Citizenship

At the end of the session the you should be able to:

1. Describe what good citizenship is;

2. Exercise good citizenship values to situations in daily life;
3. Abide by the rules and regulations of the Philippines;

The 12 Little Things

1. Be on Time, Honor Your Commitments. This 1st Little Thing may sound very
simple. But it addresses one of the most noticed and talked about negative traits
of the Filipino – that of always being late for something. Filipinos are known for
always being late and some make fun of it and say the “Filipino Time”. Being late
is a sign of a lack of discipline. It shows a lack of responsibility. To be punctual,
to come on time for a meeting or commitment, takes only a little discipline from
each one of us. Let’s make “Filipino Time” mean being on time, all the time.

2. Fall in Line, Respect Others & Follow the Law. This 2nd Little thing also sounds
very simple and ordinary. It is not only in big situations and crises but also
through simple, seemingly ordinary situations that the character of a person is
tested and revealed. This simple act of falling in line or following traffic rules
reflects on our character and reveals our discipline and level of education as a
people. It is an indication that the person knows what is right from wrong and
what is good from the bad. 

3. Sing our national anthem with pride and honor. One of the simplest acts we can
do to honor the Filipino and our Motherland. Singing our national anthem with
pride is honoring all those of our people who fought and died to make us a nation
of free people today. What is being asked of us is really very simple – to stand
up, put our right palm over our chest, and sing the anthem with pride. 
4. Study well. Give your best in everything you do. Dream big! Study and educate
yourself. If you are educated, even if you are poor, the high and mighty will listen
to you and the most powerful men/women will think a hundred times before
violating your rights and liberties. Educate yourself so you become part of the
solution. Learn the true essence of education, that is, to know the good from the
bad, the truth from the falsity, and may you prefer the good and the truth. 

5. Be Honest. Do not cheat, lie or steal. Report any crime or illegal act. The biggest
problems in our government today and in the past are all about honor, or the lack
of it. They are all about cheating, stealing, and lying. It is a challenge for us to
promote a “Culture of Honor”. Our youth should learn not to cheat, steal or lie
and to report people who do so we may have a better tomorrow. By doing so, we
become part of the hope of our nation.

6. Conserve water, plant a tree and dispose of your garbage properly. Our country
is a hotspot for climate change and clearly, there are indications of changing
climate patterns around the world. In our own little way, we can reverse the trend
of degradation and save our environment by conserving water, planting trees,
disposing of garbage, and even lobbying laws to protect and preserve the
environment.   

7. Be an ambassador of the Filipino. Speak positively of the Filipino & Country. We

need to be careful with the words we use to call and describe ourselves. The
words we use to call and describe ourselves if we keep on repeating them
someday soon would become our reality. Using “Ay naku, only in the
Philippines!”, “Naku, Pinoy na Pinoy talaga!”, “Pinoy kase eh!” or the label “Juan
Tamad” by the Spaniards is used in a negative way and creates a negative
image of Filipinos. Let us try to develop a beautiful and positive way of looking at
the Filipino. Speak positively of the Filipino and our country before our family,
friends, and other people, especially foreigners. Let us be models of what an
educated and dignified Filipinos is. And lastly, let us support Filipino talents and
 products wherever we may be. Our challenge is to build a positive and healthy
image, a wonderful view of ourselves as a people. Our children, our youth, our
future, need to believe that there is greatness in our race.

8. Buy Pinoy. Do not buy fake or smuggled goods. Why buy Filipino products?
Because whenever you buy a Filipino product, wherever you may be, perhaps at
least 40% of the price that you pay for the product will go back to the Philippines.
Part of the money that you paid will support the business and employees of the
company that manufactured the product. It will nurture the talents and skills of
Filipino. And some part of the money you paid would also go to the government
by the way of taxes. Our simple act of buying Filipino products supports our
Motherland, especially in these times when our country needs every little bit of
help from each one of us. It is an act of patriotism. It is an act of Bayanihan.

9. Save, plan ahead and learn business early. To get a head start on the life you
must also become financially literate. Simply put, you must learn not only how to
make a living, but also, more importantly, how to save, invest and manage your
money. Save and invest early.

10. During elections, vote for and support candidates who stand for what is right and
good. The youth have the biggest voting number in the country. But do they have
the strongest voice in the country? Do they also have the biggest influence on
the government and in society as a whole? Do they have appropriate
representation in the government? Do they exert their power in affecting change
in society? If we want to see progress in our country, we must start with the way
we perform our duties as citizens. As a people, we must be involved. 

11. Respect our elders, practice mano po. There is nothing like “Mano po” in the rest
of the world, especially in these modern times. It is uniquely and wonderfully
Filipino. Our “mano po” is a habit and tradition that truly captivates the hearts of
foreigners who come to our shores. Our respect for our elders is truly one of our
best traits as a people.

12. Pray for our country and our people. The Filipino is essentially a person of faith.
He believes in a creator, although the name may vary among religions. When we
pray together, we become one people. But prayer without action or charity is
nothing. Even if we pray to God in church every Sunday, but fail to see Him in
every person we meet in the street, there is something wrong with our faith. We
must pray as people, but we must also act to help one another, as one people.

Volunteer Act of 2007

Some Important provisions of RA 9418:

 It shall be the policy of the State to promote the participation of the various
sectors of the Filipino society, and as necessary, international and foreign
volunteer organizations in public and civic affairs and adopt and strengthen the
practice of volunteerism as a strategy in order to attain national development and
international understanding [Section 2]. 

 The inculcation of volunteerism as a way of life shall rekindle in every Filipino the
time-honored tradition of Bayanihan to foster social justice, solidarity and
sustainable development [Section 2]. 

 Volunteerism in the Academe includes, but is not limited to, provision of technical
assistance and sharing of technology within the academic circle, target
communities and other clienteles and the upgrading of the quality of education
and curriculum methodologies while providing career enhancement and
exposure to the volunteers. b) Volunteerism in the Corporate Sector as an
expression [Section 5a].
  The Department of Education (DepEd) and the Commission on Higher Education
(CHED) shall integrate volunteerism as part of the curriculum in basic and higher
education to raise the consciousness of the youth and develop the culture of
volunteerism among the citizenry [Section 12b].

Underlying Principles of Citizenship

1. Good citizenship is the duty of every Filipino.

“Our Constitution mandates every citizen's obligation to love the country. Nationhood
requires that its citizens agree on forms of expression that symbolize respect,
patriotism, and love for this country. 

Every nation articulates itself through these symbols, rites, or ceremonies. Our national
symbols, such as the national flag, the anthem, motto, coat-of-arms, and other heraldic
items and devices not only link our collective consciousness to history, but also serve as
a reminder of how we, as a nation, must continuously strive for justice, equality, and
freedom, which these symbols signify. Thus, the respect accorded the use of these
symbols form the base of good citizenship and must be reiterated and strengthened. 

Republic Act 8491 or the law that prescribes the Code of the heraldic items and devices
in the Philippines, is intended to invigorate love of country and underscore the
importance of complying with standard expressions of respect for our national
symbols.” 

http://legacy.senate.gov.ph/lisdata/98958917!.pdf 

2. Good citizenship actions proceed from the following good citizenship values
which is also the National Motto of the Philippines as stated in Chapter III,
Section 40 of Republic Act 8491 [Annex 1]:

3. The building of a strong, peaceful, progressive nation of the just and humane
society envisioned in the Philippine Constitution requires that every Filipino
citizen makes his unique contribution thereto. 
4. Citizens are called to help, affirm, and reinforce one another as they seek to be
good citizens.
5. Good governance and good citizenship are inseparable.
Ethical people are good citizens. They go beyond their own interests, demonstrate a
concern for the needs of others and recognize their obligations to make their home,
school, neighborhood and country the best they can be. There are many ways to
express good citizenship. For some people, citizenship means performing public service
such as volunteering, serving in the armed forces, running for elective office or
campaigning for a candidate. For others, citizenship is holding a job, paying taxes and
obeying the law still to others, citizenship just means being born as a “citizen” of the
country.

Citizenship is not passive. Citizenship demands participation, involvement and

contribution. No one can make a difference without being involved. A good citizen is not
content to be just an anonymous face in the crowd or a non-participating member of a
group.

Citizenship Do’s

 Being a good neighbor. Caring about and pursuing the common good.
 Giving the share to make the school and community better, cleaner and safer
 Conserving resources by practicing the three R’s: reduce, re-use, and recycle
 Staying informed, voicing your opinions and voting on issues affecting the
community.

Citizenship Don'ts

 Looking out only for yourself

 Littering and waste resources
 Leaving all political matters to the “experts”

Digital Citizenship

The Internet as we know it now began to take shape in the early 1990s, and since then
the digital world has become increasingly integrated in our daily lives. Whether they’re
surfing the web on a computer or playing games on their parent’s smartphone, many
children use technology on a regular basis. That’s why teaching digital ethics is so
important: to make sure students know how to use the Internet responsibly.

A broad definition of digital citizenship is the ability to use technology and the Internet in
an appropriate manner. As technology continues to advance, so does the potential to
abuse it (intentionally or otherwise). Digital citizenship skills give students the right tools
to engage with the digital world in ways that promote healthy online communities.

Because digital citizenship is such a wide-ranging topic, it can encompass a variety of

concepts and actions. A few examples of digital citizenship include:

 Learning to type, use a mouse, and other computer skills

 Avoiding harassment or hateful speech while conversing with others online
 Encouraging yourself and others not to illegally download content or otherwise
disrespect digital property

9 Elements of Digital Citizenship

These elements help students navigate online resources. They form a guide for
teaching students what they need to know to be safe and informed digital citizens.

Digital Access
Digital access involves the ability to connect with others or access information using
technology. As a teacher, you can instruct students on how to find valuable and safe
information on the Internet. You can also help children from disadvantaged communities
use computers or other resources at school to increase their digital access.

Digital Etiquette

Digital etiquette is just what it sounds like: treating other Internet users with respect and
avoiding inappropriate behavior. For elementary students, one of the most important
digital etiquette principles is understanding the consequences of cyberbullying.

Digital Commerce

Digital commerce refers to buying and selling electronics responsibly. For the most part,
elementary students do not need to learn or practice this element of digital citizenship.
For middle or high school students, however, discussions around digital commerce can
help them learn how to be better consumers or consider career paths related to digital
sales.

Digital Rights and Responsibilities

Digital rights and responsibilities refers to the privileges that all students have while
using the Internet, like freedom of speech. It also involves a student’s duty to make sure
that these rights remain available for everyone by treating other users fairly and
respecting their privacy.

Digital Literacy

The definition of digital literacy is the ability to learn how to use technology and access
information online. A few examples of digital literacy include knowing how to use a
mouse or how to find answers on a search engine. Not all students start school with the
same technological ability. Teaching Internet skills in class can help bridge gaps in
digital literacy.

Digital Law

Digital law encompasses the rules or guidelines set within an organization for using the
Internet. In your classroom, you could talk about preventing plagiarism or putting
phones away in class to teach digital law.

Digital Communication

The options that students have for communicating online are greater than ever. Text,
email, social media, and online games are all ways that children might digitally interact
with others. For this reason, it’s important to teach your students how to communicate
safely and effectively online.

Digital Health and Wellness

This element of digital citizenship involves teaching students how to protect their
psychological and physical well-being while using the Internet. This could include
practicing how to sit correctly in a chair while using the computer and avoiding too much
screen time.

Digital Security

The ninth element of digital citizenship—digital security—involves teaching students

how to take steps to stay safe online. Although the Internet can be an excellent
resource, students need to know how to avoid viruses, scams, or strangers online.
Internet safety lessons for children could include anything from why privacy online is
important to what to do if they encounter a cyberbully or stranger.
Why Teach Digital Citizenship with Technology in the Classroom?

The benefits of digital citizenship for kids extend far beyond the individual.[8] When we
help students develop healthy practices on the Internet, we’re also creating a better
space for everyone they interact with. If your students use technology in class, a digital
citizenship curriculum is one of the best ways to help everyone make the most of their
time online.

Because technology is so prevalent in schools, teachers often have to worry about how
to prevent cyberbullying, cell phones disrupting class, and plagiarism. Teaching digital
citizenship can be one of the best ways to decrease these and other inappropriate
behaviors at school. As they become good digital citizens, students can use the Internet
with a greater sense of self-awareness and better understand how to best use
technology.

Teaching digital literacy and other citizenship skills can also help bridge digital equity
gaps (or the “digital divide”) between students. Not all students have the same level of
access to technology at home. Students from low-income or marginalized communities
often have fewer digital experiences in comparison to their peers. When digital literacy
is a core part of their education, the technological resources and lessons in school can
help these students catch up with their classmates.

5 Digital Citizenship Activities and Tips [for Elementary Students]

Use these digital citizenship games and lesson ideas to help elementary students
develop essential skills for the wise and effective use of technology:

 Digital safety is important for everyone, but especially for young students. Teach
your students internet safety tips, like how to keep personal information private or
avoid talking with strangers online.
 The earlier students learn to use a keyboard and mouse, the better! Use your
school’s technology lab to play typing games or teach students how to use a
computer.
 Show students the variety of free resources they can use online, like Wikipedia or
Google. Teach them not only how to access these resources but also how to use
them safely.
 Cyberbullying can affect anyone, [even elementary students]. Brainstorm with
your students how they can be respectful on the Internet and what to do if
someone is bullying them.
 To avoid plagiarism, teach older [elementary students] how to cite information
that they find online.