could’ve held meetings in a broom closet. I also joined the United States Department of State’s International Visitor Leadership Program and Japan’s Association for Overseas Technical Scholarship, which were both incredible experiences and also excellent reminders that technology is global, but responsibility is local.

Over the years, I’ve helped contribute to national digital policies — things like the eCommerce Act, the Anti‑Cybercrime Act, the Data Privacy Act, National Standard for Information Security Management, and the Supreme Court’s rules on electronic evidence and digital notarization. I still support government agencies on a pro‑bono basis through the Philippine Computer Emergency Response Team Coordinating Center, which I co‑founded with people who also willingly choose stress for the public good.

I’ve built startups in systems integration, mobile apps, and cybersecurity. Most of them even survived, which in tech is basically the equivalent of keeping a houseplant alive for more than three months.

Along the way, I’ve received a few recognitions from publications and organizations — including one from Senator Jun Magsaysay, National Security Council, Department of ICT, Department of Trade and Industry, Department of Justice, the Supreme Court of the Philippines, and even a personal thank‑you from Microsoft’s then‑CEO Steve Ballmer for work related to open standards and interoperability. These were unexpected moments, and honestly, they meant a lot because they reflected the work of the teams I was lucky to be part of.

Outside the tech world, I’ve also spent time working as Director of High Five Sports Philippines supporting programs for street children and underserved communities through Sports. It’s a very different kind of work — no firewalls, no encryption, just people trying to help other people — and it grounded me in ways that no certification or policy ever could.

Beyond all that, I regularly join and help host IRL and online discussions, events, and forums about digital safety, privacy, and cybersecurity. I write sometimes, speak when invited, and help run weekly conversations for organizations focused on digital awareness and resilience.

If I had to summarize my entire career, it would probably be this:

I try to keep things secure, explain the chaos, and drink coffee before the next incident happens — and whenever possible, I try to show up for people who need it.