MA SocStEd | Edmar D.

Jane

Philippine Society, Government, and Politics

Filipino Creativity

Filipino Resourcefulness Filipino Resilience

Filipino Innovation Filipino Optimism

The Jeepney in the Philippines symbolizes Filipino resilience, Optimism,

Innovation, Resourcefulness, and Creativity. One vehicle that embodies the
Filipino spirit is that no matter how hard life is and how chaotic the journey
will be on an everyday basis, the Filipino people will remain standing and
fighting to survive. Almost every day this vehicle faces diverse landscapes
and chaotic roads and now the modernization act the Philippine government
is imposing, just like the system of Politics in our country. People get
connected across these diverse landscapes. Different social classes share
space just like politicians negotiate power and resolve societal conflict.
People tend to be confused about government and politics vice versa.
Having the Jeepney as an example, the Jeepney itself serves as the politics
because it is an end in itself. The Driver of the Jeepneys serves as the
government for they are the mere instrument of the state through which the
will of the people (the Jeepneys passengers) is expressed, carried out, and
realized.
 MA SocStEd | Edmar D. Jane

Philippine
Strong Religious
Tradition
Society
Baptis
m
Euro-
American Marriages
Family Holiday Strong
Culture Oriented s Family
Ties Confirmation
s
Hospitality Circumcision

One of the most fascinating things in the Philippines is its People. They
have strong family ties then and now. Filipinos love holidays, and holidays
ordinary or special must be spent with the family. No matter how far their
family is, it doesn’t matter, they will surely go home with them. Marriages in
the Philippines can also show how strong family ties there are in the country.
Every relative by blood or affinity gathers during this ceremony. Baptism,
confirmation, and even circumcisions can show how Filipino families are
close as well.
Philippine society has a Euro-American culture. Strong religious
tradition, fear of God, and hospitality are some Filipino characteristics we
acquired from our conquerors. Spanish conquistadores were the first to
conquer the Philippines and had us for 350 years. They contributed
significantly to all aspects of our culture visible to our society nowadays.
Americans were our liberators from Spanish colonization and assumed
sovereignty of the Philippines following the defeat of Spain in the Spanish-
American War1. Soon after this event came the Filipino-American war, which
was quite a continuation of the Philippine revolution against Spanish Rule. It
was the Filipino insurrection which ended in 1902 2.

1
https://www.britannica.com/event/Philippine-American-War
2
Ibid
 MA SocStEd | Edmar D. Jane

Of the People
Legislative
By the People
For the People

Philippine
Governme
nt
Executive Judiciary

The government is an agency of the state through which the people's

will is expressed, carried out, and realized. Article II section 1 of the 1987
Philippine Constitution states that the Philippines is a democratic and a
republican state. Sovereignty resides in the people and all government
authorities emanate from them3. Just like the words of Abraham Lincoln, “a
government of the people, by the people and for the people”. These words
apply as well in the Philippine context. The Philippine government is
bureaucratic, meaning there is a hierarchy and checks, and balances are
being observed. It comprises 3 distinct branches, the Legislative, Judiciary,
and Executive branches. All the distinct branches have a role to play in the
politics and governance of the country. In a strict sense, the Legislative
branch makes the laws, the Judicial branch interprets the laws, and the
Executive branch implements the law.
The Philippines is a republic with a presidential form of government
wherein power is equally divided among its three branches: executive,
legislative, and judicial. The government seeks to act in the best interests
of its citizens through this system of checks and balances 4. The principle of
separation of powers is basic in a presidential form of government, wherein

3
https://www.officialgazette.gov.ph/constitutions/1987-constitution/
4
https://www.gov.ph/the-government/
 MA SocStEd | Edmar D. Jane

legislation belongs to the legislative branch of the government. The Senate

and Congress are in charge of national legislation, while the provincial board,
city, and municipal council, the barangay council, and the SK council are in
charge of local legislation.
The judicial branch has the power to interpret the laws and settle
conflicts involving issues that are legally demandable and enforceable. The
top of its hierarchy is the Supreme Court of the Philippines, following
downward are the Court of Appeals, the Regional Trial Courts, the Municipal
Trial Courts, and/or the Municipal Circuit Trial Courts. The judicial power is
all vested in the supreme courts and the lower courts as may be established
by law.
 MA SocStEd | Edmar D. Jane

Political
Indebtedness
An End
Machismo in Itself

Padrino
System
Philippi Loyalty

ne
Personal
Hiya and
Delicadeza Politics Relationship

Circumcisions Strong Confirmations

Family
Ties
Marriage Holidays
s

Baptism

In the Philippines, traditional politics and personalistic politics is a

common practice. New politics stop the culture of dependence that allows
patronage politics to thrive. Politics is an Art of Good Government. A very
basic concept but misinterpreted often. Politics is the interplay of our
everyday activities that is honed for the governance of the state, I can still
remember this concept when I was still studying Political science in college.
Politics can never be bad, it extends to an enormous range of human
activity, meaning, whenever and wherever there are people, there is politics.
People especially politicians are the ones who put dirt in the system of
politics. Politics is an end in itself not a means to an end. In progressive
politics, it is the politician’s decisions that drive away politics from being
labeled as good and bad. Just like the jeepney, the driver is the politician,
and the passengers are the people governed. The success of the travel
depends on the driver’s decision from the preventive maintenance care that
the jeepney is receiving to the driving skill of the driver where the success of
the travel depends.
Close family ties and power of connection within families that are
connected to the government expect special treatment. One of the most
practiced here in the Philippines is the Padrino system. It is known that a
person holding power has also the power to place and replace a subordinate
 MA SocStEd | Edmar D. Jane

from a post, which is why requests for favors, and special favors are rampant
in Philippine politics. Personal connections by high-ranking officials, and
department heads in the government are using their positions for their
interests. This is the kind of system that we can be able to witness not
because it is rampant but because it forms part of the system now.
Another practice that can be observed in the system of politics here in
the Philippines is the male superiority over the female or “Machismo”. This
can be observed when male public officials openly have mistresses but are
not criticized. This can also be seen in some provinces where politicians
have goons and guns. A very clear manifestation of showing strength in
terms of governance. A clear indication also that if you want to stay in
power, you should be stronger than your rivals and give the voting public an
idea, especially those aiming to run for public office fear.
Politicians are highly indebted to the voting public, to return the favor,
political leaders repay them with money, special favors, position in the
government, facilitating papers, recommendations, payments, contracts,
appointments, promotions, and projects outside the call of duty. 5 Utang na
loob is not necessarily wrong, if what is given is good and what is asked is
good there’s nothing wrong about it as long as it is not abused.
A clean, efficient, and righteous person when put in a leadership
position, all subordinates will be ashamed and will try to be efficient in their
jobs. “Magpapa good shot ako kay boss nakakahiya naman kasi”. A
common statement that you can hear. When you commit something early
on to a candidate who is vying for an office/position in the government is
called “Delicadeza”. Filipinos are known to be men of their word. Once they
made promises majority of them stuck to what they said. Utang na loob in a
strict sense takes place when a person does something beyond the call of
duty, this is true in Philippine politics. Powerful people capitalize on “utang
na love” to ensure that their political and economic interests are served.
Gestures are very important for the politicians. People think of it as if
they are close to them. A simple hello, top on the shoulder, wave of a hand
when passing by on the street means a lot to the people. Visibility is very
important too to politicians. To be seen occasionally or frequently enough as
simple chit-chat engagement or small talk, providing snacks (meryenda)adds
popularity to the politicians. Fiestas, weddings, baptisms, funerals, and even
in holidays are the common occasions where politicians attend.
“Personalan and tampuhan” is very common in bureaucracy. Members
of the same political coalition can experience this if the other gets
preferential treatment in terms of campaign funds. A great motivation for
the politician to go against their coalition. Loyalty too is a determining factor
in Philippine politics. The loyal ones are excused the ones that are not get
reprimanded. Filipinos value their relationship above all. The tie that binds
are kamag-anak, friend, kumpadre, kababayan. No matter how uncertain
the connection people usually vote for someone who is somehow connected

5
Philippine Political Culture and Governance Chapter One by Cristina Jayme Montiel
 MA SocStEd | Edmar D. Jane

to them. Family plays an important role I Philippine politics. A candidate

who has the biggest clan wins.