I am often the subject of interviews by students from schools in the district I represent, and I always cheerfully grant their request for a parley. Usually, the students are assigned to interview a public official and many times they end up having the same subject–me. I never turn down a request for an appointment with students, whom I believe should be given every opportunity to be inspired by their elders.
Well, that makes me feel old, being referred to as an “elder”. But I am still within the parameters of being under the coverage of the term “Youth”, which spans the range of 40 years old and below. I am in the last months of being part of the Youth, although I always say that I am forever a teenager at heart and soul.
In these interviews, I am often the one who is inspired, admiring the young students’ energy, drive, inquisitive minds and confident dispositions. They always seem ready and eager to face the harsh and cruel world, believing that they have learned more than enough in the few years that they have existed in this world.
Recently, I had another round of these interviews. In a well-known private school, a fourth year high school teacher assigned her students to interview a public official of the city and several groups of students chose to interview me. They had various ways of getting to me, from cold calls to my office to tracing friends or relatives who had personal connections to me. As always, I reserved exclusive time for them, even scheduling them as my last appointment so that we will have time to extend if needed.
The interviews went well and the students did not even seem intimidated by the fact that they were speaking to a Member of the House of Representatives.
I was proud of them. Except for one thing…
Towards the end of the interview of the first group, I gave them some parting words and exhorted them for their accomplishment. I told them, “Talagang ang Kabataan ay Pag-asa ng Bayan (Truly, the Youth is the Fair Hope of Our Motherland)”.
The teenage boys and girls said,”Wow! That’s a great quote! Can we use it exclusively in our project?” I then realized that they thought the quote was an original one from me.
So I asked them, “Do you know who said that?”. They had no reply but looked at me with interested and curious eyes, waiting for me to answer my own question.
After a brief moment of silence, I told them that it was our National Hero, Dr. Jose P. Rizal who said it. “Oh. We didn’t know that”, they said. After a few more pleasantries, they said goodbye.
Actually, I was surprised that they didn’t know Rizal’s famous quotation. I had to find out if the youth were really not aware of this or if it was just this group who seemed to be clueless to Rizal’s exhortation of the youth.
I did the same thing to the next three groups who interviewed me. Sadly, just like the first group, they were not familiar with the quote. Before I was surprised, this time I was disturbed.
When I got home, I talked to my eldest son who is now 18 and in first year college. I ask him, “Who said this—ang kabataan ay ang pag-asa ng bayan?”. He looked at me and said, “You?”
“No”, I said.
“Ninoy Aquino?”
I shake my head.
“Cory Aquino?”
We definitely have a problem here.
Eventually, I told him it was Jose Rizal who said it and continued with a lecture in history and nationalism.
What’s wrong with the youth? With all the potential that they have, do they even realize at this stage the role that they are going to play in the coming years?
Of course, we do see young people who are politically aware and active, marching in the streets and shouting slogans. We see young persons challenging authorities and facing policemen with shields and truncheons. We see students speak with passion and even anger at the powers that be. But how many of our youth are as aware and involved as they are? Besides, is that the only image of the youth that we want to see?
But the more relevant question is how did the youth come to where they are? Because it is definitely not the fault of those students why they don’t know who said the quote. It is the fault of their elders because they failed to convey the message to the young.
The schools are institutions of learning therefore they are at fault. While learning about Rizal and the lessons of his thoughts is not part of the Three R’s of basic education, it is part of the basic learnings of being a Filipino. Emphasis should be given on those lessons.
At first, I thought it was just the school of the students who interviewed me which was at fault. But my own son, who went to another school, also was not able to answer. So it is not an isolated case limited to one
school.
In fact, the schools are not alone. Learning begins at home and the parents have the primary responsibility of teaching their children. Not just in reading, writing and arithmetic. But more so in character, nationalism and faith.
I stand guilty for my son’s ignorance about Jose Rizal’s quote. I have taught this quote thousands of times among the students in my district and yet under my very own roof, my son lived unaware of the legacy of wisdom left by our national hero. I accept the blame.
But more than teaching them the what and the who, it is our responsibility as elders to explain to the youth the Why…. Why are they the hope of the nation? We must be able to explain this to them to know their purpose as Filipinos, motivate them to live in the right direction, and fulfill their role as the hope of our nation.
Now comes the hard part..being an example to the youth. Because the youth are impressionable and look up to their elders as role models, it is vital that not only do we talk the talk, but we walk the walk. They may be young, but they are observant and critical. The value of our lessons will be lost if they do not see consistency between what we say and what we do.
The youth, indeed, is the fair hope of the motherland. But they cannot do it alone. They need the guidance of the elders to steer them in the right direction. Are the elders up to it? They were once young and were, themselves, the fair hope of the motherland. How did they fare?
(photocredit: manfrommanila via Flickr)
Popularity: 3% [?]
What does it mean — youth the hope of the motherland?
Is it because of obsolescence — that the old just get too old to be able to contribute? Which sounds un-Filipino with Pinoy’s mantra about “… respect for the wisdom of the elders”.
Is just biology — acknowledgment of the changing of the guards where today’s 50-years-and-older eventually die and today’s 35-years-and-younger take their place?
Is it “…couldn’t do it. Your turn!”
How can the young people of today be aware that they are the fair hope of the dysfunctional Philippines when their parents are oblivious that it is within their power to to not just hope BUT .. CHANGE the Philippines. Their parents didn’t know any better.
****
On another note, studies point out that academic performance is directly related to nutrition. for example, one school had a high drop out rate because the students were not able to eat breakfast before coming to class.
How will you have more hopes of the motherland when you have a high attrition rate – primarily due to poverty?
What’s your solution? Are you open to institutionalizing meal feeding programs?
In the county where I live – public schools provide “free” meals and snacks to students. The meals are allocations from the property tax collected from each revenue district. The local school board then bids out the contract as to who will be serving the meals. Meals have to confirm to state and federal regulations.
When Jose Rizal wrote that passage of his poem. He was an idealistic
young man looking for a better future of the Philippines. The young
indeed are the “fair hopes of the fatherland”. However, it is how
they decide on things. That the HOPE can be achieved.
Our present leaders were once also young. Some were branded as
“fair hopes of the fatherland”. They decided to remain in the
present political “status qou”. So, the HOPES turned into disppointments, and RUDE AWAKENING. They are not better than their
elders.
It is what they will do to this country. That will determine; if the
HOPE really turns into REALITY OF ACHIEVEMENTS. THEY HAVE A CHOICE…
Let us ask a public servant lawmaker. What are your thoughts on where is the stage of wealth creation in the country.
Historically the exchange economy has become the principal organizing mechanism for organizing societies.
If it is true that the process of wealth generation in the country is still primitive what is governments role in the process of catching up with other countries who have evolved into industrial processes for wealth creation? Primitive accumulation thus has led to having a still primitive political system based on who owns the “gold.” This has then led to political (in the Philippine context all branches of government) capture by private interests.
An exchange economy mechanism obviously cannot alone be left to private players. Primitive versus modern industrial is obviously not comparable..
So tell us Congressman what are your thoughts on this.
why is it so important to know who said what first? thoughts and ideas come up through the workings of a discerning mind. every idea that makes sense have been stated, and are being said, in so many ways at all times. the ideas of the prophets from the old to the new testaments, philosophers from the ancient to the modern, and thinkers of all time, are repeated in so many ways and forms from one generation to the next without mention of the “original author”, even if known.
Yes, totally agree.
I could be wrong, but it seems to me the problem with Filipino education is that it forces youth into a mold of some elder’s definition, rather than teaching them to enjoy learning and to thrive on the thrill of independent thought.
I don’t think memorizing Rizal is important. Knowing the notion of responsibility is highly important.
Joe
thing, joe, is: there are two schools of thought in regard the purpose of education: the government thinks students are utilities, and so you have a president who sponsors call-center english academies; the true learners think education is about opening the minds.
indoro ni emilie,
Yes, utilities, or “subjects” of wiser (old) (afraid) minds. I think it is horrible to box young minds up in little coffins from which escape is rare. To learn should be more prized than money, something we yearn for, because the soul is somehow empty or arid without it.
Gotta go catch wowowee now! ahahahahahahahahahaha
Joe
it’s a big difference with regard to call center workers. they are serving customers all over the world, mostly the u.s. they have to be able to talk the universal brand of “english”, i.e., american, to do their job. rather than being treated as “utilities”, the government is just helping them acquire the one, most important skill to do their work satisfactorily. americans are no-nonsense people, generally. they have low tolerance for people who cannot express themselves in a way easily understood. what kind of image do you think these call-center workers would give to the company they work for if they don’t have good speaking ability?
After the work-day are many more hours to expand the mind. Corollary: I have heard that it is difficult to expand the mind when hungry.
oh yes, everyone goes hungry. that’s why everyone is seeking the green pastures. which, unfortunately, cannot now be found in what was once the rice bowl of asia. now, let’s turn to speaking english with the right accent to beggar our neighbors–what policy of mendicancy.
education is about – opening the minds AND having the skills to make a living. it is not a mutually exclusive proposition.
you can have the most opened mind – but without the marketable skills, you might as well live in a cave.
you can have a skillset, but if you lack an “open mind” – you can go through the motions of a process and yet still lack the understanding why the process is necessary and is arranged accordingly. or you can keep on to the same skillset, when the conditions have changed but the lack of an open mind keeps you stuck in a rut, of antiquated methodologies – “because that’s how it has been always done here”.
****
on another note, currently, the philippines operates call centers that serve overseas markets. the thing is, are there local companies that tap the call centers to provide customer support to the domestic market – huh, try dialing PLDT’s/ Globe/ smart 114/ customer service line.
Any government office for that matter – - and you’ll see the crow turn to white. you will also hear the difference between call center operators and their counterparts in the domestic companies and agencies. the locals are I dare say, bereft of phone etiquette, unfriendly to customers, and take a long time to respond to calls.
Will the pinoys adopt to such a “foreign” customer service approach? I can hear the pinoy CEOs say – “no need to provide that to the pinoy – they don’t know any better”.
“If it is true that the process of wealth generation in the country is still primitive what is governments role in the process of catching up with other countries who have evolved into industrial processes for wealth creation?”-J_ag
Yes, Congressman Biazon, what should the government do? All of us, old and young, want to improve our lives, that’s a given. What do you think we the people can expect from the government and from the politicians? Certainly it’s not a good thing that the politicians kept on improving themselves and the people left behind.
J_ag and tranquil, wala pang sagot si Ruffy. Baka pinagiisipang mabuti ang sagot, mahirap kasi ang tanong ni J_ag, palagay ko hindi pa alam ng mga politico ang sagot sa tanong na ito, kaya baka matagal-tagal pa tayong magtitiis, at sila tuloy muna ang ligaya, heheh. Pero, baka si Ruffy alam na, hintayin na lang natin sagot.
I’ve mentioned this time and time again here on FV and on my blog, because I always find it true: Do Schools Kill Creativity. A few days ago, I also reblogged about how much the Philippines is spending on education, vis-a-vis our neighbors. And then our government keeps insisting we tax books. The sorry state of how much young people these days don’t know is the fault of generations of neglect. When are we going to stop and turn things around?
Congressman Biazon, I also wrote an Open Letter to Congress about the book blockade and I think it is important that young people everywhere get a chance to read. Hard enough to get them to read, and we make it much more difficult when our government raises walls to make reading harder on the ordinary Filipino.
*i edited this comment to add that last paragraph.
Even where Rizal may have said – “The youth is the fair hope of the fatherland” – even our own Constitution (1935, 1973, 1987) may have only paid lip service to this supposedly famous quote.
Truth is, Rizal must have conveniently referred to himself when he uttered those words. It deserves to be reexamined why he has placed premium to the youth when there are other sectors of Philippine society that shape the Philippine political future.
Hope IS the motherland. Think about it.
Today’s youth is NOT the fair hope of the motherland – take it from me.