CONGRATULATIONS to Robin Padilla for winning a seat in the Senate. Medyo delayed na ang pagbati ko sa iniidolong action star na gustong maglingkod sa bayan ng tapat.

Pero better late than never, ika nga. What’s important is that I appreciate the presence of Robin in the upper chamber.

Recently, Sen. Padilla surprised many by his sensible positions on key issues, the latest of which deals on education.

Padilla last week emphasized the need to revive the Philippine history as a subject in the K-12 curriculum of the Department of Education (DepEd).

This, after he learned that many young Filipinos do not know that there was a Philippine-American war.

For him, there should be focus on Philippine history because Asian and world history will be also be discussed in the Philippine history subject.

Last January, the Department of Education said Philippine history is still being taught in the K-12 curriculum through the “Araling Panlipunan” (AP) subject.

The current AP curriculum covers various Philippine history topics across grade levels.

These topics also serve as take-off points in all discussions relative to Asian studies, World History, Economics, and Contemporary issues in Junior High School and Understanding Culture, Society and Politics, and Philippine Politics and Governance in Senior High School.

The DepEd assured that stories of inspiring Filipinos and monumental Philippine events will continue to be ingrained in their books and during classroom discussions for years to come.

Robin said discussion should focus on our history because if we do not teach our children about their origins, it’s like a tree that csn easily be uprooted.

Meanwhile, Senator Sherwin Gatchalian, incumbent chair of the Senate committee on basic education, said he will set an inquiry in the 19th Congress.

He said he will introduce amendments to Republic Act 10533 or the “Enhanced Basic Education Act of 2013”, otherwise known as the K-12 law.

In a related development, the Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) is now accepting applications for the 10,000 slots for the GSIS Educational Subsidy Program (GESP) for academic year (AY) 2022-2023.

Application is until August 31.

GESP is part of GSIS’s corporate social responsibility, wherein 10,000 college students will receive P10,000 from GSIS every year until they finish their course.

A member may have up to two children or dependents receiving assistance under GESP, provided that the subsidy was granted for different school years.

Qualified to nominate grantees for GESP are active members with permanent status. Their salary grade must be 24 (or its equivalent) or below and premium payments should be updated. Moreover, they must have no underpaid or unpaid loan amortization of not more than three months for the duration of the GESP grant.

In addition, their student dependent must be in any college year level and enrolled in a 4- or 5-year course in any state or private university or college recognized by the Commission on Higher Education (CHED).

To apply, eligible GSIS members must submit the properly filled-out application form; original or certified true copy of the birth certificate of the student issued by the Philippine Statistics Authority; certificate of employment or certified true copy of service record duly signed by the member’s agency authorized officer; notarized affidavit stating that the student is not receiving any other educational or financial assistance program; and certification from the school that the student is enrolled in the current academic year, the duration of the course, and the student’s year level.

The GESP application form, list of requirements, and terms and conditions are available online through the GSIS website, Government Service Insurance System – Maaasahan ng Lingkod Bayan

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