Module 1 – Citizenship Training

Lesson 2 - Philippine Constitution, Preamble and Bill of

Rights

Learning Objectives

At the end of the lesson, the students are expected to:

1. analyze the preamble of the 1987 Philippine Constitution.
2. recognize and acknowledge the duties and obligations of Filipino citizens.
3. cite activities in order to further promote and inculcate nationalism among the
youth.

Learning Content

Preamble of the 1987 Philippine Constitution

“We, the sovereign Filipino people, imploring the aid of Almighty God,
in order to build a just and humane society and establish a Government
that shall embody our ideals and aspirations, promote the common good,
conserve and develop our patrimony, and secure ourselves and posterity
the blessings of independence and democracy under the rule of law and
regime of truth, justice, freedom, love, equality, and peace, do ordain and
promulgate this constitution”.

Bill of Rights (from Article III of 1987 Phil. Constitution)

1. No person shall be deprived of life, liberty, or property without due process of law,
nor shall any person be denied the equal protection of the laws.
2. The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects
against unreasonable searches and seizures of whatever nature and for any purpose
shall be inviolable, and no search warrant or warrant of arrest shall issue upon
probable cause to be determined personally by the judge after examination under
oath or affirmation of the complaint and the witnesses he may produce, and
particularly describing the place to be searched and the persons or things to be
seized.
3. The privacy of communication and correspondence shall ne inviolable except upon
lawful order of the court, or when public safety or order requires otherwise as
prescribed by law.
 4. No law shall be passed abridging the freedom of speech, of expression, or of the
press, or the right of the people peaceably to assemble and petition the Government
for redress of grievances.
BatStateU - National Service Training Program 1 – CWTS/LTS

5. No law shall be made respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the

free exercise thereof.
6. The liberty of abode and of changing the same within the limits prescribed by law
shall not be impaired except upon lawful order of the court.
7. The right of the people to information on matters of public concern shall be
recognized.
8. The right of the people, including those employed in the public and private sectors,
to form unions, association, or societies for purposes not contrary to law shall not
be abridged.
9. Private property shall not be taken for public use without just compensation.
10. No law impairing the obligation of contracts shall be passed.
11. Free access to the courts and quasi-judicial and adequate legal assistance shall not
be denied to any person by reason of poverty.
12. Any person under investigation for the commission of an offense shall have the
right to be informed of his right to remain silent and to have competent and
independent counsel preferably of his own choice.
13. The right to bail shall not be impaired even when the privilege of the writ of habeas
corpus is suspended. Excessive bail shall not be required.
14. No person shall be held to answer for a criminal offense without due process of
law.
15. The privilege of the writ of habeas corpus shall not be suspended except in cases
of invasion or rebellion when the public safety requires it.
16. All persons shall have the right to a speedy disposition of their cases before all
judicial, quasi-judicial, or administrative bodies.
17. No person shall be compelled to be a witness against himself.
18. No person shall be detained solely by reason of his political beliefs and aspirations.
19. Excessive fine shall not be imposed, nor cruel, degrading or inhuman punishment
inflicted. Neither shall death penalty be imposed, unless for compelling reasons
involving heinous crime, the Congress hereafter provide for it.
20. No person shall be imprisoned for debt or non-payment of a poll tax.
21. No person shall be twice put in jeopardy of punishment for the same offense.
22. No ex post facto law or bill of attainder shall be enacted.

Duties and Responsibilities of Filipino citizens

Among others, the more important duties and obligations of every citizen in a democratic
society are the following:

1. To be loyal to the Republic. This means faith and confidence in the Republic and love
and devotion to the country. The citizen must be proud of his country, its custom,

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 traditions, language, and institution. He must share in its glories and feel sad in its
misfortunes.

2. To defend the state. Since the citizens of the Republic receive benefits and protection
from the State of which they are apart, in return, it is their primary and honorable duty
to defend it against any peril, whether from within or from without.

3. To contribute to the development and welfare of the State. This should be the
concern of every citizen for he will be the first to enjoy the benefits thereof. He can
contribute to the development and welfare of the state by paying taxes willingly and
promptly, by cooperating in its activities and projects such as the preservation of peace
and order, conservation of the natural resources and the promotion of social justice by
patronizing local products and trades and by engaging in the productive work.

4. To uphold the constitution and obey laws. Since the constitution is the expression of
the sovereign will of our people.

5. To cooperate with duly constituted authorities.

6. To exercise rights responsible and with due regard for the rights of others.

7. To engage in gainful work. Every citizen must consider his own responsibility and
should strive to become a useful and productive member of society to assure not only
himself but, more importantly, his family a lot worthy of human dignity.Every citizen
should bear in mind that only hard and sustained work can mend a nations live and
survive.

8. To register and vote. It is through suffrage that the will of the people is expressed. The
quality of public officials and the policies of government, the success or failure of
government depend, directly and indirectly, upon the voters.Voters must be
discriminating in evaluating the credentials of candidates and not be satisfied with only
their physical attributes and data.

Duties and Rights of the Filipino People

1. Duties of the People

The people of the Philippine Republic must understand that they have certain duties or
obligations to perform. These duties are the price of freedom and of the rights which people
enjoy
a. to vote honestly and wisely
b. to obey the laws of the land
c. to respect public authority
d. to be loyal to the Republic
e. to defend the Motherland

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 f. to pay taxes to the government
g. to take active interest in local, national and international affairs

2. Rights of the People

a. Natural rights – rights conferred upon human beings by God which cannot be
taken away
Example: right to life, right to love, right to marry

b. Civil rights – rights granted by the State for the promotion of common welfare
of individual citizens
Example: right to own property, right to seek justice in the courts

c. Political rights – rights conferred by the state to the people so that they may
participate in government
Example: right to citizenship, right to suffrage, freedom of speech

d. Constitutional rights – rights recognized and protected by the constitution and

part of the fundamental law of the land
Example: freedom from slavery, freedom to choose one’s residence

e. Statutory rights – rights conferred by statutes or law promulgated by a

lawmaking body and can be abolished by the same body
Example: right to inherit property, right to minimum wage, right to go to strike
for higher wages

Learning Activity

Directions:
1. Relate thePanatangMakabayan and PanunumpasaWatawat ng Pilipinasto the Preamble of
the 1987 Philippine Constitution by discussing its relationship in developing strong
nationalism and patriotism among the Filipino.

2. In relation to PanatangMakabayan, what is your reaction to some Filipinos who stayed long
in other countries like USA and changed their citizenship? Comment on their sense of
nationalism and patriotism.

Learning Assessment

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Directions: Answer the following questions below. Write your answer and submit to your
Instructor or facilitator.

1. How do you internalize the Preamble of our Constitution?

2. Think of other possible activities to demonstrate nationalism in your barangay.

Learning References

1. 1987 Philippine Constitution

2. Guillo, RM Jr. and De Chavez, F. I. Civic Welfare Training Service Towards Responsive
Community Organization and Development. Morlanda Publishing. Manila. 2009.
3. Lee, Sergio J. National Service Training Program, Civic Welfare Training Service, Literacy
Training Service: A Source Book 3rd Edition. C 7 E Publishing, Inc. Quezon City 2013.
4. Modules on 16 Good Citizenship Values: Reference for Values Formation by Good
Citizenship Movement, EPPC in partnership with CHED. Institution Building Team EDSA
People Power Commission. 2010.

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Module 1 – Citizenship Training

Lesson 3 - United Nations Principles on Human Rights

Learning Objectives

Learning Objectives
At the end of the topic, students are expected to:
a. recognize human rights as tool for equality and cooperation;
b. identify and explain each provision of the United Nations Declaration of Human
Rights;
c. reflect on the human rights condition in the country;
d. promote human rights awareness.

Learning Content

Universal Declaration of Human Rights

The issue of human rights remains relevant as of this day. Every individual is entitled to his rights
in consonance with the existing laws and policies of his ethnicity. In 1948, the United Nations
General Assembly adopted and proclaimed the Universal Declaration of Human Rights which was
translated into 360 languages – the most translated document in the world. Although the
declaration does not guarantee that no human rights abuse will happen, it serves as guide to every
country in crafting their laws and policies concerning human rights. It is composed of thirty articles
from which the world based its decision to discern what is right and what is wrong.

Thus, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights is defined as a common standard of

achievement for all peoples and all nations, to the end that every individual and every organ of
society, keeping this Declaration constantly in mind, shall strive by teaching and education to
promote respect for these rights and freedoms and by progressive measures, national and
international, to secure their universal and effective recognition and observance, both among the
peoples of Member States themselves and among the peoples of territories under their jurisdiction.

Preamble

Whereas recognition of the inherent dignity and of the equal and inalienable rights of all members
of the human family is the foundation of freedom, justice and peace in the world,

Whereas disregard and contempt for human rights have resulted in barbarous acts which
have outraged the conscience of mankind, and the advent of a world in which human beings shall

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Module 1 – Citizenship Training

enjoy freedom of speech and belief and freedom from fear and want has been proclaimed as the
highest aspiration of the common people,

Whereas it is essential, if man is not to be compelled to have recourse, as a last resort, to

rebellion against tyranny and oppression, that human rights should be protected by the rule of law,

Whereas it is essential to promote the development of friendly relations between nations,

Whereas the peoples of the United Nations have in the Charter reaffirmed their faith in
fundamental human rights, in the dignity and worth of the human person and in the equal rights of
men and women and have determined to promote social progress and better standards of life in
larger freedom,

Whereas Member States have pledged themselves to achieve, in cooperation with the
United Nations, the promotion of universal respect for and observance of human rights and
fundamental freedoms,

Whereas a common understanding of these rights and freedoms is of the greatest

importance for the full realization of this pledge.

Article 1 - All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights. They are endowed with
reason and conscience and should act towards one another in a spirit of brotherhood.

Article 2 - Everyone is entitled to all the rights and freedoms set forth in the Declaration, without
distinction of any kind, such as race, color, sex, language, religion, political or other opinion,
national or social origin, property, birth or other status. Furthermore, no distinction shall be made
on the basis of the political, jurisdictional or international status of the country or territory to
which a person belongs, whether it be independent, trust, non-self-governing or under any other
limitation of sovereignty.

Article 3 - Everyone has the right to life, liberty and security of person.

Article 4 - No one shall be held in slavery or servitude; slavery and the slave trade shall be
prohibited in all their forms.

Article 5 - No one shall be subjected to torture or to cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or

punishment.

Article 6 - Everyone has the right to recognition everywhere as a person before the law.

Article 7 - All are equal before the law and are entitled without any discrimination to equal
protection of the law. All are entitled to equal protection against any discrimination in violation
of this Declaration and against any incitement to such discrimination.
Article 8 - Everyone has the right to an effective remedy by the competent national tribunals for
acts violating the fundamental rights granted him by the constitution or by law.

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Module 1 – Citizenship Training

Article 9 - No one shall be subjected to arbitrary arrest, detention or exile.

Article 10 – Everyone is entitled in full equality to a fair and public hearing by an independent
and impartial tribunal, in the determination of his rights and obligations and of any criminal
charge against him.

Article 11- (1) Everyone charged with a penal offence has the right to be presumed innocent until
proved guilty according to law in a public trial at which he has had all the guarantees necessary
for his defence.

(2) No one shall be held guilty of any penal offence on account of any act or omission
which did not constitute a penal offence, under national or international law, at the time
when it was committed. Nor shall a heavier penalty be imposed than the one that was
applicable at the time the penal offence was committed.

Article 12 - No one shall be subjected to arbitrary interference with his privacy, family, home or
correspondence, nor to attacks upon his honour and reputation. Everyone has the right to the
protection of the law against such interference or attacks.

Article 13 – (1) Everyone has the right to freedom of movement and residence within the borders
of each State.

(2) Everyone has the right to leave any country, including his own, and to return to his
country.

Article 14 – (1) Everyone has the right to seek and to enjoy in other countries asylum from
persecution.

(2) This right may not be invoked in the case of prosecutions genuinely arising from
non- political crimes or from acts contrary to the purposes and principles of the United Nations.

Article 15 – (1) Everyone has the right to a nationality.

(2) No one shall be arbitrarily deprived of his nationality nor denied the right to change
his nationality.

Article 16 – (1) Men and women of full age, without any limitation due to race, nationality or
religion, have the right to marry and to found a family. They are entitled to equal rights as to
marriage, during marriage and at its dissolution.

(2) Marriage shall be entered into only with the free and full consent of the intending spouses.
(3) The family is the natural and fundamental group unit of society and is entitled to protection
by society and the State.

Article 17 – (1) Everyone has the right to own property alone as well as in association with others.

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Module 1 – Citizenship Training

(2) No one shall be arbitrarily deprived of his property.

Article 18 – Everyone has the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion; this right
includes freedom to change his religion or belief, and freedom, either alone or in community
with others and in public or private, to manifest his religion or belief in teaching, practice,
worship and observance.

Article 19 – Everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression; this right includes
freedom to hold opinions without interference and to seek, receive and impart information and
ideas through any media and regardless of frontiers.

Article 20 – (1) Everyone has the right to freedom of peaceful assembly and association.

(2) No one may be compelled to belong to an association.

Article 21 – (1) Everyone has the right to take part in the government of his country, directly or
through freely chosen representatives.

(2) Everyone has the right to equal access to public service in his country.

(3) The will of the people shall be the basis of the authority of government; this will shall
be expressed in periodic and genuine elections which shall be by universal and equal
suffrage and shall be held by secret vote or by equivalent free voting procedures.

Article 22 – Everyone, as a member of society, has the right to social security and is entitled to
realization, through national effort and international cooperation and in accordance with the
organization and resources of each State, of the economic, social and cultural rights
indispensable for his dignity and the free development of his personality.

Article 23 – (1) Everyone has the right to work, to free choice of employment, to just and favorable
conditions of work and to protection against unemployment.

(2) Everyone, without any discrimination, has the right to equal pay for equal work.

(3) Everyone who works has the right to just and favorable remuneration ensuring for
himself and his family an existence worthy of human dignity, and supplemented, if
necessary, by other means of social protection.

(4) Everyone has the right to form and to join trade unions for the protection of his interests.
Article 24 – Everyone has the right to rest and leisure, including reasonable limitation of working
hours and periodic holidays with pay.

Article 25 – (1) Everyone has the right to a standard of living adequate for the health and
wellbeing of himself and of his family, including food, clothing, housing and medical care and
necessary social services, and the right to security in the event of unemployment, sickness,
disability, widowhood, old age or other lack of livelihood in circumstances beyond his control.

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Module 1 – Citizenship Training

(2) Motherhood and childhood are entitled to special care and assistance. All children,
whether born in or out of wedlock, shall enjoy the same social protection.

Article 26 – (1) Everyone has the right to education. Education shall be free, at least in the
elementary and fundamental stages. Elementary education shall be compulsory. Technical and
professional education shall be made generally available and higher education shall be equally
accessible to all on the basis of merit.

(2) Education shall be directed to the full development of the human personality and
to the strengthening of respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms. It shall
promote understanding, tolerance and friendship among all nations, racial or religious
groups, and shall further the activities of the United Nations for the maintenance of
peace.

(3) Parents have a prior right to choose the kind of education that shall be given to
their children.

Article 27 – (1) Everyone has the right freely to participate in the cultural life of the community,
to enjoy the arts and to share in scientific advancement and its benefits.

(2) Everyone has the right to the protection of the moral and material interests resulting
from any scientific, literary or artistic production of which he is the author.

Article 28 – Everyone is entitled to a social and international order in which the rights and freedoms
set forth in this Declaration can be fully realized.

Article 29 – (1) Everyone has duties to the community in which alone the free and full development
of his personality is possible.

(2) In the exercise of his rights and freedoms, everyone shall be subject only to such
limitations as are determined by law solely for the purpose of securing due recognition
and respect for the rights and freedoms of others and of meeting the just requirements of
morality, public order and the general welfare in a democratic society.

(3) These rights and freedoms may in no case be exercised contrary to the purposes
and principles of the United Nations.
Article 30 - Nothing in this Declaration may be interpreted as implying for any State, group or
person any right to engage in any activity or to perform any act aimed at the destruction of any of
the rights and freedoms set forth herein.

Issues of Human Rights in the Philippines

1. Philippine War – Drug Campaign - human rights groups and activists are accusing
the Duterte government of extra-judicial killings.

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Module 1 – Citizenship Training

2. Death Penalty – many representatives filed bills seeking to reinstate the Death
Penalty which were strongly opposed by the Catholic Church

3. Lowering the Age of Criminal Liability – the constitution provides that children are
18 years below. Lowering the criminal liability is a violation of children’s rights.

4. Freedom of Expression – the closure of ABS-CBN and veteran journalist Maria

Ressa were categorized by their supporters as violation of human rights.

5. Rights of the members of the LGBTI Community – the controversial SOGIE Bill
divided the opinions of Filipinos about human rights.

Additional Information of the Human Rights in the Philippines

1. Human rights can be classified as individual, collective, civil, political, economic,

social and cultural.

2. Article III of the 1987 Constitution also called as the Bill of Rights provides Filipino
citizen’s rights, protection and privileges.

3. In 2014, nearly 75,000 people filed for recognition as victims of human rights
violations during the implementation of the Martial Law.

For more information on Human Rights Issues in the Philippines, you may visit:

https://www.amnesty.org/en/countries/asia-and-the-
pacific/philippines/reportphilippines/?fbclid=IwAR08Y2g2Zlb9trelKj5RGQ-
h2W2zVib4VRDHSgoVlgpyHjMkmpbn4eHaN4

Learning Activity
Directions:Interview someone who had experienced Martial Law. Let them compare the human
rights situation then and now. Report the report of your interview.

Learning Assessment

Directions:Answer the following questions

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Module 1 – Citizenship Training

1. What is human rights and how does it affect our daily living?

2. What can you say on the human rights situation in the Philippines? Expand your answer.

3. How will you promote human rights awareness?

Learning References

July 21, 2020https://www.un.org/en/udhrbook/pdf/udhr_booklet_en_web.pdf

July 21, 2020 https://www.amnesty.org/en/countries/asia-and-the-

pacific/philippines/reportphilippines/?fbclid=IwAR08Y2g2Zlb9trelKj5RGQ-
h2W2zVib4VRDHSgoVlgpyHjMkmpbn4eHaN4

July 21, 2020 https://www.officialgazette.gov.ph/constitutions/the-1987-constitution-of-

therepublic-of-the-philippines/the-1987-constitution-of-the-republic-of-the-philippines-article-iii/

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