Nationalism and National Pride

Nationalism

Nationalism is a patriotic feeling of love for one's own country or a strong, deep-seated
attachment to one's native land. It is an attitude of mind that values and places the welfare of
the country over that of all others. It is a "dynamic Filipinism." Nationalism is not developed,
nor does it come through by accident or chance. It is fed and nourished systematically over a
period of time.

National Pride

All of us must be proud of being Filipinos. As a good citizen, every Filipino should know the
different national symbols and their meanings. The national symbols of our country are as
follows:
1. The Filipino Flag - National Flag
2. The Philippine National Anthem - National Hymn
3. The Sampaguita - National Flower
4. The Narra Tree - National Tree
5. The Nipa Hut - National House
6. The Barong Tagalog - National Costume (for men)
The Balintawak - National Costume (for women)
7. Dr. Jose Rizal - The National Hero
8. Tinikling, Cariñosa, Pandanggo sa llaw - The Filipino Folk Dances
9. Ang Panatang Makabayan - The Patriotic Pledge
10. The National Seal of the Philippine Republic
The Development of Filipino Nationalism

The lack of national sentiments was the cause of all the failures of the sporadic revolts in
the Philippines from 1565 to 1872.
The executions of Burgos, Gomez, and Zamora in 1872 and Jowe Rizal in 1896
emotionally united the people due to their national demand for reform. The Katipunan, with
Bonifacio as leader, initiated the uprising movement. The Philippine Revolution under
Aguinaldo, with its adoption of the Filipino Flag, the singing of the National Anthem and the
promulgation of the Malolos Constitution, completed the needed symbols that expressed our
national sentiments-the elements that bind and unite the Philippines to develop the Filipino
brand of nationalism.

Patriotism
Patriotism refers to love for or devotion to one's country. The Filipino Civic Code was
formulated to ensure that patriotism can be developed in oneself and practiced by all.

The Filipino Civic Code

General
1. Faith in Divine Providence - Guides the destinies of people and nations
2. Patriotism - Love of country
3. Love of fellowmen - Love of fellowmen as brothers/sisters or companions in life's journey
4. Respect for parents and elders - Honor to parents through grateful and dutiful service to
them
5. Reverence for heroes - Veneration of the memories of the nation's heroes
Individual
1. Honor - Value your honor as you value your life.
2. Devotion to truth-Be truthful and honest in thought and in action.
3. Fortitude - Bear suffering with fortitude. 4. Self-reliance - Have confidence in yourself and in
your
own power/capacity.
5. Humility-Be humble. Acknowledge your own shortcomings no human being is perfect.
6. Self-control - Temper your will and curb your passions. Long life, peace, and happiness are
the fruits of moderation and self-control.
7. Frugality - Live within your means and save part of your earnings for rainy days. Avoid
extravagance, pretense, and dissipation.
8. Purposeful Living-Ever keep in mind an honorable purpose.
9. Perseverance - Be persistent in whatever things of good report you may wish to do.
10. Punctuality-Do your work on time; leave nothing undone that you can do today. Be
punctual.
11. Cleanliness-Keep your body clean and your clothes neat at home and other surroundings.
Cleanliness is essential to good health and community welfare.
12. Appreciation of beauty-Learn to appreciate the beauty in nature and in art.

Social
1. Industry - Be industrious and do your work well.
2. Interest in education-Develop your faculties through study without departing from the path
of virtue.
3. Respect for law and authority - Respect the law and duly constituted authorities for peace,
morality, and progress of the community.
4. Sense of duty and responsibility-Contribute to the common good as a matter of civic duty.
5. Justice and righteousness - Strive to be fair and just in your dealings with everybody.
6. Tolerance-Be tolerant of the ways, beliefs, and of others. opinions
7.Civic courage- Be vigilant against oppression or injustice in any form.
8. Judicious Imitation-Improve yourself through the judicious imitation of good customs and
practices.
9. Sportsmanship - Observe the rules of sportsmanship in any contest or competition.
10. Good breeding - Treat everybody, rich and poor, with respect and courtesy.

The Good Citizenship Value of Patriotism

To uphold the good citizenship value of patriotism, we should be good and loving citizens
constantly vigilant for the welfare of our country. Patriotism means being ready to sacrifice
ourselves for the love of our country. NINOY is the epitome of a real hero who is known for his
famous saying that "The Filipino is worth dying for...It is better to die on our feet than to live on
our knees." (Inspirational Talk on Good Citizenship Values for Flag Raising Ceremonies, EDSA
People Powe Commission, Quezon City).

Some points to ponder:

 Patriotism is a call for every citizen.

 Our country needs people who are committed to serve the interest of the nation no
matter who are seated at the helm of the government.
 Our country's heroes, the ones who will move our country to greater heights, are not
found in pedestals or pinnacles of power and prestige; they are found in the hearts and
deeds of ordinary people seeking to be good citizens in their everyday lives
("Consistency" vs. "One-shot-deal").
 There is such a thing as unsung heroes but none whose deeds do not touch the life of at
least one person.
 Patriotism is about loving one's country by being a steadfast and good citizen despite
encountering the daily challenges o life and society.
 Patriotism inspires a citizen to respond to the call of service to his/her nation and look
after his/her fellowmen in need.
 Patriotism is every person's sense of duty and responsibility to contribute in the
development of the country, the protection of one's integrity, and the upholding of the
rights and dignity of the people.
Some concrete examples of how we may cultivate the value of patriotism:

1. Loving our country. Let us be vigilant and ready to defend our nation from internal and
external threats.
2. Patronizing our country. In the dawn of globalization, let us not belittle our country's
products and good works. Let us be proud of the things that our country produces and
patronize them despite formidable foreign competition.
3. Upholding and practicing good citizenship values so that we may serve as an inspiration to
our fellowmen especially the youth who strive to become good citizens themselves.
4. Being proud of our personal and national identity. Let us just be proud of our heritage and
study our history and learn from it.
5. Being vigilant and proactive citizens. Let us try to be well-informed of the issues affecting our
country.
6. Being law-abiding citizens. Let us respect and uphold the Constitution and all other laws of
the land (e.g., paying taxes, obeying traffic rules, etc.)
7. Doing simple acts of service to our fellowmen. Let us reach out and share our time and
talents with our fellowmen.
8. Being with good and honest workers. Let us perform our duties as we should and with high-
level of competence, aiming always for excellence.
9. Being kind and compassionate to others who may not be as fortunate as we are in terms of
material wealth. Let us share our blessings with our fellowmen.
10. Consider the integrity and welfare of our country in our undertakings. We should not
engage in undertakings that undermine national interests.
11 Recognizing ourselves as Filipinos with dignity and pride. We should resist material
temptations, greed, and the lust for power
12. Being responsible voters. Let us choose candidates according to our conscience.