Showing posts with label industry. Show all posts

The Shoe Repairman

By Apolinario Villalobos

Bent by years of hard toil

And pushed by his desire to live on

He breathes the fume-laden air

Endures the searing heat of the sun

Till dusk as his work is done.

He greets the morning sun

From where he sits every morning

Bringing forth the spool of thread

And the needle to start another day

Till dusk to be with his family.

He is……..,72 years old.

Ito si Jun Taladtad, 27 years old, nagtatrabaho sa barangay San Pablo ng Tacurong bilang caretaker ng puwestong nagbebenta ng culled chicken. Stay-in siya at ang tinutulugan niya ay ang maliit na kuwarto sa likod ng puwesto. Mabait ang taong nagtiwala sa kanya…sana ang ibang employer ay ganoon, hindi tumitingin sa pisikal na kaanyuan ng taong iha-hire. Si Jun naman ay masikap at masipag dahil sa kabila ng kanyang kalagayan ay nagtatrabaho na siya mula noong siya ay bata pa. Nang makausap ko siya isang umaga ay may balahibo pa ng manok sa kanyang ulo, palatandaang sumuot siya sa ilalim ng mga kulungan upang walisin ang mga dumi…may advantage ang kanyang height! Mabuhay ka Jun!!!! 

Marlyn “Nene” Dampog…young mother at 16, successful businesswoman at 53

and proud mother of Notre Damians

By Apolinario Villalobos

There’s more to the smile of Nene who sells any fruit in season along the highway going to barangay San Pablo of Tacurong City. She had been through the harrowing trials as a young mom at 16 and a single mom before she reached 20. Her parents were from Iloilo who migrated to Kapingkong a rice growing barangay of Tacurong.

Looking back her younger days, she told me that to be able to help her parents, she became an itinerant vendor when she was in Grade 3. She sold just anything, such as balut (boiled unhatched duck egg), rice cakes and fruits. She confided that she used to climb the high fence of the National Food Authority (NFA) instead of taking the circuitous footpath that led to the compound’s gate to be able to bring her basket of goodies to the employees quickly. Despite all the hardship, she was able to finish her high school, but fortunately, settled down at the young age of 16.

She doubled her effort as a vendor when she became a single mom. During the early 70s, she did not need much capital as her supplier trusted her with the then, prevailing “alsada system” or consignment. That was how she was able to earn and save more money to expand her “business”. She would also carry on her head sacks of fruits, herself, to save on the porterage.  During the time, her three daughters were in high school and as they would transfer from one rented shack to another, one of her daughters tearfully told her that in school, she was taunted that they lived like chicken. She consoled her daughter not to mind her classmates who looked down on her. To save on food, Nene and her daughters subsisted on a “pastil” each (a one-dish meal of rice topped with a spoonful of shredded chicken and wrapped in banana leaf) as breakfast.

As a single hardworking mom, she almost spread herself too thinly…and there were times when she felt like giving up. But, seeing how her daughters diligently pursued their studies despite financial difficulties, she more than doubled her courage and effort. She confided that did not attend a single meeting in school because her time was devoted to earning their daily subsistence. All her daughters graduated from the Notre Dame of Tacurong Girls’ Department, today, Sienna College and it was only during such occasion that she really took time to show herself up in school.

She is consoled today by the thought that she did not buckle down despite various pressure in her life and instead, has been able to have two daughters finish Nursing course, with the third, that of BS Commerce. Still selling fruits at 53, Nene, does not mind as her weariness at the end of the day is vanished by the giggles of her four grandchildren. They have their own big house in barangay San Pablo. She ended our conversation with her parting words, “nobody should be ashamed to work hard in order to survive”.

Barazel “Bob” Salazar:  From Security Guard

and Ateneo Professor, to PAL Executive

By Apolinario Villalobos

I met him when I had a short tour-of-duty (TDY) in Masbate as a ticket clerk, a few months after I joined PAL, and when Tablas station (my first assignment) was temporarily closed for runway improvement. During the time, the station Supervisor was Rudy Cid and the Load Controller was Jolly Fernandez, who resigned from PAL to run for mayor of the said town, against one of the Espiἧosas, and although, he won, his stint was cut short by his violent death from the hands of an assassin.

I vividly recalled the day when Bob and Rudy Cid asked me to leave the check-in counter during my confrontation with one of the bodyguards of the mayor (an Espiἧosa) as regards their package using the “padala system”. Although, the said system could be tolerated for compassionate reason, some parties abuse it, and being new, I was very strict in following the rules that I learned during my training. I had no knowledge then, about the local politics in Masbate, and it was only when the flight has left that they explained to me everything…about the Espiἧosas. From then on, Bob became more vigilant in checking during flight days if personalities that could provoke me at the check-in counter were around. If none, I was allowed to go on with my checking in of passengers.

I had no idea of how Bob was able to break into the airline industry. I was surprised then, when during a meeting lately, he told me that he went through a series of discouraging and harrowing experience before finally securing a job in PAL as a Ticket/Freight Clerk. His father was a Court Interpreter while his mother was a school teacher who died when he was in second year high school. His father remarried  but continued taking of them, albeit, with difficulty. It was during the time when they experienced receiving food from the relatives. He settled down at age 19, while he was in high school. To help his family, he did odd jobs selling newspapers, cleaning buses, working at construction sites, and as surveyor assistant. It was when was married when he pursued his college education and wife helped him financially until he graduated. During the time, he was working as a security guard, an inspiring fact that he proudly divulged to me without any qualm.

After graduating from college, he worked as Inventory Clerk, and shortly, joined PAL  as Ticket/ Freight Clerk assigned in Masbate station, But when he was assigned in Naga as Station Agent, he pursued his Master’s Degree at the University of Nueva Caceres. To help him augment his income he taught a the Ateneo de Naga in the evening. He was able to finish his MBA in 1987 at Naga, and the following year, he was assigned back to Masbate but at the time, as Branch Manager. He moved on as Branch Manager of San Jose (Mindoro) in 1992. His teaching and post-graduate studies were not cut short, although, he was transferred to other stations on temporary duty. 

Our path again crossed when he was assigned at International Sales Office at S and L building along Roxas Boulevard in Pasay City. That was the time when the Philippines and Guam Region was merged with the International Sales-Philippines which was considered as the company’s sales “flagship”. When I left the company, I learned about his series of promotions that he more than deserved.  He was promoted as Product Manager in 1998; assigned in Iloilo as Branch Manager in year 2000; Cargo Marketing Manager in Manila up to 2005 during which he authored the RHUSH which raked in millions of dollars of cargo revenue for the company. Still in 2005, he was promoted as Asst. VP for Visayas; and, finally, in 2010, sent to Japan as Country Manager. Today, he is happily retired, but grateful to PAL with which he spent more than half of his fruitful life.

SINA ALEX AT FELIZA VIRAY…NAGSIMULA SA BANANA CUE

NGAYON MAY PACKED MEALS NA

Ni Apolinario Villalobos

Sa tagal ng panahon na pagtayming kong makausap ang suki kong kinakainan ng sinangag at tuyo sa Baclaran, natiyempuhan ko rin siya isang umaga dahil maaga akong dumaan sa kanyang puwesto. Kariton lang ang gamit ni Alex sa pagtinda ng mga “packed meals” – kumbinasyon ng sinangag at mga ulam na piniritong itlog, tuyo, tortang talong, piniritong isda, at hot dog. Dahil inaalalayan na siya ng dalawang lalaking anak, mayroon na rin siyang binebentang kape at tsitserya.

Mahigit isang dekada nang street food vendor si Alex na nang magsimula ay katulong ang asawang si Feliza (Alcober) dahil maliliit pa noon ang kanilang mga anak. Nagsimula sila sa iilang pirasong banana cue, hanggang maisipan nilang magtinda ng mga pang-almusal na pagkain kaya sinimulan nilang magluto rin ng “sinangag-on-the-spot” sa isang maliit na kawali, piniritong tuyo, hotdog at itlog  na pinagkasyang ilatag sa maliit na karitong may butas para sa kalan na de-gaas (kerosene). Sa ganoong kalagayan ko sila unang nakita kaya bumilib ako sa pagtutulungan nilang mag-asawa at tiyaga.  Noon pa man ay pinag-aagawan na ng mga empleyado ng mga tindahan sa bahaging yon ng Baclaran ang mga niluto nilang pang-almusal na ang iba ay pinababalot upang maging tanghalian dahil bago mag-alas diyes ay ubos na ang paninda nila. Upang hindi masayang ang panahon, sa hapon ay banana cue naman ang binibenta nila.

Nang makita ko uli si Alex makalipas ang ilang taon ay malaki na ang kariton at nadagdagan na rin ang mga ulam dahil sa pagdami na rin ng mga suki. Pinapakita kasi niya ang pagluto ng mga pagkain “on the spot” mismo para walang duda na talagang malinis ang mga ito. Hindi ko siya matiyempuhang makausap dahil sa dami ng mga kostumer niya kaya natuwa ako nang isang umaga ay makakuha ako ng tiyempo kung kaylan ay ang dalawa niyang mga lalaking anak ang umaalalay sa kanya. Tulad ng mag-asawa ay palangiti rin ang kanilang mga anak kaya nakakahatak sila ng mga kostumer.

Napagtapos na nina Alex at Feliza si JC sa kolehiyo at ang isa ay magtatapos na rin. Ang iba pa ay nasa high school….at ang lahat ng gastusin ay galing sa maliit nilang negosyo. Isang halimbawa ang mag-asawa sa pagpapatunay na kung ang isang taong masigasig, matiyaga at marunong humawak ng pera ay talagang may mararating.

Ang Mga Alahas na Gawa ni Jenny

Ni Apolinario Villalobos

Napansin ko agad ang puwesto ni Jenny (Jennifer Piana), sa idinaos na Trade Fair sa SM Bacoor dahil namumukod-tangi ang kanyang mga produkto. Ito ay mga alahas na yari sa tanso o copper, semi-precious stones at crystals – mga singsing, bracelet, kuwentas, at hikaw. Maganda at pulido o malinis ang pagkakagawa kaya naakit agad akong magpagawa ayon sa naisip kong disenyo para sa isang bracelet na ginamitan ng “Indian jade eye”. Ito ngayon ay ginagamit ko araw-araw, kahit nasa bahay ako.

Ang tanso ay kinikilala dahil sa health benefits nito, mula pa noong panahong hindi pa pinapanganak si Hesus. Ito ay itinuturing na gamot laban sa rayuma at arthritis. Ang elementong tanso ay bahagi ng ating katawan dahil kasama ito sa mga dumadaloy sa ating dugo, at iba pa tulad ng zinc, silver, manganese, etc. Katulad ng tanso, ang mga batong matitingkad ang disenyo at kulay ay hindi lang pampalamuti sa katawan bilang alahas ang gamit, dahil nagbabalanse din sila ng enerhiya sa ating katawan. Dahil diyan, ang mga nadiskubreng libingan ng mga tao noong unang panahon, lalo na nang mga namumuno sa kanila, tulad ng pharaoh ng Ehipto ay palaging may mga iba’t –ibang uri ng bato tulad ng jade, agate, quartz, opal, onyx, tektite at mga metal na bagay.

Hindi tumatagal ang buhay ng mga mikrobyo sa tanso, kaya noong unang panahon pa rin, ang mga ginagamit na lagayan ng tubig at lutuan, pati ng pagkain ay gawa sa tanso. Dahil dito, marami na ring mga ospital ngayon ang gumagamit ng tansong material na ginawang stainless para hindi mahirap linisin, tulad ng mesa at lababo.

Ayon kay Jenny, dati ay taga-benta lang daw siya ng nagawa nang mga alahas na tanso, subalit dahil curious, nanood din daw siya kung paanong gawin ang mga ito. Bandang huli ay nagdesisyon siyang gumawa ng sarili niyang mga alahas upang ibenta sa mga kaibigan at tuwing may mga trade fairs. Umabot sa 12,000 pesos ang una niyang ipinundar para makabili ng mga gamit sa paggawa, pati na ang mga tansong kawad, mga semi-precious stones at kristal.

Sa awa naman daw ng Diyos ay nakakaraos siya tuwing sumali sa mga trade fair, kahit medyo may kamahalan ang upa sa isang puwestong maliit na sa tantiya ko ay 3feet by 3feet. Nangangarap si Jenny na sana ay magkaroon ng sariling puwesto dahil tuwing walang trade fair ay home-based lang siya at umaasa sa mga order na papasok sa pamamagitan ng facebook. Ito lang ang pinagkikitaan niya bilang isang single mom ng kanyang lalaking anak na pitong taong gulang.

Sa mga oorder ng alahas, makokontak si Jenny sa cellphone number 09064857384. May facebook din siya para sa kanyang mga produkto, i-google search lang ang “faceboo.com/coperasso”.  Pwedeng magpagawa sa kanya ng alahas batay sa sariling design. Pero, sana naman, kung oorder ay damihan na para hindi talo si Jenny kung ide-deliver niya.

The Legacy of Rick Paloma

...or Tatang for the PAL Family

By Apolinario Villalobos

To say goodbye to a beloved

Is hard enough, how much more

If that beloved has impressed

In our heart everything

That he can impart

Just so, in this world, we can later

Be at our best

As we do our part.

He tried his best right from the start

Earning his keeps by honest toil

Firm determination and bold foresight

To be where he would be someday

And he did not fail

As all of us can now say.

He will always be a part of our memory –

An inspiration that shall guide us

For what he has left for us to keep

Is a legacy that shall guide us along

While we tread the road towards our destiny.

Let us thank him, this man Ric or Ricky to some

But Tatang to most of us who have known him

As a big brother and a doting father;

He whom we see as the perfectionist

He who wants nothing but the best

Making us realize later

That what he really wanted was for us to learn

Though the hard way,

… and that, friends, is his legacy.

Benjamin Surbano: “Aguador” o Taga-Igib sa Gulang na 61 Taon

Ni Apolinario Villalobos

Isang Linggo, mula Baseco (Tondo) ay naglakad uli ako papuntang Sta. Cruz. Binaybay ko ang kahabaan ng C.M. Recto Ave. at tulad ng nakaugalian ko, bago makarating ng Avenida ay kumanan na ako sa F. Torres upang magkape sa paborito kong kapihan sa isang bangketa. Noon ko natiyempuhan si Benjamin (Ben) Surbano na nagbababa ng konti-container na tubig para sa may-ari ng kapihan. Puting-puti na ang buhok ni Ben at inakala kong nasa gulang na siya na 70-pataas, lalo pa at ang kanyang mukha ay marami na ring gatla (wrinkles). Tinulungan ko siya sa ikalawang container dahil muntik na siyang matumba at nang makabawi ng lakas ay hinayaan ko nang ibaba niya ang ikatlo. Sa bawa’t container ay kumikita siya ng sampung piso para sa paghakot. At, nang araw na yon dahil Linggo ay iilan lang ang nagpaigib.

Buong linggo ang pag-igib ni Ben ng tubig para sa mga kostumer niya. Pagdating ng hapon ng Linggo ay umuuwi silang mag-asawa sa Baseco (Tondo). May tatlo silang anak na ang mga gulang ay mula 19 hanggang 12 taon, lahat ay nag-aaral, at nagdidiskarte na rin para kumita. Ang asawa naman ni Ben na si Mariel ay nagpa-parking ng mga sasakyan sa isang maikling bahagi ng Soler St., kanto ng F. Torres, na katapat ng mga tindahan ng mga pandekorasyon at pambahay na ilaw. Sa umaga ay nililinis ni Mariel ang bahaging yon ng kalye upang ipakita ang kanyang pagmamalasakit sa mga may puwesto. Kung walang nagpapa-park ng sasakyan ay nagtitiyagang magbenta si Mariel ng ilang pirasong gadgets tulad ng maliliit na ilaw na nabibili niya sa mga puwesto na rin pero may discount upang mapatungan pa niya ng tutubuin.

Ang isang bahagi ng sidewalk na pababang hagdan ng isang puwesto ay nagsisilbing tulugan ng mag-asawa sa gabi. Karton ang sinasahig nila sa semento at wala silang kulambo kundi iisang kumot.

Mayroong “sidecar” (maliit na traysikad) ang mag-asawa subalit ito ay ninakaw, apat na araw nang nakaraan. Nagising na lang daw sila na wala na ang “sidecar”. Ito sana ang dapat na ginagamit ni Ben sa pag-igib ng tubig upang hindi siya nahihirapan. Subalit dahil ninakaw, nagtitiyaga na lang siya sa hinihiram na kariton. Masuwerte kung hindi ginagamit ng may-ari ang kariton, dahil kung magkaganoon, ay hihintayin pa ni Ben na mabakante ito bago niya magamit at hindi niya alam kung anong oras sa buong maghapon kaya hindi tuloy siya nakakapag-igib ng maramihan. Nagulat ako nang sabihin ni Mariel na apat na beses na daw silang ninakawan ng “sidecar”, kaya ang mangyayari ay pag-iipunan na naman daw nila ng kung ilang taon bago makabili uli ng bago o second hand man lang.

Taga-Boac, Marinduque si Ben at 12 taong gulang pa lang daw siya nang makarating sa Maynila dahil sa kahirapan ng buhay sa probinsiya. Tulad ng iba pang galing sa probinsiya na nakipagsapalaran sa Maynila, nakitira din muna siya sa mga kamag-anak at dumiskarte upang kumita. Ang Baseco ay malapit sa Divisoria at basta pairalin lang ang tiyaga at kasipagan ay hindi magugutom ang isang tao, at ito ang nangyari kay Ben hanggang sa magka-pamilya. Upang maiba naman ang diskarte ay sinubukan nilang makipagsapalaran sa Sta. Cruz, kaya nauwi sa pagpa-parking ng sasakyan si Mariel at pag-iigib ng tubig si Ben. Tulad ni Ben, maliit lang din ang kinikita ni Mariel dahil umaasa lang siya sa kusang iaabot ng mga nagpapa-park, mula lima hanggang sampung piso, at pinakamalaki na ang dalawampung piso.

Sa kabila ng kahirapang pinagdadaanan ng mag-asawa upang kumita sa malinis na paraan ay hindi sila nakikitaan ng pagkabagot. Tulad ng ibang naging kaibigan ko na nasa parehong kalagayan, pinapahiwatig nila na ang mabuhay at magkaroon ng mga anak ay maituturing nang malaking utang na loob sa Maykapal na dapat ipagpasalamat.

Lito and Inday: Couple Who

Toils Every Precious Minute of the Day

by Apolinario Villalobos

Lito and Inday Balanay who have two beautiful daughters, are a typical couple who literally makes use of every precious minute of the day to earn an honest living. They start their struggle as early as 5AM. A mug of coffee for each, serves as breakfast. Whatever solid food they take becomes their “brunch” for the day. Inday, using a “traysikad”, pedals her way to the bakery in the neighboring subdivision, a kilometer away from their home, while Lito uses a bike…both, to pick up their respective stock of pan de sal (bread of salt), a popular breakfast staple of Filipinos. Starting their rounds at 6AM, they are finally through peddling at about 7AM.  After turning over their earnings to the owner of the bakery, out of which they get their meager “commission” for the day, they go on their separate way back home.

As soon as she has arrived home, Inday prepares her wares for her sidewalk ambulant store, still using her “traysikad”. She positions herself for this other endeavor in front of a big and popular grocery, one kilometer from their home. Her clients consist of drivers who buy sticks of cigarettes, biscuits, and candies. Lito, on the other hand, prepares his tools for his sideline – scheduled minor repair jobs of homes around the subdivision. Meanwhile, their two daughters are left in the care of a trusted niece. Sometimes, the two girls provide their mother company, as she sells her wares on the sidewalk.

The couple confided that they have to double their effort in earning for the future of their daughters, as the eldest, Kristine, is already nine years old and the youngest, going seven years old. They are lucky to have found a vacant lot which they are renting at Php1,500.00 per month, and on which they built a shack using junk materials, some of which were given by friends. Only half of their home’s floor has been cemented thinly, and the rest of the painstakingly leveled ground is covered with a junk sheet of linoleum. Despite the inadequacies for a comfortable life, the family is a picture of contentment.

Lito and Inday, both in their early 40’s, are “Bisaya”, with the former being a “Waray” and the latter, a Surigaonon. The Bisayans are known for their resourcefulness and diligence. When asked what she wishes for to make their life more comfortable, Inday, who refers to their home as “bahay ng kalapati” (pigeon hole or cubicle), replied, “a cooking gas tank”, while letting out a hearty and crisp laugh. Although, they already have a single-burner stove with a gas tank, she wants a standby one, in view of the fluctuating price of this basic commodity. Besides, Inday also plans to cook rice cakes, hoping that she could earn more. As for Lito, he would like to have more tools to help him in his trade. Meanwhile, the two girls just want umbrella.

While the family of Lito and Inday are happy in their rickety home assembled from junks and with their wishes that they treat as just such – wishes, other families who live in air-conditioned homes can’t seem to find contentment and happiness if they have not capped their summer with their regular jaunts - weeks in Disneyland (America), shopping in Hongkong, or sunbathing in Boracay, or they don’t have the latest gadgets that their kids could boast to their playmates.

Rowena Soliano: Hardworking Single Mom

From the Far Sarangani Province

By Apolinario Villalobos

Regular visitors of Isetan Mall along Recto refer to Rowena Soliano as the “girl in black”, although friends call her “Weng”. She hails from Sarangani Province in southern Mindanao. She’s got an exotic face and always chick in her tight-fitting black outfit, that make her stand out in a crowd of shoppers in the mall while delivering ordered snacks to patronizing employees. She also loves to braid her hair in various ways every day that adds to her being a stunning looker. She has been working with a coffee shop located on the fourth floor of the mall where the videoke area is located.

In 2013, she fell in love with a persistent suitor whom she thought was serious in his intention. Unfortunately, their relationship got sour and realizing that something was seriously wrong with their relationship, she broke up with him despite her being pregnant during the time. She went on with her job at the mall, but went home when she was about to deliver her baby. After a year in Sarangani, she went back to Manila and implored her employer to take her back. She left her baby girl, now almost two years old in the care of her mother, to whom she regularly sends money.

Her job at the coffee shop starts at 10AM when the mall opens until its closure at 9PM. She seldom finds time to sit down, as just when she arrives at their stall after a delivery, another set or more of ordered snacks are waiting to be delivered again.  Despite her hectic schedule, her smile never leaves her face. The only break she gets is when she had to take a late lunch – standing. Another short respite is for a stolen moment for light and late dinner, still taken standing.

She is fortunate to have found a kind employer, a reason enough for her to love her job. It was her first job when she arrived in Manila from Sarangani Province. When I had a lengthy talk with her, I told her about the international resort that Manny Pacquiao is putting up in Sarangani. She told me that she was also told about it by her mother. However, she has apprehensions if she could be given the chance to land a job in such big resort due to her insufficient educational attainment. She told me that she barely finished her high school. She is also aware that there are plenty of four-year course graduates in their province and in the field of tourism, yet.

Weng is the opitome of the struggling youth from the province who try their luck in the bustling city of Manila, some of whom are unfortunate to have ended as prostitutes that ply their trade along Avenida. Some became exotic dancers in discreet beerhouses in Recto, Caloocan, and Cubao. Like their elder contemporaries who brought with them their families and ended living on sidewalks while surviving on recyclable junks collected from garbage dumps, the youth from the provinces of Mindanao are left with no choice but take the risk of uncertainties in Manila, rather than be recruited by the New People’s Army (NPA) and Abu Sayyaf.

Sarangani, the province of Weng,  is already infiltrated with NPA and drug dealers. The tentacles of Abu Sayyaf which is notoriously known for its kidnap-for-ransom activities have also been wriggling around the area for a long time, too. Worst, job opportunities in Sarangani is like the proverbial needle in a haystack. These are available at General Santos City, the nearest urban area, but for hopefuls like Weng, no opportunity is left, considering the thousands of graduates from several colleges and universities around the southern Mindanao area every year.

How can we then blame provincials like Weng for coming to Manila and add up to the already teeming population of the city? Yet, those who have not experienced distressing life in the province just cannot restrain themselves from uttering hurting invectives.   And, practically adding salt to the wound, are the incessant and oft-repeated arrogant declarations of the president about jobs and progress that the country and the Filipinos are enjoying!...and, under his administration, yet!...but the big question is, where are they?

The Heavy Pollution in China

Should Warn Third -World Countries

By Apolinario Villalobos

Manufacturing countries that clandestinely hate China have successfully inflicted a “slow death” on the awakened dragon of Asia. They have simply transferred the production aspect of their business in China because of her cheap labor and with it, the byproduct of high technology – the deadly pollution! They have been awfully successful, no question about that!

China today, is practically crawling due to the effect of heavy pollution while countries that own brands manufactured in China are basking under smog-free atmosphere. Every day, internet news carries warnings of the Chinese government to its citizens about the heavy pollution and photos are those of the Chinese citizens with face or surgical mask to lessen their inhalation of the dirty air. An enterprising European country is reportedly exporting fresh bottled air to China.

The phenomenon in China should serve as a warning to the third-world countries that are blinded by the prospect of living in comfort through high technology. China has practically flooded the world with products made in her homeland. Despite such show of opulence, she is far from being satisfied as her expansionistic desire is slowly creeping towards the rest of Asia and the African continent- with all their third world countries.

The governments of these countries would like their forests be uprooted and replaced with factories; would like their fields planted to rice, corn and other staple foods bulldozed to give way to resorts and first-class housing projects; would like their mountains to be drilled for minerals; would like their citizens to be introduced into the mean habits of squalid urban life; would like their centuries-old traditions and faith to be polluted with the immoralities of progress.

As the exploitation lasts only for as long as there are yet to be exploited, their “benefits” are likewise short-lived. When the factories and mining companies stop their exhaustive operations, they leave behind ghost towns and villages- with their rivers poisoned by chemicals and the once-fertile land exhausted of their nutrients making them not suitable even for the lowly grass. Their polluted culture gives rise to a new generation of prostitutes and indolent, and worst, with a twisted view on faith.

The high-technology must be one of the checks that God has imposed on earth to maintain the balance, aside from natural calamities such as typhoon, earthquake, diseases, and floods, as well as, man-made war. Without them, the world would have burst long time ago, due to overpopulation and inadequate sustenance. But, while these are divine penalties, caution should have been observed by man to at least delay and minimize their occurrence. Unfortunately, man is now reaping the fruits of his greed…at high speed!

In the Old Testament, when the God of Israelites wanted them punished for their misdeed, He used the heathen races or tribes to sow disaster upon them. Sometimes He used calamities such as diseases and famine-causing pestilence. The religions of the world are based either directly or indirectly on the Abrahamaic faith, except for some pockets of tribes in unexplored nooks of forests and islands. In a way, most peoples of the world are connected to the God of Israel. Are we now suffering from this divine penalty, mentioned in the Old Testament?

“Work Hard in Your Youth”…a Wise Reminder

From Manny Relova, PAL’s Hardworking “Salesman”

By Apolinario Villalobos

This blog is about a guy who propelled his way to success by working hard since his younger days. The name may not be familiar with other viewers, especially, those who were not connected with Philippine Airlines. What I would like to impart here, however, is his philosophy in life which is worthy of emulation, in the face of the prevailing attitude of today’s youth.

Manny Relova worked his way up the corporate ladder of Philippine Airlines which he joined after leaving his job at the Elizalde Publications, as Circulation Manager. The said company was known for their Evening News and Bulaklak Magazine. The job honed his expertise in operation and handling of people, a responsibility that he held as a young man and which became useful when he joined the country’s flag carrier.

In 1970, he joined the Marketing and Sales- International Department of Philippine Airlines which brought him to Sydney where he had a stint for two years, followed by a three-year assignment in Honululu, and one year in Bangkok. He was later recalled back to Manila to head the Sales Force, located at the S and L Building Extension Office, along Roxas Boulevard, which was considered as the “flagship” for sales of Philippine Airlines. The “S&L”, as what travel agents, corporate accounts and government offices, referred to, was so strategically located, being within the tourist belt, as well as the community of travel agents.

When Manny Relova set foot on “S&L”, he could have felt the opportunity offered by such location that he immediately embarked on the enhancement of the various services of the PAL offices at the said site. In the process, special desks were set up to serve the specific needs of the various segments of PAL’s clientele, through its “retailers” – the travel agents, as well as, the government agencies.

Aside from the regular domestic and international ticketing offices, other service outlets were Government Travel Ticket Office (GTTO), the desk for Middle East market, and, Special Services Unit (SSU) which was tasked with the computation of special fares that involved connecting flights with other international airlines. These “special sales desks” were the important sinew or muscle that made the Sales Force formidable, in the face of cutthroat competition from other foreign airlines that had the temerity of offering “bargain fares”, to undermine the effort of Philippine Airlines.

Discipline was instilled in the mind of the Sales Force, composed of young Account Officers who were trained to persuade even the most inflexible travel agents to allow their clients to savor the PAL hospitality, this despite the almost give-away fares offered by other airlines.  The exquisite PAL service that speaks of Filipino hospitality has always been the selling point of the “flagship” at S&L, and which stiff competitors and trying times failed to erode.

During the incumbency of Manny Relova, PAL enjoyed the “golden years” of international sales and marketing, such that, many thought that the office along Roxas Boulevard where the Sales Office was located, was the entire PAL itself. Those years brought to fore personalities who became synonymous with “PAL sales”, such as Rene Ocampo, Archie Lacson, Dave Lim, Danny Lim, Harry Inoferio, Elsie Enriquez, Noel Abad, Millie Braganza, Dichay Gonzales, Ruby Precila, Tesi Ona, Ginny Gotamco, Ging Ledesma, Lou Bengzon, Mona Pecson, and Jaime Lucas.

The legacy of hard work was passed on to Rene Ocampo when Manny Relova was assigned to San Francisco and London. The tradition of discipline was so instilled among the young Account Officers that it strengthened their salesmanship in the airline industry. A few years later, most of them have been promoted to higher positions such as managers and vice-presidents. 

The Deceitful “Growth” of the Philippine Economy

by Apolinario Villalobos

When President Pnoy Aquino made reports about the “phenomenal” growth of the Philippine economy under his administration, many shrugged their shoulders, as the latter believe otherwise in view of the very obvious poverty that scars the economic landscape, like a creeping amoeba. Pnoy sincerely believes the “truth” in the result of the surveys, which many times have been proven unrealistic, hence, unbelievable. Development should result to fair and real benefits for the appropriate parties. So, whether the Filipinos are, indeed, benefiting from these foreign investments in the country or not, still remains a big question that Pnoy should answer – truthfully.

The Filipino industry is dead long ago, when the country joined the global commerce that enslaved it to one-sided provisions due to quotas involved, favoring giant industrial nations. The Philippines has become the dumping ground of cheap products, especially, those from China and the United States, and woefully, even garbage from Canada! Not even the agriculture industry is spared, as rice and corn fields gave way to subdivisions and business centers. The forests are exploited by loggers financed by foreigners, and so are the mining areas. Manufacturing in the country has become the exclusive venture of foreign investors with Filipinos slaving it out along the length of the assembly lines, and tied to 5-month contract for a measly wage.

The volume and the gross monetary returns of these investments get reported, but the details of the “real profit” are not, because they are hauled back to the countries of the foreign investors. Meanwhile, the only tangible and direct benefit from contractual employment which is the measly wage, is what’s left to Filipinos!...yet, the President Pnoy has the courage to report that the country under his administration has “moved forward” on his “tuwid na daan” (straight path), and that poverty has been decreased!...and very proudly at that!

Pnoy Aquino should stop warbling about “developments” under his term, so that he will not be overwhelmed with criticisms, as he is just basing his claims on questionable survey results. He should not worry, because presidents who preceded him are equally guilty. Just like him, they forgot that the Philippines, is first and foremost, an agricultural nation, yet, this particular segment of the economy was woefully neglected. Instead of preserving what remained of the dastardly exploited natural resources since the American regime, these are left to be further exploited not only by corrupt government officials but by foreign financiers through their dummies, as well.

Public lands were sold, supposedly for their revenue to be used in upgrading government facilities, such as those in the Armed Forces, but nothing happened of it. So, today, the archipelagic Philippines is a miserable sight in the eyes of other nations due to her Navy’s rusty and outmoded ships; the Army’s doleful and inadequate arms and ammunitions; and, the Air Force’s shabby picture with its rickety aircrafts. There are reports that acquisitions have been made…but similar reports were made many years ago…and, remained as just reports.

By the way, though known to be a dictator, Ferdinand Marcos , at the early part of his first term as president, was honest enough to admit the sorry state of the nation with its deteriorating economy. Nobody among the rest of the presidents, including Quezon, the Commonwealth president had the courage to do it.

The situation today is worsened by the obvious cover-up of what are really happening, a gross act of dishonesty. Meanwhile, the country still wallows in the corrupted government system that benefits only a few.

Ang Kapalit ng Pagtitiyaga, Pagsisikap, at Talino

…tungkol ito kay Mel San Jose

Ni Apolinario Villalobos

Si Mel ay OJT (on-the-job-trainee) ng opisina namin noong ako ay sa PAL pa. Saklaw ng mga gawain niya ang mga trabaho ng isang secretary at clerk, kaya nagta-type siya ng mga memo namin, nagpa-file, sumasagot ng telepono at pati pagbili ng ulam sa canteen kung kailangan. Two-year secretarial ang kursong tinapos niya sa isang hindi kilalang vocational school. Ang tanging naipagmalaki niya noon ay ang bilis ng kanyang mga daliri sa pagtipa ng mga teklado ng makinilya…na akala namin ay hanggang doon lamang.

Nadiskubre namin ang iba pa niyang katangian nang minsang hindi siguro nakatiis ay binulungan ako kung pwede ba daw niyang “ayusin” ang mga draft na pinapa-type sa kanya. Nagulat ako. Dati kasi ang clerk namin ay hindi ginagawa ito. Bilang patunay ay pinakita niya sa akin ang isang sulat kamay na draft na dahil mabilisang ginawa ay may mga mali, kaya sabi ko ay gawin na niya.

Pabilisan ang trabaho namin sa opisina dahil madalas ang out-of-town na biyahe, o di kaya ay ang pagdalo sa mga miting. Ibinahagi ko sa mga kasama ko ang pagkukusang ito ni Mel, at upang hindi na siya pabalik-balik pa sa amin, lahat kami ay nagbigay ng kaluwagan sa kanya sa “pag-ayos” ng mga draft namin.

Malambing ang tinig ni Mel at palangiti. Maayos din siyang manamit at dahil maliit na vocational school ang pinagmulan niya, hindi na siya ni-require nito na magsuot ng prescribed OJT uniform pang-opisina. Ni minsan ay hindi rin siya nag-make up na nagpatingkad ng kulay niyang kayumanggi, makinis din ang kanyang balat, lalo na ang kanyang mukha.

Ang mga kliyente ng opisina namin ay nasanay nang makipag-usap kay Mel at panatag ang loob nilang magbilin kung wala kami. Kadalasan ay umaabot din siya ng lampas sa ala-singko sa pagtrabaho kaya ginagawan namin ng paraan kung paanong matumbasan ang kanyang overtime. Ni minsan ay hindi namin siya narinig na magreklamo kung papasukin namin siya kahit weekend. Sa pangkalahatan, pulido o malinis ang kanyang trabaho.

Nang matapos na ang OJT ni Mel, nalungkot kami lahat dahil malaking kawalan siya ng opisina. Hindi namin naipaglabang gawin siyang regular  dahil nang panahon na yon ay bawal ang tumanggap ng bagong empleyado bilang paraan sa pagtipid ng kumpanya. Subalit makalipas ang halos isang taon na pagtiis namin sa ibang OJT na hindi namin nagustuhan, nagbigay na rin ng pahintulot ang kumpanyang kumuha kami ng sekretarya. Pinilit namin ang Recruitment Office na hanapin nila si Mel. Hindi kami pumayag na ibang sekretarya ang ibigay sa amin.

Buwan ang binilang ng pagtiis namin bago nahagilap si Mel at laking tuwa namin nang bumalik siya. Maluha-luha rin siya sa tuwa dahil magiging regular na siya sa PAL, kumpanyang pangarap din daw niyang pagtrabahuhan. Nang pasalamatan ko ang taga-Recruitment office na naghanap kay Mel, sinabi niya na first time daw nilang ginawa ang maghanap ng OJT para i-hire. Ang ginagawa lang daw kasi nila ay binabatay ang paghanap sa mga na-file na application papers subalit hindi naman daw nagbigay si Mel. Mabuti na lamang at may naitabi kaming OJT papers ni Mel kaya natunton ang address niya.

Mahirap ang pamilya ni Mel kaya hanggang two-year secretarial course lang ang kinaya ng mga magulang niya para sa kanya. Malaking bahagi ng kanyang suweldo ay inilaan niya sa pagtulong sa mga magulang niya nang makapasok na siya sa PAL. Sa kabila ng kahirapan ay hindi namin siya naringgan ng hinaing. Kahit hirap sa pagbiyahe dahil malayo ang tinitirhan, talo pa niya ang mga kasama kong may sasakyan dahil ala-siyete pa lamang ng umaga ay nasa opisina na siya.

Ngayon si Mel ay hindi lang isang clerk o secretary. Ang kategorya niya ay isang Executive Secretary. Marami na rin siyang napasyalang bansa at mga tourist destinations ng Pilipinas gamit ang benepisyo niyang libreng tiket sa eroplano. Dahil nakabuo na siya ng dalalampung taon sa kumpanya, kung gugustuhin niyang lumipat sa ibang kumpanya, ay mabibitbit niya ang benepisyong habang buhay na libreng tiket para sa kanya at sa kanyang pamilya.

Pinatunayan ni Mel na talagang may katumbas ang pagsisikap at pagtitiyaga, at siyempre, lalo na ang angking talino.

           

The Philippine Brassware

By Apolinario Villalobos

The Maranaos of Lanao find brass as a good object on which they express themselves artistically. Be it on a lampstands, “gong”, plant holders, jars, ash trays, and food trays, the Maranao brass artist whose deft hands have been made sensitive by years of experience, imprint his personal expression of the “okir” and “naga” art forms.

Equated with the southern culture which in itself is exotic, the brassware is usually considered as an object that could enliven any living room, office, restaurant corners, or hotel lobby. Those who visit Marawi City, Jolo, Zamboanga City or Cotabato City, always see to it that they have a brass item with them as a souvenir to be brought home. Not only are the brassware kept for their decorative value, but also for their cultural significance.

While brasscraft is a waning source of income for some families in other Muslim provinces as product outlets, in southern Lanao, particularly, Tugaya, locals still consider it otherwise, on which they still rely for a living. Here, some of the artisans still use the crude centuries-old foundry and casting methods. Despite the crudeness of the craft in Tugaya, the cottage industry is struggling for its perpetuation.

It is said that the craft was brought in Tugaya by a local trader, Maruhom Maulia, who got the knowledge from his trading trips to Tampasok, Sabah, where brass and bronze items were manufactured. Eventually, he fell in love and married the Sultan’s daughter.

According to Dr. Manitua Saber, an authority on Islamic arts, the techniques used by the artisans of Tugaya are, similar to those being used in Bali, Sumatra and Brunei. Furthermore, he said that the technology could have found its way to Southeast Asia by way of China or India, in 1,000 A.D.

There are two processes practiced by the Maranao artisans, such as, the stamping and drip wax techniques. It is interesting to note that the tools which the artisans use are also made by them, usually out of the local materials.

In the stamping technique, brass plates are incised using a home-made compass for the purpose of indicating the size.  Several plain plates which are tied together are etched or punched with intricate designs of “naga” or “okir”, or both, before they formed into the desired item. Brassware produced out of this method, are cheaper compared to the drip wax technique which is more tedious, involving more time and processes. The latter, actually, revolves around the “mold” technique, and though crude, needs several phases to complete the process.

The brassware comes in many forms and uses. Those who are not familiar with the use of the items, would resort to just one thing – use them as decorative accessories in homes and offices. It is not surprising therefore, to find homes whose tables in the living room are accented with brass betel nut containers, open flat iron, small gongs or kulentang set and urns.

In Pasay City, brass and bronze items from the small ash trays and betel nut containers to big jars and urns can be found at the Philtrade Center, beside the World Trade Center, along Roxas Boulevard. Similar items can also be found in the Ermita district of Manila and the Islamic Center in Quiapo. As there is much difficulty in determining the antiquity of an item that might catch one’s fancy, it is suggested that it be purchased based on its exquisiteness…just always remember to haggle.