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| More than 100 teachers from Negros Occidental and Iloilo participated in the seminar. |
As part of the 2010 Rizal Day celebration, the Philippine Historical Association and the National Historical Commission in partnership with The Negros Museum, held a 1-day seminar-workshop entitled "Teaching Rizal in the Classroom: Making the Rizal Course Relevant in Our Time" on December 10, 2010 at The Negros Museum in Bacolod City.
Previous Teaching Rizal seminars were held at the Rizal Shrine in Dapitan, Zamboanga del Norte (2005), Silliman University in Dumaguete City (2006), University of San Agustin in Iloilo City (2007), and Xavier University in Cagayan de Oro City (2008).
These seminar-workshops aim to empower and equip teachers of history in making the teaching of the Rizal course more interesting and relevant.
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| Director Emelita V. Almosara of the National Historical Commission gave a Rizal Bust to Mrs. Lyn Gamboa as gift of gratitude for serving as host of the seminar-workshop. |
Mrs. Lyn Gamboa, President of the Negros Museum welcomed all the seminar participants to the Negros Museum and pointed out the importance of this undertaking as an exemplary way of promoting history and cultural education in the country.
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| Dr. Boncan delivering her lecture on Rizal's Ideas about Leadership and Good Governance |
Dr. Celestina Boncan (UP Manila) gave a lecture entitled "Ang Daang Matuwid Ayon kay Rizal: Rizal's Ideas on Leadership and Good Governance". According to Dr. Boncan "Rizal left behind so many letters and literary works out of which one could draw upon the wellspring of his ideas on leadership and governance. Despite the passage of years, Rizal’s ideas on leadership and good governance remain perfectly attuned to the needs of any time period, including the present presidency of Benigno Aquino III".
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| Prof. Espena answering questions about controversial issues on Jose Rizal during the open forum. |
Prof. Darlene Espena (Ateneo de Manila University) delivered a lecture on “Revisiting Controversial Issues on Rizal in Philippine Historiography”. In her lecture, Prof. Espena reminded everyone that "As teachers of history, perhaps the most important thing that we should always remember is the fact that history is interpretive and historical (absolute) truth is difficult to acquire as: facts vary/incongruent, views/ perspectives of primary historical sources vary and at the same time, the views and ideological frameworks of historians vary."
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| Mr. Balsamo discussing his lecture about the teaching of the Rizal Course today. |
Mr. Jonathan Balsamo (Heroes Square Heritage Corporation) presented a lecture entitled "DIS-KURSONG RIZAL: Panimulang Pagsusuri ng mga Silabo sa Kursong Rizal". Mr. Balsamo shared some general observations and preliminary findings from his on-going study about the current trends and issues on the teaching of the Rizal Course wherein he evaluated Rizal Course syllabi being used in various private and public higher education institutions in the country.
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| Dr. Songco discussing the Transformative Learning approach in teaching history and Rizal. |
Dr. Evelyn Songco (UST) presented an alternative way of teaching the subject Rizal using the "Transformative Learning Approach". According to Dr. Songco "Transformative Learning Approach facilitates the rational development of students by providing them with opportunities for paradigm shifts that result to affective development."
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| Ms. Zarah Escueta gives the audience an overview of the Rizal Shrine in Fort Santiago. |
Ms. Zarah Escueta (Rizal Shrine Fort Santiago) gave a presentation entitled "The Legacy Lives On" about the Rizal Shrine in Fort Santiago. In her presentation, Ms. Escueta encouraged everyone to visit Rizal shrines and museums as this will help us experience, understand and learn more about Rizal and his love for our country.
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| Mrs. Almosara explaining to the participants the role and programs of the National Historical Commission in propagating the ideas and heroism of our national heroes. |
Hon. Emelita Almosara, Acting Executive Director of the National Historical Commission of the Philippines, closed the seminar-workshop inspiring history teachers to give their best in teaching the history and heroism of our national heroes. She also encouraged the participants to take part in the observance of the national celebration of Rizal Day and in the celebration of Rizal's 150th birth anniversary in 2011.
Negrense Mentors Urged to Teach Rizal with Passion
By Gil Alfredo B. Severino
"Bilib ka ba kay Rizal?"
This was the challenge of Dr. Celestina Boncan to almost 150 social sciences teachers coming from all parts of Negros Occidental, who attended yesterday’s seminar-workshop held at the Negros Museum and conducted by the Philippine Historical Association.
Boncan delivered a lecture on "Ang Daang Matuwid Ayon Kay Rizal: Reflections on Rizal’s Ideas on Leadership and Good Governance", stressing that his being a sensitive observer is worth emulating.
She added that while Jose Rizal is not a major player in the "actual" development of the Philippines in terms of leadership and Governance, his sensitivity and perception must taught with "conviction and passion" (bilib na bilib kay Jose Rizal) otherwise, "we cannot blame students for finding the subject boring".
Boncan cited that Ambeth Ocampo is an effective teacher of and writer about Jose Rizal because of his intense and profound belief in the man, Jose Rizal, and his impact to the Filipino society.
Among her printed journals, Boncan wrote about an essay of Rizal, "Sobre la Indolencia de Filipinos", where she enumerated aggravating factors leading to the decline of the Filipino enterprise, among these are the use religious superstition to solved everyday problems and other impositions of the Church, apathy of government towards commerce and agriculture, corrupt alcalde mayors, attitude of the Spaniards to despise manual labor.
All these "sensitive observation", she said, must be the conviction and passion of teaching Rizal as a subject.
Meanwhile, young Atenean professor Darlene Espeña, also a lecturer, cautioned teachers not to "overdo what Rizal is not".
It is quite unfortunate, she said, that people want some more from Jose Rizal, things which are no longer his person.
Dr. Evelyn Songco, President of the Philippine Historical Association, on the other hand said that there is a need to emphasize that Jose Rizal is "not from above" but rather "extraordinary".
She said for someone enjoying life abroad and to say that "He is returning to the Philippines, suffer for his people and face the consequences" is extraordinary.
An extraordinary man worth emulating and worth teaching, Songco added.Mrs. Lyn Gamboa, President of the Negros Museum, announced that the seminar-workshop will be held twice a year.*
NEGROS DAILY BULLETIN
DECEMBER 8, 2010
50 Schools Join Teaching Rizal Seminar on Friday
The Negros Museum is welcoming 125 private and public school teachers from all over Negros Occidental and Iloilo City for a free seminar-workshop entitled "Teaching Rizal in the Classroom: Making the Rizal Course Relevant in Our Time" this coming Friday, December 10, 2010 at the Museum Lobby.
This Negros Museum event is sponsored by the 2010 Rizal Day National Organizing Committee, the National Historical Commission and the Philippine Historical Association.
Lecturers will be Dr. Celestina Boncan (University of the Philippines-Manila), Prof. Darlene Machell Espeña (Ateneo de Manila University), Prof. Jonathan Balsamo (Heroes Square Heritage Corporation/Enderun Colleges), Dr. Evelyn Songco (University of Santo Tomas) and Ms. Zarah Escueta (Curator, Rizal Shrine Fort Santiago, Intramuros).
Aside from important lectures about Jose Rizal and teaching Rizal, this one-day event program is packed with mini-workshops like "Arts in Teaching History" and "Creating Learning Experiences in the Study of Rizal’s Life and Writings".
Negros Cultural Foundation and Negros Museum President Lyn Gamboa will also welcome special guests Dr. Evelyn Songco, President of the Philippine Historial Association and Emelita Almosara, Acting Executive Director of the National Historical Commission.
More than 50 private and public schools and colleges in Negros Occidental and 3 Iloilo universities are expected to take advantage of this free seminar-workshop for their teachers.
As of press date, the museum has already reached maximum number of participants allowed by the organizers and would like to advise other interested parties to contact the museum for other event updates. Your local museum is also open to suggestions and requests for seminars or workshops you or your organization may want to attend in the future. Please contact 09173007742 and 431-9451 / 708-5080.*
PHA would like to thank THE NEGROS MUSEUM for hosting the seminar-workshop particularly Ms. Tanya Lopez and Ms. Tata Sevilleno --- Maraming salamat po!
