Angel…the young female cobbler of Barangay Real Dos, Bacoor City (Cavite)

ANGEL…THE YOUNG FEMALE COBBLER

OF BARANGAY REAL DOS, BACOOR CITY (CAVITE)

By Apolinario Villalobos

 

When I passed by the small “hole on the wall” shoe repair shop on my way to the bus stop, I took notice of a girl who was busy repairing shoes. I got curious so I stopped for a while for a short chat. She was pretty and with all sincerity replied to my queries. I found out that she is living in with the younger brother of the owner of the shop who also works at Quickie, a well-known, bags and shoes repair outfit. She is Angel, just turned twenty, and from a district in Leyte, near Tacloban City. Her live in partner is Junel who works full time in a store in Molino, but earns extra cash at the shoe repair shop on his days off.

 

Angel admitted that in her earnest to learn the trade, she had to go to the shop in time for a close observation at how the intricate manual sewing is done by Junel or his brother. She goes to the shop as early as eight in the morning when Junel’s elder brother, Noy opens it before reporting to work. Noy who is barely past his thirty years is also living in with an equally hardworking young woman, as a crew of a pizza outlet. Tuesdays are Noy’s days off, so both he and Angel man the shop, while on weekends, Junel takes the place of Noy. On days that both Noy and Junel are in their regular job, Angel has the shop all her own.

 

What struck me is the seriousness of Angel in facing the challenges of living with a young husband, and without a stable financial support that would prop them up. She has no qualms in doing a man’s job to earn honestly for their future. She could have worked in a bar where easy money is, or aspire for an entertainer’s job in Japan because of her good looks. On the contrary she preferred mending shoes and does not mind the glue messing up her candle-slim fingers.

 

 

Angels are Just Around

ANGELS ARE JUST AROUND

By Apolinario Villalobos

 

 

Yes, angels are just around. I have encountered many of them who in their subtle way extend a hand to others, or to put it simply, unselfishly share the blessings they earned the fair way. While some do not hesitate to share with others what they also need to survive to the point of sacrifice or deprivation, others share their excess but still given with sincerity.

 

The latest angel I encountered surprised me with an amount that she easily pulled out of her purse when we met. She had been reading my blogs about children who do errands to earn, the latest of whom were “Pango” and “Macmac”. The money she handed to me was for them and the rest of children whom I have been regularly visiting.

 

She vehemently asked me not to write about what she did but I insisted that what I would be sharing with viewers is her “good act”, with a firm promise that her name will not be mentioned, though I added that I would refer to her as “Ms. Di”. I explained that she and the late British princess Princess Diana had a profound similarity in character. Just like Princess Di, the angel I just met also has a strong character, an almost flawless face that stands out in a crowd. Like Princess Di, she also has a penetrating and soulful stare.

 

My new angel, as found out, also has scholars, for whom she found part-time jobs. She told me that she has done her best in helping her siblings and that, it is now time for her to focus on the plight of others who are deserving of her help for as long she can afford it. Aside from the working students, she has also been helping unfortunate families. Not only is her heart full of soft spots for others, but she also speaks with softness that can put even a stranger at ease to which I can attest. Before we parted ways, all she asked me are prayers to keep her going…

 

From what “Ms. Di” gave, both Macmac and Pango got 2 new sets of school uniform, several pairs of underwear, and a folding umbrella each. As both are also saving money in their “piggy bank”, they also were given a little cash. The rest of the money was spent for the purchase of folding umbrellas to be given to other kids due to the onset of the rainy season.

 

A Filipina in America also sent two boxes of children’s wear, food items, shoes, medicines, several new clinical instruments, and 6 New American Standard (NAS) Bible.  The medicines, food supplements and clinical instruments are for a patient. The boxes arrived several weeks after “Perla” sent several boxes, too, which contained reading materials, food items and clothes. A Filipina in London and another in Canada sent money for the boat fare of a family back to their province in Cagayan de Oro when their shack got demolished, with the excess amount to be used as a seed money for their business so that they would never think of going back to Manila. Many others are extending help and though I cannot mention them here, in the future, definitely I will, as an update on my RAS (random acts of sharing).

 

I do not encourage the giving of donations by my viewers. Those who have been sending help are old-time friends who I trust and who trust me. I am sharing this information so that others will know what we are doing for which I ask for their prayers….

Dahil sa kumalat niyang lipstick…nakilala ko ang isang “anghel”

Dahil sa kumalat niyang lipstick
…nakilala ko ang isang “anghel”
Ni Apolinario Villalobos

Nabanggit ko kaylan lang, sa isa kong blog ang tungkol sa isang babaeng kumalat ang lipstick sa kanyang labi nang dumating sa party na aking dinaluhan, pero hindi sinabihan ng kaibigan niyang kausap ko. Sa halip ay hinayaan itong mapahiya. Ako na ang gumawa ng paraan upang masabihan ang babae, na nalaman kong negosyante pala – may apat siyang karinderya. Madali siyang makagaanan ng loob at nakakahawa ang positibo niyang pananaw sa buhay. Single mom siya, may apat na sariling anak na halos ay magkasunud-sunod ang mga edad – isa sa kolehiyo at tatlo sa high school, bukod pa sa dalawang ampon na pinag-aaral niya sa elementarya. Ang apat na nakakatandang mga anak ay tumutulong sa kanya tuwing weekend, sa pagbantay sa apat niyang karinderya – isa sa Baclaran, isa sa Pasay, at dalawa sa Divisoria.

Ang babae ay regular na nagbibigay ng donation sa isang kilalang orphanage sa Maynila na ayaw niyang ipabanggit. Nalaman kong dati pala siyang ampon din dahil sa murang edad ay namatay ang kanyang mga magulang kaya naiwan siya sa kalinga ng kanyang lola sa nanay, na hindi kalaunan ay namatay din kaya napapunta siya sa Maynila – sa Divisoria, sa kanyang tiyahin. Hindi siya pinag-aral ng kanyang tiyahin na may karinderya, at sa halip ay ginawa siyang helper, tagahugas ng pinggan at taga-silbi ng pagkain. Ang huling baytang na inabot niya sa elementarya noong sa probinsiya siya ay grade five. Sa Maynila, kung hindi pa namatay ang tiyahin niyang may karinderya ay hindi siya nakapagpatuloy ng pag-aaral, sa tulong ng kumare nito, kung saan ay nagtrabaho naman siyang kasambahay. Pinayagan siyang magpatuloy ng elementarya, kaya sa edad na labing-apat na taong gulang ay saka pa lang siya nakatuntong ng grade six.

Tumuluy-tuloy siya sa pag-aral hanggang makatapos ng high school. Naiipon niya ang iba sa kanyang allowance na binibigay ng kanyang amo na nagamit naman niya sa maliit na negosyo maski estudyante pa lang siya. Mula third year high school, nagdadala siya ng mga pambenta sa kanyang mga kaklase tulad ng mga burluloy o mga fancy na alahas, panty at t-shirt na binibili niya ng maramihan sa Divisoria. Naging suki niya ang kinukunan niya ng kalakal at naging boyfriend din niya ang anak nito.

Nang makatapos ng high school, hindi na siya nagpatuloy sa college. Nagpaalam siya sa kanyang amo at umupa ng isang maliit na kuwarto sa isang mataong lugar sa Tondo, sa tabi ng bahay ng isa niyang classmate sa high school. Pinahiram pa siya ng amo niya ng pera. Ang kuwarto ay nakaharap sa kalye. Bumili siya ng mga second hand na kawali, kaldero at iba pang gamit panluto, sa pamamagitan ng naipon niyang pera at pinahiram ng dati niyang amo. Ang dalawa niyang kalan ay de-uling. Nagluto siya ng mga ulam na inilatag sa labas ng kanyang kuwarto. Dahil sa karanasan niya noon sa karinderya ay natuto siya ng iba’t-ibang lutuin. Naging suki niya ang kanyang mga kapitbahay kaya lumakas ang kanyang negosyo. Tuloy pa rin ang panliligaw sa kanya ng anak ng kinukunan niya ng mga panty at t-shirts noon, hanggang naging ka- live in niya.

Nang mabakante ang isang malaking katabing kuwarto, lumipat sila dito, at ang maliit na kuwarto naman ay ginawa nilang kainan – naging full time na karinderya, kaya lalong dumami ang kanilang kostumer. Masipag din ang kanyang ka-live in sa pagbuntis sa kanya, kaya halos nagkasunud-sunod agad ang mga anak nila. Namatay ang asawa niya sa isang aksidente nang mabangga ang jeep na dinadrayb nito papunta sa isa nilang karinderya sa Pasay. Sa kabila ng lahat ay hindi siya nasiraan ng loob, kahit kaluluwal pa lamang niya sa pang-apat na anak.

Nang minsang lumabas siya sa simbahan ng Quiapo pagkatapos ng Misa, kasama ang mga anak, may sumunod sa kanilang isang tin-edyer na may dalang sanggol. Nang makatiyempo, nilapitan siya at diretsahang nakiusap na ampunin ang anak nito, sabay abot ng sanggol. Sa pagkabigla, hindi niya naibalik ang sanggol sa tin-edyer na umalis agad. Nang umiyak ang sanggol ay saka pa lang siya parang natauhan… ang mga anak naman niya ay tuwang-tuwa – grasya daw ang sanggol. Bumalik sila sa simbahan at nagdasal. Bago umuwi sa Divisoria, bumili muna sila ng mga gamit ng sanggol. Kinuha niyang tagapag-alaga ang bagong saltang pamangkin ng kapitbahay nila.

Wala pa halos dalawang taon ang inampong bata, nabuntis naman ang nag-aalaga dito na pamangkin ng kapitbahay niya. Dahil ayaw umako ng responsibilidad ang disgrasyada, pinaampon niya ang batang iniluwal sa babaeng ikinukuwento ko, pero sa kasunduang hindi muna siya aalis hangga’t hindi pa ito umaabot ng hanggang dalawang taong gulang man lang.

Suwerte siya sa kanyang mga anak na lahat ay babae, dahil kahit isa sa kanila ay walang suwail. Magagalang, mababait, at masipag sa pag-aaral at sa pagtulong sa kanya. Buhay pa ang kanyang ka-live in nang magsimula silang magbigay ng bigas sa isang bahay ampunan. Sa simula ay isang kaban lamang ang binibigay nila, na naging dalawa na nang kalaunan. Kahit ngayong wala na ang kanyang asawa, dalawang kaban pa rin bawa’t buwan ang binibigay niya.

Nang ikuwento ko ang mga ginagawa kong maliitang pagtulong sa iba, agad siyang nag-alok ng alalay, sa pamamagitan ng pag-ako sa pag-aaral ng dalawang batang nakatira sa bangketa, na ilang kanto ang layo mula sa kanila. Parang inampon na rin niya dahil sa kanila na rin nakatira, at dahil nasa high school, nakakatulong pa sa kanya. May iniisip na agad siyang kurso para sa isa dahil magaling sa computer, kahit sandali pa lang itong maturuan ng panganay niyang anak. Ang isa naman, bukod sa ganda ng mukha ay may maganda ring boses, parang si Celine Dion, kaya tuwang-tuwa ang babae dahil mahilig pala siya sa musika.

Ang party na dinaluhan niya noon kung saan ay bisita din ako, ay bertdey ng dati niyang amo na itinuturing na niyang nanay, kaya naging lola na kung ituring ng mga anak niya. Ang isang anak ng dati niyang amo ay kaibigan ko kaya ako napa-attend sa party. Ang kaibigan naman ng babae na hindi man lang nagsabi sa kanya na kumalat ang kanyang lipstick ay tindera ng gulay sa palengke ng Pritil (Tondo), at ang asawa nitong tricycle driver ay adik daw.

Talaga din namang ang grasya ay tuluy-tuloy na dumadating sa taong hindi maramot!…huwag mainggit sa babae…gayahin siya sa abot ng makakaya!

Is the theory of Evolution still Relevant?

Is the Theory of Evolution still Relevant?
By Apolinario Villalobos

I got introduced to the theory of evolution when I was in high school, such being part of the Biology subject. That time, I was awed by our teacher’s presentation on how genes changed, developed, etc. from a simple form to a complicated one, the highest of which is man.

But today, I practically removed such nonsense from my mind. My reason is that, if such theory is true, there should be new tribes now in Africa and other continents where apes and chimpanzees which are supposed to evolve into men, abound! But, no…they still remain the same hairy creatures just like their ancestors thousands of years ago! Other creatures that are said to evolve such as fish, lizards, crocodiles and many more, are still the same until today. Some may have developed helpful appendages but only as part of their environmental adaptation which is normal.

A simple doubting Thomas like me, also asks why the peoples of the world have different features. Why are Europeans fair in complexion? Why are Asians shorter in height? Why are some tribes in Africa gigantic in stature, and why are they black? Why do orientals have chinky eyes? Etc., etc.

Genes can be manipulated. That is a fact today. Plants are even injected with animal genes to make them hardy. That is why there are super veggies as a result of their manipulated genes – the GMO’s. Human body parts can be transplanted…another fact. It will not be far from now that the head can also be transferred to another body. Semen can also be stored to be rejuvenated thousands of years from now. Glutathione medications can make people fairer in complexion which indicates “tampering” of cells. The heart can be made to function using a mechanical contraption, and the same is true with other organs. For so many years now, the so-called stem cell therapy has been practiced to repair malfunctioning and weak organs, thereby, extending the life expectancy of a person – a major manipulation of man’s physical make up.

The question now should be “who” did the first manipulation of genes in order to come up with humanity on earth? Was the first man, the result of manipulation made by “aliens” millions of years ago, using some parts from their own body in combination with those from creatures that they found on earth when they came to visit thousands of years ago, during which they were regarded as “gods”? For how long was their experiments done to finally come up with an “intelligent man”. Were the “aliens” themselves of different races back in other heavenly bodies where they came from?

I do not hesitate to bring forward my question, although, it definitely seems to be wild. But were, flying machines, steel ships, “submersible” ships, amphibian cars, landing on the moon, space travel, organ transplant, “talking” and “singing” machines, etc. not considered as “wild” ideas hundreds of years ago?

My asking about aliens as suspects in the manipulation of genes to come up with “intelligent man” does not mean that I am an atheist, because I also consider the “aliens” themselves, as among the creatures of God, just like the whole of universe, down to its last molecule. Despite my seemingly wild view, I still maintain my opinion that there is just One Ultimate Cause for all creations…and that is Him!

My simple mind thinks that the “legends” in the Bible have basis after all. The primitive perception of the early men, differ greatly from the perception of the modern men. For instance, during the Biblical time, the flight or flying is symbolized by wings, hence, they came up with “angels”, supposedly sexless creatures with wings. But, today, flight contraptions are already in use, such as “hang glides” and “parachutes”, but we do not call the men who use them as “angels”, but “sky jumpers”.

Religion should not set people apart from each other. Nobody should not fight to death, about the “supremacy” and “truthfulness” of his or her religion. Each one should focus on love for each other which in the first place is what He wanted and still wants to prevail. Differing faiths should be nurtured in the heart and not in the head that tends to jumble them because of the so-called “intelligence” that has obviously gone out of control!

My SUGGESTED caution is never compare religions…as it is subjective, being man’s “invention”….and most importantly, leave others to their own kind of faith.

Finally, to answer my question on the relevance of evolution today, my personal view is NO, because I still believe in creation, but perceived as already explained above.