As someone who didn't like studying taxation ever since my undergrad and has it as my lowest score during the CPA board (buti na lang nairaos pa rin), I've avoided studying it thoroughly for the longest time. But reading through a lot of articles about what to expect with regards to the taxation in the Philippines this year, and as we started expanding and working with more local businesses, and the more business owners we talk to, the heavier my heart gets.

Everyone’s just… trying. Trying to survive. Trying to earn. Trying to keep things running even when nothing feels stable anymore. And what makes it harder is that taxes are eating up such a huge chunk of what we earn. Hard-earned. Not passive income. Not cushy profit from somewhere else. Literal blood, sweat, and late nights just to break even, only to have a big part of it go to taxes. Some business owners are even scared to make a mistake, scared to get it wrong, scared of the BIR letters or visits that might come if they mess up. And who can blame them? They do their part. They register their business, pay dues, issue receipts, hire people, create livelihoods. But at the end of the day, it feels like the system keeps taking, and giving very little back.

When we look around… we can’t really help but wonder, saan napupunta lahat ng 'to? Parang wala namang nangyayari.

The country’s still buried in debt. Roads are still bad. Public services are still lacking. Corruption still exists. 

So now, I’m all in, learning as much as I can about taxes and bir, so I can help in any way I can.

Let's do what’s FAIR, what’s ALLOWED. Because a lot of people don’t realize they’re overpaying simply because no one told them what they’re entitled to. No one guided them. No one walked them through it.

And I think to myself, what if they could save that money, and instead use it to grow their businesses? Hire additional staff? Buy better inventory? Improve their businesses? Send kids to school? Help their community in their own little way? 

That’s the kind of change I want to be part of.

I know we can’t fix the whole system. And honestly? I’ve stopped hoping for big change to come from the top. But I still believe in the kind of change that grows from the ground up—bit by bit, business by business, person by person.

Because I’ve seen what happens when local businesses thrive. They don’t just make money. They give back. They feed families. They help neighbors. They put kids through school. They become a kind of community backbone that no government policy can replace.

That’s where I want to help. That’s who I want to serve.

I want to help as much as I can and I want to learn more about the people and businesses' pain and figure out kung dn nga aspect akon need I-study more so I can help.

Yes, I used to hate studying taxation, but this time, lezz do this!!

i first shared this in facebook and facebook has always been a space where i’d share a favorite photo, promote something, or reshare a memory or two — but not like this. not in a journal kind of way. honestly, i get nervous sharing too much — especially when it feels a little vulnerable. but since it’s labor day, a day that honors the heart behind all kinds of work, it feels like the right time to share a few things that have been sitting with me.

lately, i’ve been stepping into spaces that once felt foreign — doing things i never imagined i’d have to do. things that ask me to be seen in ways i’m not used to.

for most of my career, i’ve stayed behind the scenes — happy in my little world of numbers and spreadsheets and month-end reports. i liked it there. i loved the structure and stillness of numbers. i used to think that was enough. that doing good work quietly would speak for itself.

but lately, things have changed. the season has called for more. i’ve had to stretch — to listen more closely, speak more openly, show up more fully. not just for myself, but for the team, for the mission, for the people we want to serve.

and honestly? it still feels a little weird. introducing myself as a co-founder? a coo? that used to feel too loud for someone like me — someone who never really saw herself as the “face” of anything. i used to prefer the quiet, behind-the-scenes kind of life. but i’ve realized that sometimes, being visible isn’t about ego. it’s about responsibility. it’s about standing behind the work you believe in.

so i’ve been putting myself out there — even if just a little. it still feels awkward sometimes (linkedin telling me someone viewed my profile? instant overthinking 😂), but i’m learning to welcome that discomfort. i get it now — this is part of what it means to grow something with intention.

i guess this season is teaching me that showing up can look different than i imagined. it’s not about being loud or performative. it’s about being present. being willing. being honest.

i’ve been listening more — to our team, to our clients, to the people we want to serve. what do they need? what matters to them? where are the gaps we can fill?

and in the midst of all the change, i found myself circling back to my why.

why this company was started. why we kept going, even when things got hard. why we care so much about doing things right — even when no one’s watching.

we’ve been working closely with nonprofit organizations over the years. and that’s not just a niche for me — it’s a calling. who would have thought i'd end up in nonprofit accounting? it wasn't even something i paid attention to in college. now i get to work with mission-driven organizations who are out there doing the real work: feeding, healing, advocating, protecting, educating. and i get to play a small part in helping them keep their finances in order so they can keep doing what they do best.

and we’re doing our best to keep this work going — not just for the clients we serve, but for the people behind the scenes, too. for our team, who have always given so much heart. for the students we welcome in, hoping to give them a space to learn and grow. we’re working toward something sustainable, something rooted in care.

so yeah. maybe this season is awkward and stretching and a little bit scary. maybe i still hesitate when i hit “post.” maybe i still overthink every time i show up online. but it’s also beautiful — because i know i’m not doing this just for me.

i’m doing it for the mission. for the people we serve. for the team i care deeply about. for the dream that’s bigger than me.

on this labor day, i’m holding space for the ones who quietly carry the weight of the work — the steady hands, the listening hearts, the behind-the-scenes souls. i see you. i’m with you. and i hope you’re proud of the work you do.

happy labor day to all the hardworking workers — especially those who don’t always raise their hands first, but still choose to show up anyway.  💻🌿☁️🚶‍♀️

and happy labor day to the incredible team i've had the privilege to work with. grateful for your heart, your effort, and the quiet strength you brought into everything. wherever life takes us, the work we shared will always mean something to me. 💙

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