a note from the blogger

It has been a while since I updated this blog. I was preoccupied with a few things and have not devoted time to blog. There were also a lot of things in my mind regarding this blog - what blogs to put in. When I began this blog, I planned to make it a travel blog since I have been to many places in the Philippines because of my job. But, later it also included other topics such as laptops, personal opinions and ideas, and even about investing in the stock market. Honestly, I do not know what to do with this blog for now. I'll ponder on what to do with this. So, there might be no frequent blog updates in the next few days or weeks.

thoughts on trading stocks

I have been preoccupied with a lot of things lately and have not been able to update this blog. Honestly, after my work, what has been keeping my busy was stock trading. I think this is really one of the things that I would be involved in for the next few years. Here are a few things that I have learned on stock trading:

First of all, it is not easy. I may have titled my last post as "trading stocks is easy" but the reality is, it is easy up to a certain point such as being reminded of the principle: buy low, sell high. However, knowing when to buy and when to sell is an entirely different matter. Stock trading requires that the trader continually reads and studies. There are a number of principles and disciplines that needs to be developed to become a successful trader. It would also help, for those who are interested in pursuing it, to have friends and people whom you can exchange ideas with. Doing it alone has greater risks than pursuing it with a company of traders. However, it should be remembered that to be a successful trader, you must develop your own strategies and principles, after all, it is your money you are trading and not your colleagues. So, it is one to consider their opinions but it is another to decide on your own according to your understanding and the principles you have developed.

For me, the key ingredients that are essential in succeeding as a trader include discipline and diligence.

trading stocks is easy

I have been reading a few materials related to stocks lately and have realized that a lot of people have no idea of the great opportunities in stock trading. Most people have preconceptions and myths that they have not really looked into and because of this, only a handful of people enjoy the benefits it can bring. I read in a book that stock trading is as easy as managing household finances. It has become difficult and intimidating for some because of its jargons. However, I cannot say much yet since I have been on it for a month and have only learned a few but I am positive that a year from now, I can say a lot of this about stock trading and its rewards. For now, I have to thoroughly learn the basics and all that is necessary for me to become an expert trader.

managing wealth

Every person has the opportunity to become rich. Some make it through hard work, diligence, knowledge, and skill. While others get it through the numbers game. However, those who really stay rich are those who know how to properly manage their wealth.

Some individuals might find this hard to believe but look around you and notice that you need not be working twice as hard, be in an office or graduate from college in order to become wealthy. The media has featured a number of successful people who have had this kind of background. There are a lot of opportunities today and those who pay attention to it are the ones who greatly benefit. To name a few - blogging, online shop, franchising or carting, or even a simple load retailer. But with these opportunities, not all of these people have become richer.


The number one thing they miss out is managing their finances. They have failed to notice that as their incomes grew, their expenditures proportionally, or to some extent, exponentially went up. People tend to neglect restraining themselves in satisfying their wants and this is the beginning of their fall to debt or to simply breaking even.


If we want our wealth to last beyond our lifetime, we need to have a plan and learn to effectively manage what we have.

patience brings wealth

It has been almost a month since I started investing on the stock market and I have been learning a lot of things. But, the most important thing that I learned and continue to develop is patience. I have learned the value of waiting for investments to grow despite the varying opinions on the market. Time cannot always be an enemy. Time can be a friend and an asset to success and prosperity. Also, with patience I have learned to do more important things rather than stare at the charts the whole day. I thank God for my wife who continually reminds me to keep in touch with reality and not lose focus on things that are in need of much attention right now. After all, stock trading is a long term investment (especially with a small starting capital).

novice investor

It has been a week since I started investing in the stock market and I am a bit overwhelmed by the many things I needed to learn. However, I am also excited with it that I religiously wake up before the market opens and prepare myself before trading happens. When I think about it, ideas continue to fill and grow in my mind. I was glad though that I was not fully hooked into it since I needed to spend time with my real work and also with my commitment to the ministry. 

One of the discussions I had this week was related to passion and it is said of passion that it is something you can do with all enthusiasm and at times forget the passage of time while at it. So, is this my passion? Or is this only for a short time? If this is it then I need to really know my way around this. 

Personally, I find excitement and fun while investing in the stock market and I am hopeful that not only will we grow financially but that our country’s economy grow as well.

what legacy will you leave behind?

We cannot escape the reality that one day we will pass away and along with that is the fact that in one way or another we will leave a legacy. However, the kind of legacy you leave behind is up to you. So, what kind of legacy would you want to leave behind?

Looking at our history, there are many people who have left behind a legacy - some were commendable while others were detestable. We might think that it was the circumstances that led them to make such decisions but we have to realize that we do have a choice.

Some people think that leaving a legacy is confined to leaving behind inheritance off wealth and power. But it can be as simple as leaving a good name. A good name lasts for generations. Take for example, you joined a company where a family member previously worked and had a great reputation. They might expect a lot from you but deep inside they have confidence in you. Contrast this to a scenario when someone in your family left a bad reputation in that company - chances are high of you working harder to get promoted.

Another legacy we can leave behind is investing on the next generation. There are many cases nowadays of children growing up with values completely opposite to that of their parents. Many have neglected the significance of investing in the next generation. People have allowed the generational gap to widen further. We have to realize that not all dreams, ambitions, and success can be achieved in our lifetime. We can pass it on to the next generation. We can train and prepare them. Would you want to have them learn everything from scratch and achieve as much as less than you did? Or would it be better for them be knowledgeable and skilled as much as you and achieving double or triple than you did. Too often we live only for today without considering tomorrow.

But the most important legacy we can leave behind is living for eternity. We have to realize that when we came to this world we had nothing and when we leave it, we cannot bring anything with us. So in everything that we do, it is important to consider whether the things we do matter for eternity. I believe that would simplify things for us when we are at the crossroads of making decisions.

things that matter

"The saddest day of your life is when you're at your death bed and you stare into your spouse's and children's eyes and they stare into yours, and you realize that in that brief moment that you've been together, there was NO LOVE."

A friend shared this thought to me and I realized that sometimes we run after so many things that lead us to success and we forget the significant things of life. It made me think of the possibilities that could happen in the future. I might accomplish my dreams - wonderful home, great car, flourishing businesses, and all those great things we can dream of - but when my family is not alright, it is insignificant. After all, when my family is not whole, I, too am not whole.

corruption no more

I tuned in this afternoon to the Senate Blue Ribbon committee's hearing on military corruption. Although I did not get all the details as to what they were talking about (since I wasn't tuning in to the news these past few days), I could say that these are promising developments to the reforms that we have been longing for the Philippines. One of the resource speakers (from COA) mentioned that the problem was with the system and that it was not effective in preventing corruption. If this was the case, hopefully our government officials will do something about it and reform the policies. However, I believe corruption cannot be simply eliminated by creating a tougher system or policies. Corruption can be abolished when people begin to develop values - especially honesty and integrity.

I applaud the officials who have stepped out to reveal these anomalies (despite impending threats to their careers, life, and families). May we indeed see reform to our beloved country.

wall street: money never sleeps

I finally found time to watch Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps (or Wall Street 2) which starred Michael Douglas and Shia LaBeouf and directed by Oliver Stone. The movie was released in 2010 as a sequel to the original film Wall Street in 1987.

The film was set 23 years after the sequel and revolves around the 2008 financial crisis. The plot focuses on the reformation of Gordon Gekko, played by Michael Douglas (a reprise of his role from the original movie), with him being more of an antihero rather than a villain. He was shown publishing books and warning people and Wall Street of its impending market crash as well as trying to repair his relationship with his estranged daughter Winnie (Carey Mulligan) with the help of her fiancé Jacob "Jake" Moore (Shia LaBeouf), a proprietary trader for an investment bank. In return for Jake's help, Gordon helps Jake get revenge on the person he blames responsible for the death of his mentor.

The cast portrayed their roles well and one of the things that stuck to my mind was a picture of how greed for money can change everything. When money becomes the reason for being, it can bring out the monster within a person. Aside from that, I learned a lot from what could be happening on Wall Street and stock markets in general. Now, I know what principles to consider when investing in our financial industry.

one life lived right

How have you lived your life?

Sometimes we forget that we are not here forever. Oftentimes, we are not conscious that we only have limited time here on earth. Yesterday while preparing notes for our group discussions, I calculated the hours we have in life. All of us have 24 hours a day, each year we have about 8760 hours (without considering the leap year) and if we live up to 75 years old we have had lived 657,000 hours - that is if you live up to that age or older. If you're 25 years old now, you have spent 219,000 hours of your life leaving you with 438,000 more.

Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom. - Psalms 90:12 (TNIV)

I believe that when we begin to number our days, we will develop wisdom. Naturally, we would make the most of our lives. As much as possible, we would want to do things right, and fulfill the purpose we are here on earth for. May God teach us to number our days that we may gain a heart of wisdom.

visiting foundations

I enjoyed a wonderful discussion with friends last night about truths that serve as foundations for our personal principles and convictions. It is refreshing and fulfilling to visit these core values that we believed in. Personally, it led me to reviewing my principles and re-align my convictions that were not in tune with those principles.

In the course of time, as we pursue different goals, sometimes we forget the reasons why we act or reason the way we do. Through a regular visit and review of our personal foundations and values, we will have a clearer picture of where we are and where we are headed.

iloilo city to kalibo

Kalibo is the capital of the Province of Aklan, located in the northwest portion of Panay Island. Its name come from the words "sangka libo", meaning one thousand, the number native Aetas who attended the first Catholic Mass. The town is well-known because of the the Ati-Atihan Festival it annually celebrates during the third Sunday of January. It is also a jump-off point to Boracay.

Kalibo is around 160 kilometers from Iloilo City. By bus, travelers can take the Ceres Tours at the Tagbak Terminal in Iloilo City. The travel takes around three hours and the fare is P216.

ang tanging ina - last na nga ba to?

When the entries for the Manila Film Festival were made known, my wife and I planned to watch Tanging Ina Last Na To!, the third movie in the supposed trilogy. I did not have much expectations from the movie since it was the third installment and usually movie depreciate as the sequels are done (with the exception of a few). However, when I learned that the movie garnered a number of awards including Ai Ai de las Alas, the main star of the movie, getting a Best Actress award, I got curious and really wanted to see the movie.

The laughter you get from the movie's funny scenes were not as stomach-cramping as the first movie, rather, it was both heart-warming and funny. Further, it showed the heart of most Filipino mothers - how they value their families and how they love their children. Aside from watching it this Christmas, I believe this movie is also good for Mother's Day.

A salute to our mother and all the mothers who love unconditionally and work hard to keep their family together.

how i start my year...

What do you do at the start of the year?

Most people start it with resolutions they are hoping to accomplish within the year. The most common is losing the pounds gained during the holidays. For some, they start planning for the year and set goals to be achieved. This is a good way to start the year so that you can wake up everyday with a vision to be fulfilled.

However, for us, before we plan for the year, we come to God and fast and listen to Him. Who would have the best idea for the year than Him who is Lord and Father to us all. God bless us all!

hello 2011!

A happy and prosperous new year to all. I hope you all enjoyed how you greeted the new year - feasting on delicious food on the table, wonderful fireworks, parties, and all activities that you did to welcome the new year.

In a few days the holiday fever will fade but I do hope that before you get back to work, you get to spend some time with yourself and do an assessment of your previous year (if you have not done it yet) and set a course for 2011. What do you hope to accomplish within the year? What are your your specific goals? How are you going to achieve those targets?

The great thing about setting a direction for the year is realizing how far you went at the end of the year - it brings you a sense of fulfillment. You realize that you had progress and did not stay on the same spot. I hope you all enjoy planning ahead and fulfilling those plans as the days of 2011 go. I'm sure one of it would be losing those pounds. Enjoy!