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through using objects to control others, like
LESSON 3 – MANAGING THE MATERIAL SELF giving gifts or using bribes (Belk 1988).

Introduction of the Material Self

2. Through either creating or buying it (Belk
1988). Because you spend blood and sweat on
The connection of the self to one’s possessions has a project, for example, you tend to give it more
been an interest of the social sciences, particularly importance
anthropology and psychology.
Particularly in cultural anthropology, the way culture ➢ that having a good grade for it affects you
and groups has given meaning to things has been of emotionally more than a project you just
interest. haphazardly made. Spending a lot of
money on something would also make
There were also studies on how one object gains you care for it more, like when someone
status as a “prestige good’ or something that give a wants to borrow your custom- made bike
perception that the owner has more prestige. or car and you keep an eye on them in
Another case would be how an object becomes part of case they scratch it.
a family’s history, like necklace passed down to the
eldest child of each generation. ➢ However, recent culture and economy
have shifted our focus from production to
The Material Self (According To Philosophers) consumption (Hurson 2013). In
sociological perspectives, society affects
WILLIAM JAMES our concept of self and this shift of focus
to production had us consuming more and
● One of the first to describe the self as the producing less for ourselves.
totality of everything that one calls his or hers, Ex. buying cabinets and not make one
which included what he called the “material buying 3-in-1 coffees instead of mixing it
self”. on our own.
● This material self focuses more on the body,
our clothes and belongings, our immediate ➢ That might be a reason why most people
family, as well as the place we call home. find it relaxing or fulfilling to construct
things on their own.
RUSSELL BELK
3. Knowing about something creates a
● Working from this work and ideas of French connection between you and that object of
philosopher, Jean-Paul Sartre, Russell Belk your interest (Belk 1998).
further researched on the material self and ➢ A simple example is investing your time to
theorized on how objects become extensions study or even master something about
of ourselves or our identities. These objects engineering, biology, art, music or history, and
extend ourselves in space and time. in time, you might be called an engineer, a
biologist, an artist, a musician, or a historian,
● A tool helps double our strength, a weapon which will be part of your identity.
extends our reach, a uniform helps us relate ➢ Another one is knowing about a person
with a group, or a t-shirt can remind us of our romantically and in a more intimate level that
own he/she becomes a part of you.

JEAN-PAUL SARTRE In 1992, Richins and Dawson developed the Material

He noted three ways which we connect with objects: Values Scale (MVS) to measure materialism in
consumers. In recent years, a number of studies have
1. Through controlling an object , like learning to used the MVS to examine materialism as a facet of
ride a bike or finally teaching your dog a trick consumer behavior.
that you want him/her to do. We also connect
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Materialism is about the belief of a person on the
importance of material objects to the achievement of Also, teens give more importance to having similar
happiness or success (Chan 2019) items with their peers as a sense of shared identity as
well as an attempt to be different from their parents
Several psychological studies support that materialism (Jarrett, 2013).
is inversely related to self-esteem. Meaning, it is more
likely that a materialistic person is using objects to Young people seems to value possessions based on
compensate for his/her low self-esteem or something the following:
that is lacking in his/her personal life (Christopher and 1. Emotional attachment- like the happiness that
Schenker 2004; Jarrett 2013). you get from it;
2. Social meaning - especially the ability of the
The set-up might be because he/she is more object to attract people or make you feel that
emotionally connected to objects than people, or you belong.
he/she is using material objects to gain acceptance in a 3. Personal association - or how an object is
circle of people. related to our concept of self, like buying an
eight note necklace because you think you are
Furthermore, a study of Richins (1994) found that a musician.
highly materialistic people put value on their
belongings for their use, especially as a boost for social The material self also gets on a more specific
status, while less materialistic people value their interest. You may find that later in life that you will
possession for the joy and comfort that they get from become more interested in power tools or kitchenware
these things (Christopher and Schenker 2004). or appliances as you get older, for example.

● We can therefore argue that a person who uses It must be noted that the acquisition and attachment to
objects to gain acceptance and privilege are object still depend on who we think we are or who we
also more likely to ride current trends. want to be perceived by others (Jarrett 2013)
● Our perspective and connection with objects
develop through time. ● Old age brings another aspect to the
relationship between the owner and the object.
SELF AND OBJECTS THROUGH LIFE STAGES The object now becomes a vessel of memory.
The connection of self to the material world develops
and changes over time. Studies showed that, even with IDEAS ON MANAGING RESOURCES
cultural differences, there seems to be a similar
experience in the development of the material self Our current economic system is based on monetary
throughout the life of a person. exchanges and being a consumer necessitates having
cash. Having some money then became a part of our
According to Belk (1988) there could be four stages “self” as we engage in economic activities.
of this development:
1. The infant distinguishes self from environment; However, how finances are handled can make or break
2. The infant distinguishes self from others; a person, an organization, a company, and even a
3. Possessions help adolescents and adults family.
manage their identities;
4. Possessions help the old persons have a sense 1. Keep your perspective in check. The love of
of continuity and preparation for death. money, not the money itself, causes the
problem. Money is important but it should be
In adolescents, the attachment to objects increasingly perceived as a means to a better end. You
depends on who people are, or how they want to be should not sacrifice short-term satisfaction and
perceived, especially by their peers. Various studies happiness for a long- term fulfillment and joy.
state that the lower the self-esteem, the more a person
seems to acquire and/or get attached to more objects, 2. Have money, do not just pretend. Or as others
and vice versa. say, “The goal is to be rich, not to look rich.” In a
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lot of instances, it is appearance that we at the moment or pressured by peers or trends
perceived first. But, pretension can only go so that you want to buy something now, but in
much. Having your own money actually lets you reality, it is something you do not really need.
buy what you want and what you need. You will ➢ Save first before you spend, not spend before
have a higher probability of not loaning in case saving what is left. That way, you save a bigger
of emergency and you will not be in a bad debt amount and you get a more realistic budget for
trying to please other people. all your expenses.
➢ You can reward yourself without being too
3. Have your own goal, take your own time. Have extravagant or overextending your budget. Go
your goal for both short-term (3 months to 1 watch the movies, buy branded clothes, drink
year) or long-term (more than a year). Do not coffee at a high-end coffee shop, buy new
just think of something to buy, but also about upgrades for your ride, and so on, as long as
something to improve your financial status. you keep those things within the above
Then, keep that goal in mind instead of mentioned premises.
comparing yourself with others as we all have
different experiences including backgrounds. 7. Increase income flow. Sometimes the budget can
Do not chase after others, build your own. be too tight or the money in the bank is not
growing enough. Therefore, you must find legal
4. Budget, budget, budget. A lot of people do not ways to increase your income. Any good means to
like the word “budget” because it sounds add to your allowance or current income. Just also
restrictive, but it is not. When you have a be sure that you still have time for yourself, your
budget, you have realistic idea of what you can studies, and your family.
spend on whatever you want, and b) a peace of
mind that you have at least taken care of the 8. Good debt vs. bad debt. Ideally, we must get out
important needs that you have to pay for. Start of debt first before we can continue to make our
by making a list of your common expense. Also, money grow. It is about having a good record and
include how much money you are willing to personal integrity. However, there are also things
save or invest. that we can call good debts.

5. Save in order to be safe. Having a savings in ● Bad debts – those we acquired but do not
the bank provides you a security incase of necessarily need and/or do not increase our
emergencies. Others may have or opt for a financial capabilities
separate emergency and savings as the ● Good debts – those we acquire and will
savings account can be reserved for a increase our financial capabilities.
long-term project, like a house. You must not
use your savings until emergency comes or Remember, installments are still debts, because you
until you can finally use it to purchase a are still providing payments. It is best if you can cash it
long-term goal. in. Also, when you make money, settle your debts first.

6. Keep your spending habits in check. 9. Make your money grow. Increasing your
➢ Make a list when going to the grocery/mall and financial capabilities takes time and honest
prioritize buying those things in your list before work. But, there are means of increasing your
you buy anything else when you have the spare income wherein, after putting the necessary
money. initial work, the money will grow on its own and
➢ Pay in cash. Minimize the use of your credit or will yield profit higher than just being in a bank.
debit card. As a lot of financial experts usually ➔ engage only in a business that you
advice, if you cannot pay it in cash, it is not yet understand;
within your budget or financial capacity. At ➔ do not engage in quick-money pyramid
least wait when you can afford it. schemes;
➢ Wait for a day or a week before you buy ➔ diversify, do not invest all your money in
something, because you might just be enticed one place or one type of business, but
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do not also scatter them too thinly.
Invest in around three for a start.

10. Protect your Future. Following the plan of

action, you will reach a time when you have a
steady flow of income, both from your work and
your investments. You know how to budget
things, so you can address your needs and
enjoy some luxury. You also have savings or
emergency account, just in case something
really bad happens. Thus, you need to have
insurance for your health in case you have an
accident or a sickness – a life-insurance.

Again, research is necessary to avoid falling for

fake insurances. Remember that you are doing
this mainly for your family, so that they will not
be financially burdened in case something
happens to you.

11. Your greatest investment is still yourself.The

mastermind behind all of these is you.
Therefore, you must never stop learning and
improving yourself, your skills, and your
passions among others. The more you know,
the more opportunities you can see as well as
traps to avoid. Health is also one of the
greatest wealth one can have, so have time to
eat right and exercise.

12. Enjoy life no matter what. Enjoy your profits,

keep a good relationship with your family, have
a healthy and romantic relationship, serve the
community, take a hobby, engage in arts or
sports, plant a tree, or adopt a stray pet.

People lived meaningful lives prior to this cash-oriented

economy and we still can as long as we keep a healthy
perspective on how we relate ourselves to the material
world.
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THE SPIRITUAL SELF Religiousness – the degree by which one is affiliated

The body is believed to be made up of three with an organized religion in terms of the person’s
components participation in the prescribed rituals and practices,
connection with its beliefs, and involvement with its
● Body- is the physical being that responds to community of believers (Santrock, 2014)
stimuli and communicates with the surroundings.
● Soul - comprises the emotions and thoughts of a Theories of the Origin of Religion
person. ● One of earliest was Tyler’s view that people
● Spirit - is the intangible aspect that needed to explain the differences between the
communicates with deities in the spiritual realm. living and the dead and from this came the idea
of a soul.
Human beings are incomplete without the spirit. ● He named this approach animism, a belief that a
Religion teaches us the value of a higher being who soul or spirit inhabits all living objects, including
develops in us our morality and conscience. It is vital plants, animals and even minerals.
that we explore how to nourish the spiritual self through ● Tyler believes that eventually the idea of a soul
our religious beliefs and practices. became polytheism, or a belief in many deities,
which eventually shifted to monotheism, or a
“When you examine the lives of the most influential belief in one deity. There are still cultures that
people who have ever walked among us, you discover practice each of these types of religion. (Ang,
one thread that winds through them all. They have been 2018)
aligned first with their spiritual nature and only then
with their physical selves.” - Albert Einstein Functions of Religion
1. Stability and cohesion - shared religion binds
● Religion comes from the Latin word “religare” people closely together:
which means to bind together. a. Religions forms a balanced and cohesive
➢ The binding together depends on how people moral community. It is a means of
interpret religion. protecting individuals from anomie,
● Religion are the beliefs and behaviors related to alienation and the threats of disruptive
supernatural beings and powers. mass movements and so maximizes the
➢ This definition does not specify a belief in individual’s potential for happiness.
God, because not all religions have that b. Shared religious experiences provide the
belief. social cement for group unity and
● Religion is narrower than a worldview, or consensus.
cosmology, which is a culture’s understanding of 2. Social identity – shared religion gives people an
how the universe came into being, why it is the identity and social membership.
way it is, and the place of people in it. All cultures a. This is achieved through special naming
have religion, spirituality, a worldview and magic. ceremonies, in christening and baptism in
● Spirituality - is a concern with the sacred in an the Christian church. For Durkheim, group
individual manner. solidarity is affirmed and heightened during
● Adherents - are people who practice a religion. collective ceremony and ritual.
b. Religion represents the necessary power of
WILLIAM JAMES defined personal religion as the the social group over the otherwise
“feelings, acts, and experiences of individual men in isolated, anomic individual.
their solitude, so far as they apprehend themselves to c. Religion serves to integrate the person
stand in relation to whatever they may consider devine.” into the society. It is functionally useful for
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people to grow up identifying with a purpose to people’s lives:
particular place or nation, to strengthen a
person’s sense of national commitment, a. People are vulnerable to all kinds of disasters
especially if either religion or nation come beyond their control. Religious beliefs offer
under threat. people comfort in times of crisis.
b. It is the institution which gives people the
3. Collective conscience - religion unites people in strength to continue and promotes the long-term
moral ways: maintenance of society as a result.
a. The group affirms its belief in the central values
through its commitment to the religious system. Spirituality - involves experiencing something beyond
These sentiments produce “value consensus”. oneself in a transcendent manner and living in a way
that benefits others and society. It could also be related
b. Religion thereby generates and maintains the to a search for the sacred.
collective conscience. This was observable in ➢ The term ‘sacred’ may signify a person, an
its effects and was open to scientific study just object, a principle, or a concept that transcends
as other social effects could be studied and the self. It can include a divine being or a divine
analyzed, by collecting relevant statistics, object that is ‘set apart’ and considered as holy
through careful observation and recording or or beyond the ordinary.
other experimental methods.
Spiritual identity – the persistent sense of self that
c. Durkheim saw society as a moral community addresses ultimate questions about the nature,
whose members were socialized into accepting purpose, and meaning of life.
appropriate patterns of behavior overtime. This ➢ It results in behaviors that are consonant with
is an unending process since people are always the individual's core values. The definition of a
being integrated into new groups, adopting new sense of spiritual identity focuses on the
norms, absorbing new values and adapting new individual’s construction of a relationship to the
patterns of behavior. sacred and ultimate meaning.
d. An orderly social life is only possible when
people share moral value; in this way, society The Spiritual Self
becomes embedded in the individual.
Spiritual Self - considered as the higher self, the inner

4. Socialization and social control – religion self, and a person’s true being that is greatly influenced

represents the value system of the society: by a spiritual deity.Spiritual deities whom people

a. It is a conservative force which contributes to believed vary from one religious group to another.

moral and wider social order and stability. From history, people’s lives have been shaped by their

b. Many cultural norms are given sacred legitimacy religious traditions and practices.

by religious beliefs, e.g. the Ten Commandments

provide a prescription for an orderly lifestyle. By ● Meditation practices increase positive emotions,

promoting such values through family, school which may yield positive consequences for life

and church, the process of socialization occurs. satisfaction.

c. Appropriate modes of thinking and behaving are ➢ Research has also shown that when facing

controlled in ways which will promote the good, trials, greater religiosity predicts greater

orderly society. subjective well-being mediated by greater

social support and meaning in life (Diener et

5. Meaning and purpose - religion gives meaning and al. 2011)

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Individuals with faith in a higher being are able to face ● Rather than power or pleasure, logotherapy is
life challenges with greater confidence and hope. The founded on belief – that is striving to find a
impossible becomes possible and the difficult becomes meaning in one’s life (that is the primary, most
manageable, because of divine intervention and powerful motivating and driving force in
guidance. Christians, for example, gain a new sense of humans)
direction and strength after devoting some time in
prayer and meditation of the Bible or the word of God. Basic Principles on Discovering Meaning In Life
1. Meaning in life - In logotherapy, man should see
The faith in a higher being gives them a sense of existence as experiencing life’s ups and downs.
purpose one that is greater than the physical self. This Finding meaning in life does not mean that
purpose drives their other affairs, such as family and people should strive to become perfect. This
career. principle emphasizes that in spite of the
person’s wealth, status or gender, he should
“Everything can be taken from a man but one thing: the discover meaning in life events and
last of the human freedoms- to choose one’s attitude in circumstances. He should realize that sufferings
any given set of circumstances, to choose one’s own are part of life which cannot be avoided and that
way.” - Viktor E. Frankl finding meaning is still possible even in times of
great loss and deep sorrow.
Austrian psychiatrist and Holocaust survivor Viktor
Frankl (March 26, 1905–September 2, 1997) remains 2. Will to meaning - meaning that one attaches to
best- known for his indispensable 1946 psychological experience is not obvious. Since the meaning
memoir Man’s Search for Meaning (public library) — a varies from person to person and situation to
meditation on what the gruesome experience of situation, it is quite challenging to discover what
Auschwitz taught him about the primary purpose of life: the experience means to be fulfilled. The
the quest for meaning, which sustained those who meaning given to one’s life may also vary at any
survived. given moment.

It tells the story of how he survived the Holocaust by 3. Freedom to will. People are given the freedom to
finding personal meaning in the experience, which gave make life choices which includes how they
him the will to live through it. He went on to later respond to life events. People can discover
establish a new school of existential therapy called meaning through the values that they attach to
logotherapy, based in the premise that man’s underlying things connected with their lives. Values can be
motivator in life is a “will to meaning,” even in the most creative, experiential and attitudinal.
difficult of circumstances.
According to Frankl, people can discover this meaning
Logotherapy in life in three different ways:
● From the Greek word “logos” which means 1. by creating a work or doing a
reason or meaning. deed
● Developed by neurologist and psychiatrist 2. by experiencing something or
VIKTOR FRANKL (1950s) and considered the encountering someone
“Third Viennese School of Psychotherapy” after 3. by the attitude people take
Freud’s psychoanalysis and Adler’s Individual toward unavoidable suffering and
Psychology. It is based on an Existential that “everything can be taken
Analysis. from a man but one thing: the
last of human freedom – to
choose one’s attitude in any given
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set of circumstances”. benefits, such as focus to decrease pain and depression
together with improved health and happiness.
Human Spirit and Logotherapy
The human spirit is referred to in several of the ● Religious people choose to spend quality time
assumptions of Logotherapy: with family, and they feel a strong sense of
belonging to a community of like-minded
1. The term spirit is not “spiritual” or “religious” in people. Lastly, spiritual people have a very high
Frankl’s view, the spirit is the will of the human regard to prayer. Prayer helps people find
being. comfort by assisting them in dealing with
2. The emphasis is on the search for meaning, difficult emotions, encouraging forgiveness, and
which is not necessarily the search for God or leading healthier relationships.
any other supernatural being. ● Furthermore, positive emotions, increasing
3. Noted the barriers to humanity’s quest for levels of psychological resilience, and improved
meaning in life. He warns against affluence, immune response have all been associated with
hedonism, materialism in the search for spirituality (Miller, K. 2020).
meaning.
Spirituality is not a simple subject for experiential study.
EXISTENTIAL VACUUM It is actually a complex system that requires serious and
dedicated effort. Nevertheless, considering the positive
➔ The psychological condition in which a person correlation between spiritual, physical, and
doubts whether life has any meaning. This new psychological well-being, health experts and
neurosis is characterized by loss of interest and practitioners can undeniably include spirituality in
lack of initiative. practice in order to help patients recover from their
➔ Thus the individual relies mainly upon actions of illnesses and have a happier and longer life.
others and neglects the meaning of his own
personal life. People worldwide have diverse religious views and
➔ Hence he sees his own life as meaningless and practices. The decision to seek spiritual enlightenment
falls into the “existential vacuum” feeling inner is driven by the innate need for meaning. Joining a
void. spiritual group helps people find meaning in their lives.
➔ Progressive automation causes increasing Through the spiritual group, people find connections in
alcoholism, juvenile delinquency, and suicide. troubling times. The connection group helps ease their
stress and their depressive symptoms, and increase
The Spiritual Self and Coping with Stress their immune response. With these benefits, it is just
According to Dr. Seppala of Stanford University’s Center essential for us to start embarking on spiritual
for Compassion and Altruism research, spiritual people transcendence.
engage in practices that can help reduce levels of stress
(Miller, K. 2020). Starting Your Own Spiritual Journey

It has been observed that spiritual people are more Miller (2020) proposed a simple guideline on how to
likely to help the poor through donations or volunteer start with our spiritual journey.
work. They are also involved in community services.
Spiritually active people cope with stress through 1. Start small and make new habits easy. We are not
meditation rather than overeating or engaging in required to strictly follow a set of beliefs overnight.
unhealthy coping behaviors. Meditations provide Spiritual journey is a process and it is progressive.
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Becoming spiritual can be as simple as staying silent
for 5 to 10 minutes a day in a peaceful environment.

2. Commit. It is a matter of perspective. Decide to

start and continue with your spiritual journey. Begin
with self-love. With growing measures of love, joy,
peace, patience, kindness, goodness, and gratitude,
one can start being more spiritual right away.

3. Practice. Just keep on doing and progressing.

Human beings must continually practice mindful
attention to their thoughts, emotions and behaviors
to find experiences in spirituality.

THE POLITICAL SELF AND BEING A FILIPINO

Introduction of Politics ● Political life is a necessary consequence of his
social existence. So that a person can secure a
Politics - From the Greek work Politika, which is place in his society he must experience peace and
etymologically defined as ‘affairs of the cities. order and this can only be through in a political
atmosphere.
● It is the process of making decisions that applies ● According to St. Thomas Aquinas, political life
to all members of the group. must adhere to the idea that “the ruler and the
● The ability to govern and control over a group of ruled” should be able to uphold the common good.
people in a community, state or nation It is understood that in political life,
● It can be inferred from this new that a person’s ➢ Ruler - is the government
ability to influence others by making a decision for ➢ The ruled - are the people or the citizens.
them is one of the essential qualities in one’s
political self. Origin of the Politics
From a functional perspective, political systems serve
The Political Self some basic survival need, in this case the need for
internal order and defense external enemies. Thus,
Human nature - is social in character as almost all some members of the group are granted power to
philosophers adhere to this absolute truth. define and enforce the norms. In the most simple of
gathering bands, all adults could join in this task. But in
➔ St. Thomas and Aristotle both agreed to this the more complex the society; the greater the need to
political nature of man, that the state is a natural coordinate the activities of many specialists and to
institution founded like a man (Bernardo’s 2016). settle disputes among kinship groups or other social
A person does not just desire to relate to others units. At some point, loyalty to the society as a whole
but wants to form a society of which he is a part. must supersede family and local allegiance.
➔ A governing group becomes the focus of such
Hence a society serves as a person’s sanctuary for loyalty, with the power to make rules and enforce
the fulfillment of his political needs. Without society a them.
person is denied of his yearning for unity, a yearning
that motivates him for social relationship with others. In ● Loyalty to this larger entity and its leader is
entering into a social group for the satisfaction of his created and reinforced through ritual and other
needs, a person in a sense shows a political character unifying symbols.
of his life.
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➢ Where ceremonies and sacred objects fail to for the functions and operations of the
generate solidarity, they collectively organization.
disintegrates into hostile factions. While the
Characteristic of Effective Leaders (Myers, 2015)
ruling cities are especially eager to use
rituals to legitimize their rule, opposition > consistently stick to their goals
groups also need unifying symbols. > have the self-confident charisma that influences
their followers
● Early societies were small and needed no > they also have the ability to communicate in clear
extensive political system. They operated more and simple language
like an extended family, with decisions being > have enough optimism and faith in their group to
made as they became necessary. As surpluses inspire them to follow
developed and societies grew larger, cities
evolved- perhaps about 3500 BC (Fischer
- The human psyche is a political psyche.
1976).
In everyday life, people need to adjust not only to
themselves but to their world, the forces in the
City-states then came into being, with power radiating
environment that create pressures, ideas and interests.
outward from a city like a spider’s web. City-states
This leads to an independent and interactive nature of
often quarreled and wars were common. The victorious
one’s psyche.
one’s extended their rule and eventually a single
city-state was able to wield power over an entire
The political behavior in general is not something
region. As the size of these regions grew, the people
separate from other forms of human relationship.
slowly developed an identity with the larger region.
That is- they began to see distant inhabitants as “we”
instead of “they”. What we call the state – the political Theories of Leadership
entity that claims a monopoly on the use of violence
within a territory-came into being. Three (3) Psychological needs By David McClelland

The political organization of a complex society is called 1. Needs for power- wants others to follow
the nation-state. him/her.
States are organized sets of institutions that govern 2. Need for affiliation - need to please others
and defend a given territory. Today, however the or you want others to like you.
historical evidence suggests a more complicated 3. Need for achievement - need to achieve
picture in which the state operates as a relatively your goals and to be competitive.
autonomous (self- directing) institutional sphere, with
its own history and logic.
Leadership Motivation Patterns
(Chan and Drasgow, 2001)
LEADERSHIP
- An important aspect of politics is the capacity 1. Affective identity motivation – the
to influence and lead a group of people. motivation to lead as a result of a desire to be
Leadership is the process by which certain in charge and lead others.
group members motivate and guide the group
(Myers, 2015) 2. Noncalculative motivation – those who seek
leadership positions because they will result
in personal gain.
- Leadership can be exercised in a small group
like in the family, in the classroom, in school as 3. Social-normative motivation – the desire to
leaders of any school organization. lead out of a sense of duty or responsibility.

- Leadership may also observed in a larger scale

such as in government (politicians) and leaders
of international affairs. In organizations, leaders Types of Leadership
(according to Path-Goal Theory)
are always at the frontline and are responsible
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● The manner by which ideas are expressed is
1. Instrumental – leaders who plan and
important when connecting to others.
organize for their subordinates.
2. Supportive – leaders who show concern to
their subordinates.
3. Participative – leaders who allow
subordinates to participate in decision
making.
4. Achievement-oriented – sets challenges and
rewards achievement.

Leadership style

1. Autocratic leadership – directive, non-

participative and domineering
2. Democratic leadership – participative,
communicative and egalitarian The Four Principles
3. Laissez-faire leadership – ‘hands-off’, with
few attempt made to influence others. - Whoever comes is the right people.
- Whatever happens is the only thing that
could have.
Open Space Technology
- Whenever it starts is the right time
- When it is over it is over.
Harrison Owen
● An Episcopal priest whose academic
The Law of Two Feet
background and training centered on the nature
If people find themselves in situations where they’re
and function of myth, ritual and culture.
neither learning anything nor contributing, they are
● In the middle ’60s, he left academe to work
responsible for moving to another place - using their
with a variety of organizations including small
two feet to find a place where their participation is
West African villages, large corporations and
more meaningful.
NGOs, urban (American and African)
community organizations, Peace Corps,
OST runs on passion and responsibility. The law of two
Regional Medical Programs, National Institutes
feet creates “bumble bees” who cross-pollinate ideas
of Health, and Veterans Administration.
from one discussion group to another discussion group
and “butterflies” using do anything but be beautiful.
● Owen set about to create a process that
They sometimes
captured a freedom, spontaneity and the high
others to start new ideas and
energy of the coffee breaks and their effective
outcomes.
Who is a Filipino?
● An effective approach to purpose-driven
➔ you might be surprised at how differently
leadership which initially has no formal agenda
people, who call themselves Filipino, answer
but eventually leads to a specific or important
this question. It has been more than a century
purpose or task.
since the Philippines gained independence from
● It is applied in hosting meetings, conflict
its colonizers, yet it appears that until now,
minded peace building conferences, corporate-
Filipinos still do not have a unified notion, or
style retreats, symposiums and community
an otherwise clear picture, of who or what a
summit events.
Filipino is.
● It works best when different people with
different views must deal with complex and
People’s varied perception of what makes one a Filipino
potentially conflicting material.
also affects how one sees himself or herself.
● It offers the best results in a relative short time,
within an innovative and productive context.
Ways to characterize and define a Filipino
UNDERSTANDING THE SELF 12
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➔ from his physical attributes aforementioned Constitutional provision.
➔ Behaviors, values, traits, customs, and
➔ to his beliefs and practices, ● Natural-born citizens need not perform any act
all of these factors affect a person’s political to acquire such citizenship. If their parents are
self-concept in varying degrees depending on how both Filipinos, then from the moment of their
much one identifies with the Filipino identity. birth, they will automatically acquire Filipino
citizenship.
However, beyond these commonly known traits
associated with being a Filipino, the Philippine Filipino Citizens by Naturalization
Constitution, which is the supreme law of the land, ➔ The process of naturalization pertains to a
also provides a picture of who a Filipino is, with respect “judicial act of adopting a foreigner and clothing
to his nation. him with the privileges of a native-born citizen.
➢ It implies the renunciation of a former
- In political terms, a Filipino is regarded as a nationality
citizen or an inhabitant of a given territory, such
as the Republic of the Philippines, who by virtue ➔ This means that a foreigner may acquire Filipino
of this citizenship exercises civil and political citizenship if he wants to, provided that he
rights within the said territory. renounces his former nationality in favor of the
new citizenship. This act of renunciation,
however, will not automatically grant the
Section 1, Article IV of the 1987 Constitution
provides: foreigner the desired citizenship, because it is
still subject to certain judicial or administrative
Section 1. The following are citizens of the Philippines: proceedings as prescribed by our Philippine
[1] Those who are citizens of the Philippines at the laws.
time of the adoption of
this Constitution;
➔ Therefore in a sense, not only can the Filipino
[2] Those whose fathers or mothers are citizens of
the Philippines; identity be formed and influenced by culture
[3] Those born before January 17, 1973, of Filipino and society, but also by the nation and its
mothers, who elect Philippine citizenship upon government itself, to which the Filipino citizen
reaching the age of majority; and owes loyalty and allegiance to. The existence of
[4] Those who are naturalized in accordance with law. a common citizenship may also be a factor in
forming a national identity. How much one
Filipino Citizens by Birth identifies with its nation or government, affects
one’s political self-concept, and would further
Filipinos are either natural-born or naturalized citizens promote or discourage one’s engagement in the
of the Philippines (De Leon 2011). This citizenship may country’s civic and political affairs
be acquired either by birth (involuntary method) or by
naturalization (voluntary method). The Concept of Nationalism and the Filipino Identity
● The existence of a common citizenship is a
The former is further governed by the principles of: mere piece in the puzzle depicting the picture
1. jus sanguinis – states that children should of the Filipino identity.
follow the citizenship of their parents by virtue
of their blood relationship. ● Citizens of a particular territory should ideally
2. jus soli – states that the person shall acquire share a common sense of identity hinged on a
the citizenship of the place wherever he or she common language, historical experience, and
was born. The place of birth shall determine distinct cultural background.
one’s nationality and the citizenship of his or
her parents are immaterial. ● National identity may also be forged through
nationalistic sentiments, shared among
In the Philippines, we adhere by the jus sanguinis inhabitants of a particular territory. However,
principle, in accordance with Section 1 (2) of the
UNDERSTANDING THE SELF 13
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the same case cannot be applied to the from its colonizers. It then becomes difficult to
Philippines. attach meanings and symbols to any such
historical experience or milestone without a
Kaufman (2013) coherent and unified narrative, since these
● argued that Filipinos have a relatively weak sense elements are what people must identify with for
of nationalism thereby resulting to a fragmented a sense of national identity to emerge
national identity. (Kaufman, 2013)
● He explained certain factors that may contribute
to this rather fragmented identity by applying
three known nationalism
The nationalism theories, as briefly discussed and
applied by Kaufman (2013) in the Philippine context,
theories to the Philippine context: suggest that a unified sense of national identity also
1. the modernist approach of Gellner (1983) – affects how a person perceives and creates his own
suggests that the existence of a shared identity.
language as a unifying part of a culture
strengthens a national identity. The relatively shaky sense of nationalism among
Filipinos might be the reason why it is difficult to
2. the ethno-symbolist approach of Anthony picture what really makes up a Filipino identity.
Smith (1998,2009) – views nation as “a named Nevertheless, we continue to identify ourselves as
and self-defined human community whose Filipinos based on a shared language (no matter how
members cultivate shared myths, memories, diverse), religion, culture, and history; however, they
symbols, values, and traditions, reside in and might have come to evolve in the passing of time.
identify with a historic homeland, create and
disseminate a a distinctive public culture, and Culture and the Filipino Identity
observe shared customs and common laws” The set of values, beliefs, thinking patterns, and
(Smith as cited in Kaufman 2013), and thus, the behavior practiced by a society and transmitted from
creation of certain historical stories through one generation to another through time comprises
these myths and symbols which people can culture. These typified practices and beliefs shared
attribute meaning to, can give rise to a national within a group creates a sense of identity and fosters a
identity. feeling of belongingness within the group. Clearly,
culture and identity are inextricably linked as both
3. The sociological approach of Charles Tilly influences each other on different levels. Culture, both
(2005) and Andreas Wimmer (2002) who material and nonmaterial, shape the formation of our
posit that national identity emerges from social identity. Across generations, these typified beliefs and
interactions between governing elites and behaviors that make up the Filipino identity were
citizens, where the former affords protection transmitted and are still being practiced.
and security to the latter in exchange of
government benefits. Values and Traits
- Traits, Bayanihan, respect for elders
Among other factors, Kaufman (2013) highlighted - Hospitality, Self-sacrifice, Crab mentality
that:
1. The diversity of language (dialects) in the Promoting Sense of Nationalism
Philippines, or possibly the lack of dominant Ways on how you can foster a sense of
primary language, is creating a divide among nationalism:
Filipinos, thus, making it more difficult for them 1. Be an active Filipino citizen. A good Filipino
to create a unified identity. citizen should be aware of the current events
and participate in government programs that
2. The absence of a consistently powerful aim for the country’s progression and
historical narrative also tends to blur a common development.
national history due to conflicting accounts of
revolution and independence of our country
UNDERSTANDING THE SELF 14
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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, one will learn so much
why it is important to love one’s country with
your life, extend help to 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 business executives, but
you also help strengthen the local economy.

4. Speak the Filipino language. The history of the

Filipino language was as long and hard as the
Philippine history. Jose Rizal highlights the
importance of speaking the 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
us, both good and bad. Nowadays, 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, internet has also made us
engage in heated arguments with people
across the globe about our political positions. It
is part of being a good Filipino to sort out
everything that one reads before actually
buying 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.