A Tribute to Fathers

When I was a kid, one of the things I was most proud of was being born on the 6th day of my birth month because my tatay (father in the Tagalog dialect) was born on the same day but in a different month. I remembered nanay (mother) saying that we shared a lot in common because we were both born day of our birth months. I didn’t understand her then, but to be honest, I did grow up to be more like my dad.

Tatay spent a hard life earning money in order to raise us but never complained once. He made sure his kids would finish education by working hard in his tailor shop, which he built up for years. He worked with his hands and enjoyed the feeling of accomplishment that went with it. He was a man of few words, soft spoken. His strong character as well as his gentleness and sincerity of heart won him many friends.


Last sunday was Father’s day, and even though my tatay has been gone for a few years now, I can still recall how kind and patient he was. He's always in my heart. How could he not be?

Another dad who made a profound influence in me and my life is my husband. He taught me that life is not just about myself. He taught me the value of communication, of playing time and not just time for work, of interdependence at home. Even with his busy schedule, he finds time to watch a movie, chat, have fun, wine and dine, and exercise with me.

Today most especially, fathers hold a special place in my thoughts. They remind me of the first letter of the Hebrew alphabet "Alef" which means an ox. This letter which stands for strength, a leader, or what is first, is used in the Hebrew word for father (ab or av), symbolizing that a father is the leader or the strength of the family. To all fathers, here's a unique workout which beautifully mirrors you, like the ancient character Alef!


Want to find out more about the rest of the letters of the Hebrew alphabet? Strengthen yourselves and move through the PraiseMoves Alphabetics!

Financial Literacy Online for OFW’s

If you are among the many Filipinos working abroad, have you asked yourselves these questions?

Kabayan,ilang taon ka na bang nagtatrabaho?
May naipon ka na ba sa ilang taon mong pinaghirapan o walang natitira sa kinikita mo buwan buwan?
Hanggang kailan mo balak magtrabaho sa labas ng bansa?
Pag balik mo ba sa Pinas, may maiuuwi ka bang pera para sa iyong kinabukasan?

Productivity through financial wellness

Over the years, companies have been giving more attention to physical wellness, team building and leadership training programs to increase workforce productivity. I, for one, used to avail of these perks in my former job at a multi-national company through seminars like “The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People,” team building outings, reimbursable medical expenses and paid annual membership to a gym near the office. Today, these programs are also being used as a tool to attract potential applicants or partners in businesses. Ultimately, these are made available to motivate people, generate more income and attain production targets. As a proof, a 2009/2010 Tower Watson Staying@Work Report reveals that “companies with the most effective wellness programs have an 11% higher work force productivity and 28% higher shareholder returns over a period of five years.” But if overall staff well-being and a highly engaged workforce are directly proportional to their productivity, what about the people’s financial condition?

Counter stroke by walking!

Many may think that only old people experience stroke. The fact is, those hit by this sudden disabling attack are now getting younger and younger. I remember a friend who recently passed away at the age of 30 because of stroke. At first glance, you would not think him sick at all.

Usually those at risk are those whose parents have had stroke or heart attack, those aged 55 and above, with high blood pressure, high cholesterol, are smokers or exposed to second-hand smoking, diabetic, overweight, and those with heart disease.

INVESTITUDES

Inspired by the eight beatitudes contained in the gospel, I listed the ways financial blessings can be attained. If we live by them, our actions (or investments) will ultimately lead us to great reward (By the word “invested,” I mean “devoted” or “endowed”).

Invested are the financially poor, for theirs is the glory to success How many people do we know who were once unimaginably poor but have eventually climbed up their way to success (the likes of Gokongwei, Henry Sy, and even of a former presidential candidate who claims to have been once belonging to the poorest of the poor communities. As his jingle goes, “Nakaligo ka na ba sa dagat ng basura?”)?

I Love Savings!

When I was little, I used to save part of my school allowance and put it in my piggy bank. When I got a little bigger, I opened a junior account in a bank which after a while closed down for reasons I could not comprehend at that time yet. I was so scared that my savings would not be returned while I was queuing for such a long time along with other people who also wanted back their money.

Losing weight after the holidays

Last Christmas, most of us have eaten excessively. A lot of people gained weight and had higher cholesterol level. As a response to bulges and the flabs, many are offering different types of quick fix solutions such as easy-to-take diet pills, various fad diets and costly fat-burning equipment and procedures. But what do doctors simply recommend? Healthy food, a moderate lifestyle, and exercise! Although losing weight may take a while following these simple steps, the important thing is that they are the safest.

Your financial future can start today!

I hope everybody is doing great on these first days of 2011!

I just read a very interesting article on the renewal of the mind from the January edition of the newsletter “Food, Fitness & Faith.” What I learned from it could be applied to all my activities, on health and financial issues, for this bright and exciting year ahead.

Usually, what comes to mind at the start of each are resolutions – what we ought to be and what we ought to do for a better us in the future. But do these resolutions really work in the end? The fact is, they don’t usually last as we expected them to. The main reason? We tend to change things around us first, before we even change ourselves within. Look at the people who are fond of quick weight loss schemes. They change their eating habits to their own detriment. Instead of eating what is nutritional to their body, they restrict themselves of certain types of food, favoring fad diets (I admit. I was one of them!). Another example, compulsive buyers of exercise equipment and gadgets. After a while, their purchases become mere displays in the garage or the attic. Easy come, easy go!

Maintaining muscle mass

Puffy eyes for sleepless nights due to jet lag, dead toe nails for excessive walking, dry skin and hair due to extremely cold weather, irregular bowel movements because of foreign types of food in the digestive system - these are but some of the adjustments my body went through during my travel to Paris and Rome! But I am not complaining. I had such a great time strolling, exploring and eating in these wonderful cities!


Although I may have met my daily physical activity level in terms of walking (I think I did more than 10,000 steps a day!), I failed to do my usual load-bearing exercises because I was always on the move. I wanted to make the most of my limited time to see old and new friends in these two very rich cities (historically and culturally speaking). Besides my busy schedule, the winter season was a big challenge for mobility! I initially had stiff hips and legs and poor control over my body movements. I didn’t realize how tough it was to exercise in such a cold environment. But I know that excuses are unacceptable!

Plan to succeed!

One of the things I would miss about my current job (when I leave someday) is the privilege to attend different conferences. I get to personally meet and listen to various political figures and national icons.

Just last week, I heard the new Secretary of the Department of Energy speak about the energy situation in the Philippines. He said that for 2013 until 2016, projects are already in place in order to avoid possible shortage of electricity in the country. However, the problem still lies for 2011 and 2012, whilst this period should have been addressed in 2008 and 2009.

Wealth in Stocks

I was recently at a market briefing called, “Riding the Bull with Growth Companies.” The guests included the Philippine Stock Exchange (PSE) and speakers from the Philippine Stock growth companies, Banco de Oro, DMCI Holdings, ICTSI, Metro Pacific Investments and Alliance Global. Discussed were the different companies’ development and prospects for the coming years. The objective of the event’s organizer was to bring about to the audience the mindset to ride the bull market with confidence, or simply put, to help clients become smarter investors, and therefore lead to the development of the much needed mass retail investors in the country.

Health tips from a linguist

A friend of mine was invited to be a resource speaker for a ministry involvement program in Cebu. She asked me to go with her and be their French language resource person. I did not think twice to say yes because I was interested in the topic which was assigned to her (Cross-Cultural Communication /Language Learning and Worldview). Also, I told myself that I would only teach French for an hour for three days. In addition, I would learn from the experiences of missionaries to different cultures. True enough, the participating students were international! They were even of different ages, educational background and status in life!

Homemakers, Moneymakers

They say, “Home is where the heart is.” But why do most parents spend more time out of the home?

Nowadays, children are left with nannies, helpers, grandparents, or relatives. One working parent is no longer sufficient to raise a family. Gone are the days when the husband takes the role of the sole breadwinner and the wife as the homemaker. The wife is now forced to work, if not burdened to find other sources of income while making sure that the household chores are done.

Protect your kids from the internet

The Internet is an amazing tool for research, entertainment, education, and much more.  It makes one’s job easier.  It’s like a big encyclopedia.  I still remember when my eldest son first learned how to use the internet : surfing for his assignments and projects, playing online games, looking for game tips and techniques, watching cartoon videos and a lot more.  But my worry was for the pop ups of malicious advertisements, or if he accidentally views sites that are restricted?  As a working parent, we cannot be with our children at every click.  So how can we protect our kids without being there all the time?

Want to get rid of body fat?

There are people who get frustrated because they cannot seem to get rid of fat even with strict diet and regular exercise. Obesity becomes a problem especially when serious medical conditions manifest. Being overweight, particularly among women, brings a high risk for having diabetes, hypertension, and menstrual problems. Obesity can also affect women’s fertility.

Make your money grow

“Money does not grow on trees!” We usually hear this from our parents when we ask for things which oftentimes, they cannot afford to buy. I never thought I would use the same line when I became a parent myself!

Be your own financial adviser!

Can you imagine running off with more than P100 million of your clients' money? Read this article to find out how a former officer of today's leading financial services company did it: Citibank Exec Goes Missing - Millions Stolen. Is he in deep trouble! The bank filed criminal and civil cases against him.

Balancing contemplation and action

Last July, my husband and I joined 40 other couples who gathered for the week-end Marriage Enrichment Retreat (MER) at Capuchin Retreat Center, a formation house situated at a 10-ha land in Lipa, Batangas. It was organized by Couples for Christ (CFC) to help couples discover more intimately the meaning of marriage vocation within the context of God’s plan.

First step to financial freedom

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Find your passion, realize your dream

I simply love dancing. When I was a child, every time I hear upbeat music, I would turn the rhythm into a dance and feel absolutely wonderful! In high school, I loved going to parties and discos, and danced until midnight (my mom would fetch me so I could go home safely. Did I feel like Cinderella!). The audio speaker was my favorite partner because it didn’t get tired. I also remember joining dance competitions and programs with friends to showcase our talents.