MODULE: (VAL01) – UNDERSTANDING THE SELF

CHAPTER 7 - THE POLITICAL SELF

a.) Develop a Filipino identity.

b.) Identify different Filipino values and traits.
c.) Reflect on your selfhood in relation to your national identity.

SEEKING FILIPINO IDENTITY

According to the 1987 Philippine constitution, article 4 section 1.
These are the citizens of the Philippines: those who are citizens
of the Philippines at the time of the adoption of this constitution;

• Those whose father or mothers are citizens of the

Philippines.
• Those born before January 17, 1973, of Filipino mothers,
who elect Philippine citizenship upon reaching the age of
majority; &
• Those who are naturalized in accordance of law.

HISTORICAL BACKROUND – INDIO TO FILIPINO

The role of the young people cannot be ignored in the shaping for it is from their ranks where Rizal
came from. Rizal was a person of enlightened education – one of the Illustrados, whose heightened
conscience made it difficult for him to forget the poor plight of this people. At an early age, his genius
made him cognizant of the racial disparity demonstrate towards the Filipinos at a time when they were
called the derogatory term-Indio. This recognition instilled in him a sense of responsibility to seek the
true identity of the Filipinos, one which is removed from the concept of Indio's (stupid, barbaric, idiotic)
as claimed by the Spanish colonizers.

DEMOCRACY

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The idea of democracy did not emerge from our identity but it was forced 0n us and rigidly shaped us
and our identity according to the definition given by our colonizers, most especially US. A true
democracy is a rule coming from the people, but if the people do not understand it how can they say
that they are the ones who rule?
According to this article, three things should be provided by the government before we can enjoy
democracy.
1. Maintenance of peace and order.
2. Protection of life, liberty and property.
3. Promotion of general welfare

DEMOCRACY- FROM THEIRS TO OURS

The inception of democracy was derived from the colonizers (specially the American) traditions
and continued by the elite (who took over from where the proletariats started when the Spaniards were
defeated)
A true democracy is a rule coming from the people, but if the people do not understand it, how
can they say that they are the ones who rule?
At present, we have been making a movement towards a grassroot concept of democracy.
Currently, I can say that we are at a place in history were changes occurring in the society has given
the ordinary Filipino venue for an expression of their sentiments.

PERCEPTION OF A FILIPINO’S ROLE IN A DEMOCRATIC SETTING

What we face today is a people who embrace the ideology of democracy. The problem lies in how we
can translate this idea into everyday practice so that people can fully appreciate it.

Article 2, section 5 of 1987 Philippine constitution states: “The maintenance of the peace and
order, the protection of life, liberty, and property, and the promotion of the general welfare are essential
for the enjoyment by all the people of the blessings of democracy.”

3 things should be proved by the government before we can enjoy democracy;

1. Maintenance of peace and order

2. Protection of life, liberty and property
3. Promotion of general welfare

A major part of such a fulfillment a general consensus coming from Filipinos that:
1. We should be able to participate and be heard in political process.
2. There must be a consistency in the principles and policies declared in the constitution
and in how Filipinos live their lives.

Philippine Political Culture – A problem of variation

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In assessing the Philippine political culture, it is necessary for us to understand the cultural
background of the citizens and when I say citizens, this would include the majority and minority. This is
important because as has been discussed earlier one of the problems is the way we prioritize the
immediate community we are in this case the family. Thus, if the citizens feel removed from the bigger
community to which they belong, then we cannot expect much nationalism from them.

Ethnicity

The official languages of the Philippines are Filipino and English. Filipino is the standardized variety of
Tagalog dialect, mainly spoken by the people in Metro Manila. But Cebuano’s do not use Filipino as their
main language. They speak Visayan (Cebuano) and English. Readers in Japan may think that “the difference
between Tagalog and Visayan may be like that of Standard Japanese and Osaka dialect.” However, Tagalog
and Visayan are very different. Most verbs of the two languages are different. Visayan has no honorific
words nor a preposition equivalent to “of” in English. The position of adverb in a sentence is also different.
What is common is only basic grammar (S+V+O) and borrowed words from English and Spanish. As a
result, Tagalog speakers hardly understand Visayan even if they visit Cebu or Visayas.

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There are culturally 2 categories of communities:

1. Minority – they are culturally, ethnically, or racially distinct group that coexists with but is subordinate
to a more dominant group.
2. Majority – would often be characterized by Tagalog/English speakers and with Christianity/
Catholicism as the basis of faith.

Developing a Democratic Culture

What hinders the growth of the culture of democracy?

As suggested by Zialcita (1997, p39-68), in order for us to establish a democratic culture, the
following values are necessary;

1. Respect for and affirmation of the individual. This entails recognizing that every
individual has inherent rights. Thus, we say that one’s rights end where another person’s
rights begin.
2. Recognition of the inherent dignity of all human beings. Once recognition is made of
such dignity, then it is easier for us to treat people as ends in themselves.
3. Concern for the public good. We must understand that our also limited by the power of
the state. The welfare of the state is considered together with the civil rights.
4. Willingness to listen to others. This is consistent with the three above. If we respect the
individual, then we should be giving time to listen and understand the claim of that
individual.

All these imply the need for us to help the anonymous stranger, that is – more than us
individual families – we should also involve and care for our nation. And that should be a major
part of our Political Identity, an identity closely tied to being a Filipino citizen in heart and mind.

CITEZENSHIP – One’s political identity in one state.

CONSTITUTION – the highest law of the and.
DEMOCRACY – a form of government who’s ideal is that all the adult members of state should enjoy
the right to participate in deciding on public matters.
NATIONALISM – loyalty and devotion to one’s nation.
NATIONAL IDENTITY – may be viewed as the set of meanings and predispositions defining one’s
attachment or sense of belonging to national community.
PARTICIPATIVE DEMOCRACY – emphasis on the participation of the members to the different
political processes.
RACE JEALOUSY – a consciousness to prove that Filipinos are equal with the other race

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Pinoy Life: Classic Filipino Traits and Characteristics

Characteristics of Filipinos
Every country has its differing values and stereotypes, and the Philippines is no exception. We Filipinos
firmly believe that our country has the best values in the world. Although we have been colonized by
several countries, many core values from our ancestors remained intact and are still honored to this
day. Filipinos are not perfect, but we have great characteristics and qualities every one of us should be
proud of. Below I've listed some of the most well-known positive and negative traits of Filipinos.

1. Hospitality
This is one of the most popular qualities of Filipinos. Foreigners who have gone to the Philippines find
themselves falling in love with the warm hospitality they are shown. It's a different kind of value system,
which has existed for thousands of years. Here are some examples of the hospitality that Filipinos
show, not only to foreigners, but also to their fellow citizens:

When a person visits a friend's house, the host greets him or her with a very warm welcome. The host
will immediately let their visitor sit down and will prepare a meal or a snack plus drinks for the visitor.
The host will insist that the friend not leave the house with an empty stomach. A host will always make
sure you had a great time visiting them. People offer their guest room to visitors if they're going to spend
the night. Meals offered to guests are very special. A host always finds a way to prepare great tasting
food that her visitor wants to eat.

2. Respect
This is often observed—not just by younger people—but also by people of all ages. Children respect
elders by saying "po" and "opo," which mean "yes," when answering their elders. Children or young
adults also show respect by putting their elders' hands on their foreheads. Filipinos also show respect
at work by making a bow to their employers.

3. Strong Family Ties and Religions

Yes. Filipinos value their families so much that they tend to keep families intact through the generations.
Families go to church and pray together because their religion is important and creates a strong bond,
marking God as the center of their lives. Families make sure to have quality time
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together especially after a day's work. Just watching television or eating a family meal will be valued
and prioritized in everybody's schedules.

4. Generosity and Helpfulness

Filipinos are generous people. Even when we have very little, we always share with those around us.
During special occasions such as birthdays or "fiestas" —parties when people from other places visit
your home to celebrate with you—there are lots of foods specially prepared for everyone! Friends,
family, friends of friends, and even strangers can gather and they are always willing to share food and
help out. When a neighbor is in trouble, Filipinos are always ready to help them.

5. Strong Work Ethic

Yes, we are hardworking people to the point that we are willing to work almost the whole day just to
feed our families. That's how Filipinos are. One example of a hardworking person is a farmer. They
earn so little but they still work very hard for not much compensation. Filipinos always find creative
ways to earn a living, like creating a small business from their home where they sell foods or other
items for the convenience of their neighbors.

6. Love and Caring

This is so true! Filipinos are the sweetest and most loving people in the world. I'm not just saying this
because I'm a Filipino; if you know us well, you will soon figure this out.

Men are so sweet and romantic when it comes to love. They will send their beloved flowers, bring her
to a very romantic place, text her sweet quotes, and tell often how special she is to them.

Filipino women are also romantic and very caring, which often makes foreigners
want to marry them. Women tend to prepare dinner before their husband comes home.
They are loving, and value the relationship, always staying faithful to their husbands. They
love deeply and sincerely.

Alata, Castillo, et. al, Understanding The Self. Rex Book Store: 2018
https://owlcation.com/social-sciences/Filipino-Traits-and-Characteristics