Abolishing Panitikan subject in the Philippine’s tertiary level have raised numerous disputes between the people and the government -- CHED. It is said that the removal of the subject was justifiable for it is included in the lower level’s curriculum and to avoid duplication of the said subject, it must be removed from the educational system in college. According to Silvero (2014), it is said in the memorandum of the Commission on Higher Education Memorandum Order No. 20, series of 2013 aims to remove Panitikan that is being taught in college level.  

Panitikan or Filipino is one of the complicated courses that are being thought in the Philippines. Although, it is in regards to Philippines’ own language and identity not many are being able to fully comprehend the idea of this complex subject. The effect of the Filipino being discarded is very unconceivable for it is the key methods for the Filipino people to understand and appreciate the national language that is being spoken by millions of people and gives identity to the whole nation. What will the future generation know in this language if it will be removed in college? Now that the world starts to open and be globalized, our country is currently becoming receptive to changes. A change that may not have a good impact to the nation and the national identity of the country is at stake due to this decision.  It is said that Filipino is being taught in primary and secondary level thus to avoid the repetitiveness of the lessons being taught it must be removed. However, the country must not let this reason affect the judgement because instead of it seeing as a repetitive course, it must be enhanced and improved by the government itself. 

Cultural Identity of the Philippines is interconnected with the Panitikan course. Hence, the reason the CHED has given in concluding to these decision is not acceptable to many people. As said by Dr. Jose Rizal, “Ang di magmahal sa sariling wika ay higit pa sa malansang isda”. In conclusion, these essay stand against the removal of the Filipino subject in the tertiary education. In order to preserve the cultural identity of the Philippines, people must intensify the knowledge and uplift the spirit of building a better comprehension of the language and the factors that includes in it. 

Medina, Denise Jae C. 

Losing the Identity

Under the K-12 curriculum, Filipino subject are required to take in Primary level up to Senior High School. The order from Supreme Court removing Filipino subject in tertiary level is due to the accommodation of Filipino subject in Senior High School. Filipinos expressed their various opinions regarding this matter. But the real question is, Are Filipinos knowledgeable enough about Filipino? 

Why do Filipinos have Filipino subject? Filipino subject may appear as minor subject to students, but its importance seems to be underestimated. In this matter, there are many points to consider. Why is it needed? Fluency to Filipino language does not sum up the knowledge of a person to its heritage. Having its wide scope, Filipino subject plays a vital role in preserving the culture. Heritage is part of the identity of Filipinos as it unites its people. Due to the irreversible and inevitable impact of globalization, other countries have already dominated the heart and mind of some Filipinos. Filipinos is gradually losing its identity by forgetting to look back to its roots. Are Filipinos knowledgeable enough about Filipino subject? The reality dictates that not all Filipinos are knowledgeable enough to its own heritage. Through the years, Filipino culture has already been influenced by foreigners that causing some of the 

Filipino subject should not be underestimated as it appears to be just a minor subject. Priority must be given to Filipino subject as preserves the identity. Filipino subject may be taught since primary level, but loving and learning of one’s heritage should not stop. 

 

Filipino students and professors alike were aggravated to the core when the Commission of Higher Education (CHED) announced their proposal in removing the Filipino, Panitikan and Constitution in the tertiary level. Although this issue was brought about recently, this memorandum started around four years ago when CHED believes that the decision to remove these courses in the reason that there is a need to “rationalize the curriculum” in align with the implementation of the K-12 program. They believe that these subjects can be accommodated on the two added years of the secondary education or Senior High in short. However, politicians and Filipino educators believed that this proposal should be lifted as they felt like there is more to learn and appreciate to our language. These subjects should not be removed now the language is becoming more colloquial or “Taglish.” 

Filipino courses will help the current and younger generation in perpetuating the language. Senator Sherwin Gatchalian reiterated that the language is slowly becoming more “shallow” and that the young ones will never go into the depths to this language if it is then removed at the tertiary level. Albay representative Edcel Lagman even stated that it is “anti-youth”. Common concepts under grammar, literature are now misused because of the prevalent use of the English language. It is absurd to think that CHED stated the reason behind that proposal is to accommodate these subjects at the Senior High curriculum when in fact what these students have learned will not be a duplication of the concepts when they enter college but rather a continuation and expansion of their learnings and become more competent in using it their respective fields. 

It is also ironic and unheard of that they think it is needed to be removed when the curriculum offers to learn a certain language other than Filipino like English, Spanish and even Korean with the recent news of the Department of Education (DepEd) implementing the subject Korean language in some schools in Metro Manila and possibly, some parts of the country. CHED Commissioner Prospero De Vera III stated that this memorandum is to help students in achieving “internationalization” or to maximize their capabilities in using the English language for work purposes. Although the Philippines is known to be a bilingual country, this does not mean there is a need to neglect these Filipino courses. The Filipino language is a rich language because it roots back to the Baybayin type of writing and branches out to other dialects. 

Removing the Filipino, Panitikan and Constitution subjects is a betrayal to what our ancestors have standardized and contributed. If then implemented this memorandum is like slowly losing the identity of the country to the world. These subjects are more than just remembering the basic concepts, common literary pieces and alike, but also acquiring a comprehensive and wider understanding on the language. Although it is hold off by the Supreme Court up to this day, educators and students still hope that this will not push through and let these subjects be saved. Subjects that will mold the students into the modern-day Filipino—loyal to their country and to their identity. 

STO.DOMINGO, Princess Aideleen Joyce F.                                                       1ASN2 

Betrayal to Filipinos common ground 

“It made me realize that your mother tongue comes to you without any effort on your part. It is a dowry that comes into your possession without you noticing. It is then judged by another language that has been added later and that comes from somewhere else. Your mother tongue feels as direct and unconditional as your own skin, and it is just as vulnerable if held in low esteem, treated with contempt, or even banned by others.” -Herta Müller 

Filipinos are not deprived of the fact that most upper-class Filipino families use foreign language as their first language. It is true that teaching other language aside from the mother tongue is good for the development of cognitive and intellectual skill of a person. Yet to the extent of the absence of identity of a person is strange for the reason that he is becoming a foreigner to his own land. In relation to the memorandum proposed by CHED; the Filipino subject that is primarily needed is becoming optional for the curriculums in the tertiary level. At that, it is not relevant to which the removal of Filipino must be implemented for the reason that the Filipino language itself may cease. It has now become not just a national issue, rather it has now become a personal issue for the reason that the identity as the nation is creating unpatriotic act. 

Bibliography 

Removing Filipino as a subject in college: A betrayal in the name of business? 

http://bulatlat.com/main/2014/06/27/removing-filipino-as-a-subject-in-college-a-betrayal-in-the-name-of-business/