Emilio Aguinaldo College – Manila

School of Arts, Science and Teacher Education

UNDERSTANDING THE SELF

Name: Vince Nathaniel M. Mendoza

1. How am I beginning to think differently after discussion?

- After a fruitful time of reading and watching the given video lesson, somehow the
topic impacted me by making me realize that there is always more than what you
see or understand. I have always believed that society is responsible for shaping
us humans by interaction, but since my childhood, I was taught to be self
dependent on everything I do in order to have control. For example, In a school
activity, I prefer working alone than in a group, because I believe that by working
alone, I can have more autonomy on making decisions without seeking approval
from other people. However, I came to realize that independence is only
applicable just for some instances, and I cannot succeed just by myself. Of
course I still need other people to help me develop. Like ants, they work
collectively for the welfare of their colony, and this is a philosophy that I come to
think of. Yes an individual can survive on its own; sustaining their physical
bodies, but not for a long time. A human being is more than it’s physical body, we
still need to be sustained by love, affection, and company which is given by other
people.
I remember watching a film entitled “Castaway” It is starred by Tom Hanks,
portraying Chuck Noland, an obsessively punctual Fed-Ex executive. He also
has an egocentric attitude relying mostly just on himself to finish the work.
However, on one of his assignments that will take place in Malaysia, the plane he
is on crashed on the Pacific ocean on an inhabited island where he spent a long
time in isolation, relying just on what the island has and stuff from their plane
 wreck. It may seem boring at first for those who will watch it for the first time but if
you internalize his dilemma, you will come to realize how important other people
is in making you- “you” During his isolation, Chuck unboxed a package which
contains a soccer ball, what he did to the ball is what made me incorporate this
film to this reflection. What Chuck did to the ball is that he put human features
like eyes, nose, and mouth to the ball, even putting sticks onto its head as hair.
He often carried the ball wherever he went on the island, constantly chatting and
creating remarks to the barren thing as if it was a real person. What I want to say
is that even Chuck, in his isolation, cannot bear to be “alone” and in his
desperation to find company used a ball to pretend he is with someone, to share
and empathize with him. This is proof that we humans are already connected to
each other, with socialization a vital part of our lives in order to fill our emotional
needs that may shape us or even change us as an individual.

2. What do I want to explore further after learning the concept?

Anthropology is a very broad topic, it encompasses a lot of fields that are vital in
knowing how we as humans evolved and developed throughout the ages.
However, what I am very interested in this topic in the Anthropological
Perspective, is the identity struggles. It is because in this era, society is now
somehow, but not fully; accepts the concept of gender identity. People especially
of those of religiously inclined tend to argue that sex and gender are just male
and female. But then there are people who are biologically in those two states
but internally, feel the opposite. Others may not be familiar with this but
homosexuality in the society already existed long before this era of its
normalization. Hence, it proves that culture and beliefs evolve over time and
sensitive topics such as these will somehow make it in the society as a common
idea which in the past was not. Context about this is how the Philippines, being
colonized by Spain for almost 3 centuries, fully changed our culture, from our
language, religious beliefs, and way of thinking. Being colonized by a country
which is considered the pedestal of Christianity of that time of course is applied
to us, which can be clearly seen up until now being one of the countries with a
high number of catholics not only in Asia but also, the world. This religious belief
as we know it highly condemns the concept of homosexuality as it is considered
as insolence and is a grave sin. That is why many Filipinos still condemn this
idea up until today as it is the result of religion being embedded to us; that what
God doesn’t want we must not do and what he says we must obey. However, as
a new generation was developed, cultural and traditional manifestations like
these are almost being strayed away. Now, some things that are considered
 grave or unacceptable are being normalized which proves the change of course
of society. Now, identity struggle can be more talked about or be open with, and
this is something that I am looking forward to knowing more about. How this new
era will impact the future and how we as the new generation will develop a new
culture just like the normalization of homosexuality and the respect for the
LGBTQ+ community, far from the traditionally imposed identity by our society.

3. Insights and Realizations about the topic

I always come to believe that society shapes us, that we may think we are whole,
but we are always part of something bigger than ourselves. We are but a single
puzzle piece that connects in this complex picture the society is creating. I have
realized that I am not just me, but I have different personas and roles that I fulfill
everyday that makes up my identity. I am a son, brother, friend, and a student.
Same to the people I know and come to know, I have a role in their lives as they
have in mine. Society is driven by many factors; culture, beliefs, and attitudes,
which we are part of. However, the society constantly changes overtime, with
new ideas being developed, old ideas being revived, which furtherly affects the
people under it. You may have heard the phrase; at least peripherally from your
parents or the elderly “Iba pa noon dati” or “Noong panahon namin-” which is a
proof of the ever changing society we are in. Cultures develop and some are
forgotten, that is why it is important to study the Anthropological perspectives in
order to understand how our identity is changed through time. Answering the
questions: “What would I be if this did not happen?” or “Would I be the same
person if I lived in this era’s society?” There are still many things to discover and
it is up to us to understand these concepts for a better understanding of
ourselves and our purpose.