Yesterday, I have watched a tv program campaigning for the reduction of green house gases emission, they say that global warming is already being felt and that we are nearing our doomsday if we do nothing about it.
I have nothing against the idea, it was true that global warming is an ill fate that we will face in the future if we just shrug our shoulders and do nothing. Yet, is it worth noting and thinking about it when the people of this land is suffering from hunger and poverty? What is to survive the calamities of the weather when we are to die of hunger? Could you think logical when you crave for food and shelter?
The idea is not to simplify this things. Yes, I can manage my waste, but, to other fellows who only have 20 cents a day for the meal of a family of seven, do you think they would still care? This comes hand in hand with the government policies. Prioritize to solve the immediate needs of the people before digging deeper into other cancers of society. Our need is to be fed and felt the assurance that we could still live for the next five or ten years. With an ever increasing prices of basic food like rice, fish, and meat, how can a family of seven survive for the next five years when there is less and less job opportunities? It is a sad thing to note that people here in the Philippines, especially the poorest ones, are satisfying themselves from the leftovers of few people who could afford hotels and restaurants. There is one meal that they call continental, just because it is the surplus of continental hotel, which is being sold to them at P30.00 per kilo. How degrading, these leftovers are dug up from trash cans. Would you dare to eat like that?
In my opinion, this government should properly use time and priorities, act now, save our people from poverty and all else will follow. If we have a healthy people, they would refrain from other crimes to the planet and to other citizens. Act now, fast.
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The Importance of Family
I have to deviate from my previous post topics that deals mainly with the issues of the governance and social system. This time, I would like to talk about the family.
I was always confronted with the question of what is more important, providing for your family's need or strengthen family ties and lead them not into drugs and bad peers.
I don't really know if my choice was right or wrong, or weather it is acceptable to many or not. It has always been a question of what is your priority in life. For me, I chose the later. I still believe that family ties and teaching the children proper values would conquer our need for better life. Though I cannot deny the urge is strong for me to choose a work that would provide better living for my family, I cannot leave them and go abroad.
Being an observer, I have seen a lot of families, though rich and wealthy of worldly possessions, whose members lacks the morals and values that for most of us, should come naturally. I have seen families broken and children going no where but drugs and vices that would tragically lead to crimes and before everyone knew it, it was already too late.
This thought came to me late last year and ever since I realize the effects of it, I loose the appetite of going to a faraway land to work and earn lots of money. Though we are on a tight budget here in this miserable country, I think, it is still best to stay and earn just enough to make my family alive for a month.
I hate to see my children grow without me, and the guidance of a father. I could never forgive myself if ever that happens. I just wish that this government would not forget its people, find ways to make life bearable and light. I still believe in the Filipino people.
I was always confronted with the question of what is more important, providing for your family's need or strengthen family ties and lead them not into drugs and bad peers.
I don't really know if my choice was right or wrong, or weather it is acceptable to many or not. It has always been a question of what is your priority in life. For me, I chose the later. I still believe that family ties and teaching the children proper values would conquer our need for better life. Though I cannot deny the urge is strong for me to choose a work that would provide better living for my family, I cannot leave them and go abroad.
Being an observer, I have seen a lot of families, though rich and wealthy of worldly possessions, whose members lacks the morals and values that for most of us, should come naturally. I have seen families broken and children going no where but drugs and vices that would tragically lead to crimes and before everyone knew it, it was already too late.
This thought came to me late last year and ever since I realize the effects of it, I loose the appetite of going to a faraway land to work and earn lots of money. Though we are on a tight budget here in this miserable country, I think, it is still best to stay and earn just enough to make my family alive for a month.
I hate to see my children grow without me, and the guidance of a father. I could never forgive myself if ever that happens. I just wish that this government would not forget its people, find ways to make life bearable and light. I still believe in the Filipino people.
What do I Offer for a Change?
It has been a while since I last posted something in here. I was just too busy thinking, what could I be contributing to this society that was burying itself more and more in the quick sand of chaos and disorder? Does this country still feels something worth mentioning? Do we really need something else to be free and be responsible for all the things that is happening now? Where is hope? What have become of it?
I was always saddened lately by the news around my country, making me feel so stressed out and left with no energy, not even the guts to write on this blog. I have failed. That is what I felt. I have failed. I could give nothing more because, I, myself is a failure.
Was it just because of something that was not attained or done that gives me this feeling? Lately, I felt like I'm feeling that nauseating breeze that I used to breath when I'm still a fifth grader. I missed it, but going into it once again reminds me a lot of things that I dreamed of, and should have been prioritized before but I have failed to do. Now, I am considered a failure.
This country, Philippines, has a lot of things happening just because they are needed to happen, yet, my countrymen doesn't care. I am a public school teacher. A servant for my people, yet, I cannot feel that I am effective. Last graduation, I have more than 10 students that should have been dropped out of the list of graduates, these students failed, failed to attend my class, failed to submit requirements, failed to pass the exams, all for 2 semesters. Yet, they were able to go upstage and took their high school diploma with them. I thought, it will be helpful, but my conscience is killing me. How could I be unfair to other students? This was not my idea. It was by the virtue of advisers who kept begging me to pass their students and simply ask for projects like books. I failed with them when I gave my self up and let them go.
Now, tell me, when these things happen here in small school which is a small institution in this country, how could the country be better? If would simply count its effect in geometric multiples, it will be gigantic. That will be the reason why this country is still sinking. Tell me, what must I do for change?
I was always saddened lately by the news around my country, making me feel so stressed out and left with no energy, not even the guts to write on this blog. I have failed. That is what I felt. I have failed. I could give nothing more because, I, myself is a failure.
Was it just because of something that was not attained or done that gives me this feeling? Lately, I felt like I'm feeling that nauseating breeze that I used to breath when I'm still a fifth grader. I missed it, but going into it once again reminds me a lot of things that I dreamed of, and should have been prioritized before but I have failed to do. Now, I am considered a failure.
This country, Philippines, has a lot of things happening just because they are needed to happen, yet, my countrymen doesn't care. I am a public school teacher. A servant for my people, yet, I cannot feel that I am effective. Last graduation, I have more than 10 students that should have been dropped out of the list of graduates, these students failed, failed to attend my class, failed to submit requirements, failed to pass the exams, all for 2 semesters. Yet, they were able to go upstage and took their high school diploma with them. I thought, it will be helpful, but my conscience is killing me. How could I be unfair to other students? This was not my idea. It was by the virtue of advisers who kept begging me to pass their students and simply ask for projects like books. I failed with them when I gave my self up and let them go.
Now, tell me, when these things happen here in small school which is a small institution in this country, how could the country be better? If would simply count its effect in geometric multiples, it will be gigantic. That will be the reason why this country is still sinking. Tell me, what must I do for change?
Is it worthwhile hearing them?
Moral recovery, the most sought after word in the Philippines today. Is it just an issue to stay famous or rather infamous or was just a way to create another chaotic system of governance? I am speaking for myself, and for the past years, I have been convinced that it is not simply the government or the system, it was our culture. So sad, but I am very much convinced that the system of governance executed in the country is far from being PRO-People, it is the sad truth, it is in our blood and it runs with in the people. How demoralizing!
Recently on the news was the President saying that she will stop RED TAPE in the government. She will start programs for moral recovery of this nation. But looking at the situation in my perspective as a simple citizen, why should that be said now, when her "Malacañan People" is on the middle of controversy of giving a fortune to politicians, for free, without necessary papers, without request, without anything, just a mere cash gift! Gift for what? Why? and who? Where does the money came from? What is the purpose? It is good that Pampanga governor used to be a priest, an honest man who believes that this should end. How have been given? Why only two of these politicians came out and tell of the money?
I was always thinking, is there still a way for my country to get out of this hell? A hell of doing transactions with the government. And in my observation, it is in our culture. Take for example a fellow of mine who happens to need some of my expertise, she would always be giving me some sort of gifts, for doing something for her. You know what, I will do that job even if I get nothing out of it. It is genuine for me to do that, but why should she insist on me the gifts? Then, probably, I thought, it is on the culture of Filipinos. Imagine, every election, how many people sell their votes? Ahh, it is a widespread culture here in this country that I revoked so much. If it is happening in my level, so much more on the higher courts and forums. Just like an officer who heads a government office, he bought a new car and boasted it to be used by him on every official business that he has to attend. What would he expect in return? He make his office pay himP20,000.00 for every month, as a sort of rent for the car, that is excluding the gasoline allowance and other expense of travel. If you will compute for the amount the office had paid him for the past years, it would amount to 2 brand new cars to date. Yet, none is exposed and the Commission on Audit, as usual, is not doing its job. A moral leader?
So how do you think this government will do moral recovery program? I don't know. Perhaps, every member of the government, including the lowest position should be compelled to resign, that includes me. Then, perhaps, they should implement a new system of audit and hire a lot of undercover cops/agents watching the Auditors, the Office heads and all gov. employees. Probably, a massive computerization should help solve massive corruption. I don't really know the most effective method, but for my growing child, I have to find a way for him not to adapt these ways, these shameful ways. If you will think about it, it is a problem so complicated that it seems no solution is probable at all. Thinking further, you would arrive at a thought asking, Is it worth listening to this government?
Recently on the news was the President saying that she will stop RED TAPE in the government. She will start programs for moral recovery of this nation. But looking at the situation in my perspective as a simple citizen, why should that be said now, when her "Malacañan People" is on the middle of controversy of giving a fortune to politicians, for free, without necessary papers, without request, without anything, just a mere cash gift! Gift for what? Why? and who? Where does the money came from? What is the purpose? It is good that Pampanga governor used to be a priest, an honest man who believes that this should end. How have been given? Why only two of these politicians came out and tell of the money?
I was always thinking, is there still a way for my country to get out of this hell? A hell of doing transactions with the government. And in my observation, it is in our culture. Take for example a fellow of mine who happens to need some of my expertise, she would always be giving me some sort of gifts, for doing something for her. You know what, I will do that job even if I get nothing out of it. It is genuine for me to do that, but why should she insist on me the gifts? Then, probably, I thought, it is on the culture of Filipinos. Imagine, every election, how many people sell their votes? Ahh, it is a widespread culture here in this country that I revoked so much. If it is happening in my level, so much more on the higher courts and forums. Just like an officer who heads a government office, he bought a new car and boasted it to be used by him on every official business that he has to attend. What would he expect in return? He make his office pay himP20,000.00 for every month, as a sort of rent for the car, that is excluding the gasoline allowance and other expense of travel. If you will compute for the amount the office had paid him for the past years, it would amount to 2 brand new cars to date. Yet, none is exposed and the Commission on Audit, as usual, is not doing its job. A moral leader?
So how do you think this government will do moral recovery program? I don't know. Perhaps, every member of the government, including the lowest position should be compelled to resign, that includes me. Then, perhaps, they should implement a new system of audit and hire a lot of undercover cops/agents watching the Auditors, the Office heads and all gov. employees. Probably, a massive computerization should help solve massive corruption. I don't really know the most effective method, but for my growing child, I have to find a way for him not to adapt these ways, these shameful ways. If you will think about it, it is a problem so complicated that it seems no solution is probable at all. Thinking further, you would arrive at a thought asking, Is it worth listening to this government?
A Shallow Generation
I think I would never see, students working as hard as a bee, not in in this lifetime that many children are confused in society torn with corruption and greed. It was a pain in the ass being a teacher in a third world country, being underpaid and working more than your capacity, I couldn't even touch my keyboard and start writing on this blog on a regular time interval! It was a sad tale yet I have to live with it, not for the rest of my life, but as long as I haven't got another job!
What bothers me is not about me or my family's future, it is the children who I am responsible to teach. I couldn't get into their minds what is supposed to be fed in them. I hate to admit it, but the quality of education in the Philippine setting has long been corrupted by those administrators and managers on the higher offices, jumping one curriculum to another without even taking note of the consequences it has on the students. There are no studies done to show how wrong an implementation is or no evaluation of the previous curricula before going to another. It was just like changing shirts! They were not bothered by the preparations and additional burden on the shoulders of the ranks like us. They never even thought of the impact of these changes on students! Imagine, every time the department secretary changes, so was the curriculum! Our graduating student today have undergone almost 3 curriculum changes while studying a 4 year secondary course. What could be the effect on them???
A SHALLOW GENERATION! That is. you could hardly find an ordinary high-school student who really do understand the word OBLIVIOUS. And it is very obvious that these students could not very well express their thoughts. We can find students doing a lot of things in their body out of curiosity. There are body piercing, abuse and dependence on drugs, grass, sex, violence. They tend to associate with people whom they hardly knew. They even organized themselves and try to build a name, of being notorious in the campus. You can only see through them, but you won't hear from them. Even their names are sometimes miss-spelled! What would you expect from them? I have been teaching 10 years now and have seen both the best and the worst students. In today's setting, you will meet them both in one single class, both sides of the extreme qualities of the students. Those on the better side, performs to their best, but only a handful, sometimes, not even three in a class. Worst sides are booming, numbers are far more exceeding than a handful. Bridging the gap between them are below average ones who could hardly be felt. What happened? It is easy to pass a name than to fail his mother or father begging for mercy. This was the real scenario. At the end of every grading period, it is a familiar scene that could be observed. Many parents roam around, begging teachers to let their children stay on the class and pass! Head teachers are also problems. You could hardly find one who will stand by you on the case against students failure. Most of them see student's failure as teacher's failure! What a disgrace! Teachers burdened with full time loads and a ton of paper works, would still find time to visit the students and asked them to come on school and study?
I don't really know where the root of the problem really is. Should some other government agencies be more vigilant and start to do some actions on this matter? But what agency could help when in their own agencies, they have a much worse problem? Should the senate and congress enact a law that will force the students to study and parents to be responsible for their children's attention on studying? After all, the government is paying the tuition fees of these irresponsible students! Should we change the whole system? I don't know. I could not even think about it. It was too complicated that almost everyone is connected to the crime of not giving or not taking the right to a good education and be educated. What will the future of the Philippines be if the citizen's are not well educated at all?
What bothers me is not about me or my family's future, it is the children who I am responsible to teach. I couldn't get into their minds what is supposed to be fed in them. I hate to admit it, but the quality of education in the Philippine setting has long been corrupted by those administrators and managers on the higher offices, jumping one curriculum to another without even taking note of the consequences it has on the students. There are no studies done to show how wrong an implementation is or no evaluation of the previous curricula before going to another. It was just like changing shirts! They were not bothered by the preparations and additional burden on the shoulders of the ranks like us. They never even thought of the impact of these changes on students! Imagine, every time the department secretary changes, so was the curriculum! Our graduating student today have undergone almost 3 curriculum changes while studying a 4 year secondary course. What could be the effect on them???
A SHALLOW GENERATION! That is. you could hardly find an ordinary high-school student who really do understand the word OBLIVIOUS. And it is very obvious that these students could not very well express their thoughts. We can find students doing a lot of things in their body out of curiosity. There are body piercing, abuse and dependence on drugs, grass, sex, violence. They tend to associate with people whom they hardly knew. They even organized themselves and try to build a name, of being notorious in the campus. You can only see through them, but you won't hear from them. Even their names are sometimes miss-spelled! What would you expect from them? I have been teaching 10 years now and have seen both the best and the worst students. In today's setting, you will meet them both in one single class, both sides of the extreme qualities of the students. Those on the better side, performs to their best, but only a handful, sometimes, not even three in a class. Worst sides are booming, numbers are far more exceeding than a handful. Bridging the gap between them are below average ones who could hardly be felt. What happened? It is easy to pass a name than to fail his mother or father begging for mercy. This was the real scenario. At the end of every grading period, it is a familiar scene that could be observed. Many parents roam around, begging teachers to let their children stay on the class and pass! Head teachers are also problems. You could hardly find one who will stand by you on the case against students failure. Most of them see student's failure as teacher's failure! What a disgrace! Teachers burdened with full time loads and a ton of paper works, would still find time to visit the students and asked them to come on school and study?
I don't really know where the root of the problem really is. Should some other government agencies be more vigilant and start to do some actions on this matter? But what agency could help when in their own agencies, they have a much worse problem? Should the senate and congress enact a law that will force the students to study and parents to be responsible for their children's attention on studying? After all, the government is paying the tuition fees of these irresponsible students! Should we change the whole system? I don't know. I could not even think about it. It was too complicated that almost everyone is connected to the crime of not giving or not taking the right to a good education and be educated. What will the future of the Philippines be if the citizen's are not well educated at all?
State of the Nation Address of Gloria, a shameful lie?
What is the true state of the Philippines today? Would you be able to know it from the SONA delivered yesterday by the President? I am afraid not!
The speeches she delivered are just mere fantasies and aspirations that the Filipino have long ago been dreaming of. None of theses speeches made by Gloria in the past have been turned into reality. What we need as a people, as a team for a great nation, is transparency!
What should be done with extra-judicial killings? Leave it again to the congress to create another law that will ultimately be forgotten in time? We have so many laws! The only thing needed is to administer these laws correctly? Whose job is it?
What about poverty? In our present state, commodities are so pricey while the wages are at minimum. What do you expect an ordinary person would do? All other crimes are born of these conditions. What is the government doing with it? Will the promised infrastructure projects feed these hungry mouths? After all, they are only promises.... and promises are meant to be broken.
Why can't this government face and show the real score for the Filipino people? Is she hiding something? An interest for her own? A family business perhaps? A family wealth? A corrupt practice? Oh God, is there still hope for the Filipino People?
The speeches she delivered are just mere fantasies and aspirations that the Filipino have long ago been dreaming of. None of theses speeches made by Gloria in the past have been turned into reality. What we need as a people, as a team for a great nation, is transparency!
What should be done with extra-judicial killings? Leave it again to the congress to create another law that will ultimately be forgotten in time? We have so many laws! The only thing needed is to administer these laws correctly? Whose job is it?
What about poverty? In our present state, commodities are so pricey while the wages are at minimum. What do you expect an ordinary person would do? All other crimes are born of these conditions. What is the government doing with it? Will the promised infrastructure projects feed these hungry mouths? After all, they are only promises.... and promises are meant to be broken.
Why can't this government face and show the real score for the Filipino people? Is she hiding something? An interest for her own? A family business perhaps? A family wealth? A corrupt practice? Oh God, is there still hope for the Filipino People?
Book Errors and the Future
It is of no use to deny any errors in the publications and textbooks written and given to the Filipino Students today, it was obvious and is not just a few, but "too many few" to mention, is it right?
The problem with this is not limited to the cost of the book, although these books used in the public schools are low-cost, it should not be a legal reason to sacrifice it's quality. Quality that is should not only be limited to spelling and grammatical errors but also should include a check on the contents of every page. This is the standard, before these books are delivered to every school, there is a group of teachers who will review it. Are these teachers assigned to review the books really reviewing? I know one of them who were assigned to review and yet failed to distinguish errors on the written matter! Some reviewers are not really capable of reviewing, either not interested reading or not capable of reading. Something must be done!
On a TV interview, one author said that there are just few minor errs on his book, do we say that on the standards, we allow few minor errs for our students to make? We mark them wrong on their report cards and even give them low grades especially if the "few minor errs" were of critical nature. What about the publishers editors? How come this "few minor errs" came into the light of National Issue?
The most probable cause and root of this problem, is still, graft and corruption! I agree to "Ka Oca Orbos" when he said that corruption is the root of all these. With a low-cost public text book, the Education Department can save millions of pesos, some to be reserved on someone else's personal projects. The rampant red tape and "whom you know" among the low rank teachers will defer the inclusion of qualified teachers to join the team of book reviewers. Ever wonder how our education system collapsed and bring forth today's children with both extremes of highly intellectuals and very much illiterate students? To whom should we attribute this happenings, to the teachers? to the Bureaucrats? to the Policy-makers? to the Implementors?
I don't know. If I will be asked where to let my child take his education, I'd probably answer at home where I can supervise everything my child is working at.
The problem with this is not limited to the cost of the book, although these books used in the public schools are low-cost, it should not be a legal reason to sacrifice it's quality. Quality that is should not only be limited to spelling and grammatical errors but also should include a check on the contents of every page. This is the standard, before these books are delivered to every school, there is a group of teachers who will review it. Are these teachers assigned to review the books really reviewing? I know one of them who were assigned to review and yet failed to distinguish errors on the written matter! Some reviewers are not really capable of reviewing, either not interested reading or not capable of reading. Something must be done!
On a TV interview, one author said that there are just few minor errs on his book, do we say that on the standards, we allow few minor errs for our students to make? We mark them wrong on their report cards and even give them low grades especially if the "few minor errs" were of critical nature. What about the publishers editors? How come this "few minor errs" came into the light of National Issue?
The most probable cause and root of this problem, is still, graft and corruption! I agree to "Ka Oca Orbos" when he said that corruption is the root of all these. With a low-cost public text book, the Education Department can save millions of pesos, some to be reserved on someone else's personal projects. The rampant red tape and "whom you know" among the low rank teachers will defer the inclusion of qualified teachers to join the team of book reviewers. Ever wonder how our education system collapsed and bring forth today's children with both extremes of highly intellectuals and very much illiterate students? To whom should we attribute this happenings, to the teachers? to the Bureaucrats? to the Policy-makers? to the Implementors?
I don't know. If I will be asked where to let my child take his education, I'd probably answer at home where I can supervise everything my child is working at.
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