IT IS IN the nature of a person to give value to inanimate objects. But as far as keepsakes go, what do collectors actually get from their collection, anyway?
Nenunca Canlas, a psychologist from the De La Salle University, explained that collections indirectly represent a person’s emotional and personal needs. The hobby of collecting is the person’s way of expressing himself.
“There are also people who collect because they want to show off – not their collections but themselves,” said Canlas.
This “sense of fulfillment” is probably the main reason why these Thomasian collectors amass seemingly random stuff through different ways—some through buying it after a painstaking hunt, while others do so by makig the items themselves.
Diovie Navarra, a Guidance Counselor of the College of Education, said people start to collect things they have deep appreciation of. When sustained, this passion becomes a hobby.
“It is also possible that collecting has a certain connection to their past and something that they enjoy when they were little or something that they also lack,” said Navarra.
Third-year literature student Linberg Gablan, for example, enjoys collecting swords on his free time. He also makes them himself out of wood and other improvised materials such as cardboard, cartolina, thumbtacks and even nails.
Gablan saids he started in sixth grade, when his father made him a sword and encouraged him in his hobby.
Though Gablan has made about 30 swords, he only has 19 left with him since he makes swords for others for free.
“If someone wanted a sword, all you have to do is ask me to make one for you. Just give me your design,” says Gablan.
Collection in its finest
Erika Jemimah Dimayuga, a student of the Faculty of Arts and Letters, has a big collection of Polly Pockets, or miniature toy houses and dolls. She started collecting themn when she was in first grade when she got the toy from her godmother in the United States. Since then, her collection has reminded her of her childhood. Dimayuga’s Polly Pocket collection has grown into 80 to 90 play sets, from vintage 1988 models to the latest version, each one coming in different sizes.
However, she secretly stashes these toys from others’ prying eyes.
“I hide these toys from others because sometimes people don’t believe me when I say I collect these,” said Dimayuga. “I guess it also does not show in my personality. So instead of being frustrated, I just hide it.”
Privacy in collection is also important.
“People who are afraid of letting other people know about their collections have a satisfied need in them that has not been addressed during earlier years in life,” Canlas said. “Thus, they guard their collections with the sanctity of their privacy.”
Navarra said that the collector probably feels or thinks that other people may not appreciate it or understand them. “It can also be that the person may be hiding their collection because their keeping a certain image,” she said. “But we can never generalize it.”
Apart from the obvious personal reasons for collecting (such as to have something as a hobby, or for sentimental
