Text to win SMS promo- win a BMW luxury car

If an offer is too good to be true then think again.   I’ve heard that warning from my mom over and and over again just so we will be cautious not to join the sad fate of countless victims of fraud and scams via cheap promotional gimmicks and tricks of enterprising companies that promises grand prizes.

Actually, I don’t worry much about it because how would I, if I never ever bought any single raffle ticket or fill up any contest coupon.  With all the efforts I’ve been doing to avoid getting into trouble, I hope too that my mom is also keeping her distance.

But wait!  Just the other day, was it mom whom  I’ve heard excitedly telling me that she is somehow convinced that not all promotional contest are “bogus”.  She swear that she witnessed it herself that indeed there are real winners contrary to our suspicions that fictitious names or ghost winners are announced and declared.  Because it happened to her friend (sorry, I forget the name because out of excitement she was mumbling the name) who won a BMW luxury car.   A mobile company launched a text to win contest  sometime last year and millions of text messages were sent to mobile phones with questions and answer type messages.  From what I heard, a correct answer will earn you thousand of points and it depends on how enthusiastic you are to respond to questions sent to you, the more you text back the higher chance you have to land to the top place.  And who would not get enticed to continue further when a BMW car is at stake?  That’s how I understand how mom’s friend won.  He texted for every SMS sent his way, collected millions of points and landed in the top 10 potential grand prize winner.

Oh! I remember now, the name is  Julius… .. Julius’s name was randomly picked during last week’s raffle draw  from among the top 10 contenders and he was surprised to received a call from mobile company instructing him  go to the head office with all pertinent documents.  So, it is really true… Text to win really produces winners!

Julius who up to the last minute is like  a “doubting Thomas” with mixed emotions, sought the help of my dad and mom to accompany him to the mobile company to check the authenticity of the call.   They came face to face with that BMW in the showroom and how they marveled on it’s grand looks.   The ever humble Julius somehow admitted his personality will not fit into driving the car and opted to just get it’s cash equivalent.  Mom said they can’t blame Julius because he never had driven a car yet, no license and painfully shy.    He was also worried that with that luxury, it would mean trouble for him and will even cause his life… He just wanted to live as simple as he can be, he already got used to riding public buses and not to be the envy of anyone.

Actually, it is a hush-hush thing (but mom told me anyway).  He wanted to be safe than sorry and we understand.  Processing will still  take few days and Julius will soon be grinning ear to ear on his way to the bank…

Come to think of it.. if we have NO MONEY.. WE WORRY and we also WORRY IF WE HAVE MORE MONEY…  So let us not worry- let us just be happy….  Our turn will eventually come if it meant to be… but for now.. let us be contented with what we have .  Money isn’t everything!

this is the model of the car Julius won.. (photo taken by Mom).. intentionally cropped because the shy Julius doesn’t like to have his picture taken.  Lol.. I guess he is worried that he might get kidnapped… (*wink*)

Best things in life are free!

It is heartwarming to note that in this modern world that people crazily hunger for things, possessions, money even  love for a price and yet there are still services and things that are given for free.

As a student dependent on allowances sent by my parents, I have to penny pinch and mastered the art of budgeting.  I had also had known my needs from my wants.  Thanks to my Mom who taught me how to save to buy something at a later time bysetting aside money every week.  That is why, finally last week when I was able to buy the latest cellphone I’ve been eyeing since December, I can ‘t help but be proud of myself.   I was sure glad that there are available  free iphone apps download that certainly had saved me from hurting my budget for the month and I was ecstatic on many apps downloads like the Anti virus which I installed right away to protect my mobile phone from viruses.   I  also wasted no time downloading free available online games which are exciting  and I had shared too with my youngest brother.   Well, need I brag about my gadget which is now complete with applications?

Indeed, I am a money smart person and resourceful at that!

ipod touch 8g

I salute my sister who lost her Samsung Galaxy S to a robbery hold up last month because she did not demand our Mom and Dad to replace it at once.  Instead she stretched her patience in using her old, worn  out cellphone and she is apparently happy because nobody would dare took interest in snatching it.

The saying that “Patience is a virtue”  holds true because it is proven that  when you wait you will receive.  I knew it! Knowing the generosity of my mom’s heart, I am not surprised at all when last night, she secretly told me over the phone that she is going to send over a Christmas gift for my sister which is an ipod touch 8g for her to start with.  And I am sure she will be doubly excited!

We know that most overseas parents fill the gap of the distance by richly providing their children with the latest gadgets and fat allowances which sometimes to a fault.   Gladly, me and my siblings know how to treasure all their hard work overseas.

NO cellphone days status!

I woke up at 7:00 am today,  sluggish and with  initial onset of headache.  I admit it was because I was up till the wee hours again and slept at 2:00 am.   I hate the feeling  but I hated it even more when my sister came home crying unabashedly.  She narrated  that  she was “held up” after alighting from the LRT (Light Railway Train) and two men followed and poked an icepick on her side.   They demanded for her Samsung Galaxy S cellphone which those lawless men spotted when somebody called my sister while inside  the train.   Thankfully, she was not hurt at all but it left her traumatized because of that experience.

Her cellphone was a gift from our Dad last June and barely 4 months it was gone.  It was to replace the cellphone which was stolen while on a swimming get together with her High School friends.   Mom and Dad told us that in situations like hold -up, we should just hand what is demanded and not to  resist at all.   Afterall, material things can be replaced.

So what a day today… my headache worsens.  Right now, my poor sister is sleeping her aches away  andwhen she wakes up, she will be facing the sad truth that it will be  ”no cellphone days” for her.   I don’t know for how long… depends if dad or mom will send a new one…

For those men.. bless your souls.. repent… it’s never too late…

my sister- no “cellphone days” status

this Nokia music phone was stolen too!