บท 19: Chapter 19: Changes
Clad in his customary uniform, Alfonso strolled along the hallways en route to his office. Alejandro accompanied him, his watchful eye catching a hint of peculiarity in Alfonso's gait.
"Sir, did you trip or something?" Alejandro inquired, tilting his head to the side, his curiosity evident.
Alfonso halted his stride, pivoting to face Alejandro. With a subtle shake of his head, he responded, "No."
"Hmm…" Alejandro mused, his skepticism lingering. His attention then shifted to a reddish mark on Alfonso's neck.
Noticing Alejandro's gaze, Alfonso swiftly adjusted his collar, concealing the discoloration.
"I see…I see…" Alejandro's lips curled into a knowing smile. A vague amusement danced in his eyes, a reaction that did not escape Alfonso's notice. Beads of perspiration formed on Alfonso's forehead, betraying a hint of discomfort.
"Why the grin, Alejandro?"
"Nothing… I was merely considering that Your Highness must have thoroughly enjoyed last night."
"You are indeed a perceptive one, Alejandro. Had you not discerned it, I might have contemplated your dismissal," Alfonso quipped, eliciting a chuckle from Alejandr. "Anyways, have the ministers arrived?"
"Yes, sir. They await you in your office." Alejandro reported, and they resumed their progress.
Upon stepping into his office, Alfonso was met by a group of ten ministers, each clad in military jackets. With a respectful bow, they greeted the youthful prince.
"Good morning, Your Majesty. We trust the day treats you kindly," they conveyed, their voices harmonizing as Alfonso made his way to his desk.
"I find myself in high spirits," Alfonso responded, settling into his chair. "Relax, ministers."
Following his directive, the ministers congregated before his desk, bearing brown manila envelopes containing official documents.
"Let us commence. What issues adorn our agenda today?"
Prime Minister Sergio exchanged a discreet glance with a colleague before catching Alfonso's attention. Alfonso's gaze shifted to the minister, the Minister of Agriculture, signaling the discussion to take a specific turn.
The minister who had received the prompt snapped to attention and stepped forward, presenting a manila envelope to Alfonso.
The envelope was substantial, hinting at voluminous contents within. Opting to postpone its perusal, Alfonso engaged the Minister of Agriculture, seeking elucidation. "Pray, enlighten me on the contents of this."
The Minister of Agriculture cleared his throat before addressing Alfonso. "Your Majesty, this concerns a land reform bill that has received an overwhelming majority vote in Parliament."
"Kindly elucidate."
The minister complied with a nod. "Indeed, Your Majesty. The Parliament has been diligently seeking avenues to achieve a more equitable land distribution. The current allotments for commoners have proven insufficient for them to sustain a viable income. This amendment aims to rectify that, aspiring for the lands allocated to commoners to contribute to our nation's economy and the well-being of our populace, thereby fortifying our empire."
"How does it intend to achieve this?" Alfonso inquired.
The Minister of Agriculture resumed his explanation. "Predominantly, vast tracts of land have been under the control of landlords, totaling over 100 million hectares. The bill proposes that the state purchase twenty percent of these lands annually, subsequently selling them to the farmers at significantly reduced rates."
"So essentially, it's a comprehensive land redistribution?"
The Minister of Agriculture confirmed, "Indeed, Your Majesty. Coupled with the provision of new fertilizers and machinery for distribution among the farmers, this agrarian reform will foster heightened agricultural output. This, in turn, will bolster food security, alleviate poverty in rural households, and lay the foundation for industrialization as it bolsters your infrastructure endeavors by bolstering urban provisions."
A contented smile graced Alfonso's lips, signifying his satisfaction with the proposed agrarian reform's potential effects.
He recollected a time when commoners fervently demanded equitable land distribution. It appeared that Parliament had duly prioritized this matter.
"In that case, I shall affix my signature to the bill."
Alfonso, as the Philippine head of state, conferred legal validity upon the newly passed land reform law by affixing his signature to the document.
Given Parliament's diligent efforts and the anticipation for prompt outcomes, Alfonso retrieved a pen and endorsed the legislation.
With this act, the bill achieved its objective and gained legal force.
The Minister of Agriculture's smile radiated satisfaction upon witnessing the signed document.
Alfonso returned the manila envelope to him, a gesture received with gratitude by the Minister of Agriculture.
"Who is next in line?"
"Sir!" Emmanuel, the Minister of Finance, raised his hand and approached. "This pertains to a newly legislated tax policy, also ratified by Parliament."
Alfonso accepted the brown envelope, meticulously scrutinizing its contents. Given the intricate nature of taxation, he recognized the imperative of studying its contents thoroughly before appending his signature.
The proposed tax legislation introduced a unified tax structure, with rates stratified based on citizens' income brackets. The objective of the new tax policy was to facilitate a more equitable tax framework for the government.
Alfonso stood and directed his gaze out of the expansive office windows. His eyes traced the motion of leaves as they danced in the wind, a moment of contemplation.
With a nod of affirmation, he voiced his decision. "Very well…I shall approve it."
Carefully, he unsealed the envelope, extracting the enclosed document, and proceeded to affix his signature, endorsing the legislation in a deliberate manner.
In a manner akin to earlier, he returned the manila envelope to the Minister of Finance, who accepted it with an elated smile that underscored his satisfaction.
His gaze swept across the room as he inquired, "Are there any other bills that necessitate my signature?"
"Y-yes, Your Majesty…this is a longstanding endeavor. We believe it will culminate in the much-needed transformation of our archaic educational paradigm, fostering a contemporary approach…"
Alfonso shifted his focus to the Minister of Education, his interest piqued. "Please continue…"
"Certainly, Your Majesty. The education reform entails a comprehensive strategy aimed at overhauling the educational framework in the Philippines. In the erstwhile system, the privilege of education was exclusively reserved for the elite, leaving the commoners and peasants marginalized. Through this reform, we seek to embolden Article 14, which pertains to education, science, technology, arts, culture, and sports, mandating that the State safeguard and advance every citizen's entitlement to quality education across all tiers. We are committed to ensuring accessibility to such education through appropriate measures.
The revamped educational structure will encompass five tiers. These include primary education (K-6), lower secondary education (junior high school, grades 7-10), upper secondary education (grades 11-12), vocational studies, and the tertiary level, which in turn encompasses undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral studies. Commencing from K-12, education for the masses will be bereft of financial encumbrances and eligible candidates can avail themselves of school vouchers and scholarships to facilitate their pursuit of higher learning. Moreover, we are in liaison with private institutions regarding the implementation of the restructured standardized education paradigm. Your Majesty, in line with these reforms, we are also strategizing the construction of new schools to accommodate students. Furthermore, there are plans to establish a prominent institution, the Central University of the Philippines, to stand as a source of national pride. That concludes the overview, Your Majesty," the Minister of Education articulated.
Alfonso's countenance brightened in response to the comprehensive educational reform initiative outlined before him. Since the inception of daily ministerial meetings, reshaping the Philippine educational landscape had occupied a central slot on their agenda. The empire boasted a populace of fifty million, yet a significant proportion remained mired in illiteracy. A contemporary economy cannot flourish amid dilapidated infrastructure and a largely uneducated populace. There had been rumblings among his ministers that bestowing widespread educational access could yield unforeseen challenges. He, however, deemed such concerns as unfounded apprehensions. The notion that enlightened citizens might one day rise against the government neither alarmed nor deterred him. He held a profound respect for their right to voice dissent, even if it pertained to the unfortunate plight that commoners had endured since the empire's inception. It was, after all, a commitment he had extended to them.
Alfonso seized the pen and affixed his signature to the education reform bill, marking the initiation of the novel educational paradigm scheduled to be implemented in the forthcoming academic year.
"Is there any other matter requiring attention?" Alfonso inquired.
Silence prevailed, and no voices rose, nor hands ascended. Settling back into his seat, Alfonso leaned on his hand, supporting his chin in contemplation.
"Very well, with that resolved, let's delve into the progress of my infrastructure bill. Sergio, what updates can you provide?"
"The commencement of the voting is slated for four days from now, Your Highness," Sergio reported. "The Parliament, diligently engaged in refining your proposed bill, shall furnish us with a copy two days before the voting. This shall facilitate your review of the bill's amendments."
Alfonso acknowledged Sergio's update with a nod, recognizing the intricate workings of bureaucratic procedures. His attention shifted to the Minister of Internal Affairs, intending to broach a discussion. Yet, before he could voice his query, Sergio interposed.
"Your Majesty, you must also peruse the allocated budgets for each ministry. Failure to do so could imperil the submission to Parliament, potentially leading to a government shutdown."
"Is that the case?" Alfonso mused, his head tilting in reflection. In the absence of a legislative entity, budget approvals rested with the reigning monarch – himself. However, now with the advent of a governing body, every ministry's budget necessitated Parliament's endorsement. An inaugural term marred by a government shutdown was an outcome he fervently wished to circumvent. "Very well, furnish them to me by tomorrow."
The ministers bowed in concurrence, heads collectively lowered.
His attention redirected to the Minister of Internal Affairs. "Andrés, what headway has been made concerning the communist matter?"
"As we converse, Your Majesty, we are actively tracing the trail," Andrés replied, beads of perspiration adorning his brow.
"It would be prudent for you to do so," Alfonso intoned coolly. "Failure may render your tenure as my Minister of Internal Affairs untenable."
"I am acutely cognizant of the far-reaching implications should proceedings deviate from the intended course, Your Majesty," Andrés conceded, his bow suffused with solemnity.
"Excellent. Let us set this aside for now. Shall we convene our daily assembly?"
The ministers consented, ushering in a session that extended beyond two hours.
With the adjournment of the meeting, Alfonso promptly vacated his office, summoning Alejandro, who had stood sentry near the doorway since his superior's entrance.
"What is your request, sir?"
"Prepare the vehicle; we are embarking on a journey."
"May I inquire about our destination, sir?"
"The Central Bank of the Philippines."
Once dubbed the Royal Bank of Spain, the institution's nomenclature was refashioned following Alfonso's ascension to leadership. This central bank served as the repository for Alfonso's liquid assets, accrued from relinquishing his claim to the Spanish Throne and liquidating his Spanish holdings.
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