Filipino Psychology
Preliminary Readings
Source: Jay Yacat (2018), Rogelia Pe-Pua (2000), & Cecilia Gastardo Conaco (2005),,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,.//,,
SIKOLOHIYANG PILIPINO
/……………///////…Piagetian Approach……///////--. …-
Sikolohiyang Pilipino is the study of
psychology deprived from the experience,
ideas, and cultural orientation of the Filipinos.
❖ Based on the full use of Filipino culture
and language.
❖ Before, It was called “the study of diwa
(psyche)”
❖ This approach is called
“indigenization from within”
Indigenization from within: Formalizes
Filipinos’ implicit psychological theories,
knowledge, methods, and practices
developed with the local culture as basis
(local culture as source).
The beginnings of Sikolohiyang Pilipino.
In the beginning of the periods when the
Philippines was colonized by the Spain, and
then USA…the psychology taught in
schools, was predominantly Western in
theory and in methodology.
➢ Jose Rizal and Apolinario Mabini,
expressed dissatisfaction at the
pejorative interpretations of Filipino
behavior by Western observers.
➢ This lead to Filipinos struggled to
assert their national and cultural
identity.
In 1960s, many Filipino intellectuals and
scholars were already sensitive both to the
inadequacy as well as the unfairness of the
Western-oriented approaches to psychology.
❖ For instance, area of personality, the
western approach in research is bound
by the culture that is being studied
that resulted to characterization of the
Filipinos from the “judgmental and
impressionistic point of view”.
➢ For example, western people tend
to characterize Filipino’s “lazy”
because we tend to sleep in the
afternoon. However, in our culture
we called it “siesta” and most of
the Filipinos wake-up early to
harvest crops to avoid hot
temperature as they harvest crops.
PROBLEM: American categories and
standard…the native Filipino invariability
suffers from the comparison in not too subtle
attempts to put forward Western behavior
patterns as models for Filipinos
➢ Enriquez, 1992, p. 57
In 1970s, Virgilio Gaspar Enriquez returned
to the Philippines from Northwestern
University USA with a Ph.D. in Social
Psychology…and introduce the concept of
…
Sikolohiyang Filipino. Together with the
chairman of Department of Psychology at
the University of the Philippines, Dr. Alfredo
V. Lagmay.
❖ Enriquez embarked on a research into
the historical and cultural roots of
Philippine Psychology.
❖ This research include identifying
indigenous concepts and approaches
in Philippine psychology and
developing creativity and inventiveness
among Filipinos.
❖ By this researches, a locally developed
personality test, Panukat ng Ugali at
Pagkatao (Measure of Character and
Personality).
In 1975, Enriquez chaired the Unang
Pambansang Kumperensya sa Sikolohiyang
Pilipino (First National Conference on
Filipino Psychology) which was held at the
Abelardo Auditorium at U.P
Sikolohiyang Pilipino…… …
Sikolohiyang Pilipino: Is anchored on
Filipino thought and experience as
understood from a Filipino perspective.
1|Preliminar y R eadings
Filipino Psychology
Preliminary Readings
Source: Jay Yacat (2018), Rogelia Pe-Pua (2000), & Cecilia Gastardo Conaco (2005),,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,.//,,
❖ Before, Filipino behavior has been
analyzed and interpreted in the light of
Western theories. Since these theories
are inevitably culture-bound, the
picture of the Filipino has been
inaccurate.
Enriquez (1978) proposed that sikolohiyang
Pilipino knowledge can be borne out of
two process: Indigenization from without &
Indigenization from within.
Indigenization from without: This approach
is based on the search of local equivalents for
assumed universal psychological concepts or
the contextualization of imported methods
and techniques, and tools and instruments.
❖ More common approach used in
knowledge and technology transfer.
❖ Cultural Validation: The practice of
validating research through systematic
replication in multiple cultures.
Indigenization from within: Formalizes
Filipinos’ implicit psychological theories,
knowledge, methods, and practices
developed with the local culture as basis
(local culture as source).
❖ Looking for indigenous psychology
from within the culture itself and not
just clothing a foreign body with local
dress.
Sikolohiyang Pilipino is based on assessing
historical and socio-cultural
realities, understanding the local language,
unraveling Filipino characteristics and
explaining them through the eyes of the
native Filipino.
These resulted in a body of knowledge which
includes indigenous concepts and methods,
in short, a psychology which is appropriate
and significant to Filipinos.
In 1970s, sikolohiyang Pilipino started a
movement within psychology ad other related
disciplines that focuses on the following
themes:
a) Identity and national consciousness
b) Social awareness and involvement
c) National and ethnic cultures and
languages, including the study of
traditional psychology
d) Bases and application of indigenous
psychology in health practices,
agriculture, art, mass media, and
religion.
Three primary areas of protest…… …
1. Sikolohiya ng pagbabagong-isip
(Psychology of re-awakening): The
movement is against a psychology that
perpetuates colonial mentality and promotes
the decolonization of the Filipino mind as a
stage in the development of national
consciousness.
o Removing the western mentality…like
beauty standard.
2. Sikolohiyang malaya (Liberated
Psychology): It is against the importation
and imposition of a psychology that has been
developed in, and is more appropriate to,
industrialized countries.
o Both 2 & 3 is sikolohiyang kumikilala
sa karapatan ng bawat tao, na maging
ligtas mula sa anumang uri ng
diskriminasyon.
3. Sikolohiyang magpapalaya (Liberated
Psychology): The movement is against a
psychology used for the exploitation of the
masses.
As a of the indigenous psychology tradition,
sikolohiyang Pilipino is built on
psychological knowledge that:
a) Arouse from within the culture
b) Reflects local behaviors
2|Preliminar y R eadings
Filipino Psychology
Preliminary Readings
Source: Jay Yacat (2018), Rogelia Pe-Pua (2000), & Cecilia Gastardo Conaco (2005),,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,.//,,
c) Can be interpreted within local frame
of reference
d) Yields results that are locally relevant
However, Enriquez ( 1978 ) was quick to
point out that sikolohiyang Pilipino does not
advocate that foreign theories should be
totally abandoned.
B Defining Sikolohiyang Pilipino……
Enriquez identified the following as the
subject matter of this formal indigenous
psychology:
❖ Kamalayan or Consciousness: Include
both emotive and consciousness
- Awareness of one’s surrounding
❖ Ulirat or Awareness: Awareness of
one’s immediate surroundings
- Information and understanding
❖ Isip: Refers to knowledge/information
and understanding
❖ Diwa: Habits and behavior
❖ Kalooban: Emotions and feelings
❖ Kaluluwa or Psyche: Soul of a people
Filipino Value Stracture ……
///////// /Accommodative Surface Value//////
This refer to a set of values that are easily
obvious, especially to the notice of
outsiders (non-Filipinos). This include:
Hiya: The uncomfortable feeling that
accompanies awareness of being in a socially
unacceptable position, or performing a
socially unacceptable action.
(Different meaning of Hiya)
Filipino word English translation
Nakakahiya Embarrassing
Napahiya Placed in an awkward position
Ikinahiya Be embarrassed with someone
Mahiyain Shy
Kahihiyan Sense of propriety or
embarrassment
The more appropriate translation of
hiya in English is not “Shame” but “sense of
…
Propriety”
Utang na loob: Kaut (1961) translated it to
“Debt of Gratitude”
‘‘The principle of reciprocity incurred when an
individual helps another. The person helped then feels
an obligation to repay the debt in the future when the
helper himself (sic) is in need of aid, or he (sic) may
repay his debt by sending gifts. It is often not clear
when a debt has been fully paid, so that the
relationship becomes an ongoing one.’’
Enriquez believed…that It is not necessarily
a burden as the word ‘‘debt’’ connotes,
because in the Filipino pattern of
… interpersonal relations, there is always an
opportunity to return a favor.
- Utang na loob is more closely in
the context of Filipino culture, it
actually means
“gratitude/solidarity”
Pakikisama: English translation of
maintaining ‘‘smooth interpersonal
relations’’ by going along with the group or
the majority decision, i.e., conformity
// With this accommodative surface value would
lead foreigners to assume that Filipinos are
other-oriented.
///////// /// /Confrontative Surface Value//// ////
These are the Filipinos call for asserting one’s
individual rights.
Bahala na: Thomas Andres defines bahala na
as ‘‘the Filipino attitude that makes him
accept sufferings and problems, leaving
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Filipino Psychology
Preliminary Readings
Source: Jay Yacat (2018), Rogelia Pe-Pua (2000), & Cecilia Gastardo Conaco (2005),,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,.//,,
everything to God. ‘Bahala na ang Diyos Ibang-Tao: Outsider
(God will take care of us)’. Hindi-Ibang-Tao: One of us
- Bahala na is not “fatalism” but
“determination”. (Levels and Modes of Social Interactions)
- The expression is away of pumping Filipino word English translation
Pakikitungo Civility
courage into their system so that
Pakikisalamuha Act of mixing
they do not buckle down. Pakikilahok Act of joining
Lakas ng loob & Pakikibaka Pakikibagay Conformity
The over-emphasis on accommodative values, Pakikisama Being united with the
and the corresponding neglect of their group. Hindi Ibang Tao…
counterpart, the confrontative ones, painted Pakikipagpalagayang- Act of mutual trust
loob
a distorted and incomplete view of the
Pakikisangkot Act of joining others
Filipino…which Enriquez ( 1990 ) termed as Pakikipagkaisa Being one with others
the pasukong Pilipino (the submissive
Filipino). Pakikitungo as the shallowest and
Pakikiisa as the deepest.
This image, when perpetuated, was
suspiciously more beneficial to the colonial
masters than to Filipinos themselves. ///////// / /// /Core Value////////// /
///////// / /Pivotal Interpersonal Value//////////// Kapwa/Pagkatao: Recognition of shared
Pakikiramdam/Pakikipagkapwa: Treating identity, an inner self-shared with others.
the other person as kapwa or fellow human - It start with the self, not from
being. others
o Pakikiramdam is a request to feel or to ///////// / /Linking Socio-Personal Values/////// //
be sensitive to. It is shared feeling, a Kagandahang-loob/Shared humanity
kind of “emotional a priori. There is (Beauty-of-will): Predisposes a person to be
“hesitation to react, attention to subtle attuned to the needs and purposes of the
cues, and non verbal behavior in larger collective; the society.
mental role-playing (If I were in the
other’s situation, how would I feel?) Person who values kagandahang-loob is also
o Pakikiramdam requires that a person likely to value karangalan (dignity),
actively senses or feels out the katarungan ( justice), and kalayaan
situation and the other person in a (freedom) in society.
///////// / /Associated Societal Values/////// / / /
social interaction, and carefully comes
up with an appropriate behavior.
Karangalan Dignity
o In effect, people have low
Katarungan Justice
pakikiramdam will exhibit behaviors
Kalayaan Freedom
that are inappropriate to the situation
and would not sense, intentionally or
Utilizing Indigenous Research Methods ……
otherwise, if they had offended or In searching for appropriate research
hurt the other person. methods that are indigenous to Filipino
Two Categories of Kapwa
experience, Filipino scholars have learned to
assume the pakapa-kapa.
4|Preliminar y R eadings
Filipino Psychology
Preliminary Readings
Source: Jay Yacat (2018), Rogelia Pe-Pua (2000), & Cecilia Gastardo Conaco (2005),,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,.//,,
Pakapa-kapa: An approach characterize by
groping, searching and probing into an
unsystematized mass of social and cultural
data to obtain other, meaning and direction
to research.
Pagtatanung-tanong (Asking around):
Researcher engages the participant in a more
constructed and interactive questioning
session.
o Lead questions (those questions
which directly refer to the topic being
studied) are discouraged
o Questions should be based on
participants prior responses
themselves.
Pakikipag-kwentuhan (Exchanging stories):
Require researcher to motivate participants to
narrate their experiences about an episode or
event.
o Can do one-on-one or researcher to
group of people.
Ginabayang talakayan (indigenous
facilitated discussion): Combination of a
community dialog, focused group discussion,
and group attestation.
o Isang metodo ng kolektibong
pananaliksik kung saan ang isang
grupo ng mga kalahok ay
nakikibahagi sa pagbabahagi at
pakikipagpalitan ng kaalaman,
karanasan at mga opinyon sa isang
paksa o mga paksa na sama-sama
silang sumang-ayon upang
talakayin.
and Iskala ng Pagtutunguhan ng
Mananaliksik at Kalahok
(researcher– participant relationship scale).
The researcher–method scale represents a
range of methods that vary in their obtrusive-
ness: the less obtrusive ( pagmamasid or
observation) to more obtrusive
(pakikilahok or participation).
Principles Guiding Sikolohiyang Pilipino …
I. Research participants have to be
treated as equal, if not superior, to the
researchers.
II. Welfare of the participants takes
precedence over any information taken
from them
III. Appropriateness (and not its
sophistication) to the intended
population should be the primary basis
for selecting methods.
IV. The language of the participants
should be the language of the
research.
Created by Samuel C. Bagtas
Source: Jay Yacat (2018), Rogelia Pe-Pua
(2000), & Cecilia Gastardo Conaco (2005)

Santiago and Enriquez ( 1982 ) proposed

that sikolohiyang Pilipino research should
strive to be maka-Pilipino (for the interests of
the Filipino).
To ensure this, researchers should be guided
by the use of two “scales”: Iskala ng
Mananaliksik (researcher–method scale)

5|Preliminar y R eadings