XURPAS IPO

I never thought I would see a home grown tech company like XURPAS. Just read it from abs-cbnnews.com site. It really caught my attention. The company is planning to go public to raise as much as 1.44 billion pesos. This much money means expansions and new multi-millionaires! Nice!

I am not sure if this company is in the same category as YEHEY - I hope not as YEHEY I think is a bust - a pufff. Lost some money to this stock. 'Have an axe to grind - hehehe.

I have not downloaded any XURPAS IOS or Android application. Maybe I will try in a few days to get a feel on why this company is earning almost 200 million just half of this year alone. Maybe they really have a good application and they are giving them quite a good return of investment.

XURPAS is a very encouraging success story. Started by a bunch of friends that was able to make 62,000 pesos grown to millions. I envy you guys. Maybe I will also make my 10,000 pesos to millions - someday...

I hope to see more Filipino tech companies to follow XURPAS. Filipinos are really very talented - aside from properly cook chicken and turn it to Mang Inasal, Chicken Joy, Chooks or Andoks - we also know how to venture in tech business and learning the right recipe. Let us support them as their success will surely be our country's success as well. Go XURPAS!

FPH Forward to 90

FPH is creeping slowly to the North. I started buying at 74-ish and now it is priced at 87.90 pesos. I set my buy price at below 80 pesos which means it is not a buy for me at its current price. Hopefully, it will go back to 80 in a few weeks - although I have a doubt. I really like this stock for it gave a good return last year which I know it will do the same this year as well.

I think Lopez stocks are not as explosive as other conglomerates. It is slow in moving up which should give you more time to accumulate. With FGEN and EDC still in profitable mode, I believe 100 pesos is not too far away. How about 100 pesos at the end of the year? Not yet, not yet.

Smart Manny

First, the slow internet. Then, FREE 30mb internet access from MVP. Why 30mb? Is it because internet is so slow that it will take 30% additional patience to wait for internet to serve a request? Is 30 because that what Smart, TNT and SUN subscriber's happiness worth? Is it 30mb because it will not be enough and subscribers will tend to pay for extended access? I can guess and guess, but 30mb is a good deal (at least for me). But I would love to know why it's 30?

Maybe 30mb can give you couple of emails, chats, some surfing and maybe upload some photos to a cloud drive. It is better than nothing. Having to have free internet access for 2 months is a kind of blessing to others. But why 2 months? What MVP will gain from this promo? Maybe this is just an experiment. They want to see if their subscribers will continue using internet even after the promo. 

How about Globe - will Ayala follow the lead? Will it be 30mb+? or better, up the limit to 2gb per day for post paid subscribers. Who knows? Maybe a little prodding will help.

Oh, MVP's company (no it's not his) own almost all of the important infrastructure of our country, like hospitals, tool roads, media, mining, telecoms, etc. If you take down the company our country will crumble. That's sad.

I Love my Country (but I almost left)

"I love my country but I hate my government" - I saw this in one of the facebook posts from Trader's forum. With rampant crimes involving cops coupled with corruptions perpetrated by local and national government officials; it is not too far fetch that people might take a drastic action and effect the law on their hands. Personally, it is becoming so frustrating. I am not sure if there is one in the government who really uphold the highest standard accorded to a public servant. From Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) up to the highest echelon of the government we can find people who is taking advantage of their position to steal public funds. They even go to church and talk the way a holy man would while they are plundering the money taxed by the government from poor and hardworking Filipinos. They even have the guts to accuse their kind of the same crime he himself is committing for he is convinced that people would not know the truth, only God would. He knows that he will be forgiven; just what Jesus did when he assured one of the Thieves that he will go to heaven with him. What he does'nt realise is, Jesus is not here to assure him of salvation.

There is an impunity of corruption in our country. We know it from the cavity of our common sense. We hear it, we see it and we experience it in one form or another. Corrupt Senators are treated like a Celebrity and not as a common Criminal. The sad thing is to see some people cried for them. They were blinded by hope that these evil are here to give them the garden of Eden. These Politicians are like Lions looking for Prey... looking for the weakest one. He makes them believe that he is the Savior; their Hero; their God. He knows what make them weak; he knows how to make them weak; he knows how to make them worship him - he has the formula. He learnt it from the bowel of corruption. He was taught by corrupt elders, the legendary plunderers, the Kublai Khans of the modern world. He even surpassed them. He is so evil that even the Devil himself would not want him enter his domain.

But Politicians are human. 
We have a choice. We can be evil or human. We are not victim of circumstances but our mistaken choices; choices we made in our everyday life. Plenty of choices are in front of us. Sometimes people need help to find and understand the better one if not the best. As Filipino, we have to be very specific of what we want. We have to condemn the crimes. We have to condemn the abusive Government officials. We have to take care of our future. 

What should we do next?
Our only effective weapon is our vote and vigilance. We must NOT vote for the people who wear gloves to hide blood on their hands; for people who talk peace while holding a gun in one hand; for people who think he is pro poor because he is once a poor; for people who promise heaven and earth while the only truth is he is the only one living in heaven and the rest in plundered earth; for people who say he is righteous while living in unrighteous way; and for people who made politics as their very source of income and family business.

We have the choice; we have the power to make our lives better; we must not waste every opportunities that comes our way.

Lazada for Filipinos

There is no question that Lazada is now becoming part of Filipino life. It's business is thriving in our country and in Asia. Most of the people I know like Lazada and trust Lazada for their online buying - may it be gadgets or just accessories. Prices are affordable and mostly less than the average price in Malls. Customer support is almost comparable with Amazon. I bought a mini camera which is not working so I shipped it back to Lazada for FREE. I just went to 2GO branch and they took care of everything. I received the replacement after 4 days. A bit long but still I received the replacement.

Lazada is the only authorise reseller of Xiaomi products. I learned it after my unfortunate experience buying Xiaomi power bank from Groupon. Lazada is benefiting from Xiaomi's fever. A lot of people are trying to beat other buyers to  get Red Mi 1s. This mobile phone is on sale for only 5K+! It is a runaway price for dual SIM phone with high-end specs. A truly phone for budget conscious Filipinos - low price, great quality phone.

So, with Alibaba, Rocket Internet (and possibly Lazada ;-)), are we up for another tech bubble?

Costa Coffee

Another coffee chain is vying for slice of coffee market in our country. Are Filipinos really a coffe drinker? Is it one of the reasons why we have Starbucks, Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf, Seattle's Best and other coffee houses that occupy almost every corner of Manila? Many places has Starbucks located 200 meters from each other. As if one store cannot accommodate people buying coffee for habit. Is coffee a new tobacco? We know it is addicting. It trigger some chemical in our brain that makes us active above normal for at least 6 hours! That's almost 1 day! A must for those who stays late and work all day.

Costa coffee is the second largest in the world, next to Starbucks. It is planning to establish 70 - 80 stores in 5 years. It will provide another employment opportunity which the Philippines badly needed. Is Gokongwei the lucky guy here? I wish sometimes there are this kind of business opportunity for other people not just millionaire like Gokongwei. What if somebody (I hope it's me) ask funding from KickStarter to form a company that will franchise to a business like Costa Coffee? Would that fly?

I was able to visit Costa during my secondment in UK and India. I just orders cafe latte. Taste is comparable with Starbucks. Ambiance is like CBTL. I did not try the pastries but I think it would pass to Filipino taste. I hope to see them open their first branch in a few months. Who knows, maybe Student in Starbucks might decide to do their business there? I would love to visit Starbucks without waiting for table to be freed ;-)

Visited Costa Coffee in UK near Paddington Station

BLOOM all the Way

Now it's flying. The 40% of my portfolio sleeping in BLOOM for more than a year now is waking up and roaring like a Dragon. Just break the 13 pesos and climbing. I like BLOOM for the reason that I don't gamble in the true sense of the word. I don't lose but those patrons definitely will - reality is, I am not happy with it but in trading unlike gambling you don't trade based on emotion. If you lose, get over it and carry on.

Second phase makes Solaire more profitable. I like the fact that Razon is taking care of Solaire personally. He was able to make Solaire one of the best entertainment city in Manila if not in Asia. It is already making money for him - a dividend would definitely follow soon. I just need to hold a little longer. I know it will earn me a good return of investment and help me live a comfortable life after I retire from my work - ah, what a dream.

From Interaksyon.com:

In its 2013 annual report handed out to shareholders, Bloomberry president Thomas Arasi was quoted as saying that the Phase 2 expansion of Solaire will add three new hotel towers with 1,500 rooms, an events arena capable of accommodating up to 15,000 people, approximately 100,000 square meters of additional meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibitions (MICE) and retail space, and approximately 35 new food and beverage outlets.

The expansion will also increase the total number of table games to approximately 650 and electronic gaming machines to approximately 3,000. Upon completion of Phase 1A, Solaire will have 360 gaming tables and 1,711 electronic gaming machines.

All of these things will be in place before year ends which will help Solaire boost its profit. Hold longer but do not fall in love with this stock.

BLOOM at 13.70!

Additional Income

Aside from investing in stock market, I decided try selling stuffs online. I set aside 10,000 pesos as my initial investment. It is not a big amount. The idea is to gradually increase the capital. This is the money that I will not spend since I am employed and my earnings is enough for us to live comfortably. Basically, what I will earn will somehow becomes part of my savings. If 10,000 pesos earned 1,000 pesos in 1 year - then I already beat Bank deposit interest and inflation (our inflation is around 4.6 for this quarter). 

For additional capital, I am selling some of the items I no longer need, e.g. my NAS drive which I bought from UK for around 13,000 pesos (converted from GBP). I still have some gadgets that I should dispose as I don't have any use for them anymore. They will become part of the capital and hopefully earn me some money.

I believe that this is the right time for me to build my skills as an entrepreneur since I still have source for my capital. I can also afford to lose a little to learn the trade.

I will post an update few months from now on how much I already earned or loss :).

Starbucks Library

I love coffee - I mean the brewed one. It's one of my passion. In fact, one of my lifelong dreams is to own a coffee house. A more relaxing environment than the more popular coffee houses around Metro Manila. Maybe more of 'green' coffee house. One place where you can sit under a tree and sip your favourite coffee. Converse with your love ones without disturbing those who are studying for their exams.

I love coffee. In fact, we always go to Starbucks every Saturday and Sunday and spend a couple of hours just to relax (although, sometimes it is not relaxing to answer 'kiddie' questions of an 8 year old and 3 year old girls). We tried Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf but we always like Starbucks. I think its the coffee that really make us return to the place. Starbucks has an assortment of coffee mixes and they taste great - really great! I love Coffee Jelly. Although, it's a bit sweet but you can always request for less sugar, right? 

Because of my love of coffee. I decided to buy espresso machine (just the small one). So that I can make Cafe Latte or Cappuccino at home. I have also a standard Coffee Brewer I bought from SM. At the office, I have a French Press - two actually. One I bought from Starbucks and a new year's gift from my wife.

Aside from having to mix my own concoction, I also save some money. At the office, I spend at least 100 pesos per day for a cup of Coffee. That would be equivalent to around 24,000 pesos per year. But using a Presser, I cut it down to around 12,000 pesos per year. A significant savings, right?

Also, if I think I would just order a brewed Coffee on our Saturday and Sunday visit to Starbucks, I brewed my own and bring it to Starbucks. So, I again save a little. Anyway, I still drink Starbucks Coffee since what I brewed was Starbucks beans which I buy every 3 weeks. I normally buy Vinta Coffee since it only cost 350 pesos. The taste is good and comparable to those expensive ones, like Kenya or Guatemala blend.

Last year, I bought Starbucks card. It's the green one. So, I get some stars every time I buy hand-crafted Coffee or Coffee Beans. 12 stars and you get free drink - additional 15 pesos to upsize to Venti. 10 stars for free bags of coffee. At least you get something from in return for being a loyal Customer.

The only problem is when people stays in Starbucks for so long that other Customers find it difficult to find an available tables. Student tend to study in Starbucks and stay there for a couple of hours almost everyday! But that is fine than having them go to other places that is not conducive to learning. I believe they will love Starbucks even after they finished their study. Starbucks for all its pricey coffee and fancy concoctions was able to present itself as an extension of school library and study room. I read that there is a study that the sound (or noise) inside Starbucks seem to calm people (with added aromatic ambiance). There's even an application that mimic noise inside Starbucks. Crazy. But who is not crazy when you pay a days worth of work for a cup of coffee?

Globe Cloud Drive

I don't understand why Globe will offer 15 pesos per month for 1gb cloud storage? 1gb is almost nothing. 1gb is way less than what Google, Dropbox and Amazon offer for FREE. I am using Dropbox to backup my pictures. Picture I've taken from my mobile phones is automatically uploaded. I set it to upload only over WIFI to preserve my 1gb per day mobile data traffic. I am using it for 2 years now and very satisfied.

I also have 15gb Amazon cloud drive and 15gb Google drive - all FREE! I have a CloudGoo application to monitor my usage. So, I would know how much percentage I already used for each of my drives. 

Maybe Globe can offer 5gb as free instead of 1gb for 15 pesos/month. Their customer will not bite it - not possible. They need a good marketing strategy to lure them to use their cloud drive instead of those that offer bigger space and proven platform.

Or maybe it's time for them to pay back what they overcharged to their subscribers - or better make text message 50 cents instead of 1 peso :).

Mario's Impact

With 7 dead and millions of properties destroyed. At last, the stormed is out of the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR). Now, the impact...

Would it pull down the market? I think, it would, but not to a point where we would see below 7000. Not for now. US market is in steroid mode due to Alibaba IPO and something about interest rate being maintained to its current rate. So we MIGHT still see green on Monday.

Filipino are now more aware of the danger of typhoons. BER months is unofficial start of holiday in the Philippines but at the same time it brings it dangerous cousin as well. It is a time where most of the typhoons visit the country. The time where Metro Manila becomes flooded and rivers becomes a bit cleaner. Where covered court and schools becomes evacuation centers and Politicians becomes significant.

What company would be affected? I would say power distributions and telecommunication providers due to additional expenses that they will incurred in the rehabilitation of their infrastructures. But maybe they already have standby calamity fund since these bad weather conditions always happen in these time of year. I really hope so. But who will pay - of course, their customers. So there might be some increases in their charges. I really hope not.

Of course, those that supply food will definitely earn more. Government and Non-Government Organisations will surely buy food to give to those affected by Mario. Company such as URC and COSCO are some of the few. It is BER month, so, I can see a good year for these companies.

The only question I have in mind is - how long the market will hold? 2 years... 3 years?

Alibaba IPO

I read from the news that Alibaba increased its IPO price from $66 to $68. Jack Ma is a very happy man. It will net him billion of dollars. My problem here is that I am not really sure how Alibaba will compete with companies like Amazon and Ebay or even Lazada :-). 

I think Alibaba is more of bulk selling platform. It is geared toward selling products to business entity not individual customer. The only negative I read is that there are fake product being sold on the site. I am sure Alibaba is doing something to cleanse their system but there would be some who will be able to continue doing their unscrupulous business practices. But aside from that - investors are loving Alibaba. Would Alibaba public offering lift PSE? I really hope so. I love to own Alibaba if I could. I can wait for Lazada though :-).

BLOOM is now 13!

Makati City Hall Controversy

Philippines will not run out of soap operas. We have huge pool of great Actors... and Politicians. Politicians are a different breed of Actors. The make fantasy to reality. They can make lies a shinning truth and the truth a dark alternative. They bite - yes, they bite to the bone because the meat is not enough for them. They are cold calculated personification of the anti-christ that has a contract to pass through gates of hell - a road to perdition. 

Senators are different from Congressmen. Congressmen are like a pack of wolves. They rely on their numbers. They are small, agile and always hungry. Eat whatever they can take from their prey. Especially, if the prey are too weak fight or resigned to their fate. 
They take care of each other. They defend the pack. They can change their mind in an instant - because they are lead by an individual who has the power to punish them when they don't follow her whims but take care of them when they praise her for everything she has done for them.

Senators are like war freak tribes. They pounce on slightest opportunity. They are instrument of war lords. They are opportunist. They want to look intelligent. They can ask cryptic questions. Something you don't know how to respond to. They can ask stupid questions that you cannot correct in the fear of them taking it against you. You probably want to just be on their side.

2.7 billion. That is a lot of money - for 11 storey building. It's over priced. We know it. So as the other buildings and other infrastructures built by national and local government. Sometimes, it is a refreshing feeling to hear some corruption being made known to the populace. Especially, when the controversy involved the second highest official of the government. The possible next President. I just hope that those other involved in the corruption will also be slapped with criminal lawsuit and make sure that they will be convicted and people's money is return to Government coffer. I hope that this is not just a show of two Lawyers and a former SOB. I hope that this is not just a comparison of Makati and Taguig for the gentleman of Taguig to further push his agenda. I hope that at the end it will help the Filipino people to intelligently decide who to vote for on the next election.

I am watching the proceedings. I am watching the Actors. I am watching the Politicians.

Now, if not Binay who else?

Groupon Fake Xiaomi Powerbank

Deals now a days are flying around. I subscribed to Groupon, Ensogo and Cash-Cash Pinoy. And boy, they love sending emails. I received loads from them. Everyday. The deals are good. Price are low. Seems they care for their customers. They like you to get the best deals. You're happy - they earn.

I tried Groupon since they are the pioneer in this business. I bought food deals. Those are good deals. I bought a couple of times more. I bought some non-food deals. They are good deals. Then, I bought a powerbank...  

I read a review about Xiaomi Powerbank - 10400 mah, simple design, best components, etc. I checked Lazada, it's out of stock. Then I received email from Groupon... 999 + 90 pesos shipping. Xiaomi Powerbank, 10400 mah, blah, blah, blah... I decided to buy. I'm sure I bought a legit product. 100% original Xiaomi Powerbank! To may dismay...

The battery has all the characteristics of a FAKE Xiaomi battery: color is too silvery, lettering is pronounced, LED holes is big (can be used as flashlight when on) and after a day one of the LED is already busted, it charged itself! - when you insert one end of USB to micro USB input and the other end to USB output - it is CHARGING!!! I read from internet that there's a lot of FAKE Xiaomi Powerbank in the market and they explode! I never thought that Groupon will be so careless not to check if their partner is selling FAKE product. I just hope that those who bought would realise that they bought a FAKE Xioami Powerbank and not to use them anymore to prevent accidents.

I compared the Powerbank I bought from Groupon to the one my colleague 
bought from Lazada and it really confirm my suspicions that it is FAKE. I will be ripping it apart to check what cheap components was used. I have some pictures below that I've taken a day after I received the item.

I already emailed the company who sold the Powerbank. He told me that their supplier told them the the product is original. They just rely on their supplier's information but it is so easy to spot the FAKE and the product they are selling is definitely FAKE. I suspect, they know it is FAKE. I am planning to ship back the product for them to properly dispose it (after I ripped it apart).

GROUPON? Yes I emailed them. I received an email saying that my concern will be forwarded to the management (forwarded my ass). I am glad that Groupon closed down their office Romania. Maybe they conduct their business like how they conduct their business in Philippines. Almost 2 weeks - no resolution. What should I expect? I don't need a replacement - I want them to acknowledge that I bought a FAKE product from them (they facilitated the sell) and correct their mistake by notifying those who bought the product.

Now I can say - I was once a Groupon customer. Maybe time to try Ensogo or Cash-Cash?

FAKE is the one on the LEFT:

Color is like a Mercury, Lettering is pronounced, with sticker?

 Check the LED holes, button of FAKE has a gap in one side:

After a day... FAKE don't last long...

FPH, COSCO, COAL and BLOOM

I am currently holding these four in my portfolio. They are for long term. I only have a miniscule number of COAL shares. Something worth forgetting. FPH, COSCO and BLOOM I believe are defensive stocks. FPH is in power generation business which everyone needed. Under its wings are EDC and FGEN. Of course, ROCK as real estate business. COSCO is a bit of a gamble. Bigote has not really proven himself yet - if we compare him with other Filipino Chinese Titans like Henry Sy, Andrew Tan and Lucio Tan. But I like the fact that Foreign are loving this stock. They are buying it and dumping like hell :-). But for me that is a good sign. When Foreign buy - I buy. COSCO is a growth stock. It has a bright future. With its aggressive expansion, one day it will fly like superman! Luckily for me, I was able to buy some at 7.60 level.  

BLOOM is my crown! I love this stock. Its core business is earning - and earns a lot! I buy below 11 pesos for this stock. For now I am watching in the sideline hoping I can add more. This really is my retirement stock. Go BLOOM!

BPITrade Issues

Lately, I am reading some BPITrade bashing from Tsupiteros. To the point that they curse this Broker. Most of the bad comments points to its frequent downtime. I might agree that maybe the issue here is not the system anymore but the BPITrade people themselves. I think BPITrade and FirstMetroSec has the same system provider. These two has almost identical user interface and functionalities. But FirstMetroSec trading system is not as problematic as BPITrade. Maybe it is really true that - 'You're in good hands with MetroBank'.

In my opinion, Tsupiteros should not use BPITrade. I would recommend FirstMetroSec and COL Financial. Both have dependable systems and transfer of fund is a breeze. Unlike BPITrade that take ages to transfer fund from settlement account to BPITrade account. Aside from snail pace fund transfer - you will also required to have a minimum balance of 5,000 pesos since BPITrade account is like a regular account that earn interest (I think it is a BPI Direct account).

If you are trading in long term - BPITrade is fine since you will not buy and sell frequently. I am using BPITrade for more that six years now. I am not happy with their service but due to easiness of transferring fund from my salary account to BPITrade account - I decided to continue using it and go for long term! Of course, it will not hurt if you have other account that will make you fell that you are really in good hand :-).

Latest bad experience in BPITrade - I received TAPET property dividend but it was credited 2 days late. Lost some money as I sold them at a lower price.