One of the main reasons why I chose a Humanities course at the University of Asia and the Pacific, stems from my love for culture and education. Since my first job at the Department of Education in 2009, and just like my Tio Abuelo former Education Secretary Alejandro Roces, I saw the value of art in encouraging a love for culture.
Art became a way for me to express my personal beliefs and at the same time open up to the beliefs of others. But when it came to Philippine culture, I will admit I found myself constantly “hungry” because of an unexplainable disconnect.
When President Duterte stepped into office, I realized how it was absolutely time for us Filipinos to learn about the culture of our brothers and sisters throughout the country. I saw how my learnings from the art scene opened more doors that shifted a focus from imperial Manila to the rest of the regions. In as much as doors were opened, the stress on further expanding both knowledge and opportunities to the rest of the nation became more and more telling of how much we need to learn about one another. This for me can only be done through cultural education.
The recent State of the Nation Address featured the GSN (Global Satellite Network) Project which showed a far flung barangay in the mountains of Eastern Samar. For the very first time, the people from Binaloan saw their President speak to them among the rest of the attendees in Congress. This initiative alone enabled all of us to see first hand, some of our brothers and sisters who unlike us, do not enjoy the very basic things we can many times take for granted. Therefore, there is a pressing need for cultural education as this plays a very strong part in people’s lives by influencing their values. Cultural education is like a “switch” that connects us with one another so that no one gets left behind.