INTRODUCTION

Belk (1998) stated that "we regard our possessions as parts of our selves. We are what we have and
what we possess". There is a direct link between self-identity with what we have and possess. Our
wanting to have a possess has a connection with another aspects of the self, the material self.

MATERIAL SELF

William James

• He understands that the self can be examined through its different components. He described as;

⚬ its constituents;

⚬ self-feeling;

⚬ self-seeking; and

⚬ self-preservation

According to William James primarily is about our bodies, clothes, immediate family, and home. We are
deeply affected by these things because we have put much investments of our self to them.
Having an investment of self in things, made us attached to those things. The more investments of self-
given to a particular thing, the more we identify ourselves with it. We also tended to collect and possess
properties. The collections in different degree of investment of self, becomes part of the self. As James
(1980) described self: "a man's self is the sum total of all what he CAN call his." Possessions then
become a part or an extension of the self.

WE ARE WHAT WE HAVE

Russel Belk

- "we regard our possessions as part of ourselves. We are what we have and what we possess".
• The identification of the self to things started in our infancy stage when we make a distinction
between self and environment and others who may desire our possessions.

• Putting importance on material possession decreases.

• Material possession gains higher value in our lifetime if we use material possession to find
happiness, associate these things with significant events, accomplishments, and people in our lives.

• When material possession of a person that is closely identified to the person, gains
acknowledgement with high regard even if the person already passed away.

SUPERNATURALS:BELIEVEITORNOT

What is Supernaturals?

The supernatural is something that cannot be explained by scientific understanding or the laws of
nature. Examples often include characteristics of or relating to ghosts, angels, gods, souls and spirits,
nonmaterial beings, or anything else considered beyond nature like magic, miracles, etc.

Religion

REBECCA STEIN (Stein 2011) works on the definition religion “as a set of cultural beliefs and practices
that usually includes some or all of the basic characteristics. These are:

A belief in anthropomorphic supernatural being, such as spirit and gods

• A focus on the sacred supernatural, where sacred refers to a feeling of reverence and awe.

• The presence of supernatural power or energy found in supernatural beings, physical beings,
and objects.

• The performance of ritual activities that involves the manipulation of the sacred object to
communicate to supernatural beings and/or to influence or control events.

• The articulation of worldview and moral codes through narratives and other means.

• Provide the creation and maintenance of social bonds and mechanism of social control within a
community; provide an explanation for the unknown and a sense of control for individuals.

Ritual
It is the performance of ceremonial acts prescribed by a tradition or sacred law. Ritual is a specific,
observable mode of behavior exhibited by all known societies. It is thus possible to view ritual as a way
of defining or describing humans.

3 Fundamental Characteristics of Rituals according to Hans Penner

- A feeling or emotion of respect, awe, fascination, or dread in relation to the sacred

- Dependence upon a belief system that is usually expressed in the language of myth
- Is symbolic in relation to its reference

Some world religious beliefs & practices

Buddhism

Buddhism is a tradition that focuses on personal spiritual development. Buddhists strive for a deep
insight into the true nature of life and do not worship gods or deities.

• Buddhists believe in rebirth and reincarnation, and that if a person releases their attachment to desire
and the self, they can attain Nirvana, a state of liberation and freedom from suffering.

Customs and Practices

2 types of meditation practices: Samatha & Vipassana

• Samatha is practiced as mindfulness of breathing and development of loving kindness. (Metta

Bhavana)

• Vipassana – aim at developing insight into reality. Acquiring wisdom is by studying Buddha’s
teaching, the Dharma.

Through the reflection of Dharma, Buddhists can achieve a deeper understanding of life. Buddhists
believe in non-violence principle.
Some of the major Buddhist celebrations are Parinirvana Day in February; Buddha Day (Wesak) in May;
Dharma day in July; Padmasambhava Day in October; and Sanga Day in November
CHRISTIANITY

Christians believe in Trinitarian God. One God in three personas: Portfolio

• God the Father (Creator)

• God the Son (Savior)

• God the Holy Spirit (Sustainer).

Customs and Practices

Holy Baptism - Symbolizes the birth in Christian World.

Holy Communion

Symbolize is an act of remembrance of Jesus Christ's sacrificial love.

Christmas and Resurrection (Easter) are the two major celebration in Christianity. Christmas, usually on
December , commemorated the birth of Jesus Christ, while Resurrection Sunday (depends on lunar
calendar) celebrates the resurrection of Jesus Christ from death.

HINDUISM

Hinduism covers a wide range of traditional beliefs andreligious groups; thus there is no single founder
or leader.

Hindus believe that existence in a cycle of birth, death and rebirth, governed by Karma
Hinduism covers a wide range of traditional beliefs andreligious groups; thus there is no single founder
or

leader. Portfolio

Hindus believe that existence in a cycle of birth, death and rebirth, governed by Karma.

Karma

it is a concept where the reincarnated life will depend on how the past life was spent. Hindus believe
that the soul passes through a cycle of successive lives and its next incarnation is always dependent on
how the previous life was lived.

Two important text of the hindus

- Mahabharata
- Ramayan

Beliefs

Most Hindus believe in a Supreme God, whose qualities and forms are represented by deities which
emanate from him; that existence is a cycle of birth, death and rebirth governed by Karma and that the
soul passes through a cycle of successive lives (reincarnation)

Customs and practices

Celebrations: Most celebrated festivals of the Hindus are .

• Diwali is the Festival of Lights

• Navrati is the festival of nine nights

Islam

• Muslims believed in ALLAH, who is their “One God”.

• They believe in the unity and university of God.

• Muslims also have a strong sense of community or “ummah” and awareness of their solidarity
with all Muslims worldwide

• ISLAM - means willing submission to God.

• Muslims believed in Mohammed as the last and final prophet.

• Quran is the Holy Book of Islam, which is taught to be recited in Arabic because any translation
is seen as inadequate.

Customs and Practices

Five Pillars of Islam

• Shahadah - Statement of Faith

• Salat - the prayer that is practiced 5x a day

• Zakat - monetary offering for the benefit of the poor

• Hajj - the yearly pilgrimage to Mecca

• Sawn - the fasting

Festivals and Celebrations

Eidul-Fitr - is the celebration at the end of Ramadhan

Eidul-Adha - celebrated within the completion of the Pilgrimage, or Hajj

Judaism
• The Jews believes in the God of Abraham, the same God that liberated the Hebrew slaves from
Egypt to Canaan, the Promised Land through the leadership of Moses and later, Joshua.

• Jews believed in the coming of the Messiah, the Savior

• TORAH OR THE LAW - the sacred scripture of Jews

Customs and Tradition

There are five major festivals observed by the Jews:

• Rosh Hashanah - the New year

• Yom Kippur - the day of Atonement

• Pesach - Passover

• Shavuot - Pentecost

• Sukkot – Tabernacles

Finding and Creating meaning of life

Another extensive study of self can be found in the works of Dr. Viktor E. Frankl

The Psychiatrist

• DR. VIKTOR E. FRANKL

⚬ was born on March 26, 1905 in Vienna, Austria

⚬ He was considered “The Father of Logotherapy”

⚬ and Died in 1997

⚬ He graduated with a medical degree from University of Vienna in 1930.

He was assigned in Vienna Hospital suicide ward

• He also published a book about Logotherapy

• His book is Entitled that was revised to English

⚬ The Doctor and the Soul: An Introduction to Logotherapy

⚬ Man’s Search for Meaning

Logotherapy
• It is a psychotherapy introduced by Dr. Viktor Frankl and its main belief was “man’s primary
motivational force is search for meaning”.

• Logotherapy aids individuals to find personal meaning of life, whatever life situation they may
be.

• In logotherapy: meaning can be discovered by creating a work or doing a deed, experiencing

something or encountering someone and the attitude toward unavoidable suffering.

• According to Dr. Viktor, Logotherapy uses the Philosophy of Optimism in the face of tragedy,
where people are capable of “turning suffering intro human achievement and accomplishment; deriving
from guilt the opportunity to change oneself for the better; and deriving from life’s transitoriness and
incentive to take responsible action.”

Basic Concept of Franklian Psychology

These are:

• Life has meaning under all circumstances

• Main motivation for living is our will to find meaning in life

• Freedom to find meaning

Furthermore: Franklian Psychology aims to:

Become aware of spiritual resources

• Make conscious spiritual resources, and

• Use “defiant power of the human spirit” and stand up against adversity.

Logotherapy Assumptions

• The human being is an entity consisting of Body, Mind and Spirit;

• Life has meaning under all circumstances;

• People have a will to meaning;

• People have freedom under all circumstances to activate the will to find meaning;

• Life has a demand quality to which people must respond if decisions are to be meaningful;

The individual is unique;

Frankl Sources of Meaning

There are 3 possible sources of the meaning in life.

• Purposeful Work

• Courage in the Face of Difficulty

• Love

Being a Filipino

Objectives…

• Develop a Filipino Identity

• Identify different Filipino values and traits; and

• Reflect on your selfhood in relation to your national identity.

WHAT MAKES A FILIPINO A GENUINE FILIPINO?

Who is a Filipino?

• Technically, according to the 1987 Philippine Constitution, Filipino citizens are

￭Those whose father or mothers are citizens of the Philippines

￭Those born before January 17, 1973, of Filipino mothers

￭Who elect Philippine citizenship upon reaching the age of majority

￭Those who are naturalized in accordance with law

Filipino values and traits

• THE FILIPINO HOSPITALITY

• Filipino trait that is known everywhere

• Filipinos welcome their guests and tourists as if they are their own brothers and sisters

• In local shops, Filipino salespersons will greet their costumers with warm welcome and say
thank you when they leaves even without buying anything.

• Filipinos also anticipate giving tours to friends who will visit their hometown and treating them
to the best restaurants and delicacies for free.
During festivals or fiestas, Filipino serve heaps of festive food and invite the whole barangay over

• Fond of giving pasalubong or tokens from their travels and pabaon or farewell gifts to their visitors.

RESPECT FOR ELDERS

• Filipino greet their elders by kissing their hand while saying “Mano po”

• Constantly using “Po” and “Opo” in conversations

• References to elder people:

• ate and kuya,

• lola and lolo,

• tito and tita,

• Manong and Aling

CLOSE FAMILY TIES

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

• Fond of family reunions during birthdays, holidays or fiestas

• Nursing homes are almost always not an option for family members and choose to take care of their
elders themselves.

CHEERFUL PERSONALITIES

• Filipinos have a habit of smiling and laughing a lot.

• Smiling has been a coping strategy for many Filipinos especially during trying times and calamities.

SELF-SACRIFICE

• Self-sacrificing attitude of Filipinos can be seen as an extension of the Filipino hospitality

• Filipinos go out of their way to extend help to their friends, families, and loved ones

• Overseas Filipino Workers, regarded as the modern day Filipino heroes.

BAYANIHAN
• It is the spirit of communal unity and cooperation of Filipinos.

• Giving without expecting something in return

• Particularly manifested in how Filipinos rally themselves to send aid to those who are severely affected
by natural calamities.

“BAHALA NA” ATTITUDE

• Filipino version of the famous line “Hakuna Matata” meaning no worries

• Said to have originated from “Bathala na”; leaving everything in God’s hands.

• Can also be viewed as something similar to cheerful and positive attitude of Filipinos and allowing the
situations take care of themselves instead of worrying about them

COLONIAL MENTALITY

• Regarded as lack of patriotism and the attitude where Filipinos favor foreign products more than their
own

• Does not only concern good, but also the desire to look for foreign than local and keep up with foreign
beauty trends.

“MAÑANA” HABIT

• Filipino term for procrastination.

• Derived from a longer Filipino phrase called “Mamaya na” meaning dawdling things; which could have
been done at earlier time.

“NINGAS KUGON”

• “Ningas” is a Filipino term for flame

• “Kugon” is a Filipino term for Cogon grass that easily burns out after it is put into flames.

• Refers to the attitude of eagerly starting things but quickly losing eagerness soon after experiencing
difficulty.

“JUAN TAMAD”

• Laziness is a common problem among Filipinos

PRIDE
• Most Filipinos hold on to their pride as if they are more precious than keeping a good relationship with
family and loved ones.

• When two parties are not in good terms, they find it so hard to apologize and wait until the other
party asks for an apology first.

CRAB MENTALITY

• A toxic trait among Filipinos where one resents the achievement of another, instead of feeling happy
for that person

FILIPINO TIME

• Filipinos have this common attitude of arriving late at commitments, dinner or parties especially of
they are meeting someone close to them.

• They tend to not observe punctuality

Filipino Markers

PROVERBS OR SALAWIKAIN

⚬ Filipino proverbs are sayings that convey lessons and reflections on Filipino practices, beliefs and

traditions

⚬ Examples:

• “Kung may itinanim, may aanihin”

• “Ang hindi lumingon sa pinangalingan, hindi makakarating sa paroroonan”

• “Daig ng maagap ang masipag”

• “Pag binato ka ng bato, batuhin mo nga tinapay”

• “Bato-bato sa langit, tamaan wag magalit”

SUPERSTITIONS

⚬ Passed down from generation to generation

⚬ Some are influenced by beliefs from other cultures, but Filipinos have retold these superstitions
according to their own experiences and they sometimes end up even more interesting
MYTHS AND LEGENDS

⚬ Stories are aimed to explain the origin of things, at the same time, teach a valuable lesson

HOW TO BE A GOOD FILIPINO

• Be an active Filipino citizens

• Study the Philippine History

• Support local products

• Speak the Filipino Language

• Do not spread fake news and be democratic in engaging with dissent.