Life In the Philippines

Sorting Out Finances

Banking in the Philippines is a nightmare area which I have written about before, the problem being that no bank communicates with any other bank, resulting in the need for many businesses and individuals holding accounts in different banks. My task this last week has been to decide which of the accounts I have in the Philippines will be retained.

The banking issues if further confused when information given on websites does not match reality And when you approach staff they have no idea what is going on, for instance. According to the Social Security website payment of contributions can be made online via BANKNET. I logged into the system connected to my PNB bank filled out the forms but kept getting message please try again later after three days I emailed Banknet and they suggested I approach PNB. A woman PNB could not understand why I would want to pay on line when I could just go to the SSS office at the other side of town and pay over the counter. When I explained I was going to be thousand of miles away she still did not understand but told me to go the the SSS office.

The SSS office were a bit more switched on but said they did not think the system was working yet in Dipolog City but might work in Manilla. she however gave me the address of the President who would be able to enlighten me.

My next port of call was to visit the Electricity Supplier Zanaco to arrange payment of future bills. Their opening statement was "its not possible we don't have an online system " This was like a red rag to a bull so I rephrased my question another way and asked them which Bank they use to deposit money into and when they said Metrobank I asked for their account number. I reminded the guy that I was a member of the Co-operative and as such he worked for me to which he replied the magic words you need to see the General Manager so Two hours later I got what I wanted, On a monthly basis they will email me a copy of my bill and I will use my online system to pay into their account confirming the transaction my email. Mission Accomplished.

My the end of the week it seems that the everyone I need to pay has account with Metrobank, so It looks like that will be the account i retain. I also discovered that Payment from Metrobank to SSS also appear to work. I posted a test transaction and will see if that reaches the SSS next week.

I still need to resolve how I can instruct my bank to send money to another country without having to return to the Philippines but as Metrobank is upgrading its system this weekend this just might be possible. My removers have been in touch and are planning to pack my possessions on 23 April so everything is falling into place, but still no word on Visa's

David Ogden
Dipolog city
+639991141149

http://seriouswealth.net

Slow Life in the Philippines

The Waiting Game

Our life is once again on hold thanks to local bureaucracy, Jay passport should have arrived at the weekend so we now have to chase up the couriers and the Passport office as passport should have been available on 14th March. This now will means a slippage on our schedule to move to Cyprus

Just happened to be passing LBC and they say they tried to deliver at weekend and no one home, seems strange because my office overlooks our gate and I waited all day. Any way we now have passport which was issued on 4th Feb, great so it took over a month for it to be released as issue date provided was 14th March. what a way to run a country.

Well with the recent news it might be a case of out of the frying pan into the fire. No good financial news coming out of Cyprus as they have stolen money from everyones bank accounts, this might give other countries ideas. Never do trust any foreign bank so only transfer sufficient funds to cover living expenses,

My next task is to chase up the local branch of the NSO to get an amended marriage certificate annotated with the fact that the marriage was annulled. Once again the bureaucrats are taking their time, but we have just over a month to leave the country as my Visa will run out so time is of the essence.

Today I Have the visas applications ready to go to the Cyprus Consul in Manila but do not know what the fees are. Have tried calling but only get a fax machine, now thinking that they have stopped work due to an extended bank holiday to give banks time to work out how they are going to thousands angry customers when they open.

Finally got through and things are now moving again, visa Application will be in Manila tomorrow and hopefully on to Cyprus at the weekend, there is a chance we just might get back on track but with Easter to contend with its going to be tight.

David Ogden
Dipolog city
+639991141149

http://seriouswealth.net

Better Home Based Business

Team work

I can't remember who first coined the phase "Teamwork makes the Dream work" but John Maxwell has written a book with that title.

Billionaire Ed Mercer who has a new goal to create 100 new millionaires is very impressed with the team work being displayed in the 100 millionaires club and told the members of the club recently that he had never seen anything like the group of entrepreneurs who are selflessly working together so that every one has the chance to become millionaire.

It is refreshing for the people involved to know that they have 24/7 support from around the world that can back them up in times of illness and holidays and the like. I know from when I was working full time there was nothing worse than returning from a period of absence to a desk ladened with work, it really takes the off the best vacation.

I regularly use my fellow team members to help build my business, discuss and share what is working what is not working and sharing ideas for the future.

Many people wrongly classify what Ed is doing as just another online business but it's far more than that. The majority of networking opportunities are based on MLM structures where basically many so called sponsors get you in take your money and often you never see or hear from them again. You are advised to direct people usually your friends to a website and magically people will join your business. well I am sorry folks it doesn't work like that. when if ever did you have a so called sponsor put one of his recruits into your business for your benefit?

You need to build a relationship with your prospect, they need to know you are a real person who will help them in time of need. Prospect are genuinely surprised when I call just to say hello and confirm that I am ready to guide them so that they can listen and if they and speak to Ed Mercer in Person.

David Ogden

http://seriouswealth.net

Life In the Philippines

Win Some lose some

Our battle with bureaucrats in the Philippines continues and at the end of last week we successful won a dispute against the local electricity supplier Zanaco which had been going on ever since we moved into our house. Zanaco made a calculation of what our consumption would be based on our electrical plan but did not listen when I told that our consumption would be half of their estimate.

Our house is for sale and our consumption will drop further and we need the deposit reducing. We went through a series of departments and pleaded our case and gradually we began to get movement, finally we met with the decision maker the General Manager and within two minute and a hand shake he agreed to return 70% of our deposit based on our actual usage figures. It did take a further two days for them to release the cash, but we actually received more than we expected as the amount they requires is based on one months usage.

Today I went to the local National Statistic Office NSO to obtain an official annotated marriage document which show Jasmin's previous marriage has been annulled. Image my surprise when I discovered that in order to get this document I needed to supply 5 other official documents. It seems that the actual Decree of annulment signed by the Judge is worthless in the Philippines. If I do not submit these documents the official records will not be updated. I showed them certified copies of all the documents given to me by the court include transcriptions of the proceeding but they replied I still need to obtain the necessary certification. So it seems yet more travelling is required this time including Manila with return trip taking Two days. What a crazy system, but it gets worse.

Before I left I asked how long it would take for them to update Jasmins records from when I submit the necessary documents the reply being 1-3 months. I pity Filipinos and anyone who comes into contact with one. The Government dictate their lives and they have no freedom. Power is held in Manila and the provinces are neglected/

David Ogden
Dipolog city
+639991141149

http://seriouswealth.net

Life in the Philippines

Why are you not making money

This is the time of year that people start to have doubts as to weather the opportunities they signed up for in the new years are going to work for them. To be honest it is unreasonable to expect success in such a short time what one should be doing is making sure you are taking the right steps in building your business and here is a simple checklist.

• If you sell products are you buying and using them yourself, most MLM have a minimum monthly purchase level to qualify for commissions so even if you have no downline get used to making this commitment especial as when you introduce other people to your business you will expect them to do the same.
• Do something every day to promote your business, write a blog, place and advert or talk with someone don't just waste time aimlessly surfing the Internet or writing about what you watched on TV unless it is rel event to you business.
• If someone contacts you about your home business get back to them as soon as possible whilst your business is fresh in their minds.
• Learn something everyday about your business or a technique which will help your business develop.
• Read an inspirational book or listen to a tape to get yourself excited, excitement is infectious and makes it easier to sell.
• Do not ask anyone to do anything that you are not doing yourself, keep your business simple and duplicatable
• Seek help/guidance from other people in your business organisation before a small matter develops into a major issue.
• Stand by any commitments you make.

Remember Rome was not built in day stay committed to your dream and in time you will be rewarded, it will take month and sometime years but you will reach you goals provided you remain focussed.

David Ogden

http://seriouswealth.net

Better Home based Business

What do you expect from your business

Many people are looking to the Internet to help maintain their lifestyle, especially with the financial Crisis which is effecting many areas of the world/ the Internet is often perceived as the place to make money fast and it can be be but there are many scams that need to be avoided.

Like any business it will take time to get into profit and you need to allow for this. you also need to realise that you will need to put in time effort and money in order to build your business, you may have to do some task that you don't like such as speaking with people.

I personally hate the phone but know that this is the best way to communicate with potential customers and customers are the key to the growth of your business.

Far to many people believe all they have to do is direct people to a website and the money will come in, or else entice someone to join their opportunity and sit back and enjoy the profit, which is why MLM has such a bad reputation. If fact most if not all MLM are administered in such as way that if you do not put in the effort you will not be rewarded and it its not uncommon to discover that people below you are earning more than you because they are putting in more time and effort into their business. I believe that is quite fair.

You must be knowledgeable about your business and the products you sell, would you purchase a car from a car sales who does not drive? You should also use the products that you sell if you do not do this your potential customers will think theres is something wrong.

A number of people will ask you how your business is going and here you need to be truthful, if you have just started out no one expects you to be in profit. everyone knows that times are hard. so long as you have a plan that will put you in profit share it with other potential prospects.

Yesterday a prospect said he did not have enough money to join my business so I asked him if he could afford $50 a month and showed him a way that by retailing what he purchased he could start building capital to invest in his business, it might take more time to reach his goal but he would be making progress along the road to success.

David Ogden

http://seriouswealth.net

Life In the Philippines

Interesting Road Journey

Yesterday we made a road trip from Dipolog city to Ozamis city in order to lodge documents with the Department of Foreign Affair relating to our visa's, I do know the road quite well but it never ceases to amaze me the sights and signs one sees. One that is lodged in my mind is an adverting for a resort, posted on the wall of a local prison!

There is a long stretch of roadworks with single file traffic stretching over some kilometres, with a few passing places controlled by flag men, unfortunately it is hard to work out which flag they are waving red or green and the motorcycles just continue on regardless, I got caught out when a bus indicated it was stopping to drop off passengers and hid one of the flag men so i met a stream of vehicles coming towards me, luckily I have a 4*4 so was able to pull onto a muddy bank.

Ozamis is a city that we normally pass through when catching a ferry but this time we turned off the main road and into a warren of one way streets with no names and virtually no where to park with hundreds of pedal passenger tricycle, A real nightmare. I had printed out a map from Google and having found a parking place Jasmin was all set to use a tricycle and I intervened as it is quicker to walk as you do not need to be snarled up in one way systems.

Coming home we picked up a police car and I mentioned to Jasmin that I had better not overtake it, so we set to follow it as it seemed in hurry, however it suddenly pulled over so we no longer had a scout to follow.

There was a lot of rain at times so I drove with headlights on so as to be seems but the locals do not seem to care, so its no wonder they have so many accident, especially when its wet and they have worn tires. we passed two crashes our self and noticed the road barriers had been damaged in many places.

The Philippines is not a pleasant place to drive, you have to be defensive and concentrate 100% expecting the unexpected.

David Ogden
Dipolog city
+639991141149

http://seriouswealth.net