Sen. Padilla wants to bring back Philippine history in HS curriculum

Senator Robinhood “Robin” Padilla has filed a bill seeking to bring Philippine history back into the high school curriculum.

Explaining his reason for filing Senate Bill 451 or An Act Mandating the Inclusion of Philippine History as a Separate Subject in the High School Curriculum, Padilla said that understanding the country’s historical roots and cultural heritage will help the Filipino youth to lead the country into the future.

The subject was removed from the high school curriculum through Department of Education (DepEd) Order 20, 2014. The order was signed by former DepEd secretary Armin Luistro, FSC, to pave the way for the implementation of the Kinder to Grade 12 (K-12) program. Under the current Araling Panlipunan (AP) curriculum, Philippine history is taught as a separate subject in Grades 5 and 6, while specific history topics are covered across all grade levels.

The bill also stated that the subject should inculcate a sense of patriotism, and include the history, culture, and identity of the Bangsamoro and Indigenous People.

Sen. Padilla also acknowledged that while Philippine history topics are integrated in other subjects in the revised K-12 curriculum, “there must be an independent and definitive subject that comprehensively focuses on the study of our nation’s own history.”