Rotten Facade

The Editorial Board | Sep 7, 2024

Following Typhoon Enteng, calls for donations included one initiated by the Antipolo City National Science and Technology High School (ACNSTHS) Supreme Secondary Learner Government (SSLG), but this promising effort has been tainted by the selfishness of some of its officers, who pocketed some of the donated clothes. Such disgraceful act shatters not only the organization’s accomplishments but, most importantly, the trust placed in them by the people who sought to aid those in need.

In times when the government officials have failed us already, we cling to the hope provided by student leaders. However, beneath this illusion stinks that they are perfect examples of the harsh truth that no one is exempted from corruption. The people who should’ve been models disregarded the typhoon’s destruction, the disrupted livelihoods, and the suffering of those affected, all for the sake of feeding their personal greed.

As students of a science high school, they are expected to embody not only academic excellence but also integrity and responsible leadership. That’s why it is deeply disappointing that those who are supposed to represent the brightest minds have instead succumbed to greed and dishonesty, all while disguising their actions as "helping those in need."

Moreover, during the last SSLG election, they promised Anscians ambitious platforms. It turns out, this appears to have been nothing more than a façade—a way to romanticize their roles as aspiring student leaders while hiding their intention to exploit the privileges they gained. If they can engage in such attitude as students, what more when they grow up? For this reason, they are no different from the corrupt officials who use their positions for personal gain.

In accordance with Article 4 Section 8 of the Interim Guidelines of the Learner Government Program for School Year 2023-2024 released by the Department of Education (DepEd) in 2023, the SSLG shall renounce all forms of corruption and acts contrary to the regulating rules of the school and DepEd. Clearly, their ignorance towards knowing this mandate shows a substantial failure in accountability, integrity, and genuine leadership.

Furthermore, their actions may have not been done to intentionally take away donations meant for the victims of Typhoon Enteng, even so, as homegrown Anscians, it is impossible for them to ignore the consequences of their choices. Even more concerning is that, as student leaders, they seem to have forgotten the responsibility that comes with their positions. Regardless of intent, their disregard for both the victims and their roles as leaders is unacceptable.

Besides, evident tolerance of this behavior mocks the very principles they claim to uphold. Taking home excess donations under the logic of “there’s plenty” and justifying it by “do not get caught” is a crime against the essence of leadership. Anyone who condones such thinking is unworthy of being called a student leader.

Whereas, returning the clothes they took home will make no difference. The very fact that they were capable of such shameful actions, even while leading an initiative meant to save lives, reveals the potential of what else they may exploit. If clothes intended for the victims can end up in their closets and then proceed to joke about it, there are indeed endless possibilities for what they could do in the future. 

Truly, it is alarming that such revelations exposed the true colors of these entitled leaders so early in the first quarter of the school year. Especially during times of crisis when leaders are needed most, it is disheartening to see that they are capable of taking away what was meant for the underprivileged. For once, we believed that they could be the “binhi” or seeds of change, but what was done utterly provided a glimpse of their rotting facade.