Shaun T. Dy's Business & Economics Perspective Blog

As 2022 ends, today is Rizal Day (and I must admit, I took him as an inspiration back in high school), and tomorrow is New Year's Eve, I felt like writing this. I couldn't help but cringe over all the complaints about the reality that at one place in the Philippines--the cost of onions was already PHP 600.00. Some people were complaining that one kilo of lechon was already too expensive. That's why I wrote about it that is it possible such people are complaining about it because they feel the need for lavish festivities (read here )? I think it's true with my experience of having lived downtown and having neighbors who celebrate lavishly when they can't afford it. That's why I even love to bring up that after the Noche Buena (Christmas dinner) they may no longer have money for tomorrow's New Year's Eve dinner (read here ). Tomorrow is New Year and one of the things I hate about it is the heavy use of firecrackers . I remembered the cringy site of the new

I guess SIM card registration can be a very controversial topic. It was pretty much like the National ID law that was passed during the time of former Philippine president, Rodrigo R. Duterte. Some idiot on Facebook dared to post, "Well, it's state subversion! It's so the government can easily subvert us!" Well, if I could only respond, "Where's the proof?" The person could only reply something like, "Trust me bro or you're automatically stupid!" What a nice response, right? Well, I'm obviously being sarcastic. For one, after receiving multiple spam messages . It was very tiresome dealing with them offering things too good to be true. That's why as a business graduate, I'm very in for the sim card registration law for a good reason. Some people could appeal to Privacy International. An article from Privacy International was in regards to SIM card registration . However, a bit of research on Privacy International's founder, S

The year is almost over and I guess I'll write a few more Season's Beatings huh? Right now, I'm keeping an eye on the PSEi score is around 6,500+ as of late. I could remember the time when the stock market went bloody red and this never left my mind... I could remember all the sarcastic "YEHEY?" from the toxic world of Twitter. There's also such stupidity on Facebook. I could remember arguing with some people who ended up using Ad Homimens in regard to the red stock market scores. Yet, what Warren Buffett says is, "Buy when there's blood on the streets." (read here ) As Buffett would also say, "Be fearful when others are greedy. Be greedy when others are fearful." That's if one talks about market timing . Still, I believe in timing the market and time in the market. It's like if I decide to cost-average during low-tier days and add more money when the value is low. In my case, I prefer to use an index fund (in my case the Philip

Credit Goes to the Owner Years ago, I found this cartoon on Facebook which I think was created by the CoRRECT Movement . Back then, I remembered a strong admiration for Singapore and called it a nation that progressed through discipline. I couldn't forget that I wrote in my Asian history essay (and journalism writings) that if I were president, I would totally discipline every single Filipino. However, such is a very unsound plan (read why here ).  Whenever I say something about Singapore, some social media gossipers (referred to sometimes as a marites in the Tagalog language), they would fire foolish comments such as: "Singapore is too small for the Philippines to emulate!"  "Singapore only opened up to FDI because it had no natural resources for FDIs to exploit!" "Singapore is too strict! We're a democracy!" "Don't you remember Flor Contemplacion died unjustly in Singapore! Trust me bro and watch The Flor Contemplacion Story as my refere

  Well, it's the day after the Noche Buena and I'm wondering if some people are still hoping for some Christmas magic. The illustration above has a person who says, "You can do it. Please reach the goal." and "Just a bit more." The end goal says "New Year". People are complaining about inflation (even calling it the "highest in the world" as if we're in Venezuela) because they probably feel the need for lavish celebrations (read here ). That's what I find on Facebook where people complained about the rising prices of whipped cream and lechon or roasted pig (to name a few). However, some people are still choosing to overspend even while they whine about inflation on social media.  Noche Buena celebrations could be very lavish. As I love to mention, my former neighbors downtown tend to celebrate lavishly. It's not enough to get high-fat foods for the feast. Some even try to hire a band to play for them. Some party and get drunk

Tomorrow is the time for Noche Buena, right? For Filipinos, there's really that overly festive attitude that makes me think that someone right now might be wishing it was Christmas every day . I decided to write this entry before that "Big Day" (and last year was a cheerless Christmas ) for the reason that I could. I felt that all the exaggerations done with citizens saying that inflation in the Philippines is now "highest in the world" is because they feel the need for lavish celebrations (read here ). There are complaints about the prices of one kilo of lechon (roasted pig), whipped cream, and almost everything fatty for Christmas dinner has increased . I guess this is what you get from a nation that lives with the mentality of, "If it's bitter then just add sugar. (read here )". With bad money habits, it's very common for people to splurge on their paychecks (read here ). That's why I feel discussing economics with an overspender is inc

I remember during the late 1990s when the song "Dayang Dayang" (Princess of the First Degree) was played on the radio. The origins are often debated whether or not it was from Muslim Mindanao or from the other neighboring countries. The Philippines has had settlers also from Malaysia and Indonesia. A parody cover by the late Yoyoy Villame was called Dayang Daya or Cheating Cheating. It was probably making fun of the Indian five-six lending business. Indians tend to be called Bombay because of the location known as Mumbai. I even made the mistake of referring to Indians as "Bombays" more than once. The song "Dayang Daya" does talk about the five-six lending services. It does target a lot of gullible people. I even became nearly distrustful of Indians in college for quite some time.  I wrote how a Merry Christmas may lead to an Unhappy New Year due to debt burden (read here ). I tend to say to myself, "Somebody hasn't paid their debt!" every ti

Philippine Star Christmas is just in a few days, right? I'm reading Facebook comments about the ongoing inflation. There are those so-called thought leaders like Silent No More PH that have been putting, "Merry Christmas" while addressing inflation. It's no secret that the prices of noche buena (Christmas dinner) items have been increasing. There are a lot of virtue signals on Facebook which makes me wonder, "Do they realize that inflation has many factors ?" Do those whiners realize that prices in the grocery are more expensive than if you bought in the public market? I feel that those people complaining over social media about price inflation may have felt the need to make their Christmas celebrations lavish or it ain't Christmas. I could remember how prices soared after the Odette disaster. The simple answer is all on supply and demand . The prices of distilled water increased. The prices of vegetables increased. The storm destroyed a good supply of i

Back in high school, I could remember whining about why the Philippines was the way it was. At first, I wrote an essay in my high school days about what I'd do if I were president. Just having turned 15 too soon, I remembered writing my stupid solution that I would discipline every single Filipino (read here ). Eventually, I was asked why is the US rich and the people there aren't as disciplined as in Singapore. Even worse, I remembered how the K+10 system tried to achieve economic literacy in just one year in the fourth year of high school. Sure, my economics teacher was as brilliant as the late Miriam P. Defensor-Santiago, or MDS for short. However, my teacher who was as brilliant (and strict) as MDS could only impart  theoretical knowledge. I only knew how economics was used in college . I still feel stupid (until now) because of that! I couldn't understand why the US was a powerful country (back then) and it was the American dream. I had that American dream in high scho

I'm afraid that Warren Edward Buffett's lessons are hardly taught in school (read here ). Whether it's the use of cost averaging into an index fund (or equity fund) or how to win in stocks, I believe we need more of Buffett's lessons. Now, it's time for a bit more of Buffett's lessons. Just because I can't be Buffett doesn't mean I can't learn from him. Another lesson that I feel I should constantly learn from Buffett is, "Hang out with people better than you." I once felt threatened when more intelligent people gave me friendly criticism. I felt I was insulted even when the person was trying to help me. How would Buffett respond to that? I should choose my friends carefully . I could remember when I started to make friends with intellectual types. Sure, I didn't enter the dean's list. However, I remembered hanging out with better people than I am helped me improve my bad study habits. I could remember my days in the Associate in Co

WWD Christmas is near and I could rant about everything I hate about the season. I could think of heavy traffic and overcrowded malls. It's understandable if there are office Christmas parties. The bigger problem lies with people who end up wasting their paychecks all year round (read here ). It's just a few days before Christmas and I can see the excitement. For some, they're all waiting for the gifts people have to give them and what to give to people. In the Philippines, it tends to focus on partying which is somewhat similar to the American view of Christmas.  I could remember living downtown in Cebu City for a good portion of my life. There were neighbors who would party until dusk. I could remember huge crowds with their chatter together with loud music. Some people even hire a band to add to the merriment. Granted that some people have very little financial discipline . I'm not surprised that they would celebrate for the sake of celebrating. The mentality that th

It's just a few days before Christmas, right? I was reminded of how certain parts of the Philippines couldn't celebrate Christmas because of Odette (and I was included). Before Odette, there was also Typhoon Phantone which hit on Christmas Day . The idea that nothing goes wrong on Christmas is absolutely stupid. Some people even die during the Christmas season. Christmas gets so often associated with family get-togethers. However, some people wouldn't be home for Christmas when they could've. I'm once again talking about OFWs. Yes, they're working abroad not because they're out there "conquering the world". Instead, they're out there because of one lousy policy since Carlos P. Garcia. That's namely the Filipino First Policy . Once again, I dare say out loud that the Filipino First Policy caused the Philippines to fail . That's why I wrote that Filipino First Policy has no place in the rising Asian century (read here ). I was rather disg

I'm a graduate of a business school. I felt ashamed (to a certain extent) that I wasn't accepted into the Bachelor of Science in Information Technology (BSIT) course. I decided to pursue business school instead as planned after my first year in my Associate in Computer Science (ACS) course. I decided to take a master's degree to impress others or to convince them I'm not a fool. Later on, while taking my Masters in Business Administration (MBA) degree--I fell into a scam by a family friend and later didn't even know what Cash 2 Go in the Metrobank credit card was. After a heated argument with someone questioning my course, I was finally told the hard truth I needed to hear, "That proves the Filipino education system really sucks !" I finally had my MBA. Later, I discovered a lot of stuff that I was never taught . One of them was actually the best investment to put into even in the finance classes! Sure, finance classes are needed but shouldn't we teach