Letter to the editor: Stay in school

The Cebuano youth hold the future of our province. As such, they must go through their humanitarian tasks of growing up and getting educated.

I am disturbed by news of high school students quitting school. One of them was a neighbor of mine. She's 15 years old and was in 4th year high school prior to dropping out. When I asked her why she quit, she said she did it because of her passion in dancing. She and some friends (also dropouts) formed a cultural dance team hoping to get hired by local establishments and events organizers that specialize in shows. She even said that the two major tv networks have openings for local showbiz. She also mentioned the possibility (not promise) of representing Cebu in dance contests abroad. Not surprisingly, no solid details were explained.

Pursuing your dream is a common goal all of us share, but in my honest opinion, doing it at the expense of education is not only wrong but also immoral and irresponsible. As for Cebuano showbiz, there really is no industry existing (Visayan rock band scene is an exception). Shows that feature cultural dancing are not abundant despite our province's tourism drive, and the take home pay for cultural dancing never reaches P1,000. Even dancing on local television broadcasts attracts a non-existent audience.

With the poor health of Cebuano showbiz, it's best to stay away from that "industry" and stay in school. I urge all parents, guidance councilors and other concerned leaders to take responsibility in keeping all youths in school until they complete everything. They should also be vigilant against dishonest talent agents or show organizers who will no doubt exploit the ignorance and weaknesses of our youth.

Protect the youth and educate them so that Cebu's future will be safe and bright to us all.

Dina Layam

Aznar Road, Cebu City