Mali, Manila Zoo’s only elephant standing, bids farewell after passing away yesterday, November 28, 2023.
Photo from Tatler AsiaPhoto from Inquirer.net
Her death was confirmed and announced by Manila Mayor Honey Lacuna. Mali’s death is reportedly caused by congestive heart failure. After almost 42 years, Mali is now running free, as she deserved in the first place, but it’s a sadder freedom than anyone imagined.
Mali Arrives in the Philippines
Vishwa Ma’ali, or Mali, arrived in Manila in May 1981 and has been inhabiting the Manila Zoo before her death in 2023. She was three years old when she came to the Philippines from Sri Lanka.
Photo from ABC News
Mali is dubbed by the members of the Ethical Treatment of Animals as one of the saddest and loneliest elephants in the world. This is because Mali has been the only elephant captive at Manila Zoo.
Photo from Peta AsiaPhoto from the dodo
Despite efforts to free her, none of the Manila Mayors permitted the poor gentle creature’s release.
YouTube Premium is giving people more reasons to switch with their exciting new addition to their subscription perks – ‘Playables,’ which is an exclusive gaming feature for Premium members. With over 30 arcade games seamlessly integrated into the YouTube app on Android, iOS, and Web, this innovation eliminates the need for downloads, offering a gaming experience that gives you the overall YouTube experience.
Photo from ISP.PAGE
Premium subscribers can go into the world of gaming by simply launching the YouTube app on their devices or by visiting the YouTube website. Navigating through the homepage or the explore menu reveals a dedicated ‘Playables’ shelf. Users then have to activate the ‘Play games on YouTube’ option, found on the experimental features page.
Photo from Yugatech
To access the ‘Playables’ feature, users need to tap the profile icon at the bottom right of the mobile app, scroll down to ‘Your Premium benefits,’ and select ‘Try experimental new features.’ It’s important to note that this feature is exclusively available to Premium members until March 28, sparking speculation about potential expansions and the introduction of more premium games, reminiscent of the Netflix Games service.
Photo from Unsplash Photo from Unsplash
This announcement follows YouTube’s recent development of enhanced bitrate offerings on 1080p videos to Premium users. The feature, initially available on iOS, has now been extended to Android devices and smart TVs, ensuring that Premium members enjoy an enhanced video streaming experience.
YouTube Premium continues to elevate its subscription offering with the introduction of ‘Playables,’ providing a new dimension to the YouTube experience for gaming enthusiasts. As YouTube continues to experiment and expand its premium offerings, subscribers can look forward to an even more enriched and personalized platform.
Now is an excellent time to revisit your old Google accounts.
Starting December 1, 2023, Google will permanently delete Google accounts that have been inactive for two years. All contents, including photos, calendar entries, e-mails, contacts, and drive documents, will be permanently removed.
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“If a Google Account has not been used or signed into for at least two years… the account and its contents – including content within Google Workspace (Gmail, Docs, Drive, Meet, Calendar) and Google Photos will be deleted.”
Business and School-managed accounts are not included
Google emphasizes that only personal accounts will be deleted. Business accounts and school-managed accounts will not be removed. Moreover, accounts with active subscriptions to any applications or uploaded videos on YouTube will not be deleted.
Photo from UnsplashPhoto from Unsplash
Why is Google Deleting Accounts?
Google’s account deletion is to purge their system of inactive accounts that are prone to getting hacked or compromised. According to Google, inactive accounts often have old or re-used passwords without security checks.
This is also a move by Google to prevent identity theft and other cybersecurity risks.
Photo from Unsplash
How to Protect Your Accounts from Deletion
There is a way for you to keep all your Google accounts and make them active. All you have to do is sign in and use Gmail, Google Drive, and more.
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Simply read or send an email, upload something on Google Drive, download an app from the Google Play store, and watch a YouTube video. Moreover, you can also use Google search or access a third-party application by using your Google account.
Photo from Unsplash
Save Your Google Data
You can also opt to save your Google data.
Users can open this link, which will explain how to use Google Takeout. Google Takeout allows users to download all data or save only specific ones like email or photos.
Downloaded data will be stored in either Dropbox or Microsoft OneDrive.
AirAsia offers a “Buy 1 Free 1” hotel stay for people who use the AirAsia Superapp to make hotel reservations. Users can get a free one-night stay in selected hotels in Manila, Kuala Lumpur, Bangkok, and Jakarta.
Photo from airasia Super App Photo from Economy Traveller
To avail, head to the “Hotels” option on the app and pick two nights of your choice with the buy one free one offer.
Fly in Early January and Get 22% off your Flight
For AirAsia’s 22nd birthday sale, they are dropping another 22% off on flights. The one-way base fare for domestic flights promo is P79 to P449. Moreover, the one-way base fare promo for international flights is P479 to P2,838.
Photo from @airasia on Twitter
The booking period is from November 27 to December 3. Meanwhile, the travel period is from January 8 to September 30, 2024.
Photo from Philstar LifePhoto from NEWSROOM.AIRASIA.COM
What are you waiting for? Book your flights and hotels via AirAsia’s Superapp.
Your favorite K-drama rom-com is getting a Philippine adaptation, and the cast is perfect!
Photo from Rappler
Lee Young-Joon (Park Seo Joon’s Character) will be played by Paulo Avelino, and Kim Mi So (Park Min Young’s Character) will be played by Kim Chiu in the PH Adaptation.
Photo from @viuphilippines on InstagramPhoto from @viuphilippines on Instagram
Joining the official cast are Romick Sarenta, Kaori Oinuma, Gillian Vicencio, Pepe Herrera, Franco Laurel, Yves Flores, JC Alcantara, Cai Cortez, Phi Palmos, Kat Galang, Brian Sy, with special participation of Kim Won Shik.
The PH adaptation of What’s Wrong with Secretary Kim will be produced by Dreamscape Entertainment. The series is a collaboration between ABS-CBN and Viu.
Photo from @viuphilippines on Instagram
What’s Wrong with Secretary Kim is a hit Webtoon-based South Korean rom-com that revolves around the romance progress of an arrogant vice-chairman and his lovely secretary who decides to quit after being with him for a long time.
The PH adaptation will be coming in 2024, and we are already feeling great chemistry between Kim Chiu and Paulo Avelino.
In a groundbreaking move, Apple has yielded to persistent calls from Android and Google, announcing its adoption of the Rich Communication Services (RCS) messaging standard for iPhones. This integration, slated for release through a software update next year, aims to bridge the gap between iPhone and Android users, enhancing cross-platform messaging with a host of iMessage features.
Photo from Unsplash
The RCS integration promises an enriched messaging experience, enabling high-quality media sharing, read receipts, typing indicators, and more. Apple’s commitment to adopting the RCS Universal Profile, as endorsed by the GSM Association, underscores its dedication to providing seamless interoperability, surpassing the limitations of traditional SMS or MMS.
In a statement to 9to5Mac, Apple affirmed, “Later next year, we will be adding support for RCS Universal Profile. We believe RCS Universal Profile will offer a better interoperability experience when compared to SMS or MMS. This will work alongside iMessage, which will continue to be the best and most secure messaging experience for Apple users.”
This strategic move by Apple is widely perceived as a response to regulatory pressures, particularly the European Union’s Digital Markets Act (DMA), compelling major companies to ensure interoperability with other platforms. Additionally, the persistent advocacy for RCS support from industry giants like Google and Samsung has influenced Apple’s decision, as evidenced by their compelling marketing campaigns.
Photo from YugatechPhoto from Unsplash
While the introduction of RCS to iPhones is undoubtedly a positive development, the distinctive “green bubble” associated with Android messages seems set to persist. Apple clarifies that RCS will function alongside iMessage but will retain the characteristic green appearance reminiscent of SMS messages.
Despite the color divide, Apple emphasizes that RCS will serve as a replacement for SMS and MMS, existing independently from iMessage. The green bubbles will act as a fallback when needed, ensuring a seamless transition between different messaging protocols.
Photo from Apple Support
As Apple prepares to embrace RCS, the messaging landscape is poised for a transformative shift, promoting greater connectivity and interoperability among users of diverse platforms. This move is not just a technological leap but a testament to the industry’s commitment to providing users with enhanced communication experiences, regardless of their device preferences.
“Everybody should have secure and modern messaging without worrying what kind of phone they’re texting to,”
Google SVP of platforms and ecosystems Hiroshi Lockheimer said on X (formerly Twitter).
Photo from Pixabay
“So glad to see Apple joining our ongoing work with the GSMA on RCS to make texting better for all!”
Company Christmas parties are always a thrill because you’d never know what to expect.
Aside from the food and games, the most awaited part of the celebration is the raffle. You can win prizes in company raffles, such as cash, a gadget, or a household appliance. However, a company in Pasig has a unique prize that all employees would want — a 3-day paid leave.
Photo from GMA Public Affairs
Shanen Sangrines won a 3-day paid leave from her company’s Christmas party raffle. When her name was called, shock was evident on her face.
The company’s HRD, Marlon Santos, said that the company wanted to give back to its employees for their amazing service. Moreover, the company wants its employees to be physically and mental;y healthy.
Aside from the 3-day paid leave, the company also had raffle for a trip to Boracay with pocket money for 2, and a P5000 pamper day for spa and massage.
Photo from GMA Public AffairsPhoto from GMA Public Affairs
Talk about generous! Well, you know what they say, when a company takes care of its employees, the more the employees will work harder and better for the company.
If there’s something that holds people back from investing in cryptocurrency, it’s the amount of risk involved. The most obvious reason for this is that cryptocurrency prices keep on changing. And if the price plummets, you can end up making a huge loss or even losing your entire investment. But even besides the price, there are lots of other risks involved. For example, we saw people lose their life savings when FTX crushed.
Photo from Unsplash
That said, millions of people continue to join the cryptocurrency bandwagon, as blockchain and digital currency seem to be the future. If you are planning to join, you only need to be smart with your investment and manage the risks well. And today, we’ll look at various ways you can minimize the risks involved.
Conduct Thorough Research
Before you can stay ahead of the risks, you need to have a proper understanding of how everything works in the crypto industry. If you are new, start right from the underlying technology. Understand blockchain, the different technologies behind different cryptocurrencies, the factors that affect pricing, etc.
Once you settle on a specific cryptocurrency that you want to invest in, get into its details. For example, if it’s Bitcoin, go through the historical changes in the Bitcoin price. What caused these changes? When you equip yourself with such knowledge, you will be in a better position to deal with the various risks.
Photo from Unsplash
Diversify, Diversify, Diversify
This is probably the basic principle when it comes to managing risks in investments. Basically, it just involves putting your eggs in different baskets. While there are opportunities that can be very enticing or seem very ‘safe,’ avoid going all in at all cost. If something bad happens to that investment, you can easily end up in a bad financial situation.
The basic way to diversify in cryptocurrency is by having multiple cryptocurrencies. Ensure that you also explore different types of crypto assets, such as coins, tokens, and stablecoins. Besides reducing your risk, you will also put yourself in a better position to gain from the good fortune of another asset.
Ensure Your Assets are Secure
Just like everything else that involves money, there will always be a risk of loss or theft when it comes to crypto. There are lots of hackers out there who will try anything to get access to your assets. They can hack your device, bait you through phishing, or even breach the exchange you use. And if they do, it will be very hard, or even impossible, for you to recover the assets.
This means that you need to go the mile extra in securing your crypto. Start with things such as backing up and using 2FA, and you can also explore the use of cold storages. If you are doing what is often referred to as Hodling, the latter can prove to be a very good option. Just ensure that you don’t lose the device you’ve used to store your assets.
Photo from Unsplash
Focus on the Long Term
You may have heard of people who invested in crypto and got rich quick. However, avoid joining the space with that mentality. This is because you’ll definitely come across some enticing opportunities that offer quick huge returns. The problem is they will most probably be what are known as pump-and-dump scams.
As such, it would be wiser to come up with a strategy that will allow you to focus on making a profit over the long term. This will need you to ignore the quick changes in price that crypto is known for and avoid knee-jack reactions. Strategies such as dollar-cost averaging can help you with that.
Photo from Pixabay
Stay Informed and Vigilant
One thing about the crypto market is that it can be treacherous. Things can change overnight and lead to a project that you trusted collapsing. However, if you are a person that keeps your eye on the market news, you may be able to take action before other users. As such, ensure that you stay informed.
The arrival of the 13th month pay often triggers a mixed bag of emotions. It’s a financial windfall, a reward for months of hard work, but it also brings forth a significant question: to spend or to save? The tug-of-war between indulging in luxury and leisure and the practicality of saving for the future is a dilemma many face, particularly the members of the working class.
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After months of hard work, treating oneself to the finer things in life seems only fair. The notion of spending that hard-earned money on well-deserved luxury and leisure activities is undeniably appealing– whether it’s a dream vacation, a new gadget, or a spa day to unwind, the 13th month beckons as the perfect opportunity to turn desires into reality.
Yet, lurking beneath the surface lies the harsh reality faced by many individuals. The holiday season, synonymous with joy and celebration, can cast a shadow of dilemma for those grappling with financial constraints. While the desire to enjoy the fruits of labor is strong, the responsibility to put food on the table and meet other essential needs remains an ever-present concern.
For those with limited financial resources, the festive season can be a bittersweet experience. The struggle to strike a balance between enjoying the moment and ensuring a secure future can cast a shadow over the festivities.
In the end, the choice between spending and saving the 13th month pay is a deeply personal one. It’s a reflection of individual circumstances, priorities, and aspirations. While indulging in well-deserved pleasures may provide instant gratification, the long-term security of saving cannot be overlooked.
Photo from Unsplash
There is no one-size-fits-all policy for handling the 13th month pay, it’s a decision that each individual must make based on their unique situation. Whether it’s creating lasting memories through experiences or establishing a financial safety net for the future, both choices have their merits, and both truly have their own significant value. Neither is wrong. And if you choose to enjoy your money, just know that it’s not selfish for you to grant yourself something you normally couldn’t afford. Life is monotonous, life is hard. If you have the temporal access to decorate it so you’re able to look at it and feel an ounce of joy, then do it.
Ultimately, with the knots and tangles of simply being alive and the uncertainty that comes with existence, it’s essential to remember that our hyperfixation shouldn’t lie in how one spends their money, but how you spend your life. Spend it well.
Photo from Unsplash
In the grand scheme of things, whether one chooses to indulge or save, trust your choice. Whatever it may be, it’s a good decision. As the holiday season unfolds, may the choices you make be a reflection of personal values and aspirations, may the choice make you happy, and may the choice be yours.
Editor’s note: This is the opinion of the writer and does not in any way reflect the company.
A Cebuana has claimed half of the P30 Million jackpot of the Mega Lotto 6/45 draw on October 25, 2023.
Photo from Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office
The Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) stated that the winner claimed the prize at their main office in Mandaluyong City on November 9, 2023.
The winner shared that her winning combination was a Lucky Pick. She has been playing the lotto for 10 years and won this year just in time for Christmas. She even shared how shaken up she was after finding out that she won.
The Cebuana will use her winnings for a small business and for her daughter’s education. She also expressed her gratitude to PCSO for giving her the chance to fulfill her dreams.
Photo from Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office
“Tiyak masaya ang pasko namin ng pamilya ko. Iingatan ko po itong mabuti para sa kinabukasan ng aking pamilya. Marami pa po sana kayong Matulungan,”
