Spending Wisely

They say there are only two things in life that’s certain – these are death and taxes. But come to think of it spending may be added as well. Besides, it is where taxes will come from.

Since the dawn of civilization or at least when people started using money, spending by people for things they both need and want has been as predictable as clock work. Of course with the infamous wealth distribution pyramid, the outflow of money differs from one social class order to another. Fairly, everyone (i.e., rich, middle or lower class) has their own set of financial worries – The Ayalas may worry what Cadillac color to get, The average Juan Dela Cruzes worry which one is a good bang for the buck – Vios or City, while the less privilege worry when the next jeepney fair price hike will happen. All are worries nevertheless. Parang patas, pero hindi (Looks fair yet not).

But before I fully transform (though I truly wish) my blog into something like Francis Kong’s business article, I’d like to share some of my tips with regards to spending wisely – at least I believe so.

·         Obsolete items have to go. The unstoppable electricity bill made me decide to sell (another of my online selling adventure) our old air conditioner and replace it with a new one that has a timer so it can switch the electric fan at a specified time without me having to perform a half-sleepwalk just to reach and turn the air con off.

·         Be on the lookout for best 2^nd hand (used) deals. My wife showed her haggling talent and got a 5-month old Canon IXUS 70 at 25 percent less than the original price - Not bad. But I banned her on my ebay’s buyers list – I can’t handle such hagglers.

·         Drive as if you’re participating in Petron’s Extra Mile challenge. Been doing it lately and I’m seeing an improvement both to my sanity and fuel economy. It’s also one way to discourage your friends from riding with you – who wants to be in a new car without an air conditioning on? Hahaha. Just kidding.

·         Watch only good movies (Catch the bad ones in HBO). Last week we watched “What Happens in Vegas” and we quite had a good laugh at it. Cinema: P240, Watching Aston Kutcher and Cameron Diaz: Priceless.  

·         Read restaurant reviews before dining in. This is what we learned with Fish & Co. where I read in some forums that even those known rich people find it overpriced. Too bad I read about it late enough. Last week was a different story; we had our sweet revenge in Bollywood. I enjoyed our dinner (but my wife didn’t) in this Indian cuisine restaurant and that made me dream of going to India to savor more of their foods. I’m wondering if there’s any other way we can commute there other than their trains – I have some “issues” with it. If there is, Bombay, count me in.

·         Pay and download only the music you like.  When I heard about it from my wife, I immediately agree with the idea; rather than buying a full CD (single artist) and feeling shortchanged later on after learning that your favorite artist himself has actually only one favorite song in his own album. Ti abi. But then again, I’d like to emphasize that this is not a reason to patronize pirated music. Buying pirated materials is not spending wisely. It is stealing. Period.

·         Grab every chance to join a raffle or contest. My wife got her pair of limited edition Havaianas 7 Waves for free after being included in the first 70 entries for their contest.  That will keep her from buying another Spartan enemy…for now. I’m thinking if I can sell this pair in ebay. Shhh.

 

There’s a rule to having a successful diet – do not deny yourself of your cravings as doing so will just make you binge in the end. Instead, eat everything (those obviously not hazardous) in moderation. Spending is no different. Cutting every expense out at once will have its repercussion. It is better to moderate it at first and depending on the availability of resources – i.e., money – try eliminating the unnecessary ones one at a time. Good luck.

 

 

The Rock Star in Me

“…Well we all just wanna be big rockstars And live in hilltop houses driving fifteen cars…” – Nickelback, Rockstar

“…Under the big top world We all need the clowns To make us smile…” – Journey, Faithfully

Other than being Pilots, most boys for sure dreamed of being Rock Stars. It must have something to do with being free, being able to get that high. How that “high” is achieved, depends on how far one is willing to go for it. I know most teenagers will discover that in no time if you know what I mean.

And most kids of course have somehow heard of fairy tales…whether they like it or not. These fairy tales every kid will sooner or later discovers that it is what everyone calls fiction. In short, it is not true. Does not and will not happen. At least for some, fiction does happen. They do become Rock Stars.

For Arnel Pineda, this is what exactly happened. He is the Filipino equivalent of the character Chris Cole (Mark Wahlberg) in the movie Rock Star. If you check the film bit by bit, the resemblance of his and Arnel’s story is almost the same, as far as I know:

• Chris Cole was discovered by Steel Dragon’s guitarist thru a tape recorded performance of his cover band Blood Pollution. Arnel Pineda was discovered by Journey’s Neal Schon thru a YouTube.com video of his band Zoo performing the song Faithfully.

• Chris Cole was called by a band member and dismissed the first call as a hoax. Arnel Pineda reacted just the same.

• Both characters eventually became lead vocalist of the band they just used to idolize and copy after being invited (and flown in) for an audition and passed.

Watching Arnel’s cover of Faithfully (shot in Hard Rock Café) in YouTube sends goose bumps thru my skin as I’d always remember the scene from Rock Star when Chris Cole did his cover of Stand Up. Both stories are a Rock Star wannabee must-know.

So if tomorrow, anyone by chance sees a bald driver doing air guitars and some hopeless head bangs while stuck in traffic, most likely that would be me.

*** See Arnel Pineda’s debut performance here: http://festival2008.canal13.cl/2008/html/MMomentos/21/333091Ivq2.html

http://festival2008.canal13.cl/2008/html/MMomentos/21/333091Ivq1.html

http://festival2008.canal13.cl/2008/html/MMomentos/21/333091Ivq3.html

I love her, I love her Not…

Chill out wifey…this petal-picking cliché is not for you. Well sort off. It’s for one of man’s invention which until know I wonder if there was a necessity for it to be invented but since it’s already here, I have to deal with it.

If I could have been asked of a list of one of my hated things, the videoke will surely be there. But then again just like any other things on earth this will have to depend on when or where I encountered it.  In short I have a love-hate relationship with this…let me call it embarrassing machine.

For me the videoke is actually like the eye. For me it’s the window the one’s self. I’ve discovered a liking to some people when I learned and heard them sing.  And my wife can decently sing any of The Coors song. And of course, synonymous to appreciating others sing the lines - appearing as foreground to mostly naked women gyrating on the background which usually challenges myself whether I’d hate it or not – is the loathing that I usually felt once most people starts singing their selected piece.

I’ve almost despise friends once I learned they’ve been into videokes. Just this December while on vacation I had a drinking session with my high school best friend and I almost scrambled out of the bar when I saw him checking the song list. “Oh, my lord…he must be kidding!”  But he’s not. Well to give him the benefit of the doubt I anxiously waited while the waitress punches in the magic numbers. I think I heard drum rolls when the song on queue started.

U2’s Sunday Bloody Sunday was his selection. I secretly glance at my friend just to give a quick check if he’s somewhat similar to Bono. Hmmm. Obviously not. The song’s intro finally signaled the start of the song. And then it happened. I almost cursed in protest and have actually wondered if my friend can be sued by U2 for performing their song in a public place. It wasn’t Sunday, but I’m sure it was Bloody – as the Brits will surely say. I’m sure I was drunk that time but the alcohol didn’t give me a favorable opinion.

Now I’m being hounded again by the presence of this singing machine. Just outside and in front of our house is a party in progress. And the magic box with TV monitor , round colored keys and 15-inch speakers was  just delivered. “Uh oh, we’re in for a long night.” My only hope right now is that no drunken male visitor will sing a Celine Dion song while we’re trying to sleep tonight. That is if we can actually sleep. Whoever invented this machine, I hope you’re in the “hot” place right now.

By the way, possessed by the spirit of alcohol I’ve actually sung a couple of songs on a videoke. And my fave are The Righteous Brothers’ You’ve Lost that Lovin’ Feeling and 500 by the Proclaimers. Ti abi. Sometimes the good guy will have to give his revenge.

 

Tis The Season to be Jolly

“Don’t be afraid to be weak
Don’t be too proud to be strong
Just look into your heart my friend
That will be the return to yourself” - Enigma. Return to Innocence

The ‘ber’ months must have some effect on everyone if not to the Filipinos alone. Once the very 1st day of September sets it everything seems to intensify or gets exaggerated. As if some switch gets turned on right after the midnight of August 31.

Different ages react differently to this transition. For most adult this is the start of expenses pouring in. Everything seems gets listed in the “needs” section of the budget list. The “wants” list more often becomes empty – blame it on consumerism? For most children however, this is the season to be Jolly, period.

I can still remember my excitement - when l was kid - every time when the calendar reaches September. As if the calendar page between August and September is a musical card that plays a song when opened, “…Santa Claus is coming to town…” And unknown to me then, this Santa Claus are those adult that gets weary and anxious when these ‘ber’ months sets it. They are either our parents or our “unlucky” ninongs and ninangs (godparents). After 20 years, I’m now one of them.

It was as if just a couple days ago when someone reminded me to start buying gifts to avoid the shopping rush. In fact that was months ago. Just like any broken vinyl record this irritatingly skips and repeats. Sadly the holiday rush doesn’t skip. It just repeats. The farthest I can remember panicking at this level is since I started having my own pay check. (Now I’m confused if having a paycheck should either get celebrated or cursed.) My wife and I normally kid each other usually around every January to start buying Christmas trees and gifts by this time. But before I know it, the ‘ber’ months are in, again. Now I’m behind 2 months already. It’s now November.

The mall sales now get more frequent than before. The bonuses are coming in (or shall I say passing through). The yuletide songs are as common as jeepney noise. The dreaded traffic gets worst. The horrifying thought of the inaanaks (godchildren) knocking at the front door getting realized as December nears. It’s funny but when someone says now “Christmas is just around the corner”, this is now like a windtalker’s code that someone is out to get you.

Hey, did I just realize I’m now a Grinch? During this season most adults are, I guess. Well it must be the cycle of life I guess. Some call it karma. The act gets repeated but the recipients change. If before I was thankfully receiving crisp bills, now I’m…I’m not giving one. Beside, the crisp bills now are of less value. Now that’s justified (miser smile).

Every time I’m in this situation I think of an old Filipino song (by Asin) with the following lyrics:

Itanong mo sa mga bata (Ask the children)
Ano ang kanilang nakikita (What they see)
Sa buhay na hawak nila (At the life they have)
Masdan mo ang mga bata (Observe the children)
Sila ang tunay na pinagpala (They are the lucky ones)
Kaya dapat nating pahalagahan (We should appreciate them)
Dapat din kayang kainggitan? (Shouldn’t we envy them)

Although this is not a Christmas song, this clearly describes and shows how having the innocence just like the small ones becomes a very big deal. More often, taking the simple meaning of an event or season is what matters most. Children love summer for the vacation. Children love Christmas for Santa Claus. If they love it for Christ’s birth, the better of course. But that’s where our adult explanation comes into play (and it’s another long story or blog).

So if only most adults, including me, can see this significance just as it is (even just during December), then I think this is when we can wholeheartedly join the children in saying, “Tis the season to be jolly”.

Practice, Practice, Practice (My First Blog)

“How do I get to Carnegie hall? Just practice, practice, practice”…

I really can’t exactly remember when I first read this one, but if I’m not mistaken I read it from one forum (philskies.net). It doesn’t makes sense at first, but then again I heard it on TV (and then again I can’t exactly recall when & where) after a while.

Well how does one really get there? However one does it, it really looks like one has to practice, practice, practice. And this is how I’ll start my first blog post on this page by getting out of my comfort zone – e.g. sofa, sleeping time, dormant mind, just to name a few – then practice, practice, practice.

My first practice will have to be doing my own Rockstar blog.

While doing this premier blog (if I may call it), I’m listening to INXS album Switch with its new vocalist J.D. Fortune who was picked from a long list of contestants on the reality show Rockstar INXS. Surprisingly this INXS green horn sings better if not very well since my wife and me last saw him on this TV show. With my preoccupied mind, I can remember just the last three contestants – i.e. J.D. Marty & Migs Ayesa - battling among themselves on who would become INXS front man. And eventually, J.D. got INXS nod, and I think he proved them right.

Right after I arrived home tonight, I switched on the TV just in time for the start of Rockstar Supernova show’s replay (delayed telecast was this morning). Currently, there are just 6 remaining contestants. The contest proper was started by Lukas who sang Nirvana’s lithium which in my opinion wasn’t rendered well. For this part of the contest I’d like to pick my top 3. They are:

Tonight’s # 1 is, Toby. I never like his performance since this show has started. I was even a doubting last week if he can pull a show with Supernova’s pioneers (Gilby, Tommy and Jason) although I agree that he fitted well for the vocals of that song. But tonight I guess, he made me a believer. He performed at first with Storm Large as backup for her version of Evanescence’s Bring Me to Life. He then sang Billy Idol’s Rebel Yell which is actually one of my favorites (you can guess my age now, right?). He got the crowd going and was able to get some girls come up on stage (luck mate!). I don’t know if the elements were just right – favorite song, right voice, and good performance – that made me make bet on him tonight. But whatever it was that he did, he did it great.

Second on my list tonight is, Dilana. Yes, Dilana. This controversial (a euphemism I can think of for all that she’s done) woman who is somewhat creepy for my taste, got my vote tonight. She did a great job singing Mother Mother which I actually thought as first was originally sang by Cindy Lauper * LOL *. She sang it with great voice, performance (I haven’t seen some kind of headbanging until tonight) and with deepest emotion that I can almost feel her angst in front of the TV. Yes, that good.

Third, is Storm Large. Beside the obvious reason that she’s a hottie and I actually don’t know if her name actually implies something deeper than just a name. I really hated the first portion of her Evanescence rendition and I was actually thinking she’d quit & just storm out of the stage in the middle of her performance so as to concede defeat. But behold, she got to the peak of her song and that I can almost say it was the original artist singing if only I weren’t looking at the boob (no pun intended) tube.

What really disappoints me tonight was Ryan Starr’s performance. I think it was his worst performance that I’ve ever seen. I was expecting him to sing Coldplay’s Clocks into almost perfection, but it never came. The piano stunts never impressed me as well, as it just compromised rather than accentuate his performance. The crawling move likewise made it look cheap & just plain copy cat.

Magni I think performed well, but I think his peers just keeps on overshadowing whatever he does. I likewise learned tonight that he is (or was?) from Iceland and that is one big factor that could pull him down due to lesser online/SMS votes assuming that only everyone from Iceland votes for him versus Ryan’s USA, Lukas’ Canada & Toby’s Australian voters. Hopefully, his campaign to call on more votes will help him tomorrow.

With all that said, I can conclude that Supernova will have a hard time picking their front man or woman in this case. I think I spoke too soon when I said to my wife that a woman doesn’t fit in this band. Well, I stand corrected. The pressure I on, and it’s on both sides o – i.e. the Judges and contestants. Whoever will win this contest, he/she deserves it! Someday, hopefully, it will be their CD playing while I write another blog.