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Ang "Love Offering" sa Misa ng Romano Katoliko

Posted on Wednesday, 8 February 2017

Ang “Love Offering” sa Misa ng Romano Katoliko
(with translation)
By Apolinario Villalobos

May mga parish priest na hindi alam kung anong mga barangay o subdivisions ang sakop nila. Ang tawag nila sa mga Multi-purpose Hall na pinagdadausan nila ng misa  ay “chapel” upang makontrol nila. Pinalagyan ng santo ang Multi-purpose Hall, patron daw, kaya dapat tawagin na itong “chapel”…ibig bang sabihin ba ay “chapel” din ang bahay na may malaking rebulto ng santo? Iyan ang kabulastugan na animo ay pangangamkam ng mga ungas na paring ito sa mga Multi-purpose Hall na pinaghirapang itayo ng mga homeowners!

Ang masama pa, pagkatapos mag-misa sa mga Multi-purpose Halls, wala man lang iniiwang pera para sa pondo ng asosasyon na mgagamit sa maintenance. Lahat ng perang ibinigay ng mga dumalo sa misa ay tinatawag na “love offering”, ganoong “quota” naman talaga. Kapag mahina ang koleksiyon, nagpaparinig sila na hindi maka-Diyos ang mga dumadalo sa misa!

May kaibigan akong pari na umaming ang maliit niyang electric car ay hinuhulug-hulugan niya ng perang galing sa “love offering”. Walang masama diyan, basta huwag lang maging ipokrito kaya dapat nilang aminin na sila ay taong may mga pangangailangan…. kaya kailangan nila ng pera. Huwag na nilang sabihing ang pera ay “offering” ng mga tao na nagla-“love” sa Diyos! KUNG TAPAT SILA AT HINDI SINUNGALING, ITO ANG AMININ NILA SA MISA SA HALIP NA MAGBASA NG PASTORAL LETTER TUNGKOL SA MGA PATAYANG BINIBINTANG KAY DUTERTE ….BIBILIB PA SA KANILA ANG MGA TAGA-SUNOD NILA!

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There are parish priests who do not even know the barangays and subdivisions that are within their “territory”. They call the Multi-purpose Halls where they hold Mass as “chapel” with the ulterior motive of controlling them. They require the local parishioners to display a statue of their patron in the Multi-purpose Hall to  qualify it as a chapel…does it mean that homes with big statues of saints should also be called “chapels”? That is how deceitful some of these priests are in their effort to snatch the Multi-purpose Halls from the homeowners who painstakingly built them!

Worse, after the Mass, the priests do not even leave any amount for the fund of the homeowners to be used for future repairs. All of the money shelled out by those who attended the Mass, they call “love offering” which in reality, is “quota”. If the collection is meager, the priest chides the attendees as not faithful enough.

I have a priest-friend who admitted that the money he uses for the monthly installment of his small electric car is from the “love offering”. Nothing is wrong with that, for as long as priests should do away with hypocrisy and admit that as human beings they also have needs…hence, they need money. They should stop insisting that the “offering” is from those who “love” God! IF THEY ARE HONEST AND NOT LIARS, THEY SHOULD BOLDLY ADMIT THAT DURING THE MASS INSTEAD OF READING THE PASTORAL LETTER ABOUT THE KILLINGS BEING ATTRIBUTED TO DUTERTE….AND, THEIR FOLLOWERS WILL SURELY ADMIRE THEM!



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Choices in Life

Choices in Life
By Apolinario Villalobos

We should be prepared for the consequence of whatever bad choices that we made in life. Admittedly, however, there are occurrences in our life that we did not choose, and which we view as part of our fate, one is being born in poverty. But, we cannot be impoverished for life if we give way to our desire to struggle for the better. In this effort, however, we need the support of our parents. If they fail to give it to us, we can always look around for inspiration. At this juncture we can ask ourselves, “if others can, why can’t I”? And, finally, it’s only us, who can choose to be a self-made person, if we want it.

Some people want to take a shorter way in achieving what they want in life - success, instant pleasure or money. Those who want success in earning a profession commit frauds such as plagiarism in coming up with their thesis. Those with jobs who want promotion make evil designs that include stepping on others. Those who want to have instant pleasure or money, practically do anything at the expense of their honor and future.

We make choices along the way of our life – consciously, which makes us alone, who are accountable for such. It is for this reason that impoverished drug pushers should never blame the government for having neglected them, so that they were forced to sell illegal drugs, as they do not want to die of hunger. They made the choice to experience instant joy from drugs that made them first as drug addicts, and later as pushers to sustain their vice. But when the threat of death knocks at their door, on bended knees they cry a river of regrets!

Those in the government, and who took the risk of dipping their hands in the coffer of the government, should face the consequence of trials to prove their misdeed. I admire, however, the brash courage of these corrupt in defending themselves, tooth and nail, to prove their “innocence”. Such courage is honed by time, what with many years of being blindly trusted by voters who shamelessly sell their precious single right to vote for a pittance!



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Ang Mga Akala na Pwedeng Mali Pala....

ANG MGA AKALA NA PWEDENG MALI PALA…
Ni Apolinario Villalobos

Dahil palaging nagsisimba ang isang tao, mabait siya sa kapwa.

Dahil palaging may hawak na Bibliya ang isang tao, malawak na ang kaalaman niya dito.

Dahil may Bibliyang naka-display sa bahay, ito ay binabasa.

Dahil may Encyclopedia na naka-display sa bahay, ito ay binabasa.

Dahil pari o Obispo, hindi na masisilaw sa salapi o tahimik na maniac.

Dahil nagtapos sa unibersidad ang isang tao, matalino na siya.

Dahil nagmumura ang isang tao kapag galit, siya ay masama na.

Dahil naka-shorts at t-shirt lang ang isang tao, siya ay naghihikahos na.

Dahil maganda ang isang babae, siya ay walang anghit o bad breath.

Dahil guwapo ang isang lalaki, siya ay walang eczema o anghit.

Dahil magandang tingnan ang pagkaayos ng pagkain, ito ay masarap na.

Dahil mahal ang isang pagkain, ito ay masustansiya na.

Dahil malinis sa paningin ang gulay, ito ay ligtas nang kainin.

Dahil hindi namumula ang mata ng isda, ito ay sariwa.

Dahil nakatira sa ibang bansa ang isa tao, siya ay mayaman na.

Dahil matangkad ang isang tao, magaling na siyang mag-basketball.

Dahil maganda ang balat ng prutas, wala na itong uod.

Dahil kaibigan ang isang tao, siya ay mapagkakatiwalaan na.

Dahil doctor, hindi na magkakasakit

Dahil dentista, walang sirang ngipin.

Dahil pulis, matapang na.

Dahil pangit, masama ang ugali.

Dahil walang makapal na ulap, hindi na uulan.

Dahil kumikinang at kulay dilaw, ginto na.

Dahil mayaman, galante na.


Dahil may tag ng kilalang brand, original na.

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Any Church on Earth is Like a Nation

Posted on Tuesday, 7 February 2017

Any Church on Earth is Like a Nation
By Apolinario Villalobos

There is an adage that says, ”do not judge so that you will not be judged”. What I am doing is not judging but exposing what I see, observe and gather from researches. I have no right to judge, as I too, am a sinner but in other ways, and definitely not regarding exploitation of others. As I cannot just afford to be blind to what are happening around me, I have to let out what I feel. If it happens that some people will agree with me…fine. If the others do not…still fine, as each human who thinks sanely has all the rights to his or her opinion.

The sensitive issue on the Roman Catholic Church leaders in the Philippines has been put forward because of what for me are the unbecoming acts of her leaders, particularly, in dipping their fingers into politics which is no different from what their forerunners, the friars, did during the Spanish period during which they ran the show despite the presence of the town heads. Perhaps, they were afraid that if they showed weakness, their holdings would be taken away from them.

In general, however, the commonality between any Church on Earth and a Nation is their having human leaders, hence, with human weaknesses. That fact alone does not need any further argument as to the question on churches having corrupt leaders. Church leaders are not sons of Gods born in heaven! The frocks, whatever is the style and colors, that the leaders of the various churches wear as a a symbol of “spiritual authority” does not exempt them from committing “sins”. It is even viewed as worse, if despite their vows, they still commit unbecoming acts toward their fellowmen, because they do not only offend the latter but their God, to whom they promise their allegiance and made various vows.

One does not need to study in seminaries to know what is bad, nor in colleges and universities to know what a corrupt act is. The glaring truth is that since the conception of a new life in a woman’s womb, innate bad characteristics are already ingrained in his/her DNA, and are just waiting to be nurtured. In other words, any president, senator, congressman, mayor, priest, bishop, nun, and anybody else for that matter is born sinner and “candidate” to becoming corrupt. In this regard, if one nurtures his bad characters…. that becomes the big problem. Further to this, it must not be assumed then, that the Roman Catholic bishops who are viewed as leaders of their church, are always right in what they are doing!

The problem with these Filipino bishops today, is that they are only leaning on one side – that of the criminals who, for them should not be killed….but what about their victims that they raped, robbed, or killed! If these criminals are allowed to roam the streets, will these bishops guarantee that they will not rape more children, even senior women, rob more innocent commuters, or kill more hardworking neighbors?


These bishops are leaders of the Roman Catholic Church….but what have they done to alleviate poverty and ignorance among their flocks? Why did they allow them to become addicts? If they reply that it is not their “duty” to teach them with “earthly lessons” as they are only concerned about “spiritualities” then they must stop harassing President Duterte with unfounded accusations that are clearly tainted with politics! 

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Ang Simbahang Katoliko, Pastoral Letter Nito, Ang Mga "Pinatay" na Krimina, at Mga "Biktima" Nila

Posted on Sunday, 5 February 2017

Ang Simbahang Katoliko, Pastoral Letter Nito,
Ang Mga “Pinatay” Na Kriminal, at “Biktima” Nila
Ni Apolinario Villalobos

BINABATIKOS SA PASTORAL LETTER NG SIMBAHANG KATOLIKO ANG MGA “PAGPATAY” SA MGA DRUG ADDICT, DRUG PUSHER, DRUG LORD AT IBA PANG KRIMINAL DAHIL WALANG KARAPATAN KUNO ANG SINO MANG PUMATAY NA ANG TINUTUKOY AY SI DUTERTE…MAY PRUWEBA BA SILA? KUNG MATINO ANG SIMBAHANG ITO, DAPAT AY HINDI ITO NANGLILIHIS O NANLILITO NG MGA TAO SA PAGBIGAY NG NAKAKALITONG MGA “UTOS” SA PAMAMAGITAN NG PASTORAL LETTER. ANG TANONG…SIGURADO BA ANG MGA LIDER NG SIMBAHANG ITO NA SILA AY MALINIS, NI KATITING AY WALANG INIISIP NA MASAMA? PAANO ANG WALANG HUMPAY NA PANGLILIKOM NG MGA “OFFERING” KUNO TUWING MISA NA DATING ISANG BESES LANG, PERO NGAYON AY DALAWA NA – IDINADAAN SA SOBRE PAGPASOK PA LANG NG MAGSISIMBA SA SIMBAHAN, AT SA BASKET SA BAHAGI NG OFFERTORY?...YAN ANG MATATAWAG KONG PANGHUHUTHOT TO THE MAX!

BAKIT HINDI ISINAMA SA PASTORAL LETTER NA YAN ANG MGA “BIKTIMA” NG MGA KRIMINAL?….MGA BIKTIMANG NAGTATRABAHO NG MAAYOS PARA SA KANILANG PAMILYA?…MGA BIKTIMANG ESTUDYANTE NA NAGING ADIK KAYA NASIRA ANG KINABUKASAN?…MGA BIKTIMANG NAWALAN NG KATINUAN KAYA NAGPAKAMATAY?….MGA BIKTIMANG PASLIT NA HINDI LANG GINAHASA KUNDI BINABOY PA ANG KATAWAN DAHIL PINASAKAN NG KUNG ANONG BAGAY ANG PUKE, O DI KAYA AY PINUGUTAN PA NG ULO???!!!

ANO BA TALAGA ANG GUMAGABAY SA MGA PARI NG SIMBAHANG KATOLIKO…DIYOS BA NILA NA DAPAT AY MABAIT O DEMONYO?....BAKIT HINDI NITO I-QUALIFY O BIGYAN NG TAMANG KAHULUGAN ANG SALITANG “PAGKAMATAY” O “PAGPATAY”?....SINO AT KUNG ANO ANG DAHILAN?....HINDI BA NILA NAIISIP NA IBA ANG IBIG SABIHIN NG “PINATAY NA KRIMINAL” KUNG IHAMBING SA “BIKTIMA NG KRIMINAL”? GUSTO BA NG SIMBAHANG KATOLIKO NA DUMAMI PA ANG NAGLILIPANANG MGA KRIMINAL SA PILIPINAS? MAY KABULUHAN PA BANG MABUHAY ANG KRIMINAL NA SUMISIRA SA KINABUKASAN NG BAYAN????!!!!

SA GINAGAWA NG MGA LIDER NG SIMBAHANG KATOLIKO, PARA SILANG PILOSOPO NA NAGSASABING, “GO TO THE WORLD AND MULTIPLY” NA PINUTOL NILA AT HINDI IDINUGTONG ANG IBA PANG MGA KATAGA UPANG MAGING KUMPLETO SANA ANG “UTOS” NA YAN NG DIYOS NILA. SA MGA HINDI PA NAKAKAALAM, ANG UTOS NA YAN AY IBINIGAY KAY NOAH PAGKATAPOS NG MALAWAKANG BAHA SA BUONG MUNDO, UPANG DUMAMI ULI ANG MGA TAO….NOON YAN. NGAYON AY HINDI NA PWEDENG GAMITIN NG SIMBAHANG KATOLIKO AT MGA PILOSOPO LABAN SA FAMILY PLANNING PROGRAM.


NGAYON, ANG MGA SALITANG “HUWAG PUMATAY” NAMAN ANG GINAGAMIT NG SIMBAHANG KATOLIKO SA PAGLITO SA MGA MIYEMBRO NILA. WALA SANA ITONG PROBLEMA, SUBALIT ANG GINAGAWA NG SIMBAHANG YAN AY NAKAKAAPEKTA SA BUONG BANSA!!!

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Kabungsuan Yadao Makilala...fallen but not forgotten

KABUNGSUAN YADAO MAKILALA
…fallen but not forgotten
By Apolinario Villalobos

After leaving Tacurong without even attending our college graduation due to the urgent call of a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity from Philippine Airlines, I also left behind my friends and family without entertaining the idea of when I would be with them again.

Many years later, every time I went home, I developed the habit of just staying for several hours in our town crammed with unannounced quick visits to relatives and friends. In the list, Bong and his elder sister, Talama (Kingan) who was my classmate and barkada were always included. I was happy to learn about his settling down and small business. And, I thought, that was it….that he would just be some sort of a businessman, but I was wrong.

We met again after more than ten years, but that time, it was at Ayala Avenue during a rush hour as it was a little past five in the afternoon. He excitedly told me about our friends and his forthcoming job. Much as I would like us to have a better place for our conversation, he insisted that we visit Ephraim Collado, his barkada, who was temporarily staying at a nearby place in Makati. After that visit, we exchanged contact numbers. And, when I called him up months later, I found the number to be that of DILG’s but surprised when told that he was in Bilibid. I got panicky because I thought he was detained, until the lady who answered the phone told me that he was “on duty”. The next time I called, I finally talked to him but he was in a hurry so he gave me his address in Muntinlupa. Our quickie phone conversation made me realize that he was with the Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) of the DILG. I failed to visit him due to my hectic schedule.

It was Talama who told me more about his job as a warden at Bilibid when I visited her at her office in the Land Transportation Office (LTO) in Tacurong. The next time I learned about the job of Bong was when I read about the news on his exposition of a certain scandal in Bilibid. It was a one-of-a-kind revelation because Bilibid was never thought to be immersed in any scandal as it is a correctional institution, hence, “clean” and free from corruption.

I had an opportunity to talk to him through his cellphone while he was already staying in undisclosed places for security reason. What I could not forget was when he told me, “sayang, Pol (the Makilalas call me Pol)….damo pa tani ako sang isiling pero tagilid na ako….bahala na sila sa statements ko…” (…I am disappointed, Pol…I could have revealed more…but I am now in an awkward position….it is up to them on what to do with my statements…) I advised him to pack his things and leave his thankless job, and help his wife back home to develop their business. I also told him to call me anytime, as I was just around and ready to help, but he did not. I contented myself in monitoring the progress of the investigation until the heat of excitement cooled off.

One day I got a surprise call from him during which he told me that he was under a protective custody and was about to change his number, so I told him to call me soonest as he got a new one. I told him not to text me as I wanted to hear his voice, to be sure that he was still be alive…I was serious when I told him that. Several years later, I was told that he was back to our place, but I failed to check if he had with him any security escort.

When I visited again our hometown, I dropped by his home in New Isabela and glad that I did because I found out that their bedridden mother with whom I was close, was under his care. He had no “security”, so I asked what happened to the “protective custody”, to which he just gave me assurance that he was safe. We had a lengthy talk in their small gazebo over cups of coffee and before I left he showed me his collection of decorative and medicinal plants, so I kidded him to go into herbal medicine business instead of going back to BuCor. He and his wife urged me to always drop by every time I was in town, and they gave me as a foremost reason, their mother who was with them. That was several years ago before Duterte was elected as president.

Late afternoon of February 4 2017, Bogz Jamorabon texted me about Bong’s assassination as he got wind of it from a TV news broadcast. I was shocked…first, because I did not expect him to go back to BuCor, and second, because even if he did, I assumed he was safe, with president Duterte as the new president. That evening, I realized that those who wanted to finish him off must have known that he still got plenty of anomalous information about the Bilibid that could eventually pin down de Lima who was then, the Secretary of Justice. I could not sleep that evening as our last phone conversation before he went into protective custody kept creeping into my mind.

With the passing of Bong, I am resolved not to be overcome with hate, but rather, pity to those who want to silence him forever. I pity them because for a pittance, they allowed themselves to be used in hindering what could have been the flow of good intention from a guy who just wanted to help his fellowmen.

But, for Bong…he may have fallen, but his ideals will never be forgotten. I am proud of him and so are his friends and family, our school, Notre Dame, for having been part of his growing up with great values oozing out of his person. Unfortunately, his unwavering trust in the new administration pushed him off the cliff…




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Friends

Posted on Saturday, 4 February 2017

Happy Friendship Day!

FRIENDS
By Apolinario Villalobos

Friends are people and as such have different characters, as no two persons are alike, not even twins. And, because of the varying characters of friends, they can be classified into several kinds:
  • Friends who use their “friends” for selfish motives.
  • Friends who boost their ego at the expense of their “friends”. 
  • Friends who are actually “enemies” in disguise.

There are no permanent friends, as in a group, any “friend” can sow distrust resulting to a break-up. There may be reconciliation, but whatever fracture that resulted could not be totally healed. In Tagalog it means, “may lamat na ang samahan”.

As a simple precaution, in any “friendly” relationship, there should be restraint in revealing the total self. Only the arrogant will reveal to a “friend” about his fat bank account in order to give an impression of his being a superior financial-wise. Only the arrogant will reveal to a “trusted” colleague about his sexual escapades to prove his machismo. And, only the arrogant will reveal to a business associate the total expanse of his clout or connections to prove that he is powerful.


Making friends is a risky endeavor as one might accidentally connect with any of the three kinds mentioned above. In making friends, make sure that resulting detrimental situations can be handled. However, if you are any of the three mentioned above, PLEASE….change your ways, because, although, your would-be victims may not be aware of your intention, there is SOMEBODY who knows everything!