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Effective Date: July 2025
Applies To: All users of philscholar.com
Philscholar® (“we,” “our,” or “the platform”) is committed to protecting the privacy of our users, including students, parents, educators, researchers, collaborators, and partner organizations. This Privacy Policy outlines how we collect, use, store, and disclose information collected through our website, tools, contact forms, and associated services. While we aim to make our content widely accessible, we also ensure your information is handled with transparency and care.
By accessing or using Philscholar.com, you consent to the practices described in this policy.
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1. Scope and Purpose
This Privacy Policy applies to all information collected via:
- Philscholar.com
- Forms, surveys, and newsletter sign-ups
- Emails sent to our official address
- Submissions by partners, organizations, or scholarship providers
- Analytics and ad services are integrated on the platform
This policy also outlines our data protection standards and user rights under the Philippine Data Privacy Act of 2012 (R.A. 10173).
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2. Information We Collect
A. Information You Provide Directly or Voluntarily:
We may collect personal data when you:
- Fill out a contact form
- Subscribe to our newsletter
- Email us with inquiries or submissions
- Submit scholarship or academic program details
Data may include:
- Name
- Email address
- Institution/Organization (if provided)
- Program details or flyers
- Messages or content you submit
We do not collect sensitive personal information (e.g., government-issued IDs, medical records) unless specifically required with your consent.
B. Information Collected Automatically
When you use our site, we may collect:
- Device type and browser
- IP address
- Pages visited and time spent
- Referring to website links
- Cookies (used for functionality, preferences, analytics)
C. Cookies and Tracking Tools
We use cookies and similar technologies to:
- Improve website functionality
- Save user preferences
- Analyze user behavior through Google Analytics
- Display limited ads through Google AdSense (if applicable)
Users can disable cookies via their browser settings, but doing so may affect site functionality.
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3. How We Use Your Information
We use collected information to:
- Respond to inquiries and submissions
- Publish public-facing scholarship or program content
- Deliver email updates and newsletters (with consent)
- Improve our platform performance and user experience
- Monitor and protect the website from misuse or malicious activity
- Display relevant ads to help fund platform operations
We do not use your data for profiling, cross-platform advertising, or third-party data resale.
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4. Information from Partners, Organizations, and Program Providers
We collaborate with government agencies, educational institutions, NGOs, and scholarship platforms. When organizations submit content or information, we:
- Store only what is relevant or needed
- Use submitted materials solely for educational, outreach, and publication purposes
- Request consent before publishing logos, images, or detailed information
All confidential communications or sensitive submissions are protected and not disclosed publicly without a written agreement.
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5. Confidentiality and Non-Disclosure Agreements (NDAs)
Philscholar® respects all non-disclosure or confidentiality agreements made with institutions, individuals, and collaborators. Any data, proposal, or partnership detail shared under an NDA or with a request for privacy:
- Will not be disclosed, published, or shared
- Will be securely stored and accessed only by authorized personnel
- Will not be used outside the intended purpose or agreement
We uphold professional and ethical standards in all partner relationships.
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6. Legal Disclosure and Compliance
We may disclose personal data only when:
- Required by Philippine law or government agencies (e.g., by warrant or legal order)
- Necessary to prevent fraud or enforce security
- Responding to lawful requests by public authorities (e.g., data audits or investigations)
In all cases, we follow strict legal procedures and ensure user rights are protected.
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7. Operational Use and Business Transparency
Philscholar® is an independently run educational platform. We:
- Operate using ad revenue to support research, writing, and platform maintenance
- Use data internally for performance tracking and user engagement analytics
- Do not sell or rent any user data under any circumstances
All monetization and tracking methods are minimal, relevant, and privacy-conscious.
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8. Links to Third-Party Websites
Our website may link to external sites, including:
- Scholarship providers
- Research tools
- Educational institutions
- Partner platforms
Philscholar® does not control or take responsibility for the privacy policies, practices, or content of these external websites. Users are advised to review the privacy terms of any third-party site before providing personal information.
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9. What We Don’t Do
We strictly do not:
- Sell or trade your data
- Use personal data for profiling or behavioral advertising
- Track users across unrelated websites
- Store unnecessary or excessive user data
- Send unsolicited commercial emails (spam)
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10. Children’s Privacy
Philscholar® does not knowingly collect personal data from children under the age of 13. If we discover that we have collected such information without parental consent, we will promptly delete it.
If you believe a child under 13 has provided personal information, please contact us immediately.
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11. Policy Updates and Changes
We may revise this Privacy Policy periodically to reflect updates in our practices, tools, partnerships, or legal requirements.
When updated, the Effective Date at the top of this page will change. We encourage users to review this page occasionally. Continued use of the website indicates acceptance of any revised policy.
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12. Contact Us
If you have any questions about this Privacy Policy or how your information is handled, please contact:
Philscholar® Editorial Team
✉️ editorialteam@philscholar.com
We respond to all privacy-related inquiries within a reasonable time frame.
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Final Statement
Philscholar® is committed to protecting your privacy. We collect only what is necessary, use it responsibly, and honor confidentiality in every partnership. While we serve as a public resource hub for Filipino learners, we treat your data with care and transparency, never for exploitation, always for support.
Your trust powers Philscholar®. Thank you for being part of our learning community.