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Ang Mga Pagsubok sa Buhay ng mga Pilipino

Posted on Tuesday, 20 December 2016

ANG MGA PAGSUBOK SA BUHAY NG MGA PILIPINO

Ni Apolinario Villalobos

Noong unang panahong saklaw ng Bibliya, gumamit ng mga pagano ang kinikilalang Panginoon ng mga “Piniling Nilalang” (Chosen People), upang mabuksan ang kanilang isip. Pinadanas sa kanila ang maraming uri ng paghihirap dahil sa ginawa nilang pagsuway ng Kanyang mga utos. Ang mga pangyayari ay hindi nalalayo sa mga nangyayari sa Pilipinas. May mga pangyayari at mga tao ring ginagamit ang kinikilalang Panginoon ng mga Pilipino upang magkaroon sila ng leksiyon, tulad ng mga sumusunod:

Paggamit ng kahirapan mula sa kamay ng mga korap na mga opisyal sa gobyerno. Dahil diyan, lalong umigting ang pananampalataya ng mga Katoliko, kaya noon, mistulang ginamit si Marcos upang magpahirap sa mga Pilipino, hanggang sa may lumutang na isang Cardinal Sin na nagbigay sa kanila ng inspirasyon. Subalit nasayang ang pagkakataong pinagkaloob ng People Power dahil makalipas ang ilang administrasyon, mula nang bumagsak ang Martial Law ay lalo pang namayagpag ang corruption dahil ang mga Pilipino ay hindi nagbago. Ibinoto pa rin ang mga tiwali, kapalit ang ilang pirasong perang papel.

Sa pag-usad ng panahon, unti-unting lumaki ang problema sa droga na mistula ding ginamit ng Panginoon upang magpahirap pa rin sa mga Pilipino. Nagdatingan ang mga dayuhang drug lords na nagtayo pa ng mga laboratoryo sa paggawa ng shabu. Subalit sa kabila ng mga nakikita na sa paligid na pagdami ng mga drug addict at drug pusher, HALOS WALANG MAGAWA ang gobyerno dahil mismong mga ahensiya at opisyal na dapat magpatupad ng batas ay sangkot na rin, pati mga mambabatas at insititusyon tulad ng Bilibid na dapat sana ay ginagamit sa pagbabago ng mga nahuli. Pati ang ilang mga magulang ay adik na rin kaya nakikisalo sa mga anak na adik kung suminghot ng shabu. Sa kabuuhan ay tila walang pakialam ang mga Pilipino, lalo na ang mga kaya sa buhay dahil hindi naman sila nabibiktima, at lalung-lalo na ang mga “moralista” na walang kibo. Ang problema sa droga, mga adik, drug lords at drug laboratories ay pagpapakita ng mga naipong pagkakamali pero hindi pa rin pinansin.

Nagkaroon ng presidente, si Duterte, na nagkalakas ng loob upang sagupain ang bisyo ng droga at korapsyon, pero may mga taong sakim sa pulitika at makasarili, lalo na ang mga “moralista” kuno na pumipigil sa kanya. Kaya sa kabila ng mga ginagawa niya para sa pagbabago at kabutihan sana ng lahat, may mga pumapanig pa rin sa mga pinatay na kriminal sa ngalan ng mga batas kuno, na puro naman may butas dahil gawa lang din ng mga mambabatas na tiwali. Ang mga “moralista” kuno ay pumanig pa sa mga pinatay na mga kriminal sa halip na mga biktima nila.

Samantala, ang mga sumusunod ay mga hudyat na nagpapakitang dapat ay lalo pa nating pag-isipan ang kalagayan nating mga Pilipino sa panahon ngayon:

Ang pagkabisto ng pakikiapid ni de Lima sa lalaking may asawa. Dapat ay maisip natin na pwede palang gawin ng isang kapita-pitagang abogadang senadora ang karumal-dumal na pakikipagrelasyon na nabanggit, kaya siguradong marami pang mga mambabatas na may kahalintulad na ginawa, subalit dahil hindi maingay tulad ni de Lima, ay hindi napapansin.

Ang pagtuturuan ng mga sangkot sa droga – mga kilalang drug lord at kakutsaba nila sa gobyerno. Dapat ay maisip natin na TOTOO PALA ANG ISYU SA PAGKALAT NG DROGA NA NABISTO LANG DAHIL KAY DUTERTE, AT HINDI TSISMIS.

Ang anomalya sa Bureau of Immigrations tungkol sa big- time illegal casino operator na si Lam. Dapat ay maisip natin na hindi malayong mangyaring nagkakaroon din ng big time na suhulan at kutsabahan sa iba pang ahensiya lalo na sa Bureau of Customs na noon pa man ay kinikilala nang isa sa nuknukan ng pagkakorap na ahensiya dahil sa mga nabistong big time smuggling….at, paano na iba pang mga ahensiya? Kaylan tuluyang ibubunyag ang kanilang mga katiwalian?

Ang mga anomalya tungkol sa illegal na paggamit ng pork barrel at mga karumal-dumal na mga krimen tulad ng Maguindanao Massacre na inuupuan pa rin ng mga mababagal kumilos na mga opisyal…at dahil sa kakapalan ng mukha ay kapit-tuko pa rin sa mga puwesto.

Kaylan magkakaroon ng talagang mapagkakatiwalaang tauhan ang presidente, dahil kahit ang mga niluklok niya ay unti-unti nang nagpapakita ng tunay na kulay at kalamyaan?

Kaylan tayo magbabago, lalo na ang mga pumipigil ng mga hakbang tungo sa pagbabago? Hihintayin ba nilang sila mismo ay maging biktima na rin ng mga kriminal?

The San Pedro Calungsod Parish Church of Tacurong City

Posted on Monday, 19 December 2016

The San Pedro Calungsod Parish Church of Tacurong City

By Apolinario Villalobos

My curiosity about the new San Pedro Calungsod parish was triggered by the information about it from Bogz Jamorabon last year. Then I came across the photo-posts of Ruoma “Amor” Maluyo Taganas in his facebook. The photos from exactly a year ago, as it was taken during December, too, showed kids waking up and preparing for the Misa de Gallo and their unguarded moments while resting and taking catnaps. For me, their recorded unguarded moments were manifestations of heartfelt sacrifice. They are the members of the Knights of the Altar of San Pedro Calungsod Parish.

To date, the San Pedro Calungsod parish church is yet, a structure of massive and imposing concrete circular wall within which is the worship area with an altar, several chairs and benches, and covered with rubberized tarpaulin. Though frugally initiated, the effort to put up the foundation can be considered monumental, as the parish has just been established only in October 23, 2014 to serve the faithful who live far from the city, and in barangays such as Montilla, Lachica, the Upper and Lower Katungal, Baras, New Passi, and New Isabela. The parish is politically within the jurisdiction of Barangay New Isabela.

Admirably, the church leader, Amor lives “on the other side” of the city, San Emmanuel which is part of the parish of Our Lady of the Holy Candle, and far from the San Pedro Calungsod. I learned that he patiently motors his way to the parish from his home using a “single” motorcycle. Sometimes, we cannot really tell when the call of devotion would come as it did to Amor and to answer such call, he might be scrimping on some personal needs to save for the fuel of his motorcycle.

The land on which the church stands has been donated by the Notre Dame Educational Association Foundation-Tacurong. The area covered by the parish is partly agricultural, being filled with pockets of African palm, corn, rice, plots of vegetables, as well as, residential, shown by newly-developed subdivisions sliced from lands that saw good old days as rice and corn fields. Not far from it is Tacurong’s famous wildlife sanctuary for migratory birds, the Baras Bird Sanctuary operated by Rey Malana with the financial assistance of the city government. A little farther still, is another tourist landmark of the city, the Vicenteaux International Resort in New Passi, operated by Roger Bernardo, a self-made barrio guy who, through dint of hard work and frugality was able to etch his name in the city’s political landmark and contributed a lot to its economic development.

The parish provides a “short cut” passage to Banga and Surallah, towns of South Cotabato. Surallah is the gateway to T’boli, a tribal community which is among the country’s touristic come-ons for culture enthusiasts. Providing the natural western boundary with Isulan, site of the Sultan Kudarat Provincial Capitol, is the Kapingkong River which many locals prefer to call Katungal River. It connects with the Rio Grande de Cotabato and used to teem with crocodiles, but today, only their cousins, the “bayawak” can be found along the banks dense with tall tropical grass and occasional trees. But they may not last for long because they are being hunted for food.

When I visited the parish church with only Amor aware of my arrival, I found volunteers decorating the Mass area for the Misa de Gallo with the bemoustached Fr. Diosdado A. Esguerra, DCC, himself, who was simply clad in t-shirt, denims and slippers. He was a picture of humility and whose fatherly affection to his volunteers was obvious. He melded with them well, as I even thought that he was not the parish priest, had not Amor told me. On the other hand, Amor exudes similar humility duplicated by his prudence, as he does not talk if not spoken to.

The parish is aptly named after the young Filipino saint, San Pedro Calungsod who only had a palm leaf with him to symbolize the coming of the Christian Faith to a Pacific island that he and other Catholic missionaries visited. The faithful of the new parish on the other hand, are one in singing the “Hallelujah” for the realization of their dream…to have a church not far from their home.

I am calling on balikbayan Tacurongnongs to include in their itinerary a visit to the San Pedro Calungsod Church, if they plan to visit T’boli, birdwatch at the Baras Bird Sanctuary and later proceed to the Vicenteaux International Resort in New Passi for a refreshing dip in the pools of spring water. A visit would give them an idea on what to sincerely offer to San Pedro Calungsod. The church is on the left side, after the traditionally called “Crossing Rajah Muda”, if one takes the “short cut” to Banga and Surallah.

Mga Tanong Tungkol sa mga Pangyayari sa Buhay ng Tao at Droga

MGA TANONG TUNGKOL SA MGA PANGYAYARI

SA BUHAY NG TAO AT DROGA

Ni Apolinario Villalobos

· Kung mangati ang balat natin, hindi ba kinakamot ang bahaging nangangati, dahil ito ang unang nararamdaman bago tayo pumunta sa derma doctor upang magpasuri?

· Kung nagkaroon tayo ng sugat na maliit, hindi ba tinatapalan ng “band aid” o pinapatakan ng gamot upang maampat muna ang pagdugo, at saka magpa-ineksiyon kung kailangan?

· Kung sumakit ang gilagid dahil sa ngiping may butas, hindi ba umiinom muna ng pain killer upang mawala ang pamamaga ng gilagid at pananakit bago tayo pumunta sa dentista para ipabunot ang sirang ngipin?

· Kung nagagalit ang mga magulang sa maliliit pang mga anak na ayaw pasaway, hindi ba pinapalo muna sila bago pinapaliwanagan ng dahilan?

· Hindi ba kung may sunog, pinapatay muna ang apoy na tumutupok sa bahay, bago iniimbistigahan ang dahilan ng sunog?

· HINDI BA ANG DROGANG NAKASIRA SA BUHAY NG MGA KABATAAN AY DIREKTANG GALING SA MGA DRUG PUSHER?...NA IBIG SABIHIN, ANG MGA DRUG PUSHER ANG MGA DIREKTANG SUMISIRA NG LIPUNAN?

KUNG ANG SAGOT AY OO, BAKIT MARAMI ANG NAGAGALIT KUNG MAY MGA DRUG PUSHER NA NAPAPATAY, GANOONG SILA ANG DIREKTANG DAHILAN KUNG BAKIT KUMALAT ANG DROGA? BAKIT HINDI SILA “KAMUTIN” UPANG MATANGGAL AGAD ANG “PANGANGATING” DULOT NILA SA LIPUNAN, NA TALAGA NAMANG SUSUNDAN NG TULUYANG “PAGGAMOT SA SAKIT SA PAMAMAGITAN NG PAGLIPOL NG MGA SUPPLIER AT DRUG LORDS?”

KILALA ANG MGA DRUG PUSHER NA DIREKTANG DAHILAN NG PAGKASIRA NG MGA KOMUNIDAD, BAKIT SILA HAHAYAANG PAKALAT-KALAT LANG NA PARA PANG NAGYAYABANG?

MAY MGA DRUG PUSHER NA HINDI NAMAN ADDICT AT TALAGANG PERA LANG ANG HABOL AT ALAM NILANG MASAMA ANG KANILANG GINAGAWA NA MAY KARAMPATANG PARUSA KUNG SILA AY MAHUHULI. YAN AY DAHIL MAY TALINO SILA AT HINDI NAMAN MGA BALIW NA WALANG KATINUAN ANG PAG-IISIP. DAHIL ALAM NG MGA SALOT NA ITO NG LIPUNAN ANG KANILANG GINAGAWA, BAKIT SILA KAAAWAAN? BAKIT HINDI IBIGAY ANG AWA SA KANILANG MGA BIKTIMA?

Ang ISANG drug pusher ay NAKAKAPAMINSALA NG DAAN-DAANG KABATAANG ESTUDYANTE MAN O HINDI, AT DAAN-DAAN DING PAMILYA. Kung ikumpara ang mga numero, alin ang mas malaki? At dahil hindi lang isa ang drug pusher sa buong bansa, hindi ba nakakabahala ang milyon-milyong buhay na sinisira nila?

Ang Pasko at Bagong Taon

ANG PASKO AT BAGONG TAON

Ni Apolinario Villalobos

Paulit-ulit…paulit-ulit, tuwing sasapit ang pasko at bagong taon ang pagsabi na, “tayo ay magmahalan, magbigayan, magpatawaran, at tumulong sa kapwa”. Ni wala man lang masambit na “alang-alang kay Hesus dahil birthday niya”. Para sa KARAMIHAN, ang lahat na dapat gawin ay dahil sa nakasanayan nang bahagi ng espiritwal na kultura. Ganyan din ang nangyayari pagsapit ng bagong taon na hinihintay pa para gawin ang pagbabago. At, ang nakakalungkot, para sa KARAMIHAN, ang pasko ay kasingkahulugan ng bonus, regalo, pagkain, caroling, party, bagong damit, bagong laruan, atbp. Marami ang dumadalo sa Misa de Gallo na animo ay nagpa-fashion show…nagpapakita ng legs at cleavage.

Sa Pilipinas kung saan ay may pinakamahabang pasko dahil nagsisimula na Setyembre pa lang, ang gawi ng mga taong masama ay ganoon pa rin. Ang mga kurakot sa gobyerno ay kurakot pa rin. Ang mga adik at pusher ay ganoon pa rin. Ang mga mandurukot at akyat-bahay ay nagnanakaw pa rin. Ang napapansin lang ay ang pagsigla ng mga negosyo ng mga kalakal lalo na ng mararangyang pagkain at laruan para sa mga bata. Ang mga may pambayad sa kuryente ay halos maglagablab ang bahay dahil sa dami ng Christmas lights.

At, nagkakaroon pa ng countdown, pati Misa de Gallo hanggang sa pagsapit ng pasko. Pero habang nagka-countdown, ang KARAMIHAN naman ay tuloy pa rin ang paggawa ng hindi maganda at hihintayin na lang daw nila ang katapusan ng Disyembre para maisama sa listahan ng New Year’s Resolution ang dapat baguhin. Ang nakalista naman, kalimitan ay nasusunod hanggang ikatlo o ikaapat na buwan lamang ng sumunod na taon. Ang masaklap, ILAN sa mga kabataan ay ginagamit na dahilan ang Misa de Gallo upang magkita silang magbabarkada at makapagdi-display ng bagong damit, sapatos, at iba pa. Nag-iingay sila sa pamamagitan ng malakas na halakhakan upang makakuha ng atension sa halip na pumasok sa simbahan.

Pagkalipas ng bagong taon, hindi nasunod ang pagdidiyeta…masarap kasi ang adobo, menudo, atbp. Hindi nasunod ang pagtitipid…sayang kasi kung hindi bilhin ang na-sale na handbag, damit, ang promo na tiket para sa Boracay o Hongkong. Hindi nasunod ang pagtigil sa pag-inom ng alak….nakakahiya kasi sa mga barkada kung hindi pagbigyan. Hindi nasunod ang pagtigil sa paghitit ng sigarilyo….nakakapanginig kasi at nakakalagnat kapag walang matikmang usok sa maghapon. Hindi hiniwalayan ang kabit dahil kawawa ang dalawang anak at mas masarap kasi ang luto ng kaysa tunay na asawa. Tuloy pa rin ang pangungurakot dahil ang iba ay hindi rin tumigil. At, napakarami pang ibang “nabali” na pangako!

Kung maging bahagi lang sana ng ating pagkatao ang paggawa ng kabutihan sa kapwa, hindi na kailangang maghintay pa ng pasko at bagong taon para gawin ito. Magiging “routine” na lang sa isang tao ang paggawa ng kabutihan kung mula sa paggising niya sa umaga hanggang sa nakatulog siya sa gabi ay walang bahid ng kasamaan ang kanyang mga sasabihin at ikikilos. Kung walang perang pantulong sa iba, halimbawa, huwag na lang mang- alipusta o magyabang, o di kaya manglamang ng kapwa. Huwag ding maging ganid o kamkam upang walang maapi at maghirap dahil sa epekto ng ginawa.

Ang mga binabalak na gawin tuwing pasko at bagong taon ay pwedeng gawin araw-araw. Ang regalong ibibigay, halimbawa, ay hindi kailangang materyal na bagay. Ang pagpapakita ng pagmamahal sa kapwa ay walang katumbas na anumang salapi at hindi na kailangang bilhin pa…maging totoo lang sa pagmahal ay okey na. At ang pinakamahalaga, kung araw-araw ay maganda naman ang ginagawa, ibig sabihin ay wala nang dapat baguhin pagdating ng bagong taon….hindi na kailangan pang ipunin ang mga masamang ginawa sa loob ng isang taon upang ilista sa New Year’s Resolution na dapat baguhin KUNO dahil pakitang tao lang pala! Pero dapat isipin na hindi tayo ligtas sa pagmamasid ng ISANG PINAKA-MAKAPANGYARIHAN SA LAHAT na tinatawag sa iba’t ibang pangalan!

Sincere Friendship

SINCERE FRIENDSHIP

By Apolinario Villalobos

The best way to realize or put into practice our purpose in life is by befriending the needy…reaching out to them. The needy do not need millions or thousands or hundreds of pesos. All they need are handfuls of rice, few pieces of coins, old but still wearable clothes, slippers, and so many other things that most of us just throw away or leave to rot in the backyard or stockroom.

But many people WOULD RATHER befriend affluent or influential people who are friends of their friends, friends of these friends, still friends of these friends, and so on. They exert all efforts to find connections that they can use to realize their selfish motive of riding on the fame or worse, benefit from the financial affluence of other people. Sometimes this happens during the christening of children. Some parents endeavor to include influential people in the long list of godparents, for obvious reasons already mentioned, other than what is expected of them as “second parents” of the godchildren. Along this line, some couples, also, ask friends who know mayors or barangay chairmen or other local officials to stand as sponsors during their wedding, for the same aforementioned reason. In other words, many would like to befriend people for selfish motives, most especially, for prestige and financial security.

In this regard, even the mass weddings sponsored by mayors, and which are viewed by many as done with sincerity, are in fact used as a political tool. For delicadeza’s sake, the mayor could have just spent for the snacks and pay the honorarium of the conducting priest or pastor or minister, AND ASSIGN ANY OF HIS NON-POLITICAL STAFF TO STAND AS SPONSOR, PERHAPS, THE REGISTER OF DEEDS, CHIEF OF THE REVENUE OFFICE, ETC. What happens is that, when election time comes, these “inaanak” become the campaigners for their “ninong mayor”…a puking reality! Truth is, there is not even a slight trace of sincere friendship out of the said “connection”, as several days after the ceremony, the “ninong mayor” may not even remember the names of those for whom he stood as “ninong”. This is about “mass wedding”, not the wedding of people who are personal acquaintances of the mayor. This happens most often in slum areas and barangays or remote villages and towns. So, there’s your “friendly” mayor just because he is sponsoring “mass wedding” using people’s money!

Prestige and security in life can be possibly achieved even without employing make-believe friendship with prominent personalities. True friendship with a REAL PURPOSE should be initiated by a person with utmost sincerity without any taint of selfishness. On the other hand, those who belong to the lower stratum of society should never dream of gaining the friendship of people who belong to the upper, and whom they do not know personally. One should endeavor to earn recognition instead of gaining it through connections. To call people who do not know you personally as “friends” is embarrassing enough. In plain language it is “name dropping”. It should also be noted that friendship is supposed to be a “two-way” relationship…with sincerity from both sides.

The Consistency of PAL-Davao in Maintaining the Airline's High Quality of Service Standards

Posted on Friday, 16 December 2016

The Consistency of PAL- Davao in Maintaining

The Airline’s High Quality of Service Standards

By Apolinario Villalobos

Davao station of Philippine Airlines is considered as the hub of its operation in Mindanao and lately, its scope extends to the neighboring Asian countries. As I have worked with the said company for a little more than twenty years and left it during the early years of the new management’s take over, I can very well say that I have an idea of what had been and what are being done as regards the customer satisfaction which fortunately has been maintained due to the consistency of the airline’s high standards.

According to Mr. Vic Suarez, the new Head for Mindanao Sales Area, the airline will not compromise its high standard by scrimping on other aspects of operations as some sort of an offsetting, most especially, by offering low fares, except the seasonal promos. High quality of service can only be assured if there is enough manpower that can attend to the requirements of customers. As can be observed, all ticketing offices and the check-in counters at the airport terminals are adequately manned by equally vibrant personnel of Macro-Asia. Mr. Suarez is supported by Ma. Leana Sanga, Secretary; Edgardo Ramos, Staff Assistant; and Ricardo Ambrosio, Sr. Market Planning Analyst.

If international cuisine has its “fusion” dishes concocted based on different cultural influences, PAL has its “fusion service”. It is my own terminology and I came up with it in view of the harmonious co-operation of service providers and the held-over organic PAL employees. As in Manila, this unique and harmonious fusion of effort is also found in the operation of PAL in Davao. The ticketing office at the Davao airport is manned by the organic PAL employees, while the check- counters, load control, and the Mabuhay Lounge are manned by the young staff of Macro-Asia. Behind them, such as the Airport Service Manager, Ms. Ludy Bagares and the Customer Service Officers are all organic PAL employees. Helping them out in the overall operation is Excellent, the manpower agency that provided the aircraft cleaning crew, janitorial and porter service.

The Customer Service Officers who have spent a good number of years with PAL are Leonilo Abella, Ernie Adrias, Archie Batu, Karlo Respicio, Marlon Rosales, Allen Dizon, Art Migalben, and Anthony Paradela, with the last four mentioned also handling Cargo.

The Macro-Asia Supervisors are Charlie Erojo, Erwin Tongco, Dennis Tiamson, Rommel Covarubias and June Dalisay. The Passenger Services Agents is Ruben Maglaya; and Cargo Service Agents, Ben Arcayan and Julbert Nolasco. The ramp area is handled by the Ramp Service Agents, Ruel Catao, Cyril Pollaris and Joel Montales, while the Ramp Equipment Repairman is Lambert Lazaro.

Ms. Bagares expressed that so far, their operation is smooth and without any hassle as the traditional and high PAL standards are maintained to ensure that the customers get the commensurate worth of what they paid for to reach their destination safely.

A Surprise Visit to NDTC Molders of Youth...Ms. Norma Rafael and Mr. Morito Parcon (Davao City)

A Surprise Visit to NDTC Molders of Youth

…Ms. Norma Rafael and Mr. Morito Parcon (Davao City)

By Apolinario Villalobos

It was an unholy hour in the morning of Thursday, around 7AM when I trudged my way toward the gate of Ruby Subdivision to search for the home of the noted teachers of Notre Dame of Tacurong, the former Norma Rafael and Morito Parcon, but now lovey dovey partners for life. I took a tri-sikad (foot-pedaled pedicab) whose driver fortunately knew them, as Mr Parcon also served as a president of the homeowners association. When I knocked at their gate, it was their eldest, Toto, who answered my call and told me that his parents were attending that day’s Mass. I learned that they never miss a single Mass every day of the week.

The imposing Mt. Apo at 10,311 feet above sea level, practically loomed behind their home at the western dead-end portion of their “village”. The medicinal herbs that practically surround their home were a delight to the eyes. Due to the abundance of turmeric, they have ventured into packing of its powder form in capsules which at Php6 each could be considered the cheapest in the market. But one has to knock at their gate to make a purchase as their “business” is home-based and was originally intended to “kill” boredom and time to keep Mr. Parcon busy after having been hospitalized for a long time.

Our talk dwelt on the good old days in Notre Dame of Tacurong when Mr. Parcon was teaching Political Science in college while Ms. Norma Rafael was molding young girls at the former Girls Department which was under the administration of the Dominican Sisters (Order of Preachers). The college and Boys High School departments were, on the other hand, under the wings of the Oblate priests (Oblates of Mary Immaculate) with the assistance of the Oblates of Notre Dame (OND) Sisters.

Mr. Morito Parcon could well be considered as the historian of our city, for coming out with an extensively-researched book on her political history that covered the days when Buluan served as the “Mother Town” until the administration of Jose Escribano, the controversial mayor who got involved in a murder case. It took Mr. Parcon some time and loads of patient interview of pioneer leaders and settlers who came from the Visayas and Luzon, as well as hectic days of poring over filed records of early local government offices.

We mentioned names of his other students, some of whom were Ruel Lucentales, who was an Assistant Secretary of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) at the time of his death, Jaime Bides who was a tour planning officer of the Marsman Travel and Tours, and later a businessman and resource person on spiritual matters, Renato Hingco who was connected with the Department of the Budget and Management (DBM) and Felizardo Lazado who was also with the DSWD before occupying an important position in the Ministry of Human Settlements later on. On the side of the Girls’ Department, names such as, Esther Bagsic, Talama Makilala-Saavedra, Rodina Ballena-Marasigan, Virgie Paragas, Esther Bagsic, Elma Darjan-Bides who is the current Tacurong City Accountant, and many more were mentioned. It was a meeting of quick reminiscences to the delight of my former teachers who, I had to help recall important moments in the past. For the photo opportunities, I asked them to pose in front of the tall and thickly growing wild sugar cane, crawling medicinal herbs, as well as, big pomelo look-alike and cure-all “magic fruits”. Some photos were taken with their eldest son, Toto.

I am sharing this experience to give an idea to viewers that even a simple visit can make important people in our life very happy…they who helped us grow into responsible citizens of the country. That is why, I smiled when, Mr. Parcon proudly declared, “I made them all”, referring to us, his students. Indeed, he did his best and I can attest to that!