“We are foreigners in our own country.

" This line is not new to me since I have heard this

multiple times during my primary and secondary education. I thought this line just simply refers
us Filipinos who rather prefer to travel beyond Philippine shores than to explore the beauty of our
own. But when I came across the article “Miseducation of the Filipino People” by Renato
Constantino, I realize this ideology has something more and deeper to imply.

The article "Miseducation of the Filipino People" presents a fine example of how we have
been ignorant of the events in some parts of our history. It is not surprising that the idea and
analysis of Renato Constantino about the American occupation give emphasis on the proofs that
the motives of the white conquerors of our motherland was not pure. In fact, I agree with his
allegations and claims because even up to now we are still a living evidence of the damage left by
the Americans. I know the traces of yesterday seemed to be good in the eyes of the Filipinos who
doesn’t know much of the real thing, but in a critical perspective it is clearly evident how much
they have inflected in the system of our overall lifestyle.

It is so tragic to think that even after so many years we still remain as a shadow of those
invaders. It is mentioned in the article that through education it would have been possible for us to
grow and stand on our own feet and yet it also become the reason we are confined to the ideas and
cultures of the Americans. In a sense, their scheme of conquest was great. Unlike the methods of
the Spanish, American seized us through shaping our minds. We were cultivated by them in a
manner with no apparent trace of their true intentions.

There are many concepts presented by the author that has been taken for granted by the
leaders, curriculum planners and other key players in the education system in the country. It is
evident that no educator has come up with an educational system that is nationalist.

The author emphasizes in the essay that the educational system is patterned in the American
educational system which worked in the beginning. But in the end, after we gain our own
independence, the context of the educational system no longer worked because it is good only for
American framework.

Filipinos were conquered by the Americans through education. Constantino reiterated that
capturing the mind is the best means of conquest. Thus, Filipinos were educated by the Americans
to become good colonials. Filipinos were taught to write, read, speak in English; Filipinos became
literate, but were brain washed and became strangers to their native land; to the culture and history
of their own country. In fact, there are many Filipinos who can uttered foreign words better than
their own language. Because the wrong education bequeathed to us, the quality of the current
education has been greatly affected.
 Education was established based on the American framework by the Americans not just
for the purpose of educating the Filipinos but also to preserve and remain their control to our
country.

Filipinos were disoriented to their nationalist goals because they had to become good
colonials. The use of English as medium of instruction caused division among the Filipinos;
educated were separated from the masses. “They had to forget their past and unlearn nationalist
virtue in order to live peacefully, if not comfortably, under the colonial order.” Filipinos learned
the lives of the American Heroes, sang American Songs and forgot about their past, their culture
and from where they belong. They live their life the American way. Filipinos became “LITTLE
AMERICANS”.

Economically, politically, culturally, the US is the master of our own house. They lay little
emphasis on the kind of nationalism Filipinos need. Americans inculcate to Filipinos since the first
grade that they were a benevolent nation who came to the Philippines to save us from Spain, when
in fact they were colonizing the country through education. The country was portrayed by
Americans as an Agricultural nation that should remain as one. They instill to the Filipino minds
that industrialization is not good for them. Our countrymen were pleased of the “STATE SIDE”
products and forgot about the products made in the country. Filipinos never thought that they too
could industrialize and was left behind by other Asian countries like Japan.

Constantino also contended that because of this American orientation, the new economic
emancipation and assertion of political sovereignty pushed our educators to reexamine education’s
general approach, values and philosophy. The 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.
Philippine education therefore must produce Filipinos who are aware of the country’s problems
and who understand the basic solutions for these problems. It should also produce Filipinos who
care enough and have courage to work and sacrifice for the country.

Reading Renato Constantino’s essay made me realize that there’s more than what we think
in our current educational system. There is an unending problem that had strike the foundation of
our education curriculum and the worse thing is that it had affected Filipinos massively and
extensively. No wonder why students these days no longer want to work in the country which
causes brain drain everywhere in the archipelago.
 Reality hurts, but obviously we are a great example of a country that doesn’t seem to have
a deeply-rooted sense of nationalism. Many Filipinos prefer foreign songs than OPM songs. Others
love signature products (“state side”) than Philippine made stuffs. Many youth don’t even know
the history, culture of our dear Philippines. A great number of the population doesn’t care about
the social and political issues in the country. Worst of all, many of our leaders think that we cannot
progress without the help of other foreign countries, a concrete example is letting the United States
of America to intervene with the way our government leaders run our country. The American
education stresses the importance of the ability to compete internationally and we simply follow
their belief without knowing that our own nationalism is gone.

I agree when the author said that the truest aim of education is to train people of their
unique individuality as one nation. Curriculum planners must come up with a curriculum or
educational system that is one hundred percent Filipino. They must provide every Filipino with an
educational system that would arouse and develop our nationalism and love for our country.
Furthermore, Filipinos should not only go to school to have their diplomas but should also embed
to these their desire to graduate and help/serve the country.