Swine Flu Outbreak

I thought of AH1N1 the newest biological weapon that cruel scientists had created whose aim is to get rich by the increase demand of the vaccine. This was my opinion until I was able to converse with a friend. As our conversation flowed what I believed in turned out to be nonsense. He explained to me the factual cause of the spread of the disease. The rapid spread of the AH1N1 virus was very alarming to the public. It affected more than 100 countries all around the globe. The largest mortality rate caused by the swine flu virus was in the U.S. compared to Mexico, where the virus originated. In the Philippines we have one case of death when it had its first stop here. Some schools here in the city were closed and classes were suspended due to the positive cases of AH1N1. My son should have enjoyed a week’s long vacation. He had been put to bed rest for a couple of days because he had fever and headache. We did not go to see a doctor or let him undergo some medical test to see if he is positive with swine flu. Fortunately, he recovered before the classes resume.

I remember the movie Outbreak way back 1999. It starred Dustin Hoffman whom he tried saving the life of his ex-wife who was contaminated with the Ebola virus. I also watched the documentary of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) in a friend’s house a couple of months ago before the AH1N1 pandemic occurred. Going back to me and my friend’s conversation, the Ebola (Hemorrhagic Fever) was said to be the REAL biological weapon. It is spread through direct contact and airborne. Therefore, the film has exaggerated the story where as in the real world according to Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD), there was no documented spread among humans as of 2007.

The AH1N1 was considered to be another SARS according to World Health Organization (WHO). The spread of the two viruses are through aerial and contact with the infected person. Base on asiaone.com, the differences between the two are: the swine infected person is contagious before symptoms appear and are at most communicable at the start of the infection while in SARS sufferers are infectious after symptoms start showing and almost all cases will develop symptoms.

The origins of these zoonotic disease outbreaks were the monkey, the cat or a bat, and the pig, respectively. When the virus spread on the human host, the body has this compensatory mechanism where in our antibodies will fight for the virus. If the virus is dominant than our antibodies it tends to destroy it and thus leaving the body more vulnerable for more infection. Sooner or later our body gives in to the virus and so death occurs. The infected person has to undergo a lot of diagnostic test and take vaccines so he can boosts his resistance to the virus. The government has extended the awareness program for the preventive measures among its subordinates and to the people.

Way of communication changed over the years

The digital age is taking the lead in communicating with one another and with today’s latest technology and innovation perhaps there is no reason why we can’t break the barriers of communication. In just a matter of seconds we can close a deal right away without exerting much effort in traveling and spending money for a trip just to settle something with a client or a business partner.

I became an internet savvy person when I entered into the Search Engine Optimization (SEO) world. My knowledge in using the computer had expanded. Also, the time spent in front of the PC had increased- thanks to my brother-in-law- provided me with internet connection that had proved to be very useful.

One thing I missed is the old fashion way of communicating. A long conversation on the telephone until your ears burn from the pressure of the handset or simply seeing the person you are talking to. Snail mails, that would take a month or so to arrive to friends or relatives from distant places, were being replaced by the digital-age way of communication.

Webcams and cellular phones are the trend nowadays. Even mobile phone models were upgraded every month to catch up with people’s lifestyle. You can send messages, do unlimited calls 24/7, regardless what network you are hooked to attempt to outdo the competition. Of course, there is also the popular and widely used Yahoo Messenger, Skype, Eyeball and among others as ways of communicating using the World Wide Web. You just add the email address of your contacts and there you can instantly chat, talk and even simultaneously see them online. The electronic mail (e-mail) is one of the services that the internet can provide to people who have no time of snail mails. All you need is just an e-mail account from the various websites such as Yahoo, Gmail, Hotmail, Facebook, Friendster, and a lot more to send and receive electronic letters with just a snap of your finger.

The digital age had improved the way of communication in the workplace, businesses and to people from different walks of life in any part of the globe and has definitely made the world’s way smaller than it used to be.

But sad to say I, myself is not a techie person. The world of technology may evolve around me but I cannot adapt to its fast pace of growth. Hehehehe…

“Till Debt Do Us Part: Practical Tips to Financial Freedom”

I came across an article in The Philippine Star newspaper written by Butch Francisco, a showbiz talk show host of ABS-CBN’s Showbiz Linggo. He had a one on one interview with Chinkee Tan. As far as I could remember, his funny facial expressions on television made me laugh way back in the late 80’s. I even researched on the internet for some important information about him. His real name is Ferdinand Tan, also known as Chinkee Tan in show business. He was one of the members of Randy Santiago’s Hawi Boys, (the cowboy outlaws spoof of Philippine television) who also gave him the screen name, ”Chinkee” because of his chinito eyes. Honestly speaking, I am not a big fan of him and neither watches his shows regularly when he was still active in show business world. What brought me to write this “blog” is that he caught my attention of the book that he had written “Till Debt Do Us Part”, which I think is a very useful guide to financial management. Today, he as a successful entrepreneur, shares his practical tips on how to be debt free. Here are 11 ways taken from the book he wrote:

1. Love your profession. Be a professional. Be excellent in what you are doing. Never be late for work. Do your best. Never take things for granted. What you do not value you lose. You will never know how important it is until you lose it.
2. Save! Save! Save! Remember it is not how much you make that is important but how much money you save. Even if you make P100, 000 a month but if your lifestyle is at P120,000 a month you will be in debt. Even if you make only 20,000 a month but if you live below it you will be far of richer than the one who is making P100,000.
3. Be secure! Never compare yourself with other people. Being envious with other is not healthy. Two negative things happen, it is either you become proud that you are ahead of others or you become sad because others are ahead of you. They are both negative. The question we need to ask ourselves is that “Did you do your best and exert all effort?” If nothing happens it is not God’s will. Wait patiently for your time will come.
4. Invest! Invest! Invest! As you accumulate wealth make sure that invest it in the right places. I personally have invested some of my earnings in real estate and now I am having it leased and it is bringing me income even if I stop working. Questions you need to ask yourself “What if I stop working right now, will I still earn the money I need to support my lifestyle?” Let money work for you and do not work for money.
5. Learn before investing. People often complain about the high cost of learning. Allow me to reason with you about the high cost of ignorance. It is so difficult to earn and save money. But it is so easy to spend it. One wrong decision can cost you lifetime savings. Make sure before you invest ask, study and invest in something you understand. Learn before you earn. Read books, attend seminars and trainings that will enhance you.
6. One caution in investment. Avoid high risk investment. The higher the interest the higher the risk.
7. Diversify. Never put your eggs in one basket. You are only good as your last project. Reinvent yourself. You cannot be popular and stay in demand forever. So use your popularity as leverage in order to create more opportunities for yourself. Get involved in business, as much as possible start something you love to do. If you have no experience in running a business partner with someone who has the experience.
8. Be a wise spender. Avoid overspending and out of control spending. If money comes in too quick there is a tendency for you to spend it also too fast. Since you will have the mindset that more money will come in later. You exposed yourself by buying jewellery, a condo, lot or a car through mortgage or monthly payments. My question is “What if the money making machine stops?” What will happen to things you acquired? It will all be taken away.
9. Buy in cash stay away from debt. When you buy it in cash it is yours. Statistics shows that you tend to spend more if you buy things in credit especially if you use your credit card. Do not fall into the 12 months zero interest scheme. Credit card is the most emotionless and painless way of spending money. But once the billing statement comes “Ouch!” the pain sets in.
10. Be humble and considerate. Keep your feet planted on the ground. Make friends while you are on your way up. Never be arrogant and insensitive. Be careful of what you become in what you pursue in life. The question you need to ask yourself in pursuing your dreams and aspirations in life is, “Is it bringing out the best in me or the worst in me?”
11. Remember money is very relative. The more money you have the more relatives you have. Just like in life, if you are rich and famous you have many friends and people like to hang out with you. But you will only know who your true friends are when you lose everything. Ask those who had been there, done that.

“Hope this information will help and save you from pain and heartaches. As for me I do not believe in the saying “Experience is the best teacher.” Allow me to rephrase it by saying; learning from other people’s mistakes and experiences is the best teacher.” By Chinkee Tan

I thought of buying a copy of this book aside from the “Purpose Driven Life”. Maybe I should save to buy these two useful reading materials which are very good to ponder on.

Music to Fall In Love With

Can you still remember the songs during your college days? It was year 1999 or earlier I guess, when I was hooked on listening to Tamia’s songs and all other nice R&B beats.  I have not heard of those played in the radio stations for quite some time.  I can only remember few titles. So I typed in “songs of 1999″ on Google and there  goes the list.  I have chosen only few tracks in the list and added some songs in the mid 90’s and year 2000. These songs may have serve as soundtrack in one of the episodes of our lives. For me,  this will always remind me of someone that I used to be so madly in love with. Ha! We ended up marrying each other after a year and a half of courtship. Anyways, that was part of my past. Click here to listen to the playlist.

Farewell Uncle Jun

Whenever I hear this song “One Day in Your Life”, I could not help but feel emotional. It is one of my favourite songs. I consider it a tear-jerking one.  I remember having a duet with my cousin in a family gathering. Before we could reach the second line of the song, tears started to fall. Our voice shivered while we were singing “One Day In Your Life”.  He (my cousin) has the voice like that of the young Michael Jackson. I read that MJ wanted to play this song in his farewell concert or in his funeral.  Today, my cousin will be singing the song again but not in a party but in his father’s funeral.  Farewell to my Uncle Jun. We will miss you.  (Click here to listen to the track).