Value of Economic Self-sufficiency

Economic self-sufficiency is an aspect of independence. It means being able to support oneself and not depend on others. Economic self-sufficiency is related to other values such as initiative, productivity, self-reliance and technical know-how. It includes vocational efficiency and entrepreneurship. These are within the context of Christian values that one should develop oneself fully and utilize ones potentials to survive. Economic self-sufficiency implies hard work, work ethics, all aimed at success and personal fulfillment. Economic self-sufficiency is a responsibility; it means choosing a lifework that can sustain him through the years. It is the capability of earning a living, a hanapbuhay, although it means more than this. It also means giving and sharing ones talents and energies to improve community relations and environment. It also means improving the quality of ones life and that of others. Productive persons contribute to the economic sufficiency and security of their family and nation. Productivity is considered as the key to raising the quality of life, especially for the underprivileged in Philippine society. Self-reliance and the application of scientific knowledge as well as vocational efficiency are the values necessary for increase in production. The daring spirit of entrepreneurship is another important element for economic growth and development taking into account the availability of vast natural resources in the country. The spirituality of work should give Filipino Christians proper direction to view economic self-sufficiency and progress in scientific and technological fields as triumphs of the human race, which are not opposed to Christian faith. Rather, these are signs of Gods greatness and the accomplishment of His mysterious design which He has entrusted to human persons from the beginning of creation. To achieve economic self-sufficiency and progress is to fulfill our vocation as co-creators.

Value of Nationalism/Patriotism
It means love of country, a country that is undivided. The different peoples in our country, the Tagalogs, the Igorots, the Muslims, or Christians, the Visayans or the Ilocanos, and all other groups should stand in unity, sharing the same aspirations and ideals. With the present conflicts dominating the social, economic, political and moral lives of the Filipinos, reconciliation, and reconstruction of relationships among the various groups should be attempted and attained. This value makes citizens aware of their rights and duties in the community; it makes them proud of their country. The spirit of BAYANIHAN, manifested in the power that transports a whole house on the shoulders of people committed to help a neighbor in need, is revived as the necessary spirit that must bind all Filipinos together in the pursuit of this cluster. Factors in the development of nationalism

There are factors in the development of nationalism in a country-positive factors that induce nationalism and negative factors that hinder nationalism. The belief that there were much human rights violations in the country during the Marcos regime led to the formation and association of what we could call-cause oriented groups. In the formation of these groups, all of them professed love of country, and that their goals and objectives were to set the Filipino free from dictatorship. To bring about their goals, the desire for a national language was intense, and literature regarding love of country flourished in the so-called national language. No literature about nationalism flourished as much as that was done during the day. The publications of various cause-oriented groups and their frequent outward manifestations of the administration of the former president slowly penetrated in the minds of the Filipino people. The ideas of nationalism and patriotism and love of country began to seep through their senses. Yet it is to the credit of the Filipino people, that a non-violent or a peaceful revolution was the means opted for a change in the government and for the desire of freedom. Such was the EDSA revolution in February 1986, when Defense Minister Juan Ponce Enrile and General Fidel Ramos expressed their desire to stand against the Marcos Regime. Such peaceful revolution astonished the world and is now accepted by many countries as the best method for achieving the goals of freedom. There are other events in the history of the Philippines that arouse love of country. During the Spanish and the Japanese regime, many Filipinos died for their country. There is also the desire of a national language. One of the habits of the Filipinos much desired to be corrected is the siesta habit. Rizal described this once as the cause of the indolence of the Filipino people, although he rationalized that such habit is due to the hot weather prevailing in the country.