Republic of the Philippines
Commission on Higher Education
Samar Colleges, Inc.
Catbalogan City, Samar
Tel Nos. (055) 251-3021, 543-8321, Fax (055) 251-3021
College of Education
Prefinals Learning Kit 1| CoEd GE1
UNDERSTANDING THE SELF
Lesson 4: The Political Self
Prepared by: RONALYN D. ABAIGAR, LPT
CoEd Instructor
I. Introduction
What makes a Filipino, a genuine Filipino? Do physical characteristics such as
having dark hair, flat nose, and dark complexion make one a Filipino? Or is it a
person’s language, birthplace, and ethnicity? If you were to introduce yourself as
Filipino to a person of another nationality and he or she asks, “Who are Filipinos?”
What will you reply?
In this module, the students will learn about the roots and essence of being a
Filipino. It will seek to understand and recapitulate the various Filipino traits that
make us remarkable and known as Filipinos.
Furthermore, in this learning kit, you will learn that an individual’s race, ethnicity,
and physical characteristics are not the only factors that make a person’s national
identity. Values and traits are also important indicators that set apart one nationality
from the other. These values and traits may not always be a positive thing, but being
able to identify one’s self apart from other nationalities and point out weaknesses and
mistakes, paired with unity and commitment, make progress a possibility. Through
common goals, principles, and values of its people, a nation empowers itself.
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II. Learning Objectives
Develop a Filipino identity;
Identify different Filipino values and traits; and
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Republic of the Philippines
Commission on Higher Education
Samar Colleges, Inc.
Catbalogan City, Samar
Tel Nos. (055) 251-3021, 543-8321, Fax (055) 251-3021
College of Education
Reflect on your selfhood in relation to your national identity.
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PRELIMINARY ACTIVITY
WHO IS A FILIPINO?
Cut out pictures or illustrations from magazines and newspapers that show what being a Filipino
is about. Paste them below. Do this on the given Answer Sheet.
Process questions:
1. How do the pictures remind you of being a Filipino?
2. Are you proud of being a Filipino?
3. Imagine that you were of a different nationality. What would you change in you aside
from your citizenship and origin?
4. How extensive are the effects of being Filipino in your self-hood.
III. DISCUSSION
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Republic of the Philippines
Commission on Higher Education
Samar Colleges, Inc.
Catbalogan City, Samar
Tel Nos. (055) 251-3021, 543-8321, Fax (055) 251-3021
College of Education
The Philippines as we know it today has only emerged in the 1890’s after over three
centuries of colonization of the Spaniards. Meanwhile, liberation from the last colonizers, the
Japanese, only occurred in 1946. Foreign culture, beliefs, language, and religion have made a
huge dent on our own by setting a foundation to the contemporary Filipino identity and
culture. To date, colonial mentality remains an issue. Given the wide discrepancy between
the liberation period and today’s time, would it be safe to say that Filipinos have truly
developed an identity of their own? Or are we still living in the shadow of our colonial
friends?
WHO IS A FILIPINO?
Technically, according to 1987 Philippine Constitution, Filipino citizens are “…those
whose fathers or mothers are citizens of the Philippines, those born before January 17, 1973,
of Filipino mothers, who elect Philippine citizenship upon reaching the age of maturity, and
those who are naturalized in accordance with law.” However, citizenship is not only the
markers of being a Filipino. Culture and history have greatly influenced the manner Filipinos
learn, live and behave to date. People who were born and grew up in the same culture
develop and share common personality traits and values. Generations after generations,
common traits and values have been passed on that the Filipinos of today still embody.
The Philippines is a lush island paradise famous for its grandiose mountain views,
pristine beaches, and rich and diverse culture changing from province to province. While the
Philippines may be well-known for its awe-inspiring beauty, perhaps, the Filipinos’ unique
traits reputable values, and laudable talents make the country a place to be.
FILIPINO VALUES AND
TRAITS
The Filipino Hospitality
A Filipino trait that is known everywhere is the Filipino’s brand of hospitality.
Filipinos welcome their guests and tourists as if they are their own brothers and sisters; they
always make their guests feel at home, offering them something to eat, or even a place to
stay. They will bring out their best sets of plates and chinaware for their honored guests and
would even go as far as spending a lot of money and going into debt just so they can satisfy
them.
Respect for Elders
Filipinos greet their elders by kissing their hand while saying “Mano po!” and
constantly using “po” and “opo” in conversations. Forgetting to address older people
properly will regard them as rude and impolite. There is also a wide array of references to
elder such as ate for older sister; kuya for older brother; tito and tita for uncle and aunt,
respectively.
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Republic of the Philippines
Commission on Higher Education
Samar Colleges, Inc.
Catbalogan City, Samar
Tel Nos. (055) 251-3021, 543-8321, Fax (055) 251-3021
College of Education
Close Family Ties
Filipinos maintain a tight relationship with their families
regardless if the children are old enough and already have families of their own. They are
also fond of family reunions during birthdays, holidays, or fiestas year-round.
Cheerful Personality
Filipinos have a habit of smiling and laughing a lot.
They smile when they are happy, or sometimes even when they are sad or angry. Smiling has
been a coping strategy for many Filipinos especially during trying times and calamities.
Self-sacrifice
The self-sacrificing attitude of Filipinos can be seen as an extension of Filipino
hospitality. Filipinos 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 to earn more money and save up for them.
Bayanihan
Bayanihan is the spirit of communal unity and cooperation of
Filipinos. It is also about giving without expecting something in return. Filipinos are always
ready to share and help their friends and loved ones who are in need.
“Bahala na” Attitude
“Bahala na” is the Filipino version of the famous line “Hakuna Matata,” meaning no
worries. The phrase is said to have originated from “Bathala na,” where Bathala means God, and
the phrase means leaving everything into God’s hands.
Colonial Mentality
Colonial mentality is regarded as the lack of patriotism and the attitude where Filipinos
favor foreign products more than their own. This does not only concern goods, but also the desire
to look more foreign than local and keep up with foreign beauty trends.
“Mañana” Habit
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Republic of the Philippines
Commission on Higher Education
Samar Colleges, Inc.
Catbalogan City, Samar
Tel Nos. (055) 251-3021, 543-8321, Fax (055) 251-3021
College of Education
This is the Filipino term for procrastination. It was derived from a longer Filipino phrase
called “Mamaya na” meaning dawdling things, which could have been done at an earlier time. It
is a poor habit of laziness that results in heavier workloads.
“Ningas Kugon”
“Ningas” is a Filipino term for flame and “kugon” is a Filipino term for Cogon grass that
easily burns out after it is put into flames. Ningas kugon refers to the attitude of eagerly starting
things but quickly losing eagerness soon after experiencing difficulty, just like how fast the fire
of a Cogon grass burns out moments after being ignited.
Pride
Most Filipinos hold on to their pride as if they are more precious than
keeping a good relationship with family and loved ones. When two parties are not in good terms,
they find it so hard to apologize and wait until the other party asks for an apology.
Crab Mentality
This is a toxic trait among Filipinos where one resents the achievements of another,
instead of feeling happy for that person. Just like crabs in a container, they pull each other down
and ruin each other’s reputation rather than bringing them up, resulting to no progress.
Filipino time
Filipinos have this common attitude of arriving late at
commitments, dinner, or parties especially if they are meeting someone close to them. They tend
to not observe punctuality.
FILIPINO
MARKERS
What then are the hallmarks of our being a Filipino? What
makes us truly relish in our being a Filipino? The following are the constant reminders of our
nationality.
1. Proverbs or Salawikain
Filipino proverbs, just like any other, are sayings that convey lessons and
reflections on Filipino practices, beliefs, and traditions.
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Republic of the Philippines
Commission on Higher Education
Samar Colleges, Inc.
Catbalogan City, Samar
Tel Nos. (055) 251-3021, 543-8321, Fax (055) 251-3021
College of Education
2. Superstitions
Filipinos also subscribe to their own set of superstitions passed down from
generation to generation. Some of these may be influenced by beliefs from other cultures,
but Filipinos have retold these superstitions according to their own experiences and they
sometimes end up even more interesting.
According to Filipino superstition, a woman singing while cooking will end up a
spinster so parents remind their daughters to avoid singing while preparing their meals.
3. Myths and Legends
Due to the Philippines’ rich culture and history, numerous myths and legends
have sprung about things that are beyond one’s imagination. These stories are aimed to
explain the origin of things, at the same time, teach a valuable lesson. Some of these
stories stemmed in pre-Christianity period, but have evolved to the stories we know
today.
4. Heroes and Icons
Heroes serve as a reminder of true patriotism and nationalism as they have
sacrificed their lives for the sake of their country’s freedom and progress. Every year, we
lend a whole day to celebrate our heroes, usually the last Monday of August, to
remember their greatness, bravery and resilience that has led to the freedom we know
today.
Famous Filipino icons such as Lea Salonga, Manny Pacquiao and our very own
national hero, Jose Rizal, also serve as important Filipino markers as they have made the
Filipino name more pronounced worldwide through their own expertise.
HOW TO BE A GOOD
FILIPINO
Now you know that your traits and values are important indicators of being a Filipino.
The problem now is how truly one become and how you can be useful to the
development and progress of our country. The following are a few ways on how to be a
good Filipino.
1. Be an active Filipino citizen
A good Filipino citizen is aware of the current events and participates in
government programs that aim for the country’s progress 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
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Republic of the Philippines
Commission on Higher Education
Samar Colleges, Inc.
Catbalogan City, Samar
Tel Nos. (055) 251-3021, 543-8321, Fax (055) 251-3021
College of Education
citizen of legal age have a chance 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 to the Philippine history is long and bloody and by learning and fully
understanding the events of the Philippine history, you will learn so much as to why it
is so important for you to love your country with your life, extend help to your fellow
Filipinos in need, and recognize abuse of political power.
3. Support local
When you buy local products, you do not only support local manufacturers and
businessmen, 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 highlighted the importance of speaking a 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 people, both good and bad. For instance, 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 us the spread
of fake news very common.
Likewise, the internet has also made us engage in intense arguments with people
across the globe about our political positions, for example. It is part of being a good
Filipino to understand and verify what you read online, especially in social media,
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Republic of the Philippines
Commission on Higher Education
Samar Colleges, Inc.
Catbalogan City, Samar
Tel Nos. (055) 251-3021, 543-8321, Fax (055) 251-3021
College of Education
before actually believing in 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.
IV. Application
Group Activity!
Instruction: Create a group with three (3) members. Make an infomercial based on the given
topics below. You can select only one (1) topic and you’re allowed to use any video making apps to
create your infomercial. Please follow or use the criteria below for you to be guided on how you will
be graded.
a. Promote a local tourist destination in your place;
b. How to vote intelligently;
c. Promote a local product/s in your locality;
d. Intelligent use of the internet and social media;
Criteria
Content – 30%
Creativity/Uniqueness - 20%
Visual effects – 30%
Audience impact – 20%
_______________
100%
Individual Task!
General Instruction: Do the activities below using the given “Answer Sheet” which will
be sent to you via google classroom, fb group or fb messenger. You can encode or write your
answers on the given Answer Sheet ONLY. If you are going to encode your answers, please
follow the ff. format (Century Gothic, font size-12, margins-top 1.2, right 1, left 1.5, bottom 1,
short bond paper, JUSTIFIED). But if you are to write your answers, use a BLACK or BLUE
writing pen ONLY and write your answers on the given Answer Sheet. I will automatically deduct
points from your output if you use a yellow paper or other papers other than the one
given/provided for you.
Note: Anyone who is caught cheating from his/her classmates output will be reprimanded.
Direction: Give your own insight on the following topics and questions below. You are
allowed to cite works from other authors as long as you properly cite them and make sure that
you will just make it as your guide or point of view of your answers.
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Republic of the Philippines
Commission on Higher Education
Samar Colleges, Inc.
Catbalogan City, Samar
Tel Nos. (055) 251-3021, 543-8321, Fax (055) 251-3021
College of Education
LET’S ASSESS YOUR KNOWLEDGE!
1. Discuss how being a Filipino affects your “self.” How can becoming a Filipino influence
your duty to become a better version of yourself?
2. List down at least ten (10) proverbs or salawikain in your place.
3. Do you believe in superstitions? Why or why not?
4. List down at least ten (10) superstitious belief that you or your family and community
believed in.
5. Give at least one (1) myth or legend that can be found “exclusively” in your place.
Explain or narrate that myth or legend.
6. List down at least (10) names of Filipino Icons in different fields that brought pride in our
country. Pick one (1) that made a great influence and impact to you especially on your
views about life, dreams and happiness. Explain your reason.
7. What negative Filipino traits do you possess? How will you correct it? Likewise, what
positive Filipino traits do you have? How can you preserve it and help your fellow
Filipinos emulate such trait?
8. What is meant by political? How will you characterize your political self?
9. Given the right to vote, since the national elections are coming next year, who will you
choose as your President? Why? List down his/her personal and intellectual
characteristics which made you believe in him/her?
10. What characteristic should a leader of a nation possess? Should he/she be Smart,
popular, kind-hearted, goal-driven or faithful? Justify your answer.
V. Reference/s
Alata, Eden Joy, P., et.al., Understanding the Self, Rex Bookstore, 1st edition,
2018.
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