The Weekender's Memoir

Author: ferruvis

  • Top Digital Products Most In Demand By Etsy Art Collectors

    Top Digital Products Most In Demand By Etsy Art Collectors

    I’ve been doing research online and it doesn’t matter what search engine you are using. It always depends on the ‘pro’ who’s recommending it. It seems that they all have their own favorites/biases when it comes to their ‘insights’.

    My plan was to sell any digital product I can think of but I almost forgot that I’m actually restricted to the only tools that I have—my trusty Android tablet and universal stylus pen. 😭

    After all the brainstorming I did by reading all the blog posts and watching Youtube videos, I’d decided to just go with my first love….ART. 🖼️🎨🖌️

    Thinking what should I draw on Infinite Painter with my mobile tablet.
    That’s Infinite Painter in Android tablet and my trusty old pen.

    Why Just Drawing?

    Hear me out! I know, if you’ve read my blog posts before, I’ve said that I’m going to be a writer, web developer, and business guru. But since Etsy for me is a new environment and I’ve been a failing artist since birth, I think there’s no harm in giving myself another try in a new platform. Who knows, my dream might come true this time.

    I’m not going to draw hyper-realistic drawing or styles that takes a long time to make since I only have the weekends as my free time. I’ll make it simple, cartoon-ish, and a style that all ages will love. I’m also hopeful that a wholesome art style can reach a wider audience.

    My Top Digital Art Products To Sell On Etsy

    • Wall Art Prints – This is the most common out of all and is my all time favorite. It’s the best therapy a visual artist can have. Being able to enjoy drawing anything that comes from your imagination. Having that freedom is a euphoric experience for artists like me. Well…we have to behave and limit ourselves only to SFW art—😥.

      I do have an Android app I use called Infinite Painter and paid for its full access. For the exported format: It can do layered PSD and flattened images like JPEG and PNG. I can even upload different formats in a ZIP file that’s ready for printing as a convenience for the customer. They won’t need to spend a lot of time changing dimensions, cropping parts, and separating layers. It’s going to be a 5-star service.
    • Sticker Art – very simple and easy to draw! In fact, I’ve had lots of experience making this one. Those flashbacks of myself promoting my artistry by sticker bombing all around the streets of Cebu. All those memories are making me cry now…🥹

      This is probably the first product I’ll make first. I can make designs like anyone can relate to with subjects like: video games, profession, anime & cartoon characters, movies, seasonal themes, and so many others.
    • Typography – its one of my favorite things to do. I remember writing graffiti on walls just using pens or markers. Even writing them in my school books was a great way to pass the time.

      But the pros recommend we go for minimalist quote prints, motivational and inspirational, poetry, and even custom fonts, animated typography assets for videos (is there an android app for this?), and even logotypes for brands. These are things uncommon for me but I’m willing to dip and test the waters.
    • Business Cards – this is a perfect choice for me. I’m somewhat of an “entrepreneur” myself. I think my mobile design setup can handle this perfectly as this product is sold as a Canva Template in PDF. This comes in handy for buyers because its an editable format where they can easily slap their contact info right into the template.
    • Pattern Designs – I think this is the easiest one to make (it’s my personal opinion 😆). It’s because you just need to make one tile that can be made into repetitive patterns and it doesn’t even need to be a detailed design.

      These patterns can also be applied to print leggings, hoodies, t-shirts, phone cases, tote bags, car seat covers, wallpapers (home decor), pillows, and blankets.
    • Apparel, Mugs, and other merch designs – This brings me back memories after I graduated 🥹. I was heavily influenced by friends who pursued in designing T-shirts, Cover albums for musicians, and lots of merch. So I decided to try it for myself and I remember having some few gigs from clients in USA and UK.

      The most crucial part of the process is creating the best looking mockup to make it believable for customers to buy.
    • Home decor – Majority of the recommended items here are the same items as Pattern Designs so I’ll just mention here that are not included.

      Seasonal designs on blankets as gift items (ex. Halloween, Birthdays, Christmas, New Year) and papercrafts that you can cut and fold with already printed design on paper.
    • Printable Journaling Pages – This to me is kind of confusing. I was browsing through Etsy and found out that these products are like “trackers” of what your life’s highlights are but it’s like a checklist of things you wanna do or what you’ve done presented in a graphic design.

      Thinking of designs, this is much more catered to the female gaze. I need to think of designs that I can and my consumers would relate to. This is going to be challenging.
    • Coloring Pages – You know what came into my mind first? COMIC BOOK PAGES 🦸🧌🦹. I can already imagine the content I’m going to make. I’ll be making one-shot comics only in black and white–and can you imagine both young and adult customers enjoying coloring these pages and having their imaginations run wild.

      According to the pros, they suggest: Mandalas, Floral, Fantasy Art, Organic Design (Nature), Tarot Designs, Celestial Imagery, Skeletons (horror stuff), Wildflowers, and Wildlife Graphics.
    • Embroidery Patterns – To be honest, I think this is the hardest to make and I’m skeptical if I should make this or not but my ego says otherwise 😋. You need to have some expertise in the field of embroidery to make this happen because you also have to make guides of what materials to use and stitching styled including in the downloadable PDFs. I only know cross-stitching. 😭

    AI Tools Will Be Used

    I’ll give you guy a heads-up, I’m an AI enthusiast and I’m 100% sure this will be part of my drawing process. Some articles even say that the Etsy community doesn’t mind AI made digital products as long as you get the vision of the product they want to buy.

    The most important part, since this is a Side Hustle blog, I wanted to experience what’s the actual income potential of using AI tools comparing it to what the pros are claiming it to be. You see them posting proofs of videos in social media and it sounds too good to be true. In my defense, I actually think that nothing beats on hand experience. Well..we’re going to see the results soon. 🫪

  • Is Cebu, Philippines safe for tourists?

    Cebu is an incredible place to be, but both locals and tourists need to stay alert to the various challenges that come with living on or visiting the island. From the seasonal timing of powerful natural events to specific areas where you’ll want to keep a closer eye on your belongings, being prepared is the best way to enjoy the island safely. There are also some surprising insights regarding local infrastructure, road safety trends, and even health risks that you might not expect. I’ve pulled together the latest reports to give you a clear picture of what to watch out for, whether you’re navigating busy downtown hubs or heading to the province. Dive into the details below to ensure you’re ready for anything the island throws your way.

    Does Cebu get a lot of typhoons?

    Cebu is prone to tropical cyclones just like any other place in the Philippines but it’s less compared to the Luzon Region. Typhoons that hit this island can be very powerful that can reach up to Category 4 or 5 status, carrying very destructive wind speeds of 160 mph to 240 mph, torrential rains, and frightening storm surges. Though strong typhoons rarely make a direct hit to Cebu, when it does make landfall, it brings destruction due to flash flooding, landslides, and damages to critical infrastructure like power grids and communication networks.

    It’s good to know there’s patterns to this. Typhoon season in the Philippines is around June to November with peak activity occuring between July and October. The island of Cebu faces its highest risk during latter part of the year from October to December with evidences by past major events occuring in November and December. Having this knowledge—its good to prepare before these disasters happen again and its required to constantly monitor updates from Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) or reliable weather apps.

    Cebu has fought several of the strongest and most destructive typhoons in recent history:

    • Typhoon Tino (Kalmaegi): triggered the worst flash food in Cebu in the year 2025.
    • Super Typhoon Odette (Rai): struck on December 16, 2021 and still remains one of the most destructive and powerful typhoons that brought strong winds plus torrential rains that caused catastrophic damages like blackouts and food supply shortages for months to homes and livelihoods.
    • Super Typhoon Yolanda (Haiyan): which made landfall in the northern parts of Cebu in the year 2013 that caused damages leaving thousands homeless.
    • Super Typhoon Ruping (Mike): considered as one of the legendary in Cebuano history. This typhoon has feriocous wind speeds that reached 140 mph. When Ruping/Mike made landfall in Cebu, destruction was vast—vital infrastructures, water pipelines, over 80 ships docked in the island were damaged, and had blackouts that lasted months.

    What are the flood prone areas in Cebu?

    Highly urbanized parts of the island like Cebu City, Mandaue City, and Lapu-Lapu City are places which are in risk of floods. It’s a status driven by coastal location and natural events like heavy rainfall. These highly developed places are vulnerable to flooding because of overwhelming infrastructure, clogged drainage systems because of illegally thrown garbages, and use of land in mountainous areas that have been turned into quarries.

    Take note about a certain location in Cebu City: Barangay Guadalupe. This barangay, when flooded, can experience floodwaters as high as 7 feet. That’s scary thinking that your home in a residential subdivision can sink deeper more than an average filipino height.

    If only Cebu had adequate waste management, improved drainage  systems, and well-funded flood control initiatives, it could have been the top island in Asia.

    Does Cebu get earthquakes?

    September ‌30, ‌2025 ‌brought a hard jolt to northern Cebu, a magnitude 6.9 earthquake hit offshore from Bogo City. With the source sitting shallow, about five kilometers down, the shaking turned violent fast, buildings gave way, roads cracked and failed, and large areas went dark as power lines dropped. Damage piled up across towns in the north, including Daanbantayan, Medellin, and San Remigio, and even in parts of Cebu City the tremors came through strongly.

    Go back to October 15, 2013, where the island of Bohol was hit, that time was a magnitude 7.2 quake. Bohol took the worst of it, but the whole Central Visayas felt the impact, Cebu included. Places like Cebu City, Lapu-Lapu City, Mandaue City, and Carcar City have reported to reach intensity 7. Infrastructure across the region was badly affected, so Cebu province declared a state of calamity to speed up emergency response and get resources moving where they were needed.

    What is the crime rate in Cebu?

    The ‌average ‌drop ‌in crime across the Cebu area in early 2026 is 32.55%. When you visit any big city, basic street smarts and staying alert go a long way. Cebu is generally considered safe for travelers, but a few spots show up again and again in local chatter and visitor complaints.

    The list below points out places often mentioned as needing extra caution:

    1. Colon Street

    • Known as the country’s oldest street, it’s packed and constantly busy. People often flag it for pickpocketing and quick snatch-and-run thefts. With so many bodies in motion, it’s easy for thieves to zero in on shoppers or tourists who aren’t paying attention.

    2. Carbon Market

    • Much like Colon, this public market is hectic and high-traffic. Typical problems involve pickpockets and stolen belongings, especially bags and phones. In the rush and crowding, items can disappear fast.

    3. General Maxilom Avenue (Mango Avenue)

    • This is one of the city’s main nightlife and entertainment strips. Incidents people mention here often include grab-and-go theft, usually phones or bags, particularly around public transport stops (jeepney or bus stops). Risk tends to feel higher late at night, either when it’s shoulder-to-shoulder or when the area thins out.

    4. Pasil (near the Fish Market)

    • This area is often described as more challenging and residential. Some reports mention that outsiders may face harassment or intimidation, and a few taxi drivers choose to avoid entering the area to prevent confrontations or the risk of vehicle damage. It’s not typically on the usual tourist route.

    5. Kamagayan and Junquera Street

    • Commonly linked with the city’s red-light area. Both locals and visitors mention solicitation, harassment, and uncomfortable encounters at night. If you don’t know the area well, these streets are usually best skipped.

    6. Duljo-Fatima and Alaska (Mambaling)

    • These neighborhoods are occasionally pointed out in local reports for higher levels of illegal activity. Given the character of the areas, tourists and casual visitors generally don’t spend time here.

    Road ‌accidents ‌in ‌Cebu

    Road accidents in Cebu are largely linked to reckless habits on the road, overspeeding, and a common tendency to ignore traffic signs. Law enforcers also cite alcohol-impaired driving as a key factor, along with issues such as driver exhaustion and the risky move of counterflowing just to bypass heavy traffic. On top of that, road conditions add to the danger, many roads remain unpaved, plenty of routes are narrow two-lane stretches, and visibility can be compromised by overgrown shrubs or the absence of traffic lights, putting both drivers and pedestrians at higher risk. Motorcycles, in particular, keep showing up in reports as the vehicle most often involved, and frequently blamed in these crashes. In Mandaue City, motorcycles accounted for more than half of all traffic-related incidents recorded over a 17-month period, and in Cebu City, they remain the most commonly cited vehicle type in daily crash reports.

    The toll on people is climbing. Cebu Province recorded 87 deaths resulting from road crashes between January 1 and May 27, 2026, which represents a 26% increase compared to the 69 fatalities reported during the same period in 2025. What worries authorities is that deaths are increasing even as the total number of road accidents has dipped slightly. Over the years, road crashes have consistently placed among Cebu’s top ten causes of death, and the pace of daily incidents rose sharply, from about 13 a day in 2022 to 24 a day by early 2023. Across the country, the Highway Patrol Group recorded 2,747 deaths from road incidents in 2024, with motorcycles and cars most often tied to these fatal cases.

    Rape and murder cases in Cebu

    Main Causes of Murder

    Murders in Cebu are often traced back to personal grudges and disputes that spiral into violence. Within the foreign community, authorities frequently point to motives such as greed, sexual intent, and the role of illegal drugs like “shabu” (methamphetamine). In many cases involving foreign victims, the suspects are people the victim knew, disgruntled former employees, business partners, or the relatives and partners connected to a victim’s significant other. Some widely reported incidents have also been tied to road rage, gang fights, or contract killings arranged by other expatriates. Police also acknowledge that a notable share of killings in the area connects to the illegal drug trade.

    Annual Murder Statistics

    In recent years, the number of murders and homicides has generally decreased, although dozens of such cases still happen each year. Cebu Province recorded 110 murders in 2024, then 78 in 2025. Cebu City, for its part, reported 24 murders and 4 homicides in the early months of 2024 alone (January 1 to May 13). Looking at the wider Central Visayas region, which includes Cebu, records show 223 murders in 2024 and 177 in 2025. Even with these totals, police officials often argue the city remains fairly safe, and they describe many incidents as isolated and not connected to broader patterns.

    Main Causes of Rape

    Rape cases in Cebu are frequently associated with poverty and the influence of illegal drugs or the internet. Officials have also raised alarm over the high number of incest-related rape cases, where suspects are commonly fathers, stepfathers, or other male relatives. The problem intensified during the COVID-19 pandemic, when restrictions kept victims trapped “under one roof” with abusers for long periods. There are also cases where suspects draw victims in through supposed friendship or small gifts. Some accused perpetrators have claimed intoxication at the time of the assault.

    Annual Rape Statistics and Foreign Victims

    Reported rape cases in Cebu Province went down from 254 in 2024 to 188 in 2025. In Cebu City, 17 rape cases were recorded in the first quarter of 2024. While most victims are local residents, several cases involving foreign women have been documented. In June 2012, two Japanese tourists were raped by two South Korean nationals in a motel in Lapu-Lapu City. Another Japanese citizen was raped by a local man on Bantayan Island after she asked for directions. British women have also been targeted, one avoided an attempted rape by a local in Malapascua in 2013, and another British diver escaped a similar attempt by a driver in Badian that same year. Also, in 2025, two Turkish nationals were arrested over the alleged rape of a 28-year-old woman in a Cebu City condominium.

    Streets Full of Garbage

    If you ever go around Cebu you’ll notice that there’s always an accumulation of garbage everywhere. This stems from a systemic lack of infrastructure where you’ll notice there’s a severe scarcity of public trash bins and dumpsters in commercial and high-traffic areas which makes locals and travelers litter everywhere. This is caused by inadequate collection systems, where many local villages lack the necessary equipment for recovery and to properly process waste. This becomes problematic where the task of collecting trash goes to informal waste workers who operate illegally. They are the ones you see illegally dumping garbages on highways, rivers, and many other public spaces.

    There are laws regarding maintaining public cleanliness funded by taxpayer’s money but due to claims of “budget constraints” and difficulties enforcing existing environmental laws, Cebu ends up having these problems for many years and even in todays modern infrastructure. If this keeps going on, the problem isn’t just going to be environmental but also public health concerns.

    How to fight rabies?

    Dogs and cats are the main animals linked to rabies in Cebu. Domestic dogs remain the primary culprit, making up about 85.7% of reported animal cases, while cats account for 12.5%. Although dogs used to be responsible for most bites by a wide margin, health officials have reported a sharp rise in cat-related incidents, with cats now making up close to 50% of animal bites in some places. Cebu City recorded 31 confirmed rabies cases in 2025 and 32 in 2024. In the first half of 2026, an additional 15 animals tested positive for rabies in the city, indicating that the disease is still spreading, particularly in densely populated urban areas.

    For rabies vaccination in Cebu, the priority is to go at once to the nearest health facility, such as an Animal Bite Treatment Center (ABTC). These are commonly found in Rural Health Units and District Hospitals. The provincial government supplies free vaccines to all 16 province-run hospitals, although availability can run short because of budget limits. In some areas, including Lapu-Lapu City, residents may need to present an “active” voter’s certification to qualify for free government-procured vaccines, while non-residents are often asked to buy their own. As for deaths, rabies remains a serious threat in the region. Central Visayas recorded 19 suspected rabies-related deaths in the first half of 2023 and around 10 deaths in the first quarter of 2026. Over time, the death toll has varied, and Cebu has recorded as many as 21 human deaths in a single year.

    Before you head to the province of Cebu, bookmark this page or take some quick notes so you have these safety essentials ready for your trip. A little preparation goes a long way in ensuring your Cebu adventure stays safe and stress-free!

  • What sells most on Fiverr?

    I have been reviving my freelance career for a while and nothing has been working out pretty well. Of course, things have changed and the landscape of what gigs sell the most on Fiverr will constantly be shifting. In the past, I used to believe that I could take on any project I wanted and simply hope for the best. However, the reality is that the freelance work I did years ago no longer works the same way. This is because new skills and tools, such as AI, are constantly evolving, which significantly changes the competitive landscape.

    The market evolves and so does the demands of clients. Back in the day, my services online by being a digital artist were in demand. I had clients from Tier 1 countries such as the United States and the United Kingdom who asked me to create artwork for their t-shirts, album covers, and even video game designs. However, I have now lost my former recognition and appeal due to inactivity. Today, things have become more sophisticated with technology evolving and they come real fast.

    I’ve come prepared my mind and body to dominate the freelance world once again and have been researching online on what the modern day Fiverr experts had to say. I have reviewed their content and according to their reports, it is essential to revise the game plan.

    Therefore, here are the high-demand opportunities that we should prioritize at this time:

    1. Social Media Content Strategy

    Businesses want to establish a professional presence but most of them don’t know where to start. So that’s where a social media expert comes in by providing them not just “SEO posts” but a blueprint that guides them to success.

    What you should provide

    • Overhaul their social media profile by optimization: It gives them a better presence when customers visit their page.
    • Aesthetic feed previews: Make photo posts catch eyeballs by making them look good. Think about Instagram where the photo-grid looks stunning by carefully planning every photo posts.
    • Custom color palettes: Colors can set the mood and evoke the emotions of customers. It is a powerful psychological tool.
    • Bio makeovers: Organize the profile layout that give viewers an easy understanding of what the business is all about by setting a clear profile message, pinned posts showcasing what the business offers best, and a layout that will convert viewers to long-term customers.

    2. Organic Growth and Platform Manager

    General “social media management” niche is overcrowded, but if you narrow it down, you can hit the bullseye.

    • Pinterest Marketing: A better goldmine than Instagram that comes with lower competition. Clients pay for attractive boards, creating pins that are Search Engine Optimized, and viral strategies that catch the eyeballs of viewers. Pinterest’s nature heavily relies on being a visual search engine and your major task is to leverage this by creating metadata-rich pins that gives long-term organic traffic to the client’s website. By being a “Pinterest SEO Expert” for clients, you solve a critical problem for business owners who want to overcome the volatility of social media trends and build sustainable visibility.
    • LinkedIn Profile Optimization: This is some premium service. The pros have an asking price of $1,300 or more to transform profiles for entrepreneurs and job seekers to land their dream roles or attract premium B2B leads. You position yourself as a “career strategist” or “personal branding consultant” that provides them beyond the basic formatting and improve on high-conversion copywriting, headlines hooks, value-driven summaries.
    • X.com Management: They say this type of gig is growing in popularity. By focusing on organic audience growth, follower engagement, and consistent content delivery. It’s not just about posting but actively driving visibility by making high-value replies to niche influencers and building a community together. By packaging this into a “growth engine” gig, this can transform a client’s profile into a valuable lead attracting machine.

    3. Paid Ads Management

    Everyone is into social media and businesses need you to reach their customers. Either it’s Facebook, Instagram, or Tiktok, being able to manage ad campaigns is a service that never goes out of the trend. It’s a high-demand skill that keeps businesses coming back for more.

    It’s in demand because this skill will generate more revenue for your client. Business will pay a good amount of money to someone who can turn their $1 ad expense into a $3 or more in sales. To be noticed in this gig, you need to focus on end-to-end campaign management, which needs keen understanding of audience targeting, and A/B split testing of high-converting creative ads.

    You will become their “Expert Marketing Specialist” that provides them detailed data reporting by showing them the good results of the ad campaign’s ROAS (Return on Ad Spend).

    4. Short-Form Video Editing

    Editing videos can still make you money. The demand for vertical videos like Reels, TikToks, and YouTube Shorts is still big. Most businesses have no time to edit their long-form content, so it’s going to be your job to make these podcasts or vlogs into viral short-form clips.

    You don’t need to be a big-name Hollywood director to crush this gig. The simple ingredient is where you take a client’s hour-long Zoom call, podcast, livestream VODs, and even YouTube videos and make a good edit. Create the best 30-second clips that catch people’s attention and keep them watching for more by cutting out the unwanted scenes and adding dynamic texts and animations.

    You won’t land that order on a Fiverr gig just by selling “video editing” in the title. Sell them the convenience of “hands-off” and “you’ll handle everything” for them strategy. Give them something like “I will turn your 1 podcast episode into 5 viral TikToks” or “I will edit 10 Reels with engaging captions.” Let businesses know that you can handle the heavy lifting of cutting footages of their content and make it a viral clip. These clients will be happy to hire you regularly to keep their video feeds alive.

    5. Banned Account Restoration

    I’ve had an experience before that my Youtube got banned and tried to appeal to recover it back but nothing happened. It sucks and drains your soul from all the effort you’ve done through all the years and everything just vanishes. I’m not an expert at this and what pros say might also help me and you in the future.

    If you are an expert at this (or an attorney), maybe helping businesses recover their banned social media accounts might give you good reputation points for brands. Solving critical business problems like this makes you a high demand freelancer.

    It’s because when a business loses its platform, they’re losing a lot of money every single hour. Sadly, majority of business owners don’t have any idea how to go through the confusing process of appealing to get their accounts back and often get rejected by an automated reply from a bot. This is where you’re crucial to save their day by bridging them and the platform’s support system.

    You should have the skills to audit their account and find what is the exact policy violation, be able to draft a very professional appeal letter that cite the platform’s specific terms of service, and guide them step-by-step until you’re able to reach the right people.

    The Best Move

    Becoming successful in Fiver this 2026 has been a challenge by adapting to the newest standards of skills, tools, and technology. Like becoming a Social Media Expert for Online Stores or LinkedIn Strategist for High-Profile individuals. You need to be outside of your comfort zone to get the orders coming. After going through this research, you need to solve specific problems for targeted audiences and not just a broad solution. Don’t forget to optimize your profile with high-intent keywords and portfolio-backed descriptions that build trust with clients. It’s proven that things do change through time but opportunities for Fiverr freelancers who adapt is bigger and better. I’ll be tackling these niches that the pros are recommending. How about you?

  • My Professional Fiverr Revamp

    My Professional Fiverr Revamp

    Logging back into my Fiverr account recently was like uncovering a buried treasure chest from 2021! It’s a blast from the past to see my old digital design and anime art gigs, ranging from intermission screens to full character concepts. But man, seeing that old analytics dashboard again was a massive wake-up call! I had exactly one completed $20 order, which left me with a lifetime earning of just $16 after fees. While I’ll always be nostalgic for that art style, seeing those old gigs sitting at zero impressions and zero clicks made me realize it was time for a total profile rework!

    My profile in Fiverr with an updated about page description that is tailored for my writing skills.

    I am absolutely pumped to announce that I’ve officially kicked off a total profile revolution! I’ve completely overhauled my profile by manually importing my entire Upwork Project Catalog and shifting my focus away from the art world to showcase my power in writing and editing. The imported active lineup is looking incredible, featuring services like SEO-optimized blog posts, cutting-edge AI articles, and specialized food writing! It feels that everything might not work out but I’ve read by other’s reviews that you need to study what Gig niche or market is sought after to be successful. Absolutely not a problem, I just need to study my strengths and weaknesses to fit in perfectly!

    Active Gig Lineup

    My new writing gig line-up that showcases generic SEO content writing, AI writing, Food Blogging, and Proofreading and Editing skills.

    I have activated four specific gigs. These services are based on my existing Upwork Project Catalogs and focus on professional writing and editing:

    • SEO Content Writing: This gig provides search engine optimized blog posts, articles, and general copywriting services.
    • Professional Proofreading and Editing: This gig is designed to take a rough draft and refine it through editing and proofreading into a polished final document.
    • Artificial Intelligence Writing: This gig focuses on the creation of professional articles and blog posts specifically centered on artificial intelligence.
    • Food Industry Writing: This gig provides blog content tailored for food-related publications and their readers.

    The Spam Bots

    I thought I’d have a few days to settle in, but literally minutes after publishing my first two Gigs, my inbox didn’t just exploded. Unfortunately, it wasn’t the flood of dream clients I was hoping for. Instead, I was immediately bombarded with messages from fake profiles, many of which had no stolen photos, no descriptions, and zero history. It is almost impressive how fast these scammers find new sellers, often appearing in the inbox within 30 minutes of a gig going live.

    These messages are almost always traps involving fake links or requests to move the conversation somewhere else. I did precautions and read about these and they come with lots of warning signs:

    • Phishing Portals: Some links lead to fake websites that look exactly like Fiverr or Gmail login pages, designed to steal your password or OTP to hijack your account.
    • Fake Verification: You might see a link claiming you need to “authorize” a payment or “verify your email” before an order can be placed.
    • External “Project Files”: Scammers often send links to “project details” on unknown domains (like “digital-project-pro.com”) which can contain malware or spyware designed to infect your device.

    You must avoid these links at all costs for your own safety. The moment you click or move communication off-platform, you lose all of Fiverr’s security protections, including their escrow payment system and dispute mediation. Even worse, Fiverr’s automated systems are incredibly good at detecting when you share contact info or external links. Ironically, just replying to these scammers with your email can get your own account flagged or permanently banned for a Terms of Service violation before you even land your first real job. Good thing I did my research first than becoming a victim.

    Pay-to-Win with Fiverr Kickstart

    While navigating my new dashboard, I noticed Fiverr is now pushing a premium service specifically for beginners called Fiverr Kickstart. For a $15 monthly fee, this program claims to help you land that elusive first order faster by providing “exclusive tools” and AI-powered feedback to optimize your Gigs. It includes live sessions to help with business setup and allows you to showcase your professional work experience more prominently once your ID is verified. It’s essentially a “starter pack” for those who don’t want to wait months for the algorithm to finally notice them.

    So, why are these freelancing platforms suddenly obsessed with offering premium subscriptions like Kickstart or Seller Plus? Some veteran sellers are even starting to feel like these programs are becoming a “paid requirement” just to keep your Gigs visible in an increasingly overcrowded marketplace.

    This shift toward “pay-to-play” leads me to a bigger realization: these traditional freelancing platforms might be dying, losing the battle to AI agents. It’s a sentiment shared by many in the community who feel the platform is “crumbling” or “about to end”. We’re seeing a “skyrocketing” of new sellers while the number of actual buyers takes a plunge. If an AI agent can write the copy, design the logo, and manage the project, the need for a massive, middleman marketplace starts to vanish and these premium fees might just be a last-ditch effort to keep the lights on.

    Plan B with Etsy

    For now, I’m playing the waiting game with my free Fiverr account, opting to see how the organic algorithm handles my new gigs rather than springing for the $15/month Kickstart premium service. My initial analytics are modest; my SEO content writing gig currently has 22 impressions, while my proofreading service is sitting at 18 impressions, each with just a single click. My lifetime earnings are still holding at that familiar $16.00, but this “wait and see” phase allows me to monitor my progress without the pressure of a paid subscription.

    While I wait for those kind-hearted clients, I’m deep-diving into expanding my skills to Etsy, specifically focusing on the “make it once, sell it forever” model of digital products. I’m looking to blend my writing and design degree into high-demand assets like PNG clipart sets, printable wall art, and any digital templates. My research shows that the secret to Etsy success is volume and bundling, following a “one theme, many products” strategy. I’m already sketching out ideas in my head and hoping to see if this pivot will be the next big chapter in my road to escaping the rat race.

  • Looking Back at My Old Fiverr Gigs

    Looking Back at My Old Fiverr Gigs

    Hey everyone!

    I recently logged back into my old Fiverr account and it’s a blast from the past! I completely forgot about the services I used to offer years ago. Looking at my dashboard again brought back a wave of memories, a bit of nostalgia, and honestly, a few mixed emotions.

    Let’s take a trip down memory lane and look at what I used to do, why I almost walked away from art entirely, and how my goals have completely changed today.

    When Anime Art Was My Thing

    Back then, almost all of my gigs were focused on digital art and design, specifically heavily inspired by the anime art style. Even though I finished a formal course in Graphics and Media (year 2011), the job market at the time was incredibly tough.

    I’ve tried multiple times with many companies, big and small, but not a single ounce of luck was on my side. My first job even was a call center agent in BPO. I faced little to no success finding standard employment in the Art industry, which was deeply discouraging. But I never quit.

    Old gigs of anime art style to create banners, t-shirts designs, logo, overlays and intermission for twitch, games, comics, manga, and tv with an extra photo editing gig.
    Art style so bad, I’m ashamed to zoom in and show it to you guys.

    Because I was constantly stressed and on the verge of quitting the art world altogether, looking back, I can see it affected my art style. The time I started Fiverr gigs was the year 2021. The passion was fading, and the art style was starting to lose its edge.

    Here is the exact lineup of the 6 gigs I had running before I hit pause:

    • Photoshop editing for social media, thumbnails, and banners: A general design gig to help creators with their graphics.
    • Anime-style banners: Creating custom headers for YouTube, Twitter, or Twitch.
    • Anime T-shirt designs: Moving from simple sketches to full-color merchandise concepts.
    • Anime logo design: Crafting brand logos with a distinct anime aesthetic.
    • Anime overlays and intermission screens: Designing streaming assets for gamers.
    • Anime character design: Creating original characters for games, manga, comics, and TV.

    Face-to-Face with the Stats

    After exploring my old gigs, I clicked over to my Analytics Dashboard, and it was a bit sad to see the hard numbers.

    My Fiverr sales analytics that only made one $16 sale of a gig in February 2021.

    Earnings to date: $16
    Orders completed: 1
    Average selling price: $20
    Global reach: 0% (Only 1 buyer from the United States)

    My world domination of a world map with only 1 client in United States of America.

    Seeing a total lifetime earning of just $16 from a single $20 order (after the platform fee) hurts a little bit. It reminds me of how much I struggled to get noticed in a sea of millions of freelancers. All of my gigs are currently sitting at zero impressions and zero clicks because they’ve been paused for so long.

    Teaching Over Profit

    But here is the twist: looking at these low stats doesn’t make me want to give up today. In fact, it does the exact opposite.

    When I first started, I was desperately focusing on making a profit because I needed to survive the tough job market. Today, my mindset is completely different. I am not revisiting this platform just to chase dollars. Instead, I want to teach and help others.

    Replicating My Upwork Strategy on Fiverr

    If I were to completely reboot my Fiverr platform today and turn those zeros into high-performing gigs, I wouldn’t just guess what works. Instead, my game plan would be to replicate my Upwork Project Catalogs right here as Fiverr gigs to see if they get better results.

    Fiverr is the absolute pioneer of this pre-packaged service product style of online freelancing. Because of that, it is actually much more suitable for my current lifestyle and style of work for a few key reasons:

    • Perfect for Weekend Hustles: Since I hold a full-time job and handle remote work on the side, I can’t constantly hunt for hourly contracts. Fiverr allows me to set clear, realistic delivery times that I can manage strictly during weekends.
    • Fixed-Income Rates: There is no guessing game or exhausting negotiation. Buyers purchase defined packages at fixed rates, which aligns perfectly with how I structure my niche Project Catalogs on Upwork.
    • The Power of the Niche: Instead of getting lost in the overcrowded anime art market, I would bring over my highly specialized food writing and artificial intelligence catalogs. I think this would cut through all the noise.

    What’s next?

    It’s easy to look at an old profile and feel defeated by the low numbers. But every failed attempt is just data for a better future strategy. I’m excited to turn these old lessons into helpful guides for all of you.

    While you’re reading this, I’m already preparing the migration of my Upwork Project Catalogs to Fiverr Gigs. We’ll see the results in the next few updates.

  • Constant Rejections

    Is my honesty a turn-off?

    ​There is a specific kind of pain that comes with the “talking stage.” You spend weeks, sometimes months, getting to know a girl. You learn her favorite food, you reply to her late-night texts, and you really invest your time and emotions. You stay patient and you hope for the best.

    But lately, it always ends the same way. The talking stage just fades out, or she suddenly stops. And in the end, I’m never the chosen guy.

    Why I talk to a lot of girls

    ​People judge me when they find out I talk to multiple girls at the same time. They think I’m just playing around. But the truth is, it’s my way of coping with the ghostings. When you get rejected or left behind so many times, you get scared. You stop putting all your effort into just one person because you’re terrified of getting hurt again. I talk to a lot of girls because I’m always expecting that the first few will leave me anyway. Has it become a phobia?

    ​But even if I talk to multiple people, I don’t want to play games. That’s why I choose to be 100% transparent. If a girl asks me, I tell her straight up how many girls I’m talking to and who they are. I don’t like hiding things, and I don’t want to lie.

    ​But it looks like being too honest has a price.

    The problem with being public

    ​Since I create content online, being a Blogger and Influencer, my life is out there for everyone to see. When I try to talk to a girl by posting videos and tagging them or private messaging them into social media, it usually ends up out in the open. I thought I was just being real with my followers, but now I’m realizing the impact it actually has:

    • ​Girls don’t feel special: When a girl sees herself on my posts or sees other girls on my page—the magic of the talking stage is completely gone. Girls might think I’m playing with them.
    • ​It feels like content, not connection: What should have been private and exclusive suddenly feels like it’s just being used for views and social media.
    • ​She feels like just an option: Seeing other girls on my feed makes her feel like she’s just one of many choices, instead of someone special.
    • ​A green flag turned red: I thought being transparent about everything was a good thing, but to them, it probably looks like a major red flag.
    • ​Driving them away: My openness might actually be the exact reason why they leave.
    • ​Choosing privacy over clout: In the end, they choose other guys who can offer them a quiet, private relationship instead of a public life online.

    ​At the end of the day, I choose to be transparent because I genuinely don’t want to lie to girls. I always think that lying to a girl is a bad thing, no matter the situation. For me, honesty isn’t just for the talking stage either. Even if I already have a girlfriend, I would still be transparent with her about the other girls I’m flirting with. I just believe in putting everything out there, even if it hurts.

    ​Maybe what I really need is to find a girlfriend who is completely down with a one-sided open relationship. If I can find someone who understands that lifestyle—where she belongs to me and no one else, but she is totally cool with me being upfront about flirting with others—then my transparency wouldn’t be a problem anymore. It would just be our normal.

    ​I’m not a fake “White Knight”

    ​The most painful part is looking at the guys they actually choose.

    ​I see so many guys out there acting like a “white knight.” They pretend to be heroes, swooping in when a girl is sad or emotionally vulnerable. They take advantage of her fragile mentality just to get what they want. They say all the right words and act so sweet, but it’s all fake chivalry. They hide their real intentions and they hide the other things they do—and yet, they are the ones who win the girl.

    ​For example, when a girl is depressed, crying, and feeling like she’s completely abandoned and the whole world is against her, that’s when these guys see an opening. They use that exact moment of weakness as an opportunity to manipulate her, pretending to be her savior just to get close to her. They build a connection based on her low points, using her trauma just to win her over.

    ​In psychology terms, this isn’t genuine emotional support or empathy at all. It’s a form of manipulative grooming driven by a malicious savior complex. Instead of helping her heal, they practice predatory emotional exploitation, intentionally creating a dynamic of dependence while she is at her lowest. They weaponize her vulnerability to take advantage of her, which is a toxic psychological tactic designed for control, not care.

    ​I can never do that. I will never manipulate a girl or use her weak moments just to make her like me. I show my real, unfiltered self from day one.

    ​But it hurts to see that the guys who lie and play roles are the ones who get chosen, while the guy who lays down all his cards is left alone.

    ​I’ll keep being honest, because that’s just who I am. It is what it is but it gets really lonely being the guy who is always good enough to talk to, but never the one they choose to stay with.

  • Why My Upwork Project Catalogs Got Zero Orders?

    Why My Upwork Project Catalogs Got Zero Orders?

    To whoever has been following me on my journey with Upwork and trying to figure out this whole remote work thing on the side, I have some bad news.

    In the past blog, I’ve had plans building my way up to $20 hourly in Upwork and be finally free from the shackles of an office desktop. It may have been a dream. And If you’ve been aware of my other strategy, you know I’ve been trying to build up some passive streams of income that I can easily manage on the weekends without interfering with my day job. Project catalogs seemed like the perfect answer. You set them up once, list your specs, and wait for clients to come to you. But reality hits hard, and right now, the numbers are telling a pretty disappointing story.

    Here is exactly what went wrong, the projects I set up, and where I’m pivoting from here.

    Testing the Waters with Upwork Project Catalogs

    I decided to venture into Upwork’s project catalogs to see if I could get some traction. I managed to get four specific projects approved pretty fast. To be completely transparent, because I’m balancing this with a full-time job, I didn’t reinvent the wheel here. I looked at what Top-Rated Freelancers on the platform were doing, analyzed how they structured their project tiers, and modeled my specs after their proven ideas.

    Every single one of these offerings was built strictly around my writing skills. Here is a breakdown of the four catalogs I launched:

    Upwork Project Catalog dashboard displaying 4 Approved projects in total which are in the category of Writing.
    • You will get high quality food blog posts the resonate with your hungry readers: This is the one where I feel most at home. It’s a dedicated service for crafting relatable, personal, and highly engaging food blog content, blending standard SEO practices with “eating”—something everyone can relate.
    • You will get Professional AI Writer for Technical Blog Posts & Artificial Intelligence: A gig tailored specifically for the growing A.I. industries. This catalog focuses on writing technical blog posts and content centered around what’s hot and what’s not in this tech that everyone loves and hates.
    • You will get SEO-optimized Blog Posts/Articles/Copywriter for any industry or niche: A versatile, all-around writing service designed to handle standard articles and copy across almost any industry, built for clients who just need solid, clean content.
    • You will get Professional Proofreading and Editing: from Rough Draft to Polished Final: A polished final-touch service. This one takes a client’s rough draft and cleans up the flow, syntax, and grammar to turn it into a professional piece.

    The Reality Check: Minimal Views and Zero Orders

    So, those were the four catalogs I threw into the ring. The actual results? Sadly, my views over within every last 30 days of the stats have been incredibly minimal. It’s a bit tough to swallow, and honestly, it makes you question what you’re doing wrong.

    If I had to guess, a huge factor is the algorithm. Because I’m not currently a Top-Rated Freelancer or a historical top performer on Upwork, my catalogs are likely buried underneath a mountain of established profiles. The platform makes performance metrics incredibly visible, and staring at a big, flat “zero orders” is a clear sign that this specific avenue isn’t moving the needle for me right now. It is simply not profitable.

    Pivoting to a Passive Strategy on Fiverr

    Even though the Upwork experiment didn’t work as expected, I’m not throwing in the towel on this format just yet. The core logic behind using project catalogs is still exactly what I need. Because it’s a passive medium, I don’t have to spend hours actively pitching and applying for jobs. I can open up the project shop, let it sit, and take on the work over the weekends at a fixed rate.

    Since Upwork isn’t delivering the traffic, the next step is to take these exact same four project setups and migrate them over to Fiverr to see how the two platforms compare. We’re going to test the gig ecosystem there, see if the search algorithm treats newer sellers any differently, and see what happens next. Stay tuned.

  • I Got Scammed As A Cocoplans Designated Beneficiary

    I Got Scammed As A Cocoplans Designated Beneficiary

    These are one of the things in my life that I can’t believe my own brother and sister would do to me. Falling for a trap like this made me think that BLOOD IS NOT THICKER THAN WATER. When our mother died, all of us were scrambling on what she has left for us and they discovered this: her Cocoplans Investments.

    I was pretty naive about how these things actually worked, so when my older brother and sister stepped in, I fell for the “we’ll handle everything” routine. They basically convinced me that they’d do all the grunt work to get the money processed faster and that “I wouldn’t have to lift a finger”—the cash would just show up in my hands. Even though something felt off and I was skeptical, I let them take the lead because I didn’t think I was “smart enough” to navigate the paperwork myself.

    This is a screenshot of a Facebook Messenger conversation with Ate Benai (my older brothers girlfriend/partner) where I asked for a copy of my late mother's COCOPLANS matured account details and shared a photo of the contract data page showing my late mother (Conchita M. Laviña) as the planholder and myself (Robin M. Laviña) as the designated beneficiary.
    This is a screenshot of a Facebook Messenger chat with Ate Benai showing two photos of Cocoplans, Inc. contract investment plan. Both documents show my late mother Conchita M. Laviña as the planholder with contract numbers 2143808 and 2143809. It lists Robin M. Laviña (me youngest son) as the designated beneficiary and Everisza L. Lauza (older sister) and Rochiel M. Laviña (eldest son) as contingent beneficiaries.
    This is a screenshot of a Facebook Messenger chat with Ate Benai showing two photos of Cocoplans, Inc. contract investment plans once held by my late mother Conchita M. Laviña with contract numbers 2143810 and 2143811. I was also losted as the designated beneficiary.
    This is a screenshot of a Facebook Messenger chat with Ate Benai showing two photos of Cocoplans, Inc. contract investment plans which was held by my late mother Conchita M. Laviña with contract numbers 2143812 and 2143813 and listing myself (Robin M. Laviña) as the designated beneficiary.
    This is a screenshot of a Facebook Messenger chat with Ate Benai showing two photos of Cocoplans, Inc. contract investment plans held by my late mother Conchita M. Laviña with contract numbers 2143814 and 2143815. I'm also listed as the designated beneficiary.
    This is a screenshot of a Facebook Messenger conversation with Ate Benai (my older brother's girlfriend) where she shares a photo of my late mother's COCOPLANS investment contract and explains that hardcopies have been sent to the Manila headquarters. She noted that my older siblings Ate Everisza and Kuya Rochiel commanded her to expedite the processing through an admin contact.
    This is a screenshot of a Facebook Messenger chat between me and Ate Benai where we discussed when the file was forwarded and who sent it. The convo ended with a video call.

    The Special Power of Attorney

    Here’s the breakdown of the document they had me deal with:

    • ​The Parties: It’s a Special Power of Attorney (SPA) that makes Rochiel M. Laviña (older brother) the attorney-in-fact, acting on behalf of Robin M. Laviña (younger brother/me).
    • ​The Goal: It’s for a matured pension plan at COCOPLANS, Inc. (Policy #2143807-2143816).
    • ​The Reason: It claims I’m “physically unable” to show up, which is the excuse used to let him take over.
    • ​The Powers: This gives Rochiel (older brother) the right to process the claim, sign the papers, and—most importantly—receive the money. It even lets him renew the policy or open new accounts in his name.
    • ​The Final Step: The second page is just the standard Philippine notary section where we’re supposed to sign in front of a lawyer to make the whole thing official. Which didn’t happen because I signed the paper first before him. The only witness to signing the document was his girlfriend.
    This is the first page of the Special Power of Attorney document my older brother was preparing, which legally authorizes Rochiel M. Laviña (my older brother), to act on my behalf to process and collect the maturity benefit claim for my COCOPLANS, Inc. pension plan because he claims I’m physically unable to be there myself.
    This page is the Signature and Acknowledgement page that my older brother Rochiel M. Laviña (Attorney-in-Fact) made me (Robin M. Laviña) sign as the Grantor. The page in this photo wasn't signed yet.

    This Special Power of Attorney (SPA) is a legal instrument executed to authorize Rochiel M. Laviña (older brother) to act on behalf of the principal, Robin M. Laviña (younger brother/me). The document identifies the subject as a matured Pension Plan Program with COCOPLANS, Inc., specifically under Policy Account Number 2143807-2143816. The primary justification cited for this delegation of authority is the principal’s physical inability to be present at the establishment to claim the maturity benefit check.

    ​Under the terms of this document, Rochiel M. Laviña is designated as the attorney-in-fact, granting him the specific power to represent the principal in all processing and release stages of the claim. The authority includes the power to receive the proceeds, renew the policy, or enter into a new account agreement under either the principal’s or the attorney-in-fact’s name. The instrument concludes with an acknowledgment section requiring signatures from both parties and witnesses, intended for formal registration before a Notary Public in the Republic of the Philippines.

    The suspicious part of the papers…

    I think it’s NOT LEGALLY VALID because:

    • I didn’t sign it in front of a Notary Public to swear it. Which I think makes it illegal and irregular.
    • Because the document explicitly claims I might have a “physical inability” to be present, highly irregular shortcut may have been taken to get a notary to approve it without me being there.

    Older Sister Messenger Chat Logs

    This is a screenshot of a Facebook Messenger chat with my older sister Everisza showing two photos of a bogus Special Power of Attorney document. It claims I am appointing Rochiel M. Laviña (eldest brother) as attorney-in-fact to process and claim my Cocoplans maturity benefits.
    This is a screenshot of a Facebook Messenger chat with older sister Everisza discussing the processing of claims for my late mother Conchita M. Laviña. This convo includes a Cocolife claim, SSS, and Cebu City Government matters.
    This is a screenshot of a Facebook Messenger conversation where my older sister Everisza checks the status of COCPLANS insurance documents while I firmly challenge a the legal document where it states 'physical inability' as fraudulent and express my concern regarding language that empowers an attorney-in-fact to change the ownership of the contract into my older brother Rochiel Laviña's name.
    This is a screenshot of a Messenger conversation where I argued that this specific line stated 'due to my physical inability to be present' in a legal document was fraudulent because I am healthy and able to take a leave at work to handle the insurance claim myself and I challenged the purpose of having the policy account transferred under my older brother Rochiel M. Laviña's name.
    This is a screenshot of a Messenger conversation where I questioned a very tricky clause in a legal document regarding a maturity benefit claim that allowed an attorney-in-fact, Rochiel M. Laviña (my older brother), to change ownership of the policy in their own name, and I questioned why it was being transferred under my brother Rochiel's name instead of just helping me cash-out the money?
    This is a screenshot of a Messenger conversation with my older sister Everisza and its where we discussed the possible transactions of a fund transfer from my Kuya Rochiel Laviña (older brother). We also talked about the possibility of me taking over the processing from Ate Benai. I'm also questioning why others were being pushed to handle matters that are legally under my own name.
    This is a screenshot of a Facebook Messenger conversation where I (Robin M. Laviña) asserted dominance that I'm old enough to handle legal paper work because the papers are under my legal name. My older sister Everisza said to have agreed to let me process the matter myself.
    This is a screenshot of a Facebook Messenger conversation with my older sister Everisza. It's where we discussed that I should handle the processing of legal papers myself to learn the process or claiming the insurance claim benefits and utilize my office leave or if they would handle it.
    This is a screenshot of a conversation I had on Facebook Messenger with older sister Everisza. It's where we discussed if my late mother had other insurance plans under my name and the processing of COCOPLANS insurance claims and confirmed that I am the primary beneficiary among the three.

    ​I directly confronted her by sending a screenshot of the Special Power of Attorney (SPA) that they had me sign. I specifically called out the clause that claimed I was granting this power due to “physical inability” to be present, labeling it a fraudulent claim. I made it very clear to her that I am healthy, mentally stable, and more than capable of taking leave from my office to handle my own claims personally.

    Also asked my sister, Everisza, what exactly I had signed, as I was becoming suspicious of the situation. She attempted to justify the signature by explaining that they have a claim available under our mother’s name at Cocoplans, and they were simply processing it so we could eventually find out the total amount. She framed it as a helpful step, promising that she would update me on the specific numbers once they were available.

    However as stated in the Contract Data Page, I am the Designated Beneficiary and they’re just Contingent Beneficiaries.

    ​My skepticism grew when I highlighted Paragraph B of the document, which surprisingly empowers my brother, Rochiel, to renew or even open new accounts “under the name of my attorney-in-fact.” I pointedly asked her why my money would need to be transferred into my older brother’s name and what the actual purpose was behind that. To me, the reasons they were giving for this specific arrangement seemed completely bogus.

    Everisza responded by trying to soothe my concerns, downplaying the legal weight of the transfer by claiming that even if my brother claimed the funds, he would just “give it to you.” She leaned heavily on the idea that they were doing the hard work so I could just “receive it clean” without the hassle of the bureaucracy. It felt like a deliberate attempt to use my perceived lack of experience with these processes to keep me from looking too closely at the paperwork.

    ​I stood my ground and told her plainly that I didn’t trust this arrangement or my brother’s involvement in this specific way. I reminded her that I am already 35 years old and fully capable of managing my own legal affairs. Since these documents and the money they represent are legally under my name, I insisted that they must remain under my own jurisdiction and control.

    ​After I pushed back, Everisza initially seemed to fold, agreeing that she would tell Benai to let me handle the process. However, she quickly pivoted and began pressuring me to let them continue, arguing that since they had already started and “complied” with the missing requirements for the Cocolife/Cocoplans claim, it made more sense for them to just finish it. She tried to compromise by suggesting that I could just handle any future claims that might turn up, like the Loyola plans. But, I still highly doubt this claim.

    ​Despite acknowledging my legal priority, she still maintained the narrative that they should be the ones to complete the current process, leaving me feeling like my status as the owner of these accounts was being sidelined.

    Contacting Cocoplans Headquarters via Email

    This is the first part of the follow-up email I sent to COCOPLANS. It's where I detailed my struggle to get a response from local branches here in Cebu regarding my late mother's matured investment contracts and included an attachment of the 'Certificate of Claimant' form that I was supposed to follow-up.
    This is the rest of my email with COCOPLANS and it details the next steps for processing my late mother's pay-outs once I submit the requirements to Cocolife Cebu. The email includes contact details for their Head of Customer Service Department and my original inquiry where I listed the specific policy contract numbers and some challenges I've had with other branches.
    This is the email I received from COCOPLANS that details the instructions on what I should do to process the benefit pay-out for my late mother's Valued Investment Plan as I am the designated beneficiary. However, the company email seems sketchy because it is send from a gmail account and not from the company business email.

    Most of my encounters in their branches was a full waste of my time. It was around October 11, 2024. I don’t remember much but I went first to the SM City Cebu branch; I asked their front desk about the plans by showing them pictures. They tried contacting someone but they referred me to another branch in MSY Tower.

    At MSY Tower, the only thing I remember was going to a certain upper floor and got to ask some questions with another one of their front desk attendants. The attendant was browsing through some lists on papers, informed about some details I can’t recall anymore, but the person just gave me contact numbers of people to call in. It was a bummer to be referred again to another person in charge. They handed me phone numbers to contact someone Headquarters.

    I reached out to the Cocoplans Customer Service Department on October 16, 2024, to finally get some clarity on my mother’s matured pension plans. In my initial email, I expressed my frustration after being bounced between their local branches in SM City Cebu and MSY Tower without getting clear answers. I explained that while I had already spoken with a representative named Joan, I was still waiting on the official list of requirements needed to move forward with the claim for Policy Nos. 2143807 through 2143816.

    ​The response I received from the Head of Customer Service that same afternoon was a major turning point, as it provided official confirmation of my legal standing. The company explicitly stated that the benefit pay-out would be made payable directly to me, formally recognizing me as the sole designated beneficiary on record. They also noted that while they had verbal information regarding my mother’s passing in May 2024, they required formal documentation to officially update their records and begin the disbursement process in my name.

    Had to think about the information I got that someone already had
    contacted them. They also mentioned specifically that the plans are specifically made payable to me.

    The email then laid out a strict list of seven requirements that I needed to submit to the Cocolife Cebu branch to finalize the claim. These included certified true copies of both my mother’s and my own birth certificates, her death certificate, and the original policy contracts. They also required me to fill out a Certificate of Claimant and provide valid IDs with specimen signatures. One BIG problem during that time—I didn’t have my mother’s Death Certificate yet because it was available at the PSA. I was there and they told me it would take more months before it gets processed.

    Have you noticed something about the email?

    They used a GMAIL ACCOUNT and not their own mailbox using their registered domain names (cocoplans.com and cocolife.com). That to me was already highly suspicious. I still have the copy of this email.

    The Cocoplans Cashout

    Remember their statement in the email that they arranged for the plans would only be made payable to me? IT WAS ALL BUT A LIE.

    I am so dismayed how Cocoplans treats their clients. They didn’t even try to contact me first if the Special Power of Attorney that they received was approved by me. That’s one of the big reasons why I feel like this whole debacle has money paid under the table.

    I was shocked that my sister presented me checks in my brothers name.

    This document shows the COCOPLANS, Inc. V.I.P. package details from my late mother (Conchita M. Laviña). It includes a financial breakdown of the benefit payouts, which were divided by three beneficiaries (each gets 61,573.33 PHP), and copies of three Landbank checks printed in a white piece of paper. The amount totals to 189,720.00 PHP issued to my brother (Rochiel Laviña).

    The total amount resulted in a total guaranteed benefit of ₱190,000.00. Lots of fees was deducted which left a net amount of ₱189,720.00 remained. Although I am documented as the sole Designated Beneficiary on every single one of these contracts—which legally entitles me to the full amount—the situation was handled behind my back. Instead of respecting the legal beneficiary designation, they created a calculation sheet that forces an equal three-way split, leaving me with only ₱61,573.33.

    This is a record of my older sister Everisza's financial tracking. It features a check from the Cebu City Government for burial assistance. Below the check, my sister noted the breakdown of that assistance, which was split among three beneficiaries. She also included my manual calculations showing the combined total from Cocolife and the City Government. For some reason, she added along with a deduction for a payment to Alan (her husband).

    ​There is also this burial claim. This claim was filed through the Cebu City Government’s burial assistance program following my mother’s passing, resulting in an approved payout of ₱10,000.00. Just like the pension funds, this ₱10,000.00 was split evenly into three portions of ₱3,333.33 each.

    The documents indicate that the actual check for this assistance was issued directly to my sister, Everisza.

    These are some questions I always had in my mind:

    • Was there a need to deduct ₱10,000.00? She claims that I need to pay Alan (her husband) some money. Which is also something I did not agree upon. This is an outright scam.
    • Instead of ₱64,906.66 ending up in my hands. I only got to have ₱54,906.66.
    • Why are they doing this? I’m for sure they don’t want to treat me equally. Maybe they’re egoists and they feel the need to put me down when they have a chance.

    Why I wasn’t able to process after the email contact

    Crazy things happened after my mother passed away. She left me a debt of real estate taxes that I have to pay because I’m the one living and maintaining the property which amounted to around ₱50,000.00.

    And too many things to handle: Work and paying the debt. All very stressful.

    Terminologies

    • ​Planholder: The individual who originally purchased and owned the insurance or pension policy. In this case, the planholder is Conchita M. Laviña.
    • ​Designated Beneficiary (Primary Beneficiary): The person or entity first in line to receive the benefits or proceeds of a policy upon the death of the planholder.
    • ​Contingent Beneficiary (Secondary Beneficiary): The person or entity designated to receive the benefits only if the primary beneficiary is deceased, cannot be located, or refuses the inheritance at the time the claim is made.
    • ​Maturity Benefit: The amount of money paid out by the company (COCOPLANS, Inc.) when the policy reaches its full term or “matured” date.
    • ​Attorney-in-Fact: The person authorized to act on behalf of another person (the Principal) under a legal document like a Special Power of Attorney.

    ​Hierarchy of Rights: Who holds the most right?

    ​When it comes to the inheritance of a deceased parent’s policy, the Designated Beneficiary holds the primary and superior right over all other claimants, including contingent beneficiaries.

    ​In my specific situation regarding the COCOPLANS documents:

    1. The Designated Beneficiary is Robin M. Laviña (younger brother/me). Because I’m alive and capable of claiming the benefit, I have the exclusive right to the proceeds. Legally, the company is obligated to pay the funds to me.
    2. ​The Contingent Beneficiaries are Everisza L. Lavina and Rochiel M. Laviña. Their rights are “contingent,” meaning they only exist as a backup. Since me (the primary beneficiary) is active and claiming my right, the contingent beneficiaries legally have zero claim to the money under the current circumstances.

    ​In the eyes of the law and the financial institution, the Designated Beneficiary is the “owner” of the claim. The presence of contingent beneficiaries does not grant them equal footing or the right to bypass the primary beneficiary’s authority.

    Realization

    I should have studied Law at my younger years. Because of me being naive about this type of situation that I’ve lost a lot of money.
    If you think my brother and sister are in need of money more that I do? No, they’re already well off. They have enough money to travel and enjoy things in life. Which I always question “Where does their source of money come from?” while I slave away my life at a low paying full-time job.

    Note: This blog post is my own public documentation and will be updated if there’s any correction needed.

  • How a Jollibee Wastewater Spill Sparked Tiktok Virality

    How a Jollibee Wastewater Spill Sparked Tiktok Virality

    When a Quick Jollibee Run Turns Into a Viral Environmental Issue

    I think we can all agree that seeing a Jollibee sign is usually the best part of any long drive or a tiring workday. Whether it’s the Chickenjoy or the Jolly Spaghetti, it’s the ultimate comfort food for every Filipino. But last week, my usual visit to the Jollibee Bulacao branch in Cebu City turned into something I never expected. I wasn’t there to eat. I was just passing by the outdoor parking lot when I noticed something that honestly made my stomach turn. It wasn’t the smell of fried chicken in the air. Instead, there was this thick, greasy wastewater overflowing from their grease trap right into the parking area.

    It wasn’t just a small puddle. This nasty, oily waste was flowing straight out of their property, onto the public sidewalk, and even reaching the main highway. If you’ve ever smelled a clogged kitchen sink that hasn’t been cleaned in months, multiply the smell by ten. That is what the people walking by and the commuters had to endure. I felt so frustrated seeing such a big, beloved corporation being so careless with their waste management that I took out my phone, recorded a quick video, and posted it on TikTok. I didn’t think much of it at first. I just wanted to show people what was happening in our neighborhood.

    Living in Cebu City, we often complain about the flooding and the smell of our drainage systems, but we rarely see the actual source of the problem. When I saw that grease trap overflowing, I realized that this is exactly why our city’s infrastructure struggles. It’s not just about the rain; it’s about how big establishments handle their “dirty water.” Dumping wastewater like that isn’t just gross or an eyesore. It is actually a serious violation of our local laws. In Cebu City, I think we have ordinances regarding this matter but apologies if I’m not an expert at it.

    You see, grease is the “number one enemy” of our sewer lines. When a business like a fast-food giant fails to maintain its grease traps, that oil and fat go straight into the public drains. Once it cools down, it hardens into thick “grease balls” that block the pipes completely. This is why our streets flood even with just a little bit of rain. I’ve skimmed some local laws, establishments are required to have functional grease traps and ensure that no waste leaks into public spaces. As a citizen, seeing this happen in broad daylight felt like a slap in the face to every Cebuano who tries to keep our city clean.

    Robin Laviña's Tiktok Profile highlighting the Jollibee Bulacao Branch Videos that went viral.

    I honestly thought my TikTok would just get a few likes from my friends and maybe a couple of “yuck” comments. But I was wrong. Within just a few days, the video exploded. It hit more than 300,000 views. While the support from the community was great, I also started getting some unwanted attention from Jollibee Bulacao Branch itself. Specifically, the management at the Bulacao branch seemed to be in full panic mode because of the digital footprint I had created.

    The Power of the EMB7 and Why Big Brands Fear Them

    I just learned what EMB7 was! I got it from the comments and when the manager made some excuses. It stands for the Environmental Management Bureau Region 7. They are the primary line bureau under the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) here in Central Visayas. Think of them as the “environmental police.” Their whole job is to make sure that air quality, water quality, and solid waste management are handled according to the law. They don’t just write reports; they have the power to investigate, inspect, and shut down facilities that are polluting our environment.

    The EMB7 is responsible for implementing the Philippine Clean Water Act of 2004 (Republic Act No. 9275). This law is very clear: you cannot discharge any untreated wastewater into water bodies or land where it can seep into the water table or drainage systems. When my video went viral, it became a “prima facie” evidence of a violation. This means that just by looking at the footage, there was enough proof for the EMB7 to conduct a surprise inspection. For a big branch like Jollibee Bulacao, an EMB7 visit is a nightmare because it doesn’t just mean a small fine; it could lead to a “Cease and Desist Order,” which would force them to close their doors until the problem is fixed.

    The role of EMB7 in this situation was basically to act as the hammer. Because the video was everywhere, the public pressure was mounting for the bureau to take action. This put the branch management in a very tight spot. They knew that if the EMB7 showed up and saw the grease trap in that condition, the paper trail of violations would be long and expensive. It’s one thing to have a local city inspector visit, but it’s a whole different level when the regional environmental bureau gets involved.

    A Strange Late-Night Visit and the Price of Silence

    This is where the story gets really weird. It was a weekend, late at night, and I was just chilling at home when there was a knock at my door. To my absolute surprise, a person claiming to be the branch manager of Jollibee Bulacao was standing there. I have no idea how they found my residence, which was already quite unsettling. It was an awkward encounter, to say the least. They were very polite, almost overly so, and they started explaining the technical reasons why the grease trap overflowed. To be honest, I forgot the specific details because I was so caught up in the “craziness” of the situation.

    Robin Laviña standing next to the Jollibee Bulacao branch manager while they all give a thumbs up.

    During our conversation, it became very clear that they were terrified of the EMB7. They kept mentioning how they didn’t want the bureau to visit the branch. Then, they handed me some “gifts”—bags of food and freebies from Jollibee but I knew later that it was just a “bribe”. It wasn’t just a friendly gesture. These gifts came with a very specific condition: they wanted me to delete all my TikTok videos. They wanted to “silence” the exposure and make the whole issue go away before it reached the higher-ups or the government regulators.

    Messenger containing texts and photos from Jollibee Bulacao Branch manager consisting greetings.
    Messenger of Jollibee Bulacao Branch manager asking me to pull down the tiktok videos.

    But here’s the thing: I didn’t pay any mind to their request. I took the situation as a lesson in how big corporations try to manage their public image. I didn’t delete the videos because I believe that what I posted is my property and falls under my freedom of speech. I think we have the right to express our opinions and, more importantly, to expose illegal activities that affect the public interest. For me as long as it serves the public good, they can’t force you to take it down.

    Actually, the Philippine Constitution and various laws like the “Cybercrime Prevention Act” (despite its controversies) still protect “privileged communication.” When a citizen acts as a whistleblower to expose a company dumping waste into public roads, they are acting for the welfare of the community. Exposing a “shitty practice”—literally and figuratively—is not just a right; it’s a responsibility. If we allow ourselves to be silenced by bribery, then these big companies will never learn to respect our environment and our local laws.

    Standing Your Ground Against the Giants

    In the end, this experience taught me a lot about the power of social media and the importance of standing your ground. When you go up against a giant corporation, it can feel intimidating. They have the money, the lawyers, and the “freebies” to try and make problems disappear. But they don’t have the power of the truth. Posting content that exposes the wrongdoings of big brands isn’t about being a “clout chaser”; it’s about holding them accountable to the same standards that every small business owner has to follow.

    If you ever find yourself in a situation where you see something wrong, don’t be afraid to record it and share it. Our phones are the most powerful tools we have for social justice today. Just make sure you are sticking to the facts. As long as you are telling the truth and looking out for your community, no amount of late-night visits or “gifts” should make you back down. We deserve a clean Cebu, and we deserve corporations that actually care about the cities where they make their millions. Let’s keep using our voices—and our TikToks—to make sure they do.

  • My 2026 Upwork Conquest: A Blueprint for Going All-In

    Committed Weekend Upwork Freelancer

    My 2026 goal is turning my bright Upwork ideas into a side-hustle that I can manage on a weekly basis. I’m not a fresh grad anymore that’s randomly seeking jobs by sending low quality job applications but I have a solid plan for Saturdays and Sundays by treating this like a job. Also…I think I’m good at building connections with clients and I’m using that as an advantage to stay ahead of the game.

    This is about fulfilling my dream becoming my own boss, finding a chill focus in knowing my lane and building something tangible…one weekend at a time.

    The Great Profile Revamp: From Illustrator to Storyteller

    I completely started over with my Upwork profile. My old one said I was an “Illustrator,” but times have changed to survive the job market, and my work samples were all over the place. I realized that in order to survive, I needed to concentrate and plan thoroughly, so I began over again, removing all previous elements.

    My profile now is very clear to clients what I wanted to work for as a Blogger and Content Creator. This wasn’t a random decision. I didn’t want to be that traditional “artist” anymore but chose to be a “storyteller/communicator” and that makes it clear what specific services I provide.

    Now my portfolio is updated with real examples like my blog posts, writing skills, and tools. I personally think it has improved compared to my old Upwork profile and it’s showcasing the right skills that I’m hoping to help me win in this career. I also wish that it’s good enough to connect with the right kind of clients.

    I’ve removed my old and irrelevant certificates and plan to replace them with new ones that will match my current area of expertise. But I need to buy and finish online courses and display them in my profile to support the services I’m offering. I’m thinking of finishing courses like Content Marketing, SEO/Web Developer, and Social Media Strategy.

    I want to show clients that I’m committed to work by becoming the best candidate for their projects. It helps build that trust score.

    Working For That Hourly Goal

    I’ve only earned $200 in my entire Upwork career so far. I don’t think that’s a bad starting point but it helps me get fired up to work for my hopes and dreams. My only goal right now, it may seem farfetched, is to earn $20 per hour as a full-time freelancer.

    Why $20? It’s a goal that I’ve set in mind that I think will validate me as a high quality freelancer that separates me from low quality competitors and attract clients who see me as a quality talent. Reaching that rate is my current focus. However, I need to improve my skills in composing proposals, picking the right projects, and delivering my best work to clients and keep them coming back for more.

    Freelancing Step-By-Step

    That’s the plan for now. I’ll just work hard and use my brains to reach the $20 hourly goal! Anyways, here’s to building something better, one weekend and one project at a time. Cheers to 2026—let’s see where this takes us.