This is the essay I sent in for our exam in Understanding Culture, Society, and Politics (UCSP) for my Junior Year in High School.

1. UCSP FIRST QUARTER EXAMINATION
1ST
SEMESTER S.Y. 2017-2018
NAME: Leah Angela Cioco STRAND: 11-ABM
I. Following Plato’s claim that “specialization is the reason for and justification of
society,” do you think that the majority of workers/employees/officials listed below are
distributed according to their specialization or they belong to the right field?
A. Government Officials (elected)
In relation to Plato’s claim, I think that not all elected government officials are qualified
nor suitable for their positions. Though there are a few whom I believe truly deserve their seats
and ranks, without a doubt, a majority of elected officials- not only here in our city, nor nationwide,
but in reality, all around the world, may either have won because of the poor intellectual capacity
of the constituencies, because of their bribery of the electors, or perhaps- which is the worst of all-
because of dishonorable actions: cheating during the ballot computation.
B. Government Employees
Having been able to spend my elementary years in the Hall of Justice (HOJ) Bacolod and
having been raised by lawyers for parents, I can attest that ninety percent of the government
employees of this country do not deserve their positions at all. From what I had known for so long
and from what I had witnessed first-hand, the reasons why we have such low quality public
servants is because of the fact that usually, the screening for work positions is very weak and rules
in government-based centers are bent by employees themselves; in reality, some improve as their
experience lengthens, but on the other hand, there are those who become wayward as time pass.
C. Teachers (Public Schools)

2. Like my answers to the previous questions, again- this situation is a case-to-case basis. For
one, having been able to spend two months in Manila for a Mathematical Olympiad Summer
Training Program (MOSTP) and having been trained by Section 1 Math teachers in public schools,
I can say that the teachers of those in public schools- Class A are exceptionally good and are, for
me, world-class educators, meanwhile, some teachers in the lower sections are of truncated quality
but they still get paid equally with the really good ones so I think, once again, not all deserve their
positions at work.
II. Do you think man is by nature good or evil? Explain your answer in 5 sentences only.
I believe that everyone is, by nature, truly good. Although we all had been born with original
sin and human as we are, had had shortcomings since then, I nonetheless think that we all are more
pure-hearted and righteous than we are evil. In relation to this, the Bible itself- in all three
divisions- states that the law of our God had been etched in our hearts at the very beginning of our
lives. Taking children as a concrete example, we know that the young ones, unless exposed to bad
company, do not know how to lie. This simply means that by nature, people are really good and
pure-hearted.
III. Following the description of a leader using Niccolo Machiavelli’s THE PRINCE, who
among the incumbent or former elected officials in the government lives/lived up to the
model? Justify your answer in 5-7 sentences only.
Having been able to read Machiavelli’s work and watch its animated movie, I must say that
for me- not one leader in the Philippine History had completely portrayed what a trailblazer must
be, according to The Prince. Yes, our past forerunners may not have put up to be fully an epitome
of a leader, but I think there is one who almost lived up to it. That one person who did, for me, is
the current president of our country, President Rodrigo Duterte. Given that Machiavelli’s insights
on what a good leader is: (1) should be feared rather than loved, (2) should have the support of the
people because it’s difficult to take action without their support, (3) must good virtues, (4) should
never turn to outside auxiliary or mercenary units, but always rely on his (or her) own arms; and
lastly, should be intelligent, I think Mr. Duterte hits all points except characteristic number 3: Good

3. Virtues. Considering all points in the Philippine History, I think Mr. Duterte, by far, is the strictest,
most feared, and most decisive president that our nation had ever had given that fact that he is
definitely fit for the position as president knowing that he had been a lawyer and a public servant
for some time in the past.
IV. Suppose you are given a chance to go out of SJI to perform a social experiment on
conformity, deviance or obedience, how are you going to do it? Fill out the form below.
Given the chance to perform a social experiment beyond the parameters of St. John’s Institute
(SJI), I would prepare a project proposal comparable to the following information.
Title: Beyond the Customary Cummerbund
GRASP ANSWER

4. Goals
In today’s time when almost everything had advanced from technology
up to the way of thinking of people, there are still those who had not
evolved from being small-minded individuals. I think this is one reason
why our country still remains being one that is third-world and second-
rate. In line with this, I would like to see if there is bias or unfair
treatment when it comes to those who need help, considering their status
in life and physical appearances.
I. The people would help a meager looking asset with a heavy
load of things in a high-end mall/ high end restaurant.
II. The people would help a wealthy and a good-looking asset
who is similarly struggling with a heavy load in a high-end
mall/ high end restaurant.
III. The less-fortunate people around the Central Market would
help a meager looking person carrying a heavy load of things.
IV. The less-fortunate people around the Central Market would
help a wealthy and a good-looking person who is struggling
with a heavy load all the same.
In short, what I would like to achieve in this social experiment is
data that will prove that Bacolodnons or everyone in general are by
nature, truly good despite the bias society itself had imposed.
Role
As the proponent of this experiment, I am willing to be any of the two
assets aforementioned in the Goals section. Aside from this, other roles
must be taken: cameramen, inquirers, interviewers/watchers.
Audience
The more prominent people in high end places and those who are less
fortunate (i.e., stall owners at the Central Market)

5. Situation I. Asset A (wealthy and good-looking) will enter a high end
restaurant/ high end mall (i.e., The District at Ayala,
Northpoint) with a heavy load of books or bags and will be
evidently struggling with his/her burdensome condition. We
would like to see if those in high end restaurants (prominent
people) are cultured enough to help one of their own.
II. Similarly, Asset B (a meager-looking individual) will enter a
high end restaurant/ high end mall with a heavy load of things
that are evidently of low quality. We would like to see if
those who seem to be of higher status are willing to help one
who is of lower society status.
III. Asset A (wealthy and good-looking) will the crowded
Central Market with a heavy load of books or bags and will
be evidently struggling with his/her burdensome condition.
We would like to see if those the people will feel inferior and
will help the person or are either feel loathsome against those
of better status than they are.
IV. Similarly, Asset B (a meager-looking individual) will enter
the central market with a lot of things as well. We would like
to see if those who feel that they are equal with the person
will either help the asset or will not care at all.
Product
a video presentation and results that will prove that despite the rapid
social biases not only locally but internationally, people will still go
beyond what is expected and actually value neighborliness.
V. Among the issues presented by the Grade 12 students in their PSA or Public Service
Announcements, what do you think needs the most attention and why? Choose from
the issues below and cite 1 concrete solution. Explain in not more than 7 sentences
only.
A. YOUTH HEALTH AND SEXUALITY
B. YOUTH CAREER, EDUCATION AND EMPOWERMENT
C. YOUTH AND FAITH VALUES

6. D. ENVIRONMENTAL PEACEBUILDING
E. YOUTH BUILDING PEACH THROUGH YOUTH SERVICE
F. HOME AND FAMILY ISSUES
In my point of view, the most important concern to focus on must be Home and Family
Issues, letter F. Given the fact that families are the basic unit of society, I think that in order to
have a better and affective nation, we must focus on this vital entity, first and foremost. If
professionals like doctors, lawyers, and teachers are required to attend seminars to improve their
competence, I think parents and children must also attend something similar to this. Similarly, the
government must also do its part by putting up more organizations to be able to fully focus on
families which are the basic unit of the public. For I believe that if children are raised by
responsible parents in a lovely family, these children will become good and efficient adults in the
future, therefore, being great assets of the society that will help the nation prosper.