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John Patrick Abergos

Professor Alma Canlas

NSTP-100-E03

09 December 2020

Essay #3: Citizenship Training

We, the people, are the first leaders of this democratic republic country. We are the roots

of our leaders. In other words, we are the ones who choose the people who will lead our

government. Our leaders and government officials originate from our votes. Thus, for our

country to improve, progress must begin with us. We must be responsible citizens to achieve

personal and national development. As for me (a tertiary student enrolled in the Philippines), my

job is to complete the NSTP program with flying colors and apply the lessons what it means to

be a Filipino citizen in real-life applications.

There are many ways a student that can serve the country and uphold human rights. For

example, we can keep our country clean by throwing away the rubbish in a bin and don’t

contribute to the pollution by driving short distances. Or if a student is at the tender age of 18, he

or she can be participative in elections. While it is not compulsory or carries little consequence

for not participating, one less vote can gravely shift politics for the best or for the worst. It is

wise (and our legal duty) to vote for the right candidate that will fix the country’s issues. As for

honoring human rights, a student can join campus activism to voice out social, economic, or

political concerns of the country as it’s guaranteed by the Philippines’ 1987 Bill of Rights under

Article 3, Section 4: “No law shall be passed abridging the freedom of speech, of expression, or
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of the press, or the right of the people peaceably to assemble and petition the government for

redress of grievances (Official Gazette)”

Citizenship training under the RA 9163 of 2001 will enhance my understanding of what

is expected of me. As citizens in a democratic country, we should balance our emphasis on

individual rights and privileges with a much stronger sense of individual, collective and

communitarian duties and obligations. In this way many more citizens can become patriotic,

responsible and effective in solidarity with our kapwa Pilipino. We can then build a cohesive

national community, a working democracy, and a just and humane society, and a peaceful,

nonkilling Philippines.