Monthly Archives: January 2016

Government, Politics

Philippine Presidential Candidate Mar Roxas Adds Another Feather To His Cap

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imageMANILA, Philippines (The Adobo Chronicles) – Philippine presidential candidate Mar Roxas has just added a new feather to his cap.  Indeed, President Aquino’s anointed successor is the undisputed candidate of the masses.

During the aftermath of the worst typhoon to hit the Philippines, Roxas was seen in ground zero overseeing relief operations and giving aid to residents except those who were loyal to his and President Aquino’s political nemesis, the Romualdezes.

When there was a shortage of garlic in the Philippines, he was seen carrying a sack of garlic on his shoulder.

When there was rumor about a rice shortage, he was seen carrying a sack of government rice on his shoulder.

When Metro Manila experienced the worst traffic nightmare ever, he was seen directing traffic in one of Manila’s most congested street intersections.

When Metro Manila’s light railway system (MRT) was the subject of intense criticism for its overcrowding, inefficiency and mismanagement, Roxas was seen riding the train on non-commute hours.

More recently, his campaign released a photo of him eating rice out of a coffee cup and drinking water from a plate. Just like the masses do. Or so he thinks.

Roxas’ latest campaign publicity shows him having a meal in a Southern Leyte public market, just like many  poor people do.

The only thing his campaign staff forgot to do was ask him to wear his tattered t-shirt as previously described by his wife Korina Sanchez.  It would have been more perfect.

Also, there was too much yellow in the publicity photo. Oh well…

Awards, Beauty, International, Law Enforcement

Binibining Pilipinas Charities Sued by Diamonds International Corp. Over Miss Universe Crown

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Pia Alonzo Wurtbach under a float canopy of a giant Miss Universe crown
Pia Alonzo Wurtzbach under a float canopy of a giant replica of the Miss Universe crown

PRAHA, Czech Republic (The Adobo Chronicles) –Diamonds International Corporation (DIC), the Miss Universe sponsor that created the $300,000 crown of the Philippines’ Pia Alonzo Wurtzbach is suing the Binibining Pilipinas Charities, Inc. (BPCI) for patent violation.

The Czech Republic-based DIC told reporters in Praha that it is suing BPCI, the local franchisee for the Miss Universe Pageant in Manila for unauthorized replication of the bejeweled Miss Universe crown.

BPCI built a float for Wurtzbach for use in the welcome and homecoming parade held yesterday in Metro Manila.  The float had a giant canopy which basically re-created the crown.

DIC declined to state the amount that it is suing BPCI for.

 

Economy, Government, International

Philippine Congress Wants to Tax Income Of Overseas Filipino Workers

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(Photo credit: Inquirer.net)

MANILA, Philippines (The Adobo Chronicles) – The Philippines’ Congress is at it again. Members want to exempt Pia Alonzo Wurtzbach from paying taxes on her income as Miss Universe.  But Wurtzbach has declined, saying she will continue to pay her taxes just like she always did in the past.

This is not the first time that such a proposal has been filed in Congress. There have been several attempts to put forward a similar bill exempting Filipino champion boxer Manny Pacquiao from paying taxes.  (Incidentally, Pacquiao is facing a P3.2 billion tax evasion case before the Court of Tax Appeals. The case was filed by the Bureau of Internal Revenue after assessing that Pacquiao had incurred “deficiency income and value-added tax” from 2008 to 2009, worth P2.2 billion. Penalties and surcharges caused the deficiency to balloon to P3.2 billion.)

Congress wanted to grant the tax exemptions, arguing that Wurtzbach and Pacquiao are the “pride of the Philippines, putting the country on the world map, and considering them as “heroes.”

Well, what about the true heroes of the Philippines — the overseas Filipino workers (OFWs)? They are the backbone of the Philippine economy, infusing more than $26 Billion in remittances to the country annually?

Currently,  the wages or income of OFWs arising out of their overseas employment are exempt from income tax. Since OFWs usually already pay income taxes in the country they are working in, the Philippines exempts those taxable income of Filipinos through the virtue of tax reciprocity. With the tax reciprocity rule, Filipinos working abroad are taxed for incomes received there and are exempt from paying income taxes in the Philippines, in the same way that foreigners working in the Philippines are taxed here for incomes sourced within the Philippines and are also not required to pay income taxes anymore to their home country.

But now, some smart members of Congress want to lift that exemption, and the Aquino administration — especially Bureau of Internal Revenue Commissioner Kim Henares — favor the proposal.

“Sure, it would be a case of double taxation,” Henares said, “but think about the huge tax revenue that the Philippine government will earn from taxing OFW income abroad.”

It’s more fun in the Philippines!