The Philippine national interest

There really isn’t a clear definition of the Philippine national interest; at least, it is not very clear to many Filipinos. Perhaps the explanation for this could be because we were colonized for over 300 years by Spain and for 48 years by the United States, not to mention we were conquered by Japan for over three years. The Philippines has therefore been exposed to much external influences that add to the fact that our national identity still needs building.

Internally, the Philippines has undergone martial law, two People Power revolts and four Constitutions that somewhat shaped our national interests a little bit more clearly. However, pursuing this in a more unified way as a nation has been rather contentious because the people are unaware of the basic foundational concepts that truly shape our national character.

In a nutshell, our national interest is simply about giving every Filipino a decent standard of living and abolishing poverty, which has been the burden of every Filipino family from time immemorial. Freedom from poverty is understood as sufficient livelihood and good education for every Filipino and the national interest must be able to provide this not only for the present generation, but for the generations that are yet to come.

The government, together with business and society as a whole, must undertake collaborative efforts to ensure that the environment is protected and that our natural resources are used to create national wealth and welfare for all. The Philippine national interest must also avoid war and open conflict as its primary role is to protect Filipino families and help them generate resiliency in facing both natural and man-made hazards that have caused perennial loss to life, property and dignity and causing continuing fear and insecurity. Such is the case with typhoons that have brought massive floods and damage to thousands of people across the country and, in effect, disabling them from the necessary capabilities and opportunities to make a reasonable living.

The Philippine Constitution ensures that no person shall be deprived of life, liberty or property without due process as well as equal protection for all its citizens. To put it concisely, the Philippine national interest, as stated in the Constitution, confirms that all lives matter and all aspects of security, development and governance should make every Filipino dream attainable.

Although certain groups understand these principles, there remains a very big gap between those who do and those who don’t (understand it), all of which is caused by the lack of education on the matter. Filipinos still do not fully know who they (we) are and we still tend to pit ourselves against each other, causing more problems when it comes to our national unity.

The late Manuel Quezon once tried to unify the country by promoting a national language aimed to foster a common identity and improve communication among Filipinos. Quezon also created a Filipino code of ethics and it was his desire to prepare a nation capable of charting its own destiny as a sovereign nation. Quezon’s most significant act as the president of the Republic of the Philippines was his triumphant accomplishment on the passage of the Jones Act that provided for the grant of the Philippine independence.

President Quezon worked to establish an all-Filipino administration that was fully capable of managing national affairs as it prepared itself for complete sovereignty. His efforts included the “Filipinization” of the Supreme Court as well as other branches of government. Quezon’s role was to defend Filipino interests before the United States Congress. He was the perfect lobbyist for the Philippines and the Filipino cause.

National interest is so absolutely necessary as this is what consolidates people and helps them overcome disunity. A country that is able to define their national interest predominantly determines their willingness to work toward shared goals and ambitions, and such interests must preserve, protect, secure and defend their nation. In Philosophy, we learn that the common good is what is shared and beneficial for all or most members in society.

On the other hand, in Philosophy we also learn that faith and reason are not in conflict but are two complementary paths to truth, both originating from God. Hence, while reason and rational thinking are foundational to national policymaking, these are meant to unify and legitimize our government for the benefit of all citizens. In turn, our faith provides the moral and ethical foundation that advocates justice, human rights and Filipino values that provide a strong moral compass for the country’s objectives and actions.

Having said this, where do Filipinos begin to fully understand our national interest? As George Washington once said, “The Constitution is the guide which never will I abandon.” And as soldiers say, “Dios, Patria y Familia.” Here should our national interest be anchored.