MONTHS after the declaration of martial law in September 1972, Ferdinand Marcos Sr. convened and invited intellectual giants like Onofre Corpuz, Adrian Cristobal and Renato Constantino to write the contours of what was known as the “Filipino Ideology.” Marcos believed that his revolution from the center had to be carried on by a set of fundamental beliefs and principles to survive and sustain its own life — not simply as a power grab.
Marcos Sr.’s ideology promoted Filipino nationalism, self-reliance, unity and greatness. It was ambitious but grounded, idealistic but empirical, and provocative yet had popular appeal. At that time, the socialist movement was gaining ground among the toiling masses, and Marcos wanted to counter it with his own ideological frame. Rightist elements also sought to hijack his undertaking and form their own military junta. Yet Marcos Sr. was a brilliant lawyer whose default reverted to the rule of law. Thus, he anchored the Filipino Ideology in the Philippine Constitution and the country’s laws — despite the authoritarian character of his rule.
Ideology explains why a nation exists and what a nation aspires to be. It is crucial in waging a shared vision among its citizens — something to believe in. The vision embodies the principles that organize the nation’s institutions, preferred values, strategic interests and enshrined rights. For Marcos Sr., the Filipino Ideology evoked the cultural and historical traditions of our people — from the early barangay (villages), struggles for national independence to social uprisings triggered by the great divide between the haves and the have-nots.
Marcos often claimed that many of our societal problems stemmed from a deeply entrenched oligarchic class that monopolized the country’s wealth and power. In his Filipino Ideology, he underscored the need to destroy the old order while regaining deep patriotism and economic independence to break the yoke of colonial influence.
Some of Marcos’ critics downplayed his Filipino Ideology as political propaganda meant to justify his martial law and authoritarian rule. Still, his ideology reinforced his vision of the Philippines to be a major geopolitical player in Asia through a robust economy, educated people, massive infrastructure and credible defense. In the early period of martial law, it somehow worked and attracted wide public support. From ideology to vision, the sense of purpose among Filipinos was sparked and sustained across agencies, industries and civic groups. The plans, programs and initiatives were ultimately integrated with Marcos’ ideological framework.
Today, we have a Philippine Development Plan 2023 to 2028, which lays out the government’s medium-term agenda. It reveals the national aspiration to be a “prosperous, predominantly middle-income society” by 2040. Yet with the recurring reports of DPWH corruption scandals and bureaucratic gridlock, the enthusiasm for good governance and national development has nosedived. The political capital of the current Marcos administration is slowly being sapped by people’s disillusionment. The Philippines suffers from the absence of a compelling ideology that keeps our people united and allows us to bounce back from the moral abyss.
There are seven principles that must be ingrained in every Filipino for socio-cultural cohesion and spiritual strength.
1. Maka-Diyos (God-fearing/faith-driven) is a belief and reverence in transcendental Being or God. This connotes a higher aspiration for what is spiritual, not religious paganism.
2. Makabayan (patriotic/nationalistic) upholds the love of nation and calls for the sacrifice of personal interests for the common good.
3. Makatao (humane/people-centered) entails that all plans and energies must be focused on the integral development of the human person.
4. Makalikasan (environmentally conscious/pro-environment) ensures a balanced ecosystem and protects the environment for future generations.
5. Masigasig (diligent/industrious) focuses on hard work and striving toward productivity and societal contribution rather than sloth and mendicancy.
6. Matatag (strong/resilient) is the strength to overcome crisis and adversities, as well as the ability to recover in the aftermath.
7. Mabuhay (to live/hopeful) underscores the need for strong optimism and gratitude for the beauty of life despite painful challenges.
These seven dictums are the backbone in the reformulation, review and discussion for a new Filipino ideology for the 21st century. This set of common beliefs must be cascaded across the entire spectrum of society — fueled by the desire to lift up our people from cyclical frustration and reenergize us toward a promising future.
The reason why the country continues to muddle through and repeatedly fall back into a vicious cycle of boom and bust is the lack of a clear and coherent ideology. It is high time our national leadership revisits the Filipino Ideology — not as nostalgia, not as propaganda, but as a genuine political and moral compass. For without a shared conviction of what we truly believe in and what we are willing to die for, the nation will simply drift aimlessly without a purpose and soon wither away into a failed state.