Notes on Values Development for Citizenship Training

Preamble

• Preamble text (quoted):
  "We, the sovereign Filipino people, imploring the aid of Almighty God, in order to build a just and humane society and establish a Government that shall embody our ideals and aspirations, promote the common good, conserve and develop our patrimony, and secure to ourselves and our posterity the blessings of independence and democracy under the rule of law and a regime of truth, justice, freedom, love, equality, and peace, do ordain and promulgate this Constitution."

• Key purposes of the Preamble:

  • Serves as an introductory and preliminary statement explaining the document’s purpose and underlying philosophy.

  • Encourages love and passion for the country.

  • Declares that the Philippines and the Filipino people are sovereign masters of the Philippine islands.

  • Patrimony includes forests, mangroves, wildlife, flora and fauna; these should be conserved, protected and renewed (15th Congress, Senate Bill 1091).

• Preamble’s broader message about unity and values:

  • Every society needs to be bound together by common values to set expectations and manage differences without resorting to violence (reference to the idea that common values bind society).

UN Principles of Human Rights

• Human rights are universal and inalienable; indivisible; interdependent and interrelated.

• Universality:

  • Everyone is born with and possesses the same rights, regardless of location, gender, race, religious, cultural or ethnic background.

• Inalienability:

  • Rights can never be taken away.

• Indivisibility and interdependence:

  • All rights are connected and cannot be fully enjoyed in isolation from others.

Filipino Values and Value System

• Values definition (Esteban, 1990):

  • Psychology: values are what make something desirable, attractive, worthy of approval and admiration.

  • Sociology: values are goals of personal behavior during social interactions; common to all and represent what is good and desirable for everyone.

• Filipino value system overview:

  • Happiness is a highly relative concept with varying degrees and sustainability.

  • Understanding Filipino values helps understand oneself and others.

• Cultural influences on Filipino values (Villasoto, 2018):

  • Filipino values arise from blends of diverse cultures: Malaysians, Indonesians, Spaniards, Americans, Japanese, and Chinese via trading.

  • Dominant Filipino values result from a blend of Christian European values, pragmatic/democratic American values, and Asian spiritual values.

• Filipino Values in the Community:

  • Pakikisama / Camaraderie

  • Familial / Close family ties

  • Hospitality

  • Damayan System

  • Flexibility and Adaptability

  • Resiliency

  • Bayanihan spirit

Good Citizenship Values

• Core idea (quote from PAGC Comm. Teresita D. Baltazar):

  • "Good governance is not enough. Let us work on being good citizens. Let us translate the good citizenship values derived from the Preamble of the Constitution into concrete action in order to build our nation."

• Love for God (Pagkamaka-Diyos):

  • Faith as submission to a divine Creator and belief in His authority over all creation.

  • Loving God includes faith in the Almighty, respect for life, order, work, concern for family and future generations.

• Love for the Country (Pagkamaka-Bayan):

  • Progressive countries succeed economically when people trust and actively support their government.

  • Virtues: unity, equality, respect for law and government, patriotism/nationalism, promotion of the common good.

• Love for the Environment (Pagkamaka-Kalikasan):

  • Human intervention can both benefit and harm natural resources; environmental stewardship is the responsibility to take care of nature.

  • Virtues: concern for the environment, cleanliness, nature-loving.

Importance of Bill of Rights

• A bill of rights is a constitutional enumeration of rights and privileges guaranteed by the State to all persons within its territory.

• It states individual liberties enjoyed by citizens, residents, and visitors, and protects against abuses of government power.

Bill of Rights (Constitutional Provisions)

• Section $1$: No person shall be deprived of life, liberty, or property without due process of law, nor shall any person be denied the equal protection of law.

• Section $2$: The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects against unreasonable searches and seizures shall be inviolable; warrants shall issue only upon probable cause determined by a judge after oath/affirmation of the complainant and witnesses; must particularly describe the place to be searched and the persons or things to be seized.

• Section $3$: (1) The privacy of communication and correspondence shall be inviolable except upon lawful order of the court or when public safety/order requires otherwise; (2) Any evidence obtained in violation shall be inadmissible.

• Section $4$: No law shall be passed abridging the freedom of speech, expression, or of the press, or the right of the people to peaceably assemble and petition the government for redress of grievances.

• Section $5$: No law shall establish a religion or prohibit free exercise thereof. Free exercise and enjoyment of religious profession and worship shall be allowed without discrimination. No religious test shall be required for exercise of civil or political rights.

• Section $6$: The liberty of abode and of changing the same within the limits prescribed by law shall not be impaired; travel shall not be impaired except in the interest of national security, public safety, or public health as provided by law.

• Section $7$: The right of the people to information on matters of public concern shall be recognized. Access to official records, documents, and papers pertaining to official acts, transactions, or decisions, and to government research data used as basis for policy development, shall be afforded the citizen, subject to limitations by law.

• Section $8$: The right of the people, including those employed in public and private sectors, to form unions, associations, or societies for purposes not contrary to law shall not be abridged.

• Section $9$: Private property shall not be taken for public use without just compensation.

• Section $10$: No law shall be passed impairing the obligation of contracts.

• Section $11$: Free access to the courts and to quasi-judicial bodies and adequate legal assistance shall not be denied to anyone by reason of poverty.

• Section $12$: (1) Persons under investigation shall be informed of the right to remain silent and to have competent and independent counsel; (2) No torture or coercion shall be used; (3) Any confession obtained in violation is inadmissible; (4) Penalties and compensation for violations include rehabilitation for victims.

• Section $13$: All persons, except those charged with offenses punishable by reclusion perpetua when guilt is strong, shall be bail-able; right to bail remains even if habeas corpus writ is suspended; excessive bail shall not be required.

• Section $14$: No person shall be held to answer for a criminal offense without due process; in all prosecutions, the accused is presumed innocent until proved guilty; rights to be heard by himself and counsel, informed of nature and cause of accusation, speedy, impartial and public trial, to confront witnesses, and to obtain compulsory processes; trial may proceed after arraignment even if the accused is absent if duly notified and absence is unjustified.

• Section $15$: The privilege of the writ of habeas corpus shall not be suspended except in cases of invasion or rebellion, when public safety requires it.

• Section $16$: All persons shall have the right to a speedy disposition of their cases before all judicial and quasi-judicial or administrative bodies.

• Section $17$: No person shall be compelled to be a witness against himself.

• Section $18$: (1) No person shall be detained solely for political beliefs or aspirations; (2) No involuntary servitude except as punishment for a crime duly convicted.

• Section $19$: (1) Excessive fines shall not be imposed; no cruel, degrading, or inhuman punishment; death penalty may be imposed only if Congress provides for it; any existing death penalty shall be reduced to reclusion perpetua; (2) Substandard penal facilities and punitive treatment shall be addressed by law.

• Section $20$: No person shall be imprisoned for debt or non-payment of a poll tax.

• Section $21$: No person shall be twice put in jeopardy of punishment for the same offense.

The Flag and Heraldic Code of the Philippines (RA $8491$)

• This act is known as the Flag and Heraldic Code of the Philippines.

• Core purpose:

  • Due reverence and respect shall be accorded to the flag, the anthem, and other national symbols which embody national ideals and traditions and express sovereignty and national solidarity.

Rules on the Philippine Flag (RA $8491$)

• Flag display rules:

  • When flown from a flagpole, the flag’s blue field is on top in time of peace, and the red field on top in time of war.

  • If displayed in a hanging position, the blue field is to the right (observer’s left) in peace, and the red field to the right in war.

• Handling and replacement:

  • A flag worn out through wear and tear shall not be thrown away; it shall be solemnly burned to avoid desecration and replaced when wear becomes evident.

• Prohibited acts with respect to the flag:

  • To mutilate, deface, trample on, or cast contempt upon the flag; to use the flag as drapery, tablecloth, or for coverings on ceilings/walls/statues; as a pennant on vehicles; as a staff or whip; for unveiling monuments; or as trademarks or labels.

• Additional prohibitions:

  • To display the flag under any painting or in a way that does not allow it to be hoisted or to fall freely; display below platforms; display in venues lacking decorum (discotheques, cockpits, clubs, casinos, etc.); wearing the flag as part of a costume or uniform; adding words or images to the flag.

• Prohibitions are reiterated to prevent misuse and ensure dignity of the flag.

Nationalism and Patriotism

• Nationalism (definition):

  • It is the attitude of a nation’s members, including concepts of national identity, origin, ethnicity, and cultural ties.

  • It is the action taken to achieve or sustain full statehood with full authority over domestic and international affairs.

  • It can also be a belief, creed, or political ideology involving identification with or attachment to one’s nation.

• Modern ways to express Filipino nationalism (Luz Leanie Reyes, Our Happy School; 9 items):

  1. Respect the Philippine flag and value the Filipino identity

  2. Be a productive citizen

  3. Be aware of the issues in our country

  4. Stand proud for every Filipino’s achievement

  5. Patronize and support our own products

  6. Respect everyone and value our traditions

  7. Speak out our own language

  8. Remember and commemorate our heroes’ sacrifices for our country

  9. Love our family, our neighbors, and our compatriots

Patriotism

• Patriotism definition:

  • Willingness and determination to lay down one’s life for the fatherland.

  • A patriot loves, supports, and defends his country and its interests with devotion; regards himself as a defender of individual rights against perceived government interference.

Demonstrating Patriotism

• Practical ways to show patriotism include:

  • Display your pride

  • Stay informed

  • Learn about your country

  • Be proud of your country

  • Keep the environment clean

  • Buy local

  • Pay your taxes

  • Vote

  • Keep the government honest

  • Volunteer / get enlisted

Time to ask questions

Thank you for listening

• Instructor: ANTHONY BOLODO LUBATON