Magkapareho ang Pananaw ni Pacquiao at Binay Pagdating sa Katiwalian….nakakabahalang isipin!

Magkapareho ang Pananaw ni Pacquiao at Binay

Pagdating sa Katiwalian…nakakabahalang isipin!

Ni Apolinario Villalobos

 

Umaayon si Pacquiao sa pananaw ni Binay na walang katotohanan ang mga ibinebentang sa kanyang katiwalian hangga’t hindi napapatunayan. Papaanong mapatunayan ni Binay na wala siyang kasalanan kung hindi naman siya umaatend ng mga hearing? Paano niyang mapatunayan na hindi galing sa nakaw ang yaman nila kung palaging idinadahilan niya ang “immunity” ng kanyang posisyon upang hindi siya mapuwersang dumalo sa mga hearing?

 

Nakakabahala ang ganitong pananaw dahil nagpapahiwatig ito na walang kasalanan ang isang nagnakaw kahit may mga ebidensiya pero hindi napatunayan sa husgado dahil sa galing ng kanyang abogado. Ang ganitong pananaw ay nagsasalamin ng hindi mapapagkatiwalaan sistema ng hustisya na pinapagalaw ng mga abogadong “matatalino” at ang serbisyo ay mayayaman lang ang may kakayahang umupa. Dahil diyan, maraming mga inosenteng mahirap na walang pambayad ng magaling na abogado ang  nabubulok sa bilangguan.

 

Palaging may karugtong na “Diyos” at pa-English pang deklarasyon ng kanyang “faith” kuno tuwing magsalita si Pacquiao upang ipabatid na siya ay maka-Diyos, kaya tingin niya sa kanyang sarili ay isang mabuting tao. Nakakapanindig- balahibo ang ginagawa niyang pagmamalaki….kahindik-hindik, at isang karumal-dumal na kayabangan! Hindi dahil dasal siya nang dasal o di kaya ay panay ang pagbasa ng Bibliya ay mabuting tao na siya. Paano ang mga walang Bibliya dahil walang pambili? Sila ba, tulad ng mga bakla at tomboy, ay mas masahol din sa hayop dahil walang na-memorize na salita ng Diyos tulad niya?

 

Paano naging mabuti ang isang tao na nagsasabing inosente siya hangga’t hindi napapatunayan sa korte ang mga kasalanan niya, kahit sa kaibuturan ng kanyang diwa ay alam niyang may kasalanan talaga siya? Ang ganitong pananaw ay nagpapahiwatig ng karumal-dumal na kawalan ng konsiyensiya ng isang tao dahil kahit alam niyang may kasalanan siya pero kaya niyang kumuha ng isang matalino at magaling na mga abogado ay siguradong absuwelto siya.

 

Kung mananalo si Binay bilang presidente at si Pacquiao ay senador, hindi na mawawalan ng pangungurakot sa gobyerno dahil ang kasalanang ito ay kailangang patunayan PA sa korte, ayon sa kanilang pananaw. Hindi man sila ang gumawa ay gagawin ng iba dahil kaya nilang umupa ng magaling na abogado kahit mahal ang serbisyo. Yan ang sagot sa tanong kung kaylan pa may napatunayang nangurakot na malalaking opisyal sa matataas na puwesto ng gobyerno. Samantala ang mga kaso man lang ng mga kinurakot na pork barrel sa ilalim ng kasalukuyang administrasyon ay wala pa ring linaw hanggang ngayon.

 

Nakakatakot isipin na nabubuhay tayo ngayon sa panahong naglipana ang mga taong walang konsiyensiya. Silang tingin sa sarili ay maka-Diyos at hindi asal-hayop dahil panay ang basa ng Bibliya, pagdasal, at pag-attend ng prayer meetings, kaya mga “Kristiyano” kuno…ganoong ang nasa isip pala ay inosente sila sa mga kasalanang ginawa dahil hindi napatunayan sa korte!

Ang Addiction, Harakiri, at Dangal

Ang Addiction,  Harakiri, at Dangal

Ni Apolinario Villalobos

 

Ang addiction ay hindi limitado lang sa alak, sigarilyo at droga. Sa Pilipinas, may mga maidadagdag pa sa listahan: addiction sa pera, addiction sa pagsinungaling, at addiction sa cellphone.

 

Ang mga sintomas ng addiction sa pera ay ang hindi makontrol na paggalaw ng mga hinlalaki (thumb) at hintuturo (thumb) sa pagkiskisan na animo ay nagbibilang ng pera, pagkataranta kapag nakarinig na kalansing ng baryang nahulog, panlalaki ng mga mata kapag pinag-uusapan ang pera, at madalas na pagkadulas sa pagsabi ng “how much are you”, sa halip na “how are you”. Talamak itong sakit sa Kongreso at Senado at iba pang mga ahensiya ng gobyerno na palaging may project (na pinagkikitaan).

 

Ang mga sintomas naman ng addiction sa pagsisinungaling ay ang hindi nawawalang ngiti sa mga labi upang ipakita sa iba na malinis ang kanyang budhi at isip, pagsambit ng pangalan ng Diyos na idinudugtong sa mga pangako, pagbanggit ng kidlat, kulog, malusaw, mamatay, at iba pang kahindik-hindik na mga salita upang idiin ang katotohanan kuno ng mga sinabi niya at yong iba ay binebetsinan pa ng “peks man” at “cross my heart”, at ang pinakamalinaw na palatandaan ay ang walang kabuhay-buhay at hindi kumukurap na mga matang nandidilat habang nagsasalita sa harap ng camera dahil nag-aalala na baka madulas ang kanyang dila.

 

At, ang addiction naman sa cellphone ay may mga sintomas na paggalaw-galaw ng hinlalaki na animo ay may pinipindot. Napapansin din ang hindi mapalagay na pagkilos ng addict kapag ang katabi ay may kausap sa cellphone dahil parang may nag-uutos sa kanyang agawin ang cellphone upang siya naman ang makipag-usap. Napapakislot din itong uri ng addict kapag may naririnig na tunog ng cellphone, na sinasabayan pa ng pagdidila ng mga labi na para bang natatakam sa pagkain. At sa isang tahanan, malalaman kung may mga addict sa cellphone kapag may nagbabangayan na maririnig hanggang kalye dahil sa pagwawala ng mga anak na gustong magkaroon ng mga bagong cellphone.

 

Kung dangal naman ang pag-uusapan, matindi ang mga Hapon sa pag-alaga nito. Nagpapakamatay sila kapag nadungisan ang kanilang dangal. Yong mga nasa gobyerno ng Japan, na nabigla o hindi sinasadyang nakagawa ng masama ay nagpapatiwakal agad kahit hindi pa nasisimulan ang imbestigasyon.

 

Kung sa Pilipinas mangyayari ang pagpapatiwalak o pagharakiri ng mga nagkasalang government officials, siguradong walang matitira….mula sa pinakamataas na puwesto hanggang sa ibaba. Pero hindi nangyayari, dahil sinanay ang mga Pilipino ng mga prayle o Spanish friars noong panahon ng mga Kastila sa paniniwalang kahit sangkaterba ang kasalanan, lusaw ang mga ito sa paulit-ulit na pagdasal ng Our Father, Hail Mary, at I Believe in God,  na ipinapataw sa nagkumpisal. Kaya ngayon, tingnan ninyong mabuti kung sino ang mga mahilig gumawa ng mga kasalanan na nakaluklok sa kawawang gobyerno ng Pilipinas!…hindi ba silang mga nananalig sa kumpisal?…dahil pagkatapos ng mga penance ay gagawa uli sila ng mga kasalanan!

Plans, Promises, and Pleadings of Candidates During Philippine Electoral Campaigns

Plans, Promises, and Pleadings of

Candidates During Philippine Electoral Campaigns

By Apolinario Villalobos

 

The electoral campaigns in the Philippines are treated by Filipinos as both spectacle and financial opportunity. Candidates assume different convincing facial expressions as they blurt out plans and promises if they are voted to the position and these are spiced up with pleadings that are made colorful with courteous vernacular words such as, “po”, “ho”, “opo”, “oho”, “natin”. Audiences are entertained by singers and dancers from the showbiz industry. Virtually, during electoral campaigns, corrupt personalities become saintly, and worse, demean themselves by being funny as they take the risk of being ridiculed – all in the name of the dirty Philippine politics. As a financial opportunity, well….vote-buying is done in the open, no question about that.

 

Mar Roxas plans to transfer the Manila International Airport to Clark Airbase. He must be dizzy when he mentioned this during an interview. He forgot about the terribly unpredictable traffic along the South Luzon Expressway going through which would take at least three hours before a motorist from Metro Manila could make it to the first Bulacan town. The reality is, if one would come from the Metro Manila area, he or she has to muster, yet, any of the hellish traffic along EDSA, Pasay, Roxas Boulevard, Commonwealth and Rizal Avenue. Passengers are used to reaching the airport today from their residence within the city or the suburbs such as Cavite, Laguna, Novaliches, and Antipolo in just about two or three hours depending on the unpredictable traffic. With the transfer of the airport to Clark, they must allow at least six hours, inclusive of the two hours leeway for the check-in before the published departure time. Worst is if the passenger will have to commute by bus to Clark. To be safe, a passenger will have to spend for an overnight somewhere around Clark Air Base if he or she is taking a flight the following day. Even if the government will offer free shuttle service, the same hellish traffic  will be dealt with along the way.

 

Roxas keeps on promising the continuance of the programs of the administration to which he is so much attached as if with strong sentimentality. What is there to continue, anyway?…the obvious inept and insensitive attitude?…and still, another big question is, has there been anything accomplished that benefits at least the majority of the impoverished? If he is talking about the cash being doled out, such program is still being questioned, as in some areas it is allegedly tainted with graft.  If he is talking about the “progress” based on statistics, this too, is being viewed as dubiously self-serving. He should also, not forget that the administration still has to answer many questions as regards the fate of donations for the typhoon Yolanda victims, aside from so many other issues with the hottest, as the Mamasapano massacre and the purported well-concealed pork barrel in the just-approved budget. It would do him good at least, if he scraps out the “tuwid na daan” from his campaign statements and just promise what he can do. He should make people believe in his capability, not in his association with Aquino whose reputation is debatable. As for being not corrupt, he could claim that.

 

Duterte is promising to eradicate criminality and corruption in six months or he would resign. Unless heads will roll at least within the first two months upon his assumption if elected, he better be prepared with a resignation statement. How can he control the undisciplined and financially-pampered Congress? For a town, city, or province, this may be possible, but not for a nation whose law-making bodies got calloused with corruption.

 

Binay on the other hand, keeps on saying that he is not corrupt. He must be imagining that the Filipinos are idiot! It is suggested that the word “corrupt” be not ever mentioned in any of his campaign ads, or uttered by him. He should, instead, promise hospitals and terminal buildings to be built during his incumbency…and find out if his listeners will boo him just like what he experienced in Cebu.

 

Candidates for the 2016 election know that plans and promises during the past electoral campaigns were made to be broken, so they will do it, too. They should not be meddling in politics if they are not honestly aware of this fact. Those that will come after them will again make promises, propose plans, and plead, as expected. During the electoral campaign that will follow, it will be done again….still, again and again…..a vicious cycle of the dirty Philippine politics!

 

 

Ang Mga Laglagan sa Pilipinas

Ang Mga Laglagan sa Pilipinas

Ni Apolinario Villalobos

 

Ilang buwan pa lang ang nakararaan, laglag-bala ang mainit na isyu. Ang mahigpit na pag-kontrol sa mga airport upang maiwasan ang pagpuslit ng mga deadly ammunition ay okey na sana subalit nasilipan ng butas ng ilang tiwali sa airport dahil sa paniniwala ng mga Pilipino sa bala bilang agimat. Dahil sa katiwalian na iyan, maraming tanga at may matigas na ulong Pilipino ang nawalan ng trabaho sa ibang bansa dahil napigilan sa pagsakay sa eroplano dahil lamang sa iisang balang nakita sa kanilang bagahe. Maraming tangang Pilipino ang umaming nagdadala talaga ng bala sa abroad upang pananggalang daw nila laban sa pag-aabuso ng employer. May mga natanggal na ring mga inspector ng bagahe dahil kahit obvious na talagang walang laman ang bala dahil ang tinuturing na agimat lang talaga ay ang tansong basyo, pinagpipilitan pa rin na “deadly ammunition” daw ito. Bakit nga naman nila palalampasin ang pagkakataon ganoong, ang “pakiusapan” ay may presyong mula 2 thousand hanggang 8 thousand pesos???!!!

 

Sa pinakapangit na airport pa rin sa buong mundo, ayon sa survey – ang Manila International Airport Terminal 3, laglag-kisame naman ang isyu. May nasugatan, banyagang turista pa, mabuti na lang at hindi nasaktan ang kanyang asawang Pilipina at anak. Nag-apologize ang manager ng airport subalit hindi pa rin ito sapat. Bago nangyari ang paglaglag ng kisame sa coffee shop, ay nagkaroon na rin ng laglagan bago pa man binuksan para sa operasyon ang Terminal 3, at nang nag-ooperate na, nagkalaglagan pa rin ng dalawang beses. Ibig sabihin, ang diperensiya ay ang mahinang “original” na kisame o suporta nito, kaya siguradong ang bagong kisameng ikakabit ay madadamay. “It’s more fun in the Philippines” pa rin kaya ang sasabihin ng pinakahuling nasaktan na turista?

 

Nilaglag ni Aquino si Purisima kung kaylan sobra na ang alingasaw ng amoy ng “teamwork” nila. Nilaglag din ng administrasyon si Vitangcol ang sinasabing palpak at nangurakot sa mga deals at management ng MRT, pero under investigation, as usual, at pinagduduhan pa . Latest kay Vitangcol: humihingi ng tulong sa PAO para bigyan ng libreng abogado! Ang kakapalan nga naman ng mukha kung umiral! Yan ang problema sa mga tauhan ni Pnoy, ginagawang tanga ang mga Pilipino….gusto ba namang magkaroon ng abogadong ang nagpapasuweldo ay taong bayan na sinasabing niloko niya! Walang delikadesa!

 

May mga laglagan na rin sa pulitika bago sumapit ang election 2016. Nilaglag ni Pnoy Aquino si Mar Roxas nang i-veto niya ang batas para sa dagdag na 2 libo sa pension ng mg SSS retirees. Sa mga hindi nakakahalata, binago ni Roxas ang kanyang political ad dahil sinimplehan lang, walang music background, at ang dialogue tungkol sa tuwid na daan ay dinugtungan niya ng “pupunuan ko kung may kakulangan, iwawasto ang mali, at hindi ako nagnakaw….”. Malinaw na patutsada kay Pnoy na mula’t sapul ay walang bilib sa kanya. Nilaglag din daw ni Escudero si Grace Poe subalit deny to death naman siya sa isang interview…pero truthful ba siya?

Umaayon ang mga Pagkakataon kay Pnoy na Pinaghandaan Niya

Umaayon ang mga Pagkakataon kay Pnoy

na Pinaghandaan Niya

Ni Apolinario Villalobos

 

Sa pagkalaglag ni Mar Roxas mula sa kalinga ni Pnoy Aquino dahil sa hindi pagka-apruba sa dalawang libong pisong dagdag sa buwanang pensiyon ng mga retirado, wala ring problema sakaling manalo si Jejomar Binay. Dapat tandaang ang kalaban ni Binay ay ang tatlong senador na pursigidong siya ay makulong-  sina Escudero, Trillanes at Pimentel. Sa isang banda ay paulit-ulit na sinasabi ni Binay na malaki ang utang na loob niya kay Cory Aquino na siyang nagluklok sa kanya sa Makati City bilang mayor nang umupo ito bilang presidente pagkatapos ng People Power 1. Dahil diyan, malayo sa isip niya na sumuporta sa anumang balak na kasuhan si Pnoy, bilang pagpapakita ng utang na loob. Wala rin siyang probema dahil naghihintay na sa kanya ang pork barrel fund na inaprubahan ni Pnoy, na lalo pang nilakihan sa halagang nakakalula.

 

Maraming mapaggagamitan ang pork barrel fund na inaprubahan ni Pnoy, lalo na sa panunuhol upang maharangan ang anumang tangkang kasuhan siya sa kanyang pagbaba at pagkawala ng immunity. Sa Ingles wika nga ay, the road has been paved for smooth travel….o pag-absuwelto kay Pnoy mula sa anumang kaso. Majority ng miyembro ng Korte Suprema ay naimpluwensiyahan na ni Pnoy at ang iba ay iniluklok naman niya sa panahon ng kanyang panunungkulan kaya hindi maiiwasang magkaroon sila ng utang na loob sa kanya. Yong mga inuluklok ni Pnoy na nagsasabi ng, “gagawin ko lang ang trabahong itinalaga sa akin”, ay mabuti pang manahimik na lamang mula ngayon dahil siguradong sisirain lang nila ang binitiwang pangako. Hindi dapat kalimutan na ang isang bahagi ng kultura ng mga Pilipino ay matiim na nakaangkla sa “utang na loob” na siya namang dahilan kung bakit napakarumi ng pulitika sa Pilipinas.

 

Ang mga nabanggit na senaryo ay malamang na matagal nang nakikita ni Pnoy kaya kung gumawa siya ng mararahas na aksiyon na taliwas sa mga inaasahan ay ganoon na lang. Samantala, ang pag-asa na lamang ay ang kasong inilalatag sa kanya ni Juan Ponce Enrile tungkol sa direktang pananagutan niya sa madugong kamatayan ng SAF44 sa Tokanalipao, Mamasapano, sa probinsiya ng Maguindanao. Subalit kung ito ay ihahain sa Korte Suprema, tatanggapin naman kaya ng karamihan ng mga mahistrado ang “command responsibility” bilang batayan ng kanyang kasalanan? Ano ang magagawa ng isang mabigat na ebidensiya sa harap ng mga naimpluwensiyahang kaisipan na nabaluktot kaya hindi makagawa ng patas na desisyon? Nangyari na yan nang kung ilang beses….at siguradong mangyayari pa!

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”!

 

A Closer Look at the Filipino “Nationalistic” Groups

A Closer Look at the Filipino “Nationalistic” Groups

By Apolinario Villalobos

 

Even during the administration of Ferdinand Marcos, there were already problems with China as regards the South China Sea/West Philippine Sea, separatist movements and kidnapping in Mindanao, as well as, with Malaysia as regards Sabah, and most especially, corruption in the government. The same problems were inherited by subsequent administrations. But the “nationalistic” groups were more concerned in shouting invectives against America in front of the US Embassy and in burning effigies of American and Filipino presidents. They did not lift a finger in helping the government in its effort to recover Sabah, and not a single rally was held in front of the Chinese Embassy to express their revulsion over the issue on West Philippine Sea. Not even a question was raised as regards the effectiveness of the military against the separatist movement and kidnappings in Mindanao because of its inadequate facilities due to misused funds intended for its modernization. These groups cannot even lay claim on the success in deposing Marcos, because the religious groups and ordinary citizens were the ones responsible for such success.

 

Despite the open reclamations of China in the West Philippine Sea, these groups were silent, although, belatedly, they somehow held a lightning rally or two, after such, nothing was heard from them again. Despite the ongoing activities of the Abu Sayyaf and separatist groups in Mindanao, they remained silent. The overly grisly Maguindanao and Mamasapano massacres did not entice them a bit to make a move to show their support to the victims. Despite the moving of justice system at a snail’s pace and unabated proliferation of foreign “investors” who are exploiting the natural resources around the country, nothing is heard from them, too.  And despite the blatant control of domestic medium-scale trading in the country by these foreign “investors”, still nothing is heard from these groups.

 

After the announcement of the Supreme Court’ decision favoring the legality of the US military presence in the country, these groups suddenly came to life. They maintain their claim that such decision shall lead to the construction of the permanent US bases in the country when in fact, nothing of that sort is mentioned in the agreement.

 

They claim that the continued presence of the American soldiers in the country will lead to the revival of sex- related industry which is not true. Even without the presence of US bases, there is uncontrolled proliferation of the sex trade via the internet, bars and massage parlors, even in the decent districts of Metro Manila.  But still, if they want, they can knock at the doors of Congress and Senate for laws that shall control this kind of industry, and which should be appropriate for the time. On the other hand, they are supposed to know that even the local government can control such industry. And, just what have they done on the issue of poverty that contributed to the fast growth of such industry in the country? They should caution the sex workers if they are really bent on helping their countrymen involved in sex trade which needs to be treated as a separate issue, instead of using this alibi in pursuing their “nationalistic” objective. They seem to be blind to the fact that various sex deals are flourishing even without the issue on the US military presence in the Philippines due to weak national laws and LGU regulations that reek with corrupt motives.

 

What dedication to advocacy are they talking about when some of them are even holding passports stamped with US visa?  If these groups are really serious in their advocacy, why don’t they hold rallies against the ongoing corruption in the country and the vote-buying, a political tradition that got deeply-entrenched in the Filipino culture? Why don’t they consistently hold rallies for the removal of department secretaries who are being questioned on the issues of smuggling, ghost NGOs, drug trafficking, illegal recruitment, and deplorable state of mass transit facilities such as LRT and MRT, etc. Why don’t they consistently hold rallies for the removal of the president, if they find him to be ineffective just like what was done during the time of Marcos? Why don’t they hold rallies against the unfulfilled promise of the government to modernize the military facilities after prime public properties were sold to foreign investors? Why don’t they picket outside the detention facilities where the Ampatuans are, to show their disgust over the hideous crime that they purportedly committed? These are what the Filipinos want to see and expect from them, as they claim to be “nationalistic” and pro-Filipino.

 

Obviously, the Philippines has been under a long-tested democracy which unfortunately proved ineffective due to its loop-holed system that led to the propagation of various forms of corruption. And, this is what the left-wing groups want to be changed to a more “nationalistic” system. But what do they mean by “nationalistic”?…a communism-inspired system?

 

By the way, I just want to make myself clear that not all nationalistic Filipinos have a communistic mentality.

 

 

Ang Tao Bilang Nilalang ng Diyos

ANG TAO BILANG NILALANG NG DIYOS

Ni Apolinario Villalobos

 

PAALALA: Ang blog na ito walang layuning magpasimula ng pagtatalo tungkol sa iba’t ibang paniniwala sa Diyos lalo na sa relihiyon at tradisyon, kaya WALANG KARAPATAN ANG IBANG KWESTIYUNIN ITONG MGA PANSARILI KONG PANANAW. Walang karapatang magbigay ng paalala ang mga nagmamaangan-maangang maka-Diyos daw. At, dahil wala akong binabanggit na relihiyon o tradisyon dito, ang pakiusap ko ay huwag ding magbanggit  nito ang sinumang gustong magkomento. Ituturing kong pansariling pananaw ng nagbasa ang komentong sasabihin niya, kahit hindi umaayon sa mga inilahad ko, kaya hindi ko rin dudugtungan ng tanong o komento. At, lalong ayaw kong ipilit sa iba itong mga pananaw ko.

 

1. Ang haharap sa Diyos pagdating ng panahong mawala sa mundo ang isang tao ay ang kanyang ispiritu…HINDI ANG KANYANG KATAWANG LUPA. Pagdating ng kanyang kamatayan, HUMIHIWALAY ANG ISPIRITU SA KATAWANG LUPA. Kaya ang mahalagang gawin ng isang tao ay magpakabuti habang buhay pa upang mabawasan man lang ang kanyang mga kasalanan, nang sa ganoon, pagharap niya sa Diyos ay hindi siya mahihiya, at makaakyat siya sa langit kung meron man nito. Ang naiwang katawan na kini-cremate o nilalagay sa kabaong upang ilibing ay wala nang silbi subalit dapat respetuhin. Kahit bendisyunan o basbasan pa ito ay wala ring mangyayari kung ang iniisip ng iba ay makakatulong ang pagbendisyon upang mawala ang mga kasalanan niya, dahil ang katawan ay itinuturing bilang “lupa” na lamang, kaya sa Ingles, ang tawag sa bangkay ay “remains” – natirang bagay.

 

Sa pagkabulok ng bangkay, ito ay hahalo na sa lupa, hindi aakyat sa langit o magdudusa sa impyerno kung meron man nito. Ang Diyos naman ay maaaring “magtatanong” sa ispiritu kung ano ang pinaggagawa ng katawan niya noong buhay pa ito, at hindi magtatanong kung ang bangkay ba niya ay binendisyunan o binasbasan sa isang katedral, simbahan, kapilya, punerarya, bahay, Multi-purpose Hall, o bangketa kung saan ginawa ang lamay. Hindi magtatanong ang Diyos kung mahal ba o mura o donated ang kanyang kabaong, o di kaya ay diretsong inilibing ang kanyang bangkay, o sinunog ba, o kung marami ang nakipaglamay, o kung sino ang nagbasbas, o kung may videoke ba o nagpasugal nang gawin ang lamay upang makalikom ng pera.

 

2. Ang mga ispiritwal na bagay ay may kaugnayan sa Diyos o pananalampalataya kaya hindi dapat ihalintulad sa mga maka-mundong gawain tulad ng pagpapatakbo ng negosyo, gobyerno, o organisasyon na magiging kadahilanan ng pagkapagod kaya kailangan ang isa o dalawang araw na day off. Hindi rin saklaw ng panahon ang mga ispiritwal na bagay kaya hindi dapat kinokontrol ng oras o araw, hindi tulad ng mga maka-mundong bagay o gawain. Ang pagpapahinga ng Diyos na sinasabi sa Bibliya tungkol sa “creation”, kung saan ay binanggit ang pagpahinga niya sa ika-pitong araw ay isang alamat o legend. Hindi ito dapat gamiting batayan upang magpahinga ng isang araw ang isang bahay-sambahan, sa pamamagitan ng pagsara ng kanilang “opisina” dahil nagagawan naman ng paraan upang maging tuloy-tuloy ang pagsilbi sa mga pangangailangang ispiritwal ng mga kasapi.

 

Kung ang namumuno sa isang bahay-sambahan ay magpupumilit ng patakaran tungkol sa araw ng pamamahinga at tatanggi sa mga suhestiyon bilang paraan kung may problema, lumalabas na siya ay makasarili o mayabang dahil gusto niyang manaig ang pansariling pamamalakad, kaya sa halip na makahikayat ng mga bagong kasapi ay magtataboy pa siya ng mga dati nang kasama…at ang gawaing nabanggit ay pagsalungat sa kagustuhan ng Diyos.

 

3. Hindi nangangahulugang dahil namumuno na ang isang tao sa isang bahay-sambahan, ay marami na siyang alam at ang mga pinamumunuan niya ay wala o maraming hindi alam. Wala siyang karapatang kumilos na animo ay pantas sa larangan ng relihiyon, dahil ang kaibahan lang niya sa iba ay ang “diploma” lang naman mula sa eskwelahan ng pananampalataya kung saan siya kasapi. Sa makabagong panahon ngayon, marami nang paraan kung paanong mapalawak ng isang tao ang kanyang kaalaman sa anumang larangan, kasama na diyan ang tungkol sa Diyos at relihiyon, at hindi niya kailangang magkaroon ng diploma dahil dito.

 

SA MATA NG DIYOS, LAHAT NG KANYANG NILALANG AY PANTAY-PANTAY AT KUNG MAY MGA NAITALAGA MANG  “MAMUNO” KAYA KAILANGAN NILANG MAG-ARAL PA,  SILA AY HINDI DAPAT MAGYABANG DAHIL ANG MGA PINAG-ARALAN AY DAPAT GAMITIN SA TAMANG PARAAN UPANG MAKAHIKAYAT PA NG MARAMING KASAPI, AT ANG PAMUMUNO AY MAY HANGGANAN ….SA IBABAW NG MUNDO.

 

Who Says God has a Day Off?

Who Says God has a Day Off?

By Apolinario Villalobos

 

 

Although, one of the Ten Commandments says that the Sabbath should be considered as a day of rest, what I understand is that it refers to the people, because such day should be devoted only for worship. The Roman Catholic Church even changed this to the pagan day worship of the sun – Sunday. Anyway,  what I understand is that the said commandment does not refer to God, as He is supposed to be everywhere every time of the day. To put it bluntly, this is about some Roman Catholic parish offices being closed on Saturday, the original Sabbath. Are the non-secular parish priests who are running most of the parishes emulating the ways of the Pharisees….the so-called hypocrites of the Old Testament? If this is so, these Roman Catholic priests might as well take off their priestly garb and join a Christian sect that is literally following the Old Testament to the letter!

 

If these hypocrite Roman Catholic parish priests would like to give their lay staff a day off, why not come up with a rotated schedule so that for all days of the week, at least one of them is left in the office? If the regular parish priest would like to go on a day off which is unbecoming, why not request a “roving priest” to take over for at least one day, as all of them are supposed to be helping each other for the sake of the “Christian flock”?

 

Here is a classic story: In a southern parish, the family of a departed kin requested their parish priest for a Requiem Mass for their loved one. The requested day was Saturday so that relatives who have absented themselves from work could go back home the following day, a Sunday, in time for their return to work still the following day, a Monday. Unfortunately, there was a vehement rejection because the parish office was closed as scheduled…no staff to attend to the bereaved family, although, the church would be open.  Not even the suggestion of the family that they will find another priest to officiate the Mass could move the parish priest to change his decision. Sunday is not allowed for requiem Mass, so that was out as a solution to the problem. At the end, the arrogance of the parish priest prevailed as the schedule was moved two days later to Monday which means, the visiting relatives would be able to report back to work on Wednesday or Thursday, practically missing several days of precious daily earnings!

 

By the way, hubs of air travel operations in any country has no day off, the police has no day off, the hospital staff has no day off, even the mall staff has no day off, etc. How come, the parish office of the Roman Catholic Church whose reputation is deteriorating every hour of the day cannot open its door to the so-called “Roman Catholic flock”, in an effort to counter the negative impression that is mounting every day? Is it the way of the parish priest in “helping” the seemingly helpless new pope? Or is the parish priest acting like a crab?

 

The parish priest in question who I was told was newly- assigned in the area has a record of arrogance, and he would like to show to the already restless parishioners that he is the “authority”. Obviously, he has a problem with psychological insecurities. He even allegedly fired parish lay personnel who have spent more than twenty of their precious years serving the church. He is making decisions left and right without proper consultation with the Pastoral Council as a whole, choosing to speak only with the favored members whom he think would support him. In other words, his decisions may be illegal as they are without the consent of the majority of the council members, and may not even be properly covered with signed documents.

 

The above-mentioned priest is among the embarrassments of the new pope that he mentions every time he has an opportunity, and for which he always ask apologies from the Roman Catholics. An interesting blog about the pope taking off his papal robe before holding a Mass is a clear manifestation that he is not in favor of the un-Christian attitude of many priests of the Roman Catholic Church who are either accused of fund misuse, arrogance and sexual assault.

 

The attitude of the mentioned parish priest shows that the Anti-Christs could be within the Roman Catholic Church – they, whose ways are contrary to what the true Catholic Church stands for. Anti-Christs in priestly robe are heavily groggy with arrogance because they have the impression that being parish priests they can “play” with the parishioners many of whom are suckers in the name of salvation…parishioners who think that their salvation depends ONLY on their parish priest who is “protected” by the white “sotana”, but could be devils in disguise!

 

Now, are we still wondering why the Roman Catholic Church is reeling from uncontrolled deterioration and may find it hard to recover unless the hypocrites in white priestly garb and who are heady with arrogance,  are calling the shots despite the reminders of the new pope?

 

For this kind of arrogant priest, the parishioners should join hands and boot him out before he can do more harm to their community!

The Vicious Cycle of Progress and Poverty

The Vicious Cycle of Progress and Poverty

By Apolinario Villalobos

 

Poverty is a mean excuse to do things for easy money by the weak in spirit. But the strong are ready to go hungry in the name of ideals and principles. The exploiters use poverty in blackmailing the unfortunates, one result of which is the dirty election due to rampant vote buying.

 

Exploitation of the illiterates and impoverished also result to virtual land grabbing because they are made to “sell” their ancestral domains to rich real estate developers at below  the decent value level. As subdivisions, golf courses and resorts sprout, the displaced former landowners and the fortune-seekers from other parts of the country huddle in not so far depressed areas with many of them working as low-waged employees of the mentioned business institutions that sprouted.

 

Poverty is the corner where the impoverished are pushed to make a choice between death and survival. Also, when the government alleges progress, poverty trails a few steps behind. Along this line, poverty breeds animosity in a community, especially, on matters of politics. In this regard, while some members of the community are ready to sell their soul for a few pesos in exchange for their vote, others are steadfast in protecting theirs which has always been viewed as a “sacred” right. Even some of the clerics of the Catholic Church have joined the confusion by counseling their members to accept the bribe but vote according to their conscience.

 

As soon as the corrupt candidates are finally put in place, thanks to the rampant vote-buying, in no time at all, they start to engage in schemes designed to insure the “return of their investment”. Projects that involve infrastructures are conceived, supposedly to carry on the “progress”…the bigger project, the better, as assurance for fat commissions. The worst scheme is connivance with non-governmental organizations for ghost projects. While all these things are going on, the suffering constituents see around them towering manifestations of progress in the shadow of which, they cringe in poverty.

 

Progress and poverty are the two forces that push each other to create the never ending loop that goes round and round…a never-ending cycle that plagues the people of the third-world countries such as the Philippines, and the culprit are the “investors” – exploiting nations that promise comfort in exchange for “developments”. Yet, despite the prevailing realities of the time, the rest of third-world nations still bite the bait.