Critique Ang Bayan Muna Bago Ang Sarili

In his reflection on Ninoy Aquino's legacy, Jaime Cardinal Sin questions whether the Filipino people have truly embraced the ideal of 'Bayan Muna, Bago ang Sarili' (Country First, Self Second) in building a united nation. He critiques the prevalent individualism and corruption, suggesting that these attitudes undermine national unity and progress. Sin calls for personal accountability and collective action to foster a renewed moral order and genuine patriotism among citizens.

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Critique Ang Bayan Muna Bago Ang Sarili

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Cherry Lane Lepura

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Ang Bayan Muna Bago ang Sarili

(an excerpt)
by Jaime Cardinal Sin, DD
at the Mass celebrating the 5th
Death Anniversary of Ninoy Aquino)
(1) Five years later, we might ask ourselves; has Ninoy’s dream been fulfilled? Have we succeeded in
building a new nation, by “transcending our petty selves,” by setting aside our differences by working
together in a spirit of true self-giving, loving our country first, above our own interest? Bayan muna,
bago ang sarili. It is a question we must ask ourselves, as we remember Ninoy’s gift.

(2) It has been said that the truest motto of our people is “K.K.K”. No, not Katipunan, shaping unity out
of our diversity. How we wish that were our authentic name! But rather:

Kanya-Kanya’ng Katwiran,
Kanya-Kanya’ng Kagustuhan,
Kanya-Kanya’ng Kabig (or worse)
Kanya-Kanya’ng Kurakot...
or whatever else each one “specializes” in!
(3) Cynics among us say that K.K.K is the definition of our national character, the predominant strain in
our national culture. It’s what we are when we are “most natural”, most ourselves. “Bayan muna, Bago
ang Sarili” is an abstract, non-operative ideal,good for speeches, good for posters, goo for classroom
rhetoric but not for real, not for real life. For real is K.K.K.

(4) Kanya-Kanyang Katwiran, Kanya-Kanyang kagustuhan. We all remember the three monkeys; See
no Evil, hear no evil, speak no evil. Sometimes one wonders, if it
has become a national pastime, to see and hear and speak nothing, but evil against our fellow-
citizens. Talk can be a great service in a free nation: Talk is space for free discussion, for intelligent
debate, the exchange of information and perception, the clash of views.

(5) Ninoy himself said: “We must criticize in order to be free, because we are free only when we
criticized.” We may not, at our own peril, forget that. But we must remind ourselves that criticism is not
an end in itself; it is not the absolute. It is meant to help us to become free, but if it becomes the all-
encompassing output of our days, a way of life... so it takes up most of our energy, most of our time,
when we begin to take delight in tearing down, demoralizing, destabilizing; when we are at each
other’s throats all day long, then we really are engaged in self-destruction, and the destruction of hope,
the creation of despair, especially among the poor who continue to suffer in our midst.

(6) There is a Latin saying: “Unicuique suum, non praevalebunt.” “Every man for himself: That’s the
formula for disaster.” When Ninoy spoke of “the quest for that elusive national unity which is imperative
for the nation’s survival”-he said “survival”. He meant “survival”. How can we survive, as a nation and
as a people, if we have made the name of our national game as anarchic free-for-all in a “basket of
crabs?”

(7) K.K.K also means, we are told, Kanya Kanyang Kabig, Kanya- Kanyang Kurakot. Surely I don’t
need to dwell on this theme this morning. For weeks, the papers, radios, TV, have shouted nothing
else. It is the talk of the marketplace. I myself have spoken, often enough, of the 40 big thieves left
behind in our midst, and many many smaller ones which might include . . . even ourselves? Who
among us did not re-echo the sentiments and the work of the beloved Chino Roces when he asked for
a renewed moral order in government and society? It is a problem which must be addressed, and
addressed vigorously and unrelentingly.

(8) I am sure this will be increasingly done by our president, by consistent personal example she has
set a pattern for others to follow. I know she is bent on pursuing the battle against corruption with ever
more forceful and energetic action. But we know, we know that she and those around her cannot do
this all by themselves. As citizens, we must go “into an action mode ourselves.” The task cannot be
done without us.

(9) We must begin, rather, where we can begin, with ourselves we must ask: What can we do about it?
What in our own heart, in our own attitudes, in our own practices, must be changed? What sacrifices
must we ourselves do to make a positive contribution of deeds, to put under control this chronic illness
in our society, and in our culture?
(10) If all we do is talk and talk, and throw dirt at each other-forgetting to mind the ship and its engines,
and steer it in mine-filled waters-why, we will still be taking and quarrelling when our ship goes down
into the sea!

(11) If everyone in this church this morning, in Ninoy’s memory, pledge before the Lord that for one
year, “Bayan Muna, Bago ang Sarili”, would really be made an operative guideline, could it not mark at
least a beginning? If for one year, just to get going, we would make the principle govern our deeds, our
conduct in society, would that not be smart already? How can we “dream the impossible dream” and
promise to follow the stars” if we have become too calloused to do even this?

Check your understanding of the text by completing the graphic organizer below.

1. Did the author use language that you understood? Why do you say so?

2. What critical approach did he use? Explain why you think that is the approach.

3. Do you agree with the author or not? Why or why not?

4. What you have read is an example of how one expresses opinions using one approach in criticism.
This can be a good model for you to study and follow.
EAPP Critical Approaches. Encircle the letter of your answer.
1. Which critical approach focuses on understanding ways gender roles are reflected
or contradicted by texts?
A. Reader-response B. Feminism
C. Historicism D. Marxist
2. Which critical approach focuses on ways texts reflect, reinforce, or challenge the
effects of class, power relations, and social roles?
A. Reader-response B. Feminism
C. Historicism D. Marxist
3. Which critical approach focuses on understanding texts by viewing texts in the
context of other texts?
A. Reader-response B. Feminism
C. Historicism D. Marxist
4. Which critical approach focuses on each reader's personal reactions to a text?
A. Reader-response B. Feminism
C. Historicism D. Marxist
5. Which critical approach focuses on "objectively" evaluating the text, identifying its
underlying form. It may study, for example, a text's use of imagery, metaphor, or
symbolism?
A. Reader-response B. Media Criticism
C. Historicism D. Formalism

6. What critical approach is employed on the excerpt cited below?

A. Feminism C. Marxist
B. Biographical D. Readers Response
Your love is like the sun,
That lights up my whole world
I feel the warmth inside;
Your love is like the river,
That flows down through my veins
I feel the chill inside;
Excerpt of a Critique:
It has a sestet stanza or six lines in a stanza, it’s lyrical because it shows strong
feelings and thoughts. It shows no rhyme (a, b, c, d, e, c). It is a hexameter consisting of
six number of feet and it shows repetition of phrases. The repetition is intently used to
evoke a strong feeling.

7. What critical approach is employed on the excerpt cited below?

A. Psychological approach C. Historical/Marxist
B. Formalism D. Feminist
Sample excerpt critique:
The poem explores the concept of justice and how it is applied in the Philippine
Society today compared to our times in the past. Although it is about the Supreme Court in
particular, it also reflects other problems in the Philippine Government. For example the use
of money and power by government officials to cover up their mistakes in public. Evident
in the content, we can say at present that checks and balances in the Philippine Government
to some extent are still alive and well, however, there are loopholes at some circumstances
apparent or observable today.

8. What critical approach is employed on the excerpt cited below?

A. Biographical C. Historical
B. Formalism D. Feminist
Sample Excerpt:
The piece begins from a thought how happy life is. The experiences of the main
character the moment he was born depicts a remarkable good life. Contentment as it may seem
are repeated expressed in the piece. However, a twist seems to unfold the mask behind happy
faces, happy moments and happy life. It is an exactly opposite of reality as hinted by some
contradicting thoughts by the speaker. This I think is very much possible because the main
character it seems is the author himself.