AFTER paying the 2026 real property taxes in December 2025 to get the 20-percent discount, January is for the business permit, the 2025 fourth quarter value-added tax, the withholding tax, to infinity and beyond.
Despite the conspiracy theories surrounding the controversial flood control projects, the Pinoy can’t use that as a reason to stop paying taxes.
And once the suspense, er, suspension on the Letters of Authority is over, there’s the Bureau of Internal Revenue knocking on the business owner’s door again.
Too many taxes, too few public services for the Pinoy. This is what will remain true again in 2026. Definitely not something to look forward to this year.
The seemingly ordinary Pinoy embroiled in government-funded controversies may change — after Janet Lim-Napoles and the Discayas, who’s next? But the names and/or positions of government officials in these cases somehow remain the same. Meaning, no lessons learned. The embezzlement and misappropriation continue.
I gotta feeling corrupt government officials are waiting for the Pinoy to quit and immigrate. So, they can continue stealing from the national treasury.
That’s exactly what a friend told me when I was complaining about the government way back in the ‘90s. His advice: leave, that’s the only way you can ignore what’s happening here. And he did leave Pinas.
The better future is anywhere but here? But there’s no place like home. Since home is where the heart is, where is that exactly?
Age doesn’t matter when it comes to lifetime decisions. It’s never too late to change. So, I’m moving furniture which requires measuring them to ensure they can fit into the new space they’ll occupy. Instead of New Year, New Me, I’m aiming for New Year, New Moves. Which may produce a New Me? Hmmm.
But New Me can be a misnomer. There’s this saying that goes, “Wherever you go, there you are.” You bring your character, personality, and essence wherever you go. Emotional baggage and all that jazz.
If you’re a gossip here in Pinas, you’ll still be a gossip in Siberia. Because you can’t help it — nosiness is a habit that’s hard to break.
If you’re kissing aes here, you’ll continue kissing aes in Siberia. Sipsip pa more.
If you’re the dakilang sidekick here, you’ll again find someone to be beholden to in Siberia.
And if you have those three characteristics, please define social opportunist.
Avoid a social opportunist at all costs because her next victim could be you.
You can gauge a person’s emotional quotient through the way he responds to any situation. I remember this particular case last year that shocked us but not to the extent that we would separate the west from the east and north from south, which could have worsened the situation. Most of us simply chose peace.
As Lola Insang used to say, “Kalibutan pa lang ni.” Anything that happens here is meant to test and teach us. To teach us about ourselves and about other people.
While teaching involves talk and action, learning may require us to STFU — shut the f*ck up — and listen.
And by listening to the government, the Pinoy may learn the real meaning of the truth and nothing but the truth. Or not.
