Doctor Goes Viral After Sharing His Eye-Opening Experience w/ Taxes
A doctor has become a trending topic online after sharing a post about taxes, saying, “No one warned me about this part of adulting!”
Recently, Fidel C. Cascabel II, a Facebook user, shared his personal experience and reflections on one of the responsibilities that come with adulthood, such as paying taxes. The post quickly went viral and received widespread reactions from netizens.
Doctor Cascabel talked about how he learned a difficult lesson about tax responsibilities. Years ago, he worked as a talent for ABS-CBN Cebu and registered as a professional taxpayer.
When he later entered medical school in 2015, he stopped earning income and focused on his studies. He didn’t know that even without income, he was still required to file annual tax returns or formally close his registration.
Fidel just discovered it in 2021 after passing the board exam and registering again as a doctor. That was when he found out he had several open cases for late filing covering multiple years. The penalties were high and were initially in six digits before they were reduced.
For him, it became an overwhelming reminder of how complicated adult responsibilities can be.
The doctor shared that the issue was not about avoiding taxes but simply not knowing the process. He felt that financial literacy and tax education should be taught in school because many young adults enter the workforce unsure of how these systems work.
Despite the frustration, he emphasized that his message was not meant to attack the agency involved. Instead, he wanted to spark conversations about clearer systems, proper guidance, and the importance of kindness while dealing with these challenges.
In a previous report, a netizen shares success after turning his life around “nakakabili na yung dating taga salo lang”
Here is the full post:
“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.”
The internet users expressed their reactions to the post:
