VOLUME 1 || ISSUE 1 The Official Publication of BSECE 1-1 of

Polytechnic University of The Philippines STB

Engineered Prodigies Optimizing Individuality

 02
the steered
magazine
engineered prodigies optimizing individuality
four majors. Behind the
photographers, writers, and
members, these four brilliant heads
resurfaced from time-time, making
sure every thing is doing just fine.
The Steered helped us expose our
leadership skills in handling the ups
and downs of this project alongside
with the constant compliance
the whole class exerted. Without
them, our plans and goals for this
publication won’t even matter in the
first place if every one didn’t have
their heart and minds dedicated.
EDITOR’S NOTE
fortrECE. From the initial planning
stages down to the final layout,
The Steered helped us develop and
continually stand out in the field of
producing quality work. This team
also acknowledged that we did
not simply worked professionally
through our lenses and units, but
also leaned on to the fruit of the
exemplary camaraderie that us
first-years have been building for
the last semester, and realized that
we were already the best without the
academic grade.
artronics. With intellectual
knowledge in arts, it’s still a
privilege to be part of The Steered
who open doors for us to become
art coordinators that ensured
quality, provide a helping hand, and
supported the project from start to
finish no matter what comes in our
way.
wanwan. Differences are what
makes each other in a class by itself.
One may like other dislikes and vice
versa. One can be defined as the
bright and one is better to be brave.
But with all of these differentiations
and characteristics of each
individual, it possesses each and
everyone that build up who they are
as a human being.
Henyo sa Daragit
A BA?
ASAN NA NG
NO POTENTIAL was WASTED HERE
HENYO SA DARAGIT
|| somekid named adian
Walang takot at malaya sa himpapawid, ang mga ibon na
maihahalintulad sa amin. Walang tamang gabay ngunit mataas ang
tiwala sa sarili. Ngunit sa paglipad ay hinahamon sa pagtawid sa buhay
kolehiyo parang isang ibon, sa himpapawid na sinusubukang hanapin
kung saan dapat ang paroroonan. Ano ba talaga ang tunay na kalaban
namin? Bakit hindi na tulad ng dati? Tila mga kakahayan namin dati ay
wala nang silbi. Tinitibayan namin ang aming mga sarili sa buhay kolehiyo
na puno ng mga hamon na hindi na tulad ng dati. Mga kakayahan at
lumang talento ay tila walang silbi subalit kami’y nagsisikap at nag-iipon
ng lakas ng loob at tiwala sa sarili. Kami ay matatapang na mga henyo.
Mga henyo sa himpapawid tinitibayan ang sarili sa daragit sa mundong
puno ng hinanakit.
Busy making our wings stronger owing to the fact that it will carry
us far. We have had to adjust our expectations and outlook in the same
way that a bird must adjust its wings to catch the wind in order to ensure
that we are prepared for the next step. Just like when we were high school
seniors, preparing to take a flight to college, venturing into the unknown.
We need to adapt to a new environment while also having to develop new
abilities to survive. This is a new place where we are presented with new
ideas and concepts that are unfamiliar to us. But we are willing enough to
try new things and to challenge ourselves to think differently. Our old skills
and talents may not be enough to meet the demands of college, but with
the right tools, we can learn to rise to the challenge and to make the most of
our college experience.
Overall, We are embracing the idea of flying to the unknown and
we’re looking forward to the journey ahead. We are excited to explore the
new possibilities that college has to offer and to learn more about ourselves
in the process. We have a great potential to succeed. We can adapt, we
can easily acquire new skills, always willing to learn and never get afraid
of failure. We’re just like birds who just flew in the sky. We’re not sure what
will happen next but we are always ready to take risks and try. Although
we may not know what the future holds, we’re still looking forward to the
adventure and all the challenges and rewards that come with it.
illustration by: Kapisan
 03

02 Henyo sa Daragit

WHAT’S INSIDE?
03 What’s Inside?

When things don’t go as planned,

it’s not a failure; it just happens to 05 Hall of One
be right.
|| miyuki
10 Contemplation

55 Closing Remarks

ECENDROME
06 HALL OF ONE

‘
WANWANS
hall

ABEJUELA, JAVE ABELA, LAWRENCE AGOJO, JOYCELYN AMANTE, MAKI AMARO, DANNE
Vision without action I am doing my all, hard work always TRUST YOURSELF “ T he future belongs to
is a day dream just to get a passing pays off those who believe in the
grade. beauty of their dreams.”

BALELA, ALLEN GRACE CAJAYON, LOUIS CALVO, SHAMYR CANDIDO, ADIAN CANOBAS, MARC
Kung hindi ka kikilos You miss all the Kai Sotto ginulay ang Put “ f un” in A bright future is only
ngayon, kelan pa? shots you don’ t take munggo dysfunctional. tangible only for those
whose actions are driven
to be there

CARANDANG, FIONA CARANDANG, JAYVEE CASAO, WALTER DE GUZMAN, ANDREA DE JESUS, WYNZ
Don’ t stop when you’ r e If you’ r e going Follow your Dreams, Trust the process Dreams don’ t work
tired, stop when through hell, keep Keep Sleeping. unless you do!
you’ r e done going.

DIALOLA, JOSHUA DIMAANO, YESHA DIVINA, LAARNI ENDRINAL, JELAINE FERNANDEZ, SOPHIA
Sometimes a man has Life is short, Make it Fortune Favors the Arguing with a fool AKO NA MUNA IS NOT EQUAL
to retrieve his own shorter Brave proves that there TO AKO NAMAN MUNA.
disc. are two.
 07

FERNANDO, JAZEL FLORES, JAYVEE GOMEZ, JESSABEL GOMEZ, MARY JANE GONZALES, TRIXIE
Work hard, play Kain lang ganon Wag mag-aral a day Kung may gusto kang Big things start with
harder, pray before the exam, sabihin, sabihin mo na small things
hardest. napakaplastic mo kasi “ y ou only live ones” .

HERNANDEZ, DANI HUMARANG, JINGER ILAGAN, FATIMA JAÑEGA, ARMAN JAVIER, RUTH JOY
Tigil tigilan mo ako beh Do whatever you want Hay buhay, parang Two heads are Will this matter a year
nagiinit ulo ko sayo cause you’ r e gonna do life better than one. from now?
beh please lang beh it anyway

LERUM, DARYL LIBARNES, ASHLEY LICAYAN, JAMES LLANO, KRYZELLE LUNAR, DANRIEL
You didn’ t come this far You will face many There are 2 rules in life. Life is short, buti Time is gold.
to only come this far defeats in life, but never 1. Don’ t quit and strive naman
let yourself be defeated forward
2. Don’ t forget rule #1

MAGPANTAY, YANA MANALO, ABEGAIL MANALO, CYRILLE MASA, ANTHONY PARALA, JUSTIN
I move with God so If you want to fly, give “ n auso lang yung Believe in Yourself “ A lways be at your best”
victory is certain. up everything that cuteness simula noong
weighs you down. pinanganak ako”

PINAGA, JAIRUS PURCA, JEANNE RASONABLE, RONEL REALIS, MICHELLE RIGAY, ANDREA
i can do better but i won’ t ‘ D i bale nang walang Failure is the key “ Y ou should always You are the captain of your
kasi baka mas tumaas lalo jowa basta may kape to success kaya lagi smile in life” ship, don’ t let anyone take
expectations nila sa akin sa umaga. akong bagsak the wheels for you.

ECENDROME
08 HALL OF ONE

ROXAS, APRIL ROXAS, ERVIN SALISE, CHRISTINE SAMOZA, LANCE SANTOS, KEVIN
All is Well Act Stupid, Play “ B elieve, with God Just do it later Emotion is like any
(*nang-gaslight ng Smart. everything is possible” other tool -- easily
sarili) mishandled.

SUMAGUE, LARA TAGUSTOS, AARON VILLEGAS, ANNE KYLA VILLEGAS, KHADE

“ I learn alot of mistake If you can’ t do it It’ s not the mountain Be the change you
so I decided to make today, don’ t worry we conquer but wish to see in the
more mistake to learn there’ s still ourselves. world
more.” tomorrow

hall of

“If it’s easy, then it’s not ECE”

We are not a group. We are a family. Our entire classroom environment was constructed with a
community philosophy in mind—this is a shared space, and we are all accountable for the energy and level
ONE
of work we put into it. We listen and learn hard and diligently in every lesson since these are the capabilities
of the free. To better understand the voices and opinions we critically assess in courses, we utilize these
abilities to identify and honor our own truths and identities. We are a family. We grow, learn, confront,
celebrate, and mourn as a family. ECE students share a community, which we want to build in the four
corners of our classroom.

We shine a light on the dreams of our hearts. We honor the creative ways in which we express our
identities. We do encourage exploration. We raise our expectations of self and support our ascent. Truly, it’s
not easy if it’s ECE.
|| ally
 09

ECENDROME
10 CONTEMPLATION

Unlocking our
Potential
Jave Ja_VE ABEJUELA

Learning is a fundamental part of personal

development; understanding our capabilities and limitations
allows us to realize our full potential. Intrinsic motivation and
self-reflection can lead to a meaningful and fulfilling
life. Being conscious of our aspirations and values is
necessary for our self-development.
Taking the Understanding the Self course
led me into an appreciation of different
perspectives towards the self and how
this perspective can influence our self-
development. It has been a great learning
experience and has given me a newfound
respect for the complexity of the self and the
importance of understanding it. This course
has opened my eyes to different ways of
looking at myself and taught me how to
become more aware of my own thoughts,
feelings, and actions. It has also helped
me recognize how my behavior affects
others and how I can use this knowledge to
create healthier relationships. It has further
taught me to embrace the diversity
of perspectives on the self and to
recognize that there is no one “right”
way of looking at the self.
Ultimately, this course has helped me
gain a better understanding of myself
and be better able to appreciate the
perspectives of others.
In conclusion, knowing oneself
is the key to unlocking our potential
and creating a life of fulfillment and
purpose. It is about taking time to
reflect on our past, present, and
future and finding ways to express
our true selves. Ultimately, it is
about becoming the best version
of ourselves and living life without
regrets.
 11

Everywhere I Look, I See

Others as Different Me
lawrence “Basic Abela

There are many things I have learned in UTS subject,

which shapes me to have a deeper understanding of myself as
a person. I had acquired a new perspective in life after learning
the topics in UTS. I became more empathetic towards other
people.

Gaining a new perspective in life is astronomically

wonderful. Having learned about the philosophical
perspectives of famous people, I have been
genuinely persuaded. Now, it shapes me on who I
am.
After learning about myself and how I
function as a human being, I gain a level of
understanding on what the people that I saw
have gone through to become their own self. I
started to understand people’s emotions better
using my knowledge in UTS. It is helpful for my
hobby to write a consistent story.

In conclusion, not only do I understand

myself, but also I understand others as
well. Everything I have learned in UTS
reflects the way I am behaving right
now. I believe that this UTS subject is
not just about understanding who
I am, it is about understanding
my aspects of self in order to
comprehend why I am as who
I am.

ECENDROME
12 CONTEMPLATION

My concept of the sexual

and personal identities
Joycelyn mahilig humanap Agojo
The process of increasing awareness of
one’s own thoughts, feelings, behaviors, and beliefs
is referred to as “understanding the self.” A big
aspect of personal growth and development is self-
understanding. Understanding the self also includes
analyzing our interactions with others, our place
in society, and the effects that our decisions and
actions have on the environment around us.

The sexual self is one of the things I learned

about UTS. It is a concept that describes a
person’s sense of sexuality, which includes their
sexual orientation, gender identity, and sexual
desires, thoughts, and actions. To build healthy
relationships and experience sexual fulfillment,
it’s essential to acknowledge and accept
one’s sexual identity. Also, it is important
to recognize and embrace the different
experiences and identities of people, as
well as to provide them with welcoming
environments in which they can explore
and express their sexuality.

In conclusion, improving
one’s personal true self can result
in close relationships, and general
life quality. It takes exploration,
reflection, and openness to new
experiences and perspectives to
fully understand oneself and
one’s sexual self. We may
improve our general health
and create relationships
with others that are
healthier and more
enjoyable if we have a
better understanding of who
we are.
 13

Skeleton in My
Closet
Maki “Baka wag Matakot” Amante
The self is a person’s individuality and what
sets them apart from other individuals. It
is what enables individuals to understand
themselves, how they interact socially
with others, and how they are completely
different from other individuals. Since no
specific body part can be linked to the self,
describing the self is challenging.

We commonly undervalue the value of

knowing ourselves. In comparison to making
deliberate decisions based on who we
are and what we want. Many of us
spend most of each day reacting
to events and barely getting by.
When we don’t know where we
are going, it’s challenging to
set goals, find motivation, and
choose the best course of action.

I find that this subject is

interesting because it helps
me to understand myself.
I learned all of things that
I really didn’t know about
me because of this subject,
Understanding the self.
Admitting that the opposite
is actually true requires being
honest with yourself.

ECENDROME
14 CONTEMPLATION

Grow as an Individual and be The

New Version of Myself
danne baby wipes Amaro

Being an individual we have different aspects and

different perspectives about life, growing as an individual helped
to build me as a new person. Each and everyone of us has a
different kind of personality and we are the one who will help
ourselves to become the new version of it. By studying this
subject Understanding the Self (UTS), this helps us to have more
knowledge and improvements about ourselves on how we can
take good care of our mental and physical health, and
to improve our socializing skills in different aspects.

Being an individual I have lots of

insecurities, doubts, problems, and low self-
confidence. Before, I compared myself to others
and not contented with my personal looks, questioned
myself, and many more. But this subject came, UTS or
Understanding the Self. By studying this subject made
me value my existence and be content with who I am
now, I gained more confidence and knowledge on how
to love myself even more and to focus on what’s best
for me. Now, I can socialize with others and make
more friends and be happy with the people I talked
to. I am slowly forgetting the old version of myself and
focusing more on the new version of me, because I am
now a contented and matured woman. This subject
also helped me to grow and become who I am now,
and growing as a person makes me more confident
and happy with my own life.

Understanding this subject made me realize

that I have developed as a person and enhanced my
skills and I will use all the lessons I’ve learned in
my daily life and in the future. I know that the
lessons I’ve learned so far are insufficient for
me to fully understand my purpose, but I’m
striving to learn new things as I conquer my
journey as an individual. Although we all know
that life isn’t always easy, I’m prepared for
all of its challenges and all we need to do is
persevere to achieve success. Also keep in
mind that everyone has a distinct personality
and trait, so avoid making comparisons to
others like I did.
 15

A Development
Change
allen grace Laging Galit balela

With a certain person, he/she has a lot of flaws

and red flags within. By “Understanding The Self”,
it is a way for someone to know things about
themselves. Where they will be exploring the
reasons and being able to understand the reasons
for their actions.

In this world, we feel different kinds of emotions;

we experience different kinds of events, and we see
the world differently from other people. We see others
like heroes, villains, or inspirations depending on our
perspectives. It also goes the same with how others see
us. They may like us and we may not like ourselves.

We all have those questions in our minds, like

what would, or what ifs. Some get the answer and
some do not. However, as we
explore who we are, we are
able to understand what
are the things we truly
wanted and wanted to
change.

ECENDROME
16 CONTEMPLATION

Understand yourself before you

understand others
louis summer class boy cajayon

Anywhere and everywhere we always see different

things in our own perspectives, every pair of eyes have
different variants and versions of viewing the world. That’s why
we have to take into account what every person can see you
as a person and how you view yourself also and UTS helps us
to open up things we don’t usually think about.

Understanding the Self helped me to see things I

don’t usually do about myself and helped me to improve
as a better individual for myself and also for the people
around me, nevertheless being a better version of ourselves
is our daily goal. Every aspect is important and leaving
things out can be a bit of an offset when it comes to fully
gaining an understanding about the human mind, body,
and soul. We are only living things that are not perfect
but we can make improvements so that we don’t rot
as a human being. Understanding the Self did not only
help me to understand myself but also for the sake of
understanding everyone around me.

To conclude all the things that have been stated,

basically we can’t fully understand anyone especially
yourself because of the things we refuse to let
out which is only right, keeping things to yourself
is a better medicine than forcing someone to
acknowledge anything that has to do with you.
 17

Identity
Shamyr shamayr Calvo

Character, personality, integrity, and

identity; these words have simple definitions, but
are they really that shallow? We learn various
lessons and acquire vast amounts of knowledge
throughout our journey in life. One important
aspect to learn is none other than the mind itself,
the self.

I know later in life that I am not going to

be able to remember every detail and every
name that was taught in all of the topics.
But I affirm that the thought and ideas are
engraved to my heart. The Eastern and
Western Perspective in Understanding the
Self is the topic that I appreciated the most.
It just shows that in the world of philosophy,
even when principles aren’t recognized
anymore by the current generation, the core
idea of it is still passed down. It becomes the
manifestation of a culture that comes
naturally from the society where we
belong.

Understanding the self is

an ongoing process of personal
growth and development. The
lessons that were tackled in this
semester gave me more insight
into my thoughts, emotions,
behaviors, and values, and
enabled me to accept
myself for who I really
am. I was able to build
my character, shape
my personality,
solidify my integrity,
and establish my
identity.

ECENDROME
18 CONTEMPLATION

What a wimpy kid can

become
Adian “ goofy kid” candido
Lao Tzu said, “Knowing others is intelligence; but
knowing yourself is true wisdom and Mastering others
is strength; but mastering yourself is true power.”
It has been a journey filled with both successes
and failures, joys and sorrows, and moments of
clarity and confusion. It has been a journey that
has ultimately made me unstoppable but through
understanding my own thoughts, emotions, and
behaviors, I have been able to gain a better insight
into who I am and what I want in life.

When I was younger, I was constantly looking for

others to tell me what I should and shouldn’t be doing,
what I should and shouldn’t be feeling and I was
looking for others to define me. But this knowledge
has given me the freedom to be my true self and
to make decisions that are in alignment with my
values and goals. I believe that I am the master
of my own destiny and that I have the power
to create my own path. I have come to realize
that I am the artist of my own life and that I
have the power to shape my future if I
seek to understand myself first.

I am proud to say that I

made myself. I am the one
responsible for my own
happiness and success, and
I deserve to be happy and
successful and through
understanding myself, I
have been able to create a
life that is true to my values
and goals. I am free to be
me and to make decisions
that are in alignment with my
dreams and aspirations, I am
thankful for the journey of self-
discovery that has set me free
and enabled me to be my true
self
 19

I’m Marc
Marc Angelo “ Responsible Son” Canobas

There is a significant impact this course has on me as an

individual and throughout the journey of finding oneself, I have
learned to acknowledge who I am from all areas of life. I am Marc
“ The always serious looking guy whenever needed” and I am also
Marc “ your outgoing and cheerful friend” and despite all of this
contradicting behavior and actions I am still Marc. Sometimes
there are really evident differences in our version of ourselves
on various occasions however it does not mean one does
not have something he/she can call his/her true self.

Our values and principles in life are shaped in their

peculiar manner wherein it is far different from others,
it can be similar but it will never be the same. Taking
into account this perception, one self can be shaped
differently in different environments, a set of people
and a certain point of time. This narrative can be inline
on having the capability of one self to be kind to itself.
In a way individuals can properly communicate and
compose oneself on merely having a clear view on
who he/she really is. For instance, an individual
made a regretful mistake and with enough
comprehensive grasp of all the contributing
factors on building oneself, an individual can
pinpoint the root of why his/her actions and
decisions are driven in that very specific
way which maybe it cause by the
dictates of the environment, or the
people around or possibly those
certain time he/she is forced to
settle in similar circumstances
in the past.

This can contribute a lot

to an individual in having the
ability to contemplate which
can further make a notable
change on how an individual
builds and makes remarkable
self growth. In this case, I am
Marc and will always be your
Marc.
ECENDROME
20 CONTEMPLATION

My silhouette life Fiona“The Beabaduday Carandang

My educational path began when I finally understand the
concept of life.”Your understanding of your inner self holds the meaning
of your life”.(Leo Tolstoy)
Understanding the self course helps me to overcome some situations
and with that I begin to consider my future, how I would handle issues,
and how I would begin to make my own decisions in life that enables
me to manage and apply it in the future.
Understanding oneself helps me a lot to analyze things that I
might become confused about someday. Also, it can assist us
in identifying the circumstances that will cause us to act or
respond in a particular manner, as well as the objects in
our surroundings.

Introspection is a constant process that promotes

personal development and self-awareness is
understanding oneself awareness, which enables
me to recognize my guiding principles, constraints, and
priorities that direct our judgments and activities.
Knowing myself better helps me to push through
challenges and overcome obstacles. But I’m
confident that there’s a lot of plan to deal with the
matter. But it also includes some effective
methods for dealing with this obstacle;
these methods combine self-knowledge
with helping out yourself. To be
accommodating to others I believe
that learning about oneself is a
lifelong endeavor that will be
useful in the future.

It is not the end; it is just the

beginning to help myself to find
the interest and skill that I had.
Just like the silhouette, it allows
us to see how all parts and
things relate to each other and
the power of the silhouette lies in
the basis that it removes all the
distractions. Everything is just a
challenge that will go in your life,
and the subject itself helps me and
in the end, I will be a dreamer, I will be
a survivor and I will be a server.
 21

Nefelibata
jayvee “Ay Siiiyaaa” Carandang
Understanding the Self helps me to appreciate myself
more. There is truly no happier feeling than being one with the
self. Because now I always feel happy, feel light, that even if I fail
still my mindset is always to continue and to enjoy all of it, and to
celebrate life as I can.

Unlike then, I now am not comparing myself to others

anymore. As now I understand that I am different because I
am a completely different person from a different family,
different culture, and different community. It is like I do
not care anymore, that if I have something to beat it
should be myself and not others. It is great, as I truly
see some improvement in me step by step, without
causing some pressure in me at the same time.

All in all, UTS truly is a great help in

explaining why I became me and why I behave
differently in every occasion, where for me was
very strange back then. UTS also pointed out
where I exactly fit in life, that is why I did not feel
lost anymore. Lastly, UTS made me remove my
mask, and now be able to present my true self to
everyone freely without any hesitation.

ECENDROME
22 CONTEMPLATION

Development and
Improvements of One’s
Character
walter on the go casao

As we get deeper into our UTS subject, I can say that

there are many things that I need to learn. It also gave me
enlightenment to many things that will help me shape myself into
a better one. After learning the topics in UTS it gave me a
new light in my life to understand myself and be a better
person than I was yesterday.

I also discovered that it’s helpful to have

a good awareness of one’s own thoughts and
behavior patterns in order to comprehend other
people. Better interpersonal and professional
interactions are facilitated by this capacity for
empathy. My first goal is prioritizing myself
more than anything else. Loving yourself and
your peers is one of the things that while
undergoing this class, causes happiness.

While taking this subject I am

grateful that I’ve learned and what I can
Reflect on Myself. Upon taking this course
it gave me realization like taking the
time to reflect, ponder, assess, and
give serious thought to your actions,
attitudes, desires, and reasons.
To conclude all the things that
happened in my life, I can say
that it is indeed a valuable
experience to become a more
mature person and understand
adulting.
 23

Give “Myself” a Break

andrea yayanigin ang gin de guzman
First, I must acknowledge that early in life I know nothing.
Only upon experiencing people and the world around me do
I begin to learn. The first lessons learned are how to eat and
drink to stay alive. Then comes mobility and communication so
I am able to be less of a burden upon my parents.

As time passes, I am introduced to constants and

routine to give my balance and expectations. I grow and
find disappointment and learn patience. What I learn as a
small child forms my view on reality as I grow. The “Self” is
a learning machine. It exists to learn from external stimuli
and processes these stimuli through the brain, catalogues
and categorises each experience into a feeling with the
capacity of memories. A built-in reminder mechanism.

“Self” is a machine created to learn better ways of

survival and pass the information down to the next self
for preservation of species. “Work smarter not harder”
as the saying goes. As the higher brain learns to live
better, easier, longer; lower brain functions become
more streamlined and run more efficiently requiring
less energy to function, allowing more energy to the
higher brain for processing.

ECENDROME
24 CONTEMPLATION

Strengthening myself by
Understanding the Self
wynzjohn pogi de jesus

We know that in today’s generation there are a lot of

changes. Like what happened, we were affected by the
pandemic, and now we people are starting to rise again
and adjust to what is happening, for us to return to what
we used to do. This is where we can understand
and appreciate the different perspectives.

Perspective of the self has its different

important things and words that it wants
to convey to us, its perspective helps me
to know how to express myself in difficult
times, helps me to understand human
behavior, transports me on what makes us
human, and helps me on how to approach
problems and to answer different
questions that I have about myself. I
appreciate that understanding the
self made me understand that others
have different views on self and they
have different definitions of self. I
understand that from the actions,
clothes that I wear, the environment
that I am with, my external and
internal characteristics, that conveys
a message to other people. Self is not
only about perspective but also about
who we truly are, from our childhood
up to present.

We are strong, I am strong, by

understanding ourselves we will prevail, as long as
we know what we are doing and we know ourselves
truly. We can overcome the problems, even though
it’s difficult, but at least we tried and survived. We are
adjusting and learning, and as a human being we have
to care for others, and that matters.
 25

The Significance of
Understanding Oneself
joshua the overthinker dialola

“Have you ever wondered what your main purpose

in life is?” This question has been living rent-free in my head
for quite some time now. In order to know our purpose in
life, we must not neglect the fact that it is crucial
to start knowing ourselves. When you have a
clear understanding about your inner self,
you will come to understand that everyone
has a sense of perception, yet everyone
may perceive things differently from you.

Some people seem to

underestimate the essence of knowing
ourselves. It is important to keep in mind
that as you look deeper into your inner
self, you will discover your strengths
and weaknesses which are essential in
achieving your goals in life. In addition, self-
improvement could be easily implemented if
you are more aware of your own behaviors
and thoughts. We must explore our
fundamental nature and properly utilize
our hidden abilities and overcome our
negativities. Furthermore, we are given
the freedom to change, to focus on our
strengths, and to pinpoint areas where we
might do better.

In conclusion, one of life’s most important endeavors

is understanding who you truly are and being able to tell
people about yourself with assurance. It helps you to create
a realistic set of goals and maintain a better relationship
with other people. It will be much easier to understand
other people and know our purpose in life if we understand
ourselves first.

ECENDROME
24 CONTEMPLATION

Understanding the Self:

Seeking the Purpose in Life
yesha cutie dimaano

This subject helps me to better understand what I

feel, and why I behave in a particular way. Having this
awareness gives me the opportunity and freedom to
change things about myself, enabling me to create
a life that I want. These understandings have a
significant impact on our judgments, decisions,
and interactions with others.
We can better empathize with and
understand others’ perspectives by
recognizing our own experiences and
emotions. This can lead to improved
communication, increased trust, and deeper
connections with others.

Additionally,
understanding our own
needs and boundaries
can help us set healthy
boundaries in our
relationships and foster
more respectful and
fulfilling interactions with
others. Through this process
of self-improvement, individuals
can increase their self-esteem and
sense of fulfillment in life.

In conclusion, understanding the self

is a crucial aspect of personal growth and
development. It involves gaining insight into our
thoughts, emotions, and behaviors and identifying
patterns that shape our identity and worldview.
By investing time and energy in exploring and
understanding ourselves, we can lead more
fulfilling and purposeful lives.
 27

Epitome of Who We Are

laarni arni divina

The self is a challenging concept to put into words and even

more difficult to comprehend. The self is not our physical
body or our possessions, the sum of our perceptions or
thoughts, nor is it what we think or feel. The self is a more
fundamental concept; it is the epitome of who we are.
I learned that the term “self” refers to the entirety of
who we are, whereas “identity” refers to our unique
set of characteristics that define who we are. We
can strengthen the foundation for our overall
well-being by better managing our thoughts and
emotions. When we have a better understanding
of ourselves, we are able to experience ourselves
as unique and separate individuals. We are then
empowered to make differences, to build on our
strengths, and to identify areas where we need to
improve.
To summarize, understanding oneself is a
difficult journey; as one progresses through
life, one realizes that they are not the only
individual who exists, and that others feel
and think the same way they do. It is
critical to remember who we are and
what makes us unique, as we can get
lost in the bustle and chaos of daily
life and life has a way of revealing
what we’re made of as it goes on.
Additionally, one of the bona fide gifts
of getting older is learning to accept
oneself.

ECENDROME
28 CONTEMPLATION

Inwardly jelaine jelai endrinal

Having a certain knowledge of yourself is something
that you will own for a lifetime. That is what
Understanding The Self taught us, having a knowledge
that no one can take away from us. Giving time in
knowing yourself deeply is worth it.

There is a huge advantage of not only knowing, but

also understanding yourself. Being aware of who you
are, what your capabilities are, and the things you can
allow gives you a freedom to not do the things you
don’t want to begin with. Even so, given the knowledge
of oneself, there are still things we learn that are in need
of improvement. Therefore, we always need a room for
it. Others may not understand us but we owe no one an
explanation for it if we know ourselves better than them.

In the sight of light we see each day, it opened my eyes

that we have the chance to try and make changes for
ourselves. We often see other people, and sometimes
we know them more than ourselves. To change
the cycle, it must come from within, within
understanding oneself.
 29

Peace and Pace by Pi

Sophia mahal Fernandez
“You can only be free once you stop paying attention to what
they have to say.” I have been living with that kind of setup ever since. In
Filipino terms, they call it “dedma sa say ng iba”. To be honest, it was
helpful because you’ll learn how to be unbothered in life and focus
on you. However, college changed the game, it revamped my best
features, and lost myself in the process.

When I felt that I’m somehow losing it, I can’t help but to
look at my classmates’ progress academically, physically,
and socially. Everyone seemed like they have established
a life here at uni while I try my best to hide and show
them that I too have adjusted. But it was indeed
challenging to keep it fake. I never liked to do that
in the first place but I felt that’s the only choice I
have to survive the semester. Understanding
the self, was like a friend. It was a self rant
and dump task, where I had to seek and
read what I needed the most after
learning the various perspectives in
life.

Speaking of persepectives,
it was the key that I had to do in
order to find my own pace again. I
looked at it at a different angle and
contemplated on why do I have
to be at the same pace
with others? When I can
have my own? It was
simple but it took me
months to fully render
myself that I can do it.
In the end, my lifelong
pace of overlooking what
other people think evolved into
disregarding what others are able
to do and a focus on moving at your
own pace in order to find peace.

ECENDROME
30 CONTEMPLATION

Captain
jazel The Mirthful Girl fernando

When I was growing up, there were a lot of

questions on my mind. What is my purpose in life? What
would I become when I grew up? What do others think
about me? These are the few of them.

But then, Understanding the Self opened my eyes

and helped me find answers to those questions. Every single
person has their own uniqueness; every person has a
purpose in life. It feels like I really didn’t know myself back
then, a lot of curiosities in my mind. Now to think of it, I
really do know myself, but just the tip of the iceberg of
my true self. Self-awareness taught me to see deeper,
to know myself better. I became more aware that we
cannot please everyone, and what they think is not
really that important. What’s more important is that
you know yourself, and you know your capabilities
well.

To summarize it all, we are the one in control

of how we set the sail and where it will go. We can
listen to other people’s opinions and suggestions
and what they are saying, but that will not decide
what you should do. Because at the end of the day,
you are the captain of your own ship.
 31

Who am I? john jayvee hakdog Flores

Many will ask, “How did you understand yourself?” Literally,

the “Understanding the self” course has had a significant
impact on my ability to better understand who I am. This
course indeed teaches me the true meaning of the word
“self”.

There are some topics that have helped me grasp how

important it is to understand myself. Moreover, being
aware of our strengths and flaws will help us improve
in all facets of life. Also, with the aid of this course, I am
able to have a distinct life goal and the necessary drive
to achieve it. I matured into the self-aware individual I
desired to be. Finally, this course has helped me regain the
confidence I once had as a teenager.

The “Understanding the self” course made a significant

contribution to my personal and
academic development.
I learned a ton of
knowledge and
valuable insights
about life. Lastly, I
am able to know my
purpose in life as I
truly understand myself.

ECENDROME
32 CONTEMPLATION

Highway to
Success
jessabel Wanport na Bading gomez

Life is a journey, filled with ups and downs. With each

challenge, with each hurdle, we are presented with
an opportunity to grow as a person. To choose to be
passionate about improving yourself does not mean to
say that you are not good enough as you are; it merely
means to have a desire to expand into the greatest possible
expression of ourselves in this lifetime. “Those who
cannot change their minds cannot change anything.”
--George Bernard Shaw

In my youth, I always thought that it was easy to

live and settle everything; just go with the flow
of life, and boom, “successful”, and that’s why I
consider this course a wake-up call for my poor
mindset. It is important to understand yourself
in the rapid changes of the world today when
it comes to human identity. We have a saying:
“The more you know about yourself, the better
you are able to adapt to life and make changes
that suit your needs”. When it comes to human
identity, self-awareness is important when
we have a better understanding of
ourselves and are able to experience
ourselves as unique and separate
individuals. We are then empowered
to make changes and to build on our
areas of strength as well as identify
areas where we would like to make
improvements.

No one ever traveled on the highway to

success without ever making a wrong turn.
Having a purpose, willingness to change and
grow, determination, focus, commitment, self-
study, self-motivation, faith, perseverance, hope,
and compassion are a few important components
of a success mindset, with which you can realize your
dreams and reach your goals. Age is not a bar. But if you
begin this journey early, it helps you in the long run.
 33

Believing in Oneself
mary jane janey_cutie gomez

One of the most important things we should seek is an

understanding of ourselves. Being your actual self is the biggest gift
ever in a world full of lies, prejudice, and brutality. We can define
ourselves by taking care of and paying attention to others.

Despite that, this class taught me to be authentic. We

can be happy, content, and giving in our lives if we believe what
they say: “The more you know about yourself, the better you are
at adapting to life and making such changes that meet your
needs.” Being authentic leads to a happy existence and a cozy
feeling. Thus, changing is a way of comforting ourselves and
believing we or I can do our best.

In conclusion, a better life results from

understanding oneself. Take as much time as you need
to reflect on and sincerely consider your actions,
thoughts, attitudes, motivations, and desires. I
consequently transformed into a magnificent
woman I could never have imagined.

ECENDROME
34 CONTEMPLATION

Man is what he wills

himself to be
trixie lutang gonzales
Quoted by Jean-Paul Sartre In relation to my newly found
learnings in UTS, I used to believe that I knew and had seen
everything that made me fully mature as a pre-adult. What I
thought that I already knew, such as questions like Who am I?
What am I? What is man? And what is the essence of man? —
was not something I was familiar with. UTS Lessons was a key
for me to reflect and further question my life as a whole and
from a particular perspective.

Furthermore, something that I’ve learned in UTS

is to adapt Socrates’ way of formulating insights
through questions known as Socratic Midwifery. To
comprehend myself, according to Socrates, is to
go into my own nature in order to see my true
comprehension of myself. “ Be the man you
want to be remembered by.”Contemplated;
I realized that the main point of existing
pertains to an individual with consciousness
and a responsibility to independently act on
their own without abiding by certain roles
or labels. We can determine the meaning
of our lives by creating our own values in
questions like “What is my purpose?” and
“Why am I here?”. To be precise, the way
to assign meaning to our own lives is to
live genuinely.

To summarize, I am able to
comprehend myself via solitary
introspection in my grasp of
ideology, wherein, rather than
direct answers, I freely query
about contradictions in order
to develop and widen my
understanding. Yet, in my
constant search for my life’s
purpose, one thing I can
count on is that I am eager
to learn more throughout
my life. Whereas I considered
that I had the option to pick
my own activities in freedom
with our own perspective.
 35

The Premise of
Improvement
daniella Pinaglihi sa Sama ng Loob hernandez
Have you ever been genuinely interested in who you are? And
how come you are able to say, do, and think such things in such a
distinct way? I personally have a tremendous desire to understand
myself, other people, and my environment. I really want to delve
into what the word “self” actually means, and I believe the
course Understanding the Self has been very helpful to me in
comprehending this kind of concept.

At first, understanding oneself appears to be highly

challenging, complicated, and difficult, but as we study
every aspect and perspective of understanding our
physical, psychological, sociological, economic, sexual,
and spiritual selves, it changes our way of thinking. And,
to be honest, I learned a lot of things I wish I had known
before. I appreciate how much this subject taught me
about self-awareness. Absorbing all of the lessons
this course taught, enhanced me holistically, in the
sense that I became better at handling myself, the
things I did, the relationships I had with people, the
situations I encountered, and the problems I faced in
life. This course sparked a desire
in me to love myself more and
improve myself more every
time, because I now believe
that the “self” is never a finished
project and that it changes as our
lives unfold.

In conclusion, it is critical
and significant to deeply
understand oneself. On the
grounds that I believe it can
shape us into better people.
Self-awareness, compassion,
and appreciation for oneself
are never selfish; wanting to
improve yourself more is not
only for yourself but also for
the world. It is the foundation
of not only our lives but also of a
better and healed world. The more
powerful it is, the better the world will be.

ECENDROME
36 CONTEMPLATION

3C’s: Care, Cope,

Compassion
jinger luya humarang
Understanding the self is truly an essential subject for
every student. Other students may not take this subject
seriously but this helps especially for them to become
more aware of themselves. This subject gives us the
freedom to express ourselves more and helps us grow
as a person.

One of the most important things I’ve learned in this

subject is that understanding other people is easier if
you understand your own thoughts and behaviors. The
topic Taking Charge of One’s Health in this subject helps
me develop a better understanding of how I can
take care of my own or other people’s health,
and by using coping mechanisms, we can
overcome our problems more easily. Coping
mechanisms can help people adjust to
stressful events while helping them maintain
their emotional well-being. We should also
prioritize self-care, which encompasses
just about anything you do to be good to
yourself, including knowing who you are,
prioritizing your own mental health, and
being mindful of your own needs. Self-care is
important because you learn to value yourself,
have balance in your life, and lead a
healthier lifestyle.

To summarize, we should have self-

compassion. As students, if we fail,
make errors, or feel inadequate, we
should be gentle and empathetic
rather than severely self-critical. When
we face problems and difficulties in
our lives, we should provide ourselves
with support and encouragement
rather than being cold and judgmental.
Many people are able to extend
compassion toward others but find it
difficult to extend the same compassion
toward themselves.
 37

Happiest at my
Solitude
rhea nenepati ilagan
I was surprised at how much power I gained when I began
understanding myself better. I was more aware of my strengths
and weaknesses, as well as emotional triggers, which will allow
me to build healthier relationships with myself and others.
Recognizing these characteristics allows me to reframe negative
thought patterns into positive ones, leading to increased self-
confidence and a stronger sense of identity.

The most important lesson I’ve learned in understanding

the self is to stop seeking external validation and approval. I am
frequently consumed by the desire to please others and the
fear of being judged, but this severely limits my potential for
personal growth. Self-awareness necessitates investing
time in discovering who I am and what my unique
capabilities are, so that I can make decisions based
on what best serves me rather than relying on
external sources of validation. Another important
aspect of understanding oneself is maintaining
personal boundaries that protect against
emotionally draining or harmful situations where
there is a risk of becoming overwhelmed by
external forces beyond one’s control.

Developing strong
boundary setting skills allows
me to accept myself as a
whole. Without sacrificing
my own needs and my
ability to engage in healthy
social interactions with
others. This is where I find the
beauty of being alone helpful
in developing my character
while appreciating what I
have.

ECENDROME
38 CONTEMPLATION

Once Unknown,
Yet to Be Known
arman the laging late janega
Throughout the days, weeks, months, and years of
living in this world, I always asked myself if I understood
myself as well as others did. It certainly raises questions
in my mind about how I will get to know myself better,
recognizing my purpose—why I am here, what my
strengths and weaknesses are, and even my limitations
in terms of mental and physical health. But, with the help
of this course, Understanding the Self, it certainly cleared
up and answered the intriguing puzzles inside my mind.

In connection to the different

perspective of understanding the self
that has been discussed, not everyone
knows everything; thus, people must
learn how to accept this and also
continue learning and searching for
the answers. There are many ways
to understand the self; it may involve
other people, but it always starts within.
Knowing what attributes, physically or
mentally, you possess is one of the most
important things to know about yourself since
it might affect how other people perceive you
as a person. Realizing how different I am
from others was also a huge factor.
This would allow me to understand
what they can do that I cannot,
and vice versa, yet by doing so,
it meets my limitations. It is not
always bad to compare yourself to
others; rather, it opens up opportunities
for me to obtain new knowledge, ideas, and
lessons that are essential for my personal development.

To be understood by others, it is necessary to

acknowledge them first. I should be aware of how I will
act and speak to them. I always kept in mind that all
humans are unique; they have diverse perceptions of
and emotions toward others. Therefore, it can lead me
to find the true circle of acquittances where I can share
my thoughts and experiences in life, which will help me
understand myself better and somehow aid my physical,
mental, and emotional well-being.
 39

Love-filled Self
ruth joy asawa ni dar-donny javier

Our lives are full of circumstances, challenges, events, and

etc. So living life to the fullest with just YOU, I guess was the best
feeling you could ever feel. Knowing that you’re freely wandering
without worrying, what might people around you could say or
comment about you.

Understanding The Self was just a minor course, but yet it has a
massive impact on me. Everyday since the first day of being a
college student started, it feels like I am riding a never-ending
roller coaster ride. Each day was giving me different thoughts
that led me to go back to my other/dark-side. But then, this
course was introduced, and it really gives me a lot of lessons in
life emphasizing ourselves. It taught to us little by little, but all are
meaningful and do carry the accurate text or the message itself
for us.

In this semester that we learned about this course, I came up

with the title Love-filled Self, which simply explains that I started
to care about my mental, physical, and emotional self. I’ve also
learned that carrying myself with all the love coming primarily
from me, than the others was just beyond grateful. Its not
shameful to be over-confident when you know how to motivate
yourself everytime and surpass each circumstance without
losing your love-filled self.

ECENDROME
40 CONTEMPLATION

A Superior Version of Myself

daryl utoy lerum

“If you change the way you look at things, the things you look at
change”.The whole area of study dives into the various aspects of
human personalities, beliefs, and actions that contribute towards
our unique personalities. My inquiry has educated me that self-
awareness is crucial for personality development, healthy personal
relations, and sense of accomplishment.

The value of being aware of oneself is among the

most significant things I’ve learnt about this subject.
Something I’ve learned is how our personal
experiences shape our present personalities. Our
experiences shape our ideas, perceptions, and
behaviour patterns, and understanding those
influences is essential for understanding oneself.
This study also gave me an understanding of
the value of having to accept and dissolve life
experiences throughout so that we can advance
toward becoming a better looking version of me.

All I’ve learned at our course matches what I’m

acting appropriately today. Understanding the
Self course, I believe,that it encompasses a lot
more than realising the person I am; it involves
studying my sides of oneself in order to truly
understand what makes me
a particular person. For me,
the subject has been a
life-changing experience,
it has helped me
understand myself better,
and this knowledge will
help me become a better
person and be a better
version of myself.
 41

Leave Your Comfort Zone

ashley louise ginanon libarnes

Unpacking the self involves exploring one’s identity,

values, beliefs, and experiences. It is a process of self-
discovery that helps individuals gain a better understanding
of themselves and their place in the world. One way to
appreciate different perspectives on unpacking the self is
to recognize that everyone’s experiences and backgrounds
are unique. By listening to and learning from others, we can
broaden our understanding of ourselves and the world around
us.

Learning is a lifelong process that involves acquiring

new knowledge and skills. It is important to approach learning
with an open mind and a willingness to explore new ideas
and perspectives. By embracing different viewpoints and
seeking out diverse sources of information,
we can gain a more comprehensive
understanding of a topic. Learning
also involves recognizing our
own strengths and weaknesses
and seeking out opportunities
for growth and development. It is
important to recognize that health is a
holistic concept that encompasses physical,
emotional, and mental well-being.

Understanding and appreciating the
different perspectives of every individual
around you involves being open-minded,
listening to others, seeking out diverse
sources of information, and recognizing
the uniqueness of each person’s
experiences and journey. Through
those perspectives, we literally saw
the beliefs of individuals; every
individual is different.

ECENDROME
42 CONTEMPLATION

Understand Yourself
Before Others
james jeblogz licayan
I’ve learned that it’s helpful to understand one’s own
thought and behavior patterns in order to better comprehend
others. It is easier to build stronger personal and professional
relationships when you have this empathy. You should put
getting to know yourself first, without knowing who you
are or what you want, how can you realistically create
objectives, go about your life, and have successful
relationships?

We often fail to appreciate the value of

understanding oneself. In contrast to making
deliberate decisions based on who we are and
what we want, many of us spend most of our
day reacting to events and barely getting
by. When we don’t know where we are
going, it’s challenging to make goals,
find motivation, and choose the best
course of action. Before we are able
to do any of these things, we must
first establish who we are. Through
this course, Understanding the
Self, I have learned a lot more
about knowing myself and how
to be aware of my strengths,
weaknesses, likes, and dislikes as well
as how to observe and be aware of my
moods and how I react to the world around me. Analyze
how I can engage with others, become conscious of how
these moods and emotions affect my state of mind, and
maintain oversight on how my environment affects me.

You should put getting to know yourself first,
without knowing who you are or what you want, how
can you realistically create objectives, go about
your life, and have successful relationships?
When we don’t know where we are going, it’s
challenging to make goals, find motivation,
and choose the best course of action.
Through this course, Understanding the Self,
I have learned a lot more about knowing
myself and how to be aware of my strengths,
weaknesses, likes, and dislikes as well as how
to observe and be mindful of my moods and
how I react to the world around me.
 43

Piece by Piece
kryzelle study 2nd llano

Throughout the semester, Understanding the Self was probably

one of the simplest courses I took, yet I felt thrilled. I cannot
say I know myself well, but seeing the different aspects and
perspectives regarding the self, I was able to relate to some of
them, which gave me a clearer view of my own thoughts. It is
hard to explain, but I somehow felt validated.

Several times, I question the way I present myself to

others because, for a moment, I am this person,
and then later on, I am not. I have varying identities
according to where I am, who I am with, and what
situation I am in. It makes me wonder: does that
mean there are people who do not know who I am
because I do not present myself to them the same
way I present myself to others? Then, as I went through
the self from the perspective of psychology, I realized
that it was normal to have multiple selves, which
may sometimes also be a form of defense. We
are influenced by the things and people that
surround us, and there are different aspects
of ourselves that adjust to what kind of
environment we are in. Someone may know
me differently than someone else does, but
that does not make me ungenuine, and that is
completely valid.

If you ask someone about me and they tell

you something unlikely to be me, they are
telling the truth. I am that, but I am also this.
I am a puzzle, and you may only recognize
some of my pieces, but those are all part of my
whole, and each of them defines who I actually
am.

ECENDROME
44 CONTEMPLATION

A Deeper Dive
to the Self
danriel mentor lunar
Understanding oneself is an important aspect of personal
development. It involves recognizing our strengths and weaknesses,
motivations, emotions, and behaviors. It also requires us to
explore our past experiences and reflect on our present actions
to make better decisions for the future. Although tackling it
seems to be less important than other things, getting to know
the concept of self brings knowledge that can change our
perspectives.

Understanding the self is a continuous process that

helps in achieving personal growth and self-
awareness which helps me identify my core
values, beliefs, limitations and priorities that
guide our decisions and actions. Additionally, it
helps in identifying my emotions and triggers,
resulting in better communication, and
avoiding misunderstandings, helping me build
a better relationship with others. Moreover,
understanding oneself leads to a more
fulfilling and meaningful life. When we know our
passions and purpose, we can align our goals
and actions towards them. We can also set
realistic expectations and manage our time
and resources effectively. Lastly, deepening
my connection with myself is proven to
be essential for mental and emotional
well-being. It helps in managing stress,
anxiety, and depression by recognizing and
addressing the underlying causes, leading to
self-acceptance and self-love.

In conclusion, understanding oneself is

crucial for personal growth, building better
relationships, leading a fulfilling life, and
maintaining good mental and emotional
health. I appreciate all the perspectives
presented in Understanding the Self
as they provide valuable insights
and tools for self-discovery and
self-improvement. It is a continuous
journey that requires self-reflection,
introspection, and a willingness to learn
and grow.
 45

Believe me,
I’m a Paradox
allyna mae over the moon magpantay
Rerouting my eyes to such a serious yet genuine part of
my self-understanding is quite momentous. In every corner of
today’s world, it is worthwhile to remember that the journey of my
self-discovery is ongoing and requires continuous effort and
reflection. By embracing this journey, I know I can unlock my true
potential and live a life that is authentic and meaningful to me.

Understanding myself is a critical aspect

of my personal growth and development. This
subject is important to me as it can help
me to develop a sense of identity, improve
relationships with others, and enhance my
overall well-being. When I hear the words
“understanding the self,” it really gives me
the essence to gain a broader perspective
on the world and my place in it, align myself
with my values and passions, seek
opportunities for growth and learning,
and step outside of my comfort zone.
Moreover, this subject taught me
that life is full of unexpected
circumstances and surprises
that may have an impact on
my goals or my pace. Well,
I’ve learned to embrace
these changes and go
with the flow instead of
becoming frustrated
when a situation doesn’t
play out how I expected it
to. Through the process of
learning all of these, I get to know
who I really am, what my true values
are, and where I would like to go in life.

All in all, there’s no one way to live my life

and understand myself. It’s really a nice catchphrase
to talk and learn about: to still continue learning, to keep
asking questions, and to keep growing. Paradoxically,
life may throw curveballs my way, but at least I let my
guard down and embrace everything life has to offer;
I know my self-understanding will shine through in all
that I do!

ECENDROME
46 CONTEMPLATION

Unveiling the mask behind

abegail the detective manalo

I know that the question “What’s

your name?” and “Who are you?”
are some of the common questions
that we often hear when someone
we’ve just met, and it’s easy to
answer, right? We know our name, age,
gender, address, and the like, but what
if someone asks us who we really are? not
our name, our age, or our sex, but what
we really are as a person. I bet that we
will be speechless for about a couple
of minutes but still manage to answer
it.
Growing up as someone who has
low self-confidence, I must say that
it is really hard for me to socialize
every time I get to meet new
people because I always thought
that they wouldn’t like me as I am,
but as I grew older, I realized that I
cannot please everyone, no matter
what I do. They can still manage to
say something about me, so I’ve already
made peace with that fact, and I just want
to enjoy every bit of the time that I get to live. The
word “grateful” is not enough to describe how
thankful I am that this minor course has guided
and helped me to find my true purpose in life. It
has also helped me to have a deeper empathy
with myself and be more considerate with
myself.

It is easy for us to say that we know

ourselves already, even when the truth
is that it’s just the surface of who we
really are, and we still need to unfold
the hidden identity. As of now, I’m still in
the process of knowing my “real self,” but
I know that as I go on with my life, day by
day, even if it’s just a small progress, it is still
progress. Someday I will learn how to unleash
my full potential and be the best version of myself
that I can consider “my success.”
 47

The Best is yet to Come

cyrille annethyst manalo
Being a teenager in today’s society is hard. But
throughout this journey, this course, Understanding
the Self (UTS), has helped me discover my sense of
individuality. Thus, it helped me fully understand that I am
here for a reason, despite the difficulties and challenges
that life has to offer.

It is indeed true that life is meant to be lived. We
are all living on borrowed time since our existence is finite.
However, it doesn’t mean that we are going to waste it.
Instead, know that each one of us has the potential to
do incredible things in this world. I know how hard we are
trying; I am trying, and if no one told you this, just know
that I’m proud of who you are becoming. The desire to be
a better person in this world is such an intensely beautiful
thing. I realized that things are meant to find you and
discover you; just take it slowly and trust the process.
Understanding who we are in this very moment—our
thoughts, our behavior, and our feelings—is seen
and heard, and all are valid and
worthy in the end.

No matter what,
just continue to find and
remind yourself that you
are capable of so much,
you are going to make
it, and you are you in a
unique way. Believe until
you become the best
version of yourself. Keep
going.

ECENDROME
48 CONTEMPLATION

Failure Teaches Me
anthony mentor masa

My perspective on various things, especially myself, was

greatly impacted by this topic. Although attending classes online
and learning digitally was a major adjustment for me, the
professors and classmates I met were fantastic. Knowing yourself,
your needs, and what you want out of life is incredibly important
to me since I think it is pretty much what every human being
wants.

I’ve learned that being able to clearly grasp one’s own

thoughts and behaviour patterns might help you understand others.
Better interpersonal and professional interactions are facilitated
by this capacity for empathy. Your top priority should be getting to
know yourself! If you don’t know who you are or what you want, it’s
impossible to realistically establish objectives, navigate
life, or build effective relationships. You simply cannot.
Knowing ourselves is something that we frequently
undervalue. Instead of consciously making decisions
based on who we are and what we want, a lot of
us spend our days reacting to events and barely
getting by. It’s challenging to
make goals, become
motivated, and decide
on the best course of
action when we don’t
know where we’re going.

In conclusion,
developing a sense of who you
are takes time, and you will learn much
more by experiencing life than you will
from self-tests and interviews. Teachers
should help students at every step of their
education to discover who they are by using
a range of strategies. In addition, they ought
to respect every student’s feelings, background,
and mannerisms.
 49

No More Walls
justin kidd parala

Have you ever been genuinely interested in who you are? And
how come you are able to say, do, and think such things in
such a distinct way? I personally have a tremendous desire to
understand myself, other people, and my environment. I really
want to delve into what the word “self” actually means, and I
believe the course Understanding the Self has been very helpful
to me in comprehending this kind of concept.

At first, understanding oneself appears to be highly challenging,

complicated, and difficult, but as we study every aspect and
perspective of understanding our physical, psychological,
sociological, economic, sexual, and spiritual selves, it changes
our way of thinking. And, to be honest, I learned a lot of things
I wish I had known before. I appreciate how much this subject
taught me about self-awareness. Absorbing all of the lessons
this course taught, enhanced me holistically, in the sense
that I became better at handling myself, the things I did, the
relationships I had with people, the situations I encountered, and
the problems I faced in life. This course sparked a desire in me to
love myself more and improve myself more every time, because
I now believe that the “self” is never a finished project and that it
changes as our lives unfold.

In conclusion, it is critical and significant to deeply understand

oneself. On the grounds that I believe it can shape us into better
people. Self-awareness, compassion, and appreciation for
oneself are never selfish; wanting to improve yourself more is not
only for yourself but also for the world. It is the foundation of not
only our lives but also of a better and healed world. The more
powerful it is, the better the world will be.

ECENDROME
50 CONTEMPLATION

We ain’t
All the Same
jairus alaska boy pinaga
This subject delves into the numerous components of our
personality, emotions, and behaviors that shape who we are. This
study has taught me that understanding oneself is essential for
personal growth, successful relationships, and life fulfillment.

One of the most important things I’ve learned in this subject is the
value of self-awareness. What I’ve discovered
is the impact of our prior experiences on
our current selves. Our experiences shape
our thoughts, feelings, and behaviors, and
comprehending these impacts is critical
to comprehending ourselves. This course
has taught me the value of accepting
and digesting old experiences in order
to move forward and become a better
version of ourselves.

To summarize, the subject has been a
life-changing event for me. It has given
me a greater understanding of myself,
and I believe that this knowledge will
help me become a better person,
friend, and coworker. I may attain
personal progress and build successful
relationships by prioritizing self-
awareness, self-care, and authenticity.
 51

Not on How
Others Perceive
jeanne mae okay lang purca
Ever since before, I’ve had insecurities about myself.
I tend to compare myself to others who, in my opinion, are
fortunate enough to enjoy their lives. But when maturity
struck, I was able to have a wider perspective on life and
learn more about myself.
Various experiences have taught me lessons that
have aided my growth and maturity. In line with
this, the course “Understanding the Self” provided
a variety of topics, including different people’s
perspectives on how we can understand
ourselves from several aspects, which became an
eye-opener for me.

As I read and learned about these perspectives,
I realized that I should not let my insecurities affect my way
of living but rather recognize that people are born
to be unique in their own ways, just as am I.
As the saying goes, “We are all different, and
that’s beautiful,” implying that being different
from others isn’t something to be concerned
about but a wonderful thing at all. Just as
many perspectives on understanding the
self were created by several philosophers, we
also have our own perspectives and ways of
understanding ourselves, depending on who
we really are. Moreover, we should not be
worried about our differences from others;
instead, we should focus on how we really
understand ourselves rather than what others
may think.

Along the way, this course

subject has influenced my current
mindset on how I know and should
value myself. The entire journey
of understanding myself was
enjoyable, and I believe it would be
the most important thing to do. As
of now, we should focus more on
discovering ourselves than on how
others perceive us.

ECENDROME
52 CONTEMPLATION

The key to Success is

Understanding The Self
ronel multong broken rasonable

Establishing successful objectives might be difficult, but when we

take the time to get to know ourselves, it gets simpler. Understanding
my strengths, weaknesses, values, and interests have been essential
to obtaining my desired outcomes, as I realize as I think back on
my own goal-setting experience. I was able to set goals that
matched my personal and professional aspirations by
developing an awareness of who I am.

At first, I struggled to define my goals and made

unrealistic ones based on others’ expectations. This
led to a lack of motivation, unhappiness, and a feeling
of loss. Self-reflection helped me discover my abilities,
passions, and values, allowing me to set achievable
goals. By addressing limiting beliefs and fears like the
fear of failure, I was able to pursue my objectives even in
uncertain situations. Confronting my fears and changing
my perspective on failure enabled me to move
forward and achieve my goals.

Understanding oneself involves self-

reflection, self-awareness, and personal
development, which are crucial components
of this process. By taking the time to identify
our limiting beliefs and anxieties, we can set
clear and attainable goals that align with
our personal and professional aspirations,
leading to fulfilling and successful lives.
Overall, investing in self-understanding is
a valuable and ongoing endeavor.
 53

The Better/New “Me”

michelle joy bts army realis

This subject helps me a lot to have a deeper understanding of what it

means to be a human, humans are often compared and contrasted
with animals and machines. Some of the specific qualities are the
ability to interpret, free will, and the use of language, but what does
it really mean to be human? Humans are more than just mere
creatures of nature because of the art of remembering, recalling,
and through language either written or spoken. I’ve learned that
having a clear understanding of one’s thought and behavioral
pattern helps me to understand other people’s ability to empathize
with better personal and professional relationships.

How can you realistically set goals, go about life and have
successful relationships if you don’t know who you are or
what you want? We tend to underestimate the importance
of knowing ourselves. Many of us go through each day
reacting to events and just getting by rather than making
conscious choices based on who we are and what we
want. When we do not know where we are headed for and
it’s hard to set goals, get motivated and determine the best
course of action. Before we can do any of these things we
must establish who we are and in this course Understanding
the Self, I have learned a lot more on knowing myself to be
aware of my strengths, weaknesses, likes and dislikes, observe
and be aware of my moods, reactions and responses to
what is happening around me. Becoming aware of how
these moods and emotions affect my state of mind, examine
how I can interact with others and be observant on how my
environment affects myself.

It is important to Understand the Self in the rapid changes of

the world today when it comes to human identity, the
more you know about yourself, the better who you are
in adapting life, and such changes that suit your needs.
The more you pay attention to your emotions and how
you work, the better you will understand why you do the
things you did. Self awareness is important when we
have a better understanding of ourselves we are able to
experience ourselves as unique and separate individuals.

ECENDROME
54 CONTEMPLATION

Slew of Epiphany
andrea nicole ghinost rigay

Understanding oneself is difficult at times, much like

using a fork in a soupy dish, a thread with too many
knots, or a mystery with many missing pieces. I had
no idea who I was or what I stood for as a person,
a child, or a friend before. But as I get older, I notice
something; I wonder, “What is my true purpose?”
“Who am I really?”. Yet, as time passes, I become
aware of something; I mature and wonder, “What is
my true purpose?” “Who am I really?”

Self-awareness plays an important role in my life.

I was a child who was denied the opportunity to be
cared for; I grew up too independently because my
parents were too busy. I began maturing at a young
age and molded myself into a woman with a strong
exterior. I kept my emotions to myself because I
grew up in a household where emotions were
not discussed. Without realizing it, I began
to get out of my comfort zone and be
the carefree girl who was once in
the dark and pleading for a ray
of light, and with that I knew I
started to see myself.

Knowing oneself is
analogous to molting, the
process by which a
snake sheds its skin to allow for new
growth. The epiphany I had was that
understanding myself is not a bad
thing; it is like knowing yourself
better than anyone else. Maybe I’m
afraid to see my true self at times,
but being transformed into a better
version is something to be proud of.
 55

Qualia
april Ughhhhhh roxas

As a person who is very interested in how the

human mind works, this course has helped fulfil my
curious mind with new knowledge. Understanding
the self as a subject did not only make me know
myself better, but it also made me have a better
relationship with other people. And in this reflection, I
want to emphasise how learning different perspectives
can be incredibly beneficial for gaining a better
understanding of oneself and building stronger
relationships with others.

As human beings, we are all unique, and our

experiences shape the way we perceive the world. By
learning about different perspectives, we can expand
our horizons and gain a broader understanding of the
world around us. By examining our own perspectives,
we can learn to be more self-aware and reflective. This
self-awareness can help us make better decisions,
communicate more effectively, and develop a
stronger sense of empathy for others. Likewise,
understanding different perspectives can
make us more amenable to other people.
We learn that there are many practical
ways to see the world when we are
given different points of view.

In conclusion, learning a range of

perspectives can improve our ability to
better understand ourselves, establish
deep relationships with others, and be
more accepting of others. By embracing
diversity and seeking out different
perspectives, we can become more well-
rounded individuals and create a more
inclusive and equitable society.

ECENDROME
56 CONTEMPLATION

Key to Fulfillment:
Understanding the Self
ervin dominic domz roxas

It is helpful to take the time to understand

yourself , including your strengths, expertise, and
personal beliefs, before you surround yourself with
others who you do not know. You can plan your
career development and make the best choices for
you by being self-aware. Knowing what you want
and what you love, what fulfills you and the types of
environments or work cultures you will thrive in are
crucial.

Having the ability to understand

yourself or to be self-aware doesn’t
only give you the capability to
know what you want but also
gives you the power to decide
what’s best for you. When
you understand yourself, you
become who you really are. You
do the things that make you,
“you”. We only live once so we
should live it to the fullest. We
must understand ourselves to
know what’s best for us.

We face different kinds of

problems each day and it requires a
different approach to solve each of
those. When we understand ourselves,
we know how to deal with each
problem. And that is what I learned
from this subject, that knowing what
you love, knowing what’s best for
you, and learning how to deal with
different kinds of problems everyday
is what makes you, “you”.
 57

Knowing myself
than others do
christine the loyal girl salise

On the subject of “Understanding the Self,” I learned a lot of

things that helped me be a better person. UTS explained why it
is important to have a better understanding of the individual. It
helped me gain a deeper understanding of who I am.

This subject taught me so much, and it is important because

having a clearer understanding of my thoughts and behavior
patterns helps me understand other people. This ability to
empathize facilitates better personal and professional
relationships. When we are more self-aware, we are better
at understanding ourselves. However, it made me realize
that I should focus on myself to know myself better. I
realized that I should be content with where I am in life
right now, and I learned to appreciate the little things
that make me who I am.

One of the things that stuck in my mind was that if you

don’t understand yourself, you can’t grow and change. I
also learned self-love, which motivates me to take care of
myself and fosters more self-acceptance. Lastly, it reminds
me that having confidence and trust in yourself is one of the
reasons to become a better person.

ECENDROME
58 CONTEMPLATION

Fall Seven times,

Stand up Eight
lance andre metal boy samoza
First, I don’t know or really understand myself. When I
took this subject, understanding myself helped me see
who I really am. It helps me understand and know myself
even more.

With the help of our beloved professor, Mrs. Mary

Grace. Her advice is so extraordinary that I and we can
apply it to ourselves. She teaches me how to understand
myself and have knowledge of people’s different kinds of
characteristics to become the best version of ourselves.
I learned all of that with the help of her subject,
understanding the self.

Accepting who we are means embracing the flaws,

shortcomings, and imperfections we have and will have.
I am learning, and life doesn’t have a race. Be gentle
with ourselves, because that’s our companion whenever
our roads become bulky.
 59

A Reason for
Existing
kevinflfflloyd apuhc santos
I believe that the Understanding the Self course has a significant
impact on helping students become more self-aware, which is the
cornerstone of all the personal development we try to achieve.
Strong self-awareness enables us to comprehend our actions,
interpret other people’s reactions, and identify areas where we
may use some constructive improvement. Also, I think that the
key to successfully resolving any emotional issue that many of us
students face in this world is self-understanding.

As a human being, it is inevitable to ask myself what

is the purpose of my life, why am I here, and what will
happen to me in the future. There are many questions
in my life that I can only answer by going forward and
learning from my own mistakes. But I also realized
that for me to be able to grow, I must pay attention
to the people around me, the things that they will
say to me will become an instrument for me to
realize my blind spots and be able to improve
them and become better as a person. I share
ideas with my friends, we learn interesting things
about one another, and most of the people
I associate with I met while on the lookout
for ways to advance my skills. In that way, I
can understand myself more and become
who I want to be, instead of being sad about
the negative things that happened to me, I
will use it as a source of unlimited energy to
change myself and become happy. I want to
be proud of the way I showed up, of the way I
existed in this world, of the way I dedicated myself
to living the kind of life that was full, that allowed for
happiness, and sadness, and growth to flow through me
like rain.

It’s never been easy to understand myself, many questions up to now

are bugging me. But because of this course, my knowledge broadened about
the things that I thought that I knew. I learned to escape from the cave that
imprisoned me for a long time and be able to open my mind to those beliefs
that have a logical explanation. But now, I am content with what I have and I
am still enjoying my journey, and at the end of the day, I just want to be proud
of the person I have become, I just want to be proud of the way I connected.

ECENDROME
60 CONTEMPLATION

My Perception of Self
lara chinita princess sumague

The goal of Understanding the Self is to help students

in all programs comprehend the nature of identity, the forces
and factors that influence personal development, and how to
maintain one’s own identity. Unsuccess or a lack of interest in
life can result from a lack of self-awareness and confidence.
Knowing who you are and who you want to be is essential. A
self-concept can only be reached through self-understanding.

In this subject, Understanding the Self, I now know a

great deal more about myself, including how to identify my
strengths, weaknesses, likes, and dislikes, observe and be aware
of my moods, reactions, and responses to what is going on
around me. Examining how I can interact with others and being
observant of how my environment affects me, becoming
aware of how these moods and emotions affect my state
of mind. Our first priority should be getting to know
ourselves; I now know that it’s easier to understand
other people when you have a clear understanding
of your own thoughts and behavior patterns. Better
interpersonal and professional connections are
made possible by this capacity for empathy.

To wrap things up, as a student,

emotional well-being and self-esteem are
enhanced by having healthy self-awareness,
it shows students who they are, explains why
they behave the way they do, and gives
them a path toward self-improvement. We
students need to be aware of ourselves
in order to succeed, people who are
self-aware have a fundamental belief in
their ability to achieve a goal, which aids
students in achieving success in all areas of
their lives.
 61

You are the main

character of your story
aaron good morning tagustos
“Live your life to the fullest” a phrase we always heard
from movies or novels. We always wanted to try
living our life to the fullest but all of us have different
circumstances that hinder us from achieving that
satisfaction. That’s why we always try to do our best
on the things we can do everyday.

But as we traveled on the road that we took, we

realized that even our best might not be enough
and wanted to stop. However, there are people we
call friends who will help us in that journey. Also, our
journey can be used to find our “self” because in the
exhausting past, we might forget who we really are,
and what defines you. Sometimes, it’s okay to stop
and contemplate the things that confuse us, finding our
real “self” can give us confidence to face the challenges
that will come in our life. Discovering your “self” might
be a surprise for you because there are things that you
didn’t know you are good at. In the end our “self” is the most
important.

It’s fine to not continue the road that we took because

in the end what’s the most important is you. If you are
having a hard time, take a rest. Want to do something
but scared because it’s new to you? Just try it, things
weren’t made for everyone else to be good at, seize every
opportunity to do things, you may not be able to do it
in the future and will just regret it in the end. What’s
important is to just be you, you are in control of your
fate and destiny, don’t let anyone try to control it.

ECENDROME
62 CONTEMPLATION

Know Thyself
anne kyla hotdog sa freezer villegas

Understanding the Self course covers different topics that are

intended to help students in comprehending the nature
of identity. It includes the factors affecting and shaping
individual identities. Self-understanding means being able to
comprehend one’s own actions, attitudes, and emotions.

This course influenced me to know myself better and

realized it is also a way other people understand me.
It helps me to show who I really am and learn how
to build healthy and strong relationships with
other people. It has fundamentally different
perspectives on the essence of being a human,
the difference is reflected in the character
and behavior of other people living in their
separate cultural spheres, including their
perceptions, emotions and motivations. One
of the important things I learned is that the
key to self-knowledge is continuous self-
awareness. From this step, we are then better
equipped to live a meaningful life which we
can maintain to be positive and uplift our
emotions and behaviors.

In summary, this course had a big

impact on my life. It made me realize
the importance of understanding
myself which can help me to deal
with other people without the doubt
of being judged and criticized. Self-
discovery is a great way to start
becoming a better person.
 63

In All Facets
khade khadingding villegas

Knowing yourself is the beginning of all wisdom” –

Aristotle. The subject of understanding the self has given me
an opportunity to better comprehend myself as a whole and
reflect on certain things regarding my existence as a human
being. Moreover, it has also helped me gain new perspectives
concerning people, experiences, and life in general. As Aristotle
stated, knowing yourself is the beginning of all wisdom, having to
gain a deeper understanding of oneself had led me to
see life in a whole new different way.
Mentioned that man is a thinking entity
and a conscious being, we all get to reflect and
provide an idea of who we are as different
existing individuals. There is no right or wrong
way to engage in self-reflection, however, I
have learned the concept of the ‘self’ covers
a wider variety of topics rather than just
one’s personality, traits, likes and dislikes, etc.
Furthermore, UTS showed me that we are in a
world full of perception; we are seen, perceived,
and understood in different manners by different
people.
In the process of getting to know
ourselves, we get to see different aspects
that complete us as a person, we witness
different phases that lead us to a deeper
understanding of life and the people that
surround us, and most importantly, we get
to acknowledge and recognize ourselves
as different individuals that exist along
each other in our own unique way.

ECENDROME
64 CLOSING REMARKS

Tatayo at babangon sa bawat

pagsadsad at pag-usad.
VOLUME 1 || ISSUE 1 The Official Publication of BSECE 1-1 of
Polytechnic University of The Philippines STB

ECENDROME
Engineered Prodigies Optimizing Individuality