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T o l e n t i n o

WHAT IS AN EDUCATED FILIPINO?
By: Francisco Benitez
What is an educated Filipino and what qualities should distinguish him today? The conception of education and of
what an educated man is varies in response to fundamental changes in the details and aims of society. In our country and
during this transition stage in our national life, what are the qualities which an educated man should possess? Great changes
have taken place in the nature of our social life during the last forty years. The contact with Americans and their civilization
has modified many of our own social customs, traditions, and practices, some for the worse and many for the better. The
means of communication have improved and therefore better understanding exists among the different sections of our
country. Religious freedom has developed religious tolerance in our people. The growth of public schools and the
establishment of democratic institutions have developed our national consciousness both in strength and in solidarity. With
this growth in national consciousness and national spirit among our people, we witness the corresponding rise of a new
conception of education - the training of the individual for the duties and privileges of citizenship, not only for his own
happiness and efficiency but also for national service and welfare. In the old days, education was a matter of private concern;
now it is a public function, and the state not only has the duty but it has the right as well to educate every member of the
community - the old as well as the young, women as well as men - not only for the good of the individual but also for the self-
preservation and protection of the State itself. Our modern public school system has been established as a safeguard against
the shortcomings and dangers of a democratic government and democratic institutions. In the light of social changes, we
come again to the question: What qualities should distinguish the educated Filipino of today? I venture to suggest that the
educated Filipino should first be distinguished by the power to do. The Oriental excels in reflective thinking; he is a
philosopher. The Occidental is the doer; he manages things, men and affairs. The Filipino of today needs more of his power to
translate reflection into action. I believe that we are coming more and more to the conviction that no Filipino has the right to
be considered educated unless he is prepared and ready to take an active and useful part in the work, life, and progress of our
country as well as in the progress of the world. The power to do embraces the ability to produce enough to support oneself
and to contribute to the economic development of the Philippines. Undoubtedly, a man may be, and often is, an efficient
producer of economic goods and at the same time he may not be educated. But should we consider a man who is utterly
unable to support himself and is an economic burden to the society in which he lives as educated merely because he
possesses the superficial graces of culture? I hope that no one will understand me as saying that, the only sign of economic
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efficiency is the ability to produce material goods, for useful social participation may take the form of any of any of the
valuable services rendered to society trough such institutions as the home, the school, the church and the government. The
mother, for example, who prepares wholesome meals, takes good care of her children and trains them in morals and right
conduct at home, renders efficient service to the country as well as the statesman or the captain of industry. I would not make
the power to do the final and only test of the educated Filipino; but I believe that in our present situation, it is fundamental
and basic. The educated Filipino, in the third place, must have ingrained in his speech and conduct those elements that are
everywhere recognized as accompaniments of culture and morality; so that, possessing the capacity for self - entertainment
and study, he may not be at the mercy of the pleasure of the senses only or a burden to himself when alone. There are, then,
at least three characteristics which I believe to be the evidence of the educated Filipino - the power to do, to support himself
and contribute to the wealth of our people; acquaintance with the world's progress, especially with that of his race, people,
and the community, together with love of our best ideals and traditions; and refined manners and moral conduct as well as
the power of growth.















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Soul of the Great Bell (Summary)
By: Lacfadio Hearn
Nearly five hundred years ago, the Celestial August and Yung- Lo commanded the worthy official Kouan- Yu to make a
bell that the sound thereof might be heard for one hundred Li. He therefore called the master moulders and renowned
bellsmiths and all men of great repute and cunning in foundry work to begin the labor. But when the metal had been cast, it
was discovered that the result was void of worth; for the metals had rebelled one against the other therefore the moulds had
to be once more prepared, and the fires rekindled, and the metal remelted, and all the work tediously and toilsomely
repeated. The Son of Heaven heard and was angry, but spake nothing. A second time the bell was cast, and the result was
even worse. The Celestial August was angrier than before and send Kouan- Yu letter telling him that another failure will cost
his life. Ko- ngai, the daughter of Kouan- Yu learned about this and feared the life of his father so she consulted an astrologer
and gave her an answer "Gold and brass will never meet in wedlock, silver and iron never will embrace, until the flesh of a
maiden be melted in the crucible; until the blood of a virgin be mixed with the metals in their fusion." So Ko-Ngai returned
home sorrowful at heart; but she kept secret all that she had heard, and told no one what she had done. At last came the
awful day when the third and last effort to cast the great bell was to be made; and Ko-Ngai, together with her waiting-woman,
accompanied her father to the foundry, and they took their places upon a platform overlooking the toiling of the moulders
and the lava of liquefied metal. Then Ko- Ngai leaped into the white flood of metal and the lava of the furnace roared to
receive her. All was shocked including his father and her waiting-woman holding her shoe. But in spite of all these things, the
command of the Celestial and August had to be obeyed. It was found that the bell was beautiful to look upon and perfect in
form, and wonderful in colour above all other bells. And when they sounded the bell, its tones were found to be deeper and
mellower and mightier than the tones of any other bell, reaching even beyond the distance of one hundred li, like a pealing of
summer thunder; and yet also like some vast voice uttering a name of Ko-Ngai. And still, between each mighty stroke there is
a long low moaning heard and when the people hear that great golden moan they keep silence, but when the sharp and the
sobbing of "Hiai!" then, indeed, do all the Chinese mothers whisper to their little ones: "Listen! That is Ko-Ngai crying for her
shoe! That is Ko-Ngai calling for her shoe!" Conflict the conflict of the story is when they failed to make the bell the Celestial
August ordered them to do. Climax The climax of the story is when Ko- Ngai ngai jumped into the mixing of the materials
needed for making the bell and save her father's life. Denouement When Ko- Ngai sacrificed herself to make the great bell
and save her father's life. Characters Protagonist: Ko- Ngai - Daughter of Kouan-Yu and the one who sacrificed herself. Kouan-
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Yu - a worthy mandarin and father of Ko- Ngai. Antagonist: Celestial August- The son of heaven. Settings Time- Nearly 500
years ago Place - Pe King Currently Beijing, China Theme The theme of the story is Life process because it is showed in the
story the experiences of Kouan- Yu and Ko- Ngai and what a child can do in order to save his/her parents. Point of view Third
person because the narrator is not a participant in the story thus, the focus is in the character of Ko- Ngai. Conflict For me, the
conflict is man vs. supernatural because Kouan- Yu and Ko- Ngai are against the elements outside of the natural realm like a
celestial being in the place of Celestial August.





















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The Wooden Bowl
By: Rabbi Moshe Wolf
A frail old man went to live with his son, daughter-in-law, and a four-year old grandson. The old man's hands
trembled, his eyesight was blurred, and his step faltered. The family ate together nightly at the dinner table. But the elderly
grandfather's shaky hands and failing sight made eating rather difficult. Peas rolled off his spoon onto the floor. When he
grasped the glass often milk spilled on the tablecloth. The son and daughter-in-law became irritated with the mess. "We must
do something about grandfather," said the son. I've had enough of his spilled milk, noisy eating, and food on the floor. So the
husband and wife set a small table in the corner. There, grandfather ate alone while the rest of the family enjoyed dinner at
the dinner table. Since grandfather had broken a dish or two, his food was served in a wooden bowl. Sometimes when the
family glanced in grandfather's direction, he had a tear in his eye as he ate alone. Still, the only words the couple had for him
were sharp admonitions when he dropped a fork or spilled food. The four-year-old watched it all in silence.
One evening before supper, the father noticed his son playing with wood scraps on the floor. He asked the child sweetly,
"What are you making?" Just as sweetly, the boy responded, "Oh, I am making a little bowl for you and mama to eat your food
from when I grow up." The four-year-old smiled and went back to work. The words so struck the parents that they were
speechless. Then tears started to stream down their cheeks. Though no word was spoken, both knew what must be done.
That evening the husband took grandfather's hand and gently led him back to the family table.
For the remainder of his days he ate every meal with the family. And for some reason, neither husband nor wife seemed to
care any longer when a fork was dropped, milk spilled, or the tablecloth soiled. Children are remarkably perceptive. Their eyes
ever observe, their ears ever listen, and their minds ever process the messages they absorb. If they see us patiently provide a
happy home atmosphere for family members, they will imitate that attitude for the rest of their lives. The wise parent realizes
that every day those building blocks are being laid for the child's future.






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I am an African Child
By: Enebeli Prada
What can you see in me
except for my skin?
I am black and proud.
Humble but I have my pride.

Am a street king.
Bare footed I walk the street.
Am well known in every zone.

You say am weak,
but listen.
In me there is no retreat.
In me there is no surrender.
I fight until I cry.
If you know my fear,
tell me.
I am never afraid.
Even when the masquerade dance
I follow closely behind.

What do you see?
Shame?
Well listen and learn.

With almost toothless mouth,
I smile.
I like playing half naked,
with my tommy like kwashiorkor.

When I fall, I get up.
Cleaning my body
with my dirty hand.

Outfitted or not,
every Sunday I wear
my best cloth to church.

Without night bath
I sleep on my mat.
But when I wake up,
I find myself on a cold floor.

Like gold miners,
I diligently I seek for tyres
to roll around with my other
brothers.

Like an he goat
it takes more than a stroke
of cane to make me change.

In finding trouble,
There is great humor
And I run away when I find one.

Am black as dark.
At night the only thing
You see is my white eyes.

An African Child
Am proud
That is who I am.