SOCIAL JUSTICE

Cornerstone of Quezon’s

Social Thought

Prepared by: Kristynil C. Dimapilis

The keystone of Quezon’s social thought is social justice and all its implication, including;

a.Fair treatment of all members of society;

b.The implementation of the social aim of wealth which is the amelioration of man’s living conditions;

c. Elimination of all forms of abuse from official or private quarters;d. Maintenance of peace and public order;e. Safeguarding of property rights and individual liberty.

ECONOMIC ISSUES & SOCIAL JUSTICE

1. PRIVATE PROPERTY“ The task of our government is not

only to protect the right of those who have to the proper use or enjoyment of the property, but also to demand

that those who have not received the fruits of their labor in its entirely

should have sufficient for their needs and those of their dependents.”

2. LAISSEZ FAIREQuezon declared that the immediate aims of

Philippine economic thrust were:1. Maintenance of trade relations with the United States;2. Increase of the nation’s wealth through step-up production;3. Money loans to farmers and industrialist;4. Establishment of new industries;5. Production of goods which the country currently imported abroad.

3. FOREIGN CAPITAL

“Filipinos should have developed sufficient

technological knowledge and facilities to engage in them, it will the time to take action to prevent more foreigners from coming into competition with

our own nationals.”

4. LABOR & CAPITAL

“ Enlightened self-interest is the best policy for businessmen and it will convince them of the wisdom

of giving laborer the fairest treatment that they can give.

Capital itself is nothing more than the values of accumulated labor. It should be willing to accord to labor

a reasonable share of its profits.

5. TENANTS & LANDOWNERS

“ Those who have can only hope to keep their possessions indefinitely if they share part of their profits with those who

work for them. This is the question of justice, nt of

charity. A man is more entitled to the fruits of his labor than the proprietor to the rent of

his property”.

6. THE VALUE OF WORK

“ People must work. Those who are employed in the factory and those who are given the land to till, unless they work and work not merely to make the land that they are working

(on productive), but also to work honestly, devotedly and with realization that work is

ennobling all things.

7. PEACE & SOCIAL DISORDERS

Social OrderImprovement Requires TimeStrikes

8 PILLARS OF SOCIAL JUSTICE

PROGRAM1. Higher Wages

‘’ A healthy laborer can do more and better work than one who is sickly and underfed.”2. Expropriation of Landed Estates

“ Social justice means that you should receive what is due to you; this does not mean that if you do not own any property, you will be given a piece of land; or that land of another man will be taken away from him and be given to you.”

3. Credit Facilities & the opportunity to earn a decent

livelihood

According to Quezon (1939k, 197) “ the ultimate goal is that the political right vouchsafed to all our people by the institution to be made real and effective by affording to every person willing to work the opportunity to earn a decent livelihood”

4. Retail Trade Nationalization

Quezon encourages the producers to form themselves into cooperative marketing associations so that they themselves can dispose of their products without having to pass through many hands, both in domestic and overseas markets. Quezon is determined to place” in the hands of the Filipinos their means of livelihood and their means of existence.”

5. Public Works & Social Justice

“ The expenditures for public works and public improvements will not only promote the social and economic development of the country, but will better the health and living conditions of the people.

6. Rights of Women and the Poor

“ Women have the keener sense of justice than women”

Quezon thought that although the rights of everyone, rich and poor alike should be protected, the rights of the poor should be given more emphasis because of their lowly conditions, particularly because in legal cases they are “unable to pay handsomely for expensive lawyers” The government should see to it that justice is done to the poor and the humble of the country.

7. Social Aspect of Taxation

Taxation has not generally been concerned with the principles of justice or the social betterment of the people. It has only been sought to produce revenues. The power of tax may not only be used to prevent the accumulation of vast wealth in a few hands, but also as an instrument to mold and direct the social and economic organization of the country.”

8. Social Justice and National Defense

“ In order that a man should be ready to die for his country, he should receive and enjoy happiness in his own country and not be slave of others. To make a man love his country and be ready o defend it and die for it, he should see that his country fellowmen and his government defend him and endeavor to make him happy”

NEW WORLD ORDER• …until a new world order is established

whereby the wealth of the nation is shared by all classes of society, and the common man is given a chance to live as a human being, and whereby every nation is permitted to have an equal access to essential raw materials and world trade is allowed to take its natural course, international covenants to insure peace will not be worth the paper on which they are written.