Protesting a ‘Colonial’ Curriculum: Kidlat Tahimik Relinquishes National Artist Honor

**** by: Edjun Mariposque

****

June 20, 2026

4–5 minutes

BAGUIO CITY — This is a stunning act of cultural defiance, acclaimed filmmaker Kidlat Tahimik announced he is surrendering his National Artist title and returning his medallion.

The protest targets the Commission on Higher Education’s (CHED) Reframed General Education Curriculum (RGEC), a reform he argues strips away the humanities to turn students into corporate commodities.

Speaking to a youth forum at Teachers Camp, the 84-year-old director—born Eric de Guia—held up his state-crafted medallion to the audience. “You are witnesses to my act of protest… I will miss you,” he stated.

Tahimik has already formalized his decision in a June 15 letter to CHED Chairperson Shirley Agrupis, confirming he will forgo all privileges attached to the nation’s highest cultural honor.

The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas-minted medallion will be returned to the National Commission on Culture and the Arts (NCCA) for safekeeping.

The Core of the Protest: GDP vs. Cultural Identity
At the heart of Tahimik’s grievance is the RGEC policy, which is slated to slash General Education (GE) requirements from 36 units down to just 18 by 2028—marking a steep decline from an original 72-unit standard.

The Baguio-based artist criticized the framework for favoring a “Western model” that prioritizes hyper-specialization in quantifiable sciences over history, art, and local culture. He drew a direct line from modern economic demands to the American colonial “Thomasite” education system of “Reading, ‘Ritin n ‘Rithmetic.”

“Subjects regarding history, the arts and our culture are as valuable and should not be reduced to almost zero,” Tahimik argued, warning that the new curriculum aims to “homogenize the youth for maximizing GDP” and craft students with “easy-to-quantify skills in job fairs.”

Sacrificing State Privileges
By walking away from the 2018 proclamation, Tahimik is surrendering significant lifetime benefits, including:
* A monthly financial stipend
* Comprehensive medical and life insurance coverage
* The honor of a state funeral
The filmmaker emphasized that his decision does not stem from personal animosity toward CHED officials. Instead, it is a deliberate, peaceful disruption intended to “call attention to the problem.” He added simply, “I hope CHED listens.”

The Broader Battle Over Philippine Education
The structural overhaul has sparked a fierce debate over the soul of Philippine higher education. CHED maintains that the RGEC is necessary to align university degrees with “competency-based learning” and the demands of an evolving, industry-driven job market reshaped by automation and AI.

However, academic groups and critics echo Tahimik’s warnings, arguing that the policy systematically erodes critical thinking and humanistic formation. Yielding slightly to widespread pushback, CHED has delayed the full rollout of the RGEC to 2028.

Responding to the filmmaker’s unprecedented move, the NCCA issued a brief statement acknowledging and respecting Tahimik’s decision.

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