Course Title V. THE POLITICAL SELF

Course Title V: The Political Self
A. Learning Objectives:
At the end of the chapter, the students are expected to:
1. Discuss the meaning of politic and citizenship.

2. Analyze how political self is an important aspect of one’s identity
3. Identify the factors which contribute to the development of political self.
4. Determine how to tsake responsibility for knowing and being a Filipino.
B. Course Content
I. Defining Politics
Politics is an activity relation to power. It refers to achieving and exercising positions of

governance—organized control over a human community. Without power as a force, politics
would be useless. It is present in all human social institutions including your school,
organization, religious community and others from which you identify yourself. Politics also
promotes ideologies about democracy, citizenship, human rights, freedom and other social
issues. Finally, it serves as the tool by which individuals understand the exercise of power and
proper functioning of a democratic society as a citizen.
II. Political Self and Identity
Citizenship also known as one’s nationality, it is the status of a person recognized under
the custom or law as being a legal member of a sovereign state or belonging to a nation. The
term denotes the membership of a citizen in a political society. Thus, being a member of a
particular nation makes a person involved and has the right to speak out as part of the
community. Citizenship becomes the most important aspect of political self. The political self is
also in part defined by reference to other members in the political group or community where
one belong such as school, religious organization and others like LGBTQ. The political self and
identity are developed through socialization, through the ways people learn they are aware of the
norms or standard behaviour, values and roles they take as a member of such particular
institutions. Finally, it is in a sense true that without deep sense of belongingness or membership
one person could not exercise power and make decisions for the sake of the state or nation.
III. In Search of Filipino Identity
It is very important to know deeply and always go back to the roots of our country so
every people in our nation could genuinely serve for its advancement. It means to say that for a
person to feel the love, devotion and concern to something or someone it is deemed necessary to
know about its background.
From an Indio to Filipino- A Glimpse of Philippine History
In seeking for Filipino identity, it is important to look back at history and remember that
before the 1880s, the term “Filipino” actually referred to the people of Spanish parentage born in
the Philippines. The Malayan, native born inhabitants of the Philippine islands were called
“indio” or “indigenta.” This class or group occupied the lowest level in a highly stratified class
society. It goes to say that during Spanish colonization, real Filipino’s are not even having the
name “Filipino” to claim its identity.
It was only in the late 1880s and 1890s that the term Filipino began to change to refer to
“ people from the Philippines.” A group of young men who went to Europe to study also
discovered that the racial and class distinctions that separated them in the colony became less
meaningful when they found themselves collectively alone across the oceans. In Europe and
elsewhere around the world, they started to refer to one another as being one people. While in
Madrid, Jose Rizal wrote to a friend. “...we call ourselves simply Filipinos.”
Through all these centuries, the indio and now the Filipino, has shown time and again
that they are capable of heroism and love of nation. There were an estimated 300 revolutions
against the Spanish invaders and another war for independence against the Americans. The
guerrilla movement against the Japanese invaders were primarily grassroots movements. This is
a people that have rallied to democracy at critical junctures in its history through leaders like
Ramon Magsaysay and People Power Movements. Ninoy Aquino emphasized that “Filipinos are
worth dying for”. If not with Rizal and our other national heroes, we cannot imagine as how we
can see the liberty and freedom we are experiencing as today as Filipino.
IV. Filipino Citizenship
Enriquez (1978) defined kapwa as “the unity of the self and others, a recognition of
shared identity an inner self shared with others”. It is the core or heart Filipino values. Virgilio
Enriquez is the father of Filipino Pychology and he discovered that it is not maintaining smooth
interpersonal relationship that Filipinos are most concerned with, but pakikipagkapwa which
means treating the other person as fellow human being or kapwa. The way a person see others
reflects of how one treats the others. As collectivist country, Filipinos tend to be sensitive and
perceptive with the need of others. However, in the Filipino setting, familial community most
often take precedence over any types of community. Probably, it is also the main reason why
most of our countrymen nowadays are identified with the family more than being a fellow
Filipino. Though, we can also observe that many young ones as of today are becoming more pro-
active in politics with the help of social media. Some young Citizens have learned to pressure the
government to do their job for our nation. But what does it take to be a good citizen? Diokno
(1997) highlighted that a typical good citizen is diligent tax payer, honest voter, one who follows
the traffic rules etc. Aside from that, one also has to know how to assert one’s right, protect those
cannot defend themselves, cares for the environment and honors equality among men and
women.
V. Source of Political Self
The FAMILY has an organizational structure from one is expected to behave in

accordance to his or her role. At young age, most people our aware that the first authority to
follow is our parents. We obey their rules and treat them with respect. Children follow the rules
as their life is entrusted in the custody and supervision of their parents. The SCHOOL is
accountable for moral, spiritual, and political upbringing of children. Thus, it will help the
students to become patriotic and responsible citizens. The CHURCH shapes political self
through religious teachings and values. The PEERS are also important in influencing the political
self. Thus, interaction with peers emphasizes the equal distribution of power, rights, and
privileges among members of the group. Lastly, the MASS MEDIA could also be a key source
that may influence an individual’s political values and beliefs.
The assertion of one’s power depends on how one individual exercised his or her political
self with his early membership in family, school and mass media. While others have strong
advocates about one’s right as a member of a particular community, others may remain quiet and
feel that they don’t have freedom to speak for their right. For example, when a person is oriented
to be a good follower of rules despite oppression of his own rights, others may not feel oblige to
speak out about it. It may rooted from an early age where children are taught to obey parents at
all times and not question any rules they implement regardless if it’s wrong. Peers are also
important, some children remain inferiors to their playmate dues to their perceived power of over
them. No wonder that some people may not demand for their rights. For example, the food that
was served in a restaurant is awful yet some would not make it a big deal and just tolerate their
mediocrity. Thus, any social interactions could be one of sources of one’s political self.

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Course Title V: The Political Self

At the end of the chapter, the students are expected to:

1. Discuss the meaning of politic and citizenship.

Politics is an activity relation to power. It refers to achieving and exercising positions of

II. Political Self and Identity

III. In Search of Filipino Identity

IV. Filipino Citizenship

V. Source of Political Self

The FAMILY has an organizational structure from one is expected to behave in

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