"MARINDUQUE: BANGON BAYA ! SULONG NGANI"

namamasko po...

2010-12-24T20:08:00.000-08:00

Maligayang pasko at Manigong Bagong Taon sa inyong lahat.

112TH INDEPENDENCE DAY

2010-06-01T00:00:00.000-07:00

Ito ang handog ko sa ika-112 anibersaryo ng pagiging independente ng PILIPINAS.

Maligayang bati sa ating lahat. Mabuhay ang PINOY! ASTIG KA!

PAGBABAGO! KELAN PA BAGA?

2010-05-16T22:02:00.000-07:00

Sa mga nanalo po sa nakaraang halalan, congratulations po sa inyong lahat. Napapanahon na po siguro ang pagbabago sa ating mahal na bayan. Masyado na tayong nahuhuli sa mga karatig na mga probinsya. Kung hindi ngayon ay kailan pa po.

Ito ang hiling ng mga mamamayan ng Marinduque. "BANGON BAYA! SULONG NGANI!" ay anu na yaan, kainaman ay!

MARINDUQUE T-SHIRTS and RADYO MARINDUQUE SHIRTS FOR SALE

2010-04-08T01:42:00.000-07:00

SIZES                            PRICE
XS-SMALL                    PHP 250
MED-LARGE                PHP 275
XL-XXL                         PHP 300

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We can customize your design just add 150..
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RADYO MARINDUQUE SHIRTS FOR SALE

FOR MORE INFOS: VISIT WEBSITE
RADYO MARINDUQUE

"Kay Susan Tayo" SUMMER SA MARINDUQUE

2009-05-21T02:31:00.000-07:00

Last Sunday May 17, Marinduque was featured in "Kay Susan Tayo" Journey to the Centre of the Philippines with guest host Ariana.

Featuring Luzon Datum of 1911, Palo Maria Beach & America Beach (Maniwaya Island), Moriones Festival, Kalutang Band, Katala Beach Resort, Poctoy White Beach resort, Marinduque Hotspring Resort, Putong- a traditional song-and-dance ritual performed by local folks as an expression of thanksgiving.

Marinduque Hotspring Resort

DONG HOS MARINDUQUE ESCAPADE

2009-05-18T01:44:00.000-07:00

nine reasons why i love marinduque

moriones festival, ethnic and recycled

boac beautiful rustic town

gaspar island hidden beach

gaspar islands pebble

battle of the morions

e-Radio Portal

2009-05-11T20:25:00.001-07:00

e-Radio Portal

Posted using ShareThis

'WHO CARES ABOUT YESTERDAY, TODAY AND TOMORROW"

2009-04-24T00:07:00.000-07:00

There are two days in every week
about which we should not worry,
two days which should be kept free
from fear and apprehension.

One of these days is "Yesterday"
with its mistakes and cares,
its faults and blunders,
its aches and pains.

Yesterday has passed forever beyond our control,
all the treasures in the world cannot bring back yesterday,
we cannot undo a single act we performed,
we cannot erase a single word we said,
Indeed, Yesterday is gone!

The other day we should not worry about is "Tomorrow",
with its possible adversities, its burdens,
its large promise and poor performance,
tomorrow is also beyond our immediate control,
tomorrow's sun will rise, either in splendor or
behind a mask of clouds, but it will rise,
until it does, we have no stake in tomorrow,
for it is yet unborn.

This leaves only one day, "Today",
and anyone can fight the battles of just one day,
it is only when you and I add the burden of those awful eternities,
Yesterday and Tomorrow that we break down,
its is not the experience of Today that drives people mad,
it is the remorse or bitterness for something,
which happened Yesterday and the dread of what Tomorrow may bring.

Let us therefore live, but one day at a time.

TONY R. MONTERAS (malaking ibon)
Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
21 April 2009 / 25 Rabi'II 1430 H

"MAKING DIFFERENCE IN THE COMMUNITY"

2009-04-24T00:05:00.000-07:00

Significantly, a sure sign of a healthy community is the active involvement of its members. And
'active involvement' means so much more than serving on a committee or running for office. If we have (or recognize) good ideas and work with others to make them a reality, we can therefore make a difference close to home by investing the resources we have available. Investments of time, money or even positive energy are more than altruism. Making a difference gives us a chance to be active and connect with our community in a very meaningful way. We also get to use existing skills (or gain new ones) network, and enjoy our community on a deeper level.

In other words, making a difference doesn't have to require a big commitment but surely reminds us of the following:

"I shall pass through this world but once. If, therefore, there be any kindness I can show, or any good thing I can do, let me do it now; Let me not defer or neglect it, for I shall not pass this way again."

We, as human beings should always remember the essence of such a wonderful qoute and let it be always a part of our existence in this world. Surely, we will be in a great situation once we fulfill the message it truly conveys.

Is it possible for us to make the community we live in, just a little better place? What can we do to make a difference then? Based on the above qoute, is there any kindness we can show or any good thing we can do to help our community and our people? Each of us has something to share, whether it is our talents or love for the youth and elderly in our community.

During the summer months, both youth and the elderly need our help. We can help by volunteering in some various community programmes such as sports and other youth activities. Our youth will not stray if we spend time with them, help them, and love them. How about the elderly? Not only do they need care and affection, but perhaps our youth would learn more respect for them if they helped an elderly in some simple ways after which the elderly see the smiling faces of our youth.

"We are all in this journey of life together, each of us was given certain gifts to make this world a better place and to help make one another's burden a little lighter along the way."

Once our community got the youth together and do a simple chores for someone else. Everyone seemed in good spirits as they laughed and joked while doing their duties. Not only did the person appreciate it, but also the youth came away with a good feeling of accomplishment and caring for another person.

"What do we live for, it it is not to make life less different from each other?" Can we make a difference in the lives of others? Each one of us can definitely make a difference by showing unselfish love to the elderly and helping our youth.

TONY R. MONTERAS (malaking ibon)
Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
19 April 2009 / 23 Rabi'II 1430 H

BASIC PRINCIPLES ON VITAL TOPICS:

2009-04-24T00:02:00.000-07:00

As we go along with our life under a democratic form of government, its but proper for us to know further and remember some basic principles concerning certain subjects as follows:

01) Democratic Process: Power and Authority, Rights and Responsibilities:

In our various levels of our education (when required), students study how the key values have been, and can be, defined and debated, both in abstract terms and real context's in a range of places, past and present.

The key value of democratic process is based on the belief in the integrity and rights of all people and promotes ideals of equal participation and access for individuals and groups, civil and political rights, citizenship and democratic decision making in all aspects of life, including public and private life.

Democratic process applies to the ways in which people relate to each other, how decisions are made in our institutions. How democratic rights are protected and the responsibilities and obligations to others that these imply.

This key high value highlights the balance of certain rights such as choice, equitable opportunity and appeal to law and due process, with reciprocal obligations including respect for others and willingness to participate in democratic processes.

02) Social Justice: Social and Procedural Justice, Anti-Racism, Equity and Equality:

Students appreciate the different perspectives people have of values and value issues, and how cultural and other differences can influence these perspectives.

The key value of social justice involves promoting a just society by challenging justice and valuing diversity. It is based on the belief that all people share a common humanity and therefore have a right to equitable treatment, support for their human rights and a fair allocation of community resources.

Social justice also implies that people must not be discriminated against, nor their welfare and well-being constrained or prejudiced on the basis of gender, sexuality, religion, political affiliations, age, race, belief, disability, location, social class, socio-economic circumstances or other characteristic of background or group membership. Social justice seeks to challenge the inequalities inherent in social institutions and structures and to deconstruct dominant views of society.

03) Ecological and Economic Sustainability: Sustainability, Scarcity, Biological Diversity, Heritage, etc:

To learn how to live graciously together would make us worthy of this unique beautiful planet that evolved in its present splendor ove some billions of years, a planet that we should give over to our children with the assurance that this great community of the living will lavish upon them the care that it has bestowed to abundantly upon ourselves.

The key value of ecological and economic sustainability is based on the inter-relationship between ecological systems and economies. It is based on a belief in the integrity of natural environments, their importance as the basic source of life support, and the wise, equitable and sustainable use of resources.

Ecological and economic sustainability emphasizes the promotion and attainment of ecological sustainable development; and the need to protect environments for their intrinsic value, for their heritage value and as a resource to sustain life in the present and for future generations.

Ecological and economic sustainability involves acting ethically towards the environment by establishing and maintaining social, political and economic structures that are focused on finding quality of life in a world of limits. This key learning area views environments as natural, social and built.

04) Peace: Cooperation, Empathy, Reconciliation Hope and Optimism:

Students also learn how certain values have been concerns for people across cultures, space and time and will remain important issues in teir own futures.

The key value of peace is based on the belief that to promote life is to promote positive relations with others and with the environment. This implies the need to foster, maintain and develop hope, sipirituality and optimism, a sense of belonging in local, national and global communities, cooperative and peaceful relations with others and a sense of shared destiny and stewardship of the Earth.

Peace applies to relationships between people and environments that have a regard for the spiritual dimension of life. In sopcial and Environment studies, students value honesty and sensitivity and develop emphaty to promote peaceful environment.They apply the value of peace by cooperating and interacting to resolve conflicts and practising concensus decision making. Students undetstad how the processes of negotiation, arbitration, mediation and reconciliation operate in a range of contexts.

TONY R. MONTERAS (malaking ibon)
Riyadh, Saudi Arabia 18 April 2009 / 22 Rabi'II 1430 H

"SOCIAL, ECOLOGICAL AND ECONOMIC SUSTAINABILITY"

2009-04-15T20:32:00.000-07:00

When we think of social, ecological and economic sustainability, what appears in our mind is that

It Is More About Competence And Values:

Sustainable development is about planning for a future that can be. A sustainable society, as well as a sustainable organization, is about running an economy that does not systematically erode the social and ecological fabric on which the society is based. No trend will put demands on strategic leadership than this challenge. Yet, many heads of organizations believe that it is all about 'values' and that the strategic challenge is about being rewarded by citizens and customers for marketing better values than competitors. People would, with this way of looking at it, be prepared to pay more for products that include the 'environment' and 'social responsibility' as a widened aspect of the quality they purchased and thereby positively affect the Brand of the organization. The will to invest in environmental or social benefits would then be directly proportional to the expected marginal profit.

But this is not the greatest challenge. Competent leaders, be it Minister/Governor
/Mayor/CEO/Board, know that it is more about avoiding unnecessary and increasing costs that are unavoidable for those organization that stay being part of the problem. In the end, it is about survival of the organization as well as civilization at large. All values will go down the gurgler if we fail with 'Sustainable Development'. So in the end, whilst values are essential, strategic planning towards social and ecological sustainability demands increased competence amongst our leaders.

A Funnel Of Declining Potential To Sustain Our Economies:

Today, global human society is moving deeper and deeper into into a 'funnel' of declining opportunities to sustain prosperity, and in the end civilization itself. Our habitat, the biosphere, is exposed to ever higher concentrations of 'left-over-matter' in the biosphere, ie: social waste as well as solid and molecular wastes, smaller areas of remaining ecosystems, shrinking biodiversity, and fewer health cultures where people are glued together by trust in each other and by vital stories of meaning. When the very meaning of the connectedness between people looses character, it leads to vicious cycles. The worse we feel socially, the more narrow-minded and individual focused our culture becomes. This decreases our enthusiam to design a socially and ecologically sustainable society, damaging impacts in those systems grow worse and we have even lower trust in each other and the future. But this is also an opportunity od specified dimensions, to the leadership of our time: to create attractive visions that are socially and ecologically sustainable, to stubbornly stick to them, and to learn how to communicate all kinds of measures and investments as socially/ financially/politically smart stepping-stones on the way.

Enlightened Self-Interest To Be Part Of The Solution And Avoid The Walls Of The Funnel:

Today, most organizations are part of the un-sustainability problem, systematically 'contributing' to increasing amounts of waste and molecular waste (e.g. toxic waste and greenhouse gasses), enroaching on ecosystems (e.g. deforestation and draining of ground water tables) and erosion of the social fabric (e.g. bad health, stress, and underpaid suppliers from developing countries). Soon there will be a lot of billion (11) people, no longer 6, laying claims on the remaining natural resources in the biosphere. It can be shown with scientific rigor, that this leads inevitably to increased financial risks for the individual organization, risks that are associated with costs for natural resources, waste management, insurance, taxation and flawed investments that lead into blind alleys. And the opposite is also true. Systematic innovation and design to provide human services without contributing to the sustainability problem implies systematically less risk of financial consequences from social and environmental impacts.

Strategic Planning Implies That We Know What We Want:

The most commonly applied methodology for planning, forecasting, is on its own quite useless for strategic thinking around sustainability. It means to 'forecast' our assumptions, based on current trends, into the future and then try to fix the problems we can foresee. The complexity of the system 'the individual, in the organization, in society, in biosphere' simply means that this way of planning by trends is the perfect way of solving one problem by inventing another. An example is when we introduced CFC's to replace the irritant gas ammonia as coolant in freezers, only to discover that the replacement had begun to erode the life-supporting ozone layer. Strategic innovation and design implies the opposite, namely to imagine a 'thorough sustainable future' and then to plan systematically to arrive at it. How can we define success in the future? "Nobody can look into the future" Einstein said, "But we can invent it" he added.

Backcasting From Principles:

The Natural Step International, an NGO founded in Sweden in 1989 has pioneered an international scientific consensus process aimed at defining a rigorous Framework for Sustainability. It is presented - in peer reviewed scientific journals as well as in case studies in business and policy-making, in a format that allows strategic planning for any organization or planning activity at any scale. At the same time, it provides strict guidelines for how to select and design the necessary tools for decision support. The method is built on basic principles for achieving the objective, an attractive vision f the organization in a sustainable future.

It is a unique planning methodology for design and innovation, which tackles problems at the root causes of un-sustainability. It allows for a rich diversity of cultural and technical solutions. To imagine success in the future, defined all the way down to the basic principle level, and then to plan systematically to arrive at that imagined point is called 'Backcasting From Principles' (as opposed to 'Forecasting From Trends'). The framework is designed to do this in a strategic way.This means to identify investments that not only stand for good chance to give good social/financial/political returns, but also lay the foundations for father investments tomorrow. Or in other words - how to link short term actions with longer term goals from a sustainability perspective. The vision should contain much more than sustainability, but if the vision is not based on sustanability, the transition is likely to fail socially, financially and politically.

What Are The Challenges To Leadership And Management?

Sustainable Development is a very complex issue that requires leaders of Governments/Regions/ Business and their teams to think in a different way than is common today.

In today's world senior executives are often too busy to engage properly with the mid to long-term survival of their respective organizations.

In business, the quarterly reports occur at the expense of the strategic question: "How can we make money today in a way that makes it possible to make money also tomorrow?" Even leaders who are pro-active on environmental and social issues often lack on overall framework for sustainability.

Consequently, they have vague images on how to define sustainability, and how it relates to the bottom line. This leads to an incompetent management of the largest challenge that any organization has ever been exposed to.

Amongst many misconceptions, modern leaders often believe that:

(I) Concerns about sustainability implies a focus on the long term at the expense of the short term, whereas reality tells us that it is the opposite way around; strategic thinking means, to ensure that short term investments can serve as platforms for the longer term which promotes innovation, good design and competitive success in all time.

(II) "The Sustainability Issues" will only pay back when the market understands the issues and wants to reward proactive organizations by being prepared to pay more for their products and services; where as in reality ; the biggest strategic incentive for sustainable development is to avoid increasing costs, and the largest risks are run by those who are violating the basic principles for sustainability, regardless of whether we yet know the exact impacts from those, and/or how to measure them, or not.

(III) The sustainability aspects of the market place are so complex that only experts can deal with them; whereas reality tells us that experts, though knowledgeable in specific areas, are generally amateurs on strategic planning in the context of the whole system; that dimension cannot be abandoned by top management and handed over to experts or middle management or consultants or any other group, it will always remain the responsibility of top management itself.

What Is The Natural Step Experience .....

As regards how to attract Business to Strategic Leadership Towards Sustainability?

At the moment, a crisis is the most common route to increased awareness. Many companies came out relatively early and made economic progress by taking sustainability issues more seriously. They often did so because of crisis - financial, competitive, or pressure from various kinds of actors such as politicians, official institutions and NGO's. Business in general needs to get ahead of the game. Reaction to crisis, i.e. hitting the walls of the funnel rather than avoiding it, is usually much more expensive for everyone. Perhaps, the most exciting thing with a company is its openness, and that they are challenging their whole industry to develop the same way.

What is The Natural Step's Experience In Attracting Regions and Local Government To Strategic Leadership Towards Sustainability?

In working with Local Governments & Regions, there are very strong similarities to big businesses. Regions have at least as great a need for visions that comply with basic sustainability principles, and which must be financially sound at the same time. The need to create constructive leadership through shared mental modes, to allow creative innovation, enthusiasm and genuine participation in decision-making is perhaps even stronger in the the public sector. The issues that are dealt with the public agencies, whether international or local are almost always complex and involve many different interests. So the sustainability perspective and working from sound principles for sustainability, is a really important.

But there are also differences. One of the most obvious is Local Government's division into non-elected officials on one hand and political leaders on the other. Politicians risk being exchanged each election period. Another difference is that local and national government's 'Story of Meaning' its purpose, is generally broader than that of the business organization, and consciously includes care in all society's functions and sectors. Finally, it is about management of course where democracy is often, unlike the business organization, institutionalized. These differences may speak in favor of a greater need for shared mental modes than in business.

This is the experience that the gratitude of getting support with visioning within the sustainability constraints, and drawing both strategic and practical conclusions, is at least as great in local governments as in business.

Does Sustainability Deliver Concrete Benefits To Organizations?

The strategic dimension of the sustaninability game is all about investing in "flexible platforms", i.e. investments that are both economically feasible in the short term and can serve as strategic stepping-stones to a sustainable future.

Further ahead, when more people in society wake up to the necessities of sustainable development, investments that are perceived as too radical today will be recognized as smart moves for social/financial/political reasons, in a positive spiral. We call such investments 'flexible platforms', i.e. investments that can be furthered because they do not lead into blind alleys. Organizations investing in sustainable strategies can see a good return. They save by avoiding increasing costs for energy, tax, insurance, waste management, and they earn money through product and service innovation, competitive advantage, customer and employee loyalty, increased shareholder value and social health in general. So called 'trade offs', i.e. an investment that is good for something and bad for something else, is not dealt with my comparing evils, but by seeking smartest investment paths to success in the future. To take this seriously provides in itself a story of meaning, one that can create mutual connection and trust between people within and between organizations and the general public, thereby bridging the big cultural gap of our time.

Do Adequate Adaptation Technologies Exist To Leaders To Weather A Shift To Sustainable Production And Consumption?

Yes, but one should not wait for more technologies until the change process in society takes-off, but rather select or develop them as they are needed. What is needed is less about new fancy tools for the management of sustainability, and more about the competence related to the big picture. Leaders of today are ofter delaying solutions that are actually very close at hand. Sometimes, we devote more competence to measuring and monitoring than to deciding what needs to be measured and monitored.

A good piece of advice to our leaders throughout society is to learn how to create the big all embracing plan towards sustainable success, and get on with business planning right away. Then you can develop the sophisticated tools and concepts as needed. The tools and technologies also need to be informed by the all embracing plan and its principles. Organizations should not be inspired by something, but measuring and monitoring something else. This may appear self-evident. But the sad reality is that various kinds of tools and key figures for sustainability often blur the big picture rather than support it. Boards and leaders are often happily ignorant about the fact that the whole organization is headed right towards the walls of the funnel. All investments, in particular the large ones that lock down capital and capacity for a long time, should be scrutinized from a principled sustainability perspective.

Are There Physical Constraints For An Attractive Sustainable World?

Of course there are physical limits, boundaries to the system - that is the whole point. But from the sustainability perspective (i.e. when planning by backcasting) there are no constraints as regards renewable natural resources or energy, techniique, economy, or successful brands and other kinds of financial business aspects. But there is a possible constraint: "WE WILL GET ENOUGH COMPETENT LEADERS IN TIME?

TONY R. MONTERAS (malaking ibon)
Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
15 April 2009 / 10 Rabi'II 1430 H

Marinduque Tourism

2009-04-04T22:43:00.000-07:00

The Official Tourism Website of Marinduque is now online

Check it out here:

Marinduque Tourism

MORIONES FESTIVAL 2009

2009-03-26T01:53:00.000-07:00

Photo from Lakbay Pilipinas
Moriones

The Moriones is an annual festival held on Holy Week on the island of Marinduque, Philippines. The "Moriones" are men and women in costumes and masks replicating the garb of biblical Roman soldiers as interpreted by local folks. The Moriones or Moryonan tradition has inspired the creation of other festivals in the Philippines where cultural practices or folk history is turned into street festivals

The Moriones is an annual festival held on Holy Week on the island of Marinduque, Philippines. The "Moriones" are men and women in costumes and masks replicating the garb of biblical Roman soldiers as interpreted by local folks. The Moriones or Moryonan tradition has inspired the creation of other festivals in the Philippines where cultural practices or folk history is turned into street festivals.

Background

The term "Moriones" was concocted by the media in the 60s, but local inhabitants have kept the original term, "Moryonan". Many practitioners are farmers and fishermen who engage in this age-old tradition as a vow of penance or thanksgiving. Legend has it that Longinus pierced the side of the crucified Christ. The blood that spurted forth touched his blind eye and fully restored his sight. This miracle converted Longinus to Christianity and earned the ire of his fellow centurions. The re-enactment reaches its climax when Longinus is caught and beheaded.

History

The name Moriones is derived from the Spanish word 'Morion' meaning mask or helmet. The Spanish conquistadores were wearing Moriones. The origin of the festival is traced to Mogpog and the year 1807 when the parish priest of said town, Fr. Dionisio Santiago, organized it for the first time.

For Detailed Schedule of activities: click this link Moriones09

"THE TIME HAS COME, A VISION TO PONDER"

2009-03-26T01:14:00.000-07:00

Everyone has that earnest aspiration to succeed. One's ability to establish and accomplish goals will mold one's happiness and success over and above any skill one can ever realize. You cannot hit the target when you cannot see it.

The foundation and point of origin of success is that when one decides exactly what he/she really and truly wants, in all aspects of his/her life.

If every individual has that yearning for winning and if success is accessible to everybody, why then, only a few succeed? This is because only a few believe in their potentials and most of all, only a few started by defining and acknowledging a goal and truly believe in their spirit and minds that they can achieve such goal.

Just wishing for something is so much different from being able and prepared to accept it. Nobody is ever prepared to accept anything until they truly believe that they can obtain it.

The mind must first in the state of believing and not just for hoping or wishing for something. An open mind is very important in believing and a closed mind never inspires courage, faith or the power to believe.

Almost everyone has gone through difficult life encounters and experiences. These experiences and encounters usually define one's existence, becoming important educators in life's course. However, the enemy which is that negative force within often would recognize these difficult experiences as symbols of ourselves and that we are not "good enough" in order to succeed. Simply put, this is fear from within.

Fear, according to experts is normal and a natural line of attack focused to life's adjustments and changes. Fear is what prevents one from doing "crazy or stupid things"; but it may be carried to a great extent. When one fears nothing, one can be considered as "mad" and "foolish" but then again, fear of almost everything, specially fear to take risks once can be considered as plain coward.

The enemy inside of you will tell you that your fear is reasonable when it is transitory.

As the mind dictates your fear, it also dictates your thoughts and your actions.

When you believe in your mind that relationships are complicated and demand so much effort, you will indeed attract those individuals who will cause difficulty in the realtionship or demand a lot of efforts from you. More significantly, when you worry regarding something that you essentially believe in negative outcomes, then so the result to your actions will be.

Of course, it does not occur every time that you think and believe negatively, because although there is worry and apprehension inside you, there is still, in that little corner of your heart, of your mind, that you hope for a positive result, so then, that power prevents disaster from happening. Yet worrying through and through, without a small spark of hope, then beware, disaster is sure to come!

However, there is so much more to faith and believing than simply creating beliefs. Possessing "positive beliefs" in the mind is the initial step towards making a positive outcome, resulting to a succesful life.

Believing, take note is something entirely different. For instance, you have "positive beliefs" with regards to money; at the same time, you believe that many ways are offered in order to acquire money. Yet, if, for any reason you do not believe you will be able to make money, then you will not make that certain amount or sum of money that you want.

Pointers to getting through the fear and developing how you believe are as follows:

* Your belief should be superior, exceeding fear. It will entail a lot of effort, but as much as you can, try to closely observe and listen inside of you, look around and see what is functioning well in your personal or business life and what is not. Small or great, profess your successes. Believe that you can reach great things and as early as now, begin counting your blessings.

* Only believe in you, in the things that you can do and not in the circumstances. You have to believe in only yourself because there will be times when you will be tempted to put your belief into something else such as a job, a friend or a particular opportunity. Although this could be nice, note that people and circumstances are changeable. Your success should be created by only you, and you alone can decide whether to change it or not.

* Keep in mind that success will take sometime and if ever you do fail, take it as an opportunity to learn and reassess your beliefs and your goals.

The powers of believing are very strong and affect our decisions, feelings and actions. And although you have been depending on a specific set of supposition regarding your life for so many years, those particular beliefs can be adjusted or changed. Start changing it now!

Determination and beliefs are the starting points for success. They open us to new opportunities to do and be anything we desire, and we only need a subconscious thought to plant a seed.

TONY R. MONTERAS (malaking ibon)
Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
23 March 2009 / 26 Rabi'I 1430 H

"IMPORTANCE OF KNOWING YOURSELF"

2009-03-26T01:11:00.000-07:00

Any success is attributed to the importance of knowing yourself as it totally depends on it.

Know in your mind and heart what are you capable of accomplishing. When uncertain, then you loose the game right there and then. You cannot accomplish anything when you first do not believe you can.

Keep in mind that every act begins with either a positive or negative thought, whereby positive thoughts gains positive results. Be very certain on what you want to do, to achieve and to become and concentrate on those those each day.

Be enthusiastic in every thing that you wish, small or big and remember that little things when put together become one big thing.

Act on your goals. Take the necessary steps towards achieving it and begin right away. Each day, set up a plan of action and then work on it. At the end of the day, review what you have done and record the same. Then return to your journal each week to see how well you are progressing, or if there are certain acts that needs revising or if you need to take another route.

Look at your goals each day and get inspiration from it. Never allow negative thoughts to invade your mind. even when you see that you are not progressing, continue and be patient. Never let it discourage you. Remember, as they often say "when there is a will, there's always a way". So, stand firm and continue your struggle. Remember that each one encounters problems along the way. Successful individuals however, kept on going when others have quit.

Enhance your knowledge by indulging in inspirational and positive reading materials, talk to successful people and never stop learning. Keep on focusing on success, on your goals. Minimize spending time with people of negative outlook in life as they will often drain and bring you down.

Success is built on the inspiration of all your little dreams and decisions that you have made for a certain inspiration's strength and ready to soar. Take some actions now or else, nothing will happen and they will just remain to be a dream.

Basically, knowing ourselves is one of the most important and probably most challenging tasks we have to undertake. When we truly know who we are and clearly understand what we want, then we have a better option of discovering how to reach our own success, personal fulfilment and happiness.

Knowing your true and innerself will be of great help in working to reach your goals more effectively. It will guide you through the path to success. It will transport you to such calmness so as to improve your attitude as well as your relationships and connections with others.

Some people devote their time helping individuals see and understand things within their innerself which they have long been suppressing their ownselves. This is natural as people are skilled at such hiding games. Often, when one does not wish to cope with a cetain circumstance or situation, one denies that it had transpired, or translates it so to fit a different perception of the world.

Meaning, knowing yourself consequently, empowers and enables you to create different choices.

Success easily come to those with pleasing personalities. However, this does not necessarily mean that you need to do what everyone wishes; rather, acquire a positive attitude of being respectful to the opinion of others at the same time remaining true to one's own beliefs.

Don't expect to suddenly go on certain course and immediately become aware and know yourself. This is a voyage where one can board and allow it to transform your life, for the better. The success of such a journey depends deeply on how bravely you face yourself. On the way, you might discover certain things that you do not like and possibly opt to hide or deny it. Be strong and accept those negative things because it is only by accepting your faults can you truly change for the better.

Be open to accept and listen to the opinion of others, eager and willing to learn. Changing your judgment and views on account of more realiable facts is not a sign of weakness rather of strength in your character. Always be inclined to offer help, be caring and polite but do not forget to keep your own personality.

The basic principle of knowing yourself is that every individual is responsible, in control and generate their own life encounter. This is very much complex that may severely obstructed when one in unconscious of how one functions, or if one has a misunderstanding of Thyself.

Rationalizations are used by many to give justifiable explanation for their actions. One can pretend that the problem is to be blamed on the other person. This is known as projection.

You therefore need to discover and improve your true person and now what others perceive you to be, and also not who you believe you must be, but the person that you truly are. How you manage your life, guide others, take charge, perform and behave in relationships really depends on how effectively you use your strengths and identify your weaknesses that you will discover when you truly know your "self".

Understand how you could guard yourself against responses triggered by emotions. You are vulnerable to miscalculation of judgment should you permit your emotions to interfere. Indeed, everything that one does is based on one's emotions, but angry or careless emotions does not have a place when it comes to decision-making. Take control of your emotions and delay conclusions, decisions and choices when in a very emotional state.

Develop enthusiasm in youself. Enthusiasm draws good relationships and success. It is that positive
outlook that radiates on you that individuals like dealing with. Your positive and enthusiastic outlook will contaminate and encourage those around you to also be enthusiastic and positive, therefore become cooperative.

As well, be ready to face unreasonable and negative people and never let them destroy you. Stay reasonable and calm.

"KNOWING YOURSELF" will enable you to develop your full potential and be happy, contented and fulfilled. Whether one's idea and understanding of success speaks about fulfillment in business, friendship, love, sports, a blend of all of these or another thing altogether, "KNOWING YOURSELF" and working on to change for the better will enable you to achieve your goals. Then, when you reach your goals, indeed you will turn out to be a much happier person, and that is success in its truest sense!

TONY R. MONTERAS (malaking ibon)
Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
22 March 2009 / 25 Rabi'I 1430 H

"BUILDING MARINDUQUE'S TOMORROW, TODAY"

2009-03-10T06:44:00.000-07:00

Life is so simple as it can be compared to nature. Awesome, full of inspirations at higit sa lahat, sagana sa likas na biyayang handog ng Lumikha para sa ating lahat.

Kung atin lang lilimiing mabuti lalo na sa ating pag-iisa at kapiling natin ang alinmang kalikasan tulad ng dalampasigan, kabukiran, kabundukan, ilog, lawa, kagubatan at ang kagandahan ng kalangitan sa gabing tahimik (na ang pumupukaw sa ating kamalayan ay ang kislap ng nagniningning na mga bituin at mabilis na pagguhit sa kalawakan ng mga shooting stars) I guess you will agree with me, that if we really want peace of mind - ito'y ating tuwirang makakamtan kung mapapagtuunan lang natin nang pansin ang alinmang uri ng kalikasang nabanggit.

Kung baga, ang ating buhay ay payak, matahimik at puno nang pag-asa kaya lang, hindi natin maiiwasan ang anumang tawag ng problemang pang-pinansiyal, pangkalusugan at iba pang mai-aagapay natin dito.

Kadalasan, karamihan sa ating mga nilikha ang mismong pinagmumulan ng mga simpleng suliranin na dulot ng kasakiman, panglalamang sa kapwa o ugaling makasarili, na kapag hindi nabigyang kalutasan ay humahantong sa higit pang malaking suliranin na nagsisilbing salot na lumulukob sa ating pagkatao.

Saan mang dako ng mundo, totoong hindi maiiwasan ang kahirahang dulot ng pagdarahop at kawalan nang sapat na suporta sa mga mamamayan buhat sa pamahalaang kinauukulan.

Ang ating bansa ay hindi naipupuwera sa usaping ito kaya, tayong mga maliliit na mamamayan ay totoo at patuloy na nasasadlak sa higit pang kahirapan nang buhay.

Somehow, it doesn't mean that it is already the end of our road. Kung tutuusin, ang landas na ating maaaring tahakin ay nasa kabila lang ng mga balakid na ating nadadaanan o nasasalunga sa patuloy nating paglalakabay sa dako pa roon ng buhay.

We are much concerned sa ating probinsiyang kay-ganda bagamat ito'y naituturing na isang isla.
Marinduque is like a pearl in our achipelago composed of more than 7,100 islands and we, Marinduqueños are very keen in protecting and/or safeguarding its welfare.

And this is the ultimate reason why we ought to discuss this subject matter in this part of the Forum. What do we think are the best things we could do and cooperate in support of "BUILDING MARINDUQUE'S TOMORROW, TODAY"?

Kung meron man kayong mga mabubuting topics na inaakala ninyong makakapag-contribute para sa higit pang ikabubuti at ikauunlad ng ating mahal na probinsiya, I think this is the right & appropriate time upang ito'y ating mapag-usapan sa pamamagitan ng Forum na ito.

We welcome your good ideas and -please lang- huwag nating haluan ng hindi karapat-dapat o hindi angkop na lengguwahe, intuition o kaisipan ang mabubuting hangarin ng iba nating mga concerned na kababayan (Marinduqueños) na makatulong sa pagpapaunlad ng ating mga kanayunan, mga pamayanan at probinsiya in particular.

Let's be all responsible people in dealing on how we could help, contribute for the benefits of our people and welfare of our province as a whole.

Let's join hands and establish further camaraderie and cooperation alang-alang sa ating mahal na probinsiya at huwag nating sayangin ang ating mahalagang panahon at pagkakataon sa pamamagitan ng pag-iwas sa mga walang kabuluhang topics na maaaring maka-sagabal sa tunay na hangarin sa pagtatatag ng Forum na ito.

We, Marinduqueños are considered very responsible and respectable people. As such, we should set ourselves as good examples or models for others to follow. This Forum aims for achieving prosperity and good life for all Marinduquenos. Let's come forward and share our good views and ideas for the upliftment of our values and objectives in life.

TONY R. MONTERAS (malaking ibon)
Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
08 March 2009 / 11 Rabi'I 1430 H

"A VISION FOR MARINDUQUE'S FUTURE"

2009-03-10T06:41:00.000-07:00

Marinduque Forum is the site wherein we share our common agenda with regards to the welfare of Marinduqueños in particular and Marinduque province in general.

We are committed to the community (barangay) development process through the implementation of set of barangay development principles and recognition of community development council plans and strategies.

Our vision and objectives are focused on "a place where people can enjoy a secure and quality lifestyle, cultural and economic opportunities and being a part of a vibrant, interactive and diverse community" which is the main highlight to the community development process.

In addition, we are on the early stages of establishing a core of concerned individuals (Marinduqueños) who could collaborate to ensure that future community development processes are recognized and implemented into appropriate plans, projects and programs. A team that shall oversee the access and equity, community activities, multi-cultural and indigenous issues, support for committees, community groups and volunteers.

Basically, community development is more than the bricks and mortars or physical infrastructure of a community or barangay. Emphasis should also be placed upon identifying and blending the values, needs and aspirations of residents, community members, barangay council, business and other appropriate stakeholders for the benefit of those involved.

Henceforth, community or barangay is a place where the residents are connected in a self-defined way by a common interest and/or a geographic location and/or identity. This acknowledges that the wider community (pamayanan or township) comprises many and varied communities.

Community development as a whole is a process for enhancing the social well-being of all residents in the barangay/s now and in the future.

Whilst, the aim of the barangay or community development principles is to provide a framework for its council and staff, to use in its everyday practices to ensure individual residents, communities and networks are connected with one another by the following:

* Providing opportunities for residents to meaningfully participate in decision-making processes that
affect the community.

* Supporting individuals and communities through the provision of resources and fostering of
partnerships between individuals and within communities.

* Assisting with the development of strong and resillient communities that have the ability to
identify and meet the communities' needs, achieve self-reliance, contribute to solutions and
support their own advocacy efforts.

The principles are intended that the following factors will be reflected in the practices of the barangay council and its staff:

Inclusiveness: To provide the wider community with opportunities to meaningfully participate in information gathering, planning, direction setting and decision making regarding outcomes that affect the communities development. An ultimate goal is that communities would drive this process.

Collaboration: To establish and foster partnerships that aim to achieve positive outcomes for all residents. Council aims to assist communities in finding solutions to issues that are important to the lives of individuals, families and communities. This includes developing networks between people, encouraging different communities to work together and building relationships with and between those different communities.

Capacity Building: To support and strengthen individuals, families and communities to identify needs and develop solutions at a local level. This may involve advocacy, empowerment, education, awareness raising and distribution of resources to individuals and communities.

Equity: To ensure that opportunities and resources available to the community are distributed in a just and equitable manner according to community needs. In addition, all communities should have the right to access all council services and resources without discrimination. This includes ensuring the marginal groups in the community have an equal say.

Rssponsiveness: To ensure the evolving nature and constancy of change within the community are responded to efficiently and effectively in line with community development methodologies and practices. This will enable the demands of the community to be met in a relevant and timely manner.

TONY R. MONTERAS (malaking ibon)
Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
08 March 2009 / 11 Rabi'1 1430H

How about moving the Festival into a new level???

2009-03-04T00:10:00.000-08:00

are there any PLANS to change/add the moriones festival...
i think, we should move the tradition to the next level...
how about street dance of morion...
hindi masama manggaya ng iba...
pero original pa rin naman kapag morion ang gamit diba...
or a battle (not real, syempre./just a play)

in order to attract tourist...
if marinduque gain more tourist, income for all marindukenyos would be great...
dadami pasahero ng mga jeep...
dadami bibili ng souvenir item...
dadami gagawa ng souvenir item...
it will minimize tambay, it minimize unemployment...
dadami business...
dadami tax...

it's all about evolving the moriones into the next level...
into more exciting...

so everybody will be happy...
from tambay into government...

agree,... what do you think...
the youth must act... now...

better be LATE than never,...

aba ginagaya na tayo ng mindoro ah,
tapos yun pang centurion sa quezon, ginagaya rin yung mask...

we should act now...lets join hand in hand to improve marinduque...
to improve the lives of marindukenyo...

wizardchris23

"ENVISIONING RURAL DEVELOPMENT"

2009-03-04T00:05:00.000-08:00

From time immemorial, we - Marinduqueños (Filipinos) have been craving or envisioning for various developments either in our rural or urban areas.

Time and again and again and again, our vision is having a very slow pace which can be attributed to some major factors namely: political, social, religious (etc) in nature, that in a way or the other hinder or obstruct the noble objectives towards achieving such development/s.

The fact of the matter is that our country's economy seems just fair, but not so well in other aspects and the future growth can be affected by numerous factors other than those afore-mentioned such as the increasing population that needs to be supplied with food and other food products and an expanding non-agricultural economy.

Subsequently, with increasing incomes, our domestic market is becoming more sophisticated and price and quality conscious. However, how much of this demand can be successfully captured by local suppliers is a key challenge and the economy grows little as a reverberating effect of the present devastating global economic downturn.

It's true that our economy has only been able to capture a small and declining share in the market, and the natural advantages we have together is the literacy and technical entrepreneurial skills - that have been partially harnessed in pushing the economic growth, although little in agriculture as induced by the peace and order situation that greatly favours investment and output.

Our agricultural sector's output that includes animal production and manufacture of value-added-meat products, will continue to play a strategic role in the economy and rural growth should it not be fully affected by the slow rate of output due to the impact of the present global economic crisis.

Although, our country's economy has grown some percent in the previous years, this as well can be considered as an encouraging trend which has been partly attributed to our positive outlook on structural reforms that integrates the significant sectors of our economy. It also enhances competition in the private sector and began transforming its production base from reliance on commodities to value-added goods such as various food products and prime commodities.

Amidst some vital concerns, our government (local or national) should support investments in agriculture. And in supporting a more conducive investment climate in agriculture, the priorities or fields identified are as follows:

1) To increase the stock of rural agriculture;
2) To enhance productivity and production;
3) To expedite any completion of agrarian or land reform; and
4) To implement governance reforms to reducing agricultural policies, prices and market distortions.

And the above-mentioned can be achieved by the following measures:

1) To improve rural infra-structure;
2) To improve land and labor productivity;
3) TO IMPROVE AGRI-BUSINESS; and
4) To encourage land reform by removing distortions and uncertainties in asset valuation, property
rights and efficient land markets.

Of course, when it comes to rural development, the support to environmental and natural resources management should be as well be made a top priority.

An inadequate regard for the implementation of a sound environment and natural resource measures and for safeguarding the economy from excessive environmental costs surely erodes resource inventories and can seriously compromise a short-term economic growth by larger, longer term-costs.

Meaning, the environmental and natural resources management should aim to:

1) Establish a sound and efficient institutional basis for the environment management
based on watershed and ecosystem approach to improve delivery of service, rationalize
expenditures and priority functions;
2) To effectively devolve local responsibility; and
3) To streamline the policy and framework of the agency involved to improve further efficiency.

It is also vital to give support to the public sector management for growth through the availability of public resource to finance public expenditures in the medium term that are affected by critical contraints including: weak fiscal climate; poor efficiency and poor linkages among public sector policy, planning and budgeting.

To address these issues, thrusts for expenditures rationalization should include: rationailizing expenditures in scope and function; prioritizing expenditures in high-impact areas; reversing the decline in public investment; prioritizing capital expenditures in infra-structure and agribusiness; rationalizing government spending for devolved services; strengthening planning and budgeting in rural development and; implementing critical governance to reduce policy and price distortions.

Finally, basic rural sustainable development in Marinduque can be achieved by generating enough equity growth in all aspects particularly in agribusiness and food processing sectors of our provincial economy.

The issue of alleviating poverty while enhancing economic growth by improving land tenure and fostering developments in agri-business sector of our province will finally be minimized if not totally overcome.

TONY R. MONTERAS (malaking ibon)
Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
03 March 2009 / 06 Rabi'I 1430 H

Zestair Promo

2009-03-03T03:39:00.000-08:00

Mga kabayan may promo po ang Zestair papunta at pabalik sa Marinduque. Para sa karagdagang impormasyon. Bisitahin ang kanilang website.ZestAir

"GOING BACK TO MARINDUQUE"

2009-03-01T19:14:00.000-08:00

Every Marinduqueño, most especially those who are away from home for quite sometime now (either residing in Metro Manila, working, studying, etc., and most of all, those who are in far away countries (OFWs & Expatriates) always keep their hopes alive to come home if they have the chance and whatever it takes.

Simply, it means that going home to our province has a sort of mixed reactions: 1) to feel and see the beauty of our beloved province and be with our family members, friends and kababayans whom we've missed a lot and; 2) to witness again the hard life that Marinduquenos are facing ever since, though they keep on trying to improve their situation.

The increasing number our poverty-stricken kababayans (with hidden emotion of hunger and hard life) make us realized how the situation has worsened and perhaps this is the most familiar scene as well especially the in urban (Metro Manila) areas.

Although, there are some indicators that our country posted a strong economic growth, the number of poor Filipinos continues to rise because the income increase failed to sustain the basic commodities' unstoppable or continues soaring prices.

Somehow, those benefiting from the economic growth (na matatawag) are those already way above the poverty line. How about those living below the poverty line?

This situation needs further attention and our government should focus on this matter more seriously.

And with the present economic scenario (global economic crisis), the gap between the rich and the poor continues to escalate as the rich becomes richer and the poor becomes poorer.

On the other hand, our province has the ability to improve the economic status of every Marinduqueno (citizen and/or family) since Marinduque is rich both in agricultural and marine resources. More projects should be focused in the rural development instead of concentrating on some less-productive projects.

Another thing, corruption as we Filipinos know, existed from the time we were conceived and born so, it's a twin scenario with politics which play as well a very important role that affect the effectiveness of the public service all throughout the country.

Hindi magandang mag-pin-point na lang tayo kung kani-kanino, all what we can do is to look at the projects the politicians of our province have accomplished and are continuing to accomplish. Kung walang mga magagandang proyekto para sa higit na kapakinabangan ng ating mga mamamayan at kapakanan ng ating probinsiya sa kabuuhan - this is perhaps the best time for us to wake-up and look at the bright side of life.

There is always a second chance for everything. However, we must be very careful not to commit the same mistakes that we have had before. Kung sinu-sino ang walang nagawa para sa bayan, it would be easy for us to determine our next move. Thus, giving them the chance to be posted again would only mean more hardships and more impoverished Marinduqueño, saan mang dako ng ating probinsiya.

Basically, Marinduqueños are very loving, caring, respectful and grateful individuals. Once na mabigyan tayo ng anumang pagpapahalaga, iyon ay tinatanaw nating isang napakalaking utang na loob. How much more kung tayo'y higit pang matutulungan sa pagpapaunlad ng ating kabuhayan diba? Kaya, kung ganito ang mangyayari, may masasabi pa ba tayo against these kinds of politicians? We have to stand firm upang sila'y ating tangkilikin at suportahan diba?

Time and again, I have been so critic with our past and present public officials.

Somehow, when I had the chance to come home more than a couple of years ago for a short vacation (from working abroad), I was invited by our Ex-Governor, Carmencita O. Reyes (now our Incumbent Congresswoman) to come with the Delegation of Gawad Kalinga Officials to the inauguration of its Housing Project in one of the barangays in the town of Gasan.

From there, we proceeded and visited some other project sites in Buenavista and Torrijos towns. While on our way riding in a bus, I was amazed seeing the smooth-driving national road touring our entire province. No more lubak-lubak (deep bumps) as in many years back and my attention was promtply called by our then Governor saying "Tony, what can you say on our cemented roads?". It was only then that my criticism with regards to our public highway was laid to rest.

On the other side of development that perhaps only few people have known and I hope that this may serve as my reminder to the majority of our kababayans that - Marinduque has a lot of scholars, both secondary and collegiate levels, many thousands of them. And those who have finished their chosen college courses already are now employed both locally and abroad with higher salaries.

I wish to inform you (though I'm out in the country) that these many thousands of scholarships granted to our poor but most-deserving students are only but one of the various vital projects or programs both our Ex-Congressman Edmund O. Reyes and our Ex-Governor, now Incumbent Congresswoman Carmencita O. Reyes are actively and continually sponsoring.

Our youth's next generation of course are looking forward to benefit for this very especial grant (scholarships
sponsorship) so they could as well help in the future development of our beloved province. In this juncture, it is but proper that this program should continue and those who sponsors it be given another chance once and for all in our public office for and in behalf of our deserving secondary and college students to further pursue their studies and fulfil their dreams to helping our province achieve further future development.

Said scholarship grant is just a piece of good things in the basket full of delightful things. One by one, we will see to it that every aspiration of our people will count particularly in the aspect of the pursuit of our economic development. Our youth, together with our senior citizens if they will be properly mobilized, motivated with various innovations can be the source of most-improved economy of our province.

In this regard, I've planned a lot of livelihood projects that in one way or the other will be very beneficial both for our people and the unliftment of economic situation of Marinduque once promulgated or established. And with the unselfish support of both our province's top-ranked politicians (Ex- Congressman Edmund O. Reyes and Incumbent Congresswoman Carmencita O. Reyes) it won't be impossible or remote that our livelihood projects as well as the sponsored thousands of scholarships will reach the hands every citizen or beneficiaries that deserve to benefit from it.

As I continue, on our way (round trip of Marinduque), I really felt the calmness of my emotion as I saw many of our kababayans doing their old chores. It's so simple yet astonishing to note that as if they were not affected by the harsh realities of life. Presently, our political world is getting awake, gaining momentum as days go by.

Ang isa kasing factor na pinaka-importante sa ating probinsiya ay iyong may mapapagkunan tayo ng makakain sa araw-araw. Tahimik ang ating kalooban at kapaligiran at walang agam-agam o pangamba with regards to our security, peace and order situation. Then, who could say na hindi sila relaxed sa kanilang sarili?

So, ano na lang ang kulang sa atin?

Ang sana ay matulungan tayo ng ating Panlalawigang Leadership o Pamunuan upang mapasigla at mapaunlad ang ating source ng kabuhayan. This is the main point why I don't feel tired writing in this Forum para maibahagi ko sa lahat: mga ordinaryong mamanayan, mga provincial technocrats and concerned citizens, lalong lalo na sa ating provincial politicians na sana naman ay mabigyan nila tayo ng suporta in various sorts upang ang sinumang may hangaring makatulong sa pagpapaunlad ng ating mga kanayunan, pamayanan at probinsiya ay hindi mahirapang ipagpatuloy ang anumang adhikaing kanila nang nasimulan gayundin ang sisimulan pa lang - kaya lang nga eh, hindi sapat ang kanilang puhunan.

Priority din natin lalo na ang mga provincial entrepreneurs (how small or big they are) na sa abot ng aming makakaya ay makapag-establish kami ng mga simple but feasible livelihood projects. Iyong mga proyektong matatawag na "Kumikitang Kabuhayan".

Sa ganitong paraan: 01) makakapagbigay tayo ng trabaho sa ating mga mamamayan; 02) magkaroon sila ng karagdagang kita nang sa gayon, matutustusan nila ang pag-aaral ng kanilang mga anak; 03) mababawasan ang bilang ng mga naghihikahos nating mga kababayan, ibig sabihin, nai-a-angat ang kanilang estado sa buhay; 4) ang pagiging responsableng mamamayan ng ating lalawigan. The more effective and responsible citizens we have or we are, the more development will be enhanced that our people and province will benefit. Kapag masaya ang ating mga mamamayan, maiiwasan ang anumang sigalot o away na naidudulot ng mga taong-walang mapagka-abalahang gawin (tambay).

With the above, we are very hopeful na may pagkakataon pa upang mabago ang antas ng ating mahal na probinsiya, as there are still a lot of chances left to improve the economic status of our poor families as well.

Subsequently, despite the political chaos in our society, still we can survive such an ordeal. Habang may buhay, may-pag-asa and when we plan to "GO BACK TO MARINDUQUE", we always feel the best for the simple reason that, it is the place where we come from and the beloved place we are used to be!

TONY R. MONTERAS (malaking ibon)
26 February 2009 / 01 Rabi'1 1430H

"MARINDUQUE AT A GLANCE"

2009-02-24T05:53:00.000-08:00

Bilang mamamayan ng ating mahal na probinsiya, whenever we hear people talking about our province kung baga, nasasabi nating -- uyy, Marinduque ang kanilang pinag-uusapan kaya naman very attentive tayo para kahit pahapyaw ay madinig natin kung ano ang paksa sa nasabing usapan.

Of course, we Marinduqueños expect always the best tungkol sa ating probinsiya. Somehow, hindi rin naman natin maiiwasang makarinig ng anumang negative comments whatsoever diba? Ang mahalaga eh nakakabalita tayo nang tungkol sa Marinduque, good or bad with regards to our social, political, economic, religious and other relevant issues.

At sa panahong nalalapit na naman ang Semana Santa (Holy Week) those who have had experienced the festivity in our province in the past and were satisfied, are sure to be sharing, convincing and selling our unique tradition to others who might as well be interested to visit our beautiful island.

In this regard, I would like to mention three especial people and one organization whom I knew are doing their best to promote our province in the best way they can.

First and foremost, to Mr. Nilo Monteagudo, Webmaster of the Official Website of Marinduque (with the eco-tourism site) under the Management of The Provincial Capitol wherein Marinduque Forum is linked; to Mr. Christopher (Ian) Magdurulang, OFW from Qatar, the think-tank of the "MarinduqueMandin.blogspot.com"; to Mr. Romeo (Jhay-R) A. Mataac, Jr., President of the Samahan ng Kabataang Marinduqueño (SAKAMAR)and its Officials, "Admin, Kisuke, Kalamay" and other very supportive and active members.

And last but not least, with the ongoing publication of MIMAROPA SUNRISE Newspaper Weekly of Mr. Noel Magturo, Publishing Editor, expect more descriptive features to be focused on our province.

Indeed, these people are in one way or the other doing their utmost to advertise the beauty of our island, with the scenic spots or attractions that people who have not seen its nature yet should come and enjoy their festive stay.

On the other hand, Marinduque Forum as well, serve as an orientation venue for those who are having access to the site. Topics on simple ways of living with the vision of establishing and achieving sustainable developments in the province, helps encourage our citizens to fighting and alleviating their sufferings from the bondage of poverty are being discussed and well-emphasized by yours truly.

Kung baga, tayong mga concerned citizens (and I know they are a lot more) are doing all what we can voluntarily, to help ulpift the image of our beautiful island-province. At bilang mga mamamayan ng ating probinsiya, hindi tayo dapat na magsawalang-kibo na lang sa isang tabi. We must be proud of our unique customs and traditions na maipagmamalaki natin sa buong mundo, the main reasons why Marinduque is famous worldwide in its "MORIONES (Holy Week) FESTIVAL".

Are you not enjoying to hear from other people talking about our province, our culture and our people? Nakakaluwag nang pakiramdam diba? How much more na kaming malalayo sa ating probinsiya na totoo namang "sobrang naho-homesick" whenever such especial occasion or festivities come around, tulad ng Mahal na Araw, Pasko, Bagong Taon, Fiesta at iba pa.

Somehow, talagang ganyan lang ang buhay, may kanya-kanya tayong destiny - pero kung ating paka-iisiping mabuti, we are working individually for a common cause, at ito'y para sa ating pamilya gayundin, para tayo makatulong sa pagsulong ng ating mahal na probinsiya.

Wherever we are, we should not forget to think "MARINDUQUE AT A GLANCE". In some ways, it will make us more inspired and do all what we can as Marinduquenos.

MABUHAY ANG MARINDUQUE! MABUHAY TAYONG MARINDUQUEÑOS!

TONY R. MONTERAS (malaking ibon)
Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
24 February 2009 / 29 Safar 1430 H

Bellarocca Island Resort and Spa

2009-02-19T20:51:00.000-08:00

"An integrated resort, Bellarocca Island Resort and Spa is set to open at the (early 2009). This new development is an intimate island resort destination, occupying one of the smaller islands of Marinduque, a heart-shaped island between Tayabas Bay in the north and Sibuyan Sea to the south. This exclusive island is surrounded by clear azure waters, and overlooks the main island of Marinduque. The picturesque background is the dramatic mountain range of the majestic Mt. Malindig."

"Bellarocca Island Resort and Spa is distinct from the other upscale, luxury resorts of its category anywhere in the Philippines. All 20 hectares of Bellarocca Island Resort and Spa is mountainous terrain, with its highest point at 114 meters above sea-level. To many seasoned travelers, the images of the picturesque island of Santorini in Greece will come into mind upon reaching the resort. Common to both are its rolling terrain and immaculate white buildings perched atop its cliffs: white structures that reflect the sun and contrast with the azure blue seas below. Bellarocca Island Resort and Spa is located on a small island-mountain off the south western coast of Marinduque and offers 69 luxurious de luxe suites, casas, terrazas and private villas (with individual jaccuzis and infinity pools).

Guests enjoy utmost privacy while enjoying the resort's complete aqua sports facilities, a full spa and wellness facility, 9-hole golf course and other land-based recreational activities. Guests arrive at the island direct via private helicopters, chartered flights from Manila to Marinduque or, onboard exclusive luxury yachts."

GETTING THERE: Via Land-Sea Travel or Air Travel

Bellaroacca Island Resortfor previewing

MABUHAY MARINDUQUE!!!

2009-02-16T20:43:00.000-08:00

Visit Marinduque and Experience exciting escapades...

"ANYTIME, ANYPLACE, ANYWHERE"

2009-02-16T20:35:00.000-08:00

Filipinos (Marinduquenos particularly) who are based or presently working in other countries (expatriates, residents, OFWs) feel like our lovely kababayan (Ms. Mherz) does. We crave for developmental news regarding our province.

Somehow, should I not write regularly at Marinduque Forum, it would be the same story as before. At least, whenever you browse at the site, you'll find something that perhaps point or has relevance on the first subject matter posted in this forum, that is:

"How We could Help Marinduque Progresses?"

This is the focal or the center point of us Marinduquenos in which we could discuss honest opinions and share our common views on how we could (despite our enormous distance from home) help our province in the best way we can to achieve the anticipated progress.

I personally thank Ms. Mherz very much for her view on the matter which serve as an eye opener or invitation for us all, who care for our beloved province.

Ms. Mherz, I would appreciate as well if you could share your interests in relating to our kababayans the best that could perhaps trigger their somewhat hibernating enthusiasm and ignite the subject into a sizzling-hot discussion for the benefit of all Marinduquenos, most especially those who are still hiding in their shells.

Honestly, there are a lot of sites wherein we can posts our articles. Somehow, I feel its an obligation of every Marinduqueno to share his or her best opinion towards the enhancement and/or establishment of a medium that could be remembered through generations.

If we will be able to help our province in the best way we can, not only by reading what have had been written, I think there would be a smoothly flow of ideas - how simple it maybe. Ideas that would turn into plans and plans into actions.

I enthusiastically hope that our beautiful kababayan, Ms. Mherz can do a lot regarding this matter and we will appreciate to hear anybody's "positive" response to her call, for us to have a healthy communication exchanges from there on.

First and foremost, we should not mix-up this matter with some malice intuitions (just a request).

What we are after here for is the development (economic, social, political, religious, etc) of our province and to upliftment of its present status (from a third class province).

We, the concerned citizens should do our utmost that's why, I'm extending my sincerest gratitude to the Webmaster & His Staff for creating this site: "Marinduque Forum" under the Official Website of Marinduque.

Like Ms. Mherz, I wish to read more inspiring subjects and let's start the ball rolling.

Ms. Mherz, we will be pleased to hear from your end. Share and let us know more about your activities there and by such, I guess some of our visitors (kababayans) will immediately reply to you. If they won't, let's just continue our simple way of contributing to this Forum whatever we can, provided it has a sense of value.

"ANYTIME, ANYPLACE, ANYWHERE" you are, we invite our kabayans to share what they think are contributory to our aimed sustainable development for Marinduque.

GOD BLESS US ALL and MABUHAY TAYONG LAHAT!

TONY R. MONTERAS (malaking ibon)
OFW, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
09 February 2009 / 14 Safar 1430 H

"HEAR THEM SAY"

2009-02-16T20:25:00.000-08:00

Nakaugalian ko nang makaraan na matapos ang aking pang-araw-araw (daily routines) na trabaho sa opisina and when I have some lull periods, nagre-research ako sa internet nang kung anu-anong bagay na may kapakinabangan o makakatulong sa aking mga planong livelihood projects para sa ating mga kababayan sa probinsiya.

Para kasi sa akin, time is so precious kaya hindi ito dapat na masayang sa walang kabuluhang bagay and searching the internet (whenever I have the chance) is the best way wherein I can make my self off from any kind of homesickness. Kapag kasi busy both ang ating mental and physical attributes sa mga valuable things, we feel inspired and somewhat contented when the day is done.

Nasa ganitong sitwasyon ako kahapon at tiyempong may nire-reseach akong ilang importanteng bagay na inaakala kong malaki ang maitutulong sa aking dalawang proyektong nai-established na sa amin sa Lupac (bunga ng aking maraming taong pagpapakahirap, pagtitiyaga at pagtitiis sa kahirapan ng buhay-disyerto - sabi ng iba, "Katas daw ng Saudi") nang ako'y mapadako sa isang website na nakamangha o nakabigla sa akin. This is really something in sense and a sort of inspiration para sa ating lahat, lalung-lalo na sa mga katulad naming OFW na patuloy pa ring nakikibaka sa napakaraming work-related pressures sa mga kompanya at bansang aming pinagtatrabahuhan.

(Note: Patricia (Pat) Sto. Tomas was formerly the Department of Labor and Employment Secretary (DOLE). Presently, she is a Columnist at ABS-CBN News Online (Beta) VIEWS AND ANALYSIS Section and she is from Socorro, Oriental Mindoro. The hereunder-mentioned article that featured my letter to her was dated May 02, 2008, 10:12AM.

No. 1. The website is the: "Business for OFW - Pinoy Brother"
dated 06 May 2008, by Xed, Category: World - it ran this way (as written):

I am very grateful that Ms. Pat Sto. Tomas allowed me to post in Pinoy Brother her very interesting article. I am sure a lot of OFWs need to read this one. I've read the article myself hoping to gain answers to my questions. Working outside our country leaving our loved ones behind is not very easy. In my case, I work for 6 months on board ship and spend 2 months off. This is not suppose to be the case if I could earn the same amount without leaving the country. When I read this article, it seems some of my questions got answers. So, to OFWs who dropped by here, try to read this one:

"Ang pagnenegosyo ay isang magandang oportunidad para sa ating naghahangad ng magandang buhay". By PAT A. STO. TOMAS

Mayroon tayong tatlong emails na natanggap tungkol naman sa kagustuhan ng ating mga OFWs na magpundar ng negosyo dito sa atin bilang paghahanda sa pagre-retiro o di kaya ay paglisan sa kanilang overseas job para mamalagi na rito at makapiling ang kani-kanilang mga mahal sa buhay.

Katulad nitong aking kababayan sa Marinduque na si Tony at kasalukuyang nagtatrabaho sa Saudi. Ayon kay Tony, siya ay may 30 taon nang nagtatrabaho sa Saudi at balak na niyang magretiro at bumalik dito sa Pilipinas. Bilang paghahanda, siya ay nagpundar ng isang backyard-hog-raising project katulong ang kanyang mga kapatid na dati ring OFWs. Nagpatayo rin sila ng isang meat processing facility upang ang mga baboy ay kanilang ma-process at maging tocino, tapa, longganisa at hotdogs.

Upang mapanatili ang supply ng baboy, hinikayat ni Tony ang kanyang kapwa OFWs at ilang pang interesado sa probinsiya na magpatayo ng kooperatiba ng mga hog-raisers. Subalit sila ay nahirapang imantine ang kanilang backyard-hog-raising dahil sa kamahalan ng commercial feeds. Kaya ninais nilang magtayo ng isang Feed Mill bilang suporta sa mga miyembro ng kooperatiba at nang sa gayon ay muling sisigla ang paghahayupan sa probinsiya. Si Tony ay humihingi ng payo kung papaano sila makakapagtatag ng isang maliit na Feed Mill.

Note: Hindi ko na isinulat ang dalawa pang natitirang emails na kasama ng aking email na inilathala ni dating DOLE Secretary Pat. Sto. Tomas. Instead, I will just mention here the development of my other communications with the Department of Agriculture in relevance to my request for financial assistance for the Expansion of our Back-yard Hog-Raising Project and Establishment of Small-Scale-Feed Mill Project in our province, Marinduque.

After my several communication exchanges with Ex-Sec. Pat Sto. Tomas, I followed-up my letter (emails) to President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, Vice President (Kabayan) Noli De Castro as well as to Secretary Arthur Yap of the Department of Agriculture, seeking both financial and technological assistance to my projects / requests.

It isn't really that easy to communicate with the Offices of these people (observing proper protocols and/or chain of commands) though there were movements, it's really not certain that such or any request/s from them are being given proper attention and action.

Somehow, after nearly 6 months, the last development was when my letter reached the Office of the Department of Agriculture, Regional Technical Director IV-B, Dra. Yvonne Vinas. Sometime in November last year, I got an email response from her personally that they will be visiting our place, Marinduque by first week of December (2008) and she will be accompanied by her Staff from The Regional Office.

The local or provincial DA Officials were informed as well of their scheduled visit. However, after weeks of waiting, said scheduled visit did not push through for some reasons and we were told that they will re-schedule their visit sometime in January 2009 (last month). It's already the month of February, despite of my brief follow-up email to Dra. Yvonne Vinas, I did not receive any response until now. What really happen, I don't know! Are they still interested in dropping by? I don't know either, the ball is in their court already and it's their decision to shoot it or not!

MY QUESTION TO YOU PEOPLE IS: Do you think they will fulfill their word/promise to visit us in Marinduque as SHE, THE REGIONAL TECHNICAL DIRECTOR OF DA REGION-IV-B promised? Or perhaps I'll just content myself with the old saying that: "PROMISES ARE MADE TO BE BROKEN!"

Sana naman, kahit papaano'y makarating ang mensaheng ito sa mga kinauukulan though, I'm not taking any chances at all. Just to close this matter, kung nais nila kaming tulungan, well and good. If not, I can just request from them not to let us wait in vain. They say it and the matter is closed! If they opt not to fulfil their promise, I'm not the loser here. I can face anybody squarely and discuss the matter when I come home.

ITO ANG DAHILAN KUNG BAKIT HINDI PA NATUTULOY ANG AKING PLANONG SMALL-SCALE-FEED MILL SA ATING PROBINSIYA NA NASISIGURO KONG MALAKI ANG MAITUTULONG SA ATING MGA MAHIHIRAP NA MAMAMAYAN SHOULD THIS PROJECT BE ESTABLISHED. Somehow, I have my Plan-B should I fail to settle this matter with the DA Regional Office IV-B and I will do everything in my capacity to give way to the establishment of this Small-Scale-Feed Mill in Marinduque.

I assure you people that there will be a continuation of this case, until it is well-settled for the benefit and welfare of our impoverished kababayans. I am slowly and patiently gathering information although I am so far away from home - with the IT in place, there's nothing impossible, if we are really determined to do something good and essential.

Kung pagbabalikan lang ninyo ang ganda ng mensahe ni dating DOLE Secretary Patricia Sto. Tomas mentioned earlier in this article - YOU CAN COMPARE TECHNICAL DIRECTOR DRA. YVONNE VINAS & DOLE EX-SECRETARY PATRICIA STO. TOMAS SA PAGBIBIGAY NILA NG INSPIRASYON. They are both respected Ladies of their own rights. Ako nga ang nahihiya sa aking sarili sapagkat, I AGAIN FAILED IN SEEKING ASSISTANCE FROM OUR NATIONAL GOVERNMENT though, Malacanang Action Center has endorsed to DA to give appropriate assistance to my request. I just hope the matter won't die, cease or pass-away in the hands or Office of the DA Regional Technical Director IV-B.

Sa kabilang banda, kung ang mga nakatayo o naipundar nang adhikain ay hindi nila mabigyan ng kaukulang tulong upang hindi bumagsak (sa ngayong may devastations ang Global Economic Crisis) COME TO THINK OF THE PROMISE OF THOSE IN MALACANANG - na may naghihintay na pundo para sa mga OFWs na mapapauwi (segun or kumporme sa sarili nilang patakaran).

DO YOU STILL BELIEVE IN OUR GOVERNMENT? BAKIT KARAMIHAN SA KANILANG MGA NAMUMUNO OR CIVIL SERVANTS AY GANOON? Wala na ba sila kahit man lang konting buti na natitira sa kanilang puso at isipan? What shall we call them, then! ALIENS? Aliens that simply alienate their own people who rose them to power? Papaano na kung ang kanilang inuupuan ay magiba, what will happen to them? (good for them anyway and not our business). So, we are anxiously awaiting the "14 May 2010, THE JUDGMENT DAY!" Amen! (Mahaba-haba ang Item No. 1 na aking naisulat ah)

Moreover, sa aking sariling opinyon, TILA AYAW NG IBANG TAONG GOBYERNO NA TAYO'Y MATULUNGAN KAYA, IPINAGPAPASA-DIYOS KO NA LANG SILA! I'm not sour-graping o sumasama ang aking loob - I'm just being fair at hindi naman natin sila mapipilit kung baga ayaw nilang tumulong. Darating din ang araw na sila ay babalikan ng kanilang mga ginawa. God is not sleeping and He Knows Best what's been happening, kung hindi alam ng mga mamumuno sa ating gobyerno ang bagay na ito - let them as well wait in vain when the time comes para naman maranasan din nila ang hirap maghintay ng tamang kasagutan. I just want to help our people dahil kahit ako'y malayo sa ating probinsiya, damang-dama ko kasi ang kanilang paghihirap at paghihikahos sapagkat kami ma'y ganoon din ang kalagayan sa buhay. Although we are doing our very best, ang aming pagsisikap at pagpapakahirap ay hindi pa rin sumasapat upang makaalalay nang husto sa aming dalawang proyektong naipundar. Kung kami'y magpapabaya, all of our sweats and perseverance will just go to waste, much more, my 3-decades of hardships living in the desert.

NO. 2. USAPANG KAPAMILYA: THE ABS-CBN FORUM "Why some people do something rather than just criticize and point fingers?" Mahabang masyado ang blog portion na ito which as well featured my email/letter published at the Views and Analysis Section of DOLE Ex-Secretary Patricia Sto. Tomas.

NO. 3. HOW CAN WE HELP MARINDUQUE PROGRESSES? This particular article which was one of the best-posted topics at Marinduque Forum was featured in another website aside from the website of our very own CHRISTOPHER (IAN) MAGDURULANG, OFW FROM QATAR ENTITLED:
"MARINDUQUE: BANGON BAYA, SULONG NGANI".

I personally invite all of you to visit this wonderful site of our friend, OFW Ian Magdurulang.

The entire discussion on the subject matter was featured and I am very happy as you are maybe, that we are getting other people's attention through our simple and honest deliberations on how we could help Marinduque achieve progress. This is really the best way on how we can tackle or discuss things that are in one way or the other with great sense, and very beneficial to the public. "HONESTY IS OUR BEST POLICY". People will judge who we are too in delivering our duties and responsibilities for Marinduquenos' common good.

May I as well take this best opportunity to inform all our readers and visitors of this site
"MARINDUQUE FORUM" that in due time (soon) some of my articles featured here from the beginning of my membership will be featured or published at MIMAROPA SUNRISE, Weekly Magazine by our own, Noel Magturo, Publishing Editor.

Thank you very much and I hope you'll continue patronizing our "Marinduque Forum" so as "Marinduque: Bangon Baya, Sulong Ngani" and our Youth Organization headed by very able Romeo (Jhay-R) A. Mataac, Jr., the "SAKAMAR.org website".

Best wishes and GOD BLESS You All!

TONY R. MONTERAS (malaking ibon)
OFW, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
05 February 2009 / 10 Safar 1430 H

OFW- Ang Katotohanan

2009-02-07T22:32:00.000-08:00

Hindi mayaman ang OFW - We have this notion na 'pag OFW o nasa abroad ay mayaman na. Hindi totoo yun. A regular OFW might earn from P50K-P300K per month depende sa lokasyon. Yung mga taga-Saudi or US siguro ay mas malaki ang sweldo, but to say that they're rich is a fallacy (amen!).

Malaki ang pangangailangan kaya karamihan ay nag-a-abroad. Maraming bunganga ang kailangang pakainin kaya umaalis ang mga pipol sa Philippines . Madalas, 3/4 o kalahati ng sweldo ay napupunta sa tuition ng anak at gastusin ng pamilya.

Mahirap maging OFW – Kailangan magtipid hangga't kaya. Oo, masarap ang pagkain sa abroad pero madalas na paksiw o adobo at itlog lang tinitira para makaipon. Pagdating ng kinsenas o katapusan, ang unang tinitingnan eh ang conversion ng peso sa dollar o rial o euro. Mas okay na magtiis sa konti kaysa gutumin ang pamilya. Kapag umuuwi, kailangan may baon kahit konti kasi maraming kamag-anak ang sumusundo sa airport o naghihintay sa probinsya. Alam mo naman 'pag Pinoy, yung tsismis na OFW ka eh surely attracts a lot of kin.

Kapag hindi mo nabigyan ng pasalubong eh magtatampo na yun at sisiraan ka na. Well, hindi naman lahat pero I'm sure sa mga OFW dito eh may mga pangyayaring ganun. Magtatrabaho ka sa bansang iba ang tingin sa mga Pinoy. Malamang marami ang naka-experience ng gulang o discrimination to their various workplaces. Sige lang, tiis lang, iniiyak na lang kasi kawawa naman pamilya 'pag umuwi.

Besides, wala ka naman talagang maasahang trabaho sa Philippines ngayon. Mahal ang bigas, ang gatas, ang sardinas, ang upa sa apartment. Tiis lang kahit maraming kupal sa trabaho, kahit may sakit at walang nag-aalaga, kahit hindi masarap ang tsibog, kahit pangit ang working conditions, kahit delikado, kahit mahirap. Kapag nakapadala ka na, okay na, tawag lang, "hello! kumusta na kayo?".

Hindi bato ang OFW - Tao rin ang OFW, hindi money o cash machine. Napapagod rin, nalulungkot (madalas), nagkakasakit, nag-iisip at nagugutom. Kailangan din ang suporta, kundi man physically, emotionally o spiritually man lang.

Tumatanda rin ang OFW - Sa mga nakausap at nakita ko, marami ang panot at kalbo na. Most of them have signs and symptoms of hypertension, coronary artery disease and arthritis. Yet, they continue to work thinking about the family they left behind. Marami ang nasa abroad, 20-30 years na, pero wala pa ring ipon. Kahit anong pakahirap, sablay pa rin. Masakit pa kung olats rin ang sinusuportahang pamilya – ang anak adik o nabuntis; ang asawa may kabit. Naalala ko tuloy ang sikat na kanta dati, "NAPAKASAKIT KUYA EDDIE!"

Bayani ang OFW – Totoo yun! Ngayon ko lang na na-realize na bayani ang OFW sa maraming bagay. Hindi bayani na tulad ni Nora Aunor o Flor Contemplacion. Bayani in the truest sense of the word. Hindi katulad ni Rizal o Bonifacio. Mas higit pa dun, mas maraming giyera at gulo ang pinapasok ng OFW para lang mabuhay. Mas maraming pulitika ang kailangang suungin para lang tumagal sa trabaho lalo na't kupal ang mga kasama sa trabaho. Mas mahaba ang pasensya kaysa sa mga ordinaryong kongresista o senador sa Philippines dahil sa takot na mawalan ng sweldo.

Matindi ang OFW – Matindi ang pinoy. Matindi pa sa daga, o cockroaches which survived the cataclysmic evolution. Maraming sakripisyo pero walang makitang tangible solutions or consequences.

Malas ng OFW, swerte ng pulitiko – Hindi umuupo ang OFW para magbigay ng autograph o interbyuhin ng media (unless nakidnap!). Madalas nasa sidelines lang ang OFW. Kapag umaalis, malungkot and on the verge of tears. Kapag dumadating, swerte 'pag may sundo( madalas meron). Kapag naubos na ang ipon, wala ng kamag-anak.

Sana sikat ang OFW para may boses sa Kamara. Ang swerte ng mga politiko nakaupo sila at ginagastusan ng pera ng Filipino. Hindi nga sila naiinitan o napapaso ng langis, o napagagalitan ng amo, o kumakain ng paksiw para makatipid, o nakatira sa compound with conditions less than favorable, o nakikisama sa ibang lahi para mabuhay. Ang swerte, sobrang swerte nila.

Matatag ang OFW – Matatag ang OFW, mas matatag pa sa sundalo o kung ano pang grupo na alam nyo. Magaling sa reverse psychology, negotiations at counter-attacks. Tatagal ba ang OFW? Tatagal pa kasi hindi pa natin alam kailan magbabago ang Philippines , kailan nga kaya? o may tsansa pa ba?

Masarap isipin na kasama mo ang pamilya mo araw-araw. Nakikita mo mga anak mong lumalaki at naaalagaan ng maayos. Masarap kumain ng sitaw, ng bagoong, lechon, inihaw na isda, taba ng talangka. Masarap manood ng pelikulang Pinoy, luma man o bago. Iba pa rin ang pakiramdam kung kilala mo ang kapitbahay mo. Iba pa rin sa Philippines, iba pa rin kapag Pinoy ang kasama mo (except 'pag kupal at utak-talangka), iba pa rin 'pag nagkukwento ka at naiintindihan ng iba ang sinasabi mo. Iba pa rin ang tunog ng "mahal kita!", "day, ginahigugma tika." "Mingaw na ko nimo ba, kalagot!", " Inday, diin ka na subong haw? ganahan guid ko simo ba". Iba pa rin talaga.

Sige lang, tiis lang, saan ba't darating din ang pag-asa

Christopher "Ian" Magdurulang
OFW-Qatar

"OUR WAY OF LIFE"

2009-02-03T18:29:00.000-08:00

Kahit saan natin sipatin ang paglipas ng mga araw, iisa lang ang nagiging resulta nang lahat - ang patuloy na pananalasa ng kahirapan nang buhay sa kasalukuyan. Hirap na nga dati, lalo pa ngayong humihirap at walang sinuman sa atin ang makakapagsabing sila ay hindi apektado nang pagbagsak ng pandaigdigang ekonomiya.

Ang devastating worldwide economic meltdown ay walang sinasanto at lalong wala din itong pakialaman kung sino at ano ang maaaring tamaan. "KUNG PAPAANO NAGSIMULA ANG GLOBAL ECONOMIC CRISIS NA ITO'Y MAHABANG SALAYSAYIN AND WHOEVER KNOWS THE MAIN REASON, SILA NA LANG ANG BAHALANG MAGPALIWANAG SA MGA HINDI LUBOS NA NAKAKAUNAWA SA BAGAY NA ITO!"

The bottom line here is that, everybody, big or small, rich or poor continuously suffer from this very dire situation and nobody knows, kung kailan at sa anong pamamaraan ito maaaring malutas. The economies of the most affluent and most industrialized countries were down (USA, whole of Europe, Japan, China) name it all. How much more kaya ang Pilipinas na dati nang aandap-andap ang ekonomiya at nakukulapulan pa nang sangkatutak na uri ng corruptions.

Honestly, kung tayong mga Filipinos ay hindi magkakaisa sa mabuting hangarin para sa ating bansa, we will soon go down the drain or we will be eaten by the stray dogs (mga bang-aw). And I guess no one will as well ever accept to himself/herself that he/she is aboard a sinking ship where kung lumubog na nga (like Titanic) tiyak na magpipiyesta ang mga pating! Meaning, there will be a chaotic situation at ang magiging laban ay matira ang matibay, ngipin sa ngipin (kawawa na ang mga bungi).

There will be no chance for an orderly situation at ang mga suwapang sa ating pamahalaan, mga sugapa sa corruptions, mga mapagsamantala sa mga mahihirap na mamamayan - they will have their own fate too. Bahala na ang Diyos sa kanilang lahat (ipagpasa-Diyos na lang natin sila) gayundin ang kanilang mga pamilya at kaanak. Thus, nobody knows kung kailan babagsak ang lupit ng langit and nobody can expect kung may mahuhulog na meteorites at silang lahat ay isa-isang mabagsakan.

I guess, I'm not the only one who's getting furious about what's been happening sa ating bansa sa kasalukuyan, na sa halip na guminhawa ang buhay ng mga mamamayan, lalo pa nila itong ibinabaon sa ibayong kahirapan. Who will ever like this kind of situation? Matutuwa ba kayong sa halip na ang unahin nila ay ang kapakanan ng mga naghihirap na mamamayan eh pulitika na kaagad ang walang humpay nilang pinag-uusapan? Saan manggagaling ang kanilang napabalitang pundong gagamitin? There is an stimulus plan daw na P330 billion pesos at saan naman nila ito huhugutin at papaano nila ito gagamitin, para ba ito sa mga mahihirap o ilalaan nila ito para sa kani-kanilang mga bulsa (kandidatura)? I have nothing further to say, Your Honor! Beware kayong mga katulad kong member ng SSS, may humahaging na ang pondo ng mga ordinaryong manggagawa (SSS Funds) ay nami-milegrong mapaki-alaman. Are you in favor of this mess? If not, what else can you do?

KAHIT SINO PANG PONCIO PILATO ANG MAGING PRESIDENTE NG PILIPINAS, LALAKI MAN O BABAE OR EVEN THE THIRD KIND - OUR COUNTRY WILL NOT CHANGE FOR THE BETTER KUNG TAYONG MGA MAMAMAYAN AY PATULOY NA MAGIGING KABAHAGI SA MGA UMIIRAL NA HINDI MABUBUTING PATAKARAN (corruptions, etc).

Subsequently, come to think of our country's Past Presidents to the Incumbent. Try to compare the lives of our citizens simula pa noong tayo'y maging isang bansang Commonwealth or Republic - magmula sa Presidenteng binansagang may gintong orinola / arinola, hanggang sa kasalukuyang administrasyon.

Anu-ano ang inyong mga napuna o napupunang pagbabago tungo sa higit na ikabubuti nating mga Filipinos o ng ating bansa sa kabuuhan, meron ba? Kung ang sasabihin ng iba sa inyo'y merong pag-unlad na masa-sabi, I can just say my personal opinion "that you better open your eyes widely, linisin ang inyong mga tenga (dahil baka may nakabara) at tanggalan ninyo ng piring ang inyong mga mata upang makita ninyo nang buong kaliwanagan, at alisan din ninyo ng busal ang inyong mga bibig upang maibulalas ninyo nang buong tapang ang katotonanang ang ating bansa ay hindi umuunlad sa halip, lalo pa itong lumulubog sa kumunoy ng kahirapan.

If you could only recall during the previous decades - ang Pilipinas ay isa sa mga mauunlad na bansa sa Asia o sa ating region (ASEAN). Ang mga bansang Thailand, Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam, etc., ay walang panama sa atin, kung ang agriculture o pagpo-produce ng pagkain (rice in particular) ang pag-uusapan. Sa madali't sabi, sa ating bansa itinayo ang International Rice Institute (IRRI in Laguna) na siyang higit na nagpapaunlad sa produksiyon ng bigas.

Inggit na inggit sa atin ang mga kalapit o karatig-bansa natin sa ASEAN dahil we, sa mga panahong iyon ay tunay na nagsasagana sa bigas at naging sobra-sobra pa nga (surplus) sa ating mga pangangailangan.

That was the main reason kung bakit ang mga pamahalaan ng bansang Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos, etc., at nagpadala ng kanilang mga mag-aaral upang sa Pilipinas mag-aral ng Agriculture. Samakatuwid, nakatapos ang mga nasabing mag-aaral at ang kanilang mga natutunan ay sininop at sinuportahan ng kani-kanilang pamahalaan upang maging foundation ng kanilang planned agricultural developments to the point na nahigitan pa nga nila ang ating bansa sa produksiyon ng bigas.

What is now the status of the countries mentioned with regards to their Food Production Program compare to the place (Philippines) where they got their education, knowledge and/or trainings?

SILA NGAYON ANG MGA BANSANG NAG-E-EXPORT NG MILYONG MILYONG TONELADA NG BIGAS SA BUONG MUNDO! And where is the Philippines? Tayo o ang ating dating pamamayagpag sa pag-produce ng bigas ay unti-unting lumubog hanggang tayo na mismong mga Filipinos ang "NAGING SALAT O NAGKA-PROBLEMA SA BIGAS" at tila tayo mga pulubing nakikiusap sa mga nasabing bansa na tayo'y bahaginan ng ating bigas na mai-stock (buffer stock) upang hindi kapusin sa mga pamilihan.

WHAT A SHOCKING SHAME TO OUR GOVERNMENT PARTICULARLY TO THE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE NA SIYANG MAY DIRECT AUTHORITY SA BAGAY NA ITO! I'm not getting particular with any person or group of persons dahil may mga public servants naman tayong maayos at sincere sa kanilang paglilingkod kaya lang, they are being over-shadowed by their Superiors (higher officials) who are very irresponsible and damn corrupt. Magbago na kayo dahil kung hindi, kahit kayo'y nagsasagana, mamamatay din kayong dilat ang mga mata dahil kayo'y nagbubulag-bulagan sa tawag ng katotohanan! Mirese sa inyo!

Presently, the Fertilizer Scam's litigation that involved ex-DA Undersecretary Jocjoc Bolante is still under way at the Senate as well as the Quedancor lending matters kung saan ang mga matataas na pinuno o opisyal mismo ang pinaka-ugat ng anomalya sa pagpapautang ng pera. Sino ba naman ang matutuwa sa bagay na ito? Sa Quedancor, humiram ka ng konting amount, padadaanin ka sa maliit na butas ng karayon, pero ang mga corrupt officials nila, sila mismo ang gumagamit ng mga dummies, ie: business partners or identities for them to take up to hundreds of millions amount of loans.

Is this the kind of true democracy na kinabibilangan ng ating bansa? Anong klaseng demokrasya ang kanilang pinagsasabi? Is this the government they claim is for the people & by the people or is this the government of the corrupt elites and irresponsible government officials and their cohorts? Pick your own choice!

Hindi man natin ipangalandakan, marami tayong mga mamamayang nagpapakahirap at patuloy na nagsisikap para makatulong sa ating pamahalaan particularly the more or less ten million OFWs. Pero kapag kami na ang humihingi ng tulong para makapagpundar ng anumang adhikaing mapapagkakitaan o di kaya'y masuportahan ang nai-established nang mga livelihood projects, maraming cheche-bureche ang ating pamahalaan. Wala silang pakialam kung meron man, sangkatutak ang red-tapes at kadalasan ay hindi naa-aprobahan ang anumang request. Batu-bato sa langit ang tamaan ay tunay na mga pangit (sa pag-uugali, pangloob man o panglabas as they are devilish individuals).

Sila ay ang mga maituturing na TAMPALASAN (biblical) bulaan o napakarami sa kanila ang mga sinungaling. Tamaan sana sila ng naglalagablab na kidlat sapagkat wala silang karapatang mabuhay pa sa mundong ito, NOTHING OR NO CHANCE AT ALL FOR THEM TO CONTINUE THEIR EXISTENCE. They better evaporate or mapasama sila sa lethal effect ng global warming and climate change!

Sa kabilang banda, perhaps ang iniisip nila'y wala namang nakakakita sa kanila. If they are really true Christians, they should have known na may ISANG higit na nakakaalam nang anumang iniisip, ginagawa o nararamdaman nating mga nilikha and HE IS THE ALMIGHTY!

DIYOS NA ANG BAHALA SA MGA CORRUPT GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS NG ATING BANSA WHEREVER THEY ARE AND WHOEVER THEY ARE! SURELY, THEY WILL BE JUDGED ACCORDING TO THEIR OWN DEEDS & SOON THEY'LL REACH THE END OF THEIR JOURNEY IN LIFE! Ang masamang damo'y kusang napupugnaw kasama sa paglipas ng panahon! Tunay na ang kakapal ng kanilang mga mukha, wala silang awa sa mga mahihirap na higit pang naghihirap araw-araw dahil inuuna pa nila ang mga pansarili nilang corruptions kaysa sa kapakanan ng mga nagugutom nating mga mamamayan / kababayan.

I just hope that after you read this article, you're still in fine health and I don't want anyone of you na matulad sa aking tumataas ang blood/pressure whenever I touch or discuss a topic like this. Hindi ko talaga maiwasan dahil kahit ako'y isang ordinaryong mamamayan lang, ang aking hangarin ay ang makatulong sa ating pamayanan. Hindi ko maaako ang buong Pilipinas, sa ating mga kanayunan lang eh kulang pa ang ating pagtutulungan kung tutuusin. Kaya, let's make Marinduque a better place to live. Sariling buntot natin, pagtulungan nating hilahin!

Magtulungan tayo tungo sa ikauunlad ng sarili nating probinsiya. We may not have that mighty voice to shout-out-loud our accummulated sentiments, pero may mga magagawa tayong pagbabago gaano man ito kaliit tungo sa ating ikauunlad, and it will depend on how we will cooperate with each other.

Let's take time for awhile and think or reflect of the possible solution/s how small it would be na maaari nating mapag-usapan at gawing basehan kung ito ba'y feasible at makapagbibigay ng kabutihan, karagdagang kita or maging additional source ng kabuhayan ng ating mga mamamayan.

Of course, we Marinduquenos love our province very much, pero hindi sapat ang tayo'y magmahal lang sa salita. Kailangang ito'y ating mapatunayan sa pamamagitan ng gawa. One step after the other will enable us to reach a distance farther than we might have expected. So, kailan kaya tayo maaaring makakapagsimulang humakbang?

MABUHAY ANG MARINDUQUE at MABUHAY DIN TAYONG MGA MARINDUQUEÑOS!

TONY R. MONTERAS (malaking ibon)
OFW, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
02 February 2009 / 07 Safar 1430 H

"WALK-ON BY"

2009-02-03T18:25:00.000-08:00

Nowadays, hindi tayo dapat magtaka kung naging bukam-bibig na ng mga tao ang kanilang hinaing tungkol sa kasalukuyang pahirap nang pahirap na kalagayan sa buhay. At dapat nating iisiping hindi lang nag-iisa tayong mga filipinos or ang Pilipinas na dumaranas ng ibayong pagdarahop at pagsasalat sa maraming bagay.

If we will only come to think the root causes of this prevailing situation, masasabi nating some of it are man-made, due to human's neglect and/or abuse of nature at marami pang iba.

God has not created perfect environment for certain countries or people. He has plans of His own na dapat nating igalang, sundin o pagpitaganan. To mention a few and clear evidences of the foregoing statement are as follows:

Countries in the Middle East Region from the beginning of their civilization craved for water. Para sa mga Arabo, napakahalaga o napaka-importante sa kanila ng tubig na noong mga unang panahon, they mostly depend on rain water and some improvised deep wells. Maaaring ang iba'y hindi pa nakaka-alam na magpahanggang ngayon, ang mga Arabo ay may dasal para pag-ulan kapag nale-late ang pagpatak ng ulan sa mga petsang kanilang inaasahan (Rain Invoking Prayers).

Lack of rain was as well the reason kung bakit noong mga unang panahon, native arabs lived in improvized mudhouses na mangpahanggang ngayon ay visible pa rin. And through the era of modern civilization, it is now being considered a part of their most valuable history that is being preserved. May mga nakatira pa rin naman sa mga nasabing mudhouses ngayon.

Noong una'y salat sila sa tubig kaya ang mga bahay ay gawa lang sa pinaghalong putik at mga tuyong dahon o paklang ng punong dates (palm trees). As those years were gone and the region is having rapid physical and economic transformations coupled with the prevailing climate changes, ang mga bahay nilang putik ay unti-unting nalulusaw whenever it rains and its now nearly extinct.

Ang kanilang mga kalsada during the early years of their economic development ay basta na lang sinementuhan or nilagyan ng aspalto "WITHOUT ANY DRAINAGE AT ALL" kaya ngayong nagbago na ang takbo ng panahon, sa tuwing uulan kahit ilang oras lang, kaagad bumabaha maging sa mga kalsada.

Through the physical changes of the region, madali ang kanilang naging pagbabago maging sa kanilang mga pamamaraan sa agrikultura. Dati'y kulang sila sa tubig, ngayon sa pamamagitan ng mga makabagong pamamaraan, they can pump-up water from more than three kilometers deep bringing it to the open ground for various facilities' usage that paved the way to further agricultural boom.

As the oil business continues to be the region's considered "black gold" it as well pumps-up the economic success and that the mudhouses were replaced with luxurious marble mansions, palaces, etc. Meaning in this particular part of the globe, there were some previous hitches as well katulad din ng mga nasa iba pang panig ng mundo.

But take note, despite or kahit sila'y masasabing nahihiga sa banig ng ginto (black gold or oil) o tunay na ginto (mineral ore) marami pa rin sa kanila ang hindi nakakapag-aral (bedouines or "bado") who preferred to stay or live in the desert under extreme temperatures, 50+ degrees centrigade during summer and freezing cold during winter, rather than to live in the beautiful housing projects that their government have provided for them.

On the other hand sa ating bansa, kahit naman salat tayo sa maraming materyal na kayamanan and many of our citizens who are classified living below the poverty line who content themselves in the slum areas, it has been compulsary duty for any parent/s to send their children to school. This only shows na kahit tayo'y naghihirap, ang kamangmangan ay pinagpiliitan nating mapagwagian. We are one of the countries who have most literate citizens (high percentage of literacy) as even the small kids are trying to speak some foreign vocabularies (words) which signifies that despite pa rin ng ating kahirapan, we have something in our nature na maipagmamalaki kumpara sa ibang foreign nationals.

And although, majority of us Filipinos are poor, mayaman naman tayo sa iba't-ibang katalinuhan. Maraming Filipino Scientists ang nagtatrabaho sa NASA at maging sa Microsoft ni Bill Gates as well as in the Silicon Valley, California, USA where major high-tech companies are operating.

And much more, may kanya-kanya tayong expertise sa anumang larangan where we really excel at lot. Among us are the nearly 10 miliion of OFWs based in numerous countries around the globe as we compete with other foreign nationals in various fields of endeavour. Kami dito sa Middle East, naging isang kasabihan nang kapag Filipino (Filipini), we are always Number One (No. 1) kasi, they (Arabs) have proven our efficiency, diligence, honesty and capability in handling any tasks related or not sa aming trabaho. At kahit ang ating mga domestic helpers na tunay na nagpapakahirap sa kanilagn mga trabaho, majority of the Arab Families like them most because of their cleanliness and being hardworking and trustworthy individuals.

So, kahit saang lupalop pa ng mundo tayo mapadako, God has made us who we are and what we are. Mahirap man tayo, mayaman naman tayo sa mga mabubuting katangiang panloob. And we should not feel insecured sakalit mapaharap man tayo ng ibang tao - they have the traits of their own and we have perhaps one of the finest of them all. Kaya, "WALK-ON BY" lang tayo sa ating pakikisalamuha sa iba't-ibang nilalang sa mundo. We must be proud being Filipinos "sa isip, sa salita at maging sa gawa".

TONY R. MONTERAS (malaking ibon)
OFW, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
01 February 2009 / 06 Safar 1430 H

"FOOD FOR THOUGHT ON FRIENDSHIP"

2009-02-03T18:03:00.000-08:00

In our lives, maraming pagkakataon na hindi halos natin nabibigyan nang ibayong attention o pagpapahalaga in which those things if we'll only give a chance to be lingered will definitely bring enormous impact to ourselves. Lalong-lalo na ang tungkol sa pagkakaroon natin nang mga kaibigan (even our own relatives). Why don't we sit back for awhile, relax and begin our travel to further examine deepest what our heart, mind and other physical attributes want to shout out loud:

Sometime in the past, at kahit ngayon ay patuloy na nangyayari pa rin, we have realized that we don't have to change friends if we know those friends have had changed. Kung inaakala nating dati silang mabuting kaibigan kahit na sa bandang huli'y napagtanto nating sila'y nagbago in any manner - hindi natin kailangang sila'y ating palitan. The ego is there, let's respect whatever decision they've made after all, they were our friends before, where we shared our problems, laughter, etc.

Hindi rin natin maiwasang isipin when we have realized that no matter how good a friend is, inconveniences usually occur inevitably and a true understanding of the situation is a must for both sides. That's how friends are for. We don't need to be one-sided at all. Kung kinakailangang ibaba natin ang ating pride, there's nothing wrong with it just to protect the camaraderie and friendship we have previously both established with one another. Good or best friendship is a give and take process. One has to yield for the sake of an argument and to give peace a chance.

And why this topic has been the focal point of this discussion? Kasi nga, kahit na gaano pa ka-close ang pagkakaibigan ng dalawa o mahigit pang tao - hindi talaga maiiwasan na magkaroon ito ng anumang deliberations, heated-discussions or arguments that sometime lead to disagreements that partially spoil the friendship. Tulad ng isang maayos na couple, we should not let any friendship's dilemma na lubugan ng araw. Sooner or later, it will add more pain to the injury kaya, ora-mismo kailangang ma-resolve ang conflict para sa kaginhawahan ng dalawang panig.

Communication gaps usually are attributed sa maliliit na tampuhan lang muna ng magkakaibigan na kung minsan ang nasabing maliit na baga ay nagiging isang malaki at mapamuksang apoy dahilan sa paghihip ng hangin (sulsol ng mga makakati ang dila) na kung hindi maaapula kaagad ay siguradong tutupok sa isang matagal nang pagkakaibigan - how strong the friendship's bond maybe.

What we are good friends for? Ito ang isang ordinaryong katanungang nasusubukan sa mga oras ng pangangailangan. This simple question determines the truest essence of friendship ng dalawang panig. There are people na talagang ibinubuwis o isinusugal ang kanilang sariling buhay for the sake of a friend's safety and welfare. Mayroon din namang kaibigan lang na maituturing kung kaharap, ngunit sa katotohanan, kapag nakikita na niyang ang kanyang kaibiga'y nalulunod na sa dami ng problema, unti-unti siyang nawawala sa limelight.

Ibig sabihin, we know ourselves kung sinu-sino sa ating mga kaibigan ang tapat sa atin gayundin ang mga nagbabalatkayo (gumagamit ng iba't-ibang strategies to win our friendship then later on, lilitaw ang kanyang pagiging makasaliri or being an opportunist). We can find this kind of human beings everywhere - sabi nga, kahit saang gubat, may ahas (gubat sa kasukalan, maging gubat sa kalunsuran).

Note: I've written this article based on my close friend's experience with his other friend, and may this episode serves a WARNING TO US ALL.

With this, we must safeguard first and foremost our own well-being and be observant of our friends na itinuturing. Magkaminsan kasi, kapag ibinigay natin sa kanila ang ating daliri, unti-unti nating mararamdaman na ang kanyang isusunod na hangarin ay ang kunin ang ating buong kamay, then buong braso, so on and so forth. Kaya, huwag nating hihintaying lumala pa ang isang sitwasyon before it would be too late for us to act decisively. Hindi mahirap ang magsabi ng katotohanan kung ang nalalagay sa balag nang alanganin ay ang sarili nating kapakanan. True friends easily understand his friend's predicaments. Somehow, we must act brilliantly and avoid anything that might in one way or the other hurt somebody's feelings. Magagawa naman natin ito sa isang mabuting pamamaraan without offending someone.

This time of global economic downturn, maraming mga mababangis na hayup na nagtatago sa anyo ng mababait na tupa. Let's not fall (a) victim/s on this, lalo na sa iba't-ibang uri ng scams (pyramid particularly)na usung-uso sa ating bansa.

A major example that happened in America just recently was where Bernard Maddoff, ex-Chairman of the Stock Exchange in Wall Street victimized a lot of affluent individuals, banks, businessmen, investors, including some from countries in Europe (UK, Germany, France, etc) with more than 50 billion US dollars. Said case is still under investigation / litigation - nag-suicide pa nga ang isa niyang victim kamakailan who lost 2 billion dollars of his investments in Madoff's pyramid scam. (New York Post: Maddof Scam Becomes "Earth" Quake, $50 Billion Disaster Ripples From Tokyo to Geneva).

On the other hand, hindi masamang tayo'y tumulong at hindi rin masama ang tayo'y makisama. However, we must put everything in moderation and to check very well kung sinu-sino ang dapat nating tulungan. Kadalasan pa nga'y wala tayong maitulong dahil tayo mismo sa ating sarili ay kinakapos at ngangailangan din ng tulong. Huwag tayong padadala sa simbuyo ng ating damdamin o sa ating pagiging maawain.

"FOOD FOR THOUGHT ON FRIENDSHIP" will hopefully help safeguard us all in our dealing with uncscrupulous individuals. We ultimately know who our good friends are, sila ang mga tao or individuals na higit na nakakaunawa sa ating hirap na kalagayan sa matulungan natin sila o hindi. Kung may mga mabubuti tayong kaibigan, we as well must be aware of those who are just turn-coat our friends.

TONY R. MONTERAS (malaking ibon)
OFW, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

"LIVING IS LEARNING ABOUT LIFE"

2009-01-29T02:54:00.000-08:00

There comes a time when you must stand alone. That you must feel confident enough within yourself to follow your own dreams. That you must be willing to make sacrifices. That you must be capable of changing and rearranging your priorities, so your final goal can be achieved. That sometimes, familiarity and comfort need to be challenged.

Everything happens for a reason. Nothing happens by chance or by means of good or bad luck. Illness, injury, love, lost moments of true greatness and sheer or clear stupidity all occur to test the limits of your soul. Without these small tests, if it would be events, illnesses or relationships, life would be like a smoothly paved, straight, flat road to nowhere.

As there are times when you must take extra chances and create your own realities. You must be strong or courageous enough to at least try to make your life better. To be confident enough that you won't settle for a compromise just to get by. You have to appreciate yourself by allowing the opportunities to grow, to develop, and find your true sense of purpose in life.

So, don't stand in someone else's shadow, when it's your own sunlight that should lead the way.

If someone hurts you, betrays you or breaks your heart, forgive them. For they have helped you learn about trust and the importance of being cautious to whom you open your heart to. If someone loves you, love them back unconditionally, not only because they love you, but because they are teaching you to love and opening your heart and eyes to things you would have never seen or felt without them.

You must be thankful that you don't have everything you desire for if you did, what would there be to look forward to? And when you don't know something, be thankful for it gives you the opportunity to learn. As well, be thankful for the difficult times you have had, during those times, you grow. Moreover, be thankful for your limitations because it give you the opportunities to further improve.

Make your every day counts. Appreciate every moment and take from it, everything that you possibly can, for you may never be able to experience it again. Talk to people you have never talked before and actually listen. Hold your head up because you have every right to. Tell yourself you are a great individual and believe in yourself, for if you don't, no one else will believe you either.

Also, you must be thankful for your own mistakes, as it taught you some valuable lessons in life.
You must be thankful too, whenever you're tired and weary, because it means you've made a difference. And it's too easy to be thankful for the good things and life of rich fulfilment comes, to those who are also thankful for their setbacks. Be yourself to find a way and be thankful for your troubles, as it become your own blessings!

You can make of your life anything you wish. Create your own life and then go out and live with it!

TONY R. MONTERAS (malaking ibon)
OFW, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
28 January 2009 / 02 Safar 1430 H

"DAYS OF OUR LIVES"

2009-01-29T02:52:00.000-08:00

Day-in, day-out! Ganyan lang ang takbo ng ating buhay sa araw-araw na "ginawa ng Diyos" (isang kinamulatang kasabihan sa ating probinsiya). Ano pa nga ba, diba? And whatever it is, nasanay na tayong mga Marinduquenos sa ganitong klase ng buhay: ang gumising nang maaga para makapag-handa sa paghahanapbuhay kung anuman ang ating pinagkukunan ng makakain o pinagkakakitaan sa madali't-sabi.

Life is so simple na matatawag sa atin. Sa aming mga naninirahan sa malapit sa dagat, hindi ko makakalimutan sa aking tanang buhay ang paggising nang napakaaga kahit noong kami'y mga maliliit o musmos pa lang. Of course, hindi upang maghanapbuhay kundi ang umigib ng tubig sa iisang boluntaryang sinasabi (source of water na ngayo'y isa na lang kongkretong tangkeng nakatayo at wala nang silbi). Noon, pila-pila ang mga balde na ang sistema ng iba, kahit butas eh ipipila para lang makarami and then, papalitan nang maayos na balde kapag malapit nang makasahod ng tubig.

Just imagine kung gaano ang hirap ng buhay sa panahong iyon na walang maayos na serbisyo ng tubig at maging kuryente. Ewan ko, pero palagay ko'y alam ng iba sa ating ang "LAG-IH" na tinatawag na nakagisnang gamiting pang-ilaw sa ating paglalakad sa kadiliman ng gabi.

(Ang "lag-ih" ay isang maliit na pirasong dahong tuyo ng niyog na binalumbon (tinalian) upang huwag mabuwag at ito'y sinisindihan sa dulo para magbigay ng liwanag habang naglalakad, dahan-dahan itong iwinawasiwas upang hindi mamatay ang sindi. Malaki ang naitulong nito sa atin sa mga panahong lumipas na walang serbisyo ng kuryente sa ating mga lilib na pook o kanayunan).

Nagbabalik nakaraan lang ako sa puntong ito sapagkat, maaaring ang iba sa ating mga nakarating na sa mga malalayong lugar lalo na ang mga asensado na ang mga pamumuhay ay unti-unti nang nakakalimot sa kanilang pinagmulan. Iyon ang nakakalungkot isipin, subalit kung sa gitna nang kanilang mga mabubuting tinatamasa sa kasalukuyan ay manunumbalik pa rin sa kanialng isipan ang kanilang simpleng pinanggalingan (hirap nilang kalagayan sa panahon noong una) at pamumuhay sa nakaraan, masasabi nating break-even-point lang. Maituturing pa rin silang mga nagmamahal at nagpapahalaga sa ating mga kinamulatang kaugalian at tradisyon sa probinsiya.

Wherever we are , lagi nating nasasabi na "THERE'S REALLY NO PLACE LIKE HOME". Gaano man ang hirap na ating pinagmulan or magpahanggang ngayo'y pinagsisikapang alpasan, tila tayo mga ibong walang kapaguran sa paglipad sa hangaring makapag-hanapbuhay o makakita nang makakain, and at the end of the day - despite our pagal na katawan at kaisipan - we always think of our home, where we can relax, we can be with our family members at sabay-sabay na kakain.

Tayong mga Marinduquenos ay likas na masisikap at masisipag, magalangin at matulungin - simbolo ng ating simpleng kaugalian at pakikipag-kapwa tao. And although, hindi na gaanong uso sa ngayong makabagong panahon, our folks are still engage in "BAYANIHAN" na isa sa ating pinakamagandang tradisyon sa pakikipagtulungan sa ating kapwa o mga kabarangay.

There are still Marinduquenos out there (nagkalat sa iba't-ibang panig ng mundo) na sa kabila nang kanilang tinatamasang kaunlaran sa buhay, inside themselves - hindi nila maikakaila at maitatanggi ang kanilang mga naging karanasan noong sila'y sa mga kanayunan o lilib na pook pa dati nanirahan.

Of course, they are missing our province first and foremost, our unforgettable customs and traditions at palagay ko, ang mga hindi nakakaalalang umuwi or tunay nang nagtakwil sa ating mahal na lalawigan (kung meron man) ay mabibilang lang sa ating mga daliri. Maituturing na sila iyong mga kababayan nating nagkaroon ng hindi mabuting karanasan na nais nilang matakasan o lubos na makalimutan, kahit na labag sa kanilang kalooban. And we just hope they will be able to recover and be back to where they truly belong.

Samantala, magiging mga ipokrito (at ipokrita) tayo kapag hindi natin aaminin sa ating mga sarili na kahit saan man tayo makarating, Marinduque pa rin ang center or focal point ng ating isip kapag tayo'y nagkakaroon ng pagkakataong magdili-dili at magbalik-tanaw. Sometimes pa nga eh napapangiti na lang tayo kapag may mga magagandang bagay tayong naaalala at hindi rin maiwasang malungkot din kapag may nababalita tayong wala na pala ang ilang mga taong malapit sa atin gayundin ang mga kaibigang naging kasangga natin noong tayo'y maliliit o musmos pa.

Truly, life is like a song, there's a beginning as well as its ending. And I'm sure, many of you will agree with me sa "awitiin ni Frank Sinatra na may pamagat na "MY WAY". If you will only concentrate on the message the said song conveys, the simplicity of its meaning will deeply drive you to where your life was and will be. You have the right, the ultimate right to do things in your own way and without any regrets at all, should you miss your aim. The decision made was yours and yours alone to own.

Sa totoo lang, maraming magagandang bagay o karanasan tayong mapapagkalibangang isipin lalo na kung tayo'y nag-iisang namumuhay sa malayong lugar at nalulungkot (homesick) sa ating mga mahal sa buhay. This thing usually happens to us OFWs at depende na nga sa amin kung papaano namin ito mapapaglabanan. "MY WAY" song is just like an inspiration to many of us (tulad ko) at ito ang isa sa mga pinaka-paborito kong awitin. Kaya lang, sa mga nakalipas na ilang panahon hanggang ngayon, ang nasabing awitin ay naisasangkot o nagiging dahilan nang mga hindi magagandang pagkakataon (patayan kung baga). I don't know (pero sa ating bansa), maraming beses na naming nababasa sa mga local newspapers natin na ang awiting "MY WAY" ay naging dahilan na naman sa nangyaring kaguluhan o patayan. Kayo rin ba'y nababahala?

Sa inyong opinyon (sabi ng iba) ito daw ay isang awiting umaakit ng kamalasan? I don't think so, dahil ito'y sumikat sa buong mundo sa maraming panahon magpahanggang ngayon. Ang nag-uugnay lang sa awiting ito ang hindi maayos ang hangarin at kaisipan, ang tunay na matatawag na malas sapagkat hindi nila totoong nabibigyan ng magandang pakahulugan ang nasabing awitin.

Kung baga, it's like our ownselves. We were given our normal body faculties lalo't higit ang ating isip. Kapag hindi natin ito gagamitin sa tama o makabuluhang pamamaraan, we will definitely go down the drain, na in the long ran ay ating pagsisisihan diba?

So, ang ating mahalagang buhay ay dapat nating mabigyan ng kaukulang pagpapahalaga. The
"DAYS OF OUR LIVES" serve as our memento habang tayo'y naririto pa sa mundo, as well as kung tayo'y dumating na sa dulo nang ating paglalakbay. Things would be better of for us kung tayo'y may mga nagawang kabutihan hindi lang sa ating mga sarili kundi maging sa ating kapwa. Hindi ganoon kadaling kalimutan ang mga mabubuting butil na ating naitanim sapagkat ito ang magiging daan upang higit pang yumabong ang ating mga magagandang simulain sa buhay.

Let the next generation propagate what we have sown through our perseverance and hardwork, and let them harvest the sweet fruits of our sacrifices. Everything like a song (again) has its own finale.

MABUHAY TAYONG MGA MARINDUQEÑOS, MABUHAY ANG MARINDUQUE!

TONY R. MONTERAS (malaking ibon)
OFW, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
28 January 2009 / 02 Safar 1430 H

"HOME IS WHERE THE FAMILY IS"

2009-01-29T02:51:00.001-08:00

Our barangays, towns, provinces, even our country as a whole, whatever its present economic situation, it will remain as it is ever geographically.

Although things that are involved with it are its variables, it considerably account to its major physical transformation.

Our citizens how poor or affluent they are, form the nucleus of our society though, organizations of numerous identities (be it social, religious, political, etc) sometimes serve as the root / base of various influences that significantly affect the core of our entire populace.

As well, it can't be denied that the afore-mentioned various influences send strong signal and great impact to every members of a family and clan, whatever affiliation they have.

Samantala, kinagisnan na nating mga Marinduquenos (Filipinos) ang kagandahan nang buhay sa ating mahal na probinsiya however and whatever our social and economic status are, basta sama-sama tayo sa pamilya, nagkakatuwaan, nagkakatulungan sa maraming bagay. Kung baga, through thick and thin, sa hirap at ginhawa (tulad ng mag-asawa) hindi natin alintana ang masyadong kahirapan kapag kapiling natin ang ating buong pamilya diba?

Ang mga magulang na siyang nagsisilbing haligi at ilaw ng isang tahanan (kanilang mga anak) kahit sila'y salat sa maraming mga materyal na bagay, basta sila'y kumakain ng tatlong beses maghapon, maayos ang kalusugan at nagkakatulungan sa simpleng kabuhayan, life is indeed a wholesome living para sa kanilang buong pamilya.

Subalit ang panahon ay nagbabago, patuloy sa hindi mapigilang pagbabago na nagdudulot o nagiging sanhi ng pagkakawatak-watak ng isang mabuti o huwarang pamilya. Ito ang bagay na mahirap iwasan lalo na kung ito'y nauugnay sa pagpapaunlad ng kabuhayan.

Sometimes, we have to make firm and hard decisions, decisions that are in one way or the other paving the way for us to being apart from our loved ones for the sake of seeking greener pasture in the cities or even abroad. And there, a just simple-petty problem (when) it crops-up without our notice, it spawns to bigger and harder situations that sometimes, we ourselves cannot immediately solve.

At sa (mga) miyembro ng isang pamilya na napalayo sa kanilang mga mahal sa buhay, it is really very hard to withstand being alone living ourselves. Napakahirap talaga lalo na ang mga nasa ibayong dagat naghahanap-buhay (OFWs). Hindi maiiwasan ang tinatawag na tears or fears against earning a dollar na kaakibat ng hindi maiiwasang homesickness lalo na sa unang panahon nang pakikipagsapalaran.

Hindi lang ito, marami ding sorts of temptations na kung mahina ang pangontrol o determinasyon ng taong concerned, lahat ng kanyang mga magagandang pangarap sa buhay lalo na ang para sa kanyang pamilya ay unti-unting nagkakaroon ng ulap hanggang sa tuluyang lumubha ang panahon. Guguho itong tila isang kastilyong buhangin na binuo sa pamamagitan ng pangarap.

This is just an ordinary scenario na nangyayari sa buhay ng maraming OFWs. Dapat sana'y hindi mangyayari ang ganitong sitwasyon kung sila lang ay magiging tapat sa kanilang mga sarili at ang kapakanan ng kanilang mga mahal sa buhay na naiwan sa Pilipinas ang kanilang uunahing bigyan ng pagpapahalaga at pagmamahal.

In some instances, maraming napapariwara at marami din ang humahantong sa mga siksikang bilangguan sa inayong dagat sa dahilang sila (OFWs) ay lumalabag sa mga batas ng bansang kanilang pinagtatrabahuhan lalong-lalo na dito sa Middle East (na tinaguriang "Bilangguang Walang Rehas") na napaka-istrikto o napakahigpit sa pagpapairal ng kanilang mga kautusan na naaayon sa Shariah Law.

Sa kabilang banda, hindi naman natin masisisi ang ating gobyerno sa pagpapahintulot o pagpapadala ng mga (OFWs) manggagawa dito sa Middle East dahil isa ito sa mga top-regions / countries that provide billions of dollars in form of monthly remitances that our country badly needs for its foreign exchange transactions.

Kung minsan nga, naiisip ng ibang mga kababayan natin na, ang mga OFWs ay nagiging kasangkapan lang ng ating bansa at ang OFW Funds ang nagiging sanhi sa iba't-ibang uri ng corruptions sa maraming sangay ng ating pamahalaan. There were instances at napapabalitang ang mga OFWs ay iginigisa ng ating gobyerno sa kanilang sariling mantika base sa iba't-ibang (illegal) transactions na nakikita ng iba't-ibang cause-oriented groups.

Dati, may kasabihan tayong kapag may usok, may apoy! Pero hindi naman lahat ay kumbinsido sa bagay na ito. I may say na neutral lang ako dahil, may mga bagay na inaakala nating may apoy dahil may umuusok, pero kung ating susuriing mabuti - hindi naman pala apoy ang umuusok kundi "DRY ICE".

Generally speaking, this merely proves that bago tayo humusga o husgahan sa anumang ginagawa natin, dapat lang na tiyaking magkaroon ng proper investigation to give the benefit of the doubt. Usually kasi, sa mga maling impression o haka-haka nagmumula ang mga malalaki o grabeng iskandalo. It can be fully averted or avoided naman should we be transparent in all our actions para mapangalagaan din natin ang kapakanan ng ating mga pamilyang naiwan sa Pilipinas na patuloy na umaasa sa ating suportang pinansiyal at hindi lang moral.

Somehow, homesickness can't be totally avoided lalo na sa mga OFWs (kung ang mga nasa Manila lang nagtatrabaho eh naho-homesick sa mga naiwan nila sa Marinduque - how much more kaming mga ibayong dagat na hindi kara-karakang makaka-uwi segun sa anumang pangyayari).

And there are a lot more circumstances na maiba-base natin sa subject matter na ito "HOME IS WHERE THE FAMILY IS".

Practically speaking, we ourselves are the ones responsible sa ating mga salita gayundin sa ating mga gawa. I-ugnay natin ang mga dapat i-ugnay sa topic na ito na totoong na nangyayari sa ating buhay, saka natin hatulan mismo ang ating sarili. Are we really that meek and mild, pure and simple or the other way round?

TONY R. MONTERAS (malaking ibon)
OFW, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
26 January 2009 / 29 Muharram 1430 H

"POINT OF VIEW"

2009-01-29T02:49:00.001-08:00

Life has to go on whatever it takes at hindi tayo dapat mawawalan nang pag-asa. Where there is life - there is hope, where there is hope - there is an inspiring existence. Huwag nating husgahan ang ating mga sarili dahilan lang sa ating mga naging kamalian o mga nagawang pagkukulang. There's always room for improvement. Ang ating pag-uugali'y nababago depende sa ating pagkukusa at pagnanasang tayo'y mapabuti at maging kaiga-igaya sa paningin ng Diyos, maging ng ating kapwa. Sila ang nakakakita ng ating buong kaanyuang panglabas, maging ng ating kalooban sa pamamagitan ng ating mga salitang binibitiwan at paggawa o paggalaw.

Tunay ngang makabuluhan ang buhay. Kung tayo man ay nabibigo o nalulungkot sa dahilang may mga bagay na nakapagdulot sa atin ng kasiphayuan, we should always look at the bright side of life. It's like, "sa pagdatal ng dilim, ang liwanag ay sasapit din". Life evolves by itself at ang ating pagkatao or existence ay kasangkapan lang ng ating buhay to further give meaning to it, sa nais nating maging.

We must value life gaano man kahirap ang ating nararanasan sa kasalukuyan. Hindi naman tayo bibigyan ng Diyos ng mga problemang hindi natin makakayang lutasin. Problems are just spices of life. Of course, dito natin magagamit ang sarili nating pagpapasiya o determinasyon kung papaano natin mapaglalabanan ang anumang hibo ng pagkakasala, maging ang kahirapang humaharang o nakabalandra sa ating dinaraanan sa pagpupursiging makabangon mula sa lusak ng pagdurusa.

Kung baga, mula sa ating kamusmusan hanggang sa tayo'y ganap na magkaisip, namulat tayo sa katotohanan o kasabihang "Smile, God Loves You". Sa totoo lang, hindi tayo gagasta kahit isang kusing should we smile to other people kahit na sa ating kaaway. It signifies our good intention of life na sa kaibuturan ng ating puso, despite the wrongdoings of other people against us, we still value our best imbedded in us.

Just imagine the world filled with love and happiness against the world full of sorrows and disappointments. Alin ang ating pipiliin upang tuntunin sa ating mga sarili? Ang tayo ba'y magdalamhati na lang at ipagluksa ang ating mga nagiging kabiguan? I think it's a lot of nonsense. We only exist in this universe temporarily. Meaning, everything in us will come to cease. Bakit hindi natin gawin ang mga makabuluhang bagay na makakatulong sa atin maging sa ating kapwa upang tayo'y maging masaya at samantalahin ang pagkakataong tayo'y nabubuhay, diba?

Sa totoo lang, lahat tayo'y may kanya-kanyang mga karapatan at tungkuling dapat gampanan sa ating buhay, una na sa ating mga pamilya at pangalawa sa ating kapwa.

On the otherhand, it won't look good naman kung ang ating sariling pamilya ay ating napapabayaan at ang inaatupag o binibigyan natin ng pangunahing attention ay ang ibang tao. Charity begins at home 'ika nga. Kung may pagdarahop, we must be sure na mabigyan natin nang ating utmost concern ang ating pamilya. May mga kaparaanan naman upang ang ating kapwa ay mapagtuunan din natin nang pansin.

Ang buod ng "Alay-Kapwa" ay huwag din nating kakaligtaan sapagkat ito ay ating basehan sa pagkakaroon ng "Dakilang Pag-ibig" sa ating Lumikha, sa ating sarili at maging sa ating kapwa.

We have everything with us kung ang "POINT OF VIEW" ang pag-uusapan. We have the right to speak diligently, we have the freedom to act accordingly and, we have the ultimate privilege to show our humble self, for the world to know, who really we are.

TONY R. MONTERAS (malaking ibon)
OFW, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
25 January 2009 / 28 Muharram 1430 H

" FERVENT PRAYERS"

2009-01-29T02:46:00.000-08:00

Almighty God, we come before You today to seek Your guidance and compassion,
We pray to You to help us all in our daily lives, save and lead us to your Eternal Kingdom,
For You are the our Creator, Provider and Bestower of every good,
Wherefore, all our hopes is in You and to You we ascribe Glory now and until Eternity.
Bless us Almighty, God in the highest and Lord of mercies,
Provide us with sleep as a rest from our informities and
As a repose for our bodies tired by labor,
We thank You Lord for not destroying us in our transgressions,
Rather, You lead and teach us with your love towards mankind.
We lift up our hands to glorify Your Majesty and we entreat Your infinite goodness,
To enlighten the eyes of our undertstanding and
Raise our minds from heavy sleep of indolence.
You open our mouths and fill them with Your praise,
That we may unceasingly sing and confess to You.
Almighty God, You are glorified in all and by all,
Grant us our Lord with peace of mind,
So we could face all that the new day may bring,
Grant unto us grace to surrender ourselves completely to Your Holy will,
Instruct and prepare us in all things for every hour of the day,
And whatsoever tidings we may receive during the day,
Do teach us to accept them calmly with the firm conviction,
That all eventualities fulfill Your Holy will.
Govern our thoughts and feelings in all we do and say,
And when things unforseen occur, let us not forget that all cometh down from You,
Teach us to behave sincerely and reasonably,
Toward every member of our family and other human beings,
That we may not cause confusion and sorrow to anyone,
Bestow upon us our Lord, strength to endure the fatigue of the day,
And to bear our share in all its passing events,
Guide and teach us to believe, to hope, to suffer, to forgive,
And to love,
AMEN

TONY R. MONTERAS (malaking ibon)
OFW, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

"JOY, HOPE AND VISION FOR A NEW BEGINNING"

2009-01-24T07:06:00.000-08:00

Time and again, Marinduqunenos will once more prepare or brace for the forthcoming political battle that will be focused first and foremost on economic and social issues, as well as the long time dreamt developmental aspiration of our non-tiring leaders and concerned, dedicated citizens.

As well understood, Marinduque is at present in crisis of some sorts. Our province has slowed its pace for further development due to some of our citizen's collective failure in making hard choices and in preparing for a better and prosperous future.

For us Marinduquenos, a passing day is just another day of hardwork and inconvenience and, the day to come is a day of uncertainty on what would come next. Shall we always make ourselves dream of the impossible?

This time, we have to be well-prepared for a better tomorrow, as we have to choose hope over fear, unity for further development over self-esteem and manipulation.

One for all and all for one. This would be our smoking-vision for unity and surely, we are going to succeed!

However, what we would be needing is a truthful transformation of things from the very basics even to the most sophisticated ones. We have a lot of talented youths that could help us make this vision come true.

And as we envisioned to proceed to our collective choices, it is well-comprehensible to have capable, enduring, honest and diligent leaders who will assist us establish a strong and unshakable foundation, towards achieving such goals for our citizen's and province's development alike.

These youths (however) are (to be) the best candidates as future leaders of our province and giving them the good chance to further their education "IS A MUST" that have to be supported by our ever-caring leaders.

In this regard, whom do we think are these leaders that are in one way or the other, remain simply at the background of our youths?

And as the rage of poverty continues to engulf our society, a collective effort to ease the sacrifices of many parents in sending their children to school, particularly those in high school and college levels, we will be needing again, great leaders to further rule as well as to make future reforms and to continue our aspiration for a progressive province.

Pardon me, I just wish to recall that somewhere in time, many of our youths who qualified for college scholarships sponsored by our well-known provincial leaders enjoyed the privilege of being scholars which prove to be a great deal for both parents and students alike in the latter's pursuit of further education. Many of them finished the courses of their individual choices and have landed better jobs with higher compensation, locally or in abroad.

The simplicity of this vision alone is making tremendous impact and encouragement to our next generation. Shall we prohibit our upcoming youths to enjoy the same privilege provided by the above-mentioned leaders to those ahead of them?

As we always remind our people, the chances or prospect of having better and good public service is by choosing the right leaders who are fully-committed and who understand well the sentiments even of our ordinary citizens. And thus, who could further rule our province with their best ability, dedication and integrity.

Somehow, although I'm still working in the desert, for me - there is no distance too far away from home when it concerns my noble objective of helping our citizens in the best way I can, to further widen their visions and to focus their attention on things that may be in one way or the other help or assist them in achieving their individual goals, how simple those goals maybe, most especially with regards to our countryside or community development.

Right choices will surely bring us great results, results that will further enhance our capabilities in the performance of our duties and responsibilities not only to ourselves, to our families and citizens, but as well, to our great beloved province, Marinduque!

This is the "JOY, HOPE AND VISION FOR A NEW BEGINNING".

TONY R. MONTERAS (malaking ibon)
OFW, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
21 January 2009 / 24 Muharram 1430 H

"TRULY, THE TIME HAS COME"

2009-01-24T07:04:00.000-08:00

As we continually endeavor to facing the harsh realities of our everyday living, we Marinduquenos (Filipinos) must oblige ourselves and be more specific in our hopes, our visions as well as in embracing the call of unity amongst us towards our citizen's and province's development alike.

Hindi kasi maiwasan ng iba sa ating mga mamamayan ang magsawalang-bahala na lang kapag ang pangkalahatang tungkulin o pagmamalasakit na ang napapag-usapan. They are being reluctant to cooperate dulot ng maraming kadahilanan. Kaya kahit anong mungkahi ang isulong ng ating mga kinauukulan, wala ding nangyayari. Kung meron man, ito'y naihahanlintulad lang sa "ningas-cogon".

When shall our people learn to be more dedicated in the pursuit of our countryside development?

For many generations, kung ano ang kanilang kinamulatan, iyon na lang ang kanilang pinagtutunan nang pansin o attention. Halimbawa, ang mga naninirahan sa malapit sa tabing-dagat, they just focus their time and effort sa biyayang dagat (ordinary way of fishing). At ang mga nagbubukid naman, halos karamihan sa kanila'y sa pagtatanim na lang ng palay nakatuon ang panahon na kung tag-tuyot at walang irrigation sa lupa nilang sinasaka, tulad ng tuyong kabukiran, sila man ay nakatiwangwang lang.

Samantala, kung bibigyan lang nila ng pagkakataon ang kanilang mga sarili, there are a lot of very simple support projects na maaaring makapagbigay sa kanila ng additional income sakalit magkaroon ng problema sa kanilang prime livelihoods.

Sa mga mangingisda, kapag masama ang panahon at malalaki ang alon, kadalasan ito'y umaabot ng isang linggo o mahigit pa bago sila muling makapalaot. Ibig sabihin, wala silang income o kita sa mga panahong hindi sila nakakapangisda diba? Nakakapanghinayang ang lumilipas na pagkakataong hindi nila nabibigyan nang karampatang aksiyon.

Sa mga magsasaka naman, habang sila'y naghihintay na huminog ang palay o panahon ng pag-aani, bakante sila ng ilang buwan dahil ang inaatupag nila'y ang pag-aasikaso ng kanilang mga itinamin na palay.

At gayundin ang mga umaasa sa pagko-kopras, halos isang taong singkad o mahigit pa, bago sila muling makapag-ani ng mabuting bunga kapag may malakas na bagyong manalasa at puminsala sa kanilang mga punong niyog (niyugan).

Ganyan ka-simple ang kalagayan ng ating mga mamamayan sa Marinduque. Karamihan sa kanila'y umaasa lang sa dati nilang pinagkakakitaan. Ang siste, kung nagkaroon nang aberya, patung-patong ang kanilang nagiging problema. Hindi sila magkandaugaga sa pag-iisip kung saan sila kukuha ng maitutustos sa araw-araw na pangangailangan ng kani-kanilang mga pamilya lalo na't may mga anak na nagsisipag-aral.

The situation is overwhelming! Maliwanag na nakamulagat sa atin ang katotohanan o nangyayari. Dapat ba tayong magsawalang-kibo na lang at hayaang lalo pang lumala ang ating kalagayan?

If there is a will, definitely, there is a way? So, bakit hindi natin gawin ang nararapat at siguradong makakatulong sa atin sa oras ng ating mga pangangailangan o kagipitan (in the event of various calamities & its further devastation?).

Somehow, I don't believe that there are no motivations being made by our local authorities. Isa pa, kung meron man, dapat ay patuloy nila itong tututukan hanggang sa magkarron ito nang magandang resulta, and it should not end just there. Dapat ay maging isang routinary cycle ang procedure. Hindi iyong makatapos kumita eh bale-wala nang muli ang sinimulang adhikain dahil nagastos na ang kanilang kinita (kadalasan eh kulang pa nga) at wala na ulit puhunang magagamit. When shall this trend ends?

Usually, ganito ang nangyayari sa ating mga kanayuan at ang isang pangunahing dahilan dito ay ang kakulangan ng kapital o perang magagamit sa buong panahon nang pagsasakatuparan ng anumang proyekto.

Sa aking mga naunang sanaysay tungkol sa pagkakaroon ng maliit na proyektong pangkabuhayan, kung inyong matatandaan, ang pag-aalaga ng ilang hayop (manok, bibi, itik, baboy) na makakapag-bigay ng karagdagang kita sa isang pamilya, gayundin ang pagtatanim ng mga halamang gulay, prutas at mga punung-ugat (kamoteng kahoy, uraro, kamote, ubi, atbp).

Ang mga nabanggit ay simpleng adhikain at hindi nangangailangan ng malaking halaga. Sipag at tiyaga lang ang higit na puhunan sa mga adhikaing ito na sa paglipas ng konting panahon, makakamit na nila ang biyaya ng kanilang pinagpagurang proyekto.

Kung talagang walang magagastos sa pagbili ng mga binhi ng gulay, mayroon tayong Opisina ng Department of Agriculture sa bawat bayan ng ating probinsiya, doon maaari kayong humingi ng tulong tungkol sa mga binhi (look for Mrs. Luz Padernal, Provincial Agriculturist) gayundin sa animal dispersal program ng kagawaran (inquire from Ret. Gen. Recaredo Sarmiento, DA Provincial Consultant).

Mayroon din tayong mga koopertiba na maaaring makatulong sa fattening program ng mga hayup tulad ng baboy. I would suggest na kanilang sadyain ang Opisina ng Cooperative Development Authority sa pamumuno ni CDA OIC Edil Sager sa ating Kapitolyo at doon mag-inquire tungkol sa mga kooperatibang nagpapatupad ng ganitong mga proyekto.

Maaari ding makipagtalastasan o mag-inquire ang ating mga mamayang interesado magtayo ng kahit gaano kaliit na proyektong pangkabuhayan sa opisina ng ating Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) sa bayan ng Boac at makipagtalastasan kay butihing Director Carling Fabalena o kay Mrs. Mariden Calub and/or other DTI Staff.

Tungkol naman sa anumang teknolohiya, maaari kayong magsadya sa opisina ng Department of Science and Technology (DOST) and Techology Livelihood Resource Center (TLRC) na pinamumunuan ni OIC Bernie Caringal na matatagpuan sa Provincial Capitol compound.

Tayong mga Marinduquenos ay likas na masisikap at masisipag. Napapanahon na marahil upang ibulalas natin sa pamamagitan ng ating kooperasyon, pagkukusa at pagsisimulang mabago ang takbo ng ating lumalalang sitwasyon sa kabuhayan.

"TRULY, THE TIME HAS COME" for us to make-up our minds and proceed to whatever we think will generate employment and in providing extra income to our citizens. After all, ang ating mga mamamayan at lalawigan ang pangunahing makikinabang sa bagay na ito.

The change we wish to achieve depends on ourselves. Kung papaano tayomagsisimula upang mabago angnais natign mabago. And hopefully, such change would be for the better, even for the best and not the other way round!

Kung may ibayong pagsisipag at pagtitiyaga, tiyak na may tatamuhing nilaga!

Masarap ang anumang gulay o ulam na nilaga kapag ito'y nilagyan ng luya, dahong ng malunggay, sibuyas o sili, saka aasiman ng konting kalamansi (lalo na kung sariwa ang isda). Kay-sarap humigop ng mainit na sabaw diba?

TONY R. MONTERAS (malaking ibon)
OFW, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
21 January 2009 / 24 Muharram 1430 H

"NO MATTER WHAT"

2009-01-24T07:02:00.000-08:00

Sa kasalukuyang kalagayan ng ating probinsiya at bansa, ang mga mahihirap ay lalo pang naghihirap at tila napapagod na sa kanilang pakikibaka sa buhay. However, we can't just stop our journey to wherever we are. Life has to go on even we have to overcome or pass a lot of bumps, thorny roads and stumbling blocks. We Filipinos (Marinduquenos) should not give-up our hope, hope for the better or even hope for what is best for ourselves.

Lakasan lang nang loob ang pakikibaka natin sa buhay, take for instance the various creatures na tayong mga tao'y higit na nakakalamang sa katangian.

Napagmasdan na ba nating mabuti ang mga ibon, gaano man sila kalilit tulad ng pipit, maya at iba pa? Wala silang mga kamay and despite their miniature sizes, may mga nagagawa sila (maliban pa sa paglipad) na hindi kayang gawin nating mga tao. For instance, ang kanilang mga pugad na iba't-ibang klase at hugis ay buhat sa kanilang katalinuhang ibinigay ng Lumikha.

Such is a very simple but wonderful thing! Sa pamamagitan lang ng kanilang tuka at mga paa, nakakagawa sila ng napakagagandang pugad na kanilang pansamantalang tirahan habang sila'y nasa panahon nang pangingitlog at pagpipisa (incubation). After that at ang kanilang mga inakay ay magkabagwis, they will fly away and live their lives in the simplest manner they can thus, we see the birds are always happy enjoying their existence.

Kung ating ikukumpara ang kasalukuyang buhay nating mga mahihirap sa mga maliliit at ordinaryong nilikha ng Diyos, dito natin matuturol na ang ating katalinuhang taglay kung baga ay may kahalintulad ding katalinuhan ng mga ibon, mga insekto at iba pa although, it differs naturally.

Kadalasan nga'y naihahambing din natin ang ating sarili sa mga langgam sanhi nang ating walang humpay o patid na pagsisikap upang tayo'y may makain sa araw-araw. At kung hindi rin tayo kakahig (magtatrabaho nang husto) tulad ng mga manok hindi tayo tutuka (kakain) dahil salat tayo sa matatawag na kayamanang maaaring makapag-angat sa atin mula sa hirap nating kalagayan.

Totoong nasa pagsisikap nakasalalay ang ikabubuti o ikasasama nating mga tao. Sa ganitong sitwasyon, hindi maiiwasan ang mga taong kadalasa'y sinisisi ang anumang pagkakataon. At ito'y naidudulot nang kanilang kabiguang kinahihinatnan despite their enormous efforts and hardwork na mapabuti ang kanilang katayuan sa buhay. Gustuhin man nilang sumuko, hindi nila magawa dahil may mga mahal sila sa buhay na nakadepende sa kanilang suporta and they have no other choice but to carry on the burden in their journey.

On the other hand, hindi naman ito nangangahulugang kailangang tayo'y magsa-ibon o magsa-langgam upang malaman natin ang kanilang sinasabi (ang mga langgam kapag sila'y nagkakasalubong ay tila nagbubulungan at ang mga ibon nama'y umaawit nang magagandang himig).

Tayong mga tao (human beings) despite our differences in color, language, religion or creed, customs and traditions, environment, etc., ay itinakda ng Diyos na mas o nakakahigit ang katalinuhang taglay kaysa iba pa Niyang mga nilikha.

Ibig sabihin, kung tayo'y nagkakaroon ng mga suliranin, maiisip nating binigyan tayo nang sapat na isip at katalinuhan ng Diyos upang ito'y ating magamit sa paglutas o pagbata ng ating problema diba?

Kung ang mga ibon ay nagagalak o nag-e-enjoy, malayang lumilipad at umaawit to satisfy their want at ang mga langgam ay tila walang kapaguran sa kanilang pag-iipon ng makakain para sa panahon nang tag-ulan - tayo pa kayang mga tao ang hindi makaisip ng mga pamamaraan upang ma-resolba natin ang ating hirap na kalagayan?

In this case, I'm sure that no one shall ever think or say na mas matalino pa sa atin ang mga ibon o mga langgam diba?

Definitely, we can never hear birds complaining, gayundin ang mga langgam kung hirap silang makahanap ng maitatagong pagkain. Pero tayong mga tao, mahilig tayong magreklamo, mahilig tayong umangas lalo na kapag hindi natin gusto ang isang bagay diba?

And this big difference is being attributed to our being humans: matalino nga, mareklamo naman!

Siguro'y napapangiti na lang kayo sa inyong sarili, I'm sure of that! Come to think of what I have said, hindi ba't totoo itong maituturing?

Kaya, "NO MATTER WHAT" our situation is, our life is, our vision for the future - iisa lang ang tanging kinahahantungan nito. We have to strive hard, work even harder and make a living out of it!

Moreover, we must be at peace with ourselves, as well as with other people, but FIRST AND FOREMOST, WITH GOD!

TONY R. MONTERAS (malking ibon)
OFW, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
20 January 2009 / 23 Muharram 1430 H

"HOWEVER LONG IT TAKES"

2009-01-24T06:59:00.000-08:00

Tayong mga Marinduquenos (Filipinos) ay may kasabihang "magpakahaba-haba man daw ang prusisyon, sa simbahan pa rin ang tuloy".

This is really a very simple and so meaningful na sawikaing kinamulatan natin mula sa ating mga kanunu-nunuan and, this is being attributed to our being a religious Christian nation.

Somehow, hindi lang sa ating relihiyosong paniniwala at uri ng pagsamba nauugnay ang sanaysay na ito kundi higit sa lahat, ito'y natuturol sa ating patuloy na pagsisikap na mabago o mapaunlad ang kalagayan natin sa buhay kung saan, tayong mga Filipinos ay patuloy sa araw-araw nating pagbagtas.

Where there is faith, there's always hope for everything to change for the better if not the best. Kung baga, hindi natin halos inaalintana ang kahirapan ng kasalukuyang pamumuhay sapagkat, hindi lang naman tayo ang higit na naaapektuhan. Mas mapalad pa nga tayong maituturing kumpara sa mga mamamayan ng iba't ibang mga bansa sa buong mundo.

And since we are not used to major catastrophic climatic changes (maliban sa mga bagyong madalas dumadaan at nananalasa sa ating kapuluan, gayunding ang mga pagbahang kaakibat nito at manginlan-ngilang trahedya sa karagatan) unlike other countries in Europe, Canada and America where temperatures are two digits below zero (freezing point), masuwerte pa rin tayo sa Pilipinas diba?

Kung tutuusin, tayong mga Filipinos ay tunay na mapalad sapagkat, kahit anong kagutuman ang dumating sa ating bansa, compared to other countries in the whole of Africa, we can still manage and survive our ordeal. Marami sa atin ang masisikap, masisipag at may lakas ng loob o determinasyong malutas ang anumang pinoproblema sa maayos na pamamaraan whatever it may be.

Basically, (one more thing) most of our citizens are literate, marunong bumasa at sumulat kahit na ang pinakamatatanda (most seniors) and they pass this good trait from generations to generation. Ibig sabihin, maraming magagandang katangian tayong mga Pinoy kumpara sa ibang tao "saan mang panig ng mundo" (Sakamar). Hindi ba't ito'y sadyang maituturing na tayo'y masuwerte pa rin kaya lang, kung anong suwerte tayo meron, may katumbas itong kabalintunaan o kabaliktaran ng mga totoong nangyayari.

Hindi natin maaaring bigyang pansin lang ang mga mabubuting bagay tungkol sa ating mga mamamayan at kaugalian. Marami din tayong mga saramulyong tinatawag, mga halang ang bituka o kaluluwa, mga mapag-samantala, mga walanghiya, corrupt at mapagmataas, lalo na ang mga abusado sa katungkulan.

So, if we will only analyze the situation we are in, we will be able to check and balance the situation, saka pa lang natin masasabi kung saan talaga tayo nabibilang: sa linya ba ng kaiga-igaya ang mga katangian or vice versa.

On the other hand, hindi naman natin dapat idamay ang mga mabubuti sa ating populasyon. Kung maraming masasama sa ating lipunan, higit pa ring nakakarami ang may mga mabubuting puso at kaisipan. Ibig sabihin, majority pa rin sa ating mga Pinoy ang may dakilang kalooban, may takot sa Diyos at patuloy na nakikibaka sa paglutas ng kahirapang dinaranas nila sa buhay.

Samantala, malayo pa ang ating lalakbayin segun sa itinakda sa atin ng Diyos, "HOWEVER LONG IT TAKES", we always have the perseverance in pursuing our dreams, dreams to achieving better opportunities and prosperity in life. Dreams that someday, will be fulfilled, our dream come true, indeed.

TONY R. MONTERAS (malaking ibon)
OFW, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
20 January 2009 / 23 Muharram 1430 H

Mga Salitang Marinduqueño

2009-01-17T04:19:00.000-08:00

1 A-ay, p. – hindi o ayaw (pagtutol)
2 Ag-agan, n. – ginagamit sa pagpino ng buhangin (o arina)
3 Agay-ay, n. – pulbos galing sa nasisirang kahoy
4 Aging-ing, n. – mahinang tunog lalo na pag daplis sa tenga
5 Agipo, n. – tira ng pinagsunugan
6 Agiyak, n. – iyak ng manok kadalasan ay sisiw; siyap
7 Agnanay, a. – banayad o mahina lamang
8 Agod, n. – mga sari-saring bagay na nakalutang sa baha o `debris'
9 Agumod, n. – tunog ng hayop na kadalasan ay mababa ang tono
10 Aguntok, n. – daing ng sakit
11 Agutiot, n. – tunog na paulit-ulit (high-pitched) at nakakairita
12 Agwanta, n. – teka muna; katumbas ng `timeout' sa Ingles
13 Albok, a. – pinaikling salitang `alabok' o `alikabok'
14 Alboroto, n. - reklamo

15 Alibutod, n. – buto o pinakaloob; tira ng pinagkainan ng mais
16 Alimbuyugin, n. – uri ng manok na sasabungin
17 Alimuranin, n. – isang uri ng ahas
18 Alipato, n. – mga nililipad ng hangin mula sa pinagsunugan
19 Aluhipan, n. – alupihan o `centipede' sa Ingles
20 Amarigoso, n. – ampalaya, isang uri ng gulay
21 Ampiyas, n. – mahinang ulan kadalasan nadadala ng hangin
22 A-mu, n. – unggoy
23 Amusin, a. – may dumi sa mukha
24 Angus, v. – nasusunog na niluto kadalasan sinasaing na kanin
25 Anos, n. – isang uri ng kawayang ginagawang sulo at ginagamit na pang-
26 Antipo, n. – mga nagpepenitensiya tuwing Mahal na araw
27 Atampoyongin-sasampalin, sasaktan pamamagitan ng kamay
28 Atip, n. – bubong kadalasan ay gawa sa pawid
29 Bagakay -- nabibilang sa mga uri ng kawayan, magandang pangdingding ng bahay
30 Balinghoy - kamotengkahoy
31 Batang -- sakbit-sakbit ng mangangarit, gawa sa kawayan na lipatan ng tuba
32 Bau - pagong
33 Bila-bila - paruparo
34 Bingi - (matigas na buko)
35 Binusaan - pinagalitan
36 Bulaan - sinungaling
37 Bulasa - isang uri ng pipino na kulay dilaw
38 Burot -- mayabo kapag nilaga
39 Butot -- maliit na hipon
40 Gapat - safety pin
41 Hagikhik - dahon ng isang tanim na ginagamit sa pagbalot ng suman
42 Hampok - bulok(isda)
43 Igat -- isang uri ng isda sa ilog na parang ahas (madulas)
44 Ikat- malandi
45 Iri/idi -- pagtukoy sa isang bagay
46 Kabat -lock
47 Balinghoy - kamotengkahoy
48 Katang - alimango
49 Kibal - sitaw(stringbeans)
50 Kitse - tansan
51 Langis - mantika o coconut oil
52 Lastiko - goma(rubberband)
53 Lomboy - duhat
54 Luos - sirang niyog
55 Mapalot - mapanghi
56 Mayabo - masarap
57 Mura- buko
58 Nabalis - pagsusuka dahil nakakita ng taong may balis
59 Nagapambis - namimingwit
60 Nagatangis - umiiyak
61 Nagatasik-tasik - umaambon
62 Nagbulid - natumba
63 Nami - nayadyad muna tapos babad sa ilog ng 1 hanggang 3 araw bago iluto
64 Niyubak - nilupak
65 Palapa - dahon ng niyog
66 Palapatik(paltik) - tirador
67 Pampalas - nailcutter
68 Parna ngani- halika nga
69 patungkol sa protesta o hindi pagsang-ayon
70 Pitik -- laro na ang gamit ay lastiko
71 sa mata ng balang
72 Sabilid - balimbing
73 Saga-saga -- matigas na uri ng but-o na kulay pula na may kunting itim
74 Saklab - gamot sa nanuno o na-anayo
75 Saklab -- paggamot sa may sakit
76 Sinugno -- ginayat-gayat na hilaw na saging tapos agat-an (eto ang madalas
77 Sugba -- ilagay sa baga
78 Sulirap -- dahon ng niyog na nagawang bubong ng bahay
79 Sumigarok - halos tulad ng tumikangkang
80 Sumpit -- isang uri ng laruan (dulo ng bagakay) pero dilikado kapag natamaan ka
81 Supli - barya
82 Tabuan - igiban
83 Tain -- panghuli ng katang at hipon sa ilog
84 Talaw - takot
85 Tandok - pagtanggal ng lala ng kagat ng aso o ahas
86 Tangal - panglahok sa tuba, binayo na balat ng kahoy (di ko alam kung anong
87 Tuge - mahirap hukayin dahil maraming tinik per masarap ang nilaga
88 Tukil -- pangsahod sa puso ng niyog para makuha tuba
89 Tumikangkang - tumumba na una ang ulo at ang mga paa ay nasa itaas
90 Tungaw -- isang uri ng hayop na maliit pa sa hanip, madalas sa singit ng tao
91 Ulabe - parang ube na kulay puti (mahirap hukayin dahil sa kailaliman ng lupa
92 Uyamutin - magalitin(moody)
93 Tuba - inuming nakalalasing galing sa niyog

Source: Alibata · Ancient Baybayin Scripts Network

"DON'T GIVE-UP ANYTHING, EVER"

2009-01-17T02:48:00.000-08:00

Masasabi nating hindi naman lahat sa ating buhay ay tungkol na lang sa mga problema, hinaing o mga pasakit. We have to look at the bright side of life to inspire us more in the performance of our duties and responsibilities.

Although masasabi nating life is routinary, depende na rin sa atin kung papaano natin ito haharapin, gugugulin at pahahalagahan. Alam nating pahirap nang pahirap ang takbo ng pamumuhay sa ating lalawigan o bansa at ito'y isa sa mga dahilan kung bakit marami sa atin ang nagnanasang makipagsa-palarang magtrabaho sa iba't-ibang lugar (siyudad man o ibayong dagat).

In our journey, we usually have our utmost desire with us na kailangan nating maisakatuparan by all means kung baga, and that it's to "look for a greener pasture" na hindi natin kaagad matagpuan sa sarili nating pamayanan.

Sa kabilang banda, hindi naman lahat nang nakikipagsapalaran ay nagtatatagumpay, isang dahilan upang makaramdam tayo nang ibayong kabiguan sa ating sarili na kung minsa'y hindi na lang natin maibulalas upang ating mapangalagaan ang ating sariling kapakanan.

Magkaminsan kasi, when we open ourselves to other people, sa halip na tayo'y maunawaan, they seem to belittle or insult us on our disappointment or frustration. That simply means adding pain to the injured so, sa halip na sila'y makatulong, they increase the heavy loads we are already carrying.

At base naman sa mga katulad naming matagal nang nakikipagsapalaran sa ibayong dagat - masasabi kong mali ang pag-aakala ng iba nating mga kababayan na kami'y higit na nakaka-alwan sa buhay. Kung baga, as if we are just working in our own country dahil majority of us are not having big salaries. May mga kababayan (OFWs) pa nga tayong naloloko ng mga recruiting agencies (in connivance with the supposedly employers) kaya pagdating sa lugar na pagtatrabahuhan, ang work contract na kanilang pinirmahan sa Pilipinas ay iba sa work contract na pinaiiral sa kanilang bansang pinuntahan.

And there, the problems start na higit na nakaka-apekto sa ating mga kababayan. Iyong mga hindi sanay sa buhay o kalagayang mapalayo sa kanilang mga mahal sa buhay, sila ang higit na dumaranas nang impact ng nasabing problema to the point na nakakagawa sila ng mga bagay na labag sa batas na pina-iiral sa bansang kanilang pinagtatrabahuhan. Many of our kababayans simply land in conjested
jails, some lost their mental faculty/stability while others, runaway from their job assignments or employers to seek our Embassy's assistance.

Since there are no other individuals who could help these problematic OFWs, doon sila nagsisiksikan sa compound (shelter) ng ating Embahada awaiting resolve to their problems that may take quite sometime dahil hindi lang naman iilan ang mga naroroon (they're in several hundreds to thousands in total).

This scene only shows that "looking for a greener pasture from a foreign land" is not an assurance for a better life. Kanya-kanyang kapalaran lang talaga ang pag-a-abroad. Sabi ng iba, swertehan lang while others claim that it depends on one's destiny kahit naririyan pa tayo sa ating probinsiya o bansa, if something is really bound to happen, totohanang iyo'y mangyayari. Meaning, it's God's Will!

So, kung anuman ang ating mga plano sa buhay, hindi tayo dapat na panghinaan nang loob. Kung hindi tayo nagtagumpay sa paghanap natin ng tinatawag na greener pasture sa ibang lugar, there's no other place like home. Nobody knows na ang atin palang tagumpay ay nasa loob lang mismo ng ating bakuran or probinsiya o bayang ating inalisan. Nagsayang pa tayo ng pagkakataong magpaka-layu-layo at gumastos pa ng malaking halaga upang masabing tayo'y nag-abroad.

Sa kasalukuyang nananalasa ang global economic crisis, dapat na suriin ng ating mga kababayang nagbabalak na mag-abroad ang maaaring maging kahinatnan kapag sila'y matuloy umalis o tumulak patungo sa bansang kanilang pupuntahan.

Some of recruiting agencies are only after the recruitment fees they will get. Although they are aware of the might be dire situation in the OFW's work place, wala silang pakialam sa anumang maaaring kasapitan ng ating walang-kamalay-malay na mga kababayan.

A lot of OFWs all-over the world are already facing work-related problems dahilan sa retrenchment ng mga workers (bagong dating or matagal na) caused by the devastating global economic crisis. Kahit ang mga kompanyang matagal nang pinagtatrabahauhan ng mga dating OFWs natin ay nanganganib na magsara (ang iba'y nagsara na nga) while others are still fighting for survival (50-50, 60-40, 70-30).

These prevailing phenomenon is beyond the control of the companies management as it came into effect, dictated by the worldwide recession. No one can solve this situation at the soonest possible time and it may take years while many of our kababayans (OFWs) are already losing their jobs at nahaharap nang mapauwi sa bansa. I need not elaborate on this matter anymore. It's a bold truth that affect us all, both in our country or those working or residing abroad.

Despite of what's been taking place regarding the global economies, tayong mga Marinduquenos (Filipinos) ay hindi dapat na panghinaan nang loob. What we need in combatting the present crisis is to unite and cooperate for a common goal. Our loccal government officials should encourage, motivate and extend assistance to our citizens. We have a plenty of vacant lands not being properly attended to. The DAR, DENR and DA should work together and meet the local officials (Barangay Association) to draft resolutions and plan a productive agricultural plan to ease our shortage of food that can be produced in our countryside.

Kulang lang tayo sa proper innovation or motivation as well as leaders and followers who could do the job well done. Dumarami na kasi sa atin ang mga tumatambay at tatamad-tamad, gayong kung sila'y hahawak ng piko, asarol atbp., (upang bungkalin ang mga lupang nakatiwangwang (of course, permission should be seek first) pagyamanin ang nasabing lupa, taniman ng mga gulay o root crops, diligan) sa paglipas ng konting panahon, maliwanag na pera ang idudulot nito sa kanila at hindi sila mag-aalalang magugutom.

Others claim na kinakain ng mga nakaligaw na kambing ang kanilang mga pananim. Don't tell me na mas mautak pa ang kambing kaysa nagtanim? Or sabi ni Pilosopo Tasyo, kapag ang kambing na nakaligaw ay manalanta ng mga gulay o pananim, the best way daw ay ....take note!!!.... ang kambing mismo ang itanim, period! Bahala na kayo kung anong ibig niyang sabihin!

Simple life is a very convenient scenario in our province. Kung tayo ma'y nangabigo sa ating ibang pangarap na matupad sa ating buhay, LIFE SHOULD NOT JUST STOP THERE ABRUPTLY. May iba pang pagkakataon at oportunidad na naghihintay sa atin sa banda roon nang bukas. "DO NOT GIVE-UP ANYTHING, EVER" dahilan lang sa tinamo nating kabiguan. We have to start another chapter.

May bukas pang darating, may araw pang sisikat pagkaraan ng magdamag na dilim. Meaning, everything has its end and another beginning! Let's make the most of it. Consider your failure a big challenge to pursue another dream! Surely, you will win what you really aim!

TONY R. MONTERAS (malaking ibon)
OFW, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

"HEAR MY SILENT WHISPERS"

2009-01-17T02:44:00.000-08:00

There comes a time when you must stand alone,
you must feel confident enough within yourself to follow your own dreams,
you must be willing to make sacrifices,
you must be capable of changing and rearranging your priorities
so that your final goal can be achieved;

Sometimes familiarity and comfort need to be challenged,
there are times you must take extra chances and create your own realities,
be strong enough to at least try to make your life better,
be confident enough that you won't settle for a compromise just to get by,
appreciate yourself by allowing yourself the opportunities to grow, develop,
and find your true sense of purpose in life;
"Don't stand in someone else's shadow, when it's your sunlight that should lead the way".

Work hard at what you like to do and try to overcome all obstacles,
laugh at your own mistakes and praise yourself for learning from them,
pick some flowers and appreciate the beauty of nature,
say hello to strangers and enjoy the people you know,
don't be afraid to show your emotions, laughing and crying make you feel better;

Love your friends and family with your entire being,
they are the most important part of your life,
feel the calmness on a quiet sunny day,
find the rainbow and live your world of dreams,
always remember life is better than it seems.

TONY R. MONTERAS (malaking ibon)
OFW, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

"HURT BUT NOT BROKEN"

2009-01-15T00:38:00.000-08:00

In this world, many people live as simple as they are in order to survive thus, they are considered well-guided by their good-moral motivations in life. Their physical, mental and social attributes, etc., serve as their assets to further their noble intentions. They are those people who are God-fearing and who believe on what's at stake for them when they are called to their final destination.

Kung may mga taong mabubuti ang mga kalooban at kaisipan, hindi rin mapapasubalian ninuman ang pagkakaroon ng mga nilikhang self-motivated, selfish with destructive ways of thinking na wala na yatang hinahangad kundi ang makalamang o makapanloko ng kanilang kapwa just to satisfy their wants. Sila ang mga individuals na devil-guided ang buong katauhan at walang pakialam kung sila man ay makasakit, maka-argabyado o makalamang sa kanilang kapwa in whatever ways they live their lent / temporary lives.

May God forgive this kind of human beings and open their hearts and minds to the real truth and reasons of their existence in this earth, as well as not to disguise on whatever they wish to achieve through devilish ways and means.

On the other hand, the truth of the matter is we can't just relax where a lot of these satanic individuals roam around in every corners of our society who aim to attack anyone at any given time. These people are misguided, lost and harmful beings so by our own little ways, we must be extra careful in safeguarding our beings so as not to fall a victim of any negative circumstance/s.

The consequence of their acts explicitly affects us all in any manner of our normal lives. We should always bear this in mind.

Henceforth, we must seek the Almighty's guidance and protection from these unscrupulous individuals.

TONY R. MONTERAS (malaking ibon)
OFW, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
15 January 2009 / 18 Muharram 1430H

"ECONOMIC PERSPECTIVE FROM A DISTANCE"

2009-01-13T22:17:00.000-08:00

Like our Planet Earth, the universal crisis on economics keeps on revolving day after day with no assurance yet when shall the current global malady be checked to slowly return to its normalcy.

Subsequently, powerful as well as the poor nations of the world are doing their bests to partly reduce the impact of this devastating situation which is too impossible to be solved soonest. Leader countries like America & those in Europe have not been spared with this situation which was predicted to be worse than the great depression of the 1970's and 1980's.

Siyempre pa, naliligalig ang buong mundo lalo't higit ay ang America sa dahilang sa nakaraang taon lang (2008), mahigit sa dalawang million at kalahati (2.6 million) ang nawalan ng trabaho o hanapbuhay sa kanilang mga mamamayan.

And the world is staring at the United States of America on how they could solve their own problems on unemployment which during (last month alone) December 2008, it's been recorded that a total of 524,000 lost their jobs (staggering more than half a million).

Comparing to the small and not-much-developed countries like ours, such a job lost statistics tremendously will definitely bring negative impact to our economy to the point that perhaps, the Philippines will slowly go down the drain.

We must be thankful first and foremost to our God Almighty that even we are a small, poor nation that belongs to the third world, that we are spared from natural calamities (extreme weather conditions - many degrees below freezing point) that are occuring in the most industrialized countries of the world.

Somehow, kung patuloy man ang pag-ulan sa iba't-ibang parte ng ating bansa, that causes soil erosions, numerous floodings, etc., maituturing pa rin nating tayo'y mapalad sapagkat we can survive our ordeals dahil tayong mga Filipinos are very flexible in combatting and surviving our way of life. Kahit madalas tayong dalawin ng mga mapaminsalang bagyo, Filipinos are very resilient to live a normal life after the storm.

On the other hand, ang ibang kalamidad sa atin ay attributed na rin sa sarili nating kapabayaan at kawalang-concern sa ating kapaligiran or environment. Marapat sanang tayo'y mamulat na sa katotohanang tayo mismo ang nagiging dahilan ng ating mga problema so dapat lang na ito'y ating maiwasto, maiwasang mangyaring muli sapagkat in the long ran, tayo rin ang naaapektuhan at nahihirapan.

Kung tutuusin, the clogging of the cities drainage systems as well as the soil erosions in the provinces or the mountainous areas are caused by majority of us. Wala silang habas sa pagtatapon ng mga basura kahit saan nila gusto, at ang mga nagkakaingin naman, sige lang nang sige sa pagputol ng mga punong-kahoy na siyang nagpo-protekta sa ating mga kabunsukan laban sa malawakang pagbaha or during inclement weather conditions.

Of course, everything will experience a pause or pansamantalang pagkaantala ng anumang serbisyo publiko, gayundin ang paghahanapbuhay ng mga namamasukan o nagtatrabaho sa iba't-ibang sektor ng ating lipunan. And whom shall we blame, ang panahon ba o tayong mga tao na nagiging parte sa walang habas na pagkasira ng ating kalikasan o kapaligiran.

Global warming and other extreme weather phenomenons are in one way or the other attributed to the activities of men and nobody can deny that. So, kung magpapatuloy tayo sa ating mga kinagawiang hindi kanais-nais, kahit wala na tayo sa mundong ito, pagdating nang takdang panahon our world will be no where to find by our future generations, as they'll be gone with it too.

A piece of advise, kung nais nating mapabuti ang ating sarili, ang ating kapaligiran, ang ating bansa o lipunan gayunduin ang mundong ating ginagalawan, we have to think over and over again on how we could contribute in preserving our nature and our planet.

On the economic point of view, I'm extending my won "ECONOMIC PERSPECTIVE FROM A DISTANCE" sa inyong lahat upang kahit man lang ilang saglit ay ating mabigyan nang konting kahalagahan kung papaano tayo makakatulong, hindi ang tayo'y patuloy na maging bahagi ng mga problemang pagsapit nang takdang panahon ay ating pagsisisihan (kung huli na ang lahat).

TONY R. MONTERAS (malaking ibon)
OFW , Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

"AND ... EMOTION RUN HIGH"

2009-01-13T22:08:00.000-08:00

Maituturing silang isang ordinaryong pamilya sa lalawigan ng Marinduque although malaki ang kanilang angkan, katulad din sila ng ibang Marinduquenos na patuloy na nagsisikap upang maka-alpas sa mahigpit na pagkakabigkis ng kahirapang simula pa sa kanilang kanunu-nunua'y kanilang kinagisnan.

Pangingisda ang buod ng kanilang kabuhayan. Ang mga miyembro ng kanilang pamilya'y maagang pumapalaot sa karagatan upang sa maagang oras ay makabalik sila kaagad sa dalampasigan dala ang bunga ng kanilang pinaghirapan. Rain or shine, ito ang hanapbuhay ng mga mamamayan sa kanilang buong barangay (verymuch dependent sila sa biyayang dagat).

Sa paglipas ng mga panahon, sa kanilang mga murang isipan, naikintal nila ang kahalagahan ng pag-aaral kaya, kahit salat sila sa maraming materyal na bagay, hindi iyon naging sagabal upang sa kanilang angkan ay may makagtapos sa mataas na paaralan at makapagpatuoly hanggang sa kolehiyo. Nag-ilang saling-lahi na ang mga nagsimulang magsikap, nagpakahirap at nagtiyaga sa maraming taon nilang pakikibaka upang mapaglabanan at maiwasan nila ang kamangmangan.

Sa gitna nang kanilang pagsusumikap, naroroon pa rin ang bakas nang pag-asang minsan, isang araw may mga miyembro sila ng kanilang pamilya na magsisilbing leader sa kanilang pagsulong tungo sa kaunlaran.

However, hindi naman ganoon kadali ang magsakatuparan ng isang pangarap, pangarap na siyang magsisilbing basehan o bahagdan tungo sa pag-unlad. Sa mga mura nilang isipan, hindi maiwawaglit ang mga panahong sa gitna nang kanilang pagpupursiging makapag-aral , sila'y naliligalig sapagkat kailangan nilang sumabak sa pag-aani ng palay sa malayong kabukiran upang sila'y may maisaing sa araw-araw. Pumapalya sila sa pagpasok sa eskuwelahan sapagkat, kung wala silang mailalaman sa kanilang tiyan, mababale-wala lang ang kanilang pag-aaral kapag sila'y magkasakit o magkaramdam.

One for all, all for one ang naging tuntunin nila sa buhay. Ang kanilang mga magulang kahit naririndi kung saan kukuha nang maisasaing o maiiulam ay hindi nagpapahalatang sila'y naliligalig. Ang walong supling (excluding one who passed-away nearly a week from birth) na kanilang inaruga at pinangalagaan hanggang sa sila'y magkaisip at magkaroon ng lakas upang makipagtulungan ay mga nagsilaking tigib ng pangarap kung papaano maibsan ang kanilang naging kahirapan sa buhay.

Tatlong babae at limang lalaki ang inasahan nilang maging pundasyon ng kanilang pamilya sakalit dumating ang kanilang mga magulang sa kanilang hangganan. Ang dalawang mas matanda (panganay na babae at sumunod na lalaki) ay napawalay sa anim nilang mga kapatid sa murang edad at sila'y lumaki sa pangangalaga ng isang mag-asawang (tiyuhin/tiyahin) na hindi nabiyayaan ng mga anak.

Sa kabilang banda, ang anim na natira sa poder na kanilang mga magulang ay lumaking may pagkakaisa, busog sa mga pangaral at pagmamahal at higit sa lahat ay may pagsusunuran. Wala silang inggitan sapagkat alam nila ang katayuan sa buhay ng kanilang pamilya. Higit sa lahat sila'y may takot sa kanilang mga magulang.

Nang magsimula silang magsipag-aral sa elementarya na ang layo'y may isang kilometro at kahalati buhat sa kanilang bahay, pumapasok sila sa eskuwela na nakatapak o walang sapin sa paa dala ng kanilang kahirapan na noon, kahit isang pares na bakya ay hindi sila maibili ng kanilang magulang.

Sa madali't-sabi, ganito ang tunay na kaanyuan nila nang mga panahong iyo'y napakahirap kitain ang sampung sentimong barya na kanilang binabaon sa araw-araw, (hating-kapatid 'ika nga na sa tatlong magkakapatid na sabay pumapasok: dalawa ang tig-tatatlong pera at ang isa nama'y apat na pera (relyebo). Kung talagang walang maibigay na baon ang kanilang mga magulang, sa dahilang meron silang laguwertahan (taniman ng gulay at halamang-ugat tulad singkamas, kamote at balinghoy o buyboy) sa kanilang likod bahay, may araw pa'y sinasabihan na sila ng kanilang nanay na bumunot ng isang punong-buyboy para mailuto na kanilang babaunin sa pagpasok kinabukasan (nakabalot sa dinarang na dahon ng saging). Kung meron namang asukal na pula o matamis na bao, ang nasabing buyboy ay gagawing sinulbot (na ang balinghoy aymaaaring palitan ng hinog na saging na sabang tiniba sa kanilang lupa sa bandang ilaya). Iyan ang kanilang pinagtiyagaang bunuin hanggang sa sila'y magsipag-aral na sa high school.

This was the actual reality of their family's life during those years, pero walang umaangal o nagrereklamo sapagkat lumaki silang gamit ay ilaw na gasera at ang kanilang kusina (abuhan) ay ang dirty kitchen. Masaya na sila kapag ang ulam ay isdang pinirito sa langis ng niyog. Kadalasan, ang kanilang pagkain ay may gata maging ito'y gulay, kanin o ulam. Kapag masama ang panahon (may bagyo) at walang makapalaot sa dagat o makapangisda, masikap at masipag ang kanilang ama at hindi niya makayang dalhin sa kanyang sarili na magsitulog na lang ang kanilang mga anak na hindi man lang kumain ng hapunan.

Sa ganitong kalagayan, bago pa man dumilim, ang kanilang ama'y umaalis na ng bahay patungo sa pangingilaw sa lalao (swamp area) na nasa kabilang bahagi lang ng sapang malapit sa kanilang bahay. Kapag masyadong malakas ang hangin na dulot ng bagyo, ang kanilang tanging tanglaw ay ang isang gaserang nakapaloob sa isang basyong balde na pinaglagyan ng gaas (petrolyo). At sa buong magdamag, ang anim na magkakapatid ay sama-samang natutulog sa iisang banig (magkakatabi) nakakulambo at may malaking kumot na tinahi sa pinagtagni-tagning katsa (supot) ng arina.

Samantala, habang ang kanilang ama'y nasa pangingilaw ng kanilang maiiulam, ang kanilang namang ina aynakapagkayod na na isang buong niyog na igagata sa anumang maiiuwing huli ng kanilang tatay. Kadalasan noon, kapag masungit ang dagat dahil sa sama ng panahon, nakaugalian na nilang kumain ng hapunan sa dis-oras ng gabi - kung kailan makakauwi ang kanilang tatay galing sa pangingilaw.

Ginigising na lang silang magkakapatid kapag nakaluto na nang ulam, (usually ginataan) kung walang huli ang kanilang tatay, kakain pa rin sila, subalit kanin lang na pinigaan ng gata at may konting asin. Walang sinuman sa anim na magkakapatid ang may lakas ng loob na magreklamo sapagkat bantad mula sa kanilang pagkabata ang sinapit nilang kahirapan. Higit sa lahat, may lubos silang paggalang sa kanilang mga magulang (ama at ina) na sa pagsapit ng dilim, (sasala ang sandok sa palayok) pero hindi nila makakalimutang magmano (humalik ng kamay - meaning, idinadampi ang kanilang noo sa kanang kamay ng kanilang mga magulang, o kahit sinong matatanda).

Ito ang tanda nang paggalang o pagsuko sa mga nakakatanda ng mga kabataan sa panahong iyon.

This narrative story continues within their family circle. Ang kanilang buong kabahayan ay may silong magkakarugtong ang kanilang kusina, salas, silid-tulugan na ang sahig ay patpat o tinilad na buyos ng kawayan. Ang kanilang silong sa bandang kusina ay nababakuran ng kawayan sapagkat doon nakaligaw ang kanilang ilang baboy na inaalagaan. Sa silong naman ng kanilang salas, ay may mga nakahilerang pugaran ng kanilang mga manok na nangingitlog. Bukod pa sa ilang baboy at mga manok, meron din silang ilang bibing pinararami. Samakatuwid, may gulayan (laguwertahan) na sila sa likod ng bahay, marami pa silang alagang mga hayup na nakakapagbigay sa kanilang pamilya ng karagdagang kita lalo na sa panahong walang biyayang naibibigay ang karagatan.

..... to be continued.....

TONY R. MONTERAS (malaking ibon)
OFW, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

"THOUGH THE WORLD IS CHANGING"

2009-01-13T00:54:00.000-08:00

These days, it seems that there's nowhere for us to go so as not to be affected by the current numerous crisis hampering the stability, peace and security of the world we live.

Mayaman, mahirap or the even ordinary citizens of every country are embracing the what-so-called dire consequences of war, food insufficiency, economic down-turn, peace and order situation, terrorism, space exploration, global warming (climate change) and its effects to our environment and a lot more.

Totoong nakakarindi na ang sangkatutak na nangyayari sa ating daigdig, halos wala na tayong masulingan. Sa ating bansa lang, pangunahing usapin pa rin ang iba't-ibang uri ng corruptions sa maraming departamento ng ating pamahalaan, lokal man o nasyonal as well as drug-related issues and the fight of ordinary Pinoys against our powerful elites. Ngipin sa ngipin kung baga ang labanan. And in the south, the survival of the fittest between the men in uniform against the bandits or what they called separatists or terrorists.

Sa mga probinsiya at kanayunan naman, we cannot set-aside the increasing difficulty of living a normal life, the harship of having three-meals a day and the degredation of our humane society. Dahil sa patuloy na pananalasa ng kahirapan sa majority ng ating mga kababayan, the sense of "balikatan" ay unti-unti na ring nawawalan nang saysay.

What else will go nonsense? What shall we do to help eliminate or even reduce the impact of poverty and difficulty of living a normal life, sa ating probinsiya na lang?

Shall we just shut our eyes, plug our ears and lock our mouth so as not to leak-out what we really feel and want to express to partially relieve our seem-endless-sufferings?

"THOUGH THE WORLD IS CHANGING", we human beings are divided into what and where shall we look forward to. There are a lot of confusions everywhere, the way people act, talk and think. And in this regard, we are not really confined in just one situation only as the majority might wish. For every action we make, there's always that opposite reaction we face and often times more.

Where we want peace, others want war. Where we wish happiness, others want discontentment.
And where we wish to live in harmony, others wish to go out there and kill the innocents.

Somehow, many say that Filipinos are very flexible people, kung baga "pliant like a bamboo". Subalit hindi naman dapat na laging ganito na lang ang ating maging sitwasyon o pananaw sa atin. Kung tayo'y nakakapagtimpi, hindi dapat na ang ating pagpapasensiya ay manatili na lang sa ating sarili. We are as well human beings and we have our own limitations to whatever the case maybe. Sabi nga, ang taong tahimik ay nasa ilalim ang init (kulo). Kaya hindi siya o sila dapat na abusuhin sa kanilang mga karapatan.

One day, magugulat na lang ang mga abusado that those mapagtimpi pala already opened their eyes, unplugged their ears and unlocked their mouth. Huwag nating hintaying mangyari ang ganito sapagkat hindi natin tiyak magugustuhan and maaaring mangyari kapag nagsagupa ang magkabilang panig (whoever and whatever they maybe).

Subsequently, kahit patuloy ang maraming pagbabago sa ating daigdig, hindi natin dapat talikdan ang sarili nating mga mamamayan, bayan o barangay na ating kinagisnan. Gayundin ang ating pagnanasang makatulong sa ating mga pamayanan tungo sa pagkakamit nito ng kaunlaran. Kaunlaran para sa lahat ng ating mga kakabayan at hindi para sa iilang makapangyarihan.

Where shall we go from here? Shall we be united or shall we be totally divided?

TONY R. MONTERAS (malaking ibon)
OFW, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

"LIVING IN A NUTSHELL"

2009-01-13T00:25:00.000-08:00

Eventually, masasabi nating ang kasalukuyang sitwasyon sa buhay ngayon ay totoong sikil na sikil sa napakaraming bagay. Saan man tayo bumaling, ang bumabadya sa ating attention at paningin ay ang mga hindi mapapasubaliang bakas o tanda nang kahirapang dulot ng pandaigdigang krisis sa ekonomiya.

Ang dati nang mahirap nating kalagayan ay lalo pang pinalubha ng nasabing krisis kaya tuloy hindi na halos natin malaman kung papaano maisasalba ang ating pamilya sa mahigpit na pagkakabigkis ng kahirapan.

Sino naman kaya sa atin ang nagnanais na hindi umunlad ang pamumuhay? Ang kaso, kung ang mga mauunlad na bansa ay sumasablay, tayo pa kayang ang ekonomiya'y aandap-andap ang hindi mahirapan?

In this particular case, even our technocrats na tinatawag ay halos walang magawa upang ma-control ang hindi mapigilang pagtaas ng mga pangunahing bilihin, udyok na rin ng umiiral ng nasabing global economic meltdown.

Sa kabilang banda ang mga negosyante, maliit man o malaki ay hirap ding maka-arangkada sapagkat ang mga presyo ng raw materials ay masasabing @ sky-high level. Apektado tayong lahat sa ating pamumuhay kaya, kinakailangang umisip tayo ng mga praktikal na pamamaraan upang mabawasan o malimitahan natin ang ating mga gastusin sa araw-araw.

Basically, ang mga kababayan nating sa probinsiya naninirahan ang madaling makakagawa ng paraan upang sila'y makatipid sa kanilang gastos sa pagkain, kung sila'y magsisipag lang. Kailangan nilang magkaroon ng self-innovation or motivation at konting pagpapapawis upang ang mga nakatiwangwang na lupa sa kanilang kapaligiran ay kanilang mapagyaman at mataniman ng iba't-ibang halamang gulay, root crops tulad ng kamote (sweet potato) uraro at kamoteng kahoy (cassava).

Sa ngayong panahon, some of our kababayans are like "LIVING IN A NUTSHELL" gayong malaya naman silang makakakilos ayon sa kanilang nais gawin. There's no such limitations being imposed sa ating kapaligiran basta huwag lang lalampas o aabuso sa kagandahang asal.

Compared to those living in other countries particularly in the Middle East that every action/s should be in accordance with the laws and regulations of the Kingdom so as not to be in trouble, ang kaluwagan sa ating bansa ay masasabi nating isang pribilihiyo ng bawat Filipino. We have all the legal rights being citizens of our country kaya dapat natin itong samantalahin alang-alang sa kabutihan at katuparan nang ating mga tapat na hangarin.

Kung alin, ano at saan tayo makakatulong o makikinabang na hindi tayo makaka-perhuwesyo ng ating kapwa, iyon ang ating gawing panuntunan sa buhay. Things will just be alright kahit na may nangyayari pang economic crisis na tinatawag. Ang pagtatanim ng mga gulay at prutas (papaya, bayabas, etc) sa ating kapaligran o bakuran ay hindi nangangailangan ng high technology. Magsipag lang na pagyamanin ang anumang itinanim, pagdating ng ilang linggo o buwan - nakahanda na tayong umani ng ating pinaghirapang itinanim. Gayundin ang pag-aalaga ng ilang (sisiw) manok, itik o bibi. Ito'y tuwirang makakatulong sa paglutas ng ating problema sa pagkain, sa halip na tayo'y bibili sa palengke, sa anumang oras na gustuhin natin, maaari tayong makatikim ng masarap na sabaw o karne ng ating mga pinagtiyagaang alagain.

Sa katotohanan, walang kasing-tulad ang mamuhay sa probinsiya, sariwa ang mga pagkain at sariwa din ang hangin. Sa gilid ng bahay, ang gawing bakod ay sanga ng malunggay. Ilang panahon lang ito'y makakapag- dulot na ng kaagad ng gulay na ating kailangan (dahon, bulaklak o bunga). Sabayan natin ng pagpunla ng ilang binhi (buto) ng patola, upo, kalabasa, papaya at ilang piraso ng luya, tanglad at sili sa gilid ng bakod. Hindi na kakailanganin dito ang anumang commercial fertilizer o pataba sapagkat ang anumang compost o dumi ng mga alaga nating hayup ay sapat nang ibudbod mga sa puno upang madali silang lumago at lumaki.

Kapag ang nasabing sanga ng malunggay at ang mga buto ng gulay ay tumubo at mamunga, siguradong hindi natin makakayang ubusing gulayin ang mga ito kaya, may pagkakataon pa tayong makapagbenta at kumita ng pera diba? Sakalit dumami na ang ating mga alagang manok, itik o bibi, wala tayong gagawin kundi ang pumitas ng mga gulay at panamya sa ating bakuran, saka humuli ng isang manok at ilutong ulam na tinola.

If you try this simple gardening, hindi na kayo mang-iistorbo pa sa inyong kapitbahay or hindi na kayo magagastusan sa pagbili ng mga gulay kung nais ninyong kumain ng buhat sa sarili ninyong pinaghirapan. And then, you will say to yourself: "what a wonderful feeling really" dahil busog na busog kayo ng tinolang manok na ang katapat ay kaning bagong-saing na nilagyan ng ilang pirasong dahon ng pandan. Uhhmm!

Talagang masarap kumain! Meaning, tayo ang nagtanim, tayo ang nag-ani, tayo ang nagbayo, tayo ang nagsaing ----- "Halina't sabay-sabay na tayong kumain"! Ewan ko lang kung hindi kayo makadama ng gutom after reading this article!

TONY R. MONTERAS (malaking ibon)
OFW, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

Welcome to the heart of the Philippines (MARINDUQUE)

2009-01-11T19:38:00.002-08:00

"Marinduque is an island province of the Philippines located in the MIMAROPA region in Luzon. Its capital is Boac. Marinduque lies between Tayabas Bay to the north and Sibuyan Sea to the south. It is located south and west of Quezon, east of Mindoro, and north of Romblon.

Marinduque is a heart-shaped island situated about eleven miles (18 km) from the main island of Luzon. It is 370 square miles (960 km2) making it the thirteenth largest island in the Philippine archipelago.

Marinduqueños are of Tagalog origin and speak Tagalog. However, because of the island's proximity to the Visayas region, the Marinduqueño variant of Tagalog has many words that are Visayan origin and are not comprehensible to other Tagalog speakers. Traces of Bicolano can also be found in this variant. Filipino and English are also well understood.

Marinduqueños are very hospitable in nature and are very welcoming. One such custom reflecting this is putong, which is a custom of welcoming and honoring friends and visitors. The honoree (or honorees) are seated and crowned with flowers while local women dance and sing for them. Other well-wishers throw coins and flower petals for long life.

The Moriones festival also plays a prominent role in Marinduque's culture. Marinduque is famous for this annual Moriones Festival. During the month of April, parades and celebrations can be seen on the streets. In Gasan, Boac, and Mogpog, a parade of people dressed as Moriones can be seen on the main road connecting the towns of the island. Boac and Sta. Cruz, the biggest town in the province, shows a reenactment in the evening of the actual event when Longinus, a blind soldier, punctures Jesus with his spear and blood droplets from the wound restores Longinus' sight."

Videos
Marinduque Part 1

Marinduque Part 2

Moriones Festival

2009-01-11T19:20:00.000-08:00

"One of the most colorful festivals celebrated in the island of Marinduque is the Moriones Festival. Morion means "mask" or "visor," a part of the medieval Roman armor which covers the face. Moriones, on the other hand, refers to the masked and costumed penitents who march around the town for seven days searching for Longinus. This week-long celebration starts on Holy Monday and culminates on Easter Sunday when the story of Longinus is reenacted in pantomime. This is a folk-religious festival that re-enacts the story of Longinus, a Roman centurion who was blind in one eye."

"Legend has it that Longinus pierced the side of the crucified Christ. The blood that spurted forth touched his blind eye and fully restored his sight. This miracle converted Longinus to Christianity and earned the ire of his fellow centurions. The re-enactment reaches its climax when Longinus is caught and beheaded.

The festival is characterized by colorful Roman costumes, painted masks and helmets, and brightly-colored tunics. The towns of Boac, Gasan, Santa Cruz, Buenavista and Mogpog in the island of Marinduque become one gigantic stage.

The observances form part of the Lenten celebrations of Marinduque. The various towns also hold the unique tradition of the pabasa or the recitation of Christ's passion in verse. The Via Crucis is also reenacted and flagellants, known as antipos, inflict suffering upon themselves as a form of atonement. After three o'clock on Good Friday afternoon, the Santo Sepulcro is observed, whereby old women exchange verses based on the Bible as they stand in wake of the dead Christ."

Bathala Cave

2009-01-11T19:08:00.000-08:00

"A complex network of 7 caves but only four of these caves have so far been explored. Simbahan is the biggest, Kay Coke cave is occasionally guarded by a python, third cave has an underground river and in the fourth cave are human bones believed to be the remains of WW-II soldiers."

"The Caves of Bathala are eight different caves, named Church Cave, Secret Cave, Python Cave, Cemetrey Cave, Lihim Cave, Underground Cave, River Cave and Kay Mendez Cave. They are located in a 19 hectares big area, at about 700m asl. The small karst contains even more caves, but they are not explored or named.

The biggest cave is called Kuweba ng Simbahan (Cave of the Church), as it was used for worship. It was believed to be the home of Amang Bathala, the Supreme God of the Tagalogs, the indegneous inhabitants of the Philippines. The cave is big enough for 100 people.

It seems the cave has always attracted extremists, terrorists and religious sects. The Pulajan Movement worshipped their Supreme God here to regain the potency of their amulets. They believed that their amulets could protect them from the bullets of the American colonizers and their Filipinos allies. The fanatical group was founded by Faustino Ablen, an illiterate peasant. He teclared himself Pope.

The next were the Samahang Tatlong Persona Solo Dios, who stayed at the cave for a long time during the early 1900s. This sect was formed in Mount Banahaw in Quezon by Agapito Illustrisimo. The beleive that Banahaw and Bathala Cave are spiritually connected. They still have a center at the cave.

The next cave is 100m away and called Cemetrey Cave, as it was used as a burial site. Excavations revealed earthen jars, china jars, coffin fragments and human relics, including 13 skulls. The excavation was carried out by the French archaeologist Alfred Marche.

The Python Cave is guarded by numerous living pythons. The strange thing is, that the snakes are normally dangerous and aggressive, but here at the cave they are not harmful. They are said to have never harmed visitors. Visitors even take pictures as close as 35cm. The locals explain this with the fact that the snakes are the pets of Bathala."