A History of the System of Education in the Philippines – Its Implication for the Present

Generation

React on the Article

In the midst of the crucial educational system faced by the Philippines today due to the
pandemic, I imagined how simple and elusive it was as I read the article. How it describes the
gradual adjustments of the Filipinos based on the different influences that also conquered the
historical highlights of our education. In the 1935 Constitution of the Philippines up to the 1977
Constitution before its revision in 1986, the aims/objectives of Philippine education is “to
develop moral character, personal discipline, civic-consciousness, love of country, vocational
efficiency and to teach the duties of citizenship.” Before the birth of constitution, basics of life is
the most essential aspect to be taught. Nothing more and nothing less. Thus, reading and
writing are the key elements and using weapons for survival added excitement to acquisition of
learning.

Let us start with the Spanish regime. In the article, it clearly defined how the Spaniards
influenced our educational system bringing forth Catholicism as the primary tool that should be
the prioritized. The sinister shadows of Spain self-indulgence darkened Philippine skies. Racial
discrimination was prevalent everywhere. Apart from this controversial the Spanish colonization
contributed most of our educational system. We cannot deny the fact that Spaniards influenced
some of the instructions and also has a great contribution in the development of our curriculum.

In the realm of Americans, a great relief was brought to our educational system. It made
me realized how this change brought a new chapter of our education. Since the American
occupation, religion is no longer mandatory as part of the instruction. This was the start of
something anew to look forward to. The Filipinos were able to get up from the shadows of
Spanish methods of instruction and began to become future civic, business and political
leaders. Imagine how we rise up and eventually established public and private schools.

I am very intrigued on the Iloilo experiment with the use of Hiligaynon as the medium of
instruction to certain grade levels. When I read the article about this, it brought my senses that
there are some subjects quite difficult to teach if Hiligaynon is introduced as the vernacular
instruction. In connection to this, the Mother Tongue-Based Multilingual Education popped up
on my head in which the vernacular language of a certain place or province is taught up to
grade 3.
 As of today, our educational system established a strong foundation despite of we have
been through. We should look forward and think of the future yet, we should not forget how did it
started – an epitome of survival.