UNIT 18: Contemporary Challenges and Responses

Table of Contents
Introduction 3
Essential Questions 4
Learning Targets 4
Lesson 1: Global Warming and Climate Change 5
Starting Out 5
Learn about It! 6
History Maker 12
Check Your Understanding 12
Putting Value 13
Lesson 2: Transnational Migration and Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) 14
Starting Out 14
Learn about It! 15
History Maker 21
Check Your Understanding 21
Putting Value 22
Lesson 3: Responding to Cultural, Social, and Political Change 23
Starting Out 23
Learn about It! 23
History Maker 30
Check Your Understanding 30
Putting Value 31

Real-world Challenge 32
Society and I: Self- Check 34
Wrap Up 34
Bibliography 36

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Answers to Check Your Understanding 38
Glossary 39

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GRADE 11/12 |Understanding Culture, Society and Politics

UNIT 18

Contemporary Challenges and Responses

From what we have learned in the previous unit, societies, just like people, are in a constant
process of change. This is not without its function since change is necessary to adapt to the
ever-changing physical and social environment of society and its members.

Fig. 1.City in a Contemporary Society

Aerial Photography of Buildings during Daytime.
Accessed February 22, 2018. https://www.pexels.com/photo/apple-coffee-computer-desk-356056/

We now live in a society of concrete jungles, where buildings are pervasive, and the mode of
transportation depends on fuel or electricity. We are already at the point in society wherein
high-technology gadgets are not just a luxury, but a necessity. Although not all cultures in the
world can be characterized by these descriptions, it is undeniable that most, if not all,
societies have undergone and are still in the process of constant change and development.
Along with these changes are challenges to which we must respond. These challenges were
brought about by people’s actions to adapt, and these can only be managed through human
actions alone. In this unit, we tackle some of these challenges and discuss the ways to
respond to them.

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 Learning Targets
In this unit, you should be able to:
● identify new challenges faced by human populations in contemporary societies;
● describe how human societies adapt to new challenges in the physical, social, and
cultural environment; and
● develop a plan of action for community-based response to change.

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 Lesson 1: Global Warming and Climate
Change
The human population is in constant pursuit of development in society. However, these
actions towards development may cause some problems concerning the environment. These
problems, although environmental in nature, still pose danger and risks to the daily lives of
members of society. With this, certain actions must be done to prevent such environmental
issues.

Starting Out

The Philippines has a tropical climate, which means that it has only two seasons: a wet season
and a dry one. Although it is normal for a tropical country to be hot, there are days when the
Philippines experiences unusually high temperatures, even for a tropical country. In 2014, the
Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA)
recorded a temperature of 39 degrees Celsius in Tuguegarao, Cagayan. This is two degrees
higher than the normal body temperature, which is 37 degree Celsius. This is the third hottest
temperature recorded in Philippine history.

Fig. 2. Photo of the Sun

January 4, 2017. Accessed February 22, 2018. https://www.pexels.com/photo/abstract-beach-bright-clouds-301599/

With this in mind, have you ever experienced unusually intense heat in your community?
What do you think is the cause of this? Do you think human activity is partly responsible for

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the increase of temperatures in the Philippines?

Learn about It!

The Concept of Global Warming and Climate Change

The issues of global warming and climate change have been popular in recent years. These
terms are used interchangeably in many articles. However, these words have different, but
related, meanings. Global warming is the significant increase in temperature of the Earth’s
surface. Other scientists and researchers prefer to use the term climate change, as it is
broader and more encompassing. Climate change refers to the rising of global temperature
accompanied by ‘side effects’ of this warming, which include changing sea levels, more
frequent rainstorms, melting ice glaciers, and drought. For the purposes of distinguishing
between the two, we can say that global warming is a symptom of climate change.

Some believe that climate change and global warming are not true; some even go to the
extent of disproving its existence. However, there are many scientific studies that confirm the
existence of such phenomena. According to the global climate report of the National Centers
for Environmental Information (NCEI) of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
(NOAA) on January 2018, there was a marked increase in the average global temperature from
1980 to 2018, as opposed to earlier years before 1980. In the year 2016, the organization
recorded the highest increase in the average global land and ocean temperature since 1880,
when Earth was 1.69 degree Fahrenheit warmer than average. The data proves that the

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temperature of the Earth has constantly been increasing for several years now.

Fig. 3. Bar Graph of Recorded Global Temperatures from 1880- January 2018
National Centers for Environmental Information. January 2018. Accessed February 22, 2018.
https://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/sotc/global/201801

Along with these figures, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)
mentioned some other indications of climate change. These include the warming oceans,
shrinking of ice sheets in the Antarctic, and the rise in the sea level.

Causes of Global Warming and Climate Change

Before we delve into the possible causes of global warming, it will be helpful to first
understand what a greenhouse is. A greenhouse, as in gardening, is a structure usually
created with transparent glass walls that functions to control the climate and environment of
growing plants. Through this glass building, a plant grower can control the temperature, as
well as when plants receive watering. Control of these factors is vital to the growth and
development of plants.

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 Fig 4. Photo of a Greenhouse
Gregušová, Dominika. Photo of a Clear Glass Building. Accessed February 22, 2018.
https://www.pexels.com/photo/photo-of-clear-glass-building-785367/

Similarly, the Earth is enclosed by a large greenhouse composed of what we call greenhouse
gases. Examples of these greenhouse gases are water vapor (H2O), carbon dioxide (CO2),
methane (CH4), nitrous oxide (N2O), hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), and ozone (O3). These gases in
the atmosphere are necessary for the cultivation of human, animal, and plant life.
Greenhouse gases, like glass windows in a gardening greenhouse, let sunlight into the Earth’s
atmosphere and trap it to keep the surface of the Earth warm. This natural phenomenon is
what we call the greenhouse effect. As sunlight enters the Earth’s atmosphere, some of it
reach and stay on the Earth’s surface, and some bounce back to the outer space. This
normalizes the temperature of the planet since not all heat remains in the Earth’s
atmosphere.

However, due to human activities, the concentration of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere
increases drastically. As greenhouse gases thicken, more heat is trapped on Earth. This results
in the rise of the Earth’s overall temperature. One of the worst contributors to global warming
is the increase of carbon emissions brought about by activities of the human population.
Large amounts of carbon dioxide are emitted from human activities such as deforestation,
and burning of fossil fuels (oil, natural oil, coal). Carbon emissions have risen steeply ever
since the advent of industrialization where factories and fuel-powered transportation
sprouted dramatically. These activities, together with many more, contribute to the
concentration of the Earth’s greenhouse gases. The table below summarizes human activities
that increase the amount of some greenhouse gases in the Earth’s atmosphere, thereby

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contributing to global warming and climate change.

Greenhouse Gases Sources

deforestation, burning of fossil fuel for electricity and

carbon dioxide (CO2)
transportation

decomposition of wastes in landfills, agriculture and rice

methane (CH4) cultivation, manure management associated with domestic
livestock

use of commercial and organic fertilizers, burning of fossil fuel,

nitrous oxide (N2O) nitric acid production, and biomass (e.g., garbage, wood, gas)
burning

Others claim that climate change can be rooted from a natural cause like the sun’s energy
output or volcanic activity. However, most recent data suggest that the average amount of
energy has either remained constant or increased slightly since 1750. Only human activities
that resulted in emissions of carbon dioxide and other gases have increased steadily.

Implications of Global Warming and Climate Change

In general, several predicted consequences of global warming are already taking place in the
present. These include melting of ice caps and glaciers, the rise of sea level, and more intense
heatwaves and rainstorms. Furthermore, studies have investigated and made projections of
the impact of climate change in the future. However, the magnitude of the impact caused by
continuous global warming and climate change will depend on a region’s condition (e.g.,
terrain, temperature, climate, and technological development), exposure, and adaptability to
such changes. Some benefits may be experienced by some regions and others may encounter
negative effects.

In a document entitled “Climate Change in the Philippines,” PAGASA named five aspects that

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will most likely be affected by climate change. These aspects include (a) water resources, (b)
forestry, (c) agriculture, (d) coastal resources, and (e) health. In areas where rainfall is
forecasted to be scarce, the source of water will be an issue. This will have an impact on
health, agriculture, and other livelihoods. On the other hand, flooding is a possible effect in
areas affected by increased rainfalls and the rise in the sea level. This may also affect
agricultural operations, the livelihood, and settlement of people living near coastal areas.
Rainfalls paired with high temperatures may also trigger outbreaks of diseases and pests in
plants and animals. In this regard, human health will also be at risk due to increased
water-borne and vector-borne diseases.

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The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC)

In 1992, 194 countries, including the Philippines, have gathered to discuss the challenges
brought about by climate change and global warming. Due to the recognition that it is a global
issue, the convention believed that necessary global actions must be done as a response to
the issue at hand. The framework of UNFCCC in its efforts to react to global warming is
two-fold: mitigation and adaptation. Mitigation aims to address the causes of global warming
and climate change, which include the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions in the involved
countries. The Kyoto Protocol, an international treaty that prolongs the 1992 convention, had
created a cap or limit of carbon emissions per country.

The convention recognized that regardless of their efforts to reduce their greenhouse gas
emissions, some impacts of climate change are already on its way. In this light, adaptation is
important. Commitment to the response and adaptation to on-going effects of global warming
became an equal concern for the convention.

On November 2016, the Paris agreement was created with the goal of furthering the efforts of
the UNFCCC in mitigating causes and adapting to impacts of global warming. Specifically, the
agreement aims to lower the increase of global temperature in the next century and to
strengthen the capability of countries to adapt to the current effects of climate change.
Currently, the agreement has been ratified by 174 participating countries.

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 Check Your Understanding

A. Identify each statement if it is true or false.

1. Global warming is considered to be a symptom of climate change.
2. Climate change and global warming have exactly the same meaning.
3. The greenhouse effect is a phenomenon in which heat from the sun is trapped in the
Earth by greenhouse gases.
4. Carbon dioxide emission is caused by deforestation and fossil fuel combustion.
5. The Paris agreement does not aim to support the objectives of the UNFCCC.

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B. Based on what you have learned about climate change and its implications, what are
specific impacts that would probably occur in the Philippines? Justify your answers with
concrete evidences or examples.
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C. List five concrete ways to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in your community.
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Putting Value

Look 50 years forward and imagine yourself living in an environment that had been impacted
by global warming and climate change. How is your life there? Are you still living comfortably?
What about your family— your parents, partner, and children? How do you feel about that
world?

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 Lesson 2: Transnational Migration and
Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs)
Accompanying the development of societies are more solidified relationships among
nation-states. With developments in transportation and communication, fostering close
relationships with other countries is much easier. These developments, together with
globalization and the spread of capitalism, resulted in the emergence of a new challenge in
global society.

Starting Out
There is no doubt that transportation across countries had never been as easy as it is at
present. Almost all countries have developed structures and agencies that facilitate
international transportation. With this in mind, imagine yourself flying to a foreign country.
What will you be doing there? Will you be visiting or living there permanently? Will you be
working or studying?

Fig. 7. An Airplane in its Flight

September 14, 2015. https://www.pexels.com/photo/plane-airport-airplane-sky-9482/

Now try to answer and reflect on the following questions below:

● What are possible consequences of the ease in international transport?
● How does it affect the lives of individuals and families engaging in such activities?
● Do you consider international transportation an important part of contemporary
societies?

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 Learn about It!

The Concept of Transnational Migration

Transnational migration is one of the emerging challenges in contemporary societies, but

before moving on to a deeper discussion of this issue, it would help if we define certain terms
that are related to it. These terms are migration, immigration, emigration. Migration can
simply be defined as “movement of people into and out of a specified territory.” Immigration
refers to moving into new territory, while emigration is the movement out of a territory. These
terms only represent movement from one place to another; transnational migration, on the
other hand, represents a more complex concept.

Fig. 8. Transnational Migrant

Makarov, Kirill. November 25, 2015. https://www.pexels.com/photo/blur-cartography-close-up-concept-408503/

Transnational migration is a combination of the concepts of migration and transnationalism

or the “economic, political, and cultural processes that extend beyond the boundaries of
nation-states.” Combining the two, we can define transnational migration as the process in
which immigrants maintain and participate in different aspects of social relations that link
together their original society and their place of settlement. ‘Transmigrants’ participate
simultaneously in familial, social, economic, religious, political, and cultural processes of both
their homeland and the new country of settlement.

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Transnational migration is more than migration, immigration, and emigration since it does not
only refer to geographical movement, but also more importantly, it represents the constant
relations of an individual to their original and their new country. A transnational migrant is not
an immigrant who uproots his entire life in his home country and forgets about it; a
transnational migrant is an immigrant whose daily life depends on his multiple connections
across different countries— an immigrant whose public identity is modified by his relationship
to more than one nation-state.

For a better understanding of this concept, consider a Filipino who decided to leave the
Philippines to work and live in a foreign land, USA for example. Since he took the risk of
working abroad, he must adapt to his new environment; he must be able to excel in his work
to earn money (economic), make new friends (social), and get accustomed to some traditions
and practices of Americans (cultural). However, it does not mean that he has forgotten his
roots in the Philippines. Although he lives in the US, he is still in constant communication with
his family and friends in the Philippines (social or familial), regularly sends remittances as
financial support for his family (economic), and practices Filipino traditions and customs like
Noche Buena during Christmas Eve (cultural). In this example, we can see that transnational
migration allows a person to be a part and product of two countries.

Factors Contributing to Transnational Migration

With industrialization and modernity came the idea of capitalism. Capitalism is an economic
system, in which the ownership of the means of production and distribution of goods is
mainly in the hands of private individuals or corporations. Today, it is the dominating idea that
influences state and non-state actors’ economic decisions and processes. Many multinational

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corporations realized that doing business in several more countries would lead to the
generation of higher profits. It is why many of the products and services of these corporations
are available in the local markets of other states. Opportunities abroad were also made
available to the labor sector of other countries, especially developing ones. Due to factors
present in developing countries, such as poverty, underemployment, unemployment, and low
wages, many people are ‘pushed’ to look for work outside their national borders. Availability
of employment opportunities abroad, simultaneously ‘pulled’ these workers to immigrate for
the hope of a greener pasture. This push-and-pull dynamic facilitates transnational migration.

Although most people migrate transnationally for largely economic reasons, there can be
other factors that may push people to migrate. Safety is one factor. Especially in war-inflicted
countries where the innocent are caught in the middle of warfare, transnational migration
presents a greater opportunity for peace and safety. This is manifested by many war refugees
from the Middle East moving to some states in Europe.

The Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs)

The Philippines is one of the largest sources of transnational migrants across the world.
According to the Philippine Statistics Authority, it was estimated that there were 2.2 million of
Filipinos living and working abroad from April to September 2016. Over 97 percent of those
people have existing working contracts. The culture of migration among Filipinos has been
deeply embedded in the Filipino society and consciousness that we even came up with a term
to refer to those who work abroad. Now, we call Filipino migrants as overseas Filipino
workers or OFWs.

The history of OFWs can be characterized by four waves of migration. The first wave is rooted
from the Galleon trade during the Spanish colonial era, wherein Filipino seafarers worked in
trading ships bound to Acapulco, Mexico. Eventually, some of these Filipino seafarers coming
from Mexico saw an opportunity to work and settle in Louisiana. Many of them fled from the
galleon to stay in the US state.

The second wave took place from the start of the American colonial period, around the 1900’s

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to the 1940’s. In the second wave, many Filipinos arrived in Hawaii to work as fruit pickers or
workers in sugar plantations. Some worked in fish factories in Alaska. After the Second World
War, the government of the United States imposed a quota system that limited the
immigration of Filipinos to their country.

Third wave of migration was in the 1950s, as Filipino workers started to migrate to Asian
countries. Over 200,000 Filipinos worked in logging camps of Sabah. Many Filipinos also
worked in American army bases in other Asian countries like Vietnam, Thailand, and Guam.

The fourth wave of Filipino migration occurred in the 1970s, during the Marcos regime. The
former president then, Ferdinand Edralin Marcos, saw the opportunity for economic growth
through the export of human resources, the OFWs. This was when he institutionalized
migration as he implemented government policies to ease immigration of Filipinos abroad.
These policies led to the creation of the Philippine Overseas Employment Authority (POEA)
and the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) that support and facilitate the
processing of OFWs and their needs. The presidents that followed Marcos continued his policy
on overseas migration of Filipinos. Currently, the Philippines is one of the largest exporters of
human resources, from low-skilled jobs (e.g., construction workers, domestic helpers) to
professional jobs (e.g., nurses and teachers), to different countries. The remittances of these
OFWs still contribute largely to the economy of the Philippines.

Numerous actions are being done by the government to sustain and accommodate the needs
of OFWs. These include implementation of laws and policies concerning OFWs and their
families. This also includes the creation of OFW-oriented government agencies other than
POEA and OWWA, such as the Commission on Filipino Overseas (CFO). The Philippines also
participates in several international organizations such as the United Nations (UN) and the
International Labor Organization (ILO) that support and protect overseas workers across
different states.

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Issues and Concerns

While transnational migration of Filipinos is perceived to contribute positively to the overall

development of the Philippines, certain issues and concerns that arise from this practice must
be recognized. One is the creation of double identities among OFWs. Due to the process of
transnational migration, Filipinos learn to incorporate foreign culture into their own. This is
generally harmless; the only concern in this issue is when Filipinos, influenced by foreign
cultures, forget their original cultural identity.

The second issue concerning transnational migration of Filipino workers is the growing
number of cases of abuse towards OFWs in several countries. Several news reports have
pointed out the abuse of employers on OFWs. This issue poses a threat to the welfare and
human rights of Filipino workers abroad.

The third issue is the emigration of highly-trained Filipino professionals from the Philippines
or what is known as the brain drain. The lack of these Filipino professionals working in our
own country contributes negatively to different aspects of the country’s development.

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Lastly, continuous migration of Filipino workers to other countries may present a threat to the
economic development of the Philippines. Due to the culture of migration in the Philippines,
the country has become dependent on the remittances sent by OFWs across the globe. If the
migration of Filipino workers becomes unstable, it is likely to result to the instability of the
Philippine economy.

Solutions and Responses

Filipino migration is already embedded in Philippine society. This does not mean that the state
should be complacent about it. Although it generally provides economic benefits to the
country, it cannot be denied that specific problems and issues arise from this practice. Due to
these issues, certain actions must be done as a response. On one level, state and non-state
actors must get involved in policies and projects that promote decent work and prevent
abusive practices towards migrant workers. The Philippine government should strengthen its
relations with international organizations that support and defend the interests of OFWs.
Agencies like POEA, OWWA, and the Philippine embassies across the globe must actively
participate to prevent maltreatment and crime against Filipino overseas workers.

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There must be a recognition that Filipino migration is not entirely beneficial. Therefore, state
and non-state actors should work on a deeper level and focus on problems and challenges
that ‘push’ Filipinos to emigrate. Issues of poverty, lack of education, unemployment,
underemployment, and work conditions in the Philippines must be addressed to improve the
lives of Filipino people and to prevent the constant rise of Filipino migration. Aside from the
government, other non-government organizations like Migrante International advocates these
issues to spark concrete actions.

Check Your Understanding

A. Identify each statement if it is true or false.

1. Transnational migration and immigration refer to exactly the same concept.
2. The rise of capitalism was an influencing factor of transnational migration.
3. The history of overseas Filipino workers can be characterized by three waves of
migration.
4. It is former president Ferdinand Marcos who institutionalized the Filipinos’ practice of
emigration.
5. Brain drain refers to the emigration of highly-trained Filipino professionals from the
Philippines.

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B. What are factors that led to the rise of overseas Filipino workers? Write your answers and
provide concrete examples.
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C. Evaluate the practice of transnational migration among Filipinos. What are its advantages
and disadvantages?
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Putting Value

Do you have a family member or a relative who works abroad? Think of them for a while; think
of the time when they first left you, the reason for doing that, and the sacrifices they made.
What do you think is their condition abroad? Are they happy, sad, or contented? With this in
mind, compose a letter of gratitude to your OFW relative. Write how much you appreciate
them. If you do not have an OFW relative, imagine yourself as an OFW, and write a letter to
your family in the Philippines.

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 Lesson 3: Responding to Cultural, Social,
and Political Change
Change in humans, society, and the environment is a non-stop process. As the physical
environment shapes humans and society, human actions and behaviors, in turn, reshape both
their physical and social environment. We now live in a society that has undergone countless
changes. Nevertheless, more challenges and issues will still arise and as adaptable beings, we,
humans, have to be ready to respond to those challenges.

Starting Out

Do you have a pre-existing knowledge about the election process in the Philippines? Filipino
citizens aged 18 and above, who are deemed capable of political decisions, participate in the
election process. In this process, citizens vote for every government position in the national,
regional, and municipal level. This shows that political power still lies within all Filipino citizens.
However, some questions about this may be raised: Does the power of the Filipino masses
end with voting? Are we powerful enough to participate more in national governance?

Learn about It!

Inclusive Citizenship and Participatory Governance

The concepts of inclusive citizenship and participatory governance are an important part of
understanding what people, as citizens in society, can do to respond to the challenging issues
in today’s society. The idea of inclusive citizenship, put forward by the state, gives citizens a
sense of belongingness in society. It fosters the idea that all citizens are included and part of
society regardless of their color, gender, religion, or socio-economic status.

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Naila Kabeer, a British-Bangladeshi social economist, identified the four values of inclusive
citizenship. These values include (a) justice, which is defined in terms fairness of treatment
among all people; (b) recognition, which is the appreciation of the innate worth of all human
beings and respect towards people’s differences; (c) self-determination, which is defined as
the people’s capability to make decisions about their own lives; and (d) solidarity, which
recognizes human’s capability to unite and identify with other human beings. By giving
importance to these values of inclusive citizenship, the state empowers citizens and motivates
them to participate in various government activities, which aim to improve society. With
inclusive citizenship, participatory governance will become more possible.

Public governance is “the process and institutions that contribute to public decision-making”.
Public governance has three sub-categories namely, civic, political, and development
governance. Civic and political governance concern issues related to human rights. These
processes of decision-making are mainly conducted by government officials. Development
governance refers to planning and management of public services, programs, and policies. In
this category of public governance, ordinary citizens are included in the decision making. This
inclusion of non-government citizens is a strategy called participatory governance.

We define participatory governance as state-authorized processes that allow citizens to

voice their opinions and cast their votes about policies and programs that are directed
towards the development of the citizens’ lives. In this strategy, the government provides an
avenue not only for individuals but also for other civil society organizations to engage in the
decision-making process. Participatory governance represents a more genuine version of
democracy since citizens become active participants in the process. It is distinguished from a
representative democracy, in which the extent of citizens’ participation is only limited to the
election of public officials.

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An example of participatory governance is the process of participatory budgeting in Brazil.
Through participatory budgeting, citizens negotiate amongst themselves and the government
regarding the allocation of the state’s budget for public works and social services.

Inclusive citizenship and participatory governance constitute a great help for the creation of
responses to new challenges in the society. With the help of citizens and their insights, public
officials will be aware of what issues should be prioritized and how such issues should be
addressed.

New Forms of Media and Social Networking

From a sociological standpoint, media performs an important function in society. We learned

from previous lessons that media is an agent of socialization, which functions to disseminate
information and ideas including norms and beliefs of a particular society. Examples of media,
such as television, radio, newspapers, books, and magazines, act as vehicles of propagating
these norms and beliefs.

As societies progress to the digital age, the institution of media also evolves. With the creation
of new technologies, new forms of media have also developed. This is what we call new
media. New media is a means of mass communication that relies on computers and digital
technologies for its creation and distribution. One characteristic that distinguishes new media
from old media (i.e., television, radio, newspapers, and books) is its ability to facilitate
interactive relationships between the source and the audience or reader.

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In the book New Media: A Critical Introduction, six characteristics of new media were identified,
namely: (a) digital, (b) interactive, (c) hypertextual, (d), networked (e) virtual, and (f) simulated.
The digital characteristic of new media tells us that media data is a combination of binary
codes (i.e., 1 and 0), that are then decoded to produce outputs that can be seen on screen
displays. Every word or letter that you see on your computer screens is created through these
binary codes. Binary codes make production and retrieval of data more accessible. The
interactivity of new media, as mentioned earlier, is a distinguishing characteristic that allows
the audience (e.g. readers and viewers of content) to interact with the source of information.
This is evident when people comment on online news and articles. The hypertextual
characteristic of new media refers to its ability to make connections across different kinds of
data. Hyperlinks or hypertexts are used by forms of new media to connect people to other
related information. New media is considered to be networked because it enables sharing of
information on a large platform. The availability of various content on the internet is a
manifestation of this characteristic. The virtual and simulated characteristics are related, since
some forms of new media allows people to immerse in a virtual world that represents reality.
This is seen in video games and other gaming applications.

There are several forms of new media that are existing and accessible to the public. You may
even use some of them regularly. To name a few, common forms of new media are websites,
online newspapers, electronic mail or e-mail, blogs, and video games. Arguably the most
popular form of new media in today’s generation is social media. It is composed of websites
and applications that allow the people to create and share their own content eith other users.
These forms of new media, especially social media, facilitate social networking among people.

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Social networking refers to the creation of connections among individuals that develop into
specific groups. With the rise of social media websites like Facebook, Twitter, and Youtube,
and other online platforms, social networking among people became easier. Social
networking facilitates socialization with friends, colleagues, and family, and meeting new
people. It also allows people to find and interact with other people with similar interests.

The rise of new forms of media and social networking has made an impact both on the
personal and societal level. Due to the accessibility of sharing content in different online
platforms, the reach and speed of information dissemination have improved. This means that
new avenues of communication have enabled citizens across the globe to relay and receive
information at a faster rate. It also opened an opportunity for people to be more aware of
social issues and problems that exist within and among societies. The interactive nature of
new forms of media facilitated existing discussions about these problems and issues by
citizens and civil society organizations.

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These connections have provided a great foundation for the creation of several social
movements on social media. Many researchers are interested in the connection between
social media and the rise of social movements. There are existing studies that chronicled
these social movements on the Internet that tackle and advance certain social issues. Cases in
India’s social media-facilitated social movements, like the “Right to Information Act” movement
and the “India Against Corruption” movement, are some examples. Furthermore, hashtags like
#BlackLivesMatter, #MarriageEquality, and #LoveWins show us how powerful new media and
social networking are in terms of supporting social movements. Although there are negative
effects resulting from this development in media and social networking, it is undeniable that
these two are vital in the formulation of responses towards challenges of today’s society.

Social Movements

Social movements play a significant role in social change. A social movement is a ”conscious,
collective, organized attempt to bring about or resist change in the social order by
non-institutionalized means.” It connects large groups of people that share common interests
and goals about society. Certain social movements work to provoke changes in the society.
Some, on the other hand, are organized to prevent social change and maintain the status quo.
In general, social movements aim to affect the political, social, economic, and environmental
aspects of societies.

It is important to differentiate between social movements and social movement organizations.

Social movement organizations are formally established associations arising from a social
movement. They pursue specific interests of the social movement, but they are only part of a
large whole, which is the social movement. For example, Kilusang Mayo Uno, a labor union that
supports and protects the interests of workers, can only be considered a social movement
organization since it is only one component of the entire social movement on worker’s rights.

Some examples of social movements include the labor movement, which aims to protect and
strengthen the interests of employees; environmental movement or ecology movement,
which focuses on conservation and environmental politics; feminist movement, which is
known to advance women’s rights and delve into women’s issues such as reproductive health,

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domestic violence, sexual harassment, and equal pay; and the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and
transgender (LGBT) social movements that advocate the rights and acceptance of the LGBT
community in society.

There are several types of classifications for social movements. Some sociologists categorize
them by answering two related questions: “Who is changed?” and “How much change?”. The
combination of these two factors arrives at four general types of social movements. These are
(a) alterative social movements, (b) redemptive social movements, (c) reformative social
movements, and (d) revolutionary social movements. Alterative social movements only aim to
effect limited change for a certain population or group of people. One example of this type of
social movement is family planning which is only directed toward couples to teach them ways
of contraception and other related topics. On the other hand, redemptive social movements
seek more radical change, targeted towards a specific part of a population. Reformative social
movements seek limited social change but target everyone in the population. The
environmental movement is one example of a reformative social movement, since it
encourages everyone to save the environment. The last is the revolutionary social movement,
which is the most extreme since it seeks to transform the entire society. This type of social
movement aims to change, reject, or maintain existing social institutions in the society.
Communist movements are examples of a revolutionary social movement as it pushes for
absolute government control of the total economy.

Other types of social movements are classified in terms of scope (reform or radical
movements), type of change (innovative or conservative movements), targets (group-focused
or individual-focused movements), methods (peaceful or violent movements), and range
(global or local movements)

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Social movements exist to produce or prevent changes in society. They represent the
unending process of development, progress, and changes in society. Looking back at history,
we can see how social movements worked to improve the lives of people. The rights of
women to educate and work are a product of social movements. The end of corruption,
injustices, and torture, in the past, is due to the social movement of Filipinos to resist
dictatorship. Indeed, social movements play an important role in responding to challenges
and issues of the developing world.

Check Your Understanding

A. Identify each statement if it is true or false.

1. Social movements can either encourage or discourage social change.
2. One distinguishing characteristic of new media is its interactivity.
3. Participatory governance only includes public officials in the decision-making process.
4. Naila Kabeer named five values of inclusive citizenship.
5. Social movement and social movement organizations are two different concepts.

30
B. What do you think are the most relevant social movements today based on the recent
issues you see on the news? How do these social movements work to effect social change?
________________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________

C. What are the advantages and disadvantages of new forms of media and social networking?
________________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________

Putting Value

Create a small artwork that represents the current issues that the Philippines is facing today.
How do you feel about these issues? Who is affected by such issues? What can you do to
respond to these issues? Reflect on the questions once you finish the artwork.

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 Real-world Challenge
Form 2-3 groups in your class. With your groupmates, decide on the social issue you want to
focus on for this project. You may choose among issues like global warming, natural disasters,
OFWs, the drug war, LGBT rights, and other relevant issues in the Philippines that you can
think of. After this, read the GRASPS situation below and perform the following tasks.

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Criteria Beginning Developing Accomplished Score
(17-20 points)
(0-12 points) (13-16 points)

Content
(Focus on details are clearly
evident; it is clearly related to
the topic.)

Organization
(Logical progression of details;
clear transitions between
ideas.

Conventions
(spelling, mechanics,
grammar, and usage)

Creativity
(shows resourcefulness in
presentation and activities)

Audience Impact
(interesting presentation to
get the attention of students)

Team Work
(contributions from all
members to the fruition of the
work)

Total Score:

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 Society and I: Self-Check

Check I can…

explain the causes and effects of climate change.

differentiate transnational migration from migration and immigration.

explain issues regarding overseas Filipino workers.

apply what I learned to my personal experiences.

Reflect

I find __________________________ the most interesting because ______________________.

I got ____ checks because _______________________________________________________.
I need to improve on _______________________because _____________________________.
I need to practice _________________________ because _____________________________.
I plan to _____________________________________________________________________ .

Wrap Up
● Global warming and climate change are two different but related concepts.
● Climate change is caused by human activities that increase greenhouse gas emissions.
● The lives of the future generation are at risk if effects of climate change and global
warming are not mitigated and controlled.
● Transnational migration allows people to be part of more than one culture.
● The history of OFWs facilitated the Filipinos’ culture of migration.
● The continuous migration of Filipino workers may result in cultural, and economic

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 issues.
● Inclusive citizenship and participatory governance are key factors in the creation of
state actions that will attend to the issues of the nation.
● New forms of media and social networking provide a larger arena for social movements
and social awareness.
● Social movements play an important role in the development of societies.

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 Bibliography

Global Climate Change. National Aeronautics and Space Administration. Accessed February 22,
2018. https://climate.nasa.gov.

“Global Climate Report- January 2018”. National Centers for Environmental Information.
Accessed February 22, 2018. https://ncdc.noaa.gov/sotc/global/201801.

“History of Philippine Migration.” Center for Migrant Advocacy. Accessed February 23, 2018.
https://centerformigrantadvocacy.com/history-of-philippine-migration/.

2007. Inclusive Citizenship. UK: Loughborough University.

“Introduction to ‘Inclusive Citizenship’ & its Features.” Accessed February 23, 2018.
https://onmogul.com/stories/introduction-to-inclusive-citizenship-its-features.

Kennedy, Caitlyn and Rebecca Lindsey. 2015. “What’s the Difference between Global Warming
and Climate Change?”. Climate.gov. Accessed February 22, 2018.
https://www.climate-qa/whats-difference-between-global-warming-and-climate-change.

Kottak, Conrad Philip. 2011. Cultural Anthropology: Appreciating Cultural Diversity. 14th Ed. New
York: McGraw-Hill.

Lister, Martin, J. Dovey, S. Giddings, I. Grant, and Kieran Kelly. 2009. New Media: A Critical
Introduction. 2nd Ed. New York: Routledge.

Macionis, John. 2012. Sociology. 14th ed. Boston: Pearson Education Inc.

Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA).

2011. Climate Change in the Philippines.

“Overseas Filipinos.” Philippine Statistics Authority. Accessed February 23, 2018.

https://psa.gov.ph/tags/overseas-filipinos.

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Schiller, Nina, L. Basch, and Cristina Blanc. “From Immigrant to Transmigrant: Theorizing
Transnational Migration”. Anthropological Quarterly 1.68. (1995), 48-63.

San Juan, Ianna. 2016. “Transnational Migration and OFW”. Prezi. Accessed February 22, 2018.
https://prezi.com/m/j4yquakoff22/transnational-migration-and-ofw/.

“Social Movements.” Lumen Learning. Accessed February 24, 2018.

https://courses.lumenlearning.com/boundless-sociology/chapter/social-movements.

Southeastern University Online Learning. Southeastern University. Accessed February 24, 2018.
http://online.seu.edu.

United Nations Economic and Social Council. 2007. Participatory Governance and Citizens’
Engagement in Policy Development, Service Delivery and Budgeting. New York.

Wampler, Brian and Stephanie McNulty. Does Participatory Governance Matter?: Exploring the
Nature and Impact of Participatory Reforms. Washington: Woodrow Wilson International
Center for Scholars

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 Answers to Check Your Understanding
Lesson 1: Global Warming and Climate Change
Part A.
1. True
2. False
3. True
4. True
5. False

Lesson 2: Transnational Migration and Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs)

Part A
1. False
2. True
3. False
4. True
5. True

Lesson 3: Responding to Cultural, Social, and Political Change

Part A
1. True
2. True
3. False
4. False
5. True

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 Glossary
Brain Drain – emigration of high-skilled Filipino professionals from the Philippines
Climate Change – includes global warming and its effects
Global Warming – generally defined as the warming of Earth’s surface
Greenhouse Effect – occurs when heat from the sunlight is trapped by greenhouse gases
Greenhouse Gases – naturally occurring gases in the Earth’s atmosphere that serve as a
blanket and trap heat onto the Earth
New Media – a new form of mass communication that relies on computer and digital
technologies for its creation and distribution
Overseas Filipino Workers – the term used to refer to Filipinos immigrating abroad for work
Social Networking – the creation of connections among individuals that develop into specific
groups
Social Movement – a “conscious, collective, organized attempt to bring about or resist change
in the social order by non-institutionalized means”
Transnational Migration – the process in which immigrants maintain and participate in
different aspects of social relations that link together their original society and their place of
settlement

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