Roman T. Romulo
Representative of Pasig City - Lone district
Rm. S-411, House of Representatives, Quezon City
Dear Cong. Romulo,
Before anything else, let me introduce myself. I'm Robelle Diesta, a student from the University of the Philippines, Diliman, taking up Theater Arts and I am from Barangay Kapitolyo. Pasig is a truly progressive city, being at the center of it all. As one of the top business districts in the metropolis, numerous high-rise office buildings, residential condominiums, school, malls and commercial establishments, are located here.
However, hidden from view because of the towering skyscrapers, malls and party places, are our depressed and marginalized areas still seeking attention, like the squatters areas in a part of the Floodway and Pasig Palengke. I feel like there are more chances of a better life in our city. That is why I chose to live here (since 2005), and raise my children here as well. It is that feeling of involvement to make our city even better until the day that life is better for each and every Pasigueno. I feel safe in my community, and I feel inclined to participate in community projects and contributing to its success by doing my part as an active citizen.
I have done my research and I am happy to know that you're a highly energetic legislator, a bright lawyer and someone who have big dreams for your people, and a pride and honor of Pasig City and the entire country. And as a congressman, you must stand for what's right and advance the interests not only of Pasig City but of the nation as well.
I think you have done a superb job since you took office on 2007. It's very impressive that you were able to author/co-author 65 house bills, facilitate road rehabilitations, the creation of 70 classrooms, 7 multipurpose halls, and fund 558 scholars and educational assistance. As the Vice Chairman on the Committee on Overseas Workers Affairs, you were able to assist 2387 passports, as well as provide free medical assistance to our fellow Pasiguenos.
Pasig, again, is a city of extremes. One side could be really very wealthy, and the other, of shanties and squatters. It has always been an urban problem, that I don't have a suggested solution for, but it would be even better if the squatters in our city be given a chance to own much more decent housing, and in return, for the city to have a disciplined, more master-planned community.
I wrote to you in light of three pressing things that needs your support and action: UP's fight for greater state subsidy, the war against terror in Mindanao, and the use of the mother tongue as the mode of instruction from Grade 1 to Grade 6.
Lumang tugtugin na, as they say, but the University of the Philippines, which has also been proud of you as its alumnus, like the oblation statue has been stripped bare-- as in naked of its government funding, and its poor but bright and potentially the class that needs to rise up from their current state of poverty, are the most affected in the tuition fee increase. If not for dedication and self-sacrifice of our deans, professors and instructors, who dismisses thoughts about 250kk/month salary abroad, we would not have teachers. Dean Echanis of the College of Business Administration has a take-home pay of only 16,000php. I earn more that her, being a call center agent at night at 25k a month. Constant rallies, letters to the Congress, and much fight against "the system" has not helped us rally for greater state subsidy. I don't know if there's some weird demographic that tells that bright AND rich students has a better fighting chance in the world than the bright AND poor students.
When I started out in the University, coming from a poor family, I had nothing. But getting my education in UP proved to be a turning point for me, and I'm not even a magna or a summa cum laude. If the same chance could be given to a student who is in a similar situation I have been to, that's another person being given the most out of life. Sir, you are an advocate of basic education, it would be great if you can also warrant your attention to pushing for greater state subsidy. You were in an instrument in passing HB02845 "An act to strengthen the University of the Philippines as the Premier State University." And the University to the present, lives up to date with providing the best university education in the country. Help us provide do more and be more.
It has been a trend that when a president is succeeded by another who doesn't share the same principles or goals, the projects left unfinished by the former is left at that-- unfinished or neglected. I have observed the same on the shift of Mr. Estrada's presidency to PGMA, the peace situation in Mindanao has worsened, with the Abu Sayyaf being given back their camps and again raging terror in Southern Mindanao. Their growing aggressiveness has led to the hostage-taking of three more civilians, and Red Cross volunteers at that. They are once again, the helpless victims in this situation. As chairman on the Committee on National Defense and Security, what do you propose to finally put a long-term solution to the 28-year terror activities of the Abu Sayyaf? What can the Congress do to stop where the group's funds are coming from? This has been a never-ending struggle which has caused too much pain and sacrifices for our Christian and Muslim brothers trapped in the war against terrorism.
Another interesting bill is HV05619, the act that seeks to strengthen and enhance English as a medium of instruction in Philippine schools. I have recently been to a forum on Mother-tongue-based learning and concluded that our school children learn better by using their mother tongue as the language of instruction, which is what Rep. Magtanggol Gunigundo is lobbying about. The Gunigundo bill says that the basic education should be instructed in the child's local language, and in a classroom experiment in Kalinga, it was proven that mastery in Language1 makes a child more successful in comprehending and learning concepts in Language2.
At this age of globalization, it is no doubt that English is an important common language. Lucky are those kids who has fluent English speakers as parents or teachers who can introduce words and concepts in English. In a country like ours with 168 languages, children learn best with their mother tongue, and the community they live in that helps foster their sense of identity. Educators should also reinforce that to keep such languages at hand would also be "preserving" the very culture that we grew up with, such as, cebuanos, ilocanos, ilonggos etc etc.
This is about kids growing up to maintain the balance between keeping the Philippine cultures and the way to act in the "global competitiveness". And, the best way of attaining this is to adjust our mode of instruction to what young Filipinos need. It's better for a child to be more proactive in the learning process, more expressive and participative in class, more heard that spoken to, than becoming an idiot and dismiss English as an great learning obstacle to get over with.
I recall my experience in the public elementary school I came from in Quezon City. My classmates are hesitant to participate in class, and are utterly clueless about advanced concepts in English, as if there's a big question mark on their faces if asked in English. Once a person learns in their mother tongue, learning English would be easy, and learning how to communicate in what was becoming the universal language in the world. If we don't adjust to this call, we may end up at the tail end of just about every thing bad.
With that being said, I would like to thank you for the time you took to read this letter, given your busy schedule. I hope my concerns as a citizen of Pasig have helped in some way. I am happy with all the things our city has to offer and enjoy the benefits of living here. I appreciate your strong and efficient leadership and hope that our city will prosper even more.
Thank you and have a great day ahead.
Sincerely,
Robelle Diesta
2003-22538
University of the Philippines
Diliman, Quezon City
No. 5 Sta Rosa Street
Barangay Kapitolyo
Pasig City 1603
Word count: 1411
Representative of Pasig City - Lone district
Rm. S-411, House of Representatives, Quezon City
Dear Cong. Romulo,
Good day to you, sir.
Before anything else, let me introduce myself. I'm Robelle Diesta, a student from the University of the Philippines, Diliman, taking up Theater Arts and I am from Barangay Kapitolyo. Pasig is a truly progressive city, being at the center of it all. As one of the top business districts in the metropolis, numerous high-rise office buildings, residential condominiums, school, malls and commercial establishments, are located here.
However, hidden from view because of the towering skyscrapers, malls and party places, are our depressed and marginalized areas still seeking attention, like the squatters areas in a part of the Floodway and Pasig Palengke. I feel like there are more chances of a better life in our city. That is why I chose to live here (since 2005), and raise my children here as well. It is that feeling of involvement to make our city even better until the day that life is better for each and every Pasigueno. I feel safe in my community, and I feel inclined to participate in community projects and contributing to its success by doing my part as an active citizen.
I have done my research and I am happy to know that you're a highly energetic legislator, a bright lawyer and someone who have big dreams for your people, and a pride and honor of Pasig City and the entire country. And as a congressman, you must stand for what's right and advance the interests not only of Pasig City but of the nation as well.
I think you have done a superb job since you took office on 2007. It's very impressive that you were able to author/co-author 65 house bills, facilitate road rehabilitations, the creation of 70 classrooms, 7 multipurpose halls, and fund 558 scholars and educational assistance. As the Vice Chairman on the Committee on Overseas Workers Affairs, you were able to assist 2387 passports, as well as provide free medical assistance to our fellow Pasiguenos.
Pasig, again, is a city of extremes. One side could be really very wealthy, and the other, of shanties and squatters. It has always been an urban problem, that I don't have a suggested solution for, but it would be even better if the squatters in our city be given a chance to own much more decent housing, and in return, for the city to have a disciplined, more master-planned community.
I wrote to you in light of three pressing things that needs your support and action: UP's fight for greater state subsidy, the war against terror in Mindanao, and the use of the mother tongue as the mode of instruction from Grade 1 to Grade 6.
Lumang tugtugin na, as they say, but the University of the Philippines, which has also been proud of you as its alumnus, like the oblation statue has been stripped bare-- as in naked of its government funding, and its poor but bright and potentially the class that needs to rise up from their current state of poverty, are the most affected in the tuition fee increase. If not for dedication and self-sacrifice of our deans, professors and instructors, who dismisses thoughts about 250kk/month salary abroad, we would not have teachers. Dean Echanis of the College of Business Administration has a take-home pay of only 16,000php. I earn more that her, being a call center agent at night at 25k a month. Constant rallies, letters to the Congress, and much fight against "the system" has not helped us rally for greater state subsidy. I don't know if there's some weird demographic that tells that bright AND rich students has a better fighting chance in the world than the bright AND poor students.
When I started out in the University, coming from a poor family, I had nothing. But getting my education in UP proved to be a turning point for me, and I'm not even a magna or a summa cum laude. If the same chance could be given to a student who is in a similar situation I have been to, that's another person being given the most out of life. Sir, you are an advocate of basic education, it would be great if you can also warrant your attention to pushing for greater state subsidy. You were in an instrument in passing HB02845 "An act to strengthen the University of the Philippines as the Premier State University." And the University to the present, lives up to date with providing the best university education in the country. Help us provide do more and be more.
It has been a trend that when a president is succeeded by another who doesn't share the same principles or goals, the projects left unfinished by the former is left at that-- unfinished or neglected. I have observed the same on the shift of Mr. Estrada's presidency to PGMA, the peace situation in Mindanao has worsened, with the Abu Sayyaf being given back their camps and again raging terror in Southern Mindanao. Their growing aggressiveness has led to the hostage-taking of three more civilians, and Red Cross volunteers at that. They are once again, the helpless victims in this situation. As chairman on the Committee on National Defense and Security, what do you propose to finally put a long-term solution to the 28-year terror activities of the Abu Sayyaf? What can the Congress do to stop where the group's funds are coming from? This has been a never-ending struggle which has caused too much pain and sacrifices for our Christian and Muslim brothers trapped in the war against terrorism.
Another interesting bill is HV05619, the act that seeks to strengthen and enhance English as a medium of instruction in Philippine schools. I have recently been to a forum on Mother-tongue-based learning and concluded that our school children learn better by using their mother tongue as the language of instruction, which is what Rep. Magtanggol Gunigundo is lobbying about. The Gunigundo bill says that the basic education should be instructed in the child's local language, and in a classroom experiment in Kalinga, it was proven that mastery in Language1 makes a child more successful in comprehending and learning concepts in Language2.
At this age of globalization, it is no doubt that English is an important common language. Lucky are those kids who has fluent English speakers as parents or teachers who can introduce words and concepts in English. In a country like ours with 168 languages, children learn best with their mother tongue, and the community they live in that helps foster their sense of identity. Educators should also reinforce that to keep such languages at hand would also be "preserving" the very culture that we grew up with, such as, cebuanos, ilocanos, ilonggos etc etc.
This is about kids growing up to maintain the balance between keeping the Philippine cultures and the way to act in the "global competitiveness". And, the best way of attaining this is to adjust our mode of instruction to what young Filipinos need. It's better for a child to be more proactive in the learning process, more expressive and participative in class, more heard that spoken to, than becoming an idiot and dismiss English as an great learning obstacle to get over with.
I recall my experience in the public elementary school I came from in Quezon City. My classmates are hesitant to participate in class, and are utterly clueless about advanced concepts in English, as if there's a big question mark on their faces if asked in English. Once a person learns in their mother tongue, learning English would be easy, and learning how to communicate in what was becoming the universal language in the world. If we don't adjust to this call, we may end up at the tail end of just about every thing bad.
With that being said, I would like to thank you for the time you took to read this letter, given your busy schedule. I hope my concerns as a citizen of Pasig have helped in some way. I am happy with all the things our city has to offer and enjoy the benefits of living here. I appreciate your strong and efficient leadership and hope that our city will prosper even more.
Thank you and have a great day ahead.
Sincerely,
Robelle Diesta
2003-22538
University of the Philippines
Diliman, Quezon City
No. 5 Sta Rosa Street
Barangay Kapitolyo
Pasig City 1603
Word count: 1411
No comments:
Post a Comment
Tell me what you think!