Showing posts with label tolerance. Show all posts

The “STATEMENT” in Today’s World

By Apolinario Villalobos

The “statement” in today’s world is not necessarily uttered but “made”, “shown”, or “manifested”. A guy with a mohawk haircut is making a statement. A girl wearing a black lipstick is making a statement. An old woman wearing a pair of short shorts is making a statement, etc.

The “statement” in today’s world is an effort of a person to make him/her unique, a standout in a crowd…but the end motive is to be satisfied…and nobody should question that. For as long as the person who makes a “statement” does not hurt anybody, he/she should be left alone. A STATEMENT CAN SPELL HAPPINESS.

On the other hand, these guys are considered trendsetters that make the world consistently on the go and dynamic, instead of stagnating in a pool of monotony. Without uttering a world, they make manufacturers of goods realize what are needed by a certain segment of consumers….great for economy. They are also great advocates of recycling as most of what they wear are pre-loved outfit, albeit, originals and worn by well-known personalities….garments that somehow found their way to ukay-ukay outlets….great for the environment.

These guys should also be admired for their courage to be different. Imagine a 70-year old lady wearing a mini-skirt as her intention is to move around comfortably, never mind the pair of legs. Imagine, too, the courage of a macho body builder who wears pink gym shirt, as by wearing such color, he helps calm down the snooty people around him. And, imagine, too, a 4-foot woman with a big bag slung over her shoulder…her shoulder bag that contains a small make-up kit, a piece of Skyflakes cracker, and a bottle of mineral water.

If we want harmony, we should try to be tolerant and appreciative of things that others are doing but we failed to do. If being amused can make our day…then, let it be that way.

LET US MAKE OTHERS HAPPY BY LEAVING THEM ALONE…AND, THE WORLD WILL BE SHROUDED WITH HARMONY!

LIVING IN THE MIDST OF VARIOUS FAITHS AND ETHICS

By Apolinario Villalobos

Personally, I believe that there can be harmony in diversity for as long as the relationship is founded on tolerance, understanding and compassion. One manifestation of this harmony is the celebration of Christmas even by non-Christians, and I have observed this in the Islamic Center in Quiapo (Manila) where many Muslim homes display Christmas tree during December. When I was in high school, many non-Christians students were proudly sporting the school uniform of our parochial Catholic school.

Tolerance begets respect and understanding. Such attitude is devoid of selfishness and egoism. A feeling of superiority is also not harbored in the heart. With tolerance, members of the community do not pay attention to which church their neighbors go on a Friday, Saturday or Sunday. Respect, though, should be shown to the utmost, especially, on the aspect of diet, so that in a culturally and religiously diversified community, restaurant owners take the pain of gluing on conspicuous space of the wall a notice about their food being “halal”.

A former classmate based in our province intoned during our cellphone conversation about his having a “personal God” which he claims does not drive him away from the faith of his birth. It is just that, by maintaining this kind of belief, he can be more tolerant about others’ faith. It is like saying, “leave me alone with my God and I will leave you with yours”. According to him, what spoils religions and sects is their being “institutionalized” which makes each of them competitive, as they vie for expanded membership. Along that line, it cannot be avoided that religions and sects would be compared with each other, so that prospective members can “choose” which is “better” or “best”…..and that is when trouble develops. An unsolicited advice is for these groups not to be too loud about their faith and just show their best “angle” by being tolerant and being nice to others.

On the other hand, if the government is not too conscious of the issue on separation between the State and the Church, somehow, there will be harmony. It is true that it is provided in the Law of the Land, the Constitution, but why not give a chance to the “unwritten rules” dictated by the heart and common sense?  For instance, as the various religious communities have more viability as regards morality which goes with spirituality, their strength can prop up the effort of the government in building up the welfare of the Filipino youth.

As regards the youth, there are many “homes” administered by the religious groups and most of them are in dire need of financial and material support. Meanwhile, the social workers who work in the government facilities are limited on what they learned from books. If molding of the youth is the issue, there is a need to inject a spiritual element in this effort and the lay social workers cannot do that, but only the religious people. The youth cannot be considered successfully developed if their spiritual foundation which has got to do with morality is weak and crumbling that may eventually result to their becoming disgraceful citizens of the nation.

There was a time when the miserable situation of the young detainees in a local government rehabilitation facility was exposed. Such disclosure was underscored by the misuse of budget as it was found out that the detainees were not fed properly. In this regard, lay administrators do not give a damn if they are found to be irresponsible as they have ways to avoid prosecution of the earthly court. On the other hand, the religious people may think twice before misbehaving as part of their guidance is about suffering in hell if they exploit their fellow creatures!

Reminder for the Holy Week…

Tolerance, Love

and the Golden Rule

by Apolinario Villalobos

To prevent irritants that oftentimes result to misunderstanding among those with differing religious inclination, it is important that tolerance should be observed. Imposition of one’s religious belief to others should not be made. The virtues of the religious belief that one practices should be put into action, instead of just being mumbled. That way, the person who wants to share his religious leaning becomes convincing and his acts, emulated, without being loud about it. The act should be dictated by the heart…

It is by tolerating others for their chosen religious affiliation that understanding is shown them which is a manifestation of love. There should be no arrogant comparison of one’s own religion with that of others. Also, there could have been no need for a reminder from the pope about this matter if only we have been observing the Golden Rule…if we don’t want to be harassed with overzealous preaching, we should not do the same to others. To do the positive way of such rule….we should show tolerance and love to others, if we want them to show the same to us. The Golden Rule is dictated by the common sense…..

Ipaubaya sa Iba ang Hindi Kayang Gawin,

at Huwag Kaiinggitan ang Tinamo nilang Tagumpay

Ni Apolinario Villalobos

Marami sa atin ay kakambal na yata ang inggit. Ito ang mga taong ang gusto ay kilalanin sila na pinakamagaling kahit wala naman napatunayan o di kaya ay hanggang salita lang ang kayang gawin. Sila rin yong halos ay dapaan ang mundo, dahil lahat ay gustong gawin, at ayaw magbigay ng pagkakataon sa iba. At sila pa rin yong mga taong mahilig mangpuna o mag-criticize pero wala namang nakahandang suhestiyon.

Dahil sa utak na taglay, lahat ng taong normal ay may kakayahang gumawa ng iba’t ibang bagay subalit ang antas ng kagalingan at tagumpay ay hindi pareho, kaya nga sa bokabularyo ay merong mga katagang naghahambing. Inggit ang dahilan kung bakit ayaw tanggapin ng ibang mayroong mas magaling sa kanila. Ang tao ay may kakayahang magsikap upang makaakyat sa mga baytang ng buhay at marating ang tugatog ng tagumpay. Pero hindi lahat ng tao ay may kakayahang gumawa nito, katotohanan na dapat ay tanggapin. Hayaan na ang ibang makapagpatuloy dahil sa kakayahan ng kanilang talino at yaman. Huwag silang kaiinggitan, sa halip ay pagsikapang makagawa ng mga paraang angkop sa inabot na baytang ng pagsisikap. Halimbawang ang kaya lang na negosyo ay isang sari-sari store, at hindi big time na grocery, pagkitaan na lang na mabuti ang sari-sari store at pagpursigihin ang pag-ipon, sa halip na umutang upang maging grocery ang maliit na tindahan. Applicable ang “no guts, no glory” sa mga angkop na larangan, hindi sa lahat, kaya piliing mabuti kung saang larangan ka magaling at doon mo patunayan ang kasabihang yan, sa halip na isiping kung nagawa ng iba ay kaya mo ring gawin.

May mga tao namang hindi nakakaalam kung sa aling larangan sila magaling kaya kailangan nila ang payo ng iba bilang pag-alalay sa kanila. Kapag nagtagumpay sila sa ini-suggest na gawain, sila mismo ay nagugulat at nagsasabing hindi nila akalain na kaya pala nila. Kabaligtaran ang nabanggit, ng ugali ng ibang Pilipino na mahilig magsabi ng, “kaya ko rin yan”, kahit alam nilang hindi nila kayang gawin ang ginagawa ng taong kinaiinggitan. Sa isang banda,  ang ibang Pilipino ay mahilig ring magsabi ng “nakakainggit ka” na hindi maganda ang dating. Sa halip, ang sabihin dapat ay “nakabibilib ka, gagayahin kita”.

Tulad na lang ng kuwento tungkol sa isang nanay na mahilig maiinggit sa kanyang mga kaibigang magaling magluto, at ang expression ay, “nakakainngit ka”. Ang isang sinabihan ay napuno na kaya binara siya ng “gumaya ka!”. Puro salitang inggit kasi ang palaging lumalabas sa bibig ng nanay na ito sa halip na gayahin ang magandang ginagawa ng iba, kaya hanggang sa nakapag-asawa ang mga anak, ay hindi man lang natutong magluto ng adobo! Kung makita namang maayos ang hitsura ng mga kaibigan dahil marunong mag-manage ng oras, kaya may panahong maligo at maglinis ng katawan, siya namang tamad maglinis man lang ng bahay ay burara pa sa katawan, kaya sa tingin pa lang ay mabaho na!

May isa namang kakilala lang ang tahasang nagsabi sa aking, “kaya ko ring gumawa ng tula”. Nagulat ako sa sinabi niya dahil hindi naman ako nagbabanggit sa kanya ng ginagawa kong blogging. Siya ang nagpasimula ng usapin tungkol sa mga tula na nababanggit pala sa kanya ng mga kakilala naming nakakabasa ng mga isinulat kong ina-upload ko sa facebook. Inisip ko na lang na talagang magaling siya dahil taal siyang “Tagalog”, taga-Batangas kasi, samantalang ako ay hindi dahil taga-Mindanao. Upang hindi na humaba ang usapan, sinagot ko siya ng, “okey lang…trying hard lang naman ako”. Inimbita ko siyang magbigay ng isang tula upang ma-ipost sa mga sites ko….mag-iisang taon na ngayon, ni isang talata ng tula ay wala siyang naibigay sa akin. Mataas ang puwesto niya sa isang kumpanya, kaya feeling niya, dahil sa kanyang trabaho, walang ibang dapat lumamang sa kanya – sa lahat ng bagay, pati na sa paggawa ng tula. Kawawa naman ang tula, ginamit sa walang kapararakang naramdamang inggit!

Hindi magandang pairalin ang inggit dahil nakakahila ito pababa ng ibang taong nagsisikap na mabuhay nang maayos sa abot ng kanilang makakaya. Lalong maganda sana na yong mga nakakaangat na sa buhay, na may napansing nagsisikap na kaibigan o ibang tao kahit hindi kilala, dapat ay tumulong sa pamamagitan ng pagtulak sa mga ito upang mapadali ang kanilang  pag-angat o pagsulong. Ang pagsisikap ng mga taong ito ay hindi naman nakakasakit ng kapwa nila tao, at ang layunin lang nila ay upang magkaroon ng marangal na pamumuhay at upang maiwasan nilang umasa sa limos ng iba!

Kaya bilang pangwakas, sa halip na maiinggit, tanggapin ang mga kahinaan, o kung hindi kayang tanggapin ay doblehin ang pagsisikap sa abot ng makakaya…makipagtulungan sa magagaling na nakakatulong naman sa kapwa at bayan…at, higit sa lahat, tumulong sa pag-asenso ng iba, sa halip na manghila, upang hindi sila makadagdag sa bilang ng mga taong binibigyan ng limos!

Tolerance should be respected

By Apolinario Villalobos

There is nothing wrong with tolerance which even the people’s pope, Francis is practicing. It is important however, that we should recognize and respect such. It should be noted that our rights end where the rights of others begin. Tolerating the ways of others should not mean that they are given the right to go beyond the line beyond which others dwell on their own rights.

In this regard, it is important that religions should be tolerated and respected – not abused and ridiculed. The latest bombing of Charlie Hebdon in France is a clear manifestation of how some people can have the temerity to ridicule other people’s religion, this time, Islam. The bombed group even has the gall to justify their act by mentioning that the new pope had his share of ridicule, but the latter did not react. How can these people forget that human beings differ in their degree of tolerance?  …or better, people belonging to different races differ in character from each other? Why can’t these French just ridicule their fellow French, for fun?

Most importantly, religion is such a sensitive issue deserving utmost respect. Its spirituality deserves the highest degree of esteem, as it deals with a person’s total being – his life and relationship with his Creator. And, nobody has the right to question such faith.

The Islamic State issue is more than annoying enough that it even disheartens some Muslims who go against the violent ways of the said movement. Comparing faiths at this time is uncalled for and can just worsen the heating up friction between the Christian and Islamic faiths. Groups of so-called “concerned intelligentsia” are nothing but hypocrites who cannot even discern the simple meaning of the “Golden Rule”.

Finally, the best act that one can do if he desires to go beyond boundaries of differences is by simply extending a hand beyond them for the sole purpose of helping.

What Jesus Taught

…and what man advocates

By Apolinario Villalobos

               

Jesus taught charity, but man advocates selfishness

Jesus taught love, but man advocates hatred

Jesus taught compassion, but man advocates indifference

Jesus taught mercy, but man advocates cruelty

Jesus taught tolerance, but man advocates aggressiveness

Jesus taught piety, but man advocates wickedness

Jesus taught kindness, but man advocates thoughtlessness

Jesus taught humility, but man advocates arrogance

Unless man frees himself from the shackle of pride

Till death, to righteousness, he will be blind

And, limitless desire for worldly comfort

Will be in his heart, for all its worth!

Imperfection, Tolerance, and Peace

By Apolinario Villalobos

Nothing on earth is perfect. That is the reason why nobody has the right to say that his or her religion or family or child, decision, etc. is perfect. Not even identical twins are perfectly identical. Religion which is invented by man is not perfect or rather, the perfect way towards eternal Bliss. Religions do not teach perfect philosophies or way of life. Some people behind religions use fraudulent tactics in their conversion efforts. Some churches regardless of faith have been questioned since the early times on the issue of corruption. But this does not mean that religion is totally bad. Somehow, as it is supposed to teach virtues, there is still righteousness in it.

Since nobody and nothing else, for that matter, on earth is perfect, it is necessary that we should be tolerant to one another, especially, on the issue of faith. Let us avoid criticizing others, instead, we should manifest goodness in our action to the humanly best we can and hope that others will emulate us. If we fail to understand imperfection, as well as, practice tolerance of differences that prevail among us, there will never be peace, as each one will always try to prove that he is the best.

If communist countries will not tolerate the democratic system of their neighboring countries, expect clash of ideologies and eventually, war, which already happened in the past, and may erupt again soon. If Islamic advocates will not tolerate the evangelizing efforts of Christians who visit homes to share the Good News in a Muslim community, expect prosecutions that will result to hatred.

On the other hand, there is always the choice between good and better, and the final choice between better and best. But, it does not mean that what comes out as the best is already perfect. One who thinks this way, must be standing on the pedestal of pride!

Tolerance should have limitations

…that must be respected

By Apolinario Villalobos

There is nothing wrong with tolerance which even the people’s pope, Francis is practicing. It is important however, that we should recognize and respect its limitations or boundaries. We should always remember that our rights end where the rights of others begin. Tolerating the ways of others should not mean that they can go beyond the line beyond which others dwell on their own kind of rights.

It is important that religions should be tolerated and respected – not abused and ridiculed. The latest bombing of Charlie Hebdon in France is a clear manifestation of how some people can have the temerity to ridicule other people’s religion, this time, Islam. The bombed group even has the gall to justify their act by mentioning that the new pope had his share of ridicule, but the latter did not react. How can these people forget that human beings differ in degrees of tolerance?  …or better, peoples belonging to different races differ from each other? Why can’t these French just ridicule their fellow French, for fun?

Most importantly, religion is such a sensitive issue deserving utmost respect. Its spirituality deserves the highest degree of esteem, as it deals with a person’s total being – his life and relationship to his Creator. And, nobody has the right to question such faith.

The Islamic State issue is more than annoying enough that it even disheartens some Muslims who go against the violent ways of the said movement. Comparing faiths at this time is uncalled for and can just worsen the heating up friction between the Christian and Islamic faiths. Groups of so-called “concerned intelligentsia” are nothing but hypocrites who cannot even discern the simple meaning of the “Golden Rule”.

Finally, the best act that one can do if he desires to go beyond boundaries of differences is by simply extending a hand beyond them for the sole purpose of helping.