Party-lists simply aping regular reps?

This refers to the news item titled “Solon apologizes, withdraws anti-God bill” which seeks to “prohibit religious rites and images in government buildings and offices in line with the Constitution’s separation of Church and State” (Inquirer, 6/23/12).

This seems to me more like an issue arising from a confusion of priorities and a misunderstanding of culture.  The Kabataan party-list should focus more on advancing bills that benefit the Filipino youth.  For example, it should look into the concerns and problems of the street children who hand over envelopes to pedestrians and jeepney commuters, with the message “para sa pagkain lang po.” Or, it may review legislative measures on juvenile delinquency, especially on children engaged in criminal activities. Simply put, the Kabataan party-list should be more concerned about the interest and welfare of the youth, which to my mind are the primary reasons the party was put up.

Almost all of our people are Christians,  Catholicism being the majority religion. Conducting religious activities and displaying religious relics in offices, public or private, are unique expressions of the religious culture of Filipinos—whether they be Christians or Muslims—which may not be found in other regions.  Saint-worshiping, going to church, novena-praying, and the Angelus and 3 o’clock prayers are just but a few of the Catholic faithful’s practices that have survived through the ages despite efforts to stamp them out. To prohibit these religious practices would be to enervate the Filipinos’ religious culture; and this would be no different from rooting out the Islamic elements in the Arab culture, or Hinduism from the Indian culture.

Lastly, I humbly suggest that, for purposes of transparency and accountability, a review of the track records of our political party-lists be made. Are these sector-based political parties really doing their mandates? Or are they just duplicating the programs, projects and thrusts of the regular congressmen?

—REGINALD B. TAMAYO,

acting asst. city council secretary,

Marikina City