A New Year's Eve post - A goodreads quote from one of my fave authors

I hope that in this year to come, you make mistakes. Because if you are making mistakes...you're Doing Something.


Neil Gaiman

Stan Lee of Marvel shares my birthday - a goodreads's selected quote

Face front, true believers! 


Stan Lee
December 28, 1922: Happy 91st birthday, Stan Lee! The comic book legend got his start filling inkwells and fetching lunch at Timely Comics, which would eventually become Marvel. He went on to create characters like Spider-Man and the X-Men.

Happy Christmas to All

The Belen

Noche Buena

And the Lord Jesus visited, and came to stay

Senor Santo Nino de Perpetua Socorro

yolanda

people respond differently, and through different means
this was a test,  and there were many bad reviews of people who ought to know better but did not

at the same time there were people who moved quietly, without fanfare

change begins with one person, youself.

a James Thurber quote from Goodreads

Two is company, four is a party, three is a crowd. One is a wanderer. 


James Thurber
December 8, 1894: Funny, dark, and slightly surreal, American writer and cartoonist James Thurber started out at the top, with drawings published in the New Yorker, thanks to his friend E.B. White, who was a writer at the magazine. Thurber was born in Ohio, 119 years ago today.

Which one?  At some point in our lives, we have all been nomads.

---

---

---

A Goodreads quote on Pleasures

Eating and reading are two pleasures that combine admirably. 

C.S. Lewis
November 22, 1963: C.S. Lewis, the British writer who created the magical land of Narnia, died 50 years ago today. On that same day, author Aldous Huxley also died and John F. Kennedy was assassinated.

Happy Thanksgiving to all

today is a day, tradition in the USA, to say thanksgiving

its origins, i recall from grade school readings, come from when the Brits left England to settle in the New World and were faced with the cold of winter and the scarcity of food. Native Americans, i forgot the tribe (could they be Seqouians?) came over to give them maize, and other great food

and so, thanksgiving.

so have a good one.
now i am hankering for some turkey .......

Kidney Friends Fund Raising

Dr. Benita S. Padilla, Nephrologist and President of Kidney Friends, giving her opening speech for the benefit

Dale and I

Manny and Alice, Benita, Nimfa, Janet and Chito, me, Dale

J M Chan

Mitch Valdez. Still as lively, still as fun, she claims she is a senior now

  

photos courtesy of dale.  friends since neptune!

A Goodreads quote that speaks of power

I believe in the power of the imagination to remake the world, to release the truth within us, to hold back the night, to transcend death, to charm motorways, to ingratiate ourselves with birds, to enlist the confidences of madmen.


J.G. Ballard
November 15, 1930: British writer J.G. Ballard was born 83 years ago today in the foreign controlled sector of Shanghai. He lived there throughout the Second Sino-Japanese War and into World War II—his popular novel, Empire of the Sun, was based on his childhood years.

Read here the post of HTT on the Wrong Way to defend Performance Bonuses

As Spock would say .... Eminently logical

Click here for HTT's Manila Standard post on the wrong way to defend performance bonuses

Mrs. Corazon S. de la Paz-Bernardo defends SSS Employees

SSS  Employees are happy that former President of SSS and first woman President of ISSA, Corazon S. de la Paz-Bernardo defended them in her letter to Mr. Rey Gamboa who published it in his BIZLINKS column at the Philippine Star today, 5 November 2013.  Please follow the link below.


Click here for Rey Gamboa's BIZLINKS article featuring CS de la Paz-Bernardo

SSS Employees are not perfect, but most truly want to help.  Processing may have slowed due to changes in m methods, systems, and the more important process flow, but the employees have been valiantly trying to adjust amidst all the changes.

...
in behalf of all the SSS Employees, particularly the rank and file.

thank you Mrs. Corazon S.de la Paz-Bernardo

YES! TO A TAX HOLIDAY!!!!

I agree. Please. a tax holiday.


Click here to read the article on a tax holiday


bir's Henares truly has an onerous tax system.
the main victims?  me. you.  the salaried employees who have no choice but to be taxed, grossly.
off the top.  i feel abused.

i am a PWD, that is, a person with disability.  my meds cost me over 30k .... ouch, really.
and the government, and PNOY and HENARES does not give me, and others like me a tax break.
taxes me like any regular person..  evil people i think sometimes.  unselfish too are thoughts that run in my mind.  COMEON!

and here you have government - corrupt in so many areas in so many ways

A Goodreads quote - about YOU

Reputation is what other people know about you. Honor is what you know about yourself.

 

Lois McMaster Bujold
November 2, 1949: Happy 64th birthday, Lois McMaster Bujold! The science fiction writer has won the Hugo Award four times and is the creator of the Vorkosigan Saga, a series inspired by the Horatio Hornblower books.

A Goodreads selected quote

The men who cannot laugh at themselves frighten me even more than those who laugh at everything.

 

Anne Perry
October 28, 1938: Happy 75th birthday, Anne Perry! She now writes successful detective novels, but Perry has a criminal past of her own. She was born Juliet Hulme and was convicted for her role in the 1954 murder of her friend's mother. Their story was told in the movie Heavenly Creatures.

i agree. 

Happy Halloween everyone

It is the All Hallow's Eve, meaning All Saint's Eve

so monsters, unless they are Pixar-type monsters (aka the Good Monsters) arent really the perfect costumes
however, as a friend Cynch said, one must be costumed as religious figures

i said, isnt that being a little too assuming about being good?
you would consider worthy to dress up an angel, or for that matter a Saint?

and i just cant. 

so i am dressing up as a superhero.  Not a monster, but a good guy, and not a perfect one
after all, superheroes dont have to be perfect.  they can be flawed

sort of fits, right?

will post pictures tomorrow, most likely, or at least during the weekend.

a fairy was another choice.  see i have a twinkly dress with a twinkly headdress, but i wore it in one of the Halloween events already.

another choice was Peanuts Linus's the Great Pumpkin.  I had a long orange dress for the pumpkin colors, and a green headdress for the leafy accouterments

haha. 

those of you who cant visito the graves of their loved ones to please remember they can light candles at home (or in church) and pray anywhere

Referring to HTT's post on SSS

 

Solving the trillion-peso SSS problem

click here to read HTT's post on the SSS


i thought you readers might like to take the time to read Horace T. Templo's take on the SSS unfunded liability and contribution increase issue.

SSS Announcement: SSS Offices Nationwide open 8-5 Saturdays startig OCT 26 2013

ALL SSS Offices will be open every Saturday 8-5 starting tomorrow, 26 October 2013
SSS Service Offices (they are at the malls) will be open 10-6.

One of My Fave Poems - Kipling's The 1000th Man

Kipling is one of my favorite artist.  Rikki-tikki-tavi is a character i adore.
for Trekkers or fans of  Classic Trek (TOS, that is), Kirk says this about Spock

and you, do you have your thousandth man?

click here for the poem from which this was taken, reproduced here for easy reading


The Thousandth Man

---

0NE man in a thousand, Solomon says.
Will stick more close than a brother.
And it's worth while seeking him half your days
If you find him before the other. Nine hundred and ninety-nine depend
On what the world sees in you,
But the Thousandth Man will stand your friend
With the whole round world agin you.
'Tis neither promise nor prayer nor show
Will settle the finding for 'ee.
Nine hundred and ninety-nine of 'em go
By your looks, or your acts, or your glory.
But if he finds you and you find him,
The rest of the world don't matter;
For the Thousandth Man will sink or swim
With you in any water.
You can use his purse with no more talk
Than he uses yours for his spendings,
And laugh and meet in your daily walk
As though there had been no lendings.
Nine hundred and ninety-nine of 'em call
For silver and gold in their dealings;
But the Thousandth Man he's worth 'em all
Because you can show him your feelings.
His wrong's your wrong, and his right's your right,
In season or out of season.
Stand up and back it in all men's sight
With that for your only reason!
Nine hundred and ninety-nine can't bide
The shame or mocking or laughter,
But the Thousandth Man will stand by your side
To the gallows-foot - and after!

---

A Goodread quote by Ursula K. Le Guin

Love doesn't just sit there, like a stone, it has to be made, like bread; remade all the time, made new.

 

Ursula K. Le Guin

October 21, 1929: Happy 84th birthday, Ursula K. Le Guin! The pioneering fantasy writer's parents were also respected writers. Her mother, Theodora Kroeber, wrote a popular book about Ishi, then thought to be the last member of the Native American Yahi tribe.

I read a lot of books written by her.  Her EarthSea tales, i especially like the left hand of darkness ....Love indeed has to change, all the time.  It must grow, less it stagnate.

Trending SSS

As an avid reader of all things SSS - i am after all, a member of good standing (meaning i am still contributing at the highest MSC even)  - well, i have to safeguard my future pension, which is why i read - or try to read everything i can about SSS.  Also, i make sure i know about the benefits.... it is important to know one's rights and privileges, after all...

i find SSS in the news.  3 issues are being discussed -

1. the Board bonus of about 1 million each
2. the sale of BGC
3. the increase in contribution - and the state of the Fund

you better believe that i watch over the state of the Fund.  i do because i want to be assured of my pension in the future.  i have a ways to go before i can have a pension

so ... here goes ...... on the state of the fund

first of all, i read the last actuarial valuation of the SSS. well, actually, i am not sure this is the last.  this was the last valuation that Horacio T. Templo (EVP) signed as Chief Actuary.  i read the draft of the next valuation, that was signed by then Deputy Actuary Rizaldy Capulong (VP).  (btw, SSS has a new Chief Actuary. His name is Conrado de la Cruz - SVP)

this is fine and good and basically explains the state of the Fund.  a lot of things are discussed in a valuation report.  As the word valuation implies, the assets of the Fund are valued or priced, and uses factors such as interest rate, interest rate trends, mortality rates (rate of dying, based on probabilities), morbidity rates (rate of diseases...), labor force and all that -

however, this is a subjectual evaluation, meaning if things such as interest rates change, the value of the funds also change.  it is therefore mandatory to re-evaluate it at specific periods. i think sss does it every 3 years, but definitely at least every 4 years as this is required by RA 8282, which is the SSS Law. .you will find words like present value in assessments of assets.

To make a long story short, one cannot take a  once-in-a-lifetime windfall to shore up reserves.  No, that is not done.  liabilities and assets must match. you cannot match say. the sale of the BGC with pensions.  one is a one-time event, the other is a forever (or almost forever, when taken in bulk) stream of money out.
Do you know how much SSS pays in benefits?

tbc......

Hierarchy of SSS Beneficiaries - as explained by a lawyer in SSS

Did you see Julie Y. Daza's article Seriously, SSS? last 1 October 2013?

An SSS lawyer filled in some information that was missed by the SSS PCEO at his last presscon at Sofitel.

the hierarchy in awarding SSS benefits goes ----

1. spouse and minor children - these are called primary beneficiaries
2. parents
3. designated beneficiary - this is any named person specified by the member
     it does NOT matter if the beneficiary is not related to the member
     could be a friend
4.  siblings
5.  matured/of-age children

********** in response to
who gets the death benefits when an sss member dies
the amount of the death benefit for a single member is the lump sum of 5 years of pension less whatever pension has been released -
for a married member - the spouse gets a lifetime pension - called a survivorship pension provided the spouse remains single and unattached.  Minor children receive 10% of the monthly pension or 250 pesos, whichever is larger.
incapacitated children have a pension for as long as he/she is alive.

Thoughts on the COA reports about SSS

I read the COA reports on SSS just a few days ago and i wonder

does COA also have the right to criticize the operations of SSS?  is this one of their powers? 

i dont really know, but is that legit?  not that i don think that the processing is really too slow.

people blame the sss employees for the slow processing, but is this really correct?

change is usually a management initiative and if people will remember,

SSS  used to have the so-called COS, short for Covenant of Service - instituted under Lani Nanagas

This was echoed in the ARTA, which is Anti-Red Tape Act,  which resulted in the Citizen's Charter, published under Secretary and PCEO Romy Neri.   processing times where even shaved a bit

Click here for the link to the pdf file for the Citizen's Charter 

so why the slowdown?  people say that the slowdown is due to changes in procedures

a lady member whose late husband was a VP in one of the tv channels said ...................

if the procedure is wrong, why not change it?  perhaps it is already being changed except that the transactions have really piled up ..........

I have a solution.  But alas, i havent been asked.  Is it the correct solution?  i dont know.  but it will speed up the process methinks.  Could be expensive, but i havent costed it out.  Still, with the BGC (Bonifacio Global City) sale, SSS would have the funds.  

well, everyone and his neighbor want the SSS processing to go faster and many think they have the solutions - i think so.  there are many solutions.  Implementation is the key.

Of course, there are many who are claiming for benefits and want it N-O-W!  Not tomorrow.  

I too have a claim and i am waiting for my benefit to clear ............

the other COA report is about the % of investments on loan to members being larger than the  allowed % in the SSS Charter.  this issue is old, and the reason is simple.  Members usually borrow before they get laid off, and when they get laid off, they are not able to pay, and when they get rehired, they dont pay at once.  Sound familiar?  Of course, hard to pay when you dont have the herewithal.

The unpaid debts increase SSS's loan to member portfolio.  COA says SSS should collect.  No doubt SSS wants these debts paid.  First of all, the SSS mandate is service to members.  While SSS is a mainly a retirement fund, it gives what is called short-term benefits, loans being one of these.  

Does COA want SSS to force members to pay?  how?  the only guarantee SSS holds that these debts will be paid upon final settlement.  Final settlement is  either death or retirement or permanent total disability.

In previous administrations, SSS has tried to collect by forcing suspension to the new employer if he doesnt deduct from employees who have loan balances.  there were condonations. condonations are nice but if granted too often is also bad because members tend to wait for these programs. conodations are also unfair to those who pay regularly.

SSS can suspend the granting of loans.  This will stop the increase in the portfolio.  But is that fair to the SSS members who pay "faithfully" and diligently? they should not be penalized for the others who did not pay.

A Story from Ryna

Ryna is a Philippine Science Graduate who works at the SSS Zamboanga Office

This is her short story.

 

We are on the process of recovery. My in-laws are directly affected because their house are located near the mangroves and they had to evacuate to our place. But nevertheless, it is better to have lost a little goods (they tend a sari-sari store and it was ransacked by the rebels) as long as they are alive. After the crisis (still undergoing clearing operation until now), we experienced continuous rains for 4 days and our house was partially damaged. 

 

Thank you for the help the SSS family extended us through prayers and words of encouragement.

 

September-October birthdays

BIRTHDAY GREETINGS TO ....

Minda M - b75
Sandy S  - b75
Terry P    - b75
Archie N - b75

Dodo
Ermatzki
Nelia OP
Yet OD
Kams

The Calamity Package for Zamboanga

The SSS Calamity Package for Zambo is the same as that offered to the Habagat-affected areas -
So this is the -

Salary Loan Early Renewal program and the lifting of the suspension of salary loan privileges for those who attempted to have their loans condoned but wasnt able to abide by the terms

3-month advanced pension

real estate loan arrangements

Confucius says, a Goodreads quote

Wheresoever you go, go with all your heart. 

Confucius
September 28, 551 B.C.: The legendary Chinese philosopher, Confucius, was born on the Shandong peninsula, 2,563 years ago today. His family was poor and in his youth he tended livestock, but in later years he had many disciples and served for a time as the Minister of Crime.

Dont you see a similarity with the Bible's story of Ruth? 
Where thou goest, there too i shall go

or quite simply, God's Will be Done.

Increase in SSS Contributions

Do you remember PNoy's SONA wherein he indicated his approval of the increase in SSS Contributions?

PNoy said it was going to be 11% instead of 10.4%, and the Monthly Salary Credit would increase to 16,000 instead of 15,000.

methinks it will be implemented soon, perhaps in January 2014 so that Voluntary Members such as OFWs, and Self-Employed Members (SE/VM) would not have to adjust their advanced payments for this year.

Those who paid for more than one year would have to pay adjustments otherwise SSS may reduce the MSC by one step so that there are no underpayments.  Also, those employers who are using Excel spreadsheets for their payroll need not adjust anything for the year.

So, if you were paying at the 15K MSC, which is 1,460.00 - it would now be 1,650 and if you wanted to continue to pay at the maximum level, it would now be 11% times 16,000 or 1,750 pesos.

Watch out for the SSS Announcement!!

Goodreads quote and one i often say - the proof of the pudding

The proof of the pudding is the eating.


Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra
September 29, 1547: Spanish writer Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra was 58 when his novel, Don Quixote, was published. Before that he served in the Spanish Navy, was captured and enslaved by Algerian pirates, did a stint as a tax collector, and was jailed for embezzlement. He was born near Madrid, 466 years ago today.

i often say this because people claim many things ....
and the proof, i always say, is in the eating.

i read Care posts - here's one and have a good weekend!

click here for a small joke

have a good weekend!

In line with my blog point, I have this quote from the bible and from an email

“We must work the works of Him who sent Me as long as it is day; night is coming, when no one can work” 
(John 9:4)

Our opportunity to expend great energy for God could suddenly be gone. 
Make the most of your “day”!

In my own words, 

Make Today Count

Do not postpone til the morrow what you can do today

 

50-1 Philippine Science High School Reunion

September 7 was the 50-1 anniversary celebration day of the Philippine Science High School, Agham Road Diliman Quezon City.  The hosting batch was batch 88.  Food was ..... some spaghetti noodle stuff, chickenini lollipop, beef ala something.  Food was okay although

The theme, sci-fi, appropriately enough.  and they had the Enterprise, but had lots of input from Star Wars.  I was trying to remember the New Trek props, but TOS is really ingrained in me so i thought the hallways were different - it looked more like the ship from Star Wars, you know, when Darth was intent on capturing Leia

We - Xennon (who was running in the elections) and Beth, Lito with the lovely Min, Alice and Manny, Leo Peter, Sonch, Dode, Ji-Ben Catajoy, Carl Dawang, and me were there to represent our batch. Lito brought a couple of bottles of wine, and i drank some.  i also had the idiocy to drink pepsi max. idiocy? well, only because it causes me insomnia, so i had no sleep Saturday night, and i had to make do with sleeping in Sunday --- all day.  Good thing i had filed for leave Monday to do stuff at Camp Aguinaldo so i did not have to wake up early.

there were several "lectures", for example, the directress of PSHSS (imitating UPS - University of the Philippines System) told us about PNoy's appreciation of PSHS graduates.....

i wondered how true that statement was ......
well, let me ask PNoy ...
how many heads of government agencies know their own?  how many heads know which of their employees are Sayans graduates?  do they even know if there is any graduates?


there was the usual request for money as the 50 for 50 saying went.  this really is the goal - that is, to reach 50 million for the 50th anniversary of the founding of Philippine Science.  i dont know what the Batch plans are -

An Early Christmas Concert: Yuletide in November

    

Kidney Friends invites you to an early Christmas concert, a fund raising activity to support entrepreneurial endeavors of patients with kidney disease.


Click here to read about kidney friends

Concert Details

Day:             Wednesday
Date             27 November 2013
Time             7 pm
Venue            Manila Polo Club

Address        McKinley Road

                     Makati City
                    (02) 817 0951
                     manilapolo.com.ph‎

The Show:     Yuletide in November

featuring         Jose Mari Chan
                       Mitch Valdes

and the singing nephrologists -----
                      Gina Nazareth
                      Dingdong Biruar
                      Brian Cabral
                      JP Lagunzad

Tickets         Pesos 5,000.00

May be obtained at           
                      Room 3225, 3rd floor,
                      Annex I (Doctor's Clinics)
                      National Kidney and Transplant Institute
                      East Avenue, Diliman, Quezon City 

for inquiries call              
                      Irish
                      981-0300 local 3225

or leave a comment on this page

you know Jose Mari Chan and Mitch Valdes, right?
the singing nephrologists are very good.  i have enjoyed their performances in previous concerts.
ArtsnFriends also support Kidney Friends.

See you there.....

Have you been to the SSS Livelihood and Bazaar Exhibit?

Yes?  Good, then do return.
If you havent, then do drop by....
it is by the MAC Building, SSS grounds, East Avenue, Diliman, QC
and it will run until Friday, 6 September

i did a quick go-around yesterday (it was almost 5 pm and most were closing up)

and i bought again from the Women's Correctional Institute.  i try to buy from them every time they exhibit at SSS because their food allowance from the government is only 50pesos/day ... for 3 meals, and their work certainly adds to their food budget.

they have crochet items - mostly shawls/shrugs, very in these days at a very suitable price
... i told them they should have crochet stuff -dresses sized S-L  or even vest types

i bought some kitchen towels, having paired them by color - red, light blue, blue, and orange

and i showed them the crochet pullover i was wearing and told them i want one if they could manage

i also got some doormats, of the cloth type as this is the season for rains, and wet/muddy shoes just simply wont work.


i am also eying blouses, pretty, pretty - except i want them with 3/4 sleeves.  guess i should have gotten pics.

there is also a stall selling ready to hang curtains.  120x56 inches.  nice.  am rather partial to the blue but our main sala is a gorgeous red and our dining room is a cool green so ......

there is one lady selling costume jewelry, some freshwater pearls.  very nice.
could be a gift for Christmas, or a birthday.

i have to redrop by the Baguio and the Davao booth because they were almost closed when i dropped by

SSS Anniversary Events - For Members

Happy Anniversary to the Social Security System

For Members of the SSS

Things of Interest to See or Participate In -

See the Gat Bonifacio Exhibit 
 (150 years celebration of Andres Bonifacio!)  opened today, 30 August
at the SSS Gallery, 2nd floor, SSS Main Bldg., East Avenue, Diliman Quezon City

Participate in the SSS Anniversary Mass 
 at 8:15 am, 2 September 2013
San Lorenzo Ruiz Chapel, 2nd floor, SSS Main Bldg

Visit the Livelihood Bazaar and Exhibit 
this will open at 9:30 am, 2 September
MAC area, SSS grounds, East Avenue, Diliman, QC
This will run until Friday, 6 September 2013
Maybe some early Christmas shopping? and do some good at the same time .....

Avail of the Medical Mission
from 8:00am-12:00 noon, Wednesday 4 September
at various locations




Enjoy the Stakeholder's (Members) Day
on Saturday, 10am-7pm 7 September at various malls