Have you ever focused on the heart of the matter and still found yourself distracted on unimportant things, nonetheless? What if you have wrongly thought that these small things are unimportant?

Kung may kinikilala at sinusundan akong pampublikong intelektwal at nadagdagan siya ng plataporma mapa online o pisikal, marapat lamang na sundan ko rin siya doon. Ganoon ang dating sa akin ng pagtanggap ko sa paanyaya ni Ms Venus na magsulat sa espasyong ito humigit kumulang 125 linggo na ang nakalilipas; pagdaragdag ito ng makabuluhang lalim sa tinig ng isang guro sa humanidades at komunikasyon gaya ko, at may pagkakataon pang mapalakas ang pundasyon ng Inside Academe bilang higit pa sa isang personal o propesyonal na pagmumuni-muni. Isa itong gawaing nakaugat sa komunidad, batay sa adbokasiya na nakaayon sa mga pangunahing prinsipyo ng komunikasyong pangkaunlaran: pakikilahok, pagbibigay-kapangyarihan, at pagbuo ng kaalaman mula kanayunan hanggang kaitaasan o kapatagan.

Sa Inside Academe, ganap na sinasalamin ang koneksyon ko sa mga bumubuo ng Tutubi.ph, ang aking paniniwala sa participatory development, at ang aking ilang piling tungkulin sa pagtataas ng lokal na pamamahayag at adbokasiyang sugpuin ang krisis sa di-pagkatuto (miseducation or learning crisis) sa iba’t ibang bahagi ng mundo lalo na sa Pilipinas.

Medyo tahimik man ang propesyon ng pagtuturo sa pamantasan, may konting makabuluhang pag-iingay din para sa mga natutulog sa pansitan.

Making the voice stand out

Some of my colleagues in various institutions of learning use a portable amplifier during teaching to make their voice stand out because sometimes there is noise in the class or the surroundings. (BTW, bravo to learning management systems which have a built-in noise suppression.) It’s a good strategy. Teachers and professors may have a similarly tough situation outside the classroom, and they also want to make their voice stand out, but what if there are forces that try to silence them?

Nang sabihin ng kalihim ng edukasyon sa kanyang post sa social media noong ika-10 ng Oktubre na “kasinghalaga ng magagandang grado ang malusog na isipan” at “alagaan natin ang ating isipan, gaya ng pag-aalaga natin sa ating mga pangarap” bilang pakikiisa sa pagdiriwang ng World Mental Health Day, minarapat kong tingnan ang mga komento sa kanyang post na pawang puro magaganda. Pero meron ding hindi, katulad ng sa tatlong ito (bagama’t wala namang pagkontra sa layuning pang-mental health).  

“DepEd should have a combo of psychologists and Guidance counselors. GCs in DepEd carry significant responsibilities in designing, implementing, and evaluating comprehensive guidance and counseling programs that address the academic, career, personal, and social development of learners within the unique context of each school and community. However, the complexity of these duties requires the collaborative support of psychologists, whose expertise ensures that programs are grounded in sound psychological principles and evidence-based practices. Psychologists play a vital role in strengthening the capacity of guidance counselors through training and technical assistance, particularly in the areas of mental health assessment, research-based program evaluation, and the use of statistical analysis to interpret and utilize data effectively. This collaboration enables the continuous improvement of guidance and counseling services, ensuring that interventions are data-driven, contextually responsive, and aligned with DepEd’s commitment to the holistic development and well-being of all learners …Moreover, teachers need psychosocial services too.” (Netizen 1)

“Paano ang isang guro makapagbigay ng support sa mental health ng bata, eh sya mismo need nya yan dahil sa ECP, madami makakarelate jan before a teacher can provide support to mental health of learners, the department must provide support for their mental health first …” (Netizen 2)

“Sana po unahin ang mental health naming nga guro,we cannot give to our learners what we do not have…until you protect, give importance to your teachers…don po mas mapapangalagaan namin ang mga kabataan…Mahal po namin ang pagtuturo sa kabila ng lahat ng kakulangan,teachers kami sa classroom lahat po ginagawan namin ng paraan…give us more and we can share more..We don’t have to mention the little things we do to ensure that our learners get the best…Ako,bilang guro naniniwala ako sa lahat ng aking kapwa guro na maraming tinutulungan sa kabila ng aming kahirapan po, sir Sonny Angara.” (Netizen 3)

Katahimikan muna, bago tayo manghusga. Sa katahimikan, gawin natin ang pag-aanalisa ng sitwasyon.

Gaya ng paulit-ulit na obserbasyon, nasa atin na ang napakaraming batas pero laging nahahanapan ng butas. Parating may problema sa implementasyon.

Meron na tayong Basic Education Mental Health and Well-Being Promotion Act (R.A. 12080, December 06, 2024). Agad itong nagawan ng Implementing Rules and Regulations, salamat sa CSC, DBM, DepEd, at PRC. Pero anim na beses nabanggit dito ang CHED o Commission on Higher Education kaya malaki ang papel nito sa ikasusulong ng pambansang adhikaing pang-mental health.

Umaasa na lamang tayong unti-unting mapararami ang tatanggaping aplikanteng psychologists at guidance counselors. Narito ang bahagi ng IRR kung saan nakalagay ang posisyon nila at sistema sa pasahod:

Training our hearts to listen

Let us promote greater collaboration among students, their guardians/parents (through PTA in K-12), teachers, professors, administrators, and other academic personnel, including DepEd and CHED officials. Although silence is sometimes a solution, let’s value each other’s voices. At some point, we have proven, and it has been engraved in history, that it is better to be afraid while having a dialogue than to be afraid because of not having a dialogue. If consultation processes are flawed, how can leadership and management be effective?

Finally, it is important to ask: After the September 21 rallies, has anyone been jailed for the flood control scam? When the 2028 elections come, will people still be angry about this unabated corruption, or will they vote again for trapos (traditional politicians)?