Filipino Psychology

• One key concept in Filipino Psychology is kapwa, which refers to the shared identity and interconnectedness among individuals in Filipino society.
• Filipino personality


  Concept wrought with difficulties
• Bartolome (1985) maintained that the idea of a Filipino personality can work against or even be used against the Filipinos themselves
• Personality


  Rooted in the concept of 'persona' - a mask which can be observed from the outside
• Pagkatao


  Personhood, the shared humanity and the kapwa psychology of the Filipino
• The Filipino is primarily characterized from the judgmental and impressionistic point of view of the colonizers
• The native Filipino suffers from comparison and Western behavior patterns are being put forward as models for the Filipino
• Sikolohiyang Pilipino is not simply concerned with the image of the Filipino or the motive behind invidious comparisons
• The evaluation of the Filipino values and patterns of behavior was a question of national interest
• The colonial character of the Philippine social science, developed and written in the English language, is particularly and painfully evident in studies of Filipino 'national character' and values
• These studies usually conclude by identifying supposed Philippine values and patterns of behavior
• The studies have failed to see the values in terms of the Filipino worldview, experience and milieu
• The continued denial of the proper role of the indigenous language in social science research only results in an unstructured collection of indigenous affixes to supposedly Filipino values
• A listing of Filipino values is now conveniently available for scholars and tourists alike
• Some supposedly Filipino national values


  • Hiya (shame)
  • Pakikisama (yielding to the leader or the majority)
  • Utang na loob (debt of gratitude)
  • Amor propio (sensitivity to personal affront)
  • Bayanihan (togetherness in common effort)
• Some regional values


  • Maratabat (a complex combination of pride, honor, and shame)
  • Balatu (sharing of one's fortune)
  • Ilus (sharing surplus food)
  • Kakugi (meticulousness and attention to details)
  • Patugsiling (compassion)
  • Kalulu (empathy)
  • Hatag gusto (generosity)
  • Paghiliupod (faithfulness in need or plenty)
  • Pagsinabtanay (fidelity of one's promises)
• Hiya, Utang na loob, and Pakikisama


  A triad whose legs emanate from a single trunk, the actual core value of the Filipino personality, KAPWA
• Pakikiramdam


  A heightened awareness and sensitivity, an active process involving great care and deliberation manifested in 'hesitation to react, attention to subtle cues, and nonverbal role playing
• Pakikiramdam is a legitimate move leading to pagkakaisa
• Without pakikiramdam, there is no sense of time and kalooban
• Without pakikiramdam, one cannot acquire a sense of utang na loob, neither can one know when and how to express this sense of gratitude
• Hiya (external/interpersonal)


  The natural domain of behavioral psychology as in hiyain, ikahiya, manghiya, denotes voluntary, conscious (sinasadya) act, or involuntary, beyond one's coalition (di sinasadya)
• Hiya (internal/being)


  Related to qualities and the foundation or terminal value of karangalan as in mahiyain, kahiya-hiya, and hiyang-hiya, Emotional dimension: intensity of one's feeling of hiya
• Utang na loob


  Debt of gratitude, a commitment to human solidarity
• The absurdity of the mercantile interpretation of utang na loob is embarrassingly humorous in a woman's 'bargaining leverage' when in dire need of protection from physical abuse
• Utang na loob is a value which moves to recognize, respect, promote, and, at times, defend the basic dignity of each person
• Pakikisama


  A primary basis for the construction of smooth interpersonal relationships or SIR
• Pakikipagkapwa


  Both a paninindigan (conviction) and a value, includes all other mentioned modes and levels of interaction
• Pakikisama


  A form of pakikipagkapwa and is considered as one of the building blocks in the development of a higher level of relationship
• Bahala Na


  The expression of courage and fortitude, a willingness to face difficulty, and a willingness to accept the consequences
• Bahala Na operates in a situation which is full of uncertainty, very few would avoid or run away, it is also an indication of an acceptance of the nature of things
• Characteristics of Bahala Na


  • Stimulates action
  • Not used in order to avoid or forget problems
  • Implies perseverance & hard work
  • Gives a person lakas ng loob to see himself through hard times
  • Stimulates creativity
• Lakas ng Loob


  A key ingredient in the realization of pagbabagong-dangal, enabling one to face difficulty, even death, to vindicate the dangal (dignity/honor/good) in one's being
• Pakikibaka


  Level of fusion in a common struggle in the face of justice and exploitation, awakens the Filipino's consciousness of present-day realities and motivates him to be one in the struggle to break away from the clutches of the neocolonial setup
• Pakikibaka affirms one's conviction as part of one's being, recognizes the meaning of cooperation and concerned action in resistance
• Filipino value structure


  • Accommodative surface values: Hiya, Utang na Loob, Pakikisama
  • Confrontative surface values: Bahala Na, Lakas ng Loob, Pakikibaka
  • Pivotal interpersonal value: Pakikiramdam (Pakikipagkapwa-tao)
  • Core value: Kapwa (Shared Identity)
  • Linking socio-personal value: Kagandahang-loob (Pagkamakatao)
  • Associated societal values: Karangalan (Dignity), Katarungan (Justice), Kalayaan (Freedom)
• In Filipino Psychology, the subjects or participants, called kalahok, are considered as equal in status to the researcher
• An Umpukan, or natural cluster is required to serve as participants
• Tulay (bridge)


  A well-respected man in the community who is part of the umpukan
• Pakikipagkwentuhan


  The researcher engages in a story-telling with an umpukan, the researcher merely serves as the facilitator, while the kalahok or participants are the one who are to talk