Finally, SUCCESS! (My Just Been Paid Story)

I have explored many opportunities to earn online. I spent thousands of hard-earned money that went down the drain. Like many who were drawn to the possibility of earning passive income online, but never made a cent, I became jaded. But the internet remains rife with so many programs promising to give returns that sound so attractive on paper.

When you regularly surf the net, you can’t help but be bombarded with so many ads. And countless testimonies – whether real or made-up – where people share how their lives changed by participating in so-and-so program, which allowed them to achieve financial freedom.

Who does not want to be financially free? Not that you will stop working or do nothing while the cash just rolls in. But when money is not a concern, you can engage in more meaningful pursuits. And you won’t have to be tied down doing something you don’t enjoy just because it pays the bills.

Along comes Just Been Paid. The ads were hard to ignore. There were too many of them. Not again… But it drew me like a magnet. So I finally resolved to sign up and see where it took me. It helped that you could start making money with a minimal spend of $10, and grow it from there. Worst case, I would be set back by 500 or 1,000 pesos.

One other problem that made earning online difficult for me was the need to sponsor others to join such programs. It’s always the list. Without a list of people, you can kiss your money goodbye because no way are you going to earn. I had no such list. I sucked at recruiting. But in signing up with JBP, for free, the first thing you are given is a self-development training package called “Upgrade Your Brain.” I read through it, not in its entirety yet, but something just clicked.

Before I knew it, I was able to hook my sister in, then later my aunt and dad, and a few other people. I really just needed to adjust my way of thinking and my attitude about certain things to actually be able to invite people. Suddenly, I no longer felt like a “LOSER”, where online earning and internet marketing was concerned. I was doing it.

I finally ran into an uncle who is probably no stranger to taking risks with money, and he became my rockstar recruit. Even I was flabbergasted when he plunked in about $2,000 for the program. Oh wow! And I was set.

For the record, I only put in $23 of my own funds. Roughly, that’s less than 1,000 pesos with a 43 exchange rate. I have been sustained by my referrals, not just my superstar recruit, but several other smaller players.

To date, I have withdrawn a total of $151, less fees. And yes, I have been able to convert them to pesos and actually realized my online earnings. So, with the out-of-pocket amount I spent, I am way ahead of the game already. Not much yet, but compared to zero before, it is a goldmine! The beauty of it is: I continue to make money and more importantly, learn to manage my funds. (I need to work stuff in the program to be able to get out at least $1,300 more). Unbelievable!

The problem in the past was not just me, and my inability to become successful with other online earning programs; rather, it was not finding a program run by an honest person, whose main concern was really to help more people make money in the simplest of ways.

I know… many people will still think JBP is a scam, a ponzi, a get-rich-quick scheme. Even with its US Patent registration, people will remain skeptical. But it took me months before I was actually able to get hold of my earnings. It took a lot of patience, a lot of perseverance, a lot of studying and learning before I got to where I am now. There are far more successful people in the program than myself. But I can’t compete with them. I can only be inspired by them.

Frederick Mann, the genius behind Just Been Paid, has designed the program in a way that it will be indefinitely sustainable. Two years since its launch, the program is still around and still paying and has become wildly successful. Its membership has grown a thousand-fold since three months ago. And he’s constantly cooking up something new to enable the membership to make even more money, while keeping the company viable.

Perhaps, only time will really tell if his genius can hold up and people will continue to make money (lots of them, he promised) through his program. I can only pray Mr. Mann will continue to be a blessing to me and thousands of others.

For now, I am simply content that I have not been duped again, that I have recovered the amount I put in, and that I can be of help to many others by introducing this revolutionary program that can eventually change lives. And guess what, it seems I have the knack for coaching, too… and you don’t have to be my referral to get help from me.

Thanks, Mr. Mann.

 

Fishball Sunday

BURP! And double burp! That was a most satisfying dinner to cap my Sunday. Nope… no gourmet feast for me. Just one-and-a-half servings of fishball more than gave me my fill for the evening.

Mass followed by a simple food trip are simple joys but very meaningful ones. It’s not the same when you just buy fishballs to go… although there are many who do that. But to enhance the experience, try savoring it while standing in front of the food cart, elbow-to-elbow with other customers. In your line of sight is the hard-working vendor working the wok with fishballs, squid balls, kwek-kwek (quail eggs coated in batter), kikiam and hotdog.

Mingling with people from all walks of life, young and old alike, while enjoying a small paper plate with a mound of fishballs (it’s no longer on a stick) gives you a strong sense of affinity… almost like a fraternity.

With fishballs, everyone is equal. It doesn’t matter if you only have 20 pesos in your pocket or 5,000 smackeroos. All you need is 10 pesos to get 15 pieces of those balls, that end up flattened once cool. Sweet, spicy or sweet and spicy sauce? It is a very pedestrian experience that makes you feel good after because you were one with  everybody… most of whom you don’t know or will likely never encounter again.

And Mr. Vendor? He breathes this business that has given him the dignity that many only aspire for. The cart is up and running at 8 am and closes up at 10 pm. Breakfast is at the market to get his supply for the day. Lunch and dinner are most probably on his feet, during lulls when customers come in trickles.

He sneaked in a cup of noodles while we were there. The 6 pm mass would be ending shortly and another horde of fishball lovers would be trooping to his pwesto to get their fill. There’s still the masses at 7 and 8 pm. A very long day but it is worth the sweat, the heat and tired legs.

He can no longer keep track of his daily sales because a lot of the time, he has to augment his supply towards late afternoon. But definitely, even when the economy is down, he will be doing very brisk business. I figure you just have to get a cup of rice to go with your 15 pieces of fishball and you’re good to go. We kept track of customers in a span of 15-20 minutes and minimum sale per person is 20 pesos, although it usually goes up to 50 bucks. That’s 2 orders of fishball, one order of kwek-kwek and a bottled drink.

And the lesson this fishball experience taught me? If you really put your heart into what you’re doing, no matter how challenging it can be, there’s no way you cannot succeed. Not just in business… but in life.

I’m still burping off my fishball dinner… Yum! Yum!

 

The cost of working abroad

My cousin works as a nurse in Abu Dhabi. Has been for the last four or five years. His initial contract was for two years. The pay, I presume, was substantial in the sense that the peso-dollar exchange rate was a boon for families of overseas contract workers then.  The dollar was equivalent to 50 or so pesos, I think.

The higher earnings is usually the motivation to work abroad. And the incentive for many to take up a nursing course. But my cousin is truly meant to be a nurse. He has the character and compassion for the profession. And I know patients are fond of him because he truly cares.

He has three boys, now 14, 10 and 6. It took a while for the youngest to warm up to his father, given their only bonding time was when he comes home for his annual 40-day vacation.  Until now, I know that when my cousin is home to visit, little boy still does not want him to sleep beside his mother. That’s his place.

Things have changed in the hospital where he works. And for a while, he was uncertain if his contract would be renewed given changes in the hospital policy.  Apparently, he made the cut since he’s still there.

But I do know some of his colleagues opted to come back home or find work elsewhere, not wanting to reach the point where they will be kicked out because of another round of policy changes. Because he shares living quarters with the other guys, he is now left paying a higher rent with their decision to leave.

These days, the peso is gaining strength. But my cousin still earns the same. So understandably, the money he sends home is far smaller than what it was four or five years ago.

The boys are growing. And obviously need male guidance. Besides, in the times when I got to talk to my cousin, I sensed how hard it is for him to be alone and away from his family, even with technological advances like the internet and cellular phones.

He’s tried to apply for work in the US, but for some reason or another never makes the cut. I know he prefers to work where he can be with his family full time.

Does he see his nursing career growing in the next couple of years? Perhaps not. And not where is right now, anyway.

Recently, he sounded out to my aunt about wanting to go back to school, even through distance education.  Apparently, he is now considering the option of finding another job, this time where he can be home with his brood.

He was thinking of going into teaching. That’s in the blood, too. And I suddenly had an idea…

If he wants to venture into teaching, why not teach at a nursing school? There are still nursing schools, and they do need qualified instructors. With his years of experience, cousin will be perfect for the job. That way, he can still make use of his nursing experience and degree but lead a more normal life while doing something else.

He’s likely to take a huge pay cut, but maybe his wife can also find earning opportunities to help out with the expenses.

The more important thing is he will be with his family, guide his boys as they grow up, be a hands-on father yet still provide for his brood.

When I last spoke to someone who worked overseas for many years, he told me he never encouraged his relatives to follow him. When they asked him why, he always explained earning in dollars was not really worth it in the end.

First, no matter how hard you work and how good you are at your job, you will always be a second-class citizen when outside of your own country.

Second, being away from your family is a most gut-wrenching experience that no amount of money can truly compensate for. The loneliness, as proven many times, can drive you crazy or worse, lead you to damage your integrity and family life.

Then there are the indignities suffered by Filipinos, even when they are professionals here at home. The horror stories of being treated as slaves or animals, working 14 hour days with little to no meals, the sexual abuses, the humiliation.

Third, you only have to dream, persevere and work hard to achieve your goals and live within your means to enjoy life in the Philippines. For all the problems and inadequacies in this country, it still is HOME.

Fourth, the reality is for many overseas Filipino workers, they toil for many years but never really save up or provide for their security in the future. Because every centavo ends up for show — a big house, all appliances and gadgets, a new car, and all the pasalubong for every member of the barangay.

Instead of being able to come home, all set for retirement and to enjoy the fruits of their labours, they are faced with the fact that they have nothing to show for the 10, 15 or 20 years they have been away, earning dollars through their blood, sweat and tears.

And that is so sad. They are hailed as heroes for the dollar remittances that help prop the economy. But it is heroism that comes at great cost.

Family. Honor. Dignity. These are what make you a rich man. Even when the dollar dips to all-time lows, you will never be as pitiful as you are away from your country.

 

 

Wealth or poverty: your choice

How our lives turn out depend a lot on the choices we make. Yes, I certainly believe in God’s hand and I know there are certain things beyond our control if He wills it. But a lot of the time, the Lord leads us to opportunities that we simply ignore or take for granted. And so while our lives could have improved or made a turn for the better, we end up sighing, sulking or frustrated that things have not changed.

Poverty is a choice. And I may be criticized for saying it. But when you really think about this, it is true. Many people remain poor because they think that’s what they’re meant to be the rest of their lives.

Instead of finding ways to make a decent living, they rely on dole outs. When given opportunities, they want the quick way to make a buck. They think it is beneath them to learn. To study. They are content with their lives, even when in truth they have every chance of doing better.

Yet, it is these very people who are after the latest fashion or gadgets like cellphones. It is they who can sit around watching teleseryes the whole day or gossip about their neighbors.  It is they who will line up for hours hoping to be part of a television program that gives away money to their audience. But it is a hardship to find work or at least a means to earn and provide for their needs, or their families.

I attended a workshop on mushroom growing. I am realizing the potential for it. There are only few mushroom growers in the Philippines so most of the users like restaurant owners have to import their supplies.  If you can allot a small space and tend to mushrooms, not only will you be able to supplement your income, you will also have your own source of healthy food.

I learned from the AANI facilitator, Tess Jose, about her efforts to spread mushroom cultivation in Pangasinan where she’s from. And I sensed the frustration when she related how small folks would give up on it after a time when they see it isn’t going to pull them out of poverty overnight.

And they have everything they need, provided by Tess. All they really have to do is take care of the mushrooms, water them, and harvest them every three or four days.

I can’t understand why they don’t see the potential in this venture. And why they can’t appreciate the efforts of people like Tess to help them improve their lives.  But the woman perseveres and continues to hope she will finally come across a community who will take this seriously enough to make it grow and give them the income that they so need. And I so, so admire her.

A month ago, our maid’s daughter took the boat from their native Romblon to work here in Manila. She had convinced her mother about her desire to work for two reasons: she wanted to earn so she can have her teeth fixed, and she wanted to help her younger siblings who were still studying.

Fortunately, a friend of my brother-in-law was looking for a helper in their eatery. Perfect opportunity. Even before the day was over, the girl is texting her mother. She can’t do it. There were too many dishes to be done. Her back was aching. And she was quitting! My goodness!

If I was really bent on working to earn a living, then I’m going to stick it out there, especially knowing I was referred by someone. And I would challenge myself to do a good job, no matter how difficult the situation. And her employers weren’t even monsters but very, very nice and understanding people who were willing to cut her some slack till she got the hang of the work.

But na-uhh… she was done. No amount of explaining, convincing, cajoling and even threats could make her try it out even for a week to test her mettle.

This morning, our maid sent her back home. With nothing. I would be so ashamed at my behavior I would have found some other kind of job so I could at least earn my boat fare. Maybe, I would have found a better opportunity. What a waste…  of time, effort and chances.

So, I’m thinking did people think work here in Manila was a breeze? Or a walk in the park? That it would not be back-breaking and gut-wrenching at times? If you’re serious about making something of your life, or at least earning your keep because you’re strong and have talents, then you’re going to make the most of the opportunities that come your way.

And I really don’t know of jobs that are legal and worthwhile that won’t require you to sweat or move your butt if you really want to make good in your life. Every hardship is experience that makes you better, stronger, and more determined to achieve your goals.

Otherwise, you’re really just hoping that manna will fall from heaven and your life will change forever. In that case, to remain POOR is your choice.

In the same manner, I know of people who really came from difficult circumstances but did not let these hamper the fulfillment of their dreams for a better life.  They wanted to be wealthy and did everything possible to realize that goal.  They made a choice to want a good life and worked hard to earn it.

It is a sad thought that one reason why many Filipinos remain poor is because they want to be that way. They always blame tough luck for their plight without realizing they refuse to want to live better through their own blood, sweat and tears.

So, have you made a choice?

 

Can you teach TLC?

Hospital visits depress me. Not only because being hospitalized means expenses, usually more than it’s really worth the stay, but also because of the reality that a patient rarely gets real attention while in medical facilities.

Confinement means you’re suffering from a condition that needs professional medical attention. It requires lab tests, special medication administered through IV, and constant monitoring of a patient’s vitals and overall condition.

It supposedly means there are physicians, nurses and other health care professionals on hand to attend to your needs. Patients probably won’t mind paying so much for confinement if they got excellent care. Alas, that’s almost like a dream here in the Philippines, so you can imagine why hospitalization is truly an ordeal.

I visited my cousin at the hospital. The same one she is always brought to each time she needs confinement because of her chronic condition that has led to complications. And every time, the story is the same about the kind of care she receives during her stay.

It’s the same observations I made from the times someone in my family needed to be confined. And much as I want to sympathize about the plight of medical professionals in this country, it makes it very difficult to feel for them when I repeatedly witness how little they truly care about their work.

Observation No. 1:  Every time the nurses come in for something, especially if it’s to give medication or extraction, they have to ask the patient’s name.  Ask once or twice, due to changing shifts, when the patient is new and that’s acceptable. But ask all the time even when they’ve been there for a week? And worse, ask when a patient is in a private room alone? What’s really mind boggling is when they enter, they read your name from the chart, only to follow it up with: what’s the patient’s name?

The nurses say it’s protocol.  I say it demonstrates indifference and how impersonal these health care workers are.

Observation No. 2: Is there also a protocol that says nurses can’t touch patients? Really touch them and not because they have to take the pulse, temperature or blood pressure. A reassuring pat perhaps? Or just to demonstrate concern. Can’t they hang around for a few more minutes after doing the vitals just to ask how a patient is feeling or doing? Has that been scrapped as part of their duties?

My cousin was filled with wonder as she related how one nurse actually went out of her way to help lift her to a better position in bed because she was slumping. This was the first time she experienced that although she’s been in and out of the hospital several times.

Observation No. 3: No sympathy, no empathy. If a patient complained about something aching or being in pain, nurses just have this blank face. Rarely is there an initiative to ask what is wrong nor is there an offer to help ease the discomfort.  It may be emotionally stressful to keep consoling patients for the smallest complaints, but again, isn’t that part of a nurse’s job?

Observation No. 4: You need help to move, walk or horrors, use a bedpan? I am going to cheer very loudly if there is any nurse willing to do that for you today. That’s the sole responsibility of the person watching over the patient, never mind if she’s 65 years old, and as frail as the patient. No sireeee! It’s not the nurse’s job.

Observation No. 5: Why is it when doctors make hospital rounds, they come in so late and always have to be in a rush? You’re lucky to have an attending physician who will really come in to see you every day of your confinement at an hour that is sane, especially if you’re supposed to be discharged during the day.

If they hang around for 5 minutes, that’s really long. You haven’t even had time to absorb what they said, and formulated questions to help you better understand and they’re out the door. And they even make excuses that they need to rush because “I wasn’t able to spend the holidays with my family so I have to go now.” Why accept the case in the first place if your schedule won’t permit it? Turn it over to some other doctor. The real kicker? They charge astronomical fees for their halfhearted service!!!!

What’s missing in all these? Simple and basic TLC. Good old tender, loving care. There’s talk that nursing schools are planning to add a course on this. And I am truly aghast at such news. How ever can you teach TLC? In the first place, if you’re truly sincere about joining the nursing profession, it’s already part of your nature to want to care for people. What you learn in school are knowledge, skills and techniques.

But then again, people turn to nursing because they see it as an opportunity to improve their lives or get out of poverty. It’s a ticket to go abroad and earn dollars. Not because they want to be part of a group of people who find fulfillment in helping people heal.  So they spend at least  half a million pesos for schooling without ever really having the heart to be a nurse in the true sense of the word.

You want to give medical professionals the respect they deserve. But the public also want medical professionals who live by their oath to serve, and to serve well.