Chapter 3: Values Development for Citizenship Training

Learning Objectives

At the end of this chapter, the learners are expected to:

1. define and expound on the nature and philosophical values of being a Filipino;
2. cite popular Filipino values of good citizenship; and
3. relate the concepts discussed to real-life situations.

Overview

This chapter deals with values development for good citizenship, including the preamble to the 1987
Constitution, the roots of and philosophy behind Filipino values, nationalism and patriotism, and
personal development plan.

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 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 to the constitution of the Philippines dictates that the Philippines and the
Filipino people are the sovereign masters of the Philippine Islands.

Philosophy of 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 or ho), hospitality, and gratitude (utang na loob).

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). Justice is objective because it is a
value that should be realized by all. There is a difference between value and disvalue such as pleasure
and pain, life and death, poverty and affluence, heroism and cowardice, truth and falsehood, right and
wrong, holiness and sinfulness. The difference is not only in the mind or simply a matter of personal
taste or preference. It is real and evident.

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 values in a fourfold sense.

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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 people eat, talk, and sing; but they eat a
variety of food, speak various languages, 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, pagkakaisa, pakikisama, 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 social 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.

From a historical perspective, the question to ask about Filipino values is: Ganito kami
noon: paano kayo ngayon? How are we to know toward what goal or direction Filipino values
ought to move?

Now that we have regained our democratic form of government and have arrived at a
privileged historical kairos, how do we transform Filipino values to build a more "just and
humane society" (Preamble, 1987 Constitution)? We need both external structural and internal
cultural change. It is here that the Christian faith, in the last analysis, should point the way to the
kind of values education needed for national reconstruction.

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Good Citizenship Values

1. Love for God or Pagkamaka-Diyos The Philippines is the only Christian nation in Asia, our
population being predominantly Catholic. Therefore, religiousness is a prime Filipino value. Faith
is the deeply rooted submission to a divine Creator and believing in His authority over all
creations. It is also putting oneself in the hands of the Divine Authority which is an expression of
faith in and unconditional love for God.

Jesus said to them, "Have faith in God... whoever says to this mountain; Be lifted up 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" (Mark 11:22-23 Amplified Bible).

2. Love for Fellowmen or Pagkamaka-Tao

St. Paul defines love in a different way: 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). It illustrates the real
essence of love which strengthens the foundation of the family and other social groupings. It is the
strongest force within the human community. It provides a deeper meaning to the purpose of
human existence.

3. Love for Country or Pagkamaka-Bayan

Progressive countries are able to attain their economic goals because the people have
trust and confidence in their governments and are actively supporting their policies and
programs. These governments, in turn, reciprocate their people's support with honest, sound,
and dynamic governance.

4. Love for the Environment or Pagkamaka-Kalikasan

Environment refers to everything that surrounds us from the natural world to the man-
made physical structures. Human interventions are important to derive the full benefits from
natural resources, but such interventions have at times gone beyond the limits of the domain
reserved for human utilization.

It is high time we work hand in hand to protect our natural resources and ecosystem. In our
own little way, we can start taking care of our immediate environment and participate in the
sustainable management of our natural resources.

Roots of the Filipino Character

Here are some highlights from "A Moral Recovery Program: Building a People Building a Nation"
by Patricia Licuanan (1988). The strengths and weaknesses of the Filipino have their roots in many
factors such as (a) the home environment, (b) the social environment, (c) culture and language, (d)
history, (e) the educational system, (f) religion, (g) the economic environment, (h) the political
environment, (i) mass media, and (j) leadership and role models.

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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. The Filipino child grows up in an atmosphere of affection and
overprotection, where one learns security and trust, on the one hand, and dependence, on
the other. In the indulgent atmosphere of the Filipino home, rigid standards of behavior or
performance are not imposed, leading to a lack of discipline. Attempts to maintain discipline
come in the form of many "no's" and "don'ts" and a system of criticism to keep children in
line. Sometimes, subtle comparisons among siblings are also used by mothers to control
their children. These may contribute to the "crab mentality."

In a large family where we are encouraged to get along with our siblings and other
relatives, we learn pakikipagkapwa-tao. In an authoritarian setting, we learn respect for age
and authority; at the same time, we become passive and dependent on authority. In the
family, children are taught to value family and to give it primary importance.

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 social environment of the Filipino is characterized by a feudal structure with great gaps
between the rich minority and the poor majority. These gaps are not merely economic but
cultural as well, with the elite being highly Westernized and alienated from the masses. This
feudal structure develops dependence and passivity.

The Filipino is raised in an environment where one must depend on relationships

with others in order to survive. In a poor country where resources are scarce and where the
systems meant to respond to people's needs can be insensitive, inefficient, or non-existent,
the Filipino becomes very dependent on kinship and interpersonal relationships.

Sensitivity about hurting established relationships controls our behavior. We are

restrained from making criticisms no matter how constructive, so standards of quality are
not imposed. We have difficulty saying no to requests and are pressured to favor our family
and friends. That trying to get ahead of others is not considered acceptable exerts a strong
brake upon efforts to improve our individual performance. The struggle for survival and our
dependence on relationships make us in-group oriented.

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 and are reinforced by all socializing forces like the family,
school, and peer group. Filipino culture rewards such traits and corresponding behavioral
patterns develop because they make one more likable and enable life to proceed more
easily.

Aside from emphasizing interpersonal values, Filipino culture is also characterized

by an openness to the outside world which easily incorporates foreign elements without a
basic consciousness of our cultural core. This is related to our colonial mentality and to the
use of English as the medium of instruction in schools.

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 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. The fact that doing well means
using a foreign language, which foreigners inevitably can handle better, leads to an
inferiority complex. At a very early age, we find that our self-esteem depends on the
mastery of something foreign.

The use of a foreign language may also explain the Filipino's unreflectiveness and
mental laziness. Thinking in our native language, but expressing ourselves in English, results
not only in a lack of confidence, but also in a lack in our power of expression, imprecision,
and a stunted development of one's intellectual powers.

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.

The American influence is more ingrained in the Philippines because the Americans
set up a public school system where we learned English and the American way of life.
Present-day media reinforce these colonial influences and the Filipino elite set the example
by their Western ways. Another vestige of our colonial past is our basic attitude toward the
government, which we have learned to identify as foreign and apart from us. Thus, we do
not identify with government and are distrustful and uncooperative toward it. Much time
and energy is spent trying to outsmart the government, which we have learned from our
colonial past to regard as an enemy.

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.

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 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.

Similarly, basic services from the government are concentrated in Manila and its
outlying towns and provinces. A great majority of Filipinos are not reached by such basic
services as water, electricity, roads, and health services. Government structures and
systems-e.g.. justice and education-are often ineffective or inefficient.

Since the government often is not there to offer basic services, we depend on our
family, kin, and neighbors for our everyday needs. The absence of government enhances
our extreme family and even community-centeredness. We find it difficult to identify with
a nation-family, since the government is not there to symbolize or represent the state.

The fact that political power is still very much concentrated in the hands of a few
may lead to passivity. The inefficiency of government structures and systems also leads to a
lack of integrity and accountability in our public servants.

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 Filipinos' passivity. Rather than confront our poverty and oppression, we fantasize
instead. The propensity to use flashy sets, designer clothes, superstars, and other bongga
features reinforce porma.

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.

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 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 comes from the Greek patris, meaning "fatherland." However, patriotism has had
different meanings over time, and its meaning is highly dependent upon context, geography, and
philosophy. Although patriotism is used in certain vernaculars as a synonym for nationalism, nationalism
is not necessarily considered an inherent part of patriotism. Likewise, patriotism is strengthened by
adherence to a native religion, particularly some communities that may have their own holy places. This
also implies a value preference for a specific civic or political community.

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 maintaining a high regard and respect for 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 litical 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.

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 3. Know Your Outcome-Set your goals and how to achieve them. This section is really about
knowing where you're 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 those 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, H.S & Villasoto, N. S. (2018). Human person gearing towards social development: NSTP-
CWTS 1 worktext for college students. 2nd Edition. C & E Publishing, Inc. pp. 23-32