Showing posts with label pride. Show all posts

UNSOLICITED NA MGA PAYO SA MGA NANALO SA BARANGAY ELECTION

Ni Apolinario Villalobos

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Pride and Mistakes

By Apolinario B Villalobos

Nobody is free from committing mistakes, be they petty or enormous.

Nobody shall ever learn how to improve his ways or do away with bad attitude unless there is an admission that a mistake has been committed, hence, the adage “learn from mistakes”.

While some are humble enough to admit their mistakes, the rest are overwhelmed by their pride… they just refuse to do it. The refusal is like a chain that holds them back from moving on.

The mistakes we made are among the steps we took towards our destiny. Refusing then, in admitting our mistakes would simply mean that we are stagnant. The arrogant cannot accept the fact that as a human being, he or she is not perfect.

Pride feeds on adoration of accumulated wealth, dizzying success, or plain appalling attitude. The arrogant filthy rich thinks, his money can buy anything, including power to hide mistakes. The success-intoxicated man thinks that he can do just anything better than anybody else, otherwise he could have not succeeded. And, there’s the simply conceited who sees himself as the only rightful- thinking creation of God, with the rest, wallowing in mistakes.

I think, the best thing to do, is evaluate what we have done and said at the end of each day as we live. It is important to know if we have done anything that could have displeased others, hence, displeased Him, too. That is the reason why He gave us brains….so that we can analyze.

                        

What Achievements Can Do

By Apolinario Villalobos

I have been blogging about achievers and their success, and I would like to add that such feat could generate the following:

There is no problem with the positive effects of achievements such as admiration and satisfaction. The problem is with envy, as it may result to:

Bashing and harmful jokes are the negative “gains” from the high technology that rules life today. Simply said, anybody can create hundreds of identity in the internet and use them for malicious intent, and SIM cards can be bought from sidewalk peddlers for as low as Php15, already with free text and calls to be used in sending anonymous messages or making calls to poor victims. On the other hand, the development of ill feeling towards the achiever occurs among selfish people who want everything in life at all cost. Their ego made them feel that only they are capable of succeeding in life.

Many successful lives have been ruined by the egoistic and selfish people who cannot stand the achievement of others…that is one of the reasons why the world is beset with disharmony. Man has no choice but to live with that reality. Meanwhile, what the achievers can do is thank the Lord for their success and restrain themselves from wishing bad karma for their detractors for it may just happen as dictated by the “Golden Rule”.

Pride Closes the Mind

By Apolinario Villalobos

Some people think that accepting the mistake they made is humiliating. They also think that people who give them advice are intruding into their intellectual domain. Worse, these same people who are buoyed by money and intoxicated by success think that they are above the rest of humanity...and, they just cannot imagine themselves looking back or looking down to where they came from. Blame pride, arrogance, conceit.

Self-esteem should be maintained despite material gains. But it should not be tainted with

pride. Moving on is part of life and those who gain by dint of hard work should compose themselves as successes are gained along the way. Studies show that one reason why some successful people refuse to look back or cut off their relationship with former colleagues is their fear that the latter would ask for a share of what they gained. These people not only refuse to look back but they also close their mind.

Those blinded with pride may not only move on, but up – climbing the ladder of society to find a new environment where they can move with ease, thanks to their new glittering trappings and money. Among newfound friends, they open themselves up. But since money is not everything in life and relationship with newfound friends is not deeply rooted, happiness is short-lived. As these people grow old they may realize that late parties, golfing with rich buddies, weekend jaunts to first class resorts, dinners in 5-star hotels, etc. have become boring. They start to long for childhood friends, relatives in barrios and slums. But they are ashamed to make a turnaround and trace back their steps to where they came from. And, since, they cannot bring along their wealth with them when they bid the world goodbye, their death could be lonely.

(I based this blog on the story of a couple who lives in an affluent village in Makati City, Philippines. Between the two, I could surmise that the wife should be blamed for their situation now. The wife is arrogant and obviously has the hand in all their affairs. Both of them came from Davao City where they also earned their bachelor’s degree from a prestigious Catholic educational institution in that city. They met in Manila while she was working as a secretary in a pharmaceutical firm and he was with a travel agency. After getting married, the wife resigned from her job and went into direct selling of beauty products which prospered. The husband also resigned from his job and joined his wife but expanded their line of products. They were blessed with 2 children. It was while they were enjoying the fruit of their hard work that they almost forgot about their families and friends back in Davao city. When at first, they were helping their respective family, later on they stopped, thinking that their families are milking them of their hard-earned money. Actually, the idea came from the wife who also said that those in Davao should also work hard like them (this bit of information was given to me by the husband, confidentially). In time, communication was cut off. Their two children are both in the United States now with their own families. With advancing age, he is 81 and she is 79, they are now full of regrets. I was referred to them by a friend as they want their “success”  story written down into a book. But I suggested to them that for their story to have a happy ending, they should swallow their pride and go back to Davao to mend the broken relationship with their families which they did. But whether they did it with sincerity or not, I can never tell.)  

Ang Panahon ng Graduation

Sa Pilipinas…at pagkalipas nito

Ni Apolinario Villalobos

Ilang buwan na lamang ay magkakaroon na naman ng mga sunud-sunod na graduation – grade school at kolehiyo…ang 4-year high school ay inabot ng kamalasan dahil sa K-12 program. Sa panahong ito, parang sirang plaka na naman ang DECS at CHED sa pagpapaalala sa mga eskwelahan na iwasan ang magastos na graduation. Kasama sa paalala ang pagdaos na lang ng seremonyas sa kanilang sariling auditorium o gym, at kung maiiwasan ang pagpapasuot ng toga ay mas maganda.

Subalit, tulad ng inaasahan, walang nasusunod sa mga paalala, at upang hindi mapahiya ang dalawang ahensiya, sasabihin uli nila ng kung ilang libong beses na, na wala silang “police power” upang magparusa sa mga hindi susunod. Ganyan katindi ang palpak na sistema ng edukasyon sa Pilipinas! Ang nagpatindi pa sa kapalpakang ito ay ang ugali ng mga mayayabang na magulang na kahit walang pera ay pilit mangungutang upang  maibili ang mga anak ng bagong sapatos at damit. Pagkatapos ng seremonyas sa Philippine International Convention Center (PICC) o mamahaling hotel at halos walang katapusang kodakan, lalagapak sila sa katotohanang wala pala silang hapunan pag-uwi ng bahay!

Pagkatapos ng graduation, masuwerte ang mga dati nang may trabaho bilang crew ng mga fastfood chains dahil sigurado na silang may kikitain habang naghihintay ng mas magandang pagkakataon. Ang mga mapoporma naman na kinunsinte ng mga magulang sa pag-akalang mayaman sila, ay naghihintay ng managerial position dahil “management course” kuno ang tinapos nila at sa prestigious pang university kuno!...aba’y kung di ba naman mga gunggong… akala nila dahil may diploma ng “management course” na sila ay ganoon kadaling makakuha ng trabaho!

Yong ibang matatalino kuno dahil sa matataas na gradong nakuha, tamimi naman pala o mahiyain kaya halos magkanda-ihi pagharap sa mag-iinterbyu. Yong ibang sobrang bilib sa sarili kaya walang pakialam sa trapik na susuungin sa paghanap ng maaaplayang trabaho, gigising ng eksakto 7AM para sa interview na 8AM…marami akong kilalang ganyan ang ugali, kaya halos dalawang taon na ay wala pa ring trabaho…dahil hindi lang mayabang kundi tanga pa! Sa libu-libong applicants na dumadagsa sa mga job sites, hindi ulol ang mga interviewer upang hintayin ang mga tangang walang pakialam sa oras.

Yan ang masaklap na katotohan tuwing panahon ng graduation at pagkalipas nito….paulit-ulit dahil walang gustong matuto ng leksiyon, kaya hindi dapat isisi sa gobyerno lang ang paghihirap ng ibang Pilipino kundi pati na rin sa kanila dahil sa kanilang  kayabangan at katangahan.

MAY ISANG MANDARAYA

….TEACHER PA!

Ni Apolinario Villalobos

Ano pa nga ba at sa panahon ngayon

May mga pandarayang nangyayari

Sa lahat na halos ng pagkakataon;

Malakas ang loob ng mga gumagawa

Mukha’y makapal at matatapang pa

Pati ang konsiyensiya’y di alintana.

Paano kaya kung teacher ang gagawa?

Katulad ng nangyari sa isang bayan

Na maunlad, tahimik at mapayapa;

Nagpatimpalak, ginanap upang matuwa

Mga estudyante sa isang eskwelahan

At ang mga hurado ay mga maestra.

Nguni’t ng masaklap ay nakalusot pala

Ang isang hurado ng contest na ito

Dahil ang isang kasali ay nephew niya!

Itong teacher itinuloy pa ang  paghusga

Ganoong pinag-uusapan na ang isyu

Na kapalmuks siya at walang hiya talaga!

Dahil sa pangyayari, ano pang tiwala

Ang maipapakita sa mga teacher natin

Na dapat sana ay pagmamalasakitan?

Paano pa silang sundin ng mga kabataan

Kung katarantaduha’y ipinapakita nila

Kaya’t sila’y nililibak, sa halip na tularan?

ANG RESULTA….NANALO ANG PAMANGKIN NIYA!

ON THE FILIPINO DIGNITY AND SELF-RESPECT

By Apolinario Villalobos

President Rodrigo Duterte, with animated emotion, declared that he does not want his country to be trampled on just like a doormat by America. His declaration is very timely as, since the Spanish colonization, the Filipinos have been treated like slaves. And, when the Americans took over, they did the same - treating the Philippine archipelago as their “garden” where they can reap the produce anytime they want for their dinner table. During the Spanish regime, vast areas of the country, except Mindanao, were divided among the friars and the Spanish immigrants as “encomiendas”. When America took over, and in time, supposedly gave the long-overdue liberty to the Filipinos, they tainted their act with deceit by inserting the disgusting “parity rights” in the Philippine Constitution. In short, while the Spanish colonization was grossly masked with religion, that of the Americans was with “freedom and rights”.

Ever since, the Philippines became “independent”, nobody among the presidents until the time of Benigno Aquino III, ever noticed that the Filipinos have been suffering from the trauma that resulted from trampled dignity which practically shattered their self-respect. Unfortunately, SOME of those who enjoy the “blessings” via US visa and Green Card cannot accept this fact. The enforced influence is so ingrained in the consciousness of the Filipinos that it has brought forth the word, “stateside”, which means “nice things from America”…which further means, that nothing is better than “stateside”.

I have nothing against America and anything American. What I am disgusted at is how the leadership of America and even many Americans, themselves, continue to have a negative impression about the Philippines and her people who, for them are overly- dependent on their “big white brothers”. I am also disgusted at SOME Filipinos who suddenly became “American” upon setting foot on American soil. SOME of them pretend to have forgotten their dialect, the taste of saluyot, alugbate, ginamos, tuyo, etc. SOME even ask, “why is YOUR president (Duterte) like that?”, as if their skin is not brown or that it transformed into a sickly paleness only after quaffing skin whitening drugs. There is nothing wrong with those of course, FOR AS LONG AS THEY DO NOT FORGET THAT THEY ARE FILIPINOS DESPITE THEIR U.S. VISA AND GREEN CARD, AND MOST ESPECIALLY, THEY DO NOT DESPISE THE COUNTRY OF THEIR BIRTH, JUST BECAUSE THE NEW PRESIDENT CUSSES!

Those who deny their being a Filipino are losing their dignity and self-respect. THE U.S. VISA AND THE GREEN CARD CANNOT SUPPLANT THE FILIPINO BLOOD THAT FLOWS IN THEIR VEINS….THEY SHOULD REMEMBER THAT, IF THEY ARE WISE ENOUGH. They forgot that foremost among their plans when they went to America was to earn dollars to be sent back home to their family, for which they toil hard night and day by maintaining many jobs, and losing sleep in the process. The problem with SOME of them is that they deny this fact. How can those back home, understand their sacrifice if they keep this information from them which results to their family’s assuming that they are just picking up dollars in America, as if they are picking up shells on the seashore?

The impressive diligence and dependability of the Filipinos in America have not totally erased the bad impression about the country as demeaning comments can still be found in the internet, especially, with the emergence of Rodrigo Duterte as the new President…and all because of his cussing and brashness. His guts did not spare the American president, Obama, and the European Union because they dipped their fingers into what Duterte is doing to eradicate the illegal drug problem in the country. All of a sudden, Filipinos in America became apprehensive because they might be affected which shows their lack of self-confidence. The two governments are involved in the issue, and not the business sector, although, the bosses of Filipinos who may be dishonest and not diligent enough in their job will now have a reason to kick them out.

Duterte should be admired for his courage and aggressive desire to restore the dignity of the Filipinos that has long been trampled by their colonizers. Instead of lambasting him with unfair judgments, his detractors should wake up and face the reality that what the country needs today is a paramount cooperation among the Filipinos, for which the detractors should extend their hand. If they cannot do it…the big question is WHY?

Ang Credit Card Bilang Status Symbol ng Ilang Pilipino

Ni Apolinario Villalobos

Ang paggamit ng credit card na kung tawagin ng iba ay “plastic money” ay dapat inaangkop o binabagay ng isang tao na gustong gumamit nito sa kanyang pinansiyal na kalagayan sa buhay. Unang-una, ang interest na pinapataw tuwing ito ay gamitin ay talagang matindi lalo pa kung naiipon ng kung ilang buwan. Sa biglang tingin, maliit ang binabayaran kapag gumamit nito sa pamimili dahil maaaring hatiin sa kung ilang hulugan ang pagbayad. Subalit ang hindi napapansin ay ang pagpatung-patong ng mga natirang babayaran pa na may kaakibat na compounding interest, at hindi napapansin ng gumagamit. Magtataka na lamang ang gumagamit nito kapag napansin niyang lalong lumala ang problema niya sa pera at may nakaamba pang demanda dahil sa hindi pagbayad sa lomobong utang sa credit card company.

Tanggap ang katotohanang nagpapalakas ng loob ang credit sa mga taong bumili ng kahit hindi nila kailangan, lalo pa at nasa loob na sila ng mall. Ang isa pa, nakakahiyang bumili gamit ang credit card, sa maliit na halaga, kaya kailangan ay lakihan na upang hindi pandilatan ng dispatsadora kung ang binili ay halagang wala pang Php100.00.

Ang credit card ay sumisira sa kasabihan ng mga Pilipino tungkol sa “pamamaluktot kung maigsi ang kumot”. Ang kasabihang yan ay angkop lamang sa mga may hawak na cash, kaya kung ano lang ang kaya ng pera nila ay hanggang doon na lang sila. Kung ang kaya ng cash halimbawa na dapat bibillhing pagkain ay halagang Php500 lang, hanggang doon na lang talaga. Pero, iba kapag ang hawak ay credit card dahil karaniwang maximum limit of purchase nito ay hindi bababa sa Php20,000. Yong may  kakayanan namang magbayad ng malaki batay sa suweldo nila at kinalalagyan sa lipunan, ay unlimited.

Ang mga Pilipino na ang asawa ay nasa abroad o di kaya ay seafarer at malalaki pa ang suweldo ay may karapatan sa paggamit ng credit card dahil may inaasahan silang regular na malalaking remittance. Ang hirap lang sa ibang Pilipino kasi,  kahit ang suweldo ay lampas lang ng kaunti sa Php10,000 ay nagkakalakas na ng loob sa pagkuha nito….at, hindi lang isa, kundi dalawa pa, lalo pa at pwedeng gamitin ang card sa pag-withdraw ng cash sa ATM. Ang ginagawa kasi nila ay ang style sa pagbayad na “pasa-pasa”. Ibig sabihin, magwi-withdraw sila ng cash gamit ang isang card upang pambayad sa bill ng isa, at ganoon din ang gagawin sa isa, upang may pambayad sa isa pang card. Nasabi ko ito dahil marami na akong taong nakausap na ganito ang ginagawa. Kapag umabot na sa puntong hindi na talaga kayang magbayad ay magre-resign sa trabaho, magpapagawa ng ibang ID sa Recto gamit ang ibang pangalan, at magtatago….at pagkalipas ng ilang buwan o taon ay saka lilitaw at hahanap ng trabahong hindi nagri-require ng masinsinang background check, kaya nagagamit nila ang pekeng ID.

Kaya hindi nati-trace ang ibang abusadong credit card holders ay dahil nangungupahan lang sila sa mga squatter’s area. Yong iba naman ay nagbo-board and lodging o di kaya ay bedspacer sa mga liblib na address. Kawawa ang mga guarantor nila na sumasalo sa mga bayarin. Yong ibang guarantor naman kasi ay nasisilaw sa kikitaing “referral commission”, kaya dahil sa katakawan sa kakarampot na kita ay lumaki pa ang problema nila, at may banta pang demanda.

Ang isang nakakatawang ugali ng ibang Pilipino ay ang pag-ipon nila ng mga expired na credit card at dinidispley sa kanilang pitaka, lalo na yong mahaba na may maraming slots para sa mga ito. Pagbukas nga naman nila ng pitaka sa harap ng mga kaibigan ay kita agad ang mga plastic cards. Yong hindi nakakaalam sa tunay na pagkatao ng nagyayabang lalo pa kung maporma ay talagang maniniwala, kahit sa tunay na buhay ang mayabang ay maliit ang suweldo at halos walang pamasahe na magamit sa pagpasok. Alam ko yan, dahil sa trabaho ko noon, marami silang naging kasama ko – mga clerk at yong isa ay messenger/janitor….may mga credit card pero pinagpapalit-palit ang Lunes, Miyerkules at Biyernes na pinapalyahan o hindi pinapasukan dahil walang pamasahe! At, yong mga umutang sa akin na nagkaroon ng amnesia dahil nauntog yata, ay pinasa-Diyos ko na lang…

The Animosity Between

the Philippine Military and National Police

by Apolinario Villalobos

The professional jealousy between the Philippine National Police (PNP) and the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) is very obvious. No amount of cover-up can hide it. I have talked to a retired military officer and he told me that there is a popular impression in the AFP that the police is apparently pampered not only on the aspect of pay but benefits as well. My friend added that while the AFP soldiers who are exposed to the elements and danger of fired bullets from the enemy line in the field, the police field personnel comfortably commute to their posts on expensive motorcycles or stay in air-conditioned offices.

On the other hand, when I talked to a police friend, he told me that compared to the military, they are more “professional”, as they are degree holders, some even are lawyers, so they deserve appropriate compensation.

The Mamasapano massacre is one instance during which this animosity was manifested. Although, on papers, the two national security agencies are supposed to be “closely coordinating” with each other, in actual practice, there is much to be perceived. The two parties practically pointed accusing fingers at each other, for alleged negligence that led to the gruesome massacre of SAF44 at Tocanalipao, Mamasapano, Maguindanao Province (Mindanao). Until the re-opened Mamasapano hearing in the Senate has finally wrapped up, late in the afternoon of 27 January, 2016, the AFP and PNP are viewed as far from being reconciled.

Why Filipino Foods are not Popular Abroad

Compared to those of other Asians’

By Apolinario Villalobos

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Embarrassing Prides of Manila -

Roxas Boulevard and Macapagal Avenue

By Apolinario Villalobos

Roxas Boulevard is considered as one of the main arteries of Metro Manila. Along this strip of avenue, flow traffics to the airport, southern destinations, Rizal Park, Makati business district, and city proper of Manila. Unfortunately, the boulevard is being used for special events, hence, closed for as long as half day, posing a problem to motorists. Traffics get snarled along secondary streets where the motorists are redirected. The length of the boulevard is shared by Manila City, Pasay City and Paraῆaque City. None of them ever thought of sitting down to discuss options on how to solve the problem, one of which is using the reclaimed area now being developed into an “Entertainment City”. Its streets are more than enough to accommodate running events, as they are wide without any impediment, especially on Sundays. Meanwhile, for as long as this problem is not solved by the “three heads”, the historic strip shall remain an embarrassment to the government.

Then, there’s the Macapagal Avenue, right in front of the Dream City, with its giant potholes. For several months now, the road made useless by these traffic obstacles, have not been touched by the Philippine Reclamation Authority (PRA), headed by its General Manager, Peter Anthony Abaya, who is incidentally, brother of Department of Transportation and Communication (DOTC), Jun Abaya. President Aquino always refers to the whole area where a forest of modern structures has sprung up, as the next “Entertainment City of Asia”. But, even with the simple retouch to a short length of road not applied, will it happen?…or remain just to be a dream.

Kung Hindi Dahil sa Kasakiman ng Tao

Wala sanang Passport, Visa

at Iba’t ibang Simbahan Ngayon

Ni Apolinario Villalobos

Kung paniniwalaan ang alamat na nakasaad sa Bibliya tungkol sa pagkawatak-watak ng sangkatauhan na ang dahilan ay ang pagguho ng tore ng Babel, sana ang sangkatauhan ay nagkakabuklod na ayon sa unang kagustuhan ng Diyos. Subalit dahil sa sobrang kasakiman ng mga tao noong unang panahon, minabuti ng Diyos na ikalat sila pagkatapos Niyang wasakin ang nasabing tore.

Dahil sa kasakiman ng tao, walang gustong magpatalo at lahat ay nag-aakalang sila ay matalino, kaya pati ang kaalaman ng Diyos ay gusto pang saklawan o talunin. Maganda na sana kung ang mga natutunan ay ginagamit ng tao sa mabuting paraan, subalit taliwas ang gusto niyang mangyari – ang siya ay maghari o mangibabaw sa iba. Dahil diyan, nagkakaroon ng patayan at malakihang digmaan dahil nagsasaklawan o nagkakalampasan ng mga hangganan o boundary ng teritoryo. Isama pa ang mga inaadhikang ideyolohiya at ispirituwal ng mga nagmimithing mangingibabaw kaya hindi na nagkaroon ng katapusan ang mga bangayan ng mga bansa at iba’t ibang grupo, at sa isa’t isa.

Upang hindi na madagdagan ang kaguluhan, nagkanya-kanya na ang iba’t ibang lahi sa pagtakda ng mga alituntunin tungkol sa mga hangganan, kaya ngayon ay hiwa-hiwalay ang mga tao na ang mga pagkakaiba maliban sa kultura ay nadagdagan pa ng relihiyon.  

Nagkaroon ng passport at visa. Ang mga simbahan ay nagkaroon ng kanya-kanyang palatandaan upang kahit sa kilos, pananamit at pananalita ay makilala nila ang kani-kanilang kasapi. Sa kabila ng mga nabanggit, nakakalungkot na talagang may mga taong sagad sa buto ang kasakiman kaya nakakapanakit pa rin ng iba sa pamamagitan ng salita at mga mararahas na pagkilos.

May mga simbahan na sa halip magpairal ng pagmamahal sa kapwa ay nagtuturo pa sa mga miyembro nila kung paanong siraan ang ibang simbahan na hindi naman nakikialam sa kanila, dahil lang gusto nilang palabasin na sila ang pinakamagaling. May mga bansa namang sa halip na tutukan kung paano silang umunlad pa upang lalong makatulong sa kanilang mga mamamayan ay nang-eespiya at nangangantiyaw pa sa ibang bansa. May mga bansa ring hindi na nakuntento sa kung ano meron sila, kaya nangangamkam pa ng teritoryo ng ibang bansa. Ilan lang yan sa mga kasakima ng taong umiiral sa panahon ngayon.

Ang pakikipagkapwa ay maganda sana kung walang kinikilalang kulay at lahi. Mas lalong magaling din sana kung, kahit iba’t ibang simbahan ang kinabibilangan ng mga tao, isipin nila na iisa lang ang Diyos, subalit iba’t iba nga lang ang pangalan, kaya hindi dapat pairalin ang paligsahan kung sino ang mas magaling magsamba at magdasal!

The Passage to the Other Life

…if indeed, there is one

By Apolinario Villalobos

My experience of a “near- death” was when I rolled down Mt. Hibok-hibok resulting to a series of bumps that my head suffered from the boulders. What I felt was a floating sensation while I was enveloped by a blinding light. I did not see the light at the end of a tunnel as other near-dead claim. When I came to, I found out that it happened in split second…so fast that I did not feel so much physical pain. What pained was my pride.

There are stories about spirits of those who encountered sudden death that still linger at the site of accident. There are also stories of those whose spirits still cling to their worldly wealth. Still, there are stories of those who died without taking the Sacrament of Extreme Unction, so that their spirit kept roaming around to seek help by way of prayers. And, finally, the spirit of those who died without talking to their adversaries to seek forgiveness, are said to be lingering in limbo, waiting for dispensation.

The belief in the afterlife is not universal. Some religions do not advocate such, while some even claim rebirth in another body, or reincarnation. Some religions do not believe in hell, hence, for them there is no heaven, too. But some believe in such two eternal destinations of spirits.

Whatever is our belief, it should be noted that there are just two things that we can do in this world: to do good or to do bad. The universal view is that if we do good, we make others happy, and if we do bad things, we make others suffer. It is important therefore, that we leave the world with a clean record, by seeking clemency for our wrong deeds while we are still gasping for breath, so that others will not remember us for our bad deeds.

Ang Taong Ikinahihiya ang Sarili

…ay ikinahihiya ang Diyos!

Ni Apolinario Villalobos

Tayo ay nilikha ng Diyos kaya dapat nating ipagmalaki ang ating sarili ano man ang katayuan natin sa buhay at lipunan. Kung sa palagay natin ay mayroon pa tayong dapat pagsumikapan upang mapabuti ang ating buhay, gawin ito ng maayos na walang bahid ng kasamaan. Hindi tayo dapat mainggit sa pinagsikapan ng iba. At higit sa lahat, hindi dapat ikahiya ang kahirapan dahil para na rin nating ikinahihiya ang Diyos na siyang naglalang sa atin.

Ang kahirapan ay dapat na magbigay ng inspirasyon upang magpakasigasig pa tayo nang sa ganoon ay maabot natin ang ating mga pangarap sa buhay. Huwag nating ihambing ang ating sarili sa ibang nakaririwasa sa buhay dahil kapag mahina ang ating kalooban ay baka masisi pa natin ang Diyos kung “bakit niya tayo pinabayaan”.

Iwasan dapat ang paggamit ng mga  ekspresyon na, “mabuti ka pa o mabuti pa siya o sila” dahil paghahambing ito ng ating sarili sa iba. Nagpapahiwatig din ito ng sama ng loob sa ibang mas nakakaangat ang buhay kaysa atin. Dapat matuwa tayo para sa ating kapwa kung umangat man ang katayuan nila sa buhay, dahil kabawasan sila sa mga dapat tulungan.

Lahat ng tao ay pantay-pantay sa mata ng Diyos, kaya sa ating pagsilang, lahat tayo ay nakahubad. Yong mga isinilang sa tahanang nakaririwasa ay nakikinabang lamang sa pinagsikapan ng kanilang magulang at pinalad, kaya hindi ito dapat ipagmalaki. Yong mga isinilang sa tahanang dahop, ay dapat magsikap upang sa kanilang pag-angat ay taas noo silang makapagmalaki.

Noon ay may isa akong kaibigan na natiyempuhan kong bumibili ng NFA rice sa palengke. Nang matanaw niya ako ay lumipat sa katabing puwesto at ang binili ay commercial rice na mahigit kuwarenta pesos ang halaga kada kilo. Ayaw niyang masabing kumakain ang pamilya niya ng NFA rice, na siya kong binili nang araw na yon. Ang kaibigan kong ito ay madalas umutang sa akin dahil palaging nauubos ang sweldo sa goodtime. Ikinahiya niya ang kanyang kakapusan, pero hindi siya nahihiyang umutang dahil sa kapalpakan niya sa pagbadyet ng kanyang kita!

Ang Pagreklamo at Pagpuri

Ni Apolinario Villalobos

Hindi natin maiwasang magreklamo kung may madanasan tayong gawi ng ibang tao na sa palagay natin ay hindi tama ayon sa ating pansariling panuntunan o sa pangkalahatang patakaran. Kung ang nadanasang gawi ay sumaklaw sa mga alituntuning may kinalaman sa trabaho ng taong nirereklamo, ang dapat na hanapin ay ang nakakataas sa kanya upang matawag ang kanyang pansin, at hindi na pamarisan pa ng mga kasama niya sa trabaho. Walang saysay ang pakikipagtalo sa taong nirereklamo, dahil kadalasan ay maaaring ipagtanggol lamang nito ang sarili, at walang makakapagsabi kung tama siya o mali.

Ang mas maganda sanang mangyari ay kung sa hindi maiwasang komprontasyon, humingi agad ng pasensiya ang nirereklamo, kaya dapat ang nagreklamo ay payuhan na lamang siya, upang hindi na niya ulitin ang ginawa. Hindi na kailangang dagdagan pa ang mga masasakit na salita kung mayroon mang nauna nang nasambit. Ang iba kasi na may kayabangan, ay mas lalo pang nagtutungayaw kahit nagpakumbaba na ang nirereklamo. Ang gustong palabasin sa maingay na paraan ay tama siya…at nanalo!

Dapat ding tukuyin o tumbukin ang bagay o gawi na nirereklamo. Kung empleyado ng isang kumpanya ang may mali, dapat siya ang tinutumbok ng reklamo, hindi ang buong kumpanya, upang hind maging unfair sa ibang empleyado na maaayos naman ang ginagawa.

Kung may nairereklamo, hindi maaaring walang napupuri. Malaking bagay sa mga kumpanya o organisasyon ang makatanggap ng mga papuri, maliban sa mga reklamo upang malaman nila kung tama ang kanilang mga ginagawa. Huwag tayong maramot sa mga papuri, kung mayroong dapat na matukoy nito. Makakatulong ito sa mga empleyado o taong gumagawa ng lahat ng makakaya upang mapabuti ang kanilang trabaho at pamarisan ng iba.

Para sa akin, hindi masama ang maireklamo kung minsan dahil may mga bagay tayong ginagawa na akala natin ay tama. Kung tayo, ay nirereklamo sa tamang paraan, dapat ay tanggapin natin ang kamalian ng buong pagpapakumbaba at humingi ng pasensiya. Ituring nating inspirasyon ang mga papuring natatanggap natin upang magsilbing pandilig sa ating mga ginagawa na mabuti pala, upang lalo pang umusbong ang mga ito.

The Status Symbol

By Apolinario Villalobos

To be a standout is nice. It makes people see you, as being head and shoulders above those around you. Some people are born with this mark, while others have to buy it, earn it honestly, or move heaven and earth to have it.

People who are born with the proverbial silver spoon in their mouth need not exert effort to be noticed or to have a swarm of friends around them. Their person glitters with the monetary symbol that attracts different kinds of friends. There are people who practically work their way up the ladder of the society to be recognized, and these are the ones who deserve emulation. There are people who try their best to amass wealth that they can use in buying attention that will put them on a pedestal of short-lived recognition.

Here is a story of a woman who was not satisfied with her hard-earned money despite the comfort that it has given her. She wanted more, as she was raring to get back at those who talked behind her back when she was still a struggling vendor of local sausage and ham. Finally, her patience paid off when she successfully opened six specialty stores that sold sausages and ham from Cebu and Ilocos, as well as, exotic fruits from Davao.

At the age of fifty plus, she began dressing up grossly with expensive apparels and regularly went to a derma clinic for a series of physical make-over. She underwent bust and butt augmentations which did not look nice on her because of her age. She had gotten rid of her real eyebrows in favor of tattooed ones. She had her lips operated on to assume a pouting look. She even had her wrinkled and furrowed face injected with butox. She also underwent the grueling hair transplant. She did everything for her transformation to look beautiful and successful, so that she can effectively flaunt her new status in life, especially, to those whom she considered her detractors in the past.

Today, at the age of almost seventy, her face looks strange. Her tattooed eyebrows somewhat distanced themselves from her eyes, giving her a permanent astonished look; her once butox-smoothed face is pockmarked with red spots and the deep wrinkles are back; her once proud breasts are horribly sagged unevenly; she could not sit for a long time because of the pain in her butt that got peppered with allergies; her once proud pouting lips have assumed a slight grimace, that looks like a crooked smile. The only intact transplant in her, are the hair.

Sadly, she is back to her senses with much regret, as her young boyfriend ran off with her money when she shared her bank accounts with him. She was my former landlady more than two decades ago. I learned from a fellow boarder who I met accidentally about her mild stroke from which she was recuperating in a hospital. I immediately visited her several days ago in the hospital and found out that only one, out of her four children is left with her. The rest are with their father, living separately from her, and who are still harboring ill-feelings when they failed to restrain her revengeful acts of getting back at her detractors that resulted to her senseless spending to “overhaul” her body. That time, she socialized with new-found friends whose pastime was spent at the casino and bars where she met her young boyfriend.

I told her to believe in the power of prayer…and believe in miracles. In my mind, though, I am hoping for a miracle that she will be spared from cancer that may result from the synthetic substances injected into her body. The lesson here, is that we should be contented with God gave us.