The Need for Moderation

The Need for Moderation

By Apolinario Villalobos

 

Nobody is perfect and everybody has a tendency to be bad. But there are what we call “discipline” and “control” that can make us restrain our acts. As intelligent creatures, we are supposed to have an inner strength that can help us decide to observe “moderation” in everything that we do.

 

We can be bad but we must always bear in mind the “Golden Rule” unless we are prepared for the consequences of our acts that could hurt others, as similar hurt or much more can happen to us. Most often, we are hurt by our own acts…these are the self-inflicted consequences due to our irresponsibility and lack of common sense. Among these are doing things that we know could affect our health, such as, excessive imbibing of alcoholic drinks and unscrupulous pigging out on unhealthy foods.

 

The worst heartless people who lack restraint are those who exploit others, among which are the corrupt in the government. Ironically, these are graduates of big universities with doctorates and masters in various academic spheres, such as, Public Administration, Education, Humanities, and even professional lawyers, physicians, professors. With their transformation from supposedly “honorable” status in life into greedy maniacs when they stepped into the threshold of the government, they deserve to be called “professional corrupt”.  This greedy lot seems to have not come across the word “moderation”, as they want everything that they can hold on to at the expense of others. I WOULD LIKE TO REITERATE THAT NOT ALL GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS ARE CORRUPT, AS A HANDFUL OF THEM HELD ON TO THEIR WITS TO REMAIN HONORABLE IN THE REAL SENSE OF THE WORD DESPITE THE MAGNANIMOUS TEMPTATION.

 

On the spiritual side, many eager beavers who claim to have an “encounter” with the Lord, act as if they are the Chosen People of the modern times. They preach what they read in the Bible but never put them into practice. In this regard, I admire the low-profiled New Christians regardless of their denomination, some of whom are leaders of their humble Ministries while the rest spread the Good News via text messages. They never go beyond the limits of their capability to stand for Jesus and God. They preach within the limit of their sincere capability instead of being noisy, and manifesting only what they sincerely feel.

 

We are suffering today due to our excessive greed for comfort. Factories are mushrooming all over the world to bring forth supposedly necessities in life – machines, gadgets, chemicals, garments, packed foods, etc. The factories belch out pollutants that destroy Nature…that is how I can simply state the consequence of our excessive cravings. As a result, the natural climatic cycle has drastically changed. Excessive rains cause flood. Excessive wind causes storms and typhoons. The ozone layer has been ripped exposing the Earth to the deadly heat of the sun.

 

Finally, excessive love can result to selfishness that could be fatal….

 

Ang Tubig at Hangin

Ang Tubig at Hangin

Ni Apolinario Villalobos

 

Ang tubig at hangin –

Bahagi ng buhay kung sila ay ituring.

 

Sa tubig ng sinapupunan nakalutang

Ang binhi ng buhay na sumisibol pa lamang

Na sa mundong lalabasa’y walang kamuwang-muwang.

 

Gaya ng tubig, ang hangi’y buhay din,

Nagpapatibok sa puso, nagpapapintig;

Ang sibol, nakapikit man, ito ay nakakarinig

Na animo  ay naghahanda na, paglabas niya sa daigdig.

 

Hangin ang unang malalanghap niya

Sa takdang panahong siya’y isinilang na,

At, sa kaguluhan ng mundo

Imumulat ang mga mata –

Kasabay ng malakas niyang pag-uha.

 

Sa tigang na lupa, ang tubig ay buhay

Ito’y ulang bumabagsak mula sa kalawakan

Subali’t kapag lumabis na’t hindi mapigilan

Nagiging baha, pumipinsala sa sangkatauhan

Ganoon din ang hangin na dulot ay ginhawa

Basta ang ihip, huwag lang magbago ng timpla.

 

Baha at bagyo

Dulot ng tubig at hangin sa mundo

Hindi masawata

Kaya dulot ay matinding pinsala

Subali’t sana, kahit papaano’y maiibsan

Kung napangalagaan natin ang kalikasan –

Na ating inalipusta nang walang pakundangan!

 

 

Note:

Sibol – fertilized egg of the woman

Sinapupunan – womb

Kamuwang-muwang (kamuwangan) – knowledge

Pintig – pulse

Tigang – dry

Inalipusta – abused

 

Ode to Mother Earth

Ode to Mother Earth

by Apolinario Villalobos

 

Looking back when time began

God said the words

Giving life to all

That He desired,

The endless expanse of the void

Was filled with motley specks

That moved with harmony –

A prodigious task

Of the Almighty.

 

A tiny dot in the universe

Mother Earth throbbed with life

As God made her a living sphere

Covered with green and blue

All part of God’s grandiose plan

Done in a few days of divine toil,

Though, He rested finally,

Being satisfied at last

On the seventh day.

 

Out of a handful dust from her womb

God made Adam, by such name he was called

And with God’s breathe of life

What was once a lump with limbs

Has become like Him in image

And let to roam the Garden of Eden.

But then, loneliness soon had its toll

Which when God has perceived –

From Adam’s rib, He made Eve.

 

Alas! Mother Earth now nurtured

Not only lesser creatures

But the pair that God made

In His own image;

A paradise, Eden was supposed to be

But to it, a serpent found its way

Tempting Eve to have a taste of ecstasy

And, no sooner than she did have a bite

She made Adam commit the same apostasy!

 

The blunder made by Adam and Eve

Instigated the misery of Mother Earth

As they opened the floodgate of afflictions

That soon blemished her once pristine face;

Greed and selfishness, for long led lives –

Cain putting to death his own brother Abel

And many others whose names are written

On the sacred pages of the age-old Book

And all it needs is for us is to take a serious look.

 

And it is so sad,

As warnings that Mother Earth belched

In her effort to wake man up with a jolt

Did not budge him even just a bit…

 

 

Ang Mga Karahasan, Kalamidad, at ang Kapangahasan ng Tao

Ang Mga Karahasan, Kalamidad

At ang Kapangahasan ng Tao

Ni Apolinario Villalobos

 

Dahil sa paghihirap at kamatayang dulot sa sangkatauhan at mundo sa kabuuhan, ang mga karahasan at kalamidad ay itinuturing na mga parusa ng Manlilikha sa tao. Kung tutuusin, tama rin dahil kung hindi umabuso ang tao sa paggamit ng biyayang bigay ng kalikasan at hindi naging mapag-imbot ay naiwasan sanang masira ang kapaligiran at ang mga tao ay hindi nagpapatayan.

 

Sa isang banda naman, kung hihintayin lang ang itinakdang gulang kung kaylan mamatay ang mga tao… ibig sabihin ay walang sakit, walang epidemya, walang disgrasya, walang giyera, at iba pang sanhi ng maagang kamatayan, malamang ay wala na halos natirang lupang titirhan sa panahong ito dahil sa dami ng mga tao. Ganoon din ang mangyayari kung naging halos paraiso ang mundo dahil walang gubat na nakakalbo, walang mga hayop na magpapatayan, malinis ang karagatan, malinis ang hangin….siguradong aapaw na rin ang mga hayop sa kagubatan at gagala na sa mga bahaging tinitirhan ng mga tao.

 

Hindi sa hinihingi kong magkaroon palagi ng karahasan at kalamidad upang makontrol ang pagdami ng mga tao sa mundo. Subali’t kung ating papansinin, malaki din ang naitutulong ng siyensiya sa pagpahaba ng buhay ng tao dahil sa mga naiimbentong makabagong gamot at paraan sa pag-opera ng katawan, at pagpapaigsi naman dahil sa mga makabagong gamit pandigma. Ibig sabihin, kung may likas na pangkontrol sa buhay ng tao tulad ng mga kalamidad, nasasabayan ito ngayon ng mga kayang gawin ng tao sa pamamagitan ng kanyang karunungan.

 

Dahil sa mga nabanggit, kung may mga mangyayari man sa ating buhay, huwag nating isisi lahat sa Diyos, dahil ang tao ngayon ay “kumikilos at nag-iisip” na rin na parang Diyos kaya pati ang “pagbuo” (cloning) ng isa pang tao gamit lang ang kapirasong bahagi ng isang katawan ay kaya na rin niyang gawin. Ang ibang hindi magandang pangyayari sa mundo ay dapat  ding isisi sa taong may sakim na pagnanasang malampasan pa ang Manlilikha!

 

Masarap Sana, Subali’t Nakakalito ang Buhay sa Mundo

Masarap Sana,  Subali’t Nakakalito ang Buhay sa Mundo

Ni Apolinario Villalobos

 

Masarap sana ang mabuhay sa mundo, kung hindi magulo at walang mga kalituhan. Dahil ito sa likas na ugali ng taong mapanlamang, mapag-imbot, at maramot na kadalasang  tumatalo sa mga mabubuting ugali na mapagpakumbaba, mapagbigay, at bukas-palad. Kung mapagpakumbaba ka, siguradong yayapakan ang iyong mga karapatan. Kung mapagbigay ka, siguradong itutulak ka lang sa tabi ng mga mapag-imbot. Kung bukas-palad ka kaya maluwag sa loob ang pagtulong sa kapwa, aabusuhin ka naman.

 

Dahil sa nabanggit na mga kalituhan, yong isa kong kaibigan, ay halos ayaw nang lumabas ng bahay upang makaiwas sa mga hindi magandang mangyayari sa kanya. Dahil sa ginawa niya, itinuring siya ng mga ungas niyang kapitbahay na “makasarili”. Sabi niya minsan sa akin, kung magpapaputok siya ng baril sa kalye siguradong sasabihin ng mga kapitbahay niyang “siga” siya. Sinabihan ko na lang na madaling araw pa lang ay umalis na siya at umatend ng misa sa Baclaran o Quiapo, pagkatapos ay mamigay ng tulong sa squatter’s area at kapag padilim na ay saka na lang siya umuwi – walang mga ungas na kapitbahay ang makakakita sa kanya. Sabi ko nga sa kanya ay maswerte siya at ungas lang ang mga kapitbahay niya…hindi mapagkunwari at mainggitin.

 

Hind lang sa pakikipagkapwa-tao ang may kalituhan, kundi kahit na rin sa mga bagay na kailangan upang mabuhay tulad ng pagkain. Kailangan daw ay kumain ng gulay at isda dahil masustansiya ang mga ito. Subali’t sa palengke, hindi lang isda ang nilulublob sa “formalin”,  ang kemikal na ginagamit sa pag-embalsamo, kundi pati na rin mga gulay upang hindi malanta agad. Ang karagatan at mga ilog na tinitirhan ng mga isda ay marumi na rin. Ang mga nahiwang gulay ay nilulublob sa tawas upang hindi mangitim tulad ng hiniwang langkang nakagawiang iluto sa gata at talong na tinanggalan ng bulok na bahagi, pati binalatang gabi, kamote, at patatas. Ang mga gulay sa pataniman ay alaga din sa mga chemical na pamatay-peste habang lumalago. Yong sinasabing mga “organic” daw ay hindi rin sigurado dahil maraming mga nagtitindang mahilig magsinungaling, makabenta lang. Kung totoo man, ay nakakakuha naman ang mga ito ng lason mula sa hangin.

 

Ang mga karne ay may mga anti-biotic, kaya ang akala ng isang kumpanyang nagdede-lata ng produktong karne ay bobo lahat ng mamimili dahil sinasabi ng ads nila na walang sakit ang mga baboy at manok nila – siyempre, dahil alaga sa antibiotic!…talaga din namang kumita lang, lahat ay gagawin upang makapanlinlang. At, yong mga batang lumaki sa gatas at karne ng hayop, ngayon ay may ugaling hayop na rin…dahil kung hindi man bastos ay lapastangan at suwail pa!

 

Ang mga softdrink lalo na ang “Cokes” (tawag yan ng Bisaya sa Coke”), na pampagana sa pagkain kahit bagoong, toyo, o patis lang ulam ay nakakasira ng kidney at atay. Kung mag-ulam naman palagi ng instant noodles na pinakamura at pinakamadaling iluto, subalit ginamitan ng kemikal upand hindi magdikit-dikit, ay lalo namang sisira ng kidney. Mismong bigas na sinasaing ay may mga chemical din upang hindi kainin ng uod at kuto habang nakaimbak sa bodega, kung saan ay iniispreyhan pa sila upang hindi upakan ng mga daga at ipis.

 

Ang instant na kape ay dumaan din daw sa mga paraan o process na nangailangan ng mga kemikal na hindi maganda sa katawan kahit pa sabihing nakakatulong ang inuming ito sa paglusaw ng cholesterol at bara sa daluyan ng dugo patungo sa puso. Ang asukal na puti ay mayroong bleaching chemical na nagpaputi sa dating manilaw-nilaw na katas na ito ng tubo. Naka-imbento ng artipisyal na asukal upang makaiwas sa diabetes, subalit nakakasira naman din daw ng kidney.

 

Pati mga bitamina na ginagawa sa mga laboratoryo ay pinagdududahan na rin. Kahit maliit lang ang sumobra sa naimon ay magsasanhi na ng overdose na maaari pang maging sanhi ng sakit. Sa puntong ito, ang mga gamot na akala natin ay nakakapandugtong ng buhay ay hindi rin pala magandang basta na lang iinumin, kaya mismong anti-biotic ay hindi na rin ligtas.

 

Ano pa nga ba at, animo ay nag-uunahan ang mga bahagi ng katawan natin kung alin sa kanila ang unang manghihina hanggang bumigay  dahil sa mga pagkaing akala natin ay pampahaba ng buhay, yon pala ay may mga lasong unti-unting nakakamatay. Kaya siguro, madalas na payo ng doctor sa pamilya ng pasyente na may taning na ang buhay, ay pagbigyan na lang ito sa lahat ng hihilingin niyang pagkain dahil wala na rin namang mangyayari bunsod ng lasong nagkakaiba lang ang dami sa bawat pagkain.  Ang maratay dahil sa sukdulang epekto ng lason na nakukuha natin sa mga pagkain at hangin ang ultimate na sitwasyon kung saan ay talagang angkop ang kasabihang, “no choice” at “…no turning back”.  Ang kalagayan ring ito ang nagpapakita na ang tao ay nagsi-self destruct!

 

 

 

 

On Extra-Terrestials, Man’s Evolution, His Toxic Food and Self-Destructive Habits

On Extra-Terrestials, Man’s Evolution,

His Toxic Food and Self-Destructive Habits

By Apolinario Villalobos

I believe that man went through evolution to become what he is now, but via genetic manipulation by the ET’s who came to earth thousands of years ago, and not through the “natural” process as Charles Darwin alleged. When before, scientists were skeptical and avoided discussion about the issue, today, they are more than open and willing, even going to the extent of bringing out to light long-kept dissertations and clippings. Even the Vatican has dipped her finger into the issue, as there are sketches and paintings with religious themes, and with landscapes that include controversial spherical objects hovering in the background. Some painted Nativity scenes are depicted with UFOs as the source of the light illuminating the manger, instead of a star. Even the “angels” whose ability to fly is symbolized by feathered wings are now presumed as ET spacemen equipped with flying gear.

Images from the past in the form of sculptures, paintings, and embossed renditions used “symbols” to indicate different qualities of leaders and gods, represented by animals, such as lion, leopard, cat, dog, eagle, bull, etc. These representations were made by early earthlings, who were artistically skilled but limited in scientific knowledge. The symbols, then, literally manifested the physical characteristics of gods being presented without the need for text in any form.  Along this line, the bull horns and lion have been, since the early time, used to represent power and strength, that is why, most gods are shown wearing headgear with horns, or whose head is that of a lion. These images purportedly represent visiting ETs.

Different ET’s that may have landed on different regions of the earth, could have “developed” their “own people” out of the upright walking creatures that they found, particularly the apes. This process could have involved the use of their (ET) own genes to modify or improve the earthlings’ characteristics. For doing this, the ETs may have selfish motives. It should be noted that apes are not just of a single kind, and their characteristics depend on the region where they thrive. The gene modification could have resulted then, to early earthlings with different characteristics depending on their region, and which have manifested in the color of their skin, height, shape of the face, kind of hair, etc. In the Old Testament of the Bible, there are mentions about races or tribes that suddenly appear from nowhere.  I thought of this because different races in the Bible kept on insisting about the power of “their own” god ….a recognition that they give to the power of their “creator”.

Each race even had a name of its own god. This is how I reconciled the differences of races that are populating different regions of the earth, such as the blacks in Africa, the white-skinned and blond-haired in the western and northern hemispheres, the chinky-eyed with white skin in the east, and the slightly to dark brown, short people in the south, and southeast. Obviously, they did not evolve from fish, lizards, etc that Charles Darwin had insisted in his theory of “natural” evolution, more so from apes, otherwise, today there should already be hairless, pretty and handsome apes with curly or straight hair, black or blond hair,  broad or aquiline nose, or walking fish and lizards. On the contrary, the apes of the thousand years ago are still the same apes that we find today.

In laboratories today, gene modification, cloning, and organ transplant are being done, as if scientists are dissecting frogs…meaning, the three mentioned processes are being done with ease because of modern medical technology. Where did such knowledge and ability come from? Of course, not from the early earthlings!  It is a big question that the religious and the overly skeptics still hate to hear. But for sure, they did not come from apes!

The health-conscious of today are against the scientific process of gene modification when applied to vegetables, grains, and fruits. They forgot however, that the modern fruits and grains are the result of this process to make them juicier, seedless, soft, sweeter, etc. The corn that we know today did not come in cobs, thousands of years ago. The corn of long ago had grains, instead of the big and chewable kernel. Corn is among those mentioned as food in the Bible, but they did not come in cobs, that is why nothing can be found in the Bible about “roasting of corn cobs”, but “baking of corn grits”, when what they meant actually were “corn grains”.

Other grains that were supposed to have originated in a region, somewhere in Turkey, were developed to improve their size, and even rice originally grew in swamps not on land. It should be noted that Turkey is among the regions purportedly used by the ETs as their landing ports, according to myths in the Bible.  In some regions of America, wild rice is still being harvested from swamps. Today, there is an effort to make rice resistant to floods, short of saying that it is being returned it to its former watery habitat.

Cross-breeding is one way of altering the genes of plants and animals, and this process still fall under the process of gene modification. There are many other genetically modified organisms (GMO) that are discreetly introduced. Lately, however, just because scientists would like to make vegetables last long and resistant to pest, health-conscious groups, are overreacting by  declaring them dangerous as they could alter the “characteristics” of man, and worse, even as unhealthy. When did man start living healthily, anyway, when all these claims for healthy living are full of deception?

These western groups are the ones that flood the social media with the contra-indications of natural substances and drugs. They feed the internet with information about fruits that should not be eaten together with certain meat or fish. They even come out with “findings” about certain fish not fit for consumption, such as tilapia because of the level of toxic substance in its meat, when practically all fish that thrive in the oceans have high toxin level, especially those in the European waters that have become dumping ground of toxic materials.  Why single out tilapia? Because of their allegations, all fishes should better be banned as they are poisonous!

These groups promote “organic food” – vegetables, fruits and meat that are not supposedly fertilized and fed with the harmful synthetic chemicals, but they forgot that the air is replete with toxin. In other words, the “organic food” that these groups allege to be safe are still contaminated due to the toxin from the atmosphere that they absorb since the first day of their growth.

Ironically, man continues to fill the air, the oceans, lakes and streams with the sediments of modern technology that he invented to be used for his survival….an unconscious(?) self-destruction. No food in its “pure” state can be found anywhere on earth. The quantity of toxin, though, that is taken in by man, depends on the region where he lives, thus, determines the length of his stay on earth….of course, with special consideration to available modern medical technology. In this regard, the third-world countries that have become the “catch basins” of these toxins, but without modern medical facilities are at the mercy of the highly progressive nations due to their factories that spew toxins in various forms …while their people enjoy the protection of their modern medical facilities.

This blog is not meant to destroy the faith in God. I believe that the universality of God is such that whatever faith we have in Him, could have just been passed on to us by the “better kind” of visiting ETs thousands of years ago. And, as regards the issue on creation, the ETs could also be the creations of God and who just delved in science to modify other creatures to suit their needs, hence, the evolution of the earthlings from the modified ape. This is what the highly intelligent earthlings are doing today…modifying creations to improve their “quality” and maximize their usability. So, why make the issues on UFOs, ETs, God, Creation, and Man very complicated that just result to unnecessary confusion? Are the religious and scientific authorities hiding information from the rest of the earthlings….though, may be divulged at the most appropriate time?

Ang Lason sa Pagkain ng Tao at iba pang Nagkontrol sa pagdami niya sa Mundo

Ang Lason sa Pagkain ng Tao at iba pang
Pangkontrol sa pagdami niya sa Mundo
ni Apolinario Villalobos

Nang minsang mamalengke ako nang maaga, nadaanan ko ang mga sariwang isda na nasa banyera at balde – galunggong, dalagang bukid, isdang lapad, belong-belong, karpa, tilapia at dilis. Ang iba sa kanila ay frozen, subalit ang nakatawag sa aking pansin ay ang kulay ng tubig na pinagbababaran nila. Tulad ng sa galunggong na kulay dark blue, at sa dalagang bukid na kulay pula. Nakita ko naman ang isang tindera na may pulbong inilagay sa balde na binababaran ng belong-belong at karpa. Nang tanungin ko ang tinderang may-ari ng mga isda, ang sagot niya ay kulay daw talaga yon ng mga isda. Hindi na ako nakipagtalo pa dahil ayaw kong masira ang araw ko. Alam ko naman talagang may ginagawa ang mga tindera at tinderong ito sa mga binebentang mga isda upang magmukhang sariwa at matigas sa buong maghapon.

Napabalita noon pa man na gumagamit pa nga raw sila ng formalin o yong gamot na ginagamit sa bangkay ng tao upang hindi ito maagnas agad. Pati tuyộ ay hindi pinalampas dahil ginamitan din ng formalin upang maging makintab at magmukhang malinis ang kaliskis. Mabibisto lang na may formalin dahil, kapag pinirito na ay may amoy at sumasabog ang laman. May nagsabi sa akin, na dyubos (pangkulay ng sapatos) naman daw ang ginagamit upang mapanatili ang sariwang kulay ng mga isda, kaya iba’t iba ang kulay depende sa natural na kulay ng isda.

Kamakailan lang napabalitang dahil sa katusuhan ng ibang nag-aalaga ng mga baboy, hinahaluan daw nila ang pagkain ng mga nito ng gamot ng tao para sa asthma upang hindi kumapal ang taba nila at magandang tingnan ang karne sa kabuuan nito. Ang masama lang, kapag nakain ng tao ang karne ng baboy na ginamitan ng gamot, hindi na siya tatablan nito sa panahong kailangan na niyang uminom dahil sa sakit na asthma.

Ang mga gulay ay “ini-embalsamo” na rin ng mga nagtitinda. Ang langka na panggulay, talong, kalabasa, kamatis, patola, at sitaw ay binababad na rin nila sa isang klase ng gamot na magpapasariwa sa mga ito nang kung ilang araw, kaya ang talong na tinapyasan ng bulok na bahagi kaya na-expose ang laman at langkang nahiwa o tinadtad na ay hindi nangingitim, ganoon din ang kalabasang nahiwa na at binabalot sa plastic bag kasama ng iba pang gulay na pang-pinakbet; ang kamatis ay hindi lalambot agad; ang patola ay hindi mangungulubot sa loob ng ilang araw, pati na ang sitaw. Natuklasan ko itong masamang gawain nang minsang magluto ako ng langka na mapait ang lasa at kahit mahigit isang oras na ay hindi pa rin lumalambot, ganoon din ang talong na kahit nadurog na ang ibang gulay na kasama sa tagal ng pagkakagisa, ito ay matigas at amoy sariwa pa rin. Ang sabi ng ilang nakausap ko, tawas daw ang ginagamit na “gamot” para sa gulay.

Noon, napabalitang walang pakundangan ang pag-spray sa mga NFA rice na iniimbak sa mga bodega, ng gamot na panlaban sa bukbok, bigas kuto, at iba pang kulisap na sumisira dito. Subalit, ang masamang epekto naman ay napupunta sa tao – masama na ang lasa, may amoy pa. Kawawa naman ang mga mahihirap na Pilipino dahil nakakakain nga maski paano ng murang bigas, may lason naman pala! Bandang huli, dahil sa pagkabulgar nitong hindi magandang gawain, ay siniguro na yata ng ahensiyang responsable na ang bigas ay talagang ligtas na makakain ng mga Pilipino. Subalit hindi man NFA ang bigas, kahit ang mga pangkaraniwang lokal na klase ay hindi rin ligtas dahil upang masiguro na hindi sila mapeste, ini-espreyhan din sila ng insecticide, kaya hindi maaaring wala silang nasipsip upang mapasama sa mga butil.

Ang mga gulay bukid na itinuturing na ligaw at nabubuhay sa palayan at tabi ng pilapil tulad ng kangkong, lupộ, at apat-apat, na masustansiya sana ay halos hindi na rin ligtas kainin dahil sa mga fertilizer na inii-spray sa mga palay na humahalo sa tubig kaya nasisipsip ng nabanggit na mga gulay. Pati ang kuhol at tulya na nakukuha sa linangan at gilid ng mga kanal ng arigasyon o patubig ay may mga deposito na ring lason sa kanilang laman.

Ang mga prutas tulad ng saging at mangga ay inii-espreyhan na rin, kaya kahit pa sabihing binabalatan muna sila bago kainin, hindi maaaring walang nasipsip na insecticide na humalo sa laman. Ang saging na pinapadala sa ibang bansa ay binababad sa isang klase ng kemikal upang maantala ang paghinog nito. Pati ang mga itinuturing na prutas-gubat tulad ng durian at mangosteen ay tinatanim na sa mga orchard at inii-espreyhan na rin. Ang tubo na pinagmumulan ng asukal ay kailangan din ispreyhan habang lumalaki upang siguradong hindi mapeste o di kaya ay ginagamitan ng abuno upang tumamis ang katas, kaya ito ay may bahid na rin ng lason.

Ang mga halamang gamot ay may bahid na rin ng lason na galing sa hangin dahil sa dumi nito. Kaya maski pa sabihing gamot sila at organic ang sistema ng pag-alaga sa mga green house, may posibilidad pa rin na may lason sila.

Ang ibig kong ipabatid sa isinulat kong ito ay: nagsi-self liquidate o pinapatay ng tao ang sarili, gamit ang mga ginawa o inembento niya. Iyan ang halaga o katumbas ng pag-unlad. Sa madaling salita, sariling karunungan ng tao ang pumapatay sa kanya. Hindi man idaan sa pagkain ang paliwanag, ibig kong sabihin, mismong mga gamit na magpoprotekto sana sa kanya na inimbento niya, tulad ng baril, itak, at bandang huli, granada at mga bomba, ang pumapatay din sa kanya.

Idagdag pa rito ang kasakiman na umaabot sa pag-abuso sa kalikasan tulad ng walang patumanggang pagto-troso at pagmimina na nagiging sanhi ng baha at pagkasira ng normal na takbo ng panahon. Dito lumalabas ang katalinuhan ng Diyos…dahil sa mga ganitong pangyayari, nakokontrol ang “pag-apaw” ng tao sa mundo!

Creation Care, Ecological Justice and Ethics by Patriarch Bartholomew

It is seldom that an Ecumenical Patriarch is given exposure for his views. During the recent visit of Patriach Bartolomew in Manila, he delivered a speech in which he shared his seldom-heard views about the most important issue – ecology, correlating it to man’s obligation for the sake of self-preservation. Though simply stated, his message is full of inspiration:

Reflections by Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew at the Forum held at the National Museum in Manila

CREATION CARE, ECOLOGICAL JUSTICE AND ETHICS

“Toward COP 21: Civil Society Mobilized for the Climate”
(February 26, 2015)

Distinguished forum participants,
Many of you may be surprised that a religious leader concerned with “spiritual” values is accompanying a political leader involved with “secular” issues. After all, what does preserving the planet have to do with saving the soul? It is widely assumed that climate change and the exploitation of natural resources are matters concerning scientists, technocrats and politicians.
Yet, the preoccupation of the highest spiritual authority in the worldwide Orthodox Church, namely the Ecumenical Patriarchate, with the ecological crisis demonstrates that we cannot have two ways of looking at the world: religious on the one hand and worldly on the other. We cannot separate our concern for human dignity, human rights or social justice from concern for ecological preservation and sustainability. These concerns are forged together, an intertwining spiral that can descend or ascend. If we value each individual made in the image of God, and if we value every particle of God’s creation, then we will care for each other and our world. In religious terms, the way we relate to nature directly reflects the way we relate to God and to our fellow human beings, as well as the way we relate to the biodiversity of creation.
At stake is not just our respect for biodiversity, but our very survival. Scientists calculate that those most harmed by global warming in the future will be the most vulnerable and marginalized. It is those living in the typhoon-prone Philippines who are being forced not only to deal with the miseries of flooded homes and prolonged disruption, but to make fundamental changes in their way of life. And there is a particularly bitter injustice about the fact that those suffering its worst ravages have done least to contribute to it. The ecological crisis is directly related to the ethical challenge of eliminating poverty and advocating human rights. Food security was the foremost issue at the United Nations climate change discussions in Geneva this month.
We are convinced that Asia holds many of the answers to a more biocentric worldview; Western industrialized nations must be humble to listen and learn. Only a few days ago, in India, the world’s public health leaders concluded that fossil fuels are detrimental to human health and wellbeing. And the Philippines – already a leader in geothermal and hydropower – are committed to a path from low carbon to zero carbon in a partnership between the public and private sectors.
This means that global warming is a moral crisis and a moral challenge. The dignity and rights of human beings are intimately and integrally related to the poetry and – we would dare to say – the rights of the earth itself. Human rights in the West have long been criticized for individualism. So will we recognize the faces of the thousands – men and women, mothers and children, elderly and disabled – lost when Typhoon Yolanda hit Guian at 4.40am on November 8th, 2013? On that day, by providence or serendipity, our church celebrates the feast of the holy angels. Will we remember the haunting photographs of that nightmare? The number of deaths horrifies us – but what most painfully reaches our feelings is the individual faces of loss and terror.
And what about the rights of the earth – of which we are a part and apart from which we cannot exist? Who will speak for the voiceless resources of our planet? Who will protect the silent diversity of its species? Will we accept responsibility for pushing our environment over the tipping-point?
In the discussions about climate change, some take a fatalistic attitude, arguing that we should give up all efforts to prevent further changes and instead direct our efforts towards adapting to the inevitable. But the response from those experiencing the effect of climate change is clear: adaptation is not enough. Fundamental changes need to be made at the level of global policy making, and made as a matter of urgency.
Wealthy, industrialized countries have unquestionably contributed most to atmospheric pollution. In our effort, then, to contain and reverse global warming, we must honestly ask ourselves: Will we in the West, in more affluent countries, sacrifice our self-indulgence and consumerism? Will we direct our focus away from what we want to what the rest of the world needs? Among all the facts and statistics, the summits and debates, it is essential for us to remember the human faces of those who suffer because of climate instability. Will we recognize and assume our responsibility to leave a lighter footprint on this planet for them and for the sake of future generations? We must choose to care; otherwise, we do not really care at all about the creator or the creation.
The choice is ours! We stand at a critical moment in the history and future of our planet, a time when our human family must choose future of our earth community. The protection of our planet’s vitality and diversity is a sacred task and a common vocation. At a summit organized by our Church two years ago, former NASA climate scientist Professor James Hansen observed: “Our parents honestly did not know that their actions could harm future generations. But we, our current generation, can only pretend that we did not know.”
It is not too late to act, but we cannot afford to wait; we certainly cannot afford not to act at all. We all agree on the necessity to protect our planet’s natural resources, which are neither limitless nor negotiable. We are all in this together: people of faith must practice what they preach; citizens of the world must clearly voice their opinion; and political leaders must act urgently and decisively.
Dear friends, you will now appreciate why a religious leader is concerned with the ecological crisis. With the voices of those angels who died in Typhoon Yolanda echoing in our ears, we must make the strongest possible call for change and justice at the Climate Conference in Paris next December. This is our ethical and honorable obligation; this is our word of promise and hope to the entire world.

Mother Earth and Man

Mother Earth and Man
By Apolinario Villalobos

Looking back when time began
God said the words
Giving life to all
That He desired,
The endless expanse of the void
Was filled with motley specks
That moved with harmony –
A prodigious task
Of the Almighty.

A tiny dot in the universe
Mother Earth throbbed with life
As God made her a living sphere
Covered with green and blue
All part of God’s grandiose plan
Done in a few days of divine toil,
Though, He rested finally
Being at last satisfied –
On the seventh day.

Out of a handful dust from her womb
God made Adam, by such name he was called
And with God’s breathe of life
What was once a lump with limbs
Has become like Him in image
And let to roam the Garden of Eden
But then, loneliness soon had its toll
Which when God has perceived –
From Adam’s rib, He made Eve.

Mother Earth now nurtures
Not only lesser creatures
But the pair that God made
In some aspects, in His own image.
A paradise, Eden was supposed to be
But to it, a serpent found its way
Tempting Eve to have a taste of ecstasy
And, no sooner than she did have a bite
She made Adam commit the same depravity!

The blunder made by Adam and Eve
Instigated the misery of Mother Earth
As they opened the floodgate of afflictions
That soon blemished her once pristine face;
Greed and selfishness, for long, led lives –
Cain putting to death his own brother Abel,
And many other stories that are written
On the sacred pages of the age-old Book-
All it needs is for us to give it a serious look.

Warnings that Mother Earth belched
In her effort to wake man up with a jolt
Did not budge him even a single bit
Instead, pride bloated him to the utmost
That, into the fetid air, made him float
And, as he breathes in more turpitudes-
It would be no wonder, when he bursts!

That will be the day when not even time
Shall move its hands as they should be,
That will be the day when not even rain
Shall fall with life-giving sweet droplets,
That will be the day when not even birds
Shall fill the air with their lilting tweets,
And the cool breeze shall no longer blow-
Leaving Mother Earth cloaked in sorrow!

Ang Mabuhay in this World (fusion poetry)

Ang Mabuhay in this World

By Apolinario Villalobos

 

Ang mundo is not really full of roses

Not every moment is with happiness

Makulimlim din minsan ang paligid

Nagbabadya ng lungkot nitong bahid.

 

Maganda na sana noong unang time

When paradise was there yet…sublime

But, mahina si Adan, bumigay kay Eve –

Pinalayas tuloy, napatira sa mga yungib!

 

“Maghirap upang mabuhay” was the sumpa

Nakatatak sa dugo, one painful na pamana

Kasalanang tinubos naman by  Christ Jesus

When on Mt. Calvary, he died on the cross!

 

As we live in this slowly dying world, tiis lang

Not only humans suffer, marami ding nilalang

Nandiyan also ang mga trees, fishes, at hayop

Lahat tayong mga nilalang, hirap, nagdarahop.

 

Walang magandang gawin but to say, “salamat”-

Salitang ulit-ulitin mang ilang beses ay ‘di sapat

Hintayin lang our last moment sa planetang ito

And, where we’ll go, depends sa ating pagkatao!