Solon: Sara’s book ‘Isang Kaibigan’ tainted with errors, not for kids

FILE PHOTO: Kabataan Party-list Rep. Raoul Manuel. INQUIRER FILES

MANILA, Philippines — A lawmaker has pointed out different errors in Vice President Sara Duterte’s children’s book “Isang Kaibigan,” saying that these inconsistencies would only contribute to the worsening education crisis in the country.

At the hearing of the House of Representatives’ committee on appropriations on Tuesday, Kabataan party-list Rep. Raoul Manuel focused his interpellations about the Office of the Vice President (OVP) proposed 2025 budget on Duterte’s book, as the Vice President refrained from giving direct answers to other questions.

When Duterte also did not name the editor of the book, Manuel then mentioned different points that should have been corrected before the book was released.

“Pero since ayaw pong ibigay yung name ng editor ng children’s book, ito kasi ‘yong point natin Madam chair.  The book contains many errors […] kasama po dyan dahon ng Banahaw, wala naman pong dahon ng Banahaw, baka anahaw po itinutukoy,” Manuel said.

(But since she does not want to give the name of the editor of the children’s book, this is our point, Madam chair.  The book contains many errors […] including this Banahaw, there is no leaf named Banahaw, maybe she was referring to anahaw.)

“‘Yong word na sila, dapat po sina, tapos ‘yong ‘walang awa’, dapat nga may hyphen po ‘yan.  Tapos Madam chair, nakalagay din ‘yong pugad daw ng kuwago ay nakapatong sa sanga.  Madam chair, sabi ng mga eksperto, ang owl’s nest, ay hindi po nakapatong sa sanga.  Either [nasa] butas po yan [ng] mga puno or nasa ilalim ng lupa,” he added.

(Then the word ‘sila’ should have been ‘sina’; then for ‘walang awa’, there should be a hyphen between.  It was also stated that owls create their nests atop tree branches.  But experts say an owl’s nest rests not on a tree branch, but on holes inside a tree or below the ground.)

Aside from these errors, Manuel also claimed that the book is not child-friendly, because attention should have been placed to visuals too.

Also, the lawmaker said that the book imposes on friendship, when friendship between people should take on a natural course.

“This book is not child-friendly as per our writers, kasi ‘pag children’s book, Madam chair, hindi lang ‘yong text ‘yong mahalaga, pati ‘yong visuals, Madam chair.  So ‘yong illustrations are not cohesive, parang ‘yong elements, pinatong lang sa background […] Also Madam Chair, sa content, nage-impose po siya na kung paano dapat umastang isang kaibigan, but for children’s books dapat hindi siya nag-i-impose ng anumang bagay sa bata,” Manuel said.

(This book is not child-friendly as per our writers, because for a children’s book, Madam Chair, it’s not only the text that is important, the visuals are essential too, Madam Chair.  So the illustrations are not cohesive, it seems the elements were just placed above a background […] Also Madam Chair, regarding the content, it imposes on how friendships should be made, but for children’s books there should be no impositions.)

“It should be fun, masaya lang dapat ‘yong bata na binabasa yung libro, So Madam Chair, this book na pinopropose, na pondohan […] this book, Madam Chair, will just contribute to the worsening of the learning crisis. Hindi po siya actually ay makabata,” he added.

(It should be fun, the child should feel happy reading the book.  So Madam Chair, this book being proposed, that asked to be funded […] this book, Madam Chair, will just contribute to the worsening of the learning crisis.  It’s not pro-child.)

At the tail end of Manuel’s interpellation, Duterte then quipped that the editor of the book is Manuel — having pointed out errors.

“The name of the editor of the book is Raoul Manuel.  It’s a joke Ma’am, you strike it out of the record if you want,” Duterte tells appropriations senior vice chair and Marikina 2nd District Rep. Stella Quimbo, who presided over the hearing.

Tensions were high during a huge part of the budget deliberations as Duterte refrained from replying directly to almost all questions — only saying that she either forgoes the opportunity to defend the budget in a question-and-answer format, or by insisting that they have already coordinated with the Commission on Audit regarding the notice of disallowance.

READ: VP Duterte wants Quimbo replaced as OVP budget hearing presider 

Due to this, ACT Teachers party-list Rep. France Castro likened Duterte to a squid who releases ink when under pressure — as the Vice President deflected questions related to her office’s CFs.

READ: Squid tactics? Castro scores VP Sara for deflecting secret fund issue

Duterte also had to be reminded several times to exercise decorum, with Quimbo calling out the Vice President for talking before she was recognized.  At one point in the hearing, Duterte also asked the committee chair — Ako Bicol party-list Rep. Elizaldy Co — to supervise over the hearing instead of Quimbo.