USE THE GOD-GIVEN TALENT PROPERLY

AND FOR THE BENEFIT OF OTHERS

By Apolinario Villalobos

If God gave you the talent to invent gadgets, come up with what are useful to make life comfortable. If He gave you the talent to sing…make others happy, instead of singing to yourself inside the bathroom. If He gave you the talent to write and which you have discovered, perhaps, inadvertently, help others to discover theirs, and write what are relevant and helpful….do not foment misunderstanding among readers by coming up with lopsided information or exposes.

Today, the counterpart of the print media journalists are the so-called “bloggers”, those who write on the cyberspace sites, most particularly, on facebook which is the most popular. Unfortunately, many of the so-called “bloggers” use their talent for purely bashing intent. They post photos and short write-ups which most often contain or imply negative messages about a person, entity, or the government. Blogging, especially, visuals of untoward crime-related incidents could help in solving cases, but not the photos with short captions that present only one side. There is nothing wrong with posting negative comments, but such should be “balanced” with the blogger’s suggestions on how what he observed to be bad can be transformed into something good… an opinion for which he is entitled.

Many so-called bloggers have obviously are abusing the free opportunity offered by the IT sites purportedly for the benefit of humanity. Many of them feel great just because they have posted just anything to solicit attention to their site. Blogging should be viewed as an advocacy to share the good that others have done to inspire others, as well as, the bad to caution others but with accompanying precautions on how to avoid them or at the very least, suggestions based on the writer’s opinion.

If the blogger is from a small community, in all probability, there is a chance that he could get in touch personally with people who are the subject of his blogs. There is nothing wrong with introducing himself as a blogger followed by expressing his intention to help to correct what he views as wrong. If the blogger believes that he has a “mission” that is why God gave him such kind of talent, by all means, he should be serious about it. But if his intention is just to become known by bashing others, then he should be reminded by the “Golden Rule” – do not do to others what you do not want others would do to you.

OUR GANG OF FOUR AND “SHARING 2016”

By Apolinario Villalobos

Our gang of four is not involved in any illegal activities, most especially, with drugs. We share blessings that we can afford. We just concluded our rounds of distribution of goodie bags, yesterday morning for the year 2016. We started sharing them as soon as the two in our group arrived from Canada and America earlier than expected which was the last week of November. We are consistent in our plan of concluding our activities within the first week of December. The other member of the group and I are based in the Philippines.

The banks of Pasig River and identified sidewalk-dwelling families in Recto Avenue were our beneficiaries. As mentioned in my earlier blogs, our group strictly follows the rules, such as not giving of our real names, wearing only of the simplest street clothes without jewelries not even wristwatch, and no taking of pictures. Mobile phones had to be turned off as we do our rounds. We talk less and if ever, only in whispers because most of the beneficiaries are still asleep, so we just had to put the bags beside them and leave immediately. We take our breakfast at an open-air carinderia in front of the Post Office (Lawton) where we park the van that we used. Several years before, we used to park the van in front of the Binondo church when it was not yet fenced.

While about 70% of the shared blessings were donated, the rest were shouldered by two members of our group from Canada and America. Without mentioning names, I would like to thank 6 donors from Philippine Airlines who unselfishly shared a portion of their bonus, 2 Philippine-based ex-PALers and 4 based in America also sent cash donations. The two grandchildren of the Fil-Canadian who joined us last year did not make it this time because of the current political condition.

Extra cash had been purposely set aside for the “kariton” (pushcart) project in my care. For this I would look for the nearest source of second-hand materials (wood and wheels) where the recipients dwell. While I have already found a junk shop at Bambang for the Recto recipients, I have yet to find one near Pritil in Tondo. As soon as the pushcarts are finished, the recipients pick them up. They eventually, become their home on the road and storage for junks that they pick up from garbage bins and dumps. Six families have already benefited from this project last September.

For the curious, while the three of us are past 60, the most senior being 64, the Fil-Canadian physician, the youngest in our group is 52. Despite our age, we are thankful that we could still endure the tedious walk from Lawton to the Pasig River, with the trek that starts from Sta. Cruz side towards the vicinity of Divisoria. The driver of the Fil-Canadian and the nephew of our Binondo-based colleague help us all along with the load on trolleys. Just before the sun is up, we trek back to Lawton.

I am sharing this information to show that anything for the good of others can be possibly done, most especially, by praying fervently for them…whoever you are. By the way, all of us in our group of four do not belong to any religious denomination, as we are all Free Thinkers, hence, with heart and mind open to all Faiths.

See with Our Heart,

Feel with Our Kindness

By Apolinario Villalobos

Our eyes perceive the world

That’s all that they can do;

But there’s more beneath

The surface of everything

That only the heart can see –

If strengthened with fidelity.

Touching the lives of others

Some do with false charity

They, who think, food is enough

They, who think, money is fine

But given devoid of kindness

All effort becomes worthless.

Look around with our heart

Touch others with kindness

Those are what we should do

To realize our purposes in life –

Live and share, love sincerely

And thank the Lord as we pray!

MY OWN CONCEPT OF “SHARING”

By Apolinario Villalobos

FOR THE TNTH TIME, I WOULD LIKE TO REITERATE THAT MY BLOGS ABOUT THE UNFORTUNATES ARE NOT MEANT TO BE USED AS TOOLS TO SOLICIT FUNDS. I SHARE MY PERSONAL ENCOUNTER WITH THESE PEOPLE TO LET SOME VIEWERS KNOW THAT WHAT THEY OCCASIONALLY SEE AS FLASHED ON TV SCREENS ARE TRUE. I MADE THIS CLEAR IN MY EARLIER BLOGS THAT VIEWERS ARE NOT ENCOURAGED TO SEND HELP TO ME AFTER LEARNING MY LESSON FROM RECEIVING HELP WITH STRINGS ATTACHED. THAT IS ALSO THE REASON WHY I HAVE SECOND THOUGHTS ABOUT POSTING THEM ON FACEBOOK. ON THE OTHER HAND, WHAT I ASK ARE PRAYERS FOR ME TO BE ABLE TO GO ON, AND FOR THESE PEOPLE TO GO ON WAKING UP IN THE MORNING BECAUSE THEY ENJOY LIFE DESPITE DEPRIVATIONS.

IT IS FUNNY HOW SOME PEOPLE CAN BE SKEPTIC INTO ASSUMING THAT WHAT OTHERS ARE DOING ARE IMPOSSIBLE, JUST BECAUSE THEY (SKEPTICS) CANNOT, EVEN IN THEIR WILD IMAGINATION, DO THEM AS SUCH ACTS MEAN A LOT OF SACRIFICE. THEY ALSO REFUSE TO BELIEVE THAT OUT THERE, ARE PEOPLE WHO DIRECTLY PUT INTO THEIR MOUTH MORSELS OF FOOD PICKED UP FROM TRASH. THEY THOUGHT ONLY ANIMALS DO THAT. WHAT ELSE WOULD ONE WANT TO KNOW ABOUT A FAMILY WHO KEEPS MOVING AROUND WITH THEIR PRECIOUS BELONGINGS IN A PUSHCART FOR FEAR THAT THEY WILL BE “APPREHENDED” BY SOCIAL WORKERS, BUT OCCASIONALLY STOPPING BY GARBAGE DUMPS TO PICK UP JUNKS THAT THEY CAN SELL, OR IF LUCKY ENOUGH, EATABLE MORSELS OF FOOD THAT THEY CAN STUFF DIRECTLY INTO THEIR MOUTH?

I KNOW THAT SOME PEOPLE CANNOT TAKE PHOTOS AND ESSAYS THAT FOR THEM ARE HORRENDOUS AND DEPRESSING, AS THEY CONTAIN WHAT THEY ASSUME AS “UNBELIEVABLE” PRIVATIONS. THEY ARE THEN, ADVISED TO SKIP MY BLOGS WHICH ARE ONLY MEANT FOR THOSE WHO ARE REALLY INTERESTED.

SOME PEOPLE ALSO THOUGHT THAT SHARING IS A “TREND”, A “CRAZE”.  JUST BECAUSE OTHERS ARE DOING IT, THEY MUST DO IT, TOO, TO BE “IN”. THEY MUST KNOW THAT SHARING IS A 24/7 ADVOCACY THAT KNOWS NO SEASON AND TIME. IT IS NOT JUST SHARING ON CHRISTMAS DAY JUST BECAUSE IT IS THE “BIRTHDAY” OF JESUS. IT IS NOT ABOUT SHARING JUST BECAUSE SOMEONE ASKED FOR HELP. SINCERITY IS LOST IN SHARING IF ONE WHO DOES IT NEEDS TO BE PRODDED. AND, SHARING IS NOT ABOUT GIVING BECAUSE THERE ARE CAMERAS AROUND!

SOME PEOPLE WANT TO KNOW THE MINUTEST DETAILS OF OTHER PEOPLE’S LIVES BEFORE THEY GIVE HELP AS IF WHAT THEY SEE OUTRIGHT AND ON-THE–SPOT ARE NOT ENOUGH.

 IF I SHARE THE DETAILS OF WHAT I DO TO EARN THE TRUST OF THESE PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN EXPLOITED FOR A LONG TIME THAT THEY BECOME SUSPICIOUS EVERY TIME A STRANGER WHO TALKS TO THEM BRINGS OUT A CELLPHONE WITH CAMERA, THE STUFF WOULD NO LONGER BE A SIMPLE BLOG BUT A BOOK.

SOME VIEWERS ALSO, FORGOT THAT I DO THINGS ALONE DRIVEN BY A PERSONAL DESIRE. I AM NOT A PAID JOURNALIST NOR, DO I BELONG TO A FOUNDATION OR AN “NGO”. I SHARE SPONTANEOUSLY WHAT I CAN AFFORD BASED ON WHAT MY POCKETS CONTAIN AT THE TIME OF ENCOUNTER. HOW CAN I ASK THE FATHER OF A FAMILY ON THE SIDEWALK IF HE HAS MONEY, WHEN OBVIOUSLY, THEY HAVE NOT YET EVEN SHARED A CUP OF COFFEE TO WARM THEIR EMPTY STOMACH? SKEPTICS MIGHT ALSO BE INTERESTED TO KNOW THAT UNTIL NOW, THESE PEOPLE WHO LEARNED TO TRUST ME DO NOT KNOW MY NAME.

FOR SEVERAL DECADES THAT I HAVE BEEN SHARING WITH THE UNFORTUNATES, I ALSO HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO KNOW THE KIND OF PEOPLE WHO AT FIRST GLANCE SEEM TO BE BENEVOLENT- THEY WHO I THOUGHT WERE SINCERE IN EXTENDING ASSISTANCE. IN TIME, THEIR TRUE COLOR BECOMES DISCERNIBLE WHEN THEY BEGIN TO GIVE ME INSTRUCTIONS ON HOW I SHOULD DO MY RANDOM ACTS, EVEN TO THE POINT OF IMPLYING THAT “PERHAPS, SOME OF THE UNFORTUNATES REALLY DO NOT NEED HELP”.  

Dasal ng Mga Kuntentong   Tao

Ni   Apolinario   Villalobos

Lord, salamat sa lahat na ibinigay mong biyaya.

Ok na sa amin kung araw-araw,  ulam namin ay  tuyo

Naawa nga kami sa  ibang walang laman ang kaldero.

Ok na sa amin  kahit ang sinasaing ay NFA rice

Naawa nga kami  sa ibang araw-araw,  pagkai’y “memo-rice”.

Ok na sa amin ang sardinas, ginisa sa maraming miswa’t sibuyas

Naawa nga kami sa ibang araw-araw, gutom ang dinaranas.

Ok na sa amin, dinurog na kaning tutong na pinalambot

Naawa nga kami sa iba, sa sobrang gutom, noo’y napapakunot.

Ok na sa amin, pamatid -uhaw na tubig kahit walang yelo

Naawa nga kami sa ibang walang mainom,   nakatingin sa inudoro.

Ok na sa amin,  manipis na banig sa malamig na semento

Naawa nga kami sa  ibang animo’y  basang  sisiw sa ulan at bagyo.

Ok na sa amin,  celfon na luma kaya’t memory card ay wala

Naawa nga kami sa iba, maski lumang PLDT fone, di pa nakakita.

Ok na sa amin,  sapatos walang sintas, napulot sa tambakan

Naawa nga kami sa ibang walang saplot sa paa, kaya epot, naaapakan.

 Ok na sa amin damit na pinaglumaan, kahit ba galing pa sa ukayan

Naawa nga kami sa iba, suot na t-shirt ay gulanit, animo galing sa digmaan.

Ok na sa amin maglakad paminsan-minsan, sa dyip walang pamasahe

Naawa nga kami sa iba, araw-araw na lang,  nagha-hiking sa kalye.

Ok na sa amin maski walang tv,  radio na lang, basta makarinig ng balita

Naawa nga kami sa iba,  sa kawalan nakangiti, dahil walang silbi ang mga tenga.

 Ok na sa  aming makinood ng nakadispley na tv sa mall at mga tindahan  nito

Naawa nga kami sa iba, pakapa-kapa kung kumilos, walang maaninag sa mundo.

Ok na sa amin,  kulang ang bakod sa  bunganga, maraming nalagas na ngipin

Naawa nga kami sa iba, may kanser sa lalamunan, hindi makakain.

Ok na sa amin asawang bungangera, animo machine gun, boses sa umaga

Naawa  nga kami sa iba,  asawa’y walang alam iluto, nilagang itlog,sunog  pa.

Ok na sa amin,  asawang lasenggo ay sugarol pa, kung minsan may chicks  pa

Naawa nga kami sa iba, inuuwian lamang upang deposituhan ng semelya.

Lord, salamat uli sa  mga biyayang bigay  Mo

At sa  paminsan-minsang  pitik upang kami ay magising

Sa katotohanang, para sa Iyo kami ay pantay-pantay

Kaya walang dahilan para mag-astang aso’t pusang nag-aaway!

Yong ibang blessings, okey lang na sa iba Mo ibigay, Lord…

Amen!

The “Funny Money” that Goes A Long, Long Way

By Apolinario Villalobos

The “funny money” comes from “Perla”, a kind-hearted Filipina benefactor based in America. She earns the money from her translation “sideline”, as she is on a regular call to interpret for Filipinos with cases being heard in court, and who have difficulty in speaking English. The “funny” is her lingual concoction for the job that she did not seek, but in a way, accidentally came her way. She has been consistently supporting my RAS (random acts of sharing) which started when she learned of my RAS from my blogs about such advocacy.

What is really funny is the reaction of friends who keep on asking where some of my fund comes from, as if suspecting me to push drugs just to earn extra. They just cannot believe that somebody would send money for total strangers who are in dire need for help. When I add that there was also a time when another friend in London sent money, and still another in America sent a “blessing” through her “balikbayan” sister, their eyes get bigger in disbelief. In exasperation, I just tell them that it is very difficult for somebody to understand the sharing that others are doing if he or she does not have the same advocacy in life….or if he or she does not extend a hand to others as a habit. As expected, these fence-sitting friends fail to get what I mean. The problem with some people is that, they are used to seeing “charitable acts” done only by people who wear t-shirts emblazoned with their mission.

Perla drives or commutes to courts or hospitals where her service as translator is needed. Her benevolence sometimes bothers me, as I would imagine that she could be left with a little amount or nothing for her own needs. Every time I remind her about that, she would send me a message with typed laughter with an assurance that what she sends me is “funny money” earned accidentally from the job that she has somehow learned to like.

The unselfish sharing of Perla always reminds me of the comment of my two “balikbayan” friends who tried to treat me to a lunch. On our way to the restaurant inside a mall, I saw an emaciated mother and her child who was holding on to a black garbage bag half-filled with empty plastic bottles. Both were staring at the customers eating fried chicken at a lunch counter near the aircon van terminal. When I told my friends to go ahead and that I would just follow in a few minutes, as I would like to buy packed lunch for the mother and her child, they told me not to bother, as “we can just pack our left- over for them after our lunch inside the mall”….they meant “doggie bag”. What they said made me adamant and which also made me decide not to join them anymore despite their pleading. When they left, I bought three packed lunch for the three of us – I, the mother and her child, and enjoyed it in the farthest corner of the terminal where we slumped on the floor. That lunch made my day….and, for which was spent part of Perla’s “funny money”.

The Spirited Anna…with sightless left eye

and dimming right one

by Apolinario Villalobos

I thought the woman whose name I learned was Anna,  and who was sitting on the pushcart was just too trusting by not counting the money that I gave her for the items that I chose from among her “buraot” items, until she told me that her right eye can barely see while her left eye was totally useless. Her sight had been defective since she was a girl. While growing up, she was desperate and a loner because of her deficiency until she met her husband who took good care of her.

Anna and her husband had been selling junk items for more than five years. They would spread their items on a piece of tarpaulin as early as six in the morning along the old railroad track now covered with pavement as early as six in the morning, just when the vegetable wholesalers are packing up. An hour later they would transfer to the corner of the Sto. Cristo St. where I found her. With their four children in tow, her husband would leave her to clean their other “buraot” items in the railroad track.

She smilingly told me that she and her husband have been setting aside money for their children from the meager daily earnings. Just like most of the hardworking scavengers of Divisoria, they live on the pushcart…or rather, beside their pushcart that are heaped with their junks at the end of the day. Their children are aged nine, seven, four and three years. Just before noon, she told me that they, already with lunch bought from a makeshift sidewalk eatery, would join her.

Our amiable conversation was cut short by a sudden and steady drizzle. I had to help Anna gather her items on their pushcart and cover them with two pieces of tarp that I brought with me, intended to be given to the vendors like her. We stayed on the covered sidewalk, and it was at this time that Anna got worried for her husband and children.  Not long afterward, a guy carrying two children, and two girls huffily came running and joined us.

As the pushcart was securely covered, I invited Anna and her family to the Jollibee outlet a few steps away. The eldest girl jumped and gleefully shouted when she heard the name. When we entered, other customers threw us inquisitive stares as the husband of Anna and the kids were dripping wet. It was their first time to enter the establishment and even taste its cheapest Yummy sandwich, but for such a happy occasion, I ordered the regular burger and spaghetti for each of them. While they were enjoying their sandwich, spaghetti, and Coke, they strike a picture of a happy family…of contentment, a far cry from many families that are virtually swimming in affluence, yet, not satisfied a bit. As a practice, I did not take their picture while enjoying their Jollibee meal, for I do not want the photo opportunity to come out as one done in exchange for something. So as not to instigate Anna and her husband to ask questions about me, I stopped asking more questions about their life….that way, I was happy not to be asked for my name, though, before we parted ways, I told them that the snacks were courtesy of a certain “Perla”. I was resolved, however, to see them again.

Sharing Need Not Be a “Big Time” Effort

By Apolinario Villalobos

I ask from friends and collect myself, what others consider as “trash” – empty rice bags, used shopping plastic bags, brown paper bags, net bags, used tarpaulins, empty jars, lengths of straw rope, etc. – to be distributed among my friends who sell recyclable junks and vegetables by the pile on sidewalks. They are called “buraot” vendors and the “buraot” refers to the junks and wilting vegetables that they sell. Some of them keep the brown paper bags to be used by their children as book covers, and the sturdy plastic grocery bags as “school bags”. On the other hand, the rice bags have many uses, one of which is safekeeping of things in the absence of decent bags that are sold in department stores.

It takes me about two weeks to be able to collect a sizeable volume of these various “treasures”, classify the plastic bags according to size, carefully fold them and finally apportion them together with the rest of the items among the pre-identified recipients for easy distribution. I am most glad if I am able to collect big plastic cover of refs and washing machines because they can be used as extended roof for “kariton (pushcart) home” of my friends. I taught them to fold big plastic bags in such a way that they can be used as “rain coat”. I used to do that when I was in elementary during which I would scavenge the garbage dump of a bakery in our town for recyclable junks especially plastic bags.

One time, a friend in California, “Perla” sent plenty of blue tarps that went straight to sidewalk and “kariton” dwellers. But I told her to stop sending such kind of item because I met a couple who sell “tinseled” bags of condiments that when spread by slicing open the two sides can serve the purpose of a mat, as well as, protection against the rain – for just Php20.00 apiece.

Every time I come home from shopping, I see to it that the bags, both made of plastic and brown paper are properly folded and set aside instead of tossing them into the garbage basket. The brown bag can also be used in keeping extra portions of vegetables before storing them in the ref. Also, I am not ashamed in picking up lengths of straw ropes from the ground while shopping in outdoor shopping areas such as Baclaran and Quiapo, as they are also needed by my friends in tying things that they always bring along with them. As a recycling advocate, I had been doing this for more than thirty years now.

Every time I hit the road for my random acts of sharing my backpack is full of these “treasures”, aside from Skyflakes crackers and home-cooked pudding for sharing. I just want to show that sharing blessings need not be a “big time” effort that involves a lot of money. If I can do it, I am sure others can do it, too. Those interested to do the same can start with the plastic bags that can be collected and given to their favorite vendor in the market….by doing so, we also help Mother Nature as the plastic bags that we recycle are prevented from clogging esteros or canals.

What Makes Us Share…till it hurts

(I and my group)

By Apolinario Villalobos

The “us” in the title refers to the four of us in the group. The two are based in the United States, but come home every second week of November for our sharing project that commences every third week of November and strictly ends on the first week of December. On the other hand, I and the other one are locally- based.

Many of those who know us still don’t understand why we “meddle” with the lives of others by helping them. One of my friends even went to the extent of sending me a message last year when he read my blogs about Baseco Compound in Tondo. His message read, “hayaan mo na sila, kasalanan nila kung bakit sila naghihirap…mamumulubi ka lang sa ginagawa mo”.  I did not bother to reply to that message…but from then on, he seems to have detached himself from me. The other member of the group who is based locally, too, had a misunderstanding with his wife until their eldest son interfered…in his favor, so from then, his wife sort of just supported him. The two others, who are based abroad are lucky because aside from being supported by their families, they are also able to collect donations from friends who came to know about our projects.

My opinion is that it is difficult for others to really understand how it feels to be impoverished because, either, they have not been through such, or refused to admit that they were poor once, out of pride. I do not know if some of you experienced the pang of hunger for having not taken breakfast and lunch while attending classes. I do not know if some of you have experienced wearing underwear twice your size – being hand-me-downs from rich relatives. I do not know if some of you have experienced catching ice cubes thrown by a friend, instead of being handed even a sandwich by him during his birthday. I do not know if some of you have experienced making toys out of milk cans from the garbage dump, etc. etc.etc. I have experienced those when I was young.

My other colleague in the group and who is based in Manila, admitted to have been a scavenger when he was young. He also shared how every morning before going to school, he stood by carinderias and ate the leftover food on the plates of customers. As a scavenger, he and his brothers cooked “batchoy” out of the food they scavenged from the garbage bins of Chinese restaurants. He also unabashedly admitted to having worked as a call boy when their father got sick to earn quick money to support his two younger brothers and one sister (they were left by their mother). He got lucky when he landed a job as a messenger/sales clerk of a big hardware store in Sta. Cruz (a district in Manila City). Good fortune smiled at him, when the daughter of his employer fell in love with him, which made him part of the family business.

The third in our group, a doctor is the luckiest because at an early age he got adopted by a rich and kind couple who were US Green Card holders. But while growing up in Pasay, he was close to the less fortunate in their neighborhood. He is married to the daughter of their laundrywoman who is now operating a small catering business in the States.

The fourth in our group found his way toward us through the doctor, as he was the latter’s neighbor in the States. He shared that he grew up in a farm in Bicol and also experienced difficulties in life, as he and his siblings would cross a shallow river and hiked two kilometers to reach their school. He was introduced to our “operations” when he got curious, so he joined us in 2009, after promising to abide by our rules – no photo taking, wearing only slippers, t-shirt and shorts when on the road to share, and no giving of true name or divulging of real identity to the beneficiaries, as well as, willingness to partake of what our friends in slums eat.

What makes us click together is that, as if on cue, we practically forget who we really are every time we start hitting the road just before sunrise, to share.  We would sometimes call each other unconsciously, by our assumed names…but we do not consider such slip as a joke, because we are those names every time we mingle with our friends to share. For those who insist on knowing us,  we ask them to just remember us by our acts, and not by our face and name.

Ang Feeding Program ng Barangay Real 2

Bacoor City, Cavite…hindi pinagmamalaki ng tarpaulin!

Ni Apolinario Villalobos

Mabuti na lamang at natunugan ko isang hapon ang gagawing feeding program o mas gusto kong tawaging “food sharing” ng Barangay Real 2. Nakiusap ako kay Kagawad Ana Lyn Sagenes na baka pwede akong magmasid ng kanilang gagawin. Angkop na angkop ang gagawin ko dahil sa mga napapabalitang “food poisoning” ng mga kabataang beneficiary ng feeding programs, na ang pinakahuli ay ini-sponsor ng isang malaking NGO.

Tulad ng nabanggit ko noon sa mga naunang blog, Real 2 ang may pinakamaliit na budget sa buong Bacoor at curious ako kung paano nilang gagawing makibahagi ng palasak nang pagkaing lugaw sa mga kabataan. Chicken arroz caldo ang kanilang ihahanda at gabi pa lang ay nagayat na ang mga sangkap, pati ang manok na nahimay na rin. Ang paghanda ay ginawa nina Kagawad Lando Sagenes, Danny Sagenes, Ana Lyn Sagenes, at Baby Diala. Nakaistambay naman ang mga Tanod Bayan na sina Lito Alegonza at Ed Belmonte na nagsilbing mga runner para sa iba pang mga pangangailangan. Ilang sandali pa ay dumating din si Kagawad Rhea Endaya. Napag-alaman ko na tuwing magpi-feeding program ay sila mismo ang nagluluto at hindi pinagkakatiwala sa iba.

Kinabukasan nang alas dos, isinalang na nila ang lugaw sa tatlong malalaking kaldero na sa tantiya nila, bago mag-alas kwatro ay maluluto na. Nang oras na yon naman ay siya namang pagdating ni Barangay Chairman BJ Aganus na nag-check ng mga iba pang kakailanganin bago magsisimula, tatlumpung minuto makalipas ang alas otso ng umaga.

Unang pinuntahan ng grupo ang tatlong clusters sa Arevalo Compound na katabi ng exclusive subdivision na Meadowood. Dinagsa sila ng maraming bata lalo na at araw ng Sabado, walang pasok sa eskwela. Umabot din sa halos dalawang daan ang kabuuhang dumagsa sa tatlong clusters ng mga taal na Kabitenyo, bago pa man nagkaroon ng mga subdivision. Pinuntahan din ang Padua cluster na dikit na rin sa Meadowood. Ang kinikilalang “patriarch” o “ama” ng cluster na ito si Magno Padua, panganay sa magkakapatid na Padua na nagsaka sa lupang kinatitirikan ng Meadowood Subdivision. Dito na rin nakapagpahinga ang grupo na ang iba’y halatang hiningal na subalit ang kapansin-pansin ay pamumula ng mga mata dahil sa kawalan ng tulog.

Huli nilang pinuntahan ang Luzville bandang alas diyes na, kung saan ay matatagpuan pa rin ang isang depressed area. Ilang sandali lang pagdating nila, nagsidagsaan na rin ang mga bata…magkakapatid na magkahawak- kamay at magkakalaro na nagtutulakan pa sa pagkuha ng lugaw dahil sa hiya. Subalit nang matikman na ang lugaw, malinaw na nagustuhan nila kaya halos lahat sila ay kung ilang beses bumalik upang humingi pa.

Ang grupo ng “feeders” ay walang ingay kung kumilos, walang kantiyawan, may isa o dalawa lamang na sumisigaw upang humikayat ng iba pang mga kabataan. At, ang matindi….kahit walang meryenda ay walang nagpaparinig o nagpaparamdam man lang ng gutom. Ayaw siguro nilang pakialaman ang lugaw dahil para lang talaga sa mga bata ang kanilang inihanda. Ang pinakahuling naobserbahan ko ang nagkumpirma sa iniisip ko noon pa man, na talagang pilit nilang pinagkakasya ang budget para sa pakain ng mga bata, kaya maski isang coke solo man lang ay wala akong nakitang binili si Chairman BJ, para siguro ipabatid na ang lakad ay hindi kainan o meryendahan kundi sakripesyo para sa mga kabataan.

Hindi na ako nagtanong kung magkano ang budget para sa tinantiya kong halos apat na raang kabataan mula sa Arevalo compound hanggang sa Luzville. Siyanga pala, ang Arevalo Compound ay hindi naman talaga “compound” kundi kumpol ng maliliit na bahay lamang sa lupaing ang orihinal na may-ari ay ang Arevalo family.

Sa liit ng budget ng barangay, gusto ko mang gawin ay hindi na ako nagtanong kung may petty cash din ba sila para sa mga sariling motorcycles na ginagamit sa emergency o lakad na hindi man emergency ay may kinalaman sa operasyon ng barangay. Inunawa ko na lang na dahil sa priority nilang mga proyekto ay halos wala na ngang natitirang pangkape man lang para sa mga Tanod Bayan kung magronda sila sa gabi. Nagpapasalamat na lang ang barangay kung sila ay datnan ng donasyong kape o pagkain para sa mga nagroronda.  Ibig sabihin, obvious na ang mga may-ari ng mga motorcycle ay nagkakanya-kanya sa pagbili ng gasolina, na malaking kabawasan din sa kanilang kakarampot na “sweldo”.

Maliban kay Pojie Reyes na may importanteng lakad kaya hindi nakasama sa feeding program, ang mga kagawad na nakasali ay sina: Ana Lyn Sagenes, Rea Endaya, Lando Padua, Elena Diala, Danny Sagenes, at Fer Sagenes; mga Tanob Bayan na sina: Ed Belmonte, Gary Sanchez, at Lito Alegonza; at volunteer na si Analiza Ballesteros. Masayang ibinahagi ni Chairman Aganus na sa kabila ng kakarampot nilang budget, tuluy-tuloy ang kanilang feeding program. Halatang iniiwasan din nila ang publicity dahil wala silang ginagamit na tarpaulin para ibando ang kanilang ginagawa. Nagpasalamat nga ako dahil hindi ako pinagbawalang gumawa ng blog tungkol sa ginawa nila.

Dalawang depressed areas ang nasasakop ng Barangay Real Dos kaya ang sabi ni Mr. Aganus, ay welcome ang anumang mga donasyon para sa mga bata, tulad ng notebook, mga lapis, mga bag pang-eskwela, at sa feeding program naman ay bigas na panlugaw ang uri. Nagluluto din ang barangay para sa mga evacuees sa panahon ng baha na ang pinaka-apektado ay ang mga taga-Luzville na nasa tabi ng ilog.

Maaaring ipadala ang mga donasyon, naka-address kay:

Mr. BJ Aganus

Chairman, Barangay Real 2

Bacoor City, Cavite.

May Antas ang Pangangailangan

At may Hangganan ang Pakikibahagi

Ni Apolinario Villalobos

Hindi lahat ng tao ay may kaparehong pangangailangan, subalit mayroon tayong mga kababayan na dahil sa sobrang kasuwapangan, gusto nila, lahat nang binibigay sa iba, ay meron din sila. Ito yong mga tao na may kaya naman sa buhay subalit pilit isinisiksik ang sarili sa mga pilahan  para sa relief goods kung inabot ng bagyo o baha ang kanilang lugar. Ang masama pa, pagkatapos matanggap ang relief bags ay pipintasan pa ang NFA rice, kesyo hindi daw pwedeng kainin ng tao kapag isinaing na, kaya pinakain na lang sa alagang aso. Pati ang iilang pirasong sardinas ay pinipintasan din, kesyo hindi man lang daw sinamahan ng corned beef o pork and beans. Kadalasan ang mga taong ito pa ang nanggugulo sa pilahan.

Kasama sa pakikipag-kapwa natin ang pagpapaubaya, na ibig sabihin, ay dapat na hayaan na lang natin na mapunta sa ibang talagang nangangailangan ang biyayang sana ay may bahagi tayo. Kung nakakakain pa naman tayo ng dalawang beses isang araw, hayaan nating mapunta yong dapat ay pangatlong makakain pa natin, sa mga taong talagang walang makain sa maghapon.

Sa isang banda naman, ang kulturang “dapat meron din ako” ay nagpapahirap din sa  mga Pilipinong nagtatrabaho sa ibang bansa. Okey lang sana kung ang nagpapadala ay magulang para sa mga anak, o anak para sa magulang at mga kapatid. Subalit kung minsan, pati mga pinsan, pamangkin, tiyuhin, tiyahin at iba pang kamag-anak ay gusto ring maambunan ng padala. Kaya napipilitan tuloy ang pinadalhang pamilya na ipamahagi ang pinadalang pera, kahit halos wala nang matira para sa kanila.  Dahil sa ganyang pangyayari, hindi rin makapag-ipon ang nagtatrabaho sa ibang bansa upang may maipambayad sa mga inutang na ginamit sa pag-alis.

Ang leksyon dito ay, hayaan nang mapagsabihang “maramot” upang hindi maabuso ng tamad na mga kamag-anak sa Pilipinas. Saka na lang mag-abot ng tulong kung talagang kailangan na nila, dahil kung hindi gagawin ito, lalabas na kinukunsinte ng nagpapadala ang katamaran ng mga kamag-anak nilang umaasa na lang palagi sa padala.

Dapat maunawaang lahat ng bagay sa mundo ay may hangganan, at kasama na diyan ang pakikibahagi ng tulong na kung hindi man inaabuso ng mga tamad, ay hindi rin pala naa-appreciate ng ibang binibigyan.

By Apolinario Villalobos

Better are those born of a simple family

            For later, they shall not wallow in sinful luxury.

Better are those who grew up on simple gruel

            For later, they shall not despise a meatless meal.

Better are those who grow clothed in simple trappings

            For later, they shall not be desirous of worldly things.

Better are those whose wants are simple

            For later, they shall not unnecessarily crave for more.

Better are those who earn by dints of hard work and honesty

            For later, they are assured of unquestionable integrity.

Better are those who are not exposed to the frivolous city life

            For later, they will not be swayed by even just a simple strife.

Better are those who pray to God with private sincerity

            For theirs is a voice, pure and not tinted with hypocrisy.

Better are those who give with honest intention

            For they do not expect anything in return.

Better are the couples who don’t flaunt their love for each other

            For they know that they need not be ostentatious, if they are sincere.

Better are those who readily admit their faults and failure

            For they know that doing so, lessons are learned for the future.

Better are those whose love for God is not defined by cults or religions

            For they know that God’s infinity is boundless as shown by his creations. 

Better are those whose love to others is unconditional

            For they know that they can only be just as such –

            Giving enough of what they have, and not so much.

                       

More on Sharing…

By Apolinario Villalobos

There is more in sharing than what most of us know about it. The heavenly bodies in the universe share ample space. Without the fair sharing in the seemingly infinite space in the universe, the heavenly bodies including earth would have been bumping with each other. Humanity shares the air to be able to survive and so are the lesser creatures. Sharing is not limited to food. The Designer is wise, indeed, and that is what He expects His intelligent creatures to be.

Unfortunately, because of pride and greed among humans, even the road space is not shared fairly, resulting to altercation among greedy motorists. They want to get more than what is provided by going against the flow of traffic or by overtaking the long queue of vehicles as they come to a standstill. This greed sometimes results to violence, and worse, death.

The disgusting land grabbing of government officials and moneyed entrepreneurs show their blatant greed that borders on exploitation of the ignorant. Add to these their robbing of government coffer. These greedy people are not satisfied with what they already have. If only they let the bounties be shared by all, poverty could, at least, be minimized.

Some of us refuse to share honors with others who deserve them by robbing them of such opportunity. In school, students who are desirous to be on top of the honor list, do all possible to garner high grades even to the extent of submitting plagiarized reports and thesis.  Unsuspecting artists are also robbed of their rightful opportunity to achieve honor, when their works are plagiarized by fellow artists who make sure that they alone shall get the honor.

On the positive side, there are so many things that we can share with others, such as happiness, knowledge, prayer, and of course, blessings. The righteous sharing is what’s expected of us to do. But if we do otherwise, we should be prepared for the consequence in what the Golden Rule says….do not do to others, what you do not want others, would do to you.

The Responsibility of Giving and Sharing

By Apolinario Villalobos

When one gives, he should forget that he did it, and just let the beneficiaries do the remembering. There is no reason why we should remember the help that we have given to others. Accumulated memories of this act tend to become heavy and hold us back from moving on, we tend to dwell on them. In life, we should always move on as time is precious…its hands cannot be moved back.

It is best that those given help should not know who the giver is, unless, he is a politician or groups of people who solicit whatever are given. In the last two mentioned instances, accountability is at work. For the politician, people should know that he has given help, and the Foundations or NGOs should let the donors know that their donations went to the right parties. But for individuals whose intention is just to help to the best he could afford, there is no need for him, to identify himself.

Identification is just a name. The essence of giving is sharing oneself, the expression of which is beyond description because it is supposed to be felt by the receiver. That is why even the blind can feel if the help given him is sincere. The deaf can feel the warmth of the action, though he hears nothing uttered by the lips of the giver.

When giving, never expect appreciation, not even thanks, for giving is an obligation, a responsibility. The earthly wealth that is enjoyed in their different level of quantity is not supposed to be owned but shared. Everyone who lives on it should always remember that there are others who are depending on them…a reason why, sharing and giving becomes an obligation.