Huwag Maliitin si Duterte

Huwag Maliitin si Duterte

Ni Apolinario Villalobos

 

Noon pa man ay marami nang nagmamaliit kay Duterte dahil taga-Davao “lang” siya…mayor lang. Hirap din daw mag-Tagalog, at lalong higit ay maraming galit dahil sa kanyang pagmumura.

 

Si Duterte ay nakapag-aral sa Maynila, sa San Beda, mismong university Belt na hantad sa iba’t ibang uri ng buhay-lunsod. Siya mismo ang nagsabi na noong estudyante siya ay babad siya sa paborito niyang beer house sa kanto ng Mendiola at Legarda. Sa Maynila siya nagtapos ng pagka-abogado kaya hindi maaaring wala siyang alam kung paanong mamuhay sa Maynila nang may kahirapan dahil nagbo-boarding house lang din siya noon. Nabanggit ni Atty. Dulay, ang hinirang niyang mamumuno sa BIR, na magka-room mate sila noon sa isang boarding house.. Ang hindi lang niya inabot ay ang trapik at ang pagdami ng mga gusali sa iba’t ibang bahagi ng kalakhang Maynila. Subalit hindi nag-iba ang uri ng pamumuhay ng mahihirap, na siya niyang tinutumbok sa pag-upo niya bilang bagong presidente.

 

May tagapagsalita si Duterte sa katauhan ni Andanar, kaya hindi kailangang siya ay uriratin at biglang salubungin para lang sa isang “ambush interview”.  Tama lang ang pag-iingat ng kampo niya na nagsabing “less interview, less mistake” dahil ang madalas punahin sa kanya ay ang kanyang pagmumura at pagkaprangka na para sa ibang press people ay “mali” dahil nasasaktan sila. Ang gusto yata ng mga walang pakundangang press people ay kontrolin siya….nagkamali sila. Dahil yata sa sama ng loob, isang commentator sa isang radio station ay idinadaan sa pagpapatugtog ng kantang Ingles na may isang lyric na “lunatic”, ang intro ng kanyang programa.

 

Sa isang banda, hindi dapat bigyan ng masamang kahulugan ang sinabi ni Duterte tungkol sa pagpatay ng mga taga-media. Tama si Duterte na hindi lahat ng taga-media ay malinis o walang ginawang masama o hindi mamatay o maipapatay. Kung sa ibang pari ay nangyayari ito, pati na sa ibang namumuno ng bansa, bakit hindi sa taga-media?

 

Ang hirap sa ibang mga press people, dahil sa kagustuhang maka-scoop, lahat ay gagawin kaya kadalasan ay nagugulat ang mga kawawang name-misquote nilang mga opisyal kung mabasa na ang mga “sinasabi” nila sa diyaryo. Ngayong hindi na nila magagawa ito kay Duterte, masama ang loob nila.

 

Magbago sila ng style ngayong iba na ang presidente…

Ang Ambisyon ni Macmac…”errand boy” na may kusa (initiative)

Ang Ambisyon ni Macmac

…”errand boy” na may kusằ (initiative)

Ni Apolinario Villalobos

 

Nang pasyalan ko si Marissa, ang lola ni Asher o “Pango” (blogged: Asher…ang maipag na “errand girl”) sa karinderya nito sa Sta. Cruz upang kumustahin ang bata ay nalaman kong sa isang eskwelahan sa Cubao pala ito ipinasok at doon ay kasama niya ang kanyang nanay na nagtitinda din sa bangketa. Habang nag-uusap kami ni Marissa, napansin ko ang isang batang nagwawalis sa kabilang puwesto. Sa tantiya ko ay walo hanggang siyam na taong gulang ito at abala sa kanyang ginagawa. Nang omorder ako ng kape, inihatid ito ng batang Macmac pala ang pangalan,  pinsan ni Asher na “nagpapautos” din upang kumita ng pambaon sa eskwela.

 

Nang iabot ko ang isang makapal na disksiyunaryong pambata kay Marissa para kay Asher ay nakatanghod si Macmac at dikit na dikit ang paningin sa libro. Pinabibigay ng isang viewer ng blogs ko ang diksiyunaryo kay Asher. Napansin ito ng ale sa kabilang puwesto na inaalalayan ni Macmac, na nagsabing mahilig din daw magbasa ang bata at sa pagguhit. Ang paborito daw nitong aralin ay Mathematics. Dahil sa sobrang pagkamahiyain hindi kumikibo si Macmac. Subalit pagkatapos niyang magwalis ay kumuha ito ng isang pad paper na gamit niya sa eskwela at kunwari ay binuklat ito habang sinisigurong nakikita ko ang mga drawing niya. Magaganda naman kaya pinuri ko siya. Sunod niyang inilabas ay isang bulsito (coin purse) na kunwari ay tinitsek niya ang laman pero siniguro ding nakikita ko ang mga lamang tiniklop na tigbe-beynte pesos…..mga ipon niya. Lalo ko siyang pinuri. Dahil sa ginawa ko, lumapit na siya sa akin subalit hindi pa rin nagsasalita.

 

Hindi pa man siya nakakasagot sa mga tanong ko ay biglang umalis si Macmac upang iligpit ang pinggang kinainan ng isang kostumer mula sa mesa naman ng kanyang lola na kausap ko. Nang makita ang nakatambak na hugasing pinggan, baso at kubyertos, ay hinugasan din lahat kahit hindi niya halos abot ang palanggana. Pagkatapos ay pumunta muna sa kabilang puwesto at animo ay matandang nakipag-usap sa may-ari. Nang may mapansing dumi na hindi natanggal sa una niyang pagwalis ay kinuha uli ang walis at dust pan upang tanggalin ito. Nang makatapos ay saka bumalik sa akin. Noon ko siya tinanong kung ano ang gusto niyang “maging” paglaki niya. Ang tagal bago sumagot at tila malalim na nag-isip bago nagsabi ng, “holdaper” sabay ngiti….para marami daw siyang perang ipamigay sa iba. Ang sabi ko sa kanya, pwede naman siyang kumita sa malinis na paraan upang makatulong sa iba. Yon pala ay nagbibiro lang siya dahil may mas matayog pa pala siyang pangarap na ayaw pa niyang sabihin kung ano.

 

Habang nag-uusap kami, ay may dumating na matandang lalaking may gulang na kinakausap ang sarili. Marami akong nakitang ganito…kinakausap ang sarili kapag nalipasan ng gutom. Nagugutom daw siya. Hindi na nag-atubili pa ang lola ni Macmac sa pagsandok ng kanin at ulam at ibinigay agad sa lalaki. Nagtinginan kami ni Macmac. Alam kong natanim sa isip niya ang ginawa ng kanyang lola. Binulungan ko siya ng tanong na, “tutulong ka rin ba sa iba tulad ng ginawa ng lola mo?” Bilang sagot, abut-abot ang kanyang pagtango, pero napansin kong namumula ang kanyang mga mata.

 

Ang pagkakataon nga naman! Ang pagdating ng matandang lalaking humingi ng pagkain at binigyan naman agad ng lola ni Macmac ay nakita ng bata at halata kong may natutunan siya. Ito ang inaasahang dapat na nangyayari….ang ipakita ng matanda sa bata ang tamang gawain upang magaya nito. Naipakita rin ng lola kung paanong makuntento sa kung ano lang ang kaya at ang kahalagahan ng pagtitiyaga, tulad ng pagtulog sa patungan ng mga pagkaing ginagawa nilang “kama” pagdating ng gabi. Kasama din sa pagtitiyagang yan ang pagiging kuntento sa dalawang pares na unipormeng pangpasok ni Macmac sa eskwela na nakaita kong nakasabit. Wika nga, sa katitiyaga, siguradong makakakita rin ng pag-asa upang umunlad ang buhay, o kahit makaraos man lamang. At, sa murang gulang ay nakita ko ang katatagan kay Macmac dahil sa mga napapansin niya….

 

 

 

 

Mahirap ang Maging Prangka o Magkaroon ng Sariling Style sa Pagsulat

Mahirap ang Maging Prangka

O Magkaroon ng Sariling Style sa Pagsulat

Ni Apolinario Villalobos

 

Masarap sanang maglabas ng mga saloobin o nilalaman ng diwa. Nakakapag-alala lang ang mga taong “masasagasaan” na sasama ang loob kung sila ay matutumbok kahit hindi sinasadya. Halimbawa na lang ay ang mga may tema ng tungkol sa ugali, trabaho at pulitika.

 

May mga nagtatanong naman kung bakit daw wala man lang akong kino-quote na mga kilalang tao, lalo na mga banyagang manunulat upang palabasing nabasa ko ang mga isinulat o sinabi nila. Ang sagot ko sa kanila, bilang isang blogger, ay mga sarili kong ideya ang dapat kong i-share dahil ang style ko ay editorial. Hindi ako pwedeng magpuna o mag-criticize gamit ang ideya ng ibang tao…ganoon lang ka-simple, dahil inaako ko ang responsibilidad sa pagbatikos na dapat ay hindi batay sa iniisip ng ibang tao, maliban lang sa mga sinasabi sa Bibliya.

 

Ang mga topic ko ay resulta ng pagmamasid o observations ko sa aking kapaligiran, kaya hindi ko kailangang magbanggit ng mga pangalang kilala upang magpa-impress na ako ay “wide reader”. Kagaguhan nang magbanggit  halimbawa, ng isang Amerikanong green o ecology advocate upang maging batayan ng sarili kong damdamin tungkol sa walang patumanggang illegal logging sa Pilipinas.

 

May naisulat na ako tungkol sa bagay na ito noon, subalit ginawa ko uli ngayon para palakasin ang loob ng mga nakausap kong nagba-blog din pero ayaw maglabas ng saloobin nila dahil takot iwanan ng mga “friends” daw at itakwil ng mga kamag-anak na matutumbok!

To Blog or not to Blog…and the frustrating service providers in the Philippines

To Blog or Not to Blog

..and the frustrating service providers in the Philippines

By Apolinario Villalobos

 

 

While some people take their time in blogging shared quotes and photos from other sites, others do it with seriousness by sharing their own ideas. “Sharing bloggers” use smart phones and ipads in browsing the cyber web to collect what take their fancy, while “writing bloggers” have to think and archive titles using a laptop, an ipad, or at least a basic cellphone, and which they later develop using a laptop or a desktop computer. Those who use smart phones can easily upload blogs for as long as they are online and the prevalent signal permits. The same situation applies to those who use ipads and laptops. “Writing bloggers” may develop as many topics and keep them for later use, thereby, allowing them to upload anywhere they may be.

 

In areas where the signal is weak, there is a need for a booster to enhance the capability of the wi-fi. But for the financially handicapped who cannot afford such facility, browsing and uploading take a hell of the time. Woe still, to those who use pre-loaded sim cards, for by the time they can connect to the desired sites, their load is almost consumed.

 

It has been acknowledged that the Philippines is suffering from the highest internet rate in Asia. What make the unreasonable rate worse are the inutile facilities of the service providers that cannot accommodate millions of users. Despite this bleak situation, the service providers have not done any immediate action, as the time allowance that they asked from the government is a whole year of observation on their effort, before their service is finally scrapped.

 

Meanwhile, the economy of the country suffers. Blogging is not just about photos and quotes shared in facebook. Blogging as an activity is also the uploading of business opportunities in different sites that need to be accessed by enterprising browsers. Blogging is about payment transaction among business entities using bank internet facilities. It is also about plain exchange of communication among government and private agencies. It can even include in its scope the transmitted instructions about undertakings that involve life such as an ongoing operation in a hospital.

 

The Philippines which has already been suffering from corruption since the time she has gained freedom from the clutches of America, is hopeful that the incoming administration of Rodrigo Duterte can give life to its sickly cyber-tech system.

 

 

The Humility and Diligence of Atty. Domingo T. Duerme

The Humility and Diligence of Atty. Domingo T. Duerme

by Apolinario Villalobos

 

I first heard about him when I joined Philippine Airlines, middle of 70’s, as another Notre Damian like me when the late Joseph Alabanza, one of our instructors asked me if I knew him. I replied in the negative because while I graduated from a parochial Notre Dame during the time, he was a product of the education system’s university in Cotabato City, the prime city of the yet, undivided and vast Cotabato province.  The same question was asked by the late, Ricardo Paloma who was also curious about our school. Our paths crossed when he became the Branch Manager of Davao station, when I used it as my jump-off point in covering tourist areas in Mindanao as editor of the PAL TOPIC Magazine. From then on, I called him, “Atty. Duerme”.

 

The next time we met was when he was sent to Manila to take the place of the late Federico Pabelico as Director for Luzon Sales Area. I took note of the paintings that he hung in his room, and which I observed to be different from those that the Construction Office of the company purchased to enhance the rooms of executives. I thought they were just among his personal collections that he preferred to display. I only learned about them as his own paintings when he was packing up for another assignment as Sr. AVP for International Sales-Philippines to be based at S&L Building along Roxas Boulevard. He gave me an unframed sketch of an old woman as a precious token.

 

I had an opportunity to meet his better half, Connie when she came over from the province. She struck me as equally humble and soft-spoken, too. Atty. Duerme confided that they met while both of them were studying at the Notre Dame University (NDU). She was taking up Banking and Finance while he was struggling with his Bachelor of Science in Education. She was also his “sponsor”, being an officer of the Reserved Officer Training Corps (ROTC) of the university. Connie was an able support to the struggle of Atty. Duerme as he tried his best to establish a home and family. She went into different business ventures, supplying beef to patrons in Davao and Manila, as well as indigenous monkey that abundantly thrive in the region, which were sent to Europe for scientific experiments and medical purposes. To cap her business acumen, she opened a canteen that fed about 2,000 employees of a garment factory at Awang district of Cotabato city. The two are blessed by daughters, Ma. Dolores and Ma. Lovella, both nurses and currently working at Houston, Texas.

 

The journey of Atty. Duerme started at Pototan, Iloilo where he was born in March 28. His parents were among the farming pioneer settlers of M’lang (today, part of North Cotabato). As a young boy he had a share in tending their farm, a task which did not hinder him from graduating with honors from elementary (Bialong Elementary School) to high school (Notre Dame of M’lang). He finished a Bachelor of Science in Education (BSE) at the Notre Dame University (Cotabato City) in 1968, and Bachelor of Laws in 1973, hurdling the Bar in 1975 (Roll 25707).

 

What is remarkable about his struggle is that he joined Philippine Airlines in 1968, a month just before graduating with a BSE degree and went on with his struggle to finish his Law degree. His being a Ticket Freight Clerk with a “just-enough-wage” did not deter his determination to become a lawyer. And, to think that it was during this time that he and his wife, Connie were putting up the foundation of their family. To work with PAL Domestic Sales during the early days of the company was being like a soldier who should be ready for assignments anywhere. This commitment made Atty. Duerme assume positions without question, as Branch Supervisor of Dipolog, Cagayan de Oro, and Bislig within the period of 1972-1978, within which he also successfully passed the Bar examination.

 

The hard-earned achievement as a full-fledged lawyer, easily gave him the opportunity to become a Branch Manager of Cotabato station from 1978-1986, moving up as Branch Manager of Davao from 1987-1992. The rest of his journey became more challenging as he became the Director of Luzon Sales Area from 1992-1994, Sr. AVP for International Sales-Philippines from 1994-1996, and finally coming home to Mindanao as Sr. AVP for the said region.

 

The feat of the unassuming Atty. Duerme is such that, a roll could be filled with his accomplishments as he struggled his way up, from their sun-drenched farm in M’lang. He was a Rotary Exchange Student and as such he was sent to Ontario Canada, aside from being a Jaycee scholar. He received an award from his alma mater, Notre Dame University as an Outstanding Alumnus, aside from having been given recognition as an Outstanding Son of M’lang. When he had a stint in Davao as PAL’s Sr. AVP, he actively got involved in the local tourism industry as member of the Davao City Tourism Council; President of the Rotary Club of Davao; President of SKAL-Davao; Representative of the Private Sector in the Region XI Development Council; consistent Chairman of the PAL Inter-Club Golf Tournaments; Chairman and President of the Davao Chamber of Commerce and Industry; Private Sector Representative to the Tourism Inftra-structure and Economic Zone Authority (TIEZA); Trustee of the Philippine Red Cross. Currently, he is the Chairman of the Board of the M’lang Water District.

 

Despite all those accomplishments, Atty. Duerme seems not a bit tired, as he might give in to another opportunity that is persistently knocking on his door…

 

Madrid’s Don Quixote Tapestries~

Cindy Knoke

The Royal Palace of Madrid,

has a special exhibit,

honoring the 400th anniversary of the death of Miguel de Cervantes, the author of, “The Ingenious Gentleman Don Quixote of La Mancha.”

These tapestries were commissioned by Phillip V who lived from 1683-1746,

and depict in detail the life and adventures of Don Quixote.

I included a close-up so you could see the intricate stitch detail in these remarkable tapestries.

They were woven sometime in the early 1700’s by the Madrid Tapestry Factory which was founded by King Phillip V. Goya worked for a time in this factory creating designs.

Cheers to you in honor of Don Quixote who taught us so much about the subjective nature of our perceptions~

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Ano Ba Talaga ang Papel ng Department of Health (DOH)?

Ano Ba Talaga ang Papel ng Department of Health (DOH)?

Ni Apolinario Villalobos

 

Nagbitaw na naman ng deklasrasyon ang isang Dr. Go ng Department of Health (DOH) tungkol sa dahon ng guyabano na kapag ginawang tsaa ay makakasira daw ng kidney o bato, ayon sa isang brodkaster ng isang radio station. Ang isyu lang naman dapat ay tungkol sa isang naka-pack na produkto na guyabano juice concentrate na pinaghinalaang peke dahil walang detalyadong impormasyon dito kaya pinag-iingat ang publiko. Subalit sa hindi malamang dahilan, pati ang dahon ng guyabano na matagal nang ginagamit hindi lang ng  mga mga Pilipino kundi pati na ng mga taga-ibang bansa ay pinakialaman.

 

Ang impormasyon tungkol sa bisa ng guyabano ay alam na ng mga katutubo ng Amazon (south America) bago pa man dumating ang mga taga-Europe na sumakop sa kanila. Mismong mga taga-Europe ay gumawa ng katalugo ng mga halamang gamot na makikita sa kagubatan ng Amazon, at kasama diyan ang guyabano. Dahil diyan, may kung ilang dekadang pinag-aralan ng mga may pinag-aralang scientists daw na kunektado sa mga komersiyal na laboratoryo ang pagkopya ng mga elemento at sustansiya sa tanim na ito subalit nabigo sila. Nang panahong yon ay talagang mistulang nagkaroon ng blackout sa impormasyon tungkol sa guyabano kaya hindi ito nakakalabas sa South America. Pumutok lamang ito nang ilathala sa internet ng mga nakadanas ng kalunasan mula sa tanim. Kaya dahil sa animo ay napahiya, hinayaan na lamang ng mga ganid na interesadong masolo ang pakinabang sa guyabano.

 

Dahil sa tinuran ng isang Dr. Go na taga-DOH, para na rin niyang sinabi na ang iba pang halaman na itinuturing na nakakagamot tulad ng banaba, lagundi, tawa-tawa, bayabas, mangga, at marami pang iba na nakikita saan mang sulok ng Pilipinas ay nakakasira din ng kidney. Baka gusto niyang isama pa diyan ang tanglad na tulad ng guyabano ay itinuturing din na wonder herb dahil nagagamit ding panlaban sa kanser.

 

Ang isang kapalpakan ng sistema sa Pilipinas na may kinalaman ang DOH ay ang paglagay pa ng disclaimers sa mga pakete ng mga halamang gamot na nagsasabing hindi sila gamot at hindi nakakagamot ng anumang sakit. At, ang nakakatawa, ito ay binabanggit sa komersiyal, pagkatapos ng testimonya ng taong napagaling ng ina-advertize na halamang gamot. Bakit pinagastos pa ang gumawa ng gamot sa pag-advertise ganoong may ipinilit sa kanilang disclaimer? Ito ang isa sa mga kahangalan ng mga makabagong kaalaman daw na natutunan sa mga eskwelahan! At, yan ang isa sa mga matinding pagkukunwari ng sistema sa larangan ng “makabagong medisina” na ang inaasahan ay mga artispisyal na gamot o synthetic kaya hindi nalulusaw sa loob ng katawan at nadedeposito sa kidney, na siya namang tunay na dahilan ng pagkasira nito.

 

MARAMI ANG NAKAKALIGTAANG GAWIN NG DOH TULAD NG MGA SUMUSUNOD:

 

• HINAYAANG MABULOK ANG FABELLA CENTER UPANG BANDANG HULI AY MAKITANG DELIKADO NANG GAMITIN, AT UPANG MAPAKINABANGAN DAW AY KAILANGANG IBENTA – GAWING PERA….KANINO?…EH DI, SA MGA DEVELOPERS KAYA ASAHAN ANG PAGSULPOT SA LUGAR NA YAN NG CONDO/COMMERCIAL BUILDING O ISA PANG MALL UPANG TABIHAN ANG ISA PANG MALL NA SIYANG KALAKARAN NG NEGOSYO SA PILIPINAS. PWEDE NAMANG AYUSIN ANG FABELLA CENTER TULAD NG PAG-RETROFIT GAYA NG GINAGAWA SA NATIONAL LIBRARY OF THE PHILIPPINES, PERO BAKIT HINDI GINAWA? ANG FABELLA CENTER AY NASA GITNA NG MAHIRAP NA KOMUNIDAD NA NANGANGAILANGAN NG SERBISYO NITO KAYA DAHIL SA NANGYARING KAPALPAKAN, ASAHAN NA ANG PAGLOBO NG MAS LALONG PAGHIHIRAP NG MGA MANGANGANAK NA WALANG PAMBAYAD SA MGA OSPITAL…AT PAGKAMATAY NG MGA SANGGOL NA PINAPANGANAK SA MGA BANGKETA AT DEPRESSED AREAS.

 

• HINDI IPINAGLABAN ANG MAGNA CARTA NG MGA NURSES NA AKALA NI PNOY AQUINO AY TUNGKOL LANG SA SUWELDO, KAYA HINDI NIYA ITO PINIRMAHAN, GANOONG NAKAPALOOB DITO ANG IBA PANG MAHAHALAGANG BAGAY NA MAY KINALAMAN SA PAGPAPAHALAGA AT PAGPROTEKTA NG PROPESYONG NURSING.

 

• HINDI PAGPATIGIL SA PAGGAMIT NG MGA NAKALALASONG PRESERVATIVES SA MGA SARIWANG ISDA, GULAY AT PRUTAS SA PALENGKE. KAYA ANG NABIBILI TULAD NG TALONG AT KAMATIS NA SARIWANG TINGNAN SA LABAS DAHIL MAKINTAB AY BULOK NA PALA SA LOOB; ANG MGA ISDA NA PULA NGA ANG HASANG AT MATIGAS PERO KAPAG INILUTO NA AY NADUDUROG NAMAN AGAD; ANG TINADTAD NA LANGKANG PANGGULAY AT PUSO NG SAGING NA PABORITO NG MGA PILIPINO AY IBINABABAD DIN SA GAMOT UPANG MANATILING SARIWA, PERO MAHIRAP PALAMBUTIN KAHIT ISANG ORAS O MAHIGIT PANG PINAKULUAN AT MAPAIT ANG LASA. MAY MGA STAFF NAMAN ANG AHENSIYANG ITO NA NAMAMALENGKE KAYA HINDI PWEDENG HINDI NILA ALAM ANG MGA NANGYAYARI, AT MISMONG MGA OPISYAL AY GANOON DIN DAHIL ANG ESKANDALONG ITO AY PALAGING NIREREPORT SA RADYO, PERO WALA SILANG AKSYON.

 

• ANG MGA HEALTH CENTER SA BARANGAY AY KULANG NG MGA HEALTH WORKERS. MALIIT NA NGA ANG ALLOWANCE AY INIPIT PA ANG PAGDAGDAG NG MGA TAUHAN KAYA INI-ISKEDYUL ANG PAG-REPORT NILA SA MGA BARANGAY DAHIL NAGLALAGARE SILA SA IBA PANG BARANGAY. AT, HINDI RIN NAISIP NG DOH NA ANG AMBULANSIYA SA MGA BARANGAY AY DAPAT NASA PANGANGASIWA NG HEALTH CENTER DAHIL ANG MGA BARANGAY AY MAY SARILI NAMANG MGA SASAKYAN NA ANG IBA NGA AY AIRCON PA. ANO BA ANG GAMIT NG AMBULANSIYA?….AT SA ANONG AHENSIYA NAKAPAILALIM ANG HEALTH CENTERS?

 

Dahil sa walang pakundangang pagsasalita ng isang Dr. Go ng DOH laban sa guyabano, siguradong magkakawing-kawing na ang negatibong epekto nito sa mga Pilipinong naniniwala sa mga naririnig nila sa radyo. Yan ba ang gustong papelin ng DOH?

 

 

 

The Last Monday Flag Ceremony of Duterte in Davao (27June)

The Last Monday Flag Ceremony of Duterte in Davao (27June)

By Apolinario Villalobos

 

Listening to the radio broadcast of the speech of Rodrigo Duterte during the last flag ceremony that he attended as mayor of the city, listeners could feel his closeness to his constituents who trusted him for so many years. Non-Visayans who can understand only a sprinkling of the Cebuano dialect should not immediately make judgments or impressions after hearing familiar cusses and other words which may sound vulgar to them. This is how his morality and personality was unfairly misjudged by those from Luzon who have a different culture. If Duterte spoke in Bisaya during the flag ceremony, they should understand that he is in Davao speaking before a throng of Visayans.

 

Reporters should know by now that what makes Duterte cuss are words such as “drugs”, “drug lords”, “drug addict”, “rapists” and “corruption”. This is observable, for every time he mentioned those words during his speech, he tried with much effort to control himself not cuss, but with futility. Meanwhile, reporters should also be wary about questions that go beyond the borderline of privacy, and those which are already asked, but just repeated as if to test his consistency and recall ability. He is not a showbiz personality who needs media mileage to maintain a high degree of popularity. Duterte expects so much work to be done and this is what he will do despite his forthcoming “meager” salary which he jokingly declared to be just enough for his former wife and current “girlfriend”, with nothing much left for him. Some of those in the media who are so presumptuous about their “ability” to manipulate government officials by putting words in their mouth should stop such antic. Duterte is very much different from the presidents who came before him…as he knows his purpose for the Filipinos and the country. And, as he himself said, he would rather be left alone working, than be interviewed.

 

Manila reporters should start getting firsthand information on Duterte by talking with media people from Davao so that they can make the necessary adjustments to the personality and working habit of the new president. They should remove from their mind that being “Tagalogs”, they are superior to their Visayan counterparts. On the other hand, as an unsolicited suggestion, media entities in Manila should start hiring Bisayans to enhance their stable of field reporters and broadcasters. This shall preclude any misunderstanding as had happened even while Duterte was still campaigning.

Basilica of our Lady of Charity

Crimes are not the Brainchild of the Impoverished…as what the “comfortables” insist

Crimes Are Not the Brainchild of the Impoverished

…as what the “comfortables” insist!

By Apolinario Villalobos

 

It is like the vicious cycle which has no clear answer, as to which came first, the egg or the chicken. There’s a popular belief that poverty creates crime, as the need of the impoverished to survive forces him to earn via crimes. But what has not been taken into consideration is the “second party” or the people who “use” the impoverished for their selfish motive. Simply put, drug lords organize “educated pushers” to explore the impoverished areas to recruit “uneducated runners”, as well as, entice the gullible residents – young and old to be hooked to illegal drug.

 

In my long years of association with those living in depressed areas, I learned and observed personally that they can go by with even just one meal a day. Committing crime is far from their mind as they are a contented lot. But when illegal drugs entered their life, and they became hooked to them, they were forced to find ways and means to “earn” so that they can go on with their newly-found habit. In this regard, some of them learned easy-to-earn trades such as snatching, sex peddling or hooking, shoplifting, killing for a fee, petty burglary and drug-running. When they came to Manila, they had no vices except occasional drinking. Foremost in their mind was to work hard with part of their earnings to be sent back home to their families. But, then, well-to-do and impressively educated newfound friends gave them ideas how to earn fast and live comfortably in the city.

 

It should also be noted that in far-flung provinces, life is very simple. Having vegetables and rice for meals is not considered a way of the impoverished. Students walk their way to school. Life is laid back. But when illegal drug is introduced into communities, some of which still have no street lights, a drastic change occurred in the life of the “probinsiyanos”. In this regard, some news heard over the radio and seen as broadcast on TV are about unknown barrios and towns with drug dens raided by authorities, and drug pushers cornered and caught red-handed with marked money!

 

Illegal drugs are residues of progress. For people to enjoy progress, heavy prices must be paid …with the future of the youth that goes puff with every sniff of the melted crystals… or, with the crumpled values and honour, long nurtured in the heart of the gullible squatting residents and “probinsiyanos”.

 

On the other hand, if one insists that poverty creates crime, he is like saying that there are drug laboratories in slums, or the poor can afford to buy and hoard high-powered guns, or they have immense garages for luxury cars used in delivering drugs to avoid detection, or they can afford to organize high-end concerts akin to “tiyangges” so that imported drugs can be sold easily at bargain prices, or they are so clever or well-financed enough as to negotiate for deliveries of kilo-tons of drugs from China, or that offices of illegal recruiters can be found in their midst!

 

Unfortunately, many Filipinos are so comfortably confined within the secured walls of their homes, hence, their knowledge of what are really happening “on the other side” of the country are derived from TV shows and pages of broadsheets. Despite that glaring reality, SOME, IF NOT MANY OF THEM, still have the gall to utter dismay and disbelief….of course, they cannot believe them, because they chose not to open their eyes to the realities of the big chunk of Filipino life!