The Opposite of Apathy

To afford college education, a student resorted to prostitution. Her story is being told in this video documentary, shown in youtube and produced by the College of Mass Communication, Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila. This project is in support of PLM President Adel Tamano’s advocacy on education.

To watch the video, click on this link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cssINDd-WUg

Is it just me or is the GMA administration INTENTIONALLY insulting both our intelligence and self-respect with these posters all over Metro Manila that show the visage of GMA with the tag-line “Ramdam ang Kaunlaran” (Translation: You can feel the economic progress). In the context of the rice, power, fuel, and food crises, this to me is more than distasteful, it is a slap on the face of every Filipino who groans under the weight of GMA’s “progress”.

Perhaps GMA is just being honest about her PERSONAL situation - She can feel the economic progress because it is only her and her family - legal, matrimonial, and official - who lives are improving under the GMA administration.

Adding insult to injury is the fact that it is our tax pesos that pay for those stupid posters.

Today, I had the great privilege of introducing Anwar Ibrahim at the De La Salle Colloquim on Islam, Politics, and Peace. Here is the text of my introduction -

INTRODUCTION OF ANWAR IBRAHIM

It started with a black eye. Ten years ago, a man had just been named as “Asian of the Year,” a former deputy Prime Minister, was now under arrest, beaten and bruised, charged for sodomy and corruption, and stripped of trappings of power; in short, a man who should have been humiliated and dejected. But instead of humiliation the world saw a man full of dignity and defiance. In an instant, Anwar Ibrahim became an icon for all people who opposed oppression and tyranny and who were willing to fight for reformasi, for social and economic reforms, through peaceful means.

Then came 9-11 and it was the Islamic world that got a black eye, this time primarily self-inflicted, particularly caused by those with an anachronistic view of Islam and who had forgotten that the etymology of term “Islam” itself was deeply rooted in the Arabic term “salaam” or peace. From that time, many have viewed Muslims with, at its mildest, distrust and at its harshest, with genuine hatred.

Anwar Ibrahim, through his work and his advocacies, once again defies the enemies of Islam both from within and from without. He is the very counter-argument to those who, like Bin Laden, refuse to take the bold step of bringing the Islamic faith into the future. He is the prototype of the modern Muslim: one who retains his Islamic faith and identity but is unafraid to relate with, to dialogue with, and to learn from the modern world.

In the Philippines, the Abu Sayyaf has done much to blacken the image of Filipino Muslims who already have to face the historic marginalization and discrimination. It is an undisputed fact, that in the Philippines, the highest levels of poverty and lowest levels of literacy are both found in the Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao or the ARMM.

Filipino Muslims – and our Chrisian brothers - turn to you, our speaker, Anwar Ibrahim as a source of inspiration, that we too shall defy and overcome, with dignity, the tyranny of poverty and oppression that grips not only the ARMM but has become the norm throughout this country because of the corrupt GMA administration.

Ladies and gentlemen, it is my singular honor to welcome our guest speaker, Dato Seri Anwar Ibrahim.

by Ellen Tordesillas
Malaya

I wanted to share this video with you because it demonstrates the disconnect that the current educational system has with the interests and perspectives of the youth. We have to find a way to make learning more relevant and interesting to students. The video focuses on the American educational system but since the Philippine system is more akin to the US system, the problems expressed in the video apply and resonate in the Philippine context as well. Food for thought.

ATTY. ADEL TAMANO
PLM PRESIDENT

There is a common question from many of the comments on this blog, which is, essentially, what am I doing personally to make our country a better place. Put another way, some assert that all I do is engage in talk about “change” while not doing anything concrete to effect it. To address this directly, here are 4 things - there are actually more but let’s start with this number - I am doing personally and concretely to move this country forward:

1. Eliminating Corruption at PLM (Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila). As president of the University I oversee a fund of 300 Million Pesos yearly for the benefit of nearly 12,000 students, staff, and faculty. Commission on Audit records will show the wastage and corruption that have occurred in past administrations. For those familiar with S.O.P.s (standard operating procedures, which is a codeword for corruption) of government, unfortunately, ten per cent of that fund, and this is a very conservative estimate, goes to the head of the organization. In my case it would be 30 million a year, at least. There are rumors that the past administrations in PLM stole even more than that. I do not - and will not - steal any money from PLM. That money should benefit the University, its students and staff. By utilizing the University’s money properly, I am building up our nation’s future leaders.

2. Lecturing on Youth Leadership and Empowerment. From invitations from organizations like the Jaycees and Rotarians to Student Organizations to High School and College graduations, I always make it a point to make my speeches or lectures center on youth leadership and a sense of hopefulness for our country’s future.

3. Establishing Programs for Adult Education and PLMAT review. We are currently working on an adult education program in PLM that will provide instruction to janitors and other low income earners such as small vendors, metro aides, etc. Also, seeing that those with higher income levels have an advantage at the entrance examinations for PLM, we are establishing a PLMAT - the University’s entrance exams - review course that will target the poorest Manila High School students to enable them to hurdle the highly competitive PLMAT. Bringing quality education to the poorer sectors of our community will always reap social dividends in the long run.

4. Advocating Muslim-Christian Dialogue Through Media, Articles, and Lectures. Muslim-Christian dialogue - inter-faith discussion - is very close to my heart, particularly being married to a Catholic. Through my numerous articles, media interviews and appearances, as well as lectures, I hope to open the lines of communication between Muslims and Christians in the Philippines, which is the essential pre-condition to overcoming distrust, discrimination, and finding peace in Mindanao.

Atty. Adel Tamano

This may seem totally unrelated to our governance topic but let me share it with you anyway - My wife and I got such a thrill yesterday while we were in Shang Mall with our kids. We were waiting for our car at the Mall’s entrance, near Starbucks, when Basil Valdez called out to me, introduced himself (as if we didn’t recognize him; my wife and I are big fans) and he said, to my great surprise, that he had been wanting to meet me for a long time. Yes, I was very surprised, not only at how gracious he was, but more at his genuineness and his honesty. I don’t consider myself that well-known and for this music icon to introduce himself was, well, a kick, a real ego booster. We chatted for a while, which basically consisted of my wife and I saying how much we admired his music. Well, for a Pinoy Music fan like myself who grew up on “Let the Pain Remain,” it was a real treat. Mabuhay ka Basil!

Actually, there is a relation, tangentially at least. Instances like this, when people tell me or the other young turks that they know us or like us is, naturally, a boost to one’s ego but choosing to serve the country should not be motivated primarily by the need for personal affirmation. In fact, the sad history of our country is that those who are best suited for public office do not run because they believe they lack popularity and those who are ill-suited run, especially for national office, because they get a sense that they are popular and “winnable”.

Perhaps young people who aspire for public office should not use the question of whether or not they can win as the prime decision-basis but rather whether or not they can serve the people well. I, unfortunately, see so many aspiring politicians who instead of spending time improving themselves - by studying, learning leadership skills, doing research, fieldwork, etc - and getting ready for the demands of public service, focus on getting the most amount of media exposure so they can improve their chances of winning.

I want to see this young generation to stop using media and surveys as their sole basis for deciding to run for office - so we can replace the trapos - and make the decision based primarily on their assessment of whether they will make good public servants. Certainly, issues of “winnability” are important but that should not be the primary or only basis. Is this too naive or idealistic? Hoping for some comments…

Atty. Adel Tamano at his investiture with his family

Atty. Adel A. Tamano taking his oath as President of PLM before Mayor Lim

INVESTING IN EDUCATION - THE GATEWAY TO NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Inaugural speech of ATTY. ADEL A. TAMANO
President
Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila

Good afternoon. We have a saying in Islam that the ink of a scholar is holier than the blood of a martyr. I cannot think of anything more emphatic than this to show what a high virtue education is in the Islamic faith. As the very first Filipino Muslim to head a major university in Manila, this is a core value that I bring to the Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila.

Education has been such a significant part of my life. I am 37 years old and almost half my life has been spent in the academe. I have taught subjects as varied as Economics, Human Resource Development, and Constitutional Law.

In my career in education, I have made the rounds of the universities from Mindanao to Luzon: from the Mindanao State University to the Ateneo de Manila University and, finally, to my new home here at PLM.

I am no stranger to the pleasure and pain of academic life. The often obscenely low compensation, checking dozen upon dozen of examination booklets, preparing for class lectures, conducting recitation, and the jolt of electricity that we get seeing the spark of recognition in the eyes of our students, which makes all the sacrifices of teaching worthwhile.

In fact, even in my position as the spokesman for the Genuine Opposition during the elections and until now, I have always perceived my role as an educator and not as a politician – as someone with the duty to enlighten the public by presenting the issues as fairly, honestly, and clearly as possible, adhering to the belief that an educated public is the greatest safeguard to democracy.
As one of the youngest university presidents in the Philippines, I hope to instill a sense of dynamism and purpose to PLM because I believe that education is not only a fundamental value but is also the gateway to our national development.

Today, I hope that you will see beyond this young man, looking absolutely ridiculous in his gown, trying pathetically to look wise and deserving of this great honor that the City of Manila, through the Honorable Mayor Alfredo Lim and the Board of Regents, is bestowing upon him. Instead, I hope you will see someone who embodies this institution, the Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila, an institution whose primary purpose is to transform and uplift the lives of the economically disadvantaged but bright and deserving students of Manila through the power of education.

I can now be the voice of the ten thousand students and educators who not only appeal to you, our national and local leaders, for support and guidance but who also want you to know their aspirations for their University, their city, and their country.

The PLM is a singular institution. It has been called a local university with a national character and reputation. What is more, it is a university with a unique history and legacy. PLM is situated within the historic walls of Intramuros in the great City of Manila. The country’s very first college was established right here at the grounds of PLM, the Colegio de Manila, which was founded in 1590 by the Jesuits. It may be said that the very roots of the modern educational system in the Philippines may be found here at PLM.

On a more dramatic note, PLM stands upon hallowed grounds: The 3 hectares where our university is situated was the military headquarters of the United States’ 31st infantry. During the Japanese Occupation, brave Filipino and American soldiers were slain here. Our own national hero, Dr. Jose Rizal, was placed on trial for sedition within the grounds of the University.

As a matter of fact, Philippine history has a sense irony because the walls of Intramuros were precisely made to keep someone like me, a Moro, as well the other marginalized and oppressed people of that time outside, while the those in power – the Spaniards and their minions - enjoyed the safety, the power, and the luxury of the walled city. Intramuros was, at that time, a symbol of oppression, discrimination, and persecution.

However, today, with PLM giving opportunity to the poor and marginalized to have quality education that will enable them to break the cycle of poverty, the walls of Intramuros are a beacon of hope for our countrymen. The lesson of Intramuros and PLM is that things can change for the better. And here at PLM we are at the forefront of making that change.

Among others, we are giving our students the tools they need to compete in the 21st century. When I assumed the Presidency last August, the university’s offices did not even have Internet access, much less computers. Within four months we have equipped our University with computer and Wi-fi facilities. We now have over 30 computer stations with free Internet access for students and faculty as well as laser-printing facilities. It is a modest achievement and we hope that within two years, we will have at least 200 computer stations with free Internet access to equip our students with the technological skills that have become a prerequisite to obtaining good jobs in the modern workplace.

Earlier, I referred to Dr. Jose Rizal, our national hero, deliberately because I believe that heroism and education in the Philippine context are intertwined. Some will scoff at the idea of an interrelation between education and heroism, but given the magnitude of the challenges that we face in the Philippines in education and the amount of work that is needed for us to address these problems, then the idea of the heroic nature of our endeavor does not seem so laughable. Moreover, the virtues of our national heroes of patriotism, industry, and courage are the very qualities that we must to instill in our students if our country is to prosper.

In fact, today, more than ever, we need new heroes. Our heroes of the past fought against the heavy yoke of colonialism and tyranny. Today, our challenges loom just as large as our nation is slowly being crushed by poverty, by corruption, and by bad governance. The present challenges us to be live with heroism, patriotism, and to have a real vision for the future of our nation.

Of course, poverty remains our primary problem. According to the latest SWS Survey, 11.9 per cent of our countrymen suffer daily the scourge of hunger. The Human Development Report states that 36.8 per cent of our population, more than 1 in every 3 Filipinos, live below the poverty line.

So what is the answer to the problem of poverty? I believe that given the highly competitive global economy and the fact that our population continues to grow at about 1.5 million new Filipinos year, a large part of the answer to poverty is providing skills and training to our youth that will enable them to find decent jobs, or could help them set up their own businesses.
Education must be a primary component to any poverty reduction plan. The adage is corny and over-used, but it is nevertheless true - Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day; teach him how to fish and you feed him for a life time.

So where are we now in the realm of education?

In a recent test of English proficiency of our primary school teachers, 70% failed. In the secondary level, 80% failed. This is alarming. How do we maintain our competitive advantage, which is our facility with English, against the other growing economies in the region when our very own teachers cannot even speak or write English properly?

In the realm of Math and Science, in an examination taken by high-school students from 45 countries, ranking from the highest to the lowest, our country ranked 41st in Math and 42nd in Science.

These dismal statistics only considers those who actually have access to education, even a poor one. In the Philippines, of ten school age students, only six will graduate from the primary level. Of the six, only four will graduate from high school. Out of these four, only two will complete their college education.

If the Philippines were to develop and remain globally competitive, then we must focus on education. The value of education as the engine for national development is enshrined in our very own Constitution, which states emphatically that “(t)he State shall give priority to education, science and technology, arts, culture, and sports to foster patriotism and nationalism, accelerate social progress, and promote total human development. ”

This vital provision of our constitution perceives education as the gateway not only to personal intellectual and moral development but also, ultimately, to our nation’s economic and social development.

Art. XIV, Sec. 5 of the Constitution is even more categorical when it declares that “(t)he State shall assign the highest budgetary priority to education…” Have we fulfilled the spirit of this constitutional mandate? If you believe the answer to this is in the affirmative, then why do we have a shortfall of 45,000 classrooms?

A former Undersecretary of Education puts this issue of budgetary prioritization in a clearer perspective when he wrote that “(w)e talk about education getting the largest share of our national budget. In truth, the real measure is how much we spend annually per child — which is around $150 . . . Thailand spends more than six times as much at $950; Malaysia (spends) 110 times more.”

Perhaps our Asian neighbors – who have sprinted ahead of us economically – realize much better than us the value of education in national development. We are fortunate here at the PLM that Mayor Lim and the City Council spends roughly four times the national amount per student, and that is why the PLM graduates have done so well both in industry and in their performance in competitive examinations.

Modesty aside, PLM is ranked by the Professional Regulatory Commission, in terms of passing the board exams, as third in Nursing, second in Accountancy, and second in Architecture. In Law, we are ranked number eight. The lesson here is simple: with adequate government support, our students can excel.

In fact, globally, spending for education is growing – the average is 6% of a country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP). In the Philippines, spending for education is only 2.7% of GDP.

If we are to invest in our nation’s future, let us choose to give priority to investing in education. Now is the time to get our leaders on board to the constitutional mandate of giving budgetary priority to education.

When others talk about the great riches of this country, they point to our natural resources: our beaches, our tourist attractions, our mineral resources, and our marine resources. I disagree. I believe that in the Philippines, our greatest resource is the human one.

Our people are naturally intelligent, creative, inherently cheerful, and resilient. I see these qualities daily in the staff and students of PLM. This is the resource that we must cultivate, and we must shift our focus from investing in capital resources into prioritizing investment in our human capital. Our great people are our country’s real strength and the reason why our country moves forward despite the current lack of good leadership.

Before I end my speech, allow me to thank all the people who have helped me achieve whatever modicum of success I have reached in my short life. You all know who you are and there are just too many to mention. However, there is one man who could not be here today, a man who taught me the values that I try to live by – patriotism, discipline, integrity, and service for others. He also taught me something else - a passion for reading and studying. It takes a person who deeply believes in the importance of education to encourage a ten-year-old to read Shakespeare and Plato.

Certainly, not every father subjects his child to book reports and oral examinations. Well, my father did and I think that was a large part of why I am here today.

A few days before my father passed away almost 15 years ago, he told me – as if knowing that we would not meet again – that he would not be able to leave me riches, but he would leave me a good name. I am proud to carry his surname, Tamano. Actually, he was mistaken. He also left me another great legacy, education. Indeed, it is the best legacy we can leave to our children and the best investment that we can make for our nation’s future.

So let me end by sharing with you my simple vision for PLM: I envision this university as a haven where my students are provided quality education with decent facilities and modern technology; where the faculty and staff receive a fair wage as well as medical, health, and transportation benefits; where the resources of the university are used solely for the good of the students; and where the administration is transparent and accountable. My visions are not grand ones but if we are able to achieve this, then we will have set the conditions needed for our students to perform at their very best. In my own small way, I want to know that I am contributing my part for the development of the youth of the Philippines.

Previously, I referred to Dr. Jose Rizal for good reason. Dr. Jose Rizal became the voice of his generation and fought tyranny and oppression through the power of education. Having been educated in the best schools in the country at that time, Dr. Rizal was able to articulate forcefully and eloquently the ideas that nourished the Philippine Revolution. Now is the time for us to create a new generation of Dr. Jose Rizals who, like him, shall have the ideas that will transform this nation.

Truly, the future of this nation lies in the country’s youth. Let us invest in their future.

Are the young turks running for the Senate or for some other public office in 2010? I cannot answer for the others but allow me to answer spliceanddice’s question directly and honestly, although I’m not sure that my answer will satisfy. Spliceanddice wrote today that -

That would be a fine question to begin with. On my part, I’ll keep the comments and criticisms–both positive and negative—coming once my question, as part of the youth you guys are addressing here, is answered. Thanks!”

Simply, my answer is I don’t know. Do I want to run for the Senate? Well, yes, because, among other things, Filipino Muslims have not had a representative in the upper house for over a decade. But I don’t want to run and lose because losing will not be just a personal tragedy but it will ultimately undermine, if not destroy, the chances of future Filipino Muslims of being elected. So the decision to run, which is distinct from the desire to represent Filipino Muslims, will be based on a lot of things and is, by no means, a simple matter.

However, I don’t think that this blog should be viewed from the lens of political opportunism alone. That would be unfair. Read the entries here, not just from the young turks but from the comments, and you will find that there is a wellspring of idealism and nationalism that is being tapped into by this web log. On my part, this blog is a means of engaging that wellspring, particularly because being a political spokesman can, if you let yourself get lazy and uncritical, become demoralizing and it can make you cynical. I don’t want cynicism to become a part of me and this initiative - corny as it may sound - is helping me by meeting, even if only on a virtual plane as of yet, Filipinos who are not apathetic and who have hope for our country’s future.

- Atty. Adel Tamano

I’m not surprised that there are some comments on this blog that express cynicism and disbelief at what we are doing here. For example, this comment from amelyah_92@yahoo.com.ph -

All that is required for a neophyte who wants to enter and make a difference in Philippine politics is for all good men to become a genuine member to the group of young turks,the eliminators of “Trapos”…lol he he he!

We know that our attempt at having a conversation with the youth on reforming the country will be viewed by some as either silly or self-serving. Fine, people are entitled to their opinions but we won’t let that stop us from doing what we think is good for the country. Also, keep those negative comments coming - it will just inspire us to work harder and be more creative in trying to reach out to the youth. Also, just by your act of giving a comment, you have, in fact, started the conversation on what we should do to help move this country forward. So, thank you.

- Atty. Adel Tamano