Foster City

Dear insansapinas,

Nosebleed ako kahapon. Hindi Virginia. hindi sa pagbasa at pagdigest ng mga balitang iba-iba ang headline...kagaya ng nagresign ba o pinatalsik, tumaas ba ang collection ng tax o hindi naabot ang target. Talagang nosebleed as in bumubulwak ang dugo sa ilong ko. Wala naman akong pangil sa aking ilong. Siguro change of weather. Dry ang air sa loob ng bahay dahil nakaheater pa pala kami.


Pero nosebleed pa rin ako sa pagkabasa  ng balita tungkol sa sale ng property sa Foster City. May mga memories din ako sa lugar na yon.


Dahilan sa sub-prime mortgage scam a few years ago, nagbagsakan ang value ng real properties sa USA. Katunayan ang bahay na binili ng mag-asawang Ligot (kayo) ay naibenta lang ng mahigit 100,000 (na iyang tinurn-over ng Ambassador sa gobyerno. Binili nila ang bahay ng mahigit $ 500,000.  Bagsak din ang real estate business sa US of Ey. 


Kaya nga ba yong balikbayan na matinee idol na tatay ng isang artista na may inindorse na mga tangang isdang nagkulong sa lata, di makabalik dito sa States dahil wala naman siyang babalikang career. Ang kaniyang dialogue ay nasa dugo lang daw niya ang pag-arte. Charing.


Nang mabasa ko ang balita na ang kinatawan ng mga guwardiyang anak dati ng presidente ay naibenta ang bahay sa ganoon pa ring presyo, uhmmm, hindi ba apektado ang real estate sa Foster City--isa itong affluent na lugar at ang mga bahay ay nagkakahalaga ng isang milyon, pataas.


 Ang aking tsikiting gubat na bumili ng bahay malapit sa Foster City ay natutuliro ngayon dahil binili niya ang bahay ng close to a million (bare), ibig sabihin siya na ang gumastos sa finishing hindi niya maipagbili ang bagong bahay sa same price. Noon kasing panahon na yon ang mga nurses ay pataasan ng ihi. Pag bumili ang isa, bibili rin ang iba. Investment daw. Binola lang sila ng mga real estate agents.  Overpriced ang mga bahay. Hindi ko approBED. Wala kasi sa kultura ko ang makipagpaligsahan sa mga Joneses. Tama na sa akin ang Jones Bridge. Paglaki ng tsikiting gubat, may sarili na silang desisyon. Ang magulang consultant na lang na hindi binabayaran at hindi siunusunod. Minsan ang pera nakakaapekto sa mga taong dati ay humble. Tingnan ninyo si Willing Willie. Hindi ko sinabing humble siya noon. Pero dapat tumahimik na lang siya at pabayaan ang mga professionals at mga lawyers naghandle ng kaso niya. Bakit ba tayo napunta kay Willie ay pinag-uusapan natin ang tax evasion at illegal wealth?
Hindi rin milyonaryo ang aking tsikiting gubat. Ang pagbili dito ng bahay ay utang. Pag cash ang bili mo either kurakot kang pulitiko galing sa third world country o marami kang naitago sa Swiss banks.

Psychologists/Psychiatrists, Undercover Boss and the Youngest Franchiseholder

Dear insansapinas,

I am on the waiting mode today. A technician is scheduled to check our A/C system in preparation for the warm season. Wonder of wonders, I still need a jacket to go out. Confused na ang weather . Then the hospital called to tell me that I got an appointment next week to see my surgeon, Dr. Papapicolino and I thought I have to wait three months before I see him for the results. Anyway, this week, I am seeing my internal medicine specialist for other health issues. Achoo.


Undercover Boss
Yes, I know Virginia, that the first item in my title is psychologists/psychiatrists. I will discuss undercover boss to introduce the first topic.


As I have explained, this reality series is about the CEOs of conglomerates who go undercover to learn from their employees, to identify problems, to reward deserving workers and to implement good suggestions and observations initiated by the people below the corporate ladder. 


This week, the company is one of the largest fastfood chains and the CEO is a American Korean who strived hard to give his parents comfortable lives before they die. He did not have much of a normal childhood since they moved from one country to another when he was young until they settled in the US.


Among the employees he interacted with was a cashier who showed him how to get orders and payments as quickly as possible in order to avoid long line of customers. He is a 20- year old Filipino male who in their interview portion (the CEO still in disguise talked to the employees and asked about their family) intimated that he considered himself still blessed despite the fact that the father abandoned them (the mother and his siblings).
The CEO could not believe that the young man would grow to be responsible despite the family problems.
He may be used to the locals who leave the family at the sign of trouble and justify their crimes or misdemeanors by blaming the  broken family and lack of father who should have seen to it that they are well provided and that they grow up emotionally stable.


Because of this healthy attitude and sacrifice to help the family (he just arrived from the Philippines 2 years ago), he was given a free franchise of the fastfood chain and will be assisted to start his own branch. Other employees were given cash and vacations that only amounted to $ 5,000.


If he chose to be a part of the society's  problem, psychologists would justify the bad choice to parents who 
did not do their part in making the individual a productive member of the community. 


This is the reason why I do not approve so much of this therapy. Psychologists/psychiatrists can give wrong ideas to explain the mental problem of the patient. Just like a lady who must have been brainwashed by her therapists that the reason why she allowed herself to be abused by her husband or boyfriend is because she was deprived of a father so she is seeking a father image. Father image, my foot. All the men that she had relationships with were younger than she is.

Visa Interview

Dear insansapinas,


I received some questions regarding visa interview in my comment box kaya nang mabasa ko ang article na ito, I decided to post the advice of the immigration lawyer of the celebrities, Atty. Michael Gurfinkel. Among the lawyers in the US, he is one of those who do not make false guarantees. Asawa pa niya Filipina. 


1. You should resist the temptation to tell your whole life story to the Consul in response to every question he asks. Consuls are extremely busy and have a lot of interviews to conduct throughout the day. They don't have time to listen to a long story in response to a short question. When Consuls ask questions, they are simply trying to determine your eligibility for the visa, per the requirements set forth in the US immigration laws.    (Translation, hindi tinatanong ang iyong Maalala mo Kaya Karanasan). 
2. Stick to the subject and get straight to the bottom line in your answers. If the Consul asks a question calling for a “yes” or “no” answer, then answer the question directly, and don't go around in circles with answers that do not address the questions being asked. Of course, if an answer requires an explanation, then you should provide that explanation, but make sure you get to the point.(Translation:
Huwag sasagot ng True or False or Multiple Choice. 


3. Listen to the Consul’s question before you start answering. If you start talking before his question is finished, you may be answering a question he is not even asking, and rather than speeding along the interview, you actually will slow it down.
(Translation: Huwag pasaway. Stop. look. listen).        
4. Make sure you understand the question. If you do not understand the question, courteously advise the Consul, so he can ask it again, using simpler terms or even get an interpreter for you. The Consul does not want you to answer a question you do not understand, and he won't know you don't understand a question unless you tell him. (Translation: Di bale ng magmukhang tanga basta sigurado lang).
5. Don’t guess. If you do not know an answer to a question, or if you can't remember, tell the Consul. The Consul does not want you to guess, if you don't know the answer. (Translation: Huwag maging Madam Auring. Huwag magdadala ng crystal ball).
        
6. Tell the truth. I know of many people who were lawfully entitled to visas, but lied to the Consul, thinking it would be “better” for their case. The Embassy quickly discovered the fraud, and the person was banned for life from going to the US. Had the person told the truth from the beginning, and satisfactorily explained the circumstances, they could have gotten the visa. If you have something suspicious about your case (i.e. date of marriage on your illegitimate child’s birth certificate), it is better to tell the truth and explain what happened than try to hide it, (by filing a late registered birth certificate, showing an illegitimate birth at home, by a Hilot etc.)     (Translation: Tumahak ng tuwid na daan. Ooops).

The Power and the Evil of the Social Media

Dear insansapinas,

May appointment ako sa aking isang doctor sa Thursday. Hindi ko sigurado kung start na ng Holy Week sa Monday. Hindi dito nag-oobserve ng Holy Week eh. Sa pag-tatrabaho sa nga kumpaniyang walang Filipino, ang Good Friday lang ang pinapakiusap ko na bakasyon. 


So Google ako kung kailan ang Good Friday ngayong taon. Sa isang website, may sagot na Good Friday falls on a Sunday, April 24. TOINKKKKK


O di va yong writer din ng isang investigative newspaper, kinopya yong isag spreadsheet sa isang website na kalipunpon ng mga stats tungkol kay Al Capone na mali naman ang prenisent na facts. PLOINKK.


Pero hindi yan ang impact ng Social Media na inutukoy ko. Lalong hindi yong kay Willie Revillame na nagbantang idedemanda ang mga riders at "walang career' na celebrities  na sumawsaw sa pagpabagsak sa kaniya. kung hindi ang latest episode sa CSI: Vegas kung saan isang buntis na teenager ang nakitang patay tapos magbigti sa closet. Sa imbestigasyon, hindi ang popular niyang boyfriend na ayaw magkaanak dahil masisira ang scholarship na inaasam niya sa isang prestihiyong university ang pumatay.


Bago nagbigti ang bata ay pinag-initan siya ng mga kasama niya sa iskuwela na mga cheerleaders dahil nga siya ay nagustuhan ng lalaking popular sa campus. Gumawa sila ng video kung saan panay ang panglalait sa kaniya ng mga babae at sinamahan pa ng mga readers/viewers na hindi naman siya kilala pagkatapos itong upload sa isang website.Cyberbullying.


Sa depression at hindi siya makalaban sa mga nag-iiwan ng toxic comments, nagpakamatay ang batang babae.Pinilit ni Nick na maidentify ang mga taong naging dahilan ng pag-upload ng video at pagtweet ng malalaswang comment laban sa namatay. Sabi niya, it is time to punish people who are using the social media for their evil agenda.

Ang maganda lang sa social media ang mga nagkukunwaring mga magagaling ay nahuhuli ring nangongopya. Di ba Angela S?  




Roadside Crosses
Isang nobela ng sumulat ng pelikula noon ni Denzel Washington at Angelina Jolie ang Bone Collector ang nagtatalakay din sa blogging at sa mga chat at forum.

Cherry Blossoms, Wrong Address and Binyagan

Dear insansapinas,

My brother asked me if I like to see the cherry blossoms in the DC Park. Even with the anticipated government shutdown, the Cherry Blossoms Parade was not cancelled. 

Cherry Blossoms in DC

photocredit: Getty Images

But I got an appointment in the hospital for my blood works. It was supposed to be the past week but the medical assistant who sent the doctor's order/authorization wrote the wrong address on the envelope. Fortunately, I am one noisy resident in our Zip Code because of previous wrong delivery of my mails. This time, they must have remembered me so that finally it was shoved in our mail box.


I declined to go and just contented myself watching the cherry blossom trees across our street, along the highway going to the hospital and lots and lots of cherry blossom trees in the hospital gardencumlittle park.


Unluckily, I did not bring with me my camera.


In San Francisco, I was clueless why my mother-in-law would invite me to Japantown during cherry blossoms festival wondering why the San Franciscans  celebrate the emergence of these pink flowers (others are  milky white). Cherry blossoms last only for a week so people take advantage to see them when they are in full bloom. Then they wither and fall on the ground.My MIL and I would watch the parade and dined later on in one of the Japanese retaurants...where else. The celebration is  a tradition in Japan that dated back several centuries ago and was brought overseas by the Japanese people.

Yes Virginia, there is a Japantown and a Chinatown  in San Francisco . But do not fret, there is a city in the Peninsula which even not officially titled, Adobo City is known to be a place for Filipinos. Ang language doong maririnig mo hindi English. Para bang sasabihin mo sa sarili mo nasa States ba ako? Ang pangalan niya  ay Daly City (pronounced  like daily not DALE as in nadale mo pare.   It was a unique place because it is wrapped around by the fog 24/7. So if you are driving from afar, you will only see the fog, you will not see the place. Parang supernatural. Theory is that Filipinos are simultaneously cooking rice. mwehehe (luma ng joke). May matawa pa kaya.


It is no longer a part of San Francisco but it is the next city after Colma (the place where dead people outnumber the living). It is a cemetery, silly. Across the Bay and also outside San Francisco County, there is a small city . There are also Filipinos there. The name is Hercules. Di ko alam kung malalakas ang mga tao doon.

Sacramento, the capital of California has also a lot of Filipinos. That's where they grow saluyot, talong (for dinengdeng), make red eggs, ferment small shrimps (bagoong) and small fish (bagoong balayan. Ang maririnig mo namang dialect ay Ilocano, Pangasinan at Visayan.  On Wednesdays, the Filipino "farmers"  bring them to the flea market in the government center of SanFo, the Civic Union. 
Saturday, they are in another place where we used to go early morning if not, there would be no available parking.


Vallejo is another popular place for Filipinos. Doon ang magkakamag-anak magkakatabi ang bahay. Kaya pagnagparty ka, isang buong barangay ang lulusob saiyo.

My friend who has a big clan in Vallejo, invited me one time for Christening. The family rented a place and brought the food with them. Other relatives  chipped in. Pot luck style.  As usual, Filipino time, so alas tres na hindi pa kami nananghalian. Ang daming director. Pero walang nadalang spork and spoon. Kahit plastic. Wala namang mall doon na malapit para makabili. Nang hindi na nakatiis yong kasama kong bisita rin, pinunit niya ang isang styrofoam na pinggan at yon ang ginamit na kutsara. Gaya rin ako. Pag gutom ka, anong demure, demure. Tseh. Problema, walang baso. Sus. So kaniya-kaniyang hablutan ng mga liter bottle ng soda. Yong litson, parang dinaanan ng tsunami. Pati tenga, hindi pinaligtas. Sarap. Masaya.

Product Endorsements of Celebrities

Dear insansapinas,

May nabasa akong blind item tungkol sa parehong popular na celebrities  na nageendorse ng isdang hinuli at kinulong sa lata. Kaya raw pinalalabas na sila ay magkasintahan ay dahil lamang sa endorsement na iyon. Taas kilay ko. 


Ngayon may balita na birthday na birthday ng female celebrity, ni wala ang sinasabing kasintahan. Walang regalo man lang? Pero another blind item said that he gave another hunk a condo?
Paki-essplain biyay. 


Bago yan, isa munang patalastas. 


Nagpabili ako ng pancit canton sa Asian store dito. Noong una kong pabili noong brand na yon, malaki pa ang balot. Ngayon paliit ng paliit. 


Naalala ko tuloy ang aking subject na Marketing sa Pilipinas Kay Gandah Ko. Ang topic namin ay Truth in Advertising  at Pricing para sa  5 Ps of Marketing Mix  na sinasabi, Product, Promotion, Price, Place, People. 

Ang mga Pinoy ay di concern kung tama ba ang nakukuha nila sa Product kagaya ng pagkakaadvertise dito? Kung 2 grams, 2 grams ba talaga o kulang o mas marami pa ang tubig kaysa sa laman, kagaya halimbawa mga canned foods.


Dito puwedeng idemanda ang manufacturer kung hindi nagtatatama ang claim ng producer/seller sa kanilang advertisement. Kaya nga di ba qinuestion yong baka sa burger at taco kung ilang ba talaga ang naroon o mas marami pa ang ibang ingredients. Ikanga, "where's the beef?" Sa Pilipinas, walang pakialam ang mga tao kung ang kinakain nila ay talagang beef o meat extenders lang. Wala silang pakialam kung ang lalagyan ng kanilang mga pabango, lotion o anupamang pinapahid ay mas malalim pa ang ilalim ng lalagyan kaya ang laman lang sa loob ay kalahati, Wala silang pakialam kung paliit na paliit ang lata ng gatas. Meron pa bang pork ang pork and beans diyan o libag na lang baboy ang nasa lata?


Mas pinaniniwalaan nila ang endorsement ng mga celebrities. Para bang ang mga celebrities ang nagguarantee na maganda at high quality ang productong kanilang pinagduduldulan sa bayan. Sabi pa nila lahat daw iniindorse ng isang sikat na celebrity ay binibili nila. Kahit na yong mga producktong hindi naman nila ginagamit at kinakain dahil alam naman nila ang celebrity na ito, famous brand conscious.


Nang ako ay umalis sa Pilipinas Kay Gandah Ko, ang anak ng asawa ng aking kaibigan (malabo ba? anak sa mistress) ay ginawang model sa commercial sa TV. Kahit na ba anak siya ng dati ring artista, hindi naman pinaalam sa commercial. Virtually unknown sila. Noon nga sa mga commercial na nagfifeature ng mga bagong mukha, nadidiscover ang mga nagiging artista. 


Ngayon baligtad. Mga kilalang artista na ang mga nasa commercial as product endorsers.


Oweno, anong pakialam ko. Abah, dahil milyon-milyon ang bayad sa mga celebrities na ito, sa Presyo naman bumabawi ang mga manufacturers. Kasama ito sa costing. 


Ang napapansin ko dito sa States, wala halos anak ng mga celebrities na ginagamit ng magulang sa mga product endorsements. May hinahire talaga silang models na binabayaran nila according sa participation at popularity ng product.

Hindi pupuwede yong alibi na kaya nila ginagamit sa product endorsements ay  nagpoprovide lang daw sila sa future ng anak nila. Hello, responsibility nila ang mga bata kaya nga hindi sila nag-aanak kung hindi sila handa.


Sa atin mga babies pa lang ineexpose na sa init ng mga kleig lights para lang makunan ng commercial. May nagchecheck kaya kug talaga ngang hindi pinakikialaman ng mga magulang ang kinita ng mga anak nila sa endorsements, Bata pa lang pinagtatrabaho na nila. Talking about child abuse. 

Si Gary Coleman (SLN) na popular sa sitcom na different Strokes noong mga nakaraang dekada ay idenemanda ang parents niya sa paghandle sa kaniyang mga kinita noong bata pa siya. Panalo.

Open for Business

Dear insansapinas,

Parang sa movie, kung kailan last few minutes, saka makikita ang bomba o makikita ang hinahanap na kinidnap.
Kagabi, bago nagkasama ang maliit at malaking kamay ng relos, ang White House at ang mga mambabatas ay nagkasundong i-extend ang pag-uusap sa budget deal sa Senado at House of Representatives.


Parang nilagyan muna ng band-aid ang dumudugong sugat,  Wala munang shutdown. Kung naituloy ang shutdown, walang suweldong tatanggapin ang mga sundalong pinadala sa ibang bansa. Matuk mo yon, nagririsk ng buhay pagkatapos, uutangin mo.


Ngayon siguro malinaw na kung bakit sa Phl, ang budget ay hawak lang ng isang pamilya. A ba ba ba bad ka. Meron na sa Congress, at dalawa ang nasa Bahay sa Ilog Pasig. Ama, anak at ina.
mwahaha


The way to a lawmaker's heart is the budget aka money.
Sino ba ang nag-imbento ng politics?

Pinaysaamerika

Shut-up and Shutdown

Dear insansapinas,
We are already in the second quarter of the year 2011. This is the income tax season, the audit season and the season of Walang Tulugan for us accountants.


Shut-up
We are already in the second quarter of the year 2011 and Ian de Leon is saying that his mother is coming on the first quarter of the year. Huh?


We are already in the second quarter of the year 2011 and I came across that DYKWIA syndrome again.
Do-you-know-who-i-am, silly. This time, it is not a Filipino but a US basketball player, Allen Iverson; one of the favorites of my tsikiting gubat that he asked for a pair of shoes endorsed by the player. Nabutas ang aking bulsa. When his car, a Lamborghini was towed by the police, he told them that he has 10 of them. Yabang noh? 


Shutdown
We are already in the second quarter of the year 2011 and yet the White House and the lawmakers  have not come up yet with the deal in the federal budget. Only a few hours are left before the Government Shut Down. OO, Virginia, na katabi ng Washington DC at Maryland, magsasara ang mga non-essential government agencies where employees will be furloughed. The sad thing about it is that some of them will not receive their salaries when the government reopens.Pero yong Congress staff tatangapin nila ang kanilang sweldo. Talking about life is being fair/unfair. 


Sino ang affected? When I was working in one of the biggest tax firms in the US, we filed the ITR electronically so that taxpayers would be getting their refunds right there and then. The undocumented people also file their ITRs (some have multiple TANs Tax account number, silly so don't say TAN Number or TIN number or VIN number) but not electronically. They have to bring the paper ITRs to the capitol (in California, it was in the office of Arnold Schwars whatever in Sacramento). When the government shuts down, the filing of ITR electronically which deadline is on April 18 is not suspended but paper ITRs will not be processed. 

The checks of the soldiers deployed in the Middle East will be delayed (baka buntis)but the Social Security pension checks will be sent as usual. Walang pakialam ang budget sa SSA. (Naihiwalay na ito sa government operation). Postal services will continue. Government websites will not be updated. 


One Facebooker in DC wrote that in case his trash is not collected, he will bring it to the house of Boehner.


And as usual, this is all because of politics. 


Pinaysaamerika

Al Capone, Assets, Networth Method of Cracking Tax Cases

Dear insansapinas,
I am watching my favorite series Bones and CSI but I could not concentrate. I was bothered by this article of Malu Mangahas about the networth method used in cracking tax cases  which she claimed to have nailed Al Capone in his tax evasion case.   Nagkakamot ako ng ulo.


This article was the basis of the headline news in the Philippine Daily Inquirer. about Al Capone and the son of the former President Gloria Arroyo, Mikey Arroyo who together with his wife Angela were charged of tax evasion..


First, the table in the article  was wrongly captioned. It says below: 

A United States Internal Revenue Services (IRS) spreadsheet containing a calculation of Capone’s wealth. The IRS used the net worth method to investigate Capone, as well as other tax evaders.  Photo courtesy of Mario Gomes, MyAlCaponeMuseum.com.

These were not calculations of Al Capone's wealth. They were expenses that were claimed as itemized deductions from the  income subject to tax. Birthday party expenses are not  asset, so are political contributions and donations. Even a novice accountant would tell you that they are expenses. Nowhere in the table would show you, the real networth of Al Capone.


As the author had written, 

In the end, it took the U.S. Treasury Department to nail Capone, and it did so through a simple audit of his fabulous expenditures that led to the filing of tax evasion charges against him, his brother Ralph ‘Bottles’ Capone, Jake ‘Greasy Thumb’ Guzik, Frank Nitti, and other mobsters. That means it is not the NETWORTH METHOD which was used against AL CAPONE. IT WAS SIMPLE AUDIT which was usually conducted in examining the deductions claimed.

In the computation of taxable  income, not all deductions are allowed or if ever they are allowed there may be restrictions and conditions like in the case of  political ontributions and charity donations. Charitable donations are allowed only when given to a non-profit organizations which are registered as tax exempt. His church donations to church amounted to several thousands which during that time and even today were considered not all deductibles.Political contributions are also limited to a certain amount. Birthday parties expenses as listed in the table are not deductible expenses. The birthday parties, holidays celebrated were not deductible  not unless they were claimed to be for entertainment and promotion but hey, he had a separate expense account for that. The hotel expenses were not acquisition of hotels. They may be travel accommodations. When Al Capone traveled, he had retinue of his bodyguards and hangers-on. Even his wardrobe were claimed as expenses like the belt and  the expensive shirts which to entertainment people may be considered as deductible. Most important of all, the expenses should be supported by documents specifically bills or receipts.


In the case of Al Capone, in claiming the deductibles which were not authorized, he lowered the taxes he paid and that was fraud. To find  out if the expenses were deductible and legitimate, the IRS conducted an audit. It was the due process observed for someone who was being charged of tax evasion. It was not purely looking at his networth.

I particularly liked the scene in the Untouchables where Kevin Costner and Andy Garcia protected the bookkeeper of Al Capone as well as the baby in the carriage. The bookkeeper was the witness in the trial. But of course because he handled the books of accounts.


Networth Method 

The writer defined the networth method as 
“Increase in net worth plus non-deductible expenses, minus non-taxable receipts, equals taxable net income.”

She failed to mention that what is taxable is not the increase in the networth  but the change in the networth at the end of the year minus the beginning  networth or the networth in the previous year.Like the Balance sheet of an entity, SALN is an on-going record of the assets, liabilities and networth of the individual. These accounts are accumulated year after year. 


To illustrate: Assuming A has just started working in the government. He filed his first SALN in year 1.


Year 1 Assets = 50,000


           Liabilities: 30,000

          Networth 20,000

His income should be more or less close to this amount.

Year 2 He filed his second SALN
            Assets = 75,000
           Liabilities = 25,000
           Networth - 50,000
Assuming that all his income is from one source-employment, the taxable income is not the 50,000 but only the 30,000 which is derived by deducting the beginning networth of 20,000 from 50,000.on the second year.


Added to the change may be expenditures which were not accounted for in the SALN like real estate that were bought except if the title is not registered under the name of the taxpayer. Strategy na nila yong ilagay sa pangalan ng holding company (holding daw pero ilang lang ang may-ari at isa lang ari-arian) o kaya sa kamag-anak, sa mistress o sa kaibigan. Ito ang mga kailangan ng audit at ng discoveries. Parang si Magellan.

Len Lopez and PNoy, Romance Over?

Dear insansapinas,

Hindi na raw nagdedate si Pnoy at si Len. Talaga? Ang kapalit daw ay isang reporter na nakilala sa Singapore. Talaga?


Basahin dito. 


Di ba sinabi nang huwag pakikialaman ang Love LIFE niya?
Eh pakialamera ang bayan eh.


Pinaysaamerika

Morning News

Dear insansapinas,


Necklace
I am watching a morning show right now and I feel like offering the lady anchor some help. Yes, Virginia, ako ang nabibigatan sa nakasabit sa kaniyang leeg na kuwintas. Parang longganisa (yong type na short at matataba)  siya kalalaki na kulay ripe tomatoes. Toinkk.
Early Campaigner
Sa isang network naman, kapapanood ko lang kay Donald Trump. Nagpadala raw siya ng detective sa Hawaii para talaga malaman kung ipinanganak si Obama sa US. Pag siya raw naging Presidente, magkakaroon siya ng budget. Sus, may budget naman. Problema, kulang ang pera kaya deficit din ang bansa. Yes, Virginia, Donald Trump is planning to run as President of the United States. Nagkacampaign na siya? Pagkatapos siguro ng mga Cabinet meeting niya, isa ay masasabihan ng "You're Fired." Ploinkk


Body Modification Specialist (What?)
Nakakita na ba kayo ng taong parang palaging kumakaway ang tainga sa laki? O kaya naman ay piping na akala mo ay wala siyang tainga?


Fan ba kayo ng Star Trek particularly ni Mr. Spock? Yong ang tainga ay parang sa dwende. Well may bagong "rage" ngayon. Ang alteration ng inyong tainga para gawing ala Mr. Spock. Ano kaya ang susunod na mauuso?


Finally, nakita ko na naman ang babaeng nag-aanounce ng traffic. Para siyang palaging sinabunutan o kaya kababangon lang sa bed. Ang mata niya ay parang palaging nagugulat.


Ang mga balitang yan ay dala ng Pintasera Specialist.


Pinaysaamerika

The Human Resource Specialist

Dear insansapinas,

Ang kaibahan ng gobyerno at ng private employer ay mayroon kang job security sa iyong employment lalo pag meron kang Civil service eligibility. Hindi ka basta-basta pwedeng paalisin kahit na ang pinakamataas pang opisyal sa ahensiyang pinapasukan kung walang due process. Sa private employer din sa Pilipinas Kay Gandah Ko, kailangan ding may dahilan ang iyong pagkakatanggal kung hindi pwede silang kasuhan sa Labor Court. Pag di ka maalis, iinisin ka para maging miserable ka pag pumapasok ka sa opisinang iyon. Dito sa US, may employment-at-will, ibig sabihin kung walang expressed to the effect na hindi ka puwedeng alisin, anytime o noon araw din yon, maari kang paalisin sa trabaho. 


Bakit natin pinag-uusapan ang termination? 


Sa latest episode ng The Good Wife, sinampahan ng kaso ang isang employer ng mga empleyadong inaakusahan ang boss ng pagiging inconsiderate na siyang naging dahilan kaya naging toxic ang work environment sa kumpaniyang yaon at siyang tumulak sa tatlong empleyado na mag-suicide mismo sa opisina nila.


Sa pag-iimbestiga ng law firm, nakita nila ang retainer fee ng isang HR specialist na kung saan, binigyan ng mga strategy ang management para piliin pa ng mga empleyado ang magresign kaysa magpaterminate dahil makakatipid ito sa separation pay.


Sa ating naoobserbahan sa balita lately, kung saan, lahat ay nagkukumbinsi sa dalawang opisyales na magresign at sa atin na ring  opisina, binubully ng mga nakakataas ang gusto nilang alisin sa puwesto para magresign dahil kung sasampahan pa ng kaso ay matagal. Talking about politics.


Sa opisina naman ay para kang maysakit na nakakahawa pag ikaw ay sinabotahe na ng administrators kaya pati ang mga kaibigan at kaopisina mo ay halos di ka na kausapin.


Meron kaming HR specialist noon sa isang malaking kumpaniya sa US. Active siya. Magaling siya at hardworking. Ang pagkakamali niya ay " sumipsip" siya sa mga diyoses na ikinainsecure ng isang 
empleyadong iniisip na siya lang ay may karapatang pumasok sa opisina ng mga diyos sa Olympo.


Wala siyang alam at kaya lamang siya nagkaroon ng mataas na puwesto dahil nga para siyang limatik kung makadikit sa powers that be (TPTB).


Sabay kaming pumasok ng HR specialist na yon na unti-unting naglalagay ng mga policies, mga guidelines para sa mga empleyado. Pagkatapos ng apat na buwan, nakita ko siyang papasok sa opisina niya at umiiyak. May escort na siyang security guard para samahang palabas sa opisina. Tinanggal pala siya. 


Nakalimutan nila HR specialist yon. Binalikan sila. Nakita ko ang tsekeng ibinigay sa kaniya. Ang laki. Buti nga.


Nagbulungan, nagtsismisan. Sunod, sunod ang pag-alis sa mga taong mga bagong empleyo. Ako ay inextend ang probationary period ko at balak ring sibakin after 30 days, sana. Naiinsecure ang maliit na diyos dahil ang grupo ang nag-introduce ng mga bagong office procedures. Matabunan siya. Ang bagong boss sa "Counting" ay pinatalsik din ng maliit na diyos. Wala pa siyang dalawang Linggo. Ang pagkakamali niya, kinabukasan ay may Board Meeting. Walang financials. Nakabakasyon yong senior na accountant at ang iba naman ay mga clerk lang. 

Math 101

Dear insansapinas,

As I had been telling my students in accounting, they do not have to be math wizards to become accountants.


It is simple math that is needed and a bagful of analytical skills to understand and solve the problem.


It is also this simple math that tells you if people with strings of degrees are telling you the real picture of what they want the public to believe.


Take this news:

Budget deficit falls to P8.1b

by Elaine R. Alanguilan

The government posted a budget deficit of P21.5 billion in February, bringing the shortfall in the first two months of the year to a smaller-than-targeted P8.1 billion, the Finance Department said Tuesday.
The government set a budget deficit ceiling of P52.3 billion in the two-month period.

BECAUSE,  Expenditures in February fell to P101.5 billion from P109.9 billion a year ago and to P224 billion in the first two months of 2011 from P239.3 billion on year.

Some people would say allelujah, matipid ang gobyerno; bumaba ang deficit.


Hah!
Let us anal-yze.
Here comes the equation where :
 x= budget deficit -difference between revenues and expenditures
 y= revenues
 z= expenditures
We operate on a budget deficit which means the expenditures are greater than the expected revenues. The budget deficit is financed from other alternative sources of receipts such as bonds and other long term debt instruments. 
So tanong, bakit malaki ang binabudget na expenditures kaysa sa revenues? Kaseh, Virginia, hindi puwedeng hindi gumastos ang gobyerno para tumakbo ang makinarya. Ang di tumatakbong makina ay yong mga nangongolekta dahil sa bulsa napupunta. 
To illustrate using the abacus: 


 x= y-z
let's substitute the letters with numbers. (assumption for example only).
Take last year's figures: Assuming revenue is 8 and expenditures is 14, the budget deficit is negative 6. 
 ( 6) = 8-14
Assuming that z was reduced to 10, budget deficit is decreased to negative 4. (alam naman siguro natin na mas malaki ang value ng negative number pag ito ay mas mababa). 
 (4) = 8-12
Goodah? Nah.


There are ways by which the x or budget deficit could be reduced; either increase the revenues or reduce the expenditures.


In this article, it is clear that it was the latter which reduced the budget deficit since the government admitted that : The BIR was 2.3 percent off its target in February with collections of P53.42 billion, while Customs missed its goal by 10.9 percent at P18.6 billion.


Goodah? Nah?


What's wrong with reduced expenditures?
 The expenditures in the budget are meant for operating expenses of the government and projects that need to be implemented to deliver more efficient services. Reduction of expenditures does not necessarily mean savings. It may mean low quality services and or elimination of  necessary services just to cut corners. Nilalagare pa. Toinkk. Kaya karamihang mga ospital, walang mga supplies at walang mga staff dahil tipid sa suweldo. Kaya ang mga schools, walang upuan at wala ring mga libro ang mga bata? 


Buildings deteriorate because proper repairs and maintenance are not put into effect...again to save money, to cut on the deficit...no action?  for pogi points?

The Stress and the Dishwashing

Dear insansapinas,

How many of us can live out parts of our personality and what parts are we suppressing ?


The crucial shift in the  inner part which consists of our values, goals and aspirations can throw us off balance signaling the need to change and move on to the next stage of life.


The life of an adult is not easy as it undergoes the stages of development. With each stage, some magic must be given up, some cherished illusions must be cast off  for what is right in one stage may be restrictive for growth in the next.


There is no one right chair. As we outgrow one, we should be willing to change that is more compatible to us. In between changes, an individual has to stand up. Some manage to stand straight without wobbling. Some wobble but manage to stand straight again. It is these disruptions or crisis that make individuals
Grow and Develop.


You may be wondering where pinay is as if you care. (drama pa)


She is stressed for being sleepless because she stopped using the painkillers which make her stay in bed the whole day (almost). 

Dinuguan

Dear insansapinas, 

While prices are going up, some hungry-for-hits bloggers are still on the week old controversy brought 
by the alleged "child abuse" in the Willing Willie variety show. They even go to the extent of resorting to name calling and labelling each other, pangit...yada, yada. One columnist even wrote an open letter to the father of the boy as if he owns a manual for parenting. Over the top. 


While the administration flip-flopped on removing the ombudsman ( and exempt other officials involved in that controversial case of tourists carnage in Luneta),  former child prodigies rode on the bandwagon and "mahilig makisawsaw sa issue-na-unang-unang tatakas" sa Pinas pag nagkagulo, hoping to boost their sagging career, tweeting and blogging  their condemnation to the alleged child abuse. Didn't they even realize that they may have been exploited when they were young? Ahhh, it's different, some would say. Yong kay Jan Jan's na special talent ay para sa lowlife? at ang kanila ay para sa mga elite at mga artists. Parang pag sikat na painter, ang nude painting ay art, pero kung karaniwan ka lang tao, ito ay bastos. It is crystal clear that some people like blood. Blood of Willie Revillame. Gagawin yatang dinuguan.


Many may disagree with me or may think that I am a fan of Revillame. Nah you are wrong. Having been in the corporate world where crisis management calls for coming up with resolutions to avert negative impact on the corporate's image or operations, I do not believe that the apology of the TV5 was " labas-ilong". They offered cooperation. They imposed moratorium on contests and game shows. 

Facing widespread public rebuke for alleged “child abuse" on its show Willing Willie and possible government sanctions, ABC TV5 has imposed a moratorium on contests and game shows involving minors. 
The network’s chief operating officer Robert V. Barreiro also informed the Movie and Television Review and Classification Board (MTRCB) at a hearing Monday that his company will follow stricter guidelines on the appearance and performance of minors on all TV5 programs.

But the MTRCB and other has- been- personalities wanted more--to ax the program. To me, this is counterproductive. They did not want to move on. Their hidden agenda are showing.  

Paco Market

Dear insansapinas,

This is my second post in a day. That means, I can not do other chores than to wait for the environmental techies who are going to make our place a hell for pests for the next four months. In short, spray ang mga nooks ang crannies for hibernating night crawlers and other nocturnal cretins. It is already spring you know. 

Paco Market
While waiting and watching a so so movie, I've come across this article about the Paco Market." Paco Market now clean, green, fun place to party."


Decades ago, my father was between jobs. He was diagnosed with weak lungs and had to rest a bit. That was after he was deployed in Puerto Princesa Palawan. We lived in Paco. 


My father was not a person who whined and wined during these moments when the family was facing financial challenges.  My brothers were not the kind  who would throw tantrums because of family problems. There were not a lot of words spoken but the children were made aware of the situation. No one would drop out from school. 


One day, my oldest brother came home. He gave my mother a few pesos. He went to a government office near his school  and run errands for the employees during his school break. 


My twin brothers also came home with several peso bills. Half of them, they gave to my mom.
Half, they kept to themselves for their capital. They told my mom, they were already entrepreneurs. They were then in the fifth grade. 


I did not understand what they meant and where they got the money. My mom seemed to be troubled but my brothers assured her that there would be no problem.


So while my dad was looking for a job, my brothers were the bread winners of the family.
One time, I was asked by my mom to go to the Paco Market to look for my brothers. They failed to come home so they could go to school in the afternoon shift. It was there where I saw my two brothers running away from the police. OO, Virginia, they were selling kalamansi, sibuyas and tomatoes in the sidewalk. Because they're twins, the police were confused who to grab whenever there was an order of catching the sidewalk vendors.


May tagasigaw naman ng takbo na. One time, one of my brothers was caught. I had to bring him food and water in the temporary holding cell; he was reading his book. Nah, they were not brought to the precinct. I do not know. May magic yata sila. 


When my father got the job after a few months, he asked them to stop from their " business". 
Sayang naman sabi nila. One hundred per cent and tubo nila. Capitalistic ha! So they engaged in another business where they provided the capital for the vendors. Hati naman. 


When school closing came, one twin became the valedictorian and other the salutatorian. 


The employees in that government office became fond of my oldest brother so he continued being a gofer for them. He passed the admission test in the Philippine Science High School but we moved to a suburban area where my father's job perks included housing accommodation. 


There were no promises of toys and gadgets to make good in school. They felt that whatever accomplishments they had would be to their benefit. 

Why do we say it is raining cats and dogs?

Dear insansapinas,
I was meaning to post something about victimology but I just had trimmed my bangs.  Until  they grow again, I have to bear with my diminished IQ. Toink.


My brother was convincing me to visit the historical places in Virginia. He said we could also go to Pentagon and Quantico, the places which I hear mostly in the TV series I watch. 


But I tire easily. The last place I visited was the Washington Mansion.

When I visited Washington Mansion at Mt. Vernon, Virginia, one thing I noticed is the absence of bathroom in the old mansion or I just did not see them since we just looked from outside the rooms.
There is an outhouse which used to be the depository of human wastes collected inside the house.
The wastes were converted to fertilizer. So the note says in that structure.


Below is the miniature replica of the sitting room in the mansion. Cameras are not allowed inside so the guests can only take pictures of this scaled model of the house.

 For more pictures, please go to Travel Tips and Trips.


After touring the mansion, I remember an  e-mail forwarded by a reader  about bathing and cooking practices of people beforemodern conveniences were introduced to humanity.


READ AND SQUIRM


The next time you are washing your hands and complain because the  water temperature isn't just how you like it, think about how things used  to  be. Here are some facts about the 1500s:


1.  Most people got married in June because they took their yearly bath  in May, and still smelled pretty good by June. However, they were starting  to smell, so brides carried a bouquet of flowers to hide the body odor.  Hence the custom today of carrying a bouquet when getting married.
UGH.

 2. Baths consisted of a big tub filled with hot water. The man of the  house had the privilege of the nice clean water, then all the other sons  and  men, then the women and finally the children. Last of all the babies. By  then the water was so dirty you could actually lose someone in it. Para bang natabunan na ng libag.  Hence  the  saying," Don't throw the baby out with the Bath water." DOUBLE UGH.



 3. Houses had thatched roofs-thick straw-piled high, with no wood  underneath. It was the only place for animals to get warm, so all the cats  and other small animals (mice, bugs) lived in the roof. When it rained it  became slippery and sometimes the animals would slip and fall off the  roof.
 Hence the saying , It's raining cats and dogs.
 There was nothing to stop things from falling into the house.


 4. This posed a real problem in the bedroom where bugs and other droppings  could  mess up your nice clean bed. Hence, a bed with big posts and a sheet hung  over the top afforded some protection. That's how canopy beds came into  existence.
TRIPLE UGH AND I LIKE CANOPY BEDS.

my bedroom in San Francisco

Feeling ko prinsesa ako na may kulambo. hehehe

Phases of Life and the Bathroom

Dear insansapinas,

My first memory of a bathroom was when I slipped in a white tiled floor as I tried to get away from my mom who was cleaning my ears while giving me a bath. There were soap suds all over. Then we moved and the little room  was not only a place to do my  ritual thing; it was also a safe refuge when mom’s angry with me because I had misbehaved when I was a kid. It was also there when I could annoy my older brothers by staying longer while they were short to getting the axe to open the door. Priceless. The bathroom cabinet had powder, toothpaste, lotion and some cough syrup bottles.


When I started growing pimples and reading romance novels, the bathroom was a place for wiping  my eyes with tears. That was where I poured my heart out, aided by rolls of toilet papers, I cursed, I wept and I wiped my eyes promising to myself that I will never let myself hurt again. Hindi na. Tseh.


After a few months, I was back again to that small room pondering what happened to my resolution. Looking at myself in the mirror, I made my resolve again.


The cabinet had added a few items such as pimple remover, anti-perspirant cream, mouthwash and foot powder.


I graduated, joined the corporate jungle and raised a family. The bathroom became a nest for hatching ideas to be presented to the gods wearing expensive suits. Showers took longer time. 

Water flowed as ideas popped out like  bath bubbles, blown to droplets of  water when thought not feasible.


Another bathroom fixture was added…a bathroom vanity.


 Plants  were placed near the toilet bowl. Air fresheners gave the sweet scents 24/7. Pictures were hung on the wall. Colorful rugs provide beautiful floor accents.


Now with health issues, it is not only aesthetics which is my concern. The medicine cabinet grew to become like a mini-pharmacy.


Ahhh.


Pinaysaamerika

The Diary of a Filipina Wife (Culture Shock)

Dear insansapinas,

This is one diary that I would love to read-- a diary of a Filipina is who married to a Caucasian.


MONDAY 
 Unang attempt kong magluto.Gusto raw niya ng cake. Nakita ko yong recipe para sa angel cake. Sabi ng recipe  beat 12 eggs separately. Apat lang ang bowls ko kaya nanghiram ako sa kapitbahay ng 
walo pa.


TUESDAY
Sabi ng asawa ko gusto niya ng fruit salad. Inulit pa niya na "serve without dressing". Uhhm pilyo talaga ang asawa ko. Kaya kahit maginaw naghubad ako bago siya dumating. Tinamaan ng kulog, kasama pala niya ang boss niya.


 WEDNESDAY
Namimiss ko ang bigas kaya nagluto ako. Sabi ng instruction sa balutan ay " wash thoroughly before steaming the rice". Kaya naghugas ako ng ilang beses kahit naligo na ako ng magang-maga. Sobra namang linis nila dito.


THURSDAY
Sabi ng asawa ko salad na naman daw.Naghanap ako ng bagong recipe.Sabi ng recipe, " prepare ingredients, then toss on a bed of lettuce one hour before serving."Nagtaka tuloy ang asawa ko bakit may gulay sa kama. 


FRIDAY
Nakakuha ako ng recipe para sa cookies.Sabi eh, " put the ingredients in bowl and beat it." Matutuwa ang asawa ko nito, natandaan ko yong sinabi niya doon sa kaniyang pinsang makulit, beat it man. Takbo yong pinsan. Kaya tumakbo rin ako.Walang nangyari doon sa ingredients. Siguro isa pang takbo. Baka pagbalik  maayos na yong recipe.

SATURDAY
Dumating ang mga biyenan ko at may dalang manok. Sabi ng aking asawa " dress it for Sunday ". Pusa magandang damitan, pero manok ???? ahmmm 


SUNDAY
Sabi ng asawa ko gusto raw niya ay roast para sa hapunan. Wala naman akong makitang may markang roast doon sa refrigerator.Pero  may nakita akong Roast doon sa oven. Ahaa. Kumuha ako ng isda at inilagay ko sa oven. Pinihit ko yong oven sa Roast. Bakit ayaw nila ng inihaw na isda? 


Ayaw kasi ng leching manok eh. Tseh.


GOOD NIGHT DEAR DIARY. Bukas ay pinabibili ko ang asawa ko ng mas malaking oven. Gusto
niya kasi ng Chocolate MOOSE. 


Pinaysaamerika

Reloaded from my old website.

Mother Dearest, Ina ito ang iyong anak

Dear insansapinas,
My father-in-law was diagnosed with Alzheimer's. It turned out, his was a lesser form of dementia. But in the convalescent hospital where we sent nurses, old people with Alzheimer's diseases exhibited
different characteristics such as being combative, catatonic or were simply quiet and submissive to the caregivers.


My father did not want to grow old. He was afraid to become senile and a burden to the family. I share his sentiment.


I read one blogger who was worried if her parents would die leaving them debt burden. She was worried what if they become no longer productive.


My mother used to say, kung alam ko lang na ganiyan ka lalaki, sana ay pinisil ko na ang ilong mo noong bata ka pa. Kapipisil nga kaya tumangos. whahaha.


Seriously, no matter how "pasaway" the parents are when they are old, they do not deserve to be treated like a dog. Watch the video.


Bakit kailangang paluin ng anak ang nanay niya para matahimik? Bakit kailangang gumamit ng pampalo, pang-awat at pagbigay direksiyon sa ina. Dito kulong yang mga yan.

The Cobra, Jason Ivler and Marlene Aguilar

Dear insansapinas,
The missing Egyptian cobra was found alive after it went missing for days from a New York City zoo.
In its twitter account, it said that it could not divulge the names of the friends who helped it during the time it was into hiding. It admitted also that it could not eat adobo despite the recipe available in internet and can be accessed by googling because it favors  chicken than pork. Given a longer time to hide, it might be able to learn not only adobo but also other Asian exotic food.


It also admitted that it has met the President. 


Marlene Aguilar-Pollard and Jason Ivler




Marlene Aguilar -Pollard said that partying inside the prison cell is already a culture in the Philippines. Jason Ivler, her son who was accused of killing a government official's son in a road rage published his photos in his FB account. Susunod niyan may disco light na sa 
mga selda?


Ang tanong magkano?


The mother said the Ivler is the idol ng bayan. Hindi ko alam na ang 
isang selda ay isang bayan na.


Siya kaya ang naging inspirasyon ni Freddie Aguilar sa kantang ""Anak?"
"


Pinaysaamerika