By Jasper Emmanuel Y. Arcalas
GET real, many of 20 millennials who BusinessMirror polled said of the Philippines’s hosting of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (Apec) Summit.
And majority, about 11, said they would focus on working on their school work.
“Since there would be a long break, professors took the advantage of it and gave us many tasks to do,” Jean Dator, 20 and student of Dentistry at the Centro Escolar University’s (CEU) Mendiola campus, told the BusinessMirror.
And Dator, like five others polled, “would just be staying at home and finish all the things that need to be done.”
Over the weekend, Dator and 19 other students from CEU, Adamson University, University of Santo Tomas (UST), Mapua Institute of Technology (MIT), Far Eastern University (FEU), Patts College of Aeronautics (PCA), University of the East (UE), Colegio de San Juan de Letran (CSJL) and College of Saint Benilde (CSB) were asked two things: What does the Apec Summit mean for you? What are you going to do during the school break?
Half of those polled said they just know that the Philippines is hosting the forum of world leaders.
“I just know that leaders [of other countries would come here] …maybe for [the] economy and United Nations talk?” Gale Leyco, 19 and UST Advertising Arts student, said.
“Mag-uusap yung iba’t ibang leaders tungkol sa mga pwedeng magpa-boost ng economy chuchu,” 20-year-old Adamson University Accountancy student Christine Bautista said.
But Angeli Cantillana, 19, UST journalism student, had a mouthful on the summit.
Cantillana said the conference would be the best chance for President Aquino to know what’s missing in the Philippines and “kung paano niya makukuha yung mga posible na i-embrace ng Pilipinas para maging katulad ng mga country na pupunta dito.”
She also was hoping Mr. Aquino and government officials would avoid “sugarcoating” what the Philippine reality is. There’s news that they gave money to streetchildren to rent a house during the week.
“Huwag na. Ipakita nila ang Pilipinas, kung ano ang Pilipinas; iyong natural na Pilipinas kapag walang bisita.”
But while 19-year-old CEU Medical Technology student Jean Friera admits she’s “not fully aware of what Apec really is.” She thinks “Apec is a chance to bring up economic issues and to strengthen relations with other countries.”
Charl Pantaleon, MIT Technical Communications student and 19, too, shares the same view.
“I’ll keep an eye on the discussions happening during the Apec week. Might sound boring for some, but I like economics!” Pantaleon said.
School, sleep
Cantillana and majority of those polled would use the week’s break from going to school to accomplish school-related projects.
She would edit videos and finish school work.
“I plan to be productive during the Apec break by accomplishing all the homework and projects given to us by our professors and reading books during my spare time,” Charlene Calderon, 17 and UST BS Accountancy student, said.
Majority said they would rest or sleep after doing their homework.
“Pagkatapos ko gawin ang pinag-uutos ng mga professors, matutulog ako buong Apec,” Deni Elois Gonzales, 17 and UST Journalism student, said.
Others said they would spend the time to travel to the province (Nueva Ecija for 19-year-old PCA Tourism Management student Shanna Louisse) and with their family and friends.
Others, like Guia Arevalo, 20, BSBA Marketing Management student at FEU, would “do the usual things: watching TV, movies and documentaries.”
Arevalo would also browse the Internet and chat with friends.
Erick Manalo, 19, BSBA Financial Management at FEU, would also be glued on the Internet to search news about Apec.
“Kasi hindi pa naman totally naa-approve ang Apec so makikibalita kung ano mangyari. Wala akong balak gumala ngayong break.”
Many would take the opportunity to rest and sleep.
But most of them would do that after being productive.
“I aim to be productive so I’m planning to finish all school works given to us, have some advance reading and get some sleep,” Danielle Blazo, 17 and UST BS Medical Technology student, said.
“I also want to bond with my family because I live in a dorm so I don’t get much time to be with them.”
1 comment
They are the future productive citizens of the Philippines. Not those idiots from LFS and the other Leftist Groups.