The BBL with Unfair Unconstitutional Provisions will just create more animosities…thanks to Pnoy!

The BBL with Unfair and Unconstitutional Provisions
will just create more Animosities…thanks to Pnoy!
by Apolinario Villalobos

The approval of the Congress Ad Hoc Committee of the BBL draft, contains the original list of the provinces, as provided for in the Tripoli Agreement during the time of Misuari, that shall comprise the Bangsamoro and that includes Sultan Kudarat, North Cotabato, two Zamboangas, Davao del Sur, South Cotabato and Palawan – obvious Christian-dominated provinces….yet the name of the seemingly independent state, but masquerading as a region, Bangsamoro, is so named to denote literally that it is a “Moro land”. The big question now is: will Muslim leadership tolerate Christian teachings within its domain when it seems that the direction is establishment of an Islamic “state”? Will there be fair election to give chance to a Christian to assume the leadership of the region? Won’t it be awkward if it happens?….a Moro region under a Christian leader!

If MILF is sincere in its intention in promoting unity despite cultural and religious differences, why did it not choose a name that would stand for all the constituents, instead of the “Bangsamoro” which stands just for the Muslims?

Since very long time ago, yet, there has been a so-called “balik-Islam” movement. The advocacy is very strong now in the African continent as shown by the aggressiveness of the ISIS. There was a time when the same atmosphere was felt strongly in the affected areas, that is why some Christians were said to have opted to be converted into Islam to prepare themselves. There is nothing wrong with that. However, just in case it pushes through via the Bangsamoro region, the leaders should manifest sincerity in doing their job. The first ARMM under Misuari accomplished nothing, and the present administration of the region is also questioned as regards its accomplishment. Are the constituents of the Bangsamoro, assured of a better and sincere leadership without even a faint taint of corruption?

Ever since, I had been espousing “integration” for Mindanao in view of diversity in culture and faith, but utmost tolerance should be observed as regards the differences. Definitely, Congress will approve the draft because majority of the its members are pro-Pnoy. Our last hope then, is the Senate….where more intelligent lawmakers are found, and with the reviewing committee under Miriam Santiago.

Ang Artipisyal na Bigas ng Tsina…at marami pang iba

Ang Artipisyal na Bigas ng Tsina
…at marami pang iba
ni Apolinario Villalobos

Balitang-balita ang artipisyal na bigas ng Tsina na gawa sa kamote at patatas pero ginamitan daw ng resin upang mamuo. Marami ang nabahala ganoong ang ganitong klaseng pagkain ay matagal nang kinakain ng tao at isa na ang instant noodles. Kaya nga lumabas sa mga balita noon na ang madalas na pagkain ng instant noodles ay nakakasira ng kidney o bato, pero hindi pinansin ng mga tao dahil murang klaseng pagkain. Ngayon dahil nagkaroon na naman ng bagong pekeng produkto, marami ang natakot….uli!

Ang isa pa ay ang kasalukuyang nabibili na rin sa Tsina na pekeng asin. Nataranta na naman ang mga tao, lalo na ang mga Pilipino na mahilig sa scoop, ganoong maraming kuwestiyonableng sangkap sa pagkain na halos ganito rin ang paggawa tulad ng mga pampalasa na ginagamitan ng mga pekeng flavoring. Unang nabalita noon pa man ang vetsin na pinabulaanan ng mga gumagawa nito na masama sa katawan dahil galing naman daw sa katas ng tubo, subalit paano ito ginawa at ano ang inihalo upang pumuti ang katas at mamuo na parang mga kristal?

Ugali ng Pilipino ang magkagusto sa malaki, maganda, maputi, mabango atb. Kaya, kahit na alam nang ang puting asukal halimbawa, ay masama sa kalusugan dahil ginamitan ng kemikal na pampaputi o “bleaching agent”, mas gusto pa rin ito kaysa brown sugar o moskubado na ang turing ay para lang sa mga mahihirap. Ang hindi alam ng marami, ang brown sugar ay ginagamit sa coffee shops ng malalaking sosyal na mga hotel dahil mas gusto ng mga parukyano nilang nakakaunawa sa kahalagahan nito kaysa puting asukal.

Kung sa tinapay naman, ayaw ng iba ang wheat bread dahil hindi maputi at magaspang pa, hindi tulad ng white bread na mabango at malambot, at siyempre maputi. Ang hindi nila alam, ang white bread ay walang mga hibla o fibers na kailangan ng katawan natin upang mapadali ang pagdumi. At dahil walang hibla, namumuo ng maliliit kung nguyain hanggang sa pagpasok nito sa bituka kaya hindi natutunaw at kung lumabas ay buo-buo pa rin… kung mamalasin ay sumasabit pa sa colon kaya hindi nakakalabas agad na isa sa mga sanhi ng kanser.

Pagdating naman sa katawan, ang mga Asyano ay gustong maging puti ang kulay ng balat at brown o blond ang kulay ng buhok. Gusto rin ng mga babae ang magkaroon ng malaking dibdib o matambok na puwet. Ang mga lalaki naman ay gustong magkaroon ng kamangha-manghang sukat ng ari. Dahil sa mga hangaring pang-pisikal, nagpapalagay sila ng silicon upang lumaki ang mga dibdib, puwet, at ari. Upang pumuti naman, ay lumalagok ng katakot-takot na gluta capsules o di kaya ay nagpapahid ng kung anu-anong kemikal sa katawan. At para sa buhok, ay dinadalasan ang pagpapakulay.

Dahil sa mga nabanggit na panghihimasok sa katawang ibinigay ng Diyos, may nababalitaan tayong mga dibdib na nagkaroon ng kanser o di kaya ay nagkasugat at nilalabasan ng nanậ, ang puwet naman ay natadtad ng malalaking butlig at sugat. Ang ari naman ng minalas na lalaki ay nagmukhang kamote na tadtad ng ulalo dahil sa malalaking butlig. Yong gustong magpaputi, ang balat ay animo naging mapa dahil sa hindi pantay na pagputi at may mga namaga pang bahagi. Yong pahid ng pahid ng astringent sa mukha na binili kung saan saan lang, sa simula ay nagkaroon ng kutis-baby, yon pala, nilulusaw na ng kemikal ang pang-ibabaw na balat hanggang sa huli ay nangitim na! At, yong madalas magpakulay ng buhok ay hindi na nawalan ng dandruff na naging sanhi ng mabilis na pagnipis ng buhok.

Nang mauso ang mga cellphone na gawa sa Amerika at Europe, biglang naglabasan ang mga peke nito na gawang Tsina. Ganoon din ang nangyari sa iba pang produkto tulad ng bag, sapatos at damit na pineke rin ng Tsina. Upang maging lehitimo na lang ang mga produkto, minarapat ng mga may-ari ng mga tatak o brand, na sa Tsina na mismo magpagawa, na ang bentaha ay mababang sweldo ng mga manggagawa.

Mahilig talagang manguna ang Tsina sa mga pekeng bagay. Meron na rin silang ginawang kapani-paniwalang robot na animo ay tao ang katawan, pati pagsasalita. Ngayon, ang ginagawa naman ng Tsina ay mga pekeng isla sa West Philippine Sea!

The Failure of Democracy in the Philippines

The Failure of Democracy in the Philippines
by Apolinario Villalobos

The first abuse of freedom, perhaps, could be what is told in the legend about the Paradise. God supposedly put Adam there and later from his rib, Eve was created, so that he would not be lonely. They had free will, freedom to do what they wanted. Unfortunately, Eve abused this when she gave in to the temptation of the serpent who told her about the “tree of life” in that Paradise. As the legend goes, she partook of a fruit with which she tempted Adam who readily gave in, using his free will.

Today there are free countries, ruled with democracy which is perceived to be the best because of its principles rammed down the throat of adherents. But in reality, it has many weaknesses, as its very principle made it prone to abuse of all kinds. Because of freedom supposedly as its essence, people are left to practically do whatever they want. Of course there are laws that are supposed to curtail their acts, but because of corruption, indolence and indifference, they are not implemented – a very unfortunate reality.

In this world, when it comes to governance, man is left with either, democracy with its freedom, or socialism with its dictatorship. The character of each is not free from the taint of abuse and corruption. So, what is left is a choice for the least evil between the two.

The problem with democracy is that criminals for instance, are presumed innocent unless proved guilty, even when caught in the act or despite evidences pointing to the commission of guilt! To prove such commission, a process has to be followed in which witnesses have to issue statements under oath and lawyers must be hired… woe then to the victim who cannot afford to hire a bright lawyer! The government provides free services of its lawyers for the poor, but most often, they are not as reliable as the hired ones in view of the obvious reason.

The Philippines as a young republic seems to have been forced into “maturity”. The haste did not give time for the essence of democracy to be properly inculcated in the mind and heart of the Filipinos. Enthusiastic, after having been freed from the clutches of the Spaniards who for long subjugated the islands, the early leaders went ahead in copying the “democracy” of other countries, without giving much thought on the nature and temper of the Filipinos as an Asian race.

While cuddled by America, a country with a federal system of government, the early leaders opted for the presidential form of other countries. Today, as the diverse regional differences of the country is emphasized when the people began to protest loudly due to the unfairness in the distribution of benefits and services, some sectors realized that the Philippines may have been better off with a federal system of government than the present one that is treading on uncertainties and volatile ground.

The uncontrolled surge of corrupt practices due to lack of control and defective operating system of the government, are now blamed on the location of the central government and the dissected state of the country, being an archipelago.

Corruption has been the issue ever since the country had its first president. This reality has been stressed during the time of Diosdado Macapagal and the same was used by Ferdinand Marcos to win the sympathy of the people. His intelligent perception made him use the issue as the centerpiece of his administration, giving him an alibi to declare Martial Law. Unfortunately, instead of using the new set up for the betterment of the nation, he also abused it that eventually spelled his downfall. Instead of healing the wound of the people the dictatorship became the proverbial salt that aggravated the tingling hurt.

The Marcos dictatorship was toppled by the “People Power”, a mass movement that has become a trademark of the Filipinos in the world of politics, although, for a short period of time. It has purportedly become an embarrassment later for the Filipino people as those in the know were saying that it was a sham movement for democracy – a manipulated one, by the opportunistic people who habitually change their color to blend with whatever administration holds the reins of the government. Its sparkle waned after just four commemorations as those “originally” identified with the movement, carefully kept their distance from the people behind it, ashamed and feeling guilty that they have been part of the sham.

Today, corruption has just worsened, assuming a “free for all” semblance . The series of corrupt act starts at the time politicians campaign for position during which vote buying has shamelessly became the norm. This is followed by the blatant manipulation of budget involving non-governmental organizations, up to the point of padding of budgets for major infrastructure projects – all done by those whose seat in the government has been practically paid for in cash during the election.

While there are investigations going on, the barrage of accusations and denials that fill the airwaves and pages of print media is even made more circus-like by hearings that the Filipinos in general doubt will really achieve their goal. What the people perceive is the use of this hype in the legislative halls as tools to earn media mileage in favor of ambitious political personalities who would like to sit in the Malacaῆan Palace.

To make it short, democracy as supposedly an ideal governance failed in the Philippines.