ATM-RELATED PROBLEMS IN JOLO ARE REAL!

ATM-RELATED PROBLEMS IN JOLO ARE REAL!
by Eiry Wave

Our new-found friends -- Ms Flor Susulan and Ms Tah Akari, two of the hopefuls outside the Landbank ATM booth in Jolo today -- can attest to this. They are hoping to withdraw some money.

Ms Susulan is from Bilaan, Talipao, Sulu and is a mother to a 9-month old baby boy. She is here to withdraw the money sent to her grandmother. The money was sent by her aunt.

But she had already attempted each day last week to do that, but to no avail. ATMs in Jolo, Sulu have problems, one or the other.

Majority is closed because of lack of cash to dispense with. Some other is non-functional because of the lack of maintenance team. Still other, decry the lack of 24/7 security. Etc.

Ms Susulan's grandmother was already accusing Ms Susulan of mischief: "Marayi' mu yan tiyakaw na in siyn ku. Maadla na kaw tuud yan," said her grandmother according to Ms Susulan. (Had you already stole my money? You don't see me often these days.)

But Ms Susulan is patient. She is understanding. In fact, she is here again trying her luck today since seven o'clock in the morning.

On the other hand, Ms Tah Akari is from Kaha, Parang, Sulu. She is also married and had a little store near the Masjid in Pitutan, Sulu.

Both our friends are still waiting in line, patiently. Both is spending hundreds of pesos daily for transportation and food expenses while in town just for the purpose of withdrawing their money.

Imagine their lost of time, effort, and money, if these ATM-related problems in Jolo, Sulu are not resolved the soonest possible time. The tamaraw fee for Kaha-Parang-Jolo route is P50, while for Talipao-Jolo is P30. Back and forth, these will be roughly a hundred pesos.

We also heard that the government employees, who are receiving their salaries on the ATM cards, are now giving their cards to loansharks just to support their daily needs. These activities are creating more problems than solutions.

The populace in Jolo​ therefore appeal to whoever is in  authority to alleviate this major concern of the Jolo public.

They will greatly appreciate any initiative.

Be blessed po.

***

SI MAOLANA, ISANG TAONG MALAPIT KAY ALLAH

"SI MAOLANA, ISANG TAONG MALAPIT KAY ALLAH"
True Story #8

liham ni the Traveller
edited by the EWave Team/BSVN

Si Maolana, isang butihing tagapaglingkod ni Allah.

Nais ko lang po ikwento ang aking karanasan nuong kami ay mapagawi sa Davao City. Nakakilala kami duon ng isang butihing tagapaglingkod ni Allah.

Nagsimula po ang lahat nuong sinaniban ng masamang ispiritu ang aming kaibigang si Anya. Sa pagkaligalig ni Anya kasama na ang kanyang pagkabayolente nuong mga oras na iyon, talaga namang nahihirapan na kaming makatulog sa gabing iyon. Hindi na rin niya kami nakikilala. Kaya ang aming ate Julia ay humingi na ng saklolo sa kanyang kaibigan kung ano ang dapat gawin.

Si Dondon na rakista at ng kasama namin.

Ang payo ng kaibigan ni Ate Julia na si Maolana ay dalhin daw agad-agad si Anya sa kanya. Kaya naman kahit nga kapos kami sa pera, agad-agad kaming kumilos at inayos ang lahat para madala namin si Anya kay Maolana.

Si Dondon na rakista at may mahabang buhok ang aming naging driver sa gabing iyon.

Apat na oras kami sa daan, bandang alas-onse na ng gabi nuong kami ay dumating sa bahay ni Maolana sa Davao City. Sinalubong agad kami ng mga nakangiting kalalakihan na nakadamit ng mahaba o "Juba". Si Maolana ay anduon din at wi-nelcome niya kami ng maayos.

May natira pa ba?

Pagod na pagod kami sa mahabang byahe mula Cotabato.

Sandali pa lang kami nakaupo sa salas, lumapit na sa amin si Jayir na labin-pitong taong gulang dala ang mga pagkaing masasarap. Inihapag niya ito sa lamesa, punong-puno ito. Agad naming nilantakan ang pagkain na para bagang wala ng bukas. Sarap na sarap kami sa pagkain.

Nakalimutan namin saglit si Anya na nakahiga sa isang sofa kaya nagulat kami nuong sinabi niya: "Tara, uwi na tayo!"

Si Dondon ang agad nakasagot: "Anya, malayo ang biyahe natin kaya magpahinga muna tayo."

Pagkatapos malinis ang pinagkainan namin, pinapasok ni Maolana si Walid, 10yo, at si Jayir. Sinimulan na nila ang panggagamot. Sabay-sabay silang nagbabasa ng mga verses sa Holy Quran.

Akala namin ay natutulog na si Anya ng mga oras na iyon puro tumili siya ng ubod lakas, "TAMA NA! AYOKO MARINING IYANG BINABASA NIYO!"

Kinikilabutan kami sa inaasal ni Anya.

Para maalala namin siya.

Kinausap ni Maolana ang kung ano mang sumanib kay Anya. Matagal ang panggagamot. Iyak ng iyak si Anya dahil sinasaktan daw siya ni Bapah Maolana.

Bandang alas-dos na ng umaga nuong tuluyan ng bumalik sa katinuan si Anya. Alhamdulillah. Kaya kami ay nakatulog na ng mahimbing. Naramdaman na lang namin na may tumatawag sa aming pangalan. Alas-otso na pala!

Pagluluto ni Jayir sa kusina.

Narinig ku si Maolana ay bumulong kay ate Julia: "Pasensiya na kayo, wala na kaming maihanda sa inyo na almusal. Walang-wala kasi kami."

Naawa ako kay Maolana. Pakiwari ko, inubos nila kagabi ang kanilang mga naipon para lamang mapaghandaan kami ng masasarap na pagkain. Naintindihan naman agad ni Ate Julia si Maolana at inabutan niya ito ng pambili ng pagkain. Tumaliwas agad si Jayir at niluto agad ang kanyang nabili.

Sa hapag-kainan, sinabi ulit ni Maolana: "Hiyang-hiyang talaga kami sa inyo. Dahil wala kaming maihanda sa inyo."

Duon na rin kami nagtanghalian sa kanila. Alas-dos ng hapon, nagpaalam na kami kay Maolana.

"Iiwanan ninyo na kami?" sabi niya. At laking gulat pa namin ng may namuong mga luha sa kanyang mga mata. Umiyak siya na para bang hindi niya kami kayang paalisin nuong araw na iyon. Hindi pa nga kami umabot ng 24 oras na magkasama pero ganuon na lang ang kanyang pagmamahal sa amin.

Nagpaalam na kami sa kanya at lumisan kami ng tahimik.

Sa luob ng sasakyan, sabi ni Dondon: "Para tayong nagmonghe ng ilang araw ah! Mas maganda ang experience na ito kaysa malling dito sa Davao."

Si Dada naman, paulit-ulit na sumasambit: "Nakakaawa naman sila . . . ."

"Si Maolana at ng kanyang mga murid ay walang Sudjada. Samantalang ako andami, ako lang ang gumagamit," sabi pa ni Dada.

Samantala si Ate Julia ay nagkwento sa amin tungkol kay Maolana.

Congregational prayer led by Maolana

Si Maolana pala ay may Masjid at isang Madrasa na rin na tinawag niyang "Small Servant of Agama." Hindi pa ito lubusang tapos dahil sa self-support ang pagpapatayo niya nito. Umaasa lamang sya sa tuition ng mga bata o murid na nag aaral sa kanyang madrasa.

Siya ay may 24 na murid, ang pito sa mga ito ay orphans. Ang kanyang ikinababahala ay baka wala na syang maipakain sa kanyang mga alagang ulilang lubos, na ang tawag sa kanya ay ABIY.

Si Jayir at Walid tulong-tulong sa kusina.

Naalala ko nuong anduon pa kami sa bahay, nakita ko talaga kung gaano kasipag sa pag-mememorise ng Quran ang mga Murid ni Maolana. Masipag din sila sa gawaing bahay para makapag-Baqti sa kanilang Guro na si Maolana. Kahit nga si Walid na anak daw ng may-kaya, nag-aral din ng gawaing bahay sa Madrasa ni Maolana. Si Walid ang tumutulong kay Jayir sa pagluluto kanina.

Nakakatuwa talagang pagmasdan ang pag-aagawan nila kanina sa pagluluto ng Daing.

At pinilit pa nga namin kanina si Maolana na ipakita sa amin ang kanyang proposed budget for the Masjid, pero bulong ni ate Julia hindi raw iyon ipapakita sa amin dahil maging siya raw na kaibigan ay ayaw ring patignan miski anong pilit niya.

Kaya naman nuong ipakita nga ito sa amin ni Maolana, pakiramdam namin parang ang laking responsibilidad ito kahit nga alam namin na wala naman din kaming maraming maitutulong sa kanya.

May mga pumupunta rin daw palang mga Ulama sa madrasa niya upang makinig at mag-aral sa kanyang klase. Ngunit libre ang kanyang pagtuturo sa mga ulama. Walo na raw sa kanyang mga Murid ang naghihintay na lamang sa kanilang Visa papuntang Pakistan.

Dito po nagtatapos ang kuwento ko kay Maolana, na isang butihing servant ni Allah sa Davao City.

Sana po may aral kayong mapupulot sa kwento kong ito. Maraming salamat po.

Letters to EWave: "Palangay sin Dayahan Mataas in Da-han pa Miskin"

TRUE STORY: "Palangay sin Dayahan Mataas in Da-han pa Miskin"

story by: Morning Flower
edited by: the EWave Team

Ha Manila sin Tahun 2009, nakalandu' in sigpit ku, amun pag iyanun in siyn hanggatus pilak patatasun misan hangkapitu. Sa' in di' hikatatas amun hipag sukay daying ha Dasmariñas Cavite harap madtu pa Ofis sin agency namu'...

Ha waktu yadtu waypa pangirab ku sin manga social networking yan, halung bahalung aku sambat sin magpamung.

Tiyahanan ku in katan, in hapdi' iban pasu' hasupaya sadja aku makatulak mari pa Saudi mangusaha.

Hambuuk adlaw tiyugun kami sin ha agency pakadtuun pa ofis sabab kunu' magkawa' NBI. In tiyugun duwa kami iban sin hambuuk applicant iban kura daying ha sug.

Mataud siyn niya, mahayang in kabuhi' niya ha Manila, hawpu'un tana sadja miyanaw na kami pa ofis iban kapag iyan niya siya na in magsukay kaku'.

Nakalandu' in kug ku sabab di'na karagdagan in siyn gigimut ku!

Aykaw na'a masuuk mayan kami pa Baclaran nakatabuk aku TEXT daying ha iban ku, miyukal in dugu' ku pagbassa ku sin text niya, sa' nag istigfar aku! Ya Allah mayta' niya aku kiyabissarahan sin di' mapatut sin way aku nag unu kaniya.

In halawm sin text niya "Kiyugan tuud dang in samal kangug ini nakakita' siyn ku mataud yarina nagpalibre sukay kaku' in luwa'an ini kangug ini!! Bang sadja bukun aku maulung di' ku tuud librehun in binatang ini! "

Apit aku laung makatangis, nangandu'-ngandu' aku pa ginhawa ku...

Bihadtu tuwi' in miskin pagpamung mungun sin awn alta'!

Nagtext aku kaniya balik sin di' na aku magpalibre kaniya! Nagtext aku kaniya sin magsukul kiyahatihan ku in addat niya!

Ampa ku diyuhal in sukay ku pa kungduktul sin jeep, nimaug aku nag us-us ganta' sumakat na jeep harap pa Mabini...

Iyapas niya aku iyasubu niya aku bang mayta' bihadtu in kulibahasa ku. Nakalandu' na in astul ku kaniya.. Mag apas siya kaku' halawm Manila wayra pakialam ku misan da siya madugtul sin jeep. Iyaasubu niya aku bang unu in kimugdan kaku'.

Di' ku mayan katahanan piyakita' ku kaniya in text niya kaku'.

In tagna' namaylu siya bukun aku in piyag-iyan niya ha text! Way aku nagkaiba' sa' tiyagaran ku sin dumatung kami balik pa bay didtu ku siya asubuhun bang mayta' siya nakaiyan bihadtu kaku'!

Nakabaus aku kaniya sin pagtapukan ku siya bang kami nagpapanaw sa' jiyajagahan kura isab siya maulung da isab aku.. Mabuga' aku malawa' siya.

Nakati'mus mayan kami ha NBI minuwi' na kami pa bay, ha lawang pa mabaya' kuna siya gawmutun sampakun amun kakahinang sin kangug pag bahasahun niya..

Ya Rabb panagnaan ku nakapang luray, daying ha kabata'-bata' ku aku in paglurayun pag puhingaun sin panaiban ku...

Hiyawiran kami sin iban namu' applicant nainu-inu bang mayta' aku nagbihadtu!

Piyabassa ku in text niya ha manga iban namu' tagna' namaylu siya sin bukun aku in limut niya, lugay sin lugay wayna siya nakapamung nagtangis na siya, nangayu' kamaapan kaku' asal bihadtu in addat niya manglilimut misan di' mag unu kaniya in tau.

Miyaap ku siya sa' way kuna biyalik in paghayak hayak ku kaniya.

POSTCRIPT: Pangindua ku kan inda' lingkatan yadtu muramurahan napinda na siya. Bukun na siya mangi' addat sabab awn waktu makadugtul siya pa umatu kaniya..Malingkat siya babai sa' mangi' in addat niya.

Reaching out to a forgotten school in the Jolo town

The KES' mentors, parents, and staff had a long get-together meeting before the long holidays last 18 December 2014. With them were the new principal (the previous one retired) and the President of Kasanyangan Association, Mr Rogelio.

Mr Rogelio renewed his commitment to support KES revival initiated by the concerned parents, who were trying to survive amid the onslaught of criticisms that KES was a Ghost School with ghost teachers, students, building, and what not.

And to top it all, KES was reported to have situated in a very dangerous place.

OMG, everything was a lie. The report was only a means to discredit effort to resurrect the school, which was long been neglected by almost everybody.

Can't we erase all the variables and concentrate more about the welfare of the 358 indigent pupils? Let us leave something before we die. Hubris, control, and greed we must forget.

It's not about us, let's remember that. It's about those 358 future leaders. We should not be showing them bad examples.

It's about Zafra who wanted to become a nurse despite her borrowing of pupud pencils from her classmates.

It's about Nurmiya who still goes to school regularly despite walking six kilometers from her home and back.

It's about Angelica who still attends her class despite her dirty and worn-off and torn school uniform.


And so, God bless everyone! Pakamdusun ta pa in pagkasilasa.

Alhamdulillah! Thanks to the One World Institute for the heartwarming promises for the school: a library, four rooms, and desks.

We're counting on that.

Thank you also to everyone, who responded kindly to improve the learning environment at KES. Allah bless po.

When we are done with this, maybe we can then crawl to some other schools who would also be needing a little lift like the Kasanyangan Elementary School (KES).

Inshaa Allah!

Why give when we have nothing?

If there is one thing that I want to achieve in my lifetime is to wake up all the goodness in a person's heart.

Almost daily, I posted in Facebook about things, people, and situations that may arouse people's interest to extend a helping hand. Some people will respond, but most of the times, they ignored.

The golden opportunities to take some actions may not come back to them again, and I am therefore thankful for people who respond positively every time.

For example, the overwhelming support for "Baby Diyang," the child who survived the Eid Massacre in Lumapid Talipao last July 28 this year, was heartwarming.

It proved that people had not gone so heartless that they would continually ignore opportunities to do good things for other people.



But, surely, persuading people to do good things for others is troublesome today, especially from someone who is not so good in public speaking. Whenever I am forced to talk in public, for example, I stammer, falter badly, and would seem to always forget what I would be saying next.



My speeches would always end in a matter of seconds, 30 seconds at most. Then, I'll go back to my seat, my eyes fixed on the floor, my cheeks colored with shyness, my forehead dotted with sweats.

Fortunately, it is not only speaking in public that we can share our love for people, especially those who are needy.

I know, I am also one of the needy, and so I know the feeling how it is to be poor, but I already learn to love my simple lifestyle, away from public attention and scrutiny.

I, and my family of four, live together in my parents' home together with a lot of extended families. Here, we relish the time we share meals, which are sometimes given by neighbors, every day. The “tamban” and the “piyutu,” the most cherished ones.

We relish getting wet inside our home when it rains, and we play on the pool of water while we wipe it away. We relish watching the stars from our kitchen through the holes on the roof.

But despite our poverty, we still try to share blessing with other people, and make a difference on their lives.

My uncle told me once: "Why are you doing those things you are doing? Aren't you needy, too?"

"You should have used your talent for your personal gain," he said. "Why not approach politicians and get a job?"

And so I told him: "How about you uncle? I didn't see you going to your politician friends and ask something for them, too."

He said: "I am shy."

"And so, we are just the same," I concluded.

Doing good things for others may get a little expensive sometimes, and my own income is not always enough for funding our varied activities. But I am still doing it because it is my passion. I just love seeing smiling faces, those little gestures of gratefulness.

But the more compelling reason why I am doing what I am doing is that: I had already received a big chunks of goodness from other people. It is just fitting that I share it to others, too.

In a "pay-it-forward" principle, let the goodness ripples like the waves of the sea. And hope that all people's heart would open up to do good things for others, also.

For after all, helping others is not the monopoly of the rich people. Selfless service for others is sometimes more rewarding than giving your money out.

ARMM PSPB: Vacancies as of September 3, 2014

ARMM PSPB: Vacancies as of September 3, 2014

Hataman's Speech during the MOT