The Philippines has eight World MasterCards, each with their own range of benefits and features. Here, I discuss them one-by-one.
Category: The Daily You
[UPDATED FOR 2019] The best travel credit cards in the Philippines + ranking (Part 2 of 2 – Non-airline-specific cards and verdicts)
Part two of this article on the best travel credit cards of 2019 in the Philippines covers the non-airline-branded cards, as well as my verdict and a summary.
[UPDATED FOR 2019] The best travel credit cards in the Philippines + ranking (Part 1 of 2 – Airline-specific/co-branded cards)
What are the best travel credit cards in the Philippines for 2019?
Part one of this article covers airline-branded cards.
6 reasons for my morning routine
I'm not always a morning person, but I have a routine I stick to - because I want to use my abilities to make life good for myself, for others, and even my things.
[The Who Goat] Too young? Too old? No such thing
You're never too young or too old to make a difference and to live your purpose! What matters is that you are open to it when that time comes, now or later.
[The Who Goat] Late bloomer? So, what?
There will be early birds, and there will be late bloomers, especially in higher purpose. But late bloomers are no less worthy than others and can, in fact, bloom the most beautifully. This is essential in understanding purpose.
5 ways to show someone love
The five love languages of Dr. Gary Chapman may not all be prominent in any one person, but they're all worth knowing and living out. They can be translated into five concrete ways to show your love to others.
[The Who Goat] How is it all about balance?
It's not always easy to remember that living a purposeful life entails balance. It's all about balance, keeping yourself in check, and keeping yourself grounded in your purpose. Otherwise, you risk taking things too far at the expense of others or of yourself.
Dry throat when you wake up?
Key Takeaway: Is a dry throat keeping you grumpy when you wake up? The air around you might be dry, and placing a glass of water by your bedside the night before could provide comfort. And of course, drink it when you get up! Have you woken up in the morning only to feel nauseous or… Continue reading Dry throat when you wake up?
[The Who Goat] How can I share more goodness this year?
Sharing goodness can be done in so many ways - and, in fact, when you live your true higher purpose, your entire life becomes goodness shared. How can you share more goodness this 2016?
5 “new” resolutions
For many people, New Year calls for New Year's resolutions. Here's an interesting way to look at it differently but purposefully: five "new" resolutions you might want to write down and act on.
[The Who Goat] What is the multiple medium channel system?
Instead of the traditional one big channel supplemented by several tiny ones, consider looking at a system of multiple medium channels that work together to achieve a vibrant, cohesive bigger picture. This applies not just to your income streams but also in living purposefully in general.
What are the benefits of staying organized?
There are many benefits to being organized - more than just an organized space, having an organized life as well. Here, we list six such overarching benefits to living tidy and neat.
How is hoarding un-purposeful?
Hoarding can come in many different forms - physical, digital, emotional and financial. And they're all against the tenets of awareness, even if said hoards are supposedly tidy. True organization is simple and purposeful, and to truly deal with hoarding is to deal with the personal mindset and standards on things, vis-à-vis purposeful living.
Can purpose be taken too far?
Living a purposeful life can have negative aspects or results - which is the result of taking things to the extreme. Everything should be kept in moderation, and there are times when we should "give it a rest": we ourselves should take the time to rest ourselves and the things we do.
Your personal life bible
For us who like to read, there will be that one book that seems to have such an impact on our lives it's become our guidebook to living a meaningful life: our Personal Life Bible. What's yours?
Introducing: Shower Meditation in 6 easy steps
If you're having your own spa experience at home with, say, scrubs and aromatherapy, then it's but natural to include a meditation process in it! Here I introduce my Shower Meditation practice, and now you can do it too in six easy steps.
Getting out of your comfort zone: A key to true living
Get out of your comfort zone! For many of us, true purposeful living may and will entail a complete change of a way or two of how we do or see things. Do so. It might be very difficult at the start, but that's the point - you grow for the better in the process.
5 natural ways to beat a cold
It's hard to have a cold, but I wouldn't rely too much on medicine for it because my body might get dependent on it. Here are five natural ways to fight it off - but if it's still there, then you should take meds or see a doct
Staying healthy: Why and why?
It is important to stay healthy for various reasons obvious and not so. But it is even more important to remember why you are trying to stay healthy, and to keep your health habits in moderation - so that they become means towards an end and not an end in itself.
Higher purpose: Love beyond passing
True purpose isn't called "higher purpose" for no reason: it is greater than us and is beyond us, and will keep on going even long after we have gone - whether it's dying or simply leaving. It is most evident in how we remember someone, and what we do with that remembrance as we live our daily lives. It is, in a nutshell, love beyond passing.
[To Self] 4 ways to make hand-washing a habit more effectively
Global Handwashing Day, celebrated last Thursday, is meant to raise awareness on the importance of washing hands regularly and properly as a habit - mainly to prevent diseases. But it also reflects awareness for yourself and others. Here are four tips on how to make handwashing a habit more effectively.
Going Christmas shopping? Buy local or sustainable
Even the things you consume can reflect your state of awareness! Especially this Christmas season, why not be more mindful of the things you buy - where they come from and how they are made - for gifts to your loved ones? Not only would you make your loved one happy, you'd also make a small-time business and their stakeholders happy: the best Christmas gift you can give them.
The value of inter-faith dialogue and cooperation in higher purpose
I firmly believe that all religions are simply different cultures' ways to commune with the One God. But more importantly, I also believe that these different systems should not serve as barriers, but rather as opportunities for dialogue, mutual support, cooperation, and moving forward together in the name of higher purpose.
Personal social responsibility: A commitment
The Personal Social Responsibility Commitment (PSRC) by the Benita & Catalino Yap Foundation, which promotes making CSR a lifestyle, echoes TDA's own values. Click to read the Commitment in its entirety.
Coming home yet journeying again: Personal CSR at its finest
The 5th Philippine Conference on Research in CSR held last 28 September 2015 was the culmination of a five-part program by the Benita & Catalino Yap Foundation that formally launched the concept of CSR 3.0, or Personal Social Responsibility. In practicing CSR 3.0, we are called to undergo personal transformation and always do more than expected, down to and especially the smallest actions.
Why purpose is vital
It's not about what we do but why we do something. The key question to ask always is "WHY": It's always about the purpose for doing things. But this purpose has to be rooted in truly life-giving soil: the soil of consciousness and service.
[Self] Rest after eating meat for digestion purposes
In another simple way to help contribute to good health, consider reworking your schedule so that you don't do intensive work (or at all!) after eating a heavy meal, especially one with meat. The energy used to digest the meat - which may take longer than for other foods - would conflict with powering you for work, thereby taking longer to digest your food.
Away with disposables… plastic and paper, that is
Get out and good riddance, traditional disposables. These environmental hazards are now so ubiquitous establishments the world over are raising awareness one way or another. The popular solution nowadays is to provide incentives for using reusable things - but what if they themselves are environmental hazards? No fretting - there's sustainable disposables!
3 tips on making your soap bars last
It's possible and easy to make bars of natural soap last, thereby lessening frustrations that such things are either expensive or wear down quickly. Here are three tips on doing so, taken from Human Nature Marikina.
Why sharing fosters growth
In living your higher purpose, it's always about community and sharing - everyone exchanges their ideas, resources, and talents to help others and be helped in the name of mutual achievement of the one big goal of authentic development.
6 easy ways to combat stress
Stress, if not taken well, can be our undoing. It is what weakens the immune system and therefore makes us more susceptible to disease and illness. Fortunately, it can be managed very easily. Here are six ways how.
6 ways to beat the summer heat naturally
Summer, especially nowadays, can kill if you're not careful, what with the intense temperatures and humidity. Here are six ways to keep cool and well in a natural, healthy, or responsible manner.
4 ways to ensure punctuality
We've all been late for something at least once. Tardiness is actually not living out consciousness and responsibility because it wastes time and ruins schedules - of both the other parties and the tardy party. Here are four suggestions to be more punctual.
Bring eco-bags with you when going shopping!
I invite you to bring canvas bags, or eco-bags, with you whenever you go shopping. They're more durable and useful than paper bags, which have replaced the plastic bags that are now banned in parts of Metro Manila.
10 good manners to remember today
Practicing good manners show you respect others and their human dignity. After all, the cornerstone of living well is living a life of service, a life for others and not just for yourself. Good manners is one good place to start, especially if you're young. Here are 10 manners to serve as your daily mental vitamin!
Toolbox: 8 steps to create your daily schedule graphic
A follow-up to the previous post, this one teaches you how to create your daily schedule graphic, or schedule wheel, in 8 easy steps.
7 chores you can insert into your day
It's so easy - and perhaps even fun - to do your part in household chores, whether or not you or your family have housekeepers. It shows you are responsible, independent, and that you care for your environment and for others. Here are a few such things you can do that fit into your daily routine.
5 benefits from learning another language
Learning another language has so many benefits, from making you smarter to showing respect for foreign language and culture. Here are five such benefits.
2 reasons to avoid using plastic drinking straws
I invite you to stop using plastic drinking straws as these are: 1) disposable items that become waste after just one use; and 2) bad for your health! Either use glass or steel straws, or avoid them altogether.
2 situations where Making The Most works wonders: An overview
Your space at home and your bag's (or suitcase's) space could be lacking in size, but that doesn't mean it's useless. Knowing how to Make The Most of that space can actually get you very far with even a small apartment or a carry-on-sized bag. We seek to OPTIMIZE rather than MAXIMIZE.
2 Daily Reminders on Innovation
As a reminder even to myself, there are two things we should always keep in mind regarding innovation, which is crucial in the world today. Read on to see what they are and how my thoughts developed around them!
11 things to prepare in the face of a typhoon
So there's now talk again of bracing for a new "supertyphoon" to hit our beloved country (PAGASA will not officially use the super-typhoon classification until next year, according to its administrator Vicente Malano, as they will raise awareness on such first - although the US Navy already classifies it as such), comparable to 2012's Typhoon Bopha… Continue reading 11 things to prepare in the face of a typhoon
3 Ways to Take Care of Your Things
We can't deny that we have so much things to get about in life today. Some of those we need, others we "need", and others yet we simply want. But regardless, there's one commonality I'd like us to reflect on for this post. Do we take good care of our stuff? We handle many of our things everyday,… Continue reading 3 Ways to Take Care of Your Things
2 things for a true learner to know.
Good evening, dear readers! You may have noticed something as you browse through this library, especially in the Wikipedia and journals sections. While this library's name is CSR Bookshelf, and thus focuses on CSR research (CSR Bookshelf is connected with BCYF's CSR World department, but not the Institute for Social Enterprise and Development [ISED] department), we… Continue reading 2 things for a true learner to know.
Fashion and Life: Standing Out (Part Two)
Traveling without your family is a somewhat refreshing experience. In my case, I traveled with my bachelor uncle, my late father's brother (as the third son, we call him 三叔). Perhaps the biggest inspiration for the travel geek in me, my uncle encouraged me to be independent and do things on my own, something I embraced with… Continue reading Fashion and Life: Standing Out (Part Two)
Fashion and Life: Standing Out (Part One)
There are so many sayings regarding appearance: "First impressions last", "Don't judge a book by its cover", and so on. Truly, in our world, things have become so fast-paced that on the one hand, people tend to make judgments out of a lack of time (or an unwillingness to make time), from the first thing that… Continue reading Fashion and Life: Standing Out (Part One)
Aloy Chua 