‘Dr. Pio’ now a school subject to inspire kids in Valenzuela

VALENZUELA

The patriot Dr. Pio Valenzuela is now a classroom subject in the city named in his honor.

Public schools in Valenzuela City have started teaching this school year lessons about the life and works of one of the top leaders of the Katipunan, the secret society that launched the revolution against Spanish colonial rule.

Interest in Valenzuela, a native son born July 11, 1869, when the city was still part of Bulacan province, is currently being revived by the local government as it recently marked his 145th birth anniversary.

Along with the school lessons, a coffee table book about the hero, titled “Dr. Pio Valenzuela: History,” will soon be distributed to teachers and students in the city.

“We need to continue addressing the need of Valenzuelanos, especially the youth, for role models and inspiration in life. That’s the purpose of telling the life history of our heroes, including Dr. Pio’s,” said Jonathan Balsamo, curator of the city museum, who also served as consultant for the book authored by Zyan Caiña.

The Valenzuela “lesson guides” for Grades 1 and 10 are based on different periods or aspects the hero’s life, from his youth, his literary works and political activities, to his Katipunan years. Each lesson plan will have materials good for a week and would coincide with the social studies subjects. Camille Anne M. Arcilla