From collector to commissioner

Did you know 1: When told it was a violation of election rules, Vice President candidate Noli de Castro obligingly told his people to take down that huge picture of his right at the corner of EDSA and the GMA Network headquarters.

Well, the huge picture of Mr. de Castro is back. And no, Commission on Elections Chairman Benjamin Abalos hasn’t changed that particular election rule.

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Did you know 2: Aside from greeting the birthday girl – and there are many who would like to do that, starting with Philippine Stock Exchange chairman Alicia Morales Arroyo and president Cayetano Paderanga Jr. – the come-on to attending this week’s party of The First Resources Management Securities Corp. head Vivian Yuchengco is the promised performance of Eusebio Tanco, who also answers to friends calling him, George Harrison. Everybody, of course, remembers Yosi Tanco as being a wee bit more visible during the term of former President Estrada.

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The retirement package of Securities and Exchange Commission chairman Lilia Bautista is going to be very generous, indeed.

Ms. Bautista, who will stay on only until whoever is elected President of the Philippines in May names her successor, is entitled under the SEC Charter to a monthly income of P350,000 – higher than that of her fellow member in the Anti-Money Laundering Council, Bangko Sentral Governor Rafael Buenaventura – multiplied by at least 36 months or the number of months she has served at the SEC.

As everybody knows, Ms. Bautista is serving the unfinished seven-year term of Perfecto Yasay Jr.

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Commissioner Guillermo Parayno Jr. has come up with a unique way to celebrate this year’s centennial of the Bureau of Internal Revenue, whose first head – an American – had the official title of collector.

Drawing from the marketing of consumer goods, Willy Parayno is offering entitlements and rewards to taxpayers, both individuals and corporations, who pay their correct taxes for 2003 by April 15.

The good and honest taxpayer will be issued a card as handy as a credit card, which is signed by Mr. Parayno, of course, and which entitles the cardholder to, among other things, not having his 2003 books audited by the BIR.

As everybody knows, Mr. Parayno met his collection target last year. And he has every intention of celebrating the 100th anniversary of the BIR by meeting as well this year’s target, which is P52 billion higher than last year.

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Here’s something for "Star Wars" fans. A new villain called Gen. Grievous, who will play a large role in Episode 3 when George Lucas releases the movie next year, will be introduced in Chapters 11-20 of the animated "Star Wars: Clone Wars" in Cartoon Network.

Cartoon Network has had a fantastic run last year, with the most kids reached across all cable networks for four straight quarters. It finished the year with a 94 percent share of kids aged two to 12 who have access to cable.