@Gwenie

@Gwenie 10 June 2024

June 10, 2024 | 2:30 PM It's that time of the day where most people are taking their afternoon nap. I've got no customer so here I am, scrolling thru my phone and visiting various apps and site. ✨ Hby, how's your Monday? 💖

@Gwenie 8 June 2024

A memory from FOUR years ago popped in my Facebook notification. It was a "my day" of my read.cash article. 😄 It's really amazing that in this platform, we made friends, released our unspoken thoughts, and financially helped many of us , especially during the pandemic. Cheers to more years here in read.cash! 🥂 Happy Saturday everyone! 💖

@Gwenie 7 June 2024

June 07, 2024 Selling time again. One of the challenges of having a small business is restocking. Most of our stocks are ordered online and the 6.6 sales had a great timing. We saved a lot because of the vouchers. 😊 How about you? Ano mga budol mo nung 6.6 sale? 😆🤩

@Gwenie 5 June 2024

June 05, 2024 Acapulco Beach, CSFLU Many kids are playing at the beach. It's fun watching them laugh while being chased by the waves. It's a heartwarming sight that brings back fond childhood memories. It's a little gloomy but these kids and other beach goers brighten up our place. 🫶 How about you, how's your day?

@Gwenie 4 June 2024

Another day, another order! 🤩 Today, there's a lot of beachgoers. This is a great sign for us. Hoping for more sales. 🫶 Had my "buena mano" already. More customers to come. 🤞🤞 Hby, how's your day going? *wink

@Gwenie 3 June 2024

Happy Monday everyone! ✨🫶 May this week be full of happiness and blessings. 🫶 Later pa ako magbebenta sa aking munting pwesto kaya pahinga muna. Kayo mga bhie, anong ganap? ☺️

@Gwenie 2 June 2024

I am exploring paying sites and saw Tangled. Tho I forgot whose link I used. 😆 Sa mga hindi pa naka register, feel free to use my link. See you there! https://gwenie.tangled.com/join

@Gwenie 2 June 2024

Years of being inactive and now, nangangapa na ako kung paano itong site. Hehe. Anyways, how's everyone? As for me, unemployed na ako. And managing my small business named Acapulcoffee. ☺️

@Gwenie 2 June 2024

Life Update Hey there! I was inactive for quite a while so, here's a little life update. I recently left my job at the shoe store after two fantastic years. Because of the company, I had great experiences, from exploring Manila Ocean Park to visiting the Hundred Islands of Pangasinan. After weighing the good and the stressful days of working 8 am-5pm, I leaped to start my own small business. My man lives in a great neighborhood near the Acapulco Beach, here in San Fernando, L.U. During weekends or holidays, many people visit the place to enjoy its sand, clean water, and beautiful sunsets. In front of their house, my boyfriend's mom is selling merienda like KFC (kikiam, fish ball, chicken ball), lumpia, burgers, fries, and others. This is why I decided to sell beside her stall. With courage and a little capital, I opened a small business named Acapulcoffee. We serve iced drinks like coffee, fruit sodas, milk-based drinks, and frappé. Managing a small business has been a wild ride, with all the selling, stock monitoring, restocking, and marketing. But life's been pretty great overall. There have been surprises along the way, and I truly believe that everything falls into place at the right time. And now that I have full control of my time, I guess I'll be more active on this platform. How about you, How is life so far? *winks

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@Gwenie 1 June 2024

Tried opening my read cash account, grabe, halos active pa pala ang lahat. Ako lang yata nawala. 😆 Kumusta po ang lahat? 🤩

@Gwenie 30 April 2021

My First Paid Design Was Paid Using BCH In my noise.cash account, I have posted that I started a sticker business. But sad to say,I have no customer until now. But an unexpected thing happened. In my previous article, I shared a guide on how to use Canva. It is a graphic design platform where I made my sticker templates and my first paid design! 🥳 https://read.cash/@Gwenie/how-to-use-canva-a-guide-for-beginners-part-1-44777ef4 This started when I was having a conversation with Usagi on noise.cash. She mentioned that she shared a post where the user is looking for a logo maker and there will be a reward for the chosen one. I checked her post and saw that it is Habibur's post that was shared. I checked the post, noted what to do, and did some editing on Canva. When I was done, I asked Habibur where I can DM him and he gave me his telegram account. I messaged him and sent these first designs that I made for him and his BCH Campaign. The above photos were the very first designs that I made and sent to him. The details on the banner that I made were from bitcoincash.org and I just also added something about BCH Campaign. Habibur said these are okay but it took us 10 days to finalize everything. There were many changes made before the final design because details like sponsors and emails were added. I also let Habibur suggest and decide on the details of the logo and banner. I gave him options to chose from. Some parts of the logo were also edited and here are the final logo and banner designs. Habibur approved these and I sent him the PNG copy of these files. But, I got a little problem when he said that he needs an AI file for the banner. There is no AI format in the download options of Canva. Good thing Mr. Google solved my problem. I searched for a way to convert a PNG file to AI, and voila! I found a website and I converted the banner and immediately sent it to before I sleep Habibur. It was the morning of April 26 when I checked my telegram and was so surprised when I saw this! I was surprised because we never talked about how much is he going to give for the design. Ten dollars is a huge amount for me and I was thankful to him. Even though I have sold nothing in my stickers, I got paid for a design that I made and it was in BCH! 😍 I have always been a supporter of BCH but this experience just proved that it is indeed the future of money. Aside from the low transaction fees, BCH offers many great opportunities. We just have to grab it and accept the challenge. 😊 Thank you for dropping by and have a good day! 💮 GWENIE 💮

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@Gwenie 19 April 2021

How To Use Canva - A Guide For Beginners (Part 1) For the past few days, I was sharing on noise.cash the sticker templates that I made using a platform named Canva which has both a website and app. Canva is a graphic design platform where you can create your designs and layouts for business cards, logos, banners, social media graphics, posters, and many more. They also offer thousands of templates and stock contents that are free to use. And for additional functionality, the platform also offers paid subscriptions. So without further ado, let's start. The first step is to create your free account and register on the link below. You can also download their app available on Playstore and Appstore. https://www.canva.com/join/pedal-make-temple After registering, the above photo is how the homepage of Canva looks like. Each number corresponds to a specific tool and listed below are the specific functions of each. 1. Home Clicking Home button will display the homepage of Canva. 2. Templates This icon is where a wide variety of templates can be found. There are templates for different purposes. Below are the available template options. **Social Medi**a - For social media, there are Instagram Story, Instagram Post, Facebook post, Facebook cover, Youtube Channel Art, and LinkedIn banner templates. **Personal** - For personal, there are Invitation, card, resume, postcard, weekly schedule planner, and T-shirt templates. **Business** - For business purposes, there are Presentation, Website, Logo, Business Card, Invoice, and Business letterhead templates. **Marketing** - For marketing purposes, there are Poster, Flyer, Infographic, Brochure, Newsletter, and Proposal templates. **Education** - For education purposes, there are Classroom Decor Kit, Lesson Plan, Worksheet, Certificate, Bookmark, and Class Schedule templates. **Trending** - Canvas prints, Easter cards, Youtube Intro, Photo Books, Mother's Day Cards, and Mother's Day Certificates templates. 3. Features This icon is where you can find the featured elements and other important buttons. Under Features, there are: **Photos** - Clicking this will redirect you to the page where you can search for photos that are free to use. Keywords like Free photos, Background, Nature, Animals, Food, and People are also below down this button. **Icons** - Like the Photos, this will also redirect you to a page where you can search any icons. Suggested keywords like Social Media, Web & CEO, Files & Folders, Business, Weather, and Computer are also below this button. **Print Products** - When clicked, this will redirect you to the Canva Print page where you can see the top designs printed by Canva Prints and a video on how it works. Under Print Products, you can also find the buttons like Business card, Postcard, Invitation, Custom Mugs, Flyer, and Custom T-shirts that will redirect you to a specific design. **App** - This will redirect you to a page where you can create designs with your social media. Other apps that can be used to enhance your design can also be found here. Under the Apps, there are Google Maps, Giphy, QR Code, Bitmoji, Youtube, and Duotone. **Explore** - This explore button redirects to a page where you can find many suggested styles on how to improve your design. Under Explore, there are also Teams, Videos, Graphs & Charts. **Download** - Here is where you can download the Canva app for Mac, Windows, Android, and iOS. 4. Learn This icon displays another three icons which are Courses, Tutorials, and Blog. **Courses** - Under this, there are free courses like Become A Pinterest Creator, Personal Branding, Canva fir the Classroom, Social Media Mastery, Graphic Design Basics, Branding Your Business, and Presentations to Impress. **Tutorials** - Here you can find the tutorials on Getting started with Canva, Designing with Canva, Canva for Education, Canva Pro, Branding with Canva, and Presenting with Canva. **Blog** - Here you can find articles about education, design, marketing, branding, and many more. 5. Pricing The button is where you can the different types of Canva accounts that you can have. These are Free, Pro, Enterprise, Education, and Nonprofit. For the paid accounts like Pro and Enterprise, there is a 30 days free trial. 6. Search Bar The Search Bar is used to search your desired size and sample templates for a specific layout. Keywords like flyer, business card, photo book, T-shirt, and anything that comes to your mind can be used to search for a more specific result. 7. Help The Help Center is where you can change your account settings and find help when you encounter any issue regarding payments, managing and deleting teams and groups, downloading files, print and delivering, editing and designing, and any common problem. 8. Account Settings Clicking the Account Setting button will redirect you to a page where you can see and update your account details like registered email, password, billing, and print orders. You can also enable here the 2 Factor Authentication, sign out from all devices, or delete your account. 9. Create Design This is where you can start creating your layout. When clicked, it will show a search bar and suggested type of layout like presentation, A4 document, logo, business card, poster, resume, and others. 10. Recommended for you When clicked, this button will display the recommended templates and file types for you. 11. All your designs This will display all the designs you have made on Canva. Just click the design if you would like to edit it. Each design has three dots on its upper right which you can click and choose an action for your file. Make a copy, Move to folder, Download, Share, Get Shareable link, Comment & Like, and Move to Trash are the options for action. 12. Shared with you. You can see all the designs shared with you when you click this button. 13. Brand Kit In the Brand Kit, you can upload your brand logo, brand colors, and brand fonts. However, an upgrade in the account is needed to maximize this feature. 14. Create a team This feature is best when you are a business owner or a group of people who make a team. This is like having a Facebook group where you can interact with each other and feel at home. 15. All your folders This feature displays all your default folders which are All your designs, Likes, Purchased, Shared with you, Uploads, and your new folders which you can create by clicking the Create new folder on the upper right corner. 16. Trash This will display all the designs that you moved into Trash. Like in a recycle bin, the designs here can also be restored or deleted permanently by clicking the three dots on the upper right corner of the design. 17. Design anything This displays the available design type depending on the purpose. It will show suggested layouts based on the icons that you'll click. 18. Custom size When the size of design is not in the options in Canva, this is where you can enter it manually. You can choose between the units px, in, mm, or cm. 19. Profile Picture Clicking your profile picture will display these buttons: Account setting, Get help, Refer friends, Create a team, and Sign out. These are the buttons on the homepage of Canva. I know that these are not enough which is why in the second part of this article, I will be writing the details on the design page and some keywords and tips on how to start to create your design. I hope that you learned something from this article. Till next time! <3 *Disclaimer. I am not a pro and I am only sharing what I learned so far in my few days using Canva.* *Lead image is an image I created using the said platform.*

@Gwenie 22 March 2021

Discover Philippines - Part One Beyond the gorgeous places like Boracay, Cebu, Palawan, and other known tourist destinations, the Philippines has so much more to offer. With 7107 islands dotting the Philippine archipelago, you'll never run out of amazing places to explore. So here are some of the destinations that you'll not always hear about but worth your attention. **SIQUIJOR** "Huh? Siquijor? That province with lots of witches?" Well, this place has a long-time reputation as a place of witches and magic, but despite this, it offers many spots that tourists will surely love. Among its many attractions are the beaches, caves, waterfalls, and butterfly sanctuary. The coral reefs ringing the island also offer some of the best diving spots for snorkelers and scuba divers. **ANTIQUE** Antique is one of the six provinces compromising Region VI. Its whole stretch of coastal area makes it a great spot for scuba diving. It also have the Seco Island which is an elbow-shaped island with a long stretch of white sand beach and a turquoise water. Aside from the sea and the beach, Antique also offers other great tourist spots like the Sira-an Hot Spring, Mount Madja-as, Bugtong Bato Falls, Igpasungaw Falls, and Sibalom Natural Park where Rafflesia, the largest flower in the world, can be found. **TAWI-TAWI** Tawi-Tawi is located in the southern part of the Philippines and is closer in Malaysia than in mainland Mindanao. Many islands here remain unexplored and because of that, it is home to some of the most preserved eco-tourism spots. Some of it are the Boloboc Rock Shelter which is a cave formed by the constant smashing of ocean waves. Another great spots to enjoy nature are the Kaban-kaban Natural Swimming pool, Turtle Islands, Boloboc Rock Formation, Gusong Reef, and the Panampangan Island which is considered the longest sandbar in the Philippines. **ILIGAN CITY** Iligan was derived from the root word *ilig* which means *to go downstream* - thus the many waterfalls surrounding the city. Twenty three to be exact. One of it is the well-known Maria Cristina Falls which has a strong current that supplies 70% of Mindanao's electricity. The twenty three water falls also includes Mimbalut Falls, Tinago Falls, Limunsudan Falls, Pampam Falls, and Dodiongan Falls which resembles an Angel wings. **BONTOC, MT. PROVINCE** Bontoc is the capital of Mt. province and one of the few places in the Philippines whose cultures and traditions has been preserved for many centuries. This can also be seen in the Bontoc Museum. Aside from this, Bontoc also offers many tourist destinations like the Maligcong Rice Terraces which is one of the most stunning rice terraces in the region and Mt. Kalawitan, one of the ten highest mountains in the Philippines. You can also enjoy other nature wonders like the Dalican Lake and Mainit Hot Spring. With the numerous number of well-rated and underrated tourist destinations in the Philippines, one will never get out of place to visit. And those places are what I'll be bringing in my next articles. Thanks for dropping by! <3

@Gwenie 19 March 2021

It has been too long since I last uploaded an article. :| Still thinking if I'm going to write again. :|

@Gwenie 21 January 2021

Kaparkan Falls Being a nation thriving in agriculture, the Philippines is quite known for rice terraces. Same with waterfalls which is a common sight. But how about waterfalls and terraces combined? Yes, it does exist. Nestled in the forest wonderland of the Province of Abra is the Kaparkan Falls, also known as Mulawin Falls which was discovered in 2015. In the secluded woods of Sitio Kaparkan, Brgy. Caganaya, Tineg, Abra, stretches the 500-meter cascading falls, the terraces made of limestones, the clear water, and the canopy of trees. On each terrace, you can find a mini pool where you can bathe as the flowing water relaxes you. Off the side of the terraces stands a gigantic Balete tree, its bottom is submerged in the water. Balete is no stranger in the Philippine superstition as home of supernatural entities or *engkanto* and thus often feared. The locals of the place said that this tree can grant wishes and, well, there's no harm in believing. Kaparkan Falls can be accessed by a chartered monster truck or jeep from Bangued, Abra. The 4-hour trip from Bangued to Tineg, Abra is not easy and is often described as a "roller coaster by land". One can also reach the hidden paradise thru more than 10Km trail via Barangay Ba-i, Lagayan, Abra. Reaching the falls is not easy, but with its stunning beauty, everything is worth it. Planning to visit Kaparkan Falls? The best time is during the rainy seasons. It is only then that the falls are flowing and expose their beauty. Most of the year, the place is dry, leaving the limestone terraces empty. This hidden paradise proves that our nature has many wonders and can be beautiful without even trying. ❤

@Gwenie 9 December 2020

Hinatuan Enchanted River The Hinatuan Enchanted River is one of the beautiful places located in Surigao del Sur. Also known as Hinatuan Sacred River, this river springs from the jungle and travels a short 600 meters to the Philippine Sea and the Pacific Ocean. It has a depth of 80ft and the source of its water is still unknown, but the winning theory is that it derives from an underground cave system. Adding to its mystery are local legends that surround it. The most popular local legend about this enchanted river is about fairies that dropped sapphire and jade stones into the river, which gave the river its unique colors. Other story tells about *engkantos* and other supernatural beings that dwell there and act as its protector. Local fisher folks also report seeing fish in the river that cannot be caught through any means. The first exploration of the Hinatuan Enchanted River was made by Alex Santos in 1999. However, the major exploration to the cave system started eleven years later in February 2010. The exploration was led by Dr. Alfonso Amores. This exploration led to the discovery of a hidden cave opening at 98ft depth. Succeeding explorations have been made that led to the discovery of the underwater cave's chamber, called Mayor's Chamber. During their sixth expedition on June 2014, Dr. Amores perished after failing to exit the narrow entrance to the cave due to cardiac arrest at 130ft depth inside the Mayor's Chamber. Exploration have continued in March 2015 and is now led by Bernil Gastardo, who is also a part of Dr. Amores' team. Today, the diving gears of Dr. Amores are displayed at a small spot at the entrance of the river park. This is to commemorate the researches made by him. Here is a video of one of the Hinatuan River expeditions. https://youtu.be/e3_8GQ4lT0A

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@Gwenie 5 December 2020

Biringan - The Phantom City in Samar Around the world, there are many stories about mysterious and lost cities. But unlike the famous Atlantis and El Dorado, Biringan City isn't a lost city. It is just invisible and can only be accessed if the *engkantos* that live there want it to be. *Engkantos* are spirits who have the ability to appear in human form. This invisible city is said to be found somewhere south of the municipality of Catarman, Samar. Referring to the map below, we can see that a large forested area lies in the place where Biringan City is purportedly found. For decades, locals of Samar told stories about Biringan City. Few people claimed to have seen and visited this place. Some of them were seafarers who claimed to have seen a "dazzling city of lights" for a few minutes. Others were locals who claimed to have visited the city and told stories about what they saw. These people compare Biringan to the likes of New York. However, instead of skyscrapers, it has massive cathedral-type buildings and other magneficent structures equiped with advance technology. Their stories are convincing and consistent that it sparked the imagination of explorers and artists all over the world. The locals of Samar believe that Biringan shows itself only to the people being invited to to it. They believe that when an *engkanto* becomes attracted to a person, they will put that person in a trance and lead him or her to Biringan. Some also believe that people who get to visit the city are being lured because the place needs a prey. Other beliefs tell that only people's consciousness are taken, leaving their bodies in the physical world. In a documentary in GMA News, a local TV station, Mel Tiangco narrates that there are allegedly seven portals to enter the city, one of which is through an old tree. Most people from Samar believe in the existence of this city. And wether this phantom city exists or not, the beliefs and sensitivities surrounding it form part of Philippine folklore and as such, should be respected.

@Gwenie 20 November 2020

Just Do It They say, our truths are the things we chose to believe. How we see ourselves are based on what we believe. I am not good at directions, my balance is not good, I suck when it comes to music, dancing is not for me, I don't have a good story-telling skill, and I am not a good cook. These, my friends, are the things I believed. Until I got out of my comfort zone. When I got out, it was not easy. Trying things I've never tried made me nervous and made me want to run back to that comfort room..err, zone. But I did not. I'm done limiting myself. I'm done with people saying what I can and cannot do, I'm done playing safe, I'm done being stagnant. Aside from the things I've mentioned in my previous article, my past few days were also spent doing something I believed was *"not for me"*. I am learning how to cook! Okay, I know that this is a basic survival skill, but what I used to eat most of the time were instant foods and fried dishes. This is why I don't know how to cook *real* foods. But this time, it is real. My last few days were spent learning how to make donuts, empanada, siopao, and baked mac. https://read.cash/@Gwenie/i-got-out-of-my-comfort-zone-4efca8c2 This started when a friend, Jen, offered us to try making this business and we agreed. Since we do not have an oven, what she can teach us are limited. The donuts and empanadas were fried. Empanadas are baked or fried pastry stuffed with meat, vegetables, and other ingredients. But what we did was pizza empanada. Instead of stuffing it with ground meat and veggies, we put ham, cheese, pineapple tidbits, plus our secret white sauce. Siopao, on the other hand, is a steamed bun with meat fillings. Jen stayed for a while in one of our friend's house and it has been more than a week since this *cooking class* started. On our first few days, she let us do the easy parts. Like putting glaze and sprinkles on donuts and putting holes on the dough. We do this manually since we do not have any molder. The next days, Jen taught us to wrap the siopao and empanada. Wait, I'm not sure if *wrap* is the right term. :| But going back, she also taught us how to make the dough and she wrote the recipe. But she was the one doing the mixing and kneading every time. But, she went home last Monday. Since Jen is not around, I and @appleskie decided to try and apply what we learned. Yesterday, we tried to make empanada, siopao, and baked mac. The final result of what we did was I think good — the not-bad-for-a-first-timer kind of good. *Haha.* The dough was a little hard and dry, the potatoes for siopao was half-cooked too, the sauce of baked mac was too little, and the white sauce was too thick. But hey, they were still edible. *Haha.* I was honestly not satisfied with the result of our first try, but somehow, I am still proud of myself. I just did something I never thought I can, and I enjoyed it! Today, we have some orders and we were obliged to make them since Jen is not yet back. I and mommy–that's what I call @appleskie – were nervous because this time, what we'll be doing was not just for a trial or practice, but an order of a customer. But we trusted ourselves and just followed the steps and recipe. Mommy showed Jen the dough by sending a picture and Jen said the kneading was not enough. One tiring part of this was we kneaded three times because the dough of donut, siopao, and empanada was different from each other. But all in all, today's order was a success! We were super happy with the outcome and I think these faces can prove it. I never saw myself as someone who will enjoy in the kitchen because I believed that I cannot cook. That is why I was really amazed at how this experience made me feel. It made me feel that this time, I am doing it right. I can honestly say that the joy I felt while learning and doing this was genuine. Shifting my *I can't* to *I can* made a difference. Which brought me back to the idea that whatever we believe in will be our truth. When someone believes that he cannot do something, he's correct. But if he believes that he can do it, he is also correct. Nothing is impossible if we believe in it. Can't give it a try because you're afraid you might not do it right? Just do it. Because we can't really be one hundred percent prepared for anything, so just do it. Once you started, you're already halfway there. As long as you believe you can do it and do the necessary actions to learn and improve, you can do it. Don't let your fear of other people's opinions stop you from doing something. And to everyone afraid to try – quit making excuses, thinking you can't, worrying if you can, or waiting until you're older, braver, or all-around better. Believe you can, belief in yourself, make a plan, and just do it.

@Gwenie 7 November 2020

I Got Out of My Comfort Zone A comfort zone is a situation or place where someone feels at ease or safe. No stress, no pressure, and no need to fear anything. A very nice place for some. But in this zone is where I wasted the past years of my life. Does this place give comfort? Yes. But the real question is, will you grow and improve in that place? A big NO. And getting out of that zone took me a lot of courage and willpower. Before going out of my comfort zone, I see myself as a shy, incapable, and weak person. I've got a lot of insecurities that prevented me from unleashing my full potential. I think low of myself because I was not able to go to college, because of my physical appearance, and because all my batch mates seem so be living the best days of their lives. While here I am, still struggling and did not accomplish anything. I used to compare my life with others. I had very low self-esteem. These things were like chains that prevented me from going out and exploring the vast outside world. My fears also blocked the way out of my comfort zone. My fear of criticism, fear of trying new things, and fear of failure. Fears and excuses that I just made in my head. When I decided to fix my life and set things straight, one of the initial steps was getting out of my comfort zone. And getting out of that zone means I need to face all those fears and insecurities. And I did. I started watching self-help videos and reading articles on how can I overcome those. I learned to forgive myself, to trust myself and my capabilities, and learned to have a different mindset. This is the hardest part because I needed to eliminate many years-old beliefs and perspectives. I needed to change them with something that will help me grow and will bring me closer to my goals. Because I learned that our truths are the things we chose to believe. The above photo is one of the things that help me change the way I think. I placed that at the back of my door and read it every morning and night. I keep those in mind and tries to act how someone like those mentioned above will act in every situation. Some people may call this *Fake it till you make it* process, but I prefer to call this *Be it in your head until you become it.* And doing it helped me to step outside of my comfort zone. I also tried live selling, together with a friend. For someone shy–who I thought I was–it took lots of courage to do it. We tried to sell our thrift shop items via Facebook live. We've sold only a few items, but I was really happy at that time. I was proud of myself and it boosted my confidence. Getting out of my comfort zone was hard, but the result felt great. Greater than the comfort that the comfort zone can give. The next step I did was to vlog. I never thought I can do this, but I did! And here it is. \^.^/ My first Youtube vlog. Together with @appleskie who is a good friend of mine for almost 7 years now. https://youtu.be/-iEdcosAzOw Shooting and uploading this video was an achievement for me. Aside from getting out and showing myself, I also learned new things. I am still a baby when it comes to vlogging but I know, with the small steps I am making, I will improve soon. So for all those who are afraid, face your fears and go out of that comfort zone. The world is so wide for us to explore. We may face pains, struggles, embarrassments, and setbacks along the way, but we should not let these stop us from reaching our goals. Nothing is impossible as long as we are willing to work for it. With consistency and commitment, we can do this. And to end this article, I am leaving you this great quote from one video I've watched. *"It is never too late to be great. It is never too late to amaze yourself and become someone no one thought you could be, not even you."*

@Gwenie 6 November 2020

Guys, how does the *activity bonus* works? 😂 Please enlighten me. 😂 Saglit lang ako nawala, may bago agad. 😂 Thank you. 😊

@Gwenie 5 November 2020

Fighting Procrastination | A Personal Experience **Procrastination** simply means ***the action of delaying something*****.** We Filipinos also call this *mañana habit* (*mamaya na*/later). I was not aware of this word not until later when I decided to get things right in my life. (Back story) My life has been stagnant for many years. Many times I pitied myself for being where I am. When I am feeling down or depressed, I blamed my past experiences, my traumas, my father, and other people or things. It was just recently that I decided to be the leader of my life, instead of playing the victim. This pandemic made me realize that my current situation is the result of my decisions in the past. My life was stagnant because I procrastinated, a lot. I also had many ideas that were shooed away because of fear. Fear of criticism and fear of getting out of my comfort zone. I thought tomorrow is always promised and my thought was always *may* *bukas pa naman* (there is still tomorrow). When I came to realize this, six years have passed. Six years of being happy-go-lucky. Six years without any goal. Six years of living from paycheck to paycheck. Six long years of being a regular employee but was not able to save for the future. No emergency fund nor savings. YOLO was my favorite line before I spend on something that was not a *need*. And I regret all these now. Too late? I hope not. After that realization, I decided that this time, I'll do it right. I started by acknowledging my bad traits and bad habits that caused the stagnation. At first, I was defensive and gave many reasons for acting the way I did. But I told myself that nothing will change if I will not change my mindset. And so, I wrote all my bad habits and made a plan on how I will change them. And one of those habits is procrastination. Procrastination is the main culprit. I started changing this habit by having the will power to act on ideas the moment they pop into my head. I also made a morning routine that I must follow. The first days were a bit easy because the fire and willingness to change are still there. But the most challenging part for me is to continue it every single day. Being consistent is hard especially during the days when I don't feel like doing anything. Those days were the most challenging and I needed a massive amount of willpower, but I succeeded. I won against procrastination many times. Every time I beat procrastination, I consider it a victory. It feels like I am one step closer to my goals. Aside from my goals, this feeling also helped me push through with this change. I always kept in mind that every change is a difficult and messy process, but it will be worth it. The results will be worth it. I just need to trust the process. Today, I am still going through this process and I know I am learning. I learned the hard way but it is better than not learning at all, and living my whole life full of regrets. I know I am not too late. Recalibrating myself–my habits, my beliefs, my mindset–is not easy. But I know, it will be worth it. And to all those who feel like nothing's going right in their lives or those who feel like there's something wrong, I want you to know that it is okay to slow down. It is okay not to figure out everything for now, but just keep going. One day, all your baby steps will bring you to your goals.

@Gwenie 18 October 2020

Filipino Desserts Being an archipelago with many regions, the Philippines offers a wide variety of desserts. Here are some of the most popular that can be found all over the country or can easily be made at home. **Leche Flan** *Leche flan*, also known as Spanish flan, is one of the Filipino favorites. It is a dessert made of a steamed mixture of condensed milk, evaporated milk, and egg yolks. It also has a layer of caramelized sugar that turns into syrup when cooked together. Leche flan and crème caramel look the same. However, crème caramel does have cream while Leche flan doesn't. The latter also uses condensed milk instead of sugar. **Minatamis na Saging** *Minatamis na sagging* directly translates to *sweetened banana*. With the many varieties of Filipino desserts, this one is quite quick and easy to prepare. *Minatamis na saging* is prepared using a *sagging na saba*–a variety of plantain banana that can be cooked ripe or unripe, and when ripe, it can be eaten raw. The *saba* is sweetened by cooking in a mixture of brown sugar, water, vanilla extract, and salt. Tapioca pearls and evaporated milk can also be added to this dessert. **Ube Halaya** *Ube halaya* is a classic Filipino dessert made of *ube* or purple yam. Similar to mashed potatoes, this recipe starts by boiling the *ube* until fork-tender and mashing until smooth. The mashed *ube* is then cooked in a mixture of coconut milk, evaporated milk, condensed milk, and butter. It is then served cold and topped with shredded cheese, *latik*, or sweetened *macapuno* strings. **Silvanas** *Silvanas*, also spelled as *sylvannas*, is a Filipino frozen cookie that consists of a layer of buttercream sandwiched between two cashew-meringue wafers then coated with ground cashew or cookie crumbs to add extra flavor. This one is also easy to make and only needs a few ingredients. **Sapin-Sapin** *Sapin-Sapin* directly translates as *layers*. In making this colorful sweet treat, all we need are glutinous rice flour, coconut milk, condensed milk, and sugar. The ingredients will be mixed to form a smooth batter which will be divided into three portions. Food colorings will be added in the two portions and will be steamed on top of the other. *Sapin-Sapin* is served with *latik* on top or *yema* spread. **Mais con Yelo** *Maìz con hielo* directly translates to *corn with ice* in Spanish. The Philippines was colonized by the Spanish for more than three centuries that is why many Spanish words were integrated into Tagalog. *Mais con yelo* is a traditional dessert that consists of crushed ice layered with whole corn kernels and sweetened using evaporated milk and sugar. This dessert can also be served with ice cream or *leche flan* on top. **Saba con Yelo** Similar to *mais con yelo*, this dessert also uses crushed ice, evaporated milk, and sugar. However, instead of corn, *minatamis na saging* is used in this dessert. Desserts are usually served after a meal, but Filipinos are known for not sticking to the standard mealtimes. Instead, we have what we call *merienda* in the morning and the mid-afternoon. *Merienda* is a light meal or snack and it can be anything. From pastries, burgers, sandwiches, noodles, and most especially, desserts.

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@Gwenie 8 October 2020

Etag It is an undeniable fact that the Igorots are one of the many Philippine indigenous people that are rich in traditions that existed even before the colonial times. And one of it is their traditional way of preserving a meat, which still exist today. *Etag* is the general term used by the Igorots about their meat that was preserved in a traditional way. To make an *etag*, the pork meat is salted and cured for at east 5 days, after which it is smoked for several weeks or air-dried under the sun. Smoking an *etag* is usually done by hanging the meat over and close to the *dalikan*, and the meat should be smoked for at least 30 minutes a day, for a week. A smoked ***etag*** has a dark reddish-brown color because of the stain caused by the smoke. While on the other hand, sun-dried *etag* was done by skewering the cured meat and hanging it on a stretched rope of clotheslines. A sun-dried *etag* is also lighter in color. An *etag* may also be prepared using both process. That is by smoking the cured meat then sun-drying for the next few weeks or months. For some people, *etag* may not look appealing because it has a foul odor and most often has maggots after several weeks of smoking or sun-drying. Probably because of its exposure to flies. As it undergo the aging process, *etag* is also often covered with thin layer of milky-white molds. The molds are rinsed of and etag is safe and ready to cook. This process of preservation was also similar on the Igorot's process of mummification which I mentioned in this article. https://read.cash/@Gwenie/the-igorots-ibaloi-caf123e1 Here's a video where we can see an *etag*. I'm so glad it is in English because I really want to share things about the Igorots, and I am proud that I am one of them. https://youtu.be/PVEeScXdSVU **The Etag Festival** Since 2012, Sagada town in My. Province celebrates Etag Festival. It was conceived to showcase the Sagada culture, to boost the livelihood of the local community, and to promote eco-tourism. This festival highlighted the cultures and traditions of the Isagada (people from Sagada). This also features Sagada delicacies that uses *etag* as the main ingredient. Cultural performances that features the different traditions of the Isagada including lifestyle, farming practices, courtship, and marriage were also presented during this festival. And indigenous games and talent showdown are also part of the highlights. *Personal note.* *Writing this article made me miss my childhood, when I used to spend my summer vacation at Bontoc, Mt. Province. For those who do not know, my mom is an FBI (Full-blooded Igorot. Haha). In Guina-ang, a barangay in Bontoc, you can really see that the cultures and traditions of the Igorots are alive. When you walk around the neighborhood, you can see an etag hanging outside their house. You can also see pig pens around. Pig pens made of large stones, and not hollow blocks and cement. Tombs are also everywhere because the residents bury their loved ones just near their houses. Just like my grandfather, his tomb was just a few meters away from the house. I also remembered reading a "US Veteran" written on one of the tombs there, and the little me thought it was a Veterinarian. Haha. We also take a bath in what we call* ubbog *(spring). It is also where people wash their laundries and get drinking water as well. When taking a bath there, you are overlooking green rice terraces, like the one in Banaue. The waters from the* ubbog *also flows directly to the rice fields. Most people also take a bath there with only their undies on. No malice at all. No awkwardness. That's why when you take a bath there with a shirt or shorts on, they'll know that you are from the lowland. Haha. Almost everyone there also know each other, especially the elders. The life there is so simple yet you can see that the people are happy. How I wish I can go back there someday.* *Here is a* *video* *and some* *photos* *that I found on facebook that somehow shows what Guina-ang is and the culture of the Ibontocs. I would really love it if you could check these out.* https://www.facebook.com/LumadTVPH/videos/140392219887168/ https://www.facebook.com/litangfan/photos/a.734976353236216/734976416569543/?type=3&sfnsn=mo

@Gwenie 6 October 2020

Tapuy *Tapuy*, also spelled as *tapey* or *tapuey*, is the famous alcoholic beverage of the Igorots. The term is derived from the word *tapay*, which means fermented food. Traditionally, *tapuy* is served during important occasions such as weddings, fiestas, cultural affairs, and it also plays a major role in religious ceremonies. https://read.cash/@Gwenie/the-igorots-introduction-0a0e2d75 The characteristics of *tapuy* depend on the process and ingredients used by each producer. However, in general, *tapuy* is a clear wine with a strong alcoholic flavor but moderately sweet. But unlike *lambanóg*, its alcohol content is just 28 proof or around 14 percent. https://read.cash/@Gwenie/tuba-and-lambanog-492060b9 Making a tapuy only requires 2 ingredients and it also do not need too much time. Here's how. **What we need** 1kg of *diket* (glutinous rice). Igorots prefer the *kintuman*–a violet red variety of glutinous rice. ½ pound of *bubod* – a white to brown hardened starch powder that contains yeast. Banana leaf or *bilao* (circular winnowing basket), or any clean flat surface that can be used to spread the rice for cooling and curing. A *gusi* (clay jar) or any closed container that can be used for storing and fermentation. Except for plastic containers, because they might add a plasticky flavor. A ladle. Rice cooker or cooking container. **Preparation** In the preparation and curing of *tapuy*, some old folks chose the time between midnight and dusk to start it. They said there should be no distraction in order not to disturb the spirit of *tapuy*. Of course, there must also be lesser chance of spreading other bacteria on the *tapuy* when the *tapuy* maker is alone. **Steps** Cooking. Wash the rice and cook with 1L of water. Then wait for the rice to be half-cooked. When the boiling water or bubbles are gone, it means the rice is now ready to be made *tapuy*. Curing. Using a ladle, lay the newly-cooked rice on the banana leaf or *bilao* and spread until it is about an inch thick. Then let it cool. After cooling, crush and crumb the *bubod* all over the top of the rice. Brewing. After putting the *bubod*, use the ladle to put the rice into the *gusi*. Cover it with two to three plies of banana leaf or use a clean cloth. Seal using a rubber band or a garter. Do not seal the container airtight because the cap or container might break as the fermentation goes and air is also needed during the fermentation. Store or hide the *gusi* in a warm and safe place. Most of the time, is is placed near the *dalikan* – a traditional cooking place. The *tapuy* can already be consumed on the 4th to 6th day of brewing, when it is still sweet. The *tapuy* now have two parts, the liquid which is called the rice wine, and the solid part called wine rice. Both can be consumed, but you can also extract the rice wine and discard the solid mass. You can now enjoy the *tapuy* but of course, drink moderately.

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@Gwenie 1 October 2020

Tubâ and Lambanóg Social drinking, or what we Filipinos call *inuman*, is an important aspect of Filipino social interactions. Many Filipinos enjoy drinking alcoholic beverages especially when there are occasions or just after a long day of hard work. Sharing a single drinking container is the most common drinking custom of Filipinos. During *inuman*, one person becomes the *tanggero* who fills the container with a serving of alcohol. A person in the group then drinks it then passes it back to the *tanggero* for a refill. The *tanggero* will fill the container again and will pass it to the next person, and so on. An *inuman* is usually accompanied by a shared serving of food also known as *pulutan*. One of the oldest known alcoholic beverage consumed by the Filipinos is the *tubâ,* which existed since pre-colonial times. *Tubâ* is a milky white alcoholic drink created from fermented sap from the lopped fruit-stalk of coconut or nipa palm. During the pre-colonial times, *tubâ* were widely consumed for recreation and it also plays an important role in religious rituals. The Philippines was colonized by Spain for more than 3 centuries (1565 - 1898) and it was the early Spanish colonizers who reported the heavy consumption of *tubâ* in the Philippines. It was also during the Spanish colonial period when the Filipinos adopted the distillation technology, resulting in the production of *lambanóg*. *Lambanóg* is a distilled palm liquor made from *tubâ*. It is colorless that is why it is also called the Philippine vodka. It was previously known as *vino de coco* or *vino de nipa.* The distillation process of *lambanóg* takes up to 8 hours. But the *lambanóg* that was produced during the first hour of distillation should be separated because of high alcohol content–around 180 proof–which can be fatal for humans. After the distillation process, the *lambanóg* will be stored for fermentation. Just like wines, the longer it is stored, the better it become. *Lambanóg* is widely produced in different regions in the Philippines but it is produced dominantly in the Calabarzon region. One of the known producers of *lambanóg* is the Mallari Distillery. It was established during 1908 and is the oldest in Tayabas, Quezon. And when talking about *lambanóg*, there is one name that proves that it is also world class. The Lakan *lambanóg*. Here are some of the awards that the Lakan *lambanóg* was able to take achieve. Monde Selection International Quality Institute - Spirit and Liqueurs: 2 Gold award (2017, 2018) and 2 Silver awards (2019, 2020) New York World Wine and Spirits Competition: 1 Silver award (2017) San Francisco World Spirits Competition: 2 Silver awards (2017, 2019) and 1 Bronze award (2016) In current time, some *lambanóg* makers also added flavors to the classic *lambanóg*. Some of them are prunes, pineapple, grape, and even bubble gum. *Lambanóg* is supposedly pure distilled *tubâ*. But some *lambanóg* producers mixed methanol and water to lower the production cost, and these are also sold at a cheaper price. But last December 2019, at least 15 people died and 300 more are hospitalized in the province of Laguna and Quezon because of methanol poisoning. According to the Food and Drug Administration, 5 samples were tested positive for containing 11.4% to 18% methanol, which are way higher compared to the not more than 1% that a human body can take. This is why if given the chance to taste some *lambanóg*, make sure that it is FDA approved. And of course, drink moderately.

@Gwenie 29 September 2020

"Ano ba yan, nagdadrama ka nanaman" "Huwag ka kasi mahina" "Para yan lang, pinoproblema mo na. Yung iba nga ganito ganyan" "Ang babaw ng problema mo" "Tulungan mo din kasi sarili mo" These were the words na madalas sabihin sa mga taong may depression. Madalas akala ng iba drama lang, akala nila masyado ka lang mahina. Akala nila pa-victim ka lang, na kasalanan mo din kung bakit ka nagkakaganyan. Ang di nila alam, napakaraming beses mo na lumalaban mag-isa. Ang daming beses mo na pinigilan saktan yung sarili mo dahil di mo na kaya. Ang daming beses mo na nagpahiwatig na may problema ka pero walang may pakialam. At napakaraming beses mo nilalampasan lahat mag-isa. Napakadaling magsalita at mag comment sa pinagdadaanan ng iba. But we'll never really understand how it feels kasi di tayo yung nasa sitwasyon. Magkakaiba rin ang level ng mga problema na kaya natin ihandle. Kaya para sa lahat, please be sensitive. If meron kayong mahal sa buhay na nagpakita ng kahit katiting na sign, please talk to them. Asking them questions like "Okay ka lang? May problema ba? Pwede mo i-share sakin" instead of saying "Ano nanamang drama yan?" will really help. Say "Stay strong. Nandito lang kami for you" rather than "Huwag ka kasi mahina". At para sa lahat ng may pinagdadaanan, remember that your feelings are valid. Seek help din, professional help kung kinakailangan. Depression wants you to think na you're alone, pero hindi. Marami nagmamahal sayo. And trust God, or the universe, or the whatever-you-call-it, because difficult times don't last. One day, maiintindihan mo din kung bakit nangyayari ang lahat.. Stay strong warriors. ❤

@Gwenie 25 September 2020

The Four Interior Empires In Robin Sharma's The 5 AM Club book, he shared this habit that super producers do. It is waking up at 5 AM and having one hour for ourself. He calls it the *holy hour.* Where we're not in the world. No gadget, no watching the news, no chit chatting. Just ourself. We are running a one hour period to set up our four interior empires — our ***mindset***, ***heartset***, ***healthset***, and ***soulset***. But before jumping to what he calls the 20/20/20 formula, let us define first what are the four interior empires and why these are important for our productivity and success. The Four Interior Empires **The Mindset** Mindset is our psychology and beliefs. The belief that we are in charge of our own ability and our lives. We can build a healthy mindset through reading books, through the people we meet, and the words we speak. However, having a healthy mindset is not as easy as it seems. Because along the way, we can also feed our minds with negative information from social media, the internet, or even from the negative people that we intentionally or unintentionally include in our lives. This is why we have to be careful about where we live, where we work, where we go, and what we read. Because they all contribute to shaping our mindset. **The Heartset** Our heartset is our emotionality. Our emotions control us, and if our heartset is not healthy, it may end up affecting all the other three empires. Working on our heartset is vital to the overall growth of our emotional intelligence. According to Daniel Goleman, an American psychologist, there are five critical elements of emotional intelligence: Self-awareness Self-regulation Motivation Empathy Social skills **The Healthset** Our healthset is our vitality and energy. Healthset is important because a healthy person has a lower stress level, which results in a higher productivity level. **The Soulset** Our ego is our perception of ourselves, whereas our soul is who we sincerely are deep down below all the labels and titles. When we learn to understand how to align more with our soul each day, life will seem to flow more freely. The 20/20/20 Formula This is called the 20/20/20 formula because we have to set each 20 minutes of our holy hour for certain activities that will help to keep our four empires healthy. **Move (5:00 AM - 5:20 AM)** The first thing we should do in the morning is to exercise or do intense physical activity. The key is to sweat. Why? Because science has confirmed that when we sweat, we release Brain-derived Neurotrophic Factor (BDNF). BDNF helps repair brain cells damaged by stress. It also accelerates our ability to earn and fortifies our neural connections. If we sweat first thing in the morning, our body also releases dopamine, which is the inspirational neurotransmitter. Our body also releases oxytocin and serotonin, which is the pleasure neurotransmitter. This is why we'll start to feel happy. And if we are happy, we'll become less toxic, more creative, and we'll have more energy. This activity is good not just for our healthset but for our heartset as well. **Reflect (5:20 AM to 5:40 AM)** In this next activity for our holy hour, we have to reflect. We can do this through praying, meditating, writing on a journal, or making our blessing list. These practices will help us bullet-proof our heartset and soulset. In this time, we can also write our dreams, the feelings we want to feel, and what we have to do to achieve them. Because one research says that *"knowing your story and writing out who you want to be, literally locks in the commitment and allows your behavior to change."* **Learn (5:40 AM - 6:00 AM)** The 5 AM Club book says that the job of a leader is to grow. This is why our last 20 minutes should be spent learning. Life is all about personal mastery, who can you become, and how many people you can help. One American psychologist calls this *Capitalization*. Where the best athlete, the best boxer, the best in their crafts are not the best naturally. Instead, they are the one with the most fire, and grit, and commitment to practice so they can live whatever potential they have. In this time, we can listen to audiobooks or podcasts, read books, and many other ways to learn and broaden our knowledge. And if you liked this article, I challenge you too to do this 20/20/20 morning routine.

@Gwenie 21 September 2020

I'm wondering why my latest article doesn't have the EXC mark. 🤔🤔 I did not copy them anywhere because they're my own thoughts.. Maybe there's a bug 🤔🤔

@Gwenie 18 September 2020

Tunnel of Difficulties **September 2015. 6 AM** Morning. It's the time of the day when I got to ponder on many things. My life, the situation I am in, my goals, my choices, and many more. My life seems to have a never-ending difficult situation. I've been in this tunnel for too long, but I still cannot see even the slightest ray of hope. I lost everything and nothing was left to keep me going. Many times I attempted to end it here, in this never-ending tunnel of difficulties. No one will notice anyway. It would be better if I'll be gone for good. But all those attempts of ending my life failed. Tsk. Maybe life wants to punish me more. I think I was a criminal in my past life, a serial killer maybe. That's why I am being punished this much. I'll just continue my journey in this tunnel of difficulties. I have no other choice anyway. **September 2020. 6 AM** The same month, of a different year, and a different morning. This time, all I can see is light. No, I'm not yet dead. What I am seeing now is the sun rising, giving me another day to enjoy and live my life to the fullest. People say You Only Live Once (YOLO), but for me, that is not the case. I have the chance to live every single day. There will always be bad days. Days where I'll hate the universe. Days where I'll lose the drive to keep going. Days where my efforts became useless. But hey, they are just bad days. Bad days are an essential part of my beautiful life. The bad days made me appreciate the good days. The bad days taught me to be grateful for the things I have and I can. The bad days made me stronger, and wiser. Now I realized that bad days are just part of the journey, and my current situation is not the final destination. __________ In this generation of technology, where most people are locked on their screens, we should not be deceived by what we see on social media. Where everyone seems to be living a great life. We are fighting our own battles that's why we should NEVER compare our lives to others. We must focus on our own lives, our goals, and on the things that we have to do to make our dreams a reality. And to end this post, here's a coffee ☕ and a song from Axwell & Ingrosso. Happy morning everyone. ❤ https://youtu.be/AdCyWbpv1J0 And if you liked this post, please leave a like, comment, or subscribe. ❤

@Gwenie 17 September 2020

Body Odor What's comes to your mind when you hear the word body odor? Most of the time, when we encounter bad-smelling people, we blame it on poor hygiene. Wearing dirty clothes, skipping the shower, and not brushing the teeth are the typical culprits. But it is not always the case. We have sweat glands all over our body, but the *apocrine gland* is concentrated in the armpit, groin, and scalp. When the sweat from apocrine glands reacts with bacteria on our skin, it causes body odor. But consistent body odor can be caused by other medical conditions. So here are some of the causes of BO that is beyond hygiene. **Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD).** This medical condition can cause bad breath because of the regular reflux of stomach acids. **Overactive Thyroid.** Thyroid glands cause the body to sweat. When a person has an overactive thyroid, it can cause the body to produce excessive sweat, which can cause excessive body odor. **Liver and Kidney dysfunction.** The liver and kidney help remove toxins from the body. When these organs fail to function properly, toxins can build up in the blood and digestive tract, creating odor. **Hormonal Fluctuation.** Common symptoms of hormonal fluctuation such as hot flashes and night sweats can contribute to excessive sweating and increase body odor. These are some of the medical conditions that can cause BO. Although these might be the case for some people, it is always better to consult a medical professional in case you notice something smelly in your body. Thanks for reading and if you liked this article, a like, comment, or subscribing will be so much appreciated. Thank you. ❤