Technology Makes Life Easier in Metro Manila

I have been living in Metro Manila for over 12 years already.  The reason of staying in Metro Manila is because of work. Had it not for work, I would have chosen staying in the province where cost of living in lower than in the capital city.

I do not own a car. Hence, I am pretty sure not to contribute to the scarcity of parking spaces. I am used to riding a jeepney and prefer to ride one as it is less expensive on my part. Being hazmat technician and knowing the hazards of carbon monoxide coming from fuel combustion of automobiles, I still ride a jeepney whenever available. However, I now ride, more often, a taxi.

Making my life easier and not to overburden myself, I make use of technology. To me, I need my time and it's a pity wasting too much time waiting. I have more time needed for myself to enjoy reading, rest after overworking, and even bringing work at home.

THE LAUNDROMAT. Let me start with washing clothes. I am not a fan of hand washing all of my clothes as it hurts my back so much. I used to bring my clothes to the laundry shop - however, it takes a minimum of three days to get my clothes back. Most often, the laundry shop is still close as I leave for work and already closed as I go home. So most often, I can only pick my laundry, ideally, during weekends. Or I have to go home early just to pick up the precious clothes. Nowadays, thanks to laundromat that proliferates in Quezon City and elsewhere. In the place where I live, the laundromat is just about 300 meters away. Thanks to laundromat, I can wash my clothes by myself with just an hour waiting - not 3 days. I can bring any of my plentiful books or Reader's Digest while waiting. I can also just leave my clothes for the staff to wash while I go to buy some stuff or clean the house. Then, I can be back after an hour minimum. (My wish: to be able to save for a digital personal washing machine)

Coin Laundry Express in Cebu makes one's day a good day.

I would say that the most inclusive laundromat I have been to was in Cebu City, the Coin Laundry Express. The place looks like a restaurant where there are tables and chairs for waiting customers, a free wifi, carpets, and some snacks if the customer gets hungry. Their policy line is, "laundry today or naked tomorrow."

TAXI-HAILING. I am a fan of Uber because it is premium and it more user friendly than Grab. When Uber in Southeast Asia was sold to Grab, I prayed that it's merger and acquisition be reviewed by government as I missed its services. However, it was done deal already, no way to reverse the decision anymore. I am left to use Grab than any other ride-hailing app. I tried Micab and Hype but these are to no avail due to, I can say, system difficulties. Rather than buying a car, I would say that riding other's Grab car is still less expensive on my part. For Grab, I prefer Grabpay than cash as I do not have to worry about coins. 

GCASH. When I got my postpaid account in Globe, my biggest issue was the long queue in payment centers including Globe Business Center itself. I hate waiting for too long as I should have accomplished more tasks already rather than wasting my time waiting. I used Cliqq app by 7 Eleven to pay my bills and load my GCash. Now, I only seldom pay bills using Cliqq app because GCASH has become inclusive already. I pay my bills using it and I load my and my family's phone, whether Globe or Smart, using GCASH. I have already tried paying grocery and shops using GCASH instead of pulling out my wallet. I cash in using bank online transaction. 

FOOD DELIVERY. I have tried calling the restaurant using it's number to order food. Nowadays, a mobile app that features many restaurants is already available to make food delivery more efficient. When I am sick or not feeling well, the food delivery services are heaven sent to me. I prefer Foodpanda for food delivery but Honestbee is also available which I use interchangeably if the restaurant I prefer is not available in either app.

GROCERY DELIVERY. Of course, for grocery delivery, my app is Honestbee. Aside from grocery, I have already tried Honestbee in delivering parcel within Metro Manila. Theirs is cheaper and parcel is being picked up. It lessens my time to go to the shop and it minimizes my expenses as to transportation.

If we will just study the economic losses of waiting time in Metro Manila, we might have been losing the mental assets of our people who could have accomplished more tasks efficiently if their waiting time is gone. For me, removing wasting time in waiting time from my things-to-do is happiness. Happiness means less stressful and less stress means a healthier life. A healthier life means long life.

Keep Calm and Watch Movies

Photo source: Wikipedia

We aim for happiness from the things that we like to do and we  expect joy from the people we truly love.

Photo source: Wikipedia

I love science fiction movies and documentaries. Tron Legacy made me smitten. The wonder of technology that it depicts a modern-day IT-surrounded environment only to end up in a somewhat unbelievable reality - being taken by the system that the player himself has developed. I value the message of love between father and son. Leaving, finding, letting go and understanding revolved round a real familial love that technology should not take away from modern-day families.

Avatar made me realize that we may never be together in our lifetime. Chances are we could be transferred in another world without the awareness of the people we care about. We may undergo hardships but we have to rely on our own. Only a few will care and he who cares till the end bears the real love in his heart.

Photo source: Wikipedia

The Notebook made my eyes pour pails of tears. It made my worry about my future. I feared that I might end up settling down with the person I don't love at all. As a result, I have not yet settled down until now; and perhaps I may never will.

I almost thought of giving up watching movies because it gives a lot of pain in me. I thought that life should be easier, lighter, funnier, happier. Well, that is what scriptwriters, director and writers are made for. We watch movies and think about the real lesson that it portrays for us.

Now that I have a growing kid, saying "no" to watching movies and children's shows is a taboo. I have to watch cartoon characters. I ask questions like, "why did they allow Dora to leave her parents at a young age?" 

I have to enjoy watching my favorite "androids" again in DragonballZ or laugh like what I did about 12 years ago as Sakuragi aims for that Slam Dunk . I also have to obtain a copy of the lyrics of that famous themesong of Frozen so that I don't end up like humming all the words repeatedly as "let it go..."

Photo source: Wikipedia

Movies became part of our lives. Screens - be it flat, touched, big, small - are like ingredients in our kitchen. We can live without them before or prefer a bland taste. However, why stay that way if we can spice our foods or make our lives more meaningful?

Today, everyone is in a hurry. Whenever I have to watch a movie, I am so tired of long queues. I had to exert lots of efforts before being able to finally decide on what film to watch. I surf the net and do a lot of questioning. I ask friends and office mates as if everyone becomes aware that I am about to watch a movie.

From mere online to mobile, transactions are becoming paperless.

Previews are important to me because these will serve as my deciding factor whether to watch a particular movie on that period of time. Inevitably, I had to open the net and so on. 

I thought it was only yesterday when I presumed that the world is becoming online. Then all of a sudden, being online is no longer enough. Nowadays, the trend is "mobile" and I say - everything is becoming "mobile."

Indispensable, my smart phone is loaded with apps including GMovies.

I do a lot of things through mobile now. I buy cellphone load.  I order and pay for products and services. I obtain coupons. I post updates. I browse my mails. I find my location. I post ads. I organize things from files, pictures to travels. I do all these through mobile already. That makes my smart phone so indispensable.

From needs to wants, everything is becoming mobile. Germany already offers a prostitution app, which is so intriguing to me. Booking for plane is now through an application. Catching up for a taxi is already mobile too. Then here comes a new experience worth doing. The first mobile app that allows me to begin my movie going experience anytime, anywhere. Well, that is indeed amazing. 

I am referring to GMovies mobile application. Previews will no longer be a problem to me then because GMovies makes the ultimate pocket app for my movie fix. 

Why GMovies?

A first and the only one of its kind in the country, the GMovies mobile app features services that allows me to stay updated on the current and upcoming movie releases in cinemas nationwide, check daily showtimes, reserve the best seats and book movie tickets straight from my mobile phone.

What about the payment options? 

GMovies is currently in partnership with Ayala Malls Cinemas and offers payment options using MasterCard or Visa credit cards, GCash, MyRewards, Charge to Post Paid Bill for Globe subscribers, Promo Code and Ayala Malls' MPass card.

Time-Saving

For me who gets tired of long queues and surfing the net for the previews, GMovies will work at its best. I can now plan ahead my movie date without even setting foot on the cinema. This new experience provides convenience to anyone (including me) who dreads long ticket booth queues or running out of good seats especially during blockbuster openings. With GMovies, one can now just head straight to the movie theater's door, pull out the e-ticket from the app and present it to the cinema porter. That's simple as that!

Community

Still can't get enough of movies even outside the cinema doors? GMovies offers an avenue for both movie lovers and movie goers, and places the spotlight on you. In its belief that movies are shared experiences through the feel life and from this passion, their (GMovies') dream of creating a community of movie lovers by movie lovers sprouted and materialized. Both the app and GMovies official website, www.gmovies.ph, are online havens to anything and everything about movies and lets one voice out his musings, rants and realizations through the reviews section. Anyone can be a Greeler (pronounced as gri-lers) and be part of Gmovies' circle of movie critics, participate in exciting promos and grow one's network of friends through his or her love for movies.

Front Seat

A front seat awaits you. GMovies is a truly filmtastic all-in-one pocket app to satisfy your movie cravings and takes you to the front and center of the film entertainment buzz. With GMovies, one is being brought a click closer to the silver screen and given a voice in the movie scene.

Download the app and start the fun. Go to the AppStore or Google Play to download or text GMOVIES to 8888. To fully enjoy GMovies experience, follow GMovies on Facebook, Twittter, Instagram and Youtube.

So what are you waiting for? With the GMovies mobile app, you will always be updated. Enjoy to watch movies. Ask yourself the same question I asked myself: What movie did you fall in love with watching movies?

Sources: 

Nuffnang Blogpost on Keep Calm and Watch Movies contest

About GMovies from its homepage, www.gmovies.ph

Special thanks to Nuffnang Philippines