Showing posts with label pain. Show all posts

My dear, little ones…

by Apolinario Villalobos

It pains me to see how the world

Crumbles under the weight of greed

How life buckles with the pain of despair

I am so sad that what will be left for all of you

Will be a world shrouded with the bleak sorrow.

Gone will all the birds that fly

Grass and flowers in the meadows

Fish in the oceans, rivers, and creeks

The butterflies and bees that seek nectar

And, so will the wind…stilled by the dire war.

All those are due to man’s greed

So ravenous are his appalling desires

But let’s not lose hope…pray, pray, pray

As the kindly Lord, to us, may again take pity

That tomorrow’s world, be blessed with His mercy!

 

Photo Opportunity: Insult that adds pain to injury

By Apolinario Villalobos

Photo opportunity or “photo-ops” refers to the taking of pictures of an activity, person or group with their consent. Politicians and those in the show business, or just anybody who want to draw attention delight in this kind of opportunity which has given birth to “selfies”. Relief institutions need this to show their benefactors where their donations went. In facebook, we are amused by black and white photos taken during our youthful days, also of important events in our life, such as nuptial, baptism, and just plain family bonding.

Not all photo opportunities are delightful. Some can be insulting that can add pain to injury. This happens during the aftermath of a disaster or calamity. It is alright to record the ruins and other effects of the catastrophe. But to delay the distribution of relief goods until the arrival of the president, or the highest official of the locality, or the secretary of the government relief agency or foreign dignitaries who “must” be part of the “photo-op”, is not. It is disheartening to learn that disaster victims who hiked over hills and trekked kilometers of distance to reach a designated relief distribution area, and who missed meals in the process, are made to wait under the searing heat of the sun until the VIPs have arrived. Suffering people who are in need of immediate assistance are also victims of this opportunistic act, as their faces contorted by agony are shamelessly splashed on the pages of dailies, magazines, and TV screens.

My friends who live in a depressed area told me how they were “invaded and made fools” by students researching on poverty, disease, corruption, and their photos taken as evidence of the government’s neglect. They were promised help by the “sympathetic” researchers who, after a couple of days were never heard again. The following year, two NGOs came to do similar interviews highlighted by photo-ops. Just like the students, they were never heard again. Still, the following year, another group came and distributed condoms and family planning pills, complete with photo taking. Couples with many children were promised relief goods and financial assistance which never materialized. What hurt my friends was what the opportunistic groups did – make promises that were never kept. All they could have done was just mentioned their purpose as my friends were willing to cooperate, anyway.

The poverty and neglect suffered by the oppressed are painful enough to bear. Taking their photos and making a fool of them with never kept promises, just add insult to the injury that may need much time to heal. 

Life’s Sorrows and Joys,

Pleasures and Pains

By Apolinario Villalobos

Life is not a bed of roses, so they say…

And it is not always pleasure that we feel

But pain that can be like death, as well…

Life is also specked with sadness and sorrow

But beyond them, is always a bright tomorrow.

The pain of birth that convulses a mother

Becomes a joy, with her babe’s cry like no other.

There is sorrow for those who cry for food

But joy with thought, they’re more loved by the Lord.

The world wallows in pains of greed and abuse

But there is always hope that in life hereafter -

Man’s face will shine with joy… forever!

Do Not Pamper Illness and Grief

By Apolinario Villalobos

Several times, I have proven that “mind over matter” really works. I found out that some friends also had the same experience. Pain can be managed – both emotionally and physically. All it needs is discipline. Unfortunately, some people fake illness and grief to be used as alibi in evading responsibilities.

Pampering illness and grief results to self-pity that further results to the deterioration of personality. The body has its own way of counteracting the malfunction of any organ, the most noticeable sign is having a fever. Instead of feeling down, the mind should help the body by controlling the emotion. The same mind-driven control should be applied when somebody is grief-stricken.

If a person becomes used to the “mind over matter” routine, emotional maturity sets in which is very important in coming up with sound decisions and having a healthy outlook in life. Also, if a person gets used to pain, no amount of threat or weight on his shoulder can buckle him down.

Life and Writing

By Apolinario Villalobos

Life and writing are similar on the aspects of their inception, mid-activities, and culmination.

There is pain felt as the womb pulsates, while the new life therein tries to manifest itself to the world. There is pain, too, in the head of the writer that throbs with effort as he struggles on how to start a sentence.

Relief is felt by the mother when the bundle of new life finally makes it out to enjoy its firs whiff of air. Relief is felt, too, by the writer as the first word comes out of his head to trigger the avalanche of more words that shall comprise a literary expression.

As the child grows enjoying life, he or she is guided by the parents, institutions and established norms so that he or she becomes a virtuous member of the society. On the other hand, as the writer progresses, set norms and ethics, as well as, his own style guide him to ensure that the outcome of his effort becomes satisfactory.

In life, it is difficult to “call it quits”, especially, as one enjoys life no end. But the onset cannot be prevented, as sometimes, it is unexpected - caused by an accident. Normally, though, it should come with old age or disease.

The writer, meanwhile, has to allow a ‘twist” to conclude what he is doing. Or, gracefully allow the avalanche of words to be exhausted, naturally, and spell the end.

As with living… writing can also be difficult.

Failed Expectation Breeds

Disappointment and Discouragement

…but we should move on

By Apolinario Villalobos

Honestly now, disappointment and discouragement can really result from failed expectations. However, this should not hold us from moving on. The failure should instead give us more impetus to go ahead, no matter what. It should serve as an inspiration and a lesson on which our next moves should be founded.

Many stories are told about great artists who suffered not only one or two but series of failures before finally, achieving fame. Inventors were even ridiculed when they presented their ideas. The same is true with many businessmen who suffered bankruptcies before finally achieving the recognition as business tycoons. These people showed that success in life is sweetest if achieved the hard way.

The most popular encouragement that we hear is, “….no pain, no glory”. Achievers who made use of such guidance should be thankful to whoever first said that. If we set our eyes towards a certain goal, we should expect trials along the way….and with those, we should also expect failures.

Now, if we do not want to get disappointed in life, we should restrain ourselves from having an ambition. We should be contented with we have at the moment. We should be prepared for a stagnant life, as well as, heartaches if we find ourselves left behind by others who struggle by all means to move up or ahead. On the other hand we deserve the heartaches because in the first place, it was our choice not to experience failures. Lastly, as a reminder, the fact is that, regrets always come at the end.

Painful Ironies of Life

By Celso Dapo

What cruel irony do Circumstances play,
On land and people, before Thanksgiving Day?
When men claiming Honor can feast sans shame
Having sold the Nation’s Soul, like it was just a game.
I grit my teeth at the undeserved defeat,
Compelled to take the hurt and strain in pain.
In shame the head perched flaccid and downbeat,
Because I cannot dare to express disdain.
Looking to other shores where Pilgrims landed,
Envying enlightened folks engulfed in pride redeemed.
How lucky for America to have Barrack Obama.
While we, still the Indio -

…can only have Arroyo!