The Material and Economic Self b.

The Practice of Religious Belief in

 Economy is an important aspect of life. Supernatural Beings
 The basic assumption in terms of economic  Belief in the supernatural, especially gods, is
self is that both producers and consumers one of the most obvious characteristics of
in a certain culture act rationally and in religion. It’s so common, in fact, that some
their own self-interest. people mistake mere theism for religion itself,
yet that is incorrect.
a. Role of Consumers Culture in our Sense of What is the Supernatural?
Self  According to supernaturalism, a supernatural
 Adam Smith, the father of Modern Economics, order is the original and fundamental source of
explained that the best economic benefit that all that exists. It is this supernatural order
the consumers can get in any cultural place is which defines the limits of what be known.
usually accomplished when the consumers act
in their own self-interest. c. Filipino Beliefs in the Supernatural
 According to Wernich (1991) people with  The Philippines is a Catholic country but our
different identities depend on ‘choosing’ “we notion about supernatural and mythical beings
have no choice but to choose” (Giddens A, is a very prominent part of our lives most
1991, p81), choosing according to one’s taste is specially those Filipinos who come from the
an issue of identifying goods that are country side.
objectively adjust to one’s position (Bordieu,  Many Filipinos who live in rural or
p1984). mountainous areas still believe in mythical
b. The Self from the Standpoint of Economy spirits and monstrous creatures because they
 In a market economy where different cultural are said to be present only in the country side
behaviour emerge, an individual’s status where there are forests and other uninhabited
generally shapes the beliefs and attitudes a areas.Filipinos believe in the afterlife. Some of
person have. our customs are influenced by our belief in
 This can include ideas regarding what various supernatural creatures.
opportunities are or are not available, as well as  In reality, our grandparents made us accept
beliefs regarding the direction this life should these concepts in order to inculcate discipline
go.
d. The Concept of Spirit or Soul
 In many religious, philosophical and
The Spiritual Self mythological traditions, there is a belief in the
 Most spiritual people realize we are more than incorporeal essence of a living called the soul.
our physical bodies. Many believe we are a  Soul or psyche are the mental abilities of a
soul that is only abiding in this particular body living being: reason, character, feeling,
for a time, but has resided in other bodies in the consciousness, memory, perception, thinking,
past. etc.
a. The Self as a Spirit
 In human society, the terms, Soul, higher-self, e. Rituals and Ceremonies
and spirit tend to be used synonymously; when,  A ritual is a sequence of activities involving
in actuality, they are not the same. gestures, words, and objects, performed in a
 The person that you are and the person that you sequestered place, and performed according to
will become, when you are no longer physical set sequence. Rituals may be prescribed by the
is your spirit. traditions of a community, including a religious
 Your higher-self is your prototype, so to speak. community. Rituals are characterized by
This is the part of you that exhibits and formalism, traditionalism, invariance, rule-
possesses all of your best and most proficient governance, sacral symbolism, and
qualities. Your high-self is the person you performance.
should always ascribe to becoming.  Baptism, the Christian rite tradition, is a ritual
 To your Soul you are like a child: one child of cleansing with water.
many, in fact. A Soul is an energy essence,
which you takes under its wing, many selves to Ceremony
nurture and care for.  An example of a ceremony is the wedding
ceremony.
Wedding Ceremony: ritual. Another would show the mayaw as an act of
 Filipino weddings are full of symbols that show petition in thanksgiving for a bountiful harvest.
the bride and groom’s love and commitment to Another re-enacts the mayaw symbolical as a
one another. The bride and groom choose ceremonial designed to heal the sick. Then there is
people of their outside bridal party to act as a dance version of the mayaw as a house blessing
their sponsors for their special day. complete with the sprinkling of sacrificial victim’s
blood in symbolic form.
f. Witchcraft or Witchery
 This is the practice of and belief in magical  Ilocano Ritual of Offering to the Spirit
skills and abilities exercised by solitary  The Ilocano has an elaborate network of beliefs
practitioners and groups. Witchcraft is a broad and practices through which he deals with the
term that varies culturally and societally, and world around him. These beliefs and
thus can be difficult to define with precision, practices developed and nurtured by his
therefore cross-cultural assumptions about the ancestors, guide him in going through the
meaning or significance of the term should be different stages of life. It is possible,
applied with caution. however, that many of these beliefs and
 Probably the most widely known characteristic practices are gaining less importance among
of a witch was the ability to cast a spell, ”spell” Ilocanos of today.
being the word used to signify the means  The Ilocano “atang” or food offering
employed to carry out a magical action. A spell  An atang is a traditional food offering in the
could consist of a set of words, a formula or Philippines to ward off evil spirits. The most
verse, or a ritual action, or any combination of common atang to ward off sickness is a rice
these. cake called sinukat. A table with an atang
meal may be put in a new house. An atang
Necromancy (conjuring of the dead) may also be for a harvest offering. Ilocanos
 Strictly speaking “necromancy” is the practice may prepare an atang before each meal, the
of conjuring the spirits of the dead for atang may also be called a “snatorum” or
divination or prophecy – although the term has “panang.”
also been applied to the raising of the dead for  The Bikol Ritual of Offering to the Spirit
other purposes.  Mystical contagions among the Bikolanos are
 Kulam or “Pagkukulam” is a form of folk believed to be caused by the aggrieved tawo
magic practiced in the Philippines. It puts (‘people who cannot see’). According to
emphasis on the innate power of the self and a Cannell (1999), even today, the people in
secret knowledge of Magica Baja or low magic. Calabanga, Camarines Sur still believe in
Earth (soil), fire, herbs, spices, candles, oils, different kinds of tawo, divided into different
and kitchen wares and utensils are often used classes with precise characteristics and
for rituals, charms, spells, and potions. locations (spirit of the air, land, water and
earth). Illnesses which cannot be treated by
g. Magic or Sorcery conventional allopathic medicine are brought to
 Magic or Sorcery is the use of rituals, symbols, a séance (parabulong) for healing through
actions, gestures, or language with the aim of santiguar – the healers will be transformed into
utilizing supernatural forces. divination or possession in order to talk to the
 The term magic comes from the Old Persian spirit or to calm down the aggrieved tawo. The
magu, a word that applied to a form of religious healers try to persuade these tawo to pity the
functionary about which little is known. suffering person.
 The parabulong (healer) is said to have chosen
h. Some Rituals of Offering in the Country by the spirit/supernatural being as a medium to
heal the people.
 Visayan Rituals (the Mayaw Mayaw)
 The Mayaw-mayaw was originally Muslim Ritual of Offering to the Spirit
choreographed as not one but five dances,  Prayer is one of the central elements of Islamic
each representing a particular ritual designed practice and worship.
for a particular purpose. One version would  Prayer, in the ritual sense, is an obligation of
show the mayaw as an exorcism with the faith, to be performed five times a day by
elaborate ceremonies imitating the actual adult Muslims.
Salat – Ritual Prayer 3. Joy and Humor
 Ritual prayer in Islam, is called salat, a word  It sheds light on the optimism and possitivity of
whose full meaning is best understood by Filipinos in whatever situation they are in so as
examining its linguistic roots. One of the to remain determined in going through
origins of salat is the root word silat which struggles or challenges
means “connection” or “contact”. 4. Flexibility, Adaptability, Creativity
 This allows the Filipino to adapt and be flexible
Pangasinan Ritual of Offering to the Spirit in doing the task at times not bound to a
 Pangasinans, like Catholics worldwide, honor particular schedule or timeframe. This allows
their dead on All Saints Day, November 1, and them stand on their own feet and be creative in
All Souls Day, November 2. Dressed in facing whatever challenge or task they have
traditional burial clothes and carrying lighted even when it is already right in front of them
candles, Pangasinan cantore, or singers, stop at 5. Faith and Religiosity
neighbor’s home where they receive sweetened  This is a reflection of the Filipinos’ strong faith
rice cakes as rewards for their singing. The in God as seen in their various practices.
cantores may steal a token from the 6. Ability to Survive
homeowner – a theft the homeowner  They have the extraordinary ability to make
lightheartedly blames on a wandering soul. something out of almost nothing
Pangasinan also recite calars, or religious oral 7. Hard Work and Indutry
narratives, to commemorate these feast days.  With resourcefulness comes hard work
8.Hospitality
Wedding Rites in Luzon  The legendary Filipino hospitality is not limited
 The Filipinos in Luzon such as Ilocanos, to the Philippines. It is everywhere wherever
Pangasinenses, Bikolanos, Tagalogs, etc. share there are Filipinos
an interesting wedding practice. This is the 9. Gender-specific Values
pinning of peso bills on the bride’s gown and  Both genders are expected to become
the groom’s suit while the couple dances. A responsible members of the family and society.
contest is held between the bride’s family and
the groom’s. Filipino Traits Identity
 After the dance, or series of dances, they unpin Positive Traits
the money and figure out who won, and loud 1. Hospitality
applause goes to the winner. The money is then  A Filipino host will always offer food to a
combined and given to the couple to spend as guest or to anyone
they wish. 2. Respect
 This is often observed – not just by younger
The Political Self people – but also by people of all ages
a. Developing a Filipino Identity 3. Strong Family Ties and Religions
 Every Filipino has his own identity very much  Filipinos value their families so much that they
different from other nationalities. tend to keep families intact through the
Filipino Values Identity generations
 The Filipino value or Filipino values refers to 4. Generosity and Helpfulness
the set of values or the value system that a  Filipinos are generous people. Even when we
majority of the Filipino have historically held have very little, we always share with those
important in their lives. around us.
Philosophical basis 5. Strong Work Ethic
 Social approval, acceptance by a group, and  We are hardworking people to the point that we
belonging to a group are major concerns are willing to work almost the whole day jus t
to feed our families
Enumeration of Filipino Values 6. Love and Caring
1. Pakikipagkapwa-tao  Filipinos are the sweetest and most loving
 This is shared senses of identity and people in the world
consciousness of the ‘other’ 7. Balikatan System
2. Family Orientation  When a person is confronted with a problem or
 The basic and most important unit of a difficulty everyone shares the burden of
Filipino’s life is the family. helping the person who is in need of assistance
8. Bayanihan System sites that are click away, and to adultery itself
 A certain task is effectively and easily with people that may live across the world
completed if everybody shares his time, effort c. Signs of Love
and money to expedite the completion of a   You want to spend quality time together
task. other than sex
9. Pakikisama or conformity   You get lost in conversations and forget
 This is a positive way of yielding to the group’s about the hours passing
unanimous or majority’s decision so as to   You want to honestly listen to each other’s
complete a task feelings, make each other happy
10. Smooth interpersonal relationship (SIR)   He or she motivates you to be a better person
 This is a value on good relationship with   You want to get meet his or her family and
people. friends
11. Pakikiramay d. Online Dating
 This is a sympathetic attitude to another person  This is a system that enables strangers to find
and it is emphasized by the statement “di ka and introduce themselves to new personal
nag-iisa”. connections over the Internet, usually with the
goal of developing personal, romantic, or
b. Establishing a Democratic Culture sexual relationships
 Jack M. Balkin, a Yale University professor e. Logotheraphy
said that the ultimate goal of our constitutional  Logotherapy is based on the premise that the
order is not merely to produce democratic primary multinational form of an individual is
procedures but a to find a meaning in life.
 democratic culture: a culture in which all Treatments:
citizens can participate and fell that they have a 1. Overcoming anxiety
stake, a culture in which unjust social 2. Treatment of neurosis
privileges and status hierarchies have been 3. Depression
deestablished….. Democracy inheres not only 4. Obsessive-compulsive disorder
on procedural mechanisms like universal 5. Schizophrenia
suffrage but in cultural modes like dress, 6. Terminally ill patients
language, manners, and behavior.
f. Disclosure and Perceived Success in Internet
The Digital Self Dating
 The digital self is like a mask that we put on to 1. Make sure that you are ready to start dating
language the technological world.Physician and 2. Find the best dating site for you
psychoanalyst, Donald Winnicot, proposed a 3. Take advantage of online personality tests and
theory of self that posited there was a “true intelligent matchmaking
self” that is the instinctive core of our 4. Create a good online dating profile
personality and must be nurtured and realized. 5. Put up the perfect profile photo
Then there is the “false self” that is created to 6. Make a great introduction with your first
protect the “true self” from insult and danger. message
a. Web of Love and Lust 7. Take your time
  Lust is an altered state of consciousness 8. Prepare for the first date
programmed by the primal urge to procreate 9. And finally….Don’t lose motivation
  Pure last is based solely on physical
attraction and fantasy – it often dissipates when g. Impact of Online Interactions on the Self
the “real person” surfaces  According to Caroline Haythornwaite and Lori
  Real love, not based on idealization or Kendall, professors in the Graduate School of
projection, requires time to get to know each Library and Information Science at Illinois,
other. online interactions not only have positive
b. Web of Sexual Lust outcomes for real-life, placed-based
 Sexual lusts come to us in a variety of forms communities, but the intersection between
and areas of life; from our lustful thoughts online communication and the offline world
about a passing woman, to sexual content in the also forms two halves of a support mechanism
movies we watch, to internet pornography that for communities
appears on the side of our screens, to dating h. Gender and Sexuality Online
 Gender and sexuality are often viewed as
likened constructs that impact other’s
perspectives of their sexuality.

i. Personal Identity Online

 The rapid creation of the new world of the
internet, the visible “infosphere”, has changed
our personal identity, pr perhaps the way we
see our personal identity.

j. Effects of Exposure to Facebook on Self-

Esteem
 According to Gonzales and Hancock (2011)
Internet grown exponentially in the past
decades and access to it has become easy and
commonplace, which is why it is crucial to
know the effects of using it regularly