What is the influence of Idealism in Philippine Education today?

I don't know a lot about the state of Philippine education today except for the tidbits I overhear from the news or the stories I hear from my friends who have gone on to become teachers whether in Public or Private school. I do still recall a lot from my own education. Hopefully, by a combination of these stories, I can begin to answer the question.

Let me first give you a history of my education, just so I could put everything in perspective. I was lucky enough to be brought up by parents who could afford to put all their children into the private schools. As such, I got to go the premier catholic private school in Cebu, Sacred Heart School for boys (as it was named then) and a small Montessori School in San Fernando, Pampanga when we had to move there in the middle of Grade 5. In high school, I passed and enrolled in Philippine Science High School and went on to Ateneo de Manila University for college.

From the list of educational institutions I listed above, I can't help but say that I did not get to experience what most would consider as "Philippine Education" - Public School. I can only speculate from what I see and hear about them.

Idealism I should say is very prevalent in the Philippine education system. It provides the systems by which education is done in this country, from the teacher-learner relationship to the concept of building on what was learned the previous year by adding and extending that year after year. From my experience, I have come to see the value of liberal arts in education and not just teaching what is needed for a certain job description. It is through my Philosophy, English, and sometimes even History classes that I have come to understand the world a little better and see the world a little different each time I learn something new. I am myself a science and engineering major in college and it would seem at first that such subjects are but nuisance to the advancement of my career in my field. I can't say that I am an expert in any of those subjects, much less that I can remember even half of what was studied then but I think they made a difference in how I perceive the world now. Well, that's for my own educational experience.

From what I've seen and heard, it might be quite different in other parts of the Philippine education system. It seems some educational institutions are more for churning out the right kind of skills for the job than for developing the human person and growth. It's sad to say but I feel that not everyone feels the same way I do about their educational experience and I think I might be the exception rather than the rule.