Pilyong Monkey

Stock Investment Guide for Busy People

2012-10-19T16:39:00.002+08:00

OFW ang Tatay Ko

2012-08-23T13:47:00.003+08:00

OFW ang Tatay Ko
(Essay Contest Winner)
Writer: Anonymous

1980 ako ipinanganak, tatlong taon bago pinatay si Ninoy Aquino at anim na taon bago ang EDSA uprising. Taon ding ito nang nagkaroon ng malaking krisis sa langis ang buong mundo. P24.00 ang palitan ng dolyar sa piso at 48 milyon na ang populasyon ng Pilipinas. Ito rin ang taong unang pumunta ng Middle East ang tatay ko para magtrabaho.

Isang karpintero ang Tatay. Isang skilled worker. Malaki ang
pangangailangan ng bansang pupuntahan ni Tatay sa mga katulad niya. Sabi ng Nanay mahirap daw ang buhay noong mga panahong iyon. Inabot na raw ang bansa ng economic depression na galing sa Europa at Amerika. Kaya minabuti ng Tatay na mag-abroad. Anupa't dalawa ang pinag-aaral niya at may bago na naman siyang bibig na pakakainin.

Parating pinapaalala sa amin ng Nanay na "nagtiis kaming magkahiwalay ng tatay ninyo para magkaroon tayo ng maginhawang buhay." Palibhasa'y parehas galing sa hirap, kaya siguro ganoon na lamang ang pananaw nila. Uuwi kada dalawang taon, tapos aalis na ulit pagkalipas ng dalawang buwan. Ganyan ang pattern ng buhay ng tatay ko.

Pumutok ang giyera sa Middle East noong 1989. Doon ko unang narinig ang mga salitang Operation: Desert Storm at Third Anti-Christ. Nandoon din si Tatay. Isang beses lamang siya nakatawag sa loob ng tatlong taon niyang pagkaka-stranded sa bansang iyon. Mabuti naman daw ang lagay niya. May tirahan naman daw sila at husto sa lahat ng pangangailangan. Hindi naman daw sila gagalawin sa giyera sabi ng embahada ng Pilipinas dahil hindi naman daw sila kasali sa awayan ng dalawang bansa at ng pakialamerong Amerika. Iyon naman pala eh, bakit ka pa rin nandyan?! Na-imagine ko na lang tuloy ang Tatay na parang isa sa mga sibilyan na dumadaan habang nakikipagbarilan ako sa larong Operation: Wolf sa SM City. Nang mahawi ang mga usok ng giyera umuwi na ang Tatay. Wala pang isang taon ay nakita ko na naman ang aking sarili na nakasakay sa arkiladong dyip para ihatid ang Tatay sa Airport papuntang Middle East. Ikaw ba naman ang magkaroon ng pinag-aaral na nurse, isang seminarista at tatlo pa sa elementarya. Kailangang kumayod, kailangang kumita.

Kung tutuusin maraming na-miss ang Tatay sa buhay naming magkakapatid, lalo na sa akin. Wala siya nang una akong magtalumpati sa entablado. Wala din siya nang grumadweyt ako ng elementarya at hayskul. Wala siya nang una akong nakipagsuntukan sa kaklase ko nang inasar ako nito habang binibigay ko ang libreng plastic na singsing na galing sa cheese curls sa kaklase kong babae. Wala din siya para turuan akong magbasketbol tulad ng ginagawa ng mga kapitbahay ko sa kanilang anak. Wala rin siya para panoorin si Kuya na contestant sa Student Canteen at ako naman para sabitan niya ng medalya para sa mga math competition na sinalihan ko. Wala siya nang dumating ako sa punto ng aking buhay, na siya ring kinakatakutan ng lahat ng katulad kong nagbibinata--ang magpatuli. Wala rin siya para turuan akong maglanggas. Wala siya nang kauna-unahang lumabas ang pangalan ko sa dyaryong pang-estudyante bilang isang editor. Ipinagtabi ko siya ng mga kopya para maipagmalaki sa kanyang pagdating. Wala siya nang una akong tumikim ng alak dahil binasted ako ng dinidigahan kong babae. Wala rin siya nang sumubok akong manigarilyo at itapon ito pagkatapos ng dalawang hithit pa lang. Wala siya, wala siya parati.

Napansin ko na lamang na mas naiibuhos naming magkakapatid ang oras namin sa labas ng bahay at sa eskwelahan. Ang Ate ay kagawad ng Sangguniang Kabataan, ang Kuya naman ay matagal nang kinuha ng seminaryo, ang dalawa kong kapatid ay may mga sarili nang kina-career at ako naman ay natutuon sa aking pagsusulat.

Dumating ang isa sa pinakamasayang araw ng buhay ko, ang pagdating ng Tatay at sabihing ito na ang huli niyang uwi dahil hindi na siya babalik ulit sa abroad.

Makalipas ang ilang buwan, trinangkaso ang Tatay. Sabi ng doktor ay
overfatigue lang daw at kailangan niyang magpahinga. Pagkaraan nang ilang buwan, na-diagnose na may tumubong tumor sa utak ng Tatay at malignant na ito. Minsan naitanong sa akin ng uncle kong doktor kung nauntog ba ang Tatay o nabagsakan ng mabigat na bagay sa ulo. Nahihiyang ngiti, kamot sa ulo at isang "hindi ko po alam" lang ang naisagot ko.

Kung gaano kabilis na nadiskubre ang tumor niya sa utak ay ganun din
kabilis na binawi sa amin ng Diyos ang Tatay. Habang pinagmamasdan ko ang Tatay habang mapayapa itong nakahimlay noong burol niya, nahihirapang tumulo ang luha ko. Kung tutuusin, hindi ko kilala ang taong ito. Siya ang tatay ko. Kalahati ng pagkatao ko ay galing sa kanya. Pero kung tatanungin mo ako kung anong gusto niyang timpla ng kape, kung allergic ba siya sa hipon na paborito ko, kung San Miguel o Purefoods ba ang team niya sa PBA--isang malaking EWAN lang ang maisasagot ko sa iyo. Noong bata pa ako, nasa abroad ang Tatay. Kapag nandito naman siya para magbakasyon, mas malaking oras ang nagugol niya sa pag-aasikaso ng mga papeles niya para sa susunod niyang pag-alis. Nang tumigil na siya sa pagtatrabaho, ako naman ang abala sa mga reports, periodical examinations at mga research works. Nang nasa ospital na siya, kahit makipagkuwentuhan ay mahirap nang gawin dahil halos hindi na siya maintindihang magsalita dulot ng chemotherapy.

Matagal nang patay ang Tatay. Minsan nabalitaan kong dumating na ang seaman na tatay ng boss ko, pilit ko siyang pinauuwi nang maaga. Minsan ding buong kawilihan kong pinagmamasdan ang isang kaibigan ko na nagmamadali dahil baka masaraduhan na siya ng grocery. Kailangan niyang makabili ng ingredients ng spaghetti dahil 'yun daw ang bilin ng tatay niyang na-stroke. Minsan rin nang makainuman ko ang matalik kong kaibigan habang binubuhos niya sa akin ang sama ng loob niya sa pagbabalik ng tatay niya na malupit sa kanila nang mahabang panahon at ipinagpalit sila sa ibang babae. Sa tingin ko lang, "Buti ka pa nga may Tatay pa." Syempre hindi ko sinabi iyon sa kanya. Baka mamaya tanungin pa niya ako kung kanino ako kampi, kami pa ang mag-away. Minsan din sinamahan ko ang kababata ko nang dinalhan niya ng pansit ang tatay niya sa City Jail. Hindi naman sila nagtatanong kung bakit ako ganun. Wala naman silang alam kay Tatay.

Maraming pagkakataon na nanghihinayang ako dahil masyadong maaga ang paghihiwalay namin ng Tatay. Gusto kong sisihin ang Pilipinas dahil napakahirap ng buhay dito. Sa Amerika ba may tatay na nangingibang-bansa para makapagtrabaho lang? Naisip ko tuloy na sumama na lang sa mga nagpipiket na mga migrante dahil alam ko tulad ko rin sila. Kadalasan rin sinisisi ko si Saddam Hussein at ang Gulf War dahil kinuha nila ang tatlong taon sa buhay ng Tatay. Sayang ang tatlong taong iyon. Nakalaro ko man lang sana ang Tatay ng basketbol o di kaya'y naturuan niya akong mag-bike. (Beinte anyos na ko nang matuto mag-bike).

Isa sa mga klase ko sa writing ang nagpasulat sa amin ng kahit ano tungkol sa aming mga tatay, samahan pa ng larawan kung maaari. Bigla tuloy akong nalito. Hindi ko alam kung anong tungkol sa Tatay ang isusulat ko.

Ikuwento ko kaya na isang Overseas Contract Worker si Tatay. Isang bagong bayani. Nag-aambag ng malaki sa ekonomiya ng Pilipinas. Sabihin ko kayang may larawan ng tatay kong may suot na hard hat na dilaw, construction boots at may hawak na drill at kasama niyang nakangiti ang mga kapwa niyang Pilipino with matching background na disyerto. O kaya ang larawan nilang magkakababayan habang pinagdiriwang nila ang New Year at nag-iiyakan dahil tinutugtog and Lupang Hinirang. Ang drama no?

Kuwento ko kaya na isang survivor ng Gulf War ang Tatay. Na natutulog siya at ipinaghehele ng mga Patriot at Scud Missiles. Pakita ko kaya ang mga remembrance ng Tatay na mga dull na landmines. Adventure naman ang dating nito.

Kuwento ko kaya kung paano hindi nagpabaya ang Tatay sa pagbibigay ng pangangailangan namin. Hindi kami sumasala sa pagkain, may magagandang damit, maayos na tirahan at nakakapag-aral. Siya ay naging isang good provider. Siguro isang malalim na buntong hiningang "Haaaaaay!" ang ibibigay sa akin ng mga kaklase ko.

O di kaya'y dalhin ko ang picture ni Tatay habang kini-chemotherapy siya. Ikwento ko din kaya na naging mabilis ang lahat ng mga pangyayari. Na inoperahan siya sa loob ng walong oras at binutasan ang ulo niya. Na nakalabas pa siya ng ospital. Pagkatapos ng isang linggo, agad siyang namatay. Tragic naman ang approach ko nito.

Gayahin ko kaya ang kuwento sa telebisyon na tipong galit na galit sa mundo ang anak dahil hindi ito nabigyan ng sapat na atensyon dahil inuna ng kanilang tatay ang pinansyal nilang pangangailangan. Teka, hindi naman totoo yon eh! Napaka-unfair naman 'nun kay Tatay.

Ikuwento ko na lang kaya ang isa sa mga magagandang alaala namin kay Tatay. Apat na taon ako noon. Malinaw na malinaw pa sa alaala ko ang pangyayari. Kadarating lamang ng Tatay pagkaraan ng dalawang taon. Nagkaroon ng simpleng party sa bahay. Kainuman niya ang mga kumpare niya nang tumayo siya at binuhat ako mula sa kuna ko habang pinaglalaruan ko ang bagong matchbox na pasalubong niya sa akin. Inutusan niya ako na ikuha siya ng beer sa refrigerator. Pagkakuha ko ng beer ay kinandong niya ako at buong pagmamalaki na ibinida sa mga kumpare niya na natanggap na raw ako sa local na Day Care Center dahil abot na ng kanang kamay ko ang aking kaliwang tenga kahit idaan pa sa ibabaw ng ulo ko at matatas na ako magsalita at madali raw akong matuto. Matagal din akong nanatili sa pagkakandong niya. Mistula siyang bagong dating na hari na suot-suot ang kanyang korona. Ako ang kanyang korona.

Kapag naaalala ko ito, napapawi ang lahat ng panghihinayang ko sa mga taong kailangan niyang magtrabaho at mawala sa piling namin. Mga panahong kasama ng mga tatay nila ang mga anak nila. Ito na lang ang isusulat ko. Bago ang lahat, pupunasahan ko muna ang mga luha ko at ang patulo ko ng sipon. Baka mapatakan pa ang keyboard ng computer at ang hawak kong picture. Picture ng isang paslit na may hawak na bote ng beer habang kandong ng tatay na kitang-kita ang kasiyahan sa mukha.

Why Women Need To Invest

2012-08-16T15:44:00.002+08:00

5 Reasons Why Women Need To Invest

By Kim Kiyosaki, wife of Robert Kiyosaki.

What makes “women and investing” unique from “men and investing?”
The how to invest and what to invest in are pretty much the same for all.

What is different are the reasons why women need to invest. And in my opinion the reasons are truly compelling. Here are five sound reasons why women need to get into this game called investing.

The Statistics. I have come across some statistics recently that stunned me.

47% of women over 50 are single

Women’s retirement income will be lessened because on average a woman is away from the work force 14.7 years as compared to 1.6 years for men. (Women are typically the primary caretaker of the home.)

50% of marriages end in divorce. Of course, the #1 thing couples fight about is…money. And in most cases the woman ends up with the kids. (So now she is solely financially responsible for herself and her children.)

In the first year after a divorce, a woman’s standard of living drops 73%.

80% of widows now living in poverty were not poor before the death of their husband.

Approximately 7 out of 10 women will, at some time, live in poverty.

I don’t show you these statistics to scare you, but to say it’s time we, as women, prepare for our financial well-being. We can no longer afford to be financially illiterate. The price is simply too great.

One last statistic: 90% of all women have sole responsibility for their finances within their lifetime, yet 79% of all women have not planned for this. There is no time like the present.

Dependency. You don’t go into a marriage expecting a divorce. You don’t begin a new job expecting to be laid off. But it happens. And today, we see it happen with more and more frequency.

My advice to women: do not depend on a husband, a boss, or anyone for your financial future. They simply may not be there. I know too many women today who stay in unhappy relationships because of money. And how often have you heard, “I hate going to work but I need that paycheck?” So often I meet women who went for “security” only to discover they lost their self in the trade-off.

One of the greatest gifts I received once I began investing (and truly understood the game) was that I realized I did not need Robert for my financial well-being. I was not dependent on him to take care of me. And he – by no means – wanted me dependent on him. It then became crystal clear to us that we were together because we simply wanted to be together. We had more respect, more love, and more happiness in our marriage than ever before.

No Glass Ceiling. In the corporate world, there still exists the infamous glass ceiling. Women are often limited in their rise within a company. Can you break through the glass ceiling? Of course you can, but it takes great effort. In the world of investing, the markets don’t care if you’re female or male, old or young, black, white, or purple. The markets don’t care if you’re a college grad or a high school dropout. The markets only care about one thing – how smart you are with your money.

If you get educated and know what you’re doing – you make money. If you don’t – you lose money. It’s not rocket science. Which brings me to my next point…

No Limits To Your Income. It amazes me that there still exists today the discrepancy in income between women and men. Yet it’s true: women today earn about .74 for every $1 earned by men. In the investing world, there are no limits to how much money you can make. The more education you have, the more experience you acquire (and this increases with every investment you make) the greater your chances of success and higher returns.

Control. Control of your time. Control of your finances. Control of your life. I’ll be honest, I hate being told what to do. I think this started at age two. There is nothing worse for me than not being able to do what I want, when I want to do it. Becoming an investor can give you that control.

I’m not a mother but I know many working mothers who would give anything to spend more time with their children. Or couples who have to pencil in appointments with each other. Or maybe you have a dream – to have your own business, join the Peace Corps, become an artist - that never gets started because you had no control over your time, your finances, or your life.

There are many powerful rewards that I’ve seen women, including myself, attain by becoming investors: greater self confidence, better relationships, less worry, more happiness, and – ultimately – freedom to be, to do, and to have what we want. That, to me, is a goal worth going after.

http://www.richdadpinoy.com/2007/08/5-reasons-why-women-need-to-invest.html

How much should I save?

2012-08-05T10:40:00.000+08:00

Save until it hurts!

Greed Not Good

2012-07-23T12:33:00.000+08:00

The Financial Markets: When Fear And Greed Take Over

Greed's Influence
So often, investors get caught up in greed (excessive desire). After all, most of us have a desire to acquire as much wealth as possible in the shortest amount of time. This get-rich-quick mentality makes it hard to maintain gains and keep to a strict investment plan over the long term, especially amid such a frenzy, or as the former Federal Reserve chairman, Alan Greenspan, put it, the "irrational exuberance" of the overall market.

Fear's Influence Just as the market can become overwhelmed with greed, the same can happen with fear ("an unpleasant, often strong emotion, of anticipation or awareness of danger"). When stocks suffer large losses for a sustained period, the overall market can become more fearful of sustaining further losses. But being too fearful can be just as costly as being too greedy.

8th Wonder of the World

2012-07-21T09:21:00.000+08:00

Active or Passive: Which Side you want?

2012-07-21T09:13:00.000+08:00

You always have a choice which side you want. Take your time...Think but Act! NOW!

The Story Of Lola Pilar

2012-07-05T07:46:00.002+08:00

Below is a good article of Bo Sanchez on this great habit for investors – an easy way on how to invest in the Philippine Stock Market.

You can retire in two ways.

You can retire like Lola Penny or you can retire like Lola Pilar.

Penny is a pseudonym. That’s not her real name.

But Lola Pilar is no pseudonym.

Pilar is my mother.

She is 85-years old.

Today, I give my mother a nice monthly allowance.

I do it not because she needs it, but because Ineed it. I need to show my love to her.

But in reality, my mother doesn’t need my money.

Let me tell you why.

Many moons ago, my mother worked in a small music store as a Cashier. Her salary was P120 a month. After working for 19 long years, she received a separation pay: A whopping P2000!

She invested that P2000 in the Stock Market.

The year was 1966.

And whenever she had extra money, she’d invest in very well known companies. My parents bought the stocks of giant companies of their time: San Miguel. Ayala. Etcetera.

My father retired at the age of 65. He passed away at 88. For those 23 years, my parents sold a portion of their stocks–little by little—for their big expenses.

After Dad passed away, Mom announced, “I’m selling all my stocks.” I was surprised that she still had P1 Million from that last sale—even if they were already withdrawing their cash from there little by little.

I asked her, “Did you sell everything?”

Mom said, “Yes, I did. Well, I left the crumbs…”

Crumbs?

“What crumbs?” I asked.

She explained, “Oh, I left the very little investments scattered in various companies. They’re very tiny. Nothing much.”

That conversation took place three years ago.

Just two months ago, I told her, “Mom, you’re 85. You better sell whatever you have left in the Stock Market. Yes, I know they’re crumbs. But just collect them anyway.”

She agreed. She called up her stockbroker and said, “Can you sell all the tiny stocks I have left?”

She was expecting P10,000. At most, P20,000.

But she got the shock of her life. The stockbroker told her, “Mrs. Sanchez, your stocks are worth P1.2 Million.”

Mom turned to me and said, “Bo, I’m rich!”

I told her, “Mom, you’ve always been rich. You just think you’re poor.”

Forty-five years ago, my mother planted P2000 in the Stock Market. And through the years, she planted little seeds of P50, P100, and P200 in giant companies.

Because she planted in the spring, today, she isn’t begging in the fall.

In her whole life, my mother never received a huge amount of money. She never inherited money. She never won the Lotto. She only built her wealth slowly.

Remember this truth I heard from David Bach:Wealth is not built in days; Wealth is built in decades.

There are two ways of retiring in life: Are you going to be a Lola Penny or a Lola Pilar?

God places the two roads before you.

Penny Poverty or Pilar Prosperity?

You choose.

The Story of Lola Penny (Part Two)

2012-07-05T07:44:00.000+08:00

Today, Lola Penny totally depends on her 4 children to give her money. But she knows that they have financial problems of their own.

One time, she overheard her daughter arguing with her Kuya (older brother) on the phone. What she heard tore her heart.

With anger in her voice, her daughter said, “Kuya, it’s your turn to give money to Mommy! I’m the one who takes care of her at home! I’m the one spending for her food everyday! And I’m the one buying her medicines. Last week, I spent P3000 for her meds! My husband is already complaining why we always don’t have money!”

When Lola Penny heard her daughter complaining, she began to cry.

The painful words she heard that day were like many knives stabbing her chest.

Lola Penny felt she was just a burden to her children.

And she wanted to die right there.

Here’s the irony: All her life, as an accountant, Penny was very good at managing the money of her company—but she never managed her own money.

This is not just a story.

This is harsh reality: According to surveys, 98% of people aged 65 and above are just like Lola Penny.

They depend on their kids, or they depend on their tiny pension, or they depend on charitable institutions, or they have to keep working—or they have nothing to eat.

Only 2% of people aged 65 and above are financially free.

Like Lola Pilar.

The Story of Lola Penny (Part One)

2012-07-05T07:42:00.000+08:00

Below is a good article of Bo Sanchez on this great habit for investors – an easy way on how to invest in the Philippine Stock Market.

I have a friend who retired 7 years ago.

Let’s call her Lola Penny.

Actually, her real name was Lola Penang. She took a vacation in America, when she came back, she was now called Lola Penny.

Lola Penny is a widow with 4 children and 6 grandkids.

For 38 years, Penny worked as an accountant, crunching the numbers for her company. Because she was such a good accountant, she was promoted many times and became the manager of the entire department.

And she was earning very well.

But Penny told me that even if she was earning very well, she was living from paycheck to paycheck.

Which brings me to a very important principle:Income does not equal Wealth. It’s not how much you earn that makes you wealthy. It’s how much you investfrom what you earn that makes you wealthy.

Yes, she saved some money. But like most Filipinos, she saved only for the big expenses: She saved to buy a house. She saved to pay for the schooling of the kids. She even saved for the wedding of the kids. But she failed to save for the biggest expense of all: Retirement.

Like many, she totally depended on the retirement package from her company.

When she retired 7 years ago, Penny got P3 million.

For the first year, it was heaven on earth.

Every Sunday, she brought her grandchildren to the mall to buy them toys.

And when her children needed money, they’d run to her.

“Mommy, can we borrow money to repair our car?”

“Mommy, we lack P20,000 for Junior’s tuition fee. Can you help?”

“Mommy, your apo (grandson) will compete in a swimming competition in Singapore. Can you pay for his plane fare?”

But very quickly, her money ran out.

After 7 years in retirement, Lola Penny was penniless.

Investment Essential Tips

2012-06-23T09:27:00.000+08:00

Work on your life goals

Know where the money goes

Spend less than you make

Maximize your employer's matching contributions

Build an emergency fund

Expand your approved list

Rebalance your portfolio

Review your banking relationships

Simplify

Freeze your credit file

COL Financial: Invest and Grow with The Philippines' No.1 Online Stockbroker

2012-06-22T20:58:00.000+08:00

The COL Easy Investment Program gives investors a simple and more convenient way of investing in the stock market regardless of age, income or experience using cost averaging.

Learn more about this program today ››

Excellent Quotes by Warren Buffett

2012-06-16T17:29:00.001+08:00

THE OFW INVESTOR: First Time To Buy A Stock

2012-06-03T14:38:00.001+08:00

THE OFW INVESTOR: First Time To Buy A Stock: http://www.flickr.com/photos/45846171@N04/6322956631 Somebody asked me how to start buying shares. The questioner doesn’t have that mu...

Row your Boat!

2012-05-29T09:51:00.001+08:00

"If there is no wind, row."

5 Credit Card Traps to Watch Out For

2012-05-28T08:30:00.000+08:00

1. Business Credit Cards

2. 0% Balance Transfer

3. Rewards Program Changes

4. Lower Credit Limit

5. Canceled Account

Source: http://moneyning.com/credit-cards/5-credit-card-traps-to-watch-out-for/

Facebook's IPO: Sorting through the legal mess

2012-05-27T20:45:00.000+08:00

NEW YORK (CNNMoney) -- At this point, there's little question that Facebook's IPO was a disaster. But was it illegal?
That's the question lawyers, regulators and other observers are asking as allegations swirl that major clients of Morgan Stanley (MS, Fortune 500) and other banks involved in the offering may have had access to privileged information ahead of the stock's debut.

Source: http://money.cnn.com/2012/05/23/technology/facebook-ipo-legal/index.htm

We Bought a ZOO

2012-05-27T01:14:00.001+08:00

Inspiring Movie. Learn to have Patience, Passion, Love, Devotion, Dedication.

Jeremiah 17:7-10

2012-05-26T09:11:00.002+08:00

Blessed is the man who trusts in Yahweh, who puts his hope in Him. For he will be like a tree planted by the water, extending its roots to a river: it will not fear the scorching heat, its foliage will be green and lively; neither will it worry in a drought or cease to yield fruit. Indeed, the heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked. Who could know it? ‘I, Yahweh, search the heart; I try the intentions of the mind, and give to every man according to his ways—according to the fruit of his deeds.’ (Jeremiah 17:7-10)

Beware, investors: Facebook was just a warning

2012-05-26T08:36:00.001+08:00

(CNN) -- Facebook's IPO was all the rage Friday. Retail investors -- people like you, me and our neighbors -- flocked to the offering in hopes of returning to those glory days when a dramatic rise in stock price was a given.

But, alas, like so many recent IPOs, Facebook languished near its offering price on its first day and dropped on subsequent days of trading.

It could have been worse.

Source: http://edition.cnn.com/2012/05/24/opinion/wessels-facebook-ipo/index.html?hpt=ibu_r1

Will my money grow in stock market?

2012-05-26T08:32:00.001+08:00

I would like to share a website that really inspired me and motivate me to invest in stock market. His day to day progress in stock market gives us a preview of how stock works for us. View it here:

http://www.clifftheinvestor.com/

Get out of Debt...The Harvard Way

2012-05-20T16:56:00.001+08:00

Visit his Blog site: http://nomoreharvarddebt.com/

Steps to Finding Your Passion

2012-05-19T20:47:00.003+08:00

1.      Understand that it will take time to discover your passion and shape your vision.
2.      Do your research and explore.
3.      Establish a plan with main goals. Include items that can hinder you.
4.      Take action based on your plan.
5.      Track your progress.

Source: http://www.recruiter.com/i/steps-to-finding-your-passion/

My Maid Invests in the Stock Market

2012-05-12T11:25:00.000+08:00

This is a good read. You can download the PDF here:
http://kerygmaserver.com/misc/MYMAIDiNVESTSNTHESTOCKMARKET.pdf

PH economy seen growing at 5.3% in 1Q

2012-05-12T11:19:00.004+08:00

The Philippine economy is likely to grow by 5.3 percent in the first quarter of 2012, as it is emitting signals that it is back on track from the low 3.7-percent gross domestic product (GDP) growth last year, according to the April issue of The Market Call, a newsletter published by the First Metro Investment Corp. and the University of Asia and the Pacific Capital Markets Research.
"With both external and internal demand factors working to its advantage, the economy is expected to expand by some 5.3 percent in Q1 [first quarter] with further accelerations in the subsequent quarters," the newsletter said.
It added that early economic indicators such as the Monthly Integrated Survey of Selected Industries (MISSI), inflation rate, government spending, tax revenues, interest rates, exports, and exchange rates are needed to be taken seriously to attain the expected 5-percent growth.

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