DepEd should instead teach students about value of marriage, family

In the article “K-12 revisions tackle same-sex unions, gender discrimination,” (News, 4/27/23), we read that Grade 10 students “will also tackle the definition and privileges of having a same-sex union or civil union, as well as its difference from same-sex marriage.”

The article quoted the proposed curriculum of Araling Panlipunan for Grade 10 in its content column. The original rendering in Pilipino is “Kahulugan at mga pribilehiyo ng same-sex union/Kaibahan ng same-sex union sa same-sex marriage.”

But the more significant part of the curriculum is the learning competencies column which indicates: “Naipapahayag ang pananaw sa pagpapahintulot ng same-sex marriage sa bansa.” This means the teacher will enable the student to be competent to express the view of allowing same-sex marriage in the country.

It seems that the Department of Education (DepEd) is going to train our young people to belong to or support the lobby group clamoring for same-sex marriage in the country. They will learn to explain and defend the view to allow same-sex marriage in the Philippines.At present, there is no law in the country legalizing same-sex marriage. The Supreme Court has already dismissed a petition in this regard (“It’s final: SC nixes plea for same-sex marriage,” News, 1/6/20).

The move for same-sex marriage also goes against our Constitution, which says in Article XV Section 1 that “the state recognizes the Filipino family as the foundation of the nation. Accordingly, it shall strengthen its solidarity and actively promote its total development.” In Section 2, the Constitution states that “marriage, as an inviolable social institution, is the foundation of the family and shall be protected by the state.” In this section of the Constitution, marriage is understood in the traditional sense of the lifelong consortium of life between a man and a woman.

I strongly disagree with the inclusion of the topic of same-sex unions and same-sex marriage in the Grade 10 curriculum. I even more strongly disagree with making our citizens competent to express and work for the goal of allowing same-sex marriage in the country.After having said that, I will usually be tagged as “homophobic.” I do not hate people who have homosexual tendencies. As a priest and as a Christian, I was taught to love everyone.

I suggest instead that DepEd teach and educate our young people to learn the value of marriage and family, and teach them so that they are able to practice the competencies required to be capable and decent fathers and mothers in the future.

DepEd can also teach our young people how to understand and receive well people with same-sex attractions and gender dysphoria and how to help them with their needs and difficulties, without compromising the values enshrined in our Constitution and our culture.

Cecilio Magsino