WHAT DO Batangas Governor Vilma Santos-Recto and Sarangani Representative Manny Pacquiao have in common? Answer: magkaiba man ng panahon, both have had brushes with the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR).
In celebration of the 432nd week-long founding anniversary of the province of Batangas dubbed as Ala Eh Festival, sulit ang biyahe ng ilang select press members to witness the six year-old VRS (Voices, Songs & Rhythms, inspired by Ate Vi’s initials) event, isang singing contest na nilahukan ng pitong pambato ng mga bayan ng lalawigan, both in the junior and adult divisions.
Before the program began, kinuyog si Ate Vi ng press sa provincial capitol sa Batangas City eagerly wanting to get her take on Pacman’s problematic situation with the BIR.
“Nakare-relate ako du’n dahil ako rin naman, eh, nagkaroon ng ganu’ng karanasan sa BIR,” simula niya. Taong 1981 hanggang 1984 daw ‘yon when she owed the agency less than P2 million in unpaid taxes. Hindi ‘yon dahil she was either a tax evader or a delinquent payer.
Ang totoo, ang pinagkatiwalaan daw niyang accountant (whose name she refused to mention) ang may kagagawan, deliberately making no payments to the BIR prepared in cheques. And before she knew it, ang laki na raw pala ng kanyang atraso. “It was a compromise agreement,” ayon kay Ate Vi who still had to settle her dues on terms and conditions mutually acceptable to both parties.
Since there had been a huge accrual of her BIR taxes, walang choice si Ate Vi na lumagare sa kaliwa’t kanang pelikula—mostly run-off-the-mill—pero sa kundisyong kaliwaan ang bayad dahil diretso nang pupunta ‘yon sa gobyerno. And fact is, she hardly made money from one film after another.
Now that Pacman is enmeshed in a similar dilemma, the actress-politician could only empathize with the world-class boxing champ. Walang duda, Ate Vi recognizes the fact na ilang karangalan na para sa bansa ang naiuwi ng Pambansang Kamao, “Pero siyempre, meron din naman tayong responsibilidad.”
EVEN BEFORE Jed Madela pala bagged the most number of medals in the World-class Champions of the Performing Arts, as early as 2008 ay itinanghal nang grand champion ang biriterang si Kath Loria. And in no time at all, sinundan si Kath nina Aldeza Ianna de la Torre (WCOPA junior world champion) at Beverly Caimen (senior world champion).
We got to meet them upclose and personal, along with three other artists John Mc Earl, Kenneth Semira and Film-Am Justin Anthony Davis at a mini-concert produced by T3 Production and Talent Center at Bagaberde Grill & Bar nitong Linggo.
T3 founder Rico “Bunso” Amparo saw it fit na i-launch na rin ang lahat ng mga bumubuong artist ng kanyang agency, most of whom have either been given breaks on TV or can pass for artistas both with their looks and wide gamut of talents.
Like a raw mineral (Mr. Amparo’s family is into mineral business across the country) that needs to be polished to achieve perfection, ganito rin kung ilarawan namin ang kanyang mga alaga.
ISA NA namang makapigil-hiningang tagisan ng general knowledge ang fouth episode bukas ng Picture! Picture!
Because if you have Ate Gay, Max Collins, Chris Tiu and Jaya outcompeting each other, expect one helluva show that will bring the house (or studio?) down. Sa unang round ng mga tricky questions ay makikita na agad kung sino ang nais manalo at umabot hanggang sa Jackpot Round.
Also, there are players who will feel booted out. In that case, may kampihan o conspiracy nga bang nagaganap, o sadyang may karapat-dapat lang manatili sa game?
Find out in the first ever general knowledge picture-aided game show hosted by Ryan Agoncillo kung sino kina Ate Gay, Max, Chris at Jaya ang magwawagi ng kalahating milyong piso bukas, alas sais ng gabi pagkatapos ng GMA News Weekend.
Pepperoni
by Ronnie Carrasco III
