While We’re Taking Profits, You’re Still Not Investing

The Philippine stock market index has rallied to a new all-time high today, rising by 24.78 points to close at 6,192.42. (6,377.75 as of October 9, 2013) – [UPDATE: PSEi closed at 7,236.38 on October 23, 2015]

This good news and those numbers mean almost nothing to you if you’re not yet investing in the Philippine stock market.

I have received quite a few good number of inquiries from my blog and through our forum sites and pages on how to open a stock trading account so that they can finally start investing or trading. Most of them are Filipinos working or living abroad (OFW’s and migrant Filipinos). Continue reading While We’re Taking Profits, You’re Still Not Investing

Should Churches Pay Taxes?

Well, to burst your bubble, churches DO pay taxes.

Under Section 4(3), Article XIV of the Constitution, it is stated that charitable institutions, churches and parsonages or convents appurtenant thereto, mosques, non-profit cemeteries, and all lands, buildings, and improvements, actually, directly and exclusively used for religious, charitable, or educational purposes shall be exempt from taxation.

It also states that;

“(3) All revenues and assets of non-stock, non-profit educational institutions used actually, directly, and exclusively for educational purposes shall be exempt from taxes and duties.”

However, that doesn’t mean that non-stock, non-profit organizations like the churches are absolutely exempted from taxes. Continue reading Should Churches Pay Taxes?

Music Is Your Talent. Ask For Payment.

I hear fellow musicians and artists say, “Okay lang walang bayad, basta maka-perform, basta may exposure” after performing in some big “benefit” concerts. Sounds cool. But not when you found out that the bouncers and even technical assistants got hefty “talent fees” and the musicians did not.

I’ve been to a lot of music festival and events, big and small. Paid and unpaid. And I saw a lot of homegrown talents from drummers to guitarists to bassists to keyboardists to wind instrumentalists to back-up singers to lead vocalists…to band managers and organizers.

Which makes me want to ask this question: Are talented musicians supposed to be asked to play for free or for a fee? Continue reading Music Is Your Talent. Ask For Payment.