Atin Ito First Filipino Community Newspaper in Ontario
In today’s social milieu, good manners still matter. It is not old fashioned or irrelevant behavior. Small gestures like saying “thank you” or “please,” giving full attention to a person speaking, or waiting in line for one’s turn, contribute to cultivating a harmonious society.
Good manners are passed on to the next generation like a legacy. Teaching children good manners is not the sole responsibility of any one institution. The seeds of good manners are first planted in the home, where it is taught through example and nurtured by loving remarks from elders.
The value of good manners and right conduct is recognized by the government and through legislation, it is taught as a subject in school. Currently, GMRC is part of the curriculum under the Edukasyon sa Pagpapakatao (ESP) in the K to 12 program.
In 2020, Republic Act 11476 was passed institutionalizing Good Manners and Right Conduct (GMRC) and Values Education as core subjects in the K to 12 curriculum both in public and private schools. Under RA 11476, GMRC and Values Education will replace the existing Edukasyon sa Pagpapakatao (ESP) subject.
GMRC will be taught from Grades 1 to 6 as a separate subject and will also be integrated into the daily learning activities of Kindergarten students. Values Education will be taught as separate subject from Grades 7 to 10 and will also be integrated into current subjects in Grades 11 to 12.
The Department of Education (DepEd) had announced that it is planning to roll out the revised K to 10 curriculum in SY 2024 -2025.
In the GMRC Law, good manners refer to “certain and particular universally accepted basic social values and etiquette and/or proper modes of behavior that conveys respect to those whom one interacts with.”
Some may consider GMRC as a non-subject because it does not teach a skill to earn a livelihood. That is an incorrect view; there is much value in good manners and right conduct as people like being with people who are pleasant and respectful, thus they will be the ones who will get better opportunities in the work place. And in the community, good manners nurture respect and empathy for others.
In the Filipino home, the learning of what constitutes the set of behavior that makes good manners starts with respect for the older members of the family which is a very strong Filipino value. Words of respect like “po,” “ho,” “kuya,” “ate” are often heard in the home, with gestures like the “mano” (respectful greeting gesture on the hand), or speaking in a softer tone when replying to an older adult.
Such Filipino values and good manners should continue outside the home, especially in the bus or train stations where often, disrespectful behavior happens especially during rush hour. Our Filipino value of respect for elders requires action when an elderly is standing and a younger person is seated in the bus, train, or in any place. For motorists, good manners should also flow out into the streets as road courtesy.
Such small gestures known as good manners guide us toward kindness and compassion.
Each person can contribute to a harmonious society by being a good example of what good manners is all about. Put that be in your “to-do list” today.
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Credit belongs to : www.mb.com.ph
