Discipline as Essence of Life

DISCIPLINE AS ESSENCE OF LIFE

By Apolinario Villalobos

 

Man can never do away with discipline for as long he lives in this world. Nobody lacks discipline, but just vary in degree accordingly. Those who grew up in strict homes, as expected are more disciplined than those whose parents are lax. The people with whom we are associated with also counts a lot in the development of discipline. An offshoot of discipline is the so-called, “good manners” which goes with the sayings, “tell me who your friends are and I will know what kind of a person you are”, as well as, “your manners indicate the kind of parents you have”.

 

A “happy go lucky guy” does not necessarily mean that he lacks discipline, otherwise, he could have been dead years before his adolescence. Discipline is an important element for one’s survival so that even a pampered guy’s instinct has a bit of it. The big or little bit of discipline determines the lifestyle of people. Those who have no regards for their health, for instance, may suffer from an off-balanced discipline resulting to their lack of control in their diet, as well as, their development of vices. They know that what they are doing is bad, but what can a bit of discipline do to stop them?

 

Success in life depends a lot on discipline. For students with weak discipline, graduation could just be a wish if their life veers away from the right track. Those who fail in their studies have more likely given priority to short-term pleasures that resulted to their long-term regret. Finding a job could also be difficult for those whose discipline in the simple waking up early to be in time for interview, is wanting. Many graduates thought that the name of a high-end university scribbled on top of their diploma is a guarantee for a job. What establishment for instance, would want to hire a guy who has no respect for time, despite his having graduated from a high-end university?

 

Discipline is life…. as it makes us breathe in regular cadence for oxygen to enter our system that makes our heart beat and our brain to function properly. Most importantly, discipline makes us control our life, as well as, make us realize whatever wrong we have done, though how late such realization may have occurred, as we tread the path towards that “light”….

 

Do Not Feel Bad About Unfulfilled Dreams

Do Not Feel Bad

About Unfulfilled Dreams

By Apolinario Villalobos

 

There is a popular adage, “life is what we make it”. All of us have limitations, hence, it follows that the life we live is based on our best effort, but hampered by limitations. We cannot be like what others are. We can strive, yes…but the result may not be the same as what others have accomplished. The problem with some of us is that they dream to be like somebody else which is impossible. Successful people can be looked up to as models or be admired, but cannot be exactly copied.

 

Success is relative. The degree and kind of success varies. In this regard, to avoid getting disappointed, one should accept what he has accomplished based on his capability and just strive a little harder to be able to accomplish more. He should not feel bad, for instance, because he did not become a manager like his friend, or a physician like another friend, or a mayor, etc.

 

Those who develop grudge because of their “failure” supposedly, equate success to fame which is wrong. Others feel that just because they did not become famous like others, they have become a failure. I can say that such kind of feeling is a manifestation of jealousy which breeds grudge….nothing else. Success in life is the happiness and contentment one feels every morning as he wakes up to another day….it is the joy felt in what he does.

 

We should not be occupied with gawking at what others are doing or be jealous with what they have accomplished. Each one of us has a different kind of life to live and concerns much different from the rest. On the other hand, the jealous attitude is most often the result of unnecessary and unhealthy rivalry in offices and other work sites. This is called professional jealousy which affects the operation and atmosphere.

 

Finally, successful people may wonder why some friends have suddenly kept a distance from them for no reason at all that they know of. There is something for these shunned successful people to ponder about…jealousy developed by their friends who have the habit of comparing themselves with others. Such unnecessary feeling made them jealous resulting to grudge that time may not expunge easily. My suggestion: a change in attitude…by being positive in living one’s life….and changing it for the better.

 

Ang Panukala tungkol sa mga Kabataan…kinopyang ideya, kaya sobrang palpak!

Ang Panukala tungkol sa mga Kabataan
…kinopyang ideya, kaya sobrang palpak!
Ni Apolinario Villalobos

Sa kakokopya ng mga mambabatas ng mga batas na umiiral sa Amerika, lalo na ang mga tungkol sa kabataan, nakalimutan nilang iba ang kultura ng Pilipino sa Amerikano.

Sa kultura ng Amerikano, kapantay, kung ituring ng mga kabataan ang matatanda kahit pa ang mga ito ay magulang nila. Mayroon pang tumatawag sa magulang ng first name nito. Ang ugaling ito ay lalo pang pinalala ng mga batas nila na may kinalaman sa pagdisiplina ng kabataan, kaya kung sawayin ang mga kabataan nila, kahit ang mga walang muwang ay dapat sa salita lang. Hindi sila pwedeng saktan kahit bahagya, dahil sa kulungan ang bagsak ng nanakit na magulang. Nagagawa tuloy ng mga kabataan doon na sumagot ng pabalang-balang sa kanilang mga magulang at may pananakot pang magsusumbong sila sa pamahalaan o tatawag sa 911 kung sila ay sasaktan, kahit malinaw namang may kasalanan sila.

Sa Pilipinas, maganda na sana ang paraan sa pagdisiplina ng mga kabataan dahil kung lumabis naman sa pananakit ang magulang ay maaari silang isumbong ng kapitbahay o maski sino, sa Barangay, at pwedeng ideretso din sa pulisya dahil may naka-assign namang desk upang mag-asikaso sa ganitong problem na itinuturing na hindi pangkaraniwan. Mula’t sapul, ang ganitong paraan ay katanggap-tanggap na, subalit may gustong magpa-istaring na mambatatas, kaya naisipan niyang gumawa ng panukala, kinopya naman…hindi original.

Sa pagdisiplina, hindi maiwasang saktan ng magulang ang anak lalo na ang mga paslit na hindi pa alam kung ano ang tama at mali. Hindi rin nila masyadong nauunawaan ang mga paliwanag kung sabihin sa kanila, kaya ang paraan lamang upang ipaalam sa kanila na mali ang kanilang ginagawa ay saktan ng bahagya.

Mahalagang matanim sa isip ng mga paslit o madanasan nila ang “katumbas” ng bawa’t maling gagawin nila. Halimbawa, malalaman lamang ng isang paslit na nakakapaso ang apoy sa sandaling hahawakan niya – isang karanasan na hindi na niya uulitin. Kailangan ding saktan ng bahagya ng magulang ang pasaway na paslit sa pamamagitan ng palo sa puwit upang ipabatid, halimbawa, na mali ang ang pagdumi kung saan-saan lang sa loob ng bahay, na susundan pa minsan ng pagsubo nito ng kanyang dumi.

Hindi maganda ang magiging resulta ng bagong batas dahil lalo lamang nitong palalalain ang nasisira nang disiplina ng mga kabataang Pilipino na nalulublob na sa masamang impluwensiya ng makabagong teknolohiya, mga bisyo tulad ng droga, sigarilyo, alak, at barkada.

Kahit kaylan, walang mabuting nagawa ang ibang mga mambabatas. Hindi nila pinag-iisipan ang mga ginagawang panukala, masabi lang na may nagawa sila – pantakip sa kanilang korapsyon!

Ang Pagbatikos

Ang Pagbatikos
Ni Apolinario Villalobos

Ang pagbatikos ay hindi nangangahulugang galit ang nambabatikos sa kanyang binabatikos, kung malinis ang kanyang hangarin o layunin. Ang hindi maganda ay ang pagbatikos na ang dahilan ay mababaw lamang at pansarili tulad ng inggit. Ang malinis na layunin ng pagbatikos ay ang pagpamukha sa taong binabatikos tungkol sa kanyang pagkakamali na maaaring hindi niya alam.

Madalas mangyari ang pagbatikos sa larangan ng pulitika tulad ng nangyayari sa mga Binay. Sa kabila ng lampas-taong batikos na natatanggap ngayon ng pamilyang ito, pinipilit pa rin nila na sila ay pinupulitika lamang. In fairness na lang sa kanila, siguro naman, ayon sa standard of morality ng kanilang pamilya ay wala talaga silang ginawang masama. Naalala ko tuloy ang isa kong kaibigan na sinabihan kong may bahid ng lipstick ang kanyang pisngi. Sinagot niya ako ng, “ah, yan ba? biniro lang ako sa opisina”, pero umaalingasaw din siya ng pabangong pambabae na dumikit sa kanyang damit. Kahit halata namang dumaan siya sa bahay ng kanyang kerida na alam ng mga kaibigan niyang ibinabahay niya, todo palusot pa rin siya.

Binabatikos din si Pangulong Pinoy na dahil sa hindi malamang kadahilanan ay bihirang sumagot at kung mangyari man ay idinadaan na lang sa paulit-ulit na pagsabi ng mga pangako niya noong panahon ng kampanyahan na sumentro sa “matuwid na daan” at pagmamalaki ng mga report tungkol sa pag-asenso daw ng bansa na hindi naman pinaniniwalaan . Yon nga lang sinasabayan naman niya ng pagbatikos sa isang babaeng pasyente na may brace sa leeg, na dahilan daw kung bakit naghihirap ngayon ang Pilipinas. Dahil sa ginawa ni Pnoy, biglang nalusaw ang good breeding, na inakala ng mga taong meron siya. Teacher din pala niya ito noong siya ay nag-aaral pa sa Ateneo kaya lalong hindi maganda ang ginagawa niya…batikusin ba naman ang mahal niyang teacher! Dapat ay magpasalamat siya dahil very obvious na may natutunan siya sa kanyang teacher….nakikita naman ng mga tao kung ano ang mga ito.

Sa isyu kay Purisima, ang gusto lamang siguro ni Pnoy ay tumanaw ng utang na loob dito dahil iniligtas daw siya nito mula sa bingit ng kamatayan . Ang pag-apura naman sa pagpasa ng BBL na ngayon ay BL na lang ay dahil siguro sa tangka sanang pagtulong ni Iqbal sa kanyang ama kung hindi ito pinaslang sa NAIA. Ang ganitong pagtanaw ng loob din siguro ang gusto niyang ipakita sa mga taong sinasandalan niya tulad ng mga tagapagsalita niya, lalo na si Abad na itinuturing niyang matalino sa “paghawak” ng budget….marami pa sila sa kanyang gabinete. Siguro para sa presidente, hindi masama ang tumanaw ng utang na loob sa mga best friends. Kaya dahil best friend siya ng mga ito, sinasalag na lang niya ang mga kaliwa’t kanang batikos ng mga tao na gustong pumalit sa kanya. Isa siyang maituturing na best friend na martir na handang sumalag ng mga batikos!…siya ay maituturing na isang rare na species ng tao.

Ang mga mambabatas naman, binabatikos dahil marami daw sa kanila ay mukhang pera, mga korap, mga magnanakaw sa kaban ng bayan, nagbebenta ng budget sa mga taong ang negosyo ay pekeng NGO. Subalit may napatunayan ba? …yan ang tanong nila! Dahil sa fair kuno na justice system, sila ay “innocent until proven guilty”, kaya lahat sila ay matamis pa rin ang ngiti kung humarap sa tao. Meron ngang gusto pa ring tumakbo sa susunod na eleksiyon kahit nasa kulungan na siya. Masama nga namang batikusin ang halos himatayin na sa pagsabing inosente sila, kahit nagsusumigaw ang mga ebidensiyang biglang pagkaroon nila ng mala-palasyong bahay, maraming mamahaling sasakyan, malalawak na lupain, nagkikislapang alahas sa katawan, at maya’t mayang weekend outing sa ibang bansa. Pero ang iba ay wise dahil gumagamit ng mga kaibigang dummy.

May mga nagsabi pang naiinggit lang daw ang mga nambabatikos sa kanila, kasama na diyan ang mga pari dahil hindi nakakagawa ng gusto nila. Dagdag pa nitong mga malilinis kuno, kung gusto daw ng mga nambabatikos, pumasok na rin sila sa pulitika upang madanasan nila kung paanong maipit sa trapik sa pagpunta sa Malakanyang upang maki-tsika sa Pangulo; makipaggitgitan sa elevator sa pagpunta sa opisina ng NGO upang makipag-business talk tungkol sa mga “projects”; makipaghalakhakan sa mga sosyalan after office hours na umaabot hanggang madaling araw kaya nagkakaroon sila ng sore throat; matulog nang nakaupo sa session hall habang ang mga kasamang mambabatas ay nagbibigay ng walang katurya-turyang talumpati; lumamon ng nakakasawang pagkain sa mga 5-star restaurants at hotels; sumakay sa eroplano ng kung ilang beses sa isang linggo dahil ayaw sumakay sa walang class na barko kung umuwi sa kanilang bayan; piliting pangitiin ang mga labi habang ang talukap ng mga mata ay lumalaylay sa sobrang antok, o hindi kaya ay nanlilisik dahil nakipag-away sila sa asawang nahuli nilang may kabit. Ganoon pala kahirap ang maging mambabatas! Kawawa naman pala sila!

Siguro ang maganda ay hayaan na lang dumami ang dumi nila sa kanilang mukha upang lalo pang kumapal at upang lalong hindi nila maramdaman ang kahihiyan dahil sa mga karumaldumal nilang ginagawa!

The Failure of Democracy in the Philippines

The Failure of Democracy in the Philippines
by Apolinario Villalobos

The first abuse of freedom, perhaps, could be what is told in the legend about the Paradise. God supposedly put Adam there and later from his rib, Eve was created, so that he would not be lonely. They had free will, freedom to do what they wanted. Unfortunately, Eve abused this when she gave in to the temptation of the serpent who told her about the “tree of life” in that Paradise. As the legend goes, she partook of a fruit with which she tempted Adam who readily gave in, using his free will.

Today there are free countries, ruled with democracy which is perceived to be the best because of its principles rammed down the throat of adherents. But in reality, it has many weaknesses, as its very principle made it prone to abuse of all kinds. Because of freedom supposedly as its essence, people are left to practically do whatever they want. Of course there are laws that are supposed to curtail their acts, but because of corruption, indolence and indifference, they are not implemented – a very unfortunate reality.

In this world, when it comes to governance, man is left with either, democracy with its freedom, or socialism with its dictatorship. The character of each is not free from the taint of abuse and corruption. So, what is left is a choice for the least evil between the two.

The problem with democracy is that criminals for instance, are presumed innocent unless proved guilty, even when caught in the act or despite evidences pointing to the commission of guilt! To prove such commission, a process has to be followed in which witnesses have to issue statements under oath and lawyers must be hired… woe then to the victim who cannot afford to hire a bright lawyer! The government provides free services of its lawyers for the poor, but most often, they are not as reliable as the hired ones in view of the obvious reason.

The Philippines as a young republic seems to have been forced into “maturity”. The haste did not give time for the essence of democracy to be properly inculcated in the mind and heart of the Filipinos. Enthusiastic, after having been freed from the clutches of the Spaniards who for long subjugated the islands, the early leaders went ahead in copying the “democracy” of other countries, without giving much thought on the nature and temper of the Filipinos as an Asian race.

While cuddled by America, a country with a federal system of government, the early leaders opted for the presidential form of other countries. Today, as the diverse regional differences of the country is emphasized when the people began to protest loudly due to the unfairness in the distribution of benefits and services, some sectors realized that the Philippines may have been better off with a federal system of government than the present one that is treading on uncertainties and volatile ground.

The uncontrolled surge of corrupt practices due to lack of control and defective operating system of the government, are now blamed on the location of the central government and the dissected state of the country, being an archipelago.

Corruption has been the issue ever since the country had its first president. This reality has been stressed during the time of Diosdado Macapagal and the same was used by Ferdinand Marcos to win the sympathy of the people. His intelligent perception made him use the issue as the centerpiece of his administration, giving him an alibi to declare Martial Law. Unfortunately, instead of using the new set up for the betterment of the nation, he also abused it that eventually spelled his downfall. Instead of healing the wound of the people the dictatorship became the proverbial salt that aggravated the tingling hurt.

The Marcos dictatorship was toppled by the “People Power”, a mass movement that has become a trademark of the Filipinos in the world of politics, although, for a short period of time. It has purportedly become an embarrassment later for the Filipino people as those in the know were saying that it was a sham movement for democracy – a manipulated one, by the opportunistic people who habitually change their color to blend with whatever administration holds the reins of the government. Its sparkle waned after just four commemorations as those “originally” identified with the movement, carefully kept their distance from the people behind it, ashamed and feeling guilty that they have been part of the sham.

Today, corruption has just worsened, assuming a “free for all” semblance . The series of corrupt act starts at the time politicians campaign for position during which vote buying has shamelessly became the norm. This is followed by the blatant manipulation of budget involving non-governmental organizations, up to the point of padding of budgets for major infrastructure projects – all done by those whose seat in the government has been practically paid for in cash during the election.

While there are investigations going on, the barrage of accusations and denials that fill the airwaves and pages of print media is even made more circus-like by hearings that the Filipinos in general doubt will really achieve their goal. What the people perceive is the use of this hype in the legislative halls as tools to earn media mileage in favor of ambitious political personalities who would like to sit in the Malacaῆan Palace.

To make it short, democracy as supposedly an ideal governance failed in the Philippines.

Defeat is not having tried and failed…but having failed to try

Defeat is not having tried and failed
…but having failed to try
By Apolinario Villalobos

Sometimes we think of some things we could have done, but failed to do. There is always that culprit – apprehension or hesitance in doing something. Because of fear for failure, we chose not to proceed. But when we see others do them and succeed, the feeling of regret is no end.

There are things that we cannot do because of many constraints. It is necessary, therefore, that we should be realistic and do things that are within the limits of our capability – financially, mentally, and physically. We should not always presume that what others have successfully done, we can also do. We should treat the success of others as an inspiration to do other things, not necessarily for us to copy the things that they have done and succeed.

We can avoid having a feeling of dejection by not aspiring for a grand success from an initial venture. We should be contented with whatever simple success that comes out of our initial effort…at least we have tried. From then on, we are guided on what to do next, to be assured of a bigger success.

Failures should never pull us down and make us feel dejected…defeated. I have come across a part of the biography of a great poet, Robert Frost who, during his time, submitted poems to publishers who rejected them, until he finally found one who appreciated his works. His effort took time before it bore good result. He tried and failed, but never felt defeated…until finally, he triumphed.

I have a cousin who finished a degree in nursing which brought her nowhere along her career path, despite her having worked abroad. When she married a seafarer who started his career as a tailor, both of them decided to go home to our province and start a new life. They went into several retailing businesses, even selling barbecue till late at night. Finally, their patience paid up. Their wholesale business in office stationeries prospered. They suffered defeat in some of their efforts from which they gained valuable lessons in business. And, most importantly they did not stop in striving and trying all means to finally gain success.

Another story is about a classmate in high school who failed to finish a college course until he got married. The couple started selling banana cue in front of a college campus. Being the only vendors of such kind of street food in the vicinity, they captured the “student market”. The volume of sales brought them enough money that enabled them to send all their children through college. Finally, they were able to buy an adjoining piece of land on which they built a bigger stall cum residence.

Success, indeed, can only be realized when enough effort in trying is exerted…despite the threat of defeat.

Be Strong…Think Positive

Be Strong…Think Positive

 

by Apolinario Villalobos

 

 

If we fall, we need to rise.

If we fail, we need to try again to succeed.

If we feel like quitting, we need to persist.

If we are rejected, we need not feel devastated.

We have to move on …

Regardless of impediments.

We cannot just falter

if we want to survive –

During this chaotic time

We must fight to be alive.

We must not let failure

Chill us down with gloom

But always, we must be bold

In treading life’s winding road.