Ever wonder why the Start-Up ship war is so crazy and we have such intense feelings about the love triangle/loveline just from watching it? Aside from the charismatic male leads, it’s because we are able to put themselves in the shoes of Seo Dal-mi.

Two beautiful people may not be fighting for our affections like her, but all of us want to be treated a certain way by a potential romantic interest. Fortunately or unfortunately, the two male leads could not be more different in expressing their love.

They are soooo distinct from one another that we can guess whether or not you’re team Ji-pyeong or team Do-san just based on the love language you like to receive. We’ve already gone over why Ji-pyeong is the better choice for Dal-mi, but maybe that’s because my love language aligns with what he gives.

If you are not familiar with the five love languages, you can learn more about what they are and what yours is by clicking here. Don’t worry, these concepts are easy to grasp and self-explanatory especially when you’ve been watching a lot of Start-Up like us.

Warning: there are minor spoilers until Episode 14!

Words of Affirmation: Team Do-san

Between the two, Nam Do-san is obviously better at all the sweet talk. It’s not even a competition. And given how shy and timid he can be, it’s actually saying a lot about how horrible Han Ji-pyeong is with the whole romance thing.

It’s easy to swoon over Do-san when he starts telling Dal-mi about how much he loves and cares for her. He suddenly becomes this cool lead when he starts saying all these nice words to her. For example, at the end of Episode 7, the both of them make an enemy out of In-jae’s stepfather when Do-san smashes his glass nameplate.

After ruining their only shot for an investment at the time, they go to the top of the building (because that’s the only natural thing to do) and Do-san says — nay, promises — that he’ll become more successful than In-jae’s stepfather and earn ten billion won for her!

Just making that promise is enough to make anyone swoon.

Meanwhile, we are fourteen episodes in and we have not really seen Ji-pyeong articulate how important Dal-mi really is in his life. And that’s what all of us in Team Ji-pyeong are dying for, right?

Being her mentor has made him say harsh things to her. However, we haven’t really gotten an idea of how much of a sweet talker Ji-pyeong can be in his interactions with the other characters either, so it’s safe to say that he is just horrible at any form of verbal communication.

But we’ll give him a pass because he was an orphan, and had no family to teach him how to tell people about his feelings.

Acts of Service: Team Ji-pyeong

This one was a tough one to determine, but I would have to give the edge to Ji-pyeong. If he were a real person, I would guess that this would be his most dominant love language. No talk, just action.

It’s answering over 400 questions for your mentee, editing her speech before she goes on stage, driving to a faraway province to fetch her, and mixing her noodles at lunch. And yes, it’s getting a stranger to act like the person in the letters because you don’t want her to flop in front of her much more successful sister.

I’m pretty sure this is not a love language that Dal-mi doesn’t fully appreciate, because if she did, she would be all up in Ji-pyeong’s arms.

To be fair, Do-san has some grand romantic gestures up his sleeve, too. I mean the whole concept of NoonGil was created because he wanted to do something nice for Dal-mi’s grandmother (aka halmeoni). I could also appreciate the fact that he still made sure NoonGil could recognize different medicine even when he was on a flight to San Francisco.

But it’s the little things that really make acts of service for me, and as you’ll see later, this is not really Do-san’s dominant love language.

Physical Touch: Team Do-san

This is a no-brainer. No one has had sex in the series so far (we think) but Do-san is the only one out of the two who has really shown his affection through physical means.

Obviously, he and Dal-mi have kissed, hugged & held hands more times than we can count.

Then we have Ji-pyeong who hasn’t really touched Dal-mi in any sort of friendly or intimate manner. Now that I think about it, I don’t think they’ve ever had any kind of skin-to-skin contact. And that is obviously a very conscious choice from the writers.

Because the first time they do, it’s going to be magical!

Aside from the romantic aspect of it all, Do-san is just able to express his care for people better through physical touch. The Samsan Tech guys also hug and high-five each other a lot even if it’s only because someone made a corny joke.

Ji-pyeong is just not a fan of physical touch even when he is at his most fragile state. We see this when he learns about halmeoni‘s loss of vision. He bursts into tears, but he just kind of stands there awkwardly until he is pulled into a comforting hug.

Again, it’s probably the orphan thing so we’ll give him a pass.

Receiving Gifts: Team Ji-pyeong

Think thoughtful presents and gestures, not big and grand.

Since Ji-pyeong is a loaded guy, and we’re living in the k-drama world, he naturally gravitates towards this love language to show his affection. It’s basically a rule in television that the richer guy never gets the girl because material things are supposed to be superficial or something like that.

So in true rich guy fashion, he offered to be Samsan Tech’s Plan B if they failed to get an investment at Demo Day. Some may say that it’s an act of service, but when money is involved, it’s basically a gift already.

It was supposed to be a caring gesture from him, and a move that probably divided a lot of viewers. Was he using his money to buy out Dal-mi’s love? Or was it just a genuine act of love?

As a biased member of Team Ji-pyeong, I want to believe that it was the latter.

We see another glimpse of this love language in play later on. When Ji-pyeong plans to confess his feelings for Dal-mi again, he brings an expensive box of jewelry along with him. Of course, we never really got to see what would’ve happened had he given it to her because the writers hate us.

I see Team Do-san already bringing up the RGB scrubbies he knitted for halmeoni as a counterexample, but the fact that Ji-pyeong’s character is so intertwined with money and physical wealth means that you’re probably a fan of his if receiving gifts is your love language.

Quality Time: Team Do-san or Team Ji-pyeong

Even if I don’t like him, I can’t discount the fact that Do-san expresses his love well through quality time. Whether it’s eating instant ramen at the park or going to a beach with Dal-mi’s family, his best moments with Dal-mi are when they are alone. You could leave those two alone in any place and they’d just enjoy the moment, and the insightful conversations in between.

Do-san does not only love grand gestures, but he also knows how to make use of his time with Dal-mi. Between the two of them, there is a lot of talking about feelings and dreams that makes their connection that much stronger.

It’s obvious that Dal-mi is a quality time kind of girl because she could talk with Do-san all night and fall for him even more.

On the other hand, Ji-pyeong isn’t a particularly expressive guy. But when a person he cares about is in trouble, you bet your ass he’ll be there! For example, he was quick to run to halmeoni when he learned about her loss of vision. Ji-pyeong didn’t really say anything to comfort her because he just can’t bring himself to express his worries in words.

Nonetheless, he was there!

We also saw him in a particular cute scene in Episode 13 when he spent dinner with Dal-mi’s family. There was nothing explicitly romantic about the entire scene, but staying up late house to prepare food with Dal-mi was basically third base for our dear Good Boy.

And of course, let’s not forget about that “lunch date” when he confessed his feelings to Dal-mi. It was a tumultuous time for her having learned that her first love was basically a lie, but Ji-pyeong was there to comfort her.

Sometimes, just being there is more than enough.

What’s your love language? And do you think it has to do something with you being team Ji-pyeong or team Do-san? Leave your thoughts in the comment section below!

If you’re looking for shows to watch after this weekend’s Start-Up finale, read up on our list of best k-dramas on Netflix for Gen Z’ers. Never miss out on anything by following us @ZoomersCornerPH on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

The post ‘Start-Up’: Your Love Language Reveals if You’re Team Ji-pyeong or Team Do-san appeared first on Zoomers Corner.

Ever have days where you beat yourself up for not fighting for the course you really want to take up in college? Going through four years of college while learning things you’re not passionate about is just pure unadulterated torture; no one should ever live a life they’re unhappy about.

Well maybe the solution is staring at you in the face: shift courses!

If this is something that’s been weighing on your mind lately, boy are you lucky. You asked from “a sign” from the universe, and a sign ya shall receive. Eight of them, actually. Here is Zoomer Corner’s list of signs that you should shift courses in college.

1. The classes you dread the most are your majors.

Sure, not every major is enjoyable. But we’re not talking about the classes you dread just because you ended up with a horrible professor, or a class that frustrated you because getting a passing grade just seemed impossible.

We’re talking about those classes where you find yourself asking, “why am I still here?”.

Operative word: classes. It’s normal to dread one or two majors, but when everything feels like a hassle, maybe it’s time to shift courses in college.

2. You spend more time doing things related to your preferred course.

Most of us have thought of shifting the moment we got our college entrance test results. Filipino parents are notorious for forcing their children to choose courses that they don’t want because they’re just more practical from a financial standpoint.

Because of this, we try to compensate by taking a minor related to our real passion or using up free electives for them. Some of us even join organizations that have projects where our heart truly lies.

When we’re passionate about a cause, then these things that eat up our “free time” may not feel like work at all.

Look back at how much energy and time you invested in the activities related to your passion, versus those related to the course you’re stuck in. You might be surprised that you’re actually spending less than 10% of your day caring about your degree program.

3. The internet is calling you.

Data privacy is a sham. We all know how smart all these websites and apps are getting with the personal data that we give them. Most of the time, they know things even before we do.

So when Youtube is recommending you videos about the things you truly care about, or Facebook is showing you posts from friends who are taking the course that you are eyeing, take it as a sign. Hell, if you found this blog post in one of your social media feed, then maybe Mark Zuckerburg God is trying to tell you something.

Trust these tech giants, they know best.

4. You habitually read up on topics related to your preferred course.

How often do you willingly read articles in the field that you’re studying? Now, compare that to how often you read stuff related to the field that you potentially want to study in.

We are unconsciously drawn to the things that we can’t have. So when you’re studying biology but really want to formally study graphic design, you may find yourself reading news about the Adobe creative suite or obsessively following famous visual artists in the local community.

The most telling sign is when you start researching about the life of someone who works in a certain field. How much money do they make? What does their typical day look like? Do they regret it? Did they also shift courses in college?

5. Failing doesn’t hit you hard anymore.

When you’re a freshman, getting a failing mark in a major can hit you deep no matter how much you play it cool to other people. But as you spend more time in college, you become numb about failing… at least for those who aren’t happy with the course they’re taking.

Yes, failure is such a common thing in college that it might seem laughable to get affected by it. But feeling a “sting” when you fail at something you care about is only normal.

If you recurringly feel nothing when you get failing grades for your majors, then that’s a huge red flag that you should be putting all your energy into a course you’ll actually cry for. As bad as it may sound, crying and doubting yourself over a failed grade shows that you are passionate about what you’re studying as opposed to feeling absolutely nothing.

6. You keep making excuses not to shift.

The most common excuses we hear about why one doesn’t want to shift courses in college are: (a) parents, and (b) it’s too late. Let’s address them both, shall we?

First, there’s the idea that your parents will just not approve of you switching gears. I want you to recall if you’ve truly sat down with them to seriously and thoroughly discuss why you want to shift. Did you tell them the whole truth about it?

Some of us are admittedly not transparent with our parents. But if there’s a time to get real, it’s when you’re trying to persuade the people who are funding your college education. To their credit, the money they invest putting us through school is no joke. So we should cut them some slack, too.

And of course, it’s only normal to get shut down the first time you bring up the idea of shifting courses. The question you should now ask yourself is, did you push hard enough? While we do not encourage you being too pushy, just make sure that you get all your points across before totally closing the chapter. If you don’t, you might spend a whole lifetime regretting it.

Now let’s get to the excuse that it’s “too late” for you to shift. You might be three years into your course right now, and you just feel like it’s not worth the jump when you’re so close to graduation.

While that’s a totally valid reason, just carefully weigh the practicality of your staying in your current course versus when you shift courses.

We live in a country where your college degree can make opening certain doors easier to open, so having a diploma in the field you want to enter is extremely helpful. For most fields in science and medicine, these diplomas are even required.

But just on an individual standpoint, I want you to ask yourself if you can still stand being in the course for longer. How happy are you with where you are… really?

Did we miss any signs that someone should shift courses in college? Share them with us in the comments below! If you loved this article, then you’ll probably love the other advice we have for you here.

Never miss out on anything by following us @ZoomersCornerPH on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

Featured Image: Pixabay on Pexels

The post 6 Clear-Cut Signs that It’s Time to Shift to Another Course appeared first on Zoomers Corner.

The big 9.9 sale in the Philippines just ended and we’re feeling a bit… weird. Who else just realized that they added something to their cart which they shouldn’t have, and now can’t help but sulk over their lost money?

Ladies and zoomers, that is a classic case of post-shopping regret (more popularly known as “buyer’s remorse”) and boy do we have some tips for you!

1. Admit that you have a problem.

Okay, we may be exaggerating here. But the important thing is recognizing that you did something bad that may affect your financial situation for the foreseeable future. You may have gone over your set shopping budget or just didn’t think through your purchases before you checked out.

But by admitting to yourself that you messed up, you’ve already proven yourself a stronger person than others who just laugh off their post-shopping regret and do it again the next time.

2. Pinpoint where it went wrong.

This piece of advice might seem too much like real therapy right now, but trust us. If you know the source of how the shopping sites “scammed” you into buying something you didn’t really want, then you’ll know how to stop it in the future.

Is it because you panicked that the item was going to run out of stock? Were you trying to fill your cart with items just so you could get a “higher discount”? Did seeing a super low-priced item in a flash sale make you think that purchasing it was a good idea?

Whatever the reason is, make sure you keep note of it in your mind. Remember that knowledge is power; they won’t fool you next time!

3. Find a use for the items you bought.

This refers to the products you ordered which you didn’t necessarily want in the first place. During the 10.10 sale last year, I made a choice of buying a ring light and then instantly regretted it afterwards.

But lo and behold, I couldn’t imagine my life without it right now. The ring light ended up becoming a good personal investment with video calls being the norm and my need to be seen with good lighting in Zoom. It was also handy for some photoshoots I did, having photography as a hobby.

I’m sure there is a reason why you thought of purchasing those things in the first place. And just like in my situation, you might even be surprised with how much they can do!

If staring at your newly-bought items bring you anger and guilt, you can try and force yourself to use them. For example, if your new shirt ends up looking nothing like the one in the photos on the website, just keep wearing it in the house where nobody can see you.

Maybe you can even wear it for a unique IG photoshoot or a self-mocking TikTok video. If you’re gonna wallow in post-shopping regret, at least get some clout out of it.

4. Stop thinking of the what if’s.

What’s done is done. When the option to cancel your order is gone, you’ve basically left your fate in the hands of the shipping gods. Reality sinks in a few moments after you’ve been able to process how much you really spent for something you didn’t want in the first place.

But… it’s all a matter of perspective.

While you can keep contemplating about how much money you just lost or how you should not have pressed “Add to Cart” in the first place, you can take a more proactive approach. Think of what the items in question can do for you.

And like what we discussed in Tip #2, you can always see this as a learning opportunity so you’d know how to hold yourself back the next time an e-commerce website offers free shipping coupons.

5. Read the good reviews.

The time between the moment you placed your order and the moment it gets to your doorstep is the worst. The post-shopping regret is probably sinking in now that you have the opportunity to truly think over your purchase decisions.

Without the giant blinking sale signs and the cool product shots, you’ve come to realize that you duped yourself. But a good way to counter that line of thinking is to read all the 4-star and 5-star reviews for the items you bought. When you read through customers’ testimonials and product experiences, you’ll come to realize that your worry is probably for naught.

This also applies to products you buy in retail.

After you take out your brand new shoes from the box, you may suddenly realize that they didn’t look as good as they did in the store. But when you research more about them, you’ll probably learn all these benefits and features you didn’t know before you had purchased them.

More often than not, a quick Google search will help reassure you of your shopping choices.

6. Re-gift.

It sounds horrible, but everyone’s mother does it, so why shouldn’t you? If you’re just not convinced that the thing you bought is useful, then the worst thing you could do is store it in an attic where it will never be heard of again.

Instead, you can hit two birds with one stone by giving away the product to someone you care about. One, you’ll be getting rid of the product that you can’t bear to look at. Two, you’ll be saving money if you choose to give it as someone’s birthday or Christmas present instead.

Of course, not all products are “regiftable” like makeup and skincare products. But the worst thing you can do is let them go to waste. At least let somebody benefit from your poor decision-making!

7. Prepare better.

Once you’ve gotten past your post-shopping regret, promise yourself that you won’t give into temptation next time. Impulse purchases are a big no-no during these big sales especially if you’re following a budget.

The best way to counter this problem is to prepare. Days before the sale, you have to know what you’re buying. That way, you won’t just open up a shopping app and buy everything on sight.

Make sure you have your eyes on the prize!

It’s easy to get frazzled and overwhelmed when there are coupons, flash deals, and big discounts happening all at once. By learning from your mistakes and preparing yourself for what’s to come, you will turn out to be a better shopper!

Do you have any post-shopping regret stories yourself? Share them with us in the comments below! If you loved this article, then you’ll probably love the advice we have for you here.

Never miss out on anything by following us @ZoomersCornerPH on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

The post ‘I Didn’t Survive 9.9’: How to Deal with Post-Shopping Regret appeared first on Zoomers Corner.

From Neopets to Multiply, the internet in the ’00s and the early 2010s was such a foreign land. It was a simple time where surfing the web meant having to keep your siblings away from the telephone unless you want to get disconnected from your dial-up connection. The younger Gen Z Filipinos may have never experienced that problem before, but for those bordering on being zillennials, this is all too familiar.

Despite those hiccups, the internet gods served us with such great content. Consider us #blessed to witness these websites when they were at their peak. Sure, we’re pretty happy today browsing through websites like Youtube and Reddit. But there was something about the low-res graphics and poor UI from websites of yesteryear that make us want to jump on a time machine ASAP.

Get your nostalgia goggles on because we are going on a trip down memory lane. Here are five websites from Gen Z Filipinos’ childhood that you may have forgotten about.

1. Neopets

Just typing down the name of this virtual pet website makes we want to sign-in right now to grab some free omelette! If you’re not aware, Neopets has been around since 1997 and allows you to create or adopt pets of different species. There is really no objective to it; it’s basically Tamagotchi on steroids.

As far as I know, no virtual pet website has ever come close to matching the quality of Neopets. It had a lot of Flash games where you could earn money (called Neopoints), numerous worlds you could explore, a stock market, message boards, plots, shops, quests, and way more! Neopets is still a thing nowadays but it was never to capitalize on its momentum once Viacom acquired it.

Now it’s filled with microtransactions to make your pet look prettier, and it just hasn’t been the same. Here’s a suggestion to make the website relevant again: develop a Neopets mobile app now!

2. My Scene (Everything Girl)

As a guy who grew up in a household that just loved sticking to gender roles, I was never really able to appreciate what My Scene’s everythinggirl.com had to offer. But I do remember watching my sisters play this on our shared computer a lot.

It was basically the ultimate dress-up game that every child loved because everything was drawn beautifully. From having your nails done and finding that perfect shade of lipstick for your female character, it was also a good way to release one’s inner creativity. When you’re done with the shopping spree part, you can even design your own room too.

Would it hold up to today’s standards? We don’t know. Unfortunately, it looks like we’re never gonna know the answer because Mattel has discontinued the website. If a reboot is happening though, it would probably need to cater to other standards of beauty to stand a chance.

But we have some good news: Babe.net has some old links from My Scene which you can access if you suddenly get the urge to play them again.

3. Disney.com

We are cheating a bit with this entry because Disney is pretty much still alive and kicking. But take a look at what the games section for the local Disney Channel website has to offer. It’s a travesty!

Gen Z Filipinos who were on the internet played such iconic games on Disney’s website like the sandwich-stacking game from Lilo & Stitch, and the Suite Life game where you had to run away from Mr. Moseby. A lot of time was also spent playing That’s So Raven games until bedtime. There was just a lot of fun mini-games to play in the website that ate up so much of our time.

So what the hell happened from the 2000’s to now where everything is so… basic. Has Disney just embraced their role as a greedy corporate machine and plan to suck out the fun in every child who enters their website?

Look, I totally get that children are now playing Disney games in their tablets, but I mean look at that user interface. There is no heart to it.

In any case, we can always access the links to older Disney games thanks to Babe.net. What a shame.

4. Y8

Y8.com is home to some of our favorite silly internet games and we’re here to remind you that it still exists! I remember wasting my free time playing all 23912486 versions of the Idiot Test and The Impossible Quiz. And don’t even get me started on all those escape room games.

When online multiplayer wasn’t super huge back then, some of us would get together on one computer to play games that were pretty decent knock-offs of legit video games. That usually meant Player 1 had to occupy the WASD part of the keyboard while Player 2 was in control of the arrow buttons.

There were a lot of similar websites that had a huge collection of Flash games, but Y8 was probably the most popular one for Gen Z Filipinos. Relative to the other websites listed here which have died or become a shell of themselves, Y8 is still going strong.

What’s great is that the website still looks and feels like how it did before but still manages to keep up with the times due to its clean modern design.

5. Multiply

While millennials had Friendster as their “stepping stone” to the world of social media, Gen Z Filipinos relied on Multiply. Before the Philippines had caught whiff of Facebook, we all had Multiply accounts. Here, we were able to share experiences, photos, videos, and reviews through a blog of our own.

It also had traditional features of modern social media sites like a news feed that shows you all the activity your friends are up to.

In a nutshell, it was a social media site mixed with blogging which was actually a pretty neat idea at the time. But with the advent of Facebook status updates and micro-blogging through Twitter, Multiply failed to be purposeful.

I do have a lot of memories creating numerous posts in that website, and it’s actually kind of sad to see that it just died. After a quick Google search, I discoverd that the company officially filed for bankruptcy back in 2017. But for those of us who were lucky enough to really get into Multiply, it will forever live in our hearts.

Speaking of nostalgia and growing up, have you read our list of 11 signs that you grew up with Filipino parents? Warning: it may be too real. Never miss out on anything by following us @ZoomersCornerPH on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

The post 5 Popular Websites from Gen Z Filipinos’ Childhood that You Forgot About appeared first on Zoomers Corner.

We can all agree that growing up with Filipino parents isn’t easy. Of course they’ll always hold a special place in our hearts with the sweet things they do for us. Sometimes though, they just do crazy things that drive us up the wall!

Here are some signs that you lived in a house with Filipino parents. Warning though: some of the things here may be too real.

1. You were scolded because of perfectly good grades.

Filipino parents are just obsessed with grades! Like their Asian counterparts, a passing grade isn’t enough. And they won’t pretend to hide their disappointment if you don’t get an A+.

Sometimes we wonder if they’re pushing us to study harder just so they could share our achievements in their news feeds! But thankfully, their obsession with our grades seems to go away once we’ve entered college.

2. You eat indoors because “there’s food at home”.

You know the famous saying: Filipino parents will tell you they know a place, and then take you to the house to eat. When we were younger, it was annoying to hear that you were just going to eat at home especially when you wanted to dine out in a nice place.

Now that we’re older though, it’s just funny; we are thankful that we even have food in the first place. We now realize that eating at home is just more practical especially now that we’re more financially-conscious. So parents, you win this round.

3. You were told not to talk back.

Dear parents reading this: what do you want us to do when you’re being so aggressive towards us? Do you expect us to just sit down and take your harsh words? As the wise PBB winner, Beatriz Saw, once said “ang respeto, hindi yan iniimpose Maricris, ine-earn yan!“

When we keep quiet, you want us to reply. But when we give you an explanation, you don’t want to hear it.

We know that when you tell us something along the lines of “aba, sumasagot ka na ngayon“, it just means that we made a fair point that you don’t want to listen to for the sake of your pride. And honestly, that makes us even angrier at you.

Your desire to win the argument will not get us anywhere.

It also sets a precedent that we should never talk back to authority even if it’s clear that they’re the one in the wrong.

4. You hid your significant other from them for too long.

When we hear our friend say that they have a boyfriend or girlfriend, it’s not uncommon to ask if their relationship is “legal”. This means that the parents of the couple know that they’re dating.

Whether jokingly or not, our protective Filipino parents have always been pretty vocal about not wanting us to engage in any relationship with anyone.

Growing up with Filipino parents means carrying a lifelong fear of being reprimanded for falling in love. We’re so scared of them that we’ll get engaged one day and not tell them until the actual wedding!

5. Your first drink was with them.

Filipino parents can be fun and they’ll let you experience your first taste of alcohol… as long as you’re with them. Going out with relatives probably means there’ll be some booze around.

And when your parents feel that you’re of age, they may be in a good enough mood to let you drink with them!

Our take: it’s the right thing to do because everyone eventually tries out alcohol anyways. So why not avoid all the inevitable sneaking and lying by letting us try it out when they’re around?

6. You got weekly sermons for going home late.

For the college kids out there, we know how you feel. Friday nights just aren’t the same without your mother nagging at you the moment your half-sober ass shows up at the door.

Most of the time, nothing really comes of it. We end up being stuck in a loop of going home late and pissing our parents off (we’re sorry!). We do admit that we still get war flashbacks from our mother asking us where we are while we’re still out.

7. You aren’t able to follow a diet.

Growing up with Filipino parents means growing up in a house where empty stomachs is a no-no! They will do everything to feed us until our stomachs become so bloated, they show through our shirt. Which is weird because they’re also the first to criticize us when we gain even the slightest weight.

This spells bad news for someone attempting to lose some pounds or try out a new diet. The more you resist, the more they’ll insist on serving you a tempting cup of rice. If you’re that stubborn, they’ll place food in your plate themselves!

8. You have titas who know everything about you.

Man, do Filipino parents love gossip! Family gatherings wouldn’t be complete without a tita you barely know asking a question that’s just too personal. You don’t even have to ask where they got their tea about you, because it’s always from your mom and dad.

However, we do appreciate all their supportive comments in our Facebook posts even if they may bring up details that do not need to be seen by our friends.

9. You had to dispel fake news in Viber.

Despite insisting that they are smarter than us because of their age, Filipino parents are more susceptible to being victims of fake news. It’s become a common occurrence for them to forward a chain message in the family Viber chat that has no inkling of truth to it.

These messages can range from political propaganda to ridiculous headlines meant to spread unfounded panic. And unfortunately, we have the responsibility of calling them out.

10. You had to take up pre-med, law, or engineering.

Our dreams can wait. It’s a universal truth that parents force their children to take up courses that will lead them to financial success. But for Filipinos, it’s often courses related to medicine, law, and engineering fields since the people who work there are highly regarded in society.

This is an unfortunately reality for many of us who want to pursue a career that we are passionate about. Such is life in a capitalist world.

11. You had thought about them in your future.

No matter how much they drive us insane, we can’t let them go. And that means always thinking about where they fit in our plans for the future. Living in such a family-centric culture means that our parents will always be in the picture whether we like it or not.

They may have caused some emotional scars and a tainted relationship with you. You’ve probably reached a breaking point where you thought how amazing it would be to move out. When you’ve stayed under their roof for so long, it can be mentally draining to have them control your life and not treat you like an adult.

But for some of us, it’s difficult to hate them for too long. They always worm their way back into our hearts.

It’s definitely an adventure growing up with Filipino parents. They have some quirks and ways of doing things that we may never understand until we hit their age. On some days, you love them. On some days, you hate them.

But one thing’s for sure: you’re in for a ride.

Loved this article? Read more articles about the Filipino zoomer experience here. Never miss out on anything by following us @ZoomersCornerPH on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

Featured Image: Ketut Subiyanto on Pexels

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School’s back, and you know what that means: group projects are making a comeback. Everyone hates it but what can you do? No matter how much you try to avoid it, teachers like to shove them in your face as “practice for the real world”.

Unfortunately, finding the right mix of groupmates is like a box of chocolates. You never know what you’re gonna get!

There are just so many oddly specific types of groupmates that they make us want to volunteer to do a project by ourselves! Here are six of the people in school we have come across so often but never really had a name for… until now.

They love organization, power & being the star of the show. If there’s one thing the Type A Leader loves most in the world, it’s planning everything from start to finish. Because of their superb work ethic, they have built quite the reputation for being the best group leader in class. They might as well have a blinking sign that says “pick me if you want an A”.

Everyone else wants to be partnered up with them… until they actually experience being their groupmate.

If your mediocre-loving ass is paired with the Type A Leader, then get ready to be pushed beyond your limits against your will! Aside from the micromanagement, they get easily angry if you’re a second late with the impossible deadline that they set.

The worst part is that you can’t get mad at them because in the end, they know what’s best for the group!

Rumor has it that this person disappears when you need them most. They are one of the most frustrating types of groupmates; it’s the night before a huge deadline and everyone, and I mean everyone, is on their third cup of coffee working together at 3 AM.

But there’s always someone who’s nowhere to be seen. One who’s never been there from the start and whose presence is only felt because their name is written on the cover page.

“Where is that #@&$!%,” the Ghost’s groupmates all shout in unison.

Were they asleep? Or perhaps they were just getting drunk at the bar? No one knows. That’s why they’re called the Ghost.

If there’s a group project that needs completing, who you gonna call? The Savior!

Nobody actually expects them to contribute because this person doesn’t reply much and is probably super busy with life. In fact, they’re pretty much the Ghost until the very last minute!

This person, who has not even touched the .doc file before, suddenly saves everyone’s collective asses by making major contributions right before the deadline. Over the course of a night, they become the most valuable player of a group project.

And just like that, all their past sins are forgiven. Maybe they were too busy before, or maybe they just enjoy the thrill of passing a project last-minute. But whatever their reason was for being MIA, we are thankful for the Savior’s presence.

Need some tea about how the other group is doing? Or maybe you need some details about what the teacher wants to see on your project? Good thing you have the Spy as your teammate. Their extensive network means that they know how to get the best score for your project.

The Spy is one of the most underrated types of groupmates you’ll have. They are the favorite sidekick of the Type A Leader, who always wants to get the latest scoop about the competition. Because of their natural ability to be shameless and sociable, the Spy always has useful insider info that they’re willing to share the group.

The sweetest words that escape their lips: “the other group hasn’t started yet”.

For whatever information needs you may have, make sure you call on the services of the Spy.

Look, some people just weren’t born to do long research papers; some were born to be artists! When all the boring paperwork is done, it’s time to hand it over to the Designer.

They will make sure to create a beautiful, kick-ass presentation out of a 50-page, Times New Roman 12, double-spaced paper. Powerpoint, Photoshop and Canva are their Holy Trinity. Leave all the aesthetics work to them because no one knows better.

For some, they are a useless groupmate who should’ve just used their energy to do something more “useful”. But for the intellectuals who know how much great visuals can put a presentation over the top, the Designer deserves as much praise as the researchers.

Some people are better off doing the bare minimum than being given huge responsibilities. They are the people who have gotten the reputation of not being good groupmates, or are just too busy with other things.

That’s why the Assistant is delegated the easiest tasks in a group — tasks that are almost impossible to screw up. These include doing the report during class, bringing materials, and printing the paper.

Easy, right? But imagine how pissed you and your groupmates would be if the Assistant managed to screw up the simple task that had been assigned to them. It’s a lot of pressure!

What oddly specific types of groupmates entered your mind while reading this list? Let us know in the comments below!

We’re still trying to accept that we’ll be “back in school” in a few weeks, but the worst part is classes will all be done online! Read about how the school year will feel a lot different with Miss Rona around.

Never miss out on anything by following us @ZoomersCornerPH on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

The post There are 6 Oddly Specific Types of Groupmates — Are You One of Them? appeared first on Zoomers Corner.

With many schools transitioning to online classes as a response to coronavirus, there is a new problem that students should expect to face. It’s a form of anxiety that one gets from being on video calls with other people.

Social anxiety has taken on another form to what we’d like to call “Zoom anxiety”. Whether it’s by force or by one’s own accord, meeting with someone online can weigh heavily on someone and cause a great level of discomfort.

For the students who suffer from major social anxiety, online classes spell doom.

But how exactly does Zoom anxiety manifest itself in the ways we interact with the video conferencing app? Let’s take a look!

1. You open Zoom just in time.

Nobody likes small talk, especially through Zoom. That’s why when your meeting is scheduled at 11:30, you make sure you enter the room at exactly that time — not a second earlier. It’s better to be called our for being late than having to dabble in conversations while waiting for everyone to come in.

2. You spend too much time preparing how you look.

You pre-plan your clothes, lighting & background not because you want to look good, but because you don’t want to be judged. In a meeting with many people, it’s hard not to feel self-conscious when you know every action that you do will be caught on camera.

It only makes sense that you always have that fear of looking less than perfect when you’re in these calls.

3. Zoom is the last resort.

You’re also probably the person who hates receiving phone calls out of the blue. You make sure every means of communication is exhausted before agreeing to go on an online call with someone. Not only are Zoom meetings a major hassle, but things are just easier when people don’t have to hear nor see you speak.

4. You know the answer but you don’t unmute.

Being shy has a lot to do with social anxiety. And a person who’s already reluctant to speak their mind in a face-to-face situation may find it even more difficult to do so in a Zoom room.

Just imaging your big face pop up on Speaker View while your classmates hear every layer of your voice through their earphones makes you want to cringe. So in the end, you just let others speak up.

5. You practice what you’re going to say.

According to this article from Discovery Magazine, it may actually be a helpful way to relive some of your anxiety. When you have something to present on Zoom, you tend to overrehearse what you plan to say.

Hell, you may not even have a presentation, but you’re constantly thinking of possible things you’re going to say in the slight chance someone else in the meeting puts you on the spot.

6. Sharing your screen is a no-no.

To you, sharing your screen is like letting people take a peek in your diary; it’s just too personal for your liking. And when you have to do it, you’re always frightened and wary of what people may discover about you.

God forbid they see an embarrassing pop-up… or your browsing history!

7. Breakout rooms is code red.

You may not have heard about the breakout room feature of Zoom. But as someone who hates this, I must warn you about this awful feature beforehand.

If you’re in a bigger meeting, the host can break you out into smaller groups of their choosing. So this means that your teacher can put you in a room with classmates you have never spoken a word to before. Talk about an anxiety-inducing situation!

8. You hide your video at times.

Sometimes, Zoom anxiety can just hit out of nowhere. There are calls where you’re confident enough to turn on your video, but there are also days when it’s the total opposite. As a result of your internal panic, you simply shut off your camera so the rest of the world will leave you alone.

9. You leave the room ASAP.

There’s nothing like the feeling of clicking that red “Leave Meeting” button. While everyone else is still doing their post-meeting small talk or saying goodbye to each other, you’re the type to skedaddle out of there.

You will not let anyone see you on camera a second more than they need to, periodt.

Whether we like it or not, Zoom anxiety isn’t going anytime soon. We live in a day and age where video conferencing apps are becoming the norm, with or without coronavirus.

We don’t even use them just for school or work anymore. They’ve become useful in catching up with people who are apart from us. And even with these fun affairs, Zoom anxiety can still kick in.

So what can socially anxious people like ourselves do given everything? In this Style interview with Eugene Farrell, he gives one solid piece of advice: support our negative thoughts with facts. Because only then will you realize that all our anxiety is unfounded.

For example, if you feel like people will judge you for having messy hair in Zoom calls, then you’re letting your thoughts get ahead of the facts. Has anyone mocked you for it? Probably not!

Most probably, people don’t care. You’ve seen someone else with messy hair before, but you didn’t give a damn.

Carefully placing yourself in situations that give you anxiety can actually help you move past it. I remember staying mute (literally and figuratively) during my first months at work due to my Zoom anxiety. But I can tell you that I wouldn’t be as comfortable as I am today with the idea of video calls if I didn’t battle the overthinking in my head.

There are days where it still hits me, but it does get easier.

How has your experience been with Zoom? Let us know in the comments below. If you loved this article, then we have more relatable articles for zoomers like you! Don’t forget to follow us @ZoomersCornerPH on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

Featured Image: Charles Deluvio and JESHOOTS.com

The post ‘Zoom Anxiety’ is a Real Problem (and 9 Signs You Have it) appeared first on Zoomers Corner.

“Why am I single?”

I can answer that question for you: it’s because you keep making excuses for yourself! You could totally be in a relationship if you wanted to.

In fact, us singles make so many excuses that I was able to compile a list of eight things single people say to help us sleep at night.

1. I’m focusing on my work.

Whenever I heard this when I was in college, I couldn’t help but laugh. While it is true to some extent, let’s be real: org work and acads could definitely wait for the right person.

I suppose it does apply to some people who can’t even get six hours of sleep a day. But if you find yourself with a lot of free time, then maybe you should stop using “work” as an excuse. Just find another one!

2. No one likes me.

This is a line usually said by your most beautiful friends, and it’s code for “no one cute likes me”.

If this is your go-to excuse, then you probably actually know someone who likes you. There’s just one tiny issue: they’re not your type!

I’ll admit, when you say this, it’s a bit annoying to hear for uglier people like us. But TBH, that’s our problem. We should be happy for you for not settling for less… we guess.

3. It’s just not the right time.

Out of all the things single people say, this one is probably the worst. Is there even such thing as “the right time” to be in a relationship?

This excuse sounds profound, and yet somehow, it almost always makes sense. You’re going on summer break, you’re entering a new stage in your life, you’re graduating, you’re joining a cult, your dog ate your homework…

Look: there’s never gonna be a right time because there will always be an excuse if you go looking for one. Maybe now is the right time to reflect on yourself and why you’re too scared to take a leap.

4. I’m not good enough for them.

This is a lie that only you yourself believe, because it’s just not true! We know you are handsome, beautiful, kind & smart enough for somebody out there.

It might be impossible to change how you see yourself in a matter of days. But trust me when I say that the right person will make you feel like the best version of yourself. You just gotta go out there and find them.

5. I like being single.

Ah yes, it’s the excuse to end all excuses. This one is tricky because it can be a truth or a lie depending on the time of day. Okay, I’ll give it to you: it is awesome being single. Most of the time, you legitimately enjoy living life and doing things by yourself.

But then you put on that romcom or talk to a friend in a committed relationship, and it just makes you sad hoping that love is out there for you.

Then you suddenly find yourself asking those dreaded four words: why am I single?

On that note, I don’t think you’re allowed to use this as an excuse if you haven’t been in a relationship in your entire life. How do you know you like being single when you haven’t even tried out being with someone yet?

That’s right, I’m calling you out!

6. I’m gonna miss out so much on life.

Raise your hand if you’re a commitment-phobe! This excuse is the best example of “getting way ahead of yourself”.

I’ve talked with many friends who got into a relationship in their late teens/early twenties. They all told me that they had the exact same fear as they got together with their SO. But do you know what they always end up saying? That they do not regret their decision to commit to their SO whatsoever.

Honestly though, why would you rob yourself of happiness today?

Don’t overthink this, zoomer. Because you know what, you’re also missing out a lot on life by staying single.

7. I’m independent.

This is one of the common things single people say: yes, you probably are a strong independent woman (or man) who don’t need nobody… but so what?

Being independent doesn’t mean you shouldn’t get into a relationship. In fact, it’s the opposite!

It gets exhausting picking yourself up all the time; one of these days, you are going to crumble. By having another person constantly on your side, you will be able to remove the weight off your shoulders, and actually breathe.

There are just some things in life that are easier with somebody behind you. And sometimes for independent folks like us, we need to be reminded that life isn’t a one-man journey — it has so much more happiness to offer.

8. I don’t know how.

I get you… I get you so much. As a socially-awkward dork, I literally couldn’t flirt with someone even if my life depended on it!

There’s just a learning curve to the whole relationship thing that not everyone can adjust to easily. You’d have to know a lot about feelings, conflicts, dating & sex to name a few. Unfortunately, some of us failed to learn these crucial lessons when we were a tad younger.

I guess being in a relationship is just really trial-and-error though. Is anyone really prepared to enter one?

If you find yourself saying any of the quotes above, then you should re-evaluate your life choices. And I say that with only your best interests at heart.

Sometimes, these things single people say are actually true. More often than not though, it’s really just your fear and uncertainty getting the best of you. So ask yourself: is it an excuse or is it something much deeper?

What absurd excuse have you heard somebody tell you about why they’re single? Drop it in the comments below! Don’t forget to share this article on Facebook.

Loved this article about being single? Well take a look at what your future may look like as we explore how coronavirus has affected the dating scene. Never miss a beat by following us @ZoomersCornerPH on Twitter.

Featured Image: Jonathan Andrew on Pexels

The post ‘I Like Being Single’ & Other Lies Single People Tell Themselves appeared first on Zoomers Corner.

Zoom in the Philippines is just a whole ‘nother ballgame. Having group calls and e-numans through the video-conferencing app has been a staple in our lives under quarantine.

In fact, we’ve used it so much the past months that we could lump all your friends and colleagues into one of these ten stereotypes, depending on how you act in a Zoom room. The question is: which one are you?

1. The Local Channel Watcher

There’s always that friend who’s on the call with their TV turned on in the background. And for some reason, it’s always tuned in at a time when news are on.

Then there are also times when you’d hear something religious blaring from the TV, like a priest celebrating Mass or reciting a prayer. Definitely not a good time to be talking about sex in your call.

2. The Virtual Background Enthusiast

This person likes to change their Zoom backgrounds to get some laughs in the meeting room. Or maybe it’s just a manifestation of their inner fear of being stuck indoors forever. Probably that.

The Virtual Background Enthusiast is also the person in the call who’s obsessed with dank memes. It’s just the law of nature.

3. The Tita Photobomber Victim

When taking your calls in a shared space, it’s inevitable that somebody pops up in your background… like your mom. However, the Tita Photobomber Victim’s mother just doesn’t care if the others see her in her pambahay clothes, gingerly doing house chores in her leisure time.

Tita will even initiate conversations with her “victim” while the call is ongoing. She just doesn’t give a damn!

One thing’s for sure though: Zoom in the Philippines is definitely more entertaining with her around.

4. The Epitome of “Go Girl, Give Us Nothing”

They’re the person who barely gets a word in throughout the entire meeting. Maybe they’re not fond of online interaction, maybe they’re tired, or maybe they’re just really shy.

But hey, if you look at them once in a while, you’ll see them laughing along with everyone else. It’s a sign that their soul hasn’t been thoroughly sucked out yet!

5. The Chaotic Host

Joseph Stalin, who? Great dictators from history got nothing on this one. Be careful which person you give hosting powers to, because if they end up in the wrong hands, it will be pure chaos!

Nicknames will be changed, participants will be muted, and yes, people will get kicked out.

6. The Electric Fan King/Queen

Ah yes, probably everyone’s favorite person in the Zoom room. The extreme heat means everyone has to turn on their electric fan to get some of that cold air. But no one, and we mean no one, wants to hear that buzzing sound in their ears.

Raise your hand if you’re the bitch who calls out someone when their electric fan is being too loud in a call. I just did.

7. The Pet Show-off

There will come a time when somebody’s dog or cat “accidentally” enters the frame. And I placed that in quotation marks because they’re not fooling anyone, we know this person just wants to show everybody how cute their pet is!

So this is what always happens in this situation: the whole conversation stops as the person expresses (fake) surprise that their pet is suddenly on their lap, everyone stops for fifteen seconds to go gaga over it, some small talk ensues about something “crazy” that the pet did recently, and then everybody carries on with the previous conversation.

8. The Camera-Conscious

This person just isn’t used to being on-cam like us famous stars; they can’t go a minute without touching their hair and face!

Practicing their angles and poses for the gram is how they pass time when they’re on mute. Somebody has to tell them that this is definitely “America’s Next Best Friend”, and not America’s Next Top Model.

9. The Choppy Magician

You know what makes Zoom in the Philippines so different? Our extremely slow internet! I can count in one hand the number of times I’ve been in a call where nobody got disconnected because of extremely abysmal internet.

This person could be saying the most melancholic heartfelt words on earth then suddenly get cut off mid-sentence. Or worse, disappear.

And then reappear… just to disappear again.

They probably hear “ano raw?” and “choppy ka” a lot in these calls. Those words are music to their ears. And when they see that their internet connection is unstable, they’re secretly praying that their video didn’t freeze at a time that made them look like a dumbass.

10. The Skincare Routine Girl

Never watched a beauty vlog in your entire life? Well don’t worry, because this person has you covered.

They’ll do their entire ten-step skincare routine on camera for everyone to watch, not realizing that the oils and product that they put on their face makes them look ridiculous. Or they do, but they just don’t care.

Isn’t Zoom in the Philippines just so colorful? Kidding aside, having an avenue to connect with each other during this pandemic really helps with our sanity. And having all these personalities come together in one virtual room helps the party get started!

So no matter what you’re like in Zoom, we’re happy that you exist. Even you Electric Fan Kings!

Who did we miss out on our list? Leave a comment below!

Having e-numans and Zoom calls are just a few items on our quarantine bucket list that we’ve crossed off. How about you? Take this fun quiz to find out! Don’t forget to follow us @ZoomersCornerPH on Twitter for more entertaining content.

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