Income Tax. Outcome Zilch.

In the Philippines, employees enjoy the convenience of having their income taxes automatically deducted from their pay. Their employers have the responsibility of filing and remitting these taxes to the Bureau of Internal Revenue. However, business owners and practicing professionals file their own taxes. 

I have been a corporate slave for as long as I can remember and I did not mind having taxes deducted from my pay. However, with all the corruption and misappropriation of public funds, I easily get upset when I see how much money was taken off my bi-monthly wage. It is depressing to be giving so much to the government only to see wasteful spending, increasing poverty, and the depreciation of the Philippine Peso's purchasing power.

I would want to take for example the baranggay/village where I reside. There are vehicles plastered with signs "donated by Councilor XXX" or "Special Project by Congressman XXX." In our baranggay, we have one (1) Utility AUV, two (2) Toyota Tamaraw FXs, six (6) Patrol Tricycles, one (1) three-wheeled Utility Vehicle (modified large tricycle that can seat 8 people in the cab), one (1) small emergency fire truck and one (1) small AUV supposedly for the use of Senior Citizens. I have not seen any of those vehicles used by residents of the baranggay. They are used mostly by the elected officials. 

The parking area for the Baranggay vehicles

A motorcycle with little water tank on a trailer

The small AUV for the Senior Citizens. Its been parked and unused for so long

The Senior Citizen AUV. Unused and parked on the side of the street. The tires are already flat.

I walked to the nearby Belarmino Sports Complex. This area used to be occupied by a public elementary school. It looked like an abandoned structure. I asked the guard on duty if I could take pictures of the building. He shooed me off, saying I should get a permit from the City Hall to take pictures of the place. I asked him if I could just stand outside the gate and take pictures. He started asking me questions about why would I need pictures of the building and who am I working for. I simply stated "I write, I blog and I am a taxpayer." The shooed me away even more. Nevertheless, I still pointed my camera lens through a slot in the gate and got some photos. Walking farther away from the complex, I spoke with an elderly man who owned a little corner store and asked him about the facility. Here's how our conversation went:

"Manong, gaano na po katagal dito itong sports complex na ito?"
("Sir, how long ago has this sports complex been built?")

"Apat na taon na. Hindi pa daw tapos kasi lalagyan pa daw ng basketball court at saka swimming pool. Di daw maasikaso kasi walang pondo."
("Its been 4 years. I heard its not yet complete because they plan to put a  basketball court and a swimming pool in there. They said they don't have funds to do it."

"Hindi ba po yan puede gamitin ng mga residente dito? Tulad po ng mga Senior Citizens?"
("Is this not available for use by the residents of this community? Like the Senior Citizens?")

"Ay, hindi. Para lang daw yan sa mga competition. Yung mga Arnis. Taekwondo. Gymnastics. Ganun. Para daw sa mga athletic competition lang daw yan."
("Oh, no. They said that sports complex is only for competitions. Like Arnis. Taekwondo. Gymnastics. Just that. I heard it is only to be used for athletic competitions.")

The gate of the Sports Complex

The front view of the complex

The grassy overgrowth on one side of the complex

 

The back of the complex. Hmm.. I wonder if the airconditioning units are turned on? Who is in there using up electricity if there are no competitions going on inside?

Got it. So that "thing" is only for athletic competitions. If it is true that they have top of the line facilities in there, why don't they use this structure to train the youth who have a potential in achieving worldwide recognition in athletics? 

The next place I visited was the "Project 4 Park," commonly called "5K" because its area is 5000 square meters. It is here where my mom and her senior citizen friends go to every morning for their aerobics class. They use the multi-purpose covered court, however, it does not provide much shelter during rainy days. The park does not offer much shade. There are only a few trees and park benches (I think there's only 4). The only nice thing  in there is a playground for the kids. How can you call this a park when there's no place for you to sit and relax? 

The arched gate to the park

The multi-purpose covered court

The playground

The rest of the park (Sorry, no park benches here)

To conclude, I only have one question.. Is this where my taxes go?

Give Love, Share Love, #BouqLove!

Think of a gift you'd been wanting to get for a long time. Something that would instantly bring joy and happiness. Something that would not take up space in your closet or need dusting from time to time. Think.

Flowers!

Receiving a beautiful bouquet of flowers has always brought a smile to everyone. Flowers can convey all human feelings and it is always a welcome gift for every occasion. To hold in your arms a bunch of flowers with their delicate petals in different bursts of colors is an exhilarating experience. For the gift giver, it is equally heartwarming to see the happiness on the face of the person you give them to.

Flowers. The universal gift that never fails to convey love and caring does not particularly need a special occasion. "Just because" is the best reason to give someone flowers. Why wait for a week, or months or even next year to give a lovely bunch?

The 4th of July is coming soon. It will mark the 238th year of Independence of the United States. It will indeed be a day of celebration, of families coming together and giving thanks. There will be parades, fireworks, picnics and family BBQs. It will be a fun day to look forward to. If you happen to be hosting the family picnic or the family grill-fest, wouldn't it be nice to decorate your picnic table with a centerpiece of patriotic 4th of July Flowers - red, white and bouq?

The Bouqs Company's flowers are grown and shipped straight from an active volcano in South America or the sunny surf of California. They cut only what is ordered from them, therefore reducing waste. The flowers are grown on volcanic soil in the equator, 10,000 ft above sea level, which means more sun and more sun means more color! Flowers are cut on the day of the order and is shipped right to your door in 2-4 days. You get the freshest, most colorful bouquet of flowers.

This year, go ahead and show your patriotism. At The Bouqs, every order of the Red, White and Bouq (4th of July Bouq) ensures a 5% donation to Team Rubicon, a non-profit veteran support organization. This company not only facilitates donation drives but also supports eco-friendly farming. They provide living wages, childcare, healthcare and adult education, in addition to supporting farming communities. At The Bouqs Company, you not only feel good about your purchase, but you also bring hope to the needy.

Order your Red, White and Bouq now. For a reasonable price of $40 (shipping included), you'd get the freshest, brightest colored bunch of roses. So whether you're a hostess or an invited guest, this bouquet is THE perfect gift to bring for the Fourth of July BBQ.

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Essay Writing Is Easy

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The skill of creating a good essay needs to be developed early in the life of a student. From grade school to high school, students were required to come up with a paper about different topics, most of which they have no interest in. Free form essays are the best assignments because they are given the freedom to choose the topic to write.

Essay writing is something that has to be accomplished in all levels of education. However, not everybody welcomes the challenge. Most people feel more comfortable expressing their thoughts through speech rather than writing, while others have the interest and the motivation, however, time constraint is their major obstacle.

A college student may be faced with the dilemma of creating a good essay in one or two of the subjects he/she is enrolled in. More often, these assignments are on totally diverse topics and could easily cause the student to hit a mental block and lead to frustration. The first difficult task to face is to come up with an interesting topic sentence that would capture the reader’s attention. Should they get over this first hurdle, then they have to ensure that they do not stray away from the topic. The last obstacle would be how to end the essay. The final argument should support the topic sentence and this would be difficult if the body of the essay was not properly outlined and focused.

Living the life of a college student is an experiment in time management, a test of resiliency and a strong will to face up to the financial challenge. A small percentage of students do not have to work their way through college, however, this is an insignificant number compared to the percentage of those who are faced with the task of raising a family and earning a college degree at the same time. Juggling homework and housework is physically and emotionally taxing.  To write an essay while doing the laundry and making dinner for a family of four would compromise the quality of one or both tasks. This is the same for those who work two jobs and squeeze in college classes.

Since it is basically time constraint that limits these students to meet their academic requirements of writing an essay, online services for essay writing have gained popularity. Websites offering essay writing assistance charge a minimal fee and provide 24/7 customer support. They guarantee original, non-plagiarized work by certified writers with a PhD or MA degree in their specialized field. It is with this innovative service that college students who are struggling with making a living, or raising a family can avail of whenever they need assistance in meeting the deadline to turn in their essays, term papers, or dissertations.

Online essay writing services are the best thing that happened to students. They guide but not spoil. They workwith you, not for you. Avail of their services and they would make you feel that you did the job yourself.

My Beloved School - The University of Santo Tomas Manila

16 June 2014. Today I visited my Alma Mater, the Royal and Pontifical University of Santo Tomas in Manila. It was not a planned visit though. I had to sign some papers for my son's commitment to his academics and his organization, the UST Yellow Jackets. The weather was good, the sun was out and although it was really hot and humid, the trip down to Manila was a photo-op in the making. 

UST is the oldest Catholic University, established in 1611 by Miguel de Benavides, O.P. I am proud to be part of its history. 

Here are the pictures of my beloved school.

This is the Arch of the Centuries. It stands facing España Blvd. A ceremonial "Freshmen Welcome Walk" is held every year, within the first month of the opening of the academic year. Superstition says that undergraduates are not supposed to pass through it on the way out of the campus, unless you want to be debarred from school. It is funny because you'd notice students walk around it instead of through it. 

These are the markers that are found on the front of the Arch. It is to honor two of UST's great graduates, Jose Rizal, our National Hero, who earned his degree in Medicine in the University and Manuel L. Quezon, the first President of the Commonwealth.

Here I am standing in front of the statue of Miguel de Benavides, O.P. He is the third Archbishop of Manila and the founder of the University.

This is the Tria Haec. The three statues on top of the Main Building of UST. They symbolize the three Catholic virtues - Hope, Faith and Charity. 

This is the Main Building of UST. (Of course, that is fat old me standing in front, spoiling the view. Haha). The large open space in front is the Plaza Mayor. The main building houses administrative offices and the Colleges of Science and Pharmacy. It is here were I spent 4 years of my life to earn a degree in Zoology.

This is the main staircase of the Main Building. I feel honored to use these stairs knowing that Filipino heroes Jose Rizal, Antonio Luna, Marcelo H. Del Pilar, Jacinto Zamora, statesmen and academicians walked up these same flight of stairs. (Read the full list here http://www.ust400.com/alumni and http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_University_of_Santo_Tomas_people)

This is the lobby of the Main Building. It is adored with beautiful chandeliers and murals all around. 

This is the Santissimo Rosario Church. Behind the church is the UST Central Seminary. 

The entrance to the UST Hospital Charity Ward.

The Faculty of Medicine Building. This is where my daddy earned his degree in Medicine.

The High School building. UST has two high school departments. One is called "Education High" which is for students that are receiving academic scholarships and the other is the "Pay High" for regular students.

The UST Central Library. When I was a student in UST, the Central Library was housed within the Main Building. Now it has its own huge modern building.  

Another addition to the University campus is the Tan Yan Kee Student Center, located near the Dapitan gate, across the Commerce and AB building. It is here, in the Student Center where different organizations hold meetings. It is also a "rescue center" where students can stay and be safe during storms. Flooding is a big problem in Manila. 

Outside the Tan Yan Kee Building is a huge poster of the UST Yellow Jackets. This is the organization my son serves.

Parents can be assured that their children are safe within the confines of the University. CCTVs are just everywhere!

This area used to be a huge cafeteria. It has now been converted into a park called "Quadricentennial Square."

The University has lots and lots of park benches where students can rest and enjoy some time after class under the shade of century old mahogany trees. 

The UST buses that ferry students to and from athletic events, outreach programs, humanitarian missions, etc. 

 The soccer field and the grandstand. Behind the grandstand is the old gym and swimming pool

The walkway leading to Espana Blvd. Lots and lots of trees and flowering shrubs line the path. It is funny but this walkway is called "Lover's Lane" (That's my son there)

UST is an advocate for saving the environment and it is obvious in the way they protect the trees around the campus. This is the covered walkway along the St. Raymund Building. Instead of cutting down the trees, they cut part of the roof to allow the trees to grow.

The last place I visited was the new Quadricentennial Pavillion (or Quadri-Pav as students call it). This is the new "home" of the UST Tigers. It is a huge complex and I was lucky enough to get inside and take a picture.

I was lucky to have bumped into Karim Abdul, the center for the UST Tigers Basketball team. Haha. He was game enough to stop and pause for a photo. 

I could have taken more pictures but I was not able to visit the Botanical Garden, the Faculty of Law, the College of Architecture and Fine Arts, the College of Engineering, the College of Education, the Student Health Service and the Santo Tomas University Hospital, the Printing Press, the pool, the laboratories on the 5th floor of the Main Building, the carpark, the College of Accountancy, and so many other places. 

Oh well, there's always a next time. It just feels so good to see UST again. The University that nurtured the talent and hunger for learning of my Dad, Mom, me, my sisters, my aunt, uncle, great aunts, great uncles, grandparents, my daughter and my sons. Who knows, maybe in the future, my grandkids would also be Thomasians? Cool! 

I Came, I Saw, I Sverve

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Simply share your views, opinions and experience on your blog, Twitter and Facebook. Get connected with big name brands and non-profit humanitarian groups. Let your creative juices flow!

I am proud to say that Sverve helped me hone my talent in writing and for that, I am thankful I found them.

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