How well did you do on the money front in 2014?

MANILA, Philippines - As 2014 draws to a close, this is a good time to look back and see where you have done well and where you can do better in all aspects of your life – from your studies or your career, to relationships, to health and well-being, and even your finances.

Reflecting on how you did in the past year allows you to plan better for the year ahead, because it gives you an insight on your areas of strength and weakness.

One of the good things about assessing how you have done in the financial front is that you have actual records or figures to look at and tell you how you’ve fared. Ideally, you have set out some financial goals and laid out a plan to support them at the beginning of the year. If you did, then it will be easier to gauge your performance against your goals. If you did not have a plan to start with, this may be a good time to start making one.

To have a rough idea of how you managed in the financial front this year, examine your records – bank books, bank statements, credit card statements, tax records, and the like. Look at the following aspects of your finances: your savings, debt, and investment gains (or losses). Look how much you have in each of these categories, and as you go through each one, ask yourself the following questions:

Did you reach your targets?

If you had a pre-set target, then you would know right away if you did. If you had no set target in mind, ask yourself if you are comfortable with the amount you have for savings and investments, as well as your debt levels, with consideration to your current financial status. In thinking about your targets, look into the future and project. What do you want to achieve in the next five, 10, or 20 years? Let’s say you want to buy a house in the next five years using your savings. Look if your savings grew at the pace that will allow you to make the purchase in five years. Look at your investments as well. Are they growing at the pace that they should to meet your goals? Are there other investment products that may be better suited to your profile and support your financial goals?

Did you spend according to your budget?

This will be a good time to think about the purchases and acquisitions you made, and how you’ve kept close to your budget. You can easily tell if you went overboard if you’ve experienced getting your utilities cut off, or are paying a hefty sum for interest expenses. You would also know that if you’ve experienced many cash crunches throughout the year. If you overspent, then think of where you overspent. Did you spend more than you intended to on shopping or entertainment? Or did utilities rise higher than you expected? Ask hard questions. Could it be that your income is no longer enough for your needs, suggesting that you may need to rethink your career plans?

Where did you do well?

Look at everything and identify where you can say you did well. Why do you think did this happen? You might say that your savings improved drastically this year. If it did, what did you do or what were the events that led to this? Perhaps, you cut down on your unnecessary expenses or perhaps, you started putting aside a set amount each month. It could also be that you got a big bonus. Knowing where you did well and how you managed to do so will give you guidelines on how to achieve this again in the coming year.

Where can you improve?

Take a good hard look at where you could have done better, and think of why you have failed to achieve some of your goals. Did you lack discipline? Were you unable to plan in advance? Were you unaware of your financial options? In determining where you can do better, think about your behavior and spending patterns during the year. Did you overspend when you were with friends? Did you buy a car that was too expensive to maintain? By closely examining your expenditures vis-à-vis your daily activities, you may be able to pinpoint specific areas for improvement.

As you reflect on all these questions, you might want to start writing a journal that outlines your thoughts. This will guide you in planning how to address these issues in the months ahead. This early, why not make a commitment that 2015 will be a better planned year for you? Remember the adage – if you fail to plan, you plan to fail. We suggest taking the future with both hands and start securing your financial independence beginning today.

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

Oprah still supportive of Charice

MANILA, Philippines -- Singer Charice thanked popular television host Oprah Winfrey for continuing to support her career.

"Until now, she's still there to support me. So I just want to thank her for everything," she said in her guesting on the US talk show "The Couch" on Wednesday (US time).

"I mean I can say that she's one of the people that I really owe. She gave me the career that I'd been wanting and everything," Charice said

Charice's international career took off after she appeared on "The Ellen de Generes Show"and "Oprah."

Winfrey even dubbed her at the time as "the most talented girl in the world."

Since then, Charice has released a couple of albums and also appeared on the popular TV show "Glee."

New Hollywood film

Charice is now promoting her second Hollywood film "Here Comes The Boom," which stars Salma Hayek and Kevin James.

The comedy movie about a high school teacher (James) who takes up mixed martial arts to raise funds to help the school opens in US theaters on Friday, October 12.

Charice said she auditioned for the role of James' student in the movie.

She recalled being really nervous when she found out that that she was going to sing Neil Diamond's "Holly Holy" -- which she was unfamiliar with.

"I didn't know the song 'Holly Holy.' I didn't even know that I was gonna do the song. I thought I will just gonna act and everything. So I was ready, reading the script and all of the sudden they gave me the lyrics of the song 'Holly Holy' and I was like 'what's this song' so I download the song on ITunes and I was listening to it and I was like 'oh my God this is the end of me, this is the end of me I don't know the song,'" she narrated.

"So I went inside the conference room and Frank (Coraci), was there -- the director -- everybody was there and I was shaking and I was like 'why am I shaking? This is my job. I sing.' Thank God that I actually did it and I made them kinda teary-eyed," she said.

"The X Factor Philippines" judge said she's just happy to be part of the film and to be given a chance to meet James and Hayek.

"I love all of them. I'm just very blessed because I didn't expect that they would be that nice and sweet and everything. So being with them on the set, I kept on telling them that if you guys gonna make another movie, please, please pick me, pick me," she said.

source: abs-cbnnews.com

Cesar approves Diego’s decision to finish studies

MANILA, Philippines – Actor Cesar Montano said he is glad that his son Diego decided to quit showbiz to focus on his studies.

Speaking to “The Buzz,” Montano said his son told him that he would want to finish his studies first before continuing what he has started in show business.

Montano said Diego is currently in his last year of high school.

“Nag-aaral siya ngayon, focused siya. Sabi niya, ‘Dad tatapusin ko muna ang pag-aaral ko.’ Sabi ko, ‘Iyan ang tama. Iyan ang gusto kong gawin mo.’ Pa-graduate na siya ng high school and magkokolehiyo na siya,” he said.

According to Montano, he will support whatever his son decides to take up in college.

“Sabi ko, ‘Kahit na anong kursong kunin mo, I’d be here to support you,’” he said.

Diego signed a contract with ABS-CBN in March 2011 and was part of the remake of hit television series “Mara Clara.”

In his earlier interview, Diego stressed that his parents have nothing to do with his decision to join show business, saying it was his decision to venture into the entertainment world.

“I enjoy acting at school. We have theater. I really enjoy being part of it and that’s one of the main reasons. I wanted to try achieving what they have achieved,” he said at the time.

Diego is the son of Montano with actress Teresa Loyzaga.

source: abs-cbnnews.com

Tourism boom will require more chefs, says Baldoz

MANILA - As the country intensifies its campaign to boost tourism through the “It’s more fun in the Philippines" slogan, the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) also sees a corresponding boom in the hotel and restaurant industry, and consequently in the need for more chefs and other such workers in the sector.

“The hotel and restaurant industry is a pillar of the tourism sector. It goes without saying that improved tourism means increased hotel and restaurant activities,” said Labor and Employment Secretary Rosalinda Dimapilis-Baldoz.

“If this current trend continues, the growth in the hotel and restaurant industry is expected to provide more employment opportunities to our workers,” Baldoz said.

Data of the Department of Tourism shows that a total of 1,497,851 visitors came to the Philippines from January to April 2012, an increase of 14.61% over the previous year’s volume of 1,306,944 for the same period.

In anticipation of this demand, the DOLE has included the occupational position of chef in the DOLE’s Career Guides as one of the featured careers under the hotels and restaurant industry. The DOLE’s Career Guides can be accessed at the Bureau of Local Employment’s website:http://ble.dole.gov.ph/career.asp.

According to the career guide, there are no specific educational requirements for chefs. However, most employers prefer to hire high school graduates who have completed a course on commercial food preparation.

A four-year degree in International Hospitality Management, with specialty in culinary arts, will give a chef a distinct advantage when applying for a high-paying job, such that of an executive chef in a prestigious restaurant or hotel.

“For those who were not able to enrol in college this year, there are culinary schools that offer short-term courses in culinary arts for one year and two months; a three-month training program for the certification of the fundamentals in culinary arts; or a four-month training in commercial cooking, or a five-day culinary course,” said Baldoz.

A four-year degree in international hospitality management with specialty in culinary cost around P170,000 to P200,000 per semester, inclusive of the materials (utensils and ingredients) that will be used during the whole course.

As indicated in the DOLE’s Career Guide, salaries of chefs vary according to the type of food services establishment in which they work. The monthly salary for entry level chefs starts from P10,000 to P18,000, depending on the level of education they have achieved and if they are able to land a job in elegant restaurants and hotels.

Specifically, a chef is tasked to plan and direct food preparation and cooking activities; planmenus, ensure food meets quality standards; estimate food and labor cost; supervise activities of cooks and other kitchen staff; demonstrate new cooking technique; instruct cooks in preparation, cooking, garnishing of food displays; and plan the requisition of food and kitchen supplies.

“There are many employment and business opportunities for a chef, which includes authoring a cookbook, going into catering business for weddings, and business functions, among others. They can also work as consultants for restaurant owners who want to develop special menus,” Baldoz added.

source: interaksyon.com