Investment in the Time of Crisis

I was trying to withdraw money from my Paypal account and I was really saddened by how the value of dollar has dropped. I know I should be happy because this means that the value of peso is getting strong but for a dollar earner like me, this is bad news.

My dad said that the value of dollar will continue drop because of the financial crisis. This got me into thinking of better ways to invest our money so I did some research and discovered that in this time of economic crisis, the best investment would be to invest in gold.

Since gold is universally accepted, it can easily be bought and sold. It doesn’t depreciate in time also which makes it resale value even higher. My friend is into gold investment and she referred me to the site of Monex. Monex have professional staff which can help me get the best value in the market.

In this time of crisis, I guess it is the best time to check our investment options to save up for the future of our daughter.

Relief Giving Program of MSS @ Malabon

Last Saturday, we joined MSS (Bela’s school) in their relief giving program for the victims of Typhoon Ondoy in Malabon.

The directress of the school together with her staff decided to just have a simple Costume Party this year. They initially asked the kids to come in costumes depending on the theme assigned to their class but instead they will just asked the kids to wear whatever available costume they like and they will not have any party at all. So the cost of buying the costumes can just be given as donations so the school staff can buy goodies for the victims.

Last Friday, they even had a video presentation of the effects of the typhoon so the kids were really made aware of the unfortunate things that happened to the victims of the typhoon. After the video presentation, the kids even helped in packing the goods.

We were asked to be at school at 8:45 AM as they will leave at exactly 9 AM for Malabon. (Since I slept late the night before, my dark under eye circles are really obvious. LOL). We left with Mommy Emmie (MSS’s directress) and with the other teachers. Most of the staff is already at the venue preparing ahead of us.

When we reached the church, there is already a long line of the people waiting for their goodies. It was raining hard the night before and even early Saturday morning so it was just us who were able to join the activity. Bela helped Teacher Sarah and the other Teachers in giving out cookies and sardines while I helped Mommy Emmie and Teacher Haidee in giving out the pail loots. Of course, hubby took pictures.

All of the people who lined up were really thankful for the help that they received from MSS and I am really thankful too that Howell, Bela, my mom and I were able to join them for this great cause.

You can view more pictures here.

Pipsqueak and Num-Num

Meet Pipsqueak and Num-Num, Bela’s new pet.


She was actually requesting for a real hamster. You know how much Bela loves pets so we are really thinking of getting her one. But while I was shopping for Christmas gifts at Toys R’ Us a few weeks ago, I saw this Go Go Pets toys which is one of TRU’s new product. SO I thought, maybe this will be a good substitute for a real hamster that Bela is requesting to have. We are really not good when it comes to taking care of pets (we used to have a Nemo fish but they all died already) so maybe this is the best option for Bela.

I bought one yellow hamster and the toy ball where the hamster can go inside and since the hamster is battery operated, it can roll the ball on its own. The hamster toy has a sensor which will make it turn around if it bumps on something and a special sensor that will make it move according to the accessories that it is using. For example, if the accessory is a hamster wheel, the sensor will make the hamster turn the wheel while it is running. Coolness.

Yesterday, we went to TRU again and I bought her the Hamster Fun house. There are still a lot of accessories that I need to collect (they have the sleeping module with surfboard, a hamster slide, a hamster mobile, a hamster bed, etc) but I told Bela she has to work hard in school first before she gets another one. LOL. But I am also thinking to give this to her on her birthday.

Check it out. I think it is exclusively distributed by TRU. I checked Amazon and the prices there are much more expensive (almost double) than the prices in TRU here in Manila.

Beach vacation?

Bela was watching her DVD of Mickey’s movie “Around the world in 80 days” and she told me that she wants to go to the beach after seeing Mickey and his gang enjoying the beach.

Actually hubby and I are really planning for a romantic vacation riviera maya. I was actually checking out the site of Karisma hotels and I got really interested with their El Dorado Royale Resort. Imagine, we can really experience the feel of nature and the outdoors because the beach is set in a tropical rainforest. We can also book a Casita Suite with ceiling free showers for a more romantic and natural feel or a swim-up suite where there is an artificial flowing river just right outside our room which is connected to the swimming pool.

Just picturing it in my mind makes me feel relax already. But you know, we figure out that this vacation will not be as fun wit our precious daughter. She is really like her dad who loves the outdoors and nature so I am sure if this vacation will push through, she will definitely have fun.

To KL?

I might leave for 4 days on the first week of November to attend a conference. Since we just got back from a three-week vacation where we left Bela behind, I am not sure if I can leave again for four days without her. I know I can rely on chat software and webcam so I can still talk to her and see her during those four days. And it will not be that difficult since I will just be going to Malaysia so time difference will not really be a problem so four days will just pass like that and before I knew it, it is already time for me to go home.

But we owe Bela a vacation for leaving her behind when hubby and I went on vacation, so hubby and I thought that he and Bela will be joining me for this business trip. The conference will be from Nov 1 – 4 so we can just leave ahead like Oct 29, so we have at least three days to go around.

From what I initially researched on, the only interesting place that we can visit where Bela can enjoy is Genting Highlands. We also need to check out the Petronas Tower and I have to search if there is any zoo or Oceanarium that we can visit as I know Bela will really enjoy that.

Hubby is also asking me to check if it is possible for us to go to Singapore also. I still have to wait if my attendance to the conference will be approve and until then, I don’t what to proceed in making any definite travel plans.