(UPDATE) The buzzer rang.
And the wife of Senator Manuel "Manny" Villar ran out of time to expound her statement, which drew the ire of thousands of Filipino nurses.
"Ang sinasabi namin sa kanila na 'actually, hindi naman kailangan ng nurse na matapos ang BSN (BS Nursing). Kasi itong mga nurses, gusto lang nilang maging room nurse," Villar said, as she responded to a question posed by Winnie Monsod.
"(Kasi) sa Amerika or sa other countries, ano lang sila parang mag-aalaga... Hindi naman kailangan silang maging ganong kagaling," she said in Pagsubok sa mga Kandidato aired over GMA News TV.
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The economist asked Villar to substantiate her desire to help the poor
when she allegedly sided with the owners of nursing schools accused of
providing low-quality education to students.
"How can you reconcile the seeming disconnect [between] 'yung desire ninyo to help
the poor at saka yung pagpapanig niyo sa mga owners ng mga educational
institutions na gustong isara...," Monsod asked Villar.
To which Villar initially responded that CHED already issued permits for
the schools to open and that the owners have already invested in
nursing equipment.
Villar was the chair of House Committee on Higher Education, which
stopped a government agency from suspending 23 nursing schools in 2005
to 2006.
The Commission on Higher Education (CHED) was trying to address poor
training that students get from low quality nursing schools.
She argued it was unfair for the 23 nursing schools to be suspended
after investing on its facilities, which CHED earlier found lacking of
tertiary hospitals where students can train.
"Tiningnan namin yung parang syllabus at yun bang mga courses na kukunin
nila at nakita namin na after lang sa third year nila kailangan yung sa
tertiary hospitals," she explained.
"So ni-request lang namin na hindi ipasara ang pre-nursing, ying first two years," she noted.
Rage and explanation
Villar issued a statement on her Facebook fanpage after her answer went viral on social networking sites.
"The issue was really beyond me. I just interceded as chairperson of the
House Committee on Higher and Technical Education. I have no power
neither over CHED nor the nursing schools. As I said, my conciliatory
efforts were overtaken by events—the charges filed by the schools
against CHED officials," she said.
"The 30-second limit for me to answer the question posed on the news
program was too short to give the complete details surrounding the
issue. I hope that this statement will clarify the issue. I am sorry if
it has created confusion. Thank you," Villar added. The Facebook statement, even the fanpage, were however no longer available by 5:00 pm Sunday.
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But several nurses took to Villar's facebook fanpage their sentiments.
"Hope I'll be given the chance to take care of you to make you feel and
realize the we nurses deserve respect and honor," said Nelia Panuayan.
Quei Canlas Vitangcul added: "The purpose of time pressure on debate is
that it takes the very core of your SENSES and INTELLECT. Too bad you
lack the latter."
Cristy Capili-Bunag also said: "Mabuti pa si Pres. Obama mataas ang
pagkakilala sa mga Filipino Nurses.....pero itong Aleng ito na kapwa
nating Pinoy....mababa ang pagkakilala sa ating mga Nurses. Hanep ka
talaga Aling Cynthia Villar."
