Senior High School

Philippine Politics
and Governance
Quarter 3 – Module 11:
Civil Societies and
Social Movements
 What I Need to Know

This module introduces you the basic

concepts, role, and contributions of Civil
Society and Social Movements to Philippine
Democracy. At the end of the module, you will
be able to demonstrate an understanding on
the vital role played by an active civil society
and social movements in ending the
authoritarian regime in the country, how it
contributes to a functioning nation, and have
been considered as one component in the
democratization process.

The module has one lesson, namely:

• Lesson 1 - Concepts, Role, and Contributions of Civil Society and Social

Movements to Philippine Democracy

After going through this module, you are expected to:

1. explain the concepts, role, and contributions of civil societies and social
movements to Philippine democracy.
 What I Know

I. FACT or BLUFF. The following are statements about the concept, role and
contributions of civil society and social movements to Philippine democracy. On
your answer sheet, write FACT if the sentence is correct, write BLUFF if otherwise.
1. Non-Governmental Aid Organizations (NGOs), provide assistance to people for
little or no fee.
2. EDSA 2 overthrown the Marcos regime in February 1986.
3. A study of civil society examines the characteristics of associations in a public
domain or arena and their role in politics and society.
4. People power” brought back democratization to the Philippines
5. NGOs are operated by the government.
6. The brutality of the Marcos regime drew strong opposition from variety social
groups and movements in the Philippines.
7. Civil society includes classical ‘political voices’ and forms of self-organization
that are not politicized such as registered charities, faith-based associations,
or self-help groups.
8. EDSA 2 overthrown the Marcos regime in February 1986.
9. Social movements were decisive forces in democratic breakthrough in the
Philippines.
10. Family could be considered a part of civic society because they voluntarily
contribute to your well-being and generally ask for nothing in return.

II. MULTIPLE CHOICE: Read the following items carefully. Write the letter of the
correct answer on a separate sheet of paper.

1. It is comprised of groups or organizations working in the interest of the citizens

but operating outside of the governmental and for profit sectors
a. Civil Society c. Sectoral Party
b. Cooperatives d. Social Movement

2. A sectoral party dedicated to promoting the rights of Filipino women through

participation in the country's electoral system and organs of governance.
a. Charities c. Gabriela
b. Feminism d. Women Empowerment

3. It was a series of popular demonstrations in the Philippines that began in

1983 and culminated on February 22–25, 1986.
a. EDSA Revolution 1 c. Social Movement
b. EDSA Revolution 2 d. Rally

4. These organizations are not operated by the government, are very often reliant
on donations, and tend to be comprised of volunteers.
a. Coalition c. People’s Organizations
b. Non-Government Organizations d. Sectoral Organization
 5. It was defined as a sustained and purposeful collective mobilized by an
identifiable, self-organized group in confrontation with specific power
structures and in the pursuit of socioeconomic and political change.
a. Civil Society Organizations c. Non-profit Media Organizations
b. Cooperatives d. Social Movements

Lesson
Civil Society and Social Movements
1
What’s In

As you learned from Module 10, political parties and elections play an important
role in the analysis of democratization in the country. You must also remember that
conducting elections as a political process in a democratic country is the most needed
component in order to let the people’s voice be heard and feel that the place they are
living with is free and fair. The current electoral system in the country was
established under the 1987 Constitution.

What’s New
Enumerate at least five institutions or organizations that influence your life and
the lives of people in your community. Tell something about it. Write your answer on
a separate sheet of paper.

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.
 What is It

What defines a civil society?

As of July 15, 2020, according to study.com, a civil society is comprised of
groups or organizations working in the interest of the citizens but operating outside
of the governmental and for-profit sectors. They are known to champion issues of the
marginalized members of the society, such as issues on poverty, environmental
protection, human rights, labor rights. Organizations and institutions that make up
civil society include labor unions, non-profit organizations, churches, and other
service agencies that provide an important service to society but generally ask for
very little in return.

On a global scale, organizations

from civil society play an incredibly
important role. In the consequences of
a disaster and pandemic such as the
eruptions of Taal Volcano and COVID
19 group like the Philippine Red Cross
was instrumental in serving those
affected and helping them get back to
normal. Philippine Red Cross has truly
become the premier humanitarian organization in the country, committed to provide
quality life-saving services that protect the life and dignity especially of indigent
Filipinos in vulnerable situations. These groups are considered Non-Governmental
Aid Organizations (NGOs), which provide assistance to people for little or no fee.
NGOs fall into the category of civil society because they are not operated by the
government, are very often reliant on donations, and tend to be comprised of
volunteers.

Another example of civil society at work is civic

groups, such as the Rotary Club or Kiwanis. In the
Philippines, these are groups that are made up of
people from the community who volunteer their time
in order to raise money for community projects or
needs. Though these groups tend to be much smaller
than NGOs, they are important because they
represent the ordinary citizen contributing to the
overall well-being of their community.
 In certain cases, your family could be considered a part of civic society because
they voluntarily contribute to your well-being and generally ask for nothing in return.
This, in-turn, might allow you to go out and contribute elsewhere in the broader civil
sector.

According to Khan et al. (2015) civil society organizations and social movement
play an essential role in democratizing politics and governance and can provide both
immediate relief and longer-term transformative change by:

➢ defending collective interests and increasing accountability;

➢ providing solidarity mechanisms;
➢ facilitate participation of the people in the policy-making and execution process
of the government;
➢ key participant political force;
➢ role in enhancing democracy;
➢ important institutional vehicles; and
➢ directly engaging in service delivery and challenging prejudice.

What defines a social movement?

Philippine politics and the struggle for
genuine social change are best demonstrated
through the country’s social movements.
Social movements have been making mark in
our history since the colonial period up to the
present time.

As stated by Colas (2002), social

movements are defined as a sustained and
purposeful collective mobilized by an
identifiable, self-organized group in
confrontation with specific power structures
and in the pursuit of socioeconomic and
political change. Many social scientists have defined social movements in different
context but all of them states that social movements are groups meant to bring social
change (Banga 2014).

According to Blumer, social movements are collective enterprises to establish a

new order of life. Social movements are a collectivity which acts with some continuity
to promote or resist a change in the society or group of which it is a part. Social
movements are called “social” because they intend
to bring about change in the society and “movement”
because they have the capacity to mobilize or organize
people with common interest and goals. (Banga 2014)

According to Phatharathananunt (2012) Social

movements were decisive forces in democratic
breakthrough in the Philippines. Under the dictatorial
regime of Marcos, the following decades witnessed
widespread human rights violations. Students, academics, journalists,
businessmen, laborers and peasants were arrested, tortured and killed. In addition,
the regime also plundered the Philippines’s economy through the use of various
kinds of corrupt practices The brutality of the regime drew strong opposition from
variety social groups and movements, especially from the National Democratic Front
(NDF). Opposition to the Marcos regime escalated after the killing of opposition
member Benigno Aquino in 1983. The opposition culminated in a massive popular
uprising widely known as EDSA 1 (after the Epifanio de los Santos Avenue or EDSA
where the majority of protests took place) that toppled the Marcos regime in February
1986. Ironically, it was moderate social movements and disaffected military officers,
that fought Marcos before martial law all the way up to the uprising and that,
through its leading role in “people power” brought back democratization to the
Philippines.

A similar movement held on January 18, 2001 caused the dethronement of former
President Joseph Ejercito Estrada in the event now known as EDSA People Power II
wherein hundreds of thousands Filipinos poured into the EDSA shrine area. When
the numbers of protesters reached a million the next day, the leadership of the
military and police withdrew their support from Estrada and expressed support for
Arroyo. This act signaled the end of Estrada’s presidency.

Because power resides with the people in a democratic government and the
citizens can directly or indirectly affect their government, social movements and
social organizations contribute to democracy by providing a venue where the citizens
can voice out their concerns to the government programs. Some organizations can
initiate programs that may help other people of the people. They can function as
watchers or observers of the government, calling the attention of both government
and the people to act. These actions may result in the change of leaders or even the
government.
 Assessment

I. IDENTIFICATION. Identify the terms being described in the following

statements. Write the letter of the correct answer on a separate sheet of
paper.
1. It was defined as a sustained and purposeful collective mobilized by an
identifiable, self-organized group in confrontation with specific power
structures and in the pursuit of socioeconomic and political change.
2. These organizations are not operated by the government, are very often reliant
on donations, and tend to be comprised of volunteers.
3. It is comprised of groups or organizations working in the interest of the citizens
but operating outside of the governmental and for profit sectors
4. A sectoral party dedicated to promoting the rights of Filipino women through
participation in the country's electoral system and organs of governance.
5. These groups are smaller than NGO’s that are made up of people from the
community who volunteer their time in order to raise money for community
projects or needs.
6. It was a series of popular demonstrations in the Philippines that began in
1983 and culminated on February 22–25, 1986.
7. A civil group dedicated from fighting for the rights of workers such as proper
funding of basic social services and wages.
8. It was a peaceful political protest from January 17-20, 2001 that overthrew
President Joseph Estrada in his position.
9. It has truly become the premier humanitarian organization in the country,
committed to provide quality life-saving services that protect the life and
dignity especially of indigent Filipinos in vulnerable situations
10. Under his dictatorial government the country witnessed widespread human
rights violations, corruptions and brutality that led to 1986 EDSA Revolution.