Four years ago while building my house on the mountain in Bataan, my wife told me she wanted to add a Sari-sari store to the front of the property. Instead of a flat "HELL NO", I thought I'd counter this request with logic. First I counted the stores within close proximity to my house. The first one being 15 feet away, the 9 others within a 3-minute walk, with 4 of them closed due to bankruptcy. Then I played the "Mahal Card", explaining that now that I'm fully retired I wanted to spend all my time with my Mahal. That her running out the door every 5 minutes to sell a fifty centavo piece of candy was not my idea of fun retirement. Also I explained that it was not cash rich environment, you know how it goes, "a peso down, and the chase is on". More than likely why the four others went bankrupt. Follow the advice printed on all U.S. Bills. "In God we trust", everyone else, pays cash! The 7-11 Store's have no credit plan, and are doing quite well!

On the subject of Seven-Eleven Store's, have you ever seen one under construction, or did you just drive by one day and it was there? Did they bring the building in on a truck and hook it up over night? You never thought about that, did you? Well now I'll answer the question that I know you want to ask, "Did she build the damn Sari-sari Store?" "No, once in awhile we win!" Just don't try to make a habit out of winning, or you will fail. She's thinking about a Hi-Ace Van to rent out! Now that's an original idea I can live with! I guess after twenty-one years as a Ship's Serviceman in the Navy, dealing with dependents, I'm not in a hurry to deal with customers again. "The customer is always right!" I don't think so!