Mikey Bustos on navigating the challenges of being an online celebrity

Besides exercise and meditation, Mikey 
also explores other hobbies such as reading 
to help keep his creative mind in top shape.

“I don’t think anyone is prepared for the life that comes with going viral in the internet.”

It’s been 14 years since Mikey Bustos first posted a video on YouTube. It was a video of him performing as a front act for a Pussycat Dolls concert in Manila. And while initially renowned for his career as a singer and performer, it was really the relatable content he has been masterfully crafting and posting online that has captured the hearts and laughs of many.

“It’s been such a learning curve,” said Mikey about his career, despite years of creating countless viral videos such as “Adobo” - a parody of the song Let It Go from Frozen - and “Balikbayan Box” - a parody of the Miley Cyrus Hit “Wrecking Ball”. “You just have to navigate through,” he added.

While having to constantly think of new ideas is already a challenge in itself, having an audience that can directly interact with you via a comments section is another. “Having to deal with bashers is something you never get used to,” he remarked.

Other challenges Mikey mentioned that he has encountered in his career was having to fight through insecurities, second guessing himself, and managing his schedule.

There was even a time when Mikey was juggling multiple YouTube channels all while traveling, performing, and managing his ant business. And while it was a challenge for him to do all these simultaneously, all these “trades” brought about plenty of opportunities.

With these opportunities, however, come crucial choices he needed to make.

On taking risks

In the time of the pandemic, Mikey always makes sure to bring 
“trusty” items like face masks, face shields and Diatabs 
wherever he goes to help ensure “peace of mind”.

“For me, to be successful, you need to take calculated risks,” said Bustos who mentioned that one of the biggest risks he made in his life was moving to the Philippines from Canada.

But this was just one among many risks Mikey had to take in order for his career to flourish further.

“Signing contracts, teaming up with brands, expanding a team, collaborating with other content creators—these are all risks and choices you have to calculate and think about. You can’t just throw all your chips in and wish for the best” he stressed.

On the art of de-stressing

With all these decisions and challenges, not to mention having to sustain his career and business, there is no doubt that stress and risk of burnout frequent Mikey’s life.

To combat these, he turns to exercise and meditation.

“I always try to incorporate exercise into my routine. I go to the gym a few times a week, and now I’ve taken a love for running—making sure I go 10km every day. In terms of mentally staying in shape, I do a lot of meditation and prayer.”

To lessen the risk of burnout, Mikey also makes sure to explore his hobbies, which is sometimes a blurred line for him as his work involves making the most of his interests and sharing it online. He solves this dilemma by exploring his hobbies without feeling the need to bring a camera with him.

On the importance of trust

To combat the stress and risk of burnout that
comes with his successful career, Mikey makes
sure to incorporate exercise and meditation
to his daily routine.

Another way Mikey reduces the stress brought about by his career and ventures is working with people that he trusts, which for him, is crucial to success.

In the time of the pandemic, Mikey also shared that bringing “trusty” items with him wherever he goes is key to having an extra “peace of mind”.

“Lately, I always bring all sorts of protective gear—masks, alcohol, face shields, and the like. I also make sure to bring a lipbalm because ‘you never know when you’ll be on camera,’” he remarked.

“I also make sure that I bring Diatabs with me wherever I go, especially when I’m running. It helps because I’ve been having ‘banyo-phobia’—When I’m far from the house and I really have to go, it’s hard for me to go use the public toilet because of the fear of acquiring the coronavirus. That’s why it’s always good to have Diatabs around,” he shared.

Diatabs is a product of Unilab, a trusted anti-diarrheal brand in the country, that can easily take care of your upset stomach and give you the peace of mind you need when it comes to bowel trouble. It is available in leading drugstores and pharmacies nationwide. To learn more, visit https://www.unilab.com.ph/products/diatabs

ZAYN scores another No.1 album in the Philippines with ‘Nobody Is Listening’

ZAYN’s third studio release Nobody is Listening makes history once again as it debuts at No. 1 on iTunes Philippines Top 100 albums chart a few hours after its release. Co-written by ZAYN, the project highlights his R&B influences and showcases deeply personal lyrics. Nobody is Listening sees ZAYN in complete creative control, from designing the album cover art to his sound, he has created a moment in music that is all his own.

The album contains the previously released singles “Vibez” and “Better,” both of which were embraced by fans and critics alike, with Wonderland proclaiming ZAYN was here to “save 2021” with the release of “Vibez” and Billboard calling “Better” a “straightforward R&B track, expressing love in spite of disagreement and designed to showcase one of the most skilled voices in modern pop.”  The latter single has accrued over 105 million streams across all platforms, and upon release the video received a half a million views in the first 10 minutes.

Fintech apps that blew our minds (and helped our wallets) in 2020

2020 saw significant changes to the way we live, work and play. As people stayed in the safety of their homes for weeks and months on end, we needed to alter our daily routines and use technology more than ever. From Zoom meetings and food deliveries to online shopping and Netflix bingeing—and occasionally, doing all these things at the same time—our smartphones, laptops, and the almighty internet have become absolute musts in the new normal. 

So it comes as no surprise that technology has also become indispensable in helping us buy, finance or otherwise acquire all the delicious food, irresistible shopping deals, and other wonderful things and everyday necessities that have kept us alive and well in 2020. Now more than ever, people need fast, safe and secure ways to make payments, send or receive money from loved ones, and apply for loans or other financial tools—especially those who are using these tools for the very first time under extraordinary circumstances. 

10 Work from Home Essentials You Need for a More Productive 2021

No office? No problem. Work more efficiently with these must-haves from Shopee! 

We’re all finding it a little difficult to swing back into the rhythm at work after the holidays. After all, the current work-from-home setup makes it even trickier—you have to deal with distractions such as an inviting bed, loud neighbors, and clingy pets. 

Still struggling to maximize your efficiency at home, even with months of working remotely under your belt? This new year, use a few key products to make working from home a breeze! Check them out below. 

Acer Philippines opens first flagship store

The first Acer flagship store in the Philippines has finally opened its doors to consumers on January 15. It is the largest in the country to date and is located at the SM Megamall Cyberzone.

This new tech haven will house the best products from Acer and Predator brands, intricately displayed for an elevated shopping experience. It is interactive and much more customer-friendly. 

A sure eye-catcher for gamers and tech enthusiasts alike, the store is divided into two sections, dedicated for Acer and Predator products. Acer sticks to its minimalistic personality and is designed with light earthy tones with a long table and shelves where the products are displayed. On the other hand, the Predator comes in a striking sleek black interior all throughout. 

Globe site builds help Dagupan residents prepare for the future

Globe maintains its momentum in improving its network and upgrading its sites to build a #FirstWorldNetwork, with more sites up in rural areas where connectivity was once dire. Globe has been building new cell sites to fulfill the telco's commitment to have 4G LTE nationwide, in areas such as Brgy. Tambac, Dagupan.

Developments like access to the internet are more than crucial to residents in the area. For them, internet connectivity opens the door to more educational opportunities and economic possibilities for their barangay’s youth.

PH broadband now faster, more affordable and cheaper than global average

Globe’s continuous efforts to improve its network performance over the years have resulted in more affordable and faster internet services for its broadband customers.

Since 2016, the prices per gigabyte (GB) of all Globe broadband services such as Globe At Home Prepaid WiFi, wired Globe At Home Postpaid and Globe at Home Postpaid LTE have gone down by more than 60% in the last four years.

From as high as P26 per GB, Globe At Home Postpaid LTE price has gone down to P9 per GB over the last two years or a 65.38% price decrease. Likewise, for Globe at Home Prepaid WiFi, our most affordable and loadable internet for the masses, customers now pay P9 per GB only from as high as P23 in 2017; P15 in 2018; and P10 in 2019 or a decrease of 60.87% since 2017. 

World Vision alarmed by students selling sensual photos online to support their education

Child-focused agency World Vision raises its concern about reports published by the Philippine Online Student Tambayan (POST) about students selling sensual photos and videos online using specific hashtags. Reports also showed that students also held a “Christmas sale” of what appeared to be sexual exploitation materials encouraging buyers to “help” raise funds for their distance learning needs such as tuition, Internet connection and tech gadgets. 

Music Lane Okinawa Rescheduled to February 20-21, 2021

Following the recent declaration of State of Emergency for the central area in Tokyo, Japan, the Music Lane Festival Okinawa 2021 (Music Lane Okinawa) and Trans Asia Music Meeting 2021 has been rescheduled to February 20 and 21, 2021.

According to a statement released by organizers, the decision to postpone the festival follows the recent rising cases of the COVID-19 in different parts of Japan. “Although Okinawa is not included in the State of Emergency, there are many artists and audiences participating from Tokyo and the surrounding prefectures. In addition, the spread of infection in Okinawa Prefecture is becoming more prominent again… We felt that pushing the festival to be held in these circumstances could cause inconvenience and trouble to the participating artists, audiences, and all the staff members.”

Globe site builds prepare more regions for nationwide 4G LTE standards

New ways of working in urban areas demand for socially and physically-distanced meetings, conference calls, consultations, transactions and purchases.  On a lighter note but likewise heavy on the need for better internet is the obligatory catch-up on movies, podcasts, and TV series to unwind; as well as school lessons and necessary downloads to fulfill school and work requirements. In rural regions, livelihood and education are top priority for maximizing connectivity. Alongside new cell site builds, Globe’s fixed internet and mobile speeds in December 2020 show that its network’s continuous improvements are reshaping the internet experience especially using newer and more advanced technologies such as 4G LTE and 5G in both urban and rural communities.