SH1661
EDUCATION
Education is a social institution that formally socializes members of society. It remains a very important
support pillar in society. Education also refers to the process through which skills, knowledge, and values
are transmitted from the teachers to learners. This social institution brings about continuity, which is an
important factor for development.
• Formal Education – based in the classroom and provided by trained teaching and non-teaching
personnel. It has an approved curriculum, which includes the course outline, the prescribed number
of sessions to finish, the lessons, and the authentic assessments and outputs
• Nonformal education – is any organized educational activity that takes place outside a formal setup.
It is usually, flexible, learner-centered, contextualized, and uses a participatory approach.
Manifest and Latent Function of Education
Manifest (Primary/ Intended Functions) Latent (Secondary/ Unintended Functions)
Socialization Venues for expanding people’s network
Transmission of Culture, skills, and values Ability to work in groups (Leader or Member)
Goals and Functions of Education in the 21 st Century World
Functions Descriptions Reinforced by
Transmission of cultural Communication and honing of knowledge, Family
heritage language, science
Selection of social roles and Provides new experiences and offers Religion
training in such roles alternatives and a wider selection of roles
Integration and Functions as a social control mechanism State/
mainstreaming of that brings recalcitrant members back to Government/
subcultures and identities fold Religion
Source of social and cultural A place where young people are enjoined Peers/ State/
innovations to be creative with others Family
Primary Education as a Human Right
The Universal Declaration of Human Rights states that everyone has the right to education. Education has
to be free and compulsory at least at the primary level, whereas higher education should be made available
based on merit.
HEALTH
Cultural Constructs of Health and the Filipino Attributions of Illness
Within the context of culture, health and illness are not biological and medical. The culture around the world
has manifold ways of taxonomizing various levels of health and an equally esoteric classification of illness.
The Philippines has its set of language to refer to health and illness, most of which pertains to either the
corporeal body or spirit.
• Usog is a Filipino belief regarding the discomfort brought about by a stranger or visitor who is
thought to have an evil eye (masamang mata) or who brings an evil wing (masamang hangin) or a
hex.
• Bughat or binat is the term used to refer to the ailments a mother experiences after giving birth or
after suffering from an abortion or miscarriage if she did not follow certain rituals after childbirth.
Filipino Theories of Illness
Physical and mental health and illness are viewed holistically as an equilibrium model.
1. Mystical causes are often associated with experiences or behaviors such as retribution from
ancestors for unfulfilled obligations.
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SH1661
2. Personalistic causes may be attributed to social punishment or retribution by supernatural beings
such as evil spirits, witches, or mangkukulam.
3. Naturalistic causes include a range of factors from nature events, excessive stress, incompatible
foods and drugs, infection, or familial susceptibility.
4. Bacterial/ viral causes are attributed to as effects of these entities invading the body and making
the body weak and defenseless.
Cultural Health Actors
Just like in the biomedical world, the hierarchy of healers and specialist in Philippine folk medicine can be
categorized as some sort of specialist in their own right.
• Albularyo – seen as the general practitioner; knowledgeable about folkloric modalities and is usually
especially versed in the use of medicinal herbs.
• Hilot – reefers both the manghihilot or nagpapaanak; manghihilot specializes techniques and
treatments applicable to sprains, fractures, and musculoskeletal conditions; nagpapaanak besides
giving prenatal visits and delivering babies, often perform the suob rituals
• Mangluluop – specializes in diagnostic techniques, usually referring to the patients after diagnosis
to the albularyo, medico, or manghihilot for definitive treatments
• Medico – is a hybrid, sort of crossover specialization; merges age-old folkloric modalities with
ingredients of western medicine such as prescriptions, medications, acupuncture, etc.
Health as Human Right
• The human right to health guarantees a system of health protection for all.
• Everyone has the right to the health care they need and to living conditions that enable them to be
healthy, such as adequate food, housing, and a healthy environment.
• Health care must be provided as a public good for all, financed publicly and equitably.
Reference:
Contreras, A., Dela Cruz, A., Erasga, D., & Fadrigon, C. (2016). The Padayon Series: Understanding
Culture, Society, and Politics. Quezon City: Phoenix Publishing House, Inc.
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