MOH Nurses Special Batch 4 started

MOH Nurses Special Batch 4

The MOH Nurses Batch 4 started today with the module 1 of the Basic Financial Literacy Series for OFWs. The special batch for nurses allows us to reach out to the thousands of fellow OFWs in the medical profession who works in shifts.

The session is extra special as I am still trying to regain strength from a sudden sickness and had to do the session practically sitting most of the time.

The hunger for information and guidance of fellow OFWs in today's session had once again affirmed OFSI's beliefs of this great need of financial education to greater number of OFWs. And it is also an honor to see the previous attendees who are now advocates themselves reaching out to their friends and colleagues.

This is indeed the kind of Modern Day Bayanihan spirit that the country needs. This is the kind of Modern Day Bayanihan of OFWs that contributes to the vision of united Filipino families in the next generation. Such that the next generation of Filipinos will no longer need leave their homes behind...

MOH Nurses Special Batch 3

MOH Nurses Special Batch 2

MOH Nurses Special Batch 1

MOH Nurses Original Batch who are considered OFSI Batch 2

OFSI-TGFI Batch 10 Graduates

BATCH 10 Attendees with OFSI Founder/President

Nineteen OFWs completed today the 5 sessions Basic Financial Literacy series for OFWs. This series is being provided for FREE, Modern Bayanihan of OFWs, where we empower and enable fellow OFWs make better financial decisions.

Below is a testimony of one of the attendees, Mr. Maynar Molina, who is a Nurse/EMT.

"The experience in the course was awesome and it was an eye opener for all of us. Now, the no.1 myths about stock market and investment is broken, my thought process has changed. The course was organized by OFSI headed by Renz Leano, has largely been a rewarding experience. The course not only provided extensive coverage on the topic but also touched upon the vital aspects of money management that is crucial for designing healthy portfolio strategies especially how to become successful investors. Mr Leano brilliant presentation decoded all necessary information in an absolute lucid way. His profound knowledge on the subject, and an immaculate style of teaching has practically rendered all participants speechless. "One of the best courses I have attended". For OFSI Founder and President Mr Renz Leano and officers who devoted their time and resources just to teach OFW like me on how to manage their finances FOR FREE. Thank you and may God bless you. Isa kayong tunay na bayani!!!!"

Batch 10 with the OFSI Core Team

OFSI Batch 10 with Core Team

Selfie with the Attendees

Celebrating the milestone with great food

Blessing the food

Post session guidance

Edric Mendoza's Key Lessons from his 1,000+ guests

Edric Mendoza of ANC On The Money

Listening to Edric Mendoza during his talk at the Truly Rich Club's Wealth Summit last month was another great learning moment for me. Mr. Mendoza who hosts the ANC On the Money started his talk by sharing key lessons he learned from his 1,000+ guests.

He also shared that one of the most cherished values that he teach his children is about Obedience and that if we don't obey, there are consequences.

It also my second time to see his eldest son, Elijah,  to give sharing on stage during a financial event. Elijah shared 3 biggest learnings from his father. The value of hardwork where he narrated how they bonded as father and son on his 13th birthday where they climb Mt. Apo. They struggled for four days to reach the summit but the view was spectacular and worth all the difficulties along the way. 

At a young age, Elijah had started investing in the stock market with blue chip companies. He said that this is the value of Oversee. He also shared the importance of being grateful in life.

Edric Mendoza is indeed living to his mantra that we can change the world one family at a time.

Edric Mendoza's key lessons from interviewing more than 1,000+ guests in his program On The Money

Father and Son

Edric Mendoza explaining the importance of having a clear End-Goal.

Edric and Joy Mendoza's five children

Max's - A Piece of Home

Guess what... We did not mind waiting for more than 2 hours just to be called to enter the restaurant and another 30 minutes before our food was served. But who cares. It is a piece of home for us OFWs. A home where we are always longing to be.

And it did not fail us. The food is superb and ambience feels like home...

Max's restaurant opened its first branch in Kuwait this month which delighted the hundreds of thousand of Filipinos in the country. 

For those who may not be aware of the long history of Max's, here's an excerpt from their website.

Max's Restaurant's beginnings started in 1945, after World War II. Maximo Gimenez, a Stanford - educated teacher, befriended the American occupation troops stationed at Quezon City. Because of this friendship, the soldiers regularly visited Maximo's nearby home for a drink or two. Later on, the troops insisted that they pay for their drinks. This prompted Maximo to open a cafe, where the troops could enjoy food and drinks.

The cafe initially served chicken, steak and drinks. Maximo's niece, Ruby, who managed the kitchen, created a special recipe for chicken that became an instant favorite for the GIs. Soon, the Filipino public heard about the delicious chicken-tender, juicy and crispy - and they came too! Max's Restaurant was born.

Over the years, Max's Restaurant's popularity grew and it became known as "the house that fried chicken built." It has expanded in Metro Manila, Southern and Northern Luzon, Cebu, and to California and other places in the United States. It has also expanded to Canada. It will soon open restaurants in other countries as well.

Max's Restaurant has established itself as a household name in the Philippines, an institution, and a proud Filipino tradition. The second and third generations of the family continue to zealously uphold the standards and traditions set by Maximo and Ruby for all Max's Restaurants.

WOW Philippines - Amazing Quezon and Laguna!!!

I love to travel. It thrills me to see new places and experience the life and culture of other people. So whenever I get the chance, I always try to use it as an opportunity to bond with my family.

Last month, I was so happy to explore with my family and some friends the beauty of Lucban, Quezon and several towns of Laguna. 

From Carmona, Cavite, we travelled to Lucban through the mountainous towns of Cavinti, Laguna. Lucban is subtly nestled by the Majestic Mt. Banahaw which towers 1,875 above sea level.

We fell in love with cool breeze of fresh air, the natural beauty of Lucban and its neighboring places as well as the delicious food.  

The next day, as we make stops from the different towns of Majayjay, Liliw and Nagcarlan, we can't help but plan to come back and explore more  especially the falls, resorts and farms.

The Majestic Mt. Banahaw

Pure Natural Beauty

San Isidro Church of Lucban, Quezon

Majayjay, Laguna Church

The historic and beautiful church of Liliw.

Nagcarlan, Laguna Church

Underground Cemetery of Nagcarlan, Laguna

With my Travel Buddies

OFSI at 2

Today, OFSI is turning 2 from its formal start as an organization but my advocacy for financial education started the day I learned about saving and investing more than 10 years ago. It started with the genuine desire to let fellow OFWs learn about personal finance.

Today is a good time to look back at the good times and the challenging times. It also a great opportunity to look forward to a brighter future.

When OFSI turned one last year, I was in Manila at PICC attending The Feast of one of the greatest influences in my financial and spiritual life, that of Bro Bo Sanchez. In my prayers, it dawned on me that my advocacy gave more meaning and purpose to my being an OFW. My almost 20 years as an OFW is a story of many OFWs - constantly longing to be home, not only to be with our loved-ones but to be able to pursue other endeavors back home. But our desire to break the cycle of poverty in our families keeps us focus in what we do.

As OFSI turns two with more than 500 OFWs in the Middle East who attended our sessions in both LIVE and Online, I am deeply humbled with this opportunity to be an instrument of change to fellow OFWs and their families. The experiences changed me tremendously. I became more prayerful as I offer to HIM the challenges that we are facing. It gave me a sense of purpose as a Filipino in a foreign land.

Many people asks me about my long term vision of the group and how can I sustain our advocacy. I always tell them that in many instances, God provided our needs. But today, as we turn 2, I dream that our advocacy will become irrelevant someday. I long for that day when our advocacy for financial education for Filipinos specifically for OFWs will no longer be needed because it is already part of our institutions as a nation. And that I live long enough to see that the next generation of Filipinos who longer need to leave their family and friends behind just to earn for their dreams. I am praying that I live long enough to see a more united Filipino families.

OFSI is a modern day bayanihan of OFWs and their families, helping one another in reaching financial freedom and abundance. 

As OFWs, we know how difficult it is to be away from HOME. We do not wish the next generation of Filipinos to experience the same.

To my OFSI family - cheers to financial freedom and abundance of every OFW families!!! It is such a big blessing to be part of a great community... 

#OFSIat2

www.ofsi.ph Overseas Filipinos Stocks Investors (OFSI)

First Major Event of OFSI-TGFI Kuwait Community with Mr. Jayson Lo as Special Guest

 Excerpt from my welcome remarks in the first ever major event of OFSI-TGFI Kuwait community last August 29, 2015 with special gratitude to the founder and CEO of  TGFI, Mr. Floi Wycoco. Our gratitude also goes to Mr. Jayson Logan Lo, who gave a more than 2 hours seminar for FREE. Such selfless and generous individuals.

"Seventeen years ago, I left a dream job in Makati to be an OFW – away from my family and friends, to an unfamiliar place, culture and weather condition. I was literally crying at night and even begged my boss to just send me home at that time. But deep within, I knew that I have to stay on for my dreams and goals in life, not for myself but for my family. But with such situation, I also knew then that I do not want to spend my whole life being an OFW.

Like most Filipinos, I did not know other ways to grow whatever is left of my hard- earned money.  Until I found my way to investing, thanks to Mr. Francisco Colayco, Bro Bo Sanchez and later on to Mr. Randell Tiongson, the three most influential people in my financial journey, whose books enriched my financial knowledge.

Ten years ago, I was just dreaming financial freedom and abundance for myself and family. I started investing in mutual funds, bonds and stocks apart from instrument athat we Filipinos are already familiar with – real estate and agriculture. I became better steward of my financial blessings. I tried my best to only spend what I can afford and within my budget. I had to make lots of sacrifices just to balance for the needs of my big family, experience some luxuries with my family and slowly building funds for my goals for the future.

 Five years ago, I started to dream for my friends and colleagues who are OFWs, that they too can aspire to retire young and truly rich by proper saving and investing.

Today, I am now dreaming for all OFWs. I am dreaming for the Filipinos of my generation. I am dreaming that OFWs become financially literate, so that they know how to save and invest properly for their future goals and needs in life. I am dreaming for new breed of OFWs working on the vision of lesser disintegration of Filipino families because of the need to work abroad. New breed of OFWs who are working on creating an environment for the next generation of Filipinos, who no longer need to leave their families and friends behind, a Philippines with its families intact.

As OFWs, we know the pain and struggle of being away from home. In fact, many of the officers of OFSI are second generation OFWs who do not only know how it is to become an OFW, but many of us grew up with our parents or one of our parents abroad. We can never describe in words the longings of our hearts as we see other families complete while growing up.

For our guests who are asking about OFSI, OFSI is Overseas Filipino Stocks Investors - a group of young OFWs who are advocating financial education for fellow OFWs. OFSI is a modern day bayanihan of Filipinos, OFWs helping fellow OFWs and their families to achieve financial freedom and abundance through financial education.

OFSI advocates saving and investing with the right mindset and strategy – fighting scams and lessening hit and miss in financial decisions.

The vision of OFSI is now a reality to more than 200 members who has undergone the basic financial literacy series for OFWs with our 5 modules series plus the regular monthly sessions. OFSI partnered with TGFI (The Global Filipino Investors) in this endeavor creating the OFSI-TGFI Kuwait community with online attendees from Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Saudi and the Philippines. And today, our growth continues with almost 100 attendees in our ongoing sessions – future OFW investors like us.  We are now playing a big brother role to other OFW communities in the Middle East helping them create similar communities of OFWs.

We take pride in this advocacy, which is being provided to OFWs for FREE – unbiased financial education independent from any business entity. We sustain our activities by the generosity of members. In fact, I feel so blessed that even today, fellow OFWS approach us volunteering their time and resources just so that we can continue to reach out to more OFWs.

Today is such a momentous event for OFSI-TGFI Kuwait community. This is our first major event – a coming out party by a group who serves its fellow OFWs without fanfare and publicity, quietly reaching out to as many as we can. Advocating change in mindset, which comes with constant challenges not only on resources but by the very community which we wanted to serve.

And as our battle cry, we are the change that we want to see the world, the change that we want to see in every OFWs.

In the almost 2 years of existence of OFSI, we would not have become who we are if not for the trust and confidence of fellow OFWs especially to my fellow officers for the year 2015.

Thank you officers, members, friends of OFSI and welcome to our first major event as a community."

www.ofsi.ph Overseas Filipino Stocks Investors (OFSI)
www.tgfiph.com The Global Filipino Investors (TGFI)