We may or may not witness the guilty people involved in the flood control corruption scandal go to jail before Christmas, as promised by President Marcos Jr. Over the longer term, however, can we expect to enjoy future Christmases with more justice and peace by reducing corruption in the Philippines to a tolerable level?

To combat corruption, we must exert every effort to strengthen and clean up institutions such as the Ombudsman, the Supreme Court, the Independent Commission for Infrastructure, the BIR, the Bureau of Customs, and the Legislature. These are necessary steps, but they are not sufficient. After all, we have sent two Presidents and a good number of top government officials and business people to jail, yet corruption has actually worsened. We have passed numerous laws related to anti-money laundering, red tape, and conflicts of interest, yet there has been no significant reduction in graft.

We can only celebrate a truly joyful Christmas—and enjoy a peaceful and progressive society—if we are able to form a critical mass of Filipinos who are truly civic-minded, committed to the common good, and patriotic. How do we achieve such a goal? We may learn from two Asian neighbors that are role models for low levels of corruption: Japan and Singapore. It is no coincidence that these two have brought corruption in both the public and private sectors down to a tolerable level. Japan led the way, and Singapore followed its example. When Lee Kuan Yew took over as the authoritarian leader of the latter, the inhabitants of the former British colony were not exactly paragons of integrity, industry, or concern for the common good. It took a long process for their leader to implement a plan following the Japanese example: educating citizens from childhood to always work for the common good and live the virtue of patriotism.

By promoting close cooperation between parents and schools, Japan cultivates social virtues—such as respect for others, discipline, a spirit of cooperation, responsibility, and an orientation toward the common good—through a systematic combination of family upbringing, school practices, cultural norms, and community institutions. These habits are nurtured early in life and developed continuously. Japanese families instill what is called omoiyari (thoughtfulness for others) from early childhood, in contrast with the self-centered upbringing practices of many middle-income households in the Philippines. Children are taught to be considerate, avoid inconveniencing others, and maintain harmony. Parents emphasize politeness through greetings, gratitude, and honorific speech.

Here, we must be wary of middle-class Filipino households becoming "Americanized," where children call their parents by their first names and no longer employ honorifics like "Opo" when talking to elders. Traditionally, Japanese children learned routines such as helping with household tasks, sharing, and apologizing sincerely. Regarding chores, it may be providential that it is no longer as easy for middle-income Filipino families to employ household help as it was in the past. Members of the nuclear family are now increasingly obliged to participate in tasks like cooking, washing dishes, and cleaning.

In preschool and kindergarten, Japanese early education focuses on character building rather than academic rigor. Key practices include prioritizing group play over individual competition and emphasizing self-reliance, where children are obliged to put away their things, dress themselves, and serve meals. There is an early introduction to orderliness, and teachers model calmness and respect instead of strict punishment. This stage helps form the habit of acting as part of a group while taking responsibility for oneself.

In elementary school, students clean their own classrooms, hallways, and toilets. These practices build humility and respect for shared spaces, reinforcing the idea that everyone contributes to the community regardless of social status. Students rotate roles, such as managing lunch distribution or monitoring hall behavior, creating a sense of ownership and civic duty. In "moral education" (dotoku) classes, they learn honesty, empathy, perseverance, and conflict resolution. These lessons are taught effectively through stories and role-playing rather than dry, theoretical lectures.

Students work in small teams (han) for activities and projects, learning to adjust their behavior to help the group succeed. The wearing of uniforms minimizes economic differences and emphasizes belonging. Strict punctuality and routines instill respect for time—one’s own and that of others. Furthermore, after-school clubs teach team loyalty and collective responsibility, where older students mentor younger ones in a senpai-kohai (senior-junior) structure.

There is also an active role for the community. Neighborhood associations teach children civic responsibility. In public, the Japanese are expected to remain quiet on trains and observe orderliness in queues. Cultural exports like anime and manga promote ganbaru (perseverance) and integrity. The key word is alignment: the family teaches respect, the school reinforces it, and society expects it. Virtues are modeled everywhere—by parents, public figures, and peers. To summarize, Japan inculcates social virtues through a holistic system. The end product is that social virtues become habits, not just abstract lessons.