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 new decade. i have been been asking myself what 2009 is all about. it seemed to have come and gone without anything significant happening to me. discounting the ampatuans, tita cory’s death and ondoy of course.

the year seemed to be my stand still moment, a time to reflect. that in hindsight seemed over done. who in their right mind would need a year to reflect? yes, i’m one big crazy. the question is am i that big of a crazy. but who cares, supposedly as long as i have learned something from it. that’s all that matters. between you and me, i haven’t learned anything at all. that’s life for me. it’s a short life, i rather live it.

it’s 2010, supposedly a fresh start. it’s not just a new year but a new decade. in retrospect, i am proud of my career. 9 years in the making to be where i am right now. that in fact is what the decade is all about for me, career building. that is what i have for show kids, an untarnished, shinning and dare say enviable career.

but through it all, all the hardships, pain, travels, employers, vacations that i should have taken, 3 hospitalizations, paranoia, weddings, living alone, deals and pursuits, the years have been good to me. benjamin franklin might be a great man but i beg to disagree. it’s not only death and taxes that are constant in this world, also good friends. to the tsongers, we may not be related by blood, but you are my family. you have put up with this crazy, as i have put up with yours. and it’s no easy feat but it’s something we all have helped to build. so dahon stop your whining and sudden bouts of migration plans, we are here to stay.

not that cold but definitely autumn. jetlagged and hungry. or as jonray would say, hangry (hungry and angry). i get cranky when i’m hungry.

guess what i’m doing?

listening to:
Across The Universe [Deluxe Edition] – Carol Woods & Timothy T. Mitchum : Let It Be