Si Jun Taladtad, walang mga paa, pero masipag…

Ito si Jun Taladtad, 27 years old, nagtatrabaho sa barangay San Pablo ng Tacurong bilang caretaker ng puwestong nagbebenta ng culled chicken. Stay-in siya at ang tinutulugan niya ay ang maliit na kuwarto sa likod ng puwesto. Mabait ang taong nagtiwala sa kanya…sana ang ibang employer ay ganoon, hindi tumitingin sa pisikal na kaanyuan ng taong iha-hire. Si Jun naman ay masikap at masipag dahil sa kabila ng kanyang kalagayan ay nagtatrabaho na siya mula noong siya ay bata pa. Nang makausap ko siya isang umaga ay may balahibo pa ng manok sa kanyang ulo, palatandaang sumuot siya sa ilalim ng mga kulungan upang walisin ang mga dumi…may advantage ang kanyang height! Mabuhay ka Jun!!!!

Ang Pagsisikap

Ang Pagsisikap

Ni Apolinario Villalobos

 

Ang pagsisikap ay pagpapakita ng dangal. Mahirap man o mayaman, mahalagang maipakita ng isang tao na siya ay may sariling disposisyon at kayang tumayo sa sariling mga paa at may mga kamay na may kakayahang magtrabaho o gumawa upang kumita. Kung ang ilang bulag, pilay, komang, at pipi ay kumikita ng maayos, mga normal pa kaya na kumpleto ang mga bahagi ng katawan?

 

Ang lalong masama ay ang pananamantala ng mga nakapag-aral ng maayos at may mga kaya sa buhay, sa mga inosenteng kinakapos. Ang mga mapagsamantalang ito ay kalimitang mga drug lords na gumagamit ng mga taong kumakapit sa patalim upang mabuhay. Ang iba pang mapagsamantala ay mga mayayaman na walang pakialam sa kalagayan ng ibang tao. Kasama sa hanay nila ang mga taong pinagkatiwalaan ng taong-bayan kaya iniluklok sa kanilang kinalalagyan sa Kongreso, Senado at iba pang ahensiya ng pamahalaan, subalit naging gahaman kaya naging korap.

 

May mga taong nagsisikap nga upang umasenso pero nangtatapak naman ng kapwa. Maraming ganyang uri ng tao sa buong mundo. Isa itong innate tendency na kung hindi makontrol ay talagang makakapinsala ng kapwa. Ang ugaling ito ang dahilan kung bakit nagkakagulo ang buong mundo….tao laban sa tao na umaabot sa labanang kinasasangkutan ng kanilang mga bansa. Kahit pa sabihing mayroong tinatawag na United Nations, kung minsan ang mga taong dapat magpatupad ng kaayusan ang sumisira ng kanilang layunin.

 

Mabait ang Diyos dahil binigyan Niya ang tao ng hangaring magsikap upang kahit magkamali ay mayroon pa rin siyang pagkakataong magbago…kung hindi siya talagang ugaling demonyo!

The Trail to Masiag from Bagumbayan (Sultan Kudarat)…profile of the Filipinos’ endeavor to survive

The Trail to Masiag from Bagumbayan (Sultan Kudarat)

…profile of the Filipinos’ endeavor to survive

By Apolinario Villalobos

(PHOTOS BY RENE AQUINO, Administrative staff – Masiag Annex/BNHS)

 

 

The winding and muddy ribbon of trail shown in the accompanying photos leads to the Masiag Annex of the Bagumbayan National High School. Bagumbayan is a young municipality of Sultan Kudarat province. It is peopled by those from the older towns of Isulan, Esperanza, and Tacurong, with some purportedly, to be current migrants from the Visayas. During the middle of ‘70s, Bagumbayan figured as one of the most affected areas in Cotabato, caught in the midst of altercation between the Islamic “Black Shirts” and Christian “Ilaga”. And, Masiag then, was dotted by huts of farmers which were distributed kilometers away from each other. At the height of evacuation, Bagumabayan was listed as among the origins of both displaced Christian and Muslim families, aside from Esperanza, Lambayong, Tinumiges, Udtong, Katiko, Buluan, Datu Paglas, and unknown sitios beside the Ligwasan Marsh.

 

When Claudio Estante opened the Department of Social Welfare office in Tacurong to cover the Sultan Kudarat province, the primary purpose was to serve the evacuees, I was the lone staff initially hired and the branch was under Region XI based in Davao City, with Agrinelda Miclat at its helm as Director, but today, due to expansion program of the agency, the branch is under Region XII. As we were overwhelmed by the burden of statistics gathering and relief distribution, additional personnel were hired from Notre Dame, and which included, Ruel Lucentales, Renato Hingco, Dominador Lictawa, Mildred Palabrica-Balili and a little later, Felizardo Lazado. Teddy Lapuz volunteered his services for the organization of displaced youth. Soon afterwards, full time Social Workers were sent by the Regional Office to augment the workforce of the Welfare Aides and the lone Youth Welfare volunteer.

 

The trails today are not what we used before when we visited Bagumbayan, as they were more of ruts impressed by wheels of carts and sleds drawn by carabao or water buffalo. Relief distribution was concentrated at Esperanza, but occasionally, on “clear” days, distribution effort was extended up to Bagumbayan to reach out to those who refuse to leave their farm. From where we were posted with military escorts, intermittent exchange of volleys of shots could be heard. Several times, Esperanza and Bagumbayan were cordoned off which practically deferred the travel of buses and private vehicle to Cotabato City for days. DSW was closely in touch with the 12^th Infantry Battalion of the Philippine Army at Isulan for updated news on the situation of the towns surrounding Tacurong. There were days that we would encounter jeepneys loaded with casualties and wounded. The two hospitals in Tacurong – Tamondong and Eugenio were always full as they admitted both Christian and Muslim patients.

 

Today, with relative peace that envelops the province of Sultan Kudarat, the local government is exerting much effort in reaching out to those who have gone beyond the last frontier, particularly, toward the slopes of Mt. Dagoma which is profusely covered with forest of hard wood that draw illegal loggers. An aging former lawmaker even admitted on TV that he had been holding on to his logging concessions in that area for a long time in a desperate effort to explain his tremendous wealth, perhaps to convince the people that he did not dip his fingers into the coffers of the government as did some of his colleagues who were involved in “pork barrel” scams.

 

Teachers and office staff of the Masiag Annex are from the Main Bagumbayan National High School. They practically trek their way to their assigned post, rain or shine. Those with single-engine motor bikes are fortunate, though. These altruistic teachers do not hesitate to sacrifice part of their measly wage to buy instruction materials needed to be effective in their vocation. Situations such as shown in photos have necessitated the use of “habal-habal”, motorcycles used as some sort of a commuter service for an affordable fee.

 

For the resourceful Filipinos in Mindanao, what has been kindled by an endeavor for survival has definitely laid down the foundation for progress…as Mindanao is full of such opportunities. Meanwhile, the  Bagumbayanons  and Masiagnons are patiently treading along the trail towards the fulfillment of one!

 

 

Wilma Palagtiw: Repairs Junked Shoes and Bags to be Sold for a Living

Wilma Palagtiw: Repairs Junked Shoes and Bags

To be Sold for a Living

By Apolinario Villalobos

 

One early morning, while cruising the old railroad track of Divisoria where junks were sold, I chanced upon a woman who was engrossed in repairing a shoe. Her various wares on display were repaired bags, shoes, and other junk items. She obliged for some photos when I asked her, adding jestingly that I would send them to a movie outfit.

 

She was Wilma Palagtiw who hails from the island of Negros, so that we comfortably conversed in Cebuano and Ilonggo. She learned the skill of shoe repairing from her husband who has been in the trade for a very long time even before they met. That morning, Felix, her husband was out doing the rounds of garbage dumps for junks.

 

Without telling me her exact age, she confided that she was almost fifty and has six children with four already doing part-time and contractual jobs in different stalls in Divisoria. The two younger ones are both in Grade 7. Their pooled financial resources are enough to get them going every day with even a few pesos set aside for emergency needs, especially, for school needs of the two younger kids.

 

I did a quick mathematical estimate of their joint income, such as if a sales attendant of a stall in Divisoria receives 200 pesos a day, multiply it by 4, so that’s 800 pesos a day, and for a straight duty in a month without day off, the four elder children should be earning 24,000.00 pesos. Deduct the lunch for the 4 of them at 50 pesos each, so that’s 200 pesos…hence, 800 (total earning of the 4) less 200, that leaves 600 pesos net earnings of the 4 in a day.  Finally, multiply the 600 pesos by 30 days that leaves 18,000 pesos net total earnings for the 4 kids.

 

Meanwhile, Wilma shared that she and her husband don’t earn much from selling junks. For every item sold, they earn from 5 to 20 pesos “profit” after deducting the cost of materials that they use for the repair of the junks. They cannot afford to offer their goods at a higher price due to stiff competition among “buraot vendors” like them.

 

The small room that they rent gives them just enough comfort as they retire for the night, especially, for the kids. The worst days for them are those of the “flood months”, as there could be no income for several days. Despite the hardship, Wilma was still all-smile while conversing with me. I had to leave her as customers were beginning to stop by to gawk at her items that are neatly displayed, while she braved the biting heat of the sun at eight that morning.

 

If only the rest of us are brave and contented like Wilma, then, there would be no more crying to the Lord, blaming Him why there is no pork dish on the table, or why the money is not enough for a brand new cellphone, or why the remittance from a toiling husband abroad is delayed in coming, etc. etc.etc…..

 

Rene Pastrana: Grocery Store Manager Who Can Melt the Anger of an Irate Customer

Rene Pastrana: Grocery Store Manager Who

Can Melt the Anger of an Irate Customer

By Apolinario Villalobos

 

One morning, when I purchased some goods at Isetan grocery store along Recto Avenue in Quiapo, I had an unfortunate experience that almost spoiled my day. Rather than talk to any of the rank-and-file staff, I looked for the store manager, whom I found to be Rene Pastrana. Before I could blurt out my complaint, he broke the ice by asking with a smile, what he can do to make my shopping comfortable. His stance immediately pacified me. After relating to him my dissatisfaction, he gave me an assurance that he will do his best to patch up the “loophole” in their operation.

 

What touched me was his unabashed confiding that he knows what to do because he started his career as a “merchandiser”, which actually, was the focus of my complaint. Instead of anger, what I felt was sympathy while listening to his story. It could be a ploy on his part to divert my focus, with which he was successful. On the other hand, I selfishly thought, that his story could be another blog material that could inspire aspiring Filipinos.

 

According to Rene, he left his island-province of Marinduque after graduating from high school. When he arrived in Manila, he immediately looked for a job, with a plan to proceed with his college studies by all means. He fortunately found a job as a “merchandiser”, which sustained his studies, until he finished Computer Science.

 

His diligence in job, pushed him along his career path with unusual expediency until he became manager of Isetan’s grocery store, charged with its overall operation. He has been in the job for the past twenty years, his earnings from which have also helped his family back home, in Marinduque.

 

Rene could well be considered as a self-appointed “ambassador” of his province in his own way because he does not hesitate to promote it as a veritable tourist destination every time he gets the chance. This he did to me, when he shared touristic information about the island. His effort proved helpful to me, as what I knew about the island have all been updated, especially, about the islets with resorts.

 

In appreciation of all his effort to pacify me and giving me updates on Marinduque, I told Rene to count me as among the convinced patrons of Isetan grocery from then on. He practically “captured” another patron for their grocery because of his amiable and brilliant sales technique not found in sales training manuals…I know that, because, I have also been a “sales person”, myself.

 

 

 

Rederson: Kahit Hirap sa Pagkontrol ng Ulo sa Pag-iling, Tuloy pa rin sa Pagtraysikad

Rederson: Kahit Hirap sa Pagkontrol ng Ulo sa Pag-iling

Tuloy pa rin sa Pagta-traysikad

Ni Apolinario Villalobos

 

Halos tin-edyer pa lang si “Red”, palayaw ni Rederson Rivera, subalit hindi ito naging hadlang upang siya ay magsikap, at lalong hindi naging hadlang ang kanyang sakit na palsy kaya hirap siya sa pagkontrol ng pag-iling ng kanyang ulo. Nang unang sumakay ako sa kanya, muntik pa akong mainis nang sabihan ko siya ng direksiyon tungo sa pupuntahan ko dahil napansin kong panay ang iling niya habang nakangiti…akala ko ay niloloko niya ako.

 

Nang umagang yon na sumakay ako sa kanya sa kanto ng Baltao Drive sa Pasay City, hindi pa raw siya nakakapag-almusal dahil medyo madilim pa lang ay pumila na siya. Nag-aabang daw siya ng maski dalawang pasahero para may pambili siya ng almusal. Nagkukuwento siya ng pautal habang nagsisikad kaya may kasamang hingal ang kanyang mga salita. Hiwalay daw ang kanyang mga magulang, at siya ay napunta sa kanyang tatay pero wala naman daw itong trabaho dahil mahina ang katawan, kaya lumalabas na siya pa ang sumusuporta dito. Dahil naging interesado ako sa kanyang kuwento, tumigil muna kami sa isang kainan sa tabi ng kalsada upang maibili ko siya ng almusal. Pinagbalot ko na rin siya ng pagkain para sa tatay niya.

 

Sinubukan daw niyang mag-aral pero nahirapan siya dahil sa kanyang kalagayan palagi daw siyang tinutukso kaya nang magkaroon ng pagkakataong makapagtraysikad ay sinunggaban na niya. Sa simula ay wala pa daw tiwala sa kanya ang may-ari ng traysikad dahil maliban sa kaliitan ng katawan niya ay may sakit siyang palsy, kaya baka daw hindi niya makontrol ang direksiyon ng traysikel. Subalit, sa kapipilit ay pinagbigyan din siya, lalo pa at alam din ng may-ari ng traysikad ang kuwento ng buhay niya. Todo kayod daw siya dahil nag-iipon siya upang makabili ng mga bagay na gusto niya tulad ng cellphone, maliban pa sa mga gamot ng tatay niya, at pagkain nila sa araw-araw.

 

Nang mga sumunod na pagbalik ko ay hindi ko siya natataymingan, kaya nagtanong ako sa ibang nagtatraysikad din tungkol sa kanya at sinabi nilang bilib nga daw sila dito. Ang problema nga lang ay may mga kaibigan daw itong nang-uuto sa kanya kaya nababawasan ang ipon niya o kung minsan ay nawawalan pa siya ng pera.

 

Pero isang beses ay inabot ko si Red na bumibili din ng malunggay pan de sal na binibili ko para sa kaibigan kong pinapasyalan sa lugar na yon. Nasa likuran niya ako kaya hindi niya ako napansin, pero pansing-pansin ko naman ang walang tigil na pag-iling ng ulo niya. Pagkatapos niyang magbayad ay saka niya ako napansin kaya nakita ko na naman ang kanyang ngiti na may kasamang kagat ng labi. Kahit alam niyang bibili ako ng pan de sal ay inalok pa rin niya ako ng kanyang nabili. Mabuti na lang at nagkita kami kaya nagkaroon ako ng pagkakataong iabot sa kanya ang ipinangako ko noon pa na palagi kong dala kung pupunta ako sa Baltao.

 

Nang makilala ko si Red, naalala ko ang anak ng kaibigan ko. Matanda lang siguro ito ng ilang taon kay Red, pero siya ay malusog, at sa kabila nito ay nagbabayad pa ng oras sa gym upang magbuhat ng barbell kaya lumaki ang katawan. Araw-araw, ang oras ng gising ng mapalad na taong ito ay alas nuwebe o alas diyes ng umaga dahil napupuyat sa kai-intenet. Samantala, si Red na payatot ay gumigising ng alas singko upang mag-abang ng pasahero at upang may pambili ng almusal nilang mag-ama ay kailangang makapaghatid ng dalawang pashero man lang.

Wilma Palagtiw: Repairs Junked Shoes and Bags to be Sold for a Living

Wilma Palagtiw: Repairs Junked Shoes and Bags

To be Sold for a Living

By Apolinario Villalobos

 

One early morning, while cruising the old railroad track of Divisoria where junks were sold, I chanced upon a woman who was engrossed in repairing a shoe. Her various wares on display were repaired bags, shoes, and other junk items. She obliged for some photos when I asked her, adding jestingly that I would send them to a movie outfit.

 

She was Wilma Palagtiw who hails from the island of Negros, so that we comfortably conversed in Cebuano and Ilonggo. She learned the skill of shoe repairing from her husband who has been in the trade for a very long time even before they met. That morning, Felix, her husband was out doing the rounds of garbage dumps for junks.

 

Without telling me her exact age, she confided that she was almost fifty and has six children with four already doing part-time and contractual jobs in different stalls in Divisoria. The two younger ones are both in Grade 7. Their pooled financial resources are enough to get them going every day with even a few pesos set aside for emergency needs, especially, for school needs of the two younger kids.

 

I did a quick mathematical estimate of their joint income, such as if a sales attendant of a stall in Divisoria receives 200 pesos a day, multiply it by 4, so that’s 800 pesos a day, and for a straight duty in a month without day off, the four elder children should be earning 24,000.00 pesos. Deduct the lunch for the 4 of them at 50 pesos each, so that’s 200 pesos…hence, 800 (total earning of the 4) less 200, that leaves 600 pesos net earnings of the 4 in a day.  Finally, multiply the 600 pesos by 30 days that leaves 18,000 pesos net total earnings for the 4 kids.

 

Meanwhile, Wilma shared that she and her husband don’t earn much from selling junks. For every item sold, they earn from 5 to 20 pesos “profit” after deducting the cost of materials that they use for the repair of the junks. They cannot afford to offer their goods at a higher price due to stiff competition among “buraot vendors” like them.

 

The small room that they rent gives them just enough comfort as they retire for the night, especially, for the kids. The worst days for them are those of the “flood months”, as there could be no income for several days. Despite the hardship, Wilma was still all-smile while conversing with me. I had to leave her as customers were beginning to stop by to gawk at her items that are neatly displayed, while she braved the biting heat of the sun at eight that morning.

 

If only the rest of us are brave and contented like Wilma, then, there would be no more crying to the Lord, blaming Him why there is no pork dish on the table, or why the money is not enough for a brand new cellphone, or why the remittance from a toiling husband abroad is delayed in coming, etc. etc.etc…..