Abrigo: Wisdom in choosing porridge

PORRIDGE is among the favorite dishes typically served that is presented in many expressions to add its worth. There is congee (with quail egg or century egg), goto (with ox tripe), the most common arroz caldo (with chicken), and many other presentations.

Porridge at the park: President (Mayor) Rodrigo Roa Duterte is well remembered of his weekdays feeding program at the park in front of Davao city hall every 3 o’clock in the afternoon. It is a continuing service until today from the mayor’s office for everyone who wishes to avail a warm and palatable arroz caldo. The kernel of “lugaw” did not reach to the stomach of the diners without passing through their hearts that leave an impression of Duterte’s compassion to Dabawenyos.

Porridge Investment: The city government of Davao issued a Cease and Desist order last week against a marketing firm in Maa for operating without securing the prerequisites from the Business Bureau. The business appears to be introducing health and wellness products, but later found by the authorities to be operating under a financial scheme that enticed people from all walks of life into a small investment that will grow like porridge at 400 percent for a month.

During my college days, not so long ago, as I could vividly recall, my professor discussed a very functioning principle of investment that “the higher the expected returns, the higher the risk”. That is why, he continued, that educated investors will always consider a new venture on a lesser and calculated risk.

Well, not all that were enticed to join in the porridge investment are business alumni. But it doesn’t require being knowledgeable in all facets of business to evade from being a prey of these capital vultures. The mere promise of astronomically high interest is enough to define its uncertainty.

Many Filipinos easily acceded to a quick money scheme presented to them in many faces, either to satisfy one’s need at the expense of others or mainly because of poverty. The government established many poverty alleviation programs. These programs even if implemented religiously, still may not enough to address the dire need of the growing population. This is the simple cause why majority if not all deceived themselves to sell their parcel of farmland and working livestock; borrow money from the banks and lending institutions and yield their domicile as collaterals; others pledge their payroll and ATM cards if only to amass substantial amount of money to invest in this quick money racket, somehow to offset the family’s demand.

In the end, wisdom is necessary. If you gamble to porridge investment, be ready to wake up a millionaire or eat porridge for life. (Email me at abrigodann@gmail.com)