Showing posts with label Filipina. Show all posts

0

Ang Matamis na Ngiti...para kay Rosita Segala

Posted on Thursday, 17 March 2016

Ang Matamis na Ngiti…
(para kay Rosita Segala)
Ni Apolinario Villalobos

Ngiti ang nagpapaaliwalas ng paligid
Lalo’t sa mga sandaling lungkot ay nakalukob
Kahit mga labi ay tila parang pintong nakasara
Sapat na, basta’t magkabilang dulo’y ‘di nakababa.

Kalooban ay napapagaan ng isang ngiti
Napapawi nito, lungkot na sa puso’y ramdam
Sigla ay dulot sa mga nalulungkot at nanlulumo
Nagpapalakas sa mga taong nanlata dahil sa siphayo.

Walang katumbas na halaga ang ngiti
Libre ito’t hindi nabibili, lalong ‘di rin inuutang
Mula sa kaibuturan ng puso, galing ang pagkukusa

Kaya para kay Rose,  pagngiti ay ‘di kailangan ipilit pa!


0

Ang Gandang Pilipina

Posted on Sunday, 6 March 2016

For the International Women’s Month (March)

Ang Gandang Pilipina
Ni Apolinario Villalobos

Ang mga Pilipina, may iba’t ibang wangis ng ganda
Mayroong mestisa, lutang ay kagandahang Kastila
Matangos na ilong at mahahabang mga pilik-mata
Kulay na kung di man mapusyaw, ay mamula-mula.

Kung sa kulay din lamang, mayroon ding iba diyan
Hindi pahuhuli sa mga paligsahan ng kagandahan
Balat na makinis na’y morena pang di pagsasawaan
Kahi’t na dumikit na halos, tingin ng mga kalalakihan.

Mayroon ding mga Pilipina, dahil sa angking alindog
Sa pagkakaupo, binatang makakita, tiyak mahuhulog
Dahil talagang takaw-pansin, hips na tila umiindayog
Kalangitang maaliwalas, di maiwasang magpakulog!

Ano pa nga ba’t Pilipinas ay sadyang mapalad talaga
Kababaihan ay pang-internasyonal ang angking ganda
Pinatunayan nila na ang kagandaha’y di lang sa mukha
Subali’t sa kaibuturan din ng puso, talino at pananalita.

Mabuhay ang Pilipina…byuting morena!
At siyempre, pati na rin ang mga mestisa!
Dahil sa inyo, bansang Pinas ay pinagpala -
Kahi’t winatak ng mga berdugo sa pulitika!!!!



0

Anna Bermudo: Kindness Behind A Pretty Face

Posted on Sunday, 31 January 2016

Anna Bermudo: Kindness Behind A Pretty Face
By Apolinario Villalobos

When I took a respite at a Jollibee joint in Divisoria, particularly, corner of Sto. Cristo St., due to my heavy packs, I found out that I needed a separate bag for some items intended to be given to one of my friends in Baseco. It was then, that I noticed one of the crew who was cleaning tables. I told her my problem, without much ado, she left and when she came back, she had a paper bag which was just what I needed. Her prompt assistance impressed me, despite her doing something else during the time. She practically dropped everything and attended to me, although, customers were beginning to crowd the room.



My appreciation for such kind act, made me ask her permission if I can share it with friends. She shyly hesitated, but I had my chance to take her photo quickly, when she began to clean my table. She thought I was joking when I aimed my cellphone/camera for a quick shot. I found the photo to be hazy when I checked it at Baseco, so I came back to the burger joint. Luckily, I found her having a late breakfast in a sidewalk food stall near Jollibee. I practically begged her to allow me to take a clearer photo, explaining to her that what I am doing is for the benefit of others who might be inspired by people like her. Fortunately, she conceded and even cooperated by giving information about herself.



Although merely, a high school graduate, she courageously left her hometown in Zamboanga to seek a “greener pasture” in Manila several years ago. She had no chance of pursuing her studies, as she had been helping her family by sending whatever amount she could afford from her wage when she found a job. I could see that her right attitude has earned her a well-deserved job in the world-renown Filipino burger outfit which is also acknowledged for its fairness in dealing with employees.

Anna is pretty, an attribute that could land her a much better-paying job in cafes that could be double or triple compared to what she is earning in Jollibee. But I could surmise that despite temptations from friends, that always happen to pretty girls from the countryside, she opted to work in a family-oriented establishment. Her clean and smooth face is not covered even by a thin swipe of rouge, and she wears no jewelry, not even a single stainless ring. Her simplicity has accentuated her pretty face…. that veils an innate kindness.






0

Understanding the Filipino Beyond his Penchant for Music and Beauty

Posted on Sunday, 22 November 2015

Understanding the Filipino
Beyond his Penchant for Music and Beauty
By Apolinario Villalobos

According to Osang, the Filipina winner of The Netherland’s first X Factor, Filipinos will no longer be allowed to join singing contests in that country. It could just be a joke of Osang as Filipinos are also known for cracking jokes to spice up interviews. In the field of music, Filipinos are practically known the world over. Many may not be so lucky to garner the title, but still, they can give anxiety to other contestants. A youtube I viewed last year, showed an American telling his viewers, “if you want to hear real singers, go to the Philippines…”. It seems that the Filipino when brought into this world, instead of a pitiful cry, he instead, let out a melodious scream.

But the Filipino is more than the musical notes…more than the instruments that he can play. The Filipino in whose veins flow various culture, is first and foremost, God-fearing. Be he a Christian or an Islam adherent, the Filipino’s life revolves around the Most Benevolent. Aside from Roman Catholics that comprise the majority of the population, the Orthodox Catholics, Western-based Christian sects, indigenous Aglipayan and Iglesia ni Kristo, as well as, the typical Filipino Islamic faith, have successfully amalgamated to form a very strong spiritual foundation on which the Filipino proudly stands.

Many international beauty titlists are married to Filipinos. Among the most notable is Ms. Armi Kuusela, an early Miss Universe titlist and married to the scion of the prominent Hilario family. When the beauty pageants started many years ago, the Filipina contestant aside from the representative of Thailand are always anticipated to land at least, on the top ten. During the latter years, the Filipina representative persisted, showing her best in the face of stiff rivalry posed by the Latin American beauties. And, just like in international singing competitions, the Philippine representative in several beauty contests that have mushroomed lately always leaves an impressive mark.

The Filipino has always been known as “pliant like a bamboo”, a survivor in the right sense of the word. The more than four centuries of Hispanic subjugation followed by those of the short-lived American and Japanese, did not break the Filipino spirit. Although, there was fierce resistance, the Filipino easily swayed with the onslaught of the colonial misfortunes, and fed on the cultural nutrients that they brought. With their passing, the Filipino twanged back to his upright posture – with unblemished and fully intact pride!

As a survivor, the Filipino is resourceful. For instance, the two-day old almost molded boiled rice, he can prepare into a delicious snack called, “winilig-wilig pop rice”, after thoroughly washing the almost spoiled precious staple, dried under the sun and fried in coconut oil with sprinkling of brown sugar. Out of the discarded foods from restaurants, called “pagpag”, he can prepare thoroughly-cooked dishes, of course, after equally, thorough washing…although, the sanitation and health agencies do not allow this, for the record. But rather than die of hunger with a gaping mouth and glassy stare, or allow his guts to be punctured by acidic intestinal fluid, the Filipino can courageously take this last resort! If other nationalities can eat deadly scorpion, drink blood of the cobra, and swallow live wriggling baby octopus, why can’t the Filipino partake of left-over food cooked thoroughly?

The young Filipino could cross a swinging bamboo bridge, or swim across a swirling river to attend his classes, in a school, several hills away from his home. He can walk kilometers of distance under the scorching beating of the sun just to occupy his seat in a crowded classroom, or study his lessons under a tree while his stomach grumbles for having nothing, not even a sip of coffee for breakfast. For the duration of his school year, he can also wear the same white shirt and a pair of khaki pants that he immediately washes as soon as he reaches home. He can mumble a thankful prayer for a half-cup of burnt rice salvaged from the bottom of the pot, drenched with a little water and sprinkled with salt.

Part of the Filipino’s discipline is the caution from his parents to behave and show his best self when there are visitors, as well as, clean the house very well, so as not to displease them. This he does with utmost obedience. And, additionally, to always give the visitors the best part of the chicken when they are invited over for dinner. All these the Filipino does as he is used to sacrificing for others.

The Filipino is a practical human being, as he is willing to accept what is realistically on hand. He does not vie for what is impossible because he is easily pleased. He has an easy smile and with an ever-ready hearty laughter for anything funny, even if it pertains to him, though, with limitation that borders on respect.

The Filipino loves food! There is only the problem with identity because many preparations are tagged with foreign names, especially, Hispanic. Nevertheless, they are concocted with ultimate patience and diligence inherited from his ancestors. This love for food can be observed during fiestas and other special occasions such as Christmas, birthday, baptismal, and wedding parties, or even last dinner for a wake.

Understanding the Filipino beyond his love for music and beauty, will make one appreciate how this guy who belongs to the brown race has survived the waves of corruption that besets his country!


0

Why Filipino Foods are not Popular Abroad Compared to those of other Asians'

Posted on Monday, 2 November 2015

Why Filipino Foods are not Popular Abroad
Compared to those of other Asians’
By Apolinario Villalobos

To put a straight answer to the question….it’s because names of Filipino foods in classy restaurants are “proudly” in Spanish or French, unlike those of other countries with authentic native names. As we know, people of other nations, especially those in the west, prefer the exotic, the native…and not what they already have in their country. So, in their desire to try something exotic, they would go to Korean, Japanese, Indonesian and Thai restaurants for a taste of Asia.

I am expressing this concern after reading an article in a weekend supplement of a broadsheet about a Filipino cook who has gone places, and the write-up is complete with photos of recipes that are his masterpieces – all with French names, though prepared with native ingredients! Filipino cooks who prefer to be called “chefs”, are obviously, so ashamed to name their dishes based on the main ingredient that they use. Perhaps, they should name, for instance, snail cooked in coconut milk, just as “ginataang kuhol”, the fern tops salad as “kinilaw na pako”, the “pinakbet” as just that, as named, coconut pith salad, as “kinilaw na ubod ng niyog”, misua soup as “sopas na misua” instead of “angel’s hair soup”, etc. There is, however, a problem with the “bird’s nest soup” that should be named “sinopas na laway ng ibon”.

There are a few Filipinos based in other countries, and who have ventured into the restaurant business, but most still prefer to hide their Filipino identity by using foreign-sounding names for their establishment, afraid that they will not attract customers, other than fellow Filipinos. Most also prefer to offer Mediterranean dishes introduced by the Spanish colonizers in the Philippines, such as the “arroz Valenciana”, “chorizo”, “estofado”, etc. when these can be prepared the Filipino way and given Filipino names. The hypocritical effort is obviously, an acrid residue of colonial mentality.

It is interesting to note that, in Arab countries, “saluyot” is used as an ingredient in spicy chicken curry, but in our country, only the lowly Filipinos eat the said vegetable, despite the already known fact, that it can prevent diabetes. A classy Chinese restaurant in Manila serves “alugbate” as an appetizer, but again, only mostly Visayans appreciate the said vegetable which is also known as Madagascar spinach or Chinese spinach, and those who cook it, know only of monggo as the appropriate taste enhancer. Still in the Middle East, one way to prepare eggplant is to sauté it in oil and spices until it becomes mushy, which then, is eaten with bread. But in the Philippines, despite the abundance of eggplant, what most Filipinos know as a dish for it is “tortang talong” or an ingredient in “pinakbet”, or an insignificant ingredient in “achara” or pickles, and still for the lowly, “binagoongang talong” or just “inihaw na talong”.

In Thai restaurants, they serve “bagoong rice” with thin slices of green mango and toasted dried krill (alamang) or baby shrimps on the side. Filipinos love it, but local carinderias do not serve them or only very few even attempt to cook it at home, despite the availability of ingredients in wet markets. Still, Filipinos do not mind paying for the pricey Thai coffee, although, it is just an ordinary black coffee mixed with “condensed milk”, that can be prepared at home. And, to top it all, the mentioned offerings are listed in the menu with Thai names!

So far, only the street food vendors are bold enough to give their palatable goodies “exotic” names, such as ‘adidas” for chicken feet, IUD for chicken intestine, “pares” for soupy mixture of shredded beef, cow skin, chili flakes, soy sauce, and toasted garlic – paired with quick-cooked fried rice.


When Fiilipinos have foreign visitors, they are brought to classy restaurants, unless the latter request for something local. Oftentimes, no initiative is taken by most Filipinos to introduce what are ours. A classic attempt, however, was made by a Filipina when she brought her German guest to a mall and went to the Filipino section for candied tamarind. While picking up a pack, the host was proudly talking about the fruit as being abundant in the Philippines. When the guest looked at the label, she saw a “Made in China” printed prominently as the source of the product!....well, at least the proud Filipina tried.

0

Ang Gandang Pilipina

Posted on Friday, 22 August 2014



Ang Gandang Pilipina
Ni Apolinario Villalobos

Ang mga Pilipina, may iba’t ibang wangis ng ganda
Mayroong mestisa, lutang ay kagandahang Kastila
Matangos na ilong at mahahabang mga pilik-mata
Kulay na kung di man mapusyaw, ay mamula-mula.

Kung sa kulay din lamang, mayroon ding iba diyan
Hindi pahuhuli sa mga paligsahan ng kagandahan
Balat na makinis na’y morena pang di pagsasawaan
Kahi’t na dumikit na halos, tingin ng mga kalalakihan.

Mayroon ding mga Pilipina, dahil sa angking alindog
Sa pagkakaupo, binatang makakita, tiyak mahuhulog
Dahil talagang takaw-pansin, hips na tila umiindayog
Kalangitang maaliwalas, di maiwasang mapakulog!

Ano pa nga ba’t Pilipinas ay sadyang mapalad talaga
Kababaihan ay pang-internasyonal ang angking ganda
Pinatunayan nila na ang kagandaha’y di lang sa mukha
Subali’t sa kaibuturan din ng puso, talino at pananalita.

Mabuhay ang Pilipina…byuting morena!
At siyempre, pati na rin ang mga mestisa!
Dahil sa inyo, bansang Pinas ay pinagpala -
Kahi’t winatak ng mga berdugo sa pulitika!!!!


0

The Crabs Among Us

Posted on Tuesday, 1 July 2014



The Crabs Among Us

By Apolinario Villalobos

It is disheartening to note that there are some people who delight in the downfall of others. Worst, these same people cause such downfall, themselves. They cannot bear to see others succeed. In any way possible, they exert some efforts in uttering remarks to discredit the success of others. These people should leave to others what they think they cannot accomplish. They should realize that not everybody has the same talents, abilities and capacities to have the same success in life. Not everybody can be a mayor, doctor, teacher, priest, soldier, businessman, etc. Success can be equated with happiness in what one does. There should be contentment in what one has happily accomplished and not grumble at what others have attained. Competition is healthy if done positively. This is where learning from one’s failure and the success of others come in.

In a conversation between two radio program anchors, they mentioned about an actress who got angry because her Production Assistant (PA) who is obviously prettier than her was taken in for a very short role in a TV episode. Instead, of encouraging her PA, she fired her. In an office where I worked as a consultant, a hardworking staff assistant was fired by his manager because the Vice-President of the company never failed to mentioned the staff assistant every time he held a meeting of managers, for working hard while maintaining a low profile, reporting on time and maintaining a perfect attendance despite floods, giving a hint that the said guy is worthy of a promotion. The VP was implying that the managers should do the same. The staff assistant was fired by his manager for a flimsy reason. Before the VP knew it, the staff assistant was no longer working in the office for almost two weeks. The staff assistant was hired by another company as supervisor.

The diminutive Osang, the Filipina working in Israel as a care-giver showed the world that Filipinos are at par with international singers, by coping the first XFactor - Israel championship, despite her being an alien to that country. If Osang will join a singing competition in the Philippines, will she make it? I doubt… In so many local competitions, the “judges” give preference to the “face” of  the competitors, the external personality, not the talent. Take note that judging is subjective, and judges can always have a reason or two not to favor the “real” talent.  This is the reason why Charice Pempengco did not win the local competition that she joined years ago, but won the approval of the world when her talent was showcased via the internet. Charice do not have the face that merits a second look, compared to the winner of the competition.  Had Lea Salonga not joined the “Miss Saigon” and later another Broadway production “Les Miserables”, I doubt if she was given the recognition in the local show business industry despite her having a good voice.  She has that not-so pretty face compared to other  local show business personalities, by Filipino standard, as some local journalists would say to which her fans disagree. The recognition that she fully deserve is anchored on her being the first “Miss Saigon”, important role in “Les Miserables” and flawless voice, and such recognition was first given to her by a foreign company, with the local admirers joining the wagon later on…yes, only later, when they have no choice but give her the long overdue accolade. Without those foreign exposures, she could have just been another Filipino singers. This is the sad situation of the local show business industry – pulling down deserving talents and wait for them to be recognized abroad before given a due, belated recognition.

While having coffee in the canteen of a university where I delivered a speech on tourism, I overheard a group of students crowding a nearby table about their classmate whose blogs were earning many followers and likes. One of them remarked, “let us not like or follow his blogs, if we do, the more that he will become popular and brag about  his blogs”. The rest agreed to the suggestion. One of them even suggested to make negative comments about the blogs using a username not familiar to the blogger. This is one of the many stories of woe that sadly cram the nooks of learning institutions, cradle of learning for future and responsible citizens. Others involve baseless disclosure to teachers about plagiarized thesis materials and purported cheating during exams to put classmates in a bad light, I was told about this by a student that I befriended in my effort to learn more about their behavior.

My commentary on the state of our educational system written in Filipino elicited a remark pointing at my failure to conjugate a verb. Instead of taking the context of the commentary in its totality, the commentor, a teacher, mentioned such flaw, perhaps to show that I have no right in blogging such material  and such effort should only come from a teacher like her. I clarified that what I wrote even defended the poorly- waged teachers some of whom, those assigned in remote areas of Mindanao, are exposed to dangers. She failed to get through all the sentences which I painstakingly developed to make them “conversational”. Example of this is “ punta ka rito”, instead of “pumunta ka rito” , or “kanta ka na”, instead of “kumanta ka na” It is the trend now, even with the English language, an example of which  is “thanks for the invite” instead of “thanks for inviting” or “thanks for the invitation”. Had I wrote my commentary in the strict “balarila” way, my style would appear “trying hard”. She pulled me down, instead of pushing me on to come out with more of my observations regarding our rotting educational system that require children to drag bags that overflow with books to school, among other things. That was my purpose which she failed to perceive.

The success of others should be taken to mean that the number of people who need help is diminishing. This thought should give us a consolation. If we cannot be instrumental in helping others, we should be happy for the success that they honestly earned in their own way. Most importantly, we should not expect a payback or returned favor, in exchange for the help we give others that spelled their success. Instead, they should be encouraged to pass on to others the favor. It is through this simple task that we can spread the goodwill. Never should one ever think of pulling anybody down so as to impede their success in life because of jealousy. Praise and encouragement should be given to those who deserve them, as an impetus for them to go on. Instead of pulling others down, the attitude should be that of pulling them up.