POLYTECHNIC UNIVERSITY OF THE PHILIPPINES

SAN PEDRO , Laguna Campus

Understanding the Self

FROM THE PERSPECTIVE OF THE FILIPINO PSYCHOLOGY

Cyril Jhunnel A. Zulueta Bachelor of Science in Business

Irvin James Dela Cruz Administration Major in Marketing
Management BSBA MM 1-2
 I.INTRODUCTION

Hundreds of years before, we Filipinos—in an ancient time or in our pre-

colonial era have dealt with a lot of things unlike what the colonizers have
speculated us being barbarians and savage. It is instilled even in the way we handle
gender roles, from the Babaylan’s sacred works to even being part of political
ventures. And in these experiences, we get to learn about the world.

In the present times, aside from being known to be the race melting pot
country that we are, we are also ethnically diverse. We still value the learnings of
the past up until now. In the span of time, many original Filipino psychological
terms and concepts have been formed that have been playing major roles in how
we progressively live despite the modern challenges.

II. DISCUSSION OF THE PHILOSOPHY ON SELF

SELF FROM PSYCHOLOGICAL PERSPECTIVE

Filipino Psychology - scientific study of Psychology derived from the

experience, ideas, and cultural orientation of the Filipinos.

Virgilio G. Enriquez
● considered the Father of Sikolohiyang Pinoy.

● Enriquez used the following as the subject matter of this indigenous type of
Psychology:
❖ kamalayan or consciousness- both emotive and cognitive
experiences
❖ ulirat- awareness of one’s immediate surroundings

❖ isip- which refers to knowledge

❖ diwa- habits and behaviour

❖ kalooban- emotions or feelings

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 ❖ kaluluwa- psyche or soul of the people.

Along with the purpose to voice out the current state in the colonial history of
psychology in the Philippines, sikolohiyang Pilipino begun as a protest within the
area of the said discipline. The movement has three primary stages, first:
sikolohiya ng pagbabagong-isip (psychology or re-awakening), second:
sikolohiyang malaya (liberated psychology), lastly: sikolohiyang mapagpalaya
(liberating psychology).

Kapwa
● Enriquez defined kapwa as a recognition of a shared identity, an inner self
shared with others. Furthermore, he clarified that recognition starts with
the self, not from others.
● The ako (ego) and the iba-sa-akin (others) are one with each other. “Hindi
ako iba sa aking kapwa.” (I am no different from others)
● Once ako starts thinking of himself as separate of Kapwa, Filipino self gets
individuated in a western sense, as a result, denies status of kapwa to the
other.
● Enriquez emphasized the kapwa is a core value among Filipinos when he
conducted a fair system of values from kapwa, which he found out that
pakiramdam (shared inner perception) as the pivotal interpersonal value.

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Other Filipino Values
❖ Bahala Na
- not fatalism but determination and risk-taking.
- Filipinos don’t leave their battles with God but they are ready to
face the difficulties along their way.
- The expression is used to pump courage and braveness.

❖ Hiya
- Shame
- Uncomfortable feeling that accompanies awareness of being in a
socially unacceptable position, or performing socially unacceptable
action (Lynch, 1961)
-
❖ Utang na Loob
- Debt of gratitude (Kaut, 1961)
- Principle of reciprocity

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III.CONCLUSION (Brief summary with key take aways)
● Virgilio Enriquez is the Father of Filipino Psychology.

● Kapwa is regarded as a core value of the Filipinos.

● Kapwa don’t only talk about oneself but a shared identity with others.

● Filipino Psychology is based on Filipino thinking and experience as

understood from perspective of a Filipino itself.

IV.REFERENCES

● Pe-Pua R, Protacio-Marcelino E (2000). Sikolohiyang Pilipino (Filipino

Psychology):a legacy of Virgilio G. Enriquez. Asian Journal of Social
Psychology (200) 3: 49-71.
● Yacat, J. (2013). Filipino Psychology (Sikolohiyang Pilipino). The
Encyclopedia of Cross-Cultural Psychology, First Edition. Edited by
Kenneth D. Keith.© 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Published 2013 by John
Wiley & Sons, Inc.

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