Isolated and Far-flung Public Schools Should Now Go to Solar Energy

By:  Gilbert M. Forbes
DepEd Quezon , IV-A CALABARZON 

Electrical power for isolated and far-flung schools (off-grid or far from power lines) now a days is already within reach through the use of solar energy.  Not only that DepEd has established partnerships with different NGO providers, but also, solar power energy hard wares' prices through the years have decreased tremendously.  

Cabul-an National High School.  A beneificiary of One Meralco Foundation.

If the school leadership wants it fast, aside from contacting or soliciting the help of possible NGO donors, what is just needed is the drive to motivate the stakeholders or the community to hold a fund drive and combine financial resources.  With this, no more queuing, no more waiting. For as low as Php25,000.00, any off-grid schools with the Parent Teacher Association on the lead could install solar power in their respective schools.  

This set-up is enough to power an LCD or LED TV, a laptop pc and an electric fan. In other words, enough to operate multi-media equipment and basic office equipment, and so the multi-media for classroom use of course.  Since, electrical power is one of the requirements of DepEd's Computerization Program; this type of electrical connection package is a good start so as to fast track the receiving of the said package.  It is also best to start small so that along the way, somebody will learn basic issues regarding its operation, performance, and maintenance.

 

Basic components of this set-up usually include a 1000-watts sine-wave inverter.  12- Volt deep cycle battery, at least 100Ah, 100-200watts monocrystaline solar panels, solar charge controller, wirings and other connecting paraphernalia.

The only major challenge in operating renewable energy system such as this is maintenance.  But all these are easy to learn as long as willingness is strong.  Electronics technicians’ even electricians could also be asked to assist and should be made to witness the installation process so that somebody in the community knows what to do, much less, the teachers.  In this manner, orientation from the installer must be part of the package.

Aside from the maintenance, the following should also be the main considerations:  First, estimated daily power usage by computing the power requirements of the gadgets and hard wares your school intend to use initially; second, budget or source of funds; third, target supplier and installer’s record; fourth, maintenance requirement; and fifth, learning the basics.   Read more at this link 5 Things to Consider When Planning to Install Solar Energy Systems

Benefits of Solar Power

Benefits of Solar power particularly in off-grid areas are simply amazing.  It would not only enable the school to use multi-media in instruction as they could already power their devices, but as long as there is a cellphone network signal, using their laptops and mobile modems could also connect itself to the internet making learning more interesting. 

They could also provide ICT instruction not only to the pupils and students but even to the community. The clean, free and renewable electricity available in the school cab become an added incentive for pupils to go to, and stay, in school since it is a place where they can also charge their cellphones while pursuing their education.

Another value added by the electrification is that it could become a revenue generator for the school’s parent-teacher-association (PTA) which they could use to maintain it and the excess in other equally important things.  More importantly, the impact that it will create to the community is imaginable, economically and socially.

Just immediately after typhoon Glenda passed his residence in Tayabas City, Quezon.  The writer immediately ventured on buying a mini solar power generator to light their sar-sari store which they are using until now.  The writer also motivated to research and read a lot on solar energy home and school installation of both off-grid and grid-tie systems. Solar energy use has now become part of his environment's personal advocacy.

Our National Hero or Heroes

According to the National Commission on Culture and the Arts, no law, executive order, proclamation has been enacted or issued officially proclaiming any Filipino Historical Figure as a national hero.  However, because of their significant roles in the process of nation building and contributions to history, there were laws enacted and proclamations issued honoring these heroes.

Even, Jose Rizal, considered as the greatest among the Filipino heroes was not explicitly proclaimed as a national hero.  The position he now holds in Philippine history is a tribute to the continued veneration or acclamation of the people in recognition of his contribution to the significant social transformations that took place in our country.

Aside, from Rizal, the only other hero, given an implied recognition as a national hero is Andres Bonifacio whose day of birth on November 30 has been made national holiday.

Despite the lack of any official declaration explicitly declaring them as national heroes, they remain admired and revered for their roles in Philippine history.  Heroes, according to historians, should not be legislated.  Their appreciation should be better left to academics.  Acclamation for heroes, they felt. would be recognition enough.

Source:  National Commission for Culture and the Arts

What Teachers Do to Continue to Teach Into the 21st Century?

Source: Philippine Daily Inquirer

To continue to teach well into the 21st century, our teachers who began teaching in a kinder, gentler time have to rewire their brains to respond to the structures, functions and connections presented by technology. How else can they teach their students the literacies that education experts say are needed to be successful in the modern world?

On top of that, our teachers have to blend the new skills into the core curriculum. They cannot simply leave their students to aimlessly wander the information highway. The order is to lead the kids down that path in the context of a lesson in math, science, economics, language, arts, and so on down the hierarchy of subjects. The Department of Education’s list of K-to-12 learning goals, which necessarily translate into teaching goals, include basic, scientific, financial, technological, visual, information, media and multicultural literacies. Environmental literacy must be somewhere in there, too, because if it is not, we are in deep trouble.

The critics and cynics are shaking their heads. To begin with, our teachers do not even know which buttons to push. They have a lot of catching up to do because they are not hardwired for 21st-century hardware. How can teachers stay credible and legitimate when, in terms of digital developments, they are so far behind the students they are supposed to be guiding? continue reading

Financial Ignorance Is Expensive

By:  Bo Sanchez
Philippines renowned best selling author, lay minister and entrep

(Excerpts or one of the articles from the book 8 Secrets of the Truly Rich)

"The number one problem in today’s generation and 

economy is the lack of financial literacy."

 — Alan Greenspan

Some people think buying a book like the 8 Secrets of the Truly Rich is expensive.  I also give financial seminars and people think the price we charge is too high.  If you think financial wisdom is expensive, then try ignorance. You’ll realize it’s a million times more expensive.

FACT: We could all be educated but financially ignorant.

For example, in the past 10 years, I’ve lost a lot of money. Simply because I was stupid about money.  After getting married, I was able to scrape a decent amount of savings into our bank account every month. And with some very generous gifts from our ninangs.

During our wedding, after a few years, my savings reached P200,000 plus. (Sssshh. Don’t laugh too hard.)  That was when a friend asked me if I would like to put my money in the investment company she was working for. “You’ll earn two percent a month,” she said, “and you’ll help me earn a commission from your investment!”

And instantly, I invested our P200,000. After all, two percent a month came down to 24 percent a year—so much higher than the banks’ interest. That was also the time when my wife finally got pregnant.  The thought of becoming a father was an incredible feeling.  But together with my excitement was the stark realization that the baby would now be totally dependent on my finances for the next 20 years of his life.

That thought sent chills down my spine.  We borrowed a wooden crib from a cousin and prepared P20,000 for the birth of our baby. We were ready, or so I thought.  During the delivery, my wife suffered heart palpitations reaching 200 beats per minute and the doctor ordered an emergency Caesarian operation.  Yes, I almost lost my wife and baby. That emergency operation saved their lives.  After three days of confinement, I received the bill from the hospital:  P56,000.

Gulp.  Have you ever received a solid punch straight to your solar plexus?  That was how I felt at that moment. So I called my friend and asked if I could get my investment back. Perhaps just P40,000 of my P200,000 to pay the hospital bill.  She said, “I’ll try...”  “Try? Why try? Isn’t that my money?” I asked, “I need to pay the hospital.”  “It isn’t that simple,” she explained. “Your money is being used.” “What do they use it for? Who owns this company anyway? How long have they been in business?” (Do you see how wise I was? I was asking these questions after I invested my money.)

“We’re a small firm that lends money to tricycle drivers.” “What...” Have you ever seen a cat staring at the headlights of an oncoming truck? That’s how I looked. “And collection hasn’t been very good,” my friend’s mutter was barely audible. “So that means...”  “uh, that means we’ll have to wait for new investors to come in before we can return a part of your money.”  In other words, I waited for three years for nothing. After that the company closed, folded up, crashed, disintegrated, imploded, sunk to

the depths of the earth, vanished into thin air.  With my P200,000 with them.

Don’t you see?  I was financially dumb.  Let me give you my credentials: My I.Q. is 132, I have above-average  social skills, I finished Philosophy in college, I took post-graduate courses in Theology, I founded four organizations, and I’m a more-or-less over-all wholesome guy... But all these don’t take away the fact that I was a financial nincompoop.  I was 100 percent financially illiterate!

Here’s what I found out...

You could be a doctor with three PhDs behind your name.

You could be an engineer building huge bridges in your spare time.

You could be a very holy person, praying three hours a day.

You could be a scientist inventing the first car that runs on spit.

You could be 97 years old.

You could be an extremely loving saint.

You could be a diva with the voice of Celine Dion.

But you could also be financially illiterate.

A world-renowned surgeon doesn’t open up a busted TV set and say, “I operate on people, I guess operating on machines would be a breeze.” No, it won’t be. It’s a totally different world.  So it is with money.  Knowing how money works is a totally different field of expertise. Financial ignorance is expensive.

You may also like reading the complete book in this link in PDF Format:  8 Secrets of the Truly Reach
7 Tested Ways to Consider When Buying a House and Lot You Want to Call Your Home  
7 Key Financial Advise to All Young Professionals and Wokers Who Are Starting to Earn a Living  
Things the Rich Do Every Day that the Poor Don’t  
 

Things the Rich Do Every Day that the Poor Don’t

(Based on Tom Corley’s 20 Things the Rich Do Every Day, on his website RichHabitsInstitute.com and Bo Sanchez Don’t Try to Appear Wealthy.)  

Wondering why the rich get richer and the poor poorer.  Aside from gigantic resources, what do the rich do every day that the poor don’t do?  What are possibly their values and attitudes? 

1.      86% of wealthy love to read vs. 26% of poor.

Instead of more hardwork, the poor gambles. 
 (google search photo)

2.      88% of wealthy read 30 minutes or more each day for education or career reasons vs. 2% of poor.

3.      63% of wealthy parents make their children read two or more non-fiction books a month vs. 3% of  poor. 

4.      86% of wealthy believe in lifelong educational self-improvement vs. 5% of poor.

5.      81% of wealthy maintain a to-do list vs. 19% of poor.

6.      67% of wealthy write down their goals vs. 17% of poor.

7.      80% of wealthy are focused on accomplishing some single goal. Only 12% of the poor do this.

8.      6% of wealthy watch reality TV vs. 78% of poor. 

9.      44% of wealthy wake up three hours before work starts vs. 3% of poor. 

10.  74% of wealthy teach good daily success habits to their children vs. 1% of poor.

11.  84% of wealthy believe good habits create opportunity luck vs. 4% of poor.

12.  76% of wealthy believe bad habits create detrimental luck vs. 9% of poor.

13.  23% of wealthy gamble. 52% of poor people gamble.

14.  70% of wealthy parents make their children volunteer 10 hours or more a month vs. 3% of poor.

15.  36% of wealthy bought only second hand cars and most kept their ordinary cars for years versus the 66% of the not so wealthy who bought luxury cars.

16.  100% of wealthy saves 20% or more vs. 2% of poor.

In addition to these lists, most of the really wealthy rarely wore designer clothes, rarely lives in expensive homes, rarely have expensive vacations, rarely bought luxury cars.  They lived way below their earning capacity, so that they could save more and multiply their money through investments and business.  Most of the really wealthy didn’t reside in upscale villages because it would only pressure them to mantain an upscale lifestyle—something they didn’t want to do.  And most didn’t change homes for 30 years or more!  They trained their kids in the values of simplicity, frugality and hard work.

Now, what about us, the middle class and the ‘masses’ or the common people?

7 Key Financial Advise to All Young Professionals and Workers Who Are Starting to Earn a Living

By:  Gilbert M. Forbes
DepEd Quezon, CALABARZON

Do you still remember when you were still studying until the time when you were already looking for a job?  You were able to survive and live within your means given the meager allowance from your parents, siblings or benefactors.  In fact, there are lots of time that you were still able to save from these highly budgeted and exact allowance given to you.

Compare it to your current financial status now that you are already earning for a living as a newly employed worker or young professional.  Are you still able to save?  Is money still a big problem?  Does it still play a big picture in your life? If the answer to all these questions is a resounding yes, then, you could have been going straight to the trap of financial difficulties in unimaginable magnitude as compared before when you were still studying.  You need a total life style check.

(moneytools.org photo)  They should manage money wisely.

First Key.  Reflect and analyze.  What went wrong?  Is your spending habit the same as before or it skyrocketed after finding a regular job. Commonly, once we reached a new level in our lives such as having a regular source of income comes an upsurge in our spending habits.  We begin to need things we don't need before.  These are wants which are not necessary and thus could be set aside like weekly or even monthly dine out with the family to a popular food chain, branded clothing, high-end cellphones, computers even un-planned house repair or renovation and expensive education of siblings.  The right thing to do as advised by various financial coaches is that, an increase or an additional income for the family should not mean an increase in their spending habits.  They advised that, if we are still living with our families, only our share for the food expense and groceries should be added to our regular expenses.  Meaning, if we are spending four thousand a month when we were still in college until the time we graduate and start looking for work, only the share for food, groceries and lets say utility payments should be added and the rest should go directly as savings.

Second Key.  Revisit your goal and life's dream.  Everybody's goal is to achieve certain level of financial security.  Others call it, an improvement in ones living condition.  But given the scenario above, without considering financial coaches advise, it is unlikely that things will get better.  Consider this.  What if there is sudden emergency such as sickness that requires hospitalization among one of the members of the family?  What about when you opt to decide to settle down and start a family of your own?  How will your financial status go along?  Imagine the quality of your life ten to fourty years from now.

Third Key.  Live on less and simplify.  G.K. Chesterton once said that there are two ways to get enough:  One is to continue to accumulate more and more. The other is to desire less.  Bo Sanchez in his bestselling book Simplify and Live the Good Life explains that we should focus on what we have not on what we don't.  It's because, satisfaction doesn't come from getting what we want but from wanting what we already have. "Some take their pleasure from dining in classy restaurants, going on trips . . . and owning the latest home theater equipment.  I've chosen the simpler path: If i can simply be with my wife, or take a quiet stroll under a canopy of stars, or play with a child, or read a good book in my home, or laugh with friends over an instant pancit canton, I consider myself richly blessed," said Bo Sanchez in his book.  Certainly, we could have a lot at the comfort of our homes with our family, friends and the community.  All these for free!

Fourth Key.  Budget and start savings at once.  Start budgeting and along this start also writing down your daily expenses.  Analyze it after a month to know the pattern of your spending and you will be surprised by the result.  You will know that you are spending quite a portion of your monthly pay on things you don't really need or you could be over spending on some that you could cut back later let say cellphone load, bottled water or even softdrinks.  Continue budgeting and listing your daily expenses until it becomes a habit so that it would be easy to track and monitor your expenses.  Once you made it a habit, start saving as much as you can.  Take note, savings is an expense for the future, so a decided or target portion of your income should automatically be deducted to your monthly pay then budget what has been left.  Start saving for the following:

• buffer fund.  Set aside money until you are able to save at least 5-months of your gross salary.  This will give you and your family a fall back in case you got laid off from your work.  You will have enough money that can supply your needs while you are looking for a new job.  If you want six months or a year equivalent of your gross salary, much better.
• irregular expense account.  this is a savings account intended for seasonal expenses such as tuition fees, family celebrations such as birth days, wedding anniversary, Christmas, new year etc.
• protection fund.  if your the sole bread winner, you need to be protected in a form of life or the new one, a variable insurance so that whatever happens to you, your family will be in good hands for a certain period of time.  You may have personal with regards to this matter.
• marrying or settling fund.  For those who are actually of marrying types or whose ultimate aim is creating a family of their own, there is certainly no time and money to waist.  One need to have a longer foresight of the future otherwise, life will be more difficult in the future.  Since, as singles, most are still living with the parents. save as much as you can.  The bigger chunk of your income, let say 50% or even more of it, the better.
• retirement fund.  aside from SSS or GSIS, financial coaches and analyst highly recommend to have an additional retirement fund because your retirement and pension will probably be not enough to live decently . As we age, we would need medications. Right now, there are 3-in-1 retirement fund (health care, life insurance and investment in one) like Kaiser which is a long term plan which covers beyond 60yrs old & above based on the health funds accumulated. Get a quote here https://402183ph.imgcorp.com/quote/kaiser or m.me/financialwellnessclubph
• health care card.  If you are still young, you could also consider getting a health care cards in addition to your Phil Health. If you are the bread winner, you may get one for your dependents too.  It will help and save you from financial problems in the future as such, unwanted or unplanned debt which is a common occurrence. The downside however of healh care card is that there is no investment return like the one mentioned above.  Its up for you to decide however.

 Save, save, and save to earn interest from it instead of the creditor earning so much interest from you through loans.

Fifth Key.  Avoid going with the tide.  Don't let things such as the clothing you wear, jewelries, cellphones you use define yourself.  Aware and financially educated people don't use material possessions as barometer of wealth or financial stability but on your networth instead.  Get along with people who have embraced simple lifestyle and have clear financial goals for their future.

Sixth Key.  Create your financial plan based on your life dreams.  Bo Sanchez explains that writing down a financial goal is an exercise in faith and an exercise in personal commitment.  He said that it helps our mind to open up and think of ways how those goals would be met.  As such, it would led us going back to our divine appointed mission in life- because that was how God was going to provide for our needs and desires.

Seventh Key.  Purify your thinking and motives about money. Money isn't evil.  the LOVE of money is.  Money is something that can be used to love or hate, to build or destroy, depending on how you use it.  In other words, it can make you holy or it can make you evil- much like anything else in life.  Purify your thinking towards money by embracing the truth that God wants you to have some material things to live a human life, enough for your needs and more than what you need, so that you can be generous.  Money should come from our highest values.  Money should be taken as an instrument to do more good.  That is to provide for the basic needs of our families.  To be more generous to those in need.  To support and help our churches and the ministry of your choice.

We should not forget that we could not simply give what we do not have.  But in all of these, put God first!

Reference:  Sanchez, Eugenio R., Jr., Simplify and Live the Good Life, Shepherd's Voice Publication 2008

You may also like:

 Why Living a Simple Life Style
Sustaining Gained Grounds on the Way to Financial Freedom 

7 Tested Ways to Consider When Buying a House and Lot You Want to Call Your Home

By:  Gilbert M. Forbes
DepEd Quezon, CALABARZON

Everybody is excited of owning a house and lot.  But what if suddenly, your excitement turns into a disaster?  This usually happens when ones expectation to the property and the community falls below the perceived and even expected standards.  But these can be prevented if the following tips shall be considered.

1.  Long Term Goal and Income.  Consider your purpose and alternatives.  If you’re currently renting a house and the amount of rent is just enough to pay for the monthly installment of a mortgaged house and lot and the distance difference from the work place as compared to the property you are renting is manageable, you can go for it.  If not, and there are other alternatives, think twice.  You may still need time and possibly is advisable not to venture at having one.  Remember, a house and lot as financial adviser experts are saying will never be an investment unless it creates passive income or once it is sold and created reasonable profit.  You should also consider your current monthly income and your budget.  Should it eat up a sizeable portion of your income and your ability to save for both emergencies and future needs, you should consider post phoning it.  If it will result in over-stretching your budget, you might be having trouble and problems in the future, the worst-case scenario, your property after sometime got foreclosed.

2.      Payment scheme and interest rates.  Don’t be fooled by zero equity and graduated monthly installment schemes because you’ll end up paying more than expected in the long run.  Before getting a real state property like a residential unit, make sure that you have disposable cash or have savings enough to pay for the equity as well as emergency funds to pay for the monthly installments.

Most of us could only afford mass housing units.
(photo courtesy of google search)

Avoid credits e.g., issuing post dated checks for a year on a monthly basis or a cash loan to pay for your equity because it may over-stretched your ability to pay in the future.  This may result in default of payments and the worst case scenario, foreclosure of the property.  Instead of having a graduated installment, choose the fixed monthly installment plan from the very start of the paying period or years.  It will help you see the reduction in your principal, as such, lesser interest payments in the long term.

3.      Developers track record.  You should consider having a background check on the developer.  How long have they been in the business and what kind of social responsibility do they carry.  Don’t be amazed by their catchy marketing phrase, strategies and unresistable pricing and promos.  Consider having a research investigation on their numerous projects.  What are the feedbacks among the existing owners in those projects?  Are they satisfied of how their property turned out to be?  You could also consider the turn-over among their agents and employees plus the working relationships and satisfaction levels among their laborers.  Be reminded of fly by night developers who are after the profit, and of course your money, nothing more nothing less.

4.      Quality and workmanships.  Affordability of the unit should not sacrifice quality and workmanships.  All the specifications in the building plan should have been carefully followed.  Watch out for these particularly on low-end or mass housing units, even the high end ones for corrupt practices is a common place, among the laborers, foremen and project engineers either with the direct or indirect knowledge of the developers.  This usually happens when the workers are underpaid and their privileges are cut short or simply don’t exists at all.  When checking sample units and most importantly the unit you are planning to purchase, bring along with you persons who if not an expert is knowledgeable enough in building and construction who can tell you if the property is worth enough the amount of money you’re going to pay.  Also remember that with the advent of strong typhoons that are now becoming ordinary, it's resistance to this should also be one of the primary consideration.

5.      Location of the property or the subdivision.  The location should not be too far from the urban center.  If you reside in the city, except NCR and other highly urbanized cities in the country, it should be within 5-10 kilometer zone from schools, universities, hospitals, malls, government and business centers.  It should be strategically located that possible commercial growth is happening in 5-10 years as the city center gets crowded and some of the business operations get transferred to the suburbs or areas outside the city.  It will contribute much to the expected increase value of your property.

6.      After sales service and warranty.  Be sure, that after sales service and warranty is clearly stated in the contract.  Based on experience, one year warranty is no good, but 2-3 years is better just in time that construction defects may come out.  If your developer don’t offer it, then you may opt to look for other developers.  There could be better offers than what they can give.

7.      Residents institutional culture, values and orientation.  If the subdivision is no longer new, lets say, three years or more and already has an organized home owners association, consider how rules are implemented and are getting followed.  Consider small bits of traits that should exist in a planned neighborhood being a subdivision perse, e.g., a.) pathwalks, are they not occupied for personal utilization of home owners such extension of their sari-sari stores, talipapa, plants, dog house, car park, etc;   b.) what about garbages and presence of litters particularly in vacant lots;  c.) presence of stray dogs and cats.  The given samples are tests of their values and character.  If you can take it, then go on, if not, find another one or better just stay where you presently are to avoid head aches in the future.

There’s really much pleasure and joy in finally having your dream house that you can call a home of your own.  But owning one don’t merely come with a price.

(The writer has been a home-owner of a mass housing unit for almost eight years now.  He has been a member of their association's election committee since he resided on his unit in 2009 as such have been pretty much aware of what is going on.)