Republic of the Philippines
BULACAN STATE UNIVERSITY
The Graduate School Program
FOUNDATIONS OF EDUCATION
The Miseducation of the Filipino; A Reaction Paper
The essay written by the late historian Prof. Renato Constantino entitled: “The
Miseducation of the Filipino” receives different reaction and commentaries
because of it’s not popular, critical and activism – like literature. He focuses on
the missing sense of Nationalism that was expected to be embedded in the
country’s educational system.
As a Public-School Teacher who specialized in Social Studies, I completely agree
with his stand that The Filipinos are Miseducated. Nowadays, we can produce
educated people, competent enough on their chosen fields, able to give
themselves and their family a promising life. But one important sense is missing,
the sense of Nationalism. By the introduction and force implementation of
American – like education system, economic system, and politics. According to
Constantino, we are now being Americanized and we strive be a good colonial
of them.
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We, Filipino educators, should and must uphold the sense of Nationalism inside
our classroom. We must focus in helping these young Filipinos to have awareness
and consciousness in loving the Nation, but we need to apply it for ourselves first.
For us to achieve our common goals as an independent nation, we must
accept the challenge by standing in our own feet. Our knees should be trained
enough to carry our own weight. It is evident that we always want to share this
heavy burden with colonizers if they are here for us to solve our ignorance and
fear.
I am a Filipino teacher, and I will always be, I’m going to help this young people
inside my classroom, physical or virtual to be the best Filipino as they can be,
and I know that it will start with me. For us to be Filipinos Filipino, for us not be
quoted as miseducated.
Johnel S. Palafox
MAEd – Social Studies
2021105792
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