State scholars’ responsibility

THE recommendation of the National Youth Commission for government to withdraw the scholarship granted to students studying in state universities and colleges if found to be actively participating in activities aimed at destabilizing the government, only the taxpayers, and progressive groups divided on the issue, but students are made to realize their responsibilities.

For the first time, public attention was drawn to responsibilities and rights of students as state scholars and as citizens. While the individual and corporate taxpayers, a source of public funds, concede that the constitution guarantees freedoms, they are one in the thought that “one should not bite that hand that feeds you.”  Why should government waste taxpayer’s money on militant students enjoying full scholarship who have no qualms destroying the government to serve a communist agenda? Taxpayers ask.

On the other hand, progressive groups invoke the freedoms of speech and of assembly guaranteed by the constitution in opposing the recommendation. And they are surprised to find a supportive voice from the Duterte administration, the main target of destabilization efforts.  The Commission of Higher Education maintains it should be the ability of the student to meet the minimum grade standards set that should determine if the scholarship should be withdrawn. (President Duterte though was emphatic on one condition: the government will withdraw the scholarship if the student is found actively supporting the New People’s Army).

Given the impasse, particularly that state scholars will still enjoy full freedom to join protest rallies, the parents realize that the ultimate burden to keep the students’ scholarship lies on them.  They now realize that their kids can after all still lose their scholarships…and it’d be they who will suffer the consequences.

Amazing Go

 ONE female candidate for senator has been consistently topping the surveys: Grace Poe.  Even before the campaign period could start on Feb. 12, Poe always led the ratings, with Cynthia Villar a strong second.  But historically, though, survey topnotchers do not necessarily come out No. 1 in election results.  Franklin Drilon was No. 1 in the 2016 senatorial derby even as Tito Sotto was always No. 1 then in the surveys.  And Poe was hardly in the Magic 12 in surveys for the 2013 elections and yet, Poe emerged No. 1 that year.   And speaking of recording tremendous strides in surveys this year, Bong Go has also been setting an astonishing trend of recording one huge jump to another. Starting rather slow at 18th from the starting blocks, Go, a rookie like Poe in 2013, has twice galloped upwards and is now seated gallantly at No. 7—making him a virtual favorite to make it come May.  Interesting, if not, amazing.

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