How Much Have you Lost in this Bear Market?

Oct. 31, 2008

Why do local Investors use the US as bases when investing in MFs?

You have a point richpulubi, as you’ve always have.

As for the reason, why our stock market doesn’t mimic that of the US, is simply because we are not America (I mean, we all know what they have that we don’t).

As to why local investors use the US as basis when investing in MFs? That’s exactly my question before which unfortunately I haven’t resolved completely. Until finally I just learned to accept the fact that Filipinos are not confident with their own market or probably their own economy (which is understandable by the way) that they use the stock index of powerful nations as a tool in telling when to buy or sell (which is good actually because the movement becomes a little predictable since they are a few hours ahead of us (in reality, we are the ones a few hours earlier, which makes it all the more ironic), all you need is to stay a little late at night, tune in to BBC or CNBC and give up watching some of your telenovelas . This is the reason why peso cost-averaging, index fund investing would work. Besides, it’s the same human reaction that underlies every stock market (not to mention that they are interconnected)

Relatively yes, the upsloping of the US stock index is steeper (rather most steep) than the PSEi. Of course it will be sarcastic of me if I’d say comparing it to 50 years ago, the PSEi has gone markedly up. We’ll just have to accept the fact, that if we use the same time-frame to measure our stock market against that of the US, then you are right. And yes, there is that possibility that the PSEi may not reach that summit again (let's just discount that it is possible though, hehe )

But then PSEi need not reach a peak in order to profit in individual stocks and in order for NAVPUS to climb in MFs, given, that your portfolio is well diversified (the very reason why I put most of my money in MFs aside from not having to worry about stop loss, exit gain, but which leads me to think that I should be putting this in the other thread), and you have cost-averaged.

And long term is not forever. Just some 100 years, hehe. It’s a hedge against the volatility of the market. But then again use fundamentals but do not forget the technicals. And watch TV.

As for buying now when all are in a low to offset the losses you incurred when stocks are in its record high, that is cost-averaging. Redeeming now is not the answer, but buying now is (at least for me).

And yes, if you leave your money in the stock market, and simply wait for it to go up again, without doing anything at all, it will not even guarantee the return of your capital. That will not even pass as a strategy! In that case, redeem everything and do not invest at all.

But in the end, each one of us will realize, that it’s actually a matter of perspective (not to mention plan). For some, a lost opportunity is as good as money loss. For me, actualizing a loss by redeeming it, is. For some, this is the end, for others this is the beginning.

But which provides us the best ground to present all our arguments.

How Much Have you Lost in this Bear Market?

Oct. 30, 2008

When will the Bear Market sink to its Deepest?

That’s right. Nobody knows for sure. Which is ironic by the way, because we know that and yet we ask.

We know about bear and bull markets. We know that they exist. And yet probably, for most of us, we get to realize that they do happen, only when we get to experience them first hand. Which is great, actually. Because accept it or not, acknowledge it or deny it, there is no better teacher than experience itself. What’s amusing still, is we know about diversifying, cost-averaging, buying low, selling high. And yet we realize come tribulation time, that these things are actually easier said than done. Worst, we forget that they are exactly the same things successful and veteran investors advocate. During bullish and bearish times. Even before, and after the great depression. And then we succumb to hopelessness and misery, and we wonder.

It’s only during times like these, that we get to test the integrity of our convictions, and develop a strategy that will most suit our goals, not to mention our psyche.

As for my losses, suffices to say, that it’s huge. Especially for someone who decides to stay. Being most of my money into MFs/UITFs, relative to my individual stocks, I believe that I’m at least diversified. A small proportion is into low risk/low return products. I still managed to do some cost-averaging until last September (which by the way, I had a most difficult time because the clerk wouldn’t want to accept it anymore). As for any reservation, I have a lot. But I am steadfast in my resolve that I am not redeeming at a lost. (In short, the very first sign of a bullish market, I’m selling them!).

As for your last question, personally if you have waited long, and have incurred more than 30%, why decide to redeem it still (besides, it’s kinda huge for a stop loss strategy). Yes, paper loss is still a lost opportunity (when you can just withdraw it and put in another investment product where it could possibly earn profit). But as terrapin says, are such options available here, in this kind of market, when everybody would opt to put their money under their mattresses than take chance in a very uncertain time? And besides, paper loss when actualized is still money lost. Which by the way, you have shed blood and tears to acquire. And also, if this is the price of being able to play the game and have the chance to get all (if not more) of your capital then I’m willing to pay, or wait for it.

You know that no single strategy can guarantee security of your capital or your earnings. For this matter, why not adapt more than one which you think are equally sensible?

Of course the story becomes different when you are old (probably near retirement, in your retirement or past your retirement) too old to wait for the next bullish market (which maybe >5 years in the making). In this regard, it is a SCREAMING REDEEM IT!

Ironies

I am not sure if this is true for everybody. But I realized that as we transcend from the stage of innocence to that of maturity, there is that phase in between that we become cynical. Probably as we get to experience life and the real world, we get to see the contradictions behind our values and we begin to question the integrity of our convictions. It can even make you feel betrayed and connived on by your mentors in leading you to believe certain things about life, which you may find dubious, if not true. For example, these ironies between good and evil.

1. Why is it much harder to be good, moral and upright than to be evil, immoral and ruthless? Shouldn’t it be the other way around? What’s worse is, these bad people get to do it the easier way out and yet get to reap the rewards. And put it in a Swiss Bank. And get interest. In dollars (or in euros). For the long-term. Cost-averaged!

2. We often tell, or convince ourselves and others, that goodness will always be rewarded if not on earth, in heaven. Why can’t heaven be on earth but hell can? Why can’t our righteousness be compensated while we are still alive? So that we will be motivated to do more even good deeds. And end up in the heavens for certain (not to mention live life in merit)? And not kidnapped, vanished or eliminated.

3. Is it just me, or is it just in the movies, or is it but reality that evil always win over good initially (and for a much longer time). The latter prevailing eventually in the end after one or more (if not all) of the protagonist dies, or after 2 or 3 despicable generations, not to mention after 2 hours in a 2-hour movie. And then (in real life) when the time of retribution comes, they’ll wound up having so much money to pay a good liar or buy justice, or clemency or a dialysis machine (not to mention an organ) sparing them of punishment partially (if not totally). Which is still great, of course – I mean, that good would end up winning (and hypocrisy aside, the ability to procure everything literally). But why can’t uprightness triumph over wicknedness even from the start? So that again, man can be inspired to uphold what is right from the beginning.

4. Finally, again, is it just an adage, my observation or an actuality that really, (tsk,tsk)- “matagal mamatay ang masamang damo”. After some massive stroke (ex-senator), a bad knee (ex-pres), or a deceased set of kidneys (current doj sec), they still manage to recover (OMG!). Others in fact, have remained quite well for ages (ex-comelec) while their divine counterparts are dying relatively younger (edsa figure, ex-presidentiable, national hero). Probably because the former just happens to have healthy genes. This being maybe just a coincidence. Or perhaps being righteous really is much more stressful than being crooked. You tell me.

But as we mature, we begin to reconcile the paradox, come up with acceptable answers and realize that our gurus were right (well, at least most of the time).

But as for me, the above incongruities, I have not completely resolved.

Probably because sarcasm denies reason. Or maybe it sees beyond what is believed as reasonable.

If you can help enlighten me, please do so. I don’t want to be in the dark. At least, not for long. He, he.

On Reproductive Health Bill/ Family Planning

It was the 25th of Dec, 2006, when a newly delivered infant showed up in the front door of the emergency room where I was working.

Like that of the original one, this baby was delivered in a non-traditional place because no hospital would accept them. But that’s the only similarity.

Unlike it, that birth was in broad daylight. There was the sun shining in all its glory. No northstar nearby. (but I’m pretty sure, it’s there, just that, it was overshadowed by the nearer sun)

This one was in no Bethlehem, but a birth inside a taxicab! The good thing though is that, it was in a Toyota Avanza. More space was allocated to the family (the parents and two of their kids) to have this moment at the back of the car.

Having played a role (with me as one of the 3 kings... or queen, and the other staff as sheperds) in what appeared to be a re-enactment of the birth of our Lord in the 21st century should have felt as a privilege.

But during this time, it’s more of a stress or a distress.

Not because this wasn’t Jesus himself (nor because t’was just an ordinary infant). But for the reason that this was born not of a virgin! Oh NO! ( And YES, that’s the reason! )

Rather, It was from a woman who had previously delivered to 8 term babies, with this birth, as her 9th! At the age of 32!

But this scenario is not unusual. In fact, if we’ll consider birth in a non-traditional place and the denial of admission as criteria to label such occurrence as Christmas, then, in the Philippines, everyday is one.

Having so many children is actually not the issue. But the fact that a family with entirely no means to support even a small one could afford to have a bigger one. Describing this family, physically is upsetting, thus it suffices to say, that they obviously lives in penury.

In a not so progressive country like the Philippines, population growth becomes both the effect and contributor (if not entirely the cause) of poverty. In a world, wherein money becomes the tool of trade, living in scarcity strips man of a lot of opportunities. Without education, he fails to realize why planning the size of the family is important (and how he could carry out such) aside from, per se, not having a decent job. The rarity of work prospects (if not the total lack of it) then gives him generous amount of time, ironically, to spend in nothingness. That, (plus the smallness of the living area not to mention the paucity of a blanket) literally, makes him yield to his instinct. To procreate, that is. In the end, the numerous mouths to feed coupled with the lack of resources leads to a vicious cycle of poverty. Not to mention, irresponsibility.

It is clear then, that though, overpopulation may not be the original cause of our destitution, it largely contributes to it. Thus it follows, that managing the size of a family, cuts its financial needs, in the end reducing the impact of poverty in our society.

Thus it is not surprising why some of our fellowmen and legislators alike advocate the use of artificial means of family planning (like the use of OCPs, condoms, etc which are given for free). In fact, they are now studying and trying to pass a bill about reproductive health which promotes the distribution of such artificial tools of reproduction. The natural method is besides, (and ironically) more complex and less successful than its artificial equivalents. For somebody who hasn’t been properly schooled, moreso, in dire need of money, spending some 14 days (or more) of a month would be translated to a waste of time rather than an assistance, in which they are less than willing (or not at all) to participate in.

However, one of the hurdles of the use of these artificial means is the institution that advocates life itself, the church. I am catholic myself, and in total support of its dogmas and teaching. However, in this issue, I am not an ally.

Working as a healthcare personnel enabled me to deal with the richest and sadly, the poorest of the poor (but in our country, more of the latter.) There are countless occasions and demonstrations of how instructions about well being (that would include family planning and, yes, life’s lessons) would always seem futile. Every year, you would get to meet the same pregnant women, in the same living condition (if not worse). That, teaching them the use of OCPs, and condoms, would appear as a desperate alternative, and a much easier solution to the problem. Besides, it’s understandable that their quest for food should come first than worrying when their next ovulation will be. A hungry mind wouldn’t care about anything but bread, anyway.

Finally, yes, as believers of Christ, we are taught to support life, advocate procreation. But then again, like many of what’s written in the Bible, this shouldn’t be interpreted literally as to mean existence. It is not just being physically present, nor just have the chance to experience life’s difficulties, only because we lack the means to feel its pleasures because we are poor. But it should be life with quality, with worth, with value. Though money is not the only mean to reach this, we have to accept that it is an invaluable tool in achieving this end.

And also, preventing conception is different from abortion because, in the latter, one kills life that is already created.

For a conservative Catholic like myself, I feel guilty to think that I support something that is totally opposed by my faith. It is understandable though, that the church would always uphold what’s most right and ideal. I don’t know if such is considered a sin, but I’d rather commit one than stand to see more lives left unnurtured.

As to what happened to the family above, they were sent home, without shedding a penny. Besides, as much as we’d hoped to, there isn’t anything to give anyway. Well, it’s Christmas, and the free service (which came with a free reprimand by the way), is anything but less than enough gift for a newborn we named Emmanuel.

Assuming the sick role as a child

I actually have no idea as to what “being sick” should really mean for an ordinary child. For one, back then, that was the least (if not, NONE) of our concerns (especially, now that we are already grown up) But my memories, now I find amusing and which gets me wondering. Well, if we take me, as ordinary and normal, “being ill” meant:

1. Being excused from going to school, skipping scheduled exams, yet getting a special quiz for the same topic-for which I would have longer time to study than my classmates have had the chance of, and then get higher grades, hehehe.

2. More time for playing “Chinese garter”. I would tie the ends of a long string of intertwined rubbers in any available posts – from our sofa to our door, to a hook that anchored my baby picture. Even if I have to hammer down a nail in the wall and ruin its paint, as long as I could hang it! I was very good at this game by the way, having acted always as the leader (with some of my members actually taller than me) whenever we would have this game in school (which would be everyday). I'd wait for my mother to take off for work, before playing, then would hurriedly “tidy up” all “evidence” before tucking up myself in bed and finally putting a damp cloth in my forehead (really!). By that time, my temperature would have temporariy gone down (out of perspiration) before going up again in the evening (out of dehydration).

3. A justification for gnawing Aspilets one after the other! I have an addiction for this as back in the old days (they were once made up of Aspirin – the same one that’s being used for heart problems), they'd taste like candies. Unlike the new ones, which now has a bitter taste.

4. Getting “pasalubong” - a slice of leche flan (yummy!) and a royal true orange.

5. Receiving a sponge bath. Whenever I'd become ill, my mother would render me a procedure, that I remembered more as a ritual, which I really dreaded but which was inevitable at that time. This actually would form the highlight of the sickrole. Usually on the night of the second day (which is the height of fever), my mother would prepare a concoction – a mixture of slightly cooled boiled water (note slightly) and alcohol – which she'd sponge bathe my body with. Because this infusion is really hotter than lukewarm (enough to give me first degree burn actually, had the moistened towel stayed in my skin much longer), I would cry during the whole process (yes, out of pain!). But the hottest part (literally) would be when she'd soak both my feet in a basin full of a newly prepared mixture (of the same temperature, but to the sole of my feet – which is more scientifically sensitive than skin – scorchingly hot!) for several minutes! At this time, I would lay quiet but not out of relief, rather out of exhaustion. By the time, we are finished, my fever would be down several degrees (just imagine the tremendous amount of sweat my body has shed out), but to my mother, it would be yet another demonstration of the effectivity of her formula.

This was how I defined being sick as a child. That is again, if we take "me" as ordinary and normal. Hehehe.

The Psychology of the Market

Well, I’m writing this not to entertain or inject some sort of optimism in an obviously shaky situation of the current market. Which is actually an understatement, because it is more of a spiral downturn that appears to be unstoppable in the immediate future (with even the most optimistic is starting to have doubts over, by the way).

I’m sharing this, partly because I, myself, is fearful over the uncertainties of my investments, that’s why I need to verbalize (it really helps). But mostly because I wanted everybody to understand the psychology of the market which underlies human reaction and which is an important component of the instability or stability of the market.

When I first started investing in mutual funds (pooled money invested in stocks) and individual stocks I had little idea of how they work. For me as long as it offers higher interest than a time deposit and it is legal, then I’m okay with it. But of course, I did research and tried to absorb the process-which took a little while because initially I couldn’t assimilate how the heck I could own a part of the company (without going there to do business with the owners!) and earn by selling such a right (without me knowing how much the company is actually earning!). What’s so confusing is that such a claim could be valued higher or lower than its original (or worse, actual price) by anybody who holds it, in minutes! It took me a book , and several internet articles, before I finally understood it, realizing in the end, that psychology is an essential element. Not to mention a lot of speculation, prognostication, foretelling, prediction, prophesy. How can we be sure that a single blast in Mindanao could cut the earnings of Jollibee corporation? Of course, there’s no way of telling, we know this, and yet we sell our shares.

In stock market, a company sells part of the right of possession to the public in terms of the number of shares, say 10 shares representing 10% of the total ownership, which is then valued accordingly. The public then buys this in a stock market, in the hope that he could sell this to a much much higher price. The stocks’ worth is usually based on its ability to make profit. If the company is getting or is bound to get a lot of revenue the holder of the stock sells it to a much higher price. But why, then, do stocks exhibit such volatile movements? It surely is not sensible for a stock’s price to fluctuate so much when the intrinsic value is not changing by the minute? This is because most investors regard stocks as a trading vehicle. Why bother check the cash flows (which is hard and time consuming to find, by the way) of these companies if you can sell the stock to somebody else for more than what you paid for it? You get profit when another investor buys it for a price you just speculated on! This is what cynics call, the greater fool theory.
Knowing when to buy or sell is dictated partly by the economy but mostly by human psychology.

Everybody would want to invest when the financial system and all the factors that might affect it (politics, crime rate, business, etc) are in perfect shape (of course!). And avoid it if any of this factor is in bad shape-no matter how fundamentally sound the economy is, no matter how valuable a particular stock is. But how could we know? By what we see in the media and the internet. If there’s more happy talk, the more we invest, the less happy the picture becomes, the more we withdraw. Thus, people are lured into investing (or buying a particular stock) by the volume of the market. The less there are who are buying, the more we sell, and the less the price of a share becomes. And loss is incurred.

Man’s fear to the current situation, is but a natural one. In the first place, happy talk now would look a pretentious act in trying to put cool in what appears to be an inferno (okay, mostly supported, but still partly predicted), given the many sad things they say about the market (transparency is appreciated), and the accessibility of information. In fact, it may even heighten the alarm, because as anxious as we are, we become paranoid and may interpret things as deceiving and conspiring (that, even the $700bilion dollar bailout law could not calm the investors). Yes, fear is part of normal psychology, but being apprehensive about something we do not know is not. Most of us are being lured into getting our investments out – partly by fact, but mostly by predictions and by market volume. The same dynamics that may have gotten us into investing, anyway. But that is how the stock market works.
Trying to be calm in a pandemonium is like suicide. But until now I have not redeemed any of my investment which have incurred a 30% paper loss already. The thought of getting the loss actualize (by redeeming it) is as distressing as the idea of leaving it in uncertainty.But still, for some reason (probably because I am still able to destress by rationalizing), I would want to try the market out. For as long as it takes, as long as I can regain all my capital – or more. I have minimized investing temporarily though. Besides, no matter how devalued they are for now (which is partly speculated) as long as the companies listed in the stock market are in business, there will always be the hope of profitting. As long as they exist, there will be someone interested in acquiring them as they represent ownership.

Well, in the case of human reaction, I know that later than sooner, will panic start to diminish. It is human instinct to survive. Otherwise, we would not last this long and prevail over any other species. This is not optimism, but rather faith in mankind.

Good Hair Days

I was born with thick, unruly hair. The type that would get constant interest from concernd friends and citizens alike. The former would always prod me into getting a relax, rebond, or hair spa. The latter sees me as a potential consumer for the aforementioned services and hair products. But I have remained unyielding, steadfast, and unwavered to my resolve into maintaining my hair as it is - long, neither straight nor curly, and full. Not because I want to make a statement but because honestly I don’t find it disturbing at all. While I would like to be considerate for onlookers who may find it unsettling (could it really be that bad?), I’d like everybody to just mind their own hair business. Certainly, my hair has created some near-sensational incidents, that have made me laughed and be laughed about. That, when I had it cut (in a renowned salon) and styled (accidentally)one day, I got an uproar.

I have always maintained my hair long, halfway my shoulder and hips. It had no style in my early years. Back in grades school up to high school, it was my cousin or my mother who would cut it. And whenever they would, they’d always remark that I got a thick hair – usually with an exasperated sound – which back then I woul take non-chalantly. (By the way, my mother and father have both curly locks, and I’m not adopted.)

I have to move to Manila to continue college. This time, I'd have my hair chopped by a hairdresser. Partly because of puberty (I was a late bloomer, and so I believed) and partly because of a tight budget (I have to get the most from my money), I became aware of haircutting and what transpires during this process. Because I’ve always maintained it long, I would go every 2 months or more, to a salon – sometimes in an expensive, sometimes in a cheap one, depending on budget. I would always give them the same instruction, cut one-inch off, put some layers – initially because I have no regard with hairstyles (I only want to maintain a presentable look- at least according to my perspective). But later on, because I don’t want to exhaust them (or I would be obliged by conscience to give an additional payment). Time and time again, gays and women alike (i don’t maintain a personal hairdresser in any salon) would comment on the same thing – my thick hair – along with the same exasperated sound that my cousin’s and mother’s used to give. The constant criticism has gone into my nerves that it came to a point, when, going to a salon became almost an ordeal. Me, cutting off some visits. Then came bargaining – I would decline a shower or mostly post-cut blow-drying. Then finally acceptance – I would affirm the comment while maintaining an air of impassivity (grabbing some magazines, and succumbing myself in reading about gossips of other people – I love to do this!)

One day, while window-shopping in a mall, I decided have it cut. Because I’m already inside an establishment, and mostly because I already have some money to spare (I’m now working) I decided to go to a renowned place, commanding some 200pHp/cut. Because this one is expensive, I decided not to pass on any pre or post cut services like the shower and blow-dry (besides I thought they would not dare complain, given that this is a recognized company). I was summoned by a young gay which I figured my hairdresser. This time, (believe it or not) aside from indifference to the current trends, I wanted something that is more or less wash and wear (I have a busy schedule, and I could care less with the way I look – I already got a boyfriend). Given that my hair is long and thick, I thought it was music to the ears of the one who will blow-dry it (who turned out to be the same hairdresser). And so taking my hair with one grip, he chopped it just above the shoulders. Gave it layers. Then dried it out. However to his surprise (and for a split second, mine, too) the style didn’t turn out to be one that he expected. I looked like a lion (with a shorter mane than a regular one)!!! I tried to imagine what it would have looked like had it not been of the fullness of my hair. I felt poor for the guy ...or gay. And so he chopped here and there several times. Until finally, I told him that I’m okay with the hair. Even faking satisfaction with a smile..or grin (though I still looked like a lion, now with very short mane). I even gave him a big tip (bigger than I used to give), for his effort, but more, to regain his confidence. Then I headed straight to a store to buy a headband (which is the only thing that would tame the mess). And by a struck of luck, the overall look turned out to be one of my best hairstyles ever! I got complimented by the security guard of the hospital (who mistook me for a student), my coresidents (one even confused the change to my black headband, perfectly blending and disappearing in the darkness of my hair - how could he see it?), the staff (who thought of me as a new resident) up to the canteen personnel (whom I barely knew, mistaking me also for a younger staff).

Before, I got no idea how the hair could be one’s crowning glory. I thought, it’s just an outgrowth of the head, why give it such importance? Now, I know better. But what happened, still didn’t change my resolve. In fact, I’m letting it grow back to the length that it used to be (since, I’m having headaches from the constant use of the headband, too). Sooner or later, I will have the same, long, and unruly mane. But what the heck, one imperfection couldn’t hurt that much, could it?

By the way, I may fail to maintain my anonymity, because my friends know me for my hair, they had fun with these stories. Unless of course, Simba has learned to write.

The Mathematics of Choosing the Right Career

Have you always thought that you had the wrong profession? That if you probably pushed through with your first, or perhaps second or third career choice, you would have, by now, your own house, or mansion, your own car or cars, and maybe managing your own company or...productions. You see there are endless possibilities. Numerous permutations that you can probably solve using a formula if you knew the exact numbers of variables – like the number of professions you would have considered and the number of your dreams/ambitions. Such will lead us to the realization, that the chances of us getting our expectations right is actually inversely proportional to the number of careers we have in mind! Which will make us realize in the end, that indeed it is not choosing the perfect career, but how we utilize what we have become to get what we want is the real deal.

If you are to ask some of your friends whether they are satisfied with their career, you are likely to get a positive response from those who are doing well financially and professionally, and a negative one from those who are not. This observation is rather an expected outcome, so much so, that it may pass as a theory but not quite a law. The reason is that there is another way of putting it logically. That is supposedly if you have the right career, then you should be getting quite a sum of money and an exponential growth in this chosen field. That, it is equally logical (if not more )that, getting your own car, your own house, or maybe your own talk show should be a product of the right profession. And not its difference.

However, partly because of an instinctive desire to spare our ego of the blame (which is justifiable) and partly to search for an easy way out of what we perceive as soon to be a “mess”, we account our profession as an inexact means to our ends. We fail to realize, that it is actually the loss of focus that has eluded us from our goals. As they say, the road to success is not always smooth. Rather it is more often than not rough. Thus, the momet we stumble, giving up, choosing another direction (then realizing eventually that this one is as rocky as the first one) may not be the best option.

Because of the complexities of life, the many variables to consider, we may be led to consider different solutions. And yet there is only one formula for victory in which finding the right career is not a constant . Rather, it is seeing a goal and aiming for it unswervingly, no matter what profession we are in, that will lead us to a 100% probability of suceeding.

Why Blog?

Ironically, I hate writing. And yet, I find myself, looking for a blogspot where I can, not just write, but share my thoughts, remaining anonymonous at the same time. When I was younger, I was so timid (well, that is, if what I had said back then would ever pass as an opinion). I remember writing only when we are compelled to do our home reading reports. Having difficulty, composing, and articulating in English. To the point that I would consider making a one-paragraph essay already an ordeal.
But, as I come of age, I find myself giving out my views to almost any matter on earth. Uhm okay, mostly about money. Hehehehe. Not because suddenly I wanted attention (I’m way past puberty). But because I want to be rich (seriously) hehehe. More importantly because suddenly I wanted to be involved. I wanted to share.
And so I surfed and looked for a place in the net where I can freely write much like a journal but stay unknown. I want people to hear what I have to give, learn from what I have experienced (mostly the hard way because of my stubbornness) and enjoy while doing just that, without me holding back any reservation.
I decided, too, to preserve my posts in a forum where I have actively written most of my money articles as I thread my way to financial freedom. Not because I loved my posts so much, that i would love to read them again and again, but because I couldn't emulate the same intense emotion I had when I wrote them. That fervour, excitement, enthusiasm and zeal which equate to passion and inspiration are the ones I want concerved. Inscribed are my experiences about money and investments for the past 3 years (hoping in the end that sooner than later, I will be at par with Manny Pacquia's net worth, hehehehe).
Uhm, by the way, did I mention to make money online, too? Well I didn’t, because trust me, getting some cents from this blog will be just a consolation. Besides whatever this blog gets, goes to World Vision Development Foundation.