Good Citizenship Values

Deemed as a good citizenship values pursuant to the 1987 Philippine Constitution are the following:

1.     Pagkamaka-Diyos involves

·         Faith in the Almighty God

o    For just as a body without a spirit is dead, so also faith without wrks is dead. (James 3:26)

o    The only limit to our realization of tomorrow will be our doubts of today: let us move forward with strong and active faith. (Franklin D. Roosvelt)

o    Faith can move mountains.

The Rescue Boats by Father Bel San Luis, SVD

This is the story of Mang Juan, a devout Christian but rather stubborn. When a flood came, he climbed to the roof of his house. A rescue boat came by but Mang Juan begged off to be helped. “No, thanks. I have faith in the Lord. He will save me.”

The waves rose higher and Mang Juan climbed to the tip of the roof. Another boat came by to save him but he waved it off professing his faith in God.

When the waves began to slapping at his feet, he clambered up the chimney. A helicopter swooped down to save him but he still declined for he trusted the Lord. Poor Mang Juan was drowned afterwards.

When he faced the Lord after his death, Mang Juan complained: “Lord, I had such faith in you. Why did you fail me?” To which the Lord replied, “what more did you want? I sent two boats and a helicopter to save you!”

Reflection: Are we using enough our God-given talents to succeed “God helps those who help themselves.”

·         Respect for Life (Let them choose one and expound)

o    Every person’s life is a presious gift, no one has the right to destroy it.

o    God created man on his own image.

o    Our body is God’s temple; we we should take care of it and reagard it as sacred.

o    Allow death penalty to heinous crime.

o    Abortion should be a choice accorded to every women

·         Order (Choose one and expound)

o    It is written, “My house shall be a house of prayer, but you made it a den of thieves,” Jesus reprimanded the vendors in the Temple of Jerusalem. (Luke 19:45)

o    God is not the god of disorder but of peace. (I Corinthians 14:33)

o    Disorder triggers panic, unrest, confusion, chaos and anarchy.

·         Work (Ask reaction from the class on the following)

o    If a man will not work, he shall not eat. (2 Thessalonians 3:10)

o    Give fish to a man and he will have a food for a day but teach him how to fish and he shall have a food to eat throughout his lifetime. (Confucius)

o    Well done is better than well said. (Benjamin Franklin)

·         Concern for the Family and Future Generation (Choose one and exemplify)

o    The future of humanity passes by way of the family.

o    Our family is threatened daily by many issues that tend t destroy its sanctity, unity and harmony.

o    Our family is worth more than any worldly gain.

o    Every member of the family has a role to play, the duty and right to give and receive Love and Respect

2.     Pagkamaka-tao corcerns the following:

·         Love (Explain the moral side)

o    Love is patient and kind; Love never gives up. Love never fails; Love is eternal. (I Corinthians1:3)

o    Love is the fulfillment of the Law. (Romans 13:10)

o    From Love springs other values that draw the best of every person.

o    Love is a decision here, now and forever.

·         Freedom (Give its political significance)

o    Freedom consists not in doing what we like but in having the right to do what we ought. (Pope John Paul II)

o    The great gift of being a human being lies in our freedom to continually right our wrongs and make new persons of ourselves. (Wang Yang Ming)

o    Nations win their freedom by deserving it by loving what is just, what is good, what is great to the point of dying for it. (Dr. Jose P. Rizal)

o    Freedom without responsibility results to anarchy.

o    Give me Liberty or give me death. (Patrick Henry)

·         Peace (Expound)

o    Glory to God in the highest and on earth peace to men of goodwill. (Luke 2:14)

o    The four pillars of peace: Love, Freedom, Truth and Justice

o    Since wars begin in the minds of men, it is in the minds of men that the defenses of peace must be first constructed. (UNESCO)

o    There can be no lasting peace if the nations of the world prosper at the expense of other nations.

·         Truth

o    Tell the truth and the truth shall set you free.

o    The truth can be hidden for a time but it cannot be overcome. (St. Augustine)

o    The most essential quality for leadership is not perfection but credibility: Being truthful.

o    No one has the monopoly of truth.

·         Justice

o    Treat others the way you want to have them treat you. (Matthew 7:12)

o    Give every man what is due to him. (Solon)

o    Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere. (Martin Luther King, Jr.)

o    Justice delayed is justice denied.

3.     Pagkamaka-bayan concerns the following:

·         Unity

o    If a kingdom is divided against itself that kingdom cannot stand and if a house is divided against itself that house will not be able to stand. (Mark 3: 24-25)

o    Remember upon the conduct of each depends the fate of all. (Alexander the Great)

o    United we stand, divided we fall.

o    Unity in Diversity to strengthen Democracy.

o    Honey-bee mentality versus crab mentality.

·         Equality

o    Injure not the poor because they are poor, nor crush the needy at the gate; for the Lord will defend their cause. (Proverbs 22:22-23)

o    Now is the time to open the doors of opportunity to all of God’s children. Now is the time to lift our nation from the quicksand of injustice to the solid rock of brotherhood. (Martin Luther King, Jr.)

o    We held these truths to be self-evident: that all men are created equal; that they are endowed by their Creator with inalienable rights; that among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. (Thomas Jefferson)

o    Every citizen is assured of equality if his basic human rights are ensured.

o    No man is above the Law for it provides fairly for everyone without distinction.

·         Respect for Law and Government (Ask the application in own Barangays)

o    Where Law ends, there tyranny begins. (William Pitt)

o    Rulers are not a cause of fear to good conduct, but to evil. (Romans 13:3)

o    The law is not meant to curtail freedom: it is meant to ensure that every citizen acts responsibly while exercising his freedom.

o    The law and government should not serve the interest of the few, especially those who are in positions of power and authority.

o    Those who have less in life must have more in Law.

·         Patriotism

o    For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it. (Mark 8:35)

o    Patriotism is not a short outburst of emotions but a lifetime of dedication. (Adlai E. Stevenson)

o    The willing sacrifice of the innocent is the most powerful answer to insolent tyranny that has not been conceived by God and man. (Mahatman Gandhi)

o    Patriotism inspires a citizen to the call of service to his nation and look after his fellowmen in need.

·         Promotion  of the Common Good

o    Common good is a substancial ang extremely fertile estate, no crowding or diminishment as it is shared with others. (St. Augustine)

o    The value of promoting the common good should move us to share and reach out to others in need.

o    National interest should prevail over individual interest and vested groups.

o    For the greatest good of the greatest number.

4.     Pagkamaka-Kalikasan features the following:

·         Concern for the Environment

o    Let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, the birds of the air and over all the animanls on the ground.

o    For 200 years we’ve been conquering Nature. Now we’re beating it to death.

o    Lack of effective legislation designed to protect the environment.

o    Inadequate education of the youth and masses regarding the dire state of our country’s environment and natural resources.

o    Have a more efficient “clean and green program” in your barangay.

The Giving Tree by Fr. Benigno P. Beltran, SVD

Once there was a mango tree…and she loved a little boy who would gather her fallen leaves everyday to make a crown and play king of the forest. The boy would also play hide and seek, climb her branches and eat her fruits. The boy loves the tree and the tree was happy.

But the boy grows older and needs money to buy some other things. The mango tree offered her fruits to be sold to the market.

Then one day the boy returned asking to cut her branches to build a mini-house. The tree him to cut her branches to make the boy happy.

After a long time, the boy who grew up as a young man and returned to tell the tree that he needs a small boat. He wants to cut the tree to make a boat to sail away. The tree again yields to make him happy.

After another long time, an old man returned. “I am sorry, but I have nothing left to give you,” said the tree. “I don’t need very much now,” said the old man. “Just a quiet place to sit and rest for I am very tired.” “Well, come sit down and rest,” the tree replied. Both are happy once again.

Moral of the story:  Mother Nature is like an all-giving mother. While she gives fully to make man happy, the latter abuses her relentlessly. It is time to love and respect Mother Nature so that she will continue to share her abundance with us to make our life happy.

What is the importance of values? Values represent basic convictions as to what is right, good or desirable. Values generally influence the attitude and behavior of the person.

Do we need moral values? Moral values are not mere norms of behavior for it guides human conscience. Moral values are the principles by which people are moved to action.

Yes, we need moral values as the source of moral strength to harmonize personal gain with social responsibility, create paths to build a society where we love and share the same table, ensure equality before law and eradicate the root causes of poverty.