Circular 2013-003 on Age 65 and over

This SSS Circular - on age 65 and over has been suspended by the SSS Commission in a meeting last 5 July 2013.

if you want to read the Circular completely .... here it is.... i am having trouble putting up the Circular

Food trip - Ilocano food: Victorino's and Comida Ilocandia

weekend start.

we went to Heny Sison's Victorino's at Jamboree cor. Rallos

my friend Dale had her birthday last month, but she was off the country and we couldnt manage to meet

except for last Friday.  Our friend Jer chose the resto, as he's hip about new restos.

the ambiance at Victorino's was okay. i like the white walls, and the block of yellow tiles, and the easy comfort of the chairs, which was a surprise, really because they were simple chairs.

Click here for Victorino's menu

we had lots of food, all good, but i have tasted better.

we had the following
Pako, Warek-warek, Lomolomo, Karabasa soup, Longanisa Platter, Bagnet (of course)

First of all, i have tasted authentic Ilocano food, there in the heart of Marcos country - Batac. And well, that is superior Ilocano food. Cooked Bagnet there is uber delicious, if a trifle bad for the heart.  and the orange lumpia thing - i forgot what they are called .....Empanaditos

in comparison with Comida Ilocandia located along Timog

Comida Ilocandia

Timog Branch
33-D , Timog Ave, Quezon City (Infront of McDonald)

Tel. 709, 9041, 0918-925660

Click here for Comida Elocandia's menu

more next time.  will update you on what we ate.....

food is one of my faves.  food for the body.  food for the soul. food for the heart. and food for the mind (books generally).

SSS circular 2013-003 on Age 65 and up is suspended

well, there you have it.  the circular has been suspended/withdrawn per SS Commission meeting held last 5 July 2013

TGIF

i know this feeling well, and everyone i know celebrates it
have a good weekend

for me the weekend looms very quietly, a time to rest (the way Spock would, not the way Kirk would, in classic Trek), hopefully a time to cook -

i was planning on sinigang na something - bangus (milkfish) or baboy (pork)

i have kangkong, sili, and will get labanos (radish), and maybe some gabi (i dont quite remember the English term for this)

i know my doc would prefer it were boneless bangus instead of pork, bangus belly would be good but my cardio told me it isnt all that good, being omega-3 NOT omega-6 unlike wild salmon, which is omega-6.

 yes, i get these gems everytime i have my checkup.

i am also planning on shrimp omelets

this is just an egg omelet with garlic (i love garlic, freshly pound into bits), patola, onions (i prefer the red ones), and shrimps, which i prefer to cut up into pieces so one can taste the shrimp all over the omelet.

yum. so i hope i dont feel too tired ,,,, and that someone comes over to assist me

i have to do the usual, wash clothes (throw them into the washer, yep, even the expensive ones), and i segregate as one should. and i change the bed linens, and clean my room and bath.  *sigh*

then i have to shop and buy some water pipes for my PT ... this is to relax the muscles

and if i am lucky, i get to eat tapadera.  lovely beef- which i really really love, with potatoes and onion rings.

and my fave activity. read.  i am re-reading my clancy books, at least the Jack Ryan ones.

Goodreads quote from Harper Lee

i rather like this quote, and i love the book, To Kill a Mockingbird, and of course, the black-and-white movie starring Gregory Peck as the Atticus Finch.  If you will remember, Atticus had 2 kids, Scout and Jeremy, and there was also their wonderful neighbor Boo - Boo Radley.  Read the book, and watch the movie.  A great classic.  Atticus defended the black guy. I remember Calpurnia, the housekeeper of the Finches.

Remembering all that, and that today the USA has a black president, Barack Obama.

The one thing that doesn't abide by majority rule is a person's conscience.


Harper Lee
July 11, 1960: Southern writer Harper Lee's enduring classic, To Kill a Mockingbird, was published 53 years ago today.

btw, i have read the book a couple of times, but the last read was about 10 years ago.
A mockingbird has a beautiful voice, it can also imitate other birds.

FOR PRESIDENT AQUINO AND THE BIR

i want to ask why the working disabled is discriminated against by the government, most particularly the BIR

POSTULATE: 

The Government discriminates against the revenue-earning disabled.

PROOF:

The disabled already is burdened with his physical concerns, and many of them require medication, special equipment, or special treatment (physical therapy) .  SENIORS ENJOY A TAX-FREE DISCOUNT.  PWDS HAVE TO PAY TAX.

THOSE PWDS WHO ARE EARNING ARE TAXED IN THE SAME WAY AS REGULAR PERSONS.  THOSE WHO SUFFER NO DISABILITY.

CONCLUSION: 

THE GOVERNMENT IS DISCRIMINATING AGAINST THE DISABLED.




                                                                                           
 

Something to know ............

I first came across this quote in an Ian Fleming - that is, a James Bond story, i forget which.

Why this quote today .... well, i found a mad man yesterday.  You might discover him soon .........

 

 

Whom the gods would destroy, they first make mad.

 

Euripides
Greek tragic dramatist (484 BC - 406 BC)   

 

Still on the Circular 2013-003: On Age 65 SSS members and over

DISCLAIMER:  I AM NOT A LAWYER NOR A PROCESSOR SO THESE ARE DISCUSSION ITEMS THAT ARE FOR INFO PURPOSES ONLY.

Manila Standard again features this Circular;

Read this post

My lawyer friend told me this.  The SSS Commission CANNOT amend the LAW.  It cannot be greater than Congress.  In this respect, my friend agrees with HTT's statement regarding usurpation of congressional function.    "He said the Social Security law does not impose a deadline on paying contributions and De Quiros cannot change the law by issuing a circular, which is “a usurpation of congressional function.”

Only Congress can limit the benefits, right?


These are the powers of the SSS Commission,  stated in the same law. under Section

"SEC. 4. Powers and Duties of the Commission and SSS. - (a) The Commission. - For the attainment of its main objectives as set forth in Section 2 hereof, the Commission shall have the following powers and duties:

"(1) To adopt, amend and rescind, subject to the approval of the President of the Philippines, such rules and regulations as may be necessary to carry out the provisions and purposes of this Act;

"(2) To establish a provident fund for the members which will consist of voluntary contributions of employers and/or employees, self-employed and voluntary members and their earnings, for the payment of benefits to such members or their beneficiaries, subject to such rules and regulations as it may promulgate and approved by the President of the Philippines;

"(3) To maintain a Provident Fund which consists of contributions made by both the SSS and its officials and employees and their earnings, for the payment of benefits to such officials and employees or their heirs under such terms and conditions as it may prescribe;

"(4) To approve restructuring proposals for the payment of due but unremitted contributions and unpaid loan amortizations under such terms and conditions as it may prescribe;

"(5) To authorize cooperatives registered with the cooperative development authority or associations registered with the appropriate government agency to act as collecting agents of the SSS with respect to their members: Provided, That the SSS shall accredit the cooperative or association: Provided, further, That the persons authorized to collect are bonded;

"(6) To compromise or release, in whole or in part, any interest, penalty or any civil liability to SSS in connection with the investments authorized under Section 26, hereof, under such terms and conditions as it may prescribe and approved by the President of the Philippines; and

"(7) To approve, confirm, pass upon or review any and all actions of the SSS in the proper and necessary exercise of its powers and duties hereinafter enumerated.

Francisca Yazon, Former Registrar of Philippine Science High School passed away

Condolences to the Yazons.  May you remember the happy times always.

Francisca O. Yazon, former Registrar of the Philippine Science High School, passed away last Friday afternoon, 5 July 2013 of a heart attack.  

This from a text from Dr. Roselmo Z. Doval -Santos, Sayans batch 75  (my batch).

*****
The Wake is at Timothy Chapel, St. Peter's, Commonwealth   (before Tandang Sora).

If you are coming from Philcoa, use the service road - that is, stay on the right.

Mommy Yazon leaves many Sayans grads with the fondest memories. She loved violet/purple obviously before Barney the dinosaur became famous here in the Philippines, and one could always check out her car from whatever floor because it was clearly visible.

She is particularly loved by batch 75, because of Xenon and Beth.

She was a warm and lovely woman, and someone we will always remember.

I dont know if I can go to the wake because my leg really hurts, but i shall light blessed candles (these are candles blest on Candelaria) for her.  I last chatted with her at the Manila Hotel, at the last Lagablab awards wherein Benita S. Padilla, MD was awarded.  She was there with Jessamyn, also a graduate of PSHS, but i cannot remember her batch (Jessamyn's).

UPDATE:

 From Xenon Yazon

Interment, tomorrow, July 10, 2013

Dear Everyone!

Thank you to all who have sympathized with us in our time of grief.  The Yazon family is sad that Mommy is gone but realizes that she has lived a full life.  She is now with her Creator.

Interment details as follows:

7:30-8:30 am   Mass at St. Peter Chapels, Commonwealth Ave.

8:30-9:30 am   Leave St. Peter and travel to Himlayang Pilipino

9:30-10:30 am   Arrival at Himlayang, Short Prayer and Interment.

Xen

Circular 2013-003. Aged 65 and over members

hmmmm.  my discussion on this topic disappeared.  i got zapped by the Internet

DISCLAIMER :  I AM NOT A LAWYER NOR AN SSS  or  GSIS PROCESSOR.  DISCUSSIONS HEREWITH ARE FOR INFO ONLY.  THIS CIRCULAR IS SUSPENDED.

The Manila Standard  posted this last Saturday, the editorial post is called Machete attack

Click here for the Manila Standard editorial on this Circular

Here is Section 9 of the SSS Law

"SEC. 9. Coverage. - (a) Coverage in the SSS shall be compulsory upon all employees not over sixty (60) years of age and their employers: Provided, That in the case of domestic helpers, their monthly income shall not be less than One thousand pesos (P1,000.00) a month: Provided, further, That any benefit already earned by the employees under private benefit plans existing at the time of the approval of this Act shall not be discontinued, reduced or otherwise impaired: Provided, further, That private plans which are existing and in force at the time of compulsory coverage shall be integrated with the plan of the SSS in such a way where the employer's contribution to his private plan is more than that required of him in this Act, he shall pay to the SSS only the contribution required of him and he shall continue his contribution to such private plan less his contribution to the SSS so that the employer's total contribution to his benefit plan and to the SSS shall be the same as his contribution to his private benefit plan before the compulsory coverage: Provided, further, That any changes, adjustments, modifications, eliminations or improvements in the benefits to be available under the remaining private plan, which may be necessary to adopt by reason of the reduced contributions thereto as a result of the integration, shall be subject to agreements between the employers and employees concerned: Provided, further, That the private benefit plan which the employer shall continue for his employees shall remain under the employer's management and control unless there is an existing agreement to the contrary: Provided, finally, That nothing in this Act shall be construed as a limitation on the right of employers and employees to agree on and adopt benefits which are over and above those provided under this Act.

"(b) Spouses who devote full time to managing the household and family affairs, unless they are also engaged in other vocation or employment which is subject to mandatory coverage, may be covered by the SSS on a voluntary basis.

"(c) Filipinos recruited by foreign-based employers for employment abroad may be covered by the SSS on a voluntary basis.

"SEC. 9-A. Compulsory coverage of the Self-employed. - Coverage in the SSS shall be compulsory upon such self-employed persons as may be determined by the Commission under such rules and regulations as it may prescribe, including but not limited to the following:

1. All self-employed professionals;

2. Partners and single proprietors of businesses;

3. Actors and actresses, directors, scriptwriters and news correspondents who do not fall within the definition of the term "employee"; in Sec. 8 (d) of this Act;

4. Professional athletes, coaches, trainers and jockeys; and

5. Individual farmers and fishermen.

"Unless otherwise specified herein, all provisions of this Act applicable to covered employees shall also be applicable to the covered self-employed persons.

Notice that coverage is mandatory/compulsory prior to age 60, meaning that the employee has to be covered.  60 and above, however, it seems that a person can still be covered at the option of the member....


Here is Section 11 of the SSS Law  (RA 8282)

"SEC. 11. Effect of Separation from Employment. - When an employee under compulsory coverage is separated from employment, his employer's contribution on his account and his obligation to pay contributions arising from that employment shall cease at the end of the month of separation, but said DRemployee shall be credited with all contributions paid on his behalf and entitled to benefits according to the provisions of this Act. He may, however, continue to pay the total contributions to maintain his right to full benefit.

(red underlining is mine)
The reason why members were being told to continue is because of the provisions of the SS Law
under Section 11 above and Section 12-B on retirement benefits below -
Note that the Law says that the member may continue to pay the total contributions to maintain his full right to full benefit.  This sentence does not specify any age or any condition.

"SEC. 12-B. Retirement Benefits. - (a) A member who has paid at least one hundred  twenty (120) monthly contributions prior to the semester of retirement and who (1) has reached the age of sixty (60) years and is already separated from employment or has ceased to be self-employed or (2) has reached the age of sixty-five (65) years, shall be entitled for as long as he lives to the monthly pension: Provided, That he shall have the option to receive his first eighteen (18) monthly pensions in lump sum discounted at a preferential rate of interest to be determined by the SSS.

"(b) A covered member who is sixty (60) years old at retirement and who does not qualify for pension benefits under paragraph (a) above, shall be entitled to a lump sum benefit equal to the total contributions paid by him and on his behalf: Provided, That he is separated from employment and is not continuing payment of contributions to the SSS on his own.

(red underlining is mine)


There is no mention of a MANDATORY RETIREMENT AGE. 
The  basis for this remark?  Consider this, A member who does not have at least 120 contributions and who has reached the age of 65 and is still employed..... then what?  isnt the employer obliged to pay SSS? No? why not?  the law only says he does not have to be compulsorily covered, not that he cannot be covered.  What i do not know for sure is whether the decision to be covered is done the employee although i rather think it should be his choice....

 so if this is true for the employee, it should be true for the self employed/voluntary member, correct?


*********************
If you do a  TRUTH TABLE for (a),
it goes like like this

( with 120 contributions is TRUE)  *and*  (age =60 is TRUE)  * (no employment = TRUE) =====>
                     (then) WILL GET PENSION

T * T * T ==> T                    T * T * F ==> F
T * F * T ==> F

(with 120 contributions is TRUE ) *and*  (age =65 is TRUE) =====>
                    (then)  WILL GET PENSION regardless of employment status



stands to reason that if  there are not enough contributions, and the person is STILL working, then he will continue to pay

******** to be continued ************

i suspect Circular 2013-003 will be suspended/withdrawn soon

SSS Death Benefit Discussion

Several individuals were discussing the SSS death benefits with Mrs. X (I dont remember her name).  The discussants - Mrs. X whose pension was cut-off, a former SSS processor I shall Cindy, a friend -  a widow, a really old lady (she must be in her late 80s), and i was with my friend. 5 of us.

Mrs. X was complaining that SSS had no right to arbitrarily suspend her pension.  When asked by Cindy if SSS explained the suspension of her pension, she replied that per SSS, she had been overpaid.  Her philandering husband (her words, not mine) had been receiving a pension of philippine pesos 1,200 for a year, and after his death, this amount was transferred to her.  3 years later, a claim was filed by the mother of the extra-marital children; 3 were under 21.

Per RA 8282 (the current SSS law), under section 12-B, the pension will go to the primary beneficiaries at the date of his retirement.  In the same law, primary beneficiaries are defined  as the dependent spouse until the spouse remarries and the legitimate children aged below 21, and the adopted, legitimated, illegitimate.  The sharing is defined by law.

In no way is the wife deprived of her pension.  However, in the case of Mrs. X, she was paid the entire pension for 3 years because there were no legitimate children (if there had been, she would have been their guardian anyway).  This means she was overpaid by 600 (1/2 the pension would have gone to the children) per month, so a total of 600 times 12 times 3 years  or pesos 21,600.

So her pension will be suspended until SSS recovers the 21,600.  After which, her pension will resume.
Also, as the children (remember, there were 3 of them) turn 21, that part of the pension will revert to her.

**questions? ***

More discussions on Circular 2013-003 and the AlkanSSSya program

if you readers are familiar with the Social Security System, Horace T. Templo is the former Chief Actuary and EVP of Operations.

Click here for Horace Templo's discussion of 2 SSS initiatives - Age 65 and over Circular 2013-003 and the AlkanSSSya program

There has been a lot of discussions about this Circular.

i suggest reading the following sections in the SSS Law (RA 8282)

Section 9 on Coverage.
Section 12-B on Retirement Benefits.
Section 13 on Death Benefits.

Let me know your conclusions.

Click here to read the SSS Law (RA8282) and the Sections

It is likely that this circular will be suspended/withdrawn.

Are you in London? See this for yourself .......if not, just enjoy

i love the idea of being free from the force of gravity ... and have pictures to prove it
.......see this optical illusion house
a wonderful Colossal idea

ah, to go to London (and like the cat, to visit the queen)

Click here to see this --- leandro-erlichs-reflective-optical-illusion-house-now-at-the-barbican-in-london/

EC on the Kasambahay

The Law itself makes no mention of EC payments; the Q&A of the Bill, issued by DOLE mentions ECC only in passing.  In theory, Kasambahays should be covered by EC because they have employers.  

However, wearing the hat of the EC leads one to question .... when is the Kasambahay not covered by the EC?  It seems that the Kasambahay is always covered by the EC.... and seems rather unfair to regular employees.  Regular employees are covered only while doing their official duties, whether in the office or not, or during the trip to/fro.  How does that translate to the Kasambahay?

Click here to read the Kasambahay Bill as signed into law

Horace Templo's Column on the SSS initiatives: Circular 2013-003 on Age 65 and over and The AlkanSSSya Program

Please read HTT's column today on two hot issues of SSS -  very meaningful discussion from the former Chief Actuary of the Social Security System.



Horace T. Templo's Manila Standard column/post on the new SSS issues: The AlkanSSSya and Age 65 and Up Circular No. 2013-003

Last Saturday for Kasambahay Registration - 29 June

2 things.

First of all, 29 June is NOT the last day for Householder/Kasambahay registration.  There is NO LAST day.  However, this Saturday 29 June is the LAST SATURDAY THAT SSS offices are opened specifically for Kasambahay registration.

secondly, see discussion below ----

i heard someone complaining that the SSS instructions in the SSS website did not match the actual procedures in the branches.  so i took a  gander at reading the SSS procedures in a  copy that someone gave me and checked the procedures done at the SSS branches.

well ...... i guess the confusion has to do with the form called Employer Registration, also referred to as the R-1.  I am having difficulty attaching the picture of the form.  However, let me just say that the instructions that form part of the form specify supporting documents.

Therefore, the people in the Operations - that is, the branch people are safeguarding you - the householder - by asking you for identification. 

Why do i say safeguarding you .... if you are required to supply identification (and authorization, just in case you send someone to do things for you), NO ONE can pretend to be you, and thus NO ONE can maliciously report erroneous items for you that may create hassles for you.

so, i suggest you bring 2 IDs as proof of your identity.
 as you can discern from the picture below, the instructions say there are no additional documents required.

i say, be safe, and provide IDs and authorization letter as necessary.

dont forget to register as an employer for your kasambahay

Tired of long lines at the SSS Branches? SSS Branches Full? Make an Appointment 3 days before

I overheard a lady complaining that no matter what time she went to the SSS Office, she always found out that the office was full.

i was wondering why she never made an appointment.
perhaps she is not registered in the SSS website.
at any rate, members can make appointments through the SSS website -

ONE CAVEAT:  MEMBERS WHO PLAN TO USE THE APPOINTMENT SYSTEM MUST BE AN SSS WEBSITE REGISTERED USER.

queues for appointments are separate from the numbered queues

Survey Shows ....

This is the other topic a friend wanted me to write about....

do you remember the tv show ..... that had the host saying

"Survey shows ...."

do you know why the producers of that show think you should be able to guess at the answers

yes, certainly.   it is because the survey is supposed to represent "your" population

This implies that the sample covered by the survey is the "same" as that of the population, and stat-people, as opposed to cat-people, hypothesize by saying that the population follows the normal bell curve and taking a random sample will have the same characteristics, and hedge their bets by specifying a degree of error, expressed in standard deviation, such a plus-or-minus 3% margin of error.    

Did you know that when one designs a survey, they have a hypothesis?

what is the hypothesis, you say. you mean you dont know, and there you are, making a survey

Surveys are supposed to be impartial unbiased samples of a population. Otherwise, if the survey is biased, then no significant conclusions can be made.  So the survey design is important because this allows conclusions based on the sample be applicable to the larger group.

Remembering Batch mates

Today Benjie Punay would have been 56, but he passed away just last month, 31 May.
I remember you today. We first met when we were classmates in Neptune at the Philippine Science High School.  Then you went on to UP where you focused on BS Geology, and you later went to Japan.
Alice has a nice album put together with the help of your siblings and friends.

I also take the time to remember Vic Raralio, another guy from Neptune.  He married Armin, the sister of batch 73's Adlai de Pano.  my group will remember Adlai as being the batchmate of Ernie Uichanco, Kuya Ernie to Kay and cousin to Julia Onate (batch 76)

I also remember Lourdes Paredes.  She belonged to the huge Paredes clan, and i remember her home in Kamias.  One of the last outings we had after school days was a picnic there at Wildlife Park.
we signed off on a paper plate.  i do not remember where the paper plate is........

Til tomorrow,  i see you all sheltered beneath our Creator's love.

Two Saturdays left for the SSS Kasambahay-Householder Registration

This is just to remind those who read my blog for my inputs on various stuff  that there 2 Saturdays left for the registration (and payment if you so desire) for kasambahays and householders.

Tomorrow, June 22 and on Saturday, 29 June.

take advantage of the relatively shorter lines since only kasambahay transactions will be entertained by SSS

A post about Accounting

a dear friend of mine requested two topics for this blog.  one is a post on Accounting, another is on Surveys.  i do not know why these 2 topics are desirable, but here goes

Accounting is a simple retelling, or a method of recording.  For example, in a retelling, after say a soldier reports activities on a battlefield, it can be used by saying, "your unit gave a good accounting at the battle of Gettysburg (for the Union shoulders).....".

This is similar to one's accounting of one's time.  Time is the most expensive item in this world.  If you disagree, then consider this.  Time cannot be begged, borrowed, or recycled, and everyone must strive to make each moment count.

By making moments count, it is not about generating income.  it is about living a life that is full of the important things that make a life worth living.  Love (and i dont mean just the romantic kind), Laughter, Joy, and yes, even tears. It is making a life accountable to its Maker, if you arent an atheist.  That's accounting, too!  An accounting of one's personal life.  Remember "My Way"?

Regrets, I've had a few
But then again, too few to mention
I did what I had to do and saw it through without exemption
I planned each charted course, each careful step along the byway
And more, much more than this, I did it my way

Yes, there were times, I'm sure you knew
When I bit off more than I could chew
But through it all, when there was doubt
I ate it up and spit it out
I faced it all and I stood tall and did it my way


These days though it is mostly used to count and record monies or money transactions.  So these involve keeping financial records, analyzing financial data, and doing audit

If you think about it, Accounting is the simple allocation of items to its "proper" place.  Take for example, an accounting of  one's personal expenses. 

Or in the accounting for one's personal allowance or monies, one may list down all expenses by type of expense, say "food", "groceries", "utilities-power", "utilities-communications", "utilities-power" - and so forth so that one has sub-levels. And so it is.

Of course i havent on the general ledger system of formal accounting, where one has sublevels within sublevels.  Where there are revenue and income accounts that one closes each fiscal year, translating these to GL accounts.  want to know more? drop me a line.

A Colossal Thought

Are you a reader? I am.  I read lots of stuff, i think i have mentioned before, from the sublime to the ridiculous, all of them interesting.

i  read for the fun of it, and i come by this love of reading from both sides of the family.  My Mom's family are readers and they have tons of books.  Unfortunately though, the floods in the Sampaloc area during those times have destroyed some of them.  From my Dad's side are all prodigious readers, and all the family have libraries.  Some of those books have been given away.

i must have read over a 1000 books, and i havent included the romance books i read in High School, or numerous Peanuts, and my collection of Calvin and Hobbes.

i try and read all of Neil Gaiman's, and i have a favorite one.

i have books on Socrates, Plato, St. Augustine, and Descartes. I also have books on Lemony Snicket ... and whodunnits galore (Sherlock Holmes, Agatha Christie, Ruth Rendell, The Cat Who series by Lilian Braun..... and more).

i tend to love fantasy and sci-fi so I have Tolkien, Asimov, StarTrek (TOS, of course), Ray Bradbury, Clarke, and one of the books i love is by Madeleine L'Engle. She wrote A Wrinkle in Time, A Wind in the Door, A Swiftly Tilting Planet .... as a cover of one of those books is supposedly a seraphim.  Yes, and the art work -- see the link --- depicted reminds me of that.

you do remember what seraphims are, right?

Click here for an interesting peek at surreal-wildlife-paintings-by-tiffany-bozic/?src=footer

Remembering my Dad, a Father's Day thought

Dad.
Everytime i write a post, or look at my old-style hand-written journal entries, i am reminded of my Dad.
He had a meticulously kept medical journal as well as a regular journal. 

I was able to read one of his journal - on the Death March.  Made me cry.
I was thinking perhaps other people might like to read it, so i am asking my Dad to send me a dream so i will know it is alright to have it published......

i havent found his other journals, but then i havent had the time to really go over the papers.

As for his medical records. i saw it, he would have time and date he had his bp taken, when he took what meds, and if there was any reaction.

Remembering my Mom

my Mom.  A wonderful homemaker.  gorgeous woman. she is the exact duplicate of my grandma.

of all her children, i was the one she spent the most time with.  i am single you see.

she told us that we should all learn the basics of homee-making. all of us learnt how to cook, iron, wash, and  clean the house - even the boys because she said what if they married women who knew nothing.  they should show their wives how to do things - and as for us - girls, we mentioned we would try to marry rich men and that we would have kasambahays to help manage the house.  she said, all the more we should know because how would we know what to teach if we didnt know how to do things.

yes, i know how to cook.  the hard stuff, too.  you know, things like pancit luglug, karekare, lechon sauce, embotido, morcon, galantina, bibingka, ensaymada and regular food....

easiest thing i learnt to cook ... meat loaf.  delish meat loaf, but just meat loaf.

one of the hardest things i've had to iron is a man's pina barong tagalog.  yipes.....

i remember times when i slept in the master's bedroom because my dad was away, or when both of them were seniors and my mom was experiencing vertigo, and since i was single, i was nominated to help her stand up, take a bath, go the bathroom, what-have-you since my dad couldnt manage ....

Happy Independence Day

How was it?  Did you go and have a party the way the Americans celebrate the 4th of July?

Yes? You had friends over?  Drank really cold for-adults-only-beverage and had food to excess?
Americans love to have beer and they usually have a barbeque - grilling steaks, hamburgers, franks, or what have you?  Americans are fierce about their rights, and their freedom.

So, are we Filipinos less?
My father (+) was - is a soldier - and fought for Filipino freedom.
i hope his sacrifices have not been in vain.

No?  Ah so. you didnt even bother to celebrate.  you just appreciated the day off.

Did you at least think of our heroes? and i dont mean the OFWs.
No?  So what is June 12 to you?

are you lackadaisical about being a Filipino?  are you proud to be Filipino?
do you know what it is to be Filipino?

Do you watch Anniversary celebrations? or better, do you participate?

Celebrations are bonding events, and this is why celebrations must be made.
i hope that Presidents of countries, and even institutions, will NOT curtail celebrations

SSS Offices Nationwide OPEN 8-5 for June Saturdays - 8, 15, 22, 29

The SSS  has announced that all branches Nationwide will be open to address these Kasambahay transactions, that is:

1. For Kasambahays to get SSS Numbers
Kasambahays must show legal proof of their identity so that SSS Numbers will be permanent.
If No legal proof is presented, a temporary SSS Number will be issued, but cannot be used for claiming and benefits

2. For Household Employers to get the Household Employer SSS Number.
This is different from the personal SSS Number of the Householder.
Householders who have been paying the SSS contributions of their kasambahay using their personal SSS Number will be issued a Household Employer SSS Number.  Only householders who are in the branch may get it immediately.  Otherwise, this will be sent via email or mail.

3.  To pay the SSS contributions of the Kasambahay.

No other transactions will be handled.
So please, DO NOT GO TO THE SSS OFFICES to file any claim or for ACOP purposes during these days.

Please click on the Kasambahay on the left side to see the procedures and the forms, and the body of proof (if i may make a pun after the show) regarding identity.





I WAS ABLE TO GET THE SSS KASAMBAHAY AD:
HERE IT IS: