Readers' Comments

21-22 MARCH 2005

WILLIAM

HI, I am a nurse here in London. I read your article about the nursing school that performs poorly in the board. I wonder how come my school was not included at any of them. Its name is The Good Samaritan Colleges in Cabanatuan City in Region III.

DAVE JOHNSON

DEAR Chit,

Having read your article I could not find any reason but to agree with it 100%. I find it appalling regarding the number of listed nursing colleges that fall into the low to very poor categories My daughter has just completed her first year at University of Cebu. That has an average rating. However I know that the University could improve its grading if they cut out a lot of activities that have no relation to nursing what so ever i.e. extensive lectures in the Philippine language (all the students have High school passes and should be proficient in their own tongue).Also compulsory week end attendance to dances, parades rallies etc which takes the students away from home studies Then you have the whole day Saturday ritual of visiting Barangays. Why not Hospitals?need I go on.Nursing qualification are difficult and expensive and I as a parent I would like to see my money put to better use.

Kind regards.

PETER QUINTERO

THIS IS in reference to your feature Lack of Nurses Burdens an Ailing Healthcare System.

It is very sad to note that among the reasons cited by health workers bound for abroad are political instability, corruption and the need for political backing in order to get a job or a promotion. As a former Filipino whose family are still staying in the Philippines, I have concerns on the reasons citied in your report. When I left the Philippines almost 14 years ago, the above mentioned reasons are already considered a problem in the society. I am worried that when this situatioin is not corrected, the Philippines will be under a situation just like some countries where civil war has errupted.

While it is true that working abroad promises an economic change, it is very hard to be away from one's family, especially that Filipinos are family oriented people.

I hope that the GMA government would be able to put behind bars corrupt and other undesirable government leaders/employees. I hope that they have a good plan for the economy of the RP. We owe a lot from thousands of OFW for their Dollar Remittances to the Phil. which in turn help propell the RP economy, however, when these same OFW go back to RP for a vacation/visit, they are still subjected to experiences which make them feel that they should not have come back to RP because of the same reasons they have cited before they left the Philippines to work abroad.

I wish you the best for your noble work as PCIJ organization. Rest assured that there are so many Filipinos living in RP and abroad who are still hopeful to see our beautiful country rise from where it is right now.

In addition I wish to let you know that me and some alumni who are living abroad are helping each other to do some repairs and improvements at the high school where we graduated from because the Philippine government can not afford to do so. Therefore I suggest that in one of your reports for the future, you might want to mention and encourage Filipinos who are living abroad to help in some school project improvements.

Truly yours,
PR Quintero
Lansing, IL USA