Name : Kenneth Val S.

Cabebe
Year & Section : 3-R
Date : October 19, 2020

Human beings have evolved through time and enable us to adapt to a different
environment. These environments are characterized by various elementsꟷ weather, location, and
many more. The two video presentations have shown the two distinct features highlighting the
mentioned elements.

The first episode of the Human Planet features an ecology that is impacted by bodies of
water (sea and ocean) as a physical environment for the lives of the people. It can be observed
that this kind of environment constitutes a significance in their social and economic life. Livelihood,
incomes, and foods are gathered in the resources present in the water such as marine lifeꟷ fish,
barnacles, and many more. Moreover, this environment influences the social environment of
these people. Significantly, the water became an essential part of their cultures and belief, as
what can be observed in the settlements in Hawaii Island. Moreover, it also limits the interaction
of these people among others, specifically as seen in the situation of the Badjao Laut.

On the other hand, the fourth episode of the Human Planet highlights an ecology that is
centered toward earth and forest elements. The environment is abundant in trees, wild animals,
and other natural resources. Similarly, this kind of environment influences the other aspects of
their environment such as social and economic. The livelihood, foods, and other essentials for
survival are harnessed in the environment such as monkeys and spiders for food, the logs, and
alike. Also, this environment stimulates their culture and celebrations as what is presented in the
Sing Sing of the New Guinea's tribes. People's bonds are seen to be strong as they tend to
socialize more with their tribe-mates and the other tribe members.

It is clear that the presented environments have noticeable distinctions among them and
these are remarkably unusual, challenging, and a bit terrifying. The first video presented a watery
environment. This setting is prone to the challenges and problems that can be triggered by a
storm, surges of a wave, and even an underwater volcanic eruption. However, this environment
is also ideal for a good life because the resources are almost unlimited, yet acquiring these require
extraordinary life skills. People in this environment have learned expertise in swimming, sea
hunting, amazing breath control, balance, first aid (as what is observed in the compressor's bent
situation), and even established a relationship with the marine animalꟷ where the dolphin helps
the fisherman in catching the mullets. Further, to adapt to their environment, I can say that they
are not picky eaters. Eating marine life almost every day is not ideal for others, but for the Badjao
Laut, it is not an option. Moreover, a remarkable sense of unity is also developed among these
people, particularly the first part of the video where the men of the village hunt a whale for their
consumption. This is something to commend as it helps them to survive. However, it is sad for
me to witness this kind of activity since whales are kind animals and these don't deserve to be
treated the way these people do.

In regards to the fourth episode, the presented environment is characterized by being

remote and rich vegetation. The surrounding is abundant in various animals and plants that
served as a food and pet for these people. Similarly, there are things present in this kind of
environment that causes discomfort and dangers to their such as flood, wild raging predators,
insects, and alike. This led them to several innovations of just like making tree-houses as their
shelter. Building this kind of house requires brute strength, balance, resourcefulness, teamwork,
and respect, and these are highly developed by these people. Further, these people are also not
picky eatersꟷ specifically as they ate monkeys and spiders. The presence of natural resources
in their surrounding is unquestionable, yet they need to have hunting skills and knowledge to
benefit from these. The video did present that these people can mimic the voices of the animals,
craft their own hunting weapons utilizing a poison dart frog, patiently observing the target-animal
(e.g., bird) before engaging it, applying a various natural substance to boost their hunting
performance, collecting honey in tall trees, established a relationship between them and the
animalsꟷ elephant and the monkeys, and many more. These modes of adaptations have helped
these people to survive and it also reinforces their culture, family relationships, and even their
love towards nature.

It can be reflected in these videos that the environment has modified the people's
biopsychosocial-spiritual functioning and it enables them to survive. This can be mirrored in the
mode of adaptations that they have developed. Their environment transcends the usual limit of a
person such as conquering the fear of heights, waves, and deep ocean, as well as breathing
control, balancing in the tall trees, and many more. Moreover, their spiritual functioning specifically
those who are in the forest environment is boost by their environment as it is preserved their
rituals, celebrations, and gatherings by hindering easy access towards modernization. These are
still practiced by these people and continually passing it to their succeeding generations. On the
other hand, it can also be observed that in these two videos, the social roles are still boxed in
traditional stereotyping and patriarchy. Heavy tasks such as hunting and building are still
designated to the men while house chores and other similar tasks are applied for the women. As
we all know, this scenario hinders an individual to develop his or her potential in the field where
she or he might be exceptional, yet, this is not an issue for them. There is no problem with how
these people perform their roles, rather, they can overcome the challenges that they have and
constantly facing.

As a future registered social worker, I admit that working with these people in their settings
is difficult. There might be situations that will totally drain my will and capability to work with them.
However, if I was a worker will be put in this situation, I can say that working with these individuals
requires a mastery of respect. A lot of things in their daily lives, situations, practices, and culture
are unusual, thus it may subject them to discrimination, violence, and other forms of inhumane
acts. Hence, respect is vital in approaching them as this will notify them that you are
understanding and accepting them as a whole. In addition, a worker should also practice his
empathy so that he can deeply understand the emotions and thoughts of these people.

Further, there is a lot of social work expertise that can be integrated while working with
them. The first one is the application of culture theory. If ever that the worker will provide
intervention to these people, it is important to note that it should be sensitive, friendly, and
compatible with these people's culture. Another one is to recognize the capability of these people
in terms of identifying their problems. A worker might think that these people have a problem
because they don't practice a way of living similar to what the worker does. For example, the
worker perceives that the houses of the people at the top of the trees or above the sea are not
safe for them and he considers this as a problem. Nevertheless, people are living just fine as they
can adapt and live this kind of situation prior to the arrival of the worker. Also, the knowledge in
understanding human behavior is ideal for this as it will guide the worker in assessing the
capabilities, aspirations, beliefs of these people as well as in knowing the factors that are affecting
their behavior.

In terms of skills, the worker should have a mastery or at least a basic knowledge in
understanding and speaking the languages of these people. This is crucial because this will make
their communication clearer and easier. Additionally, in an account of my experience, clients are
more participative, genuine, and relaxed when the worker speaks with them using their dialect.
Doing how they speak, their speaking tone, and even copying their expression is a great part of
the success in communicating and working with them. Further, incorporating the skills in non-
verbal communication is also important because this will enable the worker to capture the
messages conveyed by these people through their body movements, posture, and gestures. The
information that will be provided by these communication skills will lead the worker to fully
comprehend the message of these people, especially as it is difficult to learn nor understand their
speaking in a short period of time. Similarly, given these situations, the worker must be resourceful
at all times in terms of materials and human labor. This will help him to utilize the most possible
resources present in these environments that can reinforce his intervention just like networking
with the community elites.

In consideration of the presented information, I have learned that there are variations in
human's capacity to adjust in different environments as well as to their responses toward their
surroundings. Some are able to strategize through developing their tools, skills, and aspirations
to match it on their situation for them to survive. Also, it has been elaborated for me that the
development of an individual particularly in his beliefs, actions, aspirations, and even the
opportunity of a person to interact with others is greatly affected by the kind of his surrounding,
specifically the physical characteristics of it. In relating to it to social work practice, I concluded
that there is no universal perception towards defining a problem. The nature and idea of having a
problem vary among people and this because they also differ in their experiences provided by
their environment. Thus, the social work practitioner should be aware of addressing a concern
that he may per perceived as a problem but not for his client. This reinforces the importance of
proficiency in understanding the application of ecology in social work. On the other hand, one of
my personal learnings is that I should be thankful for where I am. This not to compare but to
appreciate the things that we have that the others don't. Further, there are other parts of the
society that experiences a similar or worst scenario and one of the best ways to help them is to
be a registered social worker, hence, it is important not just for us, the students, to finish our
program but for the other people as well.

Overall, the social work profession that deals with the environment can be either reinforced
or challenge its characteristics. Thus, we must understand how to work with different people in
different environments as well as to determine if we can function well in the environment that we
tend to work with.