(FILE) Sen. Robinhood Padilla. (Voltaire F. Domingo/Senate PRIB)
MANILA, Philippines — Senator Robin Padilla asked an official of the Philippine High School for the Arts (PHSA) on Friday about the school’s measures to stop students from being anti-government.
Artists joining left-leaning organizations is a serious concern for Padilla.
“Meron po tayong problema pagdating sa mga artist. Nagiging masyadong affiliated sa kaliwa… Hindi po ba kayo napasok na ng kaisipan ng kaliwa?” he asked PHSA Executive Director Professor Josue Greg Zuniega during the Senate committee on basic education hearing.
Sen. Robin Padilla asks Philippine High School for the Arts Director Josue Greg Zuniega on their measures to prevent students from being anti-government. | @inquirerdotnet pic.twitter.com/2vetPyD2Ni
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(We have a problem when it comes to artists. They are affiliated with leftists. Have leftist ideologies spread in the school?)
Zuniega responded: “Kami po ay exposed sa lahat ng mga ideolohiya. So, meron po kaming mga ganu’n po.”
(All ideologies are exposed to us. These are the types of people we have.)
Padilla then inquired about the school’s interventions to prevent students from being anti-government.
“Ano po ang hakbang po ninyo sa mga estudyante po ninyo na napupunta dito? Madalas po itong concern na sinasabi ng ating mga kababayan, ‘kung sino ‘yung mga iskolar, sila pa ‘yung lumalaban sa gobyerno’ at karamihan ng namumuno pa dito ay ‘yung mga nasa artist side,” the senator said.
(What are your interventions for such students? This is a common concern that our fellow citizens say, “scholars fight the government,” and most leaders are artists.)
Zuniega answered that they could address it through school programs, adding that they are open to consulting with experts on the matter.
“Ang amin pong naiisip sa ngayon, kasi ang aming tanging magagawa bilang eskwelahan, ay sa mga programa,” he said.
(What we think of right now, what we can do as a school, is through programs.)
“For example, mas child-friendly na materyal at balansyado na representasyon ng mga ideolohiya at siguro pagdating naman dito ay makikipagkonsulta kami sa tulad ninyo or sa ibang may expertise po pagdating sa mga ganitong bagay po,” the executive director continued.
(For example, more child-friendly materials and balanced representation of ideologies; maybe when it comes to this, we will consult someone like you or others with expertise on the matter.)
Zuniega likewise said that he is encouraging a “politcally-neutral” atmosphere in the campus.
The PHSA is a state-run high school for the arts located in Laguna.