The Political Self and Being a Filipino PDF

# The Political Self and Being a Filipino ## Lesson Objectives At the end of the lesson, you should be able to: 1. Know who a Filipino citizen under the 1987 Constitution is 2. Deepen understanding of the values, traits, and characteristics that make up the Filipino national identity 3. Reflect o...

# The Political Self and Being a Filipino ## Lesson Objectives At the end of the lesson, you should be able to: 1. Know who a Filipino citizen under the 1987 Constitution is 2. Deepen understanding of the values, traits, and characteristics that make up the Filipino national identity 3. Reflect on how a national identity influences one's political self-concept ## Introduction "Who is a Filipino?" At first glance, this appears to be a very simple question. But, if you throw this simple question randomly to people on the street, you might be surprised at how differently people, who call themselves Filipino, answer this question. It has been more than a century since the Philippines gained independence from its colonizers, yet it appears that until now, Filipinos still do not have a unified notion, or an otherwise clear picture, of who or what a Filipino is. In primary school, you were taught to memorize Philippine national symbols, like the flag, our national anthem, the Sampaguita flower, the Philippine eagle, Dr. Jose P. Rizal, and other things that mirror certain Filipino traits closely associated to Philippine history and culture. Ideally, the notion of incorporating the Filipino identity into these easily recognizable symbols was aimed to unite Filipinos into appreciating their own cultural and material heritage through the spirit of nationalism. "Tangkilikin ang sariling atin," they always say, but why is it that the embodiment of being a Filipino still does not seem to be rooted in one's consciousness and personal identity? Is there really such a thing as one distinct Filipino identity? Or is it merely a fragmented illusion of identity we consciously imagine? ## Abstraction People's varied perception of what makes one a Filipino also affects how one sees himself or herself. There are a lot of ways to characterize and define a Filipino - from his physical attributes, behaviors, values, traits, customs, to his beliefs and practices, and all of these factors affect a person's political self-concept in varying degrees, depending on how much one identifies with the "Filipino identity." You may not be aware, but you learn and acquire these Filipino beliefs, traits, and values in the most regular interactions in the society you live in. Since these aspects of the Filipino identity are fluid, our notions of our political self may also change, along with the changes occurring within and among the social groups and institutions around us. However, beyond these commonly known traits associated with being a Filipino, the Philippine Constitution, which is the supreme law of the land, also provides a picture of who a Filipino is, with respect to his nation. In political terms, a Filipino is regarded as a citizen or an inhabitant of a given territory, such as the Republic of the Philippines, who by virtue of this citizenship exercises civil and political rights within the said territory. More particularly, Section 1, Article IV of the 1987 Constitution provides: > Section 1. The following are citizens of the Philippines: > * [1] Those who are citizens of the Philippines at the time of the adoption of this Constitution; > * [2] Those whose fathers or mothers are citizens of the Philippines; > * [3] Those born before January 17, 1973, of Filipino mothers, who elect Philippine citizenship upon reaching the age of majority; and > * [4] Those who are naturalized in accordance with law. ## Filipino Citizens by Birth As such, any person belonging to any of the qualifications enumerated on the previous page are considered a Filipino citizen. Filipinos are either natural-born or naturalized citizens of the Philippines (De Leon 2011). This citizenship may be acquired either by birth (involuntary method) or by naturalization (voluntary method). The former is further governed by the principles of *jus sanguinis* and *jus soli*. The *jus sanguinis* principle states that children should follow the citizenship of their parents by virtue of their blood relationship. On the other hand, the *jus soli* principle states that the person shall acquire the citizenship of the place wherever he or she was born. The place of birth shall determine one's nationality and the citizenship of his or her parents are immaterial. Here in the Philippines, we adhere by the *jus sanguinis* principle, in accordance with Section 1 (2) of the aforementioned Constitutional provision. Natural-born citizens need not perform any act to acquire such citizenship. If their parents are both Filipinos, then from the moment of their birth, they will automatically acquire Filipino citizenship. ## Filipino Citizens by Naturalization The process of naturalization pertains to a "judicial act of adopting a foreigner and clothing him with the privileges of a native-born citizen. It implies the renunciation of a former nationality and the fact of entrance into a similar relation towards a new body politic (2 Am. Jur. 651, par. 188 in de Leon 2011)." This means that a foreigner may acquire Filipino citizenship if he wants to, provided that he renounces his former nationality in favor of the new citizenship. This act of renunciation, however, will not automatically grant the foreigner the desired citizenship, because it is still subject to certain judicial or administrative proceedings as prescribed by our Philippine laws. While Filipino citizens may automatically acquire citizenship from the moment of birth, this citizenship remains a privilege granted upon the individual and, thus, may still be lost or reacquired as provided in Section 3, Article IV of the 1987 Constitution. Therefore in a sense, not only can the Filipino identity be formed and influenced by culture and society as you have learned previously, but also by the nation and its government itself, to which the Filipino citizen owes loyalty and allegiance to. The existence of a common citizenship may also be a factor in forming a national identity. How much one identifies with its nation or government, affects one's political self-concept, and would further promote or discourage one's engagement in the country's civic and political affairs. ## The Concept of Nationalism and the Filipino Identity The existence of a common citizenship is a mere piece in the puzzle depicting the picture of the Filipino identity. Citizens of a particular territory should ideally share a common sense of identity hinged on a common language, historical experience, and distinct cultural background. A national identity may also be forged through nationalistic sentiments, shared among inhabitants of a particular territory. However, the same case cannot be applied to the Philippines. Kaufman (2013) argued that Filipinos have a relatively weak sense of nationalism thereby resulting to a fragmented national identity. He explained certain factors that may contribute to this rather fragmented identity by applying three known nationalism theories to the Philippine context: 1. The modernist approach of Gellner (1983) which suggests that the existence of a shared language as a unifying part of a culture strengthens a national identity 2. The ethno-symbolist approach of Anthony Smith (1998, 2009) which views nation as "a named and self-defined human community whose members cultivate shared myths, memories, symbols, values, and traditions, reside in and identify with a historic homeland, create and disseminate a distinctive public culture, and observe shared customs and common laws" (Smith as cited in Kaufman 2013), and, thus, the creation of certain historical stories through these myths and symbols which people can attribute meaning to, can give rise to a national identity 3. The sociological approach of Charles Tilly (2005) and Andreas Wimmer (2002) who posit that national identity emerges from social interactions between governing elites and citizens, where the former affords protection and security to the latter in exchange for government benefits. Among other factors he discussed, Kaufman (2013) highlighted that the diversity of language (dialects) in the Philippines, or possibly the lack of dominant primary language, is creating a divide among Filipinos, thus, making it more difficult for them to create a unified identity. Furthermore, the absence of a consistently powerful historical narrative also tends to blur a common national history due to conflicting accounts of revolution and independence of our country from its colonizers. It then becomes difficult to attach meanings and symbols to any such historical experience or milestone without a coherent and unified narrative, since these elements are what people must identify with for a sense of national identity to emerge (Kaufman 2013). With these factors considered, you might now ask, "What do these elements have to do with my identity or political self-concept?" The nationalism theories, as briefly discussed and applied by Kaufman (2013) in the Philippine context, suggest that a unified sense of national identity also affects how a person perceives and creates his own identity. The relatively shaky sense of nationalism among Filipinos might be the reason why it is difficult to picture what really makes up a Filipino identity. Nevertheless, we continue to identify ourselves as Filipinos based on a shared language (no matter how diverse), religion, culture, and history; however, they might have come to evolve in the passing of time. ## Culture and the Filipino Identity The set of values, beliefs, thinking patterns, and behavior practiced by a society and transmitted from one generation to another through time comprises culture. These typified practices and beliefs shared within a group creates a sense of identity and fosters a feeling of belongingness within the group. Clearly, culture and identity are inextricably linked as both influences each other on different levels. Culture, both material and nonmaterial, shape the formation of our identity. Across generations, these typified beliefs and behaviors that make up the Filipino identity were transmitted and are still being practiced. ## Values and Traits ### Hospitality The Filipino's brand of hospitality is widely known across the globe. Filipinos welcome their guests as if they are part of the family by always opening their doors to guests and making them feel at home. They even spend a lot of money and obtain loans to be able to satisfy the needs of their guests. This is a usual gesture in event of gatherings and local festivities, for Filipinos love merrymaking and they are quite amiable to guests. Filipinos also give the sweetest smiles even to the most random strangers even in mundane situations. In most local shops, Filipino salespersons will greet their customers with a warm welcome and say thank you when they leave even without buying anything. ### Respect for Elders Filipinos give high regard to elders, whether they are related or not. As children, Filipinos are taught to greet their elders by politely taking the latter's hand to their foreheads, uttering "Mano po." In conversing with the elderly, it is imperative to use "po" and "opo," for they connote respect. Filipinos look up to the elderly because of the belief that with age comes an array of wisdom and experience, and we can learn a lot of them. It will be rude and impolite for people not to respect the elders, even in small gestures and simple conversations. ### Close Family Ties Filipinos are keen on keeping intact familial relationships, even if their children are already emancipated. Unlike in most American families, most children live with their parents as long as they like, even if they already have their own families. Some Filipino families even opt to live in a big house where everyone can stay together. Nursing homes are almost always not an option for family members and choose to take care of their elders themselves. ### Self-sacrifice Filipinos always go out of their way to extend help to their friends, families, and loved ones. They wish comfort and better lives for their loved ones and would even go to the extent of working abroad hundreds of miles away from their families to earn more money and save up for them. Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) sacrifice a lot, that is why they are regarded as the modern day Filipino heroes. There are also times when the eldest among the children of the family would give up school to work and provide for the rest of the family and educate his or her siblings. ### "Bayanihan" The bayanihan spirit means helping each other and giving without expecting something in return. Filipinos are always ready to share and to help their friends and loved ones who are in need. It may not always be in monetary form, but the time and effort they give also count as a form of help for them. ### "Bahala na" Attitude This phrase is said to have originated from "Bathala na" where Bathala means God and the phrase means leaving everything into God's hands. This implies that Filipinos tend to leave some worries and problems to divine intervention, rather than being rational about them and solving them. This also shifts the blame or burden away from the self should things go astray or out of hand. ### Colonial Mentality This trait is often frowned upon among Filipinos, but it is actually often unconsciously practiced by Filipinos. It connotes a lack of patriotism and the attitude where Filipinos favor foreign products more than their own. It is attributed to the centuries of colonization the Filipinos had experienced under the Spanish, American, and Japanese rule. Apparently, some Filipinos believe that since other countries are more advanced and developed, the products and services that they produce are of better brand and quality. As a result, Filipinos patronize imported products more than their local products. ### Crab Mentality This trait talks about being insecure or jealous of another's achievement. Just like crabs in a container, Filipinos pull each other down and ruin each other's reputation, rather than lifting them up, resulting to no progress. Filipinos should change this troublesome attitude and focus more on one's own inadequacies in order to improve one's self. ## Promoting Sense of Nationalism Now that you know how your traits and values are important indicators of your being a Filipino, the problem now is how to truly become one and how you can be useful to the development and progress of your country. Below are a few ways on how you can foster a sense of nationalism: 1. **Be an active Filipino citizen.** A good Filipino citizen should be aware of the current events and participate in government programs that aim for the country's progression and development. By simply exercising your right to vote, you also become an active citizen. When it comes to voting, the rich and the poor have equal voting rights, every Filipino citizen of legal age have a say in choosing the right leaders for the Philippines who are genuine in helping and caring for the Filipino people. 2. **Study the Philippine history.** The road of the Philippine history is long and bloody, and by learning and fully understanding the events of the Philippine history, one will learn so much why it is so important to love one's country with your life, extend help to fellow Filipinos in need, and recognize abuse of political power. 3. **Support local products.** When you buy local products, you do not only support local manufacturers and business executives, but you also help strengthen the local economy. How is this so? There will be more demand of local products, thus, local businesses will be in need for more employees, which will open new job opportunities. The business owners will also invest within the country and are less likely to leave. Supporting our local products also displays our creativity, innovativeness, and resourcefulness. 4. **Speak the Filipino language.** The history of the Filipino language was as long and hard as the Philippine history. Jose Rizal highlights the importance of speaking the national language as a way of displaying the love for one's country. Speaking Filipino also serves as a unique identifier of being a Filipino. It has been a decade-long debate whether to use Filipino as the instructional language in school and to translate textbooks into Filipino, however, this is still not strictly imposed. 5. **Do not spread fake news and be democratic in engaging with dissent.** This period in the history of the Philippines has seen how the Internet has spawned tons of possibilities for us, both good and bad. Nowadays, it is easier for Filipinos working abroad to communicate with their loved ones left in the Philippines through the Internet. Despite this, the Internet has also made the spread of fake news very common. Likewise, the Internet also made us engage in heated arguments with people across the globe about our political positions. It is a part of being a good Filipino to sort out everything that one reads before actually buying it and spreading it like wildfire. It is also the responsibility of every Filipino to recognize disagreement in political views, be tolerant, and argue intelligently without having to resort into name-calling people.