Netizens: Paying taxes is best we can do for PH

Paying taxes, patronizing Philippine products, obeying traffic rules and throwing trash in the appropriate bins top netizens’ “best” expression of love for country, according to an Inquirer informal survey on social media.

Being a teacher and a doctor were also cited by several netizens as their best contribution to nationhood, especially if the profession is being practiced in the Philippines and not elsewhere, the informal poll also found.

“Magbayad ng tamang buwis (pay correct taxes),” netizen @kellynumber4 posted on Twitter.

“Instead of migrating to Canada, I stayed and chose to promote effective and affordable medicines for the good of Filipinos,” said netizen @EffinGrafil.

Those who responded to the Inquirer question “What’s the best you’ve done for our country?” appeared divided on the issue of working abroad.

“The best I’ve done for my country? Despite many opportunities to work abroad, I stayed here and I pay my (huge) taxes honestly,” netizen @al macchiato said.

“As an OFW (overseas Filipino worker), remittances help the nation to sustain local economies especially in poor areas,” netizen rpiedad posted on the chat app Line.

“Not leave” is #Best4PH, said netizen @BoyPositibo.

“The best that I have done for my country is to return and serve after a scholarship from Japan even if I had a chance to stay and work in Japan,” said another netizen.

The crowdsourcing was run on Inquirer accounts on Twitter, Facebook and the chat app Line from June 4 to 10. Using the hashtag #Best4PH, the informal poll was part of the Inquirer multiplatform coverage of the country’s 117th Independence Day.

Paying taxes was the top answer, with some netizens explaining that the government should also do its part to deliver basic services.

“Paying my taxes religiously and accurately. Avoiding ‘settle out’ transactions,” netizen @imcalledcach also said.

Segregate trash

“The best thing that I have done so far as a citizen of this country is to abide [by] rules and regulations… make our country proud by studying and be an educated person. And pay taxes on time and help my fellow citizen,” netizen Lovely Ledesma said on the chat app Line.

“We’ve dutifully and painstakingly paid our correct taxes (by automatic salary deduction every 15th and 30th of each month) for the last 25 years we’ve been working. We, the middle working class of society, bear the whole burden of keeping our government financially satisfied only to see how our hard-earned money being stolen by unscrupulous government officials to their hearts’ content.

“Perhaps the more important question to ask is what has the Philippine government done to serve its people,” a netizen posted on chat app Line using his mobile phone.

Buying local products and keeping the country clean were popular among the netizens.

“I buy mostly Phl products. I know bcos the bar code starts with 480…” @harrytanlego said. “I never litter the streets no matter what,” @Pepe_Alas chimed in.

“Best thing I have done for my country is to throw trash in the bins and contribute to a cleaner Philippines,” @DaerryQueen said.

“I separate the trash biodegradable from nonbiodegradable,” another netizen said.

To many, however, it’s the simple little things that count, like promoting tourism. “I promote the Philippine tourist spots whenever I get to visit them!” said @sheenaong.

“I do not break the law,” Louisgeorgeous also posted on the chat app Line.

“I teach,” said @assiprofm.

“Making a difference to every student I have had and letting them grow & make them proud of being a Filipino,” said teacher @paui_41319.

“Entered gov’t at the age of 21 despite apprehensions. It’s my joy to participate in policy development that affects the youth,” said @princess_ubay2.

“Work with the Philippine Gov’t for Filipino people though how hard we earn and save here in the Philippines,” said @carl_bra said.

National Anthem

For @Thatmilkfish, it’s standing up and singing whenever the national anthem is played inside the cinema.

But some netizens thought that the Inquirer question was directed at the wrong audience.

“We should ask our elected officials,” said @estong888.

Netizen jfh_svpog posted a long response on the Line chat app: “After 67 years living on this earth the best thing I’ve done for the Philippines is loving the only country we have. It’s been up and down so many times and we still suffer the incompetence of so many social services our poor people need. Politics has ruined the country sad to say. How do we solve it? Just having faith and hope things get better for everyone.” With reports from Ramon Royandoyan and Karl Angelica Ocampo