WORKING WITH RICHARD

When Richard is working, he wants to do it not only with the sound mind but also with the full heart.  When it comes to work, he has the principle that he follows since he landed on his first job.  He believes that for every work we do, we should put our heart on to get our work right.  Working with heart is completing your work confidently done.   Richard has no worry if he’s not doing it remarkably because as long as he is within the so called standard and as long as he’s doing it with his heart, he supposes he will most likely end right.  If by the slim chance he missed it correctly (since there is no perfect but almost perfect only), Richard will feel sad but not guilty.  This is okay because at the end of the day, you can really say that you did your job and Richard can sleep confidently that he’d have done what are his supposed responsibilities.

While it’s very true that there might be mistake on the finished products or the output we provided, this is normal because everybody can get mistake and it happens.  If you go through the norms, meaning that you are working without doing shortcuts and yet you found mistake later, that is fine still because sometimes mistakes are really inevitable to happen.  The important is you did your part and you are doing your job by heart because when you do your job with heart on, you are giving dignity and respect to your work.  Yes, technically the end product is wrong but the attitude how you made to complete the job makes the difference.  Richard may have mistakes in the pasts but he doesn’t feel morally down because he knows he honestly worked hard to complete those jobs.  Like he politely approaches colleagues, fairly worked with or without supervision and even go through the standard procedures.  It is just a matter that sometimes our best is not enough and for this, Richard’s fault is pardonable and his works can still say acceptably fine.  He’s might technically wrong but his work attitude is perfectly fine.

It’s professionalism that makes our whole work fine.  Whatever our work is, we should work like a professional.  It doesn’t need to have licensure or need to have prefix title on our name to become professional.  In many ways you can be professional.  The way you speak, your behavior towards your colleagues, and the way you treat your work are all acts of professionalism.  Professionalism is being true and loyal to our job.  You can be a good engineer, a famous architect or an experienced physician but if the way you treat your job is not according to the responsibilities you sworn, then you are not really professional.  If you are collecting pay for the job you did not really worked, if you are using the company’s resources for your personal use, if you are coming late or going home early, if you are showing favoritism amongst your staff, if you are into politics – though you may successfully finished your work or no matter what profession you’ve obtained, at the end of the day you are not really professional.  Professionalism comes when you have integrity in your work which is all about honesty and attitude.

I found the case of Richard a real good and it turns me to look at myself and do self-check on my work attitude.  I am sailing on the same boat.  For me, no matter how competent, loyal, hardworking and reliable in his work the man can be, still he cannot be the best employee and not deserved to promote if that man is deceitful.  In the same way a man who is so punctual and kind but not productive.  Cheating, stealing and tricking your company are not fair.  Being honest to your work is an excellent attitude that tells your upbringing whether on or off work.  Someone can have the excellent work but if it is out of politics, if you’ve got it the unfair way, if you are not deserved for it, then that is a half cook victory.  The end doesn’t justify the mean.  It means to say that it should not be looked at the result but equally important to consider is the person’s attitude how the product has come up.

By Alex V. Villamayor

December 30, 2015

COOKING UP WITH ME

It is said that healthy foods are usually not tasty and not approved in the taste buds of many.  There are of course will stand and deny this.  The health buff will totally disagree in defense to say their foods are actually delicious.  But in most food-lover people, there is something missing on the taste when eating healthy foods.  There is this mechanism in our body that every time we take tasty food, our brain says it is well done and we enjoyed it.  This could be the result of our accustomed fascination when our mother and father pampered us when we were children by giving the comfort foods we love, be it sweet, salty or fatty.  This is their way to make us happy, to comfort us, impress us and love us.  So as children, we were accustomed to love the taste of sweet and fats that whether we admit it or not, are so attractive to the children and we have too much of them in the form of processed foods.  We know how appetizing, yummy and appealing the foods in fine restaurants are, but not the healthy foods that we cook in our own kitchen.  This is because these eateries, cafeterias, fine dining restaurant, brasseries and bistros, catering and etcetera are using more ingredients as spices which is made up of artificial preservatives and as we know any artificial is not healthy.  This gives us the assumption that tasty foods available in the market are not healthy and healthy foods prepared in our kitchenette without flavoring and seasoning are not tasty.  Okay, it is not all since there are few special restaurants serving real yummy healthy dishes.  But for the sake of argument, there are really more eateries that go with the flow where the customers are.  It is business as usual, if they are using these additives is because it is for business’ sake of course.

If you love to eat delicious foods, if you are looking the usual taste foods served in commercialized eateries, fancy, cozy and fine dining restaurants, or if you simply enjoy food tripping, then it will be difficult to appreciate my cooking and most likely you will never like my food serves.   I am not a big fan of meat which is contrary to many that is why I have an insipid cooking.  We know chicken breast is less tasty than chicken thigh, liver and other red meat. While chicken soup is vapid if without chicken cube and seasoning, and vegan menu seasoned by dried fish is not tastier if not seasoned by meat.  These are my dishes, cooked without using meat and spices which makes far from expected taste of foods in restaurants, catering, and etcetera.   These restaurants have the expertise to make the foods perfectly fit in the taste buds of the majority.  And let’s face it, majority of the food consumers are not health conscious.  As long as they find the taste is pretty good, they will patronize it because people by nature love to eat.  And these eating places serve the traditional menu recipe’ that make the dish yummy and fantastic in the universal taste buds.   If you are the avid customer of fast food stores, buffet and smorgasbord restaurant, pizza parlor, etc., you will really not appreciate healthy foods.  Unless it is in the restaurant that offering healthy foods is their specialty, most restaurants are offering foods that are on the category of unhealthy foods.  They need to cook the foods in various ways, ingredients and seasoning.  The more ingredients to mix the tastier and this is actually one of the reasons why healthy foods are not well patronized – boring taste, aside from the cost.  Knowing our nature as human, we always want the pleasant and the best.

The foods that are not good to our health seem to have the greatest appeal to the taste buds.  Let’s leave it with the children, as an adult we know what is good for us are those called not tasty that most of us are not interested to eat.  But this will not be difficult if we are actually used of it.  Yes it is if your perception of taste bud is adapted in the sense of taste skewed by the modern food industry.  But if you are already into healthy foods, without second thought you will not like the frankfurter, French fries, instant foods, hamburgers, processed foods which contain high level of sugar, salt and chemical flavoring.  You will not cook using additives, you will limit frying your foods.  Maybe you will not crave for pastries, food trip in famous fast food stores and fine dining restaurants.  In summary, all these things are just a matter of our choice and taste.  Because our biased perception about healthy food that it is often not tasty could be due to poor taste – it could be on the part of the chef.  And those that are good for us ma not taste bad at all but they are just don’t have anything that would call enticing.  It is a matter of taste perception dictated by the giant food conglomerate.

By Alex V. Villamayor

December 28, 2015

BECOMING AND WINNING BEAUTY

2015 is a remarkable year for Filipino fans that are consistently following national and international beauty contests when after the long forty two years, the Philippines finally clinched the crown of the elusive and most coveted Miss Universe title held in USA.  After the recent several consecutive attempts to win the title, the Philippines has been almost there but always ended just so closed to the title.  Until the 64^th edition of MU ended the long year of drought when a Pinay beauty transcended and vested other 80 contestants around the world.  It is an edition that marred by controversy that will be recorded in the history of the pageant as an epic fail when the host mistakenly announced the wrong name.  Nevertheless, the overjoyed Filipino fans that are in ecstasy have no reason not to celebrate the triumph that waited for long since the crown was last won on 1973.

Beauty contest is a competition that has traditionally focused on judging and ranking the physical attributes of the contestants, although some have evolved to incorporate personality, intelligence, talent, and answers to judges' questions as judged criteria. There is a notion that talking about pageant is a very gay and girl thing that every macho men are unconcerned to care.  Not surprisingly because those involved here from contestants to behind the scene people are gay and girls. But in rare occasions when beauty contest becomes a national interest like winning in international competitions, the male sect are coming up too and sharing opinion.  It could be due to male being the natural stronger sex and polygamous that easily appreciates beauty.  That is why there is an argument from the extreme feminist group arguing that pageants are merely an exploitation of women.  But according to the advocates, it is not exploitation as long as the ladies are treated properly, with respect, dignity, joined with their own free-will and not degraded.  It is not sexism but a celebration of femininity much like men who show off their pumping iron results in wrestling, boxing and body-building.  Beauty pageant can actually considered like a sports that tons of preparation from physical to mental to personality.  It is not shallow as others think it is.  A competition in year 2000, a girl was asked of her idea that Miss Universe is not disrespectful of women.  The contestant said that the pageant gives the young women a platform to foray in the fields that they want to and forge ahead, be it entrepreneurship, be it the armed force, be it politics.  It gives them a platform to voice their choices and opinions and makes them strong independent that they are now.

Beauty pageant becomes part of Philippine culture where every mother (or every little girl, every auntie and relatives) is dreaming their daughter (or themselves, their nieces and their female relative) to win in a beauty contest.  Since in the early history of Philippines back in circa 18^th century, there were already names recorded as the most beautiful lady in their town, barangay, school, organization, etcetera.   By nature, mothers want their daughters to be the prettiest and they will make way for it to happen just to join in a beauty contest as the pride to recognize their daughters beautiful.  But we should remember that it should not be important to focus on the physical attributes.  While joining pageants is fun, gives confidence, promotes personal development, fosters friendships, build self esteem, promotes community services and encourages goal-setting, let our dreams to embellish our daughters will not lead to a message that appearance is an important thing.  Beauty is only in the eye of the beholder, it varies from one’s point of view to another.  It is not only in the physical beauty but more importantly is the inner beauty because what is essential is invisible to the naked eye.  Always remember that character and personality are far more important. 

The winning of Philippines in 2015 Miss Universe is a show of world-class talent, skill, and beauty of a Filipina.  It is not just about beauty but a celebration of women’s wit and God’s given gift.  Joining the bandwagon of celebrating the Philippines victory in beauty contest, I will not let to miss this historic moment without taking part by writing in records my thoughts and support to all Filipina representatives.

Pia Alonzo Wurtzbach, Miss Universe 2015, Miss Philippines 2015 

By Alex V. Villamayor

December 26, 2015

KAMAY NA BAKAL

Ang batas military ay nagsimula nuong 1972 at nagtapos nuong 1981.  Dapat sana, ito ay panandaliang solusyon lamang upang malutas ang nangyayaring kaguluhang sibil nuon at ayon sa batas, ito ay hindi dapat magtagal.  Upang mabali ang batas na ito ay binago ang konstitusyon kaya nagtuloy-tuloy pa ito ng mahigit isa at kalahating dekada.  Marami sa mga kabataan ngayon ang hindi na ito inabot dahil marami sa kanila ay hindi pa ipinapanganak nuong mga panahon na iyon.  Hindi nila nakita ang mga madudugo at malalagim na naganap nuon tulad ng paghuli o pagdukot o pagpatay o pagkawala sa mga hinihinalaang galit sa gobyerno at aktibista, pagmamalabis sa katungkulan ng kapulisan at sundalo, panggigipit at pag-abuso sa mga karapatan, nakawan sa gobyerno at pagbubulsa sa yaman na para sana sa taong-bayan, pagkamkam sa mga ari-arian, ang magarbong buhay ng mga nasa kapangyarihan habang naghihirap ang maraming mamamayan, ang buhay-hari ng mga nasa kapangyarihan na kung ano ang magustuhan ay makukuha.  Ang buong bansa ay nasa isang pamilya lamang.

Mga kabataang kung tawagin ay millennials at sa mga hindi na rin bata, hindi mo kailangang maranasan nang diretsahan ang pananakit nuong panahon ng martial law para hindi ka maniwala sa paglaganap nito.  Hindi kailangan na ikaw, ang asawa mo, pamilya o kaibigan mo ay literal na maranasan ang pananakit ng mga pulis, sundalo at ng mga politiko upang maniwala ka sa lupit ng batas militar.  Hindi kailangang nahuli o minaltrato ka upang sabihin mong biktima ka nito.  Dahil hindi naman maaaring ang buong milyong populasyon ng Pilipinas ay ginulpi, ginahasa, ninakawan upang masabi mo lang na biktima ka nga ng Martial Law.  Hindi dahil tahimik sa bayan ninyo nung mga panahon na iyon ay hindi na totoo ang kamay na bakal dahil may mga nagaganap ng pag-aabuso nuon nang hndi ninyo alam ngunit hindi nakakarating sa kaalaman ng lahat dahil itinatago ito at hindi ipinalalabas sa mga dyaryo, radio at telebisyon na kontrolado ng gobyerno.   Iyung inalisan ka ng kalayaan, yung binago ang kinabukasan mo mula sa magandang buhay na iniwan ng mga Amerikano ay inilubog ka sa utang, kawalan ng trabaho at dinala sa kahirapan - iyun lang ay sapat na upang masaktan ka sa ginawa sa iyo.  Ang katotohanang pinagkaitan tayong lahat ng kalayaan, kaalaman at kinabukasan ay sobra-sobra na upang ikaw o tayong lahat ay makabilang sa sinasabing biktima ng kamay na bakal.  Duon pa lang, dahil nuon pa lang sa mga panahon na iyon ay may mga ipinagkait at sinamantala na sa iyo bilang isang Pilipino.  Kaya hindi mo kailangang ipanganak ka o maabutan mo ang panahon na iyon, maranasam mo mismo ang pananakit sa katawan mo para lang masabing biktima ka o para lang maniwala ka sa mga nangyari.

Iyung malaman mo lamang ang katotohanan ng kung anu-anong ginawang pang-aabuso nuong araw, sino ka para hindi mo maramdaman ang galit?  Kaya ba ng dibdib mo ang hindi maawa, magalit, makisimpatya at maki-suporta kapag nalaman mong ang kapwa mo ay tinanggalan ng kuko sa mga daliri, kinuryente ang ari, pinaghubo at pina-upo sa bloke ng yelo, pinainom ng maraming tubig, pinukpok ng baril, ibinitin ng patiwarik, pinaso ng sigarilyo at plantsa sa mga bahagi ng katawan dahil lamang sa sila ay pumapalag sa maling pamamalakad ng gobyerno?  Hindi naman masasabing gawa-gawa lang ang mga kwentong ito dahil bukod sa mga katibayang dokumento ay may mga buhay na nagpapatutuo.  Hindi ka pa ba naniniwala at hindi mo nararamdaman ang hinaing nila?  Kaya galit ako sa Martial Law dahil sa mga ito.  Ngayon, kung hindi ka nakaramdam ng pagka-awa at simpatiya ay mauunawaan ko na kung bakit galit ka sa Commission of Human Rights, sa anti-Marcos, at sa pro-Democracy.  Mauunawaan ko na kung bakit hindi ka nga maaawa sa mga napapatay ngayon sa mga biktima ng kalupitan ng pulisya may kasalanan man o inosente.

Nagbago ang tingin ng marami sa kasaysayan dahil sa makabagong teknolohiya.  Sa madalas na pagtutok  sa internet ng marami simula nuong kalagitnaan ng taon-2000 hanggang sa kasalukuyan ay napaniwala sila ng mga maling propaganda.  Pero kung naging matibay lang sana ang prinsipyo nila, kung naging malalim lang sana ang pagkakaalam nila at kung naging matalino lamang sila, kahit anung panlilinlang ng mga propaganda ay hindi nito malalason ang kanilang pag-iisip.  Mabuti na lamang at mayroon pa rin silang pagpapahalaga at interes sa pag-aaral dahil pansinin natin na kung sino yung mga kabataan ngayon na walang hilig sa pag-aaral, hindi nag-aaral at “mahina” sa pag-aaral na mas pinipiling gugulin ang oras sa internet ay ang siyang mga nalinlang ng propaganda na maingay na nakikipag-away sa internet.  Mabuti na lamang at mayroon pa ring mga tao na mas gustong paniwalaan ang mga nakasulat sa libro kaysa sa mga nakikita, napapanood at nababasa sa mapang-akit na mundo ng internet.

IKAW BA AY MABAIT O SALBAHE?

Ang maging isang mabuting tao ang layunin ng bawat isa sa atin sa ating sarili at sa ating mga mahal sa buhay.  Katuwang ng bawat isa sa pagiging isang mabuting tao ang ating mga magulang.  Simula sa pagkabata ay hinuhubog na nila tayo upang maging isang mabuting bata.  Madalas natin marinig nuon at marahil ay nagsasawa na tayong marinig na sinasabi ng ating mga magulang sa atin na magpakabait tayo.  Hanggang sa tayo ay lumaki, nagkamalay at tumanda na, masasabi ba natin na sinunod natin ang turo, payo at aral ng ating mga magulang?  Naging isang mabait na tao ba tayo?  Narito ang tatlong pangunahing turo sa atin ng ating mga magulang na maaari mong pag-isipan kung natutunan natin upang masabi natin kung tayo ba ay mabuti o masama.

1. Sinungaling o manloloko ka ba?

Oo

Hindi

Ang turo sa atin – maging tapat.  Huwag magsisinungalin at manloloko.  Kasabihang ang bata ay hindi nagsisinungalin – ganuon tayo nung bata pa tayo, pero dala-dala mo pa rin kaya ang ugaling ito hanggang ngayon?  Masama man ang magsinungalin ngunit kung minsan ay pakiramdam natin na kailangan nating gawin upang hindi masaktan ang kalooban ng isang tao o yung para sa ikaliligtas sa kapahamakan ng iyong kapwa.  Depende sa kung ano ang iyong intensiyon kaya ka nagsinungalin.

Ngunit iba na kapag panloloko na ang iyong ginagawa.  Nanloloko ka ba ng kapwa, ng isang samahan, o ng isang kumpaniya upang makuha mo ang iyong gusto?  Kung hindi ka rin lamang nagbibigro, masama ang manloko.

2. Nagnanakaw ka ba?

Oo

Hindi

Anuman ang hindi mo pag-aari, hindi mo dapat kunin.  Anumang bagay na kinuha, binawas at ginamit mo nang walang paalam mula sa isang tao o kumpanya, ikaw ay nagnakaw.  Maliit man o malaki, ang pag-uuwi mo ng gamit sa iyong pinagtratrabahuhan, ang paggamit mo ng ari-arian ng iyong kumpaniya para sa pansariling kapakanan, kahit ang pagkabig mo ng kabayarang hindi mo pinagtrabahuhan at iyung gamitin mo ang iyong posisyon sa trabaho upang makuha mo ang bagay na gusto mo ay pagnanakaw.

May mga maliliit na bagay na kapag ang umiral sa atin ay ang pagiging praktikal sa buhay ay nagagawa nating kunin dahil ang alam natin ay wala naman iyong halaga mula sa kinuhanan natin.  Sana ay maiwasan natin iyon hanggang tuluyang hindi na natin gawin.

3. Mayabang o mapagmataas ka ba? 

Oo

Hindi

Itinuro sa atin na maging mapagkumbaba at huwag mang-aapi.  Kung ikaw ay inaway ng iyong kapwa, hayaan mo na lamang.  Ngunit ngayon, ikaw ba ay kasama duon sa mga hindi magpapatalo at matalas magsalita?  Ikaw ba’y dominante na gusto mo ay sundin ka ng ibang tao?  Mataas ba ang tingin mo sa sarili na ikaw ay magaling at laging tama?

Kapag ang isang tao ay mataas ang tingin sa sarili, kadalasa’y ang gusto niya ay siya ang masusunod.  Isipin mo kung ilan na ang naka-alitan o ang nakasamaan mo ng loob dahil sumasalungat sila sa iyo.  Kung mayroon at marami-rami, ikaw ay may pagkamapagmatas dahil wala naman aaway sa iyo kung ikaw ay madaling kausapin at pakisamahan.  Nagiging mapangusga, mapagbintang at mapag-pintas ang taong mapagmataas dahil ang gusto niya ay iangat ang kanyang sarili sa lahat na siyang dahilan kung bakit nagkakaroon siya ng mga kasamaan ng loob – kaibigan, kasamahan, kapit-bahay o kamag-anak pa man.

 

Mahirap na puro “hindi” ang maging sagot sa tatlong katanungan na ito.  Kung kahit isa sa tatlong ito ay “oo” ang iyong kasagutan, sa kabuuan ay hindi ka pa rin ganap na mabait.  Dahil pagdating ng araw na tayo ay huhusgahan na, dalawa lang naman daw ang magiging kahatulan sa atin: mabuti o masama.

Ni Alex V.Villamayor

December 20, 2015

A VERY SHORT AUTOBIOGRAPHY

For my birthday, I know it’s time of the year where I can be crazy without being questioned.  It’s the only day in a year that I can act selfish and boastful without opposition from my family and friends, so I’ll praise myself to the fullest to celebrate the day I want it.  First, let me tell about a brief flashback where I came from.  If there is part of my life that I wish to put set aside, it is my teen’s years.   I had so many insecurities in life then.  During high school, I was embarrassed when I was rejected to become a partner in a dance number to be performed in our school foundation day.  I strongly feel the very reason of that was my physical look which is obviously not the typical cutie that high school girls will attract.  I had the feeling of seclusion and self-doubt that I always blamed to being me.  And I had this stutterer speech defect which made me quiet in school that I did not participate in class discussion and recitation even when I know the answer. And this is where I came from my being not into debate.  I don’t talk much, I do not impose what I know and what I want – if once or twice I said the truth I know, then I will not argue.  At the end, the truth will prevail.

When I was a child, I always wanted to become agriculturist because I like plants.  Then I wanted to be an actor when I saw a movie actor visited our town.  There were times I wanted to be a priest – those times were when many of our neighbours flatter my mother for having a kind child like me. Then I wanted to be a dentist as my fancy dream during high school.  But the ambition that I can say I was already on the “right mind” was to be a journalist because I know this is my strength, and I’d realized it during high school.  About my Father – I got the characteristics of having strong conviction and holding the value of words (word of honour) from my father.  My father is a man of principle, he keeps his words till the end.  Like me, my decisions are firmed and uninfluenced, my conviction is strong and unshaken, my promise is sacred. My principle in life is that – I will speak about ends if I’m sure of it that is why once I said something I will really go for it till the end.   I can only possibly change my word if it will harm life and health.  Those who know me, maybe it is obvious that I easily get irritated when there are often changes in what have planned, or if someone did not fulfil what have been said, like giving directions, meeting at specific time, and changing small decisions – these are simple things that show the importance of word of honor.   Also being organized in the house and good housekeeping are traits of my father that I’ve got too.  On the other side is my mother, being honest in work is my mother’s characteristic that I have obtained.  When it is work, my mother really works (continuously) in fact, this is in here (aside from quality of work she provides) she was known for in their work. When it’s said it’s work it means work, I don’t cheat my employer by coming late, going home under time, claiming pay that was not really worked for, taking resources and using position for personal advantage. My mother is not after the money, there were even times she went home empty handed after she paid their workers during paydays for her she will look first their workers than herself.  Also, being patient, humble and unmaliciously (maybe because of her low educational attainment) are the characteristics that I got from her.

I am independent.  My life during my early teens that made me loner has developed me to become independent in the sense that I will do the things alone, be it personal or work.  I run my own life alone.  Build my dreams and working to achieve them alone.  If I have problem, I find the solution all by myself.  Very seldom I cried for help, if any – those are inevitable which is very seldom.  I do not usually ask favor or help for personal things.  Even in work.  During the times of heavy workload, I do not call someone to do this or do that for me.  I am not the bossy-type who used to command to get what I need and want.  I can work alone.  Actually, one of the reasons why I decided to work abroad is to live independently and alone.  This is a personal choice.  Living separately has nothing family issue or any social-interrelation problem.  I just want to live alone.

Innocent or maybe stupid – I may not know the trends, not a wiseman, and may not good in politicking but I rather want to be these ways because it is in here where I feel good in the eyes of God.   I don’t want to sound myself hypocrite and insensitive that just right after speaking humility I will speak self-importance but this is just merely an expression of an honest opinion.  But the truth is, sometimes when I look at the others, I feel in my heart that I am still a better person and it inspires me.  Because knowing their deeds, words and character, somehow I can say without blowing own horn that I am the less guilt and I’ve realized just to pursue what I’ve used to do.  Candid – if you do not know me, in times I may sound arrogant to you but that is I just want to become honest about the truth and I don’t mean to offend.  Luckily I have that credibility to speak painful truth without offending.  I mean, I’m not usually talking for I do not believe in.  In my past group, friends used to ask me to give my opinion as their last resort when arguing in a certain thing because they said I am not biased when I speak and my reputation is that I speak the truth.  I’m happy friends are relying on me for I have the convincing to talk harsh without offending.  But I am not smart and actually I like it.  Too clever makes people too speculative, dominating and injunctive.  People are too smart that they missed to trust and care.   In their brilliance they become doubtful, prompting, judgmental, cynical, interfering, skeptic, authoritative, scrupulous, skeptic, sarcastic, cynic, and mischievous.  I am not skeptic, I easily trust a person because I want honesty in what I do so I expect people do the same.  I am not suspicious if someone is doing something against me or to other people.  I am not a politicking person – it’s not in my character to bash, to lobby, to get vengeance, to take advantage, to prejudge, to use, to play dirty tactics in getting what I want. I want equality to become everything is deserved.  I admit I’m poor that I do not excel in any chosen field.  Been a bank teller, been a customer service officer, office assistant, tried guitar, but did not get the best of me there, even in the field of writing.  I joined in Gintong Palanca writing contest but lost.  But all in all, I like it because it pushed me to do more and kept my feet on the ground.

My music should be mellow sound.  Hate that noisy rock ‘n roll and metallic genre.  Here are some theme songs of my life.  The first song that I remember became my favorite was “You Needed Me by Anne Murray”. Those were the years when I started to feel in-love. Although it should be the other way around as in “I Needed You” because I actually needed that girl but I like the melody of the song that made me felt in-love every time I heard the song in the radio.  There were times I like the hit-back “Season in the Sun” when I wanted to leave everything and say good bye to those people I love, because I felt destiny denied and oppressed me. In the same year, “The Greatest Love of All by George Benson” inspired me because I had a feeling of I am tired in loving others but not myself. Number one in the Billboard “The Great Pretender by Righteous Brothers” became a personal favorite because of the loneliness I keep inside that other people seem not seen.  In the 90’s, “Dying Inside” and “Hiding Inside Myself” were two of my all-time favorite songs because they are exactly about me. “Somebody by Depeche Mode” became a personal favorite, while “You’ve Got A Friend by James Taylor“ became my song when I thought I found a friend but then I realized that It was a one-way friendship only, a friendship that I fought but gave up when I felt my effort was not deserved and worth.  But when year 2000 comes, I lost in the scenes in music.

Today I am dreaming.  I wish to become a philanthropist.  I dream to help children, to help financial needs of poor students (especially those in public schools) and to keep the welfare of environment will be the order of my chosen advocacies.  If I wish richness, it is because I want to help and not mainly for myself.  Because I am contented to live in a small retiring home that I designed in a place where different plants are surrounding it – because I want to go back to where I used to enjoy doing when I was a child – the plants.  I wish the world peace.  In this chaotic world, someday I want our world is living in harmony, peace and unity.  I am a peace-loving person, I don’t like violence and definitely against waging war.  And for my country, I wish my Philippines be back in glorious days again.  But by the way, if I will be an animal, I want to become a bird because I want to fly high and go in different places.

And I will not end this day without acknowledging the works of my Creator in me.  Good or bad I need them all, it’s up to me how I turned them into what I should do.

Alex V. Villamayor

November 30, 2015

PANAHON NG PAGKAIN

Taon-taon tuwing sasapit ang panahon ng pagtatapos ng taon ay kabi-kabila ang mga maaari nating gawin upang magsaya: mga pasyalan, pamilihan, muling pagkikita-kita, pagdiriwang, at mga kainan.   Nakakalungkot isipin at aminin natin na ito ay dala ng ating pagiging tao sa daigdig na ating ginagalawan.  Kaya marami sa atin ay gustong-gusto ang mga  kabi-kabilang kainan, tugtugan, at salu-salo.  Pagkain dito, pagkain duon, ito ang karaniwang pagkakapare-pareho ng mga ibat-ibang gawain sa panahon na ito.  Makukulay, katakam-takam at masasarap na pagkain at yamang alam na alam naman natin na karamihan sa mga pagkain na ito ay masama sa katawan, bakit mo pa ipapahamak ang sarili mo lalong-lao na kung ikaw ay mayroon ng iniingatan sa iyong kalusugan?  Aminin man natin o hindi na marami lang sa atin ang hindi marunong magtimpi sa sarili pagdating sa pagkain.  Marami ang walang-kontrol kapag natakam na sila sa alam nilang masarap na kakainin.

Sa panahong magtatapos ang taon, asahan na natin ang ibat-ibang kainan na maaari nating puntahan.  Sa mga Kristiyano ay maaaring magkaroon ng Christmas party ang mga magkakasama sa bahay,sa  mga kasama mong grupo sa trabaho o sa dibisyon ng inyong trabaho, mga kaibigan mo sa labas ng iyong trabaho at pamilya, kung mayroon ka pang mga kinaibibilangang mga samahan, at kung anu-ano pang grupo.  Bukod dito ay maaaari pa ring magkaroon ng pagdiriwang bilang pagpapasalamat sa nagdaang isang taon, o pagdiriwang bilang pagtatapos ng taon.  Meron pa ring selebrasyon bilang muling pagkikita-kita o pagsasama-sama ng iyong mga kaibigan, kakilala at mga dating kaiskwela.  Bukod pa dito iyung mga may kaarawan at anibersaryo.  At lahat ng ito ay kadalasan sa pagkain umiikot ang pagdiriwang.  Ilang Disyembre na ba ang ating pinagdaanan?  Malamang ay alam na natin na sa panahong ito ay marami talaga ang mag-iimbita sa atin na magpunta sa kainan.  Bilang bahagi ng ating pakikipagkapwa-tao, makisama tayo sa mga ganuong imbitasyon.  Ngunit piliin natin kung ano nga ba ang mga dapat nating puntahan, ang dapat na ipagpasensiya, at kung ano ang mga dapat bale-walain.  Dahil ang totoo ay hindi lahat ng mga ito ay kailangan natin.  Kung ang lahat ng ito ay halos iyong pupuntahan, hindi kaya lumalabas na lang ang pagiging mahilig mo sa pagkain?  Di kaya nagiging maluho at makamundo ka na lamang?

Walang duda na masarap ang kumain lalong-lalo na kung ang nakahain ay iyung mga nilutong karne ng manok, baka o baboy na nakukulayan ng matitingkad na sarsa na nasasahugan ng iba pang pampalasa at nakahain sa magandang pagkakaayos.  Sabihin man nating walang masama kung magpakabundat ka sa mga ito dahil ikaw naman ang magbabayad ng iyong kakainin, o di kaya’y susundin mo lang kung ano ang iyong gusto, pero ang hindi maganda dito ay ang maaaring idulot ng mga pagkaing ito sa iyong katawan.  Ang makakain ka ng mga ito kada tuwing katapusan ng linggo (weekend), na mas dadalas pa kapag ganitong panahon ay hindi na praktikal at hindi na tama sa kalusugan.  Magbanggit ka ng mga pagkain sa ganitong panahon at masasabi nating ang mga ito ay hindi masustansiyang pagkain.   Pare-pareho lang na mga mamantika o di kaya ay tinimplahan ng mga asrtipisyal na pampalasa.  At pagkatapos ng lahat ng ito, pansinin mo na ang marami sa mga taong nagpakalunod sa kasiyahan at kasarapan ng mga pagkaing ito ay dumadaing sa karamdaman ng kanilang katawan. 

Kasabihan na’ng kapag iyung mga sinasabing masustansiyang pagkain (healthy foods) ay hindi masarap, kulang sa lasa at nakakainip tingnan.  Alam ko ito dahil mula nang iwasan ko ang pagluluto ng mga hindi masustansyang pagkain ay nakita ko ang pag-kakaiba ngunit nakasanayan ko rin.   Siguro, kung ang isang tao na ang panlasa ay sanay sa mga binibiling pagkain sa mga kilalang commercialized na fast food store at restawrant ay titikman ang ginawa kong pagkain ay malamang na hindi talaga niya ito magugustuhan.  Kung sasanayin lang natin ang ating sarili mula sa mga simpleng kasiyahan at simpleng pamumuhay hanggang sa simpleng pagkain, makakayanan natin ang magkaroon at magmintini ng malusog na pangangatawan.

Ni Alex V. Villamayor

December 11, 2015 

EH KASI TAO

Sa mundo natin ngayon na mulat sa mga gawaing makamundo ay marami ang nagpapalagay at nagsasabi na ang lahat ay pare-pareho lamang na gumagawa ng mga mali, kasalanan at masama.  Bihira na kasi ang mabait sa panahon ngayon dahil imposible naman kasi ang maging banal o ang maging mabait man lang sa gitna ng isang mundo na makasalanan.  At sa araw ng paghuhusga ay dalawa lang ang magiging hatol sa atin: mabuti o masama lang.  Ngunit mahirap ang maging totoong mabait dahil sa pakikipagsapalaran at pakikipaglaban natin sa buhay na ang labanan ay matira ang matibay, kinakailangan natin ang gumawa ng mga paraan upang iligtas ang ating sarili para mabuhay dahil kung hindi ay dadaan-daanan, maiiwanan, aapihin, lalamunin at mabibigo lamang tayo.

Maging matapang, huwag magpapatalo, umalma kapag hindi mo gusto, hadlangan ang mga posibleng makakatalo sa iyo, gumawa ng mga diskarte, sunggaban ang mga pagkakataon.  Ito ang mga nagiging ugali ng mga tao upang hindi madehado sa laban.  Sa labis na kagustuhang tanghaling panalo o yung malampasan ang mga pagsubok sa buhay, marami na ang sanay sa pamomolitika, panggagamit, panggugulang, pang-uumit, panghuhusga, pamimintas, pagsisinungalin, pagiging hindi patas, at ang kagustuhang sila lagi ang masusunod.  Maraming tao ang nananamantala sa isang tao, kumpanya, at bagay kapag alam nila na mapapakinabangan.  Marami ang sobrang tapang na sinomang kalaban ay ginagantihan nang patago o naghahangad ng kapangitan ng kapalaran, o marumi kung makipaglaban.  Sa katapangan ay nagiging mapagmataas at mapaghusga na.  Mga matatalino na mabilis makakita ng mga mali at kapintasan at mabilis magsalita kung ano ang dapat gawin.  Iyung mablis magsalita nang kung ano ang dapat gawin kapag may nakitang mali sa isang pangyayari, isyu, o pinapanood na eksena na kapag sinubukan naman na sila ang isalang sa kaparehong kalagayan ay hindi nila magawang gawin ang sinasabi nilang dapat gawin.  Ang tao ay sobrang mautak – bawat isa ay gustong binabara ang kapwa upang siya ang mas maging dominante, mapaghanap ng kapintasan at mali, mapagduda sa kapwa.  Ang mga ito ay ang pagiging tuso na naging ugali at buhay na ng maraming tao upang matawag ang tao na makamundo dahil ito ang kalakaran sa ating mundo.  Nakakaasiwang isipin pero ito ang tao.  At hindi naman sa pag-aangat ng sarili ngunit masasabi kong hindi ganuon ang aking buhay.

Hindi sa pinupuri ko ang aking sarili ngunit marami ang kabaligtaran sa mga ito ng aking ugali.  Ayaw na ayaw ko ng pamumulitika, pag-gamit ng padrino, palakasan, paggawa ng mga illegal at tiwali – gusto ko ang laging sunod sa patakaran at pantay-pantay.  Hindi ako mapagtanim ng galit, sinisita ang gumagawa sa akin ng hindi ko gusto, nanloloko ng kapwa para sa aking kagustuhan, kumabig ng pera nang hindi patas, mapagdiskrimina.  Wala akong malisya o sasabihin ko na lang na hindi marumi ang aking isip.  Iyun bang hindi ko pinag-iisipan ng masama ang tao na pagdududahan o pagbintangan ang kanilang ikinikilos na may ginagawang masama sa akin o sa ibang tao dahilan upang huwag magtiwala agad.  Hindi ako nag-iisip agad na mayroong mga itinatagong interes ang isang tao kapag mayroon man siyang ginawa.  Hindi ako mapagsalita ng masakit, mapagpintas, mapag-ganti para sa aking pansariling kapakinabangan sa halip ay nagpaparaya at nagtitiis na lang ako.  Maaaring sabihing imposible ang mga ito ngunit totoo.  At kapag nagmamasid ako sa aking paligid at nakikita ko ang ibat-ibang tao, nararamdaman ko sa aking sarili na kahit papaano ay mas mabuti naman akong tao, at dahil dito ay natutuwa ako na ipagpatuloy ko ang ugali na kinasanayan ko na.  Hindi sa ako ay nagmamayabang, at sana’y hindi rin ako nagkakasala na inaangkin at ibinibida ko ang aking kainaman – hindi iyon ang aking pakay kundi gusto ko lang ipahayag ang aking sinasaloob.  O sabihing hindi na dapat sabihin ang mga ganito ngunit ito ay isang pagmumuni sa buhay lamang.  Maaaring hindi kabaitan itong aking mga ginagawa, siguro ay tanga lang talaga ako na hindi marunong itrato ang mga bagay-bagay.  Hindi ako nagmamalinis dahil nag-uumit din ako ng maliliit na bagay, namimintas din ako na pagkaminsa’y hindi ko nakikimkim at may maliliit na bagay din akong ipinagkakaila.  Ngunit hindi ako nanlalamang at wala akong inaargabiyado.  Marami pa ang maaaring isulat ngunit nagtuon lang ako ng pansin sa mga ito.  Mahirap magpakabait nang iyung magpakatotoong-mabait pero ang mga makamundong ugali na ito ay maiiwasang mangyari kung ang lahat ay magiging tapat.  Dahil kung ang lahat ay tapat, walang magkakaroon ng pagdududa at pagtitiwala ang siyang maghahari.

Ni Alex V. Villamayor

December 9, 2015