Lesson 3

Module 3: Values Development for Citizenship Training

At the end of this chapter, the learners should have:

1. Defined and expounded the nature and philosophical values of being Filipino.
2. Cited Popular Filipino values of good citizenship.
3. Related the concepts discussed to real-life situations.

Discussion:

The Preamble
The preamble to 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 democracy under the role 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 to the constitution of the Philippines dictates that the
Philippines and the Filipino people are the sovereign masters of the Philippine Islands.

Philosophy Values
Understanding the Philosophy of human values is necessary in understanding Filipino values
such as family closeness and solidarity (pagkamalapit at pagkakaisa ng pamilya), politeness
(pagkamagalang through the use of po and ho), hospitality, and gratitude.
Values are both subjective and objective. They involve a subject or person who values (e.g., a
young girl) and an object or value to be realized (e.g., pagkamahinhin).

Filipino Values
What are Filipino values? What is distinctly Filipino in our value system? The Filipino value
system arises from our culture or way of life, our distinctive way of becoming human in this
particular place and time. We speak of Filipino value, in a fourfold sense.

1. It is obvious that certain values take on a distinctively Filipino flavor for us. The Greek
ideal of moderation or meden agan, the Roman in medio stat virtus; and the Confucian and
Buddhist doctrine of the middle way or path, find their Filipino equivalent in walang labis
walang kulang, or katamtaman lamang.

2. Speaking of Filipino values, we do not mean that elements of these Filipino values are
absent in the value systems of other peoples and cultures. All eat, talk, and sing; but they
eat a variety of food, speak various language and sing different songs. Thus, we easily
recognize Filipino, American, Chinese, Japanese, or any other foreign food, language, or
music. The difference lies in the way these elements are ranked, combined or
emphasized, so that they take on a distinctively Filipino slant or cast.
For instance, in China, honesty and hard work may rank highest; Chinese and Japanese
cultures greatly value politeness and beauty; American culture highlights promptness and
efficiency; and Filipino culture emphasizes spirituality and family centeredness. In this
sense of value ranking and prioritizing, we can speak of dominant Filipino values.

3. Universally, human values in the Filipino context (historical, cultural, socio- economic,
political, moral, and religious) take on a distinctive set of Filipino meanings and
motivations. This is true not only of the aims and goals, beliefs, convictions, and social
principles of the traditional value system of the lowland rural family but also of what Fr.
Horacio de la Costa, S.J. calls the Filipino "nationalistic" tradition (pagsasarili,
pagkakatsa, pakikisaama, pakikipagkapwa tao, and pagkabayani).
A Filipino value is not a discrete item which exists alone, in isolation. or in a vacuum.
Filipino values like bahala na, utang na loob, hiya, pakikisama, and pakiusap are
clustered around core values like acceptance, economic security, and social mobility.
They are always found in a definite context or set of circumstances.

4. Values in the sense of historical consciousness had evolved among the Filipino people,
leading to the concept of justice evolving from inequality to equality and to human
dignity from the tribe, to the family, and to the nation, consciousness of different values
varies during the distinct periods of Philippine history.

Good Citizenship Values

1. Love for God or Pagkamaka-Diyos
2. Love for fellowmen or Pagkamaka-tao
3. Love for the country or Pagkamaka-bayan
4. Love for the Environment or Pagkamaka-kalikasan

Roots of the Filipino Character

1. The family and home environment. Child-bearing practices, family relations and family
attitudes and orientation are the main components of the home environment. Child-bearing in the
Filipino family generally is characterized by high nurturance, low independence training, and
low discipline. Attempts to maintain discipline come in the form of many "no's" and "don'ts.
-In a large family where we are encouraged to get along with our siblings and other
relatives, we learn pakikipagkapwa-tao.
2. The Social Environment- The main components of the social environment are social
structures and social systems such as interpersonal, religious, and community interaction. The
Filipino is raised in an environment where one must depend on relationships with others in order
to survive.
3. Culture and language -Much has been written about Filipino cultural values. Such
characteristics as warmth and person orientation, devotion to family, and sense of joy and humor
are part of our culture.
This is related to our colonial mentality and to the use of English as the medium of
instruction in schools. The introduction of English as the medium of education de-Filipinized the
youth and taught them to regard American culture as superior. The use of English contributes
also to a lack of self-confidence on the part of the Filipino.
4.History- We are the product of our colonial history, which is regarded by many as the culprit
behind our lack of nationalism and our colonial mentality. Colonialism developed a mindset in
the Filipino which encouraged us to think of the colonial power as superior and more powerful.
As a second-class citizen beneath the Spanish and then the Americans, we developed a
dependence on foreign powers that makes us believe we are not responsible for our country's
fate.
5.The Educational System. Aside from the problems inherent in the use of a foreign language
in our educational system, the educational system leads to other problems for us as a people. The
lack of suitable local textbooks and dependence on foreign textbooks, particularly in the higher
school levels, force Filipino students as well as their teachers to use school materials that are
irrelevant to the Philippine setting. From this comes a mindset that things learned in school are
not related to real life.
Aside from the influences of the formal curriculum, there are the influences of the "hidden
curriculum," i.e., the values taught informally by the Philippine school system. Schools appear to
be highly authoritarian, with the teacher as the central focus. The Filipino student is taught to be
dependent on the teacher as we attempt to record verbatim what the teacher says and to give this
back during examinations in its original form and with little processing. Usually, teachers reward
well-behaved and obedient students. Some teachers tend to be uncomfortable with those who ask
questions and express a different viewpoint. Hence, the Filipino student learns passivity and
conformity.
6.Religion. Religion is the root of the Filipinos' optimism and capacity to accept life's hardships.
However, religion also instills in us attitudes of resignation and a preoccupation with the afterlife
and superstitions.
7. The Economic Environment. Many local traits are rooted in the poverty and hard life that is
the lot of most Filipinos. Our difficulties drive us to take risks, impel us to work very hard, and
develop in us the ability to survive. Poverty, however, has also become an excuse for graft and
corruption, particularly among the lower rungs of the bureaucracy. Unless things get too
difficult, passivity sets in.
8. The Political Environment. The Philippine political environment is characterized by a
centralization of power. Political power or authority is concentrated in the hands of the elite and
the participation of most Filipinos often is limited to voting in elections.
9.Mass media. Mass media reinforce our colonial mentality. Advertisements using Caucasian
models and emphasizing a product’s Similarity with imported brands are part of our daily lives.
The tendency of media to produce escapist movies, soap operas, comics, etc., feed the Filiptnos
passivity. Rather than confront our poverty and oppression, we fantasize instead.
10. Leadership and Role Models. Filipinos look up to their leaders as role models. Political
leaders are the main models, but all other leaders serve as role models as well. Thus, when our
leaders violate the law or show themselves to be self-serving and driven by personal interest,
when there is lack of public accountability, there is a negative impact on the Filipinos.

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 significant, instrumental value
mobilizing oppressed people and giving them a sense of dignity, its moral costs are usually taken
by philosophers to outweigh its benefits.
The term nationalism is generally used to describe two things. The first is the attitude of the
members of a nation which includes the concepts of national identity' origin, ethnicity, and
cultural ties. The second is the action that the members of a nation take when seeking to achieve
or sustain full statehood with complete authority over domestic and international affairs.
Patriotism is love of and devotion to one's country.
The word patriotism comes from the Greek word “patris”, meaning “fatherland.”

Development of Nationalism and Patriotism in the Philippines

Nationalism is characterized by the attachment of superiority to one's country, an aspiration tor

its continuity and prosperity, and maintaining a high regard and respect to its laws, principles and
policies. A country is an artificial body of people that need protection and identity. The
government constitutes all non-political 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 1892. 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.
The term Filipino originally referred to Spaniards born in the Philippines and not the native
inhabitants. But 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.

Personal Development Plan

Do you know where you are going to? Where do you see yourself one year, five years, and
perhaps ten years down the road?
A personal development plan will help you figure that out and help you get there.
Wells (2012), in his book Seven Simple Steps—Life Transformation Guide, states that success
requires an articulated goal. It is not a product of wishful thinking. Purpose will set the context
and get you thinking about your life and what is important to you.
Prepare your own personal development plan. Be guided by these components suggested by
Wells.

1.Your True Self—Begin with some introspection to help you define your values, your patterns,
and your beliefs.
2.Make It Personal—Understand success and achievement, and what it means to you and to
others.
3.Know your income- Set your goals and how to achieve them. This section is really about
knowing where you are going.
4.Design Success-Lay out your “success blueprint”. If the prior section covers where you’re
going, this is about how you’ll get there.
5.Harness the power- Determine to make your plans a reality. In order to succeed, you need
more than a plan; that plan needs to be executed.
6.Accept Success-Establish a mindset to succeed in bringing your desired outcomes to fruition.
7. life is Circular- Look forward to the future, and move on beyond the completion of your plan.
Conclusion:

A value literally means the worth or importance of a particular thing. Some things have greater
value than others. Things with greater value are more preferred and sought out by individuals.
They serve as a basis for decision-making since people normally choose which will bring them
happiness and contentment both intrinsically and extrinsically.
Happiness is the end point of every human action. This desire for happiness helps create the
picture of what we really need or want to have or experience. In the process, we are able to
identify the things which we value most.

Reference:

Villasoto S. H., Villasoto N.M. (2018) Human Person Gearing Towards Social Development: NSTP-CWTS 1
Worktext for College Students 2nd Edition, C & E Publishing, Inc., 839 EDSA, South Triangle, Quezon City,
Pp. 23-32