"Making Money....the Biblical Way"

           Frugality is not my cup of tea. Whenever I'm in the mood to earn more than I spend, I always stumble and ends up broke due to my own ignorance of money-making/money-managing principles that I ought to have, especially now that we have a tight budget to follow. Perhaps, I can also blame my personal values as well because I have been used with the belief that as long as you earn money, you don't have to worry about your own survival. But this same principle has led me into many awful traps and made me the worst money handler that I can be. I remember earning 20,000 pesos in my last call center job and spending all of it within an astounding 2 weeks. It's just recently when my father died of heart attack that all of my financial flaws have dawned on me. Luckily, the price to learn these lessons was something I could afford; It came in the form of a very affordable book (it will only cost you 50 pesos!)  entitled "Ang Pera na Hindi Bitin: How to Manage Your Money so God Will Entrust You With More" written by Ardy Roberto, an award winning entrepreneur and writer, and published by OMF Literature Inc.

       The book was written in simple Tag-lish (Tagalog-English), informal, and conversational in approach. It is so entertaining and engaging that I finished reading the 97-paged book in just two-and-a-half hours of sitting. Mr. Roberto not only presented realistic principles about money but also infused several biblical examples and passages that surprised me so much because I thought that "the money is the root of all evil" thing already made it clear that the holy manuscript is totally against 'making money' and 'being rich'. But I was wrong about two things: first, the book is not about helping people to become billionaires but about helping people earn and make the most of what they have, second, God doesn't despise money-making businesses, instead, He cares so much about how we manage our money and wealth through the principle of "financial stewardship", which was emphasized by the author at the very beginning of the book. This principle tells us about God and how he entrust us with the money and wealth that we have just like the servants in "the parable of talents" written in the Bible. We don't own a single thing here on earth but how we make the money that God has entrusted to us grow  no matter how scarce or limited it is will be the determining factor of how trustworthy we are as His servants. It is not all about having more money than we actually need, which is usually the root of greed and all evils, but having the right principles and frame of mind about managing our money to suit our own needs and even give to people who are in need.
             This little book of practicality is bursting with easily digested information that will motivate people like me who are in need of an inspiration to start managing our resources more effectively. The seven principles of effective money-management suggested by Mr. Ardy Roberto is both  timeless and practical which can be applied by people from all walks of life. I'm about to graduate from college this April 2011 and the life-changing money principles and biblical verses I got from this book will definitely be of great help once I step out of the university and start fulfilling the duties of a 'breadwinner'. I still have many things to learn but I will take my own 'baby steps' to move forward. I'm thankful that God made me grab this book at a very crucial time of my life. Needless to say, money and bible can be a perfect combination if treated with the right kind of technique and wisdom. I'm very glad that "Ang Pera na Hindi Bitin" has made it all possible.   

"Apocalypse and Beyond"

Imagine yourself alone in a nameless city perfectly resembling a post-war portrait. Towering rubbles and decaying bodies scattered everywhere you go; a harrowing scene that would best describe what a nightmare is. Imagine that this is real. In a blink of an eye, the world as you know it is now an ash land devoid of its flora and fauna, leaving you and other few survivors the choice to either live or die, to survive or to perish, to go on or to lose hope. The choice is yours. And with all the integrity left of your humanity amidst the harshest of all human conditions, what will you choose?

This is a hypothetical question that has been haunting me ever since I learned of Nostradamus, the Mayan prophecies, the four horsemen of Revelations, and all the events that will lead to the "end-of-the-world" phenomenon. They call it the 'Apocalypse'.

It was during my senior year in high school when the subject first tickled my imagination. I remember watching the movie Left Behind and witnessed how the "believers" of Jesus Christ suddenly vanished without a single trace, leaving the "nonbelievers" behind. Then came the biblical prophecies: the parable of ten virgins, the “rapture”, the “second coming”, the satanic 666, and the symbolical two beasts: the “beast of the sea” and the “beast of the earth”, which will turn out to be the "antichrist" couple at the end of times. I can still recall how it shook my spirituality and left me sleepless for some nights.

Fast forward to the present time, I'm still in awe on how stories from this specific genre still capture my interest. It makes me wonder about the fate that awaits our world in the future. But no matter how rich the literature is, only few fictional stories really moulded my perception about the 'Apocalypse' and the ‘life’ beyond it.

Every once in a while, a book changes how a person views his world. The Road did that to me.

It was a chance encounter. The cover shows a man hugging his child in a very dark and heart-breaking backdrop. Upon reading its back cover, I found out that the book has a post-apocalyptic theme so I grabbed it right away. Unbeknownst to me, The Road is actually Cormac McCarthy's magnum opus and was even awarded the 2007 Pulitzer Prize for Fiction and the James Tait Black Memorial Prize for Fiction in 2006. I fell in love with this heart-wrenching masterpiece not because of its 'goodness' but of the 'darkness' which deeply engulfed my imagination and left me emotionally disturbed for quite some time. I even watched its movie adaptation which stars Lord of the Ring's Viggo Mortensen and was equally surprised by its compelling power and substance.

Using a cryptic but clear style of writing uniquely of his own, McCarthy tells the story of a father and his son who has survived an unknown cataclysm that left the world shattered and almost lifeless. Bringing only a grocery cart containing all of their belongings, they took the road and started travelling towards the south with hopes of finding safe haven in the end. Their profound journey continues as they struggle to survive in a world that is now dominated by cannibalism, hunger, death, and hopelessness. And as they come face-to-face with death every day, they would learn that keeping the "fire" within them still proves to be the best way to overcome seemingly insurmountable odds and still be "human" after all.

"You remember what you want to forget and you forget what you want to remember" is the novel's battle cry which speaks for the bleak and gloomy mood that the story has to offer. It is not the 'bad dreams' that one should be worried about because that means you're still fighting, as said by the father. Pain is a key to survival. It reminds me of my fellow countrymen under extreme conditions yet still manages to survive on a daily basis. Perhaps the pain of hunger is the main catalyst why most poverty-stricken Filipinos are able to think of ways to survive or, if they’re lucky enough, come out of it and make “rags-to-riches” stories out of their own lives.

But by just reading between the lines, I fully captured what The Road intends to impart.

Our planet is a "ticking time bomb". Some scientists might say that the end is yet to come because its expiration date may still be billion years away. But times have changed and our planet's irreversible extinction may be sooner than we actually thought. Beyond the unconditional fatherly love that the book portrays is a lesson that human civilization has been struggling to learn for ages. We've been warned about the green house effect, the hole in the ozone layer, the continuous threats of the global warming, and all the man-made phenomena here and there. They are the anatomy of every natural disaster that shook the whole world. And if we don't start changing our ways, the world as we know it will gradually turn into the dark ash land just like in The Road. Who knows? It could be ten or twenty years from now.

Without a doubt, The Road is a haunting tale of survival, love, and most importantly, life. If history taught me one thing, it would be the reality that life is all about choices. I've always been fascinated about the 'Apocalypse' but to tell you the truth, it is the darkest parts of our past that thrills me the most. From the dark Holocaust of WWII to the horrendous 9/11 attacks in the U.S., all of these human tragedies have proven how futile a single human life can be once the universe conspires to take such a huge quantity of casualties. These are the ‘signs’ that we ought to take heed of and behind all these is our power to live our lives to the fullest while it’s not too late. No one really knows how much time is left for us but The Road gives us two choices: We can either take the road of creedless comfort or the road to painful survival, with our own integrity still intact. Two roads. Two destinations. The choice is ours.

"Orosa-Nakpil, Malate: Gem of the Gay Subculture"

It was my first time to read a book that bravely touches one controversial aspect of our society. This book tells a story that deals with issues such as unconventional love, homosexuality, anal sex, and AIDS, all at the same time. But I didn't regret buying the book as far as the knowledge and eye-opening reality that I've gained from "Orosa-Nakpil, Malate" are concerned. Actually, the book's Tagalog version was first published last 2007 but it was only recently that I had the courage to take it out of the bookstore shelf, this time in it's new English version. I don't have the prerogative to make comparisons because I haven't read the Tagalog version yet, but based on Gangcuangco's recent version, I could say that his book can be regarded as a modern gem of pink literature. It's a story that will make you cry and will teach essential information about AIDS at the same time. I could say that the execution of the story was done in such a way that the readers will feel for the characters and eventually, will heed the author's call to stay safe against the infection which  has been linked to the BPO industry these days. Although some may sense a bit of predictability on the first few pages of the book, the story would eventually reveal certain twists and turns that makes "Orosa-Nakpil, Malate" a different kind of gay love story. This book has a captivating story that will make anyone cry and ask for more, regardless of sexual orientation. And like Brokeback Mountain, "Orosa-Nakpil, Malate" provides readers a simple glimpse to the bittersweet life of homosexuals, showing all the struggles, sorrows, and tragedies of a typical Filipino gay living within a harshly conservative society. For your convenience, I included some book infos from the author itself courtesy of one of my favorite Filipino blogs, Manila Gay Guy:


Synopsis: Dave is a young medical student who frequently goes to Malate. In Barn, a bar that houses a dark room, he meets the men who entangle him in a web of love, vengeance, and sex.

Louie Mar Gangcuangco, the author

        From the author, Louie Mar Gangcuangco: I wrote the story two years ago, when I was just seventeen. What inspired me to write the novel? It’s a monosyllabic word many people fail to understand – love.
         This is a tough confession. At sixteen, I have been splurging my extra  cash inside Malate’s premiere gay places. For more than half a year, I have had whirlwind love affairs that most lasted for barely two weeks. But things changed when I met him.
       We met at Bath. Ooh… I still remember how gorgeous he was. His eyes were hazelbrown. The way he looked at me was tempting. His physique was really sexy. But what hit me was his personality. His was unique. His was matchless wit. Best of all… He knows how to speak French.
       I loved him with all my heart. Twice we went out on dates that went more than the casual chitchat and dinner. We ate a lot. So much that even our souls took part in the banquet. I sacrificed so much for him, but after he grew tired of my youth, all he did was to brand me a “nuisance.
      That December afternoon, I cried over the phone, telling him how rude it was of him to treat me like trash. We met and he apologized. But the pain he caused me made me sit in front of my laptop. And words kept flowing on and on. The keyboard ticked… lagatakatak… for three long months until the third draft of the then-called “Orosa-Nakpil, Malate: Isang Kasaysayan ng Pag-Ibig, was created.
      Nine months seem like batting an eyelash. “Orosa-Nakpil, Malate:Isang Kasaysayan ng Pag-ibig matured into “Orosa-Nakpil,Malate Pagkagat ng Dilim and is finally released with a shorter title, “Orosa-Nakpil, Malate.
     “Orosa-Nakpil, Malate was evaluated by Dr. Jaime Galvez Tan, the former Secretary of Health; Dr. Valenzuela from PGH; Prof Leano from UP College of Medicine; and Dr. Destura from the National Institues of Health.

"The Alchemist" and the Success Formula

              "When you want something, all the universe conspires in helping you to achieve it."- -These are the words that immortalizes the power of dreams and of the supreme influence that "The Alchemist" has rendered to all of its readers around the globe. Lucky enough, I got the opportunity to plunge into the magic world of "The Alchemist" after I purchased it a week ago. I already read a lot of reviews regarding the book's content before I actually got hold of it, and most of them labelled the book as "inspiring" and "life-changing". Out of curiosity and an extreme need for inspiration, I bought the book and finished the whole thing within three days. In general, the flow and the theme of the story make the book quite engaging to read, not mentioning the lessons that one will digest after reading this Paulo Coelho masterpiece. It's the story of Santiago, an Andalusian shepherd boy who dreamed about a treasure hidden in the Pyramids of Egypt. He was encouraged to follow his dreams by a gypsy woman and an old man who claimed to be the king of Salem, and who eventually gave him the two crystal stones , Urim and Thummim that would help him make a decision during his journey. Along the way, he was robbed of all his belongings which forced him to work for a crystal merchant for a year, where he learned the values of patience, taking risks, and of not giving up on one's dreams. After deciding to continue pursuing his dream, he met an Englishman who had been dreaming of meeting the alchemist, a 200 year-old man who has the Elixir of Life and the Philosopher's Stone , which can turn lead into gold. Someone told the Englishman that the alchemist lives within the Al-Fayoum oasis, the reason why he, together with Santiago, headed to the place through the caravan. There, Santiago met Fatima, a girl who captured his heart and almost hindered him in his journey towards the Pyramids, and the alchemist, who taught him a lot of lessons that led him towards realizing his Personal Legend. Santiago finally reached the Pyramids of Egypt and learned that his treasures can be found by going back to where he came from.
               "The Alchemist" is more of a parable rather than a serious novel that used simple, easy-to-understand writing without sacrificing the essence of its contents. Anyone will be engaged to Santiago's story because any normal person with a dream in his heart can identify to the character's frustrations, misgivings, doubts, apprehensions, pain, sacrifices, and sufferings that are natural elements that one should face if he's ready to die to achieve his dreams. We all have our own Personal Legend but most of the time, we set them aside because we fear that we don't deserve fulfilling our dreams or the path leading to it entails sacrifices that might hurt our loved ones and ourselves. However, "The Alchemist" teaches every one to take risks, focus on our dreams amidst all frustrations, and live in our present unrestrained by our past and uncontrolled by our future. It doesn't offer a complicated version of a success formula but it gives every one an opportunity to assess his/her dreams whether hidden or already realized and reminds all of us to not quit on this dreams no matter what because this is the one and only way to satisfy our souls. God gives us omens to follow which leads to our Personal Legends; It could be employment termination, rejections, death of a loved one, accidents, or any negative events that are completely devastating to a normal person but for the Supreme Creator of all things, these are the events that will help us realize the real path that we should take in our life. These are the things that the book has taught to me. Thank God, I met "The Alchemist".
              As a tribute to this life-changing masterpiece, I have listed the most unforgettable and essential quotation I encountered while reading the book. I hope anyone who will read these will somehow experience spiritual uplift like what I have experienced from "The Alchemist".






• "It's the possibility of having a dream come true that makes life interesting."


• "It's the simple things in life that are the most extraordinary; only wise men are able to understand them."


• "At a certain point in our lives, we lose control of what's happening to us, and our lives become controlled by fate. That's the world's greatest lie."


• "When you want something, all the universe conspires in helping you to achieve it."


• "We are afraid of losing what we have, whether it's our life or our possessions and property. But this fear evaporates when we understand that our life stories and the history of the world were written by the same hand."


• "Because I don't live in either my past or my future. I'm interested only in the present. If you can concentrate always on the present, you'll be a happy man. You'll see that there is life in the desert, that there are stars in the heavens, and that tribesmen fight because they are part of the human race. Life will be a party for you, a grand festival, because life is the moment we're living right now."


• "God created the desert so that man could appreciate the date trees."


• If you pay attention to the present, you can improve upon it. And, if you improve in the present, what comes later will also be better. Forget about the future, and live each day according to the teachings, confident that God loves His children. Each day, in itself, brings with it an eternity."


• "It's not what enters men's mouths that's evil, It's what comes out of their mouths that is."


• "Wherever your heart is, that is where you'll find your treasure."


• "People are afraid to pursue their most important dreams, because they feel that they don't deserve them, or that they'll be unable to achieve them."


• "Tell your heart that the fear of suffering is worse than the suffering itself. And that no heart has ever suffered when it goes in search of its dreams, because every second of the search is a second's encounter with God and with eternity."


• "Every search begins with beginner's luck. And every search ends with the victor's being severely tested."


• "When you possess great treasures within you, and try to tell others of them, seldom are you believed."


• "There is only one thing that makes a dream impossible to achieve: the fear of failure."

Surgeons Do Not Cry: Book in Focus

Click the image for more book details


"A doctor, or any medical worker for that matter, has to learn to draw a line between his personal emotions and the job he has to do, if he is ever going to be able to do it well"- Dr. Jose Tiongco, author of "Surgeons Do Not Cry"

I'm still in so much trepidation regarding the decision that I'm obliged to make for myself: to be or not to be a doctor. Needless to say, the financial issue and the length of time involved in taking up medicine are just too much for me. On the other hand, I must admit that my inner consciousness is stubborn enough in urging me to become a doctor no matter how absurd it might appear. During these trying times, I only need one thing to come up with a final decision, and that is enlightenment. And as they say, the universe will conspire to gradually reveal the mysterious puzzle that is life.I first learned about the magic of this book two weeks ago when a good blogger posted a book review for the same subject of concern. The book, entitled "Surgeons Do Not Cry" (written by Dr. Ting Tiongco and published by U.P. Press), is an old doctor's account of his ten years of stay in the premier government hospital in the country, UP-PGH, as a medical student, intern, and resident surgeon. And within two days of non-stop reading, I have realized that this well-crafted book has so much to offer as far as personal and professional enlightenment is concerned. This is not just an ordinary book; its a compilation of stories that matter and will last for eternity. Dr. Tiongco, for being an outstanding doctor-writer that he is (the book is actually a compilation of his articles originally submitted for mindanews.com), presented the realities he encountered while studying in UPCOM (UP College of Medicine)and training in UP-PGH that have molded him as the doctor that he is now. He carefully disclosed the harsh and hapless condition of our own health care system that still haunts our society up to this date. In connection with these, he also revealed his frustration for the discrepancy that exists between the theory-based curriculum of UPCOM and the actual practice that occurs inside the Philippine General Hospital. Through the stories, the author will make us cry for the gruesome condition of the poor patients at that time and laugh for his follies and 'misadventures' in his life as a starting doctor. But in general, the book is a literary masterpiece that will serve as an eye-opener for all of the people who will read these stories behind the walls of the top medical school and hospital in the Philippines. After reading his book, I have realized that being a doctor is really not just a walk in the park; its a profession that is not valued because of the luxury it brings to any doctor that will bring what he has learned to the Land of Milk and Honey, but for the lasting contributions it will bring to the poorest societies in the country. We should look at the medical profession in the context of the Philippine society and not based on foreign principles. The same should be followed inside medical schools, where medical theories are taught with the American setting in mind most of the time. For me, this is the best medical book I've ever read so far because it has made me realize that someone like me who has a dream of becoming a doctor should think a thousand times before pursuing this career. And I hope, as I'm already preparing for the NMAT, time will reveal if this will work out for me or not.