UNPACKING

THE SELF
 UNPACKING
THE SELF
F L F
C L
A SSEE
L
L F IC SELF
A L SE
I U
M
ONO
T
L EC
YS U A
EX ERIAL/
I E LF
PH S
MAT
P IR IC A L S
L SE LF
S PO LI T
DIG
IT A
THE
SPIRITUAL SELF
“He who has a why to
live can bear with
almost anyhow”
Viktor Frankl
 
Spirituality
The aspect of humanity that refers to the
way individuals seek and express meaning
and purpose and the way they experience
their connectedness at the moment, to self,
to others, to nature, and to the significant or
sacred.
Christina Puchalski, Director of George Washington Institute of Spirituality and Health
Spirituality
Any experience that is thought to bring
the experiencer into contact with the
divine.
Mario Beauregard and Denyse O’Leary, researcher
and authors of The Spiritual Brain, 2007
Spirituality
Set of personal and private beliefs
that transcend the material aspects
of life and give a deep sense of
wholeness, connectedness, and
openness to the infinite.  
Myers et al. 2000
Filipino adolescents describe a spiritual person
as someone who has faith in God, a
strong sense of morality, positive personal
qualities, a positive sense of self, well-being,
spiritual connectedness, transcendent and
relational sources of happiness, and an
ability to solve problems.

a research by Mansukhani and Resurreccion (2009)

 3 MAIN THEMES OF
SPIRITUALITY
Yabut (2016) as viewed by Filipinos

• CONNECTEDNESS WITH THE SACRED

• SENSE OF MEANING OR PURPOSE
• PASSION OR EXPRESSION IN LIFE
 3 MAIN THEMES OF SPIRITUALITY

CONNECTEDNESS
Yabut (2016) as viewed by Filipinos

WITH THE SACRED CONNECTION WITH:

• supreme being
DEVELOPMENT • people
and • nature
MAINTENANCE of • harmony
one’s connection to the • interpersonal relationship

sacred • sense of faith

• belief to God and the people
 3 MAIN THEMES OF SPIRITUALITY

SENSE OF MEANING
OR PURPOSE
development of a PURPOSEFUL
• SENSE OF SELF
• IDENTITY Spirituality is something that
• MORALITY COMPLETES the LIFE OF A PERSON:
• sense of peace
• CONSCIENCE
• sense of direction and purpose
• VALUES
 3 MAIN THEMES OF SPIRITUALITY
Yabut (2016) as viewed by Filipinos

PASSION OR
EXPRESSION IN LIFE
living-out the VALUES INDICATORS
• relationship and activities with family,
friends, and loves ones
A SPIRITUAL PERSON…
someone who has:
• a strong faith in God
• positive personal qualities
• a strong sense of morality
• a positive sense of self and well-being
• a spiritual connectedness
• a mature ability to solve problems
THE SOUL
spirit
ANIMISM
Greek word “ANIMO” which means BREATH or SOUL

a SOUL or SPIRIT
existed in every object,
even if it was
inanimate

… exist as part of an
immaterial soul
 THE SOUL spirit
Kaluluwa (Tagalog), Gimokud (Bagobo), Makatu (Bukidnon), Dungan - alive and Kalag - dead (Ilonggo and
Bisaya), Ikararuwa (Ibanag), Kadkadduwa

from the root word

duwa means
two
THE SOUL
has two existence

PHYSICAL
connected to the human SPIRITUAL
body where it exists on its own
THE SOUL
… is the life source of
man. They believe that the
body cannot stay alive
without the soul. Hence,
death is the separation of
the soul from the body.
Western Philosophy
THE SOULS AND GODS
ACCORDING TO THE ETHNOLINGUISTIC GROUPS OF THE PHILIPPINES
THE SOULS AND GODS
ACCORDING TO THE ETHNOLINGUISTIC GROUPS OF THE PHILIPPINES

The Soul
by Demetrio, Fernanddo, and Zialcita (1991); and High
Banks Entertainment, Ltd. (2018). Retrieved from

Book
https://www.aswangproject.com/soul-according-
ethnolinguistic-groups-philippines
.
MEKARARUANAN
The Soul
by Demetrio, Fernanddo

Book .

IBANAG

• because of shock, the soul leaves the

body ( the body is alive but it is without
sense)

ROLE OF THE SOUL: to give direction and

wholeness to a person, while the body can
stay alive independently of the soul
 DUNGAN
The Soul
by Demetrio, Fernanddo

Book .

ILONGGO

• not normally seen by the human eye

• it comes out of the body and takes on a visible form such
as that of an insect or a small animal
• NO ONE SHOULD ALSO MISS THEIR DINNER AND GO TO BED
HUNGRY BECAUSE DUNGAN WILL ROAM FOR FOOD DINAGYANG FSTIVAL
DUNGAN
The Soul
by Demetrio, Fernanddo

Book .

BISAYA
• may leave the body voluntarily as when the person is
asleep- the sleeping person should not be awakened
abruptly
• A slumbering person must be softly called first and
then gradually louder and louder to give the soul a
chance to return to the body
• The dungan’s travel outside the body must also be free from
accidents because whatever happens to the dungan happens to the
physical body as well ---Only when the soul has safely returned to the
body would the owner be able to wake up.
 DUNGAN
The Soul
by Demetrio, Fernanddo

Book .

BISAYA • a soul can also be captured by bad spirits or engkantu- can be

imprisoned in a spirit cave guarded by old TAN MULONG
• SICKNESS - temporary loss of the soul
• DEATH- permanent loss

LAON (antiquity) - creator

MANAUL - a bird who was the pet of Laon
• was allowed to wander freely but it must not soil its feathers
• was caught on a thorny stem of a rattan tree and most of its colorful feathers were torn
• Laon was furious and made the Manaul’s life miserable by creating other creatures that will molest
and frighten the bird - man and other creatures were made
• died in an agony of despair
MAKATU
The Soul
by Demetrio, Fernanddo

Book .

BUKIDNON
The makatu already exists before a child’s
birth but that it is separate from its body. In a
pregnancy ritual, a miniature cradle is hung
over the place where the pregnant mother
sleeps. This is where the soul of the unborn
baby is supposed to sleep before it joins the
infant at birth.
KIYARALUWA
The Soul
by Demetrio, Fernanddo

Book .

TAGBANWA

• Kiyaraluwa is given to each infant

by the god Magindusa as the nose
of the child emerges from the vulva.
• There are 5 secondary souls which
are located in the extremities of both
hands and feet and in the head just
below the hair whorl.
 KARADUWA
The Soul
by Demetrio, Fernanddo

Book .

MANGYAN
A PERSON MAY HAVE 2-5 SOULS:
• karaduwa TAWU (the human
soul)
• karaduwa MANOK (chicken soul)
• karaduwa BABOY (pig soul)
• karaduwa KUTI (cat soul)
• karaduwa
Any of these animal souls can temporarily HIPON
wander away (shrimp
from the body soul)
KARARUWA, KARKARMA, ANIWAAS, AND ARARIA
The Soul by Demetrio, Fernanddo

Book
ILOKANO
.

KARARUWA
(the soul proper) is the vital element of man. It can leave only after
death.

KARKARMA
• (second soul) can leave the body when one is frightened or it can be stolen
from the body when the person goes to isolated places- The owner becomes
insane if the soul fails to return
• stands for natural vigor and mind or reason. It is the counterpart of psyche.

ANIWAAS
(third soul) can leave the body during sleep and visit places which the
person who owns it frequents when awake. If he wakes up he may lose his
aniwaas and become insane.

ARARIA
(fourth soul) is the liberated soul of the dead. It is the soul that comes down to
earth to visit its relatives and friends, asking them to pray or perform a duty it
failed to do in life.
KABUNIYAN
The Soul
by Demetrio, Fernanddo

Book .

CORDILLERA
The creator god, is found in all regions of the
Cordillera except Apayao. From Bontoc to the Baguio
region, Kabuniyan is the supreme teacher who taught
man many things like fire-making, rice cultivation, and
marriage rituals. “Kabuniyan (sky god) signifies
ultimate power.
IFUGAO
The Soul
by Demetrio, Fernanddo

Book .

(Two souls)

man has TWO SOULS:

• residing in the EYES ( withdrawal causes ILLNESS)
• residing in the BREATH ( withdrawal causes DEATH)
 IBALOI
populated by ANCESTRAL
SPIRITS and explains
ANIMAL
SACRIFICES
SPIRITUAL WORLD
•
 IBALOI
when the soul arrives with
PHYSICAL TREASURES, it
receives a GREAT WELCOME
• An EMPTY-HANDED

SOUL finds himself the

OBJECT OF SCORN-is
 IBALOI
unwelcome and unaccepted in his new relatives of the dead
world and this feeling of
INSECURITY may cause the spirit person bring
to bringevil, disease and DONATION of cash
even death among his
relatives or ANIMALS
 
 KANKANA-EY
AB-ABIIK / KADKADWA
 KANKANA-EY
AB-ABIIK
spiritual self
/ KADKADWA

AB-ABIIK  
• INANIMATE OBJECTS (mountains,
trees or rivers)
• “inspiration”
• FLOATING COFFIN: SAGADA
TAGALOG
KALULUWA & KAKAMBAL
 TAGALOG
KALULUWA & KAKAMBAL
soul of the deceased soul of a living person

The kaluluwa can

leave the body
INVOLUNTARIL
Y 
KALULUWA & KAKAMBAL
soul of the deceased
TAGALOG
soul of a living person

KAKAMBAL TRAVELS
AROUND AT NIGHT

… BAD ENCOUNTERS
are the cause of

NIGHTMARE
 The Soul

GIMOKUD
by Demetrio, Fernanddo

Book .

BAGOBO
Each individual is inhabited by two souls called gimokud. The right hand gimokud is the good soul that manifests itself
as a shadow on the right-hand side of the path. It is associated with health, activity, and joy. The right-hand soul is also
associated with life itself and remains in the body throughout one’s life. The left hand gimokud is the bad soul that shows
itself as a shadow on the left side of the path. It is harmful to the body it inhabits because it is the cause of sluggishness,
pain, and sickness. It also leaves the body at night and wanders about risking various dangers. The left-hand soul
inevitably becomes a busaw or demon ghost. The Bagobos also believe that large animals like fowls, big birds, carabaos,
cats, and horses have two souls, while small animals like insects have only one soul.
RITUALS
 RITUALS
"SEQUENCE OF ACTIVITIES involving
 

GESTURES, WORDS, and OBJECTS,

performed in a sequestered place, and
performed according to set sequence" (Paarlberg & van
de Wiel, 2017, p.219).

…according to  TRADITIONS OF A COMMUNITY and  RELIGIOUS

REASONS FOR DOING RITUALS:
• SEEKING HELP FOR A CHILD
SUCCESS FOR THE SUITOR
FERTILITY FOR THE SPOUSE
SMOOTH JOURNEY TO THE NEXT WORLD
HEALING THE SICK AND THE DYING
SUCCESS IN FISHING AND HUNTING
FOR AN ABUNDANT HARVEST
VICTORY OVER ENEMIES
 
 R
I
T
U
A
L
S
PATTERNED FORMS OF BEHAVIOR THAT HAVE TO DO WITH THE SUPERNATURAL REALM WHICH CAN BE RELIGIOUS OR SECULAR
LIFE-CYCLERITES
RITUALS  
OF PASSAGE 

  SIGNIFY A STATUS
CHANGE FROM ONE VITAL
LIFE STAGE TO ANOTHER.

3 STAGES
• SEPARATION
• TRANSITION 
•  REINTEGRATION  
• BAPTISM IS A LIFE-CYCLE RITUAL
PILGRIMAGE 
PILGRIMAGE 
SACRIFICE
• OFFERING OF SOMETHING VALUABLE TO A
SUPERNATURAL BEING

• PURPOSE: TO PLEASE OR APPEASE DEITIES AS A

SIGN OF GRATITUDE, HUMILITY, WORSHIP, AND/OR
DEVOTION.
 The CHINESE
TRADITION of the Zuo
Tang requires a
BRIDE to CRY FOR
AT LEAST AN HOUR
A DAY, EVERY DAY,
IN THE MONTH
LEADING UP TO HER
WEDDING.
 10 DAYS after she starts her MOTHER must join in, followed by
GRANDMOTHER and other FEMALE MEMBERS of her family. By the time the
wedding rolls around everyone is crying.
originate from the story of a PRINCESS who was married off to become QUEEN
sometime around 475-221 B.C. While the bride herself didn’t cry, her MOTHER
certainly did. Falling to her daughter’s feet, the mother sobbed and asked her to
return home as soon as possible.
LOGOTHERAPY
FINDING MEANING IN LIFE (VIKTOR FRANKL)
 
 
Greek “logos” as “meaning”

THERAPY - treatment of a condition,

illness, or maladjustment
 The human person is motivated by a
WILL TO MEANING
an INN
ER PU
MEAN L L t o fi
ING IN nd a
LIFE
 PHILOSOPHICAL
ASSUMPTIONS
ABOUT A HUMAN PERSON THAT CANNOT BE PROVED BY CERTAINTY
 
PHILOSOPHICAL ASSUMPTIONS ABOUT A HUMAN PERSON THAT CANNOT BE PROVED BY CERTAINTY: 

1 ST ASSUMPTION
 
HUMAN BEING IS AN ENTITY CONSISTING
OF BODY, MIND, AND SPIRIT.
THE BODY AND MIND ARE WHAT
WE HAVE AND THE
SPIRIT
IS WHAT WE ARE 
PHILOSOPHICAL ASSUMPTIONS ABOUT A HUMAN PERSON THAT CANNOT BE PROVED BY CERTAINTY: 

2
nd ASSUMPTION
 LIFE HAS MEANING
UNDER ALL
CIRCUMSTANCES EVEN THE
MOST MISERABLE
IT IS SOMETHING EVERYONE EXPERIENCES AND IT
REPRESENTS AN ORDER IN A WORLD WITH LAWS THAT GO
BEYOND HUMAN LAWS
PHILOSOPHICAL ASSUMPTIONS ABOUT A HUMAN PERSON THAT CANNOT BE PROVED BY CERTAINTY: 

3
rd ASSUMPTION
  PEOPLE HAVE A
WILL TO MEANING

IF A MAN FINDS MEANING HE IS READY FOR ANY

TYPE OF SUFFERING
PHILOSOPHICAL ASSUMPTIONS ABOUT A HUMAN PERSON THAT CANNOT BE PROVED BY CERTAINTY: 

4
th ASSUMPTION
  PEOPLE HAVE VOLITION UNDER
ALL SITUATIONS TO ACTIVATE THE
WILL TO FIND MEANING 

WE DO NOT HAVE RESTRICTIONS TO LOOK FOR

WHAT IS SENSIBLE.  

… CHANGE OF ATTITUDES ABOUT UNAVOIDABLE FATE 

PHILOSOPHICAL ASSUMPTIONS ABOUT A HUMAN PERSON THAT CANNOT BE PROVED BY CERTAINTY: 

5 th ASSUMPTION
  EXISTENCE HAS A MANDATE
CHARACTERISTIC TO WHICH
INDIVIDUALS FEEL MUST
ACKNOWLEDGE
THE ESSENCE OF THE
CIRCUMSTANCE, IS CAN BE ACCOMPLISHED BY:
MORE APPLIED IN • FOLLOWING THE VALUES OF
ROUTINE LIFE SOCIETY
THAN ULTIMATE • FOLLOWING THE VOICE OF ONE’S
MEANING. CONSCIENCE 
 
PHILOSOPHICAL ASSUMPTIONS ABOUT A HUMAN PERSON THAT CANNOT BE PROVED BY CERTAINTY: 

6 th ASSUMPTION
THE INDIVIDUAL IS

UNIQUE
…DEALS
WITH ONE
MEANING ’S SENSE
… IS HEIG OF
UNDERST HTENED B
ANDING T Y THE
HAT WE
IRREPLAC ARE
E ABLE  
 
 
SOME SOURCES OF DISCOVERING
MEANING TO LIFE
SOME SOURCES OF DISCOVERING
MEANING TO LIFE
 
• MEANINGFUL RELATIONSHIPS
•  WORK
•  STRUGGLES
 SOME SOURCES OF DISCOVERING MEANING TO LIFE

MEANINGFUL
RELATIONSHIPS
THE STRONGEST CONNECTION
BETWEEN PEOPLE AND WILL LEAD TO
WONDERFUL INSPIRATION AND GREAT
SACRIFICE
 SOME SOURCES OF DISCOVERING MEANING TO LIFE

 WITHOUT MEANINGFUL TASKS, WE MAY FALL

INTO A DRIFTING REALITY

WORK
OFFERS MOTIVATORS AND STRIVING TO
ACHIEVE PERTINENT OBJECTIVES
  RESULT : PROFOUND GRATIFICATION AND SENSE OF WORTH 
 S
SOME SOURCES OF DISCOVERING MEANING TO LIFE

STRUGGLES
G E
L E N
A L ARE A PART OF LIFE AND
IT IS HARD TO

CH APPRECIATE THE
GOODNESS OF LIFE
WITHOUT ITS OPPOSITE