- 2 days ago
What do President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.'s latest Sona promises mean for the country—and can they realistically be achieved in the remaining two years of his term?
Join us as we take a deeper look at the administration's education agenda, the challenges ahead, and what Filipinos can expect moving forward.
We'll also discuss the latest developments in the impeachment proceedings, including Article IV, expectations for Day 10, and what the succeeding days of the trial could bring.
🎤 Guest: Brenette Abrenica, Political Science Expert
📅 Watch us LIVE today and join the conversation.
Join us as we take a deeper look at the administration's education agenda, the challenges ahead, and what Filipinos can expect moving forward.
We'll also discuss the latest developments in the impeachment proceedings, including Article IV, expectations for Day 10, and what the succeeding days of the trial could bring.
🎤 Guest: Brenette Abrenica, Political Science Expert
📅 Watch us LIVE today and join the conversation.
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NewsTranscript
01:00It is not brushed. It is crafted one cup at a time.
01:05Your perfect latte is ready.
01:07Coffee first, then everything else.
01:11Good afternoon and welcome to Beyond the Headlines.
01:14I'm DJ Moises and today's conversation is brought to us by Coffee First.
01:20Two events are shaping the national conversation this week.
01:23On one hand, the president delivered his State of the Nation address.
01:29On the other hand, the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte continues to unfold in the Senate.
01:36Where is the country headed?
01:38Today, we look deeper and think better.
01:41Joining us is a respected political science expert who has spent years studying the institutions, behaviors, and the ideas that
01:49influence public life in the Philippines, Ms. Brunette Abranica.
01:54Hello, Brunette. Welcome back to Beyond the Headlines.
01:57May hapon, DJ.
01:59And good afternoon, everyone.
02:00It's my pleasure to be back.
02:01Yes, it's also a pleasure to have you back.
02:05So yesterday, we spoke about the president's SONA.
02:09But the areas of his SONA that we already covered were corruption, which was the opening, and then the closing,
02:19which was the West Philippine Sea.
02:22And then we also tackled those in the middle that I thought were well-applauded, like tax exemption, electricity reforms,
02:33response to the Middle East tension, and then agriculture.
02:38Now, this afternoon, and I'm glad that you are also our guest today because we will cover the longest, I
02:45think, part of his SONA, for my view.
02:50And that is on education.
02:53I think in this area, he made a few remarks.
02:57I will not call promises.
02:58I leave it to you.
02:59But he left a few remarks, like expanding feeding to 4.5 million learners, deployment of the first 10,000
03:09school counselor associates in public schools,
03:13promotion of more than 80,000 teachers and school heads, creation of 30,000 additional teaching positions, construction of more
03:25than 16,000 classrooms through public and private partnerships.
03:29And he also mentioned TVET of TESDA.
03:33Now, given all these pronouncements, I will not say promises, which part of this do you think will have a
03:44significant impact to education in the Philippines today?
03:50I have to be very candid about this, that although these are items in the pipeline, I think that the
03:59government cannot be remiss of the fact that there had been a number of recommendations from EDCOM2.
04:05And while we are seeing some signs and symptoms of the quality and the space of education in the Philippines,
04:13and I use the word signs and symptoms,
04:16I refer to, for example, the recent incidents involving our students in Tacloban, in Pampanga, or elsewhere in the country,
04:26and even the brawling of two school kids to a teacher yesterday, these are simple signs and symptoms of the
04:34quality in the space of education that our students are in.
04:38So for me, while you have the infrastructure, and we want to fix the infrastructure because that is also wanting,
04:45there is need for us to seriously take a look at the quality of education from the vantage point of
04:52not only academic inputs,
04:54but also the quality of the behavior that we are producing out of this education system.
05:03If I may pursue a little bit, we have been pushing back and forth the design of our education system,
05:11whether we want to keep senior high school or otherwise.
05:15And for me, this is so much telling of how serious is the government in terms of education.
05:22And we're harping on this, not because we just want to produce students, you know,
05:27but we're harping on this because this is the future human resource of the country.
05:32I mean, the quality of future Filipinos will be dependent on earlier generations.
05:36So for me, while all of those are, and I have to say this further,
05:42these items, deployment of appropriate manpower, promotions,
05:49these have been deadlines yesterday.
05:52And when I speak of yesterday, it would have been prior administrations.
05:57But if we can do this now, then we have to do this in the immediate.
06:02And then really harp on what will improve the quality of our graduates,
06:08the quality of our students, because they will really define the quality of Filipinos moving forward.
06:12Now, I have a set of questions here, but there's something about your answer that also made me even more
06:21curious.
06:21What are your thoughts about the senior high integration?
06:28And what do you think is the quality of adding actually two years now in the secondary school?
06:41Well, at least from what you're seeing, no?
06:43Yes, yes.
06:45The Philippines has been lagging behind in terms of the number of years.
06:50The quality of education worldwide has been measured by the number of years,
06:54formative years for that matter.
06:56And here we're seeing that the Philippines introduced senior high school more than 10 years ago.
07:03To be very specific, in 2012, there was a CMO 46 from the tertiary that actually segued to the introduction
07:13of senior high school by then.
07:15We were supposed to see the full product of senior high school from grade one, the first grader,
07:23until it finished the entire program in 2024.
07:27And we're supposed to recalibrate the senior high school program from there.
07:34But all of a sudden we have, and we've been doing some bridging,
07:38bridging from the senior high school, the old high school system to senior high school to college.
07:45And we have not even transitioned to the culture change that we see was necessary.
07:51I'm speaking from the vantage point of tertiary education.
07:54So we were managing that transition.
07:57We were putting in bridging programs so that students who may not have had very perfect and seamless
08:06junior high school and senior high school experience can still go and proceed to college program
08:10with their choice, their preferred degree, having not much difficulty seamlessly getting in.
08:21And we saw that there was still a lot of things that we were trying to patch up when they
08:26reached college.
08:26So we see that there are a lot of things that were supposed to be done when they were still
08:31in their elementary,
08:32in their junior high, and then senior high.
08:34But I think, sorry for the term, but this has been politicized a number of times where
08:39the secretary of education will have to decide on behalf of the president how to manage our education system.
08:50Seeing, for instance, that we have to remove and change senior high school,
08:56we are actually reducing back the number of years that is below the world standard.
09:02And for me, this is my very personal opinion, we are going back to an education system that may not
09:13be recognized abroad,
09:15may not be recognized by our fellow ASEAN countries, or may not be recognized by other countries in the world
09:21for that matter.
09:22And it's not just the number of years, but it is the depth and the breadth of the education that
09:28our students are getting.
09:30So for me, while we provide all the pathways possible, we are linking with TESDA,
09:36we're linking with all other institutions, but mind you, the number of years is still deficit.
09:42So I think that's one important thing to address.
09:45So Sige, before I'll go back to my original set of questions,
09:49So what we're saying, and correct me if I'm wrong, Brinette, is,
09:53and we'll talk about the quality later, no?
09:56But when it comes to quantity, and then we're talking about the number of years,
10:01we are saying, or you are saying,
10:04we have to retain the 12 years that we currently have.
10:11When is it still the number of years?
10:13Because even with the 12 years, we are still deficit.
10:20So our bargain was have the two years additional, although this is all about mindset.
10:26If we say it's an additional two years, of course, it will create havoc on our frame of thought
10:33that I have to finish by this age.
10:35But if we look at it in terms of the breadth and the depth of what we learn compared to
10:40others,
10:41I think that's the gap that we are unable to appreciate.
10:44And by the way, I don't want to put you on the spot, but now it makes sense to me,
10:50and you can tell me whether how I put things together is actually correct.
10:54Now it makes sense to me why some people are actually saying that in countries like Japan,
11:00they start with character building more before starting to introduce more of academics.
11:07Is it also because they have more years in their primary and secondary compared to the 12 that we have
11:16here in the Philippines?
11:19The number of years is given already in all other parts of the world except the Philippines and one other
11:24country, I forgot.
11:25So that is already a given.
11:27So what's the typical number of years?
11:31It's 12.
11:32It's 12.
11:33Okay, sige.
11:3312.
11:34Yeah.
11:35So meaning to say our primary junior high school and senior high school is supposed to patch that up,
11:42having the two senior high school years.
11:46Ah, okay.
11:47So supposedly that also gives more room, for example, for character building in the beginning
11:53and then to introduce also employability towards the end, no?
11:58And not only employability, but it's really career building.
12:02You know, in the Philippines, we ask our kids what they want to be.
12:06Well, we started when they were young and then when they proceed to junior high school,
12:11and as if when they graduate from high school, they're already quite fixed on what they want to become.
12:16But that needs a follow-through.
12:19I mean, when they enter college, it's a totally different, it's the same question,
12:24but it's a totally different landscape, which what I mean by this is there is a gap, no,
12:30from junior high to senior high to college.
12:33So it is in college as if that we are trying to build a career.
12:37The idea is even as early as junior high school, we should be able to let our kids articulate
12:44what they want 10, 5 years, 5, 10, 15 years down the road.
12:48We cannot allow that they think of this career only at a later stage in their life.
12:55And you know what? I'm seeing this already in our high school now.
12:59With senior high school students I have met, they are already developers,
13:04they are already coders, they're programmers, they are building their own website,
13:09they're doing games, which means to say that these capacities need not wait until college.
13:14These capacities are best built when they are in their formative years because they're like
13:20SpongeBob. They can keep everything. When they reach college at the age of, say, 18, 20,
13:26like when you were and myself, 18 and 20, we're already quite fixed with so many things.
13:33And learning becomes sometimes repelling. So the formative years is very, very critical.
13:40So how we shape, what kind of workers or what kind of Filipinos, what kind of entrepreneurs
13:46we will have in the future, best to start when they are young.
13:50Sige, so now we can go back to the president's sauna in particular.
13:54But this is still related to what you mentioned about quality because there are certain factors
14:00that are cited by experts in the education space or even edcom.
14:07And one of those is the number of classrooms because some people are asking,
14:14what's the point of having 12 years in primary and secondary,
14:19but it's still shifting in some schools. So that means we just expanded the number of years.
14:27But in reality, it's because they're just having four or five hours per shift,
14:34then it's still compromised. So let's go on one of the president's remarks,
14:40which is the 16,000 classrooms, future commitment.
14:45And if I recall, during last year's sauna, the president also draw loud applause
14:55when he pledged that before his term would end, he would be able to add 40,000 classrooms.
15:03But if I am to cite reports, from July 2022 to July 2025,
15:14DepEd and the Department of Public Works and Highways completed a little more than 22 classrooms.
15:21So in short, they are not even delivering just yet what was committed last year.
15:28So how confident are you that with this particular remark,
15:34the president can truly deliver before his term ends in 2028?
15:40I would have to be very honest, DJ, that I don't think it is possible
15:44to have this in the pipeline and really finished by the end of his term.
15:49With the things that are going on right now,
15:52we're still bugging with the flood control project,
15:56with all the corruption issues, and with all the calamities that are plaguing the country
16:02midway the year, it's very impossible to have the completion of these infrastructure
16:07for classrooms alone, a way within the deadline that he has set for himself.
16:13I'm not saying he cannot do it or his people cannot do it.
16:17It's just that there are a lot of other presenting issues
16:21and priorities that his administration and even his own sauna has explained.
16:29And I don't think there will be much focus unless,
16:35and I say unless, there is attention being paid to the monitoring of these classrooms.
16:42I would like to transition, therefore, my thought to accountability.
16:47If, in case, within the time frame that these projects are not finished,
16:53we make them accountable, then perhaps we will see some results.
16:57Otherwise, there will be numbers that will come out every sauna
17:02by every president that we will have.
17:05And, you know, we are short-changing a generation or two or three.
17:10We're not only talking about the students of this year,
17:14but we're actually talking about a generation or two or three generations
17:18who are unable to actually optimize classroom time, learning time,
17:24so that they become better individuals afterwards.
17:27So thank you also for the nudge, because I will do my part also to remember
17:32the 16,000 more classrooms and 40,000 completed before his term ends,
17:40as he actually, now I will say, promised.
17:43Now, in terms of being realistic then, and now we go back also to the context of the sauna,
17:51do you think it would have made better sense if instead of articulating the number of classrooms,
17:59because anyway, he already promised that last year's sauna,
18:03it would have been better if he was able to spell out a clear infrastructure strategy.
18:11I'm not even saying about education in general,
18:14a clear infrastructure strategy to actually provide adequate number of classrooms to our learners.
18:23And the reason why I highlighted this, it's because aside from there is a shortage,
18:28there are also old classrooms that are also yet to be repaired or already no longer safe for use.
18:36Do you think it makes sense if he instead articulated an infrastructure strategy
18:42to complete the adequate required classrooms for our learners?
18:49I would have to say it's ideal.
18:52I mean, coming from the vantage point from the academia,
18:58professionals, should I say, it's what we're looking for.
19:01From civil society groups, this is what we're looking for.
19:04But, you know, the state of the nation address is not only addressed to a select few in the community,
19:12but it is also trying to appeal to ordinary Filipinos who can remember specific numbers
19:20and use that numbers as leverage for performance.
19:24Ah, okay, this is something that he is promising.
19:26I'm saying this because this has been how, from a political behavior perspective,
19:32this has been how we shape, we have been shaping Filipinos interacting politically.
19:38We're feeding, this is a form of political priming, we're actually feeding information to the public
19:47because we want the public to remember that these are the things that we will deliver.
19:52They can remember 16,000, 40,000 classrooms.
19:56If they can see one that has been blessed, for instance, it's newly painted,
20:01and they will, ah, this is part of the 16,000.
20:03That's a kind of priming and framing that I would like to believe is part of the entire choreography
20:11and the reason why these words and these data were put into place.
20:17And I have to say that reading through the printed, the transcript version of the state of the nation address
20:25makes me see a very hodgepodge put together one concept scattered all over a way.
20:35I think there is a sense of appeal that the president may want to actually have with ordinary Filipinos
20:43so that even if it's the tail end of his state of the nation address,
20:47people will still remember infraud, people will still remember corruption,
20:53people will still remember Middle East conflict.
20:56And you will see that as a pattern in the state of the nation address.
20:59So for me, it's a strategy, not only for us, but in general.
21:06And I have to say, majority of the Filipinos will take the numbers more than the strategy.
21:12Sige, sige. I will have to agree with what you said.
21:15So I'll just keep in mind the 40,000 and then I'm hopeful that on the back end,
21:23they have a strategy on the infrastructure strategy specific to the number of classrooms
21:30that's been perennially a shortage over time.
21:35Now let's talk about another, in my opinion, you can correct me, Brinette,
21:40another Ayuda-ish commitment.
21:44And I'm talking about the feeding of 4.5 million.
21:50Okay, I'll have to make sure.
21:52Okay, expanded school feeding for over 4.5 million learners.
21:59Now, we covered,
22:00there are factors affecting quality.
22:02So now we already covered classroom.
22:04Now let's talk about malnutrition because the numbers actually that I have here,
22:12and I think this is where the expansion of the feeding in school,
22:16and the numbers that I have here,
22:19data would actually show that over 25% of young Filipino children remain stunted,
22:26directly impairing cognitive development and classroom focus.
22:30And for those of our viewers who have not been following this,
22:34kung kung man man good, ang atong brain man good,
22:36ang atong body is not well-fed or we are malnourished,
22:41so our brain is also not functioning effectively.
22:46So do you think that when the feeding in the school is already quite late?
22:52Because by then, the brain is already underdeveloped.
22:56Why not highlight instead maternal health and child care,
23:02which is nutrition of the child before they even go to school?
23:06Yeah, yeah.
23:06I was about to say that.
23:08I agree with you.
23:09The first 1,000 days of a child is critical.
23:14That's the determinant year or the length of time duration for stunted growth.
23:21We have had some feeding programs from our university,
23:24and I suppose all others do provide feeding programs,
23:28but they're not genuine feeding programs.
23:30When I say it's not genuine, I'm not saying they're not feeding.
23:34What I'm saying is, because I may be misconstrued,
23:37all I'm saying is our kids need the appropriate nourishment for them to become better,
23:45to reverse the stunted growth.
23:47Unfortunately, it really takes the first 1,000 years,
23:52or rather 1,000 days, for a child to have good health.
23:57That we cannot have a way to reverse tremendously stunted growth,
24:03but take care of the first 1,000 days.
24:06So for me, if there is any priority of our government for a good set of generation,
24:13let's take care of the first 1,000 days.
24:15We already have a law on that, so it's a matter of reinforcing that law
24:19and ensuring that our children, our infants, have access to good nutrition.
24:26But of course, there is another layer of issue there.
24:29You have many mothers that are getting younger and younger,
24:34and it has an impact even to a child.
24:36So even if you take care of the first 1,000 days,
24:39but if the child comes from a very young mom with lack of nutrients and so on,
24:46having the feeding program is a hunger mitigation strategy.
24:56So when we speak of kindergarten, grade 1, grade 2,
25:00this is already a hunger mitigation, meaning to say for a child to survive a day,
25:06being able to absorb the lesson, then the stomach will have to have a fill.
25:11But that's not for nutrition purposes, and that's not reversing necessarily
25:15an absolutely stunted growth.
25:18Rather, it is hunger mitigation,
25:19so that they can concentrate at least for a day that they are in school.
25:24And there are already a number of teachers doing that on their own
25:28because they understand that it's very difficult for someone,
25:31a child at that, to focus in class if their stomachs are empty.
25:35How I actually, I know it's also a strategy of whoever wrote the President's Sona,
25:42but I would have hoped that the President spoke more on the nutrition,
25:48as you say, on the first 1,000 years,
25:51because a Sona, in my view, is also a chance to educate the public.
25:58It's quite late already if by the time enters school,
26:03the child to begin with already has not a fully developed brain
26:09or cognitive capacity to actually even understand what's being discussed.
26:16And if we put the shifting pagyod, because of the lack of classrooms,
26:21they have shorter number of learning hours,
26:25and then there's probably 60 of them or 70 of them inside a classroom.
26:30So, putting them all together, then I could understand
26:34what's, that we truly, in my view, has an education crisis.
26:39Now, let's complicate this further.
26:41We discussed the classroom, we discussed the malnutrition,
26:46now let's talk about the actual product of our schools.
26:53This one is a statute that keeps me awake at night.
26:58Only 70.8% of Filipinos aged 10 to 64 are functionally literate.
27:07So, that actually means that close to 30% of that age group
27:13cannot properly read and comprehend.
27:17And, sorry, I know you understand this, but I'm just giving an idea
27:23sa kaninyang ato ang viewers.
27:25When we say comprehend, ang isang measure ana is
27:28if they can fill out a form.
27:31Yeah.
27:31But, so that means 30%, close to 30% of Filipinos in that age bracket
27:37cannot even effectively fill out a form.
27:40Imagine.
27:41So, that's how sad the situation is, no?
27:45Do you think, maybe in the back end, or should have been addressed
27:49in the sauna, or whatever, do you think we should also have a strategy
27:53on how to arrest this huge mess, in my view?
28:03Sorry, no, pardon me with the word.
28:06Yeah, yeah, yeah, I agree.
28:07I think this is where I came from, no, when I said that we're actually
28:13shortchanging a generation.
28:17Very basic information that one is supposed to be capable of giving
28:23is something that is disempowering them.
28:27Not because they are not given the chance, but because of the complexities
28:31and the layers that these kids have to go through in class.
28:36And learning, we have to understand, learning as well is not only the sole
28:41responsibility of classes, of teachers, but it's the community.
28:45So, if you only have four, six hours of learning hours, and then you go back
28:51to a community that does not empower learning, does not love learning,
28:57would rather use shortcuts like cell phones, TikTok, whatever.
29:02So, you have an entire ecosystem that does not support learning.
29:07And this has created a dysfunction on some students.
29:12We're not saying all, but there is a significant number of these students,
29:17and even adults, who are unable to fully function, cannot comprehend,
29:23not because they were not given the chance, but because circumstances here
29:29and there are complicated, no, their process of learning and comprehension
29:33that would need some ayuda, no?
29:37How to arrest?
29:38Your question is how to arrest.
29:40This is the role now of civic education.
29:42This is the role now of continuous learning.
29:45We cannot, even with this reality, we cannot grow tired of teaching our fellow Filipinos.
29:52And I would have to say that this is not easy, no?
29:56Not easy because Filipinos may not have developed the capacity to make a choice.
30:04It's a very, seemingly, drama.
30:09But actually, for me, it's a heartbreaking question because sometimes people would like
30:15to depend on others.
30:17So, they're not capable of thinking, no?
30:21Or maybe, maybe lang, no?
30:23People have grown tired of thinking because we think that thinking is a very tedious process.
30:30But thinking is a very creative process.
30:32Thinking is very empowering.
30:34And I think we have lost the capacity to empower our fellow Filipinos.
30:39So, there are times, well, I heard this from some young people, no?
30:44Why do I have to go and have a PE, for example, if I want to be an architect?
30:49But, of course, they have not understood the importance of finding details and skills and so on and so forth.
30:56But I think we just have to be a little bit patient to make them understand about the value of
31:03all of these things put together
31:04so we become better and whole in the future.
31:07So, I hope that institutions, academia, media, we should not grow tired of educating our young even outside the formal
31:21education system
31:22because the formal education system seemingly is tired.
31:28The formal education system is absorbing all the shocks.
31:32And whether they are doing it to the best and optimum level, that's something that I am not perfectly aware
31:42of.
31:43I would not want to judge them.
31:45But I think the continuous education framework is very much important to apply.
31:50And I'll just add more layer to what we just talked about because this is also a number that keeps
32:00me awake.
32:01So, from the Program for International Student Assessment or PISA in 2022 report,
32:07the Philippines actually ranks second to the lowest in the world in creative thinking.
32:14And in the same report, but this time in 2018, the Philippines was lowest in reading and second lowest in
32:24math and science.
32:25Now, let's introduce artificial intelligence into the conversation.
32:30Because the president actually, while he mentioned the leveraging of artificial intelligence in agriculture,
32:38but not really explicit about whether the country truly has a roadmap to enable our graduates.
32:50We're not even talking about those who are already in the workforce, but even just graduates, no?
32:56Given the stunted growth, malnutrition, problem in functional literacy,
33:01and then problems with second to the lowest in math, science, reading,
33:05and second to the lowest also in creative thinking.
33:10Are we even ready to the new economy?
33:16And I'm talking about artificial intelligence and co-pilot in an economy in which humans are superior, no?
33:25And are users of artificial intelligence rather than being replaced by it.
33:34If you ask me if we are ready, AI is already here.
33:38We have been overtaken by how AI has progressed.
33:42Are we ready?
33:45Institutionally, well, coming from media, academe, I think we are trying to be ready.
33:50We're putting in some mechanisms to support the business that we do, right?
33:55For example, for education.
33:56We have some policies, some rules, some guidelines.
34:00But in terms of the government, the entire nation, I would have to say we're not.
34:06In one workshop that I co-facilitated, it's about a roadmap on, I forgot, no,
34:15but one of the things that people there, it was with DOST and so on,
34:23one of the things that people there expressed is we are supposed to do this side-by-side
34:28with a roadmap on AI.
34:30And the Philippines, unfortunately, while we subscribe to Pax Silica, for instance,
34:38because we would like to offer the Philippines as a place where all these mega computers are to be in,
34:44the capacity to think on how to go along with the development of AI is seemingly not parallel
34:56with the enthusiasm to accommodate these kinds of industry in the country.
35:03It seems easy to say that, well, AI is a tool.
35:09True, it is a tool.
35:11But subconsciously, the use of the tool, if not warranted by appropriate imagination
35:20and not supported by appropriate thinking, you can get consumed by AI
35:25because it gives us so much convenience.
35:27It gives you so much time for yourself, right?
35:32Because it can do something for you.
35:35But I think the argument on how sound it is for us to use AI,
35:41whether in arts, in science, in research, in the academe,
35:47and much more in the quality of work that we provide to the community,
35:52needs a lot of thinking.
35:53We need to be critical.
35:56We cannot just accept AI as is.
35:58I understand the Philippine government, if it wants to accept AI like a gold standard,
36:04but we need to have a thinking community, a learning community,
36:08not only an AI-led community.
36:11And those are powerful sentences or statements,
36:16so I leave them at that.
36:19And I hope our viewers and our leaders were able to capture that.
36:24So now, if we zoom out sa SONA,
36:28so in its totality,
36:31what do you think are the strengths of the SONA?
36:35And the parts of the SONA also where you think,
36:40hmm, this is weak, no?
36:43This is not well, for the lack of better word, thought of.
36:50All right.
36:51Let's have some good things.
36:54One, for me, the re-articulation of our plight against corruption.
37:01And I'm emphasizing this because this is actually validating what the people are feeling right now.
37:09This is actually to acknowledge that, yes,
37:12this is not only a problem that is seen by the government,
37:15uncovered by the government,
37:17but this is the actual experiences of people.
37:19And why is this very important?
37:23Because until now,
37:24say, for instance, in Cebu,
37:26we have not found one behind bars or charged for a crime
37:31because of what happened to the flood control projects
37:36and the effects during Baguong Tino.
37:39And this is just one context, you know?
37:42So articulating that in the SONA,
37:44sort of is telling the Filipinos,
37:48I opened this last year,
37:52so I remember it until now.
37:54Second, there is an emphasis on how the government
37:59facilitated the entire country amidst the Middle East crisis.
38:03And for me, that's very important
38:05because that validates that while we are far from the Middle East,
38:10we are gravely affected by what's going on outside.
38:14And the strategies put forward by the government
38:18have sort of alleviated, helped a little bit, no?
38:22Ease out the tension at the level of the ordinary Filipinos.
38:27Third, di ka pasisi il.
38:29For me, it was something that Filipinos needed to hear.
38:33And I'd like to believe uniform personnel
38:35of our armed forces also needed to have that validation.
38:39The validation of UNCLOS, for instance,
38:43that we need to protect our national integrity.
38:46For me, it's an important message
38:48because you have to understand
38:50the administration prior to this
38:53had a totally different perspective
38:55of our jurisdictional issues
39:01in the West Philippine Sea.
39:03So for me, these three are highlights.
39:06In terms of what would have been done better,
39:09as I mentioned already earlier,
39:11you have all of these things scattered in the sauna,
39:16except for UNCLOS, it's towards the end.
39:18So he talked about corruption at the beginning,
39:21in the middle, and towards the end.
39:23He talked about infrastructure beginning,
39:26middle, towards the end.
39:28And for me, focus would have made the sauna,
39:36the message tighter.
39:37Say, number one, we talk about corruption,
39:40what do we do, and so on and so forth.
39:41Number two, because this will necessarily
39:45ask the head of state to be very specific
39:49with a strategy.
39:50And I think that's what you were looking for,
39:52a strategy, a framework, a roadmap
39:55that will help the Philippines move forward.
39:58However, if you have a very structured statement,
40:02a very structured message,
40:04then you will have to be very strategic.
40:07However, if you don't have a strategy,
40:09then you can appeal to these messages
40:11across your one hour and 30 minutes
40:15of state of the nation address
40:16with applauses in between.
40:18So I find that there is so much,
40:22the message is scattered.
40:23And number two, there is no embedded strategy.
40:27I cannot find documents being labeled,
40:31being named, except for systems laws,
40:35IPRA, and I have to say
40:37that they are in the pipeline.
40:39They have been there.
40:41For many years.
40:42For many, many years.
40:43And civil society organizations
40:45have been pushing this forward.
40:48So for me, the messaging should have been tighter
40:53with better strategy,
40:54with very clear-cut approach,
40:57and perhaps performance.
41:00And when I say performance,
41:02actual numbers will have to speak
41:04for that performance.
41:06But then again, as I mentioned,
41:08state of the nation address
41:09is also a political choreography.
41:14And it has to be staged
41:17to a certain extent
41:17so that you have the head of state
41:20being able to deliver
41:20the message before the Filipinos.
41:23And by the way, Brinette,
41:24you can correct me also,
41:25or you can express your disagreement now.
41:29But at least on what you
41:32just shared about the strong points
41:35and the weak points of the Sona,
41:36my personal journey with it,
41:38it sounded nice
41:40the first time I heard the whole thing.
41:44But when I already took a step back,
41:47because we have an episode,
41:48and then pandered on the points,
41:51that's when I actually realized that,
41:55my goodness,
41:56I mean, it's a choreography, as you said,
41:58but I was just like,
42:00my goodness, no?
42:00This is a combination of ayuda
42:05and legislative measures
42:08that may not be,
42:10and infrastructure
42:10that may not be delivered
42:13in the next two years.
42:15And that saddened me
42:16after I pondered on it.
42:18So that's also how I wish
42:19the rest of the Filipinos,
42:21by the moment they heard it,
42:23they applauded.
42:24I hope they also took the time
42:26to just like, wait.
42:29Yeah, true.
42:29I think the advantage for me
42:31is I did not listen to him.
42:33I had a different event on Monday,
42:37but I just read through the transcript.
42:39And it is in the transcript
42:41that I find the appeal
42:45to be absent.
42:48There is no appeal.
42:50I mean, if a message is really genuine,
42:53sorry for this,
42:54but it will appeal to you
42:56even if you're just reading it.
42:57That's the power of books, right?
42:59There's the power of poems.
43:00But reading through the transcript,
43:02it's okay.
43:03That's why I observe
43:04everything is scattered all over.
43:06So yeah,
43:07just my personal impression though.
43:08And that was also
43:09my personal experience
43:11also with the sauna.
43:13So now,
43:15some experts would say
43:17that this sauna
43:19supposedly is already
43:20the sauna
43:22because by next year,
43:24the sauna,
43:25if we look at the pattern
43:27of past precedents,
43:29the last year's,
43:30the last sauna
43:31is already like
43:32an acknowledgement,
43:34a thank you,
43:35and a summary,
43:36you know,
43:36of what has been accomplished.
43:38So this could have been
43:40supposedly
43:40the sauna.
43:42So in your view,
43:43although I already have an idea,
43:45but I don't want to put words
43:46into your mouth,
43:48in your view,
43:49did this sauna
43:50clearly
43:53articulated
43:53and painted
43:55a picture
43:56of how
43:57the last
43:57two years
43:58will be
43:59and
43:59the direction
44:00of the country
44:02and
44:03the priorities,
44:04no?
44:05That this is what
44:05this administration
44:06is going to finish
44:08before
44:08it ends
44:10in 2028.
44:12I think
44:13what is clear
44:13to me
44:14is that
44:16the single promise
44:17that they can
44:18be consistent
44:20is that
44:21they will be,
44:22although
44:22the president
44:23said it's not
44:24reactive anymore,
44:25it's predictive,
44:26but they will
44:27still continue
44:28to react
44:29to impetus.
44:30They will continue
44:30to react
44:31on impulses,
44:32whether it's
44:33local,
44:34international,
44:34they will continue
44:35to protect
44:36the Filipinos
44:38because
44:38that's the
44:39mandate.
44:40And I think
44:40this is
44:41a promise
44:42that has been
44:43consistent all
44:44throughout,
44:44in any presidency
44:45for that matter,
44:46that we will be,
44:48I will be there
44:48as your president.
44:50But then again,
44:50that's the minimum.
44:52So we can expect
44:53the president
44:54to still
44:56look for ways
44:57should there be
44:57a Middle East
44:58crisis,
44:59we'll look for ways
45:00for those
45:00who are hungry,
45:01we'll look for ways
45:02for those who are
45:03devastated by calamities
45:05because primarily
45:06that's the job
45:07of the president
45:09of the Republic
45:10of the Philippines.
45:11So that's the kind
45:12of, for me,
45:13that's the expectation
45:14I have and that's
45:15the kind of leadership
45:16in the next two years.
45:17They will always say
45:19they'll end
45:19with a bang
45:20because they have
45:21these accomplishments,
45:22they were present,
45:23they showed up,
45:24and so on.
45:24But that's the
45:27character,
45:28that's the role
45:29that has to be
45:30performed.
45:31So that's something
45:32I can promise
45:33myself observing.
45:35Whether or not
45:36there will really
45:36be trailblazing
45:38outputs
45:38and eventually
45:40outcomes
45:40from this
45:41administration,
45:43I would have to
45:45cross the bridge
45:46in 2028.
45:48Unless there are
45:49really strong
45:50push
45:51on
45:52a lot of things,
45:54then we can find
45:55something beneficial.
45:57But,
45:58however,
45:59if the
46:00Paxilica
46:01will materialize
46:02because the
46:03agreement
46:03will be sealed
46:04in November
46:05of this year,
46:07then that will
46:07be one
46:08big seal
46:09of accomplishment
46:10that this
46:11administration
46:12will actually
46:13brag about
46:14in 2028.
46:15Whether it
46:16will be to
46:17the benefit
46:17of Filipinos
46:18or not,
46:19whether it
46:19will be
46:20displacing
46:20farmers
46:22and land
46:23destroying
46:24properties
46:25or not,
46:25that will be
46:26determined by
46:27the administration
46:28after.
46:31big trophies
46:32that this
46:33administration
46:34can bring
46:35with him
46:35in 2020.
46:36And by
46:37the way,
46:37that's another
46:38interesting topic
46:39and hopefully
46:41we can talk
46:41about it
46:42in the future.
46:43And we're
46:43referring to
46:44Paxilica.
46:45But before
46:45we let you
46:46go,
46:48my last two
46:49questions
46:49actually are
46:50specific to
46:51the impeachment.
46:51So my second
46:52to the last
46:53question is
46:54what is
46:55your view
46:56of the
46:58concluded
46:58series one
47:00which is
47:01article four
47:02on grave
47:04threats
47:04and betrayal
47:05of public
47:07trust?
47:09Who had
47:10the edge?
47:13Was it
47:14the prosecution?
47:15Was it
47:16the defense?
47:16Or is it
47:17a draw
47:18as of this
47:18time?
47:19This is
47:20very personal
47:21to me.
47:22Very personal
47:22opinion,
47:23ladies and
47:23gentlemen.
47:24I have to
47:25say that
47:27the prosecution
47:28has laid
47:29down all
47:30the strong
47:31points to
47:32actually
47:33support the
47:35fourth article
47:36which is on
47:37grave threats
47:38with all
47:39the testimonies
47:42and the
47:42pieces of
47:43evidence they
47:43were able
47:44to put
47:45together
47:46vis-a-vis
47:48the very
47:49technical
47:50render
47:51of the
47:53defense.
47:55I find
47:55that the
47:56prosecution
47:56was able
47:58to lay
47:58that down
47:59for me.
48:00I understood
48:01where they're
48:02coming from
48:02and I
48:03understood
48:04the
48:08gravity
48:08of the
48:09accusation,
48:10I have to
48:10say.
48:11And it
48:12allowed me
48:13to really
48:13think that
48:14if there
48:16is a threat
48:17to the
48:17highest
48:17official
48:18of the
48:18land,
48:20who are
48:21we
48:22ordinary
48:23Filipinos
48:24to be
48:24protected?
48:27And that
48:29actually showed
48:30me, this is
48:30my personal
48:31reflection,
48:32that actually
48:32showed me
48:33our culture
48:34of impunity
48:35in the
48:35country.
48:36As long
48:37as you
48:38have the
48:39microphone,
48:40as long
48:40as you
48:40have the
48:41power,
48:42you have
48:42the voice,
48:43and you
48:44have an
48:45opportunity
48:45to articulate
48:46that voice
48:47and you
48:48are very
48:49free,
48:50you believe
48:51you're very
48:51free to
48:52express that
48:52point,
48:53then you're
48:53very empowered.
48:55And imagine
48:56there's this
48:56one statement
48:57from one
48:57of the
49:00testimonies
49:01saying,
49:02if we will
49:03just allow
49:03this to be
49:04articulated
49:05freely
49:05online,
49:06we're
49:07actually
49:07inviting
49:08anarchy
49:08in the
49:09country.
49:09And,
49:10you know,
49:10personally,
49:10when I
49:11heard that
49:11statement,
49:12and I
49:12had to
49:13repeat
49:13that clip
49:15over and
49:16over again,
49:16I realized,
49:17wow,
49:18it's a
49:18powerful
49:19message that
49:21we cannot
49:23tolerate
49:24violence
49:26at all
49:27levels,
49:28especially
49:29so from
49:30those with
49:31positions in
49:32government.
49:33It would
49:34not excuse
49:35everyone else
49:36at our
49:36level,
49:37ordinary
49:37Filipinos.
49:38And then
49:39looking at
49:40the impeachment
49:41going on,
49:41and then you
49:42have violence,
49:42schools,
49:43you have
49:44kids
49:46shooting at
49:46each other,
49:47that really
49:48made me
49:48uncomfortable.
49:49So I
49:49went back
49:49to that
49:50clip,
49:50and then
49:51I said,
49:52then what
49:53kind of
49:53messaging
49:53are we
49:54telling our
49:55Filipinos?
49:56What kind
49:56of messaging
49:57are we
49:57sharing to
49:58each other?
49:59Is it
50:00impunity?
50:00Is it
50:01violence?
50:02And do
50:03we not do
50:04anything to
50:04arrest it?
50:05So the
50:05impeachment for
50:06me,
50:07and how the
50:07prosecution
50:08laid down
50:09for Article
50:104 is
50:11very
50:12important.
50:12I just
50:13really hope
50:13that the
50:14language used
50:15in the
50:17impeachment
50:17trial is
50:18not a
50:19deterrent
50:20for Filipinos
50:21to understand
50:22how valuable
50:22this
50:23political
50:24exercise
50:25is.
50:26And we
50:26cannot
50:26remiss.
50:28In English,
50:29we get
50:33overwhelmed
50:33with the
50:34message.
50:35But there
50:35is profound
50:38depth
50:38that we
50:39need to
50:40appreciate
50:40looking at
50:41this
50:42political
50:43exercise.
50:44I hope
50:44I get
50:45for it.
50:46And by
50:46the way,
50:46before I
50:47ask you
50:48the last
50:49question,
50:50there's
50:51just something
50:51about what
50:52you said
50:52about
50:53magsigig
50:53in English.
50:54Because I
50:56also get
50:56that feedback
50:57for the
50:58show.
50:58But my
51:00take on
51:01that,
51:01and I
51:02hope this
51:02will not
51:02get me
51:03into
51:03trouble,
51:04is because
51:05if the
51:07Philippines
51:07is moving
51:08forward
51:08as a
51:10globally
51:10competitive
51:11country,
51:13it is
51:13important
51:14also for
51:15us to
51:15practice
51:16our
51:17facility
51:18to
51:18converse
51:19in
51:20the
51:20globally
51:21recognized
51:21language
51:22of business,
51:23which is
51:23English,
51:24and to
51:25actually
51:25understand
51:27and
51:28comprehend
51:28English.
51:30So I
51:31know that
51:32we are
51:33supposed to
51:34meet our
51:35audience
51:36where they
51:38are.
51:39I get
51:39that.
51:40But there's
51:41also,
51:41as leaders,
51:43there's also
51:43a stretch
51:44that we
51:45need to
51:45introduce
51:46so that
51:47our audience
51:48will not
51:48stay
51:49where they
51:50are.
51:51So I
51:51struck
51:51when you
51:52said that.
51:53And I
51:53would agree
51:54also.
51:54Yes,
51:55yes,
51:55yes.
51:55But I
51:56think
51:57because
51:58we're
51:58dealing
51:58with
51:59a
51:59platform,
52:00then we
52:00have to
52:00use
52:00a
52:00specific
52:01language.
52:02And this
52:02is where
52:02I go
52:03back to
52:03my point
52:03earlier,
52:04civic
52:04education,
52:05at
52:06in the
52:06community,
52:07there's no
52:07point to
52:08list.
52:09So we
52:09adjust.
52:10And I
52:11think this
52:11is the
52:11kind of
52:12agility
52:13that each
52:14of us
52:14should
52:15have.
52:15The
52:16ability
52:16to
52:17sit
52:18where we
52:18are
52:19seated
52:19and to
52:20converse
52:20with
52:21people
52:21at
52:21what
52:22level.
52:22So
52:23if
52:23in the
52:23communities
52:24we
52:26adjust
52:28because
52:28our
52:29point
52:30is not
52:30to
52:30impress.
52:31Our
52:31point
52:31is to
52:31connect
52:32and
52:32to
52:32communicate.
52:33So
52:33I
52:34think
52:34because
52:35we
52:35are
52:35in
52:35this
52:35platform,
52:36DJ,
52:36then we
52:37use
52:37the
52:37language.
52:38But
52:38first,
52:40the impeachment
52:41will not
52:42get
52:42overwhelmed
52:43with the
52:43technicalities
52:44of you.
52:45Rather,
52:46they
52:46will
52:46appreciate
52:46that
52:47this
52:47is a
52:47political
52:47exercise
52:48and
52:48this
52:49is
52:49about
52:49me
52:49as
52:50a
52:50Filipino.
52:50And
52:51on
52:52that
52:53piece,
52:53I
52:53also
52:53agree
52:54with
52:54what
52:55you
52:55said.
52:55Some
52:56people
52:56disagree
52:57that
52:58why
52:58are
52:59we
52:59having
52:59this
52:59and
53:00some
53:00people
53:00are
53:00saying
53:00we
53:01need
53:01to
53:01have
53:01this
53:01but
53:02we
53:02are
53:02already
53:02here.
53:03So
53:03might
53:04as
53:04well
53:04leverage
53:05on
53:06the
53:06situation
53:06by
53:07becoming
53:07better
53:08at
53:09being
53:09a
53:09Filipino.
53:10My
53:10last
53:10question.
53:11Today
53:11it
53:12already
53:12started
53:12earlier.
53:13Today
53:13is
53:14the
53:14start
53:14of
53:14Article
53:151
53:15which
53:16is
53:16on
53:16confidential
53:17funds.
53:17What's
53:18your
53:18forecast?
53:19I
53:20cannot
53:20give a
53:21forecast
53:21unfortunately.
53:22But
53:23that is
53:24from what
53:24you heard
53:25from the
53:26Justice
53:26Committee
53:27when they
53:27elevated
53:28this
53:28to the
53:29Senate.
53:30I
53:30mean
53:30for
53:30plenary
53:31voting
53:31in the
53:31House
53:32and
53:32then
53:32eventually
53:33impeachment
53:33trial
53:34in the
53:34Senate.
53:35For
53:35me
53:36because
53:36there's
53:37just
53:37a
53:37recent
53:38online
53:38talk
53:39which
53:40the
53:40topic
53:41is
53:41all
53:41about
53:41confidential
53:42and
53:42intelligence
53:43part.
53:44I
53:44think
53:44what
53:44is
53:44so
53:45clear
53:45to
53:46me
53:47is
53:47that
53:48confidential
53:49and
53:49intelligence
53:49fund
53:50is
53:50intended
53:51for
53:51the
53:51uniform
53:53defense
53:54sector.
53:55In
53:56the
53:56case
53:57for
53:57example
53:57we
54:00allow
54:03that
54:04it
54:04be
54:04placed
54:05in
54:05the
54:05education
54:06sector.
54:07When
54:08I
54:08read
54:08through
54:09the
54:09document
54:09that
54:10is
54:10a
54:11DILG
54:12memorandum
54:12circular
54:13I
54:15was
54:16so
54:16struck
54:18that
54:19it
54:19is
54:19placed
54:19in
54:19the
54:19education
54:20sector.
54:21During
54:22that
54:22forum
54:23I
54:23said
54:23are
54:24we
54:24hunting
54:25our
54:25own
54:25Filipinos
54:26in
54:27the
54:27education
54:28sector?
54:29It
54:29is
54:29the
54:30broadest
54:30of
54:31all
54:32sectors
54:32in
54:33the
54:33country.
54:34Why?
54:34Because
54:35you
54:35have
54:35the
54:35future
54:36generations
54:36of
54:37Filipinos
54:38there.
54:38Imagine
54:39utilizing
54:40and
54:41spending
54:42intelligence
54:43funds
54:44and
54:44confidential
54:45funds
54:45to
54:45the
54:46education
54:46sector.
54:47For
54:47me,
54:48that
54:48struck
54:48me.
54:50That
54:52how do
54:53I say
54:54this?
54:54That
54:55disturbed
54:55me.
54:56That's
54:56the
54:56term.
54:57It
54:57disturbed
54:58me
54:58because
54:59I am
55:00in the
55:01education
55:01sector.
55:02I also
55:03am
55:03from
55:03the
55:04progressive
55:05groups,
55:05I have
55:05to say.
55:06That
55:07when you
55:07are
55:08hunted
55:08by the
55:09state
55:10or
55:11anyone
55:11with
55:12power
55:12and
55:12authority
55:13coming
55:13from
55:14the
55:14state,
55:14you
55:15are
55:16rendered
55:16helpless
55:17and
55:18you
55:18are
55:18rendered
55:19hopeless.
55:20So
55:21imagine
55:22if this
55:22is the
55:22kind
55:23of
55:23country
55:23that
55:24we
55:24have.
55:25A
55:25state
55:26or
55:26people
55:27in
55:27the
55:27state
55:28looking
55:29for
55:29people
55:30in
55:31the
55:31education
55:31sector.
55:33It's
55:34not just
55:34the
55:35progressiveness,
55:37the
55:37creativity,
55:38and the
55:39ability
55:39to
55:40feel
55:40and
55:41to
55:41express
55:41oneself
55:42freely.
55:43So
55:43I
55:44would
55:45like
55:45to
55:45believe
55:45that
55:46and
55:46I
55:47would
55:47like
55:47to
55:47hope
55:47that
55:48clarity
55:49be
55:50shed
55:50in
55:51this
55:51impeachment
55:52trial,
55:53particularly
55:53on
55:54confidential
55:55and
55:55intelligence
55:56fund.
55:56It's
55:57not
55:57just
55:57that
55:58there
55:58is
55:58the
55:58fund,
55:59but
56:00where
56:00the
56:00funds
56:01were
56:01placed
56:01during
56:02a
56:02time
56:03when
56:04authority
56:04is
56:04held
56:05by
56:05one
56:05single
56:06individual.
56:06So
56:07I
56:08really
56:08hope
56:08to
56:08learn.
56:09I
56:09really
56:10hope
56:10to
56:10be
56:10clarified
56:11and
56:12I
56:12really
56:12hope
56:12to
56:12understand
56:14that
56:15our
56:15state
56:16cannot
56:16overtake
56:17people's
56:18rights
56:18and
56:19cannot
56:19use
56:19whatever
56:20platforms
56:21in
56:21government
56:22for their
56:23advantage.
56:24It has
56:24to be
56:25for the
56:25people,
56:26not the
56:26ones
56:27in
56:27office.
56:29and
56:29thank you
56:30very
56:30much
56:30for
56:31sharing
56:32your
56:32thoughts
56:33that
56:33this
56:33confidential
56:34and
56:34intelligence
56:35fund
56:36while
56:36confidential
56:37should
56:37be
56:37intelligent.
56:38I'm
56:38just
56:38playing
56:39with
56:39words.
56:43Thank you
56:44very
56:45much.
56:46It's
56:46like the
56:47first
56:47time.
56:48It's
56:48a
56:48very
56:49good
56:49conversation
56:50and
56:50a
56:50learning
56:51experience
56:51for me.
56:52So
56:52thank you
56:52very
56:52much
56:53for sharing
56:53your
56:54insights
56:54as well
56:55as your
56:56thoughts
56:58about the
56:59ongoing
56:59impeachment
57:00trial of
57:01Vice
57:01President
57:01Sara
57:02Duterte.
57:02My
57:04pleasure
57:04DJ.
57:05Thank you
57:05so much.
57:05And
57:06see you
57:06soon.
57:07So
57:07two
57:08events
57:09are
57:09shaping
57:09the
57:10national
57:10conversation
57:11this
57:11week
57:12as
57:12citizens
57:13a
57:13role
57:13is
57:14not
57:14simply
57:14to
57:15applaud
57:15or
57:16criticize.
57:17It
57:17is
57:17to
57:17stay
57:18informed
57:18ask
57:19difficult
57:20questions
57:20and
57:21hold
57:21every
57:22public
57:22official
57:23regardless
57:23of
57:24party
57:24or
57:25position
57:25to
57:26the
57:26same
57:26standard.
57:28Headlines
57:28tell us
57:29what
57:29happened.
57:30Understanding
57:31tells
57:31us
57:31why
57:32it
57:33matters.
57:33So
57:34we
57:34continue
57:34to
57:34look
57:35deeper
57:35and
57:36think
57:37better.
57:38So
57:38I'm
57:38DJ
57:38Moises.
57:39Shout
57:39out
57:40to
57:40Coffee
57:40First
57:41for
57:41supporting
57:41conversations
57:42that
57:43matter.
57:43Until
57:44the
57:44next
57:44time,
57:45have
57:45a
57:45good
57:46afternoon.
57:51It
57:52starts
57:52with a
57:53fresh
57:53shot
57:53of
57:53espresso.
57:55Bold,
57:57rich,
57:58bold,
57:59just
57:59right.
58:01Then
58:02comes
58:02the
58:02milk,
58:03steamed
58:03smooth,
58:04creamy,
58:05and
58:05balanced.
58:06The
58:07perfect
58:07latte
58:07is not
58:08brushed.
58:09It
58:09is
58:10crafted
58:10one
58:11cup
58:12at a
58:12time.
58:13Your
58:13perfect
58:14latte
58:14is
58:14ready.
58:15Coffee
58:16first,
58:17then
58:17everything
58:18else.
58:19A
58:20is
58:20p
58:20p
58:21a
58:21p
58:31p
58:32p
58:32p
58:33p
58:33p
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