Reflective Youth Perspective on Structural Reform

The book “Hybrid: A Proposal for a New Form of Government in the Philippines” written by Maria Gloria R. Adan is a bold and forward-thinking analysis of the country’s current political circumstances. In this informative work, Ms. Adan proposes a new hybrid style of governance that combines features of parliamentary democracy, constitutional monarchy, and federalism. Ms. Adan contends that such a system would effectively address long-standing challenges such as corruption, inefficiency, political instability, and regional disparities, eventually fostering effective accountability, creativity, and national harmony. It is also insightful that her concept is based on the political frameworks of successful nations such as Canada, Germany, and the United Kingdom, and has been painstakingly adjusted to the sociopolitical setting of the Philippines.

One thing I really appreciated about the book is how direct it is when addressing the problems in our current system. Ms. Adan talks about corruption, political dynasties, and inefficiencies that most Filipinos are already aware of, but she discusses them in a way that really hits home. For me, it made a lot of sense when she argued that small reforms would not be enough to fix a system that is deeply flawed. Especially since it has been continuously proven that a problem will only continue to sprout unless we put an end to its root. According to her, we need to think bigger and aim for total structural change.

What also stood out was how accessible the book is, especially for young readers like me. Even though it tackles heavy political concepts, Ms. Adan writes in a way that is easy to follow without oversimplifying the nature of things. She explains how each part of the hybrid system works – how parliamentary democracy can improve transparency, how a symbolic monarch could provide unity, and how federalism could empower local regions. She even uses relatable examples, like how Singapore’s government is known for being efficient, to make her points more understandable. Still, I did wonder if the idea of adding a monarchy might be too ambitious or unrealistic for our country.

Throughout the book, it is clear that Ms. Adan really wants to speak to the youth. She encourages young Filipinos to get involved, to question the system, and to be part of the solution. That message really resonated with me. It reminded me that we do not have to wait until we are older to make a difference. As students, we already have a voice, and we should use it to push for the kind of changes we want to see in our future.

Another thing I found interesting was how she connected politics with education and science. Ms. Adan talks about building research labs for political science and physics, which at first seemed like an odd combination, but the more I thought about it, the more it made sense. She is trying to show that real progress involves different sectors working together. I liked this idea, though I think the book could have explained more about how all of this would actually happen. For example, how would the government make such a big transition? What laws would need to change? Would people accept a new system that is so different from what we have always had?

There are also parts of the book that focus a lot on faith and morality, which some readers might appreciate, but others might find a bit restrictive, especially if they do not share the same religious beliefs. After all, we cannot deny that a considerable percentage of the Philippine population have varying beliefs. I understand that Ms. Adan wants leaders who are guided by strong values, but I think a more inclusive approach would have made the argument stronger for a wider audience.

As for the writing style, I found it inspiring overall, though at times it felt more emotional than academic. There were parts where I was not sure if a claim was backed by evidence or just the author’s personal belief. Also, I noticed that the book does not really include a lot of statistics to support the claims. As a student, I would have appreciated more facts or comparisons with how other countries have handled similar transitions. It would have helped strengthen the arguments and make them feel more grounded.

Still, even with those limitations, I think Hybrid is a valuable and thought-provoking read. It challenges us to imagine a different future for our country, and more importantly, it gives young people like me the motivation to believe that we can be part of that change. Not everyone will agree with Ms. Adan’s ideas, but it definitely starts the conversation. I would recommend this book to any fellow student who is curious about politics, governance, or just wants to think differently about how our country can move forward.