Privilege and Influence
Privilege and Influence
by Janella Khrystle S. de Leon
"What’s one thing you’d wish every Filipino would have the privilege to receive for free?"
Just one of the few random thoughts that crossed my mind on the breakfast table one morning. The television was tuned to the teleradyo channel as usual, and I try to digest the national issues being discussed.
After giving it much thought, I think most people - if not all - would agree with my answer. No, it’s not food. Why? Because although food is your main source to stay alive, it requires work to be harvested and Man is obliged to work for it. If we were to do simple Math, in order to attain food, we’d need to know the root of the problem to solve it. Work and employment is one of the country’s problems as well due to qualifications and demands. Some professions require skill sets from a course and a degree. And that my friends is what we need - Education.
The question earlier was not limited to anything, yet I think I’m satisfied with what I answered. Why Education? Besides my simple algorithm above, in my opinion, education is something that actually adds value to someone’s self worth. Let’s be honest, although not all successful people are degree holders, it increases your chances to a better career, hence a better future. Plus, not only does education provide you a title to your name, it’s also a pride to have.
Being the third world country that we are, it’s no news that free education for each citizen is murkier than the waters of Pasig River. Of course, it’s because that provision would be too good to be true. But thankfully, our country still has an alternative to offer - educational assistance and financial aids.
There has been multiple laws passed regarding grants and aids with the purpose of helping students who can’t provide for their schooling. I, unfortunately, belonged to that category of students. My family struggled due to financial issues for a while which made me stop for a year. Graduating High school with honors, I was too excited to start College but only to find out that it won’t be happening as I planned. And that’s only when I started noticing scholarship grants offered by the government.
The funny thing is, I may be the last person to even appreciate a politician for his work. I simply have no interest in politics most especially in the people involved in it. Never did I find them believable nor trustworthy at all. But when my Aunt Abby, a government employee, reached out to offer me assistance with a scholarship, I remember getting curious as to how and why they do it. Don’t get me wrong, I still feel it most of the time, but becoming a scholar changed it somehow.
If I were to talk about an influential government official, I’d answer with Neri Colmenares in a heartbeat. Not that I’m being biased. Yes, “we all have biases,” like what of my Professor said. But isn’t it that we base our biases through personal experience? I’m not someone who would judge a person for their physique, but with their personality. Now especially when talking about government officials, I would normally not care, unless they have personally influenced me. With all the conflicting government parties that people favor, my basis would always be with their dignity, lifestyle and work done, not with their family name nor their legacy.
https://youtu.be/mWa1-EJnTFw
Now, why former Congressman Neri Colmenares? Out of all the politicians, why him? A few facts about him that most people know about is that he was a ‘fighter’, being the human rights lawyer and activist that he is, in his three terms as party-list congressman. Also being a Senior Deputy House speaker, he has introduced and supported multiple house bills, and fought and won some of country’s biggest national issues. It also ain’t news for politicians to front a good record, but it was enough for some of the well-known politicians to push him to file for candidacy as a Senator in 2015. But all these actually didn’t catch my attention. Like I said before, I have no interest in politics and its men. What made me know him was his platforms and the existing scholarships he’s supporting, one of which I was fortunate enough to be granted with.
To clarify, I have no intentions, not even a little, of making this sound like a campaign nor exalt his name. I’m not Angel Locsin to bring him supporters. Still speaking for my main point as Education, with my little knowledge of the Philippine politicians, I think it’s understandable that I be grateful of someone who helped me get through my studies at one point. Again, if we were to discuss about an influential public figure, I can easily testify, as his scholar, why it was him among others.
It’s easy to hear people’s opinions about a certain official, but if you hear it from someone who knows them well, someone who has direct contact with daily, you can surely get more substantial and accurate information about them even when they’re not facing the public. My Aunt Abby was his former secretary at the time I was granted educational aid. She has been one of people who has seen him work behind every platform. And when asked, my Aunt will always just tell us how she loves working for Neri because he is a genuine person trying to do what he can do no matter how little it could be. Most of all, his standpoint and commitment to better the quality of education, its standards, and accessibility to all.
“Personally, Neri is a very affable, passionate, kind and reasonable person. Being a lawyer by profession balances his fire as an activist, and he is very smart, witty and reasonable and logical in his arguments and discussions. He is also a very good mentor, that is one thing that you cannot place a price tag on. Having worked with him for several years on legal cases, legislation, projects, it was an all around mentoring and learning experience mentally, work ethics and practice and values as well. Kaya kinuha ko na ninong naming ni Tito mo,” my Aunt Abby tells me.
The scholarship I was granted was one of the many aids Neri Colmenares has passed. The house bill number 4591 as “an act providing for a comprehensive and unified student financial assistance system for higher and technical education” for financially unable but highly motivated students. This has helped and influenced me, indeed, and I’m grateful that these are supported by officials like Neri. Something close to what I could’ve wished for the Filipinos at least.
by Janella Khrystle S. de Leon
"What’s one thing you’d wish every Filipino would have the privilege to receive for free?"
Just one of the few random thoughts that crossed my mind on the breakfast table one morning. The television was tuned to the teleradyo channel as usual, and I try to digest the national issues being discussed.
After giving it much thought, I think most people - if not all - would agree with my answer. No, it’s not food. Why? Because although food is your main source to stay alive, it requires work to be harvested and Man is obliged to work for it. If we were to do simple Math, in order to attain food, we’d need to know the root of the problem to solve it. Work and employment is one of the country’s problems as well due to qualifications and demands. Some professions require skill sets from a course and a degree. And that my friends is what we need - Education.
The question earlier was not limited to anything, yet I think I’m satisfied with what I answered. Why Education? Besides my simple algorithm above, in my opinion, education is something that actually adds value to someone’s self worth. Let’s be honest, although not all successful people are degree holders, it increases your chances to a better career, hence a better future. Plus, not only does education provide you a title to your name, it’s also a pride to have.
Being the third world country that we are, it’s no news that free education for each citizen is murkier than the waters of Pasig River. Of course, it’s because that provision would be too good to be true. But thankfully, our country still has an alternative to offer - educational assistance and financial aids.
There has been multiple laws passed regarding grants and aids with the purpose of helping students who can’t provide for their schooling. I, unfortunately, belonged to that category of students. My family struggled due to financial issues for a while which made me stop for a year. Graduating High school with honors, I was too excited to start College but only to find out that it won’t be happening as I planned. And that’s only when I started noticing scholarship grants offered by the government.
The funny thing is, I may be the last person to even appreciate a politician for his work. I simply have no interest in politics most especially in the people involved in it. Never did I find them believable nor trustworthy at all. But when my Aunt Abby, a government employee, reached out to offer me assistance with a scholarship, I remember getting curious as to how and why they do it. Don’t get me wrong, I still feel it most of the time, but becoming a scholar changed it somehow.
If I were to talk about an influential government official, I’d answer with Neri Colmenares in a heartbeat. Not that I’m being biased. Yes, “we all have biases,” like what of my Professor said. But isn’t it that we base our biases through personal experience? I’m not someone who would judge a person for their physique, but with their personality. Now especially when talking about government officials, I would normally not care, unless they have personally influenced me. With all the conflicting government parties that people favor, my basis would always be with their dignity, lifestyle and work done, not with their family name nor their legacy.
Now, why former Congressman Neri Colmenares? Out of all the politicians, why him? A few facts about him that most people know about is that he was a ‘fighter’, being the human rights lawyer and activist that he is, in his three terms as party-list congressman. Also being a Senior Deputy House speaker, he has introduced and supported multiple house bills, and fought and won some of country’s biggest national issues. It also ain’t news for politicians to front a good record, but it was enough for some of the well-known politicians to push him to file for candidacy as a Senator in 2015. But all these actually didn’t catch my attention. Like I said before, I have no interest in politics and its men. What made me know him was his platforms and the existing scholarships he’s supporting, one of which I was fortunate enough to be granted with.
To clarify, I have no intentions, not even a little, of making this sound like a campaign nor exalt his name. I’m not Angel Locsin to bring him supporters. Still speaking for my main point as Education, with my little knowledge of the Philippine politicians, I think it’s understandable that I be grateful of someone who helped me get through my studies at one point. Again, if we were to discuss about an influential public figure, I can easily testify, as his scholar, why it was him among others.
It’s easy to hear people’s opinions about a certain official, but if you hear it from someone who knows them well, someone who has direct contact with daily, you can surely get more substantial and accurate information about them even when they’re not facing the public. My Aunt Abby was his former secretary at the time I was granted educational aid. She has been one of people who has seen him work behind every platform. And when asked, my Aunt will always just tell us how she loves working for Neri because he is a genuine person trying to do what he can do no matter how little it could be. Most of all, his standpoint and commitment to better the quality of education, its standards, and accessibility to all.
my aunt - Abigail Fulgueras, chief of staff of Neri Colmenares
“Personally, Neri is a very affable, passionate, kind and reasonable person. Being a lawyer by profession balances his fire as an activist, and he is very smart, witty and reasonable and logical in his arguments and discussions. He is also a very good mentor, that is one thing that you cannot place a price tag on. Having worked with him for several years on legal cases, legislation, projects, it was an all around mentoring and learning experience mentally, work ethics and practice and values as well. Kaya kinuha ko na ninong naming ni Tito mo,” my Aunt Abby tells me.
The scholarship I was granted was one of the many aids Neri Colmenares has passed. The house bill number 4591 as “an act providing for a comprehensive and unified student financial assistance system for higher and technical education” for financially unable but highly motivated students. This has helped and influenced me, indeed, and I’m grateful that these are supported by officials like Neri. Something close to what I could’ve wished for the Filipinos at least.
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