In 2009, Mel received the Top Taxpayer Award for 2009 from the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) after his company, Velarde Inc., was recognized by the BIR as Top ONETT Taxpayer for Revenue Region No. 8, having made the highest tax payment for 2009. The Top ONETT Taxpayer Award is given to an entity that paid the highest amount of tax for a ‘one time transaction.’ BIR Revenue Region 8 covers the Philippine cities of includes Pasay, Muntinlupa, Paranaque, Las Pinas, Taguig, Pateros and Makati, the country’s financial capital.
After receiving the Top Taxpayer Award, 45-yr old Mel hands over the plague to his beloved father Meliton, seen here shaking hands with the BIR Commissioner. Mel must have made his father very happy. Five years later, on May 22, 2014, Mel’s father succumbed to his 5th stroke and joined our Beloved Creator. “Papa and I were like both father and son to the other. Lovingly, he took care of me so well and I took care of him so willingly.”
