In observance of the Holy Week, the Philippine News Agency’s online news service will be off on March 29, Good Friday, and March 30, Black Saturday. Normal operations will resume on March 31, Easter Sunday.

— The Editors

DepEd conducts education drive for arts, culture preservation

By Manny Balbin

October 15, 2019, 8:52 pm

<p><strong>PRESERVATION OF CULTURE AND ARTS.</strong> Education Secretary Leonor Briones delivers her message during the first "Education Advocacy in Safeguarding Culture and Heritage" at the KB Gymnasium, Capitol Compound, Malolos City, Bulacan on Monday (Oct. 14, 2019). The activity was held to promote nationalism and patriotism through the safeguarding of cultural heritage. <em>(Photo courtesy of the Department of Education-Region 3)</em></p>

PRESERVATION OF CULTURE AND ARTS. Education Secretary Leonor Briones delivers her message during the first "Education Advocacy in Safeguarding Culture and Heritage" at the KB Gymnasium, Capitol Compound, Malolos City, Bulacan on Monday (Oct. 14, 2019). The activity was held to promote nationalism and patriotism through the safeguarding of cultural heritage. (Photo courtesy of the Department of Education-Region 3)

MALOLOS CITY, Bulacan—Education Secretary Leonor Briones is calling on teachers to strike a balance between teaching technology and the preservation of arts and culture.

Briones made the call during the conduct of the first "Education Advocacy in Safeguarding Culture and Heritage" on Monday at the KB Gymnasium, Capitol Compound, this city.

She asked the teachers not to let digital technology contribute to the erosion of cultural values and practices among students.

“Hindi lamang sa kasuotan naipapakita ang kultura, kung hindi sa laman ng ating puso. Iyon ang mahalaga, na huwag nating kalimutan sa panahong ito (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.

“Hindi tayo robot, hindi tayo cyborg, hindi tayo mga machines, kung hindi tayo ay humans. Bilang tao, tayo ay may kasaysayan, may kultura, may sariling pag-iisip (We are not robots, not cyborgs and not machines but we are humans. As humans, we have history, culture and our own mind),” the secretary added.

Briones also pointed out that arts and culture can be used to teach mathematics and other sciences.

“One of our Metrobank awardees who is an IP was able to devise a way in teaching mathematical principles using songs and dance. In Region 7, 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. Nakikita ko ang mga bata ngayon na gumagawa ng robot, gumagawa ng mga computer games themselves. Dito makikita natin na enjoy na enjoy sila sa pag-aaral. Makikita natin na hindi na sila natatakot sa trigonometry, sa chemistry, o sa geometry (We see children making robots nowadays, 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.

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.

“Sa mga bata na nahihirapan sa mundo, na hindi maka-adjust sa mundo (To those 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 OIC-Regional Director Nicolas Capulong expressed belief that the identity of a town or a province can be seen through its history, arts and culture.

“Ang pagkakakilanlan ng ating bayan ay marapat lamang na bantayan, pagyamanin, ipagmalaki, at higit sa lahat ay ating palaganapin upang ang salinlahi ay higit na maunawaan ang pagkakakilanlan ng lahing Pilipino, ang lahing Gitnang Luzon (The identity of our town should be guarded, enriched and be proud of and most of all, let us propagate it so that our next generation will understand more the identity of the Filipino race, the race of Central Luzon),” Capulong said.

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 likewise 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 LGUs in its promotion and preservation. (PNA)

 

 

Comments