A rant.

This is going to be a long post so bear with me.

The disappointment began a few days back on a regular day with a government officer I report to as a consultant of the province. I asked him if he has any assignment to give me since he hasn't given any assignment since January yet I'm receiving 32,200 pesos ( $ 1 = P 52) a month.

He has actually told me that I don't have to do anything anymore and his staff is going to prepare the accomplishment reports for me. I'm not happy with this kind of set-up. First of all, I'm not really doing this for myself nor for him; I'm doing this for the province. Secondly, I like my job as a consultant - the usual assignments given to me were to provide advice on TAX treatment of certain transactions. As I am a cpa lawyer, my job as a consultant satisfies my functions both as a cpa and as a lawyer. And thirdly, I feel as though he's not giving me assignments anymore because we disagree on so many things but he cannot disagree with me as I have MORE EXPERTISE on tax than him. He's simply a lawyer and although he's a judge, he admits that he's not an expert on tax... so why be stubborn especially since I'm a CPA and had high grades in tax both in law school and in the bar (92% in Tax Review and 90% in Tax in the Bar exam which is a topnotcher's grade)?

I was really disappointed in him especially since he seems to be trying to work on LOWERING the tax revenues of the province in favor of some BIG CORPORATIONS. But he was wrong. He has poor comprehension on tax principles. He and I should come to a certain point where we agree and if we can't agree, HE HAS TO HAVE SOUND REASONS for disagreeing. The problem with him is that, he just listened to me and that's all. He still went on with his POOR COMPREHENSION of tax laws and principles. A few weeks back, he called me up to consult me on some tax matters. He did it as he was about to be interviewed by a radio station. But my gahd, the questions he asked me were very basic that a simple law student could answer him. Why is he being interviewed when he doesn't even know the most basic tax principles... and he'll go on with the interview and pose as an EXPERT? 😢

In short, I'm really bothered by his actions for these reasons:

(1) he was interviewed as an expert on tax matters, but the most basic principles of which he couldn't even understand.

(2) he's not giving me assignments anymore without giving me reasons for such

(3) he doesn't know how to listen, and when he disagrees, he doesn't have sound basis for disagreeing at all.

(4) he leaves his office at 4 pm despite the fact that he has to be there until 5 pm. Worse, he's already at the bar after which (hence, not on official business). lately, when I went to his office at 10:30 am, he was no longer around because, as his staff told me, he leaves his office at 9 am every day since a couple of weeks back. In short, he's clearly LOAFING.

The fact that I'm bothered by his actions discourages me from continuing as a lawyer in the Philippines. I have chosen to stay here for one reason only, and that is to be of good service to my countrymen. I am not working for money nor for my self-interests. The mere fact that I contribute something for the betterment of our country already makes me happy; the amount of money I receive for my services are only considered by myself as purely incidental.

But I am being prevented from accomplishing the functions I chose to work for. And this discourages me from continuing with my profession in the country that I love. Because of these, I am slowly realizing that I might leave this country for good. By the time I find a job elsewhere, probably in California where my cousins and relatives live, I'd probably cry buckets of tears. For me, there's only one home and that is the Philippines. 😢

does he know you're a CPA lawyer?

Anyway maybe the phillipines are not ready for a CPA lawyer who won winsome smile award