By Merlina Hernando-Malipot

While it welcomes the proposal to use “sablay” to promote nationalism among learners, the Teachers’ Dignity Coalition (TDC) on Friday maintained that teaching Philippine History is far “more important” to instill a sense of patriotism among students.

“Teachers welcome ‘sablay’ but teaching Philippine History is more important,” said TDC National Chairperson Benjo Basas. Earlier, DepEd Undersecretary Alain del Pascua released an Aide Memoire containing his proposal to officially use “sablay” instead of toga during the end-of-school-year rites.

While the group supports the proposal, Basas reiterated that “there is one move from the DepEd that will surely help promote patriotism” and that is to revive teaching of Philippine History.

“The single most important task for the DepEd is to strengthen the teaching of subjects that promote Philippine culture, history, heritage, languages and literature and not limit itself on the use of Sablay, which in the said Aide Memoire is equivalent to patriotism,” Basas said.

Earlier, Pascua proposed the use of ‘sablay’ to “instill patriotism and nationalism” among young learners. The use of ‘sablay’, he said, will help “promote core values of Makabansa and Makakalikasan and local culture and national diversity.” Also, using the ‘sablay’ will help “nurture ethnic roots and perpetuate the production of local textiles of indigenous peoples and boost rural development.”

Yes to ‘sablay,’ but…

Basas said that the group welcomes the idea of using “sablay” instead of toga as a ceremonial dress for end of the school year rites, moving-up or graduation ceremonies in basic education.

The TDC also agreed “that ‘Sablay’ is more representative of the Filipino culture and could boost the DepEd’s mandate to instill patriotism among the young people.” Basas noted that the “sablay” – even before DepEd’s proposal – has already “being used in some elementary and secondary public schools in the country.”

Basas added that the “sablay” has also been a popular graduation attire among colleges and universities – the most prominent of which is the University of the Philippines (UP) system where Sablay is worn in graduation ceremonies and synonymous with victory.

However, TDC said that while “it is worthy to note that while the DepEd intends to promote nationalism through the use of Sablay, Filipino children enrolled in secondary schools do not have a subject in Philippine History.”

“If the DepEd leadership is really concerned about teaching patriotism, loyalty to the nation and promotion of indigenous heritage, it should immediately require the teaching of Philippine History both in Junior and Senior High School,” Basas added.

Given this, TDC once again asked the DepEd leadership to review the K-12 curriculum and “re-include the teaching of Philippine History in all levels of learning- especially in high school.” Basas said that the DepEd removed Philippine History subject in secondary schools since school year 2014-2015 when it introduced the new K-12 curriculum.#