SELF-AWARENESS AND VALUES DEVELOPMENT

SELF defines, among other things, the conditions of identity that make

one subject of experience distinct from all others. Contemporary
discussions on the nature of the self are not thereby discussions on the
nature of personhood, or personal identity. The self is sometimes
understood as a unified being essentially connected to consciousness,
awareness, and agency (or, at least, with the faculty of rational choice).
Various theories on the metaphysical nature of the self have been
proposed. Among them, the metaphysical nature of the self has been
proposed to be that of an immaterial substance.

ROOT OF THE FILIPINO CHARACTER 

1.Pakikisama – Is yielding to the will of the majority just so to get along
with everybody and avoid signs of conflict.
2.Bahala na Attitude – Leaving matters/ things as they are because
nature will take it course.
3.Bayanihan or Team Spirit – This is the Filipino value of camaraderie
or helping one another in time of needs.
4.Utang na Loob or Reciprocity/ Debt of Gratitude – Portrays our true
identity based on concern and response to others especially in our
practice of pagpapakatao and pakikipagkapwa –tao.
5.Bukas-loob na Pagtanggap or Hospitality – It is a welcoming
attitude which is a strong Filipino trait where they open their hearts to
strangers and visitors and offer them the best in their homes.
6.Gulong ng Palad – Life’s ups and downs.
7.Tsamba – Undeserved success brought about by luck.
8.Tadhana – Decried by fate.
9.Swerte or Buenas – Good luck.

STRENGTHS OF THE FILIPINO CHARACTER

1.Family Orientation – This is demonstrated in the strong dependence
on the family for economic support, emotional satisfaction, mutual
sharing among members, and social cohesiveness that serve as binding
threads of society.
2.Hard work and Industry – These maybe observed in the enterprising
and productive potentials and capabilities of Filipinos in coping with their
economic needs.
3.Pakikipagkapwa-tao – This is translated as a deep sense of concern
for one’s dignity and respect.
4.Joy and Humor – The Filipinos have a prospensity to cheer and laugh
and have a fun- loving approach to the ups and downs of life.
5.Faith and Religiosity – The Filipinos have a deep faith in God.
                    

WEAKNESSES OF THE FILIPINO CHARACTER

1.Extreme Personalism – The Filipinos are extremely personalistic.
2.Lack of Discipline – The Filipinos have an aversion for following
strictly a set of procedures to   observe order discipline.
          Example:
                    Palusot...

Nationalism is a belief, creed or political ideology that involves an

individual identifying with his or her home country or nation. Nationalism
should be distinguished from the related construct ofpatriotism, which is
the extent to which an individual offers support for his or her home
country or nation.

10 Modern Ways to Express Filipino Nationalism

Posted Tue, 08/27/2013 - 14:53 by admin
 
 Nationalism is a devotion of love for one’s country. A country’s identity
is seen through its culture, traditions, religions, beliefs, and even the
unity or togetherness of the people in it. The history of the Philippines
reflects the kind of nationalism the Filipinos have. Their heroes stood
and fought to preserve the Filipino identity and attain freedom and
independence.
 

The following are 10 modern ways to express Filipino

nationalism:

1. Respect the Philippine flag and value the Filipino identity

Being Filipinos, we should respect our Philippine flag and its purpose.
The history and value of this flag are connected to the freedom we have
today. Encourage our fellowmen to participate and respect our flag and
its anthem and even our different symbols. They provide us our identity
as Flipinos or citizens of the beautiful Republic of the Philippines.
(Wikipedia.com)

2. Be a productive citizen
Be industrious and make ourselves productive, not only for ourselves but
for our country as well. Serve the people, serve our nation. (google.com)

3. Be aware of the issues in our country

We must be aware and updated on the significant issues happening in
the country. Extend help to the needy fellowmen, especially the victims
of disasters like typhoons, flooding, and the like.

4. Stand proud for every Filipinos achievement

Filipinos is globally competitive in many aspects. They are proud to be a
Filipino and for the honors they bring to our country. They unite every
Filipino for their achievements. We can be proud of Filipinos like Manny
Pacquiao, the Azkals Football Team, the Gilas Pilipinas Basketball Team,
and many more.

5. Patronize and support our own products

The Philippines has rich resources to create quality goods and products.
The manpower services we provide are also globally competitive. Our
economy will improve more if we ourselves patronize our own products
which characterize our creativity, resourcefulness, and industry.

6. Preserve the Filipino culture

Philippinesis rich in various colorful cultural elements. They are our
identity. Be proud and preserve the culture we have for they are our
treasure. We have to keep them for the future generation.

7. Respect everyone and value our traditions

Filipinos are very courteous and respectful. Even in modern times, many
Filipinos show and value their noble norms and traditions. So we
Filipinos must continue to exercise these good traditions like respecting
our elders and others, by using “po at opo”, being hospitable, and being
religious.                                                                 

8. Speak out our own language

Using our own language is manifesting and preserving our national
identity. It is our unique means of communicating and interacting with
our fellowmen. Our language is an important tool to achieve further
unity and national development.

9. Remember and commemorate our heroes’ sacrifices for our

country
There were many Filipinos who died for our democracy, freedom, and
independence. Some fought using their pens and tongues, while some
used the power of their arms and weapons. Each had their own way of
showing their love and respect to our country. In today’s generation, let
us value and treasured our heroes sacrifices and devotion for our
country. (google.com)
                                                                                        
10. Love our family, our neighbors, and our compatriots
Love and help one another. That way, we are showing the world that we
are proud to be Filipinos. Stand united! Do something to help each other
and for the greater good for mother country. Love everyone and love our
country as we love ourselves. (google.com)
                                                                               
 There are many ways to show our love for our country. In our
generation, there are things that test our nationalism. What is important
though is that we stand united as Filipino people and we love Philippines
as our mother country. Let us manifest the essence of nationalism in
every aspect of our life.

Good Citizenship Values

Deemed as a good citizenship values pursuant to the 1987 Philippine
Constitution are the following:

1.     Pagkamaka-Diyos involves

         Faith in the Almighty God

o    For just as a body without a spirit is dead, so also faith without works is
dead. (James 3:26)

o    The only limit to our realization of tomorrow will be our doubts of today:
let us move forward with strong and active faith. (Franklin D. Roosevelt)

o    Faith can move mountains.

The Rescue Boats by Father Bel San Luis, SVD

This is the story of Mang Juan, a devout Christian but rather

stubborn. When a flood came, he climbed to the roof of his house. A
rescue boat came by but Mang Juan begged off to be helped. “No,
thanks. I have faith in the Lord. He will save me.”

The waves rose higher and Mang Juan climbed to the tip of the roof.
Another boat came by to save him but he waved it off professing his
faith in God.

When the waves began to slapping at his feet, he clambered up the

chimney. A helicopter swooped down to save him but he still declined
for he trusted the Lord. Poor Mang Juan was drowned afterwards.
 When he faced the Lord after his death, Mang Juan complained:
“Lord, I had such faith in you. Why did you fail me?” To which the Lord
replied, “what more did you want? I sent two boats and a helicopter to
save you!”

Reflection: Are we using enough our God-given talents to succeed

“God helps those who help themselves.”

         Respect for Life (Let them choose one and expound)

o    Every person’s life is a precious gift, no one has the right to destroy it.

o    God created man on his own image.

o    Our body is God’s temple; we we should take care of it and reagard it

as sacred.

o    Allow death penalty to heinous crime.

o    Abortion should be a choice accorded to every women

         Order (Choose one and expound)

o    It is written, “My house shall be a house of prayer, but you made it a
den of thieves,” Jesus reprimanded the vendors in the Temple of
Jerusalem. (Luke 19:45)

o    God is not the god of disorder but of peace. (I Corinthians 14:33)

o    Disorder triggers panic, unrest, confusion, chaos and anarchy.

         Work (Ask reaction from the class on the following)

o    If a man will not work, he shall not eat. (2 Thessalonians 3:10)

o    Give fish to a man and he will have a food for a day but teach him how
to fish and he shall have a food to eat throughout his lifetime.
(Confucius)
o    Well done is better than well said. (Benjamin Franklin)

         Concern for the Family and Future Generation (Choose one and

exemplify)

o    The future of humanity passes by way of the family.

o    Our family is threatened daily by many issues that tend t destroy its
sanctity, unity and harmony.

o    Our family is worth more than any worldly gain.

 Every member of the family has a role to play, the duty and right to give
and receive Love and Respect

2.     Pagkamaka-tao corcerns the following:

         Love (Explain the moral side)

o    Love is patient and kind; Love never gives up. Love never fails; Love is
eternal. (I Corinthians1:3)

o    Love is the fulfillment of the Law. (Romans 13:10)

o    From Love springs other values that draw the best of every person.

o    Love is a decision here, now and forever.

         Freedom (Give its political significance)

o    Freedom consists not in doing what we like but in having the right to do
what we ought. (Pope John Paul II)

o    The great gift of being a human being lies in our freedom to continually
right our wrongs and make new persons of ourselves. (Wang Yang
Ming)

o    Nations win their freedom by deserving it by loving what is just, what is

good, what is great to the point of dying for it. (Dr. Jose P. Rizal)

o    Freedom without responsibility results to anarchy.

o    Give me Liberty or give me death. (Patrick Henry)

         Peace (Expound)

o    Glory to God in the highest and on earth peace to men of goodwill.

(Luke 2:14)

o    The four pillars of peace: Love, Freedom, Truth and Justice

o    Since wars begin in the minds of men, it is in the minds of men that the
defenses of peace must be first constructed. (UNESCO)

o    There can be no lasting peace if the nations of the world prosper at the
expense of other nations.

         Truth

o    Tell the truth and the truth shall set you free.

o    The truth can be hidden for a time but it cannot be overcome. (St.
Augustine)

o    The most essential quality for leadership is not perfection but credibility:
Being truthful.

o    No one has the monopoly of truth.

         Justice

o    Treat others the way you want to have them treat you. (Matthew 7:12)

o    Give every man what is due to him. (Solon)

o    Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere. (Martin Luther

King, Jr.)

o    Justice delayed is justice denied.

3.     Pagkamaka-bayan concerns the following:

         Unity
o    If a kingdom is divided against itself that kingdom cannot stand and if a
house is divided against itself that house will not be able to stand. (Mark
3: 24-25)

o    Remember upon the conduct of each depends the fate of all. (Alexander
the Great)

o    United we stand, divided we fall.

o    Unity in Diversity to strengthen Democracy.

o    Honey-bee mentality versus crab mentality.

         Equality

o    Injure not the poor because they are poor, nor crush the needy at the
gate; for the Lord will defend their cause. (Proverbs 22:22-23)

o    Now is the time to open the doors of opportunity to all of God’s

children. Now is the time to lift our nation from the quicksand of
injustice to the solid rock of brotherhood. (Martin Luther King, Jr.)

o    We held these truths to be self-evident: that all men are created equal;
that they are endowed by their Creator with inalienable rights; that
among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. (Thomas
Jefferson)

o    Every citizen is assured of equality if his basic human rights are

ensured.

o    No man is above the Law for it provides fairly for everyone without
distinction.

         Respect for Law and Government (Ask the application in own

Barangays)

o    Where Law ends, there tyranny begins. (William Pitt)

o    Rulers are not a cause of fear to good conduct, but to evil. (Romans
13:3)
o    The law is not meant to curtail freedom: it is meant to ensure that
every citizen acts responsibly while exercising his freedom.

o    The law and government should not serve the interest of the few,
especially those who are in positions of power and authority.

o    Those who have less in life must have more in Law.

         Patriotism

o    For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life
for my sake will save it. (Mark 8:35)

o    Patriotism is not a short outburst of emotions but a lifetime of

dedication. (Adlai E. Stevenson)

o    The willing sacrifice of the innocent is the most powerful answer to

insolent tyranny that has not been conceived by God and man.
(Mahatman Gandhi)

o    Patriotism inspires a citizen to the call of service to his nation and look
after his fellowmen in need.

         Promotion  of the Common Good

o    Common good is a substancial ang extremely fertile estate, no crowding

or diminishment as it is shared with others. (St. Augustine)

o    The value of promoting the common good should move us to share and
reach out to others in need.

o    National interest should prevail over individual interest and vested

groups.

o    For the greatest good of the greatest number.

4.     Pagkamaka-Kalikasan features the following:

         Concern for the Environment

o    Let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, the birds of the air
and over all the animanls on the ground.
o    For 200 years we’ve been conquering Nature. Now we’re beating it to
death.
o    Lack of effective legislation designed to protect the environment.

o    Inadequate education of the youth and masses regarding the dire state
of our country’s environment and natural resources.
o    Have a more efficient “clean and green program” in your barangay.

The Giving Tree by Fr. Benigno P. Beltran, SVD

Once there was a mango tree…and she loved a little boy who would
gather her fallen leaves everyday to make a crown and play king of the
forest. The boy would also play hide and seek, climb her branches and
eat her fruits. The boy loves the tree and the tree was happy.
But the boy grows older and needs money to buy some other
things. The mango tree offered her fruits to be sold to the market.
Then one day the boy returned asking to cut her branches to build a
mini-house. The tree him to cut her branches to make the boy happy.
After a long time, the boy who grew up as a young man and
returned to tell the tree that he needs a small boat. He wants to cut the
tree to make a boat to sail away. The tree again yields to make him
happy.
After another long time, an old man returned. “I am sorry, but I
have nothing left to give you,” said the tree. “I don’t need very much
now,” said the old man. “Just a quiet place to sit and rest for I am very
tired.” “Well, come sit down and rest,” the tree replied. Both are happy
once again.
Moral of the story:  Mother Nature is like an all-giving mother. While
she gives fully to make man happy, the latter abuses her relentlessly. It
is time to love and respect Mother Nature so that she will continue to
share her abundance with us to make our life happy.
What is the importance of values? Values represent basic
convictions as to what is right, good or desirable. Values generally
influence the attitude and behavior of the person.
Do we need moral values? Moral values are not mere norms of
behavior for it guides human conscience. Moral values are the principles
by which people are moved to action.
Yes, we need moral values as the source of moral strength to harmonize
personal gain with social responsibility, create paths to build a society
where we love and share the same table, ensure equality before law and
eradicate the root causes of poverty.