July 2015

Ang Feeding Program ng Barangay Real 2

Bacoor City, Cavite…hindi pinagmamalaki ng tarpaulin!

Ni Apolinario Villalobos

Mabuti na lamang at natunugan ko isang hapon ang gagawing feeding program o mas gusto kong tawaging “food sharing” ng Barangay Real 2. Nakiusap ako kay Kagawad Ana Lyn Sagenes na baka pwede akong magmasid ng kanilang gagawin. Angkop na angkop ang gagawin ko dahil sa mga napapabalitang “food poisoning” ng mga kabataang beneficiary ng feeding programs, na ang pinakahuli ay ini-sponsor ng isang malaking NGO.

Tulad ng nabanggit ko noon sa mga naunang blog, Real 2 ang may pinakamaliit na budget sa buong Bacoor at curious ako kung paano nilang gagawing makibahagi ng palasak nang pagkaing lugaw sa mga kabataan. Chicken arroz caldo ang kanilang ihahanda at gabi pa lang ay nagayat na ang mga sangkap, pati ang manok na nahimay na rin. Ang paghanda ay ginawa nina Kagawad Lando Sagenes, Danny Sagenes, Ana Lyn Sagenes, at Baby Diala. Nakaistambay naman ang mga Tanod Bayan na sina Lito Alegonza at Ed Belmonte na nagsilbing mga runner para sa iba pang mga pangangailangan. Ilang sandali pa ay dumating din si Kagawad Rhea Endaya. Napag-alaman ko na tuwing magpi-feeding program ay sila mismo ang nagluluto at hindi pinagkakatiwala sa iba.

Kinabukasan nang alas dos, isinalang na nila ang lugaw sa tatlong malalaking kaldero na sa tantiya nila, bago mag-alas kwatro ay maluluto na. Nang oras na yon naman ay siya namang pagdating ni Barangay Chairman BJ Aganus na nag-check ng mga iba pang kakailanganin bago magsisimula, tatlumpung minuto makalipas ang alas otso ng umaga.

Unang pinuntahan ng grupo ang tatlong clusters sa Arevalo Compound na katabi ng exclusive subdivision na Meadowood. Dinagsa sila ng maraming bata lalo na at araw ng Sabado, walang pasok sa eskwela. Umabot din sa halos dalawang daan ang kabuuhang dumagsa sa tatlong clusters ng mga taal na Kabitenyo, bago pa man nagkaroon ng mga subdivision. Pinuntahan din ang Padua cluster na dikit na rin sa Meadowood. Ang kinikilalang “patriarch” o “ama” ng cluster na ito si Magno Padua, panganay sa magkakapatid na Padua na nagsaka sa lupang kinatitirikan ng Meadowood Subdivision. Dito na rin nakapagpahinga ang grupo na ang iba’y halatang hiningal na subalit ang kapansin-pansin ay pamumula ng mga mata dahil sa kawalan ng tulog.

Huli nilang pinuntahan ang Luzville bandang alas diyes na, kung saan ay matatagpuan pa rin ang isang depressed area. Ilang sandali lang pagdating nila, nagsidagsaan na rin ang mga bata…magkakapatid na magkahawak- kamay at magkakalaro na nagtutulakan pa sa pagkuha ng lugaw dahil sa hiya. Subalit nang matikman na ang lugaw, malinaw na nagustuhan nila kaya halos lahat sila ay kung ilang beses bumalik upang humingi pa.

Ang grupo ng “feeders” ay walang ingay kung kumilos, walang kantiyawan, may isa o dalawa lamang na sumisigaw upang humikayat ng iba pang mga kabataan. At, ang matindi….kahit walang meryenda ay walang nagpaparinig o nagpaparamdam man lang ng gutom. Ayaw siguro nilang pakialaman ang lugaw dahil para lang talaga sa mga bata ang kanilang inihanda. Ang pinakahuling naobserbahan ko ang nagkumpirma sa iniisip ko noon pa man, na talagang pilit nilang pinagkakasya ang budget para sa pakain ng mga bata, kaya maski isang coke solo man lang ay wala akong nakitang binili si Chairman BJ, para siguro ipabatid na ang lakad ay hindi kainan o meryendahan kundi sakripesyo para sa mga kabataan.

Hindi na ako nagtanong kung magkano ang budget para sa tinantiya kong halos apat na raang kabataan mula sa Arevalo compound hanggang sa Luzville. Siyanga pala, ang Arevalo Compound ay hindi naman talaga “compound” kundi kumpol ng maliliit na bahay lamang sa lupaing ang orihinal na may-ari ay ang Arevalo family.

Sa liit ng budget ng barangay, gusto ko mang gawin ay hindi na ako nagtanong kung may petty cash din ba sila para sa mga sariling motorcycles na ginagamit sa emergency o lakad na hindi man emergency ay may kinalaman sa operasyon ng barangay. Inunawa ko na lang na dahil sa priority nilang mga proyekto ay halos wala na ngang natitirang pangkape man lang para sa mga Tanod Bayan kung magronda sila sa gabi. Nagpapasalamat na lang ang barangay kung sila ay datnan ng donasyong kape o pagkain para sa mga nagroronda.  Ibig sabihin, obvious na ang mga may-ari ng mga motorcycle ay nagkakanya-kanya sa pagbili ng gasolina, na malaking kabawasan din sa kanilang kakarampot na “sweldo”.

Maliban kay Pojie Reyes na may importanteng lakad kaya hindi nakasama sa feeding program, ang mga kagawad na nakasali ay sina: Ana Lyn Sagenes, Rea Endaya, Lando Padua, Elena Diala, Danny Sagenes, at Fer Sagenes; mga Tanob Bayan na sina: Ed Belmonte, Gary Sanchez, at Lito Alegonza; at volunteer na si Analiza Ballesteros. Masayang ibinahagi ni Chairman Aganus na sa kabila ng kakarampot nilang budget, tuluy-tuloy ang kanilang feeding program. Halatang iniiwasan din nila ang publicity dahil wala silang ginagamit na tarpaulin para ibando ang kanilang ginagawa. Nagpasalamat nga ako dahil hindi ako pinagbawalang gumawa ng blog tungkol sa ginawa nila.

Dalawang depressed areas ang nasasakop ng Barangay Real Dos kaya ang sabi ni Mr. Aganus, ay welcome ang anumang mga donasyon para sa mga bata, tulad ng notebook, mga lapis, mga bag pang-eskwela, at sa feeding program naman ay bigas na panlugaw ang uri. Nagluluto din ang barangay para sa mga evacuees sa panahon ng baha na ang pinaka-apektado ay ang mga taga-Luzville na nasa tabi ng ilog.

Maaaring ipadala ang mga donasyon, naka-address kay:

Mr. BJ Aganus

Chairman, Barangay Real 2

Bacoor City, Cavite.

The Irony of the Philippine Government’s “Prides”

By Apolinario Villalobos

The Philippines, first and foremost is an agricultural country but the government is insisting on infrastructures to make it at par with other realistically progressive neighboring Asian countries. Mountains are left to unscrupulous and illegal loggers. Rice fields are converted into housing areas. Resources for renewable energy are left untapped. Garbage in cities are not disposed properly. Manila is becoming the dump site of waste from industrial countries. Most towns and even small cities are without drainage systems and clean source of potable and socialized  water system. Manila infinitely, is suffering from traffic and flood. Despite all these hurting realities, the Department of Tourism prides in its slogan “It’s More Fun in the Philippines” and the administration of Pnoy with its “Matuwid na Daan”.

The country also prides in its world-class universities where knowledge on economics, industry and more, are supposed to be bred. The first rice-breeding laboratory in Asia can be found in Los Baῆos, Laguna, and which has trained agricultural scientists from other countries….but the country yearly imports rice from the countries of these once “students” of the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI). We have lakes, and other small bodies of water and rice paddies that can be converted into small-scale fish farm, but foreign financiers keep on strangling tilapia and bangus in much abused Laguna lake using small fish pens…and shamefully, we import even the common galunggong from Taiwan. Meanwhile, the streams and lakes are polluted by seepage from mining sites decimating the fish population, rendering them useless and leaving those who depend on them go hungry.

And the worst irony is the ill-prepared K-12 program that the government is touting to prepare the youth for jobs abroad! Such insanity is true because good-paying jobs for skilled workers are found in other countries. Will K-12 finishers like to work in this country where contractualization for five months is the common practice, and for a take home pay which can barely maintain the daily existence of a family of four? Even if jobs will flood the country, still the pay will be pittance due to the prevailing policies that are unfair to labor! That is the reason why labor unions do not tire of shouting invectives against the government for its failure to remedy the situation, especially, the contractualization. Obviously, the K-12 program has been hastily implemented so that it can be included in the list of accomplishments of Pnoy.

The government prides in the “quality education program”. Still, ironically, the textbooks are so commercialized, obviously making the publishers and conniving government officials, and even schools rich, and making it impossible for the poor to go on with their effort to acquire basic education. I found out that one book for a level of the K-12 program costs 700 pesos, and to think that such book shall be discarded at the end of school year! How about the classrooms without chairs and whose students are overflowing to the corridor or being lectured in gyms, basketball courts, under trees, etc? Lucky are communities with overflowing students than those without schools! Worst, how about the schools without decent toilets, or with decency only good for several months after school opening as maintenance is next to impossible due to the lack of water facilities and fund?

I love my country…but I hate the corrupt system of the government today, and the liars that “operate” it to their own advantage! Nevertheless, I am still hoping that from the coming generations, decent and conscientious leaders will rise to heal the wounds of this ailing country…..

The Planned Loan from the Asian Development Bank

…and its impending further bleeding of the Filipinos!

By Apolinario Villalobos

Months ago, at least two surveys reported that the Philippines has been recovering from its economic woes, with the figure of unemployment reduced, rice in abundance, etc. Yet, it was followed by the “fluctuation” of the peso due to underspending of the government and of course, the people who has nothing to spend, anyway, then the announcement that the government is importing rice to buffer its stock to prevent hunger. Lately, the confusing scenario is worsened by the joint statement of ADB President Takehiko Nakao and Philippine Finance Secretary that Asian Development Bank, based in Metro Manila is ready to increase loans from USD1.8 billion for 2015-2017 up to USD 3billion from 2016 to 2018, and as based on the country’s latest accountability, would be about 66 percent increase!

The series of loans shall purportedly continue to “support the country’s infrastructure needs, programs to strengthen high school education, job creation for the youth, social protection and development in the southern Philippines.” Purisima added that support from ADB “ is crucial and quality education and infrastructure are needed to fuel growth beneficial to all.” Wow!...what a mouthful avowal!

The country is now wallowing in debt renewed every year for the same reasons but no tangible result can be seen. The glaring example is the K-12 program which has been haphazardly launched without the needed preparation due to the “lack of fund”!...no materials, no teachers appropriately trained, lack of rooms – the same problems since after the Martial Law! What is funny, even with the billions of donations for the rehabilitation of the Yolanda typhoon (Hayan) victims, not a single statement from the government about its progress is heard. So, what “funding” can the government honestly handle, when even the mentioned donation is being viewed as mishandled…and with so many questions about it left unanswered?

And, what infrastructure is Purisima talking about?....the “built and destroyed” roads for what reason, the people already know, if not due to poor quality of materials used by contractors?....there are many government structures that need refurbishing but are left untouched! Purisima should go out to the countryside to validate his statements that indeed, the loans are being used for the building of infrastructure – check for himself, the length of highways and roads already built, number of bridges already finished, and most especially, farm to market roads that have been "really” built!

On tourism, what has the government done? If not for the initiative and resourcefulness of the local facilities and tour operators, the industry would have gone down the drain due to neglect. What little historic remains of the once hated Spanish colonialism are left to rot due to non-availability of funds but the Filipinos are surprised at the notoriously hefty amounts of money that have gone to the pockets of the unscrupulous government officials…that is why, there are cases being investigated now. What a shame!

The Philippines is a sucker to what ADB keeps on telling the world that its economy has grown rapidly for several years and expanded 6.1 percent in 2014, forecasting still, that by the end of 2015, it will rise to 6.4 percent, and 6.3 percent in 2016. Are the ADB people serious about their revelation? Where did they get their information?...from paid survey firms? What economy is this bank talking about with the practice of the five-month contractual employment going on?...the decline of agriculture industry?...the mining industry given on silver platter to the foreign miners, especially, Chinese?.... the poor Filipinos left with the sidewalk vending business while decent ones are left to the Chinese and Koreans in malls that these same foreigners built? Are these foreign “investors” expected to invest further in the country, as common sense dictates that they should bring back to their country what earnings they have sucked from this ailing country?

The presence of the BPO outfits in the country should not be relied on to bolster its economic foundation. These are service-oriented companies that can easily be pulled out anytime, just like the factories. They rely on service output that can be done anywhere with cheap labor. Try to imagine if these BPOs and factories suddenly transferred their companies to neighboring Asian countries such as Malaysia, Vietnam or Cambodia, because of unrest in the country, and what do we get?...ghost economic processing zones of Cavite, Baguio, Cebu; empty commercial buildings vacated by BPOs, and unemployed four-year course university and college graduates – call center agents, gawking at emptiness pitifully left with developed vices of smoking and drinking!

The government should wake up to the reality that the country’s economy is crucially hinged on remittances of OFW, toiling pitifully, some even in inhuman situations, in countries  some of which are already feeling the pang of economic adversity that is slowly gripping the world.

The government should never mention quality education to bolster its “accomplishment”, with the yearly tuition increase that its concerned agencies are tolerating. The situation is worsened, again, by the K-12 program that has become the dead- end for the aspirations of the youth, who cannot even afford a backpack for school materials and a decent pair of shoes, much more a breakfast of gruel before going to school.

So, if the loan from the ADB materializes, the guess of my dumbfounded compatriots about this shocking revelation, as to where the money shall go…is as good as mine! …nothing has changed for our beloved country, despite the proliferation of university-educated officials that hold its reins…some even claiming to be descendants of historic political figures! 

Ang Daang Matuwid ni Benigno Aquino III

…nasaan ito?...tigilan na niya ang pag-iilusyon!

Ni Apolinario Villalobos

Daang matuwid na ang binanggit ni Pnoy

Sa unang araw pa lamang ng kanyang panunungkulan

Doon daw niya aakayin ang bayan.

Dinagdagan pa ang kanyang pambobola

Dahil sa kanyang mga boss, siya ay makikinig pa daw

Nguni’t ito pala’y pangakong ampaw!

Upang umangat daw, buhay ng mahihirap

May ipinangakong pagsagana ng pagkain lalo na bigas

Subali’t salita lang pala ng mandurugas!

Sa pamahalaang kay tagal nang lupaypay

Maraming palpak best friends na itinalaga at iniluklok

Kaya gobyerno niya ay mabantot, bulok!

Siya ay pinalakpakan, inakalang tutupad

Sa binitiwang pangako para sa mga bakwet - mga tirahan

Palpak din, sa gutom, kumalam pa ang tiyan!

 ‘Pinas ay nabulaga dahil sa kanyang inasta –

Pagkatapos ng barilan doon sa Mamasapano, Maguindanao

Wari’y sapilitan, pagsilip sa SAF44 na pumanaw!

Siguro iniisip niya, di naman siya magugutom

Kaya nagtaas man mga presyo ng bilihin, si Pnoy, dedma pa rin

Dahil walang pakialam sa mga taong gusgusin!

Naniniwala sa lahat ng report na kagila-gilalas

Mula sa mga taong nakapaligid sa kanya…lahat mga mambobola

Umangat daw ang ‘Pinas!... napamangha siya!

Dahil nagagalit na at naiinis pa ang sambayanan

Dapat ay tumigil na itong presidente sa kanyang pagsisinungaling

Dahil baka sa kangkungan lang siya makakarating

Sa pagtahak niya sa kanyang matuwid daw na daan

Ganoong ang mga sinasabi’y puro drowing lang naman!

Bakit Hindi Binabatikos ng mga Militante

Si Binay?....napansin ko lang

Ni Apolinario Villalobos

Kapansin-pansing sa kabila ng mga imbestigasyong nangyayari sa mga Binay, wala man lang ni isang militanteng grupo na sumusuporta sa mga ginagawang ito. Subalit kung si Pnoy naman ang binabatikos, may mga sinusunog pa silang effigy nito. Ano ang ibig nilang sabihin?...na may dalawang uri ng korapsyon?

Kung ang pinaglalaban ng mga militanteng grupo ay prinsipyo at kapakanan ng taong bayan, dapat ay pantay ang kanilang ginagawang aksiyon. Hindi ba korapsyon ang isyu laban sa mga Binay? Mga kaalyado lang ba ng presidente ang itinuturing nilang korap? Bakit ang mga senador at mga kongresman na alam nilang mga korap ay ayaw nilang igawa ng mga effigy at sunugin sa Luneta, tapat ng grandstand upang malawak ang mapagdadausan at marami ang makakakita o kung gusto nilang pasundan ng rally ay lalong mabuti dahil malawak ang lugar? Bakit palaging si Pnoy na lang ang pinapatutsadahan nila ganoong hindi naman ito ang mismong korap kundi ang mga nakapaligid sa kanya?

Hindi ko pinapanigan si Pnoy dahil binabatikos ko rin siya pero hanggang sa mga bagay na tingin ko ay mga kakulangan at kahinaan lamang niya bilang presidente. Kung ang problema ng mga militanteng grupo ay ang sinasabi nilang pakikialam ng Amerika sa Pilipinas, bakit hindi nila ipaglaban ang pagbabago sa Saligang Batas upang mabawasan ang kapangyarihan ng presidente sa pamamagitan ng pagbabago din ng sistema ng gobyerno upang tuluyang mawala sa eksena ang mga Amerikano?

Dapat unawain ng mga grupong ito na dahil sa patung-patong na utang ng Pilipinas, nakikialam ang mga inutangan kung paano magamit ang inutang na pera upang siguradong maibalik sa kanila ang mga ito na may kasama pang interest.

Ang pagsulpot ng mga Amerikano dahil sa Balikatan Exercise ay kailangan ng Pilipinas kahit papaano.  Ginagawa rin ng maraming bansa sa ibang kontinente ang ganito dahil sa magandang relasyon nila sa isa’t isa. At isa pa, malinaw naman na may interes din ang Amerika sa West Philippine Sea kaya talagang hindi ito magpapabayang makamkam nang ganoon na lamang ng Tsina ang nasabing dagat…ano ang problema dito? Malinaw naman sa buong mundo na itinuturing na “highway” ng mga naglalayag na mga barko ng iba’t ibang bansa ang nasabing dagat.  Ang pag-aalala ay pangkalahatan, hindi lang ng Pilipinas, kaya bakit itinuturing na problema ng mga militanteng grupong Pilipino ang pagpapakitang-gilas ng Amerika sa bahaging ito ng Dagat Pasipiko upang makapanindak man lang kahit bahagya sa Tsina?

Dapat ang pagtuunan ng pansin ng mga militanteng grupo ay ang kaso ng mga Binay, upang lumabas na talagang prinsipyo ang pinaglalaban nila. Kung kakalabanin pa rin nila ang mga korap na kaalyado ni Pnoy, mas lalong magaling. Kung yon ang gagawin nila, lalabas na talagang “instrumento” sila ng Demokrasya, hindi ng kung ano pa mang ideyolohiya.

“Mr. President, may mga nakalimutan po kayo

sa inyong huling talumpati…”

ni Apolinario Villalobos

“Kung ang State of the Nation Address o SONA, sa Pilipino ay talumpati tungkol sa tunay na kalagayan ng bansa, marami po kayong nakalimutang banggitin, Mr. President. Ang mga nabanggit ninyo kasi ay tila hindi tumutugma sa tunay na kalagayang nakikita naming mga boss ninyo. Kaya bilang boss ay nagtatanong ako… kami. Kungbaga sa office, “pinag-eexplain why” po namin kayo, dahil ang ganoong sitwasyon ang gusto ninyo, hindi po ba? Paano namin mauunawaan ang dinadanas ninyong hirap bilang presidente ng isang bansa na umaapaw sa dami ang mga korap na opisyal kung kayo mismo ay nagsasabi na walang problema? Maisasaing ba namin ang papel na may mga numero na nagsasabing umangat ang kalagayan ng bansa? Maaari ba namin itong ipa-xerox upang mapalitan ng pera?

Mr. President, hindi ba lumalala ang problema ng droga kaya maski nakakulong na ang mga drug lords ay nakakapag-operate pa rin? Hindi ba problema ang kawalan ng mga gamot sa mga ospital at klinika ng gobyerno, maski pa sinasabi ninyong lumawak ang sinakop ng Philhealth? Hindi ba problema ang lumalalang trapik dahil sa hindi makontrol na pagdami ng mga sasakyan ganoong hindi naman nalalaparan o nadadagdagan ang mga kalsada? Hindi ba problema ang hindi pagpansin ng mga telcom servers tulad ng Smart at Globe sa lumalalang problema sa kanilang signal na hindi nila inaayos sa kabila ng warning ng gobyerno, kaya para na rin nilang niloloko ang mga kawawang customer na walang magawa dahil wala silang choice?

Hindi ba problema ang baha? Hindi ba problema ang pagkakaipit ng matataas na presyo ng bigas kaya hindi bumaba sa dati nilang lebel? Hindi ba problema ang kawalan ng trabaho pagkalipas ng limang buwang kontrata, kahit pa sinasabi ninyong maraming negosyo sa Pilipinas? Kaya ang nangyayari, sa loob ng limang buwan ay masaya dahil may makakain pa…pero pagkatapos ng limang buwan, buong pamilya, kumakalam ang sikmura at nakanganga! Ang paghukay ba ng lupa na may mineral upang hakutin sa ibang bansa ang tinatawag ninyong investment ng mga dayuhan?

Bakit hindi ninyo binanggit ang Freedom of Information Bill na kung ilang taon nang nabagoong, ganoong wala naman kayong dapat katakutan dahil hindi naman kayo korap…sabi nyo yan, di ba? Ayaw ba ng mga kaalyado ninyo dahil natutumbok sila? Bakit wala man lang kayong nabanggit tungkol sa Mamasapano massacre na sariwa pa sa isipan ng mga Pilipino, lalo na sa mga pamilyang namatayan, kaya walang dahilan upang makalimutan ninyo?

Bakit hindi nyo man lang mabanggit-banggit na ang pinagmamalaki nyong Pantawid Pamilya Program ay sinimulan ni Gloria Arroyo at ang orihinal na tawag ay cash transfer program, at pinalawak nyo lang? Pati ang extension ng LRT hanggang Cavite, hindi ba nabuo ang ideya noong panahon din ni Gloria na dapat nga daw ay lalampas pa ng Bacoor at ang dapat na babaybayin ay Aguinaldo Highway?

Bakit hindi pinapaalam sa taong bayan na hanggang ngayon ay walang linaw ang rehabilitasyon ng mga nasalanta ng bagyong Yolanda at mga biktima ng pagsalakay ng MNLF sa Zamboanga na hanggang ngayon ay nasa kalunus-lunos na kalagayan ang mga pansamantalang tirahan? Kung sakali, baka may magbigay pa uli ng mga donasyon. Yon nga lang, magkakaproblema uli kung makakarating ba talaga sa mga biktima dahil sa dami ng mga uwak at buwitre na nakaabang!

Bakit kailangang ipagmalaki ninyo ang kuryente na umabot na sa mga liblib na lugar, ganoong ang mayroon nang mga linya ay nagdurusa naman sa mahahabang blackout? Seryoso ba kayo tungkol sa bagay na ito?...o totoo kaya ang report sa inyo?

Bakit  pinagmamalaki ninyo  ang pagdating ng prototype ng mga gagawing bagon ng MRT at kung maaaprubahan ay tuluy-tuloy na ang pagdating ng iba, ganoong ang pinakadahilan ng pagkaantala ng rehabilitasyon ng mass transport system na ito ay ang hindi ninyo pagbitaw kay Vitangcol sa mahabang panahon sa kabila ng naghuhumiyaw niyang kaso? Sino siya, at tila ganoon na lang siya kahalaga sa administrasyon ninyo?

Kung napakahaba ng pagkakataon ang ginugol ninyo sa pagpapasalamat sa inyong yaya, hairdresser, stylist, at mga cabinet secretaries na kwestiyonable naman ang mga performance, at iba pang hindi kailangang banggitin, bakit ang mga mahahalagang bagay ay initsa-pwera ninyo? Hindi ba kayo pwedeng magdaos na lang ng get-together o thanksgiving party sa Club Filipino para sa kanila at doon ay pasalamatan sila with hug o kiss pa?  Kung sabagay dahil sa mga pangalang binanggit ninyo ay nakarinig naman kayo ng mga palakpakan, eh, di wow!... dahil siguro kailangan ninyo ng pampalakas ng loob…okey lang! Sana ay hindi nerbiyos ang pahiwatig ng ilang beses ninyong pag-ubo…o baka kung ano na yan….concerned lang po, Mr. President.

Hindi lang siguro ako ang nagtatanong dahil marami ang nag-abang sa mga sasabihin ninyo sa inyong talumpati…subalit maaaring pati sila ay disappointed din dahil sa kalagitnaan pa lang ay inantok na, at naglipat ng estasyon ng TV o radyo dahil wala rin namang maririnig na bago. Kung pipilitin kayong sagutin ang tanong kung bakit marami kayong nakalimutan…baka sasagot lang kayo ng, “basta”. Kapag umabot na sa ganito, may magagawa ba kami?...eh, di wala!!!!

Isang abang mamamayan lang po ako na may maliit na boses…at umaasang maunawaan ninyo ang pakay ng mensahe kong ito na hindi naninira ng pagkatao ninyo, hindi tulad ng iba na idinodrowing ang mukha ninyong may sungay. Hindi rin ito tulad ng isang effigy ninyong nakakatakot ang hitsura na sinusunog pa. Iniisip ko lang po na kung ang mga taong tinuturing ninyong kaibigan ay hindi makapagsabi o makapagtanong, gagawin ko po ito bilang karapatan ng isang boss dahil yon ang palagi ninyong sinasabi…at kahit papaano ay yon lang din ang pinaniwalaan ko….wala nang iba. Kung pasado naman sa inyo ang ginawa ko…eh, di wow!”

Kimberly Bautista Rosel: Angel on the Road

By Apolinario Villalobos

Around seven in the morning of July 26, I was on my way to Divisoria, on a jeepney that plied the Mabini Street of Ermita. At the corner of Salas St., two young Koreans hailed the jeepney and showing the photo on their cellphone to the driver, asked if he was passing by the said landmark. The driver inaudibly replied which was of course, not understood by the tourists. At this point, I asked them if it was alright for me to see the landmark on their cellphone which I found to be the bastion of Intramuros, after which I gave them directions.

A young pretty lady across from where I sat, volunteered that she was on her way to Intramuros and offered to guide the couple. She told me that she was a student of the Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila (PLM) and that she had enough time to drop the two tourists where they wanted to start their walking tour. As I was impressed by her attitude which was another inspiring act, my favorite subject for blogs, I ventured if it was okey for me to write something about her, giving my “credential” in the process. Also I asked her to share with me what would transpire in the course of her angelic gesture. As the three hastily alighted for a connecting ride, all I got from the young lady was her name, “Kimberly”.  I thought she would forget all about me until I checked my facebook the following day for any message from her which I fortunately got. With it she sent a “friend request” which I immediately confirmed.

She was Kimberly Bautista Rosel. In her message, she shared that she brought the young tourists to the landmark where they wanted to start their walking tour. Not long afterwards,  pedicab drivers approached them to offer their service of a quick tour of the Walled City but were declined with her help, as the tourists knew only a sprinkling of English.  After giving more information, she left them and hastily proceeded to her class. She shared that they were wondering why I was nice to them on the jeepney to which she explained the Filipino trait of volunteerism.

At sixteen, Kimberly impressed me as having a strong personality. During our short exchange of pleasantries on the jeepney, and while talking to the tourists, she spoke with confidence and in a very good English without a ‘trying hard” twang, for which many teens are apt to do today. I was not surprised as I found later that her mother is a teacher. She also unabashedly confided that her father is a driver in a school in Pasay City. Her family hails from Nasugbu, Batangas. When I checked the photos on her facebook, I found images of a happy family.

Kimberly is the epitome of the Filipino hospitality, on which hinges the effort of the country in upholding its lure in the face of the cutthroat competition in the tourism industry. Hopefully, the two Korean tourists will tell their friends back home about their experience, that indeed, the Philippines is really a safe place where one can enjoy the sights and goodwill of the people. I firmly believe that “word of mouth” is more effective than the printed advertisements, as the former is a reliable first-hand account.

Kimberley more than advertised the country with her act. If I may add, she is also pretty, a typical dusky Filipina. How I wish there are thousands more of her kind that tourists will find along their way around the country.

Dreams and Premonitions

By Apolinario Villalobos

I have second thoughts about sharing the following experiences as their absurdities shall definitely make a bad impression on the state of my mind. I am taking the risk anyway, with a hope that others have similar experiences, so that I will finally free myself from the nagging thought that I am alone in this weird situation.

When I was about six years old, while playing at the town plaza, just across the street from our house, I saw a guy giving something to my elder sister who was standing outside our gate. Suddenly the face of another elder sister who was in Manila in the care of our aunt entered my mind. My familiarity with her was limited to the picture hung on our wall, in which she was wearing the “mestiza” dress that she modeled for a fashion school in our town. She went to Manila while I was much younger, then. When I went home for a drink, I found everybody crying – my elder sister in Manila was dead, and what was handed to my other elder sister by the guy was a telegram.

Still on that same year, when I and my younger sister were left at home, I saw a long-haired lady in our dining area who was smiling while staring at me. I was not afraid as I thought she was one of our relatives sent by our parents to check on us. As she turned to go inside a small room where dirty clothes for washing were kept, she suddenly vanished into thin air.

When I started going to school, I usually wake up to a light and cold touch every dawn, and as I turn to check who did it, I would find the same long-haired lady who then, would leave the room as I opened my eyes, just in time to see her vanish while going out the door. I would then, check my brothers who soundly slept with me in the same room. On a table in the corner of our room was a small kerosene lamp that was kept lighted the whole night.

When I was in Grade Six, I dreamed about old folks with unfamiliar faces and with them was my father who was sick during the time. A month later, he died. Months after, when I was in first year high school, I dreamed that I was talking to him, innocently asking him why he was still around, to which he answered that he missed us, adding still that he was waiting for someone. My mother during the time was also sick. One afternoon, while I was on my way home from school, I suddenly felt sick and weak.  As I entered our gate, I found many neighbors in our yard, with some of them crying. When I went up our house, I saw my mother lying on the bed in our sala – dead!

When I was in third year college, I always dreamed that I was working on a typewriter. During the time, I was a student assistant in our school and my job was to clean the rooms of the elementary department, as well as, its grounds. Before the end of the first semester I was called to the Mayor’s office where a guy told me that he was interested in hiring me based on the recommendation of the people he asked at the town hall. He was Mr. Claudio Estante who just opened the Department of Social Welfare (DSW) Office in our town. On the spot, I accepted the job but with a request that I be made to report only on Saturdays and Sundays during which I would be free from my classes, but with a promise to work till late in the evening. He consented so that from then on, I worked in the office finalizing lists of evacuees, pounding their names on the keyboard of the typewriter using my forefingers and thumbs. Later, together with a few of my classmates, I learned the rudiments of “real” typing from Mrs. Emma Jamorabon who patiently taught us the skill in the Conference Room of our school, as an optional subject for our Bachelor of Arts course.

Two months before my graduation from college, a guy from Koronadal, a neighboring town, visited his friend, Tito Esoy, who was my officemate in DSW. The PAL guy was Virgilio Manocdoc, who was connected with General Santos station. Jokingly, I asked if there was a vacancy to which I received a hanging reply. From then on, I kept on dreaming about the PAL guy who seemed to be giving me instructions. Three weeks before my graduation, he sent me a telegram saying that I must report for an interview the following day which was a Saturday. I immediately sought the permission of our boss at DSW, and the following day I left for the PAL office in General Santos City, where I was interviewed by the then, Supervisor, Mr. Francisco Abiera and his assistant, Mr. Maning Vega. Four of us, with me at the last line of interviewees, bested the more than 80 applicants.

I again dreamed that I was going up the stairs of an airplane and was waving to a long-haired lady who was among the crowd outside the fence of the runway. Just days after our graduation which I did not attend, I passed the PAL senior panel interview in Davao City, conducted by Mr. James Hannen, the Mindanao Area Director, Mr. Ricardo Paloma, Regional VP, and Mr. Ed Guatelara, Supervisor of Standards and Coordinations who came all the way from Manila. The following day, I was sent together with three others to Manila for our medical check- up and training. In my small bag were two extra shirts, three underwear, two denim pants, and a toothbrush. I was in the company of Boy Asistido, Fred Derequito, and Abet Yu. We were escorted by the late, Bud Aseoche, a supervisor of Davao station.

Many years later, while I was driving along a highway in Cavite, I saw a truck speeding towards me on my lane. I panicked and turned the wheel suddenly. I saw nothing for a few seconds after that, and when I recovered my senses, I found myself still clinging to the wheel - unhurt, but my wristwatch and shoes found their way to the passenger’s seat behind me. I was told later by bystanders that the car with me inside, turned turtle in mid-air and was thrown 6 meters away from the highway, landing upright in a rice field with knee-deep muddy water, so they thought I was dead. In front of me, I found the rosary which Celso Dapo gave me as a present from Holy Land still swinging from where I hung it. That rosary had a “defect” for having an extra bead in one of its decade - for one extra Hail Mary. The beads were made of olive wood. I gave the rosary to an old woman I befriended in Divisoria, and whose job was a “barker/dispatcher” in a jeepney terminal. Any of the parked jeepneys became her “sleeping quarter” at night. I gave the rosary to the old woman, with a hope that it would protect her, too.

Four times lately, I dreamed about a big cross tumbling down a hill. Another dream is about big ocean waves that deface an island causing coconut trees to topple down. There are many more dreams that even give me chills as I wake up heavily sweating, and which I find unpleasant to share….or, perhaps, some other time, just to unburden me of such thoughts.

Intrepid Me

(Tribute to tireless travel bloggers)

by Apolinario B Villalobos

At the crack of dawn

While the rest of humanity

Are still curled up in their bed

I’m already up, eager, excited;

I hit the road, buoyed with lightness –

Letting my feet just carry me on

As I unwind my pent up energy

That gives me a feeling of ecstasy.

With cell phone, notebook and pen

Camera, batteries, biscuits, candies

Towel, extra shirt, coins and bills –

All backpacked, I trek over hills;

A shot here and there, mesmerized –

A stop here and there, hypnotized –

Only aahs and oohs, I say nothing more

As the searing sun, I patiently endure.

The world is my home, it’s where I belong

I let no oceans and seas hinder me, there are ships

I let no great distance distress me, there are airplanes

I let no meager funds discourage me, I can scrimp

I let no insufficient language daunt me, I can make signs

I let no difference in culture deter me, I can learn

I let no difference in climate frighten me, I can adapt

This is me, intrepid me, my desire to explore is my map!

Michael Quirante: Tenacious and Resourceful

Branch Manager of McDonalds-Hidalgo (Quiapo)

by Apolinario Villalobos

Lately, MacDonalds has been hugging the limelight because of the incidents on food poisoning. This seems unlikely as the food chain is known for being finicky as regards their products and service. I had the chance to test the trademark for which it has been known one morning when I dropped by their Hidalgo Branch in Quiapo for breakfast.

As usual I ordered the pancakes but the Cashier, Love Castaῆares smilingly suggested their new product, launched just that morning, the cheesy egg pandesal. I gave in to her insistence, but I was disappointed as it came in the size which was not my type, so I rejected it. At this instance, the Branch Manager, Michael Quirante volunteered that I still try the pandesal if only to check its taste. I declined, and perhaps in an effort to prevent me from getting irritated, it was promptly changed with the pancakes.

While I was enjoying my pancakes, I saw Mr. Quirante slicing the sandwich into bite sizes, and offered them to the few customers at the time, as it was still early. He had such kind of persuading approach that no customer ever declined his offer, and all of them practically gave their thumb up, to confirm that their new product tasted really good. In just a couple of minutes all bite-sized pandesal slices were gone, and Mr. Quirante was smiling from ear to ear.

What touched me that morning was the persistence of Mr. Quirante in introducing a new product of the company, by personally, offering it to the customers. He was not downhearted with my rejection. Also, I supposed that such gesture was not really part of his routine, but rather his own kind of personal gimmickry that put his resourcefulness to the fore.

My interest in the attitude of Mr. Quirante made me talk to him for a few minutes before I left. I asked him if he was aware of the latest impression on their company due to the issue on food poisoning, to which he answered in the positive, that is why, he told me that they are trying their best to maintain their image. Just then, a service crew came in and greeted him. He told me that the guy was a Muslim. I was surprised because I thought only Christians were being hired by their company. At that, I was told that they want to be fair to all those who seek opportunity to help them with their studies, that is why their outlet has hired four Muslim staff. I was not surprised by what he told me as McDonalds is known for its penchant in helping working students. In fact, Mr. Quirante told me that he went through the same stage, as he was himself, a working student when he worked initially with the company.

Quiapo is one area in Manila, a historic one, yet, which is being shared by the Catholics and Muslims who live side by side harmoniously. MacDonalds contributes to this harmonious co-existence by hiring service crew members from the area, regardless of their religious affinity. Mr. Quirante’s attitude on the other hand, has enhanced the effort of the company in his own way, by doing his best as part of the company – being nice to the clients and his co-employees. He told me that his rising from the lowest position, that of a service crew, until he became manager, gave him the opportunity to understand the entire nature of his job.

While it is true that employees of service-oriented companies are mandated to smile their best to attract customers, the difference lies in the “sincerity” in how it is done. Being an employee myself that handled customer needs, I know if smiling is candidly done or words that are muttered are meant to help or appease irritated clients or not. Mr. Quirante did more than all those…he made use of his resourcefulness to help his company to show that the golden arc does not only symbolize excellent service, but superb products, as well. 

Pampitik lang ang Torre de Manila

…marami pang dapat punahin at alalahanin sa Maynila

Ni Apolinario Villalobos

Ang isyu ng Torre de Manila ay isang ehemplo ng kawalang pakialam ng mga taong hindi gumagawa ng mga responsibilidad nila. Ipinapakita nila ang ugaling “reactive” o pag-aksyon lamang kung may nangyari nang pinsala, sa halip na umaksyon habang maaga pa upang maiwasan ang mga problema, na kung tawagin naman ay “preventive”.

Ang National Historical Institute ay ilang metro lang ang layo mula sa ginagawang Torre de Manila. Nasa tabi lamang ito ng National Library of the Philippines. Ang National Commission on Culture and the Arts ay nasa Intramuros lang na hindi kalayuan mula dito. Ang Manila City Hall ay ganoon din. Bulag ba ang mga taong inaasahan umaksiyon noon pa mang umabot na sa kwestiyonableng taas ang gusali kaya hindi pa man tapos ay nakita na ang epekto nito sa rebulto ni Rizal, kaya tinawag na “photo bummer”? Bingi ba sila upang hindi marinig ang mga nag-iingay nang mga taong nababahala? Hindi ba sila marunong magbasa upang hindi maintindihan ang mga balita sa mga diyaryo ang tungkol dito? Kung sasabihin nilang nakagapos ang mga kamay nila dahil sa mahihinang batas na nagpo-protekta sa mga bantayog o shrines, bakit hindi sila nagpanukala ng mga ito noon pa man?

Ngayon ay nagtuturuan sila kung sino ang may kasalanan. Napag-alaman din na miyembro pala ng Knights of Rizal ang mga “matitinik” na taga-Maynila tulad ng dating mayor na si Alfredo Lim at mismong nakaupong mayor na si Erap Estrada. Marami ang nagtataka kung bakit wala silang kibo. Ngayon pa lang ay may mga lumulutang na kuwento tungkol sa pagkasangkot ng ilang kagawad ng konseho ng Maynila, at kung sa anong bagay ay hindi na kailangang sabihin pa.

Dahil sa isyu ng Torre de Manila, naungkat tuloy ang mga kwestiyon din sa pagpa-privatize ng mga palengke, na siyempre ay bentahan ng mga public facilities na ito sa mga pribadong grupo. Bakit kailangang i-privatize ganoong pinagkikitaan din naman ng local government, at nasisiguro pa ang kapakanan ng mga nagtitinda dahil napapanatili ang upang kaya nila, kaya wala silang dahilan upang magtaas ng mga presyo? Kung ang maayos na pagmintina ang hinahabol, hindi ba ito kayang gawin ng City Hall?  

Noon, nagkaroon ng pagtatangka ang Manila City Halol na ilabas sa Maynila ang Manila Zoo at gawing basketball stadium ang mababakante nitong espasyo. Mabuti na lang at naagapang hindi matuloy dahil marami ang nagreklamo. Hindi malayong ang tangka ay mauulit dahil nagkakaroon na ng lakas ng loob ang mga taong nagpupursige nito. Marami na kasi ang mga naipalusot na iba pang proyekto na kung tawagin sa Ingles ay “precedent”.

Ang hindi ginagawa ng gobyernong lokal sa tulong ng MMDA ay ang paglinis ng mga maliliit na ilog at estero na ngayon ay namumuwalan ng basura at water lily. Hihintayin na naman nilang magkabahaan bago magkumahog sa pagkilos. At, kasunod ng pagkukumahog ay, tulad ng inaasahan pa rin…ang pagturuan at pagsisi na naman sa mga kawawang residente na burara daw kaya kung saan saan lang nagtatapon ng basura, ganoong hindi naman hinahakot ang basurang maayos nilang tinatapos sa mga nakatalagang lugar.

Karma as Principle

…and how Filipinos perceive it

By Apolinario Villalobos

The followers of Hinduism believe that karma as a principle is about the positive or negative consequence for the action of a person on his soul in his next life. This principle has become so popular that even non-believers of Hinduism use it as part of their daily expression in warning wrongdoers for the consequence of their actions. Noticeably, however, the user dwells more on the karma’s negative result. It has beaten the Golden Rule which has a more universal character in this aspect. More often, one easily would say, “be careful or you might suffer the karma for what you did”, rather than “be careful or others might do to you what you did to them”. Among the Filipinos, the easy statement is “baka makarma ka”, which fuses the principle in the language, using it as a verb. In English it literally means, “you might suffer the karma”, in which the principle this time, is used as a noun.

Nevertheless, karma is a very significant enhancement of the Hindu religion which promotes kindness and non-violence. It has even become more popular than the religion itself, in which the said principle serves as the substance. Many people use the term without knowing that it is part of the Hindu religion. Still some Filipinos thought that it is a word found in their vocabulary.

While in Hinduism, the effect of the bad deed is expected in the next life of a person yet, for the Filipinos, it is expected to happen even while a person is still alive. That is why when a former president is found to be suffering from a seemingly incurable illness, the nation is almost one in uttering, "good for her!”.  The former president is under detention due to her plundering of people’s money, particularly, that of the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes (PCSO). When another detained woman  accused for masterminding the plunder of “pork barrel” fund is found to be also suffering from an ailment, hence, the operation that she just underwent, the nation is again almost one in uttering, “good for her”.

Karma is supposed to have a good side, such that there is a so-called “good karma”. Unfortunately, among the Filipinos, its bad connotation is overwhelming, that even just its mere mention could send chills down the spine of one who hears it. A small group of cultists even uses the word in their incantation. I happen to come across this group right in front of the Quiapo Church. A free round of coffee to the seven members was enough to for them to give me their trust. Their short incantation goes this way: makarma ka…makarma ka…sana’y lagi kang madapa…iwasan ka ng pera…iwanan ka ng asawa (nobyo o nobya)…makarma ka…makarma ka…mga buto mo ay lumambot…sakit sa iyo habambuhay ay manuot! (translation: bad karma be yours…bad karma be yours…may you always fall…may money evade you…may your loved ones desert you…bad karma be yours…bad karma be yours…may your bones crumble…may disease be yours forever!)

I asked the cult’s leader if they have ever been invited by organizers of protest rallies to join them when they hold these near Malacaῆan Palace, or outside the gates of Congress and Senate. The leader replied in negative but expressed their willingness as echoed by the nods of the members. I failed to ask another question as one woman member suddenly went into a “trance”, so I just thanked the leader and approached another group.

Well, karma or no karma, our salvation is spelled by our wholehearted love of God and our fellowmen. Such love for fellowmen can be manifested by the sharing of our blessings without regard to their religious affiliation or perception of life. And, belief in God should be without any taint of doubt.

Ang mga Kapabayaan sa Pilipinas

…kabulukang nakakasulasok at nakakasuka!

Ni Apolinario Villalobos

Napakaraming kapabayaan ang maibabato sa pamahalaan na nagresulta sa pagkawala ng respeto ng mga mananamantala sa gobyerno. Dahil dito, nadadamay ang kabuuhang pagkatao ng mga Pilipino na nawalan na dignidad o dangal.

Ang isang halimbawa ay ang pagpipilit ng DMCI, developer ng Torre de Manila na  ituloy ang pagpapagawa kahit may TRO na noon pa man. Mula sa apat ay naging pito, hanggang nabisto na ang gusto palang ipatayo ay isang high-rise condo na may 49 palapag. Tinagurian itong “national photo bummer” dahil kapag nagpakuha ang mga namamasyal sa Luneta ng litrato sa harap ng rebulto ni Rizal, litaw na litaw ang ginagawang gusali. Ngayon, gusto pa ng Supreme Court na bayaran ang DMCI kung mahihinto ang proyekto nila, ganoong sa simula pa lang ay alam na ng kumpanyang mali sila, at nagpapalusot lamang sa tulong ng mga tiwaling opisyal ng pamahalaan, lalo pa at nagsimula na pala silang magpre-selling maraming buwan na ang nakaraan. Walang ginawa ang administrasyon ni Aquino ganoong ang usapin ay isang national issue.

Dahil naman sa walang humpay na nangyayaring korapsyon sa gobyerno, ang tingin sa ating bansa ay basura na. Kahit sa kapit-bansang Malaysia ay may mga adverstisement na hindi ligtas ang manirahan at magnegosyo sa Pilipinas. Sa larangan naman ng turismo, kung ilang beses nang napasama sa listahan ng mga bansang dapat iwasan ang Pilipinas. Nasundan pa ito ng pagdagsa ng halos isandaang malalaking container vans na puno ng basura mula sa Canada. Hindi na nirerespeto ang Pilipinas dahil ang mismong namumuno ay walang political will.

Ang nasa isip ng mga banyagang gustong manamantala sa Pilipinas ay makakalusot sila basta may nakahandang milyones na panlagay sa mga opisyal. Hindi maiwasang isipin nila ito dahil may mga pruweba nang ginagaya naman ng iba, hanggang umabot sa halos wala nang katapusang pang-aabuso ang lahat. Lumalaki ang problemang kinakaharap  ng mga Pilipino dahil malalim na ang inabot ng ugat ng korapsyon sa gobyerno. Paano pang mabubunot ang ugat sa ngayon, kung mismong namumuno ay walang pakialam sa mga nangyayari sa kanyang paligid?

Mismong sa loob ng bakuran ng bansa, nagkalat ang mga basura – sa kalye at mga estero, bukod pa sa paligid ng mga slum areas. May mga ahensiya ngang itinalaga pero wala namang ginagawa. Sa mga estero o daluyan ng tubig nga lang, hinahayaang kumapal ang mga basura at water liliy, kaya kapag inabutan ng malakas na ulan umaapaw ang mga ito na nagdudulot ng matinding baha. Oo nga’t may kasalanan din ang mga tao, subali’t ano ang gagawin nila kung ang basurang inilagay naman nila ng maayos sa mga pick-up points ay hindi hinahakot ng mga trak ng basura sa tamang oras?

Maliliit na mga isla at kalat-kalat na nga lang ang Pilipinas, tatambakan pa ng basura ng ibang bansa at mismong mga naninirahan, ano pa ang aasahang mangyari?...ang sagot ay dusa na idudulot ng sakit mula sa amoy ng basura, at lason na tatagas sa mga daluyan ng tubig sa ilalim ng lupa o bukal, na iniinom ng mga tao! 

No Historic Landmark or Development

can stay for a Lifetime in the Philippines

by Apolinario Villalobos

The politics in the Philippines is one of a kind. It is destructive, as well as, breeds very hideous corruption, that devastates even the foundation of the people’s culture. Greed is the very core of political system in the Philippines. Worst, is that despite the glaring manifestations of committed corruption, those involved keep on denying it.

Every administration of all government units, from the top executive down to the lowest level is fanatically obsessed with political slogans and colors that serve as their stamp. Even long-standing structures which have been budgeted significantly for their construction are not spared. It is expected always, that every time an election for the sets of government officials has been concluded, practically everything is washed over with new colors that stand for the passion of the winners. Along with this, what have been put up by the past administration, are unsparingly destroyed to give way to new ones that shall stand for the “accomplishments” of the sitting set of officials. On the other hand, the sitting government officials may not be totally blamed because unless they broadcast their accomplishments, the people will not know.

As to the historic landmarks that for centuries gave a grandiose image to the country, these are pitifully neglected. Some are renovated to assume a modernistic façade to serve the purpose of the mindless government officials. A sister of the president was even quoted as having indiscreetly remarked that the centuries-old Post Office building at the Bonifacio Park (formerly, Lawton Plaza), can be converted into a hotel. And, just a stone’s throw away from the said landmark is the deteriorating Manila Metropolitan Theater with its peeling walls and crumbling statues.

My heart cringes every time I browse the cyberspace and view the posts of bloggers – photos of the historic landmarks of neighboring Asian countries, all well-maintained and not overshadowed by mushrooming and towering modern edifices. Even the triangular and minuscule “tourist spot”, Intramuros is in a sorry state with its stinking nooks. Perhaps, it will remain as such, a stinking “spot”. It is a shame that we Filipinos always say, that we are proud of our race and country, but these are just verbal declarations without substance.

Yes, we have world-class singers and we have Manny Pacquiao, but it seems that our pride stops there. Our president is even touted as a lame duck, one reason why corruption in the government has worsened. But, as the saying goes, while we live, there is always hope…and as hoping is free, it’s all that the Filipinos can do…hope and pray for the better!

Sa Pilipinas, Pakapalan ng Mukha

ang Labanan sa Pulitika

Ni Apolinario Villalobos

Kung hindi matapang ang hiya ng isang tao, hindi siya pwedeng pumasok sa larangan ng pulitika sa Pilipinas kung saan ang labanan ay pakapalan ng mukha. Nakakatulong din ang pagkakaroon ng pangalan na kilala na sa larangang ito, kaya sumibol ang “political dynasty”. Ang palaging sinasabi kahit kahiyaan na ay, “nandito na rin lang sa pulitika, lubusin na”…kaya nagkakanya-kanya ng hakot ng kapamilya ang mga walang hiyang pulitiko upang maipasok sa larangang ito.

Para sa baguhan at hindi kilala, nagsisimula ang pakapalan ng mukha sa araw na magpilit siyang kaya niyang tumakbo sa isang posisyon at wala siyang pakialam kung pagtawanan man siya o laitin kahit na ng mga kaibigan niya. Hindi rin ligtas sa mga panglalait ang mga kilala na sa pulitika na gustong tumakbo sa mas mataas na puwesto o di kaya ay tumakbo uli para sa dating posisyon hangga’t pasok pa sa alituntunin, subali’t bistado namang walang ginawa o nagawa kundi mangurakot lang. Talagang makakapal ang mukha!

Sa kaso ng mag-amang Binay, nang tanungin daw ang nakakatandang Binay kung ii-endorso niya ang kanyang junior kung tatakbo ito sa pagka-senador, ang sagot niya: “siyempre, dahil anak ko yan”. Ganoon sila kakapal sa garapalang pagpapakita ng mga tunay nilang layunin sa pulitika – ang magkaroon ng dinastiya o dynasty. Kung ang Makati ay literal na tinatakan nila ng letrang “B”, ang buong  Pilipinas pa kaya na sa tingin nila ay malaking oportunidad para sa isang malaking negosyo?

Si Mar Roxas ay ehemplo ng pinakamatinding pakapalan ng mukha dahil sa layuning tumagal sa larangan ng pulitika, kesehodang sa tingin ng mga kritiko niya ay nagmumukha siyang tuta ng kanyang iniidolo. Dahil sa ginagawa ni Roxas, nawalan na siya ng “self-respect”, isang palatandaan ng kahinaan kaya lalong nawawalan siya ng pag-asang manalo. Sino ba naman kasi ang boboto sa isang tao na walang sariling disposisyon at umaasa lang sa iba?...ang pagkakamali niya ay ang sumandal sa isang taong ampaw pala! Kung gusto niyang mabawi ang kanyang “self-respect” dapat ay mag-resign siya bilang Secretary ng DILG ngayon na, at tumigil sa kaaasta na parang loud speaker ni Pnoy sa pagsabi ng “tuwid na daan” at “reporma” na puro kathang isip lamang!

Kahit hindi tumakbo uli sa pagka-presidente, kinakapalan din ni Pnoy ang mukha sa pangungulit ng pakikipag-usap kay Grace Poe na sa tingin ng mga Pilipino ay may malaking potensiyal na maging presidente. Natataranta si Pnoy dahil kung hindi niya makukuha ang isang pangako mula sa isang tingin niya ay magiging presidente, siguradong makakasuhan siya at madadagdag sa listahan ng mga babatikusan dahil sa maling paggamit ng pondo ng bayan. Hindi nakakalimutan ng taong bayan ang sinabi ni Grace Poe bilang konklusyon ng imbestigasyon sa Mamasapano massacre, na dapat ay managot si Pnoy dahil sa kapabayaan. Hindi ito pwedeng bawiin ni Poe dahil siya naman ang malalagay sa kahihiyan.

May mga tumatakbo rin na ang habol lang ay makalikom ng mga “donation” na pera para sa pangangampanya, subalit tinitipid naman upang malaki ang matirang pambulsa. Diyan nagkaroon ng malaking bahay at iba pang ari-arian ang isang kilalang pulitiko na tumakbo sa pagka-presidente pero natalo. Inamin niya sa isang interbyu na galing sa natirang donasyon daw ang kanyang pera upang palabasing hindi siya nangurakot sa kaban ng bayan. Wala siyang choice kundi aminin ang nakakahiyang ginawa kaysa naman madiin sa mga akusasyong may kinalaman sa pangungurakot, subali’t dahil sa kamalasan ay hindi pa rin natanggal ang akusasyon dahil malinaw naman na isa siya sa mga ginamit ni Napoles.

Ang iba naman ay buong kayabangan at katapatang nagsasabi na ang pagpasok nila sa pulitika ay isang “investment” kaya walang problema kung gumastos man sila ng malaki dahil inaasahan naman nila na sa loob lamang ng isang taong pangugurakot ay apat na doble ang maibabalik sa kanila!...at yan ay napatunayan na!

Pat’s Journey in Life

(for Pat Sulleza Pelletero)

By Apolinario Villalobos

The gauge of the person’s desire to succeed in life is the degree of his or her enthusiasm in achieving such at all cost. A couple of years ago, I met a girl who at a very young age became a discreet prostitute along Avenida so that she could pursue her studies until she was adopted by a retired couple who treated her like their own. Children in depressed areas that surround Divisoria, a bustling center for wholesaling of local produce, derive earnings by waking up as early as two in the morning to gather vegetable trimmings to be cleaned and sold along the sidewalk. Only when they have sold enough to earn a little for their allowance, do they prepare themselves for school.

There are more inspiring stories that can pinch one’s heart, not for pity but for admiration. One of these is that of Pat’s. Upon graduating from high school, she decided to work for her college studies to lessen the burden of her parents whose income could barely suffice for the needs of their family. When she applied as a Student Assistant in the convent of the Oblates of Notre Dame (OND), she was readily accepted because of her outstanding academic record and remarkable character.

The determination to finish her studies boosted her strength as she faced the task that lay ahead. Though a little shock was felt during the early days of her stay in the convent, she got used to waking up at 4:30AM to start doing the household chores, one of which was braving the early breaking of dawn to buy pan de sal, popular local bread for breakfast. Other things had to be done until before 11:AM as during the time, she had to teach catechism at Tacurong Pilot School until 11:45AM. The remaining fifteen minutes till noon was spent walking her way back to the convent. From noon until two in the afternoon, she had to do other chores, after which she was left with thirty minutes to prepare herself for her classes which started at 2:30PM, until 8:00PM. That was her typical weekdays and weeknights. Saturdays were for laundry and weeding of the garden and doing research. Sundays were of course for the Mass and whatever were left of the chores, and the evenings were for studies.

Hectic was not enough to describe the life of Pat as a Student Assistant, but it prepared her for more pressure when she worked at Ramie Corporation (RamCor) when she graduated. She topped the qualifying exam given by the company for applicants. During the early days of Tacurong, ramie fiber was one of the products that it proudly produced. Another company, Kenram, cultivated the fibrous plant together with kenap. As with the abaca fiber of Albay province, ramie and kenap were among the top exported products of the Philippines, until the plantations in Tacurong were supplanted with African palm.

The time of Pat’s employment at RamCor was also the height of the unrest in the area due to the Muslim-Christian conflict which necessitated the stationing of a contingent of the 12^th Infantry Battalion of the Philippine Army. Call it fate, but due to the unrest which caused the arrival of the men in fatigue, Pat met Ed (Eustaquio Edmundo Pellero), a Cebuano, and who was a member of the said contingent. As love can move mountains, so did theirs that also moved aside mountains of apprehensions because of financial limitations.

After her stint at RamCor, Pat taught for a while at the Sultan Kudarat National High School, now a Polytechnic University extension in the province. When the situation in Mindanao improved, the couple went to Manila and finally settled in Cavite. Pat still did her part as a working mother with her employment at the Philippine National Bank, until she finally decided to quit so that she could spend her time attending to the needs of their growing family. The couple is blessed with three offspring, Brendo Amor, Satea Mae, and Jonah Maureen, as well as, grandchildren, Lourdess Gem, Lorcan Gyo and Vaugn Eric Zain.

Pat grew up in a closely-knit family that espoused discipline and fear of God which molded her character as she was growing up. The traits could have been what the OND nuns perceived when she applied for a job as Student Assistant, and by her husband when he wooed her. She tried her best to imbue the same traits to her children who became successful in their chosen careers.

Pat is a town mate and our path crossed through the facebook after more than thirty years. I knew her as a chatty gal when she was in high school and college, making her easy to go along with. She could easily set the mood of conversation into something lively to put everyone at ease. Her satisfaction in life, proved that success is not spelled by money. She was successful in her hard-earned college degree, well-thought conjugal partnership with an equally hardworking guy, having equally well-disciplined offspring and healthy grandchildren, and today, contented as a retiree. All of these, of course, she owes to the only One whom she trusted ever since in her life when she embarked on a journey along its perilous corridor, beset with challenges.

Rantings on Gay Issue should be Stopped

…the Hypocrite Preachers should instead Think

of How to Feed the Hungry

By Apolinario Villalobos

One popular American preacher, lately, keeps on telling his followers that nowhere in the Bible is “homosexuality” mentioned. Of course! There is no such word in the language of the Biblical people of long ago, but the act is clearly implied. The Bible uses instead, the word “dog” as reference to the male prostitute. Are the hypocrites who keep on denying the reality of such preference so dumb that they forgot how the word “sodomy” was coined? When an “angel” went to Lot who lived in Sodom, to warn him about the wrath of God that was about to befall the city, the male populace forced him to surrender to them his good looking visitor, and it was only at this time that the “angel” used his power against the throng when he felt the danger, as they were already banging at the door. Why were the males of Sodom interested in the good looking visitor of Lot? Must I say, that clearly, they want to “sodomize” him? Also, how about the intimate relationship of King David to Jonathan? Now, those are Bible stories that I am throwing back to the hypocrites who still cannot accept the fact that the homosexual acts aside from other heathen practices of the Sodomites caused the downfall of their city, together with that of Gomorrah. They should eat their Bible to have a better understanding of what are inside!

In the Philippines, there was a scandal about a Christian preacher who was sued by his male lover, and which hugged the limelight for months. The case did not prosper as the preacher was suspected of using the power of money and his influence to silence his former lover. And, to think that the money came from his followers whom he duped into believing his being a “ clean and pure Christian”. On the other hand, Vatican admits the involvement of some Catholic priests in homosexuality. Famous celebrities are coming out of their closets to admit their sexual preference, despite their being married and having families. A famous Holywood actress even admitted her having a transvestite biological father. Despite all these, the hypocrite preachers keep on pretending that on earth, man should always be a “he” and the woman, a “she”…no in-between. Again, these learned hypocrites should go back to their biology books in high school and review the chapters on chromosomes that are the basic factor in the determination of a child’s gender.

Respect, compassion, and tolerance are what the misunderstood gays are asking for. They are not asking for any high government post or millions of lifetime security grants. If hypocrites can’t accept the glaring facts about the gays, they must at least, keep quiet and instead work on ways on how to feed the increasing number of hungry people around the world. Noticeably, nobody among these hypocrites ever mention hunger for food and poverty in their fiery preaches.

Are these hypocrite preachers ( are they really straight?), willing to share with the hungry unfortunate, the “donations” and tithes given to them by their followers whom they keep on shamelessly fooling with their hypocritical preaching? The fact is that they are driving around in expensive cars and leading a luxurious life….now those are more glaring and scandalous facts that these hypocrites should face!

These hypocrites keep on preaching about the love for God and Jesus whom they do not see, yet, they cannot express such for the people around them, who need it, and whose suffering, they see.  

What Osmeῆa, Roxas and Pnoy

Should Do to Help the Country at this Time

By Apolinario Villalobos

On Osmeῆa….he should stop analyzing the presidential capability of Grace Poe, even declaring that she is just good for the vice-presidency. Osmeῆa, himself, has proved nothing as a lawmaker so he is not in the position to judge his fellow politicians. It is a good thing that Grace Poe fought back by saying that many so-called seasoned politicians assumed responsible positions but proved to be just disappointments due to their misdoings. Osmeῆa should open his eyes and ears to understand the message of Poe.

On Roxas….he should stop talking like a puppet echoing the “tuwid na daan” and “reforms” that are the daily mumblings of Pnoy, his boss, to whom he kowtows with all loyalty and sincerity. Roxas is just showing his lack of backbone in all his statements and actions. He should come up with his own platform that may be related to what his boss promised but did not accomplish, if that is what he wants to do – at least he can be original somehow. He should prove that he has his own will power, and not a copycat.

On Pnoy….he should stop talking about his “tuwid na daan” and “reforms” because Filipinos have not seen anything yet that can give substance to those promises. All he showed was insensitivity to the popular clamor of the populace to remove from their positions his inept and questionably performing buddies. Because of his inaction, the country slid miserably more into helplessness. The guy’s promises have been proven to be shams that just became butts of joke. Corruption under his administration got worse, and even assumed a somewhat legal image. He may not be corrupt, himself, but his tolerance of such misdoing makes him one, as he is aware and even becomes a party. If he is not aware of this, it just proves that he is not really listening to his “bosses” as he promised. Unsavory stories about his attitude never fail to fill to pages of tabloid and broadsheets, even the airwaves.

Of late, it has been discovered that the much and perpetually questioned pork barrel is again inserted in the 2016 budget. Is this what Pnoy is saying about his “reforms”? What reform is he talking about when he is obviously tolerating the commission of corruption? He must stop talking about his two trademarks to give relief to the Filipinos who are getting tired of his mumblings!