REVILLA TO RP STUDES: STICK TO YOUR COUNTRY

Senator Ramon "Bong" Revilla Jr. appealed to college students to resist tempting offers to work overseas after they graduate in order to uplift the economic situation of the country.

In a speech during the opening ceremonies last Wednesday of the week-long celebration of the University Student Council (USC) of the Centro Escolar University (CEU), the senator reminded the students that every Filipino must be responsible and vigilant over issues that hound the country today.

Citing figures from the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA), Revilla said there is an estimated eight million Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) worldwide and out of these 1,062,567 OFWs were deployed in different countries last year.

He further revealed that according to other statistics, there is a roughly 88 thousand Filipinos leaving everyday and 30% of this land as domestic workers, who happen to be professionals and well-educated.

"Let us not surrender to the trial of the times. We owe it to our ancestors," said Revilla, as he was warmly received by the CEU faculty and students.

Revilla admitted that the country is in dire situation but this should not be an excuse to tolerate the mass exodus of professionals.

"If we do not work together, each contributing his individual share, lalo pa tayong lulubog (it will all go to worst)," he said.

Revilla stressed that it would be better for the citizenry to help in addressing the nation's difficulties rather than be part of the problem.

"I know it is more difficult to address problems than to point them out. But isn't it more worthwhile to settle them and come up with solutions, rather than dwell in them and achieve nothing?" he pointed out.

The lawmaker also urged the students to be professional in their studies and uphold excellence in everything that they do as a way of showing love for country.

He also questioned the success of the government merely because of having so-called professionals, basing on educational attainment.

"If we are to professionalize our government, we must learn to patronize and support genuine servants who would set aside personal differences and beliefs, and instead work together to fulfill their responsibilities and mandates," Revilla added.