Is noodle a new symbol of education?

Is noodle a new symbol of education?

The action of the Department of Education to call off its feeding program using noodles of dubious nutritional value and alleged overprice is a reasonable and timely move. Otherwise, the department will open another reprehensible scandal under the present administration. The money to be spent for these noodles could be used wisely to improve school facilities especially now that there are many schools which noticeably lack school rooms, chairs, blackboards, among others.

However, what is also noticeable in public schools are the billboards of Sharon Cuneta which are strategically placed near school gates. Probably this is true not only here in the province of Cagayan but nationwide. One can never escape seeing these billboards upon entering the public school premises. In these billboards, Ms. Cuneta is seen as promoting noodles. Lucky are the schools if the manufacturer or Ms. Cuneta gives free noodles to these schools for their feeding program.

Are the schools selling school space for commercial advertisements? Did the Department of Education enter into a contract with the manufacturer of these noodles that the latter can use a space near the school gate where these billboards can be placed? Do the schools admit that they are implicitly endorsing the noodles advertised by Ms. Cuneta? Do these schools urge their pupils to buy the noodles too? What is the honest purpose of this commercial of Sharon Cuneta? Is the noodle a new symbol of education?

Schools should be commercial-free zones. Our children are already seeing many messages of these commercial advertisements on televisions. Seeing these billboards everyday in going to and from these schools does not make nor improve the grades of the pupils. These billboards only remind them that the husband of Sharon Cuneta Senator Francis Pangilinan is running for the vice presidency in 2010 elections.

In fairness to all concerned, I suggest that commercial billboards should be removed from the schools. Let us spare the schools from being used as places for commercial advertisements. More importantly, let us not use the schools for political gimmicks.