Self-portraits Signed with Other Names: On the Revisions of the new DepEd MATATAG Curriculum
In August of 2023, DepEd announced their plans for revision of the Philippine K-12 Curriculum. Statements by the Vice President and former Education Secretary Sara Duterte raised concerns about the quality of education in our country, which is why the MATATAG curriculum was established. “The past years showed us the alarmingly poor performance of Filipino learners in national and international assessments,” In comparison with other countries, the Philippines ranks in the lower percentiles. Created as a solution to relieve and fasten the learning gap brought by the pandemic, the MATATAG curriculum, with its shorter and significantly condensed learning materials, is being implemented phase by phase in the coming academic years.
A particular feature of the new curriculum that sparked controversy among the Philippine academic community is part of the revisions for the Araling Panlipunan subject. One in which, aims to redefine Philippine history. The rebrand of the Marcos Dictatorship is a DepEd directive under the said revisions. According to Jocelyn Andaya, the change was not directed by anyone, and it is a result of a “robust and spirited discussion” with the Bureau of Curriculum Development. Many concerns were brought to surface regarding the removal of the family name, and rightfully so.
This has ignited a passionate debate, as this action affects the curriculum and the perspective it offers to students and faculty alike. Those who oppose the revision argue that the replacement of this term believe that this is a subtle, yet blatant attempt to cover up the transgressions made by the Marcos dynasty. It advocates historical revisionism and distortion, and ensures that students are presented with a clear and unambiguous understanding of the historical period. It distinguishes Marcos’ authoritarian rule from other instances of dictatorship, fostering a more accurate comprehension of the Philippine context. It also allows open discourse about this regime in the classroom, and gives the students a framework to work with in critiquing the effectiveness of the current and coming administrations.
However, those who support the change argue that it will avoid biases in discussion. The term “Diktadurang Marcos” may carry political connotations and elicit strong emotions in certain circles. Using the more neutral term “Diktadura” reduces the likelihood of controversy and ensures that the curriculum remains focused on historical analysis rather than being entangled in political debates. The rebrand also helps students focus more on the concept of authoritarianism, taking a more impersonal approach in order to give students a more inclusive understanding of our history.
“The efforts to rebrand the dictatorship points to an apparent long-term plan to entrench the Marcoses in the highest positions of governments, even after the term of Marcos Jr. has ended,” — Renato Reyes, Alyansang Makabayan
The name “Marcos” should not be detached to the term “Diktadurang Marcos” in the 2023 MATATAG Curriculum and learning materials composing it. The foremost issue brought by this edit is the detachment of martial law and its repercussions to our present nation to the Marcos name. “The efforts to rebrand the dictatorship points to an apparent long-term plan to entrench the Marcoses in the highest positions of governments, even after the term of Marcos Jr. has ended,” Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan) president Renato Reyes said in an article regarding the case. By removing their signature on the issue, and anonymizing the main beneficiaries of the cruelties inflicted in those years, we are also anonymizing and diminishing the victims of these crimes. Voices upon voices that point to the Marcos name will be silenced in due time, if they continue to rebrand their identity.
Let us not forget that the current Marcos Administration is nowhere near perfect either. Numerous decisions and happenings in the Philippines brought by his administration are subject to public critique. Not only has he fallen short on his promises to Filipinos regarding the supposed “rise” in our agriculture (i.e. The promise of bringing the price of a kilo of rice to P20), but he has also approved programs and laws that batter the livelihoods of the majority of the Philippine population, such as the PUV Modernization program. Over the course of his reign, even the US court is holding him accountable for the contempt fine he has to pay, as a direct beneficiary of his father’s disservices. Until now, the $353 million has not been redistributed to the people. “The failure of the Marcos family to pay the estate taxes is to the detriment of the Filipino people, as it represents once again a ‘Ferdinand Marcos,’ but this time his Junior, depriving the country and its people of money properly belonging to them.” The removal of his family’s name on the biggest civil violation in the Philippines as an independent nation unloads the weight of these current malpractices. It is an attempt to conceal the manifestations of history repeating itself — the famine inflicted by this political dynasty to the masses.
By maintaining the name, students are provided with an accurate representation of a pivotal period in Philippine history, allowing them to engage with the events, decisions, and consequences associated with the Marcos regime. Deleting the name obscures the truth, hindering students from developing a comprehensive understanding of the nation’s past. Full-bodied and dark, yet clear and honest. Records, remembrances, and preservations of the past exist for one sole purpose; To right our wrongs and learn from them. The inclusion of the family name in the regime allows for a more in-depth review of events. This is not only to pressure improvement for the said dynasty, but for the witnesses of the stratocracy as well.
Some may argue it does not matter whether the name “Marcos” is formally taught in schools. As Sara Duterte did say, the new curriculum aims to focus more on concepts and events that transpired, and not the people. Following the same logic, then they might as well remove Rizal’s mentions in the curriculum as well. The curriculum should not succumb to the pressures of subjective interpretations of the matter. Why should names be kept secret when it comes to the atrocities they administered? If so, should the positive contributions of the Marcoses also be discredited to them? I infer that they think that shouldn’t be the case.
Though the Marcos Dictatorship was a significantly divisive time for Filipinos, the acknowledgement of this heinous experience and exploitation can strengthen our unity as Filipinos. The weight of this event in so many Filipino families allows us to sympathize with each other and open up dialogue about democracy and human rights.
“Removing the people responsible for their misdeeds in history is signing self-portraits with other names.”
The deliberate efforts of the Department of Education to close up the learning gap and upgrade the quality of Philippine education is a commendable action. The MATATAG curriculum has promise, with its lessons being decongested into efficient learning materials that make education more accessible and attainable for every Filipino. Revisions are a necessity to our long-flawed curriculum. However, too much revisions, to the point of augmenting historical narratives, erasing significant details of our culture, and obscuring the dark truth can only lead to a worsened state of our nation’s growing citizens. Removing the people responsible for their misdeeds in history is signing self-portraits with other names. In this case, attributing the family portrait to the neighbors. No matter the defense to it, this action just seems like an inane attempt to steer away the Marcoses from their transgressions. If there is anything the curriculum needs to teach its students, it is the importance of true democracy. We need to foster our collective memory in order to ensure a better nation for us. Openly talking about and accepting these crimes as fact instead of keeping them out of reach is the cornerstone of being an active and educated citizen of our nation.
