In time for the 148th anniversary of the birth of our national hero Andres Bonifacio, Kabataan Rep. Raymond “Mong” Palatino today urged Congress to pass a bill which seeks to include in the college curricula a course on the life, works and ideals of Andres Bonifacio.

House Bill no. 4353 or the “Andres Bonifacio Act of 2011” is a novel measure that aims to “strengthen the values of nationalism and patriotism among the youth” through subjects on Bonifacio.

“Including a course on the life, works and ideals of Andres Bonifacio in college will help strengthen the values of nationalism and patriotism among the youth. Bonifacio is a luminary whose challenges and lessons in nation-building remain very relevant up to this day,” Palatino said.

Andres Bonifacio was one of the founders and later the supreme leader of Kataastaasang Kagalanggalangang Katipunan ng mga Anak ng Bayan or Katipunan, a movement which sought Philippine independencefrom Spanish colonial rule.

Palatino explained that “Bonifacio, like many of the youths today, is from poor a working class family and had to work at an early age to support his siblings. Yet the circumstance did not hinder him from recognizing his historical part in the fight for social change. We are, in many respects, contemporaries of Bonifacio.”

“Lessons on national independence, collective action, civic consciousness and patriotism will be inculcated among our students if a course on the life of our heroes should be included in the collegiate curricula. These lessons will shape the character needed for personal, community and national development,” Palatino added.

Palatino, together with Rep. Antonio Tinio of ACT Teachers, also filed House Resolution no. 1149 which seeks to conduct an inquiry on the quality of teaching Philippine history in elementary and secondary schools, including an assessment of curricula, textbooks, programs and activities related to history. ###