I’m clueless. Alicia Silverstone-type-of-clueless, that is.
Way past fresh grad phase, one would think that I have made my way into finding out about studying finances, poring over Excel sheets and maintaining books. But I’m nowhere near anything that requires computations. Read the rest of this entry »
The past week has been more than a rude awakening, not just for me but of a whole nation as well. As typhoons Ondoy and Pepeng wreaked havoc in Northern Luzon, Manila and nearby provinces, past mistakes and shortcomings all came rushing in, like the uncontrollable currents of the September 26 flood.
Everyone has an Ondoy or Pepeng story to tell, including me, but I choose to be forward-looking. As we slowly recover from the trauma, physical exhaustion and material loss, lessons and realizations are now being uncovered.
Rude awakening: How prepared are we in the face of calamities and similar emergencies?
Sure, natural disasters and crises contain a potent factor that leaves many of us dumbfounded. More than the soaked gadgets and shoes buried in melted Cadbury-like mud and murk, most of the damage is emotional.
Whether you are in the middle of things or from the outside looking in, helplessness is enough to dampen the spirit.
Not-so-rude-awakening: The three P’s – Primed, Prepared, and Protected — are not impossibilities.
Let’s face it: nothing can prevent nor pre-empt the negative effects of shock. But once we regain our bearings, what I like to call the three P’s can immediately help us spring back into action.
1. PRIMED means to be informed and knowledgeable of the situation. Someone from PAG-ASA summed it perfectly: Instead of watching telenovelas, watch the news. Indeed, knowledge is power. Being in the know alleviates and somehow relieves the tension that we feel when caught off guard. Also, the right information can help guide us on what to do next.
2. PREPARED pertains to all the measures you could have done beforehand. Included are emergency kits (clothes, transistor radio, ready-to-eat food, water, fully-charged and loaded mobile phones, jacket, blanket, medicines and cash), list of important addresses and contact numbers, as well as a drawn-up plan for responding to emergencies.
3. PROTECTION gives you the ability to recuperate and return to your life before its unfortunate disruption. These are the intangibles: insurance (life, non-life, pre-need), savings, and investments that you can easily convert to hard cash and fuel your new beginning.
However, the most pressing issue transcends our personal recovery. While many of us pick up the pieces after the storm, some don’t have pieces to pick up at all, literally. Thus, donations, in the form of relief goods or one’s own time spent volunteering, are urgently needed. The Philippine National Red Cross (www.redcross.org.ph), Citizens’ Disaster Response Center (http://www.cdrc-phil.org/program.HTM) and World Vision (www.worldvision.org.ph) are just several examples of groups that give assistance to victims and opportunities to those who want to lend a helping hand.
Yes, it’s important to be primed, prepared, and protected. But to be able to contribute to rebuilding efforts can also make the greatest difference in the face of such destruction.
My journey in the financial industry is a bit unexpected. Since I majored in Public Relations, I saw myself working in PR agencies or even advertising. And more than a year into my present job, I realize that I’ve matured in so many ways, especially on how I handle my finances.
I want to share my experiences and learning, Read the rest of this entry »
