The System of Palakasan in the Philippines Shore
Gerald Ubagan-Pana
06-12-13
Nepotism is the act of giving favor to a relative or a close person to acquire a certain position in an institution. In the Philippines, it is called as “Palakasan System”. This Palakasan System was long been practiced by the Filipino people throughout the history and the development of the modern Pilipino society. This practice had penetrated to the culture of the Pilipino people in dealing with the employing system of the country. In some instance, some people called it as the Backer system in which, someone has to support you in attaining and applying a position. The Palakasan system continued to be practice by the Pilipino people until this days’.
Although, the system was sociologically accepted by some experts and social scientist, as well as some authorities, there is still a negative effect on the continuing practice of the system.
Let me share to you, a story which will somehow open your eyes on the negative effects of the system.
One of my friends, John was an education graduate student of one of the most prestigious university in our place. John don’t like his course in the first place, but since his father is a principal and his father forced him to take the course he don’t have the choice but to take it even if he don’t like it. During his college days, John did not exert any effort on studying, researching and reading. Instead, he spend most of his time playing Dota and other online games. Because of his attitude towards his study, John got passing grades in most of his subjects and some of it are failed. But Johns’ father is very influential and he was able to settle all the failure grades of his child and John made it to graduate. After he graduate, John did not take the board exam since he already know that he can’t passed it but his father was reluctant, he forced John for the second time to take the board exam. John, as usual followed his father. Two months after, the result of the exam was published and on his great amazement, John passed the exam. He rush to the internet café and search for the result. He entered his examine number and saw her named in with a passing rate of 75.9 %. He was able to pass the exam, and again it was a passing grade. Like most of the fresh graduates in the Philippines, john search for a job but Johns situation was different, it was his father who hired him without any orientation and any interview as well as a lesson demonstration.
John was now ready to enter the world of teaching. But, there is still questions on his mind, What am I going to teach? What strategy am I going to use? How will I make my teaching effective?
What do you think? Would john be able to become an effective teacher? Will he be able to deliver the different information to his students?
On the case of John, he was forced to take the coursed and made a lot of foolishness on his college day. His father, practice the Palakasan System. What if there are a thousand of people who got the same situation of John, and what if there are lots of people who are the same with Johns’ father? What will happen to our country?
Will, the answer belongs to your hand; will you still continue to practice the system? Or stop it?
