Philippine Agenda's pilot episode earns viewers’ praises

Philippine Agenda’s pilot episode on Sunday that put into the public eye the many struggles of poor students from far-flung provinces earned praises from viewers. “Sa totoo lang, natutuwa ako sa mga programa na ipinalalabas n’yo sa TV (Honestly speaking, I am pleased with the programs that you show on television).… This is another breakthrough. Ako'y naniniwala na (I believe that) this is... a success, especially now that people have to be informed on the specific agenda of our senatoriables," said Noel Tolentino of Ras Al Khaimah, United Arab Emirates. Tolentino said he expects GMA News and Public Affairs to tackle in its next Philippine Agenda episodes issues on overseas Filipino workers, extra-judicial killings and corruption. He said it will be good if GMA gets the opinions of OFWs on key national issues. Rodrigo Matabaran of Surigao City also thanked GMA because his “concerns were considered" in the episode. He said one of the solutions in addressing problems in education is through a “holistic population management program." But he was quick to add that he would not favor abortion as the answer to population control. “If our (rapidly) growing population is not addressed, all other problems on education, environment, hunger and poverty, will not (also) be solved," Matabaran said. Meanwhile, Cherryl Vergildo of Angeles City called the first episode “napagakaganda (very beautiful)." She said it was true that schools in poor communities often face teacher shortage problem. Vergilido said this problem could be blamed on the education department's failure to come up with policies that will professionalize the hiring of teachers. “Marami pong guro ang tapos na hindi rin nabibigyan ng pagkakataong makapagturo dahil sa kulturang padrino na umiiral sa atin. Masakit man aminin pero ang batch namain ang isa sa biktima ng ganitong sitwasyon ng ating lipunan (There are many teachers who were not given the chance to teach because of the padrino culture. Though it hurts to admit, our batch is one of the victims of this kind of situation in our society)." Yet another GMANews.TV browser, Jojo Angeles Raba of Village East Homes in Cainta, Rizal, wrote: "Congratulations to your new program na Philippine Agenda... Natutuwa ako dahil sa makakatulong ito sa mga botante natin para mamulat sila kung sino ang data at hindi nila dapat iboto." He thanked GMA 7 for producing programs that help enhance public awareness of issues, adding, "ipagpatuloy nyo lang ang inyong mabuting gawain... tunay ngang Kapusong Totoo." Jojo requested, however, that all the episodes of Philippine Agenda should be made available in DVD format and sold in bookstores, citing that "malaki ang maitutulong nito sa aking pagtuturo sa Filipino at pagpapaunlad ng kanilang kamalayan sa tunay na kalagayan ng lipunan." Philippine Agenda aims to help raise viewers’ level of concern and awareness on the country’s recurring problems so that, in turn, they can make sound choices come election day. GMA News and Pubic Affairs says that it hopes to make complex issues comprehensible and to put significant events in context, so that voters will know how this year’s elections would impact on their lives. -GMANews.TV