THIS IS THE ONLY THING YOU MUST KNOW WHEN RENTING AN APARTMENT

Mind your space. And your lessors.

Not yet ready to get your own place? Sadly, it is the reality of middle-class families and individuals. The ease of getting a place is not yet there given the business conditions in the country.

There are a lot of developers targeting earners with the purchasing power for affordable houses that are in development, even in the pre-selling stage.  But high-interest rates in banks, lack of enthusiasm to lend financial assistance to families needing basic shelter, and the prevalence of difficulties in getting papers needed to process real estate investments, are some of the reasons real estate buyers cannot readily jump into the prospects of having new houses immediately. 

If buying is not yet an option, the real good deal is to rent a house in a reputable city with all the necessities available in building a family.

But forget your checklist of what to look out for in a rented house, there is just one basic seek-in information that lessees must know. 

 

The lessor or land owner should not live beside the same place you intend to rent out. 

 

It is no surprise that there are lessors who stay in their real estate property they rent out for reasons only they can declare. But as a starting family, a prospective lessee must know that there are a number of complications when getting a place where a landowner or lessor lives beside the property you rent, whether it is a few steps away from the house you would be renting on or in the same vicinity of your apartment.

 

Here are the reasons you must not settle for a house where the lessor lives in the vicinity of your unit or apartment:

 

·         THE LACK OF PRIVACY OF TENANTS. Living with your lessor next door is an inconvenient way to start a family. The lessor would have so much access to your day-to-day affairs, activities, and privacy as both would live in the same location. This fact guarantees familiarity both ways and same circle complications that can be disfavoring to the tenant’s interest and necessities.

 

By having a lessor living next door,  the tenant/s opens up their own family and individual realities that can be a breeding ground of loss of integrity both for the lessor and the lessee, as the former can easily impose a supervisory attitude towards the house property he/she is renting out.  PRIVACY is a big issue for tenants with lessors living next to them.

There will be a conscious effort to cloud the decision of the tenants by superimposing on the will of the lessee, how the property is maintained or kept, and the tenant/s could also be in constant scrutiny from the lessor whether or not the tenants’ actions is congruent to the lessors’ expectations.

 

 

Having a lessor next door could guarantee less freedom to move around the house for your family.

 

 

·         THE EXPECTED FAMILIAL CONNECTION IS ALWAYS THERE.  As tenants living next door, you must be prepared to mingle, elbow to elbow with the lessors’ family, and expect interactions with the lessors’ own circle of connections. As tenants, you must decide if such constant probability would be impactful to your need for family privacy, margins for freedom, and integrity. As we all know, too much familiarity and lack of privacy can interfere with the tenants’ rights when it comes to moving around, and personal decisions in how a household is maintained.  Expect comments whether necessary or not from the lessor, no matter how amiable the arrangement seems to be from the start. The lessor-to-tenant interaction is not always perfect as the lessor who lives nearby can also expect a little dose of familial support from the tenant once needed. This consequently affects the business integrity of the lessor in the face of its own tenants.

 

·         SHARED SPACE OR COMMON GROUND BETWEEN THE LESSOR AND THE TENANT CAN BE A CAUSE OF TENSION or cold disagreement between the lessor and the tenant, and this cannot be avoided. Since each family or each circle has been brought up differently and can show different attitudes about a lot of important issues where it concerns daily realities, a lessor can be vocal in asserting their own hard way of doing things, and superimpose on the preferences of the tenant that can affect individual freedom and choices.

 

THESE THINGS ARE NOT ALWAYS DISCUSSED OR EXPECTED IN THE OPEN since most enterprising businesses offer a very presentable façade in their customer or client relations.   But when it comes to renting an apartment, everything becomes personal or subject to hear-end comments, hence to avoid conflicts and disagreements when renting a place, interested parties must try all means to find the best route in having a home space rented out to others; while tenants must be prepared for the business and personal weaknesses of their lessors when it comes to daily interactions should living next door be an unavoidable option for the tenant/s.

 

This business article is open to advertisers’ input and advertorials. Please feel free to direct message this writer or respond to this open call for sponsored articles about real estate, house renting, budget homes, etc.

 

Thank you.

About Quiet Luxe, Loud Logos and The Cost of Being Admired

 

Recently there are luxury brands (we need not name the who’s or the which-- it’s influencer-style marketing these days and we don't wanna alienate), gearing a paradigm shift in the way luxury items are distinguished and patronized.  

The increase in the attention worthy-posts for “quiet luxury” is obviously positioned to appeal to logo-averse buyers of expensive items. 

So expectedly waiting for this, because in true high-end fashion, not all people with money for luxury would ALWAYS WANT TO make a big deal out of how much they spent for a bag, or who they are wearing, to other people. Thus, “quiet luxury” seems like a more peaceful route to loving luxury with a conscience, without the need to brag and tag.  

 

"Quiet luxury” may be more alluring to the right niche but not to the countless aspirational buyers of luxury goods who want to be out and loud with the brands they fancy.

 

Why this writer opines that logo-fest on bags and everything branded would still win the favor and hearts of local consumers because of the wide acceptance of luxury brands as status symbols and success-pitchers for the locals.  

In addition, consumers who wear and carry popular brands of bags, shoes, etc., are more favored and treated nicely in the city or rural side.

 

Try going out to an ordinary place wearing only simple clothing for whatever purpose, or donning only a simple bag; go looking like a plain Jane, or Joe for the men.  

One could easily spell a difference in the customer service efforts one can get from a shop attendant when one is logo-worthy versus that of the so ordinary. And this is a normal mindset among the locals.  

 

Filipinos love international brands so much that this culture of luxury wearing tends to out shadow our own acceptance of local products.  

It is not a matter of luxury versus practicality. Frankly, for many young and old,  it is a matter of having acceptance and being estimated well by others, that brings forth a reason to wear and patronize popular luxury brands. 

 

But the preference for luxury can pose a burden to ordinary consumers when brand bias trickles down to other lifestyle items that have become “essentials” for many Filipino consumers- like game consoles for kids, and insurance products that do not necessarily embed their brand names, but require expensive prices in order to be enjoyed by mainstream consumers.

 

When moms and dads have to keep up with trends,  to evade being an outcast in the middle of an amiable taste for brands that denote status, wealth, or high income, there goes the pressure to spend more. It is understandable that there are parents who would want to go super-upper on their lifestyle, just to avoid their kids from being branded as can’t afford, at a time when consumerism gives high value to everything luxurious. Like when going for a fancy gaming lifestyle that could allow a level-up treatment from those who are in the world of the can-affords, just to avoid their kids from being bullied. 

It is a fact of life in the country that those who live below the expectations of others, those who can't afford the high-priced goods in their everyday use have a high probability of being bullied whether directly or indirectly; whether in subtle gesture or as a direct insult verbally or even through social outcasting where popularity and favor of goodwill counts more than the indistinct and the generic-wearing individuals.

Reference is alluded, to a recent viral story of a dad being affected when his son gets home after being bullied because of wearing a replica brand. A story that illustrated the local penchant for brands,  to enjoy social acceptance, must not be undermined.

 

Suffice it to say, admiration is a spellbinding lure of many brands. Those who buy expensive items are often associated as successful; not “losers”, just like the young would like to drum roll many times over.

 

What is unacceptable is when our status-hearted philosophy permeates even in the way we look and shop for medical products and services, that are expectedly must-haves, like insurance products that are priced unaffordable and are marketed to give luster to a specific niche. When it comes to insurance products and medical services, there must not be a distinction to profile the low from the highs.

 

One buyer of prepaid insurance bragged about getting a product for her helper, alluding that a low-cost insurance product is only for those who are at the bottom ladder of economic status. If this persists, even the kind of service that is supposed to be professionalized and idealized such as that given by the medical industry, can be marginalized to favor the luxe-abiding ones. 

 

Insurance products bought without the need to shell out high and mighty amounts, give a buffer of security and a layer of protection among ordinary consumers, in times of uncertainty.  Thus, insurance products must not be branded to mean exclusively fashioned for the poor, or for the wealthy, even in a sublime way.    

 

We cannot let status and brands, delineate consumers of many lifestyle products to assert importance, more so demand a kind of service or product, we need as Filipinos especially when it comes to healthcare or medical services.

 

Edited July 18, 2023, 7:08 pm. News Review Philippines by Anna Liza VB.

Copyright 2023 Philippines

 

The Fault in the Unseen: What Creatives Won't Tell Everyone About Big Projects

And What Mediocrity Truly Spells 

Believe me, mediocrity is a word those in the creative professions loathe.

With a reason of course.

No creatives in advertising can be there if, from the very start, one does not know the intricacies of their work, more so the difference between mediocrity and mediocracy.

It is not all about colors, photos, words, and fonts when one is handed an advertising campaign that is expected to be shredded and criticized by many--probably because of timing, probably because of budget.

It cannot be diluted that those who belong to the world of creatives, when given a project,  [warning cliché] do get that “fire in their belly” to finish a task with aplomb, breathe—success.

Unless when a team of creatives is demoralized or has a very stressful deadline given them, that demands quality within an almost impossible deadline or timeframe;  or for them to work despite a lack of manpower available. One cannot simply judge a whole slew of creatives based on the outcome of a project. 

With the foresight of having an unsatisfactory output, one who can pull the strings, can simply call the shots, trash everything, or have a do-over of work.  Rest assured, the creatives would be the first ones to balk at such an average campaign. 

The real deal, before a project is accepted, is a whole lot of expectations are given to creatives. 

Sometimes, the demands are not doable.  But creatives, believing that they can always do their best, would always put a brave, fast-paced move forward, in order to satisfy a client. 

What this post wants to share is:  why a team of creatives "at the helm of things" did not pull enough brunt and blunt to come up with an impeccably original campaign for a tourism project? 

• Was the brief clear?
• Was there a budget that supported such a big deal campaign that is accessible within the confines of the deadline, for the team of creatives to peruse? 
• Or was the deadline given so strict that the team working on the campaign, had no choice but to come up with a hush edition from logo to video?

In times of failure, the writers and artists for such a gargantuan project do know they would be the ones to take the blame for such a hullabaloo. And believe that a team of creatives would have the decency to admit what’s wrong should all else fail. 

 

So much has been said about the tourism campaign. But what is good to ponder is that a team of creatives from a well-known ad agency could have done a better job, if all support, and ideals were given them. If the ideals were not there, no matter how excellent they are, they can only give a lackluster output, if something was sorely missing that requires them to further their brilliance.  

Most of the time, originality is spun by inspiration. And an excellent campaign also requires the right work environment to bring forth enough motivation to be original. By coming up with a campaign that fails many expectations, the ad agency's creatives would be the first ones to be dissatisfied with their own work.

Something to spell out there, lay out the reasons for fail, not just criticize the finished tourism campaign if originality really was a big deal for everyone.

commentary. News Review Philippines 

edited @10:19pm July 11, 2023

Copyright 2023 Philippines

 

 

 

Can You Handle Spam Mails Without Worrying Over Security?

Wicked, spam, or simply trash-worthy? How to deal with cunning spam.
 

Perhaps you’ve been busy wringing your wits about your next content or mail draft. Suddenly you get an email, that is tantamount to a mail threat asking for something--like crypto. 

Then you ask, what if,  your email account is hacked hence the spam? What to do in situations like this, when one is simply an ordinary user or netizen?

 

This is a tricky question indeed.  But everybody must be aware of email attacks. 

How one can feel when getting an unwanted email that’s more than spam but asks for something in return, with no obvious offer to amend their spam action- one can be pushed to a reflex action that sends SOS to the more knowledgeable ones.

 

When one goes online, one can bump into the unannounced, other “netters” who aim to make one’s netsurfing, emailing, news keep-upping, a difficult one. This happens especially if one is not technically equipped with online usage basics and dynamics.

 

Here are the basic truths one has to guard knowing when one is online:
 

1.     A computer can be exposed to others.   A computer connected to the internet for real, cannot guarantee privacy.  And one may not even be aware of this happening.

 

Even if emails, profiles, and data are uploaded and shared online or offline, and are guaranteed data privacy and confidentiality, nobody can really be assured of 100 percent protection when using the internet.  

Even the strictest basic emails cannot guarantee absolute protection as they can be penetrated with spam or unwanted emails, too.

 

To relate, this writer’s mailbox has gotten once in a while, mail threats asking for crypto deposits. 

The email content is blunt saying it knows all aspects of one’s activity (an email can go directly to spam by the way so you don’t easily notice it). The spam can give enough of a threat scare for an email account holder to take notice.  

 

When prompted for help, technical experts would simply advise deleting a “spoof” email.  

It was labeled as a spoof, even if it did not come as that, but a mail of a more hounding message from an anonymous address and sender. An IT expert can simply advise acting on it by simply deleting the email from one's mailbox.

 

2.  Sometimes, unintentional clicks happen.

 

This can expose the computer to threats. Those blinks and winks that are pressed in a hush can lead one to surprise wins, and sites that do not only intend to spam but take one’s time but change valuable settings as well. 

 

So, the minute one notices some changes on one's computer or any out-of-the-usual variation to one's email settings, an individual user must retrace the footsteps of what caused such change right away. And when an IT expert is not available to help, it is best to retrace the steps that one has taken; look into new downloads, added apps, and exposure to blinking sites that sometimes appear out of nowhere, aiming to get visits or clicks.

 

Baits are not usually a nice way to surf into.  Clickbaits hunger for site visits, not just product sales.

 

Thus, it is best to keep track of one’s online activity and to rethink internet usage. 

After all, technology can be tapped not just for improving social media connections but for learning the ways and the means of many platforms that are abundant when going online.  

Using the now indispensable gadgets that make our lifestyle modern and convenient,  one can also learn how to be more secure when going online, to avoid being taken aback by the prospects of being spammed, spoofed, or faked by unscrupulous internet users.  

 

3.       Make internet and email time ideal. 

      The internet is a world full of information. But nobody really connects to help address solutions on internet integrity.  

• When one does a solo flight on the internet, it helps that one visits trusted sites and pages that are official and free of dubious names. 
• Even news media pages can give confusion.  A lot have mushroomed of late, as eager newcomers in the industry.  However, some good intentional media sites don't offer enough proper introductions or backgrounders for their media site's purpose and content policies.   The rule of thumb is to rely on news providers that have a long history of serving news; with a team of practitioners dedicated to using their skills that cannot be outbested, and with enough integrity to earn the loyalty and trust of their readers. 
•  Email spam is not just a lost message in another receiver’s inbox.  It is meant to distract,  discontent, affect the certainty of security in another, and the user cannot always anticipate the receipt of such unless one is in constant track of one's digital activities, to get an idea of where spam and unwanted email/s, could be coming from.

It helps to stay "minimalist" on internet usage and reduce internet hours unless one has to use the net for work or official purposes.

 

For comments, this site accepts additions to this post. Thank you for reading News Review Philippines.  Copyright 2023.

 

 Edited July 22, 2023.

WHAT WOKE REALLY MEANS IN MEDIA

It’s not what you know, it’s who you know that counts. 

There is a word in the millennial language that can actually sum up all things that a media practitioner must be in life: Woke. To be aware, to come in awareness; to be informed, or be in tune with the latest issues and be woke, is an outright necessity at work-- without it, a media man could be said in old “kasabihan”, “natutulog sa pansitan”. 

To be woke is both a sense and a skill. Many times, it requires a lot of experience and basic to thorough research to be in a state of “woke”. 

Sorry but woke may sound like another word when a letter is changed from “o” to “a”, which can relate to the opposite of being woke. 

But in practice, woke signifies that one has risen from a state of unknowing, or in simple terms to be challenged and act on that FOMO (fear of missing out mode) and thus be woke. 

 Whew, what youth speak one has to learn to be woke and provoke others’ awareness of words and issues that matter. 

In the industry, one must not presume inclusivity in circles unless you are woke of who knows who, and who knows what. 

The former refers to connections and clout. The latter can be referred to as the beat or to exposure to a certain niche that one has grown into knowing, with such skill and expertise. It cannot be understated that a media man must work independently without the influence of outsiders enough to persuade or affect his/her work. 

But in the reality of things, when one is woke, there is normalcy in not knowing the circles that your colleague may have to show preset clout and influence that can affect one’s future or work fulfillment.

Short of saying, you need to be woke to accept there is “palakasan”. 

You need to be woke to accept there is "envelopmental gifting". 

But that does not mean everyone works against the persistence and good legacy of media as an industry.

One cannot undermine that such wokeness can lead one to perceive the existence of bias among the industry naysayers, players, and game-changers. After all, an old-timer cannot derelict a duty to impose independence yet, ostracize a circle of “friends and supporters” who helped build a name from the ground up or ensure continuity of work in their current titles. 

What I am sharing is that a media worker must know there is favoritism, bias, or “priorities” in giving work assignments, positions, and titles, or in giving benefits in paper and reality. 

The media industry can do better if it does away with all its biases. And break away from its own hierarchy of clout that gives favor to the one who pays more for a name, a space, or can afford to invite an advertiser in exchange for a byline in the guise of being branded, “content-driven” or “client commissioned”. 

There is favor when one sees none of fairness in giving work to the true media practitioner/s.

Let's Talk Superlatives: Deep Fakes, Superfakes and the Big Dipper

 Know our social economy before trusting any.

On one end of the social media spectrum, is an era of superlatives-- from promises to hopes and wealth sail builders, blogs, and sites of individuals wanting to be known, wanting to be rich, and wanting to connect.  On the other, it's all trappings of the super fakes.

It would sound so idealistic to simply trust read-on articles and news we see online. 

That news of unemployment slump, a millionth earning newbie businesses that young kids are trying to help resuscitate the economy. 

But in the doldrums of these social media frenzy to be known, be seen, and those "get rich" schemes, the reality abides in the imperfection of numbers, the roughness of fakes, and the lucidness of people's images who try to be perfect and yet cannot achieve real distinct connection online. 

This is what I call the abyss of social media where an economy thrives in hopes and prospects, but it is trapped in the middle by a conglomerate of disjointed interests.

The first of fakes. The promise of investments.

In the era of micro investors, it is the small-time investors and businesses "trying hards" or "copycats" who would jump right at the opportunity to earn some, earn small, or earn try so as not to let time waste in times of pandemic. 

But investments that give real "big" results and earnings are not really happening, and most are not at all life-changing, offering only coin-purse returns that cannot even help families recuperate from losses after years of joblessness.  

Here I won't mention the specific businesses. 

But there are plenty out there that ordinary moms and dads often try, with a big-bite promise of investing in small packages.  

From light luxury to branded goods, all these are attractive investments for salary earners even before the pandemic kicked in. 

But the truth is, this is a dead-end approach to investing. 

Despite the flaunting of being a multi-billion dollar industry globally, branded luxury does not promise good resale for ordinary investors in times of the great "no earn" pandemic.  

All investments seem to have been dragged into a dumpsite of nothingness, almost worthless. 

And all one could do is keep them without the promise of turning these investments into cash, the often lure of light to heavy luxury items in the market is that these items have good resale value and can be turned into cash in times of drought. 

For light luxury buyers, investing in light to pricey jewelry is not a golden promise to rely on as these are items that have become commonplace and hard to dispose of, and no outlets to receive them as second hands. Preloved luxury thus is not a good term investment for the micro-investing moms and dads who want to delve into the promise of a life of luxury.  

In a sense, this false sense of assurance that one is investing in the good ones with one's precious money and earnings would only go to waste in a social economy that values likes, influence, and followers and not the truths behind branded luxuries.  

The second of fakes. A deeper fake, businesses that run for show-and-tell bragging, but do not serve with a genuine interest for customers.

The second kind of fakes in business is the one that applies to customer relations and business imaging.

In our current state of the economy where social media serves as the front of new and upcoming businesses, even for the brick and mortar kind of businesses, some owners who run their businesses do so for that simple brag-and-drop approach of imposing their status as business owners and solidifying influence. But their hook? They would not hesitate to drop or turn away their customers who do not fit into their bill of prospects or likings.

This kind of business does not show genuine interest in customers. They shun new customers or reply impolitely in the face of callousness.  

They would screen clients as if they are the masters of censorship and true intentions. 

Business owners or managers or staff of this kind of deep fake customer relations integrity would turn down buyers and inquiries that do not ring a bell of prestige or do not present a deep pocket arrive at their doorsteps upon inquiry. 

Some of these businesses include those in the leasing business of commercial spaces, bazaars, etc. 

Even prior to the onset of the pandemic, business owners in this niche are the hardest knocks, offering a no-glance approach, no-response to inquiries even when they prompt invites for lessees through their below-the-line advertising and frequent social media postings.

These kinds of fakes can be leveled as business posturing. The owners simply want to be known for being business owners but would not actually want to open their doors to customers of the "lesser kind" of lesser names or pockets.  A real super fake in business.

And the third kind of fake is the big dipper business. 

In the social economy where businesses thrive because of creativity in advertising and marketing, the big dipper businesses are the kind that lures moms and dads to try, yet once in, these are the businesses that simply eat up their investments and hard-earned money without a promise of tangible returns. 

This kind of business simply gulps down on one's investments much to the heartache of ordinary investors and business starters. 

Entrepreneurs who wallow in big dipper businesses must be helped out by the necessary agencies to recover, and recuperate.  Otherwise, having a business would simply be an ordeal for small to medium business players, starters, and dreamers who have not yet experienced true profits and joy of having a good running business but merely a fake verse of social media and business enterprise centering on personality, stardom, and much influence harking.

Little big deal: Going Fussy About the Coins

 

Are coins outdated for the thrifter-savers?

 

With the many designs that have come to our Philippine coins, we can almost come to ask, would there be new ones to replace the old ones? 

Coins are dismissible to others. But bills don’t come so easily these days when even professionals are scouring for opportunities. And let’s not mention the recent past year's popularity of having piggy banks among moms, as well as the grandmas who give value to coins and not just paper bills.

 

If coins are important, why out phase the old ones?  And how in the world of consumers would we identify the outdated coins which when mixed with the recent times "new" would all be confusing?

In college, I remember there was a real distinction from the coins in the nineties. The coins were lighter, and a little playful in design with fish and flower patterns. It was also lighter and not heavy to the touch.  The coins were distinctive from the eighties' identified coins, and the differences in design were "know-able" and noticeable.

But after decades of introducing a lot of coin designs, some are gold and noteworthy while others are almost reminiscent of other designs, old-timers who give value to the coins can actually ask: do we need a chatbot to remember which are old from the new already? Coins that have been demonetized may not be enough to put our hopes on, not even as coin collectors or as moms.

What a waste of money once this is not honored from the piggybank of kids, who kept them after Christmas and into the New Year. What a waste of coins for the moms who strive to hoard a little, when their breadwinner's take-home pay is not enough to mend the shortcomings of their payslips.

Of all the coins probably the only thing that is distinguishable right now is the award-winning coin that looks every inch a gem of a find for a mom’s pocket. That Php20.00 coin feels like an enriching staple for an ordinary mom, without a job and away from the dirty politics of employment. Sadly that Php20.00 coin is the only thing worth keeping apart from the rest of the coins that no longer mean a thing to help surpass the cost of daily living.

It is hard to throw away this kind of coin, that twenty pesos represents, like a rose gold beauty in striking luminosity, and with a heavy heart to part with it once needed.

In times of the pandemic, a mom's meager money would still be spent on necessities, raring to bank on a promise of a better future saved with the little big deal of coins us moms would have.

 

Editorial on Identifying old coins versus the New, entitled Little Big Deal: Going Fussy About the Coins

Easy Does It: Most Responsive Government Offices Without the Need to Take Long Commute

Social distancing may have changed the way government transactions are done. But not without falter. Some offices despite its announcement of availability for reach out, would not really be available for reaching out. However, there are select offices that manage to stay on top of mind, in terms of concern and responsiveness to ordinary Filipino inquiries and feedback.

Here are some in the list of MOST RESPONSIVE GOVERNMENT OFFICES VIA SOFT MAIL COMMUNICATIONS (here to refer to email, web-accessible hotline, or addresses):

1.  Department of Trade and Industry. This is the office that truly makes it easy for ordinary Filipinos. It is like a one-stop shop that offers fast transactions, and reliable response in terms of business name applications, complaint filing, validation of businesses, etc.  

In fact, it is the ordinary netizen that can get on their toes when reaching out to the office as they require no circuitous platitudes from their customers. DTI staff on standby for a reply to communications are mostly straightforward when it comes to responding to customer's requests and feedback.

2.  Pag-Ibig Fund. Expecting paperwork or the paper and pen requirements from this office every time you drop by? Despite their obvious rudiments, PAG-IBIG is often accessible and replies just in time to available methods of reaching out. One has to constantly check for updates though as changes in the details for sending specific inquiries and comments can be segmented and targeted.  

 

You Need to Be Reminded of Your 20 Percent Fare Discount If You're a Student or a Senior Citizen

 Discounts In Transportation Give Ease

THAT 20 PERCENT DISCOUNT, students, and senior citizens are entitled to, must always be asked. 

Given that the minimum fare for public transportation these days ranges from  Php 13.00 to Php 15.00 for jeepneys and buses already, riding even public transportation may no longer be as cheap as it used to be.

At a time when almost everyone is coping with their own daily expenses, the Filipino riding public mostly expects daily expenses to be kept at a minimum thus, little discounts in transportation can help extend the power of the wallet not just for the moms and dads, but for the students as well.

Students mostly do not have the liberty to work on a generous budget hence public transportation is the preferred ride for many Filipino students.  Since student allowances are basically predetermined by their parents, every student expense thus must be light and predictable,  with no room for changes.  The reason transportation expenses must be regulated and must meet bare minimum rates to be affordable.

A 20 percent discount can give such ease to the daily plights of the students who have to hurdle their way back and forth to their school-house routes.

There is actually a law compelling drivers and operators of PUVS to give the 20 percent discount. 

Non-observance of RA 11314 (Student fare discount act); RA 9994 (Expanded Senior Citizens Act),  the legal basis which obligates drivers and operators to give such discounts on transportation fees, could expose drivers and operators to risks of suspension of driver’s license; cancellation of CPC or Certificate of Public Convenience;  or even two to six years imprisonment.

So, don’t hesitate to ask for your discount, when riding public transportation. 

For additional reference, please visit, LTFRB Press Release/ Website post, dated:  February 20, 2023, entitled “Paalala sa Publiko” on LTFRB’s official website.  Retrieved 04 June 2023.

You Won’t Need to Guess This E-Commerce App That Kicks Subscribers Out Without Notice

 Of all the e-commerce apps available, this one is the most mysterious.  It is one of the pioneers in the industry, with the premise of giving its customers the opportunity to sell their old items and earn extra income from them.

But despite the many reviews written about it, this online selling site that targets nanays mostly as its customer base does not have fair, responsive customer service that attends to online complaints of buyers.

All customers would get is to interact with the allotted email address or through their method of leaving a  message on their feedback or review form.  

But the thing is, this site, cannot hold its own mettle when it comes to fair mediation, and customers and sellers would be left without proper redress of grievance when there is a disagreement or dispute.

You wait as a customer and without notice, this e-commerce app would simply kick out the subscriber anytime they want, without prior advice or respect for the content posted by the subscriber who expected this site to be a “fair marketplace” for all.  It seems their team leans towards non-resolution to low-resolution of feedback.

Too bad, this site has all the noteworthy promises of being a service-oriented online platform, with clarity of direction on how it wants to position its e-commerce in the market. 

But with the kind of customer service they have in handling complaints, it would be so unexpecting that this used-to-be popular site, may lack the necessary customer handling skills to fix issues hurled against it.

You don’t have to guess which e-commerce app this is. Round and about you read about them.  Until you move along to a better app.