Nakakabilib ang Ginagawa ng BUCOR (Bureau of Correction)

Nakakabilib ang Ginagawa ng BUCOR (Bureau of Correction)

Sa Kasalukuyan

Ni Apolinario Villalobos

 

Sa ilalim ng kasalukuyang pamumuno ni Ricardo Rainier G. Cruz III, nakakabilib ang ginagawa ng kagawaran sa kabuuhan upang magkaroon ng pagbabago sa National Bilibid sa abot ng kanilang makakaya. Nagpakita sila ng katapangan at katatagan sa maya’t mayang pag-raid ng mga selda, lalo na ang pagsira ng mga maluluhong pinagawa ng mga detinadong may kaya. Sinira nila ang swimming pool, ang animo ay condo, isa pang mala-hotel room, at marami pang iba.

 

Marami ang nasaktan noon dahil nadamay sa pagbatikos sa mga nakaraang pamunuan bunsod ng kalamyaan nila sa pagpatupad ng mga patakaran, kaya kahit na ang ginawa ni Secretary de Lima noong personal itong mag-inspection ay hindi naipagpatuloy. Hindi lahat ng nakatalaga sa National Bilibid ay masama, lalo na ang mga walang direktang kontak sa mga detinado. Sila ang mga inosenteng nakatalaga sa opisina ng nasabing pasilidad, kaya nabanggit ko noon na walang silbi ang pagpalit ng namumuno kung walang drastic o mapusok na pagbabago tulad ng total na pagpalit-palit ng mga direktang guwardiya upang maiwasan ang fraternal closeness sa pagitan nila at ng mga detinado.

 

Tahimik ang pag-upo ng bagong namumuno sa BUCOR kaya marami ang nagulat nang ma-interview siya sa isang radio station. Nagpapahiwatig na iba ang kanyang pagkatao – tahimik na ang layunin lang ay maisaayos ang kinakaharap na problema. Talagang mahirap ang kalagayan ng Bilibid dahil sa kakulangan ng budget, at dapat ding unawain na ang pagbabago ay imposibleng makakamit sa magdamag. Ganoon pa man, marami ang nagdadasal na sa pagkakataong ito, sana ay talagang magkaroon ng malawakang pagbabago sa loob ng Bilibid.

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.

 

Ang Isyu sa Dagdag-Pensiyon at si Binay…kung suwertihin nga naman!

Ang Isyu sa Dagdag-Pensiyon at si Binay

…kung suwertehin nga naman!

Ni Apolinario Villalobos

 

Ngayo’y may taong masaya, abot tenga ang ngiti

Dahil umaayon ang mga pagkakataon sa kanya

Hindi man siya mag-ingay o magsalita sa radyo

Tiyak lilipat ang pansin sa kanya ng mga Pilipino.

 

Ang kay tagal inasam-asam na dagdag sa pensiyon

Pag-asang hinintay at kung ilang taong pinagdasal

Na sana ay makamit dahil ito nga ay napakahalaga

Subali’t sa isang pirma lang ito ay nalusaw – nawala!

 

Si Binay ay napakasaya, si Mar nama’y natataranta

Paulit-ulit man niyang banggitin ang “daang matuwid”

Kulelat pa rin kaya nahihilo’t walang malamang gawin

Dahil mga Pilipino… sa kanya ay hindi na pumapansin!

 

Bakit o bakit, hindi man lang ito naisip ng isang tao –

Na patung-patong na ang mga kapalpakang ginawa?

Ang maliit na halagang ipinagkait sa mga pensiyonado-

Ay magiging bangungot at laging nakabuntot na multo!

 

Nakalimutan ba nila na ang alas ni Binay ay mga senyor?

Nakalimutan ba nilang may free birthday cake sa Makati?

At ito ay ibinibigay sa mga senior citizen tuwing bertdey?

Ngayon, sino baga ang naalimpungatan….?

Eh, di si Mar at may-akda ng “tuwid na daan”!

 

Baguhin ang mga Ugaling Hindi Maipagmamalaki

Baguhin ang mga Ugaling Hindi Maipagmamalaki

Ni Apolinario Villalobos

 

Taun-taon na lang ay may New Year’s Resolution ang bawa’t isa. Ito ang dahilan kung bakit malakas ang loob ng karamihan sa atin na lumihis ng landas mula unang araw ng Enero hanggang huling araw ng Disyembre…dahil pwede naman daw magsisi bago matapos ang taon.

 

Hindi madaling magbago ng ugaling malalim na ang pagkaugat sa ating pagkatao. Kailangan ang pambihirang disiplina upang magawa ito o di kaya ay isang milagro. Ang masisisi sa ganitong bagay ay mga magulang na nagpabaya dahil hindi nila nadisiplina ang kanilang mga anak habang maliit pa lang sila upang magkaroon ng mga ugaling maipagmamalaki. Ang mga sumusunod ay ilan lamang sa mga ugaling sumisira ng pagkatao:

 

• Ang pagiging batugan na nagreresulta sa katamaran. Nakaugalian ng karamihan na tuwing weekend ay gumising ng tanghali. Ang dahilan ay bumabawi lang dahil buong linggo naman daw ay kayod-kalabaw sila. Dahil sa ganoong pananaw, nahawa sa ganitong ugali ang mga anak na paglaki ay magpapasa rin ng ganitong maling pananaw sa kanilang mga anak. May iba diyan na dahil sa pagkabatugan, tapos nang magluto ng tanghalian ang kapitbahay, sila ay humahagok pa rin sa pagkakatulog.

 

• Ang pagiging abusado sa mga taong tumutulong. Dapat unawain na hindi lahat ng nakakatulong lalo na yong katamtaman lang naman ang uri ng pamumuhay ay palaging nakakaluwag. Ang mga kusa nilang naibabahagi ay ekstra lamang kaya hindi palaging meron sila nito. Ang hirap lang sa ibang naabutan minsan ng tulong, ang gusto ay araw-arawin na ito ng nakatulong, kaya kapag hindi nangyari ang inaasahan nila, sasama na ang loob. Kung ang mga mayayaman nga, maliban na lang ang may mga Foundation, ay minsanan lang kung tumulong, paano pa kaya ang mga nasa “middle class” o yong mga nasa “lower class” subalit may pambihirang ugaling matulungin?

 

• Ang pagiging “sipsip” sa boss. May mga taong sagad-buto na yata ang pagkamakasarili kaya gumagawa ng lahat ng paraan upang umangat lang, kahit pa marami silang natatapakan o nasasagasaan. Ang mga taong ito ay yong klaseng wala naman talagang ibubuga sa trabaho kaya “sumisipsip” na lang sa boss, na halos umabot sa paghimod sa puwet nito, ma-promote lang. Unfair ito sa mga kasama nila sa trabaho na karapat-dapat umangat dahil sa talino at kakayahan.

 

• Ang pagiging pekeng makatao at maka-Diyos. Ang isa pang tawag dito ay kaipukrituhan. Ito ang mga taong umaasa ng “bayad” o “balik” o “sukli”, kapag nag-abot ng tulong sa kapwa. Ito ang mga taong palaging may kamera kapag pumunta sa mga evacuation center o mga lugar na sinalanta ng kalamidad at may mga dala rin namang relief goods. Okey lang kung malakihang operasyon na tulad ng ginagawa ng DSW o di kaya ay mga NGOs dahil dapat may maipakita silang patunay na pinamigay nila ang mga donasyon. Subalit kung kusang “tulong-kaibigan” na hindi naman big-time o malakihan, bakit kailangan pang magkodakan? Ang mga gumagawa nito ay yong may ambisyon sa larangan ng pulitika o nangangarap na maging santo o santa.

 

• Ang pagiging abusado sa katawan. Ang pag-aabuso sa katawan ay nagiging sanhi ng pagkasira ng kalusugan. Ang mga taong abusado sa ganitong bagay ay yong may mga bisyo na kahit alam nang nakakasama ay tuloy pa rin sila sa ginagawa. Nagpapabaya rin sila pagdating sa mga bagay na may kinalaman sa tamang pagkain. Ito ang mga maaarte na ayaw kumain ng gulay halimbawa, dahil hindi nila gusto ang lasa kahit alam nilang mahalaga sa kalusugan, kaya sila ay ginagaya ng mga anak na lumaki na lang sa pagkain ng hot dog at hamburger o piniritong itlog.

 

• Ang pagiging bulagsak sa pera. Ito yong mga taong kung gumastos ay parang wala nang susunod pang mga araw na paggagastusan, kaya kung suwelduhan sila, ang natatanggap tuwing 15/30 ay sandail lang nilang nahahawakan….ang resulta – kung may mga emergency na pangangailangan, hanggang nganga na lang sila!

 

• Ang pagiging palamura. Ang pagmumura ay talagang masama….pagsabihan ba naman halimbawa ang isang tao ng “puta ang ina mo”, o di kaya ay “anak ka ng puta”. Dapat ay baguhin na itong ugali. Kung hindi maiiwasan, putulin na lang ang mga linya…halimbawa, sa halip na “puta ang ina mo” ay sabihin na lang na “…ina mo”, at ang “anak ka ng puta” ay “….anak ka”. Huwag murahin sa Ingles ang mga walang alam sa wikang ito…huwag gawing dahilan ang kawalang kaalaman nila sa Ingles upang paliguan sila ng mga pagmumurang tulad ng, “shit”, “damn it”, “son of a bitch”, etc., dahil baka murahin ka rin sa dialect na hindi mo alam!

 

HAPPY NEW YEAR NA LANG SA MAKAKABASA…..LALO NA ANG NATUMBOK!

Volunteerism is in the Heart of my Neighbors, Angie and Hector Garcia

Volunteerism is in the Heart of my Neighbors,

Angie and Hector Garcia

By Apolinario Villalobos

 

Just like the rest of the pioneers in our subdivision, the couple, Angie and Hector Garcia went through the expected hardship of living in an unfamiliar new-found home, which in our case is Cavite, used to be known for notoriety – unsafe as many alleged. Add to that the difficulty of commuting to Manila because the only way was via the Aguinaldo highway that passes through buzzling public market of Zapote. The Coastal Road during the time was not yet even in the drawing board of the Department of Public Highways. That was during the early part of the 80’s.

 

A “short cut” to our subdivision from the Aguinaldo highway is traversed by a creek, deep and wide enough to be classified as a river. Several bamboo poles that were laid across the creek served as the early bridge, that was later “upgraded” to a safer one made of two electric poles floored with planks. During the early years the creek did not overflow, however, the constant reclamation of both banks constricted the flow of water that resulted to flash floods which did not spare our subdivision. These instances brought out the innate character of our neighbors that hinged on volunteerism.

 

As the home of Angie and Hector Garcia is situated right at the western entrance of the subdivision where the creek is situated, the homeowners’ association’s heavy duty rope was used to be left in their custody. They would bring it out when flood occurred so that those who would like to take the risk of crossing the bridge would have something to hold on to as they gingered their way through waist-deep flood. A heavy rain for three to four hours would put every homeowner on the alert as the heavy downpour usually triggered a flood. Angie and Hector would miss precious sleeping hours as they waited for the right moment to bring out the long heavy rope, one end of which would be tied to the post of the bridge while the other end would be entwined around the iron grill of their fence or gate. If the flood occurred at night till dawn, we would wake up in the morning with the rope already in place to serve as our “life line” to the other side of the overflowing creek.

 

The couple also took pains in cleaning the vacant area behind the subdivision’s Multi-purpose Hall and planted it to medicinal plants and mango tree which also provided shade. Vegetables were planted, too, aside from medicinal herbs for everybody’s taking in time of their need. The early morning as the sun rises would also see them sweeping the street in front of their house.

 

The leadership qualities of the couple, made their neighbors trust them. Hector had a stint as the president of the Homeowners’ Association, while Angie kept in her custody whatever meager earnings of the association from renting out the Multi-purpose Hall and monthly dues, aside from the collected Mass offerings, until clear-cut procedures were finally established during which she turned over the responsibility to the Homeowners’ Association’s Treasurer.

 

Angie is a cancer survivor having had a mastectomy, but despite her situation, she patiently endured the rigorous travel to Naujan, Mindoro with Hector to regularly check their “farm” which they planted to fruit-bearing trees. When I asked them one time why they take pains in maintaining such far-off farm instead of purchasing another either in Silang or Alfonso, both in Cavite, they confided that they have already “fallen in love” with their investment. Their love for the farm truly shows in their robust physique despite their age of sixtyish. I just imagine that perhaps, if they stop commuting to and from Naujan, Mindoro, weed their farm, and take care of the growing saplings,  their health would deteriorate as usually happens to people who cannot stand being idle.

 

The couple has three daughters, all successful in their chosen fields of endeavor. And, one of them is serving the Homeowners’ Association as Treasurer.

 

Why Not Organize Power Consumers into Clustered Cooperatives…and let them operate their own energy source?

Why Not Organize Power Consumers into Clustered Cooperatives
…and let them operate their own energy source?
By Apolinario Villalobos

If power consumers or in layman’s lingo, the users of electricity will be clustered in cooperatives, many pains in the neck will be eliminated, such as:
-inefficient local power cooperatives
-MERALCO and the grid network system
-inefficient Department of Energy
-overdependence on fossil fuels such as oil and coal

The move, aside from encouraging the development of ideas on how to harness more renewable energy resources, can also promote:
-recycling of waste that can be transformed into bio-mass
-development of cooperation among local residents
-more awareness on the need to protect nature

The following is the macro plan:

Clustering need not be difficult to initiate as it can be based on the existing barangay system. The clusters may be composed each of 10 households. Those in the province can make use of the available energy resources that can be harnessed such as rivers, waterfalls, lakes, waves from the sea, or waste from homes and business establishments. Barangays without those resources shall make use of the solar energy. Households that are located far from the center of the barangay shall be provided with individual solar energy set. Schools shall be provided with their own solar energy set.

In the city, those that are in the heart of the metropolis can make use of the solar power and the same clustering system mentioned earlier for the province shall be used. However, those near the dumpsites can make use of the waste that is being accumulated for years. As in the province, schools in the metropolitan barangays shall also be provided with their own solar energy set.

Factories shall be required to put up their own solar power facilities, before they can be permitted to operate.

Entities such as MERALCO and others that set up the web of power lines, shall be required to dismantle them immediately.

Honest-to-goodness cooperatives, with all the barangay residents as members shall operate the system. No private entity shall be allowed to take part. Privately practicing professionals in the field of energy, particularly, renewable resources may be hired if necessary, but only as Consultants.

Protection for the facilities shall be provided by the cooperatives with the assistance of the barangay units.

The initial fund for the operation shall come from the Malampaya project which shall be sustained for at least three months. Subsequent operational expenses shall come from the minimal monthly membership fee paid by the members and the subsidy from the Malampaya fund. The monthly subsidy from the Malampaya project, shall be distributed among the barangays based on their population.

The cooperatives have an option to operate as savings and loans organizations, duly incorporated so that the membership fees can be utilized in revenue generating projects such as cooperative store, handicraft production, and loans for members. The subsidy from the Malampaya fund shall not be used in the revenue generating venture as it is against the policy, hence, held and secured in a separate account.

The project shall be audited on a quarterly basis by the Commission on Audit with copies of records provided to the barangay units, as well as, municipal and city Auditors for close monitoring.