This document discusses the value that Filipinos place on education based on sayings from different ethnic groups in the Philippines. It outlines that education is seen as a wealth or inheritance that cannot be taken away, stolen, gambled, or exchanged. It further explains that education provides light in darkness, both literally in terms of knowledge and wisdom, and figuratively in terms of navigating life's difficulties. Overall, the document conveys that education is tremendously valued in the Philippines as demonstrated through the shared perspectives of various ethnic communities.

1. VALUES EDUCATION
(EDUCATION)
BY: ARADELIO M.DABON
TOPIC: EDUCATION

2. INTRODUCTION TO
EDUCATION
 Filipinos education next to religion.
Parents sell the mortgage their piece
of land if only to support the
schooling of their children. They
raise hogs, chicken, cows, among
others, in order to defray the
matriculation of their sons and
daughters . Others work and study at
the same time, hence the coined term
“self-supporting student.”

3.  In the light of this unusual interest
in education one may ask: why
does the Filipino give so much
value to education that he dares all
odds and works hard to the bones,
if only to earn a degree for himself?
It is enlightening to know what the
people have to say about it.
(TIMBREZA 1989s)

4. As far as ilocanos are concerned
“Adal ti kinabaknang a di matakaw ken
tawid a di mapukaw”
(Education is a wealth that cannot be
stolen and inheritance that cannot be lost.)
In full agreement, the Tagalog say,
“Ang aral ng isang tao ay siyang tanging
mana na hindi masusunog o mawawala.”
(A Person’s learning is an inheritance that
cannot be burned or lost.)

5. Chabacanos,
“El education ay un requisa no puede bende”
(Education is a wealth that cannot be sold)
For this reason
“Mas importancia el un educasion’’
(Education is a priceless inheritance)
In the same vein, the Kankanay-ey state,
“Nan adal et tawid a di kaakew”
(Education is an inheritance that cannot be
pilfered).

6. The Ibanags share the same wisdom,
“Y ginihihammum e kukuam nga awan na
makakotkot”
(Knowledge is a gem that cannot be
plundered).
That is “Y ginigiyammu ay biyenes nga ari
nga maloko”
(learning is an inheritance that can never
be snatched away).
This is not unknown to the Ivatans,
“No casulivan o am kaynakman a di
mataka’’
(Education ias a wealth that cannot be
plundered or pillaged).

7. The same perception is held by Warays, “Dire
maihuygo nga maibalye an hibaro sa tawo”
(A person’s education cannot be exchanged and
gambled).
For Cebuanos, “Dile maihaygo og dile maibalyo ang
kinaadman sa tawo”
(an individual’s learning can never be gambled and
exchange for nothing).
The Ilonggos express the same insight, “ang tinunan
manggad nga di makadawat”
(Education is a wealth that cannot be lotted od
robbed).

8. Education and learning involved a rigorous,
intellectual process of development
that takes so many years of individual diligence,
struggle and efforts. This individual cannot be done
by proxy, insofar as intellectual development is a
process of intussusceptions that develops from
within. This explains why those who are more
developed intellectually, suffer more deeply .for to
grow from within means to strive hard to overcome
ignorance. That is why education is a lifetime
struggle ,a lifetime
form of suffering, insofar as intellectual
enlightenment entails not only gains but also
Pains .The gain, though, is worth the pains.

9. The Ilonggos believe that
“Ang kinaalam suga sa kaduluman”
(Wisdom is the light in the dark)
The Ibanags also perceive the same thing,
“Y nono ay tulo ta karaibbatan”
(Wisdom shines in the dark)
And for the Ivatans,
“No casulivan am sihdang do kasarian’’
(Wisdom is a spotlight in the midst of darkness).
The Chabacanos express it thus,
“Tiene luz el pensamiento”.
(Knowledge is light in darkness)
The kankanay-ey,
“Nan adal et silawan nan adi kai-la”
(Knowledge is a lighthouse in the dark).

10. The “Darkness” metaphor, karimlan or dilim or in
cebuano kangitngit, signifies not only ignorance
and illiteracy but life’s problems and predicaments
as well, not to mention hardships and sufferings
which go along with poverty and deprivation.
Inasmuch as illiterate person seems to be living in
the dark and he is incapable of making decisions
beyond his limited self-awareness. Thus, ignorance
imprisons an individual and only education can
release and liberate him from this self-
imprisonment.

11. This is evident in the people’s “light” or “torch”
metaphor, that is, education is one’s torch that
shows the way towards ease and comfort,
success and happiness.

12. Ibanags value the education as the greatest
heirloom that an individual can ever get in life,
“Y ginigiyammu na tolay y cafianan ta ngamin nga
ma-ireda’’.
The Ilocanos concur,
“uray awan ti tawidem a kuarta no la ket diadalka”
(even though you don’t inherit money as long as
you are educated).

13. Furthermore,
“ Y tolay nga egge y ginigiyammu na ay nirerespeto”
(An educated person is well respected),
according to the Ibanags.
This is also perceived by other Filipinos: The Ivatans,
“Aniven o miyan so pinachinanaan a tawo”
(They respect a person with education):
The ilongos,
“Ang tawo nga may tinunan-an gina respetar”
(An individual with education earns high respect):
The ilocanos, “bigbigenda daytay tao nga adda adalna”
( They recognize and esteem a person with education);
And the cahabcanos, “Necessita respeta quita con un
estudianate”(One who has studied is well esteemed).

15. The Chabacanos’
“luz del mga ignorante tien un lecsion”
(A man of learning is the light of the ignorant)
for, instance, the ignorant is like the blind who is
groping in the dark and not know the way. A man
of wisdom serves as the torch for the ignorant so
as to straighten his ways towards goodness and
righteousness.

16. In this light, the bicolanos say,
“An gamot ng kalam mapait ps sa apdo, apan con
mamunga matamis pa sa dugos”
(The root of learning is more bitter than vile, but its
fruit is sweeter than honey)
The Ilcanos state “Masapul nga anus ken di
malpas nga anus no kayat ti agbulnos” (Patience
and endless patience is necessary if one wants to
harvest a reward).For cebuanos, “Ang kanu ayang
magkugi sa kapalaran makaagi” (The industrious
can easily find or success).

18. Education is a gift that none can take away.
Nelson Mandela-
The purpose of education is to replace an
empty mind with an open one.
-Malcom Forbes-
Without education you are not going anywhere
in this world.
-Malcom X-
Education is the most powerful weapon we
can use to change the world.
-American Proverb-