Senator Bam Aquino is Barking at the Wrong Tree

Senator Bam Aquino is Barking

At the Wrong Tree

By Apolinario Villalobos

In his effort to show that he is heeding the call of the pope to eradicate graft and corruption in the country, immediately, senator Bam Aquino calls on the Filipinos. He is obviously barking at the wrong tree. The tree of graft and corruption is the government which is deeply- rooted. The tree of graft and corruption has hideously developed robust branches, twigs, leaves and fruits. The Filipinos are the victims. Through his message, the pope knows this when he called on the government to stop diverting the resources from the poor Filipinos. Aquino should stop tweeting out of tune rather than pretend that he does not know from where corruption is overflowing.

This early, the neophyte senator should know that Filipinos of today are no longer the foolish kind. If he wants to maintain a seemingly clean image, he should instead, open his eyes to what are happening right around where he works – the Senate. He should tell his staff to research on the causes of unpopularity of lawmakers and make them as his basis for his moves to avoid being further engulfed in the mire of corruption. He need not look beyond the walls of the Senate and point an accusing finger at the Filipino populace, as if the latter is the cause of corruption in the country.

He should deliver a privilege speech in the Senate and call on his colleagues, and in so doing, use the pronoun “we” while quoting the pope in his call for the government to make a stop to graft and corruption by not diverting the resources from the poor. It is that simple – a call with a tinge of regret, and without washing of hands.

The Filipinos have enough of one Aquino at the helm of the government who seemed naïve to their sufferings. Bam Aquino has ears and eyes for him to know that his cousin president is not popular, and he should be very careful about this matter. If he wants to further his political career, he should tread the road of politics with much care, unless he will join the bandwagon of graft and corruption by mumbling nonsensical and hypocritical face-saving statements just like his colleagues in the Senate.

He should not wait for the day when his name will be changed by political observers from “Bam Aquino” to “Ban Aquino”. He should change his tactics. He should remember the pedestrian saying “less talk, less mistake”.

Sa Pagbisita ng santo papa Francis sa Pilipinas…maraming napatunayan ang mga Pilipino

Sa Pagbisita ng santo papa Francis sa Pilipinas

…maraming napatunayan ang mga Pilipino

Ni Apolinario Villalobos

Maraming napatunayan ang pagbisita ng santo papa, Francis, sa Pilipinas:

• May disiplina ang mga Pilipino… may nabalya man ay hindi sinadya, kung nakapagmura man ay sarili ang tinukoy, at walang takot sa pamamaos kung sumigaw dahil nasanay sa mga rally noong panahon ni Marcos.

• Matapang kung humarap sa anumang banta ng bagyo o bombing kaya walang takot kung makipagsiksikan kahit may bitbit na bata…nasanay kasi sa pagharap sa unos na dulot ng matinding korapsyon sa gobyerno.

• Kayang tumayo sa ilalim ng walang humpay na buhos ng ulan kahit malusaw ang make-up at tumabingi ang iginuhit na mga kilay dahil nabasa. Ibig sabihin, may katawang matibay at mukhang maganda pa rin kahit lusaw na ang make-up at tabingi ang mga kilay…kaya ngang indahin ang gutom dahil sa hagupit ng mga gahaman sa gobyerno, eh!

• Kahit babae kayang magpatumba ng mabigat na concrete barrier dahil hindi sinasadyang naisalya nang magkaroon ng hindi rin sinasadyang stampede…nakakaya nga ng mahihirap ang mabigat na buwis na ipinataw ng BIR, na dapat ay mga mayayaman ang bumalikat, contrete barrier pa kaya?

• Matibay ang sikmura na hindi naringgan ng pag-alburuto kahit walang laman sa kabila ng magdamagang pagbantay sa puwesto na pinaghirapang makuha…nasanay na kasi sa pagsikmura sa nakakasukang mga mukha at salita ng mga buwaya sa gobyerno.

• Handang mag-abot ng sariling kapote sa katabing matanda, bata o buntis na nakaligtaang maabutan ng nasabing donasyon o di kaya ay walang perang pambili nito…nasanay na kasi sa ugaling mapagbigay at maawain pa kahit sa mga tiwaling opisyal na asal-demonyo!
• Nakakaawit kahit ang tono ng boses ay hindi umaalis sa linya ng lower “do”, ibig sabihin ay hirap umabot sa linya ng “re”, lalo na sa linya ng “mi”…hindi naman kasi halata dahil marami silang may ganitong “ginintuang boses”. Nagkukunwari na lang na sila ay nagsi-“second voice”. Lahat ay gagawin ng Pilipino upang maging bahagi ng isang pakikibaka.

• Kayang maglakad ng kung ilang kilometro papunta sa mga dadaanan ng santo papa at Luneta dahil sarado para sa mga sasakyan ang mga kalye…pagpapakita ng kasanayan dahil madalas kulang ang baong pamasahe….at yan ang totoo, dahil mismo ang santo papa ay alam na dina-divert ng gobyerno ang mga resources na dapat sana ay para sa mahihirap sa pamamagitan ng sapat na sweldo at mababang presyo ng mga bilihin.

• Na likas sa Pilipino ang pagpasa ng kung anu-ano, hindi lang pamasahe, mula sa pasaherong nasa malayong bahagi ng jeep papunta sa driver, o di kaya sisi sa iba kung may bulilyaso, kundi pati na mga ostiya mula sa mga pari papunta sa mga nakalahad na mga kamay sa bandang likuran ng mga “quadrant”…isang pagpapakita ng magnanimous sharing nang magkaroon ng concluding Mass sa Luneta.

• Kayang magpakasimple nang mga Pilipino. Walang nakita ni isang mukha ng showbiz personality na dinaanan ang TV camera, kahit na ang mga kapatid ng presidente ay nakihalubilo bilang simpleng mamamayan, lalo na si Kris Aquino na kung hindi ininterbyu tungkol sa karanasan niya ay hindi nagsalita. For once, nagpabilib sila!
• Hindi takot magkaroon ng alipunga dahil sa magdamagang pagkababad ng mga paa sa tubig… sa paghintay sa santo papa na muntik nang hindi makarating sa Tacloban dahil sa bagyo, at habang nagmi-Misa na ito sa gitna ng malumanay na hagupit ng bagyong Amang. Nasanay na ang mga Pilipino sa amoy ng alipunga na nanggagaling sa mga bulwagan kung saan ay ginagawa ang mga batas!

Yan ang Pilipino…walang takot…may katawang matibay…may ilong na bantad na sa umaalingasaw na amoy ng korapsyon…may kaisipang matalas…at pagmamahal na sa puso ay umaapaw!…nag-iisa at hindi pangkaraniwang lahi sa balat ng lupa…kaya naatasan ng santo papa Francis na maging sugo sa pamamahagi ng mga salita ni Hesus at marubdob na pananampalataya sa Diyos! Sa Pilipinas lang sila matatagpuan, bansang kahit lugmok na sa kahirapan dahil sa tindi ng korapsyon ay pilit na bumabangon!

Blessing and Faith

Blessing and Faith

By Apolinario Villalobos

This share is for a friend who failed to position himself along the route of pope Francis or go to the Luneta Park for the concluding Mass, because he was bedridden.

Emotion triggers the exaggerated expression of admiration that results to fanaticism. For things material, this may be excused, but for something spiritual, constraint should be observed. Uncontrolled fanaticism makes one selfish, as he or she develops a strong desire to satisfy the felt pent up emotion. It can even result to violence. This is how stampedes happen.

In expressing one’s spiritual devotion, one need not be too overzealous as others may view the act as hypocritical. Ever since spiritual devotion in us has been developed, we were made to believe sincerely what we do not see, such as God, Jesus, Mary or the saints. We were made to believe in the power of prayer that can heal somebody, even if the one who says it is thousands of miles away. We were made to believe that Jesus who died on the cross is just around. We may not see them but we feel all of these – through our faith. I call it – power of the heart!

I can’t see, therefore, the reason why some “faithful” have to fight their way in front of altars during a Mass, or special spiritual occasions. And, with the visit of the pope, Francis, I cannot understand why one should practically, be a touch away from him to be blessed. Blessing is something spiritual that can be received depending on how faithful the recipient is, as the heart should be open to receive it.