Republic of the Philippines

University of Eastern Philippines

University Town, Northern Samar
COLLEGE OF EDUCATION

GRADUATE STUDIES PROGRAM DEPARTMENT

Education 913 – Educational planning and Human Resource Development

ANGELA DOMINIQUE T. LOMAGDONG CELEDENIO LAYON JR. ,Ph.D.

Student, Ph.D 2 Course Professor

Reaction Paper : FAILURE OF EMPATHY

While I am reading this article I can’t help myself shaking my head because for me this
remained an ideal dream. We Filipinos geographically separated with thousands of islands, multi-
languages and culture, different attitudes and habits can be united in diversity it already have. If we
Respect the diversity on each on us, maybe it could achieved through a system of governance without
political dynasty and an electoral system without vote-buying and selling. A highly unified regulating
taxes and allocation of funds, mining and industrial franchises as well as important national policies
deposited in our government system. Unfortunately what we have at present is a highly centralized
corruption and bribery in preparation for a very expensive election in every three years, dominated as
always by oligarchs and elitist politicians.

Maybe for us to have a unity we need a national slogan or a national virtue that will take a
special kind of leader, to unite us; to make us feel like we should all go in the direction he is taking us, no
matter where we live, what dialect we speak, where we are on the social ladder. He has to make us
believe in that slogan. He has to be someone who, through words and deeds, makes a conscious effort
to unite, not divide. Sadly, we have never had that kind of leader. One can hope. We have not been
lucky enough to elect presidents in our lifetime that can make a compelling impression on Filipinos to
elect the next leader who will continue a legacy of the same policies and agenda with efficient and
effective institutional governance. Why can’t we as a nation overcome these difficulties is something we
need to ponder. I am hoping for the HOPE that reasonable and courageous people within our
community would be able to convince our president the road he has chosen to lead us must used the
Rule of Law and Respect that we need to each other and our problems can better be solved when we
work together as a people. Like what the author said… “We can only be a nation when we have learned
to share each other’s pain."