I Ended up Taking my Chances in Pag-ibig's Foreclosed Properties

This portion of the blog here is for personal blog, I have this segment for the purpose of building connection to the customer of my t-shirt designs and for me to keep safe bits and pieces of my life so that I can recall them one day or at least my kids can remember them if they would check on this blog one day. If you are not comfortable reading personal blogs head over to my posts about T-shirt designs here.

This house that you can see here was taken from the Pag-ibig Website. This house is the first house I tried to bid with 5% increase to its original value. I heard from a vlogger that I can add as little as 30K for a house like this because he won anyway. He said that since this is a negotiated sale, there's no need to bid for a higher price. Maybe if I do not win the bidding, I will consider this advice.

We did not visit this property personally because a vlogger already featured this property in YouTube. We've seen in the video that it had a large padlock so therefore, we were assured that there's no one occupying this property. 

Visiting a property is very tedious, tiring and expensive. At least that's what I found out when I cajole my husband to accompany me in visiting three properties in Baccor and Imus. The first one was occupied and far. The second one was hard to find. The third one which at first, I'd like to try has a look and feel of a haunted house. I was in terror just by looking at the photos we've taken after the visit. During this visit, I was taking note the amount that we were spending for transportation. I'd like to have a glimpse of how much would I be spending if I will live there while working here in Taguig. My kids are also studying in Pateros. I guess, we will still find a room for rent to continue with the work and studies here unless Hywell would transfer to Cavite or I would find a work from home. Another option would be to have a car. 

It took me another two weeks to look for the next property because I had to wait for my postal ID. After two weeks, I tried now to drop two envelopes for my bidding. We went to Pag-ibig in Shaw Boulevard. My advice here if you come from Pembo is to take the route of One Ayala then MRT to Shaw Boulevard Station. This is if you don't want to walk tremendously like what we did from Guadalupe. Then, in front of Starmall, there are jeepneys travelling to Pag-ibig. At the Pag-ibig building, go directly to the second floor, enter the premises then ask assistance if you need in the information desk at the ride side of the main entrance. What we did was to drop the first envelope labelled "Registration" at the box with the same label then another envelope labelled "Offer to Purchase" in the next box. 

1. 1. Registration envelope includes the Registration Form, two copies, which I downloaded in their website.
2. 2. Offer to Purchase Envelope includes two offer to purchase forms, xerox or scanned copy of valid ID with 3 specimens' signatures and a proof of income (in my case, pay slip). 

Once I dropped them in their designated boxes, I am free to go according to the Security Guard. 

I tried in as much to become chill in the process of buying a property and throw all of my faith to God. Afterall if he would allow us, that would mean that this is in alignment to His will. If not, then I need to find another property if it so happened that I will not win the bidding. 

If you are looking for an affordable property, without the need of an agent, with only Php1000 reservation fee and possibly no downpayment, be patient. If you lose with the bidding, it's just fine for as long as your money is intact, and you continue with the savings. I also read this tip for a blogger when buying a house. Use this 3-20-20-20 rule:

3 - years of income equivalent of TCP

20 - maximum years to pay

20% - savings for downpayment, 20% of TCP.

20% - monthly income's amortization only. 

I think this will make buying a house easier if we will follow this formula. 

Why I ended up buying a foreclosed property? It's because a condominium isn't suitable for us and very expensive. Townhouses also are expensive if you'll buy then brand new especially if you'll use a housing loan. The monthly amortization was too expensive as well ranging from 14K to 20K. I am more knowledgeable on what I can and cannot buy at this point. I am aware of how much is my salary and I am also thinking long term, as always. I cannot promise the future because I don't know what will happen, I'll go for what I can even when something unexpected happen. 

Still, I am excited to have a house I can call my own, I can decorate, and I can renovate if my finances would permit. 

I'll update you further about this as we go along. Meanwhile, leave me a comment if you have questions about buying a Pag-ibig foreclosed property for your family and I will try my best to answer. 

Our Happy Together Valentines

A walk to Venice Piazza, February 2025

It's Valentines Day again and I know, most of you celebrates it with the ones you love. I celebrate it with my kids. They are my Valentines. 

But where is their father? Why am I not talking about him or refused to show his photos in social media? 

In today's blog posts, I will share a very sensitive topic that I never share to anyone who's not close to me. I chose to reveal it here because this blog is my online diary with the readers, I trust who will not judge us as the way I am being judge in Facebook. Read on. 

I had a sweet and loving husband. He's thoughtful and generous. He can be trusted with provisions because near or far, he will send us money on time even when we're in the province. He's very industrious who will clean the yard after taking a long travel (he's a trailer truck driver). He has this deep care to his kids and he's there to take care of them when they were still babies. 

He's patience and he stayed with me even when I become nasty with words. Even when I nagged him, ridiculed him, spit bad words on him. Even when I hated all of his friends and become the number one enemy of his mother. He stayed with the craziest hard-to-live with, nagging woman he could ever met. 

Now, it's Valentines Day (eight in a row) and I have to spend it alone with my kids. We walked on the long road to Venice Piazza Mall. We feed the fishes in the swamped at the middle of a small people's park where we stood on the bridge to see them swimming underneath us. Begging for food, like me begging for love.  

We went inside the mall and took photos and videos. We happily experienced the Italian vibes. I can see the spark of joy in the eyes of my two boys.

These are our way out! They both knew the real story that we've been carrying for eight years. Then, like what we often do, we ate, often in the "3Big Sister's Restaurant" indulging with a glass of Halu-halo. But this time, we're in Goldilocks Market-Market for a sweet treat - each of the boys had a piece of cake each, a glass of juice and me with my all-time favorite - "Lumpiang Sariwa." There we filled ourselves with food indulgence. 

All because they have a mother and a sole breadwinner who worked very hard to give them education, feed them, shelter them. I know I am not alone, but I felt so alone in this sad journey of life. 

Then one morning, we woke-up having their dad taken away by drug addiction. Since then, our lives, our dreams were shattered. My father got a mild heart attacked when he found out. This even costs his life. 

Since then, a walk to the mall and eating out becomes our piece of heaven on earth and our Happy Together Valentines. 

 

The Old Money Fashion Style

Here is a category in this blog where I share my me-time and all things that I do for myself in between job, family and online business. If you are not comfortable reading my personal blog, feel free to check my designs instead. 

So, what's new?

I am fascinated with Old Money Fashion Style, and I can say that this February is my most expensive month because I am overhauling my closet. This happened before when I first learned about cool undertone colors, that was around October. Now, my spend-thrift-shopaholic-self kicked in again!

So, what is this Old Money Fashion Style?

Old Money fashion, also known as Quiet Luxury or Stealth Wealth, is an elegant, timeless style associated with wealthy, aristocratic families who have generational wealth. It emphasizes understated luxury, high-quality materials, classic tailoring, and a polished yet effortless appearance rather than flashy designer logos or trends. Think preppy, equestrian, European elegance, and Ivy League aesthetics.

I like it because it gives value with simplicity, tradition, preservation and style. Not only that, but I also noticed that generally, my love for elegance, pearls and trousers made me more convinced that this style suits me best. I am also a conservative person.

However, I will admit that I questioned myself about my "Why's" about this style, considering that the mere decision of transformation costs a lot. I also need to consider that the aim of this style as the way I understand it is to look rich. I’d like to stay away on that. Also, I asked myself about the clothes I set aside because It’s not suited in this style.

If you are like me who have these feelings about having a personal style, the following may help no matter what kind of fashion style you want to embrace:

• Aim to look presentable rather than rich or elegant. Don't get me wrong, there's nothing wrong with looking rich or being rich. It's all in the motives. Are you wearing this to deceive others that you are expensive or are your wearing this simply to look your part or position in order to gain respect?
• Use this style at work only or for socialization. This is just me because at home, I don't have to wear those expensive looking clothes especially if I only have to wash the dishes, wash the clothes and clean the house. I am wearing the housemaid role, and I often look like one 😁. 
• Use your old clothes in non-work-related events such as Malling, going to your kid's school or market. This way you can still wear that favorite t-shirt of yours with my design in it, right? 
• Make sure you will use all of the clothes and shoes you invest in and not just keep them in your closets for good. I decided to wear all that I have and stop just keeping them for the sake of keeping until I can't use it anymore. From now on, I will use everything I have first and stop hoarding. I will stop buying things I don't need. 
• Don't be too obsessed in the style that you lost yourself. Sometimes, we are so soaked up with the idea of fashion style that we forget who we are. Our clothes and accessories must enhance our personality and bring out who we are instead of stealing the limelight from our being. 
• Make sure that you don't look trying hard. Whenever you have a new clothe asks, "Does it blends well with me or bring attention in itself? Am I comfortable wearing this not in such a way that people around stares at me? Am I wearing this because I am hungry of compliment, or I only want to look put-together?
• Make sure that this style is suitable for your age. Nothing can make you look ridiculous than by trying to look young by wearing younger's clothes and accessories even when it is obvious that you're old. Those flashy uncoordinated colors, (those I love to wear before) leave them to your teens. Better to accept your age and act and look like it because in acceptance there is peace. 
• Make sure that this will make you and those around you please with your appearance. Don't make them raised their eyebrows upon seeing you. After all, the purpose of following a certain style is to make sure that the perception of the people around you will be that you are thoughtful of yourself and others.   
• This is not for a show-off. In fact, simplicity aimed to look upon as a humble but capable individual. I always want to observe the charisma of the people in the politics. Sometimes you can see them in buttoned down shirts and trousers, sometimes in t-shirt and skirt... so simple, so humble, so approachable but you can't help but be navigated to them because you knew they have more -- riches or intelligence -- that will make you their followers for life. Make sure you are still approachable like them especially if you are handling people. Don't push them away by how the way you look.
• This style is not set in stone. Feel free to experiment with other styles every once in a while, for as long as you feel good about yourself. 

Now that you have my tips in choosing your personal fashion style, I will encourage you to experiment with one. It is okay to pamper yourself. It is not a crime to spend if it can make you happy for the longest time.

Let me know your thoughts in the comments.