Photo taken in Davao City, Philippines…
Davao City
The Bankerohan Public Market of Davao City
The Bankerohan Public Market of Davao City
By Apolinario Villalobos
Literally, “bankerohan” has a connotation as a place where boatmen converge as “bankero” means “boatman”. Appropriately, the public market is located by the bank of the main river that traverses the city. As in any Philippine community and historically, the river or a coastal village are considered as the center of trading. Unfortunately, lately, Bankerohan, the bustling riverside trading community of Davao City, gets inundated during the worst onslaught of heavy rains without let up for days.
Unlike other cities, Bankerohan has maintained its typical Oriental bazaar atmosphere to which the city dwellers have melded well. Spread throughout its periphery, various products from neighboring towns are sold side by side with local delicacies, prominent among which is the “puto maya”. The delicacy is actually two kinds of sticky rice, the white and the “tapul” which has a delectably purple color partner. The two varieties of rice are steamed separately. “Puto maya’s” is best eaten with “sikwate” (hot chocolate with thick consistency) prepared and cooked in “hornio”. While it slowly cooks to the right consistency, a half-submerged “baterol” (wooden stirrer) is rolled between the palms to keep the preparation from going into a rolling boil. A serving of “puto maya” costs Php10, while a cup of “sikwate” can be had for Php15.
If the durian is in season, a whole ripe fruit can be purchased from any of the stalls and eaten on the spot, for Php30 while marang would cost as low as Php20. Other local fruits that fill the fruit stalls are big-sized guava, golden pomelo, rambutan, papaya, several varieties of papaya. Durian preserves such as candies, jams and jellies also fill the shelves of the fruit stalls. Vegetables and marine products are strictly controlled to maintain their prices, as well as, those of rice and corn grits.
As dusk falls, makeshift stalls for used clothing begin to dot the area near the Mercury Drug Store. Practically, all kinds of clothing merchandise are priced between Php10-20. Hectic trading activity reaches its climax as midnight approaches. But, the traders do not fold up their stalls until 6AM hoping for the coming of last-minute buyers.
In the evening, the market resonates with warbles from wannabe singers who try their best to garner a “10” verdict from videokes that are the come-ons of carinderias. Everybody enjoys for as long as the no-smoking policy is observed. Aside from the videoke machines, the carinderias also pride in their cheap foods displayed in trays. Prices range between Php15 to Php35, with the vegetable dishes being the cheapest and those of beef and pork the more expensive. Grilled fish, especially tuna belly, head, and its innards are also available which go well with the beer or tuba (coco wine).
From Bankerohan, the cheap hotels along Claveria are a few meters away. Public transportations can be taken at several designated jeepney stops distributed around the market, so that strangers need not worry. And, most especially, there is nothing to fear while commuting from this busy section of the city to any part, even the suburbs, as taxi drivers of Davao City are the most trustworthy in the whole Philippines!
Job Lowill Calumpang Benuya: Sings the Blues and Rocks with Country Music Like No Other
JOB LOWILL CALUMPANG BENUYA: Sings the Blues
and Rocks with Country Music Like No Other
By Apolinario Villalobos
I first met Job when I was checking in for my flight back to Manila many years back when he was yet with Philippine Airlines that he joined on May 26, 1988. Unfortunately, when the airline underwent a spin-off in December 1, 2015, he was among those who reluctantly accepted the offered package.
I did not know then, that he is a multi-talented singer as his voice range covers country/folk, blues, rock and roll, aside from deftly playing the acoustic guitar. I first got the information about him from a friend who told me that there’s a PALer who performs at the Outback Grill. I forgot all about it until a PAL employee at the Davao airport confirmed the information, adding that it is Job, so I googled his name and true enough, his facebook is filled with photo showing him during animated performances and with his band. I was thrilled as I was also a folk singer during my early years in Manila to earn extra, a job on the side which my boss in PAL did not know. Compared to Job, however, my skill pales to his versatility.
Twice, I tried to connect with him while I was in Davao but failed due to his hectic schedule. I had no idea about the schedule of hi gigs so that I was at a loss as to where to find him. What I did was ask friends in Davao if they are familiar with him and aside from saying yes, they even added the information about his kerchief-covered head which they added, could be his distinct statement. And, they told me that he, indeed, is a singer.
With those confirmations, I decided to go ahead with this blog and just catch up with his live performance at any of the venues, after which I would write another one. Luck was with me when finally, we got connected and he agreed to send me the latest information about his gigs. I want to make sure where to find him, as soon as I got time for an overnight stay in Davao the next time I fly south.
So, here folks, is his schedule: Monday – Reggae Grill (Torres St.); Tuesday – Outback Grill; Wednesday – Barukan Grill (Ma-a); Saturday – Uptown Grill (Cabantian); Sunday – Comus Grill (Mamay Road). Although, he performs solo, sometimes he plays with his band, JOVI AND THE COWBOYS, especially, when they are contracted. The band members are Val Mat (acoustic guitar/vocalist); Edgar Echavez (bass); Jun Mercado (lead guitaris); Lito Bosque (drummer); Randy Avila (vocalist). Aside from playing the acoustic guitar and the band leader, he is also a vocalist of the band.
I relate with Job as we are both artists and I also sympathize with him when he confided that with a heavy heart he left PAL. Unlike me, however, I got burned up with my job in PAL so that leaving it gave me some sort of a relief, although, nothing can stop me from looking back to the airline that became so much part of my life. Perhaps, when I can have another chance to talk again to Job, I would advise him to move on with his music, as I did with my writing…and still remain a member of the original PAL family.
Mindanao
Mindanao
By Apolinario B Villalobos
Itinuring na lupang ipinangako –
Ng mga Pilipinong dito ay napadako
Mga naglakas-loob na makipagsapalaran
Hindi inalintana panganib na madadatnan.
Maraming kuwento ang aking nalaman –
May mga kulay ng lungkot at kaligayahan
Nguni’t lahat ay puno ng hangarin, ng pag-asa
Sa lupang ipinangako’t magigisnang bagong umaga.
May mga Pangasinense, Kapampangan, Ilocano
Mayroong Bicolano, Bulakeño, Caviteño, Batangueño
Mga taga-Luzon silang dala ay lakas ng loob, kasipagan
Hindi ininda ang init sa pagbungkal ng tigang na kabukiran.
Mayroon ding galing sa Antique, Negros, isla ng Cebu
Sumunod ang mga taga-Leyte, Antique, Guimaras at Iloilo
Ano pa nga ba’t sa malawak, mayaman at luntiang Mindanao
Magkaiba man ang mga salita, pagkakaisa ay pilit nangingibabaw.
Hitik sa kwentong makulay ang buong isla ng Mindanao
Unang tumira’y mga kapatid nating sa relihiyon, iba ang pananaw
Silang mga taal na katutubo, makukulay, matatapang at mahinahon
Tanging hangad ay mabuhay ng matiwasay, tahimik, sa lahat ng panahon.
Ang mga Kristiyano, Muslim, Lumad – lahat sila ay nagkakaisa
Nagtutulungan, nagbibigayan, mga paniwala man nila ay magkaiba
Nguni’t dahil sa makasariling hangad ng ilang gahaman sa kapangyarihan
Animo kristal na nabasag, iningatang magandang samahan at katahimikan.
Nguni’t tayo ay Pilipino, iba tayo – lumalaban na may masidhing pag-asa
Sa harap ng masalimuot na mga problema, matatatag na kalasag ay nakaamba
Ito’y ang masidhing paniniwala sa Maykapal, malalim at marubdob na kapatiran
Ugaling nagbuklod sa mga taga-Mindanao, magkaiba man ang pananaw at kaugalian.
Ating isigaw-
Mabuhay ang Mindanaw!
Mabuhay ang Pilipinas!
A Surprise Visit to NDTC Molders of Youth…Ms. Norma Rafael and Mr. Morito Parcon (Davao City)
A Surprise Visit to NDTC Molders of Youth
…Ms. Norma Rafael and Mr. Morito Parcon (Davao City)
By Apolinario Villalobos
It was an unholy hour in the morning of Thursday, around 7AM when I trudged my way toward the gate of Ruby Subdivision to search for the home of the noted teachers of Notre Dame of Tacurong, the former Norma Rafael and Morito Parcon, but now lovey dovey partners for life. I took a tri-sikad (foot-pedaled pedicab) whose driver fortunately knew them, as Mr Parcon also served as a president of the homeowners association. When I knocked at their gate, it was their eldest, Toto, who answered my call and told me that his parents were attending that day’s Mass. I learned that they never miss a single Mass every day of the week.
The imposing Mt. Apo at 10,311 feet above sea level, practically loomed behind their home at the western dead-end portion of their “village”. The medicinal herbs that practically surround their home were a delight to the eyes. Due to the abundance of turmeric, they have ventured into packing of its powder form in capsules which at Php6 each could be considered the cheapest in the market. But one has to knock at their gate to make a purchase as their “business” is home-based and was originally intended to “kill” boredom and time to keep Mr. Parcon busy after having been hospitalized for a long time.
Our talk dwelt on the good old days in Notre Dame of Tacurong when Mr. Parcon was teaching Political Science in college while Ms. Norma Rafael was molding young girls at the former Girls Department which was under the administration of the Dominican Sisters (Order of Preachers). The college and Boys High School departments were, on the other hand, under the wings of the Oblate priests (Oblates of Mary Immaculate) with the assistance of the Oblates of Notre Dame (OND) Sisters.
Mr. Morito Parcon could well be considered as the historian of our city, for coming out with an extensively-researched book on her political history that covered the days when Buluan served as the “Mother Town” until the administration of Jose Escribano, the controversial mayor who got involved in a murder case. It took Mr. Parcon some time and loads of patient interview of pioneer leaders and settlers who came from the Visayas and Luzon, as well as hectic days of poring over filed records of early local government offices.
We mentioned names of his other students, some of whom were Ruel Lucentales, who was an Assistant Secretary of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) at the time of his death, Jaime Bides who was a tour planning officer of the Marsman Travel and Tours, and later a businessman and resource person on spiritual matters, Renato Hingco who was connected with the Department of the Budget and Management (DBM) and Felizardo Lazado who was also with the DSWD before occupying an important position in the Ministry of Human Settlements later on. On the side of the Girls’ Department, names such as, Esther Bagsic, Talama Makilala-Saavedra, Rodina Ballena-Marasigan, Virgie Paragas, Esther Bagsic, Elma Darjan-Bides who is the current Tacurong City Accountant, and many more were mentioned. It was a meeting of quick reminiscences to the delight of my former teachers who, I had to help recall important moments in the past. For the photo opportunities, I asked them to pose in front of the tall and thickly growing wild sugar cane, crawling medicinal herbs, as well as, big pomelo look-alike and cure-all “magic fruits”. Some photos were taken with their eldest son, Toto.
I am sharing this experience to give an idea to viewers that even a simple visit can make important people in our life very happy…they who helped us grow into responsible citizens of the country. That is why, I smiled when, Mr. Parcon proudly declared, “I made them all”, referring to us, his students. Indeed, he did his best and I can attest to that!
The Consistency of PAL-Davao in Maintaining the Airline’s High Quality of Service Standards
The Consistency of PAL- Davao in Maintaining
The Airline’s High Quality of Service Standards
By Apolinario Villalobos
Davao station of Philippine Airlines is considered as the hub of its operation in Mindanao and lately, its scope extends to the neighboring Asian countries. As I have worked with the said company for a little more than twenty years and left it during the early years of the new management’s take over, I can very well say that I have an idea of what had been and what are being done as regards the customer satisfaction which fortunately has been maintained due to the consistency of the airline’s high standards.
According to Mr. Vic Suarez, the new Head for Mindanao Sales Area, the airline will not compromise its high standard by scrimping on other aspects of operations as some sort of an offsetting, most especially, by offering low fares, except the seasonal promos. High quality of service can only be assured if there is enough manpower that can attend to the requirements of customers. As can be observed, all ticketing offices and the check-in counters at the airport terminals are adequately manned by equally vibrant personnel of Macro-Asia. Mr. Suarez is supported by Ma. Leana Sanga, Secretary; Edgardo Ramos, Staff Assistant; and Ricardo Ambrosio, Sr. Market Planning Analyst.
If international cuisine has its “fusion” dishes concocted based on different cultural influences, PAL has its “fusion service”. It is my own terminology and I came up with it in view of the harmonious co-operation of service providers and the held-over organic PAL employees. As in Manila, this unique and harmonious fusion of effort is also found in the operation of PAL in Davao. The ticketing office at the Davao airport is manned by the organic PAL employees, while the check- counters, load control, and the Mabuhay Lounge are manned by the young staff of Macro-Asia. Behind them, such as the Airport Service Manager, Ms. Ludy Bagares and the Customer Service Officers are all organic PAL employees. Helping them out in the overall operation is Excellent, the manpower agency that provided the aircraft cleaning crew, janitorial and porter service.
The Customer Service Officers who have spent a good number of years with PAL are Leonilo Abella, Ernie Adrias, Archie Batu, Karlo Respicio, Marlon Rosales, Allen Dizon, Art Migalben, and Anthony Paradela, with the last four mentioned also handling Cargo.
The Macro-Asia Supervisors are Charlie Erojo, Erwin Tongco, Dennis Tiamson, Rommel Covarubias and June Dalisay. The Passenger Services Agents is Ruben Maglaya; and Cargo Service Agents, Ben Arcayan and Julbert Nolasco. The ramp area is handled by the Ramp Service Agents, Ruel Catao, Cyril Pollaris and Joel Montales, while the Ramp Equipment Repairman is Lambert Lazaro.
Ms. Bagares expressed that so far, their operation is smooth and without any hassle as the traditional and high PAL standards are maintained to ensure that the customers get the commensurate worth of what they paid for to reach their destination safely.
The Latest Bombing in Davao City
THE LATEST BOMBING IN DAVAO CITY
By Apolinario Villalobos
Now it can be told… the latest bombing in Davao City showed that some Filipinos cannot make themselves feel for the crime victims in their effort to discredit the effort of Duterte to clip illegal drug trade and other form of criminality, in the bud. Instead of sympathizing with and show compassion to the victims, they instead, released unsavory remarks about the “arrogance” of Duterte. For them, the “courage” of the new president to clash head-on with the drug lords and other criminals in the country is a show of “arrogance”. For these detractors, the “laxity” of the past presidents as regards the various menace of the society is “piety” which for them cannot be replaced by any option even in the face of the dreaded threat by the criminals to totally destroy the country’s future.
The latest bombing also showed the inutility of the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) as instead of dipping its finger in the investigation, it instead, reacted to the declaration of the “State of Lawless Violence” by president Duterte. Obviously, the CHR does not seem to stand on its mandate to protect the rights of the victims of criminalities. What they seem to protect are the rights of those who commit crimes…PEOPLE, WHO BY THEIR CRIMINAL ACTS AGAINST THE INNOCENT, HAVE CEASED TO BE HUMANS!
The seemingly lack of interest by the international social media should be treated as a blessing in disguise. The incident in Davao is an obvious isolated smear campaign against the administration and has been anticipated by the military as Abu Sayyaf’s reaction to its incessant campaign to pulverize this terroristic group….some sort of a diversionary tactic. The pronouncement was made by the military after it has reaped partial success against the group. It was purely a terroristic act that, not even first-world nations like the United States, France, and Germany cannot check 100%.
As the State of Lawless Violence is intended for the whole country, every Filipino should show utmost cooperation. Detractors should stop messing it up by spreading rumors about its being a precursor of the Martial Law which the president himself, has already denied many times. This is the time for the whole nation to stand as one against criminality in any form.
Davao International Airport Needs Urgent Attention for the Necessary “Changes”
DAVAO INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT NEEDS URGENT ATTENTION
FOR THE NECESSARY “CHANGES”
By Apolinario Villalobos
When Rodrigo Duterte was campaigning for the presidency, the popular caveat is: “change is coming”. Now, that he is in Malacaἧan Palace finally, it has become: “change for the better”. Indeed, there are so many things that need to be changed as part of his “house cleaning”. One of them is the Davao International Airport which is in a very sorry state. Many disappointed visitors to the Davao were heard to have commented on how in the world has such a “dilapidated” terminal become an international airport? For one thing, the decrepit signage announcing “Davao International Airport” has only with four or five lighted letters. The whole terminal building needs a repainting to put it bluntly. One lane that leads to the entrance of the pre-departure is closed forcing passengers alighting from taxis, thereby, forcing them to cross two lanes before finally making it to the unglamorous gate of the pre-dep. And, worst is the constant breakdown of the aircon system making many offices inside the terminal building akin to sauna cubicles!
Davao is supposed to be the premier international airport in Mindanao, but there is not even a 24-hour lounge for passengers who come from neighboring cities and towns, and who are then forced to stay in cheap downtown lodging facilities for a few hours in their desire to be on the first flight the following day. The average taxi fare from the downtown area is Php250, but for humanitarian’s sake, there should be a tip of at least Php20.00 The drivers of taxis queueing outside the airport “fence” are left on their own without, at least mobile toilets. And, to think that they an integral part of the tourism industry. I was told by many drivers that they would have to look for discreet corners every time they heed the call of nature. Aside from the mobile toilet, they should be provided with at least, a sheds of tarp with benches as they patiently wait for the visitors for 24 hours. And, there’s one signage announcing the presence of a government office in the area, but the name is shamefully printed in small letters under the name of the sponsor, a soft drink company which is printed in big letters…now, I think that is wrong because government agencies are not supposed to solicit funds for promo undertakings as they are supposedly budgeted!
The new secretary of the Department of Tourism, Wanda Tulfo Teo should do something about the aforementioned appalling situations. There is no problem with the peace and order of Davao, especially, with the transport service because taxi drivers are generally courteous and honest. But tourism is not all about peace and honest taxi drivers. The industry is more that those, as just like in visiting a house as guest, there is a question, such as, what can a palatable food on a grandly prepared table do if the yard is full of grass, the gate and the door are dilapidated, and the lighting fixtures are out of order?
The international focus has been veered towards Davao where the new president came from, and also due to its reputation as the comparably most peaceful city in the Philippines, thanks to him. It is home to the highest peak in the country, Mt. Apo, at 10,311 feet above sea level: the most exotic fruit, durian: Davao coffee made from coffee beans disposed awkwardly by civets from their innards: and, not to mention the reputation of the city as the biggest in area, in the whole world at 2,444 square kilometers. The new president who is known for his hard-hitting remarks and cuss has trebled the curiosity about this city. Davao is not only about Mindanao…she now stands for the Philippines as Duterte has become synonymous to her.
The Last Monday Flag Ceremony of Duterte in Davao (27June)
The Last Monday Flag Ceremony of Duterte in Davao (27June)
By Apolinario Villalobos
Listening to the radio broadcast of the speech of Rodrigo Duterte during the last flag ceremony that he attended as mayor of the city, listeners could feel his closeness to his constituents who trusted him for so many years. Non-Visayans who can understand only a sprinkling of the Cebuano dialect should not immediately make judgments or impressions after hearing familiar cusses and other words which may sound vulgar to them. This is how his morality and personality was unfairly misjudged by those from Luzon who have a different culture. If Duterte spoke in Bisaya during the flag ceremony, they should understand that he is in Davao speaking before a throng of Visayans.
Reporters should know by now that what makes Duterte cuss are words such as “drugs”, “drug lords”, “drug addict”, “rapists” and “corruption”. This is observable, for every time he mentioned those words during his speech, he tried with much effort to control himself not cuss, but with futility. Meanwhile, reporters should also be wary about questions that go beyond the borderline of privacy, and those which are already asked, but just repeated as if to test his consistency and recall ability. He is not a showbiz personality who needs media mileage to maintain a high degree of popularity. Duterte expects so much work to be done and this is what he will do despite his forthcoming “meager” salary which he jokingly declared to be just enough for his former wife and current “girlfriend”, with nothing much left for him. Some of those in the media who are so presumptuous about their “ability” to manipulate government officials by putting words in their mouth should stop such antic. Duterte is very much different from the presidents who came before him…as he knows his purpose for the Filipinos and the country. And, as he himself said, he would rather be left alone working, than be interviewed.
Manila reporters should start getting firsthand information on Duterte by talking with media people from Davao so that they can make the necessary adjustments to the personality and working habit of the new president. They should remove from their mind that being “Tagalogs”, they are superior to their Visayan counterparts. On the other hand, as an unsolicited suggestion, media entities in Manila should start hiring Bisayans to enhance their stable of field reporters and broadcasters. This shall preclude any misunderstanding as had happened even while Duterte was still campaigning.
Ang Pagmumura at si Duterte
Ang Pagmumura at si Duterte
Ni Apolinario Villalobos
Dapat mag-ingat kahit kaunti si Duterte dahil tumitindi ang smear campaign laban sa kanya. Noon ay ang patagong banat sa kanya laban sa kanyang “pambabae” daw at “salvaging”. Mabuti at siya mismo ay nagsalita na tungkol sa mga bagay na ito at umamin pa, kaya wala nang mauukilkil tungkol sa mga ito upang hantarang ibabanat sa kanya. Isa sa mga tinitingnan ngayon ng mga naninira laban sa kanya ay ang ugali niyang pagmumura. Masama mang banggitin, may ginagamit na mga taga-media ang mga kalaban niya kaya sa isang iglap, kalat agad sa buong bansa kung may masambit man siyang pagmumura. Wala tayong magagawa dahil yan ang kalakaran ng pulitika sa Pilipinas.
Ang malas, “tinuka” niya ang pain na tanong tungkol sa pagdating ng santo papa, sa pagsagot subalit may kasamang pagmumura. Pinagpipiyestahan ng mga maninira ang ugali niyang pagmumura at pagiging prangka. Dahil sa ginagawa niyang pagmumura ay nagiging tactless siya.
May mga taong naging ugali na ang pagmumura kaya automatiko ang pagsambit ng maaanghang na salita na naging bahagi ng kanyang bokabularyo. Dapat baguhin ang ganitong pag-uugali na hindi man dinidekta ng puso ay masama ang epekto lalo sa mga taong banal kuno pero mahilig namang magbanggit ng “for Christ’s sake” o “for God’s sake” na mas matinding blasphemy at laban sa isa sa mga kautusan sa Ten Commandments. Ang mga banal na ito ay nagsa-sign of the cross pa kapag nakarinig ng masama o nakakita ng masama. Bakit hindi na lang sila maglagay ng busal sa mga tenga o di kaya ay maglagay ng pantakip sa mga mata na ginagamit ng mga kutsero sa kanilang kabayo para diretso ang kanilang tingin kapag naglalakad sa kalye? Pero kung marinig lang sila kung murahin nila ang kapitbahay at kasambahay kahit pa kararating lang nila mula sa simbahan dahil dumalo sa misa……..nakuuuu!
Upang maipakita ko ang katapatan sa binabahagi ko tungkol sa pagmumura at upang maging makatotohanan ang mga sinasabi ko, aaminin kong nakikita ko ang sarili ko kay Duterte dahil naging bahagi na rin ng pananalita ko ang pagmumura tulad ng “tangna” na pinaiksing “putang ina”, ang “belatibay” na pinaiksing “latibay” upang hindi masyadong maanghang pakinggan, at ang pabulong na “..hit” na sana ay “shit”, pero hindi pa rin nawawala ang “yodiputa”. Tulad ni Duterte, marami rin ang nagalit at nakadanas din ako ng panlilibak dahil sa pagmumura ko. Ang masakit lang, ang iba pala sa kanila ay matindi naman palang manira ng kapwa!
Sa mga naging president ng Pilipinas ang kilala sa pagmumura ay si Manuel L. Quezon na ang ginagamit na kataga ay mula sa wikang Kastila…maraming nagalit sa kanya noon lalo na ang mga kasama niya sa gobyerno na karamihan ay nakatikim ng pagmumura mula sa kanya. May dati akong boss na ang ginagamit na salita ay “Jesus Christ” or “Jessezzzz” sabay hawak sa kanyang noo…at ngayon ay malamang kasama na niya dahil namayapa na siya. Yong isang kaibigan ko naman ay paborito ang “damn you” at “go to hell”, patay na rin siya at malamang ay nandoon na rin siya. Yong isa pa ay “demonyo ka” o di kaya ay “demonyo” lang kung walang kausap pero nadapa o nauntog o may nakalimutan sa bahay.
Ang pagmumura ay isang paraan upang lumuwag ang naninikip na dibdib ng isang taong galit. Sa halip na lakas ang gamitin niya sa pamamagitan ng pagsuntok sa kausap o manira ng anumang gamit na mahawakan ay dinadaan na lang niya sa pagmumura. May nasimulan naman sa Japan na pantanggal ng tension na sanhi ng paninikip ng dibdib, at ito ay ang pagsigaw kahit halos namamaos na. Subalit may paraan na ngayon upang mapalitan ang ganitong uri ng paglabas ng galit, sa pamamagitan ng paghinga ng malalim o “deep breathing”. Sa kamalasan, may isa akong kaibigan na sa sobran galit ay pinilit ang sunud-sunod na deep breathing kaya hinimatay dahil na-choke…kinapos ng hangin! Ayaw kong mahimatay tulad niya.
Ang problema sa kultura natin na may pagka-colonial pa rin, kapag ang pagmumura ay ginawa sa English o Kastila, parang wala lang ang epekto, pero kung ang pagmumura ay ginawa na sa Pilipino, ang nakakarinig, lalo na mga banal daw ay para nang natapunan ng ipot ng pusa sa mukha. Hindi ko sinasabing hindi masama ang pagmumura. Subalit dapat ay maghinay-hinay sa paghusga sa mga taong nagmumura. Mabuti nga lumabas ang masamang salita lang mula sa kanya, hindi tulad ng ibang nagbabanal-banalan na ang masamang ugali ay nagkakaugat sa puso nila at diwa kaya habang tumagatal ay yumayabong pa. Ang pagmumura namang inilalabas ay walang pagkakataong yumabong dahil….yon nga, ibinuga na ng bibig!
Narinig ang tape tungkol sa pagmumura ni Duterte sa santo papa, kaya malinaw na ginawa nga niya. Isa itong maituturing na “tactlessness” o kawalan ng pasubali o ugaling bara-bara sa salitang kanto….na talagang mali. Subalit si Duterte ay kilala sa paghalo ng mga biro sa kanyang pananalita, kaya malamang, para sa kanya ay joke ang sinabi niya….pero joke na masama o hindi nararapat dahil si Francs bilang pinakamataas na lider ng simbahang Katoliko ay tinuturing na banal kay tinawag na “santo papa”.
Kilalal sa pagbiro ang mga Bisaya, na kahit maanghang sa pandinig ay hindi naman bukal sa kalooban ng nagsabi, tulad ng pabirong “gi-atay ka” o “lilinti-an ka” na ang mga kahulugan ay ayaw ko na lang sabihin. Mabuti na rin ang ginawang pagpuna kay Duterte, para hindi isipin ng santo papa na tino-tolerate ng mga Pilipino ang ganitong ugali…at baka hindi na siya magsalita ng blessing sa Pilipino tuwing mamintana upang magbasbas sa mga taong nag-aabang sa kanya.
Pero, sa isang banda, kung papipiliin ako sa pagitan ng isang taong nagmumura subalit ang layunin ay magkaroon ng pagbabago sa isang sistema ng gobyerno na may makapal na kulapol ng korapsyon at may napatanuyan na, at sa isang taong namang dahilan ng kagutuman at kahirapan ng buong bayan dahil sa kawalan ng malasakit, kahit hindi pa nagmumura at animo ay larawan ng pagkabanal at pagka-santo na pagkukunwari lang pala….ang pipiliin ko ay ang nagmumura!
Ang ginawa ni Duterte kahit pa maituturing na joke ay patunay sa binitiwan niyang babala noon na kung maging presidente siya ay wala siyang sasantuhin….kaya humanda na sila!
penpowersong 