LAMBAYONG (tula)

LAMBAYONG

Ni Apolinario Villalobos

 

Sa tunog pa lang ng pangalan kung banggitin

Exotic na ang dating, mahiwaga pa kung isipin

Sinaunang bayan na saksi sa isang kasaysayan

Ng malawak na emperyo sa ka-Mindanawan.

 

Napapaligiran ng malawak, matabang lupain

At noon ay mga gubat, maaliwalas sa paningin

Sagana sa mga hayop, sa kalawaka’y mga ibon

Subalit nawala dahil sa pagbago ng panahon.

 

Nagkanlong ng mga dumayo mula sa Visayas

Na ang pagsisikap ay nag-iwan ng mga bakas

Nagsimula sa pusod ng minahal na Lambayong

Hanggang sa New Passi, barangay ng Tacurong.

 

Mula sa Midsayap tumagos sa kanya ay daan

Tungo sa Makar, pantalang malalim ng GenSan

Nang sa bayan ng Tacurong ito’y tumagos naman

Naging highway na ito at ipinangalan kay Alunan.

 

Nadugtong siya sa Buluan sa  bahagi ng Silangan

Tumagos sa Kipolot ang matalahib na mga daan

Umabot sa Sambolawan na  ngayon ay Quirino

Sentro ng masaganang kalakalan o mga negosyo.

 

Biniyayaan siya ng mga bukal ng matamis na tubig

Nagpapawi ng uhaw at sa kapaligiran ay nagdilig

Kaya’t masaganang ani ay hindi mapapasubalian

Mula sa mga nagluluntiang palayan sa kapaligiran.

 

Hindi lang mula sa kalikasan ang kanyang yaman

Pati na rin sa masisipag, mababait na mamamayan…

Lambayong, tungo sa kaunlara’y umaarangkada

Sa bilis ng pagsulong tila wala nang hahadlang pa!

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Unsolicited na mga Payo sa mga Nanalo sa Barangay Election

UNSOLICITED NA MGA PAYO SA MGA NANALO SA BARANGAY ELECTION

Ni Apolinario Villalobos

 

Para sa mga nanalo na naman:

  • Kung nanalo kayo uli sa kabila ng kawalan ninyo ng ginawa, at dahil sa pagbili ng boto

dapat ay makonsiyensiya kayo nang sa ganoon ay magawa na ninyo ang nararapat dahil nabigyan uli kayo ng chance.

 

  • Huwag nang magnakaw sa kaban ng barangay upang hindi madagdagan ang mga ginawa ninyong kasalanan dahil mabubulgar din naman talaga ang inyong pagkabalasubas kaya habang buhay na masisira ang dangal at pangalan ng inyong angkan.

 

 

Para sa mga bagong nanalo:

 

  • Huwag maging “bara-bara” sa pagpapatupad ng mga ipinangako. May mga patakarang dapat sundin na galing sa iba’t ibang ahensiya g gobyerno tulad ng Commission on Audit, DILG at ang mga opisina ng mayor at ang konseho ng sangguniang bayan o panlunsod. Ang barangay ay nakapaloob sa isang bayan o lunsod kaya lahat ng mga kilos at desisyon ng Barangay administration para sa mga constituents ay dapat dumaan sa tamang proseso.

 

  • Huwag pairalin ang pagka-idealistic. Unang-una, imposible ito dahil sa mga sistemang umiiral. Hindi pwede na kung ano ang gusto ay masusunod para lang magpa-impress. Kung napapansing masama ang ginagawa ng mayor, saka ito salungatin para sa kapakanan ng mga constituents.

 

  • Huwag maging swapang sa credit. Kung ano ang magandang nagawa ng natalo na dating barangay chairman ay dapat i-maintain at kung ano ang hindi natapos dapat ay ipagpatuloy…..purihin din ang natalo dahil sa mga magagandang ginawa niya.

 

  • Sa pagpapatupad ng mga programa lalo na ang mgay mga kinalaman sa kalinisan at pagpaganda ng kapaligiran, palaging unahin ang karapatang pantao lalo na ang karapatang mamuhay nang tapat o honest kahit sa pagbenta sa bangketa…huwag silang bugawin na parang langaw.

 

  • Gawing batayan ang mga pagkakamali ng nakaraang administrasyon para sa gagawing mga pagbabago. Marami ang nangakong gawing malinis o maganda ang barangay…subalit dapat alalahaning may maaapektahang mga tao. Mag-ingat sa gagawing mga hakbang…huwag gumawa ng “short cut” tulad ng pagbubugaw sa mga iskwater o mga vendors na nasa tabi-tabi KUNG WALANG NAKAHANDANG MALILIPATAN NILA.

 

  • Alalahanin ang mga paninirang narinig mula sa mga kalaban ng natalo noong ito ay nakaupo pa…ITO AY MANGYAYARI RIN SA IYO BILANG BAGONG OPISYAL KUNG HINDI KA MAG-IINGAT. HIGIT SA LAHAT, HUWAG MAGING BINGI DAHIL SA NATAMONG KARANGALAN….MAKINIG SA MGA PAYO.

 

Hindi madali ang mamuno sa Pilipinas dahil sa malalim na pagkakaugat ng masamang kultura na may kinalaman sa eleksiyon tulad ng vote buying at karahasan na umaabot sa patayan. Kapag nasa puwesto na, ang dating mga malinis at may magandang layunin ay may pagkakataong mabahiran ng dumi dahil sa hindi pag-ingat o paninira ng mga kalabang ayaw tumanggap ng pagkatalo.

 

 

BULUAN (tula or Filipino poem)

BULUAN

Ni Apolinario Villalobos

 

Sinapupunan ng kulturang Magindanaw

Emperyong maharlika na malawak ang saklaw

Kutabato na sa kasaysayan ay malalim ang tatak

Dahil katapangan ng mga ninuno ay ‘di mahahamak.

 

Magandang buhay, bigay ng lawa at ilog

Mga dalag, tilapia, bagtis, taruk na malulusog

Mga biyaya na bigay ni Allah, hindi ipinagdamot

Pinapasalamatan kahit minsan, huli’y kakarampot.

 

Mayamang kulturang sa INAUL ay ipinakita

‘Di lang ang bansang Pilipinas dito’y humanga

Kahit sa ibang sulok ng mundo ito ay napansin din

Napagtagumpayan na sa katagalan ay isang hangarin.

 

Naging tahanan ng mga Ilokano at Bisaya

Sinundan ng ibang may hangaring guminhawa

Hindi naman pinagkaitan ng mga ninunong datu

Pagkakataon na nakita rin ng mga dumayong Tsino.

 

“Ina” na maituturing ng Tacurong at Quirino

Malawak na bayang nagbigay-buhay sa mga ito

Katotohanang kinikilala ng mga mamayan ngayon

Hindi kalilimutan sa lahat ng pagkakataon at panahon.

 

Oh, Buluan, sa iyo kami ay nagbibigay-pugay

Ang masambit ka, nagpapasigla sa aming buhay

Napadako man kami sa iba’t ibang lunsod at bayan

Ugat ka pa ring maituturing na aming pinanggalingan!

 

I LOVE YOU TACURONG! (poem in English, Tagalog, Hiligaynon and Cebuano)

I LOVE YOU TACURONG!

Ni Apolinario Villalobos

 

Maskin ano pa ang ihambal nila

Indi gid nila ako mapasala kon sin-o ako

Kay diri sa Tacurong ako ginbata

Nga ginapadayaw ko gid sa iban nga tawo.

 

Nawala man ako ng ilang dekada

Lumingon pa rin ako sa mga nakaraan –

Mga araw na tigib ng saya’t ligaya

Talagang ‘di makakalimutan kaylan man.

 

I will not be what I am today

As I trace my roots to beloved Tacurong

For which more progress I pray

And praises that I could shout in a song!

 

Daghan pud ko ug gipangandoy

Bisan ug sa kalsada sige pud ko ug dulâ

Nangandoy ug maayong kinabuhi

Maningkamot, di gyud mangayo’g kalu-oy!

 

Ang pagsisikap ko ay nagbunga

Kaya sa maliit na paraan ay ibinabalik ko

Mga biyaya na aking natamasa

Pagtanaw ng utang loob na noo’y ipinangako!

 

Here I am, my beloved Tacurong

Indi ta gid tana pag-ikahuya maskin san-o

Dahil kung hindi sa iyong pagkanlong

Basi’g wâ gyu’y nahitabo sa akong pagkatawo!

 

I LOVE YOU TACURONG!

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The Locality as a Tourist Destination, High Technology, and Travel as an Innate Desire

THE LOCALITY AS A TOURIST DESTINATION,

HIGH TECHNOLOGY, AND TRAVEL AS AN INNATE DESIRE

By Apolinario Villalobos

 

First of all, the primary objective of a locality in its desire to become a tourist destination is to earn REVENUE. In this regard, one way is to come up with CONCEIVED ATTRACTIONS, the most common of which is the fiesta or festival. The most important supports for this particular activity are the ACCOMMODATION FACILITIES and the COOPERATION FROM THE RESIDENTS. On the other hand, the offices of the LGU, staffed with SALARIED PEOPLE ARE EXPECTED TO EXERT THEIR SHARE OF EFFORT.

 

Aside from conceived attractions, the locality can make use of the NATURAL ATTRACTIONS such as swift rivers, caves, mountains, forest with its wildlife, as well as, fruits, vegetables and flowers from farms that grow them being the source of livelihood of the locals.

 

The local government unit or the LGU is SUPPOSED to have an office for the above objective – the TOURISM OFFICE which should be the OVERALL COORDINATOR. Whoever is in-charge of the said office is expected to be knowledgeable about WHAT THE LOCALITY HAS TO OFFER  FOR THE KIND OF TOURISTS THAT ARE BEING TARGETED, SUCH THAT IF THE LOCALITY HAS ACCOMMODATION FACILITIES THAT CAN SATISFY LOCAL TOURISTS WHO ARE NOT FINICKY, THEN, THE EFFORT SHOULD BE CONCENTRATED TOWARDS THEM. IT IS ILLOGICAL TO EXERT MUCH EFFORT TO ATTRACT INTERNATIONAL TOURISTS IF THEY CHOOSE TO STAY IN ANOTHER LOCALITY KILOMETERS AWAY WHERE “DECENT” HOTELS OF INTERNATIONAL STANDARD ARE FOUND….MAKING THE OBJECTIVE OF THE LOCALITY WHICH IS THE TOURIST DESTINATION INUTILE. For example, if a festival is to be held in town “A” that got no first class hotels so that international tourists stay in town “B” because it has plenty, how can town “A”, then, attain its objective to earn?…In this case, why not put more expectation on the local tourists who are not finicky as regards “international standards”?

 

Tourism is supposed to generate information, hence, educational. This matter is beginning to seep into the consciousness or understanding of Filipinos who are now appreciating the adage that says about their being tourists in their own country. Students are traveling around on “educational tours”, companies give their employees “familiarization tours” as part of their benefit package, families who can afford to travel and stay in certain local localities are willing to spend. These phenomena are what, whoever is in charge of touristic activities of the locality, should bear in his or her mind….that any Philippine tour destination can survive on Philippine market….festival or no festival.  The international market comes into the picture by way of high-tech promotions…NATURALLY.

 

TODAY, THE PROMOTION OF A TOURISTIC ACTIVITY OR DESTINATION IS NO LONGER A PROBLEM DUE TO THE PROLIFERATION OF BLOGGERS, BOTH LOCALS AND FOREIGN…THEY WHO VISIT TOURISTIC DESTINATION ON THEIR OWN.  MODERN TECHNOLOGY IS SUCH THAT,  ALL IT NEEDS IS FOR A TRAVELLER TO OPEN A LAPTOP OR DESKTOP COMPUTER, OR SMART PHONE TO CHECK THE INTERNET FOR DESTINATIONS THAT SUITS HIS OR HER INTEREST. CONSULTATIONS  WITH TOUR AGENCIES AND TRAVEL ARRANGEMENT CAN BE MADE DIRECTLY, ASIDE FROM  AIRLINES, BUS COMPANIES OR SHIPPING LINES THAT OFFER CRUISES. IN OTHER WORDS, THERE IS NO NEED FOR TOO MUCH EFFORT, ESPECIALLY, EXPENSE ON THE PART OF THE LGU TO ATTRACT INTERNATIONAL TOURISTS. THE DESIRE TO TRAVEL IS INNATE IN A PERSON, WHETHER HE IS AN ASIAN, AN AMERICAN, OR EUROPEAN. HE WILL FIND MEANS TO BE WHERE HIS OR HER CURIOSITY WILL DRIVE HIM OR HER.

 

TOURISM AS AN INDUSTRY CAN ONLY BE SUSTAINABLE IF THE LOCALITY IS CAPABLE OF ATTRACTING BOTH THE LOCAL AND INTERNATIONAL TOURISTS BASED ON WHAT IT CAN “HONESTLY” AFFORD TO OFFER. IF THE TOURIST ARRIVES IN A LOCALITY,  HE OR SHE DOES NOT GO TO THE TOURISM OFFICE, BUT STRAIGHT TO THE HOTEL FOR BOOKING.  IN THE ABSENCE OF BROCHURES AS IN THE CASE OF SMALL LOCALITIES, THE STAFF HANDLING THE RECEIPTION COUNTER CAN GIVE INFORMATION AND CAN EVEN HELP IN ARRANGING FOR A MODE OF TRANSPORT, SUCH AS HIRED CAR, JEEPNEY, OR TRICYCLE.

 

THE WORST THING THAT COULD HAPPEN TO A LOCALITY THAT IS AMBITIOUSLY VYING FOR THE INTERNATIONAL SEGMENT OF TOURISM, IS WHEN A SUPPOSEDLY “INTERNATIONAL” ACTIVITY FLOPS,  RESULTING TO THE DISAPPOINTMENT OF INTERNATIONAL TOURISTS!…. DISAPPOINTMENT CAN RESULT FROM UNCOMFORTABLE TRAVEL DUE TO POTHOLED ROADS TO THE DESTINATION AND UNREALIZED EXPECTATIONS UPON ARRIVAL AT THE DESTINATION WHICH IS THE “TOURIST ATTRACTION” BEING PROMOTED.  AND, THESE GUYS CAN BLOG AND VERBALLY SPREAD DISAPPOINTING EXPERIENCES AMONG FRIENDS BACK HOME! ON THE OTHER HAND,  “INTERNATIONAL VISITORS” WHOSE STAY ARE ON FOC (FREE OF CHARGE) BASIS ARE EXPECTED TO BE FULL OF PRAISES TO SHOW THEIR GRATITUDE TO THEIR HOST.

 

EXPECTEDLY, FOR THE EVENT TO BE SUCCESSFUL, UTMOST “COORDINATION” TO BE INITIATED BY THE OFFICE CONCERNED WITH THE REST OF PARTIES THAT ARE IN ONE WAY OR ANOTHER, INVOLVED, SHOULD BE MADE, SUCH EFFORT BEING CRUCIAL.  IF THIS IS NOT DONE, SOMETHING MUST BE WRONG SOMEWHERE.

 

Wildlife as an attraction will always be there unless, the forests catch fire or illegal loggers cut down trees without let up. Promoting it by attracting supposedly international groups but with the government paying for their expenses is not necessary, in my opinion. Designating a day or days to come up with a semblance of festival is for me, still not necessary, because the wildlife is there 24/7 throughout the year. The same idea goes with the real festivals that have to do with the locality’s customs and traditions, foremost among which is the phenomenal “ati-atihan” festivals of the Aklan, Iloilo and Cebu, the Moriones of Marinduque, etc.

 

AGAIN…BLOGGERS ARE JUST AROUND – THEY WHO ARE MAINTAINING THEIR SITES IN THE CYBERSPACE WITH THE OBJECTIVE OF FILLING THEM UP WITH INFORMATION ABOUT THEIR TRAVEL IN ORDER TO ATTRACT FOLLOWERS. THE MORE BLOGS THEY MAKE, THE BETTER FOR THEM AS THEY BECOME MORE POPULAR …GIVING THEM THE OPPORTUNITY TO OPEN THEIR SITES TO ADVERTISERS…AS THEIR OWN WAY OF EARNING.  THAT IS WHAT HI-TECH LIFE IS ALL ABOUT TODAY….IT AFFECTS JUST ANYTHING IN THIS WORLD…INCLUDING TOURISM!

Depressed…

Depressed…

By Raichi

 

I work hard to be free,

but still no one seems to appreciate me;

I know I’m okay, but i still feel awful.

I have peers and friends

many of them, I know they love you (me) ,

but it doesn’t feel like they do.

I’m doing something to make me feel better

but i just don’t know how to.

Man, I’m smiling,

but i wake up every day

with this weird feeling

stacking up problems

that are so unnecessary,

but i hope someday

I’ll wake up happy and merry…

I know this struggle’s gonna last

and i want to end it… fast.