MANILA, Philippines – The Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) is revising its mission and vision statements (MVS) in support of President Aquino’s pronouncements and agenda to underscore its job as the foremost tax collection arm of the government.

In a memorandum, Revenue Commissioner Kim S. Jacinto-Henares instructed all regional directors and heads of various offices nationwide to compose and submit to her the new slogans highlighting the mandate of the BIR which collects roughly 70 percent of the annual total income of the government.

Last year, the BIR was tasked to raise P860 billion by higher fiscal authorities.

The BIR chief said the new MVS must be clear and concise, expressing the "hopes and dreams of every revenuer as a public servant and as a Filipino."

She said the mission statement must not only focus on the collection of internal revenue taxes but must emphasize the BIR's role in nation building.

She said the vision articulation must reflect the current strategic direction of the BIR including the fair implementation of tax laws, transparency and simplification of processes to enhance compliance. (Jun Ramirez)

JANUARY IS MONTH OF HOLY CHILD

MANILA, Philippines – The Catholic Church, as well as devotees of the Santo Niño, observe the month of January as the Month of the Holy Child, in honor and in veneration of the Child Jesus, whose image has become a familiar fixture in the homes of devout Catholics.

Festivities, town fiestas, elaborate processions, and other commemorative rites will be held in many parts of the country, particularly on the third Sunday of January which, by tradition, is celebrated as the feast of the Santo Niño.

Devotion to the Child Jesus is widespread and popular among Filipino Catholics who keep an image of the Holy Child in their altars at home. As the patron of children, parents invoke the help of the Santo Niño to keep watch over their children as well as to guide them in bringing them up.

“The image of the Child Jesus with a king’s crown synthesizes the Kingship and the Childhood of Christ. The small globe in His hands symbolizes that Christ is the King of the Universe who became a little child. Trust in the loving and powerful intercession of the Holy Child Jesus. (Christina I. Hermoso)

PALMA INSTALLED ON JAN. 13

MANILA, Philippines – The installation of the Archdiocese of Cebu’s fourth archbishop, Jose Palma, will be held on January 13, the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) website said.

Retired Cebu Archbishop Cardinal Ricardo Vidal will preside the 9 a.m. Eucharistic Celebration and Canonical Installation in the presence of another senior Filipino prelate, Manila Archbishop Gaudencio Cardinal Rosales and Papal Nuncio to the Philippines Archbishop Edward Joseph Adams.

The event is considered as a homecoming because Archbishop Palma was appointed Auxiliary Bishop of Cebu on November 28, 1997.

Archbishop Palma, now 60 years old, was born on March 19, 1950 in Dingle, Iloilo and was ordained priest on August 21, 1976. His Episcopal ordination took place on January 13, 1998.

On January 13, 1999, he was appointed Bishop of Calbayog and was installed on March 9, 1999.

As bishop of Calbayog, Palma denounced the human rights violations committed against local residents by military troopers under then 8th Infantry Division’s Maj. General Jovito Palparan. (Leslie Ann Aquino)