It baffles me that convicted criminals can run for public office and even secure high positions in government. It’s as if our watchdog agencies have turned a blind eye to this. When it comes to ordinary government workers, they’re quick to flex their muscles, but when powerful ex-cons throw their hats into the political ring, they become as timid as a mouse in a lion’s den. Something is seriously wrong with this picture.

I’ve seen it myself: low-level government employees being sacked for the smallest of infractions. Some poor clerk misplaces a document, and the next thing you know, they’re out of a job. Meanwhile, convicted politicians walk free, dust off their tailored suits, and run for office as if their criminal records are mere footnotes in their colorful lives. It’s almost like there’s a magic spell that wipes their slate clean the moment they file their candidacies, and suddenly, we’re all supposed to forget their dark pasts. But people can’t forget. And they refuse to.

Take a walk down the halls of power, and you’ll find these characters sitting comfortably, sipping their coffee, making decisions that affect the lives of millions. They talk about justice and integrity, but it’s hard to take them seriously when you know that they’ve been convicted of crimes far worse than jaywalking. I can’t help but wonder—what are these watchdogs doing? Are they too scared to bite when the prey is too big, or have they simply sold their loyalty to the highest bidder? Either way, the whole thing stinks, and the stench is unbearable.

I remember reading about how Civil Service rules are strict when it comes to morality and good conduct. I’ve heard stories of teachers who were suspended for minor offenses—some as trivial as being late too many times. Yet, convicted criminals are allowed to waltz into politics, smiling for the cameras, shaking hands, and making promises they have no intention of keeping. It’s ironic, isn’t it? Those who have betrayed the public trust are allowed to “serve” again, while honest people are left to fend for themselves. It’s like putting the fox in charge of the henhouse and acting surprised when there are no chickens left.

And what about the people? Oh, we’re not blameless in this mess. We’ve become so used to the circus of Philippine politics that we just shrug and say, “Eh, ganito na talaga.” But it shouldn’t be this way. We deserve better leaders than recycled politicians who treat public office like a family heirloom. It’s a bad joke, but no one’s laughing anymore, except maybe the convicted politicians themselves, who seem to be having the last laugh. Sometimes I wonder if they hold office just to mock us.

The Ombudsman and the Civil Service Commission should be the last line of defense, but they’ve become more like the referees who pretend not to see the foul. They’re quick to throw the whistle when it’s a small-time bureaucrat or an ordinary public servant, but when a big fish with political clout breaks the rules, they look the other way. It’s frustrating to watch. It’s like they’re playing a game, but only some of us are bound by the rules.

I wish I could say this was all just a bad dream, but it’s reality. The ex-convicts are out there, grinning and waving at us during election season, and many of us are still falling for their charm. We listen to their sweet promises, conveniently forgetting that they once broke the law and our trust. It’s as if we’re caught in an abusive relationship, forgiving them every time they screw us over. Meanwhile, the watchdogs sit in the corner, whimpering.

So here we are, stuck in a system where small-time public servants get the boot for the slightest mistake, while convicted criminals climb their way to the top. The imbalance is so ridiculous, it’s almost laughable—if only it weren’t so tragic. Maybe one day, we’ll wake up and demand better, from our leaders and ourselves. Until then, it looks like the ex-cons will continue to run the show, while the rest of us are left wondering what happened to justice.

The latest PISA (Programme for International Student Assessment) results for the Philippines were from 2022. In these results, the Philippines ranked 77th out of 81 countries. The scores were below the OECD average in mathematics, reading, and science.
In a story written by Joyce Balancio at abs-cbn news, disclosed that Students in the Philippines lagged behind in terms of creative thinking compared to students in other countries, the Programmed for International Student Assessment (PISA) showed.

In its 2022 cycle, PISA measured15-year-old students’ creative thinking or the “ability to generate, evaluate and improve ideas to produce original and effective solutions, advance knowledge and create impactful expressions of imagination”.

It had been the consensus that our low PISA ranking is a conflagration of many factors including the outdated curricula , teachers lacking proper training, having limited if not absent facilities for learning and also the language barrier .

Many of us Educators wake every single day with awareness of these realities , but perhaps the bigger question lies why are we unable to address nor mitigate the same ? To me the question is not just academic and scarcity issue it is also a Social Phenomenon . To me , we have not reached the collective alarm mindset , thus, we are never worried . We have not realized that the certain backsliding of our conditions is not simply the business of the Department of Education nor its secretary , but every single Filipino Family.

Parents and community can help . That mighty and strong focus we all have when we as parents were taking our small kids to the Daycare Center , in the eyes of the parent , this is very important . So vital were the social phenomena , parents can and is willing to go the Extra Mile.

Going the extra mile should not only be confined to the mantra of teachers but parents as well. Perhaps Volunteer Efforts ,better home support ,and perhaps Community Programs that enhances learning . The presence of Local Universities and Colleges is a plus. The mobilization of group of academicians once strong and erudite now as Tutors and Mentors can be done.

By working together, parents and the community can help create a more supportive and effective educational environment, ultimately contributing to better PISA rankings.

The drama starring fugitive Alice Guo on the most expensive studio than is the senate investigation room had been causing people to get pissed as taxpayers’ money is spent from the public coffers. What was initially a meek woman sharing her incredible life story of a mesmerizing life in a farm of swine had turned her true self as a berserk deceptive liar.

The investigating committee had been taken for a ride since day one when Senator Risa Hontiveros initiated the investigation in aid of legislation after law enforcement authorities raided her place where Philippine Offshore Gaming Operations (POGO) and other criminal activities where being conducted by reported Chinese nationals.

In the course of the hearings, more issues were uncovered, chief of them her identity as a Chinese citizen who faked her way to become a mayor. The true identity of the fugitive dismissed mayor was determined with scientific precision by fingerprint experts of the national bureau of investigation. The investigation bureau confirmed that the fingerprints appearing in her passport were identical with those appearing in other official documents. But the fugitive Alice Guo had the gall to refute the findings, insisting that she is not the person in the alleged passport. Her bare denial was taken by the investigating committee as without value as bare denial without proof.

She was consistent in her incredible tale of living in their farm since childhood and having a tutor as she allegedly did not attend formal school. The story led the investigating committee to dig for proof that could bare her being a deceptive incorrigible liar who can dupe any unsuspecting person to take her stories as gospel truth. Verily, she speaks like a meek innocent lad unless you can discover her web of lies through incisive questioning that could bring her into a nook of inconsistencies. Her repetitive answers appear to have been well crafted to make her appear as the victim of harassment from the investigators. Acting as if she does not understand the questions, she keeps on asking the investigators to repeat and rephrase the questions.

Despite the repetitive rephrasing of the questions that senators belabor to accede to the fugitive’s request, the answers are still not responsive, often evasive to cover the truth. The answers are clearly counseled with the aim of irking the senators, resulting in having the fugitive cited for contempt and ordering her detention. This is the irony of having a witness who like others of her kind had the temerity to blatantly lie even after being sworn to an oath to tell the truth. The penchant to lie before the investigating committee is truly appalling as the narrations are diametrically opposed to the firsthand stories of witness and the supporting documents evidencing what could be considered as true based on human experience.

In the ongoing investigation, the fugitive is claiming as the victim of false stories and her predicament is nothing but acts of harassment. The claims of the fugitive are refuted by damning evidence that point to her crimes and her involvement in POGO operations. In her desire to draw public sympathy, she now is displaying a meek face with tears and sobs.
comments to alellema@yahoo.com

THIS was clearly spelled out by Christ in that episode about the rich young man who asked Christ what he had to do to enter the kingdom of God. (cfr. Lk 10,17-30) We know how that story ended. It led Christ’s disciples to be utterly incredulous. “Who then can be saved?” they said after Christ told them that is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.

With all the explosion of the many attractive, tempting and riveting things we have today, we cannot deny that we really need to sharpen our virtues of prudence and detachment, otherwise there is no other way but for us to be swallowed and trapped by them and to lose our way to heaven.

We just have to have clear guiding ideas of how to be prudent and detached in the context of the rapid developments of the world today. For sure, the most fundamental principle that we should always remember and follow is that everything should be referred to God before, during and after the use of these worldly things.

Let’s never forget St. Paul’s clear advice as to what motive we should have in all our activities and affairs. “Whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.” (1 Cor 10,31)

We should check ourselves often to see if indeed that is the motive of all our thoughts, words and deeds. If we notice that we are moved to do something, like using the internet, for example, just to satisfy our curiosity, or just to acquire knowledge or anything that can only show self-interest, then we need to rectify our intentions.

We should only be driven by the motive of giving glory to God, which in concrete terms is translated into loving God and loving everybody else, by knowing them better and serving them wholeheartedly.

To be sure, this is what is proper to us, and would lead us to our human maturity and Christian perfection. Of course, to be realistic, we cannot deny that we are often hounded by our weaknesses and the many temptations around. And so, it should be no surprise to us that we need to do some struggling, some fighting.

When we notice that there is no struggle involved, we should have good reason to suspect that we are going the wrong way, that we are clearly succumbing to our own weaknesses and the many temptations around, and that we are actually harming if not destroying ourselves.

We should have constant awareness of the presence of God, of his continuing interventions in our life, of his will and ways. That’s the only way we can sharpen the virtues of prudence and detachment. The ideal situation is that the use of the modern technologies, for example, would make our knowledge and love for God and others grow. If not, then they become nothing other than dangers.

When we take God for granted, there is no other way but for us to be at the mercy of our blind instincts and other bodily impulses, and of the worldly trends that are insensitive to the spiritual and supernatural character of our life.

These days, it’s imperative that we teach everyone as early as possible to refer everything to God. It would be good that right in the family environment, the children are already taught how to refer things to God.

That would not comprise as an act of brain-washing, but rather as a way of providing them with what everyone of us most need—that is, to be with God!

In the contemporary business environment, the concept of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) has become an integral part of strategic decision-making processes. As we transition to a green economy, businesses are increasingly required to balance profitability with environmental stewardship. The essence of this balance lies within the framework of CSR, where businesses take responsibility for the environmental impact of their operations and make concerted efforts to mitigate it. This article delves into the role of CSR in the green economy and how businesses can strike a balance between profitability and environmental impact.

Understanding CSR in the Green Economy

The green economy is characterized by economic activity that improves human well-being and social equity while significantly reducing environmental risks and ecological scarcities. Within this context, CSR is a business approach that contributes to sustainable development by delivering economic, social, and environmental benefits for all stakeholders. It encourages businesses to extend their responsibilities beyond shareholders to include communities and the environment.

Balancing Profitability and Environmental Impact

Balancing profitability and environmental impact are challenging but essential task in the green economy. Businesses can achieve this balance through various CSR strategies:
Investing in Green Technologies: By investing in environmentally friendly technologies, businesses can reduce their carbon footprint and decrease their reliance on non-renewable resources. While these technologies may require significant upfront investment, they can lead to considerable cost savings in the long term.

Implementing Sustainable Business Practices: Businesses can adopt sustainable practices such as waste reduction, energy efficiency, and responsible sourcing. These practices not only lessen environmental impact but can also enhance operational efficiency and profitability.

Engaging Stakeholders: Engaging all stakeholders, including employees, customers, and local communities, in sustainability initiatives can encourage collective responsibility towards the environment. A shared commitment to sustainability can improve brand reputation, enhance customer loyalty, and attract socially conscious investors.

Transparent Reporting: Businesses can demonstrate their commitment to CSR by reporting on their environmental performance. Transparency in environmental reporting can increase trust among stakeholders, fostering long-term relationships that contribute to business success.

When implementing corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiatives in the green economy, businesses may face several potential challenges:

Costs and Investments: Adopting sustainable practices and technologies often demands substantial initial investments and costs. This can pose challenges for businesses, especially for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) with limited financial resources. Balancing the financial implications of CSR initiatives with profitability can be a significant hurdle.

Complexity of Supply Chain: Businesses operating in global supply chains may face challenges in ensuring sustainability throughout their entire supply chain. This includes sourcing sustainable materials, monitoring suppliers’ environmental practices, and promoting ethical labor standards. Achieving transparency and accountability across the supply chain can be complex and resource-intensive.

Regulatory Compliance: Compliance with an increasing number of environmental regulations and standards can be challenging for businesses. Staying up to date with evolving legislation and ensuring adherence across operations can require substantial effort and resources.

Changing Consumer Expectations: Consumer expectations are shifting towards sustainability, placing pressure on businesses to align their practices with these expectations. Meeting these changing demands while maintaining profitability requires strategic planning and adaptation. Failure to meet consumer expectations can result in reputational damage and loss of market share.

Lack of Awareness and Education: Many businesses may lack awareness and understanding of sustainable practices and their potential benefits. Education and training are essential for businesses to effectively implement CSR initiatives in the green economy. Overcoming the knowledge gap and fostering a culture of sustainability within the organization can present challenges.

Measurement and Reporting: Measuring and reporting the impact of CSR initiatives on environmental sustainability can be complex. Establishing appropriate metrics, collecting data, and accurately assessing the outcomes of sustainability efforts can be challenging for businesses. Developing robust reporting mechanisms is crucial to showcase progress and maintain transparency.

Resistance to Change: Implementing CSR initiatives often requires changes in processes, systems, and organizational culture. Resistance to change from employees, management, or other stakeholders can impede the successful implementation of sustainability practices. Overcoming resistance and fostering a culture of sustainability may require effective communication, training, and stakeholder engagement.

While the benefits of implementing CSR initiatives in the green economy are significant, businesses may face challenges in their implementation. Overcoming these challenges requires a strategic approach, commitment from top management, collaboration with stakeholders, and a long-term perspective. By addressing these challenges effectively, businesses can navigate the complexities of the green economy and position themselves as socially and environmentally responsible organizations, fostering sustainable growth and success.

The nexus between CSR and the green economy presents both challenges and opportunities for businesses. As the global economy shifts towards more sustainable practices, businesses that embrace CSR will not only contribute to environmental preservation but also enhance their competitiveness in the market. Balancing profitability with environmental impact does not necessitate a compromise on financial growth. Instead, it signifies a strategic shift towards sustainable growth that considers profit, people, and the planet. Ultimately, businesses that can strike this balance will drive the transition to a green economy, setting a precedent for environmental stewardship and sustainable success.

SIDE NOTE: Your entrepreneurial journey has a powerful story to tell. Sharing it could inspire and motivate others to pursue their dreams. Would you be willing to share it with us for a future article?
————–
If you have any questions or would like to share your thoughts on the column, feel free to send an email to jca.bblueprint@gmail.com. Looking forward to connecting with you!