Makabayan solon tells DepEd to honor PH heroes; reconsider ‘bare wall’ policy

Rep. France Castro FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines — Saying it contradicts the goal of fostering patriotism by removing images of revolutionary heroes in classrooms, a Makabayan bloc lawmaker on Monday urged the Department of Education (DepEd) to reconsider its “bare wall” policy.

“It is very unfortunate that the Department of Education has unilaterally ordered the removal of pictures of our revolutionary heroes from classrooms,” Alliance of Concerned Teachers’ Rep. France Castro said in a statement.

“This decision appears to contradict the goal of nurturing a sense of patriotism and love for our country among the younger generation,” Castro added.

Vice President and concurrent DepEd Secretary Sara Duterte said that “classrooms should be clean so that the attention of our students is in their teacher, their book, or their activity.”

Duterte’s directive meant that classroom walls should be clear, even from photos of government officials, including the President, and heroes like Dr. Jose Rizal and Andres Bonifacio.

But Castro said displaying the image of our national heroes will foster the pupils’ “a strong sense of pride and love for our country.”

“As we commemorate National Heroes Day and the Cry of Pugadlawin, I urge the Department of Education to reconsider its ‘bare wall’ policy and instead encourage the display of images that honor our national heroes,” Castro said.

“By doing so, we can ensure that our children grow up with a strong sense of pride and love for our country,” she added.

Celebrated every August 28, the National Heroes’ Day traces its roots to the Cry of Pugad Lawin in August 1896, marking the beginning of the Philippine Revolution.

“It is crucial for us to remember and honor the bravery and sacrifices of our national heroes, such as those who participated in the Cry of Pugadlawin,” Castro said.

“Their unwavering spirit and dedication to our country’s freedom serve as an inspiration to the Filipino people, especially the youth,” she continued. — Jezvette Kyelle Mapagdalita, INQUIRER.net trainee

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