Work From Home: Is It A Viable Solution For The Jobless Filipino?

Photo credit: Raymond Selda

Despite the robust growth of the Philippine economy in the past 3 years, many Filipinos still perceive that “life is hard”, and that there’s a persisting shortage of jobs and opportunities out there, especially in recent times when the country was devastated by “Yolanda”. Despite that, there is an increasing number of “work from home” jobs, yet many are skeptic whether such opportunities are a viable solution for their livelihood.

Nevertheless, there is an increasing supply of work from home, and unlike before, one can readily google at least 3 pages of home-based job postings for each local-based job site, and there are countless contractual jobs in crowdsourcing sites such as oDesk and Freelancer. In fact, these two job sites are just a part of the existing 2,000 crowdsourcing sites that make up the industry. And because the Philippines is seen as the “most attractive global provider of IT-BPO services in Asia” by economists worldwide, Filipinos have a strong advantage of obtaining these types of jobs. So strong is this industry that it contributes as much as OFW remittances to our economy, and it is projected that there will be $20 billion in revenues and 1.5 million jobs in 2016.

According to the latest DOLE statistics, more than 50% and almost two-fifths of total job vacancies in the country are categorized under administrative and support services, and a huge chunk of which is contributed by the BPO industry. And this figure only reflects the recorded job openings from office-based companies, excluding home based jobs that are steadily and increasingly offered on a daily basis.

However, most Filipinos still see work from home jobs as only part-time, remedial and a “not a real job”, and many still stick with old formulas of applying for office-based jobs and going abroad. But if one tries to take a bird’s eye view of it, it is indeed a viable solution for the jobless Filipino. The current office-based job salary range is P15,000-25,000, and this amount can in fact be also achieved with a home based job. Since most online jobs are freelance by nature, one is not tied to a single company and can take on numerous contractual jobs, as long as he/she is capable of doing it. While most online, home based jobs may offer less compensation than this salary range, such amount would actually produce an equal cash flow, considering the cost of transportation, food and other expenditures of office-based workers.

Many think that it’s not a “stable” job, but in this time, is there still a thing as a stable job? Do most Filipino workers really have that security; that they could always rely on their jobs as their primary source of income? Most Filipinos should be aware that all employers are businesses, and if businesses are not profitable, how can one expect them to pay employees, keep up with operational costs and maintain positive cash flows? And with the current PDAF issues that the government faces, how can one be assured that our tax and insurance system is any way different in “taking care” of our contributions?

With regard to opportunities abroad, it has always been an obvious avenue for opportunity for Filipinos; but it definitely is not the only solution. If one can be able to develop skills that are globally competitive, why go abroad when one can readily get a work from home job? Going abroad likewise has many risks, and many people have no financial capacity to apply simultaneously for numerous countries. But with home based jobs, one has the freedom to search for employers worldwide and choose work contracts and deals that suit them.

But whether one thinks if a work from home job is a viable solution for a jobless Filipino or not, what’s there to lose in exploring these opportunities? Regardless of whether it makes ends meet or not for us, the bottom line is, you still get to earn while at home.

Links:

http://www.bles.dole.gov.ph/PUBLICATIONS/LABSTAT%20UPDATES/vol17_24.pdf

http://www.salaryexplorer.com/salary-survey.php?loc=171&loctype=1

Get Rid Of Flies With Water-Filled Plastic Bags?

Flies around the house have always been pesky, as they swarm around and cause our food to spoil, and I’ve always thought that the only ways to get rid of flies are to sway something at them, swat them flat or put some icky, sticky fly paper around. But having encountered this interesting picture made me think that my ideas about it are very limited, and I immediately wondered about the rationale behind the capability of water-filled plastic bags in driving flies out.

This picture was shared by my dear friend who’s currently in Korea, and he said that this is a typical way for restaurants there to get rid of flies. He was told that the shape of the human hand apparently scares insects. Other people claimed that the theory behind it is not necessarily with the hand-shaped bag – it’s with the light that is reflected by the water inside the bags, and it may either distort or blur insects’ vision, causing confusion. Some sites mention that pennies should be placed inside the water-filled bag: as the water magnifies them, it would resemble a bigger insect’s eyes, thereby scaring flies away.

I eventually read further along, just to get some reliable scientific explanations to back this up. According to the Tennessee Farm Bureau Federation, it’s really not about the pennies – it’s about the light that is refracted as it goes through the bag. If you go back to your biology notes from high school, you would find out that the fly’s eyes are largely complex, made up of about a thousand “mini eyes” that don’t focus or move. The refracted light causes distorted images as they are perceived by these non-focusing eyes, and these stimuli are interpreted differently by the fly’s brain. As a result it causes visual and spatial misinterpretation and the natural response of flies are to fly away from the refracted light.

However, there seems to be very limited information that really supports water-filled plastic bags as a way to get rid of flies. Yet while we’re waiting for some revelation coming from expert minds, wouldn’t the fun out of it be reason enough to give it a try?

Links:

http://www.tnfarmbureau.org/content/pennies-bags-water-make-flies-flee

Portrait Photo Done By Accident?

This portrait photo (and I call it one) of my better half was taken while we were waiting for our milk tea drinks, and it happened while I was just tinkering with a 12 year-old Kodak C530. It’s pretty much an old model, and I’m very much aware that its capability is overshadowed by newer ones and even smart phones, but I still opted to stick with using it just because I feel that all things should be used until they bust out.

I got intrigued by the way the Dakasi milk tea lamp sign makes an attractive background for her face, and so I shot four pictures, but then I accidentally pushed the flash button off when I took the last one. The result of the portrait photo was this: the bright light at the back contrasts with the contour of her oval head and gentle shoulders, and this also added some depth on the fingers as they enclose her cheeks. What I truly like about this picture is that it looks dark at a glance, and it would take some time and focus for you to see the face and its expression.

Sure, you’ll probably think that I’m biased about my wife, but let me try to express as neutral as possible why I think this portrait photo is beautiful. The picture is remarkable because there are two distinct contrasts, and that the sharp distinction between light and dark creates that slight 3-D effect. Because the image of the person is unconventionally dark, the viewer would exert effort to see the subtle expression of the face, and you could tell from her eyes and smile that she’s mildly wondering, “Hi. Why are you taking a picture of me?”

And for me, the most beautiful thing about the portrait photo is that it was done accidentally, and it’s just amazing when you can pull off something wonderful out of something unplanned or at random.

Afterwards I began searching for more info on accidental photography, and I’m happy to find out that there’s a niche for this way of taking pictures. This is just the start, and now I’m wondering what I could capture next with my old camera. Finding something truly fascinating about something ordinary – isn’t that just stimulating?

By the way, the Dakasi milk tea was superb. We were wondering at first why the flavor we ordered was called “charcoal-roasted” milk tea, and we took careful sips. And there it was – that slight, unobtrusive coal aftertaste that you haven’t experienced elsewhere. It was also a treat seeing how their pounding machine shakes the drink.  

Voting For Elections: Should We Bother Or Not?

Photo courtesy of dinno 19 (Flickr.com)

It seems that most Filipinos nowadays have lost their enthusiasm when it comes to voting for elections. The average Filipino would ask: “Would it make a difference?” And we can’t blame them; most Filipinos have connected the country’s deteriorating political system to their increasing domestic problems. Most Filipinos have conceived the idea that the political system is the key factor that affects the quality of our living; as a result, Filipinos have become accustomed, passive and indifferent.

But voting for elections does make a difference, and we should realize that. Even if the government extorts from us in legal and illegal ways (and it will never change), wouldn’t it make a difference if the elected official is a “lesser evil”? Let’s face it: corruption is already a natural phenomenon in Philippine politics; it’s already there. Yet even if we cannot remove it, we can lessen it. And how do we lessen it? Pick the “lesser evil” politician. Pick the less corrupt. Pick the less tainted. And we can do that by voting for elections. 

While it may occur in other parts of the country that people have a “good candidate” to vote for, our town is different: there’s no good choice. The fat candidate (in terms of his physique and money) comes from a family facing numerous charges, and this candidate is alleged to be always absent in his office. The candidate making a “comeback” was at a time associated with the fat candidate, and now he’s running against him (that’s how quick politicians change sides). Another candidate is seeking re-election, and the only thing that I can remember during his previous term is the misplaced archway that his administration built to serve as the boundary of our town with the next town. A dispute ensued, and the other town won, resulting in the demolition of the archway. It was a waste of money and effort. 

You might be thinking: “Even if we choose the ‘lesser evil’, it still wouldn’t improve our political situation. The government is still corrupt; national and local programs are still poorly implemented; law is not fully enforced. Yes it’s true, but by exercising our right to vote, we can manage to decrease the magnitude of all this. It’s better than doing nothing about it, right? If your house is on fire, wouldn’t it be better that you died trying to escape, rather than locking yourself in despair? 

Despite these circumstances, I believe that choosing the lesser detriment is every Filipino’s responsibility, and he can fulfill his responsibility by voting for elections. Our single vote can make a difference, and it takes only one vote to determine the outcome of the election. My advice for the average Filipino is this: stop thinking that the political system is the main reason why your life is miserable. It’s time to break the cycle. Don’t get accustomed to our present political situation if you want it to change for the better. It’s time to be active, and it’s time to get involved.

Money Grows Like Plants

My father’s into the plant business, and for many, many years, he persistently tried to convince me to do the same. But even though I appreciate how you can make money selling plants, I never saw myself as a person venturing into the plant business. However, as I steadily grew interested in business in general, I came to realize that in a way, money grows like plants. I didn’t get hooked to the idea of selling plants, but just the idea of how a plant grows is analogous to how money works.

How did I come up with the idea that money grows like plants? Well, here are some of my observations and realizations:

1.       Starting a business is just like planting a seed. Generally, plants don’t grow from a seed/bud into a full-grown vegetative and reproductive state in a short span of time. Fertilizers can speed up the growth process, but cannot do it in an instant. The fact is that plant tissue takes time to propagate; a seed, bud, cutting or any other reproducing portion must be able to adapt in a certain environment, and it must withstand all obstacles for growth. And just like them, money grows steadily. While there are some strategies or methods that can result in a surge of revenue, I believe that you should allow a longer period of time to allow the steady growth of your business. There’s such a thing as the “time value” of money, and I believe that you should allow money to work for a longer period to truly make it sustainable and self-sufficient.

2.        Profits are just like fruits. Plants generate fruits, and money generates money. And the way I see it, this thought contributes to the idea that money grows like plants. It takes time for plants to bear fruits, and just the same, it takes time for a business to have its returns. If you pick a fruit that is not yet ripe, you wouldn’t be surprised if it won’t taste the same. The same thought applies to a business: if you don’t allow sufficient time for money to work, how would you expect your business to bear fruit? If you’re not properly monitoring your business’s cash flow, you might be taking out not just profit, but your equity as well, and this would consequently cripple your operations. It’s funny that we’re able to put it like this: what you originally intended as a sweet business turns sour.

3.       Branching is just like compounding. If you allow enough time for a typical plant to propagate, one branch turns to two; and two turns to four; four turns to eight. Money seems to work that way, right? Assuming that events turn favorable, a financial instrument can potentially generate compounded interest, and the more time you’re willing to invest your money, the greater is the potential for your money to compound.

And even with these observations, there are other angles that are still to be explored to establish that money grows like plants. Just like plants and money, I guess you should also allow more time to think about these thoughts. Time is essential, time is the key factor; and if you want to be successful in farming or gardening or business, it’s definitely true that you’ve got to take time to understand time.