Republic of the Philippines

Department of Education
Region VI-Western Visayas
Pavia National High School
Evangelista St., Pavia, Iloilo

INTRODUCTION:
SENIOR HIGH12
Grade SCHOOL
I am free, they said! I am freedom, I say, instead.

On point question, how is it to be totally free? How is it to be me?

Often times, we demand “let me be!” “I want it done, my way!” This is a struggle for most,
especially to teenagers like you. A normal tendency for growing individuals in transition from adolescence
towards adulthood with less developed cerebral parts. Too willing to take the risk but fall short in
conceiving possible consequences of the actions taken or actions yet to do.

Every day, upon waking up, we have a lot to decide. There are many choices. Big or small choices, it
demands a decision. Will I rise from bed now or stay a bit? Will I tidy my sheets or not? Which comes first,
breakfast or taking a bath? The list goes on.

The thing is whatever we decide or choose out of freedom, we are RESPONSIBLE for it! We either
enjoy or suffer the consequences of our free choice. The challenge therefore, is on committing oneself in
constancy of making good decisions. We have no one to blame but ourselves when something goes wrong.
Projected blame are for the unfree. To avoid it, prudence is a virtue that we should develop and assimilate.

In this module, we will see the toughness of decision-making out of prudence. But it is better to
undergo this now and grow in responsibility of becoming totally free than loss our essence along the way.
Towards the authentic way to freedom, towards becoming who we really are, come on we go!

At the end of the module, you should be able to:

 Evaluate and exercise prudence in choices (PPT11/12-IIa-5.2)

 Realize that a) choices have consequences; b) some things are given while others are obtained in
making choices (PPT11/12-IIb-5.3)

 Show situations that demonstrate freedom of choice (PPT11/12-IIc-5.4)

Task 1: Pre Test

Direction: Read and understand each sentence. Write TRUE if the sentence is correct and FALSE if it is
wrong. Write your answer on your pad paper.
1. My freedom is limited.
2. When forced to do actions against their will, humans are not responsible for their actions.
3. Freedom is choosing only what is good.
4. Exercising freedom, also mean recognizing and upholding the freedom of others.
5. All human actions have consequences.
6. Freedom is NOT being responsible.
7. Freedom is unlimited.
8. The ability to make choices and perform actions is an indicator of freedom.

Grade 12 – Social Sciences 1

Competency Name: Distinguish a holistic perspective from a partial point of view (PPT11/12-Ia-1.1)
 9. Prudence is necessary to be free.
10. Evil acts make me totally free.

Task 1: DECISIONS BACK THEN (A Hindsight)

Directions: As a grade 12 student, you have made some important life decisions in the past.

1. RECALL at least three (3) major decisions you made in a given age below.
2. Make a TIMELINE of those decisions and the consequences you gone through
because of the decisions you have made.
3. Write your answer on a piece of pad paper.

LIFE DECISIONS

_______________ _______________ ______________

13 YRS OLD 16 YRS OLD 18 YRS OLD

_______________ _______________ ______________

CONSEQUENCES

TASK 3: PRUDENCE TESTED

Direction: Write the possible consequences for each action.

ACTIONS CONSEQUENCES
a. Staying up late playing mobile games

b. Hanging out with friends at the mall

despite GCQ
c. Eating junk food while watching
Korean drama all day
d. Constantly asking for money to pay for
online purchases from your parents
who were not able to work due to the
pandemic
e. Not wearing a mask when going out

Grade 12 – Social Sciences 2

Competency Name: Distinguish a holistic perspective from a partial point of view (PPT11/12-Ia-1.1)
 On Freedom
The activities you have gone through, gave you the idea that all our actions are borne from our
decisions made over many choices laid down before us by circumstances, people and life in general.
On the hindsight, we saw that our actions have consequences. We realized that there could have
been other and better options that we should have taken. If only we have considered all the pros and the
cons in prudence.
Oftentimes, we view freedom as “doing and saying what I want”. Experience taught us, it is not!
Then what is freedom from the point of view of Philosophers? Let us take three perspectives to guide us.

1. Jean Paul Sartre (The Person is What he Makes of Himself)

Jean Paul Sartre asserts that man is freedom himself, because he was not born then became free
after birth. What does it mean? We were born free. Freedom is innate. Embed in us. Further, he stressed
that by birth, man is condemned to be free. If there is one thing that makes man, unfree, it is the fact that
HE IS NOT FREE NOT TO BE FREE! All because being free is the core essence of man. Man is freedom.
At your age now, you experience that freedom. You enjoy the power of having it. However, there
are limiting factors. You also experience limits. There are demands. You are called, told and demanded to
be responsible. This tall order of being responsible came from many. Authorities, elders, laws, peers, world
and even self-imposed standard. Suddenly there is that feeling of being restricted, choked up of the many
should and have to do’s and don’ts.
This pandemic magnify that experience. Limited in many ways, physically and more. You are left to
none, but obey. Even the mode of learning that you are taking now is a big test in your being freedom. Day
by day, week by week you are to understand concepts mostly, all by yourself. Out from it you will submit
outputs, in a crunchy plural form of the word, OUTPUTS! Tiring! Stressful!
What does, Sartre has to say on this? Sartre emphasized the importance of free individual choice,
regardless of the power of other people to influence and coerce our desires, beliefs, and decisions. To be
human, to be conscious, is to be free to imagine, freely choosing, and being responsible for the decisions
we have made. To be responsible of one’s life.
Applied in our context now, there are many options positive and negative. You can rant as much as
you want. You can submit yourself to the process in this “beyond our control” Covid threatened world.
Collectively, support system in our family and community can be formed. Together we learn. Helping in
whatever way we can to ease the burden of the little ones in their modules too and be a comfort to
grappling parents caught in between teaching and finding ways and means to earn for a living.
Amidst the difficulties that we are facing, Sartre is telling us that, we are provided with a supreme
opportunity to give meaning to our life. In giving meaning to our life, we also fill the world with meaning. If
we are able to do this, the restricting situations no longer limit us. We go beyond the limits. We do things
not only because it is demanded anymore. Rather, we do things because we see its relevance. We choose
it. We are free.
Sartre call this as authentic existence, which is, realized only in deeds that are committed alone, in
absolute freedom and responsibility. In this, we define ourselves. Thus, indeed, the person who is free, is
nothing else but that what he makes of himself.

Grade 12 – Social Sciences 3

Competency Name: Distinguish a holistic perspective from a partial point of view (PPT11/12-Ia-1.1)
 2. Michel Foucault (Using and Controlling Power Responsibly)

For Michel Foucault, all have power. Each one of us has it. This power controls us. To be free from
it, he suggests that we use our power responsibly.
What will happen to us, if we allow power to control or dominate us? We are not free and will
never be. Thus, we must control power. How? Through self-gaze. This requires courage and honesty. This
self-gaze is seeing yourself as you are. Seeing yourself as one who is weak in relation to power. If you are
weak and cannot use the power to serve, give up that power! If you will insist on it in your weakness, that
power will destroy you, just like Thanus in the movie, Endgame.
For Foucault, freedom is achieved by using power to serve and not to dominate. It is only in
serving that we are truly free. He affirms that IF we can control power, which always control us, what can
be more freedom than this. Furthermore, he said that the history of the world revolves on one theme: the
control of power or being controlled by power. This Pandemic caused by COVID, is one concrete example.
Young as you are, you can reflect on it, analyze and make conclusions whether this situation now is a show
of power used and controlled or power controlling those who are in power.

3. Paul Ricoeur (The Will not to Fall)

Paul Ricoeur recognizes that man is fallible or fallen by nature. A contrast to our being good in
essence. A Filipino artist, capture this in a song, “gusto kong bumait, pero di ko magawa.” This line is a
recognition of man’s inclination to fall. However, Ricoeur said that to be fallible is not yet to fall (even
though there is a tendency to fall).
For him, freedom is the will not to fall. The challenge for us is not to fall because to fall is not to be
free anymore. To struggle not to fall or to stand when fallen is freedom at its peak. Freedom should be
used to maintain the structure of fallible not of fallen. However, if in reality, we indeed fall and been fallen,
freedom here is the will to stand again.

Task 4: Understanding Expressed in Matrix

Direction: Copy the Matrix below and supply what is being asked. Explain in your own words what you
have understood in reading the concepts about freedom.

Philosophers Concept of Freedom Action to taken to be truly free

Jean Paul Sartre
Michel Focault
Paul Ricoeur

On Prudence

For Aristotle, prudence is a virtue also called as practical wisdom. It is defined as the ability to
deliberate well regarding human actions. Accordingly, he said that prudence is absolutely necessary “to
know what is good for oneself”. He goes even so far saying, “without prudence virtues cannot exist,” but
that where there is prudence, “all the others are present”.
How can we develop prudence? By proper education and obedience to just laws. Why prudence is
important? Because it can prevent any harm that a decision may cause us. Our decision. It is asking
ourselves of the possible consequences of our actions. It is just like asking ourselves, “what is my doing,
doing to me?” What will my action be making of me? Will I be good or bad if I engage on this act or not?
These are questions that we should consider answering before we make any decision.

Grade 12 – Social Sciences 4

Competency Name: Distinguish a holistic perspective from a partial point of view (PPT11/12-Ia-1.1)
 An example. There is a provided answer key in all your modules. Answering all essay items are tiring
and brain wracking but you are good, you made it. Now on objective type of tests. Will I waste my time
reading the questions, or just go straight to the answer key and copy it? No one can check on me, anyway.
True, but can I run away from myself? Can I deny the truth that I am not honest? Is this copying of the
answer key would make me a cheater? With this troubling question, will I choose to fool myself?

Free Choices Have Consequences

Decision-making taken seriously is difficult. More so, if by prudence you consider the possible
consequences of your choices. At the end, you will pick up the best option and give up the rest. Will we
engage in group study now or play “Among Us”? Will I choose to finish my task now as scheduled or enjoy
playing with my friends? Coming up with a final decision, weighing the contributions and consequences
that may arise is very important.

Task 5. Me and My Action

Direction: Choose one action you done out of free choice committed in the past. Were you able to reflect
upon the consequences before you decided to go through and/or do the action? Share your answer in a
piece of paper.

Understanding the true meaning of freedom is liberating. It liberates us from misconceptions that
set us to a new direction towards being authentically free with others in the community.

Task 6: PERFORMANCE TASK: ANALYSIS

Direction: In a piece of paper, write your answer.
Cite a current issue in our country. Analyze how people involve in this issue perform actions. How
do they come up with such actions? Determine whether their action is freeing or controlling. Are their
actions towards their own freedom and that of the Filipino people at large? Why or why not?
The topic on freedom is a disturbing eye opener. My freedom is limited. The more I use this
freedom for the good, the freer I become. My freedom is a shared freedom with others. Harmonious
existence is possible if we will use our freedom responsibly.

IV. RUBRICS

Your essay will be graded according to:

a. Clarity of thought ---10 points
b. Coherence ------------5 points
c. Content -------------- 10 points
TOTAL -----------25 POINTS

Grade 12 – Social Sciences 5

Competency Name: Distinguish a holistic perspective from a partial point of view (PPT11/12-Ia-1.1)