Honeyman: Kung hei fat choi!

Monday, January 23, 2012

TODAY is the beginning of the Year of the Dragon. We wish all readers a happy and prosperous Chinese New Year.

Education

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Mayor Leonardia pays tribute to the positive influence of the Chinese and Chinese-Filipino community on the local culture and attitudes, especially in business. We agree. We would also add the significant benefits of the Chinese contribution to the education sector. Tay Tung, Trinity and St John’s are, indisputably, amongst the best schools in Bacolod. In Iloilo, Peter Chan’s Iloilo Scholastic Academy is second to none.

We have had a seven year association with Tay Tung and have delighted in the progress our children have made. Initially, we were concerned about them having to learn Chinese. Our worries were unfounded. The friendly and helpful teachers made the learning experience enjoyable.

We are less relaxed about the development of the nation’s education policy. There is no national dialogue. Information is sparse and, on specifics, almost non-existent. A year or so ago, we were told about ‘K-12’. Due partly to the lack of detail the reaction was largely negative. This seems to have caused Education Sec Armin Luistro to refrain from further public pronouncements on the subject. As a result, we do not know what is happening and if something happens, when it will happen. For example, a student entering first year high school in June of this year will, all being well, graduate in April 2016 or 2017, or 2018? But which? No-one seems to know. Also, if the curriculum is enhanced in the amazing way hinted by DepEd., does this mean that there will be no need for some of our weaker tertiary education courses? We have heard nothing about the interaction between an enhanced secondary system and the tertiary sector. Is CHED involved in discussions on these issues? If so, please let us know.

By now, we would have expected our elected representatives to be more articulate. DepEd should not think that it can impose its suggested radical changes without Legislative Branch confirmation. Due to the Corona impeachment case, there is currently much thought given to the checks and balances associated with the three co-equal branches of government. With regard to education policy, we would expect substantial inputs from our representatives in the Legislative Branch. Executive Branch high-handedness on this vital issue must be resisted.

Octogenarians rule

The two stars in the Corona Impeachment trial are Senate President Enrile and lead defense attorney Cuevas. The performance of the prosecutors has been below expectations. The low spot was reached when the prosecutors failed to ask Clerk to the Supreme Court Atty Vidal whether she had copies of Corona’s Statements of Assets, Liabilities and Net Worth (SALN) in her possession. It was left to one of the Senator Judges, Franklin Drilon, to save the day.

This week, Kim Henares, BIR Commissioner is due to take the stand. Senate President Enrile has counseled the prosecution attorneys to be aware of the relevant sections of the Income Tax Code which provide a framework of what Henares can and cannot divulge. We trust that the Prosecution attorneys are better prepared this week than last. It was predominantly and unexpectedly the Prosecution not the Defense which has caused the slow rate of progress so far.

We all want Judicial independence. Impeaching Corona is a necessary first step to achieving this.

Banks and the judicial branch

Metrobank has never been my favorite bank. I find its staff to be below average in terms of courtesy and helpfulness. But I was surprised at Metrobank’s counter-affidavit to a lady customer’s complaint that she had been mugged in full view of the bank’s security guard in the car-park of the bank’s Silay Branch. The counter-affidavit apparently stated that the lady’s act in filing a complaint had besmirched the bank’s reputation and goodwill, hinting that the bank will also seek for damages.

We would like to see the Judicial Branch enhance its standing in the community by taking on organizations, such as banks, which like to be immune from serious complaints made by wronged clients. So we salute Silay City Regional Trial Court Judge Felipe Banzon for finding in favor of the lady who was robbed.

Correspondingly, we were disappointed that Washington Lou, a Bacolod businessman was not, apparently, able to get to first base in a US $5million dispute with Ing’s investment bank. Cases like these are in the public interest because they will show what actions banks may undertake, whether or not these actions are legal, and what precautions the public should take when encountering such financial institutions. In principle, we are on side with the Judicial Branch, but, overall, its current performance is unsatisfactory. We look to the Senate to help the Judicial Branch become a genuinely co-equal branch of government.

Corona

It is not too late for CJ Corona to consider the words of American poet and essayist, Henry David Thoreau (1817-1862):

‘In accumulating property for ourselves or our posterity, in founding a family or a state or acquiring fame even, we are mortal; but in dealing with truth we are immortal, and need fear no change nor accident.’