My Online Job as a Pinoy Freelance Writer

Offline, I used to sweep leaves and chase bayawaks for a living here in Batangas. Now I just let the bayawaks run around to chase "Big Show" my favorite free range chicken. Don't worry, PETA activists, "Big Show" is well taken care off and in fact has his own suite here. I just let him roam around because I feel bad keeping him in a chicken coop where he will be trapped and lonely. If you want to buy your own PET chicken, head on over to Solraya or Farmer's Choice. Both have very good chicken breeds.

So in a way, I am a farmer, security guard, caretaker and sweeper.

Online, I am dannybuntu, which is a combination of danny + ubuntu.

Ubuntu is a free operating system based on GNU/Linux.
Ubuntu is also an African word that means "humanity towards others" or loosely,
"I am who I am because of who we all are." 

As dannybuntu, I earn a living through the old fashioned way - writing online as a Pinoy writer.

At first, I can hardly believe it myself because I used to think that earning online is a Fantasy that only Yugatech.com or PinoyTechBlog.com was able to realize.

There were so many scams back then (1999 to 2008) that seemed to make it appear that the Internet was a cash cow ready to be milked by virtually any idiot who had an Internet connection.

I tried a lot of things already, which included investing in a bogus Filipino company that wanted to publish a MMORPG or a MMOFG, that bunked. Na Bangu-ngot ako dahil sa kanila.

I also tried those Pay to Click schemes, but soon the businessman inside of this pinoy writer thought that these guys probably don't earn money in the real world. How are they going to pay me if I click on Ads? When I couldn't think of a thing, I stopped.

Finally, Anthony, an online friend of mine finally showed me the way and introduced me to a secret being held long by the Pinoy Online Elite. You can earn money online.

So now, here I am earning a living as a pinoy writer.

It's surprising.
It's amazing.
It's real.
It's what I love to do.

I don't plan on doing this for a long time. As a businessman, I always plan to move on to other things as I perfect a method that would generate me income. It keeps me alive and "un-bored". There would always be other opportunities that I am not yet aware of. Hopefully, because I am sharing valuable information now for free, somebody like Anthony will help me again and point me to the way.

That's why I am sharing this information. I expect competition to arrive in hordes and I welcome it. It's okay with me because this is a sunshine industry. Right now, there are more articles that need to be written than there are writers to write them.

Loosely estimated, I figure that the odds are 30 articles everyday for 1 writer. That's based on my experience because I have three nice bosses and they give me about 10 articles to work on everyday. I simply can't keep up with the work.

So why do I keep on saying that earning a living by writing online is an old fashioned way of earning money? Because as far as I am concerned, it may be a sunshine industry, but it could be replaced pretty soon by another trend. That's the beauty of the Internet, it would always keep you up on your toes to look for new ways of innovating and creating.

I hope that I was able to share a valuable insight to my readers as they make their way to working online as a freelance writer, a programmer, accountant, designer, advertiser, and a whole lot more.

The possibilities are endlessly beautiful.

God is Good All the Time!

It's 2:09 AM and I couldn't sleep. I'm tired after writing 20,000 words the previous night. I simply cannot write anymore.

Today, my youngest sister will graduate as a Valedictorian.

I am sublimely proud of her.

The culmination of her graduation is a genuine mark of our family's tenacity despite the death of our padre de familia almost 4 years ago.

Despite the high tuition fees and the erstwhile debilitating problems that seemed to confront our family, we managed to prove that we can hold it together despite the odds.

Many have tried to bring us to our knees but more have helped us along the way. With my bitter experiences, getting down on my knees is a truly humbling experience that transcends any other thing that I've experienced.

Victory is truly ten times sweeter after you have tasted the bitterness of defeat.

I feel like a phoenix rising up from the ashes because of this day.

Someday,

I will die, and maybe you, my sister will read this with your pamangkins. I hope that you will understand that I really wanted to be there. It's your moment to shine and you will have many more moments to shine, I'm sure.

I will end this with a prayer.

Lord Jesus Christ, 


Thank you for showing me that victory is ten times sweeter when You let us taste defeat. I am forever grateful that once again, You have shown Your ultimate power in our lives even when we have faltered so many times. I thank You for this wonderful gift that You, through my sister has given back to our family. 


Today is the dawn of a new day, and I am glad that You let me see the beauty in it. 


You are Truly Good All the Time. 

Freelance Writing is Not Really 'Writing'

It struck me like a thunderbolt five minutes ago. This pinoy freelance writer - is not really a writer per se, in truth I am a mere word factory. I realized this upon recalling a recent conversation with my sister.

She told me,

"Better that I hate my day job and love my writing, than to start hating the act of writing."

At the time, I wasn't really thinking about what she meant. I was trying to convince her to help me out in my new endeavor which was beginning to weigh down on me because of the sheer volume of the workload.

The truth pierced my thick skull like a bullet shot between my eyes.

Freelance writing is not really writing. I mean it is writing, but writing of a different kind. It's more like being a hired gun. It is sophistry of the most blatant sort where we manipulate words to appeal to a machine called Google rather than to evoke the human experience.

That was lesson number one. And it was painful.*

The implications are manifold and this situation has brought me back to myself.

What the heck am I doing? 

It's true that I am earning more now than I was earning before (I was earning $0.00), it's true that this 'thing' called freelance writing has been paying off the debts, the bills, the globe tattoo prepaid broadband credit and puto seko with extra joss.

But then I woke up and found that it was also draining my soul.

Dennio, a young freelance writer who has been writing for three years now, might relate to what I am trying to say.

It's mental torture of the arduous kind.

My sister woke me up with her words, and Anthony gave me an uppercut with his. (aray! panga ko...)

I'd have to give credit to both of them for doing it. I know it's unintentional but I still would like to extend my gratitude.

It was when Anthony said, 

"Mahaba na ang mga sinusulat mo, writer ka na nga."

 
(You're starting to write longer, that means you're already a writer)

He might not realize this, but he is right in an upside down I don't know if that was sarcastic kind of way. (Peace bro!)

Seriously, what the heck am I doing?

Well, basically, we're taking advantage of Google's search algorithms by writing numerous articles with a set of keywords that have been designed to associate themselves to a certain product being promoted by our employers. Yeah Baby!

It's called Article Marketing. It's fairly new and only a certain percentage of the pinoy internet scene has taken full advantage of it. Well, we're growing in numbers. Try searching for the terms "Paypal", "Filipino or (Pinoy) and "Writer". You'll have an idea of how many of us know and utilize this.

I have to stop now. I need to smoke to help me remember what the other side of this coin looks like,

I would assume that it looks like Jose Rizal. If it weren't a coin it would be a bill with the face of Benjamin Franklin.

P.S.

I don't even know what postscript means. But later on, I am going to write about Article Marketing if none of you guys write about it first. Well, I'll still write about it even if you guys did.

I usually end with "Cheers!" at the end of my posts but this time I'll end with

Show Me the Money... (with a sad face)

Changing My Niche

Regularly changing from one niche to another can either increase or decrease traffic. 


But today, I am finally going to change my niche from "an Ubuntu Newbie Blog" to "Freelance Writing". 


First of all Ubuntu has changed. It's no longer going in the direction that I would like it to be. The change in the management of Ubuntu has radicalized the Ubuntu OS in ways that are contrary to what I think is the right way for it to go.


It has lost its identity as an operating system with a personality and has exchanged this personality with the desire to please "a market" rather than to convey a noble endeavor. 


As a Pinoy Freelance Writer, I've earned more from freelance writing than Google Adsense.


To be precise, I earned the equivalent of my entire Google Adsense Earnings for 3 years in just one day simply by writing. 


With this blog I am going to aim to add value to the work that I provide my clients by posting about my positive experiences with them. 


In the end, I am and will always be "dannybuntu" whether I write about ubuntu or not. 


I will always be who I am because of who we all are.

Work Hard Online for a Small Amount Everyday

For Americans who earn more than $20 a day, this article is not for you. This article is devoted to my fellow Filipino countrymen who are in poverty. I dedicate this for you mga kababayan. Eto ang matagal ng tinatagong sikreto ng mga nakararami.

Work hard online for a small amount everyday.

Still reading, nagbabasa ka pa ba? Good.

It’s an honest way to earn a living even if the amount is small.

Today, I earned $8 USD.

Kumita ako ng $8 US American Dollars. Totoo, hindi ko na papakita dahil madali lang pekein ng photoshop ang mga screenshot.

I earned $8.00 USD while at my home with my kids. The conversion rate of this is 1 USD = 46.00. That’s PHP 368.00. Not bad for us Filipinos because that is our minimum wage, more or less. But for you Americans, that may be peanuts. At the very least it helps me pay for broadband.

Paano? How?

I use what God has given me. Ginamit ko lamang ang biyaya ng Panginoon sa akin.

I used my talent. 

Ginamit ko ang aking talento. Ito’y ang panunulat.

Pumunta ako sa www.freelancer.com at duon naghanap ng trabahong pwede kong ikontrata. Maraming pagpipilian.

I went to www.freelancer.com and there I looked for a job that I could contract. You could choose a lot of things.

Merong mga trabaho para sa mga nagtapos ng IT, Computer Science o Computer Engineering.

There are jobs for people who have a degree in any IT related course like Computer Science and Computer Engineering. Tulad nito ang paggawa ng program para sa isang restaurant:

Ang kailangan lamang gawin ay magsabi kung magkano ang gusto mong singilin at kung kailan mo matatapos ang proyekto. Pag nagustuhan ng employer ang sinabi mo. Makukuha ka na at maaari mo ng simulan ang trabahao kahit nasa bahay ka lamang at nakashorts.

The only thing you have to do is to place a bid and say how long it will take you to finish the work. You show them your credentials and if they like your offer you get hired. Then you can immediately start working on the project.

Ganun lamang kasimple.

That's how simple it is.


Sige, at subukan mo lang wala namang mawawala sa iyo sapagkat ang pag sali ay libre. 
Go ahead and try it. You have nothing to lose to sign up. 

Freelancer, charges you for every project that you do get and everytime you withdraw your money. 
Sisingilin ka lamang ng freelancer kapag ikaw ay may nakuha ng proyekto at kapag i wiwi draw mo na ang perang kinita mo. 

Don't Earn Money Online.... Bleh... Paypal and BPI...

Dannybuntu / Dannythefarmer has finally discovered how to make money online. Kahit na pa barya barya lang. Pwede ng pagtiyagaan. I’ll share more of this later since I have to work at it constantly. Otherwise, all I will get are pocket change.

This post would be all about withdrawing money from Paypal straight to my BPI account.

STEP 1: Confirming my BPI Account as a real bank account and not a fake one.

1.       Paypal wants me to confirm bank account in my Paypal account by verifying. I can verify my BPI account by adding (or linking) it in Paypal. I put my bank information on Paypal.

2.       Paypal will then send or deposit two small deposits in my BPI account. Take note of these two small deposits.

STEP 2: Confirm account by inputting the two small deposits

1.       Remember the two amounts credited to my account. I have to input them in Paypal.

ERASE. ERASE. ERASE.

NOW THIS IS WHERE IT ALL GOES TO HELL.

Simple lang. How am I going to input those two amounts if they are not there. I’ve been waiting for 12 days and up to now, the two small deposits are not there yet.

I basically have to watch my BPI account everyday, whether two small deposits have been made.

It seems that I’m not the only one with this problem:

Here are a few unlucky people I’ve found all across the Internet:

In Pinoy Money Talk:

Manolet Says:

“why are deposits from paypal take too long to reflect in bank rcbc, they said they deposited 2 small amounts, until now, feb 25, 2010 no deposits reflect? is there a maintaining balance in bank for it to be credited. i am a bit frustrated. any help will be greatly appreciated.”

rbueno Says:

BDO sucks!! it does not approve my bank account in paypal!

In Sulit’s Forums:

Chinita1277 says

I have sent about 3 or 4 complaints to PayPal through email because just like you,
i'm having a hard time having my PayPal account verified (my bank account however is with BDO).  Go to PayPal site and click on the HELP on the upper right hand corner of the site's homepage, then leave an email explaining your predicament.  PayPal usually responds within 24 to 72 hours, and staff usually follow through on your concerns.  Good luck!

Sadly, this seems to be the case in a lot of places as well:

Browse over the comments of these sites:

www.nierva.com

www.techiegirlonline.com

digitalpoint

It seems the solution all points that I should go and open an EON account. That’s what I did this morning.

However, I love BPI. Not only because I used to work there and I find that they really do fill their company with the crème dela crème (hehe, kasama ako dun), but also because they conduct themselves with the best professional attitude I’ve ever seen in a lot of companies.

Pero, this time, I am forced to open an account with Unionbank. I was a little bit surprised that they told me it was going to take 2 weeks before I could even follow it up. Moreover, I find it strange that Unionbank is asking for my TIN Number and SSS. Oh brother... I’ve had 2 other banks other than BPI, and this is the first time I’ve actually come across this requirement. Well, anyway, I would update you, oh faithful reader about my predicament after two weeks.

*Gutom na ko......  I need to withdraw my 25 pesos este dollar earnings... Meow.

Free Wireless Internet from Google

I don't know if they are joking. They must be.

Check em out.

http://www.google.com/tisp/faq.html

Why should I switch to Google TiSP?
It's fast. In our testing, TiSP delivers a 10x higher flow rate than basic DSL.
It's FREE. No more paying hundreds of dollars a year for Internet service that doesn't even necessarily extend to your bathroom!
It's good for you. Your FREE TiSP service includes a Google Toolbar-based analysis of your dietary habits and genetic predispositions, along with recommendations for healthier living.
How can Google offer this service for free?
We believe that all users deserve free, fast and sanitary online access. To offset the cost of providing the TiSP service, we use information gathered by discreet DNA sequencing of your personal bodily output to display online ads that are contextually relevant to your culinary preferences, current health status and likelihood of developing particular medical conditions going forward. Google also offers premium levels of service for a monthly fee (see below).
Note: We take your privacy very seriously. So we treat all TiSP users' waste-related personal information with tremendous discretion, in accordance with our Privacy Policy.

Is this offering a tiered service? How does Google's position on Net Neutrality effect TiSP?
Although we understand that there's a lot of crap on the web, we also believe strongly in providing equal opportunity access to all our users. While we won't limit your surfing choices, we do offer three levels of TiSP service:

Trickle The #2 Royal Flush
Download speed (max)

8 Mbps
(10X basic DSL)

16 Mbps
(20X basic DSL)

32 Mbps
(40X basic DSL)

Upload speed (max)

2 Mbps

4 Mbps

8 Mbps

Price

Free

$9.95/mo.

$24.95/mo.

Actual speeds will vary, depending on network traffic and sewer line conditions. Users with low-flow toilets may simultaneously experience a saving-the-environment glow and slower-data-speed blues.
Is Google TiSP safe and reliable?
Google TiSP ensures reliable throughput through the power of fiber, which has been proven through extensive research to effectively facilitate consistent data flow with minimal latency. And you can rest assured that under no circumstances will the TiSP system ever expose your privates.

What are the system requirements?
Windows XP/Vista (Mac and Linux support coming soon)
Internet Explorer 6.0+ or Firefox 1.5+ with the Google Toolbar
Round-front or elongated toilet providing at least 1.0 gallons per flush
Use of automatic toilet bowl cleaners is not recommended
Does my water company support TiSP?
TiSP was developed with the support and assistance of a large number of major metropolitan water companies. A full list of companies that support TiSP is available here. If yours isn't listed, please contact them to verify their ongoing and unstinting support before you even think about signing up for TiSP service.

Can I use TiSP if my home uses a septic system?
Sorry, but no -- TiSP requires the use of a central sewer system to connect your home to the Internet.

Can I still use my toilet after installing TiSP?
Do we look stupid? Needless to say, the fiber optic cable that enables TiSP will not interfere with your toilet's regular operations. For your own convenience, however, you may eventually wish to hire a professional contractor to help route the cable under, or through, the toilet seat to your TiSP wireless router.

In what countries is this service available?
TiSP is available today in the U.S. and Canada. Google has formed an international consortium of utility companies, sewage system experts, toilet manufacturers, and plumbers to develop solutions to the many problems facing all "dark porcelain"-based data-delivery innovators.

Can I use this service when I'm away from home?
Sorry, but no -- TiSP is not available outside the home at this time. We are, however, currently developing a mobile feature called TiSP on the Run (TiSPOTR), which we expect to make available in the near future.

I'm having trouble installing or using TiSP.
Your internet connection should be working within one hour of GFlushing the sinker. If you still aren't online after that period of time, your toilet may be clogged. Please flush three more times, then check your online connection again. If you're still experiencing problems, drop eight mints into the bowl and add a two-liter bottle of diet soda. For further assistance, please visit the TiSP Help Group.

Does my net access have to be wireless?
Not necessarily, but our user studies have found that without wireless connectivity, there was considerable "commode congestion" in an average 2.5-person household whose one bathroom typically can provide a comfortable workspace for just one user at a time. We therefore strongly recommend using the wireless connection to alleviate potential multi-user congestion and encourage widespread "couch computing."

Why is TiSP in beta?
When things go wrong with TiSP, they go very, very wrong. Let's leave it at that.

Forgot the Day...

Hi folks, I am surprised you guys are still reading me. Anyway, I'm happily living my life as a pseudo farmer. Don't believe me? Well, I planted ginger, bananas and actually grew and sold chickens.

Heh beat that!

A blogger farmer.

Anyway, I am trying to find a way to go online constantly. I need the extra bucks to pay for wireless broadband which is the only internet connection available where I live. There's no cable here. No telephone landline. Just good old HSDPA. Heh!

Don't read the thing below it's gibberish.

The enough misery stamps before a star bankrupt.

Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas From Dannybuntu!

Day 1107: An Opportunity to Change Your Life

Filed Under: Personal Musings

Please bear with my writingrambling as I formulate my Philosophy of Life



What's your life like?


Ever since the dawn of humanity, a huge majority of people live lives that they don't want.



In this modern age and for most people, everything is money based, it's about money - or the lack of it. What can we do? That is how we were trained ever since we walked this earth.


My pragmatic and street smart grandmother used to say that the only thing that is illegal in this country (and probably in this life) is "to not have money". Harsh but it may have a sprinkling of truth in it.


Let's take for example, travelling. Nowadays, to get from point A to point B, you either:


Commute:


1. You walk, then you ride a bus, train, tricycle, jeepney, pedicab, or motorcycle
2. You pay for the bus, train, tricycle, jeepney, or motorcycle


or you have your own car:


1. You pay for your car for 5 years
2. You pay for car registration, insurance, etc
3. You pay for gas for your car
4. You pay for parking
5. You pay the highway toll fees
6. You pay for maintenance


AN INESCAPABLE FLUX OF WHAT WE CALL OUR "LIVES"


I've got to admit, that most of my life has been spent in front of a computer. I can't help it, I love computers, but now I don't want it to be my daily activity. I guess that the same thing must be true for most of you who are reading my blog. You work in front of a computer, earn a little (or much), then when you have enough money, you spend a vacation somewhere where you have to lose all your money so that when vacation time is over, you can start work again to earn money for the next vacation.




STUCK


Are you stuck in your life?



Take heart, I know a lot of people who are "stuck" in their lives. I know a man who got separated from his wife, remarried, now has 3 kids, unemployed and now has Tubercolosis. I tried to help him. But he is stuck on his mindset of misfortune and suffering. I know a man who has 8 kids, lives in the slum, lost his job when his boss died, didn't have an education, couldn't find work now, has to feed 9 mouths (as we say here in the Philippines), and is stuck doing very odd jobs barely eating three meals a day.



Sadly, like those two guys that I mentioned, it's just a reality that most people have to bear and forget. It is what it is - our so called modern lives. The economical system that we have right now, leaves out a lot of people in the fringes.I believe that it should change, but as of the moment, I don't have any suitable alternative for it.



WAIT A MINUTE WHAT HAPPENED TO DANNYBUNTU?



You're probably scratching your head by now and you are probably asking, 

"Get to the point, Dan, what are you selling? I thought this was a blog about Ubuntu and Open Source and Free Software and ..." 

I'm not selling anything (at the moment, maybe later, jk), I'm writing this because I feel that at the age of 27 I should have done more, seen more and experienced more. I owe it to myself. But most of all I owe it to my wife and kids that I share with them that experience.


"So are you stuck in life?"

Yes. 

No. 

I am stuck, because I chose to be stuck. However, I could change that with a snap of my finger. 

Say what, in fact, I am going to do so, tomorrow September 4, 2009. Friday, Philippine time.



"So, what are you rambling about - I thought this was about Changing my life?"

Well, it is. 

But I can't change your life. You change your life. I'm not a self help guru like Bo Sanchez and his Get Truly Rich Club. I am not going to tell you to shell out a *few* bucks so that you can change your life.


What I am going to tell you is what I am about to do to change my life. So that together we'll see if this thing will work. 

Let's face it, anybody can say that they found the secret formula to "success, life, business, richness, or love". I don't buy that. And I'm definitely not going to buy a guy's ramblings on CD on how to change my life. Heh. If you ask me, those secrets should be free, freed and spread out to everyone like fire on dry grass if it is what it is. 

Paying for it, is just plain silly and outright contradictory. Why should you or me pay to change our lives? Isn't that the whole point - to not make money the center of our lives? Well, if paying for those things actually changed somebody's life, then good for them. But personally.... Ohhhhh, nevermind.





"Hey What has Ubuntu Have to do with This?"


Nothing.


Well, I'm using Ubuntu as my Operating System to connect to the Internet to write this blog. 

But in a way, maybe it does have an influence on my writing. Hmmm, let's see. 

Ubuntu means, "I am who I am because of who we all are."  

Maybe in a way, in my writing, maybe I could help you change your life (for better or worse).



THE START


If you got this far reading my dissertation, thank you - for giving me the sublime pleasure of knowing that you care about what I think. *sob*


I hope that what I wrote and what I will write in the future, could impact your life, in a good way. 


I don't know what the future holds, but I am sure that what I am about to do will change my life. 


I am going to build a chicken farm in the province starting tomorrow. 


Don't laugh. I know. I know. 


It's not really going to be a chicken farm per se, you see it was is a small and humble private resort. There's a pool, some cottages, lots of trees, the locals are unsophisticated, life is simple, and so on and so forth. 

Think of this as dannybuntu's simple life.


I'll be doing part of the work with my crew, and we will use whatever that is there for us to use - most of - it is lumber. 


This will be an adventure for me for sure. 


I'll be back in a week or two.




"Now wait just a second here, you said there was an opportunity to change my life..."


There is, you already have it within you. You just have to figure it out on your own like I am going to do. 


There's not much really I could do to help you change your life and circumstances. Unless, you want to help me build a chicken farm.... Hahaha.  

I can't pay you though. Hahahaha.


But I can give you chickens. :)

Day 1106: The Best Cloud Storage Solution I've Come Across - ADrive 50 GB Free Online Storage

50 GB FREE ONLINE CLOUD STORAGE. 

Res Ipsa Loquitur.

Oh I forgot to mention. It runs perfectly on Linux using Java.

I tested one of my folders which has my law school archives. It has about 441 files of SCRA cases and other miscellaneous word documents. Total size of files is 112.47 MB and it will take about an hour to upload them all. Not bad, not bad at all.

Hands down, you can tear my mustache apart, this, undoubtedly, absolutely, whips the competition to oblivion.

They beat Microsoft and Google to it. (Microsoft's Skydrive has I think 25 GB, but no adequate Linux interface - Google's Gdrive is just a rumor at the moment.)

I think I should stop telling, you should try it on your own to see. Absolutely awesome.