Lesson 3.

1: Preamble, Article 1 and Article II

Lesson Summary
This lesson discusses about the Preamble, Article I and Article II.

Learning Outcomes
1. To understand the meaning of preamble
2. To have knowledge about the Philippine Territory.
3. To be able to discuss the declaration of principles and state policies.

Motivation Question
What is the importance of having the knowledge and understanding about the Philippine Territory
as a citizen of this country?

What Is Preamble?

“We, the sovereign Filipino people, imploring the aid of Almighty God, in order to build a just
and humane society, and establish a Government that shall embody our ideals and aspirations,
promote the common good, conserve and develop our patrimony, and secure to ourselves and
our posterity, the blessings of independence and democracy under the rule of law and a regime
of truth, justice, freedom, love, equality, and peace, do ordain and promulgate this
Constitution”.

Discussion:
The Preamble is considered to be the first part of the 1987 Philippine Constitution. It is an
introductory statement which is part of the constitution that usually discusses the reasons and purpose
what is the intent of the law. Every citizens of the country or every Filipino must know and understand
the meaning of preamble by heart. Every word which is stated in the preamble is meaningful wherein it
encourages each one of us to show love and loyalty to our country. It has a very important message about
the responsibilities and roles being a Filipino and being part of this society. As a democratic country, we
should act what is according to the law having the sense of responsibility in loving our country in order to
have peace and unity.
ARTICLE I. NATIONAL TERRITORY
“The national territory comprises the Philippine archipelago, with all the islands and
waters embraced therein, and all other territories over which the Philippines has sovereignty or
jurisdiction, consisting of its terrestrial, fluvial and aerial domains, including its territorial sea, the
seabed, the subsoil, the insular shelves, and other submarine areas. The waters around, between,
and connecting the islands of the archipelago, regardless of their breadth and dimensions, form
part of the internal waters of the Philippines”.

Discussion
As a Filipino citizen, it is important for us to know the jurisdiction or the boundaries of the
country in order to avoid future conflicts with the other nation and protect the national interests because it
will provide the country with claim to the land covered by the said provision. In establishing our own
territory, we should comply and fulfill all the needed requirements to be considered as a state and that is
to have a sovereignty and have a territory, with this we can have our own country to live with to exercise
our rights and free will.

ARTICLE II DECLARATION OF PRINCIPLES AND STATE

Section 1. The Philippines is a democratic and republican State. Sovereignty resides in the people
and all government authority emanates from them.

Philippines is considered a democratic country and a republican state. We have the bill of rights
in which it exists in observance to the rule of majority. Sovereignty considered as the supreme power or
authority to govern wherein the Filipino people being named as sovereign people has the right to
constitute their own government, to define its jurisdiction and also has the power to change it.

Section 2. The Philippines renounces war as an instrument of national policy, adopts the
generally accepted principles of international law as part of the law of the land and adheres to the policy
of peace, equality, justice, freedom, cooperation, and amity with all nations.

The Philippines are only seeking for peace and friendship to our neighboring country all over the
world regardless of beliefs, political ideology, race as basis of mutual trust, respect and cooperation of
everyone. Wherein we adopt the generally accepted principles of the international laws as part of the
Philippine law in adherence to the policy of peace with all other nations.

Section 3. Civilian authority is, at all times, supreme over the military. The Armed Forces of the
Philippines is the protector of the people and the State. Its goal is to secure the sovereignty of the State
and the integrity of the national territory.

Filipino citizens are considered to be the masters of the community wherein the military and other
law enforcement agencies are responsible in serving and protecting its people that is supremacy of
civilian authority over the military. The Philippines may engage in a defensive war for self-preservation
and in defending its integrity and honor. One of the duties and responsibilities being the citizens of the
country is defending its state wherein the government may call upon its people under the conditions
provided by law by rendering personal, military or civil service but the top priority of the government is
to serve and protect the people of the country.

Section 4. The prime duty of the Government is to serve and protect the people. The Government
may call upon the people to defend the State and, in the fulfillment thereof, all citizens may be required,
under conditions provided by law, to render personal, military or civil service.

Engaging in a civil service or defending our nation is one of the duties and responsibilities being
a citizen of this country this is only if necessary, with the conditions provided by law.

Section 5. The maintenance of peace and order, the protection of life, liberty, and property, and
promotion of the general welfare are essential for the enjoyment by all the people of the blessings of
democracy.

Having peace and order in our country, when security and life of dignity are established and
maintained, having the economic and political stability are necessary for the people having independence
and democracy.

Section 6. The separation of Church and State shall be inviolable.

This is the principle of separation of the church and State wherein the church is not allowed to
interfere in any political matters or the temporal aspects of every man’s life and the State. This means that
the state has no right to punish anyone or the citizens of the country has its freedom to practice, to choose,
show belief or disbelief in any religion and considered that the nation has no official religion.

STATE POLICIES
Section 7. The State shall pursue an independent foreign policy. In its relations with other states,
the paramount consideration shall be national sovereignty, territorial integrity, national interest, and the
right to self-determination.

Foreign policy is considered to be the set of guidelines and must be followed by government of
the country to promote the national interest in conducting relations with the other countries. In the
Philippines the president will formulate our foreign policy through the help of the Department of Foreign
Affairs. Its goal is to establish friendly relations with all other countries all over the world regardless of
our differences in terms of belief, religion, ethnicity and social system in order to promote as much
beneficial relationship particularly in trade activities and the improvement of our economy.

Section 8. The Philippines, consistent with the national interest, adopts and pursues a policy of
freedom from nuclear weapons in its territory.

Section 9. The State shall promote a just and dynamic social order that will ensure the prosperity
and independence of the nation and free the people from poverty through policies that provide adequate
social services, promote full employment, a rising standard of living, and an improved quality of life for
all.
 Strategies or policies are important to be sought after, satisfactory social services, improve the
employment, make a standard living, and improved personal satisfaction or the quality of life for all.
Equal and dynamic social order in solving the problems in poverty. The objective is to decrease that
political and financial intensity of special minority by adjusting broadly varying standard norms and
increase opportunities for the people in order to have a good quality of life that is worthy of human
dignity and respect.

Section 10. The State shall promote social justice in all phases of national development.

Section 11. The State values the dignity of every human person and guarantees full respect for
human rights.

The individual appreciates certain rights which can't be altered or removed by the lawmaking
body. These rights are ensured or guaranteed in light of the inherent dignity and fundamental morality of
individual person. Human pride and basic liberties. The worth in accordance to human dignity is
estimated by the degree of respect to the rights of the human, basically the rights to life, freedom, and
others.

Section 12. The State recognizes the sanctity of family life and shall protect and strengthen the
family as a basic autonomous social institution. It shall equally protect the life of the mother and the life
of the unborn from conception. The natural and primary right and duty of parents in the rearing of the
youth for civic efficiency and the development of moral character shall receive the support of the
Government.

It will similarly secure the life of the mother and the life of the unborn from conception. The
characteristic and essential right and obligation of guardians in the raising of the adolescent for civic
efficiency and the development of a good character will get the help and support of the Government.

Section 13. The State recognizes the vital role of the youth in nation-building and shall promote
and protect their physical, moral, spiritual, intellectual, and social well-being. It shall inculcate in the
youth patriotism and nationalism, and encourage their involvement in public and civic affairs.

It will teach the young generation about the nationalism and patriotism, and encourage their participation
and involvement in public and civic affairs.

Section 14. The State recognizes the role of women in nation-building, and shall ensure the
fundamental equality before the law of women and men.

Men and women should have equality in all aspects wherein women should get equal rights and
enjoy the same as men.

Section 15. The State shall protect and promote the right to health of the people and instill health
consciousness among them.

The state must require its self to promote and protect the rights of the people to health by
educating them through health consciousness and awareness among its people.

Section 16. The State shall protect and advance the right of the people to a balanced and healthful
ecology in accord with the rhythm and harmony of nature.
 The state should promote and protect every rights of the people regarding the balances and a
healthful and good environment.

Section 17. The State shall give priority to education, science and technology, arts, culture, and
sports to foster patriotism and nationalism, accelerate social progress, and promote total human liberation
and development.

The state must provide and give priority to education to all citizens of the country in order to
enhance knowledge and understanding.

Section 18. The State affirms labor as a primary social economic force. It shall protect the rights of
workers and promote their welfare.

In this provision, the state must protect every rights of workers in order for them to have a better life.

Section 19. The State shall develop a self-reliant and independent national economy effectively
controlled by Filipinos.

For this provision the constitutional guidelines states that in order to development the economy
we should have an economic self-reliant independent national economy which should be controlled by
Filipinos effectively.

Section 20. The State recognizes the indispensable role of the private sector, encourages private
enterprise, and provides incentives to needed investments.

This provision stated that the state is mandated to provide incentives and to encourage private
enterprise to needed investments either foreign or local.

Section 21. The State shall promote comprehensive rural development and agrarian reform.

The state must improve or develop rural and agrarian reform in order for the benefits of the
country.

Section 22. The State recognizes and promotes the rights of indigenous cultural communities
within the framework of national unity and development.

The state must protect the rights of indigenous people promotes, recognize and should be
included cultural communities within the structure of the national improvement and for being united as
one.

Section 23. The State shall encourage non-governmental, community-based, or sectoral

The state must encourage every organization either governmental or non-governmental because it
was being shown that having a responsible leadership, they can be a good contributor to the growth of the
country socially, economically and politically.

Section 24. The State recognizes the vital role of communication and information in nation-
building.
 The state is responsible to acknowledge the importance of communication and ensure to
disseminate proper information needed by the nation.

Section 25. The State shall ensure the autonomy of local governments.

The local governments will be considered best in terms of regulating their people if they will be
lead and regulated by the same people within its locality.

Section 26. The State shall guarantee equal access to opportunities for public service and prohibit political
dynasties as may be defined by law.

The state must ensure that everyone would get equal opportunity in any kind of service provided by the
government regardless of their status.

Section 27. The State shall maintain honesty and integrity in the public service and take positive
and effective measures against graft and corruption.

The state must require all government employees to maintain its integrity and honesty in giving
their service to the public. Avoid any temptation and should take actions that will eliminate graft and
corruption.

Section 28. Subject to reasonable conditions prescribed by law, the State adopts and implements a
policy of full public disclosure of all its transactions involving public interest.

Under the Bill of Rights, it gives guarantees to the people their right to know in any transactions
they are going to enter by the government and it should limit to things only involving public concerns.