Wednesday, February 12, 2014

Let it Go

Life is a series of gambles. Every minute that we spend and every small step that we take affects our life in a great deal. That is why whenever we are faced in difficult situations we tend to choose decisions that we know are safe. We shy away from risks and let our fears and inhibitions rule us out. We try our best to not stray on our so called comfort zone. But at the end of the day we have to ask ourselves, are these decisions really worth it? Is this where you want your life to lead to? We only have one chance to live. Is it really worth it to deprive yourself of what your heart truly desires?

Conceal. Don’t Feel. Put on a Show. These are the words that Elsa from the popular Disney animated film “Frozen” had always uttered to hide her powers which she thought would bring harm to her sister Anna and her kingdom Arendelle. But once she realized that with love and right decision, she would be able to control her powers, she was able to turn her curse into a gift. The concept of this is just the same in real life. If we only try to step out of our comfort zone and try to take things in stride no matter how big of a risk it maybe then we’ll have less regrets in life.

But it’s always easier said than done. There are always things that make us think twice about in making the grand decision or simply put it things that weigh us down.  These are the factors that limit us on doing the best that we got. So in order to achieve a more productive life, here are six things that we should try to let go.

1. Seeking for Approval

Other’s opinions don’t always matter. It is good to get advice from parents, friends and mentors, but in the end it’s still your decision that has to prevail. Who cares if other thinks it’s reckless? Who cares if they think you’ll be doing the worst decision of your life? Think of how liberating it would feel if you do not let anyone’s opinion dictate your life.




2.Money

Life does not revolve on money alone.  We should not always consider decisions where we think will fill our pockets. As American Life Coach and motivator Tony Robbins has once said “Don't fall into the trap of prioritizing a busy life over a truly fulfilled one! Make the choices that have deeper meaning and life is sweet.”

3. Jealousy and Insecurity


Admit it or not we always try to compare ourselves to others. From the way we dress to the way our figure should have been the same as that chic who struts on the street like she’s queen. What we don’t realize is that our envy towards others and our complex towards them hinders us from seeing what we have ourselves. Its because of this jealousy and insecurity that we try to copy what he or she is doing, because you know and see is good for her and that keeps you safe. But every person is unique, what might work for her is possibly not the same for you. It’s also better to evaluate what we have ourselves and take pride on the things that we have. Confidence is always the first step into creating the best version of ourselves.



4. Excuses

“I don't have enough time.” “I’m afraid of the competition.”“ It's not the right moment to do it.” “I’ve got to pay the bills.” “I have to plan it out properly first.” “I’m afraid of failure.” These are just some of the most common excuses ( as listed by www.openforum.com ) that every person gives to not let any of his ideas happen. These are the things we tell ourselves to feel better about not taking any risks. But in order for something to work you should leave these excuses behind and start working things out.


5. Regrets

As my favorite line says, there’s no point crying over spilt milk. What has been done is done. We should not always dwell on our mistakes. We should not always think of our what-if’s but instead move forward. Take risks and make chances. Everything might not turn out to be the same you want it to be, but hey, it’s better doing it first then regret the outcome later than forever ponder of what might happen if we do it and what the result of it would be.

Tuesday, February 11, 2014

5 sweet things to do this Valentine’s day

Clip from the 2004 film '50 First Dates'
Valentine’s is fast approaching and for sure some guys (and even girls) out there are already planning on how to make the day special for their loved one or even the person they like or pursuing. I listed down some suggestions/guidelines to help you plot your Valentine’s date. Well, first off, I know we all have our idea of ‘sweet and nakakakilig’ moment, but for a girl’s point of view, I think these things should be taken in consideration.

  1. Bring her to the place you think she would appreciate. If your partner is someone who loves art, then bring her to an art exhibit. If she loves music, you can bring her to a music festival. If she just wants to eat then eat with her. Nothing is sweeter for ladies than knowing that the person who loves/likes them wants to experience or know the activities you are into. This just shows that you are putting more effort to know your partner better
  2. Clip from the movie 'The Notebook'
    Let her face her fears and help her conquer it. Haha. I know this sounds insane but I believe this feels sweet too. Okay, sweet in the sense that you make her feel that you are there to protect her from what scares her (now that sounds knight in shining armor). To give you an idea, if your date has fear of heights, you can invite her to ride a zipline with you. Just make sure you too, can overcome her fears.
    Clip from the movie 'Divergent'
  3. Do the thing that you are both frustrated of. This could be playing a sport, attending a dance class, ice skating or cooking a certain recipe. This could be exciting, especially, when you both have each other to keep going on.
    Clip from the movie 'Silver Linings Playbook'

  4. Travel. Travelling with your special someone is sweet because it gives you a chance to know your partner more by discovering different things together, testing your partnership and most of all, building your trust with each other. Bring her to the places you’ve been and thought would be sweet to go with her.
    Clip from Iya and Drew Arellano Pre-Nuptial
  5. Take time to know/meet her family or friends. Loving someone also means that you also have to love the people they love no matter how unlovable they are. Whether you like it or not, the people whom your partner had grown up with or has joined with are part of her life so you have to accept them as well. Set a time with them. Doing this will not only let you get to know the people she cares but will also give you glimpses of who your partner is really is. As what they say, if you want to know a person deeper, as their friends or family.
    Clip from the 2010 movie 'Submarine'
Take note, these are just suggestions. The success of your date still depends on your creativity, planning skills and readiness. Whatever the outcome may be, just always remember that a day with your love is still the best day ever.



Thoughts you should not have (Helping you out of suicide)

This topic is supposedly for my first vlog, but since I still don't have the time to make it (and you know, I'm not that confident enough), I wrote it for this blog instead. I will definitely make a follow up vlog on this soon (I guess), and I’m hoping you will also check that out.

First, why suicide? I mean, of all the subjects in the world, you might be asking why I chose this one. Well, I think it's controversial, very sensitive, and interesting. Interesting because I myself have experienced it.

Checking some details about suicide, I found out that almost one million people commit suicide every year, with global mortality rate of 16 people per 100,000. It means that one people commit suicide and die every 40 seconds [4]. It's alarming, isn't it?

But, we can avoid this! (Based on my experience) Just lend a hand to someone we know that have this kind of tendency or, if you know that you have it, I hope you will read this article until the end.

I know we can't stop ourselves from being depressed. It is natural for us to feel down when things didn’t go the way we want it to be, when we experience rejections or when we fail. It is okay to feel bad but the question is, how would/should you respond? Will you just drop dead, locked up yourself in your room and let those thoughts consume you, then commit suicide? It is not the end of the world!

There's a lot of things we can discover in social media. If you feel depressed, try to look for bright pictures and explore the hidden treasures of the earth.



Will you let "depression" laughed on your remains? I hope not! Allow yourself to experience the other and bright side of the world.

As I checked online, I found that guys are more prone to suicide [1]. I think this is because most men have higher ego than women. Girls have their own way to vent out, either with their friends, diaries or relatives, unlike guys, who often find it difficult to express themselves. Men usually hide their sorrows until their helplessness consumes them. Guys! There's nothing wrong about crying. It won't make you less of a man to sit down and express yourself without drinking alcohol or taking drugs. Yeah, it will give you comfort during tough times but that comfort is just temporary. The problem is still there, you will just make yourself more terrible after.



"Because they see their friends doing it." [2]

An article from pulitzercenter.org [2] reported that Greenland has the highest suicide rate, and noted to be the "Suicide capital of the world". The country actually have estimated rate of 100 person per 100,000 who commit suicide per year, twice Japan’s suicide rate; the Asian country has been documented to have suicide phenomenon during crisis.

What is alarming is the fact that teens and young adults comprised most of the suicide victims. The reason is still unknown but the article suggests that one reason could be because they have been influenced by their peers or environment. Because they saw their friends doing it.

Do you find it cool cutting your wrist? There is more to life than to bleed, than to be hanged, than to take excessive drugs, than letting your brain burst out.



Another cause of suicide could be being addicted to social media. Why? Because some people are using the social media sites like Facebook, Twitter, etc., to hurt other people. Since conversations are only on the Internet and not personal, people don’t mind if they have offended others with what they do. This is popular as Cyberbullying. According to an article from timesofindia.indiatimes.com [4], many people can't handle online rejection. Too much freedom of speech can cause people to say and do harmful things, to the point of judging other people they don’t even know.



Even if you know the person his/her whole life, you can’t condemn them, because only God can judge people, unless you don’t believe in God. An advertisement reminds us to think before we post something [5]. I'm not saying that we should always play safe but we have to use our right to speak freely or voice out freely in moderation. If you want to post something that you think will end territory conflicts, can end world hunger, can end the government crisis or will bring social change perhaps, why not? Opinions can be powerful if it is constructive. Don't be like some people who just want to prove their dominance, thus, fighting with anyone online.


Quoting Helen Keller, “Keep your face to the sunshine and you can never see the shadow.” It means that as long as we keep on looking into the bright side, our attention to those problems will lessen [6]. We have to focus on the right direction.

I personally follow @earthpics on Twitter and every time I see their posts I found myself relaxed. There's more to life than the sadness we feel. I'm not saying to just ignore these emotions, but if we look on the brighter side of things, it will ease the pain we feel today. Trust me!



In closing, never let things set the end of your life. We just have to have a higher motivation, a higher calling. Don't let "depression" laughed at you because they messed you up. Prove that you are still worthy to live life to the fullest. Appreciate life.
Don't follow trends that will cause you harm and end up killing yourself. Cry out loud and express your emotions, it won’t make us less of a person but will actually make us stronger.

And fight for yourself, because someone had already fought it for you.


Sources:
1. Www.who.int - "Suicide rates per 100,000 by country, year and sex (table)" as of 2011
2. Pulitzercenter.org - "Why do so many greenlander's kill themselves." 2009
3. Rightdiagnosis.com - "Common causes of suicidal tendencies"
4. Timesofindia.indiatimes.com - "Social Media emerging as contributor to suicides: Psychiarist" 2013
5. GMA’s “Think before you Click” campaign
6.brightdrops.com/best-inspirational-quotes



Sunday, March 18, 2012

Communicators on the Runway


Whoever thought that producing a glamorous fashion show is only meant for FA (fine arts) students clearly hasn't witnessed Le Vogue, a parade of beauty and glamour which is annually presented in the Polytechnic University of the Philippines, Sta. Mesa, Manila.

Last March 2, third year students amazed the whole PUP community as models from different sections and departments in the  College of Communication walked in the runway carrying their charming and alluring beauties. Le Vogue is a fashion show celebrated every year as partial requirement of masscom scholars in their subject Intercultural and International Communication.

The event, which took place at the PUP Freedom Park, showcased the creativity and resourcefulness of the junior students who designed the costumes that were presented in the runway. Each section has a designated country that they will project to imitate, from the traditional costumes to modern clothing. Costumes should be handmade and must be composed of scraps and other recycled materials.  

As the show opened at 7pm, the audiences started to shout the names of their bets and scream for the models they want. Everyone was fascinated by the presentation prepared by the students. Some geared up with fire balls while others do role-playing. The loudest cheer was heard when models representing the country of Brazil ramped in the stage with their swimwear. Showing off their sexy and smooth skin, models only wore two-piece bikinis suited with maong micro mini shorts which aroused the viewers.

The intensity of the event was even more felt backstage. Models, together with their personal assistants, anxiously wear their next costume as one by one, they go up on the stage. Not only students felt the uneasiness because teachers and faculty members also walked in the runway wearing the best costume the students have customized.

Indeed, Le Vogue once again a victory; a success not only for the organizers but also for the students who joined in the fashion show. Winners of the said event will be announced in the Sikat Awards Night happening on March 26.

Le Vogue isn't just a mere fashion show but a contest as well which encourages the students unleash their creativity, unity and confidence.

Thursday, March 15, 2012

The Country's Problem Part III: Unemployment rate, rising; Economy, falling


Unemployment has always been a problem in the Philippines. But it has never been a serious issue as it is right now as more and more Filipinos struggle to lose their jobs due to the lower economic growth.

According to pundits, the government is set to cut anew its economic growth target for this year, which will definitely cause more Filipinos out of their jobs.

"It's not a single case of higher growth and higher employment. Unemployment will worsen definitely because of the lower economic growth," Benjamin Diokno, an economics professor, told the Manila Times.

He said that unemployment rate will still increase eight percent to 8.5 percent in April.

NEDA Director, Dennis Arroyo said yesterday that economy is not generating enough jobs, that is why the government has again to trim the country's growth target to between 3.1 percent from the current range of 3.7 percent to 4.4 percent.

At present, 50, 380 Filipinos in the country have been laid off, while 6,485 overseas workers have been displaced. In the tourism sector alone, slowing growth has dampened job-generation in the industry, the National Statistical Coordination Board (NSCB) said.

According to Romulo Virola, NSCB Secretary General, growth in the industry began slowing the second half of last year, thus failing to sustain the momentum built up since the third quarter of 2006.

Employment industry also dropped to 1.5 percent last year from 3.7 percent last in 2007, slower than the 2.6 percent growth of overall employment.

The rising figures of unemployment rate in the country are alarming and there will be a time that even Filipinos in secured position has to surrender their post. The government has to do something to resolve the problem that has been haunting the country for over the years.

Sunday, March 11, 2012

Blog Interview: Vince Golangco, the Man Behind WhenInManila.com

Vince Golangco, a graduate of San Diego State University with a Bachelor’s Degree in Communication, a radio DJ at Mellow 94.7, is the man behind WhenInManila.com. Vince is also a freelance columnist and he published his articles in different printing press such as The Philippine Daily Inquirer, The Philippine Star, Playboy Magazine and many more. He is also the organizer of Blogapalooza, the meeting place of bloggers and businessmen.

Start of Blogging Career

“I just like telling stories.”

When Vince came home to Philippines, he wanted to show his friends in San Diego what Philippines look like, so he started blogging and became a storyteller. However, that did not stop him to publish beautiful tales about Philippines just to tell it to his friends, but also, to let the world see more about our country.

Vince had many blogs at first, however, he made When in Manila his priority. The name “When in Manila” comes from the saying “When in Rome, do as the Romans do”, thus, the blog shows what should be done when in Philippines.

The Perks of Being a Blogger

“You get invited by the coolest events and you get to meet the coolest people.”

Just a couple of days before the interview with Vince, he was invited in the Malacanang Palace for an exclusive screening of a Filipino-made National Geographic documentary called “Inside Malacanang”. Without a doubt, President Noynoy Aquino was among the viewers and with so much luck, he manage to shake his hand and took some photos with him!

On New Year, the Mellow DJ was celebrating the holiday with the sexy and beautiful model-actress Solenn Heusaff. It’s no ordinary event as he was paid to celebrate with Solenn so that he can write about partying with her!

For his income, Vince is paid 6-7,000 just for a tweet and 10,000-25,000 for a blog post since many people views his blog. For the ad space on his blog, Vince charges $50 a week for a 125x125 spot.

Though there is money in blogging, he believed that the best part of being a blogger is not all about the cash you’re getting, but it is about meeting many people and sharing your stories with them.

Blogapalooza’s Beginning

“Blogapalooza was about inviting good bloggers who can help a business out.”  

Due to WheninManila.com’s popularity, many people inquired him about how to get them promoted on his site, how they can meet new bloggers and tips on what to do on their online social media. And with this Vince and his friends decided to create an event that will make bloggers and businesses meet in one place.

He said that small businesses can’t afford to throw a blogger event due to many expenses (food, venue, lighting system, etc.) and what’s more they don’t know who the bloggers are, they don’t know who to invite. And since Vince know a lot of good bloggers, he started the event.

The benefits of joining Blogapalooza for businessmen are that their products get promoted, and for the bloggers, they had the chance to discover and try cool things. Vince called this as B2B or Business to Blogger networking event.

Regarding the next Blogapalooza, he said that he still don’t know when to organize it as he have a busy schedule with him. But if you wanted to join and get updated for the next event, just go to Blogapalooza page (http://blogapalooza.wheninmanila.com/).

The Key to Success

“You have to write every day. It’s really a commitment.”

Vince said that he read about search engine optimization (SEO), a powerful tool that improves the visibility, or rather, the popularity of your site. He exampled two people having the same blog that talks about gadgets. One of them had good SEO. So, when people search about gadgets, that person’s blog who had good SEO, will be at the first page of Google search while the other will be somewhere in the next pages. Meaning, that blog will get more hits rather than the other one since no one goes to Page 2 in Google.

Links and keywords are very important for SEO. If a blog have lots of links, Google will see that blog as important and will rank it higher. In the case of keywords, a blog should repeat a keyword in an article 3 percent of the time. It also had to be in your title too.

Vince added that content is a key, so one must have a lot of contents. Also, the way one should write must contain SEO-friendly keywords, so that Google will link your blog first since you have what they are looking for.

For earning money, Vince said that there are a lot of ways such as Google Adsense, InfoLinks, Nuffnang, etc. Vince’s favorite is Nuffnang. Compared to Google Ads which has a pay-per-click function by clicking ads, Nuffnang has the pay-per-view function whenever someone sees your blog. To sum up, you just have to be creative.

In terms of criticizing, Vince believed that when they have a bad review, they reserve the right not to write about it. He added that if one is going to review, at least go back the second time and try again.
Vince recommended that a blogger should write about positive things and try not to focus on negative things.

Advice from the Expert

“If it’s not you’re passionate about, don’t write about it.”

Vince encouraged bloggers to write everyday even if it is a short one, as long as you love what you are 
writing.

(Credits go to Stephanie Bas for making our interview with Vince possible!)

Top Effective Celebrity Endorsers

From clothes to foods and even laundry soaps and dish-washing liquids, we see different faces of celebrities endorsing what they say was the best brand or product to use on our everyday lives. Sometimes they are effective, other times they are not. we base if an endorser is being effective on their ad on to how many times they appear in endorsing different products. To know who really is the best endorser, below is a countdown on who people and advertising companies trust the most. (Based from YES! Magazine's Top 20 Celebrity Endorsers and the authors manual counting of TV Ads.)

1. Kris Aquino

"San Marino Corned Tuna Endorsement"

Being on top of the list, the Queen of talk had yet again proven how effective she is on convincing and relating to people. Endorsing over 21 products in the year of 2011, the Queen of talk claims on her talk show Kris TV that the reason why she is the most sought-after endorser is she truly uses what she endorses.

Product Endorsements: Maggi Magic Sinigang, Nido Milk, Petron Gasul, Pantene Shampoo, Downy Fabric Conditioner, Olay Facial Cream, Olay Body Soap, Fiesta Noodles, Safeguard Soap, Nestle Ice Cream, Mang Tomas, Eight O' Clock Powdered Orange Juice Drink, Goldilocks, Glaxo Smith-Kline,Magnolia Chicken Station; (print and billboard) MET-C Whitening Capsules, Boardwalk, Figlia Shoes,Magnolia Nutri-Oil, and Philip Stein. (Source: YES! Magazine)


2. Kim Chiu



From being a reality star to a full-blown drama actress, Kim Chiu had grown to become one of the most idolized and promising artist in the Philippines. With her inspiring true to life story of being a nobody to reaching her dreams under the public eye, she is most fit to be one of the best product endorsers in the whole nation.

Product Endorsements: Rejoice Shampoo, Whisper Sanitary Napkins, Goya Chocolate, Coke, Nescafe Classic, Chowking, Payless Pancit Shanghai, Olay Body Bar, Skin White 3 in 1 Face Powder; (print and billboard) Bench Apparel, Cherry Mobile, Monami Gel Pens, Adidas, Unisilver Jewelry, SMDC Properties, Charms & Crystals, Faces & Curves

3. Anne Curtis and John Lloyd Cruz


Both versatile actors, Anne Curtis and John Lloyd had set to prove they can endorse anything and can do anything for an endorsement. John Llloyd had become a magician on his Magic Fillings Commercial, and an action star on Greenwich. While Anne Curtis had started becoming a "Singer" through her Palmolive Naturals endorsements. With their showing that they can do anything "out of their boxes" more commercials are sure to come out for them.

Product Endorsements: (Anne Curtis)Loreal, Smart Unli Post Paid, SMDC Houses, SM Accesories, Olay Natural White, Folded and Hung, Natasha, Palmolive Naturals Soft and Moisture, Whisper Cottony Clean, MyPhone, Greenwich Lasagna, GSM Blue, Magnolia Light Drink, Swatch Skin, Posh Nails and PrimmaDonna
(John Lloyd Cruz) Sun Cellular, Greenwich Pizza & Pasta, Head & Shoulders Shampoo, Lucky Me Noodles, Biogesic, Magic Crackers, Tropicana Fruit Burst, Direct TV USA; Natasha Casual Apparel, Adidas, Swatch, Banana Peel Footwear, Urban Bags, Cherry Mobile, Joel Cruz Signature Perfume, Face and Curves

4. Sarah Geronimo and Piolo Pascual


Considered to be both on the top of their game, Pop Princess and Actress Sarah Geronimo and Top and Controversial actor and singer had all their shows high-rated or in case of concerts, a sold-out With being on top, it is unarguable that may companies wanted them as representation and endorser of their companies.

Product Endorsements: (Piolo Pascual)Real Leaf Green Tea, Century Properties, Bench Clothing, Banco De Oro, Clear Anti-Dandruff Shampoo, Century Bangus, Century Corned Tuna, My Phone, Centrum Multivitamins, Sunlife Insurance, Speed Babad Detergent, Quickchow Instant Noodles, NTT Phone Card; (print and billboard) Belo Medical Group, Timex Watches, Sky Travel, Jewelmer, HBC
(Sarah Geronimo) Sunsilk Shampoo, Charmee Feminine Protection, Elaia Vitamin E, Selecta Ice Cream, Globe Cellular Services, 555 Canned Tuna, Xtreme Magic Sing, Jollibee, Americatel, Cebuana Lhuillier Pawnshop, MyPhone, Nescafe 3-in-1, Belo Medical Group and Belo Essentials; (print and billboard) Natasha Beauty, Unica Hija, X-Play online gambling

5. Marian Rivera


A very pretty face and alluring body, Primetime Quuen Marian Rivera attracts endorsements like honey to bees. Another factor that makes her appealing to the public and companies is her being controversial. “Despite whatever you hear about her… may kinang siya, e, physically. The female consumer looks forward to buying the products she endorses, not so much because of her personality but more because of her balat,” Laura del Rosario-Dorotheo, McCann Worldgroup Philippines business group director, said.

Product Endorsements: Maxipeel Facial Care, Maxipeel Body Soap, San Marino Corned Tuna, San Marino Tuna Paella, San Marino Sandwich Spread, Honda Motorcycles, Panasonic Appliaces, Real Leaf Green Tea, Smart Talk ‘N Text; (print and billboard) Karimadon Ladies' Wear, Cathy Valencia Skin Center; Knorr Real Sarap Darna capsule

Other celebrities known for being frequently seen in endorsements are:
Judy Ann Santos-Agoncillo,Sharon Cuneta, The Legazpi Family,Vic Sotto,Michael V., Ding Dong Dantes, Ryan Agoncillo and Derek Ramsay.