The Filipino in the Seventies : an ecumenical perspective, New Day Publisher [1973], by Vitaliano R.

Gorospe S. J. and Richard L. Deaths, Ph. D., pp. 18-29

This is the first ecumenical book produce on the Contemporary Philippines with an emphasis on the
promotion of social justice, development and liberation of the Filipino people.

This chapter contains the perspective of Horacio de la Costa which is all about "The Filipino
National Tradition". According to him, nationalism is two things, an ideology (a concept of what a nation
is, what it can be, and what it ought to be; and a commitment (a recognized and accepted duty to develop
and to help defend one's nation. And nationalism presumes the existence of a nation about which it is an
ideology and to which it is a commitment. And a nation is a people with a common political allegiance
that is based on a tradition, a consensus, and a compact. A tradition which is a shared historic experience
from which the nation derives the principles and values by which it lives; a con census which is a shared
understanding of what the nation is, of what is good for the nation, and of what belonging to the nation
means; and a compact which is a shared agreement among the citizens based on the national tradition and
national consensus. Compact is an agreement with respect to three things. First, it is an agreement to keep
the nation intact and independent. Second, it is an agreement to develop the nation's physical and human
resource, and to do this in such a way as to benefit the many; to provide not only for the present
generation but for future generations. Third is to do things not with a view to national aggrandizement at
the expense of other nations, but rather with a view to render one's nation capable of making a distinctive
contribution to the general advancement of mankind.

From the preceding considerations it follows that a nationalist is one who commits himself to
threefold task. First, a nationalist seeks to embody the national tradition in his ideology, while adapting
the principles and values of that tradition to the challenges of the present. Second, a nationalist seeks to
win national consensus for that ideology. Third, a nationalist seeks to give direction to the national
compact by reducing that ideology to a practicable plan of action.

The Filipino national tradition can be summed up in five principles: pagsasarili, pakikisama,
pagkakaisa, pagkabayani at pakikipagkapwa-tao. pagsasarili is the principle of self-reliance. It is the
personalist principle in the national tradition. It is the burning ambition of every Filipino to be himself; to
be his own man; to be a person in his own right; to make up his own mind; and to do his thing.
Pakikisama, it is what is called partnership principle. It means the equitable sharing of goods and services
among all who help to produce those goods or services on the basis of the spirit of partnership.
Pagkakaisa,is to do things in concerted action. Pagkabayani, is to embody patriotism. And
pakikipagkapwa-tao, to be a fellow, a friend of every man, provided on a basis of equality.
 In my point of view in deriving on our tradition, what we should look for is not ready-made
solutions to our problems, but a specific approach to them. The approach which is most likely to win
national consensus, as being most in accord with the principles and values as a result of our shared
experience over historic time. And the development of the people can only be brought about the people
themselves, that no one can do it for them but only they can do it.

The focal point in this topic are the principles and values drive from the national tradition such as
pagsasarili which is the will to secure form every Filipino the means to developer himself as a responsible
human being. Pakikisama, it is the willingness to share with one another the burdens as well as the
rewards of living together. Pagkakaisa, the building up of an articulated national community through
forms of social organization understood, accepted and undertaken by the people themselves. Pagkabayani,
which us the readiness to put the common good of the native above the private interest, weather of one's
own personal, group or class. And pakikipagkapwa-tao, the human solidarity understood as a dedication
to the developments of one's own nation as to enable it to participate in free and equal terms in the total
development of mankind.

I can recommend that this book is nice to read for the people to internalize in the reality. So they
could apply in what they might learn from this book.

Submitted By: Alegado, Angie Mae L.

BSED 2

Submitted To: Mr. Philner Salindo

Instructor
The Making of the Filipino Nation and Republic, University of the Philippines Press, 1998 by Jose V.
Abueva, pp. 761-766

This book contains information about the making of the Filipino nation and Republic which
involves from the making of barangays, tribes, sultanates and colony.

In this chapter which covers about "Our National Unity and Solidarity" tackles on the elements of
the compact nation which are the efficient individual, the well-knit family and the coordinated
community. In rebuilding our shattered county after World War II, there are three things needed in order
to won the struggle. First, we need to renew our confidence in ourselves, in our national destiny, in the
great promise and the great future. Seconded, we need national unity, the unity of purpose. Third, we need
the assistance of the United States of America.

The strongest and deepest force that unites the Filipinos is nationalism. And the love of country
requires solidarity. Family solidarity is one of the rocks which communism is floundering in its assault
against the free world. National progress can be attained only by solidarity, national unity, and by the
willingness of all sectors of society. As in our fight for justice, for freedom and for national independence
we can achieve our goals only in Unity.

In my point of view, it is being emphasized that nationalism is very important, that a person must
have. Because, when we are unified or when there is unity, we can conquer all we need to conquer and so
nothing is impossible. And it is applicable to our daily lives.

The main point in here as being emphasized is that, only in unity we can achieve our goal as a
whole. We can attain national progress if all are willing to give of themselves in hard work, sacrifice and
national discipline.

I can say that this book is nice for everyone to read and reflect as human being in our society. It
could enlighten people to do what is right and just not only to ourselves but also to the benefits of the
whole country.

Submitted By: Alegado, Angie Mae L.

BSED 2
Submitted To: Mr. Philner Salindo
Instructor
Philippine History and Government, 1992, by Alberto S. Abeleda, Jr., pp55-63

This book contains the history of the Philippines and its government during the era of colonization.
It shows how the native Filipinos were being enlightened and gained wisdom

The unit covers The Rise of Filipino Nationalism which simple defines nationalism as love for
one's country including the feeling of belonging to a country, sharing its hopes and aspirations and doing
something for the good of the nation as a whole. During the great party of Spain's rule in the Philippines,
this feeling of belonging does not exist among the native Filipinos. They did not think of themselves as
one nation yet. There were several reason for this: (1) the geography of our country; (2) Spain's policy of
keeping the natives divided so that they could not be a challenge to Spanish rule; (3) the absences of a
leader or group of leaders who could unite the native Filipinos into one nation and articulated not only the
grievances of the people but also their hopes and aspirations. These absences was due to the fact that the
Spanish authorities in the Philippines choose not to extend the benefits of higher education to the native
Filipinos for they were afraid that the educated natives would post a danger to Spanish rule. However,
during the last century of Spanish rule, children of wealthy Filipino families where allowed to enter
colleges and universities.

Ironically, it was Spain who contributed much to the development of nationhood and the feeling of
nationalism. The basic elements of nationhood where the common racial ancestry, cultural heritage and
love for freedom, and common religion (Christianity) and common geographical identity (the name
"Philippines") where added by the Spaniards. Spain enabled the native Filipinos to get used to the idea of
having and living under one supreme government by establishing a centralized government. There it
comes the factors which helped Filipino nationalism developed. These are the opening of the Philippines
to world trade which brought the colony into the main stream of world commerce. They also brought new
political ideas from Europe and Americas, ideas such as freedom, democracy, equality and human rights.
And the opening of the Suez Canal in Egypt in November 1869 speeded up the flow of the new political
ideas in the colony. Another factor is the rise of a Filipino middle class due to the economic prosperity of
the Philippines; the secularization movement, Filipino nationalism received a big boost from the
secularization movement. The brief period of liberalism in the Philippines ushered by General Carlos
Maria de la Torre who assumed the office on June 1869. And the Cavity mutiny of 1872. The execution
of Fathers; Gomez, Burgos and Zamora and the wave of arrests of prominent persons served to unite the
Filipinos (the natives and creoles). They finally realized their common grievances, the abuses and
injustices being committed by a colonial government and society dominated by peninsulares. Until, they
finally formed such movements which fight against the Spaniards as a result of nationalism.

So, my point of view about this is that, the Spaniards were the reason why Filipino nationalism was
being formed. They were the main cause of the Filipino’s enlightenment. The wisdom gained by the
Filipinos basically started from them. It was the Spaniards who contributed the development of
nationalism by providing the native Filipinos with a set of grievances.

Based on my understanding the main point here is that, though the Spaniards caused too much pain,
but they were still responsible for all the consciousness, understanding and wisdom that the Filipino had.

I can recommend to everyone that this book is very well organized and easy to understand. So, it is
nice to read and to be used by students.

Submitted By: Alegado, Angie Mae L.

BSED 2

Submitted To: Mr. Philner Salindo

Instructor