FEELING GUILTY

There are times we go after our desire to express our thoughts about a story or character of a certain person whether negative or not.  We talk some trivial things that may undesirable but not libellous about our friends, colleagues, and acquaintance.  In such case, sometimes I feel guilty if I am already crossing the line of defamation or let’s say betraying a person.  I know unpleasant words that in regards to someone regardless if true are harmful and damaging.  In my opinion, I think almost each one of us is undergoing on the same situation with what I am going through.  It may not be right but it’s usual for everyone to perceive, weigh up, and criticize his companion and he may even tell this to others.  I believe it’s fine.  The way it only becomes wrong is if it was told through fabricating lies and to undermine, malign and intentionally frump someone.

Unfortunately, we may have colleagues whom we found conceited, invincible, domineering, judgmental, overconfident, critical, subjective, opinionated, gourmand, unhygienic, cunning, and so forth.  If I may have mentioned these colleagues’ defects to my most confidant friend, it only means expressing my insights or searching someone to talk to in making conversation and exchange of opinion but not dishonoring.  I think it is not maligning that person but instead it is just being talked.  There are just things and times that we cannot directly addressed our observations to the person precisely because of the said characters of that person.  They’re might obvious of their bad character that you cannot just keep with yourself when you always see their character.  And then you need to find someone simply to talk and not to put judgment.

For one thing, I want to speak myself what lays up within.  Certainly, I know what I'm saying are just true and purely honest opinion.  But when I am feeling guilty with my action, or if I feel I am unbecoming good, the way I feel otherwise is to keep in my mind the sincere and clean intention in delivering my words.  Doing it without malice is freeing from distasteful conscience.  If the painful truth is being told without using foul words to degrade someone but to merely talk such kind of personality and subject matter or just expressing insights, then I found not guilty.  Gossiping is not bad if it is about truth, no peddling lies.  Feeling guilty will only exist in black intention.

Another thing, if I have someone whom I trust or whom I am very close to confide off the record stories, then I do not believe it is betrayal.  Obviously the conversation with close friends is private among themselves.  If it is made merely just for conversation between few close-friends, the harm is premature to say.  A private conversation is private between those who are talking.  There is no direct inviting of outside potential harmful to the subject since it is a close conversation.  I trust my close friends in the same way they trust me, with this we believe no stories will leak that will cause detrimental to a person.

And last thing, to feel guilty right from our heart firstly rather than felt after others have spoken is reflection of our little kindness.   Accepting our guilt signifies our ability to slate ourselves and admitting our suspected faults shows humility in our personality.  Adopt self-initiative in evaluating our actions, words, and judgment because it is nice to start in ourselves to feel good or bad when we said words about our friends, colleagues, and acquaintance.

Alex V. Villamayor

May 29, 2014

CAPITAL PUNISHMENT

On the national issue of capital punishment in Philippines, I am not in favor of using death penalty mainly due to humanitarian reason.  Aside from the potential wrongly convicted, the significance of human life is the sacred creation from God that is so precious and only He can take away the life and breath.  Human life is a gem gift from God that is priceless and no amount of corresponding pay can equal.  I am rather pro-life, hence a part of my standpoint is the religious position as Catholic but on the major side is because of my appreciation and valuing human life.  For outlaws found guilty in heinous crimes, lifetime sentence is the most appropriate yet effective penal.

It is not the question in the integrity of our justice system but rather it is merely the assurance if the truth has really prevailed.  There are people who really sent to jail without offense not because the justice was wrong but because of weak evidence.  It is not enough to be just honest, you must have held the supporting evidence.  The symbol of justice is a blindfolded woman carrying the weighing scale.  To make it equal, fair and square, justice doesn’t judge by looking at the respondent and complainant but instead it is weighting the heavier and more substantial evidence regardless of our status, name, and gender.  Theoretically, the case is being determined, weight and judge based on the evidences and lawyers’ defending prowess.  But in reality, it doesn’t really shown the real circumstances where only the prey, culprit and the possible witness know the naked truth.  Not of being skeptical but with this, it is possibly not the truth but it is the art of defending the situation.  It is a matter of showing the ability to win the argumentation and strong evidences.  If happened the victim has really no means to present strong evidence and pay great lawyer, then it doesn’t fully warrant that the sentence has deservingly served, and it is not impossible to judge the innocent or less guilty.

Taking the life of someone else is nobody’s rights.  All criminals, regardless of their offense are still human that should not be killed.  There were times in my perspective when abominable crimes and violence were rampant, I was perceived that death penalty should be legalized to combat these cruel criminals.  I used to believe in an eye for an eye, tooth for tooth dogma.   When life is owed, life too is the payoff.  But I have changed my point of view when I’d watched a movie about the true to life story of a murderer that was sentenced to death.  Watching convicted man when put into death, it was so depressing to watch the anxiety, sadness, and fear of a conscious man that is so weak, remorseful, humble and harmless.  It was so heart breaking to realize the true feeling of the person to be killed.  It was not for cinematic effect to feel these emotions but it was the fact that really happens.  Thanks that I have changed that point of view.  What if the convicted man whose life has just taken was really innocent?  I cannot forgive myself then.

Death penalty might an effective measure against crime in countries that have prompt and steadfast penal execution, the crime rate is at satisfactory notch.  But its success is unrealistic in a country that has a long line of death row where the sentenced today will be executed after ten years or more.  Given that long period, it makes seemed that there is no capital punishment being executed that will scare the possible outlaws.  If every convicted accused will be executed very soon, whoever is planning to do heinous crime will be terrified because of the abrupt consequence of this formidable punishment.  But nevertheless there is no need to kill.  Life sentence is as effective as the ultimate penalty that is enough to expiate the committed crime.  And it is not a matter of effective or inefficient but the issue of right or wrong.  In light of strict implementation of lifetime imprisonment without providing special treatment, politics, negligence against jailbreak, and even the provision of clemency or pardon – lifetime sentence is tantamount to death.  Let them serve the reality of living behind the bars for the rest of their lives for there is no worse payoff and more painful punishment than withholding to live freely forever.

By Alex V. Villamayor

pril 2, 2014

BREATHTAKING BATANES

Going to Batanes is dream come true that I will forever cherish and feel grateful.  It is a mission accomplished that my heart will always goes on reminiscing the happiness I felt during my short but worth remembering stay in exhilarating Batanes.  For long time I’d been seeing myself in a place that I’d never been but long been part of my mind's eye.  I am uneasy with all I just read and heard about the unique and extraordinary features of one of my dream destinations.  I want to pursue my dream destination.

My ardent plan to visit this northernmost tip of the Philippines sprouted way back over a decade ago.  Looking at the splendid panoramic pictures vividly printed in travel magazines and watching some soothing short film clips, I even deepen my desire to finally visit this magnificent place that I thought only in my plans.  The cost of travelling to the place primarily causes to withhold the zealous wanderers to witness the ever breathtaking natural beauty of Batanes.  This holds me too but after long years of pausing this plan and despite the ever expensive travelling, I finally go ahead to pack my bag and step my feet flying to Batanes.  I just thought I have to do this today or maybe never.  And I did not go wrong, visiting Batanes up-close and personal is a lifetime experience that enriched and even upheld my interest in nature.

I went to Batanes at summertime which I found superb.  But accordingly, the majestic and enchanting view of mountains and hills are even more inviting and outstanding during off-summer.  The contrast colour of the vibrantly green pastures and clear blue skies above down to the wide ocean at the foot of the mountains is so pleasing to the eyes.  Staring at the hills, they are seemingly gigantic rolling wave that moving goes up from its topmost down to it deepest.  Everywhere I look from right to left, looked up and turned is comforting view that uplifts my esteem. The fresh air, clean marine source, blue sky, greenery of flora and undisturbed fauna feel me proud that I am living in this planet.  Every formation is a landscape perfectly engineered by nature, a place comparable to a sanctuary.

From top overlooking the wide panoramic view, down to the town proper is journeying to the humble beginning.  Gazing the century-old limestone houses is a hair-raising reaction.  From all of its most noticeable features, the stone walled and thick thatched roof shields battering typhoons make distinctly Batanes.  I just can’t get my eyes off to ravish in the rareness of the stone houses that highlight the land’s identity.  City people may find being in Batanes is a bit backward but in this backward is how to appreciate this unspoiled paradise that everything is on its proper place.  Simpler is what makes more beautiful that exactly what all we need.  Thanks I’m nature-lover to easily embrace this realism.  I think it starts from learning to appreciate the nature and it has to experience Batanes to appreciate the love to nature.

Down to the feet of the hills and mountains are laying on the shore the boulders.  In various colours, shapes and sizes, all were like gems that dotted on the long line of beach’s coast.  When its highest mountain erupted many years ago, the rocks were casted out and over the years they were slowly polished by the tides and restless waves.  Although strong current doesn’t recommend it for swimming, the attractive view is enough to encourage every astonished visitor to stare in sigh the frisky water.  Times will pass, I will get old and my adrenalin to wander and discover different places to follow my passion in nature may fade as I grow old, but Batanes in my mind will always be beautiful, both the place and the people.

In a nutshell it’s simply amazing.  Sometimes I may not find words to describe the beauty of Batanes.  But if I am running out of nice adjectives to express my thoughts and feeling, all I have to say is just it’s breathtaking.

By Alex V. Villamayor

May 21, 2014

 

VISIT TO BATANES (final copy)

This video is about my short travel to Batanes last May 7, 2014.  Going to Batanes is a dream come true that I will forever cherish and feel grateful.  It is a mission accomplished that my heart will always goes on reminiscing the happiness I felt during my short but worth remembering stay in exhilarating Batanes.


VISIT TO BATANES
by Alex V. VillamayoR
Basco, BataneS
May 9, 2014

VALUING HONESTY

In these days where personal and hidden interests are at hand to many people, it is a big question if honesty still exists in our heart.  Amidst of temptations, struggles, poverty, and ambitions in life, it becomes difficult today to become honest.  While we are surrounded by different people, lies and deception direct or indirect were inadvertently made.  Is there still honest in these days?

This has been a big question too in my mind.  Seems like our daily life is a big political arena where survival is a matter of materials standard.  Being honest alone is not enough but smart and witty too, otherwise people around you will use you.  Trust yourself only and treat everybody around you are your enemies.  But these told me wrong.  When I went to Banates, there is one store there that lectured me that honesty still lives in everyone’s heart.  The Honesty Coffee Shop in Ivana Batanes brings back us from the basic root of being honest.

Truly one of a kind, the Honesty shop is a store that literally has no vendor to look after the merchandise and attend the customers.  It is a shop that is left without clerk or closed circuit television (CCTV) to watch the customers.  Everyone can go inside and can freely move, sit, relax and have some coffee.  It is self-service, you can get all you want where all items have price tag on each.  The customers have to write the items they have bought and leave the payment in the drop box.  It is expected that everyone who entered the store are honest enough to pay their purchase exactly.  If your pay needs change, you will consider it as charity.

It all started when the sales of the store slope down due to the closure of the nearby port where most of their customers worked.  Because of this, the owner of the store had to focus on farming and help her husband in their cane vinegar production.  Although she decided to continue the operation of their store but her focus is needed on the farm, and consequently the store was left unattended.  What happened then was people can still buy on the store and just leave their pay on.  What the store only held was the honesty of their customers.  And it went on and on until such time it was heard up to the nearby towns and the rest is the story.

Honesty store in Batanes proved that honesty is still the best policy, and it proved that honesty and trust blend smoothly.  If each one will be honest, then subsequently trust will follow next and you have to be honest in order to keep that trust.  The Honesty store touches our in-born truthfulness.  When you get there, you will feel nothing but to be honest and this value will prevail in everyone’s heart.

We heard the news about the driver, janitor, and guard who returned the cash they found.  These people are worth and deserve salute for they have installed in their heart and mind that honesty is still the best policy.  For anything not yours should be given to the owner, a childhood lesson that our parents and teachers taught us.  Let us learn from the children.  If everyone has a child-like heart, sincere and honest faith will lead the world into place.

Poverty transforms people to deceit.   There are many opportunists who are taking advantage the situations.  Life in Invana Batanes is not that comfortable but they maintained their childhood lesson of being honest.  For them, what really matter is the character that became well-known not only in Batanes but also across the whole country.  And this is their legacy that they can pass from their generation to next generation.

By Alex V. Villamayor

May 16, 2014

MY FOOD PORTFOLIO

My Food Portfolio

by Alex V. Villamayor

This video is the first compilation of my cuisine.