Pinoy Buzz: Facebook

Facebook launches its Philippine office

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">MANILA - The world’s social media giant Facebook just reached the shores of the Philippines. In an exclusive event last Thursday (April 21) in Makati City, Facebook’s Vice President for Asia Pacific Dan Neary made the exciting announcement in front of various media outlets.<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzZIk0XvvTK1NpsDnIkdrW37F_dAGXFIaw-meMIcsPferjdUexGAHCUHpLxhIs9BNoI-iIdHTCfjKfgFphjcrMAUXJpelYoFELl9mlsrXCrWPTVSz46-CkB2ep8rDo3BQ0fochQduiGbal/s1600/facebook-ph-launch.jpg" imageanchor="1" rel="nofollow" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Facebook has now a physical presence in the Philippines." border="0" height="450" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzZIk0XvvTK1NpsDnIkdrW37F_dAGXFIaw-meMIcsPferjdUexGAHCUHpLxhIs9BNoI-iIdHTCfjKfgFphjcrMAUXJpelYoFELl9mlsrXCrWPTVSz46-CkB2ep8rDo3BQ0fochQduiGbal/s640/facebook-ph-launch.jpg" title="Facebook has now a physical presence in the Philippines." width="560" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption">Neary with the Facebook PH team. Digs Dimagiba (second from right) will lead the Manila office.<br />Photo credit: Dan Neary’s official Facebook account</td></tr></tbody></table>Together with Neary is Digs Dimagiba who will be taking the Manila operations of the world-renowned social media site. Dimagiba was the previous mobile business director of Samsung’s office in the country.<br /><br /><b>A new era for PH’s business industry</b><br /><br />“Today marks a new milestone for Facebook in the Philippines and we are committed to driving innovation that helps Filipinos and businesses connect in more meaningful ways," said Kenneth Bishop, Facebook's managing director for Southeast Asia, in a press release.<br /><br /><center><iframe allowtransparency="true" frameborder="0" height="746" scrolling="no" src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/post.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Fneary.dan%2Fposts%2F10153325822321486&width=500" style="border: none; overflow: hidden;" width="500"></iframe></center><br />The Philippine branch of Facebook is the sixth to be established in Asia, the fourth in the ASEAN region. Other Asian-based offices are located in Hong Kong, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, South Korea and Taiwan.<br /><br /><b>49M Pinoys are on Facebook</b><br /><br />With half of the Philippine population engaged in using Facebook as their personal and professional communication platform, it is a no surprise why the country’s name emerged as the newest home in Asia of the twelve-year old social media juggernaut.<br /><br />“Two thirds of everybody in the Philippines is connected to a company page. We started to look at the dynamics of them. 1 in 3 is actually recommending brands on Facebook and it’s a discovery vehicle for most of users. Ninety-five percent of them are talking and discovering products on Facebook,” according to Neary during a talk with the press that night.<br /><br />Globally, Facebook takes pride of having 1.59 billion of active users per month, with 49 million Filipinos comprising the number. According to Facebook, among the 49 million Pinoy users, 44 million are accessing the site through their mobile devices.  That accounts to a whopping 91% of the Filipino internet population.<br /><br /><b>Facebook PH will make it easier for businesses</b><br /><br />The establishment of a Facebook office doesn’t only secured the country’s reputation as one of its leading users in the world but rather, the launching further solidified the reputation of the Philippines as a new global business hub in Asia.<br /><br />Aside from that, local businesses and publishers will now be provided with easier means to jumpstart the promotion of their brands. A Philippine-based office of Facebook will be instrumental in a more convenient partnerships building, product branding and promotions for companies.<br /><br /><b>Facebook PH is hiring</b><br /><br />As a new company, Facebook Philippines is currently looking for qualified people to fill the vacant positions needed to fire up the company’s domestic operations particularly an outsource site manager who will be tasked “to run outsourcing site operations and to manage vendor relationships.”<br /><br />Also the company is in need of a regional product marketing manager who is expected “to drive product adoption and go-to-market strategies in the high-growth markets in Asia-Pacific.”<br /><br />Facebook Philippines is temporarily housed at Regus Business Center on the 35th floor of the Eco Tower located in Bonifacio Global City in Taguig with already five people working behind it including Dimagiba as its head.<br /><br /><b>--Michael Santiago, The Summit Express</b></div>

Facebook launches its Philippine office

MANILA - The world’s social media giant Facebook just reached the shores of the Philippines. In an exclusive event last Thursday (April 21) ...

Couple brags abortion on Facebook, earns ire of netizens

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">MANILA, Philippines – “Children are a gift from God” as we say. Babies bring undying smile to the faces of their parents. But not in the case of a couple who blustered a heinous crime online that got viral yesterday, April 7, 2016.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0MhFep4uzjD3CxOeMcmkr1Di-pFP7hVjnHNCMI2kzXF68fQV76xMtdB_8VZpOzC0UZt2HhgVWExupWWcFAntP7K-L0lYXRKYT7U_3zFfnwSy4RueGPmbMHZT9osdFR24CLlOI9r4iMnod/s1600/couple-viral-facebook.jpg" imageanchor="1" rel="nofollow" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Couple brags abortion on Facebook, earns ire of netizens" border="0" height="332" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0MhFep4uzjD3CxOeMcmkr1Di-pFP7hVjnHNCMI2kzXF68fQV76xMtdB_8VZpOzC0UZt2HhgVWExupWWcFAntP7K-L0lYXRKYT7U_3zFfnwSy4RueGPmbMHZT9osdFR24CLlOI9r4iMnod/s640/couple-viral-facebook.jpg" title="Couple brags abortion on Facebook, earns ire of netizens" width="560" /></a></div><br />A Filipino Facebook user, under the displayed name of “Galita Palino Arnel Jhetro” first posted on his account a photo of a pregnancy test kit with a positive result on April 2. The man expressed his disbelief and exposed his intent to abort the fetus because he and his partner are not ready yet for a bigger responsibility and obligation by being parents. <br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9ng4e0en885peLKxmLq-ZBMH5xr1wP-KvmWHvbPwX2bTw0WZMXX41Jv42rPH_e7vDfRZJUcG85WVpAQYgrtkxWeoWtKDeV6XtS2S_XXZ7LlppqPs3JECf7UIc3iQVfUTgRL_PiuE708lR/s1600/coupe-brags-abortion-on-facebook.jpg" imageanchor="1" rel="nofollow" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="A very insensitive and irresponsible post of an alleged “Galita Palino Arnel Jhetro “" border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9ng4e0en885peLKxmLq-ZBMH5xr1wP-KvmWHvbPwX2bTw0WZMXX41Jv42rPH_e7vDfRZJUcG85WVpAQYgrtkxWeoWtKDeV6XtS2S_XXZ7LlppqPs3JECf7UIc3iQVfUTgRL_PiuE708lR/s640/coupe-brags-abortion-on-facebook.jpg" title="A very insensitive and irresponsible post of an alleged “Galita Palino Arnel Jhetro “" width="482" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption">A very insensitive and irresponsible post of an alleged “Galita Palino Arnel Jhetro “that fumed the netizens. <br />Photo Credit: Tambayan ni Berto Facebook Fan Page</td></tr></tbody></table>A second photo was posted by Galita days after his first one, bragging and displaying another pregnancy test kit with his consort. This time, the test showed a negative result. The fearless couple even stated that the abortion was a success.<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJwFIvs9koI2SMMxifXNGbMjYNytiO3vuBN-o8jV1NZ-JXbYe-iKIpKhUhk1IGL_Kp8nOQufc59XQpPeQ_R4MjhT6xWh0mDtj7EjN3A-uqKiMmcouk1cuhvdWV_F8yS5LACPrDTHnJkpRx/s1600/couple-brags-abortion-online.jpg" imageanchor="1" rel="nofollow" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="The couple shows off a negative pregnancy test result and unknowingly confessed a crime." border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJwFIvs9koI2SMMxifXNGbMjYNytiO3vuBN-o8jV1NZ-JXbYe-iKIpKhUhk1IGL_Kp8nOQufc59XQpPeQ_R4MjhT6xWh0mDtj7EjN3A-uqKiMmcouk1cuhvdWV_F8yS5LACPrDTHnJkpRx/s640/couple-brags-abortion-online.jpg" title="The couple shows off a negative pregnancy test result and unknowingly confessed a crime." width="428" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption">The couple shows off a negative pregnancy test result and unknowingly confessed a crime.<br />Photo Credit: Tambayan ni Berto Facebook Fan Page</td></tr></tbody></table>Filipinos being pro-life and naturally religious people, hated ill deed. Thousands of netizens vented their anger via comments toward the couple in condemnation of act that they have . Here are some of the harsh feedback toward the couple.<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQi4u__OQZGmiMo_ChJHKnESyguUJ-rT-0VtfzM9YEvNivkrTj1y0QnQH4q94fvk_CqbdCxgGdvwfO6kQuG4YJaCDchPVaHHPhitmGQm1csOX-k-BioVgkZVbxnFKsKIOoz7elmus1TMYD/s1600/couple-brags-abortion-online.png" imageanchor="1" rel="nofollow" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Netizens bombard the photo posted by the couple with jarring comments." border="0" height="610" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQi4u__OQZGmiMo_ChJHKnESyguUJ-rT-0VtfzM9YEvNivkrTj1y0QnQH4q94fvk_CqbdCxgGdvwfO6kQuG4YJaCDchPVaHHPhitmGQm1csOX-k-BioVgkZVbxnFKsKIOoz7elmus1TMYD/s640/couple-brags-abortion-online.png" title="Netizens bombard the photo posted by the couple with jarring comments." width="560" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption">Netizens bombard the photo posted by the couple with jarring comments.<br />Photo Credit: Tambayan ni Berto Facebook Fan Page</td></tr></tbody></table>It is still unclear if the said facebook account has been hacked or has been faked by someone who’s trying to detroy the couple’s reputation due unknown reasons. We tried to search for the actual account name on facebook but it is no longer active as of publishing time.<br /><br />Should the abortion and the persons involve are true, they will be both liable for the crime that they have committed. As per Article II of the 1987 Philippine Constitution says, in part, "Section 12. The State recognizes the sanctity of family life and shall protect and strengthen the family as a basic autonomous social institution". It shall equally protect the life of the mother and the life of the unborn from conception.<br /><br />The act is criminalized by the Revised Penal Code of the Philippines, which was enacted in 1930 and remains in effect today. Articles 256, 258 and 259 of the Code mandate imprisonment for the woman who undergoes the abortion, as well as for any person who assists in the procedure, even if they be the woman's parents, a physician or midwife. Article 258 further imposes a higher prison term on the woman or her parents if the abortion is undertaken "in order to conceal [the woman's] dishonor."<br /><br /><b>-Joey Boy Capos, The Summit Express</b></div>

Couple brags abortion on Facebook, earns ire of netizens

MANILA, Philippines – “Children are a gift from God” as we say. Babies bring undying smile to the faces of their parents. But not in the cas...

GrabCar driver’s story of act of kindness goes viral

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">MANILA, Philippines- Following a string of troubling incidents involving taxi drivers, <a href="https://www.facebook.com/gheckieee?fref=nf" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Gelica Manuel Tulauan</a>, like other commuters in the metro, has become cautious of taxi drivers.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuGkMeo3yfpI91By9UBxl9Z4qB-Wcwk9ApOGNgBKeunovLm4kJ66M3wJ00ZbCQBswvymgN9O8v-yWLJhIoUQrRtDGIpZUkDoPyUuvwqNBwsqX5c5B2mBYvmsYnC42ExZGkNYYIeN0dyIUz/s1600/grab-car-sedan.JPG" imageanchor="1" rel="nofollow" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="GrabCar driver Carlo Santiago Diaz" border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuGkMeo3yfpI91By9UBxl9Z4qB-Wcwk9ApOGNgBKeunovLm4kJ66M3wJ00ZbCQBswvymgN9O8v-yWLJhIoUQrRtDGIpZUkDoPyUuvwqNBwsqX5c5B2mBYvmsYnC42ExZGkNYYIeN0dyIUz/s400/grab-car-sedan.JPG" title="GrabCar driver Carlo Santiago Diaz" width="347" /></a></div><br /><br />Through a lengthy Facebook post on Sunday, February 7, Tulauan shared her one-of-a-kind experience with a GrabCar driver she initially thought would do her harm. According to Tulauan, she used GrabCar to travel from Gateway Cubao to Moriones, Tondo and booked the service of a driver named Carlo Santiago Diaz.<br /><br />Since she was alone with the driver, Tulauan can’t help but become suspicious of Diaz. It was when Diaz suddenly slowed down the vehicle and pulled a brown bag from his feet that Tulauan realized she got it all wrong.<br /><br />Apparently, Diaz pulled over to give food to a homeless woman sleeping on the street.<br /><br />Tulauan later learned that Diaz, his girlfriend and friends would do this act of kindness on a regular basis. They would chip in money and cook food to give to the homeless people. Diaz would do this simple act of kindness whether he’s driving on duty or not. Aside from food, Diaz and his friends would also give used blankets and clothes to the homeless. <br /><br />When asked how they came up with the dea of helping others, Diaz told Tulauan: “Araw-araw kasi, magda-drive ka, makikita mo sila lalo na sa gabi na nakahiga sa bangketa. Madalas mga gutom, pero itinutulog na lang yung gutom nila. Kaya naisip naming gawin `to. Para at least, makatulong kaming malamnan yung mga tiyan nila kahit isang gabi lang.”<br /><br />(Everyday you’ll drive and see them especially at night sleeping on the street. Most of the time they’re hungry but they choose to sleep with an empty stomach. That’s why we thought of doing this. Through this, we can help fill their empty stomachs even for just one night.)<br /><br />Diaz added that he and his friends just couldn’t sit around and wait for the government to do what they are capable of doing.<br /><br />Read the heartwarming story. <br /><br /><center><div id="fb-root"></div><script>(function(d, s, id) {  var js, fjs = d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0];  if (d.getElementById(id)) return;  js = d.createElement(s); js.id = id;  js.src = "//connect.facebook.net/en_US/sdk.js#xfbml=1&version=v2.3";  fjs.parentNode.insertBefore(js, fjs);}(document, 'script', 'facebook-jssdk'));</script><div class="fb-post" data-href="https://www.facebook.com/gheckieee/posts/1134078326603781" data-width="500"><div class="fb-xfbml-parse-ignore"><blockquote cite="https://www.facebook.com/gheckieee/posts/1134078326603781">Hindi ako nakakuha ng picture dahil madilim na at nagulat ako sa ginawa niya. But I want to share what happened. This is...<br />Posted by <a href="https://www.facebook.com/gheckieee" rel="nofollow">Gelica Manuel Tulauan</a> on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/gheckieee/posts/1134078326603781" rel="nofollow">Sunday, February 7, 2016</a></blockquote></div></div></center><br />Tulauan’s heartwarming post has gone viral amassing over 22,000 shares on Facebook.</div>

GrabCar driver’s story of act of kindness goes viral

MANILA, Philippines- Following a string of troubling incidents involving taxi drivers, Gelica Manuel Tulauan , like other commuters in the m...

Starbucks, former barista debunk 'dead mouse in coffee' issue

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">MANILA, Philippines  - A former barista of Starbucks debunked the '<a href="http://pinoybuzz.blogkorner.com/2016/01/video-customer-finds-dead-mouse-starbucks-coffee.html" rel="nofollow">dead mouse in a coffee</a>' issue which went viral recently.<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRNDvJK9XPsMmd1gdTHw0AI_KHOw04M9DcPR1OsshxpicSxt0lSV0c0cjXHimAAtjg5lqKd2Q3Y1pkZWoc5pm1ndsKfSIywxLPjzSuOtxXn6cDFbAQaQqKIfl5FiyobXvAVrJRrOQ3PCxx/s1600/starbucks-barista.jpg" imageanchor="1" rel="nofollow" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Starbucks barista debunks 'dead mouse in coffee' issue" border="0" height="450" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRNDvJK9XPsMmd1gdTHw0AI_KHOw04M9DcPR1OsshxpicSxt0lSV0c0cjXHimAAtjg5lqKd2Q3Y1pkZWoc5pm1ndsKfSIywxLPjzSuOtxXn6cDFbAQaQqKIfl5FiyobXvAVrJRrOQ3PCxx/s640/starbucks-barista.jpg" title="Starbucks barista debunks 'dead mouse in coffee' issue" width="560" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption">Marco Carlo Calibara, a former barista of Starbucks says it is impossible for a rat to sneak inside a coffee cup. <br />Photo Credit: Facebook/<span style="font-size: 12.8px;">Marco Carlo Calibara and </span>abc7chicago.com</td></tr></tbody></table><br />In a lengthy post on Facebook, Marco Carlo Calibara who claimed to worked in the said company for three years said the alleged incident is unlikely to happen as the coffee shop is following strict quality standards.<br /><br />"Unang-una, Ate, WALA KAMING KUSINA, ginagawa namin yung drinks nyo sa harap ninyo ng may sinusunod na beverage quality standards. Kahit subukan kong maglasing para mas dibdibin yung hinanaing mo eh hindi ko maintindihan kung saan ka kumuha ng apog para ipagpilitan yang katangahang pakulo mo," Calibara said.<br /><br />Calibara also questioned how the mouse will get into the coffee since the the chain has meticulous process of serving drinks. He points out that all Starbucks use high-powered blenders which would have resulted in anything inside the blender chopped to pieces and would have made the coffee red with blood and look like an order of Red Velvet Frappuccino.<br /><br />"Ang malaking tanong: Paano, PAANO mapupunta yung bubwit na yun doon?? Mas malabo pa sa sabaw ng pusit na sa process ng pag gawa ng drink sya mapupunta — Oh sige, isipin nalang natin na na blend yun ate tulad ng kathang isip na pakulo mo, HELLO?! High-powered yung mga Blenders namin (Vitamix / BlendTec ) sa store, at kahit cellphone mo, oh kamay mo eh kayang durugin no'n kaya wag kang ano dyan! Ano, may pag Matrix na sa pag iwas sa blades ng blender?! Damn bubwit got them skills, eh?!?"<br /><br />Here's his full post to debunk the allegation against Starbucks:<br /><br /><center><div id="fb-root"></div><script>(function(d, s, id) {  var js, fjs = d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0];  if (d.getElementById(id)) return;  js = d.createElement(s); js.id = id;  js.src = "//connect.facebook.net/en_US/sdk.js#xfbml=1&version=v2.3";  fjs.parentNode.insertBefore(js, fjs);}(document, 'script', 'facebook-jssdk'));</script><div class="fb-post" data-href="https://www.facebook.com/marcoenvyme/posts/1741500066080978" data-width="500"><div class="fb-xfbml-parse-ignore"><blockquote cite="https://www.facebook.com/marcoenvyme/posts/1741500066080978">I've worked with Starbucks for more than 3 years and this is my opinion Re: the issue, (Tataglish-in ko nlang para...<br />Posted by <a href="https://www.facebook.com/marcoenvyme" rel="nofollow">Marco Carlo Calibara</a> on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/marcoenvyme/posts/1741500066080978" rel="nofollow">Thursday, January 28, 2016</a></blockquote></div></div></center><br />On Tuesday, the complainant named Jessica shared that she already drank half of her drink from the world-famous coffee branch in Mandaluyong when she noticed the dead mouse.<br /><br /><b>VIDEO</b>: <a href="http://pinoybuzz.blogkorner.com/2016/01/video-customer-finds-dead-mouse-starbucks-coffee.html" rel="nofollow">Customer allegedly finds dead mouse in her Starbucks coffee</a><br /><br />Jessica reported the incident to the Philippine National Police (PNP). On Thursday, the Health and Sanitation Office of the city immediately took action and sent their staff to conduct an investigation at the said branch.<br /><br />Meanwhile, upon consulting a doctor, Jessica was diagnosed to have been suffering acute gastroenteritis and leptospirosis.<br /><br />Starbucks Philippines in a statement revealed that they are currently conducting an investigation on the incident.<br /><br />“We want everyone who visits our stores to enjoy their visit, and we take such claims very seriously. Ensuring all our products meet Starbucks high quality assurance standards is a top priority, and we are actively investigating this customer’s concern, “ Starbucks Philippines said.</div>

Starbucks, former barista debunk 'dead mouse in coffee' issue

MANILA, Philippines - A former barista of Starbucks debunked the ' dead mouse in a coffee ' issue which went viral recently. Marco ...

VIRAL: Mang Eugenio’s story will restore your faith in Pinoy taxi drivers

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">MANILA, Philippines - For commuters living in Metro Manila, encountering rude and abusive taxi drivers isn’t something unusual.<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPgIrsylplqrGr96lkxYeSqP33tWboGXxSTdPEmGkR4c27czIK_eGgT4XDGAK2mX55Y1HhGm2ZtfhxvY0uVXSjfqL12pz5W-v1xzuMAOQR9tBQ0OrDamT9RQxIQJwKQJkiqkEkQ9QyFYUx/s1600/mang-eugenio-ventura-taxi-driver.jpg" imageanchor="1" rel="nofollow" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Mang Eugenio’s story will restore your faith in Pinoy taxi drivers. " border="0" height="408" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPgIrsylplqrGr96lkxYeSqP33tWboGXxSTdPEmGkR4c27czIK_eGgT4XDGAK2mX55Y1HhGm2ZtfhxvY0uVXSjfqL12pz5W-v1xzuMAOQR9tBQ0OrDamT9RQxIQJwKQJkiqkEkQ9QyFYUx/s640/mang-eugenio-ventura-taxi-driver.jpg" title="Mang Eugenio’s story will restore your faith in Pinoy taxi drivers. " width="560" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mang Eugenio’s story will restore your faith in Pinoy taxi drivers. <br />PHOTO CREDIT: Facebook/ Rommel Lopez</td></tr></tbody></table>In the past years, social media has helped expose the bad behaviors of several unscrupulous Filipino cab drivers. We’ve seen it all in viral videos- from arrogant cab drivers who love cursing their passengers to the crazy one who turned into a samurai. As a result, taxi drivers have been negatively depicted in our society. In fact, some of them have been deemed as one of the worst taxi drivers in the world.<br /><br />Just as you’re about to lose your faith in Pinoy taxi drivers, netizen Rommel Lopez decided to share the uplifting story of a 63-year-old cab driver named Eugenio Ventura or Mang Eugenio.His post has captured the hearts of netizens amassing more than 120,000 shares of Facebook.<br /><br />In his viral Facebook post on Saturday, January 16, Lopez narrated his delightful experience, something commuters seldom experience, while traveling from LRT Roosevelt Station to Mother Ignacia Ave with Mang Eugenio.<br /><br />"Sir pasok lang. Hindi ako namimili ng pasahero. Kahit saan kayo pupunta, ihahatid ko kayo,” Mang Eugenio told Lopez.<br /><br />(Sir come in. I’m not choosy with passengers. I’ll accompany you wherever you want to go.)<br /><br />Initially, Lopez thought Mang Eugenio, unlike other cab drivers, was just trying to be nice to him.<br /><br />“But I was wrong. He wasn't trying hard. He wasn't even trying at all,” Lopez wrote.<br /><br />In their brief conversation, Lopez learned how happy Mang Eugenio was with his job as a taxi driver and how he still drives for his youngest kid, who is currently a graduating student who works part time to support his studies. The old cab driver also revealed that he is nice to passengers because he considers them the source of his income.<br /><br />Lopez also discovered through their chat that Mang Eugenio was only able to take home P1,200 as Christmas bonus since his operator deducted something from his earnings.<br /><br />Despite the fact that Lopez wanted to give him a P20- tip, Mang Eugenio refused to get his offer.<br /><br />“When I reached my destination, the meter read P78.50. I gave him a P100 bill. I decided not to get the change, but he hurriedly gave me P20 and my receipt. I told him that he should keep it, and that it was my tip for him. He refused, saying that I deserved the change because it was the right thing to do. I told him: ‘Okay, yung P1.50 na lang ang tip ko. Huwag niyo nang tanggihan.’ He smiled,” Lopez recounted.<br /><br />Read the full post below.<br /><br /><center><div id="fb-root"></div><script>(function(d, s, id) {  var js, fjs = d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0];  if (d.getElementById(id)) return;  js = d.createElement(s); js.id = id;  js.src = "//connect.facebook.net/en_US/sdk.js#xfbml=1&version=v2.3";  fjs.parentNode.insertBefore(js, fjs);}(document, 'script', 'facebook-jssdk'));</script><div class="fb-post" data-href="https://www.facebook.com/rommel.lopez/posts/10205458260520282" data-width="500"><div class="fb-xfbml-parse-ignore"><blockquote cite="https://www.facebook.com/rommel.lopez/posts/10205458260520282">Meet Mr. Eugenio Ventura, 63 years old, a taxi driver. I hailed him at the LRT Roosevelt Station to go to Mother Ignacia...<br />Posted by <a href="https://www.facebook.com/rommel.lopez" rel="nofollow">Rommel Lopez</a> on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/rommel.lopez/posts/10205458260520282" rel="nofollow">Saturday, January 16, 2016</a></blockquote></div></div></center><b><i><br /></i></b><b><i>-Mini/TheSummitExpress</i></b></div>

VIRAL: Mang Eugenio’s story will restore your faith in Pinoy taxi drivers

MANILA, Philippines - For commuters living in Metro Manila, encountering rude and abusive taxi drivers isn’t something unusual. Mang Eugenio...

Netizens mixed reactions on APEC Summit 2015 go viral online

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">MANILA, Philippines  - Netizens have mixed views and sentiments on the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit hosting of the Philippines this 2015. With the power of democracy online, some wordy posts on Facebook which tackle disappointment and appreciation went viral online.<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMhnDXuCqwkqMbGriFYL0atuEvw7jorfRE2y2ZTj_zoajOMwtZOOBOlQJiTdaHbudlXziPl21xGiZOddl8dhdJZYDKKpCpvf3nb1gcJtUHDYCuXL4DsjcIEt9SZUfljgaCLT0hAU42-NrZ/s1600/APEC-mixed-views-netizens.jpg" imageanchor="1" rel="nofollow" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="APECtado? Netizens have mixed views on Philippine hosting of APEC 2015." border="0" height="470" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMhnDXuCqwkqMbGriFYL0atuEvw7jorfRE2y2ZTj_zoajOMwtZOOBOlQJiTdaHbudlXziPl21xGiZOddl8dhdJZYDKKpCpvf3nb1gcJtUHDYCuXL4DsjcIEt9SZUfljgaCLT0hAU42-NrZ/s640/APEC-mixed-views-netizens.jpg" title="APECtado? Netizens have mixed views on Philippine hosting of APEC 2015." width="560" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">APECtado? Netizens have mixed views on Philippine hosting of APEC 2015.</td></tr></tbody></table>It seems there's a debate on how the country handled the preparation for APEC as well as its importance for the Filipino people. The discussions started when a certain <a href="https://www.facebook.com/TheKennethManuel?fref=nf&pnref=story" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Kenneth Manuel</a> shared his opinion on Monday expressing disappointment on Aquino government’s arrangement for the ‪APEC Summit.<br /><br /><i>"If you have to suspend work and classes to avoid traffic on an international summit, it's evidence that there's something wrong with public transportation.</i><br /><i><br /></i><i>If you have to provide a special lane for visitors and delegates, it's evidence that there's a problem in infrastructure.</i><br /><i><br /></i><i>If you have to hide the homeless for the streets to look good, there's something wrong with social welfare and housing.</i><br /><i><br /></i><i>So, Filipinos, how's the day of being slapped as a second-class citizen?</i><br /><i><br /></i><i>It hurts that we have to suffer traffic every day, but the government gives a fast lane to APEC delegates.</i><br /><i>It hurts that street lights get fixed and public cleanliness is at its maximum for this summit, but we have been so used to being patient, silently suffering, for the poor services they provide.</i><br /><i><br /></i><i>It hurts that they'll be provided with internet with speeds of up to 8.5gbps, while we continue to crawl at kbps speeds.</i><br /><i><br /></i><i>It hurts that Manila looks so presentable this week, not because the Filipino people deserve it, but because the government wants the APEC delegates to see our fake beauty.</i><br /><i><br /></i><i>It hurts that the government knows there is a problem but does not solve it unless foreigners will come. </i><br /><i><br /></i><i>It hurts that the government can serve them so much better. It hurts that we are second-class citizens in our own nation. We all deserve Manila at its best every day, not only when foreigners come to visit.</i><br /><i><br /></i><i>When hospitality becomes too much, it becomes a self-sacrificing hypocrisy."</i><br /><br />Manuel's Facebook post garnered more than 30,000 Likes and 15,000 shares online. He then answered in separate post some netizens who called him ‘stupid’, ‘bobo’, ‘walang ginagawa’, ‘puro reklamo,’ ‘masyadong nega,’‘nagmamagaling’ and the ‘only second-class citizen.’<br /><br />"If there’s anything that 30,000 likes and 15,000 shares taught me, it’s the fact that we differ in opinions, and when we do, some ridicule you for the mere act of expressing it, and resort to invectives and ad hominems. It’s also the reality that 30,000 users may have 30,000 different interpretations of your words, with a lot deviating from your true intent," Manuel said.<br /><br />He also challenged netizens to contribute to a better Facebook.<br /><br />"Remember that behind every post, there is a human author who may get hurt on the things you say, and let’s be sensitive in what we comment, not just on my post, but on others’ posts as well. I have hurt a few government employees over my post; I am sorry to them, and I have been hurt by a few commentators to my post; I don’t know if they are sorry hahaha! Let’s contribute to a better Facebook, let’s create an avenue where people will not be afraid to express themselves, where people will not fear to get ridiculed, where criticism is constructive, and where wrongs are not punished but rather corrected," he added.<br /><br />Meanwhile, in response to all the criticisms on Manuel's article, another netizen <a href="https://www.facebook.com/apple0421/posts/10208391144683184" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Apple Jolo</a> also posted her wordy reactions on Tuesday looking for a positive side of the ongoing APEC summit.<br /><br /><i>"A certain Mr. Kenneth Manuel posted his sentiments on the APEC Summit online which garnered thousands of thumbs up and shared more than two thousand times. I feel you, man. I get frustrated too. Allow me to post this one as well, in response to all the criticisms in the article, punto per punto.</i><br /><i><br /></i><i>1. If Government has to suspend classes and work this week, there definitely is something wrong with public transportation. But it's not entirely the throngs of vehicles that may clog the streets; it's the drivers behind the wheel who need an attitude fix. Government knows that about Juan Dela Cruz and to lessen the burden, you pull the roots before the weeds grow.</i><br /><i><br /></i><i>2. If homeless people need to be relocated and hidden from foreign visitors, it doesn't happen during international summits alone. Government does that every week, practically begging stubborn Filipinos to stand up and rebuild their lives through DSWD and local governments. The thing is, you give a Filipino one arm, he also demands for the other.</i><br /><i><br /></i><i>3. We swim in disgust over APEC delegates being given a special lane, while we suffer horrendous traffic each day. This week is important not just for Government, it is important for all of us. The leaders present in our homeland did not come alone. They are accompanied by an entourage of businessmen whom we hope will consider investing in the country -- so that MAYBE, we can get enough funding for public transportation projects like your trains; so that MAYBE, should enough trains be built and cause massive lay-offs in the PUV industry, the unemployed can have a chance to work in foreign companies present in the country instead; so that MAYBE, these foreigners can teach us a thing or two on how to work first, get there fast, and complain later; and last, we give them a special lane so that MAYBE, they won't shy away from investing in the Philippines because money is wasted while we sit in traffic.</i><br /><i><br /></i><i>4. Traffic lights may be busted once in a while in different areas of the Metropolis. But when you see a traffic light blinking yellow, almost always, there is a traffic enforcer in the middle of the road (rain or shine), doing the job of the damn thing. It's the drivers who arrogantly do not follow that's usually the problem. And if it hurts to see Manila so squeaky clean this week, it hurts MORE when we realize that street sweepers are trying to keep it clean but it is WE, Filipinos, who throw our candy wrappers, cigarette butts, spits, and all our shit on all goddamn corners EVERY SINGLE DAY.</i><br /><i><br /></i><i>5. We suffer poor internet speeds because we are slaves of your big telecommunications companies who fight each other for monopoly. We suffer because our Constitution gives too many restrictions on foreign investors, making selfish Filipino telecommunications magnates our ONLY choice if we want internet. The Philippines' doors are half-closed to foreign companies who CAN provide us better net service and CAN give us an option to choose between a turtle or a rabbit. APEC tries to open that other leaf for all of us.</i><br /><i><br /></i><i>6. It hurts when Filipinos say we have FAKE beauty. It hurts when Filipinos see the negative more than the positive. And it hurts when out of ten Pinoys, only 1 or two are PATRIOTIC despite the hardships. Our Government is only 1% of the whole Filipino community; the other 99 is YOU and ME. So if we say the words FAKE BEAUTY to describe the Philippines, we say that to describe OURSELVES.</i><br /><i><br /></i><i>7. It hurts when we put the burden on Government's shoulder alone, without asking what we can do to help; it hurts when we use our role as taxpayers to shout and corner Government for flaws WE CREATE ON OUR OWN; it hurts when we tag Filipinos as second-class citizens when it is WE who forced that status upon ourselves.</i><br /><i><br /></i><i>Now, I don't know which culture taught us our damn attitude of whining all the time and pointing blaming fingers at others except ourselves. No foreign country forced us to be miserable. We chose that out of our free will. We choose to be a-holes who cut lines on the road when we can simply follow a straight line; we choose to desecrate our streets with trash when we can simply keep it in our pockets and wait until we see a trash bin; we can choose to plant crops and live decently in our hometowns in the province instead of facing a harsh life and add up to the list of homeless and poor in Manila; we can choose to follow infrastructure regulations to support better urban planning instead of waving money to have our buildings and houses recklessly built at the expense of our neighbors; we can follow the coding scheme strictly instead of playing hide-and-seek and catch-me-if-you-can with traffic enforcers, and add up to traffic; we can vote better candidates for Government seats but we choose the ones who smile with celebrities over logic; and we can look at the Philippines, that has stood the test of our painful gullibility, with renewed pride instead of bashing it over and over again.</i><br /><i><br /></i><i>I will not be sorry for this. The system prevails because we ALLOW it. You see, people in Government come and go. Even the Philippine President cannot overstay in Malacanang. If, even after so many Heads of State have been elected since the Republic was born and yet nothing has changed, then it is not Government alone that has a problem. Like mathematical fractions, the main denominator in every different phase in Philippine history is US -- the constituents.</i><br /><i><br /></i><i>President Vladimir Putin once said that Russia is for Russians; if you cannot live by the laws, you leave. Filipinos should learn from that. The Philippines is for Filipinos. And once you OWN it, you hold your responsibilities with firmness. If we change the attitude, we can change the country."</i><br /><br />What is your reaction on APEC 2015 meetings? Are you pro-Kenneth Manuel or better believed on Apple Jolo's reasoning? Express your thoughts in the comment section below.</div>

Netizens mixed reactions on APEC Summit 2015 go viral online

MANILA, Philippines - Netizens have mixed views and sentiments on the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit hosting of the Philip...