Open Letter To Mama

Dear Ma,

I remember joking around before that it's hard for me to find a girlfriend when you yourself have set a pretty high bar.

To be honest, I'll always be the first to say that my mother is the most beautiful woman in the world, despite the wrinkles and warts. It's corny, yes, but it's also the truth. The way you've inspired the people around you continues to dazzle me. The way you've lived your life erases all your flaws.

I hope you know and, more importantly, feel that I love you. You know our family is really not into hugging and kissing but I hope that the way I've lived my life so far has brought you joy and pride. I guess the best way I could ever show my love is by being a good son and proving to everyone that you've raised me well.

I'm writing this letter because I may regret not doing so. Back in college, Atty. Baldovino had lamented how students would only remember thanking their teachers several years or even decades after graduation. The problem is compounded between children and parents because the rigors of daily life makes it hard for one to step back and sincerely say "Thank you" and "I love you".

So Ma, I love you and salamat. Thank you for being a mother to me.

Your son,
Paolo

She's probably saying "Istoryahe" right now. Hehe.

A Sense Of Foreboding

I don't know what's wrong with me.

Recently, I've been preoccupied with death, as if my time has come and I'm about to die anytime soon. Strangely though, the feeling isn't one of fear but of grudging acceptance.

There are many things that I still want to do with my life. Somehow, this feeling of death is giving a bit more urgency to how I deal with my everyday affairs.

I don't know how long this will last though but I'm praying it won't stop. Ironically, this uncomfortably normal feeling is pushing me to live again. Finally.

Ig-ani diay pag emo. Ewww.

A Heartwarming Ad

Just when you thought commercials have gone stale, Coca Cola pulls out something like this. It's an ad campaign, featuring the company bringing home a select group of OFWs in time for Christmas. It really tugs at the heart, making the commercial even more notable. Made my eyes water for a second. Here it is:

But let's not lose sight of the larger picture. The OFW phenomenon is a recent one, borne out of a stagnating domestic job market. An entire nation of Filipinos working abroad need not suffer loneliness and separation from their families if the country can figure out how to generate high-income jobs here. I hope I can live long enough to see this come true.

For the meantime, enjoy the video.

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.