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Actress Jennylyn Mercado took to Twitter her disapproval with Education Secretary Leonor Briones’ statement during Inter-agency Task Force (IATF) meeting.
Briones suggested the possibility of conducting limited face-to-face classes in low risks areas. She also emphasized the importance of human interaction with children’s education.
“Mahalaga ang human interaction na matuto silang makikitungo sa mga kapwa bata, sa teachers, (at) sa mga adults sa loob ng eskwelahan,” the Secretary said.
[Human interaction is important so that they will learn to deal with their fellow children, teachers and adults inside a school setting]
“If you can do this in spite of COVID-19 (even) on a limited scale, then we will have fulfilled our mandate to help nurture a complete and whole individual and not a robot,” she added.
Briones also mentioned the “very minimal” effect of COVID-19 on Filipino children. She indicated that only 16 or 0.87% of the country’s total deaths are children.
“Napakaliit talaga ng epekto ng COVID sa mga bata. Siguro isang blessing ‘yan sa ating mga kabataan na hindi sila masyadong naaapektuhan ng COVID pandemic na ito,” the DepEd chief said.
[COVID has a very minimal effect on children. Maybe that is one blessing that our children are not immensely affected by this COVID pandemic]
However, this statement from the Education chief was rejected by Jennylyn.
“Lang??? If you can’t even care for 1 child how can you care for all?” the actress said.
Jennylyn then expressed how we must value the lives of children, saying that they are not only ‘numbers’ but they are human beings who have lost opportunity to live a good life.
Lang???
If you can’t even care for 1 child how can you care for all? https://t.co/e24bvBjRK9— jennylyn mercado (@MercadoJen) July 22, 2020
I can’t begin to imagine the pain of what it’s like to lose a child.
My prayers go out to these kids and their families.— jennylyn mercado (@MercadoJen) July 22, 2020
“Hindi ako magsasawang paulit ulit sabihin… Na Hindi sila numero lang. Mga bata silang nawalan ng pagkakataon na tuparin ang mga pangarap nila. May pangalan sila at mukha. Bago sana kayo magsalita ng kung ano ano, konting sensitivity naman po lalo na sa mga namatayan,” the actress said.
[I won’t get tired to say it repeatedly, they are not just numbers. They are children who lost the chance to make their dreams come true. They have names and faces. Before you talk like that, please have even some sensitivity especially to those who lost their loved ones]
“I can’t begin to imagine the pain of what it’s like to lose a child. My prayers go out to these kids and their families,” she added.
Jennylyn is one of the most active celebrities on social media. She has been very vocal with her opinions about different social and political issues.
