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.

 

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.

 

 

 

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.

 

Ang Pamilyang Pilipino: Misyonaryong Alagad ng Eyukarista

Ang Pamilyang Pilipino: Misyonaryong Alagad ng Eyukarista

Ni Apolinario Villalobos

 

Isang matatag na hibla ng pananampalatayang Kristiyano…ito ang pamilyang Pilipino. At, ang panata ay marubdob na pagpapalaganap ng Eyukarista, simbolo ni Hesus na nagligtas sa sangkatauhan mula sa mga minanang kasalanan. Ang malalim na pagkaugat ng pananampalataya sa bawat tahanan, payak man o nakakariwasa ay bunga ng halos limampung siglong paghubog ng mga Kastilang prayle sa kanilang mga ninuno. May sangkot mang karahasan, inunawa na lang dahil sa layuning maka-Diyos, at dahil na rin sa paniniwala na ang mga nabulagang prayle ang nagkamali noon at hindi ang simbahan.

 

Hindi lang Pilipinas ang sinasaklaw ng taimtim na pananampalataya dahil kahit sa ibayong dagat, saan man nakakarating ang mga anak, ina, o ama ng isang Pilipinong pamilya bilang dumadayong manggagawa, kipkip pa rin nila ang Bibliyang pilit pinalulusot sa mga paliparan at daungan. Sa mga bansang iba ang umiiral na pananampalataya, nagagawa pa rin nilang magtipon-tipon nang palihim upang ipadama sa isa’t isa na buo ang katatagan nila bilang mga Kristiyano na hindi nagsasawa sa mga salita ni Hesus. Marami nang naparusahan, subalit hindi hadlang ang kanilang kamatayan upang ang pagsamba nila sa Diyos ay mapigilan.

 

Ang Eyukarista na maituturing na isang pagtitipon, kung saan ay nasa gitna si Hesus… ay lalong tumatatag at lumalawak pa ang nilalambungan ng biyaya nito dahil sa pambihirang katangian ng pamilyang Pilipino. Marami nang hadlang ang kanilang nalampasan sa pag-usad ng panahon na lalo pang nagpalakas ng kanilang pananampalataya dahil sa paniniwalang walang makakatalo sa kapangyarihan ng Diyos na siyang naglalang ng lahat sa ibabaw ng mundo. Hindi sila mahirap akayin dahil sa paniniwala na kung tungo sa kabutihan ang landas na tatahakin lalo pa at ang gabay ay si Hesus, walang pasubaling sila ay susunod.

 

Hindi maiwasan kung may ibang pamilyang napapalihis ng daan dahil sa umiiral na makabagong panahon, subali’t may mga pangyayari at pagkakataon na nagpapakita ng pagbabago…at ito ang hangad sa kanila ng ibang pamilya na sa kanila ay maigting na kumakapit upang hindi tuluyang maligaw. Ang damayan ay bahagi na ng kultura ng mga Pilipino na nagpapatatag ng bawat tahanan, at isa rin itong katangian na ginagamit sa paggabay sa kanilang kapwa upang mapanatili ang katatagan ng pananampalataya. Nagsisilbi din itong lakas na ginagamit ng bawa’t pamilyang Pilipino upang maakay pabalik sa tamang landas ang mga naligaw.

 

Mapalad ako dahil ako ay bahagi ng isang pamilyang Pilipino na may matatag na pananampalataya sa Panginoon at bahagi ng pagtitipong Eyukarista… na ang kahalagahan ay pilit kong pinamamahagi sa abot ng aking makakaya. Hindi man nakakariwasa sa anumang materyal na bagay, hitik naman ang pagkatao ko ng mga bagay na buong puso kong inaalay sa Kanya. Ang puso ko ay pinatitibok ng taos kong pananampalataya, at ang aking payak na karunungan ay umaapaw sa paniniwala sa Kanyang kapangyarihan.

 

Nagpapasalamat ako dahil itinuring ako ni Hesus bilang kapatid niya…at sa pagturing na yan ay kasama ang aking pamilya. Sumasama ang aking kalooban kapag nakakarinig ako ng panlalait kay Hesus ng mga hindi nakakaunawa sa Kanya. Halos magutay ang aking puso kapag ako ay nakakakita ng mga sinasadyang paglihis mula sa itinuro niyang tamang daan. Tinatanong ko ang aking sarili kung bakit sa kabila ng paghirap at kamatayan Niya sa burol ng Golgota, ay nagagawa pa rin ng ibang siya ay itakwil.

 

Ganoon pa man,  dahil sa nakagisnan ko nang katatagan bilang katangiang bahagi ng pamilyang Pilipino, naniniwala akong sa abot ng makakaya ko… namin….at nating lahat, matatamo din ang matagal nang inaasam na kapayapaan at pagkakaisa na siyang layunin ng Banal na Eyukarista – simbolo ng pagmamahal ni Hesus sa sangkatauhan at buong mundo!

 

Olive’s Life…a story of Love and Compassion (for Olive Asong)

Olive’s Life…a story of love and compassion

(for Olive Asong)

By Apolinario Villalobos

Here’s a story that I hope will open the eyes and mind of those who claim to be Catholic but whose acts are wanting of its essence.

The first time I saw her was when she was just about four years old in the care of his father who diligently and lovingly attended to her needs as a growing child. Her mother left them to work abroad. She practically grew up till her teen-aged years with her father by her side, as her mother came home only when her “schedule would permit”, being a pianist in music lounges.

Loneliness drove her father to find intimate relationship with other women. Despite the “un-Christian” ways of her father in the eyes of the devoutly Catholic, she did not condemn him. This she did to reciprocate the honesty of her father who did not hide anything from her.

When her parents parted ways, she maintained her compassionate understanding of her father’s ways until the latter got sick beyond recuperation. She practically shed tears and humbly implored her mother to reconnect with her father. When finally, forgiveness was uttered by her mother, she unabashedly announced it to the world to let go of the overpowering emotion in her heart.

Not only did she reconnected her father to her mother, but she also gave recognition to her “other” siblings that they deserve. She lovingly refers to them as her “extended family”. In the company of her stepmother, she brought the remains of her father to his hometown for internment. In front of relatives, she announced her unconditional love to her stepmother and her half-sister. Her act was followed by the rest – relatives and friends who welcomed her “extended family”.

Unconsciously, Olive did what the people’s pope, Francis, has been asking for the whole Christian flock to do – be compassionate to others and love them unconditionally.

Olive is a baptized Catholic, the essence of which is Universal. In my simple understanding, one can only be one, if he takes down the walls of hypocrisy around him. To love like a Catholic means having no borders around…without laying down conditions. Questions should never be asked before a Catholic extends a hand of compassion to others. A Catholic should never ask a hungry stranger if he is also a Catholic before a few coins can be given to him. And, a Catholic should never ask somebody if he has sinned before he can become a friend!

What Olive did is more than what the people’s pope, Francis has been asking his flock to do….