1
UNDESTANDING THE SELF
The Political Self and Being a Filipino
ABSTRACTION citizenship. However, this act of renunciation will not automatically
grant the foreigner the desired citizenship, as it is still subject to
People's perceptions of what makes one a Filipino influence how certain judicial or administrative proceedings as prescribed by
they see themselves. These perceptions are shaped by physical Philippine laws.
attributes, behaviors, values, traits, customs, beliefs, and
practices, all of which impact a person's political self-concept to While Filipino citizens may automatically acquire citizenship from
varying degrees, depending on how much they identify with the birth, this citizenship remains a privilege granted to the individual
Filipino identity. and may still be lost or reacquired as provided in Section 3, Article
IV of the 1987 Constitution.
These beliefs, traits, and values are learned through regular
interactions in society. Since the Filipino identity is fluid, a Therefore, the Filipino identity is not only formed and influenced
person’s political self-concept may change as social groups and by culture and society but also by the nation and its government,
institutions evolve. to which the Filipino citizen owes loyalty and allegiance. The
existence of a common citizenship may also be a factor in forming
Beyond these traits, the Philippine Constitution offers a formal a national identity. How much one identifies with the nation or
definition of a Filipino, particularly in political terms. A Filipino is a government affects one's political self-concept, further promoting
citizen or inhabitant of the Republic of the Philippines, who, by or discouraging one's engagement in the country's civic and
virtue of citizenship, exercises civil and political rights within the political affairs.
territory. Specifically, Section 1, Article IV of the 1987 Constitution
outlines this. THE CONCEPT OF NATIONALISM AND THE FILIPINO IDENTITY
Section 1. The following are citizens of the Philippines: The existence of a common citizenship is just one piece in the
puzzle that depicts the picture of the Filipino identity. Citizens of a
[1] Those who are citizens of the Philippines at the time of the particular territory should ideally share a common sense of
adoption of this Constitution; identity, based on a shared language, historic experiences, and
[2] Those whose fathers or mothers are citizens of the Philippines; distinct cultural backgrounds. A national identity may also be
[3] Those born before January 17, 1973, of Filipino mothers, who forged through nationalistic sentiments shared among the
elect Philippine citizenship upon reaching the age of majority; and inhabitants of a particular territory. However, the same cannot be
[4] Those who are naturalized in accordance with law. applied to the Philippines. Kaufman (2013) argued that Filipinos
have a relatively weak sense of nationalism, leading to a
FILIPINO CITIZENS BY BIRTH fragmented national identity. He explained several factors
contributing to this fragmented identity, using three known
A Filipino citizen can be either a natural-born or a naturalized nationalism theories in the context of the Philippines:
citizen of the Philippines (De Leon 2011).
1. The modernist approach of Gellner (1983), which
Citizenship can be acquired by birth (involuntary method) or by suggests that the existence of a shared language as a
naturalization (voluntary method). unifying part of culture strengthens national identity.
jus sanguinis 2. The ethno-symbolist approach of Anthony Smith (1998,
states that a child inherits the citizenship of their parents by blood 2009), which views a nation as "a named and self-
relation. defined human community whose members cultivate
shared myths, memories, symbols, values, and
jus soli traditions, reside in and identify with a historic
states that a person acquires citizenship based on the place of homeland, create and disseminate a distinctive public
their birth. culture, and observe shared customs and common laws"
(Smith, as cited in Kaufman, 2013). This approach
The Philippines follows the jus sanguinis principle, meaning a suggests that the creation of certain historical stories
person's citizenship is determined by their parents' nationality, not through these myths and symbols can give rise to a
the place of birth. Natural-born citizens automatically acquire national identity.
Filipino citizenship if both their parents are Filipino, without
needing to perform any act to acquire it. 3. The sociological approach of Charles Tilly (2005) and
Andreas Wimmer (2002), which posits that national
FILIPINO CITIZENS BY NATURALIZATION identity emerges from social interactions between
governing elites and citizens, where the former provides
The process of naturalization pertains to a "judicial act of adopting protection and security in exchange for government
a foreigner and clothing him with the privileges of a native-born benefits..
citizen. It implies the renunciation of a former nationality and the
fact of entrance into a similar relation towards a new body politic" Among other factors, Kaufman (2013) highlighted that the
(2 Am. Jur. 651, par. 188 in de Leon 2011). This means that a diversity of language (dialects) in the Philippines, or possibly the
foreigner may acquire Filipino citizenship if he chooses, provided lack of a dominant primary language, is creating a divide among
that he renounces his former nationality in favor of the new Filipinos, making it more difficult for them to create a unified
whosgray☆
, 2
identity. Furthermore, the absence of a consistently powerful Self - Sacrifice
historical narrative tends to blur a common national history due to Filipinos always go out of their way to extend help to their friends,
conflicting accounts of the revolution and independence from families, and loved ones. They wish comfort and better lives for
colonizers. Without a coherent and unified narrative, it becomes their loved ones and would even go to the extent of working
challenging to attach meanings and symbols to historical abroad hundreds of miles away from their families to earn more
milestones, as these elements are essential for the emergence of money and save up for them. Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs)
a national identity (Kaufman, 2013). sacrifice a lot, that is why they are regarded as the modern day
Filipino heroes There are also times when the eldest among the
With these factors considered, you might now ask, "What do these children of the family would give up school to work and provide for
elements have to do with my identity or political self-concept?" the rest of the family and educate his or her siblings.
The nationalism theories briefly discussed and applied by
Kaufman (2013) in the Philippine context suggest that a unified Bayanihan
sense of national identity also affects how a person perceives and The bayanihan spirit means helping each other and giving without
creates their own identity. The relatively shaky sense of expecting something in return. Filipinos are always ready to share
nationalism among Filipinos might explain why it is difficult to and to help their friends and loved ones who are in need. It may
define what truly constitutes a Filipino identity. Nevertheless, not always be in monetary form, but the time and effort they give
Filipinos continue to identify themselves based on a shared also count as a form of help for them.
language (despite its diversity), religion, culture, and history,
however they may have evolved over time. “Bahala na” Attitude
This phrase is said to have originated from "Bathala na" where
CULTURE AND THE FILIPINO IDENTITY Bathala means God and the phrase means leaving everything into
God's hands. This implies that Filipinos tend to leave some worries
Culture comprises the values, beliefs, thinking patterns, and
and problems to divine intervention, rather than being rational
behaviors practiced by a society and passed down through
about them and solving them. This also shifts the blame or burden
generations. These shared practices and beliefs create a sense of
away from the self should things go astray or out of hand.
identity and belonging within the group. Culture and identity are
closely linked, as they influence each other on various levels. Both
Colonial Mentality
material and nonmaterial aspects of culture shape our identity.
This trait, often frowned upon among Filipinos, refers to the
Over generations, these beliefs and behaviors that define the
unconscious preference for foreign products over local ones. It is
Filipino identity have been transmitted and continue to be
seen as a lack of patriotism and is linked to the centuries of
practiced.
colonization under Spanish, American, and Japanese rule. Some
VALUES AND TRAITS Filipinos believe that because other countries are more advanced
and developed, their products and services are of better quality.
Hospitality As a result, they tend to favor imported products over local ones.
Filipinos are known for their hospitality, welcoming guests as part
of the family. They often spend money or take loans to satisfy their Crab Mentality
guests' needs, especially during gatherings and local festivities. This trait talks about being insecure or jealous of another's
Filipinos love merrymaking and are amiable to visitors. They also achievement. Just like crabs in a container, Filipinos pull each
give warm smiles to strangers, even in everyday situations. In local other down and ruin each other's reputation, rather than lifting
shops, salespersons greet customers warmly and thank them, them up, resulting to no progress, Filipinos should change this
even if no purchase is made. troublesome attitude and focus more on one's own inadequacies
in order to improve one's self.
Respect for Elders
Filipinos show high regard for elders, whether related or not. Promoting Sense of Nationalism
Children are taught to greet elders by taking their hand to their
Now that you know how your traits and values are important
forehead and saying "Mano po." When speaking to the elderly, it’s
indicators of your being a Filipino, the problem now is how to truly
important to use "po" and "opo" to show respect. Filipinos believe
become one and how you can be useful to the development and
that age brings wisdom and experience, which is valuable to learn
progress of your country. Below are a few ways on how you can
from. It is considered rude and impolite not to respect elders,
foster a sense of nationalism:
even in small gestures and simple conversations.
1. Be an Active Filipino Citizen
Close Family Ties A good Filipino citizen should be aware of the current events and
Filipinos are keen on keeping intact familial relationships, even if participate in government programs that aim for the country's
their children are already emancipated. Unlike in most American progression and development. By simply exercising your right to
families, most children live with their parents as long as they like, vote, you also become an active citizen. When it comes to voting.
even if they already have their own families Some Filipino families the rich and the poor have equal voting rights, every Filipino
even opt to live in a big house where everyone can stay together. citizen of legal age have a say in choosing the right leaders for the
Nursing homes are almost always not an option for family Philippines who are genuine in helping and caring for the Filipino
members and choose to take care of their elders themselves. people.
whosgray☆
UNDESTANDING THE SELF
The Political Self and Being a Filipino
ABSTRACTION citizenship. However, this act of renunciation will not automatically
grant the foreigner the desired citizenship, as it is still subject to
People's perceptions of what makes one a Filipino influence how certain judicial or administrative proceedings as prescribed by
they see themselves. These perceptions are shaped by physical Philippine laws.
attributes, behaviors, values, traits, customs, beliefs, and
practices, all of which impact a person's political self-concept to While Filipino citizens may automatically acquire citizenship from
varying degrees, depending on how much they identify with the birth, this citizenship remains a privilege granted to the individual
Filipino identity. and may still be lost or reacquired as provided in Section 3, Article
IV of the 1987 Constitution.
These beliefs, traits, and values are learned through regular
interactions in society. Since the Filipino identity is fluid, a Therefore, the Filipino identity is not only formed and influenced
person’s political self-concept may change as social groups and by culture and society but also by the nation and its government,
institutions evolve. to which the Filipino citizen owes loyalty and allegiance. The
existence of a common citizenship may also be a factor in forming
Beyond these traits, the Philippine Constitution offers a formal a national identity. How much one identifies with the nation or
definition of a Filipino, particularly in political terms. A Filipino is a government affects one's political self-concept, further promoting
citizen or inhabitant of the Republic of the Philippines, who, by or discouraging one's engagement in the country's civic and
virtue of citizenship, exercises civil and political rights within the political affairs.
territory. Specifically, Section 1, Article IV of the 1987 Constitution
outlines this. THE CONCEPT OF NATIONALISM AND THE FILIPINO IDENTITY
Section 1. The following are citizens of the Philippines: The existence of a common citizenship is just one piece in the
puzzle that depicts the picture of the Filipino identity. Citizens of a
[1] Those who are citizens of the Philippines at the time of the particular territory should ideally share a common sense of
adoption of this Constitution; identity, based on a shared language, historic experiences, and
[2] Those whose fathers or mothers are citizens of the Philippines; distinct cultural backgrounds. A national identity may also be
[3] Those born before January 17, 1973, of Filipino mothers, who forged through nationalistic sentiments shared among the
elect Philippine citizenship upon reaching the age of majority; and inhabitants of a particular territory. However, the same cannot be
[4] Those who are naturalized in accordance with law. applied to the Philippines. Kaufman (2013) argued that Filipinos
have a relatively weak sense of nationalism, leading to a
FILIPINO CITIZENS BY BIRTH fragmented national identity. He explained several factors
contributing to this fragmented identity, using three known
A Filipino citizen can be either a natural-born or a naturalized nationalism theories in the context of the Philippines:
citizen of the Philippines (De Leon 2011).
1. The modernist approach of Gellner (1983), which
Citizenship can be acquired by birth (involuntary method) or by suggests that the existence of a shared language as a
naturalization (voluntary method). unifying part of culture strengthens national identity.
jus sanguinis 2. The ethno-symbolist approach of Anthony Smith (1998,
states that a child inherits the citizenship of their parents by blood 2009), which views a nation as "a named and self-
relation. defined human community whose members cultivate
shared myths, memories, symbols, values, and
jus soli traditions, reside in and identify with a historic
states that a person acquires citizenship based on the place of homeland, create and disseminate a distinctive public
their birth. culture, and observe shared customs and common laws"
(Smith, as cited in Kaufman, 2013). This approach
The Philippines follows the jus sanguinis principle, meaning a suggests that the creation of certain historical stories
person's citizenship is determined by their parents' nationality, not through these myths and symbols can give rise to a
the place of birth. Natural-born citizens automatically acquire national identity.
Filipino citizenship if both their parents are Filipino, without
needing to perform any act to acquire it. 3. The sociological approach of Charles Tilly (2005) and
Andreas Wimmer (2002), which posits that national
FILIPINO CITIZENS BY NATURALIZATION identity emerges from social interactions between
governing elites and citizens, where the former provides
The process of naturalization pertains to a "judicial act of adopting protection and security in exchange for government
a foreigner and clothing him with the privileges of a native-born benefits..
citizen. It implies the renunciation of a former nationality and the
fact of entrance into a similar relation towards a new body politic" Among other factors, Kaufman (2013) highlighted that the
(2 Am. Jur. 651, par. 188 in de Leon 2011). This means that a diversity of language (dialects) in the Philippines, or possibly the
foreigner may acquire Filipino citizenship if he chooses, provided lack of a dominant primary language, is creating a divide among
that he renounces his former nationality in favor of the new Filipinos, making it more difficult for them to create a unified
whosgray☆
, 2
identity. Furthermore, the absence of a consistently powerful Self - Sacrifice
historical narrative tends to blur a common national history due to Filipinos always go out of their way to extend help to their friends,
conflicting accounts of the revolution and independence from families, and loved ones. They wish comfort and better lives for
colonizers. Without a coherent and unified narrative, it becomes their loved ones and would even go to the extent of working
challenging to attach meanings and symbols to historical abroad hundreds of miles away from their families to earn more
milestones, as these elements are essential for the emergence of money and save up for them. Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs)
a national identity (Kaufman, 2013). sacrifice a lot, that is why they are regarded as the modern day
Filipino heroes There are also times when the eldest among the
With these factors considered, you might now ask, "What do these children of the family would give up school to work and provide for
elements have to do with my identity or political self-concept?" the rest of the family and educate his or her siblings.
The nationalism theories briefly discussed and applied by
Kaufman (2013) in the Philippine context suggest that a unified Bayanihan
sense of national identity also affects how a person perceives and The bayanihan spirit means helping each other and giving without
creates their own identity. The relatively shaky sense of expecting something in return. Filipinos are always ready to share
nationalism among Filipinos might explain why it is difficult to and to help their friends and loved ones who are in need. It may
define what truly constitutes a Filipino identity. Nevertheless, not always be in monetary form, but the time and effort they give
Filipinos continue to identify themselves based on a shared also count as a form of help for them.
language (despite its diversity), religion, culture, and history,
however they may have evolved over time. “Bahala na” Attitude
This phrase is said to have originated from "Bathala na" where
CULTURE AND THE FILIPINO IDENTITY Bathala means God and the phrase means leaving everything into
God's hands. This implies that Filipinos tend to leave some worries
Culture comprises the values, beliefs, thinking patterns, and
and problems to divine intervention, rather than being rational
behaviors practiced by a society and passed down through
about them and solving them. This also shifts the blame or burden
generations. These shared practices and beliefs create a sense of
away from the self should things go astray or out of hand.
identity and belonging within the group. Culture and identity are
closely linked, as they influence each other on various levels. Both
Colonial Mentality
material and nonmaterial aspects of culture shape our identity.
This trait, often frowned upon among Filipinos, refers to the
Over generations, these beliefs and behaviors that define the
unconscious preference for foreign products over local ones. It is
Filipino identity have been transmitted and continue to be
seen as a lack of patriotism and is linked to the centuries of
practiced.
colonization under Spanish, American, and Japanese rule. Some
VALUES AND TRAITS Filipinos believe that because other countries are more advanced
and developed, their products and services are of better quality.
Hospitality As a result, they tend to favor imported products over local ones.
Filipinos are known for their hospitality, welcoming guests as part
of the family. They often spend money or take loans to satisfy their Crab Mentality
guests' needs, especially during gatherings and local festivities. This trait talks about being insecure or jealous of another's
Filipinos love merrymaking and are amiable to visitors. They also achievement. Just like crabs in a container, Filipinos pull each
give warm smiles to strangers, even in everyday situations. In local other down and ruin each other's reputation, rather than lifting
shops, salespersons greet customers warmly and thank them, them up, resulting to no progress, Filipinos should change this
even if no purchase is made. troublesome attitude and focus more on one's own inadequacies
in order to improve one's self.
Respect for Elders
Filipinos show high regard for elders, whether related or not. Promoting Sense of Nationalism
Children are taught to greet elders by taking their hand to their
Now that you know how your traits and values are important
forehead and saying "Mano po." When speaking to the elderly, it’s
indicators of your being a Filipino, the problem now is how to truly
important to use "po" and "opo" to show respect. Filipinos believe
become one and how you can be useful to the development and
that age brings wisdom and experience, which is valuable to learn
progress of your country. Below are a few ways on how you can
from. It is considered rude and impolite not to respect elders,
foster a sense of nationalism:
even in small gestures and simple conversations.
1. Be an Active Filipino Citizen
Close Family Ties A good Filipino citizen should be aware of the current events and
Filipinos are keen on keeping intact familial relationships, even if participate in government programs that aim for the country's
their children are already emancipated. Unlike in most American progression and development. By simply exercising your right to
families, most children live with their parents as long as they like, vote, you also become an active citizen. When it comes to voting.
even if they already have their own families Some Filipino families the rich and the poor have equal voting rights, every Filipino
even opt to live in a big house where everyone can stay together. citizen of legal age have a say in choosing the right leaders for the
Nursing homes are almost always not an option for family Philippines who are genuine in helping and caring for the Filipino
members and choose to take care of their elders themselves. people.
whosgray☆
