Showing posts with label balikbayan. Show all posts

Mga Napansin Kong Ugali ng Ilang Kababayang Nakatira sa Ibang Bansa

Ni Apolinario Villalobos

Unang-una, bilib ako sa perception ng mga Pilipinong gumawa agad ng desisyon na lisanin ang Pilipinas at manirahan sa ibang bansa dahil napansin nilang hindi maganda ang pamamalakad sa gobyerno. Totoo naman, dahil sa pag-usad ng panahon ay lalong dumadami ang problema lalo na sa korapsyon. Sa kabila ng kanilang kinalalagyan ngayon, ang ilan sa kanila ay nakakapagpadala pa ng mga impormasyon tungkol sa ginagawa ng mga kababayang NASA AMERIKA AT IBANG BANSA na pilit na nagdidiskaril sa gobyerno ng Pilipinas.

Ang hindi maganda ay ang ginagawa ng ilan na naghahambing ng kinalalagyan nila ngayon sa kalagayan ng mga nasa Pilipinas. Mababasa ang takbo ng kanilang isip sa mga comments nila tulad ng, “ano ba kayo diyan….!”, “mabuti pa kami dito….”, “ano ba yang presidente NINYO….”etc.  Ang mga sinasabi nila ay parang asin na ibinudbod sa sugat na nagpapahirap na sa mga Pilipino dito sa Pilipinas.

Kung magbalikbayan naman ang ilan, unang napapansin agad ay ang trapik na para bang ikinabigla nila, ganoong maski saang lupalop ng mundo ay nakabalandra sa screen ng TV ang mala-impiyernong kalagayan ng trapik sa Manila, Cebu, Davao at unti-unti na ring nangyayari sa iba pang panig ng bansa. Para bang gusto nilang ipaalam na sila ay balikbayan, bagong dating, galing abroad, etc….sosyal nga naman! Kapag nilapitan ng namamalimos, kunwari ay mabibigla at magsasabi ng , “ano ba yan….bakit ayaw asikasuhin ng DSW?!”….NAKU NAMAN, PARA BANG HINDI NILA ALAM ANG KORAPSYON SA PILIPINAS!

Noong sila ay hindi pa nakarating sa ibang bansa kaya lumalanghap DIN ng maruming hangin ng Maynila at iba pang mauunlad kuno na mga lunsod ng Pilipinas, alam na ng mga stateside Pinoy na ito kung anong uri ng bansa meron tayo. Ang nadagdag lang sa landscape ay mga nagtatayugang commercial at condo buildings at pagdami ng mga Intsik na namumuhunan saan mang panig ng bansa…at, pagdagsa ng mga kababayang Badjao sa ilang lunsod. Dahil diyan, huwag na lang sana sila magtaka pa dahil nababalitaan naman sila ng mga kaanak na nasa Pilipinas.

Sa isang banda, bilib ako sa mga Pinoy sa abroad na ang layunin ay kumita lang upang makatulong sa mga mahal sa buhay na naiwan sa Pilipinas. Ang payo ko naman na unsolicited o hindi hiningi, yong mga nakalutang sa ere (air) ng bansang tinitirhan nila, huwag nang magdagdag ng pasakit sa mga naiwan sa Pilipinas sa pamamagitan ng mga binibitiwang unsolicited o hindi hininging arrogant comments, sa halip ay mag-imbita na lang sila ng mga kababayan to join them…join the fun in their new heavenly “home”!

On Being a True Filipino

By Apolinario Villalobos

It takes a lot of nationalistic fervor before one can honestly claim that he or she is truly a Filipino. It is not enough that one is born of Filipino parents on Philippine soil, or in other countries, with either of the parents, a Filipino. It is not enough that one can sing the “Lupang Hinirang” with utmost sincerity or recite the “Panatang Makabayan” by heart.

Nationalism is best seen in times of tragedy, calamity, catastrophe – misfortunes that call for sharing and compassion. Being a Filipino is not the exploitation of the victims who are already neck-deep in distress. It is not the betrayal of trust given by the electorate to the glib-tongued politicos. The more, that it is not the filching of the people’s money by unscrupulous government officials and their cohorts.

A Filipino is one who toils in foreign lands, so that he or she can send money back home to his family who may then be empowered to make purchases, which at the end, benefits the government. He or she is the Green Card holder in the United States who does not cringe in shame due to the bad image of the country. He or she takes time to explain that the Philippine Republic is just a victim of unabated corrupt practices committed by “hardened” members of dynastic political families. He or she never say that the American system is better than what the Philippines is having now, as there are clear indications that Filipinos with good intentions are joining hands to remedy the situation.

There is still a desire in the heart of a Filipino who lives in other countries to go back to the Philippines where he or she had a first lungful breathe of air. A true Filipino misses the fiestas, colorful and jolly Christmas – noche buena, nightly caroling of children, dawn or evening Mass, and noisy New Year. The heart of a true Filipino aches for weekend jaunts and unannounced visits from friends. The true Filipino abroad misses the “bagoong”, “ginamos”, “pinakbet”, “laing”, “lechon”, etc.

A true Filipino who works abroad, never forgets to fill a “balikbayan box” with goodies bought from flea markets and garage sales, such as “Gucci” (kuno), shoes, watches, used laptops, toothpaste, Ivory soap, coffee, bars of chocolate, etc. – symbol of their love for those left in the Philippines. And, a true Filipino does not hesitate to come out in a video to denounce the nincompoop government officials who do not know what they are doing, such as those who occupy the agencies involved in raising funds every time an election is forthcoming.

A true Filipino bravely accepts faults and limitations, as he or she knows that such honesty can give him impetus to exert more effort for the better. Most especially, he or she does not pretend to be intelligent!

And who are not the Filipinos but still insist they are? These are the inept in the government, the heartless and uncompassionate hypocrites. These are the glib-tongued who betrayed the trust and confidence of the poor. These are the “political butterflies”, with the habit of changing their color depending on the party that they think is strong and can help them filch money from the government later on!