Category Archives: family

How to Spot a Scam

Posted on January 24, 2011 by greenbucks| 1 Comment

Scams are there, lurking in every corner, waiting for the next victim to prey on.

High unemployment rates and in this country’s state, (extreme) poverty, one would think scams don’t exist.

Well, bad news, they do. Scammers tell the poor rural folks and everyone that seem to fall easily as victims that they are needed as household help supervisor or drivers or machine operators or high-speed sewers (of all kinds of clothes, maybe even sferra linens, baby clothes, etc) in so and so countries. They sell their possessions which include the carabao that is the sole help in the farm they till.

Worse news, no jobs exist and they have been scammed.

So how can you spot a scam?

  1. The offers are too good to be true. 12-25% interest for your monetary investment? Come on.
  2. Unsolicited email, text messages, phone calls, and mail. Yes, when you feel these are fishy, these probably are fishy.
  3. Money to be paid upfront? No thanks.
  4. So when you asked how the money will be earned which will enable you to earn a profit and you get blank stares? Forget it.
  5. Secret knowledge and secret deals is highly suspect and would probably remain as such: secret.
  6. If you ask yourself: “Why have they chosen me?” and can’t find the answer? You probably won’t.

Little effort for huge profit = SCAM. Have you ever wondered why SCAM is almost the same as SCUM?

You have been warned.

LOL.

Posted in business, family, Interesting Topics, Money Watch, Philippines, social consciousness, web tools

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Missing the Old Guy

Posted on January 11, 2011 by greenbucks| Leave a comment

A few weeks from now my father will be celebrating his birthday. He used to work in an American military base. I’ve seen photos of him wearing hard hats, bifocal safety glasses and his id clipped on his polo’s front pocket. In the photos he looked so short beside his American bosses. These American bosses used to go to our home and he would accompany them to buy fresh catch near the beach.

I remember asking him before what his work is and he would say he sweeps the deck of the aircraft carriers that come to dock on the bay, 😀

Today, my papa looks different with white hair and lines on his face but his zest for life, his quirks and afternoon naps are still there. I just wish we have more time to visit them more often than we use to.

I miss my old guy 🙂

Posted in family

December Events

Posted on December 29, 2010 by greenbucks| Leave a comment

December is full of parties and family events. Not to mention family reunions on pre and post Christmas days, there are a lot of weddings and baby christenings happening during December.

I think we got two or three christening and baby shower invitations for this month.

I myself was baptized on Christmas Day, maybe for practicality of the event which coincides with a joyful occasion of celebrating the birth of Christ when food is prepared for family get-together so there was really no need to prepare for food for guests on two different occasions.

I love family celebrations but not the preparations that go with it: cooking, cooking, prepping the kids, and a lot of washing and cleaning up in between. But of course, the joy of being with your loved ones is nothing compared to spending time with them 🙂

Posted in family, Me

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Vacation Dreams

Posted on December 20, 2010 by greenbucks| Leave a comment

Today is officially the start of Christmas vacation for the country’s school children, that is if some schools decided to have a Christmas party just today. Oh, that is just unfair.

It would be wonderful to spend Christmas somewhere away from the bustle and hustle of the city and the neighborhood. The son just whispered to me that in a certain city up north, temperature is between 14 – 16 degrees and he said he wants to see “smoke” coming from his mouth when he talks!

Hmmm… that idea is absolutely awesome and while at it, we might as well add sitting in front of a fireplace amidst rustic furniture with a window view of pine trees to this dream vacation.

Posted in family, Travel

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Bukas Ba Ang Iyong Puso Ngayong Pasko?

Posted on December 1, 2010 by greenbucks| 8 Comments

Kahit saan ka tumingin sa panahong ito, puro ilaw ng Krismas tree, parol at mga makukulay na palamuti ang iyong makikita. Sa mga pamilihan, naglalakihang SALE! ang iyong nakikita. Hindi nga ba’t ang Pasko ay panahon ng kasaganaan para sa karamihan ng mga tao?

Malamig na din ang simoy ng hangin.

Bagama’t ma-trapik na, ramdam mo na ang mga tao ay naging mas masayahin.

Sige na nga, sasabihin ko na din, sa mga sumasakay ng taksi katulad ko, ramdam na din ang mga mapagsamantalang mga driver, hmph.

Christmas tree

Sa likod ng mga ngiti at halakhak, tunay man o may halong kaplastikan, sa bawat pagsubo ng masarap ng pagkaing inihanda para sa mga pagsasalo-salo, at sa bawat pagbukas ng pitaka upang mamili ng kung ano ang maiman na bilhin para sa sarili o sa iba, bukas ba ang ating mga puso sa mga taong salat sa tila ba karangyaan at sobra-sobrang “biyayang” hatid ng Pasko?

Sana nga, merong mga taong bukas ang kanilang puso (at pitaka) sa mga taong nangangailangan, lalo na yung mga nakatira sa kanayunan. Alam ko maraming magagalit sa akin sa sasabihin ko, sa aking palagay, oo nga’t mabuting binibigyan ng ligaya ang mga batang paslit na iniwan sa mga ampunan tuwing Pasko, pero sana naman, pagtuunan din ng pansin ang mga nandun sa liblib ng lugar.

Sila ay salat din sa mga biyaya ng Pasko mula sa mga taong may malinis at bukas na puso.

Posted in Current Events, family, Interesting Topics, Litratong Pinoy, Me, Philippines, Photos, social consciousness, Thought Bubbles

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