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

Goodreads quote ---- in the wake of things --- something apt

to read, to think, and to become.... This must be our destiny
Reading furnishes the mind only with materials of knowledge; it is thinking that makes what we read ours.




John Locke
August 29, 1632: British writer John Locke was a prominent Enlightenment-era philosopher whose theories strongly influenced the Declaration of Independence. He was born 381 years ago today.

the SSS habagat response

... and the response is the same as previous

although the details arent formal yet, it seems this is the package ...........
remember, to avail --- you have to be in a calamity declared area by the agency in charge

loans are immediately renewable, even if you only get a few centavos
in this case ------ i agree with a lady there in SSS who said that SSS should have just retained the previous stipulation of having at least a balance of 1K

real estate loans are eased ..

3 months pension is advanced

the gsis response is the same as previously discussed
20k at 6% interest, 36 months to pay, renewable in one year, loan thru waps

1st Debt Anniversary on their 56th

............... was a remark overheard at the ladies ....

 room of  a government office that will soon have their 56th anniversary

for the first time in the longest time, this institution does not have any anniversary bonus at all
only in the time of PNoy.

morale is at an all-time low

2 Goodreads quotes: good advice

To this generation I would say:
Memorize some bit of verse of truth or beauty. 

 

Edgar Lee Masters
August 23, 1868: Edgar Lee Masters published over 50 volumes of work, but he is known for just one—Spoon River Anthology, a moving book of poetry that tells the stories of ordinary people in a small Illinois town. He was born in Kansas, 145 years ago today.


No matter what he does, every person on earth plays a central role in the history of the world. And normally he doesn't know it. 


Paulo Coelho
August 24, 1947: Popular Brazilian novelist Paulo Coelho often writes about spiritual journeys. The turning point in his life was trekking the road to Santiago de Compostela in Spain—his book, The Pilgrimage, is about that long walk. Happy 66th birthday!

August: a month to be wary

A friend of mine warned me about the ides of August,

in this month, tempers flare, and nasty words are easier said and it is a month, in his words - a month of evil, a time when restraints are loose so we, the people, must strive to keep our controls intact, our morals in good standing and not give in to temptations.  Temptations are also easy to come by.

my friend said we must strive to keep Godliness in mind.


today, in HTT's Manila Standard column, he also talks about August.
click here to read his take

HABAGAT 2013 - LAST WEEKEND. a time for loans?

i expect government institutions to offer loans, hopefully at a favorable rate for their constituency or their members that were affected by this last calamity. 

probably SSS will reactivate their SLERP - just in case you dont remember SLERP means Salary Loan- Early Renewal Program.  the terms will depend on how lenient SSS wants to be.

i can remember when one of the SLERP terms (was it Ondoy then?)  was a member in a calamity area could renew the SSS loan for as long as net proceeds were greater or equal to 1K, that is one thousand pesos. it doesnt matter when the loan is supposed to be renewable.

update:  i think the SSS offer will be similar to the above except that it even be more lenient, even if less than 1k, you can still renew.  And of course, you get a real estate loan break... specifics i dont have but it is good, and of course there is the 3-month advanced pensions for pensioners

i still havent seen the offer of the others.  

GSIS immediately offered 20K for members in calamity areas (i dont know how they know if a member lives in a calamitous area or not) through the kiosks or waps. the loan is payable in 3 years, renewal after one year. interest rate is 6%, the service is waived.

and GSIS promises quick processing. If you had applied yesterday, you would get the proceeds tomorrow, 24 August.  Nice, huh?  i just have to admire the first response of GSIS.  i am amazed by how absurdly ready they were. methinks they had a plan already in place.  and their delivery system is fantastic.

now, if only their records were as fantastically accurate.  still ......

after all, contingency plans MUST be developed asap before there is ever a need for it

get more details from the gsis website. 

click here

Back to work this Thursday morning and what a weekend

That was some rainy weekend ...... there was no flooding at home          
but some of my friends had to pass through heavily flooded areas                                                                                                

Saturday we were at Amihan's birthday bash at ECPAT - which stands for End Child Prostitution And Trafficking.  The kids and the adults were wearing Filipiniana, because it was dubbed Proud to be Pinoy
i will share my picture in my Pinay outfit, taken by our friend Jerry, the MD who is a serious photo hobbyist

ALICE, BENITA, ME, LIZA, AMIHAN

LIZ, ME, ALICE, BENITA, TITA (AMIHAN'S MOM), AMIHAN

LIZ, ME, ALICE, BENITA, TITA, AMIHAN, MANNY

the rest of the weekend was rain, rain, and more rain
pictures taken by my friend .. this is SM Marikina, by the river bank

 




***** WILL POST THIS LATER **************

 ******************************************

and a quote for this week 

what matters most is how well you walk through the fire 

Charles Bukowski
August 16, 1920: Before he was able to make a living as a writer, Charles Bukowski worked in the post office as a clerk—a job that fueled both his writing and his despair. Bukowski was born in Germany, 93 years ago today.
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           

happy weekend to everyone,

 and a happy 3-day rest to denizens of Quezon City and Quezon Province.

cant talk now, but do get the chance to read Horace Templo's column today. Manila Standard.
will put up the link some other day,.

As for me, i am planning to rest my ribs after a quick trip to the xray rooms of NKTI tomorrow
to make sure there are no breaks or fractures in any of my ribs - i had a small domestic accident last Sunday night, led to painful ribs. Monday i had to rest as it was too painful, and the pain lessened per every day.
muscles are still sore though, so i must rest. Thank You God for the Monday holiday.

i also want to greet, belatedly, as she wasnt in Manila, Amihan Abueva, my Sayans classmate
she will be having a Proud to be Filipino day tomorrow so i am going to wear a Filipiniana outfit tomorrow, even if my ribs hurt and even if i have to wear brace (i might remove it for the photo ops, to be done by our good and brilliant photo shooter, a serious hobbyist who has shown of f his photo works. Dr. Jerry.
i guess this means i have to put on some makeup (i rarely put on makeup these days, but i suppose a few concessions have to be made for posterity ...*grins*)

part of my homework is Pinoy food, our friend Alice and Manny is bringing Dinuguan with puto, so i am bringing Pancit Palabok ... i guess from Little Quiapo, bilao and all.

then Sunday, i am off to a healer, so that all these illnesses of mine will be healed.  some of my illnesses have shown a marked improvement, and i am hoping they continue to stupendously improve.  Also my ribs!

so, have a good one everyone.  the healer, if you want to know, is located in Manila.
if you really, really want to know.  write a comment and i will respond.

St. Theresa's Prayer

this was shared over email.  i do not like forwarding stuff..... but would like to share the prayers ..........

Saint   Theresa's Prayer
May today there be peace within
May you trust God that you are exactly where you are meant to be.
May you use those gifts that you have received, 
and pass on the love that has been given to you.
May you be confident knowing you are a child of God.
Let this presence settle into your bones, and allow your soul the freedom to sing, dance, praise and love.
It is there for each and every one of us.

Paging President P-Noy and Commish Kim Henares

Let us talk Environment. and only Environment.

Think of all the trees that had to be cut to generate all that paper that BIR has apparently ordered destroyed to assist in the collection of correct taxes.  why do these documents have to be destroyed? cant BIR just stamped them to be good enough for more years?  i dont know, but there must be a better solution than simple destruction and great wastage.  there are brilliant minds, go mine these minds.  drop by the Philippine Science Main Campus and ask for ideas,,,,,,

i already have a beef with BIR because i am over-taxed, i am taxed as a regular single person when i am, in fact, also recognized by the government as a physically disabled person.  my meds and my pt are expensive, and yet, i have to pay for all my meds that a regular person does not have to.....

there is another bill in congress that persons taking care of disabled persons will have a greater exemption amount, BUT the disabled person who is working gets no break at all.  i ask where is the justice in that?

is this the daan na matuwid i hear so much about?  doesnt seem that way to me......does it seem that way to you?

also, i read the post by ducky paredes and the infamous MWSS  - they are still getting the perks..... so again? where is the justice?

i am hoping that there will be a light somewhere

Portability Law, RA 7699 - encore

i heard someone talking about the Portability Law.  He is lacking only 4 months and 11 days to qualify for the gsis pension -he should have requested the Civil Service to extend his service.  At any rate, now he is retiring using the portability law to qualify.  He was asked (daw) to have SSS issue a certification that says he is not receiving any pension.

My question, why?
the implementing guidelines (click below) dont say so. so why?
besides, remember issues are to be resolved in the favor of the member.
if you didnt know that, now you do

Click here for the implementing guidelines of the Portability Law or RA 7699https://www.sss.gov.ph/sss/uploaded_images/publications/Potability%20Law.pdf

Colossal Art

Physics + Paint = Brilliant Art.
Take a look

Click here to see the Colossal (and mine) recommended wonderful art

From both sides now

 do you remember this song? it is by Joni Mitchell
and i recall it everytime there is a political debate .......


Bows and flows of angel hair
And ice cream castles in the air
And feather canyons everywhere
I've looked at clouds that way

But now they only block the sun
They rain and snow on everyone
So many things I would have done
But clouds got in my way

I've looked at clouds from both sides now
From up and down, and still somehow
It's cloud illusions I recall
I really don't know clouds at all

Moons and Junes and Ferris wheels
The dizzy dancing way you feel
As every fairy tale comes real
I've looked at love that way

But now it's just another show
You leave 'em laughing when you go
And if you care, don't let them know
Don't give yourself away

I've looked at love from both sides now
From give and take, and still somehow
It's love's illusions I recall
I really don't know love at all

Tears and fears and feeling proud
To say "I love you" right out loud
Dreams and schemes and circus crowds
I've looked at life that way

Oh but now old friends are acting strange
They shake their heads, they say I've changed
Well something's lost but something's gained
In living every day

I've looked at life from both sides now
From WIN and LOSE and still somehow
It's life's illusions I recall
I really don't know life at all

I've looked at life from both sides now
From up and down and still somehow
It's life's illusions I recall
I really don't know life at all

TIPS for Transacting with SSS

When you are transacting with SSS, please follow these:

1. pay attention to what the front-line person is saying, and if necessary repeat this to her.  This procedure may sound tedious to you, but it is always safer to do this as this procedure takes care of 2 things:

1.1. it ensures that you heard correctly, because if you repeated back something in error, the front line person is obligated to correct you.

1.2.  it ensures that you did not misunderstand the front-line person because you would not be able to to repeat back the transactions if you did not understand.

2.  make sure you have the original of all supporting documents and that you have a copy for submission to SSS.  the original copies will be used to authenticate the copies you will submit.  Make sure you do not give the original copies.  the original copies are yours


3.  make sure you have a copy of submitted items - even the SSS documents.
make sure that your copy is stamped received by SSS, and the date received.

try to make sure the front line signs off on a document that says the following documents received....
and make sure you have the right form for the right request/payment/benefit/

okay?

hope this helps with your filing and subsequent follow-ups with SSS

A Concerned Senior and an SSS Pensioner

i was listening to an SSS pensioner talking to an SSS employee.  i knew his status as pensioner because of the nature of his questions and i recognized the uniform of an SSS employee.

one of his questions was regarding the pension  of a government employee vs the pension of a private sector employee.  this was easy to answer, even i knew why.  do you want to know why?

well, tis easy. gsis charges MORE and does not have a monthly salary credit ceiling. in return, the gsis member gets more retirement funds.

he was also concerned about SSS investments.  he wanted a list of the SSS investments -
well, RA 8282 or the SSS law has limits on the kind of investments it can do.  as far as i know, sss has only broken one limit - and that is, loans to members.

he also wanted to know what will happen to his son's contributions.  that was easy too.
obviously his son will be entitled to the sss benefits like a pension. all he needs to do is apply

are you interested too?  you can find the investment limits on the RA 8282, and if, like him, you want to know which and what investments ... you can write to SSS  to ask for such a list.  Remember though, SSS goes through many, many letters. really. i've seen the pile

have a good weekend everyone and Happy Birthday to Ofie Templo tomorrow

i am going to relax Spock's way and hopefully get over this feeling like my body wants to get sick....

am going on another spate of reading.... :)


happy birthday Ofie Martin Templo

The SSS Educational Loan

Please read this thoroughly if you want the full "story" on the SSS Educational Loan. 
This will enable you, the reader to see what changes happened, and which conditions apply NOW.
\

The Emperor's New Clothes

this fairy tale can also be read to see what makes a good leader....

the emperor is not such a bad guy .... despite his love, or should i say,  obsession - with clothes because we ought to remember that his kingdom was a happy one, in short - he could afford to spend his time indulging his pride and vanity.

how many kingdoms (for kingdom - you can substitute country, company, or institution) can you say are in the same condition?  which ones?

this classic tale is also about cowardly courtiers or cowardly followers - who cant see or tell the truth like it is, or perhaps they are not cowardly, merely - ass l*ck*rs .... or yes-men.


take a gander at the story


Click here to read Anderson's tale (you can also read others afterwards)