Good Citizenship in the Philippines

National Pride and Responsibility

• The national anthem is titled "Lupang Hinirang", not "Bayang Magiliw".
• It is essential to know Philippine history and national symbols.

Social Responsibility

• Refrain from littering and smoking in public places.
• Use pedestrian infrastructure such as overpasses, underpasses, and footbridges to stay safe.
• Obey traffic rules to avoid needing to bribe traffic enforcers.

Personal Responsibility

• Take care of personal needs before going out, such as using the restroom.
• Consider buying local products, as many items are already made in the Philippines.

Environmental Responsibility

• Support local tourism to promote the country's natural beauty.
• Mountaineers should bring their trash back down with them to preserve the environment.

Community Responsibility

• Report police officers who do not follow road safety rules, such as riding motorcycles without helmets.
• Be considerate of neighbors and avoid making excessive noise, especially at night.

Civic Responsibility

• Sit properly and share airconditioning with fellow passengers in FX vehicles.
• Engage in cultural activities, such as watching Filipino movies, at least once or twice a year.

Social Activism

• Participate in volunteering or donate to make a positive impact on society.
• Promote the use of the Filipino language by speaking and blogging in Filipino.

Nationalism

• Defined as loyalty and devotion to a nation, with a sense of national consciousness, prioritizing one's nation's culture and interests above others

Filipino Nationalism

• Refers to the awakening and support for a political identity associated with the modern Philippines, leading to a campaign for political, social, and economic freedom
• Emerged from various political and armed movements in the Spanish East Indies, characterized by anti-colonialist sentiments and ideals
• Peaked in the late 19th century, led by ilustrado or landed, educated elites, including peninsulares, insulares, and native Filipinos
• Led to the Philippine Revolution of 1896, the first nationalist revolution in Asia
• Fully actualized with the inception of a Philippine state with contemporary borders after independence was granted by the United States in 1946

Historical Context

• Term "Filipino" originally referred to Spanish criollos in the Philippines
• Creoles (insulares, criollos, or Creoles) held government and church positions, composing the majority of the government bureaucracy
• Sense of national consciousness came from the Creoles, who began to regard themselves as "Filipinos"

Factors Contributing to the Birth of Philippine Nationalism

• Mexico's independence from Spain in 1821, inspiring similar aspirations in the Philippines
• Influx of liberal ideas from Europe, influencing political thought and action
• The opening of the Suez Canal in 1869, connecting the Philippines to global trade, communications, and travel
• Secularization Movement, transforming society from religious to non-religious values and institutions
• Cavite Mutiny of 1872, a rebellion against Spanish rule, led by Sergeant La Madrid