Tuesday, September 23, 2008

APOLOGY AND HUMILITY

Before anything else let me convey my apology to my grade school classmate Edwin Pillas and the rest of the people who were taken aback with my last two articles I wrote here. Although the contents of my last blog may sound too harsh and insensitive to my readers it was far way down subtle against the terms launched to me by my former workmate and I cannot just take a pew in one corner and take hold of myself. I think it is humanly and realistically predisposition to shield oneself or fight back when someone tries to threaten or disparage you. My only mistake was that I should not post it here. I have seven blogs in all I should have posted it somewhere else. But if I did that they would not know my side and judgment since I use fictitious names in my other blog sites. Pasensiya ka na Bro. . . . But it feels so nice to know that there is a lot of concerned people out there who reminds you what the best thing to do. Honestly, I just said my opinion and sometimes people are different in understanding and it is a natural reaction for someone to feedback on something she feels to be wrong. But with all uprightness my reply (to Shirley) meant not to cause slur or do I have any intention to offend or explode her feeling. I always make it a point to keep rather tacit or not jot down something to anyone because I am scared that I may utter something I will regret afterward, but sometimes you cannot just stay unspoken without people knowing your thoughts because I believe there is nothing to be scared of except the constant denial to find out the truth, the continuing repudiation to probe the reasons of certain incidents. Anyway, this issue is water under the bridge. I have expressed my apology and I leave it all up to her. I consider that apology does not necessarily stands for reception of guilt or fault or admission that leads to shame, or to a feeling of worthlessness and despair but rather one few ways to express self-effacement. It sometimes means giving up false security or turn back arguments which will protect us when we get pushed into a corner. Apology reminds me that I am human. A real man is not found in wealth, authority, status, intellect or fame, but in his meekness. Humility can makes a man into angel and creates within him a dimension for the nearest possible intimacy with God. Rest assured that I will not touch on this sort of issue again but rather hearten people through inspirational and motivating write-ups. You are absolutely right when you told me to stay on the positive plane. Sorry again to all my readers who were startled with the sudden turn of events and thanks Classmate Edwin for the aide-mémoire! God Bless you all!


He must become greater. I must become less
John 3:30

Tuesday, September 9, 2008

GOT THE WRONG END OF THE STICK . . .

Dear Shirley,

First and foremost I am not a "slasher" and I do not have the know-how to do so neither do I have it in my mind to be one. Perhaps you were slipshod in posting your critiques. Try to check your synopsis setting and alter it for your confidentiality. Take it easy, sorry if I spouted your bubble and I may seem as a demon advocate on your part. Honestly your blog is somewhat slapdash, sloppy and needs subtlety and well-defined amplifications. Blogging is not just all about writing, it needs brain and soul you cannot just criticize somebody or hurl hurting words to express your anger and disappointments. Or cite a bad model and make it as epitome for something. Because if you do that it will be just like what and old English idiom says " Birds of the same feathers , flock together". Blogging is a commitment for a specific purpose. I have explained my opinion, and opinion is just an opinion you can take it or you can leave it. Sabi mo nga di ba "Therefore, I urge them to write to me instead of making it incomprehensible. Friends can have different opinions, yet still be friends. I think it is exciting, if friends have different opinions and views on things and life and still respect one another" I think you misunderstood my blog's header (The Worst Example) . Granting the title is deceptive, with all uprightness I am not referring to you .Please try to read carefully, coherently and logically the entirety of the typescripts before you let go off your wrath. There are some points in our articles that are both obnoxious and deplorable to both of us and I can see that we are the same type of person that will not just swallow what is being fed into our mouth. I will never ever touch on names and why should I? I have been writing since I was 16 and a clever and proficient writer will not dip himself into the water to let somebody swamp him. I can make use of the splendor and virtuosity of euphemism yet recognize and absorb what I am trying to point out. I do not need to whack somebody's door. To illuminate and inform you, before I left the company I have said every word I have to utter and swiped and clouted it right before her face. I take pride and rectitude on this because I was the only one who was able to do it. Everybody knows that they saw it! I felt a gigantic load off my chest when I did that! I won my victory. . I sued her and she paid me. SSS/Pag-ibig contributions, 13th months pay, sick leaves, paid taxes on time and my salary what are these things? I do not have even the slightest indebtedness to be thankful with these ridiculous stuffs you mentioned. It's their compulsion and they have to go along with the rules as much as their employees adhere with theirs. They paid my salary because I worked for it. Yes I worked for quite a long time underpaid, under pressured and overworked. So you cannot just say I owed something to them. I did not nourished my kids with the salary they paid me. I have freelance jobs then that sufficed my family's need. I stayed too long in the company because I was dreaming I was happy but that dream turned into nightmare. Sack of rice??? . . . Installment yes pero may tubo, I should have seen you vaulted and screeched for joy if she gave it to you for free as what other more considerate companies normally do. Subdivision in Antipolo? It was a plan (or should I say strategy to fool somebody) that never came true. Yes they have tried to be benevolent by at least making promises. But as this famous adage says they are just made to be broken. You are all praises, admiration, commendations, approvals, acclaims, tributes, applause, compliments, recommendations, (what else?) because when you left the company it was on the apex of its grandeur and opulence of prosperity but when its steeliness gradually ebb year after the blames were pin pointed to the poor employees. Degrading each one of them by name calling them as morons, idiots and bullshits.Perhaps you do not know this because you are occupied savoring your Danish cook good life and the colleagues you left here still languishing with life's hardship but who cares? Why not ask the people ( specially your friends)left in there to know the truth? HIndi man ako naging mabuting empleyado . . . taas noo kong sasabihing hindi ako naging masamang kasama sa trabaho. I did not do something that caused sorrows and miseries to others.Harking back when you were just planning to go where you are now, you would pass into my art room trying to have a peek on the encyclopedia which was on the rear of my drawing table to ferret out where Denmark is, and at times asked for my unassuming artistic flair to work on some of the papers you need and your cousin's which was bound then for Faroe Islands. I was so euphoric then for you because I know you were setting out the right direction in quest for a better life. And now you have it and you are Shirley Allerup because of this company? I will respect you for that. But I can be what I am even if I did not have the chance to associate myself with this company. To tell you the truth my stay in that company was absolutely waste of time and talent. You are lucky because God gave you that opportunity and you acted with His will just at the right moment because if not you will meet the same fate. I admire your courage and strong will in chasing your rainbow. In fairness, honestly and without duplicity I have learned too a lot from this company … yes really . . . but not until I left . . . I have learned to be humane and help the less, to stand on my principle and not just swallow what is being fed to me, I have also learned to believe in myself and the importance of my family. Most importantly I have learned to forgive and have strengthened my belief in Him. I am blogging because I want to be a paragon to my readers especially to my friends and former workmates so I may awaken them and help eradicate stumbling blocks for them to gain access in new life. I know I cannot please everybody and that there will come a time somebody will get up against me. If I offended you, with all morality it was not the real intention. I have moved on and never have as wonderful and contented life than I have now. Dont you worry , I do not need to work with Bosses because I have bread and butter I call my own. PEACE!

"Perhaps it is better to be irresponsible and right, than to be responsible and wrong."

Friday, September 5, 2008

THE WORST EXAMPLE ( A Reply To Shirley Allerup's Blog)

Yesterday, September 5, I read Shirley Francisco Allerup’s blog.Yesterday, September 5, I read Shirley Francisco Allerup's blog. With due regards to my former workmate, I absolutely disagree with her. Her observations and remarks may be true but does that mean that all 91 million Filipinos are like that? It is unreasonable to pigeonhole out of some slight and improbable circumstances because I believe that Filipinos are moral, respectable and God fearing people although there are some cases several Pinoys are entangled in different waywardness and illegalities because of poverty and search for the good life. As what her friend GNP mentioned in his reply our struggle for survival is the cause of all these but nonetheless it does not make us a lesser race. I did see many times on television taxi drivers turned over millions of cash in different currencies left by foreigners inside their transport, heard stories how Filipino sailors fed and gave refuge to their own African stow-away detainees instead of tossing them out into the shark- infested sea which most white seafarers normally do. A domestic helper in Taiwan killed defending and shielding her employer against burglars who passed into their dwelling. Most of the time Filipinos too are victims of abuses by other nations. How many OFW"s languish and deteriorate in jail for crimes they did not commit? How many DH's were raped by their employers? How many Filipinas were abused, maltreated and almost battered to death by their alien husbands and went home with shattered dreams and lives in shambles? No one is flawless, no race is impeccable not even Americans nor Europeans . . . not even one. She also mentioned our former employer's axiom about being chagrined to be a Filipino. I am very indubitable not only her knew what type of morality and character this person has and all the cruelties and exploitations that until now this lady is perpetrating with her employees. If she is humiliated to be a Filipino it is because she doesn't own the innate qualities, decency and ethics to be called one. " Alam naman ng karamihan kung gaano kawalanghiya itong tao na ito, Hindi talaga dapat maging Pilipino ito!" I think Shirley really made the worst paradigm out of this person. The problem with us is that we only find faults and tend to send to oblivion all the goodness done. It's like staring at a huge circle sketched on the wall over looking and ignoring the tiny blotch inside it. We have so many things to be honored and delighted as far as being Filipino is concerned. We are known as affectionate, tender and devoted people. We do not leave our parents in caregiver homes when they get feeble and seem to become appendage to us but rather we take care of them. We lavish our visitors with our warm treatment and hospitality. We always dress in smiles despite the humongous adversities in our lives. Let us not blemish our dignity but rather embolden our pride to other race. There are so many men of different nationalities who wish to seek marriage and relationship with Filipinas. Why? Because Pinays would be archetypes of a loving, compassionate and caring wife and an idyllic mother for their kids. To be mortified of one's ethnicity is synonymous to self regret and embarrassment. Let us gaze back where we came from because in the end no matter how outlying we have gone through . . .we will find ourselves going back from where we used to be. I guess Mr. Allerup and his kids will best tell what kind of Filipino is . . .in the person of his wife. My two cents worth and God Bless you, Shirley!

"Nationality is respectable when selfishness, distrusts and conceit are all put aside for the welfare of humankind."

Tuesday, September 2, 2008

MGA KOLEKTOR NAGING JANITOR AT KARGADOR, BISOR GINAWANG TAU-TAUHAN, MGA AMUYONG NAGING MGA ADMINISTRADOR (Isang Kwento Mula Sa Telepono)

Tikatik ang pawis ko, galugad ko ang Metro Manila, umaabot pa nga ako ng Cavite, Pampanga, Batangas at Laguna. Kung makapagsasalita lang ang bulok kong motorsiklo matagal na sana itong nagreklamo. Pero wala kami parehong magagawa , kailangan makapaningil sa mga tao sa produktong matagal ng inaayawan at isinusuka, dahil kung hindi baka magalit ang amo kong walanghiya. Sige lang kayod lang, ginagawa ko naman ito alang-alang sa aking mahal na pamilya . Minsan kinakapos, nagagamit ko ang perang ibinayad sa akin ng kliyente, kahit alam kong mali ang mahalaga makakaraos kami sa maghapon at bukas ko na lang iisipin kung kailan at paano maibabalik ang pera sa opisina. Ilan na bang kasamahan ko ang natanggal ng trabaho dahil sa ganitong sistema? Ganuon din naman kasi, gumawa ako ng masama o mabuti, masama pa rin ang iniisip nila dahil sadyang mapaghinala ang tao. Akala mo ba lagi kang nangdaraya? Huwag sana akong matulad sa aking mga kasama, dating kolektor aba’y ginawang janitor at kargador. Yung una kong kasama, dati-rati manibela ng motorsiklo ang hawak-hawak , ngayon maghapong walis at basahan ang tangan-tangan ng pobre. Kung malas-malas pa, haharapin ang masangsang na kasilya, luluhuran at animo’y dinadasalan mapawi lang ang dumi at baho nito. Nakainitan kasi dahil wala ng makolekta sa mga “account” na pinagsawaan ng mga naunang kolektor at matagal ng nilalangaw. Nakalulungkot kung iisipin mo. Sa hinaba-haba ng panahon ganito lang and sasapitin niya. Ito naming ikalawa, nahuling nandaraya sa oras, imbes na mangolekta ay umuuwi daw ng bahay upang mamasada ng tricycle. Hindi ko alam kung totoo o hindi basta ang alam ko ginawa na lang siyang kargador at itinapon at ikinulong sa madilim na bodega. Naging tagasalansan ba ng mga encyclopediang inaamag at nabubulok na? Ito namang dati naming Bisor, nahuling nang-uumit inalisan ng katungkulan at ginawang tau-tauhan. Pero nuong araw akala mo kung sino, laging mainit ang ulo at paangil kung kumausap ng tao.Pero kapag andiyan na ang amo , hindi alam ang gagawin isang sutsot lang akala mo ulol na aso. Nabababahag ang buntot at takot na takot dito. Nakalkal kasi ang gawang multo, pilit mang ikubli hindi na nagawang itago at inamin na lang ng tuluyan. Ayaw mang lisanin ang pwestong noon ay pinamayagpagan at pinagsasaan, pero ano pang magagawa kung pinagtatabuyan na at inaayawan? Ang sakit naman! Parang sasabog and dibdib niya, pakiramdan ko pati mundo niya gumuhong bigla. Wala na ang dati kong Bisor pero alam ko nakatatak na sa kanyang isip at puso ang mapait na alaala, na kahit sino man ay hindi na nanaising balikan pa. Dalangin ko lang huwag sana maulit ang nangyari sa mga taong humalili sa kanya dahil pakiwari ko tila isang sumpa ang pwestong nilisan niya. Kung kamalasan ang inabot ng mga nabanggit ko, aba'y may mga kasama rin naman akong tila jackpot sa lotto ang tinamaan. Utusan dati,tagatipa ng makinilya, taga timpla ng kape, tagasulat ng dikta at yung isa imbestigador ng mga bagay na walang kakwenta-kwenta . . .abay akalain mong naging mga administrador? Kung dati-rati hindi sila pinapansin ngayon sila na ang tinitingala at kinatatakutan ng marami. Sumbong dito, sumbong doon, memo dito at memo duon, ito ang kanilang sandata at sikreto kaya mahal na mahal nga naman ng amo, animo sila lang ang tao na gustong mabuhay sa mundo. Walang pakialam kung nakakasakit o nakapeperwisyo at tila nawala na ang habag sa puso at katinuan ng pagkatao. Eh, ano ba sa kanila kung magsabi sila ng kasinungalingan? Maniniwala ba sa katotohanan at katarungan ang kanilang pingsisilbihan? Pilit silang nilalayuan dahil pakiramdam ng karamihan sila ay dinadarang ng mga katawan nilang nagniningas. Hoy! Nakakaawa kayo! Kahit man lang sa mga anak ninyo mahiya kayo!Namnamin ninyo ang kasarapan dahil ngayon ay malapit na kayo sa tuktok at pag naabot nyo na ang tugatog may masusulingan pa kaya kayo? Paghandaan lang ang pagbulusok dahil kung ano ang ginawa sa kapwa ay siya rin ang aanihing tama at sabay ang galabog. Ito namang mga kasama ko tila mga pipi pa rin at mga bingi. Gumuguho na nga ang templo ng Diyablo ayaw pa ring kumaripas ng takbo.Ngayon pa ba tayo mahihintakutan? Matagal din tayong nagtiis. Inalila at inalipusta. Bakit hindi tayo magsama-sama at ipaglaban ang nararapat? Huwag nating daanin sa kapusukan at galit dahil lahat naman ng bagay ay may kaparaanan at maaaring makuha sa hinahon. Kung may katuwiran bakit hindi natin ipaglaban at panindigan ang prinsipyong ipagmamalaki ng ating mga anak? Huwag tayong panghinaan ng loob dahil humuhupa ang bawat unos na nagdaraan sa ating mga buhay. Patawarin natin ang sa atin ay mga nagkasala , bigyan sila ng mga aral at kalimutan ng ganap. Manalig lang tayo sa ating mga sarili at higit sa lahat sa ITAAS . . . at tinitiyak kong hindi-hindi NIYA tayo pababayaan.

Stronger Than Impressions