How to Deal with Fake News

What is Fake News

Its definition is unclear and can vary based on whom you ask and it is used in an increasingly politicized ways across much of the world. Though its rise in notoriety is mainly a result of its prevalence in different social media platforms, it now has widespread significance for politics, journalism, and how people everywhere share information online.

Fake News is often from malicious clickbait sites whose intention is to circulate viral stories that generate large numbers of click-throughs to sell advertising. These sites generally appear as if it's mainstream news outlets, utilizing the same templates to simulate the appearance of major news sources.

The terminology Fake News was originally used to refer to stories that were wholly concocted, mainly for the purposes of deceiving Facebook's algorithm to reach a larger online audience. By using sensational headlines formed from popular current affairs and hot-button issues, these sites receive a lot of traffic and therefore generate high advertising revenues. with fake news sites, the money is made on the back of duplicity, clickbait and plagiarism.

These sites are also often expressly devised to delude and generate high volumes of traffic to spread misinformation and serve a purpose for specific groups with different agendas. Much of the Fake News that filled Social Media during the course of last year’s halalan season consisted of written pieces promoting false information or perpetuating propaganda with the purpose of distorting the truth for emotional persuasion or seeking to drive action.

In its purest form, Fake News is completely made up, manipulated to resemble credible journalism and attract maximum attention and, with it, advertising revenue or distorted public sentiment.

Its Impact
Misinformation can be challenging to rectify and may have lasting ramifications even after it is corrected. The result of all this misinformation isn’t merely ignorance. It can also incite grave consequences.

Fatimah Joy Almarez, Assistant Professor of the Mindanao State University and a resident of Iligan City shares her thought on the impact of Fake News in relation to the Marawi Siege. “Fake news is another form of terrorism. It adds fuel to an already volatile situation, feeding anxieties, and causing both panic and paralysis. I have friends who say they're too scared to go to crowded places, and just go home straight after work. There was an incident one afternoon when a close friend heard that a terrorist was on the loose and when he saw people running, he also ran, straight to his boarding house to bathe, pack up and go back to his hometown.”

She laments that “Now, our conversations are mostly about bomb threats and other attacks supposedly planned by the Maute group. Memos and screenshots of warnings are uploaded to convince everyone to be more vigilant, as if we need some more convincing”. She adds “a Maranao friend told me they share these reports of threats because before, they used to get like warnings, and just ignored them. And see where that got them”.

“I can't count the number of warnings I've received through private messaging and sms. I waited for bombs to explode last June 12, and ended up thanking God for the peace and quiet which pervaded my part of the city. A couple of times, I've been told that Maute supporters have been found near our place. Again, I wonder what on Earth I'm supposed to do with these news. I have come to a point when I've decided not to surrender my freedom to terror, so I'm trying to reclaim my life. I go where I need to go. I go out with friends. I've started walking home again. True, I do these things before 8.30 pm, in deference to the 9 pm curfew imposed within the city, but I still feel better now that I am winning over the bottomline of all these things: terrorism.”

The impact of fake news for the public is quite serious. This has a devastating consequence on people’s freedom to gain access to reliable information so that they can make informed decisions which affect their lives.

Moreover, the danger is that the decimation of fake news impacts the way that we appreciate and respond to actual news, both consciously or not. If being used as propaganda, often those spreading Fake News don’t care whether the readers really believe the specific thing they are spreading. They don’t have to get you to actually believe what you are reading. They just have to get you confused enough for your ability to distinguish the truth waivers, which is still deception. Faced with so much contradicting information, many people are prone to think that everything is biased, everything conflicts, that there is no way to get credible information. When the audience is conditioned to doubt everything they see in the news, it may lead to devaluation and destabilization of society’s system for information.

How it Spreads
Thousands of people share fake news, from the well meaning netizen to the deliberate ones. This is how Fake News is typically spread. Perhaps this is due to the riveting headlines in our feeds that makes it easier for us to share content rather than evaluate or even read it. Moreover, when people see an article shared by someone they know or trust, regardless if it is from unknown media source, people tend to have much more trust in the information than people who see the same article from a reputable media source shared by a person they do not know.

One more contributing factor, is confirmatory bias. People tend to easily accept information that conform with their beliefs and cast aside information that does not.

At the end of the day, we all should have a better understanding about Fake News. The root cause of this growth widely and rapidly is a lack of understanding. The public is unable to identify what their sharing is Fake News.

Spotting Fake News
Rocco Baldassarre, CEO of Zebra Advertisement specializing in Search Engine and Social Media Marketing Campaigns says "look at the url that hosts news to find out whether the source is reliable.” Fake News sites often try to deceive people by using a URL similar to that of an established news site. Check for suffixes or unexpected numbers or letters. Many fake news sites mimic authentic news sources by making minor changes to the URL.

Checkout the headlines. False news stories usually have overtly sensational headlines. If shocking claims in the headline sound inconceivable, they probably are.

Look into the sources and citations that the article provides. Ensure that the article is written by a source that you trust with a reputation for truthfulness. Authentic news stories will quote interviews, provide figures, and backup their claims with facts.

Fake news stories often use manipulated images or videos. Sometimes the photo may be authentic, but taken out of context. You can search for the photo or image to verify where it came from by right-clicking on the image and you will have the option to search Google for it.

Watch for odd formatting. Check for misspellings or awkward layouts. Read carefully if you see these signs. Look for signs of low quality, such as words in all caps, headlines with grammatical errors. Poor design often means the news site is not legitimate. Reputable sources have high proofreading and grammatical standards.

A number of Fake News sites state that they are fake or satirical. However, this information may be hidden in the fine print at the end 0of an article. Check whether the source is known for parody, and whether the story’s details and tone suggest it may be just for fun.

Look at other reports from established sites. If no other news source is reporting the same story, it may mean that the story is false.

Check a site's “Contact Us” and "About Us" section. Find out who are associated with it. If this information is not available and if the site requires that you register before you can learn anything about its, you have to wonder why they aren't being transparent. Read the “About Us” section for more understanding into the publisher, leadership, and mission statement.Genuine news website should provide a method for readers to reach out with questions or concerns. If a website does not have a “Contact Us” page, and no way to reach the author, the site is likely a fake.

Many people are unable to distinguish real news from Fake News, and those with vested interests are taking advantage of the situation. The creation and spread of Fake News and hoaxes on the Internet is money-oriented, politically-motivated or linked to other hidden agendas. We should all remember that news is not there to tell us what to believe. News exists to inform us. Though, journalists should have an obligation to uphold standards, readers and consumers have a responsibility as well. We're supposed to think critically when we get our news; not always putting the blame on fake news stories for misinforming us. We must take initiative in combating the spread of misinformation and have a proactive role in curbing the spread of this Fake News phenomenon that misleads and manipulate public opinion.

How To Talk Politics

The Philippine political landscape has been extremely divisive in the last few months. The current administration has divided the country into opposing sides and this binary debate has trickled down to every crevice of our society up to the most basic unit, that being families. It has resulted to friends disassociating from each other, work relations being affected and strained family ties. All due to the very diametrical stance on politics
for Filipinos today.

Moreover, due to the rise of social media; what used to be the prevailing viewpoint being a very liberal democratic approach and humanist worldview in which the liberal thinkers, the catholic church, the intellectual class and mass media having monopoly of the discourse, has drastically changed. This is due to the emergence of digital technologies, allowing anyone who has access to be able to have a platform to express their own political view and critique and articulate their own perspectives.

With the rise of these platforms where everyone’s voices can be heard, the aggressiveness in the manner in which we communicate with each other to those with dissenting opinions have become acerbic, from trolling to death threats, the discourse in which we communicate with each other has turned for the worse. One can argue that this vigorous support, fanatical devotion or stance in politics suggest that such support is a product of constant anxiety. This gains currency from the vocabulary of crisis, fear and danger, and is strengthened by enactments of democratic agency among citizens who have been in the margins of politics for a long time. Anxiety constricts the space of political discourse by invoking tough language for us to express our frustrations, anger and aspirations.

Due to this, a need arises for us to reflect on how we communicate with each other in terms of discussing our political views. The simplest approach to stay civil is to simply refrain from any discussion on politics.

But shouldn’t reasonably sensible adults be able to discuss politics without the conversation turning acrimonious?

Politics, it seems, is a common topic among filipinos now more than ever, and one wonders how should one deal with such contentious topic in an increasingly volatile political atmosphere.

How to Engage
Find a common ground

Identify the nuances of each other’s positions. Listen to people with openness. If the person concurs with something you oppose, that doesn’t mean you should discount what they are saying, what you can do instead is find a common ground. You can make room for one another to see things in a different perspective, and you may find commonalities. You may both share the same positive thoughts on certain actions or on the inappropriateness of certain behaviors practiced by the administration or the opposition. Be open to discovering those points of connection and keep an open mind. Far better as you listen to an opposing perspective to look for something you can agree with.The greater expression of agreement, the more the dialogue will feel productive.

It may be that while you clash on certain points, you can agree on a larger more valuable position. You may have common hopes and aspirations in terms of key policies which can steer the country to a much faster road to progress for all. Almost all disagreements are due to diverging views on strategy and not purpose, so looking for areas where you are both aligned can make for a more enriching point of discussion. Finds areas of consensus rather than contention. Look for a more substantial principle governing differing opinions and you’ll most certainly find a mutual justification behind your convictions.


Take it as an opportunity to Learn from one another and not to Persuade

Approach political conversations as an opportunity to learn from others and not to change minds, push your own perspectives or to judge another’s choice. Plainly being eager to learn about another’s position is sufficient motivation to engage in a political discussion. However, if your intention is of converting the other person you’ll be inclined to become Machiavellic or coercive. Consider what you have to gain through understanding what’s most important to the other person. Think about how you’ll benefit from learning the reasons behind an alternative viewpoint.

Trying to sway the other person’s political leanings is often an act of futility. Consider what is your predisposition in stepping into political conversations. Is it with the intent to understand—or to persuade? Now’s the moment to frame a course on the basis of mutual exchange. Set a higher intention when conversing and let it serve as your compass as the discussion takes place.

Gaining real understanding of another person’s position doesn’t mean you have to agree or alter your own stance. Healthy political discussions are based on respect, even when you don’t agree. Respect the other person’s views in the same manner you’d like them to respect yours.You may find greater appreciation on how to respectfully disagree. Think about the benefit you gain through learning to encourage understanding—instead of eroding it—through opposition. Such a skill is, nowadays, becoming a lost art.

When to Disengage
A pattern that can be observed within political discussions, is the reluctance to allow the others to express their side. As soon as someone expresses a view that differs from their own, they shut off, over talk or attack the personality of another so alternative viewpoints cannot be heard.

It may be very tempting to expose the inaccuracies of the other party. But it’s seriously narrow-minded. Someone who is unsure of the validity of his argument or is failing to sustain an intelligent debate will be tempted to resort to inflammatory language and insults. Such language only engender rancor and will quickly steer the discussion into a pointless exercise. Derogatory labeling similarly does not add any value to the conversation and does not put forward engagement e.g. Yellowtards or Dutertards.

When emotions are running high, conflicting views over politics can deteriorate the discussion. Before that occurs, the best route is to agree to disagree or simply disengage and not press your point no matter how correct you believe your opinion to be. If you demean another person, it’s very hard to converse with them. The point of discussions is not to coerce, but to understand. It’s possible for people to have opposing viewpoints without resorting to derogatory comments. Present your points in a composed, well-reasoned manner. The ability to tolerate and learn from differences is essential to a healthy discourse.

A lot of controversial issues are contentious because there is no easy answer. Provided all the available evidences and facts, intelligent, reasonable people can come to radically different interpretations on issues like the war on drugs, death penalty, human rights abuses, etc.

Unless someone is vociferously advocating bigotry, intolerance or violence, take the highroad and disengage. When there are clear indications that the conversation is becoming one-sided or is about to escalate, be the bigger person and walk away.

Civility is Key
Civility speaks of our ability to disagree while simultaneously uplifting one another. Through civility we refine the art of engaging with others. As there are no absolute truths that can hold us together, it is only our fervent bid to civilized discourse that allows us to preserve the sacred space that makes conversing, most especially in terms of politics, possible. Everytime we forgo the proper way of talking to each other in regards to how we express our views, an inch of our democratic space dies.

The false binary of pro or anti administration does not lend any analytical coherence to these positions for they are far more nuanced, complex and continually negotiated.

Now is a very good time to open up ourselves up to be heard and to hear the views of one another to have better understanding. More than sharp critique, what would greatly benefit our public sphere is a more nuanced weighing of the various issues in regards to politics.

Travel Tips: A Poor Girl's Guide

Being on a budget should not stop you from traveling all across the globe, visiting breathtaking sites to feed your wanderlust. Savvy Jet-setting frugal travelers strike the perfect balance and bring just what they need, with a little help from this list of road-tested packing tips, of course!

Pack appropriately

Dress for Activities or functions you will be attending.  If you are going to a place which requires a lot of heavy activity, work boots and jeans and shirts would be in order. If you are travelling to attend a formal function or meeting, a costume may be in order. If you are teaching and training inside a church, you might need more conservative and modest clothing. Find out what kinds of activities you will be doing there. This will help you know what to pack. Generally, you will need comfortable shoes at some point in your trip. Don't dress for fashion; be practical.

Pack Smart

Store footwear and heavy items along the luggage’s wheel base. Fill shoes with socks or bulky items that would fit, and then put them in individual bags, with the soles facing the sides of the suitcase. Rest other heavy items, like a flat iron, hair dryer and a toiletry kit, next to or on top of shoes. Placing heavy items near the wheels stabilizes the bag’s center of gravity, so it won’t topple over when upright. Make use of empty spaces such as shoes. When it comes to packing, you need to make use of every little space you can. Roll underwear, tops, and other small items and stuff them into your shoes to make sure every possible space is filled.

Foolproof Packing

Line the bottom of the inside of your baggage with a plastic trash bag. After you’ve packed, add another one on top of it. This helps ward off wrinkles because of the bag’s slippery surface; folded clothes don’t stay in one place long enough for creases to set. Plus, if your suitcase is off-loaded from the airplane in the rain, your clothes won’t get drenched. To avoid stains, always make sure your light colored clothes are packed inside out, and keep the disposable shower caps from hotels and use them to cover the base of your shoes.  Allocate one sack for your cosmetics, another for hair products, and one for skin-related items. Place the bags in the side corners of your suitcase or in a zippered outside pocket.

Keep it Dry

Solid shampoo bars and tooth powder instead of paste can easily be found on the internet and make carry-on travel in these times of liquid restriction possible. Places similar to Beijing now prohibit all liquids in carry-on bags, and you'll still be able to go through checks without the hassles. The liquid restriction does not apply air-side, so purchase anything you will need in larger amounts once you have gone through security.

Luggage Scales anyone?

This is the secret weapon to assist you in not getting charged unnecessary fees at the airport. Invest in a luggage scale and make sure you weigh your bags on both ends of your journey to see how close you are to reaching the weight limit. If you're on the brink of the limit, consider wearing some of the bulkier items or cut down on what you pack in the first place.

To Roll or to Fold, that is the question

By some means it seems that bags will hold a lot more if the clothes are rolled rather than folded. If you roll in paper, the clothes will also get less wrinkled. Roll softer garments and fold clothes with stiffer materials. Underwear, T-shirts, cotton pants, jeans, and knitwear won’t wrinkle when rolled tightly. Stiffer fabrics blazers, such as starched cotton shirts, dressy pants, and skirts, should be carefully folded.

Ladies Remember!

To avoid your pressed powder or shadows from cracking during your travel, put a flat cotton pad in between the pressed powder and the lid. 

Stow inexpensive pieces of jewelry in a seven day plastic pillbox. If you must take precious gems, wear them during your travels to reduce the possibility of loss or theft.

Opt for travel-size multi-purpose products. Like a tinted-moisturizers that can be used as foundation or tints for the lips and cheeks, a soap, and shampoo in one, and wipes that clean hands and face.

10 Reasons your Business Should Use Pay Per Click Advertising

There might be many times when you wondered if some online advertising would benefit your business. Here are 10 reasons why:

1) There are people out there looking for your service right now

People actively use Google to look for products or services and they use terms that clearly indicate the intent to perform a purchase. Being in front of these potential users is essential to the success of your business. Make sure to have a website that is set up to generate leads and not just a few badly optimized pages.

2) Your competitors are advertising right now

Check any keyword related to your products or services and you will certainly see competitors bidding on them. If you see them bidding over time it most certainly means that they are actually generating sales and that you are missing out on potential leads.

3) Pay per Click is one of the fastest ways to generate results

Pay per click is much more different than any other form of advertising. You will be able to see the impact on your bottom line right away. Even though it can generate a lot of indirect sales and long term word of mouth, you should be able to see an impact on the short term as well. This means that you can test a small amount of money and find out if it is worth pursuing it.

4) It is a great way to support offline advertising

Online and offline advertising get well along together. Many studies from Google have shown that a lot of offline sales were due to people visiting an online store first. This also implies that you need to make it clear to your customers where they can find you in case they prefer to first see what they buy.

​5) It is extremely targeted

Traditional marketing means end up targeting general users and not very targeted segments. Pay per click allows you to target people that are very likely to be interested in your product and therefore your marketing budget will be used way more effectively.

6) You are seen by active customers

The nice thing about AdWords is that you can target people while they are looking for a specific keyword. This means that you target active buyers and not people that are browsing the web for any other reason.

7) You only pay only for site visitors

This is one of the biggest advantage since it tells us that we are going to pay only when a person actually visits our website. You will not pay for people looking at the ad but only when they actually decide to find out more about your business

8) It is highly flexible

You will be able to spend as little or as much as you wish but also customize the campaigns accordingly to the results you will be getting.

9) It can be scaled up quickly

Are you getting good results? You will be able to scale the campaigns fast! This is a great plus because you can start slow but improve performance strongly once you figure out what works for you!

10) You can do it yourself

Are you the kind of person that would like to keep marketing in house? No problem! Pay per click is made in a way that you can get up and running relatively soon. You can then work with an agency for tune ups or improve some aspects of the account

How to Write a Letter of Appeal when your Organization is not following Due Process

I have been unable to write for the longest time. I finally had an opportunity to do so and do a piece about something based on my personal experience. I have previously helped a lot of friends who needed to write letters in response to NTEs from their companies and employers, but never did I imagine that a similar form of document will be needed by someone who joined a non-profit volunteer organization. Due to my character of not being able to remain mum while acts of inequity are being committed, I will be sharing with you a sample letter I made for my self to appeal an outrageously blatant disregard for due process and common sensibilities. To put it bluntly I will never allow myself to fall victim to any actions made devoid of normal native intelligence.  

June 17, 2015

Rolando Roberto

President

Rotary Club of Orani

Dear Sir,

It has come to my attention that a complaint letter against me was submitted with the recommendation for my termination as a member of this club. Additionally, there was also a meeting organized by a few members with the inclusion of the person who initiated the complaint and the said meeting’s agenda was to discuss the reason for my termination facilitated by the complainant.

I would like to inform you that I will not acknowledge any complaint letter which is not in accordance to the Constitution and By Laws of the Rotary Club of Orani. There are provisions in the constitution that dictates what the due process is in the event in which the membership of a person can and may be terminated under Article 12 Duration of Membership, Section 5 -- Termination -- Other Causes. Attached to this letter is a copy of the said item in our constitution for your reference and adherence.

I would like to express that the act of conducting a meeting wherein only a select few were invited by the complainant and where she was allowed to sway and manipulate the opinion of those who attended and in the end made a complaint letter pretending as if it represents a complaint of the whole club against my person, is not fair and does not conform with our constitution. Not only is this not the appropriate way of handling our member’s grievance it is also biased as the complainant was free to present her case while the other party was not present and was unable to defend their selves against any of the accusations raised. This meeting is unfairly prejudiced as only one case in an argument was heard.

This not only insults the integrity of our organization but also the intellect of its members. I request that the proper procedure be followed in handling the complaint of one of our members and that the people who were in attendance on the meeting in question be informed that any document created from that meeting is null and void due to it being adverse to what was stipulated in our constitution which are the fundamental and entrenched rules governing the conduct of our club.

Yours Truly,

Sood V. Ali Jr.

Director of Public Relations

How To Answer A Notice To Explain

Employment is a means of achieving the capacity to provide for you and your family, it secures one’s social status and it’s the only way for me to buy SHOES! Regular employment from the respective companies we report to have been attained through blood, sweat and tears. It’s the culmination of one’s educational attainment and various acquired life experiences. It’s the patiently falling in line in an endless queue on a job fair; the barrage of tests that needs to be passed; the stern dissection of your whole being in the final interview and the occasional drama of locating the company’s office for the geographically challenged. Simply put, we worked are arse off in securing our employment and when a threat of losing it arises we must by all means do what is necessary to fight for it.

In situations where in an alleged violation is committed by an employee and an impending dismissal is at bay, every person is entitled to the Twin Requirements of Due Process, Substantive and Procedural.  The Twin Requirement of Notice and Hearing is essential to be present since if any crucial step is missed out or if you’re being simply bullied by a superior who’s coping with childhood issues of being picked-on due to her weight, one can file a complaint to The National Labor and Regulations Commission (NLRC). This writing focuses on pointers in writing a reply to a notice to explain:

1. Answer all points raised. Some superiors have NTEs in templates and ready to be issued as soon as they find someone to pick on which may result to a person having an NTE with multiple allegation against company policies that may not have relation to the actual misdemeanor.
2. Enumerate the pertinent allegations that you were accused of and rebut every single one.
3. Explain it clearly. Promotion is not always based on skill and intelligence, the person who maybe the one who will read and decide on your faith may not have the common sense to understand your side right away.
4. Recount what transpired
5. Include specifics like the date the NTE was issued and when the infraction was committed etc.
6. A clear conscience alone will not suffice, werk it…werk!
7. Include names of people who can vouch for you, if there are people who can attest to your innocence include their names so the panel can validate with them the veracity of your defense. You may want to hold off including people who wouldn’t mind not seeing you around in the workplace.
8. Be humble. It may be extremely tempting to cuss out on everyone’s hypocrisy but you can keep that to yourself in the meantime. Let karma deal with them.
9. Apologize for whatever mistakes you may have committed.
10. Sight your plan on improving or correcting your shortcomings in order to be an impeccable employee, you don’t really have to do it in the end but it’s the thought that counts.

Sample of a reply to an NTE;

This is in answer to the alleged violation of the Code of Discipline issued to me on January X, 20XX. I understand the impact to our customers and to the business as a whole, the severity of the violations alleged in my Notice to Explain. In regards to the customers concern, she was calling about an old number that she wanted to use on her account. The customer was frustrated due to a misinformation provided to her by a representative on a previous call she made to customer care. She used to belong to a different account where she was an authorized user and having activated a new account of her own, she now requested for the temporary number on her current account to be replaced by the old number on her previous account. She was informed that her previous number can be used on her account by a representative and a ticket was even submitted on her behalf. The said request was in turn declined by the XXXXXXXXXXXX. I provided the correct information to the customer by informing her that the number that she was requesting to be used in her current account cannot be replaced until her temporary number has been active for more than 60 days. I am not guilty of providing inaccurate statements and I have remained compliant with the policies stipulated in XXXXXXXXXXXX in order to provide the correct information to the customer. (see XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX). I understand the importance of providing a supervisor to the customer as soon as they ask for one but unfortunately at the time of the call there was no one available to take my call. My immediate supervisor was unavailable as well for me to endorse my call to him which left me unable to transfer the customer to anyone. The customer asked which department handles Number Transfers which I provided the information to her accordingly. The Customer then asked to be transferred to that specific department and the call ended. Moving forward I will work on improving my tone so as not to come across as condescending. I maintain that I do not intend to be rude to the customer. I will further work on improving my call handling skills in order to be in line with the company’s goals. I have exhausted all of my tools and resources to provide quality service to the customer and it is just unfortunate that no one was available for me to endorse the escalation to and the customer asked to be transferred to a different department anyway.I will strive to make every customer interaction the best possible experience to them since it reflects the type of service and value XXXXXXX gives to their customers. Being a frontline representative I understand that I represent the client and I promise to work hard in order to provide exceptional service in every call I receive. I will continue to acknowledge the customer's problem and work with the tools I’m provided to provide resolution. My aim is to overcome customer objections, build rapport and take ownership.

How to Fight Back

Some people just can't fight back. In situations wherein your face to face with someone you had a disagreement with or if you're forced to be constantly with them, here are things you could do to show them you're not to be taken lightly;

Never draw first blood. Irritate them and if a fight ensues at least your not the one who started it.

a. Display your most sinister smile when you walk pass them.b. Keep your eyebrows raised, but maintain an expression of disdain rather than look affected.c. Stare them down and utilize a gamut of facial expressions from disgust (clench your teeth and wrinkle your nose), mocking (draw eyebrows closer and part open your mouth), indifference (keep expression stoic and stiff) or disgust (draw eyebrows close together, wrinkle lips and put strain on your cheeks). 

Play the Victim Card. Defame the person by relating your side of the story of what caused you to have issues with them to anyone who'd care to listen, try to do this before they do. More often than not a person would believe the first story they hear (do make your version as close to the truth as possible). 

Do a 'Shoulder-Joust'. Slam your shoulder hard against them and casually look back projecting an apologetic face that clearly spells-out you meant it. 

Intimidate with numbers. Always be seen with a large group of friends (this requires you to have a posse). 

Profanity is key. Pretend to cuss at something loudly to draw-in attention and when they look at you raise an eyebrow and scoff. 

Do not get caught. Break their favorite mug, throw their school project in the bin, scrape the paint out of their car but never ever get caught red handed.

Weight Loss Tips: Things to Consider

The crusade towards thinness has been massive in popularity and lethal in its effects. The effect of proliferating a bias in the perception of beauty has persecuted those who are not deemed beautiful and thin. Even those that belong in the higher hierarchy of our social strata are not spared from the onslaught. Young girls these days just do not feel adequate.  As for the mass media, it did not even care to address the situation; at any rate they have even heightened their promotion that thin is what is beautiful: absolute. They have further their measures by proliferating the images of stick-thin personalities. The weight-loss conglomerates has kept the public magnetized and has made their products into commodities that are essential. 

Going beyond the superficial precepts, the health factors that may occur due to the urge to be thin are grave and can be permanent in sustaining damage in one’s physiology.

Firstly, motivation is what leads us into limiting our diets to celery sticks and half a bowl of oatmeal. The forms of motivation comes in an array of sorts from; getting noticed by your crush; fitting in your new little black dress; getting the approval of your peers for being a size 00, being the doppelganger of your stick-thin cousin; or just as plain as giving in to  the dictates of society as proliferated by the mass media. The different goals with which we wish to achieve are the motivating factor why we skip meals and do the treadmill like a guinea pig gone hay-wire. We turn to dieting and workouts to achieve a certain goal we desire. Before we even look into how we have been damaging ourselves through those ulcer inducing diets and the perennial drowning of thy self with water to kill the hunger pangs, we have to first recognize what has been driving us to do so. Reassess if your reasons are valid and consider if there is any thing to be corrected in the first place (in this case never use Monica Felucca as your point of comparison).

Second is the problem of technique and execution. We have been bombarded by different diets as disseminated by the shadiest of nutrition experts seen in years (you can exactly tell who they are from their surnames splattered all over those weight-loss programs). There has also been a surge in the establishment of fitness gyms offering from both the mundane aerobics to the exotic pole dancing. Not to mention the countless weight-loss products from vibrating sauna-belts to magical concoctions varying from soaps, creams, to pills, all with the promise of inches being shed off your bodies magically. The question of its effectivity not withstanding, we have been all too eager to chose and try one of them.  Indeed, weight-loss has become a multi-million dollar industry and they plan to keep it that way. With the sudden influx of options to beat the bulge, most if not all of us who have succumbed to this temptation have already chosen a technique to use. Diets vary from high-protein to strictly scheduled forms. Most of us have been following this religiously, while most who have reasons all their own, has taken  this to a whole new level. An example is doing the South beach diet which has three phases; most have been only doing the first phase which effectively removes 8 pounds. The program, used here as an example, is formulated to limit our craving for carbohydrates. In the first phase of the said program, carbohydrates are completely eliminated from the diet completely; subsequently whole grains are gradually reintroduced in the following phases. But not following what the program has explicitly devised can pose grave risk to our health. We need to follow what the plan requires us to do. Another is the intake of various pills and what have you. While most of them are generally considered good for you like L-carnitine; many of them are fat-soluble which means they remain longer in the body. Taking them in mega-doses can cause problems like dry mouth, nausea, headaches, and even toxicity. There is nothing wrong with losing a few inches, but we have to take everything in moderation. Overdoing it can only lead you to harms’ way. With the various options to choose from coupled with the urgency to shed the pounds most have taken drastic measures. Always take caution in utilizing a chosen form a weight-loss method. 


 Third is the Classical Conditioning.  Before going under the knife, there should be a valid reason. Health and well-being should always come first, but we would rather hurl ourselves in compromising situations all in the name of beauty. What do we consider beautiful? Or more importantly, what are we conditioned to see as beautiful? Conditioning of cognitive precepts can be considered as one factor in the rampant feeling of inadequacy among teens and young adults. What we perceive as defined by various agents becomes the truth for us. What lies in the beholder are images and notions that are manufactured. The culprit for defining beauty in nonnegotiable terms is of course (drum roll please!) mass media.  This comes as to no surprise if at all cliché, but we recognizing that the images we have elevated in the pedestals of our individual imaginings were just manufactured by a creative team in a highly furbished advertising firm can be as illuminating as a knock on the head. Redefine what is beautiful for you in your own terms.

Tips on Facebook Timeline Cover

I accidentally got switched to Timeline in Facebook but rather than get upset, I just dealt with it. After playing around with the new functionality that came with it, I went gaga over making timeline covers.

The size of the timeline cover is 850x315 and I used my PhotoScape to crop the pictures using an assigned ratio and maximized Picnik (before it closes on April 19, 2012) to edit my pictures. I especially like the photos with texture on it and I used stickers and different fonts for this blog's address (don't forget to use overlay on the text).

Below are the Timeline Covers I made for my Facebook account:

Tips on Singing: Karaoke How To's

In recent times singing has become all the more prevalent in almost every social gatherings due to the omnipresent Karaoke Machine. In most birthday parties, for example, the Karaoke is given more importance in being secured than the archaic birthday cake. The Karaoke machine became a staple from christenings to corporate retreats. That being said the ability to carry a tune becomes a common ability one must possess and while some may easily belt out like a spinto soprano, for many, to sing out of the comforts of their showers is a singularly daunting ordeal.

   Here are ten tips to spare you from total humiliation. Remember that there is a fine line between singing and screeching, don't cross it; 

1. Prepare! Sing songs you already know or you've already sang. 

2. Pick a song suited for your vocal range (Disparaging Aretha Franklin by harping like a banshee is not what's considered vocal acrobatics). 

3. Do your own rendition; you do not have to do it the way the original performer made every hook and riff. 

4. Drink up! Alcohol will loosen you up and get rid of your inhibitions (Not remembering what you did the day after is an added bonus). 

5. Casually set expectations. Letting them know you've no idea what your doing would make for a less critical audience. 

6. Stage Presence is key (If you look good while doing it, they may not notice your tone deaf).

i. Pout while waiting for your cue, press lips together lightly and exhale.
ii. Smize.    
iii. Sway to the rhythm and keep it upbeat.      
iv. Take cue from Ms. Pempengco and juggle that mic.

7. If the note is too high, urge your audience to sing along (Their unison droning will drown out your squealing).  

8. Do a duet with someone who's able to sing well. Make sure you let them sing the difficult parts

9. Sing after someone who's a lousier singer. The one who goes first will set the precedence.

10. Pick a song in a foreign language, ideally from the romantic languages like french (They'd have no idea whether you're already out of tune or if your even saying the words right).

Below are different occasions with the appropriate songs you can perform;

The Suicidal or Me Against the World Pity Party 

It's Sad to Belong by England Dan & John Ford Coley
Jolene by Dolly Parton
I Write the Songs by Barry Manilow
Is It OK if I Call You Mine by Paul McCrane 
Seduce The Guy in The Audience Songs
Tainted Love by Marilyn Manson
Stupid Cupid by Connie Francis
Friends/ Girls Night Out 
Girls Just Wanna Have Fun by Busby Marou
Itsy Bitsy Teeny Weeny Yellow Polka Dot Bikini by Brian Hyland
Vomit Worthy Moments with Lovers 
Happy Together by The Turtles
Laughter in the Rain by Neil Sedaka
I Just Called to Say I love you by Stevie Wonder
Just the Way You Are by Billy Joel
Christmas Party  
Santa Baby by Eartha Kitt
All Occasion Songs with Singer-friendly Octaves 
Buttercup by The Foundations
In The Navy by The Village People
Dancing Queen by ABBA
One Note Samba by Tom Jobim

Tips for Shopaholics: Beat the Urge to Splurge

I used to be a really compulsive shopper. I've been employed for almost three years now and have nothing to show for it other than the massive pile of garments that occupy two closets and a half, towering stacks of shoeboxes and a heap full of bags in dust-jackets. I don't suffer from the compulsions anymore (because I'm broke); here are some tricks that helped:

When you have to pay a trip down your local mall

1. Chew on it for a day or two (If you’re lucky, it'll be sold-out by the time you comeback).

2. Tell yourself you'll buy it when you lose weight (You'll never lose weight so you'll never have to buy).

3. Try to dress up when you go shopping (Anything you try on will look good on you if you go there looking like you've been shipwrecked).

4. Get a friends opinion (To stop you from looking better than they do, the jealous double-crosser will talk you into not buying).

The 'I don't have anything to wear' moments

1. Borrow clothes (I wear my very rich cousin's dresses, without her permission of course).

2. Work with what you already have. If you often wear a particular shirt with denim jeans... try pairing it with a skirt instead.

3. Looking pretty for your crush doesn't count (Don't put much effort to someone who wouldn't even touch you with a 13 inch prodding rod).

Make your current Wardrobe Functional

1. Learn how to mix-and-match.

2. Accessorize (try not to look like you’re out to go fortune telling in Quiapo).

3. Organize so you see every piece of apparel you have available (I'd fit on clothes, roll them up and stash them back again if I don't wear it. I usually end up having an ukay-ukay in my own bedroom).

i. Clothes hanged should be arranged from longer pieces to shorter ones this creates a diagonal free space for use.

ii. Fold using a card board box as an outline. This makes it easier to pile them up.

iii. Separate the black pieces to prevent lint.

iv. Pieces you wear more often should be more accessible than what you're currently not using and are on standby for the "what-if-it-makes-a-comeback".

v. Knitted cardigans should be folded to let their shape last longer.

vi. Hand wash delicate fabrics.

vii. Launder denims inside out to save its color.

4. Try not to give away your old clothes (the hottest look for next season may be the khaki 'six-pockets').

5. Watch DIY tutorials to use your old stuff and make something new out of it (I used my brother's Abercrombie shirt and turned it in to a rosette clip-on for my shoes).

Good-looking people are as what the word implies... good-looking! If you look good you don't need a new outfit every day, I'm not one of those people so Imma go SHOPPING!!!!

Tips on Love: How to Get Over Heartbreak

It could be from a misunderstanding, deceit, incompatibility or just sheer rejection. Heartbreak is inevitable and could be from various reasons, for whatever the reason may be, here are a few things you can try doing to get through it. 

1. Stalk 'em! (peruse your ticker and checkout all his/her activities in Facebook.)
2. Get yourself really upset with that person. (let go of the happy memories and get yourself totally pissed.)
3. If the person is with someone else don't try to avoid them, gird your loins and bear the pain soon you'll be so hurt you wont feel anything anymore. (make the photo of the two of them your wallpaper.)
4. Talk to your friends about how you feel; they're there for this exact reason, regardless of how repetitive your monologues about your pain may be. (they'll talk behind your back about how tiring you are already... they're right.
5. Convince yourself your better off without him or her. 
6. Look for someone else or something else to divert your attention. (get a hobby... mixed-martial arts can come in really handy, take some classes.)You should be over it by now, if not seek professional treatment.

Pain is a part of life, its what makes living all the more fun. You have so many things to be thankful for... count your blessing and be happy. ♥

Tips on Dating: How to Ask a Girl Out

Effective ways to get her on a date and ensure you wont make a fool out of your self if she declines

1. Pick a suitable target (skip if you already have one in mind ages ago).
2. Approach her casually, get a grip of yourself and stop fidgeting (get an object to hold so you could channel your nerves on it)
3. Start a conversation (weather, politics, current events, your neighbor who cant pay the rent... etc.)
4. Ask if she has any plans on the date you intend to ask her out (this step eliminates the chances of you humiliating yourself with a "I'm going to have dinner with XXXX, sorry.")
5. Talk about this really great place you've been to (restaurant, pub, theater, driving range, karindiria... etc.)
6. Tell her that you'd love to go with her.

Man-up and ask her out the worst thing you could get is a NO you can always look for someone else, good luck!