Rio Theodore S.

Rodriguez N18 November 12, 2019

MY PHILO ANTHROPOLOGY EXPERIENCE

Taking the subject of Philosophical Anthropology was been hard for me due to some
instances that I cannot really cope up with all the readings that was been given to us. And I
would like to ask my professor my sincere apologies for that. But going through the practical
trainings that was given to us by our professor, I had been able to do multi-tasking whenever
I am being faced with lots of reading materials from these subject and other subjects. Then
it came to a part that we have concluded to some academic discussions over some subject
matters which had led to a meaningful learning process. I do concede to the fact that there
are points or questions where I cannot digest anymore or as simple as that I could
continuously question, the question that was been given to us by our however the examples
will be our guiding light to continuously understand what is being discussed.

I have encountered a lot of questions from this subject that until now still remained
unanswered and now it’s up to me when shall I discover this, the discussion over the
Anthropology came, where further questions bump to my mind and drives me to somehow
know the question, so that can know the answers once and for all. But it is not easy for me
to just get the answers that easy. It will always depend on the status if I am really aware of
myself, being more reflective on our subject last year the understanding the self which
establishes on how we really know our self, which until now I still cannot know myself
literally. I basically ask my classmates or close friends to tell me of who am I as a friend.
Well, they give me some answers but it will never be that easy to know who you really are.
Bits of information will lead to some conclusions which settles to a small information about
myself being.

The continuous learning of myself will never be that substantial without the help of
my peers or close relatives so with the help of this subject the Philosophical Anthropology it
had somehow identify myself once again but in a more substantive manner. This paper will
cater some of the general thoughts of the writers; “The Human Embodiment” by Eduardo
Calazans, “Values” for Manuel Dy, “Love” for Khalil Gibran, “Love and Justice” for Robert
Johann, and Lastly “Forgiveness” of our very own professor Sir Clyde Rex Jesalva. From all
of these discussions it had open up the idea of knowing my self-identity. For Calasanz our
human embodiment is somehow influenced by Parekhs’s “Human Nature” where our nature,
traditions, and beliefs that runs around that society or community which leads to knowing
who you are related as the society dictates you to become part of it. For Manuel Dy it is more
about the values, values that defines who you are as a person, value on how you treat others
in terms of love, affection and or using his of her value to feed your needs over materiality.
For Khalil Gibran’s Self Awakening settles on Love as the ultimate source of knowing thy
self for the reason of when you love someone you open up your heart then when the time
reaches when that relationship failed, it will result on knowing yourself much more better,
indeed there will be certain adjustments, but time will come you will come out more stronger
and better. For Robert Johann Love and Justice should help you hand in hand in further
knowing yourself specifically that rationality and the use of your heart is highly needed on
acting to some issues. Lastly Sir Clyd Rex Jesalva’s Forgiveness paper which questioned is
there any pure forgiveness possible? Or being wounded as part of your relational experience
will result to knowing our Philosophical Anthropology.
Rio Theodore S. Rodriguez N18 November 12, 2019

During the first day of class I have asked this question to our professor if I may
remember it correctly, I Have asked him “after this semester ends would I or we be able to
have a memorable experience in terms of knowing about Philosophical Anthropology. To be
honest I have learned a lot. even though I am still confused about the philosophies behind
that reading materials but it had somehow been instilled in me the proper ideas and
learnings about the subject. After taking up this Philosophical Anthropology subject my fresh
personal learning that I get from this course is that the “Human Embodiment” by Eduardo
Calasanz, “Value” by Manuel Dy, “Love and Justice” by Robert Johann’s and Lastly our Sir
Clyd Rex Jesalva’s paper about “forgiveness”.

Firstly I would like to discuss my learning experiences from the four discussion about
what have Eduardo Calasanz have tackled about Human Embodiment because self-becoming
through valuing and choosing, where our values had foreshadow what Parekh had said where
our nature is greatly influenced by the external factors like the status you are into, traditions,
and beliefs that runs around that certain society or community which leads to knowing who
you are related as the society dictates you to become part of it. But in the paper of Calazans
Valuing is an invitation to quality relationship. We are relational beings and from the
relationships and experiences we have gathered, we are enabling ourselves to perform tasks
that depends on our quality as a person. I do indeed know that we are so eager to please other
persons, but when the time comes you will just get tired of it where you will just become
numb over the society.

For my second point is about Manuel Dy’s essay on Values. For all of us we have some
unique values which have defined us for who we are, some values are hidden and time will
come the naturality effect of our value will just come out without knowing it. We are just
waiting for the right time and moment for us to discover it. This is also connected from our
culture and experiences from encountering such events there will be learnings from it. where
we may be able to see our few values, which cannot be altered or be duplicated by any other
people. Your values as a person will be always be unique that others. Our values are
intrinsically within us and we cannot separate. So, to make it short. Values is interconnected
to our experience and it is the product of that certain experience that we have encountered.
Our values will speak the true identity and character we have as a person. It will just define
us whether we have been a good people or the other way around. Our values speak louder
than our words when shown in deeds.

For my Third point, this is about Robert Johann Love and Justice. Man is a relational
being, has the capability to sense responsibility and has the will to survive. From the previous
discussion The Love and Justice are defined in a separate manner for Love, is not just a
feeling, love is a matter of decision making and Love is the ultimate purpose of human life.
While Justice, it clarifies and observes boundaries or limits part of it is weighing your
responsibilities and actions for you to perform and reach the status to flourish. Calculating
all the risks and possibilities as part of their justice. Love and Justice works hand in hand to
further balance your interest and the interest of others it also promotes a harmonious
relationship and this leads to self-awakening.
Rio Theodore S. Rodriguez N18 November 12, 2019

For my last point, this is about sir Clyde Rex Jesalva’s mini essay about forgiveness.
In this paper I got really moved and gained a lot of realizations specifically all of us are
encountering woundedness and we respond to these wound and to those who created them.
Previously from our professors discussing and sharing his story about forgiveness lead me to
a realization that forgiveness is possible but in due time. It is really hurting at first when you
discover some things. But the moment you accepted it and you are ready to move on from its
forgiveness is possible. Because of that encountered experience it had resulted to these three
functions number one it reminds, the second one is to warn us about the possible danger to
protect us from the previous experience lastly it teaches us to be properly guided on how our
next move will be.

I have learned a lot of things and it had influenced me to learn and to further
understand our Anthropology as a man the first author Eduardo Calazans discussed about
the self-becoming and Valuing and Choosing which have foreshadowed the human nature of
Parekh. At this point I have learned that this thing can affect me and I can use these
learnings from choosing some friends which will be a great help for me whenever I am faced
with difficulties. No man is an island, I do also believe that our friends mirrors the values of
our personality.
Secondly for Manuel Dy our Values will define us as who we are and these values are
uniquely embedded on us it is a matter of time for us to discover it. It will just define us
whether we have been a good people or the other way around. Our values speak louder than
our words when shown in deeds. In fact I could apply this on choosing some friends which
are technically value based and due to the fact that our friends are merely our alter ego it
goes to show that our values will be our values.
Thirdly basing from Robert Johann’s Love and Justice in this essay, and learning from
this it had led me to use or apply this essay to everything because our rationality and the use
of heart whenever we are thinking of a particular solution to a problem it is indeed important
to apply both to acquire a harmonious relationship between our relationship in work or in
family matters. Love and Justice will give us the opportunity to relate everything from the
previous experience and from that failure the past can be changed to a new experience with
a positive outcome.
Last point from Sir Clyd Rex Jesalva’s paper, which discussed is there pure
forgiveness? And is it possible? For me forgiveness is possible but it needs more time for us
to heal. More than that, it is not easy for the wounded person to heal at an instant because
we have first to honor what is done, second suffer the darkness but do not allow it to swallow
you. There will be downtimes but you also need to stand up for you regain back and to
compose yourself and the last step is to surrender. From what sir had discussed to us, from
his firsthand experience I have learned a lot specially to the fact that at the time that he
knew there is something happening, from this experience for me I would really apply this
when the right time comes. I agree with our professor, for you to be self educated you need to
experience things for you to grow and use that learnings for you to be reminded, for you to be
warned, and for you to be educated.

Overall my Philosophical Anthropological course experience had been memorable, I

have gained new friends from the group reading that you have initiated, for us to read some
certain readings. Experiencing this course subject had been engaging for me with the never-
ending readings which resulted to lots of learnings. I have also learned the value of
continuously reading because reading is equivalent to power, because the more books you
have red will always result to never-ending knowledge and learnings.