Following the Hierarchy of Financial Needs

There was a time I had about 3 months worth of expenses in my savings account, I was steadily buying stocks, and would go on regular trips, both local and abroad, with my family and friends.

I recently reminisced about those happy, flush days while I filled out another stock withdrawal form and I couldn't help but ask: "How did it all go downhill? Where did I go wrong?"

And the answer was simple, I tried to do too much too soon.

If I had only seen this financial needs pyramid from Boomer & Echo 2-3 years ago, I bet I would have been smarter with my financial decisions. Or so I tell myself :)

How to Get a Police Clearance from Paranaque City

*Update as of June 19, 2018: Bad news folks, PNP Paranaque City has a new service provider for the police clearance cards and certifications and it's experiencing a very painful birthing process, so what only took 30 minutes from start to finish before, will take upwards of two hours now. I recently had to get a police clearance and it took me almost 3 hours to get cleared. Be prepared for a lot of lining up and waiting in a hot, muggy and jampacked area. Bring a fan, a bottle of water, something to amuse yourself with and a lots and lots of patience.

I'm hoping that the new service provider will be able to resolve all its issues ASAP and that the local government will be able to come up with workable system and provide on the ground assistance since confusion was rampant in the two days I went to the police clearance area with only one local government employee available for questions (the same guy who was issuing the order of payment and makeshift numbers).

Paging Mayor Olivarez! Your constituents are suffering! Please do something. I have seen how efficient the police clearance process used to be and have also been witness to how easy it was to have my driver's license renewed in Paranaque City. The existing chaos at the police clearance center is a pox on your good record and should be dealt with ASAP.

Maybe you can deploy some of the municipal employees who oversee the number queueing machine at the treasury department to the police clearance area to herd the restless crowd. Last time I went the treasury department, there were three people sitting in front of the machine doing the same function. I'm sure one or two of them will be more than capable to provide on the ground assistance at the police clearance area.

But for anyone out there who needs to get a police clearance from Paranaque City, you have been warned so act accordingly. (end of update)

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I recently had to apply for a police clearance from Paranaque and I took a leave from work just to get this done in anticipation of the long lines and the usual time consuming, patience reducing ordeal when it comes to applying for any government document. But I was pleasantly surprised to find out that getting a police clearance was actually a painless and hassle-free experience! Good job to our Philippine National Police and the Paranaque city government for a very efficient and streamlined operation! Read up for the details.

My Future Foretold

Whenever I pass through the Padre Faura gate, I usually walk past this man in a white collared, short sleeved shirt tucked neatly in his pants. Sometimes he would be reading a newspaper or smoking a cigarette but he would always be stationed near a small table with two stools and an electric motorbike.

His name is Maestro Geno Ginintuan and he's as much a landmark of Padre Faura as the Supreme Court, UP Manila and the Department of Justice.

After almost a year of walking by him, I finally gave in to my curiosity and plopped myself down on his stool. Some quick chatting revealed that he's been at his post, rain or shine, for the last 20 or 30 years. He gets an average of 50-70 clients per day and he charges Php50 per client. He claims that his predictions and readings are 100% accurate. Even President Duterte has called him over to Malacanang for a personal reading, and he has regular clients who seek him out before making any important decisions.

Now for the good stuff. Let's talk about his predictions for me.

He first asked me for my birthday and wrote it down on his notepad.