Pangarap

Pangarap

Ni Apolinario Villalobos

 

Ang pangarap ay hindi maiwawaksi ninuman

Dahil itong bahagi ng diwa’y may kahalagahan

Nagpapalakas ng loob sa maalab na pagsikhay

Lakas na kailangan, habang tayo ay nabubuhay.

 

May nangangarap ng buhay sa loob ng kaharian

Reyna o hari, ubod saya na kanilang kapaligiran

Sa isang ungos, mga alipi’y  ‘di magkandaugaga

Sa pagsilbi’t pagkilos, halos lahat nagkakandarapa.

 

May nangangarap ng yamang hindi mapantayan

Kaya’t lahat na lang ay gagawin, ano mang paraan

Mayroong gumagamit na ng katawan, hindi talino

HIndi bale nang mabuntis, makamit lang ang gusto.

 

Yong hangad naman ay madaling makuhang yaman

Ang pinuntirya ay ano mang  pwesto sa pamahalaan

Naisip kasi nila, saan man sa pamahalaan ay may kita

Depende sa proyektong “lalagakan” ng nakaw na pera.

 

Mga batang iskwater, aking nakausap naman minsan

Simpleng mga pangarap, laman ng kanilang kaisipan

May gustong maging titser, isa’y pulis, isa’y mensahero –

Mayamang kapitbahay kasi, sa Customs, yon ang trabaho!

 

Ang pangarap, ‘di lang umiinog sa pera o kaginhawahan

Pati rin sa esperitwal na bagay, o mga gawaing simbahan

Mga pari’y nangangarap din, sana’y dumami ang bumalik

Sa piling ng Diyos, para sa buhay na maaliwalas at tahimik.

 

Mangarap lang tayo, ito naman ay libre, walang kabayaran

Sa masayang pangarap- ang magulong iniisip ay ating palitan

Mahirap kasing sa kaiisip natin ng problemang ubod ng bigat

Maikling pisi ng katinuan ng diwa’y bumigay, dahil hindi sapat!

 

 

 

Paglalakbay sa Karagatan ng Buhay

Paglalakbay sa Karagatan ng Buhay

Ni Apolinario Villalobos

 

Hindi madali ang maglakbay sa karagatan ng buhay

Kailangang ang bangkang sasakyan ay dapat matibay

Dapat handa sa mga sasalungating alon na ga-bundok

At ihip ng hanging ‘di malaman kung saan galing sulok.

 

Ang paghahanda sa paglakbay ay hindi madaling gawin

Mayroong mga alituntuni’t gabay na dapat laging sundin

Dahil sa munting pagkakamaling ‘di na talaga mababawi

Kapahamakan o kamatayan, ang napakasakit nitong sukli.

 

Ganyan ang buhay na kung ituring ay isa na ring karagatan

Malawak na’y maalon pa, maraming badyang kapahamakan

Mga pagsubok kung wariin  minsa’y ‘di kayang malampasan

At kung nakaya, galak na nadarama’y halos walang pagsidlan.

 

Pagpapasya’y atin, direksyon ng timon ay kung saan ipapaling

Kung mabuo man, dapat lang siguraduhing talagang magaling

Dahil mahirap kung ang sinundang direksyon ay hindi mabago –

Hindi makaya ng mahinang katawan, sa timon ay magkambyo.

 

Mga desisyon sa ating buhay, dapat ay pinag-aaralang mabuti

Hindi patumpik-tumpik na pagsisisihan lamang sa bandang huli

Tulad ng karagatan, ang buhay ay nabubulahaw din ng mga unos

Mga pagsubok na harapin ma’y buong tapang at ‘di padalos-dalos! 

 

 

 

Have Contentment…Be Happy!

Have Contentment…Be Happy!

By Apolinario Villalobos

 

There is always a question if we are happy in what we do. One thing has been missed – a check if there is contentment. It should be remembered that unless we are contented in what we are doing, we can never be happy. In other words, contentment should come first, before we can finally say that we are happy.

 

Happiness is the emotion that translates the degree of contentment that we feel. The most evident expression is the smile which means that, the lesser the lips part for the smile, the lesser is the degree of contentment, and the wider the parting of the lips is, the greater is the contentment. Of course, for the more ecstatic, the higher the jump, the greater is the happiness felt. Or the louder the shout, the higher is the degree of the happiness that needs to be let out.

 

One stumbling block in this quest is greed which for as long as not satiated, no contentment is in sight. Some people don’t seem to understand the word “enough”.  The resulting attitude may be positive, especially, in the attainment of success. On the other hand, unsatisfied greed drives some countries to exploit economically frail ones, corrupt politicians and government officials to further exploit the trust of constituents, land grabbers to claim more lands, businessmen to ride on the dire need of the lowly for basic necessities, etc.

 

Happiness is not always measured by money. Having satisfaction in an endeavor is more than enough to make one smile. Filipinos are known for this. On TV, interviewed Filipinos can still sweetly smile even after declaring their difficulties in life, while adding that they are happy in earning just enough. Evidently, whatever minute degree of contentment left in them is not overwhelmed by hate, but instead, happiness is still projected by a smile on their face.

 

There is a persistent reminder for us to be contented with what we have in life, although, what comes later as added blessing can be welcomed and shared. If only everybody bears that in mind, the world shall burst with happiness!

 

 

 

 

Orchestrated Corruption

Orchestrated Corruption

By Apolinario Villalobos

 

 

If there is one evil act that is difficult to suppress, it is the orchestrated corruption in a government. In this scheme, the acts are done with smooth coordination to ensure a harmonious execution. This happens when cohorts are well placed in strategic positions in the government. Third world countries are the most susceptible to this kind of malevolence. Highly-developed countries seldom, if ever, suffer from it.

 

While in some countries, the highest official is involved, in others, the official, is seemingly ignorant, and just keep on wondering how shenanigans are committed under his administration. Still in other countries, the highest official who attempts to execute reform programs unknowingly appoints misfits in key positions of the government. And, worse, when the incompetence of his appointees surface, he boldly defends their acts, complete with an innocent smile.

 

For the highest official to fulfill his dream of completing his task within the period for which he has been elected, he indiscriminately and desperately appoints hobby buddies, classmates, and election supporters to key positions, thinking that they could provide him with the necessary support in all his efforts. No amount of counsel about observed bad performance could bend his stubbornness to recognize their loyalty. It is at this point where orchestrated corruption come in. Since the subordinates perceive the persistent appreciation of their patron to their apathetic performance, they go on with their orchestrated execution to the detriment of the whole system.

 

In the Philippines, the result of this betrayal of the people’s trust is the perpetual investigations of corruption-related cases in the government with not even a single resolution in sight, absence of attempt to correct detected flaws in isolated operation of agencies or overall system, and lukewarm concern on matters that deal with international relations. And, for how long this orchestrated and corrupt political symphony will go on….only God knows!