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Philippine Nationalism

The document discusses Philippine nationalism, defining it as a multi-faceted concept with historical significance and various manifestations. It outlines three theories of nationalism: primordialism, modernity, and the constructivist approach, emphasizing the role of imagined communities as described by Benedict Anderson. Additionally, it highlights the ongoing struggle for nation-building in the Philippines, shaped by historical challenges and the need for national resources to benefit the people.

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clarkbaylon32
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19 views2 pages

Philippine Nationalism

The document discusses Philippine nationalism, defining it as a multi-faceted concept with historical significance and various manifestations. It outlines three theories of nationalism: primordialism, modernity, and the constructivist approach, emphasizing the role of imagined communities as described by Benedict Anderson. Additionally, it highlights the ongoing struggle for nation-building in the Philippines, shaped by historical challenges and the need for national resources to benefit the people.

Uploaded by

clarkbaylon32
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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PHILIPPINE NATIONALISM

Specific Learning Objectives


At the end of the lesson, the students must be able to :

1. Define nationalism;
2. Identify the theories on nationalism; and
3. Provide ways and examples in which nationalism is shown.

Focus Here
Nationalism is such a multi-faceted concept. In the Philippines, it has had a huge history. As a
sentiment, it has its peaks and valleys and nationalism as a political concept has been espoused at one
time or another by different sectors of society which projected particular nationalist goals as their own
interests and historical circumstances demanded. There are three theories on Nationalism :
1. The objective modernity of nations to the historian’s eye vis-a-vis their subjective
antiquity in the eyes of nationalists.

Hence nationalism is a relative term which disposition and application would vary from person to
person and from society to society. The time element is also material from the historical to
contemporary perspectives. From the physical armaments to the modern warfare, the struggle and
understanding of nationalism is also variant.

2. The formal universality of nationality as a socio-cultural concept that it has a gender vis-
a-vis the irremediable particularity of its concrete manifestations .

Nationalism can be manifested in several ways, from the bloodless to the bloodliest manner. This
fundamental love towards the country is part of the socio-cultural dimensions. Since, this has
become contributory in its survival.

3. The political power of nationalism vis-a-vis their philosophical poverty.

Talking about nationalism entails both political and philosophical dimensions. The quest for
grasping its aspects is quite elusive and eternal. This is where politics plays an impact either as an
end or the means itself. Inevitably, just like politics and philosophy, both affect human existence
and sustenance.

Nationalism is rooted from the word -nation which it is an imagined political community
and imagined as both inherently limited and sovereign . It is imagined because the members of
even the smallest nation will never know most of their fellow-members, meet or even hear of
them, yet in the minds of each lives the image of their communion .The nation is imagined as
limited because no nation imagines itself coterminous with mankind. It is sovereign because the
concept was born in an age in which Enlightenment and Revolution were destroying the
legitimacy of the divinely ordained, hierarchical dynastic realm. Finally, it is also imagined as a
community, because regardless of the actual inequality and exploitation that may prevail in each,
the nation is always conceived as a deep, horizontal comradeship.
There are three theories on the roots of a nation :
1.Primordialism – it argues, that a national identity has always existed and nations have “ethnic
cores.”
2.Modernity – states that nation, national identity, and nationalism are products of the modern
condition.
3.Constructivist approach –to understand nationalism, this view maintains that nationalism is
socially constructed and imagined by people who identify with a group.

Benedict Anderson, a political scientist who explored the origins of a nation, argues that
nations are “imagined communities.” With this imagined communities comes a “ deep, horizontal
comradeship ” that maintains harmonious co-existence and even fuels the willingness of the
people to fight and die for that nation. Anderson put the importance of mass media in the
construction of the nation during that time. He underscores that the media -

1. fostered unified fields of communication which allowed the million people within the territory
to “know” each other through printed outputs and become aware that many others identified with
the same community;
2. standardized languages that enhanced feelings of nationalism and community;
3. maintained communication through a few languages widely used in the printing press which
endured through time.

In the Philippines, many argue that the project of nation-building is a continuing struggle
up to the present. Many Filipino scholars who endeavored to understand indigenous/local
knowledge have identified concepts that relate to how Filipinos understand the notions of
community and to an extent, nation and nation-building . The indigenous intellectual movements
introduced the concepts of Kapwa and Bayan that can enrich discussions about nationalism in the
context of the Philippines. Throughout Philippine history, the challenge of building the Filipino
nation has persisted, impacted by colonialism, violent invasion during World War II, a
dictatorship, and the perennial struggle for development.

Senator Claro M. Recto defined nationalism this way which is still true today as “…a banner of
freedom proclaiming the national interests of the people, to be protected and safeguarded by themselves
so that the fruits of their efforts and the wealth derived from their God-given resources shall accrue to
them and thus enable all of our people to rise above poverty and march on to prosperity, contentment and
dignity.”
As such, nationalism is defensive and protective. The nationalists believe that the resources of our
country should be for the benefit of our people today and in the future.

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