Post-election, preschool concerns

When was our last “summertime, when the livin’ was easy” and most of us took vacations in the home town (or even out-of-town-and-country for those who could afford it then) after a busy school and working year before we returned to work and school concerns? Not in recent years, was it not?

For one, not this year, after the recent first automated midterm elections, when we expected almost immediate and reliable results. When I was still active in radio broadcast media years ago, and we covered the elections, we were able to air tentative election results a day or so after the hand counting was done, then awaited official confirmation of results soon after. Does that show how long this Bystander has been at it?

As of midweek this week, over two long weeks since the elections, winning candidates for town, city, province and legislative (senatorial and representative) positions have finally been announced, except those for the expected 58 party list winners which will be made known on Monday.

Then we learn that Commission on Elections Chair Sixto Brilliantes, Jr has said that initial findings of the random manual audit of the elections showed “discrepancies” in some precincts compared with the computer-generated tallies. This developed after reports last week on “malfunctioning” and even some still unsubmitted counting machines. We await further developments.

Meanwhile, on Monday, we should get to know the complete list of 58 winning party list candidates, of which 53 are already filled. Personally, I am happy to know that the Trade Union Congress of the Philipines (TUCP) party list is now among those assigned one seat. In my over 35 years association with the Labor Radio Station dyLA, I have come to know the value and contributions of Labor and its workers to a country’s development, dyLA being owned by the Associated Labor Unions or ALU-TUCP. TUCP is a member of the International Labor Organization based in Geneva, Switzerland.

Monday, June 3rd, next week, classes open in public schools, and Monday the following week, June 10th, in private schools. Financial problems facing parents and their children are in expenses for tuition, uniforms (if required) and school supplies. Many private schools are increasing tuition fees to cover expenses for school supplies and hiring competent teachers. So many students prefer to transfer to public schools. And public schools for their part are faced with the need for more classrooms to cope with increasing enrollment, as well as the need to clean up and repair schools and classrooms affected by natural and accidental calamities. Teachers need orientation in the new K to 12 curriculum as well as better salaries for their own and family needs.

Good news along the educational side is the current move among private and civic organizations to strengthen the flagging interest in reading through reading and story-telling sessions, especially among younger children and reviving interest in books. This should help raise more responsible and knowledgeable leaders among our youth.

Sadly, in this technological age, we see the already alarming involvement of young people, especially our girls in cyberporn. Details are reported with concerned measures to cut it down and penalize the adults, even parents involved.

And now on international relations with neighboring countries, whom some feel are “bullying” us. The latest, being Taiwan, with the shooting of a Taiwanese fisherman by our coast guards off our northern Philippine coasts. We hope that current talks between the Philippines and Taiwan, even if still “rocky” may eventually be smoothened out, what with the endangerment of our many Filipino workers in Taiwan.

Ironically, Taiwan insists on the Philippines’ “criminal liability”, when actually we have been “tolerant” with 10 Taiwanese intrusions into Philippine waters recorded since 2006 according to Philippine Coast Guard officials. To think this should happen after our “differences” with Sabah in the south have cooled down for now.

Today, the much awaited Gabii sa Kabilin is on. We hope you are happily participating in it, or, if like this home- and chair-bound Bystander, you follow it through the colorfully thorough coverage by mass media. Or that later, you personally visit these heritage sites in our historical Cebu.

Here’s more good news, particularly among our youth. Congratulations to three University of San Carlos graduates who made it among to the top 10 of the May 2013 Certified Public Accountantant Licensure Examination: Mikyll Narvios, Wendell Ang and Arianne Fernando!

At noon today, our Cebu Council of the Girl Scouts of the Philippines will witness the blessing of our newly renovated boardroom at our Girl Scout headquarters in Banilad. Details of this in my bystandering next week.

In closing, last Sunday was Trinity Sunday, yesterday was the Feast of St. Joan of Arc and today is the Feast of the Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary. This religious holiday celebrates Mary’s visiting of her elderly cousin, Elizabeth, then six months pregnant with St. John the Baptist, to take care of Elizabeth over and above Mary’s own desires and needs.

Till next week then. As usual, may God continue to bless us, one and all!