The Miseducation of the Filipino

Education is a vital weapon of a people striving for economic emancipation, political

independence and cultural renaissance. Philippine Education must produce Filipinos who are

aware of their country’s problems, who understand the basic solution to these problems, and

who care enough to have courage to work and sacrifice for their country’s salvation.

Nationalism in Education

Filipino businessmen and industrialists rallied around the banner of the FILIPINO FIRST

policy.

Various scholars and economists proposed economic emancipation as an intermediate

goal for the nation.

In the field of art, there have been signs of a new appreciation for our own culture.

Although most of our educators are engaged in the lively debate on techniques and tools for the

improved instructions, not one major educational leader has come out for a truly nationalist

education. This is a tragic situation because the nationalist movement is crippled at the outset

by a citizenry that is ignorant of our basic ills and is apathetic to our national welfare.

New Perspective

Some of our economic and political leaders have gained a few perception of our relations with

the US. The reaction which has emerged as economic and political nationalism is an attempt of

their part to revise the iniquities of the past and to complete the movement started by our

revolutionary leaders of 1896.

The educational system introduced by the Americans had to correspond and was designed to

correspond to the economic and political reality of American conquest.

Capturing Minds

The most effective means of subjugating a people is to capture their minds. Military victory does

not necessarily signify conquest. As long as feelings of resistance remain in the hearts of the

vanquished, no conqueror is secure.

This is best illustrated by the occupation of the Philippines by the Japanese militarists during the

Second World War. Despite the terroristic regime imposed by the Japanese warlords, the

Filipinos were never conquered. Hatred for the Japanese was engendered by their oppressive

techniques which in turn were intensified by the stubborn resistance of the Filipino people.

Japanese propagandists and psychological warfare experts, however, saw the necessity of

winning the minds of the people.

The Miseducation of the Filipino

Filipino Psychology