"MAJOHA?": How well do Younger generations Know the Philippine National Heroes?

Since when did GomBurZa become “MaJoHa?” It looks like the Philippines could be in an educational crisis.

During the holy week break, a series of controversial videos released by a reality show surfaced on the internet. Many people felt embarrassed, while others were disappointed by the answers of the teen housemates, confusing GOMBURZA as MAJOHA.

Jose Burgos, Mariano Gomes, and Jacinto Zamora, also known as GOMBURZA, are the three secular priests who became an inspiration to seek for the Philippines’ own identity and freedom from Spanish colonialism. They were accused of treason by a Spanish military tribunal and were executed at Bagumbayan in 1972. By mistakenly calling honorable heroes other made-up names, the older generations were disappointed with the new generation of students. They believe that this is the result of too much student pampering nowadays. 

One individual commented that because of the rise of technology, students are now less interactive and understanding with their discussion compared to the students before. “As the world is getting higher in technology, the less it is for the students to interact and understand. They don't even study in a serious manner anymore," she said. She also expressed how the teachers are not to blame for this matter but the students themselves who need to register the topics that are discussed in school. However, another citizen had a different take on this matter. He said that if people will take this issue positively, it can address the current problems in history books, such as using abbreviations to name heroes rather than their full names. They may be known as GOMBURZA, but it is also not right to address them only as such and that it is the right time for  history books to be corrected. 

But what went wrong in educating the young about these honorable persons that every Filipino should know? Could it be the students' fault, the teachers’, or the whole education system? All three could somehow be to blame for it. 

The students lacking interest and dedication in studying Philippine history as a whole, is a controversial and alarming issue and people should be paying attention to it. Aside from it being only taught for a few years, learning history became a memorization task for students rather than adopting skills from the past that can be used in their daily lives. Thus, not all students are good at memorization, so it is harder for them to retain essential information. Miss Cristina B. Cristobal, a Philippine history teacher, said, "Students view Philippine History, and other history courses for that matter, as purely memory work. They get exasperated by facts, hence the dislike for the subject.” The Department of Education should change the curriculum into enhancing the beauty of Philippine history and exercising it in present times. There is so much art hidden in history; the archeological discoveries, literature works of Dr. Jose Rizal, historical places, and even a series of events. Everything is more than just a fact written in a book.

With this "MaJoHa" incident, may it be a lesson for everyone, not only for the youth, that Philippine history is as important as any other subject taught in school. It is part of being a Filipino to know the past of their very own country. Though the young generations seem to be more at fault for neglecting Philippine history, the older ones should not be too dismayed. But instead, help the young to commemorate the past events and people that fought hard for the country’s freedom.

~ Written By: Alyanna Marie Santiago and Julia Angeles