Money Talks

Why is money so important? We use it to buy things (anything at all). We use it to pay for anything and everything under the sun and the moon. It is so important that it is also the basis of our very lives. We talked money with our loved ones- ask money for grocery, children's education, allowance, for a new pair of shoes, for autoload, etc. We also make money as the basis of everything in our lives- some work abroad because money is there even if one doesn't like to leave his family, some will work for a job that is not related to his course just because the other job pays more.

Many people do things they do not really want because of money. How ironic it is that money can make us do things we wanted- like shop, dine, watch movies etc- but money also makes us do things we do not want to do. Like for example, take nursing even if you actually like fine arts or work in a call center even if you really want to be a writer.

It is just sad to hear stories such as this and it all is money-related. Money is so important, yet only a few have them. It controls our nation, our family, our life. It is just unfortunate for us that our country is in poverty level. And I don't know how to solve a problem such as money. Everyday I see people lining up for a Lotto ticket (very long line). Al of them wanted to win the big prize, and I'm sure most of them are not expecting to. It's just that they want something to hold on to and something to hope for.

Books now are all into how to make money, grow rich and create the best business in the world. It's all very helpful and it's nice for them to share their expertise. But it's kinda disturbing also that there are a hundred books about the topic. It's all about money. Although I must say that money is not evil. It is just how we use and maybe how we acquire them that must be thought about. Well, even I want more money. I want to be very rich. And I guess that is where the problem starts.

minimum requirement

We are all asked to do more and to strive more for excellence. In our school, it is called magis. And it is something we all fail to do. Yesterday I attended a mass and the homily was all about the minimum requirement. The things that we always do is just what is minimum. But why do the minimum when we can maximize it.

The priest gave the example of the husband and wife. Every night the husband would just sleep with his wife in the same bed. The priest added why not do more than sleeping, like maybe kiss your wife often or just do more than being a man of the house. He asked us the question: Do we need to pray the rosary in order to be saved? He said no. Do we need to attend mass on weekdays? He said no. Do we need to do confession every month? He said no. But then he added, why do the minimum?

And it is so true. Why do the minimum, when we can surely maximize the experience? It does not only refer to being a Christian, but to being a human being. Being a child, a friend, a parent, an officemate- why do the minimum?

This country would really prosper if people would utilize their talents and skills, with honesty and hardwork. We can be more than this. Or you can be more than who you are. We are not required to do it, but why settle for less? You are not required to text your friend, you are not required to call your parents, you are not required to say the rosary, you are not required to run an extra mile. But all this you do to maximize your life. In job hunting, the minimum requirement is a college degree for example. Wouldn't it be better if you also had a minor degree or if you can speak a different language. Surely, you will get the job.

Of course, one must caution himself not to over do it. Magis is very different from greed and far fetched ambition. Do more kung kaya pa. And do more not only for yourself, but for others.

We all can do more. It is up to ourselves if we want to remain doing the minimum requirement or the maximum expression.

what's with the name?

The real estate industry in the Philippines is booming. We can see more and more buildings being built every year, as compared a decade ago during the Asian Financial Crisis where there was so few. Now, it is a good sign for the economy as towers are sprouting in Philippine soil. More and more investors are putting their money in building condominiums for the urban people of Metro Manila (and other major cities in the country as well). Real estate developers are becomming a household name- Megaworld, Ayala Land, Robinsons Land, Filinvest etc.

But, what's with the name?

Names of almost all new condominiums and buildings are very western. And this bothers me. I mean, there is the Manhattan Garden City in Cubao, One Mckinley Tower at the Fort, Newport City in Pasay, San Francisco Garden Tower in Mandaluyong, Gramsci Residences at the Century City in Makati and so many many others. It is good that there are new condos in the metropolis, but why use such names? My theory... i guess it has something to do with colonial mentality (the usual suspect). People can't go to New York, so might as well built Manhattan in Cubao. Filipinos prefer to live in an elegant foreign sounding name. It's bothersome. What's worst is that we tend to connect elegance and beauty with foreign names, and Filipino sounding names as just mere 2nd place.

Well, I don't suggest we use "super" Filipino words such as Tatlonghari Building or something to that effect. I think there are many Filipino words that can be incorporated as condo names. Maybe like: Datu Residences, Kalayaan Towers, Lakandula Suites or instead of a Manhattan Garden City- Visayas Garden City (and the names of the buildings will be like Cebu, Negros, Boracay, etc. I know the idea sounds weird, but it's possible. I think it would help us as a country if we promote our Filipinoness even in the names of our buildings.

On a general note, I don't really blame the developers or the people living in this condos. I guess that's just how our society works. Sadly true.


NOTE: The author currently lives at the California Garden Square in Mandaluyong, a condominium compound with more than a dozen buildings with names such as Dayton, Carlton, Burbank, Fairfax, etc.

prologue

It's raining right now and it had been for 3 days already. The good thing is that it helps the dry lands in the Philippines. The bad side is that it killed more than 10 people in some provinces. The weather is really weird here in Manila and all over the world, i guess. It's already August and there were no tropical storms during the past months, which on normal circumstances, storms occur this time of the year. Is this what Al Gore is talking about?

Not only the Philippines is experiencing such weather abnormalities. One can see that the rest of planet Earth also feels it. Flood in England, heat waves in Europe, snowfall in South Africa and moonsoon rains in South Asia- it doesn't look good.

Weird weather patterns look familiar. They are the very plot in Hollywood movies wherein a tornado, tsunami, volcanic eruption or ice melting happens. Kinda scary right. But well, life must go on. People don't really care (or they care very much then forget about it the next day). Climate change has been the issue now in a lot of international conventions including the World Economic Forum last year at Davos and the recently concluded ASEAN Ministerial Summit in Manila. I hope good reforms and changes are comming up.

It has stop raining as I write this, but I am sure the clouds will cry again later. Generally, this rain is good for the country. After all, this rain increases water level in the dams. And that's good news. God has actually answered the prayers of his people, right after Archbishop Rosales urged all parishes to pray for rain. I just hope it doesn't rain too much.

As they say, if it rains, it pours. Well, I guess that's not a good quote to end this blog entry. But anyway, this blog entry will be a start of both deep and shallow insights on life, death and everything else in between.

I'll go watch again An Inconvenient Truth.