Month of Subscription

They say that impulse buying is not good and I completely agree. When I was single and even until my early years in marriage, I was a self confessed impulse buyer. I bought a sub compact handgun that I actually didn't need almost a decade ago. If I opted to save the amount, placed it in mutual funds, the figure would have at least doubled. In my recent international trip, the impulse buying spree became active again and bought some stuff which I actually haven't used like a bluetooth handsfree kit, a camera cleaner, bike jersey (my 6th jersey), bike gloves (my 3rd pair) and a Honda Civic EX emblem. Sayang pero nag enjoy ako nung binili ko. Reality struck when we were paying the credit card bills.

MONEY SENSE

This month, we subscribed to2 magazines on impulse - Money Sense and Reader's Digest. For Money Sense, we just renewed our subscription. Early this month, I was wondering why they haven't sent the July-August issue and when I checked, I learned that my subscription has already ended. I sent an email to the publisher and this kind man in the person of Mr. Nonoy Torrijos called me and told me that my subscription had expired. He went to my office to give the July-Aug issue and collected almost P700 for the renewal. That's what I call personalized service.

READER'S DIGEST

When we were growing up, we had an RD subscription at home. We had a bookshelf filled to the brim with RD magazines. I used to read All in a day's work, Campus Comedy, Points to Ponder, Drama in Real Life and challenge myself in the vocabulary. I recently learned that my wife belongs to an RD family as well so it didn't take a lot of convincing for us to shell out almost P1600 for an annual subscription. It comes with an alarm clock and a chance to win a Volvo S40.

I wonder how much I'd be able to sell the Volvo S40 so I can get a BMW 320i, on impulse!

Retirement: 20 / 20 Rule

Finance gurus say that the retirement rule is 20 - 20. This means that 20 years before your target retirement date, you should be saving for THE DAY.
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TARGET DATE
My target age for retirement is 55 years old and that's 19 years from now. We've started saving last year and have various "small" sources. Most are forced savings therefore we can't touch them until a certain period. By the time I retire, the kids would have graduated from college and would be on their own. My last day at work should be December 31, 2027.
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TARGET AMOUNT
When I was in college, during my finaman or financial management subject, I computed that I need P10 million to retire comfortably. I guess I made a mistake in computing as I didn't foresee that inflation would hit 14%. Besides, back then, I didn't give a hoot about inflation. Inflation for me then was a term used to fix a basketball that needed some air. :) My new target is to have P40 million in liquid assets or a monthly income of P200 thousand from various sources by 2027.
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It's a huge amount indeed and I actually haven't even scratched the surface. Add to that is the fact that our family is just starting so there are tons of bills to pay, insurance, children's education, the list goes on. Will I meet the goal? Only time can tell.

Arriva Avida!

Avida Land is making headway with their Makati West project. Located between Yakal and Mayapis street and covering one block, tower one's foundation is complete and they've already started with the ground floor.
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When we purchased our units via pre-selling mid last year, we were told that the 300 something unit tower one is 70% sold out. It was initially offered to Ayala Corp employees. Lucky them! We got a 10th floor unit with a Manila Bay view. It was not an ideal floor for us (currently living on the 18th floor of a condo in Salcedo Village) but what we got is acceptable.
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Our loan in BPI should kick in this month. Seems like they're a bit delayed. Not sure if it's the sales agent's fault or the bank. How much does this delay cost? I was recently told that the annual interest increased from 10.99% to 11.75%. Somebody didn't do their job properly and we were charged additional 0.76%. Only in the Philippines. And the messenger of the bad news even had the gall to lecture me about inflation reason why the interest went up. Anyway, I knew that the situation was similar to a hostage taking (since Avida Land and BPI both belong to the Ayala Corp) and there was no recourse but to pay the ransom.
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The turnover is Y2010. That's 2 full years from now. We're excited to move to our own home. As for now, home sweet home will be at a rented condo in Salcedo Village.

Will this be my next UV project?

Last Sunday on the way to the farm, I chanced upon an 80s Toyota Mini Cruiser at a vehicle lot. It's called a mini cruiser because it's big brother is the mighty late 70s Toyota Land Cruiser (first generation). Based on my assessment, the vehicle used to be a Philippine Army service vehicle hence that the utility vehicle (UV) is used is an understatement.

My novice analysis on cars tells me that I'll be spending in the the neighborhood of P70,000 to make the vehicle serviceable. Here's the list of possible expenses:
1. New Toyota 12R engine = P15,000
2. New set of all terrain tires = P15,000
3. Body works & painting = P15,000
4. Seat upholstery & canvas top = P 6,000
5. Registration = P 6,000
6. Miscellaneous expenses = P10,000
TOTAL EXPENSES = P67,000

I called the owner through his celfone and he said he'd sell the junk jeep to me for P50,000. Therefore the project would cost about P120,000 without airconditioning and unforeseen expenses which only a real mechanic can tell. I therefore conclude that it is not a wise project. A better option would be to get a 90s Suzuki Samurai or a 90s Mitsubishi Pajero which would cost in the neighborhood of P130,000.

Meet Tatang Carlos

Carlos Bautista is a second generation farmer in Barangay Balanti. He and his children plant corn, tomato, eggplant and other vegetables in our farm. Our landowner-tenant relationship started more than 5 years ago. I like our relationship because his accounting of income and expenses, though not scientific, is clear and accurate. He values integrity and one of the few tenants who takes care of the expenses. Normally, the landowner pays in advance the expenses - seeds and fertilizer.

Today, he told me that he's going to retire from farming and endorsed his children - Dado, Dhod and Nick to deal with the family. I just hope that the children are as trust worthy as the old man. Tatang Carlos turned 73 years old this year.

Meet Cong Cenon

Cenon Mendiola is a 61 year old male from Barangay Balanti, Tarlac City. He is happily married with 12 children (or more) and 36 grand children. He is a boatman in Brgy. Tibag which is an adjacent barangay from where he lives. Everyday, he ferries people across a 400 meter wide river and the passengers pay P5 per person. His boat can carry up to 6 passengers and the ride will take about 2 minutes. On a good day he earns P200 but on the average only earns P100.

I've known him since my teenage years because he used to drive our jeep and does alot of errands for my parents. He together with his ka-barrio attended my father's wake in May. Everytime I see him, I'd give him pang merienda as advised by my father. Last Sunday, I gave him more than pang merienda so he'd have a hearty meal with his family that day. I told him not to use the money to buy alcohol to which he obliged. He told me that my old man knows him better than I do because he doesn't drink.

This is my small way of giving back to the less fortunate. The next time I see him, I'll give him pang merienda and some clothes.

FN: Cong is a Kapampangan word for an older brother. It is used as a sign of respect.

Death Becomes Him

Everybody is saying how year 2008 is a very lucky year. Olympics opened 8-8-08 and in the Chinese way of life, eight is a lucky number. Months in advance, event sites are booked because everybody wants a piece of triple 8.

While there are four and a half months before the lucky year 2008 ends and a lot of things may still happen, I've already concluded that it is a sad year for me. The untimely demise of my father due to a natural cause is a big blow to a closely knit family like ours. We relatively live a simple life, just enough monetary resource but overwhelming with love. I pray that the love strengthens with the loss of a pillar.

Long Time No Post

It's been almost 2 weeks since I last posted an entry in my blog. I'm at a challenging phase in my life were I have to sacrifice certain things that I enjoy doing for a greater good or at least that's how I view it. Mountain biking has to take a back seat. My blog entry is suffering in consistency. Web surfing is limited and no time to practice taking my precious pictures. Practically all my sources of anti stress are taking a breather. As a result, the stress level is at an all time high. Admittedly, I am outside my comfy zone right now and just surviving on a day-to-day basis. I hope months down the road, I can look back at this day at this blog entry and say that - I SURVIVED!!!

Addicted to Cars!

As the song goes "Might as well admit it, I'm addicted to love." In my case, I admit that I'm addicted to cars. Imagine going to Singapore, walk for 10 mins. from the hotel to the train station, travel 5 stops, walk almost 1 kilometer just to see Honda Cars in Alexandra Road. That was one lang walk under the heat of the sun. I did all of that this year to check out this mags...

In His Time

In His time (2x)

He makes all things beautiful;

In His time.

Lord, please show me every day

As You're teaching me Your way,

That You do just what You say;

In Your time.

(In Your time;) (2x)
You make all things beautiful;
In Your time.
Lord, my life to You I bring
May each song I have to sing,
Be to You a lovely thing;
In Your time

Bridge Over Troubled Water

When you're weary, feelin' small
When tears are in your eyes, I will dry them all.
I'm on your side, Oh, when times get rough
And friends just can't be found.
Like a bridge over troubled waters
I will lay me down.
Like a bridge over troubled waters
I will lay me down.
When you're down and out, when you're on the street
When evening falls so hard, I will comfort you.
I'll take your part, Oh when darkness comes
And pain is all around
Like a bridge over troubled waters
I will lay me down.
Like a bridge over troubled waters
I will lay me down.
Sail on children, sail on by
Your time has come to shine, all their dreams are on their way
See how they shine, Oh when you need a friend
I'm sailing right behind
Like a bridge over troubled waters
I will ease your mind
Like a bridge over troubled waters,
I will ease your mind.I'll ease your mind.

2012 SMT Car Plan?

Our 2007 Honda CRV is celebrating her first year anniversary this month. Being a true blue car buff, days after getting our first real SUV, I've been dreaming what car to get next. My next car pla is scheduled in 2012 and I'd be 40 years old by then. They say that life begins at 40 so what ride should I get while I approach mid life?

By 2012, the plan is to keep the Vee ('07 Honda CRV), sell the '02 H. Civic and get a new vehicle. Currently, there are 4 candidates:

(1) Toyota RAV 4. I like the design of the 1st gen and the 2nd gen cute-ute. The 3rd gen looks like a very slight modification of the 2nd gen hence it didn't appeal to me that much. Add to that is the fact that the base model cost P1,4M which was out of our budget and was not worth it. But it bears a Toyota badge and it's always worth considering.

(2) Toyota Prius. One of my life targets is to THINK GREEN and one big way is to get a hybrid car. In a nutshell, a hybrid car uses 2 engines, a gasoline and an electric motor. From 0 to 45 kph, it uses the electric motor and any speed over that uses the gas engine. Currently, the 1st gen Prius retails at P1,7M and grapevine talks say that it might be reduced to P1,3M once an environment act is passed into law.

(3) Honda CRV. Not again! That we're driving 2 Hondas is just a coincidence, it is not by design. To drive another one in 2012 is just loyalty to the max. Then again, if the price is right and Honda offers a 4th gen CRV which has a hybrid engine priced at P1,3M, we would go for it.

(4) Subaru Forester. This is an odd choice. The choice is: do you want to be a face in the crowd or do you want to deviate? In 2007, we choose the former. The 2nd gen Forester was an option in 2007 but a 3rd one. I like the design of this cute-ute but the timing is just not right. They introduced the 3rd gen just this year so by 2012, the body & chassis will be practically the same.

I have a full 4 years to assess. A lot of things might change, for better or for worse, hopefully for better. At any rate, there's no charge for dreaming.

Would you like a Cherry Tiggo?

Would you like a Cherry Tiggo? The car sounds like an upsell by a McDonald's crew. It looks like a rebirth of a 2nd generation Toyota RAV 4. The engine sounds like a 1.6 liter sedan undergoing extreme punishment.

Chinese Invasion

This pretty much sums up my comments on the 2008 Cherry Tiggo. Cherry is a Chinese car manufacturer who recently set up a distributor in the Philippines. They're pretty aggressive - a sales outlet in Tarlac City at a prime location, sales blitzes in metro manila malls. They really mean business and their message is that they want to slug it out with the big boys.

Cheapest SUV
Priced at under P800,000 I'd say it is the cheapest SUV in the market. At under a million, you get dual airbags, anti lock braking system, roll bars and a 1.6 liter engine! Well you can't have everthing. Another model, QQ is the cheapest hatchback in the market. In the early 90s Kia Pride CD5 was introduced at around P350th. Fast forward to almost 2 decades, the Cherry QQ is offered at P318th. It goes without saying that the company's differentiator is the price.

So would I get a Cherry Tiggo? It depends, if it is given for free or at least sold with a 50% discount, I'll definitely grab the offer.

One Seventy in my Vee!

We tested the all new Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway last Saturday Dau, Pampanga to Luisita, Tarlac leg. That portion opened midnight of July 25. On the way, there were only 3 cars northbound hence ideal for high speed driving.

The car of choice that weekend was our '07 CRV which will be celebrating it's 1st birthday in 3 weeks time. Our Vee is equipped with a 2.0 liter gasoline engine producing 150 horsepower. The speedometer allots 220 kilometer per hour but my target then was just to bring it to 180 kph. The speed rush in me pushed the vehicle to 170 kph. I could have brought it up to 180 kph but I remembered my Papa's advice - speed drive only when alone and don't do it with your family.

Drive safely.