SPEECH OF BRO.

EDDIE VILLANUEVA
Bangon Pilipinas Presidential Candidate
STUDENTS’ FORUM
Political Science Week
University of San Carlos
January 25, 2009

Today is a dream come true for me.

I have heard a lot of good stories about the University of San Carlos and how it has
prepared the youth to make a significant difference in nation-building. I have always
wanted to interact with Carolinians!

So, maayong buntag sa inyong tanan!

I am very pleased to share you with you today Bangon Pilipinas’ agenda for the
youth. Our Party, election time or not, champions three agenda: these are education,
agriculture, and health.

We see these priority sectors as the most strategic areas where we could initiate
services that would ensure human development and eventually, national progress.

The policies and programs Bangon Pilipinas offers under these priority sectors have
direct impact on the youth sector. But among the three, as you may all agree,
education is the centrepiece of the youth agenda.

Briefly, let me give a rundown of our statistics:

· As of latest census conducted, the National Youth Commission approximates the

youth sector at 26.9 million or more than one-third of the Philippine population.

· Budget allocation for education this year is at P172.8 B

· Education experts call the attention of policy-makers on the need for a budget
increase of P9.7 B more in order for us to achieve the Millennium Development Goals
or MDG targets on education. Sadly, among the 8 MDGs, education sector targets
have the slowest pace of progress. Analysis from the National Statistics Coordination
Board shows that the pace of progress in achieving targets is at less than 0.5 percent.

· UNESCO’s Education Development Index for 2008 shows that out of 125
countries, the Philippines ranks at a poor 75th position, lagging behind our Southeast
Asian neighbors Malaysia, Indonesia, and Vietnam.

These figures remain as mere numbers unless we see in context its effect and impact
not only to the youth sector but also to the country.

Simply put, our education system is deteriorating.

Resources are not enough and policy-makers seem to be at a lost on how to address
this deteriorating condition.

Bangon Pilipinas has a blueprint to reverse this situation. We will leave no stone
unturned to effectuate genuine reforms.

I always say that our dreams for genuine reforms are lofty. Nevertheless, they are
achievable. Bangon Pilipinas is the face of new politics. And we dare to believe that a
new Philippines or a Bagong Pilipinas is still possible! May pag-asa pa!

What are the reforms Bangon Pilipinas champions?

First, we see the need revitalize our basic education. We are fooling ourselves if we
demand quality in tertiary education when all the while, basic education – which is
the foundation of our learning – merely survives in the demands of international
standards.

We will revitalize basic education by re-training our teachers so that they could
effectively produce pupils and students who have excellent mastery in the national
language, English, Philippine pre-history, history, geography, and culture as well as
Mathematics, science and other related computational sciences. These are the
foundation that will strengthen the Philippines’ education program.

Second, reforms in basic education will be complemented by monitoring and ensuring

that science high schools and technological colleges or centers adhere to their thrust
of inventing new knowledge, products, and processes.

One unique feature of Bangon Pilipinas’ platform on education is the establishment of

entrepreneurial high schools all over the country, meaning, the concept and practice of
entrepreneurship will be built into all subjects.

It is also my dream to bring back the dignity and high morale of our teachers. I was
once a teacher and so is my wife. In my own family, we have high regard for
education and teachers.

So, third, we will put an end to the years of teachers’ languishing in low salaries and
lack of training. We will do this in a two-pronged approach. One, we will
immediately adjust their salaries as soon as budget becomes available and two, we
give them non-monetary incentives such as equitable research and development
opportunities.

Essentially, the keystone of Bangon Pilipinas’ educational program is to turn our

citizens into Filipinos thoroughly conscious of their history, culture and destiny as a
nation so that they can push the country into an era of productivity not only in
agriculture and agro-forestry, but also in entrepreneurship and science and
technology.

If there is one legacy that I pray Bangon Pilipinas would be remembered for, it is the
genuine reforms effectuated in education.
We want education to play a vital part in reclaiming our glorious identity as a nation.

In the end, you may ask. Are these reforms possible? If so, where are we going to get
the budget for them? Aren’t they too good to be true?

My dear students, may pag-asa pa!

Bangon Pilipinas offers the country a platform of good governance marked by

leadership by example.

We see good governance as the key to make our democratic institutions work. We see
good governance as the key to make systems work. We see good governance as the
key to unify the nation behind one leader who steers the country’s direction towards
achieving progress.

In this university, I was informed that students take active roles in campus politics and
student affairs. Elections within the campus are highly regarded and taken seriously.

And I am very pleased to know that Carolinians would always look for students who
could provide them with a kind of leadership that inspires them to follow... a kind of
leadership that makes a difference in the lives of other students... a kind of leadership
that builds the dignified image of the Cebu studentry.

This is Bangon Pilipinas. We provide a kind of leadership that inspires... a kind of

leadership that seeks to make a difference in the lives of our citizens... a kind of
leadership that builds the dignified image of the Filipino nation.

Daghang salamat sa inyong tanan for listening. Let us make this morning more
interactive and fruitful. I am now ready to answer all your questions. Once again,
thank you!