Black and Elegant Bib Necklace

Accessories in  general is crucial as it either make or break your Outfit of the Day. This is one thing I have in mind when I am trying to create a necklace that can go with the flow to our trendy fashionistas.

This item is for sale.

And choosing the right color is definitely a must to consider. I was thinking of something that can be worn any day at anytime. Be it with school uniform or office attire. Somehow this bib type of necklace is something worth a try.

I decided to have it in black accented with a silvery flowerette to enhance the beauty of the necklace. The necklace is made of black stone and black crystal.

Binibining Pilipinas 2015 Personal Top 10 Picks

Finally, the day has come to choose the most beautiful Filipina in the Universe. Hahaha in other words, its BB Pilipinas competition again. As usual everyone has their own top picks... and so I am. I simply choose the profile of the candidate based on my first impression. The impression that she can make the cut to the international scene. Basically as I see their picture my requirement is, her connection to the camera and to her surrounding. The expression on her eyes, her posture, the language spoken without the words.

So here are my Top 10 picks. In NO PARTICULAR ORDER

Who among the ladies will reign supreme during the Coronation Night on March 15 at the Araneta Coliseum. Buy your tickets now at www.ticketnet.com.ph

Photo Credit to Binibining Pilipinas (Official)

Personal Equity and Retirement Account

Dont let your money sleep in a piggy bank. Let it grow. Enroll now at PERA

When I look around me I just realized that there are a lot of Filipinos who actually depend on government retirement benefit and witnessing them struggle at their twilight years is somehow heart breaking. They depend on their relatives during this year.

When you listen to their stories, some of them has a better paying job during their earlier days. They were able to help some relatives go to college or help them on their wedding days or gave them money to send them abroad and story goes on. For me, I wanted to grow old and totally financially capable in paying off my bills and hospitalization. A friend told me that I have to start saving for it. I must admit that saving is such a difficult more so if you are not accustomed to it.

With the re-birth of Personal Equity and Retirement Account otherwise known as PERA, I believe that it will help the working community ensures them of a better retirement plan. The idea is for you to save money through accredited banks, brokers, or mutual fund company or insurance company. Note though that, you must only apply to accredited parties to avoid fraud.

Who are qualified?

For as long as you have a Tax Identification Number, you are of legal age then you are qualified. The earlier you start establishing your PERA Account the better. An individual can save up to Php 100,000 in a year and you can withdraw the said amount plus any additional earnings surrounding it once you reached your retirement date. Overseas Filipino Contract Workers are also qualified for up to Php 200,000.

Can I withdraw Earlier?

Basically, the answer is YES and there will be surcharges as well. Plus, you will be paying all other benefits like the 5% Tax Credit. There are some exemptions though on this rule: 1. Payment for any accident or illnesses related incidents duly authorized by the doctor. 2. Permanent Disability but needs certification from government agencies like SSS and 3. if you transfer the withdrawn amount to your another PERA account 2 working days upon withdrawal.

If you meet those 3 criteria's then you don't have to pay those charges.

Benefits of PERA to YOU?

Its an investment that will ensure you to have a saving at your retirement age is definitely the main reason for me why you must be a PERA holder. It gives you assurance that when you reach the age of retirement then definitely you will have a money to cover for your expenses. One Hundred Thousand is not enough but at least you have something that can help you.

Another importance of having the PERA is you will have a 5% annual tax credit. That's another good thing. Whatever discount from the TAX I think is a good thing and an advantage.

Your money will gain because the fund manager will be investing your money in so many forms.

Please note: I am not a PERA Expert nor work for any of the fund managers. I am simply expressing my idea and giving first hand idea. Please visit any PERA Accredit fund managers, banks, or insurance company. Please also note to only contact those who are accredited. I suggest BPI for setting up your PERA Account.

For more information: BPI PRIMER

Is your SSS Guarantee you at Retirement?

After working hard we all want to make sure that once we reached our twilight years we definitely wanted  to have a better and financial stability. Since we are on our twilight years we definitely will rely on our retirement benefit and of course for private employee SSS is on top of  their priority list that they would depend on. Though it is good to have a Social Security System, the amount though is not enough to cover the needs. Of course by that time we need maintenance, city services, and other special needs.

I am already on my early 30's and its a good thing I realized that the idea of depending to SSS is not a good idea at all. I cannot afford to have Php 4400 to Php 6500 per month for my monthly retirement from them.

I would say that most of the younger professionals in the Philippines is either supporting their siblings go to college, their parents or they have their own family. With the high amount of tax being paid plus high amount 

Here's my plan to have a better retirement and only time can tell if it is successful or if I made a mistake.

SSS is it worth it? Is it enough?

1. Savings Account - saving a portion or at least Php 500 per payday is good enough to start. though it is not a guarantee that it will  cover everything at least you still have something for emergency purposes. This will somehow be an Emergency Fund account for me someday and I am planning to start it the soonest possible time. Having a savings account to some is tempting more so that you'd be thinking you have a money in the bank ready for withdrawal. However, having it is very helpful in helping you develop your sense of responsibility in saving something out of very minimal salary. They say the most effective way to save is to remove the money you are willing to save before breaking down your salary into the budget.
2. Personal Equity and Retirement Account - otherwise known as PERA in the Philippines. This is somehow similar to the 401(k) or IRA in US. PERA Act of 2008 urges the working public to save money for their benefit when they retire. An individual can apply up to 4 PERA Account through accredit banks. An individual locally employed can save upto Ph 100,000 or Php 200,000 for Filipinos working abroad.
3. Mutual Funds - This is for my long term goal. The problem for Filipino workforce like me is a lot of us doesn't know how to invest their money. Investing is necessary as it gives you a better and higher returns compared to depositing your money in a bank like Savings, Current, or Time Deposit. Providing the luxury and needs of the family is good. Giving them the best of everything is way better. However, I also would like to think of me when I can no longer work. I don't want to be totally dependent to my family members when I grow old so the need of much better retirement capabilities is also needed.

My Homeless Experience

I practically spent most of my childhood up until I few years of my career life in the Mountainous areas of Benguet. The dazzling quite busy street of Baguio City. Way back then I dreamed to be working somewhere else where people practically never sleep. A place where I could challenge my capabilities as a person and of course professionally as well.

So I decided to find a job in Metro Manila. I am a typical ambitious probinsyano Igorot Boy, I dreamed to work in any offices at Ayala Avenue in Makati. Dreaming as a kid full of ambition, I dreamed of wearing those coat and ties. So when I applied in one of those Job Caravan in Baguio.

I am having fever when I was applying. Luckily I made it to the final cut. I got hired Saturday early morning and I have to start Monday Evening so I have to ask my mom that time to help me come up with a pocket money to start while working in Manila. Lucky enough, I am assigned in Ayala.

My mom told me to contact our relatives here in Metro Manila. So I am pretty excited, for me its a whole new experience. Finally, God gave me my dream to be working in a place I thought it would only be for a dream.

When the bus I am riding finally reached North Luzon  Express Way, I suddenly realized that if I am going to stay with a relative, it would defeat my purpose of challenging myself to finally be independent. I suddenly decided to use the money I borrowed from my mom to use it in renting a house. I basically don't have anything but I knew I can make it and I knew I can succeed.

I reached Manila Monday afternoon. Tired and exhausted, I slept at the bench at Victory Pasay. It was really humid by then as I am accustomed to the cold weather but who cares I need to have some rest and as I need to attend my training at Etelecare to prepare me for the work. The lady guard woke me up and told me to vacate the area (maybe she's thinking I am homeless, which is true) I asked her to help me place my things at the luggage area and told her that I need to go to work.

Being homeless for at least a month, with very little money at hand somehow is really a roller coaster feeling. Eating at "Jolly Jeeps" along the streets of Ayala, sleeping in the company's sleeping quarter, bathing in a bus station. At some point in time, I am about to go and see our relatives but I hold off because I want to prove I can make it through.

Finally, I was able to find a place to stay at Fairview Quezon City with a friend from Baguio too. It is interesting because these experience made me value everything that I have. It made me realize that saying "I can't" is actually beneficial only if you have to do something on the situation I think I can't do. As a matter of fact, the realization came in late when I reflect back to what had transpired. I strive harder to fit in, I strive harder to be better that what I was used to be. The meaning of good LIFE for me has change when I finally had the chance to look back on those days when I chose to be homeless. Life is a matter of striving harder to make it better. There's no such thing as bad life or bad situation, it only becomes bad because of the attitude we put  towards it.

Being Homeless is not a bad thing, staying homeless for the rest of your life is bad. Well, that's what I learned after looking back to the time when I decided to be homeless. I would say no one chooses to be homeless its just a matter of situation that brings them to a certain point of being homeless. I am lucky enough that somehow, I have a job and that I have something in my pocket to buy food. My homeless  experience thought me on how to see the homeless on a different angle.

Being homeless gives me the courage to value all the things that I have and the people I am with.

Fully Beaded Cellphone Case

Finally, I was able to build something that most girls or boys would love. Lets cover your cellphone case with blings and crystals, swarovski and beads. Anything that sparks would be the idea of my cellphone case project.

Look how I transformed my cell phone case from a boring semi-leather cellphone case:

To a beautiful full beaded cellphone case with swarovski and beads. I created a Philippine flag made of pearl as well acting as a major design of the back of the cellphone case.

So here's the before and after collage:

So you can either do these by yourself or order it from me... :)

CRAZY cover by MASP

Here's another one  I wanted to share with everyone.

Lets enjoy music and have fun!

Nanabik by Mark Padilla

A friend of mine is doing some cover so I decided to share it with anyone. He is a Filipino Guy from the Northern Part of the Philippines and here is his song...

When man falls in love, they'd definitely give their all. The song is about a man who is away from the girl he loves and cares. He may be away, but he promises that one day they'll be both together again.

Lets here mark sing the song.

Nananabik - is an original composition of Mark

This video is owned by Mark. I am featuring his works here with his permission. I will also be featuring some of my friends when I have their permission.

Full Crystal Choker

Another wonderful creation and I am really proud off. Giving variation to my creation, I started creating a choker that is totally cool and most be enjoyed by everyone.

I decided to use an open ended leather strand so it can be worn  in different neck size. I am sure this will  fit with any outfit you have since the color combination is really generic yet very elegant as it is a crystal in darker form.

Artful Weekend Beading Neacklace

Again, one of the necklace I created over the weekend. One of its many kind of combining different kind of beads to come up with a beautiful necklace. Good thing is it can be worn in different occasion.

There would be more necklace creation in the coming days! and I hope to hear from you.