Learning from our Heritage

Maria Nina Remedios N. Maroma

During the Covid-19 crisis, some of us learned new hobbies and skills while some rekindled old ones. In my case, I had more time learning new things from my interest in heritage houses and structures of our country. These structures are reminders of our country’s glorious past as they stand silent witnesses of our nation’s history. Unfortunately, these structures are already few in numbers unlike before because some were destroyed by man-made or natural reasons.

Most of us grew up seeing these ancestral houses in our neighborhood or community and this sense of familiarity gives us this feeling of attachment to these structures. Even if some of us never set foot inside these old homes, our curiosity of what it is like to dwell inside them makes them more interesting which will give us inkling in learning more about them. Now how can we, as teachers, make our students learn from these heritage houses?

First, we must show them the connection of these old structures in their present lives. Young people have a lot of questions in mind and most of these questions have something about them like why certain things are happening in their lives right now. Everything happens for a reason and the reason can be traced from what happened in the past. We can guide them in finding out the answers through finding out more about their past and where they came from. These old houses are physical evidences that can help them learn many things about the way they think, act and feel. From learning the stories behind these houses, we can get a glimpse of history and how people lived back then. This can make learners appreciate our culture and traditions even more as they understand why we are practicing them in the first place.

Since learners have a clear view of where they came from and how certain things came into being, they can have a sense of identity about who they really are. Sense of belongingness is very important for young people, the more they can identify with someone or something, the more they will get interested in learning about them. And in today’s generation, young people are the ones who make their choices and take active steps in doing so. So the more they relate to those who came before them, the more they will learn from the lessons of the past and appreciate the life they have in the present.

These ancestral houses may seem to be silent witnesses of our past, but the lessons our young people can learn from them will leave a lasting mark. This assurance does not only affect the present generation of millennial but will linger onto the next generations to come.

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The author is Teacher II at Pampanga High School