ASPECTS OF DEVELOPMENT AND LEARNING

About the Lesson

The processes of learning and development are distinct but intricately intertwined.
Cognitive development theorists like Lev Vygotsky and Jean Piaget shed light on the ways in
which children learn by constructing knowledge from their experiences, and how
development occurs in the context of their social relationships. In this lesson, we will look at the
concept of learning and development, the five areas of development toward holistic health, and
how these five areas are related to achieving wisdom.

Learning and Development

Learning is the process of widening our knowledge. We

are constantly learning new things throughout our lives, whether
it is learning to walk, cycle, swim, dance, skate, climb, or even
learning new concepts in various subjects or languages. Books,
teachers, peers, parents, and even strangers can help us learn.
Animals, inanimate objects, and nature can all teach us
something. Learning is an essential component of an
individual's development - it occurs at all ages, and when placed
in a new situation, one learns to make sense and feel more
comfortable and confident.

As a result of experience, learning is a process that leads to change, which increases the
potential for improved performance and future learning. An individual may undergo a change in
knowledge, attitude, or behavior. People change how they perceive concepts, ideas, and/or the
world as a result of learning. Hence, learning is something people do for themselves rather than
something that is done to them. It is directly related to how they respond to and interpret their
experiences.
 On the other hand, development entails the mastery of skills
and the integration of these skills into behavior so that they become
habits. You force someone to sit in a classroom and attempt to teach
them how to fly an airplane. Yes, you can teach him the parts of an
airplane and the theory behind how it operates, as well as how to fly
the plane, but he cannot become a pilot unless he receives practical
training and flies the plane himself in different situations. And as
such, development is concerned with action and not a knowledge-
based skill that comes through learning.

Practice is more important than learning in the process of development because it allows
individuals to adopt new skills as habits. Development is a process that occurs after learning, but
it requires constant practice and refinement so that newly acquired skills become behaviors or
habits. Additionally, development is a bodily process that describes the expansion of our cognitive
and problem-solving capacities. This development resembles the biological maturation that
occurs with age and is nearly complete by the time we are young or in our teens.

A Path Toward Attaining Holistic Health

Holistic health is a way of life that takes into

account all aspects of wellness. It encourages people to
see themselves as a whole: physical, mental, emotional,
social, intellectual, and spiritual. The term "holistic
health" appears frequently in literature, with various
connotations. Holism is derived from the Greek word
holos, which means "whole." Holism is not a cult or
religion; rather, it is a way of seeing the world from every
angle. Holistic health takes into account the entire
person—body, mind, and spirit. Therefore, holism
expounds on the idea that the parts of a whole can't exist or be understood without the whole.
"Holism holds that the whole is greater than the sum of its parts."

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 Most of the time, we link well-being to things like
appearance, illness, and discomfort. However, it goes beyond
that. How we treat our bodies on a daily basis, through our
decisions and routines, is the foundation of our life quality and
determines its trajectory toward long-term wellness. The
condition of our natural surroundings is another external factor
that influences our greatest well-being. The air we breathe, the
water we drink, and the soil in which we grow our gardens all
have a hand in determining how rewarding our lives are.

It is a state of being in which you can manage your emotions

constructively. Positive and negative emotions will enter your life
regularly. However, it is necessary to take a step back in order to
understand and respect our feelings, values, and attitudes without
allowing them to adversely affect our days. Maintaining objectivity in our
emotions as well as those of others is critical for developing positive
emotional wellbeing.

Address: Hilltop Road, Brgy. Kumintang Ibaba, Batangas City 4200, Philippines
Telephone Numbers: +63 43 723 1446 | 980 0041
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 This attribute refers to our ability to maintain healthy
relationships, form intimate connections with others, and allow
others to care about us. Making contributions to your
community and respecting personal boundaries are also part
of it. People who have developed strong bonds with their
family, friends, and community are often the happiest in life.
Having an in-person connection makes us feel more
connected to the rest of the world. Participating in your local
community is an excellent way to maintain your well-being. Consider volunteering for a charity or
participating in activities.

Building a relationship is only one aspect of promoting your social wellness. It is

sometimes necessary to end relationships in order to prevent them from negatively impacting
your functioning. Don't be afraid to distance yourself from people who bring you toxic energy or
raise your stress levels.

This involves our life's purpose, our guiding values, and our
connections to others and the world. And it is primarily up to the
individual to determine his or her own religious or spiritual well-
being. Spirituality is essentially the intangible aspect of a person that
transcends physiology and psychology. Individuals must develop
their own moral code, sense of right and wrong, and values. It is
also about developing one's personality and how one perceives
oneself. Likewise, individuals gradually come to realize that they
are responsible for their choices and the outcomes of those choices.
This helps them in developing moral decision-making abilities.

Address: Hilltop Road, Brgy. Kumintang Ibaba, Batangas City 4200, Philippines
Telephone Numbers: +63 43 723 1446 | 980 0041
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 While our emotional development is intertwined with our
mental wellbeing, our mental state refers to our cognitive
functioning. A healthy mental state is more than just being free of
illness. Stress and anxiety are normal parts of life; it is our ability to
deal with them and use them to our advantage that distinguishes
those with wellness from those who do not.

These five aspects of holistic development, while all distinct, benefit from a holistic
approach. Individuals should always be studied holistically because their developmental aspects
influence one another. Allow each other’s opportunities to explore their surroundings. Always take
into account the big picture and prioritize a person's physical, intellectual, social, emotional, and
spiritual development.

Moreover, we must care for each of the five dimensions of holistic health in order to reach
our full potential: physical, emotional, social, spiritual, and mental development. We must
constantly improve our self-awareness in order to recognize our own strengths, weaknesses, and
areas for improvement. And we must replace destructive habits with those that will benefit our
well-being. "With about 40% of our daily behavior repeated as habits, they shape our very
existence and, ultimately, our future," according to a study of wellness dimensions "For better or
worse, habits have a significant impact on health, well-being, and quality of life."

In each of the five dimensions of holistic health, live your life authentically. Be the best
version of yourself. You have great potential. Allow that to flow from within you, and you will reach
your full potential – attaining wisdom.

Address: Hilltop Road, Brgy. Kumintang Ibaba, Batangas City 4200, Philippines
Telephone Numbers: +63 43 723 1446 | 980 0041
Website: www.ub.edu.ph
Life and Values As Shown by Mr. Juan Y. Javier and Atty. Jesus Lorenzo Arguelles

After the liberation of Batangas from the

Japanese in 1945, it was known that the
Batangueños would have to find ways to rise up.
Due to the war, the educational system was
severely shut down at the time. And thus, there
was an urgent need for the resumption of
classes that had been interrupted by the war for
a long period of time. It was the worst possible time for the people of Batangas to start over.
Nonetheless, education must continue for the academic revitalization of the youth and to give the
people hope for a better future.

Mr. Juan Y. Javier, observing the condition of the community,

conceived the idea of establishing an educational institution - the
Western Philippine Colleges at the time. Mr. Javier was fortunate to
have met Attorney Jesus Lorenzo Arguelles, as they shared a
grievance against a school owner and a desire to build a school
together. Due to their grievance against a school owner, Mr. Javier and
Atty. Arguelles' decision to open a school may have been guided by
divine intervention. One of the UB Core Values, love of wisdom, can be
seen manifested in this situation. Instead of grief, these two men desired to build a school to meet
the educational needs of the Batangueños.

Mr. Javier spent his entire life hanging out with the underprivileged instead of the well-to-
do. His compassion for the less fortunate had indeed compelled him to lead a simple lifestyle. Mr.
Javier personifies our second core value, Love of Wisdom, in all its forms. Sincere and
compassionate, he cares about the young children of the impoverished farmers and fishermen
who cannot afford to send their kids to school. Mr. Javier often worried about the prospects for
these bright young minds if they were unable to complete their education. His serious concern
has prompted him to start thinking about the means of sending their children to school. It is from
his love for the poor that he saw an opportunity to make our community a better place. He was

Address: Hilltop Road, Brgy. Kumintang Ibaba, Batangas City 4200, Philippines
Telephone Numbers: +63 43 723 1446 | 980 0041
Website: www.ub.edu.ph
inspired to provide education to these people through these poor young boys and girls. No wonder
the University of Batangas has been established!

In a statement by Mrs. Lily Marlene J. Hernandez-Bohn, UB Executive Vice President, she

expounded that "Verity is, at all times, crucial in the Love of Wisdom. If learners are lovers of
wisdom, they should always make sure they seek the appropriate knowledge they need in the
right way, not the way cheaters do. Culprits of cheating are those who do not have this love of
wisdom, for they only have this love of foolishness and deception—two things which are
repugnant to the academe. Setting aside the importance of the truth, the Javier granddaughter
stated that if UBians want to live this specific core value—they should have a passion for
education, self-improvement, and be better versions of themselves. Without practicing even one
of them, living this core value is futile." Undoubtedly, a love of wisdom is for personal growth and
service to the community to help others—the very aim of Mr. Juan Y. Javier.

Like Mr. Javier, Atty. Arguelles has a heart for the poor, as evidenced by his own small
gestures such as handling pro bono cases when he learns that his
client comes from a poor family.Just like Mr. Javier, he was committed
to making WPC a reality. Because of his compassion for and
commitment to the plight of the poor, he worked tirelessly to spread
the mission and vision of the WPC throughout Batangas and beyond.
Because of his unwavering dedication and commitment, Atty.
Arguelles suffered a heart attack that ultimately caused his death.
However, his death served as a catalyst inspiring others to take action.
The WPC Community was saddened by the passing of Atty. Arguelles, but they also felt a sense
of pride in the fact that WPC had finally begun fulfilling its mission to serve the youth. Out of his
love for the poor and his love of wisdom, Atty. Arguelles sacrificed his life in order to give life to
the poor.

Dr. Victor M. Arguelles, son of Atty. Jesus Lorenzo Arguelles, pointed out that the role of
the University of Batangas in fully developing the potential of human beings is to find the truth and
beauty in life and others. Written in our history are the numerous tribulations that our founders
faced when founding the first university in Batangas. Yet, these challenges faced by the founders
inspire us, UBians, that despite constant difficulties in life, we can achieve anything we set our
minds to, as long as we are determined and willing to do so.

Address: Hilltop Road, Brgy. Kumintang Ibaba, Batangas City 4200, Philippines
Telephone Numbers: +63 43 723 1446 | 980 0041
Website: www.ub.edu.ph
 Our WPC founders, particularly Mr. Juan Y. Javier and Atty. Jesus Arguelles, instilled in
us a love of wisdom as they rose and strided in establishing the then Western Philippine Colleges,
now the University of Batangas, which is a successful and long-standing institution, as evidenced
by the university's 76-year existence. Indeed, there is no doubt that the founders' legacy will live
on in perpetuity.

Forum Question:

Using the learnings that you had in this lesson, what manifestations can you give
that shows Mr. Juan Y. Javier and Atty. Jesus Lorenzo Arguelles value or love of
wisdom? How do you show your own love for wisdom?

ASSESSMENT (Evaluate)

Write a 2–3-page Insight paper pertaining to your key takeaways on the relationship of the
need for a person to be educated with the legacy of Mr. Juan Y. Javier and Atty. Jesus Lorenzo
Arguelles.

Your output will be graded based on the rubrics below.

Category Excellent Above Average Average

The output shows The output shows
compliance which is compliance which is
excellent in that all excellent in that some The output shows
Compliance (10 pts)
parts and sections are parts and sections are average compliance
proofs of serious work proofs of serious work
and effort and effort
All answers are Some answers are Most answers are
Quality of Content (10 clearly presented, clearly presented, presented, but not
pts) well explained and well explained, and well explained or
justified. justified. justified.
All parts of the output Some parts of the Most parts of the
Organization and are well organized output are well output are not
Mechanics (10 pts) and mechanically organized and organized and
correct mechanically correct mechanically correct

Address: Hilltop Road, Brgy. Kumintang Ibaba, Batangas City 4200, Philippines
Telephone Numbers: +63 43 723 1446 | 980 0041
Website: www.ub.edu.ph
REFERENCES

A. Books
● Amaele, S (2019). The Dilemma of a Frustrated Nigeria education system. An
inaugural lecture series No. 21, 31st, Port Harcourt: Pearl publishers international
Ltd.
● Ekanem, F. (2009). “Philosophy of Education” in UdoEtuk (ed) an invitation to
philosophy Vol. III Uyo: Robert minder Int’l Limited.
● Etuk, U. (2003). An invitation to philosophy, Uyo: Robertminder Int’l Limited.

B. Internet Sources
● CENTRAL ASIAN JOURNAL OF SOCIAL SCIENCES AND HISTORY VOLUME:
03 ISSUE: 03 | MAR 2022(ISSN: 2660-6836) www.cajssh.centralasianstudies.org

C. Article
● Nziadam, L. (2022). Philosophy, Education and Human Existence: The Nexus.
CENTRAL ASIAN JOURNAL OF SOCIAL SCIENCES AND HISTORY, 3(3), 79-
88.

Address: Hilltop Road, Brgy. Kumintang Ibaba, Batangas City 4200, Philippines
Telephone Numbers: +63 43 723 1446 | 980 0041
Website: www.ub.edu.ph