perspectives

we all have our own views on different things. some are downright absurd, others highly contestable! yesterday, in my labor and economy class at the university of the philippines' school of labor and industrial relations where i cross-registered, we discussed if the shift to a parliamentary form of government will subsequently improve the country's ailing economy. the country has adopted the presidential form of government since the philippine commonwealth (1935) and we have yet to experience economic glory! although the majority of the class was convinced that the presidential form is at present more viable vis-a-vis the parliamentary system, all of us are convinced that it is actually not the system or form of government that will bring about economic prosperity, but the people who man the government.

i found the discussion intellectually stimulating for the most part of it, albeit the amusing opinions of my other classmates. some fused the interplay of religion and culture, for which i personally disagree. i think it was a little off...they way it was articulated wasn't really proper i guess. i even played the devil's advocate in some other parts of the discussion.

in the class we have varied backgrounds. there's a lady lawyer, a former UP professor, we have call center agents, NGO workers, i'm there! but a majority are HR practitioners. demographically, the class has education majors back in college, political science, history, sociology, psychology, i'm an economics major. all of them are taking their master in industrial relations degree, im on my master in business management. but regardless of our conflicting backgrounds and varied interests, what stood out is the gamut of opinions that we have and shared in the class. i can only conclude that one's leanings are actually influenced by academic background, interests, personal convictions, and individual perspectives on things. and while some of their opinions may be amusing or heavily profound at times, what i experienced was the freedom to express my own views and perspectives on things...for which i was respected and heard...feels great!