The headache begins the moment the dashboard lights up like a cheap Christmas tree on a random weekday morning. A car, once owned, stops being a convenience and becomes a dependent with expensive needs. From that point on, it quietly but steadily drains both money and patience.

I learned early that buying an old model to save money is a bargain only on paper. Older cars come with history—wear, fatigue, and parts already living on borrowed time. Fixing one problem never ends the trouble; it merely invites the next. Replace a worn belt, and a sensor fails. Repair the suspension, and the radiator suddenly demands attention. The garage becomes a second home, and the mechanic starts greeting you by first name.

What makes it worse is the price of parts. Spare parts are not just expensive; they are unpredictable in price. Some are readily available, others are not, and when they are not, the wait begins—days, sometimes weeks—along with shipping fees that quietly mock the original idea of “saving.” Every repair comes with the unspoken threat that something else may give way before the week ends.

Then there are the consumables, the silent spenders that never stop asking for money. Fuel prices rise without warning. Engine oil needs changing whether you like it or not. Coolant, brake fluid, and power steering fluid—each one sounds harmless until added together. Individually manageable, collectively exhausting, they turn car ownership into a monthly subscription you never agreed to renew.

Maintenance neglect is not an option either. Skip servicing to save money, and the car punishes you later with interest. A neglected oil change can snowball into engine damage. Bald tires do not just look ugly; they flirt with disaster. The car demands discipline, and any lapse is paid for in cash.

And then comes registration season, a ritual many motorists dread. Smoke testing, insurance, inspections, and fees—all must be settled before the car is allowed to exist legally on the road. The process consumes time, energy, and money, often in long lines and hot waiting areas. It is a reminder that owning a car is not just a mechanical responsibility, but a bureaucratic endurance.

Buying a brand-new car only postpones the pain. Yes, the early years are kinder—fewer repairs, fewer breakdowns—but the price paid upfront is heavy. Once the warranty fades and the mileage climbs, the same story resumes, only now with parts that are even more expensive and systems that are far more complex. The relief is temporary; the commitment is permanent.

After all this, the question is no longer whether a car is useful, but whether it is worth the cost it quietly demands over time. Perhaps the wiser path is not blind ownership, but deliberate restraint—owning only when truly necessary, maintaining without illusion, and accepting that a car is not freedom on four wheels, but a responsibility that never stops collecting dues.

Women entrepreneurs face numerous challenges and barriers that can hinder their success. These obstacles range from financial constraints and gender bias to societal expectations and work-life balance issues. Understanding these challenges is crucial for creating a more equitable and supportive ecosystem for women in business.

Access to Funding

One of the most significant barriers for women entrepreneurs is limited access to funding. Studies show that women-led startups receive a disproportionately small percentage of venture capital funding compared to their male counterparts. This disparity can be attributed to several factors, including investor bias, lack of access to influential networks, and higher expectations for proof of concept.

To address this funding gap, many women entrepreneurs turn to alternative funding sources such as crowdfunding platforms. Additionally, policy initiatives and advocacy groups are working to promote more equitable funding practices and increase the representation of women in venture capital firms.

Gender Bias

Gender bias in the entrepreneurial ecosystem manifests in various forms, affecting how women entrepreneurs are perceived and treated. Studies have shown that investors often ask women entrepreneurs risk-focused questions, while posing questions about potential gains to men. This can lead to women being underestimated and their successes attributed to luck rather than skill.

Overcoming gender bias requires a shift in mindset and a commitment to creating a more inclusive and equitable environment. This includes challenging stereotypes, promoting diversity in decision-making roles, and providing equal opportunities for women to showcase their talents and ideas.

Work-Life Balance

Many women entrepreneurs face significant challenges in balancing work and family responsibilities. Societal norms often place a disproportionate share of domestic responsibilities on women, making it difficult for them to dedicate the time and energy needed to grow their businesses.

To address this challenge, it is crucial to promote policies and practices that support work-life balance, such as flexible work arrangements, affordable childcare, and parental leave. Additionally, organizations can create supportive communities and networks that provide women entrepreneurs with the resources and encouragement they need to thrive.

Social and Cultural Barriers

In many cultures, women entrepreneurs face social and cultural barriers that limit their opportunities and potential. These barriers may include societal expectations that prioritize family over career, limited access to networks and mentors, and discriminatory practices that undermine their credibility and competence.

Overcoming these barriers requires challenging traditional norms, promoting gender equality, and creating supportive ecosystems that empower women to pursue their entrepreneurial aspirations. This includes providing access to education, training, and resources, as well as fostering a culture of inclusivity and respect.

Lack of Networking Opportunities

Networking is crucial for business success, yet women often encounter barriers to entering these circles. The predominance of male-led investor networks can limit opportunities for women to secure funding and mentorship. Traditional networking events may not always be welcoming or accessible to women, particularly those with family responsibilities.

Conclusion

Addressing the challenges and barriers faced by women entrepreneurs requires a multifaceted approach that involves individuals, organizations, and policymakers. By promoting gender equality, challenging stereotypes, and creating supportive ecosystems, we can empower women to thrive in the world of business and contribute to economic growth and innovation.

This initiative seeks not to elevate women to an unrealistic pedestal, but rather to ensure recognition of their inherent worth and valuable contributions. The ultimate goal is to foster an environment of inclusivity, where the diverse talents of both men and women are embraced and leveraged to collaboratively improve the world.
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If you have any questions or would like to share your thoughts on the column, feel free to send an email to jca.bblueprint@gmail.com. Looking forward to connecting with you!

THAT wonderful event of the Transfiguration of the Lord (cfr. Mt 17,1-9) should make us understand that like Christ we too are meant to be transfigured into the supernatural life with God. That is what God wants for us. Toward that end, God has given us everything, Christ himself, so we can be what he wants us to be.

We therefore should try our best to develop a sense of the sublime and the supernatural while still immersed here in the things of this world. We are meant for a supernatural life. Our human nature, with our spiritual soul that enables us to know and to love, and therefore to enter into the lives not only of others but also and most importantly, of God, urges us to develop a supernatural life.

Our life is a life with God always. It just cannot be exclusively our own life, taken personally or collectively. It’s a life that depends mainly on God who gives us the grace that purifies and elevates our life to his life. But it also depends on us, on our freedom to correspond to this loving will of God for us.

We have to develop a taste and even an appetite for the supernatural life with God and of things supernatural in general. In this we have to help one another, because in the end, this is our common ultimate end in life—how to live our life with God, how we can be immersed in God even as we are immersed also in the things of the world.

To be sure, developing the sense of the supernatural and the sublime is not a baseless and gratuitous exercise. It is what God wants us to have, since we truly are children of his. It is not our invention. It is, first of all, his will for us to which we have to correspond.

We should not feel uneasy about this truth, because on the part of God, he will do everything to make what he wants of us to be fully realized. All we have to do is simply to go along with his will and ways as far as we can.

This sense of the supernatural and the sublime will do us a lot of good. Even psychologically speaking, it is a tremendous help. Imagine the calm, serenity and confidence it can give us! Imagine the joy it provides us even as we go through the drama of our earthly life that is often described as a vale of tears.

But the good that it gives us far exceeds what it does to our psychological self. It is what shapes us into God’s children, sharers of his life and nature. It is a clear mark that our faith, hope and charity are strong and working. In short, that our spiritual life is healthy despite, and also because of, all the trials and challenges we will be facing in this life.

We should develop this sense of the supernatural and the sublime by often reminding ourselves of who we really are. That way, we would somehow be in a state of awe and amazement. We would somehow feel reassured that despite our limitations, weaknesses, failures and even sins, there is always hope to attain our original and ultimate dignity because God will always be on our side. We just have to put ourselves in his side too.

Perhaps as a concrete way of developing and keeping this sense of the sublime and the supernatural, we should cultivate the practice of thinking that we are entering heaven to be with God when we end the day and have our rest.

“An tawo nga ginugutom, diri interesado hin mga diskurso!.”
(A person without food cannot listen to rhetorics.)

A country burdened with poverty, inequality, and social challenges must not allow itself to be distracted by the noise of high-profile trials. While justice is essential, governance and service to the people cannot be placed on pause. The International Criminal Court is tasked to handle the legal process; our nation’s leaders and citizens must continue the work of building livelihoods, strengthening social welfare, and ensuring progress.

In Waray, there is a saying: An Tawon ga ginugutom, diri interesado hin mga diskurso! (A person without food cannot listen to justice.) This reminds us that while accountability is important, hunger and poverty demand immediate attention. The courts will deliberate on the case, but the government must feed its people, educate its youth, and protect its workers.

Similarly, in Tagalog we say: “Habang may buhay, may pag-asa.” (As long as there is life, there is hope.) This hope is nurtured not in courtrooms but in farms, factories, schools, and communities. The trial must not paralyze the nation’s resolve to provide opportunities and dignity to its citizens.

The noise of politics and trials can easily drown out the cries of the poor. Yet, the true measure of a nation is not only in how it pursues justice but also in how it sustains its people. “An bista han kaso, para han korte; an panginabuhi, para han katawhan.” (Justice belongs to the court; life belongs to the people.) This balance is crucial: let the judges weigh evidence, while the nation continues to sow seeds of progress.

In the end, the path forward is clear. The trial will run its course, but the country must not falter in its duty to serve. Justice and livelihood are not enemies; they are parallel pursuits. By allowing the court to handle the case and focusing our collective energy on welfare and development, we honor both the rule of law and the dignity of life, in Waray it also declares may mga bout naman ini hira!.