Sleep Paralysis
Sleep paralysis is something I guess most of us had already experienced. But what exactly is sleep paralysis? Is it really associated with the presence of *evil,* as most cultures believe? Let's find out.
**Sleep paralysis** is a feeling of being conscious but you cannot move. This often occurs when an individual passes between stages of wakefulness and sleep. During this stage, a person may be unable to move or speak for a few seconds up to a few minutes. A person may also hallucinate (hear, feel, or see things that are not there) which often results in fear.
Samuel Johnson originally defined sleep paralysis in his *A Dictionary of English Language* as nightmare, or in Filipino, *bangungot*.
Sleep paralysis was widely considered as a work of demons, specifically incubi. In Old English, the names for these beings was *mare* or *mære*, hence comes the mare in a nightmare.
There are two types of sleep paralysis.
**Hypnagogic or Predormital Sleep Paralysis**
This occurs while a person is falling asleep. This happens when the body slowly relaxes as a person falls asleep. A person usually becomes less aware and does not notice the change. However, if a person remains aware while falling asleep, they can notice that they cannot move or speak.
**Hypnopompic or Postdormital Sleep Paralysis**
This happens when a person became aware before the REM cycle is finished. During sleep, the body alternates between NREM (non-rapid eye movement) and REM (rapid eye movement). Within the NREM stage, the body relaxes. This usually takes 75% of the overall sleep time. At the end of NREM, the sleep alters to REM. The eyes move quickly in this stage and this is often where dreams occur. During REM, the rest of the body remains very relaxed. But if a person became aware before this cycle is finished, that's when sleep paralysis occurs.
An average of four out of ten people may experience sleep paralysis. This is a common condition and men and women of any age can experience it. This may also run in the families as a result of specific genetic changes. However, there are also other factors that may be linked to sleep paralysis such as:
Sleep deprivation.
Sleep schedule that changes.
Mental conditions like stress or Bipolar disorder.
Sleeping on the back.
Sleep problems like nighttime leg cramps.
Use of certain medications.
Substance abuse.
What to do during sleep paralysis? There's no need to fear evil or demons. This also doesn't have any cure, unless it is caused by other medical conditions. A person can minimize experiencing it by making sure to get enough sleep. It will also help if a person relieves stress before bedtime. Trying a new sleep position can also help. But if the sleep paralysis routinely happens, it is best to consult a doctor.
Unability to move and frequent hallucinations are the universal features of sleep paralysis. However, the ways in which they are experienced may vary according to time, place, and culture.
According to some scientists, culture is also a major factor in shaping sleep paralysis. For instance, if it is feared in a certain culture, this fear can result to conditioned fear, and thus worsen the experience.
Research has found that in Egypt, there are higher rates and longer durations of immobility during sleep paralysis. This is because they have elaborate beliefs about it.
A study comparing the rates and characteristics of sleep paralysis in Denmark and Egypt showed that it is more common in Egypt versus Denmark. This is because Denmark has no supernatural beliefs about sleep paralysis. The study showed that the episodes of sleep paralysis there are shorter and fewer people fear that they could die from it.
**Folklores**
The night hag is the general name for folkloric creatures which is used to explain the phenomenon of sleep paralysis. A common description is that a person feels the presence of a supernatural being sitting on his chest, which causes the immobilization.
Egypt - Egyptians conceptualize sleep paralysis as a terrifying *jinn* attack. The jinn may even kill the victims.
Italy - In Italy, they refer sleep paralysis as a *pandafeche* attack. Pandafeche may refer to an evil witch, a terrifying catlike creature, or a ghostlike spirit.
Philippines - Here in the Philippines, there are also some beliefs that sleep paralysis is caused by evil spirits or other supernatural entities.
I've also read somewhere that sleep paralysis is the gateway to astral projection. Im not yet sure about this and maybe I'll just write another article explaining this.
You can also share in the comment section your country's culture and beliefs about sleep paralysis.
*Lead image from Facebook. Used with permission.*
Thanks for reading. :)
-Gwenie
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Blogging Diary | 2nd Entry
July 1, 2020
First published for this month. Time check, 3:47 am Philippine standard time.
I just finished writing my article titled Sleep Paralysis. I haven't published it yet because I still need to edit it for some errors.
I cannot sleep and I still feel like writing, that's why I thought of sharing here how I make some of my articles. I actually search online for facts or theories or anything I can use, then I'll write them down on my notebook. I only have one cellphone and I don't have a computer that's why I have to write the infos down.
I also cannot sleep because of one more thing. While I was searching for a lead image for my article, I saw a lot of creepy images related to sleep paralysis. I am really afraid of ghosts 👻 and the likes. I even wonder why I wrote this article knowing that I'll encounter words, images, or stories related to ghosts. Whenever I see anything related to it, I can't get it out of my head and I see it when I close my eyes.
But well, as the saying goes, *the best way to overcome your fear is to face them.* I am trying my best to get them out of my head. Thinking happy memories helps me a lot at times like this. Music also helps to distract my minds.
I'll try to sleep now and hopefully, I can fall asleep fast. Good night/morning from the Philippines 🇵🇭.
Time check: 4:14 am
My Entry
Hi. These are my final entry (or maybe not 🤔) for @jwolf 's banner making contest.
These was made in bannersnack.com then edited in the Picsart app. :)
Interpret the following
Good afternoon from the Philippines 🇵🇭. How's everyone? I hope you're all fine and safe.
Today I'm a little bored and I can't think of anything to write. I'm also a little lazy to do some research. 😅 While scrolling on Facebook, I came across this guess-the-word puzzle and I decided to share it here.
Here's the picture. All you need to do is interpret the word/s. For example, for number 3, the answer is *I understand* (the I is under the word stand). Feel free to comment the number and your answer guys. 😊
PS. Do not cheat by checking the comments. Haha. Enjoy! 😉
*Photo from mommy Lorelyn and used with permission.*
Anti-typhoon Rocket
Philippines is a third-world country. But did you know that during the time of former president Ferdinand E. Marcos, Philippines was one of the most powerful countries in Southeast Asia? Yes. That's a fact. Marcos saw the Philippines as a promising country in terms of resources and financial stability. He had many projects that aimed to make the lives of the Filipinos better in the future. One of his projects was the Anti-typhoon Rocket.
In 1973, the Philippines developed a missile system called *Rain Weather Stimulation and Modernization Program*. It was headed by Philippine Air Force Col. Ramon Macabuhay, together with a group of Filipino scientists and engineers. The goal of this project was to create a rocket that can weaken a storm before it becomes a full-blown typhoon.
The rocket used was a wooden rocket that contains Silver Iodide. Silver Iodide (AgI) is a crystaline material often used for weather modification such as cloud seeding or anti-hail systems. It is also used as an antiseptic material.
According to several publications, the anti-typhoon rockets are similar to the missiles in warfare but the aim is to weaken the storm. It is said that the rockets will be fired from a distance to protect the pilot and the aircraft. It does not need to fly the plane right into the eye of the typhoon.
Many test fires were tried in the Pacific Ocean and was considered successful. After having delivered the rocket with silver iodide, the typhoon broke into small groups and the wind and rainfall level was reduced.
However, the modification of this rocket was not continued because Marcos was removed as the president. When Cory Aquino took over, all of the projects of Marcos was stopped. There are many speculations about why Aquino stopped the projects of Marcos, but those are already outside the scope of this topic.
This project and its blueprint was also believed to be already sold to other nations. It is also said that Marcos was removed from the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) because his project contradicted the project of the United States, which is known as the Geostorm.
Today, the Anti-typhoon Rocket was just a part of history. Maybe if this project was pushed through, it would have saved may lives and millions of lost properties caused by brutal typhoons (e.g. Ondoy 2009, Yolanda 2013, Ompong 2018) that hit the Philippines.
The Igorots | Ibaloi
The Ibalois (also known as Nabaloi or Inibaloi), like other Igorots, are traditionally an agrarian society that grows rice in terraced fields.
Ibalois are also known to have a rich culture that existed before the Spaniards came to the Philippines. Some of their famous traditions are the mummification and the Cañao ceremony. They also believe in supreme beings that guide their way of living as well as their future.
Ibaloi People
Ibalois have a fair complexion and are usually four to five feet tall.
Community
A traditional community of the Ibaloi is headed by council of elders. Social status is divided into two, the *baknang* (rich) and the *abitug* (poor).
**Language**
The native language of the Ibaloi is closely related to Pangasinense language, spoken in the Province of Pangasinan.
Culture
**Mummification**
The Ibalois have an ancient tradition of preserving a loved one's body through mummification. This process is hard to accomplish and might take months or even years to finish and not all mummification attempts are successful.
Before they start the mummification, they make sure that the corpse is cleaned properly. Then they cover it with salt and other herbs before they place it over a fire in a sitting position. They smoke it to completely dehydrate the dead body. Meanwhile, tobacco smoke is also blown into the mouth of the corpse to dry its internal organs. Then the body will be placed in a hollowed log and buried in caves that are believed to be spiritual by the Ibaloi.
During the early 20th century, several mummified remains were found in different caves in the Cordillera mountains. According to scientists, these remains were dated back to between 1200 to 1500 CE.
Here are some of the mummies found in the Cordillera.
https://youtu.be/_z5sRIdvb80
**Cañao Ceremony**
Cañao is a ritual that refers to several native feasts of the Ibalois and Benguet people. There are different types of cañao ceremony and most of them require massive preparation. Chicken, pigs, and/or carabaos are being butchered as a sacrifice during this ritual, and later feasted on. *Tapēy* (rice wine) is also an important offering during these rituals because in the past, rice was a special commodity and was only served during special occasions.
These rituals are performed to appease the spirits, seek approval, or simply to give thanks for healing, birth, good harvest, or progress. Some of these celebrations could take up to a week.
A glimpse of an Ibaloi cañao.
https://youtu.be/rTuCAcLC1x4
Here in the Philippines, many people, specially those from the lowlands, thought of cañao as a kind of sorcery. This is a common misconception. Cañao is a ritual but it does not include any kind of black magic.
Music and Dance
Like other Igorots, the main music instrument of the Ibaloi is the *gang-sa* or hand-held gong. In the video below, you can see that the rhythm of the music is different from the Ibontocs (which I posted in my previous article). The pattern and designs of their woven *bahag* (loincloth) and *tapis* (wrap-around skirt) are also different.
Here is an example of an Ibaloi music and dance.
https://youtu.be/hBRKUUtADEE
**Tonglo - The legendary Ibaloi gold trading village**
Tonglo is frequently mentioned in Ibaloi traditions as one of the first Ibaloi settlements in Benguet. It is also mentioned not as a gold mining site, but as the center of gold trading. The Ibaloi were skilled in processing the gold that they traded in the lowlands. However, historians, anthropologist, and other scholars have different opinions about its exact location and the present-day location of Tonglo village remains a mystery.
This article is the third part of *The Igorots* series. Below are the links of the first and second part.
Part I https://read.cash/@Gwenie/the-igorots-introduction-0a0e2d75
Part II https://read.cash/@Gwenie/the-igorots-ibontoc-ddb23f46
*Lead image belongs to Mummified Faeries Facebook page. Used with permission.*
Binaural Beats and Their Healing Ability
Many people listen to binaural beats to help them reduce anxiety and induce sleep or relaxation.
Binaural beats can only be heard using earphones or headphones. When the left and right ear hear two slightly different tones, the difference of the tones is called the binaural beat. The brain perceives this as a new frequency.
But do binaural beats really work? To understand the binaural beat and its effect, we must first understand how the brain works.
**Brainwaves**
Brainwaves are produced by electrical pulses coming from our neurons when they communicate with each other. Transmission of these electrical pulses results in different mental states, emotions, and actions.
The speed of brainwaves are measured by Hertz (Hz) - the unit of frequency.
**Types of Brainwaves**
**Delta Waves** (from 0.5Hz to 3Hz)
Delta waves are slow but loud brainwaves. This brainwave is generated during dreamless sleep or deep meditation. Healing and regeneration are stimulated in this state.
**Theta Waves** (from 3Hz to 8Hz)
This brainwave is also generated during sleep and meditation. In theta, our senses are focused on the signals from within, rather than from the external world.
**Alpha Waves** (from 8Hz to 12Hz)
These waves are dominant when we are thinking or in some meditation state. This wave aids in overall mental coordination, learning, calmness, and alertness.
**Beta Waves** (from 12Hz to 38Hz)
This wave dominates our normal awake state. These waves are present when we are attentive, alert, or doing something that requires focused mental activity.
**Gamma Waves** (from 38Hz to 42Hz)
This is the fastest of all the brainwaves. It passes information rapidly. These waves are highly active when in state of universal love, selflessness, or expanded conciousness.
Based on the definition and illustration, we can see that, the faster the frequency, the higher the level of alertness. The slower the frequency, the less alert a person is.
Research has shown that exposing people to specific frequencies results in a process called brainwave entrainment. This refers to the brain's capacity to naturally synchronize its own frequency to the rhythm of the external stimuli.
The strongest evidence for binaural beats effect on the brain involves the ability to reduce anxiety and induce deep relaxation. Binaural beats appeared to decrease fatigue, anxiety and confusion. However, some studies also shows that listening to it could actually increase depression. It seems that only the lower frequency binaural beats, such as Theta and Delta waves, are related to increased depression. Binaural beats stimulation in the Beta range resulted in decreased depression.
The studies measuring binaural beats on memory, focus and creativity reveal mixed results. Some studies show improvement in these mental states after binaural beats stimulation, while others show a decrease or no effect at all.
This shows that using different frequency sounds could result in different effects on the brain because different networks are involved. This also shows that this may not work for everybody. Humans are all different, and what works for one person may not work for the other.
Based on my personal experience of binaural beats, it really relaxes my mind and can put me to sleep easily. I also find this helpful to reduce pain. If you try to search on YouTube, there's a lot of binaural beats for a specific pupose. For sleep, relaxation, pain relief and others. But then again, the result may vary from one person to another.
Here is an example of a binaural beat. I personally use this when I want to relax. Please also note that this music might help you, but this is not a substitute for medical treatment.
https://youtu.be/5jmrIggwCXc
Thank you for reading this article.
Flower Photography
**June 23, 2020**
Today, I am a little tired. I feel empty. I can't understand myself. I want to write but I can't find the energy to do it. I also need to do a lot of research for my next articles. But I'm not really in the mood for these stuffs. Maybe this is one of my (many) lazy days.
To boost my mood, I decided to take a walk around our area. It was a good decision because I got to take pictures of flowers. And anything in nature never failed to brighten up my mood.
This picture is one of the streets here. It was nice to have a walk because the place is not crowded and there's a lot of household with different plants.
While walking, I saw a lot of hibiscus flowers. With different colors and sizes. I took a picture of them all because they're all beautiful.
Yellow bells. This used to be by favorite flower. But now, I love them all.
I can't search the name of this flower, but this is also beautiful. I wonder what those ants are doing there.
Another bunch of beauties.
So little but so cute 😍
This is also a little flower.
Bougainvillea. This is called *bogambilya* by other Pinoy because its name is a little hard to pronounce.
These flowers really made my day. I also wrote this article as soon as I reached home. Now feel inspired and I think I can do what I need to do now.
This is the effect of nature on me. How about on you? Feel free to share on the comment section. Thank you. ❣️
The Igorots | Ibontoc
Bontoc is the capital of Mt. Province and the home of the Ibontocs (pronounced as I-fūn-tok by the locals).
**Ibontocs during the 1800s-1900s**
**Ibontoc Man**
The average height of an Ibontoc man is about 5'5".
Their body is fully muscled and strong.
In color, men are brown, however, there is a wide range of tone from light brown to dark brown.
Their hair is black and straight.
**Ibontoc Woman**
The average height of an Ibontoc woman is 4'10".
Ibontoc women are also generally strong.
Hair and skin color are also same as for men.
Ibontoc Family
**Á-fong** is the general term for Ibontoc homes. There are two type of á-fong. The first is the **fay-ü** and it is the home of the prosperous. The other is the **kat-yú-fong**, home of poor families and of the widows.
Ibontocs don't prize one sex over the other. For them, when a boy is born, it is good, and if a girl is born, it is equally good. Even in marriage, one is practically as important as the others.
Social Structure
**Dap-ay** is the seat of governance in every social aspect of the Ibontocs. The dap-ay is composed of the *amam-a* and *dumap-ay*. But it could also include those who passed away. The **amam-a** are the elders, and the **dumap-ay** refers to all families within the village. A village has multiple dap-ays.
The amam-a are responsible for keeping the village cyclically as it is. On the basis of wisdom derived from traditions, they discuss and decide about the matters of the community.
War and Head-hunting
**En-fa-lok-nēt** is the Ibontoc term for war. But the expression **na-má-ka** (take heads) is used replaceably with it.
For unknown generations, the Ibontocs have been fierce head-hunters. Almost nine out of ten Ibontoc men wear the breast tattoo which proclaims them as human head takers.
The continuation of this practice is believed to be due to the so called *debt of life,* where the group who losed a head is in duty to cancel the score by securing a head from the offenders.
Aesthetic Life
**Tattoo**
Tattoo is the great permanent decoration not only of the Ibontocs, but of all Igorots. All the members of an ato (men, women, children) may be tattooed whenever a head is taken by any person of the ato. It is claimed in Bontoc that it is prohibited to have a tattoo if not for this reason. However, the regulations of every pueblo is not necessarily the same.
In every village, there are one or more men who understand the art of tattooing and they are called **bu-ma-fá- tēk.**
There are three classifications of tattoos.
*Chak-lag* - Breast tattoo of a head-taker.
*Pong-o* - Tattoo on the arms of men and women
*Fá-tēk* - This includes all other tattoos of both sexes.
Any other tattoo, except of chak-lag, has no special meaning and is believed to be purely aesthetic.
Music
The Ibontoc has only few musical instruments and all are very simple. The most common is the gong or **gang-sa**, a flat metal drum. Gang-sa music consists of two things, music and crude harmony.
Dance
The Ibontocs dances in a circle. They don't dance without the gang-sa music. A man also seldom dances, unless he plays a gang-sa.
https://youtu.be/AdLMO1L2lG4
*This is an example of an Ibontoc music and dance.*
Each Igorot group also have different patterns and symbols on their woven *bahag* (loincloth) and *tapis* (wrap-around skirt). Each symbol has its own meaning.
Spirit Belief
The basis of Igorot religion is the belief in a spirit world. It is the belief in the **anito** or spirit of the dead. Anito is the general term, however, the spirit of a certain dead has a specific name. Examples are:
*Pīn-tēng* - Anito of a beheaded person.
*Wul-wul* - Anito of deaf and dumb.
*Wong-wong* - Anito of an insane person.
*Fu-ta-tu* - A bad anito
Lumawig, the Supreme Being
Lumawig is believed by the Ibontocs to be the supreme being. Throughout the Bontoc culture area, Lumawig is the only god of people. Tradition tells that Lumawig taught the Ibontocs these lessons, that they should not steal, they should not lie, and a man should only have one wife.
Ceremonies
**Ceremonies connected with agriculture**
*Pochang* - This ceremony is performed after Pachong, the period when the rice grains are put in the germinating bed.
*Kē-ēng* - This is a ceremony for the protection of the rice crop.
*Tot-o-lod* - This is a ceremony performed the day after Kē-ēng, also for the protection of the rice crop.
*Loskod* - This ceremony is held once a year, at the time of planting camote (sweet potato).
*O-ki-ad* - Also held once a year, during the time of planting black beans.
**Ceremonies connected with climate**
*Fa-kîl* - This is a ceremony for rain that occurs four times a year, on four consecutive days.
*Kalob* - It is a ceremony claimed to ease a storm.
**Ceremonies connected with head taking**
*Ka-fo-kab* - This ceremony is performed as soon as a successful group of head hunter returns home.
This is the second part of *The Igorots* series. You can read the first part here: https://read.cash/@Gwenie/the-igorots-introduction-0a0e2d75
Music Sharing | 8D Audio
8D audio is an effect applied to a song to trick our brain into thinking that the sounds are coming from different directions.
I've been listening to 8D audios for a long time now and so far, this is my favorite. This really sounds like the music is coming from everywhere and they're playing inside my head. This also creates the feeling that I'm on an actual bar and listening to a live performance.
Please listen to this with earphones and you'll be amazed.
https://youtu.be/O5ooPGEiXkg
*Video is for sharing purposes only and no copyright infringement intended.*
For correction, reaction, or suggestion, please feel free to comment. Thank you.
The Igorots | Introduction
The Igorot is one of the many ethnic groups in the Philippines. It is a general term used to include any of the various ethnic groups in the mountains of Northern Luzon.
According to Dr. Trinidad Pardo de Tavera, a Tagalog¹ scholar and partner of Dr. Jose Rizal² in forming the Tagalog alphabet, the word Igorot came from the root word ***Golot****,* meaning *mountain chain* and added with **prefix [i-]**, which means *pertaining to* or *people of.* This prefix is common for many Philippine dialects (e.g. *Isagada*, people of Sagada, *Ibontoc*, people of Bontoc). The term Igorot therefore appears to be perfectly indigenous in origin.
The Spanish adopted this term, but it was generally used in a negative way. However, the Spanish were never able to penetrate the Cordillera during their 333 *(1565-1898)* year colonial period in the Philippines. Because of not being colonized, Igorots managed to keep their traditional religion and way of life.
The Igorots are divided into ethno-linguistic groups. They all have different dialects and traditions.
**BONTOC** - Bontoc is a place in Mt. Province and the people from Bontoc are called *Ibontoc*.
**IBALOI** - The Ibaloy (also known as Ivadoy) are an indigenous ethnic group found in Benguet. Ibaloi came from the root word *Baloy*, referring to a place in Itogon Benguet that this group of people inhabited.
**IFUGAO** - Ifugao are people from the Ifugao Province. The name Ifugao came from the root word *Pugo (hill).* Ifugao can also mean *earth people* or *humans* as they are distinguished from deities.
**ISNEG** - The Isneg, also known as Isnag or Apayao, are people from the Province of Apayao. The name Isneg came from the word *Itneg* which means *inhabitant of the Tineg River*.
**KALINGA** - The Kalinga, also known as *Ikalinga*, are people from the Kalinga Province.
**KANKANAEY** - The Kankanaey people came from the western Mt. Province, northern Benguet, and southern Ilocos Sur. The term Kankanaey came from the dialect they speak.
The classes mentioned are based on commonality of language, but some groups are not included here (e.g. Kalanguya, Karao of Benguet). These are also not absolutely representational because the locals still prefer to be called based on their area of origin.
Below are some of the photos of Igorots from early 1900s.
DEFINITION OF TERMS
1 - The basis of standardized national language of the Philippines (Filipino).
2 - A Filipino nationalist and tagged as the National Hero of the Filipino people.
3 - A single hand-held gong with a narrow rim.
*The Igorots* will be a series of articles. The following articles will contain tradition, culture, and history of each ethno-linguistic groups.
Part II
https://read.cash/@Gwenie/the-igorots-ibontoc-1355a38c
Blogging Diary|First Entry
June 19, 2020
Today, I am a little stressed. This all started because of my article titled *The Igorots.* I have a lot of things to consider about this article and I actually considered stopping this series.
These are some of the things that's bothering me.
Copyright of the picture I used. I know this is really a big factor to consider. Giving the right credits and including the links of the picture are not enough.
I need to do a thorough research about this topic. I know that google is not enough. Also the culture of each ethno-linguistic group are different and need deeper research to be more accurate.
I am getting mixed reactions from an Igorot Facebook page. Both good and bad.
I feel a little bit of pressure. What if what I wrote did not meet their expectations? This made me think twice on continuing this series.
But on the other side, it is something I really want to share. I am also getting a lot of support which I am very thankful.
They give support and even resources where I can get pictures without copyright. The admin also of the facebook page allowed me to use some of his photos and even offered help if I need some information or clarification.
Below are some of the screenshots of the supports I'm getting and these are more than enough for me to continue the series.
So for all of these people who are helping me, thank you so much. 😊
A Lesson from Forky
For those who have watched Toy Story 4, you probably know Forky.
He is just a disposable spork until Bonnie made him into a toy.
His character in the movie appeared to be self-loathing and naive. He runs and put himself into a trash bin everytime he sees one because he see himself as a trash.
Forky made a lot of the scenes funny. But I think there is something we can learn from the character of Forky.
There comes in life when we see ourself as useless as trash. There may be people who would make us feel worthless even after doing our best. But don't let them define our self-worth and value.
We must always remember that someone loves us (like how Bonnie loves Forky). We mean something to someone. We mean something to our Creator. We mean something to our parents and our friends. Someone out there values our existence and we are important for them. These are something we must always remember.
After the movie, Forky also returned as the main character of a short TV series titled Forky Ask a Question. Where in every episode, he asks a question about life and the world around him.
*Photo credits to* *artstation.com. Art by Flavio Novi. (**https://www.artstation.com/artwork/4bqDQl**)*
For any reaction or correction, please feel free to comment. I will also be thankful for any suggestion on how can I make my articles better. Thank you.
Flower Photography | Part III
Earlier, I went to our local market to buy some goods. The market is just 15-20 minutes walk away from our home. As I went there, I thought of taking pictures of all the flowers that I will see along the way.
And now I'm going to share their beauties with you guys. I hope you'll like them. I also apologize because I don't know the names of most of them.
**1.** This one is pretty high and I tiptoed just to take this picture. But it's worth it. This is so beautiful.
**2.** Roses. Roses. Roses. I can't decide which of them will I put here. Then I thought, why not put all three? They all deserve to be in this article anyway.
**3.** Cute little flowers. I also don't know the name of this. I tried to google but I can't find it.
**4.** These are also little flowers. These just proves that there is beauty even in the smallest things. I don't know its english name but in our local dialect, it is called *Kuribetbet*.
**5.** Hibiscus. This is commonly known as *Gumamela* here in the Philippines.
**6.** Periwinkles. They're as cute as their name.
There you have it guys. I hope you liked my photographs.
I also want to try Macro Photography but my phone is not capable of it. Everytime I try, everything becomes blurry. So for the meantime, let me share my phone photographs ❣️
For any suggestion or reaction, or if you happen to know the name of these flowers, please feel free to comment. Thank you.
For more articles with photographs, please join my community https://read.cash/c/photography-65bc
Good day! I just want to ask something. For example I mistakenly put a wrong picture on my article, is there a way to delete it? Thank you.
Value of Points
Hi, I'm back again. I haven't publish any article for two days as I am observing the site. I know I already have an article similar to this. But this is something I will not get tired of sharing, specially for the newbies. Based on the statistics, there are hundreds of new users these past few days.
I want to write this article for awareness and as an additional to what @alberdioni8406 have published. (https://read.cash/@alberdioni8406/okay-lets-be-clear-fb4322c3)
**More points does not mean more cash.** The value of your points depends on how you got those points.
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Copying articles from the internet
Copying comments
All this irregular activities are being detected. Do not underestimate the system of read.cash.
You may get a lot of points from these but its value may be lower compared to other users.
On the other side, listed below are some of the ways that can give more value to your points.
Write your original article (this is given)
Publish significant articles
Comment only what you really think about the article you read
Like only articles you really like
Be active
We must all maintain the credibility and good quality of this site. Thank you ❣️
For any reaction, suggestion, or correction, please feel free to comment.
My Points Yesterday
In this article, I want to show you what I mean when I said more points does not always mean more cash.
I've been monitoring the value of my points lately. Normally, it plays around $0.0009-$0.001/point. But yesterday, I've noticed that the value went high. It became around $0.0038/point. Please see the picture below.
I took this screen shot before I sleep. As you can see, I just accumulated 341.1 points the whole day. But the value is more than $1. It's pretty high than usual.
When I woke up, I checked how much is my total earning yesterday. And this is what I got.
It is higher than my estimated earning before I sleep. I am not sure if this is because I got additional points from comments on my article or there is another reason.
We all know that read.cash have this thing called Personalized Point system. Where your activities determines the value of you points.
So let's proceed to the main purpose of this article. I'll write down below what I think are the reasons why I got a that value for my points.
Only post my original article. And by that, I mean my own ideas, my own thoughts, my own words.
Only comment to articles that I really read. I give my personal opinion about the article. I don't just copy/paste or get ideas from the comment section.
Being active. I just published two articles yesterday. Because I can't think of anything to write, what I did was I read articles and comment on them. Being active does not mean you have to publish lots of article.
Use of proper english and grammar. I tried my best to write proper english that can be easily understood. I even googled a lot of words to know their right english term.
These I think are the reasons why the value of my points went high. I am not really sure if these are the **exact** reason.
So if you want to clarify or correct anything about what I wrote here, please feel free to comment. You will help me a lot to understand the point system better. Thank you.
The Mistress
I'm not sure if what to call this, but it just pops out of my head.
____
She is pretty, smart, and sexy
She is loved and adored by so many
She is the epitome of beauty
But one day her world changed
Changed by a man she loved dearly
But that man have a family
She's aware but she can't stop herself
They had a relationship secretly
She gave him her everything passionately
But in the end, he left her
He went back to his family
She is left with nothing but pain
She has no idea how to fix her broken self
Her beauty is gone and she was depressed
This time there's no one beside her
Everyone judged and criticized her
She's tired. She's damaged. She's a mess.
And she decided to end her suffering.
She pulled that trigger and it ended everything.
______
Lessons:
Know the consequences of your actions before doing it. I am not judging mistresses here because I know they have their own reasons. What I want to say is that we should know how to handle the consequences of our actions.
We should also learn how to forgive ourselves. We are not perfect. We make mistakes. But that mistake does not define our whole personality and our future. We can always change and be better.
Thank you and I hope you liked my article.
PS. This story is not based on true to life situation of someone I know. Everything I wrote here are my ideas and thoughts. I also do not own the lead image and it belongs to its rightful owner. If ever you find anything wrong or for any reaction, feel free to comment. Thank you.
Nature Photography
Hi, I'm back again with another set of nature photographs. But this time, it is the nature alone. Without me being a photo bomber. *laughs*
These are also random pictures that I personally took. Enjoy!
**1.** No need for words. This Orchid speaks for itself. I took this picture while on a field work.
**2.** Another set of cute little flowers. I also took this photo while on a field work. This is from one of the elementary school garden here in our area.
**3.** The calm waters of Mariveles, Bataan. This is specifically in Five Fingers Cove. Where there is a lagoon, a beach, and a cliff. I'll try to find more picture in my facebook album and add more of this place. We visited this place last year and it was such a great experience.
**4.** White sand beach. This is somewhere in Ilocos Sur. I took this picture inside a car. Those couple also is taking their prenup photoshoot. I can clearly see why they chose this place. This is such a paradise.
**5.** Another beach sunset in San Juan, the Surfing Capital of the North. Sunset is really something I will never get tired of watching and sharing.
**6.** This is the local cemetery of Agoo, La Union. This place is covered with Acacia tree. I normally find cemeteries very creepy. But this one is different. This place feels so peaceful. It feels like when you are buried here, you will really RIP *laughs*. But kidding aside, this place is really beautiful.
**7.** Last but not the least, sky. This looks like the eye of the storm that I see on TV. Or maybe mr. sun is peeping there and watching us. But either way, this is really a nice view.
There you have it guys. I hope you love nature as much as I do and you like my article.
Nature is truly a blessing. We are too blessed to enjoy its beauty for free. That's why we must protect it instead of destroying it for our own selfish reasons. We must save our nature and preserve its natural beauty.
For any reaction or suggestion, please feel free to comment. Thank you.
For more articles with photographs, please join my community https://read.cash/c/photography-65bc
One with Nature
This is another article about how I love our Mother nature.
Some people may get tired of what I write here because mostly it's all about nature. But I can't help it. This is what I love. This is what my life has been before the pandemic. This is who I am, and I share what I love.
So without further ado, let me show you another set of my pictures with Mother Nature
**1.** This is one of the beaches located here in my hometown, La union. Everything in this place feels perfect. The cloud formations, the view of the mountain, the sea, and the sands. They are all beautiful and calming.
**2.** A mountain and a river. This place is in Bagulin, also a part of La Union. This was one of the perks of doing field work. I can go to a lot of places and enjoy a lot of good views.
**3.** Into the woods. This is one of the eco parks here. You can enjoy this place and a view of the beach for only 20 pesos ($0.4).
**4.** Another eco park. This is at the top of a mountain in Bagulin, La Union. This place is a little bit hard to reach because of the zigzag road and its slope is too steep. But it is all worth it. The view here during sunset is spectacular.
**5.** A hidden paradise. This place is not known to many people here in La Union. It is like a small village who preserved its culture. But this is really a beautiful place. And those house-like structures are classrooms.
**6.** This is also an almost-hidden place. We just discovered this accidentally while doing field work. This is located somewhere in the mountains of Bacnotan. I think this will be a resort, but it is still under development when we went here that's why I can't really tell. But it's garden is almost finished that time. And it's so beautiful.
**7.** Bonus picture. One beautiful sunny day. I love taking picture of everything in nature, and the sky is not an exemption.
So there. I hope you guys like my article. It's really obvious and I keep on telling this. I love Mother Nature, may it be the beach, the mountains, the woods, the flowers, EVERY SINGLE THING. I find beauty in them. It can comfort me. It can inspire. And it can make me happy without doing anything.
I hope you guys loves nature too as much as I do.
For any reaction or suggestion, just comment it down. Thank you.
An Open Letter for Spammers
This is already my 6th day here on read.cash. My first two to three days was really awesome. I got to read really good articles and I enjoy a lot. I love the fact that I can learn while earning here.
Though I did not earn much, I enjoyed staying here because I love sharing a bit about myself and my life. This platform also gave me the opportunity to write articles again. Which is something I haven't done for I think 6 to 7 years already. There are also people who gave me upvote and it's overwhelming. The support they give is so unexpected. That's why I am very thankful to this platform.
But lately, I've noticed a lot of random senseless posts here. It seems like they just post anything to get points. Because of these posts, it became hard for me to find those really informative and time-worthy articles.
The comments section also became home for spams. I saw a lot of good comments being copied and pasted in the same article. I hate it because it's unfair for the person who originally wrote the comment. Sometimes I also get noodle-like comments that I dont understand.
I'm already annoyed by the spams itself, but what really triggers me to write this is because the value of my points are getting low because of these. The points are adding up when they comment but the value is the same. This is something I don't want to happen. Because as what I wrote in my previous article, it is quality over quantity.
So for all those who spams, this my message for all of you.
*Please. Please let us maintain this platforms good quality. I know we all want to earn as much as we can, there's nothing wrong with that. But please, let us all share something worthy here. Let us all inspire each other, educate each other, and send good vibes. Also only comment what you really think of the article you read. Because you may not be aware of it, but it will really have an impact to the author.*
*Thank you and let us all enjoy this platform and community.*
I know the whole read.cash team is doing their best to solve these issues and to maintain the quality of this platform. Thank you very much for your hardwork read.cash team.
PS. Feel free to comment any reaction. I also want to clarify that what I wrote is purely MY opinion only.
BTC logo editing entry
I made a big mistake on my previous submissions. But I never quit. That's why here I am. Giving another try 😊
Writer's Block
I've been sitting for hours already. Thinking of what article to write here on read.cash.
But I can't think of anything. No single idea is popping. I can't think of any topic or content. I can't even compose a single sentence to start with. My head feels empty. I feel like I don't know any english word. I'm starting to get frustrated. I really want to write something. I want to share something good. But my mind won't cooperate.
When I started here in read.cash, topics are piling up into my head. I want to share a lot of thing. A lot of experiences. A lot of life lessons. But now, nothing. I feel like I ran out of interesting topic, ideas, and experiences to share. My brain feels so useless.
Then it hit me. Why not write what I am experiencing at this very moment? Writer's blocks.
I'm sure I'm not the only one who experience this. I really don't know what to do in times like this. I can't put any advice or suggestion on what to do about it.
But there's one thing I learned. Negative things can sometimes turn to positive if we do something about it.
Like how I turned my Writer's block into a blessing in disguise. Instead of squeezing my brain for a good article topic, I used it as a topic instead.
It really feels good to turn things around in my favor. To turn negative situation into a positive one. And I think we should always do this in life. It may be hard and frustrating sometimes, but we can always make the tables turn.
We just have to focus on being positive, instead of dwelling too much on that negative, mood-changing situation.
Thank you so much for reading my article and I hope you enjoyed and learned something from it ❣️
If you also have a comment or suggestion, feel free to comment. Thank you.
Quality over Quantity
This is an appreciation article for read.cash point system.
At first, it seems like easy to farm points and earn a lot here in read.cash. You just need to comment in every article, copy articles somewhere, write that story you were told when you were a kid, or write a lot of short articles and questions. Then voila! You already got many points.
BUT. **Many point in not always equal to many cash.** The value of your points depends on the **quality** of your article or comments.
I appreciate that when read.cash is giving estimated value of the points, they considers the originality, the effort, the content of the article, and even grammars.
It only shows that you are paid based on your effort and engagement to the site.
I can say that this point system is fair and I love it. It will help to maintain the quality of the platform.
If in case I made a mistake here or I missed something, feel free to comment it down. Thank you ❣️
BenCab Museum
Today I'm sharing another works of art from the local artists here in the Philippines. I love to share them with you to show how talented Filipinos are. And I am so proud to be a Filipino.
I will also put captions in some pictures to share more informations. Thank you and I hope you enjoy this article.
BenCab Museum
BenCab Museum is located in Baguio City. The Summer Capital of the Philippines. This is owned by one of Philippines' National Artist, Ben Cabrera. This museum contains his arts and arts of other local artist. In here, you can see different kinds of art. Different genres and style. This museum also have a garden and a restaurant.
I went here last year and it was one of my best experiences. I want to share a glimpse of this museum with you guys.
I really want to put here all the pictures or arts in the museum. But I have so many. Maybe I will post a second part of this to share more photos.
I also want to clarify that I do not own any of these arts and they belong to their rightful owners. Thank you ❣️
Flower Photography Part II
This is the second part of my Flower Photography. Taking pictures of everything in nature and with nature is really my thing. It's one of the things that makes me happy.
I apologise but I really don't know their names. I just hope they can light up your mood with their beauty. Enjoy!
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2.
3.
4.
5.
I hope you enjoyed these natural beauties.
Beauty is everywhere. Even in the smallest things. We just need to know how to appreciate all God's creation.
I apologise for the doubled picture. I made a mistake and I don't know how to remove it.
Thank you for viewing and stay safe everyone! ❣️
*For more articles with photographs, please join my community* *https://read.cash/c/photography-65bc*
My 4th day here in read.cash
Its been 4 days since I joined read.cash.
I am truly amazed how great this platform is. It's not just the fact that we can earn bitcoin cash. I love this because of many things.
I love it's point system. It is really great and fair. It gives higher points value for those who made their own contents and those who do not spam comments. This platform values **quality over quantity.**
I love the the people here. They are so kind to each other. They support each others post and they really give kind comments. For me, good comments are inspiring. It's good that people around the world can interact and share thoughts with each other.
I love that this platform have a wide topic scopes. I love reading articles and comments because I learn a lot from it. It helps me broaden my understanding and my knowledge.
I love the way authors share their wisdoms, knowledge, and point of views. Reading here is like feeding my mind. I really love it.
I am very thankful to this platform for giving me the chance to share my thoughts, to learn, and of course to earn.
How about you? Why do you love read.cash? You can share your answer in the comment section. Thank you ❣️
Opinyon ko lang
Naisip ko, minsan ang social media, madami din hindi magandang epekto.
Halimbawa sa isang relasyon. Lagi mo nakikita na yung boyfriend/girlfriend ng kaibigan mo ay ma-effort. Lagi tini-treat si partner, lagi nagbibigay ng gamit o flowers, o lagi sweet.
Doon ka magsisimulang kwestyunin kung bakit nga ba yoong partner mo ay hindi ganoon. Bakit nga ba hindi niya magawa o maibigay sayo ang mga yoon. Iko-kompara mo na lahat. Hanggang sa mangingibabaw na sayo ang pagkukulang ng partner mo. Minsan nagiging sanhi ito ng away o hiwalayan.
Sana huwag humantong sa ganitong sitwasyon.
Ang masasabi ko lang, matuto sana tayo makuntento. Kung may pagkukulang man ang iyong partner, isipin mo ang mga magagandang side niya at nagawa niya. Magkakaiba ang love language ng tao. Ang mahalaga ay matuto tayo magtiwala at makontento.
Yoon lamang po. Kung meron man kayong komento tungkol sa topic na ito, ikomento lamang.
Hindi ko rin sinasabi na nangyayari ito sa lahat at ito po ay pawang OPINYON KO LAMANG. Maraming salamat ❣️
A message from someone who WAS Depressed
They say *the art tells a lot about the artist.* This is true for me.
This is the first time I'm sharing these arts to the public. I've kept and never displayed these because I'm afraid that people will see my pain thru my arts. I'm ashamed because people might think I'm weak.
But this time, I want to share these for awareness and to give hope to those who are suffering. Even in the smallest way, I am hoping my article would help.
I am aware that many people nowadays suffer secretly. They hide it may be because they are ashamed or maybe because they don't want to bother the people around them.
But I want to tell you that, there's nothing to be ashamed of. Feeling pain is not being weak. It is alright to cry. Everyone experiences different pains. It is a good thing if you will share it. I believe the people who love you will be more than glad to help you get through that pain.
Also, **don't pressure yourself.** Maybe there are times that you will feel left-out, useless, or unloved. One day you saw on social media that everyone is living a good life, then you question yourself,
"What happened to me? What am I doing all this time? Why am I the only one not successful?"
Let me tell you this: **We set our own pace. We run our own race. Life is not a marathon.** It is not about who will be successful first or who will be the richest.
**Life is about living the way we want**. The way that makes us happy. May it be simple or luxurious life, it doesn't matter. What matters is that you are happy and contented. We must also appreciate those people who love us. Maybe we are not aware because we are too focused on our own misery and pain, but I'm sure there is someone who loves you and cares for you.
**Don't let society ruin you.** Never settle to the standard of the society. Never let them set your goals, your standards, or your life.
Remember, it is **YOUR** life. You are beautiful in your own way. You will achieve your goals in your own perfect time. Just live your life to the fullest.
It alright to fail, to be disappointed, to not achieve in your first try. What's not okay is GIVING UP. You must stand up, try again, and never lose hope.
Do your best and God will do the rest ❣️
I just want to clarify that these are all based on my experiences. If ever there's something wrong or I missed something, please feel free to comment. All comments are welcome. I know I still have a lot to learn and I will be more than glad if you guys help me. Thank you ❣️
Why Travel
A lot of us wants to travel but maybe our reasons are different.
As for me, I love traveling because I love being with nature. Everytime I travel, I feel energized and recharged. It's like feeding my soul. I love the clean fresh air, the sounds of the waves, the birds, the long walks, and even the small scratches I always get when I'm traveling. It reminds me that I had a good time. I also love trying and learning new things from the places I visit.
Below I will share another place here in our country.
**San Esteban** is a small town but have beautiful spots. Perfect if you want to unwind and escape city life even just for a day.
After this pandemic, I really want to visit this place again. You can also share your travel experiences or tips in the comment section. Thank you ❣️
@Gwenie
