Ang Mga Dapat Umiral sa mga Paruko (Parishes) ng Pilipinas

Ang Mga Dapat Umiral sa Mga Paruko (Parishes)

Ng Pilipinas

Ni Apolinario Villalobos

 

Hindi ko maiwasang maglabas ng saloobin sa isyung ito dahil sa dami ng napuntahan kong mga paruko na ang mga simbahan ay gustong palakihin ng mayabang na kura paruko (parish priest), nalaman ko na ang resulta ay ang pagtiwangwang ng mga ito pag-alis ng mayayabang na pari na may limit o hangganan ang tour of duty. Ang kawawa ay ang mga parishioners na nagtitiis sa hindi natapos na pagpapalaki ng simbahan nilang maayos pa rin naman sana.

 

Sa isang bayan sa southern Luzon, ang isang mayabang na pari na gustong magpasikat ay umutang sa kanilang Archdiocese nang kung ilang milyong piso upang mapalaki ang dinatnang simbahan na maayos naman ang pagkagawa at hindi naman umaapaw kung Linggo. Ang kawawa ay ang mga parishioners na pinapatawan ng “assigned amount” na donation kuno. Palagi ring nagpa-fund raising at ang binebentahan ng mga tiket ay mga naghihirap din na mga parishioners. Ang masaklap pa, pati ang inutang sa Archdiocese ay pilit na binabayaran pa rin ng mga parishioners kahit umalis na ang pari.

 

Sa isa pang bayan sa central Mindanao, ang isang bahagi ng simbahan na kagagawa lang ay binakbak upang magkaroon ng extension…ang halaga ng project ay milyones! Sa inis ng maraming parishioners, tuloy pa rin silang nagsisimba pero hindi naman nagbibigay ng donation. Ang iba naman ay sa kabilang paruko na nagsisimba. Ang nakakabahala ay ang malaking utang na iiwanan ng mayabang na pari at ang nakatiwangwang na simbahan kapag umalis na ito.

 

Sa panahon ngayon, napapaghalata na nawala na ang pagka-ispirituwal NG ILANG mga pari na ang tour of duty ay kung ilang taon lang, na hindi inaabot ng sampung taon, isang indikasyon ng politicization ng sinasabing “vocation” or calling na ito….nagiging professional na. May kuwento tungkol sa mga bagong naitalagang mga pari sa kanilang parish, na ang ginagawa daw ay mag-apply agad ng “car plan” dahil pasok sa panahon ng installment period….hindi ko na sasabihin kung saan manggagaling ang pangbayad na installment.  At hindi lang diyan nagtatapos ang joke, dahil nag-aagawan daw sila sa malalaking paruko na mayaman ang mga parishioners…Joke yan!

 

Pagdating sa mga proyekto, dapat ang umiral ay desisyon ng mga parishioners na may mga representative naman sa Parish Council….HINDI ANG SA NAKATALAGANG PARI NA PANSAMANTALA LANG ANG ITATAGAL.

 

Ang nabanggit na dahilan kung bakit nagsusulputan ang mga Christian Communities na binubuo ng mga dating Katoliko na tumiwalag dahil sa nakita nilang kaaliwaswasan ng mga paring baluktot ang pananaw at desisyon. DAPAT UNAWAIN NG MGA PARING ITO NA SILA AY ITINALAGA UPANG MAGMISA AT GUMAWA NG IBA PANG SPIRITUAL FUNCTIONS.  MINISTERIAL LANG ANG KANILANG FUNCTION BILANG “PARISH PRIEST” DAHIL ANG MGA DESISYON SA LAHAT NG MGA PANGYAYARI SA PARUKO AY DAPAT IKINUKUNSULTA SA COUNCIL.

DAPAT DIN AY MAY TRANSPARENCY SA MGA EXPENSES SA PAMAMAGITAN NG NAGPAPASKIL O PAGLAGAY NG NOTICE SA BULLETIN BOARD TUNGKOL SA LAHAT NG MGA PINAGGASTUSAN NG PERANG INABULOY NG MGA NAGSISIMBA. KAPAG HINDI GINAWA YAN NG NAKAUPONG PARISH PRIEST, NANGANGAHULUGANG IBINULSA NIYA ANG PERA!…NAKAKAHIYA SIYA!

 

Gusto ko lang linawin na hindi lahat ng parish priest ay mala-demonyo ang ugali. Marami sa kanila ay mababait. Pero hindi talaga maitatago ng puting sotana ang maitim na budhi at kawalan ng kaluluwa ng ilan sa kanila….DAHIL TAO LANG RIN SILA!

The Propagation of Catholicism in Tacurong and How it Became the Nuestra Senora de la Candelaria Parish

The Propagation of Catholicism in Tacurong

And How It Became the Nuestra Seῆora de La Candelaria Parish

By Apolinario Villalobos

 

Before Tacurong became a parish, the Mass held at the makeshift chapel was celebrated by priests from Marbel (today, Koronadal City) and Cotabato City. The propagation of Catholcism in the struggling town whose political development began as a sitio of Buluan, was hastened by the opening of the Notre Dame campus for boys by the Oblates of Mary Immaculate (OMI) and girls by the Dominican (OP) nuns. The church stood between the mentioned campuses. The priests’ convent doubled as office and quarters for the Director of the Notre Dame for boys and the parish priest. On the other side of the church was the convent of the Dominican nuns. The Mass for the boys and girls was celebrated separately. Much later, when the Oblates of Notre Dame (OND) arrived, a convent for them was built beside the stage of the the Boys’ department.

 

The Nuestra Seῆora de la Candelaria became the patroness of Tacurong upon the recommendation of Mrs. Josefina Lechonsito who was enthralled and impressed by the Virgin’s image at Jaro, Iloilo. Mrs. Josefina Lechonsito was among the pioneer and well-loved teachers of the Notre Dame Boys’ and later, the College Department. Her suggestion was considered and soon as if on cue, prominent families, such as the Montillas, Lapuzes, Tulios, Velascos, Talmadges, French, Jarrels, Garcias, Espinosas, Lechonsitos,  and many others pitched in their resources for the establishment of the parish foundation and the transformation of the church into what it is today.  The bell was donated by Don Vicente and Doῆa Salud Garcia, Don Juan Garcia and his wife, Mrs. Maria Montilla, and Mrs. And Mrs. Roberto Tulio. The four massive posts for the bell tower were donated by Mr. Menandro Lapuz. A little later, other families joined the enthusiastic movement that led to the formation of civic and religious organizations.

 

The Knights of Columbus, Jaycees, Cursillo-Samaria, Legion of Mary were organized, as well as, their counterparts for the youth and students such as Student Catholic Action (SCA), CHIRO, The Encounterers’, and Columbian Squires. To ensure the consistency of the effort, senior high school students of the Notre Dame Girls Department were required to conduct catechism at the Tacurong Pilot Elementary School. The catechism was conducted even during school breaks and to encourage the attendance of the children, free cookies were given them, as provided by the Garcias who owned the first bakery in Tacurong. Much later, the PREX was also organized and whose effort was felt even in other parts of the province. Today, church groups are organized for specific purposes such as those for the family and youth, in accordance with the Vatican’s direction.

 

The early activities that involved seminars for the recruits of the SAMARIA and CURSILLO were alternately held at vacant rooms of the Boys and Girls Department. When enough fund was collected, a SAMARIA HOUSE was built at the back of the church. It was later used by Theology students of the College department for some of their activities. The other activities of the groups were held at Tamontaka in Cotabato City. During seminars, the “working committee” was always led by Mrs. Dominga Espaῆa who did the budgeting for the food and Mrs. Bonoc Cajandig who led the prayer before meals and taking care of the utensils.

 

The Girls Department of Notre Dame had their own organist during their Mass while the Boys Department had Ms. Tan, a pretty teacher as its own. When the Training Department (Elementary) was opened, separate Masses were also held for the pupils and their singing was conducted by Ernesto Cajandig. On the other hand, convent assistants, Agustin Carvajal, Romeo Balinas, Noel Niervo, and two other colleagues, as well as, members of the Knights of the Altar assisted the parish priest or his assistant in celebrating the Mass in the barrios. They were driven on the hardy jeep by a certain de los Reyes who also tinkered with the noisy generator every time it conked down. Agustin Carvajal also served as the soloist of the parish choir during the time, providing accompaniment with his guitar if the organist was not around.

 

During the fiesta for the patroness, “live” personification of the Virgin Mary enlivened the procession. Among those who played the role of the Virgin Mary were a certain Mojado, one of the pretty Tarrosa sisters who are known for their long hair, Concepcion Betita (Cainglet). The Notre Dame band with its few instruments provided the solemn processional hymns.

 

The feast for the patroness is held every February 2 and Tacurongnons are wishing that it should be consistently held without much fanfare and less expenses that would definitely come from their pockets. For the procession, simply decorated float for the image of patroness should be enough, with the CHURCH ACTIVITIES REVOLVING around her, and the feast not taking several days to celebrate to maintain solemnity that veils her.

 

IT SHOULD BE NOTED THAT WHAT IS BEING CELEBRATED, IS THE GLORY OF THE RECOGNITION GIVEN TO THE PATRONESS AS THE BEARER OF THE CANDLE THAT SYMBOLIZES THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD AND THOSE WHO ARE SEEKING THE PATH THAT LEADS TO SALVATION…NOT ANY DELICACY, FLOWER, BIRD, MUSIC, ETC. IF SOME SECTORS WOULD LIKE TO RIDE ON THE POPULARITY OF THE PATRONESS, THEY SHOULD DO THEIR CELEBRATION OUTSIDE THE CHURCH PREMISES, SO AS NOT TO TAINT THE RELIGIOSITY OF THE FEAST.

 

Ang Kapistahan ng Imahen ng Patron Saint

Ang Kapistahan ng Imahen ng Patron Saint

Ni Apolinario Villalobos

 

Suggestions kung ano SANA ang mangyari sa isang kapistahan ng patron ng isang barangay, bayan, o lunsod:

 

• Hindi dapat haluan ng kung ano pang activities para CONCENTRATED LANG SA PATRON ANG LAHAT NG ACTIVITIES.

 

• Kung pista ng isang maliit na bayan na may mga barangay, at least two weeks bago ang kapistahan, SANA ang imahe ng santo ay “pabisitahin” sa lahat ng barangay at hayaang mamalagi ng overnight man lang upang madasalan ng mga thanksgiving prayers, lalo na ng novena at rosary.

 

• Pagkatapos ng “barangay visitation” ng santo ay ibalik sa simbahan para sa pagbisita naman sa kanya ng lahat ng mga deboto.

 

• Sa araw ng prusisyon, SANA ay isang “float” lang ang gamitin, na ang nakasakay ay ang patron saint lang at ilang aalalay na tunay na deboto…hindi ang mga pumapapel na mga religious kuno.

 

• Bago ang pagsapit ng araw ng prusisyon, SANA ay mag-announce ang parish priest ng pag-imbita sa mga deboto na magdala ng sarili nilang patron sa simbahan na bebendisyunan ng pari pagkatapos ng misa sa araw ng prusisyon.

 

• Sa prusisyon, SANA ay kanya-kanyang bitbit ang mga deboto ng imahe ng patron nila na pwede namang isakay sa tricycle o kariton o topdown na sasakyan na may mga dekorasyon. Magandang magbitbit ng simbolo ng santo ang mga deboto, tulad halimbawa ng kay San Pedro Calungsod ay dahon ng palmer, ang kay San Isidro Labrador ay isang bungkos ng palay, ang sa Our Lady of the Candles ay kandila, etc.

 

• Nasa pinakahuling bahagi ng prusisyon ang nag-iisang “float” na ang lulan o nakasakay ay ang imahe ng patron ng bayan.

 

• Kung may mga produktong pwedeng isabay sa pista, SANA dapat ang tawag ay “EXHIBIT” lang, HINDI “FESTIVAL”. Halimbawa ay kung may isang barangay na gustong mag-exhibit ng giant yellow corn na produkto nito, okey lang. Kung may isang organization na gustong mag-exhibit ng kanilang handicraft, okey lang. Kung may gustong mag-exhibit ng giant bibingka na niluto niya, okey lang….etc. Kung may mga magulang na gustong mag-exhibit ng magandang anak nila na pang-beauty contest, okey lang….araw-araw, paistambayin sa loob ng booth nila na palaging nakangiti for photo opportunities.

 

• Ang mga booth ay pwedeng ilagay sa isang bahagi ng bayan na ire-request sa mayor.

 

• Hindi SANA pahirapan ng mga kung anu-anong kaek-ekan tulad ng contribution ang mga deboto para lang magamit sa pagpagawa ng mga floats na pang-contest bilang bahagi ng prusisyon. Nakatatawang isipin kung anong pa-contest ang gagawin para sa kapistahan ng isang patron….MAGPAPABONGGAHAN BA NG DAMIT NG PATRON?…MAGPAPADAMIHAN BA NG BULAKLAK SA SASAKYAN NITO NA ITATAPON LANG SA BASURAHAN PAGKATAPOS BILHIN NG KUNG ILANG LIBONG PISO NAGALING SA BULSA NG MGA NAGHIHIRAP NA MGA DEBOTO NA HALOS HINDI MAKABILI NG ISANG KILONG TUYONG DILIS?

 

Sana ay matakot sa Diyos ang mga taong ang iniisip para sa kapistahan ng isang patron saint na DAPAT ay payak o simple pero ginagawang parang pista ng mga pagano.

Holding on to Dear Faith

Holding On to Dear Faith

By Apolinario Villalobos

 

Tears may fall in anguish

Hearts may break in sorrow

Dignity may be lost in hunger

But always, despite all these –

Something is left of our faith.

Questions may be mumbled

Doubts may raise eyebrows

Whimpers may lessen the pain

Despair may block our sight

But always, faith gives us light!

The Prayer

The Prayer

By Apolinario Villalobos

 

First of all, it must be known that there are many forms of prayers or ways by which a prayer can be expressed, such as, silently, loudly, and by sign language. But generally, the prayer can be classified into just three, such as, memorized, read, and extemporaneously expressed straight from the heart.

 

The Roman Catholic Church has hundreds of prepared or printed prayers with specific intentions, such as, those for the dead, for Christening, for the wedding, for the sick, for job hunting, for wooing a woman, for damning an enemy, etc. One will just have to go to Quiapo to see piles of printed prayer books sold like candies outside the cathedral. These prayers become more effective according to the vendors if candles are being burned while specific prayers are mumbled, till the candle completely melts. Some “faithful” even hire a “praying professional”- a person who prays for a fee. Each candle is distinguished for a particular intention by their color.

 

The voodooistic practices are being done right under the very nose of the Catholic priests, and while the amplified Mass is going on inside the massive historic structure where the Black Nazarene is enshrined.  If these are wrong, why can’t the Church authorities put a stop to them? Why can’t announcements be made during the Mass so that even those outside the church will hear them? Why can’t this simple act of correcting a wrong right within their community is not being done, while Catholic bishops are against and very vocal about the killing of drug personalities who are criminals?

 

Many Roman Catholic prayers are outright funny, especially, those which have not been “updated”, having been written during the heyday of fanaticism, particularly during the later part of the Spanish colonization. The prayers are full of outright ignorance as regards to what prayers are supposed to be about. For this, one just has to check the “marathon prayer” or “chant” used during the “pabasa” of the Lenten season. These supposedly solemn prayers are “updated” using hip-hop tunes, to purportedly encourage the youth to participate. Also, for other interesting discoveries, one may check the prayer being chanted by sleepy “faithful” Roman Catholics during the “pasiyam” of the dead brethren in which the “tower of David” is mentioned. Every night it is done for the duration of the nine-day wake. I would like to make it clear that I have nothing against these prayers of the Roman Catholic Church…I am just sharing what I know about them.

 

For me, the best prayers are those that are extemporaneously said by New Christians as they are obviously coming from their heart….not read from “prayer books”….that is my personal opinion and nobody should question that.

 

 

Ang “Love Offering” sa Misa ng Romano Katoliko

Ang “Love Offering” sa Misa ng Romano Katoliko

(with translation)

By Apolinario Villalobos

 

May mga parish priest na hindi alam kung anong mga barangay o subdivisions ang sakop nila. Ang tawag nila sa mga Multi-purpose Hall na pinagdadausan nila ng misa  ay “chapel” upang makontrol nila. Pinalagyan ng santo ang Multi-purpose Hall, patron daw, kaya dapat tawagin na itong “chapel”…ibig bang sabihin ba ay “chapel” din ang bahay na may malaking rebulto ng santo? Iyan ang kabulastugan na animo ay pangangamkam ng mga ungas na paring ito sa mga Multi-purpose Hall na pinaghirapang itayo ng mga homeowners!

 

Ang masama pa, pagkatapos mag-misa sa mga Multi-purpose Halls, wala man lang iniiwang pera para sa pondo ng asosasyon na mgagamit sa maintenance. Lahat ng perang ibinigay ng mga dumalo sa misa ay tinatawag na “love offering”, ganoong “quota” naman talaga. Kapag mahina ang koleksiyon, nagpaparinig sila na hindi maka-Diyos ang mga dumadalo sa misa!

 

May kaibigan akong pari na umaming ang maliit niyang electric car ay hinuhulug-hulugan niya ng perang galing sa “love offering”. Walang masama diyan, basta huwag lang maging ipokrito kaya dapat nilang aminin na sila ay taong may mga pangangailangan…. kaya kailangan nila ng pera. Huwag na nilang sabihing ang pera ay “offering” ng mga tao na nagla-“love” sa Diyos! KUNG TAPAT SILA AT HINDI SINUNGALING, ITO ANG AMININ NILA SA MISA SA HALIP NA MAGBASA NG PASTORAL LETTER TUNGKOL SA MGA PATAYANG BINIBINTANG KAY DUTERTE ….BIBILIB PA SA KANILA ANG MGA TAGA-SUNOD NILA!

 

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There are parish priests who do not even know the barangays and subdivisions that are within their “territory”. They call the Multi-purpose Halls where they hold Mass as “chapel” with the ulterior motive of controlling them. They require the local parishioners to display a statue of their patron in the Multi-purpose Hall to  qualify it as a chapel…does it mean that homes with big statues of saints should also be called “chapels”? That is how deceitful some of these priests are in their effort to snatch the Multi-purpose Halls from the homeowners who painstakingly built them!

 

Worse, after the Mass, the priests do not even leave any amount for the fund of the homeowners to be used for future repairs. All of the money shelled out by those who attended the Mass, they call “love offering” which in reality, is “quota”. If the collection is meager, the priest chides the attendees as not faithful enough.

 

I have a priest-friend who admitted that the money he uses for the monthly installment of his small electric car is from the “love offering”. Nothing is wrong with that, for as long as priests should do away with hypocrisy and admit that as human beings they also have needs…hence, they need money. They should stop insisting that the “offering” is from those who “love” God! IF THEY ARE HONEST AND NOT LIARS, THEY SHOULD BOLDLY ADMIT THAT DURING THE MASS INSTEAD OF READING THE PASTORAL LETTER ABOUT THE KILLINGS BEING ATTRIBUTED TO DUTERTE….AND, THEIR FOLLOWERS WILL SURELY ADMIRE THEM!

 

 

The Virgin Mary

The Virgin Mary

By Apolinario Villalobos

 

When I asked a Catholic friend about the so many titles bestowed upon the Virgin Mary, she told me that they are based on the location of her appearance, such as Guadalupe in Mexico, hence, “Our Lady of Guadalupe”. I believed her, then. However, when I heard the “Tower of David” (Tore in David) in the litanies being read by a group of religious women who offer prayers at the wake of a dead person asking intercession for mercy, I began to question the seriousness in the practice of “naming” the Virgin Mary. Wow!…even the tower of David can intercede?…for me it is sheer stupidity!

 

On her title, “Our Lady of Fatima”….who is the Catholic Church referring to as the “lady”? Fatima is mentioned in the Koran as the Virgin Mary… it is a Moslem name, not Christian, so indeed, who is  the lady?…is she another woman who acts as a maid of Fatima or Virgin Mary, as in “lady-in-waiting” of queens in their royal court?

 

On the title, “Our Lady of Medjugorie”, if the basis is the “place” of manifestation or appearance, the signs such as the “dancing sun” and the “appearance” of the image of a woman to the children took place in the sky and not on the ground. The children had to stare at the sky to supposedly “see” her. Why not then call the woman who appeared to the children and manifested her appearance with the “dancing sun”, as “Our Lady of the Sky” or “Our Lady of the Dancing Sun” to give it a universal touch and not a selfish ownership limited to where the children live?

 

Every time I go home to my hometown, I would pass by a small barangay that claims a certain “Nuestra Seἧora de la Regla” as its patroness as shown by a signboard with such title above the door of their small chapel. What I know of “regla” is the “monthly visit” of fertile women, or scientifically referred to as menstruation. Is the title then, got to do with the appeal of fertile women to the Virgin Mary’s intercession for them to have a comfortable monthly discharge of menstrual blood?. Why go to that extent when such occurrence is normal, if indeed, it is true? Is that not asking too much?

 

There are claims of people about “appearances” of the Virgin Mary on doors, leaves, petals, floor tiles, etc. How sure are these people that it is the “Virgin Mary”? Do they have her photo? It should be noted that the images of saints, Virgin Mary and even Jesus, that the Catholics adore are “interpretations” of painters based on what they “imagined” per instruction given them. They even use models, as in the case of San Pedro Calungsod whose face is based on that of a popular Filipino basketball player. The images even differ according to the various cultures of Catholics all over the world. For Chinese Catholics, their Virgin Mary sometimes looks very Chinese. For Filipinos, some of the images look very Filipina, even brown in color. The Mediterranean Catholics have their own flat version of the face. And, the Japanese Catholics have their own “Japanese Madonna”. I consider this as a deception to the highest degree.

 

In the case of San Pedro Calungsod, I have no qualms in the use of a model, but they should have used a living relative of the saint. There are plenty of them in Cebu….why use a popular PBA basketball player?….dahil pogi?….now, that is a big shitty question to the seriousness on the part of the Catholic church in propagating Catholicisim. The guy or priest or whoever should be made responsible for this stupidity. If he is a priest, he should be booted out of the Catholic church, for what he has done has brought enormous shame to the said Christian congregation.

 

If something is wrong somewhere, the concerned authority should rectify it for the sake of their followers, so that the latter will not come out as victims of a foolery or deception. The bad eggs in the Catholic Church including those who gained age but still maintain their stubbornness in supporting evil instead of what is good should be defrocked!

Ayaw Tumigil ng mga Ma-dramang Outdated na Obispong Katoliko

AYAW TUMIGIL NG MGA MA-DRAMANG

OUTDATED NA OBISPONG KATOLIKO

Ni Apolinario Villalobos

 

Sa halip na ang nakasulat sa mga tarpaulin ng mga maiingay at ma-dramang obispong katoliko ay, “HUWAG KANG PUMATAY” na ang tinutukoy ay si Duterte, dapat ang nakasulat ay, “TIGILAN NA ANG PAGGAMIT AT PAGBENTA NG DROGA” na ang tinutukoy ay ang mga drug addict, drug pusher, at drug lord. Ikalat nila ito sa lahat ng sulok ng bansa. I-require ang mga simbahan nila sa bawat bayan at lunsod na gumawa. Dapat ay naghahatak sila ng mga tao patungo sa simbahan sa pamamagitan ng pagpapakita ng mga ugaling dapat tularan, sa halip na tingnan lang ang paghihirap ng mga nagugutom!

 

Dapat ay utusan din ng mga maiingay na Obispo ang mga pari nila na pumunta sa mga depressed areas at gumawa ng sarili nilang “plead campaign”. Kasama ang mga Barangay officials, ipinun nila ang mga suspected at drug addicts na ayaw magbago sa basketball court. Para marami ang pumunta, mamigay sila ng bigas at sardinas…. at condom. Lumuhod ang mga pari sa harap ng mga inipong addict at drug pushers, pwede rin silang humagulhol. Yan ang dapat nilang gawin kung gusto nilang mag-drama upang ipakita sa mga tao na silang mga naka-sotana ay si Hesus dito sa mundo. Sa totoo lang, para sa akin, ang similarity nila kay Hesus ay ang damit na mahaba na kung tawagin nila ay sotana. Pero ang mga Muslim ay nagsusuot din nito, at hindi sila nagkukunwaring si Hesus!

 

Dapat ay tumigil na sila sa kaiingay dahil putok naman sa mga balita ang tungkol sa ginagawang rehabilitation centers at tumulong pa nga ang China. Sa kabila ng problema sa budget, pinipilit ng gobyerno na ikalat ang mga rehab centers sa buong bansa. Bakit hindi tumulong ang simbahang katoliko sa proyektong ito dahil malaki naman ang kinikita nila? Kung ayaw ng mga obispong punahin sila kaya nadadamay ang BUONG SIMBAHANG KATOLIKO, tumigil na sila dahil napapahiya lang ang ibang Obispong matatalino at may malawak na pang-unawa!

 

Bulag sa katotohanan ang mga maiingay na Obispo sa katotohanang may mga pasaway talagang mga drug addict at drug pusher na ayaw magbago na nagbebenta pa rin ng recycled drugs. Maraming kuwento ang lumutang tungkol sa mga sumuko at nagpalista bilang pagsunod sa panawagan ng gobyerno pero ang ginawa nila ay bilang pakisama sa mga kaibigang taga-Barangay, pakitang-tao lang ang nangyari. Ibig sabihin, hindi sila seryoso. Sa isang operation ay may nakumpiska pa ngang droga na milyones ang halaga. Lahat ng iyan ay laman ng mga diyaryo at nababalita sa radyo. Ang gusto yata ng mga obispong ito ay pumikit at magsawalang-bahala na lamang ang mga pulis kung tawagan ng mga kapitbahay mismo ng mga drug addict at drug pusher na nirereklamo.

 

Bukod tanging si Bishop Tagle ang tahimik. Kung magbitaw man siya ng salita ay may kabuluhan at angkop ang mensahe. Hindi siya tulad ng ibang tumanda na sa pagsuot ng sotana ay animo wala pa ring alam sa mga tunay na nangyayari sa kapaligiran. Kung sa bagay ay hindi yan nakapagtataka, dahil sino bang pari ang pumupunta sa mga depressed areas upang magpakalat ng mga salita ng Diyos? Ang ibig kong sabihin ay ang mga “tunay” na squatters’ area na ang mga dinadaanan ay maputik at ang mga bahay ay yari sa mga karton, lumang yero, tarpaulin, walang kubeta, walang kuryente at ang mga batang naglalaro sa kalye ay nanlilimahid sa uhog na tumutulo mula sa ilong, walang damit, at bundat ang tiyan dahil sa malnutrition. MAGSALITA TUNGKOL DIYAN ANG MGA YUDI…..NG mga obispong maiingay! Kung may konsisyensiya sila, kalampagin nila ang gobyerno tungkol diyan, lalo na ang DSW, at makipagtulungan!

 

Bilib pa nga ako sa mga babaeng misyonarya ng ilang simbahang protestante na sumusuyod sa mga sidestreets ng mga depressed areas upang mamigay ng mga babasahin. Ang ibang mga pari naman ng Kristiyanong Orthodox ay nakatira pa mismo sa gitna ng mga lugar na ito, kung saan ay nandoon din ang kanilang maliit na kapilya. Ang mga ministro naman ng mga Christian Churches ay umuupa ng kahit maliit na puwesto upang magamit na sambahan sa mga lugar na malapit sa mga taong mahihirap. Lahat silang nabanggit ko ay hindi nagpapanggap na ang tinatanggap nilang donation na pera ay love offering para sa Diyos kundi tulong sa mga taong ministro na nagsasakripisyo, dahil kailangan din nilang kumain upang mapanaitili ang kalusugan at maipagpatuloy ang kanilang ginagawa…..ganyan lang ka-simple ang paliwanang…walang drama!

 

ANG MGA MAIINGAY NA OBISPONG KATOLIKO ITO ANG DAPAT ISAMA NG MGA PULIS TUWING MAY RAID SILA. TINGNAN KO LANG KUNG HINDI SILA MAGKANDA-IHI O BAKA MAGKANDA-TAE PA SA KANILANG SOTANA KAPAG NAKIPAGBARILAN NA ANG MGA PULIS SA MGA BANGAG SA DROGA!

 

(DISCLAIMER: HINDI LAHAT NG OBISPONG KATOLIKO AY MAINGAY, PARANG BULAG KAYA MISTULANG TANGA, HIGIT SA LAHAT AY MA-DRAMA. MAY ILAN, LALO NA SI BISHOP TAGLE NA KAPANI-PANIWALANG TUNAY NA KATOLIKO. ANG MGA NILAHAD KO AY PANSARILING PANANAW AT OPINYON… WALANG SINO MANG DAPAT MAGKWESTIYON. KUNG MAY GUSTONG MAGREKLAMO, MAGKITA NA LANG KAMI SA IMPIYERNO! ANG GUSTONG BUMATIKOS DIN SA MGA MAIINGAY NA YUDI…..NG MGA OUTDATED NA OBISPO GUMAMIT NA LANG NG MAS MAKULAY NA MGA SALITA.)

The “Personal God” in the Bible and the “Personal Saints” of Today

The “Personal God” in the Bible

And the “Personal Saints” of Today

By Apolinario Villalobos

 

Passages in the Bible mention about personalities who “walked with their personal God”. The Israelites of the Bible are said to be “Chosen People”… by whom?…of course, their “personal God” who hated the rest of the peoples at the time so that “He” commanded the Israelites to eradicate them from the face of the earth, so that they could occupy their land. (That for me was the first case of LAND GRABBING to the highest level!). Of course, I will be contradicted by some viewers by saying that those people that the Israelites must exterminate were pagans, heathens, who did sodomy, etc…..fine. But if the “God” of Israel was really the “God” of all, being the “creator” of everything in the universe, why must “He” command the early Israelites to do the killing when all that “He” could have done was sweep them off with a strong and blinding desert sandstorm or torrential rain of fire? (SOME Filipino Catholic Church leaders and Christian human life advocates kuno must have missed the message of this legendary story – eradication of the heathen, the bad people…because they keep on attacking instead, the guy who wants to eradicate them….the guy is Duterte who wants to eradicate the bad drug personalities!)

 

The above-mentioned story is a clear indication of the ET (extra-terrestial) characteristics of what the Israelites of the Bible referred to as their “Lord”.  For me, the Israelites’ “Lord” could be the “messenger” of the true God. There are passages in the Bible about what some prophets allude to what we call today as space ships. I believe nothing is wrong with that if those “Lords” of the Bible were really the early missionaries of the true God, and who came to Earth… did several experiments using what they found when they landed, such as the uprightly walking apes and their (ET) own genes, until they succeeded in producing intelligent humans in their own image. The passage of the legend says “THEIR”, and not “HIS”, a reference in plural form….indication that the creation legend involves a group, not an individual. It is said that legends are basis of traditions that are oftentimes proved later on, to be credible. That is the reason why continued archaeological diggings have been proving the truthfulness in the passages of the Bible…and more are being done to show more truths.

 

Still on the “personal” thing…. if all saints are Godly and of course, good, why classify them according to “what they can do or heal?”. Why not just view all of them as “models” of what man should be, aside from helping him connect with God in times of his need? Why must a certain saint be good for a certain ailment, for instance? Why must some be treated as the “most effective” “go between” with God for some wishes? Why must there be personal saints? Are these saints expected to choose who to help among the living? If this practice among the Catholics is wrong, why is the Church tolerating it?

 

My personal view is that there is a massive misinformation about how man should “truly” live his life accordingly. The responsible guys just want to increase the number of their “flock” for the money that is involved. Everybody knows that for a dead to be blessed there are standard fees depending on where it is done – at home or house of worship, as do are baptizing and marrying couples. A fee is a fee as it involves money regardless of the amount and denomination. I do not view this as wrong if only the concerned guys are not hypocrite in denying the glaring facts. They need the money for subsistence, too, but for their God’s sake, they should be frank about it!

 

I appreciate the mushrooming of the new Christian Ministries to which the enlightened run to seek spiritual solace – to the Ministers who are honest about the tithes that they receive which are sincerely given for their support, tithes that are not necessarily  “love offering to the Lord”…but tokens of appreciations for their sacrifice.  I also appreciate the honesty of these Ministers regarding their status in life, such as being happily married and having children.

 

On the other hand, what I question is the breaking of promises made by the so-called “shepherds of the Lord” who prostrated themselves in front of the altar where they mumbled “vows” not to get married, but later molested innocent teenagers and unsuspecting widows…vowed not to amass wealth, but are driving cars. There is one guy at the Vatican who keeps on calling for the repentance of SOME of his “colleagues” who are very obvious in their wrongdoing. His voice must be hoarse by now and still, nobody among the CONCERNED listens to him!…poor Francis!

 

My calling the pope by his first name is not a sign of disrespect, but fondness as he himself expressed that does not want to be treated “royally” , but just like anybody else….unlike SOME of his colleagues who do not deserve even a teeny-weeny pinch of respect, yet, wanted to be addressed as REVEREND!

Suggestions para sa Pistang Nazareno

SUGGESTIONS PARA SA PISTA NG NAZARENO….

Ni Apolinario Villalobos

 

Dahil pinaniniwalaan ng mga debotong Katoliko na may milagrong mangyayari sa kanila kapag nakahawak man lang sila sa lubid, lalo na sa estatwa ng itim ng Kristo, nakikipagbalyahan sila upang makasampa sa karo at maipahid  ang face towel nila sa mukha nito, o di kaya ay nagkakandaipit sa pagpilit na makasama sa paghila ng lubid….resulta: ang iba ay nadadaganan ng kapwa deboto….kung hindi man mapilay, pag-goodbye sa mundo ang inaabot nila….dahil lang sa…….?

 

UPANG WALANG GULO, DAPAT AY TALIAN ANG BANDANG LIKURAN NG KARO NG ISANG KILOMETRONG LUBID UPANG MAHAWAKAN NG MGA DEBOTO, AT NANG HINDI SILA NAKIKIPAG-AGAWAN SA LUBID NA NASA HARAPAN. KAPAG NANGYARI YAN, SIGURADONG ANG DADAGSAIN AY ANG LIKURAN NG KARO KAYA MAPAPABILIS ANG PAG-USAD NG PROSESYON O TRANSLACION PABALIK SA QUIAPO CHURCH. NANINIWALA DIN LANG SILA SA MILAGRO, EH DI LUBUSIN NA NILA! ANG PALIWANAG KO SA SUGGESTION NA YAN AY “HINIHILA SILA NG NAZARENO PATUNGO SA PAGBABAGONG BUHAY”. KUNG NAKIKIHILA NAMAN SILA, PARA NILANG PINAPALABAS NA NAHIHIRAPAN SI HESUS NA MAKATULOY SA KANYANG PATUTUNGUHAN KAYA TINUTULUNGAN NILA, GANOONG PANAY NAMAN ANG HINGI NILA DITO NG BIYAYA, AT ANG IBA AY NAKAKALIMUTAN PA ANG MAGPASALAMAT!

 

UPANG WALA NAMANG PROBLEMA SA FACE TOWEL NA GUSTONG IPAHID SA MUKHA NG NAZARENO, DAPAT, SA LUNETA PA LANG AY MAGPAHID NA SA ESTATWA NG LIBU-LIBONG FACE TOWEL UPANG IPAMIGAY SA MGA TAO BAGO MAGPRUSISYON….MAGAGAMIT PA NILA KAPAG PINAWISAN HABANG NAKIKI-PRUSISYON. NAPAPANSIN KASI NA MAY IBANG SUMASAMPA NA SA ULO NG IBANG DEBOTO UPANG MAKAAKYAT LANG SA KARO AT MAGPAHID NG FACE TOWEL NILA SA MUKHA NG ESTATWA.

 

ANG HINDI MAINTINDIHAN AY KUNG BAKIT HIHINTAYIN PA  ANG ARAW NA PISTA NG NAZARENO GANOONG ITO AY NASA SIMBAHAN LANG NG QUIAPO 24/7 BUONG TAON. HUWAG SABIHING SA ARAW LANG NG PISTA INILALABAS ANG “TUNAY” KUNONG ESTATWA NG NAZARENO KAYA PAGKAKATAON NANG MAKITA ITO. KAPAG ANG DAHILANG YAN ANG IPAGPIPILITAN, LALABAS NA WALANG EPEK ANG PANANAMPALATAYA NG MGA DEBOTO DITO KUNG HINDI NAKIKITA O NAHAHAWAKAN ANG “TUNAY” NA ESTATWA, GANOONG ANG TUNAY NA PANANAMPALATAYA AY WALANG PINIPILING ORAS, PANAHON, AT LUGAR….YAN ANG DAPAT IPALIWANAG NG SIMBAHANG KATOLIKO UPANG MABAWASAN ANG KAMANGMANGAN NG ILANG SUNOD LANG NG SUNOD SA MGA SINASABI NG MGA PARI NA ANG ILAN NAMAN AY MAY KADUDA-DUDA NAMANG PAGKATAO….KAYA PAANONG PANINIWALAAN?

 

HINDI AKO GALIT O KUMUKONTRA SA MGA GAWAIN NG SIMBAHANG KATOLIKO, PERO DAHIL SA CURIOSITY AY NAGTATANONG LANG AKO. CONCERNED DIN AKO SA MGA NAMAMATAY AT NASASAKTAN TUWING PISTA NG NAZARENO LALO NA ANG MGA SUMASAMA SA PRUSISYON. KARAPATAN KO YAN BILANG ISANG NAG-IISIP NA PILIPINO. DAPAT PANG UNAWAIN NA ANG MGA NAGLILINIS NG KALSADA AT MGA PULIS NA NAGMIMINTINA NG KAAYUSAN TUWING SASAPIT ANG PISTA NG NAZARENO AY SINUSUWELDUHAN NG TAONG BAYAN MULA SA BUWIS NA BINABAYAD NILA….KASAMA NA AKO DIYAN.