The Lost Years

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Sonny Angara is not doing well in the surveys as a senatorial candidate because he has not provided any meaningful leadership at DepEd. Instead, he has relied on the findings and recommendations of EDCOM 2. The majority of its advisers have no worthy publications. They are mostly from Manila with no representation from Mindanao. 

Yes, they may be executives, but they come from elite private schools. They are severely lacking in context and practical experience. In other words, they do not understand the problems faced by public school teachers. Yes, EDCOM 2 prepares reports based on FGDs. Then they do media interviews. But that's all.

VP Sara Duterte at DepEd was different. Ask a teacher from any public school, and you will hear about the practical changes that she implemented as DepEd Secretary. Now, they are trying to destroy her image but as far as the trial is going, it appears that Mary Grace Piatos was hyped by who else but Ronald Llamas. In fact, the OVP spent a part of those funds to pay for medicines.

Bam Aquino has sponsored and passed another education law, but whether this law will actually help a child struggling in class is something only Bam knows. The second Marcos administration will be remembered as the lost years in Philippine history. We lost a trillion pesos to the flood-control corruption scandal. Bam said nothing about going after the mastermind.

PNoy did not do much better. In fact, he did nothing. Yes, he was not corrupt, but he did little to improve Philippine infrastructure. They accuse President Duterte of acquiring too much debt, but even a ninth grader knows that a significant portion of that money was used during the pandemic. President Duterte had Build, Build, Build. I need not say more.

Yes, Bam sponsored the free college education law, but it was President Duterte who ensured that funding would be made available so that poor students could pursue college education in state universities. The problem with Bam is that he believes he can be a good President. That is pure hallucination.

Gibo Teodoro is acting as if he is preparing for war instead of prioritizing a diplomatic solution to the West Philippine Sea issue through dialogue with the stakeholders involved. You don't need to ask him who is actually influencing the country's position. The present administration is running after its political enemies. Even Ping Lacson is now part of that mix. 

So, it is no wonder that Mindanawons do not like Bam or Risa. Neither can win the 2028 presidential derby. Like traditional politicians, both are also defined by self-interest. Indeed, those who parade themselves as paragons of virtue can sometimes be the worst of them all. I don't have to waste time to describe such hypocrisy. My advice to young people is to read books and learn from history.

- R.M.

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