EDGAR ABANIL BLOG

 Political partisanship has long been a feature of democratic societies. In the Philippines, where democracy thrives on elections, public discourse, and civic participation, taking sides in politics is inevitable. Citizens naturally align themselves with leaders, ideologies, and programs they believe will improve the nation. However, when political loyalty becomes excessive, blind, and deeply personal, it produces harmful consequences that weaken social harmony, distort governance, and divide the Filipino people. The growing culture of political tribalism in the Philippines has become one of the major obstacles to national unity and progress. One of the most visible negative effects of taking sides in politics is the division it creates among Filipinos. Political disagreements that should remain within the bounds of healthy democratic debate often evolve into hostility and hatred. Families quarrel during elections, friendships are destroyed over political opinions, and communities ...

  The Philippine education system stands at a critical crossroads. According to the findings of the Second Congressional Commission on Education or EDCOM II, the country is facing what experts now describe as a “learning crisis” — one that threatens not only the future of Filipino learners but also the nation’s long-term economic and social development. Created through Republic Act No. 11899 in 2022, EDCOM II was tasked to conduct a comprehensive national review of Philippine education after the devastating effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. Over three years, the commission studied the entire education sector—from early childhood to higher education and technical-vocational training—and produced a series of landmark reports detailing the alarming realities confronting Philippine education today. ( Wikipedia ) A System in Crisis One of the most disturbing findings of EDCOM II is the severe decline in student proficiency across grade levels. Recent national assessments revealed that s...