Towards a Filipino Ideology PDF

# Towards a Filipino Ideology ## Ferdinand E. Marcos ## **I** - Many thought leaders in the government or private sector believe that we need a national ideology in order to ensure the success of their government's programs - The significance of ideology is not disputed, however, there is disagre...

# Towards a Filipino Ideology ## Ferdinand E. Marcos ## **I** - Many thought leaders in the government or private sector believe that we need a national ideology in order to ensure the success of their government's programs - The significance of ideology is not disputed, however, there is disagreement about whether programs and plans are predicated upon it. - It is not enough to simply state that ideology is present - To address anxieties, it is important to explain the ideology - This essay will revisit the New Society and its ideology, and will address those who desire an in-depth explanation relying on ultimate and self-evident principles. ## **II** - Values represent the aspirations of a people and an ideology should address the unwanted features of society - For the Philippines, the egalitarian ideal is primordial. This is due to the inequities in the history of the country that have led the people to believe that these inequities are just. - The egalitarian ideal calls for equality, not a description of reality, but a prescription for the future. - It is a constraint on those in positions of power and responsibility that they should treat all individuals equally. - In order to actualize equality, opportunities must be equal for all. - The egalitarian ideal cannot stand alone. It is based on the idea of **humanism**, in which people are seen as ends, not means. - Humanism in the western tradition places the emphasis on human rationality - This can be construed as mechanistic, however, human rationality also entails creativity and the ability to respond to new challenges. - The **humanistic principle** of our ideology emphasizes the ability of all people to create. This leads to the goal of equalizing opportunities, not for the sake of equality, but for the sake of achieving the full potential of every member. - This leads us to understand that human rights are a cluster of values that are at the heart of democratic ideology. - It would be wrong to view the concerns of human rights only through the scope of political rights. - Economic rights, such as the ability to survive, must be emphasized as they are necessary for the actualization of political rights. ## **III** - Revolution calls for radical change, not necessarily violent confrontation - The declaration of martial law in the Philippines was a legitimate exercise of government power to defend itself from those seeking to undermine it. - The declaration of martial law also represented the start of the radicalization of society to respond to the needs of all and not the few. - It is this radicalization that makes the declaration of martial law a revolution. Those who believe that the revolution was not authentic because of the lack of violence have a misunderstanding of its essence. - The Jacobin Revolution, which is often used as the model of authentic revolutions, is based on a larger theory of society which states that there will always be an opposition between two groups: the owners of production, and the working class. - This class structure itself is often used as a justification for the use of violent overthrow. - The concept of a dictatorship of the proletariat is based on the idea that the government is not an autonomous entity, but is controlled by owners of production. This concept is based on the idea that violence will be necessary to liberate the poor and to ensure a classless society. - This view is based on an over simplification and makes an inaccurate claim about the role of government. It ignores the government's role as the third entity in the relationship between the rich and the poor. - The **Democratic Revolution** is the model for the Philippines due to the emphasis on the importance of an autonomous government. - The goal is not to overthrow the rich, but to establish a system of justice and fair play between the rich and the poor. - The goal is to provide a legitimate government that does not favor one group over the other. - In order for this to be effective, the government must be oriented toward meeting the needs of the people and addressing the issue of social justice. - The people must also have the capacity to exercise their rights. ## **IV** - Human society is defined by the set of rules that govern the behavior of its members. - All societies are conventional, meaning the rules can be altered. - The question of a society without government, or without rules, is fundamental to the study of ideology. - For some idealogies, a society without government is a natural state of affairs. - This idea of **anarchy** envisions a society where individuals would interact in a way that would not create conflict. - This is based on the **Kantian** idea of individuals being perfect rational beings able to objectively assess their own actions. - It is based on two presuppositions; that individuals would only act in accordance with their own interest, and that their interest would never be incompatible with the interest of others. - The Kantian vision of society is idealistic and utopian. - Real societies cannot operate without rules, because of scarcity and the inability of one person to fully understand the impact their actions will have on others. - This necessitates a system of rules and the need for a government to implement and adapt these rules as social conditions change. # **Appendices** ## **A** - The Philippine Development Plans emphasize the need for social justice. - The plans cover both a ten-year plan for 1978 to1987, and a long-term plan for the year 2000. - Development is not simply a matter of economic growth. It includes addressing the needs of the poorest segments of the population and ensuring social justice. - Development requires political will, commitment and sacrifice. - The government has a responsibility to protect the poor. - The goal of development is to rectify economic and social inequities while also providing a secure future for every Filipino family within a safe and well-balanced environment. - There will be a high level of industrialization, but the focus will be on maintaining a balanced economy, and providing for basic needs. - In the next five years, there will be a shift toward second-stage import substitution, and the domestic production of currently imported goods. - There will be an expansion of the agricultural sector and an improvement of rural infrastructure, including feeder roads, credit, and marketing facilities. - The industrial sector will focus on small- and medium-scale industries with a focus on processing domestic products for export, as well as industrial linkages. - There will be an emphasis on the development of natural resources and the utilization of existing infrastructure. - The plan emphasizes rural development to combat migration to urban areas, and to provide for a future that will ensure that no Filipino is without sustenance. ## **B** - The **Normative Value Consensus** survey was conducted to assess the attitudes, values, demands, and aspirations of Filipino people across different occupational sectors. - **Objectives** were to: - Determine the hierarchy of values and aspirations of respondents - Assess the nature of these aspirations - Determine the degree of normative value consensus across different socioeconomic dimensions - The sample of 188 respondents included both rural and urban populations, and were representative of different educational levels and occupations. - The results indicate that socioeconomic factors are primary in the hierarchy of values and aspirations. - It is important to note that the values of respondents from higher socioeconomic brackets included a more significant emphasis on self-fulfillment. - The survey also indicates a strong sense of commitment to these values and aspirations. - The majority of respondents believe that their principles will remain the same in ten years. - When assessing what prevents the application of these principles, the majority believe that the lack of economic security and opportunity is a major impediment, and that this factor is widespread. - Despite these obstacles, the majority indicate a belief in their own ability to continue to pursue their personal values. ## **C** - The Normative Value Consensus survey was conducted to establish the shared values and aspirations of the Filipino people. - 72% of respondents believe that their own values and aspirations are also the values and aspirations of most Filipinos. - Respondents also indicate the presence of a **"fellow feeling"**, or the belief that Filipinos are bound together by a shared fate and destiny. ## **D** - The survey also examines the consequences of deviation from shared Filipino values. - Respondents from the different socioeconomic categories believe that those who deviate from these shared values will face a lack of direction, unemployment, unhappiness, uncertainty, and feelings of frustration and disappointment. ## **E** - There is a strong desire for the Philippines to become a unified national community. - The majority of respondents believe that individuals must transfer their loyalties from individualistic and kinship structures to a national community. - They also believe that the government has a responsibility to ensure that the values of equality and social justice are actualized. - It is important to note that this does not necessarily mean the government should take over the means of production, but rather should play the role of a guardian committed to ensuring equal opportunities for all. ## **F** - The process of political development is seen as a two-way process between the people and the government. - The respondents emphasize the demand for a more active role of the people in the development process in order to enact change that will benefit all. - There seems to be a recognition of the necessity of self-discipline, and of the importance of cooperation between the people and the government.