Keep Your Dreams Alive

When I was young, I used to tell everyone that I dream of becoming President of the country one day so that I can help other people especially the poor. But young as I am, I also had other dreams. I wanted to become lawyer, doctor, teacher and many more. But what is common with my dreams is the reason behind it. I wanted to help other people.

I can still vividly remember one incident wherein my mother (Inang) was carrying me because it was raining. It was dark and the road is slippery. I felt guilty and I told Inang that when I grow up, I will fish for her. I guess I kept my promise :) I did not fish for her by being fisherman but I worked hard to be able to provide her a comfortable retirement :)

Growing up, we all have big dreams for ourselves, for our families and for other people. But along the way, we allow circumstances and even other people to steal our dreams. We allow poverty to stop us from pursuing our dreams. We listen to the wrong people who one way or the other way keep us away from pursuing our dreams in life. We allow our own laziness and other distractions to keep us from working on our dreams. We allow pessimism and instant gratification to reign in our lives. We allow setbacks, mistakes and failures to stop us from pursuing our dreams not recognizing that it is necessary and part of the same journey.

If there is one thing that can keep us motivated despite the challenges that we face along the way, it is our dreams. It is the reason why I do the things that I do everyday. It is the reason why I am still an OFW even after 16 long years. It is the reason why I still do the best I can at work and in all my endeavors. It is my dreams that is the single biggest factor in my own little successes in life.

So keep your DREAMS ALIVE. And for the younger ones, dream. Oh not just dream, DREAM BIG!!!

Invest in Stocks OFWs

Invest in Stocks. This is my usual advice to fellow OFWs. Invest in Stocks for your long term goals such as retirement fund, fund for dream house and children's educational fund. Invest in Stocks for your dreams.

But most often than not, investment and stocks are too foreign for most OFWs or Filipinos in general. In fact, when you mention about investment, many Filipinos think that it is just for the rich. And for some who are into stocks without guidance, they end up confused between investing and trading.

If only OFWs know that in the last 22 years, PSEi has grown 476 percent or around 22 percent per year if it is evenly divided on yearly basis. In fact, Mr. Edward Lee, COL Financial founder and Chairman illustrated how a 1 million pesos in 1992 would have become around 37 million at the end of 2012 if only the money was invested in BPI shares.

And not many Filipinos know that they can start investing into Philippine giant companies with just minimum investment of 5,000 pesos only.

This is the awareness that OFSI (www.ofsi.ph) is trying to create with OFWs and their families. OFSI teaches OFWs practical money management so that they can build a strong financial foundation and start investing as soon as possible. We assist OFWs to learn from mentors like Bro. Bo Sanchez of the Truly Rich Club as well as from the great stocks investors like Warren Buffet and Edward Lee.

Investing in Stocks with the right mindset and strategy will assist OFWs to retire young and truly rich.

Be home soon OFWs and reunite with your loved-ones and friends. Invest in Stocks OFWs!!!

Be Real Heroes OFWs!

"Be Real Heroes OFWs. Be heroes of yourselves first and foremost so that you can be a real blessing to more people – not just for your immediate family but to your friends and communities."

As a young poor boy from the countryside, I only had one thing that brought me to where I am today. It brought me to a University in Manila with a full scholarship grant. It brought me to the Middle East as an OFW for more than 15 years now. It brought me to where I am now in my career.

It is my dream. The dream that I nurtured through the years. It is the dream to provide for my family, to break the cycle of poverty in my family and to become rich so that I can be a blessing to the people around me.

Just like many Filipinos I thought that overseas employment is the only way to achieve my dreams, and that two years of working overseas would be enough to earn what I need. But then now I am completing my 17th year as an OFW and still working on my financial goals.

I realized early on that two years is really not enough, which is why I searched for opportunities on how I can grow whatever I save. This is when I stumbled upon Personal Finance advocates like Mr. Francisco Colayco and eventually, Truly Rich Club of Bro. Bo Sanchez.

I started investing in Mutual Funds 10 years ago and directly with Stocks in 2010. It was difficult for me as I have very few friends who are investing in financial instruments. My family does not even know that stocks and bonds exist. I don’t have personal investment mentor either whom I can talk to and guide me on which strategy can work better for me. At that time, there were no financial literacy sessions for Filipinos in the Middle East. Nevertheless, I just continued and motivated myself through self-study and from virtual mentors. I am just so grateful that along the way, the online presence of many financial literacy advocates as well as the Truly Rich Club is making it easier for many OFWs like us who cannot attend sessions in Manila.

From the time I learned about personal finance and investment instruments, I have always shared whatever I learn with my OFW friends hoping that they too can benefit and accelerate the realization of their financial goals. But I found out that it is easier for OFWs to put their hard-earned money to “get-rich quick scheme” than in legal financial instruments. When they save, they will just put it in banks as Time Deposit. There are more OFWs who are not even saving and many are getting into debts unnecessarily. Unfortunately there are also those who exploit this lack of financial knowledge of OFWs by luring them into financial products and investments that might not be aligned with their goals.

This is when I realized that there is so much to be done. This is how OFSI was born.

The challenges I faced in my financial journey paved the way for OFSI. It is a culmination of my desire to help fellow OFWs in their quest for financial freedom and abundance. It is a humble contribution to lessen the cry of many OFWs who are always longing to be HOME, envisioning that in the next generation of Filipinos - overseas employment will no longer be a need but just a choice for most Filipinos. It is by the grace of God that I met like-minded OFWs who share the same passion and advocacy. And we continue to meet many OFWs who are journeying with us and helping us to reach out to more OFWs and their families.

OFSI is a modern day bayanihan – OFWs helping fellow OFWs achieve financial freedom and abundance.

Be Real Heroes OFWs. Be financially literate so that you may be able to achieve your dreams without staying that long overseas, away from home.

Let us all journey together towards a financially free and abundant retirement. Let us all Retire Young and Truly Rich OFWs.

OFWs make great sacrifices. We deserve nothing less than a great retirement!

God Bless.