Balimbing- Two- faced, Turncoat

In English-speaking countries like the United States, it is called carambola. In India, where it is native, the fruit is called kamranga or kamrakh. The Chinese are said to call the fruit yongl ‘o or foreign patch. In Vietnam, it is called khe, khe ta, or similar terms; in Kampuchea, spu; in Laos, nak fuang; in Thailand, ma fueang. But scientifically, it is called Averrhoa carambola. Like other fruits, balimbing is also a medicinal plant. Among older people and in rural areas, crushed shoots or leaves are used externally for headaches and ringworm. Boiled flowers are used to expel worms. The dried fruit or juice is used for fevers. In India, the ripe fruit is used to stop hemorrhages. Health experts consider balimbing as one of the “superfruits” as it is rich in antioxidants, vitamins B and C, potassium, and iron. It is low in sugar, sodium, and calcium. In addition, balimbing is a potent source of both primary and secondary polyphenolic antioxidants.

In Philippine politics, Balimbing is a turncoat or two faced person. The term originated from the stunning fruit whose shape has five angles or points. If you slice the fruit, however, a cross-section looks like a star which is why it is sometimes called the star fruit.

Two-faced - marked by deliberate deceptiveness especially by pretending one set of feelings and acting under the influence of another; double-dealing, double-tongued, duplicitous, Janus-faced, double-faced, ambidextrous, deceitful, dishonest, dishonorable - deceptive or fraudulent; disposed to cheat or defraud or deceive.

Turncoat is a person who shifts allegiance from one loyalty or ideal to another, betraying or deserting an original cause by switching to the opposing side or party. In political and social history, this is distinct from being a traitor.

Actually hindi lang sa pulitika may balimbing dahil naglipana sila sa society na ating ginagalawan. Meron balimbing na kamaganak, kaibigan, kaiskwela, kasamahan sa organisasyon at syempre katrabaho. Sila yung may multiple o dual identity na paiba- iba ang pinapanigan. Sila yung walang sariling desisyon para sa sarili. Sila yung pumapanig sa gusto ng nakakarami at hindi sa kagustuhan nya. Hindi sya naniniwala sa tama o mali kundi kung saan may mapapakinabangan doon sya papanig. Nakabatay sya sa iba at kung ano mapapala nya. Wala syang sariling paninindigan. Ang problema paiba iba ang gusto nyang panigan. Paiba- iba ang kanyang pinapakinggan. Maraming ganyan, pag kaharap ka pumapanig sayo pero pagtalikod mo sa iba na nakapanig. Ang mga Balimbing, turncoat o two- faced ang mga walang sariling bait at nasisiyahan sa pansariling kapakinabangan at sabisabi. Madali silang mabili dahil mababaw ang kanilang kasiyahan. Ang masakit- kaibigan mo sya ngayon pero pagtalikod mo sya namang magtatarak ng patalim sa likod mo. HIndi mo sya pwede pagtiwalaan dahil babaliktad sya pag may pagkakataon. Kaya silang makuha anytime, dahil sila ay mukang pera. Sila ay mga taong sampay bakod...dahil hilig nilang sumampay sa ibat ibang bakuran kung saan meron sila mapapakinabangan. Ingat ka baka katabi mo ay isa ring balimbing.

"Ang iyong mga pagbibida
Talaga namang nakakahalina
Kahit marami sa iyong kwento
Hindi naman totoo
sayang ang iyong pagdrowing
Dahil ikaw palay balimbing!"