Continuing Education

Hubby was telling me about how he would like to get some continuing education courses if he ever got a time for it. I told him it would be a good idea to get some since education per se is an essential part of life, not only because it will hone skills and broaden your perspectives, but also because it will update you with the technology. Especially in his case (he's into engineering), every now and then there would be something new that will be introduced and will be applied in his chosen field. Up to now, he's still thinking about it. But I hope he does it - soon.

Piano Lessons at My Age

When I was little, I told my mom I wanted to learn the piano, but unfortunately, I wasn’t able to enroll into one (we were very poor). It was really a frustration not being able to play the piano because I think it’s one of the best instrument ever made. But is it too late? Being an adult and with not-so-flexible hands, is it late to learn piano lessons & piano chords. I think I’ll ask Duane that.

Thinking Madarin

I love language. My interest to learn about different languages increases as time goes by. Last 2006, I finally got the chance to study formally one language, and that is the Hangukmal (Korean Language). It was very interesting, knowing a language different from yours. My friends and I were very lucky because the Korean language that we enrolled ourselves into not only taught us how to speak and understand Korean but also enabling us to really write AND read Korean Language!

Now that I’ve already finished Hangukmal, my interest now focuses on Mandarin Chinese. I should be since there are a lot of Chinese people around especially in the business world. Being able to take Chinese language training will definitely enhance my capability as an employee (if I get employed) and undeniably become an asset for the company!

Let’s start with “Ni hao...”

Towards CFA

CFA. I encountered this acronym as I have been reading books on Financial Management. How does that differ from a CPA? Being a finance graduate, I thought there are no other options or certificates that I can get unless I study and take the CPA board exam. Aside from MBA, DBA seems to be the only other option. And frankly, I am not ready for that. When I encountered CFA, I felt that there are a lot of other horizons opening for me.

CFA, a global professional charter title that stands for Certified Financial Analyst. Anybody can get that title (but you have to have 4-years related experience - for my part, 4 years of teaching finance), if one passes the 3-level exams that the CFA Institute is giving to individuals who succeeds in taking the grueling exams. While CPA board exam is given locally, country by country, CFA is given in testing venue worldwide (this is announced in the site) and the catch, wherever you take, you are recognized, GLOBALLY. Interested?

I happen to be. I had the opportunity to participate in a CFA Seminar in our university (the first actually, and was attended by other professors mindanao-wide) and this is the only conclusion I can express - I still have a lot to learn, and I still have the chance to get that title. As our speaker, Mr. Alexander Guilles, said, 'when you become a CFA holder, that will be the start of your problems'. Joke. Well, businessmen will cramp on your doorstep, knocking at your door, offering you compensation of your choice, provided you solve their problems for them. LOL. Yeah, since being a CFA is more about investments, financial management, economic and industry analysis, and capital markets. Complicated? Then let's start studying now!

I am preparing for the CFA Level 1 examination and I got this chart from Investopedia presenting the topics and the percentage of this emerging in the said exam.

Check out their site at cfainstitute.org. Let's all learn and become CFAs!

American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009

The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act will be carried out with full transparency and accountability -- and Recovery.gov is the centerpiece of that effort. In a short video, President Obama describes the site and talks about how you'll be able to track the Recovery Act's progress every step of the way.

American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009.pdf

Use this link to comment after reading the Act. And maybe, there are certain things not included that can be inserted. Voice out what should be known!

Filipino Veterans and US Benefits

Since Obama became President, the long awaited Veterans benefits is now at hand. Come to think of it, so many war heroes have already passed, it's just now that the benefit is finally realized. And then again, even if it's something to be happy about, some Veterans are against the idea. Some of them complain that it should not be a lump-sum amount but an installment one (pension mode). But, if it's a blessing, nobody can argue that it should be received. Nobody would want to shy away from receiving almost $9,000, would you?

Filipino WWII Veterans to Receive Additional U.S. Benefits
How To Claim
Frequently Asked Questions

All families with Veteran Heroes should now move and file that claim...just click the links for most info. It's a really big help for the thriving times. Long live Veteran Heroes!!!

The Beauty of Korean Language

HEAD VS. HEART

Many people familiar with both English and Korean would agree that if English is language of the head, Korean is the language of the heart. English tends to have clean and clear distinction between definitions, whereas Korean is much more subtle and subjective. A telling example of this trend may be found in the words describing different colors.

On an objective level, there are relatively purely Korean color adjectives. In addition to black and white, the spectrum is divided up into the 3 primary colors of red, yellow, and blue. The same word p'uruda, can be used equally effectively to describe both green grass and a blue sky.

The subjective level, however, is where Korean colors shine. Using consonants of different strengths, vowels of different colors, and various suffixes added to the adjective stem, the Koreans can express how a certain color makes them feel. The extent and subtlety to which this is possible goes far beyond the difference between "blue" and "bluish" and is in fact one of the characteristics that makes the Korean language unique. Similar shades of distinction are made in words describing tastes. Koreans at first have a hard time believing that English speakers use the same word "hot" to describe both coffee and chili peppers.

EGO

From a Korean perspective, the English speaker is decidedly ego-centric. He speaks of "my home", "my house", "my mother", "my school" and "my country", while a Korean sees these as a group of people (family, students, or citizens), and always precedes them with a possessive pronoun without 'our'. Ask Korean about his job, and he will usually tell you first what company he works for, then what section he is in and what his rank is.

An English speaker, on the other hand, will most likely first tell you what he personally does ("I'm an electrician"etc.). To the Korean, membership in a particular section or company is of primary importance, while to the English speaker, his own skills or duties come first, and the company is seen as an entity for which he provides a service and from which he expects due compensation. The contrast between Eastern self-assertion is also evident in the way Koreans and English speakers express subjective judgments.

In general, the English speaker makes himself the subject of the sentence, saying " I like chocolate", or "I hope it rains", while the Korean makes the object of judgement the subject of the sentence, saying "(As for me) chocolate is good", and "It would be nice if it rained."

***excerpt from the Korean Language Class in Davao