Why Join IMG?

Photo courtesy of Waren Z. Limpiado

Why I am joining the International Marketing Group (IMG)?

I am joining IMG for the first 3 reasons:

1. To learn about Personal Finances from a company of savers and investors.

I have to be honest that my family is saving but it is not enough for our long term needs. For me, I was more aware of spending rather than saving and did not know anything about 'investing'.

2. To have some backup company in case I would not have sales work.

IMG has a Health Maintenance Organization (HMO) Program that is a privilege as I work with my current company. I am on my way to independently starting on my own by being free lance. I want to have my own HMO as a 1st step before I leave being an employee.

3. To shift to a work environment where I manage my own time and still financially rewarding.

IMG has been a stepping stone for a friend of mine and to those I had known. They have moved from being an employee to having more time for family. A time to engage in businesses and ministries. Currently, I am involved in the management of a small mutual fund, doing real estate,  online marketing, and serving in the community advocating self development.

You are booked for greatness,

Chrislann Lodovice Catuburan

What Game Would You Play?

As a kid, I was not the sporty kind who would want to play basketball and the like.
I had rather stayed at home and watched TV.

When I had entered High School I started to change the way I had looked at playing games.
My School promoted games as a way of learning.

My teachers were lovers of play. Any form of play whether it be as simple as a group activity to engaging sports like football was just like breathing.
For our teachers, having a student play was an easy way to test ones character.
It is a way to develop camaraderie and friendship among classmates.
It was a way to stretch our endurance physically and mentally.

I would say my grade in that play school barely passed. But what mattered most were life lessons daily lived.


You are booked for greatness,

Chrislann Lodovice Catuburan.

Hard Work on My Job and Hard Work on Myself

A friend dropped by the house to get his guitar.

He happened to notice books scattered around my bed.
He was amazed to know the many books I have. 

I shared my story of how I had started reading books. 
I had grown up not loving books. 
I say, it was by accident that I bumped into reading books. 

Being my first sales job I struggled on hitting my month quota.
I wanted to ask help from top sellers. 
But with my shyness it was difficult for me to easily approach people. 

Thus I found books to be an easy way to learn from these type of people. 
I search for book titles that related to my need.
Since I did not have the money to buy a book. 
I read a book by merely standing the entire day in the bookshop.  

With the story I told him my friend was reminded of Jim Ron's quote, 
“Work hard on yourself than you do on your Job, 
if you work hard on your job you will make a Living which is Fine , 
if you work hard on your self you will make a Fortune which is. . . Super Fine "


You are booked for greatness, 

Chrislann Lodovice Catuburan

Beauty is Blind - What is Beautiful for You?

Photo Courtesy of My Sister

I heard a story from a friend, Nick Vijucic.

After a Fun Run, he was introduced to a blind girl about 5 year old.
The mother told her daughter how amazing Nick is.
That in spite of his disability -not having arms and legs.
He lives an inspiring life.

The daughter wanted to 'see' for herself Nick by touching him.
Nick gladly agreed. The girl's mother guided her daughter's hand as she calmly touched Nick's shoulder and the strange little foot.
When the girl put her hands on his faced, she screamed!

"What? My beautiful face scares you?" Nick asked, laughing.
"No! It's that hair all over you!" Are you a wolf?"

It was the first time for the girl to feel a beard.
And it was not something She had her idea of what was attractive for her and obviously Nick's beard was not on the list.

Nick wasn't offended. He reminded me that beauty is definitely in the eyes -and touch- of the beholder.


You are booked for greatness,

Chrislann Lodovice Catuburan

*The Story is adopted from Life Without Limits by Nick Vujucic

The Only Common Thing We Have is Our Difference

Courtesy of JTWC track of Typhoon Ruby

This morning my family had been listening to radio forecast for storm updates.
The radio announcer reported different forecast from coming from different countries.

There were radio callers expressing there confusion about the different forecast.
The radio head announcer had to interrupt the growing tension about the confusion on what forecast to follow.

He explained to the public that it can simply be liken to four boys courting a girl. The boys would have different interpretation about the one girl they are courting.

Yes, different interpretations but one common message for all Filipinos, and that is to be prepared for what ever storm my come.


You are booked for greatness,

Chrislann Lodovice Catuburan  

There is a Storm and Let Us be Prepared

When Noah build the ship there was no storm yet.

I believe the classic Noah Story tells reminds us to be prepared before the storm.
The Philippine Islands is normally used to storms.
But recently storms has been stronger than before.

Nobody would want calamity.
But since storms are unpreventable in our place we all need to prepare.

Yes, we pray for stillness to come.
And take necessary action for safety.


You are booked for greatness,

Chrislann Lodovice Catuburan

Words can Bless or Kill

When I was about 7 years old my parents always needed the help of a maid.
At that time, my parents were both working. I had a younger brother who was still an infant.

One day, our maid had asked for a permission to go home to their province.

When a maid asks to go home there is a big risk of the person not coming back.
Mindless of want our maid would feel. I told my mother that it may just her way of asking for a salary raise.

She got hurt why what I said. Our maid quickly packed her belongings and headed home.
My parents got very angry at me because it was difficult to look for someone to replace her position.

It was a hard lesson for me, words are powerful it may bless or may kill someone's enthusiasm to serve.


You are booked for greatness,

Chrislann Lodovice Catuburan

How to be a Millionaire To Why to be a Millionaire?

Photo Courtesy of Cebu Pacific Website

I had asked a fellow who was ahead of me in terms of money matter on "How to reach my first Million?"

He answered my question through a story of one Billionaire.

Once a upon a time, there was a young boy named Johnny* who came to Cebu.
Being a immigrant with no good education.
Johnny started to sell different goods from Colon to as far as the province of Talisay.

When asked by neighbors why he labored hard.
He answer that he needed to feed himself and also send money back to China.
His mother along with a number of siblings where suffering there because of famine.
He also needed money for his family to be able to migrate to Cebu with him.

I had asked my mentor, How would the story relate to me reaching my first Million?
He told me, it is not the How that truly matters, it is the why I wanted to have a million?

Why do I want to reach my first Million?

He added, first list a yourself a million why's then the how to reach to million would follow.


Your are booked for greatness,

Chrislann Lodovice Catuburan

*Johnny or commonly known as John Gokongwei, owner of Cebu Pacific Airline.

Are you Immune on Something?

Our present dog - Ramen
Photo Courtesy of Cham Catuburan

When I was a child one of my playmate was our dog named Nikki.

Being the eldest child I had Nikki to play with.

Growing up, we never had a time not having a dog. 

Just last night, my cousin drop by the house for an overnight sleep.

He commented on the stinky smell of our dog's place to which I did not even smell.

He plainly told me that I did not smell it because I was immune to our dog's smell.

I realized what he said was true. 

Being immune on something can make me unaware of something present that only others may notice. 

You are booked for greatness, 

Chrislann Lodovice Catuburan

  

    

It's Morning Again - What is the song that wakes you up?

Today, I woke up with a familiar alarm song.

The song goes like this,
"I wanna be - a birth of life.
I wanna dance - to the beat of life.
I wanna have a heart of gold."

The song comes from a musical play.
It tells a true story of a young person eager to serve.

Friend, what is the song that wakes you up early in the morning.


You are booked for greatness,

Chrislann Lodovice Catuburan

It's about Christmas and I am in Quarter Life Crisis

Photo Courtesy of My Sister-Cham

I have a time to caught up stories with a fellow Feast Production servant group. 

We exchanged stories of how life has been for the last year. 
We talked about different things, love life, relationships, life's passion and purpose.

He was telling me that for the pass days he had lost the zeal to wake up early in the morning and knowing what to do. 
He seemed to be not driven to go to work as before.
There are dreams that seemed not to be fulfilled as expected. 

I had asked him what age he was and found out we were about the same age. 
I told him that it may be that you are in your Quarter Life Crisis. 
It is a stage when for most people under 25 years of earth existence are rediscovering his or her life's purpose. 
Some would also call it Soul Searching. 

At that night, my friend went away happy knowing he had a name on what he is undergoing at present. 
He also went at peace by the fact that it is a life process that is common and that he is not alone.


You are booked for greatness,  

Chrislann Lodovice Catuburan


*Feast - A gathering of fun loving people. 

Jump, Run and Swim!

Photo Courtesy of Rd Lastimosa

Yesterday, together with my companions at work.
We headed for the beach despite the rainy weather.
We enjoyed each others company through food and drinks and singing and swimming.

I wish this would be a quarterly activity if possible.
It is always good to relax and unwind after months of hard work.


Your booked for greatness,

Chrislann Lodovice Catuburan

A Call to Write

Courtesy of Jan Odivilas

I woke up today not knowing what to write.
You see, I wanted to write regularly.
I even wanted to automate the uploading of my articles by say 5 o'clock in the morning.

Today, I have come to a point when I am not prepared.
I thought to myself that I would just have to write spontaneously.
I wish I can also write in a way that is planned.
I am currently studying how to plan my writing so that I would not have worry of not being regular in my writing and posting.
(Of course, this is something important if you want to build your presence online and build credibility on what you what to offer through your writing.)

Thus I am writing my reason why I write.

1. One of friend in the community told me that he had read my writing online. I am always amazed when people tell me this. It was through my writing that he shared in away that he can relate to what I have shared online.

2. An associate in my company told me that my writing is something that is meaningful to her. She encouraged me to continue posting my reflections.

3. It keeps my mind active of thinking -what to write and impels me to keep on learning from others so that I may have some thing to share.

You are booked for greatness,

Chrislann Lodovice Catuburan

My Money Vs. My Parents' Money

Image taken from the internet

I talked to a work associate about one family matter.

My mother is into sales and my father had been working in a well providing company.

Since I want my parents to prepare for their upcoming retirement.

I have the tendency to mind how my parents are spending their money.

As we exchanged stories my associate gave me a better perspective in how she would look at it.

She narrated to me her story.

When she was still a student she had wanted a lot of her parents' things to be better given or thrown away.

She sees it useless to have things laying around.

But when she started working and started buying the things she like to have.

She found out her parents point of view about why they wanted to keep those 'useless' things around.

It is because it is difficult to let go of things that has value to you. Things that you bought out of your labor.

Indeed her story help me see things. It sets me to be at peace with my parents' spending habits.

Yes, as part of the family I may give suggestion but it would not matter if they would accept or reject it.

Because as my parents earned their money so they have the right as to how they would spend it.

You are booked for greatness,

Chrislann Lodovice Catuburan   

It is the Love that Counts

I am amazed by this story I read in Didache.

There was a missionary in Hong Kong named John Bechtel who wanted to start a Universal Faith Camp for evangelization.

A bankrupt, multimillion-dollar hotel became available for sale so he made an offer to buy the property. He then went to around the world to raise the money he would need.

Unfornately, no one was willing to help and he returned to Hong Kong hopeless. Then onday, he got a letter from a young girl that included $1 and a note saying she wanted him to use this to purchase the camp. He prayed and took the girl's $1 to the real estate closing and the company decided to accept the $1 as full payment! Since the camp first opened, over a million people have been blessed by their experience during their stay.

Friend, I believe it is not about how big the amount but how much love poured to that amount given.


You are booked for greatness,

Chrislann Lodovice Catuburan

To Be on Top of Everything But Not In Control

A climb to the top of Mt. Kitanglad, Bukidnon
Photo Courtesy of John Quincy SDB

I have been in a meeting in preparation for a life changing workshop for kids.

During the meeting, one of the member shared a wonderful insight that made as want to post it as a Facebook Status.

Here is the insight, “To be on top of everything but not in contol.” I took this message to heart. As currently I am running different activities in my life. Apart from my sales work. I started to stretch myself by learning to do business.

Of course, even with many things at hand. I want to be on top of everthing I do. Before, being on top means being in control of the everything. But having his belief made me just disappointed. I found out that this does not work. And the insight shared in the meeting just confirmed my findings.

I cannot control my family, relatives, coworkers or friends. In short, I cannot control the people around me to help me be on top of my life goals.

The insight shared is good suggestion for me to be trusting and not forcing my ways to people. Simply to be trusting. After all I believe there is someone who is better in control.

You are booked for greatness,

Chrislann Lodovice Catuburan

Surprise Blessing

Courtesy of GMA I-Witness (News Channel) Documentary Fest 2008 

Just tonight, I had a chance to have a dinner with a college schoolmate to whom I had greatly admired for her achievements.

She been part of the GMA I-Witness (News Channel) Documentary Fest 2008-BATANG TAMBOL .

As she was coming from a journalism background. I asked her about what inspired her to pursue sales. She told me that apart from a friend's advice to go into Sales. She also read Robert Kiyosa's Book "Rich Dad, Poor Dad". She learned from the best selling author, Robert that he was not by profession a salesperson. The author went into sales to gain experience that would later on become useful in life. 

Indeed, like my schoolmate, I went into sales with a similar thought in mind. Of Course, a part from the financial reward. 

You are booked for greatness,

Chrislann Lodovice Catuburan

Your Story Can Bless the World

I love watching inspiring movies. Stories that inspire and motivate me to live life to the max.

But I find some stories seems to repeat. There is just a change of setting and set of actors.

I believe there are a billion stories to be told and that includes your own unique story.

I am encouraging you to start sharing your life story.

As a start you may keep a day to day journal.

You need not write long paragraph as a start.

Just one would do.

Your story can bless the world.

You are booked for greatness,

Chrislann Catuburan  

Life of a writer

I am would find an inspiration as I sleep.

I believe life is a big blessing.

I believe everything happens for a reason.

I believe that I ever I set my mind to the universe conspires.

I believe in love.

I believe in miracles.

I believe in healing.

I believe that I am liked and well received.

I believe that I am a superstar in my own wonderful way.

I believe that I am booked for greatness.  

Before You Help Others, First Help Yourself

I am so proud my sister had been joining the paramedic (Emergency Rescue Team).
She is a nurse by profession. Since she is not the athletic type of a woman. She finds the physical training challenging.

At six o'clock in the morning together with her fellow trainees they jog for five to ten kilometers.
Then in the afternoon they lift huge and long metal tube. She climbs a robe, rolls the ground and bath in the sun for most of the day. Thus she wants to quit.

But remembering her car accident when she was a five year old child, somehow gave her an inner calling to continue.

She hopes the calling to continue may bring her the endure to pass the physical, emotional and mental test.

Her training is helping her develop an inner strength before she becomes a strength for those in need.


You are booked for greatness,

Chrislann Catuburan

Unconditional Love

I met this beautiful lady to whom I had the chance to interview over dinner.

I believe she had attained a certain level of success given her young age.

We talked about love and being single. More importantly we talked about change and how attending the Feast (A weekly gathering full of inspiring talks) had gradually changed her life.

One message I had learned from her was being consist about her resolution to little by little change her life. From being a woman who had drinking vices to someone who drinks occasionally. From someone who easily say foul words to someone who is more cautions and grateful for what she has.

She changed her lifestyle not because it was imposed by someone or something. 

She told me that her change was a fruit of love. 

A love that is unconditional. 

A love that implies change not out of a rule. 

But out of love itself.

You are booked for greatness,

Chrislann Lodovice Catuburan

Vision and Provision

Do you have a vision of what do you what to be in five to fifteen years from now?

Have you written that dream in a paper? (There is power in writing your dream)

Do you believe in the power of writing & drawing?

Before I used to write my dreams and plans.

But then my dreams did not have reason that made me want to pursue it.

I realized that not all my dreams are valuable to me.

I started asking myself what I really what.

In my soul searching I started to serve.

I remember the saying “There are questions that need not to be answered immediately. Live life and the answer would just follow.”

Are you searching for your vision?

What provision life has been offering you?

Your vision my just be round the corner.

You are booked for greatness,

Chris Catuburan

Be Patient

Before I was the only one in the family that goes jogging. I would wake up in the morning and jog to the bridge. It was a challenge to jog alone. But more to that just jogging alone I had wished my sisters and brother would find away to exercise.

After a year I had almost given up on the dream of my sisters and brother having there own exercise program. Unexpectedly, God had answered my prayer. I thought it would anymore happen for my sisters and brothers but it did and even more greater than what I had imagined.

Today, my brother exercise every day making our home his gym. My sister jogs with a team of committed individuals. I believe my younger sister my take her exercise program later on.

Friend, are you praying for your sister or brother's good?
Be patient God is working in ways that you may not see.

You are booked for greatness,

Chrislann Lodovice Catuburan

YOLO! (You Only Live Once)

I, my father and cousin visited the cemetery last night. Being there we shared the reflection that life is temporary.

Although, I do not want to think of death. But seeing and praying for my relative who had gone ahead, make death ascertain as the rising of the sun and it's setting.

I had goose bumps pondering that someday, whether I like or not I would be visited by my family members.

I better be prepared for it. I better be living the most of life. Before my time comes I hope to have built businesses and ministries.

You are booked for greatness,

Chrislann Catuburan

Love Tank

Filling my Love Tank - a date with my sister.

I spoke to Leah, an acquaintance in a recent retreat. She told me how much the thought of having a love tank that is full has blessed her. Like me she too sets appointment and sometimes appointments gets cancelled. Since she had her love tank full it did not pain her at all to have her plans not going as she expected.

Friend, how full is your love tank?
Who can fill your love tank to the brim?

You are booked for greatness,

Chrislann Lodovice Catuburan

Have You Searched Your Name in Google?

I search using Google if I want to know about something.

Then I started to type my name to see what Google can find about me.

I feel like a star seeing and knowing the fact that anyone may know me just by searching my name.

My stories can be read by anyone who is interested to know more about me. I also need to be careful in what I post online as this becomes a document recorded in the website.

I am building myself online and how I want people to know me.

I have asked myself,
"Have I found something great?
Have I found something of valuable?
Have it been worth my time?"

Friend, what had Google found about you?


You are booked for greatness,

Chrislann Lodovice Catuburan

Do You Want to Fulfill your Dream? WAKE UP!

Courtesy of MySisWorldFamousArtist.Blogspot.com

In one of the events I had attended.

I had the chance to talk to a young lady who for me has achieved much of her dreams in life.

Since she was young she had three dreams.

These were on her checklist:

1. She becomes a flight attendant.

2. She becomes a Surgical Doctor.

3. She becomes a Journalist similar to Cable News Network (CNN)'s Sanjay Gupta*

At her age, I am amazed to know that she had already accomplished two of her dreams. Now, she is on her way to becoming a journalist.

I thought to myself, I had not encountered so far a woman who dreamed big and had accomplished big.

Surely, she is one good example to me. One lesson I had learned from her is this, “More than the dreams is the challenge to wake up everyday to fulfill each dream”.

Friends, what are your dreams?

Are your dreams motivating you to wake up each morning?

What have you already accomplished?

You are booked for greatness,

Chrislann Lodovice Catuburan

*Sanjay Gupta is a media personality on health-related issues and award winning chief medical correspondent

Change of Mindset

I and my birth group in FLEX
(A two days leadership seminar and workshop)

I had started to change my mindset from thinking poor to thinking rich and from scarcity to abundance. 

God had been blessing me with the abundance of his blessing far from what I can ever imagine. 

Although I am not rich. I am able to attend seminars after seminars. As if God heard my prayers after all. 

I had written an article before on "There is No formal Training in the Real World" (To read the article click here) now I am little by little doubting what I said because for the past weekends I had been blessed with an abundance of training. 

This is because I had started to change my mindset. I started to change my prayer from doubt to faith, from just believing in what is true to believing what it is the truth. 

I had learned that there is a difference between what is 'true' and what is the 'truth'.

Something that is true to me is that I am struggling financially and I am uncertain with my future.

But I am changing my focus to the truth, and the truth is I am living in the unbounded limitless, overflowing abundance of the God's universe. A God who feeds the birds in the air and much more myself and my family.

I am surrendering to his infinite provision. I just need to have the vision and the provision would just follow.  

I love it. I am swimming in abundance. 

You are booked for greatness, 

Chrislann Lodovice Catuburan 

Filling My Love Tank to Serve

I & my sister, together with
Didoy & Mayi (newly Wed-Fantastic Facilitators).

I had just finished my iLoveLife Retreat. 
I feel so high like I am in the sky. 

A simple nugget of wisdom that struck me is this,
"To fill my Love Tank first then all the rest will follow".
Fantastic Relationship with my family, friends, coworker and to my one true love life.  

I wish my family and friends would have the same opportunity.
A iLoveLife Retreat experience so that they share life out of the a good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over love.  


You are booked for greatness, 

Chrislann Catuburan

Unending Hope

Courtesy of Cham Catuburan

My lola (grandmother) told my mother that she would like to live for a 100 years old.

This surprised me as my lola although already 76 years of age has still a lot of dreams in life.

I heard from the news that in this October's Lawyer Bar Exam there is a certain Bienvenido Hilario who is already 88 years old. He had taken the exam. He hopes to become one of the country's laywers.

Friend, how hopeful are for your beautiful future?
What are the activities and things that keep you hopeful?


You are booked for greatness,

Chris Catuburan

Be Open

Courtesy of Cham Catuburan

I had just realized that I am not open to have a relationship.

I wrote an article entitled "Being in a Relationship vs Being a Breadwinner" (click here to read on the article).

There are a number of people who said to me that I can actually do both. Yes, it may be challenge but is it possible.
It does not have to be always either sometimes you may have both.

Friend, how open are you to the possibilities of having both?


You are booked for greatness,

Chris Catuburan

Be Teachable

When I was in the province. I taught my Lola how to use the the cellphone. I did not know that my sister had taken a photo.

Looking at the picture. My lola (grandmother), although hardly hears eagerly listened to my demonstration on how to use the cellphone. This reminds me of my lola's humility to be teachable.

Friend, how teachable are you?
Are you teachable to someone younger than you?

You are booked for greatness,

Chris Catuburan

Surprised

I was surprise today. I came to the office and my office mate, told me, “Chris, did you blog yesterday?” I responded “I actually did upload a phrase or two and a picture. I am sorry I was not prepared yesterday for a topic.”

Then she told me how she had been anticipating my write ups everyday. How she had even shared it with her family circle.

It dawned on me that she had just given me more reasons to blog daily. To continue my 30 days blogging challenge with much passion. (Click here to read my article on 30 Days Challenge: How to Change your Life) Thus, my heart is grateful to my office mate who had given me that feedback.

I realized that through my blog I am able to share some helpful stories and thoughts.

Friend, if you have been blessed by my writing feel free to comment or message. If you have questions or topics that you think I may have ideas please let me know.

It would be an honor to hear from you.

Your booked for greatness,

Chrislann Lodovice Catuburan

The Leader in Me

I am so happy to have joined a leadership workshop.
I am so thankful for Ate Tata for sponsoring my sister and brother to that fantastic 2 day event.

I learned that the qualities of a leader is found in the a child. A child is by essence responsible. The child responsibility is to play and true enough this is true to most of children. A child is influential. A child's influence is seen in the attention that family members given to the child.

One important part of being a leader is being able to communicate and relate with others. Day 1 talked about the different type of intelligence. That each person is smart in different ways. The challenge is to see the smartness in each person.

To top it all, a leader needs to know thy self so as better lead others.
I hope I am a better leader to the people around me starting from my family.
If not I hope to improve with the love of the people around me.

Your booked for greatness,

Chrislann Lodovice Catuburan

Starting a Culture of Sharing Cycle

I remember Jesus' Multiplication of the five pieces of bread and two fishes that came from a pack lunch of a child who willingly shared it. The food that was just good for the child was able to feed the five thousand men not counting women.

My sister, cousins and I run a small library. We started sharing self-help books with one another. Then our books grew in number that we had decided to have the books circulated among our family and company.

Because of the sharing of books. It started a culture of sharing among our family and the company around us.

One challenge of sharing is thinking that what I have is not enough for me and all the more for others. But sharing the little that we have sparked our hearts to become generous. This would then create a sharing cycle.

What can you start sharing?

Your booked for greatness,

Chrislann Lodovice Catuburan

The Prodigal Father

I had been told that today's time mirrors one of a Prodigal Father.

There was a rich family. Then all of a sudden, the father without warning left to a different land. Their he used his wealth in all that he though would give him pleasure. 

After all the money had been spent, he found himself with nothing to eat that he needed to beg for food. He thought of coming back to his family, thinking that he is the father and thus deserve honor and respect from his family. 

But when he arrived home the father was not well received. In fact, his children had considered him long dead.

My papa is a loving father. He is not perfect but he tries to be. My father's mother died at an early age. My father's father remarried and tried to ask my father to live with the new family but he did not like the idea. Thus my father lived with his maternal grandparents.

My father longs for a family, although his grandparents had treated him well. He feels that they were abandoned children as his father had left them to build a new family.

My father today draws strength from that painful experience of abandonment. I believe one of his focus in life is being a present father.

He had opportunities of going abroad but he had not pursued it. Please do not get me wrong, I am not saying that going a abroad is big mistake. I come from a long line of uncles who are seamen and they are loving fathers to their families as well.

On the other hand, I hear stories of fathers who had not left home but are better off absent because of the abuse they inflict to their families. Hmm... There seems to be no perfect position for a father to be.

My mama is one strong of character. She is not perfect but she loves us anyway. I would often hear from mama how he's father had been a father who wants all his children to be always at peace.

My mama is a forgiving woman, although her father had made mistakes in the past in terms of marital affair. And I have heard this dark past of my grandpa rarely. I think I have heard it only once and there was never an elaboration of such story. 

My aunts and uncle never mentioned it too. As if it was a no big deal. I mean surely it is a big deal but the family chose to forgive and bury their father's unwanted past and accept him as their loving father. I believe my grandpa has changed through the unconditional love of his children and his wife. 

My mother's respect for her father had been that of a merciful daughter. I admire my mother's respect for his father. She chose to see love a midst the mistake.  

Your booked for greatness,

Chrislann Lodovice Catuburan

Regrets to Hope

One of the regrets I have is that I had not listened to my parents about going for a seaman career. During those times I honestly did not feel like taking the course just for the scholarship. Even if it was the most financially practical decision to do.

I regretted this decision knowing I could have earned more. This regret hunted me for the past years. My mind kept bugging me that I even tried to apply for the same scholarship even after I had graduated my bachelor degree in education.
At that time I was actually desperate for better financial opportunities.

Today, I learned one big message and that is 'to move on and to leave the baggage of regrets and past problems'. By doing this, I would be able see with a better sight that there are actually more opportunities

surrounding me.

Your booked for greatness,

Chrislann Lodovice Catuburan

No Formal Training in the Real World

When I was in the seminary, we were trained for priesthood. When I did not feel at peace of going for the priestly calling, I left the seminary. I feel at peace to be with my family and serve them.

When I came to work as a teacher as it is my profession and earned my first income, I then realize that my income was not enough for me as I had to help with my brother's schooling.

There came a time that I had  nothing left that I can't even afford eating in a Jollibee. (haha) I was trying to meet ends.  And then I thought if going for priesthood entails training. Then how come when you go out in the real world there's no formal training after college. Surely I need to go to some sort of traning if I wanted to survive with my money life.

I started to learn from my cousin who for me seems to have a head start as he started young on how money works. I began to check on books in the mall. I remember going to National Bookstore and staying there for a day standing while reading a book since I did not have the money to buy it.

I went to look for people who may guide me as to how to go about my life and on how to increase my money. And then, I attended seminar after seminar. I searched for groups and community who can help me grow.

I am happy to have found a group and a community where I belong. It doesn't matter if you're a 'kuya' or an 'ate' or the middle child or the youngest of the family, If you want to help then you surely can. I wish you would open yourself to the abundance of help that surrounds you.

Being in a Relationship vs Being a Breadwinner

In my life, there things that sometimes I like to rush. Like love life (haha) I have been asked by a lot of my aunties if I already have a girlfriend. I normally reason out that my mother is very strict (Sorry Ma for the bad publicity. haha).

Honestly, I find it a challenge to have a girlfriend. I tried to do it and it does not work for me. I had been told by a friend that having a girlfriend can be somewhat inspiring and enjoyable.

I agree with what my friend told me. But I believe that there are times that I simply have to sacrifice for now because for most Filipino Family the elder child needs to sponsor a brother or a sister to graduate through college. As of now, I can't afford to divide my attention.

Anyways, my sister would be graduating in a matter of two years. I believe there are just times that we need to sacrifice for one another.

My mother was the eldest among eight siblings and she had to sacrifice a lot, putting on hold the thought of having a boyfriend until she was able to help two of her sisters to graduate from a prestigious university.

There is a saying that says 'There is a time for everything under the sun'. For now, I am happy to be single. Yes! There are times that I think of having a girlfriend to share my time with. But what I may lack is compensated by a loving family, happy friends and a supportive community.

Presently, I am swimming in the abundance of love. A love that is more than enough for me.  

Your booked for greatness, 

Chrislann Lodovice Catuburan

30 Days Challenge: How to Change your Life

After I had read the book “How to Change your Life in 30 Days “. I discovered the power of doing something for 30 days straight. 

  It is a simple concept saying, “for you to change your life, you need to replace something you don't want with something different.”

  In my end, I was experiencing daily fatigue even if had slept for 8 to even 9 hours. So I decide to do exercise for 30 days straight. Every evening I try to exercise for 30 minutes.

  Since, I have a football, I kicked the ball as a way exercise. After 7 days I felt bored and wanted to give up. So, I alternately jogged or hiked. On the 20th day I felt sick (hehe). I had to stop my 30 days challenge exercise. I failed the challenge but it is okay, because they say failure is recipe to success.

  If you fail, the 30 days challenge says, you need to start all over again. I found it challenging to start all over again. I though, I may have to pick a lighter substitute to exercise that would still make feel good and not tired. I decided to do blogging in Facebook. (by the way, I thank the people who had liked my blog since day 1. he he...)

  I hope to make it for the 30 days straight Facebook Blogging.

  How about you?

  What change do you want in your life that you may replace with something better? Let us try together the 30 days challenge Should we fail. No problem, we'll simple try again.

We just have to remember. It is not the challenge that matters. It is the effort we put to change for the better.    


Your booked for greatness,

Chrislann Lodovice Catuburan

I Want to Retire at the Age of 35

When I was a Grade 3 student I was saving money to buy a dream toy. A robot that cost Php 500 pesos.
I love that robot because it can transform into a Lion and has sounds and lights.

I was about to buy the robot on a Saturday. Then, I had over heard my parents talking,

"We are out of rice".

Thus, they approached and asked me, if they may use my saved money.

Of course, I did not like the thought of my only saving being bought for our food.
I was willing to starve just to have my dream toy (That's how crazy I was for the toy).

Plus the Php 500 pesos was worth seven months of saving which meant not buying any school snacks.

I had always thought of saving that way. Saving means saving money for some months then buy it.
But then I have realized that there's a better way of saving and that is to save for retirement.

Saving for retirement now means investing for life. This means at a lot of sacrifice from my old way of saving to spend.
But it's okay, no problem for me, as the reward is much greater.

The reward of saving to retire is retiring young. I am 26 years old at present.
I want to retire from working for a company at the age of 35.

This may sound not ordinary as normally retirement means 60-65 years of age.
But I believe, this would soon become the norm as we change our saving mentality.

By the time I retire, I hope to spent more time for my family and built my business to help create more jobs.

Of course, I cannot do this alone. I need a team.
I am thankful that step by step I am being surrounded by people who are also wanting to retire young.


Your booked for greatness,

Chrislann Lodovice Catuburan

4 Major Life Concerns and Realizations

For the past 4 years I had these 4 major life concerns and realizations:

1. Family Life vs Work Life 

I remember, Zig Ziglar said that people when at work say, 'I ought to be spending more time with my family' then when I am with my family I say, 'I ought to be spending more time working for my family'. Funny but this is true for me, I believe the challenge is staying focus at each moment life's journey.   

2. Being the Eldest vs Being the Youngest

Often times, the responsibility of helping my family first often gets the 'bitter' part of me (haha) Yes, I have to confess it is difficult to share monetary responsibility to my family especially when I am thinking of my future as well. 

But I found out that I am not alone. I can name a number of cousins who are in the same position as well. Also, I have a friend who is the third in the family but carries the burden of thinking for his mother's concerns just because the father is abroad and the eldest brother is not doing his part. Another, I know of someone, who is the youngest in the family whose concern for parents's health and retirement may seen to be like that of being the eldest.

Knwoing this people, reminds me that I am still in the better part after all. But this is not really easy, I am thankful that I am able to find same minded people and being able to learn how they over come these challenges. They are partly a huge factor that  helps me joyfully joggle both my 'Kuya' responsiblies and still being about to save more than enough for myself.

3. Accepting Reality vs Dreaming Big 

This is hard for me, Bo Sanchez and a lot of inspirational leaders had been saying, 'Dream Big, write and set goals' and yet there just times when the waves of reality are just against me. When reality bites, it makes me bend to my knees and just surrender. Yes there are inspiring days that fires me up to do my day's routine. But often, I just have to fake it just to make it all through the day. 

Bottomline, I don't feel like always positive, but when I fake it, it does work and relationship become much better, my feelings change and I feel better. Plus, I believe it is something common to feel bad and just have to fake it as a way of discipline. The iphone founder Steven Jobs said, 'Real artist ship', simply saying the artist is able to deliver the service or product in the rainy season or in the sunny season.

And I thank my parents for being an example. My mother ever since I can remember wakes up early for us and cooks breakfast. She even stays late to wash laundry just so we can hopeful focus on our priorities. My father also wakes really to clean the house. I even think they act as robots just to do this daily routine. hehe. (Opps! I think I am exposing that living like a king at home.. not good.. haha)  

4. Life's a burden vs Living a Fantastic life  

I think it is on being kind to myself than being brutal. I am living a fantastic after all. Yes there are problems. I may just have to tell myself life is made up of problems whose solution is also given. I believe the solution is just around my circle of family, friends and even acquitance and just in my hands reach.  

Your booked for greatness,

Chrislann Lodovice Catuburan