ELIE- Activity 7.1

“Bought It With My Eyes, Paid It With My Trust Issues”

     Online shopping is basically my toxic trait—but make it ✨efficient✨. I scroll through TikTok Shop, SHEIN, and Shopee more than I check my email. I don’t even plan to buy anything sometimes… but then a cute top shows up, or a multifunctional skincare organizer, or even a random shoe rack shaped like a cat. One minute I’m just “browsing,” the next minute I’ve added five items to cart like I’m some minimalist who’s collecting maximum chaos. But among all the randomness, there was one purchase that stood out: the time I bought a moon lamp as a Christmas gift for my best friends.

     I got it from Shopee, because it’s my go-to when I’m being a sentimental shopaholic on a budget. The moon lamp was aesthetic, affordable, and highly rated. I saw it and thought, “Yup, this is it. This is the personality gift.” It had excellent customer reviews and those magical product photos that scream add to cart now or cry later. So I did what had to be done—I checked out.

     When it came to payment, I didn’t even think twice. Cash on Delivery (COD) is my forever ride-or-die. I’ve never tried online payments, and honestly, I don’t trust them. Maybe one day I’ll evolve, but for now, the thought of putting my card info online gives me instant anxiety. I’m a very private person—I don’t even share much on social media. I use the internet strictly for school, memes, and the occasional deep dive into useless but fascinating rabbit holes. Sharing financial information? That’s a big no from me. COD just makes me feel safer and more in control of the situation, like I’m holding onto the last piece of sanity in a digital world full of potential hackers and identity theft drama.

    What really adds spice to my shopping habits, though, are those chaotic live selling events. I swear, whenever I see a seller yelling “Pa-mine po!” while waving discount vouchers and free shipping offers, I am spiritually weak. I cannot resist. I live for those moments when your total magically drops because you stacked vouchers like a pro. It’s a kind of thrill that only fellow budget warriors will understand. It’s like doing extreme couponing, but digital and more impulsive. The urgency, the countdowns, the flashing SALE signs—it’s like Hunger Games, but with skincare and crop tops.

     Now, when it comes to what actually affects my buying decisions, it’s a combination of several things all happening at once inside my very overwhelmed brain. First, if something’s catchy to the eye, I’m already 60% convinced. If it looks cute and aesthetic, my willpower just fades. Then, I scroll through customer reviews because I need validation from total strangers to feel okay about spending money. The item has to be useful, too—I’m not here to hoard things that’ll end up in a drawer of shame. Affordability matters a lot, of course. I want something nice without feeling like I have to skip meals. And if the seller has a high rating and fast shipping? Consider it done. I’m sold. Lastly, the fact that COD is an option just brings me peace of mind. It’s my version of insurance—no commitment until the product is literally in my hands.

     The moon lamp finally arrived, and I’m happy to report that it lived up to my expectations. It looked exactly like the pictures, worked perfectly, and my best friends absolutely loved it. For once, everything went smoothly. No delays, no product defects, no scammy surprises. It was one of those rare online shopping victories that remind you maybe e-commerce isn’t entirely out to get you. It helped ease my usual paranoia about product risk and late delivery nightmares, even just for a moment. Still, I always mentally prepare myself for the worst until the item is physically in my room.

     In conclusion, my experience with online shopping—especially this one—was a mix of joy, panic, and small triumphs. I love how convenient it is, and the way it opens doors to endless choices, but I’ll never let my guard down. I buy smart, pay with caution, and never give out more information than necessary. But the moment I see a live seller shouting “Buy now, free shipping!” while holding a cute lamp under ring light lighting—I’m there. Cart loaded. Trust issues aside, I’ll probably do it all again next weekend.

ELIE-Activity 6.2

“From Zero to Submit: A Multimedia Miracle (Fueled by Panic)”

    Let me be honest right off the bat—I didn’t wake up one day thinking, “Wow, I’m going to be part of a multimedia project today!” Nope. It was more like, “Group project na naman? Saan na naman ako kukuha ng app pang-edit?!” And to make it worse, half the time, we didn’t even start on time. Cramming? Oh, that wasn’t just part of the process—it was the process.

     Back in high school, we had multimedia projects for Creative Technology and Entrepreneurship. Whether it was filming, poster-making, or doing some ad for a fake business, it always started with an idea… and then weeks of doing nothing… until boom—suddenly it’s due tomorrow. Somehow, we always managed to pull it off, but not without chaos and sleep deprivation.

     For the filming and advertising parts, we used whatever was available: phones, laptops, and wireless microphones if someone was lucky enough to own one. We edited using CapCut, VN, and FilmoraGo on our phones, and sometimes Shotcut or Adobe Premiere Pro if the laptop was feeling generous and didn’t lag or crash. More than once, I lost my progress because I forgot to save. Pain.

     When it came to posters or menus for our pretend food stalls, we used ibisPaint to design from scratch. And when our minds were blank—because, again, we started too late—we rushed to Pinterest for inspiration. It’s basically our unofficial groupmate. Zero contribution sa group chat pero solid sa ideas.

     Most of the stuff we used came from us—personal gadgets or borrowed from someone in class who had better tools. We downloaded the apps ourselves, and most of them were free. If not, we relied on free trials and prayed they wouldn’t expire the night before the deadline. And yes, there were moments we had to uninstall TikTok just to make space for video editing apps. Sacrifices were made.

     Now let’s talk about using other people’s work. Guilty, but responsibly guilty. We got music, sound effects, and background clips from the internet, but we were careful. We used royalty-free music from YouTube’s audio library, Pixabay, and Bensound, and we only used images labeled as safe for educational or personal use. When required, we gave credits—usually in the last slide or video frame while silently hoping the teacher would notice.

     Looking back, I realize that what we were doing was actual multimedia work—combining text, video, audio, and graphics. It wasn’t perfect, but it was real. And through all the stress, confusion, and cramming at midnight while the rest of the group suddenly “fell asleep,” I learned something. I learned how to work with what I had, how to make things look decent under pressure, and how to stay calm when everything starts going wrong 3 hours before submission.

     And maybe, just maybe, I enjoyed it—right after the breakdowns. So no, our projects didn’t look like Hollywood-level films or Canva pro posters, but they were made with effort, panic, and a lot of last-minute genius.

      That’s how I survived multimedia in high school. And honestly? I’d do it again. But this time, maybe with a little less cramming. Maybe.

   

ELIE- Activity 6.1 – COLLABORATIVE PROJECT CRITIQUING

Whatch the video here: https://youtu.be/c0wjoAS-K7o?si=VUB8lhdGmxLgEWzh 

ELIE- Activity 5

     “Social Media: My Favorite Frenemy”

     Social media? If it were a person, it’d be that one friend who’s always there—sometimes helpful, sometimes chaotic, sometimes dragging you into drama you didn’t ask for. It lets me express whatever’s on my mind, no matter how deep, random, or straight-up dumb it is. It keeps me connected with people I barely see, which is great because effort in real life? Meh.

     It’s also my personal “tea” supplier, updating me on world events and celebrity scandals like they’re of equal importance. Plus, it’s my safe haven if I ever do something embarrassing—just disappear into memes and trolling until people forget. Entertainment? Unlimited. And when I feel like being productive, I can post my creative outputs, from video edits to covers, or just rant about my life, whether people care or not.

     Social media is like that unpredictable friend—sometimes fun, sometimes toxic, but always there, ready to either ruin my day or make it infinitely better.

ELIE- Activity 4.2 Reflection (question no. 1)

“Should You Trust Medical Websites for Diagnosing Yourself?“

     I’ll be honest—I’ve done it. One weird symptom pops up, and before I know it, I’m deep in a Google rabbit hole, convinced I have some rare, incurable disease. A mild headache? Must be a brain tumor. A sore throat? Clearly something life-threatening. And don’t even get me started on symptom checkers. They always make things worse. So, can medical websites actually help me diagnose my health problems? Short answer: No, not really. Long answer: They’re fine for general information, but they’re absolutely not a substitute for a real doctor.

     I’ve realized that medical websites are unreliable for a few reasons. First, they don’t know me. They only take in the symptoms I type, but they don’t consider my medical history, lifestyle, or the fact that I have a tendency to overthink every little thing. Second, they’re often wrong. Studies say symptom checkers are only accurate about 34% of the time, which means there’s a 66% chance I’ll get a completely wrong diagnosis. That’s worse than flipping a coin. Third, some of these websites have hidden agendas. I’ve noticed that a lot of them just happen to suggest treatments that involve buying specific medications or supplements. Coincidence? I doubt it. And lastly, symptoms overlap way too much. Fatigue could mean anything from stress to anemia to a vitamin deficiency—or maybe I just need to sleep like a normal person. A website can’t figure that out for me.

     Now, I get it. Going to the doctor takes time, and sometimes I just want quick answers. But I’ve learned the hard way that self-diagnosing online isn’t worth the stress. Doctors actually look at the bigger picture—they don’t just match symptoms to diseases, they run tests, ask questions, and make sure they’re considering everything before giving me a diagnosis. They also create a real treatment plan, instead of leaving me to randomly try over-the-counter meds or some “miracle cure” I found online. Plus, seeing a doctor helps me avoid unnecessary panic. I can’t count the number of times I thought I was seriously ill, only to be told I was just dehydrated.

     That said, medical websites aren’t completely useless. I do use them for general knowledge—like if I want to understand what iron deficiency actually does to my body. They also help me prepare for doctor visits, so I can ask better questions instead of sitting there nodding at medical terms I don’t fully understand. But if I’m going to use them, I make sure I’m looking at reputable sources, like government (.gov) or medical organization (.org) websites, instead of some random blog promising a “one-week cure” for everything.

     At the end of the day, I know medical websites are just a starting point, not a final answer. If I’m genuinely worried about my health, the smartest thing I can do is go see a doctor. Because let’s be honest—Google has tried to convince me I’m dying way too many times when all I really needed was some water and a long rest.

ELIE- Activity 4.2 (question no. 2)

     “ The Reality of Online Defamation” 

     I never thought I’d be a victim of online defamation, but it happened when I was in junior high school. Back in 8th grade, a classmate falsely accused me of cheating on an exam. The reality? I wasn’t cheating—I had simply reviewed my answers, and after noticing some mistakes, I had my teacher recheck my paper. That led to a few extra points, which apparently made my classmate furious. Instead of accepting that he had made mistakes, he decided to twist the story. Right there in the classroom, he shouted that I was a cheater, making sure as many people as possible heard him.

     I thought that was the end of it—just some classroom drama that would eventually die down. But I was wrong. That night, a friend messaged me, saying that the same classmate had posted something online, heavily implying that I had cheated. He didn’t mention my name, but it was obvious he was talking about me. The worst part? People started engaging with his post, fueling the false story. That night, I felt crushed. I cried myself to sleep, feeling completely helpless.

     The next morning, I decided I wasn’t going to let this slide. I told my parents everything, and they gave me advice on how to handle the situation. Instead of just staying silent, I confronted him directly. I was firm but controlled—I told him to delete the post immediately. I insisted that I wasn’t a cheater and made it clear that spreading false accusations online wasn’t just mean, but harmful. I also pointed out that his post made it seem like he was fishing for sympathy and trying to get people on his side without knowing the full story. I warned him that things like this could backfire, and in the end, he would only hurt himself.

     Thankfully, after that confrontation, he deleted the post. He never admitted he was wrong, but at least he stopped spreading lies. The damage was already done, though. Even after the post was gone, some people still believed the false accusation, and I had to work twice as hard to prove that I was honest. It was frustrating, but I learned a few valuable lessons from the experience. First, online defamation is no joke. A single false post can spread like wildfire, and even if it gets deleted, the damage can linger. People love drama, and once a story is out there, it’s hard to undo the impression it leaves. Second, staying silent isn’t always the best option. If I had ignored the situation, the false narrative might have grown even bigger. Speaking up for myself and addressing the issue directly helped shut it down before it got worse. Third, involving my parents was the right decision. At first, I thought I could handle it alone, but their advice gave me the confidence to stand my ground. Lastly, I realized how dangerous social media can be when people use it irresponsibly. It’s easy to type out a post without thinking about the consequences, but words—especially false accusations—have power. Additionally, online defamation is just one form of harmful content on the internet, and it happens more often than we think. International laws recognize that while freedom of expression is important, it has limits—especially when it starts harming others. Spreading false accusations, inciting violence, or posting hateful content isn’t just unethical; in many cases, it’s illegal. The courts play a role in defining these limits, ensuring that people can’t just say whatever they want without consequences.

     My experience taught me that social media isn’t just a place to share thoughts—it’s a platform where reputations can be built or destroyed in seconds. That’s why we need to be careful with what we say, what we share, and how we respond to online drama. And most importantly, we need to stand up for ourselves and others when falsehoods spread. The internet can be a harsh place, but with the right approach, we can at least try to make it a little less toxic.

ELIE-Activity 3

      “My Top Three Indispensable Software: Messenger, Google Chrome & Google Drive”

     Okay look, we all have our can’t-live-without-it tech, especially some software that specifically performs certain tasks like organizing, communication, security, cloud storage, web browsers, travel, or media. Some people like some gym rats swear by their fitness apps or budgeting tools, but me? I have my holy trinity—Messenger, Google Chrome, and Google Drive. These three keep me connected, informed, and (somewhat) organized (since I am always the forgetful one.) Without these top three indispensable software, I’d be socially distant, clueless, and drowning in lost files.

     So the first in the top three is Messenger—my ultimate social lifeline. Look, I may be shy in person, but online? I am a chatty person and even my chat mates got annoyed with me being nosy online, some find it annoying and some find it funny.  Messenger lets me communicate the way I prefer—through texts, memes, and the occasional voice messages when I’m too lazy to type, even my laughing is recorded haha. Group chats? A blessing and a curse. I love keeping up with my friends, but sometimes, I just read and pretend to be part of the conversation while silently reacting to messages. Messenger can keep me updated on each course like announcements to some upcoming quizzes, deadlines, and events. It also lets me communicate with my group mates if we have upcoming reporting or performance tasks. Without Messenger, I would either be completely off the grid or forced to interact with people in real life. No thanks.

     Next on my top three is Google Chrome—my trusty portal to everything. Whether it’s reading my favorite mangas, watching movies, dramas, BL, and anime on totally legal sites (wink), or being productive with schoolwork, Chrome’s always got my back. And let’s be real, one of its greatest features? The offline dinosaur game. (I may or may not have scored around 3K—yes, I take it seriously.) Academically, it’s a lifesaver—I can cite credible sources for research, dig through endless RRLs, and find references for my essays without completely losing my mind. (Okay, fine, sometimes I do lose it.) And let’s not forget the real essentials, like buying diamonds for Mobile Legends skins. Plus, the best part? I can add my favorite websites to my home screen for instant access and keep my bookmarked mangas safe and sound. Oh, and did I mention the fun stuff? Chrome also lets me download some questionable cheat apps (not saying I use them… but I know they exist) and AI font generators for cool-looking in-game names and nicknames. Whether it’s for Messenger, Instagram, or Telegram, my names are never boring. Without Chrome, I don’t even know where I’d search for stuff—plus, other browsers just refuse to cooperate with my devices.  

     Last but not least, Google Drive—the digital storage room that saves me from my forgetfulness. I’ll admit it, I’m the type to misplace important files or videos like they are socks in a washing machine. But thanks to Google Drive, all my documents, research papers, and even my random screenshots are safe. My favorite photos? Straight to Drive, so I can finally free up space in my gallery (because let’s be real, full storage is the worst). It’s my backup brain and my backup storage. No more panicking when my phone crashes or when a teacher suddenly asks for an assignment I didn’t forget about (spoiler: I did, but Drive had my back). It is also my go-to for compiling lecture files from our GC—perfect for reviewing quizzes, midterms, or finals. And let’s not forget its teamwork magic—I can create surveys, share them in multiple GCs (very helpful for research), and even let my friends add their files to our shared folders. The ability to access everything from anywhere? An absolute lifesaver. Whether I’m on my phone, tablet, or a borrowed computer, my stuff is always there. Without Google Drive, I’d be always drowning in lost files, missing deadlines, and probably crying in a corner (shot puno).