The Unheard Narratives: College Students' Awareness of the Silent Past, The American Occupation

The study investigates college students' awareness of two often-overlooked historical events during the American colonization of the Philippines: The Balangiga Massacre and the Bud Dajo Massacre. These atrocities, perpetrated by American forces, have largely faded from Philippine historical consciousness. The research emphasizes the importance of historical education in shaping societal understanding and influencing the future. It argues that the removal of Philippine History as a standalone subject in high schools has significantly contributed to students' lack of knowledge about these critical events. The exclusion of Philippine History from secondary education curricula has diminished students' understanding of pivotal historical moments and hindered college educators' ability to engage them in deeper, critical discussions beyond surface-level memorization. Although these events gained attention during Rodrigo Duterte's presidency, they remain underrepresented in educational materials. The study advocates for reinstating Philippine History as a dedicated subject in high schools to ensure students develop a comprehensive grasp of national history, enabling them to contextualize current events and cultivate a uniquely Filipino perspective on historical narratives. Keywords: Balangiga Massacre, Bud Dajo Massacre, DepEd Order No. 20, S. 2014