GRACE MISSION COLLEGE

Catiningan, Socorro, Oriental Mindoro

e-Mail: grace.missioncollege@yahoo.com

Fear of the Lord is the foundation of true knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and discipline.

-Proverbs 1:7

Module 3 in NSTP – CWTS 1

VALUES DEVELOPMENT FOR CITIZENSHIP TRAINING

LEARNING OBJECTIVES

At the end of this chapter, the learners are expected to:

1. define and expound on the nature and philosophical values of being a Filipino;

2. cite popular Filipino values of good citizenship; and

3. relate the concepts discussed to real-life situations.

OVERVIEW

This module deals with values development for good citizenship, including the preamble to the 1987
Constitution, the roots of and philosophy behind Filipino values, nationalism and patriotism, and personal development
plan.

THE PREAMBLE

The preamble to the 1987 Constitution states: 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, ana enure to ourselves and our posterity the blessings
of independence and democracy under the rule of law and a regime of truth, justice, freedom, love, equality, and peace,
do ordain and promulgate this Constitution" (De Leon et al., 2011).

A preamble is an introductory and preliminary statement in a document that explains the document's purpose
and underlying philosophy, it may cite historical facts pertinent to the subject of the statute. The preamble to the
constitution of the Philippines dictates that the Philippines and the Filipino people are the sovereign masters of the
Philippine Islands.

PHILOSOPHY OF VALUES

Understanding the philosophy of human values is necessary in understanding Filipino values such as family
closeness and solidarity (pagkamalapit at pagkakaisa ng pamilya), politeness (pagkamagalang through the use of po or
ho), hospitality, and gratitude (utang na loob).

Values are both subjective and objective. They involve a subject or person who values (e.g., a young girl) and
an object or value to be realized (e.g., pagkamahinhin). Justice is objective because it is a value that should be realized
by all. There is a difference between value and disvalue such as pleasure and pain, life and death, poverty and affluence,
heroism and cowardice, truth and falsehood, right and wrong, holiness and sinfulness. The difference is not only in the
mind or simply a matter of personal taste or preference. It is real and evident.

FILIPINO VALUES
 What are Filipino values: What is distinctly Filipino in our value system? The Filipino value system arises from
our culture or way of life, our distinctive way of becoming human in this particular place and time. We speak of Filipino
values in a fourfold sense.

1. It is obvious that certain values take on a distinctively Filipino flavor for us. The Greek ideal of moderation or
meden agan, the Roman in medio stat virtus, and the Confucian and Buddhist doctrine of the middle way or
path, find their Filipino equivalent in walang labis, walang kulang, or katamtaman lamang.
2. Speaking of Filipino values, we do not mean that elements of these Filipino values are absent in the value
systems of other peoples and cultures. All people eat, talk, and sings but they eat a variety of food, speak various
languages, and sing different songs. Thus, we easily recognize Filipino, American, Chinese, Japanese, or any
other foreign food, language, or music. The difference lies in the way these elements are ranked, combined, or
emphasized, so that they take on a distinctively Filipino slant or cast.
For instance, in China, honesty and hard work may rank highest; Chinese and Japanese cultures greatly
value politeness and beauty; American culture highlights promptness and efficiency; and Filipino culture
emphasizes spirituality and family centeredness. In this sense of value ranking and prioritizing, we can speak
of dominant Filipino values.

3. Universally, human values in the Filipino context (historical, cultural, socio- economic, political, moral, and
religious) take on a distinctive set of Filipino meanings and motivations. This is true not only of the aims and
goals, beliefs, convictions, and social principles of the traditional value system of the lowland rural family but
also of what Fr. Horacio de la Costa, S.J. calls the Filipino nationalistic tradition (pagsasarili, pagkakaisa,
pakikisama, pakikipagkapwa-tao, and pagkabayani).
A Filipino value is not a discrete item which exists alone, in isolation, or in a vacuum. Filipino values
like bahala na, utang na loob, hiya, pakikisama, and pakiusap are clustered around core values like social
acceptance, economic security, and social mobility. They are always found in a definite context or set of
circumstances.

4. Values in the sense of historical consciousness had evolved among the Filipino people, leading to the concept
of justice evolving from inequality to equality and to human dignity. From the tribe, to the family, and to the
nation, consciousness of different values varies during the distinct periods of Philippine history.
From a historical perspective, the question to ask about Filipino values is: Ganito kami noon: paano
kayo ngayon? How are we to know toward what goal or direction Filipino values ought to move?

Now that we have regained our democratic form of government and have arrived at a privileged historical
kairos, how do we transform Filipino values to build a more just and humane society (Preamble, l987 Constitution)?
We need both external structural and internal cultural change. It is here that the Christian faith, in the last analysis,
should point the way to the kind of values education needed for national reconstruction.

GOOD CITIZENSHIP VALUES

1. Love for God or Pagkamaka-Diyos

The Philippines is the only Christian nation in Asia, our population being predominantly Catholic. Therefore,
religiousness is a prime Filipino value.

Faith is the deeply rooted submission to a divine Creator and believing in His authority over all creations. It is
also putting oneself in the hands of the Divine Authority which is an expression of faith in and unconditional love for
God.

Jesus said to them, "Have faith in God... whoever says to this mountain; Be lifted up and thrown into the seal
and does not doubt at all in his heart but believes that what he says will take place, it will be done for him (Mark 11:22-
23 Amplified Bible).
 2. Love for Fellowmen or Pagkamaka-Tao
St. Paul defines love in a different way: 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). It illustrates the real essence of love which strengthens the
foundation of the family and other social groupings. It is the strongest force within the human community. It provides a
deeper meaning to the purpose of human existence.

3. Love for Country or Pagkamaka-Bayan

Progressive countries are able to attain their economic goals because the people have trust and confidence in
their governments and are actively supporting their policies and programs. These governments, in turn, reciprocate their
peoples support with honest, sound, and dynamic governance.

4. Love for the Environment or Pagkamaka-Kalikasan

Environment refers to everything that surrounds us from the natural world to the man-made physical structures.
Human interventions are important to derive the full benefits from natural resources, but such interventions have at
times gone beyond the limits of the domain reserved for human utilization.

It is high time we work hand in hand to protect our natural resources an ecosystem. In our own little way, we
can start taking care of our immediate environment and participate in the sustainable management of our natural
resources.

ROOTS OF THE FILIPINO CHARACTER

Here are some highlights from "A Moral Recovery Program: Building a People-Building a Nation" by Patricia
Licuanan (1988).

The strengths and weaknesses of the Filipino have their roots in many factors such as (a) the home environment,
(b) the social environment, (c) culture and language, (d) history, (e) the educational system, (f) religion, (g) the economic
environment, (h) the political environment, (i) mass media, and (j) leadership and role models.

1. The Family and Home Environment

Child-bearing practices, family relations, and family attitudes and orientation are the main components of the
home environment. Child-bearing in the Filipino family generally is characterized by high nurturance, low independence
training, and low discipline. The Filipino child grows up in an atmosphere of affection and overprotection, where one
learns security and trust, on the one hand, and dependence, on the other. In the indulgent atmosphere of the Filipino
home, rigid standards of behavior or performance are not imposed, leading to a lack of discipline. Attempts to maintain
discipline come in the form of many "no's and 'don'ts and a system of criticism to keep children in line. Sometimes,
subtle comparisons among siblings are also used by mothers to control their children. These may contribute to the "crab
mentality".

In a large family where we are encouraged to get along with our siblings and other relatives, we learn
pakikipagkapwa-tao. In an authoritarian setting, we learn respect for age and authority; at the same time, we become
passive and dependent on authority. In the family, children are taught to value family and to give it primary importance.

2. The Social Environment

The main components of the social environment are social structures and social systems such as interpersonal,
religious, and community interaction. The social environment of the Filipino is characterized by a feudal structure with
great gaps between the rich minority and the poor majority. These gaps are not merely economic but cultural as well,
with the elite being highly Westernized and alienated from the masses. This feudal structure develops dependence and
passivity.
 The Filipino is raised in an environment where one must depend on relationships with others in order to survive.
In a poor country where resources are scarce and where the systems meant to respond to people's needs can be
insensitive, inefficient, or non-existent, the Filipino becomes very dependent on kinship and interpersonal relationships.

Sensitivity about hurting established relationships controls our behavior. We are restrained from making
criticisms no matter how constructive, so standards of quality are not imposed. We have difficulty saying no too requests
and are pressured to favor our family and friends. That trying to get ahead of others is not considered acceptable exerts
a strong brake upon efforts to improve our individual performance. The struggle for survival and our dependence on
relationships make us in-group oriented.

3. Culture and Language

Much has been written about Filipino cultural values. Such characteristics as warmth and person orientation,
devotion to family, and sense of joy and humor are part of our culture and are reinforced by all socializing forces like
the family, school, and peer group. Filipino culture rewards such traits and corresponding behavioral patterns develop
because they make one more likable and enable life to proceed more easily.

Aside from emphasizing interpersonal values, Filipino culture is also characterized by an openness to the outside
world which easily incorporates foreign elements without a basic consciousness of our cultural core. This is related to
our colonial mentality and to the use of English as the medium of instruction in schools.

The introduction of English as the medium of education de-Filipinized the youth and taught them to regard
American culture as superior. The use of English contributes also to a lack of self-confidence on the part of the Filipino.
The fact that doing well means using a foreign language, which foreigners inevitably can handle better, leads to an
inferiority complex. At a very early age, we find that our self-esteem depends on the mastery of something foreign.

The use of a foreign language may also explain the Filipino's unreflectiveness and mental laziness. Thinking in
our native language, but expressing ourselves in English, results not only in a lack of confidence, but also in a lack in
our power of expression, imprecision, and a stunted development of one's intellectual powers.

4. History
We are the product of our colonial history, which is regarded by many as the culprit behind our lack of
nationalism and our colonial mentality. Colonialism developed a mindset in the Filipino which encouraged us to think
of the colonial power as superior and more powerful. As a second-class citizen beneath the Spanish and then the
Americans, we developed dependence on foreign powers that makes us believe we are not responsible for our country's
fate.

The American influence is more ingrained in the Philippines because the Americans set up a public school
system where we learned English and the American way of life. Present-day media reinforce these colonial influences
and the Filipino elite set the example by their Western ways.

Another vestige of our colonial past is our basic attitude toward the government, which we have learned to
identify as foreign and apart from us. Thus, we do not identify with government and are distrustful and uncooperative
toward it, much time and energy is spent trying to outsmart the government, which we have learned from our colonial
past to regard as an enemy.

5. The Educational System

Aside from the problems inherent in the use of a foreign language in our educational system, the educational
system leads to other problems for us as a people. The lack of suitable local textbooks and dependence on foreign
textbooks, particularly in the higher school levels, force Filipino students as well as their teachers to use school materials
that are irrelevant to the Philippine setting. From this comes a mindset that thing learned in school are not related to real
life.
 Aside from the influences of the formal curriculum, there are the influences of the "hidden curriculum" i.e., the
values taught informally by the Philippine school system. Schools appear to be highly authoritarian, with the teacher as
the central focus. The Filipino student is taught to be dependent on the teacher as we attempt to record verbatim what
the teacher says and to give this back during examinations in its original form and with little processing. Usually,
teachers reward well-behaved and obedient students. Some teachers tend to be uncomfortable with those who ask
questions and express a different viewpoint. Hence, the Filipino student learns passivity and conformity.

6. Religion
Religion is the root of the Filipinos optimism and capacity to accept life's hardships. However, religion also
instills in us attitudes of resignation and a preoccupation with the afterlife and superstitions.

7. The Economic Environment

Many local traits are rooted in the poverty and hard life that is the lot of most Filipinos. Our difficulties drive
us to take risks, impel us to work very hard, and develop in us the ability to survive. Poverty, however, has also become
an excuse for graft and corruption, particularly among the lower rungs of the bureaucracy. Unless things get too difficult
passivity sets in.

8. The Political Environment

The Philippine political environment is characterized by a centralization of power. Political power or authority
is concentrated in the hands of the elite and the participation of most Filipinos often is limited to voting in elections.

Similarly, basic services from the government are concentrated in Manila and its outlying towns and provinces.
A great majority or Filipinos are not reached by such basic services as water, electricity, rods, and health services.
Government structures and systems- e.g., justice and education - are often ineffective or inefficient.

Since the government often is not there to offer basic services, we depend on our family, kin, and neighbors for
our everyday needs. The absence of government enhances our extreme family and even community - centeredness. We
find it difficult to identify with a nation-family, since the government is not there to symbolize or represent the state.

The fact that political power is still very much concentrated in the hands of a few may lead to passivity. The
inefficiency of government structures and systems also leads to a lack of integrity and accountability in our public
servants.

9. Mass Media
Mass media reinforce our colonial mentality. Advertisements using Caucasian models and emphasizing a
product s similarity with imported brands are part of our daily lives.

The tendency of media to produce escapist movies, soap operas, comics, etc., feed the Filipinos passivity. Rather
than confront our poverty and oppression, we fantasize instead. The propensity to use flashy sets, designer clothes,
superstars, and other bongga features reinforce porma.

10. Leadership and Role Models.

Filipinos look up to their leaders as role models. Political leaders are the main models, but all other leaders serve
as role models as well. Thus, when our leaders violate the law or show themselves to be self-serving and driven by
personal interest, when there is lack of public accountability, there 1s a negative impact on the Filipinos.

NATIONALISM AND PATRIOTISM

The philosophy of nationalism nowadays does not concern itself much with the aggressive and dangerous form
of invidious nationalism that often occupies center stage in the news and in sociological research. Although this
pernicious form can be of significant, instrumental value mobilizing oppressed people and giving them a sense of
dignity, its moral costs are usually taken by philosophers to outweigh its benefits.
 The term nationalism is generally used to describe two things. The first is the attitude of the members or a nation
which includes the concepts of national identity, origin, ethnicity, and cultural ties. The second is the action that the
members of a nation take when seeking to achieve or sustain full statehood with complete authority over domestic and
international traits. Patriotism is love of and devotion to one's country.

The word comes from the Greek patris, meaning "fatherland." However, patriotism has different meanings over
time, and its meaning is highly dependent upon geography, and philosophy. Although patriotism is used in certain
vernaculars as synonym for nationalism, nationalism is not necessarily considered an inherent part of patriotism.
Likewise, patriotism is strengthened by adherence to a native religion, particularly some communities that may have
their own holy places. This also implies a value preference for a specific civic or political community.

DEVELOPMENT OF NATIONALISM AND PATRIOTISM IN THE PHILIPPINES

Nationalism is characterized by the attachment of superiority to one’s country, an aspiration for its continuity
and prosperity, and maintaining a high regard and respect or its laws, principles and policies. A country is an artificial
body of people that need protection and identity. The government constitutes all non-political and political personnel in
the service of the country. They range from the President to servant. Philippine nationalism witnessed an upsurge of
patriotic sentiments and nationalistic ideals in the late 1800s as a result of the Filipino Propaganda Movement from 1872
to 1892. It became the main ideology of the first Asian nationalist uprising, the Philippine Revolution of 1896. Spain
already ruled the Philippines for about 355 years before Philippine nationalism was developed.

The term Filipino originally referred to Spaniards born in the Philippines and not the native inhabitants. But
certain events finally led to the development of native patriotism and transcended the cultural and geographical
boundaries that had been barriers to the unification of the inhabitants of the archipelago.

PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT PLAN

Do you know where you are going for? Where do you see yourself one year, five years, and perhaps ten years
down the road?

A personal development plan will help you figure that out and help you get there.

Wells (2012), in his book Seven Simple Steps-Life Transformation Guide, states that success requires an
articulated goal. It is not a product of wishful thinking. Purpose will set the context and get you thinking about your lite
and what is important to you.

Prepare your own personal development plan. Be guided by these components suggested by Wells.

1. Your True Self – Begin with some introspection to help you define your values, your patterns, and your
beliefs.
2. Make It Personal – Understand success and achievement, and what it means to you and to others.
3. Know Your Outcome – Set your goals and how to achieve them. This section is really about knowing
where you're going.
4. Design Success – Lay out your "success blueprint." If the prior section covers where you’re going, this is
about how you'll get there.
5. Harness the Power – Determine to make your plans a reality. In order to succeed, you need more than a
plan; that plan needs to be executed.
6. Accept Success – Establish a mindset to succeed in bringing your desired outcomes to fruition.
7. Life is Circular – Look forward to the future, and move on beyond the completion of your plan.
CONCLUSION

A value literally means the worth or importance of a particular thing. Some things have greater value than others.
Things with greater value are more preferred and sought out by individuals. They serve as a basis for decision-making
since people normally choose those which will bring them happiness and contentment both intrinsically and
extrinsically.

Happiness is the end point of every human action. This desire for happiness helps create the picture of what we
really need or want to have or experience. In the process, we are able to identify the things which we value most.

ACTIVITY │ Direction: Answer the following questions in paragraph form.

1. Discuss the philosophy of human values in the Filipino context.

2. Discuss nationalism and patriotism in the Filipino context?
REFERENCE:

 Villasotto, Herminigildo S., et. al. 2018. Human Person Gearing Towards Social Development: NSTP-CWTS 1
Worktext for College Students, Second Edition. Quezon City: C&E Publishing, Inc.