Mga Mapagkunwaring hindi “raw” Nakikialam sa Buhay ng Iba…subali’t, matindi kung manlibak

Mga Mapagkunwaring hindi “raw” Nakikialam sa Buhay ng Iba
….subalit, Matindi kung Manlibak
Ni Apolinario Villalobos

Naniniwala ako sa kasabihang, kailangan natin ng isang salamin upang makita ang dumi sa ating mukha. Sa ating buhay, ang salamin ay ibang tao na magsasabi sa atin ng ating pagkakamali. Kaya para sa akin, ang magbigay ng payo o magpuna ng pagkakamali ng iba ay hindi pakikialam, bagkus ay pagtulong upang maiwasto kung ano man ang dapat iwasto sa kanyang sinabi o ginawa. Hindi yong, kung kaylan siya nakatalikod ay saka magkukuwento sa iba na isang panlilibak.

Isang halimbawa ay kaibigan kong walang sinasabi kung kaharap ang kumare niyang maraming anak na halos ay naghahagdan na sa dami. Subalit kung wala na ito ay saka naman magsasalita ng mga hindi magandang pakinggan tulad ng pangungutang nito o di kaya ay pagpalya ng pamilya nito sa pagkain dahil wala man lang bigas na maisaing – lahat itinitsismis niya sa ibang tao, pati na sa akin kaya nalaman ko. Sa tagal ng kanilang samahan ay hindi man lang niya napayuhan ang kumare niyang maghinay-hinay sa pagpabuntis sa asawa nitong pa-sideline sideline lang ang trabaho. Para kasi sa kanya ay isang pakikialam ang magbigay ng payo sa kanyang kumare tungkol sa pagbubuntis nito. Baka daw kasi sagutin siya na baka naiinggit lang siya!

Sa isang party naman, may isang babaeng dumalo na kaibigan ng kausap ko. Nagulat ako nang mapansin kong parang nakakalat ang kanyang pulang lipstick. Sinabihan ko ang kaibigan kong bulungan ang kaibigan niya na kinawayan lang nito. Ang paliwanag ng kausap ko ay baka sabihin daw ng kaibigan ko na “usisera” siya, kaya hinayaan na lang niya kahit pinagtatawanan na ang kaibigan niya. Sinadya ko na lang sabayan ang babaeng nakakalat ang lipstick upang bulungan na tsekin ang kanyang lipstick dahil “parang kumalat”. Sinamahan ko siya sa isang tabi kung saan ay naglabas siya ng maliit na salamin habang hawak ko ang kanyang pinggan. Pagkatapos ay pabirong nagsabi na gawang Tsina daw kasi ang lipstick…nagtawanan na lang kami. Nalaman kong marami palang karinderya ang babae, masuwerte sa negosyo kaya kinainggitan siguro ng kaibigan niya niya na umaasa lang sa kita ng asawang drayber ng taksi. Nagkaroon tuloy ako ng pagkakataon na maimbita siyang tumulong sa grupo namin.

Isa namang kumpare ko ang madalas magreklamo tungkol sa katamaran ng kanyang manugang na babae, na sabi niya ay parang hindi babae dahil walang alam sa mga gawaing bahay. Ang payo ko sa kanya ay kausapin ang anak niya at asawa nito, subalit sinagot niya ako ng, “ayaw ko, bahala sila sa buhay nila”. Binuweltahan ko siya ng, “ganoon pala, bakit ka naghihimutok, at sinisiraan mo pa sila sa akin?”. Sa bandang huli, dahil mga inaanak ko naman sa kasal ang tinutukoy niya ay ako na ang kumausap…at nakinig naman. Nang pasyalan ko uli sila, ang manugang na niya ang nagluluto para sa kanila.

Noong panahong lumala ang diktatorya ni Marcos, kung hindi nakialam ang mga Pilipino na naging dahilan ng pagkaroon ng People Power Revolution sa EDSA, ano kaya ang nangyari ngayon? Kung hindi seryoso sa pakialam ang mga korte sa mga anomalyang nangyayari sa gobyerno ngayon kahit pa sabihing trabaho nila, mabubulgar kaya ang mga nakawang ginagawa ng mga ibinoto sa puwesto? Kung hindi pursigidong makialam ang ibang mga senador na ibulgar ang ginagawa ng mga kawatang opisyal kahit sabihin pa ring trabaho nila, paano na lang kaya? Kung hindi sa pakikialam ng mga tao sa media, mabibisto ba ang mga anomalya sa gobyerno? Kung hindi nakialam si Hesus sa sangkatauhan na humantong sa pagligtas niya dito mula sa unang kasalanan, ano kaya ang nangyari?

May isang hindi ko makalimutang comment ng kaibigan. Ang sabi niya, baka kung makialam daw siya sa iba, baka umasenso pa ang mga ito at malampasan siya, kaya bahala na lang sila sa buhay nila! Ayaw kong banggitin ang religion niya, dahil baka magtatalo ang mga readers…

The Lesson from the Consistent Humility of Jesus…that man never ever learns!

The Lesson from the Consistent Humility of Jesus
….that man never ever learns!
By Apolinario Villalobos

The birth of Jesus is the greatest manifestation of his humility. Unfortunately, instead of emulating such virtue, Christians celebrate his questionable birthday every December with so much pomp and unrestrained festivity. To justify the scandalous celebration, “Christians” reason out that they are just “happily celebrating”. Can’t happiness be celebrated in simple ways? Why spend the whole year savings for just a few days of spending all “in the name of Jesus”? Also, it is during such seemingly paganistic manifestation for the “love” of Christ that the hurting difference between the rich and the poor is very much defined…still, we pay no heed to such scandalously unchristian practice.

Bible readers come across parables about Christ’s humility, but instead of emulating them, what they read remain just that – stories from the pages of a book. And yet, they even unabashedly boast that they have read the Bible…and that, they are Christians, too!

When Jesus entered the place of his prophesied judgment and death, he was on a donkey. Today, many church dignitaries cannot go to a certain place without taking a chauffeured luxury car. While some priests are furnished with expensive car by their rich parents, why can’t they refuse such for the sake of their vow of poverty? However, for convenience of mobility when they do their “job”, perhaps, they can opt for a less expensive one so as not to trigger curiosity. Pope Francis has always been calling on his fellow priests to observe utmost humility and simplicity while shepherding their flocks. Unfortunately, only few seemed to have answered his incessant call. Some bishops and priests still drive around in Benzes and cars whose prices are enough to feed a thousand children in one month.

Jesus showed his paramount humility by washing the feet of his disciples. On the other hand, some avowed Christians squirm at the sight of street children and beggars clothed in rags. One morning, while waiting for a ride in front of a big mall, I saw a lady in white churchly dress give a sandwich to a beggar using her fully extended hand to keep her distance, while covering her nose with a handkerchief. When I approached the beggar, I did not smell any revolting odor at all, although he was grimy. The lady obviously attended a morning Mass in the mall as it was a Sunday, and giving a sandwich to a grimy beggar with an fully extended hand while covering her nose, after attending a Mass, was perhaps her “way” to show her being a Christian!

While dying on the cross, Jesus invoked his Father with full humility by asking why he was forsaken. Today, government officials and politicians who are being tried for robbing the government coffer of people’s money, swear to God that they are honest…adding that, they be struck by lightning where they stand if they are telling a lie!…humble, indeed!

Jesus was consistently humble since birth until the time of his death, but we refuse to acknowledge this manifestation….and, today we are paying for such arrogance…by suffering from the onslaught of natural calamities and man-made hostilities!…we just never learn!

Ang Pagsisikap sa Buhay…para kay Greg Andrew Palabrica-Balili

Ang Pagsisikap sa Buhay…
(para kay Greg Andrew Palabrica Balili)
Ni Apolinario Villalobos

Hindi madali ang pagpunyagi, ang pagsikap
Upang makamit ng isang tao ang kanyang pangarap
Maraming bagay ang isinasang-alang
Lalo na ang pagmamahal sa magulang.

Ang paglingon ay pagmahal sa mga magulang
Lalo’t nagpapasalamat siya at sa mundo’y isinilang
Dahil kung hindi nga naman dahil dito
Hindi niya mai-enjoy ang life sa mundo!

2015 Lenten Season Reflection

9010randompics.com

From March 29 (Palm Sunday) to April 05 (Easter Sunday), Roman Catholics all over the world will celebrate the Holy week. Allow me to share with you some of my photos with bible verses for reflections.

“The Pharisees”

“The Disciples”

“Harvest”

“Life and Death”

“The Guidance”

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Si Hesukristo…

Si Hesukristo…

Ni Apolinario Villalobos

Kapayakan ng buhay ang kanyang ipinamalas

Sa sabsaban pa lang kung saan siya’y inihimlay ni Maria

Walang trumpetang hinipan upang ihudyat ang pagdating niya

Bagkus, isang nakasisilaw na bituin ang nakita – liwanag ng pag-asa.

Sa murang gulang ay nagpakita ng katalinuhan

Sa templo kung saan siya’y di nagpatalo sa mga Pariseyo

Maraming namangha’t nagulat sa ipinamalas na angking talino

Ang hindi nila alam, siya’y anak ng Diyos, Tagapagligtas, isang Sugo.

Buong pagpakumbabang nagpabasbas kay Juan

Santong itinuring, isinugo rin upang tumulong sa paghanda

Paghanda na kay Kristo ay nakalaan sa pagtubos ng sangkatauhan –

Na ayon sa Bibliya… pagtubos mula sa batik at bigat ng unang kasalanan.

Sakay ng buriko, hindi kamelyo, kabayo o karwahe

Sinalubong ng isinigaw na pagbati at wagayway ng palmera

Ganyan kababaang loob ang sa sambayanan ay kanyang ipinakita

Kahit na turing sa kanya ay magiting na manunubos kaya dinadakila!

Payak na hapunang tinapay, tubig, matamis na alak

Pinagsaluhan upang ipahiwatig, sa mundo’y natirang sandali

Naghugas din ng paa ng mga disipulo niya, pati kanilang mga binti

Pinakadakilang pagpakumbaba ni Kristo, na dapat gayahin nating gawi!

Sa Getsemani kung saan siya ay pinawisan ng dugo

Nakipag-usap siya sa Amang nagbigay ng mabigat na pasanin

Dito, sa tatlumpong pilak siya’y isinuplong ni Hudas na disipulo rin

Pagpapakita na minsan, nabubulag ang kaibigan ng masamang hangarin!

Hindi inalintana ang baku-bako at mabatong landas

Ilang beses na nagkandaluhod, bumagsak, mukha ay duguan

Nilibak at kinutya, hinagupit ng latigo, at walang sawang dinuraan

Subali’t di niya inalintana, dahil buong pusong tinanggap ang kamatayan!

At sa ibabaw ng Kalbaryo’y nasaksihan ang pagtubos

Isang magiting na pagtupad ng mabigat at banal na misyon

Ng isang Hesukristo, na ang pagkilala’y walang hinihinging panahon…

Ng isang Hesukristo, takbuhan at hinihingan ng tulong hanggang ngayon!

MAGBAGO NA TAYO…ALANG-ALANG KAY HESUKRISTO!!!! 

Christlike People Around Us

Christlike People Around Us

by Apolinario Villalobos

Without their knowing it, some people around us are Christlike – they who act like Christ but do not belong to the Christian fold. Some do not even belong to any religion. The Christlike way is my own gauge in measuring the extent of kindness one extends to others, while being Christian is belonging to the group that is supposed to advocate the teachings of Christ. Unfortunately, some or most members are only Christian in name but not in action.

When the typhoon Yolanda devastated Leyte and its neighboring Visayan provinces, some Aeta tribes in Zambales went down with bunches of bananas and sweet potatoes in answer to the call for donations. A girl donated her month’s savings that amounted to a little more than a hundred pesos. Two cigarette vendors I met in Sta. Cruz, Manila, donated the money each of them saved. While one vendor’s savings was supposed to be for his wife who was to give birth within the month, the other one’s savings was supposed to be for the purchase of tarpaulin for the pushcart which he considered as his family’s home.

In our neighborhood, “Ester”, a housewife who operates a beauty parlor sponsors free haircut at least once a month in depressed areas. A retired couple in a nearby neighborhood, “Gene” and “Maggie”, crams their old van with goodies for deserving street children who they would encounter every time they hit the road, aside from doing weekend visit to depressed areas with a small group. Still, a couple in another neighborhood, “Sam” and “Ness”, regularly visit on weekends a shelter for elderlies where they spend their whole day as volunteers. A retired couple in their 80’s, “Lando” and “Cora” are foster parents to a former child prostitute who will graduate from high school next year.

Even distance does not hinder others to act like Christ. “Perla” who lives in the United States regularly calls friends, schools, and stores for books to be discarded, even tarpaulins and emergency home tools which she patiently packs to be sent to the Philippines for street children. “Doring”, brought out her carefully saved money, an extra amount during her last visit to the Philippines, and which she sent to be spent for a needy person and street children.

There are more of these Christlike people around us, who do not even know that they are manifesting the image of Christ through their acts. Some do not even know how to pray the Rosary and Novena. Some do not kneel in front of the altar and implore God for blessings. Some have not tried joining a religious procession. Some do not say repetitive prayers akin to pagan chanting. Some do not offer flowers and candles to the images of saints. But these Christlike people, do what are supposed to be done right away for others, acts which are along what Christ said: “what you do to others, you do to me”, and “love they neighbor”…which could mean, who they may be.