Online Pawnshop for a Change

Friends, I wanted to share with you this innovation in the pawning industry.  They eyed the Philippines as among the fastest growing on internet-penetration.  The founders thought that most people are ASSET RICH BUT SHORT OF CASH.  Minimal interest rates applied on items.  Too good to be true, no because they also earn from selling the unclaimed items to marketplace called SHOPIFY.  We are well aware that pawn amount is just a fraction of the item’s cost although they GUARANTEE high appraisal. Payments are made thru PawnHero card they will issue where pawners can withdraw their loan.  The operation is nationwide (Philippines) but they plan sooner to expand in Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos.

The online pawnshop which is also known as PawnHero.Com – it is an app-based business running for  almost two years now.  I have a glimpse of it from the Bloomberg TV show, Bright Ideas, hosted by Mr. RJ Ledesma.  Some of the important information I noted:


What is PawnHero.Com
- basically a pawnshop at the reach of your pocket as it was labeled by Mr. Margendorff (CEO)
- a pawnshop with no physical address except for its SINGLE warehouse maintained for the pawned items
- LARGER variety of items accepted
accepts luxury items (jewelries, watches, designer handbags), motorbikes, appliances even musical instruments.  Try everything valuable

Graduation Speech Outline Plus Sample

Graduation Speech Outline
I. Greetings
- to the attendees (co-grads/parents/teachers)
-special mention of the guests (VIPs)

II. Introduction
You may start with a quote for a change.  Make sure it is somehow related to the Theme of the Program.  In my child’s case – the theme is about celebrating the event as a step for a brighter future ahead of the graduates

What I wanted to mean is that deviate from the USUAL. Think of something (not to impress) but to start your speech with a very interesting statement that MAY capture your audience.
It must be in a conversation manner – as if you are talking to a single person  - your guests as one.

III. Body of the Speech

A.
-This may tell a SHORT story of your  journey before the day.
-Or an inspirational talk for your co-graduates to let them feel what you think you are ‘INTO’ after graduation, what awaits you.
-tips that they can keep to motivate them to strive for more

For the Country or for the Party?!

A group of topnotched lawyers and a college professor plans to file an impeachment case for the second topmost position in the Philippine government – the VP post –Leni Robredo.

In the past few months of Duterte administration, the VP has not been that supportive to the President.  VP Robredo may have fueled the international community’s suspicion that  violation of human rights had been prevalent even allegedly implying that the Duterte administration is behind all the killings (around 7000 – this record includes even domestic incidents and other cases not related to DRUGS, in FACT there is just around  2000+ comprising the number of victims in the aftermath of ‘War on Drugs’ compared to the millions of surrenderees.
.

To Trust or Not to Trust a Social Media Account

There  had been cases of cheating on Social Media – what is very alarming is the one aired  in Imbestigador – a grade 11 student who ended-up gang-raped and murdered (Jan7) in Trece Martirez, Cavite.

Ways to find out if the social media account is in good faith:

On Twitter:
- check the joining date (if it is not that long existing, be careful). Sometimes, there are really twitter newbies better observe it for months, the tweets and followers, before following back. 

- check the followers. If it is followed by many reliable people, trust your guts. 

- check the owner’s tweets. What kind of tweets he/she shares – the links, rude people share porn videos and nude photos or even enticing links that can hack your account.  Do not open the link on your social, right click, copy and paste the link address on a NEW TAB on your browser.

Reaction on Student Tours

In elementary and high school, this will not be necessary although travelling can add to children’s experience. During the school year several conventions, competitions and other activities  (Quiz Bees, Investigatory Projects, Schools Press Conferences, Beauty Pageants, Talent Tilts – oration, declamation, sports activities and even scouting/campings/jamborees) that can cater to that experience. After competing inside the school for Quiz, Pageants or Sports chances are there will be inter-school competitions in the sub-district/district, division, regional or even  national level that might bring students to far places literally. 

There is no really bad thing about having educational tours – granted that it is ‘educational’ in the real sense.  I heard of Baguio or Tagaytay tour – tsk is it not just an excursion for the good weather in the areas? Or MOA (Mall of Asia Arena) – if the purpose is camaraderie and team building then travelling will take hundreds or thousands of kilometers away for a pricey ticket, it is not so practical and truly irrelevant. 

Usually educational tours are sometimes boring destinations – the Planetarium, museums, zoo, aquariums, historical places if it is not; it is probably not one BUT an excursion (say a beach, mall or simply beautiful place without educational significance) or stroll.  This is happening, I have my husband’s niece who went in a tour from a school in Bicol to Tagaytay paying more than five thousand pesos (if I am not mistaken) and was obliged to join the expensive trip because of the ‘incomplete’ grade she might get.  The fees are maybe reasonable because of the bus rental and food BUT the trip?! Just a cold experience nothing related to any subject, maybe ‘sociability’, for that reason it can be cheaper and may be nearer.

Can we not just leave the excursions to families of each student and concentrate on the real sense of educational tour. Why the schools had been  MAYBE obliging whenever they held a ‘Tour’? Because the fuller the bus, the lesser will be the transportation expense of each joiner (dividing the bus charge to the number of attendees). Admit it or not, MOST maybe NOT all tours free the school staff who will join as guardians or the advisers.

Several accidents happened on such tours like:
1. drowned students
2. hit by the maneuvering bus while taking photos
3. latest, bus that loose breaks on the way to a camp site

Suggestions:
I hope the Congress can make policies:

My Favorite Pinoy Singers

Sharon Cuneta

I like her voice even when I am still in highschool, she sings with her heart and she has a melodious voice.Sharon is happily married now to senator husband (KikoPangilinan).  She has a daughter singer-actress KC Concepcion from a previous relationship (Gabby Concepcion) - a very accomplished bachelorette who graduated  abroad. She is a very bankable product endorser in the country. She has done a lot of Box-office hits for movies in the past.  Sharon is a daughter of a politician – mayor. She is known to be kind-hearted, approachable and very sweet.

Sharon is called the Megastar here – being a very good product endorser, box-office hit actress and a popular singer.

Songs by Sharon:

Reaction: Condoms for Students

What has happened to the Filipino Culture and Values? It is understandable that the government is now engaging to its last resort in combating the ballooning number of teenage pregnancies mostly unwanted. 

The measure might somehow  solve the issue – but it may have a subsequent effect to those students who are really not that westernized in terms of valuing chastity.  It may trigger curiosity and encourage more to TRY what should have been far yet from their plans especially if the parents have been STRICTLY guarding and guiding their children.


Most Commonly Misread English Words and Brands

I have thought of the English words which are the most-commonly misread by my fellow-countrymen and maybe of foreigners other than Americans.

Read it as in reading Tagalog/Filipino words. Although I have consulted dictionaries to confirm my little knowledge, I preferred to write how it is read the way we read the letters in the Filipino alphabet.



new = nu/nyu

visage = vi-sij (hitsura, appearance)


In French it is read as = 're-zer-vwa' and became acceptable in the English Language too.









Cooking and Food Tips



Enjoying Tinapa  (smoked fish) pa more    
    
Eating smoked fish boneless is really enjoyable. Remove the flesh from the ribs and discard the head and the internal organs.

The Phenomenal Growth of the Church of Christ

To know about the humble beginnings of Iglesia ni Cristo, it is inevitable to learn about the man who started it all – from one man to the phenomenal growth of the church worldwide.

The movie depicts how Brother Felix Manalo received the calling and the humble beginnings of the church – the hardships and persecutions he has encountered as well as the event of world war that disturbed the country.



We as members of the ‘Church of Christ’ recognizes Bro. Felix as the God’s Messenger on these Last Days (according to the Holy Scriptures refers to the era where our Lord Jesus Christ’s advent is very near). He had been a pastor from different religions which gave him the chance to deeply examine each church doctrine which he later found out FULL OF ERRORS and misconceptions.  Seeing the conflicting doctrines upheld in each from what is written in the Holy Scriptures, the arduous desire to teach the FACTS without injecting personal opinions and beliefs has led him to know the PURE words of God but of course with God’s divine help as he prayed for enlightenment and guidance. 

Although his co-pastors/preachers from former religions oppressed him when he tried to reveal what he found out to rectify what they had been teaching the public, he was subdued and they never accepted it – telling him that the doctrines can not be modified respecting tradition and inherited teachings from pioneer religious leaders. 

Duterte is NOT Hitler

It is my daily habit to watch the News to be updated on the current issues about my country and even the international community.  I listen and watched only the trusted NEWS AUTHORITIES and presenters who received various recognitions locally and even from Readers’ Digest Asia. To be able to give worthy opinion or reaction, I deeply believe I should filter my resources carefully – that is my advocacy as a writer.



I hate the fact that our President is being identically compared to the heartless(?!) German, Adolf Hitler who had made the ‘Holocaust’ ( read see and click this link = you can read Holocaust by Wikipedia part of the History. The Jewish organization is but right in telling the victims of the Holocaust should not be likened to drug addicts there are even children. Yes, that is right there is nowhere in the context of the President’s recent speech that they are being called as such.  The Prexy was just insulted that the international media compared him to Hitler – to reiterate, he is ordering the killing of millions of innocent people (men, women and children) for a selfish reason (?!).

Why are We Not Celebrating Christmas

Many people thought that because we do not celebrate Christmas, we do not value or give importance to the existence of our Lord Jesus Christ. Hear it from me, a certified member of the Church of Christ (Iglesia ni Cristo) – that is absolutely wrong! In fact, the church I belonged to bear our Lord Jesus Christ’s name that is one great way to show we adore and worship him. 


Tagaytay Dream House for SALE

A pre-owned home just a few hours away from Metro Manila and adjacent to Dasmarinas, Cavite. Next to Baguio in terms of good cold weather, a scenic view of the Taal Lake and a real resting place for your family. Royale Estates Tagaytay is secured with 24-hour security.





see more photos

Jose Rizal: Philippines' National Hero

Why are we celebrating Rizal Day on December 30 and not on his birthdate on June 19? We often thought of celebrating a person’s being on one’s birthday, Dr. Jose P. Rizal being our National Hero – we remember his death.  Because on that day he died a hero.

Why he deserved to be our National Hero? Dr. Rizal displayed not only courage, strength, brainpower but also a noble heart of hero, indeed!  The revolutionary saga by our brave forefathers like Andres Bonifacio and Emilio Aguinaldo and his men can be considered as the result of Dr. Rizal’s mind-opening expedition.  The BOUNTY is of course our Liberty.


Reaction on Marcos' Burial

First of all, I respect the claiming victims of the Martial Law.  But above it, I respect the decision of the -Supreme Court.  We have the SC to settle issues that matter to our country that are deemed to be irresolvable by the lower courts or even issues that may put the people’s trust in the existing government in peril.

Being sensationalized are the victims who are said to be tortured during captivity, this is not to imply anything bad – BUT where are they when arrested for questioning? Are not they in the middle of protests (that most of the times become violently aggressive?). These testimonies had instill hatred and caused many of our fellow Pinoys rushing in the streets to rally, we can not also discount the social media reactions.

Our country is democratic, everyJuan can be heard.  BUT, democracy became boundless, unrespectable of the Government. The ones who threaten governance and incite sedition destabilize the country which has riffling effect in the economy.  BUT STILL, there is no license given to authorities to abduct, torture or murder implicated suspects. It is saddening to hear the unfortunate stories.

‘Libingan ng mga Bayani’ (Heroes’ Cemetery) is known to be the burial site of those who died in government service – soldiers, cops, and even former Presidents.  There is no requirements like medals, list of accomplishments needed to qualify as prescribed by the Law, no wonder why the Supreme Court favored Marcos Burial.

Useful Link:


The once given to the former President can not be called ‘Heroes Burial’, he was just accorded based on his former rank in government. What is circulating around are just personal assumptions hearing that former President FE Marcos is buried in a cemetery with ‘HERO’ on its name (‘Libingan ng mga Bayani’ is ‘Heroes’ Cemetery’ in English). Why had most of the protesters had taken the cemetery’s name heartily? We have heard of a legislator who suggested to RENAME the cemetery – just to give justice (?!) to both sides and to stop the nonsense clamor this issue has brought to the nation, the international community is seeing it on the news.  This can hamper our economy, even the personal lives of these people who are spending time they could have spent at work or with their families.

Burying a former President in LNB did not change History BUT the literal burial address, let us grow-up.  If you are an educator, do not teach little children to protest, they have no clear picture of it and they can only be influenced by anybody who wants to inject ideas on them. They still do not have convictions of their own – I was distraught seeing on the NEWS elementary students of a private school protesting (either the teacher wanted to be seen on tv or she just wanted a rest day of teaching?!).



Who had started the MYTH that burying Marcos in LNB changes History?! That is exaggerated.  Nothing changes but the MERE BURIAL ADDRESS!  History is called such because it is in the PAST.  Where or in what dictionary or encyclopedia that the word ‘history’ is defined as ‘present’?! How can History already written in the books and instilled in the minds of the people may be changed in a wink of an eye by the present situation when it has passed? Are they nuts?! We are not in the movie where we can adventurously go back to the past.  Spelling PAST and PRESENT is totally different – what more their MEANING?! The facts remain the same ONLY the burial itself is NEW. What we do today will just be PART of History tomorrow. It does NOT have the POWER to INFLUENCE what has happened in the past. What will be added to Philippine History in the future? Marcos was buried in LNB that date, NO MORE. He did not become a hero nor erases his bad or good deeds either. He was just a former President of the Republic.

Creative Commons License

Creative Commons License
Family, Daily Living & Style by Angelita Galiza-Madera is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.