What tip can you share to ensure a good life?

Johann Lucas, Quezon City: Count your blessings instead of always voicing out complaints.

Lydia Reyes, Bataan: Love your work. Be hard-working and live within your means. Seek guidance from the Lord.

Live in moderation

Eric Gopilan, Quezon City: Live simply, do and eat right. A happy person is a healthy person.

Ernesto Oliquiano, Las Piñas City: One tip that I can share, which I have been observing ever since, is to live within your means. That is especially true during these hard times. Do not overspend. Buy only what you really need. Postpone buying what you can live without at the moment. If you have a credit card, use it wisely. Another tip is to keep yourself trim and healthy. As much as possible, avoid getting sick. Hospital and medical expenses are a pain in the neck. And the last tip that I can share is to love your work, whatever it is. In these times when jobs are so rare and so precious, you’re lucky to have a job than those who have lost theirs because of the recession.

Ishmael Q. Calata, Parañaque City: Do everything in moderation. Too much of something becomes a vice and indulging too much in something leads to addiction. If we go further, such as in accumulating money without satisfaction, it may lead to nefarious activities, like smuggling, drug trafficking, gambling, and graft and corruption! Just have enough and you’ll be happier that way!

Josh Pacatang, Dipolog City: You can live in style by living within your means, of course, with a target to earn your first million at age 40 and maintain your plateau after 60 years, when you must have earned your retirement money plus P5 million in real estate.

Renato Taylan, Ilocos Norte: One must learn how to live in moderation. Buy only what you need and not what you want.

Felix Ramento, USA: What to do: “...Forget those things which are behind.... Press toward the mark. ... And learn to be content whatever the circumstances.” (Philippians 3:13, 14; 4:11)

Dream big

Jae Delos Santos, Muntinlupa City: Hate no one and love more. Dream big.

Ryan Pahimulin, Rizal: Come up with new ideas and use patience and persistence to realize them.

Live life to the fullest

Ruben Viray, Antipolo City: Give yourself a break. Life is short. Let’s enjoy it while we can. We can never be young forever and we should enjoy life while we are still productive. Add more fun in your life. Have a dream, a goal, and be willing to work for it. Maintain your good health and live moderately without spending on unwanted things for yourself and for your family. You can go into sports or other activities. Lastly, spend time bonding with your family and friends.

Jimmy Donton, Puerto Princesa City: Work according to your heart’s desire and enjoy it.

Rossini Ann Torres, Cabanatuan City: Enjoy every moment. Live life to the fullest!

Work hard

Col. Ben Paguirigan Jr., Ret., Zamboanga City: With all the hardships heavily imposed on our shoulders, we have to work, work, and work for any additional income that can supplement our present one.

Jose Fabello Jr., Cagayan de Oro City: Small inspiration and tons of perspiration will ensure the good life this year. It worked for me, it might just as well work for you. Good luck!

Rey Ibalan, Antipolo City: Just three things: Be hardworking, be smart, and be prayerful.

Nestor Buñag, Mandaluyong City: Have faith in God, live cleanly, be frugal, and practice prudence.

Rodolfo Talledo, Angeles City: Be innovative and productive. Sipagan lang naman ‘yan eh!

Leonard Villa, Batac City: Work hard, be frugal, and have some savings. Always cling to God and believe in what you can do. After all, life is what we make it.

Do your best

Desuel Pardo, Mandaluyong City: We must simply do our best to achieve a good life and God will do the rest. If we fail to achieve our goal, let us offer our failure to Him who knows what is good for us and when He will grant our cherished dreams.

Lolong Rejano, Marinduque: There are two kinds of lives: One lived with prestige and pride, with honor and the respect of society; and second, a lavish life ensconced in power and nothing else. To realize the first, you just have to be a good man to everybody at all times, earn money through hardship and share what you have with others. The latter is all about material things, above all, recognition and power. Self-interest is foremost, for the sake of wealth and power.

Live green

Miguelito Herrera, Cabanatuan City: Think and live green, such as by having a vegetable garden in your backyard. That way, you can have organic dishes.

Make wise decisions

Juan Deveraturda, Subic, Zambales: Lead a simple and prayerful life. Join the Rotary Club and do community service, like planting trees. Laugh a lot and enjoy life to the fullest. Most important of all, campaign and vote for the right candidates in the coming election.

Janet Lopez, Manila: Come May, let’s use our votes wisely, to ensure progress even beyond 2010.

Ric Vergara, Calamba City: Our only way to a good life is to vote wisely and intelligently. May natira pang matitinong lider na mapagpipilian.

Erwin Espinoza, Pangasinan: Ano pa nga ba kundi ang pagboto ng karapat-dapat na mga kandidato sa darating na presidential elections upang aangat talaga ang progreso natin.

Think right, do right

Jaypee Martin, Metro Manila: To do good and avoid evil. It’s easier said than done, but doing it is a continuing challenge for us to reap good karma in order to have a good life this year.

Noel Navales, Metro Manila: Think right, do right. It works everytime.

Rico Fabello, Parañaque City: Do what you think is right, no matter the circumstance.

Lucas Banzon Madamba II, USA: Just do every good and positive thing that you can do based on God’s will and always pray. Life will surely flow smoothly and nicely.

Rey Onate, Palayan City: Remain good.

Love and trust God

Mark Kevin Santos, Nueva Ecija: Trust God in whatever you do, because He is the one who can tell what is best for us. Above all, we should not forget the blessings that we receive everyday, no matter how small. We should also maintain a healthy lifestyle to prevent diseases.

Ignacio Anacta, Metro Manila: Love and trust God with all your heart, mind, and actions. Then, love your neighbor as you love yourself truly and sincerely, not just to show off! With these, I’ve been having a good life for the past 15 years. It’s “the good life” in the sense that my family and I eat three times daily, we sleep soundly, we pray together, we are contented with what we have, we share what we have, and do what we can to help others! At the end of each day, you feel lucky and blessed!

J.R. Mondonedo Jr., Parañaque City: Books on the good life, good luck charms or practicing idolatry will never give someone a good life. I never believe in the words “good luck”. These are all blessings from God. So don’t spend your time and money acquiring good luck charms, reading your horoscope everyday, practicing idolatry, and consulting fortune tellers. Instead, focus on your relationship with God because good works alone without knowing God will not lead you to a good life and heaven.

Germi Sison, Cabanatuan City: Go back to basics. Observe at all times an unwavering faith in God.

Live and let live

Dennis Montealto, Mandaluyong City: The best way is to live and let live.

Loi Castillo, Davao City: Have a positive outlook in life. Remove all the negative ideas and start moving forward. Alisin na ang pagkamainggitin at pagiging pakialamero. Be contented with what you have and do not impose your ideas on others. Cultural tolerance and respect are the best keys.

Don’t be afraid to fail

Cris Rivera, Rizal: Don’t be afraid of failure. Don’t quit. Don’t stop devising and planning. Move and don’t be a slave of wealth and power, because you’re sure to lose contentment.  

Think positive

Pamela Jasmin Peralta, Ilocos Sur: Have a positive view in life.

Lincoln Alagad Abad, Parañaque City: Live a good life without fear and I assure you, you will have a good life. Fear leads to anger, anger leads to hate.

Teddie Briones, Zamboanga City: Think positive. That’s the best key to ensuring a good life this 2010.

Carlito Pajaro, Quezon City: Think positively, be optimistic of the future, and support the present administration.

Gerii Calupitan, Muntinlupa City: “For whatsoever a man soweth, that he shall also reap.” This is the only tip I can give to everyone. You don’t expect apples from orange trees in RP. Hindi maaring mamunga ng santol ang mangga. Years ago, I projected my ideal GF: A Maryknoll high school student, wears glasses, the eldest daughter, artist, musician, rich and refined. Eleven years later, I met my ex-wife Jo,a dyed-in-the-wool Maryknoller from elementary to college, wore glasses, eldest daughter, an artist, musician, rich, and refined. Each of us charts his or her own course. Yet, God and karma determine our destination, o di ba praktikal lang, Bro. C.B. Manalastas.

Know what you want

Leandro Tolentino, Batangas City: If you know fully well what you want in your life for the whole year or the years ahead, a good life will always await you no matter what.

Save money

Rose Leobrera, Manila: Work harder and always save. Minimize luxuries. When I like something at the department store or at the tiangge I frequent, I ask myself if I really need that thing, or kung ikamamatay ko ba if I don’t get to buy that thing.

Elpidio Que, Vigan: I have to continue tightening my belt, be as frugal as I can be in the light of the deep valley which my two kids and I are in due to the uphill fight for justice I have against an employer. I have to shout out for the great Tiger coming to go on a rampage against the evils in government and business.

Be disciplined

Ricardo Tolentino, Laoag City: Hard work and discipline is the best formula to good life hard work to earn more and discipline to budget what you have earned.

Eufrocino Linsangan, Isabela: What makes a man is his discipline. It can be safely said that behind every success of a man is a disciplined life. He who heeds discipline shows the way to life.

Jim Veneracion, Naga City: We must be thrifty and disciplined. Above all, we must vote out of office PGMA and all her political minions.

Love more

Rowena Remiendo, Makati City: Show your love and care to everyone everyday, not just on special days such as Christmas and New Year.

Stay healthy

Pedro Alagano Sr., Vigan City: If you believe that health is wealth, then stay fit and healthy as an all-time shinning armor to fight all challenges to attain good life.

Manuel Abejero, Pangasinan: Metro Manila is a crowded concrete jungle where the majority of residents are jobless whose idle minds have become the devil’s lair since. I suggest that residents in Metro Manila return to the provinces and evacuate the cesspool that is Metro Manila and live in the provinces closer to nature.

Jeffrey Villar, Capiz: Live a healthy, positive and budget-wise lifestyle.

Prayers help

C.B. Manalastas, Manila: Live with the 3 Es: Energy, enthusiasm and empathy. Take time to pray; when you wake up in the morning, thank God for the entire blessing.

Richard Decena, Quezon City: Mahirap po yata na magkaroon ng good life this 2010 but prayers might help. Never underestimate the power of prayers.

Louella Brown, Baguio City: Be optimistic, live simply, share your blessings with the less fortunate, pray to God always.

Views expressed in this section do not necessarily reflect the editorial position of The STAR. The STAR does not knowingly publish false information and may not be held liable for the views of readers exercising their right to free expression. The publication also reserves the right to edit contributions to this section as it sees fit.

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