Things that I'm Most Grateful for the Year 2011

The year 2011 is about to close and it has been a bountiful and interesting year for me. The Lord has showered me with so much blessings that made my life even more meaningful. Instead of listing down any wishlist, I decided to reminisce some of the most wonderful events that transpired this year.

Though I am grateful for every single day that God has blessed me, there were some events that really made me feel so special and I'm most grateful of. 

1. Taking Chances and Zorbing in Boracay

Last March, me and my highschool friends went to Boracay to shoot the Veet the Bad Guys video which became my winning entry to the Veet Me 2011 contest wherein I eventually won an iPad and Date with Daniel Matsunaga. You may view a copy of the video which won the said contest.
   

From our abrupt yet meaningful trip to Boracay, me and friends learned so much about the importance of making time and spend it with those whom you love and matters the most to you because you never know what tomorrow could bring. From that trip, I also learned the importance of believing in yourself and taking chances. You may view more photos of the said trip here. 

2. Date with Daniel Matsunaga

Taking chances and trying my best have been paid off when I won the Veet Me 2011 contest wherein I got a chance to date with one of hottest and nicest celebrities in the Philippines - Daniel Matsunaga.



We rode a cute 1958 Volkswagen to our dating place at Chelsea in Serrendra. I got a chance to learn more that Daniel Matsunaga is not only blessed with good looks but he's got the pleasant personality and optimistic attitude to match it. 

During the date, Daniel even offered to call one of my friends so he could greet them but I told him I could record him in a video wherein he could greet all of my friends instead. Below is a copy of the said video. You may view more photos of the said date here.

3. GMA News Think Before You Click Special Edition Interview


In a special edition of GMA News' ReelTime for Think Before you Click, I was interviewed to share my story of how the internet and social media has helped me find opportunities beyond the real world.

From a simple remark of "Get a life!", I have turned the said challenge as an opportunity to create a success for myself through the virtual world as a virtual assistant and eventually as a Social Media Strategist. Social networking has also helped me learn how to invest in the stock market and save for my dream house.

Below is a copy of the said interview. You may also view more Behind the Scenes photos here.

3. Yahoo! Philippines Mail Ambassador of Cool

Up to this time I still couldn't believe that I was chosen to be the winner for Yahoo! Philippines Mail Who Rules Cool? contest and got a chance to live like a royalty for a day.

The day started with me riding a Jaguar 2011 XF and once I arrived at Hotel Sofitel Philippine Plaza Manila, I was welcomed by their executives  Resident Manager Carl Gagnon, General Manager Goran Aleks and Public Relations Manager  Christina del Carmen.

Jaguar Experience

Makeover by a Hairstylist to the Stars

The pinch-me-moments continued with me getting a makeover done by the hairstylist to the celebrities, Philippe Tordjman. Philippe Tordjman is the man who has worked on the tresses of Meg Ryan, Antonio Banderas, Justin Timberlake, Kelly Rowland, Melanie Griffith and even Hillary Clinton. 

Probably I was the last person whom he cut the hair before he cuts the hair of US Secretary Hilary Cliton the next day, so that made the whole experience way more awesome! ;) You may view more photos of the said makeover on Philippe page. You may also watch the whole makeover experience through the video below.

French Massage and Delightful Dinner

Another favorite of mine during the said Purple Royalty Experience was the French massage wherein I got to relax and enjoy the mango tea which they served prior to the massage. The dinner was delightful too! 

To complete the Purple Royal Experience, I stayed in Sofitel's Opera Suite. It was quite such an elegant and huge room for just one person, really. Each room of the suite has a balcony, for a total of four, with a view overlooking the swimming pool and Manila Bay. There were also exquisite gifts from Jewelmer and from Yahoo which is a ToyWatch. 

It was a day that I would forever cherish. Thank you so much Yahoo! Philippines, Sofitel Manila, Jewelmer and ToyWatch! You may view more photos of the said coolest experience here or simply watch the photo montage which I created below. 

Those were just some of the most cherished moments which I am most grateful for the year 2011. Moments that help remind me of how beautiful the world is, and the life is better spent being thankful for the good things, great people we get to meet, learn from the lessons of the past so we could better be equipped for the present and the future and most importantly, finding ways to continue being a blessing to all the lives we're in contact with.

Do not think of the few things you did not get after praying. Think of the countless blessings that God gave you even without asking. 

Cheers to a much more blessed year ahead! What about you, what are you most grateful for the year 2011? Share your thoughts below!

#ReaderAsks: What are Index Funds? Where can I Invest in the Philippines?

What are Index Funds?

Image by FortuneWatch.com

Index funds are mutual funds that are intended to track the returns of a market index. An index is a group of securities that represents a particular segment of the market (stock market, bond market, etc.). It doesn't require an active manager (i.e. it is a passive investment). It simply tracks an index. 

Where can I invest in Index Funds in the Philippines?

The Philippine Index Fund (PIF) is actually also a mutual fund that tracks the Phisix, QQQ or cubes, Spiders, Diamonds and the likes so it is priced just like the mutual funds. The article below provides more information about the Philippine Index fund also known as PIP. 

Riding It High With Philippine Index Fund

By Vernadette Joven

Looking for a hassle-free, low-cost, flexible and diverse range investment? Philippine Index Fund (PIF) is just the answer for you. The country's first and only index tracker fund that aims to provide an alternative for investors who believe in the potential of the stock market while enjoying a risk diversity and low entry cost.

According to Philippine Stock Exchange Composite Index (PHISIX) officials, PIF sends a strong signal to the investing public that the stock market is really a worthy investment. 

As a flexible, multipurpose investment, PIF creates a broader awareness on equity investing among small individual investors. These investors will be a large retail market of long-term equity investors that will help increase the savings rate of the country, if proper strategies are pursued and implemented. 

With a minimum investment of only P50,000 during the initial offer period, investors are effectively investing in a diversified portfolio of 33 stocks comprising PHISIX. Aside from the minimum initial investment amount, investors also get to enjoy trading in the market without the hassle of daily individual stock monitoring. 

Investment experts say that the general outlook on the stock market remains positive as long as the following indicators are followed: strong evidence of improved fiscal deficit management, stability in the local currency, stable interest rate environment, strong corporate earnings growth, resurgence of foreign funds inflow in the local bourse and the passage of revenue generating tax laws, which is expected to improve the government's fiscal position.

What companies are included in the Index Fund?

You may view the MSCI Philippines Investable Market Index Fund here. 

Got any investment and saving questions? You may view related questions that were answered through #ReaderAsks. Feel free to get in touch with me on Facebook and post your questions on my Wall. 

Reasons to Go Home in the Philippines for Christmas

The celebration of Christmas in the Philippines is like no other. Both adults and children are looking forward to the longest of the Philippines festivities because it is the time of the year when families and relatives could enjoy time together and for the children to anxiously open their regalo or gifts from their Ninong and Ninangs (godparents).

The celebration of Christmas in the Philippines is considered to be the world's longest Christmas season with Christmas carols could be heard in as early as September and the season lasting up until Epiphany, the feast of the Black Nazarene on January 9 or the Feast of the Santo Niño de Cebú held every third Sunday of January.

Filipinos have several traditions which makes the celebration in the Philippines unique. While one may not see the usual snows in the Philippines, it could be compensated with the bright lights and decorations found in parol or lanterns adorned in Filipinos houses offices, schools and even the streets. Some municipalities even award households with the best lantern and Christmas lights displays.

Photo Credit

Other fun traditions by Filipinos during the Christmas season is the Simbang Gabi which is a series of nine (9) dawn masses, the mass starts as early as 4:00 a.m. It is believed by many Christians that when you get to complete attending the mass beginning from December 16 until the midnight of the December 24th, one's wishes may be granted.

Photo Credit

There are really many reasons why our OFW relatives and friends should consider going home this coming Christmas, one of which is the opening of the Pinoy Homecoming hospitality center at the Diosdado Macapagal International Airport.

Pinoy Homecoming Hospitality Center Opens at DMIA

Balikbayans arriving at the Diosdado Macapagal International Airport (DMIA) in Pampanga, will experience their warmest welcome yet with the opening of the Pinoy Homecoming Hospitality Center at the airport on November 29.

Spearheaded by the Department of Tourism (DOT), the homecoming center is part of the government's ongoing efforts to boost visitor arrivals from the balikbayan market by 25 percent in the next five years. Dubbed as the Pinoy Homecoming campaign, it primarily targets Filipinos based overseas, not only in the United States and Canada but worldwide.

A result of Presidential Proclamation No. 181 “Declaring the Years 2011 to 2016 as the Pinoy Homecoming Years” signed on June 3, 2011, the campaign supports Republic Act No. 6768, as amended, or the “Balikbayan Program.” Under the Balikbayan Program, overseas Filipinos (OFs) are given special privileges and benefits in recognition of their contribution to the growth of the Philippine economy in terms of foreign exchange inflow and remittances.

“This is a campaign that recognizes three things: the invaluable contributions of Filipinos overseas, our urgent need to develop and promote Philippine tourism further and how much can be achieved when government agencies work together,” shares DOT Secretary Ramon Jimenez. “We also have to tap into the market of second and third generation Filipinos abroad and encourage them to discover their roots.”

To reach this set of younger Filipinos abroad, the campaign also has a digital marketing component. Through the website www.pinoyhomecoming.ph, Pinoys abroad can easily access Philippine news portals, tourism products and services, practical balikbayan tips, Philippine holiday and festival calendars, as well as a directory of industry partners and the contact details of DOT’s international offices.

The campaign is supported by Globe Telecom, Duty Free Philippines Corporation (DFPC)and the over 700 partner-merchants nationwide. For more information on the campaign and balikbayan benefits, contact the Pinoy Homecoming Secretariat at 632 525-1255, 632 525-9318 local 268 or 244; fax to (632) 521-6165, or e-mail at tts@dotpcvc.gov.ph.

So, will you come home this Christmas?

A REview of PPLIC: Is it Really a Scam?

Is PPLIC Really a Scam?


Note: This is an update of my previous post about PPLIC being a scam insurance company. From what I've learned, they clearly are not a scam company. It's just that some agents used some deceptive marketing tactics in the past. 

Perhaps one of the most frequently asked questions by people who read this blog is whether PPLIC or Philippine Prudential Life Insurance Company, Inc (not to be confused with Prudentiallife Plans Inc., a pre-need insurance company) is a scam insurance company or not.

What is a Scam?

Consumer Fraud Reporting defines a scam as a "confidence trick, confidence game, or con for short (also known as a scam) is an attempt to intentionally mislead a person or persons (known as the mark) usually with the goal of financial or other gain".

The insurance agent who approached me was clearly misleading with her marketing tactics. However, this does not mean that PPLIC in general is a scam company. Upon digging a few online documents in the Insurance Commission Official website, PPLIC is actually listed number 19th in their authorized and licensed insurance companies in the Philippines.

In a meeting with Rod Estrera, the Assistant Vice President & Head, Corporate Communication of PPLIC, he explained to me that these agents are actually constantly being evaluated by the company to see who among them actually adhere to the company's selling strategies as some of them try to mislead prospective clients. The company actually does not tolerate the misleading questions by its agents and he made it clear that agents should ask whether you are interested in insuring your family's future instead of the silly introductory question, "Do you have a credit card?".

Is it Secured to Insure with PPLIC?

When I first wrote about PPLIC being a scam insurance company, the assumption was based on the marketing approach which I experienced when I bought an insurance policy from them. I didn't know they were 48 years in the business already. I didn't know they were actually included in the list of authorized insurance companies by the Insurance Commission.

All I know was that I was tricked into listening for almost a couple of hours when it thought the presentation was only going to last 45 minutes.

I know that what concerns most policy owners is whether the company could truly deliver its promise.

1. 48 Years in Service

The company has been in the business since 1963, which makes it a 48-year-old insurance company.

2. True to its Promise

In their Philippine Prudential Times Special Anniversary issue, I've got to see several policyholders who actually claimed their benefits. I've included a copy of the said page so you may take a look at it for yourself.

3. Superbrands

PPLIC is actually one of the few companies awarded with the Superbrands recognition. These are the strongest brands in the Philippines and the world, augmented by the expert insights of the Philippines Superbrands Councils consisted of some of the most respected people in the Philippine media, marketing and communications industries.

I know, we've been told by the agents who approached us before but there it is, along with many other trusted brands in the Philippines and outside of the country. It's a seal which signifies its strength and dedication to its customers.

I want to keep my blog to be unbiased and open to both sides of those who are concerned. I want my readers to hear, or rather, read the company's side as well. From what I've learned during the meeting with the company's representative, the company actually has nothing but pure intent to serve its clients. It's just unfortunate that it's got some agents who tarnish its reputation and resort into deceptive or misleading marketing tactics and it is something that they do NOT tolerate.

If you're still experiencing any of these misleading approaches, you may get in touch with their Customer Service through the following contact information:

Customer Care Hotline: (02) 902-2300

E-Mail Address: mypolicy@philprudentiallife.com

Globe Mobile No.: 0917-57-PPLIC (77542)

Smart Mobile No.: 0908-88-PPLIC (77542)

Corporate Web Site: www.philprudentiallife.com

If you've got questions about your policy, you may also get in touch with them through Facebook and Twitter.

How to Add Facebook Comments without Disabling Blogger Comments on Blogspot

Adding Facebook Comments on your blog could work wonders. With over 800 million users and counting, you will help increase the interaction and feedback on your blog. So I played around with my Blogger blogs today and decided to enable the Facebook comments without the need to disable the existing comments from Blogspot. 

How to Create an App for the Facebook Comment Connect

You may skip this step and proceed to the next step if you've already created an app and have a unique app_ID for your blog. 

1. In order for you to activate the Facebook comments on your blog, you would need to create a comments box with Facebook Connect. You may create the app here and get an APP_ID for your website. Once you've done an app for website, be sure to take note of the APP_ID.

Adding Facebook Comments Without Disabling the Blogger CommentsBefore you make the necessary changes on your blog, be sure to save a copy of your existing template by opening the following: Design ->Edit HTML and check Expand Widget Templates. At this time click on Download Full Template and save a copy of your template. It is best to save a copy of your existing template so you could easily revert the changes made.

Once you have a back-up of your existing template, you may now proceed to this blog for further steps.

Have fun with your Facebook and Blogger commenting system!

Think Before You Click - Finance Edition

GMA's Think Before You Click campaign  admonishes close to 30 million Filipinos online to think twice before posting anything on the internet. Just as character Erica Albright on The Social Network movie said, "Internet's not written in pencil, [Mark], it's written in ink", everything we post online are archived and could be used against us. 

While it may take years to build a reputation online, it could only take a single tweet or blog post to ruin it. What we post could influence the way other people think and how they perceive us. The question is simple, "When potential employers search your name on Google, are they going to like what they will see?"

In support of the said campaign, I created a finance edition. May the following reminders help us to become more vigilant and more careful of what we post online or click online.

1. Online Scams and Get Rich Schemes

When something seems to be too good to be true, then it probably is. Before you sign up for any program, be sure to thoroughly research about it. Do not just take anyone's word about it. Testimonials from their website and even your own relatives could not save you once you realize that a program is a scam. You are solely reliable for your actions and purchases both online and offline. Before deciding on joining any program, do a background check. Think twice before you click on that Buy button. Since scammers are innovating and taking advantage of the advancements in the technology, you may want to take a look at how they use charities to scam people and the top 10 online scams and perhaps one of the most common scams that most people fall into is the au pair scam.

2. Online Purchases

Being causes when clicking and joining online schemes are not the only ones that we must be careful. We should be careful of the seemingly normal activities we do such as online games as we might become like the 12-year-old FarmVille user who runs up to £900 debt.

3. Links
The internet can become a great resource of various knowledge and studies. However, it can become a place wherein rumors spread so fast. It can become a place where viruses and harmful programs that aim to destroy a system and even a person's reputation can become easily spread. Be careful when clicking links as the next link that you may click may lead to getting your account or system hacked. It may cost you money, or even your reputation.

Below is an infographic of famous celebrities who accounts were hacked. Series of tweets and updates were sent out from their accounts which aim to tarnish their reputations. Practice precaution by being careful with what links you click and by regularly changing your password.

Scammers Using Charity to Fool You

What are Charity Scams?

While people are becoming more vigilant and cautious these days just to avoid being fooled, scammers keep on revising their schemes and doing pretty good at adopting to these changes too. One of these schemes is using charity aka as charity scams. Banking on the generous human nature of many people, scammers use calamities and causes to extract donations from their victims when in fact, the funds don't proceed to causes that they promise. 

How to Spot and Avoid Charity Scams?

Charity scammers' most commonly used approaches are by calling, emailing, mailing and even knocking on your doors. They often sprout and come out right after a calamity or disaster by taking advantage of people's sentiments towards the unfortunate event and solicit for donations. You may avoid getting duped by these charity scammers by verifying their identities and affiliations and double checking on their claims. Don't just easily believe in what the fundraisers say. You may also check other tips on how to avoid charity scams here. 

Below is a classic example of a charity scam letter which I've just recently received and let's check the most commonly used methods and approaches by charity scammers. 

1. Generic greeting

Since scammers simply blast emails to thousands of email addresses they've gotten their hands into, the greeting doesn't necessarily include your name which is the first giveaway that the email is obviously sent to thousands of many other email address. 

2. Generic domain names for email address

The email is from rossellarites@excite.com. The domain name is a generic website for creating emails, much like Yahoo! which is an easy giveaway that the person is not really whom she claims to be. 

3. Unverifiable identity

When you search on a person's name on Google, there are not much search results that support of the person's identity like social accounts of blog. Let's say the person is anti-social and doesn't blog, but in today's time when it looks like everyone's sharing, and sometimes over-sharing, I doubt it. 

4. Providing another email address/number/address/phone number

Giving another contact channel is one of the most commonly-used tactic by scammers as it helps them to trim down or filter those who are receptive or interested with their approach. You will then be included in their next level of approach as you have just shown an interest in their introductory tactic. The first email is just a test to gauge your level of interest while the next email address is where "warm contacts" and by responding, you only prove to these scammers that their first approach is working on you. 

Those are just some of the most commonly used tactics not only by charity scammers but by almost any other scammers. You may want to take a look at other examples of scams, au pair scams in particular on my previous blog post. 

Top 10 Online Scams

BBB has just recently released an infographic of the Top 10 Online Scams to serve as a warning to everyone that there are many people out there who would use people's lack of information just to extract some funds so beware, be aware. You may also want to post other samples of scam emails so you may help warn others.