Bangladesh: The Gateway to Cultural Paradise

While most tourists favor destinations outside the USA that boast of world-class shopping experience, royal accommodations and breathtaking architectural wonders, it’s undeniable that simplicity and authenticity still matter for those wanting to experience something far from the exploits of human development and illusions of man-made grandeur. Defying the first world artificiality and commerciality is Bangladesh with her pristine destinations and warm culture. What she lacks in economic competitiveness, she compensates with fulfilled promises of travel experience of a lifetime. Culture and nature lovers will surely find the tourist attractions in Bangladesh a paradise worth topping any itinerary.

Bashundhara - the largest mall in the country*

I Won! FHM Story of the Month, November 2008

Okay, this is not recent. But since I decided to publish my written articles here, I'm adding this one as well.

I submitted an entry to FHM Philippines' because I wanted to have a special prize package. For that month, the prize was a gift bag of an expensive beauty product for men. Sadly, I wasn't able to claim it. Too bad. It's not that I really wanted to use the product, but that was my souvenir for crying out loud!

Note: On November 2008, three of my submissions were published – Story of the Month (winner), Ladies’ Confessions (using a female cousin’s name; published) and Bar Room Jokes (published). I know, I was that desperate to have a prize. But it paid off!

All submitted entries were fictitious anecdotes and written with creative intent and not actual confessions. Only the latter contained my real name while the Story of the Month used my nickname.

Knowing Me By Numbers

I was doodling one boring early evening in the office (I don’t remember why I stayed late to begin with) when I started scribbling numbers out of my numerically incapable brain. It was refreshing to see myself play with numbers especially that numbers are my worst enemies. I loved them before and I thought I did well in math subjects (I once competed in statistics quiz bee in college), but somehow, I find computation unnecessarily toilsome (scientific calculator, hello?). I was best in math several times in elementary, but English and science had always been my babies (until Ma’am Notarte made me hate science so much; Ma’am Ladignon revived it though). Formulae and undecipherable symbols (to me, at least) amused me.

As a writer, it makes me wonder if I can do the same thing with numbers as I do to words and punctuations. That is, tell a story.

I’m starting with myself. May I present to you, the numbers in my life!

What Are the Pitfalls in Paying Personal Loans?

Personal loans are popular sources of extra cash for people from all walks of life. Loans today come with easier application which can be transacted personally with banks or through online sites. They can be addicting at some point.

Common purposes of personal loans are for basic necessities like home renovations, school tuitions and medical expenses. Others, however, choose to spend the borrowed amount for luxuries and body care services as shown by the growing trend (and lending problems) in most western countries (leading to economic meltdown). Having easy money in short time with usually no required collateral at all is indeed very convenient. It can make the borrower feel like heaven while spending but hell when paying. This is especially true if finances are not handled wisely.

Suffering in the payment of personal loans can be avoided if regular source of income is present. However, this alone does not suffice most of the time. An option taken by borrowers is to extend their amortization terms to lower the monthly due. Unfortunately, extension is very limited in unsecured loans. Extension may also mean higher interest rate.

What Are the Most Common Types of Personal Loans?

A lot of different personal loans meant for different uses and needs are being offered by banks. There are home loans, advanced loans, car loans and emergency loans. However, there are three general types which are also the most commonly availed by clients.

Unlike other types which require particular documents matching specific purposes (home loans, for instance, need corresponding appraisal in value of the desired house and lot), these three types of personal loans cover a wider scope of generic purposes which mean less scrutiny upon credit investigation.

1. Secured Personal Loan

This type of loan offers security on the part of the lender. This is availed in exchange of collateral, such as vehicles like cars, boats or motorcycles, and properties like house and land. Banks require the borrower to prepare property titles which will stay with the lender until the loan amount is paid off.

What are the Common Reasons Why Unsecured Loans are Rejected?

Thousands of personal loan applications are being rejected every year, yet more people still push their lucks to have extra cash even on terms of higher interest rates. However, many borrowers are wondering why lots of applications for unsecured personal loans are getting rejected even if banks post fewer requirements for this particular plan.

Unsecured personal loans, despite not having a requirement for collateral, have stricter requirements than other types of personal loans. Here are the most common reasons why applications for unsecured personal loans fail to get approval.

1. Bad credit rating.

As unsecured personal loans rely primarily on the credit history of the borrower, banks review credit records from the beginning and highly consider integrity prior to approval. Aside from already existing financial transactions, banks also delve deeper into tax dues if they are settled properly or if imminent charges are present. They see unsettled tax issues as major hindrance to your timely payment, to which the government agrees.

What Are the Best Ways To Make Money Out of Your Debt?

If banks and lending institutions earn from loan payments and interest rates, why don’t borrowers earn from their debt as well? Personal loan is often used as a way to pay urgent debt or for debt consolidation as it has the fastest processing time and approval among all bank loan services. It may be best for urgent expenses that cannot wait for the borrower's monthly income.

Given the situation, it is understandable that most, if not all of the loan amount, will be spent almost immediately on payments without spare to invest on lucrative activities. However, smart financial management can make the difference and can give you more profit than debts. What are the best ways to earn interest from your borrowed money and pay the lender much sooner than the terms (thus, saving in the process)?