This is one of those topics I’ve wanted to vent about for a long time. Like many citizens, I’ve watched the same problems repeat themselves—broken services, unmet promises, and officials offering excuses that never seem to lead to real change.

What starts as frustration eventually turns into a need to speak up, because the gaps in government services aren’t just abstract policy failures; they affect everyday lives. At the heart of this long-standing issue is a truth that often goes unspoken: corruption and the mishandling of public funds remain major reasons why governments fail the people they are meant to serve.

Governments are often judged by their ability to provide basic services—healthcare, education, infrastructure, social protection—that directly affect the quality of life of their citizens. When these services fall short, the usual explanations point to red tape, population growth, or limited budgets. However, a closer look reveals that the persistent failure to deliver effective public services is deeply rooted in corruption and the chronic mishandling of government funds. This issue goes beyond isolated scandals and reflects systemic problems that undermine governance itself.

Corruption weakens service delivery by draining resources before they reach the people they are meant to serve. Funds allocated for public projects are frequently reduced by bribery, kickbacks, and overpriced contracts, leaving less money for actual implementation. As a result, citizens see unfinished roads, overcrowded hospitals, and poorly maintained schools, despite large budgets being announced year after year. What appears as inefficiency is often the visible outcome of hidden financial abuse.

Beyond outright corruption, poor management of public funds plays a significant role in service failures. Weak planning, lack of transparency, and ineffective oversight lead to wasted resources and abandoned projects. Without clear accountability, government agencies may continue to misuse funds without facing consequences. This environment allows inefficiency to persist, normalizing underperformance and discouraging meaningful reform.

The consequences of corruption and financial mismanagement are felt most by vulnerable sectors of society. Communities with limited resources depend heavily on government support, and when services fail, their opportunities for education, health, and economic stability diminish further. Over time, this deepens inequality and erodes public trust, creating a disconnect between citizens and the institutions meant to serve them.

To improve government services in a lasting way, addressing corruption and strengthening financial governance must be a priority. Transparency in budgeting, strict monitoring of public spending, and strong enforcement of accountability measures are essential steps toward reform.

Without tackling these root causes, efforts to enhance public services will remain surface-level solutions, leaving citizens trapped in a system that consistently fails to meet their needs.

Blogging and vlogging can be exhausting, especially when aiming to publish content daily. At the moment, I’m doing my best to keep both platforms in sync—making sure that what I write about is reflected in what I video, and vice versa.

But maintaining that rhythm isn’t always easy. Sometimes, the flow gets disrupted by a clash of ideas or uncertainty about which topics to focus on, and that throws off the timing of both the writing and production process. It’s a constant balancing act between creativity, consistency, and the practical time it takes to produce quality content.

I try to manage the confusion by sticking to an ordered list of content themes—like discussing specific deck archetypes or analyzing recent tournament results. This structure helps give my content direction and makes planning easier. However, I don’t always follow it strictly. Sometimes a new idea pops up that feels more timely or exciting, and I end up going off-script. That is because of an instant mood to write about a specific subject.

In the last few weeks, I wasn’t able to do the scheduled postings, maybe because of the burnout while doing the vlogs. I tried to make it more creative and enticing to the audience and subscribers, but I can’t seem to produce it in the output.

I feel that this is taking a toll, thus the blogging part suffers, and I cannot produce the daily articles.

I watch related videos for ideas and methods for reference, and they seemed to be doing well despite being simple in their videos. I cannot help to compare, but then there is this feeling that I do not know what is lacking to make them attracted to my content.

I’ve realized I need to fine-tune both the flow of my content and the timing of my uploads to keep everything more consistent and manageable. There’s still a lot to learn about effective scheduling and adapting content to fit both platforms without burning out.

As the calendar turned to 2025, I found myself swept up in the whirlwind of life, leaving little time to sit down and reflect in a blog post. The start of the new year brought with it a surge of responsibilities—both personal and professional—that demanded my full attention. Between juggling academic requirements for my 1st semester of the Masters course, reconnecting with my hobbies during the holidays, and setting my own goals for the year ahead, I barely had a moment to pause.

While I had every intention of penning a thoughtful post about new beginnings and fresh opportunities, life, as it often does, had other plans. Despite the busyness and I seemed to have adapted to the Korean lifestyle of “pali pali” here in Seoul, I’ve embraced the chaos with gratitude. Yes, I am grateful.

It’s been a season of growth, meaningful connections, and learning to prioritize what truly matters. Although I missed the chance to post my usual reflections (maybe without enough inspiration to do so), I’m excited to bring that energy into my writing moving forward. The new year is still fresh, and I’m looking forward to sharing my thoughts, stories, and insights along with the usual Magic: the Gathering strategies & updates with all of you in the weeks to come.

Stay tuned—it’s going to be an exciting year! Oh, also Happy New Year geists!

Agrifiber board, also known as agricultural fiberboard or agriboard, is a type of engineered wood product made from agricultural fibers such as wheat straw, rice husks, sugarcane bagasse, or other crop residues. These agricultural residues are typically considered waste or by-products of agricultural processes and are often burned or discarded, contributing to environmental issues such as air pollution and soil degradation.

To produce an agrifiber board, the agricultural fibers are processed and combined with adhesives and other additives to form a dense, homogeneous panel. The resulting board can be used for a variety of applications in construction and furniture manufacturing, serving as a sustainable alternative to traditional wood-based products like plywood and medium-density fiberboard (MDF).

There are several benefits associated with an agrifiber board:

1. Environmental sustainability: Agrifiber board utilizes agricultural residues that would otherwise be wasted, reducing the need for virgin wood and minimizing pressure on natural forests. By diverting agricultural waste from landfills or incineration, agrifiber board helps to mitigate environmental pollution and conserve natural resources.

2. Carbon sequestration: Agricultural fibers used in agrifiber board contain carbon captured from the atmosphere during plant growth. By incorporating these fibers into durable building materials, agrifiber board effectively sequesters carbon and helps mitigate climate change.

3. Performance characteristics: Agrifiber board exhibits properties similar to traditional wood-based panels, including strength, durability, and workability. It can be cut, shaped, and finished using standard woodworking tools and techniques, making it suitable for a wide range of applications in construction and furniture production.

4. Indoor air quality: Agrifiber board is often manufactured with low-emission or formaldehyde-free adhesives, reducing the release of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) into indoor air. This makes agrifiber board a healthier choice for indoor environments, particularly in residential and commercial buildings where air quality is a concern.

Overall, agrifiber board offers a sustainable and eco-friendly alternative to conventional wood-based products, providing an opportunity to reduce waste, mitigate environmental impacts, and promote more responsible resource management in the construction and manufacturing industries.

In the urgent quest to mitigate climate change, sustainable transportation alternatives play a pivotal role in curbing carbon emissions. Among these alternatives, the humble bicycle emerges as a powerful and accessible solution. Beyond its simplicity and efficiency, the bicycle offers a zero-emission mode of transportation that resonates with environmentally conscious individuals and communities.

This eco-friendly choice not only addresses the immediate need for reducing carbon footprints but also contributes to a broader shift in societal attitudes toward sustainable living. This brief exploration delves into how embracing bicycles as a means of transportation can significantly diminish carbon emissions and foster a more sustainable and healthy future for our planet.

Using bicycles as a mode of transportation can significantly reduce carbon emissions in several ways:

1. Zero Emissions – Bicycles are human-powered, meaning they do not produce any emissions during operation. Unlike motorized vehicles that burn fossil fuels, bicycles rely on human energy, making them a zero-emission mode of transportation.
2. Energy Efficiency – Bicycles are highly energy-efficient. The energy input required to propel a bicycle is much lower than that of a motorized vehicle. This efficiency contributes to a reduction in overall energy consumption and, consequently, a decrease in carbon emissions.
3. Reduced Dependence on Fossil Fuels – By choosing bicycles over cars or motorcycles, individuals reduce their dependence on fossil fuels. The production and consumption of fossil fuels are major contributors to carbon emissions. Bicycles offer a sustainable alternative that doesn’t rely on non-renewable resources.
4. Minimal Manufacturing Impact – The production of bicycles has a relatively low environmental impact compared to the manufacturing processes involved in creating motorized vehicles. Bicycles generally require fewer raw materials and energy during production, resulting in lower carbon emissions associated with their manufacturing.
5. Reduced Traffic Congestion – Bicycles take up less space on the road and in parking areas. As more people choose bicycles for short-distance commuting, there is potential for reduced traffic congestion. This not only leads to time savings for commuters but also reduces the overall carbon footprint of the transportation system by decreasing idling times and fuel consumption.
6. Health Benefits Encourage Active Living – Choosing bicycles promotes a healthier lifestyle by encouraging physical activity. As more people engage in cycling, there is a potential decrease in the prevalence of sedentary lifestyles and related health issues. This indirect effect contributes to a healthier population, which may, in turn, reduce the overall healthcare-related carbon footprint.
7. Lower Infrastructure Impact – Building and maintaining bicycle infrastructure, such as bike lanes, is generally less resource-intensive than constructing and maintaining roads for motorized vehicles. This can result in lower carbon emissions associated with the development and upkeep of transportation infrastructure.
8. Positive Environmental Awareness – The choice to use bicycles reflects a commitment to sustainable and eco-friendly transportation. This awareness can contribute to a broader cultural shift toward environmentally conscious choices, encouraging others to consider low-carbon transportation options.

In summary, using bicycles as a mode of transportation reduces carbon emissions by promoting a zero-emission, energy-efficient, and sustainable alternative to motorized vehicles. The environmental benefits extend beyond the direct impact on carbon emissions and contribute to a more sustainable and healthier urban environment.

Preparing for a long bike ride involves several important steps to ensure a safe and enjoyable experience. Here are five things you should do before embarking on a bike long ride:

1. Plan Your Route: Before setting off, plan your route carefully. Consider the distance, terrain, and road conditions. Research the best cycling routes, scenic spots, rest areas, and potential challenges along the way. Knowing your route will help you estimate the time required and ensure you have the necessary resources, such as water and food stops.
2. Check and Maintain Your Bike: Perform a thorough bike check to ensure it’s in optimal condition. Inspect the tires, brakes, gears, and chains for any signs of wear or damage. Make sure everything is properly lubricated and adjusted. If needed, take your bike to a local bike shop for a professional tune-up or repair.
3. Pack Essential Gear: Prepare and pack the necessary gear and equipment for your ride. This includes a helmet, cycling gloves, padded shorts, appropriate clothing for the weather, cycling shoes, sunglasses, and sunscreen. Carry a repair kit with spare inner tubes, a pump, tire levers, and basic tools in case of any mechanical issues. Additionally, bring plenty of water, energy snacks, and a first aid kit.
4. Stay Hydrated and Nourished: Long rides can be physically demanding, so it’s crucial to stay hydrated and nourished throughout. Start by hydrating well the day before your ride. On the day of the ride, carry enough water or electrolyte drinks to keep you hydrated. Pack energy-rich snacks like granola bars, fruits, or energy gels to fuel your body during the ride. Make sure to eat balanced meals before and after the ride as well.
5. Warm-Up and Stretch: Before starting your ride, warm up your muscles and perform some stretching exercises. This helps prevent injuries and prepares your body for physical exertion. Focus on stretching your legs, back, and shoulders. You can also do some light cycling or brisk walking as part of your warm-up routine.

Remember, safety should always be a priority. Wear bright and reflective clothing, obey traffic laws, and use proper hand signals when turning or stopping. It’s also recommended to inform someone about your route and the estimated time of return, especially if you’re riding alone. Enjoy your ride and have a great adventure!

Blogging and vlogging can be tedious tasks, especially if you are trying to publish daily. As of the moment, I am trying my best to sync my content outputs on the two platforms. The tempo of publication is, at times, hindered by the mixed idea of the topics and writeup.

I solve it by having an ordered list such as deck archetype and tournament result discussions, but I do sometimes do not follow it. That is because of an instant mood to write about a specific subject.

Last week, I wasn’t able to do the scheduled postings, maybe because of the burnout while doing the vlogs. I tried to make it more creative and enticing to the audience and subscribers, but can’t seem to produce it on the output.

I am feeling that this is taking a toll, thus the blogging part suffers.

I watch related videos for ideas and methods for reference, and they seemed to be doing well despite being simple in their videos. I cannot help to compare but then there is this feeling that I do not what is lacking to make them attracted to my content.

I guess I needed to make adjustments to the content flow and schedule. Going to learn more about those.

We wrapped up another year, and find words to describe it. Let me see. The Year 2021 was challenging, sad, hectic, fast, and hopeful for the pandemic to end. I lost my two cousins and other acquaintances because of that. It was saddening, but we needed to move on. I do hope the variants would stop evolving already.

As for updating the Deathmarked website, this task was doubled. That was because of the attempt to update regularly my Youtube Channel. I was torn between writing topics on Magic: the Gathering strategy, Ragnarok Online, and Bike Long rides. Most of the time I get to the limit of just showing some decklists or blog about new headgear gacha and that is it. I wanted the readers and followers to learn something new but I just couldn’t.

The same can be said when I vlog on those topics. Getting to learn more and develop my skills in vlogging, was a challenge both in creating ideas and having the gadgets to put them into video. I did try some reference vlogs especially on bike long rides, but the execution in taking those videos won’t rely on just one person. You would prefer to have a fellow biker take videos of you during the rides to give another perspective. I need to learn the details again.

I resorted to going with the trends but the delivery ain’t enough. The niche, I had to look through it.

Lately, I got into some unboxing or booster cracking of Magic: the Gathering products but those showed a lack of interest because of the many vlogs also doing those. I just wanted to have something unique added to it but I still have to find it out. Good thing though that my voice-over during the openings was improving.

That being said, I foresee 2022 as another hopeful year for me, my family, friends, and colleagues that we will be able to achieve whatever our goals are for this year. I had several plans already as of this writing but by the hopes that the universe’s aligning to it and be a success.

Happy New Year 2022 and I hope we face the year with our best. Cheers!

By definition and history of the term, the Creative City is a concept developed by Australian David Yencken in 1988 and has since become a global movement reflecting a new planning paradigm for cities. It was first described in his article ‘The Creative City’, published in the literary journal Meanjin. In this article, Yencken argues that while cities must be efficient and fair, a creative city must also be one that is committed to fostering creativity among its citizens and to providing emotionally satisfying places and experiences for them.

Also to quote, “The creative city when introduced was seen as aspirational; a clarion call to encourage open-mindedness and imagination implying a dramatic impact on organizational culture. Its philosophy is that there is always more creative potential in a place. It posits that conditions need to be created for people to think, plan and act with imagination in harnessing opportunities or addressing seemingly intractable urban problems.” Source.

Cities are the Agents of the Creative Economy

CREATIVE INDUSTRIES as a key driver of employment, innovation, and economic activity, that promotes city competitiveness and sustainability.

11.6% Of Total Employment is in the creative industry (2021)
15.4% Creative Industry Total Value Added Growth Rate, 9.3% faster than the non-creative economy (2016)
14.8% Possible reduction in youth poverty due to Creative Industry
PHP 375M Per employed person in the creative economy, indicating high production levels
Tourism – Cultural tourists generally spend more than other tourists and tend to generate fewer negative impacts, i.e. public disorder and environmental damage
Spillover – Innovation in the creative sector is likely to spillover to other
sectors in the local economy

Creative industries as the key to recovery and resilience.

Creative and Cultural industries are known to improve local production and innovation, increase the attractiveness of the area, and it can also have positive effects on people’s well-being, health, and social development.

Cities play a critical role in creating an environment for the creative economy to be more innovative and transformative, thus unleashing its maximum potential.

Sources: UNESCO and The World Bank (2021), OECD, Bayudan-Dacuycuy (2021)

I started uploading videos on Youtube initially intended for my backup files from my digital camera way back in the late 2000s. I did not have hardware storage at that time, and so uploading was my only option. It was not as used to today, where I made it to a full-time web channel of my hobbies and related vlog stuff. That said, I am happy to share that I finally reached the 50,000 views threshold on my Youtube Channel, DeathMarked TV.

The channel contains my main hobbies on Magic: the Gathering Trading Card Game, Ragnarok Online Mobile, and the recent one, bike long ride food trips. When the pandemic started, I gained the time to study the optimization and the methods of gaining growth on your Youtube Channel. I also did some observations, referencing similar channels on trading card games and Ragnarok Online gameplay guides.

As of now, I am still regularly uploading videos, and still observing as to which videos are more appealing to my audience and subscribers. Magic: the Gathering has an upcoming new set & the Rumor Mill is currently on a roll, while Ragnarok Online Mobile recently patched Episode 9: Comodo Island so new game features were available for video content. I admit I am still overwhelmed as to which content I will publish next, and I don’t know if it will be useful or entertaining. Anywho as they say, just upload the things that you like doing, and it will just become a norm and not a chore.

Wrapping things up, I am glad to share this Youtube Channel milestone and inspire me to get better at vlogging and game content creator.

Until next blog post.

Shopee is an online shopping platform where you browse various items that you’d want but do not need. The temptation to purchase is real, given that the shipping fees are usually discounted and the COD payment option makes you easily adjust your budget.

That said, I gave away last time when I bought some add-on parts for my mountain bike. I have thought that I will get to use them later on during my bike long rides where the main use is for the placement of the action camera and also for my smartphone. I referenced those add-ons to other well-known bike vloggers I followed on Youtube.

The package arrived last week, and I did a short unboxing of it, detailing the prices and the uses.

Check out the unboxing vlog below. Enjoy!  

Preparations for a long bike ride are essential in order for your trip to be enjoyable and less stressed on the potential issues. Things from warming up, bike check, money to spend, and food and water are all should be taken care of first. Here are the five things to do before engaging in the long bike ride.

Catch a Good Night Sleep

This is usually an issue for people especially if they are used to stay up late in the evening. The early morning ride means at least an hour of preparation. For example, if the meetup and assembly time is 6AM, you have to wake up at least 5AM that day. In my case, I allow 2 hrs or more of preparation so I needed to sleep by 9PM the night before. It is then a struggle to sleep without disturbance and noise of the neighbors. I then would feel sleepy after waking up and preparing for the bike long ride, and later on might affect my endurance on pedaling. That is why it is important to have one good night’s sleep.

Energy Snacks are Essentials

You don’t necessarily need to have a good breakfast before your ride as the rice and meat are heavy and longer to digest. Having some energy bar crackers and bread with coffee or energy-based drinks can help to a good startup and fuel to your system. I usually would drop by the 7-11 store to buy energy chocolate bars along with some of my favorite wafers and consume them before heading out to the assembly point.

Stretch your Muscles

Even if you are thinking that you are ready physically for a long bike ride that you can ride right away, make sure that you do a stretching exercise first. This is important as it will warm up or “awaken” your muscles, and to make sure your body is ready for the endurance exercise it will face for the day. Warming up prior can increase stamina and prolong your strength for the ride and better results. There is various stretching exercise online which you can do as a reference in an easy as one search click.

Check your Bike

This is basic stuff but I’d still include it here. Being excited about the long ride, there are times that you would miss checking the bike as you are already confident that there are no issues. Make sure that your tire pressure is on a good level by checking them with a tire gauge. Keeping your tires at the proper pressure keeps your bike rolling more efficiently and lesser impact on rough roads. Quickly check your tire bead for debris that may be embedded in the tire. Give your wheels a spin to make sure there’s no wobble and the shifters are functioning as usual.

Prepare Money to Spend

You cannot avoid that during the long ride your group will drop by a famous restaurant or karinderia in town for the lunch stopover and so you’d need some on-hand cash to spend for the food. It might or might not be a heavy meal but if ever there are popular dishes that you want to try then you should prepare the budget beforehand.