Senator Bong Bong Marcos answers questions during the PANDESAL FORUM held at the Kamuning Baker Café last October 7, 2015. Photo by Chris Lucas

Written and photographed

By Chris Lucas

“I think a wide spread scholarship program that rewards those under-privileged but deserving students and gives them an opportunity to actually study what they want to take their scholastic career as far as possible. That is something that we do not have now and that is something that we have to reinstitute. The only way to do that is for the government to take that on, to adopt the policy of widespread education at all levels,” said Vice Presidential candidate Senator Bong Bong Marcos.

He made the statement during the PANDESAL FORUM at the Kamuning Bakery Café last October 7, 2015. While the forum was a few months back, it was able to shed some light into the programs and intentions of the candidate who is now leading the Vice Presidential race.

Education is the key to recovery for these children, the recipients of the classrooms constructed for San Jose Central School in Tacloban- From Red Cross chapters in Phil, China and HK. Photo taken last February 10, 2014 by Jude Bautista.

The newly organized forum has hosted several Presidential and Vice presidential candidates including Senators Grace Poe, Chiz Escudero and Alan Peter Cayetano. The Kamuning Bakery Café has been known for its pugon style bread the past 76 years, hence the name: PANDESAL FORUM.

Tina Arceo-Dumlao Business Features Editor of the Philippine Daily Inquirer during the PANDESAL FORUM held at the Kamuning Baker Café last October 7, 2015. Photo by Chris Lucas

Panelists include: Tina Arceo-Dumlao-Business Features Editor of the Philippine Daily Inquirer, Doctor Cynthia Vidad- Principal of the oldest public school in Quezon City- Quezon City High School and Ms. Gina Rosena – Principal of Flora Ylagan High School in Quezon City.   Members of the media were also able to ask questions to Senator Bong Bong.

Prioritizing Education

The question on bringing a more widespread scholarship program was asked by Principal Gina Rosena who proudly proclaimed that she was a ‘Marcos Scholar’. This was a program from the days of the late President Ferdinand Marcos. She asked, “Ako po ay isang produkto noong study plan ni former President Marcos. Ang tanong ko po , dahil ma e-elect kayo na Vice President, paano po natin maiipagpapatuloy ito upang mas marami po ang makikinabang na kagaya ko noon na walang kakayahan makapag-aral sa kung hindi dahil doon?”

Principal Gina Rosena of Flora Ylagan High School said she was a ‘Marcos Scholar’ during the PANDESAL FORUM held at the Kamuning Baker Café last October 7, 2015. Photo by Chris Lucas

The cause of poor education according to Bong Bong is a failure of the current adminitration’s policies, “Ang problema kasi, na wala na iyong polisiya ng pamahalaan na magkaroon ng malawak na scholarship plan kagaya ng nabanggit ninyo. Hanggang ngayon marami tayong nakikita, marami tayong na kilala na tinatawag na “Marcos Scholarship”, “Marcos Scholar”. Iyon ay dahil kailangan na magbago ang polisiya at saka pagka-prayoridad ng ating pamahalaan sa tungkol sa edukasyon. We must do much, much, better. I remember in the past, we talked about a 98% literacy rate in the Philippines. We talked about the highest literacy rate in Asia. All of the beginnings of the OFW was because our people, our workers were very well-trained. We do not have that kind of policy right now. We do not have and over a national policy where we are going to focus on education. And we are going to focus on certain types of education that are going to be most useful for our countrymen. I think that is something that we have to return to.”

Senator Bong Bong Marcos answers questions during the PANDESAL FORUM held at the Kamuning Baker Café last October 7, 2015. Photo by Chris Lucas

Stopgap measures are not good enough according to Bong bong, “We do not have an educational policy per se for that matter, we only have these, mapapasulpot-sulpot na mga sasabihin, mag-tatayo tayo ng classroom, magkakaroon tayo ng K to 12, pero after the announcement, wala ng nangyari. Kaya’t kailangan nating talagang gawing totoo ang ating polisiya para sa edukasyon para maibalik natin. Lalo na ngayon, globalization na ang labanan, ang competition is in the global market. We have to bring our people to that same level. Never mind the, not only the OFW’s, but even the locals because the product of their work must be of equal quality or better than that of our foreign competition. And that is something that we are not addressing properly.”

Education is the key to recovery for these children, the recipients of the classrooms constructed for San Jose Central School in Tacloban- From Red Cross chapters in Phil, China and HK. Photo taken last February 10, 2014 by Jude Bautista.

Skilled workers through non diploma programs should also be given more emphasis added Bong Bong, “ Pati yung both diploma and non-diploma courses, both specific to our workers who are abroad and those who are staying here and as a general policy that our young people, their good quality of education cannot be, hindi lang natin iniiwan sa tertiary at hindi natin iniiwan lang sa mga non-diploma kung hindi mula sa umpisa, ay kailangan ay talagang iyan ang ating ginagawa na so that is something that we have not seen in our country for a long time. That’s something that we need if we are going to continue to progress, if we are going to be able to compete, and that is the key word that we have to be able to compete in the foreign labor market and in other markets abroad.”

K to 12

Dr. Cynthia Vidad brought up the hot topic of Kto 12: “I think you know very well that we are into the K to 12, and soon in 2016 we are having elections. If elected, how would you address the problems in K to 12, especially in the public sector?”

Education is the key to recovery for these children, the recipients of the classrooms constructed for San Jose Central School in Tacloban- From Red Cross chapters in Phil, China and HK. Photo taken last February 10, 2014 by Jude Bautista.

For Bong bong education is the most important service government should provide, “Education I think is where we have fallen behind. We have not been addressing the quality of the teaching, of course the number of school buildings, the quality of the supplies that we are providing our students. But also what seems to be lacking is a support system that we need to have in place for our teachers. At the heart of it, the educational system depends upon our teachers. The quality of our teachers is the quality of our students. In my view, education is the most important and the most valuable service that government should provide to our young people especially to the country. So in that specific area of the K to 12, sa palagay ko ay marami pa tayong kailangang pag-isipan ng mabuti kung paano ang pag-implementa ng K to 12.”

Senator Bong Bong Marcos answers questions during the PANDESAL FORUM held at the Kamuning Baker Café last October 7, 2015. Photo by Chris Lucas

Backlog in Classrooms

Bong bong bared a disparity between the Department of Education estimate and the current need for classrooms to accomodate the higher student population, “The K to 12 implementation has become a big problem. Because sa ngayon, although we hear from the DepEd, that we have built all the necessary classrooms and wala na tayong pagkukulang. Ang katotohanan diyan is that we do not have enough. From 2010 to 2015, biglang lumaki ang ating student population at malaki ang pagkukulang natin pati sa classroom. Marami tayong na ririnig na mga issue tungkol nga sa mga school supplies, sa mga libro na the quality of the material is not what it should be. All of those things still need to be attended to. In terms of K to 12 again, not one classroom for K to 12 has yet been built. Not one. I cannot see how we are going to do full implementation. So the K to 12 perhaps is a good idea but unfortunately we have come across the same problem. Not only in education but in other aspects of this government where implementation falls way behind the promises and the pronouncements that have been made. Unfortunately this has been the same situation with the K to 12 implementation.”

On its 10th year, #GoNegosyo is mounting the Go Negosyo Talks: Meet the Vice Presidentiables. This will give a chance for the entrepreneurs community and key enablers to meet the Vice Presidentiable candidates who will share their vision and platform for the country, particularly on economic and entrepreneurship development.
The forum will be covered exclusively by TV5, in partnership with PLDT SME Nation, Smart Communications, Sta Elena Construction and Development Corporation and RFM Corporation.
Entrepreneurs who wish to join may contact (02) 637-9229 or visit http://www.gonegosyo.net

Senator Bong Bong Marcos answers questions during the PANDESAL FORUM held at the Kamuning Baker Café last October 7, 2015. Photo by Chris Lucas

Written and photographed

By Chris Lucas

“As we always say, the Presidency even the Vice-Presidency for that matter, is a question of destiny. We do all that we can, to hopefully gain some kind of an advantage when it comes to the elections. But destiny will tell you what to do. I believe that it is the voice of wisdom that I hear when I speak up. I would like to continue to be in public service and I think I can do a great deal as a Vice-President”, said Senator Bong Bong Marcos.

He made the statement during the PANDESAL FORUM at the Kamuning Bakery Café last October 7, 2015. While the forum was a few months back, it was able to shed some light into the programs and intentions of the candidate who is now sharing the lead with Senator Chiz Escudero in the VP race. The most recent results from Pulse Asia has Bong Bong edging out Chiz – 26% vs 25%. Escudero has fallen 3 points from his previous 28%. Lenny Robredo is a distant 3^rd at 21%.

Wilson Lee Flores gives a pack of fresh pugon-baked pandesal as a goodluck token to Sen. Bong bong Marcos. Photo by Chris Lucas

Phil Star columnist Wilson Lee Flores was the organizer of the forum and gave his own endorsement of Bong bong, “We’re very fortunate to have the Senator here. I think he is the most popular and the most interesting and the most experienced of all the Vice-Presidential candidates. Senator Bongbong Marcos has the most experience among all: Twenty-five years in public service, in government, former three-term outstanding Governor of Ilocos Norte, former Vice-Governor, former Congressman and many others.”

The newly organized forum has hosted several Presidential and vice presidential candidates including Senators Grace Poe, Chiz Escudero and Alan Peter Cayetano. The Kamuning Bakery Café has been known for its pugon style bread the past 76 years, hence the name: PANDESAL FORUM.

Panelists include: Tina Arceo-Dumlao-Business Features Editor of the Philippine Daily Inquirer, Doctor Cynthia Vidad- Principal of the oldest public school in Quezon City- Quezon City High School and Ms. Gina Rosena – Principal of Flora Ylagan High School in Quezon City.   Members of the media were also able to ask questions to Senator Bong Bong.

Senator Bong Bong Marcos; the PANDESAL FORUM held at the Kamuning Baker Café last October 7, 2015. Photo by Chris Lucas

On VP Binay, Duterte

One of the early questions for him was about the invite of VP Binay to be a running mate. His response was simple and clear that ‘political divide’ between them could not be breached, “When you talk about this kind of arrangement, you’re not talking about yourself as an individual, you’re talking about your camp, your group, your supporters. However you want to describe it the political divide was a little too wide, for us to be able to breach in every level.”

The forum was held in October 2015, when Davao Mayor Rodrigo Duterte was making a ball faced lie to practically all media outlets saying he had no intention of running as president. The duplicity of Duterte extended to Senator Bong bong who considered him a friend. IF he can lie that much to a Senator and the public about something as important as his candidacy, how can anyone believe him about anything else? Looking back on it we see how Mayor Duterte manipulated media into giving him more print space, more airtime, just speculating on his candidacy.

Bong bong said of Duterte, “Mayor Duterte and I have been friends for a long time and I talk to him very regularly and frequently. Pag-naguusap kami tinatanong ko siya, ano ba talaga ang gusto mong gawin. Sinasabi niya, “Ay hindi ako tatakbo!” Ano pang iisipin ko kung hindi iyon ang kanyang gagawin. All of that but I suppose when we talk about getting it from the horse’s mouth, ito na iyon dahil siya na mismo nagsasabi. So kailangan kong paniwalaan iyong kanyang sinasabi. So I’m proceeding on that basis. What Mayor Duterte has told me personally, what the people close to him have told me, is that he will not run. He may change his mind of course that’s a distinct possibility. So I try to take all of the news, lahat itong mga haka-haka, I always try to take it with a grain of salt and just have a plan of my own and proceed on that basis.”

Senator Bong Bong Marcos answers questions during the PANDESAL FORUM held at the Kamuning Baker Café last October 7, 2015. Photo by Chris Lucas

Sincerity

The proof for his sincerity according to him is that he could have chosen an easier life as a private businessman, “Am I sincere in helping the country? If I am not sincere in helping the country, I would not have gone into politics at all. My history is well known to everyone, and when I was a younger, umiiwas ako sa pulitika. Lahat ng puwede kong gawin para umiwas sa pulitika, ginawa ko. Pero ganyan ang buhay. Hindi mo masasabi kung saan ka dadalhin, and life brought me back to the life of politics. That’s why here I am.”

A life of service is the traditon that he learned from his parents, “Kahit naman sino masasabi ay hindi naman madali ang buhay na pulitiko at bakit pa titiisin iyon ay dahil ang turo sa amin, ang aming pagkakaalam, kami ay nandito upang magsilbi. That has always been the culture in my family, that has always been our understanding, that we are here to serve and that is the continuing motivation that I have and I continue to think that way.”

Senator Bong Bong Marcos enjoys a pandesal fresh from brick oven of Kamuning Bakery Café. Photo by Chris Lucas

For him there is a need to change culture in politics, “I might be naïve, but maybe it is time to turn to that kind of very fundamental understanding of why we are in politics. Why we run for political office. And that is not because we want to do better for ourselves. Madaling magkaroon ng maginhawa na buhay, wala ng gulo. No more uncertainty. But why do we continue to do this? Because in my heart of hearts, I truly believe, that I was put on this earth to serve, to be a public servant. That’s what I will continue to do until the day that I die. That is the reason for my existence in my belief and that is why I am doing all of this.”

Current Problems

The senator was also asked about the human rights cases filed against his father. To this he said, “Many cases have been brought to court not only here but in the United States. But if you talk to people they are not concerned about that. Filipinos are concerned about their lives today. We want answers: why are there drugs in our streets. Why is the crime rate going up at an alarming rate? Why is our educational sector miserable? Why is the distribution of wealth not happening, why are our government not doing anything about it? Why is there no infrastructure development? Why is there no agricultural development? This is what people are worried about, and that’s what I will address.”

Senator Bong Bong Marcos answers questions during the PANDESAL FORUM held at the Kamuning Baker Café last October 7, 2015. Photo by Chris Lucas

Pro Active Vice President

When asked about the limited role of the Vice President, he believed he would be able to do more with the position, “I think it really is up to the person in that position. Ang traditional is ibinibigay nga yung housing, then you become a Cabinet member. Sa palagay ko kahit hindi kayo magkapartido ng Pangulo ay marami ka pa ring magagawa. And I think just speaking out on issues, just studying the issues, just talking to people, and having advocacies that makes sense to the people ay malaking bagay na yun. And again, you can effect change from within, you can effect change from within the Executive Department, and you can also take initatives. I think yung sinasabi nga na spare tire, palagay ko noon totoo yun dahil ang Vice President ay nandun para kung sakaling may mangyari sa Pangulo. They are there to take their place. But with the change in our rules right now I don’t think that that applies anymore. I believe that it has become a more important position than it used to be and sa palagay ko marami pa ring magagawa ang isang Bise para makatulong sa bansa.”

On its 10th year, #GoNegosyo is mounting the Go Negosyo Talks: Meet the Vice Presidentiables. This will give a chance for the entrepreneurs community and key enablers to meet the Vice Presidentiable candidates who will share their vision and platform for the country, particularly on economic and entrepreneurship development.
The forum will be covered exclusively by TV5, in partnership with PLDT SME Nation, Smart Communications, Sta Elena Construction and Development Corporation and RFM Corporation.
Entrepreneurs who wish to join may contact (02) 637-9229 or visit http://www.gonegosyo.net