Retirement tips: YOLO is a myth?

[Juan Martinez]

Retirement tips: Paano nga ba dapat paghandaan ang pagtanda?

Wednesday, November 04, 2015 11:43AM

By Annalyn Ardona

Kasulukuyang palabas sa TV ang paglilimas ni Lola Carmen Pantaleon, isang retiradong guro at principal, ng pumasok na tubig-ulan sa kaniyang tinitirhang abandonadong gusali nang i-chat ko si Ely, executive producer ng "Reel Time" episode na "Ang Lesson Plan ni Ma'am."

"Ely, bakit walang natira sa pamilya ni Ma'am Carmen? Bakit siya namumuhay nang mag-isa? Bakit walang natira sa pera niya, hindi ba siya nakapag-ipon?," sunod-sunod na tanong ko na tila isang interogasyon. Naninikip ang dibdib ko habang nanonood at gusto kong may masisi dahil nakagagalit ang naging kalunos-lunos na kalagayan ni Ma'am.

Tulad ko, apektadong-apektado rin ang ilang netizens sa mga oras na iyon.

Nakakaiyak! Omg! Sana makita kita Mam Carmen. Lord please give her good health pa.. *reeltimedocu *gmanews #ReelTime

— grace sajorda (*iamGraxieh) October 25, 2015
Ito yung linya nyang nagpa-iyak sa akin. Nagsimula sya sa "Papunta pa lamang sila, pabalik na ako..." ???? #ReelTime https://t.co/uBuLD98C9F

— Yana™ (*AleanaTheGreat) October 25, 2015
Grabe Nanay ???? nakakarelate po ako sa kwento mo kasi yung Lolo ko hindi naalala ng mga anak nya *reeltimedocu

— Leigh Vidallon (*imrheaa) October 25, 2015
Limampung taong nagtrabaho bilang guro si Lola Carmen. Dalawampung taon dito, ginugol niya rin bilang principal.

Kuwento ng mga dating niyang estudyante at hinawakang guro, naging magaling na lider daw si Ma’am Carmen.

“Masipag po siya. Very understanding, competent and brilliant manager sa mga teacher po namin noon. Very supportive siya,” kuwento ni Julie Fabros na ngayon ay isa na ring guro.

“‘Nung elementary kami, siya ang naging principal namin and at the same time naging classroom teacher ko siya. Siya ay mabait, magaling magturo at talagang nagtuturo siyang maigi para maintindihan namin ‘yung lessons. Naging inspirasyon ko siya kaya nandito na ako ngayon bilang isang guro,” lahad naman ni Imelda Fabros.

Nag-ipon ng pera si Ma’am Carmen at nakakuha pa ng lump sum mula sa kaniyang retirement pay. Pero ang nasinop niyang P200,000 ay naglahong parang bula nang mabiktima siya ng budol-budol gang. Ang kaniyang bahay, giniba noon para patayuan ng gusali. Pero hindi natapos ang istruktura kaya't sa abandonadong gusali na siya tumira.

Ngayon, 91 taong-gulang na si Lola Carmen at nag-iisa. Hindi siya nakapag-asawa at namatay na rin ang kaniyang mga kapatid. Ang mga pamangkin niyang inalagaan at pinag-aral noon, nakalimot na raw sa kanilang lola.

“Nalulungkot ako at nag-iisa na. Talagang hindi ko akalain na aabot pa ako ng ganiyan (sa edad na 91 taong gulang) dahil ‘yung mga kapatid ko mga namatay silang maaga.”

“Inilaan ko ang aking buhay sa pagtuturo. At totoo nga, walang pera rito. Pero ang tunay na yaman dito ay ang aking mga napagtapos at ang karangalang maging tulay ng mga pangarap.”

Nito lang 2015, pinarangalan si Lola Carmen bilang "Most Outstanding Tarlaqueno." Pero ang hinirang na katangi-tanging Tarlaqueno, ni hindi alam kung paano magkakaroon ng ataul, sakaling siya'y pumanaw na.

Ang kinahinatnan ni Lola Carmen, sinasalamin raw kung ano ang maaaring kahinatnan ng taong hindi nagkaroon ng tamang paghahanda para sa pagtanda at pagreretiro.

Umiwas sa scam

Ayon sa registered financial planner na si Fitz Villafuerte, mahalagang protektahan ang pera at umiwas sa mga scam.

“Pangunahing senyales na scam ang isang deal kung garantisado nilang babalik ang pera mo nang hindi ipinapaliwanag sa’yo ang risk. Lahat ng investment ay may risk, kapag zero risk, scam ‘yan.

Another thing, kapag sinasabi nilang babalik ang pera mo nang mabilis, scam din yan. Ang stock market, ang usual growth rate lang niyan ay 18-20% a year.”

Payo naman ni Randell Tiongson, manunulat ng librong “No Nonsense Personal Finance” at isang personal finance coach, “Kailangan may due diligence tayo, gawin natin ang ating assignment to verify kung credible ba ang mga kausap natin when it comes to money. Huwag tayo basta-basta maniniwala sa high-return, low risk."

Huwag umasa sa iba

Ayon din kay Villafuerte, magkaroon ka man ng sariling pamilya o hindi, hindi mo dapat asahan ang iba para sa iyong pagtanda.

“Your children are not your retirement plan, you are responsible for your own retirement. Iyan ang nagiging cycle sa Pilipinas. By the time we retire, ang mga anak natin ay may sarili na ring pamilya na kailangan ding gastusan. Magiging pabigat tayo.”

Si Tiongson, naniniwala ring hindi nakabubuti ang kultura ng pagiging dependent sa nakaaangat na kapamilya.

“Ika nga nila, when you have more money, you have more relatives. Kung ikaw ‘yung nakaaangat, ikaw pa ang may burden. Ikaw ang masipag, masinop at matipid, pero iba ang makikinabang dahil nasa iyo ang burden. Hindi tama ‘yan.”

Mag-ipon at palaguin ang pera

Payo ni Villafuerte, ngayon na dapat simulang mag-ipon ng emergency fund na perang gagastusin sa mga biglaang problema. Dapat daw na ang maipong halaga ay katumbas ng anim na buwang gastusin na dapat ilagak sa isang savings account sa bangko.

“As soon as kumikita ka na ng pera, kailangan paghandaan mo na ang retirement, the earlier you start, mas malaki ang magiging pera mo sa huli. Also, make it a habit to save and invest. Huwag mong hintayin na dumating ang malaking pera sa’yo bago ka mag-ipon. Kahit sa maliit na sahod, magtabi ka dapat buwan-buwan. Puwede ka ring rumaket pandagdag kita.”

Kapag naipon na ang emergency fund, tsaka palang maaaring mag-ipon para sa investment o pamumuhunan para mapalago ang pera. Ayon kay Tiongson, magandang ilagak ang ipon sa iba’t ibang uri ng investment at hindi sa iisa lang.

“Ang context ng pagpapalago ng pera ay hindi dapat isang investment lang. Dapat tatlo, apat o lima. Huwag kang umasa na sa isang option lang ay kasya ka na. Iba-iba kasi ang performance ng mga iyan.”

Ilan sa halimbawa ng mga maaaring paglagyan ng puhunan ay ang mga time deposit, Unit Investment Trust Fund (UITF) na produkto ng mga bangko, stock market, mutual funds, ari-arian tulad ng mga lupain, condominium, apartment at maaari ring mag-negosyo.

Protektahan ang iyong naipon

Ayon sa mga financial adviser, mahalagang protektahan ang inipong pera.

“May mga life insurance policy na may mga riders for terminal illness. So kapag nagkaroon ka kunyari ng cancer, maaari kang makakuha ng malaking halaga kahit buhay ka pa.

Medyo morbid, pero I also recommend getting memorial plans, huhulugan mo ‘yan tapos kapag nawala ka na, sagot na nila ang libing mo,” payo ni Villafuerte.

Dagdag naman ni Tiongson, “I also recommend health plans pero the problem with that, their coverage stop at 60-65 years old, usually may limit sila. So mahalaga talaga na ‘yung iipunin ay dagdagan pa and invest it properly. Create your own health plan kumbaga.”

Huwag maniwala sa YOLO (You Only Live Once)

Para kay Villafuerte, kailangan ng sakripisyo para makamit ang maginhawang buhay sa hinaharap.

“You have to accept the fact that you will need to sacrifice a few years of your life para makuha mo ‘yung gusto mong lifestyle in the future. Hindi ‘yan forever. It will take a minimum of five years of sacrifice, at kapag naramdaman mo na ang paglago ng mga investment mo, that’s the time na you can relax and enjoy habang ang mga kilala mong hindi naghanda (for the future) ay kumakayod pa rin. ‘Yung YOLO na iyan, that’s a myth.”

Pagtatapos ni Tiongson, “Kung hindi ka maghahanda para sa retirement mo, isa lang ang mangyayari sa’yo. Nganga.”---BMS/GMA Public Affairs

[Calistro]

Sa US lang pede ang YOLO, mas madami opportunity to bounce back up. Mga Pinoy kase ang hilig gumaya sa kano. Sustainable lang ang yolo lifestyle para sa anak ng taga customs, gobyerno at ung di naubusan ng pera heheh

[jick.cejoco]

Even the lowly ants know how to save for a rainy day.

[macsd]

“You have to accept the fact that you will need to sacrifice a few years of your life para makuha mo ‘yung gusto mong lifestyle in the future. Hindi ‘yan forever. It will take a minimum of five years of sacrifice, at kapag naramdaman mo na ang paglago ng mga investment mo, that’s the time na you can relax and enjoy habang ang mga kilala mong hindi naghanda (for the future) ay kumakayod pa rin. ‘Yung YOLO na iyan, that’s a myth.”

Pagtatapos ni Tiongson, “Kung hindi ka maghahanda para sa retirement mo, isa lang ang mangyayari sa’yo. Nganga.”

This is very true. Planning at a very early stage is very important sa retirement. I'm in my mid 50's and retired na, daming nagugulat bakit? Sagot ko lang, i planned for it and i want to execute my plan.

[Juan Martinez]

This is very true. Planning at a very early stage is very important sa retirement. I'm in my mid 50's and retired na, daming nagugulat bakit? Sagot ko lang, i planned for it and i want to execute my plan.

but bro macsd you sound like you're in the middle 30s. i bet you look like one with the golf tan and all :cool:

[macsd]

but bro macsd you sound like you're in the middle 30s. i bet you look like one with the golf tan and all :cool:

Hahaha...yes sir, that's the whole idea, retire and enjoy life while you can still walk , run and screw hard. BUt come to think of it sir, my doctor's advice on my acid reflux is due to stress. On top of my head, what the heck is stress when all i do is eat, sleep and play golf.

[Bin Diesel]

Hahaha...yes sir, that's the whole idea, retire and enjoy life while you can still walk , run and screw hard. BUt come to think of it sir, my doctor's advice on my acid reflux is due to stress. On top of my head, what the heck is stress when all i do is eat, sleep and play golf.

Stress yan galing sa gobyerno.

[macsd]

Stress yan galing sa gobyerno.

Yun nga din ang nasa isip ko, bwisit na gobierno natin, puro kapalpakan. Sa 1 tama - 10 kaagad ang mali. I guess we will die not seeing a governance that we can be proud of.

And going BTT, our retirements thru SSS & GSIS are being screwed by political appointees. Where can you see directors awarding themselves with millions in bonus and yet they will say that the funds are only good up to X number of years.

[macsd]

[minicarph]

Ano yun acronym ng YOLo

[Just]

Hahaha...yes sir, that's the whole idea, retire and enjoy life while you can still walk , run and screw hard. BUt come to think of it sir, my doctor's advice on my acid reflux is due to stress. On top of my head, what the heck is stress when all i do is eat, sleep and play golf.

OT sir. madalas din ba sumakit tyan nyo due to acid reflux? i've been to 3 known hospitals because of this acid reflux, di mawala. ganun din advice, baka daw stress. gastos sa gamot

[Juan Martinez]

Ano yun acronym ng YOLo

you don't know what it stands for yet you know places of alien landings and sighting if you mean YOLo as in "you only live once" that's it.

[macsd]

OT sir. madalas din ba sumakit tyan nyo due to acid reflux? i've been to 3 known hospitals because of this acid reflux, di mawala. ganun din advice, baka daw stress. gastos sa gamot

Cge, OT muna tayo.....At the start yes, pero i addressed that with LOSEC until lately the dr told me it's my vocal cord that's being attacked, namula na at medyo paos ako. So he gave me another medicine which helped pero sabi nga ng dr, it's gonna take a matagal na gamutan to resolve.

[macsd]

[Lew_Alcindor]

Isa pang problema yung umabot siya ng 91 taong gulang.

Yung ninong ko sa kasal na maganda naman ang work sa Japan bilang isang professor, ito sabi sa akin noong malapit na siya mag-retire:

"May pera ako ngayon kaya gusto ko sana mag-business. Kasi paano kung abutin ako ng 90 years old tapos ubos na retirement pay ko?"

OO nga naman. Kahit anung tipid mo sa retirement pay mo, kung plus 50 years ka pa mamumuhay pagka-retire, mauubos din yun.

[macsd]

Isa pang problema yung umabot siya ng 91 taong gulang.

Yung ninong ko sa kasal na maganda naman ang work sa Japan bilang isang professor, ito sabi sa akin noong malapit na siya mag-retire:

"May pera ako ngayon kaya gusto ko sana mag-business. Kasi paano kung abutin ako ng 90 years old tapos ubos na retirement pay ko?"

OO nga naman. Kahit anung tipid mo sa retirement pay mo, kung plus 50 years ka pa mamumuhay pagka-retire, mauubos din yun.

Very true. Kaya it pay's to continue participation sa SSS via self contribution kahit retired na until reaching 65. Yes, it may not be that significant amount but you can always max it out , depend on one's contribution. Having foreign currency porfolio can also help to balance local currency devaluation combine it with high end real state property to mitigate inflation.

As i said, you have to plan it and plan it wisely. it's not enough that you have more than enough money to retire, where to invest this money is the key to retirement.

[minicarph]

OT sir. madalas din ba sumakit tyan nyo due to acid reflux? i've been to 3 known hospitals because of this acid reflux, di mawala. ganun din advice, baka daw stress. gastos sa gamot

Acid reflux is caused by too much adrenalin in your body.

I would like to make short teaching sayo what we are kasi. Back in old days, when we were hunter gatherers, Basta mah struggle or threatened or in danger, we release a lot adrenalin in our body to make our bodies like stronger, ready for the challenge at hand

But now, since we normally do office work, adn we get stressed coz of work or officemate or customer or whatever, ganun pa din body, release the same adrenalin as if we're going to fight a tiger or croc.

Yun ang problema too mich adrenalin pumping in our body, pero hinde nagagamit or na-disperse, and that causes or manifests into sickness, mood swings or even future disease.

That's why some people who got so pumped up throw their furnitures, kasi yun ang outlet

For you, I believe jt's acid reflux

[_Cathy_]

My Lola is turning 90 na and she thinks like she is immortal :bwahaha: She has so many plans that would take several years to finish or accomplish. I guess it's good to love life. She is still very sharp and can walk on her own without assistance.

[badkuk]

Don't outlive your money ^_^

Hindi naman ako maluho, i've been saving since HS...ang mali ko is hindi ko siya ininvest ng maayos. Ayun, kinain ng buhay ng inflation. Hopefully there's still some time to correct that ;)

[minicarph]

Hahaha...yes sir, that's the whole idea, retire and enjoy life while you can still walk , run and screw hard. BUt come to think of it sir, my doctor's advice on my acid reflux is due to stress. On top of my head, what the heck is stress when all i do is eat, sleep and play golf.

What you encounter is reverse stress, or the opposite of stress, no stimulation, nothing to look forward, no feeling of doing something important.

It's as desdly as stress coz you will feel that you have all this energy but you cant disperse it into something productive, assuming you have been working all your life,


Retirement is a double-edge sword. Most people think of retirement with lots of money as the ultimate goal of life. But it's not.

When old people even your grandparents or parents starts to get sick even though they have mansions or expensive cars, that means hindi na nag-release body ng adrenalin to keep the inner blood or inner life flowing, and when it starts that depressive feeling, magsisimula na sila magkasakit, coz the adrenalin itself acts as sntibiotics to bscteria or viruses.


Kaya hayun, try to stimulate your parents, try to introduce fun + challenge in their lives, restart their motor skills or creativity. Most people fail to do thst and just leave their old parents safe and secure sa cozy home with big flat screen tv or lazy boys.

Sometimes, add drama in your family. Be the black sheep, be the most hated fsmily member so that your parents will have the purpose to patch things up or worse side with everybody else except you. You do that out of sacrifice, to be a scspegoatm for their health