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How #SunShorts Reminds Us to Be “Truly Rich and Blessed” In All Aspects

June 23, 2017 by Tina

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I’ve been seeing several posts on social media about #SunShorts, the series of short films produced by Sun Life Financial to commemorate Financial Independence Month, so I decided to look for and watch the films. This is actually the second series of #SunShorts videos, and I thought I’d share them here.

The first one, “Waves,” has supposedly gone viral. I was really surprised at the ending (and almost cried, actually!). Watch it below to find out why…

The second video, “She Said, She Said,” also tugged at my heartstrings. Watch it first then read on to find out why.

If you’re a regular reader of Truly Rich and Blessed, or follow my posts on or , you probably already know this by now: While I advocate the “Truly Rich and Blessed” life and mention Our Faith and Our Relationships a lot as part of “the riches we already have,” our family is still far from being “truly rich” in the finances department.

Yes, we have stock investments and mutual fund investments (and are “mentored” via Bro. Bo Sanchez’s Truly Rich Club), but we still have A LOT to learn, and a loooong way to go.

So I guess that’s why the second #SunShorts video really struck a nerve with me. Mostly because (a) I know how hard it is to raise kids these days — what more if you’re a single mom like the one in the video?… and (b) I can sort of relate to the mom who feels like she isn’t doing things right, and isn’t spending enough time with her kids.

Yes, even if I work mostly from home and am with the kids almost all the time, I do tend to be “busy” with other things like chores and work-related tasks (or time-suckers like social media, ARGH!) — to the point that the kids feel “neglected” sometimes. And this is NOT what being “Truly Rich and Blessed” means at all. We need to be “truly rich” in all aspects of our lives, including our relationships and our finances.

But if you think my heart ached at “She Said, She Said,” you should definitely watch the last #SunShorts video below (get your tissues out!):

Sniff, sniff! Why, Sun Life, why?!

But seriously though, I really commend Sun Life for coming up with these videos that, in the words of fellow mom-who-advocates-the-richness-of-relationships Rose Fres Fausto, are all about “spreading financial awareness by tugging the heart of the emo Pinoy” (click the link to read her insightful article which features a conversation she had a few years ago with Sun Life Financial’s Chief Marketing Officer, Mylene Daez Lopa).

We Filipinos do tend to be an “emo” bunch, and what better way to teach people about financial independence — or at least make them more aware of the need to take charge of their finances — than by tugging at their heartstrings, right? And what a beautiful reminder, too, to invest not just in our finances but also in our relationships!

So thank you, Sun Life Financial, for these #SunShorts! Thanks for reminding us to be “Truly Rich and Blessed” in all aspects of our lives! 🙂

If you want to watch more videos from Sun Life Financial, check out their . You can also get more information about Sun Life from their official website. If you want to talk to an actual Sun Life financial advisor, I highly recommend my friend and fellow “Truly Rich” life advocate, Joey Tayaban. You can get in touch with her via her website.

Starting a Passion-based Business: Tina De Guzman’s Inspiring Story

May 27, 2017 by Tina

I started this blog — then known as “Truly Rich Mom” — because I was inspired by the teachings of Brother/Kuya Bo Sanchez. I also wanted to share our adventures as a then-missionary family and share mom-recommended products and services too. I re-branded to Truly Rich and Blessed last year mostly because I wanted to reach out to non-moms as well.

Still, you really can’t take the “mom” out of me, and I definitely can’t stop writing about things related to motherhood because, well, it’s an integral part of who I am. I also like sharing inspiring stories about how people are becoming “truly rich” (and blessed, in my opinion) in different aspects, especially when they are my fellow moms.

Truth be told, my husband and I are still trying to figure out what kind of entrepreneurship path is best for our family. In the meantime, we are learning all we can from Kuya Bo and other successful entrepereneurs.

One such entrepreneur is a fellow mom and my namesake as well — Tina De Guzman of Fluffy Pwets. I wrote about her last year for one of the Truly Rich Club‘s e-newsletters, which is exclusively for members. (I contribute there sometimes, as I do for other publications.) I’m sharing Tina’s story below, in the hopes of inspiring at least one of you out there to follow your business dreams! (Tina also gave birth earlier this year to their second child — congrats, tokayo!)

Starting a Passion-based Business: Be Inspired by the Mompreneur behind Fluffy Pwets

“Never give up. Today is hard, tomorrow will be worse, but the day after tomorrow will be sunshine.” This quote from Jack Ma, founder of Alibaba.com, can probably serve as inspiration for every entrepreneur out there, especially those who are just starting out, or want to start but don’t have the guts to do so.

The truth is, whether you’re just a newbie or a more “seasoned” entrepreneur, any business has its own set of challenges. Just ask Tina de Guzman, a lawyer, international development specialist, and the mompreneur behind “Fluffy Pwets” (www.fluffypwets.com).

Fluffy Pwets is the Philippines’s first and original brand of hybrid fitted cloth diapers in the Philippines, and all their products are individually handcrafted by Filipino women using both imported and local materials. Having expanded since its first appearance in the market, Fluffy Pwets now also offers coordinating clothing, accessories, and cloth diapering essentials.

Here, de Guzman shares a bit of her story with us – may it inspire us to pursue our business dreams and goals!

The “birth” of Fluffy Pwets

“My husband and I are cloth diapering parents. We would buy diapers locally and from abroad, and the choices in the Philippines were limited,” de Guzman recalls. “I did a lot of research, tested many different diaper types, and one day, we just decided to try making our own cloth diapers.”

At the time, De Guzman was working fulltime, and she is actually still employed to this day.

“It was very difficult to start a business while holding down a job, because you can only do so much within your supposed waking hours,” she shares.

“When Fluffy Pwets started getting hundreds of orders and we didn’t have enough staff yet, I ended up finishing Fluffy Pwets-related work at 5:00 a.m., leaving just enough time for me to hit the shower and get ready for my day job. It was crazy.

“Now, it’s more manageable. I am at risk of getting carpal tunnel syndrome though, because I handle our accounts mostly via phone and laptop, but I can’t say I’ve been forced to pull all-nighters like when we were starting out.”

The blessings behind having a business that you love

Despite all the challenges though, de Guzman says starting and running the Fluffy Pwets business is “very much worthwhile, especially if you believe in your product and there is good reception from your target market”.

“Anything worthwhile won’t come without challenges,” she emphasizes. “It’s overcoming those challenges that make your undertaking victorious.”

De Guzman shares that Fluffy Pwets has actually become a blessing of sorts to her. “Aside from the business side of it, I appreciate how my network has expanded because of Fluffy Pwets,” she divulges. “I’ve met a lot of people and made new friends who I wouldn’t have met through my day job.

“Also, it is so humbling and fulfilling to see photos of #FPbabies! Most parents send us photos of their babies wearing Fluffy Pwets diapers, clothing, blankets, and bags on their birthdays, photo shoots, and other special occasions. We appreciate that we’ve become a part of their lives.”

Simple but meaningful tips for starting your own business

Whether you’re employed now and hope to start a business based on something you love – like cloth diapering, as in de Guzman’s case – or already have a business of your own, you will probably find the following tips from de Guzman helpful:

1. Do your research.

2. Be original. Be the first and constantly innovate.

3. Prioritize customer service and excellent product quality.

4. Don’t skimp on investing on experts – be it expert craftsmen, illustrators, or marketing professionals.

If you want to get more inspiring and practical tips on how to be “truly rich,” I encourage you to join the Truly Rich Club. You may do so just by clicking here. 🙂 God bless us all so we may bless more people!

How to Retire as a Multimillionaire: Learn from COL Financial’s Edward Lee

December 17, 2016 by Tina

‘Tis the season for giving and sharing so I thought I’d pop in for a really quick post to invite you all to learn with me as COL Financial‘s very own Edward Lee — one of Kuya/Bro. Bo Sanchez’s mentors when it comes to being “truly rich” in the financial aspect — spills his secrets to investing in the stock market.

As you may (or may not! 😉 ) already know by now, my husband and I have been stock market investors for a while now, but we are still a looooong way off from being “truly rich” like Kuya Bo and Sir Edward are! That’s why we are committed to learning and investing as much as we can, not for our own personal gain but so we can bless our loved ones and those in need, too!

That’s why I’m extending Kuya Bo’s personal invitation to YOU, to join the webinar by Sir Edward Lee.

Below is the letter Kuya Bo sent out to us Truly Rich Club members:

Dear Tina,

For many years, I’ve been investing in the stock market.

And because of this, I know that I will retire a multimillionaire. As a
member of the TrulyRichClub, I know that you will also be the same.

Let’s bless other people more.

This coming December 18, 2016 at exactly 2:00 P.M. Manila time, I will hold
another webinar. But this time, I have a special treat for everyone. My
mentor, who has been investing in the stock market for 42 years, will spill
all his secrets, so you too can retire a multimillionaire.

The last webinar had thousands of viewers, and many of them are now
applying what they learned. I have no doubt that in a few years, they too,
will enjoy the fruits of what they’re planting now.

Let’s empower people to do the same to take charge of their finances, and
then become a blessing to others.

Invite people to joing us for another webinar happening this December 18,
2016 at 2:00 PM.

Blessings,

Bo Sanchez

Remember, this webinar is ABSOLUTELY FREE OF CHARGE! You can sign up for it NOW here. I hope and pray it will bless you somehow!

By the way, if you’re looking for ways to have a more meaningful Christmas, please do follow my #TRBFaith and #LiturgicalLiving posts on and . I’m actually thinking of doing a Facebook Live session about it — would you guys be interested in something like that, if ever? Let me know in the comments, please! Thanks in advance. 🙂

Oh, and if you know someone who might be interested in attending the FREE Webinar by Sir Edward Lee, please feel free to share this post by clicking any of the buttons at the bottom of this post. Thank you and God bless!

P.S.

Remember, you can learn how to retire as a multimillionaire from one of the best financial “experts” around, just by attending the webinar. Click here to register.

3 Ways to Save on Christmas Gift Shopping

December 13, 2016 by Tina

I know, I know — this post might be coming to you a little bit late, because some of you may have already finished shopping for Christmas gifts by now! (If you have, congrats! How to be you po? 😛 Ha, ha, ha!)

If — like yours truly — you have not shopped for a single gift yet, keep reading. I hope you will find this post helpful. 😉

Now, before anything else, please allow me to give a disclaimer: I am a self-professed thrifty/frugal person or, as some people may say, a “cheapskate.” So if there is any way to cut down on anything expenses-related, like Christmas gift shopping, I will try to do so.

Having said that, I also believe in the value of giving during the Christmas season. Not necessarily gift-giving, but giving in general. What better time to share God’s blessings, right?

Anyway, going back to the topic at hand, allow me to share with you three things you can do to save on Christmas gift shopping:

1. Make a list; check it twice.

You probably already know this but it’s always good to be reminded: List down the names of the people for whom you will be buying Christmas gifts. Having a list will help you avoid buying unnecessary items.

Of course, it makes sense to double-check your list to make sure you have not left anyone out! 😉 You can also check your list to see if you can buy “group gifts” for certain people (like members of one family) instead of buying individual gifts, which might cost you more money.

2. Check your Christmas gift shopping budget.

When it comes to buying Christmas gifts — or any other “extra expenses” for that matter — it’s always wise to make and stick to a budget.

Is your Christmas gift shopping budget this year not as big as you’d hoped it would be? Don’t fret! Remember that it’s the thought that counts, so you don’t have to feel bad about not being able to splurge on expensive gifts for others.

Truth be told, there have been Christmases where we weren’t able to give out any gifts at all because of budget constraints and the need to prioritize other expenses. But did that affect our relationships with the people around us? No!

Again, what matters most is letting others know how much you care about them. 🙂

3. Shop online and save on deals — and even earn some money via “Cashback.”

Online shopping can be a great way for you to save on Christmas gift shopping. For starters, you don’t have to leave home and brave the malls or other stores to buy gifts — which means you save money on gas/transportation expenses, parking fees (if you bring your own car), food (because we all know that when we go shopping outside our homes, we usually end up eating out — this is true especially if you have kids with you!), etc.

You can also save money on Christmas gifts when you shop online and avail of exclusive deals and discounts from various online stores and shopping sites.

Aside from this, you can even earn money just by shopping online! I discovered this when I was recently invited by Shopback.ph to try out their site — you basically shop online through them and earn “Cashback” i.e. money while doing so.

Marketplaces are great for looking for gifts because of the large variety of items you can find there. You can even . Other marketplaces like and are great too!

Here is a short video for you to see how ShopBack (and “Cashback”) works:

As a busy mom of four, a site like Shopback.ph is definitely a blessing because it helps make shopping (not just during Christmas!) a whole lot easier — and gives me a chance to save money, too!

I hope the aforementioned tips, though “short” are somewhat still “sweet” and useful for you, especially during this crazy month of December! Of course, I need to end this post with a reminder (for myself, too, har har!) that we should not forget the true Reason for the season, i.e. the birth of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. 🙂 Praying for a beautiful and blessed Christmas ahead for us all!

Did you find this post useful? Please feel free to share it by clicking any of the buttons below! Or maybe you have your own tips to share? Please feel free to leave a comment — I’d love to hear from you!

3 Ways to Encourage Literacy at Home

August 31, 2016 by Tina

In one of my earlier posts, I wrote about the importance of encouraging kids — and even adults — to write. Writing actually comes hand in hand with reading, and literacy is something that is close to my heart as an intentional parent and a homeschooling mom.

Sadly though, with today’s high-tech gadgets and society’s seemingly endless need for fast-paced, immediate entertainment, good old-fashioned reading and literacy-related activities may seem “boring” to some people. This should not be the case — especially if you are a parent.

Thankfully, there are many ways we can encourage literacy at home. Here are just three of them:

1. Be mindful of how we spend our time with our kids.

The writer of this helpful article on EducAsian Learning’s website, Barbara Kitane-Boero, hit the nail right on the head when she wrote:

As parents, while being light, we need to be intentional.

Experts would recommend that all it takes is to have the time and mindfulness to view each time spent with children to be a teaching moment.

No matter what time of day it is, when you (we!) are with your kids, be all there. And take that opportunity to encourage literacy as well. As Kitane-Boero writes: Let us promote “literacy with the purpose of lifelong learning, a perspective that is local and global, and a sensitivity that extends beyond the self and family.”

We can do this by taking the time to read books to and with our children, no matter what age they may be. Reading aloud to our kids — even if it is just for 20 minutes a day — has many benefits.

2. Use books as discussion starters.

I personally love it when we are able to use books — good books — as a way to engage with our kids. Kitane-Boero of EducAsian Learning agrees too.

“Good children books are really good conversation starters especially when we are aware of the specific issues we would like to have a dialogue with,” she writes in her article. “It does not put children on defense; it makes them reflect on their own situations, which then facilitates joint or independent problem solving.”

Some of the books we have used as discussion starters are the children’s Bibles we have at home, plus books with specific themes like death, pregnancy, sickness, etc.

3. Keep a home library.

Whether you live in a small, rented, old apartment like we do, or a big, airy house, having a library will do wonders in encouraging literacy in your home. You need not have thousands of books in your home library, of course — the key is to select quality books that have passed the test of time and are recommended by generations of readers before us, though there are newer titles that are worth collecting as well.

Browse through different booklists or head on over to curated bookshops like The Learning Basket to get started on — or add to — your home library. Of course, make sure your kids know that they can access the home library at all times. Encourage them to have a regular reading time every day (we call it “DEAR” time in our home — DEAR stands for Drop Everything And Read.)

And there you have it, a few simple but effective ways to encourage literacy at home. I want to thank EducAsian Learning for graciously sharing their tips with us as well — you can head on over to their blog for more tips, and if your kids want to experience firsthand what an “integrated balanced literacy program” is like, feel free to check out the third module of EducAsian Learning’s Kids Writeshop.

Oh, and if you have more tips for encouraging literacy at home, please feel free to share them in the comments! Here at Truly Rich and Blessed, we believe that our resources are part of our “riches” — and by “resources,” we also mean education. We are all about lifelong learning!