Tinokla Scribbles and Doodles

The Silliness of Angeles City’s Cable Operator

tinokla — Sun, 29 Aug 2010 19:59:58 +0000

In a few days time, we will be finally moving in to a new apartment. This step has been tiring but exciting as well. However, this post, though related, is not about the experiences I’ve had in this moving in process… rather, it’s all about my pent-up frustrations about the one and only cable provider in our city.

First and foremost, I am wondering why families, who invest a lot of money in modern and cable-ready television sets would be given cable boxes just to have extra channels to view. For the longest time, that has been the practice here. To hell with the fact that your TV is capable of viewing 100++ channels… without a friggin’ and so low tech looking cable box, you can bid goodbye to HBO and Disney channel… On top of this, you can set aside your TV remote because its only function is its on/off and volume button. If you want the added luxury of channel surfing, better head out to your cable operator again and rent a remote control for another additional fee.

We have been tolerating this practice for quite some time now. For one, we do not have a choice. As I have mentioned, monopoly is the name of the game here. We, consumers, are practically helpless. TV is a part of our lives and breaking away from this habit is akin to oxygen deprivation. This cable operator is the only provider we’ve got and we do not really have an option but to dance to their tune. Why I am blogging it now is connected to our moving in preparations. We need to have a cable connection installed and because of that, we are rattled by yet, another surprise from this cable company… the so expensive installation fee which is non-refundable and non-consumable. This put renters like me in an unfortunate situation… we cannot maximize the pricey installation payment not unless we decide to stay in our apartment for a longer period of time… But above all, what is so frustrating is we cannot do anything about it… It’s a take it or leave it situation. The only thing I can do is write about it and pray that somebody from DTI or any government agency would find out about it and hopefully take action.

Gosh, I am really praying for the day when Sky Cable will penetrate the Angeles City market… maybe then, it will be a lot fairer for us consumers.

Picking Up the Pieces

tinokla — Wed, 18 Aug 2010 12:23:15 +0000

We are now in the process of fixing and rebuilding whatever was lost in this site. I am beginning to realize the extent of the damage as I painstakingly re-upload each file, image, and document that was affected by this technical mishap… I realized that despite of the mere stolen moments invested in this site, I have already done so much! This realization gives me feelings of pride… and of course, frustration… to have earned and lost hurts. But just as any hurdle faced, I am ready to bounce back and blog again… I hope my readers will be patient throughout the repair process…

My Apologies to my Loyal Readers

tinokla — Tue, 17 Aug 2010 07:51:58 +0000

Just recently, we’ve had some troubles with my site- causing it to be off line for a while… To my dismay, I found out that we do not have a back up of the site. Anyways, we were able to retrieve and salvage a major part of it but regretfully… without the comments posted by my readers … My apologies to the readers who may have been wondering were their comments went… Rest assured that we have learned from this set-back and henceforth will be doing precautionary measures next time… If you have any concerns… or are looking for a particular article in this blog, please do advise me so I can help you out…
Thanks and do visit again!

Is My Being a Teacher Complicating my Pregnancy?

tinokla — Sat, 17 Jul 2010 08:53:42 +0000

I’m on my 11th week of pregnancy and I am getting pretty excited about the whole thing. A recent visit to my OB revealed fantastic fetal condition results. My baby is healthy as a horse- so tiny yet so active! As I have mentioned before, I go through my pregnancies like a breeze… That’s why, my life goes on the way it usually is- pregnant or not.

History tells me that being a Teacher won’t hurt my baby. I’ve experience strenuous teaching loads while I was pregnant with my second child, Amber, and I ended up OK. Well, yeah, technically, Amber was not my second. I have had one miscarriage prior. Miscarriages are awful… so much bleeding and all! My unpleasant experience started with a simple ‘spotting’- what we normally call a brownish discharge. Then, the situation escalated- suddenly the discharge turned into a bloody red color and I panicked. An ultrasound revealed no fetal heartbeat. It turned out, it was a blighted ovum. They had to abort before I get infections. It was a sad experience really…. Good thing I got pregnant again after a couple of months- and then finally, Amber arrived.
Well, I was a Teacher already when I had a miscarriage. I am posing this question now because I’ve met plenty of teachers who have had similar misfortunes. I could not help thinking that our demanding profession has a lot to do with the outcome of our pregnancies. But then again, there have been pleasant stories as well. These events may as well remind us to be careful and to stay in pristine health.
The ‘spotting’ that I am having right now is exactly reiterating that important message for us pregnant mommies— be careful and healthy! My OB confirmed that it is definitely stress-related. I need a ton of rest, healthy food, and ‘special’ medicines. As per the doctor, the baby is well and good, the best news so far!… I just need to take it slow and easy… for now.

Step 4: The BIR Proceedings

tinokla — Sat, 17 Jul 2010 08:51:03 +0000

I might as well write my experiences down before I totally forget them… But then again, how can a newbie entrepreneur really forget her first time encounter with the dreaded Bureau?
I’ve heard them all before..the awful under-the-table stories, accounting books and ledgers, meetings with BIR personnel, negotiations, bribes…ugh… I was wondering how can I possibly enter this unknown world of taxes? How will we somehow make earnings considering it’s just our first year without fearing that the BIR will get everything from us? We have talked to many businessmen… according to them, whether you are honest or not, the BIR will still be there to get you… so their suggestion? Hide and Bribe… Ugh, again… How can I find it in me… in us.. to do a dishonest thing?

Despite my apprehensions, I cannot, of course, get away without it. It’s like a problem that I have no choice but to deal with head on. I consoled myself with the thought that it is not just me who will be facing such dilemma. Also, after my long and stressful experience acquiring tons of permits, I am firmly set on putting a closure to all these hassles! I just wanted to teach with my friends in our very own school!
So I swallowed my nervousness and put on a brave face as I entered the confines of the Bureau. I went in, talked to Information, then headed to room 101. I talked to this rather intimidating guy who seem to regard me like an ignorant fool. I brushed that impression off and decided to be the dumb newbie that they regard me to be… asking all sorts of questions and all. They gave me a list of requirements and forms that I need to fill up and then I left.

I return the next day, armed with all that was required of me. The same person reviewed my documents and came across my contract of lease. If you will be renting out a place for your business there is a separate tax for this- 1601 E. This is supposed to be deducted from the rent but of course I could not demand this from the owner so we just pay the 5% tax. Anyway, the BIR personnel said that my contract of lease is exactly one month late from the date that it was notarized by the lawyer. He said, I will be paying a huge penalty if I do not get it replaced. He suggested that I returned this to the lawyer and have the document altered. Now there are a lot of complications here. First, I do not think the lawyer would agree to such risk of altering a document he already initialed. Second, I have submitted the same contract of lease to other offices and this would result to inconsistencies. My other option is to have another contract of lease made and pay 500 but then again, it would differ from the other contracts I have given to the others. I spent about a week thinking, talking to people, and trying to resolve this issue. Until I decided what the heck… I will just pay the penalty, for all I care!
So I went to BIR again only to find out that the electricity was out and all employees went home already. Now this is just irritating because BIR was in San Fernando and I live in Angeles. The next day, I went there again and said I am filing and using my current Contract of Lease. The BIR person then processed my papers and advised me to go to their Assistant Deputy who thankfully was God sent! He was very kind as I explained that processing the business permit took a long time, hence, my contract of lease is a month late. He said that it is OK and he won’t ask me to pay any penalty. I was so relieved! I left his office beaming with pride and so my papers were processed and I was scheduled to attend the BIR Tax Seminar on the coming Friday.
Now, if there are some things that I still remember about the seminar, those would be- penalty, penalty, and more penalties! Gosh, it was like, “We will be keeping an eye… watch out or die!” I was pretty much freaked out as I incessantly jot down notes and posted reminders on my calendar. I did everything I was told… from having my receipts made to a suggested printing press to buying my books right there and then and having them signed. What made everything unbearable is the fact that I do not have any accounting background. It was crazy to be groping in the dark… confused and naive. I cannot do this… I cannot be an overnight accountant, let alone a bookkeeper. So, I packed everything and went home. I and my colleagues arranged for a meeting with a knowledgeable person. We decided to ask for her services just so we can have this load off our shoulders.
The important realization that we’ve had is that we, the four of us, cannot do it alone. Good thing we have a steady stream of supporters who are willing to work for us at a considerable and friendly fee… So far, despite the hurdles, everything is falling into their proper place! In business, there is so much to learn and discover! Overall, this has and always will be a joyous adventure… regardless!

Pregnancy… the third time around

tinokla — Tue, 13 Jul 2010 08:56:31 +0000

I am on my way to my 3rd month of pregnancy and just like my previous ones, I don’t feel anything but ordinary cravings. No morning sickness, no vomiting, no dizziness… nada… What is pretty obvious though is my extra appetite these days. I crave salads and desserts! I cannot exactly blame my pregnancy for my cravings. I attribute it more to me quitting smoking rather than pregnancy.

Sometimes I wonder if I am normal or not. I am grateful to be blessed with an uncanny ability to walk through pregnancy like a breeze… but there are also times when I wonder if all those pregnancy symptoms are really as bad as they say. Well, I guess it is OK because I cannot exactly escape the biggest and most painful dilemma of all- labor. Ugh…. the pain! I was wise enough to request for an epidural during my second pregnancy. Although it pacifies the pain a bit, you can still feel it somehow. Well I guess, the joy of seeing your offspring is absolutely worth it!

I am so wishing for a boy right now… But no matter, whatever God gives me I will embrace with open arms!

All About Shapes!

tinokla — Tue, 13 Jul 2010 08:43:29 +0000

This school year, I am back to teaching toddlers, yipee! I so love teaching babies and I am now compiling a hefty number of activity sheets that are specifically suited for 2 to 3 year old kids.
However, before I upload my toddler materials, here are a few nursery worksheets that I made last year… this page will specifically contain worksheets about shapes!

Worksheet 1: Cut, stick, and sort the Pictures according to Shapes!

Worksheet 2: Tracing Basic Shapes

Worksheet 3: Find and Color the Shapes

Worksheet 4: Color the Shapes:Heart, Cross, Crescent, Drop, Half-Circle, Star

Worksheet 5: Hearts_worksheets

Worksheet 6: All About Stars

Worksheet 7: Matching Same Shapes

Worksheet 8: Put the Shapes Together by Tracing the Broken Lines

More to come!

Step 3: Mayor’s Permit

tinokla — Thu, 01 Jul 2010 08:24:35 +0000

Getting a mayor’s permit a.k.a business permit is also an easy process. However, what made the whole thing stressing for me was that I needed to travel something around 10 to 15 km from our place to the mayor’s office in Bacolor. And the sad part is, the whole processing procedure required me to take 5 trips to and fro… Seriously, I was on the verge of saying no already. I blame myself for not knowing that the place we rented was not within Angeles City. But, I do not want to chicken out at this time… I realized that this is just the first of many more hardships that any wannabe businessman will encounter. Giving up now is out of the question… not after everything we have been through.

Anyway, this is also the time when you will be acquiring your fire and sanitary permits. Basically, this is how it went through.
Day 1- I went to Bacolor Municipal Hall and filled up the forms. I also submitted copies of my DTI, Barangay cert, and contract of lease. I was asked to go to different offices- something like a clearance thing. I had a hard time in the engineer’s office. This lady engineer was asking me a copy of a building permit which was weird because we were just renting out a place- a residential unit that’s been in existence since the 1980′s and so I had to make a few calls to my land lady. Then, after like a whole afternoon of waiting, the engineer conceded and signed my paper- with a note: existing building.
Then I went to get my fire permit. They said that they need to visit the site first and also, I had to buy 2 10-gallon fire extinguishers. So, that means no signature yet. I also visited the Health unit for my certificate but they were not there. So I went home. I waited for a week for the Fire inspector to visit the site but nobody came. By the way, my Day 1 fees are roughly about 2,500 pesos…
Day 2: I tried to push my luck and went to Bacolor again to talk to the fire inspector. Of course, I was ready because I bought the fire extinguishers already. Anyway, when I arrived there, the Fire inspector said the he did visit the place and he says it is OK. When I showed him my receipts for the extinguishers he was disappointed. He said that I was supposed to buy in a ‘designated’ store to ensure the quality of my purchase. I said sorry and thankfully, he signed my papers.
I visited the Health unit and of course, not there again… However, I was wise enough to get the cell number now.

Day 3: After confirming the Health Inspector’s presence in the office, I went to Bacolor again. I talked to the health inspector and she gave me a list of requirements that I have to submit. She said, I should call her when everything is done so she can schedule a visit.
One of the requirements needed was a physical and chemical analysis of our water. I went to Angeles City Water District and found out that this test costs 3,000 ++ pesos. I was, of course, flabbergasted… the ACWD staff took pity on me and just advised me to go to the supplier of our water and get a test result there. So that is what I did…
So after everything was ready, I called the Sanitary Inspector and a schedule to visit was set.
She looked at my documents and the place. She said we needed a medicine cabinet and I said yes. She saw the physical and chemical analysis result and said that it cannot be. According to her, even if the source of our water is clean, we cannot be sure because our underground pipes and tubes might not be. So she still insisted on the 3,000++ test. With a sigh I said OK.
Day 4: I went to the Health unit with the receipt proving that I had our water tested. That was all that she needed… then she signed my paper and issued my permit. I compiled all my documents and proceeded to the mayor’s office. They gave me a number and said to call one or two days after to confirm my permit’s availability.
Day 5: Lo and behold I finally reached the finish line. Now I understand why business owners opt to have their permits framed.. after all I’ve been through, I feel that they surely are prized possessions…. Haaayyy…

Step 2: Barangay Certification/Permit

tinokla — Sat, 29 May 2010 09:22:41 +0000

After getting your DTI Registration, the next step is to acquire the business certificate of your business (Don’t forget to bring a copy of your DTI permit with you).
With all the requirements that I have worked on, this is probably the one that ‘shocked’ me the most. Nope, it was not a difficult process… no hassles really… except for an uncalled for ‘request’ that the barangay captain asked from me…

Well, to put it straight, this was how the encounter took place.
*I went to Cap and asked if we can obtain a barangay certificate for our preschool business.
*He asked me a few simple questions about it and I answered politely. He then subtly asked if I he can request something from me in exchange for the certificate.
*I was a bit shaken but nonetheless, I reluctantly nodded and said yes.
*He proceeded with his request- that of donating 10 light bulbs (the long lasting and expensive ones) which he will apparently use as street lights for the barangay. He also added that we are lucky because he is just asking 10 from us… He said, other business owners were asked to donate as much as 30 already.
*I told him that we are just 4 struggling teachers who are also faced with financial concerns. He said it is OK and we can fulfill the request in a few days time.

I know that in the system of government that we have, we will really encounter some ‘under the table’ incidences. I just did not expect it to occur in the small office of a barangay hall. I feel disheartened because I do not see the point of it all. I mean, I did pay for the certificate and don’t they have budgets for street lamps? Well, regardless of this unfortunate event, our resolve to go on and pursue our dream did not wane. Hence, after making my promise and paying for the permit, I sighed and prepared for the next step.

Step 1: Our DTI Registration Experience

tinokla — Sat, 01 May 2010 08:58:10 +0000

After several coffee meetings, brainstorming, and googling, we had a good number of potential school names at hand. Picking out a name for your business can be tricky. It has to represent what your business offers and catchy enough to entice curiosity. Also, it has to be simple in a sense that people will easily remember it. Prior to DTI registration, you can do your own research at home, primarily to have an idea regarding its availability. You can go to DTI’s BNRS website for this.

DTI registration is by far the easiest step I’ve encountered. However, I had my own share of unnecessary mistakes here. Well, prior to the processing of documents, we needed to choose a location for the school. We found a nice 4 bedroom house that has an affordable monthly rent. This house is very near our place… more or less, a minute away… Because of this, I have made the assumption that this area is still in Angeles City, just like we were. To put a long story short, I registered the business using an erroneous address. This caused me another trip to DTI and another 65 pesos for the alterations…

But you know, DTI registration is actually an easy process. Just remember to prepare 3 name options at hand because the DTI people will really scrutinize your choice and alter it if necessary. Business names, according to them, should also have something like a proper and a common name (e.g. Maria’s laundry shop). DTI registration is cheap… a little over 150 pesos. Just remember to give accurate data to the DTI people so you would not need to make unnecessary return trips…