Metro Manila Film Festival

Taon-taon nagkakaron ng piyesta ng mga pelikula sa araw ng Pasko. Smart move, dahil alam ng lahat na maraming pera ang mga tao sa panahon ng Disyembre kaya daan-daang milyon ang kinikita ng mga pelikula, hayahay ang mga producers. Hindi ako masyado nanunuod sa sinehan, pwera na lang kung nagkayayaan o may nang lilibre. Huling beses akong nanuod ng pelikula mula sa MMFF ay ang Spirit Warriors: The Shortcut, last 2003 pa. Hindi masyado masaya, hindi dahil sa pelikula kundi dahil ilang oras kami nakapila na umabot kami sa Annex ng SM North Edsa bago nakabili ng ticket tapos pagpasok namin, punong-puno ang sinehan, sa sahig kami nakaupo malapit sa fire exit. Mind you, January 1 na kami nanunod nun, (ah so 2004 na pala yun) we expect hindi na ganun kadami ang mga manunuod. Sabi ko kung ganito lang pala tuwing MMFF di na 'ko makikipagsiksikan sa susunod. Ipapalabas din naman lahat sa cable or local tv eventually. So ngayon, as usual, MMFF na naman. Kagabi nakanuod ako ng MMFF awards night sa Channel 2, bandang kalagitnaan na, just in time sa mga major awards. Nakita ko naman na sa Facebook yung results. Natuwa naman ako at big winner ang Bonifacio: Ang Unang Pangulo, medyo nagulat lang sa rom-com na English Only, Please. Wala pa kong napapanuod sa mga kasaling pelikula kaya bumabase ako sa mga trailers. Bet ko talaga ang mga history movies kaya #1 sa'kin ang Bonifacio. Ang ganda ng pelikula, base sa trailer ha. Maganda rin naman ang reviews. Balita ko pa, may taga Hollywood filmmakers na isa sa likod ng pelikula ni Binoe. Yung Feng Shui 2, nakakatakot din yung part 1 nuon, I especially love the ending. Sa tingin ko naman hindi disapppointing yun. Pati ang Kubot: The Aswang Chronicles, balita ko complete package daw yun, nakakatawa, nakakatakot, action at drama (?). Akala ko maganda ang comeback ng Shake Rattle and Roll kasi may eroplano scene, eh bihira lang naman tayo gumawa ng mga ganung klaseng pelikula na may kinalaman sa mga sasakyan lalo na yung mga malalaki kasi takot tayo magpasabog o kahit magkaroon ng gasgas ng mga kotse pero yung nakita ko yung tyanak, ay putek parang dati lang. Bakit hindi naten magawang hindi halatang peke ang mga visual effects naten? Inuulit ko, wala pa ko napapanuod ni isa sa mga pelikula ng MMFF.

So why am I making this post?

Hindi BluRay.

As expected, highest grossing ang Praybeyt Benjamin 2 as of the moment. Bakit nga ba? Kasi Vice Ganda. Star Cinema. Comedy. Vice Ganda is known for his sarcasm as his comedic style. Benta- benta sa'tin, kaya nga ganyan sya kasikat ngayon. Tapos ABSCBN pa sya, magaling magbenta ng products nila kaya halos lahat ng media pinasok si Vice Ganda sa hosting, recording, concert, films. We all love to laugh, kaya mabenta din sa'tin ang mga comedy. Pero yung napanuod ko naman yung trailer, dyosko naman, wala na bang bago? Yung bago ata, si Al Tantay naging tatay ng karakter ni Vice sa pelikula, di tulad nung part 1 si Jimmy Santos. Luma ng mga punchlines, ni wala ngang nakakatawa sa trailer. Pilit lang eh. Nakakatawa si Vice Ganda pero he needs to reinvent himself. Naalala ko pa yung unang movie nya na pinanuod ko yung remake ng Petrang Kabayo, dami ko tawa nun kasi yung ang unang major film nya. Fresh pa mga tirada nya. Pero ngayon, dahil sa araw-araw na sya nakikita sa tv, araw- araw din sya nag-iisip ng punchline for the day nya na halos nauubos na kaya nawalan na sya sa pang pelikula nya. At sana kung gagawa ng comedy films, yung may sense naman. Yung may kwento, hindi yung mangongolekta ng mga punchlines saka pilit isisiksik sa isang pelikula na minsan off na or korni na.




Kelan kaya tayo makakagawa ng ganitong klaseng pelikula?

Star Cinema is disappointing. Mas gumagawa sila ng mga romantic, comedy, rom-com movies kasi alam nilang yun ang mabenta. Puro pera na lang. Business nga naman. Pero sana tayong mga Pinoy, sumuporta tayo sa mga dekalidad na pelikula. Maging wais na sana tayo, kung gagastos lang din ng P200 sana yung sulit na. Hindi yung magbabayad pa kayo para sa mga bagay na araw-araw lang din naman natin makikita sa TV, na libre naman.

Giving Back

I'm not comfortable telling people about this, I haven't told anyone except for my boyfriend, but I have registered myself to be a sponsor of a child through World Vision. I don't mean to brag but I thought I should tell you so you can experience the joy of sponsorship, too. I've been donating P600 since August and another donation for their Noche Buena packs that they will be receiving as Christmas gift this December. I have exchanged letter with my sponsored child and I think this is the most enjoyable part of the sponsorship. Getting thank you letter from them, well as for my sponsored child, he can't write yet but his mother sent me a letter saying she is thankful that her child is part of the World Vision and thanking me as the sponsor. She wishes me well. This letter made my day when I received it through email, I wish it was through mail though but it still gave me the fulfillment feeling. I thought I 'd share this to you so you may experience this kind of joy and make a difference. With just a P600 a month, you're sending a child to school and help their community, too. Who knows, the child you sponsor may be the next President of the Philippines or he may be the one that will invent the cure to cancer. Imagine yourself being part of their success. I've seen the happiness of being a sponsor child. Years back, I have friends and playmates who were sponsored by an NGO and I could see their excitement whenever they are about to receive their school allowance, birthday gift or Christmas gift. Their sponsors helped them to survived everyday. I thought of their sponsors were super rich before but you don't have to be rich to help other people who is in need. God give you blessings and He will pour you more than you can imagine if you know how to share.

 

You may start the journey of your sponsorship here.

 

 

 



My sponsor child.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

"Give, and it will be given to you. They will pour into your lap a good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over. For by your standard of measure it will be measured to you in return."  - Luke 6:38

December Books (Perfect for Christmas gifts)

When it comes to buying stuffs, I don't have any trouble questioning myself like do I need this?, do I have enough money to buy this? All the questions that frugal people ask themselves before purchasing stuffs. It has always been hell yeah answers to me when it comes to buying books. I admit that usually, books doesn't include in my budget because mostly my 'fun' money goes to my contribution to my parents back home. I can say no buying clothes or any other things but for books, I can't say no. There's something about books I can't resists. Especially with these books that I recently got. The other one is a gift from the author though.

OMG Where Did Your Sweldo Go: 9 Secrets Sweldo Tips To Be 20-Something Millionaire. This book is easy to read for young ones. Mostly people at their 20s shrug off the thought of managing their finances well as they think they're too young and their age is meant to enjoy things life has to offer. Lianne, who is also in her 20's, explains that investing is never too early for us. That 20's is also perfect to manage and save money for our future but won't keep us to enjoy life as the same time. Myself is currently on the way (struggling) to achieve my own financial freedom and I'm learning a lot. The thought of having financial security is priceless and there's no short cut way to achieve it and this book is your perfect first step. 

This book will available soon in bookstores but you can now order your copy here. 

Signed copy from the author, Lianne :)

I am fan of Bianca Gonzalez. I love how she is proud of her morena skin. She is so pretty and smart. I got excited when I found out she is releasing her own book, I know the book will not be a disappointment. Too bad I wasn't able to attend any of her book signings. Would have been so great to see her in person and have her sign my copy. 

Paano Ba 'To?! book is fascinating from cover to cover. From the cover layout to those cliparts to the whole content. Bianca shares her stories growing up and her learned lessons that life taught her. She also got some help from famous names to share their stories, too. How they dealt with their own life dilemmas and all. I like Toni Gonzaga's share stories and advice here.I have highlighted some best quotes from this and I could definitely use those advice. The book tackles every aspects of life. Plus, the book comes with 2 sheets of stickers. I have used mine for my planner.

And oh, some typography artworks of quotes from famous people, as well. Here's one of my favorite quotes.

Definitely these books are perfect Christmas gifts. 

December Remember

I haven't done with my Christmas shopping. With such luck, my paycheck got debit in an automated teller machine of BDO, I have BPI payroll card. I'm not gonna have my money until Friday as what the BPI customer agent told me after reporting the incident. They better get it back to my account, we're talking P10,000 here.Good thing, I've paid my bills before I made the wrong decision inserting my card to my non bank machine. I will not use any ATM but BPI from now on.

Sucks that I don't have any Christmas party to attend to. Such a bummer, I had to miss our company's Christmas Party at Yakimix Podium cause I had work shift on that day. Our projects requires 24/7 operation and we can't let the whole team to attend the party, there should be atleast one or two to report at the job. Then my former team organized a party to be held at the resort in Antipolo, it would have been so much fun cause I miss those people that I used to work with but I couldn't come cause it was a short notice and it's too late to file for a day of vacation leave. With all these happening, my social life is flunking down to below zero. A highschool reunion that should have been happened last Dec. 13 got cancelled, too. I was so excited about it that's why so I was gutted when they had to cancel it due to some situations. 

I've wrapped some gifts, now they're all under Christmas tree now. Some for my godchildren and for my family. I'm not done yet, I don't still have gifts for my mother and my boyfriend. I'm giving all these gifts and I'm not expecting any return. I don't think anyone would give me some Christmas gifts except for my boyfriend, whom I have told what I want him to get me. I would be so happy if anyone would take some time to remember me to get me some gifts. Sometimes I think I'm poor with friends which I'm not complaining cause, I guess I'm not friendly or a remarkable friend to anyone.

I didn't got promotion. The list of promoted agents has been released this month. All of my team got promoted except for three and I'm one of them. Two of my best friends got promoted. They all have big salary increase except for me. I got increase, too and I'm grateful but of course it's not as high as theirs. I felt embarrassed. But I couldn't question cause I saw it happened although I didn't see the outcome. As what the song says, I did my best but I guess my best wasn't good enough. I started thinking of resigning the company. I felt left out. I don't belong here. This is ain't what I really wanted to do. I started job haunting, passed resumes to some company online. Got called and invited for an interview but attended nothing. The companies that I want to work at hasn't contacted me yet. As the days goes by, I realized I should not be ashamed. Being not promoted doesn't define me. Maybe God didn't allow the promotion happen because He got something BIG for me instead. It was also my fault, too. Didn't try harder. Now I feel okay about not getting promoted, I'm still thinking of applying for a new job. I've always wanted to work in Summit Media. I don't see myself working in a BPO for the next 5 years. But right now, as long as I don't have my dream job to be my next tree to jump in, I'm staying here. For practical reasons.

Seeking a new one

Hi, kamusta?

Kagabi nasa office ako nung kinakausap ko si God, saka si Jesus. Saka si St John Paul II. Sila kasi lage ko kausap bago matulog gabi-gabi. Dami ko kasi gusto sabihin. Sobrang dami, di ko na malapat sa salita. Sana lang naririnig talaga ng Diyos mga hiling naten kahit di binabanggit ng bibig, kasi kadalasan sinasapuso ko na lang. Sorry God, mahina talaga ata ko sa larangan ng komunikasyon kahit sa Inyo.

May nakita akong Facebook status ng isang kaibigan kahapon. Naiinggit ako. Nabuhay na naman ang munting halimaw sa sarili ko: ang inggit. Pinilit kong pinapatay yun, nuon pa. Bagamat natatalo ko naman sya, malakas sya sa mga unang araw. Alam ko naman mawawala din ito pag lumipas na ang 2 o 3 araw. Pagkatapos nuon, moved on na. Okay, fine. Sya ganun, ako inde. Wala na magagawa. Move on, may chance pa naman para sakin. Nung nakita ko ang balitang pinost nya, nainggit ako. I shrugged it off right away. It's my fault din naman kaya hindi naibigay ni Lord yun .I mean, ako naman ang gumagawa ng kapalaran ko. I believe na may plano talaga si God sa akin. At sana nga iisa ang naisip naming plano. Dalangin ko na ibigay Niya sa akin yun. Pero sabi nila, hilingin mo ang lahat ng gusto mo kay God, basta maganda ang intensyon mo, ibibigay Nya sa'yo.  So, humiling ako. At patuloy akong nananalangin. At gumagawa. Sa Diyos ang awa, sa tao ang gawa diba. So ayun. Pero bigla ako napaisip. Naimagine ko na natupad ng Diyos ang panalangin ko sa Kanya. Naimagine ko na, masaya ako kasi nahigitan ko sila. Nalamangan ko sila. Na naibago ko ang pag-iisip nila sa'kin. Mas mataas na ako sa'kanila. Kahit materyal lang naman yun, iniisip ko na mas maswerte ako sa kanila. Alam kong mali at inaamin ko na isa yun sa mga rason ko kung bakit hinihiling ko ang bagay na yun. Pero mas nananaig pa rin ang nais ko para sa pangangailana ko. Hindi naman siguro masama na maghangad pa ng mas mabuti pa sa akin diba? Na alam kong mas deserve ko iyon, kesa sa tinatamasa ko ngayon. Na alam kong magiging masaya ako dahil gusto. Na malaya ako. Na alam kong mas malaki ang maitutulong ko pag iyon ay naibigay ng Diyos sakin. Self development din ang ginagawa ko.

Patuloy pa rin akong umaasa at pinagtatrabuhan iyon. Kasabay pa rin ang panalangin. Kung hindi man maibigay, alam ko namang mas bongga ang plano Niya sakin. Ang mahalaga naman eh, pinagtrabuhan ko rin yun. At magpapasalamat ako, pag iyon ay naibigay sakin. Gusto ko lang ng bago.

Yun lang. Kelangan ko lang ng output. Wala kasi ako gana isulat, mas mabilis kapag tinayp sa kompyuter. Pasensya na kung walang sense. Pero meron yan, promise.

Photo credits: Pinterest

Money Organizer

How do you organized your money?

Well, some uses envelope system, like each envelop allotted for different expense category like bills, transpo, tithes, etc. Some just staple their bills and puts label on it or notes where it would be spend. Some uses bills organizer like the one I saw at National Bookstore that costs around 120Php.


As for me, I am using this small organizer (bought around 50Php) that I've put categories for Rent, Baon (work allowance and dinner), Transpo, Deposit, Tithe and Nanay. I just added one category recently, I named it 'Lala'. It's for my wants. Hehe :)
I like this one better because envelope paper can be torn or crumpled and I'm not a fan of stapled bills.This organized fits bills perfectly.

I started this by creating a budget first. How much should I spend for my work allowance and transpo per month. How much my contribution for my Nanay at home in Cavite. How much should I have for my wants and for other money goals.I place them per category and refill it every payday. I should use my leftovers for my savings but since my younger sister always ask for school allowance, I haven't done it yet. Actually, I haven't deposit in to my savings since the day I got my VUL, but it's okay, I'm gonna have my savings again before this year ends. So far, this little thing helps me to organized financially. My older sister even asked me to buy her one of these so she can sort her spending and money goals, too

This budget tool is easy peasy :)

Fangirl dilemma: Shane Filan's Autobiography Book

 

 

 I was excited when I found out that Shane's going to release his life story in a book and I thought I can buy a copy this time since I missed Westlife's autobiography book last time, though I have read it on ebook.

 

I checked on Amazon.com , My Side of Life costs around £9 (Php conversion Php645). Wow, this is affordable than the ones Shane made with the band. And then I went estatic when National Bookstore announced that the book will be available in stores this month.

 

 

 

And this greeted me this morning while I was having my breakfast:

 

 

 

 

Come on, why this have to be so pricey here in the Philippines. Don't you know we're humans, too? Why you gotta be so rude.  Kidding aside, I can't afford this one. I have another option though and it's cheaper, I can pre order from a fan but I'm still thinking about it now that a money problem paid a visit last nightand it's more important than this... and I think it will stay until the 15th..

 

Shane Filan Manila 2014

 

So last year I had a dream came to life. I just met my long time celebrity crush, Shane Filan, nbd. I got to touch and shook his precious hand, yeah lame.
 

Sept 2013 at The Podium for his promo album tour.

Haha! Well, I had another chance to meet him again when he visit Manila for he 2nd time as solo artist last June 2014 to promote his solo concert on October 1 at the World Trade Center Manila. I went to his mall tour at the SM Megamall and had my copy of his album signed by him. It was just like last year, he signed the album cover, hand shake and I went off. Disappointed. I was actually expecting more than before since the Hongkong fans, Shane last stop before he arrived in Manila, had some few minutes with him. At least a minute. They had a moment of exchanging some words, they even got a chance to have a selfie with him! So i thought wow maybe they will let us give chance to spend at least more than a minute with Shane during the autograph session. Sadly, a brief of shaking hands we're given due to number of fans waiting in queue. Same, same last year. Event staffs can be such a killer joy.

 

 

My concert ticket ^__^

 

Fast forward, I went to Shane's first ever solo concert at the World Trade Center in Pasay. It was raining haaaard while I'm on my way! I spent 250php for the taxi due to traffic. I thought I would never make it cos I was late. I arrived at the venue around 8:45 when the scheduled concert should start at 8:00pm. They probably saw almost half of the VIP seats we're unoccupied, they thought fans are late due to heavy rain so they moved the showtime to 9:00pm. I think another reason is the concert is aint sold out. Lack of promotion, I guess. But I knew it because I have been seeing the availability of seats before the concert in SM ticketnet and it was selling so slow. So when I arrived at the WTC, I was shaking due to cold. Darn I forgot to bring jacket. Then I saw two people selling Shane Filan tshirt outside and theyre from AddicTeev. I've been eyeing on their Shane Filan tshirt products cos of their unique style of printing, thankfully they went to sell and I bought one shirt at discounted price :) It was their last piece though and it's large but I wore it anyway. I like it. So I was wearing the shirt throughout the show.

My favorite shirt :)

 

 

Klarisse De Guzman of The Voice Philippines is Shane's opening act. She was Shane's bet during the The Voice Philippines when he was a guest at the final show last year. Later, they duet for Flying Without Wings and got kiss from Shane more than twice. Lucky lady. Another one lucky for that night is Rosel, a friend from fan club, when she got called by Shane on stage and sang Mandy for her. And got a selfie session! I was happy for her and jealous at the same time. haha! Why cant I just be as lucky as her? lol

 

It was a great night. Shane is a total performer, he  kept his connection with the fans throughout the show. His band are great, as well. Fans went nostalgic when he preformed hits from his former band, Westlife. My personal favorite is when he sang Let It Be from The Beatles. He also did Robin Thicke's Blurred Lines, imagine how the crowd went crazy when he shouts, "Do you wanna hug me?" Of course he performed his own hits like Everything To Me, Knee Deep in My Heart and About You. The last one is very good catchy song, I always love singing it out loud. He is such a good singer, I truly admire his angelic voice and he is such an underrated singer. Shane will be forever my favorite celebrity. I don't think anyone or anything will stop me from admiring him.

 

June 2014 at SM Megamall Atrium

Klarisse and Shane singng Flying Without Wings

Acoustic session. Here singing "Once".

His awesome band.



This is the best my phone camera can do :/

He kept his interaction with the audience.



Shane and his band at the end of the show

FILED Scribble Planner 2015

Ber months! Yay! Well yeah I know it started last month and since then I already felt the Christmas season in town. You know, season where malls are jampacked, sales everywhere, Divisoria season, time to display those decors again, Christmas songs playing even in the bus. Of course Christmas is more than that. I love Christmas. It's all about giving. People are also excited because it is 13th month and Christmas bonus season especially in the compnay I am working at, ber months also means raining bonuses (and the saying of 'merry christmas BIR', too.) Although there is still Halloween and All Soul's day to look forward to, no doubt Chrismas is the most exciting time of the year.

 

Ber months is also means another year is about to end and another one to start. New plans, new hopes, new goals to look forward to. Planner helps us to organize things we need to do and we want to do. Personally, I own one from WittyWillSaveTheWorld planner. It's really cute and witty planner and really helpful. It also helped me to achieve my goals in 2014. I'm glad that I started something that will benefit my future and my current planner helps me to plan it all. Although I'm happy with Witty Will Save The World planner and I'm still looking forward to their 2015 version, I think I've found my new one:

from filed.com.ph

from filed.com.ph



from filed.com.ph

 

 

Scribble! I saw this while browsing through Facebook newsfeed and I follow their Facebook page right away. Checking their photos of their products, the Scribble got my attention. Although I like Doodle for its black and white cover, Scribble reminds me of my scapbook I own since highschool. The brown cover and ribbon bound the same I did to my scapbook before, though I have stop scapbooking, I still keep it. And this planner comes with a free Stylomark! and this is what excites me more: They also give the option to have your name scibbled by a typogrpaphy artist! Ha. My name Lala will be look so perfect on that planner. So I did what I had to do:

 

 

I made my order

 

If you find this planner really attractive (because it is), check more of their products on FILED! website, you can place your oder there, too. The free Stylomark is only available when you pre-order until October 27 so you better hurry, freebies are always great, you can't miss that one.

Money Management

I have read alot of financial books and blogs in the past few months. In the effect, I bought myself a VUL, learned to track my everyday expenses (although I am not that consistent doing it, but it helps me) and it made me more kuripot or penny pincher. I have learn to manage my money whenever it hits my payroll account, every peso has put into budget. Although sometimes, as I am a minimum wager, I do have some shortage. Like right now, I feel so vulnerable cos my savings is about an inch away from the minimum balance and I haven't deposit since May cos I prioritize my VUL. These past months, I had some money issues, I can't even save a hundred. I even borrowed money from my boyfriend by passing my shares to him for our utility expenses for two months. I needed some new clothes but I couldn't buy even in Tiangge cos my family needed my money more than I need it. I feel so unsecured. I haven't save money for long. My investment is one thing. I can't withdraw from it whenever I needed money. I felt broke. I had to break my Pi-Nik bank. Pik-Nik can I turned into a coinbank only saving 10 peso coins and new 20-peso bills. I planned to make the can full and deposit to my account but since I needed to survive, I had to use one of my remaining powers.

Many of my Pik-Nik empty cans are still in used. Like this one.

I managed to save Php2,700. I'm not sure for how long cos I don't remember when did I start, I think I did this for almost 3 months. Not bad, yeah? I added the saved money to my daily expenses. Thanks to this blog: Minimum Wager Journey, I copied her budget method. Kind of, and so far it works for me. I summed up all my work allowance from daily transpo to food. List down my bills, set aside money for tithes and contribution for my family. I only bring money enough for my food and transpo allowance. I don't even have emergency money. I started this since first day of September and still doing it. Slowly, I feel on my way back on track. Although I have to sacrifice some things like the cravings for fast food and sweets, but it's better to be safe. 

I also thankful with this book, that I have been eyeing to buy for weeks and finally was able to buy it when I got my holiday pay.

This is actually a 2-in-1 book. The other one is "I Wish They Taught Money In High School So I can Start my Business Right Away."

At first I thought, this book is kinda pricey, Php500 for this? Not even a hardbound. Well it should be worth every peso because it has been in the best selling books list for months. And I was right. This book made me realize, I wasn't losing my track after all. I was actually doing the right thing. Before, I follow Income - Savings = Expenses but Ms. Clarissa says, Income - Investment = Expenses is better, which I actually follow lately. She even says, we should invest our savings too but I am not going to do that. I still want to have money on my bank account. I have to have an emergency fund/ This book is actually good, I am not going to review it for you cos I'm not good at that but this book teaches us to manage money like how they promised on the cover. Things that we wish we had learn from high school so we may not have these money problems.

NOTE: I lost my 2 comments on this post. Disqus lost it :(

Smartphone

I'm feeling down about my phone that got wet after I accidentally pour the water pitcher on to the table where my phone at. That result to malfunctioning the touch screen. Now after I've gone to Market!Market! yesterday to have it successfully repair, I found out that WiFi connection won't work and the Bluetooth as well. Apparently, not only the touch screen got damage, also the WiFi and Bluetooth connection that I didn't notice right after I got the phone from the technician. I went to another technician just today to have it check but to my despair, they couldn't do it and needs to be done in Cherry Mobile service center since it is the brand of my phone cos they don't have the piece of needs to be replaced. They reformatted the phone, lost my contacts, messages and some apps. Now I'm losing my interest to this cos some stuffs that I've worked in this gadget lost. Like I am back to zero. No WiFi connection to regain them all until I bring this to the service center and fix hopefully with a low charge. This is ruining my budget, too. I had no choice but to break in to my savings account. Sighs. I hope my phone will be fully repaired.


But then, hey... this is just a phone. Although this is given to me by my boyfriend, it's just a phone. It could be worse. I should not be too much bummed about it. I still have all my downloaded songs and my pictures which is good. Contacts could be retrieve, thanks to Facebook. And I can still pay my savings account for money spent and will be spending for this. Its just a phone.

from Tumblr

I admit that this phone is taking too much time from me. Only this phone connects me to the 'outside world' as I live day by day with work-home-work and weekend for me it's either all day in the boarding house or home in Cavite. And even when I'm home in Cavite, my eyes is still glued to my phone, browsing, downloading stuffs. Can't get enough of it. When I'm offline, I still have my phone in my hand reading ebook. I guess this is a good thing that happened. To realize that heyy dude... this thing is eating you.. you need to go back your life off line. Away from your smartphone.

These smart phones. It's either your slave or could be you are the slave of your smart phone. One time I'm in a Itchyworms gig. The band was banging, the music is so good, I was singing my heart out to every lyrics of Beer then I noticed some people, well mostly, was glued on their phones busy taking selfies with monopod or whatyoucall selfie pods or filming the show. I was like, what the fudge people! They're missing the real fun here.

Taking selfies every angle, or with another friends, taking an angle where Jugs singing in my background. Great shot. The band is now playing their hit Loveteam but he doesn't know cause he's busy arranging those taken shots in a photo collage. Trying every filter, yes this looks good.. no.. my face too dark.. ahh this.. Itchyworm is playing an Eraserheads song! Oh myy God. Oh, some stickers won't hurt. Yep, good to post. Thinking of a great caption to this. Oh yeah don't forget to check in where am at. There. Wait some minutes, checks again who 'like' my post. 

I bet also he liked his own post.

There also a time I went to a Shane Filan gig at the Podium. I went there, waited hours and paid hundreds to see Shane Filan live but thanks to some guys, I saw him via live streaming on their little screens.

I swear I wanted to put a hole on that Ipad with a bullet. If I had a gun that time.

I hope people stop doing this in every gig. You won't enjoy the moment if you choose it to save it on your phone/card memory rather than to your brain memory. I've done this before and regretted it. I should've savor the moment. Well, if you want to relive it, there's always somebody would upload it on YouTube. Taking pictures now and then is okay, I do this. Just stop filming the whole damn show.

Mistress by James Patterson

This is my first read novel written by the famous James Patterson. I'm aware that he has alot of marv works. I think if you've written and publish lotsa novels, like more than a hundred, then you must be really, really good. James P has always been on my list but you know due to a lot of books to read, sometimes you don't know which one to start. If I can just read them all at once, like, one novel in the morning, another one by lunch, an e-book in the afternoon, one at night. Of course at this stage I can't do all that.

from google image

So yeah this one is my first from Mr. Patterson, finished it by 2 days. Started reading it last Monday after I've done my laundry until the next day morning at the office. I can say, I love it though it only gained 3 and ahalf stars in Goodreads which I dont know why. I really enjoyed reading it, couldn't put it down. One of the best book I've read judging how I excitedly want to flip page by page. I find it funny how the lead character run his thoughts and I think this is one of the reasons why they give this less than 5 stars cos it got them confuse which I don't get it. I mean, they are probably Patterson fans ever since or read hundred books in their life, whats the confusion. Sometimes, I get confuse in the middle of a Nicholas Sparks novel. The narrator enters presidential trivia all of a sudden, interesting ones and best part of the novel cos it's funny, too. This is the kind of book that you go pause reading and you'd say, daaammn... like you need to breath from the scenes you read and imagine. I pictured Bradley Cooper portraying the character. I dunno, I think he's perfect to cast if this going to be a movie.

This is 5 stars for me. I am going to read more James Patterson novels. Could you share your favorite novel from him? :)

For The Future

When you got your first job, what's the first goal in your mind?

I grew up with my parents who has never ending debt. Means we 'borrow' what we eat, spend every day and pay them on my tatay's payday. Usually dad's paycheck is gone after 2-3 days by paying all our debts we made throughout the cut-off. What's left is our surviving money for the next days til next sweldo. Sometimes, sweldo is not enough so we borrow money again to others or pawn my tatay's payroll ATM card and other stuffs to pay so we can have credit again for the next 12 days and so. That's how the money in our family flows. With God's grace, my older sister got a chance to work abroad, helped me to went and finish college, had our home in Cavite renovate, helped pay our bills on time and also help kamag-anak in province whenever they asked to (but not all the time). Although my sister is well-pay abroad, I dunno but my nanay still have utang. It won't go. In fact, until now. Even my cousin who already has own family, she pawns her husband's payroll ATM card to survive til next payday of his husband. One I asked her, why you keep doing that, she answered me like sangla or pawning atm is inevitable, it happens normally like trials in life. Kalokohan. So when I had my first job, I swore to myself: This never ending utang won't happen to me. It will not happen to me.

Then I read these books:

:

Boy, I am grateful that I have read these. These books taught me to budget and save money every payday and I did. I had P10,000 on my savings account before the 2013 ended. Until now, I follow this formula:

Income - Savings = Expense

I have one goal: To have my own house and lot. I am 25 years-old now and hopefully I can achieve that by my mid-30s, but with this money on my savings account is all I have, I dunno, with its low interest annually, It'll take me ages before I can save millions of peso.

I'm a Cosmo girl, though it's not obvious but I do buy and read Cosmopolitan magazine every month. It's their money article that I always look forward to so I learned about investments from reading the magazine. While browsing thru internet to learn more about it, I stumble upon this great financial website called The Wise Living (which is by the way, a perfect financial blog for people @  their 20s) and I contacted the blogger since she offers FREE financial consulting. I reached to her, who's name is Lianne, through Viber and she was very patient and nice to teach me brief information about investment which is what I needed. 

Now I have VUL, which is an insurance + investments product (which is I think is really great because you're investing AND you are covered by insurance in one. Ha. Cool, eh?) of Sun Life Financial. Ms Lianne now stands as my financial advisor (very cool. I sound like a person who has lot of money she don't know what the hell to do with those)

I'm just very glad that I did this, that I've start investing so my future self will thank me. This is so good and I thought, why can't everyone just do this investing stuff. I mean, it's a win-win situation. You help not only yourself but also our economy, right? More investments, great economy, yeah? This is just what I think, but I know I'm right. I tell about this to my friends, but they seem don't believe me.  Or I am not just an effective seller because I can't discuss these stuff to them, I am no good teacher so I just tell them, you may want to visit this site or contact this person but they still don't have interest, so I don't insist. Now I wanna know more about investment. As in more. If I can have more investment in the future. As of now, I'm planning to go to financial seminars to help me.

Hey, if you don't have what I've mentioned above yet, investment and insurance, or you wanna know more about those, please do visit this site:

This site is a big help for you specially to those people @ 20's. like what I've mention. Ms Lianne is really friendly, nice and very accommodating, will surely help you out. She is young. Younger than me. She is so cool that she knows alot about finance at the very young age who graduated from nursing. So cool. Again, consultation is free.

This is essential. I mean, you should REALLY get your insurance and invest NOW. I mean, really, really.