GE6100 - Understanding The Self

LESSON 10: THE POLITICAL SELF

THE POLITICAL SELF

The Political Self is that the conceptually discrete categories of ‘inner’ and ‘outer’ in reality constantly
interact, shape, and inform each other.

The Philippines as we know it today has only emerged in the 1890’s after over three centuries of
colonization of the Spaniards. Meanwhile, liberation from the last colonizers, the Japanese, only
occurred in 1946. Foreign culture, beliefs, language and religion have made a huge dent on our own by
setting a foundation to the contemporary Filipino identity and culture. To date,
colonial mentality remains an issue. Given the wide discrepancy between the liberation period and
today’s time, would it be safe to say that Filipinos have truly developed an identity of their own? Or
are we still living in the shadow of our colonial friends?

Explores how our social and economic contexts that affect our mental health and well-being, and how
modern neuroscientific and psychodynamic research can both contribute to and enrich our
understanding of these wider discussions. It therefore looks both inside and outside—indeed one of
the main themes of the book is that the conceptually discrete categories of “inner” and “outer” in
reality constantly interact, shape, and inform each other. Severing these two worlds, it suggests, has
led both to a devitalized and dissociated form of politics, and to a disengaged and disempowering
form of therapy and analysis.

The Political Self suggests, the psychological and the economic, the political and the personal, in
reality constantly interact and interweave: psychology may indeed “provide a better account of
business executives’ dual moral lives than either law or economics”.

WHO IS A FILIPINO?
Filipinos are often references to globally renowned personalities like Manny Pacquiao, Lea Salonga,
and Michael Cinco who have made Filipinos recognized around the world through their expertise.
However, being a Filipino is far more than just being related to these notable figures.

FILIPINO VALUES AND TRAITS

The Filipino Hospitality
Welcome their guests and tourist as if they are their own brothers and sisters; they always make their
guests feel at home, offering them something to eat or even a place to stay.

Respect for Elders

Filipinos greet their elders by kissing their hand while saying “Mano po!” and constantly using “po”
and “opo” in conversations.

Close Family Ties

Filipinos maintain a tight relationship with their families regardless if the children are old enough and
already have families of their own.

Lesson 10: The Political Self 1

 GE6100 - Understanding The Self

Cheerful Personality
Filipinos have a habit of smiling and laughing a lot. Smiling has been a coping strategy for many
Filipinos especially during trying times and calamities.

Self –sacrifice
Self-sacrificing attitude of Filipinos can be seen as an extension of the Filipino hospitality.

Bayanihan
Bayanihan is the spirit of communal unity and cooperation of Filipinos. It is also about giving without
expecting something in return.

Bahala na Attitude
Is the Filipino version of the famous line “hakuna matata” meaning no worries. The phrase is said to
have originated from “bathala na” where Bathala means God.

Colonial Mentality
Is regarded as the lack of patriotism and the attitude where Filipinos favor foreign products more
than their own. This does not only concern goods, but also the desire to look more foreign than local
and keep up with foreign beauty trends.

Mañana Habit
It was derived from a longer Filipino phrase called “ Mamaya na” means dawdling things, which could
have been done at an earlier time.

Ningas Kugon
Refers to the attitude of eagerly starting things but quickly losing eargerness soon after experiencing
difficulty, just like how fast the fire of a Cogon grass burns out moments after being ignited.

Pride
Most Filipinos hold on their pride as if they are more precious than keeping a good relationship with
family and loved ones. When two parties are not in good terms, they find it so hard to apologize and
wait until the other party ask for an apology.

Crab Mentality
It is the more toxic trait of the Filipinos, they ruin each other reputations and pull each other down.

Filipino Time
Filipinos have this common attitude of arriving late at commitments.

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