Life can become easy

BEING born to a poor family was never a hindrance for Bureau of Internal Revenue East Revenue District Officer Abilia Samante-Bentulan to fulfill her dreams.

And who would have expected that the eldest of nine siblings brought up in a small town in Davao del Norte, who was then her father's assistant in the farm, will hold a key position in the bureau, she said.

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"It is DST. In our office, it's documentary stamp tax. But in my life, it's dasal, sipag at tiyaga," Bentulan told Sun.Star Davao in a jovial manner.

Bella, to her friends and subordinates, was born on February 22, 1954 in Maribojoc in Bohol to couple Sixto and Buenconsejo Samante.

She finished her elementary course in La Filipina Elementary School in Tagum in 1967 as valedictorian; finished secondary school in Assumption College of Davao in 1971 again as valedictorian; and graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Commerce at the Rizal Memorial Colleges in Davao City in 1975 with honors.

"I stayed with my aunt during my high school days and continued my schooling. Lisod pud kay kinahanglan nako magtabang sa balay and her husbands's accounting office so wala na koy time na maglaag kay mag sige na lang ug study (It was difficult because I had to help with the house chores as well as in her husband's accounting office, that left me with just enough time to study and nothing else)," she said, adding that she was an academic scholar throughout high school and college.

Bella became a Certified Public Accountant in 1977 and finished her Masters in Business Administration at the University of Mindanao in 1998 when she was already with the BIR.

It was a literal rise up the rank, having started as bookkeeper with the BIR.

"Ako man gud, kung unsa ipa-trabaho, trabahuon lang pud nako. Wala gyud kay madungog na reklamo and it pays. In my past assignments, I had also the opportunities na mag-seminar sa Manila kay ako ginapadala sa akong mga boss. I think, naa pud silay trust sa akoa (I'm the type who will do whatever work is given me. I never complain and that pays. I have been sent to seminars in Manila maybe because my bosses trusted me)," Bentulan said.

Bentulan attended seminars on News Administrative Remedies, News Withholding Tax System; Tax Fraud Investigatiom; Tax Update; VAT Audit Procedures and Techniques; and on Excise Tax.

She also attended the Train the Trainers workshop; seminar on Expanded VAT; Investigation techniques; Process and Procedures in the legal services; Code of conduct; and orientation on the Revised Statement of Assets and Liabilities Form.

As an accountant, Bentulan was the treasurer of the Philippine Association of Management Accountant and the alumni president of the Rizal Memorial Colleges Association Inc. in 2004, which made her the immediate past president the year after.

She is a member of the board of directors of the Davao Accountants Multi-Purpose Cooperative and recently awarded as the Most Outstanding PICPAn in Government Service in Southern Mindanao Region by the Jaycees.

Asked about her retirement plans having already served for 20 years in government, she said, she will probably find herself in community service.

"Since dagko na man akong mga anak (My children are all grown up), maybe I will still serve the people, in church or in civic organizations. You know, your plans may not be the plans of the Lord so I will be obedient and trusting to Him (whatever He makes me do) kung unsa man iyang ipahimo sa akoa," Bentulan said.

At present, she's enjoying her work and personal life.

"I have friends here na murag elders na nako. Sila akong kauban (who are like my elders, they are my constant companions) and I have learned to balance my life para dili kaayo stressful ang trabaho (so that work doesn't become stressful)," Bentulan said.