By: Diomerard James H. Cabintoy (Marangal National High School San Jose Del Monte, Bulacan)
Maayong hapon po sa inyong tanan.
Dalawang araw. Madaming boses. At isang tanong na sumasalamin sa lahat ng narinig at nakita natin dito: sino ba talaga ang responsable sa kalidad ng edukasyon na natatanggap ng bawat kabataang Pilipino?
May isang sandali kasi dito na hindi ko malilimutan—nang maibahagi ang karanasan na halos kapareho ng nao-observe ko rin sa sarili kong paaralan. Doon ko lalong napagtanto na hindi ito iisang kwento lamang—pattern na ito, paulit-ulit sa iba't ibang sulok ng bansa. At kapag nakita mong hindi ka nag-iisa sa isang problema, doon mo rin mararamdaman na hindi ka dapat mag-isa sa paghahanap ng solusyon.
Sa bawat sesyon, sa bawat panayam, sa bawat komitment na sinabi kahapon, ngayong araw—hindi tayo dumating dito bilang magkakaibang grupo na may magkakahiwalay na agenda. Dumating tayo bilang isang komunidad na naniniwala na ang edukasyon ay hindi pribilehiyo—karapatan ito, at karapatang dapat abot ng lahat, saan man sila nanggaling, kahit ano pa ang kalagayan nila sa buhay.
Ito rin siguro ang dahilan kung bakit nabuo ang pitong agenda sa ilalim ng #NoOneIsXcluded—hindi bilang listahan lamang, kundi bilang mapa ng ating direksyon:
- Budget Agenda - dagdagan ang badyet para sa edukasyon at palakasin ang responsable at mapananagutang paggamit nito.
- Mental Health Agenda - palawakin ang serbisyong sikolohikal at suportahan ang mga programang pinamumunuan ng kabataan laban sa isyu ng kalusugang pangkaisipan at bullying.
- Inclusive Education Agenda - tiyakin ang isang inklusibong kapaligiran sa pagkatuto para sa mga marginalized learners.
- TPA (Transparency, Participation, and Accountability) Agenda - magbukas ng espasyo para sa transparent, participatory, at accountable na pamamahala sa edukasyon.
- Learner-Centered Education Agenda - itatag ang isang sistema ng edukasyong nagpapalakas at nakasentro sa mag-aaral.
- Crisis-Resilient Education Agenda - palakasin ang katatagan ng sistema ng edukasyon at ang adaptibong pamamahala nito sa harap ng krisis.
- Corruption-Intolerant Public Education Agenda - hubugin ang integridad ng bawat stakeholder tungo sa isang sistemang matatag laban sa katiwalian.
Isang maliit na bagay lang ang natutunan ko rito, pero malaki ang dala—nang makita ko ang datos mula sa National Citizen Monitoring Report, at habang unti-unting naiintindihan ang RA 12009 o ang New Procurement Act, doon ko lalong napagtanto na ang pagtatanong ng “saan napunta ang badyet” ay hindi paglalaban, kundi paglilingkod. Kasi kung hindi natin alam kung paano dumadaan ang bawat piso—mula sa batas, hanggang sa aktwal na proyekto sa paaralan—mahihirapan tayong tumawag ng accountability kapag may kulang.
Ito ang klase ng pagbabago na hindi biglaan. Hindi ito matatapos sa isang conference, o sa isang komitment na binigkas sa entablado. Ito ay proseso—proseso ng pagsubaybay, pagtatanong, at pananatiling handa, kahit pagkatapos ng dalawang araw na ito.
Kaya sa pagtatapos ng programang ito, hindi tayo magsasabing tapos na. Ang mga komitment na narinig natin—susundan at hahanapin natin. At bawat isa sa atin, saan mang sulok tayo magmula, may papel na gagampanan sa pagpapatuloy ng laban na ito.
Sa puntong ito, nais ko ring pasalamatan ang Multiply-Ed—ang kilusang pinamumunuan ng kabataan na nagbigay ng espasyo at pagkakataong makasama sa prosesong ito, sa paniniwalang may lugar ang kabataan sa mesa ng desisyon, at hindi lamang sa gilid ng usapan.
Sama-sama nating dalhin ito pauwi—hindi bilang alaala lamang, kundi bilang paalala na may gagawin pa. Ipagpatuloy natin ang paglikha ng sistema ng edukasyong tunay na para sa lahat—resilient, gender-responsive, accessible, at accountable sa bawat Pilipino.
Maraming salamat po, at mabuhay ang edukasyon para sa Pilipino.
*****
[English Translation]
When Asking a Question is a Public Service
Good afternoon to everyone.
Two days. Many voices. And one question that encapsulates everything we have heard and witnessed here: who is truly responsible for the quality of education received by every young Filipino?
There was a moment here I will never forget—when an experience was shared that closely mirrored what I observe in my own school. That was when I fully realized this is not an isolated story; it is a pattern repeating itself across various corners of the country. And when you see that you are not alone in facing a problem, you also realize you should not be alone in seeking a solution.
In every session, every discussion, and every commitment that was made yesterday, and today—we did not come here as disparate groups with separate agendas. We came as a community that believes education is not a privilege—it is a right, and a right that must be accessible to all, regardless of where they come from or their station in life.
This is likely the reason why the seven-point agenda under #NoOneIsXcluded was formulated—not merely as a list, but as a roadmap for our direction:
- Budget Agenda - increase the education budget and strengthen its responsible and accountable utilization.
- Mental Health Agenda - expand psychological services and support youth-led programs addressing mental health issues and bullying.
- Inclusive Education Agenda - ensure an inclusive learning environment for marginalized learners
- TPA (Transparency, Participation, and Accountability) Agenda - open avenues for transparent, participatory, and accountable education governance.
- Learner-Centered Education Agenda - establish an education system that empowers and centers on the learner.
- Crisis-Resilient Education Agenda - strengthen the resilience of the education system and its adaptive governance in the face of crises.
- Corruption-Intolerant Public Education Agenda - foster integrity among all stakeholders to build a system resilient against corruption.
I learned just one small thing here, yet it carries great significance: upon seeing the data from the National Citizen Monitoring Report and gradually understanding Republic Act No. 12009 or the New Procurement Act, I realized more deeply that asking “where the budget went” is not an act of confrontation, but an act of service. For if we do not understand the journey of every peso—from the legislation itself to the actual project at the school—we will struggle to demand accountability when something falls short.
This is the kind of change that does not happen overnight. It will not conclude with a single conference or a commitment voiced on stage. It is a process—a process of monitoring, questioning, and remaining prepared, even after these two days have passed.
So, as this program concludes, we will not say that the work is finished. We will follow up on and pursue the commitments we have heard. And each of us—regardless of where we come from—has a role to play in continuing this fight.
At this point, I also wish to thank Multiply-Ed—the youth-led movement that provided the space and opportunity to be part of this process, grounded in the belief that the youth belong at the decision-making table, not merely on the sidelines of the conversation.
Let us take this home together—not just as a memory, but as a reminder that there is still work to be done. Let us continue building an education system that is truly for all: resilient, gender-responsive, accessible, and accountable to every Filipino.
Thank you very much, and long live education for the Filipino people.
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