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GREED AND THE CIVILIZED SOCIETY (With Filipino Translation) by Apolinario Villalobos

Posted on Saturday, 10 October 2020

 

GREED AND THE CIVILIZED SOCIETY

By Apolinario Villalobos

ANG KASAKIMAN AT SIBILISADONG LIPUNAN

Ni Apolinario Villalobos

 

Transforming from the practices of various barbarian societies, the execution of justice based on actual commitment of misdeed, has evolved into one that has become founded on supposedly intelligent reasons and fairness, hence, the symbol of the Lady Justice as a blindfolded woman holding a perfectly- balanced scale.

(Mula sa mga ginagawa ng mga barbaro na naging bahagi ng kanilang lipunan, ang pagpataw ng hustisya ay batay sa aktwal na pagkakita ng krimen o kasalanan ay ibinatay sa inaasahang matalinong paliwanagan, kaya ang simbolo ng Hustisya ay isang babaeng may piring ang mga mata at may hawak na timbangang nagpapakita ng pantay na bigat ang dalawang pinggan sa magkabilang dulo.)

 

Unfortunately, the intelligence of man is such that he has developed the propensity of circumventing written laws for his advantage. And, since the Lady Justice is blindfolded, she has no way of knowing about the deceitful effort. The Lady Justice leaves everything to the exchanges of  “legal” justifications that paid lawyers let out in court….and further leaves everything to the judge who makes the decision. The problem here is when the innocent has no money for an intelligent lawyer, while on the other hand the perpetrator of the offense can afford to hire an intelligent Bar topnotcher. Still, worst, is when the judge is also caught in the web of payoffs.

(Sa kasamaang palad, sa sobrang talino ng tao ay nakagawa siya ng paraan kung paanong maikutan ang mga batas para sa kanyang kapakanan o bentaha. At, dahil may piring ang mga mata ng babaeng simbolo ng hustisya, he niya nakikita ang mga pangyayari panloloko. Hinahayaan ng babaeng simbolo ang pagpapalitan ng mga legal na paliwanag ng mga bayarang abogado sa bulwagan ng hustisya…na ang desisyon sa bandang huli ay mula sa huwes o judge. Ang problema lang kung may pera ang kriminal at kayang magbayad ng malaking halaga sa matalinong abogado para pagtakpan ang kanyang pagkakasala…at ang inosente naman ay walang pambayad maski sa abogadong pulpol. Ang pinakamatindi ay kung masasangkot din ang huwes sa “palusutan” dahil sa pera!)

Oftentimes, we hear the line, “for every rule, there is an exception” which means that even the best Law of the land can be circumvented by excuses to give exemptions to misdeeds. Oftentimes, exemptions are based on the thickness of the wads of crisp bills. With this situation, where does “justice” come in?

(Kadalasan ay nakakarinig tayo ng “sa bawat alituntunin ay may dapat bigyan ng pang-unawa at konsiderasyon”, kaya kahit ang pinakamagandang batas ay maaaring palusutan…at, ang “konsiderasyon” ay depende sa kapal sa dami ng perang papel Dahil sa ganitong kalagayan, paano na ang “hustisya”?)

Another popular adage is, “if a misdeed has no complainant, there is no offense”. Oftentimes, this kind of unwritten rule always puts the poor in the disadvantage, because unless he files a complaint against an offender, he could not expect justice. But since the poor victim cannot afford an intelligent lawyer, no case is filed, except a simple police report in the precinct blotter. Also, if a rich offender wants to go scot-free from a misdeed, he can even hire a “fall guy” to take his place.

 

(Ang isa pang kasabihan ay, “kung walang magrereklamo, ibig sabihin ay walang nangyaring masama”. Kalimitan, itong kasabihan ay lalong nagpapalugmok sa mga mahihirap na hindi nagrereklamo sa paniwalang wala ring mangyayari. Ang mahirap ay walang kakayahang magbayad ng “matalinong abogado” kaya hanggang pa-blotter sa barangay o sa presinto ng pulis ang kaya niyang gawin. ANG MATINDI PA, KUNG MAYAMAN ANG GUMAWA NG KASALANAN, PWEDE SIYANG MAGBAYAD SA MAGIGING “FALL GUY” NA PAPALIT SA KANYA…AAKO NG KASALANAN!)

 

The Law of the civilized society is supposed to protect the constituents and much effort on the part of the government should be exerted toward this end. Unfortunately, the modern-day barbarians – corrupt officials and wealthy criminals have spoiled everything that put practically all societies on earth in a mishmash jumble! So, it does not matter whether a country belongs to a third world or highly-advanced, as offenses are founded on just one single desire – GREED!

 

(Ang batas ng sibilisadong lipunan ay inaasahang magpoprotekta ng mga mamamayan at inaasahang gagawin ito ng gobyerno ng ano mang bansa. Sa Pilipinas ay may libreng serbisyo ng mga abogado na binibigay ang gobyerno sa pamamagitan ng PAO…at, may mga grupo ring nagbibigay ng kahalintulad na libreng serbisyo. Sa kasamaang palad, personal na obserbasyon ko lang na kung hindi sensational ang kaso, hindi pinapansin…KALIMITAN AY INAABOT NG SIYAM-SIYAM….HIGIT SA LAHAT, ANDIYAN PA RIN ANG MGA MATATALINONG ABOGADONG KAYANG BAYARAN NG MGA KRIMINAL…KAYA BALIK NA NAMAN SA DAHILAN KUNG BAKIT NASA BALAG NG ALANGANIN ANG HUSTISYA SA PILIPINAS…..DAHIL SA PAGKASAKIM NG ILAN!)

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Mga Taong May Mala-Hayop ang Ugali

Posted on Thursday, 4 August 2016

MGA  TAONG MAY MALA-HAYOP NA UGALI
Ni Apolinario Villalobos

Ang tao ay isang uri ng hayop subalit may mataas na antas ng kaalaman, gawi, at ugali. Maliban sa mga may kapansanan sa paa, nakakalakad ito ng tiyeso o diretso ang katawan. Nakakapagsalita din siya sa halip na umungol o paggawa ng iba pang tunog. Higit sa lahat, ang malaki niyang utak ay nagbubunsod sa kanya upang makagawa ng mga desisyon mabuti man o masama.

Sa pag-usad ng panahon, ang tao ay nakitaan ng mga ugaling likas lamang sa mga hayop na may mababang uri. At, hindi lang simpleng mga ugali kundi maituturing na mala-halimaw! Ang mga ito ay lumulutang dahil sa pagkagahaman na umaabot sa panlalamang ng kapwa na pagpapakita ng pagiging makasarili.

Nandiyan ang mga makikita sa pamahalaang akala mo ay mga buwaya dahil sa ugaling gustong habhabin lahat ng magustuhan lalo na ang pera sa kaban ng bayan. Biro tuloy ng ibang magulang sa mga anak, hindi na raw kailangan pang pumunta sa Mindanao at Palawan dahil sa mga bulwagan lang ng mga mambabatas ay makakakita na nito.

Mayroon ding akala mo ay mga aso dahil sa kanilang matamis na ngiting aakalain mong inosente subalit may itinatago palang masamang balakin. May pakawag-kawag pa ng buntot! Para ring mga asong humihimod sa paa ng mga inaakala nilang makakatulong sa kanila upang makaangat sa lahat ng paraan.

Hindi rin maiiwasang makakakita ng mga hunyango lalo na sa larangan ng pulitika dahil sa ugali nilang pagpalit ng kulay upang umayon sa kulay ng nanalong presidente. Bentaha ito sa nanalong presidente dahil makukuha niya agad ang majority sa mga kapulungang may kinalaman sa pagbalangkas ng batas. Subalit ang masama lang ay malinaw ang masamang balak ng mga pulitikong ito na masigurong matatag ang pagkakapit nila sa kapangyarihan, at kasama na diyan ang pagpapayaman.

May mga taong  ang ugali ay animo sa ulupong….mga traidor. Sila yong hangga’t may mapapakinabangan sa isang kaibigan, bff sila, pero kumukuha lang pala ng tiyempo kung paanong malansi o maloko at mauto ang kaibigan kuno….traidor nga! Nangyari kay Eba ang maakit ng ulupong sa hardin ng Eden, at inakit naman ni Eba si Adan kaya pareho silang gumawa ng kasalanan….ayon sa alamat na nakasaad sa Bibliya. Ganyan ang nangyayari sa kalakalan ng droga…kanya-kanyang traiduran kapang nako-corner na!

Ang nakakatuwa ay ang animo mga pusang nalilibugan sa panahon ng kanilang pag-iinit, lalo pa kung kabilugan ng buwan. Kung walang makitang makukubabawan, ngiyaw ng ngiyaw na parang nawawalan ng katinuan ang pag-iisip. Ito ang mga pulitiko na nagmamarunong kaya talak ng talak pero out-of-tune naman dahil sa kagustuhang mapansin lang. Sila ang mga ibinoto ng mga tao dahil sa adbokasiya na wala palang binatbat kaya huli na kahit pa magsisi ang bumoto sa kanila!

Hindi dapat kalimutan ang mga animo ay toro….basta na lang nanunuwag dahil gusto yatang magpakita ng tapang pero ampaw naman ang laman ng ulo kung saan nakakabit ang mga sungay. Mayroon nito sa senado ng Pilipinas.

Mayroon pang mga animo langaw ang pag-uugali. Dumadagsa sila kung saan ay may pagkain, bulok man o sariwa. Kumpul-kumpol sila sa pagdasa sa mga opisyal o mayayaman upang makinabang ng impluwensiya o pera ng mga ito. Mga mayayabang at ambisyoso din ang mga ito na tumugma sa kasabihan sa Pilipino na….”akala mo ay langaw na nakatuntong sa kalabaw”. Ibig sabihin, nang makatuntong sa likod ng kalabaw ay pilit na hinihigitan pa nila ang nagbigay sa kanila ng “kataasan” o likod na tuntungan!

Higit sa lahat ay ang mga linta na ang ginagawa ay sumipsip ng dugo upang mabuhay. Iba naman ang taong nakikitaan ng ganitong ugali dahil ang sinisipsip ay buhay ng mamamayang nagtiwala sa kanila. Marami ang may ganyang ugali na nagpundar ng pera upang mahalal sa puwesto. Sila ang mga linta ng lipunan at bayan!





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Ang Pulitika ay naging Salot na Sumisira ng Lipunan

ANG PULITIKA AY NAGING SALOT NA SUMISIRA NG LIPUNAN
Ni Apolinario Villalobos

Sa lipunang may demokrasya at pinapatakbo ng sistema na pinili ng mga mamamayan ay kailangang magkaroon ng tinatawag na “fiscalizer” o tagapuna ng mga maling ginagawa ng mga nakaupo sa puwesto. Maganda sana ang ganitong sistema upang mabalanse ang mga pangyayari sa isang bansa. Ang karamihan sa mga “fiscalizer” ay  mga talunan sa eleksiyon kaya bumabatikos sa mga ginagawa ng mga nanalo. At, ang iba naman ay mga may adbokasiyang bumatikos sa mga maling gawain sa iba’t ibang larangan. Maganda sana ang layunin subalit ang “fiscalizing” ay inabuso nang makulapulan ng maruming pulitika dahil ginagamit ng mga talunan upang gumanti sa mga nanalo.

Ang demokrasya at eleksiyon ay kinonsepto ng mga pantas noong unang panahon at may magandang layunin para sa mga mamamayan. Ginamit ito ng maraming bansa, subalit ngayon, ito ay pinaitim at pinalapot ng korapsyon. Sa halip na makatulong sa isang bansa, ang pulitika na sana ay isang demokratikong paraan ay naging salot na ng lipunan. Ginamit na itong tuntungan at instrumento ng mga may tiwaling iniisip pag-upo nila sa puwesto, na nakasentro sa pagpapatagal ng kapit sa kapangyarihan at pagpapayaman sa anumang paraan.

Sa kasamaang palad, pati ang pinakamababang baytang ng sistemang pulitikal ng isang bansang tulad ng Pilipinas, ay naging korap na rin, sa diretsahang pagsabi. Ang tinutukoy ko rito ay ang barangay, munisipyo, at lunsod. Nakakalungkot dahil sa halip na magtulungan ang magkakapitbahay na gustong mamuno, sila ay nagsisiraan at nagpapatayan pa!…nagbabatuhan ng putik! Magmumukha akong tanga at ipokrito kung sasabihin kong walang perang kikitain sa mga puwestong pinaglalabanan. Pinagpupundaran ng pera ang pagtakbo na dapat ding mabawi sa anumang paraan kapag nanalo….ganoon lang. Ang hirap lang sa iba ay naging sobra ang pagnanasa. Okey na sana kung “sapat lang” ang hinahangad, subalit lumalampas sila sa hangganan na itinakda upang hindi umabot sa pagkagarapal. Tanggap na rin naman na hindi talaga nawawala ang kumisyunan sa gobyerno….kaya dapat sana ay hinay-hinay lang sila upang hindi masyadong obvious.

Sa ganang ito, ang ibang nag-aambisyon nang patago o tahimik lang….yong pangiti-ngiti na animo ay inosente at mabait ay sa loob pala ang kulo. Tulad ng isang tao na ikinuwento ng isa kong kaibigan. Ito raw ay aktibo sa simbahan, maka-Diyos wika nga. Subalit nang alukin upang tumakbo sa isang puwesto ay hindi magkandaugaga at tila nawawala sa sarili sa pagpapapel “loud speaker” sa pagpakalat ng paninira sa magiging kalaban sa eleksiyon. Nakalimutan niyang siya ay isang “taong simbahan” kaya inaasahang “maka-Diyos” ang pagkilos niya at pananalita. Nakakalungkot, dahil sa ambisyong makapasok sa pulitika ay nawala sa sarili ang taong ikinuwento ng kaibigan ko, ganoong wala naman daw itong napatunayan bilang lider. Hindi rin daw naisip ng taong ito na ang ikinakalat niyang paninira ay hindi niya personal na napatunayan kaya pwede siyang mademanda ng sinisiraan. At, hindi rin niya naisip na dapat ay pairalin niya ang delikadesa sa pamamagitan ng pag-resign sa maka-Diyos niyang responsibilidad….subalit hindi niya ginawa. Saan napunta ang itinuro sa kanya noong maliit pa siya na ang Diyos ay nakakakita ng lahat…kasama na diyan ang ginagawa niya?

Dapat isipin ng taong ito na kung hindi naman niya kilala ang taong sinisiraan ay para lang siyang itinutulak tungo sa kumunoy ng intriga na hindi na niya matatakasan. At, higit sa lahat, paano kung gantihan rin siya ng mga nagmamalasakit sa taong sinisiraan niya dahil sa “Golden Rule” na nagsasabing “huwag mong gawin sa iba ang ayaw mong gawin nila sa iyo”? Baka ang mga huling araw niya sa mundo na dapat sana ay mapayapa dahil sa tinatawag na “retirement” ay magiging masalimuot!

Mali ang diskarte ng taong ikinuwento ng kaibigan ko dahil dapat ay ipinilit niya ang pagkamaka-Diyos niya upang makatulong sa grupong sasamahan niya. Sana ay pinanaig niya ang kanyang adbokasiya na maka-Diyos (nga ba?) at hindi nataranta dahil sa ambisyong makapasok sa pulitika. Sana ay pinayuhan niya ang kanyang grupo na iwasan ang paninira sa mga makakalaban nila. Subalit kung talagang nabulagan siya kaya ganoon siya kadaling “bumaligtad” ng panuntunan sa buhay, paano pa siyang pagkakatiwalaan ng mga taong hihingan niya ng boto? Magtitiwala pa ba ang mga botante sa kanya na sa kabila ng tagal na panahon niyang pagsuot ng kuwentas na may malaking krus ay biglang nanira ng ibang taong hindi naman niya kilala…dahil lang sa pulitika?

Kung ayaw  magbago ng diskarte ng taong ikinukuwento ng kaibigan ko dahil nuknukan daw talaga ng kayabangan ang taong ito….bahala na ang Diyos niya sa kanya! Nakakagimbal din ang desisyon niyang ipagpalit ang Diyos niya sa pulitika!....ang buhay nga naman!



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Greed and the Civilized Society

Posted on Sunday, 24 April 2016

Greed and the Civilized Society
By Apolinario Villalobos

Transforming from the practices of various barbarian societies, the execution of justice based on actual commitment of misdeed, has evolved into one that has become founded on supposedly intelligent reasons and fairness, hence, the symbol of the Lady Justice as a blindfolded woman holding a perfectly- balanced scale.

Unfortunately, the intelligence of man is such that he has developed the propensity of circumventing written laws for his advantage. And, since the Lady Justice is blindfolded, she has no way of knowing about the deceitful effort. The Lady Justice leaves everything to the exchanges of  “legal” justifications that paid lawyers let out in court….and further leaves everything to the judge who makes the decision. The problem here is when the innocent has no money for an intelligent lawyer, while on the other hand the perpetrator of the offense can afford to hire an intelligent Bar topnotcher. Still, worst, is when the judge is also caught in the web of payoffs.

Oftentimes, we hear the line, “for every rule, there is an exception” which means that even the best Law of the land can be circumvented by excuses to give exemptions to misdeeds. Oftentimes, exemptions are based on the thickness of the wads of crisp bills. With this situation, where does “justice” come in?

Another popular adage is, “if a misdeed has no complainant, there is no offense”. Oftentimes, this kind of unwritten rule always puts the poor in the disadvantage, because unless he files a complaint against an offender, he could not expect justice. But since the poor victim cannot afford an intelligent lawyer, no case is filed, except a simple police report in the precinct blotter. Also, if a rich offender wants to go scot-free from a misdeed, he can even hire a “fall guy” to take his place.

The Law of the civilized society is supposed to protect the constituents and much effort on the part of the government should be exerted toward this end. Unfortunately, the modern-day barbarians – corrupt officials and wealthy criminals have spoiled everything that put practically all societies on earth in a mishmash jumble! So, it does not matter whether a country belongs to a third world or highly-advanced, as offenses are founded on just one single desire – GREED!


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To be "In" Socially as a Cover Up for Insecurities and Inadequacies

Posted on Sunday, 17 April 2016

To be “In” Socially As Cover Up for
Insecurities and Inadequacies
By Apolinario Villalobos

The objective of some people in joining a social group is usually tinged with an effort to cover up their insecurities and inadequacies, as well as, the desire to flaunt unexpected success in life. Their effort to join an organization to boost their once timid personality is commendable but they should not use their identity with an organization to an overwhelming degree of arrogance which makes them social climbers.

Those who thirst for recognition may not even need to join any organization to earn it. They missed the fact that by being alone, only they will enjoy the recognition at the proper time and opportunity. On the other hand, if they are identified with an organization that might later prove to be questionable, they will eventually get a share of the stain, too.

I have met and talked to some people who joined the “Foundations” and “associations” sponsored by a politician because they were hoping that he could help them with their personal problems later on. They joined the “Foundations” and “associations” without knowing their objectives until they found out, albeit very late, that they were being used as conduits for ill-gotten funds from dubious transactions. At the end, their membership made them parties of the politician’s illegal acts. Until now, they are still being investigated.

And, here’s a story about a friend who tremendously improved his financial status because of hard-earned wage as a seafaring engineer. In due time, he was able to purchase a house in an exclusive subdivision in Tagaytay, aside from a Porsche sports car and a Benz van. In both, he has permanently stashed expensive golf sets which surprised me because he does not play golf. He also stuck stickers of La Salle, UP, Jaycees, and Rotary at the back windshield of the van, although, he has got nothing to do with them. He graduated from Cebu and not a member of any of the two organizations. I just smiled and pitied him, for he told me himself, how he struggled hard as an impoverished clerk/messenger while exerting much effort to finish his marine engineering course and capped it by passing the board. His multi-million home in Tagaytay is a mish-mash of furnishing, resulting to an overdone eclectic interior that grossly defies harmony. Such effort betrayed his inadequate social background.

Being a very good friend, I took the risk of pinching his ego by advising him to remove the stickers and golf sets from his van and just be his real self, adding that he should have more time with his family than with his seafaring buddies who enjoy rounds of beer on weekends. And, as I felt, too, that he wanted to be socially “in”, I advised him to join a religious group that is always involved in community outreach programs. He joined two groups but failed to find satisfaction so he left them. At the end, I just gave him the opportunity of joining me every time he is free during my rounds of RAS (random acts of sharing), that he found more fulfilling, as like me, he also identified himself with those whom we share simple blessings.



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Mga Anay ng Lipunan

Posted on Saturday, 3 October 2015

Mga Anay ng Lipunan
Ni Apolinario Villalobos

Nakakalungkot isiping hindi lang ang gobyerno ng Pilipinas ang pinoproblema ng mga Pilipino dahil sa hindi nito maayos na pamamahala, kundi pati na rin mga kababayan mismong hindi marunong mamuhay ng parehas – silang mga manloloko, mga manggagantso, mga sindikato, na animo ay mga anay na unti-unting nagwawasak ng pangkalahatang pamumuhay ng mga mamamayan.

Nariyan ang mga kidnaper sa Mindanao na kung tawagin ay Abu Sayyaf, at iba pang grupo na nakakalat sa iba’t ibang lugar ng Pilipinas, ang mga holdaper, mandurukot, illegal recruiter, mandarayang nagtitinda sa palengke, akyat-bahay, dugo-dugo gang, drug pusher, drug lords, at napakarami pang iba.

Sa Maynila, hindi ligtas ang mga pasahero sa bus dahil sa “dura gang”, “laglag-barya gang”, “ipit gang”, at mga holdaper mismo na malakas ang loob sa pag-akyat sa mga bus. Hindi pa rin nawawala ang “riding- in- tandem” na nang-aagaw ng bag. Pati mga sindikatong nangingidnap ng mga bata upang gamiting namamalimos sa mga matataong lugar ng lunsod.

Iba pa rin ang mga umaakyat sa bus upang magbasa ng Bibliya at pagkatapos ay mamimigay ng sobre upang lagyan ng pera ng mga pasahero. Sakaling may dalawang grupo na gumagawa nito ang hindi nagkaalaman na pareho pala ang sinakyan nilang bus, ano ang mangyayari? Nasaksihan ko yan…

Sabado ng umaga, pauwi na ako galing sa Pasay at nakasakay sa isang bus, nang sa bandang likuran ko ay may tumayong lalaki at biglang nagbasa ng Bibliya. Nakakailang linya pa lamang siya ay may babaeng may edad na, maayos ang pananamit at naka-sun glass pa ang biglang sumulpot sa bandang harapan ng bus at namigay ng mga sobre. Biglang tumigil sa pagsasalita ang lalaki at pilit tinatanong ang babae kung anong grupo ang kinaaaniban niya. Hindi sumasagot ang babae, tuloy lang sa pamimigay ng sobre. Hindi pala siya kasama ng lalaki.

Hindi pa nakaka-recover ang lalaki sa pagkabigla ay biglang may rumepeke naman sa pagbasa ng bibliya sa likuran niya. May kasama pala ang babaeng namimigay ng sobre. Hindi nagpatalo ang lalaki, nagsalita rin siya….palakasan sila ng boses. Sa inis ko, binulyawan ko sila, at talagang minura. Tumigil ang babae sa pamimigay ng sobre at umupo sa likod, tumahimik din ang kasama niya. Ang lalaki naman ay hindi ko pinagsalita, at sa hiya ay bumaba sa unang bus stop na tinigilan namin. Ang mga babae naman ay hindi na kumibo.

Bago ako bumaba ay pinagalitan ko uli ang mga babae dahil pinipilit nilang para daw sa kalamidad ang perang malilikom nila. Bistado naman talagang sindikato dahil wala silang suot na ID kung talagang lehitimo silang NGO. Ang sabi ko sa kanila,  sila ang kalamidad.


Talagang pinahihirapan ang mga Pilipino ng mga kabi-kabilang panloloko – mula sa gobyerno, hanggang sa kapwa Pilipino….sila ang mga anay ng lipunan!

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The Elitist Segment of the Filipino Society

Posted on Monday, 21 September 2015

The Elitist Segment of the Filipino Society
by Apolinario Villalobos

Before the Spaniards came during the 1500s, the inhabitants of the Philippine Archipelago were living according to the norms of the “datu system”. The “datu”, being the wealthy and landed ruled over the rest of the members of the community. For protection, lesser “datus” came under the rule of the “Sultan”. Within the communities, the lower members were further classified into different levels, such as slave and serf.

For their convenience the Spanish colonizers, adopted the “datu system”, so that communities were ruled through their respective “datu”. Some prominent Spaniards who were part of the colonizing expeditions were awarded portions of land under the “encomienda system”, although they, as “encomenderos” were mandated by the Spanish king to take care of the natives, referred then, as “casiques” who were within their domain. Later on, even the “datus” became victims of the system when their lands were eventually appropriated for inclusion in the encomiendas. In exchange for their “noble authority” as “datus”, they were given privileges. This system was prevalent in Luzon and Visayas where until today, plantations still exist.

When the Philippine Archipelago was ceded by the Spaniards to the Americans by virtue of the Treaty of Paris, signed in December 10, 1898, the encomienda system had become well-entrenched in the culture of the Filipinos. Spanish encomenderos intermarried with natives and their mestizo offspring took over the ownership of vast tracts of land. The Americans who saw the effectiveness of the encomenda system, continued its use, although, the task was not easy in some parts of the archipelago.

While the encomenderos of Panay and Negros Islands, practically, offered the administration of their communities to the Americans, in exchange for which, they shall be allowed to maintain ownership of their lands, in Luzon and Mindanao, imposition of authority had to be made forcefully and bloodily due to skirmishes that ensued.

The heat of liberalism felt by the educated natives during the latter part of the Spanish rule was intensified when the Americans came because of the educational system and liberal administration that they introduced. From then on, educated Filipinos competed with the landed elite in hugging the limelight in the political arena.

The misfortune that befell the sugar industry, however, eased out the landed gentry, almost totally, from political scene which is now occupied not only be the educated segment but by the adventurous who view politics as a lifetime career….personalities who, in time became the so-called “traditional politicians” (trapos). They usually start their political career as barangay, municipal or city councilors, moving up to the position of vice-mayor, mayor, governor, congressman, senator…and still aiming for the highest political position in the land.


Today, the Filipino elite, aside from the heirs of hacienderos, also includes educated native Filipinos and naturalized foreign business tycoons who consistently maintain their position in the list of the “Who’s Who” of the corporate world, and the “trapos” who became rich overnight, thanks to politics, because some of these “tycoons” have actually been or still are dummies of the rich “trapos”.

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Illegal Drugs and Poverty - the miseries of a society

Posted on Saturday, 27 December 2014



Illegal Drugs and Poverty –
The Miseries of a Society
By Apolinario Villalobos

 Illegal drugs and poverty are miseries of a society that breed corruption in a country’s government and erode the culture and virtues of its people. Illegal drug start its infection as a mere vice of the indolent portion of the population until it becomes an extreme psychological necessity for survival. On the other hand, poverty-stricken populace of a country gets controlled by corrupt government officials and politicians with the use of money…with such control driven by helplessness on the former. Worse yet, the money come from the coffer of the government in most cases.

In the Philippines, there are allegations that contingents of the New People’s Army based in the north have resorted to planting marijuana in hidden and almost inaccessible nooks of the cordilleras. In Mindanao, there are allegations, too, that the Abu Sayyaf Group uses drugs to lure the youth to expand their membership.

During the campaign period that precedes an election, buying of votes is no longer discussed discreetly. This corrupt practice of politicians has become a common subject among electorates, as to who among the candidates gives the highest bribe. The electoral trend has become a way of life of the people. Regrets of the people are like cycle, repetitive and without end, every time winning corrupt candidates assume office and begin to ransack the government coffer to recoup what have been spent during their campaign.

Narco-politics have already crept into the government system of other countries, especially, those in South America. Poverty has become the face of third world countries. And, corruption that has developed into the stinking fruit of the mentioned phenomena is ensuing seeds that are being sowed throughout the world, as shown by drug laboratories operated by Chinese in the Philippines. The phenomena have become universal with the use of different nationalities as drug mules or couriers that carry loads of drugs to unsuspecting countries.

The world is experiencing a tremendous metamorphosis in all aspects of development in such a fast phase, as if mankind is in hurry to commit a self-annihilation!





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The Status Symbol

Posted on Monday, 1 December 2014



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.