Understanding Citizenship and the Polis

• Citizenship derives from the Latin word "civitas" which means a body or group of people constituting a place or a community.
• Ancient Greeks believed citizenship meant being a member of the city-state, or "polis".
• Citizenship involves participating in social activities and community work.
• Citizens are full community members with rights and responsibilities.
• Citizenship is tied to the society.
• Citizenship should be cultivated from an early age, starting in school.
• Polis refers to an ancient Greek society of people sharing a common goal and identity.
• Examples of poleis in ancient Greece include Sparta, Athens, and Corinth.
• Ancient Greeks identified with their polis, such as Corinthian, Spartan, or Athenian.
• Greeks considered citizenship a privilege.

Responsibilities to Their Polis

• Citizens participated in the assembly, trials, and defense of the polis.

Article IV — Citizenship (Philippines)

Section 1 defines citizens of the Philippines

• Those at the time of the Constitution's adoption.
• Those whose parents are citizens.
• Those born before January 17, 1973, with Filipino mothers, who elect citizenship upon reaching the age of majority.
• Those naturalized according to law.

Section 2 defines natural-born citizens

• Citizens of the Philippines from birth, without needing to perform any act to acquire or perfect citizenship.
• Those who elect Philippine citizenship are deemed natural-born citizens.
• The 1973 Constitution of the Republic of the Philippines took effect on January 17, 1973.
• Article III, Section 1 outlines who are citizens of the Philippines, including those at the time of the Constitution's adoption, children of Filipino citizens, those who elect citizenship under the 1935 Constitution, and those naturalized.
• A female Filipino citizen marrying an alien retains citizenship unless she renounces it as deemed by law (Article III, Section 2).
• Philippine citizenship can be lost or reacquired as provided by law (Article III, Section 3).
• A natural-born citizen is a citizen of the Philippines from birth without needing to perform any act to acquire citizenship (Article III, Section 4).
• Philippine citizenship may be lost or reacquired as provided by law (Article III, Section 3).
• Filipinos marrying aliens retain citizenship unless they renounce it as deemed by law (Article III, Section 4).
• Dual allegiance is inimical to the national interest and shall be dealt with by law (Article III, Section 5).

Kinds of Filipino Citizens

• Determined by how they acquired citizenship.
• Natural-born citizens' citizenship is determined by two legal principles.

Jus Sanguinis: Right of Blood Principle

• The Philippines follows this to determine citizenship.
• Citizenship is based on the citizenship of one's parents.

Jus Soli: Right of the Soil Principle

• Citizenship is based on the place of birth, not parents' citizenship.
• Example: People born in the US are US citizens even if their parents are from another country.

Naturalized Citizens

• People accepted and adopted by the Philippines, granted rights and privileges of natural-born citizens through a court decision or law passed by Congress.
• Examples: Marcus Douthit, Andray Blatche, and Kyle Jennerman.

Loss of Citizenship

• Despite being a right, citizenship may be lost.
• Reasons for losing citizenship in the Philippines are in Commonwealth Act No. 63, amended by Republic Acts 16, 2639, and 3834.

Commonwealth Act No. 63 (Amended by Republic Acts 16, 2639 & 3834

• Stipulates citizenship loss occurs through naturalization in a foreign country. Citizenship can be lost:
• By swearing allegiance to another country at 21 or older.
• Through express renunciation.
• By accepting a commission in a foreign military.
• By cancellation of the certificate of naturalization.
• If a woman acquires her husband's nationality upon marriage to a foreigner.
• By deserting the Philippine military during wartime, unless granted pardon or amnesty.

Legal and Political Aspects

• Refers to acquiring rights mandated by law:
• Right to vote.
• Right to education.
• Right to live.
• In return for these rights, citizens must pay taxes, obey laws, and care for the environment.
• The legal and political meanings of citizenship are also linked to nationality, e.g., British citizens or Japanese citizens.
• Citizens are free to participate in different civic works.
• Low-level participation occurs because people view it as a disturbance to their work.
• In China, participation is limited due to restricted rights.

Citizenship Education

• The process of teaching people to be active, conscious, and responsible citizens.
• Teaching happens formally in schools and informally at home.
• Citizenship relates the individual to the state.
• Citizens and the state are bound by rights and duties.
• Citizenship indicates a person's identity related to a country's culture.
• Citizenship demands loyalty to receive privileges.
• Citizens should love and take pride in their culture and state. Citizens should work for the welfare of their state.

Obstacles to Belonging

• Poverty
• Inequality
• Discrimination
• Neglect
• Civil rights are necessary for individual freedom.
• Examples of civil rights are liberty, freedom of speech/thought/religion, right to own property, and right to justice.
• Courts of Justice are associated with civil rights.
• Political rights enable citizens to participate in political power. Citizens may be members of bodies with political authority or electors.
• Congress and the Senate are associated with political rights. Social rights enable a civilized life with dignity, security, and social and economic welfare.

Views on Citizenship

Standard or Traditional View

• Citizenship is mandated by law.
• Citizenship means "belonging to a national identity."
• An individual's identity is dictated by their citizenship.
• Citizens have rights and duties the state must respect and protect.
• Citizens must obey laws and perform duties.
• Voting is the highest expression of citizenship.

Active Citizenship View

Citizens actively resolve social, political, and economic issues for a peaceful, progressive society.

Personally Responsible Citizen

• Acts responsibly in their community.
• Helps the needy.
• Practices include:
  • Picking up trash.
  • Keeping surroundings clean.
  • Participating in blood donation.
  • Obeying laws.
  • Observing discipline.
  • Working and paying taxes.
  • Giving aid to calamity victims.
• Values include honesty, integrity, diligence, and discipline.

Participatory Citizen

• Prefers active participation in civic works and community life.
• Actively plans civic projects to benefit the community.
• Believes citizens should think of programs.
• Member of civic organizations.
• Participates in activities that improve community welfare/environment.
• Knows government agencies and their functions.
• Knows strategies to involve others and leads activities to help the needy.

Justice-Oriented Citizen

• Shares beliefs with Participatory Citizens, but differs in approach.
• Critically analyzes unjust issues and activities.
• Analyzes social, political, and economic institutions to find the roots of community challenges.
• Advocates for change in institutions that violate rights or abuse members.
• The 1986 EDSA People Power Revolution involved Filipinos showing unity and ending a 20-year regime peacefully.
• Filipinos show citizenship through collective effort in facing challenges or helping others.

Calamities:

• Mt. Pinatubo eruption
• Typhoons Ondoy and Yolanda
• Filipino participation may be "seasonal" or "reactionary."
• Action is only taken when a stimulus is present, but diminishes when it subsides.
• After the EDSA revolution, Filipinos became complacent, allowing corruption to persist and failing to actively shape policies, leaving everything to the new government.
• Many Filipinos equate voting or paying taxes with being responsible citizens, expecting the government to handle everything, resulting in a passive "receiver" citizenry.
• Active citizenship discourages dependency and encourages participation in decision-making from conceptualization to implementation.
• Citizens become watchdogs, ensuring efficient service delivery, but remain non-adversarial. Dual citizenship occurs when a person is a citizen of two countries.

Provisions

• All Philippine citizens of another country are deemed not to have lost Philippine citizenship. By natural-born citizens regaining citizenship upon oath.
• Those becoming citizens of a foreign country retain Philippine citizenship upon oath.

Disadvantages of Dual Citizenship

• Military service conflicts if the countries go to war.
• Double taxation.
• Public service may be hindered.

Advantages of Dual Citizenship

• Freedom to choose where to live.

Explore the concept of citizenship from its Latin roots to its significance in ancient Greek poleis like Sparta and Athens. Learn about citizens' responsibilities, social activities, and community involvement. Discover the modern definition of citizenship, with reference to Article IV of the Philippines.