Shaun T. Dy's Business & Economics Perspective Blog

China Daily Today is the entrance of a new administration of incoming Philippine president, Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. aka Bongbong or BBM. For the first time in so long--we already have a president and a vice president (both from the same party) elected by the majority over plurality. Several presidents won by plurality such as former Philippine presidents Fidel V. Ramos, Joseph M. Ejercito-Estrada, Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, the late Benigno Simeon "Noynoy" C. Aquino III, and Rodrigo R. Duterte. The same can be said for several vice presidents. I was thinking about it that several projects under Aquino III's were later completed during Duterte's administration. It made me think of the limits of just six years or how the presidential system isn't enough. Aquino III had some pros and cons. Duterte had some pros and cons. I feel that many promises can't be kept because of the presidential system.  Charter change can be good--if done right! I was reading through Andr

  Business World Online I was looking at Facebook comments some time ago when the stock market opened red . This caused me to write about why I'd listen to investor Warren Buffett over social media naysayers . One thing I noticed (but never wanted to speak of immediately ) is how people buy stocks during the high and sell them during a crash . It's pretty much contrary to what Buffett advises to buy during a dip that happened for some time. I've been checking the stock market performance (because I've got index funds ) to see what my next move would be. It's because the GInvest system, unlike the AXA Chinese Tycoon Fund, allows me to be flexible to insert a certain amount within the minimum. A person may invest PHP 1,000.00 during regular days and invest PHP 2,000.00 or more during a dip. Right now, some of the GInvest products are at a high, making me think, "If I invest for another year then I should do cost averaging instead!" Instead, from Bankrate , y

If there was one thing the COVID-19 pandemic did--I was practically forced to learn how to invest beyond showing up in person. I still prefer showing up in person to invest or to process transactions for more transparency. Given the conditions, it would be sometimes better to do some things online . I decided to get GCash (to pay restaurants that have deliveries but not through Grab and Foodpanda) and found GInvest. Previous features made it hard to count the number of units. I placed a few pesos to test my skill. I had to watch videos on how to invest effectively. Granted, it's my first time in so long to invest excess savings--I had made mistakes. Now, I decided to start buying a little more index funds and feeder funds. I decided to diversify my basket with two equity feeder funds from GInvest namely the Global Consumer Trends Feeder Fund and Global Technology Feeder Fund.  The  Peso Lab - Money Guide for Filipinos  explains the feeder fund (which is also a Unit Investment Trust

ToonPool There's the call of leftist fools to stop privatization. Many still believe that utilities should be run by nationalization rather than privatization . I've been reading on Facebook where some fools believe that allowing foreign telecommunications companies (telcos) to invest in the Philippines will "risk security". Any telco will risk security if there are no laws to regulate it like the Data Privacy Law. Just because I support private enterprises doesn't mean that I say the government is hands-off. On the other hand, the government has the duty to set rules such as fair compensation, proper employee treatment, safety measures, and the like to make sure that we remain in healthy competition. Some people who keep protesting against the privatization of industries I believe (1) want the government to provide for all the needs of the people (which leads to dictatorship, eventually), (2) have some agenda as to why they're doing it, or (3) these people ar

iStock Photo I remembered some time ago when I wrote about how being miserly is not a good option . It's not that I advocate being the opposite extreme and being a  spendthrift either. What I'm trying to advocate is balance. I was reading through the comic strips of Simple Sum Philippines . Sometimes, we need to write things less academically to reach a wider audience. I think the Simple Sum Philippines manages to do just that --a more casual approach. One of the comic strips I've read talked about being stingy. What I'd like to think is the awkwardness of the situation based on experience. It's one thing that the Chinese tend to be stereotyped as stingy . An Israeli could also be stereotyped as such as well. I remembered how the sitcom The Nanny even had the furniture covered in plastic. There was even a joke that the Israeli accepted the Ten Commandments because it was for free . It's only natural to want to save up money. However, it becomes a dangerous thing

I was thinking about how often following the crowd is bad advice. This isn't to say that you shouldn't follow the crowd if the crowd is right. This is rather to say, that it's ill-advised to follow the crowd all the time. Besides, the majority can be wrong such as how the crowd can demand the release of a guilty person over the innocent, right? This reminds me of how I almost got into a pyramid scam in college more than once. It was a direct-selling team promising returns to a certain extent. It really made me unaware of how pyramids work. Shouldn't they teach it in schools? Sadly, I feel schools are becoming more and more overly theoretical that a degree may become toilet paper for some. One can get a doctorate in economics or a degree in law in very prestigious schools and still be a fool in real life. Some fools are, in fact, highly educated , and tend to think that their being highly educated makes them right all the time. The late John Gokongwei Jr., a class valed

Dubai OFW The recent peso devaluation had happened in 12 years . Should it be a call for panic? It was a few days ago and I feel I didn't want to blog about it immediately. As said, I'm no financial adviser or the like--I'm just another guy who's writing on the Internet to help spread the knowledge of others. The current USD-PHP exchange rate is PHP 54.265 which makes me think about inflation. I feel like it might be time to evaluate car-buying policies in order to reduce traffic and how no garage-no car policy should be implemented. I checked Singapore's gas prices and they're even more expensive. I think it would be more ideal to take public transportation in Singapore than to own a car. That's why I believe people need to learn to ride public transportation. Some entrepreneurs ride the jeepney or bus (when needed) without being ashamed about it.  Powerful economies with currencies weaker than the PHP Before panicking--I think it would be good to take a lo

There was a time when I had some excess savings. I was worried my money was getting idle . Sure, savings is king but letting it sit idle in a savings account can be a bad thing. Sure, I'm having my AXA Chinese Tycoon Fund for some time and I haven't withdrawn a single cent from it. I decided to use GCash and found out how it's actually convenient. With GCash, there's also GInvest. One of GInvest's greatest products for me to indirectly get into stocks would be the Philippine Equity Smart Index Fund. I placed a few pesos at first because of the low rate. However, I decided to aim to invest at least PHP 1,000.00 per month (or more during a dip but not too much either) or reach a certain target before the year ends. Of course, I've got to curb my impulsive behavior by choosing not to invest too much and not have savings. The ATRAM Philippine Equity Smart Index Fund combines both active and passive investment. Some people prefer purely active or purely passive. It&

I was thinking about mistakes that Chinese parents (or Asian parents) tend to make. This isn't an argument against the need to establish obedience, submission., set standards of excellence, and the like. However, it can be too much . There's a big difference between authoritarian parenting and authoritative parenting. This is the chart where we can see a big difference.  Obviously, being demanding and supportive is the best way. It's because if you demand good results--you need to be supportive to get those good results. Unfortunately, such may not be the case in some parenting. Some want their children to graduate with honors but are unsupportive or just force them. That's why some do well (for a while) and then they begin to falter later in life. It's not like those who did well in school because their parents are supportive and gave them only the right amount of pressure (i.e. not demanding honors and only getting mad when grades drop low). I feel that the late J