A lesson for Juan Dela Cruz

Today's headline in The Philippine Daily Inquirer says: "Don't dumb down viewers, TV urged". Read the news here.

In Tagalog: Huwag gawing bobo ang mga Pinoy sa mga ipinalalabas sa TV shows.

This is one of my advocacies. This is one of the things i'd like to shout out to every Pinoy. That we're better than what these TV stations (and radio) think. That we can change if want to.

Imagine the whole day the Pinoy gets to watch silly TV shows? And continue on at night before going to bed?
This has been going on for decades now. Kaya hindi tayo umaasenso, is because we tolerate this.

Value your time, people. I'm not saying you stop entertaining yourself totally. I'm preaching PRODUCTIVITY here. Get busy; Be always on the go.
Find work during your spare time.(Read about it here.) Look for anything productive. Sayang ang oras.

This is one of the Filipino's sicknesses - we do not value time. Lagi na lang tayong pa-petik-petik. This has got to change. Really, it's time (read my article about time here) . If not now, our kids will redo this in their lifetime as well.

Again, the lesson for today: Re-think; Start valuing your time. Time is gold. Every minute spent without any production is a wasted minute forever. Hindi na natin ito maibabalik pa.

What i'm saying is that the Pinoy's version of creating wealth isn't just creating wealth. It's deeper. It starts from changing the society we live in.

Readers' question: How do i save money?

A reader emailed me, asking "how do i save money?".Another one asks my opinion on Francisco Colayco's suggestion (in his book, Pera mo, Palaguin mo) of using envelopes.

With this post, I hope to answer these questions in the simplest, and most effective way i can. In fact, i will only use 3 words: Just do it!

I'm sorry if you were expecting a magic formula. But folks, really, ask yourself, how else do you expect yourself to save? In my opinion, there is no formula. Just willpower.

By all means you can, save every excess centavo. These add up. It's developing the habit that's more important. Once you've developed the habit, and have made this automatic and lasting, I promise you, you will very soon be taking the next big leap which is "growing your money" thru investments.


I can relate to you, ordinary Juan Dela Cruzes. I've been there. I am living proof that this is possible. Discipline, willpower and a bias for action. These are key.

Hesitant still? Also read (click links) relevant topics about:

a) Why create wealth?
b) Why save?
c) Money-saving tips
d) Investing 101
e) What to do with money saved

Basketball and building wealth in the Philippines

Before anything else, let me make it clear: I love basketball. I play the game 3x a week. It is one of my greatest passions in life. However, i feel time is beginning to catch up on me. One day soon, i'll be saying goodbye to the sport. But not before i give the Filipino youngsters out there a piece of my mind. 

"one of my personal joys"

The Pinoy male reader will definitely relate to this post. The female ones, my apologies if you cannot. 

Something’s really wrong with the below scenario:

Almost everyday at around 3pm, a group of  basketball playing guys travel to an unfamiliar barangay to look for worthy opponents. This is called “dayo”, in street language. Normally, the hosts (the ones dinayo) would agree to play but with a bet, to which the visitors (the dayo) accept as this is their intention in the first place – to try to win games so as to bring home cash.

So the exciting game begins.