The DayTop TC Philosophy

1. Presentation from BS.Crim. 4-A in Therapeutic Modalities

4. ● Intelligence and spirituality ultimately follow the same path. By embracing intellect to its
fullest extent, one will eventually arrive at a sense of spirituality.
● Our actions are governed by intelligence; we achieve the best results when we make the
most intelligent decisions. But if we go home, meditate, and begin asking questions like,
“What is the purpose of my life?”, we have left the territory of the intellect and entered the
spiritual realm.
● We try to interact intelligently with our outer world and spiritually with our inner world.
● Hence, as the BJMP aims to institutionalize Therapeutic Community Modality program in
all jails nationwide, the Intellectual and Spiritual Component hopes to enhance the
spiritual and intellectual dimensions of the residents by providing opportunities for them to
develop self-worth and productivity.

5. ● Spirituality is any action or activity that reflects or brings out the goodness in a man.
Spirituality in TCMP is designed to respond to the inner longing of residents to find greater
faith where they can anchor themselves within their struggle to find meaning to their
existence.
● It summarizes a man’s relationship with himself, other and the Supreme Being. The
spiritual component provides the residents with activities that would help them explore the
meaning and purpose of their existence and their particular place in the world.

6. ● Spiritual Component
○ TC Philosophy
○ TC Unwritten Philosophies
○ Theme/Concept of the Day
○ Meditation
○ Religious Activities
● Objectives:
○ To enhance personal and spiritual well-being of residents.
○ To appreciate the value of the Word of God in relation to our life and as nourishment
to the soul.
○ To give opportunity for the residents to experience special encounter and healing
from God.
○ To remind the residents for the need for constant connection with God in their lives.

8. What is the TC Philosophy?
● It is recited daily during the Morning Meeting. It embodies all the challenges and
aspirations of most residents who feel alienated and the desire to overcome the imposed
limitations on their freedom and find their own place where they could feel safe and
welcome. It acknowledges the importance of fellowship in shaping one’s behavior and
motivating one’s fortitude of helping himself and others.
● It likewise serves as his anchor in times of emotional turmoil which he can always go back
to and reflect. It forms emotional binding among the participants knowing that they are
grounded on the same philosophy.
● Change is a personal choice that may be achieved through personal responsibility,
commitment, and effort.
● It is possible for each client to make the necessary change in their life in order to become
healthy, productive citizens in society. In order to do so, there must be on the part of the
individual the desire to change old lifestyles and a willingness for the increased self-
awareness and self-discipline necessary to develop and maintain these changes
indicated by a lack of resistance to the treatment process.

9. Why is there a TC Philosophy?
● It serves to focus both staff and client resources and efforts on a common purpose and
channel those energies along therapeutic guidelines towards a definite program goal: the
client’s increased self-awareness and self-discipline.
What is the overall concept of the TC program?
● Provide a structural environment with constant attention to negative behavior change,
socially acceptable rules as the norm, acceptance of personal responsibility for their
individual actions and positive peer modeling. This type of environment for the special
population (i.e., criminal) makes treatment gains a reality instead of just another program.

10. ● I am here because there is no refuge finally, from myself.
● Until I confront myself in the eyes and hearts of others, I am running.
● Until I suffer them to share my secrets, I have no safety from them.
● Afraid to be known, I can know neither myself nor any other, I will be alone.
● Where else but in our common ground, can I see such a mirror?
● Here, together, I can at last appear clearly to myself not as a giant of my
dreams nor the dwarf of my fears, but as a person, part of the whole, with my
share in its purpose.
● In this ground, I can take root and grow, not alone anymore, as in death but
alive to myself and to others.

12. ● It refers to a word or saying that will serve as a guide for the community to ponder upon in
relation to their day to day interactions and behaviors.
● It is elaborated during the Morning Meeting by some members of the community to
emphasize the relevance and how it can stimulate the residents’ thoughts and help them
change their behavior into something positive.
● It can also be taken from the Unwritten Philosophies.

14. ● The visualization meditation is used to help an individual establish a practice of moving his
attention within, finding his place of relaxation and peace by contacting his inner wisdom.
● This experience is unique for everyone so much so that one’s experience may be different
from the others.
● Some may experience visual imagery while the others may not. What is important is to do it
the most easy and natural way in order to attain the goal and have the opportunity to relax
and enjoy the process.
● After the activity, ask the participants how they feel and what they have learned from the
experience.

16. 1. Surrender
“I am here because there is no refuge, finally from myself.”
I am where I am right now because I admit that something went wrong with my life
that I have no control over. I admit that I need the help of a Higher Power and of others
to bring positive change in my life.
2. Self-disclosure
“Until I confront myself in the eyes and hearts of others. I am running. Until I
suffer them to share my secrets, I have no safety from them. Afraid to be known, I
can neither know myself or any other, I will be alone.”
I now know that unless I come out in the open and admit my mistakes, I will forever
be running from them. I need to disclose my deepest secrets to my peers so that I can
find the right ways of dealing with them.By opening myself up for others to see through
me, I will be free from my own demons and let others guide and help me through my
ordeals. Nobody can help me unless I let them know my woes and let them understand
that like them, I also need help.

17. 3. Reflection
“Where else but in our common ground, can I see such a mirror?”
There is no better place to disclose my feelings than in a place full of people with
similar experiences where I feel safe and free from prejudices. People are here for
different reasons but with a common problem. It is easy to identify with somebody who is
going through the same experience as me.
4. Self-realization
“Here together, I can appear clearly to myself, not as the giant of my dreams nor
the dwarf of my fears, but as a person, part of the whole with my share in its
purpose.”
When I start to understand myself better, I began to realize how all my negative
behaviors came to be. It is easier to deal with something when we understand its roots. I
will learn not to look at myself as too big or too small to handle all my worries. I will learn
that I will deal with them as a person among others who are united together to help each
other by relating our similar attitudes and behaviors.

18. 5. Growth
“In this ground, I can take root and grow.”
I realize that this environment can help me overcome my mistakes and start a new
life. I can anchor myself in this community to foster permanent change.
6. Self-worth
“Not alone anymore. as in death but alive to myself and to others.”
I begin to believe in my ability to overcome all my challenges and give out all my
best for myself and others. I also believe in my ability to be of help to others who are in
similar situations.

20. 1. Honesty
2. Responsible Love And Concern
3. To Be Aware Is To Be Alive
4. Trust In Your Environment
5. Be Careful What You Ask For You
Just Might Get It
6. No Free Lunch
7. You Can’t Keep It Unless You Give It
Away
8. What Goes Around, Comes Around
9. Act As If
10. Understand Rather Than Be
Understood
11. Personal Growth Before Vested
Status
12. Compensation Is Valid
13. Forgiveness
14. Humility
15. You Alone Can Do It But You Can’t
Do It Alone
16. Pride In Quality
17. Feelings Don’t Think
18. Guilt Kills
19. Hang Tough
20. You Are Your Brother’s Keeper

21. The Unwritten Philosophy of TC consists of slogans or aphorisms that are verbally
given to the residents to impart the beliefs and values of TC in relation to their day to day living.
These sayings are used to remind the residents as to what are considered important
to them.
1. “Honesty”
A lot of residents continue to live in a lie without the fear of its consequences. This
virtue points out the importance of truth and its relevance to recovery.
2. “Responsible love and concern”
The residents will learn how to give and accept criticisms without resentment.
Bonded by trust and confidence, the residents know that mistakes need to be corrected
if the aim is to bring the other towards behavioral change.
3. “To be aware is to be alive”
Residents learn to be conscious of what is going on in the environment. In TC,
minor attitudes are engrossed to prevent major attitudinal problems to arise.

22. 4. “Trust in your environment”
There will be no change if there is no honesty and disclosure. Before doing so, trust
must be established. One should believe that the program can help him. In doing so, he
will learn to accept the program and use its tools to evoke changes in himself.
5. “Be careful what you ask for, you might just get it”
Man by nature is ambitious. We never get contented with what we have. We want
more, even if having so would lead us to commit mistakes. We should learn to
appreciate what we have and use it to better ourselves.
6. “No free lunch”
In reality, nothing really comes easy. If we aim for something, we have to work for it.
There is no pride in getting something the easy way. It is hard to let go of something that
we labored for. Change will not come if we will just wait for it to happen. We have to
make it happen.

23. 7. “You can’t keep it unless you give it away”
Knowledge or learning is better appreciated if shared with others. Something
becomes valuable if used to help others make positive changes in their lives. Helping
others help us in the process as we start to feel good about ourselves.
8. “What goes around comes around”
“Whatever you do unto others will be done unto you”. Any good deed will be
rewarded while evil deeds will be punished in the end. We should always be mindful of
our actions as they are the parameters of how we will be judged in the end.
9. “Act as if”
Learning and accepting the TC program is not easy. Most residents feel resistant
towards it. This philosophy teaches the residents to go with the flow as a way of
compliance. In the process, they will learn to embrace it and the behavior will soon
become natural.

24. 10. “Understand rather than be understood”
It is sometimes common for us to be selfish. We find it hard to admit our mistakes
hence we tend to blame everybody but ourselves. We expect everyone around us to
understand our wrongdoings but we seldom make an effort to understand others.
Understanding others is a virtue because it speaks of humility and patience. If we take
the first step to know where others are coming from, there would be lesser conflicts in
relationships.
11. “Personal growth before vested status”
Sometimes, we become so wrapped up in our own status or positions in life that we
tend to forget to develop relationships with the people around us. We should cultivate
our personal abilities before we scale the ladder to success.
12. “Compensation is valid”
A reward for working hard is well deserved. We get what we put into.
13. “Forgiveness”
To accept what has been done, moving on and getting over the hurt and anger
gives us a feeling of inner peace and happiness. Failure to get over the pains will pin us
down and stunt our progress.

25. 14. “Humility”
To humble oneself before others is a laudable virtue. We are often enveloped by
pride that it is difficult for us to lower ourselves and admit our inadequacies and
limitations. By doing so, we develop a fair insight about ourselves thus giving us the
challenge to improve ourselves.
15. “You alone can do it, but you can’t do it alone”
Oftentimes, we feel invincible and indispensable knowing that certain tasks can only
be accomplished by us. We don’t realize that we have certain limitations that without the
help of others, the burden will be too great for us. We should learn to reach out for help
and admit our weaknesses.
16. “Pride in quality”
Time flies so fast that we tend to hurry in everything we do. We lose our focus and
do things haphazardly just for the sake of completion. We should always seek for quality
in our work. The product of our labor speaks of our attitude towards life in general.

26. 17. “Feelings don’t think”
We usually react impulsively to things around us because of our feelings. Before we
can even think, an action has already been done. Everything starts in the mind. If we think
before we act, chances are, we will behave with contempt as we have analyzed the
process before the action.
18. “Guilt kills”
One of the underlying reasons for depression is guilt. It is a feeling of shame and self-
blame. If a guilty feeling remains unresolved, it can be turned inwards, thus resulting to self-
inflicted harm.
19. “Hang tough”
Sometimes, we feel that there is no end to our miseries and we feel helpless and
hopeless. No matter how dim life seems to be, there is always hope. In every problem is a
solution. Every problem is a learning experience that would make us tougher in dealing with
life’s challenges.
20. “You are your brother’s keeper”
In TC, each one is responsible for the other members of the community. The failure of
one is the failure of all. This gives all the residents a sense of responsibility in shepherding
others. The success of the program is a reflection of how one cares for the other.

27. Summary:
• The Spiritual Components are part of the TCMP of the BJMP and BuCor,
and a popular method/modality used by the Therapeutic Communities in
the Philippines.
• There are 5 Spiritual Components in the program, namely: The TC
Philosophy, TC Unwritten Philosophies, Theme/Concept of the Day,
Meditation, and the Religious Activities.
• The DayTop Philosophy is the most widely adopted of the TC
Philosophies among Therapeutic Communities across the globe.

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