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103 129 1 PB PDF
103 129 1 PB PDF
103 129 1 PB PDF
WILFRIDO V. VILLACORTA
Department of History and Political Science
De La Salle University
r
Introduction to make social analysis more directly relevant
to Philippine realities.
Four centuries of colonization in the
Philippines have left a Western imprint on its Because of the big volume of materials
educational system. It is, therefore, not related to social sciences in the Philippines,
surprising that even when the Philippines this paper limits itself to the fields of history,
finally obtained her independence from the political science, sociology, anthropology and
United States of America in 1946, Philippine psychology. A broader study may be
social sciences would continue to be undertaken later to include other disciplines
influenced by trends in the United States. The which are not covered here.
resurgence of nationalism in the seventies,
however, attenuated this flow of influence. Early Forms of Western Influence
Filipino scholars began to feel the need to
reexamine social science concepts and break Social sciences as we understand them now
the umbilical cord that bound them to were introduced during the American colonial
traditional Western-oriented concepts. They period. With the adoption of the American
asserted that, despite the so-called pattern of educational system, the social
Westernization of Philippine society, it sciences became part of the core courses of
retained unique characteristics which could the college curricula. This necessitated the
not be appropriately studied with imported sending of Filipinos to the United States as
tools of analysis. Their impact is being future replacements of American teachers and
gradually felt in most universities and colleges retired soldiers who came to teach in the
and is changing the content of social science country. (Feliciano, 1977:78).
teaching in the country.
History courses, which were also taught
This paper will discuss (1) the extent to during the Spanish colonial period, now used
which social science instruction in the American-authored textbooks. The Americans,
Philippines has been influenced by the West, as did the Spaniards, used history classes to
and (2) the attempts of some Filipino social legitimize foreign domination (AIip and
scientists to resist the Western influence and Borlaza, 1973).
65
1977). The first to teach it was an American
66 WILFRIDO V. VILLACORTA •
who later became president of the University. from a legalistic,· state-focused viewpoint
It was the University of Sto. Tomas that first (Interview with Remigio Agpalo and Felipe
offered a curriculum leading to bachelor's and Miranda, University of the Philippines, June
postgraduate degrees in psychology. 24, 1980).
economics in the choice of majors among the The competence of social science
students. This was attributed by Hunt and instructors also leaves much to be desired. In
Dizon (1978: 104) to the growing popularity her survey, Prof. Mary Hollnsteiner (:'.974: 10)
of sociology in the United States, which found that a large percentage of social science
provided more opportunities for Filipinos to teachers were not qualified to teach the
receive study and research grants from subjects assigned them.
American foundations. American scholars also
found the Philippines a fruitful area of Psychology, sociology, history and political
r research.
iii. Even research on these societies proliferation of books on, the Philippine
continue to be reported in foreign constitution and the New Society.
languages.
Reactions to heavy Western influence have
iv. Research carried out in these societies - taken the form of calls for decolonizing
either by local scholars or by foreign Philippine social sciences. Of the more serious
scholars - follow the models and the
methodology developed.in the West.
We may include Remigio Agpalo (1980) e. that while the local collaborating
and Felipe Jocano (1975) among those who elites share in the gains of this
are aspiring to draw from the actual Philippine dependent development, the }easants
experience their analytical concepts and tools. arid the workers are permanently
marginalized by the entire precess.
ii. Dependence Theory
Randolf David (1979a), who heads the f. that as a society caught in the frenzy
U.P. Third World Studies Center, is the of the international market,
main proponent of this school of controlled by powerful transnational
thought. Basically, this perspective conglomerates, we are experiencing
examines the relationship of domination the rapid erosion of our national
and dependency between the advanced culture as a direct result of the
pillage of colonialism and the vicious plunder responsibility. He now finds secondary
of contemporary imperialism." ' importance in' the strict requirements of
scientific investigation that were imparted by
Even among those social scientists who do his Western mentors. More compelling is the
not actively participate in this debate, there is social utility· of his investigation. Carifto
a growing recognition of. the social purpose of (1978) warns against the danger of treating
research. This was reflected, for instance,
" during the 1977 conference sponsored by the
Division of Social Sciences of the University's
College of Arts and Sciences. Identified as the
tasks of a concerned social scientist were: "to
criticize, expose and clarify the fundamental
the human subject of research as an
objectified entity and ignoring his essential
quality "as a choosing and responsible actor."
7. It is alienated from its own national ALIP, EUFRONIO and GREGORIO IlORLAZA
tradition, if it exists, in the field of 1973 The development, status and problems of
history in the Philippines. Position paper
its intellectual pursuit. submitted to the Philippine Social Science
8. It is unconscious of its own captivity Council. Unpublished.
and the conditioning factors making
it what it is. ARCELLANA,EMERENCIANA
9. It is amenable to an adequate 1974 Political science and political regeneration.
Philippine Political Science Journal, 1 (1).
quantitative analysis but it can be
studied by empirical observation.
r
ATAL, YOGESH
10. It is a result of the Western 1978 Social science situation in Asia
dominance over the rest of the world. In Policy Towards Social Sciences in Asia
and Oceania. Bangkok: UNESCO.
What is now happening in the Philippines is
a process in which social scientists are trying BAUTiSTA, C., et al,
to expurgate their captive mind in order to 1977 The sociology of sociology: the question
acquire a clearer view of their society and of partisanship. Paper presented at the
Conference on the Social Responsibilities
closer rapport with their own people whom
of the Social Scientist. University of the
they should serve. Philippines.
BENNAGEN, PONCIANO
1977 Mirror, mirror on the wall, arc we human
after all? Paper presented at the
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•
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•
• WESTERN INFLUENCES ON SOCIAL SCIENCE TEACHING 73
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