COMPRE NA!!!

I went to DLSU today. I saw some of my classmates- Veron, Karla and Jill. We were surprised when we found out that our Comprehensive Examination is set next week. Yes, next week na!!!!!! We're all doomed. We all thought it would be on the 3rd week, but no, it's happening next week!

I'm not that prepared. Lord, help me!

Paranoia or Reality?

I've been so careful nowadays because a virus is continually spreading. Like I would wash my hands with soap longer and more often, use alcohol or alcogel after I touch on things, and drink more amount of vitamins. I have never been so OC like this because I really don't want to acquire flu or fever when almost all people are. Inside me, I wanted to be strong even though I know that my blood pressure drops from 100/70 or sometimes 90/60.

However, no matter how I take care of myself, I can still acquire sickness. Right now, I thought, I was just being paranoid that I feel so cold and that I have fever. Several times today, I asked some people if I'm hot. Yer, they just said that I'm just being paranoid. I took a half-day vacation leave today and Michael fetch me in the office. I asked him if I was hot, he said the same thing, I was just being paranoid.

When he dropped me home, he held me and said, "Sweet, mainit ka nga ah." So there, it wasn't paranoia at all, now it's a real thing happening. I'm sick. I self-quarantine myself in the other room and here, I'm helping myself out. Of course, this is not A (H1N1), just a mere fever that attacks everyone in the office.

Goodthing, it's my off and I'm on VL again on Sunday. I hope I could get better soon.

OVERCOMING OBSTACLES by: Henry Ford

"Obstacles are those frightful things you see when you take your eyes off your goal. "

Wants in Reality

Lately, I've been daydreaming of things I want to have in reality. Please note of the word "want" and "reality".



I want the latest Ipod Shuffle-4GB. So small so cute!


I want this extra-thin fabulous Apple laptop. Perfect for my upcoming thesis!




I want a PSP. I could have gotten one if I have just told my dad or mom. But I don't want them to spend money for my luxury. I want to buy this out of my own pocket. Alright, I know I could have already bought one for myself... but... I'm a self-confessed "kuripot" for myself. I'm still in agony thinking if I should buy one.



I need to buy one because my cam is not working.



I want to buy stocks in the market.



I want to buy the lot of my Elementary School.




I want to go to Baguio with my Hone... soon!



I want to go to Palawan with my Mom and Dad... and take lovely pictures with them.



I want to go to HongKong. I know it's coming by September, but I just can't wait. I want the Comprehensive Exam to be over so I can rest, relax and shop.



I also want to explore Singapore. It's a perfect gift for myself on my next birthday which happens next year. Lastly,



I want my Hone to start his training, so we could start out our plans for the family that we will build.

I have never been so materialistic all my life 'coz my parents have taught me to be thankful for whatever I have. But now, I just simply want to have these things, they're all attainable anyway! I don't know if it'll all make me happy, maybe somehow, partly or maybe yes.

Am I asking too much?

Happy Father's Day

Papa, we've been through a lot of mess... together, as a family.
I've done certain things in my life I know you didn't like but you know, I did it for your sake.
And no matter what... you'll always be loved by me and by Mama.
For me, you're the best Dad, and no one can ever changed that until I breathe and have this life on earth.


Myspace Fathers Day Graphics

Your little girl,
Ashelle

Miracle of Life

My Mom and I were talking to Aye (our family dog) for days if it's time for her to deliver her babies. Saturday morning we noticed that she's in huge pain because she screamed and chilled the whole afternoon. If there's anyone who's excited for Aye's baby, of course, it's gonna be me.:P

Then, the time has come. 'Twas Saturday night at around 8pm when Aye, delivered her five healthy and cutie babies. It was amazing how our little dog turned out to be a mom. Imagine, even dog have instincts and have motherly love for their babies, 'twas really amazing. She just knew exactly what to do.

All of us were so happy for Aye, and we just can't believe that she's now a mom and my mom and dad are now grandparents.:P Perhaps, you understand why we all feel this way... it's because it's our first time to have a dog who delivered babies.:p

How much have you changed in 10 years?

I took the "How much have you changed in 10 years?" test in Facebook and here's the result:



It says, I've changed 45% in 10 years.

I know I shouldn't give much thought about this test, I know well the tests accuracy (hahaha!) Though I wonder inside if I've really changed that much or that little.

Travelling back in time, 10 years ago, I was just, okay... 15 years old (that confirms my age now, huh?!).

I was a 15 year-old highschool girl- Physicaly thin but fit, emotionally unstable, intellectually hungry, socially balanced, economically dependent to my parents, and spiritually active and fulfilled.

Let me differentiate how I was before and how I am today.

10 years ago, I woke up every 5:00 o'clock in the morning, diligently prepare and go to school everyday, asked my daily allowance from my dad or mom, listened and actively participated in school activities, struggled in Calculus and Chemistry, mingled with classmates and friends inside and outside class, bullied at times and cried a lot, wrote poems, compiled songs and diary in a notebook, wished to be truly liked and loved by my crush, allowed time to pass before going straight home after school, watched television or listened to 96.3 WRock, played volleyball, talked to a particular circle of friends in my life, chatted on phone every night, studied and made assignments, sometimes argued with dad and especially with my mom, wrote and collected love and friendship letters, sneaked to go to the mall or to my friends houses, ate in fastfoods, asks my parents to bring me to the mall to shop, had little cracks on relationship with few persons, went to church every Sunday & served God by dancing, and I dreamed one day at a time.

10 years after, I wake up at 4:00 in the afternoon to start my day, diligently prepares for work, take seriously but lightly and easily the master's school, mingles with officemates only inside the office, rarely mingles with classmates in the MA, sometimes bullied but gets even and rarely shed tears, I write blogs, posts songs and diary on www.blogger.com, celebrates life and love with the person whom I love and love me in return, goes home at exact time like a ninja, rarely talk to any friends when I get home, texts those people whom I needed to say something or send quoted messages to those who've sent me some, checks email and multiple social networking accounts, play computer games, appreciates every time I spend with my dad and loves chatting with my mom before she leaves home and before I go to sleep, gives house allowance to my mom and dad, can tell my parents to go to any place I want to but rather I usually choose to stay home, eats in expensive restaurants, invites my parents to go to the mall and shop or sometimes I just shop for them, have several broken and totally damaged relationships, sleeps every Sunday morning, and often dream big things for the future.

Now, I'm already 25 years old- Physically voluptuous but weak, Emotionally semi-stable, intellectually hungry at times, socially unbalanced, economically independent, spiritually starving and dehydrated.

They say that, "Nobody gets everything in life." It's a cliche. But yes, thinking it over, you get some, you lose some... you really can't have everything!!! (take note of the 3 exclamation points!)

With all the changes and turnovers that happened in my life... I believe that I'm still the same person. Though I lost and gained some things... I'm still the sweet, bubbly, who fights for what I know is right, the moody one at times, the most appreciative, the dependable, the crybaby, the dreamer, the achiever, the good daughter, the good friend, the loyal lover and the one who still highly believes and adores God in spite all the trials.

Time hasn't totally changed me, I'm still me... the me that I love.

1 Missed Call Part 1 and Part II

Carla lend us Raph's DVDs. This is why I was able to watch the film, 'coz I really won't spend money buying horror films which will only terrify me and make me scream.

My dad and I watched these videos on two consecutive Fridays on our Home Theatre.

I find the 1st Part freaky. There were certain scenes that I screamed and held my dad's legs, and he was faking his fear. Watch the trailer:



While, I find the 2nd Part freakier. There were lots of scenes when I screamed at the top of my lungs and held my dad who was also screaming of fear this time. Here, take a glimpse:



Though, both movie parts had terrible endings. Honestly, I didn't get both the endings, both vague and unrealistic.

Oh well, what I enjoyed was the company of my dad. Love Fridays!:p

Friday with Hone

I arrived home at 5:00. Turned the pc on at 6:00. Turned it off at 9:30. Told myself that if I wake up at 1:30, I'll go to La Salle to get an application form for the comprehensive exam but if my sleep and bed pulls me hard, I won't go this afternoon.

So you think, I woke up? Take a guess...

Oh yes, I did, with just 4 hours sleep. I still managed to wake up and curl my hair.

I arrived at 3:30 in La Salle, there was some sort of activity there. When I was there, I didn't worry much about the A(H1N1) cases anymore. I was able to immediately get the application forms that I needed. Plus, I've met and chatted with Khing, my college classmate who works there as an HR Officer.

After that, I dropped off to Michael's work to fetch him so we can do malling and spend time together. We went shopping in Landmark first then we ate dinner. He was so full and content. Though, he didn't completely feel well because he was kinda dizzy. I told him to have an eyesight check-up, maybe, he needed to wear glasses or contacts.

We also saw some of his office mates in his previous work which still happens to be the sister company of the one he's working for now. Though, they've mentioned that they've already resigned. It actually surprised me because I have just seen them three weeks ago and now they've made their decisions.

When we got home, we dropped to her Lola's house so I can pay the item which I've ordered from Sa-i, we also saw Ahia Bhon and Ate Jen there. Then, we also bought a pansit in Pugon.

I love spending time with him, it's the only time I feel human and the only time when I can feel real emotions.

Nature

I arrived at the terminal of jeepney in Guadalupe at around 5:40. I immediately saw a waiting jeepney. Seats infront were still not occupied, so I hurried up to get there to refrain myself from being bumped by other people inside the jeepney and to avoid passing others fare.

When I got in and seated infront, I noticed that the jeepney driver was somehow decent looking. "Oh well, at least", I silently thought. Few minutes later, when everyone's in action, it made me realized that "No matter how you dressed up a jeepney driver, the fact remains that they're still jeepney drivers."

Rough. Rude. Reckless.

Swear to God! I really have nothing against them. It's not my nature to discriminate 'coz I know that all people differ inside. Though, I certainly believed that the "nature" or the "environment greatly affects and creates the personality of people.

Friends

Packing up the dreams God planted
In the fertile soil of you
Can't believe the hopes He's granted
Means a chapter in your life is through

But we'll keep you close as always
It won't even seem you've gone
'Cause our hearts in big and small ways
Will keep the love that keeps us strong

And friends are friends forever
If the Lord's the Lord of them
And a friend will not say "never"
'Cause the welcome will not end
Though it's hard to let you go
In the Father's hands we know
That a lifetime's not too long to live as friends

With the faith and love God's given
Springing from the hope we know
We will pray the joy you'll live in
Is the strength that now you show

But we'll keep you close as always
It won't even seem you've gone
'Cause our hearts in big and small ways
Will keep the love that keeps us strong.

Rumpelstiltskin By the Brothers Grimm

Once upon a time there was a miller who was poor, but he had a beautiful daughter. Now it happened that he was talking with the king one time, and in order to make himself seem important, he said to the king, "I have a daughter who can spin straw into gold."
"This is an art that pleases me!" the king replied. "If your daughter is as talented as you say, then bring her to my castle tomorrow, and I'll put her to a test."
When the maiden was brought to him, he led her into a room that was filled with straw. There he gave her a spinning wheel and a spindle and said, "Now get to work! If you don't spin this straw into gold by morning, then you must die." Then he locked the door himself, and she remained inside all alone.
The miller's poor daughter sat there feeling close to her wits' end, for she knew nothing about spinning straw into gold, and her fear grew greater and greater. When she began to weep, the door suddenly opened, and a little man entered.
"Good evening, mistress miller, why are you weeping so?"
"Oh," answered the maiden, "I'm supposed to spin straw into gold, and I don't know how."
The little man then asked, "What will you give me if I spin it for you?"
"My necklace," the maiden said.
The little man took the necklace and sat down at the wheel, and whizz, whizz, whizz, three times round, the spool was full. Then he inserted another one, and whizz, whizz, whizz, the second was full. And so it went until morning, when all the straw was spun, and all the spools were filled with gold. The king appeared right at sunrise, and when he saw the gold, he was surprised and pleased, but his heart grew even greedier. He locked the miller's daughter in another room that was even larger than the first and ordered her to spin all the straw into gold if she valued her life. The maiden did not know what to do and began to weep. Once again the door opened, and the little man appeared and asked, "What will you give me if I spin the straw into gold for you?"
"The ring on my finger," answered the maiden.
The little man took the ring, began to work away at the wheel again, and by morning he had spun all the straw into shining gold. The king was extremely pleased by the sight, but his lust for gold was still not satisfied. So he had the miller's daughter brought into an even larger room filled with straw and said to her, "You must spin all this into gold tonight. If you succeed, you shall become my wife." To himself he thought, Even though she's just a miller's daughter, I'll never find a richer woman anywhere in the world.
When the maiden was alone, the little man came again for a third time and asked, "What will you give me if I spin the straw into gold once more?"
"I have nothing left to give," answered the maiden.
"Then promise me your first child when you become queen."
Who knows whether it will ever come to that? thought the miller's daughter. And since she knew of no other way out of her predicament, she promised the little man what he had demanded. In return the little man spun the straw into gold once again. When the king came in the morning and found everything as he had wished, he married her, and the beautiful miller's daughter became a queen.
After a year she gave birth to a beautiful child. The little man had disappeared from her mind, but now he suddenly reappeared in her room and said, "Now give me what you promised."
The queen was horrified and offered the little man all the treasures of the kingdom if he would let her keep her child, but the little man replied, "No, something living is more important to me than all the treasures in the world."
Then the queen began to grieve and week so much that the little man felt sorry for her. "I'll give you three days' time," he said. "If you can guess my name by the third day, you shall keep your child."
The queen spent the entire night trying to recall all the names she had ever heard. She also sent a messenger out into the country to inquire high and low what other names there were. On the following day, when the little man appeared, she began with Kasper, Mechior, Balzer, and then repeated all the names she knew, one after the other. But to all of them, the little man said, "That's not my name."
The second day she had her servants ask around in the neighboring area what names people used, and she came up with the most unusual and strangest names when the little man appeared.
Is your name Ribsofbeef or Muttonchops or Lacedleg?"
But he always replied, "That's not my name."
On the third day the messenger returned and reported, "I couldn't find a single new name, but as I was climbing a high mountain at the edge of the forest, where the fox and the hare say good night to each other, I saw a small cottage, and in front of the cottage was a fire, and around the fire danced a ridiculous little man who was hopping on one leg and screeching:
'Today I'll berew, tomorrow I'll bake.Soon I'll have the queen's namesake.Oh, how hard it is to play my game,for Rumpelstiltskin is my name!
You can imagine how happy the queen was when she heard the name. And as soon as the little man entered and asked "What's my name, Your Highness?" she responded first by guessing.
"Is your name Kunz?"
"No."
"Is your name Heinz?"
"No."
"Can your name be Rumpelstiltskin?"
"The devil told you! The devil told you!" the little man screamed, and he stamped so ferociously with his right foot that his leg went deep into the ground up to his waist. Then he grabbed the other foot angrily with both hands and ripped himself in two.

Forgiveness

Forgiveness.
Why is it so hard to give,
To those who have hurt you much,
To those who have hurt the ones who are dear to you.

Forgiveness.
It's a resentment, an indignation, an anger,
That resulted from a perceived offense.

Forgiveness. T
hey say that it's given by strong people
And so what if I'm weak?

Forgiveness.
They say that there is no love without forgiveness.
I don't have any intentions of loving them anyway.

Forgiveness... when will I give you?

I don't know when, maybe when all the wounds have completely healed.
For now, let me just medicate myself.
I know God, you can wait for me, ayt?!

Rich Dad, Poor Dad

I have read this book about two years ago. I just want to share with you what it's all about.

Character Summaries
Rich Dad, Poor Dad revolves around three main characters: poor dad, rich dad (Kiyosaki’s second father) and the son (the author himself as narrator of the book). The essence of each character is:
Poor dad – educated but lacking the street smarts
Rich dad – very little education (eighth grade), tons of street smarts
Kiyosaki – the spectator who learns lessons from both but internalizes only rich dad’s traits

Poor Dad
The author compares his poor dad to the millions of fathers who encourage their sons to do well in school so they could get a good job with a good company. Poor dad believed in the traditional principles of working hard, saving money, and not buying material things that one cannot afford. He believed that having a good job with a solid company is what one should aspire for; hence he expresses disappointment when his son leaves the employ of a large, reputable corporation.
Poor dad looks to education as the passport to success. He held a doctorate degree, went to Ivy League universities, but was always struggling financially. He believed he would never be a rich man and the author points out that this became a self-fulfilling prophecy. Poor dad was more interested in a good education than the subject of money. The author wrote that his poor dad would always say things like, “I’m not interested in money� or “money doesn’t matter.�
The author points out that poor dad was preoccupied with things like job tenure and security, Social Security, vacation and sick leaves, company insurance and salary raises and promotions. The author felt that his poor dad was more interested in these factors rather than on the job itself. This is what the author calls being trapped in the Rat Race. His poor dad worked hard incessantly but somehow never made it ahead financially. Poor dad’s approach to the subject of money was based on working hard to have enough money to pay the bills (in contrast to rich dad’s approach to make one’s money work for him).

Rich Dad
The author wrote that it was when he was nine years old that he started realizing that his rich dad made much more sense than his poor dad. It was from rich dad that the author learned not to say, “I can’t afford it�, but instead to ask, “how can I afford it?� He explains this principle by relating an incident when he and his best friend Mike went to work for Mike’s father. Rich dad paid them very low wages deliberately so that would stir anger and a sense of injustice in them and eventually for them to realize that in order to get ahead, one must work for himself and not for others. For example, in that part of the book when the author complains to rich dad that he can hardly afford to buy anything with the wages he is paid, rich dad tells him that he shouldn’t dwell on the fact that his wages are low, but instead ask “how can I make more money� because this stimulates the brain to take action. His rich dad says that when someone says, “I can’t afford it�, his brain stops working. It therefore kills initiative and promotes passivity.
The author adds that while his poor dad invested time and effort in education, he did not have any knowledge on investing. His rich dad, by contrast, was very skilled in the investment game because that’s all he did. The attitude of his rich dad about money was manifested in the saying “the lack of money is the root of all evil� (his poor dad, on the other hand, believed that the love of money is the root of all evil).
According to the author, rich dad also nurtured the idea that taxes punished producers and rewarded the non-producers. He was the type who encouraged money talk at the dinner table and was portrayed by the author as someone who learned to manage risk, instead of not taking risks.

The Son (Robert T. Kiyosaki)
The author begins his book, Rich Dad, Poor Dad, by saying that he is fortunate in having had two fathers. He learned valuable lessons from both of them, but in Chapter One it becomes evident which father had the more sensible approach towards money. He compares and contrasts both fathers’ views about working hard, getting an education, saving and investing and realizing how habits of the rich and poor significantly differ. He attributes his financial acumen through the many conversations he carried out with his rich dad.
The author takes a common sense approach to the subject of money and emphasizes the need for accounting knowledge so that the reader clearly understands what assets and liabilities are. He makes simple diagrams that show the inflow and outflow of money and how the rich build up the asset column and the poor build up the liability column (expenses). It is obvious that the author places much importance on accounting knowledge – no matter how boring it is - because he says it is “the most important subject in your life.�
By using numerous examples and anecdotes, the author drives home his messages effectively, revealing his pro-capitalist stance.
The author also shows his understanding of the mechanisms employed by the government and the tax man and concludes that it is the middle class that actually pay for the poor. The rich are the ones who are hardly taxed because they have the knowledge to use tax legislation to their advantage.

Chapter Summaries

Chapter 1: Rich Dad, Poor Dad
The story of Robert Kiyosaki and Mike starts in 1956 Hawaii, when both boys were a nine years old. Their first get-rich scheme was a counterfeit nickel making company. They made plaster molds of the nickels and melted lead toothpaste tubes and filled the molds to produce the nickels. Their plan was foiled by Mike's father, who informed the boys of their illegal activity. After that day, the boys dedicated their free time to leaning about finance and economics from Mike’s father, the rich dad. The first lesson Mike’s dad made the boys experience was hatred of the “Rat Race�. He was able to achieve this by making the boys work in one of his grocery stores for three hours for ten cents an hour pay. Within a few weeks, Kiyosaki, tired of being exploited for labor, demanded that he receive a raise, but instead, Mike’s father cut his pay and told him to work for free. Eventually, both boys tired of being under appreciated (and unpaid) and they met individually with Mike's father. In their meetings with rich dad, he apologized for lack of pay and he offered them either the moral of the lesson or a pay raise. Both boys chose to learn the moral of the lesson, while rich dad offered them pay raises. He started at twenty-five cents, a dollar, two dollars, and even five dollars, which would have been considered a large amount of money for an hourly wage, but the boys still remained strong with their decision to learn the moral of the lesson. The lesson to get out of the “Rat Race� and instead of spending your whole life working to put a little money in your pocket and a bunch of money in someone else’s pocket, have people work hard to put money in your pocket. Out of all the lessons that were taught to the boys, this one was the most important. (Kiyosaki and Lechter 28-35)

Chapter 2: The Rich Don’t Work for Money
The author tells his readers to forget the notion that life teaches. He says “the only thing that life does is push you around.�
This chapter talks about people who are more comfortable in playing it safe because they were not taught early to take risks. The author develops the ideas that the poor and the middle class work for money, fear and greed cause ignorance and poverty, and the importance of using one’s emotions versus thinking with emotions. The author also stresses that opportunities in life come and go; the rich recognize them instantly and turn them into gold bullions. Others do not see these opportunities because they’re too busy seeking money and security. As the author says, well “that’s all they’re going to get.�

Chapter 3: Why Teach Financial Literacy
The story of Kiyosaki and Mike continues later in life, 1990, and both of the now adults have made incredible leaps and bounds with regards to their finances and their socioeconomic status. Mike was able to take the lesson from his father and apply them to his life. He took control of his father’s large business and increased every aspect of the empire and he is currently raising his son to take control of the company once he retires. As for Kiyosaki, he was able to retire at the age of 47 with his wife Kim. At a business meeting at the Edgewater Beach Hotel in Chicago, Charles Schwab, Samuel Insull, Howard Hopson, Ivar Kreuger, Leon Frazier, Richard Whitney, Arthur Cotton, Jesse Livermore and Albert Fall met to talk about different investments and money schemes. Twenty-five years later, a report stated that a large majority of those extremely wealthy people that met in Chicago either ended up in jail, dead or penniless. The major idea to take from the results of these unfortunate entrepreneurs is that you need financial literacy to be and stay safe. The idea that was represented with the big 1920’s entrepreneurs is still prevalent today with some of the professional athletes making poor financial decisions and ending up with next to nothing. This specific lesson is meant to teach people not to be wise with your money once you have it, but rather be smart with your money before you have it. In a way, don’t try to build a skyscraper or even a house without building a strong foundation first. According to Kiyosaki, there is one rule, and only rule that can help a person to build a strong foundation; know the difference between an asset and a liability, and make sure that you only control assets. (Kiyosaki and Lechter 56)
When it comes to beliefs about money buying freedom and the ability to enjoy retirement without fear of outliving one’s money, this chapter catches the essence of the author’s advocacy for financial independence. He says, “Intelligence solves problems and produces money. Money without financial intelligence is money soon gone.�
The author believes that financial literacy begins with a working knowledge of accounting. It is essential to know the difference between assets and liabilities. To make these two terms understandable to readers, the author makes a rudimentary diagram of these two concepts to motivate them to purchase assets in order to solidify the asset column, while keeping the liabilities (expenses) to a bare minimum. The author states that poor people remain poor because they do the opposite. They pile up on their liabilities and have zero assets so that their balance sheets and income statements look out of kilter. People have to understand that it’s not how much they make, but how much they keep according to the author, and this is an essential principle that this chapter focuses on.

Chapter 4: Mind Your Own Business
In this chapter, the author slowly introduces the concept of real estate investing and uses McDonald’s as an example. He points out that McDonald’s may not make the best hamburgers in the world, but owns the “most valuable intersections and streets in America.� The author remarks that individuals need to mind their own business if they wish to become financially self-sufficient. They shouldn’t mind their employer’s business, they should strive for ways to become their own boss and nurture their own businesses.
The author continues his discussion on building assets. To him, real assets are anything with value – stocks, bonds, mutual funds, income-producing real estate, notes, royalties from intellectual property, etc.
This chapter also reveals the author’s investment preferences: real estate and stocks. For real estate, he says he starts small, and trades his properties for bigger ones and then delays paying taxes on capital gains through one IRS mechanism.

Chapter 5: The History of Taxes and the Power of Corporations
The author states that the poor let the big machinery (corporations) manipulate them whereas the rich know how to use big machinery. This means that the rich possess the knowledge and savoir faire to use the power of the corporation to protect and enhance their assets. The advantage of a corporation versus that of the individual lies in how corporations pay taxes, according to the author. He makes this point clearly: individuals earn money, pay taxes on that money, and live with what’s left. The corporation, on the other hand, earns money, spends everything it can, and is taxed on anything that’s left. The author adds that individuals may not be aware of how much they’re being manipulated; they work from January to mid-May to enrich the government by paying taxes on their income. In the meantime, the rich are hardly taxed.
The author recommends developing one’s financial IQ as one way of leaving the humdrum of daily existence. This is accomplished by gaining knowledge of accounting, investing, understanding the markets, and the law. He says being ignorant gets you bullied whereas being informed translates into “you have a fighting chance.�

Chapter 6: The Rich Invent Money
The author develops the concept of self-doubt. He says that each person is born with talent but that talent is suppressed because of self-doubt and fear. He remarks that it’s not necessarily the educated smart people who get ahead but the bold and adventurous. People never get ahead financially even if they have plenty of money because they have opportunities that they fail to tap, he stresses. Most of them just sit around waiting for opportunity to happen. The author’s idea is that people create luck; they should not wait around for it. He says it’s the same with money. It has to be created.
In this chapter, the author discusses the importance of an education (although some critics say that he appears to downplay its importance). The author is clear by saying, “a trained mind is a rich mind.� In his analysis, there are two types of investors, each with a different mind set: those who go for the packaged investment, and those who customize investments to suit their objectives.
The author encourages people to hire people more intelligent than they because by capitalizing on the knowledge of others, an intelligent individual builds his own knowledge base and therefore has more power over those who don’t know.

Chapter 7: Work to Learn, Don’t Work for Money
This is the chapter where the author talks about the skills individuals need to develop for financial success.
The reader is given an example of a young woman who had a Master’s Degree in English Literature and who was offended when it was suggested that she learn to sell and do direct marketing. After all the hard work for her degree, she didn’t think she would have to stoop so low to learn how to be a salesperson, a profession she didn’t think very highly of. The author uses this example to emphasize that there are other skills people need to cultivate to help them on the road towards financial freedom.
The author mentions management skills. He says individuals need to know how to manage cash flow, systems, and people. To that he throws in selling and marketing skills. He puts equal emphasis on communication skills. He says there are many people who have the scientific bent and hence have a powerhouse of knowledge, but they fail miserably in communications. These are the people who are “one skill away from great wealth.�
The author calls attention to one outstanding trait of great wealthy families: they give money away – plenty of it – unlike the poor who feel that charity begins at home.

Chapter 8: Overcoming Obstacles
The opinion of the author is that five personality traits hamper human beings: fear, cynicism, laziness, bad habits, arrogance. He explains that while it’s normal to have fear, what matters is how one handles it. The author shares his sentiment about his particular fondness for Texas and Texans: “When they win, they win big and when they lose, it’s spectacular.�
The author maintains that it’s not merely a question of balance but also FOCUS. He recommends that the Chicken Littles of the world be ignored. They’re only concerned about the sky falling, spending the rest of their lives in pessimism. He says he constantly hears people saying they want to be rich, but when it’s suggested that money can be made from real estate, their initial reaction is “but I don’t want to fix toilets.� The author believes it’s ironic that they’re more concerned about trivia like fixing toilets rather than what lies ahead in real estate. As a final point, the author states that it is healthy to be greedy, so when faced with a decision, a person must always ask, “What’s in it for me?�

Chapter 9: Getting Started
This chapter serves as a section on tips to create and build personal wealth. His first tip is, find a reason greater than reality to motivate you. What he means by this is to wake up the financial genius in oneself by empowering the mind. He says that people must have a strong /purpose for living.
The next tip is to feed the mind. By feeding the mind, the author contends that people acquire power of choice.
The author also advises people to choose friends carefully. He says to avoid people who proclaim incessantly that the sky is falling and instead encourages readers to spend time with people who enjoy talking about money because they may have valuable lessons to share. The author also believes that people should study one field, and then go out and learn a new one, although it is important to choose what one studies.
Here is another tip that the author observes most people don’t practice: pay yourself first. Even if short of cash, people must pay themselves first. This goes in tandem with managing three things efficiently: cash flow, people and personal time.
Another tip the author gives is being generous. He thinks it makes a lot of sense to pay one’s broker well as he’s an ally, and “your eyes and ears to the market.�
The author suggests having heroes. They are indispensable in life because they not only inspire, they also make it seem so easy. They stimulate the human mind into thinking, “If they can do it, why can’t I?�
“Teach and you shall receive� is another tip that the author shares. His words are eloquent concerning this idea: “There are powers in this world that are much smarter than we are. You can get there on your own, but it’s easier with the help of the powers that be. All you need to be is generous with what you have, and the powers will be generous with you.�

Chapter 10: Still Want More? Here are Some To Do’s
This chapter is sort of a supplement to the previous chapter. It gives readers additional tips to help them reach for financial rewards. One tip is to stop doing what you’re doing – that is, if it’s no longer working or viable. The author encourages readers to look for new ideas, to pick the brains of individuals who have the experience and who have already done what one aspires to do. He advises on keeping the learning curve alive, taking courses, buying tapes, attending seminars.
In looking for real estate investment opportunities, the author recommends looking in the right places. One way of doing this is to jog around the neighborhood one is interested in. People can acquire real estate even if they don’t have sufficient funds for the down payment. In fact, with a bit of cleverness, the author says people can even make money with no capital.

Themes in Rich Dad, Poor Dad
One theme that’s apparent in this book is that for an individual to be wealthy, he must aim to own the system or means of production, rather than work for another individual. The author stresses that there is obviously something confining about being an employee; it shuts the mind to other possibilities and it stunts initiative.
Financial intelligence is THE most powerful asset. By studying the precepts of accounting and investing, the author believes that individuals will be able to see the difference between an asset and a liability; in fact it is the more concrete application of learning what’s right and what’s wrong. Generating a string of expenses is wrong, building assets is right.
Unlike individuals who earn and then pay taxes on what they earn, corporations earn, spend what they want to spend, and pay taxes on what’s left. Corporations, therefore, hold a certain degree of power. The rich know how to use this power, the poor don’t.
The author also believes that true luxuries are experienced when they are the outward manifestations of intelligent investing and asset building. He cites the example of his wife purchasing a Mercedes Benz because it was the car she liked and worked hard to be able to purchase it. The author cautions however about keeping up with the Joneses and getting into debt because of this human frailty.
Fear, laziness, cynicism and arrogance are to be blamed for most of human inaction.

Something Fishy

After office at 4:00 am, we went in Something Fishy in Libis. It's an eat all you can restaurant which operates from 10:00 pm to 10:00 am.

Who's we? Jinky, Kuya Alex, Z, me and Hone. I ate 2 plates. Oh, I just so love the rice, tocino and the scrambled eggs!

Hone wants to go back there again.:p

I'll be using this Signature

Beginning today, I'll use this signature. Got the site from Jen's blog.

Here, take a look:

Pulled by Reality

Lhen came back from her 1-month Singapore trip. She had lots of adventures to tell us. Her time being with her partner is over, she's now being pulled by reality. She also said 'twas so hard to find job in Singapore. (sigh) I didn't know Singapore was affected by the recession.

I wonder how will Hone and I turn out when he's already overseas... Can we manage to be separated when we've learned to depend on each other?

I don't know.

1 Litre of Tears

I watched the movie in http://www.youtube.com/. It's a true to life story that had 11 Episodes. It's about a 15-year old girl named Aya who acquired a non-curable disease called Spinocebellar Athrophy. It is a rare disease that affects the persons ability to control their own self. The degeneration of the disease results to the inability of a person to walk, to move, to do things, to speak and other more. It makes a person regress and be totally bedridden. The girl, Aya fought to live life, though she questioned why she had to be the one stricken by the disease. She was able to find her purpose in living and was able to inspire and give light to those who also had the same condition as her as well as to her family and friends.



I didn't just cried a litre of tears, perhaps a bucket full of tears. It's a very touching film and it made me feel grateful that God continues to bestow us (me and my love ones) with the good health that we always pray for.

May this story continue to serve in inspiring others to live life inspite and despite the painful things that come along our way.

Fun Photos

When I was a kid, I remember wanting to be a star someday. I wanted to see myself on ads and commercials on TV and magazines. Though, when I grew up, the things I wanted changed. Instead, I wanted to live a simple life. I remember T. Marlo, my teacher in Values during my Junior years in Highschool said, "Living a simple life is living a happy life". Indeed, it was so true.:p Even if I am not the star I wished to be before, I am happy.... and in my own world, I can be a star, a supermodel on my own.

So to somehow catch one of my wildest dreams, here are the fun photos I made through a certain website.:p



Burberry Model


Endorser


Concert Pic

City Model

H1N1 Virus at De La Salle University

I was onmy way to MRT inside the FX when I heard the news on the radio that there was a positive case of H1N1 virus in our school, De La Salle University. I reacted immediately saying, "Shocks!", the moment I heard it. My reaction pave way for a wonderful conversation with the driver who happened to be the Chief Fire Engineering Officer of the Caloocan District. There happened a brain activity during my conversation with him as we talked about the spreading virus, the DLSU and the Master's in Sped. He said that his wife is also a teacher and he is planning to let her take the same course I was taking. It was a short ride but I had a great conversation with the stranger. He even advised something about personal matters, saying, "that if you feel, you've already found the person you want to spend the rest of your life with, never let it go because if you lose him, you might not be able to see the spark again you've once experienced." Indeed, I somehow agree on that matter. Though, I'm not letting Michael go anyway. I know in my heart, he is my end.

It's been time since I had a sensible conversation with someone and having such brain activity makes me real good inside as it brings out the real persona in me.
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http://www.dlsu.edu.ph/offices/mds/bulletin/influenza/
Bulletin : Influenza A H1N1 Virus
DATE : 03 June 2009 TO : The Academic CommunityFROM : Br. Armin A. Luistro FSC, President and ChancellorRE : Confirmed case of Influenza A and campus closure___________________________________________________________
De La Salle University announces the closure of the campus from June 4 to 14, 2009 in view of its first confirmed case of the Influenza A N1H1 virus. Based on existing Department of Health Guideline on A (H1N1) in schools, DLSU will reopen on June 15.
The case is a female foreign student who arrived in the country on May 12. DOH confirmed today, June 3, that the student contracted the virus.
The student has been admitted in a healthcare facility and is being closely monitored by medical practitioners.
DLSU officials have met with DOH Secretary Dr. Francisco T. Duque III and are closely coordinating with other Department of Health key personnel regarding the case.
Prior to the incident, the University has instituted campus-wide precautionary measures such as information dissemination regarding the Influenza A H1N1 virus.
During the closure period, the Academic Community is advised to monitor flu-like symptoms, to stay away from crowds, and to practice good hygiene. If symptoms appear, the person should immediately seek medical attention. They should also inform the University Clinic of their condition by sending their full name and ID number through email at clinic@dlsu.edu.ph.
The community is also advised to regularly check the DLSU website at www.dlsu.edu.ph/Influenza_bulletin for updates and developments on the issue, and announcements on the rescheduling of University events and activities, etc. For inquiries, the Marketing Communication Office may be reached at 526-5913 during office hours.
Reminders:
Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. Throw the tissue in the trash after you use it.
Wash your hands often with soap and water, especially after you cough or sneeze. Alcohol-based hand cleaners are also effective.
Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth. Germs spread this way.
Try to avoid close contact with sick people.
Stay home if you are sick for 7 days after your symptoms begin or until you have been symptom-free for 24 hours, whichever is longer. This is to keep from infecting others and spreading the virus further.
What is the best technique for washing my hands to avoid getting the flu?
Washing your hands often will help protect you from germs. Wash with soap and water or clean with alcohol-based hand cleaner.
What should I do if I get sick?
If you become ill with influenza-like symptoms, including fever, body aches, runny or stuffy nose, sore throat, nausea, or vomiting or diarrhea, you should stay home and avoid contact with other people, except to seek medical care.
If you have severe illness or you are at high risk for flu complications, contact your health care provider or seek medical care. Your health care provider will determine whether flu testing or treatment is needed.

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Lord, please save the Filipinos who are inflicted by this disease. Let your mighty hands move upon them and protect the others so that this disease will no longer pass on.

It's June...Lord, I pray, that YOUR will be done!