As the sun shines brighter and temperatures rise, the summer season heralds the arrival of beach trips, barbecues, and lazy days by the pool. However, with the increasing heat, it's essential to take precautions to stay cool and comfortable. Whether you're enjoying outdoor activities or simply trying to survive the scorching days, here are some tips to beat the heat this summer season.

Hydration is the Key

One of the most critical factors in staying cool during the summer is staying hydrated. Make sure to drink plenty of water throughout the day, especially if you're spending time outdoors or engaging in physical activities. Avoid excessive caffeine and alcohol, as they can contribute to dehydration. 

Dress Appropriately

Choose lightweight, loose-fitting clothing in light colors to help reflect the sun's rays and keep your body cool. Opt for breathable fabrics such as cotton or linen, which allow for better airflow and moisture absorption. Don't forget to wear a wide-brimmed hat and sunglasses to protect your face and eyes from the sun.

Seek Shade

When outdoors, seek shade whenever possible to escape the direct sunlight. Whether it's under a tree, a canopy, or an umbrella, taking breaks in shaded areas can significantly lower your body temperature and reduce the risk of heat-related illnesses. 

Use Cooling Accessories

Invest in cooling accessories such as handheld fans, misting spray bottles, or cooling towels to help lower your body temperature on particularly hot days. These portable gadgets can provide instant relief when you're feeling overheated and can be easily carried around wherever you go. 

Stay Indoors During Peak Hours

Avoid prolonged exposure to the sun during the hottest parts of the day, typically between 10AM and 4PM. If possible, plan outdoor activities for the early morning or late afternoon when temperatures are cooler. Use this time to enjoy indoor activities or relax in air-conditioned spaces to escape the heat. 

Keep Your Home Cool

Maintain a comfortable indoor environment by using fans, air conditioners, or evaporative coolers to circulate air and lower the temperature indoors. Close curtains or blinds during the day to block out direct sunlight and keep rooms cooler. Consider using energy-efficient appliances to minimize electricity usage and reduce your carbon footprint. 

Take Cool Showers or Baths 

Cool off quickly by taking cool showers or baths throughout the day. Not only does this help lower your body temperature, but it also provides a refreshing break from the heat. Adding a few drops of essential oils such as peppermint or eucalyptus can enhance the cooling effect and leave you feeling invigorated. 

Eat Light and Refreshing Foods

Opt for light, refreshing meals that are easy to digest and hydrating, such as salads, fruits, and smoothies. Avoid heavy, greasy foods that can weigh you down and make you feel sluggish in the heat. Incorporate foods with high water content, such as cucumbers, watermelon, and oranges, to help replenish electrolytes and keep you hydrated. 

As temperatures soar during the summer season, it's essential to prioritize your health and well-being by taking steps to beat the heat. By staying hydrated, dressing dressing appropriately, seeking shade, and practicing other cooling techniques, you can enjoy the summer months comfortably and safely. Remember to listen to your body's signals and take breaks as needed to avoid heat-related illnesses. With these tips in mind, you'll be well-equipped to stay cool and make the most of the summer season ahead.

Summer is a time of adventure, relaxation, and creating lasting memories with your family and friends. Whether you're exploring exotic locales or simply enjoying a backyard barbecue, your camera-centric smartphone can be your trusted companion in capturing these precious moments. With its advanced camera capabilities and a plethora of features, this device can help you immortalize your summer experiences in stunning detail.

Speaking of camera-centric smartphones, avail it at https://www.shoppingmall.ph/ where they offer summer deals at 0% installment through Home Credit. Click this link to install the Home Credit app.

Among the smartphone models that you can get with 0% interest via the app that would satisfy your selfie and panoramic needs are the following with their corresponding camera specifications:

Honor X9b 5G 256/12 - Main Camera: 108MP f/1.8 (wide) - 5MP f/2.2(ultrawide) - 2MP f/2.4(macro); Front Camera: 16 MP f/2.5(wide) Oppo Reno 11 5G 256GB/12GB - Rear Camera: 50 MP, f/1.8, 26mm (wide), 1/1.95", PDAF, OIS 32 MP, f/2.0, 47mm (telephoto), 1/2.74", 0.8µm, PDAF, 2x optical zoom 8 MP, f/2.2, 16mm, 112˚ (ultrawide), 1/4.0", 1.12µm; Front Camera: 32 MP, f/2.4, 22mm (wide), 1/2.74", 0.8µm Xiaomi Redmi Note 13 Pro 5G 512GB/12GB - Primary: 200 MP, f/1.65, 1/1.4″, multi-directional PDAF, OIS. Ultra-wide: 8 MP, f/2.2. Macro: 2 MP, f/2.4 Samsung Galaxy S24 256GB/8GB- The Galaxy S24 has three rear cameras, a 50-megapixel main camera, a 10-megapixel telephoto camera, and a 12-megapixel ultra-wide camera; Front: 12-megapixel camera Vivo Y36 5G- dual camera setup, featuring a 50-megapixel primary camera, and a 2-megapixel camera

Let’s explore some tips and tricks to help you make the most out of your camera-centric smartphones:

Master Your Camera Settings: Before you embark on your summer adventures, take some time to familiarize yourself with your smartphone camera's settings. Explore options such as resolution, HDR mode, and exposure settings to understand how they can enhance your photos. Experiment with different settings in various lighting conditions to find the perfect combination for capturing vibrant summer scenes.

Embrace Natural Light: Summer is synonymous with abundant natural light, which can elevate your photos to new heights. When taking outdoor shots, leverage the golden hours - the hour after sunrise and the hour before sunset - for soft, flattering light that adds warmth to your images. Avoid harsh midday sunlight by seeking shade or using accessories like diffusers to soften the light and prevent harsh shadows.

Capture Candid Moments: Some of the best summer memories are unplanned and spontaneous. Keep your smartphone camera handy to capture candid moments of laughter, joy, and camaraderie. Activate burst mode or continuous shooting to ensure you don't miss a single fleeting moment, allowing you to select the perfect shot later. Experiment with Composition: Don't be afraid to get creative with your composition. Experiment with different angles, perspectives, and framing techniques to add visual interest to your photos. Explore the rule of thirds, leading lines, and symmetry to create compelling compositions that draw the viewer's eye into the scene.

Utilize Editing Tools: The latest smartphones come equipped with a variety of built-in editing tools that allow you to enhance your photos directly on your device. Explore options such as brightness, contrast, saturation, and filters to fine-tune your images and infuse them with your personal style. Additionally, consider downloading third-party editing apps from the Google Play Store for even more advanced editing capabilities.

Document Your Adventures: Whether you're embarking on a road trip, lounging on the beach, or hiking through the wilderness, use your smartphone camera to document every step of your summer adventures. Capture sweeping landscapes, quaint villages, and iconic landmarks to create a visual diary of your travels that you can revisit and cherish for years to come.

Share Your Memories: Once you've captured your unforgettable summer moments, don't keep them to yourself. Share your photos with friends and family on social media platforms like Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter to spread the joy and inspire others to embark on their own summer adventures. You can also create digital photo albums or print your favorite photos to create tangible mementos of your summer experiences. Your Android smartphone is more than just a communication device - it's a powerful tool for capturing and preserving your most cherished summer memories. By mastering your camera settings, embracing natural light, capturing candid moments, experimenting with composition, utilizing editing tools, documenting your adventures, and sharing your memories with others, you can ensure that your summer is truly unforgettable. So grab your Android camera at https://www.shoppingmall.ph/, seize the moment, and let the magic of summer unfold before your lens.

Valentine's Day, celebrated on February 14th, is a special occasion dedicated to love and affection. While it's commonly associated with romantic relationships, it's also an excellent opportunity to express love in various forms—friendship, family, and self-love. In this article, we'll explore the art of love, emphasizing the importance of meaningful connections that go beyond traditional notions of romance.

Celebrating All Forms of Love:

Valentine's Day is not just for couples; it's a day to celebrate all relationships. Take this opportunity to show appreciation for your friends, family, and even yourself. Send a heartfelt message, spend quality time, or exchange thoughtful gestures to express gratitude and affection.

The Power of Kindness:

Love is not always about grand gestures; small acts of kindness can have a profound impact. On Valentine's Day, consider performing random acts of kindness for strangers or loved ones. It could be as simple as a compliment, a smile, or a helping hand. These gestures create a ripple effect, spreading love and positivity.

Quality Time Matters:

In our fast-paced world, spending quality time with loved ones is a precious gift. Plan activities that foster connection, such as a cozy dinner, a nature walk, or a movie night. Disconnect from digital distractions and focus on being present with those you cherish.

Expressing Gratitude:

Take a moment to reflect on the positive aspects of your relationships. Write a heartfelt letter expressing your gratitude and appreciation for the people in your life. This practice not only strengthens your bonds but also serves as a reminder of the love that surrounds you.

Chinese New Year, also known as the Spring Festival or Lunar New Year, is the most important traditional festival in Chinese culture. It marks the beginning of the lunar new year and usually falls between January 21 and February 20, depending on the lunar calendar. The celebration lasts for 15 days, concluding with the Lantern Festival.

Key aspects of Chinese New Year include:

Symbolic Animal Zodiac:

Each Chinese New Year is associated with one of the 12 animals of the Chinese zodiac, which operates on a 12-year cycle. These animals are Rat, Ox, Tiger, Rabbit, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Goat (or Sheep), Monkey, Rooster, Dog, and Pig. 2022, for example, is the Year of the Tiger.

Family Reunions:

The festival is a time for family reunions, with people traveling long distances to be with their loved ones. The emphasis on family is so strong that it is often referred to as the largest annual human migration.

Traditional Foods:

Food plays a crucial role in Chinese New Year celebrations. Families gather for elaborate feasts, and certain foods are considered auspicious. Dumplings, fish, spring rolls, and various sweet treats are among the traditional dishes served during this time.

Red Decorations:

The color red is believed to bring good luck and ward off evil spirits. As a result, homes and streets are adorned with red lanterns, banners, and decorations. Red envelopes, called "hongbao" or "lai see," containing money are often given as gifts to symbolize good fortune.

Fireworks and Firecrackers:

The tradition of setting off fireworks and firecrackers is an integral part of Chinese New Year. The loud noises are believed to scare away evil spirits and ensure a smooth start to the new year.

Cleansing Rituals:

Before the New Year, families engage in thorough cleaning to sweep away bad luck and make way for good fortune. Debts are settled, and people buy new clothes and make sure their homes are in perfect order.

Dragon and Lion Dances:

Festive parades featuring dragon and lion dances are common during Chinese New Year. These performances are believed to bring good luck and prosperity to the community.

Temple Visits:

Many people visit temples during this period to pray for good luck and make offerings to deities. It is a time for reflection, gratitude, and setting positive intentions for the coming year.

Chinese New Year is not only celebrated in China but also in various other countries with significant Chinese communities. The customs and traditions may vary slightly among different regions and communities, but the underlying theme of ushering in prosperity, good fortune, and happiness remains consistent.

Kung Hei Fat Choi!

Wrapping up 2023 and welcoming the New Year 2024!

This year 2023 was full of challenges but by His grace we're able to make it through. Despite all those challenges, there's still lot of things to be grateful for...

I'm grateful that up to this day, I can still witness the goodness of God for me and my entire family...

I'm thankful to Him for everything He has done, for all those people He uses as instruments to bless us...

I'm thankful for the gift of life, the gift of family and the gift of friendship...

I'm thankful for the gift of job... For the capability of earning a living, for the wisdom and the skills that He equipped me with to fulfill my job, I'm equally thankful as well to my colleagues for accepting the best and worst in me... 

I'm grateful as well for my supportive family who never gets tired of showing their love and support, may God continue to bless them and protect them at all times wherever they go, whatever they do...

I'm grateful to my BHCCCI  church family whose compassion continue to inspire me to be of help in the ministry, I'm thankful for their love and support  as well to my whole family... I'm so grateful for the kind of friendship that were  built, a friendship that turns into a family. Indeed, Team Padayon, magmalig-on!

I'm thankful as well to my husband and children for allowing me to grow holistically as a wife, as a Mom, and as their friend.

I'm thankful that God slowly mold me into the kind of woman that He wants me to be. I may have lots of shortcomings but by His grace I was able to make it through...

Life may have full of mood swings but as long as we know our identity, we know whom to call to in times of need, we will be okay.

Here comes 2024, I claim for God's more blessings, spiritual maturity, financial breakthrough, prosperous life for my family, best of health, freedom from the things that weigh us down, and all the best for 2024!

Today, a church colleague passed away.

She's not just a colleague, she's a mentor, a friend, and my Godmother on my wedding.

I've known her for more than a decade already. Our first meeting was at the university where I worked as part-time instructor. A very soft-spoken woman, very accommodating and a friendly one.

She died due to severe pneumonia, a complication of being diabetic. She suffered from diabetes for quite a while now to the point that one of her legs was amputated.

She's a survivor, more than conqueror, I would say. For her family, the number of years that she lived since her diagnosis was already a bonus since she's a frequent hospital-goer due to her condition.

In spite of what she went through, she never stopped doing her ministry as if it was among her source of strengths.

Her last days were prolific. She was able to celebrate with us our Family Day, then our Church Christmas Party where she was able to sing- the last song of her life. 

Prior to that, she was complaining about persistent cough, faster heart beats, and even LBM. We thought she could make it like she used to but none of us knows that it was the last day of her existence- her sufferings are finally over.

Now she's home with the Lord. Her life has been made whole upon coming to her eternal rest- her eternal life with God.

So long, Maamy Wendy! Til' we meet again soon!