coffee break

So here’s the deal. BIR (Bureau of Internal Revenue) have recently reversed its ruling on companies and its employees on ROHQ (Regional Head Quarters) status. The new circular RMC 41-2009 states that the flat 15% preferential tax rate will only be applicable to employees doing both managerial and highly technical roles. As opposed to its previous ruling that all employees of an ROHQ company will enjoy the 15%.  For whatever reason, the BIR have changed its mind and it affected a lot of employees, including me.

The COMELEC rejected Ang Ladlad’s bid for a party list accreditation for the May 2010 election. From the definition of the party list, these organization should represent the minority. They represent the voice of the small people in the congress were congressmen represents the majority of the people that elected them. COMELEC have sited that the Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender community that Ladlad represents promotes immorality. I being openly gay is affected by this blind judgment that my government have cast upon me.
Just recently, the Department of Justice (DOJ) ruled to clear the Ampatuans. Seeing 57 dead bodies in a dugout mass grave who wanted to bring change in the Autonomous Region of the country breaks my heart and spirit. My government not doing anything with this blatant display of arrogance and power affects me.

How can I in good conscience root for this government? A government who discriminates me because of my sexuality instead of protecting me. A government that calls me immoral yet takes my ‘immoral’ tax. A government who turns a blind eye on the arrogance of its official for favors and wealth.

My countrymen, I beg you this election to grab your concerns and your worries. Put it in your heart and mind. Take control of you future. I will not persuade you who to vote, but I implore you to vote according to your conscience. The future is upon us now, this May. Own it.

for me, the measure of a good government is not gnp, or increased export or number of jobs created. it’s simply how much trust its citizen has in the government, and right now i have too little respect more so trust to this government. i used to say better gma nd fpj. now i wonder how it would be if fpj won.

listening to:
The Soul Sessions – Joss Stone : Dirty Man (Live)

a summary of my day back.

i went to the mall to pay my bills that had been piling up and to confront smart. my wonderful phone was on roaming while looking for frodo. it receives almost a vast array of mobile service provider and keeps tooting every message it receives. but it miserably fails when i’m to send an sms or call someone. i waited impatiently for my number to be flashed in the queue, 5 persons ahead of me, with 3 customer service averaging eternity to finish a customer. great. a customer done, fine. but the freaking c.s. takes off and, i don’t know, had sex? where do you go 4 in the afternoon with a myriad of people queuing up?, aside from having sex. anyway, after an hour of waiting my number got called. i open with a calm statement with a snide sarcasm and an udertone of arrogance; i know, so me. the gracious c.s. asks some questions and asked for my permission to get my sim. ok, fine. she left and went inside the blackhole where the the other c.s. had sex, i presume. a quick 2 minutes, she came out and said it’s working. it’s not my line, it’s my phone. literally my phone. fuck.

i rushed to nokia store nearby and set my phones on the counter. with an exasperated tone, i said i need their help because my phone is not working the way it should be. the person was quick to point out that they are a sales outlet, and that i need to go to another mall to have it checked. he also was quick to advice not to use my phones to access the internet and download as it may corrupt the files in my phone. that does it. i gave him a mean look and said, i bought an x6 to access the internet, download, check emails. if you are telling i should use my phone to call and text then i should have gotten the entry level phone. the salesperson just kept quiet. i wanna go on a tirade of sermons but i need to catch the service center before they closes.

but really, if internet-ing crashes nokia phones, then why make an internet phone? i am so unlucky with phones.

p.s. there was a care package from mom when i got home. it had an iphone 3gs. i was not looking forward to using it, and since i’m 1 phone short, i gave it a go. to make this story short, it’s not for me. it’s too difficult to type. and it’s a cash/credit drain waiting to have its start. with all the cool stuff and ready to download itunes, i’m staying miles away from it.

the trouble of living vicariously through other people is that you tend to want it for yourself. then, the trouble begins.

*the trouble with living vicariously through other people is that you tend to want it for yourself. then, trouble begins.

listening to:
We Sing, We Dance, We Steal Things. – Jason Mraz : The Dynamo Of Volition

ages. it has been ages from my last post. though i was truly moved, and still i am, from the passing of our late president cory, i wouldn’t say it’s because of that. overwhelming work is what it is. for the last 4 weeks, i was putting in 16 hours a day. even weekends and holidays was not spared from doing work. crazy is what i can call it. crazy schedule, crazy pursuit, crazy. but that’s the nature of pursuit. your is not the time. we are all just pawns of getting a bigger deal, of demanding customers and circumstance and a more demanding drive to outdo the competition. i have to say that we did, we blew the competition away. thanks to a kick-ass poc (proof of concept) that made a huge impact to the customer. what can i say, filipinos are there to please. a wide gapping jaw and stunned look is a good enough payment for my endless nights and days…

with the exception of indie films, true indie films. cinemalaya has been paving the way for indie film makes and digital media, bringing them to the attention of a wider audience. but there are ’indie’ films who just poses to be one. since the late night 90s, bold/skin flick movies have died down as the sm department store chain decided not to show r-18 movies. one of the reason why sex an the city the movie was edited to make is pg-13 is because sm refuses to show play it in its cinemas. however, there’s a surging trend of ‘indie’ inspired gay movies. where acting is bad as its cinematography, casting and storyline. as long as you have a digital camera, people who’d bare all in front of it and some badly written plot, you have your indie movie. let’s call a spade a spade; these are not indie movies, these are bold movies. and most of them are released straight to video. like i always say, may ginto sa basura. in the sea of skin, dicks, bad script and even worse acting is a glimmer of hope and nuggets on insight. there are still who champion the beauty of the art of movie making and makes relevant depiction of the microcosm of life in manila. be it he urban poor’s struggle to live, a probinsyano’s drive to make it big in the city or the harsh life of people in general. it may sound humdrum but that is our reality. movies is supposedly entertaining, but it has a social obligation as well to educate. movies is a social depiction of us, of society and its intricacies and nuances. that is what movies are supposed to ne.

i am one who’s quick to draw on judgment but i do acknowledge beauty when i see one. or lack there of.

listening to:
Future Memories – ATB : New Day

the only person i will acknowledge as my president. you can argue with figures, poverty line, growth, etc. but the fact is, her presidency is not about those. it’s restoring social order, it’s about giving you back your freedom, your democracy.

i respect her as a leader, even without the title of president of the philippines. i admire her selflessness, her undying passion to do what is right even how contentious it is. she followed what she believes is right and just. they say that presidents should do what is right, but she followed what is in her heart and conscience. she may not have made the best decisions, alleviate us from poverty but she led us out of the hands of a tyrant. selflessly gave up power. silently and vigilantly watch over our best interest.

i hope you get better. in these days were morality, intentions and heart are in question, we need you more than ever. show us once again how to lead.