1 July 2009
Yesterday, we had a taste of presidentiables discussing education. It was an eye-opener in terms of what qualities we need from a president. Chiz Escudero, Grace Padaca, Dick Gordon and Nick Perlas were at AIM in Makati City to talk on education and other issues conducted by the Movement for Good Governance. Cheche Lim Lazaro was the emcee.
Chiz Escudero scrutinized the budget being allocated to education and said it is very low compared to other items. Grace Padaca gave her grassroots approach to increasing educational services to her constituents, stating that she had ordered that school buildings be erected in far-away barrios as they are most in need there. Gordon stressed the need for science-based education, while Perlas expounded intellectually on multiple intelligences, which is a theory of Howard Gardner, positing that each learner has a type of intelligence -- whether, linguistic, physical, musical, etc.
Considering the grave problems of the country, from poverty to decreasing educational opportunities, the discussants showed that we need a bit of each presidentiable quality -- the legal mind of Chiz, the empathic for the poor quality of Grace, the go-getter attitude of Gordon, and the philosophical bent of Perlas. Thus the conference is beginning to show us that there are many qualified people for the presidency, but we really have to sift through their capabilities and commitment to change.
Mr. Bill Luz said that this conference is just the start of presidentiable discussions in order to raise the level of campaigning for the highest position. Certainly campaigning for 2010 will acquire a new quality -- we shall have a good picture of candidates talking about why they are posing as candidates, what their programs of government are, and how they will deal with the military which has become the tool for propping up this illegitimate administration.
Grace said it all which we paraphrase thus -- "Mas maganda sana kung ang isang presidente ay mahalal hindi dahil sa partisipasyon ng militar kundi ng mamamayan. Nang sa ganun, hindi siya magkakaroon ng utang na loob na pagbabayaran niya sa bandang huli" (using the coffers of the government, we may add.)
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