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!

Ang Trapik ay Nasa Ibabaw ng mga Tunay na Problema

Ang Trapik ay Nasa Ibabaw ng mga Tunay na Problema

Ni Apolinario Villalobos

 

Ang isyu ng problema sa trapik sa malalaking lunsod ng Pilipinas lalo na sa Manila ay yong sinasabi sa Ingles na “scum” o “froth”. Kung ihahalintulad sa hindi dumadaloy na tubig sa estero, ito yong mga animo ay bumubulang nakapaibabaw sa maruming tubig, at kung sa serbesa naman ay yong lumutang na bula pagkatapos ibuhos sa baso. At, dahil lumulutang agad ay unang nakikita. Ganyan din ang trapik na nakikitang problema sa mga kalsada ng mga lunsod. Subalit, ang katotohanan ay hindi ito mangyayari kung walang problema sa bandang “ilalim” ng sitwasyon. Ang mga sumusunod ay naisipan ko lang na baka mga problema:

 

• Kaluwagan sa pagbili ng mga bagong sasakyan dahil nagkakamurahan ng presyo….at, hindi kinokontrol ng gobyerno. Kung kontrolin naman ay sasabihin ng mga apektado na laban ito sa karapatan ng isang malayang Pilipino. Ang kagustuhan ng karamihan na bumili ng sasakyan ay bunsod ng kultura ng Pilipino na may kinalaman sa kayabangan. Kahit nangungupahan lang ng kuwarto ang pamilya, halimbawa, ng isang simpleng empleyado ay gusto pa rin ng padre de pamilya na magkaroon ng sasakyan para may pangporma at magamit sa pamamasyal sa Luneta ang pamilya.

 

Para sa mga taong ito, hindi bale nang panay ang utang sa Bombay at halos walang pamasahe sa pagpasok sa trabaho o di kaya ay alaga ng pagmumura ng may-ari ng kuwartong inuupahan dahil sa naaantalang pagbayad ng upa, basta may kotse lang na naidi-display upag kaiinggitan ng mga kapitbahay, kahit walang garahe. Nag-operasyon noon upang mag-tow ng mga sasakyang nakaparada sa tabi ng kalsada, subalit “ningas-cogon” naman dahil makalipas ang ilang araw ay itinigil na.

 

• Pagpapabaya ng mga mambabatas sa paggawa ng mga batas na may “pangil” at makatotohanan. At, pagpapabaya rin ng mga ahensiyang dapat magpatupad sa mga batas na naipasa na. Hindi rin isinasaalang-alang ang pagtalaga ng karampatang budget sa mga naipasa nang mga batas upang hindi magamit na dahilan ang kawalan nito kaya walang mga gamit at mga karagdagang tauhan, na kadalasang dahilan ng pagtuturuan ng mga mambabatas at mga ahensiya.

 

• Ang mabagal o makupad sa pagpapatupad ng mga proyekto tulad ng mga kalsada sa lunsod at highway sa probinsiya. At, kung nagawa na, ang mga ito ay palpak kaya madalas ang pagpapaayos agad…halatang gusto lang talagang pagkitaan ng mga tiwaling opisyal at ahensiya. Nagreresulta tuloy ito sa pagdurusa ng mga motorista at commuters …pagdurusang nagsisimula sa paggawa ng mga proyekto hanggang sa pagpapa-repair ng mga ito…samantalang ang mga kurakot ay masaya!

 

• Ang hindi pagbibigayan ng mga motorista dahil ayaw ng bawa’t isang malamangan. Dahil sa ugaling ito ng mga Pilipinong motorista, yong traffic sign na “Yield” ay walang silbi sa Pilipinas.

 

Sa madaling salita, kaya matindi ang trapik sa Pilipinas ay dahil walang disiplina ang mga motorista, maraming butas ang mga batas na ginawa ng mga tiwaling mambatatas kaya pinagkakaperahan ng mga tiwaling taong dapat magpatupad sa mga ito, at hindi kontrolado ang pagpasok ng mga bagong sasakyan na umaapaw sa mga kalsadang hindi nadugtungan at naluwangan. At, sa mga dahilang yan…nagbubulag-bulagan ang mga nakaupong tiwali na ay kawatan pang pinagkatiwalaan ng taong bayan!

 

 

 

 

The Monstrous Problem of Manila’s Metro Rail Transit (MRT)

The Monstrous Problem of Manila’s Metro Rail Transit (MRT)

By Apolinario Villalobos

 

The seemingly regular occurrence of crack, though, hairline in some portions of the MRT should have given a clear signal to the management that there is something wrong with the quality of the steel rails. Several years ago, China was prominently put in the limelight when inferior steel bars from the mainland that were supposed to be delivered to the provinces were intercepted. The locals dubbed them as fake steel which was not true, although, just of low-grade quality – inferior. Accordingly, they were sent back, but many are alleging that some are still stashed away in warehouses and being sold liberally. Steel is graded according to its quality that would suit its purpose, as well as, ability to withstand stress, and the grade must be compatible with the kind of welding rod to be used.

 

There is a question now, as to whether quality control has been observed in checking  the delivered steel bars of MRT or not, knowing how the tolerant culture of Filipinos is oftentimes observed in many projects, that has got to do with the “ pwede na” or “sige na lang” attitude.  In fact, when the new trains have been delivered, another problem came out, that of compatibility with the towing capability of the engine. The questionable quality of the steel rails has compounded the poorly-maintained elevators, escalators, and toilet facilities…making the MRT one of the monster problems of the Aquino administrations due to lackadaisical attitude of his supposedly trusted people.

 

Many are wondering why the Light Rail Transit which was built during the Marcos administration seldom encounters frequent problem on the cracked rails. Has it got to do with corruption? There is a general impression today, that corruption during the time of Marcos was stringently “controlled”, unlike the presence of such repugnant practice in practically, all levels of transaction today.

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!

The Heavy Pollution in China should Warn Third-World Countries

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?

Though how Progressive a Country is, there will always be Poverty because of Corruption

Though how Progressive a Country is, there will always be

Poverty because of Corruption

By Apolinario Villalobos

 

Perfection should be ruled out in the reckoning of a progressive country, because there will always be poverty due to corruption somewhere in the system of governance. In other words, the glitter of progress cannot hide poverty. For ultra-progressive countries, the signs may be insignificant as they try to blend with the glamour of urbanity. But in other countries, especially, the third-world, the signs are very prevalent, so that there is always a massive effort to cover them up occasionally, literally, as it is done every time there are special occasions such as visits of foreign dignitaries. This practice is successful in the Philippines.

 

Practically, poverty is the shadow of progress, and literally, too, as where there are looming high-rise buildings that are pockmarks of progress, not far from them are slums or homeless citizens who huddle together under bridges and nooks. These are misguided citizens who flock to the cities after selling their homestead, that have been farmed for several generations, to deceitful land developers, at a measly price. These are the urban squatters willing to be relocated but found out that the promised “paradise” do not even have a deep well so they go back to their sidewalk “homes”. These are contractual workers who have no job securities as they earn only for five to six months, after which they leave their fate to luck while looking for another job.

 

How does corruption ever be involved in the sad fate of the exploited? Simply, by the government’s negligence  in providing decent relocation sites with job opportunities and basic facilities to those uprooted from their city abodes for more than so many years; by its cuddling of the spurious contractualization perpetrated by greedy employers; by its failure to guide and protect the rights of farmers who sell their rice fields to subdivision developers at measly prices that are not even enough to sustain them for six months; by its failure to provide the citizens with the basic necessities as funds are allowed to be pocketed by corrupt officials; and practically by looking the other way despite the availability of laws against vote buying.

 

Third- world country leaders should stop using the word “progressive”, but instead they should use “surviving” to describe their respective economy. If a country’s economy cannot sustain, much less, provide a “comfortable life” to majority of its citizens, then it is still “ailing”…hence, expect poverty to be trailing behind, just a few steps away from the pretentious allegations!

 

 

 

Religion, Christian Faith, and Immorality

Religion, Christian Faith, and Immorality

By Apolinario Villalobos

 

I am wondering whether those who profess religiosity based on what they practice really “understand” what they are doing. They claim that the bible contributes a lot to their spiritual development. The problem with these people though, is that, while some stick to just the New Testament, others devote their time more to the Old Testament, when the two sections of the bible are supposed to complement each other. So what happens is that, while some of them learn about the teachings of Jesus which are in the New Testament, they do not have a slight idea that the religion that they follow can be traced back to Abraham who is in the Old Testament, and whom they hear only as a name when mentioned in sermons. The ignorance came to light when I asked one Catholic Lay Minister if he has an idea on who the eldest son of Abraham is. I found out that all he knew was that Abraham has a son and that, he was Isaac. When I told him that Ishmael was his eldest son bore to him by Hagar, the handmaid of Sarah, he was surprised! He even asked, how can it be possible when the name Ishmael is a Muslim?

 

From the desert, the Abrahamaic faith, also called Mosaic faith that also hinges on the belief on the coming of a “redeemer” spread. When Jesus came, he followed a new path along which he spread his teachings that filled the pages of the New Testament. When he died on the cross, his followers insisted that he was the sacrificial lamb for the sins of mankind – the redeemer who have finally come and did the act of redemption. But many refused to accept this, as they even keep on questioning his identity if he, indeed, belongs to the House of David from where, the redeemer should come from, more so with the allegation of his being the son of God.

 

If Jesus was the result of a “virgin birth” that gives credence to the “annunciation” as one of the “mysteries”, then, he does not belong to the House of David, because Mary, herself, as his biological mother does not, but only Joseph, who is his “foster father”, therefore, not his “biological father”. In other words, he is not the prophesied “redeemer” as insisted by his followers. Such question is one of the so many asked since the medieval period when the pagan Romans were converted into Christianity, and overdid their religiosity by incorporating pagan practices into what was supposed to be a simplistic way of spirituality. Instead of giving enlightenment on the issue, the early church leaders added problems, one of which is the question on “Trinity” that even widened the “schism”. Is it not immoral to keep the truth from the people who thought they are following the right path?

 

The “extensions” of the Church of Rome distributed throughout Europe as the 15^th century was ending, was purported to be the largest “landholders” during the time. That was also the time when Christianity was forced into the inhabitants of the islands that came to be known as Philippines, so named by Ruy Lopez de Villalobos, in honor of the Spanish king, Philip II. But before the Spaniards came to the shores of the archipelagic islands, they had already sacked the long- thriving Inca and other highly developed cities that they converted into their colonies, and they called the natives “Indios”. For the Spaniards, the natives that they suppressed and made to kneel in front of the cross are called “Indios” who, for them are ignorant… this is how the natives of the Philippines and America were first called, and not by their real indigenous names.

 

The Spanish Christian missionaries who were also fond of shouting “punyeta”, “sin verguenza”, and “hijo de puta” to the natives, did the same hideous conduct of conversion they used in South America, when they came to the Philippines, as they went into the frenzy of burning cultural and intellectual treasures, because for them those were “demonic” and did not conform with “Christianity” which for them still, was the “righteous way”. They even went to the extent of executing “babaylans” or native priestesses.

 

During the closing of the 15^th century, the Roman Church owned practically, almost half of France and Germany, and two-fifths of Sweden and England, not to mention Mexico and other South American colonies and the Philippines where, the early haciendas were located in Cavite, Batangas, Bulacan, Pampanga, Rizal, as well as, the islands of Negros, Panay and Cebu. While the colonies in Europe were not so productive, in the Philippines, the vast tracts of land that were literally grabbed from the natives were planted to sugar cane, rice, and coconut. Today, a few Filipino families who are also into politics are “hold-over owners” of these haciendas. And, they are so much devoted Roman Catholics!…and so, exploitation goes on!

 

Because of  her exploitation disguised by evangelization, Rome grew splendidly and gloriously. To maintain such splendor and glory, the papacy resorted to requiring all ecclesiastical appointees to remit their revenues to the “papal curia” in Vatican. A scandal that gave birth to the Reformation movement and also widened further the “schism” is about the pope’s selling of indulgences. Imagine the pope selling “tickets” to heaven! The large sum of money that flowed into the Vatican’s coffer led to more corruption, most prominent of which were committed by:

 

• Sixtus IV (reign: 1471-84), who spent enormous sum of money in building the “chapel” that he named after himself, the “Sistine”, aside from causing the enrichment of his nephews and nieces;
• Alexander VI, a.ka., Rodrigo Borgia (reign: 1492-1503) who allegedly, openly acknowledged and afforded financial opportunities to his illegitimate children;
• Julius II (reign: 153-13), nephew of Sixtus IV, and who was said to be warlike, notorious politician, and who also spent lavishly on art, but failed in his duties as Head of the Roman Church.

 

During the time, the papacy did not monopolize immorality, as there was a popular adage then, that said, “if you want your son to be corrupted, make him decide to become a priest”.

It was alleged that confessors solicited sexual favors from female penitents, and thousands of priests were said to maintain concubines. Reformists were making a mockery of the church by saying that for Jesus’ ministers, it’s always money – from baptism, marriage, till death, with such greed and perversion spreading to Hispanic colonies.

 

Today, in the Philippines, so many Christian ministries have sprung up in almost every corner of big cities, sporting different names and congregate in inauspicious apartment units, former offices, multi-purpose halls of subdivisions, former movie theaters, and for the richy…Cultural Center of the Philippines and Folk Arts Theater which are the projects of Imelda Marcos within the Cultural Center of the Philippines.

 

There is a joke today about the unemployed, but with an oratorical gift to just put up a “ministry” in order to survive out of the tithes or “love offering” from members. These followers attend the gatherings and listen to the same never changing themes about love that they fail to put into practice, as they go back to their old “selfish” ways when they go home by keeping to themselves – within the security of their homes and company of select friends. Still, some enterprising bible-toting ministers even go to the extent of using the religious book in soliciting money from commuters by hopping on to buses and jeepneys to “share” the words from the bible in exchange for money to be put in envelops that they patiently distribute. As this kind of undertaking is some kind of a money-making enterprise, those who conduct such should be taxed!

 

The pope, himself, acknowledges the proliferation of immorality and corruption in the Roman Catholic Church that is why lately, an external auditing firm has been contracted to check on the Vatican records. He even apologized for the abuse committed by some members of the clergy. In other words, nobody among the members of the Vatican-based church is free from the stain of immorality. Still, in the Philippines, the Iglesia ni Cristo, biggest Christian church next to the Roman Catholic, is rocked with a scandal that is undergoing an investigation. There could still be other religious scandals going around, but just get to be contained due to their insignificance, compared to the cursing of Duterte who is running for presidency during the 2016 election.

 

The world today is full of “habitual” sinners – “immorals” in the eyes of the “moralists”, just because these people that they despise do not attend religious services or utter curses habitually, or just simply, polygamous. Can they be compared with those who attend these so-called religious services but got no slightest idea what compassion means? Can they be compared with husbands who fool their wives by playing around with their “queridas”, or wives who squander the wage hard- earned by their husband abroad, on their kept “lovers”?

 

Worst, these “moralists” are emboldened by the thought that it is alright for them to commit sin because they can go to confession, afterwards anyway! ….or worse, eat the host, bread or biscuit that symbolize the body of Christ, the better for them to get “cleansed” immediately! (I read stories about pagan tribes who eat the body of their brave opponents so that such character can be made part of them).

 

Some of these “good” people do not even know the name of their neighbors, so how can they say they love God that they cannot see, but cannot love their neighbors who are just a few steps away from them? Is it not sheer hypocrisy which is just another form of immorality?  Some of them still, who have become more financially stable than the rest, act like horses pulling indigenous “calesas”, that are allowed to look just straight ahead, which is a manifestation of selfishness.

 

By the way, I do not deny that I am a sinner through and through!…please pray for me!

Ang Ulap at Pangarap

Ang  Ulap at Pangarap

Ni Apolinario Villalobos

Sa kalawakan, nakakatuwa silang masdan

Lumulutang, animo bulak, iba’t- ibang anyo

Sa isang iglap ay napakabilis ng pagbabago

Bigay ay ligaya sa nakakaramdan ng siphayo.

Sa kalawakang maaliwalas at kulay bughaw

Animo ay mga gasa at mangilan-ngilan lang

Kaya’t sa kanilang kalat-kalat na kanipisan –

Langit ay mistulang hubad kung pagmasdan.

Mga puting ulap, minsan ay nagkukulay abo

Badya ay masamang panahon, bagyo’t ulan

Sa kapal, kalawakan nama’y nalalambungan

Na nagdudulot ng pagkulimlim sa kalupaan.

Ganyan din ang buhay, mayroong mga ulap –

Sila’y pangarap, maraming hugis, kaaya-aya

Silang sa buhay natin, ang dulot ay pag-asa

At sa bawa’t tao, mga hugis nila ay magkaiba.

Subali’t kung mamalasin ang isang nangarap

Ang magandang hugis nito’t kulay ay nag-iiba

Nagiging abo, nalulusaw, hanggang mawala –

Na sa kalooban ng iba, ang dulot ay panghihina.

Subali’t hindi dapat manimdim ang nakaranas

Dahil may kasabihang sa kabila nitong mga ulap

Ay may pag-asang nakalaan para sa ating lahat –

Basta magtiyaga upang matamo ang pangarap!

Negligence Plus Corruption Equals Disaster

Negligence Plus Corruption Equals Disaster
By Apolinario Villalobos

The latest fire disaster in Valenzuela that is now considered as the worst to date has again put under scrutiny how local governments units and government agencies operate. As expected, the ongoing investigation is hampered by appalling finger-pointing among parties concerned. With the glaring building violations committed by the owner of the factory, can’t the investigators at least start from that point? And, then go further by asking who conducted the inspection and made the recommendation for the issuance of the building permit? They can check also the negligence of the welder. Finally, proceed as to who issued, or better, signed the building permit? Why the owners of the factory are still scot-free, is also one big question, and there is no indication whatsoever that they are being investigated! How can the local government and the law enforcing agencies be that lenient and numb to the reality?

The latest disaster just confirms that the operating system of the government cannot be trusted as it is pockmarked with dishonesty, corruption and negligence. The latter happens when, in the processing of building permits, no follow-ups by government offices concerned are made for delayed submission of requirements that should be an alarming signal for fishy goings-on between the implementing personnel and the clients. Such negligence eventually results to the oversight – with folders containing incomplete required documents, and only when disaster occurs, do they recall having overlooked incomplete transactions….but, only after lives have been wasted!

Disaster drills, though, required are neglected for implementation by many companies. If ever pressed for the holding of such, they are done half-heartedly, so that employees fail to have a notion on what to do in case the real disaster occurs. Inspecting agencies that require them just shrug their shoulders and don’t give a damn. In some cases, approvals are even given in exchange for favors. In this regard, a friend who used to work as an inspection officer of a local government unit was able to buy a brand new car from this kind of endeavor. He honestly admitted that he resigned as he had been bothered by his conscience and suffered from sleepless nights.

With the onset of the school opening, we expect well-publicized and supposedly full blast “inspections” of dormitories and boarding houses for students. Expect too, the pronouncements of inspectors as regards the number of establishments that they ordered closed, to show the world that they are diligently doing their job – supported with photos. Allow two months or a little more and everything will be again back to “normal”. It is always like that. Do we then, have to continuously wonder and exclaim a big “why”, every time people are trapped and died in buildings without fire exit or with malfunctioning water sprinklers?

On the other hand and in all honesty, if the law on fire prevention and building safety will be implemented strictly, for sure, only a handful structures, from homes to commercial buildings will be left standing!

Unawain na lang ang Ugali ni Pnoy, hindi man natin ito gusto….pero dapat handa siyang managot pagbaba niya sa puwesto

Unawain na lang ang Ugali ni Pnoy, hindi man natin ito gusto
…pero dapat handa siyang managot pagbaba niya
Ni Apolinario Villalobos

May punto ang isang propesora ng UP na ininterbyu sa pagsabi na huwag pilitin ang pangulo kung ayaw niyang humingi ng tawad dahil sa kapalpakan ng operasyon sa Mamasapano na naging sanhi ng kamatayan ng 44 SAF commandos, at ilang sibilyang lokal na naipit sa palitan ng putok.

Paulit-ulit na pinalulutang ang mga mali ng pangulo, tulad ng: pagbigay ng pahintulot sa suspendidong hepe ng PNP na si Purisima na makialam sa operasyon; pag-etsa puwera kay Roxas na hepe ng DILG at sa OIC ng PNP sa mga huling pakikipag-usap niya kay Purisima at Napeῆas; at ang hindi pagbigay ng karampatang halaga o urgency sa operasyon, kaya hindi niya na-monitor at naging dahilan upang hindi siya makapagbigay ng mas malinaw na desisyon nang maipit na sa Mamasapano ang mga SAF commandos. Sa kabila ng lahat, walang epek sa pangulo ang nangyaring trahedya, kaya ang pinaka-simpleng “I am sorry” ay hindi man lang niya nasambit.

Sa isang talumpati, umasta siyang “ama” na nawalan daw ng mga “anak”….hanggang doon na lang. Ang tinutukoy niya ay ang pagkamatay ng mga SAF commandos. Subalit ang magpakita na siya’y kinokonsiyensiya kaya dapat siyang himingi siya ng pasensiya, ay hindi man lang pumasok sa kanyang isipan.

Ang tingin ngayon ng mga Pilipino sa pangulo ay isang sinungaling. Ang masaklap sa ginagawa niyang pagtatakip sa kasalanan gamit ang kasinungalingan ay lumalala habang naglalabas siya ng mga saloobin na nakaangkla pa rin sa kasinungalingan. Sa halip na mabawasan ang mga kasinungalingan ay lalo pang nanganganak ang mga ito, hanggang sa umabot sa puntong wala nang makitang paraan upang siya ay makabawi, DAHIL SA PAGKAPATONG-PATONG NA NG MGA KASINUNGALINGAN.

Paano niyang i-deny ang mga na-rekord na niyang mga nakaraang talumpati na salungat sa mga kasalukuyan niyang sinasabi? Tulad na lamang ng may lakas-loob niyang pagsabi na ang BOI report ang magbibigay ng linaw sa kaso ng Mamasapano kaya ni hindi na niya kailangan pang bigyan ng kopya nito. Ni hindi siya nagpaunlak ng interbyu at bandang huli, dahil sa ugali niyang paninisi, pati si Roxas ay sinisi, at hindi daw nagparating ng imbitasyon ng BOI sa kanya para sa isang interbyu, ganoong maaari naman talaga siyang magkusa. Ang malinaw ay nag-presume siya na magiging kuntento na ang BOI sa pag-pick up ng mga impormasyon mula sa kanyang mga talumpati. Subalit nang lumabas ang resulta na nagdidiin sa kanya, nataranta yata kaya pinatawag ang BOI sa Malakanyang! Nang mabisto ng media ang miting niya sa BOI at pinasabog ito, napahiya yata kaya, buong “katapangan” na nagsabi ang Malakanyang na hindi nila babaguhin ang BOI report…dapat lang dahil bago nakarating sa kanila ang isang kopya, may nabigyan nang mga ibang tao!

Pwede nang tanggapin ang sinasabi ng Malakanyang na may prerogative si Pnoy o may karapatan sa paraan ng pagbigay ng kautusan na maaaring sumira ng umiiral na “chain of command”, PERO DAPAT IHANDA NIYA ANG SARILI NIYA SA RESULTA AT TANGGAPIN KUNG ITO AY PALPAK KAHIT PA MAY PANANAGUTAN DIN ANG KANYANG INUTUSAN…KAYA, PAREHO SILANG DAPAT MANAGOT…LALO NA SIYA BILANG TAONG NAGBIGAY NG UTOS!

Hindi makakawala sa pananagutan ang pangulo sa kanyang pananagutan dahil sa trahedyang nangyari sa Mamasapano. Hindi siya maaaring maghugas- kamay, dahil kaakibat ng responsibilidad niya bilang lider ang tumanggap ng sisi sa mga bagay na may direkta siyang kinalaman dahil sa prinsipyo ng “command responsibility”.

Ang hinihintay ng maraming Pilipino ay ang pagbato ni Pnoy ng paninisi kay Gloria Arroyo dahil sa nangyaring trahedya sa Mamasapano! Isang classic na kwento yan kung sakali na only in the Philippines mangyayari! Dapat mag-ingat si Pnoy dahil baka mag-krus pa ang kanilang landas pagbaba niya sa puwesto, kung hindi matuloy ang nilalakad na pagpa-confine ni Gloria Arroyo sa kanilang bahay dahil sa lumalala niyang kalagayan.