Name: Guingguing, Jesell C.
Section: BEED-III
Topic: Enhancing Values Subject: Values Education
Our Changing Times: Mutual Problems and Mutual Solutions
The changing times bring new problems which need ingenuity and greater efficiency in their
solutions in the face of dwindling natural resources and more importantly in the content of the bases of
man’s nature, his positive cultural heritage and his values.
Health, Safety and Security: Keeping Physically and Mentally Fit
Health
Health is a prime requirement and a prime mover to achieve social and economic development
and eventually, peace.
Productive manpower is essential for socio-economic progress; but if people are to be
productive, they must enjoy a satisfactory level of health.
“The protection or restoration of health, not just the absence of disease but the enjoyment of the gift of life as well”
- Dr. Jose P. Rizal’s objective as a citizen
To arrive at this expanded goal of health …
1. We should have knowledge about our own bodies: brain, heart, lungs, muscles, senses, etc. and realize
how wonderfully made we are.
2. We should know how to take care of our bodies: physical hygiene and mental hygiene.
3. We should understand common health problems
4. We should have knowledge of community health
Health may be considered a function of social equity.
The following may substantive impact on health:
Education for literacy
Income supplementation
Clean water and sanitation
Improved housing
Ecological sustainability
More effective marketing of products
Building of roads or waterways
Enhancing the role of women
Safety
Primitive men banded themselves for protection. Modern men stay together for the same reason.
The community protects its members.
Good citizens should be safety-minded.
UNEXPECTED DANGERS
Accidents
Most accidents happen on the road, at recreation places and at home.
Traffic safety is a big problem. Most of the blame lies in the careless habits of drivers and pedestrians.
Recreation has its safety hazards.
Homes can be unsafe places. The people who suffer most from dangers in the home are children and
elderly.
Crimes
Crime is danger to community life. People who break the laws of the community like burglars and who
perform violent and dangerous act like drug addicts are a threat to the life and property of members of
the community.
Crime is better prevented. And this can be done by removing the causes.
Fires
Fire is both man’s friend and enemy. Destructive fires can be prevented by eliminating hazards. Hazards
change from month to month, form season to season.
The effects of fires can be minimized by having these following:
Fire detection and fire alarm systems
Automatic sprinkler systems
Fire fighting pumps
Fire brigades and knowing how to report a fire quickly
Disasters
As natural occurrences, typhoons, floods, earthquakes and volcanic eruptions cannot be prevented. But
their destructive effects can be mitigated by advance warning for typhoons and volcanic eruptions and
properly constructed buildings and homes for earthquakes.
Safety Measures
Accidents, crimes, fires do happen even if prevention is our number-one aim.
First aid- the first help that is given to a person who is hurt or becomes ill suddenly.
Safety is a responsibility of society. One way to be your “brother’s keeper” in this complex world is to
work with others with others for common safety.
Safety Organization of the Philippines (SOPI) - a private organization.
It finds ways to reduce accidents and fires.
It collects safety ideas and encourages the study of safety problems.
It uses government agencies, business firms, schools, civic groups, and the efforts of individual
citizens to enhance safety consciousness and to ensure protection of lives and properties.
Red Cross – a private organization that helps to make life safer by having safety components.
Security
Good citizens should always be security-minded.
Security differs from one person to another.
There is also such this as inner security just as there is outward security.
The best security, because it is real and lasting, therefore, is within yourself. Concrete manifestations of
outward security like possessions, position,, popularity are not lasting.
To acquire inner security, one must know one’s self, one’s strength, and one’s weaknesses.
Social Security
The Philippine social security program which assumes that the great mass of our working population
should feel secure at all times rather than to look at the government for relief when unemployment,
accidents and other difficulties arise follows this trend.
GSIS – Government Service Insurance System
SSS – Social Security System
Modern-day Dangers to Life
At no time in the history of the world has mankind been faced with the threat of extinction.
Consider the following dangers often expressed in media and by man himself:
The accessibility to nuclear weapons despite commitments tom peace by the world’s
superpowers.
The imminent destruction of the ozone layer or the “greenhouse effect”
The dumping in the Third worlds countries of food and drugs found harmful and thus banned in
the First World countries.
The unending traffic of marijuana, drugs and alcohol
The existence of terrorist groups
The growing of militarism
The formation of dubious religious groups
Deforestation, desertification and the unequal distribution of land have undermined the stability
of governments.
How does mankind handle these threats to its life?
Their two aspects are:
1. Each threat involved people – how they act, and how they should act.
2. The threats stand out as very important problems facing humans.
The least can be done is for everyone to reflectively examine each problem, brainstorm, and engage in
others in critical thinking with a view to arriving at the best solution. The process is very much in
support of democracy.
