Today, I attended mass in one of my favorite place in Manila, The Pontifical and Royal University of Santo Tomas (the oldest University in Asia). The UST's campus landscape and architecture reminds me of Spain.

During the homily the priest asked: "Who are you?". In my mind a quick reply popped-up, I am myName and myJob. The priest elaborated by saying: "Most of us would answer that question based on our work, based on our possession, based on our achievements, and based on our race and denomination."

I was dumbstruck, because what he said is true.

We usually describe ourselves with what our work is. Most of us is no stranger to the introduction: " I am BLABLABLA(name/place of origin/nationality). I work as a BLABLABLA. I have a car (probably a Jaguar or a Subaru). I graduated Magna Cum Laude from myUniversity. Etc....

All of these refers to material things which we possess and are by-passing. What if tomorrow I lose my job, that means that the description that I made for myself today based on myJob is no longer true, thus, makes me another me? What if the car that I said I have was ceased by the bank or was sold, does that means that my description of myself would then be something else?

I realized that understanding oneself would help us better describe who we really are. And it is in the most difficult times of our lives that we see our real identity. When faced with challenges and mountains of obstacles the real us surfaces out, just like a sleeping dragon waiting to be awakened. In the absence of adversaries in our lives we tend to feel cool and savvy.

These are just some of the questions that will help us better describe ourselves.

In times of trouble do I run-away?
In times of failure do I blame and point fingers to others?
In times of difficulties and hard trials do I quit?
In times of hopelessness do I give up?
In times of in dire need to achieve something do I step on others foot?
In times of abundance do I share with others?

Materialism is but a hindrance to knowing the real self. We should be most aware that the labels and price tags that we place on ourselves are but superficial and can easily change. It is our habits that define our character not the color of our hair, the texture of our skin nor the language that we speak.

It is healthy to ask ourselves "Who am I?" once in a while.

Maybe we've forgotten who we really are.