UNDERSTANDING THE SELF
HAND-OUT: UNPACKING THE SELF
Unpacking The Self
Unpack- to deconstruct, to analyze the nature of… by examining in
detail
A. THE PHYSICAL SELF: The self as impacted by the body
Physical self refers to the body which we interface with our
environment and fellow beings.
It is a tangible aspect of the person that can be directly observed and
examined. People nowadays are too conscious of how they look.
How they see themselves in the mirror, how people will look at them
and what people will say about them. Our concept of ourselves and
the perception of people around us will always have a big effect on
how we deal in a situation, cultural or not. This discussion of Physical
Self has found place in different Schools of Psychology, like
psychoanalysis, behaviorism, humanism etc. For example:
∙ William James considered the body as the initial source of
sensation and necessary for the origin and maintenance of
personality. It is an element of spiritual hygiene of supreme
significance. For example, a boxer during a fight, does not
notice/feels his wounds until the intensity of fight has subsided.
∙ Sigmund Freud, In Psychoanalytic school, construction of self and
personality makes the physical body the core of human experience.
∙ Wilhelm Reich argued that mind and body are one; all
psychological
processes, he postulated, are a part of physical processes, and vice
versa.
∙ According to Erik Erikson, the role of bodily organs is especially
important in early developmental stages of a person's life. Later in
life, the development of physical as well as intellectual skills help
determine whether the individual will achieve a sense of competence
and ability to choose demanding roles in a complex society.For
example a child get their confidence when they are bigger, stronger,
faster and more capable of learning complex skills.
∙ Carl Jung, argued that the physical body and the external world can
be known only as psychological experiences.
∙ B.F. Skinner says that the role of the body is of primary importance.
Which from this different orientation clearly shows us and explains
how people deal with their physical self. Regardless of what culture
or traditions he or she may be, his or her interpretation of himself will
be how people act in the community.
Self – Esteem
“We all know that self-esteem comes from what you think of you,
not what other people think of you” -Gloria Graynor –
People from different cultures have opted to change their features in
an attempt to meet the cultural standards of beauty, as well as their
religious and/or social obligations. They modify and adorn their
bodies as part of the complex process of creating and re-creating
their personal and social identity to be accepted by society and to be
able to accept themselves. This includes body painting, tattooing,
jewelries and adornments. Youth in the present time are too
conscious of their physical attributes that they are not confident to
face the day without make- up.
As our physical self, dictates how we act in front of other people it
also defines how we will manage our self-esteem. Yet, this
self-esteem is vital on how we form positive and healthy relationships
with people around us. We have different kinds of self-esteem; The
Inflated Self- Esteem (this people holds high regards of themselves.
Better than the other to the point of underestimating them), High
Self-Esteem (this is a positive self-esteem, which makes the person
be satisfied with themselves) and Low Self-Esteem (this person does
not value themselves and do not trust their possibilities). Most of the
time, this self-esteem is defined by what physical attributes they
have.
Beauty as defined by the society, culture or traditions, is what
matters to the person.
Required Reading/s:
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Demello, M. (2014). Beautiful bodies. Body studies: An introduction Phenotype-physical expression of a particular trait, can be directly
(pp 173 – 188). observed
Routledge. Demello, M. (2014). Fat and thin bodies. Body studies:
An introduction (pp Maturation- completion of growth of genetic character within an
189 – 205). Routledge. organism or the unfolding of an individual’s inherent traits or potential

2 Parts- Biological Blueprint and Environmental Conditioning Biologically you are bundle of Chromosomes!
Microbiologically more than half of you is probably bacteria!
a. Biological Blueprint (A ratio for microbial to human cells for the average man of
1.3:1)
Modern Humans- Taxonomy
Chromosomes are bundles of tightly coiled DNA located within the
Classificatio nucleus of almost every cell in our body. Humans have 23 pairs of
n level Name Characterized by: chromosomes.
● In plant and animal cells, DNA is tightly packaged into
Domain Eukarya Nucleus, organelles thread-like structures called chromosomes. This is in
Ingests food, multicellular, contrast to bacteria where DNA floats freely around the cell.
Kingdom Animalia ● A single length of DNA is wrapped many times around lots
no cell wall
of proteins called histones, to form structures called
Phylum Chordata Spinal cord nucleosomes.
Subphylum Vertebrata Segmented backbone ● These nucleosomes then coil up tightly to create chromatin
loops.
Superclass Tetrapoda Four limbs ● The chromatin loops are then wrapped around each other to
Class Mammalia Nurse offspring make a full chromosome.
● Each chromosome has two short arms (p arms), two longer
Subclass Theria Live birth arms (q arms), and a centromere holding it all together at the
center.
Order Primates High level of intelligence
● Humans have 23 pairs of chromosomes (46 in total): one set
Family Hominidae Walk upright comes from your mother and one set comes from your
father.
Genus Homo Human
● Of these 23 pairs, one pair are sex chromosomes so differ
Species H. sapiens Modern human depending on whether you are male or female (XX for
female or XY for male).
● The other 22 pairs are autosomes (non-sex chromosomes)
Heredity-transmission of traits from parent to offspring
and look the same for both males and females.
● The DNA making up each of our chromosomes contains
Genotype-specific information imbedded within our genes, can only
thousands of genes.
be determined by blood testing
● At the ends of each of our chromosomes are sections of
DNA called telomeres. Telomeres protect the ends of the

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chromosomes during DNA replication by forming a cap,
much like the plastic tip on a shoelace.
DNA or deoxyribonucleic acid is a long molecule that contains our
unique genetic code. Like a recipe book it holds the instructions for
making all the proteins in our bodies.
● Your genome is made of a chemical called deoxyribonucleic
acid, or DNA for short.
● DNA contains four basic building blocks or
‘bases’: adenine(A), cytosine (C), guanine(G)
and thymine (T).
● The order, or sequence, of these bases form the instructions
in the genome.
● DNA is a two-stranded molecule.
● DNA has a unique ‘double helix’ shape, like a twisted ladder.
● Each strand is composed of long sequences of the four
bases, A, C, G and T.
● The bases on one strand of the DNA molecule pair together
with complementary bases on the opposite strand of DNA to
form the ‘rungs’ of the DNA ‘ladder’.
● The bases always pair together in the same way, A with T, C
with G.
● Each base pair is joined together by hydrogen bonds.
● Each strand of DNA has a beginning and an end, called 5’
(five prime) and 3’ (three prime) respectively.
● The two strands run in the opposite direction (antiparallel) to
each other so that one runs 5’ to 3’ and one runs 3’ to 5’,
they are called the sense strand and the antisense strand,
respectively.
● The strands are separated during DNA replication.
● This double helix structure was first discovered by Francis
Crick and James Watson with the help of Rosalind Franklin
and Maurice Wilkins.
● The human genome is made of 3.2 billion bases of DNA but
other organisms have different genome sizes.
Genes are small sections of DNA within the genome that code for
proteins. They contain the instructions for our individual
characteristics – like eye and hair color. 
● A gene is a small section of DNA that contains the
instructions for a specific molecule, usually a protein.
● The purpose of genes is to store information.
● Each gene contains the information required to build specific
proteins needed in an organism.
● The human genome contains 20,687 protein-coding genes.
● Genes come in different forms, called alleles. 
● In humans, alleles of particular genes come in pairs, one on
each chromosome (we have 23 pairs of chromosomes). If
the alleles of a particular gene are the same, the organism is
described as homozygous for that gene. If they are different
the organism is described as heterozygous for that gene.
● An individual’s phenotype is determined by the combination
of alleles they have.
● For example, for a gene that determines eye color there may
be several different alleles. One allele may result in blue
eyes, while another might result in brown eyes. The final
color of the individual’s eyes will depend on which alleles
they have and how they interact.
● The characteristic associated with a certain allele can
sometimes be dominant or recessive.
Issues: Genetic Manipulation/Discrimination, Stem-Cell Research,
Cloning
Use of DNA in the Fields of Science
Biology (Genetics)-DNA as unique identifying part of every
individual
Forensics-crucial for evidence in the resolution of crime
Medicine-determine maternity and paternity of an individual as well
as interventions and treatment of diseases
Human Genome Project (1990-2003) –was created for mapping
functions of the genes from physical and functional viewpoints and
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was seen to explore specific interactions of nucleotides and how they
affected biological processes.
-beneficial to medicine and advanced the evolutionary study of how
we develop biological reflex, cognition, affect and other functions of
the human body.
Neurophilosophy- dependent on the findings of
neuroscience/neurology to explain free will, common sense,
conscientiousness as they are distinctly connected to our brain
physiology and functioning.
Psychoneuroimmunology-studies DNA in the context of our
immune system, as our bodies reject foreign matter that can harm
our bodies and build up on the existing molecules. However, there
are times that foreign matter that enters our system can be helpful to
our bodily maintenance and thus, become a permanent fixture within
the body. Analogous to this structure is the self’s imbibing those
which are helpful to us or rejecting those that we do not like or those
we do not derive pleasure from.
Chemistry of the Self (H. A., V. W. Rodwell, P. A. Mayes, Review of
Physiological Chemistry, 16th ed., Lange Medical Publications, Los
Altos, California 1977.)
1. Oxygen (O) - 65% - Oxygen together with hydrogen form
water, which is the primary solvent found in the body and is
used to regulate temperature and osmotic pressure. Oxygen
is found in many key organic compounds.
2. Carbon (C) - 18% - Carbon has four bonding sites for other
atoms, which makes it the key atom for organic chemistry.
Carbon chains are used to build carbohydrates, fats, nucleic
acids, and proteins. Breaking bonds with carbon is an
energy source.
3. Hydrogen (H) - 10% - Hydrogen is found in water and in all
organic molecules.
4. Nitrogen (N) - 3% - Nitrogen is found in proteins and in the
nucleic acids that make up the genetic code.
5. Calcium (Ca) - 1.5% - Calcium is the most abundant mineral
in the body. It's used as a structural material in bones, but it
is essential for protein regulation and muscle contraction.
6. Phosphorus (P) - 1.0% - Phosphorus is found in the
molecule ATP, which is the primary energy carrier in cells.
It's also found in bone.
7. Potassium (K) - 0.35% - Potassium is an important
electrolyte. It's used to transmit nerve impulses and
heartbeat regulation.
8. Sulfur (S) - 0.25% - Two amino acids include sulfur. The
bonds sulfur forms help give proteins the shape they need to
perform their functions.
9. Sodium (Na) - 0.15% - Sodium is an important electrolyte.
Like potassium, it is used for nerve signaling. Sodium is one
of the electrolytes that helps regulate the amount of water in
the body.
10. Chlorine (Cl) - 0.15% - Chlorine is an important
negatively-charged ion (anion) used to maintain fluid
balance.
11. Magnesium (Mg) - 0.05% - Magnesium is involved in over
300 metabolic reactions. It's used to build the structure of
muscles and bones and is an important cofactor in
enzymatic reactions.
12. Iron (Fe) - 0.006% - Iron is found in hemoglobin, the
molecule responsible for oxygen transport in red blood cells.
13. Copper (Cu), Zinc (Zn), Selenium (Se), Molybdenum (Mo),
Fluorine (F), Iodine (I), Manganese (Mn), Cobalt (Co) - total
less than 0.70%
14. Lithium (Li), Strontium (Sr), Aluminum (Al), Silicon (Si), Lead
(Pb), Vanadium (V), Arsenic (As), Bromine (Br) - present in
trace amounts
The Human Body-Elemental Composition
1. Water 62 %
2. Protein 16 %
3. Fat 16 %
4. Minerals 6 %
5.Carbohydrates 1%
b. Environmental Conditioning
1. Social Network
2. Societal Expectations
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3. Cultural Practices • At birth, sex is a biological feature that distinguishes males from
-how we take care of our bodies females.
-nutrition and sustenance • Secondary sexual characteristics are observable changes in the
-hygienic practices
-standard of beauty and attractiveness human body that begin during puberty and adolescence.
Males
Issues: Meeting Society’s Standard of Physical Beauty, Body Type • Outgrowth of facial and bodily hair
Consciousness, Eating Disorders- bulimia & anorexia nervosa, • Emerging Adam’s apple
Cosmetic Surgery • Deepening of the voice
• Muscle development
“Physical beauty is only skin-deep; what matters is feeling good
about ourselves and embracing a healthy perception of our
physical worth.” Females
• Onset of menarche
• The impact of culture on body image and self • Noticeable changes in the hips, breast, and skin
Esteem: The importance of beauty.

Achieving Physical Well-Being • Aside from these observable changes in males and females, release
1. Healthy Eating of hormones trigger physiological changes in the reproductive system.
2. Embracing a Healthy Lifestyle • They are capable of reproduction.
3. Having the Right Hygiene • When physiological changes are triggered within an individual’s
4. Confidence ourselves is our best make-up reproductive system, an adolescent is likely to:
B. SEXUAL SELF • Experience sexual urges
• Development of Secondary sex characteristics and the human • Become more sensitive to sexual stimuli
reproductive system • Feel sexual arousal
• Discussing the Erogenous Zones • Men experience erection during an arousing moment; for women,
• Understanding the Human sexual response vaginal lubrication.
The basic biology of sexual behavior Understanding the Chemistry of
• If sexual arousal is satisfied through sexual intercourse, men would
lust, love and attachment
The Psychological aspect: What turns people on: the phases of experience ejaculation while women would reach orgasm.
sexual response * The diversity of sexual behavior: solitary, • Refractory Period: the period of rest after ejaculation
heterosexual, homosexual and bisexual, transsexual • Men experience a longer refractory period than women.
• Sexually transmitted diseases (STIs) • These bodily sensations are normal and typical in any sexual activity
• Methods of Contraception (natural and artificial)
since hormones produced within the body trigger these physiological
SEXUAL SELF: The Biology of sex responses.

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Sexual Response Cycle:

• Excitement EROGENOUS ZONES
• Plateau • Erogenous Zones are described as parts of the body that are chiefly
• Orgasm sensitive and cause increased sexual arousal when touched in a
• Resolution sexual manner.
• Mouth, breasts (nipple and areola as well as the lateral breast tissue),
Excitement Phase (desire/arousal) reproductive organs, and the anus
• D: Sexual urges occur in response to sexual cues or fantasies. • It has been mentioned that the level of erotic sensitivity of a particular
• A: subjective sense of sexual pleasure and physiological signs of body part is largely dependent on the amount of nerve endings that
sexual arousal (males – penile tumescence; females – are located in that region. (University of California, 2017)
vasocongestion) • The genital regions of the male and female body undergo a process
known as vasocongestion, which increases the amount of blood that
Plateau Phase flows to these regions, making them highly sensitive when aroused.
• Brief period occurs before orgasm
HUMAN SEXUAL BEHAVIOR
Orgasm Phase
• In males, feelings of the inevitability of ejaculation, followed by Solitary Behavior
ejaculation; in females, contractions of the walls of the lower third of • Self-gratification is self-stimulation with the intention of causing sexual
the vagina. arousal and generally, sexual climax.
• Very common in young males, but becomes less frequent when
Resolution Phase sociosexual activity is available
• Decrease in arousal occurs after orgasm (particularly in men). • It does not have the same psychological gratification that interaction
with another person provides.
• When adolescents feel sexual urges, they are likely to engage in • Sexual climax in sleep is a compensatory phenomenon.
sexual activities they engage in may vary.
• Medical professionals have cited the health benefits of masturbation: Sociosexual Behavior
stress relief, better sleep, improved self-esteem, and enhanced body • May be heterosexual or homosexual
image. • Petting: hugging, kissing, and generalized caresses of the clothed
• Masturbation is a better alternative to sexual intercourse, which may body
result to pregnancy and getting sexually-transmitted diseases. • Coitus: the insertion of the male reproductive organ into the female
• Engaging in sexual activities may result in consequences that reproductive organ
adolescents may not be ready for.

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• Premarital coitus | Marital coitus | Extramarital coitus | Postmarital
coitus
SEXUAL SELF: SEXUAL IDENTITY AND GENDER ORIENTATION
• Biological Sex: one’s assignment upon birth and is dependent on the
physical features the person has
• Gender: an identity that is learned and embraced by the individual; is
both a personal and social construct
• As a social construct, gender is known to be the socially created roles,
personality traits, attitudes, behaviors, and values attributed for men
and women.
• Gender roles are societal expectations of how men and women should
act.
• Men are assumed to be strong and dominant.
• Women are perceived to be submissive and demure.
• An aspect of sexual orientation is when a person is born a man, but
assumes womanly traits.
• Heterosexual: when a man is attracted to a woman
• Homosexual: when someone is attracted to a person of the same sex
• It is important that we are responsible for our self-expression with
regards our gender orientation and sexual identity.
• We should take note that our behavior in various situations would
entail consequences; we need to realize the possible effects of such
actions and be able to regulate our own behavior, including our sexual
behavior.
SEXUAL SELF: THE CONSEQUENCES OF SEXUAL CHOICE
• Pregnancy: Having a child entails a big responsibility and should not
merely be a consequence of an impulsive moment.
• Physical risks to having early pregnancy: risk of miscarriage, emotional
stress, health risks to both mother and infant
• Early pregnancy may result to dropping out of school, alienation, and
other similar disruptions.
• Pregnancy does not only affect females; males are also burdened by
the responsibility of caring for a new child, his partner, and may also
face the same aforementioned problems.
• Risk of acquiring sexually-transmitted diseases: STD is passed on by
means of exchange of body fluids or genital contact.
• While most of them can be treated and cured, these diseases may
have long-term consequences to one’s health.
Responsible Sexual Behavior entails the following:
● Respect for one’s body
● Maturity in thoughts and deeds
● Being guided by one’s personal beliefs and core values
● Being future-oriented
C. THE MATERIAL/ECONOMIC SELF
• I shop, therefore I Am: I have, therefore I am?
• Shaping the way we see ourselves:
The role of consumer culture on our sense of self and identity
“We regard our possessions as parts of ourselves. We are what we
have and what we possess.”- Belk (1988)
Material Self: bodies, clothes, immediate family, and home- William
James
The innermost part of our material self is our body. Intentionally, we
are investing in our body. We cannot live without it. We do our best to
make sure it functions properly and avoid as possible ailments or
disorders as possible. We do have certain preferential attachment or
intimate closeness to certain body parts because of its values to us.
“Any time we bring an object into the surface of our body, we invest
that object into the consciousness of our personal existence taking
its contours to be our own and making it part of our self.”-Herman
Lotze, Microcosmus
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“Clothing is a form of self-expression. We choose and wear clothes
that are a reflection of ourselves.” –Watson (2014)
Immediate family- What they do or become affects us. When an
immediate family dies, part of ourselves dies too. When their lives
are successful we share in their glory. In their failures, we are put to
shame or guilt. When they are in a disadvantageous situation, there
is an urgent desire to help, like an involuntary instinct of saving one’s
self from danger. We place a huge investment on our immediate
family when we see them as the nearest replica of ourselves.
Home is where our heart is. It is the earliest nest of our selfhood. Our
experiences inside the home were recorded and marked on
particular parts and things in our home. There is an old cliché about
rooms, “if only walls can speak.” Thus, the home is an extension of
self because in it we can directly connect ourselves.
Having self investment of self to things, made us attached to those
things. The more investment of self is given to the particular thing,
the more we identify ourselves to it. We also have the tendency to
collect and possess properties.
“A man’s self is the sum total of all what he can call his.”- William
James
As we grow older, putting importance to material possession
decreases. There are times when material possessions of a person
that is closely identified to the person, gains acknowledgement with
high regard, even if the person already passed away. Favorite things
are symbols of the owner. The possessions that we dearly have tell
something about who we are, our self-concept, our past, and even
our future.
The term homo economicus, or ‘economic man’, denotes a view of
humans in the social sciences, particularly economics, as
self-interested agents who seek optimal, utility-maximizing
outcomes. Behavioral economists and most psychologists,
sociologists, and anthropologists are critical of the concept. People
are not always self-interested (see social preferences), nor are they
mainly concerned about maximizing benefits and minimizing costs.
We may make decisions under uncertainty with insufficient
knowledge, feedback, and processing capability (bounded
rationality); we sometimes lack self-control; and our preferences
change, often in response to changes in decision contexts.
-
https://www.behavioraleconomics.com/resources/mini-encyclopedi
a-of-be/homo-economicus/
D. THE SPIRITUAL SELF
“We think we are human beings having a spiritual experience
but in reality we are spiritual beings having a human
experience” — Swami Survapriyananda
The practice of religion: belief in supernatural being and power
“The spiritual self is the most intimate, inner subjective part of self. It
is the most intimate version of the self because of the satisfaction
experience when one thinks of one’s ability to argue and
discriminate, of one’s moral sensibility and conscience, of our
unconquerable will is more pure than all other sentiments of
satisfaction.”- William James
The concept of “dungan" - spirit or soul
In “Babaylanism,” the “babaylan” will explore the world of animism.
Animism is a belief of our ancestors that souls are quasi-physical
and can exist outside the body (in dreams and in vision). A soul can
be transferred from one body to another and persist after death of
the body as “multo” (ghost). It may reincarnate in the next life in
another form … human, animal or plant.
Animism differs from animatism. Animatism is the basic religious
response to external phenomena, the awed recognition of a force in
life, other than the individual self, manifested especially in the
strange and terrible. This is also interesting because it explores what
is beyond the unknown. Knowing that "force" needs strong
determination.
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Animate or inanimate creatures have “souls” or “life force.” (Forget
your religious belief first.) Our ancestors believed in the spirit beings
in the environment, deceased ancestral souls, and to forces in nature
(wind, moon, stars) which are invoked for help. (That could be seen
in my “Legend of Kansilay”.) This makes it clear that central to the
tradition of our ancestors, there is that belief for “soul” that is a “life
force” and we would like to believe that the belief still persists today.
From the point of view of the “babaylan,” inside the body of a living
person dwells the “dungan” (a companion that co-exists). This
“dungan” gives life, animation, and sensibilities to a person. It can
temporarily leave the body at will (during sleep). It is dangerous for
“dungan” to leave the body when the person is awake. The body
would become like a robot that runs out of battery.
There is another spirit that resides in a person (same person). We
call it “ginhawa” (breath of life). It is the vital force. If “ginhawa”
leaves the person, the body dies. There is no more vital force that
would be responsible for the throbbing of the heart and the beating of
the pulse. (If you bring the person to the hospital, the doctor will
examine him thoroughly and later would say, “Sorry, he is dead.”)
“Ginhawa” and “dungan” should be together. “Ginhawa” provides the
vital life force while “dungan” provides the intellect, emotion, and
consciousness. We will make it clear. The two entities are there
together lodged in one person. “Dungan” can temporarily leave and
the person becomes unconscious or semi-conscious as in fainting or
dreaming. If “dungan” returns to a person, he becomes fully
conscious again.
Is there a possibility that “dungan” cannot return to the body
anymore? Yes, if “dungan” is ambushed or harmed by other spirits. If
“dungan” does not return, the person dies. “Ginhawa” cannot sustain
life without “dungan.” Here is the funny question, “Do the two spirit
entities leave the body separately or do they fuse together and
depart for their journey in the upper or next world?”
The “babaylan” does not have a specific answer. I would like to
believe that they fuse together and leave. That could be the reason
why we need the “babaylan” to do rituals for “dungan” to return. A
person who has a weak “dungan” should ask the “babaylan” to give
him a “batak-dungan” (upgrading).
The “dungan” that does not return (and the body dies) is known as
“kalag” (has separated or disentangled). The “babaylan” can help
“kalag” in a “patulod,” a rite where a “babaylan’ would usher the soul
to proceed to the world of the dead so that the soul will no longer
come back and disturb the living as “murto” (ghost).
If the family insists that the soul will be awakened because the wife
and the children would want to know where the father hid his money,
a “babaylan” who specializes in “pukaw” (to awaken) rite could be
done. The Catholic Church does not approve of this practice.
I hope I enlightened you in my humble way (the way of the
ancestors) to know what is behind living a life in the world of
animism. Take good care of your “dungan” and “kalag.”
-Pacete: Exploring the spirit world in us
Kandungan-Shelter, Lap, Bosom
Body as Temple of God/ Dungan sa Kandungan
Ilocano’s- karuruwa, kamaruwa, al-alia
Katawan in Pangasinense is LORD, God
Hininga, Katawan, Kaluluwa (Kadudua- a second, an-other)
Rituals and ceremonies:
- The function of rituals
- Rituals and ceremonies
- Religion, Magic and Witchcraft
Religion: a set of cultural beliefs and practices that usually includes
some of all of the basic characteristics-
1. A belief in anthropomorphic supernatural being, such as
spirit and gods
2. A focus on the sacred and supernatural, where the sacred
refers to a feeling or reverence and awe
3. The presence of supernatural power or energy that is found
on supernatural beings as well as physical beings and
objects
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4. The performance of ritual activities that involves the
manipulation of sacred object to communicate to
supernatural beings and/or to influence or control events
5. The articulation of worldview and moral codes through
narratives and other means
6. Provide the creation and maintenance of social bonds and
mechanism for social control within a community; provides
explanation for the unknown and a sense of control for
individuals
Religio- "the proper performance of rites in veneration of the gods
The word Religion has an etymological descent from Latin
“Relegare”, The first Meaning is “Re” meaning “Again” Plus “Legere”,
“Re-Read” , Legere- “To read”, to “Again-Read”.
The second one is to "to bind fast" to "place an obligation on"
Both these meanings however were used to provide the facility for an
intense study to experience the Divine within Man.
"Not philosophers alone, but also our own ancestors, distinguished
superstition from religion. For those who were wont to offer prayer
and sacrifice, during entire days, that their children might survive
them [superstites essent], were called superstitious; a word which
was afterwards applied more widely. But they who carefully
meditated and, as it were, considered and re-considered all those
things which pertained to the worship of the gods, were called
religious from relegere [De Nat. Deor., ii, 28.1]-Marcus Tullius Cicero
Interestingly in Sanskrit, this is “Shruti”- i.e “Binding in unity with the
Divine”.
Ritual: the performance of ceremonial acts prescribed by a tradition
or sacred law. A specific, observable mode behavior exhibited by all
know societies. Thus, it is possible to view ritual as a way of defining
or describing humans.
3 Fundamental Characteristics of Rituals
1. a feeling or emotion of respect, awe, fascination, or dread in
relation to the sacred
2. dependence upon a belief system that is usually expressed
in the language of myth
3. is symbolic to its reference
Self as a ritual being who exhibits a striking parallel between their
ritual and verbal behavior.
Language- system of symbols that is based upon arbitrary rules
Ritual- System of symbolic acts that is based on arbitrary rules.
Participation in rituals is an expression of religious beliefs.
Finding and creating meaning (Viktor E. Frankl)
- Three ways of discovering meaning in life
1. By Creating a work or doing a deed (Purposeful Work)
2. By Experiencing something or encountering someone
(Courage in the face of difficulty)
3. By the attitude we take toward unavoidable suffering (Love)
‘Et lux in tenebris lucet’- The light shineth in the darkness
“Love is the only way to grasp another human being in the innermost
core of his personality. No one can become fully aware of his very
essence of another human being unless he loves him.”- Frankl
“The ultimate secret on the spiritual foundation of life is that Love is
salvation and joy eternity.”- Costello
Existential Aspect- man always has the ability to choose; no matter
the biological and environmental forces
Tragic Triad: pain, guild and death
Tragic Optimism: optimism in the face of tragedy and in view of the
human potential which at its best always allows for-
1. Turning suffering into achievement and accomplishment
2. Deriving from guilt the opportunity to change oneself for the
better
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3. Derive from life’s transitoriness an incentive to take E. THE POLITICAL SELF

responsibility for one’s actions It was Aristotle who, in Politics, called man “Zoon politikon.”

Basic Concepts: Hence it is evident that the state is a creation of nature, and that man
1. Life has meaning under all circumstance is by nature a political animal. And he who by nature and not by
2. Main motivation for living is our will to find meaning in life mere accident is without a state, is either above humanity, or below
3. Freedom is to find meaning it; he is the ‘Tribeless, lawless, hearthless one,’ whom Homera
denounces—the outcast who is a lover of war; he may be compared
Assumptions: to a bird which flies alone. - Aristotle, Politics
1. The human being is an entity consisting of a body, mind and
spirit • Developing a Filipino Identity: Values, Traits, Community and
2. Life has meaning under all circumstances, even the most Institutional factors
miserable • Establishing a democratic culture
3. People have a will to meaning
4. People have freedom under all circumstances to activate the ARTICLE IV
will to find meaning CITIZENSHIP
5. Life has a demand quality to which people must respond if Section 1. The following are citizens of the Philippines:
decisions are to be meaningful [1] Those who are citizens of the Philippines at the time of the
6. The individual is unique adoption of this Constitution;
[2] Those whose fathers or mothers are citizens of the Philippines;
Aims: [3] Those born before January 17, 1973, of Filipino mothers, who
1. Become aware of spiritual resources elect Philippine citizenship upon reaching the age of majority; and
2. Make conscious spiritual resources [4] Those who are naturalized in accordance with law.
3. Use “defiant power of the human spirit” and stand up against Section 2. Natural-born citizens are those who are citizens of the
adversity Philippines from birth without having to perform any act to acquire or
perfect their Philippine citizenship. Those who elect Philippine
Group Discussion: What is the difference between Religion and citizenship in accordance with paragraph (3), Section 1 hereof shall
Spirituality? And then read the article from the link below: be deemed natural-born citizens.
https://www.learnreligions.com/religion-vs-spirituality-whats-the-differ Section 3. Philippine citizenship may be lost or reacquired in the
ence-250713 manner provided by law.
Section 4. Citizens of the Philippines who marry aliens shall retain
their citizenship, unless by their act or omission, they are deemed,
under the law, to have renounced it.
Section 5. Dual allegiance of citizens is inimical to the national
interest and shall be dealt with by law.

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Filipino Values Group Work: Describe the ff. and give 1 Pride
and Traits example each

Filipino Hospitality Crab mentality

Respect for Elders Filipino Time

Close Family Ties How to be a good Filipino?

1. Be an active Filipino citizen
2. Study Philippine History
3. Support Local products
Cheerful Personality 4. Speak the Filipino Language
5. Do not spread fake news and be democratic in engaging
Self-Sacrifice with dissent

F. THE TECHNOLOGICAL-DIGITAL SELF

“Bayanihan” Self and other in cyberspace
•I, me, myself and my user ID online identity
•Selective self presentation and impression management
“Bahala na” Attitude •Impact of online Interactions on the self
•Boundaries of the self-online: private vs public; personal/ individual
vs social identity online; gender and sexuality online

Colonial Mentality What is Cyber Disembodiment?

Disembodiment is when you free your soul or spirit from your body.
In the cyber world you free yourself from your body by not having to
show or explain your body online.
Mañana Habit
The Negative Effects of Using Disembodiment Online
US national library of medicine national institutes of health did a
Ningas Kugon study to investigate whether or not disembodiment affects teenagers.
The result shows that disembodiment is a strong predictor of
increasing loneliness and depression and decrease social support.

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The Online Disinhibition Effect

● Dissociative Anonymity (“You Don’t know Me”)
● Invisibility (“You can’t see me”)
● Asynchronicity (“See you later”)
● Solipsistic Introjection (“It’s All in my head”)
● Dissociative Imagination (“It’s just a game”)
● Minimizing Authority (“We’re Equals”)
● Personality Variables
● True Self?
● Self Constellations Across Media
● Altering Self Boundary

The Ten Commandments of Computer Ethics

1. Do not use a computer to harm other people
2. Do not interfere with other people’s work
3. Do not snoop around in other people’s files
4. Do not use a computer to steal
5. Do not use a computer to bear false witness
6. Do not use or copy software for which you have not paid
7. Do not use other people’s computer resources without
authorization
8. Do not use other people’s intellectual output
9. Think about the social consequences of the program you
write
10. Use a computer in ways to show consideration and respect

“Owning a smart phone does not make you smart.”- Randall Ridd

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