Weather in Ilagan City, Isabela, Philippines

Wednesday, September 27, 2023

It's 25th anniversary

Happy 25th birthday ๐ŸŽ‚ to Google. ๐Ÿค—

Google's 25th birthday marks a significant milestone for one of the most influential companies in the tech industry. Over the past quarter-century, Google has revolutionized the way we access information, connect with others, and navigate the digital landscape. From its humble beginnings as a search engine to its current status as a global powerhouse, Google's impact on society cannot be overstated.


In celebrating this anniversary, it's essential to reflect on Google's journey of innovation and adaptation. From introducing groundbreaking products like Gmail and Google Maps to pushing the boundaries of artificial intelligence with projects like Google Assistant, the company has consistently pushed the envelope in terms of technological advancement.

Beyond its technological achievements, Google has also made significant contributions to society through initiatives like Google.org, which focuses on using technology to address global challenges such as climate change, education, and healthcare. Additionally, Google's commitment to diversity and inclusion has helped foster a culture of creativity and collaboration within the company and beyond.

As Google looks ahead to the next 25 years and beyond, one thing is certain: its influence will continue to shape the future of technology, innovation, and society as a whole. Here's to another quarter-century of groundbreaking achievements and meaningful impact!

Monday, September 18, 2023

Theater acting

I embarked on my acting journey in July 2022, delving into various productions to explore the art of performance. Seeking to deepen my skills and immerse myself further in the craft, I made the decision to enroll in a Theater Arts class on August 19, 2023. Facilitated by PETA Inc., the class comprised eight enriching sessions aimed at refining my abilities in portraying diverse roles across stage plays, movies, series, and more.


For aspiring actors eager to embark on their own path, I wholeheartedly endorse the pursuit of formal training. Enrolling in a Theater Arts class not only provides a structured approach to learning the intricacies of acting but also serves as a cornerstone for developing a strong foundation in the art form. Through immersive experiences and expert guidance, such classes offer invaluable opportunities to hone one's craft and expand one's artistic horizons.

Undoubtedly, the study of theater arts offers a transformative journey, enriching individuals from myriad perspectives. Beyond honing artistic skills, it fosters a holistic growth mindset, nurturing capacities for collaboration, critical thinking, creative problem-solving, and effective communication. Each session serves as a catalyst for personal and professional development, empowering actors to embrace the multifaceted nature of their craft with confidence and finesse.

As I reflect on my own experience, I am reminded of the profound impact that theater arts education has had on my journey as an actor. It has not only equipped me with the technical proficiency required for the stage but has also instilled within me a deep appreciation for the power of storytelling and the art of performance. I encourage aspiring actors to embrace the transformative potential of theater arts education, knowing that it serves as a gateway to a world of endless possibilities and personal growth.

Monday, September 11, 2023

Off-load avoidance this 2023

Reposting this from a Facebook group.

‼️๐ˆ๐–๐€๐’ ๐Ž๐…๐…๐‹๐Ž๐€๐ƒ 2️⃣0️⃣2️⃣3️⃣‼️ 

Prepare all requirements! ⬇️⬇️⬇️ 

❓What are the ๐›๐š๐ฌ๐ข๐œ ๐ซ๐ž๐ช๐ฎ๐ข๐ซ๐ž๐ฆ๐ž๐ง๐ญ๐ฌ?

There are two levels of inspection for internationally-bound Filipinos, both conducted by an immigration officer (IO).
In primary inspection, passengers must present basic travel documents:
✅Passport, valid at least six months from the departure date;
✅Valid visa, depending on the destination;
✅ Boarding pass; and
✅ Confirmed return or roundtrip ticket, when necessary

❓What are the ๐š๐๐๐ข๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง๐š๐ฅ ๐ฌ๐ฎ๐ฉ๐ฉ๐จ๐ซ๐ญ๐ข๐ง๐  ๐๐จ๐œ๐ฎ๐ฆ๐ž๐ง๐ญ๐ฌ?

There are other documents a traveler may need to show to their IOs, which will vary depending on travel purpose, age, and other details.
Tourists

๐Ÿ™‹๐Ÿป‍♀️Self-funded travels
1️⃣Proof of accommodation
2️⃣Document showing financial capacity or source of income, and 
3️⃣ Proof of employment

๐Ÿ™‹ Sponsored travels
๐Ÿ‘ฉ‍๐Ÿ‘ฆ‍๐Ÿ‘ฆ Sponsored by 1st degree relatives (spouse, parents, or children) abroad
1️⃣Original Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA)-issued birth or marriage certificate
2️⃣Confirmed roundtrip ticket
Copies of sponsor’s:
3️⃣Valid passport
4️⃣Valid work visa/permit or an equivalent document

๐Ÿ‘ฏ‍♀️Sponsored by other relatives abroad
1️⃣Notarized original Affidavit of Support and Guarantee (AOSG)
2️⃣Confirmed roundtrip ticket
3️⃣Original PSA-issued birth or marriage certificate

๐Ÿ™‹๐Ÿผ‍♂️Sponsored by an unrelated foreign national
1️⃣ Notarized original AOSG
2️⃣ Substantial proof of relationship
3️⃣ Confirmed roundtrip 
4️⃣ If a judicial entry, sponsor’s registration paper

๐Ÿ™‹๐Ÿพ‍♂️Traveling with an unrelated local sponsor
1️⃣Notarized original AOSG
2️⃣ Substantial proof of relationship
3️⃣ Copy of sponsor’s return ticket

❓Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs)

✅ OFWs departing for the first time 
1️⃣ Overseas employment certificate (OEC), or OFW Clearance issued by the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW)
2️⃣Valid and appropriate employment visa, work permit, or any equivalent document 
3️⃣ Employment contract
4️⃣ Visa Usage Undertaking, or Manpower Request specifying visa usage approved or verified by the DMW or Migrant Workers Office (MWO), if applicable

✅ Balik-Manggagawa (BM)
1️⃣Valid and appropriate employment visa, work permit, or any equivalent document
2️⃣OFW Clearance, OEC issued on-site by MWO or Migrant Workers Airport Assistance Center (DMW-MWAAC), or Online BM OEC Exemption, or manually issued OEC
3️⃣Proof of employment, as necessary

✅Direct hires
1️⃣ OEC, e-receipt, or valid OFW Clearance, and
2️⃣ Valid and appropriate employment visa, work permit, or any equivalent document

๐Ÿ‘ฆ๐Ÿป Minors
๐Ÿ‘ฉ‍๐Ÿ‘ฆ‍๐Ÿ‘ฆ With married parents, while the mother is accompanying
1️⃣Original Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA)-issued birth certificate or report of birth
๐Ÿ‘จ‍๐Ÿ‘ง‍๐Ÿ‘ฆ With married parents, while the mother is not accompanying
1️⃣ Original PSA-issued birth certificate or report of birth
2️⃣ Original PSA-issued marriage certificate

The following are scenarios where travel will require Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Certificates of Clearance or Exemption:

✅ DSWD Travel Clearance Certificate (TCC), if:
    * The parents are unmarried and the minor’s mother is not traveling
    * The minor is accompanied by anyone other than their parents
    * The passenger is over 18 but unable to fully care or protect themselves because of a physical or mental disability or condition
    * The minor is above 13 years old and traveling alone (minors below 13 are prohibited from traveling alone

✅DSWD Certificate of Exemption from TCC, if:
    * The parents are unmarried and the minor is traveling with their biological father who has sole parental authority or legal custody over them
    * The companion is their legal guardian
    * Orphans of married parents traveling with substitute parent/s
    * Orphans of non-married parents and traveling with substitute parent/s or closest maternal relative

✅๐Ž๐…๐– ๐ซ๐ž๐ฅ๐š๐ญ๐ข๐ฏ๐ž๐ฌ, ๐ฌ๐ญ๐ฎ๐๐ž๐ง๐ญ๐ฌ, ๐ฏ๐จ๐ฅ๐ฎ๐ง๐ญ๐ž๐ž๐ซ๐ฌ, ๐š๐ง๐ ๐ฆ๐จ๐ซ๐ž

๐Ÿ‘จ‍๐Ÿ‘ง‍๐Ÿ‘ฆDependent family members joining an OFW at the host country
1️⃣Valid dependent visa or any equivalent document, and
2️⃣Copies of the OFW’s valid visa and OEC, e-receipt, or OFW clearance

๐Ÿ‘ฉ‍๐ŸŽ“Students under the International Student Affairs Program or Student Internship Abroad Program of the Commission on Higher Education (CHED)
    * CHED endorsement
๐Ÿง‘‍๐ŸŽ“Students or scholars
    * Acceptance letter from the school or institution abroad
    * Duly notarized affidavit executed by the student or scholar indicating the educational institution, and the duration of the course or program of study
    * Confirmed return or roundtrip ticket consistent with the program duration, if practicable
    * Proof of financial capacity or scholarship
    * Endorsement from the National Commission on Muslim Filipinos (NCMF) for Arabic language scholars, if applicable
    * Certification from the school division superintendent for basic education students under an international exchange program, or joining a competition abroad
        * Minors under this category also need a DSWD Travel Clearance Certificate


๐Ÿ™‹๐Ÿผ‍♂️ Passengers with prospective employers abroad
    * Confirmed return or roundtrip ticket consistent with travel duration
    * Documents relevant to the purpose of travel, and
    * Duly notarized affidavit executed by the passenger indicating the purpose and duration of travel

๐Ÿ™‹๐Ÿป‍♀️ Passengers traveling abroad for compassionate or humanitarian visit to an overseas Filipino
    * Certification from the DMW or the Department of Foreign Affairs specifying the purpose of travel

๐Ÿ™‹ Passengers traveling for company transfers or trainings
    * Intra-company transferees
        * Proof of local employment, as certified by the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE)
        * Secondment agreement between the local company and foreign host company, as necessary
    * Intra- or inter-company trainees
        * Proof of local employment, as certified by the DOLE, and
        * Traineeship agreement authenticated by the Philippine embassy or consulate where the training will be conducted, as necessary

๐Ÿ™‹๐Ÿพ‍♂️Volunteer workers
    * Endorsement from the Philippine National Volunteer Service Coordinating Agency
* Hajj pilgrims to Mecca
    * Endorsement or list of pilgrims from the NCMF
* Donor traveling for organ donation or transplantation
    * Department of Health clearance approving the organ donation or transplantation
The following are passengers who may be required to present a CFO clearance:
* Filipino spouse, fiancรฉ/e, or partner (described as someone who is in a “genuine” heterosexual or same-sex relationship) of a foreign national, with an immigrant, resident, spouse, long-term, partner, prospective marriage, family reunification visa, or other similar visas
* First-time Filipino emigrants and resident visa holders registering with the CFO for the first time
* J1 visa holders, or exchange visitors bound for the United States
* Au Pair visa holders

#ChriszysTravelTips #DiyTravelSg #DiytTravelSingapore

Monday, September 04, 2023

I'm entitled to my opinion

This is to re-post this good article to read from Facebook page Thinking Is Power.

DEFINITION AND EXPLANATION: It is true that everyone is (legally) entitled to their opinion. However, “I’m entitled to my opinion,” is often used to shield an unsupported position. And being entitled to your opinion doesn’t mean you’re right, or that anyone needs to take your opinion seriously.

There are several problems with this fallacy. 

1. An opinion doesn’t mean what they think it means. Opinions are subjective judgements or viewpoints. When someone claims they are “entitled to their opinion,” it’s often because they are trying to shield factually incorrect assertions.  

2. All opinions aren’t equal. Expert opinions are interpretations of evidence based on years of study and experience, and are significantly more robust and reliable than non-expert opinions. “I’m entitled to my opinion” suggests that their opinion is just as good as anyone else’s.

3. We should all be open to changing our minds if the evidence suggests we should. “I’m entitled to my opinion” is essentially an admission that they can’t justify their position… but yet they’re unwilling to entertain contradictory evidence or other points of view. 

In the face of facts that contradict a belief, especially one central to our identity or values, we use motivated reasoning to reduce the cognitive dissonance that arises when reality and our beliefs are in conflict. When that fails, our Get Out of Jail Free Card is to defend the belief by rendering it unfalsifiable and therefore immune to evidence. We move the goalposts. Discount sources or deny evidence. Proclaim that it’s our opinion.

It’s important to remember that the purpose of arguing isn’t to be right, it’s to get it right. “I’m entitled to my opinion” shuts down any further disagreement. We simply don’t want to be wrong.

HOW TO COUNTER: I tell my students on the first day of class that they are not entitled to their opinions. (At least not in class!) They are only entitled to what they can support with evidence. 

It’s a bit trickier in the “real world.” Remember that people are often unfamiliar with the basics of critical thinking, so they may not be used to having to support their positions with evidence. Consider explaining why “I’m entitled to my opinion” is fallacious, and the benefits of healthy disagreement. The best approach is probably to ask them why they hold this particular opinion, and why they think they’re “entitled” to it.

MORE ABOUT THIS AND OTHER FALLACIES: thinkingispower.com/logical-fallacies/

Support TIP on Patreon!: www.patreon.com/ThinkingIsPower

Monday, August 21, 2023

Scams in the local entertainment

I have been for so many various production companies. This is article is about my experience in the local entertainment industry. You name it: shorts, movies, series and shows.


How to spot scammers in the acting business? Let me provide you some tips.
  1. Some productions collects payment. Just make sure you get official receipts the first time you pay. If not, that's a red flag. A legitimate acting workshop must be a business registered and that any money you pay should be issued an official receipts.
  2. Others don't ask you to pay for anything and that's a pro-bono. It means there's no talent fee. That's fine for the sake of exposure to the public viewing. May it be on YouTube or Facebook. Just go for this. Change it to your experience.
  3. Make sure that the production company you're thinking or planning to join has connections with people who are already in the industry. It is a must that the company should be able to produce a good set of setcards for your with a VTR and that you have a copy of these.
  4. Since I have been for over  a year, make sure that they good camera not smartphones when shooting a scene for your project. Branded camera adds legitamcy of the production.
  5. Regardless of gender or sex, if a talent scouts ask you to send nude photos, that's a no-no.
Having these things said, make sure to join Facebook groups about acting in the Philippines and do your research for these production companies. I have a list of them but I keep it a secret for me.

Monday, August 07, 2023

Downfall of Tagalog language in the Philippines

In June 2023, this Facebook page posted about Tagalog language. It is being the third most widely spoken language in three states in the USA. I posted comments about it on Facebook comment section similar to the screenshot below.


After few hours, out of nowhere, this person who claims intelligent lambasted my comment saying I am fool and being foolish. His name is Balon Hpesram, appears to be a kakampink. We exchanged comments until the latter resorted to maligning my person, calling me names. Which is abviously one of the toxic attitudes of being a Filipino. But some Filipinos remain professional when interacting online. Freedom of expression is a fundamental right and people should learn how to respect and be so civil when disagreeing comments in social media.

On the other hand, Tagalog is bound to fall sooner or later. Why? Filipino including Panitkan subjects are no longer mandatory in colleges and universities in the Philippines. Hence, it is no longer required. After all, K to 12 education should be enough to equip students in their future careers! Another thing is teaching maters are not enough to continue teaching Filipino and Panitikan subjects.



Monday, July 24, 2023

Out sight, out of mind

I'm sorry to hear that you're going through a hard time. Moving on can be challenging, but it's possible with some patience and self-care. Here are some tips that might help you:

Give yourself permission to feel sad. It's normal and healthy to grieve the loss of a relationship or a situation that mattered to you. Don't suppress your emotions or judge yourself for having them. Instead, acknowledge what you feel and find healthy ways to express it, such as writing, talking, or crying.



Reflect on the relationship realistically. Don't idealize the past or dwell on the negative aspects. Try to see the relationship as it was, with its strengths and weaknesses, and learn from the experience. Think about what you gained from it, what you learned about yourself and others, and what you want in the future².

Get closure by distancing yourself from your ex. If you're trying to move on from a romantic breakup, it's important to cut off contact with your ex until you're healed. This means unfollowing them on social media, deleting their number, and avoiding places where you might run into them. This will help you break the emotional attachment and focus on yourself¹.

Identify lessons you've learned that you can use in future relationships. Every relationship teaches us something valuable, even if it ends badly. Think about what you discovered about your needs, preferences, boundaries, and communication style. Use this knowledge to improve your relationship with yourself and others².

Keep yourself busy and do things you enjoy. Don't let your life revolve around your past. Find activities that make you happy and fulfilled, such as hobbies, sports, volunteering, or learning something new. These will help you boost your mood, distract yourself from negative thoughts, and build your confidence³.

Practice self-care and spend plenty of time with friends. Moving on can be stressful and exhausting, so make sure you take good care of yourself physically and mentally. Eat well, sleep enough, exercise regularly, and relax often. Surround yourself with supportive people who love you and make you laugh. Don't isolate yourself or bottle up your feelings³.

________________________________________________

Source: Conversation with Bing, 6/9/2023
(1) How To Move On When You Still Love Him: 15 Ways Move ... - Love Strategies.
(2) How to Move On: 15-Steps to Help You Feel Better Move On - PsychAlive.
(3) How to Move On: Letting Go & Moving Forward After a Breakup - wikiHow.
(4) 3 Ways to Move on in Life - wikiHow

Facebook Page

To Amend or Not To Amend: That is the Question. A Debate on Charter Change.