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The True Cost of Ignorance

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by: Arthur Noel B. Ladaga

Twenty four hours ago, the entire country was in grave shock regarding a huge financial scam. Aman Futures Trading Group, a fraudulent investment company that operated in Pagadian City, was reported to have gotten away with P12 billion and left the country. The proper authorities are continuously tracking down the culprits hoping to bring them to justice. Department of Justice Secretary Leila de Lima recently ordered the Bureau of Investigation to continue its search for the culprits, especially its leader Manuel Amalilo.

Ever since August of this year, the people of Pagadian City had been clamoring to have their money return to them. Blinded by a false promise that their money will double in a couple of days, most people “took the opportunity” immediately without properly assessing the investment as a whole. After just a few days, all of their money just vanished like thin smoke. Some are still hoping that it will be returned and the culprits be brought to justice. Others have locked themselves into deep hopelessness and despair.

Armand Q. Bengco, the Executive Director of the Colayco Foundation for Education, shares his thoughts behind the recent “financial tragedy.” According to him, the tragedy can be explained in two words: FINANCIAL IGNORANCE. One of the basics of investing is that an investment opportunity that is “too good to be true” should be avoided AT ALL COSTS. If it promises returns that are beyond the normal, it is often too good to be true.

He also highlighted the real definition of investing. “Investing is a commitment to use money to expect, hope, or pray to make more money based on a long term goal,” he said. Investing also involves knowing one’s purpose, target, and time even before starting. Knowing one’s financial objectives gives direction to any investing endeavor. Without it, any investing effort is likened to blind spending!

The most important thing to remember, according to Mr. Bengco, is becoming a risk-focused investor. What ultimately determines an investment’s success is not the return it gives but how it is managed. People nowadays are blinded with false promises of high returns that they do not concern themselves with the risks. If something unfortunate happens to their investment, they suffer greatly. Managing the risks helps achieve a higher average of returns in the long run. It also mitigates the possible risks that might occur.

Just a few hours ago, the Philippine Daily Inquirer reported that a retired teacher from Pagadian City committed suicide. Burdened with the realization that he lost so much money, he decided to end everything in an instant. Poverty has a strong grip in the hearts and minds of many people. They are willing to sacrifice almost anything just to get away from it. When a “promising opportunity” comes to them, they grab it immediately without proper assessment. And when they realized that it was a false promise, they end up worse than before.

Poverty may be the torturer to most people, but it is FINANCIAL IGNORANCE that ultimately kills. FINANCIAL LITERACY is the primary remedy to combat FINANCIAL IGNORANCE and prevent such a financial tragedy from happening again!

FIGHT FINANCIAL IGNORANCE NOW! Want to have a financial seminar to your community or work place? Call 637-3731 or 637-3741. Look for Mr. James Gonzales for more details.

Sources:
Alipala, J., & Umel, R. (2012). Teacher kills self after losing all his money in scam. Inquirer Global Nation. Retrieved from http://globalnation.inquirer.net/56146/teacher-kills-self-after-losing-all-his-money-in-scam?ModPagespeed=noscript

Carvajal, N. C. (2012). Thousands duped in P12-billion scam. Inquirer Global Nation. Retrieved from http://globalnation.inquirer.net/56132/thousands-gypped-in-p12-billion-scam?ModPagespeed=noscript

Arthur Noel B. Ladaga is the current Programs Officer of Colayco Foundation for Education Inc.

Back to School Business Nuggets

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Are you a current entrepreneur having trouble managing your business?

Or are you someone aspiring to have and manage you own business but do not know where to start?

Then prepare yourself to digest  some business nuggets from Mr. Armand Q. Bengco. Though at his forties he decided to go back to school to further learn the ropes of being a successful and effective entrepreneur. You will be nourished from Mr. Bengco’s simple yet powerful realizations from going back to school!

Armand Q. Bengco is the current Executive Director of the Colayco Foundation for Education, Inc. and the General Manager of Kapatiran sa Kasaganaan Service & Multi-purpose Cooperative (KSK-SMP Coop).  He is one of the hosts of Pisobilities in GNN and a resource person in RHTV’s Pera Pera Lang Iyan. He regularly conducts financial seminars and workshops in line with the foundation’s advocacy.

Arthur Noel B. Ladaga is the current Programs Officer of the Colayco Foundation for Education, Inc.

Ang Proyektong Condotel ng KSK Coop

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Si EN, isang OFW, ay interesadong malaman kung mas maganda bang investment ang condotel kaysa sa mutual funds. Ipinaliwanag ko na isang long-term investment ang condotel at hindi ito kasing daling ibenta at gawing cash muli gaya ng mutual fund. Sa ibang salita, hindi kasing “liquid” ang condotel. Pero, ang aming KskCoop condotel project ay may espesyal na katangian na nagbibigay solusyon sa usapin ng liquidity.

Isang condominium-type na gusali ang proyektong ito at pwede itong magsibi bilang residensyal na unit, o unit na nakalaan sa operasyon ng hotel. Isa itong solusyon para mapakinabangan ang potensyal ng isang lupa na malapit sa Makati business district. Layunin naming lumikha ng isang negosyo na makakatulong sa mga investor at sa lokal na komunidad, upang makatulong sa pag-ahon ng lungsod at sa pag-angat ng kita ng lahat ng taong kasapi sa proyekto.

Nasa sulok ng Evangelista St. at Del Pilar sa Bangkal, Makati ang proyekto namin. Nasa hilaga ng EDSA ang Bangkal at madaling maabot mula sa EDSA. Malapit ito sa hangganan ng Makati at Pasay. Napakaganda ng lokasyon para sa mga lokal na negosyante, mga propesyunal, dayuhan at lokal na manlalakbay na nangangailangan ng abot-kayang hotel.

Ayon sa disenyo ng proyekto, may mga bahaging may apat na palapag, ang ilang bahagi naman ay may walong palapag. Mayroong 68 na residential unit na dinisenyo sa paraang magagamit din bilang apartment o budget hotel. Espesyal na katangian ito na hindi laging makikita sa ibang condotel. Walang sariling karanasan ang KskCoop sa pagpapatakbo ng hotel. Kaya naman kukunin namin ang ng isang magaling na condotel management company para patakbuhin ang condotel. Pupunuan ang pangangailangan sa tao at serbisyo sa pamamagitan ng mga miyembro ng KsKCoop,  lokal na establisimiyento, at sa pakikipagtulungan sa lokal na barangay.

Nagbibigay ang proyektong ito ng pangmatagalang investment sa mas abot-kayang halaga, tuluy-tuloy na kita, garantisadong rate of return, at depensa laban sa panganib.  Hindi kailangan ng mga member-investors ng KsKCoop na bumili ng isang buong condominium unit; kailangan lang nilang bumili ng shares ng buong proyekto. Dahil dito, hindi kailangan ng napakalaking halaga para makasali. Makakatanggap ang mga member-investors ng minimum na garantisadong kita na hindi bababa sa 4% kada taon sa loob ng sampung taon simula sa ikatlong taon ng investment.  Posibleng tumaas pa kaysa sa 4% depende sa kita ng proyekto. Napakagandang pagkakataon ito sa mga member-investors para mabalanse ang kanilang portfolio at ikalat ang kanilang panganib.

Pwede lamang sumali sa proyekto matapos dumalo sa isang maiksing seminar kung saan ipapaliwanag lahat ng detalye. Isa itong magandang pagkakataon para sa mga lokal na negosyo upang umunlad para sa ikabubuti ng komunidad at para malapago ang halaga ng pag-aari. Ang tagumpay ng proyektong ito ay magbibigay-daan sa mas marami pang investment sa hinaharap.

Bumisita sa www.kskcoop.com o sumulat sa info@colaycofoundation.com para sa karagdagag impormasyon tungkol sa espesyal na oportunidad na ito.

Condotel vs Mutual Funds: Ano ba Mas Mabuti?

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Galing kay EN, isang OFW.

Gusto po naming humingi ng payo tungkol sa Condotels. Mas maganda ba ang mutual funds kaysa sa condotel? Iniisip naming mag-invest sa isang Tagaytay condo-hotel concept. Nag-alala kami kung tama ba na mag-invest sa condotel o mas mabuti pang sa mutual funds na lang.

Ito ang sagot ko kay EN:

Sana’y alam ninyo na bago pa man magdesisyon tungkol sa kahit anong investment, kailangang repasuhin ang inyong Statement of Assets and Liabilities (SAL) at ang inyong personal na planong pinansiyal. Baka kasi halos lahat ng investment ninyo ay nasa real estate na, kaya naman baka hindi na condotel ang tamang investment para sa inyo. Paano na lamang kung lahat ng inyong pera ay nasa real estate, at biglang humina ang buong industriya ng real estate? Mas mainam kung balanse ang inyong portfolio, para balanse rin ang mga panganib.

Posibleng parehong magandang investments and Mutual funds at condotel, depende sa inyong layunin sa pag-iinvest. Kailangang pag-aralan pareho nang mabuti. Pinakamainam ang Mutual Funds para sa mga regular na nag-iipon at nag-iinvest sa loob ng mahabang panahon. Kumikita ang investor kapag binenta ang shares sa halagang mas taas kaysa noong binili niya ang shares. Kapag nag-invest naman sa Condotel, posibleng tumaas din ang halaga ng condo units, pero nakadepende talaga ang kita sa dami ng mangungupahan o gagamit sa mga unit. Sa kasong ito, nakadepende ang tagumpay ng Condotel sa ilang espesipikong bagay gaya ng kalidad ng pagkakagawa sa condotel, serbisyo, lokasyon at dami ng kliyente. Samantalang nakadepende naman ang tagumpay ng mutual fund sa capital market o sa ekonomiya ng buong bansa.

Tatalakayin uli sa mga susunod na artikulo ang maganda at hindi magandang katangian ng pag-iinvest sa condominium, mutual funds, at ang sarili naming condotel project upang bigyan kayo ng ideya sa mga pwedeng pagpilian.

Malaki ang pinagkaiba ng Mutual Fund sa Condominium dahil ang Condominium ay hindi agad pwedeng ibenta anumang oras at gawing cash. Samantalang pwedeng ibenta ang mutual fund kahit kailan. Nakatali ang iyong pera sa condominium sa loob ng mahabang panahon, magtagumpay man ito o hindi. Kahit na maging maganda ang kinalabasan, kailangan ng panahon para maibenta ito gaya ng karaniwang real estate. Sa kabilang banda, madaling gawing cash muli ang mutual fund shares, kahit kumita ka man o hindi. Kung nagmamadali kang matutunan ang mutual fund, may mga seminar kaming pwede mong salihan kung gusto ninyong matutunan iyon sa ganoong paraan.

Kapareho ng aming proyekto sa KskCoop ang nabanggit mong proyekto sa Tagaytay – isang kombinasyon ng Hotel at Condominium. Medyo mas kumplikado ang pag-invest sa condo-hotel kaysa sa karaniwang condominium. Pinapasan mo ang panganib ng pag-iinvest sa condo at sa hotel. Mas mainam na patakbuhin ang hotel ng mga taong may karanasan. Siyempre matuturing din na hotel ang mga maliit na “bed and breakfast inn”. Pwede itong patakbuhin ng kahit sino basta’t maayos ang pamamahala sa bahay. Pero ang binanggit mong hotel ay isang totoong hotel. Sa aking pagkakaintindi, ginagawang hotel ang buong condominium. Kung kaya, ipaparenta  ng hotel management ang mga unit na pag-aari ng mga indibidwal na investor. Hindi ako pamilyar sa espesipikong Tagaytay Condotel na nabanggit mo pero may sarili kaming kaparehong proyekto na kasalukuyang isinasagawa na ng KsK Coop.

Bumisita sa www.kskcoop.com, mag-email sa kskcoop@colaycofoundation.com o tumawag sa 631-4446 para sa karagdagang impormasyon

PAG-IIMPOK: Ang Ating Puhunan sa Kasaganaan

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Ni Melchor V. Cayabyab
                   Gaano man kalaki ang kita natin sa ngayon ay mauuwi din ito sa wala kung hindi tayo magiging masinop. Marami ng patunay dito. Mga artista na sumikat na kumita ng milyones na ng malaos ay balik sa paghihikahos. Mga nanalo ng jackpot sa lotto na matapos ang ilang taon ay balik sa isang kahig, isang tukang pamumuhay! Nasaan ang pagkakamali? Ang pagkakamali ay wala sa kung gaano kalaki o kaliit ang ating kinita kundi kung paano pinamamahalaan ang ating buhay pinansyal partikular sa pag-iimpok. Ito ang pagtatabi ng ilang bahagi ng ating kita para sa hinaharap.
 
Bakit kailangang mag-impok?
             May tatlong pangunahing dahilan ayon sa financial expert na si Francisco Colayco. At upang matugunan ito ay kailangang mapunuan ang tatlong sisidlan: proteksyon, hangarin sa buhay at pagreretiro.
             Pag-iimpok para sa proteksyon sa buhay. Walang kasiguruhan ang buhay kaya nga kailangan paghandaan ang mga hindi inaasahan tulad ng kalamidad, sakit, pagkabaldado, pagkamatay o kahit ang simpleng pagkawala ng trabaho. Kabilang na dapat pinag-iipunan ay ang emergency fund na katumbas ng isang buwang kita, cash reserves na katumbas ng anim na buwang kita at iba’t-ibang insurance depende sa pangangailangan . Ilan sa atin ang mayroon nito? Kung wala tayo nito, magiging mahirap sa atin kapag may biglaang pangyayari! Mahihirapan tayong makabawi at makabangon.  
            Pag-iimpok para sa mga hangarin sa buhay. Motibasyon ito ng marami, ang makapag-ipon para sa mga hangarin natin sa buhay tulad ng edukasyon ng ating mga anak,  magandang bahay, kotse, pagbabakasyon at iba pa. Mahalagang matamo ang mga hangaring ito bilang bahagi ng ating fulfillment sa buhay. Ganunpaman ay sekundaryo ito kung ito sa ating protection fund at kung maaari ay manggagaling sa ating passive income.
           Pag-iimpok para sa ating retirement. Habang pinupunuan ang sisidlan ng proteksyon at hangarin sa buhay, mahalagang nagtatabi din para sa ating retirement. Ito ay paghahanda sa panahon na hindi  na natin kakayaning magtrabaho. Tinatayang 85% ng nagreretiro sa Pilipinas gaano man kalaki ang kinita  ay  walang sapat na impok para ipantustos sa kaniyang mga pangangailangan para sa natitira pa niyang buhay. Hindi sapapat ang makukuha sa SSS o GSIS. 
           Mas maagang magawa ito mas maganda! Mas maaga dahil mas mahaba ang panahon na ito ay mapaghahandaan. Mas maaga para mas  maagang makakapagretiro. Masarap naman na sa panahon na malakas pa tayo ay  nag-eenjoy na ng buhay retirado!  Mas mapapadali ito kung kasabay ng pag-iimpok ay maglalagak sa pamumuhunan. (tinalakay na natin sa naunang artikulo)
 Paano makakapag-impok?
               Madaling sabihin na madaling mag-impok pero ang katotohanan na iilan lamang ang tunay na mayroon nito ang magsasabi na hindi ito nagagawa ng marami. Katotohanan din ito,  maging sa mga  napakalaki ng mga kinikita ng mga nagdaang panahon. Bakit nga ba? Paano magsisimula?
               Tratuhin ang pag-iimpok na OBLIGASYON at HINDI OPTIONAL. Gaano man kaliit o kalaki ang kita ay gawin  ang pag-iimpok na obligasyon sa ating sarili. At dahil obligasyon ay bahagi ito ng ating gastusin  na hindi isinasantabi kung kailan lang naisin  o kung may matitira sa ating kinita. Ito ay gastusin na ipinambibili natin ng ating kasaganaan sa hinaharap.
              Unahing bayaran ang sarili. Ang pag-iimpok ay proteksiyon ng ating sarili. At ang ating sarili ang pinakamahalaga nating yaman kaya dapat unahin ang pagtatabi ng impok sa pagpasok ng kita at anumang tira ay siyang pagkakasyahin. Baliktarin ang nakagawiang pormula  na KITA-GASTUSIN= IMPOK. Gawin itong KITA-IMPOK= GASTUSIN, anumang tira matapos itabi ang IMPOK ay siyang pagkakasyahin.
              Mamuhay ayon sa kakayahan. Sa financial wellness, mamuhay ayon sa kita pagkatapos ibawas ang IMPOK. Kung magagawa natin ito ay inilalapit natin ang ating sarili sa kasaganaan. Kung mamuhay naman tayo ng UBOS BIYAYA at lagpas sa ating kakayahan ay ilulubog nito tayo sa KUMUNOY ng UTANG. Maaari naman ang pana-panahong luho tulad ng pagbabakasyon, pagkain sa labas, panonood ng sine at iba pa dahil kailangan natin ito para i-recharge ang ating mga sarili. Basta ito ay hindi galing sa utang at manggagaling kung maaari sa ating passive income.
 
              Delayed Gratiffication. Madalas kapag kumita tayo ay UBOS BIYAYA. Tandaan kapag lumalaki ang kita, ang tendensiya natin ay gumastos din ng malaki. Dapat kasabay ng paglaki ng kita ay ang paglaki din ng itinatabing impok. Kung maaari ay ipagpaliban ang agarang pagsasaya sa pagdating ng malaki-laking kita. Ang ating naitabi mula sa pagsasakripisyong ito at paglalagak nito sa tamang pamumuhunan ang magdadala sa atin sa kasaganaan! Nagtiis tayo ng  maikling panahon para sa pangmatagalang kasaganaan!
             Magplano at Magbadyet. Planuhin ang mga gastusin ayon sa ating kita. Kung maaari ay suriin ang mga gastusin optional. Magugulat tayo na ang laki ng ating gastusin sa mga ito. Kasunod nito ay pagbabadyet at seryosong pagsunod dito.
            Matutong tumanggi sa mga hindi makatwirang hiling ng mga mahal sa buhay. Kapur-puri ang pagmamalasakit sa mga mahal sa buhay subalit dapat ding isipin ang ating sariling kapakanan at kaligayahan. Tandaan na ang pagtanggi sa hindi makatwirang hiling ng mga kamag-anak ay hindi nangangahuluhugang hindi natin sila mahal kundi nais lamang natin na  masiguro ang ating kinabukasan. At ang katotohanan ay makapagbibigay  lamang tayo kung anong mayroon tayo.Paano tayo makapagbibigay kung sinasaid tayo ng kanilang mga kapritso?
           Turuan natin sila magkaroon ng diskarte at pagtrabahuan kung anuman ang nais nilang mabili. Sa ganitong paraan ay nakapag-impok na tayo ay naturuan pa natin silang manindigan sa kanilang buhay pinansyal.
             Palaguin ang ating impok. Padadaliin ang pagtahak  natin sa  landas ng kasaganaan kung mapapalago natin ang ating impok sa pamamagitan ng paglalagak sa “tamang pamumuhunan”. Anumang lagpas sa kinakailangang emergency at cash reserves fund ay dapat ipinamumuhunan at hindi lamang nakalagak sa simpleng savings’ account. Maiuturing itong tulog na pera kapag ito ay pinabayaan nating maburo sa bangko ng mahabang panahon.
                Kailangan nitong kumita ng lagpas sa inflation rate para hindi malugi. Ang risk ng pamumuhunan na papasukin ay depende sa ating sapat na kaalaman sa pamumuhunan at tagal ng pagreretiro. Mas maagang nag-impok, mas mahabang panahon bago magretiro ay may mas malaki ang pagkakataon na harapin ang risk ng anumang pamumuhunan.   
               Mag-umpisa na! Now na! Bawat pagpapaliban ng pag-iimpok ay pagpapataas ng panganib  na hindi natin marating ang  kasaganaan. Bawat piso na bigo nating maitabi ay napakalaki ng oportunidad na nawawala ! Ito ang oportunidad na kumita  at maagang pagreretiro ng masagana!
Melchor V. Cayabyab is an educator, an entrepreneur, and a Financial Wellness Advocate of Colayco Foundation. He has been teaching economics for more than ten years now. He was awarded the “Most Outstanding Teacher of Manila” in 2003. As an entrepreneur, he is a successful distributor of different food supplements. Last year, he established “AHON SA KAHIRAPAN”, a micro-lending cooperative that aims to lend money with very low interests and at the same time help its members learn how to manage their finances properly.

Tanya’s Notes on Pisobilities

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Last week, Armand Q. Bengco, Executive Director of Colayco Foundation conducted the Pisobilities talk to the employees of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas.  One participant, Tanya, shared with us a blog she wrote about it.

Notes on Pisobilities

I attended a talk by Mr. Armand Bengco yesterday on Pisobilities (Managing Personal Finance). He is a co-founder of the Colayco Foundation, a local firm advocating financial literacy towards financial freedom.

Mr. Armand’s presentation was lively and informative, esp. to beginners. But a financial literacy enthusiast like me was able to gain a few tips on refining my personal cash management.

Here are the tips I find useful:

1. Differentiate needs from wants. If you cannot persuasively justify the purchase as a necessity, it must be a want.

2. Develop your kids’ financial management skills. Only supply the necessities. Let them work/save/invest for wants. No class, no allowance. Instill in their minds that they will not get a single peso from you once they get married. If you can, don’t pinch in for the wedding expenses.

3. There are 3 realities common among Filipinos – first, most have little or no savings; second, many live from paycheck to paycheck, and third, many have too much debt. Debt is more than a friend that a foe. Filipinos should know that debt is a privilege and not a right.

4. Wealth is relative. Not only does the number of your relatives increase in proportion to your wealth (LOL), the definition of wealth varies from person to person. Being wealthy is not having to work to pay for your expenses/desired standard of living.

5. Personal finance management encompasses money (nauubos), income (natatapos, will stop) and wealth (can be accumulated; protect it; share it so it can generate more wealth).

6. On wealth management. In order to generate wealth, you have to earn enough, plan regularly, save prudently, spend wisely and invest wisely.

7. On savings. Try living on 80% of your active income and save/invest the rest. If you cannot do that, use your active income only for needs. Fund your wants with your passive income.

8. On debt management. The following are the rules of thumb in borrowing:
– 30-40% of your active income for a house
– 10-20% of your active income for a car
– business – borrow only if earnings can pay off debt
– education – only if it can be reversed (that is, you can pay it before the next school year)

9. Don’t borrow if: it has no purpose, it is merely a want, to pay off debt, beyond 40-50% of active income, for groceries/car expenses not paid on time, for education/emergencies, or to be given/lent to others (do not give what you do not have).

10. On investment. Have a clear purpose (need to be addressed), target (amount of gain) and timeline (length of time) when you are investing. Avoid losers/stay with winners. The higher the return, the higher the risk. Time is your friend so be patient. Think long-term (more than 5 years).

11. One typically overspends if with kids. So make sure to eat before oru leave the house. They should be full before you shop.

12. There are 2 types of investments: lend and buy (own). Lending involves instruments givng fixed, guaranteed, insured return (interest). In Philippine setting, they typically give 1-8% return annually. Buy investments are stocks, mutual fund, UITFs, fx/commodities, and real estate/landbanking. Returns are no guaranteed.

13. Choosing between lend and buy investments will depend on your age (50 yo and older ate safer with lend instruments), investment horizon (buy instrumenst are recommended if lookign at a 3 years and lonegr horizon), country of investment’s economic environment (if the economy is not good, stick to lend instruments), and investor’s personal experience (if you are good in stocks, invest in it even if you are retired).

14. Continuously hone your financial literacy skills. You can never control the winds but you can learn to adjust your sails.

Mr. Armand Bengco shared this wonderful motto of Ms. Gloria Romero “Let us not be afraid of tomorrow. We have seen yesterday. Let us make the most of today.”

 

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You too can learn all this and more on September 29, at the Pisobilities: Wealth Within Your Reach Seminar to be conducted by Armand Q. Bengco. For complete details get in touch with Renzie at 09178088857.

Powerhouse: Lechon Kawali Recipe

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This is definitely not one of our usual posts! Last Tuesday night, the show Powerhouse on GMA News TV hosted by Mel Tiangco featured my home and myself as well. In one short segment I shared my beloved Lechon Kawali recipe taught to me by a Singaporean chef. Soon after we got emails, FB comments and PMs and Tweets asking for the recipe…so here it is! It is a labor of love.

1.  Fore every 1 Kg Liempo (pork belly)
     Apply tenderizer;
     Marinate with:  20 gms oyster sauce;
                                  20 gms sesame oil
                                  20 gms shaoxing rice wine
                                  1/2 tsp pepper powder
     Marinate for a few hours in room temp.
2.  Oven: 4 hrs @130 C degrees
3.  Cool down with heavy object to flatten skin (suggest you place tray over meat with skin down side and place heavy object over tray), say for a good 4 hrs
4.  Chill in fridge over night still with weight over the meat (NOT FREEZER);
5.  Before serving next day, pre-heat oven 10 mins @200 C degrees
6.  Brush meat wtih oil then roast 20 mins at 200C degrees
7.  Take out and dry out with paper towel and brush again with oil
8.  Roast for another 20 mins @ 180-200C degrees for another 20 mins
     You may not want to over roast and have dry meat.  You can adjust above times for final roasting according  to your taste.
I suggest you serve boiled tomatoes with rock salt on the side.  Enjoy!

After the Rains

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Heavy and continuous rains have submerged many parts of Metro Manila in floods. Many of these areas do not normally experience floods. According to Inquirer.net, the accumulated rainfall for last Tuesday (August 7) was 472mm in 22 hours, while typhoon Ondoy in 2009 was only 455mm in 24 hours. The rains continued on to the following day, Wednesday, Aug. 8. Dams threatened to overflow, so waters were released. Rivers were at critical levels and evacuations were conducted for flood prone areas. Whether typhoon or monsoon rains, Metro Manila residents should be more conscious of being vigilant and prepared for calamities.

Whether you have been affected by flooding or not, keep the following five things in mind:

  1. Check and clear your home’s drainage system. A clogged drainage system will surely facilitate premature and sustained floodin.  There is a need to do periodic checks since floods contain not only water but silt, mud, trash, and other materials which can cause blockages in your drainage systems.
  2. 2.     Replace wooden portions of house to marine wood or other water resistant materials.  Take advantage of technology.  Building materials that have water resistant properties will fare far better compared to regular materials which warp and expand when wet.  Replacing these ordinary materials with flood resistant ones will be more expensive initially but the cost is far less than if you replace ordinary materials frequently. This will translate into savings in the long run.     
  3. 3.     Place belongings in sealed plastic bins.  Plastic bins float and keep belongings secure and dry. Out of all the plastic bins bought for our house, only one toppled over during this recent flood.  You can also tie them together so floatation will be more stable keeping water from seeping through. 
  4. 4.     Ensure the safety of vehicles.  Look for multi-level parking spaces nearby.  Some will charge a fee for overnight parking and some wont.  Regardless, a submerged vehicle will take several months to rehabilitate causing much hassle and a lot of lost productivity on your end.  Cost of repairs will very much likely reach six digits.  Resale value of affected vehicles significantly decline and buyers tend to stay away from these since performance of these vehicles will never be the same as before
  5. 5.     Ensure the safety of family members during floods.  The most expensive expense is the loss of a loved one due to the floods. Evacuate before your area is in the danger zone. Possessions and property can always be recovered, wealth can be rebuilt but once you are gone that’s it. Avoid wading in flood waters especially if you have open wounds. Leptospirosis is the leading cause of death due to flooding. Be wary of exposed electrical wires submerged in flood water.  This may cause shock since water conducts electricity.

We can only hope that there won’t be a next time. That calamities will not affect us however we cannot be sure. There is no guarantee that life will be smooth sailing. It’s better to be prepared than be caught off-guard.

A note from the editor – Guita T. Gopalan, Managing Director of Colayco Foundation: 

We at the Colayco Foundation remind everyone to Protect Your Greatest Asset! Having a complete protection basket at your disposal this will help tide you over financially in times of personal and natural calamity.

The basic things you should have are the following:

  1. Emergency Funds equal to 2 month’s income. Complete this in the next 3-6 months.
  2. Cash Reserves equal to 6 month’s income. Complete this in the next 2-3 years.
  3. Insurance for yourself – Life insurance and medical/health insurance
  4. Insurance for your property – Car Insurance, House Insurance

The more prepared we are the faster we can recover from unforeseen situations both personal, economic and natural.

Victor S. Cruz is a Financial Wellness Advocate of Colayco Foundation. He is a former Project Officer of Colayco Foundation. At present he is an educator who focuses on teaching stock market decision support systems. He also works as a sales executive and tests new business systems. He actively manages his investment portfolio consisting of equities, mutual funds and cooperatives, particularly KSK Coop and Ahon sa Kahirapan.
 

 

Personal Finance for Engaged Couples

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I received an email about why the wedding ring is worn on the fourth finger. We have five fingers.

– The Thumb symbolizes our parents.

– The Forefinger symbolizes our siblings.

– The Middle Finger symbolizes ourselves.

– The Ring Finger symbolizes our spouse.

– The Little Pinky symbolizes our children

Put your hands and fingers together as in prayer. Then, fold your middle fingers inward so that the outside of each knuckle touches each other. Keep the tips of the other fingers touching each other. While making sure that the middle fingers continue to be folded touching, try moving the other fingers:

– You can move your thumbs showing that your parents can leave you.

– You can move your forefingers showing that your siblings can leave you.

– You can move your pinkies showing that your children can leave you.

– But try moving your ring fingers and you can’t.

Marriage is permanent but while you are not yet married, this article might prove useful for you.

We all know that the engagement period is the time to really get to know each other before marriage. But couples who become engaged seem to think that they cannot break the engagement, if necessary. Should the couple see “substantial differences” in thinking, this period is the time to understand those differences before they become “irreconcilable differences”, which become the reason for many separations and annulments. Do not believe that you can change your partner once you are married. For most, the marriage makes the partner even more fixed in his/her ways.

So many engaged couples are embarrassed to discuss money matters before they get married. Based on my experience, if you cannot discuss financial matters with your loved one before you get married, it is almost inevitable that you will have problems related to financial matters during your married life. It is not the amount of money that you have that matters but what you intend to do with it and how you expect to manage it. You could be very lucky and have all the money you will ever need until you retire. However, nothing is sure in this world and all of that could easily be lost with wrong management of finances.

YOUR VIEWS ON MONEY

Many times, the family environment you grew in will dictate your reaction to money. One of you may be always saving or even downright stingy and the other might not care about money and may even be a spendthrift. During the courtship period, your real personalities may not be immediately obvious since you are trying to show your best side. I suggest that you tell each other frankly how you view money. Ask each other how you will view your success and the role of money in that success. If it turns out that your ideas about finances are not compatible, both of you will have a better understanding on how to accept each other for what you are or to agree on how you will both overcome the differences. There is also the option to postpone the marriage or cut the relationship if the issues are truly irreconcilable and you can see that love might not be enough, in the long run.

AGREE ON YOUR LIFESTYLE

Understand how much money and also how much debt each of you already have. If there is debt, you have to agree on how it will be paid. Be open about how much each of you earns and what you expect to be spending as a married couple. Do not leave the decision of what to spend on a day-to-day basis. This could lead to unnecessary misunderstandings on how much each should be spending on specific items. Having a budget will help you agree on the kind of lifestyle you should live to be able to reach certain goals. For example, you can aim to have a car within a year, a house within five years etc.

Having children is also another matter that has to be discussed in relation to finances. How you raise your children will depend on the time you will have. If both of you have to work for your chosen lifestyle, obviously, you will have to share the raising of your children with yayas or your parents.

HOW WELL DO YOU UNDERSTAND PERSONAL FINANCE

As I have seen time and again, parents and schools rarely teach personal finance. Even finance students and employees do not know how to manage their personal finances. They may be very good in their theoretical studies and in their actual jobs related to finance but that is not what personal finance is all about.
I have many friends who give my books as wedding presents. I am happy that the couple will have some guidance during their married life but it would have been better if they had been given the books before or when they became engaged. The books will help them understand how they can save and grow their savings. With these books, they can discuss and mutually agree on the type of investments they would choose both for the short-term and for the long-term. You can also join our Pera Palaguin Seminars that we hold regularly.

WHO WILL BE RESPONSIBLE FOR KEEPING THE MONEY

Even if financial wellbeing is a joint undertaking, one of you has to be responsible for:

– Staying within the agreed budgets. Informing the other when there is any possible deviation foreseen.

– Keeping track of all important documents and records such as your marriage license, passports, Income Tax Returns, insurance policies, investment certificates, etc. Decisions on Insurance, Investments and Income Tax Returns filing should always be done jointly in consultation with experts.

– Properly maintaining and balancing all bank accounts to prevent penalties and not allow cash idle without earning any interest. The matter of keeping joint or separate accounts or a combination of the two is a choice that the couple should agree to. They should be open with each other with their reasons.

Of course, these activities can move from one to the other, say one year each. This way, both of you learn and have a good understanding of your financial situation. This is especially important in case of emergencies where one is not available.

WHO WILL PAY FOR THE WEDDING

There used to be a rule where, in the Philippines, the groom’s family pays for everything and in the United States, the bride’s family pays for everything. Today, the best solution is for the couple to pay for everything. The families of both the groom and the bride can give whatever monetary gift they can afford. From the gift, the couple can decide on how much they want to spend for the wedding itself.

I always admonish couples not to spend too much on their wedding day. It is only one day and they have the rest of their life together to look forward to. The rest of their life together is definitely more important. They should not try to keep up with their friends who got married before them. Parents should respect the decision of their children.

COMMIT TO DISCUSS MONEY REGULARLY

Differences are inevitable. Work on a program of continuing discussion and communication with an open mind and sincere heart. Bring in an objective and experienced financial adviser if your differences seem to be major. This is key to your long-term financial compatibility.

Masaganang Buhay sa Kabila ng Pagtaas ng Presyo

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Pinakamalapit na usapin sa bawat isa sa atin ang patuloy pagtaas ng presyo lalo na ng mga pangunahing bilihin —-ito ang tinatawag na implasyon (inflation) sa ekonomiks. Maituturing na direkta ang atake nito sa ating pang-araw-araw na buhay lalo na kung hindi naman kasabay na tumataas ang ating kita. Paano nga ba natin maaalpasan ang epekto nito at masisiguro na maging masagana ang ating buhay?
 
Bakit Malaking Usapin ang Implasyon?
Sa bawat pagtaas ng presyo, nababawasan  ang kakayahan ng ating salapi na bilhin ang dati nitong kayang bilhin. Halimbawa, kung ang iyong P 100 ay nakakabili ng 5 kilo ng bigas sa presyong P20 kada kilo ay hindi ka na makabili ng kaparehas na dami  ng ito ay maging P 25 kada kilo. Apat na kilo na lamang ang kakayaning bilhin ng iyong hawak-hawak na isandaang piso. Ito dahilan kung bakit  bantay na bantay ng bawat isa sa atin ang bawat paggalaw ng presyo.
 
Sinu-sino ang  mga apektado ?
Kung isa kang fixed income earner na walang kasiguruhan kung kailan tataas ang sweldo ay siguradong apektado ka! Walang pagbabago sa iyong kita samantalang kumukonti ang iyong nabibili ng dahil sa implasyon. Kaya talung-talo ka kung di rin tataas ang iyong sweldo.
Ganundin sa mga nag-iipon,tabi ka ng tabi  ng salapi  na ang  akala mo sa pagdaan ng panahon ay lumalaki. Subalit ng magkaroon ng 10% na implasyon ay nabawasan  ang kakayahan nitong makabili ng 10%. Ang dapat lumaking ipon ay lumiliit ang “tunay na halaga” ng dahil sa implasyon.
Apektado din ang mga nagpapautang! Ang babalik kasi sa kaniya ay mas mababa sa tunay nitong halaga kung ikukumpara dati nitong kayang mabili! Higit na problema kung ang inflation rate ay mas mataas kaysa itinakda nilang interest rate. Talo ang negosyo!
Paano tatalunin ang Implasyon?
Sa librong PISOBILITIES ni Francisco J. Colayco , ang annual average inflation rate sa ating bansa ay nasa 5.5%. Ibig sabihin ay 5.5% din ang nabawas sa kakayahang bumili (purchasing power) ng ating salapi. Para talunin ito ay kailangang tumaas ang ating kita ng higit sa 5.5%. Kung pantay ang pagtaas , atleast nakatabla tayo!
Kaya mahalagang mabantayan ang inflation rate.
Kung ikaw ay nagpapautang, dapat isaalang-alang sa pagtatakda ng interest rate ang galaw ng implasyon.
Sa mga fixed income earner, dagdag sipag ito at paghahanap ng sideline para makabawi. Hindi maaaring iasa lang sa pagtaas ng sahod. Dahil kung tila bagyo sa pagbuhos ang implasyon ay tila ambon lang sa dalang ang pagtaas ng sahod.  Mahalagang usapin na makapagsimula ng kahit maliit na negosyo na maaaring panggalingan ng dagdag na kita!
Masuwerte ang mga may ipon dahil malaki ang oportunidad na talunin nila  ang implasyon. Iba na ang may ipon, may maipapamuhunan! Napakaraming investment instruments na pwede nilang lagakan ng kanilang ipon na lilikha ng passive income tulad ng mutual fund. Mga pamumuhunan na kung saan ay kikita ng mas mataas sa inflation rate ang inyong ipon kaysa simpleng ilagak ito sa savings account sa bangko. Kailangan lang na masusi nating pag-aralan ang mga ito at makapag-invest ng mas mataas sa  inflation rate ang kita. Maaari itong matutunan sa pamamagitan ng pagbabasa ng mga libro at pagdalo sa mga seminar hingil sa financial wellness.
Isa sa mga dapat basahin ay ang mga libro ni Francisco Colayco at pagdalo sa mga INVESTability seminars ng kaniyang foundation.
Kakayanin nating talunin ang implasyon! Kailangan lang ng tamang pamumuhunan!

Melchor V. Cayabyab is an educator, an entrepreneur, and a Financial Wellness Advocate of Colayco Foundation. He has been teaching economics for more than ten years now. He was awarded the “Most Outstanding Teacher of Manila” in 2003. As an entrepreneur, he is a successful distributor of different food supplements. Last year, he established “AHON SA KAHIRAPAN”, a micro-lending cooperative that aims to lend money with very low interests and at the same time help its members learn how to manage their finances properly.