NSTP PREAMBLE

• The Preamble of the 1987 Constitution of the Republic of the Philippines comes from the Latin word “ Praeambulus ” which means walking before “works before a document” often explaining, what’s coming or an introduction to an important document.
• The 1987 Constitution of the Republic of the Philippines was promulgated to build a just and humane society, establish a government that shall embody the ideals and aspirations of the Filipinos, promote the common good, conserve and develop the patrimony, and secure to ourselves and our posterity, the blessings of independence and democracy under the rule of law and a regime of truth, justice, freedom, love, equality, and peace.
• The Preamble of the 1987 Constitution of the Republic of the Philippines aspires for independence, rule of law, truth, love, and equality.
• The State recognizes and promotes the rights of indigenous cultural communities within the framework of national unity and development.
• The State encourages non-governmental, community-based, or sectoral organizations that promote the welfare of the nation.
• The State recognizes the vital role of communication and information in nation-building.
• The State ensures the autonomy of local governments.
• The State guarantees equal access to opportunities for public service, and prohibits political dynasties as may be defined by law.
• The national territory of the Philippines comprises the Philippine archipelago, with all the islands and waters embraced therein, and all other territories over which the Philippines has sovereignty or jurisdiction, consisting of its terrestrial, fluvial and aerial domains, including its territorial sea, the seabed, the subsoil, the insular shelves, and other submarine areas.
• The waters around, between, and connecting the islands of the archipelago, regardless of their breadth and dimensions, form part of the internal waters of the Philippines.
• The definition of National Territory is usually not found in the constitution of other countries, we must know our territory to avoid territorial disputes with other countries.
• The three components of the National Territory of the Philippines are the Terrestrial Domain, the Fluvial Domain, and the Aerial Domain.
• The Terrestrial Domain refers to land whether agricultural land, Forest or Timber, Mineral Lands and Natural Parks under the sovereignty or Jurisdiction of the Philippines.
• The Fluvial Domain refers to the internal and external waters under the sovereignty or Jurisdiction of the Philippines.
• The Aerial Domain refers to the airspace above the land and water of the Philippines but excluding the outer space.
• The Philippine Archipelago includes the Territorial Sea, the Sea Bed, the Sub Soil, the Insular Shelves, and other submarine areas.
• Democracy originates from the Greek words “demos” meaning people and “kratos” meaning rule.
• Democracy is a government that is run by the people.
• Republic originates from the Greek word “Politeia” meaning the right of the citizen.
• Republic is a government system in which the power rests with the nation’s citizens, where people choose leaders to represent them and make the laws.
• The major difference between Democracy and Republic is that in Democracy, the power is in the hands of the people, while in the Republic, power is in the hands of individual citizens.
• In a democracy, laws are made by the majority, while in the Republic system, laws are made by the elected representatives of the people.
• In a democracy, the will of the majority has the right to override the existing rights, while in the Republic system, the will of the majority cannot be overridden since the constitution will protect those rights.
• A country can have more than one type of democracy, but it can have only one type of Republic.
• In a democracy, there are no constraints on the government, while in a republic there are constraints on the government.
• In a democracy, the main focus is the general will of the people, while in a republic, the main focus is on the constitution.
• Democratic Republic is the present political system of the Philippines, where the power to govern is in the entire Filipino people, and they have the right to choose the government they want, define powers, abolish the government anytime and form a new one.
• The Philippines shares some aspects of the Direct Democracy, such as Initiative and Referendum.
• The Philippines renounces war as an instrument of national policy, adopts the generally accepted principles of international law as part of the law of the land and adheres to the policy of peace, equality, justice, freedom, cooperation, and amity with all nations.
• Civilian authority is, at all times, supreme over the military in the Philippines.
• The Armed Forces of the Philippines is the protector of the people and the State in the Philippines.
• The prime duty of the Government is to serve and protect the people in the Philippines.
• The Government may call upon the people to defend the State and, in the fulfillment thereof, all citizens may be required, under conditions provided by law, to render personal, military or civil service.
• The maintenance of peace and order, the protection of life, liberty, and property, and promotion of the general welfare are essential for the enjoyment by all the people of the blessings of democracy.
• The separatio n of Church and State shall be inviolable.
• The State shall pursue an independent foreign policy.
• The Philippines is a democratic and republican State with sovereignty residing in the people and all government authority emanating from them.
• In its relations with other states, the paramount consideration shall be national sovereignty, territorial integrity, national interest, and the right to self-determination.
• The Philippines, consistent with the national interest, adopts and pursues a policy of freedom from nuclear weapons in its territory.
• The State shall promote a just and dynamic social order that will ensure the prosperity and independence of the nation and free the people from poverty through policies that provide adequate social services, promote full employment, a rising standard of living, and an improved quality of life for all.