INSPIRING | Three The Voice 2018 Knockout performances that you'll enjoy and put on repeat

When it comes to listening to good renditions, there's no other TV show that would showcase the best of the best. Just to clarify though, I am not an avid fan of The Voice. However, as I was scanning through my Youtube dashboard, I saw one superbly awesome Knockout performance video which then tricked me to watch the other clips of The Voice this year.

Image Courtesy: NBC

Of all the videos I've marathon-ed today, here are the three The Voice Knockout rounds performances I really loved watching and putting on repeat. Enjoy!

1. Brynn Cartelli: "Here Comes Goodbye"

Video Courtesy: Youtube channel The Voice

At only 14 years old, this young lady from Massachusetts has what it takes to win this year. As early as age four, she's already been singing and some of her vids are uploaded on her Youtube channel. At six, Brynn has had early singing exposure through school talent and variety shows. And surprise, this pop-soul singer-songwriter has performed in front of 15,000-strong crowd at Gilette Stadium.

2. Kyla Jade: "You Don't Own Me"

Video Courtesy: Youtube channel The Voice

This 33-year-old woman from Tennessee is a vocal powerhouse. Her voice was developed as she grew up with a church choir. She once became a background vocalist for Jennifer Hudson and worked with Carrie Underwood. Her biggest break was when she took part in the Nashville Super Choir on “Bobby Jones Gospel,” BET's longest running gospel show.

3.  Christiana Danielle: "Elastic Heart"

Video Courtesy: Youtube channel The Voice

Who wouldn't remember her for her audition piece cover of Hotline Bling? She grew up listening to gospel music exclusively, but eventually dabbled in R&B and blues. At 22 years old, she already has a degree in social work and aims to bring music to the underserved communities as a way of coping up in life.

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

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.

TIPS | Stay focused even when you're not motivated

In life, there are cases where you get too preoccupied mentally that you sometimes end up doing your work inefficiently or end up getting lazy and unproductive. Sometimes, you find it struggling to stick with them simply because you just couldn't get it over with.

Photo Source: SellingtoCustomers.Typepad.com

Initially, you have your goals set. But then, bit by bit, you work on it. And as you go on, you realize that you're bored of performing the same thing over and over again. And then you stop. And then you come up with another goal that you'd like to accomplish, but eventually, you lose focus and then you stop again. And the cycle goes on and on. The thing is you always tell yourself that, once you're already doing something, you can take a pause, do it later, and unintentionally procrastinate. Your mental endurance might just be not that strong as compared to those who can do the job within the time frame they've set themselves into.

The lack of focus and concentration is oftentimes the reason all your plans don't turn into actions. Don't worry. It happened to me before all the time --- from blogging and working, to studying and finishing my papers.

But how do I stay focused?

Watch the awesome video below for tips on how to stay focused on your work. It works! :)

Video Courtesy: Youtube channel Brendon.com

There is a need for clarity as to what result you would like to achieve when you want to focus on your goals. Concentration is when you stick with the task until it is 100 percent complete.

For example, a would-be singer would focus on hitting the right notes in order to make sure she sings well any song that fits her voice. But a singer would have to work on it for hours and hours so as to get it right. She needs to concentrate on her main focus, that is ensuring she sings the way she expects her to.

Another scenario would be that of a photographer who adjusts his lens for him to be able to capture sharp images. And then, he sticks with it making sure all day long until he's satisfied with his result.

The video you see below highlights two of the most important habits of successful people. Make sure you watch it, after reading this post. It will help you, pramis!

Video Courtesy: Youtube channel Brian Tracy

Be sure that what you're working on is the most significant thing you could be doing, at the moment, to get what you want. 

So what makes a successful person?

Successful people always keep in mind that they must work in a straight, clear line to go from where they are to where they want to be. If you want to reach your dreams, you must be sure that everything you do is taking you in that direction. Once you're sure of the path to take, regardless if it's the common way or not, you then develop good habits that would accompany you in your path and take you there. 

When I was starting Spotlight Philippines, Manila LifeBox's sister website, my dream was just to practice my poor writing skills, so that my English comprehension and vocabulary will improve in time. Being able to type super fast, getting some traffic, and finally having to share my own thoughts and opinions, were just pluses. For me, these blogs are like my kids. They give me happiness whenever that feeling of having unaccomplished something occasionally sinks in. Having written at least 1000 posts for my first blog, despite the college work, social and org life, and tutorial sessions that I had to balance, keeps me in check and makes me confident that I could write for other clients too.

What will discipline and good work habits do to me?

The decision to apply good habits in your life would dramatically enhance the quality and quantity of what you finish every day. Eventually, you will become one of the most successful people in the field.

When you are able to concentrate, you can do a lot of things. Like seriously, you can accomplish a lot! When you are able to finish an important task,your self-esteem, energy, and enthusiasm is affected positively. It makes you feel like you want to continue doing it. Failure to complete your day-to-day tasks, on the other hand, uses up your energy, enthusiasm, and self-esteem. 

When you're able to do something significantly impacting for you, no matter how hard it is, you are able to experience a surge in energy and well-being. You feel satisfied with life. However, if you work on a not-so-important task, you get less contented and more disappointed of yourself.  You'd feel that there's no payoff doing something that really doesn't matter to you.

For me, writing was a way to unleash my inner thoughts. It helped me relieve the stress, and in doing so, made me  a lot more stronger and fulfilled in life despite the hurdles.

Disciplining yourself to concentrate on a job until it is finished boosts your confidence, mastery of the specific task, and competence. It turns you into a hardworking person and gives you self-control And when you have self control, you'd feel that you have the power to shape your own destiny.

Prolonged discipline and continuous concentration on things you'd like to focus on, which all contribute to grit, are key to attaining success. But it's not just all hard work; you also have to strike a balance between work and play. Or much better, mix them! Have fun while at work! Trust me. I've been there! :)

INSPIRE | 10 Filipino entrepreneur success stories (Part 2 of 2)

About a month ago, I shared with you five (5) entrepreneurs whose "babies" have become a huge success, thanks to their hard work and perseverance. They were the ones who strove hard to become the best drivers of their teams and their businesses. Today, I am continuing from where I left. This post details part two of the article 10 Filipino entrepeneur success stories known online.

6. April Margaret Cuenca - FlipTrip

Photo Courtesy: April Cuenca

"It’s more fun in the Philippines!" 

This campaign is absolutely evident in the life of this young tourist and entrepreneur who has been to at least 51 of the 81 provinces of the Philippines. Along with this achievement at the age of 24, she's the youngest woman to ever complete all within this year 2015. Just how did she manage to be the CEO of Fliptrip, a successful travel agency, at a young age?

All this girl wanted when she was 12 was to change the world. Yes, it's a huge thing for a kid to be dreaming and fulfilling it easily. She had an open discussion with her sisters, while they were watching the former Senator Dick Gordon speak about the power of tourism. She wondered about how she could help the tragic victims of the typhoon. Being moved by his speech, this kindled her choice to utilize the power of tourism for the evolution of the country.

Driven as the passionate April that she is, she became the top football player in the whole Philippine high school division, even playing for the UP Football Team but unfortunately, she gained numerous knee ligament injuries when she was almost close to graduating in senior year. As a result, her scholarship which was the only source of her tuition fee was taken away leading to her personally dropping school. Despite her financial debacle, she was eager to understand tourism better.

Not letting her experience down her, she worked as a tour guide and as a logistics manager for a travel show. She loved what she did and traveled for an entire year, while having fun discovering the the uniqueness of every place she visits. Because of this job, she was able to visit more than 51 provinces because of this.

“The hardest part is when the excitement dies down. This is why passion is the difference between those who try and those who succeed.” At first, it was exciting for her to travel places, but as it became a normal routine, the normal excitement you feel when you receive the same gift over and over dies down, but her passion in traveling and changing the world through tourism did influence her innovation in FlipTrip.

7. Natividad Yabut-Cheng - Uratex

Photo Courtesy: BizNewsAsia (January 2014 Issue)

Natividad Cheng used to sleep at the hard cold floor covered with only one thin banig (mat) together with four families living in a small house. They actually looked like sardines sleeping clumped up together. Forced to work in a factory, she met her faithful husband Robert. With only more or less P4,000, and out of exhaustion from their low-paying jobs, they started their own business of bedding supplies called Polyfoam Chemical Corp.

Enforcing thriftiness and simplicity, they were able to save P200,000, enough to purchase a German-made machinery for their business. With this, the business continued to expand through the years. However, luck at this moment wasn't on their side. A huge fire hit the company warehouse and brought damages amounting to about P2 million of materials and equipment, which at that time was big a loss for a company. 

“Parang bumagsak ang langit sa amin pero malakas naman ang fighting spirit namin na kailangan namin bumangon,” (It's like the sky fell down on us but our fighting spirit was strong that we need to get up.) Cheng said, in an interview in ABS-CBNs My Puhunan TV show.

To restore all the lost earnings, they took a loan and worked harder to rise and get back on their feet again. While still recovering from their loss, another unfortunate event happened. Cheng's husband passed away. This brought doubts as to who would succeed the management of the company, now that he's gone. Being the tough woman she is, she continued the business with the vision of her husband and the foundation's existence in focus.

If you were in that case, you would've given up especially if your strength and partner for life suddenly leaves, but Ma'am Natividad continued to persevere and stayed strong just like when he was still there. She rode the waves of life and faced the challenges with her head held high. Now, her products have now been a great inspiration to Filipinos around the world.

8. Josh Mahinay - BAG943

Photo Courtesy: Josh Mahinay

Most successful individuals were pushed to their limits by poverty, among other factors. Some fail, while others continue to aim for the stars. Josh Mahinay is just one of these amazing and inspirational beings who managed to rid himself of his poverty.

Growing up in a remote barangay in the province of Zamboanga and being the youngest out of his nine siblings, he was witness to the difficulty of being born poor.

His parent's livelihood was mining which caused them to move from one place to another and live with families who weren't related to them. Just to go to school, he walked distances of 10 kilometers per day along the hard-curved mountains. His slippers was getting torn often and all of his school supplies would fall out, forcing him to use the classical red and white plastic bag. He sometimes felt embarrassed and awkward because his classmates would often look at him with laughter or with pitiful eyes. 

Receiving his very first usable bag from a distant relative in fourth grade made him really happy even if it was just passed on to him. Still, it made him realize that someone actually cared for him. As a result, he felt inspired and did better in school to get out of poverty as a way of thanks for all the blessings he received from God no matter how small it were.

"Because someone believed in me, I started believing in myself. Having a school bag like my classmates gave me the confidence to dream the kind of dreams that they have, or maybe bigger." said Josh Mahinay in Republika ng Filinvestor.

Years have passed and now, he's worked for five years in United States. While on a vacation in Mindanao, he met a kid walking to school and carrying a plastic bag along the rice paddy dike. His emotional instincts sparked when he reminisced his life as the kid looked at him. He remembered the way he walked long ragged roads just to get to school. He remembered how he awkwardly held the plastic bag with his school supplies just to utilize what he only had. Everything started playing like a video of his life was flashed before his eyes.

That single emotional moment made him decide to go back home in 2012 to start a business for helping children with their education. This led him create the BAG943 which sells bags with the tagline of "Buy One Give One" thru the Bag of Dreams Project. The premise is that, a bag will be donated to an unfortunate child for every bag that is purchased. With this, the children will have hope because they would feel they are not left behind.

Josh Mahinay with the Yellow Boat Foundation.

 Photo Courtesy: The Philippine Star

9. Rebecca Bustamante

Photo Courtesy: Chalre.com

She made it! Everyone can dream! And this is a story of a dreamer.

Mired in poverty and the seventh out of eleven, Rebecca Bustamante Bustamante had to work as a maid in exchange for food and tuition fee. Leaving Dasol, Pangasinan, she decided to work in a factory in Bataan where her aunt promised to send her to high school because her mother was diagnosed with cancer. Her determination to rise from poverty boosted despite being discriminated whenever they couldn’t afford her mother’s hospital bills and other fees that were needed to be paid. Unfortunately, her mother passed away. It was too late.

Having turned 19, she left for Singapore as a domestic helper. She had an exhausting work as a nanny, sleeping always late and only had a one day-off each month. Working and grabbing the opportunity to study without telling her employer, a Singaporean professor volunteered to support her. She studied accounting.

“I was so determined to improve myself to be able to help my brothers and sisters because I promise my mom to give the education and the life my brothers and sisters deserved,” she said from an interview in Inquirer. Despite having a tightly packed schedule, her focus to earn money and let her siblings in the Philippines finish school never faded.

Having migrated to Canada after having earned throughout her college years in Singapore, she worked as a nanny while continuing her degree Accountancy at an another prestigious university. Despite being criticized by her friends because of the way she lived her life, she continued to fulfill her promise to her mother when she was alive that she would support her family.

Time went by until she reached 27, when she thought about marriage. At that time, all of her siblings have already finished college. She was nervous because she had no experience. She even read dating and relationship books. One fateful day arrived. A friend set her up to a businessman named Richard Mills. After spending a few weeks of dating and despite lying about her background, Richard wanted to introduce her to his family. He was serious with her.

“I said, 'Oh my gosh, I have to tell him the truth! That's when I said who I am, my background and why I did not give him my real story. And he said, ‘I'm still really interested to meet you’...so that's when the relationship blossomed,” Rebecca Bustamante confessed.

Eventually, she introduced Mills to her family and she got married at 31. Now, they're raising two sons named Alex and Chris. After settling in the Philippines and doing numerous shift of business, she and her husband founded their own company named Chalré in 2005. Chalré has now successful investments around the world.

Bustamante, Mills and their children Alex and Chris. 

Photo Courtesy: Richard Mills

10. Sandy Javier

Photo Courtesy: ABS-CBN News

All of us make mistakes at some point in time which could destroy us completely. Sandy Javier has experienced had one of them. Despite his failure, he managed to reshape his new found path and walk the road even though it seemed late.

Sandy Javier was the smartest out of all his siblings and was even a scholar until he drifted to the wrong path in college. He prioritized other unnecessary things like having girlfriends during his stay in Ateneo de Manila University up to the moment he graduated. When he turned 30, his siblings were already creating a mark and defining their own lives, while he turned out to be the low achievers despite being the brightest in the family.

Having no achievement reached, he went away and tried to find himself. He traveled to Japan with a $500 allowance. All of his money got lost because he checked in an expensive hotel. This made him realize how hard money has to be earned.

He accepted odd jobs and became the country's first Japayuki (foreign "entertainer" in Japan). There was one time when he sang for a Yakuza (crime syndicates originating in Japan) and was slapped after. Having felt violated, he wanted to fight back but he found out that that was how Yakuza's show hat they're pleased. They slap you and shove money in your pocket if they're entertained. He earned 20,000 yen and soon after, he became used to it just to earn money.

After his stay in Japan, he went to Germany as a TNT (Filipino slang Tago ng Tago pointing to "illegal immigrants"). An American sheltered him out of pity. When he went back to the Philippines, an unfortunate event took place.

"When I came back, my father was dying. I did not recognize my father; he was so thin. It was then that I promised him: Kapag umasenso ako (If I get better), I will name my business after you and your name will be known all over the world." he stated.

His dad gave him a warm smile despite his shortcomings. That meant a lot to him. He knew his father loved him with all he had in spite of his mistakes. Inspired by his father, he went to Manila to continue searching for himself. He stumbled upon a lechon manok place in Pampanga and didn't like the way it was cooked. With this, an idea to start a similar kind of business poped in.

Just like what other businessmen feel, his first business was a failure. He only sold two out of 12 chickens which forced him and his family to eat different chicken dishes out of it until it got consumed. Trying again, he moved to a better place near an outlet that was selling lots of chickens per day with people lining up at their doors. He believed that the impatient starving customers would go to him instead. However, it still didn't click. Some customers didn't want his chicken.

Lots of failures followed. Honest customers said that the way the chicken was prepared wasn't good, so he came up with a new recipe. It still didn't sell. Customers just passed by his stall like it was invisible. He then advertised by putting up a fancy lit sign to attract customers. He explained, "Eh, kung lumampas rin, hindi ko na hahabulin 'yon. Bulag sigurado 'yon." (If he just passed by, I wouldn’t chase him. He’s probably blind.).

Despite all the failures he experienced, he kept working harder and harder until Andok's became so famous, it had to branch out.

A chicken out of all Andok’s recipe. 

Photo Courtesy: Andok’s website.

These are the stories of Filipino success in the world of busines.

Most of these entrepreneurs had the qualities of hard work, determination, patience, and most importantly, grit. Being born in an unfair world where poverty is sometimes a work of chance, there are a lot of people who have made something out of nothingness just to achieve what their hearts desire. Don't let failure and your current situation deter you from reaching your target destination.

INSPIRE | He is mad that his boss always ignores him, until he finds out why.

Are you the type of personality who is quick to judge a person based on just one impression? Are you the person who usually labels a person for what another does or does not? Do you always look at just one side of a coin, and never intend to know what's on the other side of the coin?

Image Seen From: The Joy Junkie

A story published on The Daily Headlines depicts the character mentioned above. A man is mad that his boss always ignores him. And it took a while before he actually found the reason why. Read the story below.

"My boss drove a luxury car everyday and it was my duty to greet him and to open the gates for him, as I worked as a watchman in his villa. But he never responded back to my greetings.

One day he saw me opening the garbage bags outside the villa in search for any leftover food. But, as usual he never even looked at me, it was like as if he never saw anything!

The very next day I saw a paper bag at the same place, but it was clean and the food inside was covered well. It was fresh and good food like someone had just brought it from the supermarket. I didn’t bother as to where it came from, I just took the paper bag and I was so happy about it.

Every day I found this paper bag at the same place with fresh vegetables and all that we needed for home. This became my daily routine. I was eating and sharing this food with my wife and kids. I was wondering who this fool could be?! To forget his paper bag full of fresh food everyday.

One day there was a big problem in the villa and I was told that my boss has died. There were too many guests coming to the villa that day and I didn’t get any food that day, so I thought that one of the guests must have taken it. But the same thing happened the 2nd day, the 3rd day and the 4th day.

It went on like this for a few weeks and I found it difficult to provide food for my family, so I decided to ask the wife of my boss for a raise in my salary or else I would quit my job as a watchman.

After I told her, she was shocked, and asked me, how come you never complained about your salary for the last 2 years? And why is this salary not enough for you now? I gave her so many excuses but she was never convinced!

Finally in the end, I decided to tell her the truth, I told her the entire story of the bag of groceries, and as to how it was my daily provision. She then asked me as to when this stopped? I told her after the death of her husband. And then I realized that I stopped seeing the paper bag immediately after the death of my boss. Why didn’t I ever think of this before? That it was my boss who was providing this for me? I guess it was because I never thought that a person who never replied to my greetings could ever be this generous!

His wife started to cry and I told her to please stop crying and that I’m really sorry that I asked for a raise, I didn’t know that it was your husband who was providing me with the meals, I’ll remain as a watchman and be happy to provide my service.

His wife told me, I’m crying because I’ve finally found the 7th person my husband was giving this bag full of food. I knew my husband was giving 7 people everyday, I had already found the 6 people, and all these days I was searching for the 7th person. And today I found out.

From that day onwards, I started to receive the bag full of food again, but this time his son was bringing it to my house and giving it to my hand. But whenever I thanked him, he never replied! Just like his dad!

One day, I told him THANK YOU in a very loud voice! He replied back to me to please not be offended when he doesn’t reply, because he has a hearing problem, just like his dad!”

Oh! We have been wrong so many times judging others without knowing the true story behind their actions. Be kind and courteous in dealing with others, for everyone is fighting a hard battle. Be careful, not everything is about you. Before you assume, there is this thing called ASKING.

Don’t just jump to conclusion, because that is truly not an exercise, it may cause you more harm at the end of the day. Many of our problems are caused by how we process what happens around us. Don’t judge a situation you have never been in. Be humble enough to learn. You do not know it all. Lets change the way we feel about ourselves and others.

There are two sides to a story. Don’t believe everything you hear.

Everyone you meet is fighting a battle you know nothing about."

INSPIRE | This short Filipino clip will move you to tears.

Video Courtesy: Youtube channel ChiqChat

Behind every gift that you receive in life from a loved one, there is a story - of hard work, of pain, of humility, of sacrifice, of laughter, of fulfillment.

Sometimes we take for granted the people who cherish us, who give us all we want, who nurtures us to bring out the best in us. This Christmas month, siguro a short "I love you" will ease all those aches and sufferings, and a simple smile will let them know how happy you are for having them.

Whatever economic state you are in right now, be it in a wealthy, well-off background or in a sea of debt and financial  instability, take the opportunity to thank those who make you feel that you matter. Thank them for changing you.

LIST | 5 awesome Filipino innovations you might not know

Did you know that aside from the creativity that we Filipinos possess, we also have that ingenuity, street-smart attitude, swag skills, and innovative thinking that bring us at par with our international counterparts? In a recent post I made, I talked about several Pinoy entrepreneurs who made it or are currently making it BIG including SALt (salt-powered lamp) innovator Engr. Aisa Mijeno. Now, let's talk about more products of Filipino minds!

Set aside all Filipino problems that brought us to the international headlines (e.g. tanim bala scam). Skip Filipino entertainment-related developments that always get some attention anywhere. Here are five awesome Filipino innovations you might not know, but will now learn about. Enjoy!

1. Plastic-to-Fuel Converter

Screenshot: Youtube channel Reuters

Bacolod native  Jayme Navarro utilized a way to turn thousands of trash into fuel such as diesel, gasoline, and kerosene. The incineration and conversion process begins when the plastics are shredded and dried, which are then placed into an air-tight chamber for decomposition. The plastic granules inside undergoes smelting and evaporates, the vapor of which becomes distilled into the different fuel variants.

The result is a cost-effective way to produce cleaner, cheap fuel from plastic.

2. Amphibious Tricycle (featured in my first blog Spotlight Philippines)

Video Source: Youtube channel Top Gear Philippines

Designed by a group of Filipino inventors and innovators led by Dominic Chung and Atoy Llave, the Salamander amphibious tricycle is the first of its kind to be created. It is a tricycle that can wade through the waters especially when heavy flooding takes place. This water-and-land traveling tricycle is definitely what the country.

3. First Windows graphics accelerator chip

Image Source: Imbenta.Net

Yep, there were a few Filipinos who had the chance to venture into and explore the world of tech when the industry was just starting to grow. The first single-chip graphical user interface accelerator which enhanced computers' performance was developed by Filipino entrepreneur, engineer, and philantropist Diosdado Banatao. The innovation has allowed computer users to use graphics for commands and not the usual typed commands in older computers.

Aside from the graphical UI accelerator, he was also behind the 16-bit microprocessor-based calculator, the first 10-Mbit Ethernet CMOS with silicon coupler data-link control and transreceiver chip, and the first system logic chip set.

4. Improvised Medical Incubator, Weighing Scale and Warmer

Image Source: Imbenta.net

Credited for her contributions to the field of medicine, National Scientist Dr. Fe del Mundo is truly a woman, although not known to many Filipinos, who deserves all the love and respect of her countrymen. She became the first Filipino woman and the only woman to have enrolled at the Harvard University School of Medicine during her time. Among her priceless accomplishments, a makeshift incubator that can be used in rural areas without electricity was one of the game-changers at that time. It was composed of two native differently-sized laundry baskets placed one inside another. She also made a cloth-suspended weighing scale for infants and a bamboo warmer for newborns with special care needs.

5. Furniture from Forest Waste

Image Courtesy: Naturecast.com

Let's talk green! Featured on Rappler, Naturescast is a wood-like material actually composed of forest waste (twigs, branches, leaves) which are then ground and bound to form stylish and sturdy furniture from chairs and lamps to walls and ceilings. Some of the products of Nature's Legacy, the company behind Naturescast, are being used by outlets like The Body Shop.

There's just a lot of development nowadays that Filipinos do. Just think about the numbers of start-ups that have flourished in the country. Don't forget the inventions and researches that are being conducted inside top universities.

Other innovative products that Filipinos can usually think of, because they're just seen and heard on the news, are the e-jeepney, yo-yo, patis (fish sauce), body heat-powered flashlight created by Ann Makosinsk, low-cost landslide sensor, Project NOAH and its Philippine-made MOSES tablet, and of course, the Aurelio supercar. But did you also know that Filipinos also innovated an electric firecracker (Elektro firecracker), a 3-in-1 ANOS Patriot fire truck, and an improvised community guard baton? 

Feed your curiosity. Search them up! :)

INSPIRE | 10 Filipino entrepreneur success stories (Part 1 of 2)

Any entrepreneur would want to be branded as the next Henry Sy, founder of SM group of companies, or Soccoro C. Ramos of National Book Store for they have established an imprint of their hard work in the Philippine industry. Both of these business leviathans are defined as the role models of success which we, Filipinos, want to become. Along with these successful tycoons are Atty. Felipe L. Gozon of GMA Network and Alfredo Yao of Zesto Corporation which most likely, have already been included in everyone's "Top Ten List of Most Successful Businessmen in the Philippines" but aren't they recognized more than enough already?

If you’re a fiction fanatic, what if you knew that the impossible could transform to reality? Let's also give credit and applause to some of the "less media-covered (the silent ones)" (that everyone most likely doesn't include in their top ten list) yet amazing and hardworking entrepreneurs who paved their way from being a janitor or a maid to earning lots of bucks. Also, who could've known that only from having twenty pesos, you could turn it to millions? Not only have they earned those checks in their wallets, but also the hearts of the people with their inspiring stories still continuing to provide service and careers to the Philippine community.

1. Rosiell and Rudy de Leon - Bianca’s Special

 
Rosiell and Rudy beside their ice candy "Bianca's Special". Courtesy of April 2015 issue of Entrepreneur.com.ph magazine

Anong magagawa ng bente pesos mo? (What can your P20 do?) You’ll probably buy a Cornetto because of the TV commercial which Filipinos have been fond of way back 2009; but in 2011, Rosiell and Rudy decided to spend the down-to-earth P20 left inside their wallet to earn millions unknowingly. Well, let's set aside luck in lotto but appreciate a surer way to earn more with the couple’s story.

When they fell to the nadir of their life, the only goal was just to feed and to send the child they've conceived when they were in Freshmen College to school in addition to paying numerous bills. As young parents, it was tormenting for them to see their own child being strapped in hardships; and it was definitely depressing to see a timid P20 peso bill sitting around your wallet when all of your bank accounts have gone bankrupt. Instead of giving up on life, it gave them the drive to do whatever they can.

Seeing that they were the only ones that owned a refrigerator in their neighborhood when they transferred to Antipolo, they took it to their advantage and bought 100 pieces of plastic bags to act as a container for water (which was all they had too) and froze them, producing ice. After selling them to their neighbors, they earned a P300 profit and from this, they started an ice candy business.

"Huwag silang susuko. I-decline man sila, hindi naman lahat ‘yan, aayaw. Tsaka ang negosyo kasi hindi laging may kita. Kailangan lang nilang mag-tiyaga, magsikap." (Don't give up. Even if you get declined, not all of them would. And not all business have profits. Hard work is really needed.) said Rosiell now that she's stable and earning much more; which is of course an advice that they conformed to.

It was a slow process at first that needed patience and hard work, lots and lots of the two. For opening the ice candy business, they earned a P500 daily profit then it expanded to a P15,000 monthly profit. After doing the same process for almost four years, the couple now earns P15,000 daily, the value they only earned in a monthly back then. Now, their monthly income adds up P450,000 which estimates to over P5 Million in over a year.

2. Gian Scottie Javelona - OrangeApps

Gian Scottie Javelona wanted to change lives by making revolutionary products. 

Photo courtesy of OrangeApps

"Sometimes, you need to break some rules to make big things happen." quoted Gian, a graduate of computer engineering at Polytechnic University of the Philippines (PUP) who really lived up to his words based on how he fulfilled his dreams.

Being inspired from Steve Jobs, he established the first mobile portal app at the age of 19. He was also our very own Pinoy Zuckerberg who founded Facemash (the pre-Facebook application) by getting pictures from Harvard’s websites without asking for any copyright permission. Just like what Zuckerberg did, Gian created the PUP Mobile Portal without seeking permission from PUP. Eventually, he got caught and the President let him present his creation to be utilized for education.

After releasing his application, he soon founded his first company, the OrangeApps to change the lives of people thought his products. He made it by earning the trust of investors and being funded by numerous powerful groups like the Angel Investors, Microsoft Corporation, Idea Space Foundation and others in the country.

"When I was in high school, I told myself that one day I am going to build my own company, a Filipino version of Apple and will name it Orange Apps. Here I am now living that dream." he stated from an interview from TechInAsia. No one supported him initially but he let no one block him from doing what he wanted to create.

3. Steve Tamayo - Tamayo’s Catering and Services

Steve Tamayo satisfied with his hard work.

Photo courtesy of Tamayo’s Catering and Services (tamayos.com.ph)

Steve isn’t a graduate of hotel and restaurant management or even culinary arts but how come he owns a successful catering company? Well, sometimes everything just doesn't seem to match up with our backgrounds but if it’s meant to be, everything would eventually fall in its rightful place.

Burried in poverty from Hagonoy Bulacan, Steve faced all the struggles of life at a young age. His family was originally rich because his father was a former kapitan (captain) and had numerous business in the fishing industry. Unfortunately, his father experienced stroke which made all of their earned money and properties vanish in thin air. He could've experienced a good life before struggling but he was born the eleventh out of twelve, forcing him to venture to Manila after finishing high school to work as a janitor. Having the task to clean toilets everyday just to desperately earn money for his education, he did his best to earn money without being involved in any illegal matters.

Grabbing the opportunity given to him, he traveled to Kuwait and accepted the job of being a waiter even if it was irrelevant from his current course, accounting. After four years, he traveled to Saudi Arabia as a manager but still did sidelines like cleaning just to earn more. Unfortunately, a war occurred back in 1990 which decimated all of his properties and earnings. All of the blood and sweat that he strived for profit disappeared. Despite being trapped in the war, he was still able to safely go back to his hometown even with zero earnings in his hands.

These experiences became his capital to initiate his own business and rebuild his life instead of losing everything as it is. He sold packed lunch wrapped in plastic to students in a Private School and other goods in front of his wife's beauty Parlor. Being offered with jobs from here and in abroad, he didn't let go of them even if it was a slow process that needs lots of will and patience to start over again. He earned his investments back after working hard, opened a restaurant which he named Tamayo's Catering and Services which has now more than 13 outlets throughout the country.

4. Au Soriano - PinoyTravel

Photo credits: TechInAsia

“I was already a mother and a wife when I became an entrepreneur. It’s a constant battle about prioritization. Work consumes you physically, emotionally, financially. You just have to deal with what's urgent on a daily basis, while keeping an eye on the target... Difficult, but overall, fulfilling.” stated Au Soriano from PinoyTravel. The way she seeks for opportunities just like an eagle hunting for its prey could be the reason of her success now. 

I know we're all exhausted of the seemingly traffic that handcuffs us from our destination especially when we're running late to work or to our families waiting for our arrival. Let's add the agitating rivalry of finding a space but thanks to her, the terrifying stampede that could occur when physically racing over a seat was lessened.

Au Soriano hailed from Bauang La Union and was raised always commuting by bus with her family, thus witnessing the daily advancement of the telecommunications industry by seeing lots of distinct people who similarly utilize gadgets while traveling. This sparked her alertness and creativity during a normal fateful day of the 2012 Holy Week when a brilliant idea conquered her. Being a holiday with lots of workers in thirst of seeing their families just to hug them tightly when they arrive home, crowds were quarreling over where to seat. Along with the pool of commuters were gadgets, either phones tablets or laptops paired with each individual. This kindled her idea of forming PinoyTravel with different organizations that funded her by seemingly being like a clairvoyant who projected the digital future while holding a crystal ball. 

Along with hard work, we should have an alert mind. Who knows? You might be a president of a successful company if you just look at your surroundings no matter how small the issue seems.

5. Aisa A. Mijeno - SALt (Sustainable Alternative Lighting)

Photo credits: de la Salle University Lipa

Aisa isn’t just an entrepreneur but also our very own female Pinoy Thomas Edison who created a lamp that could use salt and water! Imagine being able to have electricity whenever there's a power shortage in your location? There's even a charging outlet under the lamp where you could connect your phone with.

Photo taken from SALts’s Facebook Page

Aisa was in the IT industry until she quit on 2008 to do volunteer work in Greenpeace Philippines as a direct dialogue campaigner. Being enthused as a volunteer worker, she visited a lot of rural areas in need of help, thus experiencing first-hand how everyday life while immersing was different to the light-studded city she came from.

Visiting the Kalinga highlands, she stayed with the Butbut tribe located at Buscalan. Just like the primitive times, day was for work and night was just for resting until the cycle repeats when the sun rises again. Of course there were lamps but they had to walk 12 hours to reach Bontoc, the nearest town which was approximately 50 kilometers away just to get kerosene to ignite their fuel-hungry lamps. It was time consuming and ofcourse for them, expensive.

Going back with a vibe of responsibility, she experimented with IdeaSpace with too much motivation and perseverance even with her continuous failure that she was even called a "mad scientist" by the President. Her experience with the ethnic groups led to the idea of discovering Sustainable Alternative Lighting (SALt), the lamp that doesn't require fuel, batteries or electricity to work but just salt and water. This would not only help a lot in the rural places she visited but also with the Philippine economy.

Aisa Mijeno with her SALt. Photo courtesy of Aisa Mijeno.

"Go out and experience the world. There will be more real eureka moments when you are out there. And once you find that important eureka, do not be afraid to grow it into a business. You will be surprised that there are people who need your innovation." advises Aisa; so to all youthful brains out there, never be afraid but be excited to discover and feel your own moment of "Eureka!" (I have found it!) just like how Archimedes did.

Want to know more stories about local Filipino entrepreneurs? Check out five (5) more entrepreneurial stories in the coming days.