FOR SALE !!! at a Bargain Price

I PLAN TO SELL ALL THESE ITEMS. SOME SLIGHTLY USED AND SOME BRAND NEW. BIDS WILL YET BE ACCEPTED NOW.  IF YOU SEE PRICES MARKED IN EACH ITEM, THEN IT’S A GO!!

HIKING SHOES

1.      Salomon Men's XR Mission Trail Run

2.      Salomon XR Crossmax Neutral

3.      Salomon S-Wind Inca

4.      Salomon S Lab Sense

5.      The North Face Mens Wreck Mid GTX M Trekking

6.      The North Face LITEWAVE EXPLORE MID WATERPROOF

7.      The North Face Havoc Mid GTX ...

8.      The North Face Verto Plasma hiking

9.      The North Face men Verbera Hiker 2 Goretex

10.  Mammut T Advanced GTX Boot

11.  Mammut Redburn GORE-TEX Approach Trek Shoes

RUNNING / TRAINING SHOES

1.      Newton Running Energy NR II Running Shoe

2.      Zoot Ultra Race 3.0 Running Shoes 

3.      Zoot Men's TT 7.0 Running Shoes

4.      Zoot Ultra Tempo 4.0 Running Shoes

5.      Under Armour Speedform Apollo Running Shoes

6.      Under Armour Charged Phenom 2 Running Shoes 

7.      Under Armour SpeedForm® XC Trail Running

8.      Under Armour Mens UA Spine Evo Running Shoes Shoes

TACTICAL ACTIVE BOOT

1.      Oakley SI Assault Coyote Style AR 670-1 Compliant Military Boot

2.      Oakley LSA Terrain Boot - Multicam

3.      Oakley Infinite Hero SI Boots (limited ed. Tribute to the fallen us navy seals in afgh)

4.      5.11 Tactical, Skyweight RapidDry Boots

5.      Delta Military 511 Army Boot Desert/Tactical Boot /Men 

6.      BLACKHAWK 530 Men Lace Up Breathable DESERT 

CASUAL / LEATHER SHOES

1.      Dune London - Beach Comber

2.      Dune London Bumper-Tan Suede-Men Shoes-Loafers

3.      Kenneth Cole Reaction Lift Off Brown Men's 

4.      Dune London Mens Benny Tan Loafer 

5.      Dune London – Montenegro

6.      Cole Haan Howland Penny 

7.      Cole Haan Williams Taupe Oxford

8.      Salvatore Ferragamo 'Parigi' Moccasin

9.      Salvatore Ferragamo Magnifico Loafers Drivers Dress Brown

10.  Salvatore Ferragamo Carmelo Men Shoes

11.  Lacoste Concours Lace boat moccasins in nubuck

12.  Lacoste Shoes Mens Sherbrooke Hi Grey Image

SANDALS

1.      Oakley Flip Flops - Oakley Supercoil 15 Flip Flops – Black

2.      Oakley Blade Sandal - Black/Yellow

3.      Rip Curl Chuns Sandal – Black

4.      Quicksilver Monkey Wrench Beach Sandals

5.      O'Neill Chad Flip Flops - Suede Brown

JEANS

1.      Replay Mens Jeans WAITOM M983, BNWT 100%

2.      GAP 1969 slim fit jeans (rockaway wash)

3.      Gap Men 1969 Slim Fit Jeans Medium Authentic Indigo Wash

4.      Massimo Dutti Men's Medium Wash Straight Leg Regular Fit Jeans

5.      Massimo Dutti Sport Men Jeans, Straight Leg, Size 34x33

6.      Perry Ellis Slim Fit Low Rise Straight Leg Dark Indigo Denim Jeans 

7.      Perry Ellis premium denim slim STRETCH dark wash jeans selvedge stitching

8.      Perry Ellis Men's Blue Jeans Relaxed Straight Leg Dark Wash 

JACKET – EXTREME WEATHER

1.      The North Face Venture Hyvent 2.5L

2.      The North Face Men's Venture Hybrid Jacket

3.      The North Face mens Bakossi Hyvent 2.5L waterproof hooded rain jacket Black

4.      Arcteryx Men's Alpha SV Jacket

5.      Arcteryx Beta LT Jacket

6.      Mammut Keele Jacket

7.      Blackhawk Warrior Wear Jacket - Ops Jacket – CLOSEOUT / US MILITARY

DAY PACK / EXPEDITION BACK PACK

1.      The North Face Terra 50 Liters Hiking Backpack

2.      The North Face Crestone Pack 60 Liters

3.      The North Face Prophet 65 L Hiking Backpack

4.      Osprey Backpack Aether 85 L

5.      Mammut Heron Pro 70+15 Fire Short Backpack

6.      Mammut snowpulse ABS R.A.S. backpack 30L

7.      Black Diamond Hot Forge Hooded Down Jacket - Men's

TENT

1.      The North Face Tadpole 23 2-person Tent

2.      The North Face SUMMIT SERIES ASSAULT 2 TENT

OUTDOOR EXPEDITION GEAR

1.      Petzl e+LITE Waterproof Headlamp LED with 1 CR2032 Battery Polymer.

2.      Petzl NAO Headtorch

3.      Black Diamond Vector Rock Climbing Helmet

TACTICAL / MILITARY PACK

3.      Maxpedition JUMBO S-Type Versipack

4.      Maxpedition Colossus Versipack Shoulder Bag - Foliage 

5.      Maxpedition Sabercat Versipack

6.      Maxpedition Fatboy S-type Versipack Khaki #0408k Shoulder Bag Left-side-carry

GLOCK / SIG SAUER PISTOL ACCESSORIES

1.      Blackhawk CQC SERPA Holster Glock 19

2.      BLACKHAWK! Carbon Fiber CQC Holster with SERPA Technology

3.      BLACKHAWK SERPA LEVEL 2 HOLSTER: Glock 27 & 23

TACTICAL PANTS FOR OUTDOOR OPERATION

1.      511 Tactical-cargo-pants- US Special Forces -trousers

2.      511 Urban-Tactical-Cargo-Pants-US SEALS-Trousers-Combat-Military

3.      511 Tactical Cargo Pants Combat multi-pockets Training Outdoor Army Combat

4.       Blackhawk Lightweight Tactical Pants. BH_86TP02BK

TACTICAL PACK

1.      5.11 RUSH 72 Molle Backpack Color Coyote Tan

2.      BlackHawk S.T.O.M.P. 2 Medical Backpack (JUMPABLE) 60MP01DE

OUTDOOR / EXTREME EYEWEAR

1.      OAKLEY  X Squared Carbon Black Iridium Sunglasses

2.      OAKLEY Juliet Ruby Iridium 2

3.      OAKLEY Holbrook in Matte Black

4.      OAKLEY Radarlock Path Photocromic Vented Sunglasses

OUTDOOR WATCHES

1.      SUUNTO CORE Black Military Tactical Watch

2.      GARMIN Tactix Bravo Military Watch GPS active

M4 RIFLE / AR 15 ACCESSORIES

1.      SureFire E1D LED Defender flashlight

2.      SureFire X400® WeaponLight

3.      SureFire Vampire X300V Mini Picatinny Flashlight White/Flash

M4 COLT RIFLE / SNIPER RIFLE  / BENELLI SHOTGUN ACCESSORIES

1.      BLACKHAWK discrete Rifle Bag for M4 Rifle variants

2.      BLACKHAWK Soft Compact Weapon Case for M4 Colt Rifle

3.      MT Coyote Tan Urbino Stock for Benelli M4 and M1014 Shotgun

BULLET PROOF VEST / MAG CARRIER

1.      Crye Precision AVS - Plate Carrier

2.      Crye Precision Jumpable Plate Carrier 2.0 (JPC) - Ranger Green 

TACTICAL KNIVES

1.      Smith & Wesson Switchblade US Army Automatic Push Button Knife

2.      BLACKHAWK CQD Mark II Type E Folding Knife 3.3" Combo Blade, Nylon Handles

3.      Kershaw External Toggle E.T. Knife 1900 G&G Hawk (First Production)

4.      511 Tactical 51105-018 5.11 Tactical Karambit, Black FRN, Black Plain – South

MOUNTAIN BIKE

1.      TREK Brand – Mountain Bike Top Fuel 9.9 SL, SLR group set, Fox Fork 140mm, Full Sus.

2.      Helmet - Fox Racing Transition Hard Shell Helmet Matte Black 2015

3.      Fox Racing Launch Pro Knee Pads Black

4.      Fox Launch Pro elbow guards

LEATHER WATCH

1.      TAG Heuer CARRERA CALIBRE 1887 RACING CHRONOGRAPH 43MM – Leather

2.      Oris Calobra Limited Edition Racing Watch – Leather

MUSIC LISTENING ACCESSORIES / ENTERTAINMENT / ELECTRONIC

1.      JBL Synchros S700 Headphones

2.      BOSE Soundlink BE8 Portable Bluetooth Speaker

3.      BOSE Cinemate 520 Home Theatre

4.      SAMSUNG TV Curved 78-Inch 4K Ultra HD 120Hz 3D LED TV (2014 Model)

5.      APPLE 13.3 inch MacBook Air

6.      GoPro HERO 4 Silver Edition Waterproof

7.      Canon EOS 6D DSLR Camera

8.      AKG K330 Grey Earphone

WATER SPORTS EQUIPMENT

1.      O’NEILL Sharp Eye Surfboard (Hybrid) 6’4

2.      Rip Curl Flashbomb (Gun) 6’6

3.      O’NEILL TECHNO Pullover Comp Vest

BAXTER - my dog, my life ...

My most trusted buddy “BAXTER” A US NASAR K9 Customed Trained GERMAN SHEPHERD Personal Protection Dog who served me in those times when my life was put in great peril during the Yolanda catastrophe.

I’LL PUT MY DREAMS IN LIFE BEHIND TODAY BUT NOT YOU..

 - NO ONE GETS LEFT BEHIND -

We rock together.. We roll together.. Bad ass for life !!

A Taxpayers thoughts

May 31, 2016

Early morning yesterday, I was sitting in the comfort of a chair in the office conference room reading the day’s paper on an article of the government’s indecisive plan to increase the Value Added Tax (VAT) for sale and services when coincidentally I was handed a copy of my pay slip for the preceding month. I was taken aback at the sight of the seemingly hefty figure reflected under Tax Witheld for income. As I gathered my thoughts, my curiosity was once again awakened. As a taxpaying citizen, do I prefer to be taxed more on what I earn or on what I buy or consume? I am not yet fully convinced that now is the best time to raise the VAT to the proposed 14% from the present 12% - but if this will mean lower income taxes particularly for individuals, then I might be willing to consider it, provided however, that existing exemptions will be maintained mainly for senior citizens and PWD’s. After all, lower income taxes mean higher take home pay and more money in people’s pockets. And more income coupled with moderate consumption, also to avoid paying more VAT, can result in higher savings for low to middle-income groups.

But, can the increase in VAT collection sufficiently offset or cover any drop or fall in income tax collection? Moreover, will lower income tax encourage spending and actually result in increased consumption, and thus higher VAT collection? In the same manner, will lower income taxes encourage compliance and mitigate tax avoidance and evasion, and thus boost collection?

Nothing is certain, of course. However, raising the VAT to 12% from 10% in the Arroyo administration did help increase government revenues. In fact, that unpopular and politically difficult initiative was even positively cited by international banking and finance officials and gave due credit to the country’s economic managers then.

It makes me wonder, however, why the Aquino government itself did not also raised the VAT to the proposed 14% and instead just opted to recommend it for the incoming administration to implement. If the VAT hike is not really necessary, then why is the Aquino government even recommending it to the incoming administration?

Perhaps the VAT hike was really necessary, or at the very least, would have been helpful. But, the Aquino government had opted to just limit government spending to keep the deficit in check and its credit ratings positive. Also, perhaps the government preferred not to push a VAT hike so as not to negatively impact the Liberal Party’s chance of winning the 2016 elections.

At this point, the incoming Duterte Administration doesn’t appear to be interested in winning the popularity contest. That said, it may be more inclined than in the Aquino administration to push a VAT hike and lower income taxes.  One hopes, however, that the 17^th Congress, the new House of Representatives and the Senate, will also be inclined.

Already, incoming Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez has reportedly put together a team to detail the Duterte administration’s tax reform plan. But, he stressed that the lowering of personal and corporate income tax rates would be proposed, forgone revenues would “not necessarily” be offset by a higher VAT.

Mr. Dominguez, at this point, is more inclined to recover revenue losses through “streaming the tax design and tax administration” to improve tax collection. Outgoing Finance Secretary Cesar Purisima had noted a higher VAT could rise as much as P299 Billion on its first year, against expected revenue losses of up to P222 Billion from lower income tax rates.

Mr. Dominguez and his team are expected to play things safe. No point in rocking the boat this early. Moreover, tax reform is not really the ambit of the Executive. It can only recommend to Congress possible amendment to tax laws. In the end, state legislators are to decide on whether to raise the VAT and to lower income taxes and by how much.

On one hand, a 14% VAT from 12% may seem steep if not unreasonable when other ASEAN countries like Singapore and Thailand charge a VAT or sales tax only of 7%. Malaysia charges a range of 0-6%, while Indonesia’s VAT is a flat 10%. Cambodia and Vietnam also imposes a 10% VAT, while Brunei doesn’t have any VAT or sales tax.

This is also considering that income tax rates in these ASEAN countries are relatively lower than in the Philippines. Singapore’s corporate income tax is only 17%, and individual income tax is 22% at its highest. In Thailand its 20% for corporations and 0-35% for individuals. In Malaysia its 25% corporate tax and 26% individual tax. Indonesia covers 25% and 5-30% on individual tax. Cambodia imposes 20% both for corporate and individual taxes. While Vietnam has 20% and 5-35% for individual tax, Brunei has 20% for corporations and 0% for individuals.

Changes in taxation, particularly those requiring legislation, take time to implement. Officials, legislators, economic managers, and private sector tax and finance experts should all start weighing in now on the issue. Papers, studies, and simulations should be made available to a wider audience to pave the way for a more involved public as well as a more informed decision.

Exercising a Political Right

May 10, 2016

Yesterday, like every other Filipino citizen, I exercised an equally important right appertaining to citizenship – The right of Suffrage -.

The fundamental principle of suffrage consists of two things: First – that every man entitled to vote may vote, Second – that his vote may be sent forward and counted and so he may exercise his part of sovereignty in common with his fellow-citizen.

The right of suffrage is predicated upon the theory that the people who bear the burden of government should share in the privilege of choosing the officials of that government. This is the theory of a representative form of government.

And as our Constitution provides among others that the Philippines is a democratic and republican state, it simply implies that sovereignty resides in the people and all government authority emanates from them.

In a nutshell, elected officials in whatever level in the government are mere agents and not rulers of the people, where no one man or set of men has a propriety or contractual right to an office, but where public officials accepts office pursuant to the provisions of the law and hold such office as a trust for the people whom he represents.

Missing Mama

Missing Mama ....

God looked around his garden,

and he found an empty place.

He looked down upon the earth,

and saw your tired face.

He put his arms around you,

and lifted you to rest.

God's garden must be beautiful,

he always takes the best.

He knew that you were suffering,

He knew you were in pain.

He knew that you would never,

get well on earth again.

He saw the road was getting rough,

and the hills were hard to climb.

So he closed your weary eyelids,

and whispered "peace be thine".

It broke our hearts to lose you,

but you did'nt go alone.

For part of us went with you,

the day God called you home.