Remit to the Philippines •

The Fascinating Origin Stories Behind Ten of the World’s Most Famous Brands

Whether it’s a super villain’s or an everyday acronym’s, origin stories are always intriguing. Since the year (and the decade) is nearly at an end, there’s just something wistful about looking back at beginnings. Some of the world’s biggest brands have been with us for years and years. A handful, on the other hand, rose to prominence within a relatively short time. But for all of them, it all started with a name. Here are the riveting back stories behind each one: This tech company’s minimalis
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This App Gives AU’s International Students Free Access to Legal Advice

And no, we don’t mean advice on some of the more bizarre rules Down Under, by the way. Students from all over the world come to Australia for different reasons. Some avail of scholarships and others hope to start their journey towards becoming a permanent resident, while most simply seek to expand their horizons. Yet, while Australian universities are generally safe spaces, international students are often vulnerable to exploitation. Rogue lessors over inflate their monthly rentals, unscrupulo
Remit to the Philippines •

Bridging Visas Allow You to Stay Legally in AU Between Visa Applications. Here’s How.

There are several visa pathways towards becoming a permanent resident in Australia, and all of them take time. Well, have you ever wondered how people manage to remain Down Under legally while they’re processing their visa requirements or are transitioning from one visa to another? Apparently, they rely on something called a bridging visa. So, today, we’ll be talking about this not-so-widely known yet rather useful type of visa. As we’ve mentioned, bridging visas are temporary ones that allow
Remit to the Philippines •

Four Benefits of Having Multiple Income Streams

There was once a time when people sniffed at having multiple side gigs. Not too long ago, most people equated them with insufficient income from one’s day job. Well, that’s not the case anymore. These days, who doesn’t have a side gig? For millennials like yours truly, second jobs or side hustles are lifelines in this economy. After coming of age during the last global economic crisis, we all know better than to take job security for granted. But I’m getting ahead of myself here. First, let’s
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Science Says Music Can Make You More Productive at Work

The title says it all, really. If you’re like any other gainfully employed person, you probably understand why forgetting to bring your earphones to work is particularly catastrophic. Imagine having to crunch numbers, design layouts, or input data in utter silence (or comparatively, in the midst of your colleagues’ ceaseless chatter). Excruciating. Heck, I write articles about how to send money to the Philippines for a living, and I’ve got my own playlist. (See author profile.) The first quest
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The Roman God That Inspired an Iconic Pinoy Pharmacy (And Other Tales Behind Famous Pinoy Brand Names)

Our country has no shortage of entrepreneurial legends. From wartime beginnings to rags-to-riches origins, a lot of the Philippines’ most enduring businesses have got epic stories behind them. But have you ever wondered about why their founders named them that way? If there really was a Datu Puti? Or who the heck Ginebra is? Well, wonder no more. Here’s the lowdown on five of the biggest local consumer brands, and how they got their names: We’re all familiar with the white silhouette on condi
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Five Bank Accounts Your Family Should Have And Why It Pays to Keep Your Funds Separate

Five??? What’s wrong with just one bank account?? Well, nothing, really. At this point, merely having one in the Philippines indicates financial stability. (Yes, sadly.) And we get it, setting aside enough cash to open and maintain one account is already quite a feat, especially if you’re barely making ends meet as it is. But hear us out for a moment. If you can afford it, keeping your money in separate accounts can help you manage your finances better. Firstly, they’ll give you a clearer pict
Pepper •

The Secret History Behind Pan de Regla and Other Panaderia Eats

Like a lot of things in our culture, the art of baking bread was introduced by Caucasian invaders (who probably weren’t used to eating all that rice). The Spanish government put up the first bakery in the country around 1631, sourcing wheat flour from China and substituting our native tuba wine for sour dough. When the Americans came in, they brought with them baking powder, yeast, baking sheets, and automatic slicers. But a quick glance at any local bakery will tell you that we’ve turned this bread business into something that’s very much our own. Because, really, who else but Pinoys can come up with these kooky shapes and names?
Pepper •

Homemade Shirley Temple

Shirley Temple was the quintessential child star. Thus, it’s no surprise that the drink named after her is something that the whole family can enjoy. There are a lot of stories surrounding its origin, but the most popular one reveals that it was invented on Shirley Temple’s 10th birthday. She was allegedly dining at a Beverly Hills restaurant with her parents and some older celebrities, all of whom were toasting spiked beverages. The bartender noticed that the birthday celebrant was the only one without a drink, so he quickly mixed up a non-alcoholic cocktail just for her.
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I Got It From My Momma: Five Surprising Traits Science Says We Inherit From Our Mothers

“That woman over there, my future mother-in-law, Dina Byrnes! Dina Dina Bo-Bina Banana Fana Fo Fina. I love D-D-Dina Byrnes! You know, they say if you really want to know what a woman’s going to look like when she gets older, you should look at her mother. Well I’m lookin’ and I’m likin’! Woo, look at her! Sweetness!” ~ Gaylord Focker, “Meet the Fockers” (2004). Ben Stiller’s character blurting out that he has the hots for his fiancée’s mom while he’s doped up on truth serum has got to be one o
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How Marrying the Right Person Can Help Advance Your Career

And no, I don’t mean sleeping with the boss to get ahead. Let’s get that out of the way, okay? Pop quiz! What’s the one trait both spouses should have to make a successful marriage? Take it from Sheryl Sandberg, the woman who runs Facebook herself: who you marry is the most important career choice you will make. Specifically, whether or not you can rely on your partner to hold up their end, be it their share of the budget or the household chores, has a huge effect on how far you’ll go in your
Dessert Comes First •

Will Chrissy Teigen’s New Cookbook Give You Cravings?

Teigen’s cookbook is simply called “Cravings,” with the phrase “Recipes for All the Food You Want to Eat” embossed above the title. With the author herself sporting a low-cut blouse and holding up a taco in one perfectly-manicured hand on the cover, it’s all too tempting to dismiss it as another “influencer” product that trades manufactured glamour for substance. But boy, are you in for a surprise once you browse its pages.
Dessert Comes First •

A Feast of Ice and Fire: Reviewing the Game of Thrones Cookbook

“Game of Thrones” is brutal. The show doesn’t hold back on gory murder scenes that all too often feature your favorite character biting the dust (“Hold the door!!!”), and neither does it shy away from equally graphic nude scenes that, again, all too often feature your favorite character — okay, I’ll stop now. However, it does feature an intensely compelling plot and if you read the books, quite a few glorious delicacies. For what food/fantasy nerd could forget George R.R. Martin’s captivating de