Philippine News

The United Nations General Assembly voted Friday to adopt a new world map that makes the African continent bigger while shrinking North America and Europe, drawing ire from Washington. Aimed at “a more accurate representation” of continental landmasses, the resolution was supported by 164 countries while the United States voted against it and six other states abstained. The new map — known as the Equal Earth cartographic projection — improves “the accuracy of the cartographic

If you want to stay dry on your next outdoor adventure, there’s more to consider than just color and fit when buying a jacket. One often-mentioned yet rarely explained term plays a key role: the water column. But what exactly does it mean—and how much is enough for your activity? What is a water column rating? Imagine placing a pipe vertically on your jacket material and filling it with water. The water column rating tells you how high the water can rise in this pipe before i

What are the best tips for taking care of indoor plants? Provide them with the right amount of water and sunlight they need Avoid moving the plants around your home Increase the humidity in the room Remove dust from plants Learn how to correctly fertilize your plants Prune the plants Indoor plants have become increasingly popular over the years. They not only brighten up your home, but they also provide numerous health benefits such as purifying the air and reducing stress le

As we navigate adulthood, responsibilities multiply, and our to-do lists seem to stretch endlessly. Keeping track of everything becomes a skill in itself. Fortunately, many of us have developed little hacks to ensure we don’t forget the important (and even the mundane) stuff. After chatting with friends, I’ve compiled some of their best strategies—perhaps you’ll find a new favorite, or maybe you have one to share. The alarm strategy Once upon a time alarms were only used to w

The rainy season in the Philippines doesn't wait for the perfect time to expose roofing problems. A small leak that went unnoticed during summer can suddenly become a dripping ceiling, wet walls, or even damaged furniture after a single heavy downpour. If you've noticed water stains, leaks, or loose roofing materials, acting quickly can help minimize damage while you arrange for a permanent repair. Here are practical steps every homeowner can follow to temporarily fix a leaki

Ah, yes, it’s the rainy season once again. One minute you’re sweating under the sun, the next you’re caught in a thunderstorm that popped out of nowhere and is now ruining your carefully curated OOTD. Many Filipinos associate tag-ulan with inconveniences—heavier traffic, long queues at terminals, and that ever-stressful guessing game of wondering what time you’ll get home, if at all. While we can’t control the weather, we can definitely avoid making our commute harder than it

Filipino resiliency has long been admired by the world, especially during times of calamities and other natural disasters. Despite the countless storms that batter the country each year, an estimated 20 typhoons, Filipinos continue to rebuild and support their communities with unwavering strength. It’s easy to see that this resilience is rooted in a deep sense of community and unmatched enthusiasm that Filipinos possess. This collective spirit transforms tragedy into hope, ma

Under the best of circumstances, as soon as one or two attendees “dial in” to any meeting, productivity starts to suffer. There’s a long list of reasons. Attendees often interpret virtual meetings as a license to multi-task. Meeting organizers tend to be less careful with the purpose and design of the conversation. And it’s not uncommon for one or two attendees to dominate the discussion while others sit back and “tune out.” But it doesn’t have to be this way. Virtual meeting

Physical security is too often overlooked. When most people contemplate cybersecurity they think about the many technical considerations it entails, such as firewalls and malware detection meant to defend against hackers and remote attacks. However, each machines’ actual physical security is unfortunately too often overlooked. We briefly touched on this very subject last week with the example of an employee’s ex-partner potentially using an easily accessed receptionist’s comp

Passing by the town of Carcar in Cebu, a young boy selling freshly cooked chicharon offered us his wares. As young travelers on a budget, two of us began haggling for the goods. After a few minutes, our other companion handed the boy our payment – in full price. It was one of my worst moments. As tourists, we behave differently in our own shores and when we are abroad. At times, I feel like I’m more generous with other nationalities than my own. Who would think twice signing

Keeping your temper in check can be challenging. Use simple anger management tips — from taking a timeout to using "I" statements — to stay in control. Do you fume when someone cuts you off in traffic? Does your blood pressure rocket when your child refuses to cooperate? Anger is a common and even healthy emotion. But it's important to deal with it in a positive way. Uncontrolled anger can take a toll on both your health and your relationships. Ready to get your anger under c

Operating a vehicle in a way that endangers people or property is aggressive driving. Road rage occurs when behavior becomes violent. If you get caught you can be fined up to $200 for each violation . Tips to avoid aggressive driving: Stay calm and keep your emotions in check. Plan ahead and anticipate delays. Focus on your own driving. Be cautious and considerate. Avoid creating a situation that may cause provocation. Give angry drivers plenty of room. Avoid eye contact. Use

Shirts are an indispensable part of our daily lives with their elegance and comfort. However, men's shirts in particular can encounter various stains over time. Food and drink stains, sweat stains, oil marks, grass and ink stains can dirty your shirts and make them unusable. Fortunately, there are many practical methods to remove these stains. Cleaning stains on men's shirts can be quite simple with the right techniques and materials. 1. Food and Drink Stains Food and drink s

Nowadays, free wifi is available almost everywhere you go. Handy if you're on holiday, for example. Unfortunately, using public wifi networks can be a real security risk. SURF colleague Joeri de Ruiter explains why public wifi is not safe, and how you can use it somewhat safely. But better is: don't use it. What you need to know about the security of free wifi Nowadays, wherever you go it is likely that there is free wifi on offer. This can be very convenient when you are tra

The Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) has made it easier for Filipinos to access and use their Philippine National ID (also known as PhilSys ID) through its digital version. Whether you’ve already registered for your National ID or are still waiting for your physical card or paper ePhilID, you can now conveniently download your Digital National ID and use it for various transactions. This guide will walk you through everything you need to know — from downloading your digi

In an increasingly digital world, securing your online presence is crucial. From bank accounts to social media, passwords act as gatekeepers to our personal data. Unfortunately, many people still use weak or easily guessable passwords, which puts them at risk of hacking, identity theft, and financial loss. Here are some tips for creating strong passwords and managing them effectively to keep your online accounts safe and secure. Why Strong Passwords Matter Weak passwords are

As we celebrate moms and nurturers today, I am reminded that motherhood has always come with its share of challenges. Raising children in today’s digital world simply adds another layer, one that hums quietly in the background of daily life. Young children used to spend long hours outdoors, stretching their imagination through play and interaction with others. These days, playtime feels more contained, with glowing screens often replacing the storybooks and toys that once cap

You can check if a link is safe by hovering over the link to see the full website address (URL) or by using a URL checker. Hovering your mouse over a link lets you preview the URL, which helps you spot suspicious or unfamiliar website addresses without actually clicking it. Alternatively, URL checkers analyze links for potential security risks, such as malware, that could compromise your device. These methods can help reduce the risk of clicking on dangerous links that could

Over the last few years, pickleball has been rising in popularity. In fact, pickleball is considered one of the fastest-growing sports in the United States. Due to the soaring popularity of this decades-old game, many parks and recreation departments are now adding pickleball to their sports programming. But what is pickleball exactly, and why is it becoming so popular? What is Pickleball? Pickleball is a paddle sport that combines elements of tennis, badminton, and ping-pong

With summer right around the corner, now is the time to start planning your summer vacation! Summer provides the perfect time to get away as a family and create memories to last a life time, but if not properly thought out a family trip can turn into family stress…very quickly. I’ve been there, so I want to share with you the best tips I know of. Consider your audience. Family travel is not a one size fits all. Ages, temperaments, and interests all come into play when conside