Once you register a registration you must formally close it.

 ℕ𝕠 𝕆𝕟𝕖 𝕎𝕒𝕣𝕟𝕖𝕕 𝕄𝕖 𝔸𝕓𝕠𝕦𝕥 𝕋ℍ𝕀𝕊 ℙ𝕒𝕣𝕥 𝕠𝕗 𝔸𝕕𝕦𝕝𝕥𝕚𝕟𝕘 🤡💸 — 𝕄𝕪 𝔹𝕀ℝ 𝕊𝕥𝕠𝕣𝕪

STORY TIME 😭🔥

2011-2015, I was a talent for ABS-CBN Cebu.

We were required to register our “profession,” so I did — obedient citizen, thank you very much.

2015, I entered medical school.

No income. No talent work. No sleep.

Just tuition, exams, and stress-eating my way through survival.

Fast forward to 2021 — fresh board passer, ready to register as a physician.

BIR: “Surprise! You have open cases for late filing from 2016–2020.”

Me: “But I was in MED SCHOOL?? Full time?? No income??”

BIR: “Ah okay. Anyway… your penalty is six digits.”

Me: “Can you reconsider?”

BIR: “Sure — 5 digits nalang.”

Me: 😞😮‍💨

And just to be clear — yes, it’s in the law.

But funny how they never teach THIS in school, noh?

No one tells you that once you register a profession, you MUST file every year or formally CLOSE it…

So technically, the penalty was valid.

Emotionally? Spiritually? Financially? Traumatic.

Imagine passing the boards and you are met with:

“Congrats! May utang ka agad bago ka pa magkapasyente.”

I showed proof I was a full-time student.

I showed documents.

I showed my dead med school soul — plus the 50kg battle scars I gained along the way. 😂

BIR really said: “Cool story. Bayad na. Pwede ra dili all at once.”

Me: “Ah… thanks?”

So yes! I took loans.

And honestly? In hindsight, that was a terrible financial decision HAHAHAH.

But what was I supposed to do? Sell a kidney?

Ma-tax-an ra gihapon na, bai. 🤣

I’m posting this as a public service announcement:

If you ever registered ANY profession in your past life — CLOSE. IT.

The system won’t assume you stopped.

It will quietly count the years…

then greet you with a plot twist you didn’t ask for.

And honestly, seeing the headlines about budget issues and flood control “projects”…

Let’s just say the irony is chef’s kiss. 🤡✨

So to summarize, boys and girls:

Check your old registrations.

Close old professions.

Protect your wallet.

Protect your mental health.

Because apparently…

BIR never forgets.