Author Archives: Issa

Elections, Philippine Style

May 10 7:28 pm ,

Dawning of a New Day

Last night, I did not know what to expect.

My mind was filled with doomsday scenarios.  After all, it is election time in present day Philippines.  It is the first automated voting in the country, which was precipitated by calls for manual counting – the PCOS (precinct count optical scan) machines from Smartmatic were conking out, the mock elections (the rehearsals) did not go as expected, the practice votes were not counted accurately – and then there was the usual election fare – mud slinging, vote buying, violence.

The election bug bit long and it bit hard, raising the temperature of the country to fever pitch.

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Posted in: Life Stories, The Philippines , Tagged: , , , , , , ,

If You Are in Business, Why Customer Service Should be Your Priority

April 30 6:00 pm ,

With A Smile

I was surprised by a frantic call from my home resort, the company where I bought my timeshare.

They were threatened to be exposed on national television of being a scam.  Being an attorney for the leading broadcasting station, they wanted me to speak on their behalf, to do some sort of a testimony, to talk to their client and allay the client’s fears (and silence his threats).

I told them I could not.  I was not happy with them.

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Posted in: Financial Education, The Basics of Finance, Travel , Tagged: , , , , , , ,

Be in Business, Rock the Boat

April 29 5:51 pm ,

 

Getting There

I am not really a business woman.

At least I did not start out thinking that I could be one.

All I know is how to be an employee.  I was trained to think that way in school.  I was not really aware but I was being groomed to become a top employee, the crème de la crème so that top companies will fight for me come graduation.  My grades were my mirrors, and they were supposed to mirror me in top form so at least I will be considered.  I was taught to follow all the rules, to take it all in and not ask, to be gracious and grateful, because I need these companies more than they need me.

It was my destiny.

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Posted in: Financial Education, The Basics of Finance , Tagged: , , ,

Memories of Richie Rich

April 25 5:40 pm ,

 

Window to the Past

I admit.  I just recently read worldwide phenomenon Neil Gaiman and the first of his Sandman series.

I do not know if it was because I was pregnant, but my reading of it was occupied by vivid, haunted dreams.  I am not sure if I will be able to read the rest of the series (sorry, Gaiman fans).  Just wrong timing maybe.  And hubby says he (or his artist) has since has developed the graphics for it.  Because that was what made it a little horrible for me.  Okay, the ideas it germinated too.

But having that comic book in my hands made me think of the comic book that launched dreams of riches in my head.

Richie Rich.

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Posted in: Children's Stories, The Beginning , Tagged: , , ,

Hoarding Emails (and Letting Go)

April 22 9:04 am ,

Simplify

I was getting tired of seeing 5,600+ unread mail in my mailbox.  What’s funny is I am also being bombarded with emails that say I should simplify my life.

So I did.

But it is harder than I thought.

As of press time, I still have 3,089 unread emails.  And it is growing by 50 a day.

I am confounded as to why my unread emails became that much.  I am usually overly zealous at reading what’s up in my world and everyone else’s.  Looking at my 2008 emails (Gmail has allowed me to keep them), I saw that I had read each and every one.  I do not know what happened between then and now.

Maybe it’s just that I am a sucker for enlisting for products and services.  In early 2009, I was so big on personal finance and internet marketing that I had signed up for those websites and people my mentors recommended – Schefren, Daily Wealth, Daily Crux, Morningstar, Napoleon Hill, Bob Proctor, League of Extraordinary Minds, Carl Ocab and many more other websites.  I seriously think this is the time when my emails ballooned to unimaginable and my life went from simple to crazy-exciting.

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Posted in: Life Stories , Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

(Not) Growing Up Hungry

April 14 5:09 pm ,

St(r)oking the Dragon

I could not believe it.

We were at a store.   I knew she needed shoes.  I knew she has been needing them every now and then because her feet are getting big at least every two days.  I led her to a store, with prices ranging from $30 to $40.  I told her, “Choose whatever you want, hon.”  She looked around, tried some on, looked at the prices and then sat down by me.  “I don’t want to, mom.  They’re too expensive.”  I looked at her aghast and wondered what I would have said if my own mother offered me a buffet of shoes.  I would probably have 5 in hand in 5 minutes.  It’s just that it never happened.  And now I have here my own daughter who can have every shoes she wanted, at any price, and then she tells me no.

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Posted in: Children's Stories, Financial Education, Life Stories , Tagged: , ,

Waiting for the Apple to Fall

April 8 1:42 pm ,

 

Life in All Its Colors

If you want to make a ripple, touch the water.

Some people are impatient.  They do not wait for things to happen to them – they make things happen.  They take chances.  They conquer their inner demons, prepare, not leave things to chance, leap.  They cannot be accused of being a victim (or a beneficiary) of circumstance.

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Posted in: Financial Education, Life Stories , Tagged: , , , , , ,

To Foreclose or Not to Foreclose: Short Sales and Jedi Mind Tricks (Part 3)

March 30 7:38 pm ,

 

Play Mind Tricks

You think, “I cannot do this anymore.  It is crazy.  There is no hope for this economy.  I cannot hold on any longer.  I am sinking.  I need to foreclose now.  I will do it.”

But wait! 

At the back of your mind, you are thinking – is there another option?  Options?  You are thinking – I think I may have heard of something. 

There is one: through a short sale.  But again, it is not that simple.

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Posted in: Consumer Protection, Financial Education, Financial Planning, The Basics of Finance , Tagged: , , ,