Plastics have been such a convenient part of day-to-day living in the Philippines. From food containers to large plastic cabinets, plastics have been a boon in the sense that they are more affordable to Filipinos with tight budgets. But this affordability has also come at a price. We have become so used to using (and disposing of) plastic that we have become unmindful of its global effect. Something not often seen in developed countries are products that come in sachets but here, it is a part of our lives. The disposal of hundreds of thousands of sachets daily contribute significantly to plastic waste.
It has been over a year since COVID-19 hit. The pandemic’s impact has been very bad for businesses that were forced to downsize or worse, close down. Families feel the pinch on household budgets as family members’ earning capacity is affected.
This year, I celebrate my 15th year as a blogger. That is almost as long as the amount of time I spent on my first job with a leading accounting firm, much longer than my stint with a bank, and about half the number of years I’ve been married.
I started my blogging journey back in 2005/2006 on the Multiply platform before it transformed into an e-commerce platform then shut down in 2013. I learned to improve my craft through the years by attending annual iBlog summits, organized by internet marketing specialist Janette Toral. In the last years of iBlog, I had several opportunities to become a speaker or panelist and share my own insights with new batches of bloggers.
Veteran bloggers of iBlog summits at the last iBlog in 2019. (L-R): Me, Mike Abundo, JJ Disini, Tonyo Cruz, Ruben Licera
Last June 30, 2021, President Duterte signed Republic Act (R.A.) No. 11569, extending the estate tax amnesty (RA 11213) by another two years till June 14, 2023. The news was received with a collective sigh of relief. Many who had been working on their amnesty application but were affected by the pandemic were given a new opportunity to do so.
The original deadline based on the Tax Amnesty Act (RA 11213) was June 14, 2021 but the pandemic resulted in a low turnout of people availing of the amnesty. Rep. Joey Salceda, chairman of the House Ways & Means Committee, noted that out of the targeted PhP 6 billion in taxes from the amnesty program, only about PhP 1.362 billion was collected.
My alarm clock woke me up around 8AM of June 24, a Thursday. I had set the alarm so I would not miss the installation of the new Archdiocese of Manila, Cardinal Jose Advincula. I was excited. Not only was he from Capiz (an Ilonggo like me) but he was also the one filling a void in the archdiocese left by Card. Luis Antonio Tagle when he was reassigned to the Vatican. Bishop Pabillo did a great job being the Administrator of the Archdiocese since February 2020 when Card. Tagle was assigned prefect of Propaganda Fide.
I watched the presenting of the keys of the 5 cities under the Archdiocese by the 5 mayors of Makati, Pasay, Mandaluyong, San Juan, and Manila. This was followed by a solemn Mass officiated by Card. Jose “Joe” and included the reading of a letter from Pope Francis designating Cardinal Joe as the next Archbishop of the Diocese of Manila.
For me, this post has always been significant ever since it was held by Cardinal Sin. Cardinal Sin’s role in EDSA People Power was strong and clear and the flock heard and answered his call. My siblings and I, with our Dad, headed to EDSA to be with the millions of other people who did the same.
This time, Cardinal Joe has said that he will be a listening shepherd. Oh, if only he realizes just how badly we all need a listening servant leader!!!
Photo source: The Manila Cathedral FB page
Just before the end of the Mass, Cardinal Joe himself announced the passing of former Pres. Aquino. Of course, since I had been tuned to the installation of Card. Joe since early morning, I did not check social media so his announcement came as a big shock to me. I quickly checked Twitter and found out it was indeed true. I went to ABS-CBN’s FB page and shared the breaking news bearing PNoy’s photo with a very quick post. Then went back to finish the rest of the Mass.
Since then, I have been mulling over the confluence of events and wondering if the Lord was sending us a sign…
Cardinal Joe (whose patron saint is St. Joseph) is being assigned to lead the Archdiocese of Manila in the year dedicated by the Church to St. Joseph (the father who protected his family in times of danger)
His installation falls on June 24, the feast of St. Joseph
PNoy passes away on June 24
Is there a meaning to all these events falling on this day? I do not know but only time will tell. This sentence going around social media caught my eye. I don’t know who the author is but as I read it, I felt a small shiver go through my body…
“Every time the country needs saving, an Aquino dies”.
It has been a while since I had a relatively free weekend. Normally, I would have a list of articles from a bevy of media events that need writing up. Or there would be Zoom meetings to attend. Or I had accounting-related work for hubby.
I looked at my phone’s calendar today and realized there was…nothing. So I’m using this weekend to catch up on what got me started with blogging way back in 2006 — the plain and simple desire to write.
Back then, blogging was personal and up close. It was all about us, our life, our thoughts and ideas, sharing what we knew, getting people to help in different situations. Today, I find most of my blogging time is taken up by media events. Not that I am complaining. I enjoy attending those events. But I relegated my personal blogging to a low priority and I miss it. It is the essence of who I am as a blogger.
Of all my blogs, this blog is the one least updated because I’m reserving it for my personal posts. I was horrified today when I realized that my last post was in January as 2021 came round the corner. Almost half a year ago! That never happened when I first started writing in 2006.
So, when I have free weekends like today, I will write about things closest to my heart. No need to look for pictures to add to them. No pressure to include anchor texts, backlinks, keywords, and all that SEO stuff. Just plain ol’ writing of what’s inside me.
