MANILA, Philippines (The Adobo Chronicles, Manila Bureau) –Starting Christmas Day this year, balikbayan boxes being sent by expatriate or overseas Filipinos to their relatives back home will be tax-free, thanks to a new Philippine government regulation.
But in order to avail of the duty-free benefits, senders of balikbayans boxes must affix a special sticker to their packages.
The sticker will indicate that their boxes are tax-free and will not be opened by Customs or any other government agency or personnel.
And just in case, the sticker also indicates that their boxes are not to be stolen by unscrupulous or corrupt officials or employees.
Senders can make their own stickers or request them from the balikbayan box forwarding company.
Its most famous sand castle built in the middle of the long stretch of White Beach is about to come down for good, thanks to the persistence of environmentalists and advocates against illegal construction on public land.
The sand castle, which bears the words, ” I love Boracay,” along with the month, day and year updated on a daily basis, is one of the island’s icons. No one who visits Boracay goes away without a selfie in front of the sand structure.
This is not the first illegal construction demolished in Boracay. Years ago, government agencies demolished illegal structures of a posh resort for encroaching on a no-build zone among various other alleged violations of local and environmental laws. That resort, the West Cove, is rumored to be owned by Filipino champion boxer and now Senator Manny Pacquiao.
So, while “it’s more fun in the Philippines,” you never know when the axe falls on you especially if you do not have the needed permits to build on public or zoned land.
Tomorrow, December 10, a final tribute to the sand castle will be held by residents and tourists alike. There will be music, fire dancing, buffets and free San Mig light beer to all who will attend the “burial.”
Unlike the remains of the late Ferdinand E. Marcos in the Libingan Ng Mga Bayani, it will be impossible to exhume the sand after it is demolished. That means, there can be no protests or rallies.
MANILA, Philippines (The Adobo Chronicles, Manila Bureau) – At yesterday’s Senate hearing investigating the death of former Albuera, Leyte Mayor Rolando Espinosa, Sr. while in jail, witness Ronnie Dayan was cited for contempt.
Dayan, the confirmed lover, driver and bodyguard of then Justice Secretary Leila De Lima, was castigated for insisting that only drug lord Kerwin Espinosa was his source of drug money supposedly intended for the now lady senator.
Meanwhile, in the House of Representatives, Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez on Monday said he wants Senator Leila De Lima arrested if she refuses to answer the show-cause order against her.
The show-cause order was in connection with De Lima’s advise for Dayan to go into hiding after he was asked to appear before a House hearing.
“First time din ito nangyari na merong senator na nakialam sa proceedings ng House. Hindi pa nangyayari iyon. Wala pang senador na nag-advise doon sa witness ng House of Representatives para magtago,” said Alvarez. (First time for this to happen. That a senator interfered with the procedings of the House. That has never happened before. No senator ever advised a witness of the House of Representatives to go into hiding.)
The House of Representatives Justice Committee will issue the order, asking De Lima to explain why she shouldn’t be cited in contempt.
Will the former lovers be finally reunited, in contempt?
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