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Bad reputation
Unfortunately, Zubiri confessed, Congress is not in a position to supply the inspiring leadership. He said it was a bad time to be a politician because of the "bad reputation congressmen are getting nowadays."
He said that for single congressmen like him, introducing themselves as politicians to prospective partners is worse than admitting to be a son of terror leader Osama Bin Laden.
During the open forum, Bastiaan van de Looo, a student from University of Leiden in the Netherlands, asked how presidential candidates who spend eight billion pesos to get elected president could perform honestly without being indebted to business tycoons.
Zubiri then disclosed that when he was a newly elected congressman, contractors offered him a 20-percent commission for his pork barrel projects, or two million pesos of a 10 million-peso project.
"The temptation is so great," he said.
Zubiri said his salary of 35,000 pesos a month is barely enough to give to the many people who seek his help for medicines, burial and other matters.
When Delfin Delfin of the University of Sto. Tomas asked if he was willing to forego his salary, Zubiri said he did just that the other day when he spent for the fare of 20 of his constituents who were gypped in Manila.
Making yourself heard
Rae Rivera, a student of the University of the Philippines Diliman, said there was a need for government to set up an agency through which the youth could be better heard. She said it appeared that the government was "not willing to hear us."
Monsod replied that the youth could make themselves heard through text messages and by getting involved in their own communities and schools.
"If we just clean up our barangay, that's big stuff because it goes all the way to the top," Monsod said.
Nicky Yu of Leyte College asked when the government would start collecting taxes from the Church so that there will be no budget deficit.
Monsod replied: "Why not? So why don't we start the ball rolling? The bottom line is don't just sit there, do something."
Inquirer president Prieto-Romualdez said the views of the youth are welcome in the Inquirer and its website with GMA-7, www.inq7.net.
"Do write us and get involved," she said.
'Truly inspiring'
Vincent Angeles of the University of Asia and the Pacific found Monsod's discussion "truly inspiring."
"I learned that we should not just find fault with the government but to actually take part in our own little circle -- the family, the university, the community rather than tackling the whole country at once," Angeles said after the forum.
Pocholo Gonzales of UP Diliman drew his inspiration from Zubiri, saying the congressman's talk showed that he was "not 'plastic' and cares about the youth very much."
Isaiah Lugtu of Adamson University said she was very inspired by Romualdez's talk about the importance of reading.
"I love books, but after hearing her speech I will love reading more," Lugtu said.
Josephine Alcalde, also of Adamson, said she skipped an outing to attend the seminar and that she was not disappointed.
Raiza Cusi of the Philippine Women's University was all agog about Monsod and Zubiri and said she was "enlightened by a mile."
RJ de Guzman of San Beda College found the forum very informative and inspiring.
"I found hope," said Randy Herrera, also of San Beda.
More to come
The seminar is a joint project of the Inquirer and the Harvard Project for Asian and International Relations of the Ateneo de Manila University, University of the Philippines and UA&P.
GMA-7 co-sponsored the event's sponsors.
Bernadette Sembrano of GMA-7 and TJ Manotoc hosted the seminar.
The other workshop during the morning session was conducted by Emily Abrera, president of McCann-Erikson Philippines, and writer Jessica Zafra. They discussed the topic: "Youth consumerism: Is youth culture being manufactured by business?"
The afternoon workshops had former Education Secretary Raul Roco speaking on a topic close to his heart: "Beyond four walls: Will the youth's education today work for them tomorrow?" Also speaking during that session was Amado Mendoza, associate professor of political science in UP.
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Comments
christopher bernardo | Apr 12th, 2003
Good one Mr. Gonzales, though some of your arguments were oversimplified other ideas are quite interesting. ;)
cmli_jc@yahoo.com
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