Yahoo! Philippines Answers blog

Nope, I didn’t screw up the lyrics, and neither am I in a singing mood, but Christmas is just around the corner and for all the YAPpers out there, this means another year of YAPPasko!  YAPPasko is the title of the YAPPers’ Christmas Party and Community Outreach they conducted for street children last year.  YAPper Lai (or more popularly known in Answers as kahlan nynaeve) shares to us her experience at last year’s YAPPasko:

Last Christmas 2007, Yahoo! Answers Pinoy users more popularly known as YAPpers organized a Christmas Party for street kids.  Nearly 400 children benefited from the said event with each child going home with a gift and a smile in their face.  Aside from the gifts, the kids enjoyed playing games and eating delicious party food from Jollibee.  Much to their delight, the appearance of Santa Claus and Jollibee in YAPPasko all the more made the event memorable!

Nothing can indeed be as fulfilling as making others, especially children, happier during the Yuletide season.  Seeing these kids faces wreathed with smiles and hearing their joyful laughter was simply made YAPPasko 2007 for theYAPpers a truly memorable and meaningful one.

Thanks to Lai for writing that post, and of course to all the YAPpers who contributed and participated in last year’s YAPPasko.  It’s such a blessing to see this act of kindness and generosity by the Answers  community in giving back to another community who is in need.

This year, the YAPpers will be organizing another YAPPasko in an orphanage this December and we’ll be there to support them.  They plan to do a repeat of last year where they gave gifts to the kids, played some games with them and fed them with delicious party food.  I’ll be sharing the details in succeeding posts but right now, I’m calling on all YAPpers, old and new, to spread the word around.  We need people to support this in cash and in kind (preferably toys, clothes and children’s books) and the more participants to the event, the better.  Any offer of help will be very much appreciated.

If you’re interested to support this activity, please feel free to leave a comment or email me at jonasdelosreyes [at] yahoo [dot] com.  We only have a month to prepare for this event but we can certainly make it a reality.  In the end, we’ll all experience how giving back to people in need doesn’t actually cost, but it pays.  Many thanks everyone!

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Allow me to take this opportunity to congratulate the Flickristas, Flickr’s largest group in the Philippines, for their successful photo contest/exhibit entitled “Ikatlong Banat: Flickristas Shoot Eight” held at the TriNoma Mall, Quezon City last October 15 to 18, 2008.

The contest challenged this photo-enthusiast community to capture the essence of the number “8” in a photo since this is the year of the “8” (we had 8-8-8 last August 8, 2008).  In their own words, “the number 8 is considered a perfectly balanced symbol.  When laid sideways, it turns into the infinity sign.  Its meaning to different cultures is just that—infinite. It can represent prosperity or wealth, but some also perceive it as an unlucky number.  It means resurrection for others and destruction for some.  Eight represents enlightenment, perfection, a day of rest or rock-and-rollin’ love.”

Fifty-two of their community members submitted photos and three of them were proclaimed winners.  Here are the winning photos:

1st Place

Photo by jobarracuda

2nd Place

Photo by angrylittleboy

3rd Place

Photo by tacit requiem

Congratulations to the winners for your stunning entries and to the group, for your support and cooperation to make the event a success!  Special thanks go to the sponsors whose contributions have made the event even more memorable and spectacular!  To TriNoma Mall of the Ayala Malls for providing the excellent venue, to Digiprint for printing the awesome photos, and to Toshiba for giving the really cool prizes to our winners.  The first placer got a laptop, the second place an 8MP digital camera, and the third placer received an MP3 player.  It couldn’t get any better than that!  Keep it up Flickristas, and more power to your community!

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Photo by Stitch

What I’m about to discuss may not be as light, fun or cheery as previous posts but nonetheless important because it involves the Answers community.  As you all know, misunderstandings and conflicts occur within any community, regardless if it’s online or offline.  And though it’s a normal thing, it shouldn’t be left unchecked or unresolved.  This is crucial if we want to continue to grow a fun, meaningful and responsible Pinoy online community.

I’ve been hearing some not-so-good news about some community members who accuse other users of using clone accounts for trolling.  When I say clone account, I mean Answers users who create new and alternative Answers account (or with multiple Answers accounts) that they use usually for trolling or spamming.  Its one thing to report abusive content and trolls as we see them in Answers, but it’s another thing to accuse others for being a troll and ganging up on them for a “crime” that they may not have committed.  If you think a person in Answers is trolling or spamming, my advice for you is to report this right away.  This is what a responsible community member will do.  Please don’t take matters in your own hands by accusing others for being trolls, it’s not what a concerned community member will do.  On the contrary, doing that only makes you more of a troll than the one you’re accusing.

I highly encourage everyone to be on the lookout for abusive content and to be vigilant in reporting them because it takes all of us to make sure the Pinoy Answers community is responsible, enjoyable and reliable.  In short, follow the golden rule: do unto others as you want them to do unto you.  Okay, lecture’s over.  Next post to follow, something light, fun and cheery!  Christmas party for the YAPpers!  Watch out for it! 

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Some really cool news to all chat fanatics out there.  Your beloved YM just launched it’s newest version, Yahoo! Messenger 9.0!  Why update?  Well, aside from the excellent platform this service gives us in being able to chat with friends and even talk to them through Yahoo! Voice, check out the new features:

• Be expressive!  Express yourself with new cool skins.
• Be stylish!  Show off your style with Emoticons, Avatars, Audibles and IMVironments.
• Be updated!  Get real-time updates about what your friends are up to.
• Be graphic!  Share favorite videos and Flickr photos with your friends within your chat window
• Be personal!  Chat privately with friends on your social network profiles, blog or website through Pingbox.

See, I told you it’s worth upgrading to the new YM.  Go to http://sg.rd.yahoo.com/ph/messenger/maxwellcm/*http://ph.messenger.yahoo.com/ now, download YM 9.0 and start enjoying the new cool and exciting features only YM can give you.  You all know chatting isn’t allowed in Answers, but thankfully, we have YM to take care of that problem.  So chat now (but only in YM, ok?), and don’t forget to share to the community what you think of the updated version!

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Photo by viloriadotcom

When was the last time you went on a trip?  Going on a trip can be fun and exciting, especially if you’re with loved ones and going to a place you haven’t been to.  The trip can be just one day, an overnighter, or a couple of days, but still, there’s always an element of thrill and anticipation when going on a trip.  Of course, it’s not always the same, especially if the trip means being separated from your loved ones, but nonetheless, whatever the nature of the trip, it important to prepare for it.

There are a number of preparations involved when going on a trip, but it’s not complicated, at least it doesn’t have to be.  One just needs time and know-how to do it right.  If you’re traveling abroad, you need to have a passport.  Snicavera asked the Answers community what are the requirements to getting a passport and peppermint patty shared to her the list.  In another question, CPG clarified that we can’t apply for a passport online, what we can do is download the application form.  Sheexxiii <3 asked when is the best time to pack your bags for a trip and rchaney73 wisely advised her to first make a list of what you need to build then start packing a few days before you leave.  Camper shares further advice in packing your stuff, he said it’s always best to roll your clothes because it creates less wrinkles.  Put them in bundles inside zip-lock bags so it wont’ get wet in case something liquid in your bag leaks, and you can always use the bags to put your dirty clothes in.

One important advice crombieqtpy15 shared is to make sure to know what you can and cannot bring inside the plane.  I remember an incident in one of my trips where a guy had to leave behind a very expensive perfume because he forgot he can’t bring liquids inside the plane.  .Frequently*Dazzled. also shared some must-brings in your carry-on bag or hand carry so you won’t get bored while waiting in the airport or during your flight.  Some essentials she shared are books, MP3 player, light snacks and an extra pair of clothes in case your luggage gets lost.

May I also share that you better do your homework before leaving and try to find out what the weather is in your destination so you’ll know if you have to bring an umbrella and a raincoat or some shades and sun block.  Answers gets a lot of questions and answers on travel-related topics because the best advice you can get on this subject is based on experience.  And we know that this is exactly what we can expect from Answers.

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