receive equal treatment and protection shall remain as essential pillars of our before the law. In the same vein, we want democratic society. In our continuing to give each person and each community a quest for the most ideal system of just and equal share of the fruits of government for the Filipino nation, we progress while at the same time giving must not be afraid to effect positive preferential attention to the poor and the changes. However, any change should marginalized. continue to harness the most important Our commitment to freedom and democracy is enshrined in our history, throughout our long and bitter struggle for independence, and presently as a maturing Republic. Upholding the rule of law and protecting civil liberties and human rights backbones of Philippine democracy rooted in the principles of governance by deliberation and persuasion, separation of powers, system of checks and balances, and safeguards against authoritarianism and abuse of state power. National Interests The national interest is an intrinsic what our national interests are and how component of the national security we view these interests in the hierarchy of framework and reflects our national our national priorities. values. In the Philippine setting, the national interest includes those conditions we consider to be desirable or essential to the unity, survival and well-being of the country and its people. Essentially, it embodies our goals and ambitions as a Within this hierarchy of priorities, we identified the conditions below as core national interests of the Philippines. These interests are permanent ones and considered as absolutely necessary for the very survival of the nation and its people. nation. Our national strategy depends on [17]