Rizal

REFLECTION 1:
Like in the context of Constantino's Miseducation of Filipino, when I started in Mapua, almost everything was under Western influence as much as our whole nation has been drowned under this inevitable colonial mentality. Most professors here would prefer to use English as a medium of instruction in most classes, the textbooks are all printed in English, and almost everything is preferred to be spoken in English. There is also emphasis for encouraging students to compete internationally, either by English proficiency or by overall academic upbringings. It is unfortunate to think that this type of mentality has already been present ever since I was in Elementary or High School. Taking up Rzl10 was a step forward to opening my eyes to the truth of what lays beyond the stories of how Americans were in good will, provided democracy and education for the Philippines. Unbeknownst to many, there is a hidden scheme under all these so called good acts by the Americans in the current history textbooks.
Throughout my years in Mapua, it is only now that I've come to realize the impact of the influence of this rendering of the educational system of the Americans has done. In most of my Architectural classes, professors would always lean toward the designs and accomplishments of American or European architects. They would always showcase their works in discussion, advising us to follow in the footsteps of the mind set of these people. Our plates are also expected to follow through these aspects of what these western architects have so thoroughly applied with their art in structures. It is truly unfortunate on how Filipino architecture is mostly underrated in imagining a concept for a structure. Many Filipino architects have already contributed much to the Filipino architectural scene, and yet their works are almost never talked about unless the subject is about architectural history in the Philippines. This kind of thinking is also very present in other aspects of other fields such as science, arts or music. Our Filipino contributors are almost treated as nothing but a minority or second choice by the mass. Most, if not all, when the question of the what the typical Filipino worker comes to mind, they think of padyak, taxi or jeepney drivers, maids, construction workers, overseas Filipino workers and many more. We have reduced ourselves further to nothing but mere workers of the lower class of the society due to our way of thinking.
On another hand, we always seek to look upon and be looked upon by these various Western races. We always yearn for their approval; sigh in awe at their works despite it being mediocre. So, why this? Why aren't equally competitive Filipino's works widely appreciated? It most definitely lies with the fact that it is Filipino. Most of us are now used to the fact that internationally made brands/products/crafts are immediately better than local ones; we glorify so much of the western culture here in this country. Although a little application of what the Western has accomplished would be totally alright, there is too much emphasis on it as a whole. Learning English shouldn't be deemed wrong as well, but to force it upon the educational system is something that should be re-evaluated by many. As an example, why is there a need to force it upon students to take an English proficiency test as a prerequisite to an upcoming thesis course for fourth year students? Why not put emphasis on learning Filipino as a way to better communicate the ideas and concepts of the students from their studies? Isn't communicating by using our mother tongue easier for us to execute these thought processes more properly? Or is this another step to attaining a nod from the western part of the world? Why is it that we always have to force ourselves to be subjected by the ratings of these people?
We can really conclude now that the main problem lies in the lack of nationalism. Mapua is one of the chosen institutions who bear the 'honor' of being ABET-accredited. ABET-accreditation is a guaranteed 'bonus' for a select number of Engineering programs that boasts chances for students—once they graduate—that they will be able to board on flights to other countries for 'better' job opportunities. So what does that exactly say? That our school is nothing but a producer of services for other countries to get the utmost benefit from? It encourages the thought that there is a better life outside of the country, that our nation has nothing to offer but minimum waged jobs that could barely sustain a family's survival. This should not be the case. The school should encourage students to apply for companies within the capacities of what the country has to offer. The aim of the school should be to encourage nation building, to impose in the mind of the students that there is more than what they bargained for opportunities here within the Philippines. It is unfortunate how even the school, ironically run by Filipinos, is paving way for its thousands of youth to an un-Filipino mentality. Perhaps this is the main reason why most of the 'cream of the crop' are transferred to the better favour of other countries—encouraged nothing but the setting foundation of what supposedly is the country's best bet for widespread improvement in different aspects of economy, politics and others.
The only way to change this now would be to reawaken its students to a newer concept of what education is all about. It is not to earn praise or a golden award or high academic grades or scholarship—but to learn. Learning is the most important thing that students should be able to recognize of why they were there in the first place. It is to improve their imagination, their thinking process, and on the thought on how in the near future when they graduate and apply for jobs, they would be able to contribute to how the country would prosper further—in short, nationalism at its finest.