The Charisma of Sultan Kudarat Gov. Pax Mangudadatu and the Inspiring Message in His Speech During the BHW Day (November 9, 2017)

The Charisma of Sultan Kudarat Gov. Pax Mangudadatu

And the Inspiring Message in His Speech During the BHW Day (November 9, 2017)

By Apolinario Villalobos

 

I almost missed my chance to meet Sultan Kudarat Governor, Pax Mangudadatu when my schedule on November 9 got mixed up. Had Lotlot Espinosa, not called me about my promise to join her for the Barangay Health Workers’ (BHW) Day at the Capitol Gym, I could have opted for  two other appointments. The celebration was among those lined up for the more than one month celebration of the Kalimudan Festival 2017…the 19^th year.

 

Inside the imposing Capitol Gym, the BHWs of the different municipalities including those of Tacurong City represented by the Baras Sanctuary, were already jam-packed on the lower level of the bleachers. The groups were colorfully distinguished by the color of their t-shirts. The honorable governor was already almost halfway from finishing his speech when we entered and considered myself lucky to have caught up with his speech filled with historic details about the province. The portion of his speech that first caught my attention was his declaration of utmost GRATITUDE to the Christians for coming during the 1900’s and helped a lot in educating the indigenous inhabitants, especially, the Muslims.

 

He called on the Sultan Kudaratnons to be TOLERANT in view of the multi-cultured character of the populace. He was practically appealing for UNITY despite differences in religion. He unabashedly mentioned his humble beginnings, practically, struggling to be where he is now, but adding that what he is today, including the political mandates, he owed to God. He underlined his hatred of illegal drugs, thankful that the nation has Duterte as President. But what made his speech very remarkable was his emphasis on the Oneness of God, whatever He is called in various religions which practically struck me. Later, when I sat beside him at the presidential table on stage, I noticed his Masonic ring.

 

While those seated at the presidential table started to enjoy their lunch, the governor kept on looking around until he stood up, went to the lectern and over the microphone, asked the Jollibee representatives to see to it that everybody was given a packed lunch. I heard a story about his giving his portion of lunch to the guy seated not far from him when he noticed that he has not gotten enough on his plate. With what I have personally witnessed that lunchtime inside the gym, the story about his benevolence has been confirmed.

 

Before he left the building, he approached the different groups, and that was when I saw how close he is to his constituents. Despite his little more than 70 years of age, he spritely shook hands and gamely allowed himself to be photographed in their company…the sight was overwhelming! For me, he should be appropriately called, the “Bapa of the Masses” (uncle of the masses).

 

The smile never left his serene face which made him more close to his Rural Health Workers. While looking at him obviously enjoying their company, his soft voice as we conversed a few minutes back, lingered in my mind. I contented myself taking occasional photos and from a short distance, let ecstatic health workers/volunteers savor the special moment with him as for the others to come are for his other constituents…the elders and PWEDs, the artists, etc.

 

I am praying for your health, Bapa Gov Pax!…More power to you!

Si Nelly…nagka-AIDS, pero nakapagpatapos ng isang kapatid sa kolehiyo

SI NELLY…NAGKA-AIDS, PERO NAKAPAGPATAPOS

NG ISANG KAPATID SA KOLEHIYO

Ni Apolinario Villalobos

 

Matagal ko nang kaibigan si Nelly, halos sampung taon na. Nabulyawan ko siya noong una ko siyang makita sa Avenida. Mag-aalas-siyete pa lang noon ng umaga nang sundan niya ako habang naglalakad sa Avenida, upang humingi ng pangkape, kapalit ang short time “check-in”. Sabi ko sa kanya, “ang ganda mo, pwede ka namang magtrabaho sa karinderya man lang, bakit ka nagpuputa sa Avenida….ang aga-aga, eh, iniistorbo mo ako…”. Dahil napahiya, yumuko na lang at umupo sa bakanteng silya sa tabi ng babaeng nagtitinda ng sigarilyo at kendi. Tiningnan din ako ng masama ng tindera. Papunta ako noon sa Fabella Center. Subalit nang makarating ako sa Recto ay nakonsiyensiya ako sa ginawa ko kaya bumalik ako sa puwesto ng tindera upang kausapin si Nelly.

 

Hindi ko siya inabutan dahil ang sabi ng tindera ay umalis daw kasama ang nakakabatang kapatid na ihahatid sa eskwela. Kinabukasan ay binalikan ko siya sa lugar kung saan ko siya nakita subalit nang makita niya ako ay umiwas at tumawid sa kabilang panig ng Avenida. Pinakiusapan ko na lang ang tindera na tawagin si Nelly na ginawa naman, kaya bilang pasalamat ay bumili ako ng maraming “snow bear” menthol candy.

 

Hindi nagmi-make up si Nelly kaya lutang na lutang ang likas na makinis at ganda niyang morena. Sa tabi mismo ng tindera ay una kaming nag-usap at nagtanong sila kung reporter ako na itinanggi ko naman. Maya-maya pa ay dumating ang kapatid na naka-uniporme na inihahatid niya sa eskwela. Nang umalis si Nelly ay tinanong ko ang tindera kung ano ang alam niya sa pagkatao nito. Sabi niya ay marami dahil kilala niya ang nanay nitong kamamatay lang. Matagal nang abandonado daw sina Nelly ng tatay nila, kaya bilang panganay ay ito ang tumatayong magulang ng mga kapatid niya. Nalaman ko ring 27 years old si Nelly. Ang sumunod na nakababata sa kanya ay 17 at ang bunso na hinahatid niya sa eskwela ay 10 years old. Nakatira silang magkakapatid sa isang maliit na kuwarto ng lumang gusali sa di-kalayuang kalye ng Raon. Ang kapatid na sumunod sa kanya ay nagtitinda ng banana cue at malamig na inumin malapit lang sa tinitirhan nila, at ang suweldo ay 75pesos sa halos kalahating araw na trabaho. Pagdating ng alas-tres, umuuwi na ito para maghanda sa pagpasok sa eskuwela.

 

Inabot ng halos isang linggo bago ko nakumbinsi si Nelly na isama ako sa tinitirhan nila. Ang sabi ko ay igo-grocery ko muna sila kaya natuwa at pabirong nagsabi na wala na nga daw silang bigas at kape. Hinahayaan ko siyang rumampa tuwing makatapos naming mag-usap dahil ang sabi ko sa kanya ay interesado lang ako sa buhay niya na gusto kong isulat….subalit hindi natuloy noon. Kilala si Nelly ng kaibigan kong  tin-edyer na taga-Baseco (Tondo) compound na rumarampa rin sa Avenida subalit sinuwerteng maampon ng mag-asawang retirado na taga-Pasay, kaya nag-aaral na ito ngayon at ang kuwento ay  nai-blog ko na rin.

 

Basta mapadaan ako sa Avenida ay dinidiretso ko na lang sa tinitirhan nina Nelly kung ano mang dala ko ang para sa kanila. Alam ng mga kapatid ni Nelly ang ginagawa niya at wala silang magawa dahil noong nagtrabaho ito sa isang restaurant ng Intsik sa Quiapo ay pinagtangkaan itong reypin ng kanyang amo. Nang pumasok naman sa tindahan ng mga damit ay kulang na kulang ang kita nito para sa pangangailangan nila dahil ang suweldo ay 200pesos lang isang araw, kaya sumama na lang sa kaibigang kalapit-kuwarto nila na rumarampa sa Avenida. Dahil nahihiya pa, ibinugaw muna si Nelly ng kaibigan hanggang matuto na siyang mangalabit.

 

Ngayon, kung kaylan nakatapos ng BS Tourism ang kanyang kapatid ay saka nalaman ni Nelly na may sakit siyang AIDS. Nagtatrabaho na ang kapatid niya sa isang hotel sa Roxas Boulevard at ito na ang gumagastos sa bunso. Gumagawa ngayon si Nelly ng mga pulseras na crystal beads upang maibenta sa tabi ng Quiapo Church. Regular din siyang nagpapa-check up. Ikinuwento ko sa kanya ang buhay ni Sarah Jane Salazar ang unang biktima ng AIDS sa Pilipinas na naging kaibigan ko rin. Magkaiba nga lang ang “tema” ng kanilang kuwento dahil si Sarah Jane ay talagang pakawala at nagpabaya sa buhay na walang direksiyon samantalang si Nelly ay may layuning makatulong sa kanyang mga kapatid, at may pangarap sa buhay.

 

36 years old na si Nelly at nagkikita pa rin kami hanggang ngayon. Naisama ko na rin siya sa Tondo upang ipakitang mas marami  ang hirap sa buhay kung ikumpara sa kanilang magkapatid. Ang pinakakaingatan niya ay ang dalawang magasin na kinapapalooban ng mga retrato niyang naka-bikini…naging bold star din kasi siya noong 16 years old pa lang at dahil malaking bulas ay hindi halatang menor-de-edad. Naka-apat na pelikula din siya pero puro second lead lang, at ang bayad daw sa kanya ay 15,000 pesos kada pelikula. Ang malaking bahagi daw ng kita niya ay sa ahente niya napupunta….isang call boy na kabit ng direktor ng mga  pelikula.  Naging addict at patay na ngayon ang call boy na ahente niya.

 

Ang tatay nila ay lasenggo at malakas mag-marijuana at ang nanay daw nila ay alaga ng bugbog nito tuwing malasing. Ang pangarap niya ngayon ay makatapos ang bunso nilang kapatid at kung makapagtrabaho ito ay uuwi siya sa Lucena. Pupunta na lang siya sa Maynila upang patuloy na makakapagpagamot sa isang ospital ng gobyerno na malapit sa Bambang. Ang sakit na HIV-AIDS ni Nelly ay nasa stage na maaari pang maagapan basta walang patlang o tuluy-tuloy ang gamutan.

 

Inconsistencies in this World

Inconsistencies in this World

By Apolinario Villalobos

 

Life is full of inconsistencies….

 

One day when I hitched a ride with a lawyer friend, he intentionally broke a traffic rule by beating the red light. When I asked him why he did it, he told me that there was no traffic enforcer anyway…and, he is a LAWyer!

 

When I visited another friend who I know is an advocate of alternative herbal medicine, I heard her remind the caregiver of her mother about her anti-biotic that should be changed to another brand, obviously, a stronger one for an eighty-three year old. She learned about the strong anti-biotic from her internet browsing. When I reminded her about her advocacy and mentioned garlic as a strong natural anti-biotic, she told me that her mother does not like its taste. What worried me is that my friend is deciding on her own about the synthetic anti-biotic as a “preventive” drug for her aging mother! This friend keeps several boxes of apple cider vinegar at home just in case the Bragg family stops making the expensive medicinal concoction from the apple juice. If she is in the charitable mood, she gives me a bottle or two to take home.

 

Another friend who is an advocate of family discipline sends his 12-year son out to buy his local rhum at a corner store. He also sends the same son to the kitchen to light his cigarette in the gas range burner, thereby, making the poor boy make the necessary initial puffs to keep it lighted until he has handed it “safely” to his father. And, my friend brags to us, his friends that no son of his would ever have a taste of alcohol or have even just a single puff of cigarette while he is alive!

 

Then, another friend who tries to project a classy image by boasting about his vegetarian diet hates local vegetables, preferring only western ones such as spinach, lettuce, baby carrots, sweet onions, etc., and never ever local vegetables such as, “saluyot”, “kangkong”, “alogbate”, “upo”, etc. He brags about his preference for “salads” with plenty of strips of bologna, spam, German sausages, or chicken, and sprinkled with his favorite Italian dressing!…and, he is a vegetarian!

 

Many years ago, when a big religious sect which is a breakaway from the Catholic fold, still held their prayer rallies at Luneta park, I was brought by a friend to one such rally, to introduce me to their kind of music which I really enjoyed, but not the corny preaching of the supposedly charismatic leader who would enthuse his flock to open and invert their umbrella to catch the blessings and grace from “heaven”. My friend was a Bible-quoting guy, obviously, a pro-God in his own way. When we left the area to take a jeepney at T.M. Kalaw St., we were approached along the way by an obviously hungry street child with an open upward palm. Without much thought, he shooed the boy away, as if shooing a pestering fly!

 

Then, there’s the greatest inconsistency of all…the advertisement aired over a popular radio station about the “ashitaba” herbal medicine which the endorsing woman who supposedly got cured said in Visayan, “ako si….. duna koy almoranas nga maura ug kamatis ka daku, pero nawala ang akong ALMORANAS sukad nag-inom ko ug ashitaba…kinanlan gyud mag-inom ta ug ashitaba aron mawala ang atong ALMORANAS”, or to that effect, which as translated in English is, “ I am…..I have been suffering from a HEMORRHOID as big as tomato, but it was gone when I took ashitaba…we should take ashitaba so that our HEMORRHOID will be gone..” After the statement, came the disclaimer which said, “the ashitaba is not a drug and should not be taken as a medicine as it cannot cure any ailent”….What happens to the endorsement and the testimony of the woman who got cured? Why approve the ad for airing if there is such a bullshit disclaimer? I think something is wrong with the Philippine government agency that approves ads like the one mentioned….for letting such mindless inconsistency be heard all over the country as it makes a fool of the listeners!

 

Today, every time I am alone and those mentioned above and many others would creep into my mind, I would just let out a deep heavy sigh to lighten up my heavy chest while holding on to my sanity, so as not to cuss. But my big question is: are we living in a world that throbs with senselessness?

 

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!

Baclaran Creek: Ugly Stain on the Philippines’ Tourism Image

Baclaran Creek: Ugly Stain on the Philippines’

Tourism Image

by Apolinario Villalobos

 

Nothing can be one hundred percent clean, sanitized, germ-free, well-kept, etc., to show a pleasant image. But in exerting an effort for such end-result, consistency should be exercised, as failure to do so could be tantamount to being negligent.

 

Among the ugliest manifestation of the Philippine government’s negligence and inconsistency is the creek at Baclaran which is fringing the northern edge of the purported “business-tourism showcase” of Metro Manila – the cornucopia of condominium buildings, malls, office buildings and the supposedly biggest casino in Asia. Practically, the creek that serves as the catch basin-cum-open drainage of Pasay and Paraἧaque that flows out to the Manila Bay, shows it all. How can the Department of Tourism proudly declare that Manila is a clean city with the obnoxious filth floating on the stagnant creek in all its obnoxious glory greeting the arriving tourists from the airport on their way to their hotels along Roxas Boulevard? Is this progress as what the Philippine president always mumbles? How can such a short strip of open drainage not be cleaned on a daily basis, just like what street sweepers do to the entire extent of the Roxas Boulevard?

 

It has been observed that every time a government agency’s attention is called for not doing its job well, it cries out such old lines, as “lack of budget” and “lack of personnel”. But why can’t they include such requirements every time they submit their proposed budget? In the meantime, as regards the issue on the maintenance of the city waterways, national and local agencies throw blames at each other, trying to outdo each other in keeping their hands clean of irresponsibility and negligence!

 

During the APEC conference which caused the “temporary” bankruptcy of commercial establishments in Pasay and Paraἧaque, as well as, local airlines and lowly vendors by the millions of pesos, the creek was almost “immaculately” clean with all the floating scum scooped up and thrown somewhere else. But as soon as the delegates have left, the poor creek is back to its old self again – gagged with the city denizens’ filth and refuse.

 

Viewing the Baclaran creek is like viewing the rest of the waterways around Metro Manila, including Pasig River, as they are all equally the same filthy picture of neglect, irresponsibility and inconsistency of government concern! One should see the nearby creek at Pasay where the Pumping Station is located, with an “island” that practically developed out of silt, garbage and clumps of water lily! Some days, the short length of artificial creek is skimmed with filth to make it look clean, but most days, it is neglected.

 

In view of all the above-mentioned, why can’t the national and local government agencies concerned co-operate and do the following?

 

• REQUIRE the daily cleaning of the creek by assigning permanent “brigades”, just like what they do for the streets. If there are “street sweepers”, why can’t there be “creek scoopers” and “dredgers”?

 

• REQUIRE the vendors with stalls along or near the creeks to maintain the cleanliness of their respective periphery so that they are obliged to call the attention of irresponsible pedestrians who do not show concern. Each stall must be required to have a garbage bag or bin, as well as, broom and dust pan. Their negligence in carrying out such obligation should be made as a basis in revoking their hawker’s permit.

 

• REQUIRE government employees with sanitation responsibilities TO GO OUT OF THEIR OFFICES AND DO THEIR JOB, and not just make reports to the City Administrators based on what street sweepers tell them.

 

• DREDGE the creek regularly on a yearly basis, not only when flooding occurs during the rainy season, which is a very repugnant reactionary show of concern on the part of the government. The yearly dredging of the waterways would eventually “deepen” them to accommodate more surface water during the rainy season, and even bring their bed back to their former level.

 

The costly effort of the national government in putting on a pleasant “face” for Manila every time there is an international event, as what happened during the APEC conference, may elicit sympathy and grudgingly executed cooperation, but there should be consistency in it….otherwise, it would just be like sweeping the house, only when visitors are expected, or worse, sweeping the dirt to a corner to hide them.

 

Cooperation between the government authorities and the citizens is necessary. However, as there is a clear indication that the concerned citizens, such as vendors and pedestrians, lack discipline, the government should take necessary steps in imposing measures to ensure their cooperation, albeit by coercion, so that whatever sanitation projects may have been initiated can be consistently maintained, for the benefit of all.

 

If littering on the ground can be prohibited with appropriate penalty, why can’t the same be done for the sake of the waterways? If ever local government units have passed such measures why can’t they be imposed authoritatively and consistently?