Perlas na Bilog

I'm not a huge fan of horoscopes. When I read the newspaper, I just breeze through it for fun and just to keep me amused. But since last year, Friendster's daily horoscope does make sense to me. It's not your typical horoscope which tells you what will happen to you today, your lucky color, your lucky number. It's a totally different horoscope. It's more of a tip, an advice on how you should go through and deal with your current situation. Most of the time, it's 100% true for me.

My horoscope for today:

"More than ever today, it is important for you to remember that you are not in charge of anyone else's happiness -- you are only in charge of your own. Everyone else must find their own way to fulfillment and joy, so do not fall for any guilt that might get tossed your way. And if other people are holding you responsible for their unhappiness, they are not being fair. It might sound harsh, but you have to put your own real needs ahead of their perceived needs today."

See??? I sometimes use it as my shoutout. Hahaha... I know most of you also noticed this. Go check your own. =)

Akalain Mo

DREAMS...






...DO COME TRUE =P

Moolah!!!

"Having more money means you can spend money on more things. But the "good life" should not be about quantity. Rather, it's about spending your time and money on the very things and events that make you feel happiest and most fulfilled.

I use the example of a young 20-something who was making very little money as a budding artist in New York City. She was sharing an apartment in Brooklyn, living very simply. Her good life meant having the opportunity to travel. By paring back on day-to-day expenditures, like meals out and cab rides, she was able to utilize her money toward a greater joy, which was taking weekend trips. In her mind, she was "living it up.""

---> Farnoosh Torab, Thestreet.com reporter

When you work and have money on your hands, you're the only one who has the power to control how much money you spend. Back in the day when I was still in college and away from home, I learned how to budget my allowance. It was hard because I knew myself as the extravagant type when I was a still in high school. But I learned the value of money when I did volunteer jobs as a Physical Therapist where I had to live within my means. It really is important to save. But most people will say that no matter what they do, they just can't save because the point is, why work hard for your money if you can't enjoy it?

Just a quick reality check, most of us are all employees working for our own respective boss or maybe you're a boss who have subordinates but still you have a boss of your own.
Regardless of the position, all of us, at one point or another, became broke. Literally no money on our pockets. People say, no matter what they do, they just can't save. I realized that I don't have to save. If I get my salary, I won't focus on saving because doing so just doesn't work. Instead of trying your best to save, try your best to know the things that you are spending money on. Do you really need it? Will you die if you won't be able to buy it?

It helps if you're someone who's easily satisfied. It works for me because I'm basically low-maintenance. If I still have a working watch, I won't buy a new one. The only thing that I splurge on is food. I remember when my mom told me that it's important to save and don't buy things that you don't need...but never ever ever starve yourself. =) That was music to my ears.

I am also now doing my poor-rich days. There are days that I don't spend more than a hundred bucks a day and there are days when I splurge. I also have my Starbucks moment once in a while.

Bills are the most inevitable things on earth. One thing that works for me is that I pay on time. Way way before the due dates. I learned how to budget when I started to live on my own. Which I enjoy, really. I can stay the whole day in my flat and not go out. I'm not easily bored that's why. There's a big responsibility when you decide to live on your own. You have to take care of yourself because no one's gonna wake you up and tell you that food is ready. You have to do everything on your own. Run your own errands. Prepare your own food. Clean your flat. Bring yourself to the doctor when you're sick. Budget your own money. For people who are still living with their parents, maybe you can try living on your own and I'm telling you, you will definitely enjoy life. =)

When you limit yourself on your ways of spending and maybe focus on a specific goal, like a vacation in Boracay or maybe go to HongKong Disneyland, it really is possible. But you have to sacrifice and cut down on irrelevant stuff. it's effective if you're the type who wants to travel. It's just one sample on how you can enjoy life even when you are working on a tight budget.

One more thing that I avoid --- debts. That's one big factor why people go bankrupt. Avoid it just like you avoid seeing your boss when you're late.

Lastly, have a soft spot for very poor people. Those who are only earning 30-40 pesos a day to feed a family of 8. Some are even earning lower than that. Be more humanitarian, that's what I do. If you think of this harsh reality, you will definitely think twice before spending your money.

UPLB

Due to my team mates uncontrollable hangover, we decided to stay in Cze's place in Los Banos which is actually inside the UPLB (University of the Philippines Los Banos) campus near the Forestry building. The rest of us then decided to have an 'impromptu' picnic at UPLB's soccer field.

UPLB Soccer Field

We just bought siomai from Papu's, which I declare as the best siomai in the whooolleeee wiiidddeee wooooorrrllld!

Papu's Meal Four @ 30 pesos :)

We just chose a spot where we can just lie down and rest and the best place that we could think of is under the famous Fertility Tree.

Fertility Tree

Hey, before you pack your bags and go to this place, hoping that you'll be blessed with a child after touching this tree, think again. It's called the Fertility Tree not because it will induce pregnancy. Since this tree is soooo big, lovers sometimes tend to spend their 'moments' under this tree, leaving traces or let me just say 'evidence' and when I say evidence, it means undies, condoms and I know you know what I'm talking about. All of these are brightly exposed under the sun the following morning, hence, it was called Fertility Tree.

It was such a welcome treat for us since the place is quiet and clean except for the fact that they lack garbage cans so we had to bring our trash when we left the place. The air was so fresh and it was just great to be away from city's traffic and pollution. What I like about Los Banos is that people there are environmentalists. Jeepneys are required to have their own trash cans and you are not allowed to smoke when you're inside the jeepney. Be extra careful when you're throwing even just a piece of candy wrapper because you will be approached by a volunteer from "Bantay Kalikasan" wearing civilian clothes and you will be reprimanded for not throwing the wrapper properly. You will also have to pay around 500-800 pesos as a fine for violating rules.

All in all, the place is great. Peaceful and yes, we will come back.

Jordan Spring Resort

When you talk about private pools in the Philippines, the first thing that comes to mind is Pansol which is a barangay located in Calamba, Laguna. Private pools and resorts are sooo abundant in this area and we had a hard time choosing one for our teambuilding. Since one of my team mates already knew about Jordan Spring, we just opted to spend our first teambuilding for the year there. It's 1 and 1/2 hour drive from Manila and good thing the place is clean. Even better because the toilets are in good working order (thank God). The pool is not that big.

Their Address

Pool shots

House A (has 2 rooms)

House B (has 2 rooms, 1 cr, kitchen, dining and living room area, veranda)

Billiards area

Videoke

We stayed here for 12 hours (6pm-6am) but we were allowed to stay till 7:30am coz the next occupants will arrive by 8am. For 12 hours, we were able to use all of these facilities for 5, 500 pesos =) They also have a small sari-sari store just outside the resort and their garage area can fit two vehicles.

Except for the torn song list for the videoke which is a bit frustrating and the not so well-lit pool (or maybe we just don't know where the switch is), the place is good.