Sa Holy Week, Hindi Lang Dapat

Mga Batang Nagugutom ang Pakainin

Ni Apolinario Villalobos

Ang sinabi ni Cardinal Tagle na sa pangingilin ng mga Kristiyano, isama ang pagpakain sa mga batang gutom…para sa akin ay bitin, kulang. Dapat ay buong pamilya na ang pakainin dahil kung may mga batang gutom, malamang ay gutom din ang kanilang pamilya dahil sa kahirapan, maliban lang kung ang tinutukoy ni Cardinal Tagle ay mga batang kalye na lumayas mula sa kanilang mga tahanan. Sa isang banda, kahit ang tinutukoy ni Cardinal Tagle ay ang batang sumisinghot ng rugby, o mga “batang hamog”, dapat isiping may mga pamilyang gutom din namang nakatira sa bangket at yong iba ay ginawa pang tahanan ang kariton. Hindi lang dapat pagkain ang ibigay sa kanila kundi pati na rin damit at tarpaulin na panglatag sa sementong hinihigaan.

Maliban sa tao, sana naman ay isama na rin ng mga nangingilin ang mga hayop na nasa kalye – mga aso at pusang walang mga “tao”, o mga taong nag-aalaga, o walang tahanan inuuwian. Sila ay may mga buhay din naman. Sana ang mga taong nangingilin na naglagay pa ng uling na hugis krus sa noo nang sumapit ang Ash Wednesday ay hindi mandiri sa pag-abot ng pagkain sa aso at pusang tadtad ng galis ang katawan kaya halos mawalan na ng balahibo. Sana ay hindi sila maduwal o masuka kung abutan nila ang mga ito ng mga pinira-pirasong tinapay.

At baka, maaari na ring isama ang isa pang nilalang ng Diyos na bahagi na rin ng buhay ng tao – ang mga halaman. Maraming tao ang pabaya sa kanilang mga halaman. Sila ang mga taong ang hangad lang sa pagbili ng mga halaman ay makisabay sa mga kinainggitang kapitbahay, subalit dahil talagang walang hilig, kalaunan ay pinabayaan na nila ang mga kawawang halaman. Itong mga mayayabang kaya ang gutumin at uhawin? Kung ayaw na nilang mag-alaga sa pinagyabang na mga halaman sana ay ipamigay na lang din nila sa mga kapitbahay na hindi nila kinaiinggitan.

Kung dapat maging mabait ang mga nangingilin sa mga hayop at halaman sa Holy Week, sana ay bigyan din nila ng puwang sa kanilang dasal ang mga taong ASAL-HAYOP na nagkalat sa Kongreso, Senado, at mga ahensiya ng gobyerno. Sana ay ipagdasal nila ang pagbago ng mga ASAL-HAYOP na mga taong ito upang hindi pa madagdagan pa ang haba ng kanilang mga sungay!

Higit sa lahat, sana ang gagawing pangingilin ng mga tao sa taong 2016  ay hindi dahil nakisabay lang sila sa mga kaibigan, kundi dahil bukal sa kanilang kalooban. Hindi sana nila gagawin ang pangingilin para sa mga nagawa nilang kasalanan, kundi upang bigyan din sila ng lakas na mapaglabanan ang tukso sa paggawa ulit ng mga kasalanan. Tuluy-tuloy sana nilang gawin ang pangingilin taon-taon, habang kaya nila hanggang sila ay malagutan ng hininga!

(for Claudio Estante)

By Apolinario Villalobos

Just when others quiver at the sight of a coming storm

Tremble at the sound of a deafening thunder

Give way to the gusty wind of a swirling typhoon

This man stayed put with eyes never blinking -

With courage, he stayed amidst life’s turmoil;

All the way, this man stood tall.

He worked without expecting so much to gain

But trusting and loyal friends surrounded him till end 

For how can one be not drawn to his radiant smile

And teasing twinkle of  eyes that mirrored his soul ?

This man, indeed, friends will never  forget

As even in a milling throng, he stood out tall.

The few miles of his life, he took with careful stride

Knowing that someday come what may, he’ll call it quits

He’ll face the day and reckoning will be made

Hence, just when the light of his life started to flicker

He prepared for the day he’s been waiting;

So even in silence his innocent smile did not leave his lips

For at the pearly gate as he shall wave to all -

He shall do it proudly while standing tall.

(Claudio Estante initiated the operation of the Department of Social Welfare in Tacurong in the mid-70’s during which the encounters between the Christian Ilagas and Muslim Black Shirts were at their worst. He spearheaded the distribution of relief goods throughout the province with Tacurong as the base. Tacurong which was then a struggling municipality during that time was under the mayorship of Jose Escribano. When he retired, Mr. Estante organized the senior citizens of the city. He was at the helm of the organization until he finally rested in July 5, 2012.)

Harmonizing Life with Time

…by virtue of Discipline

By Apolinario Villalobos

We cannot control time, much more, go against its ticking hands. But we can live in harmony with it by virtue of discipline. We cannot turn back the hands of time, as the song says, so we have to synchronize our life with it for our own advantage.

Synchronizing with time and the degree that calls for it differs according to culture and environment. In Spain, siesta time after lunch till early afternoon is a very part of its people’s culture. Their “nighttime” is also long, lasting till the wee hours of the morning. Meanwhile, in other countries, the people are not conscious of time.

In a well- disciplined country like Japan, time is treated with respect. And, so is in the United States, where time is followed to the last second, in which at the strike of five, everything is dropped. In European countries, the same treatment of time is observed – with strictness, hinged on discipline.

The standard work period is eight hours. But to date, because of the many factors that affect the day to day lives of the people, especially, traffic, “broken time” is applied by some companies, for as long as the eight-hour period is completed. Adjustment is made on the work period of employees in consideration of the traffic and distance that needs to be covered by commuting from their home.

On the other hand, regardless of whether we are in a workplace, at home or just anywhere, time is very much part of our activity…our life. Practically, since the first day that life is developed in the womb of the mother, time element is already involved, such as the number of days until the fetus finally breaths the fresh air as it comes out into the world. And, the development of the growing child is reckoned by phases of time– physically, mentally, and emotionally.

In wrapping up, the besting thing to do, if we do not want to be hassled then, is by being always ahead of time. Whatever time is “earned” can always be used for some other things that we need to make our life comfortable. We should, however, remember always, that living in harmony with time should be tempered with discipline so that we can use it to live a comfortable life.

Philosophies in Life

By Apolinario Villalobos

Due to differing beliefs and advocacies of mankind, it is best to know to which “school” or group of thought we belong:

Don’t Be Flattered by the Praise

Nor Be Discouraged by a Fault

By Apolinario Villalobos

Praise and fault should both be viewed as inspirations. One should not stop where praise is given nor be discouraged when a fault has been committed. It should be remembered that living is a continuous striving for the better. When praise is given, it means that one is being encouraged to aim for a higher level of accomplishment. When one commits a fault, it means that he should employ another means to attain his goal, and not for him to cease from striving.

Satisfaction is never a one hundred percent result based on impression. That is why in competitions there are judges. And, even though there is a so-called unanimous decision from the judges, there are still dissatisfied spectators in the audience. The elected government officials are not given a one hundred percent support by the constituents. Even Jesus did not please every Jew. And, God does not get one hundred percent devotion from His creatures as the world abounds with heretics – the ungrateful ones.

So, the next time you are praised, keep your feet on the ground, and just be nonchalant about it. On the other hand, if you commit a fault, admit it, and exert more effort and do your best the second time around.