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7 Subjects That Will Help You Hone Your Photography Skills

October 25, 2023 By FAQ Leave a Comment

As a budding photographer, you need to master the basics, such as light, aperture, depth of field, and other principal concepts. Then, you need to shoot, shoot, and shoot some more. After all, pursuing a career in photography in a cosmopolitan city like Cebu is not easy with so many talents already in the market offering their services. If you want to stand out, the best and only way is through consistent practice and improvement.

Keep in mind that photography is an art that thrives on diversity. The subjects you choose to take photos of play a significant role in shaping your skills and style as a photographer. Whether you’re an aspiring professional or a beginner in the field, selecting the right subjects can be pivotal in your career. Fortunately, with Cebu as your backdrop, you’ll hardly run out of diverse subjects to shoot.

In this article, we’ll explore different subjects in Cebu that will not only ignite your creativity but also help you master various aspects of photography.

Nature and Landscapes

Cebu’s natural beauty is a photographer’s dream come true. From pristine beaches to lush mountains, there are boundless nature scenes to capture. Not to mention, successfully capturing the island’s famous beaches and waterfalls in all of their dramatic glory is a feat of technical mastery.

When you focus your lens on Cebu’s natural wonders, whether it’s the breathtaking sunsets over the ocean or the serene beauty of forests, you’ll learn to perfect your composition skills while harnessing the power of natural lighting. Perhaps best of all, you can refine your photo-taking techniques while enjoying the beauty of nature.

Architecture

While Cebu is very well-known for its historical churches and forts, the city is also a bustling metropolis with world-class structures to rival other cities. Case in point, the newly built NUSTAR Resort and Casino with a sprawling 490,797 sqm development that includes Fili Hotel, which is considered to be the only authentic 5-star hotel in Cebu.

Set by the waterfront, NUSTAR presents a striking façade that’s inspired by Cebu’s coastline. Inside this integrated resort, you can capture every inch of opulence with your camera. Pretty soon, your memory card will be filled with detailed shots of the best hotel in Cebu. With your camera, some careful planning, and creativity, you can immortalize this architectural marvel that represents the bright and prosperous future of Cebu City.

Street Scenes

Cebu’s busy streets are always alive with energy, and capturing candid moments of people in their daily lives can be both challenging and rewarding. Try capturing the busy market of Tabon with locals selling tubs of dried fish. Better yet, go on a photo walk on Colon Street at dawn or dusk while keeping an eye out for interesting characters.

Remember that street photography is all about mastering timing and anticipating the right moments. With the vibrant street life in Cebu, you have countless opportunities to freeze the essence of everyday life into compelling images

Concerts

Did you know that Cebu is also known for its love of music? Indeed, some of the most respected musicians in the country hail from the Queen City of the South. As such, the city has a rocking music scene that you can and definitely should capture with your camera.

Photographing concerts will sharpen your action photography skills as you strive to immortalize the energy and emotion of performers and their audiences in pictures. Moreover, overcoming the challenges of low-light environments will also enhance your photography prowess.

Festivals

The island of Cebu is home to a number of festivals, with Sinulog being the most popular. If you’re lucky enough to be in the city during Sinulog, then take out your camera and start capturing the dynamic and crowded scenes. Aside from the challenge of maintaining focus, this photography exercise will teach you to immerse yourself in the moment, document cultural experiences, and find beauty in chaos.

People

Portraits are a powerful way to capture the essence of individuals and their stories. Whether you’re photographing strangers on the street or collaborating with models, perfecting portraiture involves honing your ability to connect with your subjects and capture their genuine emotions and expressions. In Cebu, you’ll find a diverse range of people to photograph, each with their own unique story.

Food

Cebu’s culinary scene is a feast for the taste buds—and the eyes. When photographing food, you’ll develop a keen eye for detail, perfecting lighting and composition to make dishes and various food products look irresistible. With Cebu’s rich street food and fine dining culture, you’ll not run out of visual inspiration.

In Cebu, every click of your camera’s shutter can be a step towards honing your photography skills. The diverse subjects found on this tropical island provide endless opportunities for unique, beautiful moments. So, it’s time to pack your cameras and let Cebu be your muse in your journey to photography.

4 Interesting Facts About Pinoy Mall Culture

May 11, 2023 By FAQ Leave a Comment

In the Philippines, it isn’t unlikely to see several malls built in close proximity with one other. For the rest of the world, however, having an abundance of malls located in one area can be seen as a bit excessive. As a nation of mallgoers, the Filipinos’ love for shopping malls gives them a distinct Pinoy culture that has piqued the interest of people who aren’t Filipinos or are simply living in the Philippines. And there are plenty of reasons as to why this is so.

Let’s take a look at four interesting facts about the shopping malls in the Philippines, and understand how they’ve become an integral part of shaping Pinoy mall culture.

Malls Are a Sign of Economic Progress

Malls are often signs of economic growth because they indicate that the people working and living near them have the spending power to afford many of the commodities and services that malls have to offer. Shopping malls also provide people with jobs and can attract a lot of businesses, which helps boost the local economy. As a result, it’s common to see restaurants, retail stores, and hotels near Mall of Asia (as well as other malls) because of the amount of foot traffic the mall generates.

Malls in the Philippines Are Built with Convenience in Mind

Like most shopping malls across the globe, the malls in the Philippines house plenty of shops where people can buy clothes, shop for their household goods and electronics, as well as sit down and have a nice meal. What makes the malls in the country a little bit different from the rest, however, is that they also include establishments and offices where people can complete their errands with ease.

People can do their groceries at the supermarket, book a medical appointment with a general physician at the clinic, and even get their driver’s licenses renewed at a satellite government office. They can also pay their household bills through a mall’s bills payment center, as well as mail a package to a family member living abroad via a shipping company that’s located in the mall.

Other businesses that can be found in a typical mall in the Philippines include:

Laundry services and laundromats
Shoe repair shops
Watch repair shops
Printing shops
Key duplicate shops
Pharmacies

With all of these establishments conveniently found in one location, mallgoers don’t have to travel far or go to a different location just to finish all of their errands.

Malls Are the Perfect Places to Spend the Weekend

A lot of Filipinos reserve their weekends for friends or family. Thus, they want to spend this time to enjoy the company of their loved ones before they head back to school or the office the following week. When it comes to choosing a place to hang out, malls are almost always at the top of the list. This is because malls in the Philippines are also designed to provide mallgoers with hours of fun.

Apart from window shopping, mallgoers can catch a movie at the cinema, eat at any of the many restaurants, and play games at the mall’s video arcade or other entertainment centers. People can also get themselves pampered at a wellness spa or salon. With so many fun and exciting things to do at the mall, it’s no wonder that mallgoers prefer going to the mall during the weekend.

Malls Have Become Popular Tourist Destinations as Well

As previously mentioned, it’s common for malls to be built near each other in the Philippines. In Makati alone, four of its malls are located so close to each other that they’re connected via footbridges. The five malls in Ortigas Center, on the other hand, are only a 10- to 30-minute cab ride away from each other—given that there’s no traffic. Because of this, malls have to find ways to keep mallgoers invested in shopping at their establishments.

One solution some malls came up with is to build attractions in or beside their shopping complex to entice more people to visit their malls. Pasay City’s Mall of Asia, for example, has the Bay Area Amusement Park. This amusement park features a wide range of rides and fairground games that give mallgoers a fun and exhilarating way to spend their weekend. There’s also the Venice Grand Canal Mall in Taguig, which has a man-made canal where people can enjoy a quick gondola ride around the mall.

Because of these malls’ unique features, they’ve become tourist destinations in their own right. As a result, they’re able to attract more people, whether they’re locals enjoying their time in the mall or foreign tourists looking for something fun to do while they’re in the Philippines. The malls in the Philippines are an essential part of the lifestyle. Thanks to the convenience shopping complexes provide, Filipinos can complete their errands, spend time with their families, and relax and unwind under one roof. As a result, the malls in the country have helped create a mall culture that’s distinctly Pinoy.

10 Top Biggest Shopping Malls in the Philippines

March 13, 2018 By FAQ Leave a Comment

Speaking of shopping malls, did you know that the biggest mall in the world is China’s New South China Mall? This shopping haven in Dongguan, China has a gross floor area (GFA) of 660,000 square meters.

Spending leisure time in shopping centers, especially during weekends and public holidays, is a common phenomena in the Philippines. The locals seem to enjoy going out, hanging out, and shopping. For that reason, shopping malls can be easily spotted across the country. Amongst the long list of shopping malls, here are the top biggest ones.

1. SM North EDSA

Known to be the first mall that introduced the locals to the lifestyle, this mall has been through several transformations since its first public opening in 1985. Currently nominated to be the country’s biggest mall and the world’s third, what started in an area of 125,000 sqm has now expanded to 498,000 sqm. It also houses more than one thousand retail stores and restaurants in addition to its 5,760 rooftop solar panels. This number one shopping mall really lives up to the concept of one stop shop.

Location: Quezon City

Gross Floor Area: 498,000 m²

2. SM Megamall

Notable to the first mall to have ice skating rink in the country, this shopping mall has been through several major expansion since its opening in 1991. The initial size of 330,000 sqm has been expanded to 474,000 sqm. With larger leasable area, it now caters more than one thousand outlets, ranging from fashion to dining. The mall has a maximum capacity of 4 million people.

Location: Mandaluyong City

Gross Floor Area: 474,000 m²

3. SM Seaside City Cebu

Located in the center of SM Seaside Complex is SM Seaside City Cebu. WIth 470,000 sqm floor area, this mall is among the world’s largest. What makes this mall special is the 16 lane bowling arena, Olympic sized ice rink and large screen cinema that can accomodate 350 seats. In addition to those recreational features is the 148 meter Seaside Tower.

Location: Cebu City

Gross Floor Area: 470,490 m²

4. SM Mall of Asia

The mall was crowned as the world’s biggest when it was first introduced to public in 2006. The size of the mall floor area is the stagerring 406,962 sqm and there are four buildings comprising the mall: the main area, the entertainment section, and two car parks.

The availability of more than one thousand retail and dining outlets along with an Olympic sized ice rink and science discovery center called Exploreum has made SM Mall of Asia one unique shopping center.

Location: Bay City, Pasay

Gross Floor Area: 406,962 m²

5. SM City Cebu

Better known as SM Cebu, this is the fourth mall of SM Prime Holdings. Having been through some major development, the 162,000 sqm initial size of the floor area went up to 269,000 in 2007. With the construction of the Northwing new building, the number of shopping and dining outlets has also gone up to almost 700.

Location: Cebu City

Gross Floor Area: 273,804 m²

6. SM Aura Premier

Built as an upscale shopping mall in Metro Manila, SM Aura Premier has the size of 251,000 sqm. Consisting of some high-end stores, restaurants, and bars, the mall connected with the 29 storey SM Aura Office Tower is a convenient place to spend leisure time. Complying with global green standards in terms of efficient use of energy and sustainability, this mall does represent the definition of its name: elegance.

Location: Taguig City

Gross Floor Area: 251,094 m²

7. Glorietta

What was initially planned to be a part Makati Commercial Center has been transformed into a 250,000 sqm shopping mall. Starting its operation in 1992, the mall was then divided into three sections: Glorietta 1, 2 and 3. The mall has been through some changes since then: the addition of Glorietta 4 in 1998 and the stand-alone building of Glorietta 5 away from the other four sections.

Managed by Ayala Malls, this mall provides a complete package of leisure entertainment: cinema, theme park, entertainment hub, etc.

Location: Makati

Gross Floor Area: 250,000 m²

8. Greenbelt Mall

Consisting of five buildings, this mall began its operation in 250,000 sqm floor area in 1989. In 2002, the initial place, however, was reconstructed into the so-called Greenbelt 1, 2, and 3. In two years’ time, Greenbelt 4 was open and three years after that, Greenbelt 5 was launched. Nowadays Greenbelt Mall is dominated by prominent brands and restaurants, although fast food counters and supply stores can still be found in Greenbelt 1. Completing the shopping complex is a park in its open space area.

Location: Makati

Gross Floor Area: 250,000 m²

9. Robinsons Place Manila

Claimed to be the biggest Robinsons mall with the development of its Padre Faura and Midtown wings in years 2000 and 2008, the size of the mall has reached 240,000 sqm. Spread on its seven floors are thousands of both local and international retail stores, restaurants, and entertainment outlets, such as bowling, billiard, and cinema.

Location: Manila

Gross Floor Area: 240,000 m²

10. Robinsons Galleria

Back in the 1990, this was the first launched Robinsons mall. Now it also goes by the name Robinsons Galleria Ortigas due to its location, which is inside a mixed use complex lying on the corner of EDSA Ortigas Avenue. As the flagship of Robinsons Malls, this five storey mall is equipped with hundreds of stores, restaurants, as well as entertainment and service centers.

Location: Quezon City

Gross Floor Area: 216,000 m²

12 Popular Online Websites for Shopping in the Philippines

March 10, 2018 By FAQ 1 Comment

There is no question that for the past few years online shopping has grown more popular. The phenomenon has enabled so many new entrepreneurs to establish their businesses at lower cost — thanks to the virtual online retail stores and affordable marketing campaigns. Not only does it benefit businessmen, but it has also helped customers to shop through simple scrolling and a few clicks on their gadgets. As a matter of fact, customers’ satisfaction with the online products and services is the one thing that boosts the popularity of this new way of shopping. People in the Philippines are a part of those happy online shoppers. It is no wonder that there are at least these ten most visited e-commerce websites in the country.

1. Lazada

Serving as the one stop shopping solution in the Philippines, Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, Vietnam and Thailand, this site has been known as one of the online e-commerce giants in Southeast Asia. It offers a wide range of products, such as home appliances, gadgets and fashion. The products come from different brands and the site gives its customers several payment methods to choose from. With more than the estimated average monthly traffic of seventy million Internet users visiting the online marketplace, its dominance in the Philippines is undeniable.

Due to the popularity, this site originally founded by Rocket Internet was then acquired by Alibaba in 2016.

Monthly Traffic Estimate (January 2018): 70,600,000

2. OLX

OLX Philippines is one of the biggest buy and sell community in the country. On OLX, users can sell and buy second-hand items – from used cars to gadgets or furniture. You can also find a house or condo for rent or for sale.

Monthly Traffic Estimate (January 2018): 18,200,000

3. Shopee Philippines

With more than nine million monthly visitors, Shopee is the third most popular site in the Philippines. Providing a good marketplace for retailers to ‘meet’ buyers and help them settle the deals through its escrow system and customer reviews, purchases made on this online platform are considered trust worthy and thus, it encourages people to use its service.

Monthly Traffic Estimate (January 2018): 9,400,000

4. Cebu Pacific

Philippine airline company Cebu Pacific launched in 1996, but took off in earnest as a low-cost carrier in the mid-2000s. It has since offered customers discounted etickets they can purchase online using a credit card. It was one of the early local ecommerce options in the Philippines, and continues to be patronized by consumers for its promos.

Monthly Traffic Estimate (January 2018): 8,650,000

5. Zalora

Well known for its dominant market share in fashion retail industry, the site has been operating in various Asian countries: the Philippines, Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, Vietnam, Hong Kong and Taiwan. The company’s partnership with global brands, like Mango and H&M, has made it possible to reach the fourth position of top shopping sites in the Philippines with website traffic at around three million every month.

Monthly Traffic Estimate (January 2018): 3,500,000

6. Metrodeal

Who does not like coupons, discounted items and that sort of better deals? This e-commerce site accomodates such wishes. With its specialization in offering good deals for leisure, food, and travelling, it successfully expands to Indonesia and it is now also developing its operations inThailand.

Monthly Traffic Estimate (January 2018): 3,051,944

7. Globe Online Shop

Reaching almost one million monthly traffic*, this virtual e-commerce platform specializing in electronic hardwares and gadgets is highly regarded as a part of the Globe Corporation, which is one of the prominent companies in the Philippines.

Monthly Traffic Estimate (January 2018): 2,100,000

8. eBay Philippines

Although it was originally created to be the meeting place for consumers, the site has been expanded to facilitate companies selling their products to customers in eBay stores. This creates more hectic traffic as many as 1,850,000 monthly visits.

Monthly Traffic Estimate (January 2018): 1,850,000

9. CDR King

Quite similar to Villman Computers, CDR King, which is a local retail chain company, provides an official website for its customers to shop online. Reputed for its discounted offers on electronics, computer hardware, gadgets and the accessories, this site monthly traffic is at around 580,000.

Monthly Traffic Estimate (January 2018): 580,000

10. Galleon.ph

Providing imported goods from the USA and China, that are not available in the Philippines, to the people in the country, Galleon.ph is estimated to attract around 500,000 visitors per month. The benefit of shopping via this online platform is that even if the product you are looking for(from the USA or China) is not currently available on the web, you can send an email asking for help to get that specific product. As written on its web, the company promises to get the product for you as long as it is from either one of the two foreign countries. Another plus point of this site is that it applies the all in price, which already includes taxes, customs, and delivery.

Monthly Traffic Estimate (January 2018): 510,000

11. Villman Computers

Having less visits at around 390,000 than CDR King, the online website highly focusing on gadgets, computer hardware, and mobile devices allows its customers to buy their products via the Internet in spite of the existence of its real retail shops.

Monthly Traffic Estimate (January 2018): 390,000

12. WeeMall

Just like any other online shop, WeeMall .com is a gateway for unique and branded products that goes from fashion to gadgets. It has various payment option platforms as well as same day delivery through Speed Delivery service.

Monthly Traffic Estimate (January 2018): N/A

10 Reasons why Filipinos are attracted to Korean dramas

September 6, 2017 By Marydel Mitch Flores Leave a Comment

Korean dramas have become one of the favorite shows of Filipinos since the first K-drama aired in the Philippines. It was then followed by more famous shows that stole the country’s heart. The surge of its popularity has been called “Hallyu”, which means “Korean wave.” It refers to the way their entertainment is spreading around the world.

Koreanovelas are all part of Filipinos daily life now, from Television, food, clothes, and a lot more shows the influence itself. But the big questions people may want to ask here, is why Filipinos are attracted to it?

Check this out to know the reason why.

Attractive actors

It’s pretty obvious that Korean actors are attractive, good-looking, and at the same time talented. Many Filipinos fell in love with the genre of Korean dramas because of their hot leading man/leading lady crushes. However, you might also have noticed that it is rare for them to be paired again with the same actor/actress in another series because they don’t have permanent team ups. Thus, it is a bit hard for the viewers who would love seeing the couple again on another show. On the other hand, it is actually positive for the sake of art and creativity, because actors should be remembered first by the characters they portray and not only by who had they worked with.

Storylines are not easy to predict

In Korean dramas, the storyline is not that easy to predict compared to local dramas, as well as the pacing of the plot. Korean writers are also cohesive when it comes to their storytelling. This is probably why many viewers are attracted to it.

Majority are G-rated

Korean Dramas are G-rated, which means foul language is rare, love scenes rarely progress, and violence is minimal. In fact, seeing French kiss in Koreanovelas is a newsworthy. Usually, K-dramas contain family-friendly themes that make it easier to watch with your family.

Cultural appeal

Watching K-dramas are educational; because it lets you absorb information about different culture. You’ll learn about different societal norms and understand that shoes are taken off at the door without anyone needing to tell you.

Creativity is apparent

K-Dramas are successful in telling a story, when many elements of the show appear to have moved and makes the viewers believe in the fiction world. Production teams spare no effort in their craft. From the location, set up, sounds, editing, and to the cinematography, they make sure that their final product come out well on screens.

Romantic Story without the need of obscene scenes

The good thing about K-Dramas is that, they don’t need to show obscene scenes on Romantic dramas. It is just the right amount of butterflies in the stomach that will keep you watch the characters interact. It is always about how the viewers will feel the couple’s growing pains and happiness in the story, not how much skin they have to show.

Great OST

Dramas, movies, or telenovelas without detailed sounds would be unappealing. The background music makes it more interesting to watch and feel the mood of the story. There is no doubt that viewers really got hooked in watching K-dramas because of the music they played in every scenes. Although Filipinos don’t understand the lyrics but the music has no language barrier.

Cool clothes

Fashion in K-dramas has definite trend appeal that’s why every Filipinos are now influenced by the Korean fashion style, even their hairstyles.

Vocabulary strech

Filipinos are attracted to Korean Dramas because they find it fun hearing their accent. Aside from that they’re able to know several Korean words and phrases like “thanks” and “sorry” through watching it. Most importantly you’ll know what “Oppa” means, once you start watching their shows.

Create emotional connections with the viewers

Korean dramas successfully create emotional connections in every viewer. The characters are developed in such a way that the viewers can relate to the character and feels the same emotion. The cliff hanger endings leave them squirming till the next episode and the tension is built up expertly.

There are many reasons why Korean dramas have gained such a wide following of non-Koreans. Stepping into the K-drama world may seem like entering a sort of fantasy world, yet to all the fans out there, they find piece of reality in that magical place. And as long as they appeal to the taste of TV audiences, Koreanovelas will continue to warm the hearts of every Filipinos.

Chinese New Year Traditions in the Philippines

January 25, 2017 By Lyza R. Sabornido Leave a Comment

Long before the Spaniards came to claim the Philippines, the natives already had a long business relationship with traders from China. Some of them chose to stay here for good. They are what we call “Tsinoy,” Filipino citizens of Chinese heritage. The word Tsinoy is a combination of “Tsino” a Filipino word meaning Chinese person and “Pinoy” a slang word meaning Filipino.

Photo of Binondo Church during Chinese New Year by Mjuadiong via Wikimedia Commons

There are around five million Filipino-Chinese in the country which makes up five percent of the Philippine population. They continued to practice various traditions such as celebrating the Lunar New Year. Some Filipinos also celebrate the occasion hoping that it would also give them good luck and fortune.

The Filipino-Chinese celebrate the new year in January or February. This year, the Filipino-Chinese community will be welcoming the Year of the Rooster on January 28 (Saturday). The government has designated it a special non-working holiday.

Just like Filipinos, the Tsinoys have various traditions in celebrating Chinese New Year. Here are some of the traditions and reasons why:

Dragon and lion dance
One of the most common sights during Chinese New Year is the Dragon and Lion Dance along the streets of Binondo in Manila and other parts of the country. With the loud banging of drums, the dragon and lion dancers would move from one house or establishment to another to collect the ang pao (red envelopes) hanged on the entrance or gates of houses and/or establishments.

The Lion is carried by two dancers, one in charge of the tail end and the other controls the head, he can make the lion’s ear wiggle and blink its eyes. He is also in charge of getting the ang pao.

As for the Dragon, it has a longer body and controlled by eight to ten people. The dancer in front is in charge of the head while the other dancers use poles to control the body.

Ang Pao

Photo of Ang Pao by Brian Jeffery Beggerly via Flickr

The red envelopes with Chinese characters or ang pao with new bills are usually given by couples and elders to unmarried and young ones. It is said to bring good luck and long life to the recipient. According to tradition, the amount should start with even numbers because odd numbers are used for the amount given during funerals.

New Year’s Eve dinner
The New Year’s Eve dinner is considered as the most important dinner for Chinese families. And the most popular food during this occasion is tikoy (year cake). Made from sticky rice, tikoy is served to symbolize unity among family member. Other foods served during the occasion includes; noodles which signify long life and represent the eater’s life, fish which symbolizes good fortune in their culture and dumplings which resemble Chinese currency. It is also said to symbolize good fortune.

Photo of Tikoy by Ramon FVelasquez via Wikipedia

Red
Chinese believe that the color red symbolizes energy, happiness, and good luck. Because of that, the Chinese wear red during New Year celebration. They also decorate their house and establishment with red decorations.

Cleaning and paying off debts

To remove bad luck and welcome the good fortune in the coming year, the Chinese clean their home days before New Year. After cleaning, they decorate the house with red scrolls on which Chinese characters are written and hang up red paper lanterns. Plants are also placed around the house to signify life and renewal. They also make sure to pay off their debts as a way of starting fresh and anew with the new year.

Fireworks and firecrackers
Of course, no New Year celebration would never be complete without fireworks and firecrackers. The Chinese in particular light up firecrackers and fireworks because of the belief that it would ward off bad luck and the evil spirits. The fireworks display is also their way of starting the new year with a bright and colorful start.

New Year greeting
Chinese across the globe greet each other Kiong Hee Huat Tsai in Hokkien language which most Filipino-Chinese use. In Mandarin, Gong Xi Fa Cai and the most popularly used is the Cantonese version in Hong Kong which is Kung Hei Fat Choi which means “Congratulations and Be Prosperous.”

Photo of a New Year greetings via Pixabay

If there are things to be prepared or done, there are also things which should be avoided on the first day of the Chinese New Year such as the following:

Taking medicine
Chinese believe that taking medicine on the first day of the year means you will get ill for a whole year.

Eating porridge for breakfast on New Year’s day
Porridge should not be eaten on New Year’s breakfast because only poor people have porridge for breakfast, and people don’t want to start the year “poor”.

Empty rice container
Rice container must be full as empty container may cause grave anxiety because having no rice to cook during the New Year is considered to be a bad sign.

Doing the laundry
Chinese people do not wash clothes on the first and second day because these two days are celebrated as the birthday of Shuishen, the Water God. This must also be the reason why they do the cleaning before the new year starts.

Washing hair
The first day of the lunar year is a no wash hair day. Not doing the laundry during New Year’s Day may be okay because who wants to do chores after a party right? But in Chinese tradition washing your hair must be avoided too because, in Chinese language, hair has the same pronunciation and character as ‘fa’ in facai, which means ‘to become wealthy’. Thus, it is believed that it is not a good thing to “wash one’s fortune away” at the beginning of the New Year.

Using broom
Chinese believe that if you sweep on New Year’s day, your wealth will be swept away too. So basically, New Year is a no-chore-day.

Wearing torn/damaged clothes
Wearing torn/damaged clothes during Lunar New Year can cause more bad luck for the year according to Chinese belief. So you better keep your ripped jeans and shirts for a few weeks if you don’t want to invite bad luck this year.

Photo of a ripped jeans via Pixabay

Never wear black or white
As I have mentioned earlier, Chinese people traditionally wear red clothes during this occasion to attract good fortune. And the colors they avoid wearing are white and black clothes as these two colors are traditionally associated with mourning.

Killing things
Blood is considered an ill omen, which will cause misfortunes such as a knife wound, or a bloody disaster. In connection to this…

Using sharp object
Refrain from using knives and scissors to avoid an accident because it is believed to lead to bad luck and losing wealth.

Photo via Pixabay

Giving of certain gifts
As sharp object must be avoided, you must also never give clocks and/or scissors as gifts on New Year for these things have a bad meaning in Chinese culture.

Most of the Filipino-Chinese in the Philippines still follow these traditions which were passed on by generations. Some Filipinos who believe that the Chinese got their luck in business because of following traditions are also adopting them. As for me, I believe that if you give your best in everything you do, success is not impossible to attain with or without following ancient traditions. But for those who want to try to practice Chinese traditions with or without Chinese blood, I hope this article will be able to help you make preparations for the Chinese New Year.

Kung Hei Fat Choi!

Surfing in Calicoan, Guiuan, Eastern Samar: Tips and Photos

November 12, 2015 By Victorino Q. Abrugar 4 Comments

I’ve been to Guiuan, Eastern Samar several times, since my parents were born from its nearby towns. My father is from Mercedes and my mother is from Salcedo. I have also been to Sulangan Church or the San Antonio de Padua Church which is well-known in Eastern Visayas for its miracles and for granting the prayers of its pilgrims. However, I have never set my foot in Calicoan, an island between Sulangan and the town proper of Guiuan.

Calicoan Island is famous for its beaches, resorts, and surfing hubs. But after Super Typhoon Yolanda hit Visayas, I wasn’t already sure if the tourist attractions in the island are already back. So when my family decided to visit Eastern Samar on October 31, 2015, I did not hesitate to go with them. [Read more…]

Two Years after Yolanda, Hundreds of Families still Live in Bunkhouses

November 9, 2015 By Lyza R. Sabornido Leave a Comment

Bunkhouses in Brgy 63, Tacloban City

Two years ago Super Typhoon Yolanda left 6,300 casualties; and more than 28,689 people with injuries. 1, 061 remains missing and hundreds of families still live in bunkhouses.

According to the latest report of the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC), the damage to property caused by Yolanda stands at P89,598,068,634. This includes the thousands of houses of people along the coastal areas who were left homeless. Because of the help coming from various international Non-Governmental Organizations or iNGOs, NGOs, and the government, infrastructures and houses were rebuilt.

In an article posted on thestandard.com.ph on October 29, 2015, Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Secretary Dinky Soliman, was quoted saying; “We are assuring [the public] that by the end of October, there will no longer be bunkhouses in Tacloban. These aren’t safe so we’ll remove them.” Yet, when our team visited the place on November 6, some 307 families still remains at NHA Bunkhouse in Barangay 63, Tacloban City. [Read more…]

Is Vote-buying Illegal in the Philippines?

October 26, 2015 By Rig Man Leave a Comment

vote buying

Is vote-buying illegal in the Philippines? Yes, vote-buying is illegal in the Philippines. According to Section 261 (a) of the Omnibus Election Code of the Philippines (Batas Pambansa Blg. 881), vote-buying and vote-selling are among the prohibited acts which are punishable by the said law. [Read more…]

Top 18 Favorite Breakfasts of Filipinos

October 24, 2015 By Lyza R. Sabornido Leave a Comment

We Filipinos love to eat. Aside from breakfast, lunch and dinners, we also eat in-between meals like a ‘pampa-init’ in the morning before the actual breakfast with rice, snacks before lunch and merienda during mid-afternoon and there are even some who would still grab a quick midnight snacks.

Since rice is the staple food for us Filipinos, I did not include it in my list of favorite Filipino breakfast anymore. Instead, I listed the usual food that we would usually see in a Filipino breakfast table.

Here are the top 18 foods you would usually see in a Pinoy’s breakfast table: [Read more…]