tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-85432556481097137292024-03-05T07:39:12.441-08:00The Flip Guide ManilaRAW AND AUTHENTIC SINCE 2006G-Spothttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01522206192079919413noreply@blogger.comBlogger99125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8543255648109713729.post-64280838124598037972017-03-11T04:45:00.000-08:002017-03-11T04:45:03.407-08:00Continued | Top Ten Things To Do In TokyoCan't get enough of Japan. My favorite travel destination just keeps on giving me more reason to stay there for good. In fact, I've been thinking of studying Nihongo to understand and converse with the locals on our next visit.<br />
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<b>6. Experience Japanese Culture To The Fullest.</b><br />
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Japan's culture is unique and will totally give you an entirely new travel experience. Japanese identity is intricately weaved in almost everything that you see in Japan. The minimalist order, the simplicity in design and architecture, the politeness of the people, all combine together to create a harmony that is pleasant to the senses of the visitors. I can ensure you that your trip to Japan, wherever you come from, will be enjoyable and memorable. Savor the scent of miso in Ramen, get lost in the intricate subways, bow your heads as you interact with the Japanese people, be awkward in attempting to try the vending machines and using the chopsticks - essentially, get lost in translation and let the entire experience be fluid and smooth and don't try to make your trip so perfect to enjoy Japan to the fullest.<br />
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<b>7. There is an abundance of Instagram-worthy Street Fashion Snaps.</b><br />
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I really have to say, Japan is the fashion capital of Asia. Their style and penchant for fashion is one of the best in the orient. They have mastered the art of minimalism and the desire to make everything look so expensive. Now is the time to take your mad photography skills and your discerning eye and grab those fancy moments in the fast-paced streets of Shibuya, Harajuku, Ueno, Asakusa, Ginza, etc.<br />
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<b>8. Shop until you drop.</b></div>
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Tokyo may not be in the top list of cheapest countries in the world, but Tokyo does not disappoint in the shopping department. It may not be as cheap as its Asian neighbors, but Japan has caught my eye and hijacked my wallet.</div>
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Come to Ueno and get the feel of Divisoria or Bangkok or Hong Kong. Ueno has a long alley of shops that sell affordable bags, cosmetics, shoes, souvenirs, jackets, pre-loved designer bags. Its manic, yet there is order in chaos in this vibrant strip of shops and food stalls. Your 5,000 Yen or Php 2,400 will come a long way, believe me. Wallets prices are around 500 to 1000 yen. Anello bags are from 2900 to 4000 Yen. Backpacks around 3000 to 4000 yen. Trolley bags from 3900 to 6900 yen. Winter jackets from 1000 to 5000 yen and premium quality jackets up to 20K Yen. It's like the Divisoria only less stressful.</div>
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Kinshincho as they say is another shopping mecca though I cannot confirm since we only have a few hours left in Japan when we went here. Pressed by time we hurried towards Maruki (or Marueki? Google please) and went straight to Seria - a famous 100 Yen shop in Japan, much like 'Can Do' and the more famous 'Daiso'. 100 Yen is already a bargain although you have to realize that the actual price will end up to 108 yen due to tax. As a rule in Japan, they say you can only enjoy Tax deduction when your single purchase reaches 5000 yen. Anytime lower than that will make you pay for the tax. But still 108 yen to PHP is like Php 48. Super cheap no? I bought 28 items in Seria and it was a good run :)</div>
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There is a Lawson 100 Yen shop all across Tokyo though not as many as the regular convenience stores such as Lawson, FamilyMart and 711. But if you happen to come across a Lawson 100 Yen Shop (the Lawson sign board is colored green as compared to the regular Lawson store which is blue), take the opportunity to find affordable items such as Japanese Mayonnaise ( I know right ), Chili Oil, Noodles, extension cords, ziplocs, 500ml Shampoo and Conditioners refill pack, and many more. You will be surprised that your 1000 yen or 500php can go a long, long way with Lawson 100.</div>
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Anime enthusiast? Toy collector? Feeling the need to splurge into gadgets? Go to Akihabara (one station away from Ueno) or go a little bit further by going to Nagano.</div>
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<b>9. Go To Japanese temples of shrine, a break from the eccentricities of modern Tokyo</b></div>
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Don't let your trip be swamped by the modern side of Japan, occasionally immersed yourself in Japan's history by going to the Imperial Palace Garden or in the Sensoji Temple in Asakusa. Though a bit touristy, a trip to Japan will never be complete without visiting this religious shrines that is reminiscent of Japanese culture and tradition.</div>
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My recommendation - The Sensoji Temple, a train station away from Tokyo Skytree.</div>
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<b>10. Lastly, enjoy the moment. </b></div>
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Stop worrying about your job back home and savor this rare experience to experience an entirely differently world full of surprises. The people of Japan are one of the kindest souls in the world, you will surely enjoy their extreme politeness and courtesy. The weather is amazing and most of all it's just a four hour trip from Manila :)</div>
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<br /><div class="blogger-post-footer">QAX3WSJTT436</div>G-Spothttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01522206192079919413noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8543255648109713729.post-36046877021319385432017-03-10T22:02:00.001-08:002017-03-11T04:50:00.162-08:00Top Five Reasons Why You Should Choose Flytpack Travel Wifi When FlyingAdmit it. You want to stay connected every time you are traveling. Gone are the days when you want to completely fade away and disconnect from reality and just enjoy your vacation in a faraway place. But nowadays, an access to the internet while traveling overseas is considered a necessity rather than a luxury anymore.<br />
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When I travelled to Japan last year I didn't know that there is an alternative to expensive mobile data roaming. Data roaming via local telco would cost you around Php 500/day. I had no choice back then but to subscribe to mobile data and I have to spend almost Php 2,000 for my four day trip. You can not share your data to other users via mobile hotspot as it will automatically cancel your subscription. So it was an expensive choice to be honest.<br />
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Then I discovered Flytpack. Flytpack is your global pocket WiFi travel buddy that gets you connected abroad without outrageous roaming charges waiting for you back home.<br />
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Here's the Top Five Reasons why <b>'Flytpack'</b> is the better choice.<br />
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1. <b><u>Affordable</u></b>. You will be surprised that Flytpack's pocket wifi is reasonably price. Daily Rent for Japan is Php 280.00 only. There is a deposit fee (Php 2,800) on top of the rental fee but it is refundable once you return the unit. I think this is just fair given that the device could get lost. Compared to data roaming, this is definitely a bang for the buck.<br />
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2. <b><u>Unlimited Data</u></b>. First thing I asked prior to purchase is the amount of data per day allocated per user. They told me it was 1GB/day for all users combined. I was hesitant at first because I feel like 1GB/Day is not enough as I consider myself a heavy user (I use Facebook Live, upload videos in Instagram, watch Youtube occasionally) and I will be also sharing the data to others. But I took the chance and told myself I will just save the data and use it for important applications while on travel.<br />
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But I was surprised that I never got throttled at all. Speed was consistent all day. It was fast and very, very reliable. I was doing all the internet activities as though I have an unlimited data.<br />
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<a href="https://scontent.fmnl4-5.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/16427717_318269828570473_7448309626389697718_n.jpg?oh=1ff76199bc967416b562454b3779d689&oe=59609755" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://scontent.fmnl4-5.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/16427717_318269828570473_7448309626389697718_n.jpg?oh=1ff76199bc967416b562454b3779d689&oe=59609755" width="640" /></a></div>
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3. <u style="font-weight: bold;">Portable and can be used as a powerbank. </u> The downside is that the unit could be a little bit bulky and heavy than the usual Pocketwifi we have in the Philippines, but consider this as an important feature because when travelling, the least of your concern is running out of battery. I think the weight of the unit is just fair. A fully-charged unit could last for a day or two and you can even use it to charge your phone.<br />
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4. <u><b>Convenient and Hassle-Free Purchase</b></u><b>. </b>I decided to go to their office (Jecoprime Building 20th Avenue, BGC Taguig City), because I need to get the unit immediately. I got there and finished my transaction in no more than an hour. Payment was via cash and you can get the unit right away.<br />
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But if you are busy and couldn't find time to go to their office, you can purchase the unit by following the steps below. They can actually deliver the unit to your desired address.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0kYkUwUWN96dvTP-hM_RSIA2SJoSluSlVsoC7sLdiCTIjXEifueT0UkXGGHJE9o_42yJHE7vDZIJ4C0wnOqawfeuy_bDZeACG1szwuRM6r3DX6fWGqfDE00-pMikEaGoc57Iq-5cW0G0Y/s1600/Screen+Shot+2017-03-11+at+1.45.22+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="184" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0kYkUwUWN96dvTP-hM_RSIA2SJoSluSlVsoC7sLdiCTIjXEifueT0UkXGGHJE9o_42yJHE7vDZIJ4C0wnOqawfeuy_bDZeACG1szwuRM6r3DX6fWGqfDE00-pMikEaGoc57Iq-5cW0G0Y/s640/Screen+Shot+2017-03-11+at+1.45.22+PM.png" width="640" /></a></div>
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5. <b><u>Connectivity</u></b>. The best thing. Share it. If you are travelling as a group, this is a no-brainer, Flytpack is just so reliable in making sure you are all connected to each other (just make sure you travel as a group always :)<br />
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There you go. I hope these were able to convince you to use Flytpack on your next travel itinerary. I am sure this is going to make your vacation extra awesome :)<br />
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Please note that they also provide Travel Wifi to select countries aside from Japan.<br />
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You can visit their website for more info: http://flytpack.com/wifi<br />
Or Like Their Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/flytpack<br />
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P.S. Thinking of purchasing JR Pass while still here in PH, they also sell JR Pass :)<br />
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<i><b>Unit 703, 20th Drive Corporate Center (Jecoprime) 20th Drive, McKinley Business Park Bonifacio Global City Taguig</b></i><br />
<i><b>Call 0926 018 2272</b></i><br />
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<div class="blogger-post-footer">QAX3WSJTT436</div>G-Spothttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01522206192079919413noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8543255648109713729.post-51602197770287415162017-03-10T07:21:00.000-08:002017-03-11T03:33:34.503-08:00The Phoenix Post | The Ultimate Flip Guide to TokyoHere it is! Alas. After a long hiatus, Mr. Flip Guide is back. And he is back with a vengeance.<br />
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Stop. This is being too dramatic. My goal for this year is to be more direct and concise in my stories. But I can't promise, I write like a machine gun, I may not be able commit on a new style guide.<br />
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The first months of this year and the latter part of 2016 were tough. I am a bit depressed for being stuck in a moment, but I am positive that the remainder of 2017 will be a fantastic run. Now off to the first good news in this resurrection post - the long overdue trip to Tokyo, Japan!<br />
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The first time I went to Japan was way back 1998. I was 11 years old then, turning 12. I was part of an exchange student program sponsored by the Rotary Club of Diliman. Among the thousand students, five were luckily chosen and I was blessed to be selected as one of the participants. We were trained for basics on Japan's culture - language, customs and traditions, food - but we were so young then to digest everything. It wasn't in Tokyo though, it was in Nagano City, northernmost part of Japan which was the setting of the 1998 Winter Olympics. It was my first snow experience, one of the most memorable moment of my life.<br />
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And now I am back, in February again, my favorite month. This time in one (if not the most) modern and cosmopolitan city in the world - Tokyo.<br />
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Let me do this post in a simple format - The Top 10 Things You Can Do In Tokyo :)<br />
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<b>1. Splurge in Japan's Hottest Sensation - Ramen</b><br />
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It's a no-brainer decision, when in Japan, you have to find the nearest ramen spot and immerse yourself into a one of a kind dining experience. Never mind the rules, just use the chopsticks very well, and finish the bowl of ramen soup by slurping the soup right from the bowl itself. Using the soup spoon is just too plain and time consuming. You might be asking, how much is a bowl of ramen in Tokyo? The price range is around 400 Yen to 1000 Yen (200 PHP to 500PHP) per bowl. It's gonna be worth it specially if you decide to go to Japan during winter season.<br />
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<b>2. Don't forget the quick journey to Tsukiji Fish Market (Right across the Tsukiji Station)</b><br />
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Yes it sounds to boring, but a trip to the famous Tsukiji Fish Market is a must. Japan's love for seafood is comparable to ours. But their seafood selection is just so overwhelming. And if you think the fish market is full of flies and other pests and the foul odor could be a downer, you are forgetting that you are in Japan (where in every world problem, their is a corresponding Japan solution). There is no single fly in the area, no annoying crawling cockroaches in the sewers, no stray dogs or cats waiting for some leftovers, no hint of any foul smell at all.<br />
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First thing you have to try is the famous egg fish omelette. There are at least two or three stalls selling this popular cake but look for the one with the longest line :)<br />
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Afterwards, roam around the food stalls selling various types of seafood such as fish curry, seafood skewers, fish cakes and other non-seafood items such as strawberries, mochi and chinese dimsum.<br />
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<b>3. Immerse yourself in Japan's Super Reliable Transport System</b><br />
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When we went to Fukuoka last year, our main transport were buses and Japan Railway (JR). But in Tokyo, get ready to get lost in their mega-advanced and comprehensive links of trains (JR, Subway, Shinkansen or bullet train). You may find it overwhelming and difficult in the first day but I tell you, it's going to be easy as you go along.<br />
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Recommendation: Use the Google Maps. It has options to guide you in finding the location of the the stations. Use Google Maps instead of the print version of the Tokyo Map and the train system. It's going to make your life easy in Tokyo. The trains schedule are synchronized with Google Map so it is the only thing you need for transportation. See my below guide on how to use Google Maps.<br />
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Well aside from the Metro Pass of course.<br />
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Tip: Where can I get the Metro Pass? There are a lot of areas where you can avail the pass. It's highly recommended for you to get one specially if you're the type of guy who would hop from one area to another. It's going to save you a lot of yen and time. We purchased our pass in BIC Camera store in Shibuya station. Right next to McDonald's. Below are the sample of the ticket for your guidance and the corresponding rates:<br />
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Tokyo Subway 24-hour Ticket – Adult: 800 yen, Child: 400 yen<br />
Tokyo Subway 48-hour Ticket – Adult: 1,200 yen, Child: 600 yen<br />
Tokyo Subway 72-hour Ticket – Adult: 1,500 yen, Child: 750 yen<br />
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<b>4. Japan's Secret Weapon - The Cherry Blossoms</b><br />
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No other countries could match the splendor of Japan's Sakura Trees Blossoms. We are lucky to have witnessed a handful of trees that start to blossom (because the actual start of the full bloom is around April). Best time to go to Japan to witness the full bloom is on the last week of March onwards. But if you happen to arrive in Tokyo at an earlier date (February let's say), you may be able to see some early blooms in Ueno Park (right across Ueno Station) and or in Yoyogi Park (Near Harajuku Station)<br />
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<b>5. There are more than just the ramen. Japan has an explosion of flavors in their food and every kind of food in Tokyo is a delight to your tastebud.</b><br />
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To Be Continued >> Part II (The Ultimate Flip Guide - The Top 10 Things You Can Do In Tokyo )<div class="blogger-post-footer">QAX3WSJTT436</div>G-Spothttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01522206192079919413noreply@blogger.com0Tokyo, Japan35.6894875 139.6917063999999321.711275 119.03740939999993 49.667699999999996 160.34600339999992tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8543255648109713729.post-40444992633540202442014-04-20T05:22:00.000-07:002014-04-20T05:22:10.475-07:00How to motivate yourself to work after a long vacationIt has been the longest holiday so far. Your mind is still anchored on that sweet vacation, and you refuse to believe that is back to reality. No matter how workaholic you are, you still find time for a valuable break from a hectic routine, either for a week or several days. Admit it, you deserve it. If you continue to adhere or attach to your work 24/7 you’ll never succeed. We need a hiatus or hibernation for us to get another supply of energy and detoxify ourselves from the stress, pollution and negative energies.<br />
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But going to back to work after a long vacation is never really that easy. It takes an iron hand to drag you out of your bed in the morning of Monday. The longing for the next long weekend is so strong it will pervasively occupy your mind for the next two to three days. So here are the tips that I hope could help you motivate yourself to go back to work with a positive attitude.<br />
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1. If you have a webmail access to your office emails, try to check before you sleep. This can give you a feel of ‘get back to work’ mindset. This will make you aware of the pending works and necessary tasks needed to be done and to get yourself out of the vacation mode. This will also help you determine if there is an urgent thing to be done immediately when you return so that you won’t get surprised when you open your inbox the moment you arrived in the office.<br />
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2. Go shop for a new office stuff like a notebook, ball-pen, new organizer or office mug, or if you have a money to spend, buy a new gadget that can enhance your work, or a new office clothe/attire. Sometimes, new items can motivate us to go to work as we are eager to use it or start our day with a new stuff on our table.<br />
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3. No matter how tough it is, think about this – you need to work to survive. Find the inspiration again – are you working to save money for a new car or to pay for a rent? Are you working because you need to pay your debts or to help in your household expenses? Are you aiming for an extra income for you to spend in your next holiday vacation? Remember our mind is very powerful, it can make us think of lazy thoughts so the best way to counter this is find that goal or inspiration again.<br />
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4. Sleep. Listen to your iPod or read a book, this will make you feel relaxed and settled.<br />
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5. Organize yourself, fix your wardrobe, iron your clothes or fix your bags, try to rearrange your usual stuff order. You have to get yourself excited to work.<br />
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So there, the best thing you should do is to prepare yourself mentally and physically. Getting your mind out of the vacation mode but as soon as you feel the reality biting back at you, there is no way of turning back.<br />
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Happy easter!<div class="blogger-post-footer">QAX3WSJTT436</div>G-Spothttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01522206192079919413noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8543255648109713729.post-61460148494742368302014-04-04T22:32:00.000-07:002014-05-03T01:18:10.084-07:00How to take better photos (or successful selfie) using your smartphones.<br />
I used to own two digital cameras, a Nikon D3000 and a Canon S100. I love the latter as it takes superb pictures without the heaviness of a DSLR. It's a point-and-shoot camera but it can take DSLR-quality photos. I sold both cameras for monetization purposes and felt guilty after that. I felt like I invested so much on these gadgets and eventually failed to make the most out of it. But it didn't take so long for me to move on.<br />
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Then came the smartphone. The advent of iPhone and Samsung Galaxy smartphones paved the way to the evolution of digital photography. Digital camera once ruled the market because it ultimately killed one of the greatest limitation of photography - film. People suddenly became obsessed with speed to process kind of photography. Gone were the days of patiently waiting for the development of films. We wanted to see photos seconds after we took it. Smartphones eventually make this desire even more possible and digital cameras are now suffering noticeable decline in sales as smartphones become more and more sophisticated and at par with digital camera's photo quality.<br />
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Summer is officially officially here and this season can also be synonymous with the word vacation. And vacation implies adventure or travel and travel requires endless captures of beautiful moments.<br />
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It's time to take your precious smartphone and get it into shooting action and follow these steps on how to take better photos or selfie.<br />
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1. <b>CLEAN YOUR LENS</b>: A lot of people take this for granted. A lot of our grainy and blurry shots are by-products of smudged lenses and even smartphone cases that block the lenses and the light that illuminates your subject. A lot of bulky smartphone cases would prevent your lenses to be touched by your hand and will make it susceptible to smudges but it could also give more shadows and improper lighting to the subjects so better yet choose a perfect casing that doesn't give your lens so much trouble.<br />
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<a href="http://icdn6.digitaltrends.com/image/camera-4-650x0.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://icdn6.digitaltrends.com/image/camera-4-650x0.png" height="229" width="320" /></a></div>
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2. <b>LIGHTING IS AS BASIC AS TAKING THE SHOT</b>: A lot of people are not wary of the quality of photos they share. They don't mind if their photos or selfies are grainy or dark as long as they can share any picture on a regular basis. While we love to see your freedom of expression, do also recognize the fact that there are a lot of photo enthusiasts out there who has an eye for details and consider bad photos as an inevitable pet-peeve. Low-light condition yields grainy photos, and a lot (or maybe even ALL) of smartphone nowadays has a poor ISO-settings and couldn't adjust to low-light conditions. You have to find the best spot where there is a better source of light or better yet use a flash (though it will make your shot less natural and even more dark as recent smartphones are still lacking a true-tone or even a dependable flash.)<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2820/12770766594_a42040065e.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2820/12770766594_a42040065e.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Harness the power of natural lighting.</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2747/13116467234_c3c7f35d79.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2747/13116467234_c3c7f35d79.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I love taking outdoor photos because sunlight is a perfect illuminator.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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3. <b>BY ALL MEANS,</b> <b>KEEP YOUR HANDS STEADY</b>: You cannot bring a tripod every time, so it will take a significant amount of patience to take a quality photo. Blurry shots are courtesy of a shaking hand. So practice taking a shot with a steady-arm. Relax your muscles and refrain from doing unnecessary movements. It wouldn't take a minute to take a shot so please keep your fingers from trembling.<br />
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A lot of people also don't know that smartphones allow you to use your physical volume keys as an alternative shutter. This is much recommended as this would give you a more relax arm positions and it will eventually give you better shots. Try it. In fact, you can also use your headset volume keys as a shutter (this is for iPhone by the way)<br />
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4. <b>ENABLE THE HIGH-RES, DON'T BE TOO OBSESSED WITH BUILT-IN FILTERS: </b>Instagram helped us to transform our mediocre photos into share-worthy pieces of art. Admit it, you have your favorite filters, and choosing the right filter can be very stressful sometimes. The best thing to do is actually not to use a filter. High-quality photos, taken using a high-res settings with a perfect exposure and proper lighting are still better than an over-filtered shot.<br />
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Use a dependable photo-editing app. My favorite is Adobe Photoshop Express (Free) and iPhoto ($4.99 in Apple Store) because both has capability to tweak contrast, exposure, saturation, brightness and color in a user-friendly manner. That's all you need to create a stunning photo with the help of post-processing apps.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2896/13615595585_ba4a282d55.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2896/13615595585_ba4a282d55.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">No filter. Closer to subject. Natural light. Used volume key as a shutter and in HDR (High-Def Resolution)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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5. <b>MACRO, RESTRAINT IN ZOOM, TAP SUBJECT TO ILLUMINATE</b>: My apologies but this tip is inclined towards iPhone users. I have to express my preference because I have been using an iPhone for three years now and I believe it's an excellent camera phone. If you are using an iPhone, be aware that it has a capability to shoot in macro (if you're not sure about this, take a look at the photo below)<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Took this using an iPhone 5. Used Early Bird filter in IG. Adjusted the color saturation a bit in Adobe Photoshop Express. Who says you can't practice depth of field in smartphone<br />
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Please don't abuse your digital zoom tool also. It has a threshold and there is a marker that informs you that you are already zooming to a maximum distance. You can use your feet to get closer to a subject if you wish to get a clearer shot.<br />
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Also in iPhone, you can tap an area before taking a shot in order to illuminate it better. Use it if you wish to lighten a shadowy/dark area but be patient enough as it doesn't give you a better lighting most of the time.<br />
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There you go, I bet there are more tips and tricks out there but the most important tip is to shoot to express and not to impress. Instagram used to be a photo-sharing app but now it has instantly transformed into an online shop or a selfie depository. Harness the power of your smartphone camera to produce a stunning photo worthy of being shared.<div class="blogger-post-footer">QAX3WSJTT436</div>G-Spothttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01522206192079919413noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8543255648109713729.post-89725540110053287362014-03-25T23:42:00.001-07:002014-05-03T01:19:01.390-07:00Old Navy Opens New Branch in BGC - Bonifacio High StreetStore Specialists Inc. has brought another successful brand in the Philippines. Old Navy opened their newest store in Bonifacio Global City, Taguig City last March 22, 2014. It is located right across Fully Booked in Bonifacio High Street. The site used to be the flagship store of Muji and GAP and it occupies three floors. The ground floor area is dedicated for the Women's items, the second floor is for the kids and the third is for the Men's section. I immediately went to the third floor of course :)<br />
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Old Navy offers great selection of men's t-shirts and short sleeves polos. They have a good selection of chambrays too. I went to the store to look for the camo pants I saw online but much to my dismay, my object of affection is not available :(<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hope to get you very soon.....</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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I only have a few minutes to roam around the store to catch my next meeting so I managed to sneak a few clicks to show you how the store looks like and some of the clothes they have in the rack so far.<br />
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The Verdict: If you are a fan of Uniqlo and Cotton On or Forever 21 or American Eagle Outfitters, those new retail brands on the block, you will not find anything interesting with Old Navy. It offers the same style and it has the same vibe to it.<br />
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The Price: Ranges around Php 1250-1950 for slacks and pants and cargo shorts. Plimsolls at Php 1,250 (good buy!) and tshirts at Php 400+ each. Competitive though :)<div class="blogger-post-footer">QAX3WSJTT436</div>G-Spothttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01522206192079919413noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8543255648109713729.post-26217340433388659702014-01-02T05:30:00.000-08:002014-01-02T06:04:55.268-08:0010 Things To Let Go This 2014Every new year brings us to a new heights and challenges to be better individuals. 2013 has been a challenging year for all Filipinos and 2014 for sure is going to bring the same adversities and challenges. I do believe that every year carries the same ups and down, it is the people who are responsible to make the difference year on year.<br>
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This year, I would like to share a handful of things I would like to give up to make myself more happy and fulfilled. I am now a firm believer of harnessing the power of thought by putting it in concrete writing or recording. Documenting your ideas and thoughts makes it more potent and achievable.<br>
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Here we go:<br>
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1. <b>Giving up on small deals that eventually consumes a high portion of my monthly budget.</b> Come to think of it, every cup of Starbucks coffee that I buy every morning costs Php 135 (that's a tall warm sugar-free vanilla latte with non-fat milk), multiply it by five then by four would cost me a grand total of Php 2,700 coffee spent on a monthly basis. There is a sure possibility that I would be buying another cup of coffee on weekends and an extra cup on a day if there is an inevitable occasion. Those supplemental buys would yield an approximate additional coffee spent of around Php 300-500 every month, bringing my approximate coffee spent monthly grand total to a whopping Php 3,000. You won't see this sad realization everyday. It will take a bitter pill to swallow to fathom the sad fact that Starbucks is getting richer everyday while we fall into the trap of "looking cool because I can buy a latte from the Sbux". And the grand irony of it all is that I am a certified acidic and my stomach composition refuses the entry of any acidic compounds in its territory. I am putting this item on top because of its sheer importance and indispensability.<br>
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2. <b>Giving up on unorganized trips and reckless field call itineraries.</b> As a salesman, my work routine is heavily centered on client meetings and field calls. I am bound to meet my clients on their premises and it requires me to be out of the office most of the time. I am giving up on unnecessary and unprecedented client calls. I hereby certify that I am making use of my time more wisely and professionaly. This would eventually save me not only my precious time but also a significant amount of money. Learn to say no on irrelevant calls and only agree on important engagements. Start early, work hard and leave early.<br>
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<b>3.</b> <b>Giving up on so much social media use and focus more on blogging and work emails.</b> There are so much distractions last year. With the advent of so many social media platforms and technologies, the amount of time spent on dealing with corporate matters has been significantly reduced. I have been less-productive last year probably because of owning new gadgets and technologies that makes me want to research more new information. I realized the sad impact of this complacency by earning low-marks in my quarterly target and getting a horrific red-card for not meeting my goals. It was truly a a big wake-up call and I am not letting any distraction prevent myself from doing my work conscientiously. If there is one online thing that I would devote more time this year, it would be blogging since I've been wanting to invest on this skill for more than a decade already.<br>
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<b>4. Giving up on shopping for myself.</b> This year, I would like to shop more, not for me this time but for my family. For so many years I have been enjoying the fruits of my labor by spending so much on clothes, gadgets, travels, etc. for myself and very less for my parents. I do give money to them but I feel like I have been focusing so much on improving myself rather than the life of my providers. I feel like I owe them a huge favor and I have been ignoring their basic needs lately. I am attending to their basic necessities but I feel like I am lacking in the luxury department. I am blessed to have parents who have managed to work hard during their younger years in order to be sustainable when we reach our independent-hood, but that doesn't give me the privilege to be ignorant of my moral responsibility to be a good son by giving back to them. Check!<div><br></div><div>5. <b>Giving up on complaining, stressing-out and anxiety.</b> 2013 has been a stressful year. With the huge changes happening in my life lately, it has significantly increased my anxiety levels and affected my temperament. I became more hot-headed, illogical and worrisome, I have been thinking too much of the uncertain rather than getting into facts and trusting my instincts more. This year, I will be more wiser, I will use more of my wisdom and faith rather than hunches and fears. Will trust more of the Lord rather than my own understanding.</div><div><br></div><div><b>6. Giving up on quantity. </b>I have been suffering from 'the more the merrier' syndrome. It has become a habit to hoard more rather than buy quality items that would last longer and eventually save me more money in the long run. I vow buy new set of clothes for this year, it would be less but it will be more durable and the quality will stand the test of time. Though it will be more expensive, I believe this would be more practical. This would also apply to foods that I will buy.</div><div><b><br></b></div><div><b>7. Giving up on too much talking. </b>Contrary to the beliefs of many, I am not a shy-person. Once I get the hang of my environment I could be a loose cannon. I am noisy and boisterous. I love to talk and talk and talk and it makes me tired also. It consumes a huge amount of my energey and it turns me away from important matters to deal with first. It is a disease that I should control and harness and use it in a more relevant purpose. A little less conversation and more action please. Amen!</div><div><br></div><div><b>8. Giving up on being hasty and reckless.</b> There is a pressing need to be more cautious and disciplinary. My weakness is to be more fast than accurate. The effect of this desire to be constantly ahead is affecting the quality of my work. I have been committing a lot of mistakes and tiny errors that later on become mess and chaos, some of it irreparable some of it are very difficult to patch. This year, I would endeavor to be more cautious on my steps and understand the value of proofreading and control.</div><div><br></div><div><b>9. Giving up on unhealthy lifestyle. </b>I implore the guidance of the divine to help me withstand this difficult tribulation.</div><div><br></div><div><b>10. Giving up on mediocrity. </b>I would no longer be a child this year but a responsible adult who has a full control of his life. I would be more practical and efficient, constantly striving for excellence, I will look forward to success rather than the mere completion of events.</div><div><br></div><div>2014, I won't ask you to be kind on me. Rather I would try my very best to be a good boy for you.</div><div><br></div><div>So help me God.</div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div><br>
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<br></div><div class="blogger-post-footer">QAX3WSJTT436</div>G-Spothttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01522206192079919413noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8543255648109713729.post-44498328451381649092013-11-30T01:09:00.000-08:002013-11-30T01:09:15.941-08:00Why Yolanda should happen to us and the lessons we should never forget<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
Before
you cry foul over the blog title, please allow me to share my piece. For one, I
am deeply saddened by the devastation of the storm and I have been fervently
praying to the Lord not to let us experience the same. The harrowing ordeal of
the people of Visayas during the morning of 8th of November is going to be
written in history books as one of the worst disasters in the world. So allow
me to say that there is a reason Yolanda should happen to us, no matter how
painful it is.<o:p></o:p></div>
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It should happen not because we are full of sins and we
deserve some sort of retribution but because we need a huge slap on our face
that will remind us that tragedy as massive as this will happen, wreak havoc
and bring deaths to our hapless nation. Our geographical location instantly
puts us in the danger zone, our country is unluckily situated in a part of the
world where typhoons are made and brewed. Our archipelagic nature adds to the
fact that our fate lies on our preparedness to handle the inevitable transits
of super typhoons. Therefore I believe that Yolanda is a tragic calamity that
should be experienced by the Filipinos in order to prepare us for the advent of
more devastating typhoons that are about to visit the Philippines in the years
to come.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Yolanda painfully reminded us the vulnerability of our
nation, the sad fate of our politics and the lack of knowledge of the true
character and temperament of storms. Somehow it showed us the repercussions of
our complacency, that although we are visited by over 20 typhoons every year,
we can always withstand it. But unfortunately, Yolanda gave us a hurtful and
painful blow to our knees and we were all shocked by the impact of its wrath.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Yolanda opened the window that revealed the sheer lack of
our leader's political will. It gave us a sad reminder that dirty politics
still plays a role in the cycle of relief-rebuild-rehabilitation. The local
government unit has been crippled and rendered useless. They were cramming for
clues on how to address the burgeoning problems of logistics, supply chain,
relief supplies and transport, food shortages and handling of casualties. It
was a crisis of epic proportion and the LGUs couldn't handle it.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Yolanda showed to the world the sad reality that although
Philippines is gaining significant economic growth, poverty remains to be a
formidable foe and the trickling-down effect of the recent economic gains are
not yet realized by its populace. You would see in the satellite images in CNN
how densely populated the coastline areas in Samar are. The poorly-built
structures of houses, the density and the closeness to the sea are recipe for
disaster. There were little to no possible evacuation centers. In this moment
of despair, convention centers and coliseums could be a plausible refuge. But
where are they? Although I have seen some in the news, they were all ravaged by
the storms too, roofs were torn apart; rains were coming inside through open
windows.<o:p></o:p></div>
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If I remember it correctly, when hurricane Katrina struck
the US, people were evacuated in sports centers and convention areas. They were
safe inside the sturdy refuge of coliseums while the hurricane is wreaking
havoc outside. And the casualty was very less.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Storm is inevitable, but we can lessen the damage and the
death toll for sure.<o:p></o:p></div>
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It is time for the government to carefully plan a
groundbreaking solution in order for us to be prepared for the next storm
surges and super typhoons. A storm as huge as Yolanda could certainly happen
again and if our country would still experience the same ordeal, I think it
would be an embarrassment.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Let Yolanda be a reminder to our politicians to be more of
a leader than a servant in this time of crisis. May Yolanda be a lesson that
should be tattooed on our mind henceforth. Rehabilitation should commence
immediately, and it should be more sustainable. Rebuilding of houses should not
be a make-shift and temporary. The government must establish laws and
privileges in order to provide emergency funds to help people of Visayas to
make sturdier homes and to elevate and relocate their houses immediately. They
should tap the expertise of urban planners and engineers on how to re-build
their communities. People in coastline should consider moving out of the zone
or if not possible, at least open the possibility of putting up emergency
measures that will educate and inform them of necessary actions to be done in
times of calamities.<o:p></o:p></div>
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It is rewarding and elating to hear notes from other
countries praising our resiliency and faith during these trying times, but it
also reflects the weakness of our culture. Our physical strength and resiliency
could help us but preparedness and fortitude will bring out the best in the
Filipino people.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<div class="blogger-post-footer">QAX3WSJTT436</div>G-Spothttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01522206192079919413noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8543255648109713729.post-83416181627815625412013-10-26T05:30:00.002-07:002013-10-26T05:30:43.759-07:00Back to Bangkok - Another Lost in Translation AdventureAs soon as Z told me that he will be travelling to Bangkok for a two-day conference, I immediately asked if I could join. There was no second thought. My last out of the country travel was over a year ago and I can no longer control the itch to travel again. My last trip to Bangkok was 2011 and that was a short one. Well technically my trip was intended for Pattaya and I only have a day to tour Bangkok as we were in a strict itinerary as dictated by our company who sponsored the trip. Though we have a little bit of liberty to go wherever we want, the entire cost of the trip is covered by my employer and I felt like I have to follow the calendar and just plan on making a personal trip later on.<br />
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Z went ahead and I have to follow a day after his departure. I booked a flight via Philippine Airlines as they appeared to be cheaper than Cebu Pacific sans the occasional promos. I was looking for a cheap flight deals but unlucky. I should have known that Z would be travelling to Bangkok months ahead so that I could have saved money by looking for online promos, but I have moved on. The round-trip ticket to Bangkok on a regular economy flight via PAL costs USD211 or around Php 11,000.<br />
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Because of that I decided to look for a budget hotel courtesy of the ever-reliable Agoda Online Booking. Agoda, for the past two years, has helped me find the best and cheapest way to stay in my country of destination. I booked a USD25 / Night Stay in Justbeds hotel for 2 Nights located near the Silom Road in Bangkok. Yes, its near to Patpong, but please there is more to Bangkok than these infamous red district spots.<br />
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Now let's get started, let me say I was lucky to stay in Millennium Hilton Hotel for just one night.<br />
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Now moving on, our first itinerary is the Chinatown Market/Yaowarat Market. If you think Thailand is yet another country with a huge Chinese population, yes you are certainly right. Chinatown is home to hundreds of amazing cheap finds and numerous street foods.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hey, Tuk Tuk everywhere. In the Philippines, we call this tricycle. Why don't we call our own tuk-tuk with a name that sounds so Filipino, just like them?</td></tr>
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Of course, what is Chinatown without Chinese temple? As a contrast to the towering temple of Wat Traimit (that houses the Golden Buddha), this Chinese temple marks the entrance to the Chinatown proper.</div>
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Chinatown offers a wide array of exotic culinary ingredients - it's a mecca for food enthusiasts who'd like to shop for rare to find ingredients.</div>
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And I fell in love with these life-sized Buddhas that are all over the streets of Chinatown. On these street, you can find also various religious ornaments such as candles and flowers.</div>
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Z is a sucker for spices and cinnamon. The moment he found this store, he couldn't resist buying these assorted items. And it is also very cheap.</div>
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Resist the temptation of commuting comfort by avoiding to ride taxis. There is something exciting in roaming the city of Bangkok by walking. Yes, it is kinda scary to explore the streets of Bangkok as getting lost (both in maps and translation) is a nightmare, but you will never really find the inner vibe and color of the city if you are in fast transit. We found this group of monks walking the hot streets of Chinatown. </div>
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So when you're done roaming the busy streets of Chinatown and your gustatory feast craving is satisfied, try to burn some calories by climbing the high stairs of the Wat Traimit temple located just across the Chinese Temple. It is a famous landmark and everyone knows this place. This temple houses the famous Golden Buddha that is made of pure gold of course.</div>
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The interiors of the Wat Traimit temple is mesmerizing. It's gold dust everywhere. Everywhere you look is adorned with intricate details of gold of metals.</div>
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On the center of the hall is the Golden Statue of Buddha which is according to Wikipedia, valued at US$ 250,000,000. I certainly believed that this statue is heavily guarded. Massive!</div>
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Street Food spree is never-ending. And yes they have their own version of kikiam. And it tastes almost the same as ours. I didn't bother to taste the one on the left. It looks uncertain and scary to me.</div>
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But this became our instant favorite. Z saw this piece of heaven on the side of the street at the foot of Mo Chit BTS (Bangkok Train Station). But it can be found anywhere and it's very cheap. You will find a handful of this on Suvarnabhumi airport as well but it costs more than thrice of the street regular price. What is this I am talking about? - it's just a ripe sweet mango served with a cup of sticky rice which we call Biko in the Philippines. My mom can cook a better version of this sticky rice, slightly darker and sweeter because we put more muscovado or brown sugar on it, plus a latik or coco jam on top. Sweeeet!</div>
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And so, we finally went to the famous Chatuchak Weekend Market. If you want to go here and you are coming from Silom Road or Bangkok City proper, taking a cab would cost you over 200 baht. If I were you, I would go for an all-day BTS pass. Ride the BTS (train) and buy the all-day pass prepaid card and go to Mo Chit station which is a walking distance to the busy Chathuchak Weekend Market. The prepaid card only cost 130 baht (If I am not mistaken) and you will never worry about getting lost in transit as riding the train is virtually unlimited. So going back to Chatuchak, this weekend market is a shopping extravaganza. It boasts of hundreds of shopping stalls that sell wide selection of goods - food, art pieces, collection items, souvenirs, plants, ornaments, clothes, bags, and many more. It is our version of Greenhills and Tiendesitas but of bigger size and variety.</div>
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When you decide to go here, dress in your most comfortable attire. The alleys and passages of the market are so narrow and it is always packed with tourists and swarm of window shoppers. Don't bring a big back-pack, just carry a light tote or shopping bag so that you wouldn't worry about your stuff everytime a horde of shoppers would try to outpace you. But nevertheless, if you are accustomed to the daily stress of the convoluted and narrower Divisoria, then Chathuchak is going to be a walk in the park for you.</div>
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I am pretty sure there were areas in the market that are air-conditioned, but most part of Chatuchak are poorly ventilated so be ready for an extra clothes when you get sweaty and all that.</div>
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After Chatuchak, we went to Ayutthaya. It is an old city and it would remind you of our very own Intramuros. It is located in the valley of Chao Phraya river founded in 1350 by King U Thong. It was named after the city of Ayodhya in India which was the birthplace of Rama in Ramayana.</div>
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This was my favorite place. It was so serene and peaceful. Ayutthaya is a tourist spot and you would see many ruins of the old kingdom. </div>
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After the long strolls under the scorching heat of the blistering sun (which we have to face because we arrived on the site on a high noon) we decided to feast once again.</div>
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Vietnam style noodles with basil leaves and bean sprouts. Basil leaves were a surplus and Z stole lots of it. Hehehe.<br />
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Bangkok also at river transport system but the current of the river was so scary so I didn't bother trying their ferries. It looks convenient and picturesque though.<br />
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The next day was a Sunday and we endeavored to find a Catholic church in a Buddhist nation. The Assumption Cathedral is situated in the heart of Bangkok and very near the Silom road where we stayed. But unfortunately (and understandbly), the mass was in Thai and we have to leave after saying a minute of prayer to thank God for our safe and fun trip to Bangkok.<br />
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Amazing structures greet you everywhere.</div>
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And how about the crazy parking lots.</div>
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Never-ending street food finds. This time we saw a Thai-version of our very own 'Penoy'. The taste was entirely the same, the only difference is we put salt here in Philippines while Thai put vinegar loaded with chilis.<br />
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Another favorite of mine, they probably call this some name but I didn't care asking because I just wanted to call it grilled tocino. It is because it actually tastes like sweetened pork. It was tasty and yummy. I had like 10 of these tasty little thing in a single day.</div>
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Monumento Caloocan - joke. Victory Monument. </div>
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Z in awe of the edifices and massive structures and ruins of Ayutthaya.</div>
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It was a pleasurable trip and would be Back to Bangkok in a few months. I swear I would take more beautiful photos this time. Till next adventure.</div>
<br /><div class="blogger-post-footer">QAX3WSJTT436</div>G-Spothttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01522206192079919413noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8543255648109713729.post-1121757606475807392013-09-21T06:13:00.001-07:002013-09-21T06:13:51.541-07:00Can Pope Francis save the Catholic church?There is no doubt that Pope Francis is getting more raves and attention than his predecessor, Pope Benedict XVI. The former's straightforward stand towards various controversial issues has drawn the ire of millions of conservative Catholics and earned the applause of the more open-minded Catholics and modern liberals.<div>
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In this fast-paced generation of too much selfies, institutions such as the Catholic church are being attacked both sides - based on their defiance to meet the demand of modern times as well the failure to address the issue of sexual abuse by the clergies. Catholic church is up for a major war against internal and external forces, and their survival will be dependent on their stand on some of the most controversial topics of the modern times.</div>
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Just recently, the head of the 1.2 billion strong Catholic church - Pope Francis - set a new tone in religious discussions by warning its faithfuls against too much "obsession towards divisive issues such as abortion, homosexuality and contraception". To be honest, this came to me a little bit as a surprise, but it didn't come to me as shocking. Pope Francis seems to be much more honest and open to its flock by being more communicative (or rather provocative) in various socio-political contentions.<br />
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I wonder how is this going to impact the nation's obsession towards the Reproductive Health Bill (RH Bill) with the Philippine Catholic church being in the forefront of the defense against the approval of the controversial bill. The CBCP is probably scratching their heads right now and thinking how they are going to attack the issue with their head going against the grain this time. But one thing is for sure, Pope Francis clearly made a decisive action of changing how non-Catholics view the once hegemonic and antiquated religious domination. For once, many are seeing a window for reforms for the ailing institution.<br />
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But personally, for me the greatest war the Catholic church should focus right now is the decreasing population of its flock, second would be the failure to address the negative criticism towards the clergy and the institution itself, and lastly, the failure to evolve vis-a-vis the ever-changing socio-political landscape.<br />
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The rise of disagreeing believers and their shift towards the more upbeat and contemporary denominations is probably not hurting the Catholic church that much, but if left unseen, would definitely hurt further the already bleeding core of its spiritual foundation. The rise of Christian Fellowships are more appealing to the young and the skeptics/liberals. Tired Catholics who are probably bummed by its antiquated dogmas and long sermons are easily swayed by the more modern VCF (Victory Christian Fellowship) and CCF (Christ Commission Fellowship) which harness the power of social media and youth as a community empowerment as their unique value proposition.<br />
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I have to admit these groups are winning this side of war and the Catholic church must turn their blind eye towards this minor burn. These fellowships have found the weaknesses of the church who has been for thousands of years became one of the most dominant forces in the world - spiritual evangelization, the rationale of sainthood, the idolism.<br />
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For the next succeeding engagement with the press, I am hoping that the Pope would devote his time to shift his gear towards retaining the remaining faithfuls. It is high time for the high priest to center the faith once again, ultimately to Jesus Christ. It must once again evangelize its flock and reignite the waning spirit, the true meaning of salvation and explain the role of saints in their faith. It's too early to tell whether Pope Francis is going to turn more tables in the upcoming months of his leadership, but one thing is for sure, the Catholic church is now engaging to to the world, in an effort to promote transparency in its governance and hierarchy, to address the heated debated of sexual abuse and corruption, and under the helm of Pope Francis, it has a lot of explaining to do.<br />
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And with the Pope being more open to the press and the public, it is yet another clear impression of a shifting mood that will definitely resonate around the corners of its cathedrals and around the world.<br />
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I wonder what's next with the CBCP. We have our own set of problems to deal with in the first place.<div class="blogger-post-footer">QAX3WSJTT436</div>G-Spothttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01522206192079919413noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8543255648109713729.post-71005796550635658712013-09-15T04:30:00.001-07:002013-09-15T04:30:17.543-07:00Top Cheer Stunts/Routine UAAP CDC Groups should look up to...Everyone is amused at the recently concluded UAAP Cheerdance Competition. But in my honest opinion, it was only National University who stood out and gave us the real meaning of cheerdancing. It was almost flawless, the stunts were far more risky than the rest, ambitious and precise. Their dance routine were not that impressive, but the overall performance was a stand-out. A lot of people thought UP Pep Squad would be the runaway winner, but even their routine was far from perfect. It was clear that last year's performance was better.<br />
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My overall impression was satisfactory. I was looking for the old Araneta Coliseum charm, the loud cheers and jeers that echo across the venue. Unlike in this year's SM MOA Arena, Araneta Colisuem was more deafening and infectious.</div>
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Now, I wanted to share some top-caliber, hardcore cheer-leading stunts in the US that our infamous cheerdancing groups could look up to next year. May these routines be their benchmark to perform better and practice harder.</div>
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<b><span style="color: red;">1. Top Gun Jags 2012</span></b></div>
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Stunt to watch out for - Bow and Arrow (0:42) and Scorpion (0:51) Triple Jump Combination (1:04)<br />
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<b><span style="color: red;">2. Tumblings</span></b><br />
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Beware: Quadruple Fulls Orgasm<br />
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<b><span style="color: red;">3. All Out War by California All Stars</span></b><br />
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Watch out for: Everything: Arabesque, Cobra, Scorpion, Toe Touch Bask, Power Jump. The Extensions, Transitions and Precision - Oh lalala<br />
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Looking forward to see more of these stunts next year. As mentioned, only NU this year has achieved most of these stuff, UP came close and DLSU. Deserving top three I must say. Congrats NU! From a bleeding Thomasian.<div class="blogger-post-footer">QAX3WSJTT436</div>G-Spothttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01522206192079919413noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8543255648109713729.post-82962593018679147082013-09-14T18:30:00.001-07:002013-09-14T18:30:06.820-07:00Twitter Goes Public<div class="rpuEmbedCode">
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Twitter announced, in a tweet, that it has submitted papers for the most hotly anticipated stock offering in the tech sector since Facebook's last year. "We've confidentially submitted an S-1 to the SEC for a planned IPO. This Tweet does not constitute…<br />
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<br /><div class="blogger-post-footer">QAX3WSJTT436</div>G-Spothttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01522206192079919413noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8543255648109713729.post-85360763581216644942013-09-14T18:16:00.002-07:002013-09-14T18:16:46.695-07:00A Story of GreedWhen Benhur Luy revealed the massive malversation of multi-billion peso PDAF to bogus NGOs and several lawmakers, I knew that very moment that there is no way this lady behind this orchestra is going to get away. The ire of the nation is probably fueled by her daughter's lavish lifestyle as shared on her social networking sites. Clearly, Janet Lim-Napoles failed to devise a master-plan to make her cycle of corruption as fool-proof as much as possible. She probably thought that her vicious attempt to get more money from the taxpayers' fund wouldn't be seen by the discriminating eye of the public.<div>
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It's terribly sad to hear another case of massive cheating. The nation, despite the consistent herald of growing economy, has always been a subject of criticism for its inability to address the corruption that is preventing the country to move forward at a glacial pace.</div>
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<b>The End of Pork and Patronage Politics</b></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://images.gmanews.tv/v3/webpics/v3/2013/09/2013_09_14_18_41_24.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://images.gmanews.tv/v3/webpics/v3/2013/09/2013_09_14_18_41_24.jpeg" width="395" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Source: GMA News (<a href="http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/story/326487/opinion/a-visual-evolution-of-the-pork-barrel">http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/story/326487/opinion/a-visual-evolution-of-the-pork-barrel</a>)<br /></td></tr>
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The recent scandal shows the ultimate reason of Philippine's continuing political dilemma - Political Dynasty. It is not the most overt manifestation of PDAF's mischievous effect, but it is clearly the most evil one. The multi-million peso pork barrel handed over to each legislators provides a culture of corruption. It wields power and control, it evokes temptation and it twists even the mind of the most righteous one.</div>
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I join millions of Filipinos around the world who clamors for the abolition of pork. The most clear-cut, precise and effective way to end patronage politics, political dynasty and election violence is to stop the provision of million-peso PDAF.</div>
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I don't believe the rationale of some lawmakers who continues to defend the efficacy of pork that the cessation of the provision of pork would ultimately rob the citizen of it's usual benefits of social services such us medical care, dole-outs, legal and civil missions, educational assistance and any other form of financial support. In the first place, these kind of facilities our supposed to be implemented by the implementing agencies - the institutions that are tasked to provide these kind of services to the taxpaying public (DOH, DOJ, DPWH).</div>
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Give the money to these agencies. Let them do their rightful job. Lawmakers most obvious task is already inherent on their job titles - to make laws. I don't know where the confusion is coming from.</div>
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Pork Barrel is a bribe to the congress. The lump sum appropriation is an attempt to prevent the system of checks and balance working. Money is all encompassing. The possession of this lump sum would clearly devoid a rational lawmaker of its inherent loyalty and honesty. These bribery traces back to Marcos era and this loophole to the political system has evolved into a cancer that makes the nation suffer.</div>
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The replenishment of pork on a yearly basis makes their position a viable and even a formidable one. For them, it is the most legitimate way to wield power and to make their dreams come true. They knew there is money in congress and senate. They knew that their investment to win the election is worth it as the seat of power they seek also holds an amazing amount of wealth. For them, winning the election is not an option, it is a must. This ideology transcends into a politician's attempt to win at all cost. To use violence if necessary to keep their power at stake, to kill if there is a threat of defeat, to transfer the power to their kins to keep the legacy of stealing money intact and undiscovered. This logical attempt to hold into the position of power is all glued by a single element that makes every aspiring politicians drools to acquire control - the pork barrel.</div>
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Therefore, we implore the government to see reason. To abolish the pork and to make guilty lawmakers accountable. Put an end to this long story of greed by abolishing the pork barrel and never dare to evolve it later into a different and almost indistinguishable name.</div>
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The country has suffered enough to let these monsters do their evil acts. It's sickening, it's foul and it hits the taxpayer's core as the money they spent is from their blood, sweat and tears.</div>
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This is not a form of payback. It is nothing but justice that we deserve.</div>
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<div class="blogger-post-footer">QAX3WSJTT436</div>G-Spothttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01522206192079919413noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8543255648109713729.post-3262455268732951472013-09-14T03:57:00.000-07:002013-09-14T17:28:51.708-07:00In Defense of iPhone...and maybe BlackberryI am not a self-proclaimed gadget critic. I am not even a geek. I don't even know what Antutu benchmark mark is and how they measure smartphones capability and power. My knowledge on gadgets are fairly limited to its practical use, basic specs and perceived value. I review gadgets based on its beauty and brain. I am not in awe of any revolutionary tactics. I am more convinced by the sharpness of the display, the quality of photo, ease of use and navigation, fluidity of OS, and most importantly reliability. I am therefore an iPhone fan and will always be. I hate it when I see people in tech blogs comments page bashing each other, seemingly amused with their fanaticism over their preferred OS/smartphone, throwing harsh words and criticisms against each other, in an attempt to prove their mighty geek prowess and defend their almighty OS. I find it amusing and pathetic at the same time.<br />
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I love Blackberry. Before turning my eye on iPhone I was a huge Blackberry fan, and remains so until now. It is true that an individual's preference of a smartphone is dependent on its inherent character and personality. My relationship with Blackberry is loyal and honest - the tic-tac sound of the keyboard, the speed to text, the easiness of navigation, the discreet notifications, the multi-colored blinking lights, all of these features made Blackberry my preferred smartphone over the year. That was the era when I preferred productivity over style. As a salesman and a heavy communicator, I have to rely on the speed of my phone. I can't afford to make a mistake on my typing, a single stroke of error is tantamount to a lost of sale. Therefore during the years that I was working so hard, I can't put my hands off my beloved BB.<br />
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And then the beauty of iPhone's display swept me off my feet. I have seen's Samsung Galaxy S2s AMOLED display and it was awesome. But I felt it was a little too saturated, a bit yellowish/greenish. As compared to iPhone's natural contrast and brightness, it was just pleasant to the eye. But even if I got an iPhone, I still use my beloved BB 9360 as my main workphone. iPhone cannot replace BB on this particular field.<br />
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Android is great in the area of customization. It understand the character of its target market. They are the rebel, the young and adventurous. Their operating system is tailor-fitted to people who loves to do more and expect more. Therefore they decided to push the envelope further.<br />
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Samsung and any other Android OS smartphones such as HTC, Sony, LG are winning more users as they know that Android is more open and adaptive. They know that consumers love to see more drama, they love to see things get bigger, faster, better. There is no room for less improvement. Consumers are becoming more demanding and the evolution of technology is fast-paced. On this particular area, Samsung is getting more raves and applause. They know that Samsung is harnessing Android's strength to its full potential.<br />
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It is evident in the recent market surveys that iOS is losing more of its base and their market share continues to goes down, while Windows and Android are both gaining strength. Critics are bashing Apple over its recent performance during the September 10 unveiling. It was lack-luster, many were saying it was disappointing and boring. They said they were missing Steve Jobs' magic. iPhone 5S and 5C were expected even before the opening of the event and many people were hoping they would see more or they were looking for more surprise. But Tim Cook quickly ushered them to the demo room to see the iPhone 5S and 5C in action.<br />
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But iPhone knows that their money is on iOS reliability. They know that critics would bash them because they expect iPhone to be more revolutionary than ever. I don't think Apple is turning a blind eye on this sentiment. I know that Apple is intelligent enough to keep some magic under their sleeves. They knew that making iPhone bigger in terms of size is not going to increase their market share. They know that the right thing to do now is change the the way their OS works. The unveiling of iOS 7 for me is more than enough. A lot of critics were probably bored to see the usual icons, the slide to unlock, and the notification bars. And the revamped interface of iOS 7 is aimed to addressed that. The renewed spirit of iPhone is incarnated through Jonthan Ive's vision. They knew that changing the look and feel of the operating system is what Apple badly need right now. They have to attract new customers and at the same time, retain their current base who are easily swayed by their competitors fast-changing environment.<br />
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Apple is not going to rest on its laurels. I know that the Cupertino company is anchored on the vision that to be successful in this market is to be sustainable and they should keep the strength of their ecosystem at place and continue to rely on its marketing and logistics expertise.<div class="blogger-post-footer">QAX3WSJTT436</div>G-Spothttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01522206192079919413noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8543255648109713729.post-9582552339449764912013-07-20T01:52:00.003-07:002013-07-20T01:52:50.276-07:00<div class="rpuEmbedCode">
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<script data-cfasync="false" src="https://1.rp-api.com/rjs/repost-article.js?3" type="text/javascript"></script><a class="rpuThumb" href="http://s.tt/1IbFB" rel="norewrite"><img src="//img.1.rp-api.com/thumb/6448137" style="float: left; margin-right: 10px;" /></a><a class="rpuTitle" href="http://s.tt/1IbFB" rel="norewrite"><strong>"Indignant" Dolce & Gabbana close their Milan boutiques</strong></a> (via <a class="rpuHost" href="http://s.tt/1IbFB" rel="norewrite">AFP</a>)<br />
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Designers Dolce & Gabbana have closed their nine Milan boutiques for three days from Friday out of "indignation" in a row over their convictions for tax evasion. The stores are scheduled to remain closed until Monday in protest by the world-famous designers…
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<div class="blogger-post-footer">QAX3WSJTT436</div>G-Spothttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01522206192079919413noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8543255648109713729.post-55589863741436897112013-07-20T01:27:00.000-07:002013-07-20T01:27:03.833-07:00iPhone Mini? Why it makes sense.<div class="rpuEmbedCode">
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<script data-cfasync="false" src="https://1.rp-api.com/rjs/repost-article.js?3" type="text/javascript"></script><a class="rpuThumb" href="http://s.tt/1I9o5" rel="norewrite"><img src="//img.1.rp-api.com/thumb/6439189" style="float: left; margin-right: 10px;" /></a><a class="rpuTitle" href="http://s.tt/1I9o5" rel="norewrite"><strong>Why Would Apple Produce a Cheap iPhone?</strong></a> (via <a class="rpuHost" href="http://s.tt/1I9o5" rel="norewrite">slashdot</a>)<br />
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Apple has yet to debut a major product in 2013, something that has investors and company-watchers more than a little perplexed and nervous. In lieu of Apple CEO Tim Cook taking to a stage to whip the curtain back from a new device, these outside groups…<br />
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<br /><div class="blogger-post-footer">QAX3WSJTT436</div>G-Spothttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01522206192079919413noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8543255648109713729.post-31363756233838706782013-04-25T01:09:00.001-07:002013-04-25T01:09:03.036-07:00Apple sees profits fall despite record iPhone and iPad sales<div class="rpuEmbedCode">
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GADGET DESIGNER Apple posted its first fall in profits in a decade on Tuesday, despite record iPhone and iPad sales. Apple's second quarter earnings call was widely touted as the biggest call of Tim Cook's career, but things weren't quite as bad as analysts had expected. The firm posted record revenues…
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</div><div class="blogger-post-footer">QAX3WSJTT436</div>G-Spothttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01522206192079919413noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8543255648109713729.post-10107813081785146582013-04-21T06:58:00.000-07:002013-04-21T06:58:04.180-07:00Finally, A BB Cream For Oily Skin and for MenYou might be wondering what BB Cream is before pondering on reading this post. Most of BB Cream users probably don't know that the term BB actually stands for something - Blemish Base or Blemish Balm and according to Wikipedia, it is more commonly sold in Southeast Asia.<br />
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<em>BB cream is promoted as an all-in-one facial cosmetic product to replace serum, moisturizer, primer, foundation, and sunblock. It can be worn alone as a tinted moisturizer, over serum and moisturizer as a regular foundation, and under powder, depending on the desired amount of coverage. </em><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BB_cream" target="_blank"><em>(Source: Wikipedia)</em></a><br />
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It can probably be the contemporary version of liquid foundation, but it transcends its original purpose by being marketed as an all-around skin care product/cosmetic. BB Creams come in various shade that matches various skin tones and it contain different levels of SPF that protect the skin from the harmful UV-rays.<br />
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I started using BB Cream a year ago when it was introduced to me by a dear friend. For so many years, I have been using Pore Minimizing creams (Nyx Pore Filler as my favorite and Loreal Base Magique) because I have an oily skin. I have tried a lot of products to control the excess oil in my face but without luck. For so many years, I am in a quest to find the best product to compliment my skin. Until I found this pretty little thing from The Face Shop.<br />
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<img alt="" class="img_s" height="320" src="http://international.thefaceshop.com/upload/product/prd_big_img1_0314.png" width="320" /><br />
The Face Shop's Clean Face Series is probably the best line of defense for oily skin and store specialists are branding it as the ideal BB Cream for Men. It's oil-free and it is best suited for almost all kinds of skin types. There is just one shade but don't fret, the tone is not very light and it compliments any kinds of skin tone as day goes by. It also provides a matte finish when applied and it won't give you a shiny look when you go outside. Make sure to apply it very well and your face is cleaned and toned.<br />
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The best thing about this product is it also controls the emergence of pimples. I don't know if that is an inherent feature of the product, but I observed that it has significantly reduced the emergence of pimples while using it for more than two weeks already. I might be wrong, as we have different skin types, but this one is really worth a try. It also has this pleasant smell by the way. (Beware of fake products, I've seen some versions in tiangges around the Metro that sells the same stuff at a super reduced price! But please smell the original product first. You will really know the difference and the shade is too light as compared to the original).<br />
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Go try it out. It costs around Php 700 + in The Face Shop store near you.<br />
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<div class="blogger-post-footer">QAX3WSJTT436</div>G-Spothttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01522206192079919413noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8543255648109713729.post-3491393066701602232013-04-20T05:13:00.002-07:002013-04-20T05:13:11.073-07:00Philippines asks for money to save convict in Saudi<div class="rpuEmbedCode">
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The Philippine government appealed on Thursday for the public to help raise almost $1 million needed to save a Filipino from execution in Saudi Arabia. Labourer Joselito Zapanta was due to be executed in June for murdering his landlord but Saudi authorities extended the deadline until November 3 to…
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</div><div class="blogger-post-footer">QAX3WSJTT436</div>G-Spothttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01522206192079919413noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8543255648109713729.post-26867937487369512422013-04-20T04:57:00.001-07:002013-04-20T04:57:54.434-07:00<div class="rpuEmbedCode">
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Dzhokhar and Tamerlan Tsarnaev, suspected of bombing the Boston marathon, appear to hail from Russia's war-torn Chechnya but had been in the United States for several years. The North Caucasus region of Chechnya has been ravaged by two back-to-back wars since 1994 between Russia's army and increasingly…
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</div><div class="blogger-post-footer">QAX3WSJTT436</div>G-Spothttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01522206192079919413noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8543255648109713729.post-54640156708892506732013-04-20T02:17:00.000-07:002013-04-20T03:33:48.965-07:00This Week In Digest<b><u><span style="color: #741b47; font-size: large;">Janine Tugonon Appeals 'Don't Make Assumptions Please'</span></u></b><br />
Janine needs a good a PR plan to counter this issue. The entire interview caused too much negative publicity on her as it made her look as though she was the 'itchy whore' and the 'holier-than-thou liar'. Thanks to her December interview with PEP professing her undying loyalty to her boyfriend, debunking all future possibilities of her liking other people that she will meet because they put God on the center of her relationship. And I do agree on her latest tweet which appears to be her direct response to the barrage of tweets - 'Don't Make Assumptions Please'.<br />
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<b><u><span style="color: #741b47; font-size: large;">Andrew Tan Claims No. 1 Spot, Did Kim Henares Made A Mistake On The List of Top Taxpayer?</span></u></b><br />
For a moment we heralded the Presidential sister for her surprising news - she is the country's number one taxpayer. She even trampled some of the nation's wealthiest. Certainly the news does give her a little bit of a boost after the James Yap fiasco, but recently, Megaworld founder rained on Kris' parade by claiming he paid more than Php 60 Million personal taxes for 2011 - Php 11 Million more than Kris. But Kim Henares was quick to retort.<br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px;">"If you are being paid a salary and there's only one company paying the salary and it is withheld and the withholding is correct, then you don't have to file an ITR. You might be earning more that the top person on the list but because it is withheld properly and you did not file an ITR, so you're not there," </span><br />
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<b><u><span style="color: #741b47; font-size: large;">No rematch for Pacquiao-Marquez. Marquez to fight infamous Bradley.</span></u></b><br />
Much to the dismay of Manny's legion of fans, Juan Manuel Marquez decided to move forward by fighting Timothy Bradley instead of the 'Pambansang Kamao'. Marquez claimed Bradley as the 'better option' and he is gunning for the title of being the 'five-division title champion'.<br />
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<b><u><span style="color: #741b47; font-size: large;">PDI Puts Meme Photos in Frontpage. Major Facepalm.</span></u></b><br />
The title of being one of the world's most influential people is a relief for PNoy, but the nation's number one broadsheet put PNoy in a shameful limelight by using an online meme of the supposed Time 100 Most Influential Cover. It doesn't take a Picasso to determine whether a Time cover is legit or not. Bad editorial or just plain stupid?<br />
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<b><u><span style="color: #741b47; font-size: large;">Smart LTE Goes Prepaid</span></u></b><br />
Not to be outdone, Smart decided have their LTE Live for Prepaid users.<br />
One major question: Is there a bandwidth cap? Let's hope not.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJqu_Z-UZsBa6B8Cpv0Zh0Pqirevqvs2atUZVl7VTzTrIg26Goxciko0HA5qgodlGZ5BTQKlrVTWAsSb2rXkq1A9EVRSbAXPRWpELcrDPPEdAu8DPlz2qyI_XUoMs-ETa0wAyY2EhfK_X2/s1600/Screen+Shot+2013-04-20+at+5.14.47+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="203" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJqu_Z-UZsBa6B8Cpv0Zh0Pqirevqvs2atUZVl7VTzTrIg26Goxciko0HA5qgodlGZ5BTQKlrVTWAsSb2rXkq1A9EVRSbAXPRWpELcrDPPEdAu8DPlz2qyI_XUoMs-ETa0wAyY2EhfK_X2/s640/Screen+Shot+2013-04-20+at+5.14.47+PM.png" width="640" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1LSx5BP3HsFlywPlrZAMPCw2xG01v1cNPOx3U75-qib3FKjwsy_6Vc5YqKoDKhKZCSTHmmxoyqcRx7armgDpmtI7wesptWtD0mNLvTCrMKj2PRFgNDWVMDkkBrZ6jMvysOsSNg0EbTvJ2/s1600/Screen+Shot+2013-04-20+at+5.12.44+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="347" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1LSx5BP3HsFlywPlrZAMPCw2xG01v1cNPOx3U75-qib3FKjwsy_6Vc5YqKoDKhKZCSTHmmxoyqcRx7armgDpmtI7wesptWtD0mNLvTCrMKj2PRFgNDWVMDkkBrZ6jMvysOsSNg0EbTvJ2/s640/Screen+Shot+2013-04-20+at+5.12.44+PM.png" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Still very expensive though. The Plug-it USB Stick costs 5-times more than the standard 3G/HSPA USB Stick.<br />
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<br /><div class="blogger-post-footer">QAX3WSJTT436</div>G-Spothttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01522206192079919413noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8543255648109713729.post-87567690847341244432013-04-20T01:14:00.002-07:002013-04-20T01:14:29.299-07:00The Evolution of Charice And Why Social Media Can Be Very Hurtful<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
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Social Media can be very harsh and it is not for the faintest of heart. But it is also not for the bullies and narrow-minded.<br />
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Charice underwent series of style changes and her fans were split on their acceptance. Her hardcore fans loved her new look and defended her from all the bashers and the barrage of hate tweets she gets online. While some of her fans showed dismay over her new look. She started to drew flak when she sported a blonde hair on her stint as a judge in the Philippine franchise of X-Factor. Some even funnily compared her curled blonde hair to the infamous 'Lucky Me' Pancit Canton.<br />
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How sad it is to see how some of us can be very judgmental to others. I have nothing to say negative about her. If she likes to look androgynous and wants to be edgy, so be it! Let her be. She is a talented lady and we have seen her inspired us years ago when she performed alongside Celine Dion, Oprah and Ellen DeGeneres, a peat not anyone could achieve no matter how beautiful they are.<br />
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Charice is entering a phase where she wanted to experiment, she wants to try new things. Just like any other typical young adult who would like to identify him/herself to someone he/she looks up to. Chopping her hair wouldn't make her less talented.<br />
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I laud Charice for her demeanour to brush these issues off instead of fighting fire with fire. I believe she could withstand this and I do hope she would get the best advice from the right people. She is young and talented and she deserves more than this kind of treatment.<br />
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Social Media can be very harsh and it has catapulted a lot of people to fame and it has also elevated a lot of people to the hall of shame. Think before we click. Access to internet doesn't give us a free pass to ruin the life of other people. Whatever happened to respect and compassion to other people, I really didn't know. There is so much hatred in this world right now. Why not try love at least for a test drive?<br />
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<div class="blogger-post-footer">QAX3WSJTT436</div>G-Spothttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01522206192079919413noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8543255648109713729.post-72520796296899819352013-04-19T23:35:00.000-07:002013-04-19T23:35:14.818-07:00Top 5 Things We Should Learn From The Boston PoliceIt was probably the darkest day in recent months in the US since the horrific mass shootings in Connecticut and Colorado. With three dead and over a hundred wounded in a deadly bombing in Boston, America suffered another major security flaw despite having a sophisticated security and surveillance machinery developed after the 9-11 attacks.<br />
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The Boston Marathon bombing is probably the most unlikely event where a terrorist activity could be potentially held. It was unexpected and the damages to innocent lives and properties where incomprehensible.<br />
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But true to American spirit of heroism and bravery, we have seen another testament to their amazing courage by vowing to put the culprits to justice instead of doing the blame game first.<br />
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I have been amazed by the swift resolve of the deadly attacks and I felt compelled to make an appeal to Philippine police to take a look at American police as an institution revered by their citizens and emulate them at least.<br />
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Everyday every common Filipino lives in fear, even the wealthiest. They fear for their lives, not only from terrorist attacks, but from petty crimes. Whenever we roam the streets of Manila, we put our backpacks on our front (ironic right?) because we know for certain that there are pickpockets lurking around, preying around, waiting for a vulnerable victim to be robbed. We cannot leave our bags or laptops in any coffee shops, restaurants or even in churches, even for a few seconds, because we follow the five-second rule of robbery. There are lots of mad people out there. When the night strikes, the Filipinos are no longer afraid of aswangs but of mad people who are under the influence of any evil substance and has the potential to kill, harass or agitate us peaceful people.<br />
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And the apprehension of the culprits are even more frightening, exhausting and disgusting. We are proud to have the most comprehensive and well-written constitution but the delivery of justice has no teeth at all.<br />
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I listed down the Top 5 Things Filipinos and PNP Should Learn from Boston.<br />
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1. Cartoon Sketches of suspects are no longer cool - I hope our justice system would not entirely rely on poorly drawn photos of suspects. CCTV is the new way of getting new leads. Though some CCTV may render poor resolution, at least it has the accuracy to direct the investigators to a more reliable surveillance tool.<br />
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2. Speed to Response. Be guided by a lead time of response. Prove to us the misconception that police always come late. Crimes and threats like this don't happen everyday. So you pretty much have a lot of idle days. The reason why most of them are healthy is because they devote more time on their cars idly parked in scattered areas, instead of roaming around and patrolling their assigned areas.<br />
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3. We should give the PNP a confidence boost. Our PNP may be flawed but at it remains to be our sole protector and defender of justice. What we saw in the US is an overwhelming support of its citizens to the institution. They believe in the institution. Our PNP may be accused of corruption and incompetence but that doesn't give us reasons to not fully trust them at all. One way or another, our PNP is still committed to deliver justice and ensure safety. What they need now is support not only from the government but also from us.<br />
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4. To Pnoy. That next to education, infrastructure and economy, he must focus on putting more efforts in upgrading our security and justice institutions. It's a domino effect, upgrade the system, reward and incentivize, modernize the system, align the salary. The system must see an effort from the government. Police requires adequate patrol cars and mobiles to take them to various areas. We cannot blame them for their laxity always. They need some support system too, you know?!<br />
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5. Use all available channels and new resources. Embrace modern technology. Crimes cannot be prevented all the times, but that won't stop us investing for a decent if not sophisticated surveillance technologies and other investigative tools.<br />
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I dreamed a day when we will respect this institution that risks their life for the safety and security of its people.<br />
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<br /><div class="blogger-post-footer">QAX3WSJTT436</div>G-Spothttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01522206192079919413noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8543255648109713729.post-49308351739184914222013-04-17T01:08:00.000-07:002013-04-17T01:08:48.862-07:00Kasambahay Law in a NutshellAfter the recent passing of RH Bill, the Filipino people surprisingly suddenly became more participatory in political affairs. With the advent of social media, the discourse on whether a new provision would be favorable or not has been more resounding and manic as compared to the past decades where people seems to be voiceless and passive.<br />
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Just a few months after the much heated debates and deliberations on this controversial bill, another bill has been passed in an attempt to protect the rights of our dearest kasambahay or household helper.<br />
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As most of us could not fully digest the entirety of each law, I find it important to give you a quick snapshot of how this bill would impact your current relationship with your 'kasambahay'.<br />
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I find this very important not only because we have recently lost a 'kasambahay' but also because every Filipino household with a kasambahay on their roof should know the provisions for them to be guided on their specific rights as stated in the constitution.<br />
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<h3 style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-top: 0px;">
Circular 2013-008</h3>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin-bottom: 0.5em;">
<strong><em>Who is a Domestic Worker?</em></strong></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin-bottom: 0.5em;">
A Domestic Worker or Kasambahay refers to any person engaged in domestic work within an employment relationship, e.g. yaya, househelp, cook, laundry person, house boy, etc.<br /> </div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin-bottom: 0.5em;">
<strong>A kasambahay must: </strong></div>
<ul style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-top: 0px;">
<li style="margin-left: 15px;">Be 15 years old and above</li>
<li style="margin-left: 15px;">Comply with the pre-employment requirements of the employer</li>
<li style="margin-left: 15px;">Be paid a minimum wage of not less than the following:<ul style="margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-top: 0px;">
<li style="margin-left: 15px;">For NCR - Php 2,500/month</li>
<li style="margin-left: 15px;">For Chartered Cities and First Class Municipalities - Php 2,000/month</li>
<li style="margin-left: 15px;">For other municipalities - Php 1,500/month</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin-bottom: 0.5em;">
<strong>An employer must:</strong></div>
<ul style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-top: 0px;">
<li style="margin-left: 15px;">Prepare the employment contract and provide a copy to the domestic worker.</li>
<li style="margin-left: 15px;">Provide for the basic necessities (e.g. safe and humane sleeping arrangements, three adequate meals a day, etc.)</li>
<li style="margin-left: 15px;">Register the domestic worker to the barangay´s Registry of Domestic Workers</li>
<li style="margin-left: 15px;">Shoulder the SSS, Philhealth and Pagibig contributions of the domestic worker</li>
<li style="margin-left: 15px;">Guarantee the privacy, access to outside communication and right to education and training for the domestic worker</li>
</ul>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin-bottom: 0.5em;">
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<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin-bottom: 0.5em;">
<strong>A kasambahay is entitled to:</strong></div>
<ul style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-top: 0px;">
<li style="margin-left: 15px;">A daily rest period of eight (8) hours</li>
<li style="margin-left: 15px;">A weekly rest period of twenty four (24) consecutive hours</li>
<li style="margin-left: 15px;">Service Incentive Leave of five days (5) after one year of service</li>
<li style="margin-left: 15px;">All SSS, Philhealth and Pagibig benefits after one (1) month of service</li>
<li style="margin-left: 15px;">Employment Certification upon separation from the employer</li>
</ul>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin-bottom: 0.5em;">
<strong>Resources : </strong><a href="http://www.pmap.org.ph/admin/images/download/04152013123120RA_10361_Kasambahay_Law.pdf" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">RA_10361_Kasambahay_Law.pdf</a></div>
<div class="blogger-post-footer">QAX3WSJTT436</div>G-Spothttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01522206192079919413noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8543255648109713729.post-83442274159102972282013-04-14T23:42:00.004-07:002013-04-14T23:42:43.539-07:00Hunger Games Sequel 'Catching Fire' Releases Sneak Peek<span style="font-family: inherit;">Hunger Games fans have reason to celebrate as the worldwide hit series has released the newest trailer for its November sequel.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 19.1875px;">The Hunger Games</span><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 19.1875px;"> is a 2008 </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Science_fiction" style="background-color: white; background-image: none; color: #0b0080; line-height: 19.1875px;" title="Science fiction">science fiction</a><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 19.1875px;"> novel by American writer </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Suzanne_Collins" style="background-color: white; background-image: none; color: #0b0080; line-height: 19.1875px;" title="Suzanne Collins">Suzanne Collins</a> and has been a blockbuster hit in the silver screen last March 2012 which has grossed over $400 Million.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">The sequel - Catching Fire is set to be released on November 22, 2012 and it is directed by Francis Lawrence.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />Below is the first look on the film which was unveiled during the recently concluded MTV Movie Awards.</span><br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/jyPnQw_Lqds" width="560"></iframe><div class="blogger-post-footer">QAX3WSJTT436</div>G-Spothttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01522206192079919413noreply@blogger.com0