TABLE OF

CONTENTS
1 KINAIYA

2 KAALAMAN

3 KAISA

4 KAISIPAN

5 KATAUHAN

6 KAANYUAN

7 KATANGIAN

8 KAKILANLAN

9 KAARAL
 AKING KINAIYA
A NURSE IN KINAIYA
The term "Kinaiya" is used to

THE MAKING define our true nature which

consists of all the qualities
that truly define us.
I am Cristine Claire C. Aras, a second-year nursing
student at Angeles University Foundation. I have always
been raised with tender love and care. Hence, I want to
express my gratitude through becoming a professional
nurse and extending compassionate care not only to
my family, but to the rest of the community. In the
midst of my journey to becoming a nurse, I have been
granted with the avenue to reflect and know myself
more through the course, "Understanding the Self".

"Kinaiya" is a Filipino term that describes our true

inner self. Throughout the UTS course, we tackled a
handful of perspectives that intend to help us, the
learners, to explore ourselves. This course guided me
toward knowing my "Kinaiya" better, hence it was a
perfect title for my final requirement. Before learning
about the said perspectives offered by the UTS course, I
thought I already know myself since I own my body and
mind. I should be the one who knows me best, but I
guess I am mistaken.

This magazine showcases my journey and reflections

about the different perspectives namely Eastern and
Western Perspectives; Philosophical and Psychological
Self; Anthropological and Sociological Self; Physical and
Sexual Self; Material and Digital Self; and Spiritual and
Political Self. It also presents my learnings thus far
regarding the course and my message for future UTS
learners. The content of this magazine walkthrough the
readers to my journey of knowing myself through
looking into the individual lenses of perspectives. Come
dive and reflect with me on the succeeding pages. Let's
unfold together my "Kinaiya"!

KINAIYA 1
 KAALAMAN
EASTERN AND WESTERN PERSPECTIVES
I have learned about some of the eastern philosophies namely Confucianism,
Taoism, Buddhism, collectivism, and the yin and yang. These philosophies tackled
concepts regarding self-cultivation, the way of the Tao, the state of nirvana, and
living in harmony respectively which generally teaches us about the meaning of life
and how one should spend it. Western philosophies, on the other hand, tackled
about introspection, dualism, and individualism which promotes individual growth.

PHILOSOPHICAL AND PSYCHOLOGICAL SELF

This module introduced prominent individuals and their philosophies. Some of them
are Socrates with his know thyself conquest, Plato and his concepts on parts of the
soul, Descartes and his ideas on existentialism, and Kant on his apparatuses of the
mind. These philosophers encourage a life that is well-examined and truth-searching.

ANTHROPOLOGICAL AND SOCIOLOGICAL SELF

I have learned about anthropology which is a body of knowledge that tackles about
the human race, including their culture, society, and their physical development. The
characteristics of the self were also discussed, as well as Marcel Mauss' personne
and moi. The culture in the Philippines and the Filipinos are also talked about.
Hence, this module examined the relationship of people with their society.

PHYSICAL AND SEXUAL SELF

The cultural standards of beauty, body dysmorphia, human sexual response, sexual
orientations, and sexual violence are few of the concepts discussed in this module.
Through this module, I have realized that there are indeed social constructs on
beauty that may positively or negatively affect us and build our own concepts of self-
image. Furthermore, I learned that sexuality is expressed in various ways and sexual
behaviors differs for everyone.

MATERIAL AND DIGITAL SELF

The nature of humans to constantly acquire material things as well as the connection
of our bodies, clothes, family, and home to ourselves are described in this lesson.
They are the components that help us examine an individual. Self-presentation is
also focused in this module and it is our way of expressing ourselves in the digital
world.

SPIRITUAL AND POLITICAL SELF

Spirituality, our inner essence that connects us to a higher being, is explored in this
module. Logotherapy is also introduced and it entails the man's search for meaning
in life. Political self, on the other hand, is discussed in the concept of Filipino
identity, which includes our traits and values, both positive and negative.

KAALAMAN 2
 KAISA
EASTERN AND WESTERN PERSPECTIVES
One of the concepts that caught my interest in this module is the Yin and Yang
principle. This philosophy helped me to grasp life's complexity and learn a lot more
about myself. It describes life as a delicate dance of opposing forces that work
together. Balance, change, and relationships define it. The Yin Yang suggests that
life is a balance of forces. It made me realize that negative things are part of a
broader balance which helps individuals stay strong, be patient, and understand
situations better.

The Yin Yang theory also views conflict differently. Instead of a problem, it
perceives an imbalance that can be addressed. This changes my outlook on the
challenges that come into my life. Furthermore, it promotes self-awareness and
self-reflection by encouraging us to observe and comprehend how the balance of
good and bad things play their roles in our life. In general, the Yin and Yang help us
solve difficulties, discover ourselves, and unite people. By recognizing and
harmonizing our Yin and Yang, we may establish equilibrium, be open to change,
recognize how everything is interrelated, and grasp life's complexity and flow. This
lens lets us view life differently and find calm amidst its complexity.

In lieu, I identify myself as a practitioner of Eastern philosophies rather than

Western perspectives. I treat myself as a part of a greater whole, the community. It
is true that I take my individual growth seriously and even find excitement in
competitions. However, serving the community and helping individuals is indeed my
passion. Specifically, this is an application of the collectivism philosophy.

"Kaisa" entails not only myself being connected to my community and in union
with other people, but it also means that all the things in my life play a role in my
development as a person. All the ups and downs, sickness and health, good and bad
aspects in my life are in compliment, in short "nagkakaisa sila". All these
complexities completes me as a person and as an essential member of my
community.

KAISA 3
 KAISIPAN
PHILOSOPHICAL AND PSYCHOLOGICAL SELF
Socrates, Plato, René Descartes, and Immanuel Kant are some of the prominent
philosophers that have been featured in this module. They have all made important
contributions to the body of knowledge in understanding the self. Their ideas gave
me new ways to look at myself and gave me useful tools for self-reflection and
growth.

Socrates stated, "Know thyself" and said that self-knowledge was the key to
being wise. He thought that people should think critically about their lives, actions,
and views. He said that an unexamined life was not worth living. This practice of
thinking about oneself helps people see how their ideals and deeds match up,
which promotes authenticity and personal integrity. Socrates' student, Plato, also
came up with a three-part model of the soul, the logical, spiritual, and appetitive
parts. These three parts reflect our ability to think and reason, our feelings and
wishes, and our physical needs and wants, in that order. Plato said that a healthy
and good life is one in which these things work well together. When we try to
understand ourselves, knowing how these three parts work together can help us
find balance and make decisions that are good for our general health.

René Descartes, on the other hand, came up with the famous cogito argument:
"I think, therefore I am." This idea puts the focus on how important awareness and
personal experience are for understanding the self. It also tells us that our
uniqueness and our emotional experiences are important parts of who we are.
Lastly, Immanuel Kant said that concepts like place, time, and cause and effect
shape what we know and what we feel. Kant's philosophy tells us that the best way
to understand ourselves is to see how our thoughts shape our experiences and
perceptions.

Socrates, Plato, Descartes, and Kant's thoughts about philosophy gave me

different ways to look at the hard job of understanding myself. From Socrates' self-
reflection to Plato's unity of the soul's parts to Descartes' existential selfhood to
Kant's tools of the mind, each method gave me a different view that can helped me
understand myself in a deeper, more complex way. These philosophical ideas, made
me learn about our values, how we balance things, and what makes us unique.
Indeed, their theories are products of their "kaisipan" that definitely enriched my
thoughts about myself.

KAISIPAN 4
 KATAUHAN
ANTHROPOLOGICAL AND SOCIOLOGICAL SELF
Anthropology, which is the study of the complex cultural, social, and biological
aspects of people gives us a deep and many-sided way to look at ourselves. It helps
people understand how their identities are shaped by many different factors that
are all connected. Specifically, it shows how cultural rules, beliefs, and practices
affect how we act, what we think, and who we are. With this theory in mind, I
realized that my "self" is not a fixed thing, but is deeply affected by cultural
dynamics.

Anthropology's study of the cultural, scientific, and social parts of people gives
us a deep look at how to understand ourselves. It helps us understand how social
rules, biological processes, and relationships with other people shape who we are
and how we act. Anthropology helped me see the variety and complexity of human
experiences through a comparison view. This gave me a deeper understanding of
how we are shaped by many different things. So, anthropology is a very important
part of helping people understand themselves by showing how our identities are
made up of many different parts. Relatively, sociology explores human identities
and behaviors via societal institutions, cultural norms, and social interactions. It
shows how social circumstances impact our identities, experiences, and self-
understanding. Social contact shapes our self-concept and behavior by helping us
identify ourselves, understand our roles, and see how others view us.
Understanding these cultural impacts deepens my self-understanding. This
sociological approach helped me grasp the intricate interaction of social and
individual forces that influence our identities and experiences.

Ultimately, it made me realize that even though we are all technically separate
entities, what we are right now as a person is a product of the society that
surrounds us. Our "katauhan" has been constantly being affected and developed by
the other people and environment we live and interact in our everyday lives.

KATAUHAN 5
 KAANYUAN
PHYSICAL AND SEXUAL SELF
Important concepts of this module are cultural standards of beauty, body
dysmorphia, sexual behaviors, and sexual orientations. I agree that these concepts
make up our physical and sexual selves. To explain further, culture has an effect on
how we feel about ourselves. These standards of beauty, which are sometimes
shaped by the media and society, can have a big effect on how we feel about
ourselves. By looking at these factors, we can tell the difference between societal
standards against our own appearance. If aligned, people feel confident about
themselves, otherwise, it may affect them negatively. Personally, my features are
not attractive if based on societal constructs, yet self-awareness prevents me from
having a negative view of my own physical appearance. Unfortunately, if people are
constantly shamed because of their appearances, body dysmorphia will be the
result and could take a toll on people's self-esteem.

Sexuality is another concept, and it requires self-acceptance and honesty about

our sexual preference for healthy self-expression. I may not be part of the LGBTQIA+
community but I recognize the freedom of self-expression as a fundamental right
that should be respected. In accordance with human sexual behaviors, everyone
regardless of gender has also the freedom to express their sexual nature with
anyone in relation to their preference.

Cultural beauty standards, physical dysmorphia, the human sexual reaction,

sexual preference are all connected and can help us figure out who we are and
where we fit in the world. We understand ourselves better when we separate
cultural effects from our innate value, respect our unique beauty, accept our sexual
orientation, and support our experiences. This hard road is important for personal
growth and self-acceptance because it helps us welcome our real selves, our
"kaanyuan" in the midst of the complicated mix of societal expectations and our
own lives.

KAANYUAN 6
 KATANGIAN
MATERIAL AND DIGITAL SELF
The material self refers to the tangible things that define our identities as a
physical entities. This includes all we are and have, as well as our environment. Our
identities, interpersonal dynamics, and professional positions are all molded by
them. Our values, goals, and social standings may be discerned via an introspective
examination of the things around us. The digital self, on the contrary, is the result
of one's interactions in the virtual world. Our digital selves provide us with a sense
of identity and community, just as our physical selves do. The way one presents
oneself digitally is also unique. It's a great way to express oneself, learn more about
oneself, and connect with others all around the world. Thinking about what we do
and why we do it online, as well as figuring out how it impacts our sense of identity,
are all part of getting to know our digital selves.

There is a connection between our physical and digital selves. The people we
are in real life might have an impact on who we are online and vice versa. Digital
feedback may influence one's self-esteem and material decisions, and social media
photos and status updates reflect this reality. In today's interconnected world, this
crossroads might lead to more introspection. This concept is evident in the social
media users today. They use the online platform to show their friend groups their
material possessions, achievements, travels, and even their usual slices of lives.
This is how they selectively express themselves which is termed as self-
presentation.

Understanding oneself in the modern day calls for both material and digital
perspectives of view. "Katangian" refers to characteristics that define a person.
Both the material and the digital perspectives reflect our innate characteristics. The
digital self reveals how we interact and portray ourselves in the virtual world,
whereas the material self reveals our bodily experiences and social obligations in
the real world. Understanding who we are requires us to acknowledge the mutual
influence of these two aspects of our personality. Our identities shift frequently as
we move between the online and offline worlds. The more we learn about our digital
selves, the more we can improve our physical selves and our connections with
others.

KATANGIAN 7
KAKILANLAN
SPIRITUAL AND POLITICAL SELF
Spirituality affects how we see life, how we look for meaning, how we relate to
what is holy, and how we see the divine. Spirituality helps us figure out who we are
by showing us our beliefs, goals, and morals. When we look at our spiritual views,
we might find out what we value, which can help us learn more about ourselves. It
also gives us a sense of direction. In my case, whenever I feel lost, I pause and pray.
In my prayer, I hope for guidance and strength. This is how I find meaning in living.

Finding and developing our spiritual identities can help us understand ourselves
and live a full, purposeful life. We can learn about ourselves and our goals by
looking into our beliefs. Back when I was about to enter college, I had a hard time
deciding on a course. I believe that my purpose in life is to help people in their
most vulnerable states and grant them compassionate care. Hence, I chose nursing
as my passion and to fulfill my said purpose.

Further, the political self identifies us as a citizen of a country with an innate

responsibility. It significantly impact how we see ourselves, interact with others, and
function in society. It also affect our social interactions, including the people we
hang out with and how we respond to those with opposing views. Furthermore, our
political ideas illuminate our perspectives on society institutions and social
challenges, and hence shape our awareness of our place within a larger societal and
global framework. By carrying out our political responsibilities as Filipinos such as
taking part in elections and raising our voices regarding political issues, we explore
our beliefs and express them freely.

Last national elections, I have been able to exercise my right to vote for the first
time. I could say that carrying out my task as a responsible Filipino by carefully
choosing leaders that will guide the country and its citizen. My "Kakilanlan" or
identity is Filipino. In this module, I realized that I am a Filipino with a purpose of
being a crucial politically active citizen of this country, the Philippines.

KAKILANLAN 8
 KAARAL
A MESSAGE FOR FUTURE UTS STUDENTS

Understanding the self (UTS) is a general course subject

which often not taken seriously by college students like me. I
admit it and I am guilty. I do not realize the essence of taking
this subject when in fact, I am a nurse in the making. I do not
understand why I need to take the subject if my goal in
college is to just learn how to be a professional nurse.
However, again, I realized I am mistaken.

Understanding the self is not just a subject but a

process and a lifelong journey. This subject does not end
with just submitting requirements, instead, it will forever be
a part of our development as a person. During our
discussions, we tackled a lot of theories, philosophies, and
personalities which may appear uninteresting to most
students. But as I go through the modules and read the
lessons, I slowly relate to the concepts and I am able to apply
them in my own experiences.

You may not know what you are doing in the beginning.
You may not get it the first time. I know and I understand,
because that is how I am when I am just starting to take this
subject. Just a little advice, the classes may bore you but try
your best to integrate each concept into your life to pique
your interest. Regardless of the results of your exams and
requirements, and whether you pass or fail, the process of
understanding ourselves will continue nevertheless.

KAARAL 9