Military Character Development Module
Code of Citizenship
PREPARED BY:
Sgt Ruben A Jimenez PA (Res)
ROTC Instructor
SCOPE
A. OBJECTIVES
B. TELL WHAT THE CODE OF CITIZENSHIP AND
ETHICS IS ALL ABOUT
C. ENUMERATE THE 16 DIFFERENT CODE OF CITIZENSHIP
FOR EVERY FILIPINO
D. NAME ALL THE AUTHORS AND THE PROMOTERS OF
THIS CODE
E. TRANSMITTAL LETTER OF THE COMMITTEE
A. OBJECTIVES
To teach the ROTC cadets the values of citizenship, followership,
personal responsibility and sense of accomplishment while
learning essential life skills that will develop their self-esteem,
character, teamwork and self-discipline, and for them to exercise
in their day-to-day lifestyle which will sum up to the holistic
well-being as expected of them.
B. MALACAÑANG PALACE
MANILA
BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE PHILIPPINES
EXECUTIVE ORDER NO. 217
PRESCRIBING CERTAIN CIVIC AND
ETHICAL PRINCIPLES TO BE TAUGHT IN
ALL SCHOOLS IN THE PHILIPPINES
Whereas section five of Article XIII of the Constitution provides that all schools
shall aim to develop moral character, personal discipline, civic conscience, and to
teach the duties of citizenship;
Whereas in order to comply with the above constitutional provision, it is necessary
that a Code of Citizenship and Ethics be adopted and taught in the schools;
Whereas, pending the formulation of such a code by a committee representing the
various elements of the community and the adoption thereof, it is essential that the
schools should at once take steps in order to effectuate the mandate of the
Constitution in this respect;
Now, therefore, I, Manuel L. Quezon, President of the Philippines,
by virtue of the powers vested in me under the Constitution, do
hereby direct the Secretary of Public Instruction to require all
schools to teach the following civic and ethical principles, drafted
by a group of eminent citizens:
C.
1. MAGTIWALA SA POONG MAYKAPAL
Na gumagabay sa kapalaran ng mga tao at mga bansa
The Filipinos, even before the coming of the Spaniards, believed in one Supreme Being
called Bathala by the Tagalogs, Laon or Abba by the Visayans, Akasi by the
Zambals, Gugurang by the Bicols, and Kabunian by the Ilocanos and the Igorots.
In his enumeration of the Duties of the Sons of the People, Bonifacio ordained:
“1. Love God with all thy heart.
“2. Always bear in mind that true love of God is love of thy country, and that this love is
also the true love for thy fellowmen.”
Emilio Jacinto, the brain of the Katipunan, in his Liwanag at Dilim, said: “God is the
father of Humanity, and what a father requires of his children is not constant protestations
of respect, fear, and love for him, but the performance of his mandates.”
As a nation, the Filipinos demonstrated unity of belief in one Supreme Ruler as much as
oneness of political purpose.
Love of country is demonstrated not by words but by deeds. It is not an occasional virtue to be exhibited now
and then, but it is a flame that should constantly be kept aglow in our hearts. It is unflinching determination to
serve and defend one’s country at all times and at all costs.
General Gregorio del Pilar’s valiant defense of Tirad Pass is another example of heroism and love of country.
Barely out of his teens, he had already distinguished himself for valor and daring on the field of battle. Called
upon to defend Tirad Pass with a handful of ill-equipped soldiers, he wrote in his diary on the fateful morning
of December 2, 1899. “I understand that the task given me is a difficult one. And yet, I feel that this is the most
glorious moment of my life. I do it all for my beloved country. No sacrifice can be greater.” Only eight of his
brave band of sixty men survived, and General Del Pilar perished with the rest of his command, but the
advance of the American troops was delayed. And in recognition of his bravery and heroism, he was buried
with full military honors by the Americans near the spot where he had made his last stand. The following
valedictory was also found in his diary: “I submit to the terrible fate that overwhelms me and my brave men;
but I am glad to die fighting for my dear country.”
The Constitution is the expression of the sovereignty of the people. Its primordial
aim is the welfare of all. “The welfare of the people,” in the fiery language of
Andres Bonifacio, “is the sole purpose of all the governments on earth. The people
is all: blood and life, wealth and strength, all is the people.”
Taxation is an essential power of government. Man is a social and political being. His nature
demands that he live in the society of his fellowmen. Living in society, however, entails rights and
duties, among the most important of which is the duty of each and every citizen to pay his just
share in the expenses of the government. We enjoy rights and privileges under the protection of
the established government and we must pay the price of that protection.
Taxes are needed to defray the cost of public administration, law enforcement and dispensation of
justice; national defense, and the promotion of social justice; and other important public services
like the promotion of education, agriculture, trade and industry, as well as the construction of
needed public works and improvements.
Suffrage is one of the most important political rights appertaining to citizenship. If
exercised with purity and noble purpose, it is the security of popular government. On the
other hand, if perverted or basely surrendered by those in whose hands the law has
entrusted its safeguard and protection, it serves instead to undermine the entire edifice of
democratic institutions.
Suffrage is a public and social duty which should not be neglected. The electors owe it to
themselves and their government to exercise this important political right not only
regularly but judiciously.
Nobody is more faithful and devoted to us, more sensitive of our needs, more generous to our
failings, than our parents. Like a celestial message, filial love speaks more eloquently than the
tongue of man can speak, more eloquently than the pen of man can write.
Rizal’s return to the Philippines in 1892 was motivated chiefly by his love for his parents and his
family whom he did not wish persecuted on his account. He knew that he was courting death by
placing himself at the mercy of the Spanish Government in the Islands, but he wanted to save his
relatives, especially his aged mother, from humiliation and suffering. His letter to his “Beloved
Parents, Brothers and Sisters, and Friends,” dated at Hongkong on June 20, 1892, is incomparable
in its tender regard and solicitude for his loved ones, particularly his parents.
Honor is what prompts a man to strive for all that is noble, true, and lofty, in word and in
deed. It inspires a man to be pure in thought, faithful to his duties, magnanimous to those
who offend him, and generous to his friends. It makes a man courteous, loyal and true. It
never falters when duty calls.
In the words of Emilio Jacinto, “The real man is he who, of tried and trusty valor, does
good, keeps his word, and is worthy and self-respecting.”
Character is life dominated by principles. Truthfulness, honesty, charity, justice and
courtesy are the qualities that round up a real man or woman. These are the virtues that
give force and worth to the race.
Be truthful.—We should not only tell the truth but we should also welcome it. Only by
knowing the truth are we able to correct our defects and shortcomings.
Cleanliness is next to godliness. Life is more than a gift,—it is a trust which we must not
abuse. We owe it to our Creator to conserve life and that we can do only by observing
clean habits, both of mind and body. Cleanliness is closely associated with frugality.
Frugality means the simple life,—both physically and morally. In its material aspect, it
means bodily health and conservation of wealth and energy. From the spiritual
standpoint, it means modesty of conduct, cleanliness of thought and speech, refinement
of taste and behavior.
A nation will not long endure if it is wrought in the midst of foreign and exotic ideals. Just
as a tree will not grow up straight, strong and luxuriant, unless it is native to the soil and
air so a nation will not assume girth and strength unless its roots are planted deep into its
own past and its soul is nourished by its own traditions. This does not mean that we
should reject everything that is not Filipino, but it does mean that we should discard that
false concept that everything foreign must be good and, therefore, must be imitated. We
must use discrimination and prudence in adopting foreign models. If we have to fellow
foreign patterns, we should blend them with our own customs, traditions and ideals,
purifying them first of whatever grossness or imperfection they may be afflicted with.
Life is work. Man perfects himself by working. Man reinforces himself by industry.
Great ends necessarily demand great labor. There is virtue in the spade and in the hoe.
There is as much nobility in plowing the field as in writing on philosophy.
Labor leads the mind of men to serious things; it sharpens the mind of men by study; it
inspires manly vigor by exercise and discipline; and, it leads to the intense cultivation of
land, so essential to the life of an agricultural nation. By labor, by work, by industry,
jungles are cleared, barren lands are made to yield, fair fields arise, and stately cities
born.
Our life is what we make it. If we are to succeed, it is necessary that we possess self-
reliance, courage, and perseverance, for out of these qualities, new strength is born which
will enable us to overcome adversities and conquer difficulties. Even a bended tree finally
succeeds in ascending the sky and resisting the winds by its own self-sufficiency. Therefore,
trust yourself, be courageous, and persevere in your task.
In the life of Apolinario Mabini, we see a shining example of the triumph of self-reliance
and perseverance over dire poverty and physical infirmity. Born of poor parents, his life
was a constant struggle against untold hardship and suffering. His studies were repeatedly
interrupted for lack of funds and yet by dint of hard work and sheer tenacity and self-
denial he was able to finish his law course, which though belated, was attained with
highest honors.
A nation of energetic and busy people, a people working cheerfully and thoroughly, all
shoulders to the wheel, with muscles swelling, with hearts pounding, a people finding in
work the consummation of all their hopes and all their desires, a people who considers
a duty well done as its own sufficient reward, is a nation destined, under God, to be
great and strong.
The individual lives not for himself and for his family alone. His life is a community life.
He has, therefore, larger interests to serve. He should take interest in the affairs of his
government and of the community in which he lives. Civic conscience is a feeling of
responsibility, courage and pride. Rizal said: “Man’s object is not to satisfy the passions of
another man; the object is to seek happiness for himself and his kind by following the
road of progress and perfection.”
Our Constitution ordains the “promotion of social justice to insure the well-being and
economic security of all the people.” (Sec. 5, Art. II, Constitution.)
It is important that we develop our local industries with the aim in view of diminishing our imports, retaining
our wealth within the confines of our country and increasing the earning capacity of our people. Enterprising
men and women have heeded this call to develop domestic production, and as a result, factories have sprung up
in our towns, and even in the barrios we witness the expansion of household industries. But unless we patronize
their products, the efforts of these men and women are doomed to failure. We should coöperate in the building
up of our national economy and where we can not actively produce we should at least, as a matter of patriotic
duty, buy locally-made products in preference to imported goods.
Roman Ongpin, whose love for things Filipino was so ardent that throughout his whole lifetime he wore no other
garment than the simple barong tagalog, on his deathbed asked his children to dress his body in Filipino apparel.
Lorenzo Guerrero was required to wear a European coat on the occasion of the award to him by the Spanish
Government of the medal of civil merit for services rendered during the cholera epidemic of 1882, but he
declined to obey the order, saying: “Let them pin the medal on my pechera (Filipino dress). Why, isn’t my
Filipino shirt worthy to wear a medal as any European coat?”
Real freedom must go hand in hand with economic stability, if not economic
prosperity. Our vast domain and natural resources constitute the inalienable
heritage of our people. We cannot alienate them. We are at most
usufructuaries thereof. They belong to the generations yet unborn. It is,
therefore, our duty to conserve and develop them.
Nature has richly endowed our country in the way of natural resources and
wealth. Our principal natural treasure vault is our wide expanse of fertile
arable land without which the abundant agricultural products enumerated in
the preceding description would not be possible. Opportunity for the
cultivation of numerous other plants and crops is unlimited.
The Committee that drafted the Code of Citizenship and Ethics was composed of:
Chief JusticeRAMON AVANCEÑA, Chairman
Secretary of Finance MANUEL A. ROXAS, Member
Secretary of Public Instruction JORGE BOCOBO, Member
NORBERTO ROMUALDEZ, Member
TEODORO M. KALAW, Member
Associate Justice JOSE P. LAUREL, Member(drafted and
submitted the Code)
Director of the National Library EULOGIO B. RODRIGUEZ, Secretary
Transmittal letter of the Committee:
MANILA, December 29, 1940
His Excellency,
MANUEL L. QUEZON,
President of the Philippines,
Malacañan Palace, Manila.
YOUR EXCELLENCY:
The Committee which you have informally commissioned to draw up a Code of Ethics submitted last year a set
of basic precepts which were incorporated in Executive Order No. 217 issued on August 19, 1939. The
Committee feels that no substantial departure should be made from the basic principles enunciated. While the
arrangement may perhaps be rendered more logical and the principles reclassified, expanded and elaborated,
the Committee believes that, considering the primary purpose for which they are intended, it is neither
necessary nor advisable to change or disturb the form adopted in the aforesaid Executive Order. Accordingly,
the Committee limited its labors to the illustration of the precepts by means of historical instances culled from
Philippine sources, and the exposition of the object lessons to be derived from those examples. It is in this form
that the Code is now presented. Reference to living men and women is avoided.
In the firm belief that the inculcation of principles enunciated in the Code of Ethics is of primary importance to the
youth of the land, we recommend not only its teaching in our schools, but also the special preparation of teachers in
this particular field. It is clear that as important as the teaching of the Code is the preparation of the teachers for
that purpose. The method of teaching should also be made objectively practical.
The life of a nation depends upon the moral and civic virtues of its citizens. Now, more than ever, when nations
great and small, are on the verge of collapse in the grip of relentless forces at work, do we realize this fundamental
truth. It is imperative, therefore, that we renovate our educational policy in the direction indicated, giving emphasis
to ethical and civic instruction, so that our citizenry may not be found wanting in the hour of need.
We are grieved to inform Your Excellency that death prevented the Honorable Teodoro M. Kalaw from taking part
in the later and final deliberations of the Committee and signing this communication.
Very respectfully,
RAMON AVANCEÑA, Chairman
MANUEL ROXAS, Member
JORGE BOCOBO, Member
NORBERTO ROMUALDEZ, Member
JOSE P. LAUREL, Member.
THE END
