Bernard Fetalvero-de la Cruz at Ian Paredes-Atrero…naghuhubog ng mga kabataan ng Barangay Real Dos (Bacoor City)

Bernard Fetalvero- de la Cruz at Ian Paredes -Atrero

…naghuhubog ng mga kabataan ng Real Dos (Bacoor City)

Ni Apolinario Villalobos

 

Kabataan pa lang niya ay nakitaan na si Bernard de la Cruz, 26 taong gulang ngayon, ng pagkahilig sa basketball, kaya hindi nakapagtataka ng naglaro siya sa koponan ng SFACS high school at sa college naman ay naging varsity player ng kanilang paaralan, ang Emilio Aguinaldo College. Nasa lahi nila ang pagiging basketbolista dahil ang kanyang tatay ay naging PBA player. Mapalad si Bernard dahil noong kabataan niya ay hindi pa uso ang computer at internet café kaya ang panahon niya ay nagugol sa paglaro ng basketball. Malaki ang pasasalamat niya kay Wilson “Bong” de Jesus sa paghubog sa kanya pati na ang iba pa niyang kababata sa paglaro ng basketball. Hindi naging maramot si Bong sa pagbahagi ng mga nalalaman niya sa larong ito, kaya maraming natutuhan si Bernard at ang iba pang mga kabataan. Natanim sa pagkatao ni Bernard ang disiplina kaya madali niyang natutunan ang iba’t ibang teknik sa paglaro tulad ng pag-“grind”.

 

Ngayon, maliban sa pag-alaga ng nanay niyang na-stroke, full time din siyang Church worker na nagtitiyaga sa pagtuturo ng pag-unawa sa Bibliya sa mga kabataan ng barangay. Ayon sa kanya,

“…masaya na ako na gumagaling ang mga kabataan sa paglaro ng basketball at nalalayo sila sa masamang bisyo…nagiging responsible at disiplinado. At, naisi-share ko din yung faith ko kay Jesus Christ sa kanila….si Ian ang team mate ko na super solid brother ko in this life and the next ay nandiyan din na palagi kong katuwang.” Malaking bagay din ang pagiging magka-tandem nila ni Ian. Naging matatag ang spiritual foundation nito dahil sa naibabahagi niyang mga ispiritwal na bagay, lalo na ang pananalig sa Diyos.  Dahil sa tiwala nila sa isa’t isa, nabuo nila ang team ng mga kabataan ng Real Dos. Dagdag pa niya, “ang main goal talaga namin ni Ian sa pagtuturo ng basketball is to honor God, and to share our faith with the youth…guide them to become better persons on and off the court…kaya, lahat ng ginagawa namin is to honor God dahil sa paniniwala kong all glory belongs to Jesus, at lahat ng ginagawa namin ay in His name.”

 

Tulad ni Bernard, si Ian Atrero, na ngayon ay 25 taong gulang na, ay unang natutong maglaro ng basketball sa Perpetual Village 5 noong kabataan niya. Malaking bagay sa kanya ang mga natutunan niya dahil napasama siya sa Adamson Junior Falcons sa loob ng dalawang taon – 1969 at 1970. Napasama din siya sa coaching staff para sa “Camp and Play Basketball”  na pinangunahan noon ni Coach Dayong Mendoza, na coach din niya noong siya ay nasa high school. Si Mendoza ang naging inspirasyon ni Ian sa adbokasiyang paghubog ng mga kabataan ng Real Dos. Dahil sa inspirasyong nabigay ni coach Mendoza sa kanya, sumidhi ang pagpursige niya na lalong matuto sa larong ito.

 

Naging MVP siya ng BPO Classics, major league ng mga BPO companies. Nakamit niya ang karangalan sa murang gulang, kaya nasabi niyang, “… pag gusto mo ang isang bagay, magagawan mo ng paraan upang makamitt ito…minsan kasi choice lang lahat yan…kung choice mong mag-excel, eh, di sipagan mo…kung gusto mong maging tamad, eh, di choice mo pa rin yon”. Dagdag pa niya, “the choices we make today will determine our future…in personal matters, and in sports…I am a simple kid lang before na mahilig maglaro ng basketball sa village court kahit tanghaling tapat…nangarap at nagsipag para makasama din sa isang varsity team na natupad naman…nagpapasalamat ako sa mga taong nagturo sa akin noong bata pa ako…una, dahil wala silang bayad at ang goal nila ay may matutunan ako at mga kababata ko, kasama ang pag-enhance ng skills na meron na kami…at, ang isa pang masasabi ko ay natuto ako dahil sa pagtitiyaga at pagsisipag ko na rin…naniniwala ako na kaya kong makipag-compete sa iba…I am not born talented but I am born with determination to work hard coupled with determination.” Nagtatrabaho si Ian ngayon bilang Learning and Development Analyst or e-Learning Developer, ngunit, ang talagang balak niya noon ay maging propesor.

 

Dahil magkasama na mula noong bata pa sila, nag-usap sina Bernard at Ian tungkol sa kaya nilang gawin upang makatulong sa mga kabataan ng barangay Real Dos, at tulad ng inaasahan, sumentro ang usapan sa basketball na pareho nilang hilig. Ang unang pangarap ni Ian na maging propesor ay magagamit sa “pagturo” na animo ay titser, ng mga kabataan sa larangan ng basketball, na tatapatan naman ng pagiging maka-Diyos ni Bernard isang full-time Church worker ngayon, upang ang matutunan ng mga kabataan ay hindi “magaspang” na uri ng paglaro.

 

Nagtugma ang kanilang mga adhikain dahil para sa kanila, napapanahon na ang pagpasa ng mga natutunan nila…kung baga ay, “it’s payback time”, ayon na rin sa kanila. Hindi nila pwedeng bayaran ang mga nagturo sa kanila noon, kaya ang utang na loob ay ipapasa na lang nila sa iba. Naantig ang damdamin nila habang  pinapanood noon ang mga kabataan na nagpipilit na matutong mag-shoot ng bola at kumilos ayon sa hinihingi ng larong nabanggit. Walang technicalities at systematic organization. Umiral siguro ang mental telepathy sa pagitan nilang dalawa kaya sandal lang ay nakabuo agad sila ng mga plano. Inuna nila ang “inspirational stage” kaya nag-share sila ng mga karanasan nila sa mga kabataan upang matanim sa kanilang isipan na ang laro ay hindi lang pag-shoot o pagpasa ng bola. Ibinahagi nila ang dinanas nilang hirap at sarap upang matuto. Sumunod ay ang paggawa ng iskedyul – tuwing Sabado habang may pasukan sa eskwela, pero babaguhin pagdating ng bakasyon.

 

Sa ngayon, lahat ng gastos ay hinuhugot nina Bernard at Ian sa kani-kanilang bulsa, kasama na ang para sa paminsan-minsang snacks na kapalit ng magandang performance ng mga tinuturuan nila sa pag-practice. Hindi kasubuan ang turing nina Bernard at Ian sa pinasok nilang adhikain kaya handa sila sa mga bagay na may kinalaman sa kanilang sinimulan, tulad ng mga pinangarap na cones, bola, uniporme at iba pa. Hindi madaling sabihing pag-iipunan nila ang mga ito, na nakatanim sa kanilang isipan dahil sa laki ng halagang kakailanganin. Subalit tulad ng sinabi ni Ian sa unang bahagi nitong sanaysay, “kung gugustuhin ay talagang magagawan ng paraan”.

 

Naniniwala ako sa  “milagro” dahil isa ito sa mga ginagamit ng Diyos na paraan upang makapagbukas ng isipan ng tao upang siya magbago. At ang “milagro” ay nangyayari nang hindi inaasahan kung minsan, kahit hindi hinihingi ang isang bagay. Malay natin….may matanggap na “grasya” sina Bernard at Ian, ang dalawang taga-hubog ng kabataan ng Real Dos, na pondo upang magamit sa pagbili ng mga pangunahing pangangailangan, at susundan pa ng magagamit naman sa pagbili ng iba pa? Manalig lang sa kapangyarihan ng Diyos, wika nga ni Bernard!…at magsikap din, wika naman ni Ian!

 

Sa pamamagitan nitong isinulat ko, nanawagan ako sa mga may gintong puso at gustong tumulong sa adhikain nina Bernard at Ian.

 

rnard Fetalvero- de la Cruz at Ian Paredes -Atrero

…naghuh

 

The First Time I Got Shocked in the Course of Doing My Random Acts of Sharing

The First Time I Got Shocked

In the Course of Doing My Random Acts of Sharing

By Apolinario Villalobos

 

When I made a short stop in Luneta where I planned to take a late lunch one Sunday after I finished my rounds in Divisoria and Tondo, I met Aileen, a young woman who sells tinsel ground tarps. She was wearing a hooded jacket and who gave me her sweet smile to entice me to buy. A few steps away was a child who I learned was Tokong, her “daughter”. I bought her five tarps and began a conversation. I learned that at her young age of 23, the father of her 3-year child abandoned them. She consented when I asked to take a photo, so she removed the hood off her head.

 

After buying them snacks, I continued my queries about her life which led me to learn that she came from Samar almost five years ago to try her luck in Manila. Luck, however, did not smile at her as she transferred from one job to another until she met the father of her child. When she gave birth to Tokong, they were abandoned by the man she thought would be her lifetime partner. She lived with her relatives who ran out of compassion, forcing them to sleep on sidewalk, and thrived on junks that she collected from garbage bins, until a new-found friend, also a vagrant in Luneta told her to sell tinsel tarps to park strollers.

 

The child was barefooted so I told her that when I come back I would bring a pair of slipper or sandals, aside from clothes for them. After bidding them goodbye and started to walk away, the child shouted to bring toys, too. The shout made me look back in time to see “her” lift up and bit the seam of “her” dress, as a gesture of embarrassment. I was shocked to find out that “she” was a boy, as the nakedness down there showed the glowing evidence – a male organ!

 

When I went back to Aileen to ask if there was a problem with Tokong, she was at the verge of crying as she told me that she could not afford to buy appropriate clothes for him. That day, he was wearing a dress that was given the day before.  I found out that he gets a change of clothes only if new clothes were given. The impression that one gets by looking at the child is that he is a girl, as the hair is cut with bangs on the forehead.

 

I asked more questions till she told me that they are spending the night on the park sidewalk, as the gates are closed at midnight. After hearing this, I gave back the tarps that I bought and told her to sell them to others, and handed her some cash courtesy of Perla who is an avid supporter of my effort. I left them with a heavy heart, but with a resolve to be back soonest…..

 

Sa Holy Week, Hindi Lang Dapat Mga Batang Gutom ang Pakainin

Sa Holy Week, Hindi Lang Dapat

Mga Batang Nagugutom ang Pakainin

Ni Apolinario Villalobos

 

Ang sinabi ni Cardinal Tagle na sa pangingilin ng mga Kristiyano, isama ang pagpakain sa mga batang gutom…para sa akin ay bitin, kulang. Dapat ay buong pamilya na ang pakainin dahil kung may mga batang gutom, malamang ay gutom din ang kanilang pamilya dahil sa kahirapan, maliban lang kung ang tinutukoy ni Cardinal Tagle ay mga batang kalye na lumayas mula sa kanilang mga tahanan. Sa isang banda, kahit ang tinutukoy ni Cardinal Tagle ay ang batang sumisinghot ng rugby, o mga “batang hamog”, dapat isiping may mga pamilyang gutom din namang nakatira sa bangket at yong iba ay ginawa pang tahanan ang kariton. Hindi lang dapat pagkain ang ibigay sa kanila kundi pati na rin damit at tarpaulin na panglatag sa sementong hinihigaan.

 

Maliban sa tao, sana naman ay isama na rin ng mga nangingilin ang mga hayop na nasa kalye – mga aso at pusang walang mga “tao”, o mga taong nag-aalaga, o walang tahanan inuuwian. Sila ay may mga buhay din naman. Sana ang mga taong nangingilin na naglagay pa ng uling na hugis krus sa noo nang sumapit ang Ash Wednesday ay hindi mandiri sa pag-abot ng pagkain sa aso at pusang tadtad ng galis ang katawan kaya halos mawalan na ng balahibo. Sana ay hindi sila maduwal o masuka kung abutan nila ang mga ito ng mga pinira-pirasong tinapay.

 

At baka, maaari na ring isama ang isa pang nilalang ng Diyos na bahagi na rin ng buhay ng tao – ang mga halaman. Maraming tao ang pabaya sa kanilang mga halaman. Sila ang mga taong ang hangad lang sa pagbili ng mga halaman ay makisabay sa mga kinainggitang kapitbahay, subalit dahil talagang walang hilig, kalaunan ay pinabayaan na nila ang mga kawawang halaman. Itong mga mayayabang kaya ang gutumin at uhawin? Kung ayaw na nilang mag-alaga sa pinagyabang na mga halaman sana ay ipamigay na lang din nila sa mga kapitbahay na hindi nila kinaiinggitan.

 

Kung dapat maging mabait ang mga nangingilin sa mga hayop at halaman sa Holy Week, sana ay bigyan din nila ng puwang sa kanilang dasal ang mga taong ASAL-HAYOP na nagkalat sa Kongreso, Senado, at mga ahensiya ng gobyerno. Sana ay ipagdasal nila ang pagbago ng mga ASAL-HAYOP na mga taong ito upang hindi pa madagdagan pa ang haba ng kanilang mga sungay!

 

Higit sa lahat, sana ang gagawing pangingilin ng mga tao sa taong 2016  ay hindi dahil nakisabay lang sila sa mga kaibigan, kundi dahil bukal sa kanilang kalooban. Hindi sana nila gagawin ang pangingilin para sa mga nagawa nilang kasalanan, kundi upang bigyan din sila ng lakas na mapaglabanan ang tukso sa paggawa ulit ng mga kasalanan. Tuluy-tuloy sana nilang gawin ang pangingilin taon-taon, habang kaya nila hanggang sila ay malagutan ng hininga!

 

 

 

 

The Day Hector and His Family Helped the Perpetual Village 5 HA President, Louie Eguia

The Day Hector Garcia and His Family Helped the

Perpetual Village 5 HA President, Louie Eguia

By Apolinario Villalobos

 

When the unpaved roads of the Perpetual Village 5 was finally completed, courtesy of the City government of Bacoor City, flaws were discovered such as the low-grade asphalt that was used to fill the gaps of sections, and which practically cracked and broken into pieces in time, and the dangerous wide-gapped corners that endanger maneuvering cars, especially, vans and garbage trucks. Two garbage trucks almost lost their balance while maneuvering the corner along Fellowship and Unity Streets.

 

The anticipated dangers due to the precarious corners were brought to the attention of the contractor when the project was near completion, but to no avail. Understandably, he was constrained by the allocated budget that was allowed only for the approved width, thickness, and length of the roads in the subdivision. Rather than wait for mishaps to occur, the President of the Perpetual Village 5, Louie Eguia, decided to make use of the meager fund of the association.

 

As expected, Hector Garcia and the available members of his family volunteered to help – his wife Angie, daughter Mara, son-in-law Jet, and even the latter’s household “stewardess”, Ting.  From eight in the morning up to almost noon, the small group toiled under the searing heat of the sun. Even Mara who was on day -off and the lean and young “stewardess” Ting, took turns in mixing cement, gravel, and sand. Jet, who just arrived home from an overnight job also shook off the fatigue from lack of sleep. With a wheelbarrow, Hector tediously, made several trips to the Multi-purpose Hall for the pre-mixed cement and gravel, while Louie, though, suffering from skin allergies from the prickly heat, untiringly did his part.

 

I have already blogged the Garcia couple due to their unselfish “habit”, worthy of emulation. The habit practically runs in the family which also contaminated their house help, Ting, whom I lovingly call “the stewardess”. They talk less, but work more, and this habit made them click with the equally man of few words, Louie, their homeowners’ association president.

 

Cristina Toledo Cabanayan Packs Food for Prison Inmates

Cristina Toledo Cabanayan

Packs Food for Prison Inmates

By Apolinario Villalobos

 

I came to learn of the advocacy of Cristina Toledo Cabanayan when I took my brunch in their roadside food stall along Camba St. in Divisoria….she packs food for some inmates in Manila City Jail. It all started when her son (name withheld upon request) who was detained asked her to include his newly found friends, in the lunch pack that she prepares for him during visitation days. Her son found out that his friends have not been receiving visitors for a very long time, hence, depended on the meager and strictly- budgeted meals served by the jail administration.

 

Soonest as she heard their stories, she did not hesitate to pack meals taken from what she sells along Camba St. of Divisoria district for her son and his friends. The pack meals are brought by her grandsons to their father who is thirty six years old. The day I took my brunch, a Saturday, was a visitation day for the Manila City Jail inmates.

 

I learned, too, that Cristina’s altruism also benefited Lagring, who was adopted by her family when she found her living in the area alone, after having been abandoned by her family. Cristina nurtured Lagring back to her health, and today she helps in the operation of the roadside eatery by taking charge of everything that needs to be washed – eating utensils, pots, pans, etc. Though she is still noticeably skinny, she is back to her former spritely self. I found her washing pots and plates when I dropped by the food stall.

The husband of Cristina is a retiree with a frail health, making it necessary for him to stay at home, where he does the easy chores while the rest of the members are doing their share in the food stall. Miracle, Cristina’s daughter, though with a family of her own, helps her mother run the small business. The cooperation among the family members spared Cristina from hiring extra hands which is what food stall owners normally do.

The food stall is the source of the family’s livelihood, the blessing from which they also share with others in the best way that they can afford, but despite such, they are able to make both ends meet, as a proverb goes. They do not even know for how long they can hold on to their roadside space that accommodates their pushcart laden with foods. Despite such apprehension, Cristina, a typical Filipino, is fatalistic though in a positive way. She grew up in the same area and had her own share of ordeals that made her tough as a person.

The Spirited Anna….with sightless left eye and dimming right one

The Spirited Anna…with sightless left eye

and dimming right one

by Apolinario Villalobos

 

I thought the woman whose name I learned was Anna,  and who was sitting on the pushcart was just too trusting by not counting the money that I gave her for the items that I chose from among her “buraot” items, until she told me that her right eye can barely see while her left eye was totally useless. Her sight had been defective since she was a girl. While growing up, she was desperate and a loner because of her deficiency until she met her husband who took good care of her.

 

Anna and her husband had been selling junk items for more than five years. They would spread their items on a piece of tarpaulin as early as six in the morning along the old railroad track now covered with pavement as early as six in the morning, just when the vegetable wholesalers are packing up. An hour later they would transfer to the corner of the Sto. Cristo St. where I found her. With their four children in tow, her husband would leave her to clean their other “buraot” items in the railroad track.

 

She smilingly told me that she and her husband have been setting aside money for their children from the meager daily earnings. Just like most of the hardworking scavengers of Divisoria, they live on the pushcart…or rather, beside their pushcart that are heaped with their junks at the end of the day. Their children are aged nine, seven, four and three years. Just before noon, she told me that they, already with lunch bought from a makeshift sidewalk eatery, would join her.

 

Our amiable conversation was cut short by a sudden and steady drizzle. I had to help Anna gather her items on their pushcart and cover them with two pieces of tarp that I brought with me, intended to be given to the vendors like her. We stayed on the covered sidewalk, and it was at this time that Anna got worried for her husband and children.  Not long afterward, a guy carrying two children, and two girls huffily came running and joined us.

 

As the pushcart was securely covered, I invited Anna and her family to the Jollibee outlet a few steps away. The eldest girl jumped and gleefully shouted when she heard the name. When we entered, other customers threw us inquisitive stares as the husband of Anna and the kids were dripping wet. It was their first time to enter the establishment and even taste its cheapest Yummy sandwich, but for such a happy occasion, I ordered the regular burger and spaghetti for each of them. While they were enjoying their sandwich, spaghetti, and Coke, they strike a picture of a happy family…of contentment, a far cry from many families that are virtually swimming in affluence, yet, not satisfied a bit. As a practice, I did not take their picture while enjoying their Jollibee meal, for I do not want the photo opportunity to come out as one done in exchange for something. So as not to instigate Anna and her husband to ask questions about me, I stopped asking more questions about their life….that way, I was happy not to be asked for my name, though, before we parted ways, I told them that the snacks were courtesy of a certain “Perla”. I was resolved, however, to see them again.

 

Sharing Need Not Be a “Big Time” Effort

Sharing Need Not Be a “Big Time” Effort

By Apolinario Villalobos

 

I ask from friends and collect myself, what others consider as “trash” – empty rice bags, used shopping plastic bags, brown paper bags, net bags, used tarpaulins, empty jars, lengths of straw rope, etc. – to be distributed among my friends who sell recyclable junks and vegetables by the pile on sidewalks. They are called “buraot” vendors and the “buraot” refers to the junks and wilting vegetables that they sell. Some of them keep the brown paper bags to be used by their children as book covers, and the sturdy plastic grocery bags as “school bags”. On the other hand, the rice bags have many uses, one of which is safekeeping of things in the absence of decent bags that are sold in department stores.

 

It takes me about two weeks to be able to collect a sizeable volume of these various “treasures”, classify the plastic bags according to size, carefully fold them and finally apportion them together with the rest of the items among the pre-identified recipients for easy distribution. I am most glad if I am able to collect big plastic cover of refs and washing machines because they can be used as extended roof for “kariton (pushcart) home” of my friends. I taught them to fold big plastic bags in such a way that they can be used as “rain coat”. I used to do that when I was in elementary during which I would scavenge the garbage dump of a bakery in our town for recyclable junks especially plastic bags.

 

One time, a friend in California, “Perla” sent plenty of blue tarps that went straight to sidewalk and “kariton” dwellers. But I told her to stop sending such kind of item because I met a couple who sell “tinseled” bags of condiments that when spread by slicing open the two sides can serve the purpose of a mat, as well as, protection against the rain – for just Php20.00 apiece.

 

Every time I come home from shopping, I see to it that the bags, both made of plastic and brown paper are properly folded and set aside instead of tossing them into the garbage basket. The brown bag can also be used in keeping extra portions of vegetables before storing them in the ref. Also, I am not ashamed in picking up lengths of straw ropes from the ground while shopping in outdoor shopping areas such as Baclaran and Quiapo, as they are also needed by my friends in tying things that they always bring along with them. As a recycling advocate, I had been doing this for more than thirty years now.

 

Every time I hit the road for my random acts of sharing my backpack is full of these “treasures”, aside from Skyflakes crackers and home-cooked pudding for sharing. I just want to show that sharing blessings need not be a “big time” effort that involves a lot of money. If I can do it, I am sure others can do it, too. Those interested to do the same can start with the plastic bags that can be collected and given to their favorite vendor in the market….by doing so, we also help Mother Nature as the plastic bags that we recycle are prevented from clogging esteros or canals.

The Indefatigable Esperanza (Inday) Hilado …friend, sister, mother, secretary, Sales Executive

The Indefatigable Esperanza (Inday) Hilado

…friend, sister, mother, secretary, Sales Executive

By Apolinario Villalobos

 

For most people who know her, she was “Inday”, although, her other nickname was “Pancing”. She was a centenarian, having reached the age of 100 years last July 22, 2015, for which she was honored with a certificate given by the Quezon City government.  She died peacefully just when 2015 was bidding 2016 goodbye, particularly on January 14, at exactly, 11:15 AM. The tragic information that I received came from Gel Lagman and Mona Caburian-Pecson, former colleagues in Philippine Airlines.

 

Inday came from the well-to-do clans of Fontanilla and Hilado of Negros Occidental in the Visayas region of the Philippines. Her parents were Paz Fontanillla and Ignacio Hilado, and she came third in a brood of seven, such as, Clarita, Florita, Hermenia, Gloria, Enrique and Godofredo. Inday chose to stay single her whole life.

 

According to Tessie, Inday’s niece, who at 74, looks more like a little more than 50, she immediately came home when informed about the demise of her aunt, as she knew that with her were only her trusted caretakers, Rudy Lopez and his wife,  Muding (Modesta). Rudy was her loyal driver since 1975, and got married in 1992 to Muding who in no time treated the former like her own mother. Since the first day of her arrival, Tessie practically did everything with the help of her assistants that she brought from America, as well as, Rudy and Muding.

 

My fondest memory of Inday was our working together as part of the International Sales-Philippines (ISP) Team of Philippine Airlines (PAL) based at the S&L Building along Roxas Boulevard, in Ermita, Manila. We were under Rene Ocampo and later, Archie Lacson, as the Regional Vice-President of the Philippines and Guam Region. However, due to our well-defined function as members of the Sales Team, we were directly under Dave Lim, Assistant Vice-President of the ISP. Inday was handling the special account of manning agencies for seafarers and despite her age, being the most senior in the team, she proved to be just very effective. She reported to the office before eight in the morning, prepared her itinerary for the day and persistently made follow ups on previously requested bookings for her clients. I also used to help her with her weekly and monthly sales reports by typing them for her. She even stayed late when there were social functions to fete our clients, particularly, the travel agents and manning agencies.

 

The job of Inday was very critical as PAL fares were comparably higher than those offered by the other airlines for the seafaring segment of the airline industry. But motherly insistence and affectionate cajoling of travel agents worked almost all the time. To show her gratitude to her clients, during Christmas she would give them her own personally-purchased gifts, aside from the standard “give-away” items from our office that included calendars. Being in-charge of the Region’s administration, I would give her extra calendars and “give-away” items.

 

We were close to each other, such that we sat side by side during most of our Monday Sales Meeting. It was this literal closeness that gave her the opportunity to offer me her share of snacks served during the meeting. She was also very conscious about her health, as she ate only small portions of food during mealtime at the canteen. One time, however, during a party, I admonished her for eating plenty of “lechon” (roasted pig).

 

A terpsichorean in her own right, she would sashay with graceful cha-cha and tango moves around the dance floor during our parties. She admitted to me though, that she was really fond of ballroom dancing, and even confided the information about the pre-war public dances that she attended at Luneta (Rizal Park) every December, when she was young. Her love for life could have given her the vigor that kept her going even at an age beyond seventy which was the last time I saw her when I left Philippine Airlines.

 

Inday may no longer be around, but she left a legacy founded on love, as well as, diligence and dedication to job. She was unquestionably unselfish and indefatigable in many ways. She also proved that goodwill indeed works, as her staying “single” did not deprive her of families because of her altruistic ways. She had her colleagues in PAL, and who gave her love in return for her motherly and sisterly affection….they, who have become her family until she left the company. Rudy Kong whom she served with utmost loyalty as secretary in PAL, took her in as part of his own company when she finally left the airline. She also had Rudy Lopez, her loyal driver, and his wife, Muding, who stood by her side till she drew her last breathe. She loved them all, and they all loved her… and, just as what the popular adage says… love begets love.

 

 

Ang Malaking Puso ni Baby Eugenio…may karinderya sa Fort Santiago (Intramuros, Manila)

Ang Malaking Puso ni Baby Eugenio

…may karinderya sa Fort Santiago (Intramuros)

Ni Apolinario Villalobos

 

Sa unang tingin, aakalaing suplada si Baby dahil tisayin ang mukha at halos hindi ngumingiti, subalit kapag nakausap na ay saka pa lang makikita ang tunay niyang pagkatao – malumanay magsalita at hindi man ngumingiti ng todo ay madadama sa kanyang pananalita ang kababaan ng loob.

 

Nang umagang napasyal ako sa Fort Santiago, napadaan muna ako sa kanyang karinderya sa gate ng parking lot at habang nagkakape ako ay biglang napunta ang usapan namin tungkol sa buhay, lalo na ang kanyang mga karanasan sa pagpalipat-lipat ng puwesto. Ayon sa kanya, dati ay isa siyang typical na sidewalk vendor dahil nagtitinda siya sa mga maluluwag na puwesto tulad ng nasa likod ng Immigration Bureau, Ancar Building, gilid ng Jollibee at UPL Building, hanggang sa natiyempuhan niya ang puwesto sa gate ng parking lot ng Fort Santiago. Nalula ako nang sabihin niyang 46,000 pesos ang upa niya sa isang buwan sa puwesto. Upang makahabol sa bayarin, maliban sa pagluluto ng mga ulam, tsitserya, kape, soft drinks, at biscuit, ay pinangasiwaan na rin niya ang pag-asikaso sa parking lot.

 

Habang tinutulungan siya ng hipag niyang si Bing sa pagluluto at pagsisilbi sa mga customer, tumutulong naman si Arbi na anak ni Bing sa pag-asikaso sa parking lot. Pero kapag kasagsagan na ng pagsilbi ng pagkain at iba pang mga gawain sa karinderya ay saka naglalabasan ang iba pang umaalalay kay Baby.

 

Mabuti na lang at medyo nakuha ko ang kalooban at tiwala ni Baby kaya maluwag siyang nagkuwento tungkol sa buhay niya. Ang asawa na dati ay nagtatrabaho sa National Treasury, ngayon ay nagpapahinga na lang sa bahay dahil humina ang katawan at nagpapa-dialysis isang beses isang linggo. Sa kabuuhan, dalawampu’t apat ang nasa kalinga ni Baby – mga tinutulungan niya at bilang ganti ay tumutulong din sa kanya. Anim dati ang anak niya, subalit namatay ang panganay na kambal, kaya ang natira ay apat.

 

Labing-siyam na taong gulang si Baby ng mag-asawa. Tubong Masantol, Pampanga, siya ay nakipagsapalaran sa Maynila hanggang sa magkaroon ng pamilya. Ang nakakabilib ay ang ibinahagi niya sa aking kuwento tungkol sa mga taga-ibang probinsiyang nakipagsapalaran sa Maynila na ang iba ay mga seafarer na umistambay habang naghihintay ng tawag mula sa inaaplayang manning agency para sumakay sa barko, at kanyang kinalinga. Sa Intramuros ay marami ang ganitong mga nakikipagsapalaran sa Maynila dahil hindi kalayuan sa Fort Santiago ay ang opisina ng union nila. Marami ring mga manning agencies ng seafarers sa loob ng Intramuros. Upang makalibre sa tirahan at pagkain ay tumutulong-tulong sila sa karinderya, hanggang sa sila ay makasakay ng barko. Ang ibang seafarers na galing sa probinsiya ay napansin kong umiistambay naman sa Luneta o di kaya ay sa isang lugar na itinalaga sa kanila, sa labas ng National Library of the Philippines.

 

Ano pa nga ba at ang karinderya ni Baby ay mistulang “halfway home” o “bahay-kalinga” ng mga probinsiyanong seafarers. Hindi na maalala ni Baby kung ilan na ang kanyang natulungan na ang ibang nakakaalala sa kanyang kabutihan ay bumabalik upang magpasalamat, subalit ang iba naman ay tuluyang nakalimot sa minsan ay tinirhan nilang karinderya sa Fort Santiago. Nangyari ang ganitong pagkakawanggawa sa loob ng limang taon hanggang ngayon, sapul nang siya ay mapapuwesto sa bukana ng Fort Santiago.

 

Para kay Baby, na ngayon ay 58 taong gulang, pangkaraniwan na sa kanya ang pag-alalay sa kapwa o maging maluwag sa kanilang pangangailangan. Napatunayan ko ito nang biglang may lumapit sa kanya upang magtanong kung pwede silang kumain sa karinderya subalit hindi bibili ng pagkain dahil may baon sila. Walang patumpik-tumpik na pumayag si Baby, kahit pa sinabi ng nagpaalam na dalawampu sila. Ibig sabihin ay gagamitin nila lahat ng mesa at silya, kaya walang magagamit ang mga kostumer. Pero bale-wala kay Baby ang lahat…okey pa rin sa kanya. Mabuti na lang at napansin ng hipag niya na ang porma ng grupo ay parang sasali sa programa para kay Jose Rizal dahil nang araw na yon, December 30, ay paggunita ng kanyang kamatayan, kaya iminungkahi niya sa lider ng grupo na upang hindi sila mahirapan ay sa piknikan, sa loob na mismo ng Fort Santiago sila kumain dahil mas presko at marami ring mesa at upuan, at ang lalong mahalaga ay ilang hakbang na lang sila sa lugar na pagdadausan ng programa kung saan sila ay kasali.

 

Ibinahagi ni Baby na hindi man siya mayaman sa pera, ay mayaman naman siya sa pakisama. Natutuwa na siya sa sitwasyon niyang ganoon. Mahalaga sa kanya ang pagtulong sa kapwa bilang pasasalamat sa Diyos dahil sa ibinigay sa kanyang mga biyaya. Nakapagpundar na silang mag-asawa ng isang bahay na katamtaman lang ang laki sa Molino, Bacoor City (Cavite).

Herson Magtalas: High School Graduate pero Nakapagpatapos ng Dalawang Kapatid sa Two-Year Courses

Herson Magtalas: High School Graduate pero Nakapagpatapos

Ng Dalawang Kapatid sa Two-Year Courses

Ni Apolinario Villalobos

 

Nang araw na nakita at nakausap ko si Jaime Mayor, ang matapat na kutsero sa Luneta na iginawa ko ng tula, may lumapit sa akin, si Herson Magtalas. Siya pala ang Checker/Operations Coordinaor nina G. Mayor. Mabuti na lang at nakipag-usap siya sa akin dahil hindi ko nakausap nang matagal si G. Mayor sa dami ng mga turistang gustong sumakay sa kanyang karetela dahil Linggo noon. Pinatunayan ni Herson ang mga nabasa ko noon sa diyaryo tungkol sa pagkatao ni G. Mayor.

 

Napahaba ang aming usapan hanggang nagtanong ako kung may pamilya na siya. Sinabi niyang binata pa siya sa gulang na 28 na taon. Hindi pa raw siya mag-aasawa hangga’t hindi nakatapos sa pag-aaral ang kanilang bunso. Sa sinabi niya, naging curious ako kaya tumuloy-tuloy ang tanong ko tungkol sa kanyang buhay. Napag-alaman ko na pagka-graduate niya sa high school, hindi na siya nagpatuloy sa pag-aaral, sa halip ay nagtrabaho siya upang makatulong sa kanyang mga magulang. Nang panahong yon ay kutsero na sa Luneta ang kanyang tatay at ang kanyang nanay ay nasa bahay lang. Apat silang magkapatid at siya ang panganay.

 

Lahat ng pagkakakitaan ay pinasok niya tulad ng pagtitinda ng barbecue sa bangketa, pagpapadyak ng traysikel. Sinuwerte siyang makapasok sa factory sa sahod na 150 pesos/araw. Sa pagawaang yon ng damit siya natutong manahi. Sa kahahanap niya ng kanyang kapalaran, napadayo siya sa Laguna, kung saan ay nagtrabaho naman siya bilang machine operator ng Asia Brewery na ang sahod ay 280 pesos/araw. Nang lumaon pa ay napasok naman siya sa isang restoran bilang kitchen helper na ang sahod ay 300 pesos/araw. Naging salesman din siya ng Shoemart (SM) sa sahod na 380 pesos/araw. Nang napasok siya bilang pahinante o helper ng delivery van ay saka pa lang siya nagkaroon ng minimum na sahod. Tumuloy- tuloy ang pagtanggap niya ng minimum na sahod hanggang sa paglipat siya sa isang printing shop bilang taga-limbag o printer ng mga nakasubo sa computer.

 

Ano pa nga ba at lahat ng kaya niyang pasukan ay sinusubukan ni Herson na ang hangad ay magkaroon ng maayos na sahod dahil sa ginagawa niyang pagtulong sa kanyang mga magulang upang matustusan ang pangangailangan ng kanyang nakakabatang tatlong kapatid. Nang makapasok siya sa Castillan Carriage and Tour Services bilang Checker/ Operations Coordinator ay pumirmi na siya dahil sa ahensiyang ito rin nagtagal ang kanyang tatay bilang “rig driver” o kutsero, at dahil na rin sa magandang sahod at kabaitan ng may-ari.

 

Unang napagtapos ni Herson ang nakababata sa kanya, si Herneἧa na ang linya ng trabaho ngayon ay Accounting. Sumunod naman si Heycilin na ngayon ay may magandang trabaho sa isang restaurant. Ang bunso nilang kapatid, si Homer, 16 na taong gulang ay nasa first year college at kumukuha ng Information Technology (IT). Sa pag-uusap nilang tatlong magkakapatid, napagkasunduan nilang four-year course na ipakuka kay Homer dahil kaya na nilang tustusan ito.

Sa pangunguna niya, napaayos na rin nila ang kanilang tinitirhan sa Caloocan na dati ay maliit kaya halos hindi sila magkasyang anim. Bilang panganay ay inuuna niya ang kapakanan ng kanyang mga kapatid bago ang sa kanya. Binalikat na niya ang ganitong tungkulin dahil nagkaka-edad na rin ang kanilang mga magulang. Subalit inamin niyang hanggang ngayon ay nagku-kutsero pa rin ang kanyang tatay upang hindi lang manghina dahil nasanay na sa pagbanat ng mga buto.

 

Ang paglalakbay ni Herson sa laot ng buhay ay pambihira dahil sa murang gulang ay napasabak na sa lahat ng mga pagsubok na angkop lamang sa mga nakakatanda. Sinabi niyang mula’t sapol ay wala na siyang inisip kundi ang kapakanan ng kanyang mga magulang at mga kapatid. Ni wala siyang pagsisisi o pagkalungkot kahit pa nilaktawan niya ang dapat sana ay panahon ng kanyang kabataan. Sa pag-uusap namin ay ilang beses niyang binanggit na ayaw niyang madanasan ng kanyang mga kapatid ang kanyang pinagdaanan kaya siya nagsikap. Mabuti na nga lang daw at ang bunso nila ay nakikipagtulungan naman kaya masikap sa kanyang pag-aaral. Ang ikinatutuwa pa niya, likas yata ang talino sa makabagong teknolohiya dahil kahit first year college pa lang ay nakakapagkumpuni na ng computer.

 

Larawan ng kasiyahan si Herson habang nag-uusap kami. Marami pa sana akong itatanong subalit dahil ayaw ko siyang masyadong maabala ay nagpaalam na ako subalit, nangakong mag-uusap pa kami tungkol sa operasyon ng kanilang opisina na ayon sa kanya ay marami na ring natulungan, at ang pinaiiral sa mga empleyado ay katapatan tulad ng ginawa ni Jaime Mayor na hindi nasilaw sa salaping naiwan ng turistang Pranses na naging pasahero niya.