LESSON 7: Material Aspect of Self

Many people work to earn money not just to buy basic necessities but they also
spend money to buy material things that will bring them comfort, convenience and
pleasure. Some people think that acquiring material things is the key to improving
their identity.

ENGAGE

Do You See What I See?

Everyone sees people through their own unique lens.

Perception provides a way we can guide our behavior and the
way we relate to others. Select pictures of different types of
people, such as a teacher, child, housekeeper, man or older
woman. Ask small groups to write a story about each person
depicted in the photos. Bring the group together and have
participants share their stories. Compare the different
perceptions and discuss stereotypes and how first impressions
can shape behavior and communication.

EXPLORE

GUIDE QUESTIONS:

1. WHAT ARE THE THINGS THAT YOU WANT TO HAVE IN LIFE?

2. WHAT ARE THE THINGS THAT YOU NEED IN YOUR LIFE?
3. WHAT DOES “YOU ARE SO MATERIALISTIC” MEAN?

EXPLAIN

MATERIAL SELF

• The concept of being fixated on acquiring material things as a way to identify

oneself is related to the concept of material self introduced by William James. He
defined the material self as the self that consists of the body, clothes, immediate
 family, home and other things one considers to be his or her own. According to him,
people invest themselves in their material possessions, thus deeply connected to
them. The more people invest themselves in their possessions, the more attached
they become.
• Material possessions are objects of instinctive preferences that may or may not be
related with a person’s most practical interests in life. Many people have the impulse
to always keep check of their bodies and to deck them with clothing they find to be
most suitable for them. An individual’s body is the primary component of his or her
material self. One has control over his or her body and how she or he would like to
present it for others to see.
• Aside from the body and clothing, one’s immediate family is also part of one’s
material self. One’s family members can be seen as an extension of one’s identity
because the members affect one’s actions and disposition in the environment.
• Another component of one’s material self is one’s home – a space that one
considers as his or her own.
• These material things serve as the extension of one’s identity that influence hoe he or
she is perceived by others.

NEEDS VERSUS WANTS

• At an early age, one is already taught the difference between needs and wants.
• Need is something that a person must have in order to live while want is something
that s person desires to have but can live without.
• Food, clothes, shelter, medicine, and many other things necessary for survival are
needs while things that are considered s luxuries are wants.
• Despite this difference, it should also be remembered that needs and wants are
relative to each individual. One person’s wants may be another person’s need.

ELABORATE

Activity 7.1

Watch the Confessions of a Shopaholic (2006). Afterwards, answer the following questions:

1. How will you describe the material self of the main character?

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2. What is the climax of the story?

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 3. Based on the ending, what kind or sense of self is promoted by the film?

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EVALUATE

Listen to the song Mukhang Pera (1994) of the band The Youth. Explain what is being
conveyed by the song in relation to material self.

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 LESSON 8: Spiritual Aspect of Self

The spiritual self is quite difficult to discover as it is impossible for every human being
to know the true will of God. People rely on their faith and the faith dictates that the
reason for living is to follow the works and examples of Jesus Christ.

ENGAGE

SHORT WORSHIP SONG

EXPLORE

Think:

➢ Does God really exist?

➢ Do you know who God is?
➢ Do you believe there is a spiritual life?
➢ Do you think it is necessary to feed our
spiritual body?

EXPLAIN

THE PRACTICE OF RELIGION

• There has to be an “architect” who constructed and designed all the things in the
universe. This supposition leads people to the idea of a God, or a supreme being.
• Religion introduces the concept of supreme beings (God, gods, goddesses) as
cause or reason of all phenomena. The traditional concept based on Judaism,
Christianity, and Islam regards god as an independent being, the creator of a
universe, and distinct from the universe that this supreme being created.
• It is widely accepted that this God is the highest being who shows concern for the
suffering of humankind, the face of justice that manifest ultimate forms of rationality
and morality.
• All agree that this supreme being is omnipotent(all-powerful), omniscient(all-
knowing), and omnipresent(everywhere at once).
• Anthony Wallace explained that religion is a set of rituals made to coordinate with
the goal of either obtaining or hindering changes in human condition and nature’s
 state. These rituals or practices usually justified by myths. He elaborated that the
hallmark of religion is the belief in supernatural beings and forces.
• Religion has many functions such as providing sense of the world, strengthening
norms and identity, setting sanctions for individual behavior, and giving security in
facing life challenges.

THE CONCEPT OF SOUL

• Monism is view that there is only one substance and only one being. It means that
the soul and the body are one. On the contrary, dualism is a view that mind and
body are two independent substances.
• Western philosophers believed that the human person is a rational being which
constituted of soul and body. The soul is superior to the body and can exist
independently without the body. It is invisible and immortal and it directs the physical
body.
• The Filipino term for soul or spirit is kaluluwa. It is believed that it has two existences.
One is physical in which the soul is connected to the human body and its life and the
other is spiritual which exists on its own.

ESSENCE VERSUS EXISTENCE

• According to Plato and Aristotle, all have core elements and without those, things
would not be what they are. Those elements collectively called essence which is
inherent properties that give things their defining features. For them, all entities have
substance and form. They agreed that everything has essence including humans
and they believed that essences already exist before the time of birth. In this belief,
one aspect of being a good human is to adhere to one’s essence. People are
created to fulfill a specific purpose and that endows them the essence of their life.
This is the philosophy of essentialism.
• Jean Paul Sartre, on the contrary, argued that “existence precedes essence.” Under
this claim, human beings are not defined by any predetermined properties or
essences. People are free to live their lives and they should define what they are, not
in accordance with an idealized set of characteristics. One creates his or her own
meaning in the act of maximizing his or her absolute freedom. This also entails that
one is responsible for his or her own actions. In the point of view of most existentialists,
what matters is how and what one does with life at this moment and not what will
happen after death for there is no reward for good deeds coming from God. This is
the philosophy of existentialism. In addition, theistic existentialism tries to invalidate
the concept that God created humans and the entire universe for a specific
purpose.

MAN’S SEARCHING FOR MEANING

• Viktor Frankl, who wrote the book Man’s Search for Meaning, was a neurologist who
developed logotherapy. Logotherapy is based on the guided principle that the
 primary motivational force of every individual is to find meaning in life. A
psychotherapeutic approach, logotherapy is anchored on three basic principles: (1)
life has meaning under all circumstances, even the most miserable ones; (2) the
impetus to live is one’s will to discover meaning in life; and (3) humans are free to
discover meaning in everything they do, in what they experience, or at least in the
decision they make when faced with immutable suffering.
• For him, there are three ways to find meaning in life, (1) doing an action, (2) having
personal experiences and interpersonal interactions, and (3) evaluating one’s
attitude in the midst of suffering.
• Upon discovering the meaning of life, humans must prepare to face any type of
suffering. To deal with suffering, one has to undergo a change of attitude.

ELABORATE

Activity 8.1

Answer the questions below.

1. Do you believe in the existence of God? Explain your answer.

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2. Do you believe that life has meaning? Explain your answer.

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EVALUATE

ESSAY. Make it concise.

1. What experiences have most shaped your spiritual life?

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2. How important is spirituality to your life now?

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 LESSON 9: Political Aspect of Self

The political self is the self that the Constitution aims to foster. This is the self that
rejects the individualistic view and focuses on collective welfare – for the people and
the country.

ENGAGE

TELL WHO THEY ARE BASED ON THE PICTURE GIVEN:

EXPLORE

Think:

➢ What Filipino culture do you know?

➢ What Filipino values do you know?
➢ What can you say about the
government of the Philippines?

EXPLAIN

Why is politics necessary?

• People make decisions that affect all of them as a group.

• Each decision requires the setting of a common policy for the group, a single
decision that affects all members of the group.
• Not all human actions adhere to the general policy set by the group one is part of.
• The formulation of a general policy for a group of people constitutes politics, and the
questions about these policies are political questions – questions that affect both
personal and public interests.
POLITICAL CULTURE

• Political culture is the pattern of individual attitudes and orientation towards politics
among members of a political system.

Characteristics of Philippine Political Culture

1. Dominance of family ties or kinship system – in local government units such as the
municipality or barangay, big clans dominate the political arena.
2. Euphemism – officials and employees in lower positions are not frank or
straightforward in criticizing officials of higher rank.
3. Utang na loob – Filipinos feel obliged to repay immediately or in the future any favor
they receive from another person.
4. Sense of overdependency – some constituents rely on an elected official or a
“patron” politician for their personal and economic needs.
5. Belief that majority of politicians are corrupt – the term buwaya has been used to
described corrupt politicians in the Philippines signifying their greed for money and
power.
6. Lack of political maturity – people elect officials based on popularity and personality
and not on performance and platform.

IDEAL CITIZEN

• Citizenship denotes the status of being a legal member of a nation-state. Anyone

can easily claim that he or she is a citizen of a nation.
• If a person is born in a particular country, he or she automatically becomes a citizen
of that country or undergoes the legal process of naturalization in order to become
a citizen.
• What constitutes an ideal citizen? An ideal citizen can be a person who follows the
laws, protects, and takes care of the environment, and contributes to the welfare of
other people. An ideal citizen carries out his or her civic responsibilities – duties that
help shape a better society for all citizens.

GOVERNANCE

• Governance is defined as the traditions and institutions that determine how

authority is exercised in a particular country. This includes (1) the process by which
governments are selected, held accountable, monitored and replaced; (2) the
capacity of governments to manage resources efficiently and formulate,
implement and enforce sound policies and regulations; and (3) the respect of
citizens and the state for the institutions that govern economic and social
interactions among them.

Good Governance

Here are the seven (7) principles of public life.

 1. Selflessness – it means caring for what the people need and want instead of
promoting personal interests.
2. Objectivity- it means being neutral and free from biases in making decisions.
3. Integrity – it means maintaining a good name and character.
4. Honesty – it means telling the truth, hiding nothing, and being transparent at all
times.
5. Accountability – it means being liable and responsible for one’s actions.
6. Openness – it means being transparent with whatever information one handles.
7. Leadership – it means being able to lead the way for development that would
benefit all.

FILIPINO VALUES

• There are inherent traits that make Filipinos different from other nationalities. These
traits form part of the socio-anthropological self of the Filipinos. These traits have also
formed part of the Filipino identity.

Positive Filipino Values

1. Bayanihan- as a practice of the spirit of kinship and camaraderie, the custom of

bayanihan is observed whenever a helping hand is extended to accomplish a task
as a group.
2. Damayan- Filipinos always extend sympathy for people especially for those who lost
their loved ones or who were victims of calamities.
3. Familism or close family ties – Filipinos are known to prioritize the welfare of family
members above other things.
4. Optimism – Filipinos have the attitude of looking at all ways to be happy and to
maintain a positive outlook even in times of calamities and other challenges in life.
5. Hospitality – Filipinos are identified to be warm, friendly, generous, and
accommodating to other people, fellow Filipino or not.
6. Regionalism – outside the “significant others,” Filipinos have this attitude of giving
more priority to their provincemate.
7. Flexibility – Filipinos have the ability to adapt or conform to the expectations or will of
other people to achieve smooth and harmonious relationships.
8. Religious – this is characterized by strong faith and submission to the will of a
supreme being.
9. Respect for elders – Filipinos are thought to show courtesy towards the elderly at all
times.
10. Remedy attitude – Filipinos are known for being creative and resourceful.
11. Matiyaga – Filipinos are known for their gift and strong determination in every
undertaking.
12. Utang na loob – this is a feeling of gratitude, recognition of one’s indebtedness, and
obligation to repay someone who has extended assistance to another.
Negative Filipino Values

1. Bahala na attitude – this is a Filipino trait of leaving to fate and luck the outcome of
a certain undertaking, hence the expression bahala na.
2. Colonial mentality or blue-seal mentality – it is a Filipino value of giving high regard to
foreign products and treating the local as inferior and low in quality.
3. Crab mentality - it is a Filipino attitude born out of jealousy and insecurity
characterized by an attempt to pull down those who are ahead of them in life.
4. Euphemistic – this is Filipino attitude of not being frank and straightforward so as not
to offend or hurt another person.
5. Filipino time – this manifests among Filipinos through lack of punctuality.
6. Gaya-gaya attitude – this is Filipino trait of copying or imitating other’s work, product,
type of business, fashion and the likes.
7. Jackpot mentality – this is characterized by an “instant millionaire mentality of some
Filipinos” who would rather engage in fast ways of acquiring money by betting than
working hard to have a better life.
8. Belief in kapalaran – it is a Filipino trait of believing and accepting that one’s fate is
already written in the stars.
9. Mañana habit – it is from the phrase mamaya na means “I’ll do it later,” is an
attitude of Filipinos characterized by stalling on doing tasks instead of doing them
immediately.
10. Ningas kugon – this is characterized by the attitude of being enthusiastic only at the
beginning of an endeavor.
11. Oversensitivity – it is the inability of some Filipinos to withstand and accept criticism or
negative comments.
12. Pakikisama – it is a Filipino attitude if always adhering or submitting to the will of the
group they are part of.
13. Lack of sportsmanship – it is an attitude of Filipinos manifested in how they cannot
seem to accept defeat.
14. Tsamba lang attitude – it is an attitude characterized by the refusal to take the credit
for one’s own accomplishments, instead owing it to charm and luck.

ELABORATE

Activity 9.1

Name 10 Filipino values and explain their relevance to you. Write your answers on the table
provided.

Filipino Values Personal Relevance

EVALUATE

Listen to the song Trapo (1994) by the band Yano. Explain what the song is about and its
relevance to the current political landscape of the country.

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 LESSON 10: Digital Aspect of the Self

As they say, in the internet, no one knows who you actually are. The information,
activities, ideas and thoughts that a person uploads on Facebook or any other social
networking site represent how he or she wants to be perceived in a virtual space.
The “self” that is presented online can be regarded as one’s “extended self.”

ENGAGE

CHOOSE ONE OF YOUR PICTURES UPLOADED ON

FACEBOOK AND SHARE IN CLASS THE REASON WHY YOU
CHOSE THAT! ☺

EXPLORE

Share what you think:

❖ What are the advantages and disadvantages of

using social media?
❖ How social media affects the lives of many
people nowadays?
❖ How often do you use your online account?

EXPLAIN

I, ME, MYSELF, AND MY ONLINE IDENTITY

• IN LOOKING AT YOUR FRIEND’S Facebook profiles especially their profile pictures,

you may perceive that these images are only projected images – these are how
your friends want themselves to be seen.
• For those with profile pictures taken from very famous places, they might be
projecting their adventurous side to the public or just simply bragging about having
gone to these famous places. For those with profile pictures with their families, they
 may be projecting a happy family or that they are a responsible and loving father,
mother, son, daughter, or grandchild.
• People’s profile pictures signify or represent many things about them. Whatever
reasons they may have behind the use of these profile pictures are definitely
influenced by hoe they want to be perceived by others on social media. These
profile pictures on Facebook or any other social networking site reflect the onlie
identities people want to establish.

FRONT AND BACK STAGES OF THE SELF

• Goffman theorized notions concerning the presentation of self in daily face-to-face

interactions. In his dramaturgical theory, he claimed that life is a series of interactions
and performances where people enact the presentation of self on a daily basis. The
theory presents social life as a stage, where all are actors and audience members.
• In a theater, there front and back stages. An individual’s performance on the front
stage is what can openly be seen by the audience, while what happens backstage
can be linked to what an individual would like to be kept secret or hidden.
• Humans, as social beings, are conscious of how they present themselves to others
and what they choose to keep for themselves. Performing one’s identity means that
there are aspects of self that are not easily seen by a particular audience.
• Many videos or pictures uploaded by people are their front stages according to
Goffman. Their back stages remain hidden so that the identities that they portray in
public are preserved, thereby maintaining the current trust, respect, recognition, and
admiration given to them by others.

DIGITAL SELF

• It today’s digital technologies, it is very easy for any person to redefine or recreate
himself or herself digitally. Images can be manipulated through skills in photography
or Photoshop. Manipulated images simply serve as representations of one’s ideal self
– what one wants to be.
• In this era, the self adapts to the environment that is dominated by digital
technology. To satisfy individual dreams and desires outside of one’s inner self, things,
products, or services allow people to believe that they can change, enhance, or
improve their self.
• One’s digital self consists of how one expresses himself or herself in various online
platforms.

WHAT NOT TO POST ONLINE

Below are some of the information, activities, thoughts, opinions and feelings that
must be kept private or personal from the cyberspace.

1. Sexy or revealing pictures – these kind of photos should be kept in private for
security reasons.
 2. Pictures or videos showing private moments with loved ones – even if sometimes
people are too showy of their feelings towards their loved ones, kissing and
intimate moments and activities must be kept in private and should not be
divulged in online platforms.
3. Pictures or videos showing bad habits – some examples of these are pictures
showing a person drinking liquor and being intoxicated, smoking cigarettes, and
gambling.
4. Negative comments on another person’s attitudes – it is indecent to post
negative comments and announce to the world. What you think of another
person’s attitudes.
5. Post announcing conflicts with other people – conflicts with other people cannot
be resolved by putting about them online.
6. Posts of the results of a particular competition with the names of defeated
participants – while everyone has the right to brag about his or her achievement
or success, it is indecent to display and inform the world the failure of other
people.
7. Comments showing strong opposition to certain issues – an individual is free to
express his or her ideas and opinions on a certain topic or issue but sometimes it
may offend other people or worst, it can even lead to earning an enemy.
8. Comments with foul, vulgar, indecent, and offensive words – even if a negative
comment was first thrown at you, it does not mean that it is acceptable to
counterattack through harsh words.
9. Pictures or videos revealing one’s financial status – one must be careful in
revealing anything about his or her finances for it may put him or her at security
risk.
10. Pictures or videos showing family trips – posts revealing too much information
about family gatherings may also pose security risks for it may attract unwanted
attention from criminals.
11. Pictures or videos displaying one doing good deeds – while doing good deeds
can be a moment to be proud of, it is misleading to take photos of such deeds
for it tends to focus more on the doer of the good deed instead of the deed
itself.
12. Pictures or videos in hospitals – it is both unethical and illegal to take photos in
hospitals.
13. Posts of every single thing you do – social media is not a diary where you can
write down every single thing that happens to you everyday.

ARE YOU A RESPONSIBLE NETIZEN?

With the rampant use of internet, specifically social media, there are issues that need to be
recognized and thus be addressed. Here are some of the issues that one needs to address if
one wants to be seen as a responsible netizen.
 1. Sharing Fake News – as the famous saying goes, “think before you clik.” Many
people on social media share fake news because they fail to verify the truthfulness
of such online articles.
2. Cyberbullying – people bully other people online because they feel that they can
do so as online interaction is different from face-to-face or personal interaction.
3. Sharing Viruses – some social media users share viruses for fun. Usually, these viruses
present themselves as pornographic content which makes users interested in
opening such malicious links.

• As a responsible netizen, you should know what behaviors are accepted online and
what behaviors you need to avoid. With everyone having social media accounts,
everyone should be responsible in making use of social media for its positive aspects
and not otherwise.
• A netizen should be responsible for whatever he or shares online and must always
ensure that he or she will not post malicious content that may damage other people
in any way.

HOW TO FIGHT SOCIAL MEDIA ADDICTION

• If you are spending more than three hours of your time everyday on social media,
then you can be considered as a social media addict.
• Social media has many benefits but too much time spent on it can be harmful.
People should know that they are not required to post on social media every move
they make. All addictions are harmful.
• Generally, the negative effects of too much social media on health include eye
problems, headache, nausea, and more.
• To avoid social media addiction, you need to limit the time you use for social media.
The maximum should be less than three hours, the lesser the better.
• Posting daily activities just for the sake of acquiring many “likes” or positive comment
and praises can be a sign of low self-esteem. People with low self-esteem always
seek recognition and affirmation from other people.
• Read books instead of spending time reading news, articles, and issues on social
media. Books are reliable sources of genuine and accurate information. Spend time
to communicate personally with your family at home even to your neighbors and
your officemates.
• Real life conversations will strengthen your family and work relations and at the
same time limit your time on social media.

ELABORATE

Activity 10.1
What pieces of information, activities, thoughts, opinions, or feelings should be kept private
and should never be divulged on social media? Write your answers on the table provided.

Information, Activities, Thoughts, Opinions, Explanation

and Feelings

EVALUATE

Are you a responsible netizen? Justify your answer.

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Watched the movie entitled Jumanji (2017) starring Dwayne Johnson. Identify the main
characters and discuss their “digital self” projected by the movie.

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