Sauteed Fish in Honey and Lemon

My husband is out for the Holy Week and I am left to myself alone in the house.  Because I am too lazy to cook fancy, I once again whipped myself with what is available in the kitchen, white fish, lemons and honey.

So here is dinner for me:

Ingredients

1 cream dory fillet

1 medium sized lemon, juiced

2 tbsp honey

basil

salt and pepper

1. Mix lemon and honey, salt and pepper. Pour over cream dory. Marinate for 1 hr.

2. Transfer dory in a foil, sprinkle basil and pepper. 

3. Fold ends of the aluminum foil to ensure that the fish is covered tightly. This is to ensure moisture is not lost.

4. Steam fish for 20 min.

Enjoy!

Note: I cut my fish into bite sizes to easily absorb marinade and for faster cooking.

Vegetable Salad in a Jar

I have been trying to eat healthy, keeping off from all the meat.  For months I have been off beer, sodas, and all bottled juices.  I am not totally a fan of vegetable but I have been forcing myself to stick to the greens.

So I planned on making some salad for dinner and to save on time for the next meals, I decided to prepare them in my mason jars.I would like to share with you a quick and easy, single serve salad that you could store for 3-4 days in the fridge and  you could just grab when you need something light.





Ingredients:
2 tbsp Thousand Island Dressing
2 -in long carrots, cut into strips
2 in long cucumber, sliced
quarter of apples, cubed
8 pcs grapes, sliced
romainne lettuce, sliced
cheese, shredded


1.  Fill your mason jar with the dressing.
2.  Layer carrots, cucumber, apples, and grapes inside the jar.  Give the jar a tap so the empty spaces could be filled.
3.  Add the shredded cheese.
4.  Finally, all as much lettuce that you could fill the remaining space of your jar.

You could actually, add more ingredients like tomatoes or turnip.. Likewise, you could change the dressing to vinagrette.  It is all up to you.

Happy healthy eating everyone.

No Bake Cheesecake

It is hard not to give in to cravings.  And since last week, I can't stop thinking of cheesecakes, my favorite cake.  I had the chance to visit the local grocery and so I packed on some ingredients for a cheesecake.

Because I still don't have an oven (I'm still saving for it!!!), I decided to try on the no bake cheesecake.  I love the outcome of the cake.  I would still opt for the baked ones if given the chance, but for those without an oven, this would still hit the spot.  I shared this with Ron's family, and I was in the spotlight because of this sweet treat.

Below are the ingredients and the steps in making a no-bake cheesecake.  It goes perfectly well with any kind canned fruit.  I made mine with strawberries!



Ingredients:

Crust:
1 1/2 cup graham crackers crumbs
2/3 cup packed brown sugar
1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
1/3 cup butter, melted

Cheesecake Filling:
2 8-ounce packages of cream cheese
2 tsp lemon juice
250 ml all purpose cream
1/3 cup white sugar

Topping:
1 can fruit pie filling (cherry, strawberry, or blueberry)

Directions:
1.  Stir together crust ingredients in a bowl.  Press into the bottom of the 8 or 10 in springform pan.  Chill until firm.


2.  Make sure your cream cheese is at room temperature.  Beat together cream cheese and lemon juice until soft.  Add all purpose cream and beat until batter is thick.   Add the sugar and continue beating until stiff.


3.  Pour batter into chilled crust.  Even out the batter.


4.  Top with canned fruit pie filling.


5.  Chill for 8 hours minimum or overnight.
6.  Remove the sides of the springform pan just before serving.

Enjoy!!!!

On death and leaving

Today, I came home from Iloilo.  Ron and I crossed seas to visit Danes and her family and sympathize with her family as she lost a great man in his life, her father.  That's the second wake/funeral that we have attended this year, with Ron's aunt as the first.

At our age, the reality of death is hitting us by the face.  Our parents are getting old, weak, and going in that direction.  I am not really afraid of death perse.  I am perhaps afraid of losing a loved one over death.  The void that he/she leaves you with, emptiness and loneliness sweeping your entirety.  How could I overcome when that happens? That is what I am afraid of.

It dawned on me that indeed, death will come into our doorsteps, anytime.  We are only left with limited time.  As I am living away from my mom, as much as I can, I am spending time with her.  Because I don't want to miss my opportunity.

Homemade Icecream

I love homemade or do it yourself projects.  So even with food, I enjoy whipping up things and feeding all of them to my husband.  Aside from cakes, I love icecream!  Especailly chocolate icream! I love them so bad that  I have been looking for some industrial icecream maker so I could have icecream whenever I can.  So two nights ago, I tried making homemade icecream without an icecream maker.  YES, you read it correctly, icecream without an Icecream maker!

This dessert is timely as Summer is fast approaching.. we could surely beat the summer heat with a bowl of icecream,
So below are the ingredients and the steps and it is as easy as it can getsh, andy whenever we like it.



Ingredients:
Icecream Base:
2 packs of All Purpose Cream
1 can of condensed milk

Preparation:
1.  In a bowl, whip all purpose cream until it doubles in volume.
2.  Fold condense milk and continue whipping with a mixer until it thickens.
3.  Refrigerate for an hour.
4.  Remove from freezer and give another 15 minutes of mixing.
5.  Send it to the freezer for another hour.
6.  Add flavor of your liking.  You may fold crushed oreos, cheesecake, chocolates, marshmallows, fruits, nuts.  Anything you like and anything you crave.  I added chopped cheddar cheese in our icecream because that's the only thing available.  Send it to the freezer for hardening.

As an advice, you may put portions of icecream base in clean mason jars and add your flavor so that you may enjoy plenty of icecream flavors in this one batch of icecream base.

Enjoy your icecream friends!


-o0o-
I find the 2:1 proportion too sweet, you may lessen the condensed milk suited to your sweetness preference.

Banana Apple Slush

2015 is here and what better way to start the year right than preparing heathy food for a healthier you this year. After all the pounds gained over the holidays, it is right time to shed it off.  I am sharing with you a delicious but healthy drink, Banana Apple Slush.



 You need:
2 Bananas
1 Apple, peeled
3/4 cup Non Fat Milk
Honey to sweeten
Loads of Ice
Cinammon (optional)

Put all ingredients in a blender. Shake it up until smooth. Serve in a glass.

Waving Goodbye to 2014! Saying Hello to 2015!

Happy NewYear everyone!

2015 is just two hours away and I am excited. 2014 has been an exciting year and I couldn't thank the Lord enough for the many blessings He has given us... for one, we have survived our first year of marriage: the adjustment phase in a new house with just the two of us.  We haven't killed each other yet!  We survived because we learned to compromise with each other, aside from the rock-paper-scissors game that we have to do to see who does the cooking and the dishes.

The business is a strong as ever but this time around, it was just the two of us making big decisions. We have to throw in new ideas to evolve our products at the same time retain its uniqueness and its original state which captured our loyal customers...We are pushing for expansion, hopefully 2015 would give us the edge.

2014 also gained us a lot of pounds to be shed off next year...Hahaha!! But seriously, doctor's orders, we have to gain our old weights back. But I'm thankful that there was no serious problem in health this year.  No confinement in the hospital and no health bills to pay, which I thank the Lord for.

We were able to finish two of our projects this year. We finish off paying our lot for our house at the same time acquired a new property that we intend to rent out in 2015.  We even minimize our interest and gained more on the rebates that the bank returned to us for paying more than the monthly required amount.  It cut a lot in our leisure and travel fund but it gave us some maturity to learn to sacrifice and the humility to take on the responsibility of our commitments.  I'm excited to invest more in 2015 or maybe start building that dreamhouse. =)

So there goes my 2014... not as travel filled as my single years but just them same, 2014 is awesome.  I can't wait for 2015....and oh please come with good surprises!

TCC woes

How will you answer the question, "When are you having a baby?" or the worse and boggling question "Why we are still not having a baby?"

If only you would know when you will have one or why you don't have one, but those questions rests to the Creator and the future to be answered.

All we could do is wait, do all we can and all that we know of to get pregnant.

For a year now, Ron and I have been trying to conceive. There were months when I get delayed and we get excited, getting our hopes up only to be crushed again and again. There are times that my disapointment is too much, I get depressed the day I get my late period. And more depression comes from the envy boiling inside knowing that your contemporaries became pregnant, or those who just got married are now counting weeks at their pregnancy.

Sometimes I wonder if I do not want it as badly, as the Lord sees that this is not my heart's desire. That maybe I wanted it only because I get so many pressures from family, friends and colleagues. Maybe because I am afraid of the words "abnormal or with defect" associated with not able to conceive, that I wanted a baby to prove them all wrong. Because maybe, just maybe, I want to conform of the norm: get married and HAVE kids.

So the next time, please ask no longer of the many reasons why we are still without a child. I still don't know why and I could not answer the when too. Only God knows.

Look Good, Feel Good

Nowadays, though I may take full control of my time, I have been very busy to the point that I neglect myself.  My routine everyday is take a bath, get dressed, brush teeth and then grab my bags and dash to the car for the morning rush. Nothing quite unusual but the little extra I put into myself eons ago seem to be thrown out of nowhere.  I only get to comb my hair at the car.  I sometimes miss putting on body lotion or a moisturizer.  I haven't worn makeup since I can't remember.

I lack exercise, I eat too much.  I keep on procastinating on the former. I have many excuses left and right. It is no wonder that I am gaining weight very fast.  I am at my heaviest to date.  I have bought work out clothes 2-3 months ago to inspire me to get my ass moving, yet, I have not gone to the gym nor opened my laptop to follow a 15 minute workout.

Everytime I  look at myself in the mirror, and compare it to my old pictures of 3 years ago, I feel that I am the dull version of myself.  Because I don't feel good of what I see, insecurities creep in.

I have been so busy, I neglected my responsibility to myself: To Look Good and to Feel Good.  I know it is not obligatory but sometimes putting on a red lipstick boost your confidence or wearing a 3-inch heeled shoes makes you feel empowered.  I would like to open my closet and won't get limited because I could fit into all my clothes instead of me squeezing into my jeans which I could no longer button.  I would like to have curves unlike my surfboard of a body.

So yeah, I know I should have started exercising or pick up the make - up kit than blogging my woes and ranting on my shitty self.  I guess, I have to put it in writing, some sort of a promise to taking care of myself, to a healthier, fitter version of me.

P.S.
I started my 15 minute zumba workout and extra 30 jump ropes in my new sports bra and nike kicks.... Im far from having flat abs but I'm getting there.

I'm Too Blessed to Complain

Today, we arrived at the store with one of our staff saying, "Manang, may sala gid ko sa imo" (Sister, I did something wrong).  I kept on guessing her fault with no avail until she confessed that she left the gas range open with the stove still on, overnight.  I have a section at the store that sells burgers, fishballs, french fries and the like.  And she was assigned in that section the other day.  When the whole First Shift Team opened Raji Mart yesterday, the store was full of smoke because the burner was on all night.  We were too blessed the store didn't burn in flames, else, I am now a pauper, stressed on how to pay the goods as half of the items at the store are still on loan with the suppliers.  Also, we are only renting, we may get sued for negligence or if there would be injuries, we will be required to take care of all of it.  So, yeah, I am so blessed and grateful that amidst all that was, Raji Mart is still running.

I didn't get angry nor give a reprimand for the negligence of my staff.  I was too overwhelmed with the blessing.  Ron gave her a 3-day suspension as penalty and to teach her a lesson she'll never forget. She agreed right away as she knew it was her fault in the first place.  No bad words said, unlike the movies.

As for my team, it was a lesson to be careful all the more.  Negligence is a no - no if we still want Raji Mart operational and them having work to feed mouths. As for me, I still have to save up for an insurance for the store for unforeseen like this.  But for now, I only have You, Lord, to save me and the store from all the troubles.  Thank you po!

Microwave Mac amd Cheese

This quick and easy recipe is a sure hit for the busy moms who does't have that much time to cook.

All it takes is less than 10 minutes and you will have a delectable meal for the family

Ingredients:

1/2 lb pasta (cooked, we used small Macaroni)
1 cup whole Milk
2 cups shredded cheddar Cheese
3/4 tsp salt
1/2 tsp ground black pepper
Basil (Optional)

Preparation:
1. Place all ingredients in a microwave safe bowl. Stir.
2. Place in microwave for 5 minutes in Medium High setting.
3. Stir again.
4. Microwave for another 2 minutes.
5. Stir until smooth amd creamy.

Serves 4

Motherhood

It is cliche-ic to write about motherhood on Mother's day. And I still don't have the right to write on the topic because I don't have a child, nor am I bearing one as to date. This is no greeting nor sharing of experience of someone.

Today, I write on motherhood because I think I am not ready to be one. I am scared of the responsibility.  I'm scared that I could not live up to expectation of being a good mother.  It is too much that someone's needs is dependent on you.  

Somehow, I still don't feel the attraction for children. I have a complicated time understanding them. I have a nephew who, one day wants all your attention, giving you hugs and entertaining you with all of his skills yet also knows how to say no whenever he doesn't feel like it.  He is only 4 but he oftentimes outwit me with his demands and I don't like a bit of it. Ron's niece came to Negros for a month's vacation and instantly I dislike her.  She's 7, plays dolls, orders her Mamita (lola) around, doens't share her food which my husband bought and she gets a hold of the family's laptop amidst her owning a tablet. I don't entirely get allergic reactions with kids. I enjoy their company but once the crying starts or they get bitchy, they no longer interest me.

I see how tiring but selfless  it is to care for a child.  Looking after their welfare, tidying their poops, tending to their bruises,  is entirely intricate. I am scared with all of it.  I don't know if I could handle.

Every night I pray that the Lord God will bless our marriage with a child. We are already in our thirties and I want to spend as much time as we could with our children in the future.  I believe that the early we start, the earlier we would be finished rearing our children, and so we could move on to retiring stress free.  Now, on our 6th month of marriage, we are continuously trying to have a baby.  While others are saying that we should enjoy our marriage as husband and wife, our folks, uncles and aunts are asking of an apo.  But I believe, the Lord will bless us with a baby once we are ready.  Children are blessings and given only to those who deserve them. Maybe the Lord delays his gift because He understands the desires of our hearts more than we do. He is above the norm of the society and what ot dictates. Maybe we are not yet ready.  Maybe His time for us to be parents is not yet now.

Cream Cheese Brownies

Last New Year's Eve, when we went home to my husband's hometown, I met his cousins from Manila.  I instantly love them because they all love food and they all love making good food.  His cousin Tin, brought home some baked goodies, a delectable brownies topped with cream cheese.  It was so awesome, I think I have 5-6 of those small squares while my husband had about the same.

Last night boredom hit me once more.  And what else to do but to do some kitchen fix and have the oven running.  I remembered how much husband and I loved the taste of Cream Cheese Brownies and I thought why not try making one since we have a big slab of Chocolate untouched for about 4 months now.

What I love about this brownies is the complementing taste of the dense fudge-like chocolate brown with the cream cheese.  The tanginess of the cream cheese tempers the rich chocolate taste. I definitely enjoy eating two of my favorites, chocolate and cheesecake in one bite.

I would like to share this wonderful treat with the recipe below:

Ingredients

Brownie Layer:
110 grams unsalted butter
115 grams sweetened chocolate
200 grams sugar
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
2 large eggs
65 grams all purpose flour
1/4 teaspoon salt

Cream Cheese Layer:
225 grams full fat cream cheese
65 grams granulated white sugar
1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
1 large egg

Instructions:

1)  Preheat oven to 325 F or 160 C.

2)  Ready a 9 inch pan lined with aluminum foil.

3)  In a bowl, mix butter and chocolate.  Place in a pan of simmering water to melt mixture.

4)  Remove bowl from hit and whisk in sugar, vanilla extract all purpose flour, salt.  Add in eggs one at a time.  Mix together.

5)  The secret to a fudge-like dense brownie is less flour, no leavening and an addition of air into the mixture.  So whip mixture vigorously to add air and to have a homogenous mixture.

6)  Remove a 1/2 cup of the chocolate batter to be used later.  Pour the remaining mixture into the 9 inch square pan.

7)  In a food processor, place cream cheese, egg, and sugar.  Mix until smooth and have no lumps.

8)  Spread mixture on top of the brownie batter.

9)  Spoon 16 dallops of brownie batter evenly on top of the cream cheese mixture.

10) Run a knife back and forth through the two batters until you have a marble effect.

11) Bake for 30 minutes or when the toothpick comes out with a few crumbsafter inserting it into the brownies.

12) Cool down or refrigerate before serving.


Fresh from the oven!

Some Things I get for Free

Who says things shouldn't come for free?  Who says every thing should have a price tag?

I love freebies. I love free tasting. I love going to trade fairs for free samples.  During college, we often wait for free admission movies at the UP Film Center. And even if I have no one to drag for some good Eigasai films, I still take the chance to watch. I love watching plays too. Free plays the most. Ron and I were able to snag 20 minutes of our time to wacth Serbis the other week beacause it was free. Free starbucks from the Brit bosses or the free meriendas during work huddles was a delight.

Ever since I came home, the freebies became different. It was purely related to the outcome of our business. I now enjoy gadgets wheneer we hit yearly targets. I got a laptop and a phone frome suppliers. I get gift certificates, perks of our purhases. I also get free BPI treats with the consistent use. And soon enough I could get a new gadget with the reward points I earn.

But above the free material stuff that I get, I am happy with the constant hugs and kisses given to me by my husband. The giggles of my nephew or his inquisitive look are priceless as well. The bonding moments I have with my brothers over food or volleyball is awesome. I wouldn't experience this now if I didn't choose to go home. So I may have sacrificed some freebies but I gained more than I could ask for.

Unemployed Entrepreneur

I am unemployed. My husband is unemployed.  And we enjoy the unemployed life.

We are NOT trying to look for a good paying job.  It was a decision we both made to stay unemployed, a couple of months before we tied the knot.  Ron has been grueling night hours at the BPO industry taking calls shift after shift.  After two visits to the hospital, I knew for a fact that life at the call center will take a toll on him. As for me, I came in terms with myself, accepting that I may be an Engineer, licensed at that, but I am not going to employ forever.  The corporate life offer fame, awards and opportunities in exchange for stress and poor health. So I finally took my retirement at age 29. I'd rather use my time and energy in more important things: my family and my future.

So how do we get by?

RAJI MART STORY
After I said goodbye to my career in Manila Water, I have built my first business venture.  This was not at all part of MY plan.  But it was God's way of laying his plans for me.  At the time when I was looking for work at my hometown, opportunity struck my family.  A big grocery is about to close and it was offered to my mother.  She is interested but she does not have the time.  I was the only bum kid at the household, so who else is given the responsibility but me.  Without any knowledge in business, I took the challenge. What I learned in my corporate life, I taught to my people.  We opened the grocery with it half full.  Money was scarce, as I was given a very limited budget.  But I told myself, one day, I will have my grocery full and I could leave it running with little supervision. Months later,  Raji Mart is one big key market player.

JCE STORY
Stabilizing Raji Mart, I entered Coke.  Half a year later, I hang up the red shirt. Leaving Coke was a decision, so easy for me to make.  I think, the Lord allowed the opportunity for me to realize that being in the manufacturing setting, or being employed for that matter is not His plan.  I was always tired.  I haven't gone to vacations.  I work 6 days a week.  I spend less time with my family.  Life sucks then.

After I left, I was bumming again.  Raji Mart became a routine. Looking for another venture and joining the Japanese Cake craze was the answer.   It was intended to help with Raji Mart's rent but it became full blast as we took advantage of the public's positive reception and put them in key locations. I thought, why not give the sole Jap Cake distributor some competition.  We made a hit.  Now we operate in 8 locations in Bacolod and Talisay and 3 more locations in Iloilo.  And we are not stopping from expanding.

-o0o-
Opportunities are many.  It is up to us to put our fingers into them and get a hold of them.  Struggles will be everywhere and it will hit you anytime.  But it is up to us if we want to saddle up and hold them with a tight rope.  Fear of failure will never go away.  But with the Lord's grace, a little risk, a prayer and loads of perseverance, we will reach our gold mine.

Being an Entrepreneur is more than a plan, or a choice.  IT is about letting God be your employer, because only He can make you one.

Love is a Decision

Ron is once again in the Sanitarium. Stroke. Mild, but at his age, it is alarming to actually have it. As I watched him at the ER, his left body numbed, his speech at a half slur, I could not imagine how I was still standing there. I am about to marry this man. Am I prepared for the worse? Or maybe perhaps, your question is, have I stayed, or have I flown free while I had the chance?

Yet, I stood there. Watched him. Listened to the doctors. Waiting. I held his hand from time to time. It was more of strengthening me than me encouraging him.

It was an easy thing to go. Love, above mercy or duty, made me stay. Because I know, even if I leave, I would never be happy without him. I am ready for what is beyond. Health, weakness, tragedy and joy, as long as he holds my hand, we can overcome. I am ready for marriage. I am ready for a life with him.

Less than a month now, we will say our I Dos. I am in no apprehension. I am in no doubt of my decision to stand before God with Him. I love him. THAT IS THE DECISION.

Tips on Bidding Foreclosed Properties with Unionbank

So after winning at the property bidding with Unionbank, I just feel obligated to share some tips I learned from the bidding. I will divide my tips into Before, During and After bidding.

Before Bidding

1. Do Due Diligence. This is a no-brainer tip. Acquiring a property involves money and of course we don't want to put to waste the money we earned with our sweat and blood.  Check at the location site and see for yourself what you are buying for. Know the topography and elevation of the area. you wouldn't want to have a property which is flood prone, it would take a toll on you in the future.

2. Check the copy of the title of the property at the local Registry of Deeds. Titles are a public property and you could request a photocopy with a fee. This is to check on the Encumbrances at the back of the title. Unfortunately, it take 2-3 working days before they release the copy.

3. Prepare your show money. At Unionbank, bidder has to prepare Php20,000 per property he wishes to bid. This money will be collected when the bidder won the property. Other banks will require you to have manager's check of do a deposit before bidding. Always inquire with the nearest bank of their show money requirements as this may be one reason that others get disqualified during biddings.

During Bidding

1. Don't be late. Bidding usually starts on time. And bidding on a property takes only minutes. You wouldn't want to miss on the opportunity of acquiring the prime lots. When we attended the bid, the bidding only took 20 minutes. While we were filling up forms, another couple arrived to bid (they were after Priority Lot #1 as well). yet the bidding was over. If they have come, they might have won our property as the guy partner was a foreigner.

2.  Do Computations while Bidding. Compute for the total price and price per sqm of the property you are auctioning. Foreclosed properties are usually of lower value, and we are after that opportunity. But as bidding continues and prices climbs, it is good to check the price per sqm to check if the value is still viable.

After Bidding

1. Read the contract. So you have won, Congratulation! But you are not fully committed to the property unless you signed the contract. READ it. If you are ammenable to the terms written in the contract, sign it.

2. Know your capacity to pay.  The bank will offer you the term of payment. You could have it as short as 3 months or as long as 10 years. The longer the term the higher the interest. 

*Note, Unionbank does not allow the use or any improvements in the property unless it is fully paid, so unless we fully pay, we can't build our home. This is one of their terms which is beneficial to know when you read contracts.

3. Submit other requirements. The bank will require other requirements like IDs and other documents they wish you to sign. As for Unionbank, we were required to submit post-dated checks based on the payment schedule.

4. Follow the payment schedule. If you want to avoid penalties for late payments, follow their schedule. Fund your checking account to ensure that the checks you submitted have funds. This does not only avoid you from bank penalties but also an estafa case.

I hope you guys, got a thing or two from these tips. If you happen to join a property bidding, share your experience in comments below.

Happy investing everyone!

Our first bidding experience

Ron and I attended the bidding of foreclosed properties listed at Unionbank at Business Inn today. We are about to get married and planning where to build our love nest is in the bag. We are eyeing for 2 possible properties listed for bidding.

Note that a week before today, we have visited the site and we found that among the 6 properties listed in the same area, we like these two lots because of:

1. Lot size. The priority lot #1 is 600 sqm while priority lot #2 is 450 sqm. I think these are lot sizes spacious enough for me to have my garden.

2. Elevation. Among the lots listed both lots are unlikely to be flooded because it was away from the nearby stream. As you all now,  water would naturally flow to a body of water nearby.

3. Proximity. What I like most of these two lots is that it is close to the main road of the subdivision. As a matter of fact, Priority Lot #1 is alonh the main road of the subdivision.

Among others, we really want to acquire a lot in the said subdivision because the price per sqm is only at 1300Php. Comparing to other subdivisions, lots are already sky rocketing at 2000Php (minimum) while others could go as high as Php 7000 per square meter.

When we arrived at the venue, another couple was there as our competitor. The bidding officer waited for another 15minutes before starting to wait for other bidders to arriv but there was nobody else.

Funny about this bidding is that, both parties are after the same properties. I guess the other couple also did their due diligence. They auctioned property #2 first. We are fighting neck to neck with it while i was computing the price per sqm on the side. When the total property value reached a million we stopped and the other couple won.

I thought all the while that since they already got a property, they will no longer bid for Property #1 (600sqm). But we thought wrong. They once again bid against us. But good thing when the property value reached 930,000, they stopped bidding, saying they can't afford the monthly payments of two properties considering that the values have changed already. So we won the property.

Amidst the increase, I still think that we got a good deal at approximately 1500Php per sqm.  

So yeah, we are property owners now! Of course, after we finished off with our payments. 

Filipino, Wikang Pambansa

Below is a speech that I wrote for Buwan ng Wika Celebration of Bubog Elementary School.

Sa mga mag-aaral, guro, at opisyal ng Bubog Elementary School, isang Magandang Umaga sa inyong lahat!  Ako’y nagagalak at ako’y naimbitahan sa inyo selebrasyon ng Buwan ng Wika.

Wika, isang importanteng paraan para tayo ay makapaghatid ng ating alam, karunungan, balita at impormasyon, ang ating saloobin at damdamin.  Sa pamamagitan ng wika tayo ay nagkakaintindihan.  Ang pagkakaroon ng isang wika na naiinitindihan ng lahat ay nakakatulong upang tayo ay magkakaisa at upang magkaroon ng isang mapayapang kumunidad.  Ito rin ay nakakatulong upang umunlad bilang isang bansa.  Kung kaya’t nararapat na ating pahalagahan ang ating wikang Pambansa, ang Filipino.

Tayo ay isang bansang may iba’t ibang dialekto.  Tayo dito sa Negros ay nakakapagsalita at nakakaintindi ng wikang Hiligaynon.  Cebuano naman ang dialekto ng ating mga kapatid na taga Cebu, at ibang probinsiya sa Mindanao.  Ilokano naman ang salita ng mga taga Ilocos, at Waray naman ang salita ng mga taga Samar at Leyte.  Isa tayong bansa pero hindi natin naiintindihan at nabibigkas ang dialekto ng ating kapwa Pilipino.  Kung kaya, napakahalaga na magkaroon ng isang wikang Pambansa, ang wikang Filipino, upang mapag-isa at magkaintindihan tayong lahat. Ang wikang Filipino ang nag-uugnay sa atin upang tayo’y tumungo sa isang direksyon bilang isang bansa.

Ang Filipino, ang ating wikang Pambansa, ay isang pagpapatunay kung gaano katingkad ang kulay ng ating kasaysayan.  Ito ay kaluluwa ng ating bayan.  May maririnig tayong salitang Intsik, Malay, Espanyol, Ingles, gayon man ay Nihonggo at ang bagong uso ngayon ay gay lingo at Koreano.  Nagpapatunay ito ng ating kasaysayan at impluwensya.  Hindi ba’t tayo ay nakikipagkalakal sa mga Tsino at Malay gayun din ay sinakop ng mga Kastila, Americano at Hapon?  Natanggap na rin n gating lipunan ang mga bakla at tomboy kaya’t malaya na silang nakakapagsalita at nagkaroon pa nga ng gay lingo.  Ang ating wikang Pambansa, ang wikang Filipino ay hinubog ng panahon, at isang repleksyon kung paano tayo hinubog bilang isang bansa, isang mamayang Pilipino sa pagdaang ng maraming panahon.

Ang Wikang Filipino, higit kanino man, ay dapat bigyang halaga nating mga Pilipino.  Sabi nga ng ating pambansang bayani,  Jose Rizal, “Ang hindi magmahal sa sariling wika ay higit sa hayop at malansang isda; kaya ating pagyamaning kusa, gaya ng inang sa atin ay nagpala.”Ating  ipagmalaki at ipagbunyi ang ating pagiging Pilipino.  Mahalin at pagyamanin ang ating wikang Pambansa, ang wikang Filipino.

Success by Henry Sy

“There is no such thing as overnight success or easy money. If you fail, do not be discouraged; try again. When you do well, do not change your ways. Success is not just good luck: it is a combination of hard work, good credit standing, opportunity, readiness and timing. Success will not last if you do not take care of it.”  - Henry Sy

Henry Sy is the richest Filipino in the Philippines as to this writing and is an inspiration.  He is a true story of rags to riches.