The Ugly Truth Behind Today's Celebration of the Philippine Independence

This more-than-a-just-life-size monument of Andres Bonifacio along with some symbolic figures of the rebolusyonarios was constructed in 1933 in Caloocan, Metro Manila. This bronze sculpture was designed by the country's National Artist for the Visual Arts (Sculpture) in 1973, Guillermo Estrella Tolentino. 

It's 6:30 in the morning and I am on my way home after a night shift duty. I thought it's gonna be an easy day for me, but this heavy traffic along EDSA near Monumento has just quickly given me some headaches. And oops, yeah! I almost forgot that today is going to be another special day for the Filipinos. I realized that today, June 12, is a major holiday and it's the commemoration of the 116th anniversary of the Philippine independence.

And that could be an unquestionable reason why as early as past 6 in the morning today, people from different parts of Metro Manila are already flocking the areas of the Monumento Circle. I guess, some are just curious observers only, and maybe others were already a constant, annual witnesses to this occasion. While quite a few maybe--like this street vendor, might just be here for business reason alone.

ZipMatch City Guides: A Quick Solution to Avoid the Hassle Brought by the Faulty Train System in Metro Manila

Can bullet trains really solve the problem?

When I heard about the news that a government sector has been eyeing a new bullet train project that will eventually bridge the miles between Metro Manila and Clark International Airport, I was astonished at first. But suddenly, I ended up scratching the back of my head while voluntarily crumpling a few of my facial muscles.

I realized that this may doesn't sound as good as two thumbs up at all. I understand though that this may be a sign of a fast growing and developing economy, but I felt more bothered about how our recent MRT/LTR (Metro Rail Transit/ Light Rail Transit) scenario really looks like everyday. I guess, this needs more attention than laying out another more grandiose and expensive plan like putting up a new railway system for bullet trains just to reduce the travel time going to the airport in Clark (and to other provinces).

Please take time to watch this video so you'll understand what I am talking about:

These Photos Can't Lie—Araneta Center Farmers Market is Undoubtedly the Cleanest in Metro Manila!

Compared to other public markets around Metro Manila which are known to have this stinky, nostril-drying smell and sticky to muddy sidewalks; the Araneta Center Farmers Market (located in Cubao, Quezon City) is incomparable when it comes to its high standards of cleanliness and orderliness.

Many times, I heard people talking about how awesome this place is, so to prove it to myself, I decided to visit this place one day to satisfy my curiosity.

More than just a mere rumor, this place seemed to be the best market I have ever seen around the metro. Aside from being a melting pot of the Philippines' known fruits, vegetables, seafood and meat products, I am impressed about how vendors maintain an organized display of all their goods—making the entire place incredibly neat and tidy.

With the cooperative kindness of the Araneta Group Marketing Department, I was able to secure a permit to shoot some photos within the market's perimeter. This made it easy for me to go around while having the chance to occasionally talk with some vendors here, too.

Now, hold on because I am now about to show you some fascinating finds that made my entire Farmers Market experience unforgettably worth sharing.

The 5 Most Ignored Situations Wherein 'Selfies' Can Impose Danger to Yourself and to Your Relationship to Others

A classic and a vintage selfie of the Polish poet and photographer, Stanisław Ignacy Witkiewicz [cropped]

Believe it or not, but there are 250 millions of photos that are being uploaded on Facebook daily according to a 2011 report coming directly from the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). This amount is getting bigger and bigger as time goes by and for sure, a huge bulk of these digital photos is selfies.

Selfies, previously known as self portraiture, is no longer new to the world even before it became the Oxford Dictionary's word of the year for 2013. In fact, even some of the portrait paintings of Leonardo the Vinci during the Renaissance has been speculated to depict his obsession to selfies.

True enough, selfies are not limited to anyone. However, an individual should know his or her limitations on this self-gratifying art though.

Now, try to examine yourself. Go in front of a mirror and ask this 'moving selfie' in front of you: Am I already going beyond the norms of selfies? Is it just merely a medium of self expression or now becoming a mental preoccupation on how I view myself?

Then here are some threatening, most ignored situations that you need to watch out. Even if there's just one of these that starts to manifest in you, STOP doing selfies for a while. These pitfalls can destroy YOU entirely in no time.

A Curious Case Study on Why Filipinos Don't Really Have the Right to Say "I Can't Find a Job"

Imagine this.

Let’s say, you’re a white collar worker and just today, you were surprised when something suddenly popped up and caused you an abrupt termination from your job.

I know how awful this would be like. But since you're confident with your indestructible,  strong personality, you believe that you can easily move on from this tragic scenario.

As a matter of fact, just right after being kicked out, you have already formulated your survival back-up plan and figured out all the possible options:

A. Go job-searching again
B. Call your best friend/your mom/dad for immediate help
C. Temporarily use and spend your savings account
D. (Optional) Go out and start selling kwek-kwek, tokneneng and fish balls...or maybe become a pedicab driver for a while.