Farewell…Eboy
(for Eboy Jovida)
By Apolinario Villalobos
In this world you’ve ceased to live
But in our heart and mind
You shall linger with a smile –
And, it shall never fade in time.
You’ve tried to be the best you could –
Husband, father… friend
In songs you have crooned
Even the calm you well feigned.
Farewell…to the best father, farewell!
Friend, you’re a delight
Ride on the glory of our love
As you journey towards that Light!
Pag-ibig sa Dulo ng Bahag-Hari
…natagpuan ni Thelma
(para kay Thelma Pama- Arcallo)
ni Apolinario Villalobos
Makulay ang pag-ibig na kanyang natagpuan
Pangakong ligaya ay tila walang katapusan
Pangako na kanya nang nararamdaman
At pati ginhawang hindi matatawaran.
Sa paraisong animo ay dulo na ng bahag-hari
At sa piling ng mga katutubo – mga T’boli
Landas nila ay nagtagpo, animo’y hinabi
Pinatatag ng pagsubok, lalong sumidhi.
Parang t’nalak na hinabi ang kanilang buhay
Masinsin ang pagkahabi, ‘di basta bibigay
Dahil subok, t’nalak ay talagang matibay
Tulad ng sumpaan nilang ‘di mabuway!
——————
Note:
Bahag-hari – rainbow
T’boli- natives of South Cotabato
T’nalak – T’boli cloth made from abaca fibers
lalong sumidhi – became stronger
masinsin – finely and delicately woven
mabuway – soft and easily bends; weak
Rose
(para kay Rosita Segala)
Ni Apolinario B Villalobos
Kung siya’y iyong pagmasdan
Mababanaag mo sa mga mata niyang malamlam
Bigat ng pinapasang katungkulan
Hindi lang para sa mga mahal sa buhay
Kung hindi, pati na rin sa malalapit na kaibigan.
Mayroon man siyang kinikimkim
Hindi kayang isiwalat ng maninipis na labi
Ang matagal nang pinipigil na damdamin
Nakapaloob sa nagpupumiglas na tanong
“May kaligayahan kaya para sa akin sa dako pa roon”?
Marami na rin siyang inasam sa buhay
Nguni’t maramot ang kapalaran at pagkakataon
Kabutihang kanyang pinamamahagi sa iba
Kalimitan ay palaging may katumbas na luha
Pati na pag-abuso na nagbibigay ng matinding pagdurusa.
Sa kabila ng lahat, marubdob pa rin ang paniniwala niya sa Diyos
Na siyang tanging nakakabatid ng lahat ng kanyang paghihirap
At alam niyang darating ang panahon na kanyang makakamit
Pagmamahal at katiwasayan ng kalooban na sa kanya’y pinagkait
Samantala, kanya na lang iindahin, mga darating na siphayo at pasakit.
(Si Rose ay taga-Quezon at nang mapadpad sa Maynila noong 1972 ay kumuha ng maliit na puwesto sa Recto, sa bahaging kung tagurian ay “Arranque”. Sa bahaging ito ng Maynila makakakita ng mga alahas na binebenta ng mura dahil karamihan ay nabili ng bultuhan o maramihan sa mga bahay-sanglaan o pawnshop. At, sa ganitong uri ng negosyo sumabak si Rose, subalit hindi sa pagbenta, kundi sa paglinis na kasama ang pagtubog upang lalong tumingkad mga alahas. Ang puwesto niya ay nasa ilalim ng hagdan patungo sa ikalawang palapag ng lumang gusali, kung saan ay may inuupahan siyang kuwarto, kasama ang kanyang pamangkin na si Marivic.
Marami siyang kakumpetensiya sa uri ng kanyang trabaho – mga lalaki, kaya napabilib ako sa kanya nang malaman ko ang kanyang trabaho. Ayon sa kanya, pinipilit niyang makaipon upang may magamit sa mga emergency na pangangailangan kaya alas- siyete pa lamang ng umaga ay nag-aabang na siya ng mga kostumer na gustong magpalinis ng alahas, at inaabot siya ng gabi dahil sa kanyang pagtitiyaga.
Sa probinsiya pa lang nila ay marami nang natulungan si Rose, subalit hindi siya naghangad ng kapalit. Nakakaramdam siya ng kasiyahan sa pagtulong sa iba upang hindi sila makaranas ng mga kahirapang napagdaanan niya. Ayaw niyang umasa sa mga kamag-anak, kahit na yong mga natulungan niya, kaya nagsisikap, at pinapasa-Diyos na lamang niya kung ano man ang mangyari sa kanya, subalit kahit papaano ay nag-iingat pa rin siya.)
Beverly Padua: Nakakabilib Dahil Nakakabenta sa Internet
Kahit Cellphone lang ang Gamit
Ni Apolinario Villalobos
Meet Beverly or Bevs na nakakapagbenta sa internet kahit walang laptop, i-Pad o desktop computer dahil ang gamit lang ay isang simpleng smart phone. Nakakagulat, dahil sa pagkakaalam ko, ang mga on-line sellers ay umaasa sa malalaking computer na kanilang tinututukan sa loob ng 24/7, hangga’t maaari. Nang una kong makita ang shop site niya ay bumilib na ako dahil sa linis ng pagkagawa, hindi kalat o magulo kaya hindi nakakalito. Ginawa rin pala niya ito gamit lang ang simple niyang cellphone.
Panganay siya sa kanilang magkakapatid at ulila na sila sa ina. Ang tatay naman nila ay sakitin kaya silang magkakapatid na kumikita kahit papaano ang nag-aambagan upang makaraos ang pang-araw araw nilang pangangailangan. Kahit madalas silang kapusin sa budget ay dinadaan nila sa matinding pagtitipid ang lahat upang masambot ang kanilang pangangailangan lalo na ang mga gamot ng kanilang tatay.
Single mom din siya. Wala siyang hinanakit sa ama ng kanyang anak kahit na ito ay may iba nang pamilya. Kahit sa hinagap ay hindi niya naisip ang maghabol o magalit sa dating asawa, bagkus ay dinadaan na lamang niya sa pagsisikap ang lahat upang mapalaki nang maayos ang nag-iisang anak na naging inspirasyon niya sa buhay. Sa kabila ng lahat ay hindi natinag ang kanyang malakas na pananalig sa Diyos, at sa halip ay tinutumbasan na lamang niya ng pagpapaubaya, dahil ayon sa kanya, darating din sa tamang panahon ang taong talagang nakalaan para makasama niya habang buhay.
Hindi siya nariringgan ng kahit kaunting hinagpis kahit may mga pangangailangan din siya para sa kanyang kalusugan bilang isang diabetic. Ilang beses na rin siyang sinumpong nang matindi dala ng kanyang sakit subalit lahat ay kayang nalampasan, kaya ang ginagawa na lamang niya ay pag-ibayuhin pa ang pag-iingat upang hindi siya atakehin uli.
Masidhi ang pananampalataya ni Bevs sa kapangyaarihan ng Diyos dahil ilang beses na rin daw niya itong napatunayan. Noong nakaraang taon kung kaylan patung-patong ang pangangailangan nila sa pera ay saka naman humina ang bentahan, subalit hindi siya nagpakita ng pagkainis, sa halip ay tinanggap na lang ang sa tingin niya ay isang pagsubok. Totoo ang kanyang naramdaman dahil nitong nakaraang mga araw ay nagsunud-sunod naman ang pagpasok ng mga order sa kanya.
Kahit ang dapat sana’y kailangan niyang i-Pad lamang upang lumaki kahit bahagya ang screen na kanyang tinututukan ay ipinagkikibit na lamang niya ng balikat. Hindi daw priority ito, kaya bibili na lamang siya kapag may ekstra siyang naipon dahil ang mahalaga ay ang pangangailangan ng kanyang anak, isa pang kapatid na nag-aaral, at amang nangangailangan ng mga gamot.
Hindi siya nawawalan ng lakas kahit halos magdamag kung tumutok siya sa cellphone sa paghintay ng papasok na order dahil kapag pinalampas ng kahit ilang minuto lang na hindi nasagot agad, ay lilipat na sa ibang online shopping site ang browser. At, ang sikreto daw niya sa pagkakaroon ng lakas ay ang tiwala sa Diyos na nasa likod lang niya.
Magandang halimbawa si Bevs sa mga nagsisikap kahit maraming kakulangan dahil kahit simpleng smart phone lang ang gamit ay kumikita, hindi tulad ng iba na nakikipag-text at tsismisan lang sa mga barkada, ang gusto ay mamahaling cellphone o i-Pad pa, at kung hindi mapagbigyan ay magtatampo sa mga magulang o di kaya ay lalayas, at kung asawa naman ay magdadabog na humahantong kung minsan sa pagpapabaya ng mga obligasyon bilang asawa at ina.
(For interested shoppers, please check Princessrobe O’shop and OBe Padua facebook pages.)
The Heavy Pollution in China
Should Warn Third -World Countries
By Apolinario Villalobos
Manufacturing countries that clandestinely hate China have successfully inflicted a “slow death” on the awakened dragon of Asia. They have simply transferred the production aspect of their business in China because of her cheap labor and with it, the byproduct of high technology – the deadly pollution! They have been awfully successful, no question about that!
China today, is practically crawling due to the effect of heavy pollution while countries that own brands manufactured in China are basking under smog-free atmosphere. Every day, internet news carries warnings of the Chinese government to its citizens about the heavy pollution and photos are those of the Chinese citizens with face or surgical mask to lessen their inhalation of the dirty air. An enterprising European country is reportedly exporting fresh bottled air to China.
The phenomenon in China should serve as a warning to the third-world countries that are blinded by the prospect of living in comfort through high technology. China has practically flooded the world with products made in her homeland. Despite such show of opulence, she is far from being satisfied as her expansionistic desire is slowly creeping towards the rest of Asia and the African continent- with all their third world countries.
The governments of these countries would like their forests be uprooted and replaced with factories; would like their fields planted to rice, corn and other staple foods bulldozed to give way to resorts and first-class housing projects; would like their mountains to be drilled for minerals; would like their citizens to be introduced into the mean habits of squalid urban life; would like their centuries-old traditions and faith to be polluted with the immoralities of progress.
As the exploitation lasts only for as long as there are yet to be exploited, their “benefits” are likewise short-lived. When the factories and mining companies stop their exhaustive operations, they leave behind ghost towns and villages- with their rivers poisoned by chemicals and the once-fertile land exhausted of their nutrients making them not suitable even for the lowly grass. Their polluted culture gives rise to a new generation of prostitutes and indolent, and worst, with a twisted view on faith.
The high-technology must be one of the checks that God has imposed on earth to maintain the balance, aside from natural calamities such as typhoon, earthquake, diseases, and floods, as well as, man-made war. Without them, the world would have burst long time ago, due to overpopulation and inadequate sustenance. But, while these are divine penalties, caution should have been observed by man to at least delay and minimize their occurrence. Unfortunately, man is now reaping the fruits of his greed…at high speed!
In the Old Testament, when the God of Israelites wanted them punished for their misdeed, He used the heathen races or tribes to sow disaster upon them. Sometimes He used calamities such as diseases and famine-causing pestilence. The religions of the world are based either directly or indirectly on the Abrahamaic faith, except for some pockets of tribes in unexplored nooks of forests and islands. In a way, most peoples of the world are connected to the God of Israel. Are we now suffering from this divine penalty, mentioned in the Old Testament?
Imelda Torres: Ang Babaeng “Barker” o Taga-tawag
sa Liwasang Bonifacio (Lawton Plaza)
Ni Apolinario Villalobos
Ang “barker” ay taga-tawag ng mga pasahero at taga-sigaw ng destinasyon ng sasakyang pampubliko tulad ng bus, jeepney o van. Siya rin ang namamahala sa maayos na pag-upo ng mga pasahero. Kung minsan, ang tawag sa kanya ay “dispatcher”, subalit iba sa talagang “dispatcher” sa istasyon ng bus na konektado sa kumpanya. Kung nakapila ang mga jeep o van na itinatawag ng “barker”, siya rin ang taga-kolekta ng pamasahe at kapag inabot na niya sa driver ang nalikom na pera, ay saka pa lang siya aabutan ng bayad sa kanyang serbisyo. Ang bayad naman sa “barker” ay hindi pare-pareho, depende sa dami ng pumipilang sasakyan at lugar ng pilahan. Mayroong inaabutan ng Php20.00 at ang pinakamalaki ay Php30.00.
Ang mga nakapila sa Liwasang Bonifacio ay mga aircon van na biyaheng Sucat (Paraἧaque) at Alabang (Muntinglupa). Ang pilahang ito ay hawak ni Imelda Torres, 65 na taong gulang. Taong 1972 pa lamang ay nagtatawag na siya dito….panahon ng Martial Law sa ilalim ni Ferdinand Marcos. Nang panahong yon, ang sabi niya, napakaganda ng Manila Metropolitan Theater na tanaw lamang kung saan kami nakaupo. Ngayon, ang paligid nito ay mapanghi dahil ginawang ihian at ang mga dingding na natuklapan na ng pintura ay sinalaula ng mga istambay sa pamamagitan ng pag-spray paint ng pangalan ng gang nila.
Ligtas daw noon ang pamamasyal sa paligid ng liwasan dahil palaging may umaaligid na mga pulis kahit sa gabi. Kahit abutin siya ng dis-oras ng gabi sa pagtatawag, hindi siya natatakot sa paglakad pauwi sa tinitirhan niya sa kalapit lang na Intramuros. Ang kinikita niya ang ikinabuhay niya sa apat niyang anak noong maliliit pa sila. Ngayon, ang isa ay nasa Japan na. Ang iba pa niyang mga anak ay may mga sarili nang pamilya.
Pinakamalinis na kita ni Aling Imelda ay Php200 isang araw. Napapagkasya niya ang halagang ito sa kanyang mga pangangailangan sa araw-araw. Hindi na siya nagluluto dahil mag-isa lang naman siya at sa maghapon ay nasa liwasan siya, kung saan ay maraming karinderya na mura lang ang panindang mga pagkain. Ang tanging luho niya sa katawan ay ang minsanang manicure at pedicure, at ilang alahas na pilak sa mga daliri at braso.
Sa gulang niyang 65, wala nang mahihiling pa si Aling Imelda na kailangang gastusan ng malaking halaga. Masaya siya dahil ang mga anak at apo niya ay nakakakain sa tamang oras, hindi nga lang maluho ang mga pagkain. Ang kalaban lang niya ay ang paminsan-minsang dumadapong sakit tulad ng sipon at lagnat. Ganoon pa man, kahit halos namamalat na siya dahil sa biglang pagkakaroon ng lagnat o sipon ay hindi pa rin siya tumitigil sa pagtawag, tulad nang umagang nag-usap kami. Sayang din nga naman ang kikitain niya kung palalampasin niya.
Mabuti na lang at pumayag siyang kunan ko ng litrato, pero tinapat ko siya na igagawa ko siya ng kuwento at ilalagay ko sa internet. Natawa siya nang sabihin kong baka mabasa ng anak niya sa Japan ang isusulat ko tungkol sa kanya.
Nang iwanan ko siya upang ituloy ang paglakad papunta sa Avenida (Sta. Cruz), narinig ko uli ang boses niya na tumatawag ng mga pasahero. Habang naglalakad ako, naalala ko ang nanay namin na nagtatawag ng mga mamimili upang lumapit sa mga inilatag niyang ukay-ukay tuwing araw ng tiyangge sa bayan namin, noong maliit pa ako….
Take Note of the Signs and Reminders
About Diseases
By Apolinario Villalobos
What we do normally is to take the necessary steps only when we are already feeling the effect of a disease or sickness. What most people forget is that signs and reminders are also manifested by other bodies, especially, the first-degree relatives. Their suffering from a certain disease or sickness should remind us that the same can happen to us. If for instance, our mother, or father, or brother, or sister, or first cousin, or uncle, or aunt, are suffering from or worse, died of cancer, hypertension, or complications triggered by diabetes, then most likely, we can have the same fate because the same diseases are in our blood. The signs pointing to them should immediately caution us to be very extra careful…at least, to delay the effect if we want to live longer…or, at least minimize the pain of the effect upon their occurrence.
All kinds of diseases are inherited, although, the “amount” varies according to the genes. It is for this reason that prevention for the onset or worsening is very necessary. This is also the reason why blood sample is taken from the newly-born infant to determine the stages of its life when certain diseases may occur and the parents are counseled what precautionary measures to take or when they should go back to the pediatrician so that necessary prescriptions could be made.
Those who were born before the blood sampling for newly-born has been popularly practiced, rely on the time when diseases occur. When a member of the family succumbs to the heart attack, for instance, he is brought to the hospital which could already be late. Of course “maintenance medicines” are prescribed after check- ups done usually at the age of 50 or 60. But such may be considered late, as the disease could have fully developed to become well-entrenched in the person’s system….arteries have been clogged, diabetes has reached uncontrolled level, inflammations in the organs have occurred and developed into cysts, kidneys have been damaged, etc.
What I am trying to say here is that parents themselves should remind their children about “family diseases” as shown by deaths in the family. At a young age, the children should be counseled on what food to avoid or at least eat in moderation. Each one of us should also open our mind for inputs from other people and what are gathered from the media, especially, the internet. WE SHOULD NOT ONLY READ BUT ACT ON WHAT ARE BEING SHARED. The inputs should not only be appreciated but put into practice. They should not only be made as “conversation pieces”, but emulated.
There is always resistance every time chili, garlic, ginger, ampalaya, turmeric, saluyot, okra are mentioned- foods that are beneficial. They would say, it is hot, slimy, bitter, etc. And, those who have read or heard testimonies about their healing effects, express their appreciation …and it ends there, nothing else is done by the person who appreciates.
When an acquaintance died of cancer or complications brought about by diabetes or stroke, friends ask questions….but I doubt if the unfortunate incident has ever made them think if their lifestyle, especially, their diet, will also lead to such, or it made them curious about deaths in their family which necessitates asking their elders about their family history, so that preventions can already be taken.
Again, I say…regrets comes always at the end.
Faith was Never Intended
To Separate the People from Each Other
…thanks to Pope Francis for this reminder
By Apolinario Villalobos
I am mustering a great courage in coming up with this share. I was challenged by a comment from an obviously heretic on one of my blogs in another site where he said: “you did fine, but I hope religion is out of it”. My blog was about random act of kindness, not about religion, so I was surprised why he came up with such an uncalled for comment. For coming up with such statement, I am forced to express that, for me, kindness can never be separated from religion or faith for that matter. Although, such act could be unconsciously manifested, it cannot be denied that it is still founded on faith that has been developed in our heart since birth. Religious affinity came only later on, with some having been imposed days after birth, while the rest have been left to be chosen later when the child becomes old enough to understand what faith is all about.
As there is no “highest” earthly authority on religion, man is left at the mercy of the different “churches” that compete with each other in attracting “flocks” to their folds. They employ interesting ways to best explain how man came to be and how he can be happy forever. Science- based groups even aver that the passages in the Old Testament about unearthly manifestation of powers were made by extra-terrestials, and which they consider as the first missionaries on earth. Unfortunately, they could not explain how these “missionaries” could give the “chosen people” an order to annihilate the so-called “gentiles”, when Godliness is supposed to be about goodness.
Today, the Universal Roman Catholic church has a popular pope… the people’s pope, Francis, who unabashedly admitted wrongdoings among his ministers, while at the same time, untiringly calls for love and compassion. In the eyes of other churches, pope Francis may not be the highest earthly religious authority, but for those who do not need a Bible or a Koran to understand and feel that there is God, his call for unconditional love and compassion is the most believable that a missionary can utter, a call that is clearly tinged with utmost faith.
If man will only focus his faith towards the One whose intention was never to create animosities on earth, instead of keeping an eye on what his neighbors are doing, the pope could have perhaps, been just calling on every one to sing praises, instead of sounding off reminders to everyone to love one another.
My simple understanding is that, there is only one kind of faith…and those who feel otherwise, must have in their heart, what I call “arrogance”. These are those who trace their ancestry to the apes or the fish…without thinking that these so-called “ancestors” still owe their existence to “someone”… leaving us with one question, as to who is that “someone”. Also, if man came into being by chance, “who” caused this chance, or better, if it is a “force”, “what” or “who” is that “force”? Clearly, the groups differing in claims point to one common insufficiently explained object, so that there is no reason for bickering. At the end, each one is left to his own faith…and the one who manifests the best through action becomes the most convincing.
penpowersong 