RENEWAL OF BUSINESS PERMIT IN PASIG CITY

Details here are based on my renewal experience for the year 2016, these are not absolute and requirements written here may vary depending on what type of business you're into.

1. Secure a new Barangay Clearance.
2. Pay your dues in Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) - Monthly Percentage Tax, if applicable.
3. Pay BIR Registration Fee, use Form 605. You can file this online and pay thru BIR accredited banks. Php 500.00
4.  Go to your Barangay BPLO Category and get Application Form (with Notary). Php 50.00 

5. BPLO 2	BPLO 3	BPLO 4
   Bagong Ilog	Buting	Maybunga
   Bambang	Kalawaan	Pineda
   Caniogan	Katipunan	Rosario
   Kapasigan	Orando	Sta. Lucia
   Malinao	Pinagbuhatan
   Palatiw	San Joaquin
   Sagad	San Miguel
   San Jose	San Nicolas
   Sta. Rosa	Sta. Cruz
   Sto. Tomas	Sumilang
   Ugong 1

   Sorry, I was not able to check on BPLO 1 because it is located in a different floor.
    Fill up form and attach requirements:
   - previous year's ITR/Financial Statement
   - monthly/quarterly VAT payments
   - breakdown of gross income for the previous year/s - consolidated
   - cedula/CTC
   - new barangay clearance
   - previous Mayor's/Business Permit w/ receipts of payment
   Items below are for those who haven't submitted theirs when they applied for a new business permit in the previous year:
   - 1x1 picture of the owner
   - location map (should be from Google Maps)
   - facade of business establishment
6. Get assessment.
7. Go to Treasury for Signature and payment. Amount to be paid varies, it depends on your gross income.
8. Go to the One-Stop-Shop for Fire, CENRO and Sanitary Permit. 

• bring the original and photocopy from the previous year
• pay the penalty, if there are any

      9. Submit everything to the BPLO and wait for the printing of your Business Permit.

If there are still lacking requirements, the BPLO will inform you right away - since they won't be able to print your permit. You need to go to the respective office which marked you "ON HOLD" and have it untagged in their records.

It took me two (2) days to finish everything because I filed them near the extended deadline. It might be better to renew your permits earlier since the staff there said there are lesser people during the first two weeks of January.

Good luck! :)

Learn to read people's actions -- not their words.

"People might not always tell you how they feel, but they'll always show you. You can't rely on words. Words can be as empty as the people who hold them."

As the saying goes, "actions can speak louder than words"... True enough. People might not always tell you they love or care for you, but they will always show you - even in little things, like bringing you food, giving you small items that they know you like, volunteering to do stuffs for you, etc.

On the other hand, it might just be the opposite. Some people tend to secretly hate you, while being nice and saying nice things around you. We can call them backstabbers if you like. :)) Haha! There are more lies in the world than the truth. So you can help yourself by trusting your instincts. Learn how to feel, learn how to distinguish who are true to you.

I know its hard to let go of people who matters to you - even if you always feel like you never mattered to them. But you should learn to value yourself, because once you give in, it will never stop ruining your perception of life. You will start to think that life is unfair, but truthfully, IT IS NOT. Life is what we make it. IT IS ALWAYS OUR CHOICE. Never trust anyone but yourself, because in the end, you only need to please one person - and that person is YOU.

Magalawa Island, Palauig, Zambales

I researched for weeks, read blogs, browsed throughout the internet - and all I read was that Magalawa Island is a nice place to visit... quoting bloggers' words "its all worth it". I even learned of the story of the two rival resorts: Ruiz Camp Resort vs. Armada Resort. Plus photos from Google were aaamazing.

Oh well. Those blogs were 90% of the reasons we decided to go to Magalawa Island.

So we planned to go one weekend, fixed our budget and packed our bags. We opted to stay at Ruiz Camp Resort because we cannot contact Armada Resort (no one is answering their cellphone). Its a good thing though, we got the best service from Ruiz Camp Resort.

Our expenses were (for 8 pax):

Gas - P 1,425 (we brought our own car)

Toll - P 816 (round trip)

Parking - P 200 (parking for Ruiz Resort looks safer than Armada's, there is a guard at the entrance of the compound)

Accommodation - P 1,700 per head for nipa hut (4 pax)

                                  P 1,400 per head for tent pitching (4 pax, we brought our own tent)

Included in this package are:

- 5 mins. boat ride from Luan Port (priced at P 100/head but this is free if you will get the package)

- 4 meals (this is supposed to be Lunch-Dinner-Breakfast-Lunch, but we arrived too early at the island and they let us eat breakfast instead of the lunch meal for the next day)

- Snorkeling

Ruiz Camp Resort personnel and caretaker (Mang Mulo) are veryyy accommodating. I salute you guys! They always serve our meals on time, and every meal there are 3 types of dishes. Even after our snorkeling, they never failed. Its as if they know when we are hungry. LOL.

The beach however, is a different story.

The sand, yes, that's cool. Different from other parts of Zambales which are mostly grey. But the beach itself is MEH.

I don't know if those are called plants or seaweeds but they are yuckyyy.. They even have mold-like thingies on the leaves. They are all over the place. I'm not sure though if these are seasonal, we might have gone there at the wrong season. ITS EVERYWHERE! I guess its because of the lack of waves and movement at the shore. But I still think this could be fixed. The locals could clean this up with a net or whatever, just so as to lessen (if not eliminate) those leaves. Hindi naman ako maarte, kadiri lang talaga yung molds sa dahon. I didn't even dare to cross the deeper part of the sea to get on to the balsa, I was so scared I could step on something deadly.

But Magalawa Island is photogenic. That I can say. We managed to still capture its beauty somehow. Its white sand and its perfect blue green waters.

I'm sorry to say this. I honestly think the island is a bit overrated. No offense. I'm just letting this out for future travelers out there. If you are bringing kids, or love to swim - this island is not for you. Yes, it could be worth it. It is budget friendly, 2k per head. But make sure you bring with you a fun company, you would be dead bored if you wouldn't. Or you might be stung by a jellyfish if you'd insist on swimming.

But in case you still want to experience camping at a budget-friendly price here in Magalawa, I strongly suggest you go with Ruiz Camp Resort.

It could have been better. I just hope the locals in that area would help clean up the shore. I know its not their fault, but they earn from tourism over there, they could at least try. #justsaying

NOYNOY IS NOT NINOY.

Why Philippine Politics is nakakalurkey.

Lahat nagagalit sa ginawang pagdedma ni PNoy sa pagsalubong sa dead bodies ng mga namatay na SAF. Hindi pa din maka move-on yung mga tao. But really, what do you expect from a president who is driven by show business?? Of course he would prioritize an inauguration, a wedding and an interview. Or maybe he thinks that a “bad publicity” would up his career a few notches. THIS IS WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU MIX SHOWBIZ AND POLITICS. It doesn’t work. Clearly, the Filipino people are blind. It already happened with Erap before right? HINDI NA TAYO NATUTUTO.

Being a president of a country is not a game, it’s not a race and it’s definitely not a competition. Lives of real people are at stake here. Pag sablay yung presidente, sablay din yung buong bansa… at kailangan natin magtiis for another 6 years to the end of his term. Ilang sundalo pa ang mamamatay sa kamay ng mga rebelde bago tayo gumising? Ilang pamilya pa ang maghihirap bago tayo matauhan?

WAG NINYO IPAGBILI ANG BOTO NYO. Wag nyo iboto dahil sikat, or dahil lagi nyo nakikita sa TV, or dahil bibigyan kayo ng pabahay, or dahil madaming magandang pangako. Tignan nyo yung mga nagawa nila bilang normal na mamamayan - kung madami syang nagawang maganda at nakakatulong sa bayan, saka mo tanungin sa sarili mo, “papano pa kaya kung maging presidente siya?”. We should vote for those candidates who can DO more, not those who can GIVE more - because giving is easy when you’re already in position. Doing, on the other hand, is a responsibility.

Politicians who genuinely care for our country, where are they? Tatakbo palang sila, nawawalan na sila ng chance. Ang mas may chance manalo ay yung kurakot na madaming pera (na ninakaw din nila sa taong bayan, tapos babawiin nila pag nailuklok na sila sa pwesto) Ayoko sabihin na tanga ang mga Pilipino kasi Pilipino din ako. Ako rin naiinis kasi nagbabayad din ako ng napakalaking tax, tapos nakikita ko wala rin naman napupuntahang maganda. Worse, napupunta pa sa bulsa ng mga politiko. Nakakainis pa lalo kasi nakakahiya yung mga politicians natin pag naibabalita sa world news. Tinanggal na sa pagiging presidente, pero nanalo pa din na mayor. Nakakulong na nga, nanalo pa ding senator. On trial sa pagnanakaw or napatunayang nagnakaw, biglang magkakasakit tapos hospital arrest instead of kulungan. Excuse me, gumawa yan ng kasalanan, may sakit man o hindi. Yung mga nasa kulungan ba pinapahospital nyo pag may sakit? ANOBER?! Nakakaloka. AND WE LET THIS HAPPEN...

Minsan parang gusto mo na lang sumigaw sa inis. Pag nakukuha mo yung special pay mo tuwing December tapos makikita mo na 1/3 ng bonus mo ay napunta lang sa tax. “P*+#%&!$@ dugo’t pawis ko yan eh!” Tapos wala ka ng magagawa kasi hindi naman voluntary. Tapos pag uwi mo makikita mo sa news yung mga mukha ni Jinggoy, Napoles, Binay, atbp. ANG KAKAPAL!

Kung hindi lang maganda ang nature-tripping dito sa Pilipinas, malamang wala na talagang magkakagusto magstay dito. Ang sarap sana maglayas at tumira sa ibang bansa, pero karamihan sa atin hindi magawa kasi nandito mga pamilya natin, and all. Haaayyy..sige take a deep breath nalang. Join the plunge… to our doom! Hahaha joke lang. WAKE UP PINAS!

The Island of Coron, Palawan

Recently named the best island in the World, Palawan is truly a majestic place to travel to. Compared to other islands I've been to, the islands in Coron are never too crowded - maybe because there are a lot of places to go to. You will never run out of places to visit. "So many things to do, so little time!" Which is why it will be worth it coming back to this piece of earth to find serenity and peace.

Our first adventure: We climbed Mt. Tapyas and its 700++ steps to view the spectacular sunset. There were resting spots in between where you can stop, sit, and take a deep breath. Don't forget to bring water because I swear, its super tiring! I almost didn't make it on top. LOL!

 After that tiring hike to Mt. Tapyas, relax yourself at the Maquinit Hot Spring for a P200 fee per pax. You won't feel sore the next day if you do this. Natural hot springs are the best.

The next day, we took a boat ride to go to Kayangan Lake - known as the cleanest lake in the Philippines. True to its reputation, it is clean. You have to hike a pile of rock stairs to get to the lake though.

It is most beautiful in the morning. You can take the best picture during that time since there are only a few people, it gets a little crowded after 10 AM.

Fish feeding and snorkeling. There is a spot where you can see a sunken Japanese Warship under water. It's so creepy it feels like the ship from Pirates of the Caribbean, goosebumps!

Another hike to Barracuda Lake.

By the way, you have to pay Php 50 per pax for each of the spots you will visit. I know, I know, a bit pricey if you will visit 5 or more islands. I hope Coron will give tourists packages that pays for the whole thing and make it a little hassle-free.

For your Coron island hopping, you may contact Mr. Marvin Tayco (boat owner) at 0915-611-1974 or 0998-163-2539. They offered us an affordable rate for four and prepared a yummy lunch for us. One of the boatman went with us as our tour guide.

We stayed at Coron Westown Resort. Spacious and cozy rooms, staff were accommodating and ok. I love their bathroom, it is sooo big! Choose rooms beside the pool on the ground floor for easy access.

Travel light if you can. There are no scanners in Coron's airport so they look at your bags manually.

Ooohh I love Palawan! :) Definitely going back, for the beaches next time.