EDUCATION | UP makes it to Times Higher Education's World University Rankings 2016-2017

In what may appear to be a reflection of the current state of education in the Philippines, the University of the Philippines (UP) is the sole Philippine university that entered the World University Rankings list of Times Higher Education for the period 2016-2017.

The premier university of the country ranks 801++ in the overall rankings of the London-based publication. However, it failed to join the list of top 200 universities in Asia. The latest Quacquarelli Symonds (QS) University Rankings for Asia listed UP at rank 70 (same as last year), Ateneo de Manila University at rank 99 (up from 114), De La Salle University (DLSU) at rank 143 (improved from 183), and UST at rank 157 (which went down from 143). The National University of Singapore (NUS) retains its title as the best university in Asia in the latest Times Higher Education's (THE) World University Rankings. NUS is followed by the Nanyang Technological University, Peking University, University of Hong Kong, and Tsinghua University.

Here are the world's best universities according to Times Higher Education for the period 2016 to 2017.

1. University of Oxford, United Kingdom (up from rank 2)
2. California Institute of Technology, United States (down from rank 1)
3. Stanford University, United States
4. University of Cambridge, United Kingdom
5. Massachusetts Institute of Technology, United States
6. Harvard University, United States
7. Princeton University, United States
8. Imperial College London, United Kingdom
9. ETH Zurich – Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Zurich, Switzerland
10. University of California - Berkeley, United States (new entrant, up from rank 13) and University of Chicago, United States

MUSIC | US singer James Taylor cancels Manila concert over extrajudicial killings under drug war

Image Courtesy: JamesTaylor.com

Five-time Grammy award singer James Taylor has cancelled a scheduled concert in Manila over reports of extrajudicial killings under the current Duterte administration's war on drugs.

In a statement, the US singer said he was choosing to cancel the said event to "make a politial stand". For him, summary executions in the Philippines are "unacceptable to anyone who loves the rule of law."

The 68-year-old was scheduled to play in Manila, the capital of the country, on February, but in a Facebook post, he said, "I don't think of my music as being particularly political but sometimes one is called upon to make a political stand."

"For a sovereign nation to prosecute and punish, under the law, those responsible for the illegal trade in drugs is, of course, understandable, even commendable; but recent reports from the Philippines... are deeply concerning and unacceptable to anyone who loves the rule of law," he added.

In reaction to his withdrawal, fans expressed disappointment. A lot praised him though for his "integrity in adopting a principled stand." Supporters of the president criticized Taylor's act of "boycott." 

"Only fans will benefit from James Taylor's concert but good governance will benefit our entire nation," said Rendell Bata.

About President Duterte

Image Source: Embassy of the Philippines, Washington D.C.

During the national campaigning period, then-presidential candidate Rodrigo Duterte vowed to eradicate drugs. Elected in May, he has been reported to have urged citizens to kill drug dealers who resist arrest.

As most Filipinos know, the former mayor of Davao City has built a reputation for being blunt when speaking and for giving support to the extrajudicial killings of crime suspects.

COOL | Who wants to view Earth from space? Check this out.

Have you ever wondered how it feels to travel the world while on a spacecraft? Have you ever dreamed of seeing different parts of Earth by watching from the point-of-view of the sky? Have you ever wanted to fly in outer space and check if the Earth is really round?

Image Screenshot: NASA, International Space Station

I did have these too when I was still a kid. Now, with science and technology making these goals and dreams achievable, viewing the world from outer space is not impossible. While looking for videos of the Earth as astronauts ride their space shuttle, I found a very usable link.

You can actually watch the International Space Station (ISS) traverse the world in distinct routes! Watch the shuttle as it roams around the Earth minute by minute. See the day turn into night, from up above, right before your very eyes!

Video Courtesy: Youtube channel Space Videos

REVIEW | Moana (Disney Film)

Video Courtesy: Youtube channel Walt Disney Animation Studios

Moana is the story of an adventure of Moana Waialiki, the daughter of a Polynesian tribal chieftain, whom the ocean chooses to look for the demigod Maui and return a precious gem that was once the heart of a mythical Mother Island, Te Fiti, from whom Maui stole—the reason being that he wanted to give human beings the power to give life.

Plot Summary

Image Courtesy: Disney Movies UK

Despite being the successor to her father’s throne as the next chief of their own village, Moana has her own dreams. She wants to go out to the seas and follow her ancestors’ footsteps, that is, to voyage across oceans. Her father disagrees with that view though as he believes that whatever they need are already provided for by the island where they are in.

VIEW | My blog posts are not indexed/crawled by Google bots. What should I do?

I noticed that my blog posts here in Manila LifeBox do not show up in search results. And this is probably because Google bots have failed to find (crawl) my articles and index these in their search results. Or is it?

Image Courtesy: Blogger.com

Maybe it is because I rarely post articles here, but usually it only takes one day for my post to be found in the search results. Some bloggers, in addition to my experience, have actually recently found out about such problems. I looked for possible solutions so that I could address this blog crawling and indexing issue.

REVIEW | Skechers Go Run Ride 4 Running Shoes

I recently bought a pair of Skechers running shoes, the Skechers Go Run Ride 4, which was put on sale in a mall somewhere south. I was enthusiastic to try it on, so I did on that same day of purchase. Just to guide some fellow running/jogging friends out there, here is my review of the Skechers Go Run Ride 4 which was released by the footwear company at the end of 2014.

I know this model is a bit outdated, but Skechers shoes are actually rated high by users and experts in RunRepeat (#14, rating of 79) and are up in the rankings with the likes of Skechers GOrun Ultra 2 and Skechers GOrun 4. SoleReview, another ratings website, gives it a 78%.

Here is my review of the Skechers Go Run Ride 4 with great consideration of factors like design, comfort and price.

DESIGN 

I give it an 8/10 as its color palette is really appealing for me. It’s upper body mesh made of synthetic leather somehow disappoints, but the design makes up for it. The midsole made of EVA foam gives comfort to the feet, while its outsole which consists of circular rubber pods allows for an easy sprint. However, the shoes didn’t get the remaining two points since, for me, I feel conscious while jogging. Perhaps it’s the shape that makes it uneasy to jog or run or maybe it’s because I just recently purchased it so I am very cautious when using it.

ALERT | Ongoing Christmas Holiday Sale and Promos

The holiday season, or as some may call the "-ber months", here in the Philippines is indeed a great period both for customers and sellers as this is the time when we're eager to splurge on stuff that we'd like to purchase after saving some cash from our sweldo.

I have found some of the BEST ongoing Christmas/Holiday sales in Metro Manila. These are so much connected to my necessities so I didn't include some shop sales to which I myself won't go.

I won't take so much of your time to give you some of the best till-December sales and promos. Here is the list of Christmas sales until December 2016.

1. BOOKS 

If reading is your passion, go check the Anvil Christmas Sal!

Promo Period: October 26- December 10, 2016

Where to Go: No. 25 Brixton St., Brgy. Kapitolyo, Pasig City

Have your shopping bags ready and buy books for as low as P5!!! Don’t miss out and drop by at No. 25 Brixton St., Brgy. Kapitolyo, Pasig City (entrance is at the West Drive Capitol, in front of Bo Jungle Fitness) from today until December 10, 2016 (except holidays) from 10 AM to 7 PM! See you!

HEALTH | What happens to your body when you die?

It's almost Halloween, a reason why people are now talking of horror stories, employing scare tactics, and joining parties to celebrate it differently. Cool nerds and geeky kids lol out there may want to have a taste of what's horrific and gruesome in this post.

What actually happens to our body when we die? Ano ba nangyayari sa atin kapag namatay na tayo, except for the fact that we return back to dust?

Here are two cool sources for awesome people out there who are interested in knowing the process of human decomposition. Just click to enlarge!

Image Courtesy: Business Insider

So, konting Tagalog-English summary lang:

• In a few seconds, bagsak temperature ng body natin hanggang umabot sa 25 C.
• In a few minutes, dahil hindi na tayo humihinga, bumabagsak oxygen sa katawan natin. Kapag wala ng oxygen, namamatay yung cells at unti-unting nasisira.
• In several hours, mag-popool yung dugo natin sa pinaka-mababang parte ng katawan natin kapag nakahiga tayo dahil sa gravity. Lalabas din poop natin and ihi kasi wala ng muscles na magko-control sa puwet and ari/pwerta natin. Maninigas din katawan natin.
• In several days, mag-aamoy patay na tayo (like masangsang level) dahil may mga chemicals na nagleleak out dulot ng bacterial processes (at ano pang mga ginagawa ng iba pang mga living things hehe). Yung mga enzymes na mismong tumutulong na magdigest ng kinain natin ang mismo na ring nagdidigest sa sarili nating katawan huhu.
• In weeks, mga bugs naman ang makikihati sa katawan natin -- maggots to be specific. Pati earthworms. Mangingitim din tayo or purplish and pakonti-konting natatanggal buhok natin.
• After at least four (4) months, buto-buto na lang tayo with konting parts pa na natitira, if lucky hehe.

Not yet grossed out? Then watch this video provided by Vox.

Video Courtesy: Youtube channel Vox

Hope you learned a lot today, guys! Take good care of your bodies ('cause nobody will take good care of it once we're dead)! :))

VIDEO | How vast is our universe? Where are we in the scale of things?

Soul searching is what most of the 20-somethings do in the world today. Many of us travel to various places to find ourselves. Marami satin umaalis papunta sa mga lugar na hindi natin alam. Sometimes, we just love to get lost and then found, eventually.

Contemplating on the number of places we've been to and thinking about the numerous places in the Philippines or in the world that we are yet to see make us realize how big the world we know is.

But what's more challenging is when we take a look at things on a grander scale -- the universe and where we are in this vast wide space!

Where are we in the scale of things? How vast is our universe? This makes us wonder, is it possible to reach at least 1,000 years old in order for us to experience the beauty of the other places that are literally out of this world?

Gaano nga ba tayo kaliit sa universe na ating ginagalawan? Watch the video below and be amazed at how lucky we are to have won the sperm race and to have lived in this age. What will soul searching be five, 10, 20 thousand years from now? Enjoy!

Video Courtesy: Youtube channel morn1415

FUNNY | Not everything is what it seems. Here's a case of mistaken identity. :))

Some of us visit art galleries and museums out of curiosity. Others will do so just to ease away the boredom. A few would do better than what's expected.

In a local art gallery in Australia, a young man and his friends went to appreciate the artworks and displays, but there was this one piece which left them baffled -- an exhibit piece showing a stuffed animal on a gray blanket that was actually frequented by the visitors.

TJ Khayatan, the young man in this story, could not quite figure out what was so special about this piece. For his youthfulness and creativity, he came up with an idea. To test the visitors' openness, he and his friends placed a pair of eyeglasses on the floor.

Screenshot from Twitter user @TJCruda

LMAO WE PUT GLASSES ON THE FLOOR AT AN ART GALLERY AND... pic.twitter.com/7TYoHPtjP8

— teejay (@TJCruda) May 24, 2016

And lo and behold...

Screenshot from Twitter user @TJCruda

It did caught the visitors' attention. Some were trying to decode what this artwork meant.

Screenshot from Twitter user @TJCruda

Even this photographer was so amazed at the wonderful display!

Screenshot from Twitter user @TJCruda

Snapshots of the pranksters' "exhibit" went viral on Twitter. Hope you had a good laugh!

SCIENCE | Letting babies cry themselves to sleep is fine.

Waking up in the middle of the night due to your baby's cry? Let him/her cry to sleep, a study from Flinders University in South Australia suggests. The research concluded that it's okay to let your babies gradually cry themselves to sleep as it does not cause any emotional harm or stress in the long term.

Image Courtesy: www.preciouslittlesleep.com

The habits of 43 pairs of parents troubled sleeping due to their infants' waits were analyzed. These parents have babies aged six to o 16 months old. The babies were left to cry for increasing period of time within three months. And it found out that leaving them be allowed babies to fall asleep 13 minutes faster on average than those who were attended to.

So, ano nangyari? What was done in the study?

Basically, the parents and their babies were divided into three different groups: the crying-it-out group (or graduated extinction), the bedtime fading group (where parents stay until their baby falls asleep), and the control group (no sleep training).

And the results? The graduated extinction group got better benefits vs the bedtime fading group in terms of the time taken to fall asleep by 3 minutes on average, the frequency babies were waking up in the night, and the total sleep time.

The babies' cortisol (hormone associated with stress) levels were taken. And it was found out that there was no significant difference in terms of baby stress levels. Also, the parents did not report increased stress or differences in the level of parent-child bonding.

Do note though that graduated extinction does not mean leaving a baby alone crying for hours on end, but rather slowly raising the amount of time a crying baby is left alone--that is, from 2 minutes to 35 minutes within the week. 

Read up on the study published in the Pediatrics journal here.

COOL | Artificial shooting stars, anyone? Japanese company wants to make meteor showers for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.

Enter Japan, a nation that's been one of the leaders in invention and innovation. Tokyo (Japan) will be hosting the 2020 Olympics and a company called Star-ALE has revealed it wants to create artificial showers which could be a possibility come 2020.

Yep, how cool is that!? Definitely ayos!

Star-ALE aims to launch a spacecraft that releases around 500 to 1,000 spherical pellets in low orbit. These pellets will then fall towards Earth, re-enter the atmosphere, burn and produce a flash of light similar with what you see during meteor showers. No, hindi Meteor Garden ang tinutukoy ko with all those pa-cute dudes and that inaaway na chinita haha.

Video Courtesy: Youtube channel Ale Co., Ltd.

Through project Sky Canvas, these pellets, each costing $8,000, will be composed of some common elements we see in the periodic table which will give colors to the artificial meteors from green (Copper, Cu) to pink (Lithium, Li).

But wait, wait, wait! Don't get your hopes so high! The company is still yet to know if they will push through with it on the Olympics. So far, the spokesperson concluded that "articles claiming that we 'want' to provide shooting stars for the Olympics are true, but those that claim that we 'will' or 'have proposed to' are no."

What is to expect though is that, if this indeed will happen, it's going to be fantastic! Imagine seeing meteors shine brighter than the brightest star in our sky at night, Sirius! Everyone would wish to be in Tokyo by that time!

SCIENCE | Can you spot slight changes in color? Take the Color Test.

Are your eyes sensitive enough to differentiate a slight change in color? Taking a color test will let you know how hard or easy it is for you to detect colors that vary in hues. Who knows? You could be one of those ultra-sensitive enough to figure out one shade from the others!

Video Courtesy: Youtube channel BuzzfeedBlue

Online content creator Buzzfeed came up with this short video that lets you know how good you are when it comes to color perception. As for the results, I got all 23 letters right! How well did you fare?

So, you may ask, how do we see color?

Cones in the retina found at the back of our eye are the ones that receive and respond to the light waves that reflect from a surface, e.g. that of an apple. When light coming from the apple hits our eyes, it stimulates these cones (red, green, and blue) to some extent. The stimulated cones then transmit the signal along the optic nerve na nagkokoneta papunta sa visual processor/interpreter ng utak natin -- the visual cortex, which then returns with the color red.

We humans are far superior than most mammals when it comes to discerning color, BUT there are some animals outside our turf na mas magaling pa sa pag-perceive ng color. Examples are birds and fish which have more cone types (four rather than three) that allows them to see ultraviolet light or any type of light with wavelengths undetectable by our eyes.

CELEBRITY | Anne Hathaway kills it in no-holds-barred rap battle vs James Corden

Academy Award winner Anne Hathaway showed another side of herself during her stint with popular American host and comedian James Corden in The Late Late Show with James Corden.

Well, just what did she just do? Hathaway surprised everyone with her outstanding rapping skills as she slammed James Corden with THE beats, rhymes and flows.

Video Courtesy: Youtube channel The Late Late Show with James Corden

James Corden faced off with the international celebrity, calling her out for her 'awful British tone' besides bringing up the 2011 Oscars and Catwoman. Hathaway hit back on the British star by labeling him the 'worst British export since smallpox,' to which Corden responded, "that was actually mean."

Although the rap battle was scripted, what was actually seen here is the versatility of these influential people that actually make us realize how vast the talent pool really is. Both Corden and Hathaway really stepped it up the notch here. What talents can't these guys do? Hopefully, we'll see them clash again some time! Haha.

GAME | Landlord Real Estate Tycoon App Guide, Problems, Bugs, Tips, Review

I recently downloaded this app or game called Landlord Real Estate Tycoon, created by Reality Games. With versions in both the iOS and Android platforms, this simulation game has got me hooked! 

And I've just been on my fifth (5th) day in Landlord! Well, you may ask what Landlord really is all about. Seen on the image shown on the left, Landlord allows you to simulate the world of real estate investing. This means you can start practicing before venturing into real estate business. What actually happens in the game is that you start off with $50,000 and in the process, you get to purchase from a list of properties within your designated area.

Generally, Landlord is quite a good game, if not for the bugs and glitches which I'll be mentioning in this article as well.

PROPERTIES WITHIN REACH

Yes, Landlord actually capitalizes on information that's accessible through an online map. So wherever you are, the Landlord properties that you can buy are right just near you waiting to be bought. These come in share or percentage/portion of the property you can own at a given cash balance and level.

Please click to enlarge

Glitch/Bug/Problem: It seems like the database of properties don't really necessary reflect that of what you found in online maps such as Google Map. Only a few properties get to show up in your Properties tab.

EASY ACCESS

It's really easy to access the game. All you need to have is a Facebook or Gmail account. You'd also receive free coins which can be used to fill cash into your purse up to the designated storage limit (depending on your level which then is affected by your total net worth).

Glitch/Bug/Problem: There is a noticeable issue with Landlord and that is "Network Error" which is probably due to an overload in the servers, hence, making it hard to access its tabs in some instances.

Tip: I would suggest that you use a separate Gmail account haha, so that you're friends won't know you're procrastinating! Haha!

RENT, COST, MARKET VALUE

Please click to enlarge

Each property, per level, will have rent (which, some say, is somehow linked to how social media perceive your property), cost, and market value. The market value may increase or decrease given some factors, and may dictate the price of your property at the Marketplace.

Glitch/Bug/Problem: Sometimes, the rent and cost values nullify or become zero (0). I don't understand how this happens, but I do hope the developers will come up with a fix for this asap.

Tip: There seems to be a fixed return on investment (ROI) for each property at each level. Thus, it would be better if you really compare and buy properties based on how you perceive them to be popular or appealing. Game pros may opt to correct me on this, if I am wrong.

MARKETPLACE

Please click to enlarge

The Marketplace is like a global market where all players can see your property and bid on it if they like it. The most actively bid property that I see is usually Starbucks. I don't understand why, but perhaps it's the hype associated with it as it really gives good returns. This hype won't last long though.

Images Courtesy: Player Alberto B.

Glitch/Bug/Problem: There are instances when you're truly unlucky that after you send your property to the Marketplace for bidding, your property's market value drops to as much as 1%. This happened to a fellow Landlord player of mine who placed his property for $1 billion for 100 percent. And l and behold, after several minutes, the market value fell to $10 million for 100 percent which caused bidders to fight for it.

The Marketplace is where buyers look for good properties unavailable within their area. It could stretch from all areas across the globe where there are landlords. So, if your property isn't unappealing (or is losing market value) for you anymore, then you can sell it in the Marketplace for 5 coins.

Once you've placed your Landlord property up for bids in the Marketplace, your property will be on queue for four (4) hours. Only then when it reaches the last hour will it start showing up in the Marketplace list and players will start making their bids.

Tip: Buy properties you perceive are worth owning so that even if these lose their market values, you'd still appreciate them. Just keep hustling and selling (flipping) properties that you think would be a good target for bidders out there. As for me, when I started out I bought clinics and hospital near my place and in the marketplace. :)

COINS, DOLLARS, NET WORTH

The digital currency being used in Landlord is in terms of US $, but some properties require a certain amount of coins in order to buy them. And you can refill with cash up to your level's storage limit through coins. This is the reason why some players really pay real money to get lots of coins so that they could increase their net worth (total empire's worth) faster.

Also, sums of coins may be used to increase your earnings or boosting your skills. I haven't actually tried increasing any of the skills, the benefits of which are enlisted below.

• Tycoon - increase property slots (default is 10 slots)
• Lawyer - increase properties waiting for paperwork (default is 1 property transaction processed at a time)
• Innovator - reduce property costs (default is 0%)
• Landlord - increase property rent (default is 0%)
• Accountant - reduce taxes (default is 0%)
• Speculator - increase property valuations (default is 0%)

Tip: These will be of great help once you've reach the multi-million or multi-billion net worth rankings. For now, focus on using your coins to refill cash and buy property. When you refill cash, make sure that the least amount of coins will be used to refill your purse, as being austere with your coins usage can be effective in getting to the millionaires hub within four (4) days.

ACTIVITY, PORTFOLIO, PROPERTY OFFERS, BANK, LEADER BOARDS

Please click to enlarge

Your sidebar will contain an Activity tab which actually details down the time you have done transactions (property sale or purchase), have made new friends, have received property offers, etc.

Please click to enlarge

A list of your properties may be viewed through your Portfolio tab. Here, you will see how much you are earning, how much you have earned in total, and what the properties' individual worth are. Some players if they want your property so bad or if they want to have fun would offer you more money more than the market value of your property through the Property Offers tab.

Please click to enlarge

Meanwhile, the Bank is where you get to purchase coins through your debit/credit card, remove ads, and fill your cash storage with the aid of coins. The leader boards will show you how you fare well vs your peers in the local, national, and global stage.

Please click to enlarge

Tip: At the bottom of the sidebar, you'll see an Invite Friends tab. Click on it and you'll see a unique code which you can share to your friends. When they punch in that code into the Enter box, you and they will get an additional $50,000. You may also check out the About Landlord tab if you need more help.

FINAL SAY

I guess I have contributed as much as I could in this article about Landlord, the real estate tycoon app. If I were to rate this, it would be a 2.99/5 as there is still much space for the game's growth and improvement especially on the part of the intermittent errors and value glitches that are happening. Landlord is a highly recommended game and one of the best tycoon games so far for tablets and smartphones.

If you need further support, join this community/group of Landlord players on Facebook: Landlord Real Estate Tycoon. See you there!

MUSIC | Shawn Mendes concert at SM Mall of Asia (MOA) Arena

Photo Courtesy: Facebook Page Shawn Mendes

Heads up everyone! As part of his 2016 World Tour, international artist Shawn Mendes will be performing here in the Philippines on October 26 at the SM Mall of Asia (MOA) Arena. This was confirmed by concert promoter Music Management International last March 18.

In 2015, 17-year-old singer-songwriter Mend debuted with his album “Handwritten” in 2015. It reached no. 1 on the Billboard 200 charts. The album included hit singles “Stitches,” “Something Big,” “Life of the Party,” and “I Know What You Did Last Summer.”

Shawn Mendes has been included in Forbes’ 30 Under 30 in 2016 and in Time magazine’s Most Influential Teens of 2014 and 2015. 

Tickets to Mendes’ MOA concert may be availed on the pre-sale today (March 19) until 10 PM. Log on to www.ShawnAccess.com to get the code. Log on to smtickets.com to purchase your tickets.

You may also buy Shawn Mendes' concert tickets on May 21 starting at 4 PM. For details, follow #MMILive (on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter); log on to SM Tickets, www.smtickets.com; or call 470-2222.

So, mark your calendars guys! Shawn's music is way better than what we hear today!

ALERT | Hacker group hacks, defaces PH websites

Hacker group Pinoy Hackers started making noise online as it defaced websites and sent a message to all voters. They aren't coming to sow chaos; instead, they are asking for something else.

The group called for all voters not to believe in black propaganda, to seek advice from people who know other candidates, and to vote those who deal with issues, not personalities. Lastly, the group sought for weariness and vigilance this coming election. 

The websites hacked include the following: 

1. http://braulioedujali.gov.ph/
2. http://drhtagum.gov.ph/
3. http://spda.gov.ph/
4. http://pinamungajan.gov.ph/up!oad/
5. http://www.fliptoplines.com/
6. http://www.tesda11.com/
7. http://www.abccenterphilippines.com.ph/
8. http://davaotourism.com/
9. http://pylon.asia/
10. http://careers.pylon.asia/
11. http://digitalfilipinos.com
12. http://www.skyrocket.ph/
13. http://bikeridemaps.com/
14. http://careers.skyrocket.ph/
15. http://godivephilippines.org/
16. http://geronimobdelosreyesjr.com/
17. http://www.abv.ph/
18. http://www.manillarose.com/
19. http://www.bevtools.com
20. http://blog.skyrocket.ph/

LOOK | How important is religion to Filipinos?

Holy Week in the Philippines has already begun. This period of significant religious observance starts from Palm Sunday (March 20) and ends on an Easter Sunday (March 27); this week is a bit earlier than previous years of the commemoration of Jesus Christ's last steps to crucifixion, central to the country's dominantly Roman Catholic and Protestant populace. For some, this week serves as a period to confess and repent for all sins committed; for others, it's a way to go to the beach and unwind with loved ones.

With all religious Filipino practices and rituals bore in mind, a question does beg for an answer. How important is religion in the lives of Filipinos? Is it still vital to Filipino survival? 

According to Pew Research Center data, 87% of Filipinos surveyed say religion is very important in their lives. This only means that religion is still central to Pinoy culture and tradition.

Image Source: Statista

Do the data then infer that 13 percent of Filipinos take religion as not important to them? Probably not, for it's possible that among the 13 percent who don't see religion as very crucial in their day-to-day living, some might have also considered religion as somewhat important or not too important. Hence, it doesn't necessarily say that more than 1 in 10 Filipinos are already atheists; this shouldn't be a big deal at all since everyone deserves to be respected regardless of their spiritual inclination. 

However, it should be noted that looking at the international arena, religion seemed to be more important to people in the developing world, with the world's biggest economies taking in much lower percentages, except for the United States.

HEALTH | (VIDEO) How vitamins work

For sure, there was at least one point in your life where you asked what vitamins are for. Or simply put, how do vitamins work? Why do some people take multivitamins? What vitamins are important in our everyday lives?

Image ScreenCap: Youtube channel TED-Ed

Well, this animation brought to you by Youtube channel TED-Ed explains the answers to your questions. In this video, you will understand the ways in which vitamins work. Mas maiintindihan mo kung papaano gumagana ang mga vitamins sa katawan. Ano nga ba ang role ng mga vitamins na ito?

Just watch the cool science video below. And don't forget to share it with your friends too!

Video Courtesy: Youtube channel TED-Ed, Ginnie Trinh Nguyen

A Youtube commenter ZestyManifesto listed down some of the general roles of certain vitamins (A, B, C, D, E, and K). Here are what each vitamin is for.

Water Soluble (dissolves in water)

Vitamin B Complex - Convert food to Fuel 

Vitamin C - Healing Wounds and Forming Scar Tissue 

Lipid (Fat) Soluble (can pass through lipid membranes)

Vitamin A - Makes White Blood Cells for Defense 

Vitamin D - Gathers Calcium and Phosphorus for Bones 

Vitamin E - Antioxidant for Damaged Cells 

Vitamin K - Score ability to Clot Blood

Hope you learned something new today! Araw-araw, binibigyan tayo ng pagkakataon na matutunan ang mga bagay na hindi pa natin alam. For the love of learning!

MUSIC | 12 OPM love songs you might want to include in your playlist

The world we know today is rich in cultures that have continuously fused and brought about more individuality in us. People now have more In the Philippines, Original Pinoy Music or OPM as it is called has again found itself back in the airwaves after losing steam since the 2000s. Today, a lot of OPM pop songs have emerged --- thanks to events like Philippine POP Music Festival, Himig Handog P-Pop Love Songs and other competitions, singers and songwriters out there are able to come up with really good, upbeat songs.

Image ScreenCap: No Erase

Here is a list of 12 of the most feel-good OPM pop (PPop) songs that you should have in your playlist. The list also details the singer/s and the year the music video for each was released. All video credits go to the respective Youtube channels. Enjoy listening!

1. Triangulo by Thyro and Yumi (2015)



2.Kilometro by Sarah Geronimo (2014)



3.Dati by Sam Concepcion (2013)



4. Mahal Kita Pero by Janella Salvador (2014)



5. Gayuma by Abra (2012)



6. No Erase by James Reid and Nadine Lustre (2014)



7. Hanap-Hanap by James Reid and Nadine Lustre (2015)



8. Ikot-ikot by Sarah Geronimo (2013)



9. Tayo by Sarah Geronimo (2013)



10. Akin Ka Na Lang by Morisette Amon (2015)



11. Simpleng Tulad Mo by Daniel Padilla (2015)



12. Mahal na Mahal by Sam Concepcion (2013)

LIST | Five (5) crowdfunding websites every Filipino should check out

Are you an idea machine fully capable of transforming what's in your mind into actions that would benefit, not only yourself, but other groups of people too? Are you a passionate, goal-driver dreamer capable of creating viable solutions out of real-life Filipino problems? 

Image Source: CauseVox.co

Are you a successful person who'd like to give back to the people behind your triumph by supporting budding entrepreneurs from different fields? Is altruism imbibed in your character?

Then, this article is what you are looking for. In this post, we list down some of the sites which serve as venues for someone to pitch your ideas in, raise funds, and deliver what you have promised for the benefit of the people whose lives can be changed by your vision. Besides this, it also allows wealthy individuals to effectively use their money for certain causes and support startups and thriving businesses that will go big and change the world.

People commonly refer to this way of seeking for or giving support to projects, products or events as crowdfunding.

WHAT IS CROWDFUNDING?

Wikipedia defines crowdfunding as:

"the practice of funding a project or venture by raising monetary contributions from a large number of people, today often performed via internet-mediated registries, but the concept can also be executed through mail-order subscriptions, benefit events, and other methods."

For a financially wealth person, it means you, yourself, will give a specific amount of money toyou fund a project (event, product, idea), and usually, the project initiators give you something in return. For the project initiators or organizers, you are given an opportunity to present your possible solutions to the online public.

Of course, Filipinos have had their fair share of financing and/or support seeking through crowdfunding platforms. Here is a list of some crowdfunding websites where projects/events created and/or supported by fellow Pinoys and foreigners have become successful.

1. PhilAmTHropy (PATH) : Get funded!

Image Source: http://www.philamthropy.com/

Its founder Georgina Lee envisioned it to be similar to Kickstarter; however, PhilAmTHropy or PATH targets Filipino-oriented projects that have a huge potential. And so, these receive financial assistance from PATH. PATH also focuses on high quality and viability projects, helping the project owners with their marketing campaign.

PhilAmTHropy (PATH) is a crowd funding site for projects made for or made by Filipinos. We coined the name "PhilAmTHropy" by combining the word "philanthropy" (love of humanity) with "PhilAm," our abbreviation of "Philippine Ambassadors".

Image Source: Called to Rescue

One of the projects it supports is Called to Rescue which is a non-profit organization aiming to fight child sex trafficking, violence and abuse in the country. Check out the Philippine chapter here.

2. Artiste Connect : Get funded!

Artiste Connect is a crowdfunding platform for talented artists and creative individuals to help them finance the production of their projects.

Image Source: Artiste Connect

Artiste Connect is not just about project productions. It’s about bridging the gap between the artist and the fan, as well as the artist and the businessman. Our goal is to connect and support both the artist and the fan. Know more about Artiste Connect here.

One specific interesting Filipino group featured in Artiste Connect is Color It Red - Facebook.

Image Source: Color It Red, Artiste Connect

The Filipino pop-rock band that was formed in 1989 had gained funding through Artiste Connect was able to record its fifth studio album “Silver” for its 25th Anniversary. Support them by checking out this link.


3. Crowdo: Get funded! Invest!

Crowdo (formerly Crowdonomic) caters to entrepreneurs in Asia seeking funding and visibility. It is based in Singapore and targets start up businesses not just individual projects. Leo Shimada, founder, said that their ultimate goal was to help entrepreneurs by addressing a key pain point – the funding gap.

Image Source: Crowdo

Crowdo is Southeast Asia's biggest crowdfunding company with a mission to empower Innovators and Entrepreneurs in Asia. We are leading the way in Asia with a comprehensive portfolio of Finance 2.0 solutions and services. Know more about Crowdo here.

Image Source: Earth Hour, Tumblr

One particular Pinoy project on Crowdo worthy of your support is Bancas for the Philippines which was raised by the WWF through Earth Hour Blue campaigns on the crowdfunding site. The project was successful it was able to get 18 Filipino fishing boats back on the water. The recipients were those fishermen who lost their livelihood due to typhoon Haiyan (local name Yolanda).

4: Kickstarter: 

Kickstarter, a large global community built around creativity and creative projects, has served as an avenue for at least 10 million individuals to back projects that matter.

Image Source: Kickstarter.com

Kickstarter helps artists, musicians, filmmakers, designers, and other creators find the resources and support they need to make their ideas a reality. To date, tens of thousands of creative projects — big and small — have come to life with the support of the Kickstarter community.

Image ScreenCap: Kim Komenich video on Kickstarter.com

Pulitizer Prize awardee, photojournalist Kim Komenich has launched a Kickstarter campaign for a $25,000-goal that will allow for the release of his new book detailing the fall of the Marcos regime in the Philippines during the 1986 "People Power" EDSA revolution. The release is in celebration of the 30th anniversary of the revolution. As of posting date, the campaign has already received the $14,000. If you wish to support this, here is the link. Other projects are available too.

5. Indiegogo: Together Do Anything

Just like Kickstarter and other crowdfunding websites, Indiegogo gives entrepreneurs, makers, movers, and shakers the chance to dream big and affect lives without the pressure of having to capitalist investors' demands. It gives entrepreneurs the self-determination they need and empowers them to go for their passion. 

Image Source: Indiegogo.com

Because every inventive idea should have its shot, and every creative entrepreneur should have their moment. When there’s more freedom in the funding of ideas, there’s simply more freedom, period.

Image Source: IQube on Indiegogo

Who says learning about electronics at a young age can't be simple and fun? A Makati-based four-man team created the IQube which teaches kids the basics of electronics by letting them connect cubes together, each of which makes a significant part of the electric circuit. This, thereby, allows kids to explore and understand part by part the circuit. Check out other Indiegogo campaigns here.

HEALTH | Table of PhilHealth Premium Contributions 2016

Almost every person in the world who mostly pays for hospitalization bills from out of his/her pocket knows that health should be a priority in life. 

Image Courtesy: www.studentlendingworks.org

Illnesses and accidents are not picky. These can happen to anyone. And the damages, not only to the state of the person but also to the financial status and the well-being of the whole family, should be minimized. Hence, some governments look for ways to help the people it governs manage their health and wellness.

Especially for a country like the Philippines, the home of one of the most hygienic people in the world, people hate getting into accidents, being afflicted with diseases, or losing someone to year-long battles. It's just too costly --- physically and mentally. Although unwanted circumstances like accidents and deaths bring Filipino families together, these are just not the way Pinoys would want to be reunited with their loved ones.

The Philippine government has steadily sustained its health programs that aim to cover everyone and not just the poor. The Philippine Health Insurance Corporation, PhilHealth, is a tax-exempt government-owned and and government-controlled corporation (GOCC) which was tasked to provide a national health insurance program for all. The presence of PhilHealth clearly defines the notion that the healthy is capable of paying for the sick and the wealthy, the fortunate can subsidize those who can't, as well as all contributors are assured a healthcare safety net.

The PhilHealth categorizes contributors into different groups, namely formal (employed), indigent , retiree, non-formal, and OFW. Except for outpatient primary care which only applies to indigents and OFWs, all beneficiaries can avail of the following services at lower (subsidized) fees: catastrophic coverage, inpatient care, catastrophic coverage, ambulatory surgeries, outpatient treatment for malaria and tuberculosis, and maternal deliveries. Please visit the PhilHealth website for a complete list  of the healthcare benefits.

This 2016, PhilHealth released its table of premium contributions (seen below) which serves as the basis of all PhilHealth contributions of the employed, self-employed, OFWs, sponsored, and individual paying members. 

Image ScreenCap: PhilHealth

For those who are employed, 50% of the contribution, which depend on their salary bracket, will come from their employer. There are 28 salary brackets (ranging from a monthly salary of 8,999.99 Php or lower, to a highly 35,000 Php) in the PhilHealth contribution table, each with a different premium to be paid.

Based on the table of monthly premiums, "Kasambahay" or household helps who receive a monthly salary of less than 5,000 Php will have their contributions fully shouldered by their employer.

For all land-based Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs), they have the choice to pay their premium either annually (2,400 Php) or semi-annually (1,200 Php). 

For all self-employed and individually paying members who have monthly income of  P25,000 and below, they will pay an annual premium of 2,400 Php. Meanwhile, those who earn more than P25,000 monthly will have to pay 3,600 Php per year. Payments can also be done semi-annually or quarterly.

Those under the Sponsored Program category, their annual premium of 2,400 Php will be partially or fully subsidized by their respective sponsors (could be an LGU, private entity, legislator or a national government agency).