The Secret Formula to Make a Love Team Click

Know it here!

Do you watch "Be Careful With My Heart"? It's a morning tv show aired in the Philippines, from Mondays-Fridays. The theme of it is about the meeting of a cute, sweet, naughty girl with a strict, bad-tempered, rich boss.

I love how their chemistry hook me everytime I watch it after my work. And that led me to this conclusion...

What is the Formula?

The secret formula to make a tandem (love team) click is making their characters acting like this: a naughty girl and serious guy. This is the reason why the chemistry of Sarah Geronimo and John Lloyd Cruz became a hit and caught the eyes of many. Their two previous movies topped the Philippine Box Office Movies (based on the movie revenues).

Filipinos are easily inclined to this kind of love story. Actually, it is also the same formula used by Koreans, Taiwanese and other Asian countries (we just adopt it). I remember before, how Filipinos became crazy over the Taiwanese group called F4. Fans were composed of children to old. And up to now, the feeling remains in my memory.

Anyway, this formula can't be just used by any love team. Because it still depends between the two persons involved and how they will form their so-called chemistry. It will show naturally and cannot be made when needed.

Does my observation make sense?

(Old Article - 2012)

Money Lessons

• Give each dollar a purpose

Bigyan mo ng pangalan o gamit ang lahat ng perang pumapasok sa iyo. Kasi kung unnamed sila, malaki ang chance na magastos mo lang kung saan-saan ang perang walang pangalan o purpose kaya ugaliing ilagay sila at bigyan ng kanya-kanyang trabaho.

• Cut back on extras

Hindi naman na totally ihihinto ang paggastos sa mga extra o luho. Kung may malinaw na plano at kung saan-saan mapupunta ang iyong pera, ay hindi ka magi-guilty sa mga ginagastusan mo. Be mindful kumbaga at disiplinado sa paggasta.

• Shed high-interest debt

Kung nakapag-swipe ka ng credit card mo, siguraduhin na mabayaran ang kabuuang utang bago o sa mismong araw ng due date nang sa ganun ay hindi na magka-penalty at tumubo pa ang iyong inutang. Kung may ibang loan ka, again babalik tayo sa unang teknik na bigyan ng pangalan ang ating kinikita nang sa ganun ay unti-unti mong mabayaran ang lahat ng iyong pinagkakautangan.

• Find joy in spending

Hindi lang tayo nabuhay para magtrabaho at kumita lang ng pera. Kailangan din nating i-enjoy ang fruit of our labor. Basta may naitabi ka na bago ka pa man gumastos, safe ka. Hindi ka magi-guilty kung bakit ka ba bumili o gumastos sa isang produkto o serbisyo sapagkat nasa maayos na allocation at may purpose lahat ng iyong kinita.

• Avoid extremes

Iwasan ang negosyo na nangangako ng biglaang yaman o nag-aalok ng malaking interes. Kung too good to be true ang business at daig pa ang legal na binibigay ng mga legitimate investments ay lumayo at tanggihan mo na kaagad sila. Iwasan rin ang mabilisang pagyaman gaya ng sugal at super risky na investment. Imbis na nakakaipon ka na eh doon lang napupunta ang pera na iyong pinaghirapan. Again, financial literacy at tamang paghawak ng pera ang iyong kailangan para maiwasang matukso ng sari-saring investments o negosyo na naglalayon lamang na makuha ang iyong pera at sa huli, it turns out na scam pala.

Disclaimer:

This is not a financial advice at hindi ako financial planner. Base lamang sa aking opinyon at mga karanasan ang impormasyong aking ibinahagi sa itaas. Kaya ugaliing magsaliksik pa rin at humingi ng legal advices from financial planners.

Naghahanap Pa Ng Extrang Pagkakakitaan

Bukod sa job, work o trabaho ay naghahanap pa ko ng extrang pagkakakitaan.

Hindi natin masasabi na stable ang ating trabaho sapagkat worldwide o globally na ang tanggalan o pagle-lay off ng mga employees. Magugulat at iiyak ka na lang kung sakaling isa ka sa kanila at hindi mo iyun napaghandaan.

Kaya kasalukuyan kong ginagawa ay nagtatabi at binubuo ko na ang Emergency Fund na katumbas ng 3 months ng expenses namin. Sa praktikal nga eh dapat atleast 6 months pero pasasaan ba at darating din tayo dun.

Sa ngayon, bukod sa natatanging work ko lang ang source of income ko, ay sinimulan ko ng mag-invest kahit noon pa sa Philippine Stock Market. Dati nag-iinvest lang ako sa mga kumpanyang gusto ko at alam kong di basta magsasara o malulugi pero ngayon nag-iba ako ng stratehiya.

Nag-iinvest na ko sa REITS para every 3 months or quarterly ay may makukuha akong cash dividends. Ayan ang isang paraan para kumita pa ko ng additional bukod sa aking trabaho.

Ang isa pa na bahagyang maliit at di talaga masasabing extra eh yung paglalaro ng games via ShopBack. Di lingid sa ating kaalaman na sa ShopBack ay pwede kang kumita ng cashback at pag nakaabot ka ng 200 pesos na threshold ay pwede mo itong i-transfer at i-withdraw sa iyong e-wallet or bank account. Ginagamit ko lang dati ang ShopBack sa tuwing may bibilin ako sa Shopee or Lazada pero ngayon sa simpleng pag-iinstall ng partner games nila sa smartphone mo eh kikita ka na ng pera.

Ang isa pang paraan para makabawas-bawas sa babayaran sa mga bibilhin mo sa Shopee ay ang pag-accumulate ng Shopee coins. Marami kang pwedeng gawin sa Shopee na tasks araw-araw like mag-check in, mag-browse ng stores/products, mag-claw ng random prizes at s'yempre manood ng libre at free short dramas. Sa ganitong paraan ay makakaipon ka ng coins na kung saan ay pwedeng magamit yun pang-less sa total na babayaran mo sa tuwing bibili ka sa Shopee platform.

Ano pa nga ba ang iba pang paraan? Nag-iisip ako na mag-invest sa global funds kung saan buwan-buwan ay bumibili ako ng worth 1,000 pesos na units. Nagiging posible ito sa pamamagitan ng pagclick ng Funds sa Maya, then proceed sa Seedbox Funds. At ang una kong nabili at nasimulan lang nitong September 1 ay ATRAM Global Equity Opportunity Feeder Fund. Kabibili ko lang uli nitong October 1 ng worth 1,000 pesos na units at kasalukuyang di pa nag-rereflect sa aking portfolio sapagkat may waiting period s'ya ng atleast 4 business days.

Kung umabot ka hanggang dito, tatanungin kita kung mayroon ka pa bang ibang alam kung paano kumita ng pera sa legal at safe na paraan?

Bago ko pala makalimutan, ang high-yield savings account or digital banks, ay isang mabisang paraan para madagdagan ang iyong ipon. Kung narinig mo na ang MariBank, Maya Savings, CIMB, GoTyme at iba pa, iyon ang aking tinutukoy.

I-steam Ang Corn Pwede Pala

Namiss kong kumain ng mais sapagkat madalas namin makita ng wife ko ang mais sa tuwing naggo-grocery kami.

Gusto ko sanang kumuha at bumili kaya lang sa tuwing maiisip ko ang proseso ng pagluluto ay napapaurong ako.

Naka induction stove kasi kami. Since need magpakulo ng tubig para lang makapagluto ng mais ay naiisip ko na magastos at malakas kumunsumo iyon ng kuryente kaya ang ending eh wag na lang.

Then recently lang eh bumili kami at sabi ko sa sarili ko, okay lang once lang naman namin yun gagawin. One time, binanggit sa akin ng asawa ko na pwede raw i-steam ang corn at isabay sa sinaing namin. Di ako naniniwala na posible yun kasi never pa ko nakakita ng ganun dati. Naalala ko pag nagluluto kami dati (nung mga panahong single pa ko) ng mais ay pinapakuluan namin ito hanggang sa maluto. At kung minsan, may mga nakikita akong naglalako ng lutong mais sa kalsada kung saan (base sa obserbasyon ko) ay waring naka-submerged ang mga mais sa loob ng isang malaking stainless na lutuan habang iniluluto.

Subalit iba naman ang obserbasyon ng aking asawa. Sa pagkakaalam nya ay parang ini-steam daw ang mga iyun. Hanggang sa sinubukan nga nyang isabay habang nagsasaing sa rice cooker namin at i-steam (may kasama palang extra utensil ang rice cooker namin na pinapatong lang sa ibabaw; ilagay ang ilang piraso ng mais sa loob pagkatapos ay takpan).

At laking gulat ko na pwede pala! Naluto ang mga mais at halos walang pinagkaiba sa inuluto sa mainit at kumukulong tubig.

Bagong kaalaman at natutunan mula sa aking asawa. Bukod sa pwede na kami makakain ng mais ng walang kahirap-hirap, ay laking tipid din sa pagkunsumo ng kuryente sapagkat isinasabay lang namin sa pagsasaing ng kanin.

Kayo mga kaibigan, matagal nyo na rin bang alam to o ngayon lang after mabasa ang blog post ko na ito?

Why Is “Cancel” on the Left and “OK” on the Right in Android?

This post is the answer to my previous entry I wrote here.

Here’s another little tech thing that I’ve always found interesting.

Whenever an Android app shows a confirmation dialog, you’ll often see something like:

[ CANCEL ] [ OK ]

But if you’re used to using Windows, this arrangement can feel a little weird. I personally remember being more accustomed to seeing:

[ OK ] [ CANCEL ]

So naturally, I wondered: Why does Android do it differently?

After looking into it, I found out that Android doesn't really think of these buttons simply as “left” and “right” buttons.

Instead, Android gives buttons different roles. There are Positive, Negative, and Neutral actions.

In a typical confirmation dialog, OK is considered the Positive action because you're confirming or proceeding with something. Cancel is the Negative action because you're rejecting the action or backing out.

Android's standard design convention places the Negative action before the Positive action. And that's how we end up with:

Cancel → OK

So, Android isn't necessarily saying, “Cancel should always be on the left.” It's more like saying, “This is the Cancel action, this is the OK action, and here's how our standard interface arranges them.”

Of course, different Android versions, manufacturers, and apps can sometimes arrange their buttons differently. Developers can also create completely custom dialogs.

Still, I found this interesting because it's one of those tiny differences between platforms that you don't really think about until you notice it.

Maybe I'm just easily amused by little UI details—but now whenever I see Cancel on the left and OK on the right, I'll know there's actually a reason behind it! 😄

Discount sa McDo Dahil sa Pag-Ibig Loyalty Card

Gusto mo bang maka-discount sa McDo?

Kung may Pag-Ibig Loyalty Card or Loyalty Card Plus ka, sureball na ang total amount ng food bill mo ay discounted ng 5%.

Given na dapat ang food bill mo ay minimum 200 pesos at hanggang 500 pesos lang (per transaction) maa-apply ang 5% off. Applicable rin ito mapa dine-in or take-out ang order mo.

Ang promo na ito ay hanggang November 5, 2026 na lang.

Ipakita mo lang ang iyong card at voila! Ibabawas na na nila yung 5% discount sa babayaran mo.

Kaya ano pang hinihintay mo? Kumuha na ng Pag-Ibig Loyalty Card or Loyalty Card Plus at sumugod na sa pinakamalapit na McDonalds sa inyo.

Hindi lang pala sa McDo may discounts ang paggamit at pagkakaroon ng Pag-Ibig Loyalty Card / Plus. Natry na rin namin ito sa Figaro Coffee dati (not sure kung kasama pa rin sila sa participating stores).

I-check ang kanilang website (Pag-Ibig Official Website) upang malaman san-sang stores pa pwedeng magamit ang nabanggit na card (including branches).

Enjoy!

Kumita sa Short Drama sa ShopBack

May bago akong natuklasan na kung saan ay kikita ka ng extrang pera sa panonood lang ng short dramas.

Sa mismong ShopBack app ay mayroon dun na Drama tab na pwede kang manood ng already Chinese-subbed na K-Dramas, Asian Dramas at kung anu-ano pa na short and summarized na (with English or Filipino subtitle).

ShopBack Screenshot 1

ShopBack Screenshot 2

ShopBack Screenshot 3

Sa kada 5 minutes ay kikita ka ng 0.10 pesos at may maximum daily watch ka lang na 2 hours na may katumbas na 2.40 pesos kada araw.

Kung kukumpyutin natin, may 72 pesos ka sa loob lang ng isang buwan (2.40 x 30 days = 72 pesos). Pagkatapos, 72 pesos x 12 months = 864 pesos naman per year. Di na masama kung 2 hours a day ka lang manonood sa libreng oras mo, then may extra income ka na.

Kailangan ay aktibo ka at nakabantay sapagkat every now and then ay may ads na kailangang i-close o i-exit nang sa ganun ay tuloy-tuloy ang pagtrack ni ShopBack ng watching hours.

Extra income na rin ito para sa mga may ShopBack account na at sa iba na naghahanap ng dagdag kita.

Kung wala ka pang ShopBack account, heto at i-click ang referral link ko. Bukod sa may cashback ka pa sa kada bili mo sa Shopee o Lazada, ay marami ring stores na pwede mong pagpilian.

Tara at gamitin ang ShopBack either sa pagsshopping man yan o panonood ng short dramas.

My Half a Year 2026 Cash Dividends From Philippine Stock Market

Nag-share ako ng total na kinita ko last year (2025) sa Philippine Stock Market.

Ngayon naririto uli ako upang ibahagi ang kinita ko sa halos lagpas kalahati ng taong ito (2026).

Imagine, almost 10,000 pesos na ang kinita ko at di pa natatapos ang buong taon.

Sana ay maging inspirasyon din ito sa inyo upang magsimulang pasukin ang Stock Market. Sya nga pala, REITS ang pinagtutuunan ko ng pansin.

Enjoy investing!

My 2025 Total Cash Dividends From Philippine Stock Market

Share ko lang sa inyo kung magkano ang total cash dividends na natanggap ko sa Philippine Stock Market.

Sana ay maging inspirasyon din ito sa inyo at magsimulang mag-invest sa Stock Market lalong lalo na sa REITS.

Enjoy investing!

Moshi Manju: Pinipilahan!

Sa tuwing magagawi kami sa SM Megamall, di namin nakakalimutang bumili ng masarap na merienda na Moshi Manju. Isang Philippine based store na nagtitinda ng freshly-made na small hot bread na may palaman sa loob (chocolate man o caramel/yema).

Ang "Moshi" ay galing sa Japanese greeting (moshi moshi), at ang "Manju" ay tumutukoy sa traditional Japanese sweet buns.

Photo Credits to Moshi Manju Official FB Page

Madalas namin bilhin ay yung chocolate-flavored. Ang aroma nito ay kalat na kalat sa paligid at langhap na langhap ito ng mga taong namimili sa Supermarket Building B.

Pagkatapos namin mag-grocery ay direcho na ang aking asawa upang bumili ng masarap, fluffy at tasty na Moshi Manju. 130 pesos lang ang isang box na may 24 pcs. na. Tinitipid namin iyun at kinakain tuwing almusal at merienda.

Tatlong beses palang namin nae-encounter ang store branch nila. Bukod sa SM Megamall Supermarket Building B, ay meron din sa may Market Market Taguig at Robinsons Galleria Ortigas.

Tara at tikman nyo na rin mga kaibigan. Kung natikman nyo na at suki rin kayong kagaya namin, alin sa mga flavor ang pinakagusto at pasado sa panlasa nyo?

Check Your Flight Online!

 Grabe may ganito pala.

Nakita ko lang nung nag-share yung bayaw ko (brother-in-law) ng flight ni Kuya at Ate Cons.

Flightradar24 ay website kung saan pwedeng makita o ma-track ang status (kalagayan) ng lipad basta alam mo ang Flight Number.

Nakaka-amaze kasi araw-araw pala eh ang daming lumilipad na mga eroplano at nakakamangha rin na napaka-sistematiko ng mga lipad nila. Siguro dahil sa bukod na malawak ang kalangitan ay may radar silang sinusunod upang di magkasalubong at maging maayos ang bawat paglipad.

Hayan at may bago na naman akong natutunan at bibisitahin sa tuwing may flight ako o kahit sinumang mga kilala ko basta alam ko ang flight details kagaya ng flight number at anong airlines ang sasakyan o sinakyan nila.

Muli may ilalagay na naman ako sa bookmark websites ko para madali kong mahanap ang Flightradar24.

Happy blogging and reading!

AI-Generated Art Is Everywhere—But Human Creativity Still Matters

Over the past few years, AI-generated art has exploded across the internet. With just a few text prompts, anyone can create stunning images in seconds. As impressive as this technology is, it has also sparked an important conversation among graphic artists, illustrators, and digital creators who have spent years learning, practicing, and refining their craft.

One question continues to surface throughout the creative community:

Will handcrafted artwork eventually be buried beneath the endless wave of AI-generated images?

It's a concern shared by many artists today.

The Time Behind Every Brush Stroke

Creating digital art from scratch is about far more than producing a finished image.

Every piece begins with an idea. It is followed by research, sketching, composition, color theory, lighting, perspective, anatomy, experimentation, revisions, and countless hours of refinement.

Behind every finished illustration lies years of learning, practice, and artistic growth. Most viewers only see the completed artwork, not the dedication required to develop the skills behind it.

That creative journey is something AI cannot experience.

AI Is a Tool, Not an Artist

Artificial intelligence is transforming creative industries in remarkable ways. It can help generate ideas, create references, automate repetitive tasks, and accelerate certain workflows.

These are all valuable applications.

However, there is an important distinction between using AI as a creative tool and replacing the creative process entirely.

At its core, art is a form of human expression. It reflects emotions, experiences, imagination, culture, and personal perspective—qualities that cannot simply be replicated through algorithms.

Why Human Artists Still Matter

Despite the rapid rise of AI-generated artwork, human creativity continues to hold lasting value.

People don't simply purchase artwork.

They invest in originality, craftsmanship, and the story behind each creation. Many buyers appreciate knowing that an artist devoted time, passion, and expertise to producing something unique.

Human artists also bring qualities that technology cannot fully replace, including collaboration, creative interpretation, custom commissions, emotional understanding, and the ability to adapt ideas through meaningful communication.

The Challenge Facing Creative Professionals

One of the biggest concerns within the creative community is the growing amount of AI-generated content appearing on online marketplaces.

When thousands of AI-generated images and designs are uploaded daily, handcrafted artwork can become more difficult to discover. This isn't necessarily because manually created work lacks quality, but because the sheer volume of AI-generated content can dominate search results.

For independent graphic artists and digital creators, standing out has become increasingly challenging.

How Artists Can Continue to Stand Out

While technology continues to evolve, there are many ways artists can showcase what makes their work unique.

• Share sketches and work-in-progress images.
• Show the creative process behind each piece.
• Explain the inspiration behind the artwork.
• Develop a recognizable artistic style.
• Build a personal brand based on authenticity.
• Continue learning and refining artistic skills.

These efforts help audiences connect not only with the artwork but also with the person behind it.

Supporting Human Creativity

Consumers also play an important role in supporting creative industries.

Choosing to purchase artwork from independent artists helps sustain years of dedication, education, and artistic passion. Every purchase supports creators who continue to invest time and effort into developing original work.

Technology will continue to advance, and AI will likely remain part of the creative landscape.

However, creativity has never been measured solely by speed or convenience.

It has always been driven by imagination, emotion, and the uniquely human desire to create.

Final Thoughts

Artificial intelligence is not inherently the enemy of creativity. Like any technology, it can be used responsibly, ethically, and as a tool to assist artists rather than replace them.

The hope shared by many creative professionals is that online marketplaces, art communities, and digital platforms will continue to recognize and celebrate handcrafted artwork while providing opportunities for artists who dedicate themselves to developing original skills and authentic creative expression.

As AI continues to evolve, one thing remains unchanged: human creativity has the power to tell stories, evoke emotions, and connect people in ways that technology alone cannot.

That is what makes genuine artistry timeless.

Best Websites to Sell Your Digital Art and Photography in 2026

Whether you're a digital artist, illustrator, graphic designer, or photographer, the internet has made it easier than ever to turn your creativity into a source of income.

Instead of relying on local clients alone, you can showcase your work to buyers around the world. From downloadable digital products to print-on-demand merchandise and stock photography, there's a platform for almost every type of creator.

Here are some of the best websites worth exploring.

1. Etsy

Etsy has become one of the most popular marketplaces for creative entrepreneurs.

You can sell:

• Digital illustrations
• Printable wall art
• Stickers
• Planner templates
• Wedding invitations
• Digital journals
• Photography prints

One of Etsy's biggest strengths is that you control your pricing, branding, and product listings while reaching millions of customers worldwide.

2. Gumroad

Gumroad is an excellent choice if you want to sell directly to your audience.

Creators commonly sell:

• Digital artwork
• Photoshop brushes
• Lightroom presets
• Tutorials
• eBooks
• Design templates
• Exclusive downloads

Because customers purchase directly from you, Gumroad is ideal for building your own creative business.

3. Creative Market

If you're a graphic designer or digital artist, Creative Market is one of the best places to sell professional design assets.

Popular products include:

• Fonts
• Icons
• UI kits
• Templates
• Mockups
• Illustrations
• Textures
• Digital graphics

Many businesses and fellow designers regularly shop here for high-quality creative resources.

4. Adobe Stock

If you're a photographer or digital illustrator, Adobe Stock allows you to license your work to businesses, marketers, publishers, and creative professionals around the world.

You can upload:

• Photos
• Illustrations
• Vectors
• Backgrounds
• Textures

Every download earns you a royalty, making it a great source of passive income over time.

5. Shutterstock

Shutterstock is one of the largest stock marketplaces in the world.

It's particularly suitable for:

• Travel photography
• Nature photography
• Business images
• Lifestyle photography
• Abstract backgrounds
• Vectors
• Illustrations

The more quality content you upload, the greater your chances of generating recurring sales.

6. ArtStation Marketplace

If you specialize in concept art, game art, fantasy illustrations, or 3D assets, ArtStation is an excellent platform.

Many professional artists sell:

• Digital prints
• Brushes
• Tutorials
• 3D models
• Asset packs

It's also a fantastic place to build your portfolio and connect with clients in the gaming and entertainment industries.

7. Redbubble

Redbubble lets you upload artwork once and sell it on a wide variety of physical products.

These include:

• T-shirts
• Hoodies
• Stickers
• Phone cases
• Posters
• Mugs
• Notebooks
• Tote bags

The platform handles manufacturing, shipping, and customer support, allowing you to focus on creating.

8. Society6

Society6 operates similarly to Redbubble but has a strong audience interested in home décor.

Your artwork can appear on:

• Canvas prints
• Framed art
• Pillows
• Blankets
• Furniture
• Wall décor
• Stationery

It's a great option if your artistic style complements interior design.

Tips for Increasing Your Sales

No matter which platform you choose, success rarely happens overnight. Here are a few ways to improve your chances:

• Upload consistently.
• Use descriptive titles and keywords.
• Create eye-catching thumbnails.
• Build a recognizable artistic style.
• Share your work on social media.
• Start a portfolio website or blog.
• Engage with your audience and respond to customer questions.

Consistency is often more important than uploading hundreds of designs at once.

Diversify Your Income

Many successful creators don't rely on a single platform.

For example, you could:

• Sell printable artwork on Etsy.
• Offer design assets on Creative Market.
• License photos on Adobe Stock and Shutterstock.
• Sell tutorials on Gumroad.
• Upload artwork to Redbubble and Society6.

This diversified approach can help create multiple streams of income while reducing your dependence on any one marketplace.

Final Thoughts

There has never been a better time to share your creativity with a global audience.

Whether you're creating digital illustrations, graphic designs, concept art, or photography, there are countless opportunities to earn from your work online.

Choose one or two platforms to start with, learn how they work, and gradually expand as your portfolio grows.

Most importantly, keep creating. Every artwork and every photograph you publish is another opportunity for someone, somewhere in the world, to discover your talent.

Watsons at Amber: Tamang Pangalan at Pagbigkas

Madalas kong marinig at bumili sa mga store outlets, kumpanya o bilihan ng pagkain.

Napapansin ko na madalas mali, may kulang o minsan sobra ng letra ang pangalan ng kanilang kumpanya.

Kagaya na lamang ng Watsons at hindi Watson; Amber at hindi Ambers.

Kahit ako madalas malito at magkamali sa tuwing binibigkas ko ang pangalan nila.

Kaya heto at minabuti kong gumawa ng blogpost nang sa gayun ay hindi ko malimutan at para maging aware na rin kayo.

Ang tinutukoy ko palang Watsons ay yung pharmacy na madalas nating nakikita sa loob ng SM Malls at Amber naman yung kilala sa kanilang pitchi-pitchi at masarap na pancit at spaghetti.

Sana ay may napulot uli kayong aral sa blog entry kong ito.

Importance of Beep Card

Ang laki ng benepisyo ng pagkakaroon ng Beep card para sa aming mag-asawa.

Lalo ngayon na nakatira kami dito sa Boni, Mandaluyong ay kitang-kita ang dulot nitong ginhawa sa amin.

Gamit na gamit namin ito sa pagsakay ng MRT patungo sa aming pupuntahan (Ayala Station, Taft Station o Shaw Station).

Dati pumipila pa ko para bumili ng single-journey card doon mismo sa loob ng MRT Station subalit may mga times na sobrang haba ng pila at napapansin ko na bakit ang iba dire-diretso lang sa pagpasok at pagtap ng kanilang kulay asul na card.

Doon ako nagpasya at naimpluwensyahan ng asawa ko na kumuha na rin ng sarili kong Beep card (sya kasi may sarili at hinihintay pa nya kong makabili ng single-journey card).

Hindi lang sa MRT nagagamit ang Beep card, kundi pati sa pagsakay sa BGC Bus.

Sana mas lumawak pa ang sakop nito nang sa ganun cashless na ang lahat ng transaksyon at napaka-convenient na rin.

Sa mga Beep card users, sumasang-ayon ba kayo sa blog post kong ito?

Shakey's to Potato Corner - Magkaano-ano Nga Ba?

• Shakey's
• Peri-Peri Chicken
• Potato Corner
• R&B
• Project Pie

Di ko alam na related at sister company pala ang mga ito. Nakita ko lang ang mga pangalan nila sa likod ng Supercard na inavail ko sa Peri-Peri Chicken (sa una) at Shakey's (sa pangalawang taon).

Tatlo palang sa kanila ang nasubukan at nakainan ko na (Shakey's, Peri-Peri Chicken at Potato Corner). Dun sa dalawa (R&B at Project Pie) ay hindi pa at kung may pagkakataon ay ita-try ko. Ang kaso hindi ko alam kung saan ba meron at saang parte ng lugar sila matatagpuan.

Hanggang dito na lang muna at maraming salamat sa iyong pagbabasa kaibigan.

Murang Promo, Pero May Hidden Agenda

Ang dami sa Facebook na ads na nagpapakita ng promo sa ganito sa ganyan lalong lalo na sa beauty treatment like facial or hair. Maeengganyo ka na mag-avail at pumunta tapos pag andun ka na, ang serbisyong ibibigay sayo hindi kaparehas nung serbisyo pag regular rate. Nakakatawa at nakakatakot kasi habang ginagawa pa lang ang serbisyo, bigla ka nang ino-offeran ng sobrang mahal na package. Sasabihin na discounted pa pero wag ka 12 months or 1 year na facial or treatment, tumataginting na lagpas 100k+ in pesos.

Natuto na kami at napasubo dun sa isang facial salon sa may Makati. Nadenggoy kami at ngayon nagbabayad ng monthly amortization na 10k+. Kaya pag may nakita ulit kami at gusto lang namin masubukan eh ginagrab pa rin namin pero pag yung offer part na eh mariin naming sinasabi na pag iisipan pa.

Never again na sa mga ganitong scheme. May time pa nga na na-offer-an pa kami ng products na pagkamahal-mahal. Lesson learned na lang at charge to experience. Magagamit pa rin naman namin yung mga products at yung services na na-avail namin. May walong buwan pa kami para bayaran sa bangko yung na-avail namin, chinarge ko kasi sa credit card ko at bayad na straight sa kanila yung presyo.

Kahit gaano ka pa kaingat sa pera, may mga scheme talaga na nakaka-loko. Diyan sila kumikita.

Kaya ingat sa mga promo na parang too good to be true—madalas pera lang ang habol. Lesson learned na namin, at sana magsilbing babala na rin ito sa iba.

Rediscovering Tumblr: A Cool Microblogging Platform

I decided to check it out since I keep receiving emails from them. Honestly, I don’t even remember why—maybe I created an account there a long time ago.

I searched online to see what Tumblr is all about and found that it’s a popular microblogging and social networking platform. It lets users create, share, and reblog multimedia content—photos, videos, GIFs, and text—on a customizable, short-form blog.

The idea of reblogging caught my attention. Imagine your posts getting popular when others reblog or share them with their friends or followers. Who knows, your content might even go viral!

Now I’m wondering if I should continue my presence there and get active again.

Anyway, if you’re curious about Tumblr, check out their site and see if it sparks your interest.

Happy blogging!

Not An Instagram User...

Dati nacurious ako ano bang meron sa Instagram kasi bukambibig at nababasa ko online. Nalaman ko na para pala ito sa mga taong mahilig magpicture at magcapture ng videos tapos pwedeng i-upload at maview ng ibang tao.

Gumawa ako ng account dati pero until now eh bihira or once in a blue moon ko lang ata yun naopen. Patok eto sa mga Gen Z at Millenials.

Anyway, sa mga interesado, i-click ang link ng Instagram. 

By the way, bago ko makalimutan, ang Instagram is owned by Facebook (now Meta).

Happy uploading and sharing!

What is .gitkeep and can I safely remove it once folder has files?

I recently encountered this when analyzing a template or boilerplate code in my workplace.

I noticed this weird .gitkeep file and I am curious on what that file is. So I went ahead to Microsoft Edge browser and used CoPilot AI.

I typed a question and immediately received answers.

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Here are the questions I asked:

"What is .gitkeep? Can I safely remove it once folder has files?"

CoPilot answered me with this:

"Great question! The .gitkeep file is often used as a placeholder in empty directories within a Git repository. Since Git doesn't track empty folders by default, adding a .gitkeep file forces Git to recognize and commit the directory.

Once the folder has actual files in it, you can safely remove the .gitkeep file—its only purpose was to ensure the directory was committed when it was empty. Removing it won’t affect anything as long as there are other files present."

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Another follow-up question I had is:

"Is .gitkeep a conventional file to commit empty directory?"

CoPilot responded to me with this:

"Yes, .gitkeep is a widely used convention for committing empty directories to a Git repository. Since Git does not track empty directories by default, developers often add a .gitkeep file inside an otherwise empty folder to ensure it remains in version control.

Although .gitkeep isn't an official Git feature, it's a common practice among developers for maintaining necessary directory structures. Alternatively, some teams may use other placeholder files like .gitignore with a comment inside, but .gitkeep is the more intuitive choice."

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That's it! I hope you find this useful esp. when you get a chance to see a .gitkeep file in your code repo.

Happy coding and programming!