Luistro: Recalling history instills pride

Education Secretary Armin Luistro. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines–Education Secretary Armin Luistro has instructed all public and private school heads nationwide to commemorate 21 national and historical events this year to make the students conscious of their history.

In a memorandum, Luistro said that recalling the births and deaths of heroes and other historical events would instill in the students pride in their Filipino heritage.

The Department of Education (DepEd) is a member of the Steering Committee on National Observances chaired by the National Historical Commission of the Philippines. Other members are the Department of the Interior and Local Government and Department of Tourism.

The committee is in charge of activities commemorating historical events and other national observances.

Luistro said the activities “aim to raise the level of historical or cultural awareness and consciousness of elementary and secondary school students relative to the significance of the national commemorations.”

Schools encouraged

Among the events the DepEd has encouraged schools to commemorate with activities are the 116th anniversary of the first Philippine Republic on Jan. 23; Adoption Consciousness, Feb. 7; 143rd anniversary of the martyrdom of Fathers Mariano Gomez, Jose Burgos and Jacinto Zamora (Gomburza), Feb. 17; 29th Edsa People Power anniversary, Feb. 22-25;

The 164th birth anniversary of Paciano Rizal, revolutionary and older brother of national hero Dr. Jose Rizal, on March 9; 117th National Flag Day, May 28; 73rd Araw ng Kagitingan, April 5-11; 117th Philippine Independence Day, June 12; 150th birth anniversary of Galicano Apacible, propagandist and cousin of Rizal who cofounded La Solidaridad and the Nacionalista Party, June 25; 116th anniversary of the siege of Baler and 13th Philippine-Spanish Friendship Day, June 30;

The 200th birth anniversary of Apolinario de la Cruz, or Hermano Pule, on July 22; 151st birth anniversary of Apolinario Mabini, July 23; 137th birth anniversary of President Manuel L. Quezon, Aug. 19; National Heroes Day, Aug. 25; 117th anniversary of the Malolos Congress, Sept. 15; 43rd anniversary of the declaration of martial law, Sept. 23; 150th birth anniversary of Gen. Miguel Malvar, Sept. 27; 71st year of the Leyte Gulf Landing, Oct. 20; 152nd birth anniversary of Andres Bonifacio, Nov. 30; and 119th year of Rizal’s martyrdom, Dec. 30.

Luistro also enjoined the schools to observe Consumer Welfare Month in October and participate in Project WATCH, or We Advocate Time Consciousness and Honesty, from June to December.

Join contests, events

He also urged them to join the search for the Pambansang Gawad sa Ulirang Kabataan from June to December; Kabisig Philippine Government Expo and Trade Fair in June; Historical and Cultural Festival of Excellence from September to December; National Music Competitions for Young Artists from September to November; Summit and Seminar Workshop on the Proper Implementation of the Flag and Heraldic Code of the Philippines from September to November, and the 53rd National Rizal Youth Leadership Institute Conference in December.