On the Awareness and Attitudes of Filipino Youth (Generation Z) Toward Charter Change
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.54536/jpsir.v2i1.5134Keywords:
Attitudes, Awareness, Charter Change, Filipino HUMSS Students, Generation ZAbstract
Charter change is a contentious civic issue that resurfaces with every administration in Philippine politics. Despite this, limited empirical studies explored the awareness and attitudes of the Filipino youth, a growing and influential electorate, toward charter change. This study examined the awareness and attitudes on charter change among 133 Humanities and Social Sciences (HUMSS) senior high school (SHS) Filipino students at the largest government-funded secondary school in the Eastern Visayas region to address the scarcity in understanding how Filipino youth perceive constitutional reform. The study utilized a 5-point Likert scale questionnaire, employing descriptive bivariate correlational and comparative designs and proportionate stratified sampling, followed by a systematic random sampling within strata. The results revealed that students exhibited moderate awareness and neutral attitudes toward charter change. Spearman’s correlation analysis further indicated a strong, positive, and significant relationship between awareness and attitudes, suggesting that higher awareness is associated with more favorable attitudes. Mann-Whitney U test found no significant differences in awareness and attitudes across demographic groups (grade level, age, sex, leadership positions, political affiliations, and community type). This study highlights the importance of promoting civic education and political literacy among Filipino youth to cultivate informed engagement in constitutional matters. Rather than signaling apathy, the Filipino youth’s ambivalence reflects the intricacy of political discourse and a need for more accessible, contextualized engagement with national issues.
References
Abanto, R. (2024, January 8). Charter change through People’s Initiative: What is it? ABS-CBN News. https://news.abs-cbn.com/spotlight/01/08/24/charter-change-through-peoples-initiative-what-is-it
Agbo, A. A. (2010). Cronbach’s Alpha: Review of Limitations and Associated Recommendations. Journal of Psychology in Africa, 20(2), 233–239. https://doi.org/10.1080/14330237.2010.10820371
Akoglu, H. (2018). User’s guide to correlation coefficients. Turkish Journal of Emergency Medicine, 18(3), 91–93. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.tjem.2018.08.001
Arugay, A. A., Atienza, M. E. L., Blanco, D. V., Tadem, T. S. E., Encinas-Franco, J. S., Gloria, E. V., Go, J. R. R., Iglesias, S., Kraft, H. J. S., Lusterio-Rico, R. R., Marcaida, M. Y., Mendoza, M. E. H., Miranda, M. M. S., Naval, J. B., Rye, R. S., Taguibao, J. G., Tana, M. C., Tigno, J. V., Valenciano, A. K. B., & Zialcita, J. P. L. (2023, January 19). Position Paper of Faculty Members of the UP Department of Political Science on the Congressional Initiative to Undertake Constitutional Revision. University of the Philippines Department of Political Science. https://polisci.upd.edu.ph/position-paper-on-constitutional-revision
Atienza, M. E. L. (2019). Chronology of the 1987 Philippine Constitution. International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance (International IDEA).
Basinillo, C. T., Dondoyano, D. V. A., Salao, F. D., Rodriguez, B. J. N., Rivera, A. G., & Tenero, M. J. (2024). The Road to Change: The Perspectives of Academicians on Charter Change in the Philippines. International Journal for Multidisciplinary Research, 6(3). https://doi.org/10.36948/ijfmr.2024.v06i03.19820
Boone, H. N., & Boone, D. A. (2012). Analyzing Likert data. Journal of Extension, 50(2). http://dx.doi.org/10.34068/joe.50.02.48
Bryman, A. (2016). Social Research Methods. Oxford University Press.
Canada-ASEAN Business Council (2024, November 10). Constitutional Reform is Coming to the Philippines: Here’s What You Need to Know. https://www.canasean.com/post/constitutional-reform-is-coming-to-the-philippines-here-s-what-you-need-to-know
Cayabyab, M.J. (2023, December 17). Zubiri on Cha-cha: Surveys needed first. The Philippine Star. https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2023/12/17/2319424/zubiri-cha-cha-surveys-needed-first
Change Research. (2022). Midterm vibe check: Teen Vogue & Change Research poll of Gen Z & Millennial voters. Change Research. https://changeresearch.com/post/teen-vogue-change-research-midterm-vibecheck/
Cheung, G. W., Cooper-Thomas, H. D., Lau, R. S., & Wang, L. C. (2024). Reporting reliability, convergent and discriminant validity with structural equation modeling: A review and best-practice recommendations. Asia Pacific Journal of Management, 41(2), 745-783. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10490-023-09871-y
Cohen, L., Manion, L., & Morrison, K. (2018). Research Methods in Education (8th ed.). Routledge. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781315456539
Creswell, J. W., & Creswell, J. D. (2017). Research Design: Qualitative, Quantitative, and Mixed Methods Approaches. Sage Publications.
Cureg, E. F., & Matunding, J. F. (2005). Federalism initiatives in the Philippines. https://localgov.up.edu.ph/uploads/1/4/0/0/14001967/cureg_and_matunding_federalism_initiatives_in_the_philippines.pdf
Curtis, E., Comiskey, C., & Dempsey, O. (2016). Importance and use of correlational research. Nurse Researcher, 23(6), 20–25. https://doi.org/10.7748/nr.2016.e1382
Dassonneville, R., Quintelier, E., Hooghe, M., & Claes, E. (2012). The relation between civic education and political attitudes and behavior: A two-year panel study among Belgian late adolescents. Applied Developmental Science, 16(3), 140-150. https://doi.org/10.1080/10888691.2012.695265
De Vreese, C. H., & Boomgaarden, H. (2006). News, political knowledge, and participation: The differential effects of news media exposure on political knowledge and participation. Acta politica, 41, 317-341. http://dx.doi.org/10.1057/palgrave.ap.5500164
Della Volpe, J. (2022). Fight: How Gen Z is channeling their fear and passion to save America. St. Martin’s Press.
Elkins, Z., Ginsburg, T., & Melton, J. (2009). The endurance of national constitutions. Cambridge University Press. https://doi.org/10.1017/CBO9780511817595
Fisher, P. (2018). A political outlier: The distinct politics of the Millennial Generation. Society, 55, 35–40. https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s12115-017-0209-7
Galston, W. A. (2004). Civic education and political participation. PS: Political Science & Politics, 37(2), 263–266. http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/003172170308500108
Görtz, C., & Dahl, V. (2021). Perceptions of politics and their implications: Exploring the link between conceptualizations of politics and political participation. European Political Science, 20(2), 297–317. https://doi.org/10.1057/s41304-019-00240-2
Gyasi, J. B., & Torsu, L. A. (2024). Implications of Vote-Selling on Ghana’s Democracy: Evidence from Bantama Constituency. Journal of Political Science and International Relationship, 1(1), 27–34. https://doi.org/10.54536/jpsir.v1i1.2850
Heys, E. (2024). Generational Values and Political Participation in Recent US Elections. https://youngamericans.berkeley.edu/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/BIFYA_values_voting_paper_062624.pdf
Hyman, H. (1959). Political Socialization: A Study in the Psychology of Political Behaviour. New York: Free Press.
Ibardeloza, K. B., Macatangay, J. M. H., Badillo, L. T., & Obligar, J. M. (2021). Senior High School Students’ Political Participation in the Emerging Social Issues. https://animorepository.dlsu.edu.ph/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1705&context=conf_shsrescon
Inglehart, R. F. (2018). Cultural evolution: People’s motivations are changing and reshaping the world. Cambridge University Press.
Landau, D., & Dixon, R. (2015). Constraining constitutional change. Wake Forest L. Rev.., 50, 859.
Latifi, F. (2022, October 19). Young voters approve of Democratic policies but don’t credit the party, Teen Vogue and Change Research find. Teen Vogue. https://www.teenvogue.com/story/young-voters-2022-midterms-democrats
Lehmann, E. L., & D’Abrera, H. J. (2006). Nonparametrics: statistical methods based on ranks (Vol. 464). New York: Springer.
Lippmann, W. (2017). Public opinion. Routledge.
Magolowondo, A., Van Vliet, M., & Wahiu, W. (2012, May 2). Constitutional Reform Processes and Political Parties: Principles for Practice. International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Accountability. https://www.idea.int/publications/catalogue/constitutional-reform-processes-and-political-parties-principles-practice
Marquez, M. (2018, April 5). Student participation in charter change sought. The Varsitarian. https://varsitarian.net/special-reports/20180405/student-participation-in-charter-change-sought
Mateo, J. (2024, January 23). OCTA poll: Only 1 percent believe Cha-cha is urgent. The Philippine Star. https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2024/01/23/2327816/octa-poll-only-1-percent-believe-cha-cha-urgent
McDonald, J. H. (2014). Handbook of Biological Statistics (3rd ed.). Sparky House Publishing.
Mendoza, R. U., & Melchor, M. (2015). Economic Charter Change: Examining the Pros and Cons. SSRN Electronic Journal. http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.2599131
Muzaffar, M., Chohdhry, S., & Afzal, N. (2019). Social Media and Political Awareness in Pakistan: A Case Study of Youth. Pakistan Social Sciences Review, 3(2), 141-153. http://dx.doi.org/10.35484/pssr.2019(3-II)01
Pew Research Center. (2018). The generation gap in American politics. Pew Research Center. https://www.pewresearch.org/politics/2018/03/01/the-generation-gap-in-american-politics/
Polit, D. F., & Beck, C. T. (2021). Nursing Research: Generating and Assessing Evidence for Nursing Practice. Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.
Pulse Asia Research (2023, April 4). Pulse Asia Research’s March 2023 Nationwide Survey on Charter Change. Pulse Asia Research, Inc. https://pulseasia.ph/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/MR1-UB2023-1-MR-on-Charter-Change-Final.pdf
Quismorio, E. (2024, May 31). Escudero should take a cue from Tangere poll results on Cha-cha--House leaders. Manila Bulletin. https://mb.com.ph/2024/5/31/escudero-should-take-a-cue-from-tangere-poll-results-on-cha-cha-house-leaders
Ramirez, R. (2018, November 21). Study: ‘Gen Z’ not interested in political, civic affairs. The Philippine Star. https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2018/11/21/1870406/study-gen-z-not-interested-political-civic-affairs
Rouse, S. M., & Ross, A. D. (2018). The politics of Millennials: Political beliefs and policy preferences of America’s most diverse generation. University of Michigan. http://dx.doi.org/10.3998/mpub.9526877
Sadri, H., & Flammia, M. (2014). Democracy, political perceptions, and new media. Journal of Systemics, Cybernetics and Informatics, 12(3), 29-33. https://iiisci.org/Journal/PDV/sci/pdfs/HB354MJ14.pdf
Serquiña, M.C. (2024, October 6). Comelec: 20 million Gen Z voters expected in 2025 polls. GMA Integrated News. https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/topstories/nation/922724/comelec-20-million-gen-z-voters-expected-in-2025-polls/story/
Smets, K. (2016). Revisiting the political lifecycle model: Later maturation and turnout decline among young adults. European Political Science Review, 8(2), 225–249. https://doi.org/10.1017/S1755773914000460
Stoker, L. (2014). Reflections on the study of generations in politics. The Forum, 12(3), 377–396. http://dx.doi.org/10.1515/for-2014-5012
Tejada, M. (2019). Stands and Awareness of Taytay Senior High School Students on Federalism. Ascendens Asia Journal of Multidisciplinary Research Abstracts, 3(2O). https://ojs.aaresearchindex.com/index.php/AAJMRA/article/view/12139
Tomacruz, S. (2018, January 17). LOOK BACK: Past Charter Change attempts and why they failed. Rappler. https://www.rappler.com/newsbreak/193825-past-attempts-charter-change-philippines-failed/
Tomacruz, S. (2023, February 13). Marcos: Charter change ‘not a priority’. Rappler. https://www.rappler.com/philippines/ferdinand-marcos-jr-charter-change-not-priority/
Tukur, M. A. (2023). In Pursuit of Good Governance and Democracy in Africa: Assessing the Benchmarking Role and Mandate of the African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM) in Nigeria. Journal of Political Science and International Relationship, 1(1), 1–9. https://doi.org/10.54536/jpsir.v1i1.1538
Yusingco, M. H. L., Mendoza, R. U., Mendoza, G. A. S., & Yap, J. (2023). A Philippine strongman’s legislative and constitutional reforms legacy. Journal of Current Southeast Asian Affairs, 42(1), 63-89. https://doi.org/10.1177/18681034221122265
Yusingco, M. H., & Navarro, S. (2019). Why the 1987 Constitution has endured for 32 years without amendment. https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Michael-Henry-Yusingco/publication/332207635_Why_the_1987_Constitution_has_Endured_for_32_Years_Without_Amendment/links/60205b2645851589398c181f/Why-the-1987-Constitution-has-Endured-for-32-Years-Without-Amendment.pdf
Downloads
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2025 Uriel Rei D. Balanga, Jomar C. Cabuquin, Gerald Jayson B. Balanga
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
