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What is an Educated Filipino? – Francisco Benitez
For more than decades now, our constant contact with the Americans transformed us and led us to the evolution of our public schools and democratic institutions which then, in turn, developed in us our national consciousness in strength and in solidarity. It gave rise to a new concept of education which is deemed as the training of an individual for the duties and privileges of a citizen not only for his own happiness and efficiency, but also for his contribution to the national sphere at large. As the State’s primary responsibility is to provide for the education of every member of the society, it follows that an educated Filipino must possess three characteristics as enumerated by Francisco Benitez in his essay “What is an Educated Filipino?”.
First is the power to do which embraces not only the ability of the Filipinos to produce material goods but also the valuable services rendered to society through institutions such as the home, the school, the church and the government. This is best exemplified by a mother who takes good care of her family.
Second, a Filipino is one who is distinguished not only by one’s knowledge of the world’s progress but also and more importantly by one’s understanding of one’s race, people and country – the ideals and morals that are cherished herein. How can a Filipino claim to call himself educated when he has conquered the world yet he is ignorant of his own culture and origin?
Lastly, the educated Filipino is one who is deep-rooted in one’s speech and conduct. One must put into practice those elements recognized as concomitant to culture and morality. Hence, one makes use of such elements for one’s growth as an individual and for a nation’s development as a whole.