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June 14:
Just a Little Post Office Kwento

Before anything else, my belated congratulations to Team Dindi and the rest of IndieFilipino for finally launching their maiden issue last Wednesday, Philippine Independence Day, no less! I haven't had a chance to surf the entire thing, but it's nice to see some very familiar names in there.

***
Arn and I have both been very busy the past few days but we managed to squeeze in a pilgrimage to the QC post office to pick up his copies of Graphic Classics: Sir Arthur Conan Doyle.

So, did you know that you have to pay tax for every package you receive whether you bought the contents or not?

P.O. clerk (rummaging thru the box, presumably searching for a receipt): "What are you using these books for?"

Arnold: "Oh they're complimentary copies because my artwork's in them."

P.O. clerk (somewhat perplexed upon not finding any receipt): "...Well sir, I still have to charge you [insert totally inappropriate amount] for tax."

Arnold: "Ma'am, these books were given to us, we didn't ask for them. Besides we can't afford to cough up that kind of money right now."

Cyn (opens one book): "Yes, and look, here's Arnold's drawing. See, that's his name right there."

P.O. clerk: "Hmmm..." (looks at Arn) "You're a very good artist, can you draw my portrait?""

(Arn quickly does a caricature of the old lady clerk.)

P.O. clerk: "Wow, thank you! ... Okay I won't be charging you then." (D'oh!)

Note: Of course the entire conversation was in Filipino. It was funnier that way, I guess. (I-drowing mo naman ako, iho?)

9 comments

Oh I can TOTALLY picture that whole conversation. Made me laugh, thus it made my day. Thanks ;)

Posted by rain
Jun 18 | 01:28 AM

Thanks for sharing
that Nev, grabe sila!!!
By the way, we'll lend
you the Sir Arthur
Conan Doyle issue
when we meet up
again (:

Posted by Cynthia
Jun 16 | 11:12 PM

You know the
Marikina post
office is still the
most reasonable
post office I've
been to. I only pay
15 pesos for tax
whatever the order
is. In Makati, they
were clearly
ripping people off.
They charged me
850 pesos for
three books I
ordered from
Amazon. I filed a
formal complaint
and guess what?
The standard tax
for orders like
books is only 15 to
20 pesos. These
clerks make it a
sideline by
charging
exorbitant rates!
But that's the
Philippines for
you.

Posted by Neva
Jun 16 | 11:35 AM

that's so funny. maybe ill try that sometimes, but i wont draw them, ill tell them i could sing, but really i cant. i bet not only will i get my stuffs free of charge, they'll probably pay me to shut the hell up! thank you for the idea.

Posted by ibalik
Jun 16 | 05:39 AM

hahaha! that's totally awesome!
: D

i'm glad that you didn't have to pay!

Posted by ladybug
Jun 15 | 02:27 AM

Ooooh.. I have to learn how to draw then. :)

Posted by Macy
Jun 15 | 01:55 AM

Luis and Ellen: I know,
Arn draws really well
really fast, you should
see him in action. Up
to now I'm stlll
amazed by his talent
(:

Posted by Cynthia
Jun 14 | 11:11 PM

Ooh, how about that. A drawing for a tax break. Heh. See, I never get the nice talents. Hehehe.

Posted by ellen
Jun 14 | 10:01 PM

Good grief! But I suppose its really cool that Arnold can pretty much draw his way out of things, eh?

Posted by Luis
Jun 14 | 04:08 PM