CHAPTER 6: KAPWA: A Core Concept in Filipino Psychology

KAPWA
- In English: both, fellow being, others.
- implies the recognition of “self”, self as separate identity.
- In Filipino: a recognition of shared identity
- an inner self shared with others.
- The “unity of the one-of-us-and-the- other”, according to Virgilio Enriquez who declared the concept as
a Filipino core value.
- Kapwa, meaning “togetherness”, is the core construct of Filipino Psychology.

PAKIKIPAGKAPWA
- This idea of “shared self” opens up the heart-doors of the I to include the Other.

As a general description, the distinct value system of Philippine people can be summarized and summed up
into:
 Trust in God
 Having the family as the center and priority in life
 Cooperation and unity, charity, heroism, friendship and companionship
 Filipinos are known to be hospitable.

KONSEPTO ng KAPWA
1. Strangers
2. Acquaintances
3. Peers
4. Friend
5. Best friend
6. Soul mate, Lover

Dalawang Kategorya ng Kapwa

1. Ibang Tao (outsider / other people) Antas ng Pakikiugnayan
 Pakikitungo: Civility
 Pakikisalamuha: Act of Mixing
 Pakikilahok: Act of joining, participating
 Pakikibagay: conformity
 Pakikisama: Being united with the group, adjusting

2. Hindi ibang tao (one of us / not other people) Antas ng Pakikiugnayan

 Pakikipagpalagayang-loob: act of mutual trust
 Pakikisangkot: Act of getting involved
 Pakikipagkaisa: being one with others, oneness
PAKIRAMDAM: A Pivotal Interpersonal Value
- Refers to heightened awareness, sensitivity
- Feeling for another
- An active process involving great care and deliberation manifested in hesitation to act, inattention to
subtle cues and non- verbal behavior in metal role-playing
- Desirable skill
- Request to feel or to be sensitive to
- “Emotional a priori” shared feeling
- “Hesitation to react, attention to subtle cues, and non-verbal behavior in mental role-playing (If I were in
the situation, how would I feel)- feeling for another
- The centrality of pakiramdam in bahavioral and interpersonal domains: Biro, Lambing, Tampo
- Filipinos use damdam, or inner perception
-
WALANG PAKIRAMDAM O WALANG KAPWA TAO
Worse off than any of the “evil” characters.
It is definitely unfortunate, to put mildy, to be afflicted with such an inadequacy.
 CHAPTER 7- Filipino Values
1. Pivotal Interpersonal Value
2. Accomodative Surface Values
3. Socio-Personal Value
4. Confrontative Surface Values
5. Societal Values

1. Pivotal Interpersonal Value

1. PAKIRAMDAM
- PANLOOB na KALAGAYANG NAKATUON sa PANLABAS na mga PANGYAYARI at mga bagay
na papatungo sa loob
- Refers to heightened awareness, sensitivity feeling for another
- Ramdam o Damdam – to feel
- DAMDAM vs DAMA: dama = external; damdam = internal

2. Accomodative Service Value

1. HIYA
- Sibley (1965), an American scholar, translated hiya as ‘‘shame’’..
- Lynch (1961) saw hiya as ‘‘the uncomfortable feeling that accompanies awareness of being in a socially
unacceptable position, or performing a socially unacceptable action.’’
- Andres (1994) described hiya as “an ingredient in why Filipinos overspend during fiestas in order to
please their visitors, even to the extent of going into debt’’
- Bonifacio (1976) alerted us to the different meanings of the word hiya depending on its form
 nakakahiya (embarrassing),
 napahiya (placed in an awkward position),
 ikinahiya (be embarrassed with someone),

2. UTANG NA LOOB
- Kaut (1961) translated it as ‘‘debt of gratitude’’.
- Andres (1994, pp. 190–191) defined it, following Kaut’s logic, as ‘‘the principle of reciprocity incurred
when an individual helps another.
- Hollnsteiner (1961) took this interpretation further by claiming that the recipient of the favor is forced
‘‘to show his (sic) gratitude properly by returning the favor with interest. ‘‘gratitude/solidarity’’
- Norm of Reciprocity: Filipinos are expected by their neighbors to return favors whether these were
asked for or not – when it is needed or wanted.
- PLEA FOR COMMON HUMANITY: pagrespeto sa dignidad at karangalan ng bawat tao

3. PAKIKISAMA AT PAKIKIPAG-KAPWA
- Lynch(1961 & 1973). “Smooth
- interpersonal relationship” (SIR), by going along group or the majority decision.
- 3 “evil” characteristics in ASV
 WALANG HIYA - one who lacks a sense of propriety.
 WALANG UTANG NA LOOB- one who lacks adaptness in reciprocating by way of
gratitude”.
 WALANG PAKISAMA - one inept at the level of adjustment

Socio-Personal Value
1. KAGANDAHANG LOOB
- shared humanity (Pagka-makatao)
- refers to being able to help other people in dire needs due to perception of being together as a part of one
Filipino community.

Confrontative Surface Value

1. BAHALA NA
- Bostrom (1968) was the first psychologist to analyze this value by comparing it with American fatalism
- Lagmay (1977) explained that bahala na is not ‘‘fatalism’’ but ‘‘determination and risk-taking’’.
 - Thomas Andres defines bahala na as ‘‘the Filipino attitude that makes him accept sufferings and
problems, leaving everything to God.

2. LAKAS NG LOOB
- characterized by being courageous in the midst of problems and uncertainties.
- ranked as among the seven highly-valued characteristics of the Filipinos in a nationwide psychometric
study in 1983.

3. PAKIKIBAKA
- Literally means concurrent clashes
- refers to ability of the filipino to undertake revolutions and uprisings against a common enemy.

Societal Values
1. KARANGALAN
- loosely translated as HONOR or DIGNITY.
- refers to what other people see in a person and how they use that information
- to make a stand or judge about his / her worth.
- PURI – external aspect of dignity; DANGAL – Internal aspect of dignity

2. KATARUNGAN
- loosely translated to Justice
- refers to equity in giving rewards to a person

3. KALAYAAN
- Freedom and Mobility
- this may clash with the less important value of pakikisama or pakikibagay (conformity)