ON top of the things that many Filipinos have in their minds right now are the effects and repercussions of the new tax-reform law. There are coffee-shop talks about how it’s going to affect earnings or salaries of ordinary workers, how much extra cash people need to shell out to cover price increases and even the effects on products and services that we regularly consume, like gas and small cars, salon treatments and soda.
But the story does not end there because on the heel of Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion (TRAIN) is its second phase, Package 1B, which is still pending in Congress. This bill includes items, such as estate-tax amnesty and general amnesty, motor vehicle users charge adjustments and bank-secrecy law adjustments. The government expects Package 1B to bring in an additional P38.9 billion to the revenues expected to be raised by the TRAIN law.
After this, there are four more tax-reform packages (Packages 2, 3, 4 and 5) that will have to be passed to “meet the administration’s targets.” Apparently, we are in the face of a series of tax-reform packages that are meant to stabilize the government financially, but will definitely be rocking the boat for many sectors in the community. It’s a fresh year and we are off to a strong start; let us brace ourselves for big changes along the way.
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While many of us are starting the year with a focus on the practical, financial aspects of living, there are also many among us who are putting energy into devotion and spirituality. One such group offers special devotion to the Santo Niño.
As a predominantly Catholic country, the Philippines has many Santo Niño devotees. Therefore, festivals are popular in various parts of the archipelago—in Iloilo, Cebu and Kalibo, among others. The image of Jesus Christ as a child is close to the heart of the Filipinos, and they come to Him for favors and petitions.
In Manila a group called Congregacion del Santisimo Nombre del Niño Jesus has been around since 1979. Its founding chairman, an active Santo Niño devotee of many years, is the popular and innovative fashion designer Ben Farrales. The group was granted a pastoral blessing by then-Manila Archbishop Jaime Cardinal Sin.
The Congregacion aims to propagate devotion to the Santo Niño—not only in the Philippines but also globally—by holding an annual exhibit of Santo Niño images, together with novenas and special processions. Through the years, various celebrities, beauty and fashion icons, and VIPs have participated in these religious events.
This January the public is invited to join the procession of the images of the Santo Niño along Roxas Boulevard on the last Sunday of the month, the 28th of January, and every last Sunday of each month thereafter. The procession is being organized and sponsored by the Congregacion to honor the Most Holy Name of the Child Jesus.