CITY OF SAN FERNANDO -- The life and heroism of Nicolasa Dayrit-Panlilio is now included in the curriculum of all public schools and 60 day care centers in San Fernando.
City of San Fernando Chairman on Women Dr. Leticia Yap said on Monday, September 4, that the inclusion was decided after a book about the heroin was launched in time for the 2017 Women’s Week celebration themed “Fernandina, Kaantabay sa Buhay na Ganap, Kabuhayang Matatag, Pamayanang Maunlad” at city hall.
The simple, story-telling 12-page book titled “Nicolosa Dayrit-Panlilio: Ing Bayaning Fernandino” written by Master Teacher and concurrent Malpitic Integrated School Officer-in-Charge Assistant Principal Nancy Tolentino in Kapampangan and translated to English by Fernandina Otchengco, Ph.D., will be the main reference in imparting to students the heroic deeds of non-combatant Dayrit-Panlilio and her desire to serve the sick and injured revolutionaries during the Philippine-American War.
“It has been 13 years now that we have been imparting the life and role of Doña Nicolasa Dayrit-Panlilio to our young. Now with this book and through story telling which will now be incorporated in the Social Studies subject of Kindergarten to Grade 12 in our schools, we can make our youth learn of her and be inspired by her heroic deeds,” Yap told SunStar Pampanga.
Yap added that the initial story telling in schools and day care centers will take place from September 4 to 8.
Tolentino, for her part said, she was inspired by the bravery and selflessness of Dayrit-Panlilio in helping the Filipino soldiers despite her comfortable life.
“Na-inspire ako sa buhay niya, na kahit marangya ang buhay niya ay ginusto niyang tumulong sa mga sundalong Filipino na nakikipaglaban para sa kalayaan ng Pilipinas (I was inspired by her life, that despite her luxury she decided to help the Filipino soldiers to fight for this country's freedom),” she said.
Tolentino added that she is hopeful Dayrit-Panlilio will be recognized more and will inspire more Fernandinos, especially youth, through the book she wrote.
She also expressed her gratitude to the City Government for sponsoring the publication of the book which will be distributed to schools, including day care centers.
The move was largely lauded by Mayor Edwin Santiago, who stressed the importance of incorporating the lives of local heroes in the city’s education program, for “role modeling” and values formation.
“Our youth, the millennials and the xennials, are the faces of the ‘New San Fernando.’ By letting them know and inspiring them with the stories of our local heroes like Nicolasa Dayrit-Panlilio and the other Fernandino martyrs, they learn the values and virtues of honesty, selflessness, integrity, discipline and excellence. That is why the City Government always supports endeavors like this, as education is so essential to us,” he said. (JTD with Princess Clea Arcellaz)