Professor Solita Collas- Monsod... An Exeptional Critic and Economist by Benedict Miranda

A person who would be able to speak to the public and teach them the rightful way of life would not mean that he or she deserves to be called an example to the citizens for he needs to be more than that and he also must be true to himself and to his fellowmen. It is also not enough to be a perfect exemplar to the masses by critiquing a lot of people’s faults and mistakes, helping the poor by giving them food, clothing, shelter and other important necessities to live life to the fullest, doing something for a change like initiating a program for people like fun runs, and other beneficial projects for the people.

In the case of my everyday life, everybody deserves to be called an exemplar to the people, but I see them with their highest pride that you could beat them black and blue due to their tactless and ruthless words that they might hurt somebody’s feelings or even lead to filing of cases such as libel and slander which would demoralize their image as a person. It is not easy to make a lot of differentiations, criticisms and scrutiny to such issues like political and economic since they are so called “national” issues. The people who criticizes a lot are called “NO- HEART” people since they just talk and talk until they are out of air, but this perception is actually and idiotic one and in fact every critic is considered an excellent debater or arguer and a critic is also a versatile, yet great personality of any field of his profession.

In the Philippines, there were a lot of critics ever since we all know that in every person who would be in power cannot avoid criticisms or opposing ideas from people who were dissatisfied with the way the head like the head of state run the country smoothly with at least few bad issues or issues that won’t affect the country and its citizens too much, but we didn’t have a perfect head of state. We could only just imagine that one day we would’ve had a perfect state and a perfect society, but I feel so sorry to the people who always wanted to be in a perfect society since it could’ve been attainable not only because of them, but also us. We became very insensitive, so apathetic and we tend not to listen to others plea for great changes like those people who has an advocacy and who would carry out the name of our country like those international stars and internationally renowned people in different various fields that some of them were not recognized by the people since they are working outside the country. The issue on Filipinos’ migration abroad and working Filipinos abroad would tell us that our country couldn’t provide enough jobs for every Filipino and it is hard for the Filipino jobseekers to find suitable job like the white- collar and blue- collar jobs.

In recent history about media, there was so called extra- judicial killings due to many media men’s fearless, tactful or tactless, regardless of their societal level. The societal level of these personalities don’t meant to be that they cannot escape a lot of criticisms and questions that are raised for them to answer or to defend like the case of the PNP in different cases of crimes like Trina Etong Case, and EDSA Rubout Case. This would only tell us that neither we nor the highest officials can escape the wrath of controversies and its criticisms and observations by our fellowmen because we could observe each other’s movement in public, but we have also our privacy who is still under observation through our family members and relatives.
Our economy is still running smoothly despite of the raging Global Financial Crisis which indeed gave the Filipinos a serious advisory to effectively spend their income, time and work wisely in order to survive this situation and to sustain their basic necessities. The Global Financial Crisis really made the world suffered from recession and so many financial institutions and even ordinary works were shut down or bankrupt. It affected a lot of Filipinos especially for the OFWs who were former employed, now unemployed.

An exceptional and exemplary person like this person that I’m going to tell you is my favorite critic, economist and an icon of critical analysis of the issues surrounding the Philippines especially the economic status. She is a prominent journalist who really impressed many people to be like her. She is a University of the Philippines School of Economics Professor who gave a lot of commencement speeches in 2 major universities: University of the Philippines and the Ateneo de Manila University and each speech would mark her words of wisdom and integrity to the students especially to the ones who wished to run for office someday.
She is Solita “Mareng Winnie” Collas- Monsod. She was a very loving wife of Christian S. Monsod and a loving mother to Solita Noemi, Toby Melissa, Theresa Patricia, Christian Enrique, and Katrina Diane Noelle.

She worked as a member of the UN Committee for Development Planning (UNCDP), 1987-2000. The Committee is a high-level advisory group to the UN-ECOSOC, made up of 24 versatile men serving in their personal capacity. Member, Board of Trustees, International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) Washington, January 1996, Member, Board of Advisors, Human Development Report 1993Member, Board of Advisors, South Centre, Geneva, Switzerland, 1991-1995. The South Centre was established to follow-up the recommendations of the South Commission, organized in 1987 at the initiative of Prime Minister Mahathir Mohammad of Malaysia and chaired by Mwalimu Julius Nyerere of Tanzania. The Commission issued a report in 1990 entitled The Challenge of the South which has since been translated in five languages. South Commission member from 1987- 1990, Regional Alleviating Poverty on 1994, Higher Education Development Fund Investment and Management Advisory Committee Member of the Commission on Higher Education on 1997. She is a lecturer of the University of the Philippines School of Economics (UPSE), a symposia speaker and panelist involving academics, priorities of the government today, media, and civic and communitarian organization on different issues and current interests.
Her education was so very exceptional since she graduated cum laude in Bachelor of Arts major in Economics in UP in 1959 and gained her Masters Degree in University of Pennsylvania in 1962 then became a candidate for Doctor of Philosophy in 1963 on the same university.

Her being exceptional, not only in her field of study, but also in media gained her being an honorary example of a versatile, yet critical media man. Her awards were Broadcaster of Year 2000 awarded by Kapisanan ng mga Brodkaster ng Pilipinas, Best TV Program Host for Public Affairs Program from Star Awards, and more. She also became the National Economic Development Authority from 1986- 1989.
She is also a writing enthusiast where she wrote many books regarding economic views today and economic views in the Philippines like Philippine Poverty: A Status Report from Asia Society on 1997, and An Analysis of the Philippine Economic Crisis 1984 Quezon City, UP Publications.

In her different segments in television like “Analysis” from News on Q by QTV Channel 11 where she gives her insights and knowledge about certain issues like the Cheaper Medicines Law where it took more time for the government to make it as a law and there is a counter- attack to this law which was provided by the Private Hospitals of the Philippines Group where they warned the government that if the medicines were reduced by the pharmaceutical companies, they would declare a hospital holiday and worse the patients who cannot pay would stay in the hospital for months. This issue was disliked by her and also by me since the people would benefit from this and the private hospitals are so very mean when it comes to this issue of Cheaper Medicines Law because there are critical measures with regards to selling of medicines produced by pharmaceutical companies like GlaxoSmithKline and Wyeth like pressure on price hike and its quality. The generics would retain as cheaper as possible. Her segment on “Analysis” would not only inform people, but also remind people that in every issue there is rightfully a genuine action/s. It is not enough to sit back and relax then enjoy everything what you are having, but be informed and be aware in your surrounding especially in the society where we cannot see perfection and flawless.

Overall, Prof. Winnie’s life would be compared to pliant like a bamboo that could be on time in delivering what she knows and what could possibly happen in certain issues surrounding the society. The life of Prof. Monsod could be done by anybody unless he could be able to make the necessary changes on the way of Filipinos’ lives. To be able to persuade people to make a change and be vigilant in such issues like Charter Change and Constituent Assembly, one must be able to do such actions to persuade people to reject or dislike CON- ASS and CHA- CHA. Her life is in line with economy and political issues that we can also make use of like in my profession. I could be an economist someday that could be like Winnie Monsod and we can make the most out of her works, and we could do what she does everyday.

We must be what we are and never be apathetic if needed because apathy would be used in such cases. For me, she is not a hero, but an example of concerned person.

SOURCES:
http://www.nsclub.net/marengwinnie/resume.htm
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=98glWaK5ieo
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solita_Monsod

Citizen Exemplar: Manny “Pacman” Pacquiao by Jose Peralta III

Fight for Honor and Glory of your country is what a man can do to prove to the world the pride of his country. Being elite in your own field or profession can be enough.
The gut of a true fighter, the will of a boxer, the strength of a true champion, and the pride of a Filipino is what this man possesses. He showed greatness in this field beyond others. Thus, proved that he is the one and true uncontested victor. He is a citizen exemplar! Not only for his valor, but also his strive for the Filipino pride. He is Manny Pacquiao.

Emmanuel Dapidran Pacquiao otherwise known as Many Pacquiao is the “fighting pride of the Philippines” and hailed today as the greatest pound-for-pound boxer.
Why make him a citizen exemplar? Let’s see what he is first. The bad traits: Pacquiao is mocked by many because of his language skills, criticized by others for not using his own language in addressing his win unlike other boxers who address the people with their own language. What people don’t see is that Pacquiao tries his best to improve not only in boxing but also in his communication skills. Pacquiao grew up without finishing high school, so it is exceptionally amazing to learn English to a person with a caliber like Pacquiao. Those who criticize him also don’t realize that Pacquiao is the embodiment of the Filipino people and that he’s only trying to show the world that we Filipino’s can speak English.

Manny Pacquiao during his fights creates one nation. No crime, no un-equality, just one unified Philippines. Many see him as the greatest Filipino today. With his clenched fists of glory, he does not only defeat his enemy, but brings pride to our country. He says “Ang laban ko ay para sa mga Pilipino”. That’s why he is also known as “The fighting pride of the Philippines” because he gives credit to his race and motherland. He is a model citizen because he does not only excel in his profession. He also strives to influence others to be proud of their race, which is a Filipino.

A citizen exemplar like him also proves that anyone of us can become an exemplar like him with so much love for our country.

Pacquiao lived a poor life as a child, chose not to finish school, but still, made way to become the excellent person he is today. Pacquiao was noted as to be a person who is below average. He wasn’t expected of something great. Inspite of not excelling in academics, he managed to show some skill on boxing. Thanks to his father, who is a former boxer himself, Pacquiao managed to practice his skills as a boxer. The man from General Santos city starts his way to the top, even though even his own mother disapproves of his sons’ decision on pursuing a career on Boxing. Step by step, even in the face of defeats against Rustico Torrecampo, Medgoen singsurat, and Eric Morales, he still made his way to climb the top, defeating many opponents such as Oscar Larios, Juan Manuel Marquez, Marco Antonio Barrera, Eric Morales (2nd Fight), Dela Hoya, and currently Hatton. It defines to him, the attitude of a true fighter, a really exceptional person whose courage brings blaze to the feelings of others (his countrymen).

Each fight of Pacquaio is a nationwide event that nobody misses. Crime-rate in the Philippines hits 0 every time Pacquiao fights. Do you know what it means unifying the Philippines in just that single moment? It proves that the Philippines can be a single unit where cooperation and equality rules. If only everyday can be boxing day, then maybe everyone in the Philippines can work together. No rallies, opposition and administration, quarrels among siblings and friends, no murders, just a unified country that everyone dreams. Imagine one Filipino can do that. This is, Manny Pacquiao.

Today, Pacquiao has proved that the Filipino people is excellent in their own way, and is a force to reckon with. Nobody underestimates us any more; we have proved our worth to be acknowledged by the whole world. He is as exemplar worth of praising and acknowledging. A role model to Filipino’s everywhere, he still pursues to further bring joy, and pride to the Philippines by defeating every opponent who comes blocking his way towards achieving this. His fists of fury won’t allow anyone to ruin the Filipino pride, because each punch represents the trust every Filipino has for him. Pacquiao has a whole nation, a whole race resting upon his shoulders and is expecting that he brings home that honor that we all crave and thus forever embedded our name In history.

Can he now be a national hero? What do you think? Yes! He even deserves more than that. The palace awards him for his triumph, the people on the other hand brought him cheers. Now at his upcoming fight with Miguel Cotto, once again we watch Pacquiao bring Honor and Glory back to his country!

Voter’s Education... Best Tool by Marck Emmanuel Agdamag

One of the best and effective citizenship action tools and techniques especially this time because the election is near is voter’s education. Voter’s education is conducted by concerned citizens or sometimes the government to educate the voters
We all know that the presidential election will be in May 2010, and all of us may be new voters, some don’t want to vote because they don’t see the importance there vote can do, some choose the wrong and unjust candidates, some votes are being bought because the people don’t have integrity, some just don’t care, some don’t know that there’s an election , some are afraid to vote because of the terror that comes every elections in the voting area ,some are ignorant, some may don’t have the idea of whose to choose because of the lack of information and knowledge of whose going to run, who to vote, what to do to register?, where to vote?. And many more reasons why we should have voter’s education especially today that election will be near. Everyone’s vote is very important, the vote of the country reflects the sense of nationalism of its people and if our vote fails it just shows that we lack nationalism and entity. In that vote depends what’s going to be the future of our country.

Despite the promises of the candidates every election , we don’t get what they promise us like reducing poverty, corruption, free education, reduce hunger and many more promises that is untrue when they already have the post. We know that we are a third world country, despite of our high literacy rate many of the people are uneducated and don’t have the knowledge in their minds. People vote subjectively and come up with a wrong vote. They don’t weigh the facts and personality of the candidate.

What should be the content of an effective voters education: First sufficient funds should exist, funds are used to advertise your project, they are used in transportation of your materials and the people who will do and supervise the project, they are used in making the materials needed, they are used to support the basic needs of the people who will educate the voters without the funds how can you reach out to people and teach them about everything that is important in voting. Second, a dedicated and passionate leader must rule and supervise their project. A proper leader is important because he will be the one who’s going to make the rules and evaluate the opinions of the members to properly enforce and evaluate if it’s proper and the most right thing. The leader is also important because he will be the one to manage the members and the things that involved in the implementation of the rules. Third the right and passionate members must exist, members are the one who’s going to do the mission of the project and they are the one who’s going to make the actions that can educate the voters. It is the mission of the members to properly do the things required so the mission can be attained. The members should be educated and have the right thoughts to properly educate the voters. He or she must be charismatic and must be good and inspiring speaker so that people will listen and follow what he said and taught to them. Fourth a mission and a goal must be set to guide the project of the program. It is important to have this mission so that they have the drive to properly do the program. It is also used to view the attainment of the program so that they can check their status. Fifth a platform must be done so that they follow proper and organized actions to properly do the mission and imply to the members what should be done and to determine the goals of the project. The platform is used so that they are not clueless of the status of their project and do the right things. It is also used to measure the status if every goal is done. It also make the mission of the project clear to every of its members, the leader and the voters. So we should not only focus on the mission alone but also the more important thing the platform because in the platform we can see the trueness of the mission and if the projects are effective and the right thing to do. We should criticize the project’s platform always and argue if the platform is not done. Sixth is the recipient of their missions and their platforms, it is important to take into consideration the recipients of their missions and their platforms because it is the reason why this project is made. The project is voter’s education and obviously the recipients is the voters, the voters should be educated properly and right so that the message you want to imply to the recipient is totally understood and followed. The recipient must be open minded and must evaluate the teachings that the members of the project taught to them. At the end of the project the recipient must able to have the right decisions who should be voted?, must be nationalistic, must have in mind the knowledge of proper voting, and must able to absorb what the educator taught to them. If this happen the mission of the project succeeds and followed therefore smells victory for the project. Seventh are the personality and the attitude of all the people involved be right and must intertwined. The right personality and attitude of all the people involved is important because with the proper attitude and personality among all people involved equals cooperation among all. With cooperation, the mission will be achieved and all the platforms can be done by the right time. If all cooperates of course all will be involved and it will increase productivity of the project. Conflict and problems may arise but with cooperation it could easily be resolved and can be grounds for improvement for the next time to come. Eight the implementation of every activity is very important. The implementation of every activity is very important because the program should be organized, proper and right. If the implementation goes wrong and badly done, it may cause failure to that activity and the rule is not followed and the activity goes to trash. In every activity that the project does the members interact with the recipients and in that the members can deliver their message to the recipients. In the success of every activity depends whether they will succeed in their mission. Ninth the message of the members should be clear. The message the members imply to the recipients contains all the information that the projects wants them to learn and be able to evaluate. The clarity of every message that the members imply can we assess the content and value of what the members taught and what the recipients understands. If the message is unclear then the content of what the members taught can be decreased as well as the understanding of every recipients and it means failure. The clarity of the message the members want to address is not only limited to the communication of the members and the recipient but also the tools and the techniques the project does. Example of these tools and techniques is the internet, fliers, TV ads, radio ads, debates, newspaper, text messages and more. This tools and techniques require sufficient funds so that it can be attained. Last is success, the most important thing at all. In the success of the project means that all the platforms are done therefore the mission is attained. In success the nine content must be followed so it means success. Through the success of the project the recipients are educated and can really help the success of the country. It is not only important that they make success but also they fulfill their contentment. They should make sure that success is attained. The success of the projects depends on the future of our country.

Voter’s education will really help the people’s ignorance of everything that includes voting and election to be demolished. It should be the proper Citizenship Action Tools and Techniques for this time especially the election is near. The proper organization will be the one to properly manage the voter’s education campaign because they are the ones equipped with all the resources that the making of this will require. Everyone can participate in this project as long as you got what it takes. The voter’s education campaign can be grounds for proper and peaceful elections to occur because when people are educated of all the knowledge and the understandings that the campaign taught them in they are more nationalistic and therefore become volunteers for honest and peaceful elections. It let the people to evaluate the claims and the means of all the candidates through debates, looking for the candidate’s platforms and the factors that involved of being in that post.

The Pangulong Gloria Scholarship Program by Jun Magdaraog

The Best “Best practice” I have thought of is about the Pangulong Gloria Scholarship program because this program aims to reduce the unemployment rate in the middle of our financial crisis by providing free education, skills, training and competency assessment for the Filipino people in varying ages, young, old, out-of-school youth and even graduates. This program ensures that students will develop their skillfulness and capabilities needed for them to be employed in their career choices. This program is actually under the supervision of the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) with the initiative of Director General Augusto Syjuco to help the economic programs of President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo on improving our economic growth by molding first the Philippines’ human resources or the skills of the Filipinos. In the near future, with this program we can acquire a 0% unemployment rate and that is not impossible with all Filipinos have their jobs and grossing enough salaries to sustain their lives, we sure can. No more families are worrying about the future of their children that they might not be able to send their children for schooling because of the continuing increase in schools’ tuition fees and a long run support for them throughout their studies.

This scholarship may serve as there gateway to success, especially to those Filipinos who have financial constraints to go for college. They can choose for vocational courses in TESDA and they can assure jobs after they receive their diplomas. Every month TESDA offers thousand of jobs here in our country and also abroad for our citizens, prioritizing the poor ones. Availing this scholarship program can be hard because it is first come-first served basis, but the program ensures that all applicants will be served and able to land a job.

This year, the Malacanang allocated a total budget of P2.6 Billion for the PGS program in cooperation with TESDA for more vocational and technical courses for the scholars. With lots of budget, the program will surely open more jobs and slots for the citizens across the country. I hope that all the scholars will use these chances to finish their courses and aid their families. Even it is just short courses they can still be employed in the end, finishing a short course is like finishing a degree in college. Maybe in few years, we can lessen the number of Filipinos who did not finish college and ended up being unemployed.

The scholarship can be either partial or full, but with lots of benefits it is all paid off with free training program to produce the best quality workers. Some benefits other than free training, are of course the supplies and materials required for training are all provided by TESDA and this will not cause any burden to the scholars because they will not compensate for the fees about supplies. Another is TESDA will seek open jobs for them with this jobs will be on reserved for them after they have finished their trainings. All assessment fees are free and not only those but also they will be getting daily allowance of 60.00 pesos per day, imagine they can get the training for free and still earn money while they develop their skills. Of course, if the trainee is absent from the class on that day, he/she will not be getting any allowance and for three to six months after the training, the trainee must be employed or self-employed to see if there is progress and to be sure that they will use the learning they have earned in TESDA.

Some upshort courses are Bartending, Building Wiring, Call Center Agent, Carpentry, Commercial Cooking, computer hardware servicing, consumer electronics servicing, food and beverage services, health care services, household housekeeping, Java, Korean language, machining, medical transcription, massage therapy, masonry, pipefitting, plumbing, shielder metal arch wielding, automotive servicing, driving, haircutting, small engine servicing, and others. With all of these courses available for free, many citizens will be encouraged to hone their skills and get a work either here or abroad. This Pangulong Gloria Scholarship (PGS) program is certainly the best educational program advertised by the government on producing not only the best workers but the best citizens of the country.

Just this year the Pangulong Gloria Scholarship program had just started on providing scholarship to the poor but well-deserving citizens in Mindanao. In Zamboanga City, a lot of citizens were qualified in the job-directed training program without so much cost to the scholars. In Catbalogan, Samar the PGS is also setting scholarship programs in the province to generate more jobs to the jobless youth and unemployed residents. The PGS program announced the availability of 1,170 scholarship slots with allocated fund of P10, 823,550. Courses like plumbing, carpentry, housekeeping, bartending, masonry, computer programming and others will be free for the scholars in Samar even these are all short courses these are still employable and easy for them to get job because these demand a lot of workers. The PGS program is prioritizing the youth to apply for scholarship and instead they stopped for college. Youth will also be avoided away from vices like drugs and alcohols and concentrate on job trainings. And in Leyte, the PGS program is accepting applicants who want to be call center agents. In the first batch with 72 examinees were accommodated and took a 7-minute conversation test to screen those who have the skills and efficiency in English language. And out of 72 examinees, 19 were selected for the scholarships and are capable for the job. And for the second batch, 82 examinees took the qualifying skills exam with 24 of them passed and ready to be employed in a call center company. The qualifiers are now enjoying the TESDA’s scholarship fund of P5, 000.00 per person for the 100 hours call center training.

Another is in Antique, where 697 scholars have availed the program in the province. Among the courses offered are barista (coffeemaker), commercial cooking, food and beverage and computer hardware servicing. All of these courses are being offered at an accredited vocational school which is the Advance Central College. After the training, all the graduates will undergo a mandatory assessment to be assured they will be highly competent before employing in any jobs. In Davao, there are 70 scholars, mostly are out-of-school youth have been given a chance to avail the program and get free training in courses Forklift operator, wheel loader operator and hydraulic excavator with the help of the DPWH or Department of Public Works and Highways. The PGS program is hoping that scholars will use this chance to help themselves and their families and show to the world that Filipino citizens are competitive and dedicated to their works.

One of the programs of TESDA in PGS program is LSI or the Language Skill Institute that intend to develop the language skills of our citizens with high language standards, assessment, and extensive trainings. Of course not only English will be teach but also other major languages like Mandarin, Korean, French, Spanish and Arabic. The target of this program is prioritizing for the people who want to work abroad. A research found out that Language Barriers could be one of the factors why employees are most likely being rejected when they apply and screen in an interview especially for aspiring OFWs. But with this program scholars who want to undergo language training they can sharpen their language proficiencies in varying languages and work across the globe.

And to tell a story of one of the lucky scholars is Jonalyn "Pam" Palma, a native in Iloilo. Jonalyn was actually a fresh gradate of BS Hotel and restaurant Management but can’t fin an immediate Hotel work and can’t start up a business. Jonalyn opted to apply in the Pangulong Gloria Scholarship program and fortunately qualified for call center agent and undergo training in Ilagan Career Development Center, one of the training centers of TESDA. After the training Jonalyn is successfully working on Teletech Iloilo Delivery Center as call center agent. There are other more scholars like Jonalyn hired in the company which still needs a hundred of employees. President Arroyo funded P350, 000 to the call center training program to ensure the facilities and supplies needed in the training for the increasing number of applicants.

This type of program is essential especially today, the citizens can find more opportunities for better jobs despite of the crisis we have. A lot of scholars have been produced because of this program. From ordinary citizen most are now skilled and educated Filipino despite of their financial status. Others who can’t afford to go for college and earn a degree but still want to have a decent job they can choose for vocational courses. In just short period and in a very low cost, they can find job after the training. I hope this program can produce more skilled and competent citizens that would help our drastic economy. Philippines have to give importance to our human resources and employment not only for the betterment of the economy but to the prosperity of the Filipinos….

Sources
http://tesdaqc.wordpress.com/pangulong-gloria-scholarships/
http://satellite.tmcnet.com/news/2009/03/05/4035379.htm
http://zamboangajournal.blogspot.com/2009/03/tesda-announces-new-scholarship-program.html
http://callcenter.mixph.com/tesda-scholarship-for-call-center-course/
http://www.samarnews.com/news2009/feb/f2061.htm
http://globalnation.inquirer.net/cebudailynews/enterprise/view/20071119-101841/Tesda-7_to_open_institute_to_improve_language_skills
http://www.sunstar.com.ph/pangasinan/p26b-fund-pangulong-gloria-scholars
http://www.thenewstoday.info/2009/06/04/697.antiquenos.avail.of.pangulong.gloria.scholarship.html
http://www.thenewstoday.info/2009/06/10/tesda.scholarships.html
http://entrebankph.com/complete-lists-of-pangulong-gloria-scholarship-courses-you-can-take/

A Case Study on Empowering High School Youth Citizens: The High School Student Activities Program

By Jamaico D. Ignacio




I. Introduction

Citizenship is defined by Miriam-Webster as, “the quality of an individual's response to membership in a community.” In perspective, good citizenship, while utilizing special skills and talents, engages on one’s high involvement in society and its development. With this regard, men and women of various fields have invested themselves to nation-building.

Looking at forming such good citizens, where does it all start? It all begins with citizens at their prime: the youth. Various student activism and involvement activities throughout the country where the youth employ on new ideas and performance in national development are proof that good citizenship starts when citizens are young. But how do such young citizens form? Key to this development is the education system. It is in the school where the young form themselves. Equipped by the schools with knowledge, wisdom, and awareness, the youth engage themselves more on national progress.

Equal to the academic program of a school that harnesses and hones the students’ knowledge, wisdom, and awareness, the Student Activities Program (SAP) is more special in engaging students with their special talents and leadership skills for their formation as good citizens. Within the SAP context, students and their special capabilities are identified, developed, and formed geared towards leadership. This formation of student maturity towards good citizenry is the best mechanism a school can do in the creation of good citizens.

In order to understand the SAP as a mechanism for good citizenry, one must delve into its structures and student involvement within the school framework. To better comprehend such structures and involvement, one must glance through the objectives and standards of the school, the organization structure of the SAP, and the program-activities standard of the SAP. In such investigation, the Ateneo de Manila High School Student Activities Program (AHS-SAP), one of the leading high school programs in the country, can be taken as case study to appreciate the SAP as a mechanism for good citizenry.

II. Objectives and Standards

Objectives need to be identified as guiding tools for the creation of good citizens. To serve as a guiding standard in the education system, each school has a “mission-vision” statement in its pursuance of shaping good citizens. The mission-vision statement, although varying from one school to the other, serves a common purpose of developing young minds toward good citizenry.

The Ateneo de Manila High School centers its creation of good citizens on leadership formation, excellence, and Christian values compatible with good citizenry. The Ateneo High school’s mission is to “form Christ-centered young men of competence, conscience, compassion and commitment who will be a positive transforming difference in the life of the nation.” The school envisions the formation of “servant-leaders... in a relevant learning environment with world class programs.”

With the guiding school objectives courtesy of the mission-vision statement of the school as core objective, programs such as the SAPs have its own guiding principle based on its own field. These standards should conform to the speciality of the program. For the SAP, its specialty is the development of special skills and leadership abilities of a student geared towards involvement: good citizenry. This standard based on its purpose emphasizes the school’s commitment to the formation of good citizens.

The Ateneo de Manila Student Activities Program, keeping in faith with its objectives of forming good citizens through the formation of servant leaders of excellence and Christian values in a high quality program, outlines its SAP standard as “SERVE.” The standard called “SERVE” is a carefully made acronym of the AHS-SAP’s goals:

S - Shape student Leaders by instilling in them the ideals of the school
E - Engage the Student Body in endeavours that would further cultivate one’s love for country
R - Respond to the Needs of the Ateneo High School Community
V - Value Communication through Cooperation
E - Empower Students by Creating Venues through which our resources can be utilized more effectively

The goals of SERVE aim to further advance the development of students whose potentials need to be tapped. The goals basically layouts the way how the SAP can engage to student body: The SAP with its activities and programs should be faithful to the school’s mission-vision. It must engage and heighten the student involvement in activities that expose the students to the issues and realities of the country to give them a sense of love and responsibility for the nation. It should also heighten as well student engagement and involvement on school issues. It should as well strengthen its cooperation with the students to understand the needs of the student body. Finally, the SAP should create and utilize activities and resources like leadership seminars or school-wide projects to empower students in actual groundwork geared towards good citizenry.

III. Structure

The SAP is in its most tangible form through the Student Activities Office (as a school administrative arm) and the Student Government (as the youth involvement venue for the students.) Both the Student Activities Office and the Student Government are responsible in the provision of venues for students to form themselves to be good citizens. These units handle the various activities to be done within the school campus.

AHS-SAP is represented by two units: the “Office of Student Activities” as the administration arm while the “Sanggunian ng Mag-aaral ng Mataas ng Paaralan ng Ateneo” as the youth wing. Both coordinate and plan in the advancement the AHS-SAP’s goals for the holistic formation of the student body.

The Office of Student Activities (OSA), being the administrative wing of the AHS-SAP program, is composed of school employees that coordinate with the student government and moderate the actions of these student activities. The OSA is composed of: the Student Activities Coordinator as overall staff head of the program, the Student Council Moderators as mediator and guide for the council and sub-councils of the student government, and the committee moderators as mediator and guide for special projects committees.

The “Sanggunian ng Mag-aaral ng Mataas ng Paaralan ng Ateneo” (more commonly known as “Sanggu-HS”) is the youth wing of the AHS-SAP. This is the activities venue for the youth. Here students can join various activities, projects, and even the council as a venue for their holistic formation towards good citizenry.

The student government or the Sanggu-HS in activity is defined through three major fields: the batches, the organizations, and the varsity teams. The batches are the year-level batches of classes of the school (the freshmen, the sophomores, the juniors, and the seniors.) The Organizations are the extra-curricular and co-curricular organizations of the schools that cater to the special interests of the students. The varsity teams are the varying competing sports teams of the school that hones students with special sports skills. Besides the three major fields, activities like student elections, fundraising fairs and leadership seminars are also identified with the Sanggu-HS classified as special interests activities.

The Sanggu-HS in form is defined as a student council. The Sanggu-HS in itself is a complex form. The Sanggu-HS as a council is describe at three levels: the Executive board of the Sanggu-HS, the Sub-councils, and the special interests committees.

The Sanggu-HS Executive Board (E-Board) is the epitome of the student council. It is the overall student body unit that plans with the Student Activities Coordinator regarding the objectives and projects for the SAP. The E-Board is composed of a Chairman the represents the student body, a Secretary-General that caters to student-body documents and archiving, a Finance Officer that handles overall finances, and three Vice-Chairmen that represent each major field of the Sanggu-HS. They plan school-wide activities that are loyal to the SAP goals and the mission-vision of the school.

The Sub-Councils are councils that cater for each major field of the Sanggu-HS. Each sub-council with its sub-council moderator handles the special field through student engagement and involvement. These sub-councils are represented by: Assembly of Class Officers (ACO) for the batches, Council of Student Organizations (CSO) for the organizations, and the Athletics Council (AthC) for the varsity teams. Each sub-council have a vice-chairman (which represents the field in the E-Board), a Sub-Council secretary-general, a Sub-Council Finance officer, and the Audit and Inventory Officer for the CSO that handles organization equipment audit and inventory. Adding to this line-up, each sub-council has a core group member.

A core group member is an elected student that represents special areas to the sub-council. ACO has a core team of elected batch representatives. The CSO has a core team of elected organization cluster heads (a cluster is group of organizations ex. Social Sciences Cluster which includes the Political Science Org, Pscology Org, etc.) The AthC has a core team of elected varsity block heads (a block is group of varsity team ex. Basketball Block which includes the UAAP, PRADA, and PAYA baskectball teams.) Each core group member in the sub-council is at the forefront of youth activism as they engage and arouse student involvement and formation.

Special interest committees are groups of volunteers that coordinate with the OSA (through the committee moderators) and the student council to plan and implement a certain special interest project. Such projects are aimed in developing student involvement skills and capacities aimed in forming high school youth geared towards the SAP’s goals and the school’s mission vision. Some of these committees are: the Fair Committee (FairCom), Committee on Elections (Comelec), Constitutional Committee (ConCom), Jesuit High Schools Leadership Convention Committee (JSLC), Freshmen’s Day Committee (FreshCom), Sophomore’s Night Committee (SophCom), Junior’s Prom Committee (PromCom), and the Senior’s Graduation Ball Committee (BallCom.)

IV. Program-Organization

A benchmarking process is an important key in planning, implementing, and assessing student activities being true in its drive of forming good citizens. A process that goes through a standard best practice provides the best of results in terms of activity. SAPs usually set up a benchmarking process for student activities to achieve best results for the structure to execute activities geared towards the formation of good citizens in accordance to the goals of the SAP and the mission-vision of the school.

The AHS-SAP follows a certain standard in achieving the best results from student activities. This standard, as a benchmarking process, is the accepted yardstick of AHS-SAP as it follows a step-by-step process in achieving goals. This standard is dubbed as the “Elements of Effective Organization.” The elements of Effective Organization are: Organization Program Management, Recruitment and Selection, Orientation Program, Development and Training, Team-building, Spirituality Component, Service Component, and Leadership Training and Succession.

The Elements of Effective Organization is a standard of any organization within the school (whether a class, organization, or varsity team) that aims to be active and involved. The Elements of Effective Organization in itself is special as it follows certain components that are special to the school as it follows certain elements that directly follow the mission-vision of the school (the Spirituality Component for Christ-Centered students.)

Organization Program Management involves the membership of the organization to set standards to properly coordinate and organize student activity. A process of pre-production (planning), production proper (implementation), and post-production (evaluation) coordination-organization is the commonly seen standards. Besides the said process, a methodology for the leadership to implement activities with the membership should be set to maximize the development of every member of the organization.

Recruitment and Selection involves proper selection standards of membership for an organization or an activity-project. This process should identify people who can really contribute to the organization or the project. Talents and skills that can chip in to the organization or project should be properly identified from interested parties. Those with great interest and great potential should also be identified.

Orientation Program is a must for every organization or for any project-activity. Properly outlined dissemination of the preliminaries of a certain organization or project-activity should be set to inform the membership or project volunteers.

Development and Training involves for the proper identification of talents and skills of the membership and the honing of these talents and skills within the context of the activities of the organization or a project-activity. A standard for the identification and advancement of skills and talents should be done alongside with the creation of venues for this such as training seminars and allotment of time for newbie to contribute in activities.

Team-building involves the creation of a program that sets cohesion, synergy, and brotherhood between members of the organization. Proper unity for the advancement of the objectives of the organization or of the project-activity is must to gain the best outcome.

Spirituality Component involves a set standard where Christian values, as stated in the mission-vision, should be included in the activities of the organization or project-activity to emphasize an identified communion for the students. Projects or small activities should be done to emphasize spirituality of the membership.

Service Component involves a standard that every projects or activities should serve a purpose of serving and contributing to the community. Standards of identifying objectives, programs, and targeted areas to be served should be set.

Leadership Training and Succession involves the leadership identifying potential successors for future management and training such potential leaders. Programs and activities for training for the potential leaders should be set within a given plan or policy.

V. Outcome and Conclusion

Within the context of the objectives, structure, and program standard of the AHS-SAP, the major outcome is the high involvement of students in terms of community involvement. Organizations, batches, and varsity teams form activities that contribute to society.

Organizations, with an emphasis on talents, use the special skills of the members to contribute in society. This heightens exposure to nation-building with one’s talents. One example is a Social Awareness organization in AHS that joined an election watchdog process of NAMFREL during the 2007 National Elections. Another example is a Sciences Organization that joined an international competition and won that brought honor to the country.

Batches, with an emphasis in fraternity between members, use collectives as a tool to contribute in society. One such example is the contribution of AHS Batch 2009 in the organization of a benefit legacy concert.

Varsity Teams, besides it usual joining of competitions, formulate activities that maximize their talents. One such example is the organization of a sports clinic for the poor to maximize better health attitudes. Another example is the formulation of benefit competitions.

Looking into the mechanism of the AHS-SAP, with its objectives, structure, and program activities standards, the potential in forming good citizens from the young
is heightened by clear objectives that forms students, a structure the provides venues and mediation for students for formation, and programs standards that set the areas for development. With such case, SAP is a good mechanism in forming good young citizens.

Sources
Miriam-Webster Dictionary
Ateneo de Manila High School Student Handbook
Ateneo de Manila High School Website
Beating the Competition: A Practical Guide to BENCHMARKING

Automated Elections in the Philippines... Automated Suffrage! by Sedric Ames Chua

In next year’s elections, automated elections would be introduced for the first time in the Philippines. But before we expound on the automated elections let us first examine the history of voting.
Brief history of suffrage
It is a wide misconception that the United States of America is where voting started but actually voting goes way back, in fact the US hadn’t introduced voting until the late seventeenth century in the time where the US declared independence from England. In the time where monarchies rule the world, they were the first democracy in the world. In US democracy, Thomas Jefferson with his work on anti-federalism is the pioneer of choosing leaders by majority rule.
The voting process has a rich history; it goes way back to the times of ancient Greeks. Each year, the Greeks had a negative election -- voters were asked to cast a vote for the politician they most wanted to exile for ten years. Votes were written on broken pots, ostraka in Greek and from this name came our present word to ostracize. If any politician received more than six thousand votes then the one with the largest number was exiled. If no politician received six thousand votes then all remained. If there was a fairly even spread of votes, nobody would get over six thousand and no one would get exiled -- hence only very unpopular politicians were ostracized and exiled.
In 13th century Venice, Venetians voted for a Grand Council of 40 members. They introduced "approval voting": electors cast one vote for every candidate they find acceptable and none for those whom they deem unacceptable. The winner is the person who is acceptable to the largest number of voters. Ramon Llull is the one who proposed this type of voting system where it is based precisely on the principle of fairness.
In the early fourteen hundreds, the German philosopher and bishop, Nicholas of Cusa studied Llull's idea and realized that it had deficiencies. With this, he proposed a different system which would always result in a winner. Cusa produced a document on how to elect German kings in which he proposed the following system. If there were x candidates for King, then voters should give the least favored candidate of their choice one point, the next candidate two points and so on until they reached their most favored candidate for King who they would give x votes. This system is used today for some elections but it does have the deficiency that the candidate elected may not have been anyone's first choice.
Philippine Voting and Elections
In 1987 after former President Ferdinand Marcos had stepped down from power, the 1987 constitution was established. The 1987 constitution establishes a new system of elections. The terms of representatives are reduced from four years to three, and the presidential term is lengthened from four years to six. Senators also serve a six-year term. The Constitution's transitory provisions are scheduled to expire in 1992, after which there is to be a three-year election cycle. Suffrage is universal at age eighteen. The constitution established a Commission on Elections that is empowered to supervise every aspect of campaigns and elections. It is composed of a chairperson and six commissioners, who cannot have been candidates for any position in the immediately preceding elections. A majority of the commissioners must be lawyers, and all must be college-educated. They are appointed by the president with the consent of the Commission on Appointments and serve a single seven-year term. The Commission on Elections enforces and administers all election laws and regulations and has original jurisdiction over all legal disputes arising from disputed results. To counter the unwholesome influence occasionally exercised by soldiers and other armed groups, the commission may depute law enforcement agencies, including the Armed Forces of the Philippines. In dire situations, the commission can take entire municipalities and provinces under its control, or order new elections.
Philippine Elections VS US Elections
Courtesy of photius.com, this is the skeleton of voting and elections in the Philippines. As you can clearly see, it is somewhat similar to the US. Well, maybe the constitution really is patterned after the US, after all the Philippines and the US does have a certain “link.”
But unlike US elections where fairness is really emphasize, the Philippines have lots of anomalies when it comes to elections (well, practically the entire Philippine politics as a whole). From vote-buying to “misplaced ballots”, you name it, there isn’t an anomaly that the Philippines hasn’t or didn’t have during elections. Remember the elections six years ago? President Arroyo allegedly cheated her way to becoming president, through the “Hello Garci” scandal, and all Arroyo said was that she’s sorry. If this would have happened to an American politician, he/she would have already stepped down.
Every election year, less people vote from the last one. It is believed that there are more people who vote at the Pinoy Big Brother than in the Philippine elections. There are lots of factors why this is happening. Most people don’t give a damn about the elections. These people are usually the poor ones and are more concern about survival (e.g. food, shelter, clothing etc.) Also, some people believe that they aren’t making a difference because they will just be putting another politician that is almost like the last one, one that will just in it for the money.
But probably the most important explanation, in my opinion, is the reason of altering ballots. Many people believe that no matter whom you vote those votes won’t be counted as such because they believe that the only “numbers” that are worth counting for the Comelec are the one’s paid by who even is the desperate one. President Arroyo can attest to that, remember the Hello Garci scandal in the 2004 elections? Oh yeah, lets not overlook the “missing ballot” anomaly that to Senator Zubiri overtaking Pimentel in the senatorial race in the ’07 elections. No wonder a lot of people don’t want to vote.
It is time for a change!
Automated elections in the Philippines… finally
It is about time that automation in elections have arrived in the Philippines, next year will be a belated welcoming of automation, since the machines were bought about 6 or 7 years ago for the purpose of automating the 2007 elections, but because of “bidding problems” we have to wait for an automated election until 2010.
But that is a thing of the past, what is important now is that we will finally get a fair election (hopefully). I believe that the main reason for the delay is that the people looking at cheat in the elections can’t find a way to hack into the system, in desperation of keeping power, they suspend the automated election. And now that the public is clamoring for chance, they have no choice but to reinstate the automated elections.
Automated Systems
It all started with the implementation of the Republic Act No. 9369, also known as “An Act Authorizing The Commission on Elections To Use An Automated Election System In The May 11, 1998 National or Local Elections And In Subsequent National And Local Electoral Exercises.” This authorized the Comelec to undertake the automation of the elections in 2010, the first in the political history of the Philippines.
From 1907 to 2007, elections in the Philippines have always been manual. Not only is it manual, but the election process has been tedious, at least in today’s standards. Voters have to write by hand their votes, and counting of them is done by the board of elections by reading the votes out loud and recording it all down on a tally sheet or election return, and on a blackboard or tally board. Canvassing then takes place in the municipal or city board of canvassers, provincial board of canvassers and national board of canvassers, respectively.
It is because of this type of election that has dishonest election practices like misreading, misappreciation and substitution of ballots at the precinct level on the rise. After each election, the Comelec and courts are swamped with complaints of election fraud.
RA 9369 states that an automated election system is “the use of an appropriate technology which has been demonstrated in voting, counting and the consolidation, canvass and transmission of election results.”
The automated systems were pilot-tested in the 2008 in six provinces, though there were pluses and minuses in the conduct of the automated elections in the six provinces, the automation was viewed positively. The Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting reported that the automated systems cut short the time for voting, counting and canvassing, eliminated election protests and minimized election-related violence.
Voting and counting flow using Pcos
On the day of the elections that will start at 7 a.m., a registered voter, after proper identification and issuance of a ballot by the BEI, will shade the ovals or circles opposite the names of his/her chosen candidates. The voter then places the ballot into the Pcos. The Pcos scans photographs and records the ballot that will thereafter be dropped into a transparent ballot box. If the ballot is spurious, it will be rejected by the Pcos.
At the close of voting hours, the Pcos is given the command to start counting the recorded votes. The Pcos prints out eight election returns that reflect the names of candidates and the number of votes garnered by each candidate. The contents of the election return are publicly read, signed and thumbprinted by the BEIs and the watchers. One copy of the election return is posted on the wall, while the results are read out loud. Other copies are distributed as provided for by law. Upon disposition of the eight copies, the BEI digitally signs and encrypts the soft copy of the election return in the Pcos, which then electronically sends the election results to the corresponding city/municipal board of canvassers and to the dominant majority party, dominant minority party, accredited citizens’ arm, Kapisanan ng mga Brodkaster ng Pilipinas and the Comelec central backup server. After the electronic results have been transmitted and known nationally and even internationally, additional copies not to exceed 30 may be printed and given to requesting parties at their own expense.
These procedures came from a website, it is quite hard to understand but fear not, the Comelec, through the General Instructions it will issue, shall explain the manner and procedure of voting, taking into consideration, among other things, the secrecy of the voting.
The canvassing procedure of the electronically transmitted results by provincial, city, district and municipal board of canvassers, national board of canvassers for senators and party-list representatives and by Congress for president and vice president are provided in RA 9369.
The speed and transparency in transmission eliminate the opportunity to change election results and thwart election cheats to resort to dagdag-bawas or vote-padding and vote-shaving schemes. It is the Comelec’s estimate that in 48 hours, the public will know the winners for the national positions.
Confidence building measures
But there are still a lot of skeptic questions about these automated systems, like: Will it not engender massive automated cheating? Can it be hacked? Can results be preprogrammed? Can the vote results be altered doing electronic transmission? Can the system be programmed to favor a specific candidate or group of candidates?
To address these fears and concerns, the RA 9369, which was crafted by private-sector IT experts and computer experts from nongovernmental electoral-reform groups, has provided some reassurance: (came from businessmirror.com.ph)
1. Source Code review by any interested political party or groups. The source code is the human readable instruction that defines what the computer equipment will do (Section 11, RA 9369).
2. Field Testing of Pcos machines followed by a mock-election event in one or more cities/municipalities (Section 11, RA 9369).
3. Examination and testing of the Pcos by political parties and candidates or their representatives, citizens’ arm or their representatives (Section 14, RA 9369).
4. Preparation of continuity plan containing contingency measures in case of systems breakdown, and copies of this plan shall be furnished all political parties and party-lists (Section 13, RA 9369).
5. Random Manual Audit in one precinct per congressional district randomly chosen by the Comelec in each province and city. Any difference between the automated and manual count will result in the determination of what cause and initiate a manual count for the precincts affected by the computer or procedural error (Section 29, RA 9369).
6. Accredited political parties and deputized citizens’ arms of the Comelec shall assign watchers in the printing, storage and distribution of official ballots. Ballots shall have necessary safeguards like bar codes, holograms, color-shifting ink and micro printing (Section 15, RA 9369).
7. Widespread stakeholders’ education and training program through newspapers of general circulation, radio, television and other media forms, as well as through seminars, symposiums, forums and other nontraditional means to educate the public and fully inform the electorate about the automated election system and inculcate values on honest, peaceful, orderly and informed elections (Section 31, RA 9369).
8. Every registered political party or coalition of political parties and every candidate shall be entitled to one watcher in any polling place and canvassing center (Section 26, RA 9369).
9. The Technical Evaluation Committee composed of a representative from the Comelec, the CICT and DOST, will certify not later than three months before the date of the electoral exercise, categorically stating that the Pcos, including its hardware and software components, is operating properly, securely and accurately (Section 11, RA 9369).
10. The Advisory Council will continue to provide advice and assistance in the identification, assessment and resolution of systems problems or inadequacies that may surface or resurface in the course of testing, operationalization, storage or disposition of the Pcos. It will also provide help in the risk management of the Pcos when a contingency or disaster situation arises (Section 9, RA 9369).
Automated Election as Best Tool and Technique
What it means to be a Best Tool/technique is that it enables citizens to effectively participate or contribute to good governance at local or national levels.
I believe that more people will vote participate in voting in the upcoming elections because more people trust the automation of elections. Yeah, it may still have some conflicts like vote-buying and election-related violence but not everything is perfect. With automated elections, it is now safe to say that regardless who will be running this coming election, the one that deserves to win would most likely win, and yes, you can make a difference by voting.
Sources:
http://bayan-natin.blogspot.com/2009/06/whats-worry-over-automated-elections.html
http://www.activoteamerica.com/Home2/History_of_Voting/history_of_voting.html
http://www.gap-system.org/~history/HistTopics/Voting.html
http://www.photius.com/countries/philippines/government/philippines_government_voting_and_elections.html
http://www.businessmirror.com.ph/home/perspective/14399-a-moment-in-history-understanding-poll-automation-for-the-2010-national-and-local-elections.html

For Me... J. P. Rizal! by Steve Lee

I choose a citizen like Dr. Jose Rizal as an ideal citizen of the Philippines. Born as José Protacio Rizal Mercado y Alonso Realonda, he was born the seventh child of the eleven children of Francisco Engracio Rizal Mercado y Alejandra II and Teodora "Donya Lolay" Morales Alonso Realonda y Quintos. His other siblings, namely: Saturnina (1850-1913), Paciano (1851-1930), Narcisa (1852-1939), Olympia (1855-1887), Lucia (1857-1919), Maria (1859-1945), José Protasio (1861-1896), Concepcion (1862-1865), Josefa (1865-1945), Trinidad (1868-1951) and Soledad (1870-1929). Rizal was a 6th-generation patrilineal descendant of Domingo Lam-co, a Chinese entrepreneur who sailed to the Philippines from Jinjiang, Quanzhou in the mid-17th century.[9] Lam-co married Inez de la Rosa, a Sangley native of Luzon. To free his descendants from the Sinophobic animosity of Spanish authorities, Lam-co changed the surname to the Spanish "Mercado" (market) to indicate their Chinese merchant roots. In 1849, Governor-General Narciso Claveria ordered all Filipino families to choose new surnames from a list of Spanish family names. José's father Francisco adopted the surname "Rizal" (originally Ricial, the green of young growth or green fields), which was suggested to him by a provincial governor, or as José had described him, "a friend of the family". However, the name change caused confusion in the business affairs of Francisco, most of which were begun under the old name. After a few years, he settled on "Rizal Mercado" as a compromise, but usually used the original "Mercado". Upon enrolling at the Ateneo Municipal de Manila, José dropped the last three surnames at the advice of his brother, Paciano Rizal Mercado, and the Rizal Mercado family, thus rendering his name as "José Protasio Rizal". Aside from Chinese ancestry, recent genealogical research has found that José had traces of Spanish and Japanese ancestry. His maternal great-great-grandfather (Teodora's great-grandfather) was Eugenio Ursua, a descendant of Japanese settlers, who married a Filipina named Benigna (surname unknown). They gave birth to Regina Ursua who married a Tagalog Sangley mestizo from Pangasinán named Atty. Manuel de Quintos, Teodora's grandfather. Their daughter Brígida de Quintos married a Spanish mestizo named Lorenzo Alberto Alonso, the father of Teodora. Austin Craig mentions Lakandula, Rajah of Tondo at the time of the Spanish incursion, also as an ancestor.

Rizal's first teacher was Justiniano Aquino Cruz of Biñan, Laguna (unofficial first teacher though, was his mother, Teodora Alonso). He was then sent to Manila and enrolled at the Ateneo Municipal de Manila. He graduated one of nine students in his class declared sobresaliente or outstanding. He continued his education at the Ateneo to obtain a land surveyor and assessor's degree, and at the same time at the University of Santo Tomas Faculty of Arts and Letters where he studied Philosophy and Letters. Upon learning that his mother was going blind, he enrolled at the university's medical school to specialize in ophthalmology but did not complete the program claiming discrimination made by Spanish Dominican friars against Filipino students.[ Without his parents' knowledge and consent, but secretly supported by his brother Paciano, he traveled to Europe. He was in Madrid in May 1882 where he studied at the Universidad Central de Madrid and earned the degree, Licentiate in Medicine. His education continued at the University of Paris and the University of Heidelberg where he earned a second doctorate.
In Berlin he was inducted as a member of the Berlin Ethnological Society and the Berlin Anthropological Society under the patronage of pathologist Rudolf Virchow. In April 1887 he delivered an address in German before the group on the orthography and structure of the Tagalog language. He left Heidelberg a poem, "A las flores del Heidelberg," which is a prayer for the welfare of his native land and a hope for better relations between East and West.
At Heidelberg, the 25-year-old Rizal completed his eye specialization under the renowned Otto Becker.

In the hope of securing political and social reforms for his country and at the same time educate his countrymen, Rizal, the greatest apostle of Filipino nationalism, published, while in Europe, several works with highly nationalistic and revolutionary tendencies, published two books, namely Noli me Tangere and El filibusterismo. These writings angered both the Spaniards and the hispanicized Filipinos due to their insulting symbolism. They are highly critical of Spanish friars and the Church. Rizal's first critic was Ferdinand Blumentritt, a Czech professor and historian whose first reaction was of misgiving. Blumentritt was the grandson of the Imperial Treasurer at Vienna in former Austro-Hungarian Empire and a staunch defender of the Catholic faith. This did not dissuade him however from writing the preface of El Filibusterismo after he had translated Noli me Tangere into German.

Noli Me Tangere was finished in Berlin, Germany on March 29, 1887. Rizal had no money to publish his book and was trying to survive by eating one meal a day, consisting mainly of bread and coffee. When later he told his old friend Fernando Canon about this "dark period", he said: "I did not believe that Noli would ever be published. I was in Berlin, heartbroken, weakened, and discouraged from hunger and deprivation. I was on the point of throwing my work into the fire as a thing accursed and fit only to die; "Man's extremity," says an ancient proverb "is God's opportunity." A telegram came from Maximo Viola, a rich young Filipino whom Rizal had known in Madrid, saying he was on his way to visit Berlin. "It revived me," said Rizal. "It gave me new hope. I went to the station to receive him and spoke to him about my work. He said he might be able to help me. I reflected and then decided to shorten the book, and eliminated whole chapters...but these will have a place in the continuation...I plan to publish seven volumes about Philippine conditions." With funds provided by Viola, Noli was printed a few weeks later. One of the first copies was sent to Blumentritt. In the accompanying letter, Rizal said: "I have not wept over our misfortunes, but rather laughed at them. No one would want to read a book full of tears...The incidents which I have related are all true and have actually occurred. I can prove this statement. Bound copies were boxed and sent to some friends in Barcelona and Madrid. A clever ruse was employed to get them into the Philippines disguised as merchandise.

El Filibusterismo is the sequel to Noli and was also written in Spanish. Rizal began the work in October 1887 while practicing medicine in Calamba. In London (1888), he made several changes to the plot and revised a number of chapters. Rizal continued to work on his manuscript while in Paris, Madrid, and Brussels, finally completing it on March 29, 1891 in Biarritz. It was published the same year in Ghent. A compatriot, Valentin Ventura, learned of Rizal’s predicament and offered him financial assistance. Even then Rizal was forced to shorten the novel quite drastically, leaving only thirty eight out of the sixty four chapters of the original. Inspired by what the word filibustero connotes in relation to the circumstances in his time, and his spirits dampened by the execution of the three priests, Rizal aptly titled the second part of the Noli, El filibusterismo. To honor the trio, he dedicated the book to them: "To the memory of the priests, Don Mariano Gomez (85 years old), Don Jose Burgos (30 years old), and Don Jacinto Zamora (35 years old) who were executed in the Bagumbayan Field on the 28th of February, 1872." As Blumentritt had warned, these led to Rizal's prosecution as the inciter of revolution and eventually, to a military trial and execution. The intended consequence of teaching the natives where they stood brought about an adverse reaction as the Philippine Revolution of 1896 took off thereafter.

As the leader of the reform movement of Filipino students in Spain, he contributed essays, allegories, poems, and editorials to the Spanish newspaper La Solidaridad in Barcelona under the pen names Dimasalang and Laong Laan. His writings center on liberal and progressive ideas and are an appeal for equal rights for Filipinos. He shared the same sentiments with members of the movement: that the Philippines is battling, in Rizal's own words, "a double-faced Goliath--corrupt friars and bad government". His real interest, however, was in writing historical articles based on ancient Spanish sources showing the Filipinos the level of their culture at the time of the Spanish contact. Eventually, he begun to publish under his own name, and also urged del Pilar to do the same to show the Spaniards that they were not afraid to defend their positions.
In July 1892, Rizal was arrested days after he founded La Liga Filipina and deported to Dapitan in the province of Zamboanga, a peninsula of Mindanao.[25] He was implicated in the simmering rebellion because of his association with Bonifacio and his men who founded the militant Katipunan. In Dapitan he supervised the building of a small hospital and a water supply system, and in the house where he lived, opened a small school where boys were taught and engaged in farming and horticulture, including the planting of abaca in the thousands.

By 1896, the rebellion fomented by the Katipunan, a militant secret society, had become a full blown revolution, proving to be a nationwide uprising and leading to the first proclamation of a democratic republic in Asia. To dissociate himself, Rizal volunteered and was given leave by the Spanish Governor General Ramon Blanco to serve in Cuba to minister to victims of yellow fever. Blanco later was to present his sash and sword to the Rizal family as an apology.

Before he left Dapitan, he issued a manifesto disavowing the revolution and declaring that the education of Filipinos and their achievement of a national identity were prerequisites to freedom.

Rizal was arrested en route, imprisoned in Barcelona, and sent back to Manila to stand trial. He was implicated in the revolution through his association with members of the Katipunan and was to be tried before a court-martial for rebellion, sedition, and conspiracy. During the entire passage, he was unchained; no Spaniard laid a hand on him, and had many opportunities to escape but refused to do so. Rizal was convicted on all three charges and sentenced to death. Governor General Blanco, who was sympathetic to Rizal, had been forced out of office, and the friars had placed General Camilo de Polavieja in his stead, sealing Rizal's fate.

Moments before his execution by a firing squad of Filipino native infantry of the Spanish Army, backed by an insurance force of Spanish troops, the Spanish surgeon general requested to take his pulse; it was normal. Aware of this, the Spanish sergeant in charge of the backup force hushed his men to silence when they began raising '¡vivas!' with the partisan crowd. His last words were those of Jesus Christ: "consummatum est",--it is finished. He was secretly buried in Paco Cemetery in Manila with no identification on his grave. His sister Narcisa toured all possible gravesites and found freshly turned earth at the cemetery with civil guards posted at the gate. Assuming this could be the most likely spot, there being ever no ground burials there, she made a gift to the caretaker to mark the site "RPJ", Rizal's initials in reverse. Thus rests Rizal, a writer, a peacekeeper, a beloved son, a wanted brother, a patriotic friend not only to the Filipinos, but to all of human kind.

Now I chose Dr. Jose Rizal as my model citizen example because he was a man who, without a doubt, displayed his Filipino citizenship by attempting to liberalize his country by using a non-violent movement. He not only promoted peace but he also sought to enlighten the youth by means of educating these young people into realizing the current Philippine situation and how to fix it. This to me shows that Dr. Jose Rizal is a citizen exemplar without a shadow of a doubt

Sources:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jose_Rizal