I Don't See Dead People

There is certain difficulty in organizing oneself to see another person at a specific location nowadays. 

Recently, friends I haven't seen in years, let alone heard from suddenly dropped lines and dared to say hello. Though the friendship is not dead, it just didn't occur to me to message them about anything. Life for each of us have separated, leading to different places.

These people have asked to meet or see each other over tea or  alcohol. I obliged, like the good friend I was. The thing is, these people would set the date and initiative to meet yet cancel on the day itself or the day before. Some ask to meet for some reason but would never really set the time to. How come friends don't even know how to keep their words anymore. Maybe that's why I don't see them anymore.

There was a friend of mine who contacted me out of the blue to borrow  money. She said that bills are piling up and that their electricity will get the cut, that they got short of cash because their grandma was taken to the hospital. 

This is a person who live with her girlfriend and both have work. I on the other hand, is an artist living as frugal as possible but I'm not squandering to get money to pay my bills. I have to thank our ancestral house for that. 

I have long decided to carefully select the friends to see. I realized I don't need a lot of friends but a few good quality ones are enough. 

I have also been picky with messages to respond to. I think I am too articulate that I couldn't find the words to respond to "Hey" or "Howdy". I think responding with how my week went is an overwhelming response. I decided to just leave messages like that alone and lonely. 

Also because these one word messages come from people who would respond to "Hello" after four days of sending the message. Maybe after a year we would have conversed a full sentence. It just defeats the convenience of instant messengers when responses aren't instant. Words become food left out to rot.

These people have died to me, they die when I no longer hear their voices or see even their shadows. And I too perhaps die to them. I should be summoned with a Ouija board if they wish to communicate.

I'm glad to have friends who are easy to talk to. Who fulfill their words, or calls to cancel a meeting. I'm glad to have those few friends who have kept their common decency. I love those friends who are never too busy to see me, or let me crash in their place. Who make time to just hang out despite busy schedules.

How to Register as an Artist with BIR

Artists who are serious and are climbing up their careers need to provide receipts for every artwork that is sold or services provided. Those who are no longer "Just Dabbling" in art and is taking a more professional approach should register. Here are instructions on how to register yourself and become a legitimate artist in the RP. I'm cutting the sweet talk on why you need this as an artist, these are the things that an artist should know already. Yes, if we earn through our art, we need to pay taxes as good citizens. Otherwise if we become famous, the BIR will be on our asses.

What you need:
* A registered tin number. If you don't have one, click the link.
* P500 Registration fee. (To be quick, don't wait til you're at your BIR branch to pay. See below)
* Copy of Birth Certificate (NSO)
* BIR 1901 Form (2 Copies, Fill them up.) Download them here Part I and Part II.
* 605 Payment Form (Bring the original (1) and photo copy them, twice (2)) Download here.
* Proof of address (Ex: Meralco Bill, Internet Bill, etc.)
* Photocopy of a valid ID with signature and date of birth. (Ex: SSS card, Postal ID, Driver's License,            Passport)
*** Printer's I906 form (Application for Authority to Print Receipts and Invoices)
       Provided by your printer. See below for more info on this one.
       * Sample Receipt ( Just one is enough )
* 2 Columnar Books, 1 Ledger, 1 Linear Journal (Depends on your RDO, but at least buy one                 Columnar book in school supply stores upon coming to the BIR office, they normally sell them there but buying before hand saves you time.) I was only required the Columnar book, nothing more.

* If married (Marriage Certificate copy and birth certificates of dependents if any)

X No need for DTI. If they asked then tell them you are registering as an individual, self-employed, professional.


***The 1906 form is nothing to worry about, but it should be something you already have before heading out to the BIR office. If you submit everything above, then it's possible to finish registering within the day in one sitting with the BIR officer. This is how you save time and seize the day, and perhaps have the good part of the afternoon to celebrate with a snack.
By that, I mean before scheduling to go to the BIR office in your area, you should have downloaded the 1901 form, filled them up and visited a printer's office or shop. They would need your 1901 form so it's important you already have it by then.

Sample Receipt
If you have a logo, it would be best to bring it and give the file to the printer. Since you are already there at the Printer's office, ask whether you need Vat or Non-Vat, OR or SI. Explain your situation clearly.
There are templates and sizes of receipts to choose from and an option to place your logo wherever on the receipt. Make it look cool.

Going to a printer before hand saves you time and money because if you fail to go to one and went ahead to the office, they will refer a printer that will charge you twice the amount you'd have paid for. Printers are called IMPRENTA for locals.

Once everything is settled, the printer will give you the 1906 form with your 1901 attached and of course, the Sample receipt. Printing for the receipts will depend on how many you want to be printed. Mine was 10 books and it took three days from date of registration. I gave a down payment but it's not necessary. I was just allocating my budget that way. The printer owner was also a good friend of my dad, they were childhood friends so I got a huge discount.

PAYING FOR THE REGISTRATION FEE
Can be done on the same day you visited the printer, before or afterwards. Either way is your choice.

BANK
It's very simple and hassle free when paying with banks. That's the easiest right now. I paid with Land Bank but there are other banks where you can also pay for your P500 registration fee. Ask the bank to be sure.
When paying, don't forget to bring the 605 Payment Form you downloaded and printed. It is a requirement when paying with banks.

GCASH
GCASH is also available, I used it to pay for my DTI before but you should have a GCASH account. I chose the bank payment instead even if I have a GCASH account simply because I would have to go to a GCASH center to deposit P500 then send a text message to pay. It's pretty much the same as paying in the bank and the bank was nearer my house. Here's the link to GCASH payments.

BIR eFPS or Electronic Filing Payment System
Here's the link. I found it slow and painful. Never got past the enrollment process but worth a try because you can also pay taxes through here.

After this, you will get your payment receipt. Don't lose it. It's good to be organized with all these papers.
You are pretty much good to go to your BIR office.

At the BIR Office
You will be paying for the following in the office:
Document Stamp P15 (For the COR)
Columnar Book, Ledger, Linear Journal. From P45 to P150. Depends on what will be required to be purchased but the Columnar Book is a good bet.

*You may also apply for a Tin Card which is free. It takes three days to be completed, I've applied but haven't retrieved it.

Arrive early, as early as 8:30am or at least before 9am when the office opens. Being at the beginning of the line helps. Get a number if necessary and wait for your turn, if you think it's going to take a while, bring a book, comic, sketch pad, and kill time until your turn.

While waiting, you can go ahead and pay for the document stamp which is P15. The officer will require you to buy the books, normally it's them selling it so you don't have to go anywhere.

Registering as an individual, means you are a self-employed professional and they have categories for that, for artists, the category would be under ART GALLERIES or something similar to it. You will be asked by the officer and will lead you to a closer and appropriate category depending on what kind of artist you are. Don't be afraid to ask and explain your situation.

Pretty much, that's it. Just wait for the whole process to end and you will be given your COR (Certificate of Registration Whoohoo!!) and you will be lead to the boss where he or she has to sign the released COR. That's it.

It's not that hard now is it?
Don't let intimidation get ahead of you. It's not intimidating. It's very simple and only exerts a little bit of effort. Don't waste time. I just did it on my own and I think it took me about 3-4 hours, because I made a mistake with the receipt and had to take another sample back from the printer.
If there are seminars about tax filing at the BIR, take it, it's free. It's like workshop on tax paying.

Congratulations you are now legit! Go put your COR in a frame and hang it in your studio!
Now that you have a COR then having your own website is next.
You can check out my website at www.veronicalaurel.com
It is a simple and easy to update site which I will be posting up instructions very soon. So subscribe if you want to learn more about it. Click here to subscribe to my mailing list.

After registering, one should also know about income tax and how to file them.
Here's a useful link.
I found out how to register through this link. Very helpful indeed. I'm grateful for resources online like these.

Furling Chaos in the Eye of the Storm by Veronica Laurel

Furling Chaos in the Eye of the Storm 2012

Veronica Laurel's work back in 2012 titled Furling Chaos in the Eye of the Storm, which displayed elaborately a fusion of literature and visual arts. Poetry and stories hang loose from the delicately suspended book in a wooden glass case.

Art as Manifestation of a Struggle

Art has garnered so many definitions in the past and each artist has his or her own meaning which is in most cases, the very definition to live by. In my short years of living as an artist, transitioning from a full time writer to a full time artist, I have seen and met different types of artists along the way and I have realized that the most comfortable artist in life can’t create an artwork to save his or her life when it calls for it.

When an artist has tasted hunger that cannot be satiated there is a struggle that blooms within that artist and in that bloom is also the birth of creativity. Hunger and struggle are the key factors that transcend the comfortable and the mediocre.

SPOLARIVM by JUAN LUNA
Won the gold medal in Exposición Nacional de Bellas Artes held in
Madrid back in the 1884

Juan Luna may be an Illustrado, a Filipino aristocrat, but his struggle surpasses the material kind. He, among others like Jose Rizal, struggled and sacrificed their lives for a country that is not united in identity and wished that the suffering of the common Filipino will be lifted. That others may be treated with respect and equality, provided with education and human rights.

I was just in Paete almost a month ago and I went to a gallery there. The gallery that was owned by a cousin of my maestro, he spoke to me of the local art and how the San Cristobal painting in their church was mutilated by a person I shall not name, not for now. At that time, they were holding a painting workshop and a child was painting in a corner. A woman exclaimed that the child will be a great painter one day because his parents have everything, that money is everything.

I disagreed and told her most artists that have succeeded greatly were poor. She held her ground that money will make an artist great.

Thinking that money is everything is poison to the mind. We have been lied to by society to think that money will bring us success, greatness, and happiness. It is a lie so terrible that now it eats at the core of the people and is in fact the mentality that is destroying the planet and igniting war.

Drying out the wood oil in the sun

The owner of the gallery asked me to make them a guestbook and in a few days now I shall be delivering it. This is just part of my struggle, to make ends meet as I sell books and accept commissions. I have relinquished accepting wood projects even though they pay well because I have to choose if I just want to work as a person who does wood or try to live off my artworks. Despite not earning a lot, I contented that I am comfortable in this kind of lifestyle, although I may not be able to do a lot of things that requires money, I don't feel like I'm missing out.

Brené Brown said that vulnerability is the birthplace of creativity, that artists are often those who have laid down the armor and embraced the struggle and vulnerability that humans are always visited with. That artists can empathize through their works of art. It is the response to vulnerability, its manifestation.

My mentor, Jose Tence Ruiz mentioned to me once "It's easy to be a good artist, but you'll never be great if you don't become a part of a struggle in the social consciousness."

What does this say to the artists of today? Who are hungry, who toiled and struggled, and those who lived in the comfortable home never visited by famine?

Should there be a battle, the hungrier, always wins.

The Pitfalls of Volunteer Work

Just a few months before my debut solo show and I have decided to give a few of my precious days to volunteer work. Something that an artist myself who should be focusing on her artworks bothered to do for the goodness of mankind, of my people, Buddhism, and my country. If only in very little amount.

Volunteer work is of course, not for everyone. Especially in a country where working in itself is such great labor that having a job that is stable is nothing short of a blessing. I, on the other hand after living in a temple thought that I could do some good deeds by providing my talents.

Volunteer work makes a lot of people happy, because if you are not going to be paid for it, your mind better be strong enough to handle every setback, and still feel this sort of contentment and satisfaction at the end of the day.

Currently, I am volunteering for a temple that has the ambition to provide free education for everyone, which is of course a great thing. Now that it’s going to begin the college this month of June, there are a lot of things that hasn’t been straightened out first.

A lot of things are slow and now that I’m inside it, I finally see why. It is not because they are shorthanded and or there are not enough volunteers. I could see that there are little things that can be done by the already available people in it to work on and yet no one acts on it.

I help out when I can. They have a nice and spacious gallery and yet, Manila doesn’t know it exists and they are not really doing much about it as long as they reach a handful, it is enough. The potential of having a higher reach is not achieved because maybe they are content of the people who are coming in. I was invited by the one managing the gallery to provide a few of my artworks and sell it during an on-going exhibit. So I made works that are related to the gallery’s theme, like the face of the Buddha and an abstract representation of a lotus. Apparently, what was demanded of me after submitting the artwork was common and recognizable images of the lotus flower. Not only was it demanded of me, but when I gave my price for the artworks, I was also told that it would not sell because the price is high.

In all honesty, the price is 50% off since it is a non-profit institution and does not add any commission and what is left is nothing but my plain artist price, the lowest I could provide without tarnishing my reputation and hopefully not offending those who bought my works at its normal prices, which includes gallery commissions. I should be insulted because it was really quite a hassle to provide the artworks when I could have spent those lost days working on my solo show collection, then be told it will not sell. I simply explained that I couldn’t change the price because I have a standard price that I follow that is equivalent to my reputation as an artist, that it is okay that it won’t sell but didn’t really say that I already know it won’t because there is no real market or collectors visiting the gallery.

I just got my pieces back and I’m happy I got it back because I could sell it in other places. I merely waited for the time to pass and look at the events as mere flows and drama that I shouldn’t get too attached to. That the reality of the world outside and inside the temple may provide different meanings to my career as an artist but are both essentially empty and illusory in Buddhist views.

For the next ten days, I am giving my time to the temple but the problem is that the people in the temple don’t know how to manage time and the volunteer’s time. Yesterday, I have spent the whole day waiting for the task and since none came, I just decided to catch up on 80s and 90s movies like “Say Anything” and “Clueless”.

I designed the cover for the student handbook and I was told the layout of the content as well. I waited for the content that I will layout and none came. It wasn’t quite a productive day for me though I had fun watching movies but I just feel that I could really help and that are not tapping the time available I am providing them because I won’t be there all the time. Today, I decided to just go and buy materials for my artworks and stay at a friend’s house to bake some cookies and cook lovely vegetarian burgers.

I have left word that should there be any work to be done, to email me and I shall do it and submit at the end of the day.

I do believe that there is quite a language barrier to some and to make matters worse, there is also a lack of communication among volunteers.

I talked to one of the volunteers on how I think that people working in the are content with mediocrity and that they are not pushing for the full potential when the temple and its resources can actually reach so much. The volunteer answered by saying that it may not be mediocrity, it may be incapacity on their end to provide better results and not the satisfaction for mediocrity.

I saw how unorganized the system is and is quite a struggle to provide great work in. There was also a minor thing that irked me at the beginning because volunteers we’re provided a quarter to stay in but there was a lack in electric fans and we were not provided with any. The evenings were hot and it is quite hard to get some sleep and I bugged almost everyone about the fan where one of the volunteer’s said let the temple worry about it and that I shouldn’t worry about it.

So I decided to follow the volunteer’s advice, but nothing happened. There was still no electric fan, I tried not to complain and get some sleep but couldn’t.

When the volunteer who told me not to worry about it came to the quarters, she couldn’t care for a bit whether I could get some shut eye or not. I had to borrow a fan from the outside in order to get some comfort. I wonder how these people look at volunteers, like slaves?

That being a volunteer one should prepare to give time and money in the process. Maybe I still haven’t understood this Bodhisattva thing and I am only here willing to help what I could and I wonder if it’s too much to ask for a comfortable sleep at night for payment. Am I wrong to think that people should help the help that they receive, because this is a give and take situation. I thought that we all volunteer and help one another for a common goal, that we would like to achieve full potential that can provide and strong foundation for free education in the Philippines. Yet, the reality of how things were, are not that ideal because not all of us believe the same.

In the world of volunteer work, when everyone is there for the intention of goodness and sacrificing one’s time, the skill available of these people aren’t always excellent in levels. Often it falls under mediocrity and certain incapacities. People think what they are doing is good enough because an excellent work doesn’t equal a greater individual reward, they forget that great effort exerted will result not in high-payment or recognition but actually the goodness and welfare of the many that needs it. People are still trapped in this egoistic shell that prevents them from doing a better work than they are currently offering. It seemed that some of them are merely doing those things haphazardly because they were placed in that position without the talent to account for.

It was more on circumstance than the will, ability, and spirit.

People also working in such an environment have no recourse but patience and tolerance.

Reflect the Moon on a Calm Lake: HALA

"I am the reflection of the moon on the lake, if you see me trying to be good then you see yourself."

Dalai Lama

Kundun

A new batch of brave souls are going to stay in the Temple for three to four months for Philippine Fo Guang Shan's Humanistic Academy of Life and Arts 佛光山菲鲁宾人间学院.
It takes a lot of courage to submit oneself to a temple stay that would last for three months without any inclination of what is going to happen and how it's going to begin and end. I know I had my doubts especially on the day I came to the temple on a stormy weather and as I tread on almost two feet of flood riding my bike carrying an 8 kilo backpack while holding an umbrella, the wind blew hard, and my clothes were wet. I could barely see the road and hoped that I wouldn't end up in a huge pot hole and injure myself.

However, I was determined to go through it and I didn't allow any storm to hold me back. To my other classmates, they had to cross continents and mull over the fact that they are going to live in a developing country to find enlightenment, gain new experiences, shave their heads (If you feel the need to shave your head, it's okay. It's your practice. But it will not make you a monk and the nuns will remind you of that if ever you did, it also doesn't guarantee enlightenment. It's a warm country, you need the extra breeze to cool the head.)

There is humility in joining these sort of programs as one has to admit and be willing to learn new things, new culture, meet strangers, and other unexpected things. 

This is not for cowards who are afraid to leave their current world for something they don't understand, nor is it a walk in the park, and it can be considered a 'leap of faith' but I prefer "jumping into the abyss" a completely secluded world I barely knew existed in my mother land. But there it was, I found it and I made a choice.

For the new HALA students who are excited or anxious or whatever emotion they are going through about the program, it is an experience that has various results to different people. I'm not going to say that it's beautiful or ugly, or worth it or not, nor would I say that it's good or bad. Despite being in a group, it is still a very personal experience. It is exactly how one choose to see it, how one choose to experience it.

It is exactly as it is. The definitions, emotions, learning, are merely relative to a person.

It is as life changing as one would allow it. As meaningful as one wants it to be. 

But there is one thing that is sure, water is now offered to the one who thirst. 

It is now a matter of choosing to drink it whether it's in a bowl or a glass or a mug or in a container that we like or we don't like.

In the end the essence is the same. The opportunity is here to acquire it and make use of the time given efficiently. Because the answer to the question is always right in front of us. It is always within reach.

It is always a matter of choice. Choose.

Blanko: Why is art expensive?

Blank Book : Collision of Petals
2014
Veronica Laurel Book Art

I sold my books at Art In the Park last March, it was one of my favorite events because there are just so many things to look at but I'm rarely a buyer of art. A friend of mine marveled more on the price tag and less on the actual artwork.

"Why is art expensive?" she asked, it seems that it's something that bothered her and as a writer, letters and words aren't as valued as actual artworks when in essence they are both under the category of art, only with different mediums and discipline.

My Blanko Collection (Blank Books) got sold quite early so by midday, I barely have anything on display.

Centuries ago, art boomed in Europe especially for the Bourgeoisie who must always keep their status afloat. One way of keeping up with the social elites is to purchase art, along with purchasing a customized furniture set from the most famous carpenter. This is where the likes of Chippendale came in, providing special and superb skill in creating furniture. Art has always been a symbol of wealth and taste. It is one of the things to be discussed during tea time, art. What have you purchased? From which artist? How much? Etcetera etcetera...

Today, with the variety of available art and also an array of price tags, almost anyone can enjoy purchasing art and decorating their homes with art that they fancy without caring for social standing. There are so many affordable artworks available today because almost every young talented person wants to become an artist, of course the word "artist" have always been subjected to unholy abuse. There are also those who inflate their prices but most artist would follow a standard set of pricing with their works. 

Art is more than just an object and if a person sees the value of a piece of artwork, it doesn't matter how much it would cost. Suddenly the price is blurred and what surfaces would be the message or idea that the artist is portraying, the skill in execution, ingenuity, and its impact on the person.

Art is not expensive, the price tag is merely a reflection. People who have fat wallets, my artworks are probably very inexpensive but for those who toil each day on minimum wage, it may come as a luxury.