PARKonversations Live!: The Dog That Witnessed Rizal's Execution and Other Dogs in Philippine History

Wazzup Pilipinas!?

Dogs have always been referred to as "man's best friend," but how much do we actually know about the history of dogs in the Philippines? In celebration of International Dog Day and History Month, let's unravel the story behind the mysterious dog at Rizal's execution and discover more stories about dogs, from the early encounters of the Filipino people with canines in Cagayan 4,000 years ago and other famous dog personalities.

This PARKonversations Live! session titled "The Dog That Witnessed Rizal's Execution and Other Dogs in Philippine History” will take place at the Mabini Hall, Rizal Park Luneta on 26 August 2023 (Saturday), 9:30 a.m. Our guest speaker is Ian Christopher B. Alfonso, the Supervising History Researcher and Officer-in-Charge of the Research, Publication and Heraldry Division of the National Historical Commission of the Philippines. He sits as an Ex Officio Member of the National Committee on Historical Research of the National Commission for Culture and the Arts and of the PHLPost Stamp Committee. He is also a Board Member of the Philippine Historical Association. He is a candidate for Doctor of Philosophy in History at the University of the Philippines Diliman. He is the author of the book entitled Dogs in Philippine History.

Join us and learn more about the dogs in Philippine history. See you in Rizal Park Luneta!

*Participants who will join the seminar and answer the evaluation form will receive a certificate.

Gambling Traditions Around the World: Uncovering Unique Betting Rituals in Different Cultures

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Explore global gambling customs: Discover distinct betting rituals and traditions across diverse cultures worldwide.



From the temples of Japan, where wooden plates hold the wishes of players, to the lively streets of America, where people partake in a mysterious "rain dance," witnessing gambling rituals in different parts of the world can be interesting. At bet999.io, we're here to provide you with updates on regulations and talk about betting activities across the globe.

In this article, we will go over the brief history of betting in the United States and the rise of lotteries. Read until the end, as we will explore the different gambling traditions around the world. Let's get started!

 
Brief History of Betting in the United States

The United States has had a long history of gambling. In the early 1600s, Puritans who sought to extricate Anglicanism from the influences of Catholicism came to the US, especially the Massachusetts Bay Colony, to create societies away from Catholic influences.

Puritans were highly religious people who focused on education, which meant that they never participated in vices, including gambling activities. There were no dice, gambling tables, or even cards in people's homes. They believed that the state was responsible for protecting society from heresy.

However, with the passage of time, the United States became more tolerant and eventually allowed gambling for recreational purposes. You could see the same trend in Europe at the time. People were intolerant towards professional gambling, but it was acceptable as a leisure activity.

Today, when you stroll down the Las Vegas strip, you'll find yourself lost in the world of glitz and glamour. One casino after the other, Nevada, has over 440 casinos, making it the gambling den of the world. This was not the case back then.

Instead of being tolerant, the state banned all forms of betting and wagering before 1869. It introduced a state legislature that finally decriminalized certain forms of gambling. This didn't remain for long as the state again banned such activities between 1910 and the 1930s.

In 1929, an economic shock rippled through the United States and had an adverse impact across the globe. The plummeting stock prices caused the Wall Street market to crash, leading to unemployment and massive industry shutdowns.

During this financial crisis, the US government had to take measures to help stabilize the economic situation. They decided to introduce lotteries to stimulate the economy, something that the British were very familiar with at the time.

By asking the public to buy inexpensive tickets for a chance to win a massive jackpot, the government raised billions of dollars. Many states saw this as an opportunity to introduce gambling-friendly laws as a way to spur tourism and grow the local economy.

Soon, North American tribes received rights to host such activities in their states, and the rest is history.

 
Betting Rituals in Different Cultures

The following are the betting rituals in different cultures across the world:

 
The United States and Its Gambling Customs

Earlier, we went over the brief history of gambling in the United States. Since each state has its own culture, people started developing rituals and customs before partaking in betting activities.

Some Americans prefer to wear specific clothes before hitting the slot machines, while others like to carry lucky charms. There are superstitious gestures, such as knocking on wood, to ward off bad luck before playing online casino games like Crazy Time Game.

When it comes to sports betting, American fans like to wear jerseys and do a "rain dance" as a way to support their favorite team. These may vary from one state to another.

 
China and Its Hush-hush Affairs with Gambling

Since China remained closed to the world for more than four decades, there was very little that people knew about the country at the time. However, once it opened its borders, western societies got the opportunity to study the Middle Kingdom.

Although the Chinese frown upon gambling in most parts of the country, Hong Kong and Macau have become betting hubs for foreign tourists and local risk-takers. The two regions combined generated substantial revenues, almost three times that of Las Vegas.

Since mainland China remained intolerant, gambling became a hush-hush affair, giving rise to superstitions and secrecy. Many Chinese gamblers, for example, will not enter a casino through the main entrance. They believe that it is unlucky and will affect their odds of winning.

There are so many superstitions in the Chinese culture pertaining to gambling activities. Many players in the country believe that patting someone on the shoulder before a game is a sign of bad luck, while some think that choosing numbers that are closely associated with disasters can adversely affect their fortunes.

 
Japan and Its Love for Pachinko Machines

Although most forms of gambling are illegal in the Land of the Rising Sun, the country considers pachinko machines as a form of entertainment. Instead of providing prize money, these pinball slot games offer tokens that players can exchange for cash.

Prior to participating in gambling activities, such as pachinko machines or horse racing, Japanese players may visit Shinto shrines and Buddhist temples to perform rituals that they believe would bring them good fortune.

Before leaving these religious places, Japanese players may write their wishes on small wooden cards referred to as "Ema." They believe that hanging them in the shrines and temples will bring them luck in their gambling endeavors.

 
Australia and "Pokies"

With half of the Australian population gambling regularly, these types of activities in Australia are a popular pastime. They refer to the poker slot machines as "pokies," and horse racing is a spectacular sports betting activity in the country.

In some parts of Australia, people believe that having a small horseshoe in their pocket or near them when betting can bring good fortune.

Those playing "Bingo" may respond with cheers or chants when the numbers are called out, creating an electric atmosphere that you won't find anywhere else in the world.

 
Final Thoughts

Whether it is knocking on a surface to ward off bad luck or sticking to specific numbers when playing cards, gambling traditions and rituals vary across the globe.

From the cute pachinko machines in the streets of Tokyo to the bustling casinos in Las Vegas, you'll find all sorts of ancient betting customs that combine superstition and communal beliefs.

It's essential for all players to respect betting traditions and customs when participating in gambling activities across the world. Learning more about different cultures allows people to come together, make new connections, and have a fun experience.

Unlocking Loan Approval: 4 Tips to Boost Your Application Success

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Getting a loan provides a flexible way to fund big-ticket expenses. They can be used for wants such as vehicles, gadgets, or home appliances, and to take care of surprise expenses like emergency medical bills or home renovations.

However, getting a loan from a bank isn’t always the easiest thing to do. Especially if you’ve never done so before, the application process can be tedious. There are a lot of documents to prepare and multiple sets of paperwork to fill out. Despite going through all of that, there’s still a chance for your application to get rejected.

That’s why it’s not surprising that 57% of Filipinos rely on informal lenders for their loan needs[1]. Sure, borrowing from an informal lender may lead to fast applications and easier access to the cash you need, but their rates and terms can be unfavorable to borrowers. This can lock borrowers in cycles of debt that can be difficult to break free from.

Fortunately, there are many measures you can take to help boost your chances of a successful loan application. Here are a few things to keep in mind:

 

Know the numbers

Before applying for a loan, it's essential to ensure that you are borrowing an amount within your realistic repayment capacity. One effective method to achieve this is by calculating your debt-to-income ratio, which helps you understand the portion of your monthly income dedicated to debt payments.

If you find yourself unsure about how to calculate your debt-to-income ratio, the most effective approach is to divide your total monthly debt payments by your monthly gross income and then multiply the result by 100. For example, if your monthly gross income is P20,000, and your monthly debt is P4,000, your debt-to-income ratio is 20%. That means 20% of your monthly salary goes to debt payments.

Maintaining a low debt-to-income ratio is advisable as lenders may decline your application if the ratio is too high.

Determine what type of loan you want

According to a financial inclusion survey by the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP), the top considerations Filipinos have in applying for loans are the interest rates, loan amount, the period to pay, ease of application, and flexibility of terms.

With those considerations in mind, do your research so you know which loan options and providers are most favorable to you and your needs.

 

Check your transaction history

In the process of applying for a loan, lenders may look into your transaction history for any other financial obligations you may have such as credit card balances. Before applying for a loan, try to take care of any outstanding liabilities as they impact how much money lenders will allow you to borrow.

 

Maintain a good credit score

Banks and financial institutions assess your creditworthiness to find out if you’re a trustworthy borrower. One of the ways they do so is by looking at your credit score.

Your credit score is determined by factors like payment history, length of credit history, kinds of credit used, credit limit utilized, amount owed, and the number of new credit applications made. In the Philippines, credit scores range from 300 to 850. The higher your credit score, the easier it is to get approval for loans, credit cards, and other essential financial services.

To easily check your credit score, Lista, the fastest-growing financial management app in the Philippines, has partnered with the country’s leading credit bureau, CIBI Information Inc. (CIBI). Through this partnership, The Credit Information Corporation (CIC), the country’s sole public credit registry and repository of credit information, has authorized Lista to access CIC credit data through CIBI as a non-accessing entity.

This authorization makes it possible for Filipinos to access their credit scores and credit reports through Lista, utilize other premium features on the Lista app such as the Credit Score Trend, and learn tips on how to improve their credit standing.

“Lista was created to help more Filipinos enjoy the benefits of greater financial inclusion. With credit driving today’s economies, it’s time for more Filipinos to unlock better economic opportunities through better access to credit,” said Aaron Villegas, Lista co-founder. “With just a few clicks on the Lista app, anyone can easily view their credit scores and reports. They can also access tips and strategies to improve their standing, helping more Filipinos create and maintain good financial habits that can lead to financial independence.”

Get your credit score on Lista for only P199 per request. Users must prepare one valid ID for identity verification.

Lista is available to download for free on both iOS and Android platforms. Download now via the App Store or Google Play Store.



About the Credit Information Corporation:

The Credit Information Corporation (CIC) is a government-owned and controlled corporation created by Republic Act No. 9510, otherwise known as the Credit Information System Act (CISA). It is governed and supervised by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), with the primary mandate to establish a comprehensive and centralized credit information system for the collection and dissemination of fair and accurate information relevant to, or arising from, credit and credit-related activities of all entities participating in the ecosystem.

To learn more about the CIC, visit https://www.creditinfo.gov.ph/ or its official Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/creditinfo.gov.ph