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Casting Away the Myth of Filipino Illiteracy
(A Journey from Katun to Co-op Education, Training and Information)

Katun was an educational system designed to develop reading skills among learners during the Spanish colonial rule in the Philippines.

Education, Training and Information - Co-operatives provide education and training for their members, elected representatives, managers, and employees so they can contribute effectively to the development of their co-operatives. They inform the general public – particularly young people and opinion leaders – about the nature and benefits of co-operation.

– Fifth Co-op Principle, ICA Statement on the Co-operative Identity

 

The Filipinos value education highly. Filipino illiteracy is purely a myth indeed – Contrary to the claims of the Spanish conquerors that the ancient inhabitants of the Philippines were illiterates, the early Filipinos already had some kind of educational system suited to their needs in pre-Hispanic Philippine society. Education during those days was largely informal and was acquired through apprenticeship which started at home…The early Filipinos considered education as a way to preserve their culture and transmit the knowledge acquired by earlier generations to younger ones. It was deemed a vital factor in the propagation of the country’s traditions (Duka, 1997, p.63)

Prior to the colonization of the Philippines—first by the Spaniards, then by the Americans, and then by the Japanese—it had long years of contact with the great traditions of Asia and the Middle East. These encounters with other cultures certainly enriched Filipino literacy. The colonial powers would not only stifle this literacy growth and development but would drastically change it with the imposition of their own religious, social, political and educational systems.

Punitive actions await dissenters to these colonial systems. According to Jocano, Filipinos who refused to accept the new systems were punished as heretics and insurrectos. Jocano further said, The colonizers also passed laws and formulated civil service rules to govern private and public behavior and to insure the legitimacy of their regimes. They, likewise introduced their values as standards for what is desirable, good, true and beautiful (Jocano, 1997, p.3).

Such an environment for learning placed the Filipino learners at great risk of losing their own cultural identity. It was gain some in terms of skills and lose much in terms of native values, beliefs and practices. Those who could still remember share with us their experiences. The Katun, a system to develop reading skills introduced during the colonial period, according to them, was very helpful to whet their appetite for more knowledge. The reading materials made available to the learners however, were those produced by the colonizers themselves and would necessarily promote colonial interests.

Manners, self-expression, knowledge-based decisions and actions characterize the true literate person.  Education, formal or informal, is the instrument for developing literacy. By our colonial experience, we need more than just functional literacy. We need what we may call a ‘transformational’ literacy. One that would empower us to help change the way of the world, from dreaming and scheming for power and domination to dreaming and working together for unity and cooperation. The Journey from Katun to Co-op Education, Training and Information therefore is a very present journey, one that will not rest until the Co-op vision is realized. This Co-op principle of Education, Training and Information is one of the most basic principles adopted by the fathers of the Co-operative Idea. The ICA report affirms that the co-operative movement has a long-standing and distinguished commitment to education… This principle emphasizes the vital importance played by education and training within co-operatives. Education means more than just distributing information or encouraging patronage; it means engaging the minds of members, elected leaders, managers and employees to comprehend fully the complexity and richness of co-operative thought and action. Training means making sure that all those who are associated with co-operatives have the skills they require in order to carry out their responsibilities effectively (ICA, 1995, p.23).

A naturally gifted and intelligent people brainwashed and forcibly immersed into a system of education promoting another people’s culture, beliefs and standards of values should find in the Co-op principle of education, training and information the true inspiration and direction for the pursuit of life long and life sustaining wisdom.

 

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