EXAMPLE OF COMMENTARY OR EXPOSITORY EDITORIAL:

A. Wrong Timing

Philippines is the only Asian country left with a 10-year basic education curriculum. That being said,
the Department of Education proposed K+12 to upgrade the curriculum. But, is K+12 really the
solution to the country's education crisis?

Basically, K+12 means kindergarten plus 12 years of basic education. It is K-6-4-2 Model: a year
of kindergarten, six years of elementary school (Grades 1-6), four years of junior high school (Grades 7-
10), and two years of senior high school (Grades 11-12). This will be implemented starting with incoming
Grade 1 students of SY 2012-2013. Incoming freshmen of SY 2012-2013 will be the first beneficiaries of
the Senior High School education years of basic education. It is a K-6-4-2 that will be implemented by
DepEd beginning SY 2016-2017.

There's no question about the quality education that this program would bring. Having K-12
would lengthen the duration of studying, but it would increase what the students would learn through
specialized subjects like Science and Technology, Music and Arts, Agriculture and Fisheries, Sports,
Business and Entrepreneurship. Surely, if the curriculum is to change, we might get the chance to cope
with the other nation's high intellect capability.

Since the country is being left behind, we have to close the huge gap between our country's
pitiful education compared to others. Our curriculum now is poorer than ever, resulting to globally
uncompetitive Filipino students as shown in the Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study
(TIMSS) 2003 results wherein the Philippines ranked 23rd out of the 25 participating countries.
Remember that the most qualified students here are sent outside the Philippines at par with other
nations. If we can't even make it to the first half of the best, then it is enough to say that education here
needs so much attention.

The Briefer stated that, "Kindergarten and 12 years of quality basic education is a right of every
Filipino, therefore they must be and will be provided by government and will be free." It seems so easy
to say but in fact, it is really difficult to do. "As of November, last year, we estimate the total funding
requirement to procure all needed resources at P150 billion for: 152,569 new classrooms, 103,599 more
teachers, 95.6 million more books, 13.2 million seats." The estimated budget needed to run this
program is a whooping 60-150 billion pesos.

But let us open our minds to reality that there are tons of problems here other than education.
Poverty is one of the root causes of poor-quality education we acquire; might as well count population
and corruption. It's not easy to build and rebuild classrooms if we don't have the and which we
obviously don't have. Nowadays, students are too many that they are required to attend day or night
shift just to accommodate them.

There are also other factors contributing to poor quality education that some students are
receiving. Survey shows that the ideal teacher to student ratio is 1:30. But with our condition now, we
are totally in need of educators. If all these aren't solved by the time this program is implemented, this
program is off to a bad start. It may actually even worsen the education system.
 In principle, K-12 is a good way to increase quality education But, let's be aware that
implementing this program with the current situation of our country would just add to the suffering of
many Filipinos.

There will come a time when Filipinos would be free to embrace the K-12 program Now is just
not the right time because of the burden of poverty and corruption. Before we try to compare our
system to others, let us analyze the root causes of our problematic situation and try to solve it first. It is
not the curriculum which needs urgent improvement now, rather, the factors that affect the effective
implementation of it.

B. No Time for Mockery and Hypocrisy

Hopeless. Looking at the current situation of our country's educational system, we cannot help but
shake our heads in dismay.

Since 1998, there was no significant increase in the budget allocation of the government to the
education sector. Amidst incessant rises in the prices of commodities and growing demands of the
increasing student’s population, our budget for education practically remains the same. Just last year,
because of the reenactments made for the national budget of 2004, not a single centavo was added to
the P 106.4 billion budget. Worse, four billion pesos was deducted from the educational budget and was
reallocated to National Defense and Commission on Elections. The change in the budget was
suspiciously done before Gloria Macapagal Arroyo's run for reelection.

Alarmingly, the budgetary allocation for education allots a measly P11 for every Filipino student
everyday almost equivalent to the price of a medium sized tinapa. This is a far cry from the United
Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization's (UNESCO) P280 billion recommended
allotment for education. This is a mockery to the institution that is the only hope of the underprivileged
to rise from their adversities in life.

It is therefore unsurprising to know that students studying in public schools suffer a very
miserable condition under the insufficient educational budget. Students are forced to study in crowded
rooms and sit in rickety and inadequate chairs. Worse, some don't even have rooms or chairs to use for
their studying at all. Teachers also endure six classes of 60 to 110 students a day, delayed and meager
salaries, and harsh teaching conditions Most of them dream of a better life in other countries and sadly,
most of these teachers are the competent talented ones and this brain drain robs the Filipino students
of maximum learning ability.

As a whole, the students are deficient of 42,641 classrooms, 4.56 million armchairs, and 51,319
teachers. According to DepEd, 20 percent of the classrooms in the country have no proper ventilations,
27 percent has no lighting facilities, 55 percent has no available power supply, and 25 percent has no
ceiling, 22 percent of both elementary and high schools have no science laboratories. These lacks of
proper school necessities deprive the students of their right to proper education.

Just very recently, an expose about erroneous textbooks hit the news and shocked the entire
educational system. It is alarming to know that students are being taught false and misleading lessons.
This is a blatant negligence of the government of its very crucial obligation of ensuring that students
learn factual and accurate lessons.
 The irony of it all, the Arroyo administration, just like other past administrations, boosts their
ego by proudly declaring that basic education in the Philippines is free. But every student knows that
beside the required computer fee, Identification Cards processing fee, Parents Teachers Association
(PTA) fee, and school publication fee, there are also studying expenses such as compulsory buying of
substandard workbooks (with the approval of course, of top DepEd officials), raffle tickets, school play
tickets, pieces of chalk, uniforms, school projects, organizational contributions, photocopy of needed
school materials, everyday fares, pocket money for snacks, and a lot more.

And still the government brags of a free education to all. What a big hypocrisy.

Because of this deliberate abandonment of the government to education, the quality of

Philippine education continues to degrade. Even high-ranking officials of DepEd admit students have low
quality of education both in the elementary and high school levels.

According to Association of Concerned Teachers (ACT), Philippines now ranks among the lowest
in terms of science, technology and mathematics, along with South Africa and Bangladesh.

In a recent study conducted by the DepEd, students rate very low in high school reading
comprehension, 44.24 percent; mathematics 34.92 percent; and science, 41.05 percent.

With this rampant desertion of the government to education, we cannot afford to sit back. This
is definitely no time for mockery and hypocrisy. We are not stupid people to believe their lies and
deception.

The government should stand up for what they are created for, and that is, to serve the masses,
not their own personal interests. They should be more intelligent to know that it is only through
education that we can escape poverty and its related problems.

Is it really hopeless? Of course not. But having hope is never enough. Having action is a lot
better.

EXAMPLE OF ARGUMENTATIVE EDITORIAL:

Can Erap still pick up the pieces?

Sayang! This clamor for the President's resignation should not have happened. He had
everything going for him when he was just elected. Not only was he overwhelmingly supported by the
masa, but also be had a significant follower from among leading intellectuals, including the UP
nationalist: the Abuevas, Nemenzos, Davids, Constantinos and Magallonas. His administration team has
some of the nation's best minds and talents-Angara, Pardo, Gonzales, Medalla, Siazon, Lim, Lacson, had
respectable allies in the legislature: Pimentel, Drilon, Tanada, Ople, Tatad, Aquino, Defensor-Santiago,
Arroyo, Biazon. The United States, Japan and the international community as well as the business sector
were willing to give him a chance, because he demonstrated early a resolution to continue the reforms
of his predecessor, who had turned the economy around.
 Estrada could have been the best president had he lived up to his campaign promise to uplift the
plight of the poor. He should have used his political ascendancy to become the arbiter between the
powerful and the powerless. Instead of scheming to change the Constitution to give more rights to
foreigners, he should have exerted his influence on Congress to push for a more meaningful land reform
program, mass housing for the poor, the modernization of agriculture, and the development of rural
areas. He should have heeded the advice of creditable members of his official and personal families,
instead of lending his ear to his playmates in the "Midnight Cabinet." It was puzzling that he carried on
with his indiscretions with such wild abandon, even before completing the first half of his term of office.

What explains this irrational behavior? Hubris could be the primary cause. The fall of kings since
ancient times has been caused by their pride and conceit. "Pride goeth before destruction and a haughty
spirit before a fall,” according to Proverbs.

And if accusation against him are to be believed, agreed could be another possible explanation.
Unfortunately, this is the folly of some populist leaders who become drunk with illusion that they are
worshipped by the masses. Their matinee-idol mentally makes them forges that there is a limit to the
form of office and that they have to account for their actions at the end of the day. Soon, they develop
ambitions of becoming perpetual heads of government and, worse, of defying mortality.

Their self-destruction is hastened by their intolerance toward criticism from the public and well-
meaning advisers. As their isolation worsens, they surround themselves with sycophants and buy the
protection of underworld characters and the support of mendicant lumens.

Recently, the President was shown on television, desperately trying to win back the masses by
pledging to distribute land tiles to a squatter’s community. This pathetic scene evoked memories of the
hastily organized "rally" of Marcos loyalists inside Malacañang on the eve of the Edsa Revolution. In his
hurrah, the dictator who could hardly stand delivered a thunderous speech, insisting that he was still
constitutionally elected president, while his paid followers limply waved their "Bagong Lipunan"
banners. As the people did not listen to Marcos, the people will not listen to Erap. Both of them had no
respect for constitutional supremacy, and the Constitution cannot now again be used to justify the
incumbent President's continued stay in power. A constitution does not only refer to terms of office and
impeachment proceedings. Its most fundamental role is to define the extent of state power, which is
limited by the sacrosanct concept of popular sovereignty. The 1987 Constitution, in particular, enshrined
the legacy of EDSA in its first declared principle. "The Philippines is a democratic and republican state.
Sovereignty resides in the people and all government authority emanates from them."

It is the people who give authority to government and is the people who can take back that
authority anytime that they deem it necessary. Therefore, our Constitution does not only allow but also
in fact justifies a people power revolution against a government which has failed in its prime duty to
serve and protect the people." (Art. 11. Sec. 4)

Can President Erap still pick up the pieces? Does he still have the chance to be the best
president this country ever had to earn the eternal gratitude of his people?

Yes. By resigning NOW!

EXAMPLE OF EDITORIAL OF CRITICISM:

Half-baked Learning

For six years now, Camp Crame High School (CCHS) students are studying for only 50 minutes per
subject except Science which was a double period for a certain day while sacrificing some MAKABAYAN
subjects in the process.

In 2006, Dr. Crispin Duka, the Officer-In-Charge then, implemented the 50-minute per subject
class program and created two shifts, morning and afternoon sessions. His plan seemed to answer the
school's lack of classrooms for the increasing number of enrollees.

The Division Office of Quezon City, however, regarded this program as unfavorable for the
students learning since the Basic Education Curriculum required a 60-minute allotted learning period
especially for core subjects like English, Mathematics, Science and Filipino.

Also, teacher's loads are viewed as underloaded which required teachers to handle clubs or
organizations, teach in different year levels, and worst, teach a subject other than their specialization.

Now, where is quality education?

Education is the greatest treasure that cannot be stolen. It is the hope of a poverty-stricken If
only the new building will be completed immediately, there will be no need for the country such as the
Philippines.

If only the new building will be completed immediately, there will be no need for the 50-minute
per subject class program. With the additional 15 classrooms, there will only be one shift for all year
levels. Teachers will not be underloaded and will not be required to teach E.P. when her major is English.
Quality education will be restored.

It is only a matter of time for half-baked learning to bare its outcome. By then, it will be too late
to remedy the damage done by this kind of learning.
EXAMPLE OF PERSUASIVE OR CONVINCING EDITORIAL:
EXAMPLE OF INFORMATIVE EDITORIAL:
EXAMPLE OF EDITORIAL THAT COMMENDS:

EXAMPLE OF EDITORIAL THAT OFFERS ENTERTAINMENT:

First Day in School

The first day in high school for pupils who have been used to having all their classes in a single
room is rather like their first day in a big city crowded with different kinds of people. There is confusion
and a bewildered cry never heard of before.

On our own first day in high school, we were elbowed about from one room to another, usually
losing our way and arriving late.

Then we were told that the section in which we had finally found our way was too large, that we
must find another room on a different floor.

When we got on the wrong stairway, the older pupils laughed. When bells rang for classes to
begin, we would stand still; and when they rang for dismissal, we would sit still.

By the end of the first day, we had decided that higher learning was no good and we might as
well quit.

Yet, as you see, we are still here; so, we must have changed our minds.