Showing posts with label blogging. Show all posts

The Mechanization of Tourism Industry

And the Relevance of Bloggers or e-Journalists

By Apolinario Villalobos

Practically, almost every endeavor in this world has got to do with “tourism”…as anything that can elicit visits can be called a “touristic result”. A city with plenty of trusted clinics and medical practitioners can become a destination for “medical tourism” program. A village that became popular because of a Marian (Virgin Mary) appearance becomes flooded with pilgrims, and that is “religious tourism”. The situation of a place as regards security and hygiene affects tourism. And, the likeability of a place in general, revolves around tourism.

Tourism is about sports, nature, wildlife, food, culture, education, as well as, various segments of travel industry such as air, water and land. The constantly varying cost of fuel that affects the various modes of travel at the end, affects tourism…. even the food and the hotel accommodation.

The travel craze has brought about the BLOGGING PHENOMENON. Suddenly, anybody who has a facebook and maintains blog sites in the internet has become a blogger. Even a mug of coffee with a floral design formed by squirted cream becomes a subject for the blog posted on the facebook. Visually recorded travels, foodie trips and drinking sprees have become curious subjects and unwittingly become honest references of future travelers who would like to retrace the steps on the trails taken by the bloggers.

The effect of the e- journalists on the tourism industry is impressively tremendous. It has made travel easy and direct, booting the government tourism offices out of the picture and transaction, as bookings are directly made with travel and tour agencies. And, many travelers today are using direction applications in smart phones. The phenomenon has practically relegated government tourism offices on the sideline for  ”coordination” purposes which actually, are generally viewed as no longer necessary….making them inutile. Even for international conventions, there are professional seminar and convention handling agencies. As regards the Travel Tax, it can be handled by a representative of the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) at all points of entries and exits of the country.

I have personally observed that the quality control of services of touristic facilities that is supposed to be handled by the local tourism offices is not carried out properly. Facilities found in small cities and towns are left on their own to cater to their clients, as they show their best smile. While in Manila, Cebu and Davao, touristic establishments are stuck with supposedly sticker of guarantee indicated by the number of stars, the rest around the country have none. If the small touristic establishments do not “come up” to the standards indicated by stars, then, such system is useless as they are just good for the big hotels in equally big cities. THERE ARE PLENTY OF AFFORDABLE AND CLEAN TOURISTIC  ESTABLISHMENTS  IN FAR-FLUNG TOWNS  WHERE “TOURIST ATTRACTIONS” ARE FOUND, AS WELL AS  SMALL CITIES WITH PROVINCIAL SETTING THAT SERVE AS “JUMP OFF POINTS”, INSTEAD OF BIG HOTELS, MALLS AND SKYCRAPERS.

It has been found out that real tourists, the seasoned ones who comprise the biggest chunk of the statistics on this industry, do not give a damn on the number of stars stuck on the door of a hotel and restaurants….they are after the cheap hotel rates, clean rooms and safe foods. They rely more on the suggestions and recommendations of their agents and personal experience that make them “repeat customers”, and, “WORD OF MOUTH” OR STORIES OF FRIENDS. These “stars” may be good for the glossy pages of magazines not read by the aforementioned travelers who “KNOW” what they want as seasoned travelers.

Here are important points to ponder on:

The “tourism office” is not in any of the situations mentioned above. On the other hand, the information needs of the tourist can be handled by the Information Office of the LGU- from the province and city or town, down to the barangay level to MAXIMIZE their function while maintaining their being an INFORMATION OFFICE staffed with KNOWLEDGEABLE researchers.  The tourism-related functions  have become purely coordinative and informative, hence, do not need any managerial skill. In other words, ANYBODY WHO HAS A KNOWLEDGE OF ANY TOURIST SPOT OR DESTINATION OR ACTIVITY OR WHATCHAMALLIT, CAN BE A “TOURIST GUIDE”….even the guys who sweep the streets can be such and they may prove even more effective than those sitting out their time in their aircon offices chatting with fb friends.

Information about local destinations may have the chance to land on the pages of international magazines and the internet. HOWEVER, THEY ARE INNATELY AND VERY MUCH AVAILABLE IN THE MINDS OF THE RESIDENTS OR LOCALS…MAKING THE HIRING OF “CONSULTANTS”  FOR THEIR PROMOTION ALSO, NOT NECESSARY.  For budget proposals, the Finance guys of any LGU can do it. For the description of tourist spots or activities, the most appropriate is the Information Office, again, to maximize their function.

My suggestion ONLY is, dissolve the Department of Tourism and the rest of the government tourism offices and replace them with INFORMATION KIOSKS TO BE SITUATED AT STRATEGIC AREAS SUCH AS AIRPORTS (INTERNATIONAL AND DOMESTIC), PIERS, MALLS, PROVINCIAL CAPITOLS, CITY/MUNICIPA/BARANGAY HALLS. THESE KIOSKS SHOULD BE EQUIPPED WITH COMPUTERS THAT CONTAIN TRAVEL AND TOUR INFORMATION ABOUT THE PHILIPPINES, ESPCIALLY, THE PLACES WHERE THE KIOSKS ARE LOCATED, AND WHICH LOCAL AND FOREIGN TRAVELERS CAN EASILY ACCESS. THE UPLOADED INFORMATION SHOULD BE BACKED UP BY PRINTED OR HARD COPIES IN CASE OF POWER BREAKDOWN, AND KEPT IN THE FILING CABINET OF THE INFORMATION OFFICE WITH A REPRESENTATIVE POSTED AT EVERY KIOSK. AS FOR TOUR GUIDES, “JOB ORDER” EMPLOYESS WITH MULTI-FUNCTIONS CAN BE UTILIZED.

FINALLY, THIS IS WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO CALL AS THE “MECHANIZATION” OF THE TOURISM INDUSTRY.

INTREPID ME

by Apolinario  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!

Ang Mga “Negative” na Kapalit ng Ginagawa Ko

ay Okey Lang Dahil Nag-eenjoy Naman Ako

Ni Apolinario Villalobos

Kung may masasayang bahagi ng buhay, mayroon ding nakakalungkot na hindi maiwasang madanasan ng isang tao sa kabila ng kanyang magandang layunin…yan ang nangyayari sa akin. Para sa akin ay madali lang ang pagsusulat, pero ang mahirap ay ang magpaunawa ng aking layunin.

Hindi nauunawaan ng mga taong makasarili o selfish kung bakit ako nagsasakripisyo sa pagsusulat at maipakita ang mga pagkakamaling dapat ituwid o mga pagkukulang na dapat punan. Ang nakakatuwa sa mga taong makasarili ay ang pag-isipan akong tumatanggap ng suweldo o kapalit ng mga ginagawa ko. Bilang makasarili, hindi kasi nila kayang gawin ang ginagawa ko kaya para sa kanila ay imposible. Hindi nila maunawaan kung bakit ako gumagastos para lang makarating sa mga liblib na lugar kung saan ay may makukuha akong magandang kuwento, tulad ng mga slum areas ng Tondo.

May mga taong nai-intimidate ng mga ginagawa ko dahil sa kakulangan ng kaalaman nila tungkol sa salitang “blogger” na akala nila ay bumabatikos lang. Ang hindi nila alam, ito ang equivalent ng mga nagsusulat sa diyaryo o magazine….sa simpleng salita, manunulat sa cyberspace o internet, at saklaw o sakop ang lahat ng larangan. Unang ginamit ng mga kabataang internet users ang salitang “blog” pero ang intention ay manira. Ito ay maituturing na bahagi ng “street language” o sa Pilipino ay “salitang kanto” tulad ng “toma” o pag-inom ng alak. At, dahil pa rin diyan, marami ang nagugulat kapag nakita ako nang personal dahil hindi ako bata.

Mayroon pa akong narinig na comment noon na, “blogger ba yan?...bakit walang camera?” at  “…ay!...matanda na pala”. Akala nila, ang pagba-blog ay hanggang paglagay lang ng mga pa-cute na mga larawan sa facebook na ginagawa ng mga kabataan. Ang hindi nila alam ay maraming sites ang internet na ginagamit ng mga seryosong blogger tulad ko. Kaya ako gumamit ng facebook ay dahil lang sa pakiusap ng mga kaibigan ko noon pa man na ang ginagamit ay cellphone na may application ng facebook.

May mga tao ring nai-insecure dahil sa ginagawa ko. Feeling nila ay nasasapawan ko sila sa mga dapat nilang gawin….silang mga nagsusuweldo pero wala rin naman palang binatbat sa trabaho. Sa halip na i-appreciate ang ginagawa ko o ay pinag-iisipan pa ako ng masama. Kulang na lang ay tanungin ako ng diretsahan kung tatakbo ba akong mayor. May joke tungkol sa taong nakita lang na naglilinis ng kalsada sa tapat ng bahay niya ay kinantiyawan ng, “tatakbo ka yata sa pagka- Barangay Chairman, pare….”.

May mga tao na dahil sa sobrang pagkamakasarili, ang tingin sa kapwa nilang nanlilimahid at namumulot ng mapapakinabangan sa mga basurahan, pati na sa mga taong mababa ang kalagayan sa lipunan, ay hindi  mapapagkatiwalaan at hindi dapat pakisamahan. Ang mga taong ito ay sobra rin ang “pagka-sosyal” ang ugali kaya pinandidirihan ang mga kainan sa tabi ng kalsada….mga karinderya….wa class daw! Dahil sa ugali nila, hindi nila maunawaan kung bakit gusto kong makipagkaibigan sa mga taong nabanggit o kumain sa mga pinandidirihan nilang kainan.

Bilib ako sa lakas ng loob ng mga nagtanong sa akin kung bakit daw mahilig akong magsulat tungkol sa mga tao at mga karinderyang nabanggit. Kung ginagamit nila ang kanilang utak sa pag-isip ng malalim kahit minsan lang, hindi na sila dapat pang nagtatanong. Nagpapakita lang sila ng kamangmangan at walang kaalaman sa iba’t ibang uri ng buhay sa mundo. Pero yong iba ay mahinahon ko namang sinagot ng,  “ kung hindi ko isinulat, malalaman mo ba na may masarap palang kainan at mura pa diyan lang sa kanto”? Ang alam lang kasi ng mga ungas ay mga kainan tulad ng Jollibee at iba pang mga kainan na ang mga binebenta ay dapat inilubog sa mantika!

Sa kabila ng mga nabanggit, natutuwa pa rin ako at nasusulit ang pagod ko…lalo na kapag ang kakainin ko sa mga paborito kong pastilan ay tutong na kanin at gulay na lalong pinasarap ng siling labuyo! Sa mga naiinis sa akin, ito lang ang masasabi…EAT YOUR HEART OUT, GUYS!

Mga Dahilan Kung Bakit Ako Enjoy sa Pag-blog

Ni Apolinario Villalobos

Kung minsan ay hindi ko maunawaan kung paanong dumaloy ang mga kataga mula sa aking isipan patungo sa screen ng laptop ko. Basta masimulan ko kasi, tuluy-tuloy na hanggang sa huling tuldok. At, pagkatapos kong mag-upload ng sanaysay man o tula, nakakalimutan ko na sila kaya todo ang pag-ingat ko sa pag-save. Sa kabila niyan, ini-enjoy ko na lang ang pagsusulat dahil sa mga “kapalit” tulad ng mga sumusunod:

Nahihirapan din ako kung minsan lalo na kung walang internet dahil sa inutil na mga server kaya naiipunan ako ng mga incoming emails at pm sa facebook. Ang matindi pa ay nakiki-wifi lang ako kaya parati akong nagmamadali upang hindi nakakahiya sa naiistorbo kong maybahay....pero as I shared earlier, enjoy pa rin ako kahit kinakapalan ko na lang ang mukha ko….sanayan lang naman yan.

Paunawa lang….hindi ako mayaman, nagko-commute lang ako kaya madalas ay nagha-hiking ako kung walang masakyan, second hand na palyado pa ang laptop ko, palaging pamasahe lang ang laman ng bulsa, at sa tabi-tabi kumakain upang makatipid….yon nga lang naniniwala ako sa kasabihang, “God will provide”….at, higit sa lahat, malaking pasalamat ko dahil wala akong hikâ, migraine, rayuma o arthritis, pati UTI kaya hindi ako nagkakabalisawsaw, at hindi naging addict! Ang mga tulong na naipaparating ko sa mga taong naba-blog ko ay galing sa mga may magandang kalooban. Ang kailangan kong iabot ay extra na barya sa bulsa ko.

MERRY CHRISTMAS NA LANG SA LAHAT NG MGA NAPASAYA AT NAPA-HIGH BLOOD NG BLOGS KO!

My Sincere Prayer of Gratitude

…as a simple blogger

By Apolinario Villalobos

Thank you Lord,

…for leading me to people whose good deeds need to be exposed that they may inspire others;

…for giving me the courage to call the attention of fellowmen for their misdeeds;

…for the prayers of those who appreciate what I do, and which provide me with strength;

…for the encouragement of friends who give me inspiration;

…for the vintage laptop that has been helping me a lot;

…for the cellphone with camera that a cousin gave for quick photo shots of my subjects;

…for the strong wi-fi signal in the home of a cousin where I do my blogs;

…for the hi-tech communication system without which, my effort would be futile;

…for the tranquil nights and dawns during which I wake up to jot down prospective blogs;

…for words that come into my mind, and which I could develop into blogs;

…for the fingers that have recovered from carpal tunnel syndrome, so that I could work fast;

…for the effort of a nephew who provided me fast mobility with his motorcycle;

…for a stomach that could withstand pangs of hunger;

…for the lungs that have resisted the onset of respiratory ailments;

…for the nose that have been straining the polluted air;

…for my overall health to keep me going;

…for the strong comments of viewers who affirm my views;

…for the extras that I could spare for others;

…for making me wake up with sprite at dawn to prepare myself for the day;

…for the compassionate viewers who make donations for blogged needy people.

I pray that You continue to keep me and the rest with similar advocacy as mine, in the shadow of your protection at all times.

Amen!

Why I Blog

By Apolinario Villalobos

Many people who have been reading my blogs are wondering why I am doing it…worse, some even presume that I am being paid for such emotionally tedious undertaking. Plainly and simply, I tell them that it is my advocacy. I hate to use such word, but I might cause them to raise their eyebrows if I tell them, it is my hobby. I am serious in what I am doing and it is not just for fun. I am not being paid but some viewers of my blogs send help for the subject personalities whom I write about, and which are handled with much care. For this endeavor, I am taking so much risk as my security is also at stake in view of my blogs on corruption.

I always ask myself that if I will not share with others what I perceive and experience “along the way”, who will do it? If I have to be brutally frank, I dare say that many people are numb, naïve, blind, deaf, etc. to what are happening around us. One viewer even had the temerity to send me the message, “you think you are a great writer, huh!”. He is not an fb friend and most hurting is that he is also a Filipino. I just presumed that he is a friend of a politician whom I have been jabbing with my posts, which being “public” are open to all internet browsers. As an information, I have four other blog sites aside from facebook. My first facebook page has even been hacked many months back so I can no longer open it, forcing me to create another one with my photo on it. Unfortunately, many friends still use the hacked fb despite the notices that I have posted.

I identify with people whom I blog as I had my own struggles to be able to finish my studies, having been orphaned at a young age. Growing up, I observed the corrupt practices in the government which have been deeply impressed in my mind. I observed so much arrogance of some supposedly “shepherds” of the various churches. Having gone around the country, I saw poverty in its various levels and perceived its ugly faces drawn on my impoverished countrymen. I would like to let the world know about the benevolence of unsung heroes in our midst. Also, let others know, Filipinos and foreigners that the country is a cluster of islands worth discovering for their unique and varying splendor. I would also like to serve as other people’s conscience and mirror. Most of all God gifted me with the ability to write and I know that He did not give it to me to be kept selfishly, but with a purpose. Those are the reasons why I blog.

What give me the drive to go on are the inspiration and encouragement from those who are kind enough to appreciate what I am doing aside from enhancing what I share with their comments and rectifications on what they think should be improved. I am also encouraged to go on if what I share could successfully elicit relevant comments, especially, about blogged people whose characters are worthy of emulation, not just appreciation.  I believe that I am just doing my share of what should be done as intended by God. I am not a doctor, nor a professor, nor a pastor, nor a cook, nor a policeman, nor a businessman, etc….but I have a purpose, too, in this world and that is….as a simple writer.

I always imagine that the world is like a jigsaw puzzle composed of parts with various shapes that snugly fit together. While others could be triangle, circle, square…I could be a rectangle….that is I, as a blogger, and with my own shape, I am trying my best to neatly fit into this world. By the way, I need prayers, too, to keep me keep me and my advocacy alive, at least even for just a little longer.

The Writer

By Apolinario Villalobos

A true writer should be sensitive to the feelings of others, be they read as expressly written or viewed as shown through actuations. He should be able to develop any form of literary expression out of spoken words or written “bullet statements”. With facebook as an example, an adept writer should be able to develop a poem out of the comments on a certain posted photo. Comments about the photo are the “thoughts” of the facebook owner who posted it and a poem that is developed out of them by a writer should be rightly attributed to him….the writer being just the “editor”.

The writer should not constrain himself from writing the name of the source of the thoughts in the byline of a literary expression, be it a poem or an essay. Many people are frustrated writers and poets. They have thoughts that float in their mind, but they just do not know how to capture them. They may enumerate the words down but they do not know which to put ahead of the rest, which of them to comprise the content, and which word to end their presentation. This is where the writer-friend comes in….lend a hand….put substance to the words or discerned thoughts that are not yet expressed but are expected, as feelings are universal and interpretations vary only according to situation, but words are the same.

Some people show signs of literary talent but are shy to let them out. Their latent talent is discerned through the kind of words that they use in making comments on facebook posts or in the way they use them. These are the people who should be given utmost understanding. In the end, if the effort has made somebody happy, exert more of it….help many more shy people. This is what a “writer” should do…encourage others to express themselves.

Respect Should Prevail over Arrogance

When Presenting Views in the Internet

By Apolinario Villalobos

Definitely and obviously, differing views create rifts and even violent reaction among internet users on different issues. Commentors on blogs are themselves, considered as bloggers. Those who post extensive write-ups on issues, who consider themselves full time bloggers are just “view initiators”. Ill-feeling even among friends results when commenting friends criticize the blogger as a person which for them is the reason why he came up with certain blogs. On the other hand, the criticism of some commentors, though, directed to the issue, are ill-founded and tainted with more selfishness, rather than with consideration of the majority. An example is the issue on the corrupted educational system that encourages the use of workbook-formatted “text books”. Some commentors who can afford the sky-high cost of books that should be purchased every start of the school term, have no kind words for bloggers who criticize the government agency for continuously allowing such practice to happen.

Another is the issue on the killing of drug lords and pushers. Just because the rich feel safe inside their homes in exclusive subdivisions and because they do not go out often to earn their keeps and if ever, in chauffeured expensive cars, they criticize the killing which for them is against the right to live, instead, of appreciating the result which is the eradication of the criminals who kill the innocents who have the same right. Those who are exposed, however, to these criminals because they live in thickly populated communities and slums, feel otherwise, so that they are thankful that the criminals  are eliminated before they can go on spreading terror. IN THIS REGARD, ALL OF THEM, DESPITE THEIR DIFFERING VIEWS ON THE ISSUE, SHOULD BE RESPECTED FOR THEIR OPINION FOR AS LONG AS THEY DO NOT EXCHANGE ACCUSATIONS, AS BY ALL INDICATIONS,  IT IS CLEAR THAT WHAT IS GOOD FOR SOMEBODY MAY BE BAD FOR ANOTHER.

Views that may enhance the blog of the initiator should be presented “based” on his presentation, hence, should come out as not necessarily criticisms. If this happens, it would encourage others to come out with their own without fear of being lambasted. A heated uncalled for heated exchange can be avoided if commentors will only respect the blogger and fellow commentors. Telling the blogger and other commentors that they are wrong because their views are different, is tantamount to showing the arrogance of those who do such, because their act is a clear manifestation of their “felt superiority”. The view of the latter can be better appreciated if they are humble enough to just simply present them and if they need clarification on certain aspects they should say so.

The internet, particularly, facebook should not create ill-feelings among friends with differing views for which subject personalities such as politicians do not give a damn. Personally, I like Duterte because of his effort to eradicate or at least minimize the drug problem in the country, aside from his inspiring phenomenal soar to power despite his humble beginnings. But I do not like his brashness, especially jokes on women which are better shared during drinking sprees. So viewers could see that I am not 100% for Duterte as I only like him for the good aspects of his person.  I also have nothing against the Catholic Church, but only to her erring priests and nuns. I have the right to present my observation as I feel for those who are concerned and affected. This attitude also goes for my view of other churches and religious communities, because, first and foremost, my being a Free Thinker makes it so. I am for ALL for as long as they are good and not selfish.

If I had been selfish, I would not be blogging, risking my security in the process, due to the sensitive issues that I am tackling. I would just also be enjoying my life and what is left of Nature which is my other passion, while not giving a damn if families are affected by the drug problem and the Catholic flock who are fooled by SOME of the priests to whom they give utmost  respect because they view them as “representatives” of God on earth. 

MY BLOG SUBJECTS

By Apolinario Villalobos

Friends are asking how I develop blogs. Initially, I really would like to confine my blogging within the scope of poetry – Tagalog, English and some vernaculars, the medium in which I am most comfortable. However, although, the same ideas are injected in the said literary form, some friends would rather read a straight essay which is easier to understand. That is how I delved into writing essays to share ideas which proved to be just practical when I opened other sites for my blogs.

As for the sources of ideas, they come from my daily experiences – encounter with friends who live in unexpected places, news broadcast on radio (I have no TV), encounter with various people I do not know along the road who became new friends, my own life, and most especially, messages from friends sent through email and “pm” in the facebook. I am most wary in writing about politics and religion, but when Duterte came into the picture, I could not help myself but make a resolve that I will help him in his cause.

As for religion, as much as I am avoiding such topic, I again, could not help myself but come to the rescue of those who have been exploited by abusive religious leaders and pretenders who know religion like the palm of their hand. I would like to make it clear na hindi ko nilalahat ang religious leades dahil ang iba sa kanila ay matitino.  I have to let the world know how these supposedly religious leaders exploit their unsuspecting followers. If the pope himself is doing some exposes, why can’t I? At this juncture, I am most thankful to my religious friends who are authorities in their own right, being leaders of their churches, for understanding my boldness in making statements. I am thankful that nobody has told me to go to hell with my pronouncements. What protected me perhaps, is my use of the word, “SOME’, to make myself clear that my statements refer only to the obviously guilty.

If friends come across short blogs that are suddenly posted minutes after extensive ones have been posted, and about the same topic, they are manifestations of my emotional explosion due to uncalled-for provocation from some friends who just can’t stop from testing my knowledge about what I am blogging about, and worse, their obvious intention to just test my patience in handling sarcasm. They are blind to the fact that blogs are meant to be enhanced with relevant and enlightening comments from unsatisfied readers, and which are for the benefit of the rest who are contented to remain as “likers”. Unfortunately, the comments of these friends are focused on my person.

I don’t just post on facebook. I have viewers in my other sites, and who use some of the materials that I post as references for their studies, and as for students, for their thesis. In this view, I am dead serious about what I am doing. Some of my blogs are requested by friends asking for my views which obliges me to give my all – everything that I know, with expectations that somehow viewers can enhance them with their relevant comments which can be treated as input, and for which I am thankful.

Blogging is a thankless and unpaid undertaking, but a task that I enjoy. If I blog about people I meet along the way who need to be exposed due to their sorry plight that needs succor or help, it does not mean that I am soliciting funds. My intention is just to let friends know that, as mentioned in an earlier blog, there are real people out there who suffer and that I stand witness for such truthfulness…scenes that unfortunately, are seen by many people only on TV.

ANG “BLOGGER”,  “BASHER”

AT “NAKAWAN” SA INTERNET

Ni Apolinario Villalobos

Ang “blog” ay maaaring ituring na “noun” o “verb”. Kaugnay niyan, kapag “noun” ay pwedeng sabihing “the blog”, kapag “verb” ay masasabing, “to blog”. Subali’t kung tutuusin ay tungkol lang ito sa “pagsusulat” o “pagpo-post” ng buong sanaysay o komento man lang o di kaya ay ng larawan sa sariling facebook o sa facebook ng iba pero may pahintulot nila, at iba pang sites sa internet, lalo na ang mga pag-aari ng blogger.

Ang “basher” naman ay mga nagbabasa ng mga blogs at dahil kampon yata ng demonyo, sa halip na tumulong sa pagpapalinaw sa isinulat ng blogger, ay umiikot sa mga personal na bagay ang isinusulat bilang komento. Ibig sabihin ng “personal” ay tungkol sa mga bagay na may kinalaman sa blogger kaya nade-derail ang mensahe ng blog. Sila yong mga kung tawagin ay “viewers” o nagbabasa ng blogs na hindi nagpaparamdam at tumatayming ng blog na pwede nilang sirain o bulabugin kaya nagagalit rin ang ibang mga seryosong nagbabasa. Kalimitan ay gusto nilang palabasin na mas magaling sila sa blogger sa paggamit ng Tagalog o English, o di kaya ay palabasing mas maganda ang kanilang pananaw. Kung ganoon sana ang paniniwala at pananaw nila, sumulat na lang sila ng sarili nilang blog upang mai-post sa kanilang fb.

Sa isang banda, maraming taong matatalino sa larangan ng teknolohiya ang nakakakita ng “ginto” sa internet…mga oportunidad na pwede nilang pagkitaan sa anumang paraan, kahit masama. Ang isang paraan ay ang illegal na pag-hack ng mga sites, gawaing itinuturing ng mga hacker na isang prestihiyosong kaalaman. May mga hantaran pang umaamin na sila ay hacker dahil maraming tao at kumpanya ang umuupa sa kanila upang makapanira ng kalaban o kakumpetensiya sa negosyo. Yong ibang hacker naman ay pumapasok sa sites ng iba bilang katuwaan lang o para patunayan na sila ay magaling. Sa ganitong gawain ay may mga sinuswerte rin, tulad ng Pilipinong nag-hack ng IT system ng Pentagon. Sa simula ay kinastigo siya, pero kalaunan ay kinuha na lang ng Pentagon upang mapakinabangan ang kanyang katalinuhan.

Ang iba namang “magagaling” ay gustong kumita sa pamamagitan ng panloloko. Ang mga paraan ay, ang paggamit ng email kung saan ay magpapadala sila ng mga nakakaiyak na kuwento ng kanilang buhay upang makapag-solicit ng tulong; pakikipagkaibigan upang mapagamit sila ng bank account ng kinakaibigan na paglalagakan kuno ng perang minana nila; pagpapadala ng email message tungkol sa isang pasyente sa ospital na kailangang operahan kaya nakikiusap sa pinadalhan na ikalat ang message dahil kapag ginawa ito, bawat isang message na ipinadala sa isang kaibigan ay may katumbas na pisong didiretso sa isang account, kaya kung mag-viral ang message dahil sa dugtung-dugtong na koneksiyon ng mga may-ari ng emails, siguradong hindi lang 1 milyong piso ang malilikom; pagbebenta sa internet ng mga kalakal lalo na gadgets, subalit kapag nakapaglagak na ng bayad sa ibinigay na bank account ang niloko ay parang bulang mawawala ang on-line seller.

Ano pa nga ba’t ang magandang layunin sana ng teknolohiya ay sinira ng mga taong may mala-demonyong pag-iisip. Dahil sa mga nangyayari ngayon, nagkaroon ng agam-agam o takot ang mga internet users sa pagpadala ng mga mahahalagang impormasyon sa kanilang mga mahal sa buhay tulad ng numero ng passport, mga kopya ng dokumento, bank account number, numero ng telepono, at pati address ng bahay o negosyo. Yong isa ngang mayabang, nag-post lang ng kopya ng kanyang First Class plane ticket at boarding pass sa facebook ay nakuhanan na ng mga personal na detalye tulad ng contact number at address ng bahay na nakapaloob pala sa “bar code” ng boarding pass gamit ang isang skimming device na gawa sa China! Kaya habang nagliliwaliw ang mayabang at ang pamilya niya, inakyat-bahay sila! Nangyayari ito kapag ang pasahero ay miyembro ng promo program na nangangailangan ng mga personal niyang impormasyon, kaya ang pangalan niya ay naka-connect sa information archive ng information system ng airline.

Ang epekto ng teknolohiya sa tao ay hindi nalalayo sa epekto ng mga inimbentong bagay na magdudulot sana ng kaginhawaan sa buhay ng tao. Ang gamot halimbawa, ay inimbento upang makapagpahaba ng buhay, subalit inabuso, kaya may namamatay dahil sa overdose o maling paggamit. Ang baril ay inimbento sana upang maging proteksiyon subalit ginamit sa katarantaduhan. Ang dinamita na gagamitin lang sana sa pagpasabog lang ng malalaking tipak ng bato upang hind maging hadlang sa ginagawang kalsada sa gilid ng bundok ay ginamit sa maling pangingisda at terorismo. Ganon din ang ginawa sa marami pang inimbentong ginamit na pagpuksa ng kapwa-tao at kalikasan. At, lahat ng iyan ay nangyayari dahil sa pagkagahaman ng tao  na umiiral sa mundo!

ON DEFENDING IDOLIZED POLITICIANS

AND BLOGGING

By Apolinario Villalobos

The problem with the “defenders” or “supporters” of politicians is that they tend to be overzealous in what they do and say to the point of even killing or get killed by those who belong to the “contra-partidos”. Most often, during election campaign, we hear of political leaders being ambushed on the way to rally sites or shot right inside their home. When they die, the politicians that they support shoulder the wake and burial expense….that’s all. Some politicians do not even know most of these “leaders” from Adam or Eve, except those who belong to their inner circle, as they are just names on their payroll. The tight handshake and smile that the politicians give to the “lesser leaders” do not necessarily mean closeness. After the election, winning politicians forget the names even of those who belong to their “inner circle”, as new set of butt-lickers march into their offices.

In blogging, there should likewise, be restraint in the showing of emotion. Bloggers should stick to the issue and not the character of fellow bloggers. Commentors to the blogs are considered as bloggers themselves, hence, they become responsible for the enhancement that they contribute to the blog, be it positive or negative. Again, idolized politicians do not personally know all the bloggers who support them, so there is no reason why the latter should overdo their unsolicited overzealousness. Laying down one’s own ideas to support those of the idolized politician should be enough to show that the supportive bloggers are just around…the bigger their number, the better.

I must admit that I have been guilty of overzealousness in the course of my blogging that made me cuss sometimes. Fortunately, I do not cuss anybody in particular, not even the politicians who I hate, as I do it only to release my pent up emotions being one with a “type A” personality. To show more maturity in this effort, though, I try my best not to cuss…unless provoked. Again, as expressed in my earlier blogs, I am not a saint who is virtually shielded with Godliness, as I consider myself an ordinary creature who has got no patience in just parrying insults to my person. I am not the type of a guy who throws back bread to someone who bombards him with rocks. As we all know, bread is a precious food so I can’t just throw it at an idiot who deserves a rock, instead….which for me should not only be a single rock, but a huge one, too!....bashers deserve a Peter to jolt them back to their sanity!

MABUHAY ANG MGA BLOGGERS!...COMMENTORS, LIKERS, AND FULL-ESSAY WRITERS!

MAYROON AKONG SINCERE COMMITMENT BILANG BLOGGER

KAYA WALANG SINUMAN ANG MAY KARAPATAN NA TAWAGIN

AKONG ZOMBIE NI DUTERTE!

Ni Apolinario Villalobos

HINDI AKO BLOGGER NA BAYARAN AT LALONG MAY SARILI AKONG ISIP. HINDI AKO PANATIKO NA TULAD NG INAAKALA NG IBA. HINDI DAHIL MADALAS KONG I-BLOG SI DUTERTE AY SASABIHIN NA NG IBA NA BULAG AKONG TAGASUNOD NIYA. AT, HINDI SA PAGBUBUHAT NG SARILI KONG BANGKO, MABUTI NGA AT GINAGAMIT KO ANG KAALAMANG BIGAY NG DIYOS KO SA AKIN SA TAMANG PARAAN, HINDI TULAD NG IBA DIYAN NA MASYADONG BILIB SA SARILI DAHIL GRADUATE DAW NG MALAKING UNIBERSIDAD SUBALIT PULPOL NAMAN ANG PANUNTUNAN SA BUHAY DAHIL KUNG ANO ANG MALI AY SIYANG PINAPANIGAN.

ANG MGA BINA-BLOG KO AY MGA GOOD POINTS NG MGA TAO, KILALA MAN SILA O HINDI UPANG MAGING INSPIRASYON NG IBA. DAPAT UNAWAIN NA WALANG PERPEKTONG TAO KAYA KUNG HALIMBAWANG SI MARCOS NA NAGING DIKTADOR AY HINDI NAGUSTUHAN NG MARAMING PILIPINO TULAD KO, MERON DIN NAMAN SIYANG GINAWANG MAGANDA PARA SA PAGPAHINAY-HINAY NG PAGKALAT NG DROGA NOONG PANAHON NIYA NANG IPA-FIRING SQUAD NIYA ANG INTSIK NA DRUG LORD SA LUNETA KAYA NAGDULOT NG TAKOT SA MGA KASAMA NIYANG NAGSI-UWIAN SA TSINA!

NGAYON, KAHIT HALOS DALAWANG BUWAN PA LANG SA PAGIGING PRESIDENTE AY NASINDAK NI DUTERTE ANG MGA PROMOTOR NG PAGKALAT NG ILEGAL NA DROGA SA BANSA…GOOD POINT NIYA ITO NA GUSTO KO KAYA BINA-BLOG KO SIYA. HINDI KO RIN ALAM KONG SA PAG-USAD NG PANAHON AY KAKIKITAAN SIYA NG BAD POINTS KAYA HINDI RIN MAIIWASANG BATIKUSIN KO SIYA. ANG TURING KO SA KANYA SA NGAYON AY AMPALAYA NA ISANG PAGKAING MAPAIT SUBALIT MAY KATANGIANG PANLABAN SA DIABETES. IBIG SABIHIN, MAPAIT O HINDI MAGANDA ANG DATING NI DUTERTE SA KANYANG MGA DETRACTORS, SUBALIT KITANG-KITA AT MALINAW PA SA SIKAT NG ARAW NA NASINDAK NIYA ANG MGA SALOT NA DRUG PERSONALITIES, LALO PA AT WALA SIYANG SINASANTO NI ISA MAN SA KANILA KAHIT MGA KAIBIGAN NIYA…DAHIL DIYAN AY ITINUTURING KO SIYANG GAMOT LABAN SA DROGA!

ANG BINA-BLOG KO AY PURO MGA ORIGINAL VIEWS AT IDEYA KO….NA ANG IBA AY BATAY SA AKING MGA KARANASAN, LALO NA ANG MGA TUNGKOL SA HUMAN VALUES AT MGA TAONG KUNG ITURING NG IBA AY MGA YAGIT….MGA KAIBIGAN KO SILA. HINDI AKO BASTA-BASTA NAGBA-BLOG KUNG HINDI AKO KUMBINSIDO NA MAKAKATULONG ANG MGA ITO SA IBA SA PAMAMAGITAN NG PAGBUKAS NG KANILANG KAISIPAN….SUBALI’T SA BANDANG HULI, GUSTO KO PA RING PAIRALIN ANG KASABIHANG, “TAKE IT OR LEAVE IT”, KAYA WALANG KARAPATAN ANG SINUMANG BUMATIKOS NG PAGKATAO KO DAHIL AYAW NILA ANG BLOG KO. KUNG AYAW NILA NG BLOG KO, KONTRAHIN NILA SA PAMAMAGITAN NG PAGLAHAD NG NALALAMAN NILA….WALANG PERSONALAN….I-SENTRO ANG KOMENTO SA BLOG, HINDI SA BLOGGER! YAN ANG MATALINONG PARAAN! WALANG MASAMA SA PAGKOMENTO LABAN SA BLOG, BASTA SA BLOG LANG. AT, LALONG MABUTI KUNG I-UNFRIEND NA LANG AKO UPANG HINDI NA MAKABASA, PERO HINDI AKO GAGAWA NIYAN DAHIL MATINO AKONG TAO.

LAHAT NG NAKIKIPAGKAIBIGAN SA AKIN AY ITINUTURING KONG KAIBIGAN KAHIT GALIT AKO SA KATARANTADUHAN NG IBA SA KANILA. SA ISANG BANDA, HINDI DAHIL GALIT AKO SA ISANG BAHAGI NG PAGKATAO NILA AY MAGAGALIT NA AKO SA KABUUHAN NITO….MALI ANG GANYANG UGALI. PARA SA AKIN, HINDI DAHIL ANG MGA PUNONG HINDI NAKAKAIN NG TAO ANG MGA BUNGA AY DAPAT PUTULIN NA. KAHIT PAPAANO AY NAKAKAIN PA RIN ANG MGA BUNGA NILA NG MGA HAYOP, AT HIGIT SA LAHAT AY NAGBIBIGAY SILA NG LILIM, NAGSISILBI RING DAPUAN NG MGA IBON KUNG SAAN SILA NAGPUPUGAD.

ANG MGA NAGAGALIT KAY DUTERTE DAHIL SA PAGMUMURA NITO AT MGA NANGYAYARING PAGPATAY SA MGA DRUG PERSONALITIES ANG MAY MAKIKITID NA PANG-UNAWA! BAKIT HINDI SILA MAG-RESEARCH TUNGKOL SA TAONG IBINA-BLOG KO AT I-COMMENT, HINDI YONG KUNG ANU-ANONG PINAGSASABI NA AMPAW NAMAN? PASASALAMATAN KO ANG MGA IMPORMASYONG IKOKOMENTO TUNGKOL SA “KASAMAAN” NI DUTERTE KUNG MERON MAN. DAPAT ALALAHANIN NA GUSTO NGA NI DUTERTE ANG TRANSPARENCY KAYA SA LEVEL NG EXECUTIVE BRANCH NG GOBYERNO AY MAYROON NANG FREEDOM OF INFORMATION NA WALANG PAGDADALAWANG-ISIP NIYANG INAPRUBAHAN.

HINDI MADALI ANG MAG-BLOG DAHIL MARAMI ANG NASASAGASAAN AT NASASAKTAN, SUBALIT ANO ANG GAGAWIN KO KUNG ITO LANG ANG PARAAN UPANG MAKAPAGLAHAD NG KATOTOHANAN AT PAGSUPORTA SA MGA TAONG MAY MAGANDANG LAYUNIN? ILANG BESES NA RIN AKONG NAG-APOLOGIZE UPANG IPAKITA NA HANDA AKONG TUMANGGAP NG PAGKAKAMALI DAHIL TULAD NGA NG SABI KO, HINDI PERPEKTO ANG TAO….KASAMA  AKO DIYAN. AT, AKO AY TAONG MAY MATINONG INTELLECT, HINDI ZOMBIE NA ANG KATINUAN AY NILUSAW NG LASON! HINDI AKO NAKAGAWA NG MAHIGIT 3,000 NA EDITORIALS, POEMS AT MGA TULA KUNG AKO AY ZOMBIE!

SA LAHAT NG AYAW KO AY ANG INSULTUHIN ANG KATINUAN NG PAG-IISIP KO DAHIL YAN AY MINANA KO PA SA MGA MAHAL KONG MAGULANG AT NILINANG SA ISANG ESWELAHAN SA MINDANAO NA KAHIT HINDI UNIBERSIDAD O MALAKING KOLEHIYO AY MAY MATATALINONG ADMINISTRADOR AT MGA GURO - ANG PINAGMAMALAKI KONG NOTRE DAME OF TACURONG COLLEGE! PAROCHIAL SCHOOL NGA KUNG ITURING HINDI NAMAN TULAD NG MGA UNIBERSIDAD AT MALALAKING KOLEHIYO NA ANG ILANG NAGTAPOS AY MAYAYABANG AT SAGAD SA BUTO ANG KORAPSYON!...AT, MAKIKITID PA ANG ISIP!...UULITIN KO, IILAN LANG NAMAN SILANG NALILIGAW ANG LANDAS!

ANG MGA DIPUTA, GUNGGONG AT INUTIL NA MGA MAPAGKUNWARING KRISTIYANO KUNONG ITO ANG DAPAT MAWALA SA MUNDO….SILANG MGA HINDI MARUNONG MAGHAMBING NG MGA KAPAKANAN!...NA ANG HALIMBAWA AY ANG PAGHAMBING SA IILANG DAANG PINATAY NA MGA PROMOTOR NG ILEGAL DRUG, SA MILYUN-MILYONG KABATAAN AT PAMILYA NA NASIRA ANG KINABUKASAN KAYA KUNG TUTUUSIN AY KASIRAAN NA RIN NG BUONG PILIPINAS DAHIL PATI LIBLIB NA BARANGAY AY INABOT NA RIN NG BISYONG ITO!

PARA SA MGA MAHIHILIG SA QUOTES, HINDI BA MAY KASABIHANG, “BEHIND THE STORMY CLOUDS IS A SILVER LINING”? ITO PA ANG IBANG MGA TANONG: HINDI BA BAGONG BUHAY ANG KAPALIT NG PAGHIHIRAP NG ISANG INANG NANGANGANAK?...HINDI BA KUMALAT ANG KRISTIYANISMO DAHIL SA PAGHIHIRAP AT PAGKAMATAY NI HESUS SA KRUS? HINDI BA ANG IBANG GAMOT AY MAPAIT? HINDI BA ANG PALAYAN AY INI-ESPREYHAN NG CHEMICAL NA NAKALALASON UPANG MAPUKSA ANG MGA KULISAP AT DAMO? PAANONG LALAGO ANG MGA GULAY AT BULAKLAK KUNG HAHAYAANG MATALO SILA NG MGA DAMO? ANG PAGHIHIRAP NG PILIPINAS DAHIL SA KRIMEN AT DROGA, NA PILIT WINAWALIS NI DUTERTE UPANG MAGKAROON NG PAGBABAGO AY HINDI NALALAYO SA MGA BINANGGIT KO….KUNG MAUUNAWAAN NG MGA MAKABASA NITO….SANA.

To Blog or Not to Blog

..and the frustrating service providers in the Philippines

By Apolinario Villalobos

While some people take their time in blogging shared quotes and photos from other sites, others do it with seriousness by sharing their own ideas. “Sharing bloggers” use smart phones and ipads in browsing the cyber web to collect what take their fancy, while “writing bloggers” have to think and archive titles using a laptop, an ipad, or at least a basic cellphone, and which they later develop using a laptop or a desktop computer. Those who use smart phones can easily upload blogs for as long as they are online and the prevalent signal permits. The same situation applies to those who use ipads and laptops. “Writing bloggers” may develop as many topics and keep them for later use, thereby, allowing them to upload anywhere they may be.

In areas where the signal is weak, there is a need for a booster to enhance the capability of the wi-fi. But for the financially handicapped who cannot afford such facility, browsing and uploading take a hell of the time. Woe still, to those who use pre-loaded sim cards, for by the time they can connect to the desired sites, their load is almost consumed.

It has been acknowledged that the Philippines is suffering from the highest internet rate in Asia. What make the unreasonable rate worse are the inutile facilities of the service providers that cannot accommodate millions of users. Despite this bleak situation, the service providers have not done any immediate action, as the time allowance that they asked from the government is a whole year of observation on their effort, before their service is finally scrapped.

Meanwhile, the economy of the country suffers. Blogging is not just about photos and quotes shared in facebook. Blogging as an activity is also the uploading of business opportunities in different sites that need to be accessed by enterprising browsers. Blogging is about payment transaction among business entities using bank internet facilities. It is also about plain exchange of communication among government and private agencies. It can even include in its scope the transmitted instructions about undertakings that involve life such as an ongoing operation in a hospital.

The Philippines which has already been suffering from corruption since the time she has gained freedom from the clutches of America, is hopeful that the incoming administration of Rodrigo Duterte can give life to its sickly cyber-tech system.

Mahirap ang Maging Prangka

O Magkaroon ng Sariling Style sa Pagsulat

Ni Apolinario Villalobos

Masarap sanang maglabas ng mga saloobin o nilalaman ng diwa. Nakakapag-alala lang ang mga taong “masasagasaan” na sasama ang loob kung sila ay matutumbok kahit hindi sinasadya. Halimbawa na lang ay ang mga may tema ng tungkol sa ugali, trabaho at pulitika.

May mga nagtatanong naman kung bakit daw wala man lang akong kino-quote na mga kilalang tao, lalo na mga banyagang manunulat upang palabasing nabasa ko ang mga isinulat o sinabi nila. Ang sagot ko sa kanila, bilang isang blogger, ay mga sarili kong ideya ang dapat kong i-share dahil ang style ko ay editorial. Hindi ako pwedeng magpuna o mag-criticize gamit ang ideya ng ibang tao…ganoon lang ka-simple, dahil inaako ko ang responsibilidad sa pagbatikos na dapat ay hindi batay sa iniisip ng ibang tao, maliban lang sa mga sinasabi sa Bibliya.

Ang mga topic ko ay resulta ng pagmamasid o observations ko sa aking kapaligiran, kaya hindi ko kailangang magbanggit ng mga pangalang kilala upang magpa-impress na ako ay “wide reader”. Kagaguhan nang magbanggit  halimbawa, ng isang Amerikanong green o ecology advocate upang maging batayan ng sarili kong damdamin tungkol sa walang patumanggang illegal logging sa Pilipinas.

 May naisulat na ako tungkol sa bagay na ito noon, subalit ginawa ko uli ngayon para palakasin ang loob ng mga nakausap kong nagba-blog din pero ayaw maglabas ng saloobin nila dahil takot iwanan ng mga “friends” daw at itakwil ng mga kamag-anak na matutumbok!

A Friend Gave Life to My Blogging

By Apolinario Villalobos

A friend who is also a blogger in her own right, based in the United States, but a Filipina, gave life to my blogging when she gave me her smart phone, after finding out that I have no camera which should be an important tool of a blogger. I told her that most of my blogs need no photo to support them.

It took me a very long time before finally deciding to use the cellphone, but only its camera because it has not yet been “opened” for local use, being registered with a Telcos in America. Most especially, I have no heart in spending a big amount just for that purpose because I am very much comfortable with my old basic phone.

Of late, I found out that the cellphone is indeed a big help in supporting my blogs, especially, events such the recent Feast of the Black Nazarene of Quiapo. Also, for people with amazing and inspiring virtues, so that viewers will know how they look like – such as having a seasoned face due to hard work, stooped body due to almost 24/7 toil for the much needed cash, and also for strange sounding names of food. But the said contraption is still a no-no for my random acts of charity.

When the same friend read the blog about my laptop lacking a key cover for letter “M”, she immediately sent me a message of her plan to send over a laptop which I respectfully declined because I have no habit of getting rid of things that are still useful to me.

My friend is Perla Buhay….by the way, for foreign viewers, “buhay” means “life”. Coincidence?...God works in many splendid ways. Perla also gives life to her financially “dying” relatives and friends, also intellectual nutrients to children “starving” for knowledge with her book donations. So now, viewers know why I keep on praising the All-Knowing God although, I criticize to high heavens His people on earth who “badly manage” churches and manipulate the faith of innocent people.

Dialogue namin ng isang Makulit na “Kaibigan”

Tungkol sa Blogging

(ito ang sagot kung bakit may mga nagba-blog)

Ni Apolinario Villalobos

Ang nakaganda sa ginagawa kong pagba-blog ay nai-exercise nito ang utak ko upang hindi agad ako maging ulyanin. Hindi ko kasi kaya ang mga larong “candy crusher” at crossword puzzle sa cellphone o computer. Ang mga disadvantages naman ay ang pagbalik ng sakit kong carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) na sanhi ng pamamanhid ng mga daliri ko, pagtaas ng blood pressure kung ang isinusulat ko ay tungkol sa pulitika, at ang pag-isipan akong kumikita sa mga sinusulat ko dahil akala ng iba ay bayaran ako ng ilang pulitiko na may gustong siraing kapwa pulitiko.

Ang sumusunod ay dialogue namin ng isang makulit na ay maurirat pa, na akala ko ay isang matalinong “kaibigan”. Naganap ang pag-uusap namin sa kapihan ng isang mall:

Makulit:   Pare, balita ko namumutiktik na ang internet sa blog mo.  Nakakainggit ka.

Ako:   Eh, di magsulat ka rin.

Makulit:   Hindi ko kaya, eh. At alam mo namang hindi ako nag-iinternet o nagpi-facebook. Kaya yon ngang sinasabing pagbukas man lang ng computer sa bahay ay hindi ko alam. Mga anak ko lang ang gumagamit noon. Si Misis nga eh, galit din sa computer. (Naalala kong binanggit nga niya ito noon, kaya mabuti na lang din dahil kung may facebook siya, hindi ko ito maiba-blog).

Ako:   Eh, di huwag ka na lang maiinggit sa akin dahil marami ka namang ginagawang pinagkikitaan. Sobrang yaman mo na nga, eh. Sana ay marami ka pang kitain. Pasalamat ka sa Diyos dahil sa grasya.

Makulit:   (medyo napangiwi, pagkarinig ng “Diyos”) Siyanga pala, pare, ang sabi nila pinagkikitaan din ang pag-blog. Yong iba alam kong binabayaran upang manira ng ibang tao. (Muntik na akong mabilaukan ng kape sa huling sinabi niya, dahil kulang na lang ay sabihin niyang bayaran ako.)

Ako:   Yong iba siguro. Sa kaso ko naman, wala akong pinipili dahil basta may mali, pinupuna ko at hindi paninira yon dahil ang ang sini-share ko ay alam na rin naman ng iba, pero sinasarili lang nila. Hindi ko naman kayang ipunin sa dibdib ang mga dapat kong i-share dahil baka sumabog ako sa sobrang himutok.

Makulit:   Paano ang gastos mo sa blogging?

Ako:   Mga oras lang yon na nagamit naman sa tama. At least hindi ako basta nakatunganga lang o nangungulit. (Paramdam ang huli kong sinabi upang sana ay tumigil na siya, pero tuloy pa rin.)

Makulit:   May banta ka na ba sa buhay?

Ako:   Secret. Pero mas malaking banta sa buhay ko ang pagtaas ng blood pressure dahil sa mga taong walang alam gawin kundi mangulit sa akin kaya naiinis ako. (Hindi pa rin niya naramdaman ang pagtumbok na ginawa ko dahil tuloy pa rin siya sa pangungulit.)

Makulit:   I-share mo naman yong tungkol sa mga project mo sa mga iskwater.

Ako:   Huwag na. Pero kung magdo-donate ka o tutulong sa pagpapa-aral ng mga bata, marami kang malalaman.

Makulit:   (Tumahimik siya sandali nang marinig ang mga salitang “donate” at “tulong”). Good luck na lang sa mga project mo, pare.

Ako:   (Nakakita ako ng pagkakataong mangulit naman sa kanya.) Hindi pare. Palagay ko bilang kababayang Pilipino dapat tumulong ka rin sa kapwa mo, mabawasan man lang ang “dirty money” mo. (Mabuti na lang hindi naintindihan kung ano ang ibig kong sabihin sa “dirty money”, dahil alam kong may mga illegal siyang transaction kaya biglang yumaman. Akala niya sa “dirty money” ay okey dahil siya ay tinawag ko noong “filthy rich” na okey lang ang ibig sabihin, ganoong sa Pilipino, ito ay katumbas ng “maruming mayaman”.)

Makulit:   Next time na lang pare, at good luck uli sa mga ginagawa mo sa mga iskwater. Siyanga pala, si Misis nasa supermarket sa ibaba, pupuntahan ko baka tapos na siyang mamili. Usap na lang tayo uli. (Dali-daling siyang tumayo.)

Ako:   Teka pare, ano nga pala ang itatanong mo?

Makulit:   Text ko na lang sa iyo.

Nagpasalamat ako sa huling pag-uusap namin ng “kaibigan” ko dahil nabisto kong allergic pala siya sa salitang “donate” o tulong, kaya sa susunod, sa simula pa lang ng usapan namin ay pariringgan ko na siya ng mga ganoong salita.

Paalala lang sa makakabasa na ang blogging ay hindi palaging pinagkikitaan. Ito ay sakripisyo sa panig ng nagba-blog lalo na kung ang sinusulat niya ay tungkol sa maling nagaganap sa paligid, kaya hindi dapat pag-isipan na ang taong maraming blogs ay marami ding pera. Ang mga nagbaba-blog ay mahilig lang talagang makibahagi ng kanilang saloobin sa pamamagitan ng pagsusulat ng sanaysay, kuwento o tula. Huwag ding akalaing mayabang ang mga bloggers, dahil kung tutuusin, namemeligro pa nga ang kanilang buhay lalo na kung tungkol sa pulitika ang kanilang sinusulat. Pero bilang dagdag-kaalaman, kumikita lamang ang mga blogger kung papasukan ng advertisements ang kanilang sites, na kalimitan ay tungkol sa fashion, shopping, cooking, travel , sports, at makabagong gadgets. Ang mga blogs ko ay hindi tungkol sa mga nabanggit na paksa.

Ang Laptop Kong Bungi

…ka-partner ko sa pagbatikos at pagpuri

Ni Apolinario Villalobos

Wala siyang teklado para sa letrang “M” subalit subok ang tibay dahil kahit bahayan ng langgam ang mga kalamnan ay hindi sumusurender maski pa maghapong gamitin. Ilang taon din siyang nagtiis sa pagtipa ko sa teklado ng kanyang mga letra at simbolo, yon nga lang, pagdating sa bunging bahagi para sa letrang “M” ay kailangang maingat ang aking pagpindot. Malaki ang utang na loob ko sa laptop na ito dahil lahat ng mga saloobin ko ay kinakaya niyang ipunin…i-absorb, kaya siguro kung mayroon lang siyang bituka baka palagi siyang nagsusuka, o di kaya kung may puso, ay matagal na siyang na-heart attack. Kahit halos mamuwalan na siya sa mga pinapakain kong nakakasuka at nakaka-heart attack na mga isyu, ay hindi siya nanghihina man lang.

Ang problema lang ay ang colonial niyang mentality dahil may mga salitang Pilipino na pinagpipilitan niyang baybayin sa Ingles kaya kailangan kong basahin nang paulit-ulit ang mga naisulat niya upang ang “namin” ay hindi maging “naming”, o di kaya ang “hindi maging” ay hindi maging “hind imaging”, ang “letra” ay hindi maging “letre”, at marami pang ibang salitang Pilipino na tinatarantado niya….sutil kasi.

Minsan ko na rin siyang nadunggol dahil sa sobrang antok nang bumagsak ang noo ko sa kanya, subalit hindi siya nagreklamo kahit sa pamamagitan ng pag-kuryente man lang sa akin. Nalaman kong nasaktan ko siya nang maramdaman ko sa aking pisngi ang kanyang pag-overheat makalipas ang dalawang oras ng pagkakatulog. Literally, I slept on my laptop! Siguro kung nakakatawa lang ang butiki ay hinalakhakan na ako dahil sa hindi kalayuan ay may nakita akong dalawa na halos hindi gumagalaw dahil siguro nagulat, pero nagpulasan nang tiningnan ko sila ng masama.

Hindi mitsa ng buhay ko ang aking mahal na laptop dahil old-fashion siya, luma na kasi, kaya kahit bitbitin ko siyang hubad, ibig sabihin ay hindi nakalagay sa bag, walang magkaka-interes. Parang babae rin na dahil naitatago ng pagka-old fashion ang kanyang ganda, siya ay malayo sa posibilidad na magahasa! Kaya ang mga babae ay hindi dapat magpakita ng motibo o pag-anyaya upang magahasa…magpaka-simple o magpaka-old fashion din kahit minsan….maliban na lang ang mga desperada!

Para ring tao ang aking laptop na nag-undergo ng operasyon at pagtapal dahil marami na rin siyang diperensiya maliban sa pagkabungi. Ang dating ayaw pumermanenteng pagtayo ng screen kaya nilalagyan ko pa ng suporta sa likod, ay naremedyuhan ng isang doktor ng mga laptop – may ginalaw sa kasu-kasuan o joints nito kaya nakakatayo na ngayon nang tiyeso. Ang dating sugat sa gilid dahil nabasag ay natapalan na rin ng karton kaya ngayon ay buo na siya – good as new!

Ang kuwento ng laptop ko ay maihahalintulad din sa kuwento ng alagang hayop na pinagkakautangan dapat ng loob ng nag-aalaga dahil sa dulot nilang therapeutic relief, o di kaya ay iba pang bagay na napakinabangan para sa araw-araw na pamumuhay. May utang na loob tayo sa kanila. Hindi sila dapat binabale-wala nang basta-basta pagkatapos pagsawaan o kapag nagkaroon ng bago, lalo na ngayong pasko.

Hindi din dapat ganyan ang mag-asawa na pagkalipas ng maraming taon ay basta na lang makaramdam ng pagkasawa sa isa’t isa, kaya nagkakanya-kanya na sa pagrampa upang maghanap ng ibang mapagparausan. O di kaya ay ibang mga anak na pagkatapos iluwal ng ina at palakihin ng ama ay walang pakundangan kung sila ay balewalain o ikahiya sa ibang tao dahil walang pinag-aralan o di kaya ay hindi maganda o guwapo tulad ng mga magulang ng mga kaibigan nila, o di kaya ay amoy pawis dahil sa pagtinda sa palengke, hindi tulad ng magulang ng classmate nila na nagtatrabaho sa aircon na opisina.

Pairalin natin ang utang na loob. Magbago tayo….bilang pasalubong sa bagong taong 2016! 

Foods are for the Mouth

As writings are for the Mind

By Apolinario Villalobos

The foods can look appetizing by how they are presented, so are the writings that can be made attractive for reading by their title and first few lines. The writings are the poems and essays, and foods are appetizers, main dishes and desserts. While the print media, and today, the internet are the venue to showcase writings, outlets such as dining places and parties, are for the food.

 Every country has its own specialties and distinct recipes or styles in cooking. So are the different nationalities that have their respective and distinct kind of literature, based on their culture. Honesty in presentation, though how seem simple they may be discerned, are on what the foods and writings are judged.

The intriguing simple dishes of a far away Asian country can elicit curiosity and admiration due to their exotic taste, just like the equally intriguing broken-lined poetry of young poets today.

Respect is what foods and writings should be given. They should not be altered based on the whims of others. Those who cannot take the taste of certain foods and intriguing literary style should prepare their own dish or come up with their own poems or essays.

Invented gadgets, contraptions, and machines can be altered and improved based on their progressing necessity. But dishes should remain as originally concocted and can just be made as basis for new ones by food enthusiasts. In the same manner that the different styles in writing poems and essays should remain as they are written by the author and those who have been inspired should come up with their own style of presenting the idea.

Based on the above, nobody should be timid in coming up with their own cookery, essay or poem. What they come up with, unconsciously reflect their personality, such that, simple people may come up with simple dishes and simply written poems, as well as, short essays. Those with complex character, on the other hand, may come up with equally complicated dishes due to various ingredients, as well as, poems and essays with difficult to discern messages.

What I mean here is: everybody can cook and write which are just two of the many expressions of life…our various reasons for living. Most importantly, while the styles in preparing foods and presenting ideas vary, their respective essence remains the same.

A day in the Life of a Struggling Blogger

By Apolinario Villalobos

In countries like the United States, bloggers have no problem because all they need to do is just go to a park, and there, with free wifi connection, they can blog for as long as they want. But not in a third-world country like the Philippines where the government’s promise for free wifi sites in public places is part of nauseating propaganda of the administration. A blogger has to have a landline for an assured strong signal that can be sucked by a modem. An option is to have a USB broadband and portable or pocket wifi which must be loaded. Lucky are the bloggers that can connect to a neighbor with a repeater wifi that he can use, with consent of course.

But for a struggling blogger who has no landline to which a modem for wifi can be attached for a strong signal, or cannot afford a post-paid plan for broadband or pocket wifi, there’s no other choice but a load from a corner store bought for 50pesos which is good for one day. As soon as the load has been registered, the blogger must get to work immediately to maximize the use for the allotted time. The problem is the weak signal, especially, if several blog sites have to be opened for uploads. During unfortunate days with a weaker signal, uploading may take the whole day, instead of the normal four to five hours. During those days the indicator for a successful connection would just turn round and round, almost infinitely.

There are times when blogs which are thought to have been uploaded successfully are trashed due to incompleteness of attempt. Other times, due to the weak signal, uploading process hangs. And, worst, is when the signal is cut off in the middle of uploading!

What aggravates the situation are the promo offerings of servers, enticing internet users to buy their cheap surfing package which are deemed useless because, even until the purchased load has been consumed, no connection has been made! It is like rubbing salt to the wound.

The National Telecom time and again has expressed it s disgust over the inutility of the service of the different Philippine-based servers, but just like the mumblings of other government agencies for show, nothing has been done which is a clear defiance on the part of the servers, an obvious loss of respect to the government. Meanwhile, the internet users suffer, especially, struggling poor bloggers. And, just to assure a little bit of strong signal, bloggers of this kind have to do the uploading in the wee hour of 3AM!

To Blog and Risk Losing Life, Friends and Kinsfolks

Or Not to Blog and Remain Nice to All…and Stay Alive

By Apolinario Villalobos

The difference between “blogging” and “contributing” is that while the former gets published in the web of the information technology, the latter gets printed on papers. However, their common denominator is the “purpose” which is to “share”…a risky endeavor, especially, if what are shared concern politics, corruption, and religion. The risk is on losing one’s life, kinsfolks, and longtime friends.

In our province, Marlene Garcia Esperat, a courageous mediaperson lost her life when she exposed anomalous transactions in a government agency. The obviously hired killer had the gall to enter her house and pumped bullets into her head, to make sure that she was disabled for life. That’s one risk, made real – losing one’s life. Similar stories get splashed on pages of tabloids and broadsheets that many people do not take seriously, as they are perceived to be just ordinary incidents akin to road accidents and apprehension of drug pushers.

Bloggers cannot limit themselves with shares about fashion, literary, foods, travel, photography, etc. Sometimes they have to touch on controversial matters, such as politics that include corruption, and religion.  Blogs on these topics may affect the bloggers’ sensitive relatives and friends. Bloggers, therefore, wonder why, all of a sudden, some relatives and friends shy away from them. Some find themselves ignored by friends and buddies since grade school, as well as beloved relatives.

This unfortunate reality is happening to all bloggers. I found this out when I attended a small gathering of bloggers, during which blogging updates were passed around. Two bloggers shared that their sites were hacked, and another started getting threats via facebook messages when he uploaded blogs shared from other sites, about a controversial politician from their province in the north. Expectedly, the sender uses a fictitious personality.

Bloggers are just human instruments of the information technology, so that what they do should not be taken against them. A lot of sacrifice is made, aside from exhaustive effort in coming up with blogs, not to mention the precious time spent and money saved from scrimping on other necessities. Some bloggers earn, but most do not…as they bring out ideas, mainly due to their ardent love for writing and sharing.