2 days before 2013

Another year has gone by what have I done? what will happen next?
New years resolution? I tried to do my list but I always forget to fulfill them thus I stopped.

2013 is a big year for me, mid year I have to decide if I have to leave my workplace of 4 years or stay and be miserable. Yes, I am no longer happy and what's keeping me at work is an iron clad contract.

Friends made me realize my potential as an accessory designer thus this year I will harness my hobby into a full time business. This will take alot of time because I have to do a collection , build an online site to sell it. Find resources for my design. Yes I guess its time to fulfill my passion...I have already fulfilled my responsibility to my parents to finish school have a degree.

Hope people out there will read my giant leap and a 360 turn of a lonely person to reach happiness...

In the mind of a modern day Ilustrado Indio

What is an ilustrado and Indio? These are archaic filipino words that a true blue PINOY should know and understand because it connotes our history...

I love reading the history of the Philippines. My fascination started when my old alma mater introduced me to the Philippines history. I learned about the Ibong Adarna  and even the controversial book El Filibusterismo. But I greatly enjoy the pre-hispanic history of the Philippines. Rich with tales of legends and day to day life. Alas this part of our rich culture is not greatly known by a common modern day Filipino unless they are fortunate enough to have the opportunity to be in an academe that greatly emphasizes the importance of history...

I am a modern day Ilustrado Indio, an educated and learned Filipino who is now an expat living in the cold white North. Thanks to my educational back ground I am one of those OFW who is living the "DREAM". But Am I? This is my 7th year not spending Christmas in the Philippines and with my family. Hell I want to go home this holidays unless I'm pushing getting fired at work...

I was contemplating recently...Aaaah I think this is what Jose Rizal and his other friends are feeling when they were expats in Europe. Feeling the longing for their homeland and their loved ones is truly a stressful scenario.

Living in Canada made me more nationalistic I realized. I want to do my best, go home and wreck havoc of change to a better country that is. I want to do more and learn more on how to be able help my beloved country.

I thought moving to a place that is completely different from what I know will give me the greatest satisfaction but in reality it made me feel incomplete...

Thanks to social media and news I saw how acquaintances, family and friends living the life that gives them happiness regardless of who they are and how much money is in their pocket.

Why are they happy? Because they are truly  HOME...

I will not just say this as a New years resolution but a concrete plan...

I will work hard in saving up enough money and finish off my debt, give up on immediate gratification and foresee a better and brighter future of happiness.

13 months debt free challenge...

I went through my finances actually 2 of my most financially stable besties went over with me about paying up my debt FAST!

I have a stable job, single, no mortgage, no car loan yet since I don't have a license.

But I have accumulated a student loan and consumers debt in the 6 years that I lived in Canada.

I am a big spender yes I admit it now...

I am a shopaholic according to my family and friends and I have been denying that fact.

I am a traveler as well...and travels entail huge amount of money because I shop on my travels.

My first action this year is I tried consolidating my debts.

I got pre approved with a credit line. I was turned down several times by banks just because of my status in Canada.

But this year one finance manager at BMO realized that I can pay the amount I am asking just basing it on my profession and my annual income.

I also applied for an MBNA credit card which is pretty awesome because I got a 15 months no interest on my first year. This card do not have a yearly fee. But there is a 1% charge on balance transfer. Thanks to this I got a lesser interest charge and tried my best to pay it down in half in no time.

When the time was up I transferred the remaining amount to my credit line but I put it back to the MBNA credit card because what's good about this card is they give alot of promo like .99% interest rate for 6 months, or 4.99 % or 2.99% sometimes.

My friends gave me a certain amount per month that I only use for my monthly expenses no buts!

On my calculations if I stick with my budget that I started I will be debt free in 13 months