Farewell…Eboy
(for Eboy Jovida)
By Apolinario Villalobos
In this world you’ve ceased to live
But in our heart and mind
You shall linger with a smile –
And, it shall never fade in time.
You’ve tried to be the best you could –
Husband, father… friend
In songs you have crooned
Even the calm you well feigned.
Farewell…to the best father, farewell!
Friend, you’re a delight
Ride on the glory of our love
As you journey towards that Light!
For the International Women’s Month (March)
Ang Kagitingan ng Babae
Ni Apolinario Villalobos
Kung babalikan ang Bibliya, nakatala doon sa sinasabing alamat ng paraiso, na ang dahilan ng pagsuway ni Adan sa utos ng Diyos ay babae, si Eba. Kung sinasabi din na silang dalawa ay binigyan ng malayang kaisipan, ang ginawa ni Eba ay ang paggamit nito dahil sa kagustuhan niyang mahigitan ang kaalaman ng Diyos. Masisisi ba natin siya? Kung ang kaisipang ibinigay ng Diyos sa mga una niyang nilalang ay hindi malaya, hindi sana nagpatukso si Eba sa ulupong, at si Adan ay hindi nagpadala sa pangbubuyo ni Eba. Sa ginawa ni Eba, ipinakita niya ang lakas ng kanyang loob na magpairal ng kanyang saloobin, kaya pati ang Manlilikha ay nakaya niyang suwayin. At, kung hindi napalayas ang tatlo (kasama ang ulupong) mula sa paraiso, hindi sana nagkaroon ng pagkakataon ang tao na masubukan ang kanyang katatagan sa harap ng mga pagsubok na ibinigay ng Diyos.
Sa kasaysayan, maraming mga Ebang nagpakita ng kanilang katapangan, katatagan at kagitingan. Unahin na natin si Maria na sinasabing ina ni Hesukristo. Nagpakita siya ng katatagan sa pagharap sa nakasisilaw na anyo ng anghel nang pagsabihan siya nito na dadalhin niya sa kanyang sinapupunan ang manunubos ng mundo. Hindi siya nalito at natakot, sa halip ay tinanggap niya ang anunsyo ng buong puso at katatagan, at sa kabila ng nakatakda nilang pagsasama bilang mag-asa ni Jose.
Marami na rin ang mga naging bayaning babae, at ang pinakamatunog na pangalan ay si Santa Juana (St. Joan), na maski sa kaliitan ay nagawa pa rin niyang pangunahan ang isa sa pinakamadugong pag-aklas laban sa mapanupil na hari noong kapanahunan niya na humantong sa pagsunog sa kanya habang nakatali sa isang tulos. At sa makabagong panahon, ang isa sa pinakarespetadong pinuno ng bansa ay si Indira Gandhi na hanggang ngayon ay itinuturing na simbolo ng talino ng mga kababaehan.
Sa Inglatera, nagkaroon din ng babaeng pinuno, si Margaret Thacher, na kinilala sa kahusayan niya sa pagharap sa mga bantang pinakita ng kalapit nilang mga bansa. Sa Pilipinas, naman ay merong Corazon Aquino na sa kabila ng kakulangan ng kaalaman sa pagpapatakbo ng gobyerno ay buong tapang na umako ng mga responsibilidad sa ngalan ng kalayaan. Sa kasaysayan ng Pilipinas, nababanggit ang kagitinigan ni Gabriela Silang, Teodora Alonzo at marami pang iba, at sa isa pang alamat, si Prinsesa Urduja.
Marami pang mga kwento ng kagitingan ang umiinog sa katauhan ng mga babae, mga matatawag na ring bayani at martir na pilit nilabanan ang lungkot dahil sa pansamantalang pagkakalayo mula sa mga pamilya, kumita lamang ng maayos sa ibang bansa. Sila ang mga binubugbog at pinagsasamantalahan ng mga amo, at kung malasin ay isinasakay sa eroplano bilang cargo dahil nasa loob na ng kabaong, maiuwi lamang sa Pilipinas. Sila ang mga babaeng halos pigilan ang mga kamay ng orasan, magkaroon lamang ng mahabang pagkakataon upang kumita sa pinapasukang beerh house bilang receptionist o mananayaw. Sila ang mga babaeng maghapong nakatayo sa mga mall bilang mga dispatsadura. Sila rin ang mga babaeng hanggang ngayon ay nasa kabundukan at pilit na pinaglalaban ang mga karapatan ng mga inaapi. At sila ang mga babae na halos maputol ang hininga sa pag-ere, mailabas lamang ang isang buhay mula sa kanilang sinapupunan.
Sila ang ating mga anak, asawa, kapatid, pinsan, tiyahin, pamangkin, ina, lola, kapitbahay, kasambahay – mga nilalang na malimit hindi maunawaan, kaya kung minsan, ang tanging paraan upang mabawasan ang sama ng loob, ay ang pag-iyak na lamang. Subali’t hindi na ngayon, dahil unti-unti na ring kinikilala ang kanilang kagitingan at dahil diyan, nagkakaroon na rin ng imahe na dapat igalang.
For the International Women’s Month (March)
Ang Gandang Pilipina
Ni Apolinario Villalobos
Ang mga Pilipina, may iba’t ibang wangis ng ganda
Mayroong mestisa, lutang ay kagandahang Kastila
Matangos na ilong at mahahabang mga pilik-mata
Kulay na kung di man mapusyaw, ay mamula-mula.
Kung sa kulay din lamang, mayroon ding iba diyan
Hindi pahuhuli sa mga paligsahan ng kagandahan
Balat na makinis na’y morena pang di pagsasawaan
Kahi’t na dumikit na halos, tingin ng mga kalalakihan.
Mayroon ding mga Pilipina, dahil sa angking alindog
Sa pagkakaupo, binatang makakita, tiyak mahuhulog
Dahil talagang takaw-pansin, hips na tila umiindayog
Kalangitang maaliwalas, di maiwasang magpakulog!
Ano pa nga ba’t Pilipinas ay sadyang mapalad talaga
Kababaihan ay pang-internasyonal ang angking ganda
Pinatunayan nila na ang kagandaha’y di lang sa mukha
Subali’t sa kaibuturan din ng puso, talino at pananalita.
Mabuhay ang Pilipina…byuting morena!
At siyempre, pati na rin ang mga mestisa!
Dahil sa inyo, bansang Pinas ay pinagpala –
Kahi’t winatak ng mga berdugo sa pulitika!!!!
Jaime Mayor
…honest kutsero of Luneta
By Apolinario B Villalobos
At dawn, from his humble home in Caloocan
He diligently pedals his way to Luneta
The same he does when he goes home at night
But all these he does with unpretentious delight.
In Luneta, for years, he worked as kutsero
Guiding his tame horse, he fondly calls Rapido
Both of them braving the rain and searing sun
Even pangs of hunger as best as they can.
A typical Filipino, this guy – Jaime Mayor
For earning honestly, he could not ask for more
With perpetual smile on his sun-burned face
He and Rapido, in Luneta, strollers can’t miss.
One day, his honesty was put to a test
When a purse was left behind by a tourist
Whom he pursued just before she was gone
And who was amazed by such an honest man.
Tightly he was hugged and praised to heavens
In a language that sounded strange to him
But just the same, these he took in stride
Though, his appreciation, he could not hide.
He said, he is proud to be a Filipino
And proud that he lives in a beautiful country
His modest knowledge of English, then…
Is always ended with –
“It’s more fun to be in the Philippines”!
(Jaime Mayor is a driver (kutsero) of a horse-driven rig (kalesa) in Luneta (Rizal Park) of Manila. His average daily earning is Php200.00. This is carefully budgeted to suffice for the needs of his wife and four children. One day he drove around the park, four French ladies, one of whom left her purse in the back seat of the rig. After finding it, he took time in looking for the group. The ladies were surprised as they were not aware that one of them left her purse in the rig. The amazed owner of the purse gave him a tight hug. On September 13, 2012, the Rizal Park administration gave him a plaque of appreciation.
After three years, I finally met Jaime Mayor. On December 27, 2015, a Sunday, while I was gathering materials for blogging, I happened to talk to a rig driver if he knew Mr. Mayor. He nonchalantly pointed to the rig that just passed by. I practically ran after the rig up to its unloading station where he obliged some photo opportunities.
Mr. Mayor is among the rig drivers of Castillan Carriage and Tour Sevices which is based at Fort Santiago. According to Mr. Herson Magtalas, Checker/Operations Coordinator of the said agency, despite the popularity of Mr. Mayor, he remained humble as the nationwide recognition given him did not affect him a bit. He is still the same guy whom they knew – unassuming, hardworking and a man of few words. Mr. Magtalas added that the former Department of Tourism, Mr. Gordon gave him profuse praises, and the same recognition was followed by other government officials. He was also given a spot in a commercial, the earning from which helped his family a lot.)
“Maliit na bagay…”: bagong kasabihan ng Presidente ng Pilipinas
(tungkol sa mga isyu ng “tanim-bala” at “Maguindanao Massacre”)
Ni Apolinario Villalobos
Ayon sa matalinong presidente ng Pilipinas, maliit na bagay lang daw ang isyu tungkol sa tanim-bala sa airport at pinalaki lang ng media. Para sa kanya, maliit palang bagay ang mga sumusunod na ilan lang sa mga nangyari dahil sa eskandalong ito:
Pinsan ng pangulo ang nakaupong General Manager ng MIAA, na tahasang nagsasabing wala siyang pakialam sa pangkabuuhang operasyon ng airport sa kabila ng ipinakita na sa kanyang responsibilidad na nakapaloob sa isang kauutusan. Bakit hindi na lang siya mag-resign upang mapalitan ng talagang may kaalaman sa pagpapatakbo ng airport? Kung may pagmamahal siya sa pinsan niyang matalinong president, dapat umalis na siya upang mabawasan naman ang bigat na nakapatong sa balikat nito – mga problemang siya rin ang may gawa.
Ang Maguindanao Massacre na ilang araw lang ang nakaraan ay umabot na sa ika-anim na taon ay malamang “maliit na bagay” lang din para sa matalinong pangulo. Nakalimutan yata niyang isa ito sa mga pinangako niyang matutuldukan noong siya ay nangangampanya pa lang. Nakakatawa pa sila sa Malakanyang dahil ngayong araw na ito lang, November 24, nagbigay ng “reminder” sa Department of Justice na “bilisan” kuno ang pagpausad sa gulong ng hustisya para sa mga namatayan!
Maliit din sigurong bagay ang pag-appoint niya ng mga kakilala, kaeskwela, at kung ano pang kakakahan sa mga sensitibong puwesto sa iba’t ibang ahensiya. Mabuti na lang at kahit paano ay nabistong ang palagi niyang sinusumbat na cronyism kay Gloria Arroyo ay ginagawa din pala niya – mas matindi pa! Bumaba man siya sa puwesto, hindi siya makakalimutan ng mga Pilipino dahil sa pagduduro niya ng isang daliri kay Gloria, samantalang ang tatlo pa ay nakaturo naman sa kanya!
Para sa isang taong hindi nakadanas ng kahirapan, lahat ng bagay sa mundo ay maliit dahil malamang, iniisip niyang lahat ito may katumbas na pera!…o hindi kaya dahil lang sa talagang ugali niyang walang pakialam sa kanyang kapwa?
China Did it Again…Passing the Blame to the Philippines
and Playing the Downtrodden on the Issue of West Phil. Sea
By Apolinario Villalobos
Here is another disturbing dispatch from Reuter on the latest declaration of China as regards the disputed West Philippine Sea:
“BEIJING/MANILA (Reuters) – Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said the Philippines’ case against China at an arbitration tribunal over rival claims in the South China Sea had strained relations and that it was up to the Philippines to heal the rift.”( By Sui-Lee Wee and Manuel Mogato)
China is not stopping from presenting an image that oozes with weakness, humility and innocence to illicit sympathy from fence-sitting nations as regards the West Philippine Sea where she has built artificial islands that anytime from now shall be inhabited by thousands of her military personnel, as well as, equipped with military facilities. This is despite her insistence that the reclaimed islands shall be utilized for researches and emergency rescues, although, her covert objective, is first and foremost, expansion of her territory. She is perceived with disdain as a double-talker. Proof to this was when she declared that reclamation in the West Philippine Sea was stopped, but weeks later, the world was gaping at the wonder of the transformation of an atoll into a “high-tech island”, complete with military facilities and runway.
The issue on the West Philippine Sea shall put to test the guts of the United Nation’s International Tribunal charged with the Law of the Sea. Will it go on with the investigations and trials despite the vehement refusal of China to participate as she does not recognize the tribunal’s authority? What will the other co-members of China in the UN Security Council do? Will they join hands and gang-up on her? Will the United Nations order the dismantling of the facilities on the disputed natural and man-made islands, once the tribunal decides in favor of the Philippines?
Practically, the economy of the whole world is in the tight grip of China, as even powerful nations are indebted to her. The Chinese President was recently a guest of Honor in London and accorded very special treatment which their high officials unabashedly admitted to be equated with “economic assistance”. China has also, spearheaded the opening of a bank that competes with the World Bank in offering loans to distressed countries.
The peoples around the globe practically depend on China – from their toothpick, gadgets, food products, equipment, and machineries. Due to the cheap Chinese labor, companies from all over the world, transferred the manufacturing of their goods in China, although, marketing of the products are done in their home countries In this view, it would seem that once the machines of factories in China will stop, the whole world shall come to a complete stop, too. When the Chinese money declined in value, other moneys in the world followed suit. So, what other manifestations do we need to show that the Chinese, have by their wily manipulation, able to control the world, and that the leaders of the nations that are supposed to be defenders of democracy, are just playing charades to avoid losing face?
Meanwhile, in the “game of the West Philippine Sea”, the pawn is the Philippines…if China will get what she wants, it would be goodbye to the rest of the claims by other SEA nations!
Why Filipino Foods are not Popular Abroad
Compared to those of other Asians’
By Apolinario Villalobos
To put a straight answer to the question….it’s because names of Filipino foods in classy restaurants are “proudly” in Spanish or French, unlike those of other countries with authentic native names. As we know, people of other nations, especially those in the west, prefer the exotic, the native…and not what they already have in their country. So, in their desire to try something exotic, they would go to Korean, Japanese, Indonesian and Thai restaurants for a taste of Asia.
I am expressing this concern after reading an article in a weekend supplement of a broadsheet about a Filipino cook who has gone places, and the write-up is complete with photos of recipes that are his masterpieces – all with French names, though prepared with native ingredients! Filipino cooks who prefer to be called “chefs”, are obviously, so ashamed to name their dishes based on the main ingredient that they use. Perhaps, they should name, for instance, snail cooked in coconut milk, just as “ginataang kuhol”, the fern tops salad as “kinilaw na pako”, the “pinakbet” as just that, as named, coconut pith salad, as “kinilaw na ubod ng niyog”, misua soup as “sopas na misua” instead of “angel’s hair soup”, etc. There is, however, a problem with the “bird’s nest soup” that should be named “sinopas na laway ng ibon”.
There are a few Filipinos based in other countries, and who have ventured into the restaurant business, but most still prefer to hide their Filipino identity by using foreign-sounding names for their establishment, afraid that they will not attract customers, other than fellow Filipinos. Most also prefer to offer Mediterranean dishes introduced by the Spanish colonizers in the Philippines, such as the “arroz Valenciana”, “chorizo”, “estofado”, etc. when these can be prepared the Filipino way and given Filipino names. The hypocritical effort is obviously, an acrid residue of colonial mentality.
It is interesting to note that, in Arab countries, “saluyot” is used as an ingredient in spicy chicken curry, but in our country, only the lowly Filipinos eat the said vegetable, despite the already known fact, that it can prevent diabetes. A classy Chinese restaurant in Manila serves “alugbate” as an appetizer, but again, only mostly Visayans appreciate the said vegetable which is also known as Madagascar spinach or Chinese spinach, and those who cook it, know only of monggo as the appropriate taste enhancer. Still in the Middle East, one way to prepare eggplant is to sauté it in oil and spices until it becomes mushy, which then, is eaten with bread. But in the Philippines, despite the abundance of eggplant, what most Filipinos know as a dish for it is “tortang talong” or an ingredient in “pinakbet”, or an insignificant ingredient in “achara” or pickles, and still for the lowly, “binagoongang talong” or just “inihaw na talong”.
In Thai restaurants, they serve “bagoong rice” with thin slices of green mango and toasted dried krill (alamang) or baby shrimps on the side. Filipinos love it, but local carinderias do not serve them or only very few even attempt to cook it at home, despite the availability of ingredients in wet markets. Still, Filipinos do not mind paying for the pricey Thai coffee, although, it is just an ordinary black coffee mixed with “condensed milk”, that can be prepared at home. And, to top it all, the mentioned offerings are listed in the menu with Thai names!
So far, only the street food vendors are bold enough to give their palatable goodies “exotic” names, such as ‘adidas” for chicken feet, IUD for chicken intestine, “pares” for soupy mixture of shredded beef, cow skin, chili flakes, soy sauce, and toasted garlic – paired with quick-cooked fried rice.
When Fiilipinos have foreign visitors, they are brought to classy restaurants, unless the latter request for something local. Oftentimes, no initiative is taken by most Filipinos to introduce what are ours. A classic attempt, however, was made by a Filipina when she brought her German guest to a mall and went to the Filipino section for candied tamarind. While picking up a pack, the host was proudly talking about the fruit as being abundant in the Philippines. When the guest looked at the label, she saw a “Made in China” printed prominently as the source of the product!….well, at least the proud Filipina tried.
The Entry of Great Britain in the “China Scene”
Shows that Everything is Alright with the Dragon Power
By Apolinario Villalobos
President Xi of China was accorded a very warm reception recently when he visited London. The Prime Minister of the host country admitted that such warmth was equivalent to investments that could be equated to thousands of job.
The Security Council of the United Nations is permanently occupied by the world’s four powers – the United States, Russia, Great Britain, China and France. Of the four, only France has not yet shown an obvious affinity to China. However, with what happened in London, will the nation of great chefs, follow suit, by coming up with an alibi to invite China to their romantic country and entice the touted richest country today, to invest, too? But the biggest question is: what will happen to the United Nations, now that the “check and balance” is lost?
Clearly, the lesser nations shall be at the mercy of the four nations’ charades. It will not be long when the four will finally talk among themselves on how to fairly divide the sickly sphere among them. The United States and China have been patting each other’s back indiscreetly, as while the former has been releasing “threats” of incursion in the latter’s artificial boundaries in the West Philippine Sea… China likewise releases “threats” of appropriate actions as needed – all press release. But in the eyes of those in the know, such are just charades. China’s relation with Russia has no problem at all, as there is a silent understanding about the difference in their respective interest – that of Russia in Europe and that of China in Southeast Asia and even the whole of Asia and the Pacific area, thus, her claim of the West Philippine Sea.
Initially, when China released a statement about her reclamation of islets in the West Philippine Sea, only the United States was specially mentioned that can use the facilities to be installed. Later, general statements were made about the use of facilities for maritime rescue, but still no mention about the claimant countries’ involvement. Very obvious is the ultimate objective of China for a one sided compromise, in her favor, of course. China will definitely not allow the dismantling of her installed facilities if the United Nations will decide on the illegality of reclamations. And, in this case, China has found a new and almost equally powerful supporter – Great Britain, a fellow member of the UN Security Council.
Great Britain has been known for condoning piratical activities of her adventurous seafaring people, notorious among them was Drake. Although, the piratical activity was draped with political intents on the issue of maritime boundaries in conflict with Spain, still the selfish and illegally notorious motive was there – piracy. In her effort to rid her main territory of criminals, she dumped convicts in the far away island of Australia, to make sure that criminals would not be able to swim their way back home. Finally, her colonial effort resulted to the peopling of the New World – America, that later became the “cradle” of world democracy. By the way, Great Britain supports Malaysia against the Philippines on the issue of Sabah.
Today, the wisdom of China seems to have tamed the world powers. The dragon is, indeed, wise when it has awaken again after thousands of years of slumber.
The Deceitful “Growth” of the Philippine Economy
by Apolinario Villalobos
When President Pnoy Aquino made reports about the “phenomenal” growth of the Philippine economy under his administration, many shrugged their shoulders, as the latter believe otherwise in view of the very obvious poverty that scars the economic landscape, like a creeping amoeba. Pnoy sincerely believes the “truth” in the result of the surveys, which many times have been proven unrealistic, hence, unbelievable. Development should result to fair and real benefits for the appropriate parties. So, whether the Filipinos are, indeed, benefiting from these foreign investments in the country or not, still remains a big question that Pnoy should answer – truthfully.
The Filipino industry is dead long ago, when the country joined the global commerce that enslaved it to one-sided provisions due to quotas involved, favoring giant industrial nations. The Philippines has become the dumping ground of cheap products, especially, those from China and the United States, and woefully, even garbage from Canada! Not even the agriculture industry is spared, as rice and corn fields gave way to subdivisions and business centers. The forests are exploited by loggers financed by foreigners, and so are the mining areas. Manufacturing in the country has become the exclusive venture of foreign investors with Filipinos slaving it out along the length of the assembly lines, and tied to 5-month contract for a measly wage.
The volume and the gross monetary returns of these investments get reported, but the details of the “real profit” are not, because they are hauled back to the countries of the foreign investors. Meanwhile, the only tangible and direct benefit from contractual employment which is the measly wage, is what’s left to Filipinos!…yet, the President Pnoy has the courage to report that the country under his administration has “moved forward” on his “tuwid na daan” (straight path), and that poverty has been decreased!…and very proudly at that!
Pnoy Aquino should stop warbling about “developments” under his term, so that he will not be overwhelmed with criticisms, as he is just basing his claims on questionable survey results. He should not worry, because presidents who preceded him are equally guilty. Just like him, they forgot that the Philippines, is first and foremost, an agricultural nation, yet, this particular segment of the economy was woefully neglected. Instead of preserving what remained of the dastardly exploited natural resources since the American regime, these are left to be further exploited not only by corrupt government officials but by foreign financiers through their dummies, as well.
Public lands were sold, supposedly for their revenue to be used in upgrading government facilities, such as those in the Armed Forces, but nothing happened of it. So, today, the archipelagic Philippines is a miserable sight in the eyes of other nations due to her Navy’s rusty and outmoded ships; the Army’s doleful and inadequate arms and ammunitions; and, the Air Force’s shabby picture with its rickety aircrafts. There are reports that acquisitions have been made…but similar reports were made many years ago…and, remained as just reports.
By the way, though known to be a dictator, Ferdinand Marcos , at the early part of his first term as president, was honest enough to admit the sorry state of the nation with its deteriorating economy. Nobody among the rest of the presidents, including Quezon, the Commonwealth president had the courage to do it.
The situation today is worsened by the obvious cover-up of what are really happening, a gross act of dishonesty. Meanwhile, the country still wallows in the corrupted government system that benefits only a few.
The Government should Review the Performance
and Relevance of the Commission on Higher Education (CHED)
By Apolinario Villalobos
There is an observed saturation of related courses in the colleges and universities which is the cause of unabated soaring of unemployment of yearly graduates in the country. Experts wonder what are causing the phenomenon which is a precursor of distress among the present generation. They look around, but failed to see the educational breeding grounds – the colleges and universities with their redundant courses.
When tourism boomed, for instance, there was an immediate scramble of colleges and universities in coming up with courses such as BS Tourism, Hotel and Restaurant Management, Airline Secretarial, and many others. All of them four-year courses, when all that the industry needs are people who can communicate well in different languages, especially, English, Japanese and Chinese. Hotels and restaurants need only waiters, bar tenders, cooks, front room personnel. Airline companies need only secretaries who are computer-literate, adept in filing and knowledge in office courtesy. Tour operators and agencies need only tour guides who are proficient in languages, as well as, office staff who can prepare tour packages, answer phoned-in queries, cut tickets, and make bookings. So why the tedious and expensive four years, then, when all the required skill can be had in two-years and several hours of on-the-job training?
The saturation of useless courses offering of colleges and universities is a clear sign that these institutions are not sensitive to what are happening in the country, especially, on the issue of unemployment. They just refuse to acknowledge the fact that their graduates languish in pitiful state of unemployment, after spending hard-earned money and time for four years. I wonder if the “intelligent” guys who run these diploma mills ever make simple analysis about the situation that even a simple cigarette vendor on the street understand. Yet, these institutions proudly display on tarpaulins outside their campuses, photos and names of their graduates who passed board and bar examinations….but beyond that, what?
Surveys are made about unemployment, but again, they never touch the source of unemployed graduates who have been idle for so many years and the shocked newly-graduates to find out why. The government mentioned something about “mismatching” of courses with the requirements of employers…and, the “concern” if ever it can be called such, ends there. Is the government so helpless, such that it cannot even issue mandates to colleges and universities to put a stop to their money-making ventures in the form of useless and redundant courses?
As a last recourse, why not just do away with CHED so that the money saved can be used in enhancing the programs of the Department of Education (DepEd) and TESDA?
All that the DepEd needs is a division or two to handle higher education or collegiate concerns which are all but, as mentioned, useless and redundant courses, while TESDA programs can be expanded to include specializations that may include trainings for flight attendants, cruise crew, flight ticketing personnel, airport check-in staff, reservations agents, tour package specialists, multi-lingual tour guides, in addition to what it already offers such as hotel servicing, development of building construction skills, and computer-related short courses. On the other hand, the colleges and universities should be mandated to streamline their course offerings that should jive with the demands of the current job requirements.
If “productivity” is what the government wants for the college and university graduates, then, a thorough review should be done if CHED is really doing its job or not. Unfortunately, it seems that such call is impossible under the present administration, as the latter is all praise to the agency for its “reports” that beautifully punctuate the SONAs of Pnoy.
penpowersong 