Overlooked reforms by presidentiables

MANILA, Philippines - I write this article as a concerned citizen to remind presidential aspirants to widen their concerns by helping shape the future of our country. It is my observation that their TV and radio commercials are more of gimmicks, empty and have less impact. Yes, maybe from the advertising perspective it makes sense but the campaign line must be meaningful and focused on solutions to the problems that continue to beset our nation.

You will agree with me that the traditional Filipino values have greatly deteriorated since the good old days. It seems that we have ceased being clear about the standards we hold and the principle by which we judge. As a result, we have suffered a breakdown in areas like love and respect for our family and our elders, integrity, honesty, hard work, and loyalty towards all; commitment to education, belief in peace and stability as well as emphasis on obligation to the community.

The child upon birth up to six years old gradually acquires and develops his individual character and personality. This period known as the formative years is very critical; for it is during this time that values, abilities, skills, aptitude, attitudes, knowledge and understanding are inculcated into his very tender and vulnerable mind and these things are permanently curved in his whole being and will have a lasting effect on his intellectual, social, physical and spiritual development. The family is the principal school of the social virtues which are necessary in every society and our children are the most important of all family values, therefore our values must be centered on the children and if they are valued in the family, then their parents will be valued too.

We must be concerned not only with the present but with the future as well. While today’s ills of society are to be contained with, steps have to be undertaken to prevent future maladies from plaguing the nation. Heinous crimes, drug abuse, rape, kidnapping and graft and corruption are occurring almost daily. I attribute this to crisis of morality. All the measures enacted to fight them seem useless, ineffective and the cure if any is only temporary. Before we know it, violators are at it again. We enforce harsher penalties, but still, to no avail.

Since the root cause is a crisis of morality, we have to redirect our vision into coming out with a new breed of Filipino. While the present crop of criminal offenders are concededly under rehabilitation or undergoing the penal process of incarceration, let us prevent the future generation from indulging in the same misdeeds.

It is therefore in this context that I formed a movement called “Crusade For A Better Youth Of Tomorrow”, to ensure a just and upright society for the generations to come . . . by producing leaders and citizenry equally reared by the prescribed code of ethics in early childhood and personality development, whose emphasis on moral, social, psychological as well as the spiritual well-being of every individual is the salient factor, for this will reflect in a person’s general performance as an adult. Let us therefore join hands and together begin to invest in our children’s needs to build a stronger foundation for the future, in the belief that “Ang Pag-Arga Ng Bata Sa Tamang Paraan Ay Susi Sa Maayos At Payapang Samayanan”. In the end, we can but expect a peaceful and happy life for all.

Those who wish to join this crusade may contact: Dr. NESTOR A. LACEDA, SR. MD, 162-A Shaw Blvd. cor JB Vargas St., Mandaluyong City, Telefax 533-7913; CP # 0917-806-1936