Quarter 2 - Module 15: Citizenship

Part 2 Task: Reflective Essay

After reading the Reading Text above, I have learned that one’s citizenship is
not solely defined by the state they reside in, but also extends to their capability to co-
exist, participatory ability and allegiance to a certain country and its laws. This
phenomenon is especially underscored in the Philippines as it is a democratic and
republican state; a form of governance where sovereignty is owned and exercised by
the people. Such does not exclude the youth. Our active engagement in politics,
particularly in public and civic affairs is encouraged through, but not limited to, the
protection of our general well-being which, I hope, is practiced by the authorities we
appoint through the democratic power we enjoy today.

Furthermore, the constitutional bases expand its scope towards the pivotal roles
of the private sector, non-governmental sector, community-based and sectoral
organizations, ensuring the state does not only consider and evaluate the people
directly under or within the authority of the government. Also, as it rightfully should,
the state did not fail to, by law, acknowledge the significance of the indigenous
community in nation-building.

The Reading Text also served as a reminder that the citizens of the Philippines
are entitled to and must not be repressed to openly express evaluations, criticisms or
petitions towards the government. Moreover, we are authorized to demand
transparency as far as official records of official acts, transactions, or decisions as
long as such involve public concern.

In addition to my pre-existing knowledge, I understood further the two modes

of achieving citizenship: first, the involuntary method which includes jus sanguinis or
determining citizenship through one parent’s or both parents’ and jus soli or acquiring
such through one’s birthplace, and second; the voluntary method which would be
naturalization or the legal process for a non-citizen of a country to convert into a
citizen. Identifying and classifying the citizens of our country, whether natural-born
or not, then became figurative. Not only that, I was also reminded of my obligations
to the Philippines; to be a patriotic, devoted and law-abiding citizen that actively
partakes in the political processes within our nation or simply, to vote.

Contrary to acquiring, I came to perceive the two methods of losing citizenship:

first, once again, is the involuntary method which is comprised of cancellation of
certificate of naturalization and being declared as a deserter from the AFP during war,
and second; a voluntary method which consists of naturalization in another country,
renouncing status, abiding by the laws of another nation or serving another’s armed
forces. However, one may still reacquire their citizenship through repatriation, act of
the Congress or naturalization once again. These circumstances make the status of
dual citizenship possible as, although there are unique requirements for every state,
those do not directly affect and control another nation.

Personally, in my humble opinion, upon my observations of what I have seen

around me as a Senior High School student, my views on the importance of Citizens
in society particularly lie in Article II, Section 1 of The Constitution of the Republic
of the Philippines where it states that sovereignty is on the people. We control the
governing power that authorizes upon us and we possess the accompanying rights we
can and should impose and maximize as citizens to battle the looming oppression
from officials we, ourselves, appointed. It is imperative that we demand competency
instead of deliberately providing leeway for corruption by persecuting our fellow
Filipinos for exercising the freedom of expression they rightfully deserve. This, I
think, is also pivotal to resuscitating the dying democracy of the Philippines; for the
citizens aware of their rights to employ the liberation they own so that the power of
the masses will reemerge from its deep slumber. It is both time and timely for us to
urge the government to liberate the press from the filters of control and to liberate the
shackled truth behind official records yet to be released to the public. This is the role
we play and the obligation we must fulfill, and until we see it to the end, I am afraid
we are yet to be ‘citizens’ of this country.