Life and Writing

Life and Writing
By Apolinario Villalobos

Life and writing are similar on the aspects of their inception, mid-activities, and culmination.

There is pain felt as the womb pulsates, while the new life therein tries to manifest itself to the world. There is pain, too, in the head of the writer that throbs with effort as he struggles on how to start a sentence.

Relief is felt by the mother when the bundle of new life finally makes it out to enjoy its firs whiff of air. Relief is felt, too, by the writer as the first word comes out of his head to trigger the avalanche of more words that shall comprise a literary expression.

As the child grows enjoying life, he or she is guided by the parents, institutions and established norms so that he or she becomes a virtuous member of the society. On the other hand, as the writer progresses, set norms and ethics, as well as, his own style guide him to ensure that the outcome of his effort becomes satisfactory.

In life, it is difficult to “call it quits”, especially, as one enjoys life no end. But the onset cannot be prevented, as sometimes, it is unexpected – caused by an accident. Normally, though, it should come with old age or disease.

The writer, meanwhile, has to allow a ‘twist” to conclude what he is doing. Or, gracefully allow the avalanche of words to be exhausted, naturally, and spell the end.

As with living… writing can also be difficult.

Ang Pagsusulat ay parang Pagluluto

Ang Pagsusulat ay parang Pagluluto
Ni Apolinario Villalobos

Walang pinag-iba ang pagsusulat kung ihambing sa pagluluto. Kung sa pagsusulat ay gumagamit ng naangkop na mga kataga upang gumanda ang isinusulat, ganoon din sa pagluluto na gumagamit ng mga angkop na sangkap upang sumarap ang pagkaing niluluto.

Ang ibang isinusulat ay may pinaglalaanang partikular na grupo ng magbabasa tulad ng mga matured na tao, kaya hindi pwede sa mga bata. Ang mga niluluto ay ganoon din, dahil may mga pagkaing hindi pwede sa may sakit na diabetes, o mataas ang cholesterol, at iba pa.

Kailangang bukal sa loob ng sumusulat ang ginagawa niya upang mabasa sa mga linya ang layunin niyang makapagdulot ng kasiyahan. Ang pagluto ay ganoon din, dahil kailangang malasahan sa bawa’t subo ang sarap na sanhi ng isang seryosong pagluto – hindi minadali.

Ang mga manunulat ay may istilong sinusunod na dapat ay tamang-tama lang ang dating – walang yabang kaya hindi nagpipilit na parang sobra na ang kaalaman, dahil kapag nasobrahan, hindi pa man tapos basahin ang unang paragraph, maasiwa na ang nagbabasa. Sa pagluluto naman, may mga spices na nagpapasarap sa niluluto, yong iba ay simpleng betsin lang, “magic sarap”, toyo, patis o asin…lahat sila pampasarap. Subali’t kung masobrahan ng ano man sa mga nabanggit, ang niluluto ay nagiging maalat o mapakla o sobrang maanghang. Kaya sa unang tikim pa lang ng pagkain, dapat masarap na sa panlasa.

Sa pagsusulat, titulo pa lang ay dapat may hatak na ang dating. Dapat sa pagbasa pa lang nito ay maging curious na ang magbabasa upang magpatuloy siya. Ganoon din sa pagkaing niluto na kung ilatag ay dapat may nakakaakit na “presentation”, na sa unang tingin pa lang ay magpapalaway na sa kakain. Dapat maging curious ang kakain kung masarap ang inihain dahil sa ganda ng presentation nito.

Sa mga nabanggit, isang bagay ang mahalaga – tama lang ang timpla. Ganyan din dapat ang buhay natin….dapat nababalanse ang lahat na nangyayari. Huwag maging “patay” o walang kabuhay-buhay sa mga ginagawa, o di kaya ay “OA” o trying hard na nagtataboy ng mga kaibigan.

Sa Amin…sa Mindanao

Sa Amin…sa Mindanao
Ni Apolinario Villalobos

Luntiang kaparangang halos walang hangganan
Kabundukang kahi’t paano’y balot pa ng kagubatan
Mga batis na animo ay musika ang paglagaslas
‘Yan ang Mindanao na ganda’y ubod ng timyas.

Malalagong palay, sa ihip ng hangin ay umiindayog
Mga masisiglang alagang hayop, lahat ay malulusog
Mga halamanang gulay, mayayabong ang dahon
‘Yan ang Mindanao na nabibiyayaan ng panahon.

Maraming katutubo, iba’t ibang makukulay na tribu
Magkakapitbahay ay mga Muslim at mga Kristiyano
Sila’y nagbibigayan, taos-pusong nagkakaunawaan
‘Yan ang Mindanao na may pangakong kaunlaran.

Subali’t kung ang pagkagahama’y biglang umeksena
Ang mga minimithing pangarap, lahat ay nababalewala
Kung bakit naman kasi may mga taong puso’y sakim
At mga adhikaing baluktot na dulot ay paninimdim.

Sa amin sa Mindanao ay masaya at may kasaganaan
Kaya dinayo ng mga tao na ang hanap ay kapayapaan
Nguni’t dahil sa damdaming sakim ng ilang hangal
Nakakabahalang ang tinatamasa ay baka ‘di tumagal!

Do Not Worry About a Stained Past…the future is still stainless

Do not worry about a stained past

…the future is still stainless

By Apolinario Villalobos

Many people find it hard to move on, as they are held back by a not so encouraging past. For this, my counsel is: the past is just a third part of our life, and there are still two parts that we have to live – the present and the future. The reason why God gave us the three phases of life, is perhaps to give us the opportunity to recover whatever has been lost in the past, and strive for what lies ahead. Our present is the phase where we can make amends for a better future. We should seize that opportunity and utilize it to the fullest.

If we have to be positive about whatever happened in our past, all we do is just declare that, good or bad, it is still part of life. Others use past failures as inspirations, and some even just make a joke out of them, which psychologically, is the best attitude, because the fear of their being discovered is eliminated from their mind. What is important is the sincere desire to amend the past mistakes.

I have shared the story of the girl who became a prostitute in Avenida in order to help her family and continue her secondary studies. She was eventually adopted by a retired couple, my friends, who are now spending for her education. When I met her last month, she was transformed greatly, that I almost failed to recognize her. She told me that her classmates and teachers knew about her past, and because of such openness, she gained much respect. She is now among the campus leaders and is maintaining her fourth berth in the top ten academic ranking of her class. She is also a member of their school choir and gymnastics team.

The desire to change should emanate from the person’s consciousness. No amount of financial or psychiatric help can make transformations in a person who refuses to change. On the other hand, we must look back for inspirations and guidance on what to change. At the present time, we should do more for the better or make amends to past mistakes, if there are…so that tomorrow, we can wake up to a new day that throbs with a better life.

Mga Mukha ng Pagsisikap…maaliwalas dahil sa tagumpay

Mga Mukha ng Pagsisikap

…maaliwas dahil sa tagumpay

Ni Apolinario Villalobos

Totoo ang kasabihang tinutulungan ng Diyos ang taong tumutulong sa kanyang sarili. Kailangang magsikap ang isang tao upang mapatunayan niyang karapat-dapat siya sa tulong na ipagkakaloob sa kanya. Dahil dito, karananiwang nakakakita tayo ng mga lumpo na nakasakay sa wheelchair at nagtitinda ng sigarilyo. Meron akong nakitang pilay, isa lang ang paa, at dahil walang saklay ay gumamit ng isang kapirasong kahoy na nakatulong sa kanyang pagkilos upang makapagtinda ng kakanin at kendi sa mga pasahero ng dyip na naiipit sa trapik. Marami pang nakakainspayr na tanawin ang makikita natin sa ating paligid kung bubuksan lamang natin ang ating mga mata.

Marami akong kaklase noon sa elementarya, na naglalakad ng kung ilang kilometro upang makapasok sa eskwela. Ang baon ay kanin lamang at asin o ginamos (bagoong alamang na binayo o nilasak-lasak, pinatuyo sa araw at pinausukan). Ang hindi ko makalimutan ay si Nonito Bacus. Tuwing recess, ang ginagawa niya kasama ang kanyang tatlong nakababatang kapatid ay uupo sa isang sulok ng grandstand upang sumubo ng ilang dakot na kanin na binudburan ng asin. Magtitira sila ng kanin para naman sa tanghalian. Tuwing makatapos sa pagkain ay tatakbo sila sa artesian well o poso upang uminom. Lahat silang magkakapatid ay tumutulong sa pag-araro sa maliit na lupang tinaniman ng mais, na pinasaka lamang sa kanila. Araw-araw, nilalakad nila ang layong tatlong kilometro upang makapasok sa eskwela.

Sa high school naman, marami akong matatalinong kaklase at kaibigan na todo rin ang pagsikap upang makapag-aral. Isa na si Romeo Gallego na nagtinda ng ice cream tuwing Sabado at Linggo. Ang iba ay sina Ramonito Pernato at Apolonio de la Peῆa na nagkatay ng manok upang mai-barbecue pag-uwi sa hapon, na ang pagtinda ay inaabot ng hatinggabi; si Ernesto Gialogo ay tumulong sa kanyang mga magulang na nagtitinda ng tuyo at tuba sa palengke, kaya nagkaroon ng kaalaman sa negosyo na nagamit niya sa pagtinda ng banana cue na nakapagpatapos sa kolehiyo ng lahat niyang anak; si Hernanie Buenacosa ay tumulong sa kanilang welding shop; si Teddy Lapuz ay nagtinda ng diyaryo; si Fernando Valencia at kapatid niyang si Remy Valencia ay nagtinda ng ice drop; si Jaime Bides ay tumulong sa kanyang ama sa pagkumpuni ng mga sirang makinilya kaya kung minsan ay pumapasok siyang maitim pa ang mga kuko dahil sa mahirap matanggal na mantsa ng grasa; si Glenyrose Ballentes ay nagtinda ng gulay; si Rodina Ballena ay tumulong sa tindahan nila sa palengke; si Virgie Paragas at kapatid na si Bing ay tumulong sa tindahan nila ng mga motorsiklo; si Pat Sulleza na nag-alaga ng baboy upang may pambayad ng tuition. Dahil ang bayan namin ay napapaligiran ng mga bukiring taniman ng palay at mais, ang iba pang mga kaklase ko at kaibigan ay sa pagsasaka naman ibinuhos ang kanilang pagsisikap.

Mapalad kami dahil ang eskwelahan naming Notre Dame of Tacurong ay maluwag sa mga estudyanteng nali-late sa pagpasok kung may kinalaman ito sa ginagawa nila upang kumita. Hindi na binibigyang pansin ng mga guro ang mga puting polo-shirt at t-shirt na animo ay nagka-khaki na ang kulay, dahil hindi man lang naikukula, upang mabanlawan agad at mapatuyo sa gabi. Marami sa amin ay nagkasya sa dalawang pirasong polo shirt at dalawang pantalong uniporme sa loob ng isa hanggang tatlong taon.

Sa college, maliban sa mga kaklase na nagsikap tulad ko, marami rin akong nakitang iba pa na abut-abot din ang ginawang pagpunyagi upang makatapos. Ang maalala ko ay sina Felizardo Lazado, Romeo Tan, Agustin Carvajal, Romeo Balinas, Jaime Bides, at ang kapatid kong si Florencio na naging mga working students o student assistants ng aming eskwelahan. Hindi nasayang ang tulong na ibinigay sa kanila dahil lahat sila ay nagtagumpay.

Ngayon, sa pamamagitan ng balitaan sa social media at mga reunion, nalaman ko na lahat ng mga kaklase ko at kaibigan ay nagtagumpay sa mga pinili nilang larangan. May mga negosyante, mga nurse na nasa abroad, may mga magsasaka pero hi-tech na ang gamit na paraan, may mga opisyal ng pamahalaan pero hindi nagnanakaw sa kaban ng bayan, may mga kagalang-galang na mga titser, at ang mga napagod na ay nagpahinga na lamang upang mag-alaga ng mga apo – lahat ay masasaya.

Sila ang mga mukha ng pagsisikap na nangingintab sa aliwalas, dulot ng tagumpay. At sa kabila ng kanilang natamo, ay bukambibig nila ang pasasalamat sa Kanya na palaging nasa kanilang tabi, sa lahat ng pagkakataon. Talagang kapag ang pagsisikap ay pinaigting ng pananalig…ang mga ito ay may tagumpay na katapat!

Charity from A Distance

Charity from A Distance

(…story of Perla Buhay-Howard)

By Apolinario Villalobos

Charity knows no distance. That is how I understood it, and did more so, when I met Perla Buhay-Howard via the internet. She lives in California, USA, and a follower of my blogs.

The initial link between us was her comment about my blogs in one of my sites about the random sharing that my group was doing in Baseco Compound, a depressed area n Tondo. I considered her comment as just one of those that are posted to tell bloggers that they are being viewed. Until, one of her comments said about books for the kids and perhaps, a school. The intention was appreciated but it gave me a problem because my group does not “record” our deeds by taking photos while extending help to others, so there would be no way to tell her about our using her donations. We do not even give our real names to the recipients. It took some time before I frankly told her about the way we are doing our own kind of sharing. As a compromise, I suggested that small reading materials would be for the kids, aside from other things, but the “bigger” reading materials- encyclopedia, dictionary, and others should go to the National Library of the Philippines which could officially acknowledge receipt of everything she would be sending. I was glad that she readily appreciated the idea.

The first batch came – a big box that contained encyclopedia, dictionaries, reading materials for children, and other items. While the rest of the items were shared among the “friends” at Baseco and those who live in pushcarts along Recto near Divisoria, the books went to the National Library of the Philippines.

I thought that the box I received was the first and the last. I was surprised when her subsequent messages mentioned about more boxes for shipment. She also expressed how she enjoyed picking up books from friends and an outlet which she herself, packs. One time as she was driving to her friend’s place to pick up books, she figured in an accident that smashed her car, while she suffered contusions. I was further touched when she told me that she sets aside money for materials that needed to be purchased.

As she began to develop trust in me, she confided that her advocacy to reach out to others, especially, on the aspect of education, resulted from her own experience as a young girl who could barely afford an education. She hails from Nueva Ecija. She practically had to toil her way up to the last year of a college education. When she made it to America, she strived to help her siblings and relatives left in the Philippines. She did not waver in her effort even until she found herself a lifetime partner who showed her not only love, but gave her full support and understanding of her advocacy. In California, she is also a member of a group that extends help to the needy.

She sends me photos of her potted cherry tomatoes, kulitis or amaranth, even sweet potatoes, young leaves of which she regularly cook. She has not forgotten that she is a Filipina, from a country where live many countrymen who need help, to which she looks back always, and share in a way she could best afford. She personifies charity…extended from a distance.

The Beauty of Life

The Beauty of Life

(for Adoracion Paragas -Sanque)

By Apolinario Villalobos

The magnificence of creation is such

That all we need to do is open our eyes

Though the extent of our perception ends

Where the earth meets the sky –

It still oozes with awe-inspiring sights.

In loving God, we love life…

Gratitude is what to Him we show

For everything He blessed us with

There’s nothing else that we can do.

Even the whiff of the wild grass

Undulating in the wind’s caress

And the buzzing of the busy bees

That fills the air with lively drone

Lightens up, even a heavy stone.

Light feeling, ecstasy, happiness –

They grip us tight, though tenderly

As we delight in the beauty of life

That God made for all of us to see!