Yahoo! Philippines Answers blog

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Here in the Yahoo! Answers Team we’re always busy working towards making the site better. Most days it means behind-the-scenes work but some days it yields visible results: today is one of those days.

We’ve heard from you guys for a while now how frustrated you are that the Leaderboards weren’t quite right and rest assured we were just as frustrated as you. What added to this frustration is that the technology behind them, that counted thousands of millions of users’ points, wasn’t as straightforward to fix as we might have liked, hence why it’s taken a short while for us to put them right.

But we’re excited to announce that the Category Leaderboards are now accurate and updated. We working on a fix for the overall and weekly Leaderboards, which we will let you know about as soon as it has been completed. As part of this we are also correcting how we calculate Best Answer percentages to ignore deleted Best Answers. This is long overdue: many thanks for being so patient.

These changes may affect you in different ways. The Category Leaderboards will now be more accurate, reflecting recent points and deleted questions and answers. As a consequence some of you will be promoted up the boards, similarly others might slip down a little. Remember that Leaderboards are based on the country who’s Yahoo! Terms of Service you sign. So for example only users that signed the Philippines Terms of Service will be seen in the Philippines Leaderboards.

Many thanks for your patience on this, we hope this one small step toward Answers and all its users having an amazing 2009.

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(Photo by mela sogono)

Today is a sad day for the Philippine music industry.  The King of Pinoy Rap, Francis “Kiko” Magalona has passed away today at around 12 noon (March 6).  He was 44 years old.  The sad news was announced by his friend, Vic Sotto in Eat Bulaga where a moment of silence from the viewers was observed in honor of Francis.

As most of you probably know, Francis was diagnosed with AML or Acute Myelogenous Leukemia with Mixed Lineage back in August of 2008.  After that, he sought treatment at Medical City Hospital in Mandaluyong and underwent chemotherapy.  Francis shared the details of his ordeal and requested for prayers from everyone in his blog, A Free Mind.  He is survived by his wife, Pia and their eight children: Unna, Nicolo, Francis Jr., Elmo, Arkin, Clara, and actresses Maxene and Saab.

Also known as FrancisM, Master Rapper, and The Man From Manila, Francis is credited as the first Filipino rapper to successfully crossover to the mainstream through his nationalistic hit “Mga Kababayan” (My Countrymen).  And aside from being a prominent rapper and song writer, he was also a producer, actor, TV host, VJ, director and photographer.

He is without a doubt the King of Pinoy Rap and his music will always serve as a reminder to all of us that we should not be ashamed of our color but be proud because we’re Pinoy.  In his words, “Dapat lang malaman nyo, bilib ako sa kulay ko, ako ay Pilipino!”  The Master Rapper has now gone home to be with his Master and Lord and he will be missed by all Filipinos.  Rest in peace, Francis!

As a tribute to Francis M, I would like to request the Pinoy Answers Community to share their thoughts and memories of the Master Rapper by sharing to everyone what particular Francis M song has made the most positive impact on you as a Filipino and why.  Please click on the link to answer the question, and feel free to leave a message for Francis M and his family at the comment section below.

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(Photo by minato)

I’m sure everyone is aware that Valentine’s Day is just around the corner.  This means if you want to have a meaningful and memorable V-Day, then you should be thinking about it and planning for it now.  Preparation is certainly a key to a great Valentine’s Day with your significant other and given the not-so-favorable economic situation we’re all experiencing, it also helps that by preparing for it early, you can have an inexpensive and yet extraordinary happy hearts day.

I’m sure top of mind to most of you right now is what Valentine gift to give your loved one.  Well, I recently read an article featuring a guide to a terrible Valentine’s Day gifts.  By learning what not to give on V-Day, we can identify the best things we can give. :)  To give you a quick account, here’s the list of gift no-no’s on Valentine’s Day:

1. Joke Items – Even if you’re the fun-loving type of person, don’t ever make it appear as if you’re making fun of your loved one with your gift.
2. Pillow novelty items – You’ve probably seen this in an email or website.  The boyfriend or girlfriend pillow or a pillow with your picture in it is just not romantic.
3. Baby talk anything – Any item with “I Wuv You” should not even be considered as a Valentine’s day gift
4. Cheesy suggestive gifts – These includes t-shirts and other “items” that cannot be mentioned here because this is a kid-friendly blog.
5. Plastic roses – The article actually just mentioned roses, but I beg to differ.  Roses are still a romantic, classic gift that will never be out of style.  But plastic ones are not.

So what are the best gifts to give on Valentine’s Day?  Well, I was thinking you could help me.  I know many consider the classic bouquet of red roses, box of sweet chocolates and romantic dinner (probably in a restaurant with an excellent view of the sea or the city skyline) as the best gifts on Valentine’s Day, but the truth is, the best gift you can give your Valentine on V-Day is time.  Spend quality time with that person and be reminded what a blessing it is to love and be loved.  I’m not saying don’t give a gift, I’m saying the cost of the gift doesn’t really matter, it’s the thought that counts.  And with the current financial crisis, now is certainly the best time to be creative and cost-friendly with your Valentine’s Day gift.

That’s why I am asking the community right now, what Valentine’s gifts can you suggest for someone who is on a budget and why?  Let’s help each other out, click the link to answer the question, and feel free to share the link to anyone you know who may have an excellent gift suggestion.  Remember, we can give without loving but we cannot love without giving.  Advance happy hearts day to everyone!

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Question: What do Cameron Diaz, Leonardo Dicaprio and Bianca Gonzales all have in common?
Answer: They have all taken part in Answers over the last couple of years!

And, they have not been the only ones: there’s a long list of celebrities that have chosen to pose their question to the Answers community and eagerly review your responses.

However, many of you have expressed feelings of concern towards the authenticity of these public figures on Answers.  Well, don’t worry because we’re setting the record straight – they are who they say they are, and you’ll recognize them because you’ll see a green badge with the label “official” under their avatar.

It’s that simple.  You know us, and we are always talking about our community guidelines, our terms of service, and respecting the law.  Well, that applies to us in first instance, and we would never allow someone impersonating a public figure –or even a non-public figure, of course.

Now, let us explain the workflow to you: the celebrity asks the question (you can see many recorded on video), the community answers the question and the celebrity chooses the best Answer.  For example, that’s the case of our latest celebrity: Seann William Scott (who became famous in the American Pie movies).  Check out his video here.

That’s it, there’s no trick or behind-the-scenes movements, and of course they are who they say they are! And… they are amazed at the passion the Answers Community puts in their Answers!

Now that you know they’re for real and not mere chika, it’s your turn to Answer.  Would you like to see more Pinoy celebs asking a question to the community?  If you say yes, who are the Pinoy stars that you wish to be in Answers?  We don’t promise anything, but we’d love to hear your suggestions and do our best to make your dreams come true!

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We just celebrated the New Year and suddenly it’s the middle of January.  Time certainly flies!  After a really long holiday and now that things are back to normal, whether in school or work, allow me to offer you some tips on how to make the most of 2009 at Yahoo!.  Check out the following really cool stuff you can find here:

• Profiles: Launched a little time ago in 2008… but big sensation for 2009! – have you got one already? Profiles is the place where you can tell more about yourself, upload your pic, share your interests and connect with friends!  You can start by adding me now (my Yahoo! ID is jonasdelosreyes).
• Flickr: If you are a camera fan (and that means to all Pinoys out there, hehehe), you probably have your Flickr account already… but let me share with you one of the coolest thing about Flickr: you can geo tag pics. That means you can specify the location in which the photo was taken and it will be added to that point on the map.  Then, you can search by geotagged photos!  With Flickr, there’s really no need to say, there are millions of photos and videos you can explore.  Even the magazines echo about the amount of pictures of Barack Obama! (http://www.time.com/time/photogallery/0,29307,1866936,00.html)
• Yahoo! Philippines: Make this your starting point every time you go online.  The news and feature articles will certainly keep you updated and informed on what’s happening in and around the country, Search is just a click away (beside the logo) and the Personal Assistant area (upper right side) makes sure you get a glimpse on your Yahoo! Mail, who’s online in Messenger, and updates on your Qs and As in Answers.  Plus, the Inside Yahoo!, Pulse and Flickr modules will surprise you with different content to check out.
• Mail & Messenger:  There’s really no excuse anymore not to stay connected with family and friends, no matter where you are.  With Mail and Messenger you are just a few clicks away from anyone in the world, so make sure you drop them a line from time to time.  It will brighten their day for sure!

And of course, we don’t want to leave Answers out.  I hope you all will continue to contribute to making Answers a great place to share knowledge and connect with like people.  There’s a lot coming in 2009 so stay tuned!

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One of the most popular categories here in Yahoo! Philippines Answers is Entertainment, and it’s no surprise because if there’s one thing Pinoys enjoy watching, following and be updated with, its showbiz!  We want to be in the know on what’s happening in the lives of our idol celebs, we make sure we don’t miss our favorite TV shows and we always look forward to watch the movies that are upcoming, wanting to know as much as we can (without getting spoiled, of course) before buying tickets.

Well, the Pinoy Answers community is in for a treat because the number one Pinoy showbiz site is our newest Knowledge Partner, help me welcome PEP.ph to Answers!  PEP, which is short for Philippine Entertainment Portal, is your one-stop entertainment shop that delivers everything you need to be in the know on Pinoy showbiz stuff.  As their profile says, PEP “supplies your daily dose of showbiz news coming from all over the showbiz industry.  It lets you in on the real and reel world of stars.  It picks up from showbiz insiders and enthusiasts. It covers the trivial, the controversial, and the weighty among showbiz issues. It reports about newbies and veterans, talents and managers, TV stars and the movie actors, and other exciting characters that make up Philippine show business.”

And the really cool thing about PEP is that they are always the first to break the news, reporting fairly and accurately on what’s hot and being talked about in the world of Pinoy showbiz.  So if you have question on that recent celebrity breakup you heard, or this new tele-novela that’s coming out or rumors about a new movie adaptation, ask them now in Answers because PEP is here to answer them!  Make sure to drop by PEP’s Answers profile and you can always visit their website in http://www.pep.ph.

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This is a very interesting and thought-provoking question.  Although, mind you I’m not referring to the process of placing something between layers of plastic and sealing them using heat or pressure, like what they do to ID cards or floors, at least not in that traditional sense.

Imagine a future where our criminals, instead of being sent to prisons are kept in laminated suits which prevent them from committing their crimes again and make them productive members of society however they everything they do will be controlled.  They are virtual slaves in an invisible prison.  What do you think?  Is this the perfect solution to crime prevention and detention or a tyrannical, heartless alternative that is way out of bounds of ethics and morality?

Wonder no more because Animax Asia explores this very concept and scenario in its first-ever original animation production entitled “LaMB”.  The story takes place in the future of a harsh desert planet called Cerra.  Here, society has made both jails and the death penalty unnecessary by implementing a prison system called “Lamination”.  Criminals are imprisoned in laminated suits that enable them to remain productive members of society but strips them of any kind of freedom.  Everything that they do should be in accordance to their master otherwise they are.  Prisoners are hence called LaMBs.

Like I said, this is certainly interesting, thought-provoking and exciting!  And the cool thing is the story is based on the award-winning script by Pinoy amateur writer Carmelo Juinio who participated in the pan-Asia scriptwriting competition Animax Awards in 2007.  Watch out for this animated production soon, and for more details on LaMB, check out their contest page here!  For now, think about this: have you ever been in a situation where you feel like a LaMB?  You can’t speak or express your thoughts or feelings?  LaMB wants to know, “Have you ever felt you couldn’t speak up or express yourself like a LaMB?”  Share your thoughts now!

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Photo by Victor and Patricia Ocampo

Just in case you haven’t already come up with a list of resolutions for 2009, we at Answers thought we’d offer some ideas:

• I will not post questions like “Are you there?” at 3 o’clock in the morning (or any other time).
• I promise to search for an answer first, before asking, “Why is the sky blue?” again.
• I will not send a very special personal message sharing my wonderful thoughts with someone because I don’t like their answer or question.
• I will not become a broken record and post the same content over and over again. I will not become a broken record and post the same content over and over again. I will not become a broken record…
• I will accept that the only good troll is a good-luck troll doll with so-ugly-they’re-cute-faces and long colorful hair.
• I will not create 10 accounts so I can rack up points or target other members.
• I will not respond to a question I don’t know the answer to, just to score 2 points.
• I will not crash my fellow community members’ computers by posting malware links.
• I won’t claim Wikipedia’s all-encompassing knowledge as my own and will, in fact, cite the source properly.
• I will continue to ask and answer helpful questions that make Yahoo! Answers such a great place to be.

We’ve also made some of our own resolutions here at Answers.  This year we’re committed to continuing our fight against trolls, clones and malware links, and to communicating with you through our product update blogs.

What about you?  What resolutions can you offer to make Answers a better place?  Share your thoughts now!

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Photo by Stitch

Welcome to 2009!  I hope all your fingers are still intact, meaning I hope everyone safely welcomed the New Year and stayed clear of dangerous firecrackers.  I’m all for welcoming 2009 with a bang but please, it’s about time we opt for safe, harmless ways of creating noise.

But that’s over and done with, now that we’re officially in 2009, I’m sure what’s fresh in everyone’s minds right now are New Year’s resolutions.  A number of Answers community members have been asking about it, like Donna who asked how you plan to attain your New Year’s resolutions.  Terra S got the best answer by sharing her personal experience on how she faced her fear and successfully fulfilled her resolution to learn to sing.  Animeperson456 asked the community for help on her resolution – how can she eat healthier and deal with cravings, and thankfully Shelty K gave a comprehensive answer on dieting.

I already made a list of my resolutions for this year and hopefully, by the end of 2009, I can go back to that list and say I was able to accomplish most, if not all of it.  Remember, resolutions are just words if we are not truly resolved enough to accomplish what we have set out to do.  So whatever your resolutions may be, make sure you start doing them.  As the January 1 inspirational quote in my desk states, “Be a self-starter.  Do it now! When you do not know how to do something, start.  Beware of the paralysis of analysis.  Be a person of action.” (by Mamie McCullough)

And, in case you haven’t downloaded the Yahoo! Answers Guide to Everything yet, just click here to get the free e-book.  Again, a Happy New Year to all of you!

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(Photo by Stitch)

It’s impossible not to know once the Christmas season has arrived.  If you’re Pinoy or live in the Philippines, you literally can see it, smell it, feel it around you.  The Christmas lights, parols and décor, the carolers singing in front of your house, the colorful, finely-wrapped gifts,  the smell of puto bumbong, castanas, and other Christmas delicacies – there’s no doubt about it, Christmas is here!

Amidst all the hoorays and the hoopla, let’s always be reminded that the true spirit of Christmas is giving.  The story of how God gave His Son Jesus Christ to be born on earth to die for our sins is the main reason we celebrate Christmas, and it is the reason why we also give.  This spirit was demonstrated last December 13, 2008 when a group of YAPpers went to Cottolengo Filipino Orphanage and gave gifts, food and their time to more than 80 orphan boys.  This is the second year of YAPPasko and it’s a noble, worthy cause that truly deserves our continuous support and attention.  Thanks so much to all those who supported YAPPasko, your sense of community and charity is highly commendable and simply amazing.  To see more of their pics, just click on the image to go to the album.

But the giving doesn’t stop here.  I have a surprise for all of you.  Because 2008 has been a great year for all of us here in Answers, we have a little something for you.  To thank you for all your excellent contribution and participation in making Answers an ideal place to ask, answer and discover knowledge on anything and everything under the sun, we’re giving you the first Yahoo! Answers Guide to Everything!

This e-book is a random collection of interesting, thought-provoking, and practical knowledge from the community which we hope you’ll enjoy and share as well with all those that you know.  After all, knowledge is the gift that keeps on giving.  :)  Thanks again everyone, have a blessed Christmas and a happy New Year!

Download the Yahoo! Answers Guide to Everything now!

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