OFWs And Taxes

I had an interesting conversation about OFWs and taxes earlier this week. 

My colleague and I were visiting a government agency for a sales call and became the recipients of a colorful and passionate monologue from their head.

The topic revolved around whether or not the income of OFWs are to be taxed. 

The head posited the question of fairness. Local workers and overseas workers essentially do the same tasks. The only difference is that the former pay taxes and the latter do not. The irony is that remedies, legal or otherwise, to address the issues faced by our OFWs cost money. The money is borne by taxpayers in the Philippines. Simply put, taxpayers are covering the costs - from blood money, travel expenses, bridge financing schemes, and livelihood grants - incurred by workers who are not paying their corresponding dues.

He rebutted the presumption that the exemption is acceptable in the light of the heavy flow of remittances from abroad. In this case, it's not the government which readily benefits but the businesses, schools, travel agencies, and shopping malls which profit from the purchases of the family receiving the remittances. 

On the other hand though, the BIR has its reason for the exemption. There's the issue of possible double taxation since OFWs are presumed to have paid taxes already in their country of work. Though double taxation is not prohibited per se, still, the agency operates under the rule of tax reciprocity which states that:

With the tax reciprocity rule, Filipinos working abroad are taxed for incomes received there and are exempt from paying income taxes in the Philippines, in the same way that foreigners working in the Philippines are taxed here for incomes sourced within the Philippines and are also not required to pay income taxes anymore to their home country.

To be honest, I don't have my own opinion on this one. I don't even want to judge which side is more correct (owing to my relative ignorance of the subject matter).

How about you? Are OFWs to be taxed?

Mark Of The Devil

Gross.

Actually, it's not a wart or an infection. It's a result of my arnis session last Saturday. It's a cross between a callus and trapped blood. 

In other words, I had a wound that bled underneath a toughened patch of skin. The blood couldn't escape so it stayed there and gave the patch its dark red-brown tinge.

I also had this when I was in college and it took me almost two years after I stopped learning arnis for the patch to go away. 

It does look better in real life, though. Still, I think I won't be showing my palm to anyone soon.

The Day Of Nothing

The Americans have this peculiar, if somewhat obscure, holiday when everyone is encouraged to do nothing. According to Wikipedia:

National Nothing Day is an "un-event" proposed in 1972 by columnist Harold Pullman Coffin and observed annually on January 16 since 1973, when it was added to Chase's Calendar of Events. Its purpose is to provide Americans with one National day when they can just sit without celebrating, observing or honoring anything.

Again, it's somewhat odd but it highlights one feature of modern life that has become pervasive to a fault: we're all too busy doing something. It has reached a point when we instead feel guilty when we haven't done anything "productive" for the day. When we take a leave from work, it has to be because we are going to do something or go somewhere.

The day of nothing aims to rectify that. It encourages us to be lazy, complacent, to waste time. But that's not its only point. I believe it encourages us to be more introspective, to reflect on where we are in our respective lives. Inactivity pushes us to be more mindful, to put everything that we do in perspective, to retreat in order to come back strong.

I guess the Buddhists are onto something: that in doing nothing, something is made. Someone is instead reborn.

Diego

This is Diego Llorico, a segment producer for one of the country's leading comedy shows, Bubble Gang. 

He is better known, however, as Diego, a gay social outcast who is, literally, the butt of jokes. He is often depicted as ugly yet ignorant of this fact (though his skin is relatively flawless compared to people suffering from acne). He is the character whose job is to accept the harsh, homophobic, and sexist jokes of the show.

It is fascinating how such a character was conceptualized and how Diego managed to endure well into the show's second decade on television. Perhaps, a study ought to be conducted on how the country's collective psyche has spawned such a character and how Diego has influenced society as well. 

For all of Diego's misplaced confidence in himself and his beauty, he is portrayed oftentimes as the victim, a beacon attracting harassment and discrimination from those around him. For all the contempt that is showered on him, he takes it in stride. There's no redemption for Diego as the camera rolls again for another scene. 

It is equally fascinating how the show's producers have made us laugh while watching Diego get bullied. It is probably because we cannot empathize easily with Diego, a homosexual with a "homely" face. As earlier mentioned, he is an outcast, deliberately left outside of our circles, one who we cannot identify with, let alone defend.

Then again, perhaps we'll grow old and see Diego for what he really is. Maybe then, the jokes won't be as funny anymore as we begin to be more critical. By then, we'll be left admitting that the joke was really on us.

Revisiting Arnis...Again

I wrote about coming back to practice arnis after a year-long hiatus. That one-year respite eventually turned to four years.

Last night, I did finally muster the enthusiasm to wield a stick again. Earlier last week, Nino Ortonio, a classmate and one of the wisest guys I know, invited me back to practice. That, and because I was free Saturday night, finally made me go.

The new gym of the MK is the YMCA gym. It is stifling hot and humid. But there's space to spar and a wall-to-wall mirror as well.

The newly-minted instructor is Dennis, one of my batch mates during my Level 2 Exam back in 2008. Seeing him instruct us, I couldn't help but imagine what I would have become if I had stuck around a bit longer, if my right shoulder didn't hyper-extend itself and made me more hesitant.

Right now, I'm still trying to master the basics. Nino did a good job reviewing me on the bigay-tama, palis-palis, defense application, and so on. My target is to catch up with the rest for the Level 2 Exam next month. Good luck to me.

Kali!

Anti-Epal Giving

“Be careful not to practice your righteousness in front of others to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven.

“So when you give to the needy, do not announce it with trumpets, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets, to be honored by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving may be in secret. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you."

- Matthew 6:1-4

Several days ago, I visited Facebook again (to change my profile picture) and was browsing through my news feed. As usual, right after Yolanda, almost everything was about solicitations for cash donations and relief goods. I was impressed that, this time, there were many options to choose from on how to help.

Others also posted pictures or notes of themselves helping out in giving, repacking, and otherwise spending their time prepping relief goods for delivery. Others posted prominent politicians in the act of doing a photo ops session: handing out a check to a relief organization  or a package to another victim. While nothing can be done to de-politicize the latter (as you know, most politicians cannot be shamed into dropping the epal act such as Binay, Roxas, Marcos et. al.), I have something to say about the former.

The formal definition of epal points to one who likes to always be in the scene or be given attention in things that don't concern them.

But being an epal is not confined to politicians but can extend to those in the private sector. Epal also points to people who make a show of their generosity. Simply put, one is also an epal if one gives not solely to give but to get attention or compliments from others.  The Gospel, fortunately, has something to say about this.

In this time, the look-at-me generation, such epal-ing often takes place in our online social networks, where the purity of one's intention to help is sullied or questioned by one's act of posting notices of their generosity online. So the end result is that you have these tweets, status updates, and selfies of people doing humanitarian work, all of which are catered to solicit as many likes and comments as possible. That brings the term "attention whore" to a whole new level by adding a bit of "charity" to a rather narcissistic (not to mention pedestrian) act.

Am I discouraging such brazen acts of self-promotion? Of course, not. This isn't my business. Besides, if tweeting that you're helping the poor gets someone to help as well, that's good. 

It's just that we've somehow twisted the act of giving to revolve around us instead of around others. We've succeeded to make our generosity glorify us instead of glorifying the One who blessed us so that we can give. 

Happy Sunday everyone.

Time To Run For Congress

Hooray! The pork barrel has been slain!

In a landmark decision that could spell the end of political patronage, the Supreme Court on Tuesday declared unconstitutional past and present congressional pork barrel laws as it ordered the criminal prosecution of individuals who had benefited from the schemes over the past two decades.

- Philippine Daily Inquirer, November 20, 2013

Of course, we still have to be vigilant lest our notoriously crafty congressmen and senators find a way to circumvent the judgment. But still, this is quite a victory and it affirms what the rest of the Filipino people know about the pork barrel. 

I've always been impressed about the US electoral system (despite its shortcomings), where an ordinary school teacher can run for Congress and have a decent shot at winning a seat. Without the pork barrel, the same thing can happen to us.

First, without the incentive offered by the pork barrel, many of our current elected officials will lose the motivation (not to mention the financial means) of running for a post. The void will be filled by those whose hearts are more sincere.

Second, this decision levels the playing field. Without the pork barrel, candidates are forced to win votes not through buying them but by actually marketing their capabilities to a hopefully more discerning public.

Third, without the pork barrel, political dynasties can now be readily toppled in favor of a more democratic arena. Without the cash cow, most dynasties cannot expect to fund their campaigns come election time.

This is a very exciting time in Philippine politics and I'm so glad to have been a witness to this momentous event in our history.

Pause

Last Tuesday was the last day of enrollment for the second semester of UM's law school.

I didn't enroll. 

Lest you assume the worst, my grades were okay and I wasn't kicked out. I just thought that I had to take a break to focus on some other things more important than schooling.

They say that law school is a jealous girlfriend and they're right. It takes too much of one's time. My mistake last semester was that I took on quite a load of subjects despite knowing that I was going to find a job soon. True enough, by the time August rolled on, I was adjusting to my new company while studying like a full-time law student. It was crazy.

My press release to my friends and classmates was that I was burned out and that I had something else to do that required more time. Allow me to explain myself:

1.) Burned out - I've said the reason why. What many people don't know was that I was on probationary status last semester for not getting a Quality Point Index (QPI) of 80 during the second semester of my first year (I blame my teachers who rarely show up in class). The pressure was on and it was the first time in my academic life that I was staring down the barrel of failure. 

2.) Something else to do - There are several items on my to-do list that require my attention. First, I need to focus on my career and where I am going. Second, I need to sell that food cart that's languishing in the garage. Third, I need to start work on my idea of selling Jopoy's Hopia (more on this later). Fourth, I need to write that freakin' leaflet that's been in the back of my mind since 2009. Fifth, I need to build my networks and start mingling more frequently with my friends.   

Sir Jerson and Pastor Ace had cautioned me that most people leave law school and never come back. Without the necessary momentum, people put off going back until they never do.

I hope that doesn't happen to me. I am still very much interested in becoming a lawyer someday. There are just some wrinkles in my personal life that I need to iron out first. 

Besides, what's the rush?

Generosity

I'm a Catholic so the concept of tithing struck me first as odd. 

Tithing, according to Wikipedia, is the voluntary giving of one-tenth of your income to either the church or to charity.

The first encounter I had with this practice was when my parents told me about it. As members of the Couples For Christ, a Catholic lay organization, they practiced this. As for me, I went by the dictum that I am only obligated to give according to what my conscience dictates. Most of the time, my conscience dictated that I be charitable to myself.

I did improve over time, eventually resolving to give at least Php 100.00 every time I go to mass. But still, since I've started working, giving one-tenth of my pay is something I only think about. 

Last Friday, during a prayer meeting with the Lingkod Ng Panginoon community, we had a talk about Christian giving. It was probably apt considering the recent havoc created by the typhoon Yolanda and the accompanying call for material relief. In the talk, our speaker mentioned tithes (which are also known, in other cases, as pledges, love offerings, etc.). The sharers in turn talked about how generosity begets more generosity from God (The classic incentive to giving which I frown upon. Simply put, you don't give simply because you want to receive more in return. That's narcissistic motivation, not Christian charity).

What did touch me with that talk was the mention of Catholic couples who adhere strictly to this practice despite the many priorities that hound their paychecks. The question there was: if they can do it, why can't I? 

I may be responding to the call for tithes in the wrong way but now I'm challenged to start practicing it. Basically, I'm doing it because I want to prove that, hey, I can be prudent enough in managing my finances so that I can give tithes and be more generous. 

Perhaps, by doing so, I'll be a better Christian and learn another thing or two about my faith.

Paano Kantahin Ang Lupang Hinirang

Salamat kay Nathan sa pagpabahagi nito.
Tanong: Tumindig ka ba at nilagay ang kamay sa dibdib noong ikinanta na?

Going Cashless

Homeless beggars in Sweden now sell magazines by accepting credit card payments instead of spare change. 

Amazing.

Back in my high school days, I ran across a magazine article depicting the future of monetary transactions. The author boldly proclaimed the coming of the cashless society. It was pure science fiction if it weren't for the fact that the technologies he mentioned were already existing.

He talked about more comprehensive online bank transactions, cellphones being used as alternative e-wallets (people could just swipe them at machines to pay their bills), the demise of the checking account, the rise of better debit cards so you won't have to look for loose change, the ubiquity of handheld terminals among vendors to facilitate electronic purchases, and the like.

It was a fascinating read but, for a resident of the Philippines, it was still quite far-fetched. I mean, can you really expect a mango vendor to sport a nifty gadget that accepts ATM or credit card payments?

Still, it's nice to dream. Moreover, Sweden has shown us that such a cashless society is now their reality.

Graffiti

Found on the wall of an abandoned building near San Pedro Street, Davao City:

Beginning Of The End

Yolanda has come and gone. In its wake lies havoc and death.

This is the beginning of the end. The fury of nature is soon to be felt. The consequence of our disregard of our environment is upon us.

In the next couple of years, storms will be stronger and deadlier. Death tolls will be higher. More infrastructure will be destroyed. Still, our government will be reacting to these disasters the best way they know: sound the alarm, brace for the worst, provide relief in the aftermath.

Nowhere found in that response is a creative and ambitious solution aimed at mitigating the risks and alleviating damage. I'm talking about massive infrastructure projects to hold out the sea, relocation plans for coastal cities, more stringent building codes to withstand super typhoon winds, more resistant farm architecture, better food security practices, and the stuff.

Worldwide, talks among nations on how to deal with climate change has devolved from prevention to adaptation. Our leaders are resigned to the fact that, despite our technology, we cannot avert the effects of global warming, that the best way to respond is to adjust. 

Earlier this year, Mayor Bloomberg of New York City has unveiled an initiative to make the city more resilient to climate change. 

Filipinos are also known for resilience, to rise up when adversity beats us down. But human spirit can only go so far. 

When it fails, we will look up to our elected leaders for a way out only to find that they are as bewildered as us. I hate to be the pessimist but when the days come, our incompetence and greed will be our undoing.

Skyscraper Of The Future

There's the news about a new skyscraper in Korea which claims to be nearly invisible once completed, thanks to nifty cameras and projectors.

I, for one, sense the growing trend towards making monolithic towers less imposing and more discreet. In fact, I predict that the next generation of skyscrapers is going to look like this:

My thanks to this site for the picture

That's a mountain. And yes, our buildings are going to like these: giant mounds supporting dense foliage and trees with numerous residential or commercial cells clustered underneath. As we march towards a tomorrow of scarcer resources and higher energy costs, we're going to look to nature for inspiration. 

None of the glitzy steel and glass towers we have now will be any good in that future. Instead, in our cities will rise man-made structures mimicking our forest's ability to control climate. Materials will now include self-healing structures capable of growing and adapting to stresses and changes in displacement. Our buildings will work with the environment instead of imposing their will against the latter.

By then, mankind will know how to live with nature again.

Pretty cool, right?

No One's Bad At Math...Unless They Say So Themselves

When I was young, I never thought I wasn't good at math. Sure, I said that math is not my strongest suit. But that was it. I could do math but I couldn't grasp the concepts as fast as the other guys. 

This Atlantic article shows a truth which debunks the myth that math is only for those born with genetic ability. One excerpt follows:

So why do we focus on math? For one thing, math skills are increasingly important for getting good jobs these days—so believing you can’t learn math is especially self-destructive. But we also believe that math is the area where America’s “fallacy of inborn ability” is the most entrenched. Math is the great mental bogeyman of an unconfident America. If we can convince you that anyone can learn math, it should be a short step to convincing you that you can learn just about anything, if you work hard enough.

The article goes on to explain that teaching math to youngsters is one part of the challenge. The other, and more crucial part, is convincing them to adopt the right mindset, to believe that no one is "born dumb" and that anyone can master the subject through sheer hard work.

I guess one flaw in my generation's education was that many of us went to Math class with varying degrees of preparedness and the teacher couldn't or didn't account for this. Some excelled while others inevitably wallowed in self-pity, assuming the convenient excuse that one's weak in Math. 

Hope the article by Miles Kimball and Noah Smith, The Myth of 'I'm Bad at Math', changes this perception.

Electric Cigarettes

Actually, I was thinking twice of writing this post. 

It probably appears that I'm promoting smoking. On the contrary, I want smokers to actively seek out electric cigarettes so they can quit this vice.

My first sight of an electric cigarette was when Sir Harold, one of my officers, brandished his own during a car ride. I was initially perplexed at the vapors but I couldn't smell anything except a faint scent reminiscent of the smoke produced by a fog machine. 

He shared that he switched because electric cigarettes were "healthier": no smoke, no tar, no fumes. Also, he didn't smell dirty afterwards and he could "smoke" in the confines of his car.

What interested me though is that the nicotine content in the cigarette can be calibrated so that anyone interested in quitting the habit can do so by gradually tapering off the nicotine levels over several weeks. One can lower the nicotine content of his electric cigarette every other day so the act of kicking the habit isn't so jarring and upfront.

Compare that to others who go cold turkey immediately and you'll appreciate why electric cigarettes offer a distinct advantage in quitting permanently.

Halo-halo Sa Digos

Sorry don't have a picture.

Earlier this week, I had another encounter with Digos City's local variety of the Filipino dessert: Halo-halo. I had one in the bus terminal and the Halo-halo served struck me as weird.

It had the common ingredients: shaved ice, ice cream, kaong (sugar palm), nata de coco, sweetened banana, sugar, beans, and evaporated milk. What differentiated the serving though was the addition of cookies and peanuts, which added to the texture but unfortunately didn't sit well with my taste buds.

Anyways, if that's how the local people like their Halo-halo, who am I to judge?