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!

 

To be “In” Socially as a Cover Up for Insecurities and Inadequacies

To be “In” Socially As Cover Up of

Insecurities and Inadequacies

By Apolinario Villalobos

 

The objective of some people in joining a social group is usually tinged with an effort to cover up their insecurities and inadequacies, as well as, the desire to flaunt unexpected success in life. Their effort to join an organization to boost their once timid personality is commendable but they should not use their identity with an organization to an overwhelming degree of arrogance which makes them social climbers.

 

Those who thirst for recognition may not even need to join any organization to earn it. They missed the fact that by being alone, only they will enjoy the recognition at the proper time and opportunity. On the other hand, if they are identified with an organization that might later prove to be questionable, they will eventually get a share of the stain, too.

 

I have met and talked to some people who joined the “Foundations” and “associations” sponsored by a politician because they were hoping that he could help them with their personal problems later on. They joined the “Foundations” and “associations” without knowing their objectives until they found out, albeit very late, that they were being used as conduits for ill-gotten funds from dubious transactions. At the end, their membership made them parties of the politician’s illegal acts. Until now, they are still being investigated.

 

And, here’s a story about a friend who tremendously improved his financial status because of hard-earned wage as a seafaring engineer. In due time, he was able to purchase a house in an exclusive subdivision in Tagaytay, aside from a Porsche sports car and a Benz van. In both, he has permanently stashed expensive golf sets which surprised me because he does not play golf. He also stuck stickers of La Salle, UP, Jaycees, and Rotary at the back windshield of the van, although, he has got nothing to do with them. He graduated from Cebu and not a member of any of the two organizations. I just smiled and pitied him, for he told me himself, how he struggled hard as an impoverished clerk/messenger while exerting much effort to finish his marine engineering course and capped it by passing the board. His multi-million home in Tagaytay is a mish-mash of furnishing, resulting to an overdone eclectic interior that grossly defies harmony. Such effort betrayed his inadequate social background.

 

Being a very good friend, I took the risk of pinching his ego by advising him to remove the stickers and golf sets from his van and just be his real self, adding that he should have more time with his family than with his seafaring buddies who enjoy rounds of beer on weekends. And, as I felt, too, that he wanted to be socially “in”, I advised him to join a religious group that is always involved in community outreach programs. He joined two groups but failed to find satisfaction so he left them. At the end, I just gave him the opportunity of joining me every time he is free during my rounds of RAS (random acts of sharing), that he found more fulfilling, as like me, he also identified himself with those whom we share simple blessings.

 

 

Mga Lubak at iba pa…sa Tuwid na Daan

Mga Lubak at iba pa…sa Tuwid na Daan

ni Apolinario Villalobos

 

Maihahalintulad ang buhay sa binabagtas na daan

Maaring ito ay tuwid, liku-liko, paahon o palusong

Sa araw-araw nating pamumuhay sa mundong ito

Bumabagtas tayo ng daan…hindi alam saan patungo.

 

Sa pakikibaka sa buhay ay para rin tayong tumatahak

Ng daan na hindi lang baku-bako dahil sa mga lubak

Marami ring mga sagabal – mga bato at minsa’y tinik

Na kung di maiwasa’y magdudulot ng sugat…masakit.

 

Kung minsan naman, ang daang tinatahak ay liku-liko

Para ring buhay na maraming dinadaanang pagsubok

Kung minsan ay mga pasakit na pabigat sa ating balikat

Na kailangang tiising pasanin, kahi’t dusa ang kaakibat.

 

Minsan nang may taong nag-anyaya, samahan daw siya

Sa pagbagtas sa tuwid na daa’t sinabi pa niyang nakangiti

Pangako’y puno ng kaginhawahan sa buhay, animo totoo

Subali’t kalauna’y nabatid, daa’y may lambong na siphayo!

 

Ang daa’y diretso nga, nguni’t tadtad naman ng mga lubak

Marami ring bato, tinik ng mga damo, ipot, at kung ano pa

Marami na ngang sagabal, umaalingasaw pa sa kabantutan

Kaya sa pagbagtas nitong daan daw niya, sinong gaganahan?

 

Hindi na lang sana siya nangako, dahil lahat ng daa’y masukal

Maraming sagabal dahil ito ay parang buhay, hindi matiwasay

Upang makaraos, depende na sa pagkapursigido ng isang tao

Kaya, kung Diyos nga ay hindi nangangako ng tuwid na daan –

…ito pa kayang isang tao na wala pang napatunayan?

 

Mga Anay ng Lipunan

Mga Anay ng Lipunan

Ni Apolinario Villalobos

Nakakalungkot isiping hindi lang ang gobyerno ng Pilipinas ang pinoproblema ng mga Pilipino dahil sa hindi nito maayos na pamamahala, kundi pati na rin mga kababayan mismong hindi marunong mamuhay ng parehas – silang mga manloloko, mga manggagantso, mga sindikato, na animo ay mga anay na unti-unting nagwawasak ng pangkalahatang pamumuhay ng mga mamamayan.

Nariyan ang mga kidnaper sa Mindanao na kung tawagin ay Abu Sayyaf, at iba pang grupo na nakakalat sa iba’t ibang lugar ng Pilipinas, ang mga holdaper, mandurukot, illegal recruiter, mandarayang nagtitinda sa palengke, akyat-bahay, dugo-dugo gang, drug pusher, drug lords, at napakarami pang iba.

Sa Maynila, hindi ligtas ang mga pasahero sa bus dahil sa “dura gang”, “laglag-barya gang”, “ipit gang”, at mga holdaper mismo na malakas ang loob sa pag-akyat sa mga bus. Hindi pa rin nawawala ang “riding- in- tandem” na nang-aagaw ng bag. Pati mga sindikatong nangingidnap ng mga bata upang gamiting namamalimos sa mga matataong lugar ng lunsod.

Iba pa rin ang mga umaakyat sa bus upang magbasa ng Bibliya at pagkatapos ay mamimigay ng sobre upang lagyan ng pera ng mga pasahero. Sakaling may dalawang grupo na gumagawa nito ang hindi nagkaalaman na pareho pala ang sinakyan nilang bus, ano ang mangyayari? Nasaksihan ko yan…

Sabado ng umaga, pauwi na ako galing sa Pasay at nakasakay sa isang bus, nang sa bandang likuran ko ay may tumayong lalaki at biglang nagbasa ng Bibliya. Nakakailang linya pa lamang siya ay may babaeng may edad na, maayos ang pananamit at naka-sun glass pa ang biglang sumulpot sa bandang harapan ng bus at namigay ng mga sobre. Biglang tumigil sa pagsasalita ang lalaki at pilit tinatanong ang babae kung anong grupo ang kinaaaniban niya. Hindi sumasagot ang babae, tuloy lang sa pamimigay ng sobre. Hindi pala siya kasama ng lalaki.

Hindi pa nakaka-recover ang lalaki sa pagkabigla ay biglang may rumepeke naman sa pagbasa ng bibliya sa likuran niya. May kasama pala ang babaeng namimigay ng sobre. Hindi nagpatalo ang lalaki, nagsalita rin siya….palakasan sila ng boses. Sa inis ko, binulyawan ko sila, at talagang minura. Tumigil ang babae sa pamimigay ng sobre at umupo sa likod, tumahimik din ang kasama niya. Ang lalaki naman ay hindi ko pinagsalita, at sa hiya ay bumaba sa unang bus stop na tinigilan namin. Ang mga babae naman ay hindi na kumibo.

Bago ako bumaba ay pinagalitan ko uli ang mga babae dahil pinipilit nilang para daw sa kalamidad ang perang malilikom nila. Bistado naman talagang sindikato dahil wala silang suot na ID kung talagang lehitimo silang NGO. Ang sabi ko sa kanila,  sila ang kalamidad.

Talagang pinahihirapan ang mga Pilipino ng mga kabi-kabilang panloloko – mula sa gobyerno, hanggang sa kapwa Pilipino….sila ang mga anay ng lipunan!

The Elitist Segment of the Filipino Society

The Elitist Segment of the Filipino Society

by Apolinario Villalobos

Before the Spaniards came during the 1500s, the inhabitants of the Philippine Archipelago were living according to the norms of the “datu system”. The “datu”, being the wealthy and landed ruled over the rest of the members of the community. For protection, lesser “datus” came under the rule of the “Sultan”. Within the communities, the lower members were further classified into different levels, such as slave and serf.

For their convenience the Spanish colonizers, adopted the “datu system”, so that communities were ruled through their respective “datu”. Some prominent Spaniards who were part of the colonizing expeditions were awarded portions of land under the “encomienda system”, although they, as “encomenderos” were mandated by the Spanish king to take care of the natives, referred then, as “casiques” who were within their domain. Later on, even the “datus” became victims of the system when their lands were eventually appropriated for inclusion in the encomiendas. In exchange for their “noble authority” as “datus”, they were given privileges. This system was prevalent in Luzon and Visayas where until today, plantations still exist.

When the Philippine Archipelago was ceded by the Spaniards to the Americans by virtue of the Treaty of Paris, signed in December 10, 1898, the encomienda system had become well-entrenched in the culture of the Filipinos. Spanish encomenderos intermarried with natives and their mestizo offspring took over the ownership of vast tracts of land. The Americans who saw the effectiveness of the encomenda system, continued its use, although, the task was not easy in some parts of the archipelago.

While the encomenderos of Panay and Negros Islands, practically, offered the administration of their communities to the Americans, in exchange for which, they shall be allowed to maintain ownership of their lands, in Luzon and Mindanao, imposition of authority had to be made forcefully and bloodily due to skirmishes that ensued.

The heat of liberalism felt by the educated natives during the latter part of the Spanish rule was intensified when the Americans came because of the educational system and liberal administration that they introduced. From then on, educated Filipinos competed with the landed elite in hugging the limelight in the political arena.

The misfortune that befell the sugar industry, however, eased out the landed gentry, almost totally, from political scene which is now occupied not only be the educated segment but by the adventurous who view politics as a lifetime career….personalities who, in time became the so-called “traditional politicians” (trapos). They usually start their political career as barangay, municipal or city councilors, moving up to the position of vice-mayor, mayor, governor, congressman, senator…and still aiming for the highest political position in the land.

Today, the Filipino elite, aside from the heirs of hacienderos, also includes educated native Filipinos and naturalized foreign business tycoons who consistently maintain their position in the list of the “Who’s Who” of the corporate world, and the “trapos” who became rich overnight, thanks to politics, because some of these “tycoons” have actually been or still are dummies of the rich “trapos”.

Everything in Life has a Price…a consequence that we deserve for each of our deeds

Everything in Life has a Price
…a consequence that we deserve for each of our deeds
By Apolinario Villalobos

Every deed that we do consciously has a price. It is the consequence that we deserve for each of our actions. Since young, we need not be told that telling a lie is bad, or hitting a friend can hurt him physically. By telling a lie, the conscience is bothered which can be carried on as we advance in age. By hitting a friend, he is expected to retaliate, so that we get the same hurt.

When young people get curious so they indulge in drugs, they become addicts and later become a nuisance to the society, hence, ostracized, viewed by others with disgust. If the parents failed to carry out their responsibility in rearing their children properly, the price they get is the latter’s disrespect, and the proverbial pain in the neck, for constant problems that their children give them.

Because citizens of a country sell their vote during elections, the price they get is a bunch of corrupt officials who steal from the government’s coffer – the people’s money. Add to that the instability that the elected corrupt officials give to the government system, especially economic, resulting to the people’s deprivation.

War is the price for the different nations’ greed for expanded territory. It is the price for the zealots’ or fanatics’ desire to impose their religious belief to other people who resist by all means. It is also the consequence of connivance among strong nations to control weak ones. While pockets of it are happening now in many parts of the world, it is also looming over contested areas that at the moment, are enjoying volatile peace….needing just a single spark to explode.

Devastation of Mother Nature is the price of recklessness and greed in many forms. Forests are denuded for timber that man needs for his comfort. Hills and mountains are pockmarked with diggings for minerals and gems to satisfy his vanity. Fish trawlers deplete oceans of breeding fishes, resulting to deprivation and hunger.

Pollution is the price of progress. Not only is the atmosphere ripped open but its tranquility, as well, is seriously disturbed . Endless line of cars are spilled out by factories – cars that emit residue of fossil fuel 24/7, fattening the pockets of manufacturers at the expense of mankind’s health, and the earth’s deterioration due to the effect on its atmosphere.

Man is practically committing a self-annihilation! The suffering that he is enduring today is the ultimate price that he pays for his vanity, greed and pride!

Illegal Drugs and Poverty – the miseries of a society

Illegal Drugs and Poverty –

The Miseries of a Society

By Apolinario Villalobos

Illegal drugs and poverty are miseries of a society that breed corruption in a country’s government and erode the culture and virtues of its people. Illegal drug start its infection as a mere vice of the indolent portion of the population until it becomes an extreme psychological necessity for survival. On the other hand, poverty-stricken populace of a country gets controlled by corrupt government officials and politicians with the use of money…with such control driven by helplessness on the former. Worse yet, the money come from the coffer of the government in most cases.

In the Philippines, there are allegations that contingents of the New People’s Army based in the north have resorted to planting marijuana in hidden and almost inaccessible nooks of the cordilleras. In Mindanao, there are allegations, too, that the Abu Sayyaf Group uses drugs to lure the youth to expand their membership.

During the campaign period that precedes an election, buying of votes is no longer discussed discreetly. This corrupt practice of politicians has become a common subject among electorates, as to who among the candidates gives the highest bribe. The electoral trend has become a way of life of the people. Regrets of the people are like cycle, repetitive and without end, every time winning corrupt candidates assume office and begin to ransack the government coffer to recoup what have been spent during their campaign.

Narco-politics have already crept into the government system of other countries, especially, those in South America. Poverty has become the face of third world countries. And, corruption that has developed into the stinking fruit of the mentioned phenomena is ensuing seeds that are being sowed throughout the world, as shown by drug laboratories operated by Chinese in the Philippines. The phenomena have become universal with the use of different nationalities as drug mules or couriers that carry loads of drugs to unsuspecting countries.

The world is experiencing a tremendous metamorphosis in all aspects of development in such a fast phase, as if mankind is in hurry to commit a self-annihilation!

The Status Symbol

The Status Symbol

By Apolinario Villalobos

To be a standout is nice. It makes people see you, as being head and shoulders above those around you. Some people are born with this mark, while others have to buy it, earn it honestly, or move heaven and earth to have it.

People who are born with the proverbial silver spoon in their mouth need not exert effort to be noticed or to have a swarm of friends around them. Their person glitters with the monetary symbol that attracts different kinds of friends. There are people who practically work their way up the ladder of the society to be recognized, and these are the ones who deserve emulation. There are people who try their best to amass wealth that they can use in buying attention that will put them on a pedestal of short-lived recognition.

Here is a story of a woman who was not satisfied with her hard-earned money despite the comfort that it has given her. She wanted more, as she was raring to get back at those who talked behind her back when she was still a struggling vendor of local sausage and ham. Finally, her patience paid off when she successfully opened six specialty stores that sold sausages and ham from Cebu and Ilocos, as well as, exotic fruits from Davao.

At the age of fifty plus, she began dressing up grossly with expensive apparels and regularly went to a derma clinic for a series of physical make-over. She underwent bust and butt augmentations which did not look nice on her because of her age. She had gotten rid of her real eyebrows in favor of tattooed ones. She had her lips operated on to assume a pouting look. She even had her wrinkled and furrowed face injected with butox. She also underwent the grueling hair transplant. She did everything for her transformation to look beautiful and successful, so that she can effectively flaunt her new status in life, especially, to those whom she considered her detractors in the past.

Today, at the age of almost seventy, her face looks strange. Her tattooed eyebrows somewhat distanced themselves from her eyes, giving her a permanent astonished look; her once butox-smoothed face is pockmarked with red spots and the deep wrinkles are back; her once proud breasts are horribly sagged unevenly; she could not sit for a long time because of the pain in her butt that got peppered with allergies; her once proud pouting lips have assumed a slight grimace, that looks like a crooked smile. The only intact transplant in her, are the hair.

Sadly, she is back to her senses with much regret, as her young boyfriend ran off with her money when she shared her bank accounts with him. She was my former landlady more than two decades ago. I learned from a fellow boarder who I met accidentally about her mild stroke from which she was recuperating in a hospital. I immediately visited her several days ago in the hospital and found out that only one, out of her four children is left with her. The rest are with their father, living separately from her, and who are still harboring ill-feelings when they failed to restrain her revengeful acts of getting back at her detractors that resulted to her senseless spending to “overhaul” her body. That time, she socialized with new-found friends whose pastime was spent at the casino and bars where she met her young boyfriend.

I told her to believe in the power of prayer…and believe in miracles. In my mind, though, I am hoping for a miracle that she will be spared from cancer that may result from the synthetic substances injected into her body. The lesson here, is that we should be contented with God gave us.

 

Mga Latak ng Lipunan

Mga Latak ng Lipunan

Ni Apolinario Villalobos

 

Nakikita natin silang palabuy-laboy sa paligid

Ang iba ay halos hubad, mukha’y nanlilimahid

Merong mga paslit, merong halos ay hilahod

Iba ay sa tabi nakasalampak, gutom at pagod.

 

Iba sa kanila, mapalad dahil sa pansing ibinigay

Naabutan ng baryang makislap, o isang tinapay

Meron namang kahi’t anong pilit na pagsumamo

Ang kinalabit ay matigas, parang estatwang bato.

 

Kung unawain, maraming dahilan, ba’t sila ganyan

May pumili ng kawalan ng ambisyon at katamaran

Marami ring naging biktima ng masamang tadhana

Bagay na ‘di man nais, sa kanila’y nagsadlak sa dusa.

 

Mga latak ng lipunan kung ituring ng iba…’di dapat

Sila’y mga tao rin, at kung damdamin, merong sapat

Maraming hindi gusto, itong sa kanila ay nangyayari

Kaya nagpipilit makabangon, nagpipilit na magpursigi.

 

Sa may maalwang buhay na idinulot ng mga tagumpay

Huwag sanang libakin, mga taong animo walang saysay

Huwag sanang duraan at lalong huwag silang pandirihan

Nilalang din sila ng Diyos, at sa buhay ay may karapatan!