All posts by Kuya

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A Splash of Color: My Second Year Hosting The Artitude Group’s Exhibit

Hello, art lovers! 🎨

Guess who’s back? That’s right, it’s me, your favorite off-script, flavor-adding, non-serious host! I had the absolute pleasure of hosting the Artist Reception Day for The Artitude Group’s exhibit at the Ayala Museum for the second year in a row. And let me tell you, it was a blast!

A Whirlwind of Creativity

From the moment I stepped into the Artist Space, I was surrounded by a whirlwind of creativity. The paintings were more than just colors on a canvas; they were stories waiting to be told, emotions waiting to be felt. This year, I found myself not just looking at the paintings, but truly appreciating them. Each stroke, each hue, each texture spoke volumes about the artist’s journey.

Spotlight on the Artists

This year’s exhibit was a visual feast, showcasing the talent of 27 incredible artists, each bringing their unique flair to the table. Let’s give a special shout-out to these brilliant minds:

  • Annette Aguado: Her use of vibrant colors and intricate details made her pieces stand out.
  • Angela Amor: Known for her evocative abstract works, Angela’s art invites deep contemplation.
  • Isabel Campa: Isabel’s African fauna transported viewers to serene and tranquil places.
  • Rene Canlas: His bold use of color and dynamic compositions were a visual delight.
  • Daisy Carlos: Daisy’s floral face motifs were both delicate and powerful.
  • Kim Carlos: Kim’s fairy tale portraits captured the essence of dream life.
  • Kris Ian Carlos: Their approach added a dreamlike quality to the exhibit.
  • Nida Cranbourne: Nida’s pieces were a beautiful blend of tradition and innovation.
  • Eva Millan Dantes: Her textured artworks brought a tactile experience to the viewers.
  • Lourdes Delgado: Lourdes’ minimalist style conveyed profound messages with simplicity.
  • Rhea Jai Fernandez: Rhea’s vibrant and energetic works were impossible to ignore.
  • Kathy Garrido: Her art was a harmonious blend of form and color.
  • Mitz Garrido: Mitz’s detailed illustrations told fascinating stories.
  • Ysa Gernale: Ysa’s pieces were a celebration of creativity.
  • Maryrose Gisbert: Her bold and expressive strokes left a lasting impression.
  • Joanna Hirsch: Joanna’s art explored the depths of human emotions.
  • Esther Leynes: Esther’s abstract pieces were full of movement and energy.
  • Chiqui Lizada: Her serene and calming works were a breath of fresh air.
  • Pit Montinola: Pit’s art was a delightful mix of whimsy and sophistication.
  • Clara Mortesen: Clara’s use of light and shadow added a dramatic flair to her pieces.
  • Marinette Garrido Ortigas: Her contemporary pieces were thought-provoking and engaging.
  • Arianna Quintal: Arianna’s playful use of color brought joy to the exhibit.
  • Gigit Sales: Gigit’s intricate designs showcased a meticulous attention to detail.
  • Audrey Sin: Audrey’s art was a beautiful exploration of modern beauty.
  • Patricia Tan: Her works were a fusion of modern and traditional elements.
  • Ottilia Taus: Ottilia’s vibrant and dynamic pieces were a visual treat.
  • Annabelle Wisniewski: Annabelle’s serene paintings were a perfect conclusion to the exhibit.

A Melting Pot of Ideas

But the art wasn’t the only highlight. The people were just as vibrant and colorful! I made so many new friends, each one with their own unique perspective on art. We laughed, we debated, and we shared our thoughts and interpretations. It was a melting pot of ideas and I was all for it!

Hosting this event was not just fun, it was enlightening. It was a journey of discovery, of learning, of appreciation. And the best part? They asked me to host again! I guess they really do like a host who adds his own flavor and keeps things light-hearted. 😉

The Vibrant Atmosphere

The energy in the room was electric. Conversations buzzed around every corner as visitors engaged with the artworks and shared their interpretations. It was a beautiful reminder of how art brings people together, sparking dialogue and fostering a sense of community.

The Artist Reception Day was filled with memorable moments, from spontaneous applause for particularly striking pieces to heartfelt discussions between artists and attendees. It was clear that everyone present felt a deep connection to the art and the creative minds behind it.

A Year of Art, Friendship, and Discovery

So here’s to another successful year of art, friendship, and discovery. The Artitude Group’s exhibit at the Ayala Museum was a testament to the incredible talent within our community. Each artist contributed a piece of their soul to this exhibit, and it showed in every stroke and every color.

Can’t wait to see what next year brings! Until then, keep celebrating creativity and supporting our local artists. They are the heart and soul of our vibrant art scene.

Uncategorized

How to use ChatGPT to create a PowerPoint Presentation in 5 minutes

  • Go to ChatGPT and prompt: I want you to write me VBA code for a PowerPoint presentation of 5 horror stories with MLM (Multi Level Marketing). You are to fill in the text with your own knowledge, no placeholders. 5-8 slides is fine.
  • Copy the code
  • Open a blank PPT file
  • Use Alt + f11 to open Visual Basic Editor and paste the code as a new Module. Then close the editor without saving or anything.
  • Go to PowerPoint and select View > Macros. The macro you just created will be there. Run it.

Uncategorized

Nas Daily script sample breakdown

Wanna have scripts of 1 minute like the successful vlogger Nas Daily? We got you covered! Here is the breakdown…

  1. Hook/Intro (0-5 seconds): Nas typically starts his videos with a strong hook or attention-grabbing statement or question. This is designed to immediately capture the viewer’s interest.
  2. Narration (5-50 seconds): In the next part of the video, Nas provides narration and context for the topic he’s discussing. He often uses a conversational and personal tone, speaking directly to the camera. He’s known for sharing personal anecdotes or experiences related to the topic.
  3. Visuals (10-50 seconds): While Nas narrates, the video is accompanied by relevant visuals. These visuals include clips of people, places, and events related to the topic. Nas often incorporates drone shots, time-lapse footage, and on-the-ground video to make the content visually engaging.
  4. Transition (usually around 45 seconds): Nas typically uses a transition point around 45 seconds into the video. This transition often involves a change in location, perspective, or visual style to keep viewers engaged.
  5. Key Takeaway (45-55 seconds): Towards the end of the video, Nas presents the key takeaway or message related to the topic. This is often a concise and impactful statement that ties the video together.
  6. Call to Action (55-60 seconds): In the last few seconds of the video, Nas might include a call to action. This could encourage viewers to share the video, comment with their thoughts, or take some action related to the topic.
  7. Closing (end of video): The video typically ends with a signature closing, such as Nas saying his catchphrase “That’s one minute, see you tomorrow!”

Time now for you to get busy and CREATE!

Business

Measure your wealth Globally

How much do you need to play at the Top of the World?

According to Net Worth

  • 1% have 1M USD in Net Worth
  • 10% have 100k USD Net Worth
  • 50% have 4k USD Net Worth

According to Income

  • 1% earn yearly 34k USD and above

So it is easy to be a top 1% income earner globally and a little more difficult to be a 1% Net Worth person globally.

As you know I am obsessed with being part of that club and shall not stop until achieving it!

Business

4 Questions Before Bringing a New Product to Market

  1. Is it practical and does it fit a vital human need?
  2. Can it be done beautifully?
  3. Can it be different enough to stand out from all competition?
  4. Is it even a little better than all that is available on the market?

If you can answer YES to all these questions, then you might have a real good business idea on your hands.

Get started and worry about permits and other issues later. There is no perfect moment or situation to get started. Guess what? Problems will come up anyway.

Test and learn from your mistakes from where you are. Giant biz now started really small out of passion and obsession of their creators.

News

1st death Anniv. of director Baby Barredo

My Tita Baby was very tough, and she meant good by it.

Founder of Repertory Philippines, the number 1 English theater company in the country. Home of so many stars for national and international productions. They all learned tons from her.

I am an actor because I used to watch her plays and rehearsals since I was a kid. And I made a living out of it since 1998. So thank you Tita Baby!

When I moved to the Philippines I lived with her, I joined her theater company and did my first musical here: Seussical. Started to learn the local dynamics and hardships. As she said it is 99% perspiration and only 1% inspiration.

Whenever she was sick in the hospital I was always by her side. Including her last breath even if it was forbidden to be in the emergency room or visit during lockdown times. That is how much I loved her.

She gave me hell during the only play she directed me in haha. That was Guadalupe the musical. She would shout and insult me during rehearsals. After I would help her get in the car and we would go for dinner as a family.

She usually gave hell especially to blood-related actors in order to show she wouldn’t favor us, plus coz she wanted to make us better actors. It was very very tough if you ask me. I wanted to quit.

The Barredo’s are known for being hot-tempered and passionate artists. That is why even if I suffered it I also understood it.

Guess what? I kept on working on my character daily and did the best performance of my life. So much so that among other plays I got nominated as Performer of the Decade in the Philippines by Broadway World alongside big-time superstars.

So I closed my ears and mind to what other 10 people were telling me to do with my character during her absence (actors, production, dancers), and I kept on working on the path I started during her rehearsals. It paid off.

I came to the Philippines and I am an actor because of you. Joined dozens of movies and stage plays since then. Achieved so much more than in my wildest dreams as an actor. Thank you!

I wish your legacy continues and you wanted: to spread theater and help actors make a living out of it.

Business

Baby steps to being a Rich Filipino

I see too many people suffering from poverty in my beloved Philippines

Step 1 – Get out of Debt

This is most important because it gives mental freedom and stops the bucket from losing water. If you have a bucket with holes, sayang your work is going to cover those wholes (AKA interest of Debt).

This step is aggressive! Start with the smallest debt and live tipid na tipidan talaga. All your extra money to kill smallest debt, then next smallest hangan tapusan.

Step 2 – Deposit your daily money in a high yield savings account

Gsavings at Gcash (My Piggy Bank) or ING Bank.

Ingat, hindi G-Invest eto ha! Iba yon.

From these accounts easy to pay bills, plus free transactions, plus free check deposits, plus you save time going to the bank, plus… MAY FREE CASH MONTHLY

Every month they deposit interest back into your account, yes, every month! Many times bigger than normal banks in the Philippines. Try it!

Step 3 – Invest every month a minimum of 10% of your income in dividend stocks

You cannot help the poor by being one of them. Get rich, tapos help the poor after.

Get strong, then you can pull people up.

No paying for the tuition of your siblings or the retirement of your parents if you are not financially free yet.

What is Financially Free? That you can stop working and all bills and food come from your investments na.

This is not TRADING. This is BUYING and NEVER SELLING. Collect dividends forever. Buy and Hold strategy.

How to buy stocks with BPI

35php invested every day in dividend stocks makes you retire with 4-5 Million PHP after 40 years.

All these steps take effort and saying NO to traditions, relatives, parties, and gifts. Hard, I know! If it was easy everybody would be rich.

Uncategorized

Testimonials for Story Telling Seminar

The Facilitator delivered this session effectively: 5 out of 5

What participants said:

• Energetic and fun

• Enthusiasm and audience engagement was Kuya’s shining strength; overall an extremely enticing presenter to have onboard.

• He is funny in a good way. I like how he encourages us to speak Filipino if it will make us comfortable. He keeps saying that there’s no right/wrong answer, I also like that from him.

• I was a bit nervous to be part of this training but Kuya made me less nervous. He was very energetic and made sure all of the participants are engaging. Also liked the fact that he gives detailed feedback on what can we improve on how we deliver a speech or story. Thanks, Kuya.

• He is a great faculty and he attracts the attendees with his super energetic presence.

• I find his presentations very natural and he is a funny guy, he speaks with emotions and a lot of anecdotes

• Keeps the session very alive and engaging. I think he is a very good addition to the facilitators because he compliments everybody. Plus points on his professional background and being a foreigner + Filipino with “puso”

• He always encourages participants to apply all the tips and tricks, especially putting puso on it. He brings so much energy to the team!

• He is very energetic and includes “puso” in giving your story. He really encourages us to improve and practice well in delivering our story.

• Kuya is a “little” pushy but in a good way because he knows you can still improve and get out of the “shell”.

• Very fun and engaging presenter. I really admire his energy and mood because it is hard to be like that, especially in the morning.

• He is energetic and has no dull moments if he’s speaking. I wish I would also overcome my shyness as he does.

Uncategorized

Cheapest safe ways to send money from the Philippines to Spain

Sadly it is still pretty expensive to do this process. So here are the options I know of and have tried and compared at some point a few of them.

The goal is to transfer Philippine Pesos into Euros in a Spanish bank account. Will set an example wanting 1000 euros to arrive at the destination. Except for BPI where I sent 500 euros.

Transferwise

Also known as Wise now. Owned I believe by Richard Branson, the creator of Virgin Enterprises.

Inside their web, there are 3 options to send money. But the only practical from the Philippines so far is to have them charge your debit or credit card. The other options are for sending from Europe to Europe or other countries.

The basic fee will be 31.42 euros for card charges. They charge your card in the Philippines and deposit it in your Spanish bank.

Case study 1: Transferred 1000 Euro using RCBC credit card cost me 85 euro between RCBC + Exchange + Transferwise. An 8.5% cost is expensive.

Case study 2: Transferred 1000 Euro using BPI credit card cost me 51 Euro between BPI + Exchange + Transferwise. A 5.1% cost seems more reasonable.

Paypal

If you have your Philippine Paypal account connected with your bank account or credit card, you can transfer money to your Spanish Paypal account. You need 2 Paypal accounts for this, one in each country.

They have a conversion rate fee embedded when you input the amounts to send.

43.58 euros added after the currency conversion takes place.

Western Union

Can send from a branch in the Philippines to a branch in Spain. Someone has to be in Spain to pick it up from the branch. It won’t go directly into your bank account.

62.73 euros in fees approx.

Bank International Wire Transfer

Sending directly from your Filipino bank an international money transfer to your Spanish bank.

Checking the BPI web page it says 600php + 0.60php every 200php. So more or less 900php only according to this. What it doesn’t mention is the charges that the receiving bank may do, which may vary depending on the receiving bank.

I tried it just to figure things out by sending 500 euros to Spain and it cost me around 2800php in total with fees of both banks, like 10% of my sent money. Totally too much. Prohibitive. Around 50 euros.

Conclussion

The winner by the mile is Transferwise.

The other advantage of Transferwise is that it can charge a credit card.

Uncategorized

LTO permit yearly renewal for motorcycles in the Philippines

I will detail here the process I went through recently so it can serve as a guide for others.

Step 1: Smoke emission test.

  • Walk in the closest to your home smoke

emission center with a photocopy of your OR / CR, and ask them to place you in the cue.

  • Wait to be called. They will check the smoke levels and take a picture.
  • Pay aprox. 500php and get your certification that you passed the smoke emission test.
  • This process can take hours.

Step 2: LTO office.

  • Go to whatever LTO is nearest to your house. Bring photocopy of OR / CR and Smoke emission from previous step.
  • Get the mandatory 3rd party insurance. Normally they sell those even inside the same LTO compund.
  • Beware of beggars and sellers pushing you to do the insurance and smoke emission in other places. They could be legit or not. So why take a risk with unofficial sources.
  • With all docs line up for renewal processing. Cost of both insurance and renewal aprox. 1200php.
  • Wait and wait.

Total spending like 2k if you give some tips. Time spent can be like a full day almost that you have to ask away from your job to do the processing.