Why I love BPI Credit Cards

I'm mired in debt. It's mostly credit-card related.

I've been paying over the minimum but it seems the balance just do not get smaller every month. Instead, it's really slooooooooooooooooowww in coming (for my outstanding balance to lessen that is).

But thank God for BPI Credit Card's balance transfer program. I was able to pay in full my two other credit cards and will just concentrate in paying my BPI credit card monthly.

It pays to have a BPI card. It gives you leeway to ease your financial burden on credit card.

Now that I was given the privilege, it's time for me to discipline myself again in handling my credit card payments.

I've been there, done that.

It's just that sometimes, when you become greedy, the credit card can easily take over.

Lesson learned.

And I'm grateful BPI paved the way to ease my financial burden.

Don't ask me how. Just call 89-100 for details. ;-)

Living to be 80

I'm in my mid-40s and I plan to live until 80.

This Bible verse stuck with me. It says:

The length of our days is seventy years - or eighty, if we have the strength;
yet their span is but trouble and sorrow, for they quickly pass, and we fly away. (Psalm 90:10)

So is this possible?

Who decides up to how long can a man live?

Is it up to God or do we control our destiny?

I believe that if we have a goal - we should work toward that goal. So how do I do it?

There are many ways to reach that goal but you have to be diligent about it.

First, I have to take care of my physical needs. By taking care of my physical needs, I have to balance my diet, maintain a regular exercise to keep myself fit and appropriate regular time for rest.

I am actually in tune with that. I also make it a point to go through a blood chemistry exam on a yearly basis - a preventive measure, just to make sure that my health is still within the normal limits and I won't be needing any medicaiton at all, as each year passes by.

Another area that I have to look at is the emotional aspect of my life. For sure, I need to have time for myself once in a while - it's literally to come apart, to go solo, to be on your own like gaining perspective. And to reinvigorate myself, I need to recreate. This can be done in the form of a hobby, sports or any other activity that takes you away from your routine. And maybe, once in a while, my body needs to cultivate a cheerful heart. I strongly believe that laughter is the best medicine. It's like all work, and no play. I need to humor myself or at least laugh with the people I meet.

Last but not the least (actually this could be the most important of all). I need to fine tune my spiritual life. I need to commune with God on a daily basis. And how do I do it? By starting the day with quiet time. A quiet time consists of reading the Scriptures, reflecting on the message God intended for you and praying to God. But no man is an island. I need to be a part of a small Group for a Christian without a small group is like a spiritual orphan. This way, it keeps you renewed whenever you meet up to fellowship with your small group members. Lest I might forget, I need to make this a weekly habit and that is, by attending Sunday worship - to meditate on God's message and to remind myself to set a time or day for God.

If I can commit to all these 3 habits, I believe that living to be 80 is attainable.

So I say, help me God but

Thy will be done.

My Spiritual Heroes

When I was a kid, these are my spiritual heroes who opened the doors for me and led me to Jesus, my Lord and Savior:

1. Dale Carnegie

2. Og Mandino

3. Norman Vincent Peale

4. John Maxwell

5. Billy Graham

6. Rick Warren


Dale Carnegie, Og Mandino and Norman Vincent Peale taught me to stop worrying and start living; to be a successful in sales; and to think positive in life.


Armed with a positve mindset, John Maxwell, Billy Graham and Rick Warren, instilled in me true leadership skills borne out of love which made me strive to love like Jesus.


Loving is not fun and never easy at all. Human love wears out. Forgiving is a tough act to do.


But all these can be done if we will let Jesus to live in us so that we can do what seems impossible to us.


For with God, nothing is impossible.

Keeping Score

How do you know if you win or lose in a game? By keeping score right?

The same way with Life.

Whether you like it or not, God keeps score.

You see, at the end of your life, God will judge you for how you lived your life.

I'm not even talking about salvation. Let's just confine ourselves with keeping score.

Even in dieting, you keep score. For example, I'm on a diet. But this week, I'm already 0-2 because for the past 2 days, I ate rice. Yup, my diet should be a no rice diet. And so by tomorrow, I will try again. And at the end of the month, I will keep score of my weight. I am already 213 lbs as of yesterday. The past couple of months, I was 220 lbs. So by keeping score, I have lost 7 lbs. Now I did not lose this game. To me, it was a won game. However, the game doesn't stop. Once you have reached your desired weight, you have to keep score to maintain it.

So, keeping score is important.

It determines your proximity to your failures or successes.

It also motivates you to reach for your goal or neglect it altogether.

So, what's your score lately?

Helpful Tips

A little help will go a long way. Spread the word!


Ants Problem: Ants hate cucumbers. Keep the skin of cucumbers near the place or ant hole.

To get pure and clean ice: Boil water first before freezing.

To make the mirror shine: Clean with sprite.

To remove chewing gum from clothes: Keep the cloth in the freezer for an hour.

To whiten white clothes: Soak white clothes in hot water with a slice of lemon for 10 minutes.

To give a shine to hair: Add one teaspoon of vinegar to hair then wash hair. 

To get maximum juice out of lemons: Soak lemons in hot water for one hour and then juice them.


To avoid smell of cabbage while cooking: Keep a piece of bread on the cabbage in the vessel while cooking.
 
 To avoid tears while cutting onions: Chew gum.
 

To boil potatoes quickly: Skin one potato from one side only before boiling.


To remove ink from clothes: Put toothpaste on the ink spots generously and let it dry completely then wash.

To skin sweet potatoes quickly: Soak in cold water immediately after boiling.

To get rid of mice or rats: Sprinkle black pepper in places where you find mice or rats. They will run away.


Hope this helps. Cheers!

They're Back!

The Marcoses are back.

There's one in the Senate. One in Congress. One in Ilocos Norte as Governor.

And now the latest news, the majority of the congressmen have approved (?) of the Marcos petition that the body of the late Ferdinand E. Marcos, be buried at the Libingan ng mga Bayani.

For sure, this has sparked another outrage from the pro-Aquino camps.

What an irony indeed.

Last 1986, when the Filipinos introduced People Power when they ousted Marcos from the seat of government, it was like euphoria - a testament to the Filipinos' battlecry against dictatorship.

More than 20 years later, the Marcoses are back in power and are inching toward the burial of the late strongman in the Libingan ng Bayani or Heroes' Cemetery at the Fort.

Again, who's to blame?

Will our country look dumber and dumber by ousting a dictator only to bury him in a place reserved for heroes?

The former Senator Saguisag suggested that the place be renamed Libingan ng mga Bayani at mga Pangulo or Cemeteries for the Heroes and Presidents.

What will become of our country? Will we become a laughingstock for being such a paradox?

In the first place, does it really matter if the Marcoses are buried in the land reserved for heroes?

What's in a name anyway?

Am I one of the many who couldn't care less?

If Ninoy and Cory, both considered heroes, are not buried there but just in Manila Memorial Park, a privately owned heritage park, what's the difference if Marcos will be buried in the Heroes' Park?

Shouldn't the people focus on more important matters, more so, our politicians?

Sometimes, I'm sick and tired of these issues between the Aquinos and the Marcoses.

Do they own our country?

Can't we have other or better options to lead our country?

They've had their share and there's not much difference to date.

I wouldn't be surprised if one day, Bongbong Marcos will become president. He has the makings of a president, being a son of the former president, he has the money, the political connections, the bearing and everything that will hypnotize our masses.

And maybe Kris Aquino will be ready to prevent Bongbong from becoming president.

They have made the Philippines their virtual playground. tsk!

Who's to Blame?

Now critics, celebrities, Human Rights Groups and even the Catholic Church are ganging up on Willie Revillame.


But what was really the fault of Willie? That he made the poor kid dance or gyrate in front of the tv camera at his expense and let the boy continue while the boy is crying already (which made critics fume more against Willie). What exacerbated the issue was Willie's statement that the little boy will do anything for the money (which is only P10,000) to help his family. This really drew a slew of criticisms and violent reactions esp from anti-Willie fanatics.


In a sense, what Willie did was uncalled for and whether you like it or not, even if the boy's family is ok with it, what was committed went against Willie's claim that all he did was to make the people happy (yeah, at the expense of the poor kid). Talk about twisted logic. 


And here lies the bigger issue.


Was it really Willie Revillame's fault?


In the Inquirer's headline today, Monique Wilson, was telling it like it is to the TV networks: Do not dumb down on the people. In tagalog, wag niyo gawing tanga ang mga pinoy.


So, was it the TV networks fault? For coming up with shows like these that dumb down on people?


But this is what clicks with the masa or the Filipino masses. So naturally, any TV networks would come up with a sound business proposition that will deliver programs that entice the Filipino masses to tune in to their programs.


So, was it the advertisers or the sponsors' fault? 


No audience. No sponsors. No game shows like these. No hosts like Willie Revillame who certainly has a solid fan base among the Filipino masses.


Now, you connect the dots.


So, who's to blame? 


Will you blame the masa for continuing to flock and feed on game shows like these?


Can you really blame the masa? They're in it for the money and this is the easiest way to earn money... sometimes, even at their expense. Never mind that the game makes them dumber or makes them look dumb as long as they're given easy money so they can buy food to eat.


Is this cultural? economical? or political?


If you will dig deeper beneath the underlying issues...


Is this the government's fault?


What?!