By: Denise Go We all have our own set of friends and honestly, there will always be times when we feel like an outcast, loner, lost or incomplete if we’re not with them. Friends are vital components in our lives because they serve as our second family. When we can’t find comfort in our home we run to our friends, and when we have other problems like love problems, we also run to our friends for advice.
All of us belong to a certain squad, but first, let’s define what squad is. In a dictionary, squad is simply a small group of individuals trained to work together as a unit. On the other hand, squad in a millennial term is considered to be group of friends. Here are some things to keep in mind in your small or big squad. 1. FOOD AND ROAD TRIPS Food and road trips are the best! All human beings love food and travel. What’s more fantastic than spending one of the best days of your life with your buddies? Experiencing new things is a must, as they say, live your life to the fullest! Going on a food or road trip, you and your buddies discover more new things about each other and you guys also get to bond even more. 2. SHOPPING IS A MUST Shopping with your squad is also another bonding activity. For women, shopping with your squad is a wonderful idea because just like a mother, they also know what’s best for you in a fashion sense. Most of the time, they also have a great sense of fashion which makes them your fashion advisers. For men, shopping with your buddies is different. 60 percent of men usually like to shop alone because most of them have their own sense of fashion. 3. DARK DAYS Dark days are bad days, wherein there could be a misunderstanding between you guys. These are the days when everything is awkward and quiet. This thing normally happens, but don’t worry because for sure you guys will be back to normal in no time. Having a clash in your squad is normal, and most of the times, having these kinds of conflicts are healthy because your friendship will be put to test. Lowering your pride is never a bad thing. No matter whose fault it is, saying sorry makes everything right. If you guys have a problem, better resolve it as early as possible because hiding anger in your heart and mind is not good. 4. SERIOUS TALKS There are days wherein you guys are just sitting somewhere out there, eating, talking, laughing and then the topic of your conversation becomes more serious about life. These are the best kind of talks because you can just release all your thoughts. You guys also forget about checking your phone for messages or even checking what time it is. 5. THEY GOT YOUR BACK Your squad always got your back, especially during difficult days. Squad lifts your spirit up, they will always make us feel that everything will be fine and they’ll be there for you, no matter what the battle is, the squad got you! Having a perfect squad is impossible, because there will never be a perfect person in the universe. God made us to be unique and each and every one of us is special in our own ways. Friends accept who we are but they also help us to become who we should be. Our squad got our back and they will always be our second family.
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by James De VeraAre you traveling via Manaoag-Dagupan jeepneys? Have you ever been late for class or work because of their overstaying at jeepney stops? It may sound weird to everyone that a simple jeepney stop can ruin someone’s day, but believe me, it really does.
We begin our trip in Manaoag. First, you need to outpace, outsmart and outbox other commuters for you to get a comfortable seat. Next, you need to wait until all or almost all seats are occupied. This may take up five to seven minutes, so extreme patience will be needed. From Manaoag, the first jeepney stop will be in the Sta. Maria Junction, San Jacinto. This stop may only eat a few seconds depending on the driver’s mood or if there’s any commuter in the area. Next will be in the town proper of San Jacinto, where two stops will be testing your patience. The first is in front of the church while the other one is at the San Vicente Junction. This might take another five minutes each so while waiting, it would be a good idea for you to use this time to review, play games on your mobile phone or do anything that will take your boredom away. If you think these stops have already challenged your patience, you better think again. Mangaldan, the busiest town on your route to Dagupan might make you lose your mind. Aside from the heavy traffic mainly because of their pedaled cabs, this municipality has the most frustrating jeepney stops. The first two stops, St. Thomas Church and Mercury Drug, will not eat most of your time in Mangaldan but the succeeding jeepney stops will really challenge your composure. The Market stop could take 5-7 minutes, so during this time you might consider transferring to a bus if you can’t take it anymore. After the market stop is the Mapandan Junction, arguably the most frustrating jeepney stop in town. Its 10 minutes of maximum waiting time will slowly kill you emotionally and mentally. After this torture in the central district of Mangaldan, you will now reach Saipan junction in Anolid, the last jeepney stop on your way to Dagupan. Like in Sta. Maria, Saipan is just a minor jeepney stop. The driver may decide not to stop by there, especially if there’s no commuter in sight. After Anolid, expect to be in the city in 10-15 minutes as no allocated stops for Manaoag jeepneys are given until in the Dagupan East Junction Station. If you survived this trip without cursing the driver and conductor in your mind, you are not human. Friendly tip: Better ride a bus or van if you don’t want your day to be ruined. by James De VeraInfluential. Strong. Tenacious.
Miss Amelia Joy Calicdan, better known as “Aia” or “Amy”, is a current 4th Year A.B. Communication student in the PHINMA University of Pangasinan. Aia is a one-of-the-boys type of girl, but she also has her classy side deep within her personality. She is well known for her good public speaking and also for her “kalog” personality. Some people misunderstood her mataray looks, but once you know her even more, you’ll see that she is better than what you think she is. Aia was born on September 18, 2016 in the town of Mangaldan and resides there since. She always dreams of becoming a well-known media practitioner in the near future. This fine lady has been a consistent honor student from her early schooling up until now. While excelling in academics in high school, she has also been a very active student leader and journalist. In fact, she has been elected as the Vice President of the Ilocos Region Federated Supreme Student Government in S.Y. 2012-2013. She has also competed at two National Schools Press Conferences (Palawan in 2012 and Leyte in 2013). As a freshman at the PHINMA University of Pangasinan, she became the Governor of the College of Arts and Sciences Students Council (CASSC). The following school year, she was chosen by CSS students to become their College of Social Sciences Student Council (CSSSC) Vice Governor. She was again elected the following academic year, but now as the CSS Representative in the highest student body in the university, the Supreme Student Council (SSC). It was also during that year when she became the Public Information Officer of the University of Pangasinan Association of Communication Students (UPACS). Now, she’s holding the position of Vice President in the Supreme Student Council and there’s no question about her passion to lead. I remember asking her what she will do if elected. This is what she said: “I will show the world, the UPang rather that I am confidently a leader with a heart”. By: Christelle MarambaNarcissism is a personal disorder that shows excessive amounts of behaviors like self-importance, vanity, self-absorption and egotistic admiration of oneself. Narcissism is a ME, ME, ME and More ME attitude. Sadly, this disorder is becoming common nowadays, and it’s all thanks to Social Media. A small research published in the journal Computers in Human Behavior, shows that social media sites like Twitter and Facebook are used to feed our egos and fuel our narcissistic tendencies. It is no surprise that the frequent usage of social media has narcissism as a side effect, since social media is used to promote ourselves socially. However, social media narcissism has its lasting effects that can affect us in the real world. If we are Facebook famous, Instagram important or something of the like, we might develop the tendency of wiring our brains into thinking we are also important or famous off of our social media sites, we then start having a sense of entitlement and a bigger head and ego. This is a big No-No. Below is a video of ways to determine if you are a narcissist by Asap Thoughts, if you find yourself relating to what the video shows then it is time to do a bit of self-reflection. By: Denise Go It’s always a struggle to wake up in a Monday morning, especially if it’s raining and knowing that you still have a load of work to do in the office or school. We’re aware that coffee helps us in boosting our energy in the morning. However, caffeine in our system is not that healthy but, there’s no need to worry now, because here are some foods that gives us energy in replacement for coffee. Eggs Eggs are full of essential nutrients like omega-3, fat, and protein which helps our body charged for a long day. Choline is an essential nutrient found in eggs which stimulates brain development and function. It helps us in increasing our memory retention and it also improves our alertness. Eggs don’t only help our muscles, it also helps our brain. How great right? So what are you waiting for, fill your plate with lots of eggs – sunny side-up, scrambled, or even an omelet. Oatmeal Healthy living means cutting into carbs and with a lot of carbohydrates in the body gives us a sleepy feeling in the morning but with the right amount of carbohydrates, it gives us enough energy to start our morning right and it keeps our metabolism going. Oats contain beta-glucan. It is a type of fiber that helps in lowering cholesterol when eaten regularly. Just like eggs, oats are rich in omega-3 and potassium which are good for our body especially in the morning. You can also add some fruits to go with your oatmeal just like bananas. Apple Coffee makes you feel awake in the morning, an apple on the other hand does not only make you feel awake but it also makes you feel full. It’s simply because fructose which is natural sugar is present in the apple wherein it will help you up and keep you up in morning. Apples also contain carbohydrates and fiber. Apples are perfect if you’re running late because you can eat an apple on the way to work or school and it easily fits in your bag. Chocolate / Chocolate Milk
Chocolates are always a power food. Technically, chocolate will wake you up just as fast as coffee due to the normal digestive system. Once the chocolate reaches your taste buds it gives you comfort and energy at the same time. Try mixing plain chocolate and milk. Milk is full of protein which helps the body to make important enzymes that send signals to our brain to wake up and get moving. These are only some of the alternative food you can eat bedsides drinking coffee in the morning. When you wake up tomorrow, immediately try these foods and observe yourself. Enjoy! By: Patricia BaguioWomen have insecurities, especially with their bodies, and that is normal. Some woman wants to get fit in a fear that no one will love them because they’re fat. Some are afraid to get fat in a fear that their partner will leave them when they got big. In order to get fit and stay healthy, you should have a proper diet and must spend time exercising. However, the problem is, some woman has a busy schedule and has no time to get fit and healthy. With this, I am sharing you some of the basic exercises that you can do within 30 seconds. You are not going to put an effort to go to gym stations because you can do this while you are at home. You must do each step for in 30 seconds.
Repeat it every day and have a proper diet to achieve your body goals. Consistency and patience are the keys. Bid your farewell to your bellies and hello to the future you! By: Patricia BaguioThe Internet has a lot to contribute to our daily lives, it can help with doing our office or school works, communicating with people who are far on us and it can be the source of entertainment. Moreover, the internet makes the heavy works lighter, especially if we have an access to it at home. However, do you also consider the advantages of having an internet access at home?
After some research, the top 3 disadvantages of having an access to the internet at home are: • NO MORE FAMILY BOND The presence of the internet makes the family bond absent. The more the internet connection faster is, the slower the family talks are. You and the rest of the family are physically present but mentally absent because you are busy surfing online, and not knowing that you are with your family. Maybe there is a time that you and your mom just talk online even you are together. Slowly, the knots that tied the family together were slowly being untangled without realizing it. • NO MORE ORIGINAL WORKS If you have an access to the internet at home, I doubt that all your home works are original. I guess, you just copied it on the internet. All our questions will be answered by Google, so why not think, aye? This one of disadvantaged I am telling you, students are not confident enough to answer and do their home works by their selves and not depending on answers on the internet. Books are not being open and read by students, they prefer typing and searching which are easier to do. • DISTRACTIONS/ ADDICTION Children are the most distracted by the internet because of online games that make them addicted to it, especially when they are not even guided by their parents or guardians. They will spend the rest of their day in front of the computers and gadgets playing online games that causing them to show laziness to do other activities. Their everyday routine will wake up in the morning, eat, play online games, eat again and then sleep until the next morning came and vice versa, and according to health specialists, this type of routine may lead them at their young age to diseases like obesity, diabetes, and high blood. There is nothing wrong with having an internet access at home as long as it uses to a good deed and the children are well guided. By: Patricia BaguioWhat do zombies look like and how they arise? In the movies, zombies are miserable, biting people and eating each other. Once a zombie bites a person, that person is already infected and a minute later will transform as one of them, and there is no stated solution for that virus. In case you’ve been infected by the virus, you have to choose right away, either to be killed or to be a zombie. You don’t want to be one of them, right? Then, you have to be killed while you aren't transformed and hurt another. Upon watching several movies wherein zombies are the center of attraction, Is the idea of coming of the zombies here have crossed your mind? What if zombies are real and arise in the real world? What will you do to survive? So here are the steps and tips that may help you to survive and not get caught by the zombies. 1. RUN Zombies are known to be fast runners, but you don’t want to get caught so you should run faster. Start practicing now how to run fast while zombies didn't arise. Try to run on treadmills and join fun runs to strengthen your knees and feet. 2. JUST GET ARMED, GET ARMORED You should not only learn how to run fast. You must also have to get armed. Of course, you don’t have any supernatural powers to defend yourself bared hands with a million of zombies. Come’ on! We're in a real world, no one could help you but yourself. Authorities can’t do anything this time because they might be infected or dead. So you can have your own guns and have extra steel, just in case you run out of bullets. 3. LEAVE TOWN Do you know how to drive cars? If not, then practice it now while zombies don't arrive yet. Do you have a car? If yes, then there’s no worry. If you don’t have, forget about it, there were many available cars outside, because of the owners already dead and infected by the virus. Once you’ve got a car, check the engine if it’s still fine and check the gas if it is already enough to travel far. After checking your new namely car as yours, get out of the town. 4. GATHER SUPPLIES Gather supplies as you can bring. Go to supermarkets and pick all groceries you want for free, but not too much, just enough supplies for you not to starve. Money doesn’t any matter this time, where are you going to pay when everyone is gone, aye? 5. LOOK FOR OTHER SURVIVORS After you gather your supplies and enjoying the freebies, search for other survivors. Are you familiar with the phrase, “No man is an Island?” In this type of crisis, it is gratuitous to have alone time. You’re just going to get mad and upset when you are alone, you need people to talk to about what’s going on. If you have searched other survivors, then gather and find safe places. I hope that when the zombies came all over into the real world, there will be huge numbers of people survived and I am hoping that you are one of the survivors. By: Marve Sangalang Traveling is fun and exciting. You meet new people, know different cultures, encounter delicious foods that you're not familiar, learn new things, dialect, and language, and appreciate nature. When you are in Pangasinan you must not miss the chance to visit Bolinao, one of the most beautiful places in the province which also has a rich culture. Bolinao is located at the northernmost tip of Western Pangasinan. The roads going to Bolinao are in good condition up until we reached the town proper. Unlike other famous tourist destinations in the Philippines wherein you can easily see a number of bars, restaurants, and fast food chains, the establishments in this town are limited. Bolinao serves decent but affordable food. Bolinao Falls 2 which is just an hour ride from the town proper of Bolinao has its breath taking falls. There is an entrance fee of ₱50 and cottage rental of ₱200 if you came in with your family, and a parking fee of 20 pesos for the tricycle. There is a smaller natural pool above the main falls, an ideal for spot for kids. The clear turquoise green water of the falls is worth of all your effort and also relieves your stress. You can do cliff diving and swimming but be careful because most of the rocks are slippery. If you want to relax, Patar beach is the place to be. They said that this is the Boracay version in Luzon because of its white sand and clear sea water. Enjoy sunbathing and swimming because of its cold and turquoise green water. Near the beach you can see the famous Cape Bolinao Lighthouse which also considered as to be one of the tallest lighthouse in the Philippines. This place also have a historic place that became one of the attraction to tourist in fact the Saint James the Great Parish Church was built in late 16th century by the Augustinian friars and was made by black coral stones, but it undergo several renovations due to strong storms and calamities. By: Mhon NavarroShooting people is not as simple as what it sounds like. Creating a glamorous portrait needs understanding on basic camera settings, following principles and having a good lighting set-up. As a photographer, I’m going to share some techniques that I learned from other photographers I have met which I find very useful in bringing out the best of my portraits.
1. Focus on the eyes Over the years, photographers are arguing whether where to focus when shooting portraits. Some say it must be on the cheek, the hairline or on the tip of the nose. Fortunately, they have come to one conclusion. In shooting portraits, you must and always focus on your subject’s eyes. It’s the same reason that we look at someone’s eyes before looking at their cheek, hairline, and nose. 2. Getting Great Lights Outdoors Lights outdoors are great for shooting portraits but be careful because it may also bring trouble to you, and to your subject. Having too much light hitting your subject will result in unflattering shadows on her face (not to mention that your subject will usually be sweating or squinting). So how do I shoot portraits at two o’clock in the afternoon? Simple, I move my subject to a shaded part of the location where there is no direct light coming from the sun. In that way, it results in a flattering and soft light on my subject’s face. What if there is no shade part in my location? I always bring my reflector with a diffuser on it. It serves as a barrier between the harsh bounce of light and my subject. It is perfect to bring a reflector with a diffuser every time you shoot portraits. 3. Getting Great Lights Indoors Shooting indoors is a bit tricky to portrait photographers. The challenge here is how to properly expose the face of your subject despite of having less amount of light. Professional portrait photographers use studio strobes to light their subject. Strobe lights are a little expensive. Luckily, you can still create great and interesting portraits without buying expensive studio strobes. How? Make use of the natural light that we had since the beginning of time, the sun. Pro photographers use natural light in creating more realistic or more dramatic mood when shooting portraits than using strobes. Do this by positioning your subject near and not directly from where the natural light is coming (remember, you still want to control the amount of light hitting your subject to avoid over exposure portraits!). Try using sheers (a thin curtains that are almost see-through) which serve as your diffuser in controlling the amount of light hitting your subject’s face. 4. Best Lens for Portrait Photography I use of Canon’s 50mm for my portraits for its bokeh effect from my subject’s background. I love this lens for it helps me a lot in shooting low-light situations without using strobes. But what is the best lens for portrait photography? Most pros shoot portraits with a short zoom lens, 85-100mm focal lengths are one their favorites. Lens that have 85-100mm range are often called portrait lenses. This lens let you shoot from a good working distance giving you and your subject enough space while letting you still fill the frame. So, get yourself a zoom lens that covers the 85-100mm range, and you are good to shoot! 5. Positioning Your Subject in the Frame When you shoot portraits, especially candid portraits or editorial shots, there is a rule that many pros use about where to position the subject’s eye in the frame – position them 1/3 the way down from the top of the frame. It gives your portraits more visual interest, and it is easy to do since you just compose the shot of your subject’s eyes 1/3 of the way down from the top. 6. Great Outdoor Portraits There is a background rule in shooting portrait outdoors and that is to keep it simple. The simpler the better. Your portrait is stronger. Position your subject where the least possible amount of activity is going on behind them. Use the smallest aperture your camera can give you to throw the background out of focus. Aperture like f/4 or lower will do the trick. When it comes to portrait photography, less is more. 7. Getting Great Sunset Portraits The sky is so gorgeous so no wonder why everyone like taking portraits at sunset. But there is a common problem most of us get and that is either our subject comes out as a silhouette because the sunset is behind the subject or you will fire up your built-in flash and your subject now looks washed out. Yet, there is still a way you could take good portraits without washing out your subject. Hold your shutter button halfway down and take an exposure reading from the sky and while holding the shutter button, recompose your shot by aiming at your subject, but now turn on the flash to help you reveal your subject. Now your subject gets fill flash, but the sky behind still looks great. This is an old trick, but still, it works so well. What I like in portrait photography is a lot of decision will be made by yourself like what focal length to use, how high or low you want your aperture to be and much more. So find your sweet spot where you think its best and suited you the most. I hope these techniques help you make people look their very best in your portraits! |
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