Showing posts with label Apolinario Villalobis. Show all posts

Hindi Magkakaproblema sa Pagkain Kung

May Akma o Karampatan (Appropriate) na Pagkilos ang Mamamayan

Ni Apolinario Villalobos

Tulad ng dapat asahan, lumutang na naman ang pangamba na magkakaroon ng krisis sa bigas at tulad pa rin ng dapat asahan, nag-uumpugan ang magkaibigang pananaw ng mismong mga nasa loob ng National Food Authority (NFA). Ang isang grupo ay nagpipilit na umangkat ng tone-toneladang bigas mula sa mga nakasanayan nang karatig-bansa tulad ng India at Thailand. Ang isa namang grupo naman ay nagsasabi na hindi kailangan dahil sapat ang inaasahang aanihin ng mga magsasaka at ang nakaimbak na bigas ng gobyerno. Ang ganyang eksena ay hindi na bago kahit mula pa noong hindi pa presidente si Duterte… kaakibat kasi niyan ang isyu pa rin sa korapsyon dahil sa sinasabing “komisyon” sa pag-angkat ng bigas.

Ang hindi nabibigyan ng pansin ay ang pagsirit ng presyo ng mga gulay na “native” o likas sa Pilipinas tulad ng alogbate, sitaw, ampalaya, ,kamatis, bawang, at iba pa. Ang mga ito ay pwedeng itanim sa bakuran ng mga bahay lalo na sa probinsiya…pwede kahit sa paso o junk na plastic containers kung sa mga lunsod naman, PERO HINDI GINAGAWA. May mga nagpipilit na gumamit ng “sibuyas Bombay” o yong bilog na uri na mahal ang presyo, samantalang pwede namang gumamit ng “sibuyas dahon” o spring onion na noon pang unang panahon ay ginagamit na ng mga Pilipino. Ang “sibuyas dahon” ay pwedeng itanim kahit sa mga maliliit na lata o sa gilid ng bakod, PERO HINDI GINAGAWA. Hindi pwedeng sabihin na may mga putahe na ang dapat gamitin ay “sibuyas Bombay” , pero kung panahon ng kakapusan, ang dapat pairalin ay RESOURCEFULNESS at ADJUSTMENT upang mapunan ang matinding pangangailangan. BAKIT IPIPILIT ANG HINDI KAYA?

Ang mga guro ay dapat ding kumilos sa pagsabi sa kanilang mga mag-aaral bilang paalala tungkol sa mga bagay na pwede nilang gawin tulad ng pagtanim ng gulay upang mabawasan ang problema ng kanilang pamilya sa pagkain dahil hindi na bibili at sa halip ay pipitas na lang sa garden, pero ang tanong ay, GINAGAWA BA NILA? Palagi din ba silang nagpapayo sa mga mag-aaral na palaging kumain ng gulay para sa kanilang kalusugan, maliban sa mahal ang isda at karne? Kasalanan ng KARAMIHANG Pilipino kung bakit nagkakaroon ng problema sa pagkain ang bansa. Kasama diyan ang nabanggit nang KATAMARAN sa pagtanim ng gulay. Idagdag pa diyan ang KAYABANGAN at BUWISIT NA UGALING PAGTIRA NG PAGKAIN SA PINGGAN.

Ang isang paraan upang makatipid sa bigas ay ang pagkain ng NILAGANG KAMOTE, SAGING AT KAMOTENG KAHOY KUNG MINSAN, PERO HINDI GINAGAWA DAHIL SA TINGIN NG MARAMING PILIPINO, ANG MGA NABANGGIT AY PAGKAIN NG MAHIHIRAP…HINDI TULAD NG PUTING BIGAS NA SOSYAL. Para sa mga mayayabang na Pilipino, nakakahiyang malaman ng kapitbahay na kumakain sila ng nilagang kamote sa almusal. Para sa mayayabang na estudyanteng mahirap din naman ang pamilya, nakakahiyang magbaon sa school ng nilagang talong o talbos ng kamote o ginisang sitaw…dapat ay hotdog o longganisa o piniritong tuna o hamburger o isda….diyan lumalabas ang kasalanan ng magulang na nagkulang sa pagdisiplina sa mga anak….silang mga magulang na umuutang ng pambili ng pambaong hotdog, lonnganisa, etc.

Naging ugali na ng Pilipino ang palaging manisi sa gobyerno kapag may problema…okey lang sana kung malinis ang gobyerno pero hindi, dahil sa mga korap na nakaupo sa iba’t ibang ahensiya nito. At kahit malinaw pa sa sikat ng araw na walang mangyayari sa mga reklamo, ay wala pa ring ginagawang paraan upang kahit papaano ay mabawasan ang paghihirap. Ginagamit pa ng mga grupong may pansariling layunin ang mga estudyante, kasama na ang mga tinaguriang mga iskolar ng bayan upang mag-rally sa kalsada at magsisigaw ng mga nagtataasang presyo kaya kailangang itaas ang sahod.

DAHIL SA MGA NABANGGIT, PAANONG UUSAD ANG PILIPINAS NA PILIT BINABAGO NI DUTERTE?...ASAHAN NA KAPAG NADAGDAGAN ANG PROBLEMA SA PAGKAIN, PRESIDENTE NA NAMAN ANG SISISIHIN….KAWAWANG DUTERTE NA MAGANDA SANA ANG MGA LAYUNIN.

ANG MALAKING TANONG AY, NAKIKIPAGTULUNGAN BA SA KANYA ANG MGA MAMAMAYAN?

Ang Pagsisikap

Ni Apolinario Villalobos

Ang pagsisikap ay pagpapakita ng dangal. Mahirap man o mayaman, mahalagang maipakita ng isang tao na siya ay may sariling disposisyon at kayang tumayo sa sariling mga paa at may mga kamay na may kakayahang magtrabaho o gumawa upang kumita. Kung ang ilang bulag, pilay, komang, at pipi ay kumikita ng maayos, mga normal pa kaya na kumpleto ang mga bahagi ng katawan?

Ang lalong masama ay ang pananamantala ng mga nakapag-aral ng maayos at may mga kaya sa buhay, sa mga inosenteng kinakapos. Ang mga mapagsamantalang ito ay kalimitang mga drug lords na gumagamit ng mga taong kumakapit sa patalim upang mabuhay. Ang iba pang mapagsamantala ay mga mayayaman na walang pakialam sa kalagayan ng ibang tao. Kasama sa hanay nila ang mga taong pinagkatiwalaan ng taong-bayan kaya iniluklok sa kanilang kinalalagyan sa Kongreso, Senado at iba pang ahensiya ng pamahalaan, subalit naging gahaman kaya naging korap.

May mga taong nagsisikap nga upang umasenso pero nangtatapak naman ng kapwa. Maraming ganyang uri ng tao sa buong mundo. Isa itong innate tendency na kung hindi makontrol ay talagang makakapinsala ng kapwa. Ang ugaling ito ang dahilan kung bakit nagkakagulo ang buong mundo….tao laban sa tao na umaabot sa labanang kinasasangkutan ng kanilang mga bansa. Kahit pa sabihing mayroong tinatawag na United Nations, kung minsan ang mga taong dapat magpatupad ng kaayusan ang sumisira ng kanilang layunin.

Mabait ang Diyos dahil binigyan Niya ang tao ng hangaring magsikap upang kahit magkamali ay mayroon pa rin siyang pagkakataong magbago…kung hindi siya talagang ugaling demonyo!

The Problems with Filipino Some Entrepreneurs

By Apolinario Villalobos

First of all, many Filipino entrepreneurs are copycats. Their attitude is such that if they have observed the success of a certain business, they get envious and start their own, thinking that they would attain similar success. That is how the long line of bibingka stands along the highway of Digos in Davao came about, as well as roadside eateries all over the Philippines.

The copycat syndrome also brings about the proliferation of “fad businesses” that eventually, dies a natural death.

Many Filipino entrepreneurs forget one most important factor which is very necessary in putting up a business…the personal conviction or determination founded on personal interest. This factor is determined by the character of the person who is putting up a business. Simply put, an investor will definitely not succeed in selling a product that he does not use. How can a vegetarian for instance, be successful in selling meat products? How can a person sell herbal products if he does not even drink coffee?

Filipino entrepreneurs expect overnight success of their investment. They want an immediate return of their investment and lose heart in proceeding at the sign of any loss. They forgot that any investment that involves money is risky and may take years for the initial capital to be recovered. Meanwhile, recovery of investment may even be impossible if the Filipino entrepreneur spends not only the profit but the capital itself which should be used as a revolving fund.

Finally, one reason why many of these entrepreneurs always depend on the “5/6 loans” from enterprising Indian nationals, the so-called “Bombay” is their failure to save even a small portion of their profit that can be used as revolving fund later on. This attitude is an offshoot of the “Bahala na System”…a very negative aspect of the Filipino culture that seems so difficult to eliminate or at least, minimize.

If we want to move up, we should change our attitude!

Mindanao

By Apolinario B Villalobos

Itinuring na lupang ipinangako -

Ng mga Pilipinong dito ay napadako

Mga naglakas -loob na makipagsapalaran

Hindi inalintana panganib na madadatnan.

Maraming kuwento ang aking nalaman -

May mga kulay ng lungkot at kaligayahan

Nguni’t lahat ay puno ng hangarin, ng pag-asa

Sa lupang ipinangako, magigisnan, bagong umaga.

May mga Pangasinense, Kapampangan, Ilocano

Mayroong Bicolano, Bulakeño, Caviteño, Batangueño

Mga taga-Luzon silang dala ay lakas ng loob, kasipagan

Hindi ininda ang init sa  pagbungkal ng tigang na kabukiran.

Mayroon ding galing sa Antique, Negros, isla ng Cebu

Sumunod ang mga taga-Leyte, Antique, Guimaras at Iloilo

Ano pa nga ba’t sa malawak, mayaman at luntiang Mindanao

Iba’t iba man ang salita,  pagkakaisa pa rin, pilit na nangibabaw.

Hitik sa kwentong makulay ang buong isla ng Mindanao

Unang tumira’y mga kapatid nating sa relihiyon, iba ang pananaw

Silang mga  taal na katutubo, makukulay, matatapang at mahinahon

Tanging hangad ay mabuhay ng matiwasay, tahimik, sa lahat ng panahon.

Ang mga  Kristiyano, Muslim, Lumad – lahat sila ay nagkakaisa

Nagtutulungan, nagbibigayan, mga paniwala man nila ay magkaiba

Nguni’t dahil sa makasariling hangad ng ilang gahaman sa kapangyarihan

Animo kristal na nabasag, iningatang magandang samahan at katahimikan.

Nguni’t tayo ay Pilipino, iba tayo – lumalaban na may masidhing pag-asa

Sa harap ng masalimuot na mga problema, matatatag na kalasag ay nakaamba

Ito’y ang masidhing paniniwala sa Maykapal, malalim at marubdob na kapatiran

Ugaling nagbuklod sa mga taga-Mindanao, magkaiba man ang pananaw at kaugalian.

Ating isigaw-

Mabuhay ang Mindanaw!

Kung Mawawala si Duterte...

Ni Apolinario Villalobos

Kung mawawala si Duterte

Sigurarong lulundag sa tuwa si Lenny

Baka magsayaw pa sila ni Trillanes ng “watusi”-

Puwet lang ang ikinikimbot, sa itaas nakaturo ang daliri.

Kung mawawala si Duterte

Droga ay iiral uli at magiging grabe

Dahil mawawala na ang tinik at balakid na tao

Na sana ay pag-asa ng Pilipinas, may matigas na kamao.

Kung si Duterte ay mawawala

Mga naka-sotana ay sisirko sa tuwa

Lalo na ang mga obispong sa pansin ay matakaw

Na hindi malaman kung ugali’y maka-Diyos o halimaw.

Kung si Duterte ay mawawala

Anong mangyayari sa kawawang bansa?

Magdasal!...nang hindi mangibabaw ang kasamaan

Na hinahasik ng mga drug lords at ganid sa pamahalaan!

Notes:

Watusi – popular dance during the ‘70s, the “shindig era”

Ikinikimbot – shake

Iiral – proliferate

Kamao – fist

Hinahasik – spread

Obispo – tagalong word for the Roman Catholic “bishop”, SOME with questionable character

Ganid - greedy

THE DETERIORATION OF FILIPINO NATIONALISM

by Apolinario Villalobos

If nationalism is about standing in attention upon hearing the National Anthem and ability to sing it, as well as reciting the Pledge (Panatang Makabayan), patronizing local products, interest in the nation’s history instead of “learning” it haphazardly just to have passing grades in school, familiarizing oneself with the historic heroes, and being proud of the national language instead of the Queen’s language…then something is wrong with SOME of us, Filipinos.

The SM chain of stores is commendable for playing the National Anthem in time for the opening of their doors, but many shoppers don’t give a damn, as if what’s being played is just another Christmas song – so they keep on walking and do not stand up in attention. In some school campuses, I observed that even while the flag ceremony is going on, students keep on walking and running.

In one of the TV shows, the naughty host called a student as shown by her uniform, on stage. She was surprised when asked to recite the “Panatang Makabayan” and painfully tried her best to no avail as she was good only for the first four lines. Another student was called and asked to sing the National Anthem, in exchange for a certain amount as the prize. She dismally failed and even mispronounced some words.

There’s also a TV show in which the hosts called on the participants from the audience and who were asked question about the Philippine history. When one was asked who Tandang Sara is, she answered, “ street in Caloocan”. Another was asked who was the “sublime paralytic” about which he loudly wondered, “meron ba noon?”. And, still another was asked who the mother of Jose Rizal is, for which he answered, “Gabriela Silang?”

Obviously and sadly, nationalism is continuously deteriorating, and I would say that the youth of today are victims of the country’s educational institution’s irresponsibility. From preparatory or “kinder” up to the elementary level, the Filipino youth are pitifully loaded with workbooks. They go home with assignments that their parents do for them, while their eyes are glued on TV. They are given projects to be done at home, but which “loving and caring” parents do for them, even going to extent of clipping photos from books and collectible magazines….but nothing much is done to educate them about the history of the country.

Many students who were born many years after the Martial Law are wondering today what the leftist groups meant by not allowing the remains of Ferdinand Marcos to be interred in the Libingan ng mga Bayani. Many still, do not have a hint at what the People Power was all about. So many years have been wasted by the administrations that over took the reins of the government after Marcos was booted out of the country, as not a single book used in school today contain chapters that seriously deliberate on the dark years under the Marcos dictatorship. There are “mentions” but unfortunately, nothing of extensive dissertation exposition.

As the country needs to survive economically, the government has allowed the flooding of the local market with foreign products particularly those from China. This phenomenon has aggravated the already deeply-rooted “stateside” mentality. The once-prosperous jewelry industry of Bulacan has become a thing of the past as Italian silver and Saudi gold jewelries became the “in” thing. The durability of the Marikina shoes is overshadowed by the western-sounding-named products. Local factories for sweets closed shop because raw products are exported to China to be processed and sold back to the Filipinos as “made in China”…so at the supermarkets, we see sweet tamarinds made in China, mango products still from the mainland, even dried tapioca or cassava, sweet potatoes, etc.

At the rate our culture which is the foundation of nationalism is overshadowed by the intruding  “giants” , we might as well, learn their language to be competitive at all cost….as we have no choice in order to survive. On the other hand, I know that there are some who try their best to steadfastly uphold their being a Filipino, be they are living in the archipelago or abroad.

TOTAL CLEANSING OF THE PHILIPPINES MAY BE IMPOSSIBLE

BUT SOMETHING IS BEING DONE BY DUTERTE

By Apolinario Villalobos

Unlike the past administrations, something is being done by the Duterte’s own today as regards the problem on drugs and criminality. It is an accepted fact that had the past administrations after Marcos did their job in at least curbing the proliferation of the drug menace in the country, it could have not gone to the seemingly uncontrollable extent at the time of the Duterte administration. Pro-life advocates say that since the death penalty had no effect on criminals anyway, it is good that it has been scrapped. They forgot that when Marcos had a big time Chinese drug lord shot at Luneta, there was an exodus of other drug lords out of the country and the spread of illegal drug somehow decreased, as even the use of marijuana to which the drug users resorted was minimized.

Duterte himself, insisted that the reason why some observers say that the death penalty has no effect on criminals is because, the laws were not strictly implemented. Although there were apprehensions before, convictions were very insignificant in number due to corrupt judges or the so-called “rogues in robe”, even the police rank has been tainted with involvement in view of the so-called “recycled drugs” that find their way to the streets. Some high-ranking government officials were not spared with the uncovering of the systematic “narco-political” scheme in which “narco-money” is raised to finance the campaign of many politicians who as expected get elected. Even some of those in the military are involved according to the list revealed by Duterte. As it is a public knowledge that as soon as apprehensions were blotted down, but with suspects bailed out by their financiers who will be hanged or convicted to die if there are no convicts?

The stumbling blocks in the effort of cleansing are the so-called, religious and human rights advocates who by their acts, show that those they protect are the criminals instead of the victims. Their banner is emblazoned with “unjust extrajudicial killings” with their fingers pinpointing at the police and the new president. Not a single banner carries even a lightly-written “save the victims of illegal drugs”. Their acts show hypocrisy to the highest level!

Total cleansing of the country from illegal drugs could mean a lot for the Filipinos who are surprised by the number of those affected, as practically, greed has bred corruption in all levels and sectors of the society. Again, the problem here, are the stumbling blocks.

By the way, in building highways, boulders and rocks that block the way are bulldozed, otherwise, the highways will never be leveled and paved with either concrete or asphalt.

NGAYON, HINDI HINDI NA YUYUKO ANG PILIPINO

Ni Apolinario Villalobos

Ang kasaysayan ng Pilipinas ay hitik sa mga kuwentong may kinalaman sa pananakop ng ibang lahi. Nagawa ito dahil ang bansa ay watak-watak…mga islang hindi buo. Nagtagumpay ang mga nagsulputang misyonaryo – Arabo at Kristiyano, kaya nahubog sa panibagong paniniwalang ispiritwal ang kaisipan ng mga ninuno nating pagano.

Sa simula pa lamang ay bukod-tanging pananampalatayang Islam ang niyakap ng mga taga-Mindanao na ang katawagan ay Moro. Hindi nagtagumpay ang mga prayleng Kastila na magupo ang mga Moro, na kabaligtaran naman sa Visayas at Luzon kung saan sila ay nagtagumpay. Ang tagumpay na ito ng mga Kastilang misyonaryo ang naging batayan upang palabasing nasakop ng Espanya ang Pilipinas, dahil malaking bahagi ng Mindanao ay hindi naman.

Noong panahon ng pananakop ng mga Kastila, ang mga katutubo ay tinawag na “Indio”, at ang mga tinuturing lamang na mga “Pilipino” ay mga Kastilang hinakot sa Maynila at pinatira sa Intramuros. Indio din ang tawag sa mga Mehikano na hinakot sa Pilipinas upang magtrabaho bilang mga utusan at sundalo. Ang mga taga-India namang hinakot din sa Maynila upang pandagdag sa dami ng mga sundalo ay tinawag na “Sepoy”. Ang nakatira sa labas ng Intramuros ay mga Tsino, mga Hapon, at mga katutubo. Sa panahong yon, yumuko ang mga tunay na Pilipino sa Kastila.

Kalaunan, ang mga mahihirap nga mga Pilipino at ilang mga mestiso Kastila ay nagkaisa upang labanan ang mga Kastila. Subalit magkaiba ang kanilang layunin. Ang gusto ng mga mayayamang mestiso ay magkaroon lang ng pagbabao upang matanggal ang mapang-abusong pamamalakad ng mga opisyal na itinalaga ng hari sa Maynila. Samantalang, ang mga mahihirap na pinangunahan ni Andres Bonifacio, ang gusto ay kabuuang kalayaan. Hindi sila nagtagumpay.

Nang pumalit ang mga Amerikano ay pinaglaban pa rin ng ilang Pilipino ang layuning makaangkin ng lubusang kalayaan sa pangunguna naman ni Aguinaldo…na hindi pa rin nagtagumpay.

Nang tuluyan namang bitiwan ng Amerika ang Pilipinas, kahit mga Pilipino na ang namahala, hindi pa rin nakawala ang Pilipino sa anino ng mga Amerikano. Naging tanyag ang tawag sa Pilipino na “Little brown brother”, at sa mga Amerikano naman ay, “Big Brother”. Mula sa panahon ni Manuel L. Quezon hanggang sa panahon ni Benigno Aquino III, ang imahe ng Pilipinong yumuyuko sa mga Amerikano ay hindi nawala.

Ngayon, sa pagsulpot ni Rodrigo Duterte bilang presidente ng Pilipinas, nagkaroon ng pagbabago dahil walang tapang niyang binabanggit na isa sa mga paiiralin niya ay ang pagtayo ng mga Pilipino sa sariling mga paa…. magkaroon ng sariling paninindigan at desisyon. Malaki ang epekto ng sinambit ni Duterte na “who is he” na ang tinutukoy ay si Obama. Sa headline ng isang diyaryo ay nakabandera ang sinabi din niyang, “I am no fan of the US”. Dahil siya ang presidente ng Pilipinas, animo ay kinakatawan na rin niya ang saloobin ng mga Pilipino.

Ngayon, taas-noo na nating masabing tuluyan na tayong nakawala sa tanikalang nag-uugnay sa atin sa mga Amerikano. Ito ay pagpapakitang kaya pala nating hindi yumuko sa Amerika!

Subali’t sa kabila ng bagong paninindigang nabanggit, hindi nangangahulugang galit ang mga Pilipino sa mga Amerikano, at kahit samahan ng dalawang bansa ay hindi basta mabubuwag dahil sa mga pinirmahang tratado o treaty o kasunduan. Pinagdiinan lang natin ang sariling prinsipyong nakaangkla sa lubos na kalayaan…kaya hindi na basta na lang masisita o mapagsasabihan ang presidente ng Pilipinas ng presidente ng Amerika pagdating sa paggawa ng desisyon.

The PAL TOPIC Magazine, PALakbayan Tours

And PAL’s Total Effort in Promoting Philippine Tourism

By Apolinario Villalobos

TOPIC which stood for “Tours and Promotions Information Office” was the publication conceived by the Marketing and Sales- Philippines during the time of Mr. Ricardo Paloma as a tool for the promotion and “selling” of the tourist destinations; festivals; tourist facilities such as restaurants, hotels, pensions, transport services; festivals; outdoor sports such as mountaineering, spelunking (cave exploration), bird watching, trekking, scuba diving; festivals; dive spots and mountains. It was administered by Mr. Vic Bernardino, the Manager of the Tours and Promotions Division. The early issues were edited by Alex Enrile, which was later on taken over by this writer. The magazine is the epitome of the typical Filipino “bayanihan” or cooperation spirit, as the whole staff of the Division contributed their skills to make every issue interesting.

As if by coincidence, the staff of the Division had various expertise in the fields of scuba diving, mountain climbing, cave exploration and birdwatching, not to mention outdoor photography. Thelma Villaseἧor was for instance, a scuba diver and mountain climber, and so were Ed Buensuceso, John Fortes, Reggie Constantino, Bong Velasco, and Julio Luz, Jr.  Aside from diving and climbing, John Fortes and Ed Buensuceso were also spelunkers (cave explorers), who pioneered the exploration and mapping of the Palawan Underground River (formerly, St. Paul Subterranean Park), with the help of a caving team from Europe.

Ed Buensuceso, together with the Kennedy National Geographic Team recorded the first-ever in-flight mating and breeding of the Philippine Eagle (formerly, Monkey-eating Eagle), for which close coordination was made with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), through its Baracatan Breeding Station in Sta. Cruz, Davao City. For such effort, the Department of Tourism-Davao was also involved. On the other hand, John Fortes was exerting his own effort in promoting mountaineering in the country, the penultimate of which was the organization of all mountaineering clubs into the National Mountaineering Federation of the Philippines (NMFP).

Mayie Santos an intrepid writer who was among the original staff of the Division contributed her share of effort by attending festivals and making reviews on resorts, pension homes, hotels and restaurants. Even Vic Bernardino, the Manager, would lend a hand in gathering information as needed, by attending important touristic activities. Furthermore, the staff was also trained to speak in seminars on Philippine tourism aided with slides presentation and handouts. Information given to participants were first-hand, hence, even the Department of Tourism, the UP Asian Institute of Tourism, embassies, consulates, tour and travel organizations, and educational institutions would request for the group’s assistance.

Later, in line with the tourism-centered effort of the airline, Mr. Paloma also conceived the PALakbayan Tour Program which consolidated all the efforts, this time, with the cooperation of the domestic stations. The program was divided into several “modules” such as Excursion, Education and Culture, Conventions and Seminars, and Sports. During this time, the exhaustive endeavor in exploring tourist spots was doubled, bringing to light non-traditional destinations such Sorsogon, Romblon, Mamburao, Palawan, Fuga Island, etc. Development of outdoor activities which were new among local tourists involving study of butterflies, migratory habits of birds, and culture of tribal communities were also developed to stir their interest. Schools were encouraged to consult the office for their planned educational tour program and other out-of-town activities, for which PAL stations were tapped for assistance.

The PALakbayan Tour Program virtually catered to all the needs of air-travelers within the country…the airline’s proud legacy to the industry, and considered as “Asia’s First Airline”, which initially operated using rehabilitated post-war DC-3’s.

Ang Buhay sa Lansangan

Ni Apolinario Villalobos

Kung pagmasdan silang pinagkaitan ng rangya

Di maiwasang may maramdaman tayong awa

Nakapaa at nagtutulak ng kariton kung minsan

Basang sisiw naman sila, kapag inabutan ng ulan.

Abala palagi sa pangangalakal o sa  pamamasura

Wala sa isip nila ang sumilong upang magpahinga

Habol ay makarami ng mga mapupulot  at maiipon

Hindi alintana pagbabadya ng masamang panahon.

Sa mga nadadampot na styrophor galing sa Jollibee

Bigay ay saya dahil may matitikmang tirang ispageti

Kahit iilang hibla lamang na may kulapol pang ketsap

Sa maingat na pagsubo, dama’y  abot-langit na sarap.

Gula-gulanit ang suot na kamiseta, at nanggigitata pa

Ang damit naman, kung di masikip, ay maluwag siya

Kung pantalon naman, walang zipper, at butas –butas

Subali’t hindi alintana, may maisuot lang, kahi’t kupas.

Kapos sa mga ginhawa na dulot ay  materyal na pera

Puso namang may nakakasilaw na busilak ay meron sila

Walang hiling kundi matiwasay na umaga sa paggising -

Kahi’t mahapdi ang tiyan dahil sa gutom, di dumadaing.

May mga bagay, dapat nating mapulot sa mga ugali nila

Pampitik sa atin upang gumising at magbubukas ng mata

Gaya ng hindi maging sakim at mapag-imbot sa kapwa

Bagkus, maghintay at magpasalamat sa bigay na biyaya!

Nang Mapahiya ang isang “Donor”

Ni Apolinario Villalobos

Ngayong Oktubre 2015, naalala ko ang isang “donor” na ipinakilala sa akin ng isang kaibigan na regular donor para sa mga project ng maliit naming grupo. Nangyari ito noong nakaraang taon. Akala ko ay ang kaibigan ko lang ang madadatnan ko sa restoran na tipanan namin sa Greenbelt area ng Makati Business Center, na malapit lang sa office ng kaibigan ko. Dahil ang pinag-uusapan ay tungkol sa fund-raising para sa pasko 2014, nakisali ang kaibigan ng kaibigan ko, at nagsabi na magdo-donate din daw. Subalit nagulat ako nang tanungin niya kung saan daw ang “office” namin. Sabi ko, “wala, at apat lang kami sa grupo”. Dagdag pa niya ay kung pwede daw ba siyang humingi ng resebo para magamit niya sa tax deduction. Muntik na akong mabulunan ng mainit na kape sa tanong niya. Sa umpisa medyo nairita ako pero nagpaliwanag pa rin ako na hindi kami rehistrado sa SEC.  Naisipan kong sakyan na lang siya. Binigyan ko siya ng address kung saan siya puwedeng maghatid ng donation na mga de lata daw.

Four days ang nakalipas, habang kasagsagan ng pag-repack namin ng mga items, dumating ang “donor”, may dalang isang kahon ng sardinas. Natuwa kami, pero ang “donor” ay hindi, dahil ang dinatnan niya ay isang lumang garahe ng kaibigan ko at amoy-tuyo pa, dahil kasama ang tuyo sa nire-repack para sa mga plastic bag… akala siguro niya ay big time kami. Kahit amoy pawis kaming apat, ininterteyn pa rin namin siya, hindi nga lang namin nabigyan ng kape dahil ayaw naming bawasan ang mga donasyong kape na naka-sachet.

Halata ang disappointment niya. Wala yatang konsiyensiya, nagtanong pa kung bakit wala man lang kaming t-shirt na isinusuot tulad nang ginagawa ng ibang Foundation. Inulit ko sa kanyang hindi kami Foundation. Patanong na sabi ko, pangalan nga namin ay hindi namin ibinibigay, bakit pa kami magpapa-obvious pa sa pagsuot ng t-shirt? Ang dagdag paliwanag namin, dis-oras kami namimigay para walang makapansin.

Ang isang kasama ko ay hindi nakatiis, nag-“excuse me” at pumunta sa labas…akala ko ay galit. Nang sundan ko, nadatnan ko siyang namimilipit sa pagtawang pilit pinipigil. Tumigil lamang siya sa pagtawa nang tanungin niya ako kung saan ko na-meet ang “donor”. Hindi ko na sinagot ang tanong niya, basta ang sabi ko na lang ay, “hayaan mo na….may donation naman”. Pagbalik namin sa loob, inabot naming nagkokodakan ang dalawa pa naming kasama at ang “donor”. Nag-group picture kami, pa-selfie.

Maya-maya tumawag sa cellphone ang “donor” at ang kausap yata ay driver niya dahil ang sinabi ay,” Hoy, ang kotse ihanda mo na at lalabas na ako diyan, buksan mo na ang aircon…yong pinabalot kong pansit na natira sa restoran pala ipasok mo rito sa loob”. Maya-maya pumasok uli ang lalakeng naka-short- sleeved barong tagalong na nagdala ng kahon ng sardinas, may dalang supot na malamang, ang laman ay ang tirang pansit. Nagpasalamat kami sa dalaw ng “donor” at sa kanyang donation….at pansit. Nang ihatid ko siya sa labas ng gate, nakita kong Porsche ang kotse niya. Nag-alala lang ako dahil ang ibinigay niyang pansit ay baka para sa driver o kasambahay…kawawa naman sila.

Familiar pala sa isa kong kasama ang babaeng “donor”, kabit daw ng isang milyonaryong negosyante ng itlog at manok, at may palaisdaan pa na taga-Bulacan. Ang kasama naming nagsabi ay taga-Bulacan din, subalit tuwing Oktubre lang umuuwi mula sa Amerika at ang bakasyon niya ay hanggang Enero. Umuuwi siya para lang makibahagi sa fund-raising tuwing Oktubre at pamamahagi ng Christmas bags tuwing last week ng November. Akala siguro ng starlet ay may mga taga- media siyang madadatnan sa “repacking center” namin tulad nang nangyayari sa mga Foundation center ng mga kilalang TV stations. Makakatiyempo nga naman siya ng libreng mileage kung sakali at baka may makapansin upang makabalik siya sa pelikula. Bold starlet siya dati, at maganda pa rin hanggang ngayon…suki siguro siya ni Dra. Belo.

Ngayong taon, ingat na ingat na kami sa pagtanggap ng mga donasyon para sa pasko 2015, at baka makatiyempo kami ng mas matinding personalidad na gustong mag-“donate”.  Lalong masama kung makatiyempo kami ng pulitiko, panahon pa naman ng kampanyahan para sa election 2016.

Senator Bam Aquino is Barking

At the Wrong Tree

By Apolinario Villalobos

In his effort to show that he is heeding the call of the pope to eradicate graft and corruption in the country, immediately, senator Bam Aquino calls on the Filipinos. He is obviously barking at the wrong tree. The tree of graft and corruption is the government which is deeply- rooted. The tree of graft and corruption has hideously developed robust branches, twigs, leaves and fruits. The Filipinos are the victims. Through his message, the pope knows this when he called on the government to stop diverting the resources from the poor Filipinos. Aquino should stop tweeting out of tune rather than pretend that he does not know from where corruption is overflowing.

This early, the neophyte senator should know that Filipinos of today are no longer the foolish kind. If he wants to maintain a seemingly clean image, he should instead, open his eyes to what are happening right around where he works – the Senate. He should tell his staff to research on the causes of unpopularity of lawmakers and make them as his basis for his moves to avoid being further engulfed in the mire of corruption. He need not look beyond the walls of the Senate and point an accusing finger at the Filipino populace, as if the latter is the cause of corruption in the country.

He should deliver a privilege speech in the Senate and call on his colleagues, and in so doing, use the pronoun “we” while quoting the pope in his call for the government to make a stop to graft and corruption by not diverting the resources from the poor. It is that simple – a call with a tinge of regret, and without washing of hands.

The Filipinos have enough of one Aquino at the helm of the government who seemed naïve to their sufferings. Bam Aquino has ears and eyes for him to know that his cousin president is not popular, and he should be very careful about this matter. If he wants to further his political career, he should tread the road of politics with much care, unless he will join the bandwagon of graft and corruption by mumbling nonsensical and hypocritical face-saving statements just like his colleagues in the Senate.

He should not wait for the day when his name will be changed by political observers from “Bam Aquino” to “Ban Aquino”. He should change his tactics. He should remember the pedestrian saying “less talk, less mistake”.

“Honest” Corruption

And the “Dirty” Money

By Apolinario Villlaobos

A congressman blatantly and seemingly with authority declared that receiving money from Napoles is not bad, because it is “her own”, from her bank account, not from any government account. Simply said, only Napoles is guilty, not those whose palms she greased with money. If this is how our lawmakers think, our country is really going to the dogs!

No wonder why, years before election, there is a quandary in “raising funds” by politicians. After transferring these funds to several bank accounts, they become “legally” theirs. That is how the lawmaker was trying to say, exposing himself to the people, because it is part of the plunder process in the Phlippines. It looks like, he knows the process by heart. I wonder if he is also a high school graduate.

Corruption in the Philippines has sadly become part of its political culture. A popular adage is that if one would want to get rich instantly, he should join politics.  The People Power did little, if ever, to improve the lot of the people, because only faces changed when Cory Aquino assumed the presidency. The same corrupt attitude is still there, saturating the air of Senate, Congress, even the Palace. The good thing that the People Power did was inspire other countries, especially, Poland. It showed again, that the Philippines is only good in initiating… there is no consistency in what we do.

Several elections were held, and always, vote-buying was involved. The latest election showed the most scandalous vote buying ever, but although apprehensions were made and cases filed in the COMELEC, nothing came out of them. It is this indifferent attitude of concerned agencies that embolden corrupt officials, and further cultivate the political culture. Compared to a tree, it has grown robustly and become deeply rooted to the ground.

People in the government see peso opportunity in everything that they do. This embarrassing attitude has put the image of the Filipinos in a bad light, even on the issue of donations. A glaring situation is how billions of dollars of donations are being handled. Foreign donors were shocked to learn that after many months, only fifty relocation houses were built for the victims of typhoon Yolanda in Tacloban. Even the rehabilitation czar himself, Ping Lacson, complains about the indifference of two agencies that are supposed to be actively involved. This is just the tip of iceberg, as they say, because nothing has been mentioned yet, about sold donated goods, which concerned agencies, expectedly deny.