BIR launches MTS to collect more taxes

By Mortz C. Ortigoza

CALASIAO – To give more services to the Filipinos, the Bureau of Internal Revenue led by Commissioner Caesar R. Dulay launched recently here the Medium Taxpayer Service (MTS) to efficiently collect more taxes from the top 500 businessmen in the region.

BOSS -Commissioner Caesar R. Dulay of the Bureau of Internal Revenue poses with the officials of the agency’s Region-1 office after the Taxpayer Segmentation Forum with the top 500 businessmen in the four provinces’ Region-1 held recently at Jeck’s Convention Hall in Calasiao, Pangasinan. Photo by Mortz C. Ortigoza

Dulay earlier signed Revenue Memorandum Order 17, series of 2017 for the creation of regional teams to improve the Bureau’s collection from the top taxpayers in their regional areas.

“So that we can become hopefully win the future which is the dream for everybody. We continue to give you the public services that you need. We are doing this gaya ng sinabi ni President Duterte lahat tayo tunay na pagbabago sa bayan,” he told the Top 500 traders in the four provinces’ Region 1 who attended the Taxpayer Segmentation Forum held recently at Jeck’s Convention Hall here.

Revenue District Office – 4 Chief Merlyn DV Vicente said that the MTS was created to monitor the taxes of the Top 500 businessmen in every region in the country.

“They are from the top 500 taxpayers from the whole region. Regional offices na ang magko cover. Mag create sila ng task force para ma monitor itong Top 500”.

She said the regional office of the agency that is also based in this town will not hire personnel to carry the task but will just include the MTS to their work.

The top 500 traders listen attentively as BIR officials explained the nuances of paying taxes.

Vicente cited the revenue district offices all over the country will only give a support role to the job given primarily to the staff of the regional offices.

She said the forum here can help both the Top 500 Taxpayers in paying the right taxes and the BIR on efficient collection.

One of its thrusts, Vicente cited, is strict monitoring about the revenue of the businesses of these people.

Dulay said that 80% of the tax collected in the country is soldiered on by the bureau.

The collection for this year is P1.783 Trillion.

“As of September this year the BIR collected P1.3 Trillion already,” Dulay told the crowd.

The Medium Taxpayer Service is different to the Large Taxpayer Service that was introduced in year 2000.

LTS includes a corporation with an authorized capitalization of at least P300 million.

Scout Ranger Honors for Exceptional Gallantry, Chivalry

By MORTZ C. ORTIGOZA

A sergeant told his officer he wanted to save a civilian who was limping because of a gun shot on his leg. The wounded was helpless at the rubbles and wreckage of houses where enemies were hiding, too.

The captain not only granted the request but crawled with him to cover the gunny with fire (in case the bad guys shot at them) as he retrieved the one – leg capable man.

The officer was startled after he saw weak, helpless, thirsty, and famished children and women just waiting for miracle to pluck them out to the hellhole the terrorists brought them into.

As the wounded man was carefully hurried up by the sergeant to the military side, the captain wondered why he did not hear a shot of a gun fire against them.

An armed- to- the- teeth soldier in a war. Photo Credit: Daily Express

Seeing an opportunity to the extra ordinary gestures of the enemies, he negotiated with them to free the other hostages after they told him they were thirsty and hungry too in a war that saw them running away  for weeks from the gung-ho soldiers backed up by modern military hardware not only provided by their government but with foreign powers.

What urban warfare I was implying here?

A.      Second Battle of Fallujah; B. Second Russian versus Chechen War; C. Battle of Huế  D: None of the Answers

---

My Anwer: D

The phenomenal cessation of hostilities and exemplary bravery did not happen abroad but ensue last October 19 at the War of Marawi – an Islamic poor city located at the Philippines' Southern Island Mindanao.

The officer is Army Captain Jeffrey Buada, commander of the 15th Scout Ranger Company.

His chutzpah: He laid down his assault rifle and removed his Kevlar helmet and bullet proof vest (probably imported after the Shore Based Missiles funds were shelved under the Aquino Administration) to show his sincere intention to just save the hostages where his fatherly instinct prevailed over his warrior spirit sculpted at the Black Panther School at Camp Mateo Capinpin in Tanay, Rizal Province after he imagined that those kids there were his 11 and 4 years old daughters in Luzon.

As quid pro quo, the ISIS terrorists asked the official for water and food.

After his selected men, who were unarmed, delivered the goods he showed good faith, chivalry, and magnanimity by taking a swig from plastic bottle (or quaff in a cup probably since I was not there, teh-he he) in front of the menacing enemies to show it was not diluted with poison.

When he and his men, who followed suit in removing their helmets and vests, started to hurry out the hostages for safety from the menace of the enemies just lurking around them.

After the last civilian was being plucked out from the area of fire, a shot rang somewhere and the deafening acrimony of the flurries of gun fire, the smell of gun powders, and the grinding and roaring of tanks shrouded the area

The temporary gentlemen’s agreement not to fire at each other in exchange for water to a hostage had ended and that encounter was concluded with one dead and 40 wounded

               on the part of the soldiers.

On the terrorists’ side, I could only speculate probably they were decimated through gun shot, wound infection, sheer starvation, unquenchable thirst or tetanus from those protruding and jutting rusty iron objects or the vaunted lansang (nail na Numero Singko) in Bisaya President Rodrigo Duterte feared when he said he avoided in directly joining the manhunt.

This human drama in the War in Marawi can rival the iconic Christmas Truce in World War 1.

Aside from the English, er, the Britons, that memorable one week ceasefire in the No Man’s Land is known in Germany and France as the Weihnachtsfrieden and Trêve de Noël where combatants there had series of widespread unofficial ceasefires along the Western Front in France one week before December 25, 1914.

The saga of that Christmas Truce was scribbled by Captain Robert Patrick Miles of the King’s Shropshire Light Infantry and published by the Daily Mail and Wellington Journal & Shrewsbury News in January 1915.

Unlike Philippine Army Captain Buada who months earlier was wounded by a bullet shot on the knee and recuperated in the hospital before that October 19 drama, British Captain Miles died from a German bullet wound a week after that “Great Fraternization” with the enemies.

Here’s Miles:

“The thing started last night – a bitter cold night, with white frost – soon after dusk when the Germans started shouting 'Merry Christmas, Englishmen' to us. Of course our fellows’ shouted back and presently large numbers of both sides had left their trenches, unarmed, and met in the debatable, shot-riddled, no man's land between the lines. Here the agreement – all on their own – came to be made that we should not fire at each other until after midnight tonight. The men were all fraternizing in the middle (we naturally did not allow them too close to our line) and swapped cigarettes and lies in the utmost good fellowship. Not a shot was fired all night”.

Other accounts narrated about British and Germans exchanged newspapers and even played soccer on some fields at the No Man’s Land.

Now let’s go back to Mangaldan town in Pangasinan where I met its Mayor Bona Fe D. Parayno and what the burgeoning local government unit in Northern Luzon has prepared for Buan on Tuesday (November 14) when the officer and a gentleman would be feted by the town known for its pindang (dried meat).

A proud Mayor Parayno told me in her office that the feat of the captain was exemplary and she, on behalf of her 106, 331 constituents (2015 Census), will honor with an award the town hero to be held at the presidencia or the municipal hall.

‘Siyempre exemplary, that is an exceptional bravery na hinde nakikita sa maski normal na sundalo. Ibig sabihin pag ganyan ang kanyang tapang nasa puso ang serbisyo. That’s the reason why gusto ko ring parangalan siya at bigyan ng papuri dito sa bayan,” the lady mayor stressed.

Noel de Guzman, at the community affairs of the mayor’s office, called me by phone after he told me during my tête-à-tête with the mayor that he would go back again at the house of Buada in Barangay Banaoang to talk with his father John especially on the decorum of the event on Tuesday.

He said that the Buadas came from Benguet Province just like other Pangasinenses who “trekked” the mountainous area especially decades ago to work to the mine fields of the multi companies there.

Noel told me that the captain studied at the Philex Mines Elementary School, Saint Louis High School, two years in college at the Saint Louis University, and the joined the Philippine Military Academy in 2002 and graduated at 2007.

“His father is originally from San Jacinto, Pangasinan while the mother was a native of Mangaldan. His father is a retired employee of Philex,” Noel added to the mammoth mining company just kilometers above my birthplace at the elite military academy in Barangay Kias, Baguio City.

SBC Alumni Reunion in San Francisco

By Gabriel Ortigoza

“Look, everybody is looking at us.” - Cable Car Driver

Friday, November 17, 2017 was the designated date for Southern Baptist College (SBC) alumni’s arrival, meet and greet in San Francisco, California hosted by Aldea “Ading” Arcenio. Early birds got treated with Ferrari ride driven by Ading herself in the hilly town of Tiburon.

While waiting for other alumni coming from Texas, whose flight was delayed, and while the table was ready, we started dinner at the host’s house. Table conversation covered stories from 1970s, 80s, 90s, 2000s and the latest happenings at SBC, in Mlang, and the Philippines.

Alumni of Southern Baptist College based abroad met recently in San Francisco, California
for a reunion. The get-together was a modest emulation of the more ambitious 2nd Global
 Reunion held last September in M'lang, Cotabato Province.

Some of the highlighted stories were the presence of “Santermo” in Mlang plaza seen by the locals and passengers of Mintranco when the bus used to go around municipal plaza area to pick up passengers traveling to Davao at 4 am for the first trip and 5 am for the second trip.

The ghost of Jackson Hall was likewise underscored. Some alumni and faculty members saw the ghost while majority of us were not privilege to see it. During the September 2017 global reunion at SBC, school guests stayed at Nash Hall and I did not hear somebody stayed at Jackson Hall. It may be Nash Hall is beautiful place to stay while Jackson Hall is dilapidated old building or maybe because of the lingering thoughts and fear to see up-close and personal the building’s loyal inhabitant(s). Ading is a living witness while her older sister Jocelyn did not see the ghost at Jackson Hall. The house of Arcenio sisters is located fronting Jackson Hall. SBC faculty ma’am De Luso is another witness.

Lela Mae Salazar-Delgado, HS ‘78, shared a story every time she and her classmates heard helicopter sound they will look at each other’s eyes and say, “si sir Ortigoza manog abot” (sir Ortigoza is arriving) and they will shout “helicopter” and everybody in the classroom, even at the middle of class instruction, rushed out of the door and proceeded to the direction of the sound as the choper comes closer and when the "bird" can be seen as it zeroing in towards the landing zone either at SBC field or to the empty space between administration building and Founder’s Hall (the area is now occupied by the High school building). Same was true to our class, to Elementary, High School, and College, everybody rushed out to see the helicopter. Some tripped off on their way out of the building and even from the houses. One of our house help even jumped out of the window just to see the helicopter. My father was a soldier from the Philippine Air Force and every time he comes home from military camp in Awang, helicopter pilots, who were graduates of PMA in the 70s like Red Capunan, flew him to and from our hometown in Mlang.

More stories about SBC and Mlang were shared and it was a good feeling to reminisce history. This is one of the reasons, aside from seeing classmates, schoolmates, teachers and friends, alumni attend school reunion.

We ended the night with a short alumni meeting. As the president of this newly created alumni association I presided the meeting with Pastor Rolly Delgado led the opening and closing prayer while his wife Lela Mae Salazar-Delgado served as our musical director for our hymns. Our host Ading Arcenio delivered a welcome remark. Vienna Villasor-Quiroz, association’s vice president, shared highlights of the minutes of March 23, 2017 initial alumni meeting at the Yacht hosted also by Ading. Alumni treasurer Garry Bianzon gave us updates on the current health of our infant finances. Members are encouraged to pay $20 annual membership fee. Our money in the treasury is intact and has not been touched. We reserve to use it for our future project at SBC. Alumni in the United States and Canada who want to contribute for our future project can start small with your annual membership because if we gather it all together it becomes big. The whole is greater the sum of its parts. We concluded the meeting by singing SBC alma mater song. (Trivia: The lyrics of SBC Alma Mater song were written by T. Bergante, Jr. and E. Ballenas. Original melody from “He Lives on High” by B.B. McKinney).

We ended our alumni “sweet” conversation at past midnight. Some alumni and family were billeted at Ading’s main house on top of the hill while others at Ading’s guest house down the hill kissing San Francisco Bay.

Saturday, November 18. Aside from personal knock by Keren Calapardo, SBC alumna who works and flew from Singapore to attend the reunion, Ading uses Facebook Messenger to notify us when the table is ready. Because we went to bed past 1 am we woke up late and had breakfast at 10 am. After breakfast we had group video and photo using Ading’s drone. For our activity of the day we gathered at the guest’s house about 0.8 miles by Waze or a 5 minutes’ walk downhill. While walking with Pastor Rolly, Lela Mae, and Keren, I observed high-end cars passing by. Pastor Rolly and I counted 2 Porsche SUVs, 2 Tesla sedans, a Jaguar, and other high-end vehicles on that short walk less than a mile downhill.

While waiting at the Ading’s guest house for our 2 pm pick up by the cable car, we walked to the guest house ramp by the bay to enjoy the sun in the cold San Francisco weather. At about 2 pm Lela Mae pointed to a cable car, about half mile away, plying the route near the shorelines coming to our direction. I said, “This is it.” We went to the front of the guest house for our ride. That cable car built in 1920s was chartered by Ading. Of course, individual and group photos were taken before we boarded the car and shared the photos to the world via social media knowing fellow alumni and friends were waiting for it.

From the town of Tiburon in Marine County on the way to downtown SFO people were amazed upon seeing the cable car which prompted our woman cable driver to say, “Look, everybody is looking at us.” Aside from the driver, the car has tour guide who told us via microphone the history and important spots in the city. After an hour of city tour we stopped at Pier 49 for a 15-minute break and bathroom privileges. Our second stopped was at the iconic Golden Gate Bridge. The tour guide told us the official paint color of the bridge is international orange. I thought all the while it was rusty brown. We were safely dropped off at the beachfront guest house in Tiburon at exactly 5 pm. From the guest house we drove uphill to the main house for a military-style “Boodlefight” dinner. One thing most of us observed at commencement after the grace: Deafening Silence. Everybody was hungry and very much focus on the food eaten using barehand. Shout out to Bonbon Calaoud for deliciously prepared food for us. Story telling resumed after everybody was full after the mouthwatering sumptuous dinner mostly seafoods.

November 19, Sunday. Story telling continuous while we gathered at the kitchen island during breakfast. Story telling made alumni attentive and participated in the conversation. If we can do the same at the church I’m sure no one will sleep while the minister delivers the message. After the breakfast we drove to Clipper Yacht Harbor in Sausalito, around 7.5 miles distance by Waze from Ading’s house, for our 10 am to 2 pm scheduled activity: Cruise by the Bay.

When all were aboard Ading’s yacht, the contracted captain introduced himself and his fellow captain. The captain oriented us on the salient points while on board especially on how to operate a digital flush for the head (toilet) and other features of the yacht. Food was also prepared for us. While on our way to San Francisco Bay I had a chance to talk with the female captain Leslie Carson. I learned that Leslie is the wife of the yacht captain as she told me and the couple are both maritime captains. As Leslie and I conversed on California politics, she mentioned she used to work at the office of the state governor Gerry Brown and she is a friend of state appointment secretary Mona Pasquil, the first Filipino-American to hold the post. Leslie also told me she was once a city mayor in Yuba. Both captains were experienced in maritime field and I’m glad Ading took them to pilot us on our cruise.

The first landmark we cruised at was the iconic Golden Gate Bridge. I told my fellow alumni “We used to see Golden Gate as cover photo of school notebook while studying at SBC in 1970s and 80s now we personally see it not only from the top and sides but also view from under the bridge.” Very few people were privileged to see the bottom of bridge. It was my second time to see it courtesy of Ading. The next point of destination was Pier 39 where the famous seals lay afloat marine logs. Then we proceeded near AT & T Stadium, the home of San Francisco Giants. The water was calm in the area so the captain suggested we eat our lunch there. We then proceeded to Angel Island passing under the new Bay Bridge and Alcatraz Island. The architectural design of the new Bay Bridge as seen from below is beautiful. We docked at Angel Island for 45 minutes. The island used to receive immigrants coming from different parts of the world mostly from Asia. This island is also known as the “Tears Island” because migrants who were denied entry to San Francisco were deported back to country of origin. The island was also used to isolate migrants inflicted with contagious diseases. At about 2 pm we were back to Clipper Yacht Harbor to end our cruise and to say goodbye to our fellow SBC alumni.

November 20, Monday. While most of us went back to work on this day, Ading and family together with some SBC alumni chartered a jet and flew to San Diego for the continuation of their vacation. Yes, Ading chartered a plane from San Francisco to San Diego. I can just shake my head in awe seeing my fellow SBC alumni in a chartered plane on their next thanksgiving week vacation.

Thanks to all alumni and family who came for the gathering of God’s people and to Ading for hosting our first SBC alumni reunion in San Francisco. Indeed, God is great and worthy to be praised.

Happy thanksgiving everyone.