Tao ang Nagpapasama sa Relihiyon, Ideyolohiya, at Magandang Adbokasiya

Tao ang Nagpapasama sa Relihiyon, Ideyolohiya

At Magandang Adbokasiya

ni Apolinario Villalobos

Walang masamang ideyolohiya tulad ng Komunismo o Demokrasya kung maganda at maayos ang pagpapatupad ng mga namumuno. Walang masamang relihiyon o pananampalataya kung ang ituturo ng mga namumuno ay pawang pagmamahal sa Diyos, o “diyos”, at kapwa tao. Walang masamang adbokasiya kung hindi ito gagamitin sa masama lalo na sa panlalamang ng kapwa. Tao ang dahilan kung bakit may mga kaguluhan sa mundo, dahil sa pagpapairal niya ng kasakiman at kayabangan.

Napakaganda sana ang layunin ng Demokrasya, kung ang nakaupong Presidente, halimbawa, ng isang bansang may ganitong ideyolohiya ay hindi bobo, sakim o kawatan. Ganoon din ang Komunismo, kung ang Chairman ng bansang may ganitong uri ng pamahalaan ay hindi malupit at gahaman sa kapangyarihan, at hindi sagad -buto ang ugaling mapangkamkam.

Sa Demokrasya, lahat ng mga prinsipyo at alituntunin na may kinalaman dito ay pawang kabutihan ang pakay. Halimbawa na lamang ay ang mga batas ng Pilipinas na mismong mga taga-Kongreso at Senado ang may gawa.  Dahil ampaw ang pagkagawa nila ng mga batas, nagawa din nilang paikutan ang mga ito upang makapagnakaw sa kaban ng bayan. Ang kapangyarihan ng isang Presidente ng demokratikong bansa ay para sana sa kapakanan ng taong bayan at ng bansa mismo, sa kabuuhan nito. Subalit, dahil sa panunulsul ng mga tiwaling umaalalay sa kanya, nagawa niyang lokohin ang mga mamamayan. Ang masisisi sa pagkakaroon ng maraming kapalpakan sa isang bansa ay ang Presidente at ang kanyang mga kaalyado, at hindi ang kanilang mga “puwesto” na ginamit nila sa paggawa ng masama.

Ang relihiyon naman ay naimbento ng tao dahil sa kanyang pananampalataya sa kinikilalang Diyos o “diyos”. Bago pa man nagkaroon ng mga relihiyon na nagsanga mula sa pananampalataya ni Moses at Abraham sa disyerto ng Gitnang Silangan, mayroon nang mga pananampalataya sa “lakas” ng iba’t ibang “diyos” na pinaniwalaan ng mga pagano. Pinagkaisa ng mga pananampalatayang ito ang mga tao, yon nga lang ay kanya-kanyang kumpulan ang nangyari at nagtagisan sila ng lakas, na naging sanhi ng kaguluhan. Pinairal kasi nila ang kayabangan at pagkagahaman sa kapangyarihan.

Isa ang Kristiyanismo sa mga naging sanga ng pananampalataya na sinimulan ni Moses sa disyerto ng Gitnang Silangan. Habang napanatili ng mga Hudyo ang pagsunod sa mga sinimulan ni Moses, ang iba naman ay nagpasimula ng sarili nilang relihiyon batay sa mga itinuro ni Hesukristo kaya nagkaroon ng Kristiyanismo. Subali’t kalaunan, nang gamitin ng mga Romanong Emperador ang Kristiyanismo upang mapalawak ang kanilang nasasakupan at mapalakas ang kanilang kapangyarihan, ang naging katawagan dito ay naging “Romano Katoliko”, na  hinaluan nila ng mga ritwal na pagano, dahil ang mga ito ang tinutumbok ng kanilang layuning mahikayat. Nahati rin ang simbahang Katoliko sa dalawa kaya nagkaroon ng “Orthodox” na humiwalay sa “Romano”. Pinatili ng “Orthodox” ang mga orihinal na gawi, samantalang maraming binago ang “Romano”.

Noong panahong mismong mga emperador ng Roma ang naging “papa” o “pope”, nagkabentahan pa ng indulhensiya o indulgence upang “mawala” daw ang kasalanan ng mga mananampalatayang bibili nito! Ang mga nagsulputang grupo ng “Bagong Kristiyano” naman ay malabnaw  ang pagkilala kay Maria na “ina” ni Hesus. Dahil sa mga nagsuluputang sekta at kulto sa kasalukuyang panahon, lalong nagkaroon ng kalituhan sa pananampalataya dahil bawa’t grupo ay nagpipilit na sila ang “tama”.

Samantala, ang adbokasiyang pagtulong sa kapwa ay nagbunga ng mga Non-governmental Organizations o NGO. Sa simula, ang pondo ay galing sa mismong bulsa ng mga pilantropong nagtatag ng mga NGO. Kalaunan, sila ay tinulungan ng ibang mas malaking NGO. At, kalaunan pa, tumulong din ang mga NGO sa gobyerno upang mabilis na maipaabot ang tulong sa mga taong mahihirap, kaya “pinadaan” sa kanila ang pondo ng mga proyekto. Ang paraang “pagpapadaan” ng pondo sa mga NGO na may layuning malinis ay “nasilip” ng mga gahaman upang magamit sa pagnakaw ng pera mula sa kaban ng bayan. Nagkaroon ng kutsabahan sa pagitan ng mga taga-gobyerno at may-ari ng NGO, kaya ngayon ay may mga kasong tulad ng kinakaharap ni Napoles na may kinalaman sa pagnakaw nila ng bilyon-bilyong pera mula sa kaban ng bayan!

Sa bandang huli…ang katanungang maibabato na lang natin sa hangin, kasabay ng isang malalim na buntong hininga  ay, “…tao…tao…bakit ka pa ginawa upang mabuhay sa mundo?”

Ang Mag-asawa sa Quiapo…at ang malakas nilang sampalataya sa Diyos

Ang Mag-asawa sa Quiapo

…at ang malakas nilang sampalataya sa Diyos

Ni Apolinario Villalobos

Una kong nakilala sina Mang Rudy (Rodolfo Mina, Jr.) at Aling Auring (Aurora Aguirre), nang kumain ako sa kanilang maliit na karinderya sa Quiapo, malapit sa Islamic Center. Sa iisang mesa nakalagay ang mga pagkain, kaya ang kakainang pinggan ay halos hindi na kasya sa mesa. Ang ginawa ko ay inihalo na lang ang ulam sa pagkain – “toppings” style, nagkamay ako habang ang kaliwang kamay ko ay nakahawak sa pinggan upang hindi mahulog. Habang kumakain ako, nasilip ko si Mang Rudy na nanggugupit sa maliit na kuwarto sa likod ni Aling Auring. Nang hindi sinasadyang tumingin siya sa akin, muntik na akong mabilaukan sa gulat….wala pala siyang ilong!

Hindi na ako nagtanong kay Aling Auring kung saan napunta ang ilong ng kanyang asawa bilang respeto. Naalala ko tuloy ang nabasa kong kasaysayan ng ibang bansa na ang isa sa mga parusang pinapataw sa mga nagkasala ay pagtanggal ng ilong nila. Mula noon, tuwing titingnan ko si Mang Rudy ng matagal, hindi na sumesentro ang atensiyon ko sa dalawang butas sa kanyang mukha na dapat sana ay natatakpan ng ilong. Maliksing kumilos si Mang Rudy. Siya ang nagbibigay ng pagkain kung wala ang asawa niya tuwing kakain ako sa kanila at nagkukuwentuhan pa kami tungkol sa mga karanasan niya noong bago pa lang siya sa Maynila. Yon nga lang ngogo ang kanyang pagsasalita na natutuhan ko ring maunawaan sa katagalan.

Nang huling kumain ako sa kanila, napansin kong medyo sarado ang pinto ng kuwarto kung saan nanggugupit si Mang Rudy kaya tinanong ko si Aling Auring kung umuwi sa probinsiya ang kanyang asawa. Nagulat ako nang sabihin niyang nasa loob lang at nakahiga sa sahig dahil inatake daw sa puso, subalit naagapan namang madala agad sa ospital. Ang malas nga lang ay nang ilabas na niya ito, dahil noong pasakay na sila dyip, kahit hindi pa nakakaupo sa bandang hulihan si Mang Rudy ay biglang pinaharurot ng drayber ang sasakyan kaya nahulog ito. Unang bumagsak ang kanyang balakang. Mabuti na lang at tinulungan sila ng drayber na nagbayad para sa mga gamot at x-ray.

Noong araw na nalaman ko ang nangyari kay Mang Rudy, idinagdag pa ni Aling Auring na kailangan din ng asawa niya ang regular na check-up dahil lalong lumala ang pananakit ng kanyang balakang kaya hindi na rin ito halos makakilos sa pagkakahiga. Nag-alala ako dahil binabaha ang tinitirhan nila at sa sahig lang nakahiga si Mang Rudy. May balak naman daw magpagawa si Aling Auring ng makitid na kama upang magkasya sa maliit na kuwarto kaya pinag-iipunan niya ito. Ini-imagine ko kung paanong pag-ipon ang gagawin niya dahil sa kamurahan ng kanyang paninda at kamahalan ng mga bilihin, halos wala na siyang tinutubo, dagdag pa rito ang upa, tubig at ilaw.  Nabasa yata niya ang nasa isip ko dahil sinabi niyang, “alam kong hindi kami pababayaan ng Diyos”. Natulig ako sa sinabi niya at napahiya dahil kung minsan ay nawawalan ako ng tiwala sa Diyos, kapag halos hindi ko na kaya ang bigat ng dinadala kong mga problema…nakakalimutan kong nandiyan lang pala Siya.

Nang bumalik ako uli sa kanila, wala pa ring nagagawang kama. Upang lumaki ang kita ni Aling Auring, mula noon, halos inuubos ko na ang mga ulam niya na iilang klase lang naman. Sa halip na iisang tasang kape ang inoorder ko, dinadalawa ko na upang tumagal pa ang aming usapan. Ang sukli ay hindi ko na rin kinukuha. Kung napapansin kong may tutong na ayaw kainin ng ibang kostumer, binibili ko na rin upang maisangag namin ng mga kaibigan ko sa Tondo. Ayaw kong masira ang sampalataya niya sa kanyang sariling kakayahan kaya dinadaan ko na lang sa pagbili ang dapat sana ay iaabot na lang basta na tulong. At, ang nakakatuwa ay wala akong makitang kalungkutan o pag-alala sa kanyang mukha dahil laging nangingibabaw ang kanyang ngiti. Sa kabila ng lahat, alam kong kailangan pa rin nila ng tulong para sa mga gamot at regular na pangpa-check up ng kanyang asawa.

Si Mang Rudy ay 80-taong gulang na at si Aling Auring ay 76-taong gulang naman. Ilang buwan mula nang  dumating sa Maynila si Aling Auring noong 1968, sila ay nagsama pagkalipas ng maikling ligawan. Wala silang anak at umaasa lamang sa alalay ng mga pamangkin na nakakapasyal sa kanila kung minsan. Ang sabi ni Aling Auring sa akin na hindi ko makalimutan maliban pa sa unang nabanggit kong “hindi sila pababayaan ng Diyos”, ay: “lahat ng tao ay may pagsubok, hindi nga lang magkakapareho, kaya hindi dapat sumama ang loob ko dahil sa dinadanas namin ngayon dahil alam kong mas mabigat pa ang problema ng iba”.

Pope Francis Deserves to be Left Alone

Pope Francis deserves to be Left Alone

By Apolinario Villalobos

The new pope is not being political when reaches out to people, and in so doing, travels around the world. He does not choose who to hold or hug or kiss. He does not preach about the magnificence of the papacy and the Vatican…in fact, he is obviously, embarrassed about them. He does not preach to convert, but speaks about universal love and compassion. This is how evangelization should be done, by not talking about the church to which one belongs, but letting other people read his intentions through his actions and pronouncements.

It should be recalled that Francis, upon his assumption of his papal post, started his campaign for the practice of humility when he chose to live in an austere apartment, rather than the luxurious suite reserved for popes. He wanted to be just like anybody else, so he has no qualms about carrying his meal tray when he dines in the canteen with the rest of lay people. He has no aides at his side 24/7, except when on official trips. And, he carries his own bag when he travels!

Instead of bashing him on the internet, those who are anti-pope, anti-Christ, anti-Vatican, and anti-Roman Catholic should try to understand his messages first. They should view the new pope as Francis, a former bishop, an ordinary guy, who assumed the leadership of the Roman Catholic Church which was not his choice in the first place. Francis is not presenting himself as the new Messiah or Prophet. His mission is to spread love and not hatred. He is not even asking to be loved, but for others to include him in their prayers.

Why can’t the bashers just write something about the devilish leaders of nations whose selfish acts trespass other nations’ rights? Why can’t they exhaust their effort in condemning the acts of ISIS advocates who are now being loathed by their fellow Muslims? Why can’t they just write about the conscienceless terrorists who sow fear throughout the world? Why can’t they look around them and paint with words the gruesome poverty and splash them on the internet for the world to see?

Cavinti Underground River and Cave Complex : A Travel Guide

Cavinti Laguna. Being an eco-tourism, eventful, adventure and falls capital of Laguna has been famous tourist destination in the Province of Laguna. According to Town’s tourism department, the numbers of tourists that are non-stop coming in the town are growing so fast after those succesful promotional activities such as videos, social media posting, television coverage and colorful festivals that really attracts many tourist local and foreign alike.

Having lived in this town more than a decades, I have been fortunate to dicover and explore many prodigious places that aren’t so touristy but the view are just amazing and worth visiting for. One of many attractions in the town, is the Cavinti Underground River and Cave Complex which perfect for the highly adventurous people. It features a narrow cave passages which require a bit of scrambling and some acrobatics.

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Extreme Recycling

Bonifacio E. Valdez: an image of hard-earned success

Bonifacio E. Valdez: an image of hard-earned success

By Apolinario Villalobos

Friends call him “Boni”, lanky and tall, though, with a sure gait when he walks. He was the Corp Commandeer of the PMT in high school, aside from being an orator, debater, athlete, and as expected, valedictorian in their high school batch of 1972. Born to a farming couple, he and his siblings were disciplined in the ways of Ilocano – thrifty and hardworking.

Life after graduating from high school was not as rosy as he expected, especially, because he had to deal with culture shock when he left Tacurong which was a typical third-class municipality at the time, to live in Manila, where he took BS General which he finished in 1976. It prepared him for a medical course which he finished in the Lyceum Northwestern University of Dagupan in 1980.

He went back to Manila in 1981 for an internship at Jose Reyes Memorial Medical Center and later transferred to another hospital in Teresa, Rizal, then moved on to the Medical Center- Manila. During those years, he sold drugs on the side, the earnings from which augmented his meager allowance as an intern. Finally, he was taken in, as a company physician by the First Holdings Company, his first full-time job.

To enhance his calling, he took up Anesthesiology as a Fellow at the University of the Philippines Anesthesiologist Center for Western Pacific. His endeavor pushed him further when he got employed at the Ministry of Health, in the Sultanate of Oman where he honed his medical profession from 1987 to 1991. Another opportunity knocked at his door, this time, a better job in the United States, but he opted to go home to Tacurong where he had been dreaming to build a school.

To better prepare himself as an educator in the field of medicine, he took time to refine his skill in anesthesiology in the different hospitals of Tacurong, neighboring towns, as well as, the Davao Medical Center, now, the Southern Philippines Medical Center, a high-tech medical facility in Davao City. During his stint at the aforementioned medical center in Davao City, he sacrificed going home Tacurong on weekends to be with his family.

His struggle paid off when he finally established his school, the VMMC in 2002, with a system derived from what is currently prevailing in the United States. Initially, the VMMC trained caregivers for Canada where he had established tie-ups with healthcare agencies. The long-ranged planning of Dr. Valdez, earned for VMMC a reputation as the first institution in the province of Sultan Kudarat to offer an immediate employment abroad after several months of training. Today, the VMMC also offers basic education and TESDA courses, aside from functioning as a hospital.

In recognition for his achievements, he is currently involved in the different undertakings that pertain to education, health care, and medicine. He is the Vice-President of the Higher Education Institutions in Region 12; Chairman of the Red Cross – Sultan Kudarat Chapter; Board Member of the Mindanao Technical, Vocational and Educational Training; President of the Sultan Kudarat Association of Private and Technical Institutions; and Board Member of the Regional Technical Skills Development Council for Region 12.

Over a simple lunch in  an Adriatico mall, Malate, Manila, we relished the happy days in the campus of the Notre Dame of Tacurong College during its struggling days. He also shared with a hearty laugh, his experience in Manila, especially, during the twilight days of the Marcos-imposed Martial Law. He was seriously engrossed in his political activities that his name got included in the “hot list” of student activists. To save his neck, he bid his comrades goodbye and went home.

The indefatigable Dr. Valdez confided that he has other plans for his beloved birthplace. It is not surprising for a guy whose dreams and struggle brought him far despite his family’s financial handicap. Being used to a simple life, he added that he is contented with his frugal lifestyle and foremost in his mind today, is on how he could share the blessings that he earned by dint of hard work. From being a farmer’s son once, he is now an educator, resource person on community leadership and holistic health, and a medical practitioner, though, with a bigger dream….and of course, with his fellow Tacurongnons still in mind.

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

Kunwari’y hari, sa ubod-saya niyang  kapaligiran

Sa isang ungos, mga alipi’y  ‘di magkandaugaga

Sa pagsilbi’t pagkilos, lahat ay  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 ang hangad ay madaling makuhang yaman

Ang puntirya ay kahit anong  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

Baka maikling pisi ng katinuan ay bumigay, dahil ‘di ito sapat!

Transforming the Negative into Positive can be a Practical Norm for Survival

Transforming the Negative into Positive

Can be a Practical Norm for Survival

By Apolinario Villalobos

A negative mind can cause stress and eventually result to diseases such ulcer, depression, and cancer. A person can harbor a negative mind if he immerses it in problems that are beyond his capability to solve, thereby, resulting to endless worrying.

While financial inadequacy can be a problem, those affected by it should think only of doable things that will give helpful results and relief. They should not wish for unrealistic opportunities that will result to disappointment due to failure in attaining them. The mentioned shortcoming should be treated as an inspiration to exert more effort, even if it means a simple job, for instance, with minimum pay. That is better than longing for a job with a high remuneration, but waiting for which could result to months of idleness.

Sometimes, injecting humor to make the negative more acceptable can work. What I did when I was a struggling student was considered myself lucky for being poor. I kept on telling myself that by being poor, I would be used to hunger and financial deficiencies in life later on, hence, prepare me for a simple life without frills. It worked as I am leading that kind of life today and I am happy and contented.

But life today, in a way is very much different from what was lived many years ago in view of the so-called progress brought about by the continuing transformation of civilization. Complexities are brought by the transformation that can cause havoc to the weak in body. Take for instance the pollution, traffic, and ever rising prices of prime commodities. To counter them, one needs to be resourceful in order to survive, or at least prevent the thinning string of patience from snapping.

Along this line, a Catholic who is driving and gets caught in the snarl of traffic can pray the rosary. And, since the Church says that indulgence depends on the sacrifice, then, the more rosary prayed, the more indulgence that he can earn. In the same situation, a New Christian can review passages in the Bible that can be shared with new prospects for conversion. Still, while waiting for the traffic to continue its snail’s pace, a composer can already put substance to the framework of musical ideas that may have been bugging him for days. Also, an inveterate smoker who has ran out of cigarette can be forced to endure such longing, and, perhaps be weaned from such vice as he gets snarled in more traffic on his way to the office every day of the weeks that will follow.

Do not be very negative about the meager take home pay. The plump wife can now have the opportunity to reduce by distributing half of her meal share to her husband and children. With a limited budget for grocery, the children in the family will now be forced to eat local vegetables instead of hot dogs, steaks and other carcass-based dishes, or they go hungry. With lesser trip to movies and malls, the family can now have more time for each other, and the children shall be forced to study their lessons, as no extra money is left for their trek to internet cafes.

The frenzied atmosphere in the MRT and LRT can also be transformed into something pleasurable. But first, one must make sure that he has enough time to spare. For the imaginative, the stations and the trains, teeming with commuters are classic worlds in themselves worth observing. Enjoy the different expressions of despair – rolling eyes, closed eyes, teary eyes, pouting lips, pursed lips, half-agape lips, and the nonchalant faces of those who have finally accepted their fate being squeezed in the throng that permeates with various smell. Those with weak olfactory attribute can find relief with a quick snuff of White Flower to counter the mind-whirling incomprehensible whiff that pervades the trapped air. One will know that he has survived if at his destination, he has been carried out the door by the sardine-packed fellow commuters.

Surviving, means going with the current of life, as swimming against it can be exhaustive and the failure to endure can just pull us down to the bottom. For this effort to survive, our resourcefulness can help, if we use means other than our arms and legs. With those means, we can be emboldened to finally counter the current to reach our destination at all cost!

The Deceitful “Growth” of the Philippine Economy

The Deceitful “Growth” of the Philippine Economy

by Apolinario Villalobos

When President Pnoy Aquino made reports about the “phenomenal” growth of the Philippine economy under his administration, many shrugged their shoulders, as the latter believe otherwise in view of the very obvious poverty that scars the economic landscape, like a creeping amoeba. Pnoy sincerely believes the “truth” in the result of the surveys, which many times have been proven unrealistic, hence, unbelievable. Development should result to fair and real benefits for the appropriate parties. So, whether the Filipinos are, indeed, benefiting from these foreign investments in the country or not, still remains a big question that Pnoy should answer – truthfully.

The Filipino industry is dead long ago, when the country joined the global commerce that enslaved it to one-sided provisions due to quotas involved, favoring giant industrial nations. The Philippines has become the dumping ground of cheap products, especially, those from China and the United States, and woefully, even garbage from Canada! Not even the agriculture industry is spared, as rice and corn fields gave way to subdivisions and business centers. The forests are exploited by loggers financed by foreigners, and so are the mining areas. Manufacturing in the country has become the exclusive venture of foreign investors with Filipinos slaving it out along the length of the assembly lines, and tied to 5-month contract for a measly wage.

The volume and the gross monetary returns of these investments get reported, but the details of the “real profit” are not, because they are hauled back to the countries of the foreign investors. Meanwhile, the only tangible and direct benefit from contractual employment which is the measly wage, is what’s left to Filipinos!…yet, the President Pnoy has the courage to report that the country under his administration has “moved forward” on his “tuwid na daan” (straight path), and that poverty has been decreased!…and very proudly at that!

Pnoy Aquino should stop warbling about “developments” under his term, so that he will not be overwhelmed with criticisms, as he is just basing his claims on questionable survey results. He should not worry, because presidents who preceded him are equally guilty. Just like him, they forgot that the Philippines, is first and foremost, an agricultural nation, yet, this particular segment of the economy was woefully neglected. Instead of preserving what remained of the dastardly exploited natural resources since the American regime, these are left to be further exploited not only by corrupt government officials but by foreign financiers through their dummies, as well.

Public lands were sold, supposedly for their revenue to be used in upgrading government facilities, such as those in the Armed Forces, but nothing happened of it. So, today, the archipelagic Philippines is a miserable sight in the eyes of other nations due to her Navy’s rusty and outmoded ships; the Army’s doleful and inadequate arms and ammunitions; and, the Air Force’s shabby picture with its rickety aircrafts. There are reports that acquisitions have been made…but similar reports were made many years ago…and, remained as just reports.

By the way, though known to be a dictator, Ferdinand Marcos , at the early part of his first term as president, was honest enough to admit the sorry state of the nation with its deteriorating economy. Nobody among the rest of the presidents, including Quezon, the Commonwealth president had the courage to do it.

The situation today is worsened by the obvious cover-up of what are really happening, a gross act of dishonesty. Meanwhile, the country still wallows in the corrupted government system that benefits only a few.

Mindanao, Sulu and Palawan, Almost Got Separated from the Jurisdiction of the Philippine Government…during the American Regime

Mindanao, Sulu, and Palawan, Almost Got Separated

From the Jurisdiction of the Philippine Government

…during the American Regime

Apolinario Villalobos

In November 1923, the American Chamber of Commerce of Mindanao and Sulu made a proposal to make the Muslim area as an unorganized domain directly under the rule of the Americans. A distinct system of government suited for the area was suggested. However, the proposal was not given much attention, until the Bacon Bill revived the issue.

The sponsors of the Bacon Bill expressed that they just wanted to protect the “defenseless and unarmed, though proud and self-respecting Moros”. As expected, the Filipino leaders opposed the Bill, as they saw the hidden motive behind it which was the exploitation of the areas for rubber production in favor of the American interest. During the time, about more than three million hectares of land in Mindanao were suitable for the cultivation of rubber tree. The Filipinos vehemently insisted that, would there be foreign investors interested in seizing the opportunity of cultivating rubber in Mindanao, it should be fairly done under the administration of the Philippine Government.

As a last desperate argument, proponents of the proposal also insisted that the Moros in Mindanao were never desirous of independence, but prefer to remain under the sovereignty and protection of the Americans. They cited an incident in the past, whereby, Moro leaders supposedly, petitioned the Governor General and the US Congress about such desire. Unfortunately, this allegation was not factually established, as some parties insisted that Filipino Muslims did not really want to separate from their Christian brothers and sisters, but to have independence with them.

The importune Bacon Bill, fortunately, did not illicit support from then, President Collidge and the US Congress. Lately, there’s another move to separate the Moroland from the archipelago via the “original” Bangsamoro Basic Law but was fortunately reviewed for revision before it got implemented. The separation proposal was championed by the Moro Islamic Liberation Front, under Iqbal, and ably supported by Ferrer and Deles, two government representatives in the negotiation panel for peace in Mindanao. The proposal is now assuming another name, “Basic Law for Bangsamoro Autonomous Region” which is more appropriate to be consistent with the rest of the other autonomous regions that are already in place. History repeats itself, indeed….