MANILA, Philippines – Kim Robert De Leon, topnotcher of the most recent Environmental Planning Licensure Exam, believes strongly in an advocacy for his profession – making sure that more lands are being used for education.

According to De Leon, instead of expanding lands for schools, the government has responded to the demand for more classrooms by cramming buildings into existing, limited spaces.

The higher demand was brought about by the K to 12 program.

In an interview, the Navoteño gave Bagumbayan Elementary School, his alma mater, as an example.

“Lumiit na nang lumiiit [itong school] kakatayo ng building sa loob, so nawawalan ng open spaces. Minsan kapag may Recognition Day dito, ang sikip-sikip kasi may tatlong building at may mga kotseng naka-park,” he said. 

(This school lost open spaces because they constructed more buildings. When Recognition Day was held here, it was very crowded because there were 3 buildings and cars were parked.)

“So how do we prepare our educational facilities?” he added.

De Leon, who is finishing his master’s degree in urban and regional planning at the University of the Philippines Diliman, received the highest score among the 1,010 individuals who took the exam conducted by the Board of Environmental Planning, with a rating of 83.50%. A total of 542 or 53.6% passed the exam.

Valuing education

De Leon was a valedictorian all his life – from elementary to college at the UP National College of Public Administration and Governance (NCPAG), where he graduated magna cum laude in 2014.

While studying in UP, he traveled every day to school from Navotas. He also preferred taking 7 am classes, so he had to leave home as early as 5 am.

The public administration graduate believes that the reason he excelled was because he was doing what he loves.

“Siguro on the craft that I chose, doon kasi ako magaling, doon ako nag-enjoy. Pero kung dinala mo ako sa isang lugar na hindi ako kumportable, say engineering or maybe in accounting, ‘di siguro ako nag-excel,” De Leon said.

(Maybe the craft that I chose is the one I am good at, one I enjoyed. But if you put me in a field where I am not comfortable, say engineering or accounting, I might not be able to excel.)

He also shared that he spends his leisure time browsing government websites such as the Official Gazette, and reads up on laws or decrees. He recalled a time when his girlfriend saw him checking out a website of an office in UP Diliman, just reading the minutes of the meetings of the university’s Board of Regents.

“I’m not used to going to parties. Mas gugustuhin ko na mag-camp with the boys, do youth development stuff. Something that’s beneficial not for me, but for others, medyo cheesy, ganu’n,” he added in jest.

(I’m not used to going to parties. I would rather camp out with the boys or do youth development stuff. Something that’s not beneficial for me, but for others. It sounds cheesy, I know.)

Contributing to civic work

In his 5-year stay in college, De Leon chose not to be part of any student organization in UP. Instead, he devoted his time to civic work in his hometown. At 18, he lobbied for the passage of the Navotas Youth Code that created the Navotas City Council for Youth Development (NCCYD).

“I actually wrote a letter to the mayor to enact the [Navotas Youth Code] to codify the rules and policies with regards to development. While I was studying, I served as secretary. NCCYD takes care of various projects that concern youth development. [I believe that] youth development is a complex issue,” De Leon said.

He has also been active in the city’s program for the Boy Scouts of the Philippines, an organization he has been part of since Grade 1. Now, he works as scout executive in the city government. At 22, he is one of the youngest scout executives in the country.

“I just love kids and I believe in their potential – maybe this is the reason why I am passionate about youth development. I’m trying in my own little way to be the hope so that when I face the next generation, I can proudly say that I would not need to pass on the saying ‘You are the hope of the nation’, because I myself already tried to be the hope,” he said in a mix of Filipino and English, when asked about his love for scouting. 

Environmental planning

A week since the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) released the results of the Environmental Planning Licensure Exam, De Leon still receives congratulatory messages from friends and loved ones. But he had to clarify – the exam was not just about the environment.

“Under RA 10587 [Environmental Planning Law], the term used was environmental planning, when in fact, it’s also synonymous to urban and regional planning, town and settlements planning, etcetera. It’s a multi-sectoral field. It’s planning for limited resources of the country to make it sustainable for the future generation,” De Leon explained.

But he acknowledges the limitations of the profession, saying that an environmental planner “could only make good plans.”

“The primary dilemma of a planner is that we can make as many good plans as we want, but if those who commissioned us will not implement it, it’s useless. And if the ones implementing the project ay walang pakialam sa implications ng pagtatayo nila, as in for the sake na maitayo lang ‘yung building, balewala rin,” he added.

(And if the ones implementing the project don’t care about the implications of what they are building, it will be pointless.)

Asked if he plans to run for office someday, De Leon said he would be more inclined to stay out of politics.

“Mas gusto ko kasi ‘yung technical work. Mas gusto ko na nagpe-prepare ng technical briefs, projects, so you can see tangible results… At marami pang negative implications ‘pag pumasok ka sa politics.”

(I prefer technical work. I prefer preparing technical briefs and working on projects, so you can see tangible results… And there are many negative implications if you enter politics.)

But the UP NCPAG valedictorian, whose career is just starting, is not closing the door on politics.

“Naniniwala ako na kung destiny mo ‘yun, destiny mo ‘yun. Kung ikaw talaga ‘yun, ‘di mo mapipigilan ‘yun. Pero hindi para i-eye ko siya, ipilit ‘yung sarili ko. Pero kung iyon ‘yung destiny ko, pine-prepare ko naman ‘yung sarili ko,” he said. 

(I believe that if it’s your destiny, it’s your destiny. If it’s you, you won’t be able to stop it from happening. But I’m not eyeing it or forcing myself to take that path. But if that is my destiny, I will prepare myself for what’ll come.) – Rappler.com 

Dwight De Leon is the president of DZUP Radio Circle, the official student organization arm of DZUP 1602. He is also currently an intern for Rappler.