By Jesus P. Estanislao

Atty. Alex Lacson, until recently the president of the Institute for Solidarity in Asia, responded to our call to contribute his views on core values for the Philippines. In the next five segments, a slightly edited version of Atty. Lacson’s contribution is presented.

“In 1994, Lee Kuan Yew, the father and the builder of modern Singapore, was interviewed by CNN’s Fareed Zakaria, then managing editor of the Foreign Affairs magazine. In one portion of the interview, he was asked about the importance of culture.

“‘Culture is destiny,’ Lee Kuan Yew said. He believed that, more than economics, more than politics, it is the nation’s culture that ultimately shapes and determines its future and destiny.

“Culture is the body of values, beliefs, attitudes or ways of behaving, norms or ways of doing things, customs or ways of life, among others, of a person, group, community, or people.

“Applying this principle at the individual level, Lee Kuan Yew believed that a person’s culture will play a major factor in determiningthat person’s future. One’s set of values and beliefs will shape and determine how far that person will go in life. In essence, what Lee Kwan Yew is saying is that, if you want to excel, then you must develop a culture of excellence. If you want to become prosperous, you must cultivate a culture of prosperity.

“Lee Kuan Yew said that theprinciple applies not only to an individual person, but also equally to a people. A people’s set of values and beliefs will help in shaping and determining the destiny of that people.

“Whether or not the principle is correct one hundred percent, or if it is true that culture plays the most crucial role, more than economics and politics, in shaping and determining a nation’s future and destiny, is the contentious part.

“But there should be no question or doubt that culture plays an important, integral and major role in the development of any nation, including our Philippines.

“At the heart of any culture are the core values and beliefs, from which ideally should spring the people’s attitudes or ways of behaving, the norms or ways of doing things, the customs or ways of life, among other things. The core values often determine a person’s or people’s way of thinking and doing things in life and in society.”

“Andres Bonifacio, Emilio Jacinto, and Apolinario Mabini addressed this question: ‘What are our Core Values as Filipinos?’ It is heart-warming to note that the leaders of the Philippine Revolution considered this question, which in fact they regarded as laying the foundation for the Filipino nation.

“Andres Bonifacio composed the Decalogue (of the Duties of the Sons of People) to guide the members of KKK (Kataas-taasang, Kagalang-galang ang  Katipunan ng mga Anak ng Bayan). But the Decalogue was later replaced by the Kartilya ng Katipunan (the Primer of the Katipunan), penned by Emilio Jacinto, since Bonifacio felt that the Kartilya was superior to his Decalogue.” This then gave way to ApolinarioMabini’s ‘The True Decalogue’ issued under the authority of Emilio Aguinaldo. It reads as a treatise on three core values:

• “Love of God and the duty to develop the special talents God has given us.
• “Love of country: Our duty to strive for its happiness and independence as a Republic.
• “Love of fellow citizens — more than just our neighbors — as we love ourselves.

“‘A society should have a soul,’ said Apolinario Mabini. What an apt way to call for core values!”