Playing with Fire
Save our ailing public schools
By Gonzalo Duque
WE don’t always have the luxury of long life. That, we always remind ourself and those close to us. It is for this reason that we always try to be in earnest always to live our lives fully.
When Dagupan City National High School alumnus Elpidio “Epe” Rafanan asked us our idea on what his class or group could best contribute to his alma mater or the city of his birth, we didn’t hesitate to suggest “public education.”
Well, education is a broad subject. And so we invited his attention to what is ailing the system. What exactly is wrong with the failure of the country to make a big leap forward in economy and other endeavors?
We have never changed our view. The country will rise or fall based on its most precious human resource — people. Properly educated and guided by the right approaches to the art of living, they will catapult the nation to untrammeled success, to greatness.
Our conversation touched on the need to save or upgrade our ailing public schools especially in the remote places. To talk of progress without factoring in the plight of those who hold the economy, and we are referring to the broad masses of people, is indulging in idle talk.
To prop up a strong republic, we need a well informed citizenry. That axiom can’t be debated anymore especially in the information age. No less than Senator Richard Gordon in his speech before ICT enthusiasts at the People’s Astrodome warned that the leadership of this country can only succeed if backstopped by an enlightened or educated citizenry.
In our view, those unseen or partly hidden public schools — elementary and high school — in remote places in the far flung barangays should be the prime target of our leadership. This nation can’t take the great leap forward if some or many of its human resource are stagnated by lack of access or attention from our leaders.
In proposing to our friend to mobilize his group to swoop down on a number of ailing public schools in Metro Dagupan or Pangasinan, we have in mind those places with hardly habitable schools, buildings with leaking roof, broken down walls and without toilets. It’s a wonder how the general public go about their day to day chores with thousands of out school youths simply because parents and some sections of the community at large have no appreciation of education.
We know of even personal friends who take the education of their children lightly, as if they could survive life without factoring in the intellectual and attitude building that can be provided by our schools. We know, as Epe as casually intimated to us, that his confreres — many of them anyway — are gifted financially. This is the time to show their wares, rather, their values, and their upbringing in the formation of character and preparation of the youth for responsible citizenship.
It’s a modest thing to ask your group, huh, Epe? Save our public schools system and you save many youngsters, and in effect, you build the nation.
* * * *
We are happy to learn that after our friend, Dr. Raul Sabado, is back to normal, that is, he has gone back to his usual chores. The guy, an outstanding medical practitioner in Dagupan and president of the Rotary Club of Dagupan was detained with his Malaysian partner for having been implicated in illegal recruitment.
The poor guy was merely playing good man when he was dragged into the case.
What shocked him — and for that matter, what amazes us — is that instead of having good words for those who played their part in his release, Dr. Sabado was nag mumukhang biernes santo tuwing maalala nya ang kanyang experience in the hands of those charged with the administration of justice including his lawyers who made hay while he was in jail and in deep anguish. Ikaw naman, Raul, para kang bago ng bago, ganyan talaga ang judicial system natin. Naiiyak ako dahil para kang bata na nag kumpiansiya sa mga supposed friends mo. Oy, maging wise ka naman sana, kahit mga kaibigan mo. But we are happy that you are back. Sanay pagpalain ka ng Maykapal. Siya lang ang tunay mong kaibigan, adre. Also, in love affairs, be careful cause as many lovers have told us, love is blind most of the time. Happy Valentines.
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