Another Filipino was found dead in Hong Kong just recently according to a report in Hong Kong News.
The victim according to the report is a 47-year old domestic Filipina helper from Leyte and it was believed that the Filipina committed suicide. The news report also said that this is the fifth suicide case of Filipino in Hong Kong for this year.
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Despite the Philippines' continuous economic growth, Filipinos are still flocking to unfriendly and dangerous working environment abroad just to earn a living. This makes me wonder if the economic growth being bragged by our economic leaders is really being felt by ordinary Filipinos. I myself is not convinced that there is really an economic boom in this country. Yes, I see a lot of new skycrapers here and there, and news of businesses booming in most parts of our country. Our government has been very generous in reporting economic data to prove that our country is indeed in the right track to industrialization. I believe in their numbers, but what is the meaning of these numbers if the benefits of our economic boom is only felt by the few? In my opinion, businesses are really booming, most businessmen are benefiting in our current economic growth. But their gains are not being properly shared to their workers, though there are some businesses who share their wealth to their employees in the form of salary increases or bonuses. But unless there is no mandate from the government to share their profits, it will never happen.
The government should have been instrumental in the proper distribution of wealth in the form of proper tax collection. However, because of our crazy tax system, it only discourages profitable businesses to pay correct taxes. This is coupled with the inefficiency of our Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) in the collection of taxes and their ineffective manner of catching big time tax evaders. Our BIR is only good at bullying SME's and salaried employees. Small time tax payers are being penalized with lesser take home pay because of tax deductions while big time earners and profitable business have more profits because they can get away evading taxes. Though we should also commend our BIR since they are more aggressive now in terms of tax collection and prosecuting tax evaders as compared to the previous administration, but they still have a long way to go.
Poor safe keeping and spending of collected taxes is another issue why wealth is not being properly distributed in our country. Most of the taxes are being stolen by corrupt public officials. Corruption in our local government is rampant and this is no secret. But despite that, these same corrupt governors, mayors, and even barangay captains are being elected over and over again.
Most of us are already disgusted with this system but we cannot do anything about it. We have no one to turn to and there is no government agency whom we can trust or has the political will to fight corruption and prosecute thieves in our government. This is the reason why there are still Filipinos who prefer to leave this country and look for other countries with fair social system because ours is very unfair.
I feel sorry for that 47-year old Filipina domestic helper in Hong Kong and I also feel sorry for all the Filipinos who feel no more hope in this country. Election is just around the corner, and before you fill-up the ballot, think of the hardships that we have to endure to survive in this country. Think of all the pain and sorrows this government has given you and your love ones. Think of the all crimes and fighting in Mindanao which killed innocent people. Think of the traffic, corruption, flood, garbage, and crowded shanties in Metro Manila and other cities of our country... This will help you decide on who to elect this May and whom you will allow to rule our country and your future. Our country's future depends on your vote. Please vote wisely.
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