Recto’s Bill Seeks Free Wi-Fi Access in the Metro
- By Moneymax
- May 22, 2014
Senate President Pro Tempore Ralph Recto proposes Senate Bill No. 2232 or the “Free Metro Manila Wifi Act of 2014″ a free public Wi-Fi in all government buildings and parks, national roads, tollways and expressways, public transport terminals and mass rail transit stations in Metro Manila. The Senate bill seeks to direct the Information and Communications Technology Office under the Department of Science and Technology to ensure free Wi-Fi service in the country’s capital region “to build an innovative, progressive, and rapidly digitizing economy.” “Connectivity to the Internet will enhance business growth opportunities and will assure citizens in NCR ease of sourcing timely information at the click of a button,” Recto said. It also gives more opportunities to the under-privileged in terms of technology to access more information they need. Proposed Areas with Wi-Fi Access: All national and local government offices Public health services and hospitals Public elementary and high schools, and state colleges and universities Ninoy Aquino International Airport (Terminals I, II, III and IV) Public libraries Tollways and expressways Epifanio de los Santos Avenue (EDSA) and other national roads Public transport terminals Port of Manila Mass rail transit stations (LRT Line 1, MRT Line 2, MRT Line 3, and PNR south rail) The bill also wants to tap the existing commercial Internet service providers to provide the free public Wi-Fi for the meantime until a national broadband system is installed. What are your thoughts about this? Do you think this bill is possible in the Metro? Are you going to benefit from it? [tags] MoneymaxWith a goal to…
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CCAP offers online shopping security tips
- By Moneymax
- May 15, 2014
Amid increasing popularity of online selling and shopping in the country, the Credit Card Association of the Philippines (CCAP) has urged the public to be extra vigilant when transacting online. Alex Ilagan, CCAP executive director and spokesperson said consumers have to be smart when shopping online, aware about the whole purchasing process, know who they are dealing with, and assured their account and credit card details are being dealt with safely. Ilagan explained online shopping is certainly here to stay, and online security continues to become advance, but the use of common sense and knowledge about buying process will ensure online shopping is as safe as possible. Safety starts with the basics and good judgment “Basic, before you type your card details into a website, ensure that the site is secure. Look out for a small padlock symbol in the address bar (or elsewhere in your browser window) and a web address beginning with https://,” Ilagan said. To further bolster online security, CCAP revealed most of the issuing and acquiring banks today now have a system capable of monitoring online usages and flag/alert suspicious transactions, while others issue a separate credit card with lower limit specifically for internet usage. Likewise, a number of issuing banks have a one-time or static password requirement on top of the credit card number, expiry date and card validation code as added security, while some acquiring banks would require their own acquiring system and their merchants be on 3D Secure platform. But despite the advancement in online security, Ilagan said a careful good judgment by…
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G for SG! Top Singapore Tourist Spots You Have to Visit
- By Jay Pagkatotohan
- May 8, 2014
Perhaps you’ve been to Singapore many times now. After all, it’s just about a three-hour flight from Manila. It’s one of visa-free destinations for Filipino travelers, too. Still, this island nation never fails to captivate you every time you’re there. Or maybe, you first realized how wondrous this country is when you navigated it with Rachel Chu in “Crazy Rich Asians.” Either way, Singapore is definitely a must-visit destination in Asia. Measuring more than 720 km2, Singapore, also fondly called SG, is easily a tiny country. The Philippines’ National Capital Region (NCR) is almost as big as it. But what it lacks in size, it makes up for incredible sights, flavors, and experiences. It’s also the textbook definition of a cosmopolitan city, as it brings together different peoples and cultures, making for an interesting and nuanced society. Ideally, four to five days are enough for you to see a lot of popular places in SG. If you’re planning your revenge travel soon, here are the top Singapore tourist spots you need to visit. 15 Famous Singapore Tourist Spots to Add to Your Travel Itinerary Marina Bay Sands Marina Bay Sands has long been Singapore’s beacon of progress, modernity, and sophistication. Its iconic architecture is a sight to behold and always worthy of a snap or two. You can go inside the hotel to marvel at the elegance of the interiors while dining at one of the posh restaurants. You may also splurge and indulge in high-end items at The Shoppes. Time your visit in the late afternoon, so you can…
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Get a Summer Makeover for Under PHP 1,000
- By Moneymax
- May 6, 2014
Can you feel the heat? It’s a great time to take a dip in the pool or have a fun getaway to the beach. Summer is also the time to have a makeover. Whether you’re a student, working girl, or even a mom, there’s a simple reason why you’ll need a makeover—and that is: to feel and look better. Read More: Fun Summer “Jobs” for Your Kids People will surely turn their head on you when you pass by them. Changing your looks will surely boost your confidence. Here are ways to get a summer makeover for just 1000 pesos or less: Enroll in an inexpensive gym The summer season is the best time to show your curves or flex your muscles. Getting in shape is one of the best summer makeovers you may achieve. Enrolling in an inexpensive gym is similar to signing up for a pricey fitness centre. The facilities and services provided may be different but in terms of getting into shape, it is really up to how you incorporate exercise routine in your schedule and be serious in being fit. Wear your new bikini and flaunt your curves. Make women drool over your sexy abs. Inexpensive gym will only cost 70 to 100 pesos per day. These establishments may not have state-of-the-art gym facilities, but they have the essential equipment you can use to lose weight and tone your muscles. If you’re a guy, you may need weights like barbells and dumbbells during your exercise routine. For women, you will need to use stationary bike, treadmill and/or…
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Get a Home Makeover for Under PHP 5,000
- By Moneymax
- May 1, 2014
Every homeowner’s goals is to improve the looks of their home. This is not always the top priority for most people due to a lack of funds for renovation or a home makeover. However, this should not be removed in the list of the things you have to do for your home. Do you want to redecorate the interior or exterior part of your house? If you want to update the style of your home but you just can’t afford one then try these makeover tips that will surely fit your budget: Re-paint Repainting can do the trick if you want to change the setting of a room. Change the colors of any room by using different color tones. There’s an array of paints you can choose ranging from dark to lighter hues. You may base the color of the paint you will be used according to the personality or favorite color of the room owner. Kids will love pastel and lighter tones of pink, blue, violet or green. The cost for this will depend on the brand, color, and size of the paint you will be buying. The price costs start at Php450 to Php1,600 for 16-liter paint. Cover the Walls with Wallpaper Another tip on how to redecorate your interior is to put up wall coverings into your dull-looking walls. There are different ways on how to redesign the walls using this material. One roll may cost more or less Php5,000. When designing the room, you may use wallpapers on half of the wall, then paint on the…
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6 Tips for First-Time Job Seekers
- By Moneymax
- April 25, 2014
After the customary “Congratulations!” on your Graduation day, did you know what the society expects from you next? Earn money and be employed. The pressure will always be there on job seekers but here are tips to make the whole job application process a piece of cake: Come up with an Impressive Résumé To be impressive, it just has to be specific and direct to the point. Avoid details that are not important to the ones who will read it (the employer). Make sure that all the details are easy to understand. It’s important to include information and details that explain why are you above other candidates. If you have a work experience, place it in reverse chronological order. Prospective employers are more interested on your latest employment. If figures and portfolios are important in your profession, make sure to include links and highlight important numbers. On the other hand, keep your personal statements short. Make your resume free of any spelling and grammatical errors. Keep your text size around 11pt in black, and in an appropriate font like Arial which is easier understand. Don’t choose ‘complicated’ fonts thinking that your resume will stand out, no. Maximize the Internet connection Invest on a stable broadband. Compare all in the market so that you can find which works for you best. Having your own and stable internet at home is not a luxury anymore among Filipino families today, but more of a necessity. All the more, internet connection is an advantage if you are actively seeking for a job. If you have…
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Personal Financial Statements You Should Keep By Now
- By Moneymax
- April 24, 2014
One should track down his or her personal financial statements. I have read it in personal finance books and heard it in conferences and seminars. They said those statements serve as tools for you to be able to understand your attitude towards money. They said you needed to understand your behavior towards money so you will know how to control it. I kept on delaying my tracking because I always thought I was too busy or too lazy for it. However, a few months of stuffing my emergency fund and two healthcare payments later, I realized that I was actually doing it. I tracked my daily expenses, my savings, my ATM transfers, my yearly budget and my assets. It was something that started naturally, but not quite instantly. After learning it, I began to see where my money went, how close I am to my goal, how much money I have this month for investing, how much more I need to save for my healthcare dues and so on. I sort of felt a little at ease with my money, knowing that the large portions of my savings went to investments and to my mom’s allowance. However, for a non-accounting person who is quite unsure whether a transaction is a credit or a debit, it would be difficult to go with the usual personal financial statements that we hear of – income statement and balance sheet. If this type of documenting process is tad complicated for you right now, it might just add to the reasons why you wouldn’t create…
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10 Best-Tasting Meals Under P200 in Makati
- By Moneymax
- April 11, 2014
How will you survive in the Wall Street of the Philippines? If you only have a meager allowance to get you through the next pay day and you don’t have a credit card to swipe, you’re probably thinking that your only choice is to wake up extra early and prepare the day’s packed lunch. Before you even decide to stock up on your favorite instant meals, here is a shortlist of places that offer cheap, scrumptious, best-tasting meals within Makati’s central business district. You can also check out our list of 10 best eats at BGC for under Php 300. Read More: 10 Best Affordable Buffet Restaurants in Makati 10. Family Mart’s Katsudon Don’t have enough time for lunch? Family Mart’s grab-and-go Katsudon meal is too hard to pass up! It’s like your normal Katsudon in a Japanese restaurant for a cheaper price. The sushi tray is also worth-trying. Budget: Php125.00 for Katsudon, Php99.00 for Sushi Tray Locations: Glorietta, Glorietta 5, Alco Bldg., Dela Rosa 1, Alphaland, The Grand Midori, Global Enterprise, Makati Bel-Air, Dela Rosa Carpark 3rd Level, One Central, Beneficial Life, Park Square 9. Bugong Roast Chicken’s Roast Chicken Meal Source: food.silkenhut.com Drop the fast-food chicken meals and head out to Bugong Roast Chicken. Get a hefty serving of a quarter roast chicken meal with rice and your choice of sauce. Kick it up a notch with the Chicken, Bread, and Salsa meal which includes a quarter roast chicken, Mexican Fresh Salsa, and your choice of bread. Budget: Php128.00 with Poori, Php142.00 with Tortilla Location: Dela Rosa Carpark 1,…
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7 Travel Tips for Couples
- By Moneymax
- April 3, 2014
There’s just a different feel when you travel with your partner. It’s such a whole new level in your relationship when you experience things and places together. For sure, it will be a truly memorable experience but, you two should consider a lot of things to make it worthwhile. If budget is not an issue or you think you can always maximize your credit card to finance your trip, there is a lot more to think about. Here are valuable travel tips for couples. Plan together Good planning is vital as it leads to more time of having fun and less chance of hassle and overspending. Plan together to minimize the conflict of one may not enjoy the activities as much as the other that can be a potential root of your rift. You don’t want to ruin your getaway, right? Make a list of what you two like to do together and individually, if there’a big difference, one should compromise. Take advantage of the planning stage because it’s a good way to know your partner better. Go back to places you love Don’t worry about going back to places you both enjoy instead of going somewhere new. It can reduce the stress levels as you are more familiar with the place and it feels home on the road. Make sure you have funds It makes sense to keep a credit card or cash in your pocket just in case. It’s better to have too much than being hassled with too little. Assign yourself or your partner on financial stuff like…
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5 Hottest Home-Based Jobs This Summer
- By Moneymax
- March 26, 2014
The summer season is fast approaching. Before you splurge on your scheduled summer getaway, make sure you have enough budget for it. If you’re still financially dependent on your parents, the thought that instantly pops out to your head is: “No allowance this summer. What shall I do?” If you’re already working, increasing the channels of your income is a good tactic. One way is to go is to apply for a part-time job. It will be a lot easier and better if you find a home-based one. A part-time job in the comfort of your home for summer sounds like a wise move. You are most probably sitting the whole weekend in front of your computer, so you can maximize your internet and computer use while earning. Be sure you have a stable internet since most of your work will be dependent on it. To start, find the best broadband deal that is suitable for your needs and budget and you’re good to go. Top Home-Based Jobs Virtual Assistants Approx. Pay: Php125 – Php300 / hour If you’re up for a customer service experience, this fits you best and the most exciting part of it is that you’ll be working at home. This job requires you to assist a certain company’s customers. If it’s a bank, you will receive or make calls with their customers. Some are much easier as they only require word processing skills because the job is non-voice, but of course, with lower pay. Since you’ll be working online, and you will not go anywhere else (you…
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7 Stylish and Affordable Home Makeover Ideas
- By Moneymax
- March 25, 2014
Skimming through the glossy pages of a lifestyle magazine, you might be wondering how lovely it would be to own someone else’s house. Let’s all admit it. Every glorious detail that we put into our homes eventually becomes old and stale, and no matter what furniture we add just doesn’t make it better. Read More: Get a Home Makeover for Under PHP 5,000 You don’t need to spend millions on an upgrade. While it’s summer, homeowners can reinvent their private lairs by getting new paint or wallpaper, remodeling bedrooms, and kitchens, or finally updating your backyard with a star-gazing deck. Here are some ideas on how to jazz up your house: Bedroom When having a makeover for your room, you can go for a neutral paint or wallpaper so you won’t find it hard to buy furniture and beddings. Remember that your bedroom is the place where you get the most relaxation. Instead of going grand, create a concept that is homey and modern. Invest in a good bed or mattress, pillows, bedside tables and lamps, and a pair of cushioned seats at the foot or the side of the bed. If you think that your wall is missing something, get a wall art or a painting. Bathroom It’s time to put your pail and ladder to rest. Invest in a good rain shower head for your ensuite bathroom. To make your bathroom look huge, install big mirrors to create an optical illusion. Living Room How about a sunken area for you and your guests? While it can be easy to…
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Fair Use Policy: Nay or Aye?
- By Moneymax
- March 14, 2014
Filipinos are one of the most active Internet users in the world. Unsurprisingly, when the Fair Use Policy (FUP) was implemented by TelCo giants Smart and Globe, a large number of consumers expressed dismay. Violent reactions on Facebook and blogs, hate tweets, and internet speed screenshots are everywhere! Read More:How to Conserve Your Internet Data Bandwidth Usage “Caps Lock” If you don’t get their ranting, here are simpler terms for the non-techies: Fair Use Policy is the regulation intended to control the subscribers’ usage to ensure the equal distribution of service. Data Caps or bandwidth/broadband capping is the method used in FUP by the Internet Service Provders (ISPs), network service providers and telecoms. These institutions take the control on the data usage. Throttling is the process where the amount of data sent and received on a given channel or bandwidth is lessened. Data capping per se is really not bad. Some countries in the world even implement their own FUP. But unfortunately, the implementation here in the Philippines punishes both the innocent and the abusive users. Heavy users are just 3% of the total data subscribers but according to Globe, they can contribute to degradation of the network performance during peak hours. Globe vs. Smart on Data Cap Globe implemented a daily limit of 1 gigabyte (GB) per day or 3 GB per month (whichever comes first). On the other hand, Smart limited the daily and monthly usage to 1.5 GB. After hitting the limit, the subscriber can still access the web, but will experience browsing at 2G throttling speed…
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5 Signs of Financial Compatibility
- By Moneymax
- February 12, 2014
I know you cherish that one witty conversation with your partner that started it all, the physical attraction that have pulled you together amidst a crowd of strangers, and who would forget the butterflies in the stomach kilig during those first dates? You were both head over heels, couldn’t stop texting or calling each other. You were inseparable. And then all of a sudden, waking up in the morning you decide he/she is your match. You like the same books. You share the same passion. You play the same sports. You might feel like you’ve found your soulmate, the perfect one. No one knows if he/she is “the one”, but have you asked yourself, “Are we financially matched to last the day-to-day realities of life? If you’re off playing the field and you’re ultimately focused on building a lifetime partnership with your current object of affection, you better make sure that money won’t be something that can break the two of you apart. As early as possible, look for signs that say you and your partner are indeed financially compatible. If not, then both of you may just be wasting your time investing in a relationship that clearly wouldn’t work after marriage, or even just before it. Think about the engaged period and all the associated finances. Yeah, I know you’re clearly getting it. So, are you financially compatible? Here are some of the tell-tale signs you should look out for. 1. Your financial goals coincide with each other. You knew very well since your physics days that an object wouldn’t…
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WheninManila.com: Find Tips and Deals in and Around the Metro
- By Moneymax
- January 28, 2014
Online metro guides have become popular among Filipino netizens in recent years—whether you want to check out which movies are Now Showing, read local reviews about a restaurant you are planning to take someone to on that first date, or find the best place to stay at in one of your travels, these online magazines are extremely helpful—and they are absolutely accessible to everyone, free of charge. WheninManila.com is one of the biggest online guides in the country. It is your go-to resource if you want to know about the latest events, the best places to dine or stay at, and the most beautiful places to visit when you find yourself in the national capital. The award-winning website has hundreds of articles, videos, and stories posted by its growing community of writers, photographers, and videographers, from all over the Philippines and abroad. Launched in 2009 by Vince Golangco as a video blog highlighting events and lifestyle trends in and around the metro, the site kicked off with a staff of four, including two videographers and a webmaster. The team then started producing more written content and was since able to acquire a huge following to become the third-largest metro guide in the country, as ranked by Alexa. WheninManila.com is certainly poised to become the biggest online metro magazine. It now boasts of 200 regular contributors regularly sharing their stories related to travel, lifestyle, fashion, art, dining, and current events. The website reports reaching over one million visits a month and an active community of more than 130,000 fans on Facebook. WheninManila has received…
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Information Technology for Boosting Health Care in the Philippines
- By Moneymax
- January 3, 2014
Even if the Philippines is considered as the outsourcing capital of the world, the country lags behind other Asian countries when it comes to adopting existing IT assets for health. An expert from the Philippine Institute for Development Studies pointed out this fact in a press release from the policy think tank following the 11th Development Policy Research Month in September last year. The press release also pointed out that policymakers should use IT to push innovation in the health sector in order for more Filipinos to access and afford health care. The state of health care in the Philippines can be so dire that in Butuan City, there is just one primary care doctor for every 100,000 people. The Philippines can take cues from other Asian countries that are taking advantage of IT to promote public health care. In India, for example, there are already startups that let patients get a consultation from their doctors through over the Internet. Indian startup EHealthAccess connects patents to their doctors through a subscription service. Consultations are made over the web or the phone. Medstar is an online pharmacy startup that delivers medicines to customers. Information Technology for Health in the Philippines It’s not all gloom in the Philippines when it comes to tapping IT for healthcare. Globe Telecom, one of the country’s top broadband providers, has partnered with local software development company LiFEDATA Systems to launch a healthcare-centric suite of IT-powered services called Globe HealthCloud. HealthCloud has three applications and one of these, the HealthCloud MD, is an electronic medical record system…
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Prevent Credit Card Fraud as You Shop for the Holidays
- By Moneymax
- December 11, 2013
People are doing their holiday shopping now as Christmas comes nearer—with many using their credit cards to buy gifts. Whether you’re using your credit card to shop online or offline, you can take steps to make sure you’re protected from the many credit card fraud out there. December is the strongest month for credit card use in the Philippines according to the Tribune that cited data from the Credit Card Association of the Philippines. Alex Ilagan, Credit Card Association of the Philippines’ executive director and spokesman, reminded shoppers to put away their cards after each use and to not linger at the cashier with their credit card exposed. Ilagan says they’ve received reports of people standing in line in order to memorize credit card numbers. Credit Card Safety Tips for the Pinoy Holiday Shopper But what else can credit card holders do to make sure they’re safe as they shop for gifts this holiday season? Shred any receipts that have your credit card number – You don’t want anyone knowing your credit card number, some sneaky people could also go through your trash to look for important financial information and your credit card number could be one of them. Keep an eye on your card – make sure the cashier is not taking your card away from your sight. Watch out for double swiping – the CCAP has called on establishments to refrain from double swiping customer’s credit cards. This is the practice where the card is swiped again even if the transaction has already been accepted by the card…
