Scribd
Upload
6 views2 pages

Reaction Paper

Renato Constantino's The Miseducation of the Filipino critiques the education system imposed by American colonizers, highlighting its role in fostering loyalty to foreign ideals rather than promoting Filipino identity and independence. The essay emphasizes the detrimental effects of prioritizing English and foreign interests over local culture and economy, urging readers to question the purpose of their education. Ultimately, it calls for a shift towards an education that empowers Filipinos to think critically and contribute to their nation's development.

Uploaded by

hannahjoynepocpan
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
6 views2 pages

Reaction Paper

Renato Constantino's The Miseducation of the Filipino critiques the education system imposed by American colonizers, highlighting its role in fostering loyalty to foreign ideals rather than promoting Filipino identity and independence. The essay emphasizes the detrimental effects of prioritizing English and foreign interests over local culture and economy, urging readers to question the purpose of their education. Ultimately, it calls for a shift towards an education that empowers Filipinos to think critically and contribute to their nation's development.

Uploaded by

hannahjoynepocpan
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
You are on page 1/ 2

Reflection on Renato Constantino’s The Miseducation of the Filipino

Renato Constantino’s The Miseducation of the Filipino really opened my eyes to things I never
thought about before. I always believed school was just about learning things to prepare for the
future, but now I realize it’s way deeper than that. This essay made me see how our education
system was shaped by history, and not always in a way that helps Filipinos. It made me think
about my own education, my identity as a Filipino, and what I can do to make things better.

Before reading this, I thought education was just about gaining knowledge and skills. But
Constantino explains that when the Americans took over, they designed our education system to
make Filipinos more loyal to them rather than to their own country. They wanted Filipinos to
follow American ideals instead of thinking independently. That’s a scary thought! It makes me
wonder—are we still being taught in a way that keeps us from truly questioning things? Are we
just going with the flow instead of pushing for real change?

One part that really stood out to me was about language. English was forced into our schools,
pushing aside our own Filipino languages. This made it harder for many Filipinos to connect
with their own culture. To be honest, I’ve always thought that speaking English really well made
someone smarter, but now I see that this idea was planted in our heads by a system that favored
Western culture over our own. Why do we still think this way? Shouldn’t we be proud of our
own language and history?

Another big realization I had was how education shaped the way Filipinos see the economy.
Constantino explains that our system trained Filipinos to depend on foreign countries instead of
building a strong, independent economy. Instead of encouraging self-sufficiency, it made us rely
on foreign businesses. Now, I understand why many Filipinos still struggle to support local
industries or why it’s so hard for the country to be truly independent. Shouldn’t education be
about helping us build a stronger Philippines instead of just preparing us for jobs abroad?

What hit me the most was Constantino’s argument that education should serve the country, not
foreign interests. Even today, a lot of what we learn in school still follows Western ideas rather
than focusing on Filipino history, culture, and struggles. This made me ask myself: am I learning
to help my country, or just to fit into a system that doesn’t prioritize Filipino needs? I think we
need an education that helps us think for ourselves, appreciate our heritage, and work toward a
truly independent nation.

Reading this essay made me realize that I have a choice: I can either ignore these issues and just
go along with things, or I can start questioning and taking action. Here is the main thing I want
to do: Think more critically about what I’m learning and ask: is this helping the country or just
maintaining the old system?

It challenges me to rethink what it means to be Filipino and to do something about it. From now
on, I want to be more aware and take action to make sure education truly serves Filipinos, not
just the interests of other countries. It’s time we take control of our own learning and our own
future!

You might also like