RECENT CONTROVERSIES surrounding the first 100 days of President Rodrigo Duterte’s administration sparked discourse and commentary from the Atenean community about the prospects of working for the government after graduation.
Some of the controversial issues include the extrajudicial killings and threatening statements towards other heads of state such as United States President Barack Obama.
Despite this, the Bagumbayani Initiative, an unaccredited organization in the Ateneo aimed towards the promotion of civil service to the youth, continues to stand by its advocacy amidst the declining appeal towards the government work.
Road less travelled?
According to a survey conducted by the Loyola Schools Office of Placement and Career Services among 738 respondents, of 384 Ateneans who graduated in 2014 and are currently working, 5.21% entered into government service within a year of graduation.
From 2006 to 2014, Batch 2013 reported the highest percentage of Ateneans entering government, at 8.77% of 228 currently working alumni.
Ambivalent views
Ateneans gave mixed reactions when asked to consider job opportunities in the government. Several Ateneans claimed that the performance of the current administration influenced their take on civil service.
Management Economics sophomore Sophia Valencia said that she initially had no intention of working for the government. However, given the current President’s leadership, she has been further convinced to dismiss the idea.
Similarly, Management-Honors sophomore Denisse De Guzman said that government work no longer appeals to her.
“No. I [don’t want] work for someone who believes that killing people can solve the problem,” De Guzman said.
However, several Ateneans see the situation in a different light.
According to Creative Writing senior Katrina Bonillo, given the current situation, she is all the more willing to work for the government after graduation.
“Now more than ever, the government needs the youth who are not only exposed to and are critical of the administration, but are also willing to take any step that may be crucial in changing unjust structures,” said Bonillo.
She added that the presence of the youth in the government may contribute new viewpoints that current politicians can think about.
Meanwhile, Management Engineering senior Paolo Parungo expressed that the shortcomings of the administration did not influence his willingness to enter government work.
“There are still a lot of sectors in the Philippines that need help, there are still a lot of Filipinos who have concerns that aren’t being addressed.” said Parungo.
In addition, supersenior Alo Lantin (AB DS ’16, BS CTM ’17) notes that the good in the government deserves attention more than the bad.
“Good people in the government working hard to do good things in an ethical way for the sake of the country is welcome any day of the week, and now more than ever given the current social climate.” Lantin said.
Furthermore, Lantin said that dissatisfaction should be more of a driving force in working for the government.
“If you don’t like what the government is doing right now, why not hop in there and try to make some change and try being that good person you think the government means? Because if you think about it, if you give up on the government and leave it to these people you don’t agree with, then the government isn’t going to change and nothing is going to change,” he added.
Need for youth
In light of this, Bagumbayani President Lyonel Tanganco maintained that in order to correctly address our concerns with the present government, misconceptions that come with this type of work must be cleared out. Tanganco has had experience working at the Department of Finance.
“There are plenty of fears that surround government work. I think that a lot of them involve practical considerations, like the pay, the training, and the notion that ‘makakain ka ng sistema (the system will devour you),’” Tanganco noted, also disputing the notion that the government is full of corrupt and incompetent people.
On the other hand, Bagumbayani member Robie Miranda believes in the power and potential of the modern youth.
“The youth isn’t powerless. We have in our hands the potential to shape the nation’s future – a power that can be made stronger through early exposure to government initiatives and active participation in the pursuit of clean and effective governance. Technology is on our side as well,” he said.
Tanganco believes that we should use our concerns as a motivation to go into the government and address them ourselves.
“I think that we often complain about how lousy and ineffective our government is, so why don’t we join it instead?” he said.
Tanganco assured Ateneans that the upcoming projects for Bagumbayani are steps toward the goal of inspiring the students to join the civil service.
“I think that what we can promise also is the companionship of really passionate and talented young people who have been or are still in the civil service,” Tanganco added.
As for upcoming projects, Miranda notes that the organization is currently preparing for an upcoming conference intended “to advertise the government as a desirable career path after graduation in terms of impact, personal growth, and even pay scale.”
