Senator Alan Peter Cayetano on Monday urged Filipinos to always be mindful of the values and habits they encourage in their children, saying these may either benefit or cause problems for them in the future.
“Kapag ang itinuturo natin sa mga bata ay ang tama, hanggang pagtanda po ay maganda ang ating lipunan. Pero kung ang lalabas po sa ating bibig ay tsismis o mapang-api, at kung bata pa lang ay tinuturuan na silang magsinungaling o magmura, magkakaroon po tayo ng problema,” he said.
The senator made the comment at the Monday flag ceremony of the City Government of Taguig, which held a program to mark National Oral Health Month at the City Hall grounds on February 13, 2023.
He noted that it is important to teach young people values because they are very impressionable and will carry the behaviors – both good and bad – that they learn as children into adulthood.
“Kung ano-ano pong pinaggagawa natin sa kamay nila, tapos natatawa tayo. Kung ano-anong malalaswa pinapasabi natin kasi cute kapag bata sila, pero pagdating ng teenager, problema niyo na, ayaw nang umuwi, nagpa-party, may teenage pregnancy, nagda-drugs. Bakit po? Eh lumaking hindi alam kung ano ang tama at mali,” he said.
Referencing the Biblical image of the church as one body, Cayetano encouraged Filipinos to view themselves as part of the same body, and to be more compassionate towards one another in order to contribute to solving the country’s post-pandemic challenges.
“Binabanggit ko po ito dahil marami pong sakit ng ngipin ang ating lipunan, at y’ung sakit ng ngipin po na yan ay ramdam ng buong katawan,” he said.
Taking a cue from the city’s National Oral Health Month celebration, the senator also asked the local government employees to make life easier for Taguig taxpayers in order to deepen the public’s level of trust towards City Hall.
“Pakiusap ko po, pray, support, and do everything na maging successful ang mga businesses sa Taguig para ang pakiramdam nila, ang pagbabayad ng tax is just one joyful moment of their existence in Taguig, hindi (parang) pagbubunot ng ngipin,” he said.
“Katulad ng tema ng oral health month, let’s take care of our taxpayers like we take care of our teeth para habang buhay maganda ang smile nila at maganda po ang takbo ng ating mahal na siyudad,” the senator added.
