Mi Choza De Nipa: 07/01/2007

“I cannot live beyond my means, but I can live above my means.”

This is one statement from a pastor I heard many a years ago.

I was single then. I did not have any money problem back then,

when my earnings was mainly for myself. I can recall my

bank account not being emptied, and that one month after another,

the amount just kept getting added together. I’d give a portion of it

to my parents whenever I come home, which is usually on a

yearly basis. And although the pastor wasn’t talking to me,

I remembered the principle of that statement.

That was then. I did not have any other responsibilities – just myself.

That changed not very long after. In about 5 years, I entered married life.

I experienced what I thought was only simply a ceremonial vow.

I went through hardships, one after another. Children came in succession.

We moved from place to place. My bank account was drained. But in all this,

I kept on living. The marriage vow proved true: “…through thick and thin,

in sickness and in health, for richer or for poorer…” My wife proved to be

a faithful partner. When our 2^nd child was prematurely born, she had to

quit her job, which was in the same company that I was. She went on

being a full-time homemaker, and although we had with us many others,

my mother-in-law, my two brothers-in-law, and a maid, nobody dared to

hold our second-born, for fear of mishandling the tiny baby who is barely

more than 1 kg.

Some years before I got married, some of my technician colleagues have

migrated to Indonesia as foreign talents, earning about a thousand US dollars

a month. When I was in difficulty and in a bad financial state, I sought their

assistance. My papers were processed, and hopes ran high when I was told

that I can go in a month’s time, just enough to serve the required notice

period for resigning employees. A week or two after, I was told that it won’t

happen. Another guy in our group, who wanted so much to go, learned of it,

and dropped an e-mail bomb to our former colleagues out in the place of destination.

He wanted so much to go, but he wasn’t able to; when he learned that I’m going,

he blew his top! God has other purposes in my life…

2 years, and I was sent abroad for a systems training on the MES that we are using.

The guy who was senior in our group of 3 is leaving, and he was also sent over to the

sister company for the same training that I was going to. It was November, and I was

scheduled for a 3-week training period, with a 1-year bond. I said that’s OK, since

I did not have any plans to go after the earlier incident of a failed departure.

When I came, the one who will be taking care of me, and who will be doing most

of the training sessions was a bit relieved that I already know a bit of the system.

A big difference, he noted, as he recalled training the other guy about 3 years before.

Of course, we’ve learned a lot also from our senior guy, so thanks to him for saving us

the trouble. The 3-week stay seems to be a breeze, and the training was over. I came

back home, just in time for my first-born’s birthday in December. I brought home

a lot of stuffed toys, which my girls enjoyed a lot, and most of which also didn’t last

very long. Outgrown, or broken.

It was when our second child was prematurely born that things changed a lot.

The hospital bill was a huge amount, and I would not have been able to pay up,

if not for the help of the company I’m working in. Some companies just have the

heart to be of help all the way to their employees, not just employing them.

Time went by, and before one year from my training date can pass, I got a call.

A former colleague of the same job function from another department recommended me

for a super-urgent job in Singapore. I received an e-mail, a two, and so on, with the

discussion progressing, until the phone interview was set. I was sitting in a cubicle

right next to my boss back then, and it was as if the timing was orchestrated, my boss

was on a meeting when I was called long-distance for a 30-minute interview.

It was the other engrs who were standing up now and then, trying to pick up

what I was saying and talking about, smiling, teasing, doing all sort of things

while I was on the phone, and asking “Why are you talking in English?” as they’d

look around and see if our boss is somewhere near.

Well, the boss was back, but only after the interview was 30 minutes over.

A few days gone by, and there is nothing really that is secret in the semicon world.

He talked to me, asked about the details, how much I’m being offered, which he declined

to counter-offer. First, he corrected the notion that raising my salary will make my life

better, or alleviate my situation. For a while, yes, but a higher pay entails a higher spending.

This is true, which my Irish friend also experienced, but whose case is worse – high to low!

Second, that pay range is going to run over some managers, and is simply not possible.

Third, going out of the country is not the best option, as I will be displaced. Especially

if it is the whole family going. The possibility of going back home after a couple of years

is there, but the adjustment back to former way of life is the most difficult part.

This, statistics confirm. A very high percentage of balikbayans go overseas

After a short while of being in their country of origin. In the end, he told me that

the final decision is mine. The monetary issue is so pressing that he didn’t bother

me anymore, but just went on with the reminders and admonitions – he is, after all,

my godfather. I was still on bond when I left, and I paid back the calculated ‘daños’

a year after I left; the company was really very considerate.

After 7 years abroad, I can summarize my financial activities, good and bad:

1. I bought my very first complete set of a home theater system – Pioneer brand, ~$3k+.

2. I had my home furnished – dining set, living room set, the kitchen, bedrooms, etc., and most of these items are still with us even after 5 years of daily use. Sometimes it really pays to select a quality (and expensive) item, than a cheap one that won’t last long.

3. I bought a PC and some other handheld gadgets.

4. We purchased a parcel of land in the Phils, ~400sqm – and this may be wasted money.

5. We were scammed, and they got about $1.5k from us, and they wanted to get more…

6. We’ve continually sent to our old folks back at home, both sides, their monthly allotment; not much, but on a regular basis. And they are very thankful even with the small amount that they receive regularly.

7. We send our kids to school – the price of education is cheaper than the price of ignorance.

8. Purchased an insurance for our 2 kids; the other one will be covered by our CPF earnings.

9. Shifted flats; in the process, some older appliances were given away.

10. Upgraded some kitchen appliances, and the old units were also given away.

11. We buy clothes for the kids every other month or so – the old ones are either overgrown, or passed down, or sent over with a boxed package.

12. We’ve sent on several occasions to a number of our relatives who would request for help. Again, not very huge sums, but at the right time.

13. We’ve acquired a second-hand PSR keyboard for a $1000+ - a very good deal indeed!

14. A new vacuum cleaner to replace the old one, which also lasted for about 5 years. The new one is already on its 2^nd good year.

15. After attending a cooking demo, and seeing the features of the cookware being sold, we revisited some of our old cookwares that were purchased many years back, and were just kept in the storage – proved to be functional after all, just the knowledge of its use and capabilities.

16. A second-hand bicycle was also acquired, which was used for about 5 years, and has been with me on a daily use basis, for about 6 years now. It is very light, and can be carried over the shoulder while running down the stairs of our block.

17. Sent 2 boxes of packaged goods back home 2 years ago. Will be sending the next package soon.

18. Went back home a year ago, and cleared up our folks standing debts, and sponsored half of a small gathering’s expenses.

19. Bought some small items to leave with the old folks when we were leaving home again.

20. Have bought some more items which we deemed needed, now and then.

21. Have alloted a small amount for dining out, which is to bring the whole family together after a long week or office work, school work and house work.

7 years, and my wife and I have learned a great deal about handling finances.

We are on a tight rein when it comes to our expenditures, having experienced

the nightmare of being caught in a web of unpaid credit card balances, and oh the joy

of being freed from that entanglement!

Only time will tell if we will make good our learning. Application of which is on a daily basis…

Theory vs Reality

“You are confusing theory with reality!”

This is what my math teacher exclaimed when I argued with him

about my answer against his. The question is this:

“When you are in your military training, which position is easier to be,

or, which position puts you more at ease, ‘attention’ or ‘at ease’?”

Our topic at that time is vertical and horizontal force, and the resultant forces.

Anybody who has gone through military training will answer quickly: ‘at ease’!

Especially when you are talking of a lengthy stance.

Of course, that is not so in the science of numbers. When in ‘attention’, you only

deal with vertical force; but when ‘at ease’, you have vertical and horizontal forces.

Of course, from his point of view, which is math, his answer is correct. But also

from my point of view, which is reality, I am also correct. From the question’s

point of view, I insisted that between the two answers, mine is the correct one.

At that point, he exclaimed…

Is science flawed?

There is one thing that I have learned in science many, many years ago.

It is actually very, very simple, and presented as it is, the question is

whether the formula is correct and valid. It is the equation for WORK.

Work = Force X Distance.

And given a situation where you have 2 boys, with 10 blocks of wood each,

And each wood weighing 500 grams. The school teacher asked

1. Boy 1 to lift the blocks of wood from the ground to a height of 3 meters, and down.

2. Boy 2 to move the blocks of wood from point A to point B, a distance of 6 meters.

Using the formula for WORK, we know that the WORK they both performed is the same.

Of course, there is a bit more that Boy 2 did, since he has to lift the blocks up first, then down.

Anyway, in the practical world, there is no accomplishment for Boy 1 – nothing has changed.

Boy 2 introduced some change, which is more or less the indicator that he worked.

Science’s formula for WORK will produce the same result. But not in the practical world.

So, is science flawed?

Thursday, July 05, 2007

More Quotations

1. Birds of the same feather flock together.

2. The corruption of the best is worst.

3. If there’s a will, there’s watir.

Having read of a friend’s blog about investing in yourself, I am reminded

of this admonition while studying in Meralco Foundation Institute,

from one of my instructors, who is also a UP metallurgical engineering grad,

and I quote:

“Don’t settle for a job that gives you a high salary.

Settle for one that gives you continuous education.

You may be suitable for that job you currently have,

but afterwards, you are no longer employable.

You would have lost your cutting edge…”

Wednesday, July 04, 2007

Mystery enough

I’ve always admired people who exhaust themselves studying.

Some go into the study of life, some into the study of nature,

some into the practical things in life, and some, into the mystical.

The topic is just so numerous, and the focus can be so specific,

that it leaves no time for other things to be explored.

In itself, I don’t find anything wrong with studying. The world,

after so many studies and explorations and experimentations,

has reached the technological age, a level not even thought of

in the past decades. But the real measure of the impact and

effect that these breakthroughs bring is on the populace itself.

Has man been better?

Has man ever been more contented?

Has man ever been more satisfied?

Has man become kinder?

Has man become more humane?

Has man become a friendlier neighbor, or a self-centered individualist?

Can he see better now, perceiving beyond what the eye can meet?

Has he become wiser, with all the vast collection of knowledge?

Is he assured of surviving in the world with all his external and internal gadgets?

Is he better equipped, and assured of overcoming any and all obstacles in his way?

Is he thinking clearer now, and able to choose the right parthways of life?

Is he skilled enough to live life to the fullest, or is he simply existing?

Has he found his purpose?

Is man fulfilling his calling?

Knowing where he was, does he know where he is going? Even more now?

Some Quotes Quoted

Here are some quotes that I would like to re-quote, for the sake of quoting them…

1. What we learn from history is that we never learn from history.

2. Money is not everything; it is the only thing.

3. And in the end, it's not the years in your life that count. It's the life in your years.

4. True religion is real living; living with all one's soul, with all one's goodness and righteousness.

5. Only a life lived for others is a life worthwhile.

6. There are two means of refuge from the miseries of life: music and cats.

7. Safety first before bukol.

8. Ang hindi marunong lumingon sa pinanggalingan ay hindi makararating sa paroroonan.

9. Life is like an onion: You peel it off one layer at a time, and sometimes you weep.

10. Life is so constructed that an event does not, cannot, will not, match the expectation.

11. When you have only two pennies left in the world, buy a loaf of bread with one, and a lily with the other.

12. Tanawin mo ang nakalipas, mamuhay sa kasalukuyan, at pangarapin ang hinaharap.

13. Life is a succession of moments. To live each one is to succeed.

14. Only when we are no longer afraid do we begin to live.

15. Live one day at a time.

16. Do not take life too seriously. You will never get out of it alive.

17. To live is so startling it leaves little time for anything else.

18. A useless life is an early death.

19. Be glad of life because it gives you the chance to love, to work, to play, and to look up at the stars.

20. Science is organized knowledge. Wisdom is organized life.

21. Everything has been figured out, except how to live.

22. You don't get to choose how you're going to die. Or when. You can only decide how you're going to live. Now.

23. And thou wilt give thyself relief, if thou doest every act of thy life as if it were the last.

24. Study as if you were going to live forever; live as if you were going to die tomorrow.

25. Service is what life is all about.

26. Nothing in life is to be feared. It is only to be understood.

27. Where there is love there is life.

28. Live your life and forget your age.

29. To live is the rarest thing in the world. Most people exist, that is all.

30. The truth is always exciting. Speak it, then. Life is dull without it.

31. Life is a succession of lessons, which must be lived to be understood.

32. Life is short, but there is always time enough for courtesy.

33. The purpose of life is a life of purpose.

34. An authentic life is the most personal form of worship. Everyday life has become my prayer.

35. Life begets life. Energy becomes energy. It is by spending oneself that one becomes rich.

36. Whatever is at the center of our life will be the source of our security, guidance, wisdom, and power.

37. In bed we hatch, in be we match, and in bed we dispatch.

38. I know enough to know that I do not know enough.

39. Nothing is really simple; we only take them to be.

40. We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give.

41. Don’t linger in the past, though good it was to last.

42. To love is to risk not being loved in return. To hope is to risk pain. To try is to risk failure, but risk must be taken because the greatest hazard in life is to risk nothing.

43. Life is a spell so exquisite that everything conspires to break it.

44. That it will never come again is what makes life so sweet.

45. We wouldn’t care knowing that we are not the greatest; we would, knowing that we are the least.

46. There is nothing permanent - but change.

47. The unexamined life is not worth living.

48. Life's aspirations come in the guise of children.

49. Life is partly what we make it, and partly what it is made by the friends whom we choose.

50. The longer I live, the more beautiful life becomes.

51. Life is too important to be taken seriously.

52. When you are good to others, you are best to yourself.

53. Your own mind is a sacred enclosure into which nothing harmful can enter except by your permission.

54. Revenge is the weak pleasure of a little and narrow mind.

55. Difficulties strengthen the mind, as labor does the body.

56. We seldom think of what we have, but always of what we lack.

57. Friendship improves happiness and abates misery by the doubling of our joy and the dividing of our grief.

58. The past cannot be changed; the future is still in your power.

59. They can because they think they can.

60. A person is not hurt so much by what happens, as by his opinion of what happens.

61. To avoid criticism, do nothing, say nothing, be nothing.

62. If anger is not restrained it is frequently more hurtful to us than the injury that provokes it.

63. When all else is lost the future still remains.

64. How could there be any question of acquiring or possessing, when the one thing needful for a man is to become - to be at last, and to die in the fullness of his being?

65. Life is not a static thing. The only people who do not change their minds are incompetents in asylums, and those in cemeteries.

66. There are two ways to live your life. One is as though nothing is a miracle. The other is as though everything is a miracle.

67. Life is a series of little deaths out of which life always returns.

68. The forest is magnificent, yet it contains no perfect trees.

69. If only the best birds would sing, then the forest would be quiet.

70. Life without love is like a tree without blossom and fruit.

71. Don’t tell me what it was made for; tell me what it can do. - Armageddon

72. You only live once, but if you work it right, once is enough.

73. The proper function of man is to live, not to exist. I shall not waste my days in trying to prolong them. I shall use my time.

74. The abundant life does not come to those who have had a lot of obstacles removed from their path by others. It develops from within and is rooted in strong mental and moral fiber.

75. Success is to be measured not so much by the position that one has reached in life as by the obstacles which he has overcome.

Mi Choza De Nipa

Friday, July 06, 2007

About earning and spending