MALOLOS CITY, Bulacan—Education Secretary Leonor Magtolis Briones called on teachers to strike a balance between teaching technology, and the preservation of arts and culture.
Briones made the call during the holding of the first “Education Advocacy in Safeguarding Culture and Heritage” at the KB Gymnasium, Capitol Compound in this city.
She asked the teachers not to let digital technology contribute to the erosion of cultural values and practices among students.
“Culture cannot only be displayed through costumes, but also through what is inside our hearts. That is important, let us not forget it in these times,” she said in Filipino.
“We are not robots, not cyborgs and not machines, but we are humans. As humans, we have history, culture and we have our own mind,” the secretary added.
Briones also pointed out that arts and culture could be used to teach mathematics and other sciences.
“One of our Metrobank awardees who is an IP [indigenous person] was able to devise a way in teaching mathematical principles using songs and dance. In Region 7 [Central Visayas], we have this contest, where mathematics is being taught through poems and songs,” she said.
Briones also cited the importance of making learning fun and enjoyable for students through culture and arts.
“The style in education now is learning is fun, learning is enjoyable. Nowadays, we see children making robots, making computer games by themselves and we can see that they enjoy their studies. We can see that they are not afraid of trigonometry, chemistry or geometry,” she added in mixed English and Filipino.
She also highlighted the crucial role of arts and culture as a means of helping the youth, particularly those who are suffering from mental-health illnesses, to express themselves through the different forms of art.
“To children who have a hard time coping up in this world and those who cannot adjust, they turn to painting, to music, to sculpture. This is where art also plays an important role. Not only for the learners, but also for the teachers, because I know that the life of a teacher is also very difficult,” Briones said.
Meanwhile, DepEd Officer in Charge-Regional Director Nicolas Capulong expressed belief that the identity of a town or a province can be seen through its history, arts and culture.
“The identity of our country should be guarded, enriched and be our pride and, most of all, let us propagate it so that the next generation will understand more the identity of the Filipino race, the race of Central Luzon,” Capulong said in Filipino.
With the support of the provincial government of Bulacan and its DepEd Schools Division Office, the activity was held to promote nationalism and patriotism through the safeguarding of cultural heritage.
The event aimed to explore the role of municipalities and schools in developing the awareness of students on cultural heritage.
The one-day advocacy event included lectures on the preservation of culture and heritage, and the roles of local government units in its promotion and preservation.
Manny Balbin/PNA
Image credits: Nonie Reyes