Embracing the New Year

So how was your Christmas Holiday? I hope it was a blast as it was for me despite the not so perfect  circumstances that I think we all had.

As we are approaching another new year, I plan to make my new year a lot more productive and more happier.

What's do you plan to cook in preparation for the New Year? My sister requested that we do samgyupsal at home apart from the spaghetti/carbonara, fruit salad, cordon bleau, etc.

And so we bought the necessary ingredients for samgyupsal. If you know how to, you may start by clicking this link --> How to make samgyupsal at home

Before I end this post, I wish you an advance Happy New Year!

Christmas Season

It's that time of the year again.

Are you all done with your shopping list for Christmas?


Merry Christmas to you guys! (Just in case I won't be able to greet you later.) :-)

Cooking Tip: How to Drop a Raw egg in a Soup

Cooking Tip: How to Drop a Raw egg in a Soup

So.... With regards to the question raised above, how exactly do you drop a raw egg in a soup to have that egg strips like this picture below?

It's exactly like this:

After simmering the soup for some time (make sure that the soup is super hot), turn off the heat and the beat the shell of the egg and let the whole egg dive into the soup. Let it stay for a 40 seconds to a minute and then stir it gradually. The soup will have a bit of more than the white portion of the egg but it'll have that tiny egg strips which can be appealing.

BPI Direct Card Replacement Fee Reversal Update

BPI Direct Card Replacement Fee Reversal Update

And so after a week, no reversal has been made. I called up again and until that time the request is pending. I asked when would I be able to follow up again and same as always: by next week.

After another week, I haven't called their hotline but upon checking my account, still no reversal made.

BPI Direct Card Replacement Reversal

BPI Direct Card Replacement Reversal

The saga continues...

After more than 5 banking days as advised, I checked my transaction history and no reversal has been made yet. I called again the hotline to follow up. With the reference number I got, my request is still pending and was advised to follow up next Tuesday or Wednesday.

Lost BPI Direct card: An update

Lost BPI Direct card: An update

So after 2 weeks and days more since I talked to the phone banker, I wasn't surprised if I won't be able to use the new card immediately. Apparently since I'm in BPI Direct, they have to email or contact the BPI Direct so as to activate the new card. What I appreciate at my second preferred branch was how fast they try to solve the problem. In around less than a week, I was able to successfully change my PIN. However, when I check my transaction history, I noticed that there was another 150 php deduction from my account. I inquired from the BPI branch and they informed me that it is not them but the BPI Direct that did. What they advised is to call again the hotline for a reversal or give them the reference number so they could follow up. I opt for the former and the phone banker gave me a reference number which I could follow up if the 150 php is still not credited after 5 banking days.

Lost BPI Direct card: What to do? My DISAPPOINTING experience

Lost BPI Direct card: What to do? My DISAPPOINTING experience

I know that I might be messy at times but I rarely lost things. Imagine my anguish when I was suppose to withdraw some cash to buy some things and then when I checked my card holder pouch, it wasn't there. Sometimes I use that card for debit purposes so as to have a record on my purchases which can be helpful in tracking your expenses. I had a hunch that it wasn't in the bag I was usually using and how right I was when it wasn't so I came to the notion that the card fell along the way (or.....). The lesson I learned with that incident is not to bring your card or if really necessary, put it somewhere safe. My card holder pouch is new and I wasn't expecting that it was a bit loose. My mistake was to just put it in between the plastics. But one good thing about this is that I had a spare cash which can hopefully get me by until the next payday. The power of not putting all of your eggs in one basket!

If you encountered like this (either lost or stolen), I strongly suggest that you report it immediately by calling 89-100 and talk to a phone banker in order to block the card. You should also know your account number and he/she will do some verification to know if you are really the owner of the account. Card replacement is 150 pesos and is auto-debited which can be nice since I don't have extra money. You can also request where you can get your card. According to the phone banker that I talked to, you can get the new card within 5-7 banking days and present 2 valid identification cards.

Update: After 5 days, I went to the branch where I requested my card replacement to be claimed to inquire. Unfortunately, I was advised to follow up after a week. According to the person I talked to, card replacement request from their branch usually takes more that a month and the earliest that the card replacement can be made available is one month. She don't know if how long will it take time. I'll update you again on the next.

Update: After a week AGAIN, my new BPI Direct ATM card was now released but then AGAIN, I was unfortunately advised that I won't be able to use it as I will still be needing the PIN mailer or something I think that would enable me to change PIN and they will request it with BPI Direct which will take another 2 weeks. For me, this is such a hassle not be able to access my funds thru ATM. One wise thing I did before is that I was able to enroll it online. That way, I would be able to pay my bills or make transactions via online banking. I was made aware before that usually BPI Direct clients are not priority in BPI branches but this is very disappointing to say. I've been a holder for more than a decade as I've gotten this when I was still studying. But with this, I've been thinking of shifting to other banks.

Update on Sept 13, 2019: After 2 grueling weeks, I am expecting that I would be able to use my new BPI Direct card. BUT. HELL. NO. I was starting to get irritated not only because of this current problem but also because of BPI's customer service. With the two branches I've gone through regarding this issue, I wish they could improve more of their customer service. Be more approachable. Imagine yourself waiting for at least 30 minutes and then when you get your turn, you left disappointed. I've been inquiring for a couple of times now so I think it is safe to say that it is normal to feel irritated by this inconvenience.

Anyway, after I got my PIN Mailer, which for those of you who do not know yet is the temporary password for the NEW/REPLACED ATM, I tried to change PIN but transactions always turn into error. Transaction is cancelled and the receipt says DO NOT HONOR CAP. I was advised to try it out later as the system is sometimes down.

I tried again on another branch but the same error persisted. So I went to their customer service. Luckily, someone on that branch had an inkling on what might have happened. I was informed that they would still be requesting the BPI Direct to activate the card as the card is deactivated. They will inform me through text if I can change the PIN. And I don't know if when is that.

Update on Sept 20, 2019: I haven't received a text message from the other BPI branch that I went through but on a Monday, I have missed a call so I don't know if the call is from BPI. So in a Friday, I tried again to change PIN in the ATM but the error in the receipt now says PIN CHANGE REQUIRED. I inquired on that branch and I was again informed that they will still be waiting for the reply of BPI Direct and they don't know when will I be informed. I filled out again the form for I think 5 times now so I don't think the people are knowledgeable on my concern. It's like you're left stucked hanging in the air without a solution. Later that day, I was informed through text that my card is deactivated and would need a new card with a fee. I thought, what?! I haven't even use the card and then another fee again? 

I was thinking of emailing BPI Direct directly but I thought why not through a phone banker again? I called up their hotline 89-100 and relayed my concern to Ms. Shannon. Thank God she was able find out why it was deactivated. The cause was that the BPI branch where I requested my new card had released my card in their system without the PIN mailer. When a new card is released, you should change your PIN with the PIN mailer within 2 days or else it would be deactivated which had unfortunately happened to me. I rant out that the BPI branch released it to me without the PIN mailer and let me wait for 2 weeks for it. Ms. Shannon offered to waived the fee and from our conversation I would wait another two weeks then I could get the new card again in my preferred branch which is in another as I am disappointed in the first BPI branch. Hopefully, PIN change would be successful and I could use my ATM card again.

Netflix Documentary: Happy Jail

Netflix Documentary: Happy Jail

Happy Jail is a five episode Netflix's original documentary series about Cebu's dancing inmates. If you haven't heard of them yet, they are the inmates from Cebu, Philippines dancing to Michael Jackson's "Thriller" in the video whose gone viral in YouTube some time in 2008. It also depicts the life inside, how they cope and how they make their lives more bearable even when inside the prison. The documentary also tells revolves around Marco Toral, an ex-convict, who was made a consultant for CPDRC.

I highly recommend the film and I know that there are more stories to tell beyond the 5 episode but I enjoyed it a lot. Kudos to Michele Josue for creating this kind of film. 

Life Hack: How To Do Laundry (With washing machine)

Life Hack: How To Do Laundry (With washing machine)

I learned how to do laundry when I was a sixth grader. It was the first time that I used the washing machine. In the second or third year of my high school life, my mother decided not to hire a helper and we were tasked to wash our clothes. Though I had help from my mom from a time, I usually am the one washing my own. I was fond of hand washing the clothes even though we had a washing machine. It was gentler on the clothes but it was tedious of course. Based on my experience, the clothes tend to last more when you hand wash your clothes. Typically, I use only the dryer on the washing machine and rarely the spinner. For your information, at this time, the washing machine we use is a twin tub type. This habit of mine lasted even after I graduated in college. When we were deployed in a rural area for our immersion, we were instructed not to use washing machines just to experience the rural life but I was thinking that it will not pose as a problem for me as I usually prefer hand washing than washing machine.

Maybe it was a good thing that our washing machine of one to two decades old broke down that we had to resort to hand washing. But after some time, one day I realized that I'd had enough. Maybe I just got lazier and just want to make my life more easier after all these years. 

We bought a newer type of automatic washing machine where you just dump them inside and it would automatically wash, rinse and dry it based on how you program it. I usually use the enery saver mode. It takes about 26 minutes total.

Let's face it: using the automatic washing machine takes more water and consumes more electricity. So as much as possible, I refrain from using it if I had less clothes to wash.

So how do I do my laundry? You can scroll down below for some tips.

-SORT

This is one important step you need to take. Separate the whites and the colored ones clothes. I separate them also based if you're wearing it at home and outside your home. Separate the towels with the covers on the mattress and with the curtains. Separate your underwear and bras. One tip is to purchase laundry storage for underwears, socks, bras, white clothes and colored clothes so that you can sort it out as you go. It saves time and effort.

-SOAK

I cannot stress the importance of soaking your clothes with a bit of detergent even for just 15-30 minutes. There was a time that I just dumped my clothes on the washing machine. The end result turned sometimes okay but sometimes clothes tend to smell still which you don't want. I soak the clothes up based from what I sorted it out and then for the white clothes, I let out in the sun. I found out that the sun helps to whiten out more the clothes and feel that clothes are more sanitize this way because of the heat (so no more smelly clothes later on). What I do on a rainy day is that instead of letting it out, I use hot water instead.

First things first. I am not sponsored by any products that I say in this blog article but for white clothes, I turn to Breeze ActiveBleach by Unilever. One twin sachet is usually enough for me but if I want to make the clothes more cleaner, I add a half sachet. For the colored ones, I love to use Wings Active Guard. A sachet goes a long way on removing the smell from your clothes even on a rainy day. Too bad Wings ActiveGuard is not readily available in all supermarkets.

-RINSE

Yes. Rinse out that grime and smell. But before that, you can try rubbing out the clothes by your hands just to aid in disentangling the stains that the washing machine cannot do.

-WASH, RINSE, DRY

Finally, the easiest part of them all: dumping them into the washing machine. Again, I wash the clothes based on sort. If you can, refrain from using the washing machine with your underwear, bra or socks. If you can't, use a laundry net.

-DRY

Dry out your clothes using the hanger.

And that's it folks! I hope that it helps with your laundry woes! :-) 

Netflix: Kakegurui Live Action

Netflix: Kakegurui Live Action

credits for Kakegurui's Live Action official poster goes to:
 https://vignette.wikia.nocookie.net/kakegurui/images/a/a9/Liveaction.jpg/revision/latest?cb=20190214172615

I was browsing Netflix and came across this show Kakegurui Live Action. I thought it was interesting to binge so I watched this. Every episode is around 30 minutes less. The story revolves around the characters on an elite academy where basically gambling skills matter. Season 1 is around 10 episodes. Season 2 is 6 episodes I think.

By the way, I was shocked to learn that the actress (Minami Hamabe) which portrays the main heroine is too young. She looks mature in the show while she looks different in her usual pictures.

Cooking Kitchen Cook

Cooking Kitchen Cook

Almost every woman must know how to cook. It is actually an expectation when it comes to Filipinas. Filipino men are usually exempted from this expectation which is kind of biased in my opinion. Well, maybe because it is part of the Filipino culture before that women are usually at home and domesticated. But luckily, times are changing for the better. It's not bad to learn how to cook yourself because I consider this as a life skill.

If I remembered it correctly, I was duped by my mom into cooking pinakbet when I was in Grade 6. It was sauteing and mixing the vegetables in the pan. I learned how to fry an egg in my first year of high school (by the way, at that time we don't have the k-12 program which makes me realize that I'm old :-O). Then eventually, I discovered on my own how to cook the perfect sunny side up. Oh, I remembered just now: I was frying hotdogs when I was 9 or 10 years old! Hah! At that time, I was proud that I can cook for my cousin even it's just a hotdog! So basically I came to the realization that my life revolves around cooking! Yeah!

So I might like to inform you all that for some time, I might add some recipes or posts about cooking here later hoping it can help you. :-)

Stock question: If I sell on the Ex-dividend date, who will receive the dividend?

Stock question: If I sell on the Ex-dividend date, who will receive the dividend?

Hello people! I'm updating out my income and expenses (in short my finances) so I was able to check out where I am at currently when it comes to stocks.

Speaking of the topic, I still consider myself a beginner when it comes to it. And I became interested to know along the way regarding the question: "If I sell on the Ex-dividend date, who will receive the dividend?". So for the sake of learning, I tried to test out my hypothesis in which I was the seller of the stock.

I also searched the internet and used Google. From what I understood based on the answers posted in the cyberspace, if you are going to buy before the ex-dividend date, you are entitled to the dividend. However, if you purchased the stock on or after the ex-dividend date, the seller of the stock gets the dividend.

Just as I said a while ago, in order to test out what really is the truth, I sold out my stock on the ex-dividend date. I'm still waiting on the payout date so I'll update you later on.

UPDATE as of Aug 19, 2019: The payout date came and as of this day, I can now therefore conclude that even if you sell at the ex-dividend date of the stock, you can still get the dividend.

Life Simulation Game: Gameka's Nettworth

Life Simulation Game: Gameka's Nettworth

If you're looking for a way to spend time because you are bored, why not spend it wisely where you can learn? If you'll ask me, I would recommend you to try the Nettworth - a life simulation game which was developed by Gameka, a Malaysian game development company. You can download it at Google Playstore for Android phones or AppStore if you are using iPhone.

Why should you play Nettworth? Because aside from the pleasing aesthetics that it gives and which even the young ones can enjoy, the game can be a mode of learning on financial management which I rarely see on games.

In the game, you get to work (a tapping game) and be paid of course based on your occupation. You can study in the university and increase your work income. You can save the hard earned money you worked for in the bank and get interest for it, too! You can buy as much as you can with stocks which has 5 markets or pool it into the unit trust funds which can or can't make money. Or, if you have the cash, you can invest in the real estate which can provide you a hefty side earnings through rental income. You can also loan in the bank (but be sure to pay it all or pay the price!) or buy life insurance so that you can pass on some cash on to the next life. There is also a hospital in the game, so be sure to take care of your health too so the medical bills won't accumulate. You can buy food in the mall, or do some exercises for prevention of diseases. There's so much to do in the game and it teaches you how to manage money.

The bummer about this is that your device should have at least more than 2GB of RAM and you should have internet connection for it to work.

I tested it in a Lenovo phone of 2GB ram. The installation turned out to be a success. However, when I try to open the application, I can just access up to when you are at the start (you pick out whether you are a boy or a girl and name your character) and then automatically the application closes down. I tried but the succeeding attempts were a fail.

Next, I tried it on a Samsung Galaxy J2 Pro (it has 1.5 GB of RAM) which was weird because the game works on it but there are number of times that the game is lagging. So I thought, maybe it's the display? Samsung Galaxy J2 Pro has SUPER AMOLED display.

I asked my brother to install it on his Xiaomi Redmi Note 7 in order to test out my hypothesis. It has IPS LCD display which was the same as that of the Lenovo phone that I used only that it has 4GB of ram. My hypothesis was incorrect as the game is working out just fine on his phone.

But overall, I would still recommend that you try out this game as I liked it. And no, I'm not paid by Gameka. I just liked their Nettworth game. :)

Is BPI Online Now Safe for Transfer of funds to your COL account?

Is BPI Online Now Safe for Transfer of funds to your COL account?

There was a recent advisory last April 11 as post in the facebook of COL Financial to temporarily use other way of funding your COL account as BPI Online and Over the Counter Bills Payment is experiencing technical issues.

One good thing at that time is that I didn't need to fund my account these past few months. And now I'm nervous to try it. So here it goes:

I went to the BPI Online Facility Platform and then I clicked the Payment/Load. Next, I encoded the necessary details and then made the confirmation as BPI will send a One Time Pin on your phone for validation. Step 3 shown the transaction details.

I made a successful transaction at 10:15 pm and from my previous experience usually the money is credited to COL after 15 minutes. 

It's 10:35am and my transferred money is still not credited. I already tried to log out and logged in.

I checked again at 10:54 am and it's credited.

So to answer the question: Is BPI Online Now Safe for Transfer of funds to your COL account? YES.

New to the Philippine stock Trading/Investing? Try the Virtual Mode.

New to the Philippine stock Trading/Investing? Try the Virtual Mode.

If you read this article you might be interested in stock trading or stock investing. However, you might be adamant still and postpone it until later when you are finally ready.

Part of being prepared is finding your safety net first where you are at your most comfortable and then dipping your foot the next. I'm no newbie when it comes to stocks and I'm interested with personal finance and management for years. Though I didn't take stocks seriously before as I thought it was very high risk (and high potential reward too), I've been quite familiar with it for a while. Just so you know, the younger generations today are luckier than the previous generation because with today's technology, you can now set up, trade or invest your money with as little as 5000 pesos using your phones/computers. Imagine, you can always trade or invest at the end of your fingertips which wasn't available in the last two decades!

If you are planning to start investing in stocks, why not try first the virtual stock trading? That way you can learn how the stock market works and what will be your strategy once real money is involved.

Here are the websites in which you can try virtual stock trading:

• Investagrams Virtual Trading Platform

Netflix's Movie To Watch: Pihu

Netflix's Movie To Watch: Pihu

I'm not really a fan of Bollywood movies. I liked "The 2 idiots" movie because it was hilarious and it comes with several lessons. But there is something that caught my eye when I happened to come across a Bollywood movie in Netflix. The summary plot was was intriguing and I was planning to watched it at that time and then I got bored until now.

This movie is a thriller and from the 30 minutes that I had been watching it, is heart-stopping. There are many hazards for a 2 year old who was alone in the movie that you just want to cringe. 

Choose Your Own Adventure by R A Montgomery: A must read for a beginning Book reader

Choose Your Own Adventure by R A Montgomery: A must read for a beginning Book reader

With computers and tablets becoming more accessible and cheaper by the day and software application games are increasing in numbers, childrens' attention span are becoming short. And it may become a bad thing.

I grew up in a time when computers are still in their bit mode pixel type generation. I'm a millenial and I grew up liking books. I always look forward to my new books every time before starting school. Whenever I reminisce about my childhood, I'm overcome with nostalgia as I would be reminded of the time that I smell the books first and then scan the content before reading them later on.

Nobody coerced me neither reiterated that I need to read for the sake of gobbling up information. As a reader, I think that it is important that we instill love for reading on the younger generation today because it broadens the mind (aside from travelling around the world) and in time, the vocabulary.

If you're thinking of introducing books to the young ones, I suggest that you check out the works of R A Montgomery specifically his Choose Your Own Adventure series.

Side note: I think I owe my love for reading to the clay animation story books that I've read. I'm always fascinated with clay animation. :-D 

How to Check Your SSS Online Contributions

How to Check Your SSS Online Contributions 

Hello there everyone! If you are an employee like me, you might want to check out your SSS contributions online.

Aside from just making sure that your employer is compliant in remitting your contributions, you can also check in their new website your basic information displayed. So if ever you want to make some changes, you can do so. Your monthly contributions are also shown here and some other stuff too like Retirement application, Request for Records, etc.

-----------------

Here is the link:

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https://portal.sss.gov.ph/

Here is the screenshot of the site:

The New SSS website

You can still access the old SSS website by clicking this link: SSS old website. But if you're just checking for your monthly contribution, might as well use the new site as it's more convenient, faster and hassle free.

Making Samgyupsal at Home

Making Samgyupsal at Home

Who doesn't like a Samgyupsal party? The world is now taken over by Korean pop that everyone knows what samgyupsal is.

Okay...

For those who do not, it is popularly known as a Korean barbecue party where you grill your own food. Samgyupsal means pork belly but along with pork, beef and chicken is also served. I think that because of the booming Kpop craze today in the Philippines, the amount of restaurants which offers grilling had tremendously increased specifically those that offer unlimited grilling with their banchans or side sides. Prices usually range on an average of 500 pesos per person for an unlimited pork and beef selection.

If you are not really a big eater but always wanted to try it, you can always do it yourself at home. It may not be as like those in a restaurant but it is way cheaper and you get the bang for your bucks.

Here are the list of things you will need in a samgyupsal party:

Pork belly (Liempo)

Lettuce

Garlic/ Onions

Kimchi

ssamjang

Dipping sauce (Sesame Oil with bit of salt and pepper)

So in order to start, you need to purchase the essentials listed above.

The pork belly or liempo which I got for 256 php/kilogram at SM Makati. I think this is way cheaper than other supermarkets and wet markets. Though you might disagree with me at the mention of wet market but the problem with them is that sometimes the meat you bought weighs less and the vendor's way of handling the meat. Anyway, I got 6 portions of meat in a kilogram. The meat is around bit thicker, probably half or 2/3 of an inch in size. You can opt to buy a thinner slice (bacon slice) though it may cost you more. If I remembered it right, price costs around 289 pesos at a sale price and 296 pesos at a regular price.

After that, you clean it up with water and then pat the excess water with paper towel. Put a little bit of rock salt and pepper according to your preferred taste. If you want savory, you can purchase a marinade barbecue sauce. I dont know what is the reason but I noticed that the meat in a Korean restaurant is sliced a bit in portions.

I purchased the Green ice lettuce at Landmark. It costs 250 pesos per kilogram. But I think 2 packs are a lot already for 2-3 persons. I got mine 60-70 pesos per pack.

Let's move at the Kimchi portion. I used to make my own version of Kimchi and I like it better than the one bought in the supermarket. However, the kimchi powder is too expensive for me (costs around 600-700 per kilogram) and I sure won't be able to use that many. So I chose to buy a large tub in a Teppen Japanese And Korean Grocery store in Makati for about 180 pesos. Out of the kimchi that I bought, the one that I bought here had deep flavors and recommend this. It may be a bit spicy though. Teppen Japanese And Korean Grocery store in Makati has also lots of korean groceries. 

I bought a small tub of ssamjjang at 120 pesos at Landmark.

I can't remember the price of the Sesame oil but I got it from Landmark too.

The garlic and onions you can buy anywhere. Cut the garlic into small horizontal portions while the onions into like when you are doing onion rings.

For the dipping sauce, just pour sesame oil with a bit of salt and pepper.

You can use charcoal as it will be more flavorful because of it's smoky flavor but you can also use the stove. Some use the grill pan and others use the korean barbecue plate. Any pan will do as long as it is thick enough so that the meat will not burn easily. 

Now, preheat the pan. I watched somewhere in YouTube that they use the fat of the pork to oil the plate/pan. I tried to do that and it was effective. Then, I cooked the pork and put garlic on the sides. Turn them from time to time until they are cooked.

Arrange it and then you can start with your samgyupsal party!

Oh, and by the way, I would recommend not to forget drinking hot tea afterwards!

A Simple Samgyupsal. I'll be making some banchans the next time! 

Enjoy!

Priced At

I'll just ask everyone around here who might be reading this: what comes to mind when you see this picture below?

When you look at it, you might noticed that the package is around 8 pesos. And since it was a bargain, we got 3 of these.

However, when we were at the cashier, imagine our horror when it was priced at 8 pesos PER PIECE!

Some of you might blame me for not reading carefully. However, I believe that this tactic is just plain DECEPTIVE. And this is my second time encountering their dirty tactics.

First, why would they put four pieces of tofu in a package and then labeled it as 8 pesos? Given that there was a PC on the upper portion of the product but it should have been labeled as 8 pesos/PC or just indicate the total amount which is 32 pesos.

So before this day ends, I would like to warn everyone to be always cautious of the price tag and the content when shopping. As for that well known supermarket: You got it all for the people, alright but label your products CLEARLY. You might want to revisit the Consumer Act.

Netflix: Love O2O (Series or The Movie)?

Netflix: Love O2O (Series or The Movie)?

Good day everyone! It's the first day of June and how time has flown so fast.

I happened to watch a part of the TV series Love O2O in facebook about a couple of mean girls in college trying to bully and shame a female gamer. She happened to be a beautiful and the girls thought that she was a sham and was just pretending. In order to prove that she was what they thought she wasn't, she challenged them into a duel. This, along with a caption, had piqued my curiousity so I watched it at Netflix (which I'm unfinished with it still). It was recently that I discovered that there was a movie so I'll be making a bit of preference here.

For the cast, I would choose the main lead actor of the television series and the lead actress in the movie because I found them more suitable for the roles they're given. And for the supporting roles, I guess the people who partook in the television series were quite funny.

I guess Love O2O has become a hit story that there was even a television series and a movie about it. Overall, I find the movie more bearable to watch than the series.

Television, Ads, and Movies..

Television, Ads, and Movies..

So, who's still on the cable television these days? Gone are the days that you need to grit your teeth with the dozen of advertisements shove into your face. I get it that these are ways in order for television networks to make money. However, it seems to me that there are more time for ads than the actual time for the program I am watching for. So.. it's a bummer for me and I think this is quite a bit unfair to the viewers.

I usually don't watch television nor watch movies like I used to before. When I watch a movie or a series, my attention span is so short that almost 80-90 percent of the time that I'll just watch it for around 2-5 minutes at most and then roam around doing another thing.

P.S. Oh, my bad. I forgot. There is still teeth gritting with ads. Go to YouTube then you'll see.

Precepts

Precepts

It's Labor Day!

Every first day of May, we are celebrating Labor day in the Philippines. Some people would usually use this opportunity to voice out their concerns by participating in a rally. And a lot of municipalities would conduct job fairs.

So how do you spend your time in the celebration of Labor Day?

What I Learned from Netflix's Original Documentaries EXPLAINED

What I Learned from Netflix's Original Documentaries EXPLAINED

A bright day hello to all of you who are reading this! I've been binging on Netflix these days. And so, with some a bit of enlightenment I've had these past few months, I've decided to try making every day purposeful as much as possible. I will be summarizing those that I had watched based on what I understood.


Episode: Music, Explained

In this episode, making and listening to music entails huge amount of processes in our brains. Music makes us human and can be helpful in a lot of ways. Like utilizing it for medical reasons, for example.

Episode: Diet

The lesson takeaway in this episode as that in order for a successful weight loss, find a diet that you can adhere to consistently.

Episode: Kpop

The most profound takeaway I heard in this episode was these "K-pop was marketed as a product just like a car but people are finding ways to enjoy it." It was surprising to know that most composers for k-pop are foreigners (Swedish or American). I assumed that it was the people in Korea who are creating it. 

Padre Pio Church in Sto. Tomas, Batangas: How To Go and How Much Will It Cost

Padre Pio Church in Sto. Tomas, Batangas: How To Go and How Much Will It Cost

My family had been planning to go to Padre (it means Father in Tagalog) Pio Church for a while and last Sunday the plan came into fruition.

Neither one of us knew how to get there and I searched here in the cyberspace how to get there but can't find the exact fare or the exact where to go. I expected that the travel time will be about 2 hours or less and it would cost us around 200+ in Philippine pesos on a one way ticket bus each person.

And so, we woke up at around 4 am and left the house at around 6:30 am. From Sucat Highway we took a bus going to Alabang. Just ask the one issuing the tickets or driver first before boarding if they will be able to drop you off at the Terminal in Alabang. As of April 7, 2019 the bus fare from Sucat to Alabang (airconditioned) would be 13 pesos.

Next, when you are able to reach the terminal of buses in Alabang, just ask the people there where are the buses that will be going to Lucena. We were able to reach the terminal at around 6:48 am and the bus took off at 2 minutes before 7 am. The bus stayed almost 20 minutes near the highway in front of the Starmall Alabang before taking off at last. The fare for airconditioned buses will cost you 82 pesos each. If you also have in mind to find the Rose & Grace Restaurant (because of the BULALO that Batangas is famous for), you will first see it when you are sitting in the right side window portion of the bus. And then after a few distance more, you will see an overpass bridge with tarpaulin welcome to padre pio. One landmark I could tell you is a Jollibee branch next to a church on the left side of the bus and adjacent to these buildings is the L?G building (I apologize because I don't remember if it really is LTG BUILDING). Or, if you are not sure, just ask the driver to drop you off near Padre Pio. We arrived there at 8:00 am. 

Then, have you noticed the small market place on the right side? You will walk straight ahead where you will pass by a 7-11 store and walk until you get to see the Tricycle terminal which will take you to Padre Pio. We thought there was a line but there wasn't so it was a bit chaotic. The lady in the table said that the driver will just shout it out where he will go. The tricycle fare cost 10 pesos each but if your going to go special then it would cost you 50 pesos.

There is no bus terminal where you first had been dropped off near Padre Pio. You'll have to wait for a passing bus. Fortunately, we were be able to board the bus at around 12:45 noon and arrived at Starmall Alabang at 1:30 pm which I think is pretty fast. 

Tweet of the day

"There's comfort in two but freedom in one." - Sanegeal Farmhear

The Good News is Here!

The Good News is Here!

Okay.

In my previous post, I said that I'll tell you some good news. And the good news is that:

*drum rolls*

Our Kobi (though his name is really spelled as Kobe but I like Kobi more so I'll be using this instead of that) is a Parvovirus survivor! 

Hep hep Hoorray!

He's such a dog. I do not know what his breed is (so don't ask me please). However, when a picture of him was seen by my mom's friend, she thought he was a mixed breed of a border collie. He was actually brought by my brother one evening without consulting us (Got to hand it to you, nice tactic bro). And since then, my mom and I are usually the caretakers of this cute, playful and energetic little pup.

So imagine yourself in a situation where suddenly one day, the high energy level of your little pup changed. He just looks at you and then doesn't even eat the treats you give which excites him before. He may try to sniff it and then put it in his mouth a bit and then put it out again. He doesn't drink anything. When you try to know what's wrong, you observed that he is making a hyperactive bowel sounds without the stethoscope. Usually when hyperactive bowel sounds happens to humans, it means that the gastrointestinal tract is working with nothing inside and sometimes it connotes that one is hungry.

One thing that I learned in that critical point is that when you had grown accustomed to someone, it hurts so deep. I've never bawled so much for someone before. Thank God that he is a fighter and survived.

Yo. Yo. Yo.

Yo. Yo. Yo.

Hey! What's up March?

There something that happened this month and hoping that the good news will continue. I'll be talking to you about this later.

Anyway, there is another good news to share: 

Happy five years to AllThingsFar! Hurray! We've made it far!

To tell you something, I've been blogging way back before this blog had even started. I created this blog because I decided to be consistent and made a goal to post a least one entry per month in this blog.

Most probably a lot of us would now use a lot of channels such as YouTube to watch and entertain ourselves. We are now in an era where we are not contained anymore in watching television. We have many options and sadly many distractions.

I use this blog as an extension of my personal space. I share my experiences and gained knowledge hoping that someone might somehow benefit from what had worked and learned from what hadn't.

Enjoy reading and thanks for visiting my blog!

Snippets from The Umbrella Academy series

If you're more on to using YouTube and Netflix rather than your usual cable television these days, you may heard of Netflix's new trending series The Umbrella Academy. It was written and created by Gerard Way and Gabriel Ba.

Here is the trailer:

I'm currently watching it at episode 5 and so far the series is interesting to watch. I recommend that you watch it and would like to share to you some profound snippets worth keeping.

• "You must become the master of your life, Four. Or it will become the master of you." - Dr. Hargreeves to young Klaus. Episode 4
• "But I've been around long enough to know that when something seems too perfect, it's usually anything but." - Allison to Vanya. Episode 5

Life Hack: How to Store Coffee Creamer and Prevent it from Getting Hard

Hello people! How are you all doing today?

Adulting. This is just one word but it could mean so much because we eventually are in this phase before we know it.

One aspect of being an adult is managing things at home on our own. From time to time I like drinking coffee. And I also like it creamy. Who have encountered their coffee creamers getting hard after some time?

This has been a dilemma especially in the Philippines as the country is a very humid place. Fortunately, I found out a solution for me that would hopefully help you out.

If you're in the Philippines, a lot of products are in a small plastic packaging or what we call "tingi". Most of Filipinos can't fathom to purchase big bulks of consumable goods at one time as this would be inconvenient though these products in smaller packages comes in a more expensive price.

So where do we come next? If you're purchasing the plastic one, in order for your coffee creamer to prevent from getting hard, don't put the contents in the canister. Cut it open in the edges diagonally as small as possible. And then after getting the amount you need, fold the cut diagonally to close the opening, twice or thrice and sealed it with a clip. There would be a time that you may notice small lumps of cream near the opening. Just cut it again a little bit bigger and then fold again. And that's it!

Let me know if it works for you.

Your Life is Your Own to Live. Nobody gets to say what.

Your life is your own to live. 

Nobody gets to say what you should do, look and feel.

How To Withdraw COL Funds Using their New Online Facility Feature

How To Withdraw COL Funds Using their New Online Facility Feature

I've been with COL for almost a year, and so far it has been great. I usually fund my COL account through BPI's online banking facility. Making it online makes it easy and convenient. And before I decided to ever put in a huge amount, I'm looking into the process of how to withdraw my funds in COL just in case I want to. I haven't found here in the web how to so I'm trying out their online facility for the first time and share it with you.

1. First is to log on to your account in the COL website.

2. Click the TRADE tab then under it the PORTFOLIO tab. After that, you will see on the right side portion a link (Beside View Rights Offer) that says WITHDRAW REQUEST.

3.  Next, you will see this page. Read and make sure that your bank account details are current and accurate then click OK.

4. You will see this page after. If you want to let them deposit directly into your bank, fill out the details below:

• 4.1) Amount to Withdraw: Put the amount you wish to withdraw.
• 4.2) Deposit to Enrolled Bank Account: Tick YES
• 4.3) Check Pick Up: Tick NO
• 4.4) Uncross Check: Tick NO
• 4.5) Withdrawal through a Representative: Tick NO
• 4.6) Click SUBMIT

5. After clicking SUBMIT, a page for verification of withdrawal will appear like this. You have to input your password if final then click CONFIRM.

6. A web page of confirmation receipt will appear.

Update: I received the fund on the same day more likely around 7-8pm.

First post of the Year!

Hey you! Happy New Year! :-)