Batalla, Freya Ramille A.

May 24, 2019

1LIT WOSOCU Final Paper

The State of Arts and Humanities in the Philippines and What It Could Glean from Policies of
the United States

With the revelation of the partial and unofficial results of the recent 2019 Senatorial
Election last May 9, 2019, many were dismayed over how incompetent and unqualified candidates
such as the likes of Bong Go and Bato dela Rosa managed to bag top seats and politicians convicted
of theft and plunder namely Bong Revilla and Jinggoy Estrada were higher in ranking than those
of the opposition, Otso Derecho, bets. People were quick to point fingers and blame the masses
for the outcome, calling those who voted for the said candidates “bobo” or stupid for choosing to
favor those of questionable background despite numerous reports exposing their inadequacies, lack
of integrity, principles, and experiences over someone like Chel Diokno. However, some were also
quick to defend the side of the masses and explain the real cause of the voting aftermath and the
issue that we all need to address, which is the lack of access to proper information and the poor
and non-inclusive education system in the country.

While the literacy rate in the Philippines is not relatively low compared to other Southeast
Asian countries, the quality of education is still in need of major improvement. Public schools are
generally underfunded and are deprived of proper budget and resources needed to produce an
environment suitable for learning. Aside from the shortages of classrooms and library facilities,
learning materials such as textbooks and teaching equipment are also in short supply. Teaching as
a course is constantly belittled yet teachers are overworked but not paid well enough, thus forcing
some to no longer pursue the discipline and opt for higher-paying jobs in the field of Medicine and
Engineering instead. Moreover, the current curriculum also needs further reforms that are
beneficial to all strands, especially the Humanities, Social Sciences, and Arts programs.

The Philippines is a country with little appreciation for the Arts and Humanities courses.
People who take AB majors for college are underestimated and seen as inferior towards those who
choose Math or Science-related paths. Instead of encouraging arts-inclined students in their pursuit
of what fuels their interests and passion, our society argues that they will not be rich and successful
enough as “there is no money in arts and humanities”, and that they should be more practical in
selecting career options, because there is a wide misconception that Arts and Humanities graduates
end up in relatively low-paying jobs, given that, in a capitalist culture, their income is dictated by
the labor market. History, Philosophy, Literature and other social science subjects are deemed as
useless, despite their contributions in making society whole and functional, and Arts a waste of
time, since capitalists fail to fit it into their notional and money-driven way of thinking.

In some Western countries, like the United States, Arts and Humanities courses are
acknowledged and supported along with other programs. The US boasts of having one of the
highest proportion of Humanities majors next to the United Kingdom and Japan (Nelson, 2014).
Three of the top five universities that are renowned worldwide for offering the best Arts and
Humanities degrees are located in the United States (Times Higher Education, 2018). Moreover,
according to the National Assembly of State Arts Agencies (2010), during the past 40 years,
regardless of tight budget conditions, state governments still have maintained a commitment to the
arts by establishing arts agencies in all 56 states and jurisdictions of America and even allocating
funding to these agencies and their activities. There is also an established agency specifically for
the humanities, namely the National Endowment for the Humanities, which supports research,
education, and public programs in that particular field.

Like the United States, the Philippine government should also start investing in the field of
the Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences. It would be ideal if we would also establish local arts
and humanities-centered agencies in every region and support them by allotting a sufficient portion
of the budget to fund their projects. On the other hand, although having STEM students take up
less General Education classes to minimize their workload and help them focus more on their area
of specialization of choice might seem like a smart move, the truth is they are getting the short end
of the stick, as the arts and humanities disciplines are essential for everyone regardless of career.
The arts and humanities offer a window into the understanding of human nature and society. They
help us make sense of our reality, and enables us to connect with the past to better tread present
situations and serve as an instrument for the future. In addition to their intrinsic value to society,
as the National Assembly of State Arts Agencies have claimed, among the benefits that the arts
and humanities offer includes being economic drivers, educational assets, civic catalysts, and
cultural legacies of a certain country. Thus, we need to push for the integration of arts and
humanities into scientific studies as well as promote interdisciplinary education approach.
Sources:

National Assembly of State Arts Agencies (2010). Why Should Government Support the Arts.
Retrieved from https://www.culturalpolicies.net/web/files/83/en/US-WhyGovSupport2010.pdf

Prey, B. (2014). The Value and Importance of the Arts and the Humanities in Education and Life.
Retrieved from https://www.huffpost.com/entry/the-value-and-importance_b_5788116

Nelson, L. (2014). College Majors around the world, in 6 maps. Retrieved from
https://www.vox.com/xpress/2014/10/13/6970337/college-majors-around-the-world-in-6-maps

Times Higher Education (2018). World University Rankings. Retrieved from

https://www.timeshighereducation.com/student/best-universities/best-universities-arts-and-
humanities-degrees#survey-answer