Was Lost and Has Been Found

It was May 6, 2018 when my first Feast' testimony was published at The Feast Mall Of Asia's bulletin. 
The Feast is a weekly prayer gathering of the Light of Jesus Family, a Catholic - Charismatic community.

A Wandering Sheep. That was me. Did I find my way or I was found?

I'm an introvert. So mysterious, boring to be with, always alone, and aloof - these were the common first impression about me. The truth was, I was just afraid to be judged, criticized, and be rejected. 

Then I realized that I was afraid of my own shadow. The dark side of me was I easily judge and criticize others. I argues on anything that against my belief. I’m proud and full of pride. Close minded. Have a tough personality. I had trust issues and prefer keeping problems by myself. And because of this, I always been on my own.

I've been attending the Feast since July 2016 - I was always alone. Not until I decided to join the Love Life Retreat (LLR) Batch 22 on March of 2017. That retreat changed a lot of things in me. Particularly my personal, social, and spiritual beliefs.

After the retreat, my facilitator from the LLR, Bro Mark Tejares, invited me to join his Light Group (LG) at Bonifacio Global City (BGC). That time, I had no idea what a LG was. 

I was kind of cynical. I thought it was just another venue  where I would be offered business opportunities with typical punch line, "open-minded ka ba"? I thought it's another network marketing. So I turned down Bro Mark's invitation twice. 

He didn't give up though. On his third invitation, I decided to give it a try.

Get a Push!

Have you been in a situation where you felt like you fell into a river of raging problems?
Your relationship with your family aren't good.
There are setbacks at your work, career or business. 
You are financially struggling. 
Big companies are after you - electricity, water, mortgage, telephone, tuition fees and more bills due!
The troubles are dragging you down and you are pulling yourself up. You've tried to grasp on anything. And did everything with your all-being to push yourself from the river, but you still can't!

Because there's not enough to hold on to. You lack the ability and resources. You felt alone and helpless but then you still go on with your will. You never gave up until someone came to help!

The help this elephant got from a peer, in the following video, is greater than what some humans would give to another human. This is something we can all learn from.

Is Your Cup Full?

GOD GAVE YOU A LOVE CUP WHEN YOU SERVE.

How is your service and love cup? Puno pa ba o malapit ng maubos?

Here's a fact:

The state of your love cup determines the state of your service or work.

Ika nga ni Ralph Waldo Emerson, "Happiness is a perfume you cannot pour on others without getting a few drops yourself."

Bilang isang religious servant and fellowship facilitator, expressing our love and service is inevitable. We are called to pour perfume on others, to fill their cup with the gift of ourselves.

Yet many times, we overlook where our drive to serve comes from. Our relationship with ourselves and with our Creator is the basis from which all our relationships are anchored. 

7 Steps To Success

Kuntento ka na ba sa sapat lang o pwede na? How can you make a difference professionally and personally? Without a dream, things stay the same.

Anong mga desisyon ba ang kailangan mong gawin ngayon para makapag umpisa kang kumilos mapagtagumpayan ang iyong karera at makamit ang iyong mga pangarap? 

Kahit ano pa man yan, magdesisyon ka ngayon at umpisahan mo agad. Tanging ang paggawa lamang ang makakapagpabago ng direksyon ng iyong buhay. 

“All your dreams can come true, if you have the courage to pursue them.” – Walt Disney.

Don’t settle for less when you are capable of more. Believe in yourself and trust your dream. Huwag kang susuko hanggat alam mong kaya mo at may magagawa ka pa. Maniwala ka sa sarili mo na kaya mong makamit lahat ng pinangarap mo. 

But how will you get to the top of your field? Ano nga ba ang kailangan upang makamit ang tagumpay? 

My goal is to help you achieve your personal, career or business goals faster and easier. Kaya't narito ang pitong tagubilin o mga mabisang hakbang na maaaring makatulong upang makamit ang iyong layuning tagumpay. 

SEVEN STEPS TO SUCCESS
by Brian Tracy

1. Decide What You Want
Decide exactly what it is you want in each part of your life. Become a “meaningful specific” rather than a “wandering generality.”

10 Tips Na Maaari Mong Gawin To Increase Your Income

    Ang kumita ng mas malaki ay ninanais nating lahat. Ngunit ibang usapan na ang maisakatuparan ito. Dahil ang naisin ito ay hindi sapat. 

   May mga pagkakataon nga sa ating buhay na kinailangan nating mangutang dahil sa kakulangan sa pinansyal o income. At hindi natin ito basta basta mamamalayan na sa panghihiram natin ay makita nalang natin ang ating sarili na lubog na sa utang at hirap ng makaahon upang matustosan pa ang ating buhay pinansyal. 

   Kung lubog at nasa malalang kalagayan ang iyong buhay pinansyal, wala ka namang ibang pupuntahan kundi ang kasaganahan. May kasabihan ngang: "When you hit rock bottom, you have nowhere to go but up." Ngunit kung patuloy mong daramdamin at kakaawaan ang iyong sarili, aasa sa iba para tustosan ka o maghintay nalang sa kung anong mangyari, you're going to be waiting a long time for positive changes; yon ay kung mangyayari. 

   Katulad ito ng sa sitwasyong gusto mong magbawas ng timbang o magpapayat. Walang gagawa non para sa'yo. Nasa sa'yo yong pagkain ng tama, pageehersisyo, makatulog ng sapat -  it's all up to you! 

   Isipin mo ito; ano kaya kung tambak na yong mga bills na kailangan mong bayaran at kapos na kapos ang iyong kita o income? Diba nakakastress and you'll feel hopeless kapag ganto ang sitwasyon mo? Ang ganitong financial challenges ay dahil lamang sa kakulangan ng goal at malinaw na pagpaplano sa yong buhay pinansyal. 

   Ang pinakang sanhi nito ay dahil sa sarili rin nating paniniwala at takot na makontrol tayo ng salapi. Marami sa ating kababayan ay itinuturin na masama o mali ang magnais ng pera at kayamanan; dahil tingin nila dito ay isa itong kasakiman o pagka-ganid. Sa kanila, demonyo ang pera. Ngunit ang paniniwalang ito ay isa rin sa nagiging balakid upang makamit natin ang nais natin na kumita ng mas malaki at makamit ang financial freedom. 

Financial freedom is more than having plenty of money.  It is rather the freedom of being in control of your fears over the power of money and using that control to get what you really want in your life.

Ngayon, ano nga ba kailangan mo upang mapalaki o madagdagan ang iyong income? 

Bakit Natin Kailangang Yumaman?

May kakilala ka bang ayaw yumaman? 
Yong nais magtrabaho habang buhay? 
At yong kuntento na sa buhay na makakain lang ng tatlong beses sa isang araw?

Marahil, halos lahat naman ay nais yumaman, makapag retiro ng maaga, maraming oras sa pamilya, makarating sa iba't ibang lugar at makatikim ng mga masasarap na putahe.

Ganun pa man, may mga iilang tao ring ayaw yumaman. Sila yung mga taong ang tingin sa mga mayayaman ay mapanlamang, ganid, at mapang-alipusta. O marahil, tulad ko dati na may paniniwalang mas mapalad at mas malapit ka sa Panginoon kung dukha o mahirap ka.  

"Mapalad kayong mga dukha, sapagkat inyo ang kaharian ng Diyos. Mapalad kayong ngayo'y nagugutom, sapagkat kayo ay mabubusog." - Lucas 6:20

Dagdagan mo pa ng kasabihan na "Money is the root of all evil." Na anumang pagnanais mo sa karangyaan at pagpapayaman sa pananalapi ay mali at masama!

Sa kabila nito, bakit nga ba natin kailangang yumaman?

"Ito ay medyo mahirap na sagutin, kaya sagutin muna natin ang mga mas madadaling tanong:

Bakit Lagi Kang Walang Pera?

Lagi mo bang naririnig ang salitang ito, "Wala akong pera."

"Seryoso ka? Wala kang pera? Yang lifestyle mong yan wala kang pera? Pero 'pag-gimik at inuman may pera ka. Tapos pag may bagong labas na gadget bigla kang nakakabili. May paista-starbucks ka pa wala ka naman palang pera!!!"

LOL! Kapag hindi ka dinagukan ng kausap mo kapag sinabi mo yan. 

Maraming lohika kung bakit tila naging ekspresyon na ito ng maraming tao. Maaring wala talaga silang pera o nagpapalusot lang.

Pero ang pinagtataka ko, bakit ba tila karamihan ng tao ay lagi nalang walang pera kahit na malaki naman ang kinikita nila? 

Narito ang ilang malimit na dahilan ng mga kagaya kong manggagawa, above minimum wager, pero tila sapat o kulang ang kinikita...

Is Money Evil?

Me and my partner had a fight. She said, "Mas pinahahalagahan mo yang pera kesa sakin at sa relasyon natin! Magpakasal kayo ng demonyo mong pera! Hindi mo yan madadala sa kabilang buhay kapag namatay ka!"

Kinuha ko lahat ng alkransya ko at pati narin ang mga sisidlan ng aking emergency funds, at nagwika sakanya ng, "Is money, evil?"

Dagli syang nanahimik at umagos ang luha sa kanyang mga mata. Tinitigan ko ang kanyang mga mata at sinagot ko ang sarili kong katanongan, "Hindi!" 

But it wasn't convincing to her.

Consciously, she knew money isn't evil. But deep within, the old programming, "money is the source of all evil," was pulling her.

Yon ang problema ng karamihan. The poor mentality has been programmed within us since we were kids.

I said, "If this(money) is evil, bakit kailangan natin ng at least Php12,000 every single month to feed us, makapag-commute at mabayaran ang mga utility bills?"

The Boiling Frog Syndrome

One of the biggest regrets I always have is not stepping up to stop any dysfunction or ineffective decision on a tricky situation. 

I'm in doubt if I had the skills. I'm not sure that I thought it was my job. Will they listen to me? At one point, the trust was so low, I’m not sure that I cared enough. Until I did nothing and just gone with the flow. Which eventually resulted to an undesirable consequences.

So what does this have to do with boiling a frog? 

There is a fascinating early 19th century science experiments. Researchers found that when they put a frog in a pan of boiling water, the frog just quickly jumped out.  

On the other hand, put a frog in a pan of cold water then start heating the water slowly.

As the temperature of the water rises, the frog is able to adjust its body temperature accordingly.

The frog keeps on adjusting with increase in temperature.

Just when the water is about to reach boiling point, the frog is not able to adjust anymore.

At that point the frog decides to jump out...

The frog tries to jump but is unable to do so, because it has lost all its strength in adjusting with the rising water temperature...

Very soon the frog dies. 

What killed the frog?

Arnold Schwarzenegger's 6 Rules of Success

 We all know Arnold Schwarzenegger. Much well know as the Terminator, Conan the Barbarian, or the California Governor.  An Austrian-American actor, model, producer, director, activist, businessman, investor, writer, philanthropist, former professional bodybuilder, and politician. An icon of success.

Well, of course, many people ask him all the time, "What is the secret to success?"

But before we start, I just wanted to say that these are Arnold Schwarzenegger's rules. I think that they can apply to anyone, but that is for you to decide, because not everyone is the same. There are some people that just like to kick back and coast through life. And others want to be very intense and want to be number one and want to be successful. And that's what Arnold Schwarzenegger like.

He always wanted to be very intense, he always wanted to be number one. He took it very seriously, his career. So this was the same when he started with bodybuilding. He didn't want to just be a bodybuilding champion, he wanted to be the best bodybuilder of all time. The same was in the movies. He didn't want to just be a movie star; he wanted to be a great movie star that is the highest paid movie star and have above-the-title billing.

And so this intensity always paid off for him, this commitment always paid off for him. These are key principles that have brought him incredible success in several careers, from bodybuilding to acting and from public service to politics:

• Trust yourself
• Break some rules
• Don’t be afraid to fail
• Ignore the naysayers
• Work like hell
• Give something back

The first rule is: Trust yourself. 

A "YES" out of 1,009 "NOs" for KFC

Most of us are afraid of rejections. And mostly, fears prevails over desires. That's why most of us just gave up on our dreams.

Pero kung meron ka ng deep reason WHY to achieve your ambition, walang makakapigil pa sa'yo, regardless of your age. Because it is never too late to succeed.

All you need is perseverance, dedication, and ambition along with hard work. 

Na-inspire ako sa kwento ni Harland "The Kentucky Colonel" Sanders or much well know as Colonel Sanders, the founder of Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC).

Colonel Sanders was an entrepreneur who didn't become a professional chef until he was 40, didn't franchise Kentucky Fried Chicken until he was 62, and didn't become an icon until after he sold his company at 75. 

Malamang nakatikim ka na rin ng kanyang very famous na “finger lickin’ good” Kentucky Fried Chicken. ☺

Whether you like KFC or not, the story of Colonel Harland Sanders is truly amazing. This story is inspirational because it’s an example of how perseverance, dedication, and ambition along with hard work can create success; regardless of your age.

One of the most amazing aspects of his life is the fact that when he reached the age of 65, after running a restaurant and some franchise for several years, Colonel Sanders found himself penniless.

He retired and received his first social security check which was for $105 that pissed him off. And that was just the beginning of his international fame and financial success story..

Kung hindi mo pa alam yung istorya, Ganito yun…

Pay Yourself First?

Saving money is paying yourself first. 

It helps you prepare for sudden emergencies, put you on track for long-term goals and even allows you to take some much-needed time for yourself.

But not everyone knows the best ways to save. 

Sometimes you get caught up with paying bills. 

Until you forget to pay the most important person - YOURSELF. 

That's why it's essential to create a savings' plan that works for you. 

Saving in general can be hard to do. So set a financial goal and figure out how much you'll need to set aside each month to get there. . . . which leads to the next question, "where to set it aside?"

Don't Dig for Gold, Sell Shovels!

Narinig mo na ba ang istorya ng California Gold Rush?

This is a great story that we can learn strategies on taking ahead of the opportunity, using your resources and the power of supply and demand.

Noong 1848 sa San Fancisco, Gold Rush days ay yung panahon na nagkagulo ang maraming tao dahil sa pagkakadiskubre ng ginto sa San Francisco river.

The California Gold Rush was made famous by Samuel Brennan. Si Sam Brennan ang nasa likod ng famous quote na...

If You Want To Become Rich Fast..."Don't Dig For Gold - Sell Shovels!"

Mangangalakal o businessman itong si Sam Brennan. Nag mamayari ng isang newspaper publishing company at ilang mga stores sa San Francisco malapit sa ilog kung saan nadiskubre ang mga ginto.

Noong unang na-discover ang ginto sa San Francisco river noong January 24, 1848 ay inilihim muna ng mga nakadiskubre ang tungkol sa ginto. Ayaw kasi nila na pagkaguluhan ng mga tao ang nadiskubre nila. Masasabutahe kasi ang plano nilang agricultural empire kung magkakaroon ng malawakang pagmimina ng ginto.

Pero hindi rin nagtagal, kumalat na sa mga tao ang balita na may ginto na makukuha sa ilog. That's the time Samuel Brennan take advantage of the opportunity, used his newspaper publishing company and the power of supply and demand. 

Manong, bayad po!

Makikisuyo po ng bayad...

Lahat tayo ay may iba’t ibang byahe sa buhay. Anuman o saan man tayo patungo, siguradong may mapupulot tayong kwento at aral mula dito.

Usually, 10-12 times a week ako sumasakay ng Jeepney back and forth, from our house to my job, vice versa. At masasabi kong sa simpleng pagsakay lang ng Jeepney, milyong pera na ang dumaan sa mga palad ko. Pero hindi ko kinita ang milyong perang yon, pinaabot lang sakin ng mga kapwa ko pasahero dahil mahilig ako pumwesto sa likodang bahagi ng driver. ☺

Hindi ko kinalikihan ang pagsakay ng Jeepney until I studied college here sa Metro Manila. Aaminin ko, nong bago palang ako dito sa siyudad, sinupladohan ko ang isang estudyanteng binibini nong pinaabot nya sakin ang kanyang bayad patungo sa driver. At pagkatapos kung iabot ang bayad, ni hindi manlang ako nakarinig ng "Salamat", wala manlang "Thank You" o kahit ngiti manlang. ☹

A Pig That You Should Always Feed

Most of us had our own childhood experience of storing coins in our fragile Piggy Banks (alkansya). Noong ako'y mosmos pa lamang, my piggy bank was an empty can of Pringles (potato chips) until my parents bought me an alkansya with cartoon characters printed on it. I also owned alkansyang kawayan, bao, bote, at kahit anong pwedeng mapaglagyan ng coins ng hindi mo basta basta mabubuksan. 

My mother was lenient in the concept of saving since she's an accountant and I was taught at early age to save for the future. My mother also comes up a contest that who will saves more before the christmas, she will grant and buy the things that we badly wanted. Who wants to lose? Bilang isang tusong nakababatang kapatid, minsan ay sinusungkit ko sa alkansya ng Ate at Kuya ko ang ipon nila then transfer the coins into my piggy bank. ☺ You know who wins... ☻

A Lesson from "INDAY"

Inday.. Literally means "dearest sister" in Visayan dialect. Pero dahil sa karamihan ng ating mga kababayan ay nakaugalian ng itawag sa mga katulong o kasambahay ay "Inday", the term stayed. Meron din namang Manang, Yaya, o Manay,  pero Inday parin ang popular na tawag sa ating butihing house helpers.

Si Inday ay naging bahagi na ng ating kultura. Kadalasan, they are under 18 years of age at nangamohan para makatulong sa kanilang pamilya dahil hindi na kayang paaralin pa. Meron din namang mga may edad na, pero karamihan sakanila ay dahil din sa kadahilanang sila ay undergraduate, hindi nakapag-aral, at under-qualified na makakuha ng trabaho sa mga company. Kaya they ended up working for an employer or "amo."

Alam nating lahat na si Inday ay underpaid (2-5 thousand a month), on-call for 24 hours dahil stay-at-home, expected to do all household chores, tagapag alaga ng bata o ng alagang hayop, at minsan taga massage din ng mga magagaspang na paa ng kanilang amo.

How To Deal with Financial Stress

Ang mga alalahanin sa ating finances ay naging bahagi na ng ating pang araw-araw na buhay na tila ba epidemya. Nakakaranas tayo ng financial stress tuwing naiisip natin na tila ba nalulubog na tayo sa kumunoy ng usaping pera. Utang, job insecurity, mga sakit o karamdamang pangkalusugan ng pamilya na nakakapagdulot ng pagkabahala sa financial. Ang palaging pagkabalisa at paggising sa gitna ng iyong pagtulog ay mga senyales na unti-unti ka ng kinakain ng financial stress. Pero kaya mo itong labanan at magapi. Heto ang mga ilang paraan kung paano mo haharapin at magagapi ang mga alalahaning ito:

1. Find out what is causing your financial worries. Ang mga sumusunod ay ang mga dahilan na maaring maging daan sa iyong financial anxiety, so avoid these pitfalls:

Lahat ay POSIBLE because You BELIEVE!

Naaalala mo pa ba noong bata ka pa...?

ISIPIN mo nuong BATA ka pa lang...
Kahit ano ay POSSIBLE sa'yo 'di ba?

Nagsuot ka pa ng KUMOT sa likuran mo,
Tapos ikaw na si Superman.
Nagme-make up ka pa,
Tapos Artista ka na.

Umaakyat ka pa ng puno,
Di ka natatakot at
di mo iniisip na pwede kang mahulog..

Naisip mo lang yung mga bagay na yun
At ginagawa mo nga
because YOU BELIEVE!

[ACTION] To Become Aggressive Towards Your Goals

Albert Einstein said, "Nothing happens unless something moves."

Successful people aren't the most knowledgeable people on earth. But you can be totally sure that all of them have a bias for action. Many people don't achieve their dreams because they know but they don't act.

Alam mo bang karamihan sa mga taong nasa kanila nang deathbed ay hindi lubos na pinanghihinayangan ang mga bagay na ginawa nila? Kundi mas nanghihinayang sila sa mga bagay na hindi nila ginawa at sinubokan nong meron silang pagkakataon o opportunidad na gawin.

Learn the power of ACTION. All of us has something that we want to achieve in our lives. And a lot of time we never take actions towards what we want to achieve in our lives. We just say "Well, one day it will come true or someday it will happen." See? today is the best day to start making things happen in your life. Why? because that's the only way it's going to happen.

21 Tips for Money Prosperity

Money is not the root of all evil; the love and lack of money is...

"For the love of money is a root of all sorts of evil, and some by longing for it have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs." - 1 Timothy 6:10 (Contentment in Godliness)

Hindi masamang maghangad ng kayamanan. Basta ba, dapat nangingibabaw parin yong hangad mong tumulong sa mga nangangailangan, kaya gusto mong yumaman. Dahil mahirap tumulong kung wala ka rin pangtulong.

You need to bring more money into your life because you cannot give what you do not have (money). You must commit to be rich... Commit yourself to serve God as His channel of love and to serve the poor with your wealth..

You must create a wealthy mindset so that you can prosper. Here are my 21 tips for money prosperity:

1. Change your vocabulary -