Mod 6
Mod 6
Mod 6
1. Spiritual Self
The spiritual aspect of the self is the inner essence, the part of the self that
connects the person to the sacred, the supernatural, and the universe.
People develop spirituality through interaction, observation, and imitation.
The family, school, and church play a very important role in the child’s
spiritual development.
A. The Importance of Understanding and Nurturing the Spiritual Self
Understanding and nurturing the spiritual self is as important as the other
aspects of the self. Understanding and developing awareness of the
spiritual self gives the person a feeling of oneness with g/God and the
universe. It also gives a deeper purpose or meaning of one’s life.
All religions recognize the importance of spirituality in one’s life. Spirituality
is mostly connected with religion. To know God is the central function of
religion. Religious beliefs and practices make people closer to God.
Religion
Rebecca Stein works on the definition of religion “as a set of cultural beliefs
and practices that usually includes some or all of basic characteristics. An
individual life in a society where there are many practices of religion. The
choice of religious belief lies within the spiritual self. Although the choice
maybe influenced by the society and its culture.
Ritual
Ritual 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.
The self can be traced to a ritual being who exhibits a striking parallel
between their ritual and verbal behavior. Just as language is a system of
symbols that is based upon arbitrary rules, rituals may be viewed as a
system of symbolic acts that is based upon arbitrary rile. Participation in
rituals is an expression of religious beliefs.
B. Logotherapy by Viktor Frankl
Viktor Frankl’s personal experiences in the Nazi concentration camps
during World War II led him to develop the basic tenets of logotherapy.
Frankl embraced both the bright and dark sides of human existence and
believed that human sufferings could contribute to human achievement and
meaning in life.
Logotherapy is the pursuit of human existence as well as on mans’ search
for such a meaning. Logos is a Greek word that denotes meaning. In
logotherapy, man can discover the meaning in life in three different
ways: by doing a deed, by experiencing a value, and by suffering.
The main belief in logotherapy is that “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. It
uses a philosophy of optimism in the face of tragedy, where people are
capable of ”turning suffering into human achievement and accomplishment;
deriving from guilt the opportunity to change oneself for the better; and
deriving from life’s transitoriness to take responsible action.
Logotherapy Assumptions:
All psychotherapies make philosophical assumptions about human persons
that cannot be proved with certainty. Viktor Frankl Institute of Logotherapy
states that assumptions of logotherapy, which include the following:
1. The human being is an entity consisting of body, mind, and spirit.
This first assumption deals with the body (soma), mind (psyche), and spirit
(noos). According to Frankl, the body and the mind are what we have and
the spirit is what we are.
2. Life has meaning under all circumstances, even the most miserable.
Assumption two is “ultimate meaning.” This is difficult to grasp but it is
something everyone experiences, and it represents an order in a world with
laws that go beyond human laws.
3. People have a will to meaning.
The third assumption is seen as our main motivation for living and acting.
When we see meaning, we are ready for any type of suffering. This is
considered to be different than our will to achieve power and pleasure.
4. People have freedom under all circumstances to activate the will to find
meaning.
Assumption four is that we are free to activate our will to find meaning, and
this can be done under any circumstances. This deals with a change of
attitudes about unavoidable fate. Frankl was able to test the first four
assumptions when he was confined in the concentration camps.
5. Life has a demand quality to which people must respond if decisions are to
be meaningful.
The fifth assumption, the meaning of the moment, is more practical in daily
living than ultimate meaning. Unlike ultimate meaning this meaning can be
found and fulfilled. This can be done by following the values of society or by
following the voice of our conscience.
6. The individual is unique.
The sixth assumption deals with one’s sense of meaning. This is enriched
by the realization that we are irreplaceable. In essence, all humans are
unique with an entity of body, mind, and spirit. We all go through unique
situations and are constantly looking to find meaning. We are free to do
these at all times in response to certain demands.
Frankl’s Source of Meaning
There are three possible sources of meaning of life:
1. Purposeful work
To find the meaning of life starts with holding a future goal. Each individual
has each own future goal to achieve or a task to perform. That task or goal
to fulfill becomes the meaning of their life. Therefore, the meaning of life is
unique to every individual.
2. Courage in the Face of Difficulty
A meaningful life is a life with suffering. Suffering is an inevitable part of life.
To find meaning is to recognize suffering, pain, and death as part of life and
to have the courage to face these life difficulties.
3. Love
In Dr. Frankl’s experience in the Nazi camp, he wrote: “For hours I stood
hacking at the icy ground. The guard passed by, insulting me, and once
again I communed with my beloved. More and more I felt that she was
present, that she was with me; I had the feeling that I was able to touch
her, able to stretch out my hand and grasp hers. The feeling was very
strong: she was there. Then, at that very moment, a bird flew down silently
and perched just in front of me, on the heap of soil which I had dug up from
the ditch and looked steadily on me.” Dr. Frankl’s wife, parents, and some
relatives were victims of the gas chambers. His love for his wife kept him
fighting for his life.
Dr. Frankl’s definition of love: ”Love is the only way to grasp another human
being in the innermost core of his personality. No one can become fully
aware of the very essence of another human being unless he loves him. By
his love, he is enabled to see the essential traits and features in the
beloved person; and even more, he sees that which is potential in him…
Furthermore, by his love, the loving person enables the beloved person to
actualize these potentialities. By making him aware of what we can be and
of what he should become, he makes these potentialities come true.
Frankl: ”The ultimate secret on the spiritual foundation of life is that love is
salvation and joy eternity.” The ultimate factor to find the meaning of life is
love.
2. Political Self
What makes a Filipino a Filipino?
Do physical characteristics such as having a dark hair, flat nose, and dark
complexion make one a Filipino? Or is it a person’s language, birthplace,
and ethnicity? If you were to introduce yourself as a Filipino to a person of
another nationality and he or she asks, “Who are Filipinos?”, what will you
reply?
Who is a Filipino?
Filipinos are often referenced to globally renowned personalities like Manny
Pacquiao, Lea Salonga, Michael Cinco, and apl.de.ap. who have been
recognized around the world through their expertise. However, being a
Filipino is far more than just being related to these notable figures.
Independence Day and Buwan ng Wika celebrations prompt us to go back
to our roots and reflect on the question: Who is a Filipino?
Filipino Citizenship
Technically, according to the 1987 Philippine Constitution, Filipino citizens
are “… those whose fathers and mothers are citizens of the Philippines,
those born before January 17, 1973, of mothers, who elect Philippine
citizenship upon reaching the age of majority, and those who are
naturalized in accordance with the law.”
However, citizenship is not the only marker of being a Filipino. Culture and
history have greatly influenced the manner Filipinos learn, live, and behave
to date. Generations after generations, common traits and values have
been passed on that the Filipinos of today still embody.
Filipino Values and Traits
The Philippines is a lush island paradise famous for its grandiose mountain
views, pristine beaches, and rich and diverse culture change from province
to province. While the Philippines may be well known for its awe-inspiring
beauty, perhaps the Filipinos’ unique traits, reputable values, and laudable
talents make the country a place to be.
1. Filipino Hospitality
Filipinos welcome their guests and tourists as if they are their own brothers
and sisters; they always make their guests feel at home, offering them
something to eat, or even a place to stay. Filipinos also anticipate giving
tours to friends who will visit their hometown and treating them to the nest
restaurants and delicacies for free. During festivals and fiestas, Filipinos
serve heaps of food and invite the whole barangay over.
2. Respect for Elders
Filipinos greet their elders by kissing their hand while saying “Mano po!”
and constantly using “po” and ”opo” in conversations. Forgetting to address
older people properly will regard them as rude and impolite.
3. 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. They are
also fond of family reunions during birthdays, holidays, or fiestas year-
round. Some Filipino families even opt to live in a big house where
everyone can stay together. Nursing homes are almost always not an
option for family members and choose to take care of their elders
themselves.
4. Cheerful Personality
Filipinos have a habit of smiling and laughing a lot. They smile when they
are happy, or sometimes even when they are sad or angry. Smiling has
been a coping strategy for many Filipinos especially during trying times and
calamities. They always try to maintain a positive outlook in life which
makes them resilient and able to manage almost everything with a simple
smile.
5. Self-sacrifice
The self-sacrificing attitude of the 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. They wish comfort and better lives for
their loved ones and would even go to the extent of working abroad
hundreds of miles away to earn more money and save up for them.
Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) sacrifice a lot; that is why they are
regarded as the modern-day Filipino heroes. There are also times when the
eldest among the children of the family would give up school to work and
provide for the rest of the family and educate his or her siblings.
6. Bahala na
“Bahala na” is the Filipino version of the famous line “Hakuna Matata,”
meaning no worries. The phrase is said to have originated from “Bathala
na,” where Bathala means God, and the phrase meaning leaving
everything into God’s hands.
It can also be viewed as something similar to the cheerful and positive
attitude of Filipinos and allowing situations to take care of themselves
instead of worrying about them.
7. Mañana Habit
This is the Filipino term for procrastination. It was derived from a longer
Filipino phrase called “Mamaya na” meaning dawdling things, which could
have been done at an earlier time. It is a poor habit of laziness that results
in heavier workloads.
8. Ningas Kugon
”Ningas” is a Filipino term for flame and “kugon” is a Filipino term for Cogon
grass that easily burns out after it is put into flames. Ningas Kugon refers to
the attitude of eagerly starting things but quickly losing eagerness soon
after experiencing difficulty, just like how fast the fire of a Cogon grass
burns out moments after being ignited. Laziness is a common problem
among Filipinos; that is why Filipinos are regarded as “Juan Tamad” or
Lazy Juan.
9. 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 on good terms, they find it so hard to apologize and wait until the
other party asks for an apology first.
10. Crab Mentality
This is a toxic trait among Filipinos where one resents the achievement of
another, instead of feeling happy for that person. Just like crabs in a
container, they pull each other down and ruin each other’s reputation rather
than bringing them up, resulting in no progress. Filipinos should change
this troublesome attitude and focus more on their own inadequacies to
improve one’s self.
11. Filipino Time
Filipinos have this common attitude of arriving late at commitments, dinner,
or parties especially if they are meeting someone close to them. They tend
to not observe punctuality altogether. The 7:00 PM call time becomes
adjusted to 7:30 PM, and almost everyone arrives at the same time
because everyone is using Filipino time.
How to be a Good Filipino?
Now you know that your traits and values are important indicators of being
a Filipino. The problem now is how to truly become one and how you can
be useful to the development and progress of our country. The following
are a few ways on how to a good Filipino:
1. Be an active Filipino citizen.
A good Filipino citizen is aware of the current events and participates in
government programs that aim for the country’s progression and
development.
By simply exercising your right to vote, you also become an active citizen.
When it comes to voting, the rich and the poor have equal voting rights –
every Filipino citizen of legal age has a chance in choosing the right
leaders for the Philippines who are genuine in helping and caring for the
Filipino people.
2. Study the Philippine history.
The road of the Philippine history is long and bloody, and by learning and
fully understanding the events of the Philippine history, you will learn so
much as to why it is so important for you to love your country with your life,
extend help to your fellow Filipinos in need, and recognize abuse of political
power.
3. Support local products.
When you buy local products, you do not only support local manufacturers
and businessmen, but you also help strengthen the local economy. There
will be more demand for local products, thus, local businesses will be in
need for more employees, which will open new job opportunities. The
business owners will also invest within the country and are less likely to
leave. Supporting our local products also displays our creativity,
innovativeness, and resourcefulness.
4. Speak the Filipino language.
The history of the Filipino language was as long and hard as the Philippine
history. Jose Rizal highlighted the importance of a national language as a
way of displaying the love for one’s country. Speaking Filipino also serves
as a unique identifier of being a Filipino. It has been a decade-long debate
whether to use Filipino as the instructional language in school and to
translate textbooks into Filipino, however, this is still not strictly imposed.
5. Do not spread fake news and be democratic in engaging with
dissent.
This period in the history of the Philippines has seen how the Internet has
spawned tons of possibilities for people, both good and bad.
For instance, it is easier for Filipinos working abroad to communicate with
their loved ones left in the Philippines through the Internet. Despite this, the
Internet has also made the spread of fake news very common. Likewise,
the Internet has also made us engage in intense arguments with people
across the globe about our political positions, for example.
It is part of being a good Filipino to understand and verify what you read
online, especially in social media, before actually believing in it and
spreading it like wildfire. It is also the responsibility of every Filipino to
recognize disagreement in political views, be tolerant, and argue
intelligently without having to resort into name-calling people.