“Becoming a Filipino with A Deeply Rooted Nationalism Trough Filipino Education”

“BECOMING A FILIPINO WITH A DEEPLY ROOTED NATIONALISM TROUGH FILIPINO EDUCATION” is the strongest point the author is trying to point out in the essay “The Miseducation of the Filipinos”. Renato Constantino repeatedly reiterated that Filipinos lack nationalism because we are trained by Americans to be their colonials and not to become true Filipinos. We are educated based on the American education system, thus embracing the western/American culture caused many to forget about their own culture and became strangers of what they really are as Filipinos; which is evident even until this time.

The issue of nationalism can only be cured if the curriculum planners provide us with an educational system that is truly Filipino. As what the author said, the truest aim of education is to train people of their unique individuality as one nation. Thus, education of the Filipino must be a Filipino education. It must be based on the needs and goals of the nation. Its primary objective is to produce a citizenry that appreciates and is conscious of its nationhood and has national goals for the betterment of the community and not just people who know how to take care of themselves only.

Reality bites, that until now the issue of nationalism and lack of a nationalistic educational system is still existent. It is evident in the subjects offered in school, the overwhelming number of professionals who want to work abroad instead of serving the country, the trend of buying foreign made products like GUCCI, LOUIS VUITTON and many more signature brands than patronizing locally made products. Thus, the essay should still be read by the Filipinos of today to be enlightened by the points discussed in the essay.