English or Filipino?

         I have always believed that in order to understand your culture you must know the language. I feel that once you have lost your language, you have lost part of who you are as well. This week’s readings focused on education in the Philippines and it related to my belief of language. In this blog I will support my idea of abolishing English as the language of instruction in schools.

        To convey my claim that the Philippines should abolish English as the official language, I will support my claim by using the Filipino Constitution . Secondly, I will define what nationalism is and incorporate it into the education system. Thirdly, I will utilize Rizal’s speech to further support my claim. I will then talk about Americanization and Filipino Marital arts in education. I will finally conclude by refuting some objections that people may present against abolishing the English language.  

        From my experience of taking two classes at the University of Philippines I know that professors use English as the language of instruction.  English is taught in grade schools and spoken in Universities. Before leaving the United States I thought that I was going to have a difficult time communicating with people but I was wrong. The majority of the people that I have come across I have been able to communicate speaking in English. It was satisfying to know that I can communicate with people here because being able to communicate is very important especially in a foreign country. After I learned about America’s intentions of teaching English such as using it as a mechanism to inculcate American values through their thinking and actions I did not feel as satisfied knowing that Filipinos spoke English.  The Americans shaped the way of the Filipinos; they were seen as architects of their colonial education that really labored shrewdly and well (Constantino, 186).  Americans were seen as architects of the education of the Filipinos and through education the Americans were able to control the Filipinos, Philippine education was shaped by the overriding factor of preserving and expanding American control (Constantino, 181).  Americans wanted control and through education they obtained it.

        Constantino illustrates the importance of education when he says that “education is a vital weapon” (pg. 177), education is very important and it makes sense why the Constitution of the Philippines mentions it numerous of times. Article XIV, Section five informs us that “the state shall assign the highest budgetary priority to education”.  Even after the 1987 update of the Constitution, education has remained very important making it a priority. Not only does the Constitution mention the importance of education but it links it to nationalism and patriotism. Article II, Section thirteen notifies us that the State “shall inculcate in the youth patriotism and nationalism, and encourage their involvement in public and civic affairs”.  The Philippines strives for an educated, nationalist and patriotic population which is why they have made it part of the Constitution that those factors be taught in schools. But what is nationalism and patriotism?  Merriam-Webster defines nationalism as loyalty and devotion to a nation. It’s a sense of national consciousness exalting one nation above all others and placing primary emphasis on promotion of its culture and interests as opposed to those of other nations.  From my experience of attending the University of the Philippines, I do not see what is defined as nationalism by Merriam-Webster in the education system. English is put above all other Filipino languages, there is no promotion of its culture when the language of instruction is not a Filipino language. Filipinos are taught the history of the United States when in a nationalistic view they should put Filipino history above all country’s history.  Constantino says “we look at our prehistory and our past with the eyes of a visitor” (pg. 192).  When Filipinos take the time to view their own history they view it like I do, as a visitor which shows no nationalism. 

         Jose Rizal gave a speech about colonial education he said “He among you who talks that language neglects his own in such a way that he neither writes it nor understands it, and how many have I not seen who pretend not to know a single word of it” (187). Rizal knew about the dangers of adopting a foreign language, which would be losing nationality. Professor Jose said that when an individual loses his language not only does he lose his nationality but his culture and identity as well.  As stated in the Constitution, the education system should teach students nationalism and patriotism which is difficult when the language being spoken is not their own. Professor Jose agrees with my argument of having Filipino as the language of instruction. He informed me about the languages in the Philippines. He said that the official language of the Philippines is English along with other Filipino languages that are spoken in different provinces. The national language is Filipino as is the mother tongue. The language spoken in each province should be the language of instruction in schools rather than English. English is a foreign language; it is not of the Philippines and therefore should not be used for instruction especially when an objective is to teach students about nationalism. It does not make sense to teach a student about nationalism when the language they are being taught in schools is not of this country, they are taught a foreign language and foreign history.

        In previous blogs I have written about my view of Americanization in the Philippines and it is no surprise that it is present in the education system. In the Raferty reading we read about students who read books of “how Johnny and Jane played in the snow, ate apples or pears, or any number of everyday Americanisms aliens to Filipinos” (pg. 150).  Americans brought books about the American style of living to the Philippines which Americanized the educational system.  Paulet further explains that “the educational system adopted by the United States in the Philippine Islands thus functioned as an agent of Americanization” (pg. 192).  The educational system shows Americanization and not nationalism. Americanization is present not only in the books that students read but in the language that teachers teach the students in.  

        Some may oppose my position of abolishing English as the language of instruction because people from different provinces use English as a way to communicate amongst themselves. English is a language that is spoken by many around the world and it serves as a method of communicating with people outside of the Philippines.  But I refute that, the Filipino people should decide on a Filipino language that will serve the purpose that English does now, a language that people from different provinces will use to communicate amongst each other. Constantino states that “In every sovereign country, the use of its own language in education is so natural no one thinks it could be otherwise. But here, so great has been our disorientation caused by our colonial education that the use of our own language is a controversial issue, with more Filipinos against than in favor” (pg. 186).  If the country wants to fulfill the purpose of nationalism and patriotism, I strongly believe that a Filipino language should replace English. People can still learn English by taking English courses that will allow them to communicate with people outside of the Philippines.  .

        Article II, section seventeen of the Constitution mentions education and nationalism once again, it says “The State shall give priority to education, science and technology, arts, culture, and sports to foster patriotism and nationalism, accelerate social progress, and promote total human liberation and development.”  Through education and sports Filipinos can show patriotism and nationalism; in my stay here I have learned Arnis, the Filipino martial arts. Arnis is a sport of the Philippines which embodies nationalism, we learned that last year it was decided that Arnis was going to be taught in schools. Students will learn the sport of Arnis and it will be a method show students nationalism and patriotism.

        Overall, I strongly believe that English should be abolished from the educational system as being the language of instruction. A Filipino language should be used in schools in order to teach nationalism and patriotism to students.  Students are not learning nationalism when they are being taught foreign history and language. They are putting a foreign language above their own which shows no nationalism.

Do you think that English should be abolished from the educational system?