Chapter 2: 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 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 human 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 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 a 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). Justices 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 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.
1. It is obvious that certain values take on a distinctively Filipino flavour 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 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” tratdition (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.
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.

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 home
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.
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 behaviour 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 b mothers to control
their children. These may contribute to the “crab mentality”.
2. The Social Environment. The main components of the social environment are social structures and 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.
 3. Culture and Language. Much has been written about Filipino cultural values. Such as 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
behavioural patterns develop because they make one more likable and enable life to proceed more easily.
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.
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.
6. Religion. Religion is the root of the Filipinos’ optimism and capacity to accept life’s hardship. However, religion also
instils in us attitudes of resignation and a preoccupation with the afterlife and superstitions.
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.
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.
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 usu ally
taken by philosophers to outweigh its benefits.
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 law, principles and policies. A country is an artificial body of people
that need protection and identity. The government constitutes all non-political and political 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 are you 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.
3. Know Your Outcome – Set you 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 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 re ally
need or want to have or experience. In the process, we are able to identify the things which we value most.

Exercise
A. Define the following terms. Write your answer on the lines provided.
1. Pagkamaka-Diyos
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2. Pagkamaka-Tao
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 3. Pagkamaka-Bayan
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________________________________________________4. Pagkamaka-Kalikasan
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B. Write your explanations on the lines provided.

1. Discuss the philosophy of human values in the Filipino context.
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___________________________________2. Discuss nationalism and patriotism in the Filipino context.
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C. Write True on the blank if the statement is correct and False if the statement is wrong.
______1. To the Filipinos, understanding the Philippine value system is necessary.
______2. The disvaluing of some Filipino values does not exist in our society.
______3. Values are both subjective and objective.
______4. There are Filipino values that have historically evolved in the consciousness of the people.
______5. The term Filipino originally referred to the native inhabitants.
______6. Nationalism is being ashamed of your country.
______7. Hiya is translated as gaya-gaya.
______8. The value system of the Filipino arises from their culture or way of life.
______9. The Philippines is the only Christian nation in Asia.
______10. Faith is the deep-rooted submission to a divine Creator and believing in His authority over all creations.
______11. A Filipino value can stand alone.
______12. Human interventions are not important to gain full benefits from natural resources.
______13. The greatest value is hope.
______14. Environment is everything that surrounds us from the natural world to the man-made physical structures.
_______15. Happiness is the end point of every human action.