Philippine Center for Civic Education and Democracy

“It is critical that we do something that can bring change and significantly contribute to the betterment of our community.”

Erika Venal, a former Project Citizen (PC) student participant, learned that our value as citizens is more than just our votes. PC helped her understand her responsibilities, rights, and made her realize the significance of participating in a democratic process, beyond elections

She described her PC experience to be challenging, yet enlightening. It served as her wake-up call to get herself involved and do her part in bringing change to her chosen community. She emphasized how eye-opening it is to experience and witness the problem first hand, and have an actual means to help resolve it.

Project Citizen is an international program for increasing the democratic participation, political efficacy, and civic engagement levels of students at the middle and high school levels.

Photo by: Erika Venal

PS. Happy Birthday Erika!

“It [Project Citizen] awakens civic consciousness of students that they have the power to make a change.”

In her Project Citizen (PC) experience as a student, Glaisie Falculan described PC’s role as a way of training citizens as guardians of democracy in the country. It keeps citizens in check of their civic consciousness. PC is not just about imparting ideals, concepts, and theories, but also about providing a practical approach in enabling citizens to face real-life challenges and contribute to its solution.

As a student, PC inspired her to keep up with the community. It pushed her out of her comfort zone of blindly following mandates of those in power, and made her more critical. PC taught her the concept of responsible citizenship which she upholds when it matters.

Project Citizen is an approach for education in democracy involving the training of students in seeking public policy interventions to solve community problems.

Happy National Heroes’ Day!

celebrates the life of our Filipino heroes who showed unwavering courage as they fought for the nation's independence from colonial rule. These heroes are the greatest example of citizens in the truest sense of the word.

In his decade-long affiliation with PCCED, Mr. Arnaldo Mendoza has never faltered in his pursuit of exposing students to responsible citizenship, and application of learned concepts in politics and governance through Project Citizen (PC). In 2009, he initially introduced PC in the tertiary school of FAITH Colleges, which he later transferred to the Basic Education department and helped in incorporating it into the SHS-HUMSS curriculum, as an assistant principal. PC has been sustained in FAITH Colleges at an institutional level.

"Ang kabataan ang pag asa ng bayan".

Quoting Rizal, he finds hope as he witnesses how students enthusiastically present the insights they've learned during and after their community immersion. When there is change in mindset and habits of people in the community, he can then tell that PC is achieving its goal.

Mr. Mendoza currently serves as a member of PCCED's Board of Trustees.

Project Citizen is an approach for education in democracy involving the training of students in seeking public policy interventions to solve community problems.

It’s a holiday!

PCCED commemorates the 39th death anniversary of Sen. Benigno “Ninoy” Aquino Jr., a leading light of democracy in the Philippines and a catalyst in the 1986 People Power Revolution.

May his ideals continue to spark within Filipinos their sense of nationalism and civic duty.

“Sometimes, the best solutions may come from young, compassionate, and eager minds who are willing to make a difference despite odds and potential limitations.”

Keith Gabriel Martinez once believed that change can only be brought about by those in power. By participating in Project Citizen (PC) as a former student volunteer and one of the PC initiators at FAITH Colleges back in 2016, he acquired a whole new perspective about the democratic process. He realized that young people like him have the capacity to contribute to public policy and to constructively work for a more just and equitable society.

PC allows the younger generation to make action-driven and research-based solutions to public concerns at the local level that they deem most relevant. Through PC, Keith not only acquired civic consciousness. It also enabled him to participate and contribute to insightful discourse on local issues that were often overlooked.

Project Citizen is an international program for increasing the democratic participation, political efficacy, and civic engagement levels of students at the middle and high school levels.

Photo by: Keith Gabriel Martinez

“If we want to create citizens who are aware, who think critically and logically, who participate actively in governance, we must start it at schools.”

Camille Silva is a former history and civic education professor from FAITH Colleges. In the course of delivering her civic education courses, Ms. Silva has been using Project Citizen (PC) as one of her assessment activities for almost 8 years. She is a strong believer of the importance of the youth’s active participation in a democratic society. She acknowledges the impact of PC as an avenue to form students to be citizens who are not only aware of their rights, but who also contribute positively to the common good of their respective communities.

Through PC, students analyze community problems, identify policies to address such challenges and propose concrete solutions to their respective LGUs for the development of their communities. As a civic education teacher, she continues to use PC, not just as a requirement but as a formative tool to instill democratic values to her students.

Project Citizen is an approach for education in democracy involving the training of students in seeking public policy interventions to solve community problems.

Photo by: Camille Silva

Education

March 19, 2019, Albuijid, Misamis Oriental. The Philippine Center for Civic Education (PCCED) successfully launched "Promoting Democratic Values in the Barangays of Alubijid", a two-year project aimed to promote, enhance, and strengthen the incorporation of democratic values and citizen participation in areas and processes of decision-making in the public policies in the barangays of Alubijid. The launch was attended by Alubijid Municipal officials headed by Hon. Alvin Labis, Mayor, and Hon. Emmanuel Jamis, Vice-mayor. Officials from the 16 barangays were also present together with the Sangguniang Kabataan Presidents, Lupon Tagapamayapa, Barangay Presidents, and Civil Society Organizations/People's Organization representatives from the women, fisherfolks, farmers, elderly, persons with disability and cooperative sectors. School Heads and Social Studies Teachers from the Department of Education Allubijid District and the Office of the Municipal Local Government Operations also graced the occasion. Partners and Stakeholders expressed their support and full cooperation to the project after the Project Orientation was given. Ms. Sophia Marco, PCCED Board of Trustees Member, also gave a message of encouragement for everybody to work together to attain the project objectives and thanked the Local Government Unit of Alubijd for their support and during the project inception. Promoting Democratic Values in the Barangays of Alubijid is supported by ZABALKETA and the Spanish Agency for International Cooperation (AECID) in partnership with the Local Government Unit of Alubijid.