"Dry Rub" notes

"Dry Rub" notes

(Or all after seeing the event at Cubao Expo's 

Pablo Art Gallery)

The sound of techno and a variety of remixes blares aloud as the people enjoys drinking beer, eating hotdogs and barbecue, having chitchat, if not seeing the strange paintings last saturday at Cubao Expo.

As the exhibition, entitled "Dry Rub", showcases artworks in commemoration of Pablo Art Gallery's 10th year Anniversary. Most of the artworks featured in that event are made by well known artists from the alternative scene like Maria Cruz, Mark Salvatus, and the Punk legend Romeo Lee.

And like nay other exhibition this person econountered (like Vitamin Shit a moth ago), this person finds it amazing to see those works in which most likely to describe as "anti-norm", "deviant", "morbid", or even "surreal" given its appearance. Some of which bear titles like "Sex is Easy, Love is Hard" that is being written in one of the paintings.

However, one of the artworks that made this person thinks about a mish mash of real and imaginary figures reflecting those of popular culture is made out of a souvenir from Hong Kong. This person may not know about the maker behind the said work, but that person had turned that souvenir into an artwork with all the paintings and pasted images featured such as cartoon characters, a figure of a person from a familiar restaurant, and lastly: King Kong climbing over one of Hong Kong's skyscrapers.

Another artwork did also captures this person's imagination through this banner. At first, it may look upon as a typical banner coming from a group of Black Nazarene devotees, with all the Maroon and Golden Yellow colour featured, only to found out a snake creeping over Jesus Christ's crown of thorns and a third eye on the cheek. Some people would say that it is controversial to feature as it reminds of a work in which made fanatics of a particular faith gone mad after seeing religious figures as part of pop art. But realistically speaking, it did reflects about the fatalism in which most Filipinos turned gone wrong such as those seeing them praying and at the same time gossiping. 

There are other artworks that somehow find it "commercial" to some, yet from the makers it somehow reflects what most people seen today. The works of Romeo Lee makes a throwback on this person's behalf through one of his writeups about him. As the artsy crowd seemingly gone 'serious' in engaging, be it those of making calligraphy, poetry, to those of going to art galleries and meeting with some acquaintances, this person would say that some can really become serious if most are being driven by the trend to "engage in art", most of which are made to impress yet far from the works be it from the well known to the unfamiliar that only few would afford to amaze. 

Well, admittingly speaking, out of curiousity and perhaps looking for an idea enough to create, this person entices to enter and see those good works, meet some personages besides Romeo Lee, and enjoy cold beer while seeing people chatting and typing this writeup. The sound continues to blare as the artsy crowd continues to enter and look at the artworks, if not a reunion with the organisers, artists, and friends alike in that commemorative occasion. 

I came here for the soup, not for the poems

I came here for the soup, not for the poems

I came here for the soup, not for the poems,

Despite seeing it well known for the events,

The youth tries to show;

That they vent their poems,

Slam their thoughts,

Vent their rage,

All because of lost loves and failed hopes;

Their messages often quite true to hear,

Although most are deemed whinings,

Most chose to keep out of fear;

Followed by the sound of ukeleles,

If not from the machine controlled by the disk jockeys,

Followed by beverages,

From San Miguel Light to Fred's own Pina colada,

If not the Korean instant noodles,

Unless they have the bucks for pesto at Bellini's,

All for the sake of new if not rekindling long lost friendships.

But still, I came for the soup and the toasted bread,

That costs for a hundred and twenty pesos 

Enough to satisfy my hunger as well as for the haggardness,

Caused by yesterday's sleeplessness. 

With the fusion of tomato and oregano,

And the toasted bread with Parmagiano Reggiano,

Trying to ease the stress,

Alongside coffee and stresstabs,

Listening to the sound quite 90s like through the DJ's playing,

Yet remixed with all the beats and rythms,

Followed by noises from friends and acquaintances;

Well, nevermind about them,

As I tried to satisfy,

From eating the soup,

And of the toasted bread,

As well as the coffee,

Trying to ease my head.

And as I go home,

Hope not to hear the disses,

From the owner of the house,

Just because of this. 

"Three months of regret"

"Three months of regret"

September 11, early afternoon

Three years ago, comes months of gloom

All started with a smile yet it end in despair

All started with promises empty handed to spare

You told about love comes with holding hands

Of calling cute names easy enough to understand

Good to remember those times yet gloom creeps at same time

Through the lies sugarcoated easy handed with tequila and lime

True that my heart seeks for that word called love

That through you perhaps would bring me to above

With all the sweet talks and sugarcoated messages

Whose inside are plain emptyhanded promises

Yes, three years of illusion and emptiness

Taking four thousand five hundred paving way to madness 

Over this person, yes, over him 

Felt depressed as it seems

She did not come on the days deemed remarkable

Be it his birthday or anything enjoyable

Except those of drinking sprees with friends and acquaintances

Yet in reading twitter he sought contradicting messages

Making me a fool with all its words

Far from the smiles and enjoys

Be it those of flowing beer and laughters

With I trying to answer hypothetical questions

That somehow conclude that anything is a fraud

Of making mess in those three months of feigning hope

True to say words like regret and remorse

Besides arguments at home and out

That on December 11 of that same year

Saidth a feigning greet far from a true cheer

Only to hear no we aren't we

Enough of this charade, all is not true to me!

Had enough of tears if not spending for waste

For the fact that those times as meaningless to add inside baggage

Had enough to hear arguments if not foolishness

Guised in times all was but pseudohappiness

It can't be called hopeful but instead a ruin

That despite moving on scars, nightmares makes head spinning

Yes, cannot deny those realities and regrets

Inconvient, still trying to forget

The skies will be red all because of you

Because of the times bringing ruin instead of hope

The gods casts hatred that lies upon you

As if your fate is in the tree, and in its branch lies a rope

You are trying to forget but for sure it haunts

The conscience of someone who once afforded to say words like love

But no! What kind of love that made me a fool

How cruel art you that made mistake on me too!

I regret those times and now I pass

But the more of denials still the issue will last

Yes, it is a curse till heavens broke down

Till thunder thrusts in your heart till paid the debts I owe you in your crown.

Tradition over "tradition"

Tradition over "tradition"

Or Ramblings after seeing anything rootless yet "tolerated"

And those that are relevant yet disregarded if not censored

Some people wanted to revive traditions. But what kind of tradition has to be emphasised? Is it the revolutionary traditions emanating from works of asserting an ideal or the "traditions" in which the system has trying to keep for generations? It may deemed confusing, especially that these two are oftentimes similar yet different in its interpretation when it comes to certain terms and acts, be it those of change or for means to keep in order.  And that behind every painting, sculpture, music, to those of protest action, decree lies a tradition that emphasises not just making a new yet rooted order, but a means to grow and bear fruit, and that fruit is capable of bringing change in which the system tries to control its growth if not nipping it off from the bud.

Sounds radical isn't it? That in pursuit of reclaiming traditions requires asserting an ideal different from those of the system's, and making it closer to the people in order to understand its relevance, particularly those of the realities in which the system chose to disregard if not belittle such inconvent existence. That to those who afforded to say that art, be it in its various forms like painting, sculpture, literature, cinema, or even new and mixed media as "for the people" are trying to find the relevance of, if not putting a desire for having a tradition different from what is regularly shown that is diluted, since they wanted an adulterated one that for sure lies inconveniences on the system's behalf, knowing that in it harms their interests as such. 

If not mistaken, most of the art that reflects realities are likely to be branded as "indie", of being praised by international critics and academicians, hidden beneath the comedic skits and language, or even banned simply because of its incorrect message according to censors that made some resorting to some dilutions. Yet despite the remarks, people afforded to appreciate knowing that it afforded to show what goes behind what the system tries to show on. That from the novels like Ibong Mandaragit, Gapô, and Sky Rose; Movies like Dukot, Orapronobis, Bayan Ko Kapit sa Patalim, Manila by Night, Himala, Sakay, Jose Rizal, Heneral Luna, Sigwa, Gagay Prinsesa ng Brownout; to the Artworks of Fernando Amorsolo, Victorio Edades, and Orlando Castillo, these works did reflect the inconvenient reality ranging from frequent brownouts, enforced disappearances, poverty and all the inconvenient likes, if not a desire for change idealised by some, if not most.

And these desires are imbued by traditions. These can be describe as a tradition of hope, a tradition of justice, or even a tradition of liberation in a way those who struggled for it really cherished those traditions for decades, if not centuries. Call it misunderstood patriotism or misunderstood idea of virtue and enlightenment, but that tradition has been watered by the blood of those who really fought and died for it, and being immoralised by the works of well-known individuals whose imagination was based from such truths. Of what are the artworks, paperworks, and even protests if not because of that tradition? Not just the realities that drives them to be aware and roll their sleeves to continue a centuries-old epic. If not mistaken, even the works of Balagtas has almost invoke the aspirations of the PhilHellenes in which Lord Byron has participated with all its passages reflecting those of justice and freedom if not those of love, that the sculptures of Tolentino has invoked as same as Arno Bekker's in showing a new being full of vigour and youth; call it misunderstood given their expressions far from the typical, but compared to what is regularly shown that is watered-down theirs is rich and full, bittersweet if it tasted or felt, yet satisfying those aspirations knowing that there lies the truth and it needs justice through its fulfillment.

As time goes by, the tradition that is revolutionary has anything to do with putting justice, equity, freedom over those of the system's, in a country where expressing beyond parameters, of seeking truth from facts is almost being abhorred while tolerating those of consumption and apathy all for chrissakes, the word tradition or revolution is limited to those of rhetorics and showcases featured for tourists if not for children studying culture for higher grades. But in reality, the modern society everyone enjoys is a distorted version of what the past aspired for: that they lean towards the illusions the "civilisation" has offered than the spirit what comes from its own has provided. For sure detractors would afford to say "then how come the revolutionary tradition has also carries a greater strain from the west?" But at least, that strain tries to make it as its own, particularly those of the virtues it tries to be shown. The west did tried to cultivate better things same as those from the east, but, did the west really tried to adhere on their messages? Of being serious in its so-called benevolence? Right was Julius Evola that the west created everying contrarian in its actually existing form, far from its messages being babbled for generations:

“America ... has created a 'civilization' that represents an exact contradiction of the ancient European tradition. It has introduced the religion of praxis and productivity; it has put the quest for profit, great industrial production, and mechanical, visible, and quantitative achievements over any other interest. It has generated a soulless greatness of a purely technological and collective nature, lacking any background of transcendence, inner light, and true spirituality. America has [built a society where] man becomes a mere instrument of production and material productivity within a conformist social conglomerate.”

Sorry to quote Evola, but as their illusion continues to creep, of diluting peoples aspirations to make their interest predominate, isn't it obvious that their quest is really existing true than their messages? This person may have quoted the example of the west, of America and other "developed countries" preying on those of the developing, that somehow followed suit by its respective vassals whom consistent in using their messages, trying to make it popular by using the native tounge and its simplistic form enough to understand; in order to evade everyone from seeking the truth, of making everyone conform than to oppose, the shit that has been made from then till the present. 

Admittingly speaking, no wonder why the revolt has been remain unfinished, that those who are aware afforded to revolt against the bullshits the system has turned into "traditions" particularly those of putting self-interest above the law. 

After all, the rule of law has becoming a codified rule of men, particularly those who think that they can evade the truth by distrorting or diluting just to keep their "tradition".

Notes after "General Articulo Uno"

Notes after "General Articulo Uno"

a movie rambing-review of Jerrold Tarog's movie 

"Heneral Luna"

By Lualhati Madlangawa Guererro

Not all patriots are patriotic, for some are just treating patriotism a veneer for their interests. Only few really adhere to patriotism and its ideals, most of them  were killed by war or even badly executed, one of them was Antonio Luna, known as General Articulo Uno, who was immortalised in the latest film made by Jerrold Tarog, simply entited as: Heneral Luna. 

In watching Heneral Luna at Cubao's Gateway Mall, it seems that besides the good cinematography, the expressions, and the emphasis on the human side of its characters especially those of Antonio Luna (played by John Arcilla) according to most film critics, it seems that it shows that no matter how it romatisises (or fictionalises) some, if not most historically accurate events (as those of Leonidas and his 300 Spartans) it shows still shows the reality of how "patriots" of the past are actually not even "patriotic" but fellow travellers who at the same time trying to keep their interests and be romanticised so as to reflect the scenes behind his eventual demise. Anyways, according to the "Philippine Entertainment Portal", it says: 

"Historical biopics are tricky. You must check and countercheck facts since this is no fiction. It is as real as it gets. When Artikulo Uno came up with Heneral Luna, a biopic on Antonio Luna, the task was far from easy."

Quite tricky indeed, especially to make deified characters human, and making scenes related to actual events "true" to become true.

Obviously, most of the scenes shows the human side of every hero, of every patriot. That behind their deified names are individuals having motives, driven whether by patriotism, personal interest, opportunism, or anything what goes in the early days of the republic. That behind their heroism were those venting rage such as the well-known General who was known for bad temper that sometimes resulting on fisticuffs, to a head of state who was feigning innocence as he surrounded by opportunists and self-seeking bureaucrats.
If not mistaken, in a scene wherein Antonio Luna and Felipe Buencamino sr. having fistfight in the middle of a cabinet meeting shows how patriotism and personal interests are worth deemed contradicting especially from men debating about defending country at all costs or having a compromise with the occupiers all for the sake of peace. And in it, like all other related events during those periods, also somehow brought the idea of an American soldier who also worked as General Otis's assistant, concluding that most Filipino "officials" during those times were those of businessmen and can be bought. "Divide and Conquer," became Otis's conclusion. Scenes bearing warring contradictions would eventually becoming basis for his death, be it because of his stern discipline, of his seriousness in defending his homeland, or perhaps from those who trying to remove a stumbling block from their motives, be it compromise offered from the Americans, or perhaps selling the country at the expense of a possible cabinet seat. 

Again, right was Otis to say "Divide and Conquer" in describing those events, with Luna telling which was, or even is important: "Their interests or the country?"

Too good to be true indeed in hearing Luna's incorrectness through his foul mouthed statements in a  middle of a cabinet meeting. Bureaucrats like Buencamino and Pedro Paterno (played by Leo Martinez) wanted compromise all for the sake of peace if not trying to keep their interests as it was in their pasts collaborating with Spain, while Generals like Tomas Mascardo (played by Lorenz Martinez) disregarded chain of command in favour of regionalist loyalties besides those of his hidden envy. Aguinaldo (played by Mon Confiado), in feigning innocence, expressed "respects" over the Europe-bred General, yet also carries some envy knowing that his leadership in the armed forces may possibly make him a threat to his leadership. No wonder in his assassination he and his offials afforded to bury him wih honours, while his mother afforded to say "was the general alive?" after the Kawit guards shot and hacked him madly deeply, followed by a scene reminiscent of Juan Luna's Spoliarium wherein some Kawit guards dragging the corpses of Luna and his subordinate, Paco Roman (played by Joem Bascon) with spectators crying if not expressing fear.

But besides those the fisticuffs, of bad temper, treacheries, the feigning innocence of Emilio Aguinaldo, and envies coming from Tomas Mascardo, the movie also involves humor, especially those of Archie Alemannia's role of Eduardo Rusca who loves to eat, as well as Luna himself who tired speaking English that made him instruct Rusca and Roman to arrest a British official working for the Manila-Dagupan railway. In the railway office, Rusca loves to munch pastries and tea that made Roman telling him that the "ensaymada" fits together with the tea. 

But to sum it all, the movie is quite amazing though the scenes featured, enough to cultivate a lesson such as country above self. That in every foul mouthed or inconveniently straightforward statment coming from the General, he wanted to put justice by urging people to unite, to roll their sleeves whether to defend their stations or to make deep trenches, that in the pain of death he and his loyal men knows that history will absolve him from his mistakes, such as for not heeding the call of struggle against Spaniards like those of Rizal with all the illusions of reform and perhaps even reconciliation with the oppressors. It is also true that in the movie, Luna simply stated that the greater enemy is not those of the invading Americans, but themselves as Filipinos putting self-interest above the nation. Buencamino, Paterno may tried to insist that they did good things to the country, but come to think of this: isn't it the words played by traditional politicians trying to keep firm in their interests? Paterno was the man behind the BiaknaBato agreement, Buencamino toyed the idea of assimilation that as if can bring peace, while Luna? The once reformist eventually recognised the need to struggle, to resist in pursuit of a greater goal such as Independence, no matter how arduous the path it was, or even is. 

And also to think that no wonder why the aspirations of the past remain unrealised regardless of the speech, the paper, the action that are mostly made for appeasement than a commitment. Some of the General's plans were taken too late by Aguinaldo and his men after his death, just because some, if not most who are afforded to rally under the flag, yet reluctant to obey Luna as commanding General were just hardy than intelligent thinking that in an independent nation can able to face the enemy fairly than heed what the General said such as those of Guerilla Warfare, or even a redoubt that can possibly change the events related to the Philippine-American war. "The Philippines has lost its General", as what the Americans said after his death. 

Anyways, those times involved debates, fisticuffs, and plans taken too late. Worse, having leaders who failed to rein their balls by their brains. Right was Tarog to create a movie, in showing the ones behind the struggle as simply men, and not deified beings. 

But in fairness, the artists behind the movie really made characters human than illustrous beings, or deified heroes. John Arcilla with his personally grown moustache as well as the accurate description of the hero as a hot-tempered illustrado is one example. 

And admittingly speaking, the movie is more than a masterpiece, but a clarion call to seriously love the country above interest. 

Cast

John Arcilla as Gen. Antonio Luna

Mon Confiado as Pres. Emilio Aguinaldo

Paulo Avelino as Gen. Gregorio "Goyong" Del Pilar

Mylene Dizon as Isabel

Bing Pimentel as Doña Laureana Luna

Epi Quizon as Apolinario Mabini

Aaron Villaflor as Joven Hernando

Archie Alemania Capt. Eduardo Rusca

Joem Bascon as Col. Paco Roman

Alvin Anson as Gen. Jose Alejandrino

Nonie Buencamino as Felipe Buencamino

Alex Medina as Capt. Jose Bernal

Ronnie Lazaro as Lt. Garcia

Ketchup Eusebio as Capt. Janolino

Art Acuña as Col. Manuel Bernal

Leo Martinez as Pedro Paterno

Lorenz Martinez as Gen. Tomas Mascardo

Directed by:

Jerrold Tarog 

"A poem for the endangered Mountainfolk"

"A poem for the endangered Mountainfolk"

Source: National Council of Churches of the Philippines/Rappler

The sound of the rifle creates chaos over the tropical forests

Coming from those who speaks on behalf of order and interests

Its sound casts hell so are the hot bullets

That spattered blood and death over the folk who rose from their rests

These folks are innocents yet still blamed for their cause

For they opposed the devils trying to take down what they grown

That the land where their root crops is where the gold and copper lies

That made the monsters reply: surrender or take the price

Last time we hear the news of these folks left their villages

They still hear the threats reminiscent of long ago, blaming them for collective rage

That often resulted to deaths and be branded as rebels

In press releases if not articles by those who failed taking truth to tell

Last time we also hear the cops trying to barge their refuge till almosr night

Ordered by a self proclaimed deity who afforded to show "concern" on their plight

But no, what the folk see was far from her statements far from right

Besides calling them dirty, an unsightly blight

There are more news to hear about these suffering folk

From displacing from their villages, cops barging their refuge and now death out of their hopes

Just because of their land whose monsters ought to take

No wonder why revenge is the call by who afford to make

Where are the others who afforded to cry for endangered species and fallen trees?

Where were the others who afforded to post justice for refugees?

For they can't even afford to put their hearts on the news the concerned see

Of a folk from the tropical forests, like birds trying to break free.

Providing knowledge or fashioning them for export?

Providing knowledge or fashioning them for export?

(Notes on the K12 program
and the policy of using education for labour export)

The theme of this writeup, which tackles about the state of education for the Filipino, is more of assessment-criticism than an appraisal. It expresses the most vital issue in which people, be it the educator, the parent, as well as the student, could possibly consider such as how to make a program of education really more suitable for the Filipino student. That besides the problem on schoolhouse shortages, lack of benefits and salaries for teachers, dire need for textbooks and school materials, as well as high costs of education, lies a question in which this person would like to ask the system: that what kind of educational system in which the present system really tries to offer?

On the system's behalf, they really wanted to follow international standards as prescribed by outside agencies, with reasons ranging from adapting the needs of the global market to keeping up to date with its neighbours especially those of Southeast Asian nations. Practically speaking, they emphasise the former knowing that the country from past till present is in dire need of hard currency, and with an existing program such as urging workers to work abroad if not making a reserve army of labour for both local and international companies, the system has trying to make use the idea of it, including those of Education pegging it to the demands of local and international job market.

Apologetics would rather assert the importance of changing the orientation of Filipino education be it those favouring commercialisation, lax when it comes to the regulation over rising tuition and other fees, changing of the school calendar as well as the curriculum as what they perceive similar to those of its neighbouring countries. Since its passage few years ago, the K12 curriculum failed to resolve old issues if not aggravating it. 

To start it all, The K12 program requires children to undergo kindergaten, primary, and secondary education with the latter divided into four years of junior and two years of senior high school. Via RA 10533 it effectively replaced the old school program so is the curriculum leaning towards the demands of international labour market.

And particularly in senior high, there are four tracks of specialisation students may choose prior to college, namely: technical-vocational-livelihood, academic, sports, as well as arts and design. However, these tracks cannot be chose freely by the students and not all of these tracks aren't capable to be given by schools adapting the program. 

But according to the Education Department, 0.8% of the students in senior high afforded to take "arts and design" while 0.9 afforded to take the "sports" track. Meanwhile, 48.7%  of the students are gone into "technical-vocational and livelihood" and 49.7% are into "academic" track. However, most of the subjects under K12 are turning students into semiskilled workers, based on government policies that consists of cheap labour if not exporting laborers abroad in pursuit of hard currency such as housekeeping or plumbing demanded by countries like Saudi Arabia or HongKong. Quite awkward for a system trying to present itself progressive if to impose an educational policy pegged on the demands of the international labour market. And although it is good to hear that they want to emphasise technical-vocational education, a system that failed to stimulate production via a strong industrial foundation is all but mockery of it. Besides that, the educational policy itself isn't even based on a Filipino perspective but of a foreign one particularly from international moneylending institutions trying to change policies in exchange for financial aid, while the compradore-led private sector has also gain interest in pushing "reforms" that obviously trying to assert maintaining interests via education. Lucio Tan's University of the East has been one of the schools that offers K12 as part of their basic education program. 

The changing of academic calendar in some colleges and universities, one of the recent issues related to Philippine Education, tries to present itself as done in pursuit of better integration between neighbouring Southeast Asian nations, particularly those of research and development as well as access to foreign students wanting to study abroad, but most likely it has been pegged on the calendar emphasising those of the west, particularly the United States given the latter's "Trans Pacific Partnership Agreement" in which the system has willing to sign, parroting the idea of integration if not those of development in the education as well as trade and commercial sector. 

However, did K12 resolve the problem on the lack of classrooms and other issues related to Philippine education? In an article from the Manila Bulletin, the Alliance of Concerned Teachers reminded the Education Department about the shortage of classrooms, teachers, as well as criticising programs particularly the "voucher system" which is "intended" for needy students:

"Despite DepEd’s earlier pronouncements on addressing shortages in public schools, ACT claimed that there is a shortage of 57,167 teachers since there were 4,019 items unfilled in 2014.

The country’s public schools, ACT alleged, is still short of 112, 942 classrooms since the 59, 671 budgeted classrooms were not built by DepEd in 2014. The group added that 4,281 schools still have no water supply because of the failure to implement 16,920 water supply projects last year.

ACT added that 10,514 schools still have no electric service and at least 23,928,335 textbooks and modules are still needed. Only 12,775, 823 of that number were supposed to be delivered last school year.

The group also lambasted DepEd for failing to deliver 34,935 complete science and mathematics equipment and 10,383 ICT packages in 2014. ACT also alleged that 395 internet connectivity projects were also not implemented.

ACT also criticized projects like the Government Assistance for Students and Teachers in the Private Education (GASTPE) and Education Voucher System (EVS). Valbuena said that for 2014 and 2015, a total P15,784,343,000 was allocated for the said programs benefiting mostly the owners of private elementary and secondary schools. “This amount could have constructed 31,569 classrooms and could have helped in addressing the perennial shortage of classrooms in the public schools,” he added."

Actually, that problem stated by ACT is one of the issues the Education Department trying to resolve yet left unaddressed and leaving it to the private sector for the sake of "less spending." The voucher system for instance, it intends to abandon the government responsibility in giving public education for the youth and therefore paving way to commercialisation and its eventual privatisation by compradore interests. The government may also argue that it increased the budget for basic education but the funding remains way low in the 6% of the GDP under UN standard.
But as a matter of fact the increase in budget that the government is boasting is just for the additional two years under BS Aquino s K to 12 law. As seen in proposed voucher system, it is enraging that this budget is actually budget for private universities and colleges and to justify further the voucher system as government subsidy for private universities to cover for profit loss with its sinister rhetoric of "providing the needy students access to quality education" is insanity and injustice. Furthermore,  the long-standing problems especially about classroom shortages remain unaddressed, and at its worse,  the Education Department has not touched its P49-billion school building fund for this year despite the lack of classrooms in public schools throughout the country.

Besides those of school buildings, that program is deemed overspending given the high cost of expenses ranging from tuition, miscellaneous fees, food, transportation, and others enough for these students to survive campus life under K12, that even through those vouchers sponsored by the   Education Department it cannot resolve the problem. As according to Vencer Crisostomo, he said:

“DepEd’s vouchers will amount to only P8,750 to a maximum of P22,500. This will not cover all fees and expenses in private schools which cost around P35,000 to as high as P80,000, not to mention other expenses like transportation, food and miscellaneous costs,” 

Worse, will these students whom afforded to finish according to the course of their own choice can able to have employment? Even prior to K12 there are job mismatches given that most students are driven by the trend of courses that are "in demand" by the international job market and at the same time, its graduates whom are part of the trend are being left behind hence, unemployed or underemployed via companies engaging in outsourcing. And since K12 has been passed and put into action amidst criticism, does it resolve the issue of mismatches when it comes to jobs or perhaps aggravating it? Remember, millions of Filipinos remain unemployed if not underemployed via limted month or year contracts. Ironically, most of these Filipinos are finished college on the time their courses are in demand by countries looking for nurses, caregivers, or any other occupations companies abroad were in dire need of. 

But from an apologetic whose "optimism" disregards the clear and present issue of possible rising unemployment and underemployment rates, the program has anything to do with keeping with the demands of the country particularly the needs of the international job market (so it was in the past of compelling students to take in demand courses), if not babbling the idea of "nothing is wrong with studying technical-vocational work" for least it is "dignified"; and if so, then why not that apologetic clamour for industrialisation knowing that there is nothing wrong in having a dignified labour particularly from an educated one? Did that person opposed contractualisation as well as the labour export policy? And if not, then of what is education and development if it is not for the needs of the nation? If not mistaken, the Japanese did favour technical-vocational work as part of their curriculum but at the same time favour the study of their culture, the need for science, as well as others that made Japan capable of standing itself as a nation, coming from these same students who afforded to study both and freely take their professions to be after secondary level and before college; then how about the Philippines? Did K12 flourish the need to revisit Filipino culture as well as encouraging science? They even relegated science to Grade 3 if not mistaken unlike before that it was studied in Kindergarten, much more that they limit their choice to those of what the international labour market needs, via the "tracks" offered for senior high! 

Anyways, regardless of "good" or any justifications the system has insisted does not equate to greatness, especially in educating the youth in pursuit of both enhancing talent and national progress yet obviously not as it favours outside and other vested interests the system has invested to. With all its policies leaned towards the interests of profit seeking magnates that afforded to use education as alibis, it seems that instead of cultivating awareness about its surroundings, of a desire to really meet the demands of a developing country, it is more of sorting the youth into those who able to pay and reach greatness and those who destined for proletarianisation particularly the needs of labourers outside the country, with enough "knowledge" in which Guillaume Faye described as "keys". Sorry for the term "proletarianisation" but what the system did via its K12 program has nothing to do with resolving the issue on improving literacy rates and the desire to create graduates and future professionals, but it has anything to do with meeting the demands of workforces outside, and of course, it also means remittances in which that self-proclaimed "emerging country" really depends if not seasonal occupations including those of outsourcing in home-based companies.  

Hence, instead of having a 21st century feeling of having youth geared for the brain power sector like those of its neighbouring countries, of letting the young be imbued with critical thinking and ideas related to genuine national development as well as cultural renaissance, what the youth experienced via K12 is all but a recall of 19th century policies such as educating the needy youth till ripe for the labour force, of having "keys" enough to understand and obey alone than to think and seek truth from facts as the really learned ones do in other countries. K12 can be good on some other points as what the system and its apologetics insist such as improving Filipino education and gain relevance with the demands of the present, but to gear the objectives of K12 towards neoliberal demands for cheap labour is nothing but far from resolving illiteracy rates as well as the need to build a better nation. Of what is that educational policy if the real intention is to make semiskilled workers destined for the modern day slave trade? Most of these workers to be are rather destined to client countries whose jobs are both seasonal and contractual. And since the country has workers both existing and new from a present educational policy, then why not also a demand for industrialisation to accomodate the needs of these wokers to work in their home country instead of becoming guest workers working for remittances and pittances, as well as to utilise both material resources as well as brain power to create a strong, developed nation? Well, to paraphrase the statement "the school is made to conform" then maybe the state has made the school made to conform to the wishes of compradores trying to siphon funds before sending them into labour camps for exorbitant taxes and remittances. 

Practically wise, the youth has no choice but to "conform" to today's "norms and standards" and "study hard" as possible "in pursuit of gaining credentials" for good positions they wished for. But compared to before or even contrary to their idealistic intentions of the program, it carries neither "mens sana" nor "corpore sano" to become future members of the intelligentsia but instead instilling plain simple conformity to be a part of the labour force. Incorrectly speaking, the term "labour camps" and "modern slave trade" is appropriate for these youth, particularly those of working-class backgrounds as the system forced them, guised as recommending into labour intensive work in complexes both in their respective homeland as well as abroad, instead of pursuing what they really desire as future intellectuals tempered with good character.

Quite strange that in a country that needs brain power according to some apologetics, rather insist a policy that demands semiskilled workers in a way one has afforded to say that "there is nothing wrong in being a worker least it is dignified profession," True that there is nothing wrong being having a skilled worker working with dignity, but having an education system that has no perspective of building a nation but instead submitting to the wishes of international monetary capital in exchange for an educational policy pegged to labour exports, seems to create contradictions such as a desire for economic growth yet reluctant to the idea of self reliance much more of social enlightenment. Of what are creating workers without having strong industrial foundations? Of what is an education system if it can't cultivate critical thinking, as well as forging ideas leading to cultural and social renaissance? A developing country needs stronger foundations such as a strong industry and a populace having a capacity to harness mind and sinew to spearhead real and tangible developments different from those of the present order.