Manuel ruthlessly fact-checks VP Duterte's book

Manila Bulletin

Makabayan solon Kabataan Party-list Rep. Raoul Manuel held nothing back as he fact and grammar-checked Vice President Sara Duterte's controversial book for children titled, "Isang Kaibigan (A Friend)".   Manuel did so during the House Committee on Appropriations' deliberation on the Office of the Vice President's (OVP) proposed P2.037-billion budget for 2025.   READ MORE: https://mb.com.ph/2024/8/28/manuel-ruthlessly-fact-checks-vp-duterte-s-book-banahaw-baka-anahaw  Subscribe to the Manila Bulletin Online channel! - https://www.youtube.com/TheManilaBulletin  Visit our website at http://mb.com.ph Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/manilabulletin  Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/manila_bulletin Instagram: https://instagram.com/manilabulletin Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@manilabulletin  #ManilaBulletinOnline #ManilaBulletin #LatestNews

Transcript

00:00Topic, Madam Chair, since the OVP wants a 2025 budget,

00:06we can also talk about it aside from the past budgets.

00:09Madam Chair, I'd like to discuss the 10-million-peso project of the children's book.

00:15Madam Chair, since the resource person doesn't want a question and answer,

00:20then my way is not to ask.

00:25Tell the committee who is the editor of this children's book.

00:31Madam Vice President.

00:35Madam Chair, all the answers are...

00:39Oh, that's not in the opening statement.

00:42I will forgo the opportunity to defend the Office of the Vice President 2025 budget proposal

00:48by question and answer, and I will leave it to the House of Representatives

00:51to decide the proposal as could be the name of the auditor of the children's book.

00:59That's what happens when you don't ask a question.

01:03I asked the resource person to tell the name, but they might not be able to distinguish which is the question and which is not.

01:10But since the editor of the children's book doesn't want to give the name,

01:13this is our point, Madam Chair.

01:15The book contains many errors.

01:18Okay, let's see.

01:20It includes leaves of banahaw.

01:23There are no leaves of banahaw.

01:25Maybe it's anahaw.

01:27The word sila should be sina.

01:30Then the word walang awa should have hyphen.

01:33Then, Madam Chair, it also says that the roots of kuwago are placed on a branch.

01:40Madam Chair, experts say that the owl's nest is not placed on a branch.

01:45It's either under a tree or under the ground.

01:49Next, Madam Chair, this book is not child-friendly as per our writers.

01:55Because when it's a children's book, Madam Chair, not only is the text important, but also the visuals, Madam Chair.

02:01So the illustrations are not cohesive.

02:03The elements are placed in the background.

02:05Then, it's low value for illustrations.

02:09Because, Madam Chair, even if the name of the illustrator is small compared to the author's name,

02:15well, in fact, for a children's book, the role of the illustrator and author is very important.

02:21Also, Madam Chair, in the content, it imposes how a friend should behave.

02:27But, Madam Chair, for children's books, it should not impose anything on the child.

02:32It should be fun.

02:33The child should be happy reading the book.

02:37So, Madam Chair, this book that is proposed, funded,

02:41and actually, our topic is the 2025 budget.

02:44The resource person wants to limit it to the 2025 budget, but it's still not being answered.

02:48But this book, Madam Chair, will just contribute to the worsening of the learning crisis.

02:55It's not actually child-friendly.

02:59That's why, Madam Chair, before I end the second round,

03:04because earlier, we also had an ad hominem.

03:07There was also disinformation about this representation.

03:10Madam Chair, if the books are okay, and if what you're saying is true about me,

03:15I would even suggest to the OVP to increase the budget.

03:17Maybe the Vice President will have five more books.

03:21Maybe there will be a special edition about the story of my life.

03:26But given, Madam Chair, that the standards of writing books do not really pass,

03:31and I also think, Madam Chair, that throughout this hearing,

03:35the budget of the Office of the Vice President was not successfully defended.

03:38So, personally, I'm inclined not to terminate the budget briefing for the Office of the Vice President.

03:47So, that's all for now. Madam Chair, thank you very much.

03:49Madam Chair.

03:50Yes, Madam Vice President.

03:52Yes.

03:53Ma'am, the name of the editor of the book is Raul Manuel.

04:00It's a joke, ma'am. You shrank it out of the record, if you want.

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