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The Nas Daily controversy – the 3 sides of the story

Ion
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The Nas Daily controversy – the 3 sides of the story

As a designer, there were a lot of times my work has been rejected badly. Working my sweat and blood for a project apparently does not give me the right to claim it as the best.

Any guy who works in the creative field would know that approval on content, design, and stories can be very, very subjective.

Being rejected felt really bad at that time especially I’m not used to the foreign culture. My lack of experience had me hurting for not being favored. Until, after working for more years with other nationalities here in Dubai, I’ve realized that everyone brings their own culture to the workplace. Some seem nice but are actually rude. Some are vocally arrogant but really nice. It is just the way they talk and they don’t mean bad.

Maybe, Louise was expecting the universe after Nas has already invested so much time and effort, and interest in building up the story. Until eventually it turned sour because, in the end, the supposedly good story did not align with what Nas was expecting. You know, content creators have a set of criteria, KPIs, and targets – especially the established ones.

It could probably be a case of being too sensitive to the rejection because it came from a non-Filipino, much more from someone she looks up to.

Louise probably has her reasons why she expressed her sentiments that way. With high expectations, and suddenly got rejected, it stings. I felt that. Nas Daily probably also has his reasons why he responded that way. And it may have something to do with alignment to the goal – and culture.

I hope things will turn out well for both of them, and even for us who may pick up some lessons or so. With this series of breaking the silence, one thing is clear, the context has to be clear, ALWAYS.

NAS Daily criticized for “Pinoybaiting,” using Apo Whang-Od ‘without permission?’

Ion
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NAS Daily criticized for “Pinoybaiting,” using Apo Whang-Od ‘without permission?’

“Apo Whang-Od is being used by NAS Daily without permission.”

That was the claim by her grand-niece in a Facebook post. She called NAS Academy a scam; that her grandmother did not sign any contract, and “Some people are taking advantage of our culture.“

She ended her post with a strong call to, “PLEASE HELP US STOP this disrespect to the legacy of Apo Whang-Od and the Butbot Tribe.”

Big words.

But that’s not the point why I’m writing this article. (We don’t know the real story about that claim.)

The traditional media agencies made a piece of news out of it soliciting a barrage of nasty comments – many of which from the so-called keyboard warriors.

Many commenters accused Nuseir Yassin of “Pinoybaiting,” or the act of using Philippine-relevant content to drive traffic from the Philippines into the vlogs – apparently because the majority of Filipinos are hungry for global validation – click baits.

Comments went as far as suggesting he be labeled ‘persona-non-grata‘ in the country for “exploiting” our people.

If this is exploitation, how come the likes of Jessica Soho, Catriona Gray, Chinkee Tan, James Deakin, Erwan Heusaff, Moira, Jason Magbanua, Carlo Ople and other personalities with great reputations signed up for this?

Is NAS Daily Pinoybaiting?

NAS travels the world since day 1 to tell simple stories that are relatable to a global audience. While he features each and every place he has been, he does not intend to create stories that would only endear to a particular nationality. In fact, that is against his principles in content creation.

Instead, he hooks the audience through a universal feeling towards the story.

Every story presents a subjective appeal. What’s a good story to some, may not be good for Nuseir, and vice-versa.

When you say Pinoybaiting, rampant mentions of anything Filipino are obvious in the content but oftentimes lack substance. There’s been an influx of foreign Pinoybait vloggers in recent years and I think that has largely dragged Nuseir into the conversation.

But, if you look deeper into his platform, would you really put NAS Daily into that category? I mean, his content about the Philippines is not even amounting to a quarter of everything he has created.

Is he taking advantage of our culture?

They say, “how we see things define who we are.” If this is the first angle we see about this program, well it says a lot about us.

I may not be 100% in favor of doing this course online not only because it isn’t close to my heart. But, because, when you say Apo Whang-Od, you are talking about a cultural heritage (as my friend aptly describes it). It goes a long way down to her rich lineage.

It’s just not your usual tattoo session. The experience of trekking through the mountains is part of the package – a journey that you won’t get online.

NAS Academy presents the course using the following blueprint:

“Prepare to learn a 1000-year-old art form from the last Kalinga tattoo artist in the world: Whang-od. This 104-year-old legend will reveal all her rituals, tools, and methods for making traditional tattoos. All packed in a course that’s unlike anything we’ve ever done before!”

Now, will the heritage be ruined if Apo Whang-Od extends her reach through the digital platform? Will the culture be tarnished, or will it be amplified?

Can’t we at least celebrate the fact that a person of influence recognizes our champion in Apo Whang-Od, the same way he recognizes the excellence of Jessica Soho, Catriona Gray, Chinkee Tan, and others who are being groomed as world-class mentors to train diverse sets of students from all over the world?

Why do we have to go far in pulling someone down?

Using the Filipinos?

By establishing a company, he has created employment opportunities for many Filipinos currently working at NAS Daily.

He founded NAS Academy to train aspiring content creators, Filipinos included.

Yes, he is ‘using‘ Filipinos just as he ‘uses‘ other nationalities as well. But he hired them not because they are Filipinos but because of their talent and value as a person.

The problem with many of us is we easily become itchy to any talks surrounding our nationality that often gives us a misplaced sense of pride.

And because of this toxic cancel culture, we are so quick to invalidate everything the man has done just because of a one-sided, unverified issue.

Why am I speaking up?

As a fellow content creator, I had an opportunity to hear his thoughts in a few storytelling sessions. He never suggested anything about milking or “baiting” for likes and views; never talked about exploiting the hunger for validation in creating content; never singled out a particular country because of the high traffic it may bring.

Instead, he constantly encourages aspiring creators to make compelling stories with relevance to people no matter where they are in the world, and with an impactful call to action.

I usually keep mum about online outrage, but this one has gotten way off. Media outlets have shaped this up in a fashion that triggers a wave of negative emotions.

It’s not about defending NAS. I believe, if there are indeed any mistakes or lapses in this whole Apo Whang-Od issue, he is accountable for that.

But why are we so quick to judge even without hearing the other side? Whatever happened to giving the benefit of the doubt? Why did we allow “cancel culture” to become our culture?

Get up to 10% discount on your orders at noon.com with this promo code

Ion
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Stranger wanted to cuddle our baby

Ion
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Stranger wanted to cuddle our baby

We were talking to a group of friends after the church service. I was carrying our 4-month old boy then. Our friends were playing with him when I noticed a lady from afar intensely staring at him. She walked closer to us.

There was sadness in her eyes as she kept looking at Buybuy.

Then with anxiousness, she asked if she could carry him. Without hesitation, I put him into her arms. She hugged him tight – really tight. She’s not saying a word until about half a minute, trying to hold back tears she said…“Kasing laki nya ang baby ko. Na-mi-miss ko lang po siya. Iniwan ko sya sa ‘Pinas 3 weeks ago para bumalik dito.”(Your boy is the same age as my baby. I’m missing him so much. I left him 3 weeks ago in the Philippines to return here.)

Everyone in that huddle suddenly couldn’t say a word after hearing those words.

This is just one of many stories of OFW moms who endure the pain of being away from their children to work in order to give them a bright future.

OFW moms, saludo ako sa inyo! Happy Mothers Day! We’re praying that one day, you and your family will be able to stay together. And that one day would be soon.

After 5 minutes, she returned Buybuy to us, and with relief in her eyes, she said, “Salamat! Salamat. Sobrang napasaya nya ako. Sana makita ko sya lagi.” (Thank you! Thank you! Buybuy made me very happy. I hope to see you often.)

Dads, it’s okay if you don’t know every handyman work at home

Ion
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Dads, it’s okay if you don’t know every handyman work at home

Am I the only dad who doesn’t do many handyman works at home? You know, plumbing, electrical works, carpentry, repairs, etc…

When something needs to be fixed, most of the time, I hire someone to do it. Not that I don’t know how to, it’s just that I’m not doing them too often I’d rather delegate it to someone who knows better. (Fine, I feel lazy… I don’t have that energy just by thinking of it, compared to other things I love doing.)

My wife was even clowning me sometimes for not knowing how to do stuff “every man should know.” I told her, it’s just a matter of preferences and interests. I’m happy she understands. (At least, I know how to assemble Ikea stuff.)

Some men grew up learning DIYs, while I opted to learn the creative and soft skills that I love and I’m now using.

Fathers who know a whole lot of things are admirable. Sometimes I wish I’m like you. But fact is, not everyone knows everything, even if the world says that you should. You can do one thing that I can’t and I can do another that you can’t. Different strokes for different folks.

So fellow dads (and moms, who usually get a lot of this banter), don’t sweat it out if someone tells you “you don’t know nothing.”

Marriage is a partnership: If she’s cooking, I’m washing the dishes

Ion
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Marriage is a partnership: If she’s cooking, I’m washing the dishes

If she’s cooking, I’m washing the dishes.
If she’s drying the clothes, I’m taking them off the rack.
If she’s cleaning the house, I’m taking the garbage out.
If she’s washing the poop, I’m changing the diaper.

When I’m working, she’s homeschooling.
When I’m writing, she’s proofreading.
When I’m stressed, she’s my therapy.
When I fall short, she forgives.

And at times I have too much on my plate, she’s there to take them to her already overflowing platter.

Marriage is a partnership, right?

While we know our roles, we’re not limiting. It’s not about who the man or the woman; not about who does the bigger tasks. It’s about making ourselves available should the other does not have the capacity.

It’s about being selfless

Today, on our 13th anniversary, among the things we celebrate is how our marriage continues to be the best partnership and collaboration ever between the THREE OF US – God, myself, and my wife.

How do you maintain cleanliness at home when you have a toddler?

Ion
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How do you maintain cleanliness at home when you have a toddler?

We often get this question. Well, not every day the house is blemish-free. I think the interior design has given us the motivation to deal with mess as quick as we can. I believe it’s also a matter of perspective and a commitment to always keep it back to its look and feel that we love.

When the kids mess up, they know that they should also clean up. Even our 2-year old learned to develop that habit.

How? First, we tell them, then we show them how. And they grow even better than me. There are times my kids would call me out because I dropped a crumb on the floor, or I did not put my shoes the right way on the rack.

That just says how much they look up to us in doing things.

So I sneaked some snaps below during their play because I wanted to see how messed up the living room could be. So far…

The living room area even with scattered toys doesn’t really look that bad. Because there’s a minimal number of furniture in this area, it is quite easier to maintain.
While they have their own play room. They prefer to bring their toys here because they can see mommy on the open kitchen all the time.
Aya is 8, Buybuy is 2.
They play their toys one at a time most of the time.
And when they want to do something else, they keep the toys back to the rack first.
But kids being kids, it’s not everyday they’re in the mood to cleanup right after playing. Playing one toy at a time somehow saves us from a bigger mess.
Ooops, this is not kalat
Makalat man, makalat pa rin 🙂 Pero maganda pa rin if you have the space design that fits well with the activities in the house.
Buybuy knows where to keep toys, books and board games. Everything is inside.
Okay he’s trying to be out of control now.
So you see.. we also deal with these things…

But you see, despite the mess, it still did not ruin the design completely. That’s the beauty when you deal with the mess when it happens.

One of the benefits we’re enjoying with a good interior design is the convenience to maintain orderliness – not because there is always the urgency to tidy up, but because the way the house was designed fits well for easy cleaning. It doesn’t feel like you need to make general cleaning all the time.

And to help us keep it low-maintenance, we make sure they know these 4 things:

  • Limit the number of toys they play with at a time.
  • Everything has a place, and everyone knows the place, including the toddler.
  • Teach them about where they should keep their toys when they’re not playing.
  • Keep their toy racks within reach so they can independently do it.

Show them the way

If you noticed in the photos above, the kids play with one toy at a time most of the time. I wouldn’t take the credit for that. Aya’s influence on her younger brother is so big that he has quickly adapted her habits.

The only fight that happens between the two is when Buybuy wanted to play with more toys, but Aya doesn’t approve – because, in her words, “he will just mess up.”

To make it a habit, we need to show them the way by modeling – without them realizing they’re being trained. Here are a few small tasks that they can pick up to learn at home, other than with toys:

  • Putting shoes in the right places
  • Putting dirty clothes in the laundry basket
  • Hanging the towels after using
  • Putting their books back to the shelves
  • Clearing the table after use
  • Wiping their own spills on the floor
  • Making their bed in the morning

Another thing I realized, when you do things cheerfully with them, they will develop an instinct to copy what you do because they see happiness in you doing them.

Proverbs 22:6 is very true, “Train up a child in the way he should go and when he is old, he will not depart from it.“

These are their toy racks. We have it for 8 years now since our firstborn and by far it’s still serving us a good purpose. The kids know in which box the toys should be. In fact, they would call me out if I mistakenly place a toy into another box.
Before they have their screen time, the sister would make sure that the mess has been dealt with already.

One perspective to look at

The ‘perspective’ that I mentioned at the top of this article is actually inspired by this message in the bible:

And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

Colossians 3:17

Even in maintaining a clean and orderly house, we commit to doing it with thanksgiving in the name of the Lord. After all, we believe that God is with us at home right? So why not desire to keep it clean and well-maintained, just as how he instructed people in the bible on how to keep his house clean.

Cleanliness at home is biblical and wise, “By wisdom, a house is built, and by understanding, it is established.“

On keeping up with standards

Some people say when you have a toddler and you have a clean house, you must be spending more time cleaning rather than more time with the kids.

And I’ve heard a few people who praise moms for having a messy house because, apparently, they spend all their time with the kids, and they’re just being real.

While I partially disagree with the above statements, I understand that some parents really need to spend more time with the kids and that’s okay. How much more those with more kids. I think a personal commitment to keeping things low maintain could help.

Whatever works best for you and the family, keep at it. It’s okay to be inspired. Pick up the encouragement. BUT, remember, you don’t have to conform to the standard of others. We all have different standards and that’s okay.

What benefits could interior design give us?

Ion
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What benefits could interior design give us?

Interior design goes beyond just being stylish. It has a huge positive impact on the way we feel and the way we do things.

Here are 7 key benefits of interior design based on our experience:

1. Budget-friendly

Interior design is economical in the long term. A professional designer will help you save money by helping you choose the best fittings and furniture that fit your budget without compromising quality. Once the one-time setup is completed, you don’t have to buy more items for the house. Except for plants. EXCEPT FOR PLANTS. 

In fact, we realized we were spending more in the past few years because we buy things every now and then when we feel like it.

2. Better use of space

During the conversation with the designer, we shared our preferences and references. Having kids, we wanted our space to be also suitable for play and a lot of running. The design has transformed every space in the house to be functional, be it empty or not. Simply put, interior design has optimized every space at home.

3. Easy to maintain

As a family with a toddler, we wanted to deal with the usual mess they create whenever they eat or play. I thought, whatever beautiful space you have when they mess up, it’s still a mess. While that is true, a good interior designer would advise which style would be best for that.

Mess is unavoidable. But keeping the house orderly after a play is not impossible when you have the motivation always to see the aesthetics that you love.

4. Get rid of unnecessary stuff

When we saw the layout, we got more convinced that we had to let go of many things we didn’t need inside the house. So in the end, we moved to the new place with a lighter load and without clutter. 

TIP: If you haven’t used a thing for a year, it means you don’t really need it. Let it go. Barter it, or donate it. 

5. We’d rather stay at home

We lost the appetite to go out—we feel that what we have inside is better than what we’ll get from the usual hotels we go to. The family’s idea of fun is echoed by the design. We decorated the house so much that we never craved much for a staycation elsewhere. Yung mas gusto mag-stay sa bahay, kesa gumala—another savings on that area.

6. Boosts mood to an all-time high

Since we are the ones approving the design, we know what would suit our preferences and lifestyle, therefore affecting the mood of the house. When you have an ergonomic space, you are motivated to do more of what you love to do. My wife, for instance, has become even better at things she loves doing at home, in the kitchen, and even in her homeschooling sessions.

7. A haven of relaxation

Whenever we feel the need to relax or unwind by simply sitting back, a good interior design can create that atmosphere. 

The good thing about interior design is that you don’t have to copy exactly what others do – because it’s all about your personal style preferences. 

Why am I sharing this?

If you are someone thinking about it, I want to share with you the value I found in doing it. If you have the means, go for it. It’s a worthy investment, not just for the eye but for the mind, more importantly.

Don’t get me wrong. If the budget is tight, don’t pay for someone to do it. You can always try it yourself. There are a lot of resources online that you can check – especially if you have a creative flair. Join Home Buddies, Scandi Home Enthusiasts, or other interior design groups on Facebook to find inspiration.

One last thing: all the beauty around you won’t make sense if there’s no overflowing love, joy, and peace within. Because, at the end of the day, it’s not about the house on the outside, but about who lives inside. So a beautiful heart before a beautiful house is the true interior that matters.

Yes, Ikea Dubai offers interior design service, but…

Ion
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Yes, Ikea Dubai offers interior design service, but…

Like a typical Filipino living abroad, I didn’t care much about our space here in Dubai before, because I was thinking life abroad is just temporary and I’d rather save money for our dream house in the Philippines (or somewhere else). Plus, the fact that we are only renting and we’re moving quite a lot from one place to another, makes us not think of spending so much in designing our space.

“Sa bahay natin in the future, gusto ko ganito, ganyan…”

My wife and I used to look so much into the future (dream house) that we forget to live in the present. It’s not a bad idea until you realized you wanted to stay here for the longer run. And with kids growing too fast, the need for a more conducive space to live, play, and study becomes more obvious.

What makes us decide to do interior design

So when we moved to a new 2-bedroom apartment in Dubai South, people thought we upgraded our lifestyle because it looks high-end. But actually, we are paying 30% less of what we used to pay for rent in the past years. That’s a HUGE cut. We’re just blessed to have found this gem of a place at a lower cost. Thanks to a friend. 

We love the community so much that it feels like we wanted to stay here for the rest of our days in Dubai. The kids enjoy the playground where they run, get dirty and simply be kids. So with at least 10 years in mind, we decided to design this place as pretty and convenient as it could be using some of the money we cut from the yearly rent budget.

We believe interior design would be a good investment for our well-being. It’s more than just the look and feel, it’s more about the aesthetics. 

Interior Design by Ikea

We believe that a concept done by someone with a better eye on design would give us direction – something that we may not get well if we decide to do it ourselves. 

We inquired at IKEA Dubai Festival City as recommended by a friend. But we were referred to Dubai Festival Plaza as their list of customers waiting in the queue was already too long.

They do have an interior design service, but not a full interior design job. They only create a 3D rendering of their recommended layout with suggestions of furniture from them.  When you avail of the service, you won’t be required to buy everything from their store. In fact, you don’t need to buy all their recommended items if you have something else in mind. 

Upon payment, a team went to the place before we move in to get the measurements and other needed specs.

We told them what old furniture we are bringing and they considered them in the design. We also bought a number of items from other stores like JYSK and Home Centre, and that’s fine with them – they also included the exact items on the plan. After all, we are paying them for the service.

We only had an hour-long meeting with the designer wherein we shared our preferences, references and give her a glimpse of our lifestyle.

Then she took us around the store to check if we can already choose some items right there.

Checking the bedroom section

In a couple of days, she showed us her proposed layout. 

The first version was so good it got us so excited. But like any other design jobs, we requested a few revisions. We had to check alternatives to some of the Ikea items she put in there. The designer was very helpful and nice to work with (though you really have to be very specific with your requests). After eventually coming to terms, a delivery schedule was arranged within 6 days.

A team of Ikea contractors came to assemble the furniture and put them in their respective position based on the approved drawing. The designer was not with them.

Since they are contractors and not from Ikea directly, they are very picky in getting requests from us. They would always refer to the drawing on their hand if the request is in scope or not. They just agreed that we pay them extra for them to do our additional requests for wall drilling.

The next day, another team of electrician came to install the lights.

All these happened within 15 days.

Interior design cost

  • Ikea interior design layout – 750 per room (there’s a size limit – I’ll update this when I find it) – we have an open kitchen so we only paid one room for that.
  • Lighting installation is 60 per light.
  • Free delivery.

Ikea’s 3D designs in photos

Here are some screenshots from the video of the design they provide:

Top view of the living room / dining area and master’s bedroom.
The view from the kitchen
A clear living room spacious enough for running (and jumping rope). In Ikea’s first design, the carpet area has 2 ottoman coffee tables that we asked to be removed. (See the main article’s photo). In the actual, I designed the posters myself to our preferred visual story.
From from the balcony door
View from the left-hand side of the living room. You’ll notice that we don’t have open shelves here, because we wanted to keep things out of reach of the toddler.
View from the kitchen bar. Notice the pink accent wall?
View from the masters bedroom door. We had to change the carpet to align to the black and white theme of the bedroom.
View from the headboard

We said we want indoor plants, so you see how she added those lovely plants in the sketch.

The measurement they took on one of the rooms on their first visit.

How to avoid fights in marriage, really

Ion
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How to avoid fights in marriage, really

“Sana all, It’s been a year since the last fight.” I got this comment from the previous blog I’ve shared on Facebook.

A few people had asked us also how we’re able to keep an enjoyable marriage despite meeting each other only through online chat. So let me share 4 reasons how you can avoid fights in marriage. I’ll use C.H.A.T. acrostic for this. No pun intended 

C – Conversations

Matakaw kami sa usap. We exchange and process thoughts everyday. When you are each other’s confidant, you won’t need to find someone else to talk to about the most important things. Your spouse should be your best friend, no one else comes close.

When you talk, you also listen attentively. Importante yun! These kind of talks often lead to deeper intimacy.

H – Humility

We struggled with pride in the past. There were times we wouldn’t talk for days because no one wants to make the first move. There were moments where petty things got escalated for no reasons at all.

Humility defeats pride. The Bible says, humility is about looking to the other person as more important than yourself. In marriage, it’s about valuing your spouse above yourself not looking to your own interest but each of you to the interest of the other.

It’s not about who earns more or who does more. It’s about intentionally loving and respecting each other.

This is the main reason why we were able to manage not getting into fights for a long time now.

 Parang Pacquiao fights lang – it happens every year 

A – Accountability

Having accountability in marriage is a game changer. Understanding our roles as husband and wife is the best thing to ever happen in our relationship. When we’re accountable to each other, we are committed to doing what needs to be done to make things work out. In our relationship, we set a time every week to sit and ask each other questions like:

  •  How am I as a husband/wife this week?
  •  What do I need to keep doing?
  •  What do I need to stop doing?
  •  How can I be better?

This ensures that we address things before they even get bigger.

T – Trust God More

We have differences. We had a lot of conflicts in the past and we almost succumbed to them. Apparently, we’re not living our roles as husband and wife accordingly. So when we learned to trust God’s design for marriage, everything started to fall into the right places.

You’ll have no regrets when you trust God.

–

If you feel you’re still far from doing all these, it’s okay. Everyone has to start somewhere. It’s a process. Trust His process.

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