CHAPTER 2 Good Citizenship Values and Youth Moral

Recovery Program for Nation-building

Overview
The progress of a nation depends on its citizens who are inspired and motivated to be part of the
country’s development. Man by nature is naturally good but because of the environment, he went astray
sometimes. Being good takes a process. This chapter discusses the good values of a citizen and the moral
recovery program towards nation building. Further, the preamble takes center stage as the spring of Filipinos
pride and nationalism.

General Objectives

At the end of the lesson, the students are expected to:

1. state and explain the Preamble of the 1987 Philippine Constitution;

2. enumerate and discuss the good citizenship values cluster and its learning outputs; and
3. differentiate nationalism from patriotism based on their meaning and contents.

According to Commissioner Teresita D. Baltazar, “Good governance is not enough to let us work on being
good citizens. Let us translate the good citizenship values derived from the Preamble of the Philippine
Constitution into concrete action in order to build our nation” (Modules on Good Citizenship Values, 2004, p.
iv).
She maintains that, “If we have to build a better nation we have to demand from ourselves, each of
us to be a good citizen that is value-based and values-driven. Let’s not leave our future in the hands of our
leaders alone. Of we cannot find heroes among our leaders, let us find them among the ordinary people, who
will build our nation by heroic act of being good citizens all the days of their lives by living the Philippine
Constitution which contains a provision which has a direct and indirect bearing upon the development of
strong and sound nationalism among our people. By living according to good citizenship values, we can derive
this from the Preamble of our Constitution.”
Senator Leticia R. Shahani (1993) asserts that there is a need to change structures and to change
people. She explains that, “Building a people means eliminating our weaknesses and developing our
strengths and this starts with analysis, understanding, and appreciation of these strengths and weaknesses.
We must change. And understanding oneself is the first step.”
 To enhance the strengths and overcome the weaknesses of the Filipino, she proposes the following
goals for change:

Develop in the Filipino a sense of patriotism and national pride a genuine love appreciation, and commitment
to the Philippines and Filipino things.
Develop a sense of the common good, the ability to look beyond selfish interest, as sense of justice, and a
sense of outrage at its violation.
Develop value and habits of discipline and hard work, self-refrection, and analysis, along with the
internalization of spiritual values.

Preamble of the 1987 Philippine Constitution

“We, the Sovereign Filipino people imploring the aid of Almighty God, in order to build a just and
humane 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 regime of truth, justice, freedom, love, equality,
and peace, do ordain and promulgate this Constitution.”

The Good Citizenship Values Cluster (Based on the 1987 Philippine Constitution, taken from the Modules on
Good Citizenship Values, 2004)

Pagkamaka-Diyos
Faith in the Almighty
Respect for life
Order
Work
Concern for the family and future generations
Pagkamakatao
Love
Freedom
Peace
Truth
Justice
 Pagkamakabayan
Unity
Equality
Respect for law and government
Patriotism
Promotion of the common good
Pagkamaka-kalikasan
Concern for the environment

The Good Citizenship Values and Their Learning Outputs (Modules on Good Citizenship Values, 2004)

Faith in the Almighty

Jesus said to them, “Have faith in God. Whoever says to the mountain, ‘Be lifter up and
thrown to the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart but believes that what he says will happen,
it shall be done for him.”

Mark 11:22-23
Learning Outputs
To enable the students to recognize their unique faith in God as Filipinos
To affirm the students’ unique gift of faith and illustrate to them how the can continue to live a life faith in
God

Respect for life

“Life is raw material. We are artisans. We can sculpt our existence into something beautiful,
or debase it into ugliness. It’s in our hands.”

-Cathy Better

Learning Outputs
To enable students to realize the relevance of human dignity in their lives
To inspire students to be stewards of life
 Order
“Order is the sanity of the mind, the health of the body, the peace of the city, the security
of the state. As the beams of the house, as the bones of the body, so is order to all things.”
-Robert Southey
Learning Outputs
To identify the significance of the value of order in the lives of the students and in nation-building
To apply orderliness in health of body and mind of the people for unity and peace of the community

Work
“For even when we were with you, we gave you this rule: ‘The one who is unwilling to work
shall not eat.”
-2 Thessalonians 3:10

“Give fish to a man and he will have food to eat for a day; teach him how to fish and he
shall have food to eat throughout his lifetime.”
-Confucius
Learning Outputs
To appreciate the value of work
To identify the significance of work and labor in one’s life

Concern for the Family and Future Generation

“When His parents saw Him, they were astonished, and his mother said to him, ‘Son, why
have you done this to us? Your father and I have been looking for you with great anxiety… he
went down with them to Nazareth and was obedient to them; and His mother kept all these
things in her hearth.”
-Luke 2:48, 51

Learning Outputs
To have a deeper appreciation of the value of family
To assess their own family values

Love
“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
Learning Outputs
To illustrate the real essence of love and how it can truly be applied

Freedom
“Freedom consists not doing what we like, but in having the right to do what we ought.”
-Pope John Paul II
Learning Outputs
To raise the interest and appreciation of the value of freedom in our like

Peace
“Glory to God in the highest and on earth peace to men of goodwill.”
-Luke 2:14
Learning Outputs
To identify ways by which the people can promote the value of peace in their homes. Workplace,
communities, and country

Truth
“The truth can be hidden for a time but it cannot be overcome.”
-St. Augustine

“If it is not right, do not do it; if it is not true, do not say it.”
-Marcus Aurelius
Learning Outputs
To highlight the basic importance of truth in one’s life, its role in nation development and in building a more
just and humane society
Justice
“You, Lord, are just in all your ways, faithful in all your works.”
-Psalm 145:17
“So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the
Law of the Prophets.”
 -Matthew 7:12
Learning Outputs
To identify the relevant social issues that highlight the value of justice
Unity
“Behold how good and pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity.”
-Psalm 133
“Let’s work together to attain the common good for our community people...”
-SJ Lee, 2004
Learning Outputs
To realize the importance of the value of unity in nation-building and progress
To identify relevant implications when the value of unity is either present or absent in the community

Equality
“We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are
endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable right...”
-Thomas Jefferson
Learning Outputs
To identify the relevance and implications of the value of equality

Respect for Law and Governance

“The law is not meant to curtail freedom; it is meant to ensure that every citizen acts
responsibly while exercising his freedom.”
-TIBI, 2004
Learning Outputs
To develop a sense of appreciation of law and government
Patriotism
“The Filipino is worth dying for.”
-Sen. Benigno Aquino, Jr.
“Patriotism is not a short, frenzied outbursts of emotion, but the tranquil and steady
dedication of a lifetime.”
-Adlai E. Stevenson
Learning Outputs
To appreciate the value of patriotism in the light of our being Filipinos
To identify concrete ways wherein the citizen may practice his/her sense of patriotism on a daily basis

Promotion of the Common Good

“Common good is a substantial and extremely fertile estate, no crowding or diminishment
as it is shared with others.”
-St. Augustine

Learning Outputs
To identify ways by which the participants will be able to promote the common good
To awaken interest in the promotion and protection of the interests of the common good

Concern for the Environment

“For 200 years we’ve been conquering nature. Now we’re beating it to death.”
-MacMillan
“And now, we have to do something…to save our only Planet Earth…before it’s too late!”
-SJ Lee, 2004
Learning Outputs
To save our natural environment relative to its present state of degradation
To identify concrete ways of caring for the environment of a daily basis

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 county are as follows:

The Filipino Flag – National Flag

The Philippine National Anthem – National Hymn
The Sampaguita – National Flower
The Narra tree – National Tree
The Nipa Hut – Nationa House
The Barong Tagalog – National Costume (for men)
The Balintawak – National Costume (for women)
Dr. Jose Rizal – The National Hero
Tinikling, Cariñosa, Pandanggosailaw – The Filipino Folk Dances
AngPanatangMakabayan – The Patriotic Pledge
The National Seal of the Philippine Republic

Teaching of Nationalism

To carry out the program of teaching nationalism, the following practical activities should be
undertaken.

Use classroom decorations that include pictures of great Filipinos, local historical scenes, and inspiring
quotations by Filipino patriots.
Establish a Filipiniana Section in the library.
Establish a social science museum to exhibit relics and documents with cultural and historical values.
Require the extensive use of Filipino hymns and folk songs.
Use native materials for classroom instruction/use.
Study biographies of great Filipinos.
Commemorate historical events of national importance.
Celebrate special days – (e.g. National Heroes Day, Flag Day, Independence Day. Etc.)
Organize Educational field trips to places of historical interest in and around Manila.
Visit beautiful spots in the Philippines.
 Organize pageant presentations of Filipino talents.
Organize educational exhibit of Philippine products.

Contents and Meaning of Filipino Nationalism

The Historic Service of Nationalism (as stated by Gregorio C. Pitacsil)

Nationalism is the cementing principle that unites the people of a nation in order to realize an ideal
that becomes national with respect and dignity it deserves among other nations.

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 Jose Rizal in 1896 emotionally united the
people due to their national demand form 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.

The Program of Filipino Nationalism

The program of Filipino nationalism has been to forge instruments that would liberate and
completely emancipate Filipinos in all aspects of the national life.

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
Faith in Divine Providence – Guides the destinies of people and nations
Patriotism – Love of country
Love of fellowmen – Love of fellowmen as brothers/sisters or companions in life’s journey
Respect for parents and elders – Honor to parents through grateful and dutiful service to them
Reverence for heroes – Veneration of the memories of the nation’s heroes

Individual

Honor – Value your honor as you value your life.

Devotion to truth – Be truthful and honest in thought and in action.
Fortitude – Bear suffering with fortitude.
Self-reliance – Have confidence in yourself and in your own power/capacity.
Humility – Be humble. Acknowledge your own shortcomings; no human being is perfect.
Self-control – Temper your will and curb your passions. Long life, peace, and happiness are the fruits of
moderation and self-control.
Frugality – Live within your means and save part of your earnings for the rainy days. Avoid extravagance,
pretense, and dissipation.
Purposeful living – Ever keep in mind an honourable purpose.
Perseverance – Be persistent in whatever things of good report you may wish to do.
Punctually – Do your work time; leave nothing undone that you can do today. Be punctual.
Cleanliness – Keep your body clean and your clothes neat at home and other surroundings. Cleanliness is
essential to good health and community welfare.
Appreciation of beauty – Learn to appreciate the beauty in nature and in art

Social

Industry – Be industrious and do your work well.

Interest in education – Develop your faculties through study without departing from the path of virtue.
Respect for law and authority – Respect the law and duly constituted authorities for peace, morality, and
progress of the community.
Sense of duty and responsibility – Contribute to the common good as a matter of civic duty.
Justice and righteousness – Strive to be fair and just in your dealings with everybody.
Tolerance – Be tolerant of the ways, beliefs, and opinions of others.
Civic courage – Be vigilant against oppression or injustice in any form.
Judicious imitation – Improve yourself through the judicious imitation of good customs and practices.
Sportsmanship – Observe the rules of sportsmanship in any contest or competition.
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 Power 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 of 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:

Loving our country. Let us be vigilant and ready to defend our nation from internal and external threats.
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.
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.
Being proud of our personal and national identity. let us just be proud or our heritage and study our history
and learn from it.
Being vigilant and proactive citizens. Let us try to be well-informed of the issues affecting our country.
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.)
Doing simple acts of service to our fellowmen. Let us reach out and share our time and talents with our
fellowmen.
Being with good and honest workers. Let us perform our duties as we should and with high-level of
competence, aiming always for excellence.
Being kind and compassionate to others who may not be as fortunate as we are in terms of materials wealth.
Let us share our blessings with our fellowmen.
Consider the integrity and welfare of our country in our undertakings. We should not engage in undertakings
that undermine national interests.
Recognizing ourselves as Filipinos with dignity and pride. We should resist materials temptations, greed, and
the lust for power.
Being responsible voters. Let us choose candidates according to our conscience.

Chapter Summary
- The preamble mirrors the ideals and aspirations of a country.
- The Good Citizens Values Cluster are Pagkamaka-Diyos. Pagkamakatao, Pagkamakabayan at
PagkamakaDiyos
- Nationalism and Patriotism are to be nurtured to each citizen.
- National symbols are to be instilled in the minds because they reflect some character,
representation of our culture and identity as Filipino.
ACTIVITY 2

Answer the following questions briefly:

1. How would you develop your sense of nationalism and patriotism?

2. The Good Citizenship Values based on the 1987 Philippine Constitution had been clustered into four
areas. Choose any one of the four clusters and explain it.
3. Explain the learning outputs of at least two (2) Good Citizenship Values
4. Why are you proud of being a Filipino? Choose any five (5) of the national symbols that make our
country known to other countries. Make a presentation in class of pictures/samples of this national
symbol.
5. In teaching nationalism as a CWTS student, what nationalistic and patriotic activities will you
undertake and promote in the community?
6. The Filipino Civic Code was formulated to ensure that patriotism can be developed. Explain how the
following can be developed. Explain how the following can help foster patriotism.
a. Reverence for heroes
b. Respect for law and authority
c. Justice and righteousness

7. Group Work: Submit in either poster or album form any of the following
a. National symbol of the Philippines
b. Pictures/Photos of great Filipinos with accompanying short biographies