(Lecture 2)

Caspe, Dave C.

VALUES DEVELOPMENT FOR CITIZENSHIP TRAINING

"I don't know what your destiny will be, but one thing I do know: the only ones among you who will be
really happy are those who have sought and found how to serve."-Albert Schweitzer

LEARNING OUTCOMES

At the end of this chapter, the learners should be able to:

1. determine the nature of philosophical values of being a Filipino and justify this perspective;

2. explain the popular values of good citizenship; and

3. demonstrate the concept of values development for good citizenship in relation to real-life situations.

GETTING STARTED

This chapter tackles values development for good citizenship training, including the preamble of the 1987
Philippine Constitution, the roots and philosophy behind Filipino values, nationalism and patriotism, and
personal development plans.

Preamble of the 1987 Constitution

The preamble of the 1987 Constitution states:

We, the sovereign Filipino people, imploring the aid of Almighty God, in order to build a just and humane
society, and establish a Government that shall embody our ideals and aspirations, promote the common
good, conserve and develop our patrimony, and secure to ourselves and our posterity, the blessings of
independence and democracy under the rule of law and a regime of truth, justice, freedom, love, equality,
and peace, do ordain and promulgate this Constitution (De Leon et al., 2011).

A preamble is an introductory and preliminary statement in a document that explains the document's
purpose and underlying philosophy. It may cite historical facts pertinent to the subject of the statute. The
preamble of the Constitution of the Philippines dictates that the Philippines and the Filipino people are
the sovereign masters of the Philippine Islands.

Philosophy of Values

The philosophy of human values is necessary for understanding values, such as family closeness and
solidarity (pagkamalapit at pagkakaisa ng parilya), politeness (pagkamazalang), being hospitable, and
showing gratitude (utang ha loob) (Gorospe, 1997).

The subjectivity and objectivity of values involve a human person who values an object or value to be
realized. Value and disvalue differ in a way as pleasure and pain, life and death, poverty and affluence,
heroism and cowardice, truth and falsehood, right and wrong, and holiness and sinfulness differ. The
difference between such is real and evident, not just a matter of personal preference (Gorospe, 1988).
 Filipino Values

A value system arises from the cultural life of every Filipino. It is a distinction of becoming a human person
in a particular place, time, and situation. Filipino values can be discussed in four ways, namely (Andres,
1981):

1. There are values distinct among Filipinos, in the same way as there are values distinct in other cultures.
The Greeks value hospitality.

The Romans value the mos maiorum, which refers to the time-honored principles, behavioral models, and
social practices that affect private, political, and military life. Confucian and Buddhist doctrines of the
middle way value the understanding of practical life, and avoid self-denial and self-indulgence. It is an
equivalent to the Filipino translation of walang labis, walang kulang, or katamtaman lamang.

2. The Filipino value system is a set of values that every Filipino has historically held in their lives. Such a
value system can be similarly observed across cultures. For the Chinese, the values of honesty and hard
work rank the highest, while the Japanese greatly value politeness and beauty. The Americans highlight
punctuality and efficiency in their values. The Filipinos emphasize religiosity and family-centeredness.

3. Filipinos have different meanings and motivations with regard to their values and their cultural,
socioeconomic, political, moral, and religious contexts. The Filipinos have a so-called "nationalistic"
traditional value system that exhibits their purposes, beliefs, convictions, and social principles. Examples
of these values are pagsasarili, pagkakaisa, pakikisama, pakikipagkapwa-tao, and pagkabavani.

4. Filipino values have evolved in terms of historical consciousness as evidenced by the change in the
concepts of justice, equality, inequality, and human dignity. From the level of an individual to a family,
tribe, and nation, Filipino consciousness and values vary based on distinct periods of history.

Regaining Philippine democracy is a transformation of Filipino values. It means building a more humane
society and reforming values for national reconstruction.

Good Citizenship Values

Good citizenship values promote the common good and concern for the Filipino family and future
generations as stipulated in the preamble of the 1987

Constitution. Good citizenship is the conduct of oneself following the rights, duties, and privileges of being
a Filipino citizen (CHED Memorandum No. 26, 2005).

1. Love for God or Pagkamaka-Diyos

In Southeast Asia, the Philippines is one of the countries that are predominantly Christian. Roman
Catholicism is the most common religion, followed by Islam. Therefore, religiousness is a Filipino value,
and can be expressed through faith in the almighty, respect for life, order, work, and concern for the family
and future generations (Philippine Constitution, 1987.

Submission to the divine creator and belief in the almighty Father's authority over all His dominations are
regarded as having deep faith. Jesus said to them, "Have faith in God..whoever says to this mountain, 'Be
lifted and thrown in to the sea!' and does not doubt at all in his heart but believes that what he says will
take place, it will be done for him" (The Topical Study Bible, 2004).
2. Love for Fellowmen or Pagkamaka-tao

St. Paul defines love differently: Love is patient; it never fails; it is eternal. There are faith, hope, and love
and the greatest of these is love (1 Corinthians 13). This illustrates the real essence of love, which
strengthens the foundation of the family and other social groups. Love is a strong force within the human
community and provides a deeper meaning to the purpose of human existence. Love for fellowmen can
be expressed through love, freedom, peace, truth, and justice (Philippine Constitution, 1987).

3. Love for Country or Pagkamaka-bayan

Progressive countries can attain their economic goals because people have trust and confidence in their
governments and are actively supporting their policies and programs. The government must reciprocate
the support it receives with honest, sound, and dynamic governance (CHED Memorandum No. 26, 2005).
Love for the country can be expressed through unity, equality, respect for the law and government,
patriotism, and the promotion of the common good (Philippine Constitution, 1987.

4. Love for the Environment or Pagkamaka-kalikasan

Taking care of the environment involves the protection of land, sea, air, plants, and animals, as well as
protection against man-made hazards and natural calamities. The love for the environment can be
expressed by launching efficient and sustainable clean and green activities. There is a need for the human
person to show respect for the integrity of creation. Using environmental resources properly and
prudently shows one's love for the environment.

Roots of the Filipino Character

The strengths and weaknesses of Filipinos are rooted in several factors.

These are the home environment, the social environment, culture and language, history, the educational
system, religion, the economic environment, the political environment, mass media, and leadership and
role models (Licuanan, 1988). The Filipino value system is established from personal alliance systems that
are based on kinship, obligation, friendship, religion, and relationships.

1. The Home Environment

The following are the main components of the home environment.

• Child-rearing is rewarding and difficult at the same time. Every parent has a goal to have his/ her child
grow up to be a respectable and resourceful adult in society. Every Filipino child should grow up in a loving
and affectionate atmosphere, and parents should provide their children with the opportunity, means, and
support to pursue their goals.

•Parents should not become overprotective of their children because of their own need for power and
control, and they should not use coercion to ensure that they remain the dominant forces in their
children's lives.

• Parents should maintain discipline among their children but must avoid being overcritical. They should
also avoid comparisons among siblings.
• In Filipino families, everyone is encouraged to get along with siblings and relatives. In the authoritarian
setting, age and authority are valued most; however, such setup results in passivity and dependence on
authority. Children are taught to give primary importance to their families.

2. The Social Environment

The Philippine social environment is characterized by the gap between the rich and the poor. This gap is
not simply economic but cultural, as the elite become highly westernized and alienated from the masses.
This feudal structure develops dependence and passivity among the people. The components of the social
environment are social structures and social systems. Interpersonal religion and community interaction
are the social systems of the social environment.

It is in the culture of Filipinos to be dependent on relationships with others to survive. Because of the
scarcity of resources in developing countries such as the Philippines, where the system's response to the
people's needs can be insensitive, inefficient, or nonexistent, Filipinos become very dependent on kinship
and interpersonal relationships.

3. Culture and Language

The action of developing a likable life is observable in the behavioral pattern of Filipino culture. Filipino
cultural values are characterized as being warm and person-orientated, devoted to family, and joyful and
humorous. These values are reinforced by socializing forces, such as the family, school, and peer groups.

Aside from interpersonal values, Filipinos are also characterized as being open to the outside world and
easily incorporating foreign elements without consciousness of their cultural core. This manifests through
the use of English as the medium of instruction in schools and the ensuing colonial mentality. The
introduction of English as the medium of education made the Filipino youth regard American culture as
superior.

4. History

The Filipino is the product of colonial history, which is regarded as the culprit behind the lack of nationalism
and colonial mentality. Colonialization has developed the mindset of Filipinos to think of colonial power
as superior and more powerful. In turn, the Filipinos become second-class citizens beneath the Spanish
and the Americans.

The Filipinos developed a dependency on foreign powers, which makes them believe that they are not
responsible for the fate of the Philippines. The Americans set up a public school system that taught English
and the American way of life, which then infused with the culture of the Filipinos.

5. The Educational System

The inherent problems caused by using a foreign language resulted in other issues for the Filipinos. Using
foreign educational materials, instead of local ones, is problematic in a sense that the teachings the
students learn from their schools are irrelevant in the Philippine setting. For instance, in these teachings,
the teacher is the central focus and is highly authoritarian. In such setup, the Filipino student must learn
passivity and conformity, and he/she is taught to be dependent on the teaching force.

6. Religion

The Filipinos' optimism and capacity to accept the hardships of life are rooted in religion. However, religion
instills the attitudes of resignation and preoccupation with the afterlife, thus becoming vulnerable to being
victimized by opportunism, oppression, exploitation, and superstition.

7. The Economic Environment

For the majority of Filipinos, their traits are rooted in poverty and experiences of having a difficult life. The
hardships of Filipinos drive them to take risks, work hard, and develop the ability to survive. Unfortunately,
poverty has also become an excuse for graft and corruption in the government.

8. The Political Environment

The political environment is characterized by the centralization of power, particularly in Manila. Political
power and authority are concentrated only in the hands of the upper class of society. The participation of
Filipinos is often limited to voting during the national and local elections. The basic services of the
government are concentrated in Manila and major municipalities, cities, and provinces. This political
situation in the Philippines may have led to the passivity of Filipinos.

9. Mass Media

Technology is intended for reaching a mass audience and primarily as a means of communication. The
common media platforms are newspapers, magazines, radio, television, and the internet. In the
Philippines, the media produces escapist movies, soap operas, comics, and more, which could possibly
cause the citizens' passivity. Oftentimes, rather than confront poverty and oppression, certain
personalities tend to romanticize and exploit the issues instead.

10. Leadership and Role Models

The Filipinos look up to their leaders as role models. People in the government particularly should display
proper behavior. Thus, when the leaders violate the law and appear to be self-serving or driven by interest,
and there is a lack of public accountability, the Filipinos are affected negatively.

Nationalism and Patriotism

The philosophy of nationalism nowadays does not concern itself much with the aggressive and dangerous
form of invidious nationalism that often occupies center stage in the news and in sociological research.
Although this pernicious form can be of significance, in that there is instrumental value in mobilizing
oppressed people and giving them a sense of dignity, its moral costs are usually taken by philosophers to
outweigh its benefits James, 2006)

Nationalism is generally used to express two ideas, namely:

1. Nationalism is the attitude of the members of a nation, as well as their national identity, origin, ethnicity,
and culture.
2. It is the action taken by all members of a nation when seeking to achieve or sustain the full statehood
with complete authority over domestic and international affairs.

Coming from the Greek word, patris, meaning "fatherland," patriotism means the love of and devotion to
one's country. However, the definition of patriotism is highly dependent on context, geography, and
philosophy. Although patriotism is a svnonym of nationalism, nationalism is not necessarily considered an
inherent part of patriotism. Likewise, patriotism is strengthened by the adherence to a native religion,
particularly in some communities that may have their specific holy places.

This also implies a value preference for a specific civic or political community (Griffin, 2005).

Development of Nationalism and Patriotism in the Philippines

Nationalism is characterized by the attachment of superiority to one's country, an aspiration for its
continuity and prosperity, and a high regard and respect for its laws, principles, and policies. A country is
an artificial body of people that needs protection and an identity. The government constitutes all
nonpolitical and political personnel in the service of the country. They range from the President to the last
civil servant. Philippine nationalism witnessed an upsurge of patriotic sentiments and nationalistic ideals
in the late 1800s as a result of the Filipino Propaganda Movement from 1872 to 1896. It became the main
ideology of the first Asian nationalist uprising, the Philippine Revolution of 1896. Spain already ruled the
Philippines for about 333 years before Philippine nationalism was developed (Rodao & Rodriguez, 2001).

The term Filipino originally referred to Spaniards born in the Philippines, not the native inhabitants.
However, certain events finally led to the development of native patriotism and transcended the cultural
and geographical boundaries that had been barriers to the unification of the inhabitants of the
archipelago.