New year, new goals... Time to invest! (Part 2)

Many are eager to leave 2020 behind with all its ups and downs and we carry the learnings of an unprecedented year to New Year 2021. 

We're looking ahead to a hopeful new 12 months, refreshed and ready for goal setting. 

Here’s how to set goals while we continue to face uncertainty due to the pandemic by some of our Boholano friends. Please listen! 

Maria Vanessa Cadorna-Aumentado: 'Choose silence over a pointless/nonsense fight and always choose to be happy.'

Maria Vanessa Cadorna-Aumentado- My 2021 goals are more on

reflecting deeply and giving importance to all the lessons I've learned the past year especially because of the pandemic. Applying the following lessons to the present time: Be more appreciative to all the blessings in life (big and small things);  value the love of family and true friends; be more productive; stay fit and healthy;  spread love, kindness and positivity ; choose silence over a pointless/nonsense fight; and always choose to be happy. 

Ima Curiba- As financial advisor, this year I aim to educate more Boholanos in securing their family's future in many aspects including finances thru the following needs: health, savings, income protection, life insurance and investments.  Encouraging them with the variety of benefits an insurance can help our lives. And convince them to never fear to start ahead.

Elvie Bongosia- To start and maintain a healthier diet and spend less time online. 

Feby Ingking-  This 2021, I've got to focus more on inner peace, spreading happiness and staying healthy.

Pier Giorgio Salamat- My goals: To develop more of our family business, to keep myself and family members fit and healthy and to continue doing our church and social responsibilities. 

Vera Villocido- Embrace the new normal!  Adapt them in my work and personal life thus being productive, relevant, and useful. Continue to form more linkages! Synergize!  Inspire!  Motivate! Engage! Innovate!

Dr. April Lumuthang-Froilan- My 2021 goals: Maintain positive attitude despite the hustle and bustle brought by the pandemic, Improve physical health since I'm not getting any younger. So, I have to exercise when I have time and choose healthy diet at the same time; passionately enjoy my chosen career as cosmetic surgeon to adorn the people of Bohol;  and strive to attain financial stability by eliminating nonsense expenses in order to increase our savings for bigger plans and responsibilities. 2020 has been a very stressful year. So this year, I need to find time to relax and just enjoy life since stress can really be a killer. I'm going to strengthen my faith in Him and become the woman God created me to be. 

Dr. April Lumuthang-Froilan- 'Passionately enjoy my chosen career to adorn the people of Bohol.'

Eden Descallar-Ceballos- To take care of our health, grow Globe's business and finish our dream home.

Jholly Lim- Learning new skills to improve knowledge for personal development and career advancement.

Tiara Lourdes Torero- My goal for 2021 is to ensure that my family and I remain healthy and will survive whatever the year may bring, with God's guidance and protection.

Clyde Ebojo- The Year 2020 got me into some significant personal battles that I considered life changing. This 2021, I've decided to save more and make it a habit so when plans throw off, I am more ready. Fulfill my life long dream  of becoming a composer/singer/artist. I will definitely regret to not even try at all. I shall record more songs, sing some of them and develop quality music videos. Be more forgiving because 2020 taught me that when we forgive, we will also be forgiven.

Holding grudges is no good at all. By that, I moved on from a lot of pain and start being happy with even simple things.

Karla Tirol Magno- My goal is to continue on my vision to keep growing and learning as I go. I pray for more business opportunities and to expand my ventures. Hopefully in business, life and love.

Grace Ramada, Ph. D.- These are my goals for 2021: Spend more time with family and other special persons, enrol in another post-degree program, learn at least two skills (swimming for physical fitness and singing  (psalmist), get a health insurance and build up an emergency fund. 

Mikey Gatal- To finish the dream house I am building in Totolan, Dauis sometime this year and hopefully I can return home for a well-deserved vacation. 

Police Officer Melinda Mendez-Balo- My goals for 2021: To become more healthy and fit to avoid being infected by viruses and bacteria and so I need to work hard to achieve it. Aside from that, I would like to spend more time with my kids during my days off. Be more productive in my work at the Bohol-Panglao International Airport and do more intensified advocacies on our campaign against women and children abuses within our Airport Community by conducting more information drives. Most of all, I want to become more prayerful and be more spiritual as we really need to be closer to our Almighty God to guide us, protect us from all works and snares of the devil now working to ruin souls around the world. 

Hanae Katirin Gacera Galido: 'Invest more in properties and life insurance. In this time of uncertainty, saving is the key.'

Gerwin Yudelmo- To develop self and become a more better friend, son and citizen of the world.

Perlita Palen, Ph.D.- To always pray to God that we will live a healthy and a happy life. I also pray for a miracle that everything will be back to  normal. I hope I can go home to the Philippines with no hassle, no more quarantine and no Coronavirus protocol anymore.  

Hanae Katirin Gacera Galido- The year 2020 was still fruitful and kind to me and my family despite the worldwide threat of the pandemic. I had some plans unmet and unfavorable, but I have no regrets. Setting my goals for this year gives me excitement to no end.  I will strive to have an ultimate relationship with God, for strength both physical and emotional to withstand all the trials that will come along my way. 

My goal #1: To start a business. Putting up a business is not easy but I rather try and work hard for it because I believe it's a good fall back. 

My goal #2: To get promoted to a higher rank which means better compensation and benefits. 

My goal #3: Travel and leisure. My job as a manager eats up almost all of my time. Sad to say, I only have a little quality time spent with my family (three lovely kids), parents and siblings. I have to plan a leisure time with them this year. 

My goal #4: Build my dream house. Who doesn't dream of having a house of our own? With my purchased lot in 2020 hopefully I can start building the structure this year. 

My goal #5: Invest more in properties and life insurance. In this time of uncertainty, saving is the key. I have to cutdown unnecessary spending instead invest my money in acquiring properties. Then, secure my family's health and life by having life insurance. 

#My goal #6: Read more informative books to keep my senses active especially in updating my knowledge that concerns my job. 

These are my vital goals for this year 2021. Hopefully with the help of God and my loving family plans will be materialized. However, I should not rush things, I'll take this one step at a time.

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Thanks for your letters, all will be answered. Comments welcome at leoudtohan@yahoo.com, follow leoudtohanINQ at Twitter /Facebook/Instagram.

Are you smarter than a four-year-old? Meet Miggy.

I’ve not seen Czed Miguel “Miggy” Ebojo, the ‘Wonder Kid of Bohol’ for almost three weeks after his story was aired on GMA’s 24 Oras.

It took me three days to finish the story about Miggy because a day was not enough to observe a child   whose intellect and independence of spirit simply aren’t ordinary.

The other day, Clyde, Miggy’s father, told me the genius boy is doing fine.

Miggy has completed tests that show his IQ as very superior– that many people considering him the “Wonder Kid of Bohol.”

“We started to realize he was different at two years old. He learned a lot of things as a two year old far from normal compared to another children at his age group,” said 31 year-old Clyde, also a musician.  

 Czed Miguel “Miggy” Ebojo,
the Wonder Kid of Bohol.  Photo by Leo Udtohan

 

That’s when his parents said Miggy started using words, like the names of shapes, colors and numbers.

Then, Miggy could write and read words at age 2.

At 3 years old, when a typical kid has about a dozen words in their vocabulary, Miggy could sing the ABCs –and well sing it backward, too.

He knows about the solar system, the planets and how many moons does each  planet has. He knows Pluto was the 12th planet until 2006.

When asked who created the universe, Miggy just said, “Jesus! He does. There’s no other God, no god other. Only one.”

Miggy can count in English, Chinese, Japanese and Russian from 1-100. He can multiply in Spanish.  He knows the how many chapters of the books in the Holy Bible.

That's not it.

Miggy also knows on what day your birthday falls from 2019 until the year 2030. Plus, he also knows the composition of a planet and how many moons does each planet has.

According to his parents, no one taught Miggy all these things.

When Miggy turned four, first time parents Clyde and Marjorie worried of their son’s abilities.

“I am worried about Miggy’s abilities as parents. I really don’t have idea how to raise a child like him,” said Marjorie, 28, who began searching for resources to help with his rapid development.

She said she is afraid other people may not understand her son’s ways.

  Czed Miguel “Miggy” Ebojo with his parents Clyde and Marjorie.  Photo by Leo Udtohan

Last June, the couple went to Holy Name University Testing Center and had Miggy’s intelligence tested. The result showed Miggy’s  IQ was very superior.

They also went to see a Bohol-based clinical psychologist Dr. Kit Balane to evaluate Miggy’s sky-high IQ. It turned out that Miggy’s IQ is upper extreme or genius.

“Miggy is fours year old but his IQ is in the upper extreme. It’s safe to say Miggy is a gifted child as far as his IQ is concerned,” said Balane.

“He has the potential to learn fast, to process information quickly, and correctly as far as Miggy’s intelligence concerned,” he added.

Balane encouraged the parents to nurture the learning potential of Miggy.

“ It is very important that Miggy is provided enforcement at home other than what he gets at school. Parents can provide time, creative materials, reading materials but also not forgetting the social emotional needs of the child,” said Balane who established the only clinic in Bohol for a decade.

It is also important that Miggy should be in school that has understood his particular creativity since bright kids process so rapidly that by midday they can be mentally burnt-out and hard to teach.

Miggy started nursery 1 last June.  

Miggy Ebojo. Photo by Leo Udtohan

“As a parent, I’m really proud of my son,” his father said. “I’m super-excited he has this gift.”

But his gifted intelligence doesn’t mean Miggy isn’t still like any other four-year-old kid.

When he grows up, Miggy said he wants to be a doctor.

His favorite day is Saturday because it is his cellphone and TV day. Math is his most favourite subject.

Clyde and Marjorie said they just want their son to have a normal childhood, gifts and all.

“We are proud of our little boy what he is now and what he will become in the future,” said Marjorie.

Clyde said it’s not really intelligence that does matter in this world but how his son will deal with different walks of life.

“We are teaching him how to become a good person. It’s not our priority to make him more intelligent. What we hope for and we  love to see  about him is that he will impact the community and he will grow with so much love as we teach him every day,” Clyde said.

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Thanks for your letters, all will be answered. Comments welcome at leoudtohan@yahoo.com, follow leoudtohanINQ at Twitter /Facebook.

What will Glee will sing for you

Barely a week after the finalists in the Sandugo song festival were selected from many participants, the finalists are now getting ready for festival on July 21.

Unlike the previous song festival, the organizers have decided to include something new- original novelty, upbeat and love songs.

Fifteen original Boholano compositions have already been selected as finalists: (Novelty)-Nalingaw ko sa Bohol by Raul Saletrero; Dear Tatay by Rudy Tutor; Kaniadto ug Karun by John Rey Fuertes; Naay Forever by Marvin Russel Elaba and Ang Gusto Ko by Maria Luza Brua; (Love)-Barotong Papel by Dr. Nandie Maniwan; Dili Na by Humprey Mark Nicasio; Balik na Pinangga Ko by Sergie Peter Balaba, Hagit by Engr. Soc Saletrero; and Bahandi O Kadungganan- by Analiza (Glee) Orcullo;  and (Upbeat)- Pahimangno by Nice Tumulak; Bagyo ug Linog by Arnel Mascariñas; Kupido by Charlven Remolador; Tambayan by Clyde Ebojo and Ikaw ug Ako by Ralph Maligro.

The Dagohoy Marker in barangay 

Magtangtang in Danao town, Bohol, 

reminds us that the life of Francisco Dagohoy

 (Sendrijas) is one of the timeless treasures 

of the Philippines, whose gallantry 

and heroism must never be relegated 

to the dustbin of history. Leo Udtohan/Bohol Chronicle

Not only will they be competing for a chance to have their song be the signature song for this year’s song festival, but also for the P50,000 prize (one winner in each category; P5,000 for the best interpreter and P10,000 for consolation prize).

 “I’m really happy that I’m a finalist,” gushed Glee.

Glee recalled that it was a case of self-discovery as to how she got into singing.

“It was more of an informal training. I’d love to sing at home during family gathering,” she said.

She said she was nervous when she performed her entry in last year’s Sandugo song festival.

“Although I didn’t win but still I performed and did my best,” she reminisced.

She said her Bahandi o Kadungganan is based on her personal struggle on life and love.

Glee tried tempering her much-vaunted belting prowess to achieve an easy-listening vibe, and to make the song more “singable.” But, as it turned out, it’s still the blistering high notes that her listeners crave.

“I tried hard not to cry when I’m singing,” said Glee. “I will sing it in all sincerity and honesty.”

A newsreader of dyRD’s 7 o’ clock News, Glee said she will write more songs.

I guess Glee is also busy for an upcoming album in collaboration with another singer Feby Ingking. Better still, they love to sing together. The Curls!

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Keep your kidneys healthy

Ask not for whom the bell tolls, it tolls for thee. — John Donne from Meditation 17 (better known as No Man Is An Island)

Yes, Mary Anne Michelle Porticos and I had “chika” moments when we bumped into each other somewhere in Tagbilaran City.

Our chika covered many things- from beauty pageant (she was the committee chairman of Miss Tagbilaran for many years), to travel (she was an Oceanjet loyalist), food, business and health.

Yes, health. Many times she advised me to take care of my kidneys.

She said high blood pressure, diabetes or a family history of kidney failure put one in three Filipinos at an increased risk of developing kidney disease (when the kidneys can’t properly do their job of cleaning toxins and wastes from the  blood).

But even if you don’t fit in any of those risk categories, it’s important to take care of these critically important organs.

“Kidney diseases are silent killers, which will largely affect our quality of life,” she reminded me.

She shared the eight golden rules on how to take care of our kidneys: Keep fit and active, keep regular control of your blood sugar level, monitor your blood pressure, eat healthy and keep your weight in check, maintain a healthy fluid intake, do not smoke  and do not take over-the-counter pills on a regular basis.

As Michelle said, “The most important thing you can do to keep your kidneys safe is to take care of your body to reduce your chances of developing diseases that put a strain on your kidneys. Healthy kidneys like a healthy body.”

And last week, Michelle’s friends got what may be one of the saddest text messages ever — Michelle has joined the Lord — followed a day later by another one — Michelle’s remains will be cremated today (June 12).

That fast. How fleeting life is, how ephemeral, how temporary!

Thank you Ma’am Michelle…you are “safely home.”

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Who’s rich, who’s poor?

Here’s a great story about a rich dad who wants to show his son the difference between rich people and poor people. But in the end, it’s the rich dad who learns the lesson. Read on and see how lucky we all are, rich or poor.

One day, the father of a very wealthy family took his son on a trip to the country with the express purpose of showing him how poor people live.

They spent a couple of days and nights on the farm of what would be considered a very poor family.

When they returned home, the father asked the son, “How was the trip?”

“It was great, Dad.”

“Did you see how poor people live?” the father asked.

“Oh yeah,” said the son.

“So, tell me,” the father added. “What did you learn from the trip?”

The son answered:

“I saw that we have one dog and they have four.

“We have a pool that reaches to the middle of our garden and they have a creek that has no end.

“We have imported lanterns in our garden and they have the stars at night.

“Our patio reaches to the front yard and they have the whole horizon.

“We have a small piece of land to live on and they have fields that go beyond our sight.

“We have servants who serve us but they serve others.

“We buy our food but they grow theirs.

“We have walls around our property to protect us and they have friends to protect them.”

The father was speechless.

Then the son added, “Thanks, Dad, for showing me how poor we are.”

Appreciate every single thing you have, especially your family and friends.

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Thanks for your letters, all will be answered. Comments welcome at leoudtohan@yahoo.com, follow leoudtohan at Twitter /Facebook.