Another Company aims to compete against the ever-Philippine-dominating transport network company (TNC) GrabCar.
Photo from Tech in Asia
Angkas is known for its dominantly blue-themed motorcycle taxis. Angkas declared their plans to join the transport network vehicle service (TNVS).
Photo from ABS-CBN News
In a town hall interview, George Royeca, the CEO of Angkas, laid out their plans for 2024, which include the plans to launch Angcars, a four-wheeled ride-hailing service. Royeca also declared that Angcars will address the commuter’s demands for vehicle services.
“Angcars is designed to be an advanced ride-hailing app that seamlessly blends affordability with user-friendly navigation,” Royeca said during the town hall interview.
Photo from VISOR.PH
However, this also implies that the ever-dominating GrabCar finally has a competitor in the ride-hailing service market.
One feature of the Angcars application that can be looked forward to is the Angcars Economy or Angcars Plus option, which allows commuters to choose between four-seater or six-seater cars.
Beyond the plan to launch Angcars in 2024, Angkas also announced other features such as Angkas Health, which offers healthcare home services from medical professionals.
Angkas Padala is another feature Angkas is eyeing, which offers app payment and financial transaction services.
Royeca also highlighted their offer to Angkas Drivers who wish to upgrade their motorcycle vehicles: loaning money through their Angkash Initiative, which is co-partnered with Honda and Uno Bank.
Except for Angkas and Grab, other TNCs in the Philippines offer vehicle services, such as JoyRide, TokTE-Pick Me Up, Owto, and Gojo. Similarly, it can be recalled that Joyride launched their own Super Taxi last November 2023, which has the same rate as regular taxis but offers more modern vehicles.
Despite these operational TNCs in the Philippines, commuters’ demand for public transport options still needs to be satisfied. This in itself is a manifestation of public transport’s insufficiency.
There is certainly a feeling of rush when you finally get to buy your first car. It’s an experience you can give yourself by your own hard work, and as a first-timer, you ought to have careful consideration and planning. If you’re still undecided, you might want to heed the advice of either car enthusiasts you know, or the internet. If this sounds just like you, read ahead to learn tips to make an informed decision.
1. Identify Your Needs
While the need to commute can be exhausting due to the heat in the tropical country, the hardships one has to go through during rush hours when every jeepney is full, you should still consider if your investment is something you really want to do. If the answer is still a maybe, then identify your specific needs and ask yourself if these are things that can be answered by the innovations in modern transportation that we have at hand. Perhaps rush hours can be fixed by Angkas/Maxim/MoveIt, and the heat can be answered by hailing a taxi. But if the answer is yes, and is not only a result of societal pressures, then go ahead and reach for your pocket.
Photo from Philippine News Agency
2. Figure Out Your Budget
Before anything, you need to figure out your budget in order to pick out your options. Remember that this shouldn’t only include the amount to be paid for the initial purchase, but also for maintenance, emergencies, and other fees that can come with owning a car. You have to allocate your funds wisely so as not to be overwhelmed by the cost of owning a car.
Photo from Viking Motors
3. Research Your Options
Once you figure out the amount of money you can work with, you can research your options. Do some research and check out cars that match your needs as a driver. You can create a checklist for each car model, listing down the pros and cons and the things you like about them the most. Your lifestyle and preferences should be paramount in your consideration.
Photo from BMW of Manhattan
4. Scan the Reviews
It’s always good to know what other people have to say about their experience with specific cars. Feedback from actual owners can help you assess certain models beyond what their descriptions say. You may do this by exploring forums on social media regarding real-life experiences to gain valuable insights about the reliability of the cars you are eyeing for.
Photo from AutoDeal
5. Inspect and Test Drive
Whether you’re buying a new or used car, you ought to inspect the actual vehicle and do a test drive. The performance of a car can vary and may not satisfy your expectations, hence, you should bring along a friend who has in-depth knowledge about cars to guarantee a comprehensive assessment of the car’s condition.
Photo from Mitsubishi Motors
6. Consider Fuel Efficiency
The fuel efficiency of a car can help you save a lot of money. This should be a priority in order for you to understand how far your vehicle can travel given a certain amount of fuel. This is an eco-friendly choice to make, and a cost-effective one to say the least.
Photo from The Zebra
7. Review Safety Features
As a first-time car owner, it can feel very new to you as you may be unfamiliar with a lot of things. With this, it is necessary for you to evaluate safety features that can help you navigate with security. Check features such as ABS, airbags, ESC, and rearview cameras. It’s up to you which tools are important to you based on your driving habits as well as the risks you may encounter while on the road.
Photo from Automotorblog
8. Check Out Your Financing Options
Your financial situation determines your ability to pay in full, or the lack thereof. If you’ve fully saved for the car you want to have, then you have nothing to worry about. Otherwise, it’s important for you to check out financing options such as in-house financing or bank loans.
Photo from FortuneBuilders
9. Learn More About Insurance Costs
Insurance can help protect your car in cases of emergencies. For this, you may want to consult financial advisors to be guided with insurance policies, and for you to choose the right one which aligns with both your budget and needs.
Photo from Insurance Post
10. Know More About the Store’s After-Sales Service
How your car dealership handles after-sales service is just as important as when they’re still trying to sell you something. Research about how they handle customer issues, maintenance requests, and warranty claims.
Photo from Bluemont Consulting
Good luck, and may you get the car of your dreams!
The 2013 tweets from Directioners now exit the internet and enter real life with a fan “marrying” Louis Tomlinson, tricking him by signing a supposed autograph.
Photo from AD
During the former One Direction member’s world tour in Indonesia, Louis Tomlinson unintentionally got himself in a wedlock with a fan. He was handed what looked like a Republic of Indonesia excerpt of a marriage certificate when he was signing autographs, in which photos of him and the fan side by side are plastered. His signature was prominently placed in the middle of the document.
Photo from @consequence on X
The fan’s experience was later shared on TikTok. She mentioned a playful remark from Louis where he said, “If my wife wants to,” at some point.
But to get things straight if this worried any Directioner out there, local reports made it clear that Indonesian law doesn’t recognize this as a legal and actual union since it wasn’t formalized in a ceremony. The document is simply for fun and not legally binding.
Photo from Louis Tomlinson Wiki
Along this amusing incident, Louis Tomlinson continues his musical endeavors as he tours with his “Faith In The Future” album.
Out of 180 countries, Singapore lands at #5 in the list of the least corrupt nations according to the 2023 Corruption Perception Index, maintaining their spot since the year prior. The nation had a score of 83/100, calculated by the index using 13 external sources. This shows their commitment to combating corruption, which can clearly be seen in how the country is flourishing, as well as their public sector practices.
Photo from Yahoo News Singapore
Maintaining a good reputation like that bolsters Singapore’s global image, and positions it as a pioneer among Southeast Asian countries. The Corruption Perception Index is a crucial benchmark for this, making Singapore a testament to the effectiveness of robust systems that guarantee transparency and accountability in governance.
Photo from Singapore Government
The organization that made the index possible plays a significant role in the anti-corruption movement. Transparency International works in over 100 countries, operating with the goal of ending corruption and promoting transparency which should be the bare minimum for any governing body. While it’s sad that a meritocratic system has to inspire integrity to a set of officials whom their people trusted enough to vote for, the organization’s commitment to their goal truly does something to instill non-negotiable values of governance, not only to those in seat, but also to people on the ground who have the power to elect their leaders.
Photo from ThoughtCo
Other than ranking in the Corruption Perception Index, Singapore has also placed in other reputable reports, namely the World Justice Project Rule of Law Index and the Political and Economic Risk Consultancy’s report on Corruption in Asia. All of these accolades truly solidify Singapore as a regional leader that relentlessly pursues a corruption-free society.
Jedegal International Manpower Services, Inc. is currently in need of 700 nursing aides to be part of their team. A lot of the people who take nursing aspire to work abroad for the benefits, so if you’re one of them, read ahead for details about this promising opportunity.
Photo from Jedegal International Manpower Services, Inc. Official Facebook PagePhoto from Jedegal International Manpower Services, Inc. Official Facebook Page
With a year of experience as the minimum requirement along with either a Vocational Diploma or Short Course Certificate or a degree in Bachelor of Science in Nursing, you are already qualified for the position. Providing quality care would be your responsibility in the job, as well as assisting patients and monitoring their health. The compensation is SGD 850 a month or Php 35,513.
Photo from Care Options for Kids
Qualifications
BSN Graduate (with or without license)
Male & Female, 38 years old below
Minimum 6 months bedside work experience
Requirements
Resume (check their website for a sample format)
College diploma
Transcript of records
A learning experience with grades
PRC Board Certificate (if applicable)
PRC Board Rating with a breakdown (if applicable)
Valid PRC ID License (if appropriate)
Passport valid for more than 3 years
Gap letter
PSA Birth Certificate
PSA Marriage Contract (if relevant)
12 passport-sized photos (with white background, clearly showing ears and eyebrows)
You can apply through this link: https://www.jedegal.com.ph/apply-custom.php
Send scanned copies of the necessary documents to [email protected].
Submit the application via email.
If you have further questions, you may reach out to them through their contact numbers: 3522192; 3522193; 0929-8196107; 0905-2827419; 0921-8888741; 0977-1700080.
Should you prefer to apply in person, you can visit them at the Ground floor & 2nd-floor Accent Tower in Building 33 Shorthorn St. Project 8 Quezon City, Philippines. Prepare your CV to start the screening process with their team.
Photo from Nursing Times
The deadline of application is March 31, 2024, so if all of this sounds good to you, grab this opportunity and shape the future you envision for yourself!
Beyond New Year celebrated on the eve of January 1st, Lunar New Year is also celebrated globally. In the Philippines, this is commonly referred to as Chinese (Filipino-Chinese) New Year.
Photo from iNews
Before celebrating Valentine’s Day, Filipinos first anticipate the Chinese New Year with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s recent declaration of Feb. 9, a special non-working day in the country, in observance of the Chinese New Year. This heightens the excitement of celebrating Chinese New Year.
Photo from Globe myBusiness Academy
One common practice during the Chinese New Year is using rituals and charms to bring good luck for 2024. Before we bask in the festivities, we should take note of the tips below so that luck is on our side.
CLEANING THE HOUSE BEFORE CHINESE NEW YEAR
It is believed that cleaning the house thoroughly before the Lunar New Year drives away ill-fortune by sweeping it outside the house, allowing positive energy and luck to enter once the Chinese New Year arrives.
Photo from Scrub ‘N Bubbles Cleaning
ANGPAO
Another Chinese New Year superstition is that young children should be given angpao. Angpao is a red rectangular envelope into which money bills can be inserted. Giving angpao to children ensures that they have money entering the new year.
Photo from Tatler Asia
However, tradition does not end in giving angpaos to children. Angpao etiquette must also be followed by children receiving the angpaos. When a child is finally given their angpao, they should open it in private to count their blessings. It is not advisable to open angpaos during the festivities with so many people around. Once a child has received their angpao, they should politely say their thanks. And also, angpao money should not be spent immediately unless necessary.
ALL DEBTS ARE PAID BEFORE CHINESE NEW YEAR
Similar to cleaning the house before Chinese New Year, it is also part of the tradition to make sure that all debts are cleared out before Chinese New Year. Doing this makes your new year debt-free to receive financial luck. In an interview with Pep, Feng Shui Expert Master Hanz Cua clarified that this includes bills such as electricity, water, and other types of bills.
Photo from The Balance
GLUTINOUS PRODUCTS
Another common Filipino practice during Chinese New Year is the display of Tikoy, noodles, and dumplings that are all made of glutinous products. This is a staple because of the stickiness and sweetness to ensure that each of the family members enjoys a sweeter life and will stick together.
Photo from Sharp Aspirant
ROLLING KIAT KIAT OR THROW COINS IN THE HOUSE.
According to Master Hanz Cua, rolling kiat-kiat fruits or throwing coins inside the house should be done as you greet Chinese New Year’s Eve. Hanz explained that Kiat-Kiat is like money, and rolling it in the house symbolizes fortune entering your home. The same goes for throwing coins inside the house.
Photo from DMCI Communities – DMCI Homes
STICK PAPER BILLS ON THE DOOR AND UNDER THE BED
The act of putting bills on the door and under the bed is believed to attract wealth.
Photo from OneNews.PH
MAKE THE CASHBOX FULL
You can make the cash box full by not only putting money but also putting rice, salt, powdered milk, and sugar so that luck is overflowing.
Photo from Parent Booster USA
SERVE 12 KINDS OF FRUITS.
Serving 12 kinds of fruits on your tables symbolizes a prosperous 12 months.
Photo from Palawan News
WEAR RED OR POLKA DOT CLOTHES DURING CHINESE NEW YEAR.
Wearing red clothes or clothes with polka dots for luck. You can also wear emerald green, rich red, or golden yellow because these three colors are the lucky colors for Chinese New Year 2024, which embodies the color of a dragon that signifies power, strength, and success in Chinese culture.
Photo from Luulla
DISPLAY LUCKY CHARMS
The best lucky charms to be displayed for this year’s Chinese New Year are charms that are in connection with the element of the wooden dragon, such as the Green Jade Plant, Dragon Statue, and Bamboo Tree.
Photo from MagicBricks
To partake in Feng Shui practices has been part of the Filipino during New Year and most especially during Chinese New Year. Despite the lack of scientific basis, there is nothing wrong with doing these practices.
However, let us remember that our luck is not solely based on these practices. These are mere guidelines, and our luck is up to what we do in daily life.
A new clue about Amelia Earhart and her plane’s mysterious disappearance was found after 86 years.
Photo from People
Using Sonar imaging technology, the ocean exploration company, Deep Sea Vision, mapped the ocean floor and captured a blurred image that resembles the shape of a small aircraft speculated as Earhart’s Lockheed 10-E Electra.
ABOUT AMELIA EARHART
Earhart was the first female aviator to fly solo nonstop across the Atlantic Ocean, earning her the Distinguished Flying Cross. Which makes her milestones a remarkable feat, especially for women in aviation. In her quest to circumnavigate the globe in 1937, Earhart disappeared somewhere in the Pacific Ocean. Despite her disappearance, her achievements remained remarkable, especially in a profession dominated by men.
Photo from New York Daily News
THE MYSTERIOUS DISAPPEARANCE
The discovery of a small aircraft may be progress in the investigation but experts note that further investigation is needed to confirm the speculation, whether the detected aircraft is Earhart’s plane. To confirm, experts explained that a closer look at the said aircraft is needed by using a remotely operated vehicle (ROV) with a camera to scrutinize the details of the object and to assess the feasibility of the recovery of the aircraft.
Photo from Wikipedia
During Earhart’s and her plane’s disappearance in 1937, a large-scale U.S. search operation was conducted, which was unfortunately unsuccessful. Romeo, a former U.S. Air Force intelligence officer, believed that the plane’s wreckage is located more than 5,000 meters deep and about 160 km from Howland Island. This means that the plane is between Hawaii and Australia.
Photo from Jane Resture
THEORIES ON EARHART’S DISAPPEARANCE
This recent discovery unearthed buried discussions and theories about the plane and Amelia Earhart’s disappearance, such as conjectures about Earhart crashing in the Marshall Islands, surviving as a castaway, or running out of fuel and crashing into the Pacific Ocean near Howland Island. One of the renowned theories of Earhart’s mysterious disappearance is that she was eaten by crabs on Nikumaroro Island, where Earhart could have stayed for a while. The International Group for Historic Aircraft Recovery (TIGHAR) hypothesized that Earhart and Noonan couldn’t find the island in the Pacific where they were supposed to land. Instead, they landed in Nikumaroro, which is surrounded by a reef that could be their runway. Further, they hypothesized that Noonan died, the plane floated off the reef, and Earhart was left alone on the island to be eaten by the crabs later.
It’s finally that time of the year to award the most outstanding music artists in the industry!
The Grammy Awards has just revealed the key nominees for 2024. There are 10 different categories such as the album of the year, record of the year, song of the year, best new artist, best pop solo performance, best pop vocal album, best music video, best rap album, best rock album, and best global music album.
Photo from GRAMMY.com
Here are the different nominees for each category.
Album of the Year
World Music Radio – Jon Batiste
The record – boygenius
Endless Sumner Vacation – Miley Cyrus
Did you know that there’s a tunnel under Ocean Blvd – Lana Del Rey
The Age of Pleasure – Janelle Monae
Guts – Olivia Rodrigo
Midnights – Taylor Swift
SOS – Sza
Record of the Year
Worship – Jon Batiste
Not Strong Enough – boygenius
Flowers – Miley Cyrus
What Was I Made For? (Barbie) – Billie Eilish
On My Mama – Victoria Monet
Vampire – Olivia Rodrigo
Anti-Hero – Taylor Swift
Kill Bill – SZA
Song of the Year
A&W
Anti-Hero
Butterfly
Dance the Night (Barbie the Album)
Flowers
Kill Bill
Vampire
What Was I Made for? (Barbie)
Best New Artist
Gracie Abrams
Fred Again…
Ice Spice
Jelly Roll
Coco Jones
Noah Kahan
Victoria Monet
The War and Treaty
Best Pop Solo Performance
Flowers – Miley Cyrus
Paint The Town Red – Doja Cat
What Was I Made For? (Barbie)
Vampire – Olivia Rodrigo
Anti-Hero – Taylor Swift
Best Pop Vocal Album
Chemistry – Kelly Clarkson
Endless Summer Vacation – Miley Cyrus
GUTS – Olivia Rodrigo
(Subtract) – Ed Sheeran
Midnights – Taylor Swift
Best Music Video
I’m Only Sleeping – The Beatles
In Your Love – Tyler Childers
What Was I Made For (Barbie) – Billie Eilish
Count Me Out – Kendrick Lamar
Rush – Troye Sivan
Best Rap Album
Her Loss – Drake & 21 Savage
Michael – Killer Mike
Heroes & Villains – Metro Booin
King’s Disease III – Nas
Utopia – Travis Scott
Best Rock Album
But Here We Are – Foo Fighters
Starcatcher – Greta Van Fleet
72 Seasons – Metallica
This is Why – Paramore
In Times New Roman – Queens of the Stone Age
Best Global Music Album
Epifanias – Susana Baca
History – Bokante
I Told Them – Burna Boy
Timeless – Davido
This Moment – Shakti
Photo from Billboard
Do you see your favorite artist or band? Well, whoever they are, may your bets win a Grammy!
Jpark Island Resort & Waterpark Mactan, Cebu, a leader in events handling in the ASEAN region, is proud to announce its recent recognition at the prestigious Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Tourism Standard Awards – ASEAN MICE Venue 2024 under the Event Venue category held last January 26, 2024 at Lao PDR.
This ASEAN MICE Venue Award is a testament to Jpark Island’s dedication to providing world-class facilities, impeccable services, and a seamless experience for organizers and attendees alike. The award recognizes the 5-star hotel as a key player in the MICE industry, contributing significantly to the growth and development of the meetings and events sector.
Being able to be granted with this prestigious award, an esteemed set of judges will have to evaluate venues based on various criteria, including infrastructure, technology, accessibility, sustainability practices, and overall customer satisfaction. Exceling in all these areas and standing out as a premier destination for national and international events, Jpark has received its 3rd ASEAN MICE Venue Award.
With its 3-partitioned Triton Grand Ballroom, Jpark Cebu offers inspired and flexible settings for business affairs, conventions, special celebrations, themed dinners, and weddings.
This multi-purpose and fully-equipped grand ballroom has 4 built-in LED screens, RGB and dim light controls, sound-proofing insulation and a sound control room. Jpark Island Resort also houses four function rooms namely Triphora, Nautilus, Cyprea and Pyrene. Their skilled staff, along with detailed attention, will provide excellence to your meetings and banquets.
Truly, with this massive accolade, it’s hard to go past Jpark Island Resort & Waterpark when it comes to fulfilling your dream 5-star events.
For more information, please call (032) 494-5000 or check Jpark Island Resort & Waterpark Mactan, Cebu’s facebook account @jparkislandresort.Jpark Island Resort and Waterpark, Cebu is located at M.L Quezon Highway, Brgy. Maribago, Lapu-lapu City, Cebu, Philippines. For more information contact (632) 494 5000, visit www.jparkislandresort.com; email [email protected]. Check out facebook.com/jparkislandresort or follow @Jparkislandresort on Instagram.
Music licensing negotiations between Universal Media Group (UMG) and the social media giant TikTok have been met with a dramatic turn of events. UMG pulled its entire library of music, which includes internationally acclaimed artists such as Drake and Taylor Swift, from TikTok amidst alleged unsatisfactory payment offers and AI-generated music concerns which it says dilutes royalties for real musicians.
Photo from CNN
TikTok has confirmed the removal, which results in its users having no access to UMG’s music for its popular short-form videos. Users have taken notice of this, as popular videos have been slapped with copyright restriction notices and muted as a result.
All this is the result of a year-long skirmish over fair compensation, AI concerns, and user privacy safety on the social media platform. As the industry bogs down over this unprecedented move by UMG, artists and executives have weighed in on its effects.
Photo from CNBC
Both TikTok and musicians (especially those just starting their careers) have a symbiotic relationship. While TikTok’s content is a heavily diverse set of niches, it is apparent that the use of music is something the majority of the videos in the site thrive on, with a trending sound being used by multiple content creators in order to get more views. On the other hand, because of TikTok’s algorithm, it is also a great platform for artists to get more traction for their songs.
In 2020, the start of the peak of TikTok because of the pandemic, we were able to get the biggest hits of new artists at the time like Doja Cat because of dances and challenges popularized by users. The relationship between the site and artists have always been mutually beneficial in the eyes of the public. This now becomes a blur because of the recurring issue.
Photo from Tiktok Inspires on Youtube
As TikTok has been known to be one of the best platforms for musicians to promote their music, questions have been asked concerning how artists are going to reshape their marketing strategies. This is currently the center of discourse throughout the whole process, and those who keep a close eye on the occurrences in pop culture await the impacts that this decision will have both on TikTok, and rising artists who rely heavily on the sensationalism that is relatively easily given in the platform.
