Who is ‘Madame Alam’? Get to know the newest face of secure and confident banking

Editor’s note: This content is sponsored by GoTyme Bank and was produced by BrandRap, the sales and marketing arm of Rappler. No member of the news and editorial team participated in the production of this piece.

Cybersecurity often feels intimidating – filled with complex terms like digital infrastructure, endless verifications, and sophisticated systems. To make the topic more accessible, GoTyme Bank launched “Madame Alam”, a web series that takes a fresh, relatable approach to educating Filipinos about mobile banking and digital security.

Consider Madame Alam as the wise elderly lady who has lived through the different eras of modern banking, from the traditional ways and being in physical spaces to digital means and making transactions through mobile devices and computers.

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Played by Boots Anson-Roa Rodrigo, Madame Alam is the lola who is far from frail and forgetful; she practices crucial vigilance and keeps up-to-date without missing a beat. Her videos up the ante from the iconic Lola Techie, propping herself up in a hardwood-furnished set donning a vested button-down shirt with pearls, ready for clutching. 

In her introduction, she dives straight into the importance of protecting one’s identity and recalls how old-school con artists used to get away with loans through fake IDs. Luckily, 

she has figured out the tricks and schemes of fraudsters and scammers. Distrustful of them, she  does not click links sent via text, verifies senders of emails, and uses in-app biometric authentication, a security feature used by GoTyme Bank.   

For the succeeding episodes, Madame Alam confidently shares more know-how in fraud prevention: warning against sharing one-time passwords (OTP) and opting for safer log-in options and virtual cards. Her practicality shines in the advice she hands out: security trumps loyalty when it comes to safeguarding money, outsmart the fraudsters, and cut away the nonsense. 

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“Our mission is to unlock every Filipino’s financial potential — and that starts with confidence. Cybersecurity doesn’t have to be complicated. Through Madame Alam, we’re making fraud prevention relatable and easy to understand, so people can bank securely and focus on achieving their goals,” said Nate Clarke, president & CEO of GoTyme Bank.

GoTyme Bank chief information officer Gigi Puno added, “Our priority is simple: to keep our customers’ hard-earned money safe. By combining advanced security features with relatable education through Madame Alam, we’re making banking secure and easy for everyone.” 

While the web series showcases all the ways GoTyme Bank can protect its customers through its advanced technology, it also recognizes the importance of changing user behavior by featuring a formidable figure like Madame Alam. Made in partnership with the Philippine National Police Anti-Cybercrime Group, the series provides sensible yet simplified education for everyone.  

With a champion like GoTyme Bank and the unmistakable wisdom of Madame Alam, digital banking can be easy. This approach goes to show their uncompromising standard for safety and proves that for GoTyme, security is a non-negotiable commitment, ensuring transactions are protected by best-in-class technology that stands up to Madame Alam’s strict scrutiny.

Stay One Step Ahead. Want more tips, tricks, and scam alerts? Follow @gotymebank on social media for the latest news, updates, and episodes of the Madame Alam series. – Rappler.com