BY FR. SHAY CULLEN
FREEDOM is the precious right of every human being. The freedom to speak the truth, to challenge evil, to dispute, criticize or challenge the ruling powers is a constitutional freedom that is now restricted and curtailed and speaking out could mean death. There have been more than 200 writers and broadcast journalists killed in the Philippines since 1986.
The freedom of speech and expression is almost squashed by draconian libel laws. To speak freely and challenge officials with the truth of corrupt deals or wrongdoings by powerful politicians could mean jail or assassination.
Freedom to live, survive, have a family and prosper in security free from fear, hunger, threats and crime are perhaps the most precious freedoms desired by humans but lacking for millions. An estimated 16 million Filipinos live below the poverty line while a tiny elite rich have lives of luxury and plenty. The right and freedom to know the truth and act on it is vital to change the situation.
So what needs to come about is greater equality and social justice. The lack of these fundamental values puts thousands of children in conflict with law. They survive on the streets, in gangs and fall into temptations. For most of them, their lives are over but good judges, named below, are among many that are giving new life to hundreds of children in conflict with the law (CICL) by compassionate application of the Juvenile Justice and Welfare Law otherwise known as Republic Act 9344.
Corruption, unemployment and poverty is at the root of childrenâs hardship. According to an excellent analysis by the economist Solita âWinnieâ Monsod, âamong the ASEAN-5, the Philippines has : “the lowest GDP per capita: a Filipino has the least income among the ASEAN-5, the most unequal distribution of income and the highest poverty headcount ratio.â
According to Professor Monsod, freedom for children to grow and develop through education is not a privilege, it is a right and it is the sworn duty of the government leaders to provide the highest quality education for the people.
Quality education is what eradicates poverty. Real education is more than grades, it is teaching and inspiring people to think and act for themselves and know the truth and choose the good always. Otherwise, poverty persists. Professor Monsod teaches us that the nation has â the highest learning poverty rate of 90.9%, meaning among 10-year olds, 9 out of 10 cannot understand what they are reading.â
Most Filipino children are naturally intelligent, highly motivated to learn, and are gifted with many talents yet are denied a quality education. It is no wonder that so many youth end up on the streets as dropouts and too many people become âcaptured, mesmerised followersâ of social media celebrities not knowing they are emotional and mental prisoners of bad influencers. They believe without thinking whatever they are told.
Again, Professor Monsod tells us that the nation suffers âthe lowest Human Capital Index score of 0.52. A child born today will have 52 percent of the expected productivity she would have had if she had complete education and full health.â
Besides, the good professor says that âin some international large-scale assessments, the Philippines has the lowest performance among all countries assessed. (To be continued)/PN
