Today's Issue
- Editor's Take
- SME News: The 24th SME Toolkit Road Show ‘for the first time’ reaches in Lucena
- Events: Marcommasia 2008 (Wednesday 24 to Friday 26 September); SM Cyberzone Tech Fair 2.0 (Wednesday 24 to Sunday 28 September); Market Planning & Forecasting: Developing Better Business/Marketing Plan (Thursday 25 September); Blog Your Passion and Earn from It! (Saturday 27 September); Briefing on Food Labeling (Monday 29 September); How to Become an Effective Quality Management Representative (Monday 29 and Tuesday 30 September); ISO/IEC 17025:2005 Standard for Laboratory Competence (Tuesday 30 September and Wednesday 1 October); ISO/IEC 17025:2005 Standard for Laboratory Competence (Tuesday 30 September and Wednesday 1 October); and IT Expo 2008 (Tuesday 30 to Thursday 2 October)
- Tax Calendar
The 24th SME Toolkit Road Show ‘for the first time’ reaches in Lucena
SME.com.ph’s one of its remaining four road shows reached the capital city of Quezon province [for the first time]—Lucena City and accommodated 95 guest entrepreneurs held at Diamond Resort & Hotel, National Road, Barangay Ibabang Dupay on September 5. It is the 24th stop of the said road show in the formerly barrio of Tayabas town, which was explored by Captain Juan de Salcedo in 1571 & 1572. The town was founded by the Franciscan fathers, Juan de Plasencia & Diego de Oropesa circa 1580 & 1583.
To read full article, click here!
Tax Calendar
Thursday 25 September - e-Filing 2550M & 2551M together w/ the Summary Alphalist of W/holding Agents of Income Payments Subjected to W/holding Tax (SAWT) L & SNL Taxpayers (Group A ) for Month of August 2008
Source: Bureau of Internal Revenue
Editor's Take
In her abstract for ideas.repec.org, Ai Lam Thi Le writes: "In the last twenty years, the Philippines has gained a good progress in poverty reduction. However, compared to other countries in the region, the Philippines is still behind. In the early years of the 21st century, more than a third of the Philippine population lives below the poverty line. With landless status, the poor depended largely on labor with its embedded educational capital."
In the Philippines, the astronomical rise in the cost of living has driven millions of Filipinos to the edge of desperation. For some, a quick death is the easy way out. Jenneth Ponce of Magdalena, Laguna chose that road. Saddled with four hungry children, a husband away in Manila in search of regular work, and rising interest on a 1,000-peso debt, the young woman was driven one night to take her life by swallowing toilet cleaner, but not before sharing the deadly potion and lulling her three little daughters to sleep from which none would ever awake.
There is another aspect to this tragedy, of politicians and bigwigs harping on the poverty situation to score public relations points with the electorate. Then, once the TV cameras are focused elsewhere, and the network bosses rush off their crews in pursuit of the next sensational story, the issue gets shelved and conveniently forgotten.
We sincerely hope that this tragedy does not fade too quickly from the public mind. A thousand pesos might seem chump change to those used to paying more to fill their gas tanks or flashing their plastic at the shop counter. But for Jenneth Ponce, a thousand pesos spelled the difference between sanity and suicide.
Let's hope it doesn't take another desperate housewife to shatter our complacency and get those with the power and position to invest the needed resources for the revival of the Philippine countryside, the gainful employment of millions and the improvement of the quality of life for Filipino families all over.
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