5 TIPS ON SHOPPING ONLINE SAFELY

         Online shopping has become widely accepted as the newest form of buying and selling business. In this generation, anyone can be an online seller by just creating an account on a particular online store site for selling and shopping purposes, and by just posting the products you want to sell and put there all the specifications of that product. But is online shopping safe enough for people to spend money? If you're not that sure of it, being an online seller and shopper myself, here are some of my tips on how to shop online safely.

1. Ensure the identity of the seller. I’m sure that nobody wants to waste money for a bogus buyer, right? Always ask for the seller’s complete information such as complete REAL name, location, and contact number before buying in case you encounter problems, you can always contact them.

2. Look for reviews or feedback given by the customers of the seller. Before buying, make sure that you look for the customer’s reviews or feedback of the seller. If the seller has many followers, good reviews, and feedback given by his/her clients it is a good idea that the seller has a good online reputation.

3. Look for the real and complete specifications of the product and ask for more actual photos of it if possible. Buying online is somehow risky because you cannot see or touch the actual product you’re buying. So it is better for you to ask the seller for more actual photos of the product you’re buying, and it is also important that you look and check for the specifications of the product carefully.

4. Find out about billing, guarantees, and delivery before you buy. Make sure to look for the payment details and additional costs before sending out money or giving your credit card information. Most of online shops require shipping fees or delivery fees. Choose for a trusted courier to deliver your product because some of the couriers don’t have insurance that they won’t be able to get back to you if they accidentally damaged your product while on delivery. Also make sure to ask the seller for the warranty of the product you’re buying.

5. Trust your gut or instinct. Don’t shop at online stores that give you a bad feeling and appear suspecting. You may hate to leave behind a really good discount, but the money and time you could lose is more important. If you want to buy something from a shop you haven’t bought from before, do some research first. Ask around, perhaps someone you know already experienced their services.

The National Photo Bomber of the Philippines

Pambansang Photobomb – That’s the epithet of the Filipinos for the new controversial condominium building in Manila, the Torre de Manila. “Photobomb” is, of course, how this selfie generation calls the act of interposing into a picture while someone is taking of oneself through a camera especially the cellphone’s. The building is owned by the DMCI Homes which is a real estate arm of DMCI Holdings, Inc. through its wholly owned subsidiary DMCI Project Developers, Inc..

The building is located near the Luneta Park in Roxas Boulevard, Manila which is one of the largest urban parks in the Asia. It has been a favorite leisure spot, and is hanged at on Sundays and national holidays. The structure of the Torre de Manila obstructs the prospect of the Rizal Shrine because it brews in the background against Rizal’s statue.

The people chasing damages include the National Commission for Culture and the Arts, the National Parks Development Committee, the National Historical Commission of the Philippines, and the Knights of Rizal, among others. They want the construction to stop straightaway. Even more than that, they want the building to be razed.

For me, the main point of building the Torre is apparently to bankroll on the Luneta being a pioneer tourist spot. It’s like the Eiffel Tower: You don’t visit Paris without visiting the Eiffel Tower. You don’t visit the Philippines without visiting the Luneta, home of the Rizal Shrine, quite piecemeal from being the outlook to view lustrous sunsets in nearby Manila Bay.

Coun. Joel Chua, chairman of the oversight committee of the Manila City Council, told DZMM that Torre de Manila can progress the tax and it can be a work opportunity for many Filipinos that’s why they approved the construction of it.

We can also remember what Manila Mayor Joseph Estrada explained, that he accredited the construction of the Torre de Manila because the growth of economy is important.

Well, for me this structure only hinders the tourism and nationalism of our country. What does this say about “It’s more fun in the Philippines”? It’s more fun in the Philippines because anything goes? Can you imagine someone building something similar beside the Eiffel Tower?

Yes, we’re already there. Our economy is continuously growing but what about our country’s heritage?

Influence of the Media in the Society

Over the past few years, the impact and the influence of the media had augmentedly grown with the use of the advanced technology.

 On the past generation there were only books, newspapers, magazines, audio devices and other stuff. But now we’re already isolated with the Internet.

Yes, internet has many benefits for people. But let me just ask you, are you aware of the different disadvantages of it?

Today, just about everyone depends on information and communication to keep their lives moving through daily activities like work, education, health care, leisure activities, entertainment, traveling, personal relationships, and the other stuff with which we are involved.

One of the most influential way of media is the social media with the use of social networking sites like Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Those three became the top social networking sites which are commonly used by many Filipinos. Yes I know that we want to share some moments of our life but we must know our own limits. We shouldn’t put EVERYTHING on those sites. We must THINK BEFORE WE CLICK OR TAP, because everything we post has an effect for every people who are viewing our profile.

Media is not for entertainment only. We trust the media as an authority for news, information, education and entertainment. Considering that powerful influence, then, we should know how it really works. 

The Dark Side of CEU Manila

Almost all of the old universities here in the Philippines can be considered as a haunted university. Most of them were established during the Spanish and American regime. But let me take you to the dark side of our Centro Escolar University.

CEU is not that popular when it comes to ghosts stories unlike Ateneo and UST. Our university was founded by two women, Librada Avelino and Carmen De Luna in the year 1907, and it was originally called as Centro Escolar de Señoritas.

As my almost 2 years stay in CEU, I’d already heard about some spooky stories that there are ghosts prevailing inside the university and according to those stories the most haunted place in the university is the Bulwagang Maestra Osang or what we called as BMO.

BMO is the place where some events happen such as forums and contests. This is also the place for Performing Arts students.

Students say that the BMO was previously a mortuary or morgue.

University’s Performing Arts students usually witness some of the said ghosts that are haunting at the BMO.

Another scary story that is haunting the students is the rumor about the classrooms with crucifix. Those classrooms was said to have roaming spirits that’s why they put it especially in the CDL building. This is the oldest building that was constructed in the university. It is so obvious because only selected classrooms were fettered with roods. A dog barking that was said to be Librada Avelino’s pet is also a terror story in the university.

In addition to those stories, there is another creepy story of an old woman who was said to be roaming around the Librada Avelino Auditorium especially on the second floor of the hall. Not sure if it was one of the founders, Librada Avelino but it is surely an old woman.

Here’s a quick memoir of my classmates and I with that dog. We were staying at the CDL310 because it was break time and we’re really used to do that though it is violated. I have my multi-purpose mp3 player. It can also be a voice recorder and a flash drive. We were chaffing each other at that time. I am recording the sound of the CDL 310’s door creaking, and when I played it back I heard a sound of dog barking in the record clip. We’re very frightened at that time and we dashly left the room. It’s impossible that it is a dog outside the university because it is very unthinkable to see a dog near the university. Well, we still don’t have proofs for this but there’s no big loss if we will become careful of our actions.

Age of Extinction

Age of Extinction

By: Ma. Anne Margarett G. Tumale

July 1, 2014 ─ On a Tuesday afternoon there was an event happening at the Robinsons Galleria’s Activity Area. I was curious about it and then I knew that it was a toy exhibit and movie promotion at the same time of the newest science fiction action film, the Transformers: Age of Extinction. The said event was sponsored by Toys R Us. They also have some fun games, activities and large photo ops there.

 This movie is the fourth instalment of the live-action Transformers film series and stars Mark Wahlberg in the lead role.

Toys R Us made this event to promote the movie itself and their newest collection of toys that was based on the said movie especially the Grimlock toy that costs P5999.75 to be exact that will launch in July 5. They also have many promos at their event.

The event started today, July 1, 2014 and will end on July 6, 2014.

Design Project Pie

Pizza Project

by Ma. Anne Margarett G. Tumale

DESIGN.BUILD.EAT ─ June 30, 2014, Monday afternoon, my cousin and I went to the newest and most unique artisan pizza chain I’ve ever known so far here in the Philippines, the Project Pie. We had our first artisan pizza on their branch at Eastwood in Libis, Quezon City. 

They also have a branch in Shaw Boulevard., Alabang, Macapagal Avenue, and Ayala. Project Pie is open from 10 AM to 11 PM every weekdays and 11 AM to 12 Midnight every Saturdays and Sundays.

Project Pie is an American pizza chain with branches in Las Vegas, San Diego, Boulder and DC. I am amazed that a franchise has already opened in Manila. The person behind this artisan pizza chain is James Markham.

Yes, we all know that pizza is one of the most favourite food of we Filipinos. Actually for me there's no better feeling in the world than a warm pizza box on your lap. That’s why I’ve decided to go to a pizza chain for this food critic. I chose Project Pie because I am so excited for that unusual ordering process where you’re the one who will choose the toppings you want for your pizza.

Their usual 12” thin build-your-own-pizza costs P285 with sauce and many toppings to choose from, and take note: on that P285 pesos you’ll get an UNLIMITED choices of toppings. Preparing and making the pizza normally take only seven to ten minutes.

I had my artisan pizza with barbecue sauce, crumbled meatballs, bacon, mozzarella, ricotta, grilled chicken, gorgonzola, Canadian bacon, jalapenos, fresh mushrooms and pepperoni.

I learned that Project Pie’s pizza dough is also one of a kind, using a signature flour that is unique to Project Pie pizzas. Their thin crust pizzas are not oily and have this delicate balance of chewiness and crispiness with every bite.

Another plus is the drinks corner. Pay only P65 and you can go back to the soda or tea dispensers three times

The facilities of Project Pie is very creative and engaging in the eyes of the customers especially teens like me.

Obviously if I were to rate my pizza from 1 to 10, I would give it a 9 because I am the one who chose the toppings and 10 also for the whole pizza chain because of the very clean facilities, friendly crew and for the fast and smooth service. :)