Mandatory ROTC

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Table of Contents

CHAPTER 1: Problem and Its Background

2

3-13

Introduction

3

Background of the Study

5

Theoretical Framework

7

Conceptual Framework

9

Statement of the Problem

11

Significance of the Study

13

Scope and Limitations

13

Definition of Terms

14

CHAPTER 2: Review of the Related Literature

16-23

Local Literature and Studies

16

Foreign Literature

20

Foreign Studies

22

Synthesis

22

CHAPTER 3: Methodology

24-28

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CHAPTER I PROBLEM AND ITS BACKGROUND INTRODUCTION ROTC has been a long established part of the educational system as a training ground for army reserve members."The most prominent argument on behalf of ROTC is the traditional “citizen soldier” rationale, which emphasizes how ROTC can broaden the military’s exposure to high levels of the civilian mind. In this line of argument, officers trained by ROTC are more likely to balance military virtues with a commitment to the norms of civil society and the constitutional order. This balance is good for America because, among other things, it can enhance effective civilian control of the military. The contemporary viability of the citizen soldier concept has occasioned much debate, but it continues to be a useful and important aspiration in a polity in which deep respect for constitutional principles coexists with substantial defense obligations and needs." (Dawns, 2011) ROTC strives to develop the leadership skills of a student not only in theory but also as an application to the military training that the program has. Military discipline and military courtesy are tenets of the curriculum, infusing these to produce able-bodied and military-ready students that can be called to service in times of need. The country’s disadvantage in terms of weapons and materials for combat is greatly emphasized when the Philippines is under threat, therefore at least training the students to have the capability to fight and defend is a form of heightening the military capabilities to some extent. The discipline that ROTC students develop under the training is tantamount to the maturity of a person, especially the clarity of mind that they display under pressure.

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The ideal ordeal is that students who finished ROTC can be used as reserves for the AFP or Armed Forces of the Philippines. However this army training curriculum for students faced problems since its creation, resulting to countless that aimed to finish the program.“Discontent over ROTC - its content, conduct, the competence of its training staff and the corruption that often plagued the individual units - had been well known for years. Casual surfing of Filipino student websites often reveals short essays or articles about the perceived pointlessness of the program. Student groups also occasionally took up the matter in their roster of grievances." (ARESCOM, 2016) Not only was its application deemed ineffective but students also suffer from unjust offices who abuse their powers. The span of ROTC's life has been plagued with protests from students and parents as well who wish to abolish this training. The ROTC program was made optional and voluntary, and this led to a decline in the number of young men taking up the program in preparation for a possible military career. It has resulted in the loss of

potential leaders for our military

who would be interested in a military career without necessarily

–

young

men

having to join the

Philippine Military Academy. Changes were made and now that President Duterte promised more changes, ROTC is pushed to be mandatory to all students. Dissent over this was present in the form of contradictions that ROTC is not the way to make the students devoted to their country, and that the program brought more problems than achieving the goal that it pursues to attain.

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The question remains of whether ROTC is really necessary to reach the hearts of the students to raise their sense of patriotism to the country. “To attain effective changes, it is essential that a superior authority take the initiative and force thoughtful action.” (Ringgold, 1959) Imperfections to the curriculum and implementation of ROTC cannot be denied, and the harnessing of these aspects should also be a part of the changes that the program should pursue before it can be fully utilized by the students. This research will determine whether the proposed mandatory implementation of ROTC by President Duterte is a way to strengthen patriotism to the students or a form of militarization through the perception of senior high students of the Polytechnic University of the Philippines.

BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY Education has always been a priority for Filipino families as the necessary weapon in establishing one's self in the platform of the world. It is the conceived idea that attaining proper and formal education enables a person to be competitive and to develop character as well as attitude. The field of education itself has evolved to suit the learning needs of the youth today. The goal of learning is not only limited to the concept of instilling lessons of Mathematics or Science to the minds of students but also the development of a child's character and sense of self in order to pursue growth that can be a foundation to being a productive and responsible citizen. Long before education became available to all social classes in the Philippines, a form of ROTC was already created during the Spanish occupation when students from the University of Santo Tomas were made into a battalion to help in the war against

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invading English troops. This shows how the need for people to fight was the cause for the creation of what is now called ROTC. "ROTC aims provide military education and training for students to mobilize them for national defense preparedness. Its specific objectives include preparation of college students for service in the Armed Forces of the Philippines in the event of an emergency and their training to become reservists and into commissioned officers of the AFP" (Wikipedia) In 1939, ROTC was made mandatory by President Manuel L. Quezon, a move that was later rallied into abolishment over the death of Cadet Sergeant Major Mark Welson Chua. Revisions to make the program better were done by the Congress, resulting to the creation of the National Service Training Program or NSTP. NSTP removed ROTC as a prerequisite to graduate for the male students and the women were also included to the change. They were now also required to participate in the national service. NSTP became another option to take up in order to still continue the point of harnessing a sense of patriotism in the students. The call for abolishing ROTC was rekindled when students of the Polytechnic University of the Philippines was reported to have been tortured by ROTC officers. The program was once again put into the spotlight, where protests started again. Today ROTC is still present, but President Duterte wishes to make it mandatory to all students as a form of instilling patriotism to the hearts of the Filipinos at a young age. This research aims to determine if the senior high students that can be affected by this mandatory implementation also shares this perception or if this move is a sign of invigorating the militarization of the Philippines.

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THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK Institutional arguments rely not on aggregations of individual action, or on patterned interaction games between individuals, but on “institutions that structure action” (Clemens and Cook 1999: 442). Institutions are emergent, “higher-order” factors above the individual level, constraining or constituting the interests and political participation of actors “without requiring repeated collective mobilization or authoritative intervention to achieve these regularities” (Jepperson 1991: 145). As the new administration sits after election, proposed reforms occur on the certain programs such as the reinstatement of mandatory ROTC. But certain groups, specifically Anakbayan and National Union of Students of the Philippines (NUSP) already express their anti-sentiments due to some abuses and incidents that are reported before or even at the present time that it is not mandatory. Institutional arguments are not about aggregations of individual action, but higher-order factors above the individual level that influence political processes and outcomes and tend to produce regular patterns or stasis. Considering that the government as an institution with given power to provide the welfare of its constituencies by means policies should consider the stance of any persons or groups that will be affected by those policies. In the first place, the institution must act in accordance with what’s for the betterment of the people who elected them without any authoritative intervention. The government should consider the rallies, collective mobilizations and oppressions made by some youth organizations and other groups who are fighting to stop the violence inside ROTC program. It should not just 7

look for the mandate of the higher officials hence; take those oppressions as a tool to improve their policies. Primarily, the national governments together with the ROTC as an institution are the main concern here. The subsequent incidents and abuses inside the ROTC program show that the government lacks in intervention to address those issues. The only concern of the current administration is the instilling of nationalism and patriotism thru mandatory ROTC without ratifying or reforming the ROTC Program. In lieu with this, Anakbayan and NUSP now push for the abolishment of the said program because they believe that making it mandatory will worsen the situation and instilling patriotism and nationalism can be achieved by other means than the program of ROTC. If the government will listen to the people or use these mobilizations as a tool to improve the ROTC Program, there will be no next mobilization that will happen or if the government will improve and will give attention to the issues inside and address it properly, most of the people will support the action of the government.

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CONCEPTUAL FRAMEWORK

The nature of Reserve Officers’ Training Corps Program in the Philippines is to provide additional arms to the military force in times of war in the form of the students with proper military training as well as proper leadership and discipline.Alongside with this, graduating from ROTC can heighten the quality of protection and discipline that a student can have. One of the goals of ROTC is to promote nationalism and patriotism, yet the problems arose as some officers’ abuse their powers. Problems faced by ROTC can be seen inside the program, the incidents and violence revealed by some students show that the program needs attention and reform and this problem is the main reason why some youth organizations are totally against the reinstatement of mandatory ROTC and push for the abolishment of the said program.

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CONCEPTUAL PARADIGM

Figure 1.Conceptual paradigm showing the possible effects of mandatory ROTC on the respondents, senior high school students and the state. This shows the possible outcomes if they pursue mandatory Reserve Officers’ Training Corps in the Philippines. The key players (senior high school students, ROTC officers) are the first ones to be affected if ever the mandatory implementation of ROTC comes to life. The effects may be positive (nationalism and patriotism) or negative (abuse of powers by the officials) Either way, the state is the key factor to be affected by all these.

STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM

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At the end of this study, the researchers aim to answer the following questions with regards to the mandatory reinstatement of Reserved Officers’ Training Corps Program by the Duterte Administration: 1. Is the proposed mandatory implementation of ROTC a move to promote militarization among the youth or to simply revive their patriotism for the country? 2. How will the youth accept the program? 3. What changes are needed for ROTC to become successful in achieving its goals? 4. How can the government sustain the proposed changes in the program? 5. What are the other benefits of the ROTC program to the youth? 6. What are the other means that the government can use to revive the youth’s patriotism and nationalism? 7. What is the government’s alternative plan if the mandatory implementation of ROTC will not push through? 8. What problems can arise when ROTC will be implemented mandatorily? Mark Welson Chua was a student of University of Santo Tomas and the first victim of ROTC’s abuse of power after he exposed alleged irregularities inside the ROTC department of the university. Chua, received death threats after his revelation. His ROTC commandant advised him to undergo security training at Fort Bonifacio. Until 15 March 2001, he was able to meet the agent, but he was never seen alive. His body was found floating in Pasig River, wrapped in a carpet, hands and feet were tied and his face wrapped in cloth and packing tape. His death became the catalyst for the passage of Republic Act 9163 or the "National Service Training Program Law", which removed completion of mandatory ROTC as a precondition for graduation for male college students in the Philippines. As a result, students were allowed to choose either ROTC or community service. But still, the 11

abuse made by some officers is inevitable. Last 2014, students from Polytechnic University of the Philippines revealed their hazing experience inside the campus performed by some ROTC officials. The general problem in this study is the reinstatement of ROTC, per se. Given the situations that happened before, why is it that the present administration still wants to pursue it? Is this toinstill patriotism and discipline the youth of this nation or is this for militarization? Senator Win Gatchalian had already filed Senate Bill No. 200, the Mandatory Act, on June 30. As a staunch supporter of ROTC, Gatchalian believes that this will stimulate the love, patriotism and nationalism for the country. But some youth organizations like National Union of Students of the Philippines (NUSP) and militant group Anakbayan expressed their opposition against the actions made by the government. They believe that there are other ways or programs that youth can instill ‘discipline’ and ‘good citizenship.’ They’re pushing for the abolition of ROTC as it never instilled nationalism, social responsibility, or discipline. Making it mandatory again would result to an increase in the number of hazing and abuse victims. SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY To the students. This research aims to raise awareness to the senior high students who will be a part of the ROTC program if ever its mandatory implementation becomes a reality or not. This can be used as a guide to students as a basis if they decide to join ROTC or not.

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To the ROTC officers. This study can be used for them as a reading tool that can heighten their knowledge concerning the problems of the program. As a part of the body of the ROTC program, the officers have a huge role to the betterment and improvement of the training. To the future researchers. This research can be used as reference to the studies of the same sphere of subjects to upcoming researchers. To the society. This study can be utilized as a guide for the people whether or not they find the proposed mandatory implementation of ROTC agreeable and a useful tool for instilling patriotism to the students or a form of militarization. SCOPE AND LIMITATIONS This study focused on the perception of the Senior High School students in the reinstatement of mandatory Reserve Officers’ Training Corps in the Philippines under President Rodrigo Duterte Administration. The respondents of the study were composed of 400 senior high school students (50 each from Science and Technology, Engineering, Mathematics Strand1, Arts and Design Trace2, Accountancy, Business and Management Strand- Business Administration 3, Humanities and Social Sciences Strand 4, and General Academic Strand5 and 20 each under Technical-Vocational Tracks). The researchers considered working on this study to find out how these high school students view ROTC, if it intends to promote patriotism or if it only for militarization. And to analyze the reasons why it should be reinstated after the series of corruption scandals and youth protests against the course.

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DEFINITION OF TERMS    

ROTC - Reserved Officers Training Corps Militarization – to adapt for military use Patriotism – love for or devotion to one’s country Nationalism – a sense of national consciousness exalting one nation above all others and placing primary emphasis on promotion of its culture and interests as



opposed to those of other nations or supranational. Fascism – a way of organizing a society in which a government ruled by dictator controls the lives of the people and in which people are not allowed to disagree



with the government. Military Courtesy – pertains to the wholesome relationships between juniors and seniors, between young and old, with all persons. It includes an essential element of a full and proper appreciation of the rights of others. It also includes special acts and ceremonial procedures, which are prescribed in official



regulations. Military Discipline –is a state of order and obedience existing within a command. It involves the ready subordination of the will of the individual for the good of the group. It is an extension and specialized application of the discipline that demands habitual but reasoned obedience that preserves initiative and functions unfalteringly even in the absence of the commander.

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CHAPTER II REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE Presented in this chapter are foreign and local literatures and studies gathered from books and online resources used by the researchers in the pursuit of this paper in order to have a more accurate study. This helped the researchers have a better understanding and a wider perspective on this study LOCAL LITERATURE AND STUDIES The establishment of the Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC) primarily focuses on its main goals: to instill the senses of nationalism and patriotism among the youth, to prepare them for a noteworthy leadership and citizenship and utmost, to develop leaders and militia of high-quality in the future ready to defend and stand up for the betterment of the state and its people. The future of morale and safety of a nation lies on the shoulders of our armed forces. It is vital even at a young age, being ablebodied for such trainings to actively engage in our progress and emancipating safety of the nation and the public’s development as well.

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As a sub-field of Strategic Studies and Political Science, the study of civil-military relations, focuses on the (Lovell, 1974) “threat posed by the military institution (the existence of a large professional army) to the popular rule by a civilian government, and to the individual citizen’s political and civil rights.” 1 The military program’s model was in parallel with that of the United States of America which started in 1862 where it was instigated as an elective for college students.2 (Changco & Santiago, 2013) The pioneer unit of the ROTC was the University of the Philippines ROTC Unit or the UP Vanguards which was established in 1922 3. Followed by the founding of the ROTC units in National University, Ateneo de Manila, Liceo de Manila, and Colegio de San Juan de Letran, until number of schools nationwide adopted the military program after the endorsement of the Commonwealth Act No. 1. As cited in Article VI, Section 35 of the Commonwealth Act No. 1 or the National Defense Act of 1935, the concept of ROTC came into its being with only schools and institutions designated by the President to maintain and establish a Reserve Officers’ Training Units, mandatory for every physically fit student to pursue a course of military instruction designed to qualify him for a commission as a Third Lieutenant of reserve with a power to choose where would he want to render service. 1 John P. Lovell, “Civil Military Relations: Traditional and Modern Concepts Reappraised,” Civil-Military Relations: Changing Concepts in the Seventies (New York; London: The Free Press and Collier MacMillan Publishers, 1974). p. 11.

2Data taken from “Reviving Mandatory ROTC”, The Lasallian, September 9, 2015. Retrieved August 8, 2016 3 UP ROTC,The Vanguards, www.uprotc.org” , Retrieved August 7, 2016 16

During the Second World War, the army reserves produced by the ROTC program were first put into action. The ROTC cadets from the 33 colleges and universities who have active units took part and were first seen in action during the Second World War. Cadets from different Metro Manila units took part in the defense of Bataan, while in the Visayas, 45 percent of the 75th Infantry Regiment of the US Armed Forces in the Far East (USAFFE) were ROTC cadets of Silliman University.4 In 1967, President Ferdinand Marcos issued Executive Order No. 59, making ROTC a mandatory course in all colleges and universities with an enrollment of at least 250 male students. A noteworthy development during this period was a program called “Rainbow Rangers-Sunday soldiers.” It provided an alternative to what was basically a ceremony-centered ROTC training program. It exposed the cadets to small unit tactics, unconventional warfare and home defense techniques. The mandatory ROTC program was scrummed in the college level’s curriculum in year 2002, after the reported death of a ROTC cadet Mark Wilson Chua 5, student of University of Santo Tomas, allegedly killed by his co-cadets and upper-class men after exposing corruption in the UST ROTC corps. Following the passage of Republic Act 9163, an Act Establishing the National Service Training Program (NSTP), unlike the ROTC, on the other hand, lets college students to choose and complete at least one of its three components to be able to

4Data taken from “Reviving Mandatory ROTC”, The Lasallian, September 9, 2015. Retrieved August 8, 2016 5 Data taken from “Military men suspected in UST student’s slay” Inquirer News, March 28, 2001 17

graduate for a period of only two (2) academic semesters 6: the ROTC program, which provides military training; Literacy Training Service (LTS), which provides training on teaching basic reading and math; and Civic Welfare Training Service (CWTS), which involves students in activities contributing to community welfare, such as caring for the environment, public safety, health, sports, and entrepreneurship, as defined in Section 3 of RA 9163. “What is needed to support the Armed Forces is a citizen army of well-trained reserves that can make life difficult for any invader. Just as the threat of war with Japan served as an impetus for the build-up of our Armed Forces before World War II, let us use the threats that come from bullies in the neighborhood to prepare our youth for the defense of the homeland. It is time to restore the mandatory two-year basic ROTC military training program that existed in the past. Whatever mistakes or abuses were committed then should not be allowed to happen again.” 7Said Brig. Gen. Rolando Jungco, Commander, Armed Forces of the Philippines Civil Relations Service (CRS). Several bills were filed at the House of Representatives but none of them reached second reading. Movements coming from the uniformed sector have been blabbing about the reinstatement of the ROTC, until President Rodrigo Duterte’s 1 st State of the Nation Address came where he mentioned his stand that ROTC must be put back in to practice and should be held mandatory for all college students. 6Section 6. Duration and Equivalent Course Unit, [REPUBLIC ACT NO. 9163] AN ACT ESTABLISHING THE NATIONAL SERVICE TRAINING PROGRAM (NSTP) FOR THE TERTIARY LEVEL STUDENTS, AMENDING FOR THE PURPOSE REPUBLIC ACT NO. 7077 PRESIDENTIAL DECREE NO. 1706, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSE

7In an interview with Ramon Farolan of the Philippine Daily Inquirer. July 8, 2013 18

It was then Valenzuela City Congressman now Senator Win Gatchalian filed and sponsored House Bill No. 2338, which seeks to make Reserve Officers' Training Corps (ROTC) mandatory to every male student in the tertiary education. He said that the bill aims to optimize the students for service through appropriate physical and mental training. He also exposed that he was also a product of ROTC in college. “We need to help them develop their national spirit, and promote self-confidence and camaraderie. Our youth should also be physically strong and alert without having to spend membership in a gym,” 8Gatchalian said. The ROTC program, according to the Organization of Generals and Flag Officers, prepares male students for national defense and trains them with leadership skills and the basics of military service in order to produce capable Armed Forces reservists.9 FOREIGN LITERATURE Establishment of the Reserve Officers’ Training Corps or Student Military Training Service in different countries has three foremost objectives namely: to allow students to grasp basic military skills and theory, and enhance their understanding of defense and consciousness of national security. On an article by John Chan in World Socialist Web Site on the 10 th day of May 2007- Chinese government is imposing nationwide military training for students of the country to achieve not only the three main goals of the latter but also to strengthen the 8 Retrieved from www.wingatchalian.com 9 “Generals' group wants mandatory ROTC revived”, GMA News Online, July 24, 2013 19

submission of students to “organization” and “discipline”, as well as to instill the values of “patriotism”, “collectivism” and “revolutionary heroism”. On this article he discussed why should a government call for a compulsory national military training for students in high school and tertiary level and how will it effect on their educational record. Scholarship is one of the reasons why a student of the American government underwent with this course. On the article written by David L. Leal, Students in Uniform: ROTC, the Citizen-Soldiers, and the Civil-Military Gap, it tell in details how and when the ROTC rooted in the country, what are the parallel benefit if a student will participate in the said course and the equal responsibility as a student taking part of the program. In the United States of America there was a time that this course was banned mainly because of lack of academic standards and some instructor and students believed that this is just a dummy for the military during the Vietnam War last 1960. University that banned this program includes the most notable institutions in the United States like Harvard, Yale, Princeton, Brown, Dartmouth, Stanford and Columbia, also known as the elite schools in the higher education. In the article “The Pendulum Swing: The Fall and Return of ROTC to Elite Campuses, and Why It Matters” by Donald Downs, the author/writer give the good standing why the ROTC is needed to be reinstated in the elite universities and how this program can be beneficial with the school and to the students. Who will be best fitted to enter the ROTC in the America? Young fitted men or women? This was the question answered in the book of Michael S. Neiberg entitled: Making Citizen-Soldiers: ROTC and the Ideology of American Military Service. On this

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book, it focuses the discussion on the history of ROTC in America; its creation and evolution, who founded the program and where the concept came from. It also gives a short review on the pathways that the course had gone through the years. During the time of the Pres. Roosevelt, those young boys aged 16 to 19 are put in training with the compulsory in nature. There are several records showing the rise and fall of the number of young boys who entered the said course. The best place to have this training was in a public school. This was been justified in the article of Lewis Paul Todd, “Does the Probability of Compulsory Military Training Pose a Problem for the Public Schools?” FOREIGN STUDIES Luke Pereira, “The History and Impact of Army ROTC at Suny College at Brookport” 2003, the study gives a brief discussion on the history of the ROTC and how it evolved in the United States. It also tackles the benefit of students in engaging in the military course. It also shows how wide the influence of the training in the country. This study could also give a glance on how this mandatory training or course affects the academic status of the participants during the entire participation. Tayfun Sonmez, “Bidding for Army Career Specialties: Improving the ROTC Branching Mechanism”, this study gave a reasonable solution on how to increase the number of participants of the training corps. It tackles on modifying the merit and incentives system so that it will encourage numbers of students and they will not doubt to participate in the program of the institution. This study gave an emphasis on the “priority based system” which is most effective in the said program. 21

Developing Leaders through High School Junior ROTC: Integrating Theory and Practice of Robert C. Funk is a study that deals on how to develop a leadership in the high school level. This study aims to maximize the participation of the high school student in the leadership training dubbed as JROTC. The author viewed that it will enhance the knowledge of the student in leadership skills, their understanding of their part as a citizen of the country and their personal growth. SYNTHESIS The reason for ROTC’s establishment has always been about raising the sense of patriotism and nationalism in the youth with the proper training in order for them to become leaders and citizens with discipline that can be added to the militia for the protection of the country. The history of ROTC in the country showed how the program was created out of goals that serve the betterment of the students as citizens and the heightened quality protection that they can provide. Even though problems arose throughout its implementation before and in the present, the fact remains that the goals of ROTC are purely nationalistic in nature. However, the goals of other countries with ROTC are more on the students to grasp the military skills and theory as well as raising the awareness with defense and national security. In comparison, they are more militaristic in nature and focus less on the benefits that ROTC can bring to the growth of a student’s sense of self and leadership. Although American studies pursued the ways on how to increase the students who will take up ROTC and suggested changes to the way the program works in order for more students to participate and increase their leadership skills. The literature and studies presented showed a comparison of the reasons why ROTC is implemented in schools in different countries, whether they are 22

more militaristic in nature or patriotic and engages to the self-growth of the students. Also, the literature gathered can be used as guidance on how to improve ROTC in the Philippines for a better and more comprehensive application that can lessen the abuse that sprout from improper implementation of the program.

CHAPTER III RESEARCH METHODOLOGY This chapter focuses on the research methodology used by the researchers in the success of this study, highlighting the methods, techniques and procedures of data gathering, the strategy of inquiry, the population and sampling design, as well as the research instruments and the statistical tools and mechanisms for the accuracy in data analysis. RESEARCH METHOD AND DESIGN The Descriptive method of research was used in the study. It is a fact finding study with adequate and accurate interpretation of the findings. 10 (Aquino, 1974)

10Aquino, Gaudencio V. “Essentials of Research and Thesis Writing”. Alemars-Pheonix Publishing House, 1974

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Descriptive research describes what is. 11 (Manuel &Medel, 1976) It is concerned with conditions of relationships that exist; practices that prevail; beliefs, processes that are going on; effects that are being felt, or trends that are developing. 12 (Best, 1970) It describes with emphasis what actually exist such as current conditions, practices, situations, or any phenomena. Since the study was concerned with the perception of Senior High Schools students that would be most likely to be affected by the proposed reinstatement of the mandatory ROTC program in the academe, the descriptive method of research being the most appropriate method as it is defined to be a purposive way of gathering, analyzing, classifying and tabulating data about a prevailing condition and then making accurate interpretation about the data gathered was the method used by the researchers. POLITICAL RESEARCH PERSPECTIVE For the fact that this study will be dealing with perspective, the researchers in order to know what is to know is an anti-foundationalist position because interpretation will be based on socially constructed realities and perceptions with shared positions with both interpretivism and positivism using realist perspective as the main contention because the state as the key actor is pursuing for national security. MIXED-METHODOLOGY RESEARCH PARADIGM 11Manuel, Bienvenido B. and Medel, Paz C. “A Practical Guide in Methodology of Research and Thesis Writing”. GIC Enterprises and Company, Inc., 1976

12Best, John W. “Research in Education.Second Edition”. New Jersey: Prentice Hall, Inc., 1970 24

The researchers based the study in a framework of a mixed method of qualitative and quantitative research as qualitative research is defined to be the framework analysis best suitable for the accuracy of the data since this study will be dealing with perceptions of key informants and the use of quantitative research to be able to gather the perceptions of the target population, the Senior High School students of PUP Manila Campus. The mixed-methodology is preferred by the researchers to be able to provide bigger pictures. Qualitative data are in depth descriptions of circumstances, people, interactions, observed behaviours, events, attitudes, thoughts and beliefs and direct quotes from people who have experienced or are experiencing the phenomenon. (Patton, 2002) It is a means for exploring and understanding the meaning individuals or groups ascribe to a social or human problem. In qualitative research the qualitative data is collected by the researcher and analyzed using one of the qualitative data analysis methods. RESEARCH DESIGN Given that under a descriptive method of research, there are three research techniques: (1) the case study, (2) the survey and (3) the content-analysis through key informants interview, the researches chose to use the survey method or otherwise known as the normative survey, a fact-finding study to be able to come up with adequate and accurate interpretation and the key-informants interview from those who had a firsthand knowledge on the issue and could give a wider angle through their responses. Knowing the advantages of using a survey technique and key informants 25

interview technique in a descriptive research, the researchers decided to use both as it reveals data which made it possible to easier formulation of generalizations having a high degree of relativity due to proper sampling procedures and selection of samples as it is easier to obtain data and responses from a survey and an interview. RESEARCH INSTRUMENT AND DATA GATHERING PROCEDURE The survey technique or approach used by the researchers was a selfconstructed survey for data gathering on the quantitative level using mixtures of closed questions that can be answerable by yes or no and the use of Likert Scale where only a sample or portion of the population is involved, as defined by Trecee and Trecee, Jr. This is concerned with looking into the similarity of the elements the researchers wanted to find out. Since the study is about the perception, being it as a descriptive design, it is the most appropriate method in gathering data. The researchers decided to execute a questionnaire method for data collection simply because it is easy to construct and as students, the researchers could not provide for ways that would cost them much, also data gathered are easy to tabulate and it is not that time consuming for them to be able to finish the study within the given time frame. Using a guided response type of questionnaire, also called as the closed form or restricted type, specifically a recognition type of guided response type of questionnaire survey where respondent of the survey is guided in making his replies. The instrument used by the researchers in order to obtain and gather data and information needed by the study in a qualitative level is a key informant interview to 3

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notable persons that are expert on the issue and will also answer the questions on the questionnaires but with their own perspectives and opinions. RESPONDENTS’ POPULATION AND SAMPLING The study “Reinstating Mandatory ROTC: A Means of Instilling Patriotism and Nationalism or Pacing Towards Militarization?” would like to determine the perception of students specifically that of the Senior High School Students of the Polytechnic University of the Philippines in the issue of reinstating the mandatory ROTC program for college students as mentioned by President Rodrigo Duterte in his 1 st State of the Nation Address, where the population seemed to be the one to be affected if the bill will take into effect. The respondents are a total of 400 randomly selected Senior High School students belonging to eight (8) strands or tracks offered in the Polytechnic University of the Philippines13, main campus as the cluster samples. Each cluster has 50 respondents selected as samples for data gathering. Sampling size for each cluster are as follows: Academic Tracks: Cluster A Accountancy, Business and Management (ABM) Cluster B Humanities and Social Sciences (HUMSS) Cluster C Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) Cluster D General Academic (GA)

– 50 – 50 – 50 – 50

Technical-Vocational Livelihood Tracks: Cluster E Cluster F

Information and Communications Technology (TVL-ICT) Home Economics- Cookery

– 50 – 25*

13 Data taken from PUP Website: Senior High Schools Class Lists and Schedules. www.pup.edu.ph . Retrieved August 9, 2016

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Home Economics- Bartending Cluster G Tourism- Local Tour Guiding Services Tourism- Travel Services Tourism- Tourism Promotion Services

– 25*14 – 17* – 17* – 16*15

The sampling size of the population was determined by pure random sampling and was decided to have the total number of 400 respondents based on clusters which are represented by the strands present in Senior High School classes at the Polytechnic University of the Philippines, Main Campus to be able to obtain an equal representation among students’ perceptions. On the premise of the qualitative data gathering, to be able to weigh the perceptions and the result of this study, the researchers will interview three (3) experts on this field: (1) a retired Major in the Philippines Army, (Ret.) Major Mario Jose Chico, PA. (2) an officer of the Polytechnic University of the Philippines, Cadet

Bonifacio

Nuraña Jr. and (3) former Polytechnic University of the Philippines Cadet Adrian Dy.

14 Provided that there are 2 strands under the Home Economics track, the sample size of 50 is divided into 2.

15 Under the Tourism track, there are 3 strands offered, the sample size of 50 is divided into 3, provided that it is not a whole number, sample size was determined by the researchers according to number of students in a class.

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