Class 1 | Module 1

Understanding Culture,
Society, and Politics (UCSP)
Authors | Jochelle Magboo and Patrick Serra
 Presentation Outline

Introduction Module Standards

Lesson 1 Society and I

How Social Sciences Equip us in

Lesson 2 Understanding People and Society
Better

Class 1 | Module 1 /Sibika.ph

 Module Standards
Most Essential Learning Competencies (MELCs):
Discuss the nature, goals, and perspectives in anthropology, sociology, and
political science.

Content
ByStandards
the end of this module, learners are expected to demonstrate an understanding of:

Human cultural variation, social differences, social change, and political identities;

The significance of studying culture, society, and politics

The rationale for studying anthropology, political science, and sociology.

Class 1 | Module 1 /Sibika.ph

 Performance Standards
By the end of this module, learners are expected to:

Acknowledge human cultural
variation, social differences,
social change, and political
identities;
Adopt an open and critical
attitude toward different social,
political, and cultural
phenomena through observation
and reflection
Appreciate the value of
disciplines of Anthropology,
Sociology, and Political
Science as social sciences.

Class 1 | Module 1 /Sibika.ph

Society and I
Lesson 1
 Lesson Objectives
By the end of this module, learners are expected to demonstrate an understanding of:

Describe themselves according to their cultural, social, and political backgrounds;

Analyze how their backgrounds influence their identity (values, beliefs, behavior);

Recognize the concepts of culture, society, and politics and their respective elements;
and

Examine how the cultural, social, and political phenomena happening around them
continuously influence or change them as individuals.

Class 1 | Module 1 /Sibika.ph

 Key Concepts
❏ Agency - the power of an individual to change society or form a new one.
❏ Beliefs - specific ideas that society holds to be true
❏ Identity - the set of perceived qualities that make an individual unique from the rest
❏ Norms - rules and expectations by which a society guides the behavior of its members
❏ Power - the ability to influence others
❏ Symbols - anything that carries a particular meaning recognized by people who share a
culture
❏ Values - culturally defined standards that people use to decide what is desirable, good,
and beautiful

Class 1 | Module 1 /Sibika.ph

 Self-Evaluation
What do you already know about your identity
?
What do you want to know more about yourself
?

Class 1 | Module 1 /Sibika.ph

 Shaping My Identity
Do we create ● Our identities are said to be socially constructed.
● According to the social-constructionist view, one’s identity is formed through our
our own
interaction with others and in relation to social, cultural, and political contexts. In other
identities? words, our identities are influenced by our society (Rice, 2021).

Biodata, resume, and curriculum vitae tell much about our personal information.

❏ given name - sense of identity

❏ surname - lineage
❏ gender/sex - roles we conform to
❏ the names of our parents and their jobs - social interaction and socioecnomic status
❏ educational attainment - social status and mobility
❏ religion - religious practices
❏ ethnicity - language and culture
❏ political beliefs - exercise of power and inclinations

Class 1 | Module 1 /Sibika.ph

 How does society influence
individuals (identities)?
the social groups that an individual belongs to also affect one’s creation and
maintenance of identity as social groups and their members practice specific
norms (family, ethnolinguistic group, churches, schools, fraternal relationships,
Social groups organizations).
and norms

Can you cite some

historical events that
events that happened in history have been influence
continuously shaping the society and individuals?
subsequently, the individuals in it.

Cultural and
sociopolitical changes/ History – The Philippines’ colonial past molded and changed the Filipino
phenomena culture, mixing together Spanish, American, and indigenous cultures.

Class 1 | Module 1 /Sibika.ph

 How does society influence
individuals (identities)?
National political events Local Events
Example Example Example
1 1 3
Lumads evacuating from their
New policies enacted by
Filipino-American ties kept communities because of
school administrators
politically and culturally strong militarization and armed
changing students’ level
since the start of the American conflict.
colonization through US and practice of freedom—
Military bases in the Philippines. stricter regulations on
Example uniforms, the creation of
● The intermarriage of Filipino and 2 more student-led clubs
Americans and organizations, and the
Barangay and SK officials involving the
● Trade laws which swamp Filipino
locals in policy-making through practice of academic
markets with American goods
● Filipinos’ undying love for consultations, or electoral frauds and freedom.
“imported goods” and Duty-Free violence during local elections

Class 1 | Module 1 /Sibika.ph

 Observing, Interacting with,
and Changing Society
What can you say
about Filipino
culture and
society?
Understanding culture, society, and politics

Class 1 | Module 1 /Sibika.ph

 CULTURE

the ways of thinking, the ways of acting, and the

material objects that together form a people’s way
of life. Culture includes what we think, how we
act, and what we own
(Macionis, 2016)
Class 1 | Module 1 /Sibika.ph
 Elements of Culture
Symbols
anything that carries a particular meaning recognized by people who share a culture, e.g. the national flag represents
our sovereign nationhood, the red cross is a recognized symbol of medical services, the Star and Crescent represents
Islam.

Language
system of symbols that allows people to communicate with one another, e.g.. Arabic, Bisaya, Filipino Sign Language
(FSL).

Values
culturally defined standards that people use to decide what is desirable, good, and beautiful and that serve as broad
guidelines for social living

Norms
rules and expectations by which a society guides the behavior of its members

● Mores – norms that are widely observed and have great moral significance, e.g. gender roles or the concept of
pagkalalake and pagkababae, reverence for the dead.
● Folkways – norms for routine or casual interaction, e.g. paggalang, pagmamano

Class 1 | Module 1 /Sibika.ph

 How can individuals How do you exercise
your power as a

influence society?
child,
a student, and a
friend?

the individual’s ability to exercise power (the ability to make others do what
you would have them do) manifests in their identity and vice versa.

Exercise of
Example Example Example
Power 1 2 3
Community organizing,
In bullying incidents at Woke culture in social
mobilization, bandwagoning,
schools (bully, bullied, media, political siding with the oppressors,
spectator) inclinations repression of other individuals

Class 1 | Module 1 /Sibika.ph

 How can individuals What are the
things that you

influence society?
will change in
Philippine
society?

As much as the society influences the creation of individual identities and

individuals are members of societies who continue and sustain its existence,
the individual is recognized as an agent of social change who has the power
(agency) to shape the society or even form a new one.

Example of individuals who changed their societies (for better or for worse):

Agent of
Change

Mark
Albert Einstein Greta Thunberg You (Ourselves)
Zuckerberg

Class 1 | Module 1 /Sibika.ph

 Synchronous Activity

Activity 1: #MeMeMe (Motivational Activity)

Guide Questions:
1. I am_________________________ (given and last name). identity and lineage
2. I live in_______________(address) with____________(household members). culture at
home and people they socialize with most of the time
3. My father/mother/guardian works as a/an ________________(job). socioeconomic status
4. I am______________(nationality/ethnicity). I practice____________(religion). cultural and
religious upbringing

If there is a hashtag to describe me, it would be #___________________. (values, beliefs,

behavior)
Class 1 | Module 1 /Sibika.ph
 Synchronous Activity

Activity 2: Safe Space (Reflective Assessment)

Share your experiences as prompted by the guide question, and reflect about the lessons you learned from them.

Guide Questions:
1. What Filipino tradition/s have you and your family been observing for a long time? How does the
practice of this tradition impact your life as a child and individual? (cultural)
2. In a barkada, there are people who have different personalities. For you, how do the backgrounds of
your friends affect how they behave inside your social circle? Reflect on your own behaviors as
well. (social)
3. What do you think of the Philippine government’s response to the COVID pandemic? How do the
COVID-related policies of the government affect you as an individual? (political)
4. As a Filipino, what aspect of our culture and society do you want to change? Why do you want this
to change? What can you do to ensure that this change will take place? (practice of agency)

Class 1 | Module 1 /Sibika.ph

 1. If there is one word to describe Philippine politics, what is
it?
2. How much do you like Filipino culture? 10 being the
highest, 1 being the lowest.
3. What current social issues strike you the most or have
been affecting you in some way?
4. What can you say about the current lives of Filipinos in
general?
5. What do you think of the government’s and Filipinos’
response to the COVID pandemic?
6. What changes do you want to happen?
7. What will the Philippines be like 10 years from now?

Class 1 | Module 1 /Sibika.ph

 How Social Sciences Equip Us in
Understanding People and Society Better
Lesson 2
 Lesson Objectives
At the end of the lesson, the student is expected to be able to:

Recognize the perspectives/lessons from the three key disciplines of Social Sciences -
Anthropology, Sociology, and Political Science;

Differentiate the theories and methods employed by each discipline;

Determine how the theories/lessons from the Social Sciences can better equip them to
understand people and society; and

Apply the lessons of the Social Sciences in their own praxis.

Class 1 | Module 1 /Sibika.ph

 Key Concepts
❏ Anthropology - study of the human species, its immediate ancestors, and their cultures.
❏ Moral Compass - signifies someone’s set of values and beliefs that guide them to what
they believe as right or wrong in life.
❏ Political Science - study of governments and politics
❏ Praxis - an act of doing something or practice in relation to theory.
❏ Social Sciences - the study of society, culture and politics based on social and political
philosophy
❏ Sociology - the study of human interactions, social groups and institutions, whole
societies, and the human world

Class 1 | Module 1 /Sibika.ph

 Sub-lesson 1:
Broadening My Perspectives
Class 1 | Module 1 /Sibika.ph
 How can individuals broaden their perspectives?

Social Sciences
- the study of society, culture and politics based on
social and political philosophy (Scott 2006, p.9;
Retrieved from Lanuza and Raymundo), offer
multitudes of disciplines with different perspectives
about people and society -- three key disciplines for
UCSP: Anthropology, Sociology, and Political
Science.

Class 1 | Module 1 /Sibika.ph

 How can individuals broaden their perspectives?

Anthropology Sociology Political Science

Substantive study of the human deals with the scientific study of study of governments and
definition species,its immediate human interactions, social groups politics, wherein the latter is
ancestors,and their and institutions, whole societies, and defined as the activity through
cultures the human world as such. which people make, amend and
(Conrad Kottak) (Lanuza and Raymundo) preserve the general rules under
which they live.
(Andrew Heywood)

Lessons we Suspending judgement Empathy through sociological Understanding the exercise and
can learn or through cultural imagination manifestations of power
adopt from relativism
the definition

Class 1 | Module 1 /Sibika.ph

 Why should we learn these lessons?
(suspending judgement, empathy, and understanding power)

Moral compass
● signifies someone’s set of values and beliefs that guide
them to what they believe as right or wrong in life. These
beliefs dictate their actions, which directly influence
others/society.
● Our moral compass is heavily influenced by our cultural,
social, and political backgrounds. Coupled with individual
agency, these backgrounds do not serve as limits, but as
initial grounds and definitely not the final ones in acting
(praxis) as active agents of change.

Class 1 | Module 1 /Sibika.ph

 What are the different kinds of…

Changes

“The only constant thing in the world is change.”

According to Panopio (2007), changes in culture bring in society and human

beings; likewise, changes in society and human beings bring change in culture and
politics. This phenomenon is called social dynamics.

Class 1 | Module 1 /Sibika.ph

 What are the different kinds of Changes?
Cultura
Social Political
l
Change Change
Change

the alteration in the structure or the modification of a society through
organization in the society, may it be in innovation, invention, discovery or
status, class, etc. (Encyclopedia contact with other societies (Merriam
Brittanica) Webster). It is often caused by the
physical environment, population, war
Example: and conquest, random events, and
technology.
Rise of the ilustrados as
the educated Filipino Example:
elite.
The kind of lifestyle adopted in
the “new normal” brought by
the Covid-19 pandemic
the change in the governmental and
political system of a state through
transition of leadership, clash of
ideologies, etc.
Example:
The transition from dictatorial
to a democratic government
through the People Power
Revolution in 1986

Class 1 | Module 1 /Sibika.ph

 How can you
Can you
effect
effect change
change in in society?
society?

Class 1 | Module 1 /Sibika.ph

 Sub-lesson 2:
Praxis and Methods of the
Social Sciences
Class 1 | Module 1 /Sibika.ph
 Praxis
an act of doing something or practice (application of knowledge) in relation to
theory (knowledge), informed and committed action to the search for truth and
promotion of everyone’s freedom.

Class 1 | Module 1 /Sibika.ph

 How can you put the theories and perspectives
of Social Sciences to praxis?

Anthropology
METHOD
FOCUS
S

➢ Suspending ● Appreciating cultural differences

judgement through ● Becoming more aware of our place in nature and who we are
cultural relativism
● Understanding of diversities and similarities among human beings
➢ Biological and
● Participating in groups
cultural aspects of
● Understanding individuals' reactions within society over time
human development
and behavior ● Cross-cultural understanding

Class 1 | Module 1 /Sibika.ph

 How can you put the theories and perspectives
of Social Sciences to praxis?

Sociology
METHOD
FOCUS
S

➢ Empathy through ● Questioning aspects and perspectives on social conflicts

sociological ● Coming up with solutions to societal problems through
imagination sociological inquiry
➢ Study of society and ● Studying historical events that affect society and people
human behavior ● Examining different points of view

Class 1 | Module 1 /Sibika.ph

 How can you put the theories and perspectives
of Social Sciences to praxis?

Political Science
METHOD
FOCUS
S

● Engaging with social and political problems

➢ Understanding the ● Acquiring and analyzing relevant data to develop logical solutions
exercise and ● Evaluating different perspectives from different cultures and states
manifestations of objectively
power ● Tracing historical processes that involved the exercise of power
● Comparing policies and outputs of governments

Class 1 | Module 1 /Sibika.ph

 Common Practices
Employs the scientific
method
Inquiry → Observations → Theories → Testing the Hypothesis → Data → Conclusion
● Objective and fact-based
● Positivistic and evidence is the basis of the conclusion about a phenomenon
● Investigative and critical
● Communicating finding for the pursuit of knowledge and common good

Class 1 | Module 1 /Sibika.ph

 No. Anyone who wants to
exercise his power (agency)
can realize the potential of
Do you need to being a social scientist. We
be a social may not be experts, but
scientist to some of these practices are
practice these also things we do in school
methods? or in life.

Class 1 | Module 1 /Sibika.ph

 Self-Evaluation

?
How do the knowledge of the social sciences and its essential skills help you form
your identity in relation to yourself, your family, peers, the community, and society?

?
How will you apply the knowledge you have learned in this lesson
in improving Philippine society?

Class 1 | Module 1 /Sibika.ph

 Rubric for Discussions
Excellent Above Average Developing Needs
Improvement
Content:
The central
theme/idea/argument of the
student’s output is focused and
supported by evidence which
indicates mastery of the
content.

Organization:
The flow of the discussion of
the central theme/idea/theme
is coherent.

Presentation:
The form and presentation of
the central theme/idea is clear,
persuasive, polite, and easy to
understand.

Class 1 | Module 1 /Sibika.ph

 Rubric for Creative Outputs

Excellent Above Average Developing Needs

Improvement
Content:
The artwork clearly presents
information, ideas, and/or
theme on topic which
demonstrates understanding
and mastery of the content.

Presentation:
The artwork is meaningful and
elicits understanding on the
subject.

Class 1 | Module 1 /Sibika.ph

 Learning Materials
● Gerry Lanuza & Sarah Raymundo. (2016). Lesson 1:The Birth and Growth of the Social Sciences.
● Understanding Culture, Society and Politics. First Edition. Manila: Rex Book Store (pp.2-15).
● Heywood, Andrew. (2013). Politics. 4th Edition Palgrave Macmillan.
● Kottak, Conrad. (2008). Anthropology: The Exploration of Human Diversity. 13th Edition. McGraw- Hill.
● Macat. (2016, April 14). An introduction to the discipline of Anthropology [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J5aglbgTEig
● Macat. (2016, April 14). An introduction to the discipline of Sociology [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=32KG_ba_NJc
● Macat. (2016, April 14). An introduction to the discipline of Sociology [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YzIcWW3FWSQ
● Panopio, I. & Rolda, R. (2007). Society and Culture, Introduction to Sociology and Anthrophology. Quezon City: Katha Publishing Co., Inc.
● BBC Ideas. (2019, June 6). Relativism: Is it wrong to judge other cultures? | A-Z of ISMs Episode 18 -
● BBC Ideas [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=518FR6SbY_k
● Crash Course. (2017, March 28). Sociology & the Scientific Method: Crash Course Sociology #3 [Video]. YouTube.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZIwyNIdgJBE
● Ted Talks. (2014, April 23). The wisdom of sociology: Sam Richards at TEDxLacador [Video]. YouTube.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gWD6g9CV_sc
● The School of Life. (2016, December 30). Why You Can Change The World [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jxiYsgyn1yU

Class 1 | Module 1 /Sibika.ph

 References
● Contreras, Antonio, Arleigh Ross dela Cruz, Denis Erasga, Cecile Fadrigon. (2016). Understanding
● Culture, Society and Politics. The Padayon Series. Quezon City:Phoenix Publishing House.
● David, R. & Samson, L. (2017). Understanding Culture, Society, and Politics. Mandaluyong City: Anvil
● Publishing, Inc.
● Heywood, Andrew. (2013). Politics. 4th Edition Palgrave Macmillan.
● Kottak, Conrad. (2008). Anthropology: The Exploration of Human Diversity. 13th Edition. McGraw- Hill.
● Lanuza, Gerry & Raymundo,Sarah. (2016). Understanding Culture, Society and Politics. First Edition.
● Manila: Rex Book Store.
● Macionis, John. (2019). Society: The Basics. 15th Edition. Pearson.
● Rice, Tammera (2021). Social Construction of Culture and Identity. College of the Canyons.
● https://socialsci.libretexts.org/@go/page/55552
● Scott, John. (2006). Social Theory: Central issues in sociology. London: Sage.

Class 1 | Module 1 /Sibika.ph

 Class 1 | Module 1

Understanding Culture,
Society, and Politics (UCSP)
Authors | Jochelle Magboo and Patrick Serra
For more modules, access our website at:

sibika.ph/classes/

← RATE THIS MODULE