What is Nationalism?

Nationalism and patriotism show the relationship of an individual towards his/her

nation. The two are often confused and frequently believed to mean the same thing.
However, there is a vast difference between these concepts. For one “nationalism” means to
give more importance to unity by way of a cultural background, including language and
heritage, whereas “patriotism” pertains to the love for nation, with more emphasis on
values and beliefs.

According to Feshback and sakano, as cited by staub and Bar-tal (1997), nationalism
is a feeling of national superiority, in contrast to patriotism, which refers to love of nation.
Johnson defined nationalism as a “commitment, principle, sentiment, or ideology that
nations should be self-governing,” suggesting that it overlaps with patriotism only when
the members of a state are coterminous with a particular homogenous ethnic group.
Meanwhile, Worchel and Coutant (1997) differentiate between the psychological nature of
nationalism and patriotism, suggesting that nationalism is defined as “an attachment to a
nation characterized by a desire to enhance one’s personal welfare and thus is inherently
selfless.”

Patriotism is preceded by the development of national consciousness, which fosters

common elements that represent special bonds tying the group members together. A basic
assumption of patriotism differs fundamentally from the romanticized notion of this
concept. Nationality is believed to be a natural part of a person’s identity, as revealed in
both material culture (clothes, food, and national symbols) and in the character and
behaviors of the individual. In this concept of nationalism, self-image is not an “ism” or an
ideology, but a basic condition for human existence. The nationality of the individual is
perceived as inevitable, fixed, and determined from the moment of birth; it cannot be
acquired nor can others disclaim a person’s national identity. The nationalist movement is
far more descriptive and maintains that the national character has existed since time
immemorial.

Most nationalists assume that their country is better than any other, whereas
patriots believe that their country is one of the best but can still be improved in many ways.
Patriots tend to believe in friendly relations with other countries, while some nationalists
do not hold the same belief. Nationalism gives a feeling that one’s country is superior to
another in every aspect; hence, it is often described as the worst enemy of peace according
to the great thinker george orwell. Another important difference between nationalism and
patriotism is that patriotism does not pave the way for enmity towards other nations,
rather, it actually helps strengthen the admiration towards one’s own country.

The concept of “nationalism” refers to several phenomena. First, it refers to the

within-group motivation for actions aimed at creating a state. This type of nationalism
arises from a past history of suffering and aims to create self-determination and a new,
better identity. second, it refers to the motivation to enhance the group’s power, wealth,
and influence. Third, it refers to identity-building actions other than the creation of a state.
 Keilman, as cited by Staub and Bar-Tal (1997), identifies the two types of
attachment to a nation: sentimental and instrumental. The former is based on the
perception that the group represents (i.e., reflects, extends, or conforms) personal identity,
whereas the latter is based on the perception that the group meets the needs and interest
of its members. Specifically, the attachment to the homeland reflects the need for self-
protection (i.e. security, food, personal space) and self- transcendence (i.e., power, wealth,
stability, and continuity), both of which are fulfilled by patriotism.

The claim to nationhood is addressed not only to putative members of the nation,
but also to those who are in a position to validate such a claim. The power to validate
claims to nationhood resides above all with the state, although influential non-state actors
may also play important roles. The basic work is done by the category “nation” in the
context of nationalist movements—ones that create a polity for a putative nation. In other
contexts, the category “nation” is used in a very different way, that is, it is used not just to
challenge the existing territorial and political order, but to create a sense of national unity
for a given polity. This is the sort of work that is often called “nation-building,” of which we
have heard much of late. It is this sort of work that has been undertaken—with varying but
not particularly impressive degrees of success—by leaders of post-colonial states who won
independence, but whose populations remained deeply divided along regional, ethnic,
linguistic, and religious lines.

Why should We study patriotism and nationalism?

“Upang maitindig natin ang bantayog ng ating lipunan, kailangang

radikal nating baguhin hindi lamang ang ating mga institusyon kundi
maging ang ating pag-iisip at pamumuhay. Kailangan ang rebolusyon,
hindi lamang sa panlabas, kundi lalo na sa panloob!”
- Apolinario Mabini

La Revolucion Filipina (1898)

It is difficult to “teach an old dog with a new tricks.” According to Bob Proctor a
famous inspirational speaker, the uneducated individuals in the twenty-first century are
those who cannot learn, unlearn, and re-learn. We have so much information that is
available today, thus causing information overload for the casual audience. However, what
is lacking in us is “wisdom,” which emanates from ourselves, in particular, from having a
deep knowledge of our identity. This is the essence of patriotism and nationalism.

The goal of a good citizen should be to practice the virtue of patriotism. Our country,
next to god and our parents, is our greatest benefactor. Being the land of our birth and the
land where we live, our country deserves our love and devotion. We should love our
motherland not only because it is the source of our very own existence, but also because we
owe allegiance to her in the same way as we owe loyalty to our god and our parents.

While it is true that the concepts of patriotism and nationalism emanate from
Europe and our ancestral frame of thinking is based on their idea because we were under
Spanish and American colonial rule, its nature is innate in any civilized society. However,
we only learn from them, but we are ultimately not like them. It is like a person being
raised and imbued with certain values by his/her parents. since our birth, our parents have
been responsible for molding us to become humans; however, as we mature, we become
responsible for creating our own identities. Countries like the United Kingdom, the United
States and even ancient Greek and Rome are just our role models, and their experiences
can be used as we reflect on ourselves as a nation.

Indigenous Community And Early Filipino Concept Of Patriotism

“We own the land and mock us saying, ‘Where is your title?’ when we ask the
meaning of your words you answer with taunting arrogance, ‘Where are the
documents to prove that you own the land?’ Titles? Documents? Proof of
ownership? Such arrogance to speak of owning the land when we instead are
owned by it. how can you own that which will outlive you? Only the race
owns the because the race lives forever.”

-Macli-ing Dulag
Kalinga Chief, Defender of
the Cordillera

To claim a place is the birthright of every man. If the lowly animals have claimed
their place, how much more can be said of man’s ability to do the same? Man is born to live.
According to the beliefs of some of our ancestors, Apo Kabunian, loved us all, gave us life,
and placed us in the world to live human lives. Where then shall we obtain life? From the
land. Hence, to work is an obligation and not merely a right. In tilling the land, you possess
it; land is a grace that must be nurtured. In fact, to enrich the land and make it productive
are the eternal exhortations of Apo Kabunian to all his children. Land is sacred, land is
beloved, and from its womb springs our Kalinga life.
The following excerpt is taken from a presentation of Bro. Carl gaspar entitled The
Quest for a Mindanaoan Indigenous Philosophy:

“[In] the words of Datu Kajogjog of the respected Manobo tribe, ancestral domain is the life
and blood of our race. This was given to us by the Magbabaya so that our race will live on.
Thus, we are ordered by the Magbabaya to care for, defend our lands just as the Magbabaya
cares for us and defends us. When we speak of the right of of self-determination, this is related
to our ancestral land. What else will we manage or care for if our lands are lost, not
respected, [and] not recognized? How will we ensure the customs and traditions our very
people will live on? As a nation, have we asked ourselves this question? Do we enter the
uniformed service for the protection of our motherland or do we do all endeavors for the
benefit of our country and for the betterment of the Filipino nation?

In this light, one wonders what could have been the outcome of our country if we
have applied the indigenous wisdom of Datu Kajogjog and Datu Dulag on how to relate to
the land (ang tahanan ng ating lahi na kumupkup at tumulong upang maging malagaya,
malakas at kapakigpakinabang). This is tantamount to embracing a serious effort to
discipline one’s self and dedicate ones’ efforts to attaining a good amount of competencies
and skills that are necessary in the conduct of service (bilang ganti), which are tangible,
meaningful, moral, and transformative and are done for the love of country (para sa
bayan).Such an indigenous understanding must be the fountain of one’s desire to serve and
protect his/her motherland beyond regional boarders and ethnicity. In other words,
though ethnicity must be the source of love for one’s country, it should not be the limit of
such love; if we are to be true Filipinos, we must act as one and move as one ethnicity.
Moreover, regionalism should enliven nationalism and patriotism. We can be one family
under such an orientation if we are to achieve great feats as a nation. As a great general
once said “Ang sumumpa ng katapatan sa rehiyon at tribo, yan ang patunay na hindi pa tayo
handa sa ating sariling kalayaan.” The question now arises,are we ready to become more
than just a tribe and more than just a “family?” Are we prepared to become Filipinos?

We have to learn from other countries’ experiences, particularly on how they

demonstrated their patriotism and nationalism and how these contributed to nation-
building as a whole. Moreover, we must re- learn our history so that we can better
internalize and appreciate the freedom that we have now and give credit to those who
sacrificed their lives to achieve the freedom we are enjoying. We must also unlearn
different practices that weakened our nation and caused fragmentation. We are “Filipino”
by birth and by blood and “Philippines” is our beloved country. Therefore, it is our duty to
defend our country from internal and external threats as this is the only way for us to
preserve our democracy and our identity as “Filipinos.”

We can learn so much from our first people (indigenous people) for they had deep
intimacy with the land, which was ingrained in their way of life—almost like second nature
to them. We can also gain insights from their tradition so that we can re-orient ourselves to
values that are fundamental in allowing us to demonstrate the makabayan spirit among
civilians, most especially in serving the government. Nothing is far noble a profession than
public service; if you love your country, you will look after its welfare and the welfare of its
people. For this, we must attain a decent degree of admiration.
Mga Aral Nang Katipunan [ ng mga A.N.B. ]
Emilio Jacinto

1. Ang kabuhayang hindi ginugugol sa isang malaki at banal na kadahilanan ay

kahoy na walang lilim, kundi damong makamandag
2. Ang gawang magaling na nagbubuhat sa pagpipita sa sarili, at hindi sa talagang
nasang gumawa ng kagalingan, ay di kabaitan.
3. Ang tunay na kabanalan ay ang pagkakawang gawa, ang pagibig sa kapua at ang
isukat ang bawat kilos, gawa’t pangungusap sa talagang Katuiran.
 4. Maitim man at maputi ang kulay ng balat, lahat ng tao’y magkakapantay;
mangyayaring ang isa’y higtan sa dunong, sa yaman, sa ganda...; ngunit di mahihigtan sa
pagkatao.
5. Ang may mataas na kalooban inuuna ang puri sa pagpipita sa sarili; ang may
hamak na kalooban inuuna ang pagpipita sa sarili sa puri.
6. Sa taong may hiya, salita’y panunumpa.
7. Huag mong sasayangin ang panahun; ang yamang nawala’y magyayaring
magbalik; nguni’t panahong nagdaan na’y di na muli pang magdadaan.
8. Ipagtanggol mo ang inaapi, at kabakahin ang umaapi.
9. Ang taong matalino’y ang may pagiingat sa bawat sasabihin, at matutong
ipaglihim ang dapat ipaglihim.
10. Sa daang matinik ng kabuhayan, lalaki ay siyang patnugot ng asawa’t mga anak;
kung ang umaakay ay tungo sa sama, ang patutunguhan ng iaakay ay kasamaan din.
11. Ang babai ay huag mong tignang isang bagay na libangan lamang, kundi isang
katuang at karamay sa mga kahirapan nitong kabuhayan; gamitan mo ng buong
pagpipitagan ang kaniyang kahinaan, at alalahanin ang inang pinagbuhata’t nagiwi sa iyong
kasangulan.
12. Ang di mo ibig na gawin sa asawa mo, anak at kapatid, ay huag mong gagawin sa
asawa, anak, at kapatid ng iba.
  13. Ang kamahalan ng tao’y wala sa pagkahari, wala sa tangus ng ilong at puti ng
mukha, wala sa pagkaparing kahalili ng Dios wala sa mataas na kalagayan sa balat ng lupa;
wagas at tunay na mahal na tao, kahit laking gubat at walang nababatid kundi ang sariling
wika, yaong may magandang asal, may isang pangungusap, may dangal at puri; yaong di
napaaapi’t di nakikiapi; yaong marunong magdamdam at marunong lumingap sa bayang
tinubuan.
14. Paglaganap ng mga aral na ito at maningning na sumikat ang araw ng mahal na
Kalayaan dito sa kaabaabang Sangkalupuan, at sabugan ng matamis niyang liwanag ang
nangagkaisang magkalahi’t magkakapatid ng ligaya ng walang katapusan, ang mga ginugol
na buhay, pagud, at mga tiniis na kahirapa’y labis nang natumbasan. Kung lahat ng ito’y
mataruk na ng nagiibig pumasuk at inaakala niyang matutupad ang mga tutungkulin,
maitatala ang kaniyang ninanasa sa kasunod nito.

Learning Activities:

Review of Concepts:
 “Patriotism” is defined as “love of one’s country” or one’s “country of birth”
because it is the land of one’s forefathers.
 Ethnicity is instrumental if we are to clearly concretize the feel of
nationalism. With the way one becomes loyal to his/her ethnic group and the
pride and sense of identity one has in being the person he/she is, it is safe to
assume that the flames of nationalism starts as a glint of ethnic fervor.
 Nationalism and patriotism show the relationship of an individual towards
his/her nation. The two are often confused and frequently believed to mean
the same thing. However, there is a vast difference between these concepts.
For one “nationalism” means to give more importance to unity by way of a
cultural background, including language and heritage, whereas “patriotism”
pertains to the love for nation, with more emphasis on values and beliefs.