2015 BEST PHOTOS

Every year, I see to it that I post a share of my yearly favourite photos. Be it because of art, experience or milestone. Last year, I had dedicated the entire line up to motherhood. Such milestone is a tick in my bucket list and I thought the delight would stop there.

This year, I had pondered on the greatest influence that happened to my life. When you have a budding family, you become protective and ambitious. And for 2015, I embraced financial freedom. 

Halfway thru the year of 2015, we had studied, researched, gotten involved in an advocacy that had built up beyond expectation. Because of my family, who is my life and my BIGGEST WHY, I got driven and I felt empowered in serving others like never before.

With that being said, I had a paradigm shift in understanding TIME. So many people had just let it pass not knowing that it is the most essential commodity known to work "for" mankind if you discover the skill of handling it well. Time is a huge factor in just about anything, and I mean ANYTHING! Relationships, investments, growth. We always think that we don't have enough of it but actually, we are given that much time that we need and we don't have to be burdened with what has to be finished up. We just need to be at the moment. We just need to live it. And that gives way to these wondrous array of "moments".

JANUARY

"DEVELOPMENT"

This was taken during Brave's first time

to hold her milk bottle. It was before I left for work.

Any form of reward doesn't come as more importantly

as compared to seeing your child's development.

The time that I get to spend with my family, most especially,

my daughter, is more precious above any precious stone,

expensive travel package or an entertainment showcase.

Seeing how she grows up and develops is surprisingly amusing.
And knowing that you are the reason behind it all?
My hands are up, it makes my heart fat.

I actually had a hard time before,
keeping up with my friends who talk about babies nonstop.

Now that I am a mom, I kind of understand why.

It's just surreal that something that came from you, that you had

created is moving, talking, bouncing and giggling!

It's addicting.

I thank God for the time I get to see her grow.

FEBRUARY

"SELFIE"

This is yet again, another moment that cracks me up every time I come across it.

My baby had been fond of seeing herself in the camera since the beginning.

And by 6 months, she expresses herself like no other.

MARCH

"VACATION"

Whenever time permits, take a vacation to replenish your soul.

Another plus to this is when your family is with you along with a good bunch of friends.

Last year, it was a first time for my little one to experience traveling with us.

Destination: MACAU

It doesn't matter where but knowing that they are with me

experiencing a memorable time is something that I'd go back to in a heartbeat if I could.

It was one of the best experiences because I

expected that it would be hard having a 6 month old baby on board.

But she was so cool and from that moment on,

my husband and I knew that she is the same with us

as far as being outgoing is concerned.

APRIL

"CELEBRATION"

This is my husband's birth month. When I asked him of what he wants

for his birthday, he had pointed to our daughter and said, "I got it already."

There was no fancy celebration but we dined out to celebrate my husband

and my daughter's christening over a dim sum breakfast.

With a Catholic name, "Gabrielle", Brave was baptised and was welcomed to the Christian world.

Besides the fact that I am fulfilling God's purpose of having our baby blessed,

as parents, we treasure this time of being able to celebrate with our good and long time friends.

Surprisingly, Brave didn't give us a hard time preparing as early as 7am

and didn't cry as she got startled upon the pouring of the holy water because it was cold.

As the priest had agreed to a last minute scheduling, some godparents weren't able to come.

We needed them to be there for the baptism to happen.

Also, it was a requirement that they are Catholics as well with a purpose

of having enough knowledge to impart if time would ever need them to.

Strict requirements were imposed, it almost didn't happen.

But it was good to be reminded to submit to God's will

and He will make it happen for you. With Him knowing the purest desires of your heart,

He will defy all odds that inhibit you from coming to Him.

As promised, He is the Way, the Truth and the Life.

April last year, God paved the way for Brave,
in God's perfect timing.

MAY

"BACK TO THE FUTURE"

It was a challenge for me to go back to my original size pre-Brave since I gained

50lbs then (ideal is 25-35 lbs. Yes! Condemn me.)

But I was able to at least, fit in the jungle costume by 9 months.

This photo above was taken on May 12, 2015.

(Proof is on FB in case you doubt my calculations.)

The times that I worked out had paid off.

Automatically, a sudden boost of self esteem and that sense of achievement

showered upon me. I am thankful for those efficient times in the gym.

It also made sense to me that as a woman, and as a mom,

if it took you 9 months to gain that much in taking care of a human

being inside of you, it usually takes 9 months to recover too.

So to those who are dealing with stressful weight gain because of pregnancy,

allow your body some time to get used to it and I promise you, once you've attained your goal,

your physical body will cry for that lifestyle of exercise and good diet.

It won't be a bitch anymore 'til then.
Just breath and keep moving forward.
Use your time well.

JUNE

"PARADIGM SHIFT"

This is the picture that started it all.
Together with the founder of COL Financial, Mr. Edward Lee,
we were blessed to have a portal to reaching to those who are in need.

Spearhead mission was given birth right at this very moment.

Spearhead mission aims to lead people into financial freedom out of an advocacy to serve.

This picture was taken when I took a free seminar tackling about investing on stocks.

at the Philippine consulate.

Before that, I had attended the Rich Dad, Poor Dad talk

which was the backbone of my pursuit to making investments.

This was the moment I decided that I want the BEST for my family

in terms of a good life.
Good life meaning, not depending on other people or any form of loan

for whatever emergencies may arise. I heeded becoming financially free.

JULY

"JOLLIBEE"

It was my dream when I was young to own a franchise of Jollibee.

But I've discovered a more affordable way to start owning it.

By being a stockholder, I take advantage of time to earn money from it.

July last year, I started with a little share.

Hopefully, it'd grow fast and strong.

AUGUST

"BRAVE AT 1"

By this time around, Brave is 11KG, can walk independently on her own,

can chew most of the solid foods I know (except peanuts),

loves to sing and was giving out preferences.

I can perceive her mood swings, excitement and longing as she turned one.

It truly was so fast that by this time, I vaguely remember

how I survived sleeping with the "fragile" Brave.

The next time after I was complaining about how demanding it was for my back as I carry her,

as I teach her how to walk up to lifting her up from every bath,

I am upfront a baby saying "no" all of a sudden,

a baby demanding a biscuit in the morning and a singer in the making.

She had grown so fast that she suddenly became not so baby anymore.

That time had passed and I'm blessed with its memories, experience and great stories

to black mail her with. Hahaha!!!!

SEPTEMBER

"CASHFLOW"

There's some letters of appreciation and acknowledgement from establishments
that I wrote about and it was beyond rewarding.
Free movie tickets came in too as an invitation as a critic.
All because of my writing, which had grown from a hobby way back 2006.
But this was the best that came in the mailbox because beyond the fact
that it's unexpected, I didn't know I could work for or even get linked to Google this way.
This saying, "What you do most of your time while procrastinating
should be the exact thing you should be actually doing."
makes sense after all.
I entitled this as "cashflow" to remind people out there
who thought there's no money behind doing your favourite thing.
Well, there is. Just be creative and use your time wisely.

OCTOBER
"BLESSED"

Now that I am rearing my baby, seeing illustrations like this make me cringe.
I am constantly thankful that we eat three times a day but I constantly ask God too.
How come there are people who are in this kind of lifestyle if we are all children of God?
I am not sure what is the exact answer to that. I don't believe in luck.
But being born out of the countries who are involved constantly in war,
or being born from parents who would never make me hold a gun,
or being born in a free country can already be considered lucky.
It is unfair to say I'm blessed and they're not.

This picture is actually one of the main reasons why I am sticking to our advocacy.
It is imperial to learning about financial freedom that we are taught of the ways
on how to fend for ourselves. This is one way to empower a person to be creative
with the tools God had given us. For us to be resourceful because nothing in this
world will be handed to you in a silver spoon.
We need to know how to THRIVE. And that's LIFE.
So if you can extend a helping hand during your free time, why not?

NOVEMBER

I have a tie for this month as God had blessed me in abundance during my birthmonth of November.

"GOOD TIMES"

My beautiful mom surprised me a week before my birthday that she'd be
flying over from America and it was truly an exciting time for me
because it will be her first time to meet my family.
FaceTime had always been there but meeting person to person is a different story.

My husband had gifted me leisure time by booking us Venetian Hotel
so that we ladies, can splurge on its exquisiteness and luxury for a weekend.
I maybe exaggerating because we were just blessed with good timing
since they have the best last minute deals.
(Otherwise, a fortune may have been spent)
but to stress out importance of time, I got to talk and spend time with my mom,
say I love you to her in person, because of the distance between us,
more than I have for the past years (3 to be exact).
She was my birthday package this year.
We had a great time.

"TWICE IN A ROW"

Now this second photo is a privilege that I consider.
It's time with loved ones and friends.
Time that you were able to spend your birthday with people twice in a row.

Year after year.

Life is too short not to appreciate the company you have,
the job you got that others would kill for,
and most especially, the time and ability for you to celebrate it all.
Time, we all know, talks about your presence and all.
But ability usually is taken for granted.
It doesn't require only time for you to give ultimate happiness to your family.
Realistically, you needed money to buy even a simple cake.
Don't get me wrong, I am happy having my mom over,
having my husband and daughter to celebrate with me.
And on top of that, are friends that care and support you, what more can I ask?
You might be whispering to yourself now, that is not enough for her yet?
Well, hear me out.
With that being said, I am thankful that I am able to provide
for what may add up to that sense of being together in terms of
a simple intimate dinner and gathering in the house.
Hence, this photo needed to be included because Angela,
who got me my cake that night, got me when I said giving out a message to all who came,
"Thank you for all for being able to celebrate with me,
twice in a row."

DECEMBER
"PASKONG PINOY"
(Philippine Christmas)

For the first time in so many years, Hong Kong Disneyland
had gifted Filipino workers (with their plus ones) who continuously are
spreading their light, sharing their talents and touching lives with their passion,
with a night of amusement, surprises and Filipino food!!!!
It was an early Christmas celebration.
For most of us who are away from home just to earn a living,
this one night of making us feel at home is much much appreciated.
Filipino entertainers came over, the tables were decorated with
the traditional Christmas lanterns (parol) and Filipino games highlighted the night.

10 years of bringing magic to guests, I am glad that in my own little way
and for the time that I am strong and able, I have been a part of it
More power to you Hong Kong Disneyland!

Related posts:

1. PARADIGM SHIFT - How my concept of time had changed.

2. JOLLIBEE - the fastest growing food chain in the Philippines, can be experienced in Hong Kong!

3. GET INVESTED IN STOCKS FOR A RICHER LIFE - here's why you should invest in stocks.

PARADIGM SHIFT

It is beyond our own comprehension

exactly when and how enlightenment happens.

Simplifying what "enlightenment" means, it is the act of becoming aware of something. It could be of knowledge, discovery, existence and emotion. Awareness is the key to gauge how wide somebody's perception of something is and usually, this is the most essential factor that feeds the conscious mind impregnating it with a realisation. And just before a change is about to occur, there's a fine line that gets crossed. With respect to such realisation, I would name this process a "paradigm shift".

Halfway thru 2015, a paradigm shift concerning 3 important discoveries of the human race happened to me:

1. TIME

The actual moment time was discovered, and as to how, remains a mystery. Being considered the 4th spatial dimension, it's very hard for philosophers, scientists and analysts to pinpoint its exact beginning. There are times that its beginning is described as when men got "enlightened", some uses the past, present and the future and some measure it according to how the moon changes. Hence, the usage of hours, months, years, decades and centuries. I am very sure time had existed way before men did and I know that time never waits for nobody. I've always mentioned in my posts that time is the only thing that's constant in this world. It's because I never really appreciated the concept of time because for me it's the greatest thief. 

I never wouldn't want to dwell with a negative understanding of time. In my pursuit to work my way around it, I had found out that TIME is the most essential gift you can give somebody for it is a commodity that you can never take back. Because of that fact, I realised how precious it is. So, I had a phase in my life that my concept of time was so limited that I keep on convincing myself that it's just really how it is. That I just have to make the most out of it. Y.O.L.O. ("You only live once") if I may label it so, as this is the trend nowadays and it can be easily put this way. I strived to be in the present. Every single time! It's not bad at all. Actually, I believe, this is the secret to a happy life. And then I gave birth to my daughter that countered time's constant power. She made time stand still.

I admit, I wanted to defy time because of my daughter. I had that great desire to destroy it. I even prayed as of how I can make it happen. 6 months of silence. Honestly, I was desperate for about half a year. My throat constricts thinking that no matter what I do, I am at the losing end. I knew I had prayed wrongly because every effort that I made to make this goal happen, never did me good nor was it near to getting accomplished. Then I prayed back to God, and asked, empower me to make your plans happen within the time You would be giving me. Then I saw a sign.

A free seminar was shared by Ela Lisondra, a Filipina gracing the West End with her talent as one of Miss Saigon's cast at the present. This seminar is called Brick Buy Brick (Click Brick Buy Brick if you'd like to schedule and attend a free session). One of Robert Kiosaki's introduction to his Rich Dad Poor Dad Education Series focusing on investing in real estate. One thing that I learned from there is that your mind, is the greatest tool you could ever make use of and that time is your greatest asset. From there, I realised I can work with time for my own advantage. I didn't quite comprehend at first when he said the best asset you could have is TIME. It made me more confused. But then I went back from the beginning and assessed my perception, now infusing everything that I learned from the free seminar, and there it was, a paradigm shift happened.

Let me start with one of the greatest lessons Robert Kiosaki's book had taught me, the difference between assets and liabilities. Assets being anything that puts money in my pocket and liabilities taking out money from the pocket. So, with that given definition, how can TIME become an ASSET? When all it does was just pass by? It doesn't put money in my pocket alone.

But since the shift happened, I understand that TIME, if used wisely in the beginning, may give you timeless rewards. You may find that statement quite weirdly formed but if combined with patience, it may buy you more time. It sounds bull shit perhaps by now since, you cannot make a day extend to another hour, making it 25 hours.

Picture your typical day. How many hours do you allot at work? I bet it's lesser than the leisure hours you normally have. Sometimes you go for an over time, or a 6th day work, compromising your weekend that instead of spending that precious time with your family, you'd go for it just to be able to keep up with your expenses. After the financial literacy from the seminar, I came to realise that saving early could buy me more time of not working and instead, spending that much time with my loved ones. This is what we call financial freedom. So, understanding the beauty of it made me look at TIME differently.

It all boils down to that saying, "Pay now, play later. Play now, you pay later." You may not be able to make your life here on earth longer. Even the best magician could never find that elixir of life just yet.   But you can take advantage of time by using it simultaneously with saving.

2. SAVE

With all honesty, who amongst you feel too obligated to save that they don't do it? I, for one, am a victim of instant gratification. Short term happiness sometimes outweigh what I know should be done because I feel like I owe it to myself every pay day as a form of reward. In the end, I always feel guilty for spending too much and then I'll just go back to convincing myself again that I deserve it and that I wouldn't be able to bring the money in my graveyard anyway. I usually think of saving as something that deprives me of what makes me happy at the moment. And this was pretty much the same time when I was doing YOLO with my time. Same paradigm shift happened when my biggest REASON for doing this was born. My daughter.

You know when they say that it's all different as soon as you have a kid? Pretty much, it's true. It's the maturity of the mind that comes along with the package. You don't want to just live out your life however you want to because somebody is actually looking at "everything" that you do. And, they always copy "everything" that you do, you can't afford to make a mistake. If before all I had purposely done was collect shoes and bags, now, I squeeze my mind into how I can save more to aid my daughter in having a new start. What does that mean?

This may sound morbid but all of us aren't exempted from dying. Of course, you don't want to leave debts nor the responsibility of your own death, for that matter, to the remaining ones. We can't deny the fact that death can happen anytime. With that existing credit card you got? If you die this instant, then your family will have to deal with it. And if that will happen, the coffin you're going to lie in or the urn where you want to be kept in, who's going to pay for that? Let's say these living people got savings, they would have to get it out to pay for everything I said YOU left. So, in my case, my daughter isn't even one. Do I want her to have an underlying debt already? Of course not!!! I want her to have enough funds to start her own life and not deal with a part of mine. She should be able to start anew using her own money. I hope I made sense.

You see, I grew up that the bank can help you save your money. In fact, it helps you to keep your money safe. Little did I know, it actually makes you lose a lot of money. It's not good to save your money in the bank nowadays and to answer the expected WHY from you, I need to present to you the amount of interest the bank gives you. It's usually 0.1% to 1% only per annum. On the other hand, inflation rate in Hong Kong as of May 2015 is at 3%. That simply makes you lose the worth of your money by 2%. Depending on many factors, inflation is always going to be volatile. It can be from -3% where the country's monetary exchange is doing great to a whopping 16% inflation rate when there's global crisis. Check out this diagram.

If you'd look closely, the worth of $20 in 1998 can buy you that much but in 2005 and in 2013, it constantly gave lesser goods. Ladies and gentlemen, this is exactly what inflation is all about and it worsens as time goes by. The value of money depreciates greatly and it's a very sad news. In addition, this will happen to your money as it gets saved in the bank alone. So as I have said earlier, saving "the right way" is the key. How do we do that? By taking advantage of COMPOUNDING INTEREST.

3. COMPOUNDING INTEREST

I never knew the power of compounding interest but it was already happening with my credit card. Let's look at what Albert Einstein had to say about it.

"Compound Interest is the 8th wonder of the world.

He who understands it, earns it.... he who doesn't, pays it!"

This had made me upset because for 8 years that I'm having a stable good paying income, I am paying a compounding interest because of my credit card. It is good that I'm not holding a personal one anymore right now. My husband and I just have one for booking important stuff. And we consult each other in using it. But to share to those who usually swipes it for buying "wants" instead of "needs", beware of the compounding interest that comes with it. Don't just settle the minimum payment highlighted in your credit card bill. Since this is how credit card companies earn, they'd always give irresistible deals for you to use your credit card when you were not planning of doing so. The thing is, it boosts your confidence when you actually paid at least the minimum amount because you feel less guilty. Paying the minimum due makes you think you have followed an effective budget. You are settled into waiting for the next bill and you'll be ok. But actually, it's pulling you down the quick sand. Before you know it, the principal amount you have borrowed before had been imposed of an interest and 6 months after, the initial principal amount + interest had regained some interest again.

For example:

You saw a 1,000 worth of shoes. Let's say your credit card's monthly interest rate is 10%. So, if let's say your extra income (shopping money supposedly) was just 200 but you liked the shoes so you used your card for it, you would end up paying only the minimum because there's no way you can pay it in full with just a 200 worth of shopping money.

1,000 x 0.10 = 1100             1st month
1100 x 0.10  = 1210             2nd month
1210 x 0.10  = 1331             3rd month

But your minimum pay will still be the same. So if you'd only pay the minimum every time, the interest will compound until you are just paying the interest, which the first interest + principal had earned. With that being said, we will get to understand the definition WIKIPEDIA had for a "compound interest".

1. "Compound interest
   is interest added to the principal of a deposit or loan

   so that the added interest
   also earns interest from then on.

   This addition of interest to the principal is called compounding."

Having credit card bills means only one thing. I'm sorry to break it off to you my friend but, YOU HAVE AN EXISTING LOAN. Now, that's not bad. Depending on the loan that you took, it may be at your own advantage or own grave. I won't be tackling here the advantage of having a good debt with bad debt but I am going to present to you how driven I felt to impose a paradigm shift with how compounding interest would be acquired when I had an idea of putting it in "savings". Imagine if that compounding interest would be put into your savings. Now that's a different story.

Now let's put all three together.

Before, I thought, time is actually a cheater, that savings actually deprives me from living life and compounding interest to be such a culprit to financial freedom (when actually, it is the key). As soon as I realised, a paradigm shift had happened, it empowered me to pursue saving up because of my daughter. I continuously find insurance companies of its lifetime savings plan which offer a percentage greater than the inflation rate to make my money grow over time that even if I sleep, it's earning than just letting it sit in the bank. Finding out that the secret to all of this is "to start early", time actually may work into your own advantage once you find out the secret. Now I'm in no 20's, but I believe it's not too late for me to do it for my daughter who is not even one. Now that I'm going to my second year of marriage, I am thankful that a light had shone on me as I keep retirement and my kid's education in mind.... my daughter's sake, as a matter of fact. She is my biggest WHY behind investing NOW. I'll see you in the other side as you figure out yours, YOUR OWN BIGGEST WHY .

Relate posts:

1. HOW FINANCIALLY HEALTHY ARE YOU? - 6 Steps that could help you assess your financial status.

2. A STEP BY STEP GUIDE TO SUCCESSFUL STOCK INVESTING WITH THE EIP COL EASY INVESTMENT PROGRAM - the most affordable way to owning mutual funds thru stocks and bonds

3. RICH DAD, POOR DAD - why this is one of the best books ever written about money in the 21st century