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Moving Forward: OFWs’ Strategy to Challenge COVID-19 Hurdles

We’ve got a lot of hullabaloos recently. Wherever we live in the world and whether we suffer from frightening circumstances under the community quarantine period, we’ve just realized that things around us completely transformed into a “new normal.

This time, it appears to be politically correct to say that we live in a completely “new normal” society where we keep our distance and wear our face masks. We barely realize that we lose everything after the pandemic. Gone are the days when we meet friends and attend some social events. Gone are the days when we hug and kiss our friends when we see them. This time we only have patterns to do things – wear a face mask, go to the department stores to buy for the basic needs, and go home. We’ve become parts of the dynamics of the “new normal” – a term that other people discover during the pandemic.

As OFWs, we’ve been secretly crying in despair and isolation. We’ve been away from family members and friends. We, too, have the same experience with our family and social circles around the world. Sometimes, we’ve lost connections to them due to horrors brought about by the contagion.

As well, we can say that we feel it difficult to be away from family members. Our fear that our loved ones may be infected by the virus does not allow us to sleep well. We can say we have sleepless nights to think about them in the Philippines. It is because, in our deepest corner of our minds, the safety of our family members becomes our top priority.

At present, we experience some impediments in life. All complications in life get us disheveled that we suffer emotionally, financially, and physically. Despite our distance, we have to find means and ways to get better and pull through from them.

Stay composed and optimistic.

We know we suffer a lot of brawls and scraps throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. However, we still have the option to stay positive. We cannot think well if we lose your nerve and feel restless. When we face all these problems in terms of economic, emotional, and physical concerns, we must stay constructive and hopeful. The point is, we must find means and ways to disassemble the negativity and to let them vanish in life. Despite the moments under the quarantine, we can think of plausible actions to plan for the next steps to succeed in life.

Stay connected.

We’ve all been experiencing the struggles financially. Since all business companies and establishments undergo some financial obstacles, we must stay connected to our loved ones and friends. We can use Facebook, Messenger, and other social media sites to communicate with our loved ones and friends and relatives. Despite the moment of isolation, we make use of technologies to stay interconnected with the people and family members. We must stay attached to friends and loved ones and ask for some advice to defeat the shortcomings.

Stay productive.

In times like this, we’ve learned so much from day one of the pandemic and up to this day. We’ve realized we’ve had so much potential to recuperate from losses and horrors. If we face the pandemic through emotional, economic, and physical, we ask someone who can help us resolve the problems. We do not need to blame people and time for why these things happen. Out of the situation, we’ve managed to understand that we could still smile after the rain. We only have to remember that we are in this together. We are not alone. As others slowly stand their feet to look ahead, we do the same thing to cope with the burdens poured in us. As OFWs who are far from home, we can look for real people and communities to embrace the same breaths of pain and struggle so that we, together, can recover the same.

All these actions are imperative. The struggles in life brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic are real. The impact even disturbs us. As we take a moment to think of this present situation, we realize we have so much to think about to move forward!

Photo credit: Rappler

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3 Things You Should Know about President Rodrigo R. Duterte

Who could have thought that a town mayor from Davao, Mindanao would rise as the 16th President of the Philippines? Through crucial and stern battles during the political campaign, President Duterte managed to win the hearts of the people. Some people might have an unfair judgment about him. Labeled as this and that and so and so from various opponents, President Duterte remained firm. He became the first president coming from the Mindanao region and the oldest president of the Philippines. Besides, President Duterte became the first Philippine president to handle and have worked in the three government jurisdictions – executive, judiciary, and legislative bodies. Of course, you probably knew about him in his political rants, but you never had the chance to learn three things about his character, his sense of humanity, and his soft spot.

A Loving Husband

Many people did not know about the president and his emotional side. As the PDP-Laban Chairperson, he worked so hard to accomplish his political task. However, he never failed to love his loved one known to many as Honeylet Avanceña. As a husband, he provided everything and took good care of his wife and children. He could be the best person to speak about time management since he multitasked to support his family, to fulfill this political task, and to lead the country. Like an ordinary man and significant other, President Duterte lived by example as a good and loving husband.

A Caring Father

President Rodrigo Duterte has always been an exceptional and reputable father. As a father of some, he equally treated his children and raised them properly. He became a role model for his children. The fact is, his children followed his footsteps to become leaders and to lead the people. His firm decision and his strong personality allowed him to discipline his children that inspired them to become one. Additionally, most of his children have held offices from various districts and regions. This position in life could prove that his fathership worked well.

A Respectable Leader

President Duterte managed to handle the demanding challenges of his time. From the Marawi Siege to the COVID-19 pandemic, he managed to provide assistance and care for his people. His immediate actions to solve the problems made people feel safe and secure. There might be other people who jeopardized his actions and decisions to delay his urgent assistance to people; however, he made clearer actions and decisions to penalize those who violated his mandates. In terms of providing the Social Amelioration Program (SAP), he immediately issued assistance to the people. Some people might not receive their assistance from the government and felt bad about it. However, the President clarified that he would punish those people who stole the money instead of assisting the people, especially the poorest among the poor. Because of that, people respected him.

Indeed, President Rodrigo R. Duterte thrived in all challenges. He managed to confront all difficulties in political and social life. He beat all the odds. Though he received reproach here and abroad, he prospered in whatever decisions he made.

Photo credit: Manila Bulletin

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Unicorn Startup to Go Bankrupt on Facebook Ads

You may surprise this news, but it is true. Unicorn Startup Company wishes to thrive in the market and spends its effort and time putting its money on Facebook Ads. However, what the company does not expect is that it only jeopardizes its plan to succeed in the process. As the famous advice, some experts would say “it is better not to save on marketing advertisements like Facebook.” In other words, Unicorn Startup has plenty of time and opportunities to earn more rather than to close its business out of time and tune.

The Unicorn Company as an American startup business decides to run its commercial company. Producing an E-Scooter startup, its manager uses Facebook ads and spends its money there for quite some time. Until recently, Unicorn faces tremendous news that its operations go awry and bankrupt.

Unicorn’s overconfidence and trust in Facebook Advertisements led to its failure. The company desired to make and peddle e-scooters for $699. In fact, as a startup, the company needed to focus on how they could sell more scooters. The company had only 350 pre-orders for the e-scooters, and this number could grow more if employees worked hard to sell it and if other employees were supportive to manufacture more.

However, Unicorn Company wished to put all its money into Facebook Advertising. It just realized that it could succeed in the market since several users and social media visitors clicked and viewed Facebook Ads. Of course, the company thought that Facebook advertising yielded positive results among small-scale and large-scale corporations to promote their products and services. This notion allowed Unicorn Company to believe that Facebook Ads would do the same thing for it. As Unicorn Company considered Facebook a great help, it did overlook to see the negative side of the problem. Not all businesses found success on Google and Facebook. Sometimes, Google and Facebook channels offered effective commercial advertising campaigns, but they sometimes did not deliver positive results.

Accordingly, Founder and CEO of the Unicorn startup Nick Evans began writing letters of apologies. Nick Evans started to send apology letters and promised to refund the money of their shareholders and other constituents. Moreover, Nick Evans emphasized that he had to sell his assets to reimburse his losses despite the repercussions of his actions.

Now, if you were Nick Evans, would you still invest all your money on Facebook Advertising the next time around? Or would you try another plan if you gained another financial resource?

Photo credit: Theverge.com

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How Samsung Lied about Galaxy-Fold Sales

On December 16, 2019, Noah Harris reported at TechCrunch Disrupt in Berlin that President Sohn Young-Kwon of Samsung Electronics formally declared the sales data of Galaxy-Fold Smartphones. Harris stated that Samsung President recounted the first smartphone with a flexible display. Sohn Young-Kwon, according to Harris, informed the public that customers purchased one million Galaxy Folds.

The report of the sales of Galaxy-Fold Smartphones did not offer promising market income. However, Sohn-Young-Kwon bizarrely touched the market with its price tag around $2,000.00. As well, the creation and the production of the Galaxy Folds that fold horizontally like small books offered some exciting features and looks.

Soon after, some Samsung Electronics representatives, however, said that Samsung Electronics President lied. They confirmed that the president’s information was inaccurate. Selling approximately a million Galaxy-Fold smartphones was rough in which the sales of these phones did not exceed the mark of one million units.

Some Samsung Electronics representatives and leaders, as reported, committed an error by using the planned figures of last year. Instead of using the new figures, the President made numerous claims that the current year instead of the actual sales volume was the right information to disclose. According to tech analysts, Galaxy Fold Smartphone sales would range from 400 to 500 thousand units.

However, the sales of Samsung Galaxy Folds would expectedly hit the chart in 2020 and 2021. Choi Bo-Young who is Kyobo Securities analyst believed that Samsung would sell 6 million units of its foldable phone in 2020 and 20 million units in 2021. He then added that the prices of Galaxy Fold Smartphones would plummet little by little after that as it would compel the company to produce more foldable handsets rather than the foldable phones.

Indeed, as the question of why Samsung Chair, Sohn Young-Kwon, lied about the sales of Galaxy-Fold Smartphones, the answer remained obvious that marketing strategies are complex to imagine. Without a doubt, marketing officers and leaders would make sure that their products would sell despite their actions whether or not they would tell any words of deceptions to the public. Should they lie about that? I bet, they shouldn’t.

Photo credit: YouTube

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China To Start Face Scanning for SIM Card Buyers

Would you like to get your face scanned when buying SIM cards? Do you think your rights were not violated? Why do you think your government scans your faces? And for what?

Months ago, the Chinese government required all mobile phone and SIM card buyers to get the faces scanned. The government commanded this new procedure when SIM card buyers get new ones for verification purposes. Cellular providers, for instance, have to require their clients to submit their ID and scan the faces to prevent future deceits and fraud activities. As well, cellular providers promise to help clients and customers to ward off hoaxers and impostors especially when reselling SIM cards to the illegitimate users. In this case, the Chinese government and cellular providers can protect the rights of citizens in cyberspace.

As well, some Chinese regulators decided to implement this policy based on numerous benefits. Chinese regulators administer this face recognition and extend it to the various domestic daily services, as well as modes of payments, community transport rides, hotel registration and reservation processes, and many others.

Moreover, the Chinese government, particularly the Ministry of Industry and Information of the People’s Republic of China, announced the change of the registration procedure in September 2019. This department did not stipulate, which companies would handle the face-scanning technologies and facilities for mobile operators. However, some people have ideas which of them play some important roles in registering and scanning the faces of the customers. Megvii, Yitu, or SenseTime Companies, for example, are available to execute the registration and face scanning processes, but they wait for further instructions.

What is more, many companies would send some text messages to the people or residents and make some rectifications in agreements. As expected, Megvii, Yitu, or SenseTime Companies can take charge of executing the registration and face scanning processes since these firms served as the world-leading AI technological providers of facial and voice recognition software in the country.

Indeed, the question remained available. Would you like to get your face scanned when buying SIM cards? For me, your answers would depend on your ideological and philosophical views. You all have the right to speak up your mind and your ability to declare your opinions. If you think your rights re not violated, then support the face scanning process. If not, you have the option to ask and question your government why face scanning is necessary.

Photo credit: Getty Images / Gizmodo

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iPhone 11 To Collect Data Info without Permission

The emergence of Apple Electronics has created the world with plenty of networks and opportunities. The production of iPhones from Apple Electronics, for instance, has thrived to beat the market and destroy other electronic companies. The splendid features of iPhones, depending on models and units, would create valuable benefits among users. According to the Cupertino Company, iPhone 11 and iPhone 11 Pro would collect location data without the owners’ permission since these technologies did only operate within their design and scope.

Journalist Brian Krebs, a security expert, indicated that Apple Electronics could send location data or information without asking permission. This news produced questions about how Apple Electronics would violate privacy and secrecy. Apple Company, according to Krebs, pointed out that the privacy policy of the company remained. However, the collection of information on mobile phone users may vary when the users would deactivate their location services. Of course, Apple Electronics did, however, attempt to respond and that collection of information without permission could not pose any threat to users and their rights to privacy.

After the publication of the article, Apple Electronics Executives on KrebsOnSecurity would provide details to explain why the company did consider such action – a collection of location data. He said that the Latest iPhone models could only use some ultra-broadband technology and that it would provide devices with spatial alertness to allow them to trace other devices with comparable structures and technologies. Krebs pointed out that other users could use a new feature of the phone called sharing files wirelessly through Airdrops or that they could use them to survive. Rumors were true. These new pieces of technology could be a part of the Find My iPhone features

Indeed, Apple collected some amount of data from the users due to the new feature called ultra-broadband technology. According to a report, this ultra-broadband technology is the industry-standard technology for Apple to secure its operations. It would become part of the international regulatory requirements before the phones could operate. On the other hand, Krebs mentioned that the ultra-broadband technologies were intended for data collection and that these technologies would never infringe individual rights. These technologies just existed by design. In the end, this idea would only mean that the use of iOS and the demand to ask for the location services would only help determine the capability requirements of the phone products.

In the end, iPhone 11 models offered new features and functions among users. The design of the iPhone 11 to ask for a location without permission did not pose any threat among others. If iPhone 11 could prohibit the specific locations, it, at last, introduced ultra-broadband technology as a customer requirement to comply with the regulations

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Nokia 3310, iPhone 11, & Samsung S10 on Durability Test

Would you try to use your phones to determine which one lasts long and survives through a perfect disaster like an accidental fall? If you wish to know the answer, which phones survive, you need to do this – dropping Nokia 3310, iPhone 11, and Samsung S10 from a helicopter. Which phone do you think can survive and last long?

A challenging yet demanding trial conducted by several vloggers from the YouTube channel called How Ridiculous reveals the durability of the smartphones. Vloggers posted a video when they tested three phones, such as iPhone 11, Samsung S10, and the famed and indestructible classic Nokia 3310, and released them from a helicopter. The result of the experiment revealed that Nokia 3310 survived.

Here could be the catch! These bloggers noted the height and altitude levels of the helicopter were in 50, 76, 152, 228, and 304 meters. Observers and vloggers made this video vibrant to see how this experimentation materialized. From a three-hundred-meter height to the ground, vloggers reinvigorated spectators to see how the test managed. As vloggers plunged these three phones on the ground, they, of course, observed and see the results.

Based on the initial observation, the historical Nokia 3310 survived the fall and remained workable until the last phase of the test. Based on the observation, only Nokia 3310 managed to survive from the terrifying fall. Bloggers managed to check the features of the phone like the Snake Game in Nokia 3310 and revealed that it functioned appropriately despite the crash experiment.

In terms of the three-hundred-meter madness, the flagship phone Nokia 3310 thrived the test. The protective covering and the phone cases of the phone added extra credits as Nokia 3310 survived the long process of crash test.

Even if the smartphones worked as common and even if the screen of the iPhone 11 stayed intact, they had cracks and scratches. Samsung’s device, like the camera, got damaged either. Upon seeing Nokia 3310, all parts of the phones remained in place. To get the most hype points, vloggers reiterated the experiment and found the same result. So, you better decide now! Do you wish to buy durable phones or the fancy and more exquisite ones?

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She Needs Space (Nanginahanglan Siya’g Espasyo)

Kung ang imong uyab gusto na ug espasyo, usa lang ang gusto niya. She wants to end her relationship with you. Gusto na niyang makigbulag sa imoha kay dili na siguro niya makaya makig-uban pa kanimo. Maybe, she has seen someone else, that is why, she wants to escape her current relationship with you, diba? Dautan usab kaayo kung mao kana ang rason. Makigbulag lang kay naa nay lain. Kundatan lang gyud. Dah, tan-awa. Nangasaba na ang lola. So, sa gusto nimo ug sa dili, gusto na niya nga magbulag na. Para mawagtang na o mawala ka sa iyahang kinabuhi kay nasumhan na siya nimo. Sige na siguro mo ug friend chicken ug lechon belly mga ma-order lang sa ila ni…. Bawal mag-mention ug name kay wala sila nag-sponsor ani nga article. Di-ay, gusto na niya makigbulag nimo kay wala na siyay gusto. Painful, isn’t it?

Pero, sa panahon nga bag-o pa kamo nga manag-uyab, ngano man nga wala ka kabalo sa iyang batasan. Kung nakabalo naka sa unang date pa lang, naa naka idea unsa iyaha disposisyon sa kinabuhi. Unsa man di-ay ang unang nahitabo sa unang date. Wala lugar mo nag-storya. nag-ginunitay ra di-ay mo sa kamot. Pag-gunit sa kamot, nakoryente kamong duha. Nakatulog kamo, ug sa pagmata, Inn or Hotel na? Sala man sab na nimo? In the first place, sa panag-uyab palang ninyo kadtong bag-o, nakigbulag naka kay ma-feel man gyud na nimo. In other words, nakabalo naka kung kinsa siya. Dili man siguro ka buta ug bungol, dba? Dah, nasuko na usab si lola. Makit-an mana gyud nga differences sa tawo sa unang panag-uban pa lang. Ayaw ug palag kay ga-research sab ko ba about it. Dah, palaban ang lola. Hehe! Kabalo ka sa tanan kung unsa ug kinsa siya apil na sa iyang batasan. Ngano ipilit pa man gyud pud nimo ang imong gusto kung dili na siya?

Manghulga pa gyud ka pasakitan nimo siya o imo siyang patyon. Kung ingon ana, sakto lang diay nga makigbulag na ang imong uyab kay, in the end, harsh man di-ay ka.

Ang tawo man gud pag gusto na ug kalinaw o espasyo, gusto na nila makahuna-huna sa angay nilang pagabuhaton. Tinood nga ang uban gusto sila maghuna-huna kung ipadayon pa ba ang ilahang relasyon sa ilahang partner. Pero, kung bug-at gani na bitaw ang ilang gibati sa kinabuhi ug naupos na pud nila ang ilang pasensya, mangita na kana sila ug space. Mao kana nga mangayo na sila ug space sa imo.

For me, ang pagpangayo ug espasyo can be one of the intriguing, yet subtle ways of ending a relationship. Para dili sakit pamati-on, space lang ang ilang gusto. Pero ang tinood, mo-exit na sila. If you ask why someone needs space, syempre, kabalo naka. Just let go. Sakit man, pero let her go. Ang tinood nga gugma, i-let go ang ilahang mahal sa kinabuhi. Ug usa pa, ayaw ipamugos ang imong kaugalingon. Kung nasayangan ka sa panahon ug sa inyong memories, mubalik ra man ang kana nga memories pero sa lain lang nga tawo. Kung nasayangan ka sa imong nagasto, apil na man kana sa panag-uyab. Usa pa, nakipag-tsoktsaktsinis na man sab ka, so, isipin mo na lang, okay lang yan.

Learn this! Most women who get asphyxiated by men’s machismo and superiority complex these days wish to end their relationships instantly. Lawom na kana nga termino ha – asphyxiated, meaning – suffocated. Dili sila magdugay nimo. So, wake up, Dear. It is year 2020, and women do not care anymore about those sweet lies and promises. Labi na gyud kung sige lang ka ug dula ug mobile legends, dota, ug unsa pa man. Gadula lugar ka ug nag-enjoy, tapos imong uyab ga-nganga. Pastilan! Women get easily bored of hearing those attitudes and those mind-numbing and hackneyed anecdotes and puns. Gusto na nila ug freedom kay dili na sila ganahan sa tawo nga unresponsive and insensitive to their feelings. Kung ikaw pangutan-on, ngano magdugay man sila sa imo? Peace!

Sa katapusan, nganong nanginahanglan man ang imong uyab ug espasyo? Gusto na ba usab nila makigbulag nimo?

Kung mao di-ay kana. Let go!

Photo credit: Youth Incorporated Magazine