Basis for
Comparison
Nationality Citizenship
Meaning Nationality is the
individual
membership that
shows a person's
relationship with the
the state.
Citizenship is the political
political status, which
states that the person is
recognized as a citizen of
of the country.
Concept Ethnic or racial Legal
Ways Birth and Inheritance Birth, Inheritance,
Marriage, Naturalization
Can it be changed? No Yes
Can it be reversed? It is innate. It can be reversed.
Can it be possible to
have
nationality/citizenship
of multiple countries?
No, a person can be
national of only one
country.
Yes, a person can
become a citizen of more
more than one country.
Who are the Filipino
citizens?
Those who are citizens of the Philippines at the
time of the adoption of this Constitution;
Those whose fathers or mothers are citizens of the
Philippines;
Those born before January 17, 1973, of Filipino
mothers, who elect Philippine citizenship upon
reaching the age of majority; and
Those who are naturalized in accordance with law.
Principles Determining
Citizenship
By Birth
Jus Sanguinis
Jus Soli/Loci
Naturalization
The legal act of adopting an alien and clothing
him with the rights that belong to a natural-born
citizen.
Qualificatio
ns
Must not be less than 18 years of age.
Must have resided in the Philippines for a
continuous period of not less than 10 years.
Must be of good moral character, and believe in the
principles underlying the Philippine Constitution.
Must have lucrative trade.
Able to speak and write English or Spanish, and any
one of the Philippine languages.
Must have enrolled his minor children in any
recognized schools, teaching Phil. History,
government, and civics.
Disqualificatio
ns
Opposition to the government
Defending or teaching the propriety of violence
Polygamists or believers in the practice of such
Convicted of a crime involving moral turpitude
Suffering from contagious and incurable disease,
or mental alienation
Have not mingled socially with the Filipinos
Citizens of nations with whom the Philippines is
at war
Citizens of nations who do not grant reciprocity
on citizenship
Loss of
Citizenship
Naturalization in a foreign country
Express renunciation of citizenship
Oath of allegiance to a foreign country
By rendering service in the Armed Forces of a
foreign country
Being a deserter of the armed forces.
Loss of
Citizenship
When certificate of naturalization was found
to have been fraudulently or illegally
obtained
By permanent residence in the country of
origin within five years from naturalization
Defects on petition for naturalization
Allowing himself to be a ‘dummy’ for aliens.
Reacquisition of
Citizenship
Commonwealth Act No. 63
Direct act of Congress
Repatriation
Naturalization
R.A. 9225
Natural-born Filipino citizens who have been
naturalized as citizens of foreign country, but who
who reacquired or retained their Philippine
citizenship, will still be deemed natural-born.
Dual Citizenship vs. Dual
Allegiance
“Dual allegiance of citizens is inimical to the
national interest and shall be dealt with by law.”
Situation: Fernando Poe Jr., presidential candidate
in the 2004 national election, was born before
January 17, 1973 out of wedlock to American Bessie
Kelley and Allan Fernando Poe, Sr. a Filipino Citizen.
Atty. Victorino Fornier filed a petition to disqualify
FPJ for not being a Filipino citizen. Fornier argued
that since FPJ is an illegitimate child, he must follow
the citizenship of his American mother.
Question: Is the status of the child born under the
terms of 1935 Constitution material in determining
his citizenship?
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