by the Bohol Tribune news bureau
Actor, singer, chef and University of Bohol (UB) law student Victor Neri revealed some of his insights and passion in life as he shared his thoughts with the Boholano audience in particular and the media world in general during a face to face radio interview over DYTR’s Bohol Tribune Program dubbed as “Open Forum, Bukas nga Panagsultihay” on Feb. 1, 2023 hosted by the triumvirate of Ardy Araneta-Batoy, Atty. Greg Austral and Dave Albarado.
Victor Luis Juan Hilado Neri in real life, the radio guest talked about law school, law practice, governance, media, the community, love life, Bohol, politics, etc. during the interview. He also tackled the subject matter on how the decisions and policies of government ought to impact the basic unit of government which is the barangay.
He has a sizeable experience in government as he used to be an assistant secretary for the Department of Social Welfare and Development and later on took the position of assistant secretary at the Department of the Interior and Local Government during the administration of former President Rodrigo Duterte. This is one of the glaring reasons he can speak about governance smoothly and spontaneously.
If he could return to government, he said, he will be more inclined towards joining the legislative department. He sees himself as a person who would be making laws or forging policies. He also said that being in the executive department is tough and It takes special skills to run a town or a province.
“Personality wise, I believe I fit in the legislature. I’d rather effect change through policy than implement an executive mandate,” he said during the interview.
During his time in government, he recalled how then Pres. Duterte would remind young officials like him to always decide towards the benefit of the people or resign from the post. He also stressed that if a person is not willing to sacrifice his political capital, then he or she should leave the government.
Part of the reason Neri is studying law at the University of Bohol (UB) is because he wanted to get to know more about jurisprudence as he is really attracted to the prospect of lawmaking. He said he finds UB’s law program attractive. At the same time, he fell in love with Bohol. For Neri, the resilience of Boholanos is admirable. He added that Bohol is like Cebu without the traffic. He said that his study in law is making him feel more humble and is allowing him to understand lawyers better. He realized that in his law studies, he came to know that people would violate laws without knowing they already made transgressions.
FIX THE PEOPLE NOT JUST THE SYSTEM
Neri said that it seems that we are already giving up on ourselves and are blaming the system for our woes. He emphasized that systemic change alone will not solve the problem if the people who run the system lack discipline. He then posed a question: Are we going to change the system or change the people who run the system?
“Ang isang sasakyan magiging reckless yan kung reckless ang driver. Eh kung nakapark ang sasakyan peaceful naman yung sasakyan,” he quipped.
Since he likes to enter into the world of the legislature, he believes no one can legislate his or her way in order to solve the pressing problems of the country. It is important, he said, that the people working within the confines of the system, are disciplined enough to solve the problems of the country.
“We hope to have moral people running the country,” he suggested.
He also expressed his wish for the next generation and that is for the young to come up with better solutions to the country’s woes like corruption. He believes that the next generation has the capacity and tools to effect change that will make this country great, he added.
Neri said it would be best to revisit the system and find out which areas can be improved through legislation so that problems like corruption can be solved.
LIGHTER SIDE
Happy birthday, Mr. Victor Neri!. Today, Feb. 19, is his birthday. He was born on Feb. 19, 1976.
He is a chef. He took up culinary arts because his parents wanted him to be multi-dimensional. He gained several skills as a chef with discipline as one of the best he learned in the study.
VISION FOR THE MEDIA
Neri was asked about his vision for the media industry and and its workers. He said that traditional labor practices should not be applied to the media industry. He rather sees a specialized set of standards for the media workers and the industry. He believes the media industry is totally different from other types of trade, hence, should be given different rules.
He said media people have certain practices that other people outside the industry would not understand. He added that it is best to come up with legislation that would promote the welfare of people in the media and at the same time protect the interest of the investors.
Finally, Neri ended the interview by saying he is open to have a lasting relationship with a Boholana. He has learned to love Bohol and that love would be totally glued if he will have a Boholana for a lifetime partner.