Punong Restaurant

Last year, we chanced upon a floating restaurant situated along the riverbanks of Tagum City, Davao del Norte.  The restaurant was called Punong Restaurant.  Punong is the Visayan word for fishpond.  It is easily accessible since one can spot it instantly along the highway.  We heard their crabs were good.  So out of curiosity, we went to try some of it.

My Family

 

We were greeted with a warm welcome by the staff and offered us a table near the huge pond. The place was cozy and the air was fresh.  It was just the right place to stretch our muscles after a long drive from Davao. They gave us their menu, and a minute later we ordered Singaporean Crab and Sinabawang Tiyan ng Malasugue to go.

 

 

 

  



Fishpond

 



While waiting for our orders, we made ourselves comfortable.  We went to their floating bridges and huts.  You can even go fishing on their pond.

A few minutes later, they brought us our orders. Surprisingly, the serving size was way more than what we expect. It was worth more than what we paid for.

 

Later, we continued on our trip, and the smell of the food lingered through our noses and made us really hungry.


Finally, we reached our destination and hurriedly prepared the table with the food.  True enough, it satisfied our watery mouths and hungry tummies.  We’ll definitely go back soon.

For those who want to know more about Punong Restaurant, you can visit their Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/Punong-Restaurant-177838822254457/?fref=ts

 

 

Part Time Jobs for Retirees

Are you a retiree? Or are you dying to get out of your job and explore the entrepreneurial side of you? Read on to know the best online job for you.

1.     Affiliate Marketing

Affiliate Marketing involves where an online retailer promotes products through generated sales or traffic from its referrals and pays by commission. Products would include books, pharmaceuticals, toys, electronics and a thousand items that interests buyers online. Affiliate Marketing websites are maintained by merchants. So your sole responsibility is to promote the product at a minimal or no investment at all and earn big.

2.     Consulting Services

Consulting services is rendered by professionals specializing in a certain type of expertise. This is done where the consultant develops findings and provides conclusions and recommendations for the clients’ consideration and decision making. A number of services comprise legal services, bookkeeping, medical expertise, educational consultancy, and a lot more according to his or her field of expertise. Conducting workshops, being a guest speaker in groups, promoting and selling books, referrals and other means related to the profession or consulting practice are a few income generating ideas.

3.     Food Specialties

The online market over food has grown increasingly in the past few years, thus, creating a demand for various food specialties.  This demand has been prominent due to its convenience or people would just like to try something new that maybe later would become a favorite. This could be a Secret Family Recipe or a Scrumptious Homemade Dessert or the Kung Fu Panda’s Secret Ingredient Noodle Soup. So if you specialize in a certain type of recipe and want to earn from it, then you can start by introducing your food specialty on the market, post it online through social media or your website. Or better yet, provide a taste-test on specialty markets or bazaars. But be aware to cater to a certain type of niche that would positively give a good feedback on your product and invest only a little for the test-market before going all out.

4.     Crafts and Fine Arts

Many individuals have that keen sense of creating one of a kind craft and art. Especially when you already have a lot of time to spare being a retired person, creating a masterpiece is definitely something.  This could be a floating bonsai, a rare wood or stone carving, utilitarian crafts, a smart closet or let your imagination run wild and create that one-of a kind stuff that you think anyone can be interested in.  A market for these crafts are scattered around the world. You may mass produce it or create one with a unique concept to let it stand out from the others. Then advertise it online to let the whole world know about your creative unique masterpiece.

5.     Moving Planner / Professional

Bulky household things and important materials can be a hassle when a family or an individual is moving to another house. This also goes to offices moving to a different site. You can imagine a lot of office equipment and supplies being hauled. That is why most of them require the services of a Professional Moving Planner to lighten the load and make it as painless as possible. A Professional Moving Planner helps clients transfer their things from one point to another. It offers services for relocations like packing, loading, moving, unloading, unpacking, and arranging of items. Other services may also include cleaning and warehousing. Engaging in this business could either make you spend a lot or just a few.  From acquiring the needed materials, getting the necessary licenses, getting insured registering it with the bureau to legally operate, advertising it online, and keeping track of your expenses. That is why it is advisable to partner with someone you can trust and can contribute to your start-up capital and do some research. If you have that physical strength and the needs to start as a moving planner, then this could be one realistic way to make extra income.

6.     Blogging

This is one way to make quick cash. If you are knowledgeable and have that passion to write on a carefully thought out topic, let the world know about it. Target a particular demographic and create traffic.  This way it will attract a number of viewers and correspondingly create income.

 

 

#retiree

#parttimejobs

 

Give Me Hope

What would you do if in 6 months all your retirement fund and savings account maxed out, and you're left with nothing but a hand to mouth income from your husband and a piggy bank of pennies that's not even yours but your son's?

2015 when my husband and I decided that I resign from my regular paying job as a bank officer.  That was due to some health reasons and a growing son who needs parental guidance. For 10 years, I've seen and experienced the life of a banker.  The perks, insurance, 15 month bonuses, the increase, full free medical and hospitalization assistance for your family, and all those other stuff where I could say I'm secured. But that did not end happily. We both thought that maybe I can get a part time job as a freelancer, while I take care of our son, and he continues to work in his usual paying job.  Given all the online job opportunities. Who says I can't get one?

Months passed, countless interviews here and there, email applications, but all attempts were declined. I asked myself, what's wrong?  Maybe I'm just not cut-out for this kind of work. Maybe I'm just for operations and routine. I've finished my Degree in Management Accounting and Graduate Studies but I can't seem to find any work here.

Slowly our finances are going downhill, our savings dried up, payables are mounting, and arguments begin to rise.  Our lifestyle changed. Although I tried selling baked goods but it did not even cover a full gas tank. I tried selling stuff online and in our garage but the competition was unimaginable. We tried investing in Grape Farming, but the returns are far yet to realize.

I would think to myself, why did we ever come to this?  We had a life where we could eat out whenever and wherever we want. Buy the needs of our son, and get him the reward he deserves. Family bonding time where we wouldn't care how much we'd spend as long we are all happy. We could spend on house renovations, donations, and small parties. But now we rarely fill our refrigerator with food.  We'd use coal to cook food since our tank is empty, and it would take a whole week or two to have it refilled because we couldn't buy one yet. We often bring lunch from breakfast leftovers, when we attend whole day meetings in our church and silently eat inside our car. We've also considered sending out our house helper to a friend in need since it has been eating up a big chunk of our budget. Considering that I have to pay for her Social Security which is mandatory here in the Philippines.  My phone line has been disconnected, and we'd only pay half a month electricity worth 800 pesos just so the power company will not cut our line. Worst came when I could only see a hotdog and ice cubes inside the freezer. One hotdog enough for my son to eat. At least we could still buy a kilo of rice which costs 50 pesos.

And yet, despite the difficulties, my husband always says that we could still recover. And I, trying to control my anger, believe him. He always says, there is nothing impossible with God. Our faith is being tested. He always was the one who goes silent and hears me out. Absorbing all the negativity from me.

Although we may not have everything, but we have everything that gives us hope. And my husband reminds me that there is hope.