E.

The Political Self

At the end of this

learning module, the student is expected to:
a) trace the historical context of the political self of the Filipinos.
b) take pride of the Filipino identifying values and traits.
c) connect the current trends or social
upheavals to the historical viewpoints
of independence and liberation.

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 Understanding The Sely
DISCUSSION/READINGS

INTRODUCTION

Have you
ever asked yourself what is truly a Filipino identity? Recall an instance,
or maybe you can imagine a moment
when you-are the only Filipino conversing among a
group people from different nationalities. Will
of
all the
you be proud of speaking about
beautiful things about your country and
of being a Filipino? Are you going to speak ill of
your country or will you be just quietly mortified
by the fact that you are a Filipino?
Truly, we have a lot to be
proud of. If only we realize that there are things unique
to the identity of the country,
we might be able to rethink our sense of pride. For example,
our
University of Sunto Tomas in Manila and the University of San Carlos in Cebu are
among the oldest schools in the world, and schools
they have outdated most of the known
today. The Philippines is not only the first country in Southeast Asia to gain independence;
it is also the only country in the world known to hoist the flag upside down during war.

In terms of
animals, our Philippine eagle soars being the largest eagle in the world.
The country IS also home to the world's the
largest snake and the longest reptile
reticulated python. Almost 90 percent of the known giant clam species in the world is
found in the Philippines.

Filipinos are their greatness. One will be surprised to see the

also known for
monuments of Dr. Jose Rizal not only in the Philippines but throughout Asia and Europe.
Another controversial physician, Dr. Abelardo Aguilar helped in the discovery of antibiotic
erythromycin (Ilosone) that has been saving millions of people until today. The famous
Carlos P. Romulo was the first Asian to become President of the United Nations. This is not
to mention the countless professionals, athletes, beauty titlists, and artists who made it to the
global stage.

With more than 7,100 islands, the Philippines became known for this one particular
island province - Camiguin whose number of volcanoes (7) outnumbered the number of
towns (5). Camiguin has the most number of volcanoes per square kilometers in the world.
The country's geography also contributed to more than 170 spoken languages and about 200
ethnic groups.

The most hospitable, joyful and cheerful Filipinos observe Christmas Season from
September until about mid-January - the longest season in the world. Also, the popular
Philippine Basketball Association is the first and the And perhaps part of our
oldest in Asia.
being cheerful is our eagerness to connect with one another. Though it does not always give
positive impression, the Philippines is considered as the text capital of the world. The
number of text messages sent by Filipinos every day is said to be more than the text
messages sent by Americans and Europeans combined.

In this section, we will trace the historical roots of our values and traits, and we will
consider the community and institutional factors that affect the Filipino identity. Secondly,

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 The primary

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A.
MOTIVATIONAL ACTIVITY
A.1 Pinoy Selfie

architectures, scenic

worshe. alfios. on sipihemn piscarfaces

eumona nes carmins thatesy
We usually make selfies significant places,
landscapes, or with
and novelties we have, or even with our new haircut and
showing emotions. These
selfies are important to us. They will remind us of the things and places that are valuable to
us and vital to our
identity.

In most profound selfie of

this activity, the class will make a depiction of the landmark,
scene
typical Filipino. The selfie must be able to show the favorite background,
festivity, or people who are significant to most Filipinos. Also, the selfie must display the

historical artifact, valued possessions and things that are of national importance.

The class will be divided into two. This is a contest of the most
beautiful and
meaningful selfie of a Filipino. Each group must pull out all the props and available
materials to be included in the selfie. Members of the
group will
stand as historical
monuments of significant men and women of the country. Even facial
expressions and
emotions are
communicated in the meaning of the selfie.
The rubric for rating the most winning selfie is as follows:

Scenic background and landscape 15%

Artifacts, memorabilia, work of art, inventions, etc. 15%
Landmarks. monuments, unique architectures 15%
Historical figures, heroes, famous individuals 15%
Emotions, facial expressions 15%
Festivities, celebrations 15%
Quality and unity of the selfie photo 10%

100%

If projection equipment are available, each group will show the selfie photo in class.
One representative will explain all the components and details of the picture.

A.2 PROCESSING QUESTIONS

After the activity, the students shall answer the following questions:

1. What are the

elements, figures and essential features that the group had included In
the selfie of a typical Filipino? Who are the significant personalities integrated in
it? How did the group decide what
will be included in the selfie?
2. What
are your feelings while formulating and making your selfie?
3.
What are your insights about the activity?

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 Understanding The SelfS
B. DISCUSSION the
In sharp contrast to the usual
idiosyncratic selfies of faces in social media,
as an
activity reminds us of what are truly important to us as Filipinos. Our identity And
individual and as a nation marks our distinctiveness and solidifies our sense of pride.
a nation?
sO we ask again what distinctive values and traits do we have as a people and as
How did these identities turn up in our communities and our institutional systems?

1. Developing a Filipino Identiy: Values, Traits, Community and Institutional Factors

profound trace of how our identifying values
Our historical experience provides of
and traits have developed.
In the precolonial era, the Filipinos were free. The system a
government was wide-ranging in small units called balangay a term derived from
wooden boat used by a community of families for their living. The notes of Antonio
of
Pigafetta, the scribe of the Spanish explorer Ferdinand Magellan, revealed that the natives
the Philippine islands were autonomous and economically prosperous.

the
When the Spanish colonizer,
Miguel Lopez de Legazpi made a kinship pact, as
sanduguan, with a native chieftain Sikatuna of Bohol, the pact was initially understood
mutual promise, like blood brothers, of helping one another in times of need and
of
development. The blood compact was primarily grounded on the Filipino value
(true to one's promise). For over three centuries the Filipinos helped the
and
colonizers build their military fortress, paid their taxes, joined their civil guards
constructed their government and religious infrastructures. However the Spanish colonizers
did not remain faithful to the pact that they have agreed with the Filipinos. They required
the
the natives to render forced labor; they have monopolized the market by determining
price of farm products produced by the natives; they have grabbed the lands of the farmers;
they have limited the freedom of the natives and they have kept the Filipinos ignorant.

Towards the end of the third century under the Spanish colonial rule, a few educated
indios (Filipino natives), reminded themselves of the original kinship pact, and faithful to
the traditional values and traditions of the prosperous balangay, they
manifested the value

of katapangan (courage) to fight back against the oppressive rule of the colonizers.

The reformist Dr. Jose Rizal of Laguna used his talent and skill as a poet and a writer to

enlighten the Filipinos about the oppressive structures brought by the colonizers. He burned
in them the spirit of pagka-makabayan (patriotism) once again after
centuries of

hopelessness and desperation. He trusted the Filipino intelligence and banked

on it to
EI
awaken the consciousness of the people. His satirical novels Noli me Tangere and
domination of
Filibusterismo candidly depicted the worsened tyranny, oppression and
Filipinos under colonial rule.
the bloody
Although he never involved and succumbed to the invitation of
seemed to favor the
revolution, the last poem written by Jose Rizal - Mi Ultimo Adios
armed wing of the same revolutionary struggle of Andres Bonifacio. The latter justified
the

need for bloody revolution by the fact that there was betrayal
of the pact between brothers.
This philosophy honors more than just the social contract existing between the colony and
the colonizers. uphold and advocate the pact between brothers to sustain
It seeks to

kalayaan (liberty) and pakikipagkapwa-tao (being faithful to the goodness of the other).
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 _ Uiderstanding The Self Filipino system.
While the colonial powers and in the
influence were so ingrained and scattered
the revolutionary movements to claim only little
against the Spaniards began the Filipinos win the
Victories
war
allover the country. Then the Amemarts
and gain
intervened to help independence from
liberation
from Spain. In 1898, the country gained its in the country and
Spain.
However, for the next fifty years, the Americans remained
continued to intervene with its political, educational, erononic and military affairs.
desire
In the
for
many years, the Filipino revolutionists, never blinded of their
course of real
independence, the plans to
leave the
began to suspect that the Americans do not have
country. Thus, of thousands of
the
Filipinos and Americans. Philippine-American war broke and costed the lives

The superiority and might to the surrender of the

of American military led
Philippine President Emilio Aguinaido. This signified the end of the revolutionary struggles
of the Filipinos. Nonetheless. the desire for freedom was still burning In the heart of every

Filipino. This led the political pragmatist Manuel Quezon to bring the fight the US to

Congress and
eventually won the Jones Law. He became the Commonwealth President, and
in 1946 the
country finally received its independence.
2.
Establishing a Democratic Culture
Filipino
Just shortly after we have gained independence from the United States,
democracy started to take shape; the Japanese occupied the country and established the
Japanese-sponsored Philippine Republic. President Jose Laurel cushioned the impact of the
atrocities and violence by
constantly winning the trust of the Japanese while faithfully
in the jungles
serving the suffering Filipinos. He was the guerilla who fought his battle not
but in the embattled office in Malacanang.
The defeat of Japan in World War II also meant the regaining of Philippine
independence. Since then, we struggled to rebuild our communities and the structures of our
democracy. Filipinos lived their liberated hopes and dreams until the establishment of the
1973 Marcos Constitution. This placed the entire nation under the authoritarian rule of
President Ferdinand Marcos. We have once
again lost our freedom. We have once again
succumbed to the mercy not of foreign colonizers but of a fellow Filipino wanting to pursue
his development ideologies. The dictator initially delivered the needs of the Filipino people
by improving infrastructures and government systems. After 13 years under Martial Law,
the people became fed up with sO much corruption, injustice and violence that eventually
led to EDSA Revolution. The People Power in EDSA remains to be a compelling message
to the world that the Filipinos
value freedom so dearly.
The historical bloodless EDSA People Power Revolution guided the promulgation
of the 1987 Constitution. This document defined how the institutions and systems of
government function in the way of democracy. Since President Corazon Aquino, until the
present administration under President Rodrigo Duterte, the Filipinos became highly
vigilant and watchful to safeguard the democratic processes in the government and
communities. The people's assertions to peaceful and assertive means of participation to
democratic election and representation are healthy indications that the Filipinos have
matured in their quest for real independence.

126
 In
Understanding The Self
recognition of the importance of People Power. and the fortification of

democralie culture, the 1987 constitution ensures the following.

That the government shall afford full protection of Filipino workers here and
abroad, and
3); provide equality of employment opportunities (Article XIII Section
That
everyone guarantees the right of workers to self-organization, collective
bargaining and negotiations, and peaceful concerted activities in accordance
with law (Article XIll, Section 3):
That institutions recognize land owners, as well as
the rights of farmers and

cooperatives and farmers'* organizations (Article XII, Section 3);

That authorities
protect the rights of subsistence fisherfolks (Article
Section 7);
5. That
the people may pursue and protect, within the democratic framework, their
legitimate and collective interest throuch peaceful and lawful means (Article
XI11, Section 15);
6.
That the government ensures the right of the people and their organizations to
effective and reasonable participation at all level of social, political and
economic decision-making (Article XIII. Section 16). and
7. That congress provides a system of initiative and referendum where people can
directly propose and enact or reject laws passed by congress or local legislative
body(Article XV1, Section 32).
All
these, among others, ensure the protection of the rights of every individual, and
the development of a democratic culture that IS fit to the long-standing desire of the
Filipinos to achieve peace and liberty.

A closer glimpse at the nature of democracy might be helpful.

What is

democracy,
Why
DEMOCRACY IS A GREEK WORD
COMPOSED OF TWO PARTS democracy
DEMOS THE PEOPLE
RULE
Vinod Kumar
THE RULE OF THE PEOPLE 100Hcmcsu.blogspor.com

Democracy described as the awareness and understanding that the self and
is

community are both the foundation of democratic practice and the result of it. Yet, studies
confirm that the presence of democratic institutions is no guarantee that the people are able
to exercise their rights and obligations. What are the attributes of democracy? Based on the
discussion above, the following are identified as attributes of a democratic society:
empowerment of the people, consultation, popular decision-making, total development,
delivery of services, fair and impartial system of justice, accountability of public officials,
promoting respect for the rights of others, concern for their welfare, unity, justice and
equity.

127
 SOCIETY•
ACTION AGENDA FOR A DEMOCRATIC
through structural
1.
Improve the political and social environment and reduce poverty
reforms in order to foster a sense of enable citizens to exercise their
community and
rights and fulfill their obligations.
value formation sO that
2
Continually re-examine societal institutions responsible for
they inculcate rather than indoctrinate ateimocratic and citizenshipprograms,
values. including
Incorporate cross-cultural activities in public and private sector ethnolinguistic and
those of schools, churches, NGOs and POs, sO as to recognize
cultural diversity in the country and encourage the sharing of experiences.
transactions so as
Further promote the use of Filipino and Philippine languages in allvalues.
to enable the articulation of citizenship and democratic views and
Continue to harness institutional as well as informal mechanisms that open space
S. up

for the exercise of citizenship and democracy conflict resolution processes, face-to.
face dialogues, partnership among groups, sectors, even the government.

officials and the society cooperate with each other, respect

If the government each
other, know how to handle situations, this will lead to a better democratic government, a
stronger sense of community, a stronger sense of belonging and a more stable, more
meaningful and healthier sense of self.

conclusion, the vibrant history of our nation emphasized our fidelity to our
In

promises and our desire to attain independence We have explored all the possibilities to
attain
and sustain these values. The colonial influence may have tainted our values and
traits but we remain faithful to one another and to our nation. Despite numerous foreign
influences, and the imposition of authoritarian rule, we continue to build democratic
communities and strong institutions to demonstrate distinct and separate national identity.

128