Five days into December, I still don't feel like its almost Christmas… The weather is wet and not cold. Every morning, I sniff the air for the December chill/Siberian wind smell, but it smells like July.  The chirping sounds from migratory birds that I used to hear come December are also absent.  I've put up our Christmas tree, done with my Christmas gift shopping and is almost done wrapping them, but these also failed to liven up my Christmas spirit.  The radio stations are not even playing Christmas songs too much these days.  If you look around the metro, Christmas decorations are sparse or sad-looking. The malls are packed but if you look carefully, very few people are making purchases.  Is it just me or Christmas seems to be missing this year? 

Locally and abroad, I hear a lot of factories closing down and lay-offs are increasing.  For the most of the Filipinos esp. the small and medium businessmen, I think Christmas will be sadder this year.  What makes it worse is that people like Joc-joc Bolante, the Euro-Generals and all other corrupt government officials who steal our money still parades around like they are kings and queens.  Several companies I know that are on BIR, Customs or PASG  surveillance  all say that these government agencies are asking a lot in terms of "voluntary assessment".  One BIR examiner even had the gall to tell the businessman to incorporate their "share" as 3%-5% of their gross profit computation.  Hello???? What if a businessman makes a 10% gross profit margin only, what will be left for him? It'll be better to put his money into a bank thru time deposit or go find a job abroad.  But this means, people will be laid off.  For some, they chose to stay here than to go abroad because they want to help the economy and provide jobs for our countrymen… and this is what they get in return.  While the OFWs are called 'bagong bayani", what of the millions of daily wage earners who have to pay income taxes?  The issue of tax exemption for these meager earners is still on debate.  The top honchos in government are not even doing anything about it, they just look away.  Barack Obama's book, The Audacity of Hope, dares the American people to hope even in times of dire need.  While his capacity as a leader remains to be tested, his book tells the american public that he acknowledges and accepts that there are problems and then he offers solutions to these problems.  Conversely, here in our country, our leader pretends that there is no problem.  And thus no need to solve anything at all.  

Oh well, I supposed that I should be thankful that the more important things in my life are still here.  My family's happiness, their health and safety are what I always pray for at night.  Financially, Boss D and I are not earning substantial income this time (due to poor business conditions) but I am thankful that we do have enough savings to live a comfortable life.  Even five year old Funny B is on "economic" mode… she would browse thru Toy kingdom's December brochure and she would comment on the prices of the toys.  She'll read a price like "One thousand One hundred forty nine pesos!!!… that's so expensive!!!". 

I do hope next year will be a better year for us all…

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