Rhyne Token

I really believe that the Philippine Institute for Developmental Studies (PIDS) is an underrated government entity (technically a state-run nonprofit). As someone who likes to see things from both sides (e.g., I like some of Leni's promises, I like some of BBM's actual policies), I always rely on science whenever things get confusing. Although indeed soft science can be manipulated (and even hard science, just look at how stupid one doctor can be by saying vaccines cause autism), as methods can ...

This is the continuation of my "Privacy for SMEs" guide here (https://listed.to/@rhynetoken/55441/92). Coming from the first post, you now know what personal data you are processing with your business (and determining whether it is necessary to process in the first place), have complied with registration requirements of the National Privacy Commission (NPC), applied reasonable and appropriate security measures, placed CCTV signs at your premises (if you are using one), and have a privacy notice...

My wife absolutely loves my version of beef tapa (though more salpicao than tapa, to be honest), the cooking technique of which I learned from my eldest brother. He used to marinate meat using only random condiments he finds in the refrigerator. Recipe: You marinate the beef (preferably sirloin) with soy sauce, oyster sauce, garlic powder, ground black pepper, a squeeze of lemon, liquid seasoning, MSG, and if you want it spicy, a toss or two of cayenne. I also recently added cornstarch to the m...

As a privacy lawyer working for a big corporation, I have always wondered how small to medium sized enterprises (SMEs) handle data privacy compliance. These SMEs usually lack the resources to hire privacy consultants and thus have to Google-fu their way to compliance. Unlike American regulations where there is a threshold for businesses to be covered by the law, the Data Privacy Act (DPA) of the Philippines covers all entities processing personal data, down to solo entrepreneurs and individual ...

Meditation is such a transcendent thing. The ability to think of the present is an underrated ability. And no, I am not talking about present work or events, but rather, this very second as it is: The way you are breathing, the fall and rise of your chest, the color of the walls, the itch on your leg, the dampness of your lips. It is ironic how freezing your life into a still shot actually frees your mind more. If you are interested, I have been meditating since 2020 and managed to pick up a few...

It's the second week of October, and as officially declared by the Philippine government, it means it's also National Mental Health Week! I have been living with bipolar disorder for the past six years now, and as someone who experienced the manic highs, the depressive lows, and the neutral mids, here are some tips dealing with people like us: Mental health disabilities are real physical conditions that affect the brain! It's very hard to "power" yourself through it like stopping yourself from...

dried tulip october 26 in book bought october 25 with you under rain october 24 watching stars overhead october 23 looking over us in church october 22 "alive as alive can be" october 21 goodbye, you said, smiling, october 20 picking up a tulip for me october 19 on top of your casket forever it shall be october 27 ...

I know the Nimbyx issue is already dead at this point, but it really grinds my gears how some companies (and down to the individual decision makers) are just so out of touch with reality that they need to micromanage their employees' presence. Look, I'm not saying that on-site work is bad. Sometimes, people do collaborate better and resolve issues quickly when they are in the same location. The key word here, however, is "sometimes". Sometimes, the other side of the coin is true: People work be...

One of the things that fascinate me about privacy law is the concept of "filing system". GDPR is clear that its material scope applies only to "processing of personally data wholly or partly by automated means and to the processing other than by automated means of personal data which form part of a filing system or are intended to form part of a filing system." Recital 15 eludicates, "Files or sets of files, as well as their cover pages, which are not structured according to specific criteria sh...

Why is the PWD discount on Php2000 worth of groceries only Php80 pesos? I would understand if they only discounted the bare necessities, but I primarily bought chicken, beef, fish, fruits and vegetables. No processed food, maybe except canned gata. Same line of thought - is it true that Grab, Angkas, MoveIt drivers absorb the PWD discount themselves? Parang ayaw ko tuloy gamitin PWD voucher ko when I use these apps. Not only do drivers less likely to accept my booking, those who do accept get p...

One of the things that still trips me up in data privacy is determining whether someone is considered as a controller or processor. Sometimes, it is not so clear cut. For example, Company A partners with Hospital B such that employees of Company A gets free medical check ups from Hospital B as part of the onboarding process. Is Hospital B a controller or a processor? In answering the question whether a company is a controller or processor, we have been taught that the idea of "control" is predo...

I was doing errands at Mercury Drug near the condo when it rained. Hungry, I ate some Lemon Square cupcakes under the awning outside the drugstore, balancing several packages and umbrella on one hand while looking at the rain. It was a peaceful moment. I've hated the rain lately for being an overall pain in the ass during commutes to and from work. In that moment though, in front of the huge brightly lit windows of Mercury Drug while munching highly processed cupcakes, the rain and I are friend...