Republic of the Philippines

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City, Metro Manila

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

House Bill No. 1101

Prepared jointly by
NATIONAL HISTORICAL COMMISSION OF THE PHILIPPINES &
REP. ELAINE MAE T. BERTILLO

EXPLANATORY NOTE

Philippine history is an essential component of national education. We strongly believe that

Philippine history should be imparted as a separate subject in all levels of the Philippine educational system,
including elementary, junior high, senior high, and college.
According to DepEd 20, 2014, Philippine History has been omitted from junior high school (and
senior high school).
Our ultimate goal is to give a comprehensive history education to our citizens in order to promote
true historical knowledge (as opposed to historical distortions), critical thinking, and genuine patriotism.
We seek to energize the heroic spirit of students, teachers, academics, researchers, historians,
professionals, OFWs, and other citizens in this quest in order to shape more Patriotic Filipinos. We can
motivate the Filipino for advancement by turning to the past in order to succeed in the future through certain
patriotic mentality.
At the same time, through the Humanities and Social Sciences, we promote a Filipinized
educational system, public dialogue, and pop culture. We seek to create a critical, reform-minded citizenry.
We ought to restore Philippine history as a separate subject in high school curricula while also
promoting Philippine history and culture to the wider Filipino public. We hope that by doing so, we may
promote good citizenship, patriotism, and historical/critical thinking.
In view of the foregoing, approval of this bill is earnestly sought.

….
ELAINE MAE T. BERTILLO
Representative
2nd District of Quezon City….
 Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City, Metro Manila

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

House Bill No. 1101

Prepared jointly by
NATIONAL HISTORICAL COMMISSION OF THE PHILIPPINES &
REP. ELAINE MAE T. BERTILLO

AN ACT
INSTITUTIONALIZING THE PHILIPPINE HISTORY IN JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL AND
SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL CURRICULA

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress assembled:

SECTION 1. Title. This Act shall be known as the “Philippine History Reestablishment Act of
2021.”

SECTION 2. Declaration of Policy. The State recognizes the right of the Filipino people to a
complete, adequate, and integrated system of education relevant to the needs of the people and society.

Moreover, it is the policy of the State to promote and inculcate patriotism and nationalism,
appreciation of the role of national heroes in the historical development of the country, strengthen ethical
and spiritual values, develop moral character and personal discipline, and encourage critical and creative
thinking.

SECTION 3. Definition of Terms. For purposes of this Act, the following terms are defined:

(a) “Philippine History” – a study, narrative, or account of our country's previous events and
developments, including how prior civilizations, institutions, ideologies, governments, cultures, and
technology were formed, how they functioned, and how they changed;

(b) “Junior High School” – a set of levels from 7th to 10th grade in high school;

(c) “Senior High School” – a set of levels from 11th to 12th grade in high school; and

(d) “Curricula” – also curriculum; the subjects comprising a course of study in school.
 SECTION 4. Reestablishment of Philippine History Subject in the Secondary Education. A
subject on the country’s history shall be restored in the curriculum of secondary and upper secondary
schools.

SECTION 5. Implementing Rules and Regulations. The Department of Education with the
assistance of National Historical Commission of the Philippines, shall, within one hundred and eighty (180)
days from the effectivity of this Act, reestablish the history subject which shall include, but not limited to
such topics as previous events, developments, prior civilizations, institutions, ideologies, governments,
cultures, technologies, and such other topics that would help addressing the rampant historical revisionism,
denialism, and misinformation. Said education program shall be implemented the following school year
after its reestablishment.

SECTION 6. Repealing Clause. All laws, decrees, executive orders, rules and regulations,
issuance or any part thereof inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are deemed repealed.

SECTION 7. Separability Clause. If any section or part of this Act is held unconstitutional, no
other section or provision shall be affected.

SECTION 8. Effectivity Clause. This law shall take effect after fifteen (15) days from publication
in the Official Gazette and in two (2) newspapers of national circulation.

Approved,