Ang Nakakasilaw na Tukso ng Pera at Paggastos Nito

Ang Nakakasilaw na Tukso ng Pera

At Paggastos Nito

Ni Apolinario Villalobos

 

 

Hindi maganda ang ugaling gastos nang gastos basta may magagastos lalo na kung ang ginagastos ay galing sa kaanak na nagpapakuba sa pagtrabaho sa abroad. Marami akong nakilalang pamilya na akala ko ay mayaman, yon pala ay may nanay o tatay o kapatid na OFW, o di kaya ay seafarer. Ang nabanggit na ugali ay masama na, subalit lalo pang pinasama ng iba dahil sa kanilang pangangalunya o pangangaliwa o pagtataksil…. sa madaling salita ay may “kabit”!…habang ang asawang sa abroad ay nagpapakahirap.

 

Sa awiting, “Kuya Eddie” binabanngit ang kapabayaan ng asawa sa mga anak na ang ama ay nagtatrabaho sa ibang bansa. Nagtaka ang lalaki dahil hindi naman buntis ang kanyang misis nang kanyang iwanan subalit nang umuwi siya, ang mga anak nila ay nadagdagan ng isa! Ang masaklap pa, iniwan na nga siya at kanyang mga anak, tinangay pa ang inipon niyang pera! Kung babae ang gagawa ng kaaliwaswasan, ang idadahilan ay “woman’s frailty” tulad ng depensea ng isang big time na babae na ngayon ay nasa kulungan na, subalit ang kaso ay hindi dahil sa pagka-adik niya sa sex kundi sa mga kasong may kinalaman sa pera. Kung lalaki naman, ang palusot ay, “ di bale na, lalaki naman at hindi mabubuntis”.

 

May naging kaibigan akong mananahi na dating nurse sa Kuwait at ang kuwento niya ay anim na taon daw niyang sinupurtahan ang kanyang pamilya, mula sa mga magulang hanggang sa apat na kapatid. Dahil sagana sa perang padala niya, naka-develop ng “pagmamahal” ang kanyang tatay sa sabong at ang kanyang nanay naman ay sa casino. Sa apat niyang kapatid, tatlo ang naging adik at ang isa ay nalumpo dahil sa aksidente sa motorcycle na nabili sa malaking halaga, yong pang-karera. Nang nakauwi na siya, kahit papaano ay nakabili siya ng isang maliit na lote at isang Singer sewing machine….nagri-repair siya ngayon ng mga ukay na pantaloon sa Bambang (Manila) sa inuupahang maliit na kuwarto. Ang lote naman ay tinamnan nilang mag-asawa ng mga gulay na pambenta sa Divisoria.

 

Siguradong marami ang aalma o magrereklamo kung sasabihin ko na ang isang bahagi ng kulturang Pilipino na hindi maganda ay kayabangan kapag maraming pera. Ang mga Pilipino na may nabanggit na ugali ay walang tigil ang pamimili ng mga bagay na mapapansin agad upang makapagbigay ng impression na mayaman sila. Tulad halimbawa ng isa kong kumpare na nang mag-retire ay bumili agad ng isang mamahaling sasakyan kahit wala silang garahe kaya sa labas ng bahay niya iginagarahe dahil ang tinitirhan nila ay isang maliit na apartment lang.Binalaan o winarningan ko siya na kilala ang lugar nilang maraming adik at snatcher na naninirahan…sa San Andres Bukid sila nakatira. Sagot niya sa akin, “pare…pa-impress lang…iniismol kasi ako ng mga hinayupak kong kapitbahay”. Hindi inabot ng limang buwan, nag-goodbye sa kanya ang mamahaling sasakyan dahil ninakaw!

 

Tulad ng iba pa nating pangangailangan sa buhay, ang pera ay nirerespeto at hindi inaabuso…pinaghihirapang kitain ng mga tapat sa trabaho, hindi basta lang dinadampot. HIGIT SA LAHAT, MAAWA SA MGA KAANAK NA HALOS MAGPA-ALIPIN SA IBANG BANSA PARA LANG MAY MAIPADALANG PERA SA INYO!

From Birth to his Death, Money Reigns Supreme in the Life of Man

From Birth to His Death, Money Reigns Supreme

In the Life of Man

By Apolinario Villalobos

 

Since the time he was born and while cruising the avenue of life, up to the time he is buried in the ground, man is either gripped by financial pressure or wallowing in riches. Man did not choose to be born. He is the result of copulating couples as they vent out their lust in the name of love or maniacal desire. Man has no choice when he begins his journey on Earth, making do with what may be on hand – either the cold sidewalk to sleep on while writhing with pangs of hunger if he belongs to a homeless poor family…or the sweet luxurious life if he is born to a filthy rich family!

 

If somebody will tell me that money is not everything in this world, I challenge him to go out without a single coin in his pocket and sleep on sidewalks for several nights without dinner. And, it is not right also to say that money is the root of all evils. It is the abusive exploitation resulting to the deprivation of others that makes money viewed as evil.  If there is only fairness in this world, there will be no problem on the issue of wage and the constant soaring of prices of basic commodities, as everything would be affordably fair.

 

Civilization brought about pollution, so that there is a need for money to counter its effect – medicines, protective clothing, hospitals, healthy food, even the simple surgical mask to somehow block the dirty air from entering our body in vast quantity as we breathe. Civilization created many desires and wants for man. While there was no need for flavor enhancers before, today, for food to taste savory, it must be enhanced with chemicals. While there was no need to travel somewhere before, today, it has become a necessity to satisfy the curiosity about a certain white beach, for instance. While there was no need for frivolous trappings, as simple cotton garments were enough before, today, man has developed a conceited desire to look better than the rest, in his expensive wardrobe and glittering jewelries.

 

In high-tech first-world countries, governments slap their citizens with sky-high taxes and almost nothing is left with them when they receive their wage, but in exchange for such, there are hospitalization benefit, medical care, etc. , although, controlled by the system. While working hard for the money, the citizens of these nations cannot enjoy its benefit on his free will. In some countries, big savings are questioned and if you are found to be carrying around big amounts, you become suspect of illegal activities. Citizens are forced to use “plastic money” for their “convenience” – the credit cards. In these countries, working parents deposit their children in Day Care centers while they work for the money, a big slice of which goes to the government.

 

Civilization brought havoc to the once docile life of man. Its onset created competition for food that affected even the so-called “uncivilized” humans living in the vastness of African deserts. Animals that they used to hunt occasionally for food have become scarce and brought to the brink of extinction due to drought that resulted from the destruction of the ozone layer…all because of unabated pollution. Animals hunted for food have become targets for “game hunting” and left to rot after they are felled by bullets from high-powered long-arms intended for such purpose. Big preys have become targets of bounty hunters for medicine and amulets. Those are just a few of the acts of exploitation committed by the moneyed for which the exploited poor persevere.

 

In the Philippines, there is a custom that calls for the throwing of coins on the path of the mourners as they bring the remains of the departed to the cemetery. Some archaeological diggings brought to light mummified remains with gold coins that cover their eyes. The practice of “changing money” has its roots from the brisk business of the shrewd money changers at the gate of the temples during the Biblical time. These money changers converted various foreign coins into the local tender that could be used as temple offering. Jesus died on the cross because of betrayal by Judas in exchange of several pieces of silver coins.

 

Money cannot be done away with even by all churches. How can edifices for worship be built without money? How can the evangelists preach on empty stomach? How can they go on shepherding their flocks if they get sick and got no money for medicine? How can a Mass be held early in the morning or evening if the lights are out because of unpaid electric bill?…etc.

 

There is nothing wrong with money for as long as it is respected and not abused. Most importantly, it should be acknowledged as payment for earthly necessities. Hypocrisy should be done away with in the treatment of money, because it is clearly the fair payment to the priest, for instance, who blessed the remains of the dead person or when he did other acts as required by his vocation, and again…nothing is wrong with that. My unsolicited advice in this regard is…RESPECT MONEY BY USING IT THE PROPER WAY. MOST IMPORTANTLY, DO NOT BE SELFISH BY GRABBING FROM OTHERS WHAT ARE SUPPOSED TO BE THEIRS!

The “Funny Money” the Goes A Long, Long Way

The “Funny Money” that Goes A Long, Long Way

By Apolinario Villalobos

 

The “funny money” comes from “Perla”, a kind-hearted Filipina benefactor based in America. She earns the money from her translation “sideline”, as she is on a regular call to interpret for Filipinos with cases being heard in court, and who have difficulty in speaking English. The “funny” is her lingual concoction for the job that she did not seek, but in a way, accidentally came her way. She has been consistently supporting my RAS (random acts of sharing) which started when she learned of my RAS from my blogs about such advocacy.

 

What is really funny is the reaction of friends who keep on asking where some of my fund comes from, as if suspecting me to push drugs just to earn extra. They just cannot believe that somebody would send money for total strangers who are in dire need for help. When I add that there was also a time when another friend in London sent money, and still another in America sent a “blessing” through her “balikbayan” sister, their eyes get bigger in disbelief. In exasperation, I just tell them that it is very difficult for somebody to understand the sharing that others are doing if he or she does not have the same advocacy in life….or if he or she does not extend a hand to others as a habit. As expected, these fence-sitting friends fail to get what I mean. The problem with some people is that, they are used to seeing “charitable acts” done only by people who wear t-shirts emblazoned with their mission.

 

Perla drives or commutes to courts or hospitals where her service as translator is needed. Her benevolence sometimes bothers me, as I would imagine that she could be left with a little amount or nothing for her own needs. Every time I remind her about that, she would send me a message with typed laughter with an assurance that what she sends me is “funny money” earned accidentally from the job that she has somehow learned to like.

 

The unselfish sharing of Perla always reminds me of the comment of my two “balikbayan” friends who tried to treat me to a lunch. On our way to the restaurant inside a mall, I saw an emaciated mother and her child who was holding on to a black garbage bag half-filled with empty plastic bottles. Both were staring at the customers eating fried chicken at a lunch counter near the aircon van terminal. When I told my friends to go ahead and that I would just follow in a few minutes, as I would like to buy packed lunch for the mother and her child, they told me not to bother, as “we can just pack our left- over for them after our lunch inside the mall”….they meant “doggie bag”. What they said made me adamant and which also made me decide not to join them anymore despite their pleading. When they left, I bought three packed lunch for the three of us – I, the mother and her child, and enjoyed it in the farthest corner of the terminal where we slumped on the floor. That lunch made my day….and, for which was spent part of Perla’s “funny money”.

 

 

 

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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!

Ang Kapangyarihan ng Pera

Ang Kapangyarihan ng Pera
Ni Apolinario Villalobos

Ang buhay ni Hesus ay tinapatan ng tatlumpong pirasong pilak. Sa halagang yon, siya ay namatay sa krus na paraan niya sa pagligtas sa sangkatauhan. Ibig sabihin, kung hindi dahil sa tatlumpong pilak ay nakasadlak pa rin tayo sa ating kasalanan hanggang ngayon.

Ang kapangyarihan ng pera ay hindi matatawaran. Maraming pamilya ang nabuwag at magkaibigang nagpatayan dahil dito. Mayroon ding napariwara dahil pinagpalit ang kanilang dangal sa kinang nito. Mayroon pang nagsugal ng buhay, makahawak lamang ng ilang bungkos ng salapi. May mga taong dahil nasilaw sa pera ay bumigay kaya nalaman ang tunay na layunin kahit anong pilit nilang pagtatakip dito.

Ang mga bansa ay pinapatakbo ng pera, kaya kung alin sa kanila ang may pinakamarami nito ay itinuturing na makapangyarihan. Sa pamamagitan ng pautang ay natatali nila ang utang na loob ng mahihirap na bansa upang maging kaalyado nila.

Pera ang pinapakilos upang magkaroon ng mga nakamamatay na imbensiyon ng tao. Ito rin ang ginagamit upang masira ang buhay ng dating matitino na nalulong sa bawal na gamot, lalo na ng mga kabataan sa nagsimula ang bisyo sa alak at sigarilyo. Ito rin ang dahilan ng pagiging suwail ng mga anak na dahil hindi masunod ang luho ay natutong maging tampalasan sa kanilang mga magulang.

Subali’t kung iisiping mabuti, ang layunin ng pera ay upang mapagaan ang buhay ng tao, dahil nang nagkaroon siya nito ay hindi na niya kailangan pang magbitbit ng kanyang kayamanan tulad ng bulto-bultong ginto, pilak, alahas, at mga hayop gaya ng ginagawa noong unang panahon. Ngayon, ang kailangan ng tao ay ilang pirasong papel at barya na pera, tseke o credit card, at maaari na siyang mamili o maglakbay.

Hindi dapat isisi sa pera ang mga hindi magandang nangyari sa buhay ng tao. Ang hindi magandang paggamit sa pera ang dahilan kung bakit nasira ang tao.

The Struggle of Man to Survive…a personal view

The Struggle of Man to Survive
…a personal view
By Apolinario Villalobos

Man has for long, exploited the earth’s fossil residues – oil, coal, and natural gas. As estimated by experts, their years are numbered, so that there is a scramble now in finding ways to utilize the sources of renewable energy, such as water, wind, and sun. Even motion will eventually be harnessed for this purpose, as it has been used successfully in small gadgets like flashlight and wristwatch. Many years from now, the battery with different capacity for storage, forms and sizes shall take the center stage in this endeavor. As of now, there are efforts being exerted to make the battery with stored solar energy as an acceptable option, but unfortunately, with few takers.

Moving contraptions such as cars, ships, aircrafts, etc. may later be operated by batteries that shall store energy from wind and motion, as the one from the sun is being used now, though, on a small scale. Homes may utilize batteries that shall store energy from the sun and wind. The batteries for cellphones and cameras may be recharged by motion and body heat. Such batteries may form part of the gadget’s structure, hence, cannot be detached for replacement.

Nature cannot take so much abuse such as denuding of forests, unscrupulous mining, slash and burn farming, fishing with the use of poison, dynamites, and fine meshed trawls. It yields to such onslaught by way of floods, erosions, landslides, and depletion of marine life. With its loss of balance, deprivations, especially, hunger shall definitely get worst.

In this view, time will come that even leaves of trees may be made edible through a meticulous process in which, their fibers shall be softened and flavored to make them palatable. So there may come a time when future generations shall be munching biscuits made from coconut leaves or fill their sandwich with jam made from grape leaves or delight in crunchies made from twigs and tree barks, or wafers made from wood shavings and dust. Practically, the whole tree may become edible! We are leading to that, as in virtual preparation, we are partaking today of “ground” or “powdered” cinnamon bark and other “woody” spices, even powdered roots as herbal drug.

With high-tech process, even poisonous fruits may already be safe to eat, after their deadly substance has been removed. It should be noted that some of the drugs that are used today come from poisonous plants, such as the “tuba-tuba” that yields castor oil. Some poisonous tubers become safe to eat after having been soaked in the running water of river for several days. Further to this, antidotes against some poison come from the same source such as cobra. Even the potent poisonous saliva of komodo lizard is being developed as a powerful drug.

The crossbreeding of vegetables to make them resistant to long drought and flood are being done now. In this regard, new varieties of rice and corn are being developed for the aforementioned situations. Presently, genetically-modified vegetables with remarkable increase in size and slight change in appearance and taste are already in the market, although, opposed by the conservatives who fear their effect to the human genes. But how can that be, when genes of animals are already used today in therapies to prolong the life of man?

Insects as part of exotic cuisine are becoming a fad in many countries. So, now there are pizzas topped with crickets and grasshoppers, sandwiches filled with wormburger, jellies made from giant black ants, baby scorpions as appetizer, etc. Even some kind of starfish may be made into crunchy barbecues. To avert extreme hunger, all kinds of insects may eventually find their way to the dining table. Even crocodile and elephant skin as with all other animals may become crunchy snacks, just like the water buffalo and pig skin which in the Philippines is called “chicharon”.

Subdivision and condo developers may be required in the future to have recycling facilities to make their projects self-sufficient in water. They may also be required to install facilities for the harnessing of sources of renewable energy. The same requirements may also be imposed on factories, commercial buildings and supermarkets, as well as, restaurants. The keyword here is “require”, because to date, what prevails is just the option.

In many years to come, homes, entire subdivisions, and clustered villages may be covered with protective green fiberglass to minimize the deadly effect of long exposure to sun rays. New cities may be developed in this manner. High-end and exclusive subdivisions may even be totally covered to protect the occupants from the excessive polluted air. Such green cover may eventually become part of political promises for a healthy and better life during electoral campaigns. Governments may set aside budgets for this, too.

Though morbid as it may sound, some remote villages in poor countries may revive the practice of cannibalism due to extreme poverty, though, discreetly this time. As a last resort, warring neighboring states may forget their differences and instead, merge to pool their effort in fighting hunger. Water may become the most important and expensive commodity on earth, more expensive than life, as in some remote villages, parents may trade their children for jugs of water. This is actually done now, though indirectly, through adoption of children by foreigners, whereby, parents of adopted children are given monetary consolation.

Politics may be replaced by religion as a driving force and unifying factor of humanity. The struggle could be between the united Islamic States and progressive Christians which had ever been since the Biblical time. It should be noted that politics came into the picture only centuries later, with the spread of the Greek philosophies that somehow classified the different schools of thought. The classification that eventually defined the different thoughts gave man an option to deviate from the path laid down by Godly faith.

Finally, because both Islam and Christianity are God-centered, eventually, they may reach a compromise which shall mark another stage of man’s struggle for survival…the beginning of a new cycle of life on earth.

Ang Kapangyarihan ng Pera

Ang Kapangyarihan ng Pera

Ni Apolinario Villalobos

 

Nababalita na naman ang tungkol sa kapabayaan ng mga tauhan ng New Bilibid Prison dahil sa paglabas-pasok ng malalaking taong nakabilanggo sa maximum security pa mandin. Ang ginawang dahilan na wari ay naabuso na ay ang pagpapa-ospital. Ang mga bilanggo ay nalamang gumagamit pa ng cell phone at may mga bisitang wala sa listahan ng mga dapat bumisita.

 

Noon pang nabisto ang paglabas-masok ng dating gobernador ng Batangas na si Leviste ay napuna na ang kaluwagang ito ng National Bilibid Prison. Nang pumunta nga ang isang senador ay naghanap ng operating manual at wala yata silang naipakita, ibig sabihin walang sinusunod na standard na mga patakaran, kaya kung may paglabag, sila ay nagtuturuan.

 

Subali’t may operating manual man o wala, may isang malakas na dahilan na nagpapaluwag ng pamamalakad ng bilangguan. Ito ay ang kapangyarihan ng pera. Nalaman kasi na pinapagamit ng ilang prison guards ang kanilang cell phone sa mga bilanggo kapalit ng malaking halaga. Kaya pala daw, maski nasa loob na ang isang drug lord, nakakapag-utos pa ito sa kanyang mga tauhan na nasa labas ng bilangguan.

 

Sa isang interview, sinabi ng isang taga-DOJ na ililipat na ang bilangguan sa isang lugar sa Nueva Ecija. Aba, eh di, lalong masaya para sa mga mabibigat na mga bilanggo dahil malayo na sila sa mga mata ng mga taong nagbabantay sa kanila. Maluwag na nilang magagawa ang gusto nila. Baka magsunud-sunuran pa ang pagtakas nila.

 

Ang korapsyon sa pamamalakad ng mga bilangguan ay bahagi lamang ng korapsyon sa kabuuhan na nakikita sa pamahalaan ng Pilipinas. At, siyempre ang pinakaugat ay pera. Kaya hangga’t may mga taga-pamahalaang patuloy na magpapatalo sa kapangyarihan ng pera, ang korapsyon ay hindi mawawala sa ating bansa. Sa bandang huli, ang mga Pilipino ang kawawa, lalo na yong naghihirap na.

Accepting a Loss and Moving On

Accepting a Loss and Moving On

By Apolinario Villalobos

 

Man by nature has the habit of keeping valuables, be they materials or loved ones.

They become investments in life that need to be taken care of and well-guarded. Earned money could provide support in times of distress and comfort upon retirement. It is for this reason that some work so hard “while the iron is hot”, as a popular adage says. For the wise, every opportunity is seized.

 

On the other hand, some people oftentimes become over- possessive of their friends whom they have gathered to become part of their lives, more so with their families whom they have painstakingly raised through difficulties. Friendship is not easy to develop because it involves patience in dealing with different characters. As with the family, one starts by living under one roof with a partner by virtue of marriage or simple verbal arrangement. Broods are brought forth and the parents are not even sure if all of them will grow up to be good, therefore, effort to develop them well is exerted giving rise to close bonding among the members.  

 

So many expectations are the offshoot of all the exerted efforts in these investments in life so that unconsciously, a strong attachment to them has become deeply rooted. It becomes not easy to part with any of them. There is always that feeling of great loss. For how can one for instance, be not upset losing in a fire or flood, a house that took many years of saving to be acquired? Or how can one not be upset by the loss of a husband in a plane crash?

 

At first, there is a strong resistance to the acceptance of truth. But there is a need to understand that everything in this world is not permanent. Only by understanding this fact that one can let go of the valuable, though, how painful it may be.  It may take some time before the pain of loss will go away. The affected should not be overpowered by selfishness in his effort to accept the loss. Failure to go through this stage would mean sacrificing many things – erosion of his good relationship with others due to unconscious development of hate in him and failure on his part to give attention to his other loved ones. Most importantly, the failure to accept will hold him back from moving on.   

 

 

 

 

Investments in Life

Investments in Life

By Apolinario B Villalobos

 

 

Investments in life are made in stages:

 

1. When a man and a woman meet, they invest TRUST and LOVE to each other with a hope that these shall develop into a wise decision to get married, hence, give them a reason to settle down as a couple.

 

2.  As a couple, they invest PATIENCE and DILIGENCE into their lives in order to earn money and raise a family.

 

3.  The couple invests the MONEY in a home of their own and things for their coming offspring.

 

4.  The couple invests MONEY for the food, supplements and medicines for their offspring so that they will grow healthy. As they grow, more MONEY is invested for their education with a hope that they will have a bright future later on. When the offspring leave home to make their own investments, the couple is left alone. This is the last stage of their investment. They are back to each other’s arms – alone.

 

Unfortunately, SOME couples forgot to invest for their COMFORTABLE retirement. It is only later they learned that social security retirement (in the Philippines), is not enough to cover supplements, medicines, regular medical check ups, and salary for caregiver – expenses  that come with old age.

 

Worse, SOME very unfortunate couples found out that their children whom they nurtured with love since birth and already have families of their own, develop amnesia, causing them forget that somewhere in a province or a depressed residential area in a city, are two aging persons, living in a crumbling house…aging persons who could not even help themselves in going to the toilet or in taking a bath.

 

Not ALL offspring are kind enough to SHOW love to their parents who smothered them with love when they came into this world. SHOWING love to the parents is not paying them back for what they have done. SHOWING love to a person is a SPIRITUAL obligation, be he or she is a kin or a stranger.

 

LOVING parents do not bother themselves with a seemingly wasted investment such as mentioned above. They know, it is their obligation to raise their children decently, properly, complete with love…with affection.

 

Indeed, investment is always shaded with risks that should be accepted what they may be.

 

   

Beware: Pride Closes the Mind

Beware: Pride Closes the Mind

By Apolinario Villalobos

Some people think that accepting the mistake they made is humiliating. They also think that people who give them advice are intruding into their intellectual domain. Worse, these same people who are buoyed by money and intoxicated by success think that they are above the rest of humanity…and, they just cannot imagine themselves looking back or looking down to where they came from. Blame pride, arrogance, conceit.

Self-esteem should be maintained despite material gains. But it should not be tainted with pride. Moving on is part of life and those who gain by dint of hard work should compose themselves as successes are gained along the way. Studies show that one reason why some successful people refuse to look back or cut off their relationship with former colleagues is their fear that the latter would ask for a share of what they gained. These people not only refuse to look back but they also close their mind.

They not only move on, but move up – climbing the ladder of  society to find a new environment where they can move with ease, thanks to their new glittering trappings and money. Among newfound friends, the successful people open their minds. But since money is not everything in life and relationship with newfound friends is not deeply rooted, happiness is short-lived. As these people grow old, they found parties, golfing with rich buddies, weekend jaunts to first class resorts, dinners in 5-star hotels, etc. –  boring. They start to long for childhood friends, relatives in barrios and slums. But they are ashamed to make a turn around and trace back their steps to where they came from. And, since, they cannot bring along their wealth with them when they bid the world goodbye, their death could be lonely.

(I based this blog on the story of a couple who lives in an affluent village in Makati City, Philippines. Between the two, I could surmise that the wife should be blamed for their situation now. The wife is arrogant and obviously has the hand in all their affairs. Both of them came from Davao City  where they also earned their bachelor’s degree from a prestigious Catholic educational institution in that city. They met in Manila while she was working as a secretary in a pharmaceutical firm and he was with a travel agency. After getting married, the wife resigned from her job and went into direct selling of beauty products which prospered. The husband also resigned from his job and joined his wife but expanded their line of products. They were blessed with 2 children. It was while they were enjoying the fruit of their hard work that they almost forgot about their families and friends back in Davao city. When at first they were helping their respective family, later on they stopped, thinking that their families are milking them of their hard-earned money. Actually, the idea came from the wife who also said that those in Davao should also work hard like them (this bit of information was given to me by the husband, confidentially). In time, communication was cut off. Their two children are both in the United States now with their own families. With advancing age, he is 81 and she is 79, they are now full of regrets. I was referred to them by a friend as they want their “success”  story written down into a book. But I suggested to them that for their story to have a happy ending, they should swallow their pride and go back to Davao to mend the broken relationship with their families which they did. But whether they did it with sincerity or not, I can never tell.)