Kada galaw, buwis

The Bureau of Internal Revenue had issued Revenue Memorandum Circular (RMC) 53-2011 which "states that voluntary contributions to the SSS, GSIS, Pag-IBIG and PhilHealth are subject to tax". 

BIR Commissioner Kim S. Jacinto-Henares would later say, explaining the move, that, “It has been observed that the grant of income tax exemption to SSS, GSIS, PhilHealth, and Pag-IBIG contributions in excess of the mandatory contributions is being abused." Hence, any contribution beyond the mandatory premium dictated by the government shall now be considered as an investment and will be treated as a tax-deductible item.

The affected government institutions were quick to respond to this. Their contention was simply that it will affect them in the form of reduced savings, since pretty much everyone treats voluntary contributions to SSS, GSIS, Philhealth, or GSIS as a way of saving for a rainy day. Taxing these will be a great disincentive.

But Kim Henares' opinion is not unfounded, however. That's because there are shrewd businessmen who know how to work the system by placing their profits in tax-exempt vehicles such as premiums to SSS or Philhealth (Tax Avoidance 101). But I believe they are greatly outnumbered by the many who contribute to these corporations solely because they want to save more and avail of the bigger benefits for those who contribute more.

What is my opinion? Well, I'm against government measures which unavoidably rein in savings (as opposed to those which curb expenses but that's another post). We Filipinos are not saving enough and if we are saving, we are doing it the wrong way (by placing it in a piggy bank, of all places, or the bank, two surefire ways of getting trampled upon by inflation). This new memorandum is simply not good in the long run.

What I do worry about is a case of the slippery slope. If the BIR can tax voluntary contributions to these institutions, what will prevent them from, say, taxing us on other areas? I shudder at the thought but a case of triple or even over-taxation may be closer to reality than we think.

As a side note, I'm being taxed every time I receive my salary (income tax), I'm taxed every time I buy goods (VAT), and now I'll be taxed every time I save more than necessary (RMC 52-2011). I'm definitely overtaxed no matter how I see it.

Strength And Character

Every day, I mention in my prayer that God please help me be a better Christian and, of course, a better person. But I know better.

I ask in my petition that I be stronger, that I be braver. But it's a weak petition, at the most. That's because I know what it takes for someone to possess that kind of indomitable will and character that, in turn, becomes the envy of all men.

A scene in Evan Almighty resonates to what I will try to say. Mrs. Baxter is in a diner with God, masquerading as a fellow customer. God says, " Let me ask you something. If someone prays for patience, you think God gives them patience? Or does he give them the opportunity to be patient? If he prayed for courage, does God give him courage, or does he give him opportunities to be courageous? If someone prayed for the family to be closer, do you think God zaps them with warm fuzzy feelings, or does he give them opportunities to love each other? "

That's what I dread the most. Because for everything that you want to have, God gives you an opportunity to have it, which is definitely not the easy way around. To every person, every inch of personal growth gained comes with its inevitable sidekick: pain. Strength and character are qualities which are not given; they are forged, embedded into a person's identity by sheer fire and adversity. They are forged in the countless encounters in a person's life, particularly those encounters which are inconvenient (euphemistically speaking). Oftentimes, such encounters take various forms: the death of a beloved friend or a family member, financial difficulty, conflicts, or bad luck, none of which are remotely nice.

So that's my dilemma. I pray for strength; I pray for character. But at the same I am afraid of the crucible I have to endure to get what I asked and prayed for.

Belfry

This is a hubris project, I tell you.

My parish is witnessing the construction of a bell tower which will be finished most probably by early next year. 

As to why it needs a bell tower, I don't know. Perhaps, what they will set up in that tower is not a bell after all but a loud boom box, similar to those mosques, where they have speakers attached to towers to transmit their daily prayers.

But my opinion hasn't changed. This belfry project is a hubris project, just as my parish didn't need 10-foot walls when all it needed were tighter locks on its water faucets against squatters who enjoyed free water from its taps.

Hacienda Luisita

Owners should give up the land and distribute it to the workers who actually till the land.

The beneficiaries, the farmers, should pay the government its due so the entire country can be exempt from the expenses incurred for acquiring the plantation from the Cojuangcos. There should be no free lunch even for a case like this.

There. That sums up my opinion about Hacienda Luisita. As if anyone cared.

Piolo

Piolo and KC broke up.

What do I have to say to my namesake (because Paolo and Piolo are quite near actually)?

Well...here goes:

You let KC CONCEPCION go?

What kind of jerk are you? What kind of idiot would break KC Concepcion's heart?

Are you freakin' gay (Sorry, rhetorical question. Just can't resist.)?

WHO DO YOU THINK YOU ARE?

Then, he would probably answer back: "Who do I think I am? I'm PIOLO PASCUAL. Duh."