Greed and the Civilized Society (with Filipino translation after each paragraph) by Apolinario Villalobos

GREED AND THE CIVILIZED SOCIETY

By Apolinario Villalobos

ANG KASAKIMAN AT SIBILISADONG LIPUNAN

Ni Apolinario Villalobos

Transforming from the practices of various barbarian societies, the execution of justice based on actual commitment of misdeed, has evolved into one that has become founded on supposedly intelligent reasons and fairness, hence, the symbol of the Lady Justice as a blindfolded woman holding a perfectly- balanced scale.

(Mula sa mga ginagawa ng mga barbaro na naging bahagi ng kanilang lipunan, ang pagpataw ng hustisya ay batay sa aktwal na pagkakita ng krimen o kasalanan ay ibinatay sa inaasahang matalinong paliwanagan, kaya ang simbolo ng Hustisya ay isang babaeng may piring ang mga mata at may hawak na timbangang nagpapakita ng pantay na bigat ang dalawang pinggan sa magkabilang dulo.)

Unfortunately, the intelligence of man is such that he has developed the propensity of circumventing written laws for his advantage. And, since the Lady Justice is blindfolded, she has no way of knowing about the deceitful effort. The Lady Justice leaves everything to the exchanges of  “legal” justifications that paid lawyers let out in court….and further leaves everything to the judge who makes the decision. The problem here is when the innocent has no money for an intelligent lawyer, while on the other hand the perpetrator of the offense can afford to hire an intelligent Bar topnotcher. Still, worst, is when the judge is also caught in the web of payoffs.

(Sa kasamaang palad, sa sobrang talino ng tao ay nakagawa siya ng paraan kung paanong maikutan ang mga batas para sa kanyang kapakanan o bentaha. At, dahil may piring ang mga mata ng babaeng simbolo ng hustisya, he niya nakikita ang mga pangyayari panloloko. Hinahayaan ng babaeng simbolo ang pagpapalitan ng mga legal na paliwanag ng mga bayarang abogado sa bulwagan ng hustisya…na ang desisyon sa bandang huli ay mula sa huwes o judge. Ang problema lang kung may pera ang kriminal at kayang magbayad ng malaking halaga sa matalinong abogado para pagtakpan ang kanyang pagkakasala…at ang inosente naman ay walang pambayad maski sa abogadong pulpol. Ang pinakamatindi ay kung masasangkot din ang huwes sa “palusutan” dahil sa pera!)

Oftentimes, we hear the line, “for every rule, there is an exception” which means that even the best Law of the land can be circumvented by excuses to give exemptions to misdeeds. Oftentimes, exemptions are based on the thickness of the wads of crisp bills. With this situation, where does “justice” come in?

(Kadalasan ay nakakarinig tayo ng “sa bawat alituntunin ay may dapat bigyan ng pang-unawa at konsiderasyon”, kaya kahit ang pinakamagandang batas ay maaaring palusutan…at, ang “konsiderasyon” ay depende sa kapal sa dami ng perang papel Dahil sa ganitong kalagayan, paano na ang “hustisya”?)

Another popular adage is, “if a misdeed has no complainant, there is no offense”. Oftentimes, this kind of unwritten rule always puts the poor in the disadvantage, because unless he files a complaint against an offender, he could not expect justice. But since the poor victim cannot afford an intelligent lawyer, no case is filed, except a simple police report in the precinct blotter. Also, if a rich offender wants to go scot-free from a misdeed, he can even hire a “fall guy” to take his place.

(Ang isa pang kasabihan ay, “kung walang magrereklamo, ibig sabihin ay walang nangyaring masama”. Kalimitan, itong kasabihan ay lalong nagpapalugmok sa mga mahihirap na hindi nagrereklamo sa paniwalang wala ring mangyayari. Ang mahirap ay walang kakayahang magbayad ng “matalinong abogado” kaya hanggang pa-blotter sa barangay o sa presinto ng pulis ang kaya niyang gawin. ANG MATINDI PA, KUNG MAYAMAN ANG GUMAWA NG KASALANAN, PWEDE SIYANG MAGBAYAD SA MAGIGING “FALL GUY” NA PAPALIT SA KANYA…AAKO NG KASALANAN!)

The Law of the civilized society is supposed to protect the constituents and much effort on the part of the government should be exerted toward this end. Unfortunately, the modern-day barbarians – corrupt officials and wealthy criminals have spoiled everything that put practically all societies on earth in a mishmash jumble! So, it does not matter whether a country belongs to a third world or highly-advanced, as offenses are founded on just one single desire – GREED!

(Ang batas ng sibilisadong lipunan ay inaasahang magpoprotekta ng mga mamamayan at inaasahang gagawin ito ng gobyerno ng ano mang bansa. Sa Pilipinas ay may libreng serbisyo ng mga abogado na binibigay ang gobyerno sa pamamagitan ng PAO…at, may mga grupo ring nagbibigay ng kahalintulad na libreng serbisyo. Sa kasamaang palad, personal na obserbasyon ko lang na kung hindi sensational ang kaso, hindi pinapansin…KALIMITAN AY INAABOT NG SIYAM-SIYAM….HIGIT SA LAHAT, ANDIYAN PA RIN ANG MGA MATATALINONG ABOGADONG KAYANG BAYARAN NG MGA KRIMINAL…KAYA BALIK NA NAMAN SA DAHILAN KUNG BAKIT NASA BALAG NG ALANGANIN ANG HUSTISYA SA PILIPINAS…..DAHIL SA PAGKASAKIM NG ILAN!)

Ang Kalagayan ng Pilipinas Ngayon

ANG KALAGAYAN NG PILIPINAS NGAYON

Ni Apolinario Villalobos

 

HINDI KAILANGANG MAGING PANTAS O WISE ANG ISANG PILIPINO UPANG MAUNAWAAN ANG MGA NANGYAYARI SA PILIPINAS MULA PA NOON NA NAGDULOT NG PAGHIHIRAP NG NAPAKALAKING BAHAGI NG SAMBAYANAN, TULAD NG:

 

• Hilaw ang demokrasya ng Pilipinas. Noon pa man ay ayaw pa ng ilang Amerikanong mambabatas na bigyan agad ng kalayaan ang bansa subalit nagpilit ang mga apuradong pulitiko na may pansariling layunin kaya nagkaroon agad ng Commonwealth.

 

• Hindi lahat ng naging presidente mula pa noon ay 100% na malinis at pwedeng masabing “modelo” ng ugaling Pilipino. Si Quezon ay matinding magmura pero sa Kastila nga lang…si Qurino ay sinasabing may “golden arenola”, etc.

 

• Panahon pa lang ng Amerikano, may mga iskwater nang naninirahan sa loob ng Intramuros at baybayin ng Tondo na bandang huli ay umabot sa tinawag na Isla Puting Bato at Baseco Compound. Hind sila nakontrol ng mga umupong presidente noon kaya dumami nang dumami…lalo pa at ginamit sila ng mga tiwaling pulitiko bilang mga “boto” na kailangan nila tuwing eleksiyon. Sila din ang mga hinahakot ng gobyerno at ng leftist groups tuwing may rally….mga bayarang makabayan kuno.

 

• May nagpapagalaw sa mga grupong “makabayan” kuno na halatang walang direksiyon. Tuwing may uupong bagong presidente ay kinakalaban nila…tinatawag na tuta ng Amerika. NGAYON KAY DUTERTE AY HINDI NILA MAGAWA YAN…LALONG HINDI NILA MATAWAG NA TUTA SIYA NG AMERIKA. Nagkaroon ng problema ang bansa laban sa Tsina dahil sa West Philippine Sea or South China Sea pero sa harap sila ng US embassy nagra-rally hindi sa labas ng Chinese embassy. Maraming alam ang mga grupong ito pero ang nakakapagtaka ay parang wala silang alam tungkol sa CIA ng Amerika.

 

• Ginagamit na stepping stone ng mga ambisyoso ang mga grupong makabayan upang maabot ang mas mataas na “puwesto” sa senado o kongreso kaya napapaghalata ang makasarili nilang layunin dahil kahit nasa bulwagan na sila ng mga batasan ay wala pa rin silang nagawang tulong sa masa….lalong lumawak ang saklaw ng squatting sa Manila at malalaking lunsod….may unemployment pa rin, yon nga lang ay seasonal dahil sa contractualization, kaya gutom pa rin ang inaabot ng maraming pamilya kapag “finished contract” na ang kumakayod para sa pamilya.

 

• Hindi nawawala ang cartel sa bigas dahil hindi na bumalik sa dating presyo ang staple food na ito ng mga Pilipino….halatang may nagkokontrol na grupo. Ang nakakabahala ay ang hindi napapansing pagmahal ng mga de-boteng tubig na baka sa bandang huli ay magiging mas mahal pa kaysa kurudo o gasoline.

 

• MAY MGA NAKAUPO PA RING MGA LINTA AT TAMAD SA MARAMING PUWESTO NG IBA’T IBANG ANTAS NG GOBYERNO AT MGA AHENSIYA….MGA  WALANG PAKIALAM SA MGA DAPAT NILANG AKSYUNAN AYON SA KANILANG JOB DESCRIPTION. MGA NAGHIHINTAY NG UTOS NI PRESIDENTE, O NI GOVERNOR, O NI MAYOR….MGA WALANG PAGKUKUSA AT KAPAG PUMUTOK ANG MGA KAPALPAKAN AY SAKA MAGTUTURUAN AT MAGSISIHAN. SI KAWAWANG “BADYET” ANG PALAGING NASISISI….NA PARA BANG LAHAT NG MAY KINALAMAN SA IKAGAGANDA HALIMBAWA NG PALIGID AY KAILANGANG GASTUSAN NG MALAKI, GANOONG PWEDE NAMANG MAGTANIM NG MGA HALAMAN AT PUNO AT MAY GAGAWA NAMAN DAHIL KASAMA SA TRABAHO NILA.

HOW SOME PHILIPPINE GOVERNMENT AGENCIES HAVE NEGLECTED OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE BENEFIT OF FILIPINOS

HOW SOME PHILIPPINE GOVERNMENT AGENCIES HAVE NEGLECTED

OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE BENEFIT OF FILIPINOS

By Apolinario Villalobos

 

First of all, it is a fact that the Philippines is lagging behind the neighboring Southeast Asian countries, especially, Thailand on the areas that cover exportation of dried products and fruit juices that can be processed into vinegar or “cider”. It is funny to note that it seems the government has no definite direction as regards the surplus bananas, mangoes, avocados, yams, sweet potato, leafy vegetables and medicinal herbs. It is funnier to note that when available locally, the processed products tend to carry tags with prohibitive prices due to their EXPENSIVE PACKAGING!…and worst, the country is way behind other southeast Asian nations as regards rice production!

 

In banana growing provinces of Mindanao, “reject” bananas due to their “over” and “under”  sizes are heaped in roadsides to be fed to hogs. What Filipinos know about the banana is to eat it as an after meal repast, fry into fritters or mix it with flour to be baked into cake. Many home-based entrepreneurs come up with “banana crackling” but a small pack that can’t even fill a small cup is priced sky-high. If ever banana products come out in the market, their prices become “unfit” for Filipinos. I was lucky to have found banana vinegar one day in a grocery inside a mall, but stylishly tagged as “cider” to justify the expensive price due to the “foreign sounding” brand. My elation was immediately transformed into frustration so I did not buy a single bottle of “cider”.

 

On the other hand, westerners love to eat dried mango that come in chips or strips, but small entrepreneurs cannot cope up with the demand because of outdated processing that they use. If they want a high-tech equipment, they are supposed to browse the internet for them. What is commendable is the resourcefulness of private individuals and groups in promoting this tropical fruit such as holding a mango festival just like what Guimaras is doing. The province is famous for its “sweetest” variety of mango. In Mindanao, many towns produce mangoes but most dried products, ironically, comes from Cebu. The mango juice that is packed in Davao is not promoted well.

 

The Philippines is a tropical country and as a popular adage goes, “one may throw the seed of any fruit anywhere and not long afterwards, a fragile teeny-weeny leaf will peek to great the sun!”. The same goes with the vegetables with stalks that can just be left in a corner of the yard and roots will sprout. DESPITE THIS, THERE IS NO TANGIBLE SUPPORT FROM THE GOVERNMENT AS REGARDS THEIR FULL UTILIZATION AS EXPORTABLE PRODUCTS IN DRIED OR JUICE. Assistance always comes from the LGUs despite their limited resources and a manifestation of this effort is the mango festival of Guimaras. As can be noticed, the assistance is limited to information dissemination and promotion.

 

This is the sad situation in the Philippines….national agencies that are supposed to be concerned with matters regarding agricultural products have no tangible output on the aspect of technological assistance. Accordingly, a certain bill on this issue is still pending in Congress for several years now.

 

Here is a classic ironic situation. Foreign rice specialists come to the Philippines to learn everything possible at the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) in Laguna. After accomplishing their “mission”, they go back to their countries…put what they learned into practice with the help of course of their respective government…AND, SELL RICE TO THE PHILIPPINES!…BECAUSE THE PHILIPPIN E’S BELOVED NATIONAL FOOD AUTHORITY (NFA) SAYS, THE FILIPINOS WILL DIE OF HUNGER IF THE COUNTRY WILL NOT IMPORT RICE BECAUSE THE LOCAL PRODUCE IS NOT ENOUGH!

 

Concerned government agencies always mention the lack of budget when it comes to the need for their assistance on certain relevant projects, BUT THERE IS ALWAYS A BIG BUDGET WHEN IT COMES TO PURCHASES!…AND RICE IMPORTATION IS AMONG THEM!

 

There is not even a very EFFECTIVE effort  to CONTROL the conversion of rice fields into subdivisions…despite the fact that even before the creation of the Rice and Corn Administration (RCA) that metamorphosed into National Grains Authority (NGA), and today, has become the National Food Authority (NFA), rice has been identified as the most crucial need of the country. Today, the NFA is unfortunately viewed as a corruption-riddled agency.

 

Lately, resourceful farmers whose fruit orchards started as a hobby are into exportation of their products…still the government has not given them the much needed technological assistance, as shown by the pending bill that should have benefited them years ago, yet. If approved and becomes a law, my apprehension is that the implementation will again be hampered by the LACK OF BUDGET as what happened to the rest…so, as expected, there will be finger-pointing as to who’s to blame again!

 

My big question is…are the Bureau of Plant Industry (BPI) and the National Food Authority (NFA) still RELEVANT today? It seems that the BPI is only good for “information dissemination” or giving out of brochures during agri-trade fairs, as well as, seeds/seedling dispersal….things that can be done by LGUs that are already with nurseries of their own.  And, worse, the NFA is only good for rice importation as it cannot even do anything about the obvious rice cartel in the country.

 

MY CALL IS FOR THE TWO AGENCIES TO BE DEMOLISHED.

 

Unsolicited na mga Payo sa mga Nanalo sa Barangay Election

UNSOLICITED NA MGA PAYO SA MGA NANALO SA BARANGAY ELECTION

Ni Apolinario Villalobos

 

Para sa mga nanalo na naman:

• Kung nanalo kayo uli sa kabila ng kawalan ninyo ng ginawa, at dahil sa pagbili ng boto

dapat ay makonsiyensiya kayo nang sa ganoon ay magawa na ninyo ang nararapat dahil nabigyan uli kayo ng chance.

 

• Huwag nang magnakaw sa kaban ng barangay upang hindi madagdagan ang mga ginawa ninyong kasalanan dahil mabubulgar din naman talaga ang inyong pagkabalasubas kaya habang buhay na masisira ang dangal at pangalan ng inyong angkan.

 

 

Para sa mga bagong nanalo:

 

• Huwag maging “bara-bara” sa pagpapatupad ng mga ipinangako. May mga patakarang dapat sundin na galing sa iba’t ibang ahensiya g gobyerno tulad ng Commission on Audit, DILG at ang mga opisina ng mayor at ang konseho ng sangguniang bayan o panlunsod. Ang barangay ay nakapaloob sa isang bayan o lunsod kaya lahat ng mga kilos at desisyon ng Barangay administration para sa mga constituents ay dapat dumaan sa tamang proseso.

 

• Huwag pairalin ang pagka-idealistic. Unang-una, imposible ito dahil sa mga sistemang umiiral. Hindi pwede na kung ano ang gusto ay masusunod para lang magpa-impress. Kung napapansing masama ang ginagawa ng mayor, saka ito salungatin para sa kapakanan ng mga constituents.

 

• Huwag maging swapang sa credit. Kung ano ang magandang nagawa ng natalo na dating barangay chairman ay dapat i-maintain at kung ano ang hindi natapos dapat ay ipagpatuloy…..purihin din ang natalo dahil sa mga magagandang ginawa niya.

 

• Sa pagpapatupad ng mga programa lalo na ang mgay mga kinalaman sa kalinisan at pagpaganda ng kapaligiran, palaging unahin ang karapatang pantao lalo na ang karapatang mamuhay nang tapat o honest kahit sa pagbenta sa bangketa…huwag silang bugawin na parang langaw.

 

• Gawing batayan ang mga pagkakamali ng nakaraang administrasyon para sa gagawing mga pagbabago. Marami ang nangakong gawing malinis o maganda ang barangay…subalit dapat alalahaning may maaapektahang mga tao. Mag-ingat sa gagawing mga hakbang…huwag gumawa ng “short cut” tulad ng pagbubugaw sa mga iskwater o mga vendors na nasa tabi-tabi KUNG WALANG NAKAHANDANG MALILIPATAN NILA.

 

• Alalahanin ang mga paninirang narinig mula sa mga kalaban ng natalo noong ito ay nakaupo pa…ITO AY MANGYAYARI RIN SA IYO BILANG BAGONG OPISYAL KUNG HINDI KA MAG-IINGAT. HIGIT SA LAHAT, HUWAG MAGING BINGI DAHIL SA NATAMONG KARANGALAN….MAKINIG SA MGA PAYO.

 

Hindi madali ang mamuno sa Pilipinas dahil sa malalim na pagkakaugat ng masamang kultura na may kinalaman sa eleksiyon tulad ng vote buying at karahasan na umaabot sa patayan. Kapag nasa puwesto na, ang dating mga malinis at may magandang layunin ay may pagkakataong mabahiran ng dumi dahil sa hindi pag-ingat o paninira ng mga kalabang ayaw tumanggap ng pagkatalo.

 

 

The Neglected Advantage of “Internet” and the “Infinite” Promise of Improved Cyber Services in the Philippines

The Neglected Advantage of “Internet” And the

“Infinite” Promise of Improved Cyber Services in the Philippines

By Apolinario Villalobos

 

In the Philippines, it is obvious that the IT (information technology) is generally limited to the use of cellphone and facebook. The national government keeps on promising about the modernization of the “internet system” for the Philippines to be at par with other Asian countries with fast and cheap cost of cyber service providers, but the pronouncements have remained a promise because of greed and corruption. There is news about the entry of a “third party” but when will the Filipinos feel its presence?  As with commodities and other services, especially, the basic ones such as rice, tobacco, electricity and water, the field of information technology has also gone into the basket of greed called “monopoly” encouraged by the seemingly innate corrupt character of many government officials.

 

The Philippines, despite her being a “third world country”, is already technologically equipped, even how meager these equipment may be. But due to corruption, in some LGUs, while documents show that computer units have been purchased, they are nowhere to be found. Worse, if ever some Barangays are lucky to have been provided with them, they become “typewriters” ONLY due to the absence of signal, hence, not fully utilized.

 

Another issue is on the lack of proper orientation of the concerned on how the “internet” can be fully utilized for the benefit of the LGUs and interested parties. The “internet” is the system that keeps the cyberspace alive. The world has practically become dependent on it for just anything from show business gossips to sensitive and supposedly confidential securityswinformation of nations. Travelers browse through its travel pages for information about places, food, hotels, etc. Students download information from it for their projects and thesis.

 

The “internet” is the world’s archival system of information… the web of information highways connecting peoples and nations. This glaring fact has been neglected by many Philippine LGUs as again, their computers have become “typewriters”…not connected to the cyber world, part of which is their “head office” or their Municipal or City Hall . Many  LGus are already contented for having an  “internal archive” in their offices, as instead of hard copies of memos, reports, being printed and filed in the filing cabinet, all that the clerk does is push the “save” on the keyboard  and the work is done!

 

Another oversight is on the lack of important information on the LGU’s total scope of coverage, especially, historical data. For instance, although, all the barangays are listed in the internet site of their town or city, many of them do not have a site of their own. And worse, although listed, there are no historical data…just current statistics on the area, population and list of officials without accompanying photos of these personalities. How can those be informative?  The LGUs are supposed to have “information offices”, but the question is..are they conducting researches to collect information  right from the field to establish an historical archive?

 

My suggestion is for these information offices to gather first-hand information by taking photos of anything interesting in their community, conduct interview of old folks for historical information, etc.,  and upload these for archiving in their computers ready for downloading or quick access of visiting researchers and tourists.

 

The towns and cities should have their own archive for each barangay, and the information shared with the sites of the latter which are technologically ill-equipped.  Information should not be limited to visuals or photos of fiestas and social gatherings, oath taking, etc., as well as, mere statistics which are required of them in the first place, but also extensively written dissertations….essays, studies, gathered proposals, etc. It is not duplication of job, but “enhancement” to what the other offices are doing. This effort shall indicate COOPERATION which many LGUs lack as this expectation is oftentimes overshadowed by COMPETITION among offices which from all angles can be viewed as very unhealthy and viciously unproductive to the detriment of the LGU as a whole.

 

 

The Problem with Some Philippine Government Agencies and the People Behind Them

The Problem With Some Philippine Government Agencies

and the People Behind Them

By Apolinario Villalobos

 

The Philippines can be perceived as taking steps forward, though with difficulty, and there are indications that some of the agencies don’t just seem to be effectively doing their job. For one thing, guys behind these agencies always blame the lack of budget when in fact, what they lack is the skill in being resourceful and the drive….but, most especially, the “intelligence” and common sense.

 

On the social service which before was encompassing to include sports and the welfare of the human sector, today, it has been decentralized with the functions distributed among local governments and newly-created “Commissions” or “Offices”. So we find today “offices” for senior citizens, disaster management and relief distribution, rehabilitation; the sports concerns handled by “Commissions”, the family, women and child welfare given to the PNP that came up with “Desks” and the overall “social services” going to the LGUs, and so on. What happened to the DSWD and their Social Workers who earned their Social Work degree from colleges and universities? Many LGUs do not even have facilities to temporarily accommodate abused children and women.

 

On tourism service, its information and promotion efforts have been made inutile by the fast-growing cyber industry and technology. All that one needs to do if he wants to know about a tourist destination or facility is open his smart phone and presto!…he gets all that he wants, complete with directions and suggested packages. On the other hand, the salaried guys who are supposed to work for better ideas to drum up  interests, come up with copied ones from those of other countries’ and still worse, they chose what they thought could make the Philippines “different” or above the highly-attractive  nations around. The result is a big flop!

 

Some of these “wise guys” in the tourism industry thought that a once-a-year festival is enough to sustain the attraction of localities…or that a beauty pageant is all that matters to make the whole country, or a province, or a city, or a town, or even a barangay popular. They also practically “bundle” a region into “one destination” without giving regard to the clamor of specific LGUs to be identified with their respective tourist spots which is the right and honest “marketing” of a tourist destination. They misconceived the idea of “one” which just implies “united effort”, but must maintain the “specific locations” of what are being promoted.

 

Putting in the forefront of promotion the name of a region for instance can sow confusion because it affects the elements of travel and time in packaging…and definitely, disappointment. The regional location can just be mentioned as a “by the way”, with the specific destinations given the rightful and appropriate priority so that the tourists are HONESTLY informed of their destination. I will mention here again the case of the underground river in Palawan which  before was known as ST. PAUL SUBTERRANEAN PARK and whose promotion included its specific location which is too far away from Puerto Princesa City where the airport is located, to prepare the tourists of what to expect along the way. Today, the destination has become PUERTO PRINCESA UNDERGROUND RIVER!..when did the city have an underground river?

 

In Mindanao, there is a “region” with an acronym, SOCSKSARGEN, that supposedly refers to the provinces and cities that compose it such as South Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat, Sarangani and General Santos. The big question is…. why is Koronadal City and Tacurong City not specifically mentioned in the banner name in fairness to them because General Santos City is mentioned?…are the people behind the idea worried in coming up a longer acronym? General Santos City need not be spelled out and instead can just be included in “South Cotabato” just like Koronadal City, as Tacurong City is in “Sultan Kudarat”. With that, what can be referred to as components of the region are simply South Cotabato, Sarangani, and Sultan Kudarat. Much worst is the further contracting of the acronym into “SOX” which is the name of a very popular baseball team in America!…aside from being homonymous to SUCKS which is among the worst cussing word in the American language.

 

The office of these people is located in General Santos City which is already called by many travel writers as “filthy” with a “hellish traffic” and neglected landmarks. All that the guys should do is go out of their office and visit the TUNA QUEEN PARK and the park in the heart of the city, but most specially, walk their way around the city to end right at the downtown area. They should also visit the deteriorating Bula Public Market. They can cap their check for the day with a visit to the supposedly international airport. They should do that as General Santos is their “yard”, before going out of it to check on the others.

 

How can they present their “home” to visiting tourism officials from neighboring nations with pride if they have nothing to show as an honest-to-goodness park for instance? How can they show the wasteland that has become of the Tuna Queen Park?…and worst, the confusion at the supposedly international airport without even a simple canopy to protect departing and arriving passengers who cross the street to and from the parking lot to the terminal…and the mess worsened by the SOX right in front of the terminal! How can these guys look far beyond their “yard” when right under their nose, so many things are waiting to be done?

 

In the meantime, they should release the budget for the LGUs that need it to develop their respective touristic attractions. They should release the money without directing the LGUs to hire Consultants to work on their tourism plan as they are supposedly staffed with knowledgeable people who know better than the highly-paid guys who come from somewhere else. The budget is intended for the LGUs anyway and are subject to auditing, so what is the problem? …if the LGU officials do something about the money other that what it is intended for…Duterte has something for them!

 

 

 

Mahirap Palang Maging Idealistic Para sana sa Mga Dapat Mangyari

MAHIRAP PALANG MAGING “IDEALISTIC”

PARA SANA SA MGA DAPAT MANGYARI

Ni Apolinario Villalobos

 

Madaling mangarap ng magagandang bagay na sana ay mangyari. Pero kung talagang “idealistic” ang isang Pilipino, mahirap pala talaga. Nadadanasan ko yan bilang isang manunulat sa cyberspace o “blogger”. Hindi ako “perfectionist” na gustong palabasin ng mga humahadlang o ayaw umunawa sa akin. Pakialamero daw ako. Ang gusto ko lang naman sanang gawin ay tumulong sa pamamagitan ng paglahad ng mga nakakaligtaang bagay na dapat gawin ng mga kAbabayan o di kaya ay pagpitik sa kanila kung sila ay nagbubulag-bulagan. Sa kalilibot ko at pakikipag-usap sa maraming tao, dalawang bagay ang nakikita kong mga dahilan kung bakit may mga hindi ginagawa o ayaw gawin….at ito ay dahil sa KATAMARAN AT KAWALAN NG PERA. KATAMARAN DAHIL TALAGANG TAMAD. WALANG PERA DAHIL TAMAD DING KUMILOS AT BOBO KAYA HINDI NAKAKAISIP NG DISKARTE. AT, KUNG SA PANIG NAMAN NG BAYAN NA WALANG NAKIKITANG PROYEKTO PARA SA MAMAMAYAN, AY DAHIL NAKURAKOT ANG BUDGET.

 

May mga government officials na ang hangad lang sa pagtakbo sa puwesto ay upang makilala ng taong bayan at ang iba naman ay upang mangurakot. Hindi lang ako ang nakakaalam niyan…buong sambayanang Pilipino. Noon pa mang panahon ni Quezon ay nangyayari na ito.  SUBALIT MAYROON NAMANG TALAGANG TAPAT SA TUNGKULIN…IILAN NGA LANG SILA. Dahil sa kalagayang yan, tila nakagapos ang mga kamay ng mga government officials na gustong kumilos para sa kapakanan ng taong bayan…wala kasing pakikipagtulungan mula sa mga inutil na inihalal sa puwesto o mga napoprotektahang ng “civil service eligibility”.

 

Sa isang barangay naman na napuntahan ko na napeste ng black bug, ang mga patay na kulisap ay hinayaang nakatambak sa isang sulok ng basketball court. Ang kabuuhan ng compound ng barangay ay tila junk shop dahil sa dami ng mga nakatambak na mga kung anu-anong bagay. Ang mga damo ay nagpipista sa pagtubo sa lahat ng panig ng maruming compound. Sa isang sulok ng compound ay may mga CVO na nag-uumpukan. May isang kagawad akong tinanong kung ano ang plano nila sa nakatambak na black bug na nangangamoy na. Ang sagot sa akin ay “lilipas din yan”, na ang tinutukoy ay ang pagdagsa nila dahil sa kabilugan ng buwan…ibig sabihin ay hindi na sila dadagsa kapag hindi na kabilugan ng buwan. Inulit ko ang tanong ko kung ano ang gagawin nila sa nakatambak na patay na black bug…hiindi na siya sumagot. MALINAW NA NAGHIHINTAYAN SILA KUNG SINO ANG UNANG KUMILOS SA PAGBAON MAN LANG NG MGA PATAY NA KULISAP. DAhil sa resulta ng usapan namin, parang gusto kong kausapin ang barangay chairman na noon ay umaatend daw ng seminar (na naman) upang i-suggest na gamitin ang mga nagkakapalang damo sa livelihood project nila…tirahan ng mga ahas na pambenta sa mga restoran ng Intsik.

 

Ang nabanggit na barangay ay potential na tourist spot dahil sa isang magandang resort sa teritoryo nito, subalit paano akong makakapagsulat ng maayos na blog kung ang maliit na palengke na dapat sana ay mapupuntahan ng mga turista upang bumili ng mga souvenir ay madamo at marumi? ….wala rin akong napansin na  kahit isang tindahan na malinis na nagbebenta ng mga bagay na mabibili bilang souvenir. Ang mismong landmark ng barangay na nasa bukana ng palengke ay marumi at madamo rin…daanan pa mandin ng barangay chairman tuwing uuwi siya. May eskwelahan din na maganda sanang pasyalan ng mga bumibisitang estudyante subalit hanggang doon na lang sila siguro…huwag na lang pumunta sa sentro ng barangay.

 

Marami a akong sinabihang mga government officials na upang gumanda ang kanilang lugar, dapat ay malinis lang ito at may mga tanim…hindi kailangang may mga makabagong structures na bandang huli ay manlilimahid lang din dahil hindi mami-maintain. Minatyagan o inobserbahan ko kung may gagawin sila..SA AWA NG DIYOS – WALA!

 

Pagdating naman sa pagkain…dahil sa nagsisiritang presyo ng lahat ng bilihin sa palengke, nag-suggest ako sa mga kaibigan ko na magtanim ng mga gulay sa kani-kanlang bakuran….wala ring nangyari. Ang nakakatawa pa ay maski kangkong, papaya o saluyot, binibili sa palengke! …pero kung makareklamo sila ay abot-langit ang pag-iingay!

 

Yong pinasyalan kong kaibigan, habang nagkakape kami sa kusina, ang misis naman ay naghahanda ng mga biniling gulay upang mailutong pinakbet, pero ang bunganga ay rumeretekada sa pagreklamo dahil sa kamahalan ng presyo. Parang gusto kong pag-untugin ang mga ulo ng mag-asawa dahil ang buong paligid ng bahay nila ay bakante, tinutubuan ng mga damo, at ni isang pirasong puno ng gulay ay wala akong makitang nakatanim! Sa inis ko ay umalis na lang ako pagkaubos ko ng kape…hindi ko na hinintay na maluto ang pinakbet dahil baka maempatso lang ako.

 

Mga simpleng bagay ang binanggit ko…kayang gawin. Subalit dahil hindi nagagawa, masisisi ba ako kung uulitin ko ang pagbanggit ng mga salitang KATAMARAN, KABOBOHAN, AT PANGUNGURAKOT?

 

 

 

Huwag Pagnasahan ang Hindi Iyo

Huwag Mong Pagnasahan Ang Hindi Iyo

Ni Apolinario Villalobos

 

• Huwag mong pagnakawan ang iyon boss para lang masabing gumaganti ka dahil maliit ang suweldo mo. Mag-resign ka at maghanap ng ibang trabaho.

 

• Huwag mong pagnasahan ang magandang asawa ng iba at baka maputulan ka ng pututoy….hindi man gawin sa iyo ng misis mo ay malamang asawa ng pinagnanasahan mo. Kung may pera ka pumunta ka na lang sa beerhouse dahil maraming maganda sa lugar na yan. Kung babae ka magtanong ka na lang sa kumare mo kung saan niya nadampot ang pogi niyang kulukadidang.

 

• Kung collector ka ng isang kumpanya o gobyeno, i-remit mo ang nakolekta mo dahil darating ang panahong malalaman din ang ginagawa mong panloloko. Tandaan mong kaya ka na-hire ay dahil pinagkatiwalaan ka.

 

• Huwag mong pagnasahan ang karangyaang pinagsikapan ng iba. Magsikap ka upang magkaroon din. Huwag kang mamatay sa inggit dahil kung ilalamay ka baka walang pupunta kung alam ang dahilan ng kamatayan mo – heart attack dahil sa inggit!

 

• Huwag mang-apak ng iba upang umangat at maagaw mo ang recognition na dapat ay para sa inapakan o tinungtungan mo. Huwag mong pagnasahan ang kaalaman o skills ng iba dahil may ibang uring ganyan ang ibinigay sa iyo ng Diyos na dapat ay gamitin mo sa maayos na paraan at hindi sa panloloko ng kapwa tulad ng ginagawa ng maraming hinayupak na mga opisyal ng gobyerno.

 

• Huwag mong pagnasahan na aabot sa inggit ang kagandahan ng iba dahil kapag pinilit mo at pina-retoke mo ang mukha at katawan mo at ang resulta ay hind bagay sa iyo, hindi ka na maibabalik sa dati mong anyo. Tanggapin mo kung anumang katawan o mukha ang ibinigay sa iyo ng Diyos…tandaan mong nandiyan lang palagi ang nanay mo na pupuri sa iyo kahit nililibak ka ng iba…kung buhay pa siya.

 

 

Kung ayaw mong namnamin ang nilalaman ng sini-share kong ito, bahala ka sa buhay mo!

The Philippines and the Local Government Units (LGUs)

THE PHILIPPINES AND THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT UNITS (LGU)

By Apolinario Villalobos

 

Local Government Units (LGUs) need not send their employees to expensive seminars to become effective in implementing programs. All they need to do is come up with a checklist of WORDS as reminders…these are simple words that should tell them if they are taking the right direction in fulfilling their Mission and having the right focus towards their Vision. A seminar is not needed for the LGU leadership to know if his or her barangay, town, city, or province is clean or beautiful enough to entice tourists….or to know if peace and order are prevalent to entice investors and more residents, etc.

 

A TEAM BUILDING seminar is not needed to know if ALL units of an LGU are HARMONIOUSLY COORDINATING WITH EACH OTHER. It is not also necessary to develop COOPERATION among the offices of the LGU because it is supposed to be required among all employees, being part and parcel of their respective mandate in order to EFFECTIVELY SERVE the constituents properly.

 

A seminar on VALUES AND ATTITUDE is not needed for the employees to become POLITE towards each other, especially, the clients. They are mandated to act in such a way otherwise they lose their job if they fail or adamantly refuse. This simple requirement is in the Civil Service Code.

 

NEEDED ARE SENSITIVITY, CONCERN AND SERIOUSNESS IN CARRYING OUT THE ASSIGNED JOB OF EACH EMPLOYEE, WHETHER HE OR SHE IS A BOSS OR A MERE STAFF.

 

A SINGLE MISTAKE IN CARRYING OUT THE OVERALL MANDATE OF AN LGU CAN SPELL DISASTER AND COULD TRAGICALLY AFFECT THE IMAGE OF THE LEADERSHIP. FOR A SIMPLE CONSTITUENT, ANY BAD OCCURENCE IN THEIR COMMUNITY IS THE FAULT OF THE BARANGAY CHAIRMAN, MAYOR OR GOVERNOR. IT SHOULD BE NOTED THAT NOT ALL MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY ARE AWARE OR KNOWLEDGEABLE OF THE FUNCTIONS OF THE DIFFERENT OFFICES IN A MUNICIPAL OR CITY HALL, OR PROVINCIAL CAPITOL FOR THAT MATTER. ALL THEY KNOW IS THAT THEIR COMMUNITY IS  ADMINISTERED BY THE BARANGAY CHAIRMAN, MAYOR OR GOVERNOR. IT MAY NOT ALWAYS BE THE FAULT OF THE LEADERSHIP IF THERE ARE FLAWS IN HIS OR HER ADMINISTRATION. BUT THEN, HE OR SHE MUST BE ON THE LOOK OUT FOR SHENANIGANS OR DUMB HEADS WHO REFUSE TO COOPERATE NECESSATING  THE IMPOSITION OF THE APPROPRIATE SANCTION INCLUDING DISMISSAL DUE TO INCOMPETENCE.

 

IT IS A UNIVERSAL EXPECTATION THAT EVERY ORGANIZATION, INCLUDING THE LGU SHOULD OPERATE LIKE A CLOCK WITH ALL THE PARTS HARMONIOUSLY FUNCTIONING PROPERLY, OTHERWISE, IT STOPS, OR IF FORCED TO FUNCTION BY ALL MEANS, BECOMES INEFFECTIVE AS IT COULD FALTER INTERMITTENTLY.

 

A SINGLE MALFUNCTIONING AND INEFFECTIVE LOCAL GOVERNMENT UNIT BECOMES AN EYE SORE IN THE IMAGE OF THE WHOLE COUNTRY.

Nilapastangan ng PCSO Chairman ang Tiwala ni Duterte…dahil sa walang katuturan Christmas Party

Nilapastangan ng PCSO Chairman ang Tiwala ni Duterte

…dahil sa walang katuturang Christmas Party

Ni Apolinario Villalobos

 

Bulag yata at hindi nakikinig sa mga balitang paghihirap ng mga Pilipino at sa mga sinasabi ni Duterte ang Chairman ng PCSO. Kahangalan ang ginawang paggastos ng 14.3 million pesos para lang mapasaya ang ilang empleyado ng ahensiya. Ikinatwiran pang mas mababa daw ang gastos kaysa mga nakaraang ginastos…ANONG PAKIALAMAN NG KASALUKUYANG ADMINISTRASYON NI DUTERTE SA NAKARAAN? …GALIT NGA ITO SA MGA KAPALPAKANG GINAWA NG MGA NAKARAANG ADMINISTRASYON!

 

BANTAD ANG BAGONG CHAIRMAN NG PCSO…WALANG PAKIRAMDAM DAHIL SA GINAGAWA NIYANG BATAYAN NG KANYANG MGA DESISYON ANG MGA GINAWA NG MGA NAKARAANG PAMUNUAN NG AHENSIYA,  AT ANG ISANG HALIMBAWA AY ANG NAKAKAHIYANG CHRISTMAS PARTY NILA NA OKEY LANG DAW DAHIL “NAKAMURA” SILA!….ANG MGA TAONG GANYANG MAY PAG-IISIP ANG NAGBIBIGAY  NG DUMI SA ADMINISTRASYON NI DUTERTE. ANG DAPAT LANG IHAMBING NG PCSO SA MGA NAKARAAN AY ANG KINITA NITO UPANG MALAMAN KUNG RELEVANT PA ANG AHENSIYA O HINDI NA.

 

Ang PCSO ay kinukunan ng gobyerno ng mga contingency funds kaya hindi dapat ituring na excess o labis ang mga kinikita sakali mang humigit sa kinita ng nakaraang taon. Mas malaki ang kinikita, mas pabor sa pamahalaan at sambayanang Pilipino na maraming pangangailangan, KAYA HINDI DAPAT PAGNASAHAN maski sino mang opisyal ng goyerno. Dapat ay iniipon ang mga sinasabi nilang “excess” sa budget.

 

Ginagawang dahilan ng PCSO chairman ang kagustuhan ng mga kawani  ng “cultural show”…bakit hindi siya kumuha ng mga grupo ng kabataang taga- Payatas o mahihirap na eskwelahan upang mag-perform….o di kaya ay mga batang Badjao upang magsayaw sa saliw ng tambol nilang yari sa lata at kantang Tausug?….nakatulong pa ang ahensiya. Isa pa, hindi naman siya pulitiko upang “manligaw” sa mga empleyado upang magustuhan nila. Siya ay presidential appointee at ang dapat niyang gawin ay magtrabaho nang maayos dahil ang kanyang pagtagal sa puwesto ay “at the pleasure of the president”….at, hindi dahil ayaw siya ng mga empleyado…maliban na lang kung i-sabotahe siya na madalas gawin ng mga tarantadong empleyadong protektado ng civil service eligibility pero wala namang binatbat…mga inutil at magaling ang sumipsip.

 

Ang malinaw ay inabuso ng Chairman ng PCSO ang tiwala ng presidente na todo-todo nga ang pagtitipid…KAYA ANG DAPAT SA KANYA AY SIBAKIN DIN TULAD NG GINAWA SA IBA PA. WALA SIYANG KARAPATANG HUMAWAK NG AHENSIYA NA SIMULA’T SAPOL AY TADTAD NA NG INTRIGA DAHIL SA MGA KUWESTIYONABLENG MGA PROYEKTO.

 

HINDI PRIVATE CORPORATION ANG PCSO ….YAN ANG DAPAT TANDAAN NG MGA NAMUMUNO SA AHENSIYA, LALO NA ANG PAPALIT SA SANA AY MASIBAK NA SA PUWESTO.