Political Self
Abstraction
Politics refers to the actions or activities concerned with achieving and using
power in a nation or society. It is also defined as how power is shared in an
organization and how it is affected by personal relationships between people who
work together. However, the political self is not only shaped by one’s political
affiliation or beliefs. Everyone is naturally inclined to have choices and reactions to
political events in their countries, but this is not enough. The political self is
anchored on the inclination to participate in political activities that should serve the
interests of all sectors of society. One’s sense of accountability should be
manifested in promoting certain advocacies through healthy political engagement.
This is aligned with the concept of active citizenship.
ACTIVE CITIZENSHIP
Active citizenship refers to the structured forms of engagement with political
processes and everyday social participation. It is not merely voting for government
officials, attending certain institutional activities, or availing government benefits or
services. Rather, it was defined as the process of sharing decisions that affect
one’s life and the life of the community in which one lives. It is how a democracy
is built and the standard against which democracies should be measured.
Participation is the fundamental right of citizenship.
Active citizenship is anchored on one’s cognitive and behavioral
engagement to participate in formal and informal political activities. Different
people manifest different levels of active citizenship; some take a more active
approach to making their voices heard. These approaches include participation in
organized movements (rallies, public assemblies, mobilizations, and
demonstrations rooted in a specific cause). Second, active citizenship is a practice of
democracy. Democracy should not only be thought of as a form of government. It is
a communal system that allows the voluntary freedom of citizens to make informed
choices that would enable them to be heard.
Third, active citizenship is a social construct. It fosters social relatedness and
belongingness. Advocacies are anchored on personal standpoints and affect other
people within defined boundaries, just as how advocacies impact beliefs and
behaviors.
Lastly, the most important goal of active citizenship is to instill change and
influence society at large. Most adolescents believe they do not have the power to
inspire change or are not heard, discouraging them from speaking up. However,
adolescents and youth should remember that they are the country’s future
leaders. The advantage of the child is their zeal and optimism in effecting change
for the country. Youth participation should not be the exception but rather the
norm. In politics in which older individuals dominate, youth participation is ideal so
that the younger generation will have legitimate participation in raising issues and
concerns that impact society in general.
Active citizenship is also associated with the “sense of community.”
People, including adolescents, participate in communal activities because it gives a
sense of belonging to a particular group. The sense of community people feel with
their geographical and cultural roots also persuades them to do something for their
respective communities, especially in the context of community groups considered
to be a minority. Active citizenship may facilitate ethnic pride and provide a voice to
the woes of their social group.
For the younger generation, active citizenship can contribute to their social
development. Opportunities to participate in such activities make adolescents
aware of issues, challenges, and concerns plaguing communities and society, which
may lead to supporting and upholding reform advocacies. Engaging in such
activities can also enhance the efficacy and competence of the younger generation,
as they are considered to be the “future leaders” of society. The youth of today
has several tools.
ESTABLISHING A DEMOCRATIC CULTURE
Democracy is a government in which the people’s supreme power is
vested in and exercised directly or indirectly through a representation system,
usually involving periodically held free elections. Although democracy has several
flaws, it also uniquely possesses several features that most people--whatever their
basic political beliefs-would consider desirable, such as:
● helps prevent cruel and vicious autocrats from ruling;
● fosters human development (i.e., health, education, personal income, and
any other indicators) more fully than other forms of government;
● helps protect fundamental individual rights and interests;
● provide people the maximum opportunity to take moral responsibility for
their choices and decisions; and
● offer a relatively high chance of political equality.
Individual awareness is adjusted to collective awareness through formal and
informal ways. The formal way refers to a system of ideas and models that are
officially established (i.e., policies and laws). In contrast, the informal way refers to
the acceptance of behaviors and thoughts that are not established as the formal
way of interpersonal relations.
Establishing democratic institutions, however, is not enough for democracy
to flourish. Democracy cannot be sustained if the citizens’ political attitudes and
culture are not participative. Attitudes, such as having a sense of responsibility for
society and becoming concerned about human rights and development, are
important in establishing a democratic culture.
For us to establish a democratic culture, the following values are necessary:
1. Respect for and affirmation of the individual. This entails recognizing that every
individual has inherent rights. Thus, we say that one’s rights end where another
person’s rights begin.
2. Recognition of the inherent dignity of all human beings. Once recognition is
made of such dignity, then it is easier for us to treat people as ends in
themselves.
3. Concern for the public good. We must understand that the state’s power also
limits our rights. The welfare of the state is considered together with civil rights.
4. Willingness to listen to others. This is consistent with the three above. If we
respect the individual, we should give time to listen and understand that
individual’s claim.
All these imply the need for us to help the stranger; that is - more than our
families - we should also involve and care for our nation. And that should be a
major part of our Political Identity, an identity closely tied to being a Filipino citizen
in heart and mind.
FILIPINO VALUES
There are inherent traits that make Filipinos different from other
nationalities. These traits have formed part of the Filipino identity. It is interesting
to note that the values enumerated here reveal the influence of Eastern thought on
Filipinos being “others-oriented” in nature. Below are the positive and negative
Filipino values.
Positive & Negative Filipino Values
bayanihan bahala na attitude
damayan colonial mentality
familism crab mentality
optimism euphemistic
hospitality filipino time
pakikipagkapwa-tao gaya-gaya attitude
kanya-kanya syndrome manana habit
religious ningas kugon
References
Alata, E.J.P., Caslib Jr., B.N.C., Serafica, J.P.J., Pawilen, R.A. (2018). Understanding the
Self.
REX Book Store, Inc.
Corpuz, R.M., Estoque, R.S., Tabotabo C.V. (2019). Understanding the Self. C&E
Publishing
Macayan, J.V., Pinugu, J.N.J., Castilo, J.C.D.C. (2018). Understanding the Self.
Outcome-based
Module. C&E Publishing, Inc.
Otig, V.S., Gallinero, W.B., Bataga, N.U., Salado, F.B., Visande, J.C. (2018). A Holistic
Approach
in Understanding the Self. A Workbook-Textbook for College Students. Mutya
Publishing House,
Inc.
Palean, E.D.V., Nazario, M.B.D., Valero, J.B.G., Descartin, I.K.L., Morales-Nuncio, E.
(2018).
Introspection: Understanding the Self. Books Atbp. Publishing Corp.
Additional Materials:
The Bigger the Government… by PragerU
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qr638pCfPxs&list=PLIBtb_NuIJ1zs1gI2nYdZk6wL
606nGOQ
9&index=129&t=0s
What is Social Justice? by PragerU
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rtBvQj2k6xo&list=PLIBtb_NuIJ1zs1gI2nYdZk6wL
606nGOQ9
&index=128&t=0s
The Government Isn’t Supposed to Fix Your Life by PragerU
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eE6ica0t95Q&list=PLIBtb_NuIJ1zs1gI2nYdZk6wL
606nGOQ
9&index=102&t=0s
