MODULE 3
Activity 3.1
Philippine Educational Setting/System: Pepe’s Time vs. My Time
After reading the documents showing the education system in the
Philippines in Rizal’s time and today, I’ve got to make some comparison
between them. There are circumstances where Educational System in Rizal’s
Time is better than today and some instances where Educational system today
is better than Pepe’s Time.
Medium of Instruction: Pepe’s Time vs. My Time
During Rizal’s time, Spanish is the language used for teaching since the
teachers/instructors were Spanish Friars and it is also the language for
everyday conversation during Spaniards Colonization. Comparing it in today’s
time, I believe medium used today is better than Pepe’s time, since we have
been colonized by 3 countries where they gave great impact on our education
and language:
1. Spaniards – Spanish
2. Americans – English
3. Japanese – Filipino (During Japanese colonization, Japanese
condemned everything connected to Americans especially English
language and utilized speaking our own language)
In today’s time, we are able to compete globally and be fluent in universal
language unlike in Rizal’s era.
Students’ Freedom: Pepe’s Time vs. My Time
Since in today’s time, we are aligned with American Standards in terms
of educational system instituted by United States and right now, we have K-12
curriculum where students have interactive learning rather than one-way
discussion while in Rizal’s time, instructors feed them with information, when
Jose was the teacher, he rather teaches them everything, lifelong learning and
application of what we read in books, as what the movie shown. In this part, I
believe Rizal’s time was better. It is nice to have interactive learning, yes, but
the fact that in Rizal’s time, students really dedicate their time learning, because
education in that time is very hard to achieve unlike now. I’d rather prefer
instructors who are in control of students’ freedom so that they can ensure the
learning. Also, today students tend to abuse the freedom given to us as only
few people are hardworking.
Affordability: Pepe’s Time vs. My Time
Before, education is a privilege, now education is a right. This time,
today’s education affordability is better than before since experiences before
led to where our education is right now.
Quality Education: Pepe’s Time vs. My Time
Philippines ranked last among 79 countries in terms of reading
comprehension because students are used to narrative texts rather than
informative texts. This may show how quality education of present times lack in
terms of comprehension. Since it is one of the skills to be honed and can be a
basis of intelligence, this may indicate how poor the quality of education is. But
not all. Moreover, by analyzing the quality education on Rizal’s time, since it is
limited and only the privilege ones can study, I believe the production of such
great minds is a living proof of how they were nurtured to the point that they will
be able to open eyes of Filipinos from abuse of Spaniards. However, since the
teachers were friars, the education is Catholic-centered.
By analyzing the information given, there are some things that changed
my view, at first, I believe that education in Rizal’s time is way much better than
today, without even realizing that what we have right now is the improvement
of past education systems where the holes for learning have been tried to be
resolved. But in reality, there are still things that makes the current education
system better than previous ones, like the use of language, I’d rather prefer
speaking Filipino and English than Spanish.
The new knowledges and understanding I’ve got in this research are
whenever we compare, there is always something that makes the other one
better than the other one. Like in us, individuals, we can’t always assume we’re
better than the others for the reason that there is always something than makes
them better than us. This is proved again that my prediction in Rizal’s education
system is way much better than us.
Second, it supported my belief that students before work harder than
today’s students, making them smarter than us. Because the freedom given to
them is not too absolute, unlike now, where people tend to abuse the freedom.
It makes me sad that what our heroes fought for are the ones being abused
now. Moreover, I have nothing to disagree with the facts presented to my as
I’ve done my research.
Lastly, I’ve also evaluated myself and it made me a better person as
student. While I am analyzing the pros and cons of the two educational
systems, I’ve got to collect the pros and I want to avoid the cons. This is indeed
a self-reflecting activity since I am being reminded again of my attitudes as
students. Lately these past few years, I forgot how to manage my freedom, but
this activity made realize it.
References:
https://transferwise.com/gb/blog/the-philippines-education-overview
https://wenr.wes.org/2018/03/education-in-the-philippines/print/
https://www.quora.com/How-would-you-compare-the-educational-system-of-
the-Philippines-during-Jose-Rizal-s-time-with-the-educational-systems-of-
today
https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/12/05/19/why-pinoy-students-ranked-last-in-
reading-comprehension-survey
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hrwSAXpXzAM
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tVKim4SqPV8
Self-Check 3.1
1. RA 1425 is the Rizal Law which is an act to include in the curricula of all
public and private schools, colleges and universities courses on the life,
works and writings of Jose Rizal, particularly his novels Noli Me Tangere
and El Filibusterismo, authorizing its printing and distribution. This is why
we have this course subject, in order to get to now more of Rizal, our
national hero (https://www.officialgazette.gov.ph/1956/06/12/republic-
act-no-1425/).
2. The 7 major points in Rizal’s Letter “To the Young Women of Malolos”
are (https://kwentongebabuhayrizal.blogspot.com/2013/07/to-young-
women-of-malolos-full-copy.html):
i. the tyranny of some is possible only through cowardice
and negligence on the part of others.
ii. What makes one contemptible is lack of dignity and abject
fear of him who holds one in contempt
iii. Ignorance is servitude, because as a man thinks, so he is;
a man who does not think for himself and allowed himself
to be guided by the thought of another is like the beast led
by a halter.
iv. He who loves his independence must first aid his
fellowman, because he who refuses protection to others
will find himself without it; the isolated rib in the buri is
easily broken, but not so the broom made of the ribs of the
palm bound together.
v. If the Filipina will not change her mode of being, let her rear
no more children, let her merely give birth to them. She
must cease to be the mistress of the home, otherwise she
will unconsciously betray husband, child, native land, and
all.
vi. All men are born equal, naked, without bonds. God did not
create man to be a slave; nor did he endow him with
intelligence to have him hoodwinked, or adorn him with
reason to have him deceived by others. It is not fatuous to
refuse to worship one's equal, to cultivate one's intellect,
and to make use of reason in all things. Fatuous is he who
makes a god of him, who makes brutes of others, and who
strives to submit to his whims all that is reasonable and
just.
vii. Consider well what kind of religion they are teaching
you. See whether it is the will of God or according to the
teachings of Christ that the poor be succored and those
who suffer alleviated. Consider what they preaching to
you, the object of the sermon, what is behind the
masses, novenas, rosaries, scapularies, images, miracles,
candles, belts, etc. etc; which they daily keep before your
minds; ears and eyes; jostling, shouting, and coaxing;
investigate whence they came and whiter they go and then
compare that religion with the pure religion of Christ and
see whether the pretended observance of the life of Christ
does not remind you of the fat milch cow or the fattened
pig, which is encouraged to grow fat nor through love of
the animal, but for grossly mercenary motives.
3. He foretold that Spain and the Philippines would eventually become equal
independent partners in the world of geopolitics, that the United States, after
appropriating the Philippines for herself, would emerge as a new colonial power
in Asia (https://nhcp.gov.ph/rizal-the-futurist/). Similarly, FutureLapse Blogspot
said in a more detailed way that Rizal predicted the possible political
intervention of Western colonial powers Great Britain, France and United
States (https://futurelapse.blogspot.com/search/label/La%20Solidaridad). It is
probably because Spain is having problem that time and his prediction
happened. As United States colonized not only Philippines but also other
countries colonized by Spain, making it colonial power in Asia. After 5 decades
after Rizal’s death, the much-anticipated freedom from colonizers happen.
4. Rizal’s Romance (From left to right, from up to down).
