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

GREED AND THE CIVILIZED SOCIETY

By Apolinario Villalobos

ANG KASAKIMAN AT SIBILISADONG LIPUNAN

Ni Apolinario Villalobos

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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 Mga Sakim

ANG MGA SAKIM

Ni Apolinario Villalobos

 

Ang mangarap ay bahagi na ng ating buhay

Subali’t upang makamit ang nais, dapat maghinay-hinay

Baka may masagasaang ibang karapatan

Dahil sa sobrang kasakiman.

 

Upang mabuhay kailangan nating magsikap

Nang hindi nang-aapak ng iba, maabot lang ang pangarap

Maaari din namang pairalin ang katapatan

Na may dagdag pang kasipagan.

 

May mga tao nga lang na sa panahon ngayon

Na ang gusto yata ay halos ga-bundok ang perang maipon

Kaya’t lahat ng paraan ay kanilang gagawin

Masunod lang, sakim na damdamin.

 

May mga nakakuha ng tiwala ng taong-bayan

Kaya naluklok sila sa iba’t ibang ahensiya ng pamahalaan

May mga naluklok dahil sa ginawang botohan

At may naitalaga dahil sa palakasan.

 

Ang ibang sakim, gumamit ng kanilang yaman

Pangangamkam naman ang kanilang  pinagdidiskitahan

Dating mga pataniman, kanilang pinaghuhukay

Nilason pa kaya nangawalan ng saysay.

 

Notes:

Sakim- greedy

Kasakiman-greed

Maghinay-hinay – slowly, carefully

Naluklok – placed in position

Naitalaga- appointed

Pangangamkam- grabbing

Saysay- use, usefulness

The World is a Maze of Confusion and Conflict

The World is a Maze of Confusion

And Conflict

By Apolinario Villalobos

 

Here are some of my personal observations:

 

1. The only “order” that can be felt and experienced in the world is the 24-hour cycle divided into night and day that further accumulates into seven days in a week, further accumulating into the 28/30/31 days in a month and finally into 12 months in a year – according to the Roman Catholic calendar, however, the Chinese, the Jews, and the Muslims have their own calendar in this regard.

 

1. The long-respected Bible is now being touted as a source of various confusions, especially, because many religions have allegedly thwarted the original contents written in the original language, to serve their own purpose which is to prove their having the “true religion”. So, today, instead of being enlightened, many people become confused that they have gone to the extent of leaving the religion of their birth to become Atheist, Agnostic, or Satanic. They should not be blamed because they followed their own judgment, and nobody can rightly say that they are wrong, after having gone through the harrowing confusion.

 

1. Due to survival instinct, countries have become hypocrites. Openly, leaders deal amiably with each other despite differences in ideology, and proof to this are photos splashed on the different social media where they are shown smiling at each other and shaking hands, but days after, the same leaders make pronouncements that run counter to their friendly stance shown earlier to the world. Citizens are confused which of the two “expressions” should be believed.

 

1. Drugs are invented to prevent the onset of diseases and cure people of ailments but most of these drugs have contra-indications when used at the same time due to simultaneous inceptions of disorders. Even the long-traditionally used drugs, one of which is aspirin, are deemed to have negative effects on some organs. Most antibiotics today are also declared as ineffective and can harm many organs if used unabatedly, especially, without prescription. This confusion resulted to the loss of confidence to physicians by skeptic patients who have resorted to herbals, instead.

 

1. Confusion did not spare the foods, as many of them are not just fit for anybody. Some people get sick when they drink milk, eat seafood, beans, and even peanut. Some people vomit when they eat any fibrous vegetable or get a sniff of banana. The list of foods that are not supposed to be eaten by some people is still getting longer by the day. This deprivation is confusing, for how can sources of nutrients for the body become poison to others? Explanations are offered by experts, but the question still remains because life is supposed to be viewed as full of promises, including health and happiness. But how can it be possible if one is deprived of things needed to live happily and glow with health?

 

1. Universities and colleges are supposed to breed intelligent graduates who are expected to be part of the effort in the development of their nation and betterment of society. But why are there corrupt government officials and even leaders who are supposed to have even earned Masters and Doctorates from these institutions of learning? Why are there evil-minded scientists, whose intellect and moral values have been bred in these institutions where only what’s good for mankind is supposed to be taught?

 

The confusion is compounded by greed that has muddled man’s mind making the upshots of his intellect become tools for his self-annihilation!

 

Ang Mundo, Tao, at Diyos

ANG MUNDO, TAO, AT DIYOS

Ni Apolinario Villalobos

 

Babala:  Ang blog na ito ay para lamang sa mga naniniwalang may Diyos…

 

Ang mga bagay sa ating paligid, pati na ang tao, at ang maayos na pamumuhay ng lahat ang patunay na may Diyos….yan ang paniniwala ko na hindi pwedeng kontrahin ng iba. Hindi naging “aksidente” o basta na lang nagkaroon ng mga bagay, may buhay man o wala sa kalawakang ginagawalan ng mundo, na ginagalawan naman ng tao. Hindi aksidente ang pagkaroon ng kabuluhan ang lahat ng bagay na umangkop sa pangangailangan ng mga hayop, halaman, at taong nagkaroon ng mga ito.

 

Halimbawa sa tao: ang buhok sa ulo ay pangharang sa init ng araw; ang kilay ay pangharang sa tutulong pawis upang hindi dumiretso sa mata; ang ilong ay para sa paghinga at ang mga balahibo sa loob nito ay pangharang sa dumi upang hindi pumasok habang humihinga ang tao; ang labi ay pangtakip ng bunganga upang hindi pasukin ng langaw o lamok at iba pang kulisap; ang ngipin ay pang-nguya ng kakainin; ang palaypay ng tenga ay pang-ipon ng tunog upang dumiretso sa butas, kaya para itong “bulsa”; ang mga kamay ay panghawak at panuntok, samantalang ang mga paa ay panglakad naman at pangsipa; ang buhok sa kili-kili ay proteksyon upang hindi magkaroon ng friction at magdikit ang balat ng braso at tagiliran sa bahaging yon, etc.

 

Ang iba’t ibang lahi at uri ng mga hayop at halaman ay may kanya-kanyang magkakaparehong katangian, at hindi pwedeng sabihing nagkataon lang ang pagkakapareho nila. Kung sasabihing “nagkataon” lang, pwedeng may ipapanganak na Amerikano ang isang nanay na Pilipino (pwera dito ang “albino” na naging puti lang ang balat)…o di kaya ay maaaring magkaanak ang elepante ng tigre.

 

Noong panahon ni Noah, nagkaroon ng malawakang baha na ayon sa Bibliya ay paraan upang mawala ang masasamang lahi sa mundo. Ang hindi lang naitala sa Bibliya ay ang iba pang mga kalamidad na tumama sa mundo upang mabawasan ang dami ng mga may buhay, at tuloy ay magkaroon ng balanse ang dami ng may buhay at pagkaing makukuha o available nang panahong yon. Kung nagawa ng Diyos na magpabaha, ay kaya rin niyang gumamit ng iba pang paraan upang mamintina ang kaayusan at balanse sa mundo.

 

Sa palagay ko, kaya binigyan ng Diyos ng “free will” ang tao, ay upang ito na ang gumawa ng paraan sa pagkontrol ng balanse sa mundo, nang lingid sa kanyang kaalaman. Dahil sa “free will”, ang tao ay nagkaroon ng ugaling pagkagahaman, kriminal, kabaitan, pagiging maka-Diyos, at iba pa. Dinagdag sa “free will” ang dunong o karunungan dahil ito ang ginamit ng tao upang gumawa ng mga kagamitang pamuksa sa kapwa-tao sa pamamagitan ng digmaan, terorismo at iba pa, na ang resulta ay paghihirap at kagutuman. Ang mga patayang nangyayari sa mundo ay nakatulong upang mabawasan ang dami ng tao, dahil kung hindi nagkaroon ng mga digmaan at kung asahan lang ang mga kalamidad, noon pa lang ay maaaring umapaw na ang sangkatauhan sa mundo!

 

Lahat ng tao at hayop, pati mga halaman ay may mga sakit na nananalaytay sa kanilang mga ugat (tao at hayop) at hibla (halaman). Ang dunong na ibinigay sa tao ang siyang gumagawa ng paraan kung paanong mapigilan ang “paglabas” ng mga sakit, sa pamamagitan ng pag-imbento ng mga gamot at ibang kaalaman tulad ng pag-opera. Subalit dahil sa kapabayaan ng tao, hindi niya nakontrol ang sarili upang magpakasasa sa pagkain at bisyo. Dahil diyan naglabasan ang mga sakit na ulcer, kanser, diabetes, high blood, high cholesterol, etc. Hindi nagamit ng maayos ang “free will” kaya naghihirap ngayon ang sangkatauhan dahil sa iba’t ibang sakit….masarap kasing humitit ng sigarilyo at marijuana, suminghot ng cocaine at shabu, lumaklak nang walang patumangga ng alak, lumamon ng maski pagkaing sinabi nang bawal, pagpuyat, etc.

 

Ang mga kalamidad tulad ng bagyo at baha ay resulta ng pagkagahaman ng tao na sumira sa kalikasan, kaya hindi dapat isisi sa Diyos kung bakit madalas na nagkakaroon ng mga ito.  Samantala, ang pagsisisi naman ng tao ay palaging nasa huli na….

 

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!

 

Greed and the Civilized Society

Greed and the Civilized Society

By Apolinario Villalobos

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

Ang Kasuwapangan (Greed)

Ang Kasuwapangan (Greed)

Ni Apolinario Villalobos

 

Ang kasuwapangan ng tao ay umiral na bago pa man ang panahon ng Bibliya. Ang kasuwapangan ng mga tao noon ay nagbunsod sa kanila upang mangamkam ng lupain ng iba na umabot sa mga digmaan sa pagitan ng mga lahi. Pati ang pamimirata (piracy) ay umiral din sa mga bahagi ng Mediterranean, Africa, at  Europe. Ang ganitong uri ng kasuwapangan ay umiiral pa rin ngayon kaya mayroong kaguluhang nagaganap sa West Philippine Sea o South China Sea, pati na kidnap-for-ransom na hindi lang din nangyayari sa Mindanao kundi pati sa ibang bahagi ng Africa at South America.

 

Marami pang uri ng kasuwapangan ang umiiral sa mundo tulad ng mga sumusunod:

 

• Kasuwapangan sa kaalaman. Ito ay umaabot sa pagnakaw ng kaalaman ng iba

na kung tawagin ay “plagiarism”. Ginagawa ito upang magkaroon ng diplomang hindi

pinaghirapan dahil ang mga ipinasang thesis ay kinopya lamang sa internet. Ang isa pang paraan ay pangongopya tuwing may exam dahil sa katamarang mag-aral kaya inasahan ang pinag-aralan ng iba na ang katumbas ay pera o goodtime o pagkain o pakikipagkaibigan. Ginagawa din itong pangongopya ng ilang propersyonal na manunulat upang magpa-impress sa mga mambabasa nila, o di kaya ay ng ilang mga pulitiko na ang mga kinopya ay ginagamit naman sa talumpati nila upang palabasing sila ay “matalino”. At lalong ginagawa ito ng ilang tao na ang gusto ay magkaroon ng “Masteral” o “Doctoral” pero ayaw magpakahirap.

 

• Kasuwapangan sa karangalan. Nangyayari ito sa mga bagay na may kinalaman sa trabaho. May mga supervisor o manager sa opisina na inaako ang pinaghirapang “project study” na ginawa ng isang empleyado nila. Kahit pa sabihing kasama ang paggawa ng “project study” sa trabaho ng empleyado, dapat ay may katumbas itong dagdag sa suweldo o “commendation” man lang kung nagkaroon ng magandang resulta. Ang problema, kapag binigyan kasi ng dagdag sa suweldo o “commendation” ang naghirap na empleyado, dapat ay may dahilan, at ito ang ayaw na mangyayari ng supervisor o manager dahil gusto niyang ipabatid sa nakakataas pang amo sa opisina na siya ang gumawa ng “project study” kaya nagtagumpay sila.

 

• Kasuwapangan ng kaibigan at kamag-anak. May mga kaibigan na ang gusto ay sila lang dapat tulungan ng mga nakakaluwag na mga kaibigan. Nagagalit sila o nagtatampo kapag nalamang may ibang tinulungan ang kanilang kaibigan. Ganito rin ang ugali ng ilang kamag-anak dahil kapag may nabalitaang tinulungan ang kamag-anak nila lalo na ibang tao ay nagagalit at nagsasabi agad ng, “mabuti pa ang ibang tao naalala, pero kami na kadugo ay hindi”. Ang isa pang malimit iparinig ng mga gahamang ito ay, “bakit sila lang?….ako, wala?” Sa totoo lang, may mga kaibigan at kamag-anak na mahilig umasa sa iba kahit na hindi naman nila kailangan ang tulong. Dahil sa ugaling nabanggit, ayaw nilang magsikap at itong ugali ang masama, hindi ang pagtulong ng nakakaluwag sa “talagang nangangailangan”.

 

• Kasuwapangan sa physical na attention at karnal na pagnanasa. May pagkasekswal ito dahil nagreresulta sa selos sa pagitan ng mag-asawa na umaabot sa patayan. At, kung minsan ang mga walang malay na naging bunga ng pagkakasala (anak o mga anak) ay nadadamay. Sa isang banda, may kasalanan din ang isa sa mag-asawa na hindi nakapagkontrol ng kanyang kalibugan o pagnanasa kaya nagpadala sa damdamin hanggangan tuluyan siyang magtampisaw sa batis ng kasalanan. Nangyayari din ito sa mga magsyota pa lang na ang iba’y may ugaling kahit sa public area tulad ng Rizal park o bus stop ay naglalampungan….nagbabakasakali sigurong may maka-discover sa kanila upang lumabas sa independent film tungkol sa kalibugan!

 

• Kasuwapangan sa pera dahil sa kahirapan. Ito ang dahilan kung bakit mismong mga magulang ang nagtutulak sa mga menor de edad na anak nila upang lumabas sa “cyber sex”, o di kaya ay magbugaw sa mga foreigner. Ito rin ang dahilan kung bakit 7:00AM pa lang ay may nakaistambay nang mga babae sa Avenida upang magpa-short time. Sila ang mga suwapang na ang gusto ay kumita sa pamamagitan ng “sales talk” at paghiga.

 

• Kasuwapangan sa pera dahil nilukuban na ng demonyo ang buong katauhan. Ito ang makikita sa mga drug lord, mga drug pusher, at mga gun-for-hire na hindi alintana ang perhuwisyong dulot ng kanilang mga gawain.

 

• Kasuwapangan ng mga pinagkatiwalaang opisyal ng gobyerno. Ito ang kasuwapangan ng mga ibinotong mga opisyal ng bayan na may kakambal pang isang kasalanan – ang pagsira sa tiwala. Bukod sa “sinuwapang” na nila ang pera ng bayan, sinira pa ng mga sagad-butong mangangamkam na mga opisyal na ito ang tiwalang ibinigay sa kanila ng mga kababayan nila.

 

• Kasuwapangan sa halaga ng botong piso-piso. Ito ang kasuwapangan ng mga taong nagbebenta ng kanilang boto sa maliit na halaga pero ang katumbas ay pagdurusa kapag naupo na ang bumili ng kanilang boto at nangamkam sa kaban ng bayan upang maibalik ang ginastos nila sa pagbili ng mga boto, na kung tawagin ay “payback time”.

 

Hindi nawawala ang kasuwapangan sa buhay ng tao, subalit nagkakaiba sa tindi, antas o “degree”. Pati ako na nagsusulat nito ay umaaming may kasuwapangan din – sa gulay, prutas, tuyo, bagoong, panahon sa pamamasyal at pagsusulat, etc.  Mabuti na ito kaysa naman sa kasuwapangan sa salapi na idinadaan pa ng iba sa dasal kay Lord….isang napakarumal-dumal na pagnanasa!

 

 

 

The World is a Maze of Confusion and Conflict

The World is a Maze of Confusion

And Conflict

By Apolinario Villalobos

 

Here are some of my personal observations:

 

1. The only “order” that can be felt and experienced in the world is the 24-hour cycle divided into night and day that further accumulates into seven days in a week, further accumulating into the 28/30/31 days in a month and finally into 12 months in a year – according to the Roman Catholic calendar, however, the Chinese, the Jews, and the Muslims have their own calendar in this regard.

 

1. The long-respected Bible is now being touted as a source of various confusions, especially, because many religions have allegedly thwarted the original contents written in the original language, to serve their own purpose which is to prove their having the “true religion”. So, today, instead of being enlightened, many people became confused that they have gone to the extent of leaving the religion of their birth to become Atheist, Agnostic, or Satanic. They should not be blamed because they followed their own judgment, and nobody can rightly say that they are wrong, after having gone through the harrowing confusion.

 

1. Due to survival instinct, countries have become hypocrites. Openly, leaders deal amiably with each other despite differences in ideology, and proof to this are photos splashed on the different social media where they are shown smiling at each other and shaking hands, but days after, the same leaders make pronouncements that run counter to their friendly stance shown earlier to the world. Citizens are confused which of the two “expressions” should be believed.

 

1. Drugs are invented to prevent the onset of diseases and cure people of ailments but most of these drugs have contra-indications when used at the same time due to simultaneous inceptions of disorders. Even the long-traditionally used drugs, one of which is aspirin, are deemed to have negative effects on some organs. Most antibiotics today are also declared as ineffective and can harm many organs if used unabatedly, especially, without prescription. This confusion resulted to the loss of confidence to physicians by skeptic patients who have resorted to herbals, instead.

 

1. Confusion did not spare the foods, as many of them are not just fit for anybody. Some people get sick when they drink milk, eat seafood, beans, and even peanut. Some people vomit when they eat any fibrous vegetable or get a sniff of banana. The list of foods that are not supposed to be eaten by some people is still getting longer by the day. This deprivation is confusing, for how can sources of nutrients for the body become poison to others? Explanations are offered by experts, but the question still remains because life is supposed to be viewed as full of promises, including health and happiness. But how can it be possible if one is deprived of things needed to live happily and glowing with health?

 

1. Universities and colleges are supposed to breed intelligent graduates who are expected to be part of the effort in the development of their nation and betterment of society. But why are there corrupt government officials and even leaders who are supposed to have even earned Masters and Doctorates from these institutions of learning? Why are there evil-minded scientists, whose intellect and moral values have been bred in these institutions where only what’s good for mankind is supposed to be taught?

 

The confusion is compounded by greed that has muddled man’s mind making the upshots of his intellect become tools for his self-annihilation!

The Brewing Trouble between Iran and Iraq will Definitely Crunch the Philippine Economy

The Brewing Trouble between Iran and Iraq

Will Definitely Crunch the Philippine Economy

By Apolinario Villalobos

 

A statistician’s mind is not needed to understand the negative effect of the trouble between Iran and Iraq to the Philippine economy which is founded on her export of labor to other countries, especially, the Middle East. Even a simple pedestrian will not think deeply what the OFW Filipinos will do in beleaguered Iran and Iraq now that they are at war with each other. Rather than be trapped, they will of course come home – back to joblessness. Worse, the government has not even decided on putting a stop, albeit, temporarily to deployment of OFWs to those countries. As usual, the government waits until the situation becomes uncontrollable and millions will be spent again for the hasty evacuations, and for failures, expect finger-pointing….again.

 

The government is inutile such that it has not come up with fallback programs for situations like this. What OWWA offers as its livelihood program in the form of loan is not reliable. A success story from this venture is yet to be heard or read or viewed.

 

The agriculture sector which should have been given attention very long time ago yet, is practically gasping for breath. Literally, it is dying, as the once rice and corn fields are converted now into golf courses and subdivisions. Had these lands been preserved, they could have been used as fallbacks for displaced OFWs. In the first place, the reason why they left the country is to seek a greener pasture, as they say, because they are exploited by loan sharks that control the price of their farm products. This fact is known even by a high school student. Why can’t the appropriate government agency or agencies do something about this problem?

 

Self-reliance in agriculture has never been in the priority list of the government. A very clear manifestation of this negligence is the unabated importation of agricultural products from other countries. And, the situation is aggravated by smuggling that further chokes the local farmers. There is no effort in improving the agricultural products such as vegetables and rice to make them competitive with those from other countries. Ironically, the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) the cradle of knowledge for high-tech rice production is located in the Philippines, particularly, Los Baἧos, Laguna, where rice technicians of other countries learn the rudiments of high-tech rice farming. Yet, the Philippines imports rice from the countries of these foreign scientists!

 

Trading as a gainful venture in the country is left in the hands of foreign businessmen whose stalls cram the mushrooming malls. What is left to the Filipinos are the “bilao and bangketa” business, in which merchandise are patiently arranged in piles in the round bamboo winnower and sidewalk, or the “sari-sari store”, a hole-on-the-wall “grocery”. And, this is what the OWWA expects the displaced OFWs would do with their pittance capital that it loans to them.

 

It is a shame that despite the availability of funds that were exposed to have been just pocketed by the corrupt in the government, the Filipinos are left with nothing, especially, for the so-called new heroes of Philippine economy, the OFWs.

 

Expect again the Philippine government to promise labor contracts sought from other “safe” countries…but for how long will this exportation of labor go on? Why can’t the government do something about the home-based industries and revive agriculture which was the country’s primary revenue earner? Is corruption blocking the way?….your answer is good as mine!