2006 SONA- “No to Imperial Manila, Yes to Regional Development”

Impeachment is something normal nowadays. Changing presidents is similar to changing clothes. The true essence of people power is lost. Today, as Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo gives her State of the Nation Address, militant groups are to hit the streets again and voice out their unending dismay of the current turmoil that the country faces.

I'm sure that there will be some form of violence that will occur in this rainy day. Worse, water bombs could possibly hit these protesters.

While the rebels stay out, GMA will speak inside the Batasan Complex. Her speech will contain this slogan/motto/creed or whatever, “No to Imperial Manila, Yes to Regional Development.”


All I can say about this is... It's About Time!

Metro Manila is too crowded. There are a lot of people from the rural areas migrating to Manila that overpopulates the place and thus the other places remain stagnant, undeveloped and poor. The wages remain low in rural areas which results to the alleviation of poverty.

Regional Development is Key. Once rural areas are developed, opportunities will be available to people in these areas and the migration rate will be much lesser than it is today. This would mean that Metro Manila would not be as populated as it is. This would result to less traffic, a decrease in unemployment rate (since more opportunities will be open), and more foreign investments.

Such will truly help the economy of our country in more ways than one. This is a move by the government that could be deeply appreciated by all if it pushes through smoothly.

Teaching Minds, Touching Hearts, Transforming Lives

In my life I dreamt of being a lot of things. A doctor, a basketball star, an actor, a rockstar, the President of the Philippines, an economic analyst, and a business tycoon. But never did I thought of being a teacher. I hated a lot of teachers, made fun of them and was very disrespectful owards most of them. Although I had some teachers that I gave high regard also, I did not plan on being one.

When I entered college, I was so surprised. I was trying to get into a LIA-COM course, which is AB Economics and Business Management. That's what I intended to get in. But for some unfortunate case, I signed up for a wrong course... It was "Bachelor of Secondary Education Major in Economics and Bachelor of Science in Commerce Major in Business Management".

Sure the Economics and Business Management are still there. But the education thing made me thing twice. My friends laughed at me learning what had transpired. I was shocked and scared of being someone who made my life miserable and vice versa. I wanted to shift out after my 2nd term since that was the only time a freshman could shift. But for some strange reason, I decided not to.

And thank God I did. More than I hated the idea, I must admit it was a very fulfilling experience. I'm saying this because I experienced it first hand. Before graduating, I was assigned to a school in Las Piñas, Elizabeth Seton School. At first I was so hesitant since one of my friend professors told me "YARI KA! BABALIK SAYO LAHAT NG GINAWA MO NUNG BATA KA!". But I never backed down from any challenge and I saw this one as an ultimate challenge.

Everything went well from my co-faculties, my superiors, and my students. On my first day, all of my students hated me. But the end I left the school fulfilled. I taught high school Economics in Filipino, Religion (No one believes me!), Math, PE, and History. Everytime I go out of a room, I feel very fulfilled seeing my students learn (I have to test them to see of course). Even students that other teachers had problems with, I would still get make them learn.

In the words of St. John Baptist De La Salle, my mission is to teach minds, touch hearts and transform lives. This is my creed. This is what I did.

Now as I left my alma mater for 9 years and move on, I will still have this creed. There are other ways to teaching others' minds,touchingg their hearts, and transforming their lives. I may not be an educator in the formal field, but I am at heart. I will doeverythingg that I can in order for others to get some things from me, how little it may be.