Journal of a Cheapskate

What is a Happyplus card and how do you use it?

2014-12-14T23:25:00.000+08:00

What is a HappyPlüs Card?

A Happyplus Card is a privilege card that allows you to have cashless payments at top selected food stores nationwide, such as Jollibee, Chowking, Greenwich, Red Ribbon, and Mang Inasal. The card is powered by one of the country’s long time running trusted banks, the Bank of the Philippine Islands (BPI).

Let me tell you why I have got a HappyPlüs Card.

One day, I went to Jollibee somewhere in Manila, Philippines. I made my order as usual. See, that time I was just like a week here in Manila, and kind of still conscious with my Tagalog (ironically, our national language by the way). I was definitely on strict save since being bankrupt far away from home would have been fatal.

Anyway, as I made my order at the counter, the cashier offered me a red card asking if I want to avail the perks and stuff it goes along with, I usually dodge such offers. The past experience I had with a privilege card didn’t go as well as expected (it just expired without me actually experiencing the benefits it claimed to bestow). But then this nice lady with the nameplate that says manager convinced me that the card was worth the Php 100.00. I guess she was using charm speak at that time, because before I even snapped out of the daze from the marketing spiels she was efficiently throwing at me, I nodded, handed some money I pulled out from my wallet, and the cashier went “kaching”.

Well, for one reason it was just plain simple. The lady manager was undeniably cogent at the way she market the product. Above all, I saw no reason to refuse the rewards the card tags along with it. With no hesitancy whatsoever, I filled up the form upfront at the counter, and paid the needed amount for the card.

There are additional FOUR sweet reasons why I bit the bait. (uh, except this bait doesn’t have a painful hook)

1. It offers FREE food for points.

Yes, like most privilege cards out there, this also works based on points system. The upside is that you don’t need to spend a thousand for just a point. Basically, you earn happypoints when you use your card and then use the points to get free yummy treats.

This is how it works; every Php 50 food purchase earns you one (1) happypoint. This is convertible to money; one (1) happypoint is equal to one (1) peso. Not bad, right? I mean it’s better than not getting anything at all, every 50php you purchase would be discounted then.

2. There’s a monthly raffle!

Seriously, I’m not really much into raffles (I’ve never won anything on any yet, ever). However, you’ve got no choice for this one, which is of course all good, who knows, Lady Luck might bump on you someday.

The more you reload, the more raffle entries you get. You just need to register online first (it’s so simple even a kindergartner can do it for you). After which, you just reload your HappyPlüs Card and get a chance to win of up to Php 100,000 every month! Take note that this is exclusive only to registered cardholders. You can register here.

The minimum amount that you can load is Php 100. An advantage about this is that you can definitely set an “eat out” budget, and stick to it.

Php 100 = 1 raffle entry

Php 300 = 5 raffle entries

Php 500 = 10 raffle entries

Php 1000 = 25 raffle entries

You would also get five (5) raffle entries, and avail of other exclusive promos when you register your card online. Like one time, they’ve got this Jollibee tumbler freebie, well, for 75 points. I had been eyeing on that tumbler ever since I got the card, but for the love of appetite, I exchanged my accumulated points for a Champ Cheesy Bacon Mushroom instead and got a glimpse of heaven.

3. Experience fast cashless payments

Once you have got your card loaded, you can start following your budget plan now. Say, for the entire month, you swear to spend only Php 1000. Then stick to it by reloading only the said amount into your HappyPlüs Card. For you not to be tempted to reload onsite, only bring cash that you would need for transportation or other necessities when hanging out or sauntering around malls.

There’s no need to search your wallet for cash or wait for change while your stomach keeps on cursing for food. All you need to do is just tap the HappyPlüs Card to pay for your food. Oh, please be reminded though, that sometimes, they would encounter some problems with their system, and won’t entertain any cards for the day. So, not bringing any extra cash might be suicide.

Then, if ever you run out of load, just reload your card (obviously). But of course, this is without going out of your budget. If you have consumed the entire Php 1000 “eat out” budget, for example, in the middle of a month, sorry cupcake but that would mean no more eating out for some time until next month.

4. You can earn more happypoints with Caltex.

I don’t own a car yet, so this is really not such a biggie for me, but just an FYI. When you gas up at Caltex, you can earn one (1) happypoint for every Php 100 fuel purchase. You can visit Caltex's website for a complete list of participating Caltex service stations.

5. FREE HappyPlüs coupons.

You get to avail of discounts from participating food chains. You just have to present the coupons at the cashier before ordering to claim the discount. There’s P50 to P100 off for a minimum of Php 250 purchase to be used for a single receipt purchase using the HappyPlüs Card.

I’m still using the card until now. I have earned quite some points and I’m reserving them for emergency purposes.

Another thing that I do is that, when I eat out with friends, especially when they can’t quite decide on which place to eat, I would usually suggest HappyPlüs participating food chain branches. While the never seem to end question on what to have is still on its toil, I go Math Miser on the menu and round the prices to a whole number. I then gather the money (we go Dutch, of course), then have it reloaded on my card upon ordering so that we get to pay through my card, if you can’t do the Math, that means I earn points for every purchase. My friends are aware of that, duh, it’s not like I’m getting their money or anything. I’ve still got enough cash to return them their change. The first time I did that, they got so curious. They sounded like interrogators pinning on a mysterious case of what-our-money-you-none-red-card—uh-what. You can try it too, just to let your people know, and make sure to return their exact change.

So, that’s it, my sense of promotiveness humors me. My final verdict; this card right here, could definitely help you in budgeting, especially if you’re fond of eating out, especially at Jollibee, Chowking, Greenwich, Red Ribbon, and Mang Inasal. You should grab one now! (seriously)

Don’t be a Christmas Grinch! Spend the holiday in frugality with these 20 helpful tips!

2014-12-09T14:34:00.003+08:00

It's that time of the year again when a lot of people get all jumpy purchasing ornaments and yuletide decorations, as well as ponder on the unequivocally perfect present to bestow. In fact, as far as stores are concerned, Christmastide these days starts in September (the -ber months). Others would feel the season’s lovely gift-giving vibe, while some may act grumpy not giving a damn what a Christmas tree should even look like.

Companies usually offer a Christmas bonus or a 13^th month bonus at least to their expectant employees an there’s a pretty obvious reason for this: we spend a whole lot of cash during the said season. Personally, just this year when I received my thirteenth month pay, I blew it all away without even placing the digits into my passbook account. Yes, it was in a –ber month as well, last late November to be exact. I spent it on shopping (because there’s Christmas sale everywhere). I don’t want to miss on buying a gadget or a guitar at their lowest price ever. I even started buying presents and stuff, especially that I’m heading back to my hometown to celebrate Christmas (my folks don’t read my stuff online, so I really don’t bother on the thought of spoiling a surprise). I also ordered glucose-rich and carbohydrate-filled goodies in advance, that we’ll feast on the upcoming occasion. I totally went all out this last quarter of the year, I lost track of budgeting (so much for practising what I preach).

Image by businesscartoonshop.com

Well, in fairness to my impulsive expenditures, I did save money. Kind of think of it, it’s indeed a plus to always remember to “spend less than you earn”, it’s very self-explanatory. I actually bought a lot more than I could in other days of the year. See, all the stuff that I bought was on sale. There’s this usual pattern of stores cutting down prices during the season to attract a larger volume of consumers. Another advantage on purchasing way early for Christmas is that you’ll avoid the rush of panic buying. Besides, usually when the main occasion gets closer, prices gradually get higher. I’m not really a finance and marketing expert, but then this approach on commercialism advertently goes along with the flow of potential buyers, such as the law of supply and demand (sort of).

Let’s also assume that other people get all Grinch-like during the festive season (except if they differ in belief and tradition) is because they can’t avoid but disburse a certain amount of their savings. Well, nobody forces you to replace Santa. The act of giving should be from the heart anyway, but in reality it all drains from your wallet (not if you give blood as a present).

So, to help you have a stress free Christmas, and as we always say here, free of monetary debt, here are some tips I’ve gathered. I also divided four main factors that cause us to spend at Christmas.

DECORATIONS:

Image by cartoonstock.com

1. The best solution to this is of course, to not decorate at all. The community won’t persecute you for not contributing on the extravagant showcase of glittery and flamboyant display of lanterns, histrionically adorned trees, and abysmal consumption of electric supply from scintillating varieties of vibrant lights. Mother Nature might even thank you for not participating much.

2. If you can’t help it and just for the sake of having the Christmas spirit, you can always use the ones that you already have. You can make use of the stuff that you had last Christmas. Our family does this every year. We just dust and make them look like brand new. We fix decors that are broken, and if fixing’s not enough, then that’s the time we buy new ones to include in the bunch.

3. Recycling is always an option. I have seen a lot of recycled Christmas decorations from ornaments to Christmas trees and lanterns all made of bottles, cans, plastic straw, etc. They are creatively put together, and merchants sell them to make money. These are also created in school for craft projects and artwork. You can totally learn how to make some on your own.

4. Buy things when they are not in season, for instance, buying a winter coat in summer. This is a tip that is proven effective. Prices drop double the original at this time. Buy your Christmas thingies way ahead of time. It would also be possible to buy them after the season itself, you know maybe during Valentine’s (oh, somebody ain’t so excited for Yuletide, huh).

5. Watch out for stores that go on holiday sales! This has been like a trend in marketing, lately, I guess. I have noticed that there has been a sale for every occasion. Of course, it’s pretty much impossible not to have one for the most celebrated holiday of all. Just make sure that you don’t only buy the cheapest but also the durable ones. There’s no use in buying low-cost products if you’ll be forced to frequently replace them due to damage or so.

PRESENTS:

Image by mividacontigo.com

6. Well, of course, the season of giving, Christmas. Whether you are at work or at school, you’d always get to join the yearly monito/monita ¹, SP (Secret Person), or whatever you get to call it on your planet. You can’t just avoid this you kill-joy chintzy Grinch! So, the best tactic here is to suggest a price that would fit your tight budget, and be reasonable about it.

7. Gifts usually come in wrappers. Get your creative juices flowing and show a little craftsmanship. You can use old magazines or even plain paper with your own artwork on it. For gift tags, you can just cut out fancy looking shapes from old cardboards or carton and decorate them. For ribbons, nah you don’t really need them, but if it bothers you, then just look around, you might find something to add a finishing touch to your masterpiece. Your receiver would surely be impressed at the personalized and crafty wrapping (just make sure that it doesn’t look trashy).

8. If you are really not into art, and might even make your receiver feel less special with your TH attempts to pull off a masterpiece, then you can use the previous gift wrappers you’ve received and saved aside throughout the years. Avoid the humiliating mistake though of using it to wrap a gift for someone who gave you a present last year which was neatly wrapped with a freshly bought same exact wrapper that you have now recycled and gave back. All in all, just don’t tend to mess things up.

9. Christmas cards can also mean something for someone as being remembered. Use your Shakespearean skill in writing that special message. Content and intent is way better than the gift or card itself (mostly). Creativity again, would do a great deal with this. You can do cut outs and paste them fashionably on the card that might resemble the good traits or favourites of the person you are giving the card to. If art is again, really not your thing, then you may need to scour for inexpensive cards. They usually go on sale as well earlier of the season.

10. This one could work as a charm. Just be ready to face the consequences and dare to commit fully. Buy an inexpensive ribbon. Anything will do, as long as it’s Christmassy. Then tie it to your neck, or around your waist, or even just on your finger (so that it would require a shorter ribbon). Then say that you’ll be his/her slave for a day. Tada! The best inexpensive gift ever (in terms of monetary currency that is).

FOOD:

Image by funny-pictures.picphotos.net

11. Of course, what’s a celebration without even a little something to feast on? You should have already set aside a budget for this. It’s improbable for you not to see it coming. Well, if you really didn’t prepare any money for a scrumptious Noche Buena ², then don’t fret. A lot of supermarkets and grocery stores offer great deals on food items during the holidays. You can even join their yearly raffle and win a Christmas Noche Buena package, or cash. Just be keen in observing this sort of things in town.

12. If you’ve got plenty more time before the occasion let’s say, a month, make a compilation of the recipes that you’ll be putting on the Christmas table, and make a list of the needed ingredients. Calculate your expenses and set a budget. When you start buying the goods that you need make sure not to buy anything that’s not on your list. This is an efficient way to avoid impulse buying.

13. As much as possible, avoid purchasing items that come in small packs. First of all, you’re not the only one who’ll be munching on Christmas Eve, are you? And besides, you can save a lot more when buying bigger items, if you can’t consume everything in one night, you can always save them for later.

14. During holidays, stores also sell items in combo packages. Say for example, a spaghetti package that’s good for 1kg, everything that you need in cooking the dish is already included in it. This is great, since you would be saving both your expense and the hassle of going back and forth searching for the ingredients.

15. Buy food that won’t easily spoil. If so, just assure that you can consume the quantity and have as less left overs as possible. Food thrown is also money wasted. Ever heard of gluttony? Yeah, control your indulgence too.

FAMILY AND FRIENDS:

Image by someecards.com

16. Certainly, there’s nothing more joyful than spending the holidays with our dearly beloved folks. They reflect the essence of love and generosity. However, we can’t go Santa Claus for all of them, especially if you’ve got a big family and a huge number of friends. If you’ve got enough money for one Christmas party and a single person to give a gift to, your understanding relatives and considerate peers would be contented to see you gleefully greet them a Merry Christmas.

17. Well, a warm holiday greeting might not be enough for some and would still find a nerve to ask you for their gifts. I, in return would answer back with another question, “Where’s my gift?” Although it doesn’t seem so pleasant for the ghosts of Christmas, believe me that would surely temporarily end the subject on gifts.

18. If they are persistent, give them Christmas cards. You know… the aforementioned. You can also include a small paper bill in it, crafted like a t-shirt. (I’ll teach you how to create it here, just watch out for updates.)

19. Have them participate in exchanging of gifts. This way, they wouldn’t directly expect a gift from you, since they’ll have the thought that you might have picked a different person to give a gift to. Everyone in the party would be receiving their gift as well.

20. Entertain your friends, make them happy and laugh their hearts out. Then tell them that you have got the best gift to offer them, your unconditional love and everlasting genuine friendship. You might get a lot of woos and waas for offering this, but at least you’re wallet’s not empty this Yuletide season.

Have a Merry Blessed Christmas Cheapskates!!!...

NOTES:

1 Deriving from the Christian tradition, the ritual is known as Secret Santa in the United States and the United Kingdom; as Kris Kringle or Kris Kindle (Christkindl) in Ireland; as Secret Santa, Kris Kringle, or Chris Kindle (Christkindl) in parts of Austria; as Secret Santa or Kris Kringle in Canada and Australia; and as Secret Santa, Kris Kringle, or Monito-monita in the Philippines. In Poland, the tradition is celebrated on the day of 6 December (Mikołajki). All of these names derive from traditional Christmas gift-bringers: the American custom is named after Santa Claus, or St Nicholas (Poland), while Chris Kindle and Kris Kringle are both corruptions of the original name of the Austrian gift-bringer Christkindl, which means the "Christ Child". Exceptions are Britain (where the traditional gift-bringer is Father Christmas) and the Philippines (which has the Three Kings). Most places in Latin America use amigo secreto (secret friend) or amigo invisible (invisible friend). (Taken from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Secret_Santa 12-09-14)^?

2 Noche buena (from Spanish, meaning "Good night" or "Holy Night") is a Filipino custom adopted from Spain and Mexico. It refers to the feast served late on Christmas Eve, usually after the Midnight Mass. The family gathers together and special foods like lechon, pancit, and chicken relleno (stuffed chicken) and family specialties are served. (taken from http://en.wikipilipinas.org/index.php/Noche_Buena 12-09-14)?

Ways to Spend Money Wisely

2014-11-24T05:55:00.001+08:00

Way back before I was stripped off of innocence, it was just as expedient as smiling to my parents and uttering magic words for me to get what I want. Growing up, I would still depend on their wallets for mine to be filled. Spending what I have without the fear of going bankrupt was undeniably predictable. I guess it went along with innocence and the thought that I’m their responsibility that makes it all, well, fairish. Only now that I’m all grown up have I fully understood that money can somehow be particularly elusive. Then there’s the reality that it’s temptingly facile to spend money than to earn it.

Being a middle class citizen of this economically striving society gives me much of an advantage (sarcasm paired with optimism). I get to see how money flows in three directions; upwards when you start achieving your dreams and finally living a fancy laid-back got-money-in-the-crib kind of life, straight when everything is just plain neutral and you walk amongst the average, or it could be downwards which is bankruptcy, scarcity, famine, drought, or something that might include the sewers and a life like hell with pockets filled with dirt if not holes. Most people treat money nowadays like it’s a god on earth, heck the aforementioned three directions are not even out of irony. The reality is that when you don’t have money, you would possibly go crazy (like Miss Linda endlessly yodelling along the busy streets).

One important thing to avoid in spending money (other than wasting it on gluten) is going bankrupt. Doing this might not get you Bill Gates rich, but it could totally make you impeccable from financial misery (or you can just live as a monk and avail of the tantamount perks). You can avoid bankruptcy by spending money wisely, and you can do this in a lot of ways.

Start budgeting

You don’t need a degree in order to do this, but people still find it so darn hard to create a budget. Spending is indeed a pleasure, and you have got every right to enjoy what you have earned, with this you must also learn how to keep track of your expenses. There’s not wrong in being a budget conscious dweeb, uh, just know how to organize things. Make it a habit to monitor your bills and purchases, as well as to be aware of your financial situation. Don’t go all out on a party when you’ll be going on a hunger strike the next few days because you ran out of monetary allowance.

Purchase something because you need it, not only because you want it. Kids usually have this habit of pointing out at something in a store and going on tantrums forcing there folks to buy it for them, then after a few days they would just throw it away or eventually get tired of using it. That’s excusable, most kids are stupid. You are no longer a kid, I suppose. You can’t go on tantrums to get what you want anymore. You might even end up in an asylum if you’d even seriously do so. The point is, just keep in mind that the money you’re about to spend is something earned through hard work and should not be wasted on trivial things. Something that you want now would not be the same thing you would want in the long run. Something that you need would surely be something that contributes to your well-being. Thus, choosing what you want over what you need is nonsense.

Window shopping with a bunch of friends is one thing, actual shopping with a friend who has got taste you are sure to admittedly get tempted with is a nuisance to your savings. Most of the time, it is just better to shop alone. You bring a list of the things that you need to buy, and easily avoid those that would just add up to your expenses. It would also be helpful if you decide on what to buy in advance, or canvass first before you make any purchase. Impulse buying can lead you to regrets. And when you’re buying, you should be wiser than the marketer. Sure you can listen to advices from sales clerks, but be sure to spend your money on the right items. A pretty good marketing strategy could lead you off course your budget, and cause you to let go of unexpectedly higher amount of money.

Know where to buy the things that you need for a bargain. Usually, some items that you see in shopping malls can just be found in bargain stores with half the price on the tags. You should also keep an eye on sales and discounts, you can surely save a lot from them. Personally, unless I really need to, I don’t buy much at malls if the item’s price is not discounted.

Distinguish liabilities and assets

Image by moneysavingexpert.com

Simply put; liabilities are things that you are responsible for, things that cost you money, time and effort (cliché, huh), assets, on the other hand, are things that are useful and have value, owning them would be advantageous for you. Let me provide you examples through a corny story (which you ought to still read):

There’s this man who lived with his beloved wife, they did not own any estate nor were they employed to any company. They just humbly engaged into running their own business, bread-making. As for abode, they only rented a house. The man started “investing” on furniture (necessity), and appliances (uh… depends) ranging from flat screen TV with family theatre to modern computers. Their business ran smoothly until they had a baby (a blessing, of course). The “rented” house became fully furnished with more modern appliances. Take note, they’d got bills for electricity, water supply, internet, and rent. Then their family started growing, two, three… eight more children to feed and educate. Eventually, the money they’re making from the business did not seem to suffice. They were still able to survive though, and a couple children graduated from high school. They were indeed happy and contented. So the man, as generous as he is to the family, kept buying them gadgets and forms of entertainment. They still “rented” a house, which didn’t have much space anymore, their bills also got higher. They found it difficult to bring their kids to college and find a decently paid job, and worst of all, they got drowned in debt. To cut the story short, they’re still on the same ground (not literally of course!), they had been struggling with money and dodging debt collectors for ages. They then had the same wish everybody has, to turn back time.

So, what’s the moral of the story? Practice family planning, just kidding (partly). Most material things are liabilities, things that make you spend more than earn. Such as smartphones, you pay bills to use it, both electricity and data usage. But do you earn from it or even get back what you spend? Well, yes if your business involves a lot of “smartphone usage”. But other than this, it only adds up to your monthly dues.

A business is a great example of an asset. It obviously brings in something to your bank account. All you need to do is make it grow and keep it flowing. If it’s doing well, don’t stop there and start reaping what you sow and waste them to liabilities. Do the right investments, start another small business without quitting the first one. I know this is easier said than done (believe me, I’m still on the process of practicing what I’m preaching as well). However, this makes more sense and has been evidently observed by most successful business minded people.

A house can either be an asset or a liability. But of course, which do you think is better, putting aside other things to save up for your own house, or paying monthly excruciating bills on something that you don’t legally even own? Try to think of it, an owned house can be an asset by selling it, like a real estate. Huge businessmen do this (but of course, it requires a humongous capital). You can rent for the time being if you’ve got no other choice, but you need to save up to build your own.

Children, are also liabilities, just joking, I’m not going to that topic. (Steve Jobs was once a child too, you know, see, they can be assets as well, LOL). Moreover, if you really love your children, don’t just give them a present. Gadgets and the like don’t really last. Let them whine about the lack of it, but teach them well, provide them what they would really need instead and reward them if you’ve got some extras on the side. Just make sure to secure their future, something that they would be thankful forever (dang, this is me talking earnestly).

Save more, spend less (sounds like a marketing slogan)

Open up a bank account and start saving a part of the money you earn monthly. You can also act like you are paying yourself or giving yourself a salary directly to your savings. (I’ve been doing this, and I also complain to myself when there’s a delay in payment. LOL) Just avoid the urge of withdrawing what you have deposited (that won’t be sensible, would it?). You can even earn annual interests from saving in a bank, though it’s not much, but at least it’s better than nothing. You should organize by setting aside an emergency fund, a don’t-take-me-out savings account, and a you-can-spend-me till the last drop money.

Also avoid expensive habits, such as drinking alcoholic beverages, smoking, gambling, and the illegal stuff. You will be living a healthy life, and have an obese wallet. You’ll be surprised how much you would save by eliminating such vices.

Prioritize things where you are most likely to spend your money on. It is just like when something is not much of use to you, you don’t give much attention to it or even waste any of your time on it. If something is not that important to you and would only serve you temporary gratification, then better not spend much of your cash on it. Ask yourself questions before buying something, such as, will this item change my life for the better? The questions don’t have to be so deep though, just enough to aid you in making right decisions.

Image by freeintenyears.com

Earning cash can be very toilsome. Money don’t just grow on trees, they don’t just sprout from the ground either. You have got to work hard to earn much. Having money to put into your savings account takes a lot of time, and sweat, spending it however, would only take seconds. As enticing as it may be, spending what you have worked hard for should be utilized wisely. Know your financial limits and stick to your budget. Material things that are considered liabilities only contributes temporary pleasures, invest your money on things that are really necessary for your lifestyle and useful for you to have. Remember as well that one of the most important rules of money is to spend it to get rich.

What is Ebola Virus Disease?

2014-11-17T11:36:00.001+08:00

Alarming news has struck everyone about an outbreak of a viral disease in West Africa. According to World Health Organization (WHO), the disease has been spreading faster than efforts to control it.

The virus disease kills 90% of those infected and. However, based on the reported number of lives lost which shows that failure to contain it could be catastrophic, as stated by WHO head Dr. Margaret Chan, the virus disease could be stopped if well managed.

What are the things we need to know about this virus disease? Let’s start first with this list of ten important facts.

Image by beforeitnews.com

This is a repost from The Daily Health Journal. Well, you know what they say, “Health is Wealth”.

1. Where it came from.

In 1976, the Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) or formerly known as Ebola haemorrhagic fever, first appeared in two simultaneous outbreaks. One of them was in a village in Yambuko near the Ebola River, hence the name. The other was in Nzara. Both of which were located in the Democratic Republic of Congo.¹

It is also said that he name Zaire ebolavirus (the officially designated name, also as EBOV) is derived from Zaire (the country in which the Ebola virus was first discovered) and the taxonomic suffix ebolavirus (which denotes an ebolavirus species).

2. The species of Ebola.

Image by beforeitnews.com

Just a few scientific know-what here. The EVD is included in the genus Ebolavirus of the family Filoviridae. I know you do not need to really remember the terms but they might come in handy. The members of this family are called Filovirus, and there are five of them:²

Bundibugyo ebolavirus (BDBV)
Zaire ebolavirus (EBOV)
Reston ebolavirus (RESTV)
Sudan ebolavirus (SUDV)
Taï Forest ebolavirus (TAFV).

The most dangerous of them all are the causative agents of the Ebola Virus Disease, the species Zaire ebolavirus (EBOV).

The Reston ebolavirus (RESTV) is a milder strain of Ebola that has been discovered in the Philippines and China. They were found in pigs and monkeys, but can also infect humans. However, there were no illness nor mortality caused was recorded to date.

3. Ebola outbreak since 1976.

4. Transmission

Similar to any other contagious diseases, the most concern is on how it can be transmitted. With this, close contact is the primary source of transmission. It could either be through blood, bodily secretions, and waste products.

In Africa, it was documented to have started through the handling of infected animals. After then, there is human to human transmission through body contacts, and as well as indirect contacts with environments that are contaminated by infected body fluids or secretions. The EBV has been epidemic throughout Guinea and beyond the nation's borders in West Africa.³ It spread throughout the population and the community like wildfire.

5. Signs and symptoms

The interval of from infection of the virus up to the onset of signs and symptoms is two to twenty one days. Early signs and symptoms would hardly indicate that a person is indeed infected with EBV; these would include fever and chills, severe headache, joint and muscle pains, and weakness.⁴

As infection progresses and left untreated, conditions may aggravate and would become severe. There would be episodes of nausea and vomiting, rash, eye redness, stomachache, diarrhoea, chest pain and cough.

The disease also got the name, Ebola haemorrhagic fever, because of the bleeding an infected individual may suffer. Diarrhoea may be bloody and in some cases, there is both internal and external bleeding. People who are dying may bleed from the eyes, ears, nose, and even rectum.

6. Diagnosis

As mentioned earlier, early signs and symptoms would barely help diagnose a person of having infected with EBV. Other diseases resemble similar manifestations, and therefore should be ruled out first. An infected person would be diagnosed through laboratory test results, which would be extremely risky for a healthcare practitioner. Laboratory tests are usually done under strictly contained biological and biohazard proof conditions.

A person’s medical history is also important in suspecting EBV infection. Those who have history of travel, or constant exposure to animals, especially wildlife, undergo thorough medical examinations.

7. Tests

If a doctor suspects a person of having EBV, laboratory tests are done to confirm diagnosis, along with the signs and symptoms. This includes enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), detecting proteins as effective in early detection, and Reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (PCR), which would detect the viral RNA. Detecting antibodies against the virus is effective late in the disease and in those who recover.⁵

8. Treatment and medication

Unfortunately, so far there is neither cure nor antiviral medication that is proven effective to combat the infection. No ebolavirus-specific treatment exists.⁶ People who are infected with EBV are given primarily supportive treatments to sustain life and hopeful recovery.

Since there is a possibility for an infected person to loss a huge amount of blood due to bleeding, infusions to replace the lost blood is vital to aid in decreasing fatality. Dehydration could also be a problem, hence rehydration by providing fluids is deemed necessary. Healthcare practitioners also see to it that oxygen is provided as needed. Fever should also be monitored and be alleviated. People in such health conditions are also prone to other infections that should be also avoided and treated accordingly to avoid further complications and impairment.

On the bright side, it is assured that early treatment may increase the chance of survival.⁷

9. Impact on society and culture

Knowing how lethal EBV is, and added that there is no vaccine or treatments yet available, it is classified as a biosafety level 4 agent, as well as a Category A bioterrorism agent, by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The said level is required for work with dangerous and exotic agents that pose a high individual risk of aerosol-transmitted laboratory infections, agents which cause severe to fatal disease in humans for which vaccines or other treatments are not available. On the other hand, the term per se bioterrorism would refer to terrorism involving the intentional release and dissemination of biological agents such as viruses, bacteria, and toxins. In other words, it has a potential to be used and weaponized in biological warfare.⁸

10. Vaccine and prevention

Just as they say, prevention is better than cure. The most effective form of prevention that man has ever invented is vaccination. But, in the case of EBV, and at this point in time, there is no licensed vaccine yet for the virus disease. It was announced by WHO that vaccines are being tested, but none are available for clinical use.

As for other means of prevention, routine cleaning and disinfection of pigs and monkey farms should become a habit. In case of an outbreak, the premises should be quarantined immediately. Any dead remains of animals, especially the infected ones should be buried properly, or better yet be incinerated. Due to the absence of effective treatment and vaccine for both humans and animals, the public should be made aware of the risk factors of being infected with EBV, and the protective measures a person can take.

REFERENCES:

1 WHO. http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs103/en/. Ebola virus disease. Fact sheet N°103. Updated April 2014. Accessed August 4, 2014.^?
2 WHO. "Ebola virus disease"^?
3 "Chronology of Ebola Hemorrhagic Fever Outbreaks". Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. 24 June 2014. Retrieved 25 June 2014.^?
4 Mayo Clinic. Ebola Virus. http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/ebola-virus/basics/symptoms/con-20031241. Accessed August 4, 2014^?
5 Ebola Hemorrhagic Fever Diagnosis". CDC. January 28, 2014. Retrieved August 4, 2014^?
6 Choi JH, Croyle MA (December 2013). "Emerging targets and novel approaches to Ebola virus prophylaxis and treatment". BioDrugs 27 (6): 565–83. Retrieved August 4, 2014^?
7 Sierra Leone Is Epicenter of Ebola as Guinea Clinic Shut". 2014-06-08. Retrieved 2014-07-30. ^?
8 Salvaggio MR, Baddley JW (2004). "Other viral bioweapons: Ebola and Marburg hemorrhagic fever". Dermatologic clinics 22 (3): 291–302, Retrieved August 4, 2014^?

How to Distinguish the Types of Cheapskates

2014-11-10T03:10:00.001+08:00

You have surely encountered a cheapskate more than once in your lifetime. He might have been your annoying colleague. He could be your childhood friend who’s nowhere to be found after the purge. There’s probably one in your clique who always avoids hanging-out but still poses as part of your elite herd. Maybe he’s your lover, torn between his non-profitable love for you and his savings account. Who knows, it must be you, but you just don’t want to be labelled as such.

One of my friends asked me about my blog’s niche. I answered, “It’s everything about ‘cheapskate’”, and then she replied with a nod and a long pretentious “Ahh” (a perfectly swell response). So, I tried to explain it to a point that I wanted to drill deep into her head and stuff the info in. It helped though, (I mean I didn’t actually drill her head even though it’s tempting.), it made me come up with the topic. I realized that many people might have also found it difficult to put a finger on what the blog is really focused on.

Well, first of, the word cheapskate, simply put, is defined as someone who does not like to spend money, or a person who tries to avoid utilizing his wad of cash maybe up until the country changes its monetary currency.¹ Moving on, here are 7 types of cheapskate I know so far that exist.

Note: The images move sonny! Enjoy it from and 'til it's tagged as Cheapskate™.

1. The Budget Conscious Dweeb

This cheapskate tracks expenses like a pro, he should run his own bank. One reason why some people don’t spend a lot is because they are said to be “tight on budget”. There’s nothing wrong with budgeting but this fellow goes way over the top. Have you ever been with someone who keeps on mumbling to himself something that goes like this:

“Uhm, seriously this [censored muttering here] field trip was not in the scope of this month’s budget [grumbling], this would [insert poetic curses here] lead to the inevitable necessity of dispensing my lifetime monetary savings. [poses a disturbingly sour grumpy face look paired with weird hissing sounds]”.

2. The Stingy Giver

Don’t judge, the word “generosity” is a part of his vocabulary, it’s just that “spending on others much” is not. This guy’s got philanthropy alright, but it’s a bit more of a 90/10 kind of thing.

“I’ve set aside a personal fund to donate 50 boxes of packed noodles, 40 for my ration and 10 for the God forsaken population!”

3. Mr. Mathematician Miser

This guy counts every bloody centavo, and hates spending every one of it. Need I elaborate? This guy specializes in arithmetic with flying colors and topped a major in finance.

“Every centavo counts.”

4. Frugal Bob

You can hang-out with this guy until forever and never go bankrupt. He goes on night-outs without spending a dime. He can travel to various scenic spots without spending much on anything. He enjoys vacation to beaches and outings like a pensioned retiree. How he does all these is a special trick he has under his deceivingly expensive-looking bargained sleeves.

“There’s nothing chintzy, really, just pure practicality.”

5. Officer Penny-pincher

With him in charge of money, your company would be so wealthy that its indeclinable fund just keeps on increasing. You can just fire him when it gets too messy in terms of financial matters. He keeps money like he’d like to take it to his grave, he is possessive like that. Training him on the usage of money would be a necessity.

"Keep your hands off the moolah!"

6. Peter Piker Travel Buddy

Afraid you’ll run short with money during a vacation? Travel along with this dude, he won’t let you borrow money, however he’ll make sure you won’t even spend much. This guy loves extra-long strolls. He can saunter more miles than that person on Guinness. It’s all just to enjoy everything in sight that nature has to offer. He can be a boy scout as well, bringing packed food, as much as possible, if not enough then he would have the Timon and Pumba diet (you know, protein rich slimy fat worms and others up for grubs). Sometimes you might wonder if this guy once lived with Tarzan or maybe even Pocahontas. (Yeah, this guy has a lot of Disney going on!)

“Why should I buy souvenirs? I can make one. Let’s go find some twigs and stuff from this paradise haven.”

7. The Homey Scrooge

This is an ironically gregarious fellow who has got nothing to do with issues on introversion. He just hates to spend money and would prefer wasting his life in the corners of his house (if caves even have corners).

“Sorry, can’t go with you. My hands are full today. I can’t even go out and buy me some groceries.”

Do any of these ring a bell? Have you reached self-actualization yet?

This is not mainly to stereotype others, besides we are only human after all. We have got things that we value, and those that we prioritize. Some would splurge and go all out on their money stating that life is only lived once, and that we can’t take our treasures after death (we don’t even know what currency they’re using, if there’s even any there). Other people would safe keep everything that they have for future use. Just remember though, that not all things are permanent, they have to go one way or another. Between saving and spending, the latter is undeniably fun and tempting. It’s just a matter of self-control, on how to use what you have and make sure that it’s not all that you have left. But, at least now you know the cue to when to label someone.

Tag, CHEAPSKATE!

DISCLAIMER: The names or nicknames herein are purely fictional and are products of the author’s keen mind. The people in the pictures do not directly exemplify, at all, in any way, the types mentioned. Everything is just totally coincidental... kinda.

1 Cheapskate: a person who does not like to spend money: a miserly or stingy person; especially: one who tries to avoid paying a fair share of costs or expenses. As defined in Merriam-Webster Dictionary.^?

Had Dealt With Chickenpox Without Spending Much

2014-11-02T15:22:00.000+08:00

Haven't had the pox yet? You have got to read this!

It was the worst time of my dermatologically devirginized skin! It started somewhere around October of 2008. It was near the final term at school and the disease forced me to be absent for almost 3 weeks.

sarahwoodbury.com

THE SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS I EXPERIENCED, THE ONSET AND ALL THAT:

At first I had a fever which occurred nocturnally, as what I had experienced. I'm really not sure where I got the disease, I thought maybe in the hospital where I was having my duty. A few days after the fever, well actually it still occurred every night but it's lower than before. When I woke up and looked at myself in the mirror, I noticed some small pimple-like spots on my face. Well, they did bother me but not as much as what happened after. I really thought they were just pimples and didn't mind that much thinking that I could easily clear them away. So I strolled around the mall later that afternoon (kind of musing how I got as many pimples overnight), and when I arrived home though they still really looked like pimples, I noticed another few spots on my neck area and my chest, that's when I started to worry. My mom warned me that maybe I have chickenpox (well she was right). The next morning when I woke up, the most horrifying thing started to happen, that moment when I looked at myself in the mirror, I was like... "Damn! Who the hell are you?!” Well, as much as I would like to show you my pictures I took when I had the chickenpox (I was planning to do it for me to show you how ugly I look at that time), but I just can't because the camera phone I used to take the pictures got broken (too bad huh? Well maybe I wasn't meant to be humiliated that much.) Anyway, now back to the horror scene, I was really shocked seeing my face at it's so far worst condition. The pimple-like spots turned to various small and large blisters. It covered almost half of my face (that much). Some on my neck, both my extremities, and luckily very few on my genitals (I know you're wondering about that too like my cray friends did). To sum it up, the blisters were more on my face than the rest of my body, the least area I wished they should have been. That was when my self-esteem started to decline. I felt so ugly, well I did looked ugly. So, I scanned through my books and notes trying to review about the disease. Below is a short definition of chickenpox, I got it from Wikipedia:

Chickenpox or chicken pox is a highly contagious illness caused by primary infection with varicella zoster virus(VZV). It generally begins with a vesicular skin rash appearing in two or three waves, mainly on the body and head rather than the hands and becoming itchy raw pockmarks, small open sores which heal mostly without scarring.

I had learned that new blister or lesions would usually stop appearing after a week, and blisters would start to crust, that's the time that I was not contagious anymore. I had to be isolated so not to infect others, until all the blisters had crusted. Actually, when you already had the disease before, you will have lifetime immunity from it. So, I kind of looked at it as an advantage. By the way, just to remind you, if ever, never prick the blisters, because you'll surely regret it. Bursting those blisters would be painful and would leave pitted scars on your skin.

WHAT I DID:

First of, I would also like you to know that there is a vaccine for varicella zoster especially made for those who are vulnerable to having chickenpox, since this is not really a routine childhood vaccination, but then, I was not able to take this shot. There are medications prescribed to lessen the symptoms of chickenpox, and lessen the appearance of the blisters. But back when I had the disease, I didn't take any medication. Maybe that's why I had lots of lesions all over my body. What I did was just to be careful not to burst any blister until it crusted. Unfortunately, having a lot of them all over your body would be very uncomfortable, these are not just blisters or lesions, they are very itchy! So imagine having them for two weeks without taking any medication to counter the symptoms. So you'd better consult your doctor for med prescriptions. Well, I did consult a dermatologist when I had chickenpox (she even took an ugly pic of me). She prescribed some medications for me (I forgot the names), she said I had to take them, 2 tabs for 3 times a day for 2 weeks. Well, she's the doctor. I didn't buy the medications. They were too expensive. So I took the other option: "wait until it will heal by itself”.

WHAT HAPPENED AFTER THAT? THE AFTER CARE AND DEALING WITH THE SCARS.

About a week and a half, the blisters started to lessen, but still new lesions were appearing. You might be wondering if you'll take a bath or not. Well, to tell you, you must, because if you won't, there would be a tendency of greater risk of infection since it is possible that bacteria will harbor on your lesions and will invade any opening on your skin. Just be very careful when you bathe, so not to accidentally burst the blisters because it would more likely leave a scar (like what happened to me). After the blisters have crusted, the next problem would be, of course, the scars. Some of them may stay, like pitted scars caused by busted blisters. My friends were all wondering about what I used to get rid of most of my scars in just a short span of time. I got the scars late October, and it started to disappear around mid-December. Now, I don't have any visible scars on my face. Except maybe some pitted scars (which would only be removed surgically). This is what I did; I went back to my derma doctor. She gave me some creams to get rid of the dark red spots, to even out my skin tone, and an SPF80 sunblock cream to protect my skin from the sun while on treatment. Well, it all worked very well for me. I used up about 2-3 50ml containers of those. It's worth it. They helped lighten the scars. They said I really have to wait for a long time before the scars disappear (like I could stand looking at my ugly face that long). So I bought some exfoliating soap to help renew my skin (not astringents because they'd just burn your skin), it also comes with a whitening effect to even out my skin tone. See, it's better to use soap (those that won't easily dry your skin) than facial creams or whatever, because using soap would also even out your entire body's skin tone, such as you won't have a whiter face which does not match your dark skinned body (a common problem for dark skinned people). Just make sure to use products that are really reliable and not too harsh, effects would vary depending on skin types, of course. I won't mention any products here since they would not even really pay me for this. Neither would I mention my dermatologist's name. I'm just here to share to you what action should the products that you'll purchase should have.

MY ADVICE ON THIS:

Never prick, don't use anything harsh in treating your skin, do it all over your body and not just your face, and most of all, STOP SAYING THAT YOU'RE UGLY (I was just kidding when I said I was). Just be confident, don't lose hope. Everything will still be bright and beautiful the next day you wake up, cliché.

Halloween Cheapskate Warning: Improvised Costumes Often Lead To Epic Failure

2014-11-01T14:34:00.001+08:00

It’s that time of the year again when people spend money to look freakishly ugly and creepy, for fun. I get it. It is when parents make their kids look like miniature zombies or Satan’s minions (I admit most of them look terrifyingly adorable, no irony here). However, those costumes, make-ups, props and all that are not for free. It’s even like, the scarier the costume, the more expensive it is. I’m telling you, multiple business cash in a lot on “ugly” during Halloween. Well, I think I can say you are sure damn lucky if you don’t need a mask to win the Scare Contest tonight, or make people along the streets run in terror trick or treating without even putting on a gruesome-like outfit (Every day is Halloween to some people.)

droppin.com

There are also others who let their creative juice flow out of their nutshell and find other means of looking like Dracula or Einstein… uh, I mean Frankenstein. You know for those like yours truly who doesn’t really set a budget for this sort of impermanent gratification (in short, I don’t have the expense, not bitter at all.) When others seem to necessitate dispensing money just to appear demonic, others who hesitate to invest even a penny on these things tend to just improvise.

This improvisation and creativity comes with a warning though. You may have tickled your fancy, but then remember, your aim is to look grotesque, you know, frightening. But then, some of the people here may have had a different point of view, or they just want to be shockingly, well, hilarious. You can take your pick though, the ones below are awesome, oh, yeah.

Here are some cheapskate suggestions for your cute minions...

thechive.com

1. Well, isn’t this ingenious? Dressing them up with empty boxes or paper bags would look Halloween-ish, too.

thechive.com

2. See what I mean, with a box and a paper bag. Ooh, isn't it, spooky?!

news.distractify.com

3. Oh my cheapskate, of course, I almost forgot. There’s nothing more gruesome than a black garbage bag.

pinterest.com

4. See how enthusiastic he is in this Spiderman, uh, costume?! Totally adorable.

newsgoogle1.blogspot.com

5. Let your baby trick or treat in sexy swagger style.

Enough with these brilliant cheapskate ideas for the kids, let’s now go over to the adults section.

6. Tadaa! TMNT, baby!

niftynole.wordpress.com

7. Believe it or not, you can even be the Pope on Halloween without spending much.

cheaphalloweencostumes-ideas.com

8. You can be, well, you can possibly be, a sexy ghost. Look around the house, you’ll surely find something.

droppin.com

9. Your loaf monster costume would surely give them nightmares!

10. Come on! Nobody can resist Kool-Aid.

BONUS!

You can also do what she does… you’ll surely scare the crap out of everybody you’ll come across with.

HAPPY HALLOWEEN everyone!

What would be your costume for tonight?

How to Move Out the Cheapskate Way

2014-10-22T10:16:00.000+08:00

There will come a time when a little birdie would eventually manage to fly on its own and leave its nest, far out and away from its siblings and parents. I would consider this, an intro for this, uh, article, and well yes, I am talking about myself, metaphorically of course, I am not little though, nor am I a birdie. So what are the steps one must make towards independence?

I came to finally realize that I have come of age, and at this point of life it is totally normal, even in most culture, to depart from your humble abode called “home”. Every offspring would long for this period to take place. All of this root from one desire, independence. Though having its own bittersweet outcomes and consequences, it is still something that every individual would strive to gain. However, before stepping out of your front door, or porch, or yard, or lawn, or maybe gate, or cave, or probably hole, or whatever the heck it is you’ll come out from, only one thing is for certain, you’ll be carrying a responsibility way bigger than your packed luggage, which you might be strolling in agony while finding for a new dump, I mean place, to stay.

If you don’t want to end up like mister Bellman (whom I remembered dearly back in college), sauntering along the streets yanking a bell on every unfortunate stranger’s face, mumbling and often cursing at every entity he would bump into (or thinks he’s bumping into), well then, continue reading and retain your sanity with my words of, uh, wisdom.

Why on sweet mother of goodness are you moving out?

If you are just going to stow away like a bastard kid, or act like you are the Bible story’s prodigal son, then you’d better have your folks glue you in bed, or else you are just going to end up with regrets. See, it is not just going out of your house deciding to live in another peaceful haven. Danger lurks in the real world, and nothing’s for free that would keep you alive since money got invented, (maybe except if you’re planning to start your own tribe in a forest somewhere).

You have got to have valid reasons. You are moving out to help out your family, to better yourself, to achieve your goals and reach your endeavours, to chase people in debt. Whatever reason it may be, it just needs to be valid, and productive. Don’t just move out because hyenas invaded your home, you can slaughter them. Don’t just move out because you think you’re the family’s black sheep, black is elegance cupcake, and know you are not a sheep even if you do look like one. The point is, being wise about it, and knowing if you’re really ready. But please, don’t wait as long as your uncle couch potato Joe did.

What would there be to expect?

The worst, I’m telling you, the worst possible there is. It is always better to come to a war prepared with enough ammo, armor and all, rather than nothing. Sure, people say you’ve got to be optimistic, but face it; life is not all unicorns and rainbows. You will be on your own, maybe even for the first time. You may still communicate with your family and ask for money and support because you’re running out (now isn’t that dumb), then why did you even leave in the first place?

I’m burning. I want to move out so bad like a crab in boiling water.

Everybody who is discontented feels that way. But that won’t still be sufficient enough to be a reason. People would fail along the way because of letting their “urge” get in control. Motivation is good, yet planning things before actually executing any actions like a stunt dummy, like using your nutshell first, is way better. You could end up on a mousetrap if you’ll rush things up.

What are the things I need to do then?

First of all, you should set aside some money for your journey. Earn it by getting a job. If you’re not leaving the country or too far away, then this is a brilliant start. You might get hooked up with the job and the compensation you’re getting that you’ll decide not to move out anymore. If not, then save enough money that would get you through fulfilling your plans. You can also start finding jobs you could apply to where you will stay. This way, you won’t get bankrupt. In my case, I saved money that would suffice for a month. This one month budget included for food, transportation, rent (not rich enough to buy my own bachelor’s pad yet), I also gave myself a strict deadline to nail a job within the month for an obvious reason. (Thank God everything went smoothly as planned)

Second, know where you are heading to (duh). Make sure you’ll surely have a place to stay. The streets are fine, but seriously, you need to search for even just a room or bed space to crash in for a night or so.

I was just lucky I know people where I am now, and they helped me through a lot (another tip when moving, have connections, friends for instance). I started off like a cockroach in the big busy crowded city. I got a bed space and stayed with three other strangers in one room. The insufferable scenario reminded me to comply with my one month deadline.

Third, if you need a travel ticket, may it be by train, boat, plane, etc. You’d better save for it too. Transportation is a very important thing. You are going to travel, don’t say you’ll just walk, or cycle (unless if you’re gonna move out just next door, you’re hilarious). If you have your own ride, then that’s perfect, you just need to set aside something to fuel up. Other than this, unless you’ve got Harry Potter’s Nimbus broomstick, or Dr. Who’s telephone booth (I forgot what it’s called), then you need to accumulate enough money.

If you need a plane, plan way ahead of time. Plane tickets are usually cheaper when booked by an early bird. You can also avail of travel promos, they’re common nowadays. You can surely save a lot rather than having the regular flight.

Fourth, be prepared for everything in every aspect may it be spiritual, emotional, psychological, in my case it is always, financial. Like what I mentioned earlier, you should have a valid reason for moving out or even travelling because this would act like your North Star, (or like that star that guided the shepherds and the three kings to where baby Jesus was), you get what I mean. As long as you’ve got something to remind you why you made such a risky decision, you would have roots strong enough to hold you up.

Lastly, you already have everything and you’re good to go. You start to bid everybody a bittersweet farewell. You are feeling all twitchy with excitement. Play things cool, Excitement often clouds people’s way of thinking. Never grow too confident, always be safe in everything, again, think first before you act, and have things planned. Don’t get too paranoid at times either, sure some people may seem like an angel but has a devil’s tail hidden behind them, but some can actually help you out. Just be careful and know who to trust, even a dog fails at this, be smarter.

Remember as well that not all your plans may fall into place. That’s why it’s always wise to have plenty of them. There is nothing wrong in risking or giving up things, besides, life is too short to be spent on the safe side. You’ll never learn how to fly unless you start flapping those wings and jump out of that nest. (Just don’t blame me when you hit the ground face first). Good luck birdie!

Philippine Nurses in Black Protest: A cheapskate nurse relates!

2014-10-19T19:17:00.000+08:00

During those childhood times when I was still playing gullibly with my little friends, role playing scenes in a clinic or a hospital that I started thinking, I am going to be a doctor someday. However, as time passed by, due to certain unwanted occurrences, such as economic issues and my late father’s business diving to the abyss, I was brought by the thought that I ought to choose a career that would require lesser investment but would yield large income, should be medically related and in demand but would need shorter length of brain torment. That was when I started dreaming what most people in the country had dreamt as well, to become a nurse.

The best career that was booming back then (why does it seem like I’m too old), well as far as my clouded mind knew, was nursing. There were a lot of students just gotten out of high school enrolling for a nursing course, there was a huge number of nursing students in nursing schools, and there were plenty of registered nurses storming abroad for a much greener pasture. What I was too idiotic to think was that, I was not even enrolled in nursing yet then, I still needed to spend more years passing exams. By the time I would graduate or even have my nursing license, the entire Philippines would be too crowded with hungry-for-a-better-future registered nurses piling up in line. But no sir, the only time I realized that was exactly when I got my license (praises to God for the achievement though).

Things started to get a little misguided since then. See I was not born with a golden spoon, nor silver, well gold plated stainless steel maybe. Anyway, I know that’s not even an excuse since other people still manage to rise on top. I, on the other hand, had my mind set since forever, that I’m gonna end up being a high paid nurse. So for me, there would be no other way to rise above but by being a fulfilled nurse, which now is obviously very unlikely. I even had a time frame in mind, graduating in my early twenties, earning bucks in the land of the free by mid-twenties, and being stable by late twenties. See, all of them was supposed to happen within my “twenties”. I still am, in my twenties, late twenties, (damn I’m being too redundant with the word now), but I’m running out of time. I am not even half way near anything planned for my career yet. All I’ve got are wallet draining trainings that aren’t even legit when applying abroad but am so obliged to comply here, and a few months of “volunteer” work (not paid, the word says it all) that won’t get me much anywhere these days because they would all require “staff nurse experience”.

How hard could it be, you say? How come a lot of nurses don’t clamour like the rest?

There are three mind boggling reasons for that; first, they could be filthy rich they are even close to buying a hospital kind of wealthy.

Second, they might not be rich but their mother is the hospital’s chief nurse, their aunt is supervising the ICU, their dad is operating in the ER, their siblings are filing at the nursing services offices, and oh, I might forget to mention, their entire family runs the institution per se. You get what I mean? (This should even be a statement not a question, because most people now are aware of these shenanigans.)

To be fair, we still have the third reason that most of our aspiring nurses are clinging on to. They might just be a few of those who sweat blood, and struggled to be where they are now because of their wits and devoted hard work (the percentage of these people believe me is lesser than the number of an endangered species). They are those who play by the rules so to speak. Unfortunately, in our case, agonizingly hard work must be paired with tantamount of luck.

Why do Filipino nurses aim to work abroad?

For an obvious reason, passion, NOT, of course because of money, only a hypocrite might reason out differently. Especially on what has been brewing at the moment. Staff nurses in hospitals here are complaining of having low salary and compensation. Yes, even having a spot with your dream career in the country doesn’t suffice. Other countries would offer bigger opportunities to progress, promises that most of us are drooling to attain due to deprivation. Some hired nurses here don’t even get to be paid at the minimum wage.

Being a nurse is not just all about flaunting your white uniform in public and smiling gleefully at every patient you encounter. It is hard work (you can’t even imagine how frustrating it could be for volunteers). It is even a great risk to one’s health working and exposed to various health conditions and diseases every day. Health care workers deserve to be paid higher with sufficient benefits and insurance. Now, it seems like working as a nurse in a hospital is suicide.

In white we care, in black we protest

What happens to other nurses that are unemployed in hospitals or healthcare units?

We are still here, dreaming to practice the profession again someday. The upside, we are earning more than those in their white uniforms. Like what I was too late to realize, the population of nurses now in the country doesn’t equal the employment opportunities that should be offered in the field. Registered nurses end up having mismatched jobs (such as yours truly). When you are in a lower or middle class family in this forsaken society, you can’t just stay idle and live forever; you’ve got to work your ass hard in everything to survive. There are no other smart choices but to nail a job that would support your needs. Most RNs are into the call center industry, some teach English to other non-native speakers, and others just venture unto having their own business. There are also those who still find a place abroad, not as a nurse, but still satisfied earning enough.

Pity though, how a lot has been spent on our education, time and money seemed to have been wasted. Well, not totally, but we did strive hard to earn a spot with our profession, but then wound up on something we are not even supposed to be. In order to be a staff nurse, you need to undergo volunteer work. Those who are not lucky enough to have somebody to at least back them up, would be forced to spend more time volunteering and throwing money. If you stop volunteering you’ll gain no experience and would be back to zero. But what else do you have when your resources are draining because you are spending without earning?

When you finally get that “staff nurse” sashed all over your whities, the next problem you’ll have is surviving for a few more years having insufficient pay and not so compensated working hours.

What seems to be the main problem here? The profession itself, I mean, have tons of people just played stupid being in the wrong path of a lousy career? Or are there really those that should be blamed, a body that roots all this unfair treatment?

On October 17, 2014 Friday, a movement had been pushed through. A fight which started in black (this is not a movie narrative). The” justice for nurses coalition” was formed, comprising of nursing groups and representations. It was a mass action that arose with having Dr. Carl Balita as one of the voices for the said movement, which would hopefully slap some sense to those sitting in their thrones using nurses like ammo every time a health threat arises.

❝After the BIGGEST POLITICAL MASS STREET ACTION, This is the NEXT level of the FIGHT.
Dont just complain; send us the EVIDENCE please as we are compiling. This Nurses for Change Movement initiated RESULT will hopefully deliver CHANGE.
Yes, I requested Sen Trillanes to invite all nursing groups and representations too. Tayo nagtanim nito at Kahit sino umani, walang problema - basta nurses ang kakain. ❞

~> Nurses for Change Movement

I am proud to be a nurse. I support justice for nurses coalition, and the nurse for change movement… because in white, we care… in black, we protest!

Let me know what you think about this on the comments area below. (No, you can't trash.)

Touchdown!

2014-09-28T20:52:00.001+08:00

I just could not think of any better title for my first post. Anyway, I’m grateful that you have come across my blog, just wish you would still keep on reading after this or the next few sentences.

I gave this blog the title, “Journal of a Cheapskate”, not only because I’m a self-proclaimed cheapskate (Well, I really just don’t have enough money to spend), I am far assuming that there are others out there that could relate to my everyday mishaps, and swell days included. How I live my life to the simplest, less extravagant way possible but still enjoying a lot of perks that money can’t buy.

Another reason why I started this is that I have been blogging for a long time, and I have started blogs that did not turn out well, they faded faster than a butterfly’s life span. See, it’s really difficult for a blogger to find the right niche. I did not know this before, the word was not even in my vocabulary back when I started blogging (well, duh).

So I wasted my time making blogs here and there. After learning than I can actually make money out of blogging, I tried “online marketing”, it went out fine for quite some time, and I earned a few bucks, like 3 dollars, in 3 years. So I grew tired of monetizing it, I had published a lot back then but not earning much, since that was my goal, earning.

After a certain extent of turmoil on not making it big on blogging, I just carried on doing just what I love, writing. A synonym crossed my mind, “scribble”, and poof! “Just a Scribble” got published, which none of you have probably heard, and yes, you can guess the outcome. Again, it went down the drain. Heck, the word scribble just got my mind filled with doodles, blueprints, and drafts that I can’t make anything out of. It was frustrating. It took me forever to have a post.

Then I resorted to a niche, “health”, I am a registered nurse after all, I thought to myself, so why not make the most out of it since I am an “unemployed RN” (frigging long story), and it would be easier for me to come up with daily topics I did not need to ponder my entire life on. Thus, I named that blog “The Daily Health Journal”, because I knew back then that I could religiously write a post on a daily basis about a certain topic I’m much familiar with, not to mention the word “health” has one of the highest search rates online gaining traffic for top websites. To my confidence, I even made a page for it on Facebook, just so to increase website visitors. But then, I missed a day without a post, then three days, then a week, and so on. In fairness to my efforts though, I gained a lot of views on that blog, 366… in a month, and I found out some of the views were traced back as mine (yeah, I fooled myself by tracking my own page views).

The Daily Health Journal (It's still on)

Now, here I am again trying to make another attempt. This time I’ll be doing something on a long term with more blah that I can pour my heart on, and that nothing could hinder me in any way to publish a post on a regular basis. Hopefully, you guys would stay stand witness, and that you’ll enjoy reading what I have got to share.

I would love to hear from you through the comments below.