Ang Pagpupustura o Pag-aayos sa Sarili

Ang Pagpupustura o Pag-aayos sa Sarili

Ni Apolinario Villalobos

 

Walang masama sa pamumustura o yong tinatawag ngayong “bonggang pag-aayos” na kung minsan ay umaabot sa puntong kailangan pang  pumunta sa parlor upang magpa-facial. Kailangan yan ng mga professional lalo na ang mga direktang humaharap sa tao….HUWAG LANG MAGPASOBRA.

 

Sa dami ng ukay-ukay ngayon, madaling magpustura, gamit ang mga murang damit na mabibili….siguraduhin lang na bagay sa katawan at kulay ng balat. Ang advantage ng mga ukay na damit ay original sila at siyempre mura. Dahil diyan, walang dahilan ang may kaya namang bumili ng maayos at murang damit upang “magmukhang tao”. Sa panahon ngayon, bilib ako sa mga kabataang Pilipino na marunong mag-ayos kahit sa murang gulang dahil sa naglipanang ukay-ukay outlets. Yan ang sinasabi ko na hindi dapat idahilan ang kahirapan kaya nanlilimahid ang ayos.

 

Ang pagpa-parlor naman ay huwag gawin kung ikakasira lang ng budget dahil baka ang perang dapat gamitin sa pamamalengke ay magastos. May mga nanay kasi na halos magliyab ang mga kuko sa tingkad ng kyutiks na pula pero ang mga anak ay pumapasok sa eskwela na walang laman ang tiyan. Yong iba pa ay malakas ang loob na magpa-manicure ganoong palagi naman sa bukid at nagtatanim…kahit pwede namang sila na lang ang pumutol ng kuko nila sa pamamagitan ng nail cutter. Ang masama pa ay ang hilig ng ibang gumamit ng “astringent” na nabibili lang sa tabi-tabi. Gandang-ganda sila sa epek na namumula nilang mukha pero ang di nila alam ay tinutuklap ng kemikal ang outer layer na balat ng kanilang mukha at kapag exposed na ang “baby skin”, ilang linggo lang, mangingitim na ito.

 

Sa pag-aayos ng babae, dapat ang batayan ay kung ano ang gusto ng lalaki, hindi yong nanggagaya ng kapwa nila babae dahil sa inggit. Hindi lahat ng mga pampaayos ng katawan, lalo na ng mukha ay bagay sa lahat ng babae dahil may binabagayan silang kulay ng balat at pigura ng mukha o facial features. Ang nauusong pagpapakulay ng buhok halimbawa ay hindi bagay sa mga babaeng talagang kayumanggi o brown ang kulay ng balat dahil magmumukha lang silang “aborigine”. Subalit okey lang sa mga Pilipina na ang kulay ay brownish-red dahil sa kaunting dugong Kastila. Iba naman kapag ang nahalong lahi ay dugong-Intsik o Hapon dahil mapusyaw, o maputla, o sa Ingles ay “pale” ang balat, kaya lalong ang dapat na kulay ng buhok ay itim.

 

Kung ang isang tao ay lecturer sa mga seminar o nagi-emcee sa mga parties dapat lang talaga na maayos na maayos ang kanyang mukha at pananamit dahil may pagka-showbiz ang ganoong uri ng trabaho. Kailangang bago humarap sa mga participants o mga dumalo sa programa, ang mukha ay kaaya-ayang tingnan. Ang buhok ay nagsisilbing “kuwadro” ng mukha kaya dapat mag-ingat ang mga nagpapaayos nito. Hindi lahat ay binabagayan ng mahabang buhok, boy’s cut, o pagpupungos. At, hindi lang kulay ang nagpapaganda ng buhok, kundi ang tamang pag-trim para bumagay sa hugis ng mukha.

 

Sa kabila ng mga binanggit ko, wala pa ring tatalo sa mukhang malinis at katawang binalot ng angkop na hugis ng damit kahit mumurahin ito. Dapat pakatandaan na hindi pare-pareho ang nababagay sa bawa’t tao.

 

Ang Pagpupustura o Pag-aayos sa Sarili

Ang Pagpupustura o Pag-aayos sa Sarili

Ni Apolinario Villalobos

 

Walang masama sa pamumustura o yong tinatawag ngayong “bonggang pag-aayos” na kung minsan ay umaabot sa puntong kailangan pang  pumunta sa parlor upang magpa-facial. Kailangan yan ng mga professional lalo na ang mga direktang humaharap sa tao….HUWAG LANG MAGPASOBRA.

 

Sa dami ng ukay-ukay ngayon, madaling magpustura, gamit ang mga murang damit na mabibili….siguraduhin lang na bagay sa katawan at kulay ng balat. Ang advantage ng mga ukay na damit ay original sila at siyempre mura. Dahil diyan, walang dahilan ang may kaya namang bumili ng maayos at murang damit upang “magmukhang tao”. Sa panahon ngayon, bilib ako sa mga kabataang Pilipino na marunong mag-ayos kahit sa murang gulang dahil sa naglipanang ukay-ukay outlets. Yan ang sinasabi ko na hindi dapat idahilan ang kahirapan kaya nanlilimahid ang ayos.

 

Ang pagpa-parlor naman ay huwag gawin kung ikakasira lang ng budget dahil baka ang perang dapat gamitin sa pamamalengke ay magastos. May mga nanay kasi na halos magliyab ang mga kuko sa tingkad ng kyutiks na pula pero ang mga anak ay pumapasok sa eskwela na walang laman ang tiyan. Yong iba pa ay malakas ang loob na magpa-manicure ganoong palagi naman sa bukid at nagtatanim…kahit pwede namang sila na lang ang pumutol ng kuko nila sa pamamagitan ng nail cutter. Ang masama pa ay ang hilig ng ibang gumamit ng “astringent” na nabibili lang sa tabi-tabi. Gandang-ganda sila sa epek na namumula nilang mukha pero ang di nila alam ay tinutuklap ng kemikal ang outer layer na balat ng kanilang mukha at kapag exposed na ang “baby skin”, ilang linggo lang, mangingitim na ito.

 

Sa pag-aayos ng babae, dapat ang batayan ay kung ano ang gusto ng lalaki, hindi yong nanggagaya ng kapwa nila babae dahil sa inggit. Hindi lahat ng mga pampaayos ng katawan, lalo na ng mukha ay bagay sa lahat ng babae dahil may binabagayan silang kulay ng balat at pigura ng mukha o facial features. Ang nauusong pagpapakulay ng buhok halimbawa ay hindi bagay sa mga babaeng talagang kayumanggi o brown ang kulay ng balat dahil magmumukha lang silang “aborigine”. Subalit okey lang sa mga Pilipina na ang kulay ay brownish-red dahil sa kaunting dugong Kastila. Iba naman kapag ang nahalong lahi ay dugong-Intsik o Hapon dahil mapusyaw, o maputla, o sa Ingles ay “pale” ang balat, kaya lalong ang dapat na kulay ng buhok ay itim.

 

Kung ang isang tao ay lecturer sa mga seminar o nagi-emcee sa mga parties dapat lang talaga na maayos na maayos ang kanyang mukha at pananamit dahil may pagka-showbiz ang ganoong uri ng trabaho. Kailangang bago humarap sa mga participants o mga dumalo sa programa, ang mukha ay kaaya-ayang tingnan. Ang buhok ay nagsisilbing “kuwadro” ng mukha kaya dapat mag-ingat ang mga nagpapaayos nito. Hindi lahat ay binabagayan ng mahabang buhok, boy’s cut, o pagpupungos. At, hindi lang kulay ang nagpapaganda ng buhok, kundi ang tamang pag-trim para bumagay sa hugis ng mukha.

 

Sa kabila ng mga binanggit ko, wala pa ring tatalo sa mukhang malinis at katawang binalot ng angkop na hugis ng damit kahit mumurahin ito. Dapat pakatandaan na hindi pare-pareho ang nababagay sa bawa’t tao.

 

The Beauty of Simple Life

The Beauty of Simple Life

By Apolinario Villalobos

 

The most beautiful people in the world are those who live the simplest life….that is my own view. For me, beauty is the essence of life and if it becomes complicated, it could no longer be considered as such. To sum it up, simplicity is beauty.

 

Beautiful people are just around us and I have encountered one in Buluan, Maguindanao. I contracted the guy who drove a pedicab for a couple of hour and as I found him to be trustworthy, aside from the tip, I also bought cookies for his kids and a kilo of fish for their dinner….simple gifts that I could afford. I was touched when he told me with utmost gratitude, “sir, sobra-sobra na po itong grocery” (sir, these grocery items are too much). The guy who eventually became like a brother to me, considered the cookies from the bakery and the fish from the wet market as precious groceries and which for my friend were special gifts, especially, because the Ramadan was closing. Unfortunately, for many people, only items at SM Supermart and other big outlets, that should be overflowing out of grocery bags are “GROCERIES”.

 

While I was on my way to Baseco Compound in Tondo, one early morning, two years ago, I stopped for a mug of coffee and a pack of Skyflakes cracker at a sidewalk carinderia for breakfast. While I was about to open the cellophane wrapper of the biscuit, a scavenging couple and their young kid of about 4 years old, stopped by and asked for a glass of drinking water from the carinderia owner. As it was not yet 7AM, I presumed that they have not taken anything yet to warm their guts up. They could have just hit the road as shown by their empty plastic garbage bag. I invited them for breakfast of coffee and Skyflakes which they declined but due to my insistence, they sat down. I opened the biscuit wrappers for them as they were hesitant to pick them up. The woman shared her Skyflakes with her husband and their kid while carefully inserting the two packs in her soiled and dirty backpack…she did it as if she was doing a ritual in handling a fragile object. The Skyflakes crackers were treated with special care as they would probably become the family’s lunch for the day. I was almost moved to tears upon hearing the kid repeatedly say, “sarap, sarap” while munching bits of biscuits with much care.

 

When Jesus bid his disciples goodbye, the farewell fare was unleavened bread that he broke into several pieces to be shared by everybody. Wine which could have been limited in quantity was passed around. It was a special occasion that initiated the series of events leading to the spiritual salvation of Christians for generations to come.

 

Today, occasions can never be considered “special” if it is not held in expensive restaurants, five-star hotels, or resorts, with the expense that should run up to almost or even more than a million pesos!

 

Life in this world has greatly become complicated!….an ugly reality!

Everything Moves with Time

EVERYTHING MOVES WITH TIME

By Apolinario Villalobos

 

Nothing stays in its place permanently as Time carries everything along its current. However, beings with consciousness and with deciding ability may metamorphose into a higher or better state. Some may just be contented with what they already are…it is a choice. Along this line, ambition can push a person to strive.

 

While some are in a hurry to move on or up, others who have not learned their lesson take their time which they later regret because they realized, though, too late, that indeed, they cannot move back the hands of time. With regret and envy, they gawk at others who enjoy the fruits of their sacrifice and labor. In this particular situation, I am referring to people who need to struggle in order to survive, not those who were born with silver spoon in their mouth, and who could live more than comfortably even without lifting a finger…they are not concerned in this dissertation.

 

Some people thought that they can forever be strutting around with a pretty face and physically fit body. They thought that they can invest those physical attributes in gaining friends, even if they will show abhorrent attitude. They forgot that in time, as leaves and flowers wilt, so do the face that gets crinkled with furrows and the body that gets to shrink become humped. Gluta treatments may help but only for as long the physical make up of a person can take them. Meanwhile, the face and some parts of the body have limited elasticity for stretching, and the Viagra can be of help only up to a certain level of ageing.

 

Finally, the tenacity of man is such that he practically makes use of science to virtually “perpetuate” life with the use of cloning. From a minute piece of man’s body, another of his kind is given life in a laboratory, and so are plants.  But, even if man and other creatures may live for thousands of years, the big question is, will Earth do?…considering the rate man is practically doing some kind of self-destruction due to pride, selfishness and wickedness?

The Pretty Tarrosa Sisters of Tacurong…Fatima, Yolanda, and Lourdes

THE PRETTY TARROSA SISTERS OF TACURONG

…FATIMA, YOLANDA AND LOURDES

By Apolinario Villalobos

 

When Tacurong was politically weaned from Buluan, the once flatland punctuated with pockmarks of marshes was obviously showing signs of fast development. The Oblates of Notre Dame came to establish a school and church which later adopted a patron, Our Lady of the Candles (Nuestra Seἧora de la Candelaria); enterprising migrants from Luzon and Visayas filled market stalls with various merchandises that came all the way from Cotabato City and Iloilo City; Chinese businessmen from Cotabato City and Dulawan came, too, to open better-stocked stores; the Dulawan Bus Company, and  Cotabato Bus Company included the struggling town to their route over dusty roads to Davao City and Cotabato City; a fashion school (Aumentado, later Grimaldo) was opened, actually, a vocational school which taught hair styling and dressmaking; two more schools were opened, the Lyceum and Magsaysay Memorial College, and later, another vocational school, the Parisenne was opened. Meantime, the elementary school, Tacurong Pilot School was steadily flourishing. But the most prominent establishment was the Rural Bank of Tacurong.

 

The bank was managed by the Tarrosa couple who hailed from Iloilo. Clients came from as far as Isulan, Esperanza, Buluan, Tantangan, and Surallah. The couple had fair young daughters, Fatima, Yolanda and Lourdes…all long-haired and fair-skinned. Those are my recollection of the pretty sisters, as I used to go to their house, because their brother happened to be a classmate when I was in elementary. Their brother who was at the head of our class, as he was unquestionably intelligent had a unique name, being three- Jesus Armando Antonio. Among the three names, classmates chose “Antonio”. He would invite two or three of his classmate to their home, and which included me, where we grilled eggplants from their garden for our late lunch. Tony pursued his high school in Iloilo while we were left to continue our studies at Notre Dame for Boys.

 

The sisters seldom ventured outside their home which intrigued and challenged the young hombres of the town. They would just be seen on school days and during Sundays on their way to the church with their mother. Their long flowing black hair set them apart from the rest of the girls of the town, and which emphasized their modesty. I recalled the eldest, Fatima, to have played the role of a Virgin Mary during processions, a role which was also played by another long-haired  and fair lass, Concepcion (Mrs. Cainglet today), as well as, Rosemarie Mojado and Aileen Jordan.

 

As Junior-Senior prom would approach, daring college and high school students would pray hard to all the saints before facing their strict mother to seek permission for the girls to grace the occasion with their presence as to be paired with any of them was an honor. They would find out that the mother was not so strict after all as she would readily give her permission for as long as it was asked with all respect.

 

The intrigued and curious of the town learned that the sisters and their brothers left the town to pursue their studies in Iloilo and Manila, particularly, University of the Philippines. When I was new in Manila, having just joined Philippine Airlines, I was able to visit them at their apartment in Diliman. Many years elapsed after that without any communication until I was invited to an informally organized “reunion” by Manuel Delfin, and which Tony was said to attend. Unfortunately, I failed to make it.

 

Practically, I had no idea how to reestablish my contact with the Tarrosa siblings until a colleague in PAL, John Fortes, gave me an old photo of two ladies and I was surprised to learn that one of them was Yolanda, while the other one was Olive Rocha. He told me about Lourdes’ being a UP campus personality. I kept the brownish photo hoping that I could one day show it to Yolanda and the opportunity came when we became “facebook friends.” After getting her permission, I am gladly posting the photo with this blog. In the photo, she is the one on the right, with long hair.

 

Ang Gandang Pilipina

For the International Women’s Month (March)

 

Ang Gandang Pilipina

Ni Apolinario Villalobos

 

Ang mga Pilipina, may iba’t ibang wangis ng ganda

Mayroong mestisa, lutang ay kagandahang Kastila

Matangos na ilong at mahahabang mga pilik-mata

Kulay na kung di man mapusyaw, ay mamula-mula.

 

Kung sa kulay din lamang, mayroon ding iba diyan

Hindi pahuhuli sa mga paligsahan ng kagandahan

Balat na makinis na’y morena pang di pagsasawaan

Kahi’t na dumikit na halos, tingin ng mga kalalakihan.

 

Mayroon ding mga Pilipina, dahil sa angking alindog

Sa pagkakaupo, binatang makakita, tiyak mahuhulog

Dahil talagang takaw-pansin, hips na tila umiindayog

Kalangitang maaliwalas, di maiwasang magpakulog!

 

Ano pa nga ba’t Pilipinas ay sadyang mapalad talaga

Kababaihan ay pang-internasyonal ang angking ganda

Pinatunayan nila na ang kagandaha’y di lang sa mukha

Subali’t sa kaibuturan din ng puso, talino at pananalita.

 

Mabuhay ang Pilipina…byuting morena!

At siyempre, pati na rin ang mga mestisa!

Dahil sa inyo, bansang Pinas ay pinagpala –

Kahi’t winatak ng mga berdugo sa pulitika!!!!

 

 

Ang Mga Hambingan at Magkapares subali’t magkasalungat

Ang mga hambingan at
magkapares subali’t magkasalungat
Ni Apolinario Villalobos

Upang lumutang ang mga panlabas na katangian ng isang bagay, kailangang ihambing ito sa iba. Sa salitang kalye ang tawag sa paghambing na yan ay “tagisan” o kung sa Ingles naman ay “contest” o “competition”. Kaya upang may isang manalo, dapat marami ang kasali, o di naman kaya ay kahit dalawa lamang. Sa isang beauty contest halimbawa, paanong masasabing pinakamaganda ang isang contestant kung wala siyang katunggali? Pwede siguro kung isabotahe ang contest sa pamamagitan ng pagpakain ng pagkaing nakaka-LBM ang mga contestants, maliban sa nag-iisang gustong papanalunin….siguradong panalo siya by deafault!

Kahit may ganitong katotohanan, hindi dapat malungkot ang nag-aakalang sila ay pangit, dahil kung hindi dahil sa kanila, walang maganda sa mundo. Ganoon din ang mga pandak, maitim, atbp. (kasama na ako diyan). Hindi dapat malumbay dahil mahal ng Diyos ang nagpaparaya o nagsasakripisyo para sa kapakanan ng iba pagdating sa hambingan…maliban na lang kung pangit, pandak at maitim na nga ay masama pa ang ugali, maitim ang budhi, at nanlalamang ng kapwa!

Ganyan din sa buhay ng tao….dahil may mahirap na madaling apihin, ay lumutang din ang maraming korap na nang-aapi at nanlalamang; dahil may maaalipin, marami ang nang-aalipin; maraming drug pushers dahil marami ang gustong maging adik na mababaw ang kaligayahan, at marami pang ibang magkapares subalit magkasalungat na pagkatao.

Ang paghahambing ay bahagi na ng buhay ng tao. Sa paghahambing umiikot ang ating buhay, dahil hindi natin malalamang tayo ay tama kung walang paghahambingan na dapat ay lumabas na mali. Kaya nalalaman natin halimbawa, na may mga taong mala-anghel ang ugali, ay dahil inihambing sila sa ibang mala-demonyo naman ang ugali.

Sa pagkakamali naman, madali sanang magdiin sa nagkamali kung hindi dahil sa mga butas ng mga batas. Itong mga butas ng mga batas ang ginagawang dahilan ng mga malinaw nang guilty upang magpalusot, o di kaya ay magpaikot-ikot pa, basta magaling lang ang abogado nila. Ang madalas gamitin ng magagaling na abogado naman ay ang aspetong teknikal, at ang panuntunang, “hangga’t hindi napapatunayang nagkamali, ay dapat inosente ang isang tao”. At yan ang pinaglalaban ng mga Binay….na pinupulitika lamang sila upang lumabas na guilty! Clean daw sila…walang bahid ng kasalanan, kaya busilak sa ka-inosenthihan!…sagot naman ni Mercado…”umamin ka na, dahil umamin na ako, pareho lang naman tayong may kasalanan!”.

Bilang panghuli:
ang pangarap na nakatuntong sa nakaw na yaman –
babagsak, madudurog, kakalat, at lalangawing parang basurahan!

The Beauty of Life….for Adoracion Paragas-Sanque

Life is beautiful…we should love life and each other…

The Beauty of Life
(for Adoracion Paragas -Sanque)
By Apolinario Villalobos

The magnificence of creation is such
That all we need to do is open our eyes
Though the extent of our perception ends
Where the earth meets the sky –
It still oozes with awe-inspiring sights.
In loving God, we love life…
Gratitude is what to Him we show
For everything He blessed us with
There’s nothing else that we can do.
Even the whiff of the wild grass
Undulating in the wind’s caress
And the buzzing of the busy bees
That fills the air with lively drone
Lightens up, even a heavy stone.
Light feeling, ecstasy, happiness –
They grip us tight, though tenderly
As we delight in the beauty of life
That God made for all of us to see!

The Beauty of Life…for Adoracion Paragas Sanque

The Beauty of Life

(for Adoracion Paragas Sanque)

By Apolinario Villalobos

 

The magnificence of creation is such

That all we need to do is open our eyes

Though the extent of our perception ends

Where the earth meets the sky –

It still oozes with awe-inspiring sights.

In loving God, we love life…

Gratitude is what to Him we show

For everything He blessed us with

There’s nothing else that we can do.

Even the whiff of the wild grass

Undulating in the wind’s caress

And the buzzing of the busy bees

That fills the air with lively drone

Lightens up, even a heavy stone.

Light feeling, ecstasy, happiness –

They grip us tight, though tenderly

As we delight in the beauty of life

That God made for all of us to see!

Sarah (for Sarah Saludes Puerto)

Sarah

(para kay Sarah Saludes Puerto)

Ni Apolinario Villalobos

 

 

Larawan siya ng kahinhinan

May mukhang mala-birhen ang kagandahan

Ngiting matipid, kung sa bibig ay mamutawi

Sapat nang pasalamatan, sino mang humingi.

 

Talino niya’y hindi matawaran

Elementary to high school, siya’y valedictorian

Marami ang umasang, malayo ang mararating –

Ni Sarah, na ang bituin, until now, nagniningning.

 

Maraming nilampasang pagsubok

Subali’t sadyang matapang, hindi nalulugmok

Na kung nangyari sa ibang mahina ang kalooban

Titigil na sa kalagitnaan ng tinatahak niyang daan.

 

Alam niya, marami pa siyang gagawin

Kaya anumang pagod, di niya binibigyang pansin

Sa puso’y nakaukit, malakas na pananalig sa Diyos

At sa kapwa, pagmamahal niya’y todo ang pagbuhos.

 

Isa sa mga nilalang na talagang pambihira

Hindi ginugupo ng dumarating sa buhay na trahedya

Dahil sa isip niya ay marami pa rin siyang matutulungan

Sa abot ng makakaya, pati na rin sa kung anong paraan.