Ebojo 1

MODULE 2
NAME: MEYNARD B. EBOJO BS PSYCH 1-A
PROFESSOR: ANN MARGARIT P. BERSANO
SUBJECT: Political Governance with Philippine Constitution
DATE: October 9, 2020
ACTIVITY AND ASSESSMENT
Activity 1-1
To enrich your learning of this module, please do the task below:
A. For students with internet connection
1. Watch the video Eric Liu: Why ordinary people need to understand power?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cd0JH1AreDw

2. Write a 150-250 word essay “Why citizens need to understand power?”

Power is innate in human nature with diversified execution depending on perception and
understanding. As early as childhood, we perceived elder people as someone more powerful than
us, considering the way they administer anything they believe is morally good. Thus, we
gradually pursue to adapt the pattern as we grow. In our pursuit of such power, adversities, and
confusion regarding how it should be upheld, basing on our personal principle and understanding
that will conform in society, is inevitable. Therefore, shifting our perspective without a sound
basis on which power that rules over is morally upright and just. Eventually, the power in which
we opted to nurture has become a picture of immorality that most of us would tend to avoid
leading to power illiteracy.
As what we can observe in our community, people who understand and wield power
well, have an edge for opportunities. For instance, a friend of yours could be rich for an instant
by utilizing his knowledge of power and taking advantage of your innocence. This would sound
ominous and can be pregnable to abuse if the majority would just neglect it. Consequently, it is
very essential for us to start grasping for knowledge -dealing with ideals of power. Be
collaborative in practicing it by actively engaging in civic activities and sharing its moral
purpose and values in the society.
In this regard, these pervasive realities of both power superiority and inferiority shall be
halted and instead, must build a future community with less ignorance putting into account that
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power is not self-centered, it is something that needs to be shared and practiced in the
community. Bearing in mind that it is the collaborative effort, which we need to promote, that
can help us void the existence of abuse to power.

3. Post it as a blog in facebook.

Activity 1-2
Check your understanding of the module by answering the assessment below.
I. KNOWLEDGE. (1 point each)
Write T if the statement is correct and F if it is not.
T 1. Power according to Max Weber is the “the probability that one actor within a social
relationship will be in a position to carry out his own will despite resistance…”
F 2. Niccolo Machiavelli supported the moralistic theory of politics.
F 3. Referent power is derived from the belief that a person has the formal right to make
demands, and to expect others to be compliant and obedient.
F 4. It was Joseph Nye who introduced the concept of hard power.
T 5. Authority means accepted power or the power that can make people agree to follow or
obey the rules not because they are forced, but they see it as reasonable.

II. COMPREHENSION AND ANALYSIS. (5 points each)

1. Do you agree with the argument of Niccolo Machiavelli that goodness is not
sufficient to maintain political power? Justify your answer.
- Yes. Indeed, in general, goodness is something that we’re always looking up in
someone. We feel comfortable, happy, safe, and many other positive feelings
when we are with someone whom we know is good. The same goes for the
political aspect, most of us would tend to trust someone who is practicing
goodness - an action that is favorable in our part in every instance. Yet, as
Machiavelli said, it isn’t sufficient to maintain political power. This argument
deals with showing goodness and putting some sort of coercion in cohesion and
equilibrium. If only goodness will run through in authority, it may be subjected to
abuses, such as policies and regulations that will not be seriously observed or
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people may disrespect the power for they are sure enough that everything will be
put into consideration. In this sense, what is being implemented may put into
astray, hence the possibility of achieving the desired progress for the sake of the
whole is minimal. Thus, it is very important, to show goodness and apply
coercion at the same time, doing it justly and properly to maintain control in the
political power. Too much power will dispirit people: too much goodness will
vitiate power.

2. Think of the Philippine government. Who do you think possess power in the country?
The people or the government? Why?
- Our country has a direct revolutionary form of administration from Spanish to
American colonization until our democratic freedom. Currently, Filipino may
have equal rights to suffrage - a freedom to choose for a competent leader, yet the
power which government holds is weigher. This is apparent in the issues that our
country is dealing with. For instance, the oppression of our local farmers. It is
repeatedly mentioned in a campaign message of a candidate as one of their
platforms to alleviate the situation of our local farmers, unfortunately up until
now still no improvement. The job position, merit-based system, and even
promotions are in the hand of government officials. Many deserving individuals
we're able to take such position because they don't pay for bribe either has some
connection inside the system. The war on drugs campaign of President Duterte,
those who are small-time dealers and users were mostly killed and sentenced to
jail while the big fish are still enjoying the free sea of illegal transactions.
Consequently, all of these are clear implications that the Philippine government
holds the most power over its people which I believed must need to undergo
reform to effectively serve and address the concerns of the countrymen.