Playing with Fire
A revolutionized educational system needed
By Gonzalo Duque
WHAT is happening in the Senate is merely a repetition of history.
The senators, especially those attacking and defending Senator Manny Villar, have unmasked themselves as nothing but unprincipled politicians.
There was a time when what all these senators did was to vilify, attack and crucify PGMA. They did nothing than sow hatred in the guise of doing investigative work into Gloria’s supposed sins and wrongdoings against the people.
Now, they are eating their words, offending and defending Villar on the notorious “insertion” issue. The only difference is that in the Villar insertion which Senator Pimentel played a foul joke on Senator Mar Roxas, the victim is their own kind, we mean, their own colleagues in the Senate.
If the trend does not stop, we shall reach a point when the Senate as an institution would be so damaged that it won’t command the respect of the people anymore. The Senate is supposed to be a preparatory step for the Presidency, but as things are now happening with brick bats flying on the Senators’ faces, we would soon have a tarnished Senate that would make it look corrupt as its lower counter part, the House of “Representa-thieves”.
Diyan na nga kayo baka marami pa tayong da-maging na masabi sa natitirang respeto natin sa supposed august body.
* * *
We noticed lately that re-electionist Vice Mayor Belen Fernandez seems to be distancing herself from this columnist. We have called her thru her cellphone several times but she refused to answer. Bakit kaya? Siya na nga ang napapaboran sa mga isinusulat natin na napakalayo na sa survey si Councilor Pacoy Torio e. Ano kaya kung tulongan na lang natin si Pacoy? Kaibigan din natin yan.
By the way, Pacoy, huwag ka namang onion-skinned ha. You see, when you are in politics, huwag kang magre-react agad. Anong malay mo baka by the next turn, ikaw din ang mangunguna sa sorbetes, we mean, survey pala.
Talagang ganyan ang pulitika, abay. Sometimes you are up, sometimes you are down. Baka next week, mao-overtake mo na si Belen dahil she is behaving to be unreachable!
Ok ka pa rin, Vice Mayor bet Pacoy Torio. We heard you are improving in your campaign. Good luck!
* * *
We concur with the country’s business and education leaders’ advocacy of a 10-Point Education Reform Agenda, which it wants the next President to implement to save the nation.
Its main proponent, Philippine Business for Education (PBED) chair Ramon del Rosario Jr. listed 10 doable things:
1) Increasing the education budget to 4 percent of the gross national product to make it at par with other countries.
2) Enhancing basic education by adding two more years to it.
3) Promoting academic excellence by developing globally bench-marked standards of excellence.
4) Developing community ownership of schools.
5) Ensuring universal access to education.
6) Strengthening higher education.
7) Empowering teachers.
8) Building transparency and accountability.
9) Supporting private education.
10) Maximizing alternative learning.
If you have been following this column, we have time and again advocated all of the above. The bottom line is funds, funds, funds.
Let’s propel the country towards greater economic advance, and we’d acquire all of the above.
