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5 Tips for Traveling with a Group
By: Camsur Adventure
Tags: Adventure Travel, Philippines, Travel, Adventure, Visit Philippines

Go on a hassle-free vacation with your favorite people — keep these helpful tricks in mind

Traveling with a group means getting a chance to make wonderful memories with your loved ones. In reality though, it also means creating conflicts that extend beyond your vacation. Fights over itinerary, hotel expenses, and time management can turn fun into stress easily.

Despite possible hassles, you shouldn’t hesitate booking a trip soonest. With these tips, you can enjoy a relaxing getaway with family and friends (yes, it’s absolutely possible):

1. Let majority rule.

If there are seven people in your group, it’s pretty much impossible that everyone can get to do what they want especially on a short vacation. Democracy goes a long way, so have everyone pick a must-see site or a must-do activity and go with the choices that get the most votes.

2. Divide and conquer.

Most likely, small groups within your group will be formed based on shared interests and priorities. This actually makes traveling much efficient, so leave no room for FOMO. Some can head to a historical museum while the others check out the local shopping district. Just make sure to meet up at some point — eat dinner together to swap stories on how the day went.

3. Communicate.

Land and sea transfers may divide up a big group. Make sure everyone has a copy of the itinerary. Create a plan on where to meet in case you get separated unintentionally and there’s no signal in the area for chatting with the group online.

4. Include downtime in your itinerary.

Moving from one area to another and doing various activities with a group can get strenuous. Squeeze in some alone time within the day so everyone can do their own thing, like visiting a local café, watching a concert, or just lounging at the hotel. This is a good way to re-energize for the rest of the trip.

5. Opt for travel packages.

Traveling DIY-style is exciting when you go solo, but being with a group is a different story. Organized tours are your friend, as they save a lot of effort and money. Have a reliable travel group manage all the logistics for you — lodging, food, van and boat transfers, sports equipment, and tour guides — so you can enjoy the whole trip without having to worry about every small detail.

Exploring a new destination with a group can be challenging, but wise planning and openness to adventure result in the most incredible memories. When it comes to traveling, the more, the merrier, indeed.
Why I Started My Own Co-working Space.
By: Oneil Cerdena
Tags: Philippines, Coworking Space, Coffee, Starbucks, Start Up

Finding a productive place to work was really tough.

As a student, my budget was always limited. Computer shops would be my №1 go to for a decent internet, just to watch a 20 minute Science video on YouTube to understand what my teacher just taught me, or just to upload numerous revisions for group works, especially during thesis. But the downside was, the CompShop is a noisy place to be in, and not advisable for studying. THANK GOD I STILL GRADUATED!

When I decided to be a filmmaker/screenwriter, working from home felt isolating, and the bed was the main trigger for procrastination and laziness.

So I tried doing my work at the nearest coffee shop, just like J.K. Rowling.

And that my friends, is HOW I OVERSPENT MY MONEY on a table, an outlet, a productive ambiance, and a coffee.

The fact was, I wasn’t the only one suffering from the limited outlets, mediocre WiFi, overpriced coffee and judgmental stares from baristas telling me mentally that I’m overstaying.

During these high priced times, studying or working in a coffee shop is just not sustainable for someone who has a limited budget.

So I built my own Co-Working space here in Quezon City, with the “Work Feels” of a Cafe and the “Chill Feels” of a Home.

Creators Cave is the ideal place for students, creators and freelancers to pursue and focus on their passion, without having the limitations of just a Café.

The goal of the CAVE is to inspire and build a community of creators and doers, so bring your friends, WORK HARD and PLAY HARD TOGETHER!
What My New Year Felt Like
By: Christian Albano
Tags: Short Story, Philippines, Experience, Writing, Prose

As the final minutes of the 2020 countdowns for new beginnings, time stopped for me. All the noises outside decreased in silence. The show that I’ve been watching for hours slowed down. As for my mother who’s checking who greeted me on Facebook, also stopped moving. I wondered what happened to everyone. Many questions popped in my mind: “How come I’m the only one who’s moving?”; “Why did time stopped?”; “Is it going be like this forever?”; “How long ‘till time starts again?”. None of the questions can solve my dilemma but one stood out very clearly: “What if I’m dead?”

From confusion to curiosity, I realized it’s silly to think that I’m dead. I admit that I smoke cigarettes everyday but if I were to die, I know it’s not going to be from inhaling cigarettes but from letting everyone down, especially myself. To be honest, I rather die accidentally instead by my own conscience. I might be suicidal but I don’t have the courage of killing myself and I prefer much better to run away than to commit suicide. Here’s why I think running away is much better: you leave them a comforting note that says you’ll be gone for a couple of years, which plants the idea or feeling that you’re safe, wherever you are. But the truth? It gives them the sense that you’re still alive but in reality, they won’t wonder if you’re dead. It might hurt a lot of people, even those who considered you as their second family, but sometimes it’s much better; especially if you don’t want yourself to be the source of all the problems.

Before I try to solve all the reasons of why time has stopped, I drank a glass of water and went outside to smoke. I sat there and acknowledged the fact that my surroundings were peaceful. I was annoyed all night of the motorcycles roaring outside my house and people, which I assume they’re already drunk or just off-key, are singing to their heart’s content using the mic from the loud karaoke machine. It’s peaceful to enjoy noises on some occasions, but not this one. Oh my, how I want to shut down the noise! My patience was wearing thin but my dark humor was holding me down. Maybe for once, even at the most panicking times, I was grateful when time stopped; it is when I enjoyed comfort and solitude.
Canceling Soc-Med’s ‘Justice System’
By: Gaelic Bread
Tags: Philippines, The Unfolded Truths, Éditorial, Opinion, Cancel Culture

This kind of power that social media has is not even effective in most cases. Defenders of the cancel culture claim that cancel culture help holds celebrities accountable for their actions and may even have immediate consequences for them after getting ‘canceled,’ which is all that cancel culture positively does. Its defenders claim that the consequences of cancel culture are positive in a way that it forces the wrongdoer to take accountability and learn from it, but it does more harm than good. Cancel culture, as already noted by many critics, only prevents opportunities for an effective, diplomatic conversation between the wronged and the wrongdoer, and only serves as a hindrance for content creators who simply want to follow their passion — to create content.

Take for example Mark Averilla, also known as Macoy Dubs. In August, Averilla in a tweet announced that his viral “Aunt Julie” content will be temporarily put on hold, blaming ‘cancel culture’ that he said should be cancelled instead of the ‘good vibes’ culture. He stated that there were some Filipinos who wanted him to go back into dubbing as Macoy Dubs and not Aunt Julie and rebutted that he is only here to create content.

In that specific instance, it goes to show how much cancel culture could affect a passionate content creator. But it is not just limited to Macoy Dubs. Other celebrities who have previously expressed their political dissent also suffer from backlash and even boycotts. Catriona Gray and Angel Locsin, whom all are working for the rightful cause especially during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, faced backlash as well for expressing their views, especially with the ABS-CBN shutdown and the signing of the Anti-Terror Law.
Dengvaxia: The Controversial Vaccine
By: Batang Nabakuna
Tags: Health, Philippines, Dengvaxia, Vaccines

The controversy regarding the Dengvaxia vaccine made many Filipinos lose trust in vaccination. Because of this, less Filipinos now receive vaccinations, leading to the ongoing measles outbreak.

Thus, we are here to talk about Dengvaxia, the controversial dengue vaccine, and how it is different. But before we talk about the vaccine itself, we will first talk about dengue.

Dengue in a Nutshell

According to Mayo Clinic, dengue is a viral disease that is common in Southeast Asia and the western Pacific islands. A person gets dengue through mosquitos that carries the virus that cause dengue.

There are two forms of dengue: mild and severe. Mild dengue makes a person experience high fever, rash, and muscle and joint pain. Severe dengue, on the other hand, can cause bleeding, a sudden drop in blood pressure, and death.

Having dengue immunizes someone from the dengue virus that made them sick. Unfortunately, there are four types of dengue viruses. Every time a person is infected by a dengue virus, the risk of having severe dengue increases.

Dengvaxia and the Controversy

Image directly lifted from Inquirer.net

To combat dengue, Sanofi Pasteur released Dengvaxia, the first dengue vaccine in the world. It promised to provides protection from the four types of dengue viruses.

However, Sanofi Pasteur found out a major flaw in the vaccine. People who received the vaccine without being infected by dengue before have an increased risk of having severe dengue. People who had dengue before receiving the vaccine, though, immunizes them for up to 6 years. Thus, Sanofi Pasteur does not recommend Dengvaxia for people without a prior history with dengue.

The Philippine government spent ₱3.5 billion on Dengvaxia and has given it on more than 700,000 children aged 9 years old and above. Of the 700,000 children, 70,000 of them are at risk of severe dengue.

Decreases in Immunization

Because of the Dengvaxia controversy, less people opted to vaccinate themselves. Vaccination of children from tuberculosis, polio, and measles went down. Vaccination from the virus that cause cervical cancer also went down. Soon enough, the measles outbreak began, claiming hundreds of lives.

Why Dengvaxia is Different

Dengvaxia is a relatively new vaccine, compared to other vaccines such as the measles vaccine. Thus, it is unfair to judge all vaccines because a new vaccine has unwanted side effects. The measles vaccine has been around for many years, and it has saved many lives. The issue of Dengvaxia, therefore, is not a matter of whether or not vaccines can save lives. Rather, it is a matter of incompetence on the part of a handful government officials.
Low Price Oppo Mobiles in the Philippines
Tags: Philippines, Oppo Mobile

If you are finding an affordable Oppo mobile in Philippines, this article may help you. Below, we have listed the latest and low price Oppo mobile phones to buy in 2021. Go to Mobile57 to get all Oppo Mobile Prices in Philippines.

Oppo A

For those looking for an Oppo A mobile, there are various options such as Oppo A15s, A72, A92s, and A93. If you have to buy the cheapest Oppo mobile, A15s is the best choice. A152 starts at 4GB RAM. Oppo A15s Price in the Philippines ranges between PHP 7,000 and PHP 8,000. If you can spend a little more, Oppo A72 and A92s are available up to PHP 15,000. There is an even better Oppo A93 selling between PHP 16,000 and PHP 19,000. A93 arrives in up to 8GB RAM and 128GB Storage.

Oppo F

Oppo F smartphones are for camera lovers. Two popular editions of the F lineup are Oppo F17 Pro and F19 Pro. Their standard versions are also available. The F17 Pro and F19 Pro have the same 48MP Quad Camera, 8GB RAM, and 128GB Storage. You can get either Oppo F17 Pro or F19 Pro under the price of PHP 20,000.

View Also: Popular Vivo Mobiles in Philippines
Philippine Civil Service Examination Review — Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards and Accountability of Public Officials and Employees.
Tags: Politics, Civil Service Examination, Philippines

Norms of Conduct of Public Officials and Employees

Section 4 of this act contains the Norms of Conduct of Public Officials and Employees.

Commitment to public interest Professionalism Justness and sincerity. Political neutrality. Responsiveness to the public. Nationalism and patriotism. Commitment to democracy. Simple living.

Summarizing these norms, we get the following.

Commitment to public interest: Employees and Officials should put the public interest above their own, that means honesty in usage of government funds and property and to be used for office purposes only.

Professionalism: Government employees and officials should do their duty in a competent manner just like in the private industry, as the general public would be the ones that would benefit from the services offered.

Justness and sincerity: Public Officials and Employees are expected to have good morals. They are also not allowed to discriminate by wealth.

Political neutrality: Public Officials and Employees are not allowed to discriminate by political beliefs or ideology

Responsiveness to the public: Just like Professionalism, government employees should provide the best service that they can provide to the public and assist them with any concerns that they have. They should provide info that the public can understand clearly.

Nationalism and patriotism: Government officials and employees are required to be loyal to the state, obviously since it is the state itself who is paying the salary. It is a crime to change nationalities or apply for immigration during his tenure.

Commitment to democracy: As the Philippines itself has a democratic form of government where authority is derived from the voting populace. Officials and Employees are expected to uphold the constitution, recognize the superiority of civilian authority to military and put the country above party lines or persons.

Simple living: As public servants generally receive lower salaries than private companies (Although retirement benefits for retiring government officials are much, much better), they are expected to live a lifestyle in proportion to their salary and not engage in extravagance like some “instagram influencers”. This is why they need to submit Statements of Assets, Liabilities and Net Worth, to check if there are any discrepancies.

These norms are enforced by the Constitutional office of the Civil Service Commission, the ones who are in charge of the Civil Service Exams.
We’re building Iboto.ph to get political and fight for something.
By: Chia Amisola
Tags: Philippines, Elections

I never felt as helpless as I did during the 2016 elections.

Given, I was barely out of my sophomore year in high school and didn’t know much about politics. Like many others, I grew up with the notion that the government was just an inherently bad thing. I watched scandal after scandal play by on the television, listened to my Social Studies teacher spend the entire period ranting about presidents and eras revised and proofed from our government-approved textbooks, while overhearing relatives complain about things that I wasn’t really sure of yet — like taxes, rising gas prices, or our sovereignty.

When you attend gatherings and small workshops for “activists” or the safer term, “community organizers”, you go around the circle and introduce yourself, your school, pronouns, and what politicized you. To this day, I’m still unsure of how to answer that last part.

My generation is desensitized to the failures of a government because it had been ingrained in our heads that it would never work for us. We grow through (quite privileged) phases of political apathy, because it’s widely-accepted that there’s nothing we can do about it. Political talk is forbidden: nobody gave a fuck about it in school, you risk causing rifts during family gatherings, and it goes nowhere.

I had barely turned sixteen when I saw Rodrigo Duterte sworn into office and a Marcos almost entering the Vice Presidency. In the months leading up to that election, it was impossible to ignore the shittalking Davaoeño but falsely easy to assume that no one could seriously vote for someone like him, right? He had practically no skills as an attorney, is marked only by family power, and dozens of human rights cases against his misguided view on drugs and criminality. Then: I saw every corner of the world filled with overwhelming support that I was near-voiceless against. From tricycle drivers to my own private Catholic schoolmates, they were all entranced by his promises and his ill formality and how he was going to change the Philippines — he swore, and it would be bloody.

I was angry and senseless, but I didn’t know if I had a right to be. I couldn’t vote then and hadn’t discussed these views much with others aside from soft conversations with teachers and friends. I kind of understood why things had gone to the point where we had voted in Duterte, though. The success of his campaign is built on a history of Philippine struggle and affirms the longstanding plight of the masses, so tired of the cyclic nature of corruption that we (or at least 39.01% of the population) had decided to settle for anyone who could seem different. Our frustrations had become so entrenched that it seemed like someone spitting out rape and murder could save us.

But of course he can’t. And of course we’re tired of broken promises.
CEGP slams revival of mandatory ROTC
By: College Editors Guild Of The Philippines
Tags: Rotc, Philippines, Duterte

Students protest to abolish ROTC after the death of UST ROTC cadet Wilson Chua in 2001 | Photo from Bulatlat.com

The fascist state proved its palpable fetish anew to militarize the youth when the House Committee on Basic Education and Culture passed the substitute bill that would impose mandatory ROTC in Grades 11 and 12. The College Editors Guild of the Philippines (CEGP) strongly opposes this desperate move to revive a program that would only legitimize abuses and its perpetuation in Senior High School. Above all, ROTC possesses an incomparable list of decadence and torture inside the school that even led to the death of Mark Welson Chua, a ROTC cadet from the University of Santo Tomas (UST) who exposed the corruption of his comrades in the unit. Despite of this well-known history of legitimizing violence, compulsory ROTC passed through the committee within the first few minutes of the hearing proving it as a done deal ordinance.

The Guild condemns Duterte’s obsession of utilizing the youth as machineries to support its kleptocratic rule. It is appalling to visualize how an entire generation of our students being lured to a totalitarian leader and are willing to maim progressive groups and worst, to harm fellow citizens in pursuit of satisfying their commander’s lust of power.

The Guild asserts that ROTC would only transmogrify our students into exploitable cannon fodder by continuously inculcating mercenary tactics as primary mode of upholding the nation’s sovereignty. What state has to address, however, is its malicious neglect in providing nationalistic, scientific and mass-oriented education that would produce hundreds of thousands of youth who value peace, possess high respect for human rights, and would pledge an unqualified support in joining the people’s struggles.###
What You Need to Know About Poverty, Pigs, and the Philippines
By: Celeste SamaseiʻA
Tags: Social Entrepreneurship, Entrepreneurship, Philippines

Brigham Young University Students Change the World

Literally.

A group of seven students — Alvin Dy, Alysha Gurr, Jadan Watson, Jordan Richards, Megan Russell, Sariah Villalon, and instructor Robert Tietjen — travelled 5,445 miles to the Philippines to change the worlds of 5 families facing one of this country’s greatest challenges: Poverty.

The Philippines is home to roughly 105 million people. 21.6% live below the national poverty line.

That means roughly 23,000,000 Filipinos live in poverty.

An Engaging Plan to Combat the Philippines’ Financial Epidemic

Jordan Richards — a student studying Business Management from New Zealand — served his mission in the Philippines Tacloban Mission where he found this horribly heartbreaking trend among this impoverished people. In his Social Entrepreneurship class he felt impressed to find a distinct, yet unexpected way, to buoy up the people he loves.

How?

Through pigs.

Pigs for Prosperity was created. With this newly formed team, they worked countless hours to raise money through a crowdfunding campaign. The group made $2500 in two weeks through supporters of the Indiegogo campaign!

Then came the tedious hours of creating a “13 Step Plan” to keep the program sustainable in order to bring a glimpse of wealth into these family’s lives and the lives of future recipients, too.

They requested help of the Catmon barangay captain–the highest elected official of a basic political division–to select five families who deemed highest need in Ormoc, Leyte.

After that, the families were gladly notified that they were chosen and the training process began. They were taught how to build pens for the pigs, how to care for them, and the future goals of the program.

One major future goal is to elevate the chosen families to a position where they are able to give back to their community. After the piglets have grown and given birth to a new litter, two piglets will be given to the next needy family in the barangay. The process will continue and hopefully lift one community at a time, out of the grasp of poverty.

Our students who started Pigs for Prosperity have a desire to bring “light and joy” into families who may, at times, feel helpless. They focus on the “needs of entrepreneurs in the developing world” with the hope that this project can not only benefit these families, but also the community.

Poor Living Conditions of Real, Struggling Families

While the team was in the Philippines they — of course — noticed the rough living conditions of the families.

Rags for walls.

Dirt for floors.

Mats for beds.

Worn out clothes.

Shoeless feet.

A Pleasant, Yet Happy Surprise

However, they also were surprised by what else they noticed.

“The Filipinos have high Christian standards and morals.” -Elder Tietjen, Idaho
Lacson, Sotto defended proposed Anti-terrorism bill
By: The Asian Affairs
Tags: Anti Terror Bill, Philippines, Filipino, Anti Terrorism

MANILA — Senate President Vicente Sotto III and Senator Panfilo Lacson on Tuesday defended the proposed Senate Bill №1083, or the Anti-Terrorism Act of 2019 and urged the critics to read the proposed bill to realized that all perceived abuses that may be commited has been properly addresed by the lawmakers.

According to Senator Ping Lacson, The country is a responsible member of the community of nations and is bound to improve laws related to United Nations Security Council Resolutions and meeting international standards, fulfilling the state’s obligation with the UN while putting safeguards against possible abuse.

Sen. Sotto on the other hand, said that the proposed law is beneficial to the country and only terrorist and supporters are the only one who will be afraid of the bill.

Several critics has expressed dismay on social media over the President’s decision on certifying the bill as urgent amid the coronavirus disease (Covid-19) pandemic.

Senators Francis Pangilinan and Risa Hontiveros has publicly opposed this bill as some of the provisions may invade their rghts and liberty. Usage if electronic surveillance, detention without a judicial warrant and removal of compensation for persons wrongfully detained are some of the provisions included that are being contested.

Both minority sentors urged the government to focus more on programs concerning public health and safety and economic recovery amid the pandemic. Senator Sotto said that the new Anti-Terrorism Bill was “as good as passed” because President had certified its passage as urgent.

https://www.theasianaffairs.com/philippines/2020/06/03/lacson-sotto-defended-proposed-anti-terrorism-bill/
House and Lot investment in Baguio City
Tags: Philippines, For Sale, Investment, Baguio City, House And Lot

Baguio City ©Villa Preciosa Realty

It is not worth time and money for paying a monthly rental fee for a house and lot that would definitely not be yours. The smartest solution for this is to buy a house and lot. Even if you are paying monthly fees, you can be sure that it is worth spending and you will be confident that no one can evict you since the property will be absolutely yours.

“Summer Capital of the Philippines” Baguio City where you can wear your jacket for throughout the year. Families can find peace in this clean and disciplined city. Expect also the growing economy as it is recently established quite a significant enormous dosage of commercialization and business establishments. Despite the rapid development, despite everything it holds its old yet wonderful appeal.

Baguio is likely one of the brilliant spots you can visit or live in the Philippines. As a matter of fact, Filipinos from various districts and even foreigners gain superb experiences here. In some cases, settling in Baguio City enters their thoughts. With this, is it really good to take permanent residence here in Baguio?

Visit us
America is in the Mind; Philippines is in the Heart
By: Ben Liongson
Tags: America, Philippines, Millenials, Identity, Reflections

01 Generational friction

“Dad, what do you think it means to be a Filipino American man?”

I’m not sure what prompted me to text my dad this question. But around the time I asked it, I had moved from Greenwich, CT, where 70% of the population is White and 7%, Asian to Baltimore, MD where 62% of the population is Black or African American and 3%, Asian.

“For me, the concept of a Filipino American is an amorphous one. As you are aware the United States except for the American Indian at some point all came from different countries. Distinguishing your origin, appreciating and respecting it is very commendable. However, I think that the more important thing to realize and determine is what it is to be a true American. I find that being a true American means espousing and reflecting our society’s value of hard work, pursuing our dream of a better life, honesty, freedom, seek success, educate ourselves, to be family-centered, to care for other individuals and most importantly to pursue God’s work and make this whole world a better place to live. Hence, I do not look at myself as a Filipino American but as a true American because to me these are values that I pursue as a man, as a father, as a citizen and as a believer.”

My dad came to the U.S. from the Philippines at 21 with $400 in his pocket. Over a few decades, he went from folding people’s underwear to working in finance in New York. I can’t knock his hustle. Nor would I invalidate how he chooses to identify. He had to work hard, keep his head down but distinguish himself simultaneously. Not an easy feat.

As a result, it made him think that being a Filipino American is different than being a “true” American. For me, it’s not. I acknowledge that I’m able to say that because of the sacrifices he made.

Today, our shared values aren’t what makes us “true” Americans. It is the respect, love, acceptance and tension between different traditions & beliefs that make us Americans. I forged this belief through the iron of my experiences.

To understand how I got here, let me take you back to 1996.
Real Estate Properties as Rentals
By: Jarie Dumadaug
Tags: Philippines, Real Estate Investment, Condo, Real Estate, House

Real Estate Properties as Rentals

Residential real estate properties are more than just primary homes. With the right execution of strategies, you can become rich when your rent out your house or condo while pursuing other activities.

Photo by Brandon Griggs on Unsplash

Here are 2 basic real estate properties that you can rent or lease out:

House

There are different types of houses such as townhouses, bungalows, and single detached homes that you can buy either at a pre-selling price or in a ready-for-occupany condition.

When you buy a pre-selling house, it means the house isn’t built yet. You keep paying the monthly downpayment, and the construction of your house continues. Usually, prices are cheaper and payments methods are more flexible during the pre-selling stage. It takes around 1–2 years for you to move in. So this is a great investment if you’re not in hurry and want to save money. Just make sure you team up with a great real estate professional that can give sound advice and quality properties.

On the other hand, when you buy a read-for-occupancy house, you easily and readily move-in within a few months. The upside is you get to see the actual house and can immediately feel how the home is going to be. These are the most sought-after houses in the real etsate market.

Renting out a house requires regular maintenance because of the amount of space it takes up. Many small families, especially those starting out, are often unable to purchase their own home within their first few years of marriage. This comes as a good opportunity for real estate investors who have the financial capacity to buy houses with the intention of renting this out to another family. Doing so will not only give you a passive income through home rental, but it will allow you to maintain the title to the property, thereby reaping the value appreciation of the property over time.

Condo

Just like houses, condominium properties are available at a pre-selling stage or as ready-for-occupancy units. These are great home rentals for independent professionals who want to live close to the city where they work. Since condo properties are located in the city, it’s also great option for a vacation home rental where tourists can stay close to tourist spots and essential offices. When buying a condo unit, consider the nearby establishments and conduct more research on the nearest universities, work establishments, or hospitals in the vicinity. The presence of nearby establishments will allow you to eventually rent out your unit faster or even resell your unit to another buyer after a few years.
Deceptive Advertisement In The Philippines
Tags: Philippines, Scam, Doc Adams, Deceptive Advertisement, Filipino

Deceptive Advertisement in the Philippines has been ever so slightly present in our market, being seen across on multiple mediums e.g. social media or television.

According to the Consumer Act of the Philippines (Republic Act №7394, 1992), it is said that in any advertisement, in Art. 72, that falsely represents the existence of a warranty or guarantee is prohibited.

In other words, it is the dissemination of false, deceptive, or misleading advertisements by Philippine mail or in commerce by print, radio, television, outdoor advertisement or other medium for the purpose of inducing purchase of consumer products or services.

In the Philippines, the long lasting bizarre popularity of supplements is known to have practices of Deceptive Advertising. These supplements, in some cases, offer incorrect medical advice that leads to miss use of these products, therein causing damages. Though being FDA approved (Food and Drug Administration), the businesses behind these supplements insist on the wrong medical uses of their products.

Example. In Glutalipo’s website, where it explains how Glutalipo works, the Glutalipo drinks specifically, its states that it has the following benefits: whitening, slimming, prevents colon cancer, prevents constipation, detoxes and cleanses, and anti-aging, according to Doc Adam (Adam, 2020). But the main thing that Glutalipo claims is that their product helps with weight loss. However, this is all false, you will not get any of these benefits (Adam, 2020). The aforementioned benefits constitute the deception of the viewers, as this is all medically wrong.

Whether the intentions of harm are clear or not, false advertising is rightfully illegal. Promising something that isn’t true, and that being the reason why the product is sold, that is deception. If you are selling goods or services, you have a responsibility to be aware of the facts that say about your product, as it represents what the business’s beliefs are. Business should be careful about what their words imply.

There are a lot of ways to maintain the truth amidst the widespread deceptive advertisement. For one, I strongly believe that people should put in the effort in learning. People should automatically, when or before buying, check for official sources. Ask “where the information comes from–who gave the information?” “ Do they have a good reputation?”. We should check the support of these claims. Ask “What is the evidence? Who else supports these claims?” Learning what is really true is important. We can’t just rely on, for example, some celebrity says about a product. Using critical thinking is very important when seeing new information.
OPINION: How music makes everything in our lives better
By: Gab Madriaga
Tags: Philippines, Music, Positive Reinforcement, Chill, Vibin

Music is undeniably the world heavyweight champion in setting the mood right in whatever we do in a day, and this is why it’ll stay like that forever.

On a warm Saturday morning, what is the best pairing alongside breakfast and coffee? Music. When you would step and take a nice refreshing shower, what do you pair it with? Music. A lovely walk around town? Music. Chill kickback vibing with your friends/family/significant other? M-U-S-I-C.

Picture sourced from: https://drawception.com/game/NjE5yBfL8T/fella-straight-up-vibing/

Music always sets the mood right in anything that you do in a day. Having to listen to tunes that one can relate with their feels, to something that can make you dance out of the blue, music will always be there for you.

Music will hold you down in any formality. Reminiscing about the good old days when the pandemic didn’t exist? Sam Smith got your back. Feeling woke? J. Cole and Drake are your mans. Good blues and just want to relax? Justin Bieber or Jack Harlow will be vibin’ with you. feeling like a boss bitch? Saweetie, Kehlani and Ariana Grande will set that mood for you; i mean it just goes on and on.

Picture sourced from: https://www.reddit.com/r/memes/comments/hqb54s/the_music_just_sounds_good/

Now in the day where everything may seem stale, boring, anxious and a lot of overthinking manic episodes, all we need to do is sit down, take a good breather and stimulate oneself with positive reinforcements and simulations that can get us back on track and be the best that we can be. Guess what’ll be a great combo with that, Music.

Good stimulation can redirect your overall mood and make you feel great even when the world is going to shit. We all need positive reinforcement within ourselves alongside people who matter around us and just like all things that’s a good combo, music will set the mood and make you realize that “ Oh, well its not all that bad, i’m finna make the most out of my days and never make anything in my life stale or boring”.
12 BOOKS THAT CAN HELP YOU IMPROVE YOUR SYSTEMS FOR LIVING BY VISHEN LAKHIANI
By: Aklatan Online
Tags: Philippines, Wisdom, Books, Read, United Arab Emirates

While I was reading his book, I got really excited for his book recommendations that can help us in all areas of our lives. I thought it would be helpful if I will share it.

Here are the categories:

1. Your love relationship.

“This book is a beautiful and somewhat humorous look at how to live with and love the opposite sex.”

2. YOUR FRIENDSHIPS.

“I read this book seven times before I turned twenty; an amazing book for anyone.”

3. YOUR ADVENTURES.

“This book inspires you to live a life of adventure and to have fun while pursuing big goals.”

4. YOUR ENVIRONMENT.

“This book inspires you to upgrade your quality of life and to dream bigger about your home, your office space, the car you drive, and more.”

5. YOUR HEALTH AND FITNESS.

For men,

“Dave is a friend and the most famous biohacker in the world. This is science meets eating.”

For women,

“It will challenge your rules about calories and exercise and show you that it’s not about how much you eat, but how you combine the right foods in the right order for your body’s ‘chemistry lab’.”

6. YOUR INTELLECTUAL LIFE.

“What better way to optimize your intellectual life than by upgrading your learning systems, learning to speed-learn and improve your memory? I recommend courses by Jim Kwik.”

7. YOUR SKILLS.

“Is a great book on finding fast hacks to develop unique skills.”

8. YOUR SPIRITUAL LIFE.

“Is the best book I’ve read on spiritual growth. But a close tie is Autobiography of a Yogi by Paramahansa Yogananda, which was Steve Jobs’s favorite book.”

9. YOUR CAREER.

“Is one of the best books I’ve read on how to be more creative at work and how to think outside the box, sell your ideas, and make a difference.”

10. YOUR CREATIVE LIFE.

“Inspires you to shed your artist inertia and get moving with your creative work. It is also one of the most beautifully written books I’ve come across.”

11. YOUR FAMILY LIFE.

“I believe the root cause of the most family issues is the lack of self-love.”

12. YOUR COMMUNITY LIFE.

“Tony Hsieh is an inspirational read on starting epic businesses and giving back to the world in a big way.”

Are you ready to add them on your list?

Don’t forget to inquire us at Aklatan 📕
Perks of Outsourcing Services to the Philippines
By: Dbos Au
Tags: Offshoring, Philippines, Outsourcing, Business

On a previous article, we tackled about the reasons why Philippines is the ideal outsourcing destination. Today, we will learn about the benefits of outsourcing services to the Philippines.

Of the numerous outsourcing countries in the world, the Philippines truly stand out. In fact, the country’s BPO industry remains one of the biggest factors that help its economy.

As a result, a massive number of BPO call centres was built in the country. Meanwhile, the same amount of small and medium business enterprises started outsourcing their services.

Aside from lower labour costs, quality staff, infrastructure, and equipment, there are other advantageous perks that you can enjoy when you choose to offshore your services. Listed below is:

Employee flexibility

Filipinos are known for their neutral accents and they can easily learn others if needed. In addition to that, most of those talents are college graduates, and that makes it easier to be taught. Now, establishing your own offshore team in the Philippines creates a greater possibility of employing diversified talents. From several back-office services to other outsourcing services, they sure can handle them all.

Round-the-clock business hours

For your business that never sleeps, running it 24/7 is the solution. When you choose to outsource your services, you won’t have to worry about who will look out for your processes. Even if you’re sleeping or on holiday, your Filipino offshore team can surely take over. Aside from the round-the-clock work, this benefit also improves productivity as it operates overnight.

Fewer management headaches

One of the busiest department in a business is probably the HR, as they handle people from recruiting up to its everyday performance. Your offshore HR people will be the one to sweat buckets and assure that your team remains well-managed. They will be in charge of your staff benefits, salary, leave credits, and especially legal matters.

Professional work ethics

Filipinos take pride in having one of the best work ethics in the professional industry. They are widely known as hardworking, friendly, hospitable, and sympathetic people who always impress employers. They are also easy to get along with which makes the whole office environment vibe livelier. This impeccable trait is why Filipinos are suitable for jobs that require a lot of customer interaction and coordination.

Now all that’s left is to choose a trustworthy offshore staffing Manila-based company who specialises on your most prized services.

For quality and cost-efficient offshore services, call DBOS today!
Seasons Hot Pot and Dim-sum: A palate cleanser from the usual
By: Beds, Booze
Tags: Philippines, Dim Sum, Hotpot, Buffet, Food

Moving on to the larger portion of the table which is the steaming bowl of soup right smack in the middle. The basic soup you get is the chicken broth but you can choose to opt in for a second type, I recommend the spicy one for the second choice since it adds another dimension to the hot pot experience plus it’s not too spicy so just about anyone can enjoy it.

The assortment of choices you get for your hotpot can be a bit mind boggling at first but once you get into the groove of things it starts to really be enjoyable. I would suggest that you skip out on rice entirely on this one and just go straight for noodles. I decided to go with classic Sotanghon(Bean Thread Noodles) since I really like the texture and size of it but there is also the flat noodles that you can try if that’s more to your liking. The meat was more of a meh for me to be honest. it was alright to begin with but if you’re going to Seasons for the meat alone, you’ll end up going home disappointed. What I think you should really focus on is all the other things you can add to the soup besides the meat and veggies(but you should still add veggies since they are pretty good..) such as their lobster balls and Sakura shrimp cakes. You also can’t go home without trying the cheeseballs which explode in your mouth like a fish ball made by the gods, do tread carefully if you’ve never been burned by hot cheese in your mouth(Peach-Mango pie nightmare flashbacks) .

All in all, Seasons was an enjoyable experience that offered something different to the table other than different slices of meat. If you’re sick of the normal everyday Samgyupsal and craving for another type of chowing down then you should definitely put Seasons Dim-Sum and Hot Pot on your Radar.

A solid 7/10 Hakaws rating from me
There’s that old adage — history repeats itself.
By: Sally Pina
Tags: History, Republicans, Culture, Politics, Leadership

There’s that old adage — history repeats itself. But if people truly learned from history and the things that Europe did after the war, for example, it wouldn’t need to be that way. America, in particular, took another path and now we’re looking down the barrel of a double loaded shotgun being held by that sorry excuse of a human being that resides in the White House and his minions in Congress.

“Let me put that much more succinctly. Europe reinvested half its gains and more in people — in public goods and institutions that benefited them in basic, direct, tangible ways, improving their healthcare, education, transportation, jobs, and so forth. America invested nothing in its people. Less than nothing, in fact. It let its people be preyed on by megacapitalists, abused by endless wars, ruined by greed and selfishness. How were Americans going to end up anything but broke, dumb, sad, poor, and sick..when nobody was investing in hospitals, schools, jobs, and so on?”

And that failure to reinvest in public goods and institutions didn’t happen overnight — it’s taken decades for the repubs to get their tenacles reaching into every level of government across the country, but most particularly the south, and change the very way we should be looking at and living life. (And yes, I put the blame largely at the feet of the republican party and DINOs where it rightly belongs and I make no apologies for that.) If they and some democrats had done the ‘right thing’ for society and taken us down the path that most of Europe went, they would not have been as successful in pulling the wool over so many people’s eyes, dismantling social safety nets, taking from the poor to give to the rich (a reversal in the legend of Robin Hood, who stole from the rich to give to the poor), defunding and starving public education, etc., etc., etc. We would not be looking at the rich getting richer as the poor get poorer. We would not see fewer and fewer people getting educated, which is exactly the opposite of what we ABSOLUTELY NEED if we expect to have an educated, informed public, some of whom will be running our country in the future. And we would not be seeing what we see right now in our country — the divisive, hurtful, hateful rhetoric and policies pouring out of the mouths of the POTUS and repubs like gushing oil spewing out from the ground.

I’ve said it before — I never, ever believed or even thought that I would live to see what is happening to our world and, most particulary, America today. It makes me just weep and wish I could blink it all away, hoping tomorrow brings a new dawn on America.
Can ya b’lieve it?
By: Nicky Mccatty
Tags: Ignorant, Front National, Racist, French National Party, Republican

Can ya b’lieve it? The week Malcolm got murdered there were only two or three comments that occasioned the need for me to explain his importance in making the City & the country better for all of us. And I am referring to a majority-white junior high school. Now, this nation is so ill-informed, ahistoric in its understanding of any situation that I keep checking my Wayback Machine to see if maybe I accidentally hit Anachronize when I made my bed.

Sometimes analogies can help in this work of Splainin, if the other person actually wants to comprehend.

HERE’S ONE. Ask the defender of po’ innasin melanin-challenged citizens if they have any French friends who are Jewish. If they do, ask if *any* of those natives of wineland could ever, even momentarily, consider voting for Papa LePen. Then, if (hopefully) they have uttered a grimace of RUFKM incredulity, tell ‘em, “it’s like that. And Trump is a hundred times worse.” To further illustrate the point, ask that fellow Ami if their French friend has any goyish neighbors who simply cannot comprehend the overwhelming distaste. Repeat “Like that.”

Woefully — for us — way too many or our fellow citizens have no idea what was being compared with those questions.
You mention that Trump was a “useful tool”. OK, so I agree with the tool part at least.
By: Kenneth Burke
Tags: Republicans, Mitch Mcconnell, Trump, Impeachment, Capitol Riot

You mention that Trump was a “useful tool”. OK, so I agree with the tool part at least.

After what we saw in the House this week, there is no way 17 Senators will cross the rubicon. Even if Mumblin’ Mitch says it’s ok, they won’t.

And neither will he.

What the vote showed us this past week is that there is NO offense our country is willing to impeach AND convict a president of doing.

None.

You could not have a more egregious act completely caught on camera, yet only 10 Republicans voted to impeach.

And even if you think he is not guilty of incitement, then consider this-

While he watched the melee on TV, he spent his time calling members of Congress looking for help to overturn the election. He reportedly waited 30 minutes before he sought additional help for those trapped in the Capitol.

That is dereliction of duty.

Plain and simple.

And yet the Republicans can’t come to see how that was wrong.

The opinions and words expressed are the author’s own and his alone and are not those of his employer.