Shel Fernando

18/06/2025

Nakakalungkot Pero Totoo: A Reflection on Our Nation’s Direction

This has been bothering me for quite some time.

The other day, I was shopping with my wife in a department store. Habang naghihintay, I overheard some sales ladies chatting. Akala ko normal chika lang, pero may isang word na tumama sa akin—"Scatter."
Yes, online sugal.

Hindi ko sila masisisi. Kasi sa totoo lang, online gambling has become so normalized here in the Philippines.

You see it everywhere—massive billboards sa EDSA, sa mga bus, sa waiting shed, sa kalsada.
May ads pa with celebrities and influencers, promoting codes and promising giveaways.

But the worst part?
Online influencers flashing cash, asking “Ano gusto niyo? Pang grocery? Pang tuition? Pang allowance?”
At the end of the video—nasa comments ang referral link ng online sugal platform.

Check the replies and you’ll see people begging.
Parang nagkakaroon na tayo ng digital limos culture.
People are literally asking for help in exchange for signing up to gamble.

Nakakaawa.

While other countries use digital platforms to teach budgeting, investing, and long-term financial planning, tayo dito, mas pinopromote pa ang sugal kesa financial literacy.

I’ve seen this first-hand sa US and Dubai.
There, they build citizens who are financially aware.
Here, we are being conditioned to chase luck, not build wealth.

We're raising a generation who:
Know how to bet, but not how to save
Know how to deposit in games, but not in a bank
Know how to chase jackpots, but not goals

This isn’t just sad—it’s a national emergency disguised as entertainment.

We need to wake up.
We need to be louder than these platforms.
We need to teach, reach, and protect.
Not just for ourselves, but for our kids.

Let’s build a Culture of Malasakit.
Let’s empower, not exploit.

19/01/2025

18/12/2024

If you paid for the things your family needs, you’re not broke… you are blessed.

If you helped your siblings or kids go to school, you’re not broke… you are blessed.

If your family is taken care of, with food, shelter, and love, you’re not broke… you are blessed.

Success isn’t about wearing expensive clothes or showing off online. It’s about handling your responsibilities and making sure the people who matter are okay. Let others waste money trying to impress people they don’t even like.

The real ones are the ones who step up and take care of their family. If you’re doing that, you’re already winning.

May your pocket never run dry, and may you always have enough to take care of the ones you love.

06/12/2024

It's really possible

12/11/2024

"Hiroyuki Sanada once said, 'There are those who want a swimming pool in the house, while those who have one barely use it. Those who have lost a loved one feel a deep sense of loss, while others who hold them close often complain about them. Those who do not have a partner yearn for him, but those who have, sometimes do not value him. The hungry would give anything for a plate of food, while the well-fed complains about the taste. The one who doesn't have a car dreams, while the one who has one is always looking for a better one. The key is to be grateful, look carefully at what we have and understand that somewhere, someone would give everything for what you already have and don't appreciate.”

-Cecilia Kokai

09/11/2024

Send a message to learn more

11/07/2024

Choose freedom over security.
Choose hustle over laziness.
Choose leverage over toiling forever.
Choose investing over spending.
Choose to create opportunities than just to wait for things to happen.
Choose to earn on your own than just complain on why the economy is not going your way.
Choose to learn from failure than to not try at all.
Choose to work hard in the present than just keep looking at your past.
Choose to win 10 times even if you fall 9.
Choose to trust in the Grace of God than just to try it on your own strength.

11/07/2024

WORD FOR THE DAY

TOPIC: YOUR CHOICES WILL MAKE YOU

I wish to remind you of a profound truth, beautifully captured in the words of Dr. Seuss: "You have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself any direction you choose." These simple yet powerful words encapsulate the essence of human potential and the boundless opportunities that lie before each of us. Within each of us resides the capacity to think, to dream, and to act. Our brains are the engines of innovation, our feet the vehicles of action, and our choices the maps that guide our journey. Consider the first element of this wisdom: "You have brains in your head." Our minds are our greatest assets. They are capable of extraordinary creativity, deep introspection, and boundless learning. With our intellect, we can envision possibilities, solve complex problems, and forge new paths. But to truly harness this power, we must cultivate a mindset of growth and curiosity. As Albert Einstein once said, "Intellectual growth should commence at birth and cease only at death." Never underestimate the power of your thoughts. What you believe about yourself and your potential shapes your reality. As the great philosopher René Descartes asserted, "Cogito, ergo sum"—"I think, therefore I am." Our thoughts are the architects of our destiny. Therefore, nurture your mind with knowledge, challenge it with new ideas, and fuel it with positive affirmations.

The second element reminds us: "You have feet in your shoes." This speaks to our ability to act, to move forward, and to pursue our dreams. Our feet symbolize the power of action. Dreams and ideas remain mere fantasies without the courage to take steps toward their realization. As Lao Tzu wisely said, "A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step." Action requires courage. It demands that we step out of our comfort zones, face our fears, and embrace the unknown. Each step we take, no matter how small, propels us closer to our goals. As we walk our paths, we may encounter obstacles and setbacks, but remember, these are merely stepping stones to success. The great inventor Thomas Edison reminds us, "I have not failed. I've just found 10,000 ways that won't work." Finally, "You can steer yourself any direction you choose." This is the essence of personal freedom and responsibility. We are the captains of our own ships, the masters of our fate. The choices we make today shape the landscapes of our tomorrows. This freedom is both a gift and a responsibility. As Viktor Frankl, a Holocaust survivor and renowned psychiatrist, wrote, "Between stimulus and response, there is a space. In that space is our power to choose our response. In our response lies our growth and our freedom."

Life will present us with countless crossroads. The decisions we make at these junctures determine our trajectory. Choose wisely. Choose paths that align with your values, your passions, and your purpose. Do not be swayed by the expectations of others or the fear of failure. As Ralph Waldo Emerson advised, "Do not go where the path may lead, go instead where there is no path and leave a trail." Remember the power that resides within you; you have brains in your head—nurture them. You have feet in your shoes—use them. You can steer yourself in any direction you choose—choose wisely and boldly. Embrace the journey with courage, curiosity, and conviction. For it is not the destination that defines us, but the paths we take and the choices we make along the way. May your journey be filled with discovery, your steps with purpose, and your choices with wisdom. The world is yours to explore, to shape, and to transform.

@ Fr. Albert Nwosu' (Nwachinemere)

08/07/2024

29/06/2024

WHY I DON’T REACT TO EVERYTHING.

I’m 'Slowly' Learning That I Don’t Have To React To 'Everything' That Bothers Me.

I’m slowly learning that I don’t have to hurt those who hurt me.

I’m slowly learning that maybe the 'ultimate' sign of maturity is walking away instead of getting even.

I’m slowly learning that the energy it takes to react to every bad thing that happens to me drains me and stops me from seeing the other good side of things in life.

I’m slowly learning that I’m not going to be everyone’s cup of tea and I won’t be able to get everyone to treat me the way I want to be treated 'and that’s okay.'

I’m slowly learning that trying so hard to ‘win’ Everyone is just a 'waste' of time and energy and it fills me with 'nothing' but emptiness.

I’m slowly learning that not reacting doesn’t mean I’m okay with things, it just means I’m choosing to 'rise' above it.

I’m choosing to take the 'lesson' it has served and learn from it I’m choosing to be 'the bigger' person.

I’m choosing my 'peace of mind' because that’s what I 'truly' need. I don’t need more drama. I don’t need people making me feel like I’m not good enough. I don’t need fights and arguments and 'fake' connections. I’m slowly learning that sometimes 'not' saying anything at all says everything.'

I’m slowly learning that reacting to things that upset me gives someone else power over 'my' emotions.

I can’t control what others do but i can control how i respond, how i handle it, how i perceive it and 'how much of it' i want to take personally. I’m slowly learning that most of the time, these situations say nothing about me and a lot about the other person.

I’m slowly learning that even if I react, it won’t change anything, it won’t make people suddenly love and respect me, it won’t magically change their minds.

Sometimes it’s better to just let things be, let people go, 'don’t' fight for closure, 'don’t' ask for explanations, 'don’t' chase answers and 'don’t' expect people to understand me.

Enough word for the wise.
Ctto

12/06/2024