Dianne Margarette M.

Delos Santos 10 – Josefa Llanes Escoda

Qualities of an Educated Filipino

Does being educated always mean having a degree or being excellent in school? Some
think that it’s enough to talk, read, and listen to be called an educated person. However, in our
country, what qualities do we have to possess to consider ourselves as an educated Filipino? 

According to Dean Benitez, the training of the individual for the duties and privileges of
citizenship isn't only for his own happiness and efficiency but also for national service and
welfare. To be an educated Filipino is to have integrity and respect for the community he/she is
moving in, especially with the people around it. Shouldn’t we always think critically about every
action or decision that we choose to make and what or who will it affect? Me, as a person, chose
numerous impulsive choices that led into awful moments. Thus, the more we think through the
difficult situations and assess it properly, the more we’re going to be able to develop ourselves as
we generally grow as educated Filipinos. 

 It is important for us people to be aware of our history, culture, and traditions. We can,
or should I say, specialize our own first before the other countries. Just like what I have
understood from Dean Benitez’s essay, can we call ourselves educated if we’re mindless about
the history and culture of our own land? We must learn to cherish what belongs to us or what
was granted to us.

An educated Filipino, lastly, must be grateful and modest with the success or
achievement she had, has, and will have throughout his/her life. He/she must not be self-
centered, has an equal perspective for everyone, and many more. Good manners are his/her
priority.

At times, having the degree or being outstanding academically would be enough to be

called an educated Filipino. We get to overlook that demeanor and propriety still matters as
qualities to possess. Not to mention, when we encounter a person that just doesn’t know their
limits and gets way out of the boundary just to prove their point even if it’s going the wrong way
already. Keeping up the moral conduct is what would help us improve, not only ourselves, but
also the people that surround us. 

To put it all together, the qualities a someone should have to be an educated Filipino are
to have integrity and respect to his/her community and his/her people; cherish and take care of
the world’s treasure; the history, culture, and races, especially prioritizing well manners and
moral conduct as we keep on developing.