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A few weeks ago, I attended the first anniversary celebration of the Ease of Doing Business Law (Republic Act No. 11032) at the Philippine International Convention Center. RA No. 11032 was signed on May 28, 2018 and became effective on June 17, 2018. Many stakeholders and government officials were present to witness this milestone, all curious how the law has improved government services since its effectivity. Anniversaries are always nostalgic, as they force us to look back and see what has been accomplished in the past year.

When you stroll around your neighborhood, chances are you will bump into a foreigner. They are present everywhere: in parks, malls, restaurants, and public transportation. You also encounter them in economic zones in Laguna, Cavite, Cebu, and Batangas and even in the central business districts of Makati, Oritigas, Bonifacio Global City, and Cebu. A significant number of these foreigners are here not for vacation, but as expatriate employees. There are also reports that foreigners are now employed not as executives, but as rank and file.

Our hoped-for radical changes in the processing of claims for value-added tax (VAT) refund filed with the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) have seen the light of the day. Gone are the days when taxpayers would wait in vain for the acceptance or denial of their VAT refund application. Looking back, many have seen this as just a prerequisite to the true refund battle in the Court of Tax Appeals.

Last Saturday, I had my monthly checkup with my gynecologist. Unfortunately, on our way to the hospital, I slipped off the last stair in our condominium lobby. With my right foot sprained, I thought of rescheduling my checkup, as it was so difficult to walk. With a baby inside me, however, I needed to push through. I needed to ensure that she (Yes, it’s a girl!) is fine and was not harmed due to my carelessness. Thankfully, I was able to proceed with my checkup, and the baby is fine.

Just yesterday, millions of registered Filipino voters headed to their respective precincts to exercise their rights to suffrage. Leading up to Election Day, Filipinos were bombarded with countless campaign advertisements — from catchy jingles and sponsored social media posts to political rallies and public debates — all in the hope that candidates could influence and win the people’s vote. Now, candidates and voters alike are in limbo, hoping and praying that the election odds are in their favor.

The continuous globalization of trade has led to an increase in intra-group services. Intra-group services are those provided by one or more entities within a group to other fellow units, or for the benefit of the group as a whole. Such services include administrative, finance, human resources, information technology (IT), management, marketing, procurement, research and development, and technical services, among others.

In the Christian scriptures, Jesus shared this parable to those who were convinced of their own righteousness and despised everyone else: “Two people went up to the temple area to pray; one was a Pharisee and the other was a tax collector. The Pharisee took up his position and spoke this prayer to himself, ‘O God, I thank you that I am not like the rest of humanity — greedy, dishonest, adulterous — or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week, and I pay tithes on my whole income. But the tax collector stood off at a distance and would not even raise his eyes to heaven but beat his breast and prayed, ‘O God, be merciful to me a sinner.’ I tell you, the latter went home justified, not the former; for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and the one who humbles himself will be exalted.”

Every year, Lent — which begins on Ash Wednesday and ends on Black Saturday — is observed by Christians all over the country. For many devout Christians, the season of Lent is a time for repentance, prayer, and self-reflection to strengthen one’s relationship with God.