The government is not the best employer
Do not encourage your children to work in government. Public service can be hazardous to their life, career, and peace and happiness.
I have spent more than 20 years of my career in government service, mostly in DOLE and in the judiciary. My conclusion is (no offense to my friends in the bureaucracy) the government is not a good employer. I would not advise any of my children to work in the civil or career service, elective or appointive. There is no security of tenure. If they want to build a case against you for political or other reasons, you can be removed even based on rumors. The system stinks and crab mentality is the name of the game. If you are mediocre you can be kicked out for gross incompetence, if you are a high performer you can be falsely charged of anything from SALN to errors in bidding procedures.
I also spent 25 years in the private sector, and can proudly say a corporate and business career is more rewarding financially and for self-satisfaction. There is less politics in the business world, and there is more emphasis on merit and fitness for excellence in performance, and the pay is five times higher. All my retirement money from the three big corporations I served were enough to acquire real estate, cars, travels all over the world, and high quality of education for my five children. But when I joined the government again whatever assets and money left of my retirement fees were all spent living up to the style of my business life. That is why I never have had any problem with unexplained wealth. My problem is unexplained poverty. Where did all my retirement money go?
Well, they say we have to serve our country and people. Yes, but not for a lifetime. In my case, I served in government for 20 years and the private sector for 45. At night I worked as a Law professor, Bar reviewer, and authored Law books. That is why I have multiple incomes. But most of what I earned was spent when I returned to being DOLE Undersecretary and Labor attaché. That is why I can say the government is not really a good employer. Government imposes too many rules and regulations upon private employers, yet is the number one violator of Labor laws, standards, social legislations, and occupational safety and health standards. Government is the number one violator of security of tenure.
Look what they did to the late chief justice Corona and to Sereno. Look what happened to Gina Lopez and Judy Taguiwalo. They had excellent careers before the government and yet public service brought them shame and anguish. I received some offers to work in government under other administrations but I declined. COA drives away good people. The government owes me half a million pesos. When I was transferred from Kuwait to Taiwan because the bigwigs wanted my post for their favorites, the money advanced for plane fare and relocation was disallowed by COA because I did not serve my full term in Kuwait. COA is blind to the fact that it was not my decision to transfer. The bosses transferred me under pain of insubordination. And so they deducted that amount from my retirement. The boss who transferred me never lifted a finger to help.
The government is not a good employer. Oftentimes, it rewards mediocres who are "yes" men, and punishes self-driven high-performers. I don't think I will encourage my children to work there.
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