Love =Unity + Patriotism

There is a race called Filipinos who are famous on not loving their country called the Philippines. The people spit everywhere, throw their garbage wherever they like and curse the weather when it is cold and even curse it whenever it is hot. You can find people pee in the wall, in electrical post, in jeepney tires and all places that are vacant. They are unashamed throwing their trashes in the river or in the ocean and if you will not shout at them they will even throw their refuse in the street or in front of your backyard.
These people, who are also famous to take a bath everyday even three times a day, are the same people who violates every rule indicated in the constitution down to municipal laws. If they are elected officials, they get 5 % commission on government projects and if they are appointed officials they equally appoint relatives to fill up vacant positions. The World Bank is even amazed the expertise of Filipinos on manipulating contracts.
Down south, kidnapping is common. They said they have no jobs and kidnapping is an occupation. You can bet it will land in the Guinness Book.
Foreigners are wondering what kind of race this called Filipinos. These same foreigners admire the natural resources and the potential of the people. They are wondering why this race can not move on the same direction and can not feel that they should have common aspirations.
These foreigners are telling us the truth that from the high echelons of the government down to the barangay level and even deep down to the family level we are lacking love of our country.
We say it, we sing the national anthem but we failed to put it in action.
There is only one solution on the problems of the Filipino race and that is to love our country more than ourselves. That is the secret of all countries who made itself successful.
We should not be stupid to notice it.

Blessing Prayer in a Time of Sickness

Lately some of my friends are getting sick. One is stricken with cancer and a handful are hospitalized due to stress related issues. As I browse my Catholic Digest an article by Edward Hayes caught my attention. I decide to share an excerpt of his book specifically the "Blessing Prayer in a Time of Sickness".

If you or your love ones suffer from any illness say this prayer:
Lord of health and wholeness,
your servant________________(name)
now lies sick
and desires to be restored
to the balance of good health.
Hear, O Lord, our prayers
For the healing of him/her
whom we love so much.

Remove from him/her this illness
so that, fully recovered
and restored to health,
he/she may return
with renewed zeal
to the daily life that we share.

Catholic Digest January 2009 issue page 111.

Pre-need Demons

My teeth gnashes in anger as I heard the news that three pre-need companies declared bankruptcy without any warning to their planholders. Legacy Plans, scholarship Plans and All Asia Plans announced that they can not meet anymore their obligations.
Nobody from these companies held a press conference and apologize to the public. Instead thru their media they are blaming the Security and Exchange Commission (SEC) and the current economic recession as the culprit.
These people are the personification of Beelzebul. How can they stomached to milked the money of hardworking Filipinos for the past years? The middle class are their primary customers who skipped a little luxury in life in order to pay the premiums with the hope of providing good education for their children. Don't they feel the pain?
The SEC is incompetent in the sense that they did not monitor strictly these pre-need companies. They deserved to be fired because they failed to protect the interest of the people.
Just like the case of CAP and Pacific plans nobody will go to jail on this latest mess.
These pre-need companies are highway-robbers who inflicted the highest form of injustice. They kill hopes and dreams.
They deserve to rot in jails.

6 Eternal Truth on Investing

1. Live within your means or below it.
2. Never use a credit card and avoid the plague it is.
3. Borrow money only for education and housing purpose.
4. Never invest in stocks with the money intended for food and next years college tuition.
5. Invest money only if you have 3 months cash reserve.
6. Invest money that you will not use for the next 10 years. It will give you enough time to defeat the bear and earn a decent profit.

ATENEO MBA ALUMNI BATCH 2001

MASTER IN BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION - 233 graduates
(STANDARD PROGRAM BATCH 2001)
ADAPON, GLORIA M.
ADOREMOS, MA. ZARAH B.
AGUILA, RANDOLPH Q.
AGUSTIN, ERWIN C.
ALARCON, RUBINA R.
ALCANTARA, IMELDA C.
ALCARAZ, MARIE GRACE L.
ALVAREZ, EDWIN C.
ANCENO, EDGAR P.
ANG, ELEANOR GRACE T.
AQUINO, ANN MARIE JARDIN P.
ARAÑES, MARY CLARE B.
ARMADA, LETICIA C.
ARROJADO, ALLAN R.
ASI, MARIA CECILIA M.
ATENCIO, FRANKLIN G. JR.
BADINAS, ERLINDA V.
BALCOBA, MARIA EDITHA B.
BALISACAN, ELMER B.
BAÑARES, RUBYROSA G.
BARCELONA, GENARO P.
BARCENA, JAN ARVIN S.
BATARA, MONICA EMELDA T.
BAUTISTA, ANDRE JOSE C.
BELTRAN, JOANNA C.
BISCOCHO, EDNA G.
BONGALA, SAMMY E.
BONGCAS, GIOVANNI D.
BULATAO, MICHAEL PHILIP M.
BUNYI, MARK ANTHONY V.
CABAÑES, FATIMA MARCIA S.G.
CABER, ANNA MARIE A.
CABRERA, MARIA CARIDAD O.
CADELIÑA, ARNEL L.
CANTO, ROWENA M.
CARANDANG, FLORENCIO R.
CARTONEROS, CYBELE B.
CARVAJAL, MARIA THERESA M.
CASIÑO, MARIE PATRICIA G.
CASTILLO, ANGELITA A.
CATALAN II, EMMANUEL M.
CATINDIG, VERONICA T.
CHAN, NELSON S.
CHEN, HIRONG
CHOA, ALLAN T.
CHUA, MARY GRACE L.
COCHIEN, HEINRICH YOKOGERI S.
CORTEZ, DOLOR S.
CUSI, FERLIZA P.
DATU, MARIA NOREEN N.
DE GUZMAN, ERLINDA B.
DE GUZMAN, MAUREEN CECILIA T.
DE LEON, CHERYL S.
DE OCAMPO, FR. HENRY C.
DELA ROSA, TEODORA B.
DELLOMAS, BONIFACIO N. JR.
DE VERA, DENNIS I.
DIAZ, JOEL N.
DIAZ, MARY RACHELL R.
DINEROS, CHERYL R.
DOMINGO - GONZALES, ROMINA PRISCILLA F.
DOROS, EDWARD R.
DUFOURNAUD, MARIA DOLLY B.
EKO SUSETYO, KURNIAWAN
EUSTAQUIO, AILEEN R.
EVANGELISTA, MA. COLEEN B.
EVANGELISTA, MARY RUTH E.
FERNANDO, JOEL S.
FINEZA, MA. ANTONIA T.
FLORES, BARBARA KAREN T.
FONTANILLA, MARISSA M.
FRANCISCA, LAMSARULLY JUDITH
FUNELAS, HERBERT E.
GAAC, SOCORO CARIDAD L.
GAGATIGA, JENNELYN A.
GAJISAN, MARIA ELENA A.
GALVAN, JESUS G.
GARCIA, ANNA LIZA E.
GIRON, REGINALD R.
GO, JENNIFER C.
GOC - ONG, JUDITH T.
GOH, RAZIEL B.
GOMEZ, VITUS GERALD Z.
GOSECO, GERARDO ALFONSO S.
GUERRERO, JANET P.
GUERRERO, MARY JANICE C.
GUEVARRA, NOVA A.
GUEVARRA, ROMELA V.
GUZMAN, EMILIANO A.
HERMANO, JOHN O.
HIPOLITO, BONITA M.
HIPOLITO, HELEN J.
HIZON, KRISTINE A.
HUSSAIN, MAQBOOL
IBE, MILAGROSA D.
JACOBA, JANINA ROSA V.
JALBUENA, LAURA MARY ALLEN D.
JAVIER, ALBERTO FERNANDO A.
JAVIER, JOSEPHINE D.
JOAQUIN, ROSENDA RHODA C.
KILALA - MURALLON, BRENDA C.
KING, ULYSSES S. JR.
LAMADRID, PAOLO R.
LAO, ALEXANDER M.
LAYUG, JENNIFER N.
LEDESMA, MARIA KATRINA SELINA L.
LEE, MICHAEL GEORGE M.
LEYNES, MAIAH ANGELA R.
LI, HUI MIN
LIM, JOHN HUI KIANG N.
LINGAD, ENRICH H.
LIUSON, JOYCE C.
LOPEZ, MYRA V.
LOSTE II, AUGUSTUS ROMUALDO D.
LUIS, CATLEYA S.
LUNA, JOY C.
MADLANGBAYAN, MELANIE S.
MAGANA, LIZA LIBERTINE L.
MAGBAYAO, DONALD M.
MAGDALENA, NINA MARIA
MAGLALANG, AMILLIE A.
MAGNO, ELFIN JAY E.
MAGTOTO, ARIEL L.
MALACCA, SANTIAGO S.
MALLO, MELVIN P.
MAMIIT, NOEL M.
MANALANG, JO - ANN MARIE C.
MANALAYSAY, ELIZA R.
MANALO, CRISELDA K.
MANALO, VINCENT PHILIP P.
MANAS, EDUARDO G. JR.
MANCILLA, DENNIS G.
MANGUERRA, RHODA C.
MANIO, ROWENA JOY D.
MANUEL, RUEL A.
MANUEL, SAHLEE RUTH S.
MARCELINO, ORLANDO ANTHONY C.
MARTIN, ENRIQUE R.
MASAGCA,IVEE R.
MEDIODIA, NOEL G.
MENDOZA, JENNIFER H.
MENDOZA, MARY MABEL L.
MIJARES, MA. VINA PAMELA M.
MIRALLES, GILBERT F.
MONTE, MARIBEL V.
MORALES, EDEN D.
MORENO, HAZEL S.
MORENO, MHELISSA A.
MUSTERA, MA. CORINNA U.
NACIANCENO, RENE S.
NAPIGKIT, ALFIE P.
NAVARRA, JINA P.
NEPOMUCENO, NILO PAUL H.
NIEVA, MARIA LUISA O.
ONG, COLETTE H.
ORDOÑEZ, CAESAR M.
ORDOÑEZ, JONATHAN S.
ORTIGAS, RAFAEL B.
PADILLA, RAQUEL G.
PALAD, BRENDA ROSELLA E.
PALENZUELA, MARILOU ANN F.
PALISOC, MARY ROXAN L.
PALO, PHILIP MARTIN P.
PAN, ARLYN V.
PANGALANGAN, FAY ANN A.
PANGCOG, MELVIN L.
PARAYNO, CARMINA RAISSA S.
PASIMIO, GEMMA RITA CECILIA N.
PATIÑO, ELIZABETH V.
PAULINO, MONICA B.
PEÑA, EMILIANO D. JR.
PEREZ, YVONNIE G.
PUALENGCO, MARRIANNE S.
QUEBRATA, NERIZZA C.
QUINSAY, SOUCI HANNAH Q.
QUINTOS, ROBERTO B.
RAMOS, EVA MARIE S.
RANGA, FILOMENO M. JR.
RAYOS, CECILLIE T.
RAZAL, MARIA IMELDA S.
REJANO, VLADIMIR V.
RELONA, AMELIA
REYES, MA. LOURDES U.
RILLORAZA, MYLA U.
ROBEL, JOSEPH ERIC L.
RONQUILLO, MARY GRACE C.
ROSALDO, ALDINE H.
ROSALES, JOSEPH FERDINAND L.
RUFO, ROWENA O.
SAENZ, ELOISA MA. VICTORIA L.
SALVADOR, EMELBIN M.
SALVADOR, RODA C.
SANDOVAL, BERNADETTE C.
SAÑEZ, AMELOU T.
SANTOS, BERNARD R.
SANTOS, DONABEL B.
SANTOS, GISELA ILONA D.
SAYSON, MA. BELLA R.
SAYSON, MARIA ASSAMPTA C.
SIA, MARY JEAN R.
SIA, SUSAN ANGELI M.
SICAT, MA. RITA LUISA S.
SIMBULAN, LYNNE C.
SORIANO, PATRICIA B.
SOSA, MERLIE A.
SUAREZ - CONCEPCION, MA. RONORA
SUNTAY, MA. ANGELICA C.
TAALA - BUNTUA, CATHERINE
TAE SOON, KIM
TAN, JASON PETER P.
TAN, MARK LAWRENCE V.
TAN, ROCHELLE T.
TOLENTINO, ROWELL C.
TRINIDAD, LORENA C.
TRINOS, MARIE ANTONIETTE V.
VELASQUEZ, ROCHELLE D.
VELILLA, SHEILA MAE M.
VENERACION, MARIA GORDIANA K.
VICENCIO, RAOUL FERDINAND S.
VIGO, CHRISTINE S.
VILLENA, MA. VIVIENE L.
WIDYADMONO, VENANTIUS MARDI
WISCO, IVY JOY P.
WU, MEI - LI
YAM, MA. AMELIA AMORA
YANGA, MICHAEL S.
YBAÑEZ, CARINA M.
YU, ELMER J.
YU, MICHAEL S.
YU, ORLANDO B.
YUE SUI
ZARA, EMMANUEL G. JR.
ZARAGOZA, EDGAR A.

DECLARATION OF FINANCIAL EMPOWERMENT

There is a Declaration of Independence that every freedom loving people look forward to. It means to them freedom from colonial powers, tyranny or dictatorship. In the Philippines it was proclaim twice, in June 12, 1898 and July 4, 1945. Our country right after 1945 was never occupied again by foreign powers. But since independence day , we are still not free. Not of foreign dominations but of financial ignorance.
This new year, as my contribution to the Filipinos who would like to unshackle the chain of financial ignorance, I drafted the DECLARATION OF FINANCIAL EMPOWERMENT . The purpose of which as your guide and as my New Year’s gift to you.

DECLARATION OF FINANCIAL EMPOWERMENT
By: Arnel L. Cadeliña
1. I will find a job or create my own job as a starter to build wealth.
2. I will use my income to build my own house.
3. I will develop more skills to earn more, live within my means, save and invest not less than 10% of my income.
4. I will prepare early for my retirement by investing in diversified portfolio,
5. I will learn more about mutual funds and stocks.
6. I will teach my children on how to handle their finances.
7. I will support locally made products and competitive Filipino enterprises.
8. I will manage my budget and debt proactively.
9. I will not spend on things that are not needed in order to have a 3 months cash reserve.
10. I will always spend money that will have a positive impact on my family and my community.

(You may share this DECLARATION OF FINANCIAL EMPOWERMENT to all Filpinos you know around the world. Just acknowledge the author. You may e-mail me arnelcadelina@gmail.com )

Para sa QNHS section JPM get-together

CLOSING REMARKS
Ang high school daw ang pinakamasaya sa lahat kasi wala ka pang masyadong alalahanin sa buhay except lang magpacute sa crush at kung paano pagkakasyahin ang baon. Ang buhay natin sa Quezon High ay simple lang kasi mayroon tayong tinatawag na common denominator sabi ni Mr. Basañez. Ang pagkakatulad nating lahat ay galling tayo sa hirap. Maaring ilan sa atin ang may kaya ang pamilya noong panahon na iyon pero kung susuriin higit sa kalahati ang pumapasok na pamasahe lang ang baon.
Ang section na JPM ang mukha ng kabataang nagsisikap umahon sa kahirapan. Kung di ako nagkakamali lahat tayo pumasa sa NCEE. Lahat tayo ay nagsikap magaral sa kolehiyo, mayroon nag working student, mayroong pinagsabay ang kolehiyo at trabaho, at mayroong nagtrabaho muna bago nagkolehiyo.
Ang section na JPM ngayon ay iba na ang mukha. Bukod sa tayo ay tumaba at maaring tumaba din ang ating wallet. Pero ang hiling ko lang at maaring hiling ng lahat na sana ay huwag nating kalimutan ang ating pinanggalingan. Galing tayo sa hirap kaya dapat tayong tumulong sa nangangailangan.
Iba ang darating na 2009. Ito ang taon na madarama natin na ang ating kumpanyang pinagtratabuhan ay kaunti lang ang kikitain at kailangan nilang magtipid. Ang taong 2009 din ang taong ang mga negosyante ay madarama na ang kanilang customer ay kumokonti dahil din sa pagtitipid.
Ano ang kailangang gawin ng bawat isang JPM.
1. Sa mga kakaklase nating may negosyo huwag mahiyang humingi ng tulong sa bawat isa, Kung kailangan ninyo ng bagong customer sabihin sa yahoo group natin. Kung kailangan ng payo sa negosyo mag-email. Iwasan lang ang pag utang, alam nyo na ang resulta nyan pag hindi nagbayad. Huwag mahiyang i-announce kung anong klaseng negosyo mayroon ka at huwag ding mahiya na mag-endorse ng produkto.
2. Sa mga kakaklase nating nagtratrabaho sa mga kumpanya, doblehin ang sikap sa trabaho para hindi matanggal sa trabaho. Pumasok ng maaga at umuwi ng late. Laging bigyan ng impormasyon ang inyong mga boss para lagi kang maalala.
3. Pag mayroong bakanteng trabaho sa ating mga kumpanya, i-announce sa yahoo group. Tulungan natin ang naghahanap at maghahanap ng trabaho.
4. Pag mayroong parents, kapatid o sino mang mahal sa buhay na namayapa i-announce sa yahoo group para madalaw ng bawat isa. Mahigit na tayong 40, kailangan nating damahin ang pagmamahal ng bawat isa bago pa tayo tawagin.
5. Dapat mayroon tayong kumpletong directory ng bawat isa, Telephone number, cellphone number, address, kursong natapos o kung ano negosyo o expertise para madali ang ating komunikasyon.
6. Huwag kalimutan ang ating adviser na si mam JPM. Tayo lang ang nagpapasaya sa kanya. Lagi natin syang alalahanin kung mayroon tayong get-together.
7. Huwag nating kalimutan ang Quezon High. Kung kaya nating mag-ambagan ng P300 sa ating get-together, kaya din nating magdonate ng tig P200 sa isang taon para sa scholarship. Ang P8000 ay malaki ng bagay sa Quezon High.
Ang 2009 daw ang susubok sa katatagan ng bawat Filipino. Pero ang section JPM sigurado ako kaya natin itong lampasan, kasi galing tayo sa hirap at dahil ayaw na nating bumalik doon, nagigi tayong matapang na harapin ang anumang pagsubok sa buhay.
Salamat at mabuhay ang JPM!

8 Ways to Recession Proof the Filipinos

The corporate casualties are mounting: Lehman, AIG, Citigroup, Ford, Chrysler, GM. Countries are applying for loan: Iceland, Georgia and Pakistan to name a few. This is the recession we are now facing and it is wise to face the truth. The truth that life will be more difficult before it will get better.
In my beloved Lucena City where I am currently based, the word recession is known only to a very few people. These are the well read and those with investment in mutual funds and stocks. These few people, however , are already feeling the pinch because the value of their investment shrinks by 40%. You may correctly say that they are becoming poor as the days march.
How can we recession proof our family and our finances? Are there ways to shield us from this big R?
Some experts say yes but these experts are based in USA or in Europe and hardly apply to the Philippine environment. Let me share my views as my share to you my dear readers and to the million of Filipinos who are clueless at the moment:
1. Protect your job. This is the very first thing that you should do. This is the reason why you and your family are still eating 3 times a day. Do not be a candidate for retrenchment, lay-off or right-sizing. (Different words but same meaning: reducing company cost by firing employees). How will you protect yourself?. Do your job excellently, be an active contributor and surpassed your to-do-lists by doing more. Report early to work and stay late if necessary. Inform your boss of your accomplishments. There is no other way but to make yourself a brand that can be easily recalled.
2. Protect your health. All of us know that being hospitalized cost an arm and a leg. The hospitals will squeeze every penny that you have. It is better to buy healthy foods now than to buy medicines for your disease. Meat everyday? Think twice. Lambanog every night?.Noooooo way!.
3. Protect your wallet. What I mean is spend below your means. If you can follow the 10% rule of paying yourself first you can be in a better financial position than the rest who spend 100% of their income. Those who have discipline and can save 20% of their income you are part of the few Filipinos who knows how to protect their wallet.
4. Protect your investment. Those who are willing to buy stocks you will find the price so low that having a time horizon of 10-20 years will surely provide you a harvest of profit. Those who are willing to buy stock mutual fund this is the right time to invest. You just practice peso-averaging. Those having stocks and mutual funds right now, I sympathize with you for suffering heavy losses. But if you need the money for the next 20 years, why weep? Time is on your side.
5. Protect yourself. If you have children below 15 years old it is a must for you to have insurance. You don’t need the expensive whole life insurance. Term insurance will do and it is cheap. How will your family survived if you will be hit by a lightning while reading this article?.
6. Protect your home and love ones. Be sure that you are drinking clean water and eating food not heavily exposed to chemicals. Maintaining your house to make it a sanctuary of peace and love is a necessity. If you can repair your house to save money do so. But if you don’t have the skills and safety is not assured outsource it to the expert. Just make sure they will not over charge you. It is a paramount to have a house where you can recharge your body and it is only possible if the roof is not leaking.
7. Protect your faith. In this time of uncertainty you should be certain on your faith. Those people who profess that they belong to a religious group have s strong tendency to carry on despite any kind of difficulty. The power of prayer can move mountain, heck, it may move the value of your stocks also.
8. Protect your skills. In this era of technology, skills are kings. The more skills a person have the more chance of earning more money. Err on the side of the kings, get more skills.
If you are paid to think protect your brain. Read a lot about your trade, perfect your grammar, learn how to pronounce properly, learn how to present your ideas and yes answer that Soduko. Likewise if you are paid to use your hands protect it by all means necessary. Wear safety gloves, rest it when you are tired and make sure to make your fingers intact because severing it will make your employer think twice of keeping you. Whatever your source of power and income it is absolutely wise to nurture it.

Always,

Arnel L. Cadeliña

(You may e-mail the author at arnelcadelina@gmail.com)

In Defense of the Teaching Profession

Many people, noticeably parents who seek good teachers for their children, despised the teaching profession. They mocked the measly salary of the teachers though they are the most honest professionals I ever met. They scoffed the teachers uniforms though they are highly respectable than the Generals and the politicians. They laugh at the long hours the teachers spend preparing their lessons though they are silent when corrupt people extorted money from them.

These are the warped values some parents possessed.

They want the best teachers for their children but they turn their nose up at the teachers who spend on the average 8 hours everyday to help their children understand the world. These parents are the same earthlings who bashed the teaching profession.
Where did this prejudice came from?.

I am a product of public school from elementary to high school. The teachers I met retired, most of them, with a little retirement pay. But their care and teachings are imprinted in my mind that they are never erased by anybody or by any circumstances.

In other country specifically the Scandinavians countries, the teachers are highly respected and better paid because their government and their people knows the tremendous effect of the teachers to mold their future scientists and businessmen. All kinds of benefits and accolades are given to them because they know that without them they surely will not come out with world class products like Nokia, Ericsson and Volvo. They know that teachers play an important role in hitting their GNP, GDP and Per Capita target.

In this country, the true heroes are the OFW’s and the Teachers. But the teachers should be rank higher because they can make a President or scientist out of our children.

But if some parents continually scorned them, that the hurting sinks deep, I will not be surprised with the result………… zombies out of their little emperors with a brain size of a pea.

You may e-mail the author at arnelcadelina@gmail.com

Back to Thriftiness

Back to Thriftiness
“ It’s a belt tightening out of necessity, but I predict and hope that one would begin to embrace thrift as a path to sustainable prosperity…It’s not just poorer people or lower middle class. This is an across the board effort to get your house in order for the seven lean years”. David Blankenhorn of Thrift: a Cyclopedia.

The financial crisis sweeping the globe is changing the habit of the Americans. Gone are the days of buying whimsically anything that suits their taste. “Eating in the fancy restaurant?”. Later. “Buying Gucci?. Not today. “Plasma TV?”. No way. “New car?”. Kidding me.
What is happening now awaken the Americans that they are drowning in the sea of debt. The Americans saving rate is zero. They are over leveraged by $1 to $33.(Meaning for every dollar they earned they borrowed $33.). They have no choice now but to be thrifty or else they will go bankrupt.
They are now feeling the pain of their unregulated market fuelled by credit cards.
For the Filipinos who are not earning much as the Americans we are also suffering but on a different level. But it is also time to visit the value of thriftiness.
Our ancestors before the Europeans came have a high regard on thriftiness. Somewhere along the way it got lost. It is time to instill it back to our minds and to our souls.
Before buying any high ticket items such as appliances or car. Save First and be thrifty.
Before your 10 month old baby go to college. Save First and be thrifty.
Before you get married. Save First and be thrifty.
Start with you. We can not find a real good role model.
The government?. Sorry. Our government is one expensive and one of the most inefficient in Asia. If you will take seriously the controversial Macapagal Boulevard, the fertilizer scam, the Eurogenerals and the countless charges thrown at Malacañang you can conclude the absence of thriftiness and self-restraint.
The church? Hmmm. Maybe. But how can you reconcile it when the youth sees their Bishop,Minister or pastor driving a P1M car.
The job losses rampaging in America will hit our shore sooner or later. The announcement of CITIGROUP that they will axe up to 52,000 jobs including their Philippine unit is a testimony that we will not be spared.
Thriftiness is not an option but a necessity.
We have nowhere else to go but up and thriftiness will carry us there.

You may e-mail the author at arnelcadelina@gmail.com

Galoc Oil

In the land of misery, one good news will make you ecstatic. The discovery of oil in Galoc, Palawan is one news that could be considered a blessing that somewhat help in easing the pain of the soul and of the body.
According to the Department of Energy the Galoc Oil Field is expected to produce an average of 17,000-20,000 barrels of crude oil DAILY, equivalent to about 6% of the country's requirement.
This means the country will save millions of dollars in import costs.
PETRON is the first buyer of the crude oil from Galoc.
The question now is how the government will spend the savings. Hope the next President will allocate it to the improvement of education.

Forecast for 2009

Next year is the year of living dangerously. The wall street and main street bloodbath will hit the bottom and everyone breathing in this planet will be shaking their head in accepting the fact that the day of stock gains and profit boom will not return quickly.
Here are my forecasts:
1. The new U.S. president will find it difficult to reverse the damaged done by the subprime, housing and investment crisis. He will be more insular protecting the economy of U.S. rather than giving aid to the other country. We will expect the new U.S. president to create jobs for the Americans (of course!) hence deportation for illegal immigrants and tighten entry of new ones.
2. There will be less remittance going to the Philippines if there will be retrenchment next year. If the companies in U.S. and Europe start to tighten their belts in order to survive the first thing that they will do is to cut operational costs. They will not hesitate to fire employees. Call centers, shipping, logistics, air lines, tourism will be the first to be hit by this belt tightening.
3. The $700 B package approved by Bush will not stimulate financial credit and there will companies that will still go under. Companies who borrowed in dollars and whose loan will mature for the next 3 years will find his boat rocking ferociously. With the advent of less customers and higher interest rate, it can bring the boat down.
4. Jobs will be available for those who got skills that others do not have.Technical skills will be favored instead of a sloppy college degrees from a sloppy colleges.Skills in electrical , electronics, automation, alternative energy, design will be highly sought by selective employers.
5. Philippines will still find itself in the bottom of the economic heap in southeast asia. The perception of corruption, poor infrastructure and low quality of education are issues that can not be erased by the current Malacañang occupants. She will be at the helm until 2010 and we have nothing to do but pray.
6. The Philippine economy is saved by the remittance of OFW. There will be less inflow of dollar or euro investment next year and the stock market will still be in the bear mode.
7. The Filipino family will find it more difficult to send their children to college. With the continuos rising cost of food, transportation,and utilities every filipino family will face a tremendous challege in 2009.
The predictions may sound gloomy but it is what I perceived as the reality of 2009.
But predictions are predictions.
It may come true or it may not. Still the future is in our hands and the antidote for gloomy things are actions.
Yes Og Mandino is right. It is better to act than be an spectators.
Let your nose be bloodied.

Arnel

Quezon Del Sur

Last July 2, 2007, I wrote in this blog my opposition on the partition of Quezon.Next month Quezonians will vote in a plebiscite to decide if we adhere on dividing Quezon into two.
Quezon politicians and the church (no less than the Bishop) are involve and the people are starting to get confused.
Understanding the herd mentality of Quezonians, many will vote based on what their politicos or priests endorsed.
It is time for the people of Quezon to vote based on the merit of the proposal and decide what is good for the province.
These are the 7 questions that we should answer before voting. Scrutinize if the questions are explained to you.

1. There is direct evidence judging from existing data that dividing provinces will spur economic progress. Yes ( ) No ( ).
2. There is a research done by economists that dividing Quezon into two will mean less bureucracy, less headcount, less capital and operational expenditures and less corruption. Yes ( ) No ( ).
3. There is a research done by DOLE or any independent firm that dividing Quezon will mean additional jobs locally. Yes ( ) No ( ).
4. There is a research done by DTI or any independent firm that dividing Quezon will create more small and high scale industries. Yes ( ) No ( ).
5. There is direct evidence based on an intensive research that dividing Quezon will transform Quezonians into a hardworking and enterprenuerial people. Yes ( ) No ( ).
6. There is a direct evidence based on intensive research that dividing Quezon will produce political and economic leaders that will put Quezon Province interest first. Yes ( ) No ( ).
7. There is a direct evidence based on intensive research that dividing quezon will attract local and foreign investments. Yes ( ) No ( ).
Check your answer:
6-7 No ----- Ditch the proposal.
4-5 No ----- Again ditch the proposal.
1-3 No ----- Maybe you can vote Yes but can you handle the truth?

Go out and vote.
You are given the freedom to send this article to anybody, to everybody who will vote on the November plebiscite.

David H. Maister

Today I would like to feature one thinker that influences me. Mr. David H. Maister, one of the world’s leading authorities on the management of professional service firms.

In 2002, he was identified as one of the top 40 business thinkers in the world (BUSINESS MINDS, Financial Times/Prentice Hall.)

For twenty-five years he has advised firms in a broad spectrum of professions, covering all strategic and managerial issues, building a global practice that finds him spending about 40% of his time in North America, 30% in western Europe, and 30% in the rest of the world.


A native of Great Britain, David holds degrees from the University of Birmingham, the London School of Economics and a doctorate from the Harvard Business School.

He began his teaching career at the University of British Columbia, Canada, and then joined the Harvard Business School faculty, where he taught courses in managing service businesses from 1979 until 1985.

One of the research that Maister contributed for business that catapult him one the helm of my favorite thinker is the 9 Statements for business to profit. These 9 are:

1. Client satisfaction is a top priority at our firm.
2. We have no room for those who put their personal agenda ahead of the interests of the clients or the office.
3. Those who contribute most to the overall success of the office are the most highly rewarded.
4. Management gets the best work out of everybody in the office.
5. Around here, you are required not just encouraged, to learn and develop new skills.
6. We invest a significant amount of time in things that will pay off in the future.
7. People within our office alwyas treat others with respect.
8. The quality of supervision on client projects is uniformly high.
9. The quality of the professionals in our office is as high as can be expected.
If you notice Maister is very particular on employee attitude as we all know it can make or break the organization.
Cheers to Maister!

WORLD DAY FOR DECENT WORK

Today, October 7, 2008, is designated by UN as “World Day for Decent Work”. For all Filipino workers toiling in the Philippines and other countries, we all have one aim and that is to lift ourselves and our family from the pangs poverty and hunger. It is our aspiration in our working lives to have a decent work that is productive and provide fair income. We long for security in the workplace that we can not be fired unjustifiably. We aspire for a social protection that will help us when we are old. We look for decent job that provide us personal development and an environment where we can express our concerns without being penalized. These are what decent work means to all of us.
But sadly the global financial crisis will result in tossing the meaning of decent work and making us accept or be grateful in having any kind of work at all. Our working class is stuck in the survival mode since the founding of the country.
We need to pass the survival mode and jump to creative/inventive mode in order for us to have a decent work that will help us develop self-respect.
Having any kind of work just to survive is a survival mode hence not a good work because it does not bring self-respect. It does not give a degree of autonomy.
I am praying for a day when all of Filipinos are enjoying the creative/inventive era where Filipinos are not treated by their employers as a resource or a commodity that can be manipulated.
(you may e-mail the author at lenra1967@yahoo.com)

DOMINO EFFECT

We always think that Saving for college is priority for Filipino parents, right? Wrong. Almost 80% of parents I interviewed said that they spent more on transportation and foods than they set aside for college.
Parents are borrowing more than ever to put food in their table than savings for college. Over the past five years the cost of tuition fees rose by the average of 10% annually. It is very common to pay P45,000 per semester in UST, P60,000 per semester in ADMU and DLSU and P20,000 in UPDiliman. The high cost of college became a heavy burden for a Filipino family that hinders them in sending their children to the “best” school. The moneyed class has no problem because they can pay but they did not know that the current situation is an injustice that will haunt them also.
The high cost of tuition fees prolong the rule of the elites and fail to uplift the masses out of the debilitating poverty. It is only education that will equalize everything and it is not happening right now.
Whether the elite graduate from his elite schools and he is surrounded by people of abject poverty these elite will also be affected economically. The purchasing power of the people surrounding him is low that the chance of setting up and succeeding in business becomes highly unlikely. If they work in a corporation they can not get a high salary because his company has few customers to attract.
In short, lifting the poor out of poverty will benefit all of us economically. The poor who rose out of poverty will construct their own house, send their children in private school, spend their money in the mall, and employ people. It is a domino effect.
Here’s a thought: Skills are now much needed for the country to survive. A country that possesses skills and knowledge has comparative advantage to those who have none. This will make the country powerful and the people more productive. If we deny or will not provide the skills and knowledge to the masses we will always be at the bottom of the heap, economically.
(you may e-mail the author at lenra1967@yahoo.com)

Ateneo vs La Salle

Many people are asking me why Ateneo and La Salle UAAP basketball championship hogged the headlines of national newspapers for the past weeks. They add that why other universities did not merit the same attention as these two elite private school.
There is only one reason why this two universities captured the print and broadcast media: their die-hard ALUMNI.
These alumni enjoyed their stay in their universities, they are trained to love their school and to treat one another as a member of one big family. That is why you can see on the banner of Ateneo the slogan "One Big Fight" and to La Salle "Animo La Salle". It is common to notice that they treated one another as fraternity or sorority eventhough they do not belong to any Greek letter organization. If you notice every game they sing their alma mater win or lose.
Other colleges and universities can mimic the ADMU and DLSU technique: love your future alumni. If you train your students well, teach them the best by providing the best teachers ,love them irregardless of their shortcomings, and show them how to be proud product of your school, you will never go wrong. Once they are working and earning money they will come back to you even without invitation.
You can produced the like of Pangilinan and Razon who by loving their school donated a gymnasium to their respective alma mater.
So the secret is out: have a die-hard alumni.

Wall Street Bloodbath

All of you knows that there is a bloodbath going on wall street nowadays. Thousands of jobs are lost because of Lehman Brothers brancruptcy and the bail out of AIG. The ripples of these corporate failures reverberate around the world including the Philippines. The stocks are down in the country, hot money flowing out and investment in the all time low.
What happened in America is the result of their lifestyle wherein they borrowed a lot of money in order to live too comfortably. The banks and other investment entities smelling profit from the American consumers lend a lot of money even without collateral. This loan is what they call NINJA loan meaning lending money to people with No Income, No Job and Assets. It is the ultimate recipe for failure. Because of this greediness, the Americans are suffering the pain of losing their homes, their jobs and their standing in the world.
In this country this NINJA loans will not happen because our banking system is too conservative. The threat in our country is not what is happening in America but what is happening inside.
The politicians have no concrete plans to stave off inflation.They are busy spending their time debating on insertion and C-5 contreversy. What a curse!
The economists are in illusion that the government is ready on Americas depression. We are not. With the Americans tighthening their belt, there will be less investment, remittance and business going to the country. Do we hear a concrete plan?. Without the OFW money that fueling consumption we will be already on our knees.
This is the time for all the Filipino families to help one another. Let us go back to basic and enjoy everything without spending a lot of money.
We are in a situation like the Japanese in the '50s. They are hungry not only for food but for respect. Then they act relentlessly from the top echelons of the government to the street sweeper in rebuilding their country.
Do we have a tenacity to do it?

Mentors

(Picture courtesy of cartoonstock.com. Thanks!)
In my working life, I am very fortunate to have a lot of mentors that helped shaped my career and my life.
These mentors made me realized that in order to be relevant to this world hard work is not enough. They taught me that people come first and dignity of the person should be upholded always.
My first mentor was Mr. Cesar V. Almendras. The man is amazing when he is dealing with customers. He is the Pag-IBIG Lucena manager who treats clients as a real Kings and Queens. It is very common to find him walking around the office to see that all employees adhere to the common purpose of serving the customers. Later I found out in my MBA that Mr. Almendras’ style is what we called Management by Walking Around (MBWA). It was my first job and in my 3 years of stay at Pag-IBIG Fund, Mr. Almendras taught me the proper way to delight customers.
When I transferred to Ayala, Makati in Pilipino Telephone Corporation (PILTEL), I was even allowed by Mr. Almendras to file a leave of absence first and resign only if I feel that I fit in my new company. The man is amazing!.
My new company then is a sister company of PLDT. That time we are launching the first cellular phones in the country. The pace of work is different and stress is part of the territory. In PILTEL output is paramount. We work early and stay late. Working in a big company means better pay but the work is damn demanding. The bosses will not accept excuses and everybody is required to deliver. The Damocles sword is always in your head that you feel you can be fired anytime if you fall short of what is needed. In this big company one advantage is having numerous mentors who are expert on their fields.
One of them is Mr. Tony Ramirez. He is the HR Manager and I was under him. My unit is General Services and my job is to handle building administration, janitors, security, fleet and insurance. Mr. Ramirez is very passionate on written communication. It is very common that he issues memorandum and policies on a weekly basis. He required us to make policies and procedures and he is relentless on following it up. I wrote more than 20 HR and Administrative policies and that 20 were subjected to frequent revision, consultation before he signed it. The standard of the man is very high that he himself edited the policies before endorsing to the VP. Mr. Ramirez taught me that I need to put in writing all that is relevant to the organization. To Do Lists, Weekly report, monthly report and to report all of them orally became my ordinary activity. To express my views without being penalized was his legacy to me.
My supervisor in PILTEL was Noel Dacanay. A graduate of Cebu Institute of Technology. Noel is a mechanical engineer who guided me in the intricacies of building administration. The man is simple and very supportive. I made mistakes but he always understand me. Noel taught me that being simple, reliable and understanding worker were the traits of a good supervisor. I will never forget his kindness.
After Mr. Ramirez was promoted, a new manager arrived. His name is Bayani M. Castro, son of the famous Dakila Castro. The man is very good in numbers and costings. His forte is Administration and to him I learn that in order to be a good administrator I should be good in details. It is in the details where company succeed or fail. He never approved what is not necessary and negotiation on the prices should be the norm. Being cost conscious and always thinking what is beneficial to the company were his legacy to me.
In my current works, three nuns I considered my holy mentors.
Sr. Letty Garcia, DC was the former president of Sacred Heart College. She is a nun who believed that every person possessed talent that should be utilized and compensated properly. Her unflinching belief in my ability helped me work harder that I never done before. Her constant teaching about family and her large collection of rare books which I was allowed to borrow were another significant and unforgettable moment in my working life.
Sr. Rebecca Felizardo, DC was the former Dean of Sacred Heart College. She is instrumental of my good performance as a Chairperson. Although our professional relationship is short I learn from her the value of forgiveness and dedication.
Sr. Remedios T. Tidor, DC my current VP practices what she believes in and always thinking that dignity of a person is more important than anything else. She is a nun who trusts her people and as return her people remember her even though she is reassigned to other mission. They have a vow of mobility but this do not prohibit her to be an active administrator.
These mentors of mine made my working life colorful and meaningful which made the work related problems not a burden but a temporary cross that I should carry and move on with confidence of a good future.

INVESTING THE FILIPINO WAY

I received numerous e-mail requesting ideas on how to invest their money, the Filipino way.
It is a given that we are different from the western countries in terms of economy and availability of investment opportunity.
In the U.S. of A. alone there are thousand mutual funds while in our country we have less than 20.
In the U.S., there are blue-chip growth funds, emerging market stock funds, international aggressive fund, targeted retirement fund, KEOGH, 401 etc. In our country we have none of these kinds.
It is very obvious that the investment opportunities for Filipinos are very, very limited.
In order to enter and survive the Philippine Stock market, a typical Filipino investor need to buy 12 stocks . This is very difficult to a common investor because it will costs him more than P500,000. For the majority of us it is not only difficult but impossible to raise P500,000.
So how will we enter the stock market and buy a dozen stocks without raising P500,000?.
First, invest in INDEX FUND that will automatically give you a stake in more than a dozen companies. The index fund will guarantee a piece of best performing stock that already exists or might emerge later and more important it will give you adequate diversification. You may read BUSINESSWORLD newspaper to check the list of index fund as a starting point. The Index Fund should cover 90% of your investing money.
The remaining 10% should be invested in stocks. Surf www.citiseconline.com.ph as another starting point.
This technique will give you the joy of investing and at the same time minimize risks and maximize hope for profits.
My best regard to all my blog readers.